A/N: Sorry for the very long delay, I know I've been bad! Thank you to all
of you who have kept in touch and motivated me enough to keep on writing.
For any additional, (and there is a lot) information on deafblindness feel free to contact via e-mail.
I will be updating my other stories, but I will first finish this story, because I have a funny knack of never finishing things, (please note the sarcasm). Enjoy!
It had been a very long time since I had seen "them". It doesn't matter how I got out, for that's not what this story is about. Anyway, after being stuck in Limbo for I don't know how long, I was more than thrilled when a man by the name of Klegghorn so "kindly" escorted me to residence of "the other feathered ones". Although it wasn't the welcoming I had expected, it was one I would never forget.
I had walked into the "home" if you will, to find no one in the living room. (I got in through the key Klegghorn had somehow obtained as a "gift" from WildWing.) Man I remember just wanting to see him. We were best buds our entire life, and still are to this day mind you, and at that time, the only person who I really wanted to see was my best friend, WildWing. However, that's not to say that I didn't want to see anyone else for I was anxious to see them as well.
I was also somewhat apprehensive to seeing how the team was being run. Deep down I know that past WildWing's self-pity and lack of self-confidence charade, he is fiercely independent and aggressively stubborn when it comes to failing anything.
Anyway, I remembered it being so quiet, so silent. It was almost scary. I kept looking around for the team but I hadn't spotted any of them yet. There was no indication that they were home, and that was quite disappointing. I really had wanted to see them all, especially my best friend. Man me and Wing go way back. Anyway, regardless of the lack of people I had started to look around. Any person could easily decipher the difference between a workroom and a hang out room. Some rooms were filled with the most amazing technology I've ever seen, and others with just all of their crap. I started to feel pride for my team, and feel pride for my culture back at home.
It was somewhat comical to see all of the different things that they had bought. It was almost scary how easy it was tell the objects apart. I started playing a game with myself to see if I could tell whose each object belonged to while I waited for the arrival of my team. Meditation crystals, Grin. Antique sword, Duke. Mathematical Theories on Pi, Tanya. Comics, Nosedive. Crossword puzzle, definitely Wing. I laughed, WildWing always loved those stupid crossword puzzles, as where I on the other hand couldn't, and still can't understand for the life of me why anyone would enjoy doing that in there free time. I remembered this one time in college when I we were living together I had accidentally thrown out the paper before WildWing had time to do that stupid puzzle, and well, yeah there was a lot of screaming that night. Then I came across several political books and military books; without a doubt Mallory. I kept playing this game with everything in this melting pot room for all of them.
I was winning against myself too, until I came across sheets after sheets of tiny raised dots on the page. Braille without a doubt, but who would be reading Braille, heck who knew Braille. I remained puzzled trying to go over each of the bios that I had been given on each person when I had recruited him or her, but I came up with nothing. However, what startled me more was the next book I found, which was entitled Tactile Sign Language. Then to further complicate my situation I came across a sheet of the alphabet, but above each letter was a different hand position. Sign Language, I immediately thought, or at least I the time I thought so, I really didn't know what Sign Language looked like, but I was pretty sure that, that what it was. I later found out that I was right, but beside from that, I was just so perplexed for I had no idea who would have any interest in Sign Language. But soon my curiosity into the matter was stopped when I noticed someone looking at me.
It was Mallory, and my presence sent her into a state of shock. She just stood there staring at me, gave a quiet "oh my gosh", and then came over and hugged me. I embraced her back, and then afterward she kept looking at me in amazement.
She hadn't changed much; she seemed the same, maybe a little tired, but the same person. Some people cannot be broken by life, and she is definitely one. Out of everyone in the group including WildWing, she is the one that I can most relate to, and she is the one that I enjoy talking with on deep issues. Many times, she can come across as obnoxious and ignorant but the truth of the matter is, behind every thing she says she has real reasons for believing in it. She doesn't express herself well, but then again I don't think she actually ever wanted to express what she feels, she's definitely more of a "I'm right, you're wrong, end of story" person, than "I believe I'm right because of reasons a, b, and c" person.
"How'd you get here", she gasped.
"Long story", I muttered, "I'm just glad to be back. Klegghorn gave me the passageway in, so don't worry there's nothing wrong with the defenses. How is everyone, heck where is everyone?"
"Oh", she said, "It's just me and Dive, the others are out on some publicity thing, that Phil has been insisting for a while. I just came back from shopping."
"Phil", I asked?
"Oh don't worry", she said, "You'll meet him. Heh, enjoy the lack of him while you can. Here come, Nosedive will love to see you again."
"Is he home?"
"Yeah", she replied, "Like I could get him to go shopping with me!"
"Wait a minute", I said, "You mean Nosedive Flashblade the loudest person alive is in this establishment?"
She smiled sadly, "Well things have changed Canard. Come, you'll see."
"This oughtta be good." I muttered.
She smiled, and then motioned for me to follow her, and so I did, until I found myself in the kitchen looking at Nosedive, but it wasn't Nosedive. Well, to me anyway. The Nosedive I knew was not so skinny, and wasn't so beat, and was never this quiet.
The boy was sitting there eating out of a bag of chips. Okay nothing wrong there, nothing wrong with eating chips, except for the fact that he was incredibly thin. His body was so shriveled, and looked so helpless. But that wasn't the only problem with him. He made no recognition of our presence in the room. He was just staring out into space.
"Things have changed since you've been gone", she said quietly.
"Nosedive", I said, "Hey kid."
I received no response, not recognition that I was even in the room; he just kept staring out into space.
"Cana-", Mallory said.
"Nosedive, hey", I said attempting again to get his attention.
Again nothing.
"Canard", Mallory said once more.
"Wait a minute Mallory", I replied, "Nosedive! What, I never knew you hated me that bad!"
Now me, never being the one known for taking other people's crap, or one for patience I was really pissed off. And then I made a huge mistake. I grabbed the kid by his arm. He went into panic, and struggled to get free from my grasp.
"Let go", he screamed, abnormally loud. "Stop it, let go!"
"Kid", I said, "What's your problem?"
"Canard", shouted Mallory, "He can't hear you, or see you!"
I stopped, and just looked at her. She ran over to us and separated me from Nosedive, and quickly made some hand gesture into his hand.
"What is going on", demanded Nosedive sound quite annoyed.
Mallory continued to make these weird hand shapes into his hand, none of which I understood at the time. She took Nosedive, and pretty much forced him back into the chair, he seemed more calm. I remember just staring at Mallory, by the time I got anything out I was sitting, and I don't remember moving all the way over to the chairs. Anyway, I didn't look at Nosedive I couldn't, and I couldn't look at Mallory, I didn't want her to repeat herself.
"What do you mean he can't hear or see me?"
"Things have changed Canard", she said repeating herself. She stopped.
I could tell she was trying to find a way to say it that wouldn't bring back emotional feelings; probably trying to find the littlest amount of words possible.
"We were too late", she continued, "Dragounous."
Her voice trailed off. She looked down at Nosedive, and put her hands down on his shoulders.
"After three weeks of him being held captive", again she stopped, took a deep breath and continued, "We found him like this. Apparently Dragounous had his fun with him, beat him, starved him, and drugged him." She stopped once more, as it was her fault that this had happened. Just another reason why I respect her, she takes responsibility and fault for things like this, most people can understand that, but I can, and I respect her for it.
"I don't think I need to tell you what the drugs did, do I Canard", she asked.
I shook my head no. I couldn't talk, I could barely move. I was in such shock. This was Nosedive Nicholas Flashblade, sixteen-year-old tag-along, who always gave me a heard time. This was Nosedive we were talking about. And then just seeing him so malnourished and so not like himself was horrible. And then at the time it had hit me, I don't know what had taken so long, but it finally hit me.
"WildWing", I said, "Where is he? Why isn't right next to his brother helping him? Why isn't he aiding this poor child?"
And then something happened that I never could have predicted. Mallory laughed in my face.
"Canard", she said, taking a seat next to Nosedive and me, "He's still Nosedive. He's the same obnoxious, charismatic kid as always. And you sure as you know 1+1=2 you know that this kid is anything but dependent. He really was amazing through all of this. When we found him, heh, that was quite a story, but not for now. If WildWing could, he wouldn't have left his brother side through any of this, but Nosedive forced his brother to leave. He pretty much refused any help from anyone. He wanted to keep on living; living the way that he was used to as well."
I smirked, that was exactly like Nosedive. So freakin stubborn, never giving anyone else's way a chance, good for him.
"How is he able to do anything", I remember demanding, "How do you even talk to him?"
"Tactile", Mallory responded, "It's pretty much sign language in the hands. As of now we have to spell out everything we want to say to him, but there are alternative methods of speeding up the talking method, and we will learn them if they work for this situation. Apparently there are many different types of communicating to deafblind people; we just learnt the basics so we were able to communicate quicker, less frustrating that way, and believe me, if you were in Nosedive's situation, you'd be frustrated."
"Tell him I'm here," I said.
"Oh of course", she said.
She reached over to Nosedive's hand, but they were tightly packed into fists. She tapped on his left hand. Immediately he opened it up, and made it flat holding it up to her. She started making those hand gestures again, and soon a wide smile spread apart his face.
"Really", he said.
Mallory squeezed his hand in agreement, and then let go of his hands.
"Hold his hands Canard", she said.
"What", I asked.
"Canard", she explained, "If someone isn't touching him, then he's pretty much lonely, he can't really tell whether or not if someone's in a room, or what their doing. Here hold his hands, and besides from that he needs to be able to start making mental notes on what your hands feel like from everyone else. After all, you're part of this team."
I smiled at that, no matter who you are, it always feels nice to belong, especially to something so great, and something you can truly feel pride for.
I grabbed the kid's hands, and held them tightly, but surprisingly he wriggled out of my hands.
"Hey Canard", he said.
He stood up and walked over to where I was sitting. After stumbling in the air with his hands, he connected gently with my shoulders. He put his hand on my face and felt for facial features that would distinguish me from everyone else; to finish it off he ruffled off my hair.
"Heh", he laughed, "So I guess you never decided to go with my Mohawk theory huh?"
I laughed; I'm not sure why though, it wasn't because it was particularly funny, as more of it was just nerves.
"Relax Canard", I heard Mallory telling me.
But I couldn't relax, the kid was so different. No one should have dual sensory impairment, it just wasn't right. Living like that wasn't right. Now I see that Nosedive is fully capable of living, but at the time I just wanted death to whoever had done this to him.
"Tell me how this happened", I demanded to Mallory, "How did this happen?"
"Yes sir,", stated Mallory, "But first, permission to speak freely sir?"
I nodded.
"You need to calm down", said Mallory, "There are a lot worse things that could have happened to this boy, and if he knew that you were pitying him like this, he'd smack you. He hates pity, or any form of sympathy, stupid male ego. You will see that this kid has not let any obstacle in life slow him down, so please try and remember that through the story, be-"
"Mallory", said Nosedive.
