Chapter 40:
Duke groaned as he came too from the aesthetic. He rubbed his face with his right hand and then realised what he had done. The grey feathered mallard almost jumped out of his skin and sat up to look at his new arm. Unlike the previous one, this arm blended into his body almost perfectly. Artificial feathers covered the ionic device. What had made him jump, though was not the realisation that it didn't take all his willpower to move his right arm, but that he had felt his face with the bionic hand. He stared at the arm in wonder, clenching and unclenching the hand and moving the arm as easily as he been able to move his real arm before it had been severed. And from the moment it was fitted no less.
"From that look," Duke looked up to the doorway where he saw Kii'era in the doorway, "I'll presume you're happy with it?"
"I can feel with it!" Duke exclaimed, "I can't even do that with this thing!" He pointed to his bionic eye with his left as he continued to test out the arm.
"I'm quite proud of the design myself," She said leaning against the wall with her arms folded and a smile on her face, "And since I created the tech, my team and I have advanced it by leaps and bounds."
"This is your tech?" Duke asked and the feline nodded, "Better be careful what you tell Tanya." He laughed, "She won't let ya outta her sight till you tell her all yer secrets!"
"She has fallen asleep at my desk reading my notes." Kii'era admitted as she scratched her cheek as if embarrassed, something that didn't go unnoticed by Duke. His brow rose slightly but not enough for the intelligent woman before him to notice. "Now you're awake," Kii'era changed the subject quickly, "I will get one of the physios to work with you for a few days before I let you go back to Earth. You'll need to learn some specific exercises to ensure that your body doesn't suddenly decide to reject the arm. It happens on occasion and I haven't figured out how to predict it as yet, but there are certain exercises that can limit those occurrences."
"When can I go back ta hockey practice and inta battle?" Duke asked her still moving his fingers as if making sure all was still working.
"We will need to take that as it comes." Kii'era admitted, "If there are no signs of rejection, then a few weeks, maybe a month? It doesn't matter that the arm works, you've still suffered a traumatic and life-threatening injury. So, you need to take things one step at a time, no matter how keen you are to go back to the way you were before."
"Heh, slow and steady wins the race, huh?" Duke asked bitterly, somewhat disappointed in Kii'era's response.
"You'll be kicking tail again in no time." Kii'era winked. "I'd better get back to my lab and let Tanya know you're awake. She'll want to know as soon as she wakes up."
"Kii'era?" Duke called as the woman was leaving. She stopped in the doorway and looked over her shoulder, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." She smiled.
"Easy!" Nosedive caught Angel before she could face plant into the ice whilst Mookie lazily skated around the outskirts of the rink. Thrash sat playing a handheld games console, trying to concentrate but occasionally glancing to watch as the normally graceful warrior struggled to stay upright on the skates Nosedive had bought her only a few days prior.
"It is decidedly not easy." Angel grumbled as she regained her balance with Nosedive's help. "And I fail to see what's so funny!" She snapped to Mookie who merely laughed harder.
"Chill, Angel!" Nosedive grinned and tried not to laugh at her angry pout. "You'll get the hang of it." He added kindly. Angel growled but tried again. She placed one skate in front of the other and began to move. She wobbled a few times but stayed upright this time. A small smile formed on her lips as she picked up speed. She went to turn but yelped as she didn't get the balance quite right and her skates slipped out from under her, Nosedive grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her close. Angel blushed furiously at the closeness, which only worsened as he leant down and whispered into her ear, "Relax and just go with it." She nodded and allowed herself to move with him as he skated behind her with his arms around her waist. As she got her balance again he moved in front of her whilst keeping a firm hold of her hands and skated backwards, "Look at me Angel." He said quietly, trying to get her to keep her head up instead of looking down at her skates. Something he knew was not helping in the slightest. The purple haired teen did as she was told and instantly felt her cheeks redden. When Nosedive was sure she was steady he let go and spun so he was beside her instead, "Look ahead, when you look down…"
"I ruin my balance." Angel admitted more than asked, sounding more than a little frustrated.
"Yeah." Dive chuckled.
"You think those two will ever get together?" Thrash asked Mookie as his partner skated over and leant against the barrier between where the team would sit during a game. Thrash sat on one of the chairs as he scribbled away.
