Heart:

"We still don't have much to go on," Tanya commented looking at the readings on the monitor, "I can tell something is there, but I have no way of telling what it is yet."

"That energy has to come from somewhere," Wildwing noted.

I shrugged as they looked to me for answers I simply didn't have.

"I don't know what this is," I said as the electricity remained somewhat dormant in me, though I could still feel the odd tingling in my veins ever so slightly.

"Everythin' alright?" Duke asked while entering the infirmary to find me sitting on the bed with wires attached to me that lead into the monitors and computers nearby.

"Just trying to figure some of this out, but the readings just aren't familiar," Tanya explained while looking at me with concern, "but we'll keep trying."

I attempted to give a reassuring smile, "If anyone can figure it out, it's you Tanya."

Wildwing rested a comforting hand on her shoulder, "I know you can too."

At this Tanya blushed a bit, showing beneath her light feathers. Duke raised a brow at this, noting our leader's interactions with our team tech. I looked to Duke as we shared a knowing smile.

"For now let's get these wires off of ya," Duke suggested while helping me get free.

Once I was released from the connectors, we left our teammates to be alone for a bit. We realized it was getting far into the evening and decided to head to the galley to get some dinner.

"It's been rather quiet hasn't it?" Duke commented.

I nodded.

"So they were tryin' to find out what that energy is?" Duke asked.

I nodded with a bit of a sigh escaping my throat.

"Try not to worry about it too much sweetheart," Duke said as we walked through the halls of our headquarters.

"If I don't learn how to control this, I'm just a living battery-"

"No you're not," Duke said quickly, catching me a bit off guard.

I paused in my steps as I looked at the drake beside me.

"You're not some power source," he reiderated firmly, "You're our teammate, with or without that magic runnin' through your veins...but that's not to say ya shouldn't be excited about it."

Before I could answer, knowing I was blushing a bit, we heard my twin hurrying down the hall to us, "Sis save me!"

In seconds Nosedive had run up behind me, taking refuge as Mallory came charging after him, "He's a dead duck this time! Don't you protect him Heart!"

"What did you do?" I asked as he hid still.

Looking over we could see Mallory covered in a multi colored powder that was splashed over her clothing and feathers.

"I might have switched out her punching bags with pouches of color dust that Thrash and Mookie gave me," Dive admitted with uneased laughter escaping his beak that he bit down on a bit.

He then grabbed my hand and made a run for it. Mallory darted after us, but I had little choice but to run alongside my brother. By now Grin had entered the hall from his room while scratching his head at the sight of us.

I heard as Duke couldn't help but chuckle to our friend, "No matter what all changes, it seems things stay the same just as much don't they?"

I barely saw as Grin nodded with an amused smile over his beak before we turned the corner to get further away.

Meanwhile, in the Raptor, the Saurian overlord paced back and forth, smoke billowing from his nostrils. Chameleon quivered nearby, awaiting his commander's decree or rage.

"What is taking taking Siege so long?! I swear, if I must wait any longer.." The red scaled reptile hissed, before the door slid open.

The large solider lumbered in, and addressed Draconus. "The Dimensional Gateway is set and ready, your lordship! Took me longer cause of those duck, but, I got it working." Narrowing his eyes, a grin crossed their leader's face. "Excellent... now... call upon Vulpina... she has some unfinished business for us..."

Somehow, between the initial shouting from Mallory, the calm attempts to ease her frustration, and some stern words from Wildwing to Nosedive, things settled down. Then Mallory went and got cleaned up.

After a little while everyone found themselves in the main room, now trying to ignore Phil's publicity schedule he was regailing us with.

Suddenly Drake One reuptied with a blaring distress signal. According to the monitor, it seemed to be coming from a desert on the outskirts of Anaheim.

"Let's go team!" Wildwing ordered as we hurried out to the Aerowing.

Everyone quick changed into their battle gear and we were off. Upon reaching the desert we landed near where the signal gave off and started a search in groups near one another. Wing, Tanya, and Mal; Grin and Dive; Duke, and I.

"Give a signal if you find anything!" Wildwing said.

"Got it bro!" Dive gave a thumbs up.

As we searched the perimeter, soon, Duke and I found what looked like a personal ship crashed into the sands. Away from the cabin of the craft, there appeared to be a woman who was jettisoned out. Wearing a black, form fitting space pilot suit and helmet, a fox like humanoid laid sprawled across the ground, her red hair disheveled over her face. Letting out a pained moan, she coughed weakly.

Duke called the others on his comm while he and I hurried over to the woman.

"Are you alright?" I asked while kneeling beside her.

Duke looked over the wreckage from beside me, "What happened Miss?"

Our teammates were coming over the ridge of sand, now seeing the ship as well.

Looking up, her hair covering one eye from within her helmet, the fox like woman spoke weakly, clinging to Duke as he offered a stronger grip to help her up. "I was attacked... ship crashed... need to find.. to find..." With that, a grin crossed her face, as she removed the helmet and pulled out a blaster and jabbed it right into his chest. "You! Now, you gonna come quietly?"

Duke's remaining eye widened, but he stayed calm. Though he could see my own alarm and confusion clear across my face as this occurred.

"Sorry, but I won't be goin' anywhere I'm afraid," he stated with a calm breath.

By now the others had their weapons trained on the woman, watching her carefully. This included me drawing my glaive from behind her as I nearly hissed, "I would step back from him miss!"

Letting out a taunting laugh, she shook her head, "Should've known you weren't gonna take the easy way... was hoping for this though."

Lifting up a hand, she snapped her fingers, and at the sound, several hunter drones burst out from beneath the sand, their own blasters leveling at the team, "Looks like we're gonna have a good old fashion shoot out! Gonna get real messy if you dont back off!"

As the woman snapped her fingers and spoke out, I reacted. I took the staff of my glaive and knocked it into the woman before she could refocu on Duke. Knocking her to the side and away from him as the drake hopped back a bit and drew his saber.

"Thanks love!" He gave a reassuring smile as I let out a relieved breath.

"Alright team, we know how to deal with junk yard scraps don't we?" Wildwing called out with pride as everyone engaged in battle with the drones.

However, I'd failed to notice that the fox's ears had twitched at Duke's remark to me. As they did, a dastardly plan formed in her head. As our two sides battled, machines firing their weapons, Grin smashing a few bots, and Duke slashing his way through others, the vixen saw her chance. While I was distracted by a duo of robots attacking me, she snuck up behind me, and shoved a compliance collar onto my neck. A painful jolt of energy overwhelmed me, as the the fox pressed her remote, "I advise you all back off, or... I'll send enough though her we'll be having a good old fashion barbecue here."

I cried out unwillingly as the initial jolt ran through me. Duke froze, and the others paused in their battle. Wildwing recognized the device and ordered the others to step back. Duke watched carefully for an opening. I tried to reach for my set of tools to figure a way out as I glanced at Duke who spoke to the woman, getting her attention on him, "I thought it might be you...Vulpina..had to hop dimensions to find me did ya?"

"I never leave a job unfinished. You should know that by now, considering all of your old friends... Brotherhood of the Blade, was it are all locked away now? Well, don't fret... you're going to be reunited with them real quick." She scoffed, as she raised her blaster at Duke. "Now, you're coming with me... or 'your love' is gonna be extra crispy."

Duke smirked, "Think again Vulpina."

In seconds I had the collar off and it fell to the ground.

Again I held out my glaive towards the woman, "Job or not, you won't be taking him anywhere!"

Seeing me free, the others raised their blasters at the dwindled down hunter drones. Duke held his saber ready, "Sorry to disappoint ya again."

Backing off, Vulpina curled her lips... but a smile grew instead, "Ornery varmint... but mark my words, I'll have you bagged and dragged off to the prison you belong in! You may be a hero now... but, that can't undo the hurting you've done before!"

With that, she clicked the teleported on her belt, and vanished before their eyes.

Once they vanished I withdrew me glaive while the others did the same. I soon noticed as Duke stepped up, checking me over with concern in his remaining eye, "Are you alright?"

I nodded, "Just a bit shaken..."

"Sis are you okay?" Wildwing asked as they approached us, with worry showing in his voice too.

"I think so..." I said before trailing off while looking at Duke, noticing his troubled expression.

"Duke who was that?" Mallory questioned, "she seemed to know you rather well?"

Duke could see that we all wanted answers, but I could tell that his own worries were tugging at him.

