--*Note: This is NOT a story about the Brotherhood of the Blade. The
group in this story is named the Blade, however... and though there are a
few mentions of the actual 'Brotherhood' in this story, it is not
reguarding one that exists anywhere except in my mind. The characters
'Diamond and Truth; belong to Gina, everything else is either mine or
Disney's. *--
As the icy, bitter wind blew across the deserted Puckoda desert, small columns of snow hung from the deteriorated cacti plants that littered the vast landscape. The weather in Puckoda had been like this for 2 years now blistering in the daylight, freezing cold at night.
Because of Puckoda's weather patterns scientists from all across PuckWorld would gather here to study the animals and now frozen sand dunes. Yet, no one could solve the mysterious weather enigma. Some said it was atmospheric, others said it was from below the ground, or due to the moon phases. In reality no scientist really knew what made the weather change so rapidly from the daylight to the evening hours.
As far as Jericho LeDrake was concerned, no scientist ever would. However, Jericho knew. After all he had helped to make it happen.
Jericho pulled his thick, fur blanket tighter around him and spat into the Frozen wind. He hated the cold almost as much as he hated PuckWorld. As he huddled further into his makeshift shelter of snow he cursed Dragonaus. "Stupid saurian bastard," he sneered as a sneeze escaped his beak, "Wachoo!! The little icy gift you made me leave on puck world is going to give me pneumonia!" Though it was true that he had helped Dragonaus set up the weather-matoniser, 30,000 feet from the surface of PuckWorld, there were times, especially now, that he wished he had told that useless lizard to shove a fresh puck up his ass.
"Who are you talking to?" Asked a muffled female voice from deeper inside the cave.
Jericho sighed, "Nobody Dagger, now go back to sleep... we have a long day tomorrow."
"Whatever" muttered Dagger from the back of the cave.
Within seconds Jericho heard Daggers breathing become soft, and rhythmic again as she returned to her sound slumber. Jericho smacked his head against the hard snow wall of the shelter in anger. He was enduring this hell for her, he was seeking out the Blade for her, he was going to kill for her. Ruining the drakes moment of anger, a yawn escaped him and for the first time in days Jericho realized how tired he really was. His dark eyes drooped as sleep started to over come him. Damn her for needing his help, and damn him for loving her.
Shaddow eyed the large room with extreme boredom. She was sick of the way things always seemed the same. Sure it was a different place with different gems and different escape routes, but the feeling was the way it had always been. There was no rush anymore, no little twinge of fear that came before the heist. She would do what she had always done, pull her sword, swing down into the main holding room, snatch all the loot she wanted, escape, and move on. That's what would happen, that's what always happened.
The blonde sighed deeply to herself as she trammed down from the ceiling and into the darkness. She had never been caught, and deep down she knew that she probably never would be. As Shaddow landed soundlessly she grimaced, 'that's what happens when you are trained by the best,' the tall, toned duck thought to herself, and Duke L'Orange was by far the best.
With no effort she worked around every alarm system and security measure the small museum had to offer. When she was done loading up her small pouch she glanced around the room. Her gaze fell on a abstract painting of PuckWorld legend, Drake Ducaine. As she continued to look at the brightly colored work an expression of mischief crossed her normally serious face.
Trance-like, Shaddow strode across the museum and grabbed the painting off the wall with no thought to the alarm. She then tucked it under her arm and walked across the hallway. She wondered what Duke would have said about her nabbing a worthless painting. Something like 'that ain't even worth yer time, sweetheart,' she guessed over accentuating his accent in her mind.
Quickly Shaddow opened up the heavy door, and grinning, strolled down the stairs and out into the street. The alarm rang out noisily behind her, as she scampered, painting in hand, far into the darkness. The sirens of the oncoming police cruisers began to grow closer. Effortlessly the blonde hopped a nearby fence and jogged to her sleek black car. As she got in, a smile played at her beak, this was a lot more interesting then a silent robbery.
2 miles below the busy streets of New Ducaine Central, lay Oz Carrington. His 6 foot 4 inch frame was sprawled and debilitated, across the large, leather sofa in Blade Head Quarters. His pointed beak moved rhythmically but no sound came out as he watched his big screen television and the news report played out before his unblinking Hazel eyes.