Mallory reached over to Nosedive and grabbed his arm.
"What are you guys talking about", he asked, and then opened his hand, palm facing up, nice and flat.
Mallory signed something into his hand.
"Canard", he said, "You really talking about me, and you thought I always stole your thunder, guess I do! Anyway don't worry about me, tell us about you, and how you got out of that place. Besides my story is much more fascinating than yours so we'll leave best for last."
I tried my hardest not to laugh that was Nosedive. Always arrogant, and always trying to piss everyone off. If he wasn't blind or deaf I would have jumped up and pounded him to floor, but it just seemed so appropriate in my mind for Nosedive to say something like that so I just tried hard on not laughing rather than concentrating his remark towards anger.
"Tell him", I said to Mallory, "That I want to hear his story first, and since I'm in charge that is an order he must obey."
Mallory grabbed Nosedive's hand again, and once more signed weird shapes into his palm. When she was done, Nosedive made a face.
"Canard", he said, "Since when do I ever listen to you?"
I rolled my eyes, "Mallory", I said directing my question towards her, "Tell me what happened."
"Yes sir", she replied.
She grabbed Nosedive's hand and signed something into it, which received a grunt from him.
"Fine", he said sarcastically, "I know when I'm not wanted!" He proceeded to laugh and then left the room.
"What'd you say", I asked.
"I told him that me and you had to catch up with a lot of stuff, and he'd just get bored, and that all in all it would be better if he left us alone."
"He could have stayed in the room", I pointed out.
"Because sitting without any clue of anything is really entertaining", she said sarcastically.
"What's he going to do", I asked.
"I don't know or care", she stated back, "Canard, he's not helpless, he'll figure out something to do."
"What can he do", I asked outraged while standing up violently.
"Sit", she said, "Calm down, and I'll tell you what happened, and how life is run now."
*Flashback*
It had been three weeks of pure hell. No one knew where their youngest teammate was and no one was getting any closer to finding him. But what bothered everyone the most was the fact that there were no disturbance from Dragounous, absolutely nothing, and that could be only be interpreted as them enjoying their new form of entertainment, Nosedive.
But now it was all going to come down to this. The team waited outside the "store" that they believed to be holding both Nosedive and the saurians. Despite WildWing's happiness for finding his brother, and absolute fear of finding him some horrid state or dead, and of course adrenaline, he remained calm and executed his job as well as always. Only this time, every order was given out with hatred, and a raging desire to kill anything in his path.
On WildWing's command, Mallory took out the robotic guard with precise aim as Duke hurriedly worked on "picking the lock", although it did include a nice set of dynamics. Sirens began wailing, but that was more than expected. The team quickly penetrated through with Mallory and Grin taking out three more hostile robotic guards, as Tanya quickly set up a laptop doing surveillance by heat radiation.
"Four beings", reported Tanya, "Two together, and two separate, Nosedive could be anyone of them, and time is definitely not on our side. My input is that we split up."
Only Tanya really had earned that right to give her opinion without it being asked, she and WildWing held a very special relationship based on trust.
WildWing pondered for a total of four seconds, and then came up to a conclusion, "We are not splitting up, it is irresponsible. We lost one member; I'm not allowing that to happen again."
"WildWing", Tanya stated, "We don't have time to check each room, they will soon detect us. We would only be able to check one room, and the chances that room with Nosedive is the one we find is against us."
"We split into teams", said WildWing, "My priority is my brother, but I have a responsibility to all of you first, so just find my brother."
The team nodded as their response.
"Mallory, Duke," you two together, "Tanya, and Grin, you come with me. Whatever team finds my brother tells the other immediately. Now move out."
The teams split determined on finding their missing teammate. Each team encountered their fair share of robots, but WildWing's team got hit the hardest, after the saurians found them. However, in the end this all worked out because as WildWing's team was unknowingly playing decoy, as Mallory and Duke were able to locate Nosedive.
They found the shivering teenager malnourished, and beat. A huge black and blue eye, and easily spotted cuts all of over his body. His clothes were wet from various liquids, from blood to water. His regular platinum blonde hair was turned brown due to dirt and what not and his usual tan color was now a variety of colors from purple to red to brown. He had obtained several cuts running all over his body from his head to arms, to wherever. His actual skin was very hard to spot. But that wasn't what scared Mallory or Duke the most. His eyes were open but he wasn't moving. He was just sitting there, making no recognition of anyone.
The first glance at the teenager that Duke and Mallory thought was that he was dead. He looked dead, and sure as hell seemed dead, until breathing could be heard. It was faint, but definitely there.
"Call the others", Mallory ordered Duke, "Tell them where we are if you can give directions, but inform them that we have Nosedive and he is alive."
Duke not exactly enjoying taking orders from Mallory grunted but that was all for now was most certainly not the time for fighting.
Mallory approached Nosedive.
"Nosedive", she stated, "Nosedive Flashblade, damage report."
Duke scoffed, "He's a teenager", he said while tapping into his com, "Bet you missed that, huh kid?"
Still no response from the teenager.
"I think he's in shock", replied Mallory ignoring Duke's previous comment.
"Well get him out of it", retorted Duke.
"You worry about talking to WildWing", shot Mallory.
Mallory approached Nosedive now she was about five feet away.
"Nosedive", she called out again, "It's me Mallory, remember?"
"His eyes aren't even focusing", said Mallory keeping her cool, "Tell Tanya we need immediate medical assistance."
Duke began making the calls in to the necessary people.
Mallory stepped further next to Nosedive, when she noticed something.
Nosedive was drawing in the sand with one of his hands, the other was tightly packed somewhere behind his back. He continued to make shapes, just tracing his finger lightly.
"Maybe not shock", she thought to herself, "He doesn't seem to be confused, and isn't really showing any sign of shock such as anxiety, chest pains, or any of usual symptoms. In fact he seems quite content."
"Nosedive", Mallory called out again, "Come on kid, do something. At least look at me."
Mallory then proceeded into making a huge mistake, she reached over and gently touched his shoulder, and then all hell broke loose.
The teenager jumped up grabbing her arm and quickly forcing it to the ground. The hand that had been concealed from view was now quite perfectly available to all to see. He was holding a rock, not a pebble or a little something, you stub your toe with but a rock, and he was aiming right for her head. It happened as quick as lightning and almost too fast for Mallory to even react to it.
Duke grabbed Nosedive's hand and pushed him back into wall still grabbing the wrist with the rock. Nosedive punched Duke in the gut with a left uppercut, which sent Duke stumbling backwards gasping for breath. Nosedive moved about three steps forwards and found Duke. Immediately he started pounding him to the floor. He hadn't hit his head yet, which was pure luck for he was hitting truly hard. Finally, after sitting on Duke and finding his face he went to drive the rock in, but Mallory tackled Nosedive off of Duke.
This collision sent the rock flying and completely out of Nosedive's reach. Nosedive growled.
"Fine", he groaned, "Play that way."
Mallory now laying on top of Nosedive from the collision, was soon thrown off by a nice side kick to the ribs. He crawled over and once again found his victim and started choking it.
Mallory gasping for breath brought her leg around and kicked Nosedive off of her. Nosedive went soaring off of her a good five feet. He shook his head, and began patting the ground. Soon he found a wall and sat down next to it.
"Just leave me alone", he muttered. "You win okay?"
Duke got up and went next to the kid, "Nosedive, what is wrong with you?"
He placed a hand on the teenager, which immediately resulted in his wrist being twisted backwards.
"Ah kid", cried Duke, "Come on, cut it out! I don't want to have to hurt you!"
Mallory ran over to help her partner and soon had Nosedive off of him, but this time distanced herself from Nosedive.
Nosedive began punching the air wildly as Duke and Mallory examined him.
"Crap", muttered Duke.
"What has gotten into him", panted Mallory.
Nosedive groaned in frustration.
"Not fair", he mumbled.
He held one hand up and swayed it back in forth and he headed toward the opposite wall.
"Crap", he muttered, "Alright think. If I started over there, then, ah this is so confusing."
He went down to the ground and began patting it for something.
"What is he doing", asked Duke.
"I think he's looking for something", responded Mallory.
"Obviously", snapped Duke, "But what?"
"The rock", responded Mallory?
"Crap", said Duke, "Where'd that thing go anyway?"
"Over there in the opposite corner", said Mallory pointing, "Something is not right here."
"Really", asked Duke, "What was your first clue?"
Mallory rolled her eyes, "He can't see properly."
"What", asked Duke.
"He looks like he's drunk", replied Mallory, "That's why he's patting the floor for everything, and that's why he was fighting so drunkenly."
"Are you sure?"
"I think they drugged him that with something that had the same effects of alcohol, only a lot stronger. He didn't even recognize us."
"Well", said Duke, "What do we do?"
"I'm not sure yet" replied Mallory, "I never figured on having to take out a drug high Nosedive that was set on killing everything in sight."
Nosedive finding a wall, sighed and gave up on looking for his rock. He slided down the wall and sat there. He was breathing heavily, and had his eyes closed.
"This has to be some weird drug", muttered Duke, "I mean cause he's totally in control of whatever he wants to do. It's completely destroyed his senses, its completely distorting his sight and apparently our voices. "
"Touch", said Mallory, "He's responding to our touch. Whatever happened to him didn't destroy that sense. Whenever he touched he began fighting."
"I'll tell Tanya to bring a sedative", said Duke.
"No", said Mallory, "We can't do that. Because if this is being caused by drugs, then we can't add more drugs to his body; we don't know how they will mix."
"Well we don't know if it is drugs", said Duke, "It's not like we have degrees in medicine here."
"Well than how do you explain it", snapped Mallory. "He can't recognize us."
Duke shrugged. "Maybe he hit his head too hard, or maybe he's just really drunk, after all he is a teenager."
"We're running out of time", cried Mallory ignoring Duke, "In five minutes we hit him over the head as hard as we can and we carry his body out."
"Okay in and those five minutes before we decide to gang up on him", said Duke, "What are we going to do?"
"Try and snap him out of it."
"You hear that", asked Duke.
"Hear what?"
Duke forced Mallory to the ground as two robots started to shoot. Duke and Mallory scrambled off the floor and out of the way reaching for their weapons. The two began shooting back and within seconds the robots were no longer a problem. However, three more robots that filed into the cell.
"Nosedive", shouted Duke, "Kid get up, you're going to get hit!"
Nosedive made no recognition of anything that was occurring.
Mallory and Duke kept shooting but these robots were better armed than the ones before, and they were getting closer to them.
"Kid", shouted Duke, "Come on, get out of the way."
The robots' shots were getting closer to Nosedive.
"That's it", cried Mallory, "Drag Nosedive to the corner, I'm shooting my only bomb-puck."
Duke ran over to Nosedive as Mallory covered him.