"Let's go home, an' I'll explain there," he said reluctantly.

Duke:

Inside our headquarters, I ran a hand through the front of my hair and back through my ponytail before speaking, "Back before the resistance was formed I had been stealin' food an' supplies back from Dragonus. I guess he didn't like it too much, 'cause he sent Vulpina out to catch me. She nearly caught me once, but I managed to slip out of her grasp. Then I joined the resistance an' was granted my full pardon..."

I could tell that Heart noticed me trailing off. I tried in vain to hide a frustrated sigh. She knew there was more to it, but I wasn't sure how to tell her just yet. Walking over to me from beside a worried Nosedive, she rested a hand against my arm. I looked to her knowing I couldn't hide the truth or my concerns from her forever.

"So now she's out to get her old bounty?" Mallory asked.

"It seems so. Pardoned or not, there's plenty o' folks out there that would still love to see me behind bars," I admitted, causing Heart's eyes to become touched with her own concern.

"Everyone stick to buddy system while we're out until we deal with this," Wildwing instructed, "If she used one of us before to get to Duke, she'll do it again."

Our leader looked to his sister again, "Are you sure you're okay? I know those things can pack quite a punch."

Heart gave a nod to reassure her brother.

Back at the Raptor, the reptilian overlord roared in frustration, "What do you mean you didn't catch them?! What am I paying your for?!"

Placing her hands on her hips, Vulpina shook her head, as she brazenly approached him, "Look here, I wasn't gonna just get them the first go around with how long it's been! I needed to see what they're capable of first hand; and, I learned what I had to know about them!"

"Well, I certainly hope your field trip was enough for you, because, I fully expect them to be dragged in on your next outing!"

Once in our room Heart looked up at me just as I'd turned away from her. I was trying to figure out what to do, looking over our bookshelf as though it might give me an answer.

"Duke...don't let her words get to you. You have more than made up for your past; you have saved countless lives, helped save this city and the world, and put us on the right track while reflecting on your life from before," she reminded me.

I looked over her with concern still in my eye, "Yeah, but this time my past catchin' up to me got ya hurt."

I took a seat beside her and gently brushed my hand along her scared cheek.

"Duke, we've been in much tougher spots before. Though I have a feeling that's not all that's bothering you?" She pushed gently.

"I really can't hide anythin' from ya can I?" I tried to smile.

Heart looked up at me still, not missing a beat, "It's your friends from the brotherhood of the blade isn't it?"

I nodded. Then I fell silent for a bit as I sat on the sofa with her.

As an idea began to form in my head, I looked towards the closet to hear Heart say quickly, "I'm going with you Duke."

I looked to her, a bit thrown off somehow, as she added, "However we should rest a night first, it's already late and we'll both need our strength for whatever you've come up with."

My remaining eye had widened at first to hear this, before my features relaxed into a slight smile.

"You could get hurt again," I mentioned with lingering concern.

"So could you," Heart said, unwilling to budge, "and I am not losing you."

I then noticed a rare spark in her sapphire eyes and I couldn't help it as I smirked a little, "She made ya mad?"

Heart didn't have to speak for me to know that Vulpina pointing a blaster into my chest was the worst mistake she could have made. Her crimson cheeks and her biting her lower lip was all I needed to see.

"Few things in this universe get ya riled up don't they love?" I couldn't help but tease, before pulling her into a hug, "Though thanks to that heart of yours, I don't have a hole in mine."

I felt Heart hug me tight in return at this, and I promised her, "No one's takin' me away from ya love."

With that I brushed the top of her hair with a kiss.

"So then what's the plan?' Heart asked after holding onto me another moment or two.

I then went on to explain what I'd come up with. With a clear warning of how risky it was, Heart still refused to let me go alone.

Once it was set we turned in for the night, for we would need our energy for what was ahead. Though Heart kept her grip around me quite tight. Feeling this I gave a soft chuckle as I assured her, , "I won't leave without ya Heart. Besides, I wouldn't get far anyway."

Vulpina was readying her weaponry, making sure her gear was ready for the task ahead. Cleaning her blaster, she looked over an old, worn wanted poster of Duke, and licked her chops, "Been waiting a long time for you... you're not gonna get away this time, L'Orange! No sirree... I'm gonna get ya. Nobody's escaped Vulpina before... I always get my man!"

After going over the plan with the others Wildwing barely agreed. Though seeing how set I was on this, he knew there was no arguing with us. He tried to get Heart to stay back, but knew that wouldn't happen either.

"Both of you be careful okay?" He ordered sternly before turning to Heart, "If my feathers weren't already white, you and our brother would have made them so by this point."

I raised a brow at this comment, but shrugged it off.

Then, dressed in our stealth suits, Heart and I headed out. We found ourselves at the closest museum and slipping in undetected, or so we thought.

"This is gonna be really strange to me; in a lot of ways after all this time," I attempted to cut the growing tension.

Instead she grasped my hand, assuring me her mind hadn't changed. Then, releasing her hand, I reached for the display case cover rather hastily, and yet still I jumped as an alarm ripped through the silence around us. I froze, ignoring every trained instinct I had. I looked to see Heart doing the same as I pulled her close to me. Together we looked around the large room. Outside we could hear Kleghorn shouting orders at his men to wait for a signal before venturing in.

"Ready sweetheart?" I asked in barely a voice.

"I'm staying with you," I would hear her repeat while holding onto me a moment.

"Just a matter of time!" The fox snarked, as she teleported in from her ship we heard above the building, "Knew you couldn't help yourself!"

Going for her utility belt, she pulled out an energy bola, and hurled it at the two of us. Out of instinct I tried to push Heart behind me, causing us to be back to back, our hands clasped as the bindings pulled us together. There we stood, bound and looking at Vulpina with feigned irritation.

Heart glared at her over her shoulder as she spoke out in contempt, "You really think you can hold us?"

I looked over her, "Sorry I pulled ya in with me sweetheart."

She looked up at me in turn, the two of sharing a smirk only the other could see, before we both looked to Vulpina again. Approaching us, she grinned ear to ear, as the confines became tighter.

"Now, all I need to do is haul the both of you away, and I'll collect my reward.. and you two will be spending the rest of your days behind bars!" Letting out a laugh, she placed a teleporter on the two of us, and phased the three of us onto her ship.

We were stowed away in a holding cell in the back of the ship, as she started to set up the communicator, but not before slapping the control collars around both our necks.

"Are these really necessary?" I asked when Heart's was locked into place.

I'd already noted that they were advanced versions of the one from earlier.

"Besides ya jus' need me don't ya?" I questioned as Heart grasped my hand tighter.

"Thing about that... while I'm collecting your old bounty, somebody else is very interested in the girl. Says you hold some great power... but, I don't care about that. As long as he pays me." She called back, as she turned on the device.

Appearing in the monitor was the Suarian overlord. "I trust that you have captured the drake and the human."

Grabbing the monitor, she turned it towards her captives, "Got them right here, hogtied and ready for delivery. I'll be meeting up with you shortly for the rest of my pay, and you can have the lovely couple."

"Just take them to the prison colony, I'd rather not see their faces for the rest of my life!" Dragonus ordered, oddly to our relief.

For I had gripped Heart's hand in turn when I'd heard their possible initial plan. In an odd way he was relieved to hear that Dragonus wasn't interested in her energy at least. Yet the danger we were currently in tried to set in as I murmured to Heart, "Ya sure about this?"

"I am staying with you," she whispered with barely a voice, but the firmness of her tone was felt.

"Learned your lesson last time Dragonus?" I smirked.

"You couldn't hold us any better than you could last time," Heart commented in contempt.

Rolling her eyes, Vulpina nodded to her employer, and flipped off the feed. Turning towards the two of us, she crossed her arms. "Guess he couldn't; but trust me... I can. You'll be in the prison colony soon, and, you'll spend the rest of your days there rotting. You two better spend the time until we get there well.. it might be your last time together for a loooong while."

The two of us strengthened the grip on the other's hand, both of of our knuckles growing white beneath our gloves, even through my dark feathers I was certain. In fact I nearly faultered at the thought of her being locked up in such a place, wondering if I should offer something for Heart's freedom. Yet a sharp look from over Heart's shoulder made me pause. So instead I rested my head back against her's to bring her some sort of comfort. She in turn leaned into me, taking a deep breath.

