Terry finally caught up with Mac and convinced him that everything was all right. Well, she thought she had convinced him. In truth he doubted her words. She had told him that God would see them through, that much he did believe.
Terry carried Mac back to the infirmary to demonstrate to the toddler that he was mistaken and that everything was well between her and his father. "Mac, why do you think Mommy and Daddy are fighting?"
"You were shouting."
"Oh honey, Daddy and I were discussing politics. We aren't fighting. Here, let's go ask Daddy. Wildwing will you Wildwing?"
"Where's Daddy?"
"That's what I'd like to know." Terry kept her voice civil. She didn't want to frighten Mac anymore then he already was. She sat him down and began to search the infirmary.
"Is Daddy playing hide and seek?"
"Huh, yes, Mac, that's it. Daddy is playing hide and seek. Why don't you look for Daddy while I go make lunch."
"Okay."
Mac happily searched the room for his father as Terry ran out of the room. She knew he wasn't playing some children's game. He had taken off to play super hero again, perturbing her all the more. As she raced down the halls she muttered oaths of vengeance and not healing his battered frame when he came home dying.
"Terry!"
Terry looked up as she screeched to a halt. She spun around to find Phil waving to her from a doorway. "Not now, Phil, I'm busy," she growled.
"There's no sense in working yourself up, he's gone."
"Who?"
"Wildwing, he left a few minutes ago."
"If I hurry then I can stop him from doing something foolish."
"You can't help him now."
"What?"
"I told you, he left. You can't stop or help him now."
"How could you let him go?!"
"He went back to Puckworld to get help."
"Puckworld? But how?"
"He said he had a way. He went to get the team."
"The team" Terry let the words sink in. Wildwing had gone home to get the Mighty Ducks, but to what ends? He couldn't fight. Why would he risk his friends' lives in a matter that did not concern them?
/ page break /
Nosedive leaned back on the sofa, a soda, which he sipped gingerly, in one hand and his other wrapped around Mallory's shoulders. Mal sat content at his side, cradling their daughter Kelly. Most of the family and guests had left hours ago and now only the team, Canard, Dive's and Mallory's parents remained. It had been one hell of a blowout and Dive had enjoyed himself after a few good shots and coaxing from his teammates to put the bottle away. He found it hilarious, but they were convinced that he was going to make himself sick on the stuff. He could never get too much of the drink, especially since he had filled the vodka bottle with pink lemonade and added just enough food coloring to make it look like hard whiskey. Now they sat around smoozing small talk and minor oddball topics.
Dive had enjoyed the visit with relatives, but he could only stand them for so long, especially Wind Shear. Man could she get on his nerves! But now with the relatives gone he could relax with his chosen family, forced in the case of Canard and Mal's folks. The small, which this group seemed to be after the others had left, entourage was interrupted by a knock at the door. Dive bid the other's to relax as he answered the door. He was met by rebuttals, but he had found being idle all day to be cramping his hyper energetic style.
Dive opened the door and spoke in an accent accustomed to mountain herders on Earth. "Yaw." The action was suppose to scare away any unwanted sales persons. It usually worked when Dive gave an added facial expression that belonged to an uneducated mendicant. Instead of sending the intruder of his party stuttering backward in an attempt to rapidly depart, he found Wildwing leaning heavily on the doorframe.
"Wildwing?!"
"Dive help." Wing slid from the wall and fell into his brother's awaiting arms.
"Wildwing! Dad, HELP!"
The exclaimed request was unnecessary, for at his first exclamation of surprise everyone in the room had jumped to their feet and rushed to the door.
"Wildwing, what happened?" Dive asked, lowering him to the floor carefully. He could tell that he needed serious medical attention.
"Dive they took her."
"Who did they take?" Dive asked shaking his head. "And whose they?"
"The Saurians. They took her." Wildwing said on the verge of tears.
"Wing." Dive looked at the others, cautious not to hurt his brother by his words. "We killed the Saurians. Don't you remember?"
"Dragaunus, yes." Wing nodded. "But not ALL the Saurians. Two of their kind, one was a female, I don't know about the other; I didn't see that one. They attacked the Pond. They tried to take them, but"
"Terry and the kids?" Mallory asked, alarm cracking her voice, which conveyed her obvious distress over the news.
"We shouldn't have left you," Duke murmured under his breath.
"No, the kids," Wing told Dive.
