Duke found the scene before him to be a hologram as soon as the inner gate leading to the saurian ship had been disturbed. "Not much better," he heard George mutter under his breath. "To some it's home," Duke shot back.
The two mallards entered the compound and stealthily found Anna's prison cell. Duke opened her cell in record setting time, but something was a miss. It all seemed too easy. George stepped into the cell and looked around for Anna. He found her curled in a tight ball in a corner in the driest area available. With that said, she was forced to lie in a pool of stagnant feces filled water. "Anna," George whispered in a sing song voice. Anna opened her eyes and turned to his soft kind voice. "Ready to go home?"
"Daddy?"
"No, grandpa," George smiled. He was already accustomed to the new name.
"Where's Daddy?"
"Stopping the saurians, come on lets get you home." Anna clambered to her feet and rushed into George's arms. She softly said a prayer of thanks as her grandfather cradled her close. To George it was like he was holding one of his boys all over again. How he missed those days.
/ page break /
Belegurth wasted no time in implementing her scheme. She struck out, without warning, with her clawed hand in a great arc. Wing jumped back, relying on his quick goaltending skills to dodge the assault. In his haste he threw his hand up to maintain his balance. Belegurth's longest claw caught Wing's arm and sliced through his flesh, almost ripping the appendage off.
The force applied to Wing's arm forced him to spin around, exposing his back to the saurian. He lost his footing and fell face first to the ground. He tried to push himself up, but the pain enflaming his left arm forced him to remain plastered to the dirt. Belegurth roared her victory, towering over her prey. "I feast!"
"Not so fast scale belly," Canard retorted standing up. He unleashed a barrage of blasts from his puck launcher, as did Tanya and Grin. Nosedive joined in the combat as soon as he saw Wing roll to safety. The plan had worked as calculated, but there was one thing Canard had failed to foresee. Five dozen hunter drones appeared behind the ducks outposts, surrounding the flanked duck assault.
The ducks attention quickly switched gear. The respective duos turned to dispel and counter act the newest obstacle in Anna's freedom. Wing checked his wound and decided that he was still capable of helping his friends. He rolled over and pushed himself to his knees, only to have his gaze fall upon Belegurth stepping out of a smoke cloud.
"Your friends are fool hearty to sacrifice so many for one."
"Sometimes one is more valuable then all others. Sometimes one is all you need. And as for you"
"Is that a threat?"
Wing cocked his blaster. "Just a promise."
/ page break /
Duke led the retreat, wary in the dark ship. Somehow things didn't feel right. This was too easy. He shook his head, attempting to free his mind and dispel any morbid thoughts. Duke looked over his shoulder to make sure George was close behind. He was, nuzzling Anna and comforting her trembling body. Duke turned his attention back to his path and ran into the chest of Gormegil. The lizard hissed out his noxious breath and laughed his customary gurgling laugh. "I think I will take my lunch to go."
"Not today buddy," Duke jumped back drawing his saber.
Duke's quick reflexes stunned Gormegil, but the moment passed just as quick. "Mmm, you like swords eh, would you like to see mine?"
"Not really."
"I insist." Gormegil drew his blade from its scabbard that was strapped to his back. The blade was long and had serration's that spiraled up the blade length. "Like?"
"Pretty," Duke mocked.
"I designed it myself. I call it by my name, Gormegil, sword of horror." The saurian gripped the hilt and his smile grew as Duke blanched. The pressure that he had exerted on the grip caused the serrated edges to vibrate like a reciprocating saw. Duke's hesitation at the sight had been anticipated by the saurian and desired. He stepped forward gracefully for the first time revealing no outward signs to his deformities. Duke mimicked his step, but in the reverse direction. Gormegil encircled his prey, his steps as graceful as the first. Duke consciously positioned himself between the saurian menace and George and Anna. He could hear the child whimpering and George attempting to sooth her, but he needed to keep his mind focussed on the task at hand, not the ones he was trying to protect.
"I was half expecting the runts father to show. You are not he."
"I'm her uncle."
"No family resemblance. Your mother must be a whore."
"And your mother took an uncultured churl to her bed."
Gormegil laughed at the remark. "Churl, no. Overlord, yes."
It only took Duke a nano second to realize with whom he spoke, but the time was wasted in thought. Gormegil lashed out, brandishing his deadly implement at Duke's neck. Duke ducked just in time to save his neck, but not before he was given a new hairstyle. "Hey! I did not need a trim!"
"Seems I missed a spot. Just below your ears, here let me lower it for you."
Duke jumped back. "No thanks, I like my head where it is."