Before we could say or do anything else, the ship started off into space.

While Vulpina took the controls, I would hear Heart quietly ask me, "What happened to the brotherhood of the blade during the invasion?"

With a sigh I answered her, almost as though seeing it all again in my head, "I ordered a disband to protect them. A few of them helped as I did, or kept civilians safe in hiding. Thinkin' about it that probably saved them when Falcone betrayed Puck World to the Saurians...but it sounds like that didn't keep them safe for long..."

"We'll get them out Duke," she assured me softly.

"Not really sure what they'll say after all this time," I commented while watching stars seemingly fly by through the small window in our temporary shared cell, "an' I'm a bit worried that I've put ya in danger...we could be seperated durin' this. Heck...you're goin' to prison 'cause of me."

"Duke, anyone who tries to pull us apart doesn't know what they're in for," I knew Heart smirked as I did when she said this.

"I love ya angel," I told her.

"I love you too, Duke," she answered.

With this exchange, we watched the stars as we passed by them rather quietly.

After traveling through the void of space for a good while, we looked out ahead of the front windshield now to see before our ship, a massive asteroid floating adrift by itself remained steady as we drew near it. Pulling her ship in, Vulpina landed in the loading dock, and hailed for the guards to come and collect her captives, "Looks like this is the end of the line for you two! Now... you better say your goodbyes while you have the chance."

"Allow us to stand properly then?" I asked as Heart and I were released with Vulpina standing nearby with the controls for our collars in hand.

I quickly turned and embraced Heart, pulling her quite close as I whispered, "It'll be okay sweetheart."

I ran my hand up through her hair, caressing it lovingly. With ease I was able to thread my fingers through her long hair without tugging on it.

"I know it will be, just please be careful," Heart whispered while brushing her hand against my neck.

We shared a brave smile bravely, before I leaned in close and kissed her. Then we reluctantly stepped back and stood side by side, gloved hands clasped still, and waiting for the guards and warden to enter the ship.

Soon enough we were taken away, lead off to the two structures of the prison complex.

While being lead away, I gripped her hand once more. Then, so she wouldn't be yanked out of my grasp, I unthreaded my fingers from hers and stood beside her instead.

I noticed that Heart had to fight the urge to resist this. Watching me be bound at my wrists and lead away had caused a feint panic to show in her eyes. Yet she took a breath and remained calm looking after me as I smiled sweetly as I always did for her.

Though, I did notice for a moment, when she looked to Vulpina before she was brought away from me. I would catch it as Heart swore to Vulpina, "You don't know the mistake you've made, trust me."

Leaning towards her, Vulpina flashed a toothy smile, and pointed towards the prison behind her, "Big talk for somebody who's going to be stuck here for the next few decades."

With that, Vulpina walked up to the prison herself, to take the bounty from the warden. A master thief and one of his accomplices? That would make for a good lump of credits for her... and she intended on collecting. Though I would also notice her raising a brow briefly as I watched as Heart was taken away from me. She followed my gaze and shook her head in a bit of disbelief. I had a hunch as to why, but didn't really care what she thought as I looked after Heart as long as I was allowed to.

Heart seemed to have allowed her temper to cool as she took a deep breath. She was then lead through the prison while she walked with her chin up and her stature steady. She was pulled into a line with new recruits before a warden preparing their speech. Her small frame stood between a few women, one a duck like her friends, the other more lion-like as Kazor's people were. She could hear others murmuring, commenting on her small and innocent looking demeanor, questioning why she was even their I presumed before they were taken inside.

I was pulled into a similar line, and heard a few prisoners laugh when they recognized me from my old posters. Others were surprised. None the less I stood and listened to the murmurs of my old reputation, as well as the barked orders of the warden.

A large three armed humanoid, heavily armored and wielding a massive blaster rifle, addressed his new prisoners, and then turned to me with a cruel sneer, "Welcome to the Rock, L'Orange! This will be your new home for the next few decades! We've been waiting for you for a goooood loooong time!"

I gave a confident smirk, "I don't know about that, but thanks for the welcome anyway."

Looking towards his underlings, the warden commanded them to take me away and clean me down. Grabbing me, they dragged me away to get me ready for prison life. This was something I'd pain stakingly avoided for so long, and now here I was being shoved and pushed around like a dog on a short leash. I remembered why I'd been so careful over the years, and was grateful I'd avoided this for so long.

Heart:

Meanwhile, in the other facility, I had already gone through that, and was being brought to a cell. My hair was left rather damp I found as I pulled it back with the twine I was allowed to have. Combing my fingers through the deep burgundy strands I gave a bit of sigh. The clothes given to me were quite baggy on my small frame. The slug like humanoid had tossed me into my cell, and slammed the barred door shut, "Home sweet home! Hope you and your cellmate can get along! Don't want yous to cause any trouble!"

I gave a smile of my own as the door was locked tight behind me.

"She won't have to worry for long," I said under my breath before looking to the side of the cell.

Sitting on the top bunk was a young avian woman from Puck World I guessed. What luck I hoped! I gave a friendly smile and waved, "Hey there! Would you happen to know Duke?"

The dark haired raven-like woman looked at me with widened violet eyes, "How do you know L'Orange?!"

"So you do?" I asked while securing my ponytail and smiling still.

"Why should I tell you anything kid?" she bit suspiciously from her curved ebony beak.

"I suppose that's a fair response," I shrugged before adding, "Except that as your former leader, his pardon should have extended to all of you, and that's why he's here."

"What?!" she exclaimed.

"How would you know something like that?" The woman stopped before venturing further.

"The invasion? I was on Puck World when it happened, and was a part of the resistance with Duke. He told me, who to look for by name and description. You were you part of his gang, Avarin?"

The woman eyed me wearily before I said quietly, "That's why we're here.. to find your group and get you free."

"We?" She questioned.

"Duke's here too," I said.

The woman looked unsure before I produced the sapphire necklace I had tucked away, keeping it hidden quite miraculously, due to my unassuming demeanor and size, while I was cleaned.

"So you are with him?"

When I nodded my head, she seemed to believe me now.

Duke:

I was roughly shoved into my cell, but maintained my smile as I looked around. The empty walls echoed despair that I was eager to get out of. However, we were here for a reason.

"Duke?!" A voice exclaimed in disbelief as a young drake threw his arms around me, "What happened to you friend?!"

I looked to him with surprise and relief at once, "Silver?"

The drake smiled. Then some worry touched his light blue eyes as he realized, "I can't believe you're here. You must have gotten careless without us around?"

"It's a long story," I chuckled.

Silver shrugged, "We have nothing but time now."

I shook my head while quietly saying, "Not really, but I'll explain."

I then told Silver about the last year I'd spent on Earth after leaving Puck World. He looked to me in great surprise to hear of our resistance ending up on Earth. When I started mentioning Heart he seemed to smile knowingly before I'd mentioned how we'd gotten together.

"So you were caught?" he teased.

"It seems so," I admitted.

"So who else is here?" I asked my old friend.

"Avarin, Diana, and Trent. Falcone, he-"

"He's in prison on Earth, Heart an' I made sure of that. He betrayed us an' our home," I said without regret.

"You've really changed a lot Duke," Silver commented a bit surprised, "Why risk so much coming here to free us?"

"Ex-thief or not, I swore to look out for our group when I joined the Brotherhood, well before I was your leader. While I can never go back to that life, I will honor my word an' then give the reigns to Avarin from here on out."

"Aw, why not me?"

I gave a slight chuckle, "Sorry friend, but your sister has a much more level head for this sort of thing."

Heart:

"So what is Duke's plan?" Avarin asked.

"We have to find the others firsr, then we make our move together," I answered in a careful voice.

"That would be at meal time, it's the one time a day we are allowed any social activity," Avarin mentioned, "Diana and the others generally meet up with me anyway. They may be strictor with Duke though, considering his reputation."

"I'll worry about Duke," I assured with my voice unwavering, "but we need to get your group back to Puck World."

"Why risk so much to do this? You don't know our group, and Duke isn't going back! So why bother with us?"

"Ex-thief or not, you all are important to Duke. We will get you back the freedom Falcone stole from all of you," I swore.

Duke:

Sure enough at meal time the next day I had not been permitted to leave my cell as Silver was. Though I did look to my friend as he was taken to the cafeteria, without asking he assured, "I'll check on her for you buddy."

I gripped the bars as I hoped without a voice, "Heart...I know ya can do this..."

