by Roaming Tigress and Shelley Inks, creator of Keleen Vanderchill
Chapter Nineteen:
The Start of A Dangerous Friendship
Lying before Victoria in a miserable heap was Steelbeak with his right leg twisted in an unnatural angle. He looked up at her as if to beg for her to be put out of his misery, but she wouldn't do any of the sort. She got out of her hospital cot and knelt down beside him, tearing off what was left of the pant's leg. Underneath the clothing was the worst compound fracture she had ever seen in her life.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Tatiana asked, not seeing what had happened to her father. She had a brief look at the injury and looked away with a whimper.
"Daddy's hurt, but don't worry, he'll get fixed up in no time, just like last time!" Victoria remained optimistic for the sake of the child, and for her husband. Both were just as bad as each another for picking up on worried feelings.
A shard of a broken femur had sliced through his flesh, causing unbelievable pain. With a look of desperation, Steelbeak gripped hold of his wife's hand as she tried to stop the bleeding. With his other hand, he grabbed her by her shoulder, firmly turning her around to face him.
"I want youse and Tatty to leave St. Canard right away. Dey'll be back, I don't want youse in jeopardy in case dey target youse next!" He warned her in a strained voice, trying to get up to stand on his good leg. He looked into her dark eyes, patiently awaiting to hear a response from her.
"Nonsense, mate!" Victoria said in a cheery voice, helping him into the bed. She had no qualms dealing with a few reckless rouges, even after seeing what they had done to the rooster. She wanted revenge for their wanton attack in any way possible.
"I've trained those Eggmen, let me handle them. I'm sure I can - "
"JUST GO!" He shouted, causing her to jump back in fright. Seeing her reaction, he immediately became apologetic and calmed down from his outburst. He had also spooked his daughter slightly, and he ruffled her hair to reassure he was no longer feeling angry.
"I'm sorry, it's jus' . . . I wouldn't want dem to get ahold of my most favorite goils in da woild. I know yer a better fighter den I am, but what if dey take youse by surprise while yer asleep and take Tatiana? Wit' dem around anyt'ing could 'appen. Much woise t'ings could 'appen to youse den what 'append to me. "
Steelbeak's second warning sent reality home to Victoria. Holding back tears, she slowly gave Steelbeak a gentle hug. In spite of being racked with pain, he gave her a embrace in return that was twice as strong as hers.
"You're quite the stubborn chook, aren't you?" She asked with a small smile, feeling herself relax in his arms. The smile disappeared as quickly as it appeared, and she let out a sigh as she thought of Tatiana without her father around. How could she explain all this to her? Just how could she tell her that seemingly half the world wanted him dead?
"What's wrong?" Steelbeak asked, slipping a hand down the back of her shirt. To ease her mind, he gave her a light shoulder massage.
"Never say goodbye, babe. As soon as I get t'ings straightened out 'ere, we'll see each other again, probably even before dis week's over. Javert's jus' tryin' to get back into power ta show off to 'is new goil, I ain't much worried about 'im."
Feeling her taut muscles relax, Victoria closed her eyes and took in the good vibes that the massage had brought her. The smile returned, and with it, her worry was fading away. All will be well.
Could this get any sappier? Keleen watched from the hospital room's window as the nurses took Steelbeak in for surgery. She groaned as she watched Tatiana cling to her father, unable to part with him even for his own good.
"Tatty, please, your father must have this surgery! Without it, he may die!" Victoria exclaimed, taking a firm grip on the girl's arm and pulling her back.
Tatiana suddenly obeyed her mother. Victoria picked her up and held her up to Steelbeak just before he was helped into a room in the back.
"Bye, bye, daddy, I love you!" She said softly, giving him a little kiss on the forehead. She received a kiss and a metallic, cold nuzzle in return and she giggled at the feel this brought her. Most people wold cringe at it, but Tatiana was delighted.
"Good luck, mate. I'm sure you're all kissed out by now, but . . . " Victoria gave her husband the best smile she could make, and gave him a peck on the beak.
Outside, Keleen jumped a little as she felt a light tap to her back. She exhaled with relief when she found it was only her beloved Javert, and for his sakes she was glad he missed out on the cuddly-sweet stuff. He hated that stuff as much as Ample Grime hated cleanliness.
"So, how bad was ze attack?" Javert inquired, looking through the window. "I see zere is some blood. I hope ze rooster didn't kill any of zem."
Keleen watched the entire fight take place, and was more than happy to give him an insight on what had happened. "It was beautiful! Too bad you weren't there. Steelbeak and Tyrone had a standoff, and then bang! They were all atop of him, tearing out chunks of his feathers and ripping that lovely suit into shreds. Little Basil broke his leg with just one snap!"
"Did you take any pictures?" Javert asked proudly, more than satisfied with what his cronies had done to Steelbeak. At the moment, he couldn't be any happier. His plan was working, and things were just going to get better, or worse, depending on whose side you were rooting for.