"Of course!" Mookie grinned. "Dive just needs to get over himself and ask her out, cause she sure as hell won't do it." Mookie rolled her eyes before glancing over her should to make sure neither subject could hear her.
"You think?" Thrash asked, "She seems pretty forward." He pointed out, "Not that I've spent as much time with her as you."
"She acts all confident," Mookie pointed out as she looked up into the rafters, "but I'm pretty sure she wouldn't know the first thing about dating. Least of all how to ask anyone out." The woman scratched her cheek. "They're cute together though."
"I love how much he used to moan about Wing and Jess taking forever," Thrash sniggered, "and Dive's taking way longer than they ever did!" Thrash laughed out loud.
"What's so funny?" Nosedive skated over with a hand holding Angel's. Thrash and Mookie looked at each other and laughed again.
"What?!" Angel almost whined which did not help the situation at all.
"Just ignore them." Nosedive glared at them. "You're getting a little better." Dive assured Angel.
"You're just trying to make me feel better." Angel huffed, "My balance is near perfect so I didn't think this would be so hard to pick up!"
"Nobody's perfect girlie girl." Dive winked.
"I'm not used to failing at something." Angel admitted quietly.
"Okay." Mookie skated forward and draped an arm around Angel's shoulders, "One, you're not failing, you're learning!" Mookie said with one finger in the air. "And two, this is something you're learning for fun! So, who cares how good you are at it from the start?" Mookie laughed again and slapped her friend on the back.
"I suppose." Angel gave the woman a look that showed she wasn't so sure.
"So, we goin' out to that new club tonight, or what?" Thrash asked. "They're letting in minors," Thrash chose to ignore the glare Angel gave him. "Which means Angel can come with us!" He grinned.
"She's just gotta resign herself to a stamp on her hand." Mookie winked at Dive, remembering her friend complaining profusely about having to wear such stamps in the past. It had been over a year since then and they had discussed going out to celebrate Nosedive's 21st, despite being decidedly late.
"I still don't understand the fuss over such things." Angel shook her head in amusement.
"Yeah well," Thrash stood up and grinned at her, "Them's the rules chicka!" He received an annoyed look which he returned with a laugh, "So what time we meeting?"
"Game's supposed to finish around 8 so after 9 maybe?" Dive suggested.
"Good plan." Mookie then held her nose with a smirk, "Post game Dive stinks!"
"Hey!" Nosedive stuck his tongue out at his friend.
"Well she's not wrong." Angel gave him a side glance with a small smirk on her face and a twinkle in her eye.
"You guys try playing a full hockey match and not reek after!" Dive crossed his arms and pouted at them causing all three of his friends to laugh.
"At least he uses deodorant now!" Mookie quipped. Angel laughed when Nosedive went beet red. "Teen Nosedive wasn't too good at using the wonders of deodorant!" Mookie continued with an evil grin, "One year we and the team all gifted him deodorant for his birthday and he finally took the hint!" Mookie and thrashed laughed loudly at the memory and even Angel sniggered.
"I'm beginning to think you guys aren't really my friends." Dive grumbled in embarrassment.
"Oh, stop being so sensitive." Angel rolled her eyes. "I don't exactly smell pleasant after a battle either." She patted him on the shoulder with a smile.
"So," Mookie turned her attention to the purple haired Amayan, "you finally going to watch a game or are you gonna come to mine till Dive's ready for our night out?" Angel blinked. She enjoyed Mookie's company, but she was also aware that she had been promising Nosedive that she would watch him in a real game since they landed on Earth. She bit her lip as she was torn over which friend she wanted to make happy.
"You don't have to watch Angel." Nosedive said with a smile, but Angel could hear disappointment in his voice.
"No," Angel lifted up her chin in determination as she made up her mind, "I have been promising to watch one of your games since I got to this planet and an Amayan always keeps their promises!"
"We'll see ya later then." Mookie said as she left with a wave, her skates already slung over her shoulder as she exited the rink.
"Bye guys." Thrash followed after, leaving the pair alone.
"Can I get off this ice now, please?" Angel asked looking down at the skates she wore as if they were evil incarnate. Nosedive laughed and nodded before helping her to the team entrance where he got the blade protectors on and the two friends made their way to the changing rooms.
