No Matter What It Takes Part Two

by KidHeart4

The Mighty Ducks continue their adventures in their new home on Earth. Along with familiar foes, a few new ones begin to rear their heads. Some new allies will be met along the way as well. In this part 2, Heart's locked away past will be unveiled, bringing on more adventures for them to tackle as a team.

6. 31 Crossing the Lines

Heart: "Feel that sun!" Mallory stretched her arms up, behind herself. The redhead gave a relaxed smile before leaning back in the beach chair, soaking in the warm rays. "We should go on vacation more often, man!" Nosedive chimed in as he walked up with a dry towel throne over his shoulders. "How?" Tanya laughed from under her large beach umbrella, a book in hand, "Between games, Dragonus, and other missions, we hardly have time for anything else!" "Even now we have to be on standby and hope nothing happens," Wildwing added as he took a seat beside their team tech on the large lavender towel they'd spread out. "It'll be fine Wing," Duke assured as we stepped in earshot of the conversation, "Ya need to relax a bit more." "Hard to do that with Dragonus on the loose, among other things," Wildwing sighed with a slight glance towards me as I stood beside our team rogue. Duke raised a brow, "You can be ready an' relaxed at the same time, my friend. We've gotten through everythin' so far haven't we?" The white feathered drake gave in with a nod, "We have." "Those lizards are probably still looking for resources, and with the finals behind us, we finally have some time to enjoy everything we've worked for," Nosedive insisted as he placed a hand on my shoulder, placing me between Duke and himself, "And we have other things under control." I didn't have to ask, and chimed in, "We're getting the hang of things as they come." I then glanced up at Duke, noting the burgundy and black full body diving suit he was wearing. He seemed comfortable enough in it, despite the tropical heat of the island. He gave a knowing smile when he caught me looking over him, "Don't ya worry." The other drakes were in their own styles of swim shorts. Wildwing had white and yellow hibiscuses decorating the shirt he wore over his teal tank top. Grin kept to his usual white tank top with his burgundy swim shorts. Nosedive cared little for hiding his tan feathers, wearing only a pair of teal swim shorts that matched our brother's. Mallory was lounging back in her two piece lavender and teal swim suit. The top had a cross strap in the front and back to hold it up. Tanya sat comfortably in her own swim gear of white and lavender, the bottoms going down to her knees. The top was more like a tank top. Over this she wore a white, button up shirt that didn't seem to match her usual attire, but she seemed quite pleased to have it on. Meanwhile, I stood sheepishly beside Duke in my own swimsuit. It was a one piece with a skirt attached to it that draped down to my knees in a light handkerchief fashion. My arms were left bare other than the off shoulder straps of the suit. "Ya could have gotten somethin' else sweetheart?" Duke mentioned when he looked me over, seeing how shy I seemed to be, "Not that I'm complainin'; but I wish I knew why ya were so nervous wearin' things like this.?" "Well, I wanted to surprise you...and Mallory said you might like something like this on me?" Heart replied. The dark feathered drake beside me smiled still, but in a soft manner as he assured me, "She's not wrong, but I understand if ya want to change." I knew that I was already blushing from the first half of his answer, and this seemed to give me a better standing beside him. "Besides, you're around us. There's nothing to be nervous about with your teammates here!" Nosedive chimed in with a pat on my shoulder. "Dive's right on that part, little sis," Wildwing offered with a cheerful smile curving his beak. "Just on that part?" Nosedive half grumbled as Wildwing continued, "No matter what, you never have to hide yourself from us." "I know that," I assured, before Nosedive abruptly grabbed my hand and began pulling me towards the water, "Dive?!" "Enough of that shy stuff, we're hitting those waves!" Nosedive laughed as I seemed to have little choice, but to run with him into the gentle waves washing up onto the island shore. Duke: For a little while I watched them alongside the others. Letting the siblings have their fun, I sat in the warm sands between the budding couple, and Mallory in her reclined chair. Grin was heading over to join the two, who were already knee deep in the water. "How has she been by the way?" Wildwing then asked quietly. Glancing at my team captain, I questioned just as carefully in tone, "As far as what, Wing?" "This...magic, I guess?...Since she discovered it, she's been using it more and more hasn't she?" he inquired. "She has," I confirmed, "but I don't think it's somethin' to be too worried about? With her bein' from the other Anaheim, we honestly should have seen this comin'." "It's probably how she found us in the first place," Tanya noted, "Her powers seemed to be based around electricity, and she may have built up enough of a charge to open up a gateway?" "What?! How could one person do that, even with magic? Asteroth had to use a spell to get through, and only because his amulet was here calling to him," Mallory mentioned. "I guess it depends on just what sort of magic she has," Tanya replied, "We just don't know enough about it yet." "Give it time," I assured, "I have a feelin' we'll learn more about this soon. For the moment though, jus' let her be like this..." "You're worried about this too, aren't you?" Wildwing realized rather quickly. I attempted a shrug, "Sorta." Getting to my feet, I went to join the trio in the water. Forcing my concerns away for the time being, I slipped over to Heart. We spent most of that late afternoon simply enjoying those waves and each others' company. We decided we would venture into the island town the next day to see what it had to offer. For now we were simply content getting away from everything together. Dinner was ordered and brought to our rented beach house. Nosedive had won the petition for pizza, signaling what he said to be the true start to our vacation. As we enjoyed it, gathered at the table together without much worry at the moment. Phil had stayed back in Anaheim, things remained calm for us to have this time in the first place, and we could really enjoy the year we had accomplished together. As we now enjoyed the evening tropical air hanging over the porch, Wildwing let out a sigh from where he stood leaning forward against the rail, "I can't believe he's alive." "Canard?" I pushed cheerfully. He nodded, "It's like a weight's been lifted knowing he's okay." I noted the mist in our team captain's eyes as he smiled. So did Tanya as she rested her head against his shoulder in support. It was heart warming to watch the two of them find one another more and more. Yet I knew better than to comment on the very shy couple. So, giving a nod, I said, "Enjoy this time then." With that, I turned to see Heart watching the gentle waves from the steps of the porch. Nosedive had wandered back inside to play a game with Mallory and Grin. Leaving Wildwing and Tanya be, I made my way down to Heart as I sat beside her on the step. "Ya must be at ease to be in somethin' like that?" I teased her lightly while slipping my arm along her back. Like clockwork, I knew she was blushing. For she was dressed in a light teal summer dress with white roses bunching up the straps at the front. The under skirt was lined at the bottom with lace. At the waist was a dash of burgundy from the ribbon and bow tied at her back. Though her comm remained at her wrist, it was still quite a departure from her usual attire. "Do you like it?" she inquired. A smile curved my beak, "Of course I do, darlin'." I nuzzled my head against hers while we looked out over the water together. Then I pulled her up with me, leading her down to the shore, "Care to adventure with me?" "Of course I do," she echoed playfully. Soon we were standing with the waves gently tugging at our bare feet, our shoes kicked off well above the tide line. Hand in hand, we breathed in the warm air. At one point Heart looked over her shoulder before turning to look up at the beach house, smiling contently at knowing the others were all there. "Nothin' like a warm tropical night?" I prompted with a bit of mischief in my tone as I watched her. "Hmm?" she attempted as I slipped off my button up shirt and tossed it over to our shoes, all the while with a smirk curving my beak. "The water won't ruin your dress will it?" I inquired. She shook her head, "No, why do you-?" No was all I needed to hear. She jumped a bit as I slid to a kneel in the sand and waves, falling back and pulling her down with me. I quickly caught her as she fell into me with a sudden splash. "I've got ya, sweetheart!" I chuckled as I pulled her against me in the deepening warm water. Her skirts began to flow with the water, twirling like flower petals under the waves. She glanced over at me, taking in my half revealed frame as I swam back a bit in the lingering heated water, with her stammering slightly, "It isn't bothering you?" I smiled, "Not with you here with me, sweetheart. I've got nothin' to hide from ya." With this I swam up to her now, and slid a hand to her cheek, caressing it as I leaned forward, sharing a kiss with her beneath the moonlight. When I pulled away, I found her blushing as she clung to my feathered shoulders, as we floated there in the ocean together. Brushing her dampened hair out of her eyes, I would hear her say, as she ran her hand along the scar just above my heart, "You'll never need to, Duke." "Nor will you, love," I assured her, before I pulled her along the water a bit more. After a while of swimming under the moonlight and stars, we found our way back to the beach. Heart's dress clung to her thin frame, dripping with ocean water. Her arms folded over her chest to try and dry off a bit. Even with the warm air, she shivered a bit from the wet cloth. Seeing this, I picked up my shirt and placed it gingerly over her shoulders, "There ya are." "What about you?" she asked. I gave a shrug, "I'm not too worried about it." As luck would have it, the others would be well asleep, or at least tucked away in their own rooms for the night. This allowed us to slip into the beach house without any unwanted questioning over the marks and lack of feathers in some places. We found our way through the dark rather easily, all the way up to our own guest room. Once there, Heart began drying off, slipping her dress off while covering herself with a towel. A bit of playful energy ran through me as I watched my wife, walking up to her quietly. When she turned with a knowing expression in her eyes, she was blushing as I couldn't