Through the rusting opening of the door, Danielle and Clyde came in with Julia right behind them.
""So why are we going through the remains of an old abandoned saurian laboratory again?", Danielle asked clearly more than a bit scared, "And why did I let you two talk me into going?"
"We're here to find out if there was anything Quasleet could use to get a better understanding of Dragaunus' gateway generator.", Clyde said clam as ever.
"And we told you it would be exciting and much less scary than waiting for us back at Grandpa's and thinking about what might happen.", Julia added.
Danielle gulped and not just cause she was accepting what they said, but the large broken glass tubes clearly contained something that made her knees knock. Something went on around this building back when Dragaunus invaded Puckworld, but what it was she shivered. She felt a bump that made her jump, but she quickly settled when she saw it was just Julia.
"Sorry.", Julia said with sympathy, "Did I scare you?"
Danielle took a couple breaths.
"You made me jump.", she said, "This place really creeps me out."
"I feel the same.", Julia answered, "But at least it's better when you're somewhere creepy with a friend than being in one alone."
Danielle nodded and they caught up with Clyde who was at a busted and clearly rusted panel beyond repair.
"You girls find anything?", Clyde asked.
"Nothing.", Danielle said, "You?"
Clyde then tripped over a pipe and hit a wall that fell over with a loud crash opening up another room that was pitch black. Danielle and Julia clicked on a couple flashlights as they looked around. A large seashell like machine stood in the center of the room with a large dais on the side which they guessed was ment for scanning or containing. Clyde clicked his own flashlight on and looked at the ceiling where busted pipes were broken and rot was forming and froze up. Danielle went pale.
"Um guys, I'm getting a really bad feeling about this place."
Then a scrap went off near the south wall and the ducks flashed their lights there to see a couple large crates that were turned over and one was open. Clyde came over and a loud thud rang off near the opening. All three turned to see something rise from the dust cloud that formed and what they saw when they turned their lights it's way was a pipe that fell from the ceiling.
"This place really fell apart.", Clyde said as he got to a desk and got a rusty drawer open to reveal a metal case, "Hey, I think I got something."
/
Dragaunus was beyond upset as he paced back and forth blowing up drones whenever they passed although, they repaired themselves afterward, he blew it up again to relieve stress.
"Every time I try anything, those wretched ducks interfere and ruin everything!"
"I don't really blame them Dragaunus, but to be fair, you didn't really think things through."
Dragaunus turned to see Lucretia DeCoy's image materialize nearby.
"Oh it's you.", he sneered, "What do you want?"
Lucretia smiled.
"Payback.", she answered, "If Wildwing didn't switch the chip that I delivered to you, you could've melted every city you could hit."
Dragaunus didn't like bringing up past failures, but Lucretia didn't seem to bring up the fact he sent her to Limbo so he was willing to listen.
"And what do you have in mind?", he asked.
"The ducks are trying to create a gateway generator of their own.", Lucretia reported, "I could infiltrate the site and disable it to call forth reinforcements and resettle our establishment on Puckworld."
That got Dragaunus' attention.
"And with Canard here on Earth, these rebels won't make it back and Earth will be a cake walk.", he smiled, "You always were my best eyes and ears among my enemies."
Lucretia looked complimented.
"And don't we know of a scientist who has some outcasts from your competition?"
As if to answer her, Cerebellum's projection came from the dashboard nearby.
"Somebody mention me?"
"We just were.", Lucretia answered.
"If I could have all undivided attention please?"
The trio turned to see Malevolence materialize with Wrath, Terror, and Despair alongside her.
"Darkness Incarnate it was you.", Dragaunus said coldly.
Malevolence smiled wickedly.
"Guilty as charged, but the reason I brought you three groups together here is for one reason that I think you all know: we're all enemies of the ducks are we not?"
"And what do you suggest?", Charyus asked as he warped in beside Dragaunus.
"An alliance.", Malevolence answered, "Divided the ducks prevail, but as a whole, we'll finally end our suffering."
Lucretia didn't look too on board.
"Suppose I have a plan of my own?", she suggested.
"And me as well?", Cerebellum added, "We cover more area when we work alone."
Malevolence raised an eyebrow.
"Look what happened when you each worked alone: you failed and the ducks live. We need each other, and the ducks will fall if only you agree to assist one another under my leadership."
She held a hand out to show what she ment.
"I am an overlord of one of the most powerful empires in this universe.", Dragaunus said firmly, "I'm no hireling."
"Neither am I.", Cerebellum said just as firm, "I am a scientist."