"...The police have no leads thus far in this odd robbery, but Sergeant McDrake is organizing a city wide man hunt." The female news reporter droned on gesturing towards 'Ducaine Center museum' "Several priceless gems and a five thousand dollar painting of PuckWorld legend, Drake Ducaine were among the stolen items..."
There on the screen was the target that Shaddow had gone to hit. Ducaine Center Museum. The building's barred doors were now covered by security officials, and the whole of the structure was surrounded by police and news teams.
'Had she tripped an alarm?' Oz wondered nervously. "Nah, she couldn't 'ave," he said under his breath, "Shaddow don't trip alarms." He continued to stare at the screen smoothing his brown feathers repetitively. When he could no longer handle the stress of his team-mates actions he proceed to get of the couch and pace around the room muttering curse words to himself.
He hated it when Shaddow went on robbery rampages. She could go for days with out checking in with a Blade member. Quickly, Oz reached into his pocket and pulled out his bottle of Pepto-Bismol, undid the cap, brought it to his beak and began to chug it down in large gulps.
"Damn, Ozwald, you gotta cut down."
At the sound of the voice, Oz spit his Pepto all over the main rooms carpeting. Coughing, he turned around and glared at Cole, the Blade's resident smart-ass. "What'd ya' want, Cole?" Oz questioned, wiping off his beak, and replacing the Pepto in his jacket pocket.
"Just to tell you that Shaddows' back, that's all" Cole said smirking. "Figured you'd wanna talk to her or something'."
Oz's eyes narrowed to Hazel slits. With an anger rarely seen, he stormed through the door pushing Cole out of his way.
Smirking, the blue-haired drake squared his shoulders, and cocked an eyebrow. "Remember your blood pressure, Oz," he yelled contemptuously after his leader.
Duke gazed up at the twinkling, silver stars from his vantage point on the grass outside of the Pond and sighed. He was having a bout of homesickness again, and as he lay there, his mind drifted to thoughts of Puckworld, of the Brotherhood, and everything else he had left behind. Duke imagined his friends and his team of thieves, training and laughing at all the jokes only they knew. He thought of his Quarters, and his weapons, but mostly he thought of his son, Cole. Where was he, what was he doing? Those are things Duke had longed to know since years before he left PuckWorld. The gray drake stretched as he wondered if Cole had become a cop, like he had always wanted to be. Was he happy? Married? Did he ever think of his father..? Quickly Duke shook his head, "not now" he said aloud, "I ain't gonna do dis now."
Quickly, the Drake rolled over and began to fiddle with several small blades of grass, forcing himself to think of what was happening here, on Earth. Although that seemed impossible due to the fact that he had nothing to do here, and his mind was always wandering back to PuckWorld. Not to mention, Duke and the others had a lot more free time on their hands now that they had imprisoned Dragonaus, so Duke spent most of that time playing hockey and thinking about home.
He constantly wondered If the Brotherhood was alright, and who they had put in charge. He also thought about going back to stealing and doing small heists to consume more of his free time until they went home. Fortunately, Grin had made him see that was a bad idea, especially here on Earth. Duke smiled to himself, back on PuckWorld though, that would be different. He would get his old career back, and the Brotherhood of the Blade, that made him feel all good inside.
Duke's revelry was interrupted by the sound of a cat in a nearby tree. Feeling the need for a bathroom break he left his spot on the grass and prepared to head indoors. Slowly he smiled to himself, at least Tanya had the AreoWing prepped for deep space travel. Soon enough they could all go home, then he would be able to find the answers to all his questions...
Oz had never been as angry at Shaddow as he was now. As the coffee-colored Raptrin stormed down the long, dim hallway, he seethed with unholy rage. Frantically, Oz's mind raced. 'How could she do it again? Why would she throw caution into the wind like that?' Oz had thought that Shaddow's recklessness had ended when Manda died. In fact, Shaddow had sworn that it was the end of her not being a team player, she had lied to him and that pissed Oz off, but more than that he was hurt. Shaddow was one of the people that he trusted the most, and she had deliberately disobeyed him.