help but lean forward and kiss her. "I love ya," I breathed while pulling away and slipping my shirt back onto her. "I love you too," she whispered as I lead her over to the bed, and fell back with her once again. Catching her, I held her as close to me as I could. "So where to first then?" Mallory asked as we strolled up to the main street. Wildwing gave a shrug, "Anywhere's good with me I guess?" As we went along, we would find several shops lining the modestly busy roads of the town. Many of the displays were showing off crafts of one kind or another. Decorative pieces, clothing, jewelry, etc. There were also book shops and such to accompany them, as well as bakeries and other culinary delights to distract themselves with. "That's a start," Mallory grinned as she looked into a large window to see several dresses clinging to their mannequins. Heart shook her head as she watched our friend inch closer to the front door. Grin too was noticed drawing closer to another display that housed crystals, chimes, and other sorts of items to meditate around. Calming music trickled out to them from the slightly open door. Nosedive gave a shrug and followed the 7 foot tall duck inside. Wildwing and Tanya found themselves heading into the dress shop behind Mallory. Our leader didn't seem to have on a decided place to go, proving to be just content to walk with Tanya as she looked over blouses with her own shy curiosity showing. This left Heart and I wandering the street, peeking in at other displays here and there. With us alone, I ventured, "Havin' fun?" Heart gave a sheepish nod after making sure her flared sleeves were in place, covering her forearms. "The others haven't seen them have they?" I asked. "Duke, it's fine," Heart tried to assure him. I wasn't as convinced as she wanted me to be, but for her sake I let it go for the moment. Nosedive: Grin and I had entered the little mystic shop, with relaxing music playing as trails of incense smoke wafted through the air. Walking through a curtain of beads, we found behind the counter a tall, thin man with long red hair, wearing jeans and a tie dyed shirt. With a thick pair of sunglasses sitting on his nose, he looked up to the both of us, "Whooooa... heya duck brothers! What brings cha in? Can I interest cha in some healing crystals?" "Just looking around my man!" I replied with a smile and a shrug. Grin looked over the items placed carefully on the shelves, some creating intrigue enough to pick them up gingerly and turn it in his hand. "These shades are very deep," he mentioned while looking into the heart of a crystal, "Soothing even." "This is a nice place," I commented while drawn to a shelf holding charms and figurines of little animals carved from smooth stones. Sitting on the self were various animal figures; mice, rats, dogs, rabbits, and even a goat. The shopowner gave a nod, "Sure is brother. Infact, it's so chill here, well, I can't imagine living anywhere else." "I think it's a bit too relaxed to live here," I admitted, "I need the vibes of the city; that, and I don't see a rink anywhere to skate on." "That does seem to be a downside for long term living," Grin mused, "but still a nice village to spend some time in." "What are the figures for?" I asked while looking them over, running a finger over a bat figurine, being careful not to knock it over. "Oh! Well, I have them custom made for the people living here! Stay here a while, and I think cha gonna change ya mind man. Heck, I can even make a few for cha too!" He said with a friendly smile, leaning over the counter towards us. "I don't know about changing my mind," I chuckled, ignoring the slight unease tugging at me from this remark, "but this is still pretty cool. You make these yourself?" Grin had also been a little thrown off, but chalked it up to the owner just being overly friendly. I glanced out the window to see Duke and Heart across the street, "Any you recommend for my sister there?" "Oh yes! I make them myself man. By hand! As for her... hmm... well... lemme get back to you on that." The shopkeeper said, looking at the window at the couple. I gave another shrug, and continued looking over the items on display. Grin searched through the crystals and stones present until he'd picked out a few. He walked up to the counter, making his purchase as he said, "I think these will do for now." "Good choice my feathered friend!" He then rang up the hulking duck, and handed him back the stones and crystals, "Make sure to swing on by if ya can later, and enjoy your stay here dude!" "Both are quite likely," Grin nodded pleasantly before stepping outside with me taking the lead. By now Duke and Heart had wandered off together. This left me scratching my head while looking around, "So where to next then?" As we left, I didn't see as the shopkeeper lowered his glasses, revealing the horizonal slit pupils in his yellow eyes. Reaching for a comm unit under his counter, he clicked a button. "Hey boss man... they're here..." Wildwing: Meanwhile, I was being lead throw rows of clothes by a curious Tanya following Mallory. "I wish they had an electronics shop, something like Lectric Land would really make this place feel like home," Tanya said in mostly jest, "but this is fun too I guess." "It's kinda neat to see how styles differ from place to place here on Earth," Mallory mentioned while looking through breezy skirts. "Even after a year, it still feels new at times," I said while glancing at the closed satchel on my hip carrying the mask. Tanya looked to me, hugging my upper arm after she did, "I know how you feel." The trio of us would have our exploration of the shop interupted by a short and stout lady with white, wooly hair. With a smile, she tilted her head, "Why, heeeeello there! You must be new! Finding everything alright?" "Oh, yeah, we're just here on vacation with our teammates," I replied as we turned towards the woman. "So far we've mostly seen the beach from our rental house, and decided to look around town today," Mallory chimed in. "Do you have any electronic shops here in town?" Tanya ventured. "Ooooh... yes! We have one around here... honestly, I don't got there all that often. But it's just a few blocks down." She answered, her head still tilted as she looked at us with a smile. "I'll definitely check that out then!" Tanya assured with a brightening smile on her beak. I gave a light chuckle, "We can go when we leave here?" At that, Mallory started pushing the two along, "Why don't you both go ahead, and I'll catch up? Go on, I know you want to, and I could be a while in here." "A-Are you sure?" Tanya asked. Mallory gave a wink, "Go on you two, have fun!" With that, our team tech and I were sent out the door, and Mallory turned back towards a row of dresses to take another look. Mallory: Left alone at the shop, the store owner approached me, "So miss! I hope you're finding things alright! Saaaay... I just got a dress for stock this morning I haven't put out yet, and I think it would look lovely with your featehrs... come along, and you can try it out." I tilted my head curiously, "Oh? Are you sure?" Setting one back in the line, I followed behind the shopkeeper. Though I did ask, "You know about trying to match cloth up with shades of feathers?" She gave a nod, and began to lead me to the back room. "Well, dear, it can't be too much different than hair... just go ahead, and I'll pull it out for you." I went along as instructed, my curiosity growing and getting the better of me, "Yeah? Matching something with both can be a bit of a pain." "Then again I suppose people have things like that as well, skin tones as opposed to feathers and things like that?" I then stepped into the mentioned room and looked around. Yet as did, once past the door, I would find a large brutish man with a pair of horns jutting from his skull. The tauren bruiser raised up a makeshift club from a table leg, and clocked me on the head before I could react in any way, sending me to the ground. Heart: Elsewhere Duke had lead me down the streets a bit, both of us unaware of what had happened to our teammate. While we were looking over a display, Duke slipped a hand along my shoulders, pulling me close to him. I couldn't help but glance up at him, smiling as I did. Though at the same time, we both noticed a few other human tourists giving us odd looks. "I guess people in Anaheim have grown use to seein' this from us?" Duke shrugged with a light chuckle. "I guess you're right, then again I didn't really pay them that much mind before if they did have something to say," I replied. Even now, I found myself ignoring a raised brow or two as Duke kept me quite close to him. As we headed down the street, the people would occasionally look at the two of us. However, after a while, the two of us would be left alone... not noticing the man in a trenchcoat tailing behind them at first... Wildwing: Meanwhile, Tanya and I would find the electronics shop... not exactly high end, more of a odds and ends shop for mechanical doodads. Behind the counter as we entered, the owner, an older heavy set man let out a huff as he looked over his newspaper. I gave a pleasant greeting while Tanya looked over the less than thrilling items. With a shrug she admitted, "I should have figured as much, but worth the look I guess." "I'm sure if you needed to you could whip something up with these things," the white feathered drake said to her. As we searched about, the man behind the counter peaked out at us once in a while. "Looking fer something in particular?" He grumbled out, keeping his face behind the newspaper. "Not really, just browsing," Tanya said while looking over a radio. "I take it technology is minimal here? Just enough to make things comfortable on the island?" Tanya asked, "I noticed our comms have been a bit off since we got here?" "Yup. Just trying to keep things simple here... but that doesn't mean we forgo modern conveniences," He replied, turning the page, "If yer need any spare parts for anything, we probably got it." Tanya looked over a few more pieces, picking up some wire and other pieces that I offered to carry for her. "I wonder if the mask would have trouble?" Tanya mentioned. "I don't think we'll need to worry about it here," I attempted with some optimism as we paid. I then asked, "Any suggestions on places to go sir?" "Well, there's the crab shack on the beach. They got good eatins... now, what's this about a mask not working?" He asked, peaking at us from behind the paper. "Oh, we were just pondering over something. It's not broken, but our communication devices have been a bit fuzzy here," Tanya assured. I clicked on my comm to demonstrate the static that came forth, the screen seemed clouded as well. "Hm... I know it may be a personal item, buuuut... mind if I take a tinkering at it to see if I can fix it?" He asked, lowering the paper and