Later that night Angel sat in the stands as she watched Nosedive and the other ducks play. The crowd around her were a bit overwhelming and it was certainly not something that she was used to, but she could see why the humans were getting so excited over it all. Nosedive had taken the time to explain the game to her. She understood how it worked and it was clear that the players on the ice were very skilled. Nosedive didn't know where she was sitting, and she noted that he had been looking for her on more than one occasion. Making her unsure whether his lack of knowledge was a good or a bad thing. About a quarter way into the game Wildwing called a time out and spoke to Nosedive away from the others. The blonde gave his older brother a sheepish look before the game recommenced. This time Nosedive seemed more focussed and when the game was finally over, he had scored 8 of the 12 goals that they had scored, winning by 3. Angel had to resist the urge to cover her ears at the roar of the audience, but it was clear to anyone that she had enjoyed watching her friends play from the large grin on her face. Angel waited for the audience to disperse a little before making her way to the interview room where she knew the teams of the night would be for a while. As she got there she quietly slipped into the room and made her way to Jessica's side. Said woman held Jet in her arms as Molly sat on Wildwing's lap. He and the team answered the reporters' many questions with practiced ease.
"What did you think?" Jessica asked quietly as she kept her eyes on the ducks.
"I could watch it again." Angel admitted. "Not sure I'm built for being on the ice though!" Angel chuckled.
"You'll get better at that." Jess shrugged, "The ducks grew up learning to skate and I learned from a young age too. So, you're coming to it pretty late."
"So, Nosedive?" One reporter said very loudly, "Are you finally going to introduce us to your new sweetheart?" The room went silent as half the room watched a suddenly very flushed looking Nosedive, whilst the rest looked to Angel. Said girl merely raised an eyebrow and looked to see what her friend was going to say or do in relation to such a query.
"Um," Dive looked at Angel who shrugged, "We're not actually together." He told them, "We're just friends."
"Sure, you're not." The reporter said just as loudly causing a twitter of laughter to echo through the small room.
"Maybe we should get back to the ga..." Wildwing tried to interject.
"Miss... Angel wasn't it?" The reporter now addressed Angel directly, "Do you have feelings for Nosedive?"
"If I did," Angel said sweetly, without missing a beat, "What business would that be of yours?" The last part was added more dangerously.
"The ducks are very much loved by our town." A female reporter spoke up. "Wildwing has found himself someone, and Canard and Mallory are together." She smiled at Angel innocently, "We're just keen to see the rest of our heroes happy is all. So, you can see why we might be interested in such things." Angel raised a brow and Wildwing tensed as if wondering what the girl was about to do.
"It's very sweet that you think that way." Angel said, "But it's as Nosedive says. We're just good friends." It didn't go unnoticed that Angel had added good to her description which had some reporters scribbling down notes. "Excuse me." She said before making her way to leave. Waving off any other reporter who tried to ask more questions. Wildwing looked at Jessica with an impressed expression. Jessica returned his look with a shrug and followed after her.
"That was very well-handled Angel." Wildwing said as the ducks entered the common room 20 minutes later. "I'm impressed."
"What were you expecting me to do?" Angel asked curiously, "Attack them for being nosy?" She laughed, "I may call myself a pirate but I'm not that much of a loose cannon!" Dive sniggered and began to head towards the bunks.
"Where are you going?" Canard asked.
"Angel and I are going to meet Thrash and Mookie tonight." He shrugged before disappearing to take a shower.
"You know the press are going to have a field day if anyone sees you out tonight, right?" Mallory asked Angel.
"Let them speculate." Angel shrugged, "Idol gossip never bothered me before, why would it do so now?" With that Angel shrugged and left to change.
"She's going to regret that attitude." Mallory snorted.
"Or maybe she doesn't mind because she wouldn't say no to being with him if the kid ever got around to asking her." The ducks turned to see Duke and Tanya, accompanied by Kii'era.
"Duke!" Jessica exclaimed, "How are you feeling?"
"Like a new duck thanks to this pretty lady!" Duke grinned pointing his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the Catatonian. "And ready to start bein useful again!"
"In ti.. time Duke!" Tanya rolled her eyes.
"So, those two love birds still haven't come to their senses yet then?" Kii'era asked.
"Nosedive isn't all that experienced in dating," Wildwing told her, "He was only in junior high when the saurians hit. If he had a girlfriend before then, I didn't know about her." The white mallard added with a shrug.