Silver had been given the plan to find Trent and meet up with the ladies of our gang. She was to then find a way to get them out. In the meantime I would have to wait for a signal to make my move.

Heart:

In the cafeteria, I was introduced to the rest of Duke's former gang. At first the others didn't know what to think of of a human girl claiming to be with their most recent leader, but seeing my necklace tucked away seemed to give them proof.

Silver, I soon learned, was Avarin's step brother. While her father had been a dark feathered raven as she was, their mother was an ebony feathered duck. Silver's father had been as fair feathered as he was. His long platinum colored hair was pulled back in a tangled ponytail due to a lack of comb to use. His prison garb did nothing for his slender frame, bagging at his chest and upper arms. His frame was thinner than Duke's lean form, proving he was more of a runner in the group, built for quick get aways and split second decisions.

Avarin, as forementioned, was much more raven like with black to deep plum shaded feathers. She had a frame slightly more built than even Mallory's. It was easy to believe that she wielded double blades back on Puck World. Her long ebony hair was pulled into a high set ponytail that trailed down behind her knees.

Diana, who was hanging on Silver as much as she could, was a white feathered duck with gold blonde hair cut to shoulder length. Her green eyes gleamed with contenment to be around the drake holding her. She too had a frame showing her slick movements, warning me that if she'd had her knives to throw I shouldn't cross her. Though it was made clear I didn't have to worry over this too much.

Trent was clearly one of the older members of the group, a couple years older than Duke it seemed. His long dark hair was pulled into a make shift ponytail. The glasses resting on his beak were cracked and breaking at the frame, but he assured they were better than nothing. He spoke like he was already tired, or at the very least weary of everything. His brown feathers helped him blend in to his surroundings, even more so with his dark jumpsuit. Though he mentioned he missed his old lab coat and desk.

"We all remember that night don't we?" Silver asked with a bit of a grimace.

I looked to him with some of my own unease, "Duke told me a bit about it, when Falcone betrayed him?"

Trent nodded, "Our leader nearly got himself killed that night over that one."

I looked to their medic and quickly put the pieces together as I said, "You were the one...that built it for him?"

He nodded his head, "It wasn't easy, but I managed to get a hold of some rather nice tech for that. Though that was far from the first scrap I've patched him up from."

Immediately Duke's other scars came to mind, and I instantly felt a deep respect for this drake as I said to him, "Thank you."

"Though after that night, Duke didn't really let anyone help him with things like that. He still trusted us for the most part, but Falcone's betrayal as his former best friend really shook him a bit," Avarin told me.

"Hard to believe he held onto that sapphire through everything, and even more so that he gave such an item to a girl like you?" Diana glanced at me with a raised brow.

"Are you why he isn't going back?" Avarin questioned.

To this I replied, "Duke made his choice to change well before he met me."

"He did didn't he?" Avarin sighed, "Once those red monitors landed something in him shifted..."

"That's not exactly it," I mentioned while thinking back on it.

"It's not so much that he shifted nature, Duke loves showing the skills he gained through his years with all of you," I explained, "It's more so what he uses those skills to accomplish is what changed."

"I guess you're right there," Avarin shrugged, "Duke always did have a bit of a code he asked us to follow. We were never to go after or hurt the innocent, help those that we could here in there in rough situations, things like that."

It was then that I noticed Trent glancing over at me with a raised brow, "You said you were on Puck World when the invasion hit? As in you'd been living there?"

I nodded, "Wildwing and Nosedive took me in when I arrived a few months prior. Why?"

Their group medic gave a bit of a laugh to hear this for some reason, "It seems our former leader was effected by you in a number of ways. While it is true he joined the fight, with or without that influence, I do recall a night when he told me he'd skipped out on us a bit to do a random job for the night, and how he was so relieved he'd done so. What he neglected to explain to me, then again I never asked, was why there was blood on his gloves that he'd forgotten to wash off before talking to me."

"You knew?!" Silver barely caught his volume.

"Not exactly, but I knew something was up. I've known him since he was just a boy shoplifting trinkets for his dear mother," Trent pointed out with some pride, as though he were watching a younger brother grow up by looking at me.

"Duke saved my life that night," I said, "When I got to Puck World...I was jumped by some thugs, and I hit my head trying to fight back. That's when I lost my memories. If Duke hadn't been on that random job that night, I may not be here at all."

"He never could turn away from someone in trouble could he Ava?" Silver nudged his sister.

"I'm surprised he didn't take you to the hideout?" Diana mentioned as I began imagining this briefly.

Silver shook his head, "Duke was too withdrawn at that point to bring anyone new in, and he must have known she would be in enough shock without a group of thieves suddenly around her."

"Still, it does say quite a bit that Duke stuck his neck out, code or no," Silver said thoughtfully, "Showing he had the capability to become a hero well before those ships landed on our home."

In the co-ed cafeteria, many of the inmates talked among themselves, while other stayed quiet, focusing on the sloop they were given. Guards watched the different groups, blasters ready in case somebody had any bright ideas about trying to make a run or starting a fight. A few of the other prisoners muttered to each other, eyeing the rarity of a human in their midst. A hulking four armed insectoid lumbered it's way through, shoving several other smaller inmates out of it's path.

I braced myself and made sure my necklace was hidden away. I looked up at the towering alien, my stance steady. "Hello?"

Looking down at me with it's compound eyes, the arthropod brute snarled, "What do you want?"

It's carapace was thick and jagged, and it carried it's food in the smaller arms close to it's chest, two huge limbs coming down from it shoulders and nearly dragging on the ground.

"Nothing really," I said a bit confused, but stepped aside quickly to let them go by.

It let out a grunt, as it carried itself towards it's own seat, and went to eating it's meal

The group of us all made note of where the guards were. I could hear the murmurs about me from other prisoners, but didn't really care to pay them any attention.

"Where is Duke's cell?" I asked.

"They have him pretty high up, I was sharing it with him," Silver answered while giving me the number, marking it with a bit of charcoal on my wrist so it wouldn't be taken away or lost.

I smiled, "Thanks, I'll need that."

Duke:

Meanwhile, I was kept in my cell, and the guards slid the food in for me haphazardly. Letting out a taunting laugh when it flipped over, the security went back to their posts.

I didn't rise to the bait. Instead I smirked, "Wasn't hungry anyway."

I sat back and waited for a signal.

Heart:

Down in the caferteria while we still could, Duke's former gang and I began mapping out things. Finding out where the dimensional gateway was located, and the scout ships that Duke and I would need to get home with. With the map laid out in our heads, I made a promise that this night would be the one. Silver looked to me and said with a bit of a laugh, "Seems Duke's had an effect on you as well?"

I didn't even try to hide it, "That he has."

And so, the day would go on. Eventually we would be brought to our cells, and lights out was decreed. Many of the inmates laid in their bunks, staring at the ceiling, though a few stayed up still, trying to figure what went wrong.

I, on the other hand, got to work with Avarin. She kept watch while I slipped a hand through my hair to find the lock pick Duke had hidden there. Not long after the door was open.

Avarin raised a brow at this, "You certainly learned from him."

I couldn't help but give a smile as we crept through the halls to find Diana's cell and got her out. In the other structure, Duke, Trent, and Silver waited for their freedom to arrive.

Soon enough, we were able to find Diana's cell. However, a guard came from around the corner, and went for his blaster. Before he even got a hand on it, a large shelled hand bashed his head, before returning back behind the bars, the massive bug standing on the other side. The guard, now unconscience, slid to the floor before us.

I turned to the alien, "Thanks...but why help us?"

Avarin was working on Diana's cell while this went on. In seconds her friend was free.

The alien crossed her arms, and stood silently for a moment, "He stole my food a few days ago. He had it coming!"

"What are you here for?" I asked curiously as Diana joined us, eager to move forward.

"Tax fraud" She grumbled, now sitting back on her cot.

As she spoke in warning, the sound of several heavy boots coming their way echoed down the halls, "Best you book it."

However, I couldn't help but feel there was more to this. That or it was simply to return the favor. None the less I quickly undid the lock to her cell, "Hurry to the gate and go to your home, think of it as my thanks. I can only give you one shot though."

Then I hurried away towards the other prison tower where the men were kept.

The bug nodded, and as the guards turned the corner, she let out a roar, rushing them... sending them fleeing in terror in the other direction.

