Author's Note: Sorry for the wait, had a little trouble thinking this one over. Enjoy.
Chapter 7: Father vs. Son
Nobody could do anything as they all watched as Duke rode out of the hanger, leaving them all behind. "Do we go after him?" Nosedive asked.
Wildwing quickly thought for a sec then shook his head, "No…Let him go."
That surprised them all a lot, all wondering what was going through his head. "Why?" Tanya asked.
Instead Mallory answered for him, "I hate to say it but Duke's right, it is a personal matter that he needs to take care of."
Wildwing nodded at that, "Exactly, but we still should be there to help him, If he finds his son and Dragaunus he may not be able to handle it."
"He's right," Mallory seconded. "But how do we find either one of them?"
He answer was given to her as they all heard Drake One's alarm sounding off. Wildwing looked back to his teammates as they heard this, "Hurry this could be what we need." He then started running off, with everyone else in tow.
Duke rode through random parts of the city, desperately trying to find anything that would lead him to Dusk. Nothing at all so far, and the worst thing was that he had more trouble because everyone few minutes he saw some cops and had to hide for a bit. This was only delaying his search; currently he was in an alley, behind a dumpster, looking out and watched as a cop car drove by.
Waiting for a minute he concluded that it left for good and he was in the clear. He rolled the Duckcycle out of the alley and got on, but didn't drive off yet. He winced, clutching his stomach as a bit of pain from earlier slowly returned. It was a bad sign that the adrenaline was starting to waver.
He just stayed there for a bit till it settle to the point where he could ignore it. He then started think thinking. 'Even if I find him, how am I going to convince Dusk that I didn't abandon him?' A thought then came to his mind, a thought that he didn't want to even think of as a lone tear fell the more he thought of it. He wiped it away just as his comm beeped.
He ignored it as it kept on beeping; soon he could hear Wildwing's voice, "Duke Do you read me?" He didn't respond, as he didn't want to answer. "Duke please respond." He could hear the pleading in his voice, as if he needed to say something. He heard a sigh as he heard him speak again, "If you're listening Drake One managed to pick up some signals coming from a local construction site, we heading over there, just in case."
His hopes perked up as he heard this, knowing where to go he started up the Duckcycle, "Thank you," He said into the comm as he sped off down the street.
Dusk just entered the site and started looking around his surroundings. The construction site was almost the size of a football field; it had a building that was under construction. Most of the bottom part had the cement on it while the top just had the metal beams. A large crane was on the far side, next to a few trailers and stacked up bricks.
Moving in more he held the bag of jewels close as he searched for any sign of his contact. He just made it into the middle of the site when he stopped as he heard a voice, "I see you made it." Dusk turned and someone came out of the shadows, Dragaunus. "I didn't think you would."
"I guess I've proved you wrong," He responded, keeping his eyes locked on the big Saurian. "I must thank you for giving me the opportunity to get back at him."
Dragaunus frowned at the comment as he asked, "Why just go after Duke, what do you have against him?"
"Like I said before it's none of your business. Now what is it that you want me to do now?"
He smiled as he started moving forward, "just hand me what you have first then-"
"Stay where you are," Dusk interrupted as he slowly reached for his saber. "Just because you've helped me doesn't mean I have to trust you, so you best stay where you are."
He did what he was told, for now, and smiled, "You're bold, I like that. Just toss them over to me then."
Dusk just smirked at the comment, "Or how about this, I keep what I have and you get lost."
Dragaunus frowned as he heard that, but yet wasn't surprised that he would have heard it. "You best not do that you insolent little-"
"I got what I wanted!" He interrupted once again, taking his saber out. "I don't have to do anything else for you!"
"I knew this would happen," Dragaunus spoke, but then smirked as he started looking around. He then made a motion, which caused Dusk to look around. Out of the shadows Siege, Wraith, and Chameleon walked each point a weapon at him. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way, give me the jewels or we will take them from you."
Dusk looked at them all, four against one, but yet he wasn't afraid as he held his saber in defensive posture, "Bring it then."
"Take him out," Dragaunus ordered.
"Stop!" a voice rang out, causing them all to turn to the source. Behind Dusk, twenty feet away stood Duke, saber already out.
The looks he got were all of surprise. "I thought you took care of him?" Dragaunus stated.
Dusk turned and faced him, anger flowing in him, "I thought I left you for the cops."
"You can't take me out that easily," Duke responded. "Dusk you have to stop this and listen to reason."
"Listen to what? All the lies you made!" he spat with venom in his voice. "The guilt finally caught up to you that you have to take an interest in my life!"
"That's not what happened!" Duke shouted, both of them ignoring Dragaunus and his minions. "If you just let me explain-"
"I don't have to listen to what you have to say!" Dusk shouted as he held his blade out towards his father. "If the cops won't take you then it looks like I have to deal with you myself!"
"How about I save you the trouble," They both heard Dragaunus say as they turned towards him. The Saurian then looked at his minions. "Take them both out!"
