Disclaimer: I am not responsible for the actions of the Mighty Ducks as
they do not belong to me! If there is a company by the name of Icetech, I
don't know about it.
A/N: You guys are still reading! That's great!
Lily C - Nine? I actually didn't know that - I just write it as it comes! (Tell me what plot lines they are.) You'll see why they're stuck in this chapter.
Bluemoon Duchess: Here's a nice long one for you.
Chapter 21
She was driving, racing along the streets with no regard to the traffic laws. She knew that she had to get there, she had to stop him. She pulled up outside the building and leapt from the car - but she was too late. The sickly red and blue of the flashing police lights swept across the night shrouded grounds and yellow barrier tape crisscrossed the scene. She ran past the policemen and fought off the one that tried to grab her. She saw the sheet covered figure lying supine on the ground and fell to her knees beside it. With a trembling hand, she reached out to twitch the sheet away, knowing that the face underneath would be as familiar to her as her own.
Red jerked awake with a thin cry of terror. The dream wasn't a dream - rather a memory that she forced herself to remember everyday. She knew that the guilt would never bring him back, but at least she would never forget that she was responsible for his death.
She stood up and went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face and then went to her desk. She noticed that the lasagna was missing and she looked in the fridge to see if Duke had left it there. He had. She took it to the roof with her and ate a fair portion as she watched the sunrise. When she was done, she left the building on foot and went to the newsstand. A paper was the next step into getting into Icetech, the last suspect on her list. She didn't look at the paper until she was almost back at her place and then the headlines caught her eye.
Leaning against the wall, she read the article completely and then crumpled the paper in disgust. She stormed back to the warehouse and collected her cap, guns and keys. She threw herself into the car and savagely turned the key in the ignition. There was no answering roar of the finely tuned engine and her eyes widened. She got out and lifted the hood. She stared at the engine for a long while and then she slammed down the hood and locked the car. Setting off at a run, she came to the main street and hailed the first cab she saw.
"Anaheim Pond, right now!"
************
Tanya was busy looking from monitor to monitor. They couldn't use the Migrator or the Aerowing, as it would alert them to the facilities under the ice and once the press got in there would be no way of getting them out. The only way out that Tanya could think of was the emergency exit that they had put in the sewers. But using it would still be risky since the tunnel opened up in the Pond's parking lot. There was always the off chance the one of the news hounds would spot them coming out. Then it would be all over.
Wing was thinking about what they could do. He figured that Dragonus was behind the story and that he had done it to pin them down. Their secret strong hold had turned out to be an exploitable weakness. Duke and Dive were sitting at another monitor comparing the movement of the press to that of roaches when they found a leftover pizza crust. Then something else caught Dive's eye and he nudged Duke.
"What?"
"Looks like we're getting a visitor." He said pointing to a cab that had pulled up outside the gates. Red had gotten out and was determinedly stomping towards the entrance. Because her distinctive hair was covered, the reporters mistook her for another of their ilk, until she gave herself away. She reached the doors and wasted no time in picking the locks open. Up close, one of the reporters had a chance to get a better look at her and put two and two together. He yanked off her cap and started snapping away with his camera.
Randy was ecstatic. He would have the only close up pictures of Duke's mystery friend. Suddenly the lens turned dark and his blood turned cold as he realized what he was looking at. He lowered his camera from the muzzle of Red's gun and gave her a weak grin. She snatched the camera away and then slipped inside before he had a chance to protest, not that he was going to argue with the Desert Eagle that had just introduced itself.
Locking the doors behind her, Red turned the camera over in her hands, going for the film and realized that it was a digital one. She tucked it into her pocket and put the gun away. Then she went looking for Magnus. She found his office and kicked open the door, startling him. She wasted no time, stalked around the desk and hauled him up by his collar in both hands.
"What the hell did you think you were doing?" she demanded.
Magnus couldn't answer as his collar was cutting off his air supply. Red ignored his purpling face and shook him.
"Do you realize that this could ruin Phil's chances of getting out of this? Answer me!"
"He can't answer if he can't breathe sweetheart." Came Duke's voice from behind her.
She dropped Magnus and turned to see Duke, Wing and Dive in the doorway.
She wiped her hands on her jacket and asked:
"What is going on here?"
"We don't know." Said Wing. "Someone leaked this to the press."
"Who?"
"No one here." said Dive. "We aren't that dumb."
Red was about to answer him when her cell rang and Wildwing's com went off. The pair answered their respective devices.
"Yeah?" snapped Red. "Yeah I saw it, I'm here now with him. I don't know. I have to carry on with it. So? What's one more threat on me? Yes Willy I will. Bye."
"What's up Tanya? The chameleon, where? I'm on my way."
Wing looked up at Red and said:
"There's the leak."
"Who?"
"The chameleon."
"And that is?"
"Some one that doesn't like us." Said Dive quickly. He didn't want her knowing about the Saurians. In her present mood, she might just try to pick a fight with them as well.
"Well they don't like me either." She shouted, kicking the chair for emphasis.
"They don't even know you." Said Wing, trying to calm her down.