Shortly, after retrieving our gear and comms, we arrived at Duke's cell block, several of the inmates grabbing at the bars, trying to see what's happening.

Avarin hurried to find Trent while Diana remained with me to locate our respective drakes. However, quite suddenly, I couldn't help but feel a tad uneasy as we crept through these halls. Seeing a glimpse of the fate Duke may have had, knowing how isolated he was being kept due to his reputation, was getting to me a bit. As much as I adored the side of him that embraced his past, I hated thinking of him being dragged to a place like this if he'd ever been caught. I just wanted to get him out to return to the life he'd worked so hard to have now.

Duke:

Meanwhile Silver and I waited, trying to look relaxed to not raise suspicion from the guards. I had long gotten Silver's collar off, as his was one of the older models. I was certain Heart had done the same for Avarin and Diana. However hers and mine were a newer kind, ones used to keep particular favorites from disobeying or escaping. I smirked while thinking, it would just made it all the more rewarding when we were free of this place.

Heart:

However, as we neared the hallway leading to Duke's cell, my uneased nerves managed to warn me just in time. As I made my way through the compound, emerging from the shadows was the vicious vixen, reaching for the blaster at her side, "Knew you were gonna try something your first day! Now, how about you go back to your little cell, and I won't have to give you the whoopin you have coming."

I gave a smirk instead, showing his influence, "Sorry, but you and I have something to settle anyway."

I gave a nod to Diana to let her go forward with Avarin and Trent while I dealt with Vulpina for now. As Vulpina went to try and stop them, I would quickly jump to stand between them. I took a deep breath and released it, knowing I had no weapons, but still I was ready for this fight.

The fox smirked, as she drew her blaster. She fired upon me, advancing with each blast, "You just stay still, don't wanna waste too much ammo on a small fry like you!"

Duke:

Meanwhile as Silver tried to get my collar off, it let out an electric jolt, shocking the two of us painfully.

"Sorry Duke," Silver winced as I groaned from the lingering dull shock in my system.

"It's not your fault, I must have made them mad," I said trying to shake it off.

"You have had a reputation since you were 15," Silver tried to laugh.

I sighed, "I had hoped some of that had changed by now."

"Well, I think to those that matter it has," Silver attempted just as Diana and the others found us.

"Where's Heart?" I asked instantly upon noticing her absence.

"Nice to see you too L'Orange," Avarin commented while working on our lock. "Sorry," I half winced, but my concern remained.

"She's holding off that fox lady you knew back on Puck World, she's the one that brought us all here," Diana answered.

My remaining eye widened in alarm as I quickly pulled the pick Heart had hid in the feathers of my neck and began working on the locks with my former comrade.

In minutes the door swung open, "Alright, you guys get to the gate! Avarin, you can take the reigns from here!"

"So you really aren't coming back?" Diana asked in disbelief.

I shook my head with a bittersweet smile, "Sorry."

"Are you really?" Trent teased with a knowing smile.

I gave a slight chuckle in response.

"Take care then friend," Silver sighed.

"You as well," I said to them before we split up, and I darted down the hall to find Heart.

Heart:

As Vulpina took a shot, I leapt our of the way, proving to be quite agile. I then slid to the side and tried to tackle the fox woman, ducking down to avoid the blaster.

However Vulpina rolled with the tackle, before kicking me off. My teeth clenched in my jaw after catching my breath from being kicked. Though the clash did cause her to drop the blaster. As I hopped to my feet, the vixen grabbed for the energy whip at her hip, and lashed it out towards me. Before I could leap out of the way again it coiled around the my forearm, and Vulpina yanked me forward.

As I was jolted forward I tried to pull back, resisting every step forward that I could. I glared at Vulpina as the burning leather remained wrapped around my arm.

Duke:

I had just about turned the corner when I heard the two fighting. However, I slid to a quick stop so I could try and gage the siutation, in hopes of maybe getting a jump on a distracted Vulpina. Yet looking ahead I would see Heart being pulled towards Vulpina.

Dragging Heart over, Vulpina grabbed her by her face, and hoisted her up.

As she did this, the vixen glanced passed her to meet eyes with me. She took a good hold of Heart as she spoke, "Slippery varmint, aren't you? Well, don't you worry... I got ways of making sure you stay put."

Stepping backwards, she eyed her blaster, and kicked it up to her hand, before pressing it towards Heart's chest.

Heart struggled, her temper clearly rising as the fight continued to slide out of her favor.

With this I stepped cautiously forward, "Let her go Vulpina. Heart's got nothin' to do with any of this. She shouldn't even be here."

Heart looked to me, confusion swirling in her blue eyes, while she tried to get free.

Vulpina narrowed her eyes, curling her lips in aggravation as she snapped, "She shouldn't be with you in the first place! I've been tracking you down, trying to find you!... I was gonna have you one way or another! But, this is the girl you decided to love?"

She pressed the blaster into Heart harder, "I'll make sure you never forget the hurt you caused!"

"Ya think hurtin' her will pull me to ya?" I asked carefully, "Vulpina, look, I never meant to lead ya on. I wasn't tryin' to hurt ya...I was focusin' on bein' a leader for the group back then..."

I could see the dozens of questions running through Heart's head as she listened to this.

"Heart did nothin' to ya," I repeated calmly.

"We were partners!" Vulpina shouted with a growl in her voice, "We could've been more! But no, I guess I wasn't good enough for you!"

She snarled, tightening her grip on Heart, "I risked my neck for you several times! But that wasn't enough, was it?!"

Heart's eyes widened hearing this. I knew I had to be so careful at this point, in a number of ways.

"Look, I'm sorry..." I looked to Vulpina, and then to Heart while trying to figure out what else to say.

I could heard the guards looking for us.

"Vulpina let her go, it's not her fault..." I requested, my tone remaining calm.

"Then who's fault is it now, huh? Tell me that!" Vulpina snapped.

Narrowing her eyes at Heart, she grinned, "No... you tell her. You tell her the truth, and perhaps I'll let her walk. Do you even have the guts to tell her the truth when you wouldn't oblige me the same kindness?"

I looked to Heart, seeing the her confusion in her eyes.

"Heart...back when I was in the brotherhood...Vulpina an' I were partners. I met her some time after losin' my eye...an' we became rather good friends...but I guess..." I looked to Vulpina to give her the answer I should have a long time ago, the truth I attempted once before, "Vulpina...I never meant to lead ya on. I let my charm get me in trouble...it felt nice to have someone to rely on for jobs again, someone to help keep my skills sharp, an' thought my deepest scar gave me an air of danger that I didn't mind hearin'...but..." I faultered, afraid to say more and have Heart die because of my mistakes, "I also didn't know what I wanted back then. After losin' my eye, even with you Vulpina, I didn't fully trust anyone to get that close."

With a deep breath I added, "I'm sorry Vulpina, I never meant for ya to be hurt...as our time as partners went on...I found that I'd grown distant...goin' through the motions...when I realized I didn't care for ya that way, I tried to tell ya, but I also jus' ran at times 'cause I knew you'd get hurt...an' I was afraid of someone close stabbin' me in the back again. When I finally managed to tell ya...you turned on me an' came after my head."

Heart listened to all of this without a word. Did she think I would do this to her? I'd known Vulpina for years in comparison to our one together thus far. Yet, with Heart, as I looked back over things internally, "After losin' my eye...after losin' two close friends regardless of how...it was hard to let anyone in...until..."

Clenching her fist, Vulpina's fur stood on end as she wrapped her finger around the trigger and snarled, "Until this girl showed up?! This.. human?! Here I thought it was a species thing, but I guess I was wrong, huh?!"

Heart tried to pull away from Vulpina, fighting against her grip after being still for some time now. I tried to think of something, anything to calm her down, while trying to prove something as well.

"Do ya think hurtin' her will get ya what ya want?" I questioned.

"You flatter yourself too much now... I don't want you anymore. I want revenge!" Turning towards the human girl, she sneered, "What does he see in you anyways?! Perhaps somebody gullible enough to go and take his bait? Trust me girl, if you get out of this, it'll be wise for you to leave him behind!"

I watched as Heart's eyes swirled with confusion and anger as Vulpina spoke to her. Seeing her this way about turned the heart inside me to stone. I could feel a dry lump in my throat as I attempted, "Heart?"

She looked to me without words as energy began to slightly spark around her.