He grabbed Nosedive's pressure points right above the jaw and forced Nosedive over the corner of the room furthest away from Mallory. He forced Nosedive down to the ground and huddled over him, protecting him from the blast.
Mallory pulled the trigger and dropped down as the explosion took out the three robots and all of the front wall. Smoke rose, and then settled as Mallory and Duke inspected the damage.
There was no longer a door or for that matter any other way of exiting the room.
"Crap", muttered Duke. "Now what?"
Nosedive punched Duke in the face, and went to fight more, but started coughing.
"There's a lot of smoke in here huh kid", asked Duke, "Come on Nosedive, stop fighting us. Tell us something."
Mallory stood and marched over to Nosedive.
"Get away from him now", she growled.
"What's the matter with you", asked Duke.
"Didn't you see him", shouted Mallory.
"When?"
"When those robots came in, he wouldn't even move!"
"Yeah that was creepy, it was like he didn't even know anything was happen. It was so loud as well and he didn't even flinch!"
Mallory knelt down next to Nosedive, careful to not breathe on him or anything that would give away her presence.
"What are you doing", asked Duke.
"Hoping that I'm not right", muttered Mallory.
She went to punch Nosedive in the face but stopped a centimeter away from him, to only find no reaction from the teenager. Mallory then furthered to continue her investigation by moving her position to right next his ear hole. She started snapping her fingers; she did it to the other ear hole as well with the same response, nothing.
"He can't hear or see us", cried Mallory, "That's what's wrong! He isn't drug, he's blind and deaf!"
Duke paled from his normal gray color to a ghostly lighter shade. He quickly regained control of his emotions and calmed himself.
"Okay", he said, "Well we're stuck in here as of now. I'm pretty sure we can find some way out, see over there towards the middle of it. I'm sure we could all squeeze through that hole. We'll get out that way. Contact Tanya, not WildWing and tell her what's taking so long. You're great at strategy and fighting sweetheart, but you're going to have to trust me on this and don't tell WildWing that his brother, is well, like this. He's upset as it is, let's not make it worse, we don't want him making rash decisions. Tell them that we will be out as soon as possible and aren't far from the exit."
Mallory nodded, got up, and started pressing buttons on her com unit.
"Out of curiosity", said Mallory, "What are you doing?"
Duke inched forward to Nosedive.
"I'm going to get Nosedive to recognize its us."
"Duke don't", said Mallory stopping the contact to Tanya, "Don't upset him."
"Well then how are we supposed to get him through that tiny hole", asked Duke pointing towards their only means of escape. "Trust me, its going to take some physical contact, unless you know telepathy."
"We'll just knock him out", said Mallory.
"I'd rather use that as a last resort, wouldn't you?"
Mallory glared and then proceeded to talk to Tanya.
"Alright kid", said Duke, "Don't hurt me."
Duke sat down next to Nosedive. He gently glazed his hand over Nosedive's. There was an immediate reaction, but Duke was expecting it. He grabbed the teenager's hand and forced one behind his back.
"Easy", said Mallory, "Hang on Tanya". Then to Duke, "You'll break his arm! Loosen your grip!"
"This is a loose grip", retorted Duke, "He won't stop struggling! As soon as he stops it won't hurt as much."
Nosedive went to kick Duke, but Duke moved aside in time.
"We don't have time for this", muttered Duke. He grabbed his sword and put it up against Nosedive's leg.
"What are you doing", cried Mallory.
"He has to stop struggling", cried Duke, "Or else we'll never be able to convey that it's us to him."
Again, Nosedive went to kick but the blade swiped against his leg. The unfamiliar object against his leg was now clear that it was a blade. It wasn't a deep cut, but it was enough to get the point across to not move his leg. Finally, Nosedive stopped struggling.
"Gotta give him credit", said Duke, "This kid is dauntless."
"You need any help", asked Mallory.
"You finished the call to Tanya?"
"Affirmative."
"Come here, don't touch him or give any reason for him to believe that you're here."
Mallory nodded and walked over to Duke and the wincing Nosedive, "You have a plan, I presume?"
Duke nodded, "I'm just not sure if it'll work."
"If this doesn't work", said Mallory, "Then that's it, we knock him out and we leave that way. We're loosing too much time, they can only hold them off for so long, Duke. By now it was ludicrous to assume that we have other reasons for infiltrating the raptor. That's why the drones were sent here. They figured it out, and we are definitely running out of time. Tanya said we have five minutes, before they can no longer hold them off."
"Ok", said Duke, "Five minutes, it'll be close, but I think we can make it around that time."
"Yeah but only if we leave in like three seconds."
"It's not like we're not trying. Now listen, I need you to hold this grip on Nosedive."
"Why?"
"Because this is the only way he won't try and kill us."
"Fine", agreed Mallory. "But your plan better work."
"On three", said Duke, "You hold the kid, got it? We need to make it swift, because the kid is pretty fast."
Mallory nodded.
"One."
Mallory put her hand right above Duke's on the sword's handle.
"Two."
Mallory assumed position to grab Nosedive's arm.
"Three."
Duke let go, as Mallory quickly took control, not even giving Nosedive a chance.
"Harder", said Duke.
"Harder what", snapped Mallory.
"More pressure", rephrased Duke, "On his arm, pull up harder."
"I'm hurting him", shouted Mallory, "I'm going to break it!"
"Better that than all of us dying here", yelled Duke back. "Just a little harder, and it won't even fracture. Trust me, I know about breaking bones."
Mallory nodded and applied more pressure. Nosedive's eyes were watering at this point.
"Hold him tight Mal", said Duke, as he went for Nosedive's free hand.
Nosedive tried to free himself once more, but his resisting was met more pressure and a slight cut on his leg. It worked effectively, for Nosedive stop fighting.
"This is one strong kid", remarked Mallory.
The remark was meant as a character trait not physical strength, and it was true. Most people in that situation wouldn't have any fight left in them, but then there are those rare few that fight with everything they got. Mallory stated correctly when calling him strong.
Duke took Nosedive's hand and brought it up to his body, letting Nosedive feel his skin. Nosedive seemed confused, he couldn't register what was happening. He was used to dealing with scales, not feathers. Duke took his and brought it to his beak.
"Come on kid", said Duke, "Who else do you know that has a beak."
Nosedive broke his hand free from Duke's grasp, but continued to feel around Duke's face. He came across his distinct eye patch and hairstyle. Nosedive now more than confused couldn't figure out what was going on.
"Let him go", said Duke.
"What", said Mallory, "We finally got him from killing us!"
"Trust me on this sweetheart, I know people."
"If I die because of this on my tombstone I want it written that I was right."
"You got it babe."
Mallory released Nosedive from his grip. Nosedive brought his arm close and held from where it was being held, but he went back to observing Duke with his hand.
"Give me my sword", said Duke.
Mallory handed over the sword.
Duke took Nosedive's hand and gently placed it on the blade. Immediately Nosedive panicked feeling the blade and pulled away. Duke caught him from fleeing, and brought his hand to the blade, and placed it on it again. He then retracted the blade so it was now only a handle.
Nosedive went back to observing Duke with more determination now, which was shown through his eyes. He ran his fingers over his good eye and than his bad eye, and then once more the beak.
"Duke", asked Nosedive.
"Yes", cried both Mallory and Duke.
Duke grabbed Nosedive's hand and brought it to his face and nodded in confirmation.
"Hey alright", cried Nosedive happily, "Yeah!!! Took ya'll long enough! So Duke is here, and you would be?"
Mallory walked over to Nosedive's reach, and took his hand and had it outline her hair and her beak, and then showed him her height by taking his hand from his forehead to hers.
Nosedive hesitated for a minute, and then ran his hand over her eyes.
"No glasses", said Nosedive, "And since you're smaller than me, I'm guessing Mal-Mal right?"
"Good Nosedive", said Mallory as she took his hand put it on her face and nodded.
"Hey you guys got any food", asked Nosedive, "I'm starving!"
Duke checked his pockets, Mallory didn't bother to check, already knowing she had nothing. Duke came up empty handed. He took Nosedive's hand and put it on his face and shook his head no.
"Man. Oh well, at least you're here right?"
Duke ruffled his hair in response.
"Now speaking of tombstones", said Duke, "I think on mine I'll have in inscribed that I was righ-."
"Can it L'orange", said Mallory, "We still need to get out of here alive, but you did good."
"Oh thanks", said Duke sarcastically, "Now let's get out of here."
Mallory nodded, and Nosedive just kept smiling.
"You take Nosedive's hand", said Duke, "And I'll take the other and we're going to get out through that hole."
Mallory nodded and took Nosedive's right hand, and Duke took the left. They proceeded to the exit. Duke and Mallory got down to their hands, and being still connected Nosedive, he followed. Duke squeezed through the rubble and navigated through the tunnel that held many twists and turns to get out. After squeezing through there was a robots' something that was acting as a spear that had gotten stuck in the rubble. Avoiding and far away as possible he went to help Nosedive.
"Mallory", called Duke, "Let go of Nosedive's hand."
"Are you sure", called back Mallory.
"Just do it, and watch your head as you crawl into this thing."
"Okay", said Mallory. She patted Nosedive's hand and then let go.
Duke patted Nosedive's opposing shoulder in order to get his hand, but failed to convey his order to the teenager.
"I don't understand Duke", said Nosedive, "Sorry."
"Mallory", cried Duke growing more and more uncomfortable in the crouching position in the rubble, "Throw Nosedive's hand towards me, or something to that effect."
"Affirmative."
Mallory took Nosedive's elbow and forced it forward. Duke grabbed it and held it tightly.
"Oh you wanted my hand", said Nosedive, "Why?"
Duke took his hand and placed it by the spearing obstacle.
"Oh", said Nosedive, "I see, well not literally, but you get the idea."
"He's still Nosedive", chuckled Duke lightly to himself. "Okay kid let's do this."
Despite the fact that Nosedive couldn't hear him, it somehow calmed Duke to just talk to him. Duke took Nosedive's hand and guided him through the tunnel. It took much longer than it would have taken someone who could see for there were so many sharp turns and hazardous rubble to look out for. However, through sheer persistence the three of them made it out with just some bruising. Unfortunately, the peace of winning against all odds was not given to them, as they heard near by fire shots.
"Crap", muttered Duke, "It just keeps getting better and better."
"That's the team", cried Mallory, then punching into her com, "WildWing, we have Nosedive, and we have effectively gotten out of cell, we're heading towards the migrator. We're only twenty feet from the exit."
"Good", replied WildWing, "Because I don't think we can hold them off much longer. We'll meet you there, WildWing out."
"Let's move guys", said Mallory.
The two took Nosedive's hands once again, and headed towards the exit. It was in vision's reach, and all they had to do to get there was walk. No hidden traps no nothing, until the gunfire they had heard was no upon them.
"Get down", cried Mallory, "Get Nosedive out I'll take them."