She turned her icy gaze on him and asked in a hissing tone:
"Then why is the engine of my car mangled beyond recognition? It looks like some one put it through a blender and then put it back in the car."
"How did they even know who you were?" asked a puzzled Dive.
"Ask your friend Sir Do Good Deeds over there." she snapped, jerking a thumb at a stricken looking Duke.
"Are you sure that it wasn't Jack or one of his gang?" asked Wing, not wanting Duke to take blame that wasn't his.
"No way." She said emphatically. "Jack doesn't know where I live and even if he did, he wouldn't trash my car. He'd just break in and kill me."
"You're kidding right?" asked Dive.
She gave him a withering look and said:
"I don't joke about people wanting to kill me." She said.
"Why would he want to kill you?"
Red had reached the end of her patience and didn't even bother trying to dodge the question. She looked into Dive's eyes and said:
"I killed his brother too."
*********************************
Back in the Raptor, Dragonus was sitting in his comfortable chair with his morning coffee and the paper. He was congratulating himself on a job well done. Siege came bumbling in and reported:
"I took care of the car like you asked, but I still don't know why. I mean, who is she?"
Dragonus was in too good of a mood to be annoyed with his underling's questions and decided to answer them instead.
"I don't yet but if that mallard is visiting her, she isn't just a passing acquaintance. I want her to stay put until I know if she's a threat or not."
"And if she is?"
"Then we'll take care of her. In the meantime, I want you and Wraith to go to the power plant on the other side of town and start rigging up the charging devices. The sooner we can charge the Raptor's power cells, the better."
Siege snapped off a sloppy salute and went to get Wraith. Dragonus watched him go and then turned his attention back to the paper. He sniggered out loud:
"Oh yes, trapped by your own cleverness. If you want to stop me, you'll have to expose yourselves. Then that nosey cop will tie you down with so much red tape, you'll be stuck in bureaucratic limbo forever."
***************************
When Siege and Wraith arrived at the power plant, it didn't take them long to run off the employees. A few well placed fireballs and they were happy to leave the place in the control of aliens from another dimension. Wraith started connecting the charging unit while Siege did the grunt work of hauling the power cells from the truck. The process was not unlike taking out the batteries of a favorite toy and putting them on charge.
But these were no torch batteries. When the couplings were all in place, Wraith powered up the grid and threw the switch, rerouting all main power to the charging unit. They looked up at the board that was a full map of the city with little lights representing major city grids. One by one the lights went out until there were none left burning. Wraith sneered at them and continued to watch as the digital numbers climbed towards full capacity.
*************************** Wildwing was staring at Red in horror when the lights flickered and then went out completely. With the curtains drawn, the room was plunged into blackness.
"Now what?" said Dive.
"Dunno, did Tanya do anything?" asked Duke.
"Tanya?" Wing called into the Com unit. "Are you up to anything down there?"
"No. There's a massive power drain all over the city. We're okay down here because of the fusion generator. Let me patch the whole Pond in."
A few moments later, the lights flickered into brightness again. The ducks turned to each other and Wing spoke into the com again.
"Thanks Tanya."
"No problem. But I think that Dragonus is up to something."
"I'd say that's an understatement." Said Dive wryly.
"So what do we do, I mean it's not like we can just open the hangar and fly outta here." said Duke.
"I'm not sure yet." Said Wing. "But I think that you should stay here Red. I mean, they do know where you live now."
He turned to look at her only to see an empty space. She had taken the opportunity and slipped away under the cover of blackness. Magnus had taken his seat again and was holding his head in his hands.
"What are we gonna do?" asked Duke. "We can't just sit here."
"We're going to have to risk going out through the sewers." Said Wing.
"And I thought that the day couldn't get any worse." He complained as they left the office.
Back underground, Wing called a tactical meeting and assigned the ducks their tasks.
"Dive, I want you to stay here and monitor Drake 1. Dragonus is bound to try something else while the power's down and I want to know as soon as he moves."
Dive didn't bother answering, just pouted that he was going to be left out - again!
"The rest of you will come with me. We have to stop them at the power plant but we're going to be short on equipment. So it'll take brute force."
"I could use the exercise." Said Mal with a shrug.
"Then we're off."
The team headed out the sewer exit and carefully made their way topside. They hid in the bushes and looked at the crowd. There was no way that they could make it to Magnus's car and Phil's was in the garage. No matter which way they went, someone was going to spot them. They did the only thing that they could do under the circumstances. They ran for it.
The four ducks raced out of the bushes and headed straight for the fence. The press gave chase as soon as they spotted them but the ducks were faster. They scaled the fence and disappeared up the nearest alley. Since avoiding people was a forte of his, Duke was in the lead. He led them up the alley and then into the main street. Spotting a cab, he jumped into the middle of the road, forcing it to stop. They piled in and the cabby, noticing the crowds behind him took the hint of a fifty-dollar bill under his nose and sped away, leaving the press standing in a cloud of smoke.
**************
Red didn't know how long the power would be off. She looked up the street hoping to see a cab but what she saw changed her mind. The intersection was crammed with cars that couldn't decide who had the right of way. Looking up she saw that the traffic lights were not working and she figured that the power out was a big one. She dashed into the nearest phone booth and dialed a number that she knew by heart.
