The restaurant was surrounded; there were news crews, and police squads everywhere. Nosedive was scared out of his mind, WildWing was furious and panicked, Canard was guilty for questioning Duke, Tanya was confused by Nosedive's reactions, Grin was, well no one could tell Grin's expression except that it wasn't happy, Phil was nervous, and Mallory was steaming. The public were scared beyond wits, and the restaurant had already given all of its money to the satisfied thieves. The only one's there that seemed content, were the news cast inside the edifice. They seemed please to be getting the whole story. Everyone including the muggers were disgusted with them, so they had to control their enthusiastic joy.

~*~

Knock knock.

"Hello"?

"Excuse me ma'am but may I borrow your phone, I need help."

"You're Duke L'Orange!"

"What? Oh yeah."

The lady was about fifty-nine years old, she was pretty for an elderly woman, and was very spunky. She seemed kind enough.

"Honey what happened to you?"

"A fight, can I please use your phone, I need a taxi, I kind of lost my transportation."

Lost, thought Duke to himself. Destroyed is more like it. Those muggers fight a dirty fight, but nothing is too hard for Duke L'Orange, but dang those nifty and convenient broken bottles on the street kill, and my sides ache. No wonder the kid is so jumpy.

"Honey you ain't going anywhere. I'm calling you an ambulance."

"Please ma'am, I'm fine really."

"Then maybe you should grab a mirror. Come on in and lay down on the sofa, I'll get you some cookies or what not, I have grandchildren so I always have cookies around the house. Then maybe some hot tea until the medics get here."

"Thank you Ma'am but I'm fine really".

"Why are men so stubborn when it comes to admitting they need medical attention? You might be used to playing tough around your buddies, but listen up I am not your buddy, you ARE coming in my house, and YOU ARE going to wait for the medics, and you ARE going to eat my cookies". Then with a smile she added, "And you are going to enjoy them too."

"Ma'am I thank you for you generosity, but I-"

"You still think that I'm asking you, well I'm not, I'm telling you. Now let's go."

She pulled him into her home; it was nicely decorated and had a sweet aroma. Duke immediately liked the woman. She was kind, but stubborn. Nice qualities he thought. Then he remembered his teammates, he remembered what had happened, at that moment he stopped enjoying himself.

~Flashback~

A mugger walks into a room, and starts talking to a duck.

"Hey boss, look we got one of your kind, a duck. He wants to see you, even though he's our prisoner. He doesn't seem to like that idea. Anyway this freak, I mean foe took out nineteen of our men! Nineteen!!"

"Sounds like a good fighter. Show him to me." The duck replies. "And don't you refer to me as a freak for I am the same race as he."

"Yes sire".

A mugger walks in with Duke.

"Took you long enough."

"You never stop do you Randle?"

"Oh please, I have been waiting for you to get here. I was excited when Dragounous offered me this job."

"You're working with Dragounous, the same guy that took over our world, how can you patriotically agree to that?"

"Oh Duke, I thought you knew me better than that. I get what I can. Since I am the best at what I do, I was asked."

"So what are you getting in return?"

"Money and supplies."

"For what?"

"For me! Do you have any idea what our world is like after you left? Sure there is no one there governing us and taking over, but it's a whole different planet! Do you have any idea, how much security there is nowadays? Its hard to have a job like ours, Duke."

"A job like yours. I don't do that anymore."

"I forgot you went straight. How touching."

"I found something more important in the team."

"Like what?"

"Never you mind. Now I know your game, and I know your ways, so you better watch yourself."

"Duke buddy are you threatening after all we have accomplished? We were the great duo!"

"Until you backstabbed me."

"Ah there are problems with every relationship. We must find it in our hearts to look over them."

"Ok buddy, then tell me what are you scheming?"

"Scheming? Well Dragounous had me aid this retched team of braggarts and superior-acting fools, to become excellent thieves, and muggers. Which I have accomplished. Our next goal was to aim for the one of Mighty Ducks.

"Why?!"

"Because all we have to do is get one duckie, and then WildWing won't put up much of a fight. The fact that we got Nosedive works out better since he will have the most effect on his older captain dude brother. WildWing is one of the captains therefore he would be the one calling the shots. Hit the players or the brother, and you hit him. Get it?"

"Yes, and you're disgusting. But how did you manage getting Nosedive into that alley, he said he was going out, did you set him up?"