As he rounded the corner leading in to the small conference room Oz took a deep cleansing breath. Confronting her in an angry manner wouldn't solve anything, he had to be calm, cool, collected. Clearing his throat he strode into the conference room, saw Shaddow and bellowed, "How the hell could ya'!?!?!?"
The blonde looked at him and raised her eyebrow, "calm, cool, and collected I assume?"
Oz glared at her and folded his arms across his chest. "Explanation, please?"
Shaddow didn't answer him, instead she casually got up from her comfortable leather chair and walked quickly across the room. Bending over, she reached her hand under a heavy black tarp and produced the painting that she had stolen from the museum. With absolute confidence she strode over to Oz and offered the painting for his examination.
Oz stared at the portrait of Drake Ducaine in confusion. Surely this could not be all that Shaddow had taken..? He looked up at her, perplexed.
"It's a painting" she offered calmly.
"Ah know that!" snapped Oz. "But why do YOU have it? Ya' don' even like Drake Ducaine."
A impish smile tugged at the corners of her beak as she spoke. "It seemed more interesting that the usual diamonds and other trinkets I've been stealing. Besides, I don't recall having to explain my actions to you." Shaddow dropped the painting on the hard, marble tiled flooring and went to sit in a near by recliner. Nonchalantly settling herself into the comfy leather chair she asked, "did I make the news?"
At this Oz nearly exploded, "ya' could say that! What'd ya' think ya' were doin'? Do you know what this is gonna do ta our reputation?" His hazel eye met her emerald ones and instantly knew that he had made a mistake.
"*Our* reputation?" Shaddow's voice was hardly above a whisper as she continued. "Don't ever forget your place Oz. Manda created the Blade from nothing, she and the original team gave there sweat, blood, and in the end, their lives for it." Shaddow's face grew momentarily soft as she continued, "you and I are not the Blade, Oz. We are just part of what once was."
Oz knew that she was right about Manda creating the Blade, but he was leader now. Manda had bestowed the Blade to him upon her death bed. He vowed then that it would never die, but Shaddow was talking like it already had. His brow furrowed as he paced across the room trying to convey his feelings to the now stoic woman before him. Though try as he might the right words wouldn't come.
He had planned on telling her how much she had hurt him and he was going to remind her of her broken promise, but it seemed impossible. After a minute his anger subsided, "why, Shad?" he asked sinking into a chair beside her.
Shaddow hung her flaxen head, she never talked to anyone about her thoughts, except for Duke, but with him gone she had no one. She desperately wanted to tell someone what was going on in her mind, especially Oz she trusted him as a leader and respected him as a thief. "It's just that I'm sick of things always being the sa..."
Her sentence was cut off by Crash and Sabastian running into the room carrying a lump.
Instantly, Oz jumped to his feet, "what?" he asked the two panicked drakes.
"It's Tammra," panted Crash as he helped Sabastian lay the large, covered lump on the carpet.
A gasp left Oz's throat as the blanket fell away from the lump on the floor and he was looking into Tammra's bloodied face. Her short, jade hair was caked with dirt and blood, and her normally pristine black feathers seemed an almost tarnished grey. Her once proud body was now an ocean of cuts and gashes.
Sabastian came to stand next to Oz. "It was a Saurian soldier. He ambushed her in a technology raid, she never had a chance. I'm sorry." Sabastian placed a black-gloved hand on Oz's shoulder.
"We couldn't get to her in time…" tears began to form in Crash's blue eyes as the young drake turned away from the body on the floor.
Soundlessly Cole entered the room. He heard the whole conversation, and grief raced through his entire being. Tammra had been his best friend, but more so she had been his lover. He had adored her, worshiped her, loved her. One lone tear fell from his dark eyes and came to rest upon his grey cheek. Someone would pay for this. Someone would die.
No one saw the group of thieves enter the small saurian strong hold. No one saw them kill the 6 saurian guards or set the 50 pounds of explosives. No one even noticed when they dragged one, already beaten Saurian out in to soft moonlight. Oz made sure no one would notice. He was an exceptional leader with mind staggering tactical skills.
The Raptrin had Crash, the Blade's technician, draw up a plan of all of the security of the Saurian compound including guards, doors, and computerized alarms. He then ordered Crash to build explosives, 50 pounds of high powered, electronic mini-bombs.
