Anfall paused, casting a glance over her shoulder at Sabre. Her tone was less snappy, less commanding now that they had all established direction and their process in the maze. "Coming?"

Anfall turned, not waiting. She began at a steady trot - no faster, lest she wish to burn out her energy, but no slower. She did want to make good time, after all. She continued in the direction they were supposed to go - nothing. Anfall snarled a growl of frustration, then barked - a locating call. Nothing. Again. In a training excersize such as this one, there was no strategy the first time around. It was luck - then second time they were thrown into this maze, it would be memory, logic, etc. But in the moment, there was no strategy.

"So. How'd you get here?" Anfall asked her companion absently, rather bored.

Kämpe flicked her gaze to the commander, eyes narrowed slightly. She hadn't known that the regular commanders knew so little of Beta. How.... unappealing, it would be, to live in the dark, with no knowledge of your superior's intentions. Yet, perhaps peaceful - Kämpe knew she wouldn't enjoy living with no control over herself, yet perhaps being a lower rank had its benefits. She wouldn't have to constantly make sure she was respected, that rules were followed, that decisions were made, that she didn't fail Beta.

She paused before answering Hoffen's question.

"It is my decision. I will state my recommendation to Beta, and await their approval. I have someone in mind as of right now."

She paused, and the transmitter in her ear flickered. A sharp jolt of energy darted through her mind.

Test him.

Kämpe immediately straightened her posture, mind finding the quickest solution. She turned to the Charlie sisters in the ledge below.

"Sixty-one, Sixty-three. Beta wishes to test Twenty-five's potential as a future Cull. I command a break-down of the maze, which I will handle, and an attack on Twenty-five to judge his combat reaction skills. Understood?"

She turned to Hoffen.

"Commander, upon the clearing of the maze simulation, I ask you get your dogs under control, except for Twenty-five, of course." She hesitated, ear flicking thoughtfully. "I don't want uneccessary injuries."

She passed her request to Beta. In a matter of seconds, the Maze vanished, leaving the dogs spread out, stunned as their surroundings evaporated. A flicker of disaprovement washed over the cheif. They should be bomb-proof, unaffected by any change.

Alta snapped to attention as her commander addressed her. Her shoulders were drawn back, chin lifted, limbs straightened.

"Understood, Commander." She responded, voice mechanical and steady.

She too had viewed Twenty-five as an option. The loss of his companion had surely broken him down, corroded his will to fight back. He would be a submissive tool - an ideal candidate for a cull. Many of the culls had endured a devastating loss, as had many of the Charlie dogs - it dashed their will to live in the dust. They were able to be controlled as a result.

Alta could still remember the day her mother was murdered. How she and her sister were only just weaned pups.

No emotion. No emotion.

The maze vanished, as the Cheif had said. Twenty-five was easy to spot. Alta didn't hesitate. She leapt from the ledge, eyes cold, cool, demenor oddly composed. She lengthened her stride, athletic form closing the distance between them with ease. Rache should be behind her - or, perhaps her sister would let her handle this. It wasn't up to Alta.

Alta lunged towards him, then feinted away. She wanted to let him know that this was a battle - she wouldn't be so dishonorable as to suddenly ambush him and give him no chance.

Ty watched as his leader spoke. He had always been quiet at first, one to listen before speaking. Maze certainly did look imposing. He flinched at the slash across her eye - it was a horrid wound.

His mind suddenly dove into darkness.

Blood.

A dog danced across his vision. She was golden haired, like him. Something lunged at her, cutting her to the ground. Blood poured from her skull - running over her eye.

Ty felt a scream bubble in his throat. Hands closed around him. He was the only survivor. The bodies of his littermates lays strewn about his mother's lifeless body.

Ty howled and squirmed and squealed and fought. The hands clutched onto him. He was approaching a wall. His mind flickered into darkness. His mother's voice, strong, yet calm - gentle.

Do you know why I named you Tysta?

Silent. Quiet. Calm.

You're a secret, did you know that?

Her voice rose into a soft lullaby.

Be silent, be still.

Do not wait for the morning bird's trill.

In the darkest of night,

Let the dirt beneath your paws be your sight.

She took a breath, her voice returning to a regular, hushed tone.

The secret is simple.

Be silent, be still.

Find the dog, the dog made of metal.

A light flashes in the ear.

The key.

Take the key. Take the key to freedom.

Run.

Run, hide, keep running. Don't look back.

The farthest end of the city, where nothing lives. Where danger lurks at every corner.

The exit lies North.

The key.

Then run.

Run to freedom.

And never look back.

Ty's mind jerked into reality. He stumbled backwards, mind scrambling to process what he had witnessed.

Mother.

He wanted to scream. He wanted to protect her. To save her. It was too late.

I'm too late. I'm too late. I -

I have the key.

I can't be too late for this. I can still save lives. I can save the Beta dogs, the Kilo dogs, the humans, the Culls. I can protect them all. Heal them, fix them. They need the key. And I have the first step.

I was too late. Too late to save Mother. But I can still save them.

"Commander Gin? I - have - to go. Really quick. I promise I'll be back soon. I'm sorry!" The golden furried dog turned and lunged down the tunnel they came. He didn't bother to be stealthy. Any dog could easily follow. His paws pounded against the hard - packed dirt. He needed to save them. He needed to.

Ty surfaced quickly, lunging out of the covered hole in the ground. He was close to the Beta training complex, far too close for his liking. But Ty, usually calm and thoughtful, disregarded all caution. He wasn't so close so he was visible.

Zadolt. I need Zadolt. Please, please, please. Zadolt.

Attacking first. Smart. If he were stronger - say, made of metal - it would have been an excellent move. But Alta and Rache were trained machine - like dogs. Flesh and Blood, but barely. She knew immediately that it would do no good. To her surprise, he was able to unbalance Rache. There was a slight flicker of worry from Alta for her sister - but Rache could handle anything. They had been trained to do so since pups.

Alta took her chance, this time calculating her moves far more carefully. She wanted to test his ability when overpowered, when losing a battle. So she drew her shoulders back, lowered her head to protect her chest and underbelly, and charged. By going for his flank or side by normal means, she exposed her own shoulder and head. A risky move, but one she was willing to take. She was able to dodge at any given moment, anyway. It wasn't about winning - it was about testing.

Alta feinted, then lunged for his shoulder. If he were to dodge, he would miss his oppertunity to catch her own shoulder. If he remained still, they would both be able to wound each other. It was important he realize that this was no game - that blood would be drawn. Until Kämpe gave the order to halt, this was a fight to the death.