"Fear not," Keleen grinned, showing him a miniature digital camera. "I'll load them up at the computer, maybe put some up over the Internet. Blackmail's old hat, but it sure is fun!"
"That it is!" Javert beamed, walking arm-in-arm with Keleen as they re-entered the Headquarters. They made a beeline straight for the computer room, shooing everyone out as they stormed their way in.
As she loaded the computer, Keleen practically fidgeted with anticipation of Javert's reaction to the pictures. As soon as Windows' desktop was loaded, she inserted the floppy disk and went straight to the picture editing software. A dozen photos of the Eggmen making their attack upon Steelbeak were displayed on the screen.
Javert hovered behind her with a wonderfully sinister grin as the pictures were loaded on the screen. The more he saw the violence unfold, the more he was ready for a second round with the rooster. "Oooh, zese are good! I knew someday zose Eggmen would be of use to me."
Hours past, and Steelbeak was slowly beginning to wake up from the anesthetic. Bleary eyed and doped up with painkillers, he was far from being himself. He found comfort in the form of his family, but his leg would never again be the same. He would forever have a limp, and the doctors told him that it would only be a matter of time until arthritis would set in.
"Dey said I must never run," Steelbeak wearily told Victoria as she sat at the edge of his bed. "Runnin' from de law is outta de question, and wit' it, chasin' Tatty jus' in play or catchin' er just before she goes out into de road. I'll be a cripple."
The combination of medication and stress had undoubtedly affected his train of thought. Even then, Victoria wanted to keep him staying positive about his recovery.
"Doctors aren't always right. You'll be back to your old self in no time. You've recovered from getting hit by trucks, cars, a near drowning -- "
"Dat was a lifetime ago, Victoria," Steelbeak cut in, his eyes saddened. "I'm not like what I used ta be. My reaction's slower, maybe I should look into retirement."
"You're only forty! Stop talking like this!" Victoria shouted, making it clear she wouldn't allow him to slip into a realm of self-contempt.
"Okay, okay, youse win!" Steelbeak sheepishly replied, grinning for the first time since his vicious attack. "Dang mid-life crisis. Anyway, youse two should be off now. Dey're probably lurking about in de HQ as we's speak."
While her husband was in surgery, Victoria had explained to Tatiana their reason for leaving St. Canard. The three birds got their last cuddles in, and Steelbeak watched them leave with his eyes misted over. Never before had anyone shown so much compassion toward him.
Keleen stepped into his recovery room, and it was only when she spoke with well-convinced sympathy that he took notice of her.
"I heard about what happened, I'm so sorry . . . "
Mistaking her voice for Victoria's, he turned his head around to look at the approaching she-duck. When he saw it was Keleen, he quickly looked way. The fear he had for her was enough to make him not look at her, and to cover this fear he acted casual and calm as usual.
"Eh, it was nothing, really."
Steelbeak may be a master of faking emotions, but Keleen caught hold of his fear before he could hide it. As she approached the bed, he looked at a far wall as if pretending to be distracted by something on it. "Eh, I've been in much woise shape before."
"You're afraid of me, aren't you?" Keleen asked softly, taking the risk of getting bitten by reaching out and touching his face. Her hand was as cold as his beak, and the rooster flinched back slightly.
Uh-oh! Dere's no way out dis time, Steels. No show of courage or attitude will woik now. Admit yer fears, ya old troublemaker, or she'll jus' keep pressurin' youse about it.
"Yes . . . Very much so," Steelbeak finally looked up to Keleen, letting her know what he had said was the truth. "Ya kin laugh at me now, I betcha ya t'ink I'm jus' some sort of big wuss."
Those silver eyes that looked up at her were every bit intelligent and beautiful as Javert's. There was a lot of soul in them as well, and once again she felt guilty for aiding her companion in his quest to destroy Steelbeak. She was beginning to feel a twinge of genuine sympathy for this creature. Perhaps pretending to befriend him wouldn't be such a hard act to follow.
"Well, there's no need to now," Keleen said in the same soft and comforting voice, stroking his comb back. "I promise to hurt you no more. I . . . Want to befriend you. I know we've had our difficulties, but that's all in the past. I want to start afresh, get to know each other more and maybe I can help you get back to your former glory."
She held her hand out for him to shake. "Give me a chance, and I'll give you one right in return. As for Javert, he and I have become really close lately. I'm sure I can keep him distracted away from you with my bad girl self!"
For Steelbeak, her offer of friendship sounded all too good to be true. She seemed too sympathetic, too gentle for someone who thought Javert was the best thing on two legs. Yet, he enjoyed having more friends around and would give just about anything to be the living F.O.W.L legend he once was.
Blissfully unaware this was the beginning of a dangerous friendship, Steelbeak shook her hand. "I normally don't make friends wit' my enemies, but yer okay!"