Next OZ had Sabastian enter the base 2 hours before dark and set up bugs all throughout the building. The small devices told OZ what was going on and what was being said therein. A useful edge in fighting, and stealing.
Shaddow then entered the perimeter 5 minuets after nightfall and readied the areas that were to house the bombs.
Lastly, he, Cole and Crash were to enter the perimeter, lay the explosives and meet up with Sabastian and Shaddow.
After that, thanks to their skills and the bugging devices it was easy for them to find the saurian that had killed Tammra and remove him from the building.
A simple plan that went off without a hitch, at least it would have, if not for Cole. The team had just brought the wounded saurian into the yard of the camp and were preparing to chain him and take him to one of the holding cells in the Blade base.
Cole had tried to keep his calm, but in the end, it was a losing battle. "You killed her," he growled through clenched teeth.
The Saurian's head only bobbed slightly, but a smirk came to his swollen lips showing yellow fangs.
The two males locked eyes, one a grieving drake, the other a monstrous killer.
"She screamed...loudly for me..." muttered the Saurian.
Cole's eyes flashed blood red and with in seconds he had knocked Crash over and was upon the Saurian soldier. The once calm night howled with agonizing screams as Cole killed the Lizard with his bare hands. He ripped through the soldiers flesh and strangled the life from his once living body. In seconds that ticked by like hours, the saurian was dead. Cole had killed him. Without a word to anyone the young, gray drake wiped his hands upon his black uniform and ran from the stronghold.
Oz began to bark orders that the others were only too happy to obey. "Sabastian, close that door, I don't want anyone leaving!"
The tall, masked male only winked and produced 2 katanas, each containing a small, blue button. He pressed the button on one of the swords and it flared to life. Sparks jumped from the blade which grew three inches and became consumed in crackling fire. Sabastian jumped from his position near the saurian body to the door which was in the process of being opened. He kicked it shut then held the door with his foot. Smoothly the skilled thief ran the blade around the door frame heating the metal to melting.
He then pushed the button on the other sword. A soft, white mist curled out from the weapon and began to encircle the sword blade. Quickly he ran the ice sword around the door frame cooling the melted, bubbling metal. In under a 30 seconds he had sealed the door. Sabastian smiled to himself, "a new record."
"Get clear!" yelled a young male voice. Crash had made the last alterations on the explosives from his wrist computer and was preparing to set them off.
"On 20!" Oz yelled back from the middle of 3 saurian soldiers who had made the mistake of attacking him.
"Not a problem," the blonde duck yelled back. He punched a sequence of numbers into the small computer and hit the enter key. After that he turned around and punched a saurian in the gut before it could strangle him. "You guys have got to stop being so predictable."
The lizard glared at him and was about to get up to attack when Crash flicked his arm and produced a dagger from his sleeve. He held the weapon towards the Soldier who laughed and prepared to attack. "Moron," said crash as a beam of yellow light shot from the dagger incinerating the saurian utterly.
The thieves had all heard Oz's command to Crash and they were counting down mentally, each at the same number. When they got to 10, all stopped what they were doing and began to run to the fence. Ever synchronized they hurdled the 15 foot gate and disappeared into the shadows.
The saurian's began to collect themselves and laugh at the retreat of their attackers.
"We showed them but good, eh?" Said one to his commander in a gruff, broken version of English.
The commander was about to respond when he heard a loud 'click' come from behind him. Slowly he turned around to face the glowing explosive attached to the wall.
"Run for..." The commander never got a chance to finish the order for at that second, the saurian army base exploded into a billion pieces.
The two watched the explosion from a near by roof top. They had not seen the group enter the complex but new who they were, the Blade.
"Impressive" said the woman to her companion, "that must have been done by the one called Crash."
The male looked up at her from his crouched position. He slowly stood and adjusted his trench coat, "you impress easy, Dagger."
The woman rolled her eyes and smoothed her long purple hair, "get a grip, Jericho. Their good, you know that as well as I do."
He said nothing, only thought 'why do you care so much about them, Dagger?' Had he asked her she would have laughed at him and said he was being an idiot. But he knew better, there was something she was not telling him and Jericho wanted to know what it was.