They both watched as the three aimed they weapons at the both of them but stopped once they heard another voice, "I don't think so!"
They all turned and saw the rest of the Ducks were there, all aiming their puck blasters at them. It was then that the rest of them saw Duke and his son. They were all surprised as they looked at Dusk. He looked almost like Duke but a much younger version. Just the sight of him fully convinced them of Duke's story. Dusk took advantage of the confusion and bolted away from everyone else, "Dusk!" Duke shouted as he chased after him.
"Get them!" Dragaunus ordered as Siege, Wraith, and Chameleon fired at them. The Ducks scattered as they rushed for cover. It was then Dragaunus teleported Drones to his aid.
Duke ran and stopped when he saw his son was climbing a ladder up the unfinished building. Aiming his wrist launcher he fired the grapping hook and pulled himself up to Dusk's level. He landed on a metal beam as he looked and saw his son on the same beam, a few yards away from him. He rose up as he looked his son straight in the eye, "Dusk you have to listen."
"Like I said before I don't listen to you anymore, you blew your only chance." He responded as he started to get hostile then reached for his saber.
Duke saw this and sighed, he knew it would come to this and it sadden him. "Dusk I really don't want to fight you!"
"Then that makes my job easier."
Duke shook his head as he responded, "I really don't want to do this…but if this is the only way to get through to you…then I'm sorry." He then reached and grabbed his saber, whipping the blade out.
"Then prepare yourself, for this is your last fight," The young one responded as he took an offensive stance.
Duke did the same as he waited for his son to make the first move. 'I could win this battle easy if I was at hundred percent, but the way I am I'm not so sure…The adrenaline can only keep me going for so long.' He thought.
Dusk then lunged at his father, but Duke jumped up to grasp the beam above and sung himself behind his son. Turing he brought his saber up and blocked a slash then started moving back as he repelled more of them. They stopped as they locked swords together and tried to overpower the other. Dusk then broke the lock but ducked and swept Dukes legs out from under him. Duke hit the metal beam and groaned in pain. He managed to look up and blocked another blow, kicking his son in the stomach he managed to push him back a bit. Using the delay he hooked his arm on the beam he was on and jumped down on the floor below.
Landing on the solid concrete surface he looked back up and was surprised to see that Dusk disappeared. Looking around he searched for him, but he couldn't be seen at all. Rising up he slowly started to walk, while keeping his saber up. A thud caused him to stop, out of instinct he jumped forward just in time to avoid from being impaled by Dusk's blade. He got back to his feet and turned to see that his son blade had penetrated the surface of the concrete. Looking up Dusk lifted his saber up and resumed his previous stance. Duke did the same, "Dusk just hear me out!" He tried to speak, even though it was pointless but he had to try. "I didn't want to leave you!"
"Like I'd believe that!" He shouted as rushed and thrust his blade forward.
Duke parried all the blows while trying to speak, "Your mother made me leave! I didn't have a choice in the matter!"
The more he heard his father spoke the made rage built in him. "Shut up!" He then did a powerful blow that connected with Duke's saber.
"Ah!" He shouted as the force of the impact sent pain through his already damaged wrist. This caused him to drop his guard then felt pain course through his gut as Dusk hit him with the butt end of his saber. He followed up by grabbing him and tossing him in the nearby wall. All the air was knocked out of Duke as he hit the wall. The only thing he could feel was pain. It didn't help that the pain from earlier was increasing more. His breathing got heavier as he tried to recompose himself, only to see Dusk walk towards him.
"Seems like the injuries from earlier are catching up to you. Face it you can't beat me." He smirked to himself but heard his father mumbling something. "What?"
"Forgive me," Duke responded as his leg struck out and kicked Dusk in his stomach. Rushing up he then straight punched him in the chest, causing him to stumble back a few feet. Duke managed to get back to his feet without a problem, right now Duke was blocking all the pain from his mind.
Dusk shook the blow off but only smirked, "I may have been mistaken." He then started throwing many blows to his father but Duke easily deflected them. They then ended up in another power struggle, both once again using their strength to overpower the other. "Why don't you stop with the lies and admit it!"
"Never! Because I never would abandon my only son!" They both then broke the hold as they backed up a bit. But Duke stumbled as he neared the edge; he took his eyes off of his son as he regained his balance. He looked back only to see Dusk rush and slashed his blade at him, cutting his shirt and grazing him. The blow made him go over the edge. Duke fell from the building and started to gain speed as he fell. He didn't know how long but he felt himself hit a wooden beam that was sticking out. He shouted in pain as he fell off and plummeted to the ground again.
He landed hard on a pile of cement bags, which caused him to howl in pain. His whole body was throbbing to the point that if he moved it would cause him pain. He squeezed his eyes shut and was rapidly breathing, trying to endure it all. He didn't know how much time had pass but the pain finally dulled enough for him to slowly move. He looked up, only to see Dusk land on the ground and slowly walked towards him. Duke knew that he couldn't escape or defend himself, so he did nothing, preparing himself for the inevitable.