"Icetech good day."
'Good morning, I was wondering if the open receptionist position had been filled?" asked Red, referring to an ad that she had seen.
"Not yet. You're welcome to come for an interview."
"When would that be?"
"How about three this afternoon?"
"That's perfect."
"I need your name for the appointment."
"Angela, Angela Finch."
"See you at three. Bye."
"Bye."
Red hung up and then stood for a moment, planning her day. She needed a car and there was only one person she could get one at short notice. She set off on foot towards The Rusty Nail.
Willy was washing the bar off when there was a banging on the back door. It sounded like someone was trying to kick it down. He grinned and went to the back.
"Hello Red." He said as he opened the door.
"How did you know it was me?" she demanded. "You shouldn't just open the door before making sure who's on the other side."
"Only you knock like that."
"You mean kick."
"Same thing." He said with a shrug. "What's wrong besides the obvious?"
"I need lunch and a car in that order."
While she ate, she told him all about Duke's visit and the vandalism of her engine. She also told him about the conversations that she had had with them that morning. When she reached the part about killing Jack's brother, Willy sighed and said:
"You know that's not true."
"It's the truth that the world knows and I'm not about to change it."
"But you didn't."
"Stifle Willy and gimme your keys. I got work to do and not a lot of time left."
Willy gave her a disapproving scowl as he handed over the keys to his car and watched as she left the same way she had come in. He went back to cleaning the bar and mumbling to himself.
"She's going to have to tell someone before she leaves again. I wonder who will get it out of her?"
********************
The ducks were getting more and more frustrated. They had gotten gridlocked in the traffic confusion and had been stuck for the last half-hour. They didn't want to get out and run as the press were still on the look out for them. If they were spotted, then they would be trailed to the power plant and then innocent people would be in needless danger. Eventually they got moving again and as they headed to the outer edges of the city, they picked up speed since the traffic was light.
When they got there, Wing paid off the cabby and sent him on his way. Then they quietly scaled the fence and started looking for Dragonus's hench- lizards. They weren't hard to find. Wind outlined a quick plan.
"Grin, you and I will take Siege. Duke, you and Mal will take Wraith. Tanya, as soon as they're out of the way, I need you to undo what they've done."
"That will take a couple of minutes, can you hold them for that long?"
"We have to."
"Then lets do it." Said Mal, priming her puck launcher.
The ducks didn't waste time with more stealth. They came round the corner shooting. Siege immediately returned fire while Wraith ducked. Then he had to run as Mal and Duke came at him from both sides. He retaliated with the traditional fireballs. The attack had the desired effect and the control console was left unattended, giving Tanya the chance to run up and start switching off the power and uncoupling the charging unit. She had almost finished when Siege realized what she was doing.
"Wraith, get outta here." he shouted as he activated his teleportation device.
The two Saurians dematerialized with the equipment going a few seconds later.
Wing came up to Tanya as she was restoring the power.
"Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, they didn't do any damage, but they did manage to charge the power cells for the Raptor."
"How far?"
"About halfway. It'll give Dragonus more flight range and a few of the outer cannons."
"And the dimensional gateway generator?"
"No. He still needs a lot more power for that."
"Then we deal with him when he comes. Right now we have to get back to the Pond."
"Is that really wise?" asked Grin.
"Yeah, " agreed Duke. "There was so much trouble getting out, we're bound to have as much trouble getting in."
"Then where do we go?" asked Mal.
"We could always go and wait at Willy's place." Said Grin.
"Not a good idea." Said Tanya. "It's a public place and we don't exactly blend into the background."
"Then where do we go that's not public?"
Duke frowned and then said:
"I know of a place, but she'll kill me if she finds us all there."
"Red's place"
"Exactly."
"Why don't we ask Willy to pass a message on to her?" asked Grin, taking his cell out of his pocket.
"Good idea." Said Wing.
Grin placed the call and Willy said that he would ask but he wouldn't be surprised if she said no. He promised to call back in a moment and true to his word, the phone rang five minutes later.
"Hello?"
"Grin, she said yes."
"I am surprised."
"No more than me pal. She said that if you touch or snoop, she'll know and then you'll be in so much trouble, you'll wish the press did have you."
"I understand. Thank you."
"Don't thank me, thank her. She'll be back later this evening."
Grin put the phone away and looked at Duke.
"You will have to guide us there, and she said no snooping."
"Sure."
Wing had advised Dive on the situation and he agreed to stay put and let them know if something else happened. They left to try and get another taxi. They found one with relative ease and got it to drop them two blocks from her place. They completed the trip on foot, making sure that no one had seen them. When they got up there, Mal took one look around the place and said:
"What a dump!"
"Better not let her hear that." Advised Duke.
"Yeah yeah." She said, plunking down on the couch and closing her eyes.
The ducks made themselves as comfortable as possible and started the wait.