I took a careful step back, "Heart? Ya know what I see in ya...don't ya?"

Heart still didn't answer.

"I know what you see in her. A sap! You're playing her like you played me, aren't you?" She snarled, her eyes narrowing, "You said such sweet things to me! Called me sweetheart! Tell me, girl, does he call you that too?"

Heart nodded her head, her eyes fixed on me in confusion, "He does..."

"Heart, I wouldn't hurt ya like that...I never meant to hurt anyone..." I looked into her sapphire eyes, seeing the energy sparking around her softly, "Heart...I've put more on the table for you to see than I have with anyone...please know that?"

I wanted to say more to her, but with Vulpina's grip on her still, I had to remain cautious.

"That's what they all say." She said, before a grin crossed her face.

A pair of guards came around the corner, and one went for his collar controller. Vulpina scoffed at me, "Now... what I recommend is that you give yourself up now... or things can get really bad very fast."

Heart and I both looked quickly to see the guards drawing nearer. Then I turned back to face both women and said all I could think to do, "Alright...jus' let Heart go, an' I'll do what ya want."

Heart looked to me with further frustration in her eyes.

Vulpina snickered, and turned towards Heart. "Heart, is it? Well, isn't that nice? You know, you could be free... just do what I tell you, and we'll both leave that lowlife behind."

"Heart...?" I asked with a still drying throat when Heart looked to Vulpina as though trying to read her.

Heart glanced back at me, and the guards drawing near behind me. I stood there with my hands risen up in surrender. Still one of the guards, being quite vellous, activated the collar. This quickly sent a massive jolt through my body as I cried out and dropped to m knees.

Vulpina whispered to the human woman watching me with a gasp escaping her throat, "Just come with me... I can get you out... claim you were mistaken for someone else... Sure, I'll lose some cash, but... you don't need to rot for him."

With the surge of pain running through me, I pulled at my collar in an attemp to get it off. I looked up with a groan to see Heart's eyes widened, taking on a darker shade of blue I noticed. In that instant, Heart swiftly pulled away from Vulpina and rushed over me. I looked up at her trying to speak, "...run...Heart..."

Short bursts of energy began to spark around her as she looked to the two guards, and then to me, as though connecting a puzzle in her head.

"Come now, one last chance. Leave him behind, or suffer the same fate." Vulpina growled, her fur standing on end, "Don't be stupid, he wouldn't do the same for you! He would run and leave you behind like he did with me!"

Instead, Heart quickly knelt down and grasped at the collar around my neck, "Hang on okay, try to endure this just a bit more. I think I can get it off."

I gave a slight nod as I tried to push past the pain. The guard pressed the button again, but Heart slid her hand between the device and my singed throat. Then she started to pull while pouring some of her own energy into the collar. The spurts of electricity swam in it's wires, drowning them. Finally the piece burst with sputters and smoke as she overloaded it. With it dead, Heart pulled it apart, snapping the band and tossing it to the ground. Then she wrapped her arms around me as I caught my breath, "Are you okay?"

"H-Heart?" I breathed in disbelief to see her beside me at the moment.

Before she had a chance to say anything, the other guard finally retaliated upon seeing Heart doing this. I figured they were both surprise she'd been able to do this in the first place. Yet now he pushed the button on the controller for her own collar, a wave of electricity now coursing through her as she tried to withstand it.

Vulpina grimaced, and a shook her head. "Another causality to his charms... a shame..."

Ignoring her comment, I jumped to my feet as Heart let out a cry of pain. I rushed at the guards. While one swung at me, I dodged the hit; grabbing him and flinging him into his fellow guard. As he did, I grabbed the controller and smashed it against the wall, "Creep, that's not how ya treat a lady!"

With the broken device ceasing it's charge, Heart gasped for pained breath while I hurried back to her.

Vulpina's eyes went wide, as she gritted her teeth in fury. Clenching her fists, she took aim at me as I neared my wife, leveling the barrel at me, "I see how it is, huh?!"

With that, she pulled the trigger, the weapon whirling loudly before releasing it load.

Heart:

I had just barely heard the blaster preparing it's shot as Duke tried to reach me. Panic gripped my chest as I pushed past the pain wracking my body, and jumped up to shove him out of harm's way. In that instant I felt a seering pain rip through my left shoulder as I took the hit in his place.

"Heart!" Duke cried out as he quickly caught me before I crumbled to my knees.

The wound was still hot as he held me, "Heart, stay with me!"

I gritted my teeth, trying to open my eyes that were squeezed shut from the pain, as I looked up at him, "A-Are you okay?"

The fox's eyes going bloodshot, she began to advance, firing a second bolt at the both of us, "Are you seriously going to stay here for him?! Do you understand what that means?! Don't be stupid!"

Duke managed to pull me against the wall as we dodged the second shot. As I heard Vulpina shouting, I found I was done with this masquerade and gave a slight laugh while looking to her, "You do realize we're only here because we let you catch us right?"

I'd already been wearing my stealth suit after retrieving my comm from the office. Duke slipped his from the pouch on my belt as he held me up. Now we stood Heart our suits together as he pulled me close to him.

Vulpina took a moment to absorb this, before sneering, "Knew it was too easy... but, that just shows how foolish you two are! You think you can escape this place? Really?"

Duke looked at me, seeing her forcing a smile through the pain. He then glanced at Vulpina to see the rage in her eyes as she took aim at us.

Then he smiled, "Sorry Vulpina, but Heart an' I will be leavin'."

Before Vulpina could question this a young drake checked her into the wall, "Sorry Miss!"

"Silver, what are ya-?"

Silver gave a smile, "We figured you needed some help,"

Avarin shook her head as she tossed a bola puck at Vulpina, the cord wrapping around her arms to impede her chase.

Trent looked over me, "It's rather deep. You need to get her help."

"How?" Duke asked.

"The gateway generator can bring you home, follow us!"

Duke quickly swept me up, ignoring my attempts to run on my own, and followed after them, leaving Vulpina tied up in the hall.

Struggling in the bindings, the vixen writhed and wriggled, until she was able to slip a knife from her boot. Sliding it to her hand, she began to cut her way free. Breaking out her comm, she alerted the prison security, as the klaxon began to blare. Grabbing her blaster, she gave chase, "Nobody escapes Vuplina! Not today, not ever!"

Duke hurried after his former gang with me in his grasp, reaching the gateway generator room.

"We need to hurry!" Diana urged as she set the coordinates for the gate.

Duke noted, "We have to get to Earth with our teammates, we'll be able to help her there!"

"Duke, just come back with us! We don't have enough time to open another gate!" Silver protested.

Duke looked to me unsure...before something seemed to tug at his mind as he asked, "Heart...can you get us back through the gateway?"

We didn't have much time to argue as guards could be heard outside the room.

"I...I don't know..."

"No, I think that was you..." Duke started putting something together that I could only guess at, all the while he was helping me onto his back to carry me better.

"Your magic! It got through the gatewat before! It's probably what brought ya to Puck World in the first place! You must have some way of makin' a gateway!"

"Duke...that's quite a gamble even for you!" Avarin exclaimed.

Duke looked to me; but before I could say anything, Silver pulled on his arm, "Let's go before it's too late!"

Leading the guards, Vulpina kicked down the door. Seeing the group of us, she started to blast wildly, "You're not getting away this time! Not again!"

The guards, taking lead after her, began firing upon the group as well.

Avarin, making sure everyone got through, slammed on the control panel to close the gate. She hurried through as it began to close. It lingered as it began to seal itself.

Once inside, I looked ahead with Duke into the etheral realm, seeing a gate open before them. Just as the one we'd walked through just over a year ago, it was and wasn't a place all at once. Wisps of smoke seemed to waft by as we went along. Our steps and breathes echoed out around us. Spurts of brief electricit ran in and out of existance.

At first Duke took a few steps; but then paused, knowing where the gateway ahead would take us.

"Duke?" I asked softly.

"If it were just a year ago I would go back home in a heartbeat...but..." he looked to me over his shoulder, "but a year ago I didn't have you...

"What does that have to do with going back home now?" I asked, understanding the tear in his chest at the chance he was letting go by.

Duke shook his head and replied, "We'll find a way back to the others..."

"Duke, you'll both get stuck in here if you don't come with us!" Silver yelled.

As the gate closed, Vulpina darted in, and dived into the portal before it sealed itself. Continuing her pursuit, she lunged at the gang, swinging her energy whip upon us. The guards watched in awed horror, "What are you doing?!"