"With the way he behaved around Lucretia," Mallory gave a snort, "I'm surprised he hasn't asked her yet."
"Not to mention all the hassle he gave you about dating Jess." Canard rolled his eyes.
"The kid doesn't think he's good enough for her." Duke shrugged, "Told me a while back about it when I pressed him about his feelings for her."
"What do you mean?" Jessica asked shushing Jet who was starting to fuss a little.
"He said something about her maybe being a princess." Duke watched his teammates carefully to garner their response.
"What is this? A fairy tale?" Mallory laughed.
"The Azmarian royal family were reported to be slaughtered during the betrayal and Plutarkian attack." Kii'era told them, "in the chaos many bodies were never recovered from the planet." She continued, "Something I'm sure Nosedive noticed when he visited what was left of it. But the Plutarkians made sure to show the bodies of the emperor and his children to the fleeing Amayans and broadcast this across the galaxy as a message. I've watched the footage and its harrowing. But the Empress was not present. Only the emperor and most of his children."
"So, it's possible some of their children could have survived?" Wildwing asked.
"And the empress," Kii'era nodded, "Yes. But it is widely believed that she perished, and Angel is too young to have been alive when the planet was attacked."
"But what if the empress was pregnant at the time?" Jessica asked.
"If that was the case," Canard said sounding disturbed, "then that kid was born a slave."
"Wasn't that obvious from that nightmare we got to witness?" Duke shook his head.
"If the empress Hisanna was pregnant," Kii'era mused, "depending on how far she was gone, then it is entirely possible that Angel is Hisanna's daughter. Which would make her the heir to the Amayan throne. Assuming none of her other siblings survived of course. She would have been one of many."
"Do you think she knows who she is?" Grin asked.
"If she does, she's never mentioned it to me." Kii'era shrugged.
"Her mother certainly lived long enough for Angel to remember her, if that mess with Akane is anything to go by." Wildwing took his son so that Jessica could go and get him a bottle. He bounced his son gently as the infant began grizzling.
"And I would be very surprised if she hasn't seen pictures of the Empress Hissanna at some point since escaping Ikaru's father." Kii'era added.
"Well there's not much we can do about it now." Canard stood and stretched out his shoulders, "We can figure this out another time, with the kid here."
"Why Canard," Jessica said as she returned and gave the bottle to Wildwing who happily began feeding his son, "That's very sensitive of you."
"I wouldn't want to have people discussing me when I'm not around, so why would she?" He shrugged and left the room.
"I think I need to see if he's okay." Mallory sniggered as she followed after him. It wasn't long before the rest of the team dispersed to do their own thing leaving Wildwing and Jessica to tend to their new arrival.
"What is this place?" Angel asked as Mookie led her through the door to a building with a bright flashing sign with microphones on it. Nosedive and Thrash were following close behind.
"Karaoke!" Mookie squealed with the biggest grin she could muster.
"The singing thing?" Angel asked to clarify.
"The very same." Nosedive shrugged. "Room for four please." The blonde said as he stepped past the girls to the counter. The Hispanic woman serving gaped at him for a few moments before stuttering a quick apology, creating a tab with his card and leading them to a room.
"Any drinks?" She asked nervously.
"What do you guys want?" Dive turned to his friends as they sat down. "On me."
"Well in that case!" Mookie smirked, "Strawberry Daquiri!"
"Beer." Thrash said before turning to Angel, "No alcohol for you though, young lady!" He said in the best impression of a dad he could muster. This resulted in the purple haired warrior rolling her eyes at the red headed human.
"Just get me something refreshing please." She indicated to Nosedive.
"Got any nice smoothies or anything?" Dive turned back to the woman serving them.
"Sure!" She said a little too loudly before clearing her throat in embarrassment and carrying on in a more sedate tone, "We have a mock tail version of what the lady ordered. Would the young lady like to try that?" Dive turned and Angel shrugged.
"Why not." He said, "I'll have the same." The woman made a note and hurried off.
"Didn't want to have something stronger?" Angel asked as he took a seat beside her. "I though tit was customary on this planet to get completely plastered when celebrating your 21st."
"Not really and yeah but doesn't mean ya have to." Dive said evasively. "So, who's going first?"