The insults ceased here. Gormegil wanted blood more then verbal sparring. As Duke and Gormegil were locked in mortal combat George tried to slip away with Anna. His escape was prevented when the door to the chamber closed with a bang and locked itself. "No one leaves while there is blood to be spilt!" Gormegil roared tossing Duke aside. He stepped up to George and blew his hot sulfurous breath at the duck. "You're as ugly as her father."
"Keep your opinions and your fetid breath to yourself."
Duke swung his saber at the saurians exposed back. He was only met with disappointment as his saber did not sink into flesh, but instead brushed past Gormegil's iron plated scaly skin that was thick as tank armor and five times as strong. Gormegil slowly turned to face his advisory, gloating over the duck. "Now that wasn't very nice."
Duke looked at his saber; surprised to see it dulled and bent by the armor plating.
"If you can't play nice" Gormegil grabbed Duke by the throat. "Then you shall not play at all." Gormegil began to squeeze the life out of Duke, but the older mallard refused to surrender. Duke fought against the crushing grip against his windpipe. He tried to pry the pincer fingers from their hold, but it was to no avail.
"George," Duke squeaked. "Get Anna out of here." Duke's saber may have been bend and dulled, but it was all Duke had as a weapon. A faint voice from his past spoke his immeasurable knowledge anything can be used as a weapon, so long as you know how to use it. Duke smiled at his mentor's words and struck at the saurian with the tip pointed at his advisory's eyes. Gormegil swatted the blade away with his free hand and clamped down harder on Duke's neck. Duke kicked furiously as he was lifted into the air, yet the grip around his neck never wavered from its destructive task. With one hand holding his saber and the other clutching at his attackers wrist Duke struggled futilely. Soon the world around him became fuzzy as he coughed for air.
George clung to Anna, horrified by the sight before him. Duke was but seven years younger then he and he were helpless to stop this monstrosity. Duke's grip on his saber faltered and the useless weapon fell to the ground from lifeless fingers.
Gormegil glanced over his shoulder and looked at George holding Anna. He made a quick hand motion and the sound of bones cracking echoed through the hallow room. George jumped at the sound and a wave of nausea swept over him. His hopes and dreams of singing his grandchildren to sleep fell from his mind as his life flashed before his eyes.
/ page break /
The battle had been raging for five minutes at the steel mill. Wildwing was locked in hand to hand combat with Belegurth as his friends fended off the hunter drones. Every now and then a blast would get passed and whiz by Wing's head, arm or leg. A few made contact, distracting the goaltender for a split second. Those were the few moments in which Belegurth was able to land a curtail blow. The first one removed Wing's left gauntlet. The next his chest armor. Her final blow was a low blow. She went for his legs and tore a good chunk of flesh out of his leg, crippling him (at the moment) instantly.
Wing screamed in pain, as his deltoids were rendered useless. Belegurth roared her triumph as Wing tried to drag his battered body to safety. He was stopped when Belegurth stepped on his lower legs crushing them into the ground.
Nosedive heard Wing cry out a second time. "Don't look!" Canard ordered. He knew how hard it was. He too wanted to help his friend, but he was very busy with the droids.
"But"
"No! We have to keep them distracted."
"Screw you. Wing needs help."
Nosedive dashed into the open to pull his trademark reckless antics to save the day, as they had always done before. He jumped onto a nearby stack of crates and climbed to the top. A crane hook dangled nearby and he used it as a pendulum to swing over the saurian terror. At the correct angle and projectory, Nosedive let go of the crane hook and landed on Belegurth's back. Wildwing looked up in surprise by the release of his lower appendages. He was even more surprised, no shocked and horrified, to find Nosedive saving his hide. But Wildwing remembered far too well the outcome of the technique. He had scarcely survived his last encounter with this saurian.
"Dive, NO!"
"Run, Wing!"
Belegurth reached over her head and grabbed Nosedive by his collar. As she lifted him over her head as he kicked madly. She proceeded to launch him through the air as she chucked him at Wildwing. The brothers collided and rolled to a stop a foot away. The brothers looked up and found the saurian menace standing victorious over them. They were dead ducks!
"Die duck! Die like your daughter, in fear." Belegurth revealed her deadly scimitar encrusted with the blood of her fallen enemies. She thrust the weapon at Wildwing's chest, but Nosedive jumped in front of his brother. The saurian blade imbedded itself up to the hilt through Nosedive's midsection. Wildwing had crossed his arms across his face to protect against the assault and he was stunned that her strike never befell him. He looked up he found Nosedive in front of him with his arms stretched out to his sides. The curved tip of the scimitar glimmered with fresh blood, Nosedive's blood, from his back.