Seeing this, I dropped from Duke's back and rushed to catch Vulpina's whip with my drawn glaive. Adrenaline pushed me through the burning in my weakening shoulder as I kept her from striking him as he turned around.

"Guys go on through! We'll hold her off!" I hollered to the others.

"You'll get stuck here if you don't come with us! The door behind us is closed!" Diana yelled urgently.

"We'll figure somethin' out, jus' get goin'!" Duke ordered as he drew his saber to run up beside me.

"Is this new life of yours worth this risk?!" Avarin shouted.

I noticed Duke glancing back at me, standing at my left as he trusted me at his right, "Ya are." He looked over his shoulder to his friends, "Now get goin'!"

With a final varied nod or salute to their leader, the group ran on through just as the door sealed them inside back on Puck World.

While we were briefly distracted by this goodbye, Vulpina lashed out with her whip. With a yank, she was able to pull my glaive out of my grasp. Her eyes twitching, she let out a mad laugh, looking around herself, "Looks like we're stuck here together? Well, if I'm going to be stranded between worlds... I can at least have the pleasure of destroying the two of you!"

My shoulder burned and buckled as I stood beside Duke trying to find a way to fight back without my glaive.

Duke glanced at me, "Are ya okay sweetheart?"

I gave a nod while gritting my teeth a bit. This time I didn't take my eyes off the fox staring us down.

Cackling, she shook her head. "Noooot for looong, silly ducky."

Drawing out her blaster agai, she fired without taking aim, blindly shooting upon the two of us, leaving Duke and I to weave out of the way of several blasts. Some shots he deflected with his saber, sending them into the ether away from the three of us...until she ran out of it's charge. Still pulling the trigger, it clicked several times. It was now that I looked over to see his side, the deep burgundy fabric now stained with blood. In his attempt to block a shot from me, he'd ignored one he'd taken instead. Now he gritted his teeth as the wound burned, his free hand trying to cover it.

"Duke!" my eyes widened as I watched him kneel in pain as the wound showed to be deeper than he'd thought, and the initial adrenaline slipped away.

Approaching the two of us, Vulpina pulled out an energy blade of her own. She looked over us while snickering, "You should've taken my offer girl. You should've stayed Duke! You were supposed to be mine!"

I half knelt at Duke's side, trying to support him as he tried to get up. Duke, gripping his side, still looked up at her, "Vulpina...I'm sorry ya got hurt, but I tried to tell ya...I know ya helped me back then...an' I appreciate that ya did...but..." he didn't dare look away, "I needed someone to see me as more than a thief...as well as their thief as odd as that sounds."

Rather than look at me, he grasped my hand tightly.

"You were always a thief... my thief... after all, you stole my heart," Standing over the two of us, Vulpina raised up her blade, grinning ear to ear, "And now... I'll take your head!"

"Sorry..." Duke said with a soft laugh, unsure of what else to say or do.

Duke's reluctance to attack his former friend was felt in the tense grip he had on my hand. Looking to him, I saw a grimace twist his expression. This forced me into a panic that now gripped me again, pulling me into action as I quickly shoved him back from the blade. As he was pushed, I swept my foot under the legs of Vulpina. As she fell from the sudden strike, I scrambled for my glaive and activated it as I stood between Duke and Vulpina. Though with my injury, I found it difficult to stand as I began sliding to my knees.

"Heart?!" Duke exclaimed as I tried to resist this to little avail.

"You really think you can stop me?" She yelled, practically frothing at the mouth. "Move out of the way, or I'll have your head as well!"

Kneeling before Vulpina, I gripped my glaive in my hands. I felt Duke slip behind me in support before I heard him, "I got ya love...hang on okay?"

Just then an echoing whisper echoed into my ears, coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time, "You...won't...escape this time..."

Yet I remained focused on the current conflict as I spoke with energy sparking around me in a soft warning, as well as shielding Duke, "I will not leave him!"

"Suit yourself!" She hollered, as she rushed at the two, swinging in a frenzy upon the couple.

Duke quickly gripped his saber and blocked the blade as it came towards them, pulling Heart against him in what seemed to be an endless back and forth of protecting each other.

His side burned, causing him to nearly faulter as he pleaded, "I don't want to fight ya!"

As he said this, I held onto him with my free hand clutching the fabric over his heart. In his chest I could feel his racing heartbeat. The one that resonated with my own.

The echoing continued, now laughing as it grew louder, "Your magic is mine!"

"No..." I breathed, hearing it clearly this time, as I held onto Duke still.

Duke:

Stumbling back from being blocked, Vulpina lunged again at me, her eyes welling up, "Then you should've stayed with me!"

My arm faultered as my injury burned. All I could think to do was hold Heart close to me, shielding her from the oncoming blade. I refused to let her go as I faced this part of my past catching up to me, not seeing the energy that began to spark rapidly around us.

"You'll never leave me again!" Vulpina yelled, before taking another swing.

Just then I felt as Heart gripped the fabric over my chest tightly. I vaguely saw as she looked up at me trying to protect her from harm, from my past. Refusing to run, I simply held her.

Then...I saw the energy growing more eratic, illuminating the space around us in a wicked dance. Looking to Heart, I saw the panic suddenly replaced with a sudden resolve as she told me, "Duke...Don't let go..."

With that the light around us nearly blinded me. It's brilliant heat enveloped the two of us as I tightened my grip on Heart. As it did, I would barely catch the sight of what looked like a wisp of a shadow darting over to us. In this moment I noticed as Vulpina was wrapped in a seperate light of her own.

In that instant Heart and I suddenly found ourselves, engulfed completely for several quick moments. Then, we found ourselves at the front doors of the pond late in the afternoon. Kneeling there in shock, I could see the energy around us beginning to weaken. Finally it died off as Heart passed out in my arms, all the while clinging to me still.

I didn't waste any time finding Tanya and Wildwing inside. With one look at us we were rushed to the infirmary. Our teammates met up with us along the way. Nosedive took his sister from me while Grin gave me his support to lean on while I walked. I refused to be carried in any way.

Once our wounds were tended to not much kept our leader back as he questioned with a great deal of worry in his voice, "What happened to you two?!"

"It's a long story...but we...took care of things..." I said while looking to Heart still passed out on her bed.

Nosedive was watching her monitors closely while Tanya hooked her up. Her and Mallory had helped get her into a long nightshirt to rest in.

"Can you go one adventure without coming back with a hole in you, both of you?!" Tanya demanded worriedly.

"Sorry guys," I said while not looking away from Heart.

"I'm still not sure why you risked so much for your old gang?" Mallory commented with concern when she saw Heart's shoulder now bandaged up.

"'Cause as their leader I had a code to honor," I said firmly, "Besides, like me they all helped when Puck World was attacked too, an' they weren't captured while doin' a job. They were arrested to be bait for me. Their own pardons weren't honored."

I'd been trying to ignore this part. A part of me hoped it was more so Vulpina trying to lure me in, rather than the scenerio I was dreading. The reason I didn't want to go back through that gate I realized with distant concern being shoved to the back of my mind.

Our teammates shared confused expressions before Nosedive asked, "Why did she need to lure you in like that? Bounty hunter or not that's a lot of effort for...wait...?"

I winced a bit at this, knowing they now at least had an idea of the truth as well, "It seems I can be too charmin' for my own good?"

Wildwing and Mallory both raised a brow at this. I could only imagine as to why.

"So where is she now?" Tanya asked.

"I'm not sure. I think Heart sent her away when she brought us back here," I said before trying to explain what had happened in the gateway.

"So...a year ago, that was Heart?" Wildwing asked while looking to his sleeping sister.

"It seems so," I replied quietly as I watched my wife from the bed across from her.

"Her past is catching up to her," Mallory commented with concern in her tone.

"Along with mine," I muttered to myself a tad bitterly.

It seemed no one knew what to say in response to that, including myself. Making peace with it was one thing, protecting her from it was another. Expecting her to forgive parts of it were another. I'd seen the confusion in her eyes, despite what she'd done to save me back there.

"At least we're all safe for now," I finally said with a tired sigh escaping my throat.

"Alright," Wildwing gave in with a worried sigh of his own while glancing at his sister, "Get some rest and heal up. We'll figure things out as they come."