"There's five of them", shouted Duke, "I'm not leaving you! You see what they did to a mere child? I'm not letting them have the chance to have their fun with a grown attractive woman. The most effective way out is not this way, run ahead to that hallway, I'll stay with Nosedive, he can't run as fast, cover us when you get there."
Mallory not having time to argue ran across the hall to the other side where there was another hallway. From there she began effectively firing, taking out two, but at least diverting the fire away from Duke and Nosedive, who only needed seconds to reach the goal.
The three were re-united but completely unsure what to do.
"Now what", cried Mallory. "We have a total of three seconds till they run down here and find us! You're a quick thinker, now what?"
Duke didn't have time to answer as a bullet went flying past them.
"Stay against the wall", commanded Mallory.
Duke immediately attached his head to wall and motioned for Nosedive to do the same. However, Nosedive didn't understand and leaned forward.
"No kid", said Duke pushing Nosedive back. Nosedive struggled, but after another harsh push from Duke, he got the point to stay there.
"You have any more powerful shots left", questioned Mallory.
"No", said Duke, "We should run down this hall. Come on Mal, we can't take them."
"But the exit is right there", cried Mallory still firing, "I'm not giving up that easily!"
"It's not giving up", cried Duke, "It's staying alive! Now let's move! Me and Nosedive will run straight down the hall to the first door on the right- "
"And if it doesn't open", asked Mallory.
"It'll open", said Duke. "I'll cover you when we get there."
Duke pulled Nosedive along to the intended goal, but was stopped when he spotted more drones coming along their way from the end of the hallway where apparently it led to another, and not a dead end as had previously been assumed. It was dark which made it hard to decipher the surroundings.
Duke fired a few shots off towards that direction which prevented the drones from progressing, in attempts to hide themselves, as Duke, Mallory, and Nosedive were doing to other set of robots. The drones were successfully hidden by the hallway that led to the hallway that had Nosedive, Mallory, and Duke, however what they didn't know was that Mallory, Duke and Nosedive, had no intention of actually trying to destroy them as they did to just exit, and by their hiding they actually helped Mallory and Duke, by not having to fight off as many drones.
"Crap", cursed Duke, "Mallory, just run to the exit!"
"What", cried Mallory. "I'm not leaving you either!"
"Take Nosedive", said Duke, "Take Nosedive and run to that exit. I'll divert their attention and then meet up with you."
"We won't make it", shouted Mallory back.
"We'll what do you propose", cried Duke.
"Tanya", replied Mallory, "I propose Tanya. You think you can take them while I make a quick call?"
"You're kidding right", cried Duke.
"I have a plan that won't kill us, now go!"
Duke ran out from the hall and ran back and forth effectively taking at least two with his sword, but mostly just dodging shots. Meanwhile, Mallory called Tanya while grabbing Nosedive to the floor and crouching over him, protecting him from the shots that were aimed for them by the drones on the opposite end of the hall, and still shooting towards them and even taking a few out.
"Talk about freakin' multi-tasking", muttered Mallory. "Duke, come back, and hurry!"
Duke ran over to Mallory and Nosedive.
"Mallory, I don't think we're getting out of this."
"Relax L'orange", said Mallory, "Help me take these drones", Mallory motioned towards those at the end of the hallway.
"What about the fifty multiplying ones over there", cried Duke.
"Tanya", said Mallory simply, "Now help me take them out."
"Ducks rock", muttered Duke, as he started shooting once again.
The drones did not advance but stayed hidden and took random shots all of which missed. However the more immediate concern was the other set of drones, that apparently Tanya was take care of.
"Mallory", cried Duke.
"I know", shouted Mallory, "I know, but this will work! It's not like we have many other choices, just keep shooting!"
The first set of drones were no longer being threatened by fire, since all of the gun fire was being aimed towards the second set were now two feet away from Duke and Mallory.
"I'll take them", said Duke attempting to get up with his sword.
"Leave them", said Mallory.
"You gotta be kidding", cried Duke.
"Crap", muttered Mallory, "Don't go anywhere near there."
"You're insane", shouted Duke.
"Trust me on this", shouted Mallory, "Tanya'll be here shortly!"
A large blast, and rapid fire sent from WildWing, and Grin took care of the two drones that were advancing on them, and then followed by a large blast from the migrator that had rammed into the building and was now productively taking out the drones five at a time.
"Now about my tombstone", said Mallory, "I believe I'll still put I was right."
Duke rolled his eyes. "Come on, let's go home."
The three simply walked over to the migrator, and were happily welcomed by their teammates. By the time the drones figured out their absence the migrator was already out of the raptor, and gone.
Mallory and Duke examined the team, as Nosedive sat down on the hard, cold, floor. Tanya was driving, and Grin and WildWing were panting, and all bent out of shape. Tanya, Grin, and WildWing were all bruised and visibly drained from any sort of energy, but then again Mallory and Duke didn't look so great themselves with dirt all over, and probably the same amount of bruising as the others. And then there was Nosedive who was still sitting on the floor of the migrator with no energy to get up, and every possible color of bruising, skin tightly wrapped around his own body looking like it might snap like a rubber band at any minute, and blood running from head to toe, but despite that the teenager was smiling excitedly.
WildWing didn't move; he froze as he stared at his brother, the bruises were enough to keep from not barreling his brother over in a hug.
"Migrator right", said Nosedive happily, "Right Duke, right Mal?"
Duke took Nosedive's hand and squeezed it, and rubbed Nosedive's arm. Nosedive got the point.
"Yeah!!!! FREEDOM!"
Mallory and Duke smiled happily.
"Ah Dive", said WildWing. "Man buddy you look beat. I'm so happy to see yo- "
"WildWing", said Duke, "Um well, Tanya did you tell him?"
"I was instructed not to", replied Tanya sadly.
"Tell me what", growled WildWing.
"Grin", called Tanya, "Take the wheel."
Tanya and Grin switched as Tanya came over to medically examine Nosedive. She went to touch him, but was quickly stopped by Mallory.
"Don't", said Mallory, "I don't think he'd anything but let's not spook anymore than he needs to be, and by probing and poking that's just not the right message, you need to identify yourself first, and before you do that", her voice trailed off and looked over to WildWing.
"WildWing", said Duke, "You're brother can no longer hear or see."
"WHAT", exclaimed WildWing.
Even the most calm person of the team Grin, hit the brakes shortly after hearing the news. Quickly resuming to his composed character, he began driving once more. WildWing however was furious.
"How the hell did this happen", screamed WildWing, "Are you sure?"
Mallory nodded.
WildWing started cursing, while banging his fists against the cupboards of the migrator.
"Mallory, Duke", said Nosedive still sitting on the floor, too tired to get up, "Where's my brother?"
"WildWing", said Mallory, "I know you're upset, but this kid has waited three weeks to be freed, and see his big brother, try and calm down and make him happy by at least showing your presence to him."
WildWing dropped his head, and cursed another profanity, but got up and knelt down next to his brother. He put his hand on Nosedive's shoulder.
Nosedive jumped a little, but soon realized what was going on.
"WildWing", cried Nosedive.
Nosedive plunged himself towards his brother wrapping his arms around his neck.
"I missed you so much Wing", cried Nosedive, "I knew you'd come and get me! I got to tell you what happened, I really pissed them off! Heh, it was great Wing, I have so much to tell you!"
WildWing ruffled his brother's hair, and then tightly held him.
"How'd he know it was his brother", asked Tanya.
"Well", said Mallory, "Logically he realized that he was in the migrator, and after calling his brother, and then receiving the weight of someone of that height-"
"Ah Mal", said Duke, "Some things you just know."
Mallory for once allowed herself to be contradicted against, and said nothing.
"Is this permanent", asked WildWing.
"We'll have to get back to the pond", said Tanya, "So I can examine him."
WildWing nodded, and helped his brother up.
"Wing", whined Nosedive, "No, I want to sit."
WildWing ignoring his brother picked him off the floor and dragged him to a chair.
"All you guys had to do was get Nosedive out of there", asked Tanya so low that only Duke and Mallory could hear, "And you both look like crap, what happened?"
"Don't ask", the two said in unison.
"Let's just say", said Duke, "You guys had the easier job."
"That bad huh", asked Tanya.
The two nodded.
"You think you can help Nosedive", asked Duke.
"I'll try my hardest", said Tanya, "But don't hold your breath."
"I wish I had a brother like that", muttered Mallory looking at Nosedive who was laying on his brother's chest.
"When you lose your sight and hearing you will", smirked Duke, "Let's sit, it's been a long day."
"Hey Tawn", said Nosedive who was now half-asleep, "Can we skip the whole emergency medical thing, and let me eat something?"
Nosedive put his hand on his brother's face. WildWing not thinking much of it went to move his hand.
"WildWing don't", said Duke, "That's how we've been telling him things, through yes and no questions. Shake your head in the right direction for the answer you want to give. You know like shake your yes for yes, and well you know what I mean."
"Oh", said WildWing now understanding. He shook his head yes.
"I notion Taco Bell", cried Nosedive.
WildWing rolled his eyes, and squeezed his brother hand just to let him know he heard him.
"Grin", said WildWing.
"I heard him", replied Grin.
WildWing said nothing, just looked as his brother.
"Did he tell you anything", asked Tanya.
"Come again", asked Duke.
"Did he tell what happened to him", asked Tanya.
"Not a word", replied Mallory.
"He's just happy to be back", replied Duke, "We ask him tomorrow."
"How", asked Tanya.
"Considering that we just made the world's greatest rescue with him, I'm sure we can get some answers out of him, but for now, well let him enjoy it."
The three sat down and most easily contributed to the silence. No one said a word; it just didn't seem appropriate. When all of the adrenaline calmed they were left with reality and they did not like it. The fact that one of their own could no longer use the most basic of functions and that did not sit with them well. Moreover, the fact that he looked like a skeleton and had several bruisings all over did not help much either. However, Nosedive seemed content, smiling from ear to ear, and for now that helped out much. He was battling with sleep on his brother, refusing to let himself miss out on this great day because of sleep, but in the end he lost the battle miserably and was fast-asleep.
"WildWing", said Grin, "Still to the restaurant?"
WildWing said nothing.
"WildWing", repeated Grin.
Again, WildWing said nothing.
"WildWing", said Grin a little more loudly which gained his leader's attention.
"Oh I'm sorry", said WildWing tiredly, "I wasn't paying attention, what was the question?"
"Home or food", asked Grin sympathetically.
WildWing looked at his brother debating what to do.
"I want to let him sleep", said WildWing, "But he still has to eat, yeah let's eat out, he'd like that a lot."
So the team ventured onto Taco Bell, WildWing ordered for his brother, not wanting to even attempt to ask him what he wanted because of the communication barrier. Nosedive ate happily, and then fell back asleep. He was carried inside, and it was medically determined that he didn't need any immediate treatment, so they let Nosedive sleep. It was the next day that everyone learned the truth of what really happened.
