Editing Getting the Band Together (section)

==='''Dogs'''===

Looking over at a vacant gas station tucked between industrial buildings, Gadget saw lights on in the building but none outside. The walls were covered with graffiti. The windows were covered in newspaper on the inside.

Gadget asked, "Will they have a lookout, you think?"

"No idea. But they probably depend on the dogs. When I start running, I’m going to run back the way we came in. Stay away from the dogs.  I'm going to circle around and see if any of them are outside."

Eddie headed off, walking far to the east.  .

She pulled out her cell phone and made a call. “Gadget. Wants and warrants on a Wart and known associates. Especially wants and warrants on an associate named Waldo. Police tours in the area of Third Street and Hunsiker Avenue. Yes.” She lit a cigarette and puffed it while she waited.

“Yes. Alright. Route police at least a mile from this location. Okay. Okay. Okay. And Waldo... Okay. Gadget down.”

She watched for any of the gang members returning.

The air around the vacant gas station grew heavier, the tension palpable as Gadget watched her surroundings with predatory focus. The graffiti-covered walls seemed to close in, the windows’ newspaper coverings adding a claustrophobic feel to the eerily quiet industrial zone. As Eddie vanished into the distance, her instincts prickled with the unmistakable feeling of being watched—or perhaps stalked.

Then she smelled them. Dirty dogs.

The dogs were close, their musky scent mingled with the faint metallic tang of rust and oil. Gadget pivoted, slipping behind a building with a crumbling wall, her heart steady but her senses sharpened. From the shadows, three shapes emerged: large, muscular dogs, their eyes reflecting the dim light like embers in the gloom.

The leader—a scarred, thick-furred savage with torn ears—moved forward first, his posture radiating dominance. Behind him, two slightly smaller dogs fanned out, their growls rising in anticipation. The pack began to circle her, their intent clear.

Gadget exhaled slowly, her father's teachings resonating in her mind. She didn’t run. Instead, she dropped to all fours, her movements fluid, deliberate. She raised her hips, her posture bold and challenging. Her eyes locked onto the leader’s, refusing to break the connection. The world seemed to fall away, leaving only the primal, unspoken dialogue between her and the animal.

The leader snarled, testing her, his hackles raised. Gadget bared her teeth and growled low and deep, channeling every ounce of her willpower into the sound. It wasn’t just noise; it was intent, a projection of dominance and confidence that tapped into the primal currents of the canine psyche.

The other two dogs faltered, their growls cutting short as they glanced at each other, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. The leader hesitated, his head lowering slightly, torn between instinct and her overwhelming presence. Gadget growled again, a commanding sound that brooked no argument. The leader stepped back, his defiance faltering under the weight of her gaze.

Then it happened. With a whimper, the leader dropped to his belly, his body language one of submission. Gadget moved forward on all fours, her movements deliberate and measured. She sniffed at the leader, solidifying her claim. The two remaining dogs quickly followed suit, rolling over with their tails tucked.

Gadget straightened and rubbed the leader’s belly, her touch firm but acknowledging his surrender. He rolled to his haunches, sitting obediently, awaiting her command. She rubbed her cheek against him, radiating love of him. Love he had never known till now. "I'll call you Savage."

She greeted the other two the same, feeling them give up their devotion.

Focusing her awareness, Gadget channeled her intent, pushing it outward like a wave. Her thoughts took form, her message clear: “Tell the rest I am coming soon for them. Tell the pack leader.”

The dogs responded instantly, bolting into the shadows without hesitation. Gadget stood and dusted herself off, exhaling slowly. The pack was hers now—or at least, they knew better than to challenge her again.

As the shadows settled once more, Gadget turned her attention back to the gas station. It was time to finish what she started.

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