"No," Dive's voice was barely a whisper. He had never imagined to be reunited with his beloved brother under such ominous tidings.
"Yes, they took her. I couldn't stop them."
"Let's get him inside," George told General McMallard. The two moved Dive aside and lifted Wing to his feet.
"No, I can't stay. I have to go back!"
"Wildwing, look at you," Canard spoke up. "You look like you were run over by a zamboni." He had meant the comment to be a jest as well as a serious comparison. Of course he wouldn't know what anyone would look like after being run over by a zamboni!
"Canard?" Wing squinted at his friend, the sunlight silhouetting his firm frame.
"Do what your father says."
"But"
George Flashblade and General McMallard drug Wing from the doorway to the sofa a few feet away. Wildwing fought their efforts to move him and give him aid. "Wildwing, stop fidgeting. I'm your father and I order you to behave and sit down!"
"Dad?"
"Yes, it's me, now sit."
"Oh, Dad." Wildwing fell into an embrace with his father. He had not imagined on ever seeing him or his mother again after the invasion.
"Wing, please," George begged, trying to make Wing sit on the couch.
"Dad, I I'm sorry."
"Wing, don't be. You haven't done anything wrong."
"I failed." Wing whispered into his father ear only loud enough for him to hear. "I couldn't stop them from taking her."
"Wildwing, your not"
"They took my baby!" Wing's legs buckled under him and his father fought to keep him upright. The sudden weight Wing forced on him strained his ailing back. Dive tried to step forward to help, but Mallory restrained him from doing so. She knew that Dive wanted to help console his brother, as Wing had often done for him, but it was not the time. "My baby girl, they took her," Wing sobbed for everyone to hear.
George, stunned by the outburst, held on the best he could. He gave General McMallard a quick nod of the head and he helped him usher Wing to the intended location. The emotional outburst did not last long, which George was thankful for, but it left Wildwing physically and emotionally drained. It did not take much effort to convince him to rest. As a matter of fact upon being laid on the sofa, he fell fast asleep; giving the others the time needed to sort out his ramblings.
/ page break /
Anna was flung into her cell and her small frame slammed into the wall at the back of the dark cell before sliding to the floor. A green slime mold that grew on the walls softened her blow and helped slow her descent to the slippery floor.
"Watch her, Gormegil. See to it that she doesn't get anymore ideas." Belegurth clutched at her hand and left to bandage and lick her wounds in her private chambers.
"Yes, Belegurth," Gormegil bowed. His sincerity was false and she knew it, for she sensed his smile hidden in the darkness.
Anna looked up at her captors through a swollen black eye. Belegurth gave the child one last disdainful look and left. Gormegil sat on the floor and watched Anna with unwavering attention.
There was no use in crying. The bashing and torture had dried out her eyes long ago. The once happy daring child was replaced with a desolate, despairing, depressed being. But Gormegil saw more. She was still strong. Her courage had not yet abandoned her, nor did her hope of freedom. This puzzled Gormegil. In the past, when he and Belegurth were younger, all it took was one session with their torturing methods and the other Saurian spawn would run away in terror or submit to their demands. But here, with this weak, scrawny duckling of Puckworld descent and after at least a hundred or so sessions, she still did not yield and held on to her futile hope of deliverance. What drove her to live? That was what he needed to know. Then and only then could her truly destroy her!
Looking back, even Dragaunus had found his sisters and his lust for blood and torture out of line. That was why he had sent the pair to further exile. Why would Dragaunus fear them and send them away, but the child continue to endure the beatings, endless ridicule, and inhumane treatment and starvation? A softly whispered song that came from the cell interrupted his thoughts. He looked up and found Anna rocking back and forth, knees clasped to her chest. Occasionally she would rub her battered arms and legs to ward off the chill.
Gormegil shook his head with disgust. She always did this after Belegurth left. She would sing to herself songs of some mysterious being, a father who sacrificed his only son to save those that would betray and slander him. Other times the songs were about a man she called Jesus Christ, her redeemer. The songs always followed with the recitation of some obscure poem- Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Forgive all my sins as you forgive those who sin against me. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.'
Anna finished the song, but continued to rock back and forth. A single tear escaped her dry eyes and rolled down her cheek. She did not bother to wipe it away, instead she let it dry on her feathers as a badge of honor to remind her that she was still alive and she would be rescued in the days to come.
