"Hey, Mom! I'm home!" Rodney called out as he shut the door. Taking his shoes off, he sighed, stretching his toes.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡvON7jMByFs 維尼
"Hey, honey!" she called from the kitchen. "How was school?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ6Cjg6KyL 維尼
"Great mom," Rodney said, rolling his eyes. "Just great..." He could see his step dad out of the corner of his eye and walked over to the stairs.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuKzyqxvTK 維尼
"That's good. Dinner's in the fridge if you haven't eaten yet!" Rodney ignored her, running up to his room and flopping onto his bed.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6G5TDnaXwZ 維尼
A knock on the door startled him. "Come in," he said.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAqhGRjy0l 維尼
"Hey," his step dad said, closing the door behind him. "Where have you been?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VKl3gCqae 維尼
"At Xero's. Just like every other day," he muttered.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyjYTgbZnD 維尼
"I don't like your tone."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hXYX6DJ3E 維尼
"Whatever." Rodney sat at his desk, opening his laptop. "I have work to do."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ151baHlOax 維尼
His step dad walked over and shut the laptop. "Don't turn your back on me, young man. We aren't done yet."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A5xNhQ2Pa 維尼
Rodney stared defiantly into his eyes. "I have work to do."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDsh0n65bx 維尼
His step dad sighed, rubbing his temples with his fingertips. He sat on the bed, staring at his stepson. "Look, Rod. I know things have been a little... different between us since I started seeing your mom and I get that. But, you have to understand," he stood up, turning Rodney's chair to face him. "I'm the man of this house, now. I told you this morning to be back by dinner."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mlHBELbws 維尼
Rodney glared at him. "Look, Dave." He let the name roll off his tongue. "Just because you married my mom doesn't mean you're in charge of me."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAW9p0rNrB 維尼
"Now, Rodney, I-"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1t4KfdgMeX 維尼
"I've stayed out of your way, the least you could do is stay out of mine, Dave. Is that too hard?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl537u04Ep 維尼
"You will treat me with respect. I am you fath-"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAP7lEmTWe 維尼
"No!" Rodney growled. Dave took a step back. "You aren't my father. You'll never replace my father."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NvMpMev8T 維尼
"Th-that's not what I meant," Dave stammered. "Please..." He tried to place a hand on Rodney's shoulder, but he brushed it off. Dave sighed. "Okay. I get it. I can respect that." Dave slowly walked out of the room, looking back at Rodney one last time. "Just so you know, I never wanted to replace your dad. I just wanted to be there for you, y'know?" He shut the door, leaving Rodney by himself.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9JADffsYL 維尼
Tears slipped from Rodney's eyes and he growled. Feeling the cool metal sitting on his chest, he pushed down on the paw, transforming into a dog. He crawled under the bed, setting his head on his paws. I wonder what Dad would think if he saw me like this, he thought.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNznDgA6oH 維尼
Ears perking, he heard the collar vibrate. He whined, activating it. "Why'd you activate it?" Xero said. Rodney just whined, covering his eyes with his paws. "Dude..." Xero sighed. "He just wants to talk to you."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡynFUMPzV86 維尼
"He wants to replace Dad and I'm not letting that happen."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡEENwj1ZXKy 維尼
"I keep telling you to give him a chance. When are you going to listen?" Rodney stayed silent. "I sent you the files to look at," he said, changing the subject. "We need to come up with a plan."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L4Gos68wY 維尼
Rodney crawled out from under the bed. "You mean, we're doing it? We're actually investigating this?" He transformed back to normal, placing grabbing the collar and opening his laptop. "You believe this guy?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSKDAz4mRM 維尼
"Well, he's going to so much trouble to send us all this stuff. Plus, he did 'shift' in front of us."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLaxBPg3kt 維尼
"'Shift'? Is that what you're calling it?" Rodney smirked.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO2wnz40qz 維尼
"Yeah, I guess. Are you online? I'd rather Skype."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡDO1ymQv88T 維尼
"Calling you now." Rodney cut the communication on the collar. "Wonder what I should do with this?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzFueUX890 維尼
"Keep it as backup," Xero said, popping up on the computer. "You never know when you might need it."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLSLfINHAL 維尼
Rodney shrugged, placing the collar in his bag. "Alright, so what do we know?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNMy0lS9QK 維尼
"Anonymous fox-man got us to get these files, but they weren't for him."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEIausZrmJ 維尼
"He was baiting us. He said he wanted us to help with his species. Did he mean foxes or shifters?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11gDeGAtdC 維尼
Xero chuckled. "I think he meant shifters. What troubles me is that he'd been watching us."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSHfpIgNz3 維尼
"Scares me too," Rodney said, looking around the room. "What if we're bugged?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv4zbDZdaE 維尼
"Or worse. What if he's with the government? We could get in a lot of trouble."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW8GQ1jBxt 維尼
"Well," Rodney said with a smirk. "You know how I like trouble."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVjgxr3l2l 維尼