"Me!" Mookie shouted as she almost jumped on the computer to select her song choice. Thrash and Nosedive were quite used to this and simply shook their heads. Angel chuckled at the human's excitement but watched as her friend set up the machine and pick up a mic. Mookie had chosen a Queen song and spent the next three minutes singing along to Bohemian Rhapsody, the boys joining in on the chorus and laughing the whole way through. By the time she was finished the Hispanic woman had returned and placed the drinks on the table.
"Sorry," she said to Nosedive and held out her note pad to him, "I really am, but I'm such a big fan and..." She went beet red and couldn't finish the sentence.
"Want an autograph?" He guessed what she wanted, and the woman nodded profusely with a smile. "Sure thing!" He took the pad and pen and quickly scribbled a note for her and added his signature before passing the pad back to her. "Selfie too?" He winked at her. She squeaked and nodded before taking out her phone. Her hands were shaking from excitement, so Mookie held out her hand to take it, which allowed the woman to wrap her arms around Nosedive's waist. She had a big goofy grin on her face as Nosedive rested his arm around her shoulders. Once the picture was taken, the woman took the phone and stared at the picture, her smile somehow getting bigger.
"Thank you so much!" She held the pad and the phone to her chest, "I'm Esmie, by the way. Just let me know if you and your friends want anything else!"
"Thanks Esmie." Nosedive smiled kindly to her as the woman stepped out of the room. When the door closed, they heard her squeal like a child in excitement and he was pretty sure it sounded like she was already on the phone to someone telling them what had happened. "Something tells me we might have to use a side entrance to get out of this place." He laughed.
"You love it!" Thrash elbowed the duck with a laugh.
"Don't even joke man!" Nosedive shuddered, "I still get the occasional letter from Buffy.!"
"No way?!" Mookie turned away from the screen where she was helping Angel find one of the few songs that the girl knew. "I thought that psycho got locked up!"
"She did." Nosedive shrugged, "She got locked up in a mental hospital. She's still sending me old school mail though."
"Shouldn't you be telling someone about that?" Mookie asked him in a tone that made Angel frown.
"She's in a mental hospital," Dive rolled his eyes, "What's she going to do from there? Besides, I'm not a kid anymore" He added at the looks Thrash and Mookie gave him.
"Do I want to know?" Angel asked.
"No." Nosedive said with finality.
"Remind me later and I'll fill ya in." Mookie whispered when Dive looked away. Angel nodded. "Now!" Mookie said loudly, let's find Angel a song she can sing!"
"I know that one." Angel said.
"A Disney song?" Thrash grimaced.
"She's been watching movies with Molly." Nosedive explained.
"They're nice songs to sing!" Angel said defensively.
"Yeah," Mookie stood up for her friend, "Plus there aren't any anime intros on here." She added with a sideways glance and a grin on her face making Angel blush slightly.
"You're acting like my liking them is a bad thing." Angel almost whined. Nosedive looked at her in shock, then smiled.
"Sing whatever you want Angel." He said kindly.
"Yeah, we're just teasin' ya!" Thrash added looking suitably embarrassed that he had clearly upset his new friend.
"Whatever." Angel turned and accepted the mic as Mookie programmed the song in. As the music began playing Angel had a sudden hit of nerves. It was one thing to sing as she cooked or in her ship when she thought no one was listening. But now, people were most definitely listening to her and she missed the start of the song despite the words and prompts. Mookie stopped the song and looked at her friend.
"You okay?" Mookie asked.
"Of course!" Angel said loudly before clearing her throat, "Sorry, maybe you could play it again?" Mookie nodded and started without saying anything. The music started and this time Angel did start to sing but they could barely hear her. Nosedive knew that Angel had a pretty voice. He'd caught her singing numerous times when they lived with her on her ship, but now she seemed nervous. When Angel finished the song her three friends cheered her enthusiastically causing the teen to blush a deep red. The others each had several goes after that, but Angel declined to sing again feigning a sore throat. Her friends knew better but they didn't push the subject. By the time they had finished and snuck out the side door to avoid the crowd that had gathered in the foyer of the bar, Angel was the only one sober. She wasn't sure when Thrash and Mookie had persuaded him to change his mind about drinking, but she was finding a drunk Nosedive very amusing. She didn't know the blonde could talk any more than he already did, but somehow, he managed it.
