Clone number oh-three-five. It was his identification. It was also his cover. As Rubble patrolled the halls, an overwhelming feeling of anxiety swept him, just like it had every day he passed the lab. He had watched his friends become tortured. Shocked, burned, nearly drowned. Humdinger was ruthless. Rubble was forced to watch without emotion. If he shed even one tear, he would have gotten caught.

Today was no different. As he passed the room, memories filled his young brain, threatening to break his cover once more. He shook his head, though. Have to do this for them. He continued on, their screams echoing in the back of his mind.

As he rounded the corner, a Chase-clone nodded his head. Surprisingly, the clones weren't all that bad. In fact, he had become friends with some of them. They weren't perfect, no matter what Humdinger said.

This particular Chase-clone, for instance. His scent was slightly off, so much so, Rubble could tell him apart from a line up. He also acted differently. He had emotions. He confessed this to Rubble some nights ago.

How he wished to live outside the compound. To see sunlight. To smell the freshness of the air. Looks like Humdinger done goofed, Rubble chuckled inwardly. He frowned. Here was a perfectly normal pup, albeit a clone, stuck in here with the rest of them. If Humdinger had found out, he'd be destroyed instantly.

This Chase-clone was also intelligent, much like the original Chase. He knew Rubble wasn't a clone. And yet, he hadn't reported it. Why? Rubble didn't know. What Rubble hoped was that he could help him.

For the past month, Rubble has studied and analyzed Humdinger's patterns, as well as the clones. He has trained his hearing to know exactly when they would walk down certain corridors. After all this time, he knew where his friends had to be. There was one doorway at the end of the third hall on the third sub-level that neither Humdinger, clone, nor guard entered.

Rubble had finally managed to slip away, hopefully unnoticed. He trotted down the hall, growing more and more anxious. He didn't know what to expect. As he was about to open the door, a feeling of dread overcame him. What if they're dead? What if Humdinger just... threw their bodies in here? What if I'm alone? He started to shake with fear.

"Hey!" a voice half-yelled. Wiping his face of emotion, as if on instinct, he turned to face to source. He sat on his haunches, looking as mindlessly as possible. "Rubble?" It was the Chase-clone. Even so, Rubble sniffed the air before returning to his regular self.

"Duey?" Rubble said. He couldn't possible call the clone 'Chase' and he didn't feel right calling him a clone. So, he gave him what no other clone had: a name. For he deserved it, as unique as he was, in his own right. "What are you doing down here?"

"I saw you come down. What's up?" It amazed Rubble how much Duey was like Chase, down to his demeanor. He had to remind himself that it wasn't him.

"Why doesn't anyone go down this hall? It's always unguarded."

"This is where Marilyn is. She's not allowed to leave this hallway." Rubble opened his mouth, mouthing 'Oh'. "Yeah, Humdinger's orders." He chuckled. "She really hates him."

"Do you, by any chance, know where Humdinger disposed of my friends?"

"I know that you were practically given to Marilyn by one of the guards." Duey looked at the door. "You don't think...?"

"No, that'd be stupid. There's no way-" The doorknob turned. Duey resumed his 'patrol' mode, walking back up the hall. Rubble was about to follow, when-

"Rubble?" Marilyn said. "Is that you?"

***

Her 'room' was nothing more than a ten-by-ten square. As far as Rubble could tell, there were no cameras, much to his relief. Sadly, though, Ryder and the pups were not there. "I thought you were dead!" Marilyn said, hugging him. "You're the only really friend I have."

"Marilyn," Rubble said. "Do you know where my friends are?"

She shrugged. "I really don't know. I've been stuck in here for over a month." She looked him in the eyes. "We need to stop my Dad."

Rubble nodded. "But I need to find my friends first."

"But Rubble, if you get caught-"

"That's it!" Rubble licked her cheek. "Thanks Marilyn! Don't worry, when I find my friends, we'll get you out!"

"Rubble, what are you planning?"

He opened the door. "I'm going to get caught." With that, he began barking loudly, howling at the top of his lungs. An alarm sounded.

"Rubble, no!" Marilyn cried out.

Ignoring her, he ran up the hall. "Stop him!" someone yelled.

He laughed nervously. "Can't catch me- oof!" He slammed into something, or rather, someone. Looking up, he was met face to face with the barrel of a gun. Turning tail, he tried to get away, but it was too late. A dart embedded itself in his fur. He cried out, collapsing to the ground. Fight it, he told himself. Fight it, stay awake. His vision became blurry.