"Why do you sing?" Gormegil asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"What?"
"Why do you sing instead of cry?"
" Because Daddy says to sing to God in my need."
"What do you need?"
"To be saved."
Gormegil snorted. "You will never be saved."
Anna tilted her head and looked deep into his eyes. "Jesus already saved me."
Somehow her expression and conviction scared him and sent a shiver up his grotesque misshapen spine.
/ page break /
Wildwing awoke four hours later. His mother sat in a chair next to the couch, on which he laid, and ran her fingers through his hair.
"Mom?"
"Hi baby."
"How'd I? Where's Dive?" Wing sat up with amazing speed, but a hand prevented him to come to a full upright position. The hand gently pushed him down back to the couch. "Shh, lie down."
Wing looked up and to his right, his father's hand braced him against the couch. His gentle smile calmed him. Wing relaxed a bit until memories of the fight with the female Saurian entered his mind. "Where's Nosedive?" Wing cried out, sitting up again.
"He's fine dear," his mother assured. "Lay down."
"But"
"Do as your mother says," George scolded gently. Wing looked back up at his father and found Dive standing next to their father, behind the couch.
"Nosedive! Your hair!" Wing again attempted to sit up, but his fathers firm hand pressed against his chest refrained his body upward motion.
"Oh, yeah, well you see" Dive nervously ran his fingers through his hair before massaging his neck trying to find the right words.
"You cut it!"
"Had to. The General disapproves of long hair. He said that it made me look like a girl." Dive blushed.
"But you never have had your hair cut."
"I know. I hated to see it go."
"I like is short," Mallory remarked stepping up beside Dive and running her fingers through the neatly trimmed locks.
"But, Mal."
"Stay still, Wildwing," his mother reprimanded. "You need some rest."
"I can't rest. I have to save Anna."
"Anna?" George gave a perplexed expression.
"My little girl," Wildwing explained looking to his father then his mother who had joined him to his left side.
"You named your daughter after your mother?" George asked, looking to his wife.
"Uh yeah. I guess I did, didn't I?"
Wing felt Mallory touch his arm, and he assumed that she had taken his mother's seat. He ignored her efforts to snare his attention. Wing was struck by the fact that his parents had survived the invasion and were still together, and healthy of all things. Mallory continued to move his arm about and formed it into a cradled position. He let her have her way with his arm. He had so many questions that needed answering, like how his parents had survived. What happened to them? Why was he in different clothes then when he had come in? But most importantly, what was that weight Mallory just placed in his arms? Wing looked down to find a tiny infant nuzzled safely against his chest. Mallory kept her hand protectively behind the child's head incase anything did happen.
"Wha?"
"Wildwing," Mallory began. "We, Nosedive and I, would like you to meet your niece, Kelly Marie Flashblade." The smile on her face was golden, as was Dive's. Wing looked over his shoulder to find Dive leaning against the arms rest of the couch looking down at the pair and making faces at his daughter.
"Niece? Kelly?" Wing asked, unable to comprehend.
"Yup. You're an Uncle!"
"Why Kelly?"
"Dive wanted to name our first child after you, but"
"But what?"
"She wasn't a boy. I thought it would be strange calling our girl Wing, so we had to go with your middle name." The smile now on her face was full of mischief.
"You didn't have to"
"We did, Wing," Nosedive interjected. "We had to. Isn't she pretty." Dive puffed out his chest, as any proud father would do.
Wing smirked. "Thank God she got her mother's looks."
Nosedive frowned and let his chest fall as everyone in the room laughed. The sound shocked Wing. He looked up to find the entire team, including Canard, gathered round.
"'Bout time you woke up," Canard quipped playfully sitting on the edge of the couch at Wing's feet.
"Canard?"
"That's my name, don't wear it out."
"Comical."
"How ya feelin'? While you slept Tanya patched you up. Hope you don't mind?"
"Not at all. Thanks." By now Wing's parents had moved away and let the team rally around their leader.
"Now do you mind telling me, I mean us, what's this crud about Saurian's abducting your daughter?"
"There were two of them. They took Anna and tried to take Mac."
"Mac?" Nosedive asked, taken aback by the name.
"I know. I know, he's named after you, but I didn't have the heart to call him Dive. There is only one Dive and he's you. Besides I didn't want him to take after you in too many ways." Wing quickly added under his breath, "though it appears I might be wrong on that."