leaning forward. Tanya was a bit hesitant, but figured he was well meaning enough. She removed her comm and handed it to the over, "If it helps you build your own tinkering skills." However the mask, I kept at my side. Letting out an impressed whistle, the owner looked over the comm unit, "Well, this here is top of the line stuff! I think I can figure something out with this though... swing by later, and I'll have it good in no time." "Sounds good, less work for me," Tanya chuckled before we both headed out of the shop. The two of us then began our search for the others, and the next destination our wandering may take us. With us gone, the shopkeeper would wait a few minutes, before dropping the comm to the ground, and stopping it with a hoof. Letting out a snort, he went back to his paper, grumbling to himself once more. Nosedive: Meanwhile, Grin and I continued to explore the small, island town, until we came across what looked like a music store. Rock 'n' roll played from within, as customers browsed the selection. With Grin close behind, I wandered in and gave a wave to the scattered folk inside, "Greetings islanders!" I then began going through the isles myself. Grin looked around, more than likely searching for our teammates, or maybe music more in tune with his style. The group of people gave us a wave; and as we searched through the collection, a slim man with a dreads approached us. With a grin, he waved us down, "Hey dudes! Looks like you're out of towners! Just wanted to let you know there's a show on the beach tonight, and if you like good music, you wanna be there!" "You could say that," Grin chuckled. "More like out of worlders?" I shrugged before hearing the next part, "That sounds awesome man!" I then added, rather eager to join in, "We'll be there for sure! Where on the beach is it?" "Oh! It's right by the cave on the south coast! Gonna have a big bon fire and everything man! Don't miss it!" He added, before handing us a flyer for the show. "That sounds great! We'll definitely be there, right Grinster?" I exclaimed with a nudge in my friend's side when he walked up. With a smile over his strong beak, the rather tall drake gave a nod, "It seems like it will be quite the positive experience." "We gotta talk the others into this, you go find Mal, and I can track down my bro," I instructed while taking an extra flyer to hand to Grin, "Meet you back at the beach house!" With that I was off, leaving Grin in a bit of puzzlement as he went to seek out Mallory. Again we would miss as, while waving us off, the man would also give a chuckle, as he turned away, with a forked tongue flickering from his lips. Heart: Duke and I had continued our exploration around the town. The island village was nice and quaint; other than a few odd looks now and then. However, after a while, it seemed that we were indeed being followed by the trenchcoat wearing figure. Duke glanced over his shoulder, making note of this. As he did, his hand grew quite firm against my shoulder. I looked up at him before giving a knowing nod. Neither of us said a word, but kept aware of the stranger following us. As we walked, Duke looked ahead to see a street to duck into, swiftly pulling me along with him. There we hopped onto a fire escape and waited halfway up it to see if the stranger passed by. As we disappeared into the alleyway, finding our place to hide, we could see the coat wearing figure heading down the same path. He looked around, muttering to himself. "I... I have to find them... I need to get them...won't be long now..." Duke listened with me from our hiding place on the roof of the nearby shop now. "Find us for what?" Duke whispered. I looked up at him, bewilderment in my eyes. "Maybe I should go down to find out?" I suggested. Duke shook his head as he watched the figure closely, studying their movements. His motions were lurching, and when they got a better look, we would see that he was hunched over. His face was obscured by the wide brimmed hat and the upturned collar of the trenchcoat, as he looked about in fervor, "Dang it! Where are they?! I need to get them!" Duke and I looked to one another in growing alarm. With a nod, we tried to back up as I reached for my comm. However the device quickly answered with static, making it difficult to get any sort of message out. In growing alarm, Duke checked to see if our pursuer had heard this. As the static of the comm buzzed out, the figure looked up at us... along with a twin pair of long, whispy feelers from under his hat. Rushing to the wall, he started to climb up after us, "Don't run! I need to get you!" Duke instinctively pulled me back from the ledge and turned to run at first with me. However, as he heard how quick they were in their climb, he paused as I had started to run. When I turned to look back at him, he quickly instructed, "Go warn the others, I'll hold 'em off!" "I'm not leaving you here-" "I can handle this guy, but we can't get a message out if there are others! Now get goin'!" Duke pushed as he drew his saber and turned around. Reluctantly, I turned and ran, hoping to find the others quickly. This left Duke waiting for the following figure to find him. Duke: After Heart headed away, the mysterious figure popped up from the side of the building. This close, I could see a set of compound eyes starting at me. Seeing the sword, he narrowed those eyes, and rushed to me, trying to grab and yank away the sword, "No! Don't fight!" I hopped back quickly, giving a warning slash to try and force the pursuer to back up, "Ya started this bud! We were havin' a nice date, an' ya had to go an' ruin it on us!" I could hear that Heart had disappeared from sight and sound, allowing me to give a slight breath of relief. "No! You need to stop! Great danger!" He exclaimed, going again for my sword. As we scuffled, his hat was knocked off, revealing a human like face with a mess of stringy hair, two bulging compound eyes, and a pair of mandibles on the sides of his mouth. I paused, backing up in a bit of shock to see this. Choking back a sickened gag, I halted in my defensive strike. It was now that I realized he wasn't armed. "Danger? Isn't that what you're here for?" I questioned sharply. Letting out an irritated chitter, he shook his head, "Great danger! Get away! Leave now! He will get you!" "Who will get us? Whose after us?" I attempted, before trying to piece together what was occurring before me in the first place, "Did they do this to ya-?" Dread hit me hard as I looked after where she had run off to, and quickly followed after, "Heart!" As I ran off, the roach man twitched, watching as I chased after Heart, "Leave! Great danger! Doc-Doctor going to... do... horrible things..." Heart: As I ran off, trying to find the others, I would find myself quickly cornered by a trio of large men. One was tall and burly, with a thick set of hair over his body. Another was fat and bald, with a thick mustache over his mouth, and the other seemed to have some skin issue, with patches of scaley skin over his muscular form. The first of the three sneered, "Where you going missy?" I backed up against the wall, keeping my distance as much as possible. I kept my eyes trained on the three men, trying to ignite the energy I had just started to awaken in me bit by bit. A few sparks attempted to strike the three, but to little avail. "Back off!" I growled. "Sorry missy, but, the boss has plans for you..." With that, the bear of a man raised up his fist, and brought it down upon me. Or would have, had my rogue not been hurrying after me. Seeing me cornered, Duke had switched on his jet blades and darted in, quickly grabbing me up in his arm. Coming to a stop at the end of the alley, Duke looked me over before setting me down. "Duke?! What happened?! What about-?!" We realized there wasn't much time to question or answer any of this. Again, Duke drew his saber and instructed calmly, "Go find your brothers while I teach these cretins a lesson." He attempted to reassured me with a quick, but confident smirk, while I managed to get a signal on where Nosedive was and headed to him. Duke: As she went to find her brother, I looked back to the trio with a warning glare, "Don't ya creeps know how to treat a lady?" The three of them snorted. Then one of them rushed at me, the scaled man, while the other two went to grab for Heart. The scaled man swung an arm at me, his rough skin protecting him from my blade. Meanwhile, the other two went to grab at Heart, the mustached one trying to block her escape, while the hairier of the two went to give her a bear hug of sorts. I tried to fend the duo off while giving a warning slash at the one attacking me. "Sorry fellas, you're not gettin' anywhere near her!" He assured as I hopped back from the scaled figure's swing. Seeing Heart being grabbed at, I darted over to get between them. I managed to shoot out a bola puck at the mustached thug, tangling up his legs, and slipped between Heart and the other's vice like grip. The mustached thud let out an arf as he landed on his gut, a pair of tusks jutting out from his upper lip and digging into the dirt. The burly man continued to grab the duck, squeezing tightly. "Duke!" Heart cried as I was pushing her just out of reach, being grabbed up instead as I yelled out, "Heart keep runnin'!" When she hesitated just a moment I shouted, "Go!" Again Heart bolter, following the signal towards Nosedive, and leaving me to try and fend off the three thugs.I knew she hated this, but it was better that she find the others and give them warning, rather than being dragged off. As Heart ran away, the scaled goon was about to rush after, before the bear snarled, "Let her run. We'll get her later." I attempted, to no avail, to get loose of the iron grip I found myself in. However, upon hearing them shifting attention away from Heart, I gave a brief breath of relief. To keep them from changing their minds, I spoke up, "What do you three creeps want with her anyway?" "The boss wants her, not us fella. Don't worry though, you'll see her soon." My remaining eye widened in alarm, before I gave a glare, "Ya stay away from her-!" The world went black in that instant. Heart: I darted through the streets in search of a a familiar face. Panic began to grip her chest, "How could I leave him back there?! Why did I run?!" I knew why though. Someone had to find the others, to warn them. If there was any hope of saving him, not knowing how many were after us, I would have to find our teammates. This racing adrenaline pushed me to keep going until I at last saw the friendly face of my twin as he waved to me, "There you are girly-girl!" Then he saw my eyes and asked in a more focused tone, "What's wrong sis?" "They took him!" I gasped out as he caught me nearly mid run. "Who?!" I tried to explain through catching my breath, about the one following us, being jumped, and