"Nope. That as pure coincidence. We were planning on attacking him on his next trip to Captain Comics, where he is usually alone. Lucky for us though that came along, huh?"

"So what are you planning now?"

"Hostage takeover, by explosion influence."

"Come again?"

"I'm gonna hold everyone hostage because I'll have a bomb, supplied by Dragounous, that will keep everyone pinned to wherever they are. All I have to do is find the kid, and then do it. I have men watching for the kid wherever he goes, and since the kid can't exactly see, I don't' see him putting up much a fight."

"But what's the point? To get WildWing to give Dragounous something."

"What thing?"

"Something about a mask."

"Oh my… Look can I go now?"

"Yeah yeah, sure whatever, and what not. I mean what can I do with you anyway, keep you here so you can destroy and get more information? Ha! Well I'm sure I'll be seeing you again buddy, so until then see ya later!"

Duke was disgusted by his friend's enthusiastic behavior. However he knew Randle; he was a comedian. Everything was a joke, and carefree world to him. That was the way it always was, he couldn't appreciate life, and what it means to hurt someone, that would actually take someone that had feelings and guts. Anyhow Duke fled from the building as fast as he could. However the muggers had destroyed his duckcycle and taken his com. He had no way of communication or transportation, except walking and yelling. Which really didn't do him a whole lot of fast good. He finally was able to wire a phone to get to the duck's com, he silently thanked Tanya for teaching him that.

Except now the lady was here and she was helping him. He hadn't seen himself but if he had, he wouldn't have debated with the lady into coming into her home and welcoming her hospitality. But his teammates, what about them?

The lady put the TV on. "Here you watch the news, maybe they will be talking about your blind player, some fighter that kid is. Good for him, you tell him that ok?"

"Sure, sure."

Then Duke gasped in awe, every channel had been interrupted with the News Alert of a hold up at the restaurant, Duke found the whole story, and he knew he was too late. He had known about those men after Dive and he didn't do anything.

~Restaurant~

"Okay boss", said one man, "We're ready."

"I guess that means it is time for my speech huh? Okay well where do I start? People of this restaurant, most of you are inferior beings who cannot ever accomplish anything. You are scum beneath my foot, and for the last several years you have had the privilege to stay there. Now my fellow believers and I are taking you off, and throwing you out! We will be departing quickly, along with certain people who seem to have the characteristic traits or superior citizens. You however will be left here to die, for when this bomb goes off, you shall perish."

One of the muggers came over with a remote.

"What's that", barked Canard.

"That remote is going to send off the bombs, that button will set it off."

"But there are two buttons", exclaimed Canard.

The leader overheard this.

"Of course there are. One will have these small bombs destroy the windows and doors, and any other way of departure. We will hit that one as soon as we are out of the building. The other bomb is in the closet, I'll tell you that now, try and stop it! Don't bother, for there will be a bomb that will close that exit too protecting the explosive. Try and stop it, I will laugh at your expense! I will now hit this timed bomb, the one that shall eradicate you now."

And the mugger hit that button. "Ten minutes till death", he chanted.

However like most beings he only had two hands. Therefore the gun was placed down when he received the remote. Nosedive now reacted. He immediately got out of the grasp of the mugger, but in doing so he hit the remote, when it landed it hit the exit departure bombs.

"NO!", cried the leader, and other muggers.

The leader punched Nosedive, sending him flying…right into the closet. Seconds later the bombs began going off, blocking the exits.

The Mighty Ducks immediately went after the muggers, pinning them to the ground. This of course was being taped by the news crew, so all of this was present to the people.

~*~

Duke shuddered. The woman saw him, "Don't you worry, boy, fate can change for the better."

"Lady what am I supposed do?"

"There is nothing that you can do, regardless of what you want you cannot do anything. Want a cookie?"

Duke rolled his eyes, and sank into the couch, but not before grabbing the cookie, man was it good.

~Resturant~

"What is the timing on the bomb", asked Tanya.

"What", replied the leader known as Kinley.

"How long before the bomb goes boom", said Mallory sweetly, then changing her voice to a much aggressive and defiant tone, "Do you understand that you miserable INFERIOR creature?"

"Ten minutes."

"That's enough time", said Tanya.

"For what", exasperated Kinley, "Did you just miss my entire speech?"

"I didn't miss your speech", snapped Tanya, "And you didn't miss Nosedive, he's in that closet thanks to you and now he is with the bomb, maybe he can do something."

