Unlike some of my other fan fiction, this is not a story where you select choices and strive for different endings. It follows a regular narrative structure. I may go back to the choice-oriented story in the future, but I'm taking a break from that to finish this one first.

I do not own the Mighty Ducks or any other trademarked characters mentioned in this story.

Chapter 1

"Good evening, this is Melody Monroe with your news. Tonight, we'll get answers to questions like: What is OtherEarth, Inc.? And what will it mean for us?"

The brunette news anchor smiled at the camera before briefly turning to the three people sitting for the interview. All of her guests were humans, but two of them lacked a certain cartoonish vibrancy that Melody and her other guest possessed.

"I have with me a representative from the Off-World Agency, Roy McNabb, and two special guests from another dimension, Chase Farrow and Vivian Rykks. Let's begin with the Agency's role in all of this. Roy, could you tell us a bit about the process it took to arrive at OtherEarth, Inc.?"

The stout individual in a suit nodded and smiled as he said,

"Well, it really came from the initiative of driven outsiders like Chase and Vivian here, but as many know, Off-World Agency began four years ago when a rift opened up that allowed humans from another dimension to enter our world. Our agency was created to work with them. We take them through a registration process and help them become part of our society."

"But OtherEarth, Inc. is a collective effort from many of these strangers to our world, which allows them to give back to their new home. Is that right, Chase?"

"Indeed it is," the younger man answered. "We've accepted the term 'outsiders' as a designation for our people, but we are hoping to change that perception by offering a variety of services through OtherEarth, Inc."

"What kind of services?"

Chase looked to Vivian, who said,

"Well, some of us have developed certain powers since our arrival to your world. Chase and I are quite talented when it comes to healing, for example. Others can use their powers to help protect someone lacking the strength to defend themselves."

"Or say you need something made for you, we have skilled builders, or some of us can provide electrical charges if you need something powered up," Chase added.

"And from what I've seen these skills all seem quite magical," Melody said enthusiastically. "So OtherEarth, Inc. will be a place anyone can go to seek help from those of you with these skills?"

"Yes, it's an excellent way for our friends from another dimension to make a place for themselves in this world," Roy McNabb said.

"But there have been rumors that the Agency has had to deal with some dangerous outsiders who have destructive powers. Can you comment on this, Roy?"

The stout man appeared slightly less at ease.

"There have been a few who had an excess of power for whatever reason and an inability to control it. Those outsiders were unregistered with the Agency, which is a violation of the law. But we have taken care of any such problems."

"Yes, and all of us at OtherEarth, Inc. are registered and are quite safe," Chase assured the news anchor with a smile.

One Year Later

Wildwing walked down the pristine white hallway with young man scrolling through a tablet and talking into small microphone on his headset. Even on the Aerowing, the flight had taken several hours to reach the city of New Haven where OtherEarth, Inc. had established their headquarters.

"Sorry, we get a lot of calls to manage here," the outsider clerk said, looking back at Wildwing. "Our records indicate you requested a healer?"

"Yes, my friends have been sick for some time. I called weeks ago about an appointment, but I never received a date."

The young man sighed.

"Our healers remain rather busy. Getting placed on the schedule can be almost impossible," and then he added in a low tone. "Unless you know how to get their attention that is."

He rubbed his fingers together, and Wildwing frowned.

"Look, I know I don't have an appointment, but will it cost me anything just to talk to them today?"

The outsider shrugged.

"You can probably get a free five-minute consultation. I'll take you up there, and you can see what happens."

He led the way to an elevator, and once it began moving upwards at a smooth and steady pace, Wildwing watched the lights blink for each level until they reached the highest floor. Once they stepped out, the desk clerk led Wildwing to a secretary.

"Janice can direct you to the offices for healers."

Then he left Wildwing and started a call with another client. Approaching the desk in the lounge, Wildwing said,

"I'm looking for a healer."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No, but…"

"Everyone's out to lunch at the moment, but you can wait over there," Janice said without looking away from her computer.

Wildwing buried his impatience and took a seat in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs in the lounge. He waited half an hour before the elevator opened up again, and six outsiders stepped out, chatting together.

They all seemed to be in their twenties or thirties, and it looked like they had expensive taste in clothes. He stood up as they started to pass through the lounge, and he began to try to speak to them.

"Sir, you'll have to wait for a consultation," Janice said, interrupting him as she stepped out from behind her desk.

The humans noticed him and stared derisively. Wildwing felt the condemnation of the label freak in the sting of their glances. None of them seemed to have any recognition of who he was.

"I'm just looking to speak with a healer."

A dark-haired man with fair skin smiled and stepped forward.

"We're all healers on this floor, but we can talk in my office," he said as he dismissed Janice. "I'm Chase Farrow."

Janice backed off and the other outsiders moved on, seemingly bored. Wildwing followed Chase as he walked down the hall without waiting for a response.

When they entered his office, Chase gestured to a seat as he settled into his own tall, cushy chair behind his desk.

"So tell me about your situation, uh Mr. …."

"Wildwing Flashblade. I lead the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim."

"Mighty Ducks, and what is that?"

"I guess you're not a hockey fan. We play hockey and fight crime."

"And you're what? Mutants?"

Wildwing's brow furrowed.

"No, we're ducks from another universe. Aliens, not mutants."

"Sure, aliens," Chase said skeptically. "Why do you need a healer?"

"My team, and other people, in Anaheim have been suffering from some kind of sickness. It weakens them … it may even kill someone if some cure isn't found. None of our doctors can do anything to help us."

