Zap and I had left Shenan's office. Zap was walking back towards the elevator, going on about his first training class at H.Q., but his voice was only a buzz in my ears. I stood gazing out over the balcony at the main floor, locked to the spot. I watched the busy agents zooming around going in and out of the tunnels and doors. Everything was so… so awesome. Before I had heard of Dog Headquarters, I could never have imagined a place like this. And now, I had the opportunity to become a part of it.

"Kid." Zap's voice broke my train of thought. "Kid, are you okay?"

I shook my head, turning to face Zap. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just still amazed by how cool this place is."

Zap smiled. "Ah, I know. It's pretty overwhelming, but you'll get used to it."

He was right. It was very overwhelming. The entire package. Not just Headquarters, but what Shenan had said to me back in the office. It was a lot to take in, and I was pretty nervous, but I didn't want to let Zap know. I wanted to impress him, make him think that I could handle anything and I was ready for this. I wanted to be an agent, but I didn't realize how hard it was going to be.

"Anyway," Zap continued. "Let's go meet the team. They'll make you feel right at home."

I nodded, following Zap back into the elevator. We went back down to the first floor and walked (I skidded) to tunnel A. I looked at list of what was located down the tunnel.

Agent housing unit 1

Agent housing unit 2

Department of Law Enforcement

Health Department

Hospital and Rehabilitation Area

File Vaults- AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

Credit Vaults- AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

There was also a map below the list showing where each place was located and the best way to get there.

"Lesson number three." Zap said, turning from the map to face me. "Don't go anywhere

near any place that's labeled 'authorized personnel only'. You don't want to piss off the department workers. Trust me, I would know."

"Okay," I said, not sure how to respond.

Zap and I proceeded down the tunnel, until we got to a large set of glass doors. Behind them, I could see about fifty large doghouses. Dogs of all shapes and sizes rushed in and out of the doors, all looking like they had somewhere important to be. Zap scanned his paw on the side of the door and it slid open. I followed him nervously inside; I wanted to make sure I made the best impression on the team that I could. They were well respected agents, as they had completed many dangerous missions and performed amazing feats.

"You know Rocky already," Zap said, pointing to a black and brown Rottweiler who was standing outside of a doghouse in a group of other dogs. One was a smaller, younger Rottweiler who looked quite a bit like Rocky. "And Roscoe."

"ZAP!" A high pitched voice screeched. Out of nowhere, a shaggy chocolate Newfoundland dog jumped in front of Zap and I with a giant smile on her face. "Omigoh! Is this your new trainee!?"

Zap nodded. "This is Patches. Patches, meet Ivy."

I quietly said hello, a bit intimidated by Ivy's copious amounts of energy. Rebound, my friend back at Shelter 17, was quite exuberant herself, but I had not been expecting someone like Ivy to pop out at us.

As Ivy and Zap talked a little, I looked around at the group of dogs nearby. They were all chatting about missions, work and various other topics. I couldn't believe that I would one day get to be part of this amazing team.

"Hey Patches!" Someone called out. I turned my head to see Roscoe and a young German Shepherd I had been friends with named Dexter coming towards me.

"Hey guys!" I smiled, trotting over to my friends. It was good to talk to someone I knew.

"I can't believe you're really here!" Dexter barked excitedly.

"I can't believe I'm actually here!" I exclaimed. "I've been dreaming about this ever since I heard about D.O.G.!"

"Is Zap introducing you to the team?" Roscoe asked.

I nodded. "I already know you guys of course. And I know Rocky, Buster and Oscar. I just met Ivy. Who else is there to meet?"

"Well, there's Alley, Ginger, Gizmo, Widget, Summer, Bailey, Mistrel and Sam," Roscoe said, listing the names slowly and carefully. "Summer, Bailey and Mistrel are regular agents, Ginger works in the hospital, Gizmo and Widget work in the Science Department and Sam and Alley are cats."

I tilted my head to the side. "Cats?"

Dexter nodded. "Yep. They work at M.E.O.W.S., an agency kind of like ours except they're cats. Good cats. We started working with them a few years ago, and a few of their agents were moved to work on some of our teams and vice versa."

I nodded, not fully understanding, but I put it aside. There was so much to learn, but I couldn't worry about all of it at the moment. I had to take it one step at a time.

While Dexter, Roscoe and I had been talking Zap had come up behind us. Two dogs, one a Beagle and the other a Chihuahua, were standing behind him. The Beagle had the typical black, brown and white saddle pattern, and the Chihuahua was brown and white with giant ears.

"Patches, meet Widget," Zap said. The Chihuahua waved. "And Gizmo," The Beagle waved.

I nodded. "Hello,"

"Welcome to H.Q.!" Widget yipped. "Gizmo and I are the tech agents on this team. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask!"

As I talked with the two tech agents, a tall, brindle Greyhound, a feathery Golden Retriever, a large black lab, a gray cat and a brown tabby cat walked up. Buster, Oscar and Rocky followed behind the other group. Buster and Oscar were both German Shepherds, Oscar being Dexter's father, and Rocky was a Rottweiler like his son, Roscoe.

"Well here's the rest of the team," Zap said. "Except for Mistrel. Where is that pup?"

"She's training with Agent Lily," The Golden Retriever barked happily. "She should be done soon!"

Zap nodded. "Well, guys, this is my new trainee Patches."

The outgoing Golden Retriever was the first to introduce herself. "I'm Summer!"

The lab went next. She was much calmer and more reserved. "I'm Bailey."

Next, the Greyhound stepped up. "I'm Ginger. I'm a doctor at the H.Q. hospital."

The two cats were up next. The tabby stepped up first. "I'm Alley. I'm a M.E.O.W.S. agent."

The gray cat came forward. I hadn't seen him very well before but now I noticed that he had only one eye, and the eye he had was clouded over in a blueish gray milky film. "I'm Sam. I work at M.E.O.W.S. as well."

Sam had fascinated me. He must have been blind, with an eye like that, but somehow he was still an agent. The dog we had met in the city, Scruff, was blind, and he had retired because of it. How could Sam fight crime with vision like that?

"You're going to have an awesome time here!" Summer yelled excitedly. Bailey shot her a stern look. "What?"

As I looked around the room, I felt Zap's gaze upon me. I turned around, to see him studying me intently with a fierce look.

"What?" I asked nervously.

Zap shook his head, breaking out of what seemed like a trance. "Uh, sorry. I was just thinking."

I nodded, unsure. It felt like he was hiding something. But I couldn't worry about that now. I was finally here, meeting the epic team that had saved the world countless times. And I was going to become part of it one day.

Hi people! This chapter was a bit slow, I know. But I'm working on the next chapter of my Star Wars fan fic, and I'm wrapping up the first draft of my original story. Hopefully I can devote more time to other fan fics soon! I'm planning to start working on my YJ one again, and my MLP fic, The Heart of a Warrior. Keep on the lookout for updates soon, and hope you enjoyed this chapter!