***************
Red took one last look at herself as she rode in the elevator up to the third floor. She adjusted the black wig and tugged at the hen of her skirt. She just hoped that her disguise lasted long enough for her to get the information that she needed. The doors opened and she stepped out into the foyer. Stepping up to the desk she looked at the lady behind the desk and said:
"Good afternoon, I have a three o'clock appointment."
"Angela right?"
"Yes."
"Take a seat, Mr. Reynolds will be with you in a few minutes."
She sat on the offered chair and covertly looked around for CCTV cameras. Lucky for her, they pointed at the lift only. She picked up a magazine and pretended to read while she eavesdropped on the receptionist's conversation.
"Are you sure? Well I can but it'll take a while. Sure."
The woman put the phone down and looked up at Red.
"Excuse me, Angela?"
"Yes?"
"I have to upstairs to another department. I'm going to be while, would you like to wait here or can I schedule you another appointment?"
"I can wait."
"Okay." She stepped out from behind the desk and then paused. "Um, if he comes back and asks where I am."
"You've just gone to the bathroom." Grinned Red.
"Thank you." She said with a smile.
Red watched as she got into the lift and vanished from sight. She sat still for a few minutes and then slipped in behind the desk. Glancing at the machine, she accessed the account files and ran straight into password protection. She frowned and started looking around the desk.
*If the password changed as often as it used to, then she would need help remembering it. * She thought as she searched. *Bingo! *
She found the paper taped to the bottom of the mouse pad. Logging on, she called up all the information that she needed and sent it to herself in an e-mail. Then she logged off and left the desk as she had found it. Taking her seat, she thought to herself.
*That was easier than I thought. Now all I have to do is get in here tonight. *
She waited a few more minutes and then stood up and left.
********************
Dive was wandering around the Pond as bored as ever. He had spoken to Wing a few times over the com and then went quiet, as they wanted to keep the channel clear. He decided to grab a few comics and a snack and settle in the command room and continue watching the monitors for any saurian activity, although it didn't look like ol' Draggy was planning on moving any time soon.
Meanwhile, Magnus was at the police station, trying to find out where the leak had come from. Klegghorn was being his usual taciturn self.
"I'm telling you that this department is clean." He insisted. "None of my guys would even consider taking photos for the news."
"Then how did they get them?" demanded Magnus. "Did someone just walk in off the street and get access to the supposedly secure cells?"
"I don't like your tone mister!"
"Well I don't like your idea of secure!"
Klegghorn took a deep breath and then said:
"Look, I don't know how it happened but the damage has been done. Let's concentrate on keeping it under control."
"Then you're going to have to remove those damn reporters from the Pond's grounds. The team is hiding in the city somewhere because they can't come home."
"I'll send some men to clear the area and keep it clear. Will that satisfy you?"
"I'll take it for now but you have to make sure that no one else gets to Phil."
"I'll make sure of it."
Magnus stalked out without saying goodbye and got into his car. He hoped that the police cleared the press soon. He didn't like the idea of having the team somewhere in the city without any way to contact them. He was on his way back to the Pond when he was overtaken by several police cars and a riot van. Obviously Klegghorn had taken him seriously. By the time he had arrived at the Pond, the press were gone and several guards were stationed at the main gate and around the property. They waved him through and he went inside and up to his office. He was tired and worried - this was getting out of control.
**************
The team were lounging around when they heard the scrape of a key in the door and Red came in. They stared for a moment and then Duke couldn't contain himself any more.
"What happened to you?" he asked with laughter in his voice.
Red was wearing a short black wig and a long white dress. She looked as if she were a nun in training. She scowled at him and yanked the wig off, scratching at her scalp.
"I don't blend easily, I'm sure that you know what I mean." She snapped.
"Just kidding." Said Duke with his hands raised. "I know about trying to blend in."
Wing was going to ask where she had been when his com beeped.
"Yes Dive?"
"The cops have come and taken the press away. You guys can come home now."
"That's great. We'll be leaving in a few moments."
"I'll order pizza. Dive out."
Wing turned to Red who was starting up her laptop. He regarded her carefully, not sure how to broach the subject on his mind.
"Uh, Red?" he asked tentatively.
"Yeah?"
"I think it would be better if you gathered your stuff and came and stayed at the Pond with us."
Red stared at him and then asked incredulously:
"And why would I want to do that?"
"The people that trashed your engine don't like us at all and now that they know you are connected to us, that makes you a target."
"I'm a walking target already so I'll take my chances here."
"But it's not safe." He insisted. "They have no conscience and if they think that it'll hurt us, they will come after you."
Red unexpectedly smiled at him and said:
"You're sweet but I have to stay here. There is still work for me and I have to get it done soon or we'll run out of time."
"But."
"But nothing." She said with a glare, the smile vanishing as fast as it had come.
Wing shrugged and then said:
"It's your choice. Come on gang, let's go home."
They said goodbye to Red and left the warehouse and caught a cab back to the Pond. They were pleased to see that the place was clear. Dive was glad to see that no one had gotten hurt. He had ordered the pizzas and they arrived soon after the gang came back. They had a quiet dinner and then Wing said:
"I think we should sort this out tomorrow. We're all tired and maybe we can think better with some rest."