For any additional, (and there is a lot) information on deafblindness feel free to contact via e-mail.
I will be updating my other stories, but I will first finish this story, because I have a funny knack of never finishing things, (please note the sarcasm). Enjoy!
It had been a very long time since I had seen "them". It doesn't matter how I got out, for that's not what this story is about. Anyway, after being stuck in Limbo for I don't know how long, I was more than thrilled when a man by the name of Klegghorn so "kindly" escorted me to residence of "the other feathered ones". Although it wasn't the welcoming I had expected, it was one I would never forget.
I had walked into the "home" if you will, to find no one in the living room. (I got in through the key Klegghorn had somehow obtained as a "gift" from WildWing.) Man I remember just wanting to see him. We were best buds our entire life, and still are to this day mind you, and at that time, the only person who I really wanted to see was my best friend, WildWing. However, that's not to say that I didn't want to see anyone else for I was anxious to see them as well.
I was also somewhat apprehensive to seeing how the team was being run. Deep down I know that past WildWing's self-pity and lack of self-confidence charade, he is fiercely independent and aggressively stubborn when it comes to failing anything.
Anyway, I remembered it being so quiet, so silent. It was almost scary. I kept looking around for the team but I hadn't spotted any of them yet. There was no indication that they were home, and that was quite disappointing. I really had wanted to see them all, especially my best friend. Man me and Wing go way back. Anyway, regardless of the lack of people I had started to look around. Any person could easily decipher the difference between a workroom and a hang out room. Some rooms were filled with the most amazing technology I've ever seen, and others with just all of their crap. I started to feel pride for my team, and feel pride for my culture back at home.
It was somewhat comical to see all of the different things that they had bought. It was almost scary how easy it was tell the objects apart. I started playing a game with myself to see if I could tell whose each object belonged to while I waited for the arrival of my team. Meditation crystals, Grin. Antique sword, Duke. Mathematical Theories on Pi, Tanya. Comics, Nosedive. Crossword puzzle, definitely Wing. I laughed, WildWing always loved those stupid crossword puzzles, as where I on the other hand couldn't, and still can't understand for the life of me why anyone would enjoy doing that in there free time. I remembered this one time in college when I we were living together I had accidentally thrown out the paper before WildWing had time to do that stupid puzzle, and well, yeah there was a lot of screaming that night. Then I came across several political books and military books; without a doubt Mallory. I kept playing this game with everything in this melting pot room for all of them.
I was winning against myself too, until I came across sheets after sheets of tiny raised dots on the page. Braille without a doubt, but who would be reading Braille, heck who knew Braille. I remained puzzled trying to go over each of the bios that I had been given on each person when I had recruited him or her, but I came up with nothing. However, what startled me more was the next book I found, which was entitled Tactile Sign Language. Then to further complicate my situation I came across a sheet of the alphabet, but above each letter was a different hand position. Sign Language, I immediately thought, or at least I the time I thought so, I really didn't know what Sign Language looked like, but I was pretty sure that, that what it was. I later found out that I was right, but beside from that, I was just so perplexed for I had no idea who would have any interest in Sign Language. But soon my curiosity into the matter was stopped when I noticed someone looking at me.
It was Mallory, and my presence sent her into a state of shock. She just stood there staring at me, gave a quiet "oh my gosh", and then came over and hugged me. I embraced her back, and then afterward she kept looking at me in amazement.
She hadn't changed much; she seemed the same, maybe a little tired, but the same person. Some people cannot be broken by life, and she is definitely one. Out of everyone in the group including WildWing, she is the one that I can most relate to, and she is the one that I enjoy talking with on deep issues. Many times, she can come across as obnoxious and ignorant but the truth of the matter is, behind every thing she says she has real reasons for believing in it. She doesn't express herself well, but then again I don't think she actually ever wanted to express what she feels, she's definitely more of a "I'm right, you're wrong, end of story" person, than "I believe I'm right because of reasons a, b, and c" person.
"How'd you get here", she gasped.
"Long story", I muttered, "I'm just glad to be back. Klegghorn gave me the passageway in, so don't worry there's nothing wrong with the defenses. How is everyone, heck where is everyone?"
"Oh", she said, "It's just me and Dive, the others are out on some publicity thing, that Phil has been insisting for a while. I just came back from shopping."
"Phil", I asked?
"Oh don't worry", she said, "You'll meet him. Heh, enjoy the lack of him while you can. Here come, Nosedive will love to see you again."
"Is he home?"
"Yeah", she replied, "Like I could get him to go shopping with me!"
"Wait a minute", I said, "You mean Nosedive Flashblade the loudest person alive is in this establishment?"
She smiled sadly, "Well things have changed Canard. Come, you'll see."
"This oughtta be good." I muttered.
She smiled, and then motioned for me to follow her, and so I did, until I found myself in the kitchen looking at Nosedive, but it wasn't Nosedive. Well, to me anyway. The Nosedive I knew was not so skinny, and wasn't so beat, and was never this quiet.
The boy was sitting there eating out of a bag of chips. Okay nothing wrong there, nothing wrong with eating chips, except for the fact that he was incredibly thin. His body was so shriveled, and looked so helpless. But that wasn't the only problem with him. He made no recognition of our presence in the room. He was just staring out into space.
"Things have changed since you've been gone", she said quietly.
"Nosedive", I said, "Hey kid."
I received no response, not recognition that I was even in the room; he just kept staring out into space.
"Cana-", Mallory said.
"Nosedive, hey", I said attempting again to get his attention.
Again nothing.
"Canard", Mallory said once more.
"Wait a minute Mallory", I replied, "Nosedive! What, I never knew you hated me that bad!"
Now me, never being the one known for taking other people's crap, or one for patience I was really pissed off. And then I made a huge mistake. I grabbed the kid by his arm. He went into panic, and struggled to get free from my grasp.
"Let go", he screamed, abnormally loud. "Stop it, let go!"
"Kid", I said, "What's your problem?"
"Canard", shouted Mallory, "He can't hear you, or see you!"
I stopped, and just looked at her. She ran over to us and separated me from Nosedive, and quickly made some hand gesture into his hand.
"What is going on", demanded Nosedive sound quite annoyed.
Mallory continued to make these weird hand shapes into his hand, none of which I understood at the time. She took Nosedive, and pretty much forced him back into the chair, he seemed more calm. I remember just staring at Mallory, by the time I got anything out I was sitting, and I don't remember moving all the way over to the chairs. Anyway, I didn't look at Nosedive I couldn't, and I couldn't look at Mallory, I didn't want her to repeat herself.
"What do you mean he can't hear or see me?"
"Things have changed Canard", she said repeating herself. She stopped.
I could tell she was trying to find a way to say it that wouldn't bring back emotional feelings; probably trying to find the littlest amount of words possible.
"We were too late", she continued, "Dragounous."
Her voice trailed off. She looked down at Nosedive, and put her hands down on his shoulders.
"After three weeks of him being held captive", again she stopped, took a deep breath and continued, "We found him like this. Apparently Dragounous had his fun with him, beat him, starved him, and drugged him." She stopped once more, as it was her fault that this had happened. Just another reason why I respect her, she takes responsibility and fault for things like this, most people can understand that, but I can, and I respect her for it.
"I don't think I need to tell you what the drugs did, do I Canard", she asked.
I shook my head no. I couldn't talk, I could barely move. I was in such shock. This was Nosedive Nicholas Flashblade, sixteen-year-old tag-along, who always gave me a heard time. This was Nosedive we were talking about. And then just seeing him so malnourished and so not like himself was horrible. And then at the time it had hit me, I don't know what had taken so long, but it finally hit me.
"WildWing", I said, "Where is he? Why isn't right next to his brother helping him? Why isn't he aiding this poor child?"
And then something happened that I never could have predicted. Mallory laughed in my face.
"Canard", she said, taking a seat next to Nosedive and me, "He's still Nosedive. He's the same obnoxious, charismatic kid as always. And you sure as you know 1+1=2 you know that this kid is anything but dependent. He really was amazing through all of this. When we found him, heh, that was quite a story, but not for now. If WildWing could, he wouldn't have left his brother side through any of this, but Nosedive forced his brother to leave. He pretty much refused any help from anyone. He wanted to keep on living; living the way that he was used to as well."
I smirked, that was exactly like Nosedive. So freakin stubborn, never giving anyone else's way a chance, good for him.
"How is he able to do anything", I remember demanding, "How do you even talk to him?"
"Tactile", Mallory responded, "It's pretty much sign language in the hands. As of now we have to spell out everything we want to say to him, but there are alternative methods of speeding up the talking method, and we will learn them if they work for this situation. Apparently there are many different types of communicating to deafblind people; we just learnt the basics so we were able to communicate quicker, less frustrating that way, and believe me, if you were in Nosedive's situation, you'd be frustrated."
"Tell him I'm here," I said.
"Oh of course", she said.
She reached over to Nosedive's hand, but they were tightly packed into fists. She tapped on his left hand. Immediately he opened it up, and made it flat holding it up to her. She started making those hand gestures again, and soon a wide smile spread apart his face.
"Really", he said.
Mallory squeezed his hand in agreement, and then let go of his hands.
"Hold his hands Canard", she said.
"What", I asked.
"Canard", she explained, "If someone isn't touching him, then he's pretty much lonely, he can't really tell whether or not if someone's in a room, or what their doing. Here hold his hands, and besides from that he needs to be able to start making mental notes on what your hands feel like from everyone else. After all, you're part of this team."
I smiled at that, no matter who you are, it always feels nice to belong, especially to something so great, and something you can truly feel pride for.
I grabbed the kid's hands, and held them tightly, but surprisingly he wriggled out of my hands.
"Hey Canard", he said.
He stood up and walked over to where I was sitting. After stumbling in the air with his hands, he connected gently with my shoulders. He put his hand on my face and felt for facial features that would distinguish me from everyone else; to finish it off he ruffled off my hair.
"Heh", he laughed, "So I guess you never decided to go with my Mohawk theory huh?"
I laughed; I'm not sure why though, it wasn't because it was particularly funny, as more of it was just nerves.
"Relax Canard", I heard Mallory telling me.
But I couldn't relax, the kid was so different. No one should have dual sensory impairment, it just wasn't right. Living like that wasn't right. Now I see that Nosedive is fully capable of living, but at the time I just wanted death to whoever had done this to him.
"Tell me how this happened", I demanded to Mallory, "How did this happen?"
"Yes sir,", stated Mallory, "But first, permission to speak freely sir?"
I nodded.
"You need to calm down", said Mallory, "There are a lot worse things that could have happened to this boy, and if he knew that you were pitying him like this, he'd smack you. He hates pity, or any form of sympathy, stupid male ego. You will see that this kid has not let any obstacle in life slow him down, so please try and remember that through the story, be-"
"Mallory", said Nosedive.