The ambiance of the city hadn't died down by nightfall. Cars blasted their horns, angry drivers shouting vile things at each other. City life is wonderful. Xero and Rodney had agreed to meet their contact, this time in a different alley. It was in a sketchy part of the city, but within walking distance. "Where is he?" Rodney said. "This leash is killing me. And why did I have to shift?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwIHwWUjSa 維尼
"In case this is a set-up," Xero said. "Now shut up before someone hears you." Rodney was in the middle of rolling his eyes when his ears perked. Xero turned around to face the fox-man.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡquViGzQJyw 維尼
"Thank you for meeting me," he said. "I'm sure you have many questions."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3R2zCVtbD3 維尼
"What's your name?" Xero said. "And why us?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡym5OITWkCR 維尼
"My name is Xander. We chose you for what I saw. You both are intelligent. You," referring to Xero, "possess technological skills far beyond your years. And you," referring to Rodney, he chuckled. "You don't listen to authority. You're bold and carefree. Exactly the two we need."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz7PtlNIK6 維尼
"We?" Rodney questioned, cocking his head. "Who's 'we'?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6BmZLwVKR 維尼
"My species. Everyday, someone goes missing."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEPcn8Es96 維尼
"We haven't heard any reports on the news," Xero said.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkALuwCvgP 維尼
"That's thanks to your government." Silence filled the alley. "For years, we have been kidnapped, experimented on. Mutilated and killed." Xander shuddered. "I managed to escape."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPIrAyGcm9 維尼
"How?" Xero asked. Xander shifted. The fox trotted over to the boy and dog. "Right."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7sHvOoxJ0 維尼
"I escaped over twenty years ago. Oh how the times have changed."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSALxaeij2 維尼
The group stayed quiet for a moment. Rodney sniffed the air occasionally, cautious for any eavesdroppers. If what he's saying is true, we should help him, he thought. "Other than what you've shown us," Rodney said. "What proof do you have that someone as big as the government is involved?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CkTHqtEYM 維尼
"Where did your father work?" Xander asked him.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkiWwqYe5c 維尼
"H-how did you-"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjkWOVaIQ0 維尼
"Like I said, I've been watching you."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡncn4SsQjGh 維尼
Rodney sat quietly for a moment, looking up at Xero as if asking what he should do. He sighed and said "He worked for the CIA. That's all I know."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnhltvXLFW 維尼
"Your dad did what now?" Xero nearly yelled. "Why didn't you tell me?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9EdKoSwzN 維尼
"It's not something you exactly tell people, now is it?" Rodney growled turning back to the fox. "What does any of this have to do with him?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AawC2nb8b 維尼
"It's simple, really. He died trying to protect me." It was at that moment the alley became so silent, you could hear a pin drop. Rodney's ears pinned back in shock as he stared at Xander. His muzzle opened and closed a few times, trying to process what he just heard.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XIYVpMWnK 維尼
"Holy crap," Xero said. "Rod?" Xero removed his collar, allowing him to breath more comfortably. "Rod, you alright?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRXG6QLwst 維尼
"It's your fault," he growled. "My Dad is dead... because of you!" he leaped forward to tackle Xander, but the fox was too quick for him.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnhr4diM5w 維尼
"Let me explain!" he pleaded, Rodney chasing after him. The two ran out of the alley, bounding down the street and across traffic. Xero desperately tried to keep up with them. He remembered his collar, the one he never used. Fishing through his bag, he brought it out and put it on. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the button, shifted, and continued his pursuit. Surprise, pup, he thought as he ran.8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ057w3XHx4g 維尼
Xander panted as he ran in between blurred trees. He could hear Rodney's growl behind grow closer and closer. Why did I say that?! he thought. I should have waited until I had their trust. Tripping over a branch, Xander went rolling straight into the trunk of a tree. He rubbed his head, slowly sitting up and froze in place. He smelled the musky breath of a dog just above him. "Rodney, I beg you, let me explain."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1TA4OIS89 維尼
"Why should I let you? He was protecting you when he died!" His nose twitched and his eyes went wide. "Xero?" He turned around. Standing behind him was a large black panther. "How did you?"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2SVm4Oh1k 維尼
"Spare collar." He walked up to his friends, standing between him and the informant. "I'm not letting you do this, Rodney. He isn't worth it."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2CEv5Sa4s 維尼
"But-"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yuhc802Lm 維尼
"He didn't kill your dad. Whoever was after him did." Rodney huffed, growling to himself as he paced back and forth. "We can get whoever it was, Rod. Revenge isn't always the answer, but if I were you-"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVt4Zk2Nym 維尼
"We're in," Rodney blurted out. He took one look back at the fox and sighed, shifting back to normal. Xero sighed, smiling and also shifted. He walked over to his friend, placing an arm over his shoulder. "But I swear, if this is all some sick joke-"8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuExJBvipl 維尼
"Why would I joke about murder?" Xander said. "'Tis cruel."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIHrrlAdet 維尼
"Even so," Rodney continued, growling. "If this is a trap, you'll be sorry."8964 copyright protection244ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPeTLdIl9H 維尼
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