They all nodded and headed to their rooms for an early night, hoping that there would be no disturbances during the night.
They were wrong.
A/N: You guys are still reading! That's great!
Lily C - Nine? I actually didn't know that - I just write it as it comes! (Tell me what plot lines they are.) You'll see why they're stuck in this chapter.
Bluemoon Duchess: Here's a nice long one for you.
Chapter 21
She was driving, racing along the streets with no regard to the traffic laws. She knew that she had to get there, she had to stop him. She pulled up outside the building and leapt from the car - but she was too late. The sickly red and blue of the flashing police lights swept across the night shrouded grounds and yellow barrier tape crisscrossed the scene. She ran past the policemen and fought off the one that tried to grab her. She saw the sheet covered figure lying supine on the ground and fell to her knees beside it. With a trembling hand, she reached out to twitch the sheet away, knowing that the face underneath would be as familiar to her as her own.
Red jerked awake with a thin cry of terror. The dream wasn't a dream - rather a memory that she forced herself to remember everyday. She knew that the guilt would never bring him back, but at least she would never forget that she was responsible for his death.
She stood up and went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face and then went to her desk. She noticed that the lasagna was missing and she looked in the fridge to see if Duke had left it there. He had. She took it to the roof with her and ate a fair portion as she watched the sunrise. When she was done, she left the building on foot and went to the newsstand. A paper was the next step into getting into Icetech, the last suspect on her list. She didn't look at the paper until she was almost back at her place and then the headlines caught her eye.
Leaning against the wall, she read the article completely and then crumpled the paper in disgust. She stormed back to the warehouse and collected her cap, guns and keys. She threw herself into the car and savagely turned the key in the ignition. There was no answering roar of the finely tuned engine and her eyes widened. She got out and lifted the hood. She stared at the engine for a long while and then she slammed down the hood and locked the car. Setting off at a run, she came to the main street and hailed the first cab she saw.
"Anaheim Pond, right now!"
************
Tanya was busy looking from monitor to monitor. They couldn't use the Migrator or the Aerowing, as it would alert them to the facilities under the ice and once the press got in there would be no way of getting them out. The only way out that Tanya could think of was the emergency exit that they had put in the sewers. But using it would still be risky since the tunnel opened up in the Pond's parking lot. There was always the off chance the one of the news hounds would spot them coming out. Then it would be all over.
Wing was thinking about what they could do. He figured that Dragonus was behind the story and that he had done it to pin them down. Their secret strong hold had turned out to be an exploitable weakness. Duke and Dive were sitting at another monitor comparing the movement of the press to that of roaches when they found a leftover pizza crust. Then something else caught Dive's eye and he nudged Duke.
"What?"
"Looks like we're getting a visitor." He said pointing to a cab that had pulled up outside the gates. Red had gotten out and was determinedly stomping towards the entrance. Because her distinctive hair was covered, the reporters mistook her for another of their ilk, until she gave herself away. She reached the doors and wasted no time in picking the locks open. Up close, one of the reporters had a chance to get a better look at her and put two and two together. He yanked off her cap and started snapping away with his camera.
Randy was ecstatic. He would have the only close up pictures of Duke's mystery friend. Suddenly the lens turned dark and his blood turned cold as he realized what he was looking at. He lowered his camera from the muzzle of Red's gun and gave her a weak grin. She snatched the camera away and then slipped inside before he had a chance to protest, not that he was going to argue with the Desert Eagle that had just introduced itself.
Locking the doors behind her, Red turned the camera over in her hands, going for the film and realized that it was a digital one. She tucked it into her pocket and put the gun away. Then she went looking for Magnus. She found his office and kicked open the door, startling him. She wasted no time, stalked around the desk and hauled him up by his collar in both hands.
"What the hell did you think you were doing?" she demanded.
Magnus couldn't answer as his collar was cutting off his air supply. Red ignored his purpling face and shook him.
"Do you realize that this could ruin Phil's chances of getting out of this? Answer me!"
"He can't answer if he can't breathe sweetheart." Came Duke's voice from behind her.
She dropped Magnus and turned to see Duke, Wing and Dive in the doorway.
She wiped her hands on her jacket and asked:
"What is going on here?"
"We don't know." Said Wing. "Someone leaked this to the press."
"Who?"
"No one here." said Dive. "We aren't that dumb."
Red was about to answer him when her cell rang and Wildwing's com went off. The pair answered their respective devices.
"Yeah?" snapped Red. "Yeah I saw it, I'm here now with him. I don't know. I have to carry on with it. So? What's one more threat on me? Yes Willy I will. Bye."
"What's up Tanya? The chameleon, where? I'm on my way."
Wing looked up at Red and said:
"There's the leak."
"Who?"
"The chameleon."
"And that is?"
"Some one that doesn't like us." Said Dive quickly. He didn't want her knowing about the Saurians. In her present mood, she might just try to pick a fight with them as well.
"Well they don't like me either." She shouted, kicking the chair for emphasis.
"They don't even know you." Said Wing, trying to calm her down.
She turned her icy gaze on him and asked in a hissing tone:
"Then why is the engine of my car mangled beyond recognition? It looks like some one put it through a blender and then put it back in the car."
