The door opened and shut quick enough Dozer wondered if he dreamt it. With a grumble he settled down again, fuming over the unfairness of it all. He hadn't shot the kid. Sure he followed Hardgill's lead but it wasn't like he attacked anyone.

"Still feeling sorry for yourself?"

The voice startled him to his feet. So he hadn't imagined the door opening.

"Brave words from a coward hiding in the shadows," he sneered.

The shove was unexpected, landing Dozer in his seat.

"Who says I'm hiding?" The voice hissed as a lighter clicked to life. The features were too predatory to be duck, the eyes yellow and the beak alien.

"Raptrin." Dozer sneered. "You can't touch me. No one can."

An amused smile lit the Raptrin's face. "Don't be so sure about that. I may have followed my leader here….I might have decided to stay for now…but honestly, for this situation, I don't give two shits what Ducaine said." The smack was hard, swiping Dozer's head to the left.

The slide of metal was ominous.

"You know what happens to cowards, bigots and would-be murderers in my world?"

"You can't touch me." Dozer repeated, though the sureness in his voice was rapidly evaporating.

Neeva's eyes flickered up from his blade and changed the subject slightly. "The kid has become my student-teachers and their students have a very special bond….like a parent to its chick. Someone wrongs the student….the teacher wrongs the wrong-doer-"

…..

It was Sika's shift to guard the outside of the traitor Dozer's door. As he came up on the corridor he saw the seat beside the door was empty. He slowed his gait, wondering if he should sound an alarm.

He was impressed when the duck remained breathing a week after the incident involving the kids and Jaywing, but every day since he wondered when someone would "accidentally" drop the ball on watching the prisoner.

Then he saw Nite leaning against the opposite wall., his cyber-optic eyes glowing in the shadows.

"Saurian."

The address didn't insult him anymore as lately the word had become a mutually accepted greeting.

"Who's in there?"

Nite smirked. "Just having a friendly chat is all."

"Friendly." Sika echoed. "He gonna be missing extremities? I'd rather not have to come up with a bullshit alibi."

Nite's smirk only widened as the door opened and the Raptrin, Neeva, appeared. "Ready?"

The sight of Sika didn't seem to faze Neeva as he nodded. "Want to open the door to make sure the piece of shit is still alive, Saurian?"

Sika studied the Raptrin for a moment. "Do I need to?"

Neeva shrugged. "Only if you feel the need to relay this to your future brother-in-law."

Sika narrowed his eyes. "Get moving," he growled. "I can hear the asshole from here."

He waited for the two to disappear before jerking open the door to see Dozer, pale beneath his feathers.

"What do you want?" The duck tried to sound menacing but couldn't quite hit the bar.

"You're lucky it was him in here." Sika slammed the door shut and took a seat, readying for a long night.

…..

Next day

"He can't stay in there forever." Salazar growled. "Frankly some of us are gett'n tired of his bitching though incredibly he turned over a new leaf it seems in one night, didn't say a word this morning…."

Sika thought no one saw his eye flicker towards Nite and Neeva, yet across the way Jo'naw's tilted his head slightly, gaze narrowing as he too looked toward the two Blade members. He said nothing.

"And not to be an asshole," Farris added, "but I'm going boot his ass off the Twin Cliff if he bitches at me one more time about shitting in a bucket."

In the corner Pike managed to turn his snort into a cough. "Sorry." He apologized lamely.

"Yeah…" Neeva said. "Unfortunate shit like that happens all the time when you aren't watching where you're going on ice."

"I feel like he knows more than he's letting on."

Movement stopped at the table as eyes turned to Sika.

"Like he was more involved with Hardgill than being a simple lackey?"

"Yeah."

Across the way Drake watched the Saurian silently. If there was one thing about Sika he was an excellent judge of character. He remembered the saurian's less than lukewarm acknowledgement of Hardgill the day he joined the rebels, his demeanor different than with the last four who joined them before the traitorous duck.

"What do you propose we do? Beat it out of him?"

"No." A layer of annoyance encased the word. "Send him over to Dragaunus, let him be his problem. I can guarantee he won't be for long."

"You could fly north for two days and boot him out of the aerowing." Dannika suggested. "Low enough of course he won't break his neck, defeating the purpose of putting him out there in the first place."

"That's a thought." Salazar glanced at Jo'naw. "Do you think the hunger or the frostbite will get him first?"

