As he walked away from her sleeping figure, completely content with everything that had just happened, Ace suddenly stopped on his tracks.

"...Wait..." He sniffed the air, detecting the scent of another animal in the ship. "I'm not alone..."

Could this be the one who caused all this ruckus inside the spacecraft?

He looked around in search of whoever was lurking in the darkness, extremely cautious but not afraid.

That is, until he realized he had just left Brainy (deeply uncouncious and vulnerable) just moments ago while this villain was inside the room.

He immediately panicked at the thought of something happening to her, but forced himself to calm down so he wouldn't be caught.

He leaned down into a stalking position; careful to be stealthy.

He felt a breeze pass right behind him and turned around while growling ferociously and baring his teeth at whatever was circling him.

But the figure in the shadows disappeared again after passing by him.

"You... if you don't come out right now, I'll shred you to pieces as soon as I find you myself." Bat-Hound threatened. No matter what, he wouldn't let this mysterious evil get to his companions and, dare he admit, friends.

Especially not Brainy.

Suddenly he heard a low laugh coming from the darkness, and the dim light from the intergalactic sky outside slowly revealed his face.

"...Oh, I certainly would like that, would I?" The tall dog in front of him smirked in a disturbing way. "After all, I did spend all these years waiting for you... I suppose this is what you wanted to do once you found me again? Tear me to shreds?"

Ace's eyes widened through the domino mask.

"...I thought that you promised..." The German Shepherd wearing a mask like his paused for a moment, his smirk faltering. "That if I ever got hurt because of you... I was the one who got to torture you over it?" The laugh he gave after this was forced.

"..." Ace stood there, completely immobile. Speechless and astonished.

Suddenly, he wanted to cry, but he immediately pushed to urge away to inspect the dog in front of him better.

After all... it could be just a trick. It could not be Sean... it could not be...

"Mom said we shouldn't make ugly promises... but when everything in your pitiful life turns ugly..." He scoffed, scornful. "When your dear home gets invaded, and your mother dies right in front of you... When your only brother, your only salvation, abandons you, too..."

Ace's face contorted into an expression of despair.

It was Sean.

He got the urge of running towards him and hugging him, just to reassure himself his brother was really there, and not in one of his nightmares...

"...Those promises become hopes." Rat-Hound's smirk extended all over his muzzle and but he still glared at Ace with all the hatred in the world.

"Now it's my turn to torture you."

...But it was clear Ace wouldn't be welcomed.
-----

Brainy woke up with a start.

Her dreams had been so peaceful seconds ago, and she felt really well-rested (as much as she detested the fact that she fell asleep while working).

But seeing Mechanikat and Snooky Wookums suddenly standing in front of her took all that peace away.

She immediately got up, growling at them with all her might and anger.

She scared them off enough for them to shriek like little girls and retract their claws; which they apparently planned to use on her.

"Oh no, sir! She's awake!" Snooky informed the obvious to his superior, who just glared at him.

"You don't say!"

Brainy quickly glanced around, hoping not to find any other inconvenience in her spaceship, and actually hoping to find one of her friends and fellow superheroes to help her fend off these menaces.

But fortunately (and unfortunately), she found neither of those.

"...Bat-Hound... where is he?" she muttered to herself worriedly. For some reason, she had felt he had been closer to her than she remembered...

Or was it just her dream?

"Oh, you're looking for Mr. Grim Face?" Mechanikat laughed merrily, clearly amused by the fact. "That's funny. He's having his own big fight right now, y'know? Might not come out of it alive."

"What?" Brainy's green eyes widened in horror.

"He's finally found his match." The robot cat chuckled again.

Then he and Snooky snuck away from her, going to the headquarters and the rooms deeper inside the spaceship.

She found herself with two options: she could either go and chase after them, leaving Bat-Hound to his possible doom, or try to find Bat-Hound and trust the other super dogs (and cat) to wake up and fight the evil felines...

... She would never forgive herself if something happened to Ace.

Making her decision, her eyes turned around, determined, and she ran off after the dog detective's scent.
----

"Sean, you have to listen to me."

"Why would I listen to scum, you mongrel?" Sean had put away the smug facade and growled at his brother furiously.

"Sean-"

"You're garbage as a whole. Abandoning me with those monsters... they're monsters. They're just as maliciously cruel and evil as you." Ace could notice the tears nearly falling out of Sean's blank eyes.

"They forced me to become a filthy rat like them. They used me for stealing and robbing homes, attacking defenseless people, tainting my honor and pride as the son of a police dog..."

Ace couldn't find it in himself to speak anymore after hearing that; feeling utter pain inside his chest.

"If I didn't do it, they wouldn't feed me. And they would hit and threaten me! And you- you got picked up by some moronic billionaire!"

"...You won the lottery. And you didn't need me anymore... I became the lowest trash of all, but you... You're no different."

Ace grimaced, unable to look at his younger brother in the eyes.

Despite everything, despite calling himself a hero, he had failed him.

He was a villain in his brother's eyes.

The grey Great Dane sighed deeply, holding back the tears he also felt inside his eyes.

Sean was still heaving, growling and gritting his teeth in pure rage; just looking at Ace made him livid.

Slowly, the younger dog began relaxing his muscles, even though his mind and heart were anything but relaxed.

"Ace... I... I don't know how you could do this to me. Why you would do this to me..." He closed his eyes momentarily. "But I..."

Ace hesitantly looked back at him, clear dread inside him.

"...I must give it right back to you."

Ace slowly rose his head from staring at the floor shamefully; feeling so many painful emotions swirling in his head.

Being fully honest... he was willing to let Sean have his revenge.

After all, a part of him felt it was only just if he got at least half of what his brother had to suffer through thanks to him.

Finally letting the tears he had been holding back fall, he lowered his head sadly; unwilling to fight Sean.

"You... you can do whatever you want to me... this is my fault after all. And there's nothing I can do to fix your pain... I... I deserve it." Was all that Bat-Hound could say in response.

Sean was completely shocked to see his older brother surrendering so easily. After the extreme surprise had worn off, he turned around and scoffed with comptempt.

This is not what he wanted...

The pain he could inflict on him was nowhere near enough. What he needed was to take something away from him...

Something vital to him...that would hurt him as much as he'd been hurt...

Then as if on cue, Brainy Barker ran into the room, fully on defense and ready to attack the villain in front of Ace.

"Stay away from him!" she barked with all her might and authority.

Ace immediately turned towards Brainy with a horrified expression as his heart stopped.

He would allow Sean to take revenge on him... but Brainy...

Brainy just glanced at the two of them in confusion and caution; oblivious of the danger she was in.

"Her." Sean said as his grin grew. "I have to take her away from you!"

"No. Sean—" Ace immediately jumped in front of Brainy, fearlessly and with no hesitation. "You can hurt me. But not Brainy..."

Brainy looked at him with both puzzlement and amazement.

"...I'll protect her."

-
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