"Dive, no," Wing whispered as Dive slid from the blade and collapsed into his waiting arms. "Dive, why did you do it?"
"Had to, recklessness," Dive smiled.
Belegurth chortled with amusement as she licked Dive's blood from her blade. "Sweet meat, but will you be as tender as the brat?"
Nosedive blinked beads of sweat from his eyes and attempted to remain conscious as Wildwing pulled him away from Belegurth. He had to save his brother now.
Belegurth raised her scimitar and assumed a fighting stance before swinging at the brother's heads. Her assault was disrupted as pucks exploded against her side.
"Calvary to the rescue!" Canard shouted blasting incessantly at the lizard. Tanya rushed to Dive's aid as Grin and Canard held Belegurth off.
"We have to fall back," Wildwing suggested in a commanding tone.
Tanya nodded her approval.
"No," Dive wheezed. "Keep her distracted till Duke calls."
"Canard!" Wing shouted, ignoring Dive. "We have to get Dive back to the Pond."
Canard nodded over his shoulder, holstering his firearm. General Thunderbeak lifted Nosedive into his arms and made a hasty retreat. Tanya helped Wildwing to his feet and pulled his left arm around her shoulder before leaving the area in a hasty limp. Grin kept Belegurth at bay so his friends could escape. Grin looked over his shoulder to find the others boarding the aerowing. That was the last thing Grin beheld for Belegurth removed his head from his shoulders with her weapon.
The aerowing lifted off and raced back to the Pond. Belegurth roared with furry, but it did not matter. She had lived up to her name, the great death.
/ page break /
George woke from his trance when Gormegil hurled Duke's lifeless form at him. He watched as Duke hit the ground and rolled to a stop against the nearest wall. Anna whimpered and covered her ears. Tears cascaded down her dirt-encrusted face and her face was contorted in agony as Gormegil uttered a whispered spell. It took George a minute to understand the cause of her discomfort. "Leave her alone!"
Gormegil turned his attention and full force of his magical abilities upon him. George hit the ground hard, grasping at his head screaming in agony. The pain was immeasurable, but the images were unbearable. The destruction of Puckworld, watching his family face the sacrificial blood ritual of the Saurian's was too much form him to bear. There was no escape from the visions nor the pain. If he could have killed himself in that moment the torment would still go on till eternity.
Anna blinked at her grandfather as he tossed about on the ground like a flounder out of water. Gormegil stalked forward with his customary limp, muttering the spell over and over again. The incessant repetition kept his prey in relatively one spot and fulfilled his twisted desires.
"Stop!" Anna commanded the lizard, standing up. "Leave my family alone."
Gormegil's fondness for the child had grown in the short time he had known her, but his loyalties to the Saurian race was stronger. "I will end his suffering, little one, and yours." He drew his battle blade and held it ready to strike above his head. He took in a deep breath, closed his eyes and drove the sword downward. The deadly implement never met its intended target. Instead it fell to the ground with Gormegil's hands clenching the hilt. His hands had been sliced off with one clean strike of Duke's saber. The mallard leaned heavily on the wall grasping for breath, yet alive. "As my mentor Jack once said, next time finish the job'." Duke turned to his fellow duck, "George, you okay?"
"Your alive!" George exclaimed, leaning on his elbow, the spell disbanded when Gormegil's concentration was broken.
"Takes more then one lizard with a sword to defeat me. How are you sweet heart?"
"I want Daddy."
"One Papa duck coming up. Let's go."
"Not yet," Gormegil seethed barring their path.
"You can't do anything, you've lost."
"That's what you think," Gormegil spun around, whipping his clubbed, spiked, gnarled tail at the ducks. It connected with Duke's ribs and sent him crashing into the far wall. He stumbled to his feet, but not before Gormegil rammed him like a line backer, pinning him to the wall. Duke turned his face away at the fetid breath blown at him. Gormegil did not care; he was going to bite off Duke's head, revenge for the loss of his hands. His jaw snapped shut and his head thrashed from side to side. He staggered backwards, dropping Duke. His sword protruding from his chest, gleaming with his black blood. George backed away afraid that his effort to save Duke had not been enough. Gormegil glared at the older mallard and began to mutter a spell. Duke grabbed the hilt and squeezed, forcing the serration's to vibrate, cutting Gormegil to pieces from within. He fell to his knees, reciting the incantation of death, but his body failed him as he slumped to the floor dead before the final syllable was uttered. His pleading eyes never left Anna and she noticed a single tear fall from his dead eyes.
With his adversary gone Duke got his team to their feet and led the retreat again. Gormegil's sister was bound to return shortly and he did not want anyone to be there when she did return. He had enough of Saurian's and Dragaunus' spawn for one lifetime.
