Chapter 10 - The Medal of Honor
Before the traffickers could even raise their weapons, Titan launched himself off the top of the container.
He hit the leader like a freight train, his ninety-pound frame slamming the man backward off the loading ramp. The nickel-plated revolver flew from the leader's hand, clattering harmlessly across the concrete floor.
"AAGGHH! GET HIM OFF ME!" the leader shrieked as Titan pinned his arms to the ground with a terrifying, resonant roar.
The distraction was all I needed.
I raised my pistol, firing two rapid shots into the shoulder of the goon holding the shotgun to Sterling's head. The man dropped his weapon with a howl of pain. Sterling immediately grabbed the fallen shotgun, spun around, and delivered a brutal butt-stroke to the second goon's jaw, knocking him flat on his back.
The remaining workers panicked, throwing down their iron pipes and sprinting toward the emergency exits—only to run directly into a wall of armed Seattle Police SWAT officers who burst through the double front doors with flashbangs and tactical shields.
Captain Harrison stepped through the smoke, his rifle raised, flanked by twenty officers.
"Clear!" SWAT shouted, securing the warehouse in seconds.
I ran to Titan, pulling him off the bruised and sobbing trafficking leader. "Titan, OUT! Good boy, buddy! Good boy!"
Titan released his grip, looked up at me with bright, alert eyes, and let out a happy, deep bark, his tail thumping wildly against the concrete floor. The antivenom had fully kicked in. The hero was back.
Three weeks later, the morning sun broke brightly over the steps of Seattle City Hall.
The sky was a clear, crisp blue, washing away the memory of the cold, dark autumn rain. A crowd of hundreds of citizens, police officers, news reporters, and city officials gathered around the grand marble podium on the front plaza.
The mayor stood at the microphone, wearing a sharp dark suit. Beside him stood Captain Harrison—who had personally cleared my record and restored my badge—along with Thomas Sterling, his wife, and little Lily.
Next to me, standing sharp, proud, and perfectly still in his polished leather tactical harness, was Titan. The bite mark on his jaw had healed into a small, neat silver scar—a badge of honor he would carry for the rest of his life.
The federal investigation launched from our warehouse raid had completely dismantled an international smuggling ring, rescuing over three hundred rare animals and putting eight high-level traffickers behind bars for life.
"For extraordinary bravery, unyielding loyalty, and devotion to duty above and beyond the human call of law," the Mayor announced into the microphone, his voice echoing across the plaza, "the City of Seattle awards the Medal of Honor to K9 Officer Titan."
The crowd erupted into thunderous, deafening applause.
Little Lily stepped forward from the podium, carrying a heavy gold medal hanging from a wide blue velvet ribbon. She walked up to Titan, knelt down on the marble steps, and gently wrapped her small arms around his broad neck.
She hung the medal over his chest, then leaned in and whispered something into his ear.
Titan gave her face a huge, wet lick right across her cheek, causing the entire crowd—and all the news cameras—to burst into delighted laughter and cheering.
Thomas Sterling walked over to me, extending his hand. "He's the best officer this city has ever seen, Vance. Thank you for not giving up on him."
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"I never had a doubt, Sterling," I smiled, shaking his hand firmly. "He's my partner."
I knelt beside Titan, scratching him behind his ears as the gold medal gleamed brightly under the morning sun. He looked up at me, his dark eyes brimming with absolute trust, readiness, and love. Together, we turned and walked down the marble steps of City Hall, ready to hit the streets for our next shift.
