Chapter 58:

"It's this way!" Tazani said as she landed and rushed to towards an old shed like structure. She yelped and dodged as shots were fired from the building.

"Hands in the air Saurian!" A male voice growled from inside. Tazani gulped. She slowly put her priestess staff down and stepped away from it with her hands in the air.

"I mean you no harm!" Tazani called, her ears twitching behind her hearing Jessica stop just within the tree line. "Please I'm here to find something, that's all!"

"Please!" A woman's voice called, "That's priestess of the Order of the All Mother! She is on our side!" Tazani sighed as an Amayan woman rushed out and embraced her.

"Priestess!" Kaya said with a desperate look, "Are the Order with you? Are you going to find the missing?!" Tazani took a step back when she was released and looked away.

"I'm sorry," her ears drooped, along with her wings," it's just me. There isn't anyone else. Not anymore." Kaya gasped but said nothing further.

"So, do you have a name?" Nosedive stepped out into the open and Tazani's keen ears picked up a small gasp from the trees.

"My name is Tazani." She told him.

"I don't recall any ordained priestesses of that name." Kaya frowned.

"Um, I'm not ordained." Tazani admitted, "I was on my light bringing test when the temple was attacked."

"What's that?" Howie appeared with a look of confusion.

"Priests and Priestesses of the order will go into the bad lands and have to survive the terrain and return with the waters of the light." Kaya filled him in, "Only a drop will suffice to prove their worthiness. Only those who have mastered the ways of the All Mother can complete the trial." Kaya looked at Tazani expectantly. Said girl pulled a small vile out of her belt and held it to the light. The liquid within twinkled in the light as if glitter were inside. It was at this point that Jessica stepped out of the shade of the trees. She watched the discussion, her eyes securely on Nosedive, not quite believing what she was seeing. At a yowl from Moogie, Nosedive first looked at something behind him them looked beyond Tazani with a frown. A frown that would soon turn into an astounded smile.

"Jess?!" He said side stepping the saurian and approaching her slowly as if she might disappear if he went to quickly. "Is it really…? I mean… How did you..?"

"There was a fight." Jessica told him, her face showing all the fear and emotion that she had been managing to hide since arriving in limbo, "I got sucked into a portal and wound up here. Along with Moogie and your bike." She whistled and the bike came roaring to her. When it saw his missing master Saph circled him several times beeping in excitement.

"Hey buddy!" Dive chuckled and patted the smooth metal surface of his motorcycle.

"I named her." Jessica said with an embarrassed laugh, "We decided on Sapphire but Saph for short."

"It suits you, Saph." Nosedive knelt down beside the bike to pat it again before standing up and pulling Jessica into a warm hug. "Please tell me he's okay." He said in a pained voice.

"I don't know!" Jessica said in a half whisper half cry as she let out a sob. Nosedive held her closer as Jessica softly cried into his shoulder. After a few moments, she gasped and pulled away. "Nosedive! Your mother! She… Akane had her!" The young drake gave the woman before him a surprised look, but his face softened. "Was she with you when you..?!"

"It's okay!" He held her upper arms, "She's with Angel on the ship."

"We should go hero." Tsuki walked over and sat behind him, still in her larger form. Moogie mewled happily and became large also. The midnight black creature jumped from side to side as if encouraging her to play but Tsuki merely watched him looking unimpressed. "There is no time for games young one. We have work to do." Moogie stopped and stared at her. A disappointed mewl was uttered from the dark psion but it was paid no mind.

"We should get back to the ship." Nosedive said not even bothering to admit he had heard Tsuki again. "We can't stay here too long, or the guys will be old ducks by the time we get home." There was a mild air of levity in his tone, but his eyes betrayed the seriousness of what he had said.

"Okay." Jessica replied and allowed the blonde drake to lead her away from the shrine, with the others in tow. "Dive?" She asked her brother-in-law quietly, when he looked up she continued, "Are you okay?" He stopped to look at her and she saw the emotion cross his features. That alone was enough to tell the only human in the group that her young friend was most definitely not okay and merely carrying on because that was all that he could do.

"I'm fine." He lied with an even less convincing smile. Jessica gave his upper arm a rub.

"No, you're not." She gave him a knowing smile. Dive snorted but took her hand and squeezed.

"Even if I wasn't," He glanced over his shoulder at the group following them, "there's no time to sit and worry about it." He felt Jessica squeeze his hand back.

"Dive?" Sara jogged to his side as they were almost to the ship, "I was thinking," she carried on when she knew she had his attention, "with all these extra people, our supplies aren't going to stretch very far at all." Nosedive blinked then scratched the side of his beak, a slight blush forming beneath his feathers.

"I didn't even…" Dive stammered.

"Why don't Howie and I go back to the city and see if there is anything we can scavenge from there?" Sara continued, not wanting the younger drake to start second guessing himself for a simple oversight.

"Perhaps the Lady Tazani and I should go too?" Kana offered, "We'll be able to recognise what's food and what's not."

"Okay." Nosedive nodded, "I'll take Jessica back to the ship. Be careful."