"There's only one problem with that plan." Pike spoke up.

"What's the problem? I think its flawless." Farris.

"There's a monitor tower to the north. State of the art, I remember hearing about it during one of your meetings with your father." The saurian pointed a finger at Sika.

"It's not supposed to be done for another couple of months-" Sika grumbled. Then he became still.

"What?" Dannika asked.

"It's supposed to be the master tower…." He said slowly. "I thought it was a risky idea at the time but now it's a great idea-" He looked up. "They're planning on linking all monitor towers to that one. If you can hold the saurian off for five or six months, maybe less since you're becoming a real worry to them, take that tower down, they all go down."

The room enveloped in silence, a collective stunned reaction to the news.

"That could be a suicide mission." Jo'naw murmured.

"I'll lead it…that way you have one less of us to worry about if we die and this is over."

"Sika-" Dannika tried to protest, but was stopped by a hand.

It was Farris who spoke first. "It's not even on our priority list to think of ways to eliminate you and conduct our plans at the same time. Besides, the only ones looking for quick deaths around here are the geriatric community."

Farris was right. The duck who had grabbed Drake's ear at the start of the snowy season, griping about his claustrophobia, got him again, asking to open the Aerowing hangar so he might go on one last skydive. It would be as close to the memory of him in the Puckworld paramilitary as he would get he said.

This time he had a bigger audience, all of who looked at Drake for clarification as the granddaughter dragged him away again. Drake just scratched his head awkwardly and kept walking.

"Five or six months?"

Sika nodded.

"Their sensors almost spotted us last week." In a rare appearance to the meetings, Callen sat next to Farris. The techie itched his head, staring down at the tablet in front of him. "We were lucky. The o390 should've seen us. I could finish the telecommunication blocker and put it out there-"

"Then do it." Salazar said.

Callen grimaced. "It's got to be set pretty high."

"How high?"

"Close to the summit. We're only about 1500 riks down from it….it's not terrible."

"Don't you guys call the space in between the death zone?" Pike asked.

The reply was barely a squeak. "Yup."

"We'll have to try." Drake said. "We can't risk them blasting us with their missiles, this place won't survive the damage."

"We'll do it." Morjana offered suddenly. "All five of us." Until then she had stayed in the corner, quietly observing.

"No."

"It makes the most sense," Dannika argued, coming to her mother's aid. "We don't need ice picks unlike all of you. One less thing to weigh us down. Literally we just take the sensor up there."

"You need a tech to do it." Callen cringed.

"Well then you'll be the only duck. We'll still go with you. Maybe leave one of us here." Her almost white eyes drifted to Pike. "Probably you because of your leg."

"You've hung around Callen, Nora and all them long enough you can be in the control room." Drake added.

"You know its blizzarding out there, right?" Pike said after a moment.

"The storm's almost over." Jo'naw sat up straighter. "You could start up there tonight."

Drake didn't like it but it was the only solid plan they had. He sighed. "Fine."

….

Night time

5:24nm

"This is really weird material." Sika rotated his wrist, watching the body suit move fluidly with his form.

"It's water and wind proof." Callen said, zipping his coat. "Don't need you falling off the side of the mountain because of inadequate perfusion." He noticed the saurian's blank expression. "Your limbs to freeze up."

Nearby Vance was staring intently at a monitor, vitals of the four saurians onscreen, running. To his left, sat Emily, also focused on the monitor. She had been spending more and more time around the doctor, helping with minor chores where she could.

"The Twin Ridge is probably your best bet, follow it right up, you'll have the rock at least on one side to block any wind…" Jo'naw had a map.

"Neeva knows these mountains better than any of us. He's going with you."

"Worrying about four other bodies, minus my own, is enough without adding a sixth person." Sika pulled on a down coat.

"What are you going to do if a pathway is blocked?" The Raptrin asked calmly.

"Troubleshoot, it's easy. You put five heads together and come up with Plan B."

"So why not add a sixth person to troubleshoot."

"Fine. Neeva's joining you, we're wasting time arguing about this." Drake's hand hovered over the hangar's toggle switch. Trying to hide his reluctance he flipped the switch, the massive door sliding open.

Outside, it was cold but the snow had stopped and the moon was out, casting the snow in a white glow.

"Be careful."

"Are we always?" Dannika asked with a slight smile. She followed her mother and brother out.

….

"Shit this planet is cold." Sika's grumble was entertaining.

