Author : Wild-Melody

Disclaimer : Standard, don't own it. Don't own nothing other than a car that is more trouble than it's worth…oh, and the cloths on my back.

Warning : and that is what? Nothing at the moment since I haven't wrote the story yet.

Well, sit back, relax and enjoy the next installment.

Surprise

Chapter 7 : The Poisoned Stab

The Migrator skidded to a stop and the four ducks cautiously stepped out as they wearily looked around. Come out, come out where ever you are. I know you're here. Mallory thought, her eyes peeked around, looking deep into the shadows. Nothing, she saw absolutely nothing.

"I know they're here." Wildwing said. "Spread out, Mallory, you're with me." Wildwing ordered. She was about to argue the point until she got THE LOOK from him. 'I am the leader, don't argue with me!' that look. She bit her tongue and followed him.

He walked toward the warehouse, the evidence of someone prying the door open very apparent. "Not the Saurians usual style." Mal commented.

Wildwing turned around and glared at her, he put a finger up to his beak indicating for her to keep quiet. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared back at him, but just perceptibly nodded her head. Fine, she thought, You wanna act this way, so will I!

He moved slowly toward the opened door of the warehouse, she fell into step behind him, without a word. A sudden tachyon beam just barely missed his head at the same time his comm unit went off. "Wing, we got lizards!" Duke yelled at the top of his lungs. Wing could hear the lazer fire in the background.

Another shot just barely missed Mallory, she dived for cover behind some crates that were piled outside of the warehouse. Wildwing was just moments behind her. "So do we Duke, so you're on your own for now. Meet back at the Migrator as soon as you can." He flipped the top of the comm unit shut at looked over at Mallory. She had her puck launcher out and was shooting. Not wasting anytime, is she? He thought as he aimed the built in puckgun on his wrist armor. A few shots directed towards where the tachyon fire was coming from and there was no more sizzling bolts of energy.

Mal cautiously got up. "That was way to easy." She said softly. She looked around, something just didn't feel right.

Are you going to join me?

She gasped, wildly looking around. Wildwing looked at her curiously. She shook her head, indicating that nothing was amiss. He continued to survey their surroundings, looking for any out of place shadow or something similar thereof.

I thought I had two days to think about it. She said

You do, I was just wondering if you'd made a choice yet. Will you join me or do you need more time to think it over?

I highly doubt it. She answered.

What? he asked.

That I'll join you. You've got to be crazy if you think I'd join the likes of you!

Then don't blame me when someone dies because of your bad choice.

She heard a sound behind her, Wildwing must've heard it too for he spun around at the same time she did. A strange Drake materialized there behind them, strange to Wildwing anyhow. Mallory gasped, not knowing that they could materialize like Wraith. You have a lot to learn Flaming Bird. And I could've taught you everything, but you had to make the wrong choice.

Nightshade suddenly lunged for her and they momentarily grappled with each other. Mallory tried to bring her puckgun up to bare on him but he kept moving and she couldn't get a bead on him. Hold still! she cried silently in her mind. I'm gonna shoot your fucking worthless hide one way or another!

Such language for a lady.

Haven't we been through this once before? Mallory quipped. Just hold the hell still would ya?

You're the one who is going to die Flaming Bird, not me.

My name is Mallory, get it right would you?!

Your temper will be your undoing.

And exactly what is that suppose to mean?

You will find out in the end.

We'll see about that you traitorous backstabbing jackass!

No wonder you can't get anywhere with Wildwing, no man has ever been attracted to a lady with such a terrible vocabulary.

Don't worry about my freaking personal life, you freak!

He lunged at her again. Out of nowhere he was suddenly brandishing a knife, but Mallory never saw it. Never had the chance to defend herself against it.

She never saw the blade, but she felt it. She heard Wildwing give a soft gasp but didn't have time to see what had happened to him. Pain, hot and burning, erupted through her stomach and up into her chest. She felt like she was dying. Not yet, came Nightshade's voice. It will take a few days before the poison finally kills you. Those few days will be the most painful one's you've ever felt. There is no cure on this wretched planet, besides which, I'm the only one that knows the cure. You should've said yes.

I'd rather die than side with the likes of you. Her hand instantly went to the spot where the knife had pierced her flesh and she could already feel her life's blood flowing from the wound. I'd rather die than turn my back on my team. Her world suddenly started to spin and a wave of dizziness engulfed her.

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Wildwing saw the strange Drake materialize, saw him lunge for Mallory, then everything erupted into chaos. Siege and Wraith were suddenly there, Siege firing his lazer and Wraith shooting bolts of magick every which way. Duke came running around the corner followed by the hulk that was Grin. In front of them running like the devil was on his tail was Chameleon.

He heard Mal gasp, saw her cringe. Had the strange Drake hurt her? Wildwing didn't have time to find out. Siege suddenly decided to use him for target practice. Wing returned the fire, he managed to somehow bring a pile of crates down, by richotteching pucks off of it, right on top of the huge Saurian's head. Moments later the fight was done, the Saurians and their ally, the strange Drake, had teleported out of there.

Wildwing walked over to Mallory who was kneeling on the ground, holding onto her side. "You alright?" he asked as he extended his hand to help her up.

She swatted it away and fumbled up on her own, but she didn't take her hand away from her side though. "I'm alright," she mumbled.

Wildwing moved closer to her, his hand reached out to move hers away from her side but a remark from her brought him up short. "I SAID I was alright!" she said, her voice low and serious. She turned around and walked away from him. She walked up into the Migrator and heavily sat down. Only then did she pull her hand away and look at it. Blood covered the light beige feathers of her hand, and as she looked down she noticed that blood had soaked through her purple jump suit. Oh great! she silently thought.

Quickly she covered up the wound as the others walked onto the Migrator. "Sure your alright Mal?" Wing asked as he walked past her to his seat.

"Yeah, I'm sure." She lied. She was going to die in a few days and she knew it. She could hear Nightshade's laughter echoing in her head.

Yep, I changed this one around a bit. Hope you liked. Review and let me know.