He felt someone grab his scruff. He saw blinding lights pass overhead every few seconds. Where are they taking me? Why can't I move? His eyes threatened to shut, but he kept fighting the drug.

A door opened ahead. He was tossed inside. "Clone number oh-three-five, defective." The door slid shut, leaving Rubble in total darkness.

His head was spinning. He couldn't move. He couldn't see. His body was numb. "Hello?" he whispered. "Is anyone here?"

Total silence.

***

Ryder's eyes snapped open. I did it! I woke up! Yet, as he tried to move his arms, he felt he couldn't. His body was numb.

The room he was in was totally dark. There wasn't a single sound. Fear gripped him. I can't be dead, I just had that dream. The drug must still be in my system. He heard the door creak open. Light shine through the gap. Around him, he saw clones.

They were dead.

With a gulp, he watched as the guard dropped another clone onto the ground. The door shut, plunging the room into darkness. That's when he heard it.

A whisper.

It was Rubble's voice, no doubt. Desperately, he tried to move his mouth, make a sound, anything. But nothing came out, only air.

The sadness in his voice crushed Ryder's heart. How did he not get caught? Maybe he knows a way out. I've got to get up, I just have to! Slowly, he began to move his fingers, then his hands. Next his arms. Soon, he was able to sit up. Looking around the room, he could barely make out lifeless bodies. He could only hope his pups weren't scattered among them.

He heard Rubble's whisper again. "I'm here," he whispered, coughing. "Keep talking, buddy." He began crawling, ignoring the sticky floor and stench. He didn't want to think about it. Rubble whined, or at least tried to. The drugs were beginning to shut his body down. "Where are you, Rubble?"

"Here," he whispered. Ryder found his legs were no longer numb and stood up. He rushed over to his pup, holding him close. "I'm so happy to see you."

"Ryder," Rubble coughed. "Humdinger, he's- he's got an army-" He coughed more.

"Shh, Rubble, it's okay-"

"No! He's going to attack Adventure Bay! We've got to... to... t..." Rubble fell asleep in his arms. Tears in his eyes, Ryder rocked back and forth, checking his pulse. Although relieved that Rubble was alive, he was nervous. How long does it effect pups? How long was I out? He flinched as he heard the door click. Gulping, he lay himself down, attempting to look deceased.

He was surprised to hear the trotting of paws, but didn't dare move. He heard panting next to his ear. He held his breath. The unknown figure whined a bit and did something completely unexpected.

It placed a paw on Ryder.

Sitting up, Ryder pushed the clone away, backing up. "Get away from me!" he whispered loudly.

"I want to help!" It was a Chase-clone, Ryder could tell from the voice. "My name is Duey."

Ryder blinked. "You have a name?"

"Well, technically, I'm clone number one-three-oh-nine, but Rubble gave me a name." Ryder felt him move closer. The clone seemed... happy.

"How can a clone display emotion? Thoughts? This is... unbelievable."

"Rubble said I'm unique." He whined. "He said once he escaped, he'd take me to see outside. He told me all about the sky, the grass. The wind." He paused. "If I help you, would you take me?"

Ryder was at a loss for words. He's a clone. I can't trust him. But... Rubble seemed to trust him, maybe even care about him. He did give him a name. "If you find my pups and help me stop Humdinger, I'll give you anything you want, clone."

Duey wagged his tail. "Yes, sir, Ryder, sir! And the name is Duey." He stuck out his paw.

"Right. Duey." He shook his paw. "I like it. Alright, go find the others. You can tell them apart from... all of this, right?"

"I am a genuine Chase-clone, which means I have one of the best noses in the compound!" He began his search, trotting around the room. Ryder figured the room was large, based on the shadows cast earlier. He recollected Rubble into his arms, cradling the unconscious pup.

"I hope you're right about him, Rubble."

A/N: Yes, short chapter. But! That means even longer finale! What do you think? Do you like Duey? Should Ryder trust him? Rubble did, so why not? Oh, yeah. He's a clone.

What about Marilyn? You think she could help the PAW Patrol in any way? What about Silo and the Alpha?

Let me know what you think, and tell me what you thought of the chapter! Three more to go.

What happens next? Find out next time on "Revenge"!

~Dox