Doghouse

Captain's journal, Doghouse Alfa. Drifting hopelessly on a direct path of collision with a black hole. Engines dead in the water. Out of treats.

For those that come after us: turn back while you can.The ancient text told the truth. The Star Gate is here, I've seen it. I hope Marshall and Chase found peace. Guys, if you're out there in Heaven, save a few biscuits for me. I won't be long.

From the beginning, for those who find this message. Turn back, only death lurks here.

As team leader, I was tasked with finding a Star Gate and linking it to Earth. I was selected as team captain thanks to my engineering skills. Chase was my second in command, he usually did the leadership thing. He didn't mind this time. Call it a hunch. Marshall got the short end of the stick. He was charged with securing the area and dealing with any hostiles we may encounter. I could tell he was nervous, he packed his flamethrower. Ever since he broke it off with Everest he hadn't been himself. The poor pup got his heart broken. He beat up five mastiffs that night. Got so drunk he even gave Chase a black eye.

Doghouse Alfa Mark Two was my pride and joy. I just finished modifying the core with a layer of supercharged plasma converters, which ensured split-second hyperspace jumps. As I screwed down the cover my collar flashed red. Ryder needed us. Fuckig Ryder, dog…

“Thanks for coming, pups. This is from high-up. You don't speak of this to anyone. This stays between us. Understand?”

"What's this about?" Chase barked, staring down Ryder with a cold look. They went way back. I always thought Chase would end up tearing Ryder's throat out. He never refused orders. Chase was such a good boy.

“Where’s the rest of the team?” I said, scratching my ear.

“This mission is just for you three. Marshall, what happened to your face?" Ryder said, dropping a thick file on the floor.

"Cat-fight, sir. Got stuck in the middle of it,” Marshall said grinning. His snout still bled ever so gently.

“Get your shit together, you mangy mutt. You're lucky I don't put a bullet between your eyes. You've been nothing but trouble these past months."

"Sorry, sir, Ryder sir. I swear on my itty-bitty heart I'll change.”

"You're such a disappointment. I really thought you could take Chase's place one day. But I see now you'll never be anything more than the filthy stray I found in the gutter," Ryder said, his face twisting in disgust.

"How about I maul your stupid, fucking -”

"Marshall, at heel. Remember your place, you dog,” Chase said towering over Marshall, his eyes glowing red.

“Well, well, look at this…Always the boyscout, eh Chase? Fine, I'll sit. Let's hear what he has to say.”

When I opened the file I almost had a heart attack. Ryder said some crazy things. My head was spinning. It went on and on until something snapped me out of it.

“Rubble, did you hear me?"

I saw Ryder, Chase and Marshall looking at me like I was going crazy. “I gave you a mission. What are you waiting for?" Ryder said through clenched teeth.

“You want us to go to some undiscovered planet at the edge of space, and find some sort of magic portal? That can't be right.”

“It's an advanced piece of equipment, you mutt.”

"That you read about in a book of fairytales from the stone age. Am I supposed to navigate using those cave drawings? Are you out of your god-damned mind?" I said nervously, eyeing Chase and Marshall.

“The sky map is accurate. I ran simulations, it's there. All you have to do is land and activate a beacon. Once active we'll send a team to extract you.” Ryder said, lighting a cigarette.

“If it's that simple, why did you give Marshall permission to use the war-mech? What's waiting for us there?" Chase said, his mane puffing out.

"Good luck, pups. Don't come home without completing the mission. Remember: in space no one can hear you yelp for help. You're all alone on this one." Ryder said, crushing the stub under his boot.

We strapped in and took off. The ship tore a gash in Mother Earth's linens as the hyperdrive engaged, and sent us jetting into the unknown. We slipped in the planet's orbit quietly, in a blazing ball of hell-fire. Once on the ground we moved through a dense jungle. The scorching air made progress slow and painful. The ship, Doghouse Alfa, tracked our progress and mapped the way. We reached temple ruin, some sort of metallic structure twisted in bizarre shapes. To me, it looked more like a processing plant than an advanced space port. Even if I knew where it was, I wouldn't be able to dock there.

It was dead and abandoned. We were the only living things to set foot inside probably for millennia. Marshal's mech flooded the great hall with light. It was then that we realized we stepped in a gigantic grave. Dusty bones littered the place. Animal bones, human bones, some belonging to giant beings. The place was marked for death.

We found the Star Gate. We did as we were told, and activated a beacon of pure energy right on top of it. We watched, terrified, as horrible things beyond anything imaginable poured out of the portal. We fought and bled and some of us died. Because of Marshall’s sacrifice Chase and I made it to the ship. He bled out in my paws. I watched the shimmer in his eyes fade away.

So, this is it, I'm almost at the edge of the black hole. I have one more trick up my…whatever, I'm not giving up yet. One more hyper push, one more nuclear fusion, one last chance to teleport back home. If I make it, I'm coming for you Ryder. What's my line again? Did somebody say lunch?!