Malevolence pulled her hand back still smiling.
"Think about what I said.", she stated, "And then we'll see how far you each get before the ducks finish you all off."
Malevolence faded away with her goons following leaving the other three parties in question.
"Lucretia, I believe I can send some mechanical help to you on Puckworld.", Cerebellum suggested, "But only if Dragaunus lends me his gateway generator."
Dragaunus looked thoughtful.
"How soon can you get here?", he asked.
Cerebellum smiled.
"I already am."
/
Canard tensed as Nosedive managed to elude his aura assault enough to launch an arrow at him that barely scrapped his side.
"Nice move.", he commented, "You're really getting there."
Nosedive smiled.
"I learn from the best.", he answered, "You and Wing."
Wildwing was practicing with Mallory using Shield and Sword and clearly Mallory had come a long way.
"Well Mal it looks like we don't have to worry about you going crazy anytime soon."
Mallory looked complimented.
"Some things take time.", she answered, "Looks like Dive and Canard are having a break."
They noticed Canard and Nosedive at the other end of the dojo where Canard used aura to restore Nosedive and himself. At that moment, the alarm went off and they headed for Drake 1 only for the screen to flash on before they all got there.
"We got a rift breach.", Tanya reported, "A big one."
"Location?", Wildwing asked.
Then the whole Pond shook violently. Nearly tearing the whole place apart as fires erupted from the walls and the floors cracked.
"Everyone out!", Wildwing called out.
They headed for the Aerowing and managed to get out before the roof caved in and when they got outside, they found the Pond was breaking apart. Phil came out of hiding from down below and looked panicked.
"Do you have any idea how much it's going to cost to fix that place?"
Canard fell to the ground holding his head in his hands and looking like he was in extreme pain.
"The forces...so much..chaos."
At that moment, giant bladed tentacles erupted from the Pond and slit open to reveal reptilian humanoids with webbed claws and crocodile heads with fins along the sides. And just then, another rift tore open not far away to reveal giant insects with dark energy flowing across their exoskeletons and just as big as the reptilian invaders. At that moment, a transmission came in.
"Can you guys pick us up?", Thrash asked, "It's total chaos out here."
Wildwing took the wheel and tried flying the Aerowing away only to almost hit another rift opening in the sky unleashing enormous spectral birds that were unlike anything the ducks could imagine, but Wildwing got them away and tried avoiding all the chaotic forces as the invading forces started causing havoc and citywide devastation.
/
Back on Puckworld, Lucretia observed Danielle with Julia and Clyde from afar. Although she was in disguise, she knew too well that Clyde and Julia would be harder to convince than Danielle if only she could get the young duck alone, she would be easy to manipulate, but so far no luck.
"These drones Cerebellum invented better get here soon.", she muttered darkly to herself, "I don't like things going south."
"I had a feeling you'd be here."
Lucretia paused. A voice had invaded her mind, and she was sure it sounded familiar.
"Who's asking?", she asked placing a hand on her sai.
"For nearly two years, hidden in the shadows of Puckworld, I have watched you.", the voice answered sounding harsher, "Did you think I would forget what you caused? Did you really think I'd let you forget?"
Lucretia was sure she knew that voice, but she wasn't about to drop to her knees and be swayed.
"You?", she answered just as firm, "You are nothing but-"
"Nothing?", the voice answered with a chuckle, "Just because you can't see me doesn't mean I can't see you."
"So why are you talking to me?", Lucretia countered.
"To remind you.", the voice answered, "After so long of isolation and reflecting, my work gave results that I'm sure that you'll find effective."
Lucretia then remembered something. The saurians were known to possess mind linking if they were skilled in the mystic arts even for a few years if devoted enough to go through such harsh teachings, but the voice seemed to be able to read her mind.
"Careful who you ally with.", it warned, "You don't know who or what might befall you if you do."
Lucretia felt the presence fade away and she turned to notice that Julia, Clyde and Danielle had moved on.
"Cursed wretch.", she muttered clearly mentioning the voice she heard, "Distracting my watch and telling me to be careful who I ally with."
She walked off unaware that on a ledge, she was being watched by someone or something. It was hard to tell what it was cause it turned and vanished out of sight even though it was broad daylight.
/
Servain turned as his eyes opened clearly showing he was annoyed and yet worried.
"Sauria, what troubles you?", he asked though he had a feeling the planet was listening, "Eh? The life that remains on us. They're what?"
Being a deity, Servain could will himself to the surface anytime he chose and materialize just the same. He appeared by tearing from under the desolate surface that was barely clinging to life and looked over the landscape.