Dagger turned to leave then cocked her head to the side. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah"
She smiled, "Then it is time to find the Blade..."
As the icy, bitter wind blew across the deserted Puckoda desert, small columns of snow hung from the deteriorated cacti plants that littered the vast landscape. The weather in Puckoda had been like this for 2 years now blistering in the daylight, freezing cold at night.
Because of Puckoda's weather patterns scientists from all across PuckWorld would gather here to study the animals and now frozen sand dunes. Yet, no one could solve the mysterious weather enigma. Some said it was atmospheric, others said it was from below the ground, or due to the moon phases. In reality no scientist really knew what made the weather change so rapidly from the daylight to the evening hours.
As far as Jericho LeDrake was concerned, no scientist ever would. However, Jericho knew. After all he had helped to make it happen.
Jericho pulled his thick, fur blanket tighter around him and spat into the Frozen wind. He hated the cold almost as much as he hated PuckWorld. As he huddled further into his makeshift shelter of snow he cursed Dragonaus. "Stupid saurian bastard," he sneered as a sneeze escaped his beak, "Wachoo!! The little icy gift you made me leave on puck world is going to give me pneumonia!" Though it was true that he had helped Dragonaus set up the weather-matoniser, 30,000 feet from the surface of PuckWorld, there were times, especially now, that he wished he had told that useless lizard to shove a fresh puck up his ass.
"Who are you talking to?" Asked a muffled female voice from deeper inside the cave.
Jericho sighed, "Nobody Dagger, now go back to sleep... we have a long day tomorrow."
"Whatever" muttered Dagger from the back of the cave.
Within seconds Jericho heard Daggers breathing become soft, and rhythmic again as she returned to her sound slumber. Jericho smacked his head against the hard snow wall of the shelter in anger. He was enduring this hell for her, he was seeking out the Blade for her, he was going to kill for her. Ruining the drakes moment of anger, a yawn escaped him and for the first time in days Jericho realized how tired he really was. His dark eyes drooped as sleep started to over come him. Damn her for needing his help, and damn him for loving her.
Shaddow eyed the large room with extreme boredom. She was sick of the way things always seemed the same. Sure it was a different place with different gems and different escape routes, but the feeling was the way it had always been. There was no rush anymore, no little twinge of fear that came before the heist. She would do what she had always done, pull her sword, swing down into the main holding room, snatch all the loot she wanted, escape, and move on. That's what would happen, that's what always happened.
The blonde sighed deeply to herself as she trammed down from the ceiling and into the darkness. She had never been caught, and deep down she knew that she probably never would be. As Shaddow landed soundlessly she grimaced, 'that's what happens when you are trained by the best,' the tall, toned duck thought to herself, and Duke L'Orange was by far the best.
With no effort she worked around every alarm system and security measure the small museum had to offer. When she was done loading up her small pouch she glanced around the room. Her gaze fell on a abstract painting of PuckWorld legend, Drake Ducaine. As she continued to look at the brightly colored work an expression of mischief crossed her normally serious face.
Trance-like, Shaddow strode across the museum and grabbed the painting off the wall with no thought to the alarm. She then tucked it under her arm and walked across the hallway. She wondered what Duke would have said about her nabbing a worthless painting. Something like 'that ain't even worth yer time, sweetheart,' she guessed over accentuating his accent in her mind.
Quickly Shaddow opened up the heavy door, and grinning, strolled down the stairs and out into the street. The alarm rang out noisily behind her, as she scampered, painting in hand, far into the darkness. The sirens of the oncoming police cruisers began to grow closer. Effortlessly the blonde hopped a nearby fence and jogged to her sleek black car. As she got in, a smile played at her beak, this was a lot more interesting then a silent robbery.
2 miles below the busy streets of New Ducaine Central, lay Oz Carrington. His 6 foot 4 inch frame was sprawled and debilitated, across the large, leather sofa in Blade Head Quarters. His pointed beak moved rhythmically but no sound came out as he watched his big screen television and the news report played out before his unblinking Hazel eyes.