"How did they even know who you were?" asked a puzzled Dive.
"Ask your friend Sir Do Good Deeds over there." she snapped, jerking a thumb at a stricken looking Duke.
"Are you sure that it wasn't Jack or one of his gang?" asked Wing, not wanting Duke to take blame that wasn't his.
"No way." She said emphatically. "Jack doesn't know where I live and even if he did, he wouldn't trash my car. He'd just break in and kill me."
"You're kidding right?" asked Dive.
She gave him a withering look and said:
"I don't joke about people wanting to kill me." She said.
"Why would he want to kill you?"
Red had reached the end of her patience and didn't even bother trying to dodge the question. She looked into Dive's eyes and said:
"I killed his brother too."
*********************************
Back in the Raptor, Dragonus was sitting in his comfortable chair with his morning coffee and the paper. He was congratulating himself on a job well done. Siege came bumbling in and reported:
"I took care of the car like you asked, but I still don't know why. I mean, who is she?"
Dragonus was in too good of a mood to be annoyed with his underling's questions and decided to answer them instead.
"I don't yet but if that mallard is visiting her, she isn't just a passing acquaintance. I want her to stay put until I know if she's a threat or not."
"And if she is?"
"Then we'll take care of her. In the meantime, I want you and Wraith to go to the power plant on the other side of town and start rigging up the charging devices. The sooner we can charge the Raptor's power cells, the better."
Siege snapped off a sloppy salute and went to get Wraith. Dragonus watched him go and then turned his attention back to the paper. He sniggered out loud:
"Oh yes, trapped by your own cleverness. If you want to stop me, you'll have to expose yourselves. Then that nosey cop will tie you down with so much red tape, you'll be stuck in bureaucratic limbo forever."
***************************
When Siege and Wraith arrived at the power plant, it didn't take them long to run off the employees. A few well placed fireballs and they were happy to leave the place in the control of aliens from another dimension. Wraith started connecting the charging unit while Siege did the grunt work of hauling the power cells from the truck. The process was not unlike taking out the batteries of a favorite toy and putting them on charge.
But these were no torch batteries. When the couplings were all in place, Wraith powered up the grid and threw the switch, rerouting all main power to the charging unit. They looked up at the board that was a full map of the city with little lights representing major city grids. One by one the lights went out until there were none left burning. Wraith sneered at them and continued to watch as the digital numbers climbed towards full capacity.
*************************** Wildwing was staring at Red in horror when the lights flickered and then went out completely. With the curtains drawn, the room was plunged into blackness.
"Now what?" said Dive.
"Dunno, did Tanya do anything?" asked Duke.
"Tanya?" Wing called into the Com unit. "Are you up to anything down there?"
"No. There's a massive power drain all over the city. We're okay down here because of the fusion generator. Let me patch the whole Pond in."
A few moments later, the lights flickered into brightness again. The ducks turned to each other and Wing spoke into the com again.
"Thanks Tanya."
"No problem. But I think that Dragonus is up to something."
"I'd say that's an understatement." Said Dive wryly.
"So what do we do, I mean it's not like we can just open the hangar and fly outta here." said Duke.
"I'm not sure yet." Said Wing. "But I think that you should stay here Red. I mean, they do know where you live now."
He turned to look at her only to see an empty space. She had taken the opportunity and slipped away under the cover of blackness. Magnus had taken his seat again and was holding his head in his hands.
"What are we gonna do?" asked Duke. "We can't just sit here."
"We're going to have to risk going out through the sewers." Said Wing.
"And I thought that the day couldn't get any worse." He complained as they left the office.
Back underground, Wing called a tactical meeting and assigned the ducks their tasks.
"Dive, I want you to stay here and monitor Drake 1. Dragonus is bound to try something else while the power's down and I want to know as soon as he moves."
Dive didn't bother answering, just pouted that he was going to be left out - again!
"The rest of you will come with me. We have to stop them at the power plant but we're going to be short on equipment. So it'll take brute force."
"I could use the exercise." Said Mal with a shrug.
"Then we're off."
The team headed out the sewer exit and carefully made their way topside. They hid in the bushes and looked at the crowd. There was no way that they could make it to Magnus's car and Phil's was in the garage. No matter which way they went, someone was going to spot them. They did the only thing that they could do under the circumstances. They ran for it.
The four ducks raced out of the bushes and headed straight for the fence. The press gave chase as soon as they spotted them but the ducks were faster. They scaled the fence and disappeared up the nearest alley. Since avoiding people was a forte of his, Duke was in the lead. He led them up the alley and then into the main street. Spotting a cab, he jumped into the middle of the road, forcing it to stop. They piled in and the cabby, noticing the crowds behind him took the hint of a fifty-dollar bill under his nose and sped away, leaving the press standing in a cloud of smoke.
**************
Red didn't know how long the power would be off. She looked up the street hoping to see a cab but what she saw changed her mind. The intersection was crammed with cars that couldn't decide who had the right of way. Looking up she saw that the traffic lights were not working and she figured that the power out was a big one. She dashed into the nearest phone booth and dialed a number that she knew by heart.