With that I was left alone with Heart, both of us stuck in an infirmary bed for the night at least. Tanya had confirmed the shot hadn't hit anything vital, and Heart was more exhausted than anything. She'd mentioned it was possible that energy she'd used had a lot to do with it, but obviously couldn't confirm anything. For now at least Heart would be okay though, and we could rest unnattended.

Yet still I found himself unable to sleep. My thoughts raced between memories of years ago, and hours ago. I wondered where Vulpina had ended up, and pondered over Heart's decision to save her. Then my mind wandered over the last year or so; the choices I'd made, the steps I'd taken, and the cards I'd played and held close to me so to speak. I'd shared with Heart more than I ever had with anyone before, letting her closer and closer to me. However, despite bareing the band on my finger, I'd known there were still a few things I hadn't shared. Vulpina had been one of those memories shoved to the back of my head. Perhaps a part of me had known how it would seem.

Another sigh slipped from my beak as I rested my head back against the pillow. I'd been propped up a bit so I was sitting up slightly. I'd requested this so I could look over at Heart, assuring myself she was safe as needed. Like I did now.

As I watched over her, I would hear Heart's breathing shift. Even in the dark, I could tell she was waking up. I heard her head turn with a sudden jerk to figure out where she was. Before she could jump up and pull at her cords I spoke up, "We're home sweetheart."

She looked to where she'd heard my voice come from, "Duke?"

"Yes darlin'," I assured her as sincerely as I could.

"A-Are you okay?" she asked with a bit of strain in her voice from still being tired.

"That's a mixed question," I admitted.

She tried to sit up, looking to me still when hearing this.

"Heart, please take it easy," I protested as she nearly stumbled from her shoulder buckling on her.

"How did we get back?" Heart asked.

"You brought us back," I told her, "Your magic seems to manipulate the space between realms. Like a key to a locked door."

"So a year ago?"

"I think more than that," I replied, "Sweetheart, I believe that's how ya got to us in the first place."

"I don't really know..." she reminded me.

I offered a light smile in an attempt to encourage her, "No matter what, I'm glad ya did."

She'd succeeded in sitting up now, and was trying to now venture further. For she'd noticed me trying to slip back to my thoughts a moment, some not so pleasant that still ran through my head.

"It's okay Duke," she said softly, "I mean...what you told me earlier..."

I looked to her with a widened remaining eye. Yet I then caught the unease she was masking as she gripped her arm.

I didn't look away as I admitted to her, "I should have told ya, about Vulpina...I jus' didn't know what to say when it came to her, an' I was scared of what you'd think..."

"You met her after...?" she was trying to ask carefully.

I gave a nod, "A few months after I lost my eye. We wound up meetin' while I was on a job, an' we sorta took turns helpin' the other out of tight spots. She also didn't mind that I had this," I brushed a hand over my eyepatch, "Other women had been put off by this...not that I could really blame them. It encouraged me, and I accidentally encouraged somethin' in her...When I realized what I'd done, I did try to back off, to tell her I wasn't interested in her that way. It was what I thought at the time was harmless flirting...but it seems I struck deeper than I'd ever meant to."

Heart didn't say anything. She simply sat and listened to me still. I wondered what was going through her head, and hoped that the last year rang it's truth to her over the few I'd spent around Vulpina. Though I couldn't blame her much if there were some concern pulled up from what she'd heard.

"I never meant to hurt her...After losin' my eye to who I considered to be my best friend...I didn't let anyone that close. With every year I grew more withdrawn, jus' goin' through the motions towards the end of my career," I told her.

Saying it out loud, I started to realize a few things as I watched the girl sitting across from me, "I believe through an' through I would have joined the resistance with or without ya there, that I would have made the choice to change...but I can't say ya didn't encourage some sort of change in me Heart...I hope ya see that too?"

I wasn't sure if her lack of words was due to her still being tired, or if she were actually upset with me. Either way my stomach twisted a bit as I looked away from her. Even if she was angry with me, I just wanted her to tell me.

So when she closed her hand over mine, I actually jumped a little. I hadn't even heard her move from the bed. Her hand was mercifully soft and warm as it held my own. I found myself attempting to close my other over hers in turn, my thumb brushing over her skin gently, before adding reluctantly, "Though it seems, when I met ya face to face, I hadn't learned my lesson."

"Duke?"

"I called ya sweetheart before I knew how I felt for ya," I admitted with a bit of unease in my voice, "Not to mention..." I looked at the hand I'd kissed dozens of times at this point.

"It's endearing," Heart said quietly, though I could see the slight unease in her eyes.

I shrugged at her comment, "Since comin' to Earth, I've curved the habit a bit, but I think I've slipped a couple times with Mallory an' Tanya once or twice."

I offered a sheepish smile, "With you I never stopped..." that grew brighter with hope as she glanced at me, our eyes meeting, "Especially when I saw how flustered ya got from it."

A smile attempted to curl her lips, but she seemed unsure.

"Heart, please jus' tell me if this hurt ya, if you're upset with me. Give me a chance to prove I wouldn't do the same to you..." I requested softly before receiving a bewildered look from her.

There was a certain skip in my chest when I heard her say, "You already proved that to me?"

Before I could ask anything, she pulled her hand away to then grasp at the bedframe. Seeing what she was trying to do, I carefully reached over to help her up beside me. Furthering my surprise, she wrapped her arms around me, being mindful of my injured side.

"I didn't want to ever hurt ya like I did her..." I told her.

"Duke, you never meant to hurt her in the first place...and with me...I think it's safe to say you weren't going to?" She looked up at me with a light smile.

"'Cause of my past, I thought I might have lost ya sweetheart..."

Heart gave a puzzled expression before remembering Vulpina's advice to her.

"Duke, nobody is going to tell me not to be with you. After a year together you don't know that?" Heart stated.

Heart smiled as I carressed the side of her face gently, my thumb brushed along her scar. Those sapphires watched me with lingering concern. Then I looked to her a bit puzzled still, "Ya looked so upset before when ya found out though?"

Heart bit her lower lip a bit before answering, "It wasn't you I was upset with...at least not for that..." there was a tinge of frustration showing through however.

"Heart...it's okay to admit it bothered ya to hear some of that..." I told her, "To want to know that you're my one an' only...an' believe me, Heart...ya are."

She tried to hide she was blushing at this remark. Then I added, "Heart...You've drawn me out more an' more..."

"Duke, I don't expect to know everything about you yet...you still don't know about my past..." Heart smiled still, "We'll face things together, as we have since we met?"

The heart in my chest was stricken by her words, drawing out a smile as I asked, "What was it then?"

"That you were going to turn yourself in!" she blurted out, "That you thought I'd be okay leaving you there! I-" she stopped, biting her lip.

"You what sweetheart?" I encouraged her.

"I am not going to be told that you and I shouldn't be together, that I should leave you...or that you aren't my...?"

"I couldn't Heart," I swore to her, piecing it together quickly now, "I'm yours."

Heart listened with a softening look in her eyes shimmering in the dark as I told her, "I needed someone to see me I was more than a thief...but I also needed those eyes of yours to tell me I'm your thief..."

When her face grew bright red I gave a smile as I hugged her.

I couldn't help but give a slight laugh, "You were rather convincin', until..." Heart brushed her hand along the burnt feathers and skin on my neck, "until that..."

"I was trying to charge my magic enough, to try and focus it better so I could try to free you...but..." Heart kissed my neck gently, while I in turn nuzzled her head with my chin lovingly.

"There's not much in this universe that gets ya riled up..." I repeated in a sweeter tone as I brushed my hand against her neck now, before grazing the chain of the necklace I'd given her.

"You always do," she finally admitted as she clung to the front of my shirt a bit, still blushing as she did this, "My thief?"

A charming smile curved my beak as I assured her softly, "Of course Heart...I see all that I've ever wanted in ya, an' so much more I didn't know I needed."

With that I pulled her carefully close to me, shifting in the bed to where we could rest side by side. If the others had seen us trying to do this we would have gotten an earful with our injuries. Yet at that moment, this didn't really bother us. What would hurt more was not being near the other. Our wounds would heal either way with some time and rest. However, what we both needed to know in this moment was,...

"Don't let go?" Heart requested softly as she rested her head against my chest as I carefully wrapped an arm around her, being mindful of her bandaged shoulder.

I smiled as she trusted me to hold her close still, "Of course sweetheart, especially when you're the one that caught me."