"I can see why you'd want to deep-fry this place." Neeva replied, earning a look from the saurian as he turned back to the map. "Go straight until the fork, we'll make the decision of which way to go then."

…..

It was two hours later, the saurians' vitals had stayed the same, Sika's slightly elevated though Vance explained it was probably due to the still healing injuries.

"How much longer to where they need to be?" Drake turned to Salazar and Jo'naw, Nite hovering close.

"About another hour." Jo'naw glanced up. "If there's no issues. Everyone is still good health wise?"

"Yeah."

The grizzled duck's eyes narrowed, his gaze stuck on the map. He bent closer. "Wait a minute-the east side of Twin Ridge has avalanches if you sneeze wrong…. Fuck."

Nite leaned in, arms folded nonchalant. Drake got the idea very little fazed the Brotherhood leader. "Why do you think I sent Neeva with them?"

…..

Twin Ridge-East face

7:30nm

"Why we stopping?"

Ahead Neeva studied the surroundings carefully. "We're going to go right."

"Right?" Morjana looked at the trail and glanced downward on the Ridge, wishing she hadn't.

"That would be going in the opposite direction."

"It goes down and then up. But its more protected." Neeva faced them. "You should stay here." He pointed to Flagelan. "This is avalanche territory."

"Someone neglected to mention that in the planning room." Sika growled.

"Chances are they didn't know. That's why Nite and I agreed for me to come with you." He stepped toward the male Saurian. "Tell me Saurian, if I wasn't here and you came to this fork… which way would you have taken?"

Sika didn't answer, knowing the Raptrin had him.

Not one to gloat, Neeva left it at that.

"Let's go. You're good with staying?"

Flagelan shrugged. "Do I have a choice?"

Neeva grinned. "Not really. But figured it was a polite gesture to ask."

The saurian rolled his eyes. "I'll wait."

"Make sure to keep moving." The Raptrin warned. "You don't want your limbs freezing up."

The trail wound around and down before going up, the rocky face growing rockier and sharper. Then Neeva stopped.

"Well that sucks."

Ahead the trail was blocked by an ice wall.

"Must have been a rock there and during that rainstorm last week, flash-froze." Callen said, his voice muffled by the face mask he wore.

"Figures." Neeva grumbled. He glanced up, the ledge they needed only a small climb away. "Damn…."

"We can climb up…"

"Someone light-weight. Less strain on the ice and snow." Morjana glanced at Dannika. "I'll go."

"Mom-wait-"

"No." Morjana interrupted. "You have Drake to worry about."

"I can worry about you too. I'm younger."

"Let her go, Dannika." Sika said. "She can do it."

Morjana turned to Callen. "You have everything you need?"

The duck bobbed his head, taking in an audible breath.

"Alright." She gestured for him to come closer. "I'll carry you." After a boost he wrapped his arms around her neck. "I have to breath Callen."

"Oh. Sorry….." He loosened his grip. "Can I just say I'm afraid of heights."

"And you built the Aerowings." Sika pointed out wryly.

Callen didn't respond as Morjana jumped up, her talons digging into the ice. "ssssshhhiittt."

The three watched the saurian and duck travel up. Eventually they stopped, having hopefully found a good spot for the blocker.

….

1200 riks below the Twin Beaks Summit

"This is good!"

Morjana jammed her hands into the ice, trying to ignore the frigid pain searing through her hands. Callen noticed.

"Morjana."

"What?"

"Put your gloves on. You'll get frostbite in minutes….c'mon."

She growled lowly. "They're in my pocket."

He reached down and pulled them free and pulled them on. "They have grip so you'll be good."

She only nodded.

He turned carefully and pulled the blocker from his pack free along with thick screws and a drill. "I see rock…..I'm putting it in."

He stuck the screws in his beak and positioned the blocker, thankfully the screws and the drill bit were magnetic. A strong wind could blow and the screw would stay stuck to the drill. Courtesy of Nora Glyde.

"Nora-I love you."

"What?"

Callen felt his cheeks burn. "Sorry-nothing." He pushed the drill into the screw holes and pulled the trigger. "Two more screws."

"Good. Hurry."

He nodded vigorously as screw number two went in. "Last one."

He pulled a device loose, and bit his gloves off as he jabbed the screen. A small green light blinked before dimming.

"The wake cycle light will dim automatically so it can't be seen from a plane."

Morjana jerked her head, feeling the strain in her arms and legs.