Mallory reached over to Nosedive and grabbed his arm.
"What are you guys talking about", he asked, and then opened his hand, palm facing up, nice and flat.
Mallory signed something into his hand.
"Canard", he said, "You really talking about me, and you thought I always stole your thunder, guess I do! Anyway don't worry about me, tell us about you, and how you got out of that place. Besides my story is much more fascinating than yours so we'll leave best for last."
I tried my hardest not to laugh that was Nosedive. Always arrogant, and always trying to piss everyone off. If he wasn't blind or deaf I would have jumped up and pounded him to floor, but it just seemed so appropriate in my mind for Nosedive to say something like that so I just tried hard on not laughing rather than concentrating his remark towards anger.
"Tell him", I said to Mallory, "That I want to hear his story first, and since I'm in charge that is an order he must obey."
Mallory grabbed Nosedive's hand again, and once more signed weird shapes into his palm. When she was done, Nosedive made a face.
"Canard", he said, "Since when do I ever listen to you?"
I rolled my eyes, "Mallory", I said directing my question towards her, "Tell me what happened."
"Yes sir", she replied.
She grabbed Nosedive's hand and signed something into it, which received a grunt from him.
"Fine", he said sarcastically, "I know when I'm not wanted!" He proceeded to laugh and then left the room.
"What'd you say", I asked.
"I told him that me and you had to catch up with a lot of stuff, and he'd just get bored, and that all in all it would be better if he left us alone."
"He could have stayed in the room", I pointed out.
"Because sitting without any clue of anything is really entertaining", she said sarcastically.
"What's he going to do", I asked.
"I don't know or care", she stated back, "Canard, he's not helpless, he'll figure out something to do."
"What can he do", I asked outraged while standing up violently.
"Sit", she said, "Calm down, and I'll tell you what happened, and how life is run now."
*Flashback*
It had been three weeks of pure hell. No one knew where their youngest teammate was and no one was getting any closer to finding him. But what bothered everyone the most was the fact that there were no disturbance from Dragounous, absolutely nothing, and that could be only be interpreted as them enjoying their new form of entertainment, Nosedive.
But now it was all going to come down to this. The team waited outside the "store" that they believed to be holding both Nosedive and the saurians. Despite WildWing's happiness for finding his brother, and absolute fear of finding him some horrid state or dead, and of course adrenaline, he remained calm and executed his job as well as always. Only this time, every order was given out with hatred, and a raging desire to kill anything in his path.
On WildWing's command, Mallory took out the robotic guard with precise aim as Duke hurriedly worked on "picking the lock", although it did include a nice set of dynamics. Sirens began wailing, but that was more than expected. The team quickly penetrated through with Mallory and Grin taking out three more hostile robotic guards, as Tanya quickly set up a laptop doing surveillance by heat radiation.
"Four beings", reported Tanya, "Two together, and two separate, Nosedive could be anyone of them, and time is definitely not on our side. My input is that we split up."
Only Tanya really had earned that right to give her opinion without it being asked, she and WildWing held a very special relationship based on trust.
WildWing pondered for a total of four seconds, and then came up to a conclusion, "We are not splitting up, it is irresponsible. We lost one member; I'm not allowing that to happen again."
"WildWing", Tanya stated, "We don't have time to check each room, they will soon detect us. We would only be able to check one room, and the chances that room with Nosedive is the one we find is against us."
"We split into teams", said WildWing, "My priority is my brother, but I have a responsibility to all of you first, so just find my brother."
The team nodded as their response.
"Mallory, Duke," you two together, "Tanya, and Grin, you come with me. Whatever team finds my brother tells the other immediately. Now move out."
The teams split determined on finding their missing teammate. Each team encountered their fair share of robots, but WildWing's team got hit the hardest, after the saurians found them. However, in the end this all worked out because as WildWing's team was unknowingly playing decoy, as Mallory and Duke were able to locate Nosedive.
They found the shivering teenager malnourished, and beat. A huge black and blue eye, and easily spotted cuts all of over his body. His clothes were wet from various liquids, from blood to water. His regular platinum blonde hair was turned brown due to dirt and what not and his usual tan color was now a variety of colors from purple to red to brown. He had obtained several cuts running all over his body from his head to arms, to wherever. His actual skin was very hard to spot. But that wasn't what scared Mallory or Duke the most. His eyes were open but he wasn't moving. He was just sitting there, making no recognition of anyone.
The first glance at the teenager that Duke and Mallory thought was that he was dead. He looked dead, and sure as hell seemed dead, until breathing could be heard. It was faint, but definitely there.
"Call the others", Mallory ordered Duke, "Tell them where we are if you can give directions, but inform them that we have Nosedive and he is alive."
Duke not exactly enjoying taking orders from Mallory grunted but that was all for now was most certainly not the time for fighting.
Mallory approached Nosedive.
"Nosedive", she stated, "Nosedive Flashblade, damage report."
Duke scoffed, "He's a teenager", he said while tapping into his com, "Bet you missed that, huh kid?"
Still no response from the teenager.
"I think he's in shock", replied Mallory ignoring Duke's previous comment.
"Well get him out of it", retorted Duke.
"You worry about talking to WildWing", shot Mallory.
Mallory approached Nosedive now she was about five feet away.
"Nosedive", she called out again, "It's me Mallory, remember?"
"His eyes aren't even focusing", said Mallory keeping her cool, "Tell Tanya we need immediate medical assistance."
Duke began making the calls in to the necessary people.
Mallory stepped further next to Nosedive, when she noticed something.
Nosedive was drawing in the sand with one of his hands, the other was tightly packed somewhere behind his back. He continued to make shapes, just tracing his finger lightly.
"Maybe not shock", she thought to herself, "He doesn't seem to be confused, and isn't really showing any sign of shock such as anxiety, chest pains, or any of usual symptoms. In fact he seems quite content."
"Nosedive", Mallory called out again, "Come on kid, do something. At least look at me."
Mallory then proceeded into making a huge mistake, she reached over and gently touched his shoulder, and then all hell broke loose.
The teenager jumped up grabbing her arm and quickly forcing it to the ground. The hand that had been concealed from view was now quite perfectly available to all to see. He was holding a rock, not a pebble or a little something, you stub your toe with but a rock, and he was aiming right for her head. It happened as quick as lightning and almost too fast for Mallory to even react to it.
Duke grabbed Nosedive's hand and pushed him back into wall still grabbing the wrist with the rock. Nosedive punched Duke in the gut with a left uppercut, which sent Duke stumbling backwards gasping for breath. Nosedive moved about three steps forwards and found Duke. Immediately he started pounding him to the floor. He hadn't hit his head yet, which was pure luck for he was hitting truly hard. Finally, after sitting on Duke and finding his face he went to drive the rock in, but Mallory tackled Nosedive off of Duke.
This collision sent the rock flying and completely out of Nosedive's reach. Nosedive growled.
"Fine", he groaned, "Play that way."
Mallory now laying on top of Nosedive from the collision, was soon thrown off by a nice side kick to the ribs. He crawled over and once again found his victim and started choking it.
Mallory gasping for breath brought her leg around and kicked Nosedive off of her. Nosedive went soaring off of her a good five feet. He shook his head, and began patting the ground. Soon he found a wall and sat down next to it.
"Just leave me alone", he muttered. "You win okay?"
Duke got up and went next to the kid, "Nosedive, what is wrong with you?"
He placed a hand on the teenager, which immediately resulted in his wrist being twisted backwards.
"Ah kid", cried Duke, "Come on, cut it out! I don't want to have to hurt you!"
Mallory ran over to help her partner and soon had Nosedive off of him, but this time distanced herself from Nosedive.
Nosedive began punching the air wildly as Duke and Mallory examined him.
"Crap", muttered Duke.
"What has gotten into him", panted Mallory.
Nosedive groaned in frustration.
"Not fair", he mumbled.
He held one hand up and swayed it back in forth and he headed toward the opposite wall.
"Crap", he muttered, "Alright think. If I started over there, then, ah this is so confusing."
He went down to the ground and began patting it for something.
"What is he doing", asked Duke.
"I think he's looking for something", responded Mallory.
"Obviously", snapped Duke, "But what?"
"The rock", responded Mallory?
"Crap", said Duke, "Where'd that thing go anyway?"
"Over there in the opposite corner", said Mallory pointing, "Something is not right here."
"Really", asked Duke, "What was your first clue?"
Mallory rolled her eyes, "He can't see properly."
"What", asked Duke.
"He looks like he's drunk", replied Mallory, "That's why he's patting the floor for everything, and that's why he was fighting so drunkenly."
"Are you sure?"
"I think they drugged him that with something that had the same effects of alcohol, only a lot stronger. He didn't even recognize us."
"Well", said Duke, "What do we do?"
"I'm not sure yet" replied Mallory, "I never figured on having to take out a drug high Nosedive that was set on killing everything in sight."
Nosedive finding a wall, sighed and gave up on looking for his rock. He slided down the wall and sat there. He was breathing heavily, and had his eyes closed.
"This has to be some weird drug", muttered Duke, "I mean cause he's totally in control of whatever he wants to do. It's completely destroyed his senses, its completely distorting his sight and apparently our voices. "
"Touch", said Mallory, "He's responding to our touch. Whatever happened to him didn't destroy that sense. Whenever he touched he began fighting."
"I'll tell Tanya to bring a sedative", said Duke.
"No", said Mallory, "We can't do that. Because if this is being caused by drugs, then we can't add more drugs to his body; we don't know how they will mix."
"Well we don't know if it is drugs", said Duke, "It's not like we have degrees in medicine here."
"Well than how do you explain it", snapped Mallory. "He can't recognize us."
Duke shrugged. "Maybe he hit his head too hard, or maybe he's just really drunk, after all he is a teenager."
"We're running out of time", cried Mallory ignoring Duke, "In five minutes we hit him over the head as hard as we can and we carry his body out."
"Okay in and those five minutes before we decide to gang up on him", said Duke, "What are we going to do?"
"Try and snap him out of it."
"You hear that", asked Duke.
"Hear what?"
Duke forced Mallory to the ground as two robots started to shoot. Duke and Mallory scrambled off the floor and out of the way reaching for their weapons. The two began shooting back and within seconds the robots were no longer a problem. However, three more robots that filed into the cell.
"Nosedive", shouted Duke, "Kid get up, you're going to get hit!"
Nosedive made no recognition of anything that was occurring.
Mallory and Duke kept shooting but these robots were better armed than the ones before, and they were getting closer to them.
"Kid", shouted Duke, "Come on, get out of the way."
The robots' shots were getting closer to Nosedive.
"That's it", cried Mallory, "Drag Nosedive to the corner, I'm shooting my only bomb-puck."
Duke ran over to Nosedive as Mallory covered him.