Dusk grinned to himself as he approached his father but stopped as soon as he saw something on the ground a couple of feet away. Kneeling down he picked it up and looked at it. His breathing skipped a beat as his body tightened at what he was looking at. Looking up at his father he had a confused expression, "What is this?" Duke didn't know what he meant as he saw what his son was holding; he then looked back at his cut shirt and found that his pocket was cut also. "Who is this?"
"That's you."
That shocked Dusk as he heard that, and then looked back at what was in his hand. It was a photo of a Young Duke, holding a small duckling in his arms. He knew that was him his father was holding but couldn't believe that he was holding him. "But…mother said…you never held me."
Duke grunted as he slowly sat up, "I did hold you; your mother…didn't want me near her or you"
"Why?" He asked still a little confused.
He blew out a sigh as he started to explain. "I was in a gang, The Brotherhood of the Blade, and when I told her that she didn't want a thief near her or her child. I wanted to leave the gang so I could be with the both of you but she wouldn't have that. She threatened to have me arrested if I didn't leave. So as much as it pained me I had to leave."
Dusk couldn't believe it; everything what his father told him was flooding his mind, but didn't know what to think. But right now he was slowly starting to believe his father. "But why did she…" He couldn't finish.
"I don't know her reasons but I can truly tell you that I wanted to be with the two of you. I wanted to be there and see you grow up; see all your firsts, teach you to skate and play hockey. I wanted to do a lot of things with you, but I couldn't. I'm deeply sorry for that, and there's nothing I can do to make that all up to you. But you are my only son and I wouldn't ever want to abandon you," Duke explained, relieved at the fact that his son was listening to him.
Dusk was at a loss for words, he couldn't believe everything that was told to him. He didn't know what to say or think for that matter. He was in to much of a shock that he didn't move at all. "How touching," A voice said. Duke turned and gasped as he saw Dragaunus. "A father and son, no wonder," He said with a devious smirk on his face.
'Not good, not good!' Duke mentally told himself. He then looked back over at Dusk and saw he still wasn't move, still in shock. He turned back to The Saurian as he tried to think of something. He couldn't defend himself let alone move, and others weren't anywhere to be seen. "Stay back!" He shouted, he knew it wouldn't do anything but he tried.
"I don't think you're in any position to do anything about it," He responded. "You know I could finish you off easily right now, but I have another idea in mind." Reaching into one of his pockets he pulled out a small device. "With one less mallard, it would mean less of a headache. How does an eternity of dimensional limbo sound to you?"
Duke's eye widen as he struggled to get back up, "Dusk!" He yelled but his son was still not moving. "Dusk snap out of it!" he kept crying out but didn't get a response. His arms buckled as he fell back down. He could only watch in horror as Dragaunus aimed the device at him.
"Goodbye Duke," He said with pride as he pressed the button. The device charged as he fired straight at him.
"FATHER!" Duke heard his son yell. He was then shocked as Dusk ran in-between himself and the beam. He yelled as he was hit. Duke couldn't believe what he saw; time seemed to go slow as he watched in horror as Dusk was engulfed in light. Then in a flash it ended and he was gone.
Nothing was said as Duke slowly realized that his son was gone…just as he was getting through to him. "Oh what a shame, now isn't it," Dragaunus mocked with delight.
"DUSK!" Duke yelled, as rage engulfed him. All the pain was forgotten as he got back to his feet and rushed towards Dragaunus and in a flash he tackled the Saurian to the ground and held the tip of his saber at the neck. "Bring. Him. Back," He commanded with intense venom in his voice.
Dragaunus could only chuckle at Duke's misery, "And where would be the fun in that, seeing you suffer like this is very pleasing."
That statement only added to the fire that was already blazing inside him. He responded as he pressed the tip on the neck, "I'll make you bring him back, slow and painfully."
Dragaunus responded by scooping up some dirt and throwing it in Duke's face. He cried out as he was shoved off and Dragaunus got back to his feet. "We will meet again."
Duke quickly regained his vision as he attempted to slash him but failed as Dragaunus teleported. Duke breathed heavily as he realized that he escaped, which meant that Dusk, his son was now lost. "NO!" he yelled out into the night as he impaled his blade into the ground in anger. Many emotions flowed into him, causing him to slowly breakdown till tears started falling from him. It was then that the others heard him and made their towards him. Once they found him they saw that he was kneeling on the ground, holding on to his saber, and sobbing. Wildwing walked up to him, "Duke…what happened?" They all could hear him say something but moved closer to hear.
"It should have been me…it should have been me…" He kept saying over and over again.
"What happened?" Mallory then asked, but it seemed that he didn't hear them; all they could hear was him saying the same thing.
Duke's world was thrown upside down, the feeling fully sinking in as he son was truly lost now. "It should have been me…It should have been me…"
A/N: Hope you like, took a while to make this. What do you all think about what i did? This has been in my mind for a bit so i decided to do it. Just one more chapter left, it'll be out soon.