"Icetech good day."
'Good morning, I was wondering if the open receptionist position had been filled?" asked Red, referring to an ad that she had seen.
"Not yet. You're welcome to come for an interview."
"When would that be?"
"How about three this afternoon?"
"That's perfect."
"I need your name for the appointment."
"Angela, Angela Finch."
"See you at three. Bye."
"Bye."
Red hung up and then stood for a moment, planning her day. She needed a car and there was only one person she could get one at short notice. She set off on foot towards The Rusty Nail.
Willy was washing the bar off when there was a banging on the back door. It sounded like someone was trying to kick it down. He grinned and went to the back.
"Hello Red." He said as he opened the door.
"How did you know it was me?" she demanded. "You shouldn't just open the door before making sure who's on the other side."
"Only you knock like that."
"You mean kick."
"Same thing." He said with a shrug. "What's wrong besides the obvious?"
"I need lunch and a car in that order."
While she ate, she told him all about Duke's visit and the vandalism of her engine. She also told him about the conversations that she had had with them that morning. When she reached the part about killing Jack's brother, Willy sighed and said:
"You know that's not true."
"It's the truth that the world knows and I'm not about to change it."
"But you didn't."
"Stifle Willy and gimme your keys. I got work to do and not a lot of time left."
Willy gave her a disapproving scowl as he handed over the keys to his car and watched as she left the same way she had come in. He went back to cleaning the bar and mumbling to himself.
"She's going to have to tell someone before she leaves again. I wonder who will get it out of her?"
********************
The ducks were getting more and more frustrated. They had gotten gridlocked in the traffic confusion and had been stuck for the last half-hour. They didn't want to get out and run as the press were still on the look out for them. If they were spotted, then they would be trailed to the power plant and then innocent people would be in needless danger. Eventually they got moving again and as they headed to the outer edges of the city, they picked up speed since the traffic was light.
When they got there, Wing paid off the cabby and sent him on his way. Then they quietly scaled the fence and started looking for Dragonus's hench- lizards. They weren't hard to find. Wind outlined a quick plan.
"Grin, you and I will take Siege. Duke, you and Mal will take Wraith. Tanya, as soon as they're out of the way, I need you to undo what they've done."
"That will take a couple of minutes, can you hold them for that long?"
"We have to."
"Then lets do it." Said Mal, priming her puck launcher.
The ducks didn't waste time with more stealth. They came round the corner shooting. Siege immediately returned fire while Wraith ducked. Then he had to run as Mal and Duke came at him from both sides. He retaliated with the traditional fireballs. The attack had the desired effect and the control console was left unattended, giving Tanya the chance to run up and start switching off the power and uncoupling the charging unit. She had almost finished when Siege realized what she was doing.
"Wraith, get outta here." he shouted as he activated his teleportation device.
The two Saurians dematerialized with the equipment going a few seconds later.
Wing came up to Tanya as she was restoring the power.
"Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, they didn't do any damage, but they did manage to charge the power cells for the Raptor."
"How far?"
"About halfway. It'll give Dragonus more flight range and a few of the outer cannons."
"And the dimensional gateway generator?"
"No. He still needs a lot more power for that."
"Then we deal with him when he comes. Right now we have to get back to the Pond."
"Is that really wise?" asked Grin.
"Yeah, " agreed Duke. "There was so much trouble getting out, we're bound to have as much trouble getting in."
"Then where do we go?" asked Mal.
"We could always go and wait at Willy's place." Said Grin.
"Not a good idea." Said Tanya. "It's a public place and we don't exactly blend into the background."
"Then where do we go that's not public?"
Duke frowned and then said:
"I know of a place, but she'll kill me if she finds us all there."
"Red's place"
"Exactly."
"Why don't we ask Willy to pass a message on to her?" asked Grin, taking his cell out of his pocket.
"Good idea." Said Wing.
Grin placed the call and Willy said that he would ask but he wouldn't be surprised if she said no. He promised to call back in a moment and true to his word, the phone rang five minutes later.
"Hello?"
"Grin, she said yes."
"I am surprised."
"No more than me pal. She said that if you touch or snoop, she'll know and then you'll be in so much trouble, you'll wish the press did have you."
"I understand. Thank you."
"Don't thank me, thank her. She'll be back later this evening."
Grin put the phone away and looked at Duke.
"You will have to guide us there, and she said no snooping."
"Sure."
Wing had advised Dive on the situation and he agreed to stay put and let them know if something else happened. They left to try and get another taxi. They found one with relative ease and got it to drop them two blocks from her place. They completed the trip on foot, making sure that no one had seen them. When they got up there, Mal took one look around the place and said:
"What a dump!"
"Better not let her hear that." Advised Duke.
"Yeah yeah." She said, plunking down on the couch and closing her eyes.
The ducks made themselves as comfortable as possible and started the wait.
***************
Red took one last look at herself as she rode in the elevator up to the third floor. She adjusted the black wig and tugged at the hen of her skirt. She just hoped that her disguise lasted long enough for her to get the information that she needed. The doors opened and she stepped out into the foyer. Stepping up to the desk she looked at the lady behind the desk and said:
"Good afternoon, I have a three o'clock appointment."