"Your team? How many of you are there?"

"I have five other team members. Some of them are worse off than others."

Chase drew in a breath between his teeth. The sound grated on Wildwing's nerves.

"Five patients. That raises my fee quite a bit. And of course, I could not help others in your little town without more compensation."

"How much for my teammates?" Wildwing pressed.

Chase considered it for a moment, and then he wrote a figure down on a notepad and passed it to Wildwing. The duck's eyes widened.

"We don't have that kind of money."

"Then you have quite a problem," Chase said without appearing concerned. "To accomplish what you're asking requires a lot from one of us. All we ask is fair compensation."

"I knew I'd have to pay for your help. But this is an absurd amount."

"And yet, others have managed to pay. Of course, they only had to seek help for one or two people. You're asking a lot with five."

Wildwing stood up.

"There are other healers in this building."

As he started for the door, Chase said,

"Don't expect to get a better deal. But go on and try if you're willing to waste your time."

Wildwing walked out and closed the door behind him. He expected high prices here, and he was ready to pay whatever he could to save his friends, but that amount was just not something he could manage.

Yet, as he went around to the other healers, they all responded in a similar manner. Some even asked higher prices as if sensing his desperation. Wildwing finally walked back into the lounge with clenched fists. Janice eyed him disdainfully.

"I'll see myself out," he said as he walked to the elevator.

Wildwing's anger faded to despondency as he was transported to the first floor. This had been his last hope. Nosedive and Tanya were getting particularly bad. If they didn't get help soon… maybe he would have to sell the Pond and then try to come back and buy help. But OtherEarth, Inc. might raise their prices even more if he returned seeming desperate. And where would his team live if they sold the Pond?

He began to walk slowly through the lobby to the front doors of the building. Everything else around him was just a blur, but his peripheral vision finally drew his attention to a blonde-haired young woman walking parallel to him. She glanced in his direction, but then she quickly looked away; yet she was matching his pace from several feet away.

She was dressed in the simple clothes of a custodian, and Wildwing looked back to see a cleaning cart left abandoned by a pillar. He kept walking and when he reached the main doors, he noticed that she exited too. She was an outsider like everyone else who worked at OtherEarth, Inc., but Wildwing couldn't help wondering why he was being tailed by a janitor.

When they were both outside, he slowed his pace, but she kept walking to a large oak tree ahead of them. Then she stopped beneath it and faced him. Wildwing walked over to her and halted under the shade of the oak's branches.

"If you wanted to talk, why not speak to me in there?"

She smiled, and he noticed the warmth of her gold-flecked brown eyes. There were a few freckles on her face, noticeable even in the shade. Like all outsiders, the brightness of her skin and hair was noticeably less vibrant than those of his universe. He had heard outsiders speak of this world as one that seemed to be colorfully animated, and all outsiders stood out like dull figures in front of a paint-splattered canvas.

"In that building, I'm just part of the cleaning crew," the girl said. "They'd get suspicious if I talked to customers. Out here, I'm taking my break. And we're not being watched."

"What do you want?"

"This is really about what you want," she said. "You came here for something. Something important, I'm guessing. But judging from the look on your face, they demanded a price you couldn't pay. Am I right?"

Wildwing dropped his gaze. Why did he need to go over all of this again?

"Yes, it was too high. Do you have any tips?"

"Well, what did you ask for?"

"My friends are sick. And there's several of us, so the cost of service was pretty high."

She considered that but did not appear surprised.

"Look, I need to be going. I've been gone too long already," Wildwing said as he started to turn away.

"Wait," she insisted, moving in his path. "Won't you at least hear my offer first?"

Wildwing stared at her with a scrutinizing gaze.

"You're a healer?"

"I can help your friends, yes. And I know what you're thinking. Why would a janitor be able to help? I know I don't have an impressive office or my own set of recommendations."

Wildwing looked around them. Why was she pulling him aside out here if she had abilities?

"If you have powers, wouldn't you be sitting in an office instead of cleaning floors?"

She moved closer to the trunk of the tree with a cautious gaze as she looked around them again.

"There's a lot that goes on here that you don't know about. After what you saw today, you've got to realize that the jerks in the offices didn't get there because they love the joy of helping others."

Wildwing silently acknowledged that point.

"But I do have powers despite my career choice," she insisted. "And you can afford me."

"So what's your price?" Wildwing asked crossing his arms. He wasn't surprised it was coming back to money again.

"Just take me with you back to Anaheim, and let me stay at the Pond for a few weeks," she said. "And after I help your friends, you mustn't tell anyone about my powers."

Wildwing's arms dropped to his sides.

"You're telling me that you don't want to be paid? And how did you know where I was from?"

"I know who the Mighty Ducks are," she said with a flicker of a brief smile. "And I want no other payment than what I just asked for. And if it turns out that I'm not able to help your friends as I said I could, then you lose nothing. You can kick me out, and I'll leave you alone."

Wildwing hesitated. The deal sounded a little too good.

"And if you don't have powers …or they aren't strong enough to heal my friends, then I'm back to square one and I've lost precious time."

Her expression became solemn and determined.

"I won't waste your time. And isn't it better to take a chance with me than to go back with nothing?"

Wildwing glanced back at OtherEarth, Inc. gleaming in the sunlight. The building towered over them, casting a long shadow across the parking lot. When his gaze turned back to her, the young woman stood waiting for his answer. Wildwing sighed.

"My ride's just a few blocks over."