what had happened with Duke. Nosedive would then give an understanding nod and looked around, "Let's try to find Wing and the others. Don't worry sis, we'll get him back!" As we went off to find the others, we didn't realize that Grin was off on his own still. Grin: As I wandered the streets, I couldn't help but notice that the inhabitants were starting to get scarce as the sun began to lower in the sky. "They must be heading to the show," I said as I continued his search for his teammates, while becoming quickly aware of the odd vibes finding me. Yet I found no trace of any of my allies, not even Nosedive or our leader. It didn't help that my comm seemed to be going on the fritz when I tried to use it, "Material things...nothing but trouble..." "I guess I could head back, they're probably at the beach house?" I reasoned with mysef as I turned and began my way to the shoreline outside of town. When I arrived at the beach, I found a few people gathered around a bonfire on the shore. A man strung his guitar, occasionally plucking at it. Seeing me come into view, they gave me a wave, gesturing for me to join them. I obliged, after noting that the lights were out in the house we were staying in. Though something about all of this just wasn't sitting well with me, I pressed forth towards the group. "Have any of you seen my comrades by any chance?" I asked with growing concern. They looked to each other, giving a few shrugs. "Sorry man, can't say we have. I'm sure they'll show up though! Take a seat, we're about to start!" I shook my head, "No, I feel I should continue my search." With this, I went to step back from them. "C'mon. What's the worst that could happen? This place is pretty dull, I doubt anything's wrong... just chill big dude." One of them said, patting the log in the sand next to him. I could think of a number of things that could happen, but tried not to. Unease pulled me another step back, "I'm sorry, but I must find them first." The man on the guitar shook his head, and let out a sigh. Opening his eyes, he smirked, his teeth like daggers, "Tried to do it the easy way... get him guys!" With that, the rest of the beach bums rushed me, revealing serrated teeth. When a few got onto me, I could feel their skin was as rough as sandpaper, and actually cut me on mere contact. "I figured as much, the vibrations you were giving off weren't as subtle as you thought!" I remarked while hurtling one into their friend, starting a heap of thugs at my feat. "Where are my friends?" I questioned, wincing as I felt another stinging scratch before tossing another islander on top of the others. "Don't worry man, you'll be with them soon enough!" Their boss called out, still fiddling with his guitar as his goons continued to attack. One of them gritted his teeth, as a sharp spur came out of their wrist, which he used to jab me on the shoulder with. Almost immediately, I started to feel woozy, my sense of balance tossed askew. I did, however, manage to toss one right into the leader, damaging the stringed instrument. Then I gave in, dropping to my knees before falling into the heated sand. Then the already darkening sky went completely black, as did everything else. Wildwing: Not too far away, on another portion of the shore, Tanya and I were taking a visit to the crab shack the old tinkerer had mentioned to us. It was a quaint little place, with just a few local customers. We had ordered our food and were about to eat when I couldn't help but feel something was quite off. "Something wrong?" Tanya inquired. It were as though I couldn't settle in my seat, "I keep trying to tell myself that it's nothing...but I feel like something's not right..." I checked my comm to little avail, finding the same static, "I'm starting to get a feeling of deja vu." Tanya gave an understanding nod, "It's hard to have any sort of normal life in our line of work." While we were waiting to eat, there was a rustling from the the others around us. Before we knew it, the fishing net that hung on the wall for decor was tossed over Tanya by a few members of the crowd, as the others focused suddenly on me, "Get them! The boss wants them!" I jumped to my feet, throwing a punch or two at the townsfolk trying to capture Tanya. Our team tech tried to reach for her omnitool, but found herself too tangled up to do so. I gave a hearty kick at another islander trying to grab for me. The mob of, what I now saw to be beast, people began to drag Tanya back to the kitchen, as the rest swarmed around me. A man with chitinous skin and a large pincer arm rushed out of the back room, and went to slam the massive claw into me. "Back off creeps!" I gave warning before quick changing into my battle gear. With that, I kicked one islander into another before darting after Tanya. Yet upon breaking through the doors, I found her to be gone. "Tanya!" I called out in vain while trying to shake off my own attackers still. Left alone, the crowd kept on attacking me, but their efforts waned as I was able to fend them off. My fight brought me to a back door to escape through. With this, I began my search for Tanya, my siblings, and our teammates. "I need to listen to my instincts more!" I grumbled as I poured over the streets. Duke: Off... elsewhere on the island, the four of us ducks would wake up one by one, groggy; and quickly we found ourselves strapped to a table each. Nearby, a misshaped rabbit man hobbled about, tinkering with some strange devices and concoctions. Barely fully awake, I already was trying to slip a hand free, but found the metal cuffs biting into my feathers and flesh. I looked to see three of my teammates all trying to get free with their own skills. However, Grin was still in a daze, Tanya's omnitool had been taken from her, as were Mallory's weapons. To my relief, mingled with surprise, the three siblings were nowhere to be found. "Where are we?" Mallory finally asked. I looked over at the rabbit and questioned, "What the heck is goin' on here?" Turning around towards us, the rabbit man let out a wheezing laugh, "The Master... he... he has plans for little duckies... yes he does... new... formula to test... will learn new results soon.." After muttering that response, he turned away from us, and continued his work. "Results?" Tanya pondered in growing alarm while looking to the three of us. Still I tried again to slip my hand out, sacrificing feathers and skin that chafed off to begin getting it free. Grin, seeing this, gave a silent nod as he kept a lookout as his head cleared. Mallory tried to keep the guy talking, "Who is your master? Don't tell me, a big red lizard sounding way too full of himself?" Letting out a wheeze, he shook his head. "No no noooo... not lizard..." As he spoke, a figure emerged from the darkness. Six long limbs jutted out from a bulbous abdomen, from which a humanoid torso grew. Two spindly arms covered in chitin stuck out... and the body was tipped with a bald head, grinning manically, "Oooh... it certainly has been a while, ducks..." "Protorious?!" Mallory exclaimed. We all looked in shock at the doctor we had encountered a few times before. Surprised by his new form, and that he had survived the last encounter at all. "How did you get away?!" Tanya exclaimed. Again, I managed to focus on trying to get my other hand free, using Grin's continued cover to do so. He leaned forward towards his captives, now face to face with us. His spectacles only covered one set of eyes, while a few others dotted his head, "I guess I'm just hard to kill... the miracle of science I would say! And I want to share that miracle with you!" "We have our own strengths thank you, we don't need your miracle," Grin assured, keeping the spider like being focused on them. "Not just that, but your science is just well...bad," Tanya retorted rather bluntly, "Do you even know what you're doing half the time?" Letting out a cackle, he turned his attention to the blonde duck, "Of course I do! I've turned myself into a higher creature... and I'm doing the same with the residents of this island... the future lays in chimeras... and... now, I will see what I can do with you all." "As I recall, you fell into what you are after you half hazardly tried to change Heart and dissect her!" Mallory scoffed, "Your lab experiments got a hold of you, and I thought that was the last we would see of you!" I just about had my other hand free, just a bit more. I forced myself not to wince as more feathers and flesh being bit into. "Oh... well. with progress, one is bound to hit some snags on the way..." He retorted... before one of his extra eyes caught sight of me. A long, spindly leg slammed into my arm, stopping my escape attempt, "And just where do you think you're going?" "Well, ya see I had other plans than bein' your pincushion!" I insisted while swinging my one free hand at the partial arachnid. It was enough to cause him to go reeling back a bit, allowing me to get my other hand free. However, I would soon find my legs were bound as well, and not as easy to get free! Still I tried none the less, using any second I had to try and get loose. Letting out an annoyed sigh, the doctor raised up his spinnerettes, and let loose a volley of sticky silk onto me, covering up my arms again in the vicious spray, "I do advise you don't struggle, that will only make the process all the more... painful." I let out a growl of disgusted irritation as my arms were bound again by the sticky restraints. Yet still I pulled at them, but to little avail. "What the heck are ya tryin' to do with us now? Make us into hybrids like you?" I demanded. Tanya couldn't help but shudder, sickened at the very thought, "No thank you!" "One could say that... but I wonder... since you are already non-humans... I wonder just how human I can make you...?" With a snicker, he waved to his lab assistance, who lurched to each of the captives, and with a strange contraption, emitted a bizarre green ray of energy onto each one of us, "Now... it may tingle abit." No matter how each of the four of us struggled, we tried in vain to get free. At hearing what would possibly occur, we fought all the harder against our metal cuffs. Then, with the ray letting out it's vibrations over us, a troubling sensation washed over the four of us, one by one. I watched as I felt the same changes occuring, our skin itched frm our feathers as it never had before. We looked to one another in growing confusion as features started to shift about us. "Have you completely lost your mind?! Why are you doing this?!" Mallory yelled out before having to grit her teeth to keep from yelling out. I tried to focus in a losing battle as I grew dizzy from the changes taking over me; all the while wondering where our three teammates were, as he hoped they could fix this somehow. I looked at the doctor with a pained glare as I attempted, "Ya realize Heart's