He grabbed Nosedive's pressure points right above the jaw and forced Nosedive over the corner of the room furthest away from Mallory. He forced Nosedive down to the ground and huddled over him, protecting him from the blast.
Mallory pulled the trigger and dropped down as the explosion took out the three robots and all of the front wall. Smoke rose, and then settled as Mallory and Duke inspected the damage.
There was no longer a door or for that matter any other way of exiting the room.
"Crap", muttered Duke. "Now what?"
Nosedive punched Duke in the face, and went to fight more, but started coughing.
"There's a lot of smoke in here huh kid", asked Duke, "Come on Nosedive, stop fighting us. Tell us something."
Mallory stood and marched over to Nosedive.
"Get away from him now", she growled.
"What's the matter with you", asked Duke.
"Didn't you see him", shouted Mallory.
"When?"
"When those robots came in, he wouldn't even move!"
"Yeah that was creepy, it was like he didn't even know anything was happen. It was so loud as well and he didn't even flinch!"
Mallory knelt down next to Nosedive, careful to not breathe on him or anything that would give away her presence.
"What are you doing", asked Duke.
"Hoping that I'm not right", muttered Mallory.
She went to punch Nosedive in the face but stopped a centimeter away from him, to only find no reaction from the teenager. Mallory then furthered to continue her investigation by moving her position to right next his ear hole. She started snapping her fingers; she did it to the other ear hole as well with the same response, nothing.
"He can't hear or see us", cried Mallory, "That's what's wrong! He isn't drug, he's blind and deaf!"
Duke paled from his normal gray color to a ghostly lighter shade. He quickly regained control of his emotions and calmed himself.
"Okay", he said, "Well we're stuck in here as of now. I'm pretty sure we can find some way out, see over there towards the middle of it. I'm sure we could all squeeze through that hole. We'll get out that way. Contact Tanya, not WildWing and tell her what's taking so long. You're great at strategy and fighting sweetheart, but you're going to have to trust me on this and don't tell WildWing that his brother, is well, like this. He's upset as it is, let's not make it worse, we don't want him making rash decisions. Tell them that we will be out as soon as possible and aren't far from the exit."
Mallory nodded, got up, and started pressing buttons on her com unit.
"Out of curiosity", said Mallory, "What are you doing?"
Duke inched forward to Nosedive.
"I'm going to get Nosedive to recognize its us."
"Duke don't", said Mallory stopping the contact to Tanya, "Don't upset him."
"Well then how are we supposed to get him through that tiny hole", asked Duke pointing towards their only means of escape. "Trust me, its going to take some physical contact, unless you know telepathy."
"We'll just knock him out", said Mallory.
"I'd rather use that as a last resort, wouldn't you?"
Mallory glared and then proceeded to talk to Tanya.
"Alright kid", said Duke, "Don't hurt me."
Duke sat down next to Nosedive. He gently glazed his hand over Nosedive's. There was an immediate reaction, but Duke was expecting it. He grabbed the teenager's hand and forced one behind his back.
"Easy", said Mallory, "Hang on Tanya". Then to Duke, "You'll break his arm! Loosen your grip!"
"This is a loose grip", retorted Duke, "He won't stop struggling! As soon as he stops it won't hurt as much."
Nosedive went to kick Duke, but Duke moved aside in time.
"We don't have time for this", muttered Duke. He grabbed his sword and put it up against Nosedive's leg.
"What are you doing", cried Mallory.
"He has to stop struggling", cried Duke, "Or else we'll never be able to convey that it's us to him."
Again, Nosedive went to kick but the blade swiped against his leg. The unfamiliar object against his leg was now clear that it was a blade. It wasn't a deep cut, but it was enough to get the point across to not move his leg. Finally, Nosedive stopped struggling.
"Gotta give him credit", said Duke, "This kid is dauntless."
"You need any help", asked Mallory.
"You finished the call to Tanya?"
"Affirmative."
"Come here, don't touch him or give any reason for him to believe that you're here."
Mallory nodded and walked over to Duke and the wincing Nosedive, "You have a plan, I presume?"
Duke nodded, "I'm just not sure if it'll work."
"If this doesn't work", said Mallory, "Then that's it, we knock him out and we leave that way. We're loosing too much time, they can only hold them off for so long, Duke. By now it was ludicrous to assume that we have other reasons for infiltrating the raptor. That's why the drones were sent here. They figured it out, and we are definitely running out of time. Tanya said we have five minutes, before they can no longer hold them off."
"Ok", said Duke, "Five minutes, it'll be close, but I think we can make it around that time."
"Yeah but only if we leave in like three seconds."
"It's not like we're not trying. Now listen, I need you to hold this grip on Nosedive."
"Why?"
"Because this is the only way he won't try and kill us."
"Fine", agreed Mallory. "But your plan better work."
"On three", said Duke, "You hold the kid, got it? We need to make it swift, because the kid is pretty fast."
Mallory nodded.
"One."
Mallory put her hand right above Duke's on the sword's handle.
"Two."
Mallory assumed position to grab Nosedive's arm.
"Three."
Duke let go, as Mallory quickly took control, not even giving Nosedive a chance.
"Harder", said Duke.
"Harder what", snapped Mallory.
"More pressure", rephrased Duke, "On his arm, pull up harder."
"I'm hurting him", shouted Mallory, "I'm going to break it!"
"Better that than all of us dying here", yelled Duke back. "Just a little harder, and it won't even fracture. Trust me, I know about breaking bones."
Mallory nodded and applied more pressure. Nosedive's eyes were watering at this point.
"Hold him tight Mal", said Duke, as he went for Nosedive's free hand.
Nosedive tried to free himself once more, but his resisting was met more pressure and a slight cut on his leg. It worked effectively, for Nosedive stop fighting.
"This is one strong kid", remarked Mallory.
The remark was meant as a character trait not physical strength, and it was true. Most people in that situation wouldn't have any fight left in them, but then there are those rare few that fight with everything they got. Mallory stated correctly when calling him strong.
Duke took Nosedive's hand and brought it up to his body, letting Nosedive feel his skin. Nosedive seemed confused, he couldn't register what was happening. He was used to dealing with scales, not feathers. Duke took his and brought it to his beak.
"Come on kid", said Duke, "Who else do you know that has a beak."
Nosedive broke his hand free from Duke's grasp, but continued to feel around Duke's face. He came across his distinct eye patch and hairstyle. Nosedive now more than confused couldn't figure out what was going on.
"Let him go", said Duke.
"What", said Mallory, "We finally got him from killing us!"
"Trust me on this sweetheart, I know people."
"If I die because of this on my tombstone I want it written that I was right."
"You got it babe."
Mallory released Nosedive from his grip. Nosedive brought his arm close and held from where it was being held, but he went back to observing Duke with his hand.
"Give me my sword", said Duke.
Mallory handed over the sword.
Duke took Nosedive's hand and gently placed it on the blade. Immediately Nosedive panicked feeling the blade and pulled away. Duke caught him from fleeing, and brought his hand to the blade, and placed it on it again. He then retracted the blade so it was now only a handle.
Nosedive went back to observing Duke with more determination now, which was shown through his eyes. He ran his fingers over his good eye and than his bad eye, and then once more the beak.
"Duke", asked Nosedive.
"Yes", cried both Mallory and Duke.
Duke grabbed Nosedive's hand and brought it to his face and nodded in confirmation.
"Hey alright", cried Nosedive happily, "Yeah!!! Took ya'll long enough! So Duke is here, and you would be?"
Mallory walked over to Nosedive's reach, and took his hand and had it outline her hair and her beak, and then showed him her height by taking his hand from his forehead to hers.
Nosedive hesitated for a minute, and then ran his hand over her eyes.
"No glasses", said Nosedive, "And since you're smaller than me, I'm guessing Mal-Mal right?"
"Good Nosedive", said Mallory as she took his hand put it on her face and nodded.
"Hey you guys got any food", asked Nosedive, "I'm starving!"
Duke checked his pockets, Mallory didn't bother to check, already knowing she had nothing. Duke came up empty handed. He took Nosedive's hand and put it on his face and shook his head no.
"Man. Oh well, at least you're here right?"
Duke ruffled his hair in response.
"Now speaking of tombstones", said Duke, "I think on mine I'll have in inscribed that I was righ-."
"Can it L'orange", said Mallory, "We still need to get out of here alive, but you did good."
"Oh thanks", said Duke sarcastically, "Now let's get out of here."
Mallory nodded, and Nosedive just kept smiling.
"You take Nosedive's hand", said Duke, "And I'll take the other and we're going to get out through that hole."
Mallory nodded and took Nosedive's right hand, and Duke took the left. They proceeded to the exit. Duke and Mallory got down to their hands, and being still connected Nosedive, he followed. Duke squeezed through the rubble and navigated through the tunnel that held many twists and turns to get out. After squeezing through there was a robots' something that was acting as a spear that had gotten stuck in the rubble. Avoiding and far away as possible he went to help Nosedive.
"Mallory", called Duke, "Let go of Nosedive's hand."
"Are you sure", called back Mallory.
"Just do it, and watch your head as you crawl into this thing."
"Okay", said Mallory. She patted Nosedive's hand and then let go.
Duke patted Nosedive's opposing shoulder in order to get his hand, but failed to convey his order to the teenager.
"I don't understand Duke", said Nosedive, "Sorry."
"Mallory", cried Duke growing more and more uncomfortable in the crouching position in the rubble, "Throw Nosedive's hand towards me, or something to that effect."
"Affirmative."
Mallory took Nosedive's elbow and forced it forward. Duke grabbed it and held it tightly.
"Oh you wanted my hand", said Nosedive, "Why?"
Duke took his hand and placed it by the spearing obstacle.
"Oh", said Nosedive, "I see, well not literally, but you get the idea."
"He's still Nosedive", chuckled Duke lightly to himself. "Okay kid let's do this."
Despite the fact that Nosedive couldn't hear him, it somehow calmed Duke to just talk to him. Duke took Nosedive's hand and guided him through the tunnel. It took much longer than it would have taken someone who could see for there were so many sharp turns and hazardous rubble to look out for. However, through sheer persistence the three of them made it out with just some bruising. Unfortunately, the peace of winning against all odds was not given to them, as they heard near by fire shots.
"Crap", muttered Duke, "It just keeps getting better and better."
"That's the team", cried Mallory, then punching into her com, "WildWing, we have Nosedive, and we have effectively gotten out of cell, we're heading towards the migrator. We're only twenty feet from the exit."
"Good", replied WildWing, "Because I don't think we can hold them off much longer. We'll meet you there, WildWing out."
"Let's move guys", said Mallory.
The two took Nosedive's hands once again, and headed towards the exit. It was in vision's reach, and all they had to do to get there was walk. No hidden traps no nothing, until the gunfire they had heard was no upon them.
"Get down", cried Mallory, "Get Nosedive out I'll take them."