WildWing's eyes spread. "Nosedive!", he said. "Dive pick up!"

After some seconds of no reply WildWing finally got a respond.

"Wing? WILDWING where am I? I'm scared, what's going on?"

"Nosedive get control of yourself, you're in the closet, everything is going to be fine if you listen to me, you are the only one that can stop that bomb. If you don't we are all going to die."

"I can't!"

"Nosedive listen! You have to! There are innocent people out here, and that includes babies, and little children. That also includes me, you, and your team mates, come on Nosedive you can do this."

~House~

"Come on Dive", said Duke silently, "Come on kid you can do this."

~Restaurant~

"WildWing, I can't see anything! I don't know how to disable a bomb! Heck I don't even know where it is!"

WildWing looked desperate, it didn't help that it was being recorded on national TV.

"Nosedive", said Tanya, "Guess what, there is a security cam in there, and it's working. We can see you. We're going to walk you through this. We can see the bomb and I know how to disable it. Its not hard and you can do it. Just listen to the directions being given."

Tanya then looked at WildWing, "Wing he's going to respond better to you, you tell him what to do."

WildWing nodded. The TV was now split up into two different shots, one of the restaurant and its prisoners, the other of Nosedive in the closet, even though it was black and white.

"Nosedive", said WildWing, trying his best to remain calm, "Sit down."

"I can't do this!"

"NOSEDIVE", screamed WildWing, "Grab control of yourself! Now Sit! The bomb is on the floor, now sit down! I'm your brother! I won't let anything happen to you!"

"Promise?"

~House~

"Aw kid", thought Duke, "Come on kid you can do this, you have to do this. Do this for me; what am I supposed to do with out all of you? With out you guys all I have is Phil, come on kid don't let me down. Do this for you, you have always been outgoing, and loud, be yourself now! Poor child."

"Duke", the woman said. "The paramedics are here."

"No".

"Don't you no me!"

"I have to see what happens! Please lady!"

"Well all right, but if it takes more than five minutes than too bad you're in the hospital."

"Ma'am we can't allow that", said a paramedic.

"Sit down and eat one of my cookies you crank, what I say goes, now eat!"

"Don't try and fight it", said Duke, "They're addicting."

The paramedic smiled and put a shoulder on Duke's arm, "It'll be all right, Flashblade will come through, he always does in the games."

Duke smiled. Maybe he was wrong about the human race.

~Restaurant~

After moments of hesitation, Nosedive sat down.

WildWing sighed of relief. "Good job, Dive. Now crawl a few steps over, keep going until I say stop."

Nosedive did as he was told.

"Good, now stop. Ok now reach out for the bomb its right in front of you."

After swinging his arms and hands wildly in the air, he finally grasped the bomb.

"Okay now Dive", said WildWing, "You're going to listen to Tanya now."

"Why", snapped Nosedive.

"Because it will take too long for me to tell you, relax Tanya is your teammate, nothing is going to happen okay?"

Nosedive nodded.

Tanya gave a series of complex commands, finally Nosedive grasped the concepts of what he had to do and attempted them. He failed miserably.

"Tanya what wire", he finally shouted. "I can't see which one is red, and which one is blue!"

"Neither can I Nosedive! This is in black and white, and the properties of the two colors are appearing identical to one another on this screen. Now listen again, red is going to have a slight prick at the end, feel for it. When you find it, pull it out."

"I can't do this!"

"Nosedive listen to me", said WildWing, "You can do this, I trust you baby bro, I believe in you."

Nosedive stopped. "Don't trust me!"

"Stop being a baby and get this job done!"

The others were shocked WildWing never talked like that to Nosedive, however Nosedive was responding to his brother's harsher tone and did what he had to.

"You have to do what you need to", said WildWing after being stared at for moments at his teammates, "He'll listen to this. He'll forgive me later. If he doesn't survive this than there won't be a later. I didn't mean a word of what I said, or what it intentions are, I just want him to accomplish this, and get a hold on himself. I'm his brother and I would never hurt him, in any form. Nosedive needs to do this or else we're dead, as well as him. Nosedive has a life for himself, he's not loosing it now, over something he could easily do."

"I'm not a baby", said Nosedive while searching for the red line. "You're just jealous."

"Oh yeah", said WildWing mockingly, "Of what?"

"Me. I'm gonna get a lot of awards for being brave and stuff, and it even looks better because I'm blind."

"Aw man, it looks like you're right, how did you ever know?"

