THREE HOURS AGO

The Air Patroller flies steadily as it cuts through the sky, its cabin illuminated by the soft glow of the control panels. Ryder stands at the helm, his expression serious, addressing the pups assembled before him: Rubble, Zuma, Marshall and Rocky.

"Alright, pups," Ryder begins, his voice firm. "We've got a situation. Earlier tonight, Mayor Goodway called about a break-in at Town Hall. Two thieves, dressed in black, made off with the ingots."

Rubble's ears perk up. "Thieves? Who'd want to steal gold from the Town Hall? What are we going to do?"

Zuma tilts his head, his playful demeanor replaced with concern. "Yeah, dude, that's like... so not cool. We already got the Chase situation. Can't they give us a bweak?"

Ryder's gaze shifts to Rocky, whose eyes burn with frustration. Ryder hesitates before continuing.

"Mayor Goodway said the leader of it was way too professional, like he knew exactly what he was doing." Ryder pauses, the weight of his next words evident. "That can only mean one thing: it's Chase."

The cabin falls silent, the pups exchanging uneasy glances.

Rocky, sitting closest to Ryder, clenches his jaw. "Then let me go after him," he says, his voice trembling with determination.

Ryder shakes his head, his expression softening. "Rocky, I know you want to help, but you're hurt. You can't face Chase, and I'm not taking any risks."

"I'm fine!" Rocky snaps, his tail lashing. "Skye needs us, and Chase has gone too far this time. I can't just sit here while he gets away with this!"

Ryder places a hand on Rocky's shoulder, his voice calm but firm. "Rocky, I understand how you feel, but I need you to stay here. We don't know what Chase or Sweetie might have planned. I can't risk anyone else getting hurt."

Rocky looks away, biting back his frustration. "You don't get it," he mutters. "I trusted Chase. He was supposed to be our leader... my friend."

Rubble and Zuma exchange uneasy glances, unsure how to comfort their teammate.

Before anyone can respond, Ryder's pup-pad buzzes. He answers, and Mayor Goodway's frantic voice fills the cabin.

"Ryder! Oh, thank goodness you picked up!" she exclaims. "I saw them, two thieves in black! They were sneaking out of Town Hall with the gold ingots!"

Ryder's brow furrows. "Did you see where they went, Mayor Goodway?"

"No .... I was so busy covering my poor Chickaletta's eyes from this horror."

Ryder nods grimly. "Thanks, Mayor Goodway. We'll handle it."

Ending the call, Ryder turns back to the pups. "Everest has already searched the entire town and found nothing. That means Chase and Sweetie must be hiding out with Humdinger."

Zuma grins despite the tension. "Time to catch Chase"

Ryder smiles at Zuma's enthusiasm, but his gaze lingers on Rocky. "Rocky, stay here and rest. We'll bring Skye back and stop Chase. I promise."

The Air Patroller lands near the edge of Humdinger's lair. Ryder and the pups disembark, their resolve evident in every step.

Rocky, however, stays behind, sitting in the doorway of the aircraft. His shoulders slump as he watches the others disappear into the shadows.

"This isn't fair," Rocky mutters, his tail curling tightly around him. "Skye needs me. They need me."

He stares down at his bandaged leg, the ache in his chest far outweighing the physical pain. "I could've stopped him if Ryder had let me..."

Minutes tick by. The silence around the Air Patroller grows oppressive. Rocky's thoughts swirl with anger, regret, and desperation.

Then a chilling thought strikes him.

"What if Chase escapes?"

His eyes widen, and a surge of determination floods through him. Ignoring the pain in his leg, Rocky gets up, his movements slow and deliberate.

"Ryder's not the only one who can stop this," he mutters.

Rocky limps toward the lair, every step a struggle. As he nears the edge of the lair, something catches his eye: a sleek, unfamiliar jet parked nearby.

"What the... that's Sweetie's jet!" Rocky whispers, his gaze darting between the jet and the entrance to the lair. He notices a smaller, hidden doorway partially concealed by debris.

Hobbling over, Rocky examines the door, his mind racing. It looks like an alternate entry point, which probably is used during an emergency situation.

Rocky glances over his shoulder, the weight of Ryder's orders heavy on his conscience. But the thought of Chase escaping, or Skye being left behind, steels his resolve.

"I'll wait here," Rocky murmurs, his voice filled with quiet determination. He crouches in the shadows, ready to act if the worst happens.

And he waits.