"...The police have no leads thus far in this odd robbery, but Sergeant McDrake is organizing a city wide man hunt." The female news reporter droned on gesturing towards 'Ducaine Center museum' "Several priceless gems and a five thousand dollar painting of PuckWorld legend, Drake Ducaine were among the stolen items..."
There on the screen was the target that Shaddow had gone to hit. Ducaine Center Museum. The building's barred doors were now covered by security officials, and the whole of the structure was surrounded by police and news teams.
'Had she tripped an alarm?' Oz wondered nervously. "Nah, she couldn't 'ave," he said under his breath, "Shaddow don't trip alarms." He continued to stare at the screen smoothing his brown feathers repetitively. When he could no longer handle the stress of his team-mates actions he proceed to get of the couch and pace around the room muttering curse words to himself.
He hated it when Shaddow went on robbery rampages. She could go for days with out checking in with a Blade member. Quickly, Oz reached into his pocket and pulled out his bottle of Pepto-Bismol, undid the cap, brought it to his beak and began to chug it down in large gulps.
"Damn, Ozwald, you gotta cut down."
At the sound of the voice, Oz spit his Pepto all over the main rooms carpeting. Coughing, he turned around and glared at Cole, the Blade's resident smart-ass. "What'd ya' want, Cole?" Oz questioned, wiping off his beak, and replacing the Pepto in his jacket pocket.
"Just to tell you that Shaddows' back, that's all" Cole said smirking. "Figured you'd wanna talk to her or something'."
Oz's eyes narrowed to Hazel slits. With an anger rarely seen, he stormed through the door pushing Cole out of his way.
Smirking, the blue-haired drake squared his shoulders, and cocked an eyebrow. "Remember your blood pressure, Oz," he yelled contemptuously after his leader.
Duke gazed up at the twinkling, silver stars from his vantage point on the grass outside of the Pond and sighed. He was having a bout of homesickness again, and as he lay there, his mind drifted to thoughts of Puckworld, of the Brotherhood, and everything else he had left behind. Duke imagined his friends and his team of thieves, training and laughing at all the jokes only they knew. He thought of his Quarters, and his weapons, but mostly he thought of his son, Cole. Where was he, what was he doing? Those are things Duke had longed to know since years before he left PuckWorld. The gray drake stretched as he wondered if Cole had become a cop, like he had always wanted to be. Was he happy? Married? Did he ever think of his father..? Quickly Duke shook his head, "not now" he said aloud, "I ain't gonna do dis now."
Quickly, the Drake rolled over and began to fiddle with several small blades of grass, forcing himself to think of what was happening here, on Earth. Although that seemed impossible due to the fact that he had nothing to do here, and his mind was always wandering back to PuckWorld. Not to mention, Duke and the others had a lot more free time on their hands now that they had imprisoned Dragonaus, so Duke spent most of that time playing hockey and thinking about home.
He constantly wondered If the Brotherhood was alright, and who they had put in charge. He also thought about going back to stealing and doing small heists to consume more of his free time until they went home. Fortunately, Grin had made him see that was a bad idea, especially here on Earth. Duke smiled to himself, back on PuckWorld though, that would be different. He would get his old career back, and the Brotherhood of the Blade, that made him feel all good inside.
Duke's revelry was interrupted by the sound of a cat in a nearby tree. Feeling the need for a bathroom break he left his spot on the grass and prepared to head indoors. Slowly he smiled to himself, at least Tanya had the AreoWing prepped for deep space travel. Soon enough they could all go home, then he would be able to find the answers to all his questions...
Oz had never been as angry at Shaddow as he was now. As the coffee-colored Raptrin stormed down the long, dim hallway, he seethed with unholy rage. Frantically, Oz's mind raced. 'How could she do it again? Why would she throw caution into the wind like that?' Oz had thought that Shaddow's recklessness had ended when Manda died. In fact, Shaddow had sworn that it was the end of her not being a team player, she had lied to him and that pissed Oz off, but more than that he was hurt. Shaddow was one of the people that he trusted the most, and she had deliberately disobeyed him.
As he rounded the corner leading in to the small conference room Oz took a deep cleansing breath. Confronting her in an angry manner wouldn't solve anything, he had to be calm, cool, collected. Clearing his throat he strode into the conference room, saw Shaddow and bellowed, "How the hell could ya'!?!?!?"