"Okay, we're done."

Their ear piece crackled with Drake's voice. "Good. Get out of there."

A vibration shook up Morjana's arms, pausing her in the descent. "What was that?"

A frantic beeping sounded on Callen's device. "Well, that's incredibly inconvenient…"

"What?" Morjana snapped.

"That was an quake."

Morjana began to curse.

…

There was a collective sigh of relief when Callen's voice crackled over the radio, saying the blocker was in.

"Good. Get out of there."

"That kid is a fucking genius." Farris straightened from looking at Vance's monitor.

A rumble pounded through the room and throughout the rest of the mountain.

Time froze.

"What was that?" Drake called out. "Nora?"

The female duck turned, her normal peach feathers ashen. "That was quake Drake. A large one, 5.8 our sensor is reading."

"Shit."

….

1500 riks below the Twin Beaks Summit

"Okay, we're done." Came the radioed reply

"Finally." Sika said. He paused. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

The ground shook under their feet, a roar ripping through. "That."

"Oh fuck."

"What now?" Dannika snapped.

Neeva glanced up. "They better get down here now."

…..

1200 riks below the Twin Beaks Summit

Callen looked around. "I think we might be okay…."

"Well, let's get moving before we're not okay."

"Good plan."

He let go of the ledge and held on as Morjana pulled her foot out of the wedge she created in the snow. The strength in her arms gave out.

The scream of her companion rang in her ear as she splayed her fingers out, trying to hold on. She was sure everyone at the base heard Callen and was proven correct by several voices yelling out concern.

She ignored them all and focused on not falling off the side of the mountain. Slowly she descended until strong hands grabbed her to steady her.

"We made it." Callen sounded like he was in disbelief.

"You wouldn't know it by your squealing." Sika rolled his eyes, his ear piece hanging loose. He jerked it out of his ear canal the moment the duck screamed before it deafened him.

"Sorry."

"Never mind that. Let's get out of here before something happens." Neeva took the lead again.

There was a loud crack, followed by a roar. They looked up to see the sheet of snow gathering speed and heading their way. Shock gripped everyone for half a second.

"Under the ridge!" Neeva yelled.

"But Flagelan!" Morjana tried to go around Sika but he grabbed her and his sister, shoving them back under the ridge, covering them.

The ground shuddered hard and all noise was drowned out as the wall of snow hit the top of their shelter with enough force to rattle pebbles loose.

Something enormous and unforgiving slammed above their heads, the impact jolting Sika away.

"Sika!"

Dannika forgot about safety as she dove forward, grabbing her brother's wrist. She felt her mother grab ahold of her, the only anchor between herself and the mountain.

Sika drove one hand into the ice, taking off some of the pressure of Dannika who struggled to hold on to him. "Dannika, let go."

"No!"

"I'm going to climb up, let go for a second."

She hesitated. "If you fall I'm going to kill you."

"I won't." He promised.

Hating herself, she let go and watched with a sickening pit in her stomach as the male saurian hauled himself up slowly. When his hand reached the ridge, everyone reached to pull him up.

After regaining his breath, Sika's hand wrapped around Neeva's shoulder. "Next time I won't bitch about you coming with us."

Raptrin grinned. Genuine. "Sounds good."

…

Two days later

"You're trying too hard."

Jay sighed loudly. "Well, then you'd be telling me I'm not trying hard enough."

The pole swiped his legs out from under him and he hit the ground on his back; the Raptrin crouched over him.

"I'm simply giving you friendly critique, it's not an open invitation for smart ass comments."

Jay looked away, losing his defiance. "Sorry." He muttered.

Neeva straightened and offered a hand. "Remember, don't be that self-fulfilling prophecy…again."

The Raptrin launched towards him, his pole swinging.

Jay heard the swinging through the air and blocked the hit, the jolt vibrating through his arms, he spun from the counter attack, the Raptrin's pole missing him.

"Very good." Neeva paused. "Want a free shot?"

"No?"

The Raptrin tilted his head and then swung his pole in an arc, forcing Jay to bend away from it, he lost his balance and held his pole out to block the continued assault. He kicked out, hitting the pole away from him and rolled, swinging his pole around, hitting Neeva in the heel tendons. He got his result as the Raptrin lost his balance and hit the floor.

Jay sat up as Neeva breathed a laugh.

"I have to say, I didn't say I didn't see that one coming."