already human, this won't do anythin'... to...her..." I began to waver further as my body began to shift and change. "Why? Simple really... science! And as for your... Heart... with my specimen I obtained from her, there seems to be something in her makeup that I wasn't expecting... and I wish to pull it out to see what it is!" He said with a cackle, wringing his hands together as he watched our metamorphosis. Heart: Meanwhile Nosedive and I hurried through the rather deserted streets, hoping to find any one of our teammates. Along the way, I tried to tell her brother about the figure tailing Duke and I earlier, and the scuffle with the hybrid villagers. Nosedive was in a bit of shock to hear this, having told me about the beach show and mellow shops he had visited. As the two of us tried to catch up on what was happening now, out from a nearby alley the trench coated figure from earlier emerged. His feelers twitching, a second set of arms emerged from his coat. "Must... go now... save selves..." Nosedive immediately grabbed me by my shoulder as I went on defense at first. Hearing his words though, I paused, "Go? Where are our teammates?" "Easy sis," Nosedive said before turning to the partial bug man, "What's going on here? Are you all aliens like us or something?" "Not aliens... once man... the professor... he did this to us..." He chittered, looking down at his malformed body, "Will do the same... to you...and friends... must go now!" My eyes widened in sheer horror, while Nosedive choked back a gag reflex, "Man...That's...wait? Professor?" Suddenly we looked to one another before turning back to the former human, my brother questioning, "Where are they?" "We can't leave them here," I pleaded while approaching him carefully, gently placing a hand against one of his newer arms, "And maybe we can help you somehow? Please?" He began to look away, letting out a worried whine, "Can't... no... not take you... he will... do worse..." "We will try to find them either way, but it will go faster with your help," I attempted, trying to focus on fixing the problem over..."We're more worried about what he could be doing to our friends right now." He paused for a moment, a concerned look crossing his face... before he gave a nod. "Will lead.. but will not join... he will hurt if found..." "No problem man," Nosedive replied. "Thank you," I chimed in. With that we began following his lead. As we did, Nosedive attempted to ask, "So what did he do to you? Er...how I mean?" Guiding the two of us, the roach man slowly hobbled, looking back at us occasionally. As we asked him about what happened to him, he paused, his feelers going down. "Was... sick... he offered help... he lied...my brother too..." "This is crazy. Can't we go on vacation without something happening?" Nosedive grumbled. "There are others right? The guys that took Duke? You were trying to warn us before weren't you?" I realized. Just as we continued on, we would hear the footsteps of a lone figure. Easing our suddenly tense nerves, was our brother's voice calling out to us, "Dive? Heart?" Sure enough, Wildwing hurried over, relief crossing his face to see us both safe. As we reunited, the insect man began to cower at first, until he realized the strongly built duck wasn't coming to attack him. Looking through his multitude of fingers, he gave a weak smile, "You friend too?" Wildwing turned to the mutated human and gave a firm nod, "As long as you are." "We think that crack med doctor survived somehow, this has his fingerprints all over it, bro," Nosedive mentioned with a souring tone. "They took Tanya, have you seen Mallory or Grin?" Wildwing replied. "No, and they have Duke too," I answered with growing unease. "We'll get them back sis," Wildwing assured while resting a hand on my shoulder. "Lead the way then," the team captain requested of the bug like man. He looked over us with his bulging eyes, and gave a nod. His misshapen body trundled as he headed through the backstreets, until eventually he found a sewer grate. Twisting it off, he looked at the three of us, and grimaced, "Might want to take breath of good air before going down." We followed his suggestion and then went on in. The trio of us stepped cautiously, with Wildwing taking the front, looking for traps and guards that might be lurking in the tunnels we searched through. Though as I placed my hand against the wall, I noticed something I never had before. Covering my wrist, was a rough patch of blue, what looked like, scales? Brushing a hand over it, I found they were not coming off. "Something else the matter girly-girl?" Nosedive asked from behind me. I shook my head, ignoring the scales I now realized were on both wrists, "Just worried about the others." As we descended into the stinking darkness below, the foul stench twisting our stomachs. Stepping into the surpringling large sewers, the roach man lurched forward, "So... you know of professor?" "Yeah, we've dealt with that creep a few times before," Nosedive grumbled, "And we're going to send him packing again!" "When did all of this start? How many others has he done this to?" Wildwing asked. "Many others, taken, promised, lied... or wished to join him...like my brother he somehow convinced once his change was complete..." He muttered out, carefully looking around to make sure we weren't being followed. "Some wanted to be... like this..." "How is he doing this?" I inquired, "Is it just random?" He looked back at me, and shook his head, "He decides... he thought... I would survive anything... so far I have." "I'm sorry," Wildwing offered, "Maybe there's a way to reverse this? Do you know how the process works?" I wanted to go faster, but knew this wouldn't be wise. As did Nosedive, who quickly put a hand on my shoulder again, "The others will be okay. We'll get to them in time!" Nosedive: As we slogged through the sewers, the roach lifted up an arm. Looking back at us, his face contorted in fear, "Wait! Stop! We... not alo-" As he spoke, a tentacle bursted out of the thick water, slamming into the insect man and tossing him against the wall. Wildwing instinctively raised up his shield, giving cover to his siblings. I quickly drew my blaster. Heart reached for her glaive, activating the staff of it. With this, the three of us hurried forward to give aid. As it tossed him, Wildwing shielded him as I fired the weapon in my hands. With me blasting at the flexing limb, it grasped at me in place of the transformed human, grabbing me by the leg and dragging me to the filth. The roach staggered up, leaning into the wall. "Am... okay... carapace protected me.." Heart wasn't listening as she grabbed for my hand to try and pull me back towards them. Wildwing fired a puck from his gauntlet, "Go find another snack!" The puck struck the rubbery mass, as it let out a squeal of pain, but that only tightened it's grip. Further it pulled me into the sludge, submerging me up to my waist in the mire and muck. Heart: However, I started to be pulled along with my brother, unable to notice the scales spreading up my arms. Nor did I see the sparks of electricity as it began dancing around me, contacting the slime we were being pulled into. My focus remained on keeping hold of my twin's hand. Wildwing continued to fire into where the tendril had emerged from as well. The ooze would singe and burn at the crackling energy. After the bombardment from Wildwing, the tendril would let go of his brother, and retreated into the filthy water. Stumbling forward, Roach cringed, wringing his four hands together. "Is... is he hurt?" Wildwing hurried over to help Heart pull their brother back up. "Dive, are you okay?!" Wildwing asked as the blonde grabbed for his hand. "Yeah...just in need of a shower!" Nosedive grumbled as he tried to brush some slime off. I was catching my breath a bit, the energy in me trying to settle for the time being. "You're getting better at directing it," Wildwing noted while looking over our brother, "Not a singed feather that I can see." I attempted a smile, but winced when thinking of the few zaps Duke had endured in this process. Before the calm could last too much longer, a scream echoed down the manmade tunnel, drawing our attention. "Tanya?!" Wildwing gasped in alarm as he charged forward with the two of us following after him. "Wait up bro!" Nosedive called after him as we gave chase. As we hurried down the tunnels, the roach man rushed after us. Reaching a steel door, we were able to make short work of it as Wildwing blasted it open. Inside we would find what looked like a crude laboratory, and along with the strange machines and devices, we would come across... Our friends? Strapped down on dissection tables, they one by one began to stir. Before we could say anything, a rabbit man lurched forward from the corner of the room with a mad grin over his fuzzy face, "Oooh. You find others! Master will be pleased!" However, we were in too much shock to register this threat at the moment as what looked like our teammates began to groan as they awoke. At least... they sounded like our comrades? For as we looked upon them, they would appear very different from how we knew them. Their feathers were gone, leaving bare skin under the fabric of their vacation threads. Both girls had very peach toned skin, Grin's was pale despite the darker feathers he'd had, and Duke's had taken on a hazelnut hue. Their hair was the same, except for that of the older drake. Long ebony strands had filled in, but maintained the premature white streak through the bangs. Their beaks were gone, leaving lips in their place. Even their hands had changed to have an extra digit each. The red head groaned, "Why...why does it feel so cold...?" My brothers and I were too stunned to move at first, barely registering that a rabbit man had spoken. "What did he do?" Wildwing managed to question. "He worked his miracle! Now, you will be blessed too!" The rabbit said with a cackle, while he turned towards the bug man, "You brought them here, but not as offering I see... Master will have fun making you melt, brother!" The roach chittered with anger, clutching his four hands, "This change has warped your senses!" "Blessed?!" Nosedive exclaimed as he looked upon our teammates with widened eyes. By now I was already moving forward, trying to get by the rabbit. Wildwing took aim at the rabbit man with his gauntlet, as though daring him to make any sort of move, "How do we fix this, creep?" "Simply.. you don't. Why would you decry my gifts?" Spoke the doctor, as he pulled himself out from the shadows, a grin with pointed fangs shining in the darkness as all four limbs brought him into the light. Nosedive was already taking aim at the twisted doctor, ignoring his twisting stomach at the sight of his morphed form. I, however, was already at Duke's side. My eyes wide with shock still, I watched as he shivered