"So," Howie could be heard asking as the four walked in another direction, "Can you fly with those things?" Nosedive chuckled at the fellow drake then led Jessica onto the ship.

"You want to talk about it?" Jessica asked as he led her through the ship, the two Psions at their heels and the bike staying in the hanger at Dive's request.

"Talk about what?" Dive laughed bitterly, knowing exactly what she meant, "About how I got myself caught. About how I was mind controlled into hurting people and when I managed to break that control, the enemy used me to make my best friend surrender. And I got a brand that spans the whole of my back to remind me of the whole thing!" He took some deep breaths to try and calm himself down, "I just want to forget it ever happened."

"That didn't help you before though," Jess placed a calming hand on his shoulder, "did it?" Nosedive felt his eyes burn and he wanted nothing more to cry into Jessica's shoulder as he had done when he couldn't admit his fears to Wildwing, for fear of overloading his brother's already paper-thin hold on his sanity.

"Nosedive?" The pair looked to the right to see Rose looking right at Jessica with a suspicious look.

"Mom!" Dive forced a smile on his beak and grabbed Jessica's hand to pull her along with him, "This is Jess!"

"Um, hello Jess." Rose waved with a very confused look on her face.

"You're normally better at this." Jessica smirked, but turned to Rose, "I'm Jessica Flashblade. I'm Widlwing's wife." Even Nosedive started at that and she held up her hand to show the ring, "He never gave up hope," she explained, "but he wanted to make things official before anything else happened. We've bene married a few months now." She took a shuddering breath as she pushed down her emotions and fears about what was happening at home.

"Wife?" Rose stared at her in shock, a glance at Nosedive confirmed that the blonde alien before her was not telling lies.

"You're also a grandma." Dive leaned forward with his hand to his beak.

"A…?" Rose leant heavily against the nearest wall. "I have a grandchild?" She looked at Jessica with a look that could only be described as amazement.

"Technically, you have two." Jessica suddenly felt nervous. Her mind was suddenly wondering if the boy's mother might hate her. She made a noise that could only be described as a meep as Rose suddenly had her arms around Jessica's neck.

"Welcome to the family!" Rose whispered happily. Jessica smiled and hugged the woman back, the smile growing as Nosedive joined in the hug. "I want to know everything!" Rose gave Jessica a big smile. "Oh!" Rose's face fell, "But Angel!"

"What is it?" Dive asked urgently.

"She was feeling sick again, so I put her to bed." Rose bit the bottom of her beak, "I can't wake her up!"

"Which room did she choose?" Dive was already walking towards the living quarters.

"Third on the right as you reach the corridor." Rose said but she and Jessica were already following after him.

"Angel?" Nosedive gently shook her as he reached the bed and sat on the side. "Babe?" He felt his heart speed up as there was no response other than a small groan. He felt her forehead with the back of his hand and paled, she was almost uncomfortable to touch! Even with his feathers acting as a barrier to said heat. He leant forward and tried to call on whatever power that had taken over him before, but nothing happened. "Dammit!" He clenched his fists. "Why can't I do it?!"

"Do what?" Jessica asked then moved her right leg out the way as Moogie pushed through them. He rushed to the bed and nuzzled his ailing mistress.

"He did something before." Rose tried to explain, "A spell… I … think." Rose petered off looking unsure whether she should continue.

"Spell?" Jessica stepped forward and felt Angel's forehead herself, before gasping, "We need to get that fever down, now!" She said worriedly looking around. She spotted what looked like a shower and her long legs took her there in a few steps. She found how to turn it on relatively easily, although it took a while to figure out how to lower the temperature to one she was satisfied with. "Lets strip her down and get her under the water. Once her temperature's down, we can get her into some dryer, cooler clothes. At least for now."

"You find her the clean clothes." Rose told her son as she ushered him away and began removing the layers Angel was wearing. Nosedive blinked then rushed out of the room to find what he had been asked for. By the time he got back with something from a closet the computer had led him to, they were already getting Angel out of the shower and towelling her off. "Thank you." Rose said as he passed his mother the clothes. Instinctively, Nosedive turned away and waited for some indication the two women had finished what they were doing.

"We must get her to the Heart of Azmaria." Tsuki spoke to Nosedive, "You should contact your friends gathering supplies and ensure that they hurry. Only the heart's tears can save her from that forbidden spell."

"Can you guys keep an eye on her?" Dive said quickly as he turned to leave, "I'm gonna get this tub prepped to leave as soon as the others are back."

"Of course!" Jessica replied as she watched him leave.

"Jessica," Rose said quietly as she moped Angels brow, "tell me how you met my boys." Her tone was almost begging, and Jessica smiled before she began telling the Flashblade matriarch of what she knew of the boys' adventures, making doubly sure to include as many details as she could remember.

"So, the white cat thing can talk to you in your brain?" Howie rested his hands on his knees and stared into Tsuki's eyes. The feline gave a low growl but otherwise made no reaction.

"Pretty much." Nosedive said as he worked on the onboard computer with the occasional instructions from the AI.