The blonde looked at him and raised her eyebrow, "calm, cool, and collected I assume?"
Oz glared at her and folded his arms across his chest. "Explanation, please?"
Shaddow didn't answer him, instead she casually got up from her comfortable leather chair and walked quickly across the room. Bending over, she reached her hand under a heavy black tarp and produced the painting that she had stolen from the museum. With absolute confidence she strode over to Oz and offered the painting for his examination.
Oz stared at the portrait of Drake Ducaine in confusion. Surely this could not be all that Shaddow had taken..? He looked up at her, perplexed.
"It's a painting" she offered calmly.
"Ah know that!" snapped Oz. "But why do YOU have it? Ya' don' even like Drake Ducaine."
A impish smile tugged at the corners of her beak as she spoke. "It seemed more interesting that the usual diamonds and other trinkets I've been stealing. Besides, I don't recall having to explain my actions to you." Shaddow dropped the painting on the hard, marble tiled flooring and went to sit in a near by recliner. Nonchalantly settling herself into the comfy leather chair she asked, "did I make the news?"
At this Oz nearly exploded, "ya' could say that! What'd ya' think ya' were doin'? Do you know what this is gonna do ta our reputation?" His hazel eye met her emerald ones and instantly knew that he had made a mistake.
"*Our* reputation?" Shaddow's voice was hardly above a whisper as she continued. "Don't ever forget your place Oz. Manda created the Blade from nothing, she and the original team gave there sweat, blood, and in the end, their lives for it." Shaddow's face grew momentarily soft as she continued, "you and I are not the Blade, Oz. We are just part of what once was."
Oz knew that she was right about Manda creating the Blade, but he was leader now. Manda had bestowed the Blade to him upon her death bed. He vowed then that it would never die, but Shaddow was talking like it already had. His brow furrowed as he paced across the room trying to convey his feelings to the now stoic woman before him. Though try as he might the right words wouldn't come.
He had planned on telling her how much she had hurt him and he was going to remind her of her broken promise, but it seemed impossible. After a minute his anger subsided, "why, Shad?" he asked sinking into a chair beside her.
Shaddow hung her flaxen head, she never talked to anyone about her thoughts, except for Duke, but with him gone she had no one. She desperately wanted to tell someone what was going on in her mind, especially Oz she trusted him as a leader and respected him as a thief. "It's just that I'm sick of things always being the sa..."
Her sentence was cut off by Crash and Sabastian running into the room carrying a lump.
Instantly, Oz jumped to his feet, "what?" he asked the two panicked drakes.
"It's Tammra," panted Crash as he helped Sabastian lay the large, covered lump on the carpet.
A gasp left Oz's throat as the blanket fell away from the lump on the floor and he was looking into Tammra's bloodied face. Her short, jade hair was caked with dirt and blood, and her normally pristine black feathers seemed an almost tarnished grey. Her once proud body was now an ocean of cuts and gashes.
Sabastian came to stand next to Oz. "It was a Saurian soldier. He ambushed her in a technology raid, she never had a chance. I'm sorry." Sabastian placed a black-gloved hand on Oz's shoulder.
"We couldn't get to her in time…" tears began to form in Crash's blue eyes as the young drake turned away from the body on the floor.
Soundlessly Cole entered the room. He heard the whole conversation, and grief raced through his entire being. Tammra had been his best friend, but more so she had been his lover. He had adored her, worshiped her, loved her. One lone tear fell from his dark eyes and came to rest upon his grey cheek. Someone would pay for this. Someone would die.
No one saw the group of thieves enter the small saurian strong hold. No one saw them kill the 6 saurian guards or set the 50 pounds of explosives. No one even noticed when they dragged one, already beaten Saurian out in to soft moonlight. Oz made sure no one would notice. He was an exceptional leader with mind staggering tactical skills.
The Raptrin had Crash, the Blade's technician, draw up a plan of all of the security of the Saurian compound including guards, doors, and computerized alarms. He then ordered Crash to build explosives, 50 pounds of high powered, electronic mini-bombs.