"Gee thanks bro." Dive patted Wing's back. It had appeared that Dive had missed the last dig.
Wildwing turned his attention back to the team and disclosed the situation. He told of how Mac was terrified and how he had been injured. The story did not set well with any of his comrades; as a matter of fact it enraged each and every one of them. But the conclusion had already been made long before Wing had awoken. Their minds were set. They would go back to Earth and save Anna from the Saurian menace and destroy them once and for all! Wing was surprised that they were ready to go. They had made preparations as he slept. All that was left was to say their good byes and they would be off.
Wing first turned to Mallory and safely returned the charge he held tenderly. He gave her a hug and cupped her chin with his hand. "Take care, Mal."
"You too," She said softly.
"Is it all right if I give my sister in law a kiss goodbye?"
Mallory nodded her approval and he kissed her cheek. He smiled once more and moved on to the next person on his list of farewells. "If you don't come back I'll personally hunt you down, Wing," she threatened good naturally.
"Only if you promise to take care of yourself and this cute little one," Wing said walking back.
"I mean it, Wing. Take care of yourself. It was hard on Dive to loose you twice. I don't think he can handle it another time, especially if it is permanent."
"I promise you, Mal, this will be the last time. I intend to return to Puckworld with Terry and the kids as soon as this is all over. One favor?"
Mallory nodded.
"Don't tell Dive yet. I kinda want it to be a surprise."
"My beak is sealed."
Wing stepped closer, touching Mallory's arm. He tickled Kelly under her chin as he rubbed the end of his beak against hers. "You be good till I get back to spoil you rotten." Mallory playfully slapped his arm and gave him a warning glare. He smiled and gave a sigh. "It seems just like yesterday Anna and Mac were that small. Where does the time fly?"
"South for the winter."
"I guess so."
Wildwing left Mallory's side to say goodbye to his mother. The pair embraced and Anna Flashblade gave her eldest son a kiss on the cheek. "You look so much like your father. But I'm glad you got your mother's sense."
"Oh, Mom," Wing blushed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Take care of him and your brother for me."
"Huh?" Wing turned around and found both his father and brother prepared to come with him. George Flashblade stood near his gear as Dive said goodbye to his wife and daughter.
"Where do you think you are going?" Wing asked harshly storming up to Dive.
"With you."
"No you're not! You have to stay here." Wing pointed angrily at the floor and stomped his foot in emphasis. "I won't allow you to come, not this time." Wing shook his head from side to side and crossed his arms across his chest.
"Wing," Dive said empathetically touching his brother's elbow. When Wing finally stopped shaking his head no and opened his eyes, Dive held him pinned under his gaze. "The Saurian's kidnapped my niece and if anyone messes with my family, they mess with me. Like it or not I'm coming. I know you'd do the same if Kelly was in danger."
"But, Mal Kelly." Wing pointed at the pair. For some reason Mallory seemed vulnerable to him. Even though he knew that she was a seasoned warrior and well equipped to defend herself, Wing found that the image of her as a mother made her weak, needing Dive's protection.
"I want to come too, Wing. But Dive won't let me." Mallory glared at Nosedive's back. Wing saw Dive grimace at her hard words, but it did not deter him from forbidding her coming on the mission. "But you understand, don't you?" Mallory's words were softer, more carrying, as she rocked Kelly in her arms. "Dive and I have discussed this. He's going back to help you, while I stay here with your mom and Kelly."
"Dad?" Wing turned to his father, imploring the two to see reason. "Talk some sense into them. Dive has to stay here."
"Your brother is right, Wing, Flashblade's stick together. And if anyone dares to hurt one of us, the rest will fall upon them with an everlasting revenge." George's eyes lit up with a fiery fury as he spoke.
"But"
Wing looked to the team, but none objected to Dive's plans.
"Let it go buddy," Canard said, placing one hand on his friends shoulder. "He's too stubborn to listen to reason, you know that."
"Canard, stop him," Wing begged, but his pleas were met by a mere shrug. Wing tired one last time, but the team refused to hear his rebuttals. They locked arms, held tight, and Duke activated the teleporter, leaving Anna Flashblade and Mallory holding Kelly alone in the once crowded Flashblade home. The two looked to one another, too afraid to speak their fears; they started to clean the home, anticipating their return. Mallory watched silently for a minute said a quick prayer for the safe return of husband, friends and family.