"Cool." Howie said looking back at Nosedive then returning his gaze to Tzuki, "So why doesn't she talk to us?"

"Because I do not wish to Avian." Howie jumped half a foot off the ground at hearing her voice in his mind. Tzuki made a noise that was an odd combination of a chuckle and a mewling, which both drakes assumed was her way of laughing.

"So why doesn't the other one talk?" Howie backed away slightly as he gave the white feline a sideways glance.

"Because he is too young." She told them, "We Psion are not created like most races. We are only born under certain circumstances. When a soul is born with a certain type of power. We have been born to many different races in the past. I was born when the lady Ayeka was born and found her when she was but 3 years old. The young one there would have been born when your young princess was born and sought her out as soon as he had the strength to do so."

"So…like soul mates?" Howie asked glancing at Nosedive who was still typing but was occasionally stopping, indicating that he was paying attention to her.

"In a way yes. Both we and our soul children can outlive each other, should anything occur to kill either of us." She explained, "Together, a psion and their soul child, can grow to become very powerful after truly becoming soul warriors."

"Soul Warriors?" Howie snorted, "Sounds like something out of a comic book."

"What is a…comic book?" Tsuki cocked her head to one side with a look of utter confusion on her face.

"Is it bad I really wanna scratch behind your ears right now?" Howie admitted with a snort. Nosedive let out a single bark of laughter behind him but said nothing.

"Young drake," Tsuki flipped her tail from side to side as she narrowed her eyes at him, "Try it, and you will lose your hand." She seemed to smile as Howie stepped back whilst crossing his arms and stuffing his hands under those arms. "I am not a pet; I am a Psion and you will stay much healthier if you remember this." Tsuki turned on her heel and trotted off.

"Where are you going?" Nosedive asked turning from his work properly this time.

"I am going to inspect the ship." Tsuki told him, "It will have been sat dormant for centuries. I wish to check there is no obvious damage."

/

"My lady." Wraith bowed low to Akane who surveyed the scene below their high vantage point. "We have acquired another 300 Amyans from across your home galaxy to add to those already under your…employ." He straightened, "They have been transported to the same holding camp as those brought with our remaining forces in limbo."

"Good." Akane nodded, not even glancing at him, "And your own people who had allied themselves with this… New Haven your warriors spoke of?"

"Any troublemakers have already been dealt with and made examples of," Wraith gave a vicious grin, showing all his teeth, "The remainder have been also been housed with the Amayans. We have given them the choice of joining our army, they have 3 days to decide."

"And those who don't?" Akane smirked.

"They will be put to work with the other slaves." Wraith smirked, "Given the weather on this planet, they will not last long."

/

"Coffee?"

"Hmnn?" Tanya looked up to find Kii'era holding a steaming cup of java out to her. "Thank you."

"When was the last time you slept?" Kii'era pulled a chair up to sit beside the blonde duck.

"Uh…."

"Tauny?" Kii'era said in a scolding tone.

"But I'm so close!" Tanya objected waving her hands at the papers surrounding her and the computer, "I can make him whole again, I know I can!"

"Tanya," Kii'era placed a hand on the other woman's cheek, "he's already whole. He just can't walk."

"He's not Wildwing anymore!" Tanya said desperately, "It's like he's.. he's… ugh!" She knocked the paperwork off her table in frustration, "He barely leaves his room anymore."

"Come with me." Kii'era took Tanya's hand and pulled the woman to her feet. The feline led duck through the halls and to the new rink several levels down, where she took her to a viewing area where people who didn't want to skate could watch. On the ice was Wildwing, Canard and Mallory was close by, but the white drake was in the middle of the rink talking Molly through some skate moves while Jet sat and bounced in his lap. Tanya had rarely seen Wildwing with the children since he awoke from his injuries. They had either been with another of the Ducks or Charlie, or she had been giving him one of his check-ups. Alone, Wildwing acted like he was somewhere else. Like a doll with no soul. As she watched him now, he had a soft smile. He laughed as Molly made a joke and continued showing off her skating skills.

"He's smiling." Tanya said softly, finding a smile gracing her own beak at the realisation.

"He doesn't smile as often anymore," Kii'era told her, "But he does for them."

"How did she learn to skate li…like that?" The blonde chuckled as Molly pulled off a basic axel and reacted very excited at the fact that she didn't fall.

"Seems Mallory and Canard have been working with her in Wildwing's place." Kii'era pulled Tanya close and kissed her forehead, "He's not gone, he's just a little broken is all." She assured, "Those kids of his may be the only thing keeping him going right now, but they're all he seems to need. He also doesn't strike me as the type to want you to work yourself into an early grave for him."

"But…!" Tanya tried to interject but a delicate clawed finger on her beak stopped her.

"But nothing." Kii'era rubbed Tanya's back, "You and I will figure out how to get your suit idea to work for him but working close to exhaustion only slows you down. So, come on let's get you to bed."

"I think I might be too wired to …to sleep." Tanya snorted.

"Oh, I think I can help with that." Kii'era smirked before kissing Tanya's neck. Tanya giggled and allowed Kii'era to lead her away and back to their now shared room.