Next OZ had Sabastian enter the base 2 hours before dark and set up bugs all throughout the building. The small devices told OZ what was going on and what was being said therein. A useful edge in fighting, and stealing.
Shaddow then entered the perimeter 5 minuets after nightfall and readied the areas that were to house the bombs.
Lastly, he, Cole and Crash were to enter the perimeter, lay the explosives and meet up with Sabastian and Shaddow.
After that, thanks to their skills and the bugging devices it was easy for them to find the saurian that had killed Tammra and remove him from the building.
A simple plan that went off without a hitch, at least it would have, if not for Cole. The team had just brought the wounded saurian into the yard of the camp and were preparing to chain him and take him to one of the holding cells in the Blade base.
Cole had tried to keep his calm, but in the end, it was a losing battle. "You killed her," he growled through clenched teeth.
The Saurian's head only bobbed slightly, but a smirk came to his swollen lips showing yellow fangs.
The two males locked eyes, one a grieving drake, the other a monstrous killer.
"She screamed...loudly for me..." muttered the Saurian.
Cole's eyes flashed blood red and with in seconds he had knocked Crash over and was upon the Saurian soldier. The once calm night howled with agonizing screams as Cole killed the Lizard with his bare hands. He ripped through the soldiers flesh and strangled the life from his once living body. In seconds that ticked by like hours, the saurian was dead. Cole had killed him. Without a word to anyone the young, gray drake wiped his hands upon his black uniform and ran from the stronghold.
Oz began to bark orders that the others were only too happy to obey. "Sabastian, close that door, I don't want anyone leaving!"
The tall, masked male only winked and produced 2 katanas, each containing a small, blue button. He pressed the button on one of the swords and it flared to life. Sparks jumped from the blade which grew three inches and became consumed in crackling fire. Sabastian jumped from his position near the saurian body to the door which was in the process of being opened. He kicked it shut then held the door with his foot. Smoothly the skilled thief ran the blade around the door frame heating the metal to melting.
He then pushed the button on the other sword. A soft, white mist curled out from the weapon and began to encircle the sword blade. Quickly he ran the ice sword around the door frame cooling the melted, bubbling metal. In under a 30 seconds he had sealed the door. Sabastian smiled to himself, "a new record."
"Get clear!" yelled a young male voice. Crash had made the last alterations on the explosives from his wrist computer and was preparing to set them off.
"On 20!" Oz yelled back from the middle of 3 saurian soldiers who had made the mistake of attacking him.
"Not a problem," the blonde duck yelled back. He punched a sequence of numbers into the small computer and hit the enter key. After that he turned around and punched a saurian in the gut before it could strangle him. "You guys have got to stop being so predictable."
The lizard glared at him and was about to get up to attack when Crash flicked his arm and produced a dagger from his sleeve. He held the weapon towards the Soldier who laughed and prepared to attack. "Moron," said crash as a beam of yellow light shot from the dagger incinerating the saurian utterly.
The thieves had all heard Oz's command to Crash and they were counting down mentally, each at the same number. When they got to 10, all stopped what they were doing and began to run to the fence. Ever synchronized they hurdled the 15 foot gate and disappeared into the shadows.
The saurian's began to collect themselves and laugh at the retreat of their attackers.
"We showed them but good, eh?" Said one to his commander in a gruff, broken version of English.
The commander was about to respond when he heard a loud 'click' come from behind him. Slowly he turned around to face the glowing explosive attached to the wall.
"Run for..." The commander never got a chance to finish the order for at that second, the saurian army base exploded into a billion pieces.
The two watched the explosion from a near by roof top. They had not seen the group enter the complex but new who they were, the Blade.
"Impressive" said the woman to her companion, "that must have been done by the one called Crash."
The male looked up at her from his crouched position. He slowly stood and adjusted his trench coat, "you impress easy, Dagger."
The woman rolled her eyes and smoothed her long purple hair, "get a grip, Jericho. Their good, you know that as well as I do."
He said nothing, only thought 'why do you care so much about them, Dagger?' Had he asked her she would have laughed at him and said he was being an idiot. But he knew better, there was something she was not telling him and Jericho wanted to know what it was.
Dagger turned to leave then cocked her head to the side. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah"
She smiled, "Then it is time to find the Blade..."