"There's five of them", shouted Duke, "I'm not leaving you! You see what they did to a mere child? I'm not letting them have the chance to have their fun with a grown attractive woman. The most effective way out is not this way, run ahead to that hallway, I'll stay with Nosedive, he can't run as fast, cover us when you get there."
Mallory not having time to argue ran across the hall to the other side where there was another hallway. From there she began effectively firing, taking out two, but at least diverting the fire away from Duke and Nosedive, who only needed seconds to reach the goal.
The three were re-united but completely unsure what to do.
"Now what", cried Mallory. "We have a total of three seconds till they run down here and find us! You're a quick thinker, now what?"
Duke didn't have time to answer as a bullet went flying past them.
"Stay against the wall", commanded Mallory.
Duke immediately attached his head to wall and motioned for Nosedive to do the same. However, Nosedive didn't understand and leaned forward.
"No kid", said Duke pushing Nosedive back. Nosedive struggled, but after another harsh push from Duke, he got the point to stay there.
"You have any more powerful shots left", questioned Mallory.
"No", said Duke, "We should run down this hall. Come on Mal, we can't take them."
"But the exit is right there", cried Mallory still firing, "I'm not giving up that easily!"
"It's not giving up", cried Duke, "It's staying alive! Now let's move! Me and Nosedive will run straight down the hall to the first door on the right- "
"And if it doesn't open", asked Mallory.
"It'll open", said Duke. "I'll cover you when we get there."
Duke pulled Nosedive along to the intended goal, but was stopped when he spotted more drones coming along their way from the end of the hallway where apparently it led to another, and not a dead end as had previously been assumed. It was dark which made it hard to decipher the surroundings.
Duke fired a few shots off towards that direction which prevented the drones from progressing, in attempts to hide themselves, as Duke, Mallory, and Nosedive were doing to other set of robots. The drones were successfully hidden by the hallway that led to the hallway that had Nosedive, Mallory, and Duke, however what they didn't know was that Mallory, Duke and Nosedive, had no intention of actually trying to destroy them as they did to just exit, and by their hiding they actually helped Mallory and Duke, by not having to fight off as many drones.
"Crap", cursed Duke, "Mallory, just run to the exit!"
"What", cried Mallory. "I'm not leaving you either!"
"Take Nosedive", said Duke, "Take Nosedive and run to that exit. I'll divert their attention and then meet up with you."
"We won't make it", shouted Mallory back.
"We'll what do you propose", cried Duke.
"Tanya", replied Mallory, "I propose Tanya. You think you can take them while I make a quick call?"
"You're kidding right", cried Duke.
"I have a plan that won't kill us, now go!"
Duke ran out from the hall and ran back and forth effectively taking at least two with his sword, but mostly just dodging shots. Meanwhile, Mallory called Tanya while grabbing Nosedive to the floor and crouching over him, protecting him from the shots that were aimed for them by the drones on the opposite end of the hall, and still shooting towards them and even taking a few out.
"Talk about freakin' multi-tasking", muttered Mallory. "Duke, come back, and hurry!"
Duke ran over to Mallory and Nosedive.
"Mallory, I don't think we're getting out of this."
"Relax L'orange", said Mallory, "Help me take these drones", Mallory motioned towards those at the end of the hallway.
"What about the fifty multiplying ones over there", cried Duke.
"Tanya", said Mallory simply, "Now help me take them out."
"Ducks rock", muttered Duke, as he started shooting once again.
The drones did not advance but stayed hidden and took random shots all of which missed. However the more immediate concern was the other set of drones, that apparently Tanya was take care of.
"Mallory", cried Duke.
"I know", shouted Mallory, "I know, but this will work! It's not like we have many other choices, just keep shooting!"
The first set of drones were no longer being threatened by fire, since all of the gun fire was being aimed towards the second set were now two feet away from Duke and Mallory.
"I'll take them", said Duke attempting to get up with his sword.
"Leave them", said Mallory.
"You gotta be kidding", cried Duke.
"Crap", muttered Mallory, "Don't go anywhere near there."
"You're insane", shouted Duke.
"Trust me on this", shouted Mallory, "Tanya'll be here shortly!"
A large blast, and rapid fire sent from WildWing, and Grin took care of the two drones that were advancing on them, and then followed by a large blast from the migrator that had rammed into the building and was now productively taking out the drones five at a time.
"Now about my tombstone", said Mallory, "I believe I'll still put I was right."
Duke rolled his eyes. "Come on, let's go home."
The three simply walked over to the migrator, and were happily welcomed by their teammates. By the time the drones figured out their absence the migrator was already out of the raptor, and gone.
Mallory and Duke examined the team, as Nosedive sat down on the hard, cold, floor. Tanya was driving, and Grin and WildWing were panting, and all bent out of shape. Tanya, Grin, and WildWing were all bruised and visibly drained from any sort of energy, but then again Mallory and Duke didn't look so great themselves with dirt all over, and probably the same amount of bruising as the others. And then there was Nosedive who was still sitting on the floor of the migrator with no energy to get up, and every possible color of bruising, skin tightly wrapped around his own body looking like it might snap like a rubber band at any minute, and blood running from head to toe, but despite that the teenager was smiling excitedly.
WildWing didn't move; he froze as he stared at his brother, the bruises were enough to keep from not barreling his brother over in a hug.
"Migrator right", said Nosedive happily, "Right Duke, right Mal?"
Duke took Nosedive's hand and squeezed it, and rubbed Nosedive's arm. Nosedive got the point.
"Yeah!!!! FREEDOM!"
Mallory and Duke smiled happily.
"Ah Dive", said WildWing. "Man buddy you look beat. I'm so happy to see yo- "
"WildWing", said Duke, "Um well, Tanya did you tell him?"
"I was instructed not to", replied Tanya sadly.
"Tell me what", growled WildWing.
"Grin", called Tanya, "Take the wheel."
Tanya and Grin switched as Tanya came over to medically examine Nosedive. She went to touch him, but was quickly stopped by Mallory.
"Don't", said Mallory, "I don't think he'd anything but let's not spook anymore than he needs to be, and by probing and poking that's just not the right message, you need to identify yourself first, and before you do that", her voice trailed off and looked over to WildWing.
"WildWing", said Duke, "You're brother can no longer hear or see."
"WHAT", exclaimed WildWing.
Even the most calm person of the team Grin, hit the brakes shortly after hearing the news. Quickly resuming to his composed character, he began driving once more. WildWing however was furious.
"How the hell did this happen", screamed WildWing, "Are you sure?"
Mallory nodded.
WildWing started cursing, while banging his fists against the cupboards of the migrator.
"Mallory, Duke", said Nosedive still sitting on the floor, too tired to get up, "Where's my brother?"
"WildWing", said Mallory, "I know you're upset, but this kid has waited three weeks to be freed, and see his big brother, try and calm down and make him happy by at least showing your presence to him."
WildWing dropped his head, and cursed another profanity, but got up and knelt down next to his brother. He put his hand on Nosedive's shoulder.
Nosedive jumped a little, but soon realized what was going on.
"WildWing", cried Nosedive.
Nosedive plunged himself towards his brother wrapping his arms around his neck.
"I missed you so much Wing", cried Nosedive, "I knew you'd come and get me! I got to tell you what happened, I really pissed them off! Heh, it was great Wing, I have so much to tell you!"
WildWing ruffled his brother's hair, and then tightly held him.
"How'd he know it was his brother", asked Tanya.
"Well", said Mallory, "Logically he realized that he was in the migrator, and after calling his brother, and then receiving the weight of someone of that height-"
"Ah Mal", said Duke, "Some things you just know."
Mallory for once allowed herself to be contradicted against, and said nothing.
"Is this permanent", asked WildWing.
"We'll have to get back to the pond", said Tanya, "So I can examine him."
WildWing nodded, and helped his brother up.
"Wing", whined Nosedive, "No, I want to sit."
WildWing ignoring his brother picked him off the floor and dragged him to a chair.
"All you guys had to do was get Nosedive out of there", asked Tanya so low that only Duke and Mallory could hear, "And you both look like crap, what happened?"
"Don't ask", the two said in unison.
"Let's just say", said Duke, "You guys had the easier job."
"That bad huh", asked Tanya.
The two nodded.
"You think you can help Nosedive", asked Duke.
"I'll try my hardest", said Tanya, "But don't hold your breath."
"I wish I had a brother like that", muttered Mallory looking at Nosedive who was laying on his brother's chest.
"When you lose your sight and hearing you will", smirked Duke, "Let's sit, it's been a long day."
"Hey Tawn", said Nosedive who was now half-asleep, "Can we skip the whole emergency medical thing, and let me eat something?"
Nosedive put his hand on his brother's face. WildWing not thinking much of it went to move his hand.
"WildWing don't", said Duke, "That's how we've been telling him things, through yes and no questions. Shake your head in the right direction for the answer you want to give. You know like shake your yes for yes, and well you know what I mean."
"Oh", said WildWing now understanding. He shook his head yes.
"I notion Taco Bell", cried Nosedive.
WildWing rolled his eyes, and squeezed his brother hand just to let him know he heard him.
"Grin", said WildWing.
"I heard him", replied Grin.
WildWing said nothing, just looked as his brother.
"Did he tell you anything", asked Tanya.
"Come again", asked Duke.
"Did he tell what happened to him", asked Tanya.
"Not a word", replied Mallory.
"He's just happy to be back", replied Duke, "We ask him tomorrow."
"How", asked Tanya.
"Considering that we just made the world's greatest rescue with him, I'm sure we can get some answers out of him, but for now, well let him enjoy it."
The three sat down and most easily contributed to the silence. No one said a word; it just didn't seem appropriate. When all of the adrenaline calmed they were left with reality and they did not like it. The fact that one of their own could no longer use the most basic of functions and that did not sit with them well. Moreover, the fact that he looked like a skeleton and had several bruisings all over did not help much either. However, Nosedive seemed content, smiling from ear to ear, and for now that helped out much. He was battling with sleep on his brother, refusing to let himself miss out on this great day because of sleep, but in the end he lost the battle miserably and was fast-asleep.
"WildWing", said Grin, "Still to the restaurant?"
WildWing said nothing.
"WildWing", repeated Grin.
Again, WildWing said nothing.
"WildWing", said Grin a little more loudly which gained his leader's attention.
"Oh I'm sorry", said WildWing tiredly, "I wasn't paying attention, what was the question?"
"Home or food", asked Grin sympathetically.
WildWing looked at his brother debating what to do.
"I want to let him sleep", said WildWing, "But he still has to eat, yeah let's eat out, he'd like that a lot."
So the team ventured onto Taco Bell, WildWing ordered for his brother, not wanting to even attempt to ask him what he wanted because of the communication barrier. Nosedive ate happily, and then fell back asleep. He was carried inside, and it was medically determined that he didn't need any immediate treatment, so they let Nosedive sleep. It was the next day that everyone learned the truth of what really happened.