in a semi conscious state, groaning, "...What...what happened...?" He opened his eye slowly at first, until seeing me before him, "Heart?!" Duke: Instinct kicked in before I remembered I was still restrained, again by the metal cuffs, with the webbing cleaned off. Nonetheless, I tried to get up when I saw the arachnid morphed doctor nearby. "How on Earth did you do this?" Wildwing demanded. "Oh simple really, just a matter of epigenetics. Genes rub off onto one species from another occasionally through close contact, and while most of the time it just becomes junk DNA... ever so rarely they can integrate in a productive way... and I'm just taking the liberty to bring it out," Protorious stated smugly, creeping towards them ever so slowly. "Well now you get to turn them back, diptwist!" Nosedive warned with his finger on the trigger of his blaster. Behind Heart, I could hear the others were gradually stirring further, becoming more aware of their new forms. Mallory tried not to freak out, Tanya started trying to figure out how to reverse what had been done, while Grin scanned the room in search of where the rabbit had gone to. Heart was trying to get me free when she noticed something on her hands briefly, but focused on my bindings. When I looked to see, I saw the scales shimmering as they spread up her wrists a bit. "Heart?" Letting out a chuckle, the once human spider shook his head, "Why would I change them back? I need to see how far I can bring them along... what else I can add to them... I must continue this experiment!" As he brought himself closer, Grin would realize the rabbit man was gone just as I did. The roach cowered at the sight of the spider scientist, shaking in his boots. Wildwing stepped up, shielding the bug man. "Add to us?!" Mallory exclaimed in a rushing fury, "We're not your guinea pigs!" Grin began snapping his restraints with his strength, adjusting to his altered frame with surprising calm. "I say we just squash this creep, and let Tanya figure out how to fix this! He already almost killed our sister with his experiments!" Nosedive grumbled through anger and lingering shock. Heart had helped get my wrists free by this point, and was now working on my ankles while I tried to steady myself. Watching us break out of their bounds, Protorious just let out a snicker... as the rabbit jumped from behind one of contraptions, with the ray in hand. He took aim at the two brothers, and blasted the epicgene blaster upon them! Wildwing and Nosedive dropped to their knees as the changes began. "Wing! Dive!" Heart exclaimed. Yet before we could do anything, the rabbit turned a switch on his device and now hit Heart with it's rays. Unable to leap away in time, Heart stumbled half onto the table she was freeing me from, both of us watching as those scales began to spread up her arms and shoulders. "Heart?" I looked to her, pushing myself up to catch her as she fell into me. The two brothers quickly became like our now human teammates and myself, with Wildwing gaining platinum curls to replace the feathers on his head. Their skin tone was fairly light. They gained digits on their hands as we had. Before long their beaks were replaced with human lips, allowing the mask to fall away from Wildwing's face, luckily before it's sense of defense kicked on. As it clattered upon the floor, they looked up at us in shared shock, trying to get to their feet in an unease daze. Heart, however, wasn't sure what was happening to her. Nor was I. "Oooh... quite an interesting development... especially with.. Heart was it? I am dying to see what comes out with you." I had managed to get my legs free, and was pulling Heart into a better grip as she clung to me now. "Heart, hang on," I instructed, only to find she had little other choice as more scales emerged. As she clung to me, I could hear the front of my shirt tearing from her grip as claws grew out from her fingernails. "What on Earth...?!" Wildwing exclaimed. "You're messing with her! You must have slipped some Saurian DNA in that gadget or something!" Nosedive shouted, pushing himself to his feet. Both he and Wildwing were unsteady as they stood up, there feet more human like and new to balance with. "I did no such thing! I suspected there was something.. different about her! And how right I was! What you see here is something that isn't added on... but something tied to her inherit genetic make up! You're getting to see what she really is now." He mocked us, rubbing his chin with a pointed forelimb. "What she really is?" Mallory questioned with growing shared confusion. Heart's scales continued to spread. At this, the roach was emboldened. Letting out a shriek, he rammed into the rabbit man, grappling him with all four arms, pummeling him over and over again. At this, the Proffessor just laughed. Wildwing: Seeing my team thrown into such chaos, I gave a frustrated growl, "That's enough you whacked out genetic reject!" With that I forced myself to charge forward, checking the doctor into the wall with my armored shoulder. Nosedive took the signal to find the levers to free our friends. In the spiraling confusion, Duke tried to get up from the table as Heart groaned and growled with sparking energy lashing out from her now. "I've got ya..." he attempted as he almost stumbled from trying balance himself. Knocked into the wall, the doctor continued his mad laughter, spraying me with a thick, viscous webbing, "I nearly have half a dozen of you... and my transformation has been leaving me peckish... perhaps I'll drain you!" Meanwhile, the roach and the rabbit continued to brawl, the long earred goon kicking at the bug. In the fight, the epicgenetic ray was knocked out of the rabbits hand, tossed across the floor. My brother, done with being patient, released a volley of pucks at the half spider to knock him back, "Man, you're not helping with the fact that I hate spiders!" Tanya, free from her bindings with Grin's aid, went to try and grab the ray, while Mallory covered her. Grin hurried to aid the bug man now, grabbing the rabbit by the foot and holding him upside down, "It must be my lucky day!" The rabbit kicked and screeched, but Grin gave enough help for the insect to get up, and sock the bunny in the face. Distracted by the barrage, the Proffessor didn't notice Tanya, as he skittered over to Dive, and slashed at him with a razor sharp forelimb. Nosedive dodged the hit and kicked the arachnid in the chest to try and knock him back. Mallory now was freeing Wildwing from the sticky webbing. The kick landed, but the boot did little to his hard carapace. His mouth widened, as a pair of giant fangs emerged, dripping with venom. He then rushed at Nosedive, ready to sink his teeth into the now human. Tanya looked over the device, trying to look it over in the allotted time. She fumbled her shaky 5 digit hands over it, and found the switch. With a click, the changes at least stopped, but didn't reverse. Heart gasped for breath as she about collapsed into Duke, who in turn lifted her up, having found as much balance as he could. By now Nosedive had jumped back from the half spider's maw. Heart: Hearing the commotion going on around me, I tried to summon up some energy, catching Duke and the scientist as I did. Duke gritted his teeth as the electricity danced around us and then went out, his jawline feeling so strange to him as he did this without a beak. The other bolt struck at the twisted scientist, giving Nosedive the chance to get away and rush over to our brother, "Wing? Are you okay bro?" As he was zapped, the doctor spasmed violently. After a few moments, he pulled himself back up, venom oozing from his maw. "I will coccoon every one of you, and turn you each into lesser creatures!" At that, the roach rushed to Tanya, and went to yank the blaster from her hand. "Must... stop... him!" I had little choice still but to cling to Duke, my voice gone from a terror I couldn't remember taking it's hold. I tried to refocus, knowing they needed me to. "Come on, Heart," Duke urged. Behind me, Tanya pulled the ray back from the roach's grasp, "What are you trying to do?! We have to fix this!" Duke had little choice but to set me on my feet so he could try and help, all the while keeping me safely behind him. It was now that I could see Mallory looking around, and finding our weapons and gear on a nearby table. Immediately her and Duke went for it, leaving me as I grasped at the table with my clawed hands digging into it's edge. "You will.. be fine.. return to normal.. needs multiple doses... too late for me... but I must stop him!" the roach insisted urgently. "Wait!" Tanya attempted to no avail. With that, using all four arms he pulled the blaster away, and took aim at the professor. Blasting it upon Protorious, the scientist let out a yell, before freezing up, his carapace thickening and covering his entire body, stuck in his own exterior skeleton from head to every foot. Wildwing: As the ray had fired, I had hurried over with Nosedive, so close with Heart, shielded them both once again. Duke and the others watched on in horror as the bug man fired at the doctor. With the professor stuck in place, the roach fell to the ground, shaking violently. Still held onto by Grin, the rabbit began to try to break out of his grip, "How dare you hurt the master?!" Grin grappled the rabbit, but fumbled with his new digits in this attempt. I could see as Heart was too afraid to move from our protection, as Nosedive had pulled her into a hug of sorts. To add to this offered strength, I kept my shield up as and asked, "What is it doing to him?" "Mutating... him... further..." The roach wheezed out, holding himself up on trembling his arms. The rabbit, now finally free again, hurried over to it's master, shocked at how he was now stuck in his own exoskeleton. "We... need go... now!" the roach gasped through his lingering fears. Tanya grabbed for the ray again, quickly switching it off before it could do any more damage. However, I was not so forgiving as I hurried over and grabbed the rabbit by the scruff of his neck, "Going somewhere fuzzball?" Tanya looked over the device and then went to find the notes sprawled out on the desk in the corner. Looking up at the me, the rabbit shrugged his shoulders nervously... before there was a crackling coming from the doctor. Chunks of the shell would fall off, as small fleshy tendrils began to emerge from thge cracks. Everyone looked on, bracing for a fight in our semi familiar forms. Heart now managed to pull away slightly from her twin. Duke drew his saber, while Mallory took aim just in case. "What on Earth?" I stammered while keeping my siblings covered again. The roach, back up on his feet, began to back away, his arms shaking. "I said we run!" As he said that, one of the arms broke off, as a massive tentacle jutted out and and began to lash out