The Ducks ran up to the building and surveyed the scene. They saw the people running around the area, transferring people into ambulances. Wildwing stepped forward as a nurse noticed them. She hurried over to them.
"I'm afraid we have some bad news. We are still unable to get into the room of your friends. Several things moved enough to prevent us from getting in there. We've tried calling their names with no response," the nurse quietly told them.
"That is bad. We're going to have to figure out how to get inside and get them out before reporters find us," Wildwing mused.
Patrick moved towards the building, eying the way it had moved and was now moving towards it. Mallory carefully watched him, wondering what was going through his mind.
"I have an idea," he piped up.
"And what would that be?" wondered Tanya.
"If I could myself and one other inside, we could get those two out with very few if no one seeing us," Patrick explained.
Wildwing nodded, agreeing with the idea. He glanced back at the others, wondering if any of them would volunteer. He was mildly surprised when Nosedive stepped forward.
"I'll do it," he said.
Wildwing didn't say anything as Sanyo stepped towards the younger duck.
"I've known Rene longer, it should be me!" Sanyo protested.
"Give me a break! I didn't see you volunteer!" Nosedive snorted.
They growled at each other before Patrick stepped in between them, a hand on his forehead. He gave a sigh, his eyes closed.
"I'm not in the mood to argue. Nosedive, are you ready?" Patrick replied.
He nodded before the two ran towards the building while the others hurried to help free others from the wreck. Mallory carefully watched the two before hurrying after them.
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Patrick stared at the wall of the building as did Nosedive. The teen turned his attention towards the thief to see what the plan was going to be. His question was answered when Patrick lifted his arm and a grappling hook shot into the sky before grabbing Nosedive around his waist. They began their ascent and soon came to the window they were looking for.
Nosedive slowly climbed into the room, followed by Patrick. They quickly began to make their way through the room when Nosedive saw Rene still lying in the bed. He hurried over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Rene?" he questioned.
Nosedive didn't hear any sounds nor felt any movements, making him believe that she was indeed dead. He began to turn away when he finally heard a moan.
"Nosedive, is that actually you?" Rene managed to say.
"Yeah, Patrick and I are here to help," Nosedive replied.
He hurried back over to her as Patrick began to search the room. The thief soon came across Duke, who had his eyes closed. As Patrick moved toward him, Duke quickly grabbed his wrist. He stared at the dark-haired duck and sighed in relief.
"It's about time," Duke muttered.
Patrick nodded as he began to lift the rubble from off Duke's leg. Before helping Duke to his feet, Patrick moved towards the window to help Nosedive, who was now carrying Rene. Her teacher noticed that Rene had her arms limply around Nosedive's neck.
"Rene, just remember to hang on and Nosedive, don't let her go," Patrick reminded him.
Nosedive nodded as he grasped onto the rope and slowly made his way down to the ground. He glanced down to see Mallory patiently waiting for him.
"Good, she's alive," she sighed.
"So is Duke. Patrick's helping him out right now," Nosedive said.
Mallory looked upwards again, hoping that nothing would happen.
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Patrick helped Duke climb to his feet. Duke grimaced, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. The two headed over to the window and watched the scenes below. A few fire trucks were surrounding the area and he was relieved.
"I just hope they got quickly got Rene out of here," Duke muttered.
Patrick nodded in agreement before placing a hook in the wall just outside the window. They were prepared to leave when they heard a cry in the distance. Patrick looked in the direction that it was coming from to see a young woman beyond the slightly ajar door.
"Could you wait here for a moment?" Patrick asked.
He ran off before Duke could reply. The former thief watched as Patrick leapt over the rubble and reached the woman.
"Thank goodness you came! I was worried that no one would!" she cried.
"We're not out of this yet," Patrick replied.
She climbed to her feet and the two ran back into the room, where Duke was waiting for them. Patrick moved back a few steps, motioning them to leave. Duke shook his head, unsure how to react.
"I'll be fine, now go!" Patrick yelled at them.
He watched as Duke began to move out the window when something hard hit him on top of the head, making him see a world of black.
00000
Patrick groaned, slowly feeling his body again. He managed to climb to his feet and open his eyes. He placed a hand on his head, wondering what had indeed hit him.
"Combat," a recognizable voice called out.
Patrick twirled around to see Alicia standing several feet away from him. He gulped, beginning to back away from her.
"You get away from me!" he yelled at her.
"You have the wrong idea this time. I have not come to haunt your dreams as I usually have, I have come to talk," Alicia replied.
Patrick shook his head, not believing her. Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly took notice of a strangely familiar building.
"Digit San. I'm back on Puckworld, but how?" he barely managed to say.
"You're not physically back. We're only in your mind," she explained.
The thief was horrified, his mind drifting to the countless possibilities. He began to shake his head, hoping the one sticking out in his mind did not truly happen: that he had died.
"No, you're not dead, simply unconscious. Thief au Combat, I've come to tell you that you're not going to be bothered by me anymore," Alicia told him.
Patrick narrowed his eyes in total disbelief as he began to slowly walk towards her. She slightly tensed up but didn't move as he began to circle her.
"You have been haunting me for 17 years, more so after I took Rene in. What's with the change of heart now?" he wondered.
She gave a sigh, not even looking in his direction. To him, it looked like she didn't want to anytime soon.
"You may have killed me, seriously injured Duke and raised Rene in one of the worst settings possible, you have shown me over this time that beneath the rough exterior of yours, you do care. I've been watching and waiting. I've seen all the things you've been doing for her and what I saw today changed my mind completely. You risked your life to save my daughter and her father, despite the fact you tried to kill both of them years ago," Alicia finally explained.
Patrick stared at her in total disbelief, unsure what to say and how to thank her. All of a sudden, it felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. He didn't understand why but he was enjoying it.
"I don't know how to thank you. I've been carrying this guilt for so long," Patrick whispered.
"It's not just me. It's also Duke that's forgiven you but I'm afraid that Falcone is terrified of you now," Alicia replied.
Patrick's gaze turned around to stare at Digit San for one last look. She walked up to his side and joined him.
"Now that I've told you what I wanted to, you have to leave. You still have work to do," Alicia told him.
As soon as she said that, Patrick could feel the pain swirling through his body. He groaned as he felt himself being pulled in several directions.
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"Look, he's over there!" Wildwing called.
He hurried over to the fallen duck's side, followed by Grin, Sanyo and Tanya. They pulled the rubble over Patrick's back before Grin slowly turned him onto his side.
"Patrick, can you hear me?" asked Tanya.
A moan escaped the beak of the injured and his eyes barely opened. His vision barely registered the four standing around him.
"I'm back on Earth. It doesn't matter for it's all over," he muttered.
All were confused before they swiftly made their way out of the building with the injured duck. Along the way, Grin contemplated about the conflict that Patrick had for so long.
'I wonder what he meant by that. Maybe he had a revelation,' he thought.
TBC…