"I'm smart, and your not."

"Oh Dive you are soo dead", said WildWing playfully.

"Taunny", said Nosedive, "I think I found it."

"PULL IT!"

"What if I'm wrong?"

"Dive", said WildWing, "Don't worry, I got faith in ya, now come Dive, stop worrying, you're sounding like –"

"I do not sound like an adult! Even worse you."

"Oh yeah, then pull the wire."

Nosedive stood there, "Okay I will, and you'll be sorry, lookie WildWing I'm pulling the wire."

And Nosedive did pull the wire, right in time too since the bomb was counting down its last seconds.

"Nosedive let me see it", cried Tanya, hoping not to see numbers counting down. Nosedive held it up; there was no sign of life.

Everyone stopped and waited for Tanya's prediction, the police and whatnot had cleared out of the way, in case the bomb did go off, they would not be around when it happened. They started to get ready to go in, waiting for the duck's verdict.

"He did it", said Tanya softly in shock.

"What", everyone said.

"HE DID IT! The BOMB IS NO MORE!!!!!"

The people in the restaurant cheered, the ducks cheered, the police and paramedics cheered from outside, Duke cheered at the "lady's house", Nosedive cheered in the closet, everyone cheered. Except Dragounous and Randle. Randle was in trouble and had been sent back to PuckWorld, without obtaining Dragounous' end of the bargain.

"Dive hold on", said WildWing, "Just wait a bit, okay? There are people coming to rescue us, just hold on."

"WildWing", said Nosedive quietly, WildWing looked, "What baby bro?"

Nosedive held up his fingers, they were bleeding. He showed his side that was bleeding too.

"I don't feel so hot", said Nosedive.

WildWing and Tanya gasped, "Nosedive", said Tanya, "Dive lay down!"

"When did he get hurt", demanded WildWing.

"I think when he was punched it opened one of his stitches, he had a lot of them WildWing, and for the fingers well if you don't know what you're doing, since you can't see, well. When he was trying to pry the top off I guess he hurt himself."

"He'll be okay though right", asked WildWing, "Nothing we can't fix right?"

"WildWing", said Tanya, "By the time the rescuers come, he might be dead."

Everyone fell silent, WildWing spun around, "WHAT?"

"He might bleed to death Wing, I'm so sorry."

"NO!", cried WildWing, "Not after all this. We're getting that closet open."

"WildWing", said Tanya, "Be reasonab-"

"Agreed", said Canard, "Let's go ducks." Then whispering to Tanya, "What are other choices, we can at least try."

Tanya agreed, soon the ducks were piling through the masses of debree. Surprisingly enough to them they were joined by all of the customers in the restaurant. Everyone, duck and human were trying to get Nosedive who was completely unaware of what was happening. He was constantly being talked to by some child that wasn't allowed to enter the working zone. They kept talking to him, they had just as important of a job as the adults. They were the ones that kept Nosedive from freaking out and passing out.

Finally rescuers entered the restaurant after finally progressing in destroying the debree blocking the door. The muggers were immediately arrested and the bleeding were taken care of. Then they helped the diners get to the abandoned Nosedive. Finally after minutes with their tools, they reached Nosedive.

WildWing was the first to get to the duck. He embraced him in a hug, and started jumping up and down.

"DIVE", he said, "You saved all of us! You're a hero! You did it!"

Nosedive just smiled until his legs gave in, WildWing was there to catch him and aided him through the mess. Nosedive was pulled away on a stretcher, with WildWing right beside him. Tanya was also allowed to go with them, for the same reasons, as before, just to make sure everything would be running properly.

As Tanya had predicted Nosedive's stitches were re-opened causing him to bleed.

"Okay", said Tanya, after Nosedive was done in the emergency room, "They want to keep him over night, just because they want to keep him off his feet. I agree with them WildWing."

WildWing sighed, but didn't care, Nosedive was all right and that's all that mattered.

"WildWing", said Tanya, "There's more."

WildWing's frustrated emotion had now turn to fear. Last time she had more to say it was when Nosedive was losing his sight. He knew his little brother, and himself couldn't handle something else like that.

Tanya saw the expression of worry on WildWing's face, and immediately changed her tone of worry.

"No its nothing like that. It's just that he will be sharing a room with another patient."

"Oh! Tanya you got me worried over that?? Who cares!?"

"Guess who the patient is?"

WildWing had a new confused but curios expression, "Who?"

"Duke".