wildly. Duke: Mallory fired at the tendril, knocking it away from the siblings. I hurried forth, blocking another tendril. Wildwing maintained his hold on the rabbit, while Nosedive went to give aid against another tentacle. Heart, pushing herself up to her feet, went to try and help Tanya, but was left in the open as she started to move. The hardened shell cracked and began to shatter, as more of the tentacles slithered out. The exoskeleton completely crumbling off, revealing a writhing mass of tentacle, broiling flesh, all with the doctor's face in the center. He let out a mad laugh, his mouth spreading unnaturally wide, "I have reached my pinnacle now! But... I can't let you get away!" The group of us all looked on in sickened horror at the doctor. "Pinnacle of insanity maybe," Nosedive half gagged while trying to take aim at some part of the tentacled being. Tanya returned her attention to the device and forms on the desk. Grin and Mallory braced for a fight. Wildwing maintained his grip on the rabbit to keep him from escaping. All the while I waited for the next attack, only now seeing how Heart had frozen in her movements at the reveal of the further transformed scientist. Way ahead of the group, the roach was down the corridor, looking back at us from down the other hall, "Run run run run!" Meanwhile, the rabbit, squirming and fighting Wildwing, broke loose. Running towards it's master, he raised his arms up, "Behold! The master's glorious new form! What can I do to-" Suddenly a tentacle slammed into the rabbit, while the doctor gave a sneer. "I always found his groveling irritating..." "Odd considering your own attitude towards Dragonus," Wildwing commented in disgust. Nosedive attempted to take aim at the ever moving tendrils. While readying to make some sort of defense, I found that my balance was still a bit off as I stood with my saber drawn. I would also notice as Heart froze, taking in as I did, with those scales spreading over her further, almost as though in defense of some sort that she wasn't fully aware of. At that, the doctor surged forth, the horrible mass hurtling at our group, multitudes of boneless arms slapping and slamming at us. Grin charged forward to grapple a tendril or two. Mallory kicked at another. Wildwing shot at a third and forth. Nosedive dodged another and shot at it to push it back. I slipped out of another's grasp, while trying to keep balanced. Heart noticed another limb reach for Tanya, and went to slash at it with the claws she'd grown, almost out of strange instinct that made her recoil right afterwards. During their brawl with the doctor, the roach, looking back at us, let out an whimpering sigh... before rushing back. He would grab at who he could, and try to drag them away, "Must flee! Safety!" "If we run, then he'll continue to harm others! We have to stop him before he gets loose on the island!" Wildwing stated firmly. At this, we continued to wrestle with, and shoot at, the ever moving limbs. "What exactly are you trying to accomplish like this anyway?" Nosedive demanded. "You know... I don't even know anymore... but I don't want to stop." He cackled, out, grabbing Mallory by the arm, before he began to swing her around and tossed her into the others. "Mal!" Nosedive cried as he quickly caught her as she was thrown into him, knocking them back into one of the side tables. The red head groaned from irritation and the bruising that would form, "Thanks..." As another tendril went to strike them, Grin pulled at it to draw him away from the two. Finding the courage in him building up, the roach grabbed the electric prod left on the table, which was possibly used on him log ago, and rushed the doctor. Jabbing it into the rubbery flesh, spark flew as the tentacled creature let out a yell, and slithered away in pain, crawling down a pipe that such a mass shouldn't be able to squeeze through. Wildwing went to grab at a tendril, that only slipped out of his gauntlet. "We can't let him get out like that!" our team captain reiterated as he quickly got to his own unbalanced feet. "We need more time to get used to this..." Mallory commented as Grin helped her and Nosedive both up. Tanya was grabbing up the notes after glancing over them once, "Well, according to these we won't need to for very long. With only one exposure the effects don't last." "That's good to hear at least," Grin replied. Heart: While this was being discovered and discussed, I scanned the room of the nearby vents, listening to what could be heard slithering within them. "Guys...?" I started to ask. Yet as I tried to warn the others; bursting out from the vent was a tentacle, attempting to wrap itself around me. More flailed out, lashing and flopping about erratically... it appared he was having trouble adjusting to his new form as well. "Sis!" Wildwing exclaimed as he took aim at the tendril and fired. The slippery limb managed to evade the hit and grab hold of Heart's leg before I could move back enough, quickly pulling me towards the vent. Duke hurried over, reaching for my hand as I was digging my new claws into the tendril pulling me into the vent. "I can't even use the mask to get a read on him," Wildwing commented with growing irritation. "Well we know he's here," Nosedive retorted, "Maybe we can chase him out?" At this, I looked to Duke, "Let go, and stay out of the vents!" "What?" Duke questioned in alarm as energy began to spark around me. Nosedive looked to me and thought quickly, "I think I got it. Chase him out and we can catch him!" Duke clearly looked uneasy about this idea, but would have little chance to argue as I slipped my hand out from his grasp. Allowing myself to be pulled into the burst open vent. With me now in his clutched, the transformed doctor looked me over, a sick gleam in his eyes, "So, they left you did they? Don't worry, I'm still here.. I have so much to learn from you!" I quickly looked around the vents, finding the one leading to the other end of the tunnel we had come through before the lab. I listened for the others as half went in that direction while the others remained in the lab. Electricity began to emerge from my small frame, "Here's a lesson then! How fast can you go to not get turned into fried tentacles?" He smirked, as he began to squeeze. "I think I can adapt... question is, can you?" With that, his crushing grip tightened, the fleshy tendril acting like a vice on my midsection. My scales hardened out of an instinct I was trying to get a handle on. The shimmering blue layer spread over most of my frame, and my claws dug into the tightening tentacle as I yelled out, "Guys!" Refocusing the best I could, sparks of energy lashed out at the doctor in my defense. In a flash of light against the reflective metal of the vent tunnels, I would see that my gem like eyes had shifted to be more serpentine in nature as I growled, "It seems I can!" The electricity coursed through his body, sending all his limbs into mad spasms. As he flailed about, he let got of me, yelling all the while. "Blast it! How dare you!" Quickly I slipped out from his weakened limb and readjusted into a stance well suited for crawling through vents. Ducking under another tendril, I let out another whip of energy to push the doctor back. I focused the electricity to not give him anyway out but the tunnel I allotted for him. Following my plan, the doctor was forced through the tunnel, trying to avoid my attacks and retaliate in return, "I will turn you into what you really are! I will find out!" "I'm one of them!" I insisted with another burst of energy chasing him down the path. With overcharged electricity coursing through me, I was vaguely aware of the effects on my body as my teeth grew subtly sharper. If anything, my statement was to reassure myself as a part of me was quickly growing afraid of these developments, "You found that out the first time we dealt with you!" "You're not one of them. You're not even a human girl. If anything... you resemble the saurians the most!" He snidely commented, before slipping through the end of the tunnel out of my reach. This comment had hit it's mark as it nearly caused me to pause in my attack, the words digging deep. An odd fury began to take form as I fought through, "No!" My voice lashed out along with that electricity, nearly catching the doctor in it's anger. Duke: Nosedive, Wildwing, and I all guarded the vent in growing alarm as we heard Heart's outburst, but remained ready as the transformed doctor emerged. "Going somewhere creep?" Wildwing growled in warning with his puck launching gauntlet aimed and ready. "... in fact yesss..." He said with a grimace, "Dragonus... I need a lift, and quick!" With that, the tentacled horror vanished before our eyes, but not before he let out one last thing, "She isn't what she seems! A shame I couldn't find out myself what she is! Perhaps you will?" The brothers fired in vain, their pucks passing through his disappearing form. At his comment, I gave pause while looking to my teammates. When Heart didn't crawl out of the vent after the doctor, even moments later, I grew tense. Energy could be seen sparking out erratically, but we heard nothing else. "Sis?" Nosedive called, "Come on out!" I was already venturing in when she didn't answer. Following the brief bursts of electricity, trying not to be caught by them, I soon found Heart huddled in a semi ball, her face buried in her blue scale covered arms. "Heart?" I attempted while approaching her within that already tight space. "I'm not one of them! I'm not a Saurian!" She insisted, her voice muffled by her arms. My remaining eye widened to hear this. Though looking over her, I would quickly find the cause of this alarming statement. Through the tears in her clothing, I could see more scales now washed over her trembling frame. I reached for her, nearly getting shocked by another bolt that I ducked underneath of just in time, and managed to grasp her arm carefully. She looked up quickly with her now serpentine sapphire eyes, but I didn't back away. Instead, I crept closer to her, slipping a hand to her face as I caressed her cheek, "You're not one of them, love. Skin, feathers, or scales, you're our teammate, an' my sweetheart, right?" When she eased her frame from it's balled up form, I swiftly pulled her against me, "It's okay, Heart. Let's get back to the others an' we'll figure out how to fix this, okay?" My words pushed through to her it seemed as she nodded her head, hugging me back now. With my persistant support, we then found our way back out of the vent. We would soon join the others in the lab. Tanya had already started working on the device used against used, "I think I know how to undo his experiment, and even improve it!" She looked to the bugman, and recaptured rabbit. The latter, needing restraining, would fight and struggle, "No! You can't! You mustn't!" Meanwhile, the