Author's Notes 6/7/02:
Hey Everyone! thanks for the great reviews on the first Chapter. This one starts a bit like my previous one, but it won't end that way!! Sorry about not posting it sooner. It's been sitting here on my computer for a little while because I wanted to tweak exactly how much I revealed in this chapter. But now, you all can read it!
~Windresss

When Nobody Wins.

Chapter 2: Slippery When Wet.


Nosedive Couldn't see. Tears blinded his view of the road before him. He knew it wasn't safe, what he was doing....but he couldn't stop, not Now....not this Close to the Pond.

All his life, there had been one constant in the ever changing world Dive found himself in. And that was his brother's love. When nobody wanted him....Wing did. At least, that's what he had thought...

But now...

The younger Flashblade shook his head, his breath hitching with his silent tears. His older brother loved him...He -did-...

but he didn't think Wing -liked- him...

The Duck hunched slightly into the wind, his arm pressed firmly to his side. The weather was really beginning to pick up, and the grumbling clouds that had recently been lingering on the horizon were now chasing the youngest team member as he shot along the road.

He needed to go somewhere before the sky split open on his head. And his arm really needed to tending to...

The first, and only, place Dive could think to go to was the Comic Shop. 'Thrash and Mookie will help me out...I'm sure of it..'

Revving the machine to faster pace, he struggled to return his attention to the road and not to the home he was leaving behind.

However, it was not to be...

*****

"CHAMELEON!"

The small lizard-like creature hurtled around the corner to the throne room, bouncing off the wall and skidding along the floor to lie sprawled at Dragaunus's feet. The large Dragon, nostrils smoking at a slow simmer, eyed his subject disdainfully. Finally, he broke the pregnant silence, and Chameleon breathed a sigh of relief.

"...A lone duck has been Spotted traveling through town. It's the weak one...the Brother," The lord sneered quietly, crimson gaze flicking from the Raptor's screen to the cowering minion. His voice dripped superiority.

"Do you think you can handle just one, little Duck?"

The smirk Chameleon heard in his leader's voice fueled a surge of anger, which the small creature bit back. No one made any effort to hide that they thought him nearly useless in battle, even with his shape changing abilities.

"..ah, Yes sir!" To hide his emotions, the green lizard quickly morphed into an Army general, saluting "You can count on me, Sir!"

Dragaunus merely rolled his eyes as Chameleon teleported away.

*****

"...I should go after him.."

WildWing's quiet voice broke the silence that had ruled supreme since NoseDive's departure. He looked up from his thoughts, to find that only Duke remained. 'When had they all left?...'

The older mallard read his confused expression, "Grin went to Meditate, and Mallory followed Tanya to her Lab..." He cleared his throat, "And yes. You should go after him"

"..I.." Wing's voice lowered to little more than a whisper, rasping hoarsely as tears tighten his throat. He couldn't cry now...couldn't show weakness to those who looked up to him... "..I didn't mean for this to happen.."

Suddenly, Duke's arms where around him, and Wing realized he had forgotten how badly he needed someone to comfort him when it all became too much. His resistance crumbled, and the taller duck shook with silent tears, the mask pulled hastily from his face and held carelessly in one limp hand.

*WARNING! WARNING!*

Both ducks jerked back when the Alarm sounded, WildWing quickly rubbing the wetness on his face into his feathers. He shot Duke a glance that the older mallard couldn't read, then turned and ran to the consol, Tanya close behind him.

"Teleportation Energy! And not far from here!" The scientist's words made Wing's heart Constrict, because he knew...

"NoseDive..."

*****

"WHAT THE-?!"

A split Second too late, Dive recognized the Green energy, slowly forming into the hunched figure of Chameleon. But he had already instinctively swerved from the collision and the rain slickened rode took control from his hands.

'I'm going to die....' The young duck pumped the break of the Duckcycle frantically, the skidding machine slid to its side and plummeting for the ditch on the side of the road, where rainwater rushed in a fast current, '...and its not even going to be in battle.'

He drug his leg out from under the grinding metal, miraculously unscathed while the machine to the brunt of the careening fall towards sure death. He only got one shot at this...he just prayed it would be good.

The Bike shot over the edge, flying a few feet at the sharp decline of the ditch, and Nosedive threw himself from the Duckcycle, hands reaching for the edge of the road's shoulder..

..close...closer.... '..Almost..there...'

The young duck hit the side of the ditch hard, crying out as his already damaged arm flared in fresh pain. He scrabbled for purchase, body beginning to slide down the incline. The rough concrete tore into his armor and the burn in his limb seemed to spread to the rest of his body.

And then he was grasping at air, body tumbling down into the waiting ditch. He felt his head crack as it struck something particularly hard, and a forgiving darkness swam up to meet him..



***Yay for finishing another Chapter! What will become of our young Hero? Can Chameleon ever get it Right? Are Duke and Wing gonna BOND?! Find out, Next Time!***