"Here it is!" Mookie declared as she almost hung of Thrash and Nosedive's elbows.
"Warning you now Angel," Thrash slurred, "Dive cannot dance, at all!"
"That's a lie!" Dive exclaimed. "I'll have you know I am an awesome dancer!"
"On the ice maybe," Mookie grinned, "But on the dance floor?" Mookie sniggered as she gave Angel a side glance. Angel smirked as she looked at her blonde friend.
"To be fair," Angel allowed Nosedive to cringe before continuing, "I don't dance anyway." With that said she grabbed Mookie's arm and pulled her fellow purple haired friend with her into the depths of the club and to a table at the side, where they could view the dance floor. Before long Thrash and Nosedive joined them with a selection of drinks. Angel looked less than impressed that she was still being forced to be teetotal, but she had no intention of bringing it up, given her friends would begin teasing her again.
"Dance with us!" Nosedive shook Angel harder than he meant to and she nearly spilled her drink.
"I already said I don't dance," Angel glared at him, "didn't I?"
"And my so-called best friends have already told you I can't dance!" Nosedive shot the pair a glare only to find them already on the dance floor. He shook his head but turned back to Angel with a pout, "Come on! Please!" Angel laughed at the look, but she allowed him to pull her to her feet. As they reached their friends, Nosedive began dancing as Angel just watched him. She had seen worse dancers, but he was certainly not like any of the dancers she had seen in the old music videos Mookie had shown her. "You're not dancing!" Nosedive complained after several minutes.
"I told you…"
"You don't dance!" Nosedive rolled his eyes. "Well it's time you start!" He leant forward so his beak was as close as he could get to her face as possible without actually touching it. Angel could smell the alcohol he had been drinking and instantly wished she had been able to drink some herself, if for nothing more than courage. Given a sword and an enemy and she had all the confidence in the world. The same could be said in smaller company. But now she was in a large crowd of people, in a cramped club with the loud music adding to the dampening of her senses. She knew if someone, or something were to attack, she would struggle to sense such an attack coming. "Coward!"
"Excuse me?" Angel glared at him, finding his state less amusing by the minute.
"You're too chicken to dance!" Dive laughed and danced harder than before, which Mookie and Thrash began laughing at. It was then that Nosedive had an idea. "Okay Angel, don't dance!" He grinned, "Let's spar!" Angel blinked as Nosedive performed a spinning kick. She easily dodged it and stood to the side. The blonde then got into a fighting stance. "You dance all the time, just not on a dance floor!" He yelled, "So let's show these losers how awesome you are." Angel laughed at that and with a shake of the head indulged him by getting into a fighting stance herself. By this time the crowd had pulled away from the pair to watch what was going on, yet the music still blared. The DJ herself watched from her spot above the crowd trying to figure out if she needed to call security or if this was some harmless fun between the patrons.
Angel waited for Nosedive to make the first move and danced around him as if to her own beat. She lost concentration for only a moment when the music suddenly changed to a different track that was matching the beat of their movements. Glancing behind her she saw a grinning woman with bright pink hair styled into dreadlocks, waving at her. Angel felt a presence behind her and dodged away but there was something different about Nosedive. Normally he would think too much and become tense when sparring with her. He had improved of course, but he was pulling off the more advanced moves they had been working on with ease and she was having to keep on her toes because he was almost connecting with her. He wasn't even telegraphing anymore. Her mind began to wonder about why this could be and just as she concluded that the alcohol had perhaps freed him of his insecurities, she felt her feet swept from under her and a body suddenly pinning her. She looked up into the blue eyes of the duck who had just floored her in shock. Angel smirked as she reached up to cup his face, all the while manoeuvring her leg just right. She pulled him towards her and kissed his beak before wrenching her leg to flip him whilst he was taken off guard. By the time she was through, he had his back on the floor and was staring up at her in shock. Angel got to her feet, held out her hand to Nosedive and helped him up.
"Nice work," Angel leant forward to talk into his ear, "But don't let your opponent distract you." She smirked then went back to where they had been sitting before. Nosedive stared at the point Angel had been standing before, oblivious to the people beginning to dance around him again. He turned to look over his shoulder at Angel who was now sipping at her beverage whilst watching him carefully. He went to go over to her to tell her she probably ought to order a new drink, but there was a loud bang and he was thrown across the room before all went dark.