roach gave a sigh, as he skittered towards Tanya, "But... it might be... too late...?" "Not exactly. By these notes, you would need just need to be exposed to humans for the process to reverse," Tanya replied. "Aren't most of the people on the island changed though?" Nosedive questioned. "Yes, but as it stands, we currently count as humans," Tanya pointed out. Nosedive glanced around at the others, "Oh yeah!" "Would it help Heart?" Wildwing asked while noting their sister holding onto me rather quiety. "Quite possibly, and I think I can advance the effects like he did with us," Tanya said excitedly, "by switching a few things here and there, that should do it!" She then gestured for Grin to hold the rabbit in place beside the bug man. "You too, Heart," Tanya added gently as she pulled away to join them. Following the former duck's instructions, both grimaced, one in hope that they would be human, and the other in hopes it wouldn't work. Tanya granted a count down to brace themselves. At "1!" the ray was fired and their shifted forms began to morph into their former human frames. Waves of changes pushed away their animal traits, reshaping them into the shells they once knew. When it was finished, the two stood before the team as humans again. Heart, however, had only partially changed back it seemed. Her claws and teeth had shifted to normal, and some of her scales broken away. Yet some remained, even as her eyes shifted back. "What gives?" Nosedive asked. "I don't know, it worked for the other two," Tanya replied. The two, looking like brothers, were reverted back to their human forms. Both tall and handsome, looked over themselves. "I'm... i'm human again! Thank you so much!" "I'm.. I'm human again! Curse you!" "Do either of you know why this didn't work for Heart?" Mallory asked. "Also how do we change back?" Grin inquired. "I'm sorry, but... I don't really know how such things work... this is the first I've seen somebody turned back!" One explained, while the other sulked, "I can't thank you enough though! I was worried I was going to have to molt!" "Well, I think that will just happen over a day or so, maybe a little longer. We were only exposed once, so the effects won't last on us," Tanya explained, "It's really just a waiting game for us." "No problem," Tanya replied with a smile that felt strange without a beak, "Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for this to fix itself." "What about Heart, that creep said he didn't add anything to her," Mallory commented, "So where is this coming from?" I placed a hand to my chin while looking over the partially scaled woman looking to us in confusion, "Well...it could have to do with her home realm, something left over from bein' around magic. Maybe Asteroth has somethin' to do with this?" "We could go to the other Anaheim and see what Borg has to say on this?" Grin suggested. "Though we should probably wait until we have fixed this," Mallory mentioned while glancing at her temporary frame. Wildwing looked to his sister, "Are you okay otherwise while we wait?" Heart gave a nod, now that the energy in her had settled it seemed, "I...I think so...?" Nosedive then wondered aloud, "So do either of you know how long it takes for us to change back?" "A week." The forlorn once rabbit replied, "One week, and then you'll be back to normal... while I'm stuck as a naked ape..." "Thanks so much again, but, we need to re-intergrate into normal society now. Best of luck to all of you. Come on bro." With that, the once insect grabbed his brother by the hand, and practically had to drag him out. "I think this place is just weird in general..." Mallory commented as the two left. "Depending on the sort of contact, it can be shorter or a little longer," Tanya added while reading the notes over a bit more, now that it was just us, "So what he says is on the level...but..." Tanya glanced over at me briefly, but I had been noticed already. Raising a brow, I asked, "What is it Tanya?" Heart looked to me with concern, but wasn't sure as to why either. Again I asked our team tech, "Somethin' wrong Tanya?" "Not really...but uh...let's just say it might take you a little longer possibly to change back, Duke...based on your own...um...human contact...?" Tanya glanced at Heart a moment and back to me. Immediately I connected the dots, and for the first time, Heart would get to see me blush. Though she would follow suit just as quickly. "But we will change back? All of us?" Wildwing asked, clearing the awkward air abit. "We should," Tanya assured. "That's a relief," Nosedive sighed, before adding, "Although this does give us an excuse to get out of Phil's public appearances!" "The true vacation begins!" Grin laughed, sparking a shared humor with the others. At this, I looked to Heart as she seemed to withdraw a bit with lingering unease. Seeing this, I walked over and took her by the hand, "It'll be okay, sweetheart. We'll sort this out." "I don't know what this is?" she started before taking in my changes now, "...Duke?" It seemed we had all been lingering between shock and survival. For we now had a moment to really absorb how we all looked in these temporary frames. Everything felt strange and familiar in some odd manner. It was a tad colder without feathers, but the tropical air we found above would help with this. Though getting to the beach house without onlookers giving us expressions of shock or confusion was nearly impossible. Without their supposed boss, the more antagonistic islanders had seemed to back off, possibly to enjoy their time as hybrids before reverting back to being human. Tanya offered to assist with those that wanted to change back, still having the ray. Some took her up on this. Others just walked off in irritation. Eventually we would find our way back to the rental house and chaned into our casual threads again. "This is so bizzare," Mallory commented while picking up a fork with a four fingered hand now, getting used to the feeling of it. "Wait til Phil sees us!" Nosedive laughed with a wide smile over his face. "I have a feeling he's going to try and tuck us away so the public doesn't see," Tanya noted, "Not that I mind that too much." "That won't work," I mused playfully from my seat, leaning back a bit in it. I was practicing balancing and catching myself with my altered feet, adapting rather quickly. Beside me, Heart had seemed to cheer up a bit at least while getting dinner prepared with everyone. More of her scales had gone away, but some lingered on her wrists, shoulders, and arms. Which is why she was wearing a long sleeved blouse that flared at the ends to hide her hands a bit. "The weirdest part is not having a beak, I keep missing my mouth," Nosedive commented while nearly demonstrating with his drink, "See?!" "Well, it's only a week of it and we'll be back to normal," Tanya assured. "For most of us," Mallory teased me sitting across from her and Nosedive. I gave a shrug, "Not much I can do on that." Though as I said this, and I glanced at Heart, an idea emerged. I noted her adjusting her sleeves to hide her arms from us, and I shook my head. With this, I landed my chair with better grace, and got to my feet. Then I reached a hand out to her. For a moment, I was surprised to see her hesitating. Not allowing her to shy away though, I reached over and grabbed her gently by the hand to pull her up. "Well, while we're here, might as well make the most of it, right?" I mused, "Care to adventure with me?" "...Duke?" she nearly shyed away. "Come on, sweetheart?" I encouraged while stealing her away from the others. This left our teammates to adjust and decompress after a mostly successful battle. I, however, found some curiosity pulling at me as I pulled Heart along. "Duke...what are you...?" Heart attempted once we were outside beneath the setting sun, and it's dazzling hues decorating the sky above us. "I jus' wanted to make sure you were okay," I told her. "It's you I'm worried about," she admitted to me at last. "I'm fine, Heart," I said in surprise, before chuckling softly, "A tad colder than usual, but otherwise I'm alright." Watching her quietly, I noted her folded arms over her chest, as though she were trying to hide away. At this I raised a brow and asked, "Didn't we tell each other we didn't need to do that?" When she looked to me a tad bewildered by this, I pushed a bit more, "Do I need to hide my scars? It'll be a bit harder now." "No, Duke!" she replied in a bit of alarm, "I didn't mean to...I just..." she glanced away, unsure. "You're scared?" I ventured more carefully in tone. She nodded her head. "Do they hurt at all?" I asked. "No...not really. They felt hot at first, but once they settled it was just as though they were apart of me," she replied. "Do ya think this is a part of you, of who ya used to be?" I pushed. "I don't know...I just found out I had magic, and now this...? What is this?" she began to question in growing alarm. I quickly rested my hands on her shoulders, easing her into a hug, "Hey, hey...it's okay, Heart. You are still you, an' I love ya." "I love you too," she said into my chest as she wrapped her arms around my lean waist. "We'll figure this out, an' I will be with ya, no matter what it takes," I promised. When she pulled away to look up at me, I could see her trying to get a little used to my new form as I was. I had tucked the long ebony strands of hair into a short ponytail at the base of my neck, with some still loose to frame the right side of my face. My shirt was buttoned up to just below my collar bone. "Does it bother you?" she echoed. I shook my head, echoing back, "Not as long as I have you with me, love." She brushed a gentle hand against my throat, and under my collar to feel the warm flesh hidden from the fabric. As she ran her fingers along some of my scars, I smiled still, "I have nothin' to hide from ya." As she blushed, it encouraged me to admit, "There is somethin' I'd like to try?" With bewilderment touching Heart's eyes, I smirked while pulling her close to me. I slid a hand up to her cheek, and then traced her lips with my fingers. I'd always been fond of finding ways to be close to her. Onlooking humans would ask how we managed to do this in the first place. When we'd first gotten together, we hadn't really questioned. We sort of just developed our fashion of kiss, like everything else about being together. In a way, it really made it to where only the other would fit, knowing how to react to the other to meet in the middle. Even still, I couldn't resist as I leaned forward and closed the distance between us now, breathing in her warm words, "I love you, Duke." She pulled away slightly as I echoed, "I love ya too, Heart." Then I kissed her again, enjoying it no matter how I got to be with her. Proving to her that we would always be this way, no matter what else changed...we wouldn't.