"Now what could be causing Sauria's remaining inhabitants to be leaving?", he asked himself.
"Dragaunus is using his gateway generator again."
Servain turned to see Cerox's astral form materialize nearby, but he didn't let up his mood.
"You know why I put you in that prison Cerox.", he said firmly, "You have nerve to send your astral self to here just to tell me that."
Cerox didn't flinch.
"Hey, I was just doing my job of enacting divine judgment upon the mortal races of our world while serving you and the other members of our pantheon. And I came for not the reason you state I did."
Servain's expression darkened.
"Then what, Lord of Valor, did you come to tell me?"
Cerox tensed as Servain said his title, but kept his nerve.
"Earth is in chaos and portals to here have drawn the inhabitants through Limbo and there to level it all."
Servain crossed his massive arms.
"And where do I come in-", he paused and then his face darkened further, "Cerox I know what you're going to ask me and that is not the solution to what is going on here."
Cerox paused as he ran a claw across his shoulder. Servain had guessed he would ask for his freedom from his prison of stone pillars on Earth known by the inhabitants as Stonehenge, but Cerox could tell Servain was concerned about the well being of Sauria and it's remaining inhabitants.
"Servain, you know as well as I that if we don't stop Charyus and Dragaunus, earth will linger on the brink of death as Sauria is. Do you really want that?"
Servain paused digesting what Cerox had just said. He then turned to the East.
"Varc, front and center!"
A black mist flowed from the ground and materialized into another saurian deity that stood upright with a slim, but muscular body, pale scales covering it's body and sharp claws that were cracked. Strongly resembling a gallamimus dinosaur, but the head was that of a crocodile with crackling light blue eyes that crackled.
"Yes, All Father?", he asked bowing.
Cerox looked annoyed.
"Varc, Lord of Life?"
Varc turned to Cerox and smiled.
"Nice to see you too Lord of Valor."
Servian was not amused.
"I didn't ask for you to see the two of you greet each other.", he said firmly before turning to Cerox, "If it makes you feel better, we'll find out what is causing Sauria's inhabitants to vanish and if what you say is true, than I will allow us to intervene."
Cerox smiled. It wasn't a promise of freedom, but it was a start into Servain's good graces.
/
Back on Earth, everything was anything but peaceful. The new massive alien creatures were running amok, Anaheim was being leveled and Klegghorn had just ducks behind a dumpster right after Thrash and Mookie.
"If this is another kind of alien invasion force, I'm filing a complaint.", Klegghorn said firmly.
Thrash looked concerned.
"How? In case nobody has noticed, there's about several different rifts opening up all over the joint, the world is in total chaos and who knows what the other ducks are going through?"
Mookie nodded.
"Dragaunus must be using his gateway generator again, but doesn't that thing kind of need to cool off sometime?"
At that moment the ground near them ripped apart forming a giant crack that almost got close enough to make them slide in. They stood up fast and Morpha(who had been hiding in Thrash's hair at the time), shifted into a safety harness that tied to the fire escape above their heads and lifted the trio up into it.
"Thanks Morpha.", Mookie said after they were off the ground.
Morpha shifted back into it's dog form and it's blue points turned orange. Unfortunately, the ground opened up further and the building swayed as a strong wind blew as if a hurricane was on it's way almost making them fall over. Morpha's color points turned black as it clung to the sides all while back in Nether Void, Malevolence watched with glee.
"It would seem my little chagrin is coming along nicely.", she purred.
Wrath turned her way looking confused.
"Forgive my objection my queen, but I don't see why your candidates haven't taken your offer."
Malevolence smiled.
"They already have. My Dark Alliance is forming."
Despair and Terror looked pleased.
"Soon the whole planet will fall into distraught.", Terror stated, "And Lucretia is holding her own on Puckworld."
Despair observed a bauble next to the one displaying Anaheim in chaos which displayed Lucretia next to another rift where several small drones came through and formed soldier robots.
"It would seem she's found an opening that Cerebellum has provided the means to sway."
Wrath then looked unsure as the bauble showing Anaheim showed Thrash, Mookie, Klegghorn, and Morpha getting saved, but Malevolence's smile didn't flinch.
"You've faced many trials ducks, but what you're experiencing is only the start of what I have in mind. Once the pieces are in motion, you will know the meaning of defeat and loss."
Wrath looked assured again as he, Terror and Despair joined in Malevolence as she cackled like a witch that rang out for all Nether Void to hear.
To be continued...