"Angela right?"
"Yes."
"Take a seat, Mr. Reynolds will be with you in a few minutes."
She sat on the offered chair and covertly looked around for CCTV cameras. Lucky for her, they pointed at the lift only. She picked up a magazine and pretended to read while she eavesdropped on the receptionist's conversation.
"Are you sure? Well I can but it'll take a while. Sure."
The woman put the phone down and looked up at Red.
"Excuse me, Angela?"
"Yes?"
"I have to upstairs to another department. I'm going to be while, would you like to wait here or can I schedule you another appointment?"
"I can wait."
"Okay." She stepped out from behind the desk and then paused. "Um, if he comes back and asks where I am."
"You've just gone to the bathroom." Grinned Red.
"Thank you." She said with a smile.
Red watched as she got into the lift and vanished from sight. She sat still for a few minutes and then slipped in behind the desk. Glancing at the machine, she accessed the account files and ran straight into password protection. She frowned and started looking around the desk.
*If the password changed as often as it used to, then she would need help remembering it. * She thought as she searched. *Bingo! *
She found the paper taped to the bottom of the mouse pad. Logging on, she called up all the information that she needed and sent it to herself in an e-mail. Then she logged off and left the desk as she had found it. Taking her seat, she thought to herself.
*That was easier than I thought. Now all I have to do is get in here tonight. *
She waited a few more minutes and then stood up and left.
********************
Dive was wandering around the Pond as bored as ever. He had spoken to Wing a few times over the com and then went quiet, as they wanted to keep the channel clear. He decided to grab a few comics and a snack and settle in the command room and continue watching the monitors for any saurian activity, although it didn't look like ol' Draggy was planning on moving any time soon.
Meanwhile, Magnus was at the police station, trying to find out where the leak had come from. Klegghorn was being his usual taciturn self.
"I'm telling you that this department is clean." He insisted. "None of my guys would even consider taking photos for the news."
"Then how did they get them?" demanded Magnus. "Did someone just walk in off the street and get access to the supposedly secure cells?"
"I don't like your tone mister!"
"Well I don't like your idea of secure!"
Klegghorn took a deep breath and then said:
"Look, I don't know how it happened but the damage has been done. Let's concentrate on keeping it under control."
"Then you're going to have to remove those damn reporters from the Pond's grounds. The team is hiding in the city somewhere because they can't come home."
"I'll send some men to clear the area and keep it clear. Will that satisfy you?"
"I'll take it for now but you have to make sure that no one else gets to Phil."
"I'll make sure of it."
Magnus stalked out without saying goodbye and got into his car. He hoped that the police cleared the press soon. He didn't like the idea of having the team somewhere in the city without any way to contact them. He was on his way back to the Pond when he was overtaken by several police cars and a riot van. Obviously Klegghorn had taken him seriously. By the time he had arrived at the Pond, the press were gone and several guards were stationed at the main gate and around the property. They waved him through and he went inside and up to his office. He was tired and worried - this was getting out of control.
**************
The team were lounging around when they heard the scrape of a key in the door and Red came in. They stared for a moment and then Duke couldn't contain himself any more.
"What happened to you?" he asked with laughter in his voice.
Red was wearing a short black wig and a long white dress. She looked as if she were a nun in training. She scowled at him and yanked the wig off, scratching at her scalp.
"I don't blend easily, I'm sure that you know what I mean." She snapped.
"Just kidding." Said Duke with his hands raised. "I know about trying to blend in."
Wing was going to ask where she had been when his com beeped.
"Yes Dive?"
"The cops have come and taken the press away. You guys can come home now."
"That's great. We'll be leaving in a few moments."
"I'll order pizza. Dive out."
Wing turned to Red who was starting up her laptop. He regarded her carefully, not sure how to broach the subject on his mind.
"Uh, Red?" he asked tentatively.
"Yeah?"
"I think it would be better if you gathered your stuff and came and stayed at the Pond with us."
Red stared at him and then asked incredulously:
"And why would I want to do that?"
"The people that trashed your engine don't like us at all and now that they know you are connected to us, that makes you a target."
"I'm a walking target already so I'll take my chances here."
"But it's not safe." He insisted. "They have no conscience and if they think that it'll hurt us, they will come after you."
Red unexpectedly smiled at him and said:
"You're sweet but I have to stay here. There is still work for me and I have to get it done soon or we'll run out of time."
"But."
"But nothing." She said with a glare, the smile vanishing as fast as it had come.
Wing shrugged and then said:
"It's your choice. Come on gang, let's go home."
They said goodbye to Red and left the warehouse and caught a cab back to the Pond. They were pleased to see that the place was clear. Dive was glad to see that no one had gotten hurt. He had ordered the pizzas and they arrived soon after the gang came back. They had a quiet dinner and then Wing said:
"I think we should sort this out tomorrow. We're all tired and maybe we can think better with some rest."
They all nodded and headed to their rooms for an early night, hoping that there would be no disturbances during the night.
They were wrong.