A few minutes after the ducks vacated the ship Belegurth teleported to the room where her brother had been slain. She looked at his mutilated body with his sword jammed through his back, piercing a heart and lung.
"You idiot! You failed!" She kicked his massive gnarled form, which even in death remained hideous and deformed. The impact with his ribs forced the remaining air within his lungs to expel out his mouth, completing his incantation. The words swirled around her, enacting Gormegil's revenge.
The female saurian's eyes widened as she realized what had transpired. The spell was not meant for the ducks, but for her. Her brother implanted within her fiery soul that of another. He had forced upon her the only death fit to torture her physically and mentally. She would die bearing his spawn, as all female saurians did in child bearing. But the fate of her child was more heinous then hers. The child would starve to death lying in a pool of its mother's life fluids that would spill on its arrival. With Gormegil dead, no one would be present to rear the youngster.
Belegurth clawed at her stomach, trying to rip out the child from within her, but it was to no avail. Her sentence had been cast and her death designated. The line of the great saurian overlords ended with her.
/ page break /
Wildwing paced the infirmary with the aid of a cane as Tanya and Canard worked on Dive. The diversion had not worked and no doubt, Duke, Anna, and his father would die, along with Grin and Nosedive. Wing shuddered at the thought. He couldn't give up hope; not when Dive was still alive and that there was still a chance that the others lived. My God, my strength, my fortress in the storm, I call upon you in my hour of need. Do not forsake me for my soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation come from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. I am worn out from calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for God. Those who hate me outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. But I pray to you, O Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close it's mouth over me. Answer me, O Lord, our of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes. I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.
"Wildwing, did you hear me?"
"Huh, what, Tanya?"
"Give me that bottle with local anesthesia."
"Sure."
For once, Nosedive did not fight Tanya as she approached him with the full syringe. He let her perform what was needed to be done to save his life. Wing watched mindlessly. The bandages, blood and gore had lost their effect on him. Wing woke from his trance when the infirmary doors opened. Terry came in carrying their son. He met her halfway shaking his head no; he did not want his son to watch his brother die. "Terry, what are you doing?"
"Anna's home," Mac proclaimed with a wide smile.
The words hit him like the titanic hitting the iceberg. At first it dazed him, then it stung his heart with an icy chill. Then the impossible happened, George, Wildwing's father, appeared holding Anna in his arms.
"A Anna?" Wing's voice quivered on the verge of tears.
"Daddy!"
Wing dropped his cane and scooped his daughter into his arms, thankful that his prayers had been answered. "I missed you." Wing petted her dirty hair and face. She did not reply, instead she rested her head on his shoulder, happy to have her family back. Terry smiled proudly with Mac jumping in her arms. Wing reached around Terry with his free hand and kissed her. The reunion was bitter sweet, for Wing knew what it had cost, a dear friends life and maybe that of his brother's as well.
"Sport?" George asked too afraid to vocalize the question on his mind.
"Dive was hurt in the battle, Dad. Tanya's trying her best. He'll be okay."
Anna wiggled her way out of his arms as Wing insisted on tending to his father and Duke's wounds. When he looked up to pick her up again she had crawled onto the medicom bed and was talking with Dive.
"Hello, Uncle Dive."
"Hey there cutie," Dive reached up and stroked her check.
"Thank you for saving me."
"Anytime. No one messes with my favorite niece."
"I wuv you, Uncle Dive," Anna hugged him as gently as she could.
"I love you too, shorty," Dive winced in pain from the wounds inflicted upon his body.
"Want to know why I didn't give up?"
"Sure."
"Jesus loves me this I know"
"For the Bible tells me so," Dive wheezed, finishing her sentence.
Anna blinked. She didn't think he knew who Jesus was. "Do you believe in Jesus?"
"What?" Dive laughed. "You don't think I've read the Bible? Come on pumpkin, your dad is so into the Christian religion, I had to see for myself why. Of course I believe Jesus is my savior." Anna wept as Dive spoke. He was surprised by her reaction. He had meant to make her smile, not cry. "What's wrong short stuff?"
"Don't die, Uncle Dive."
"Sorry kiddo, I don't think I have much of a choice in the matter. We are all sent to this earth, or should I say into this life, to fulfill God's work. We all have a purpose. Mine has been fulfilled."
"But Dad Take care of Mal and Kelly for me."
"Dive fight it," Wing choked on his tears.
"Tanya can you do me a favor?" Tanya nodded when Dive whispered his request in her ear. "Now I have one last request"
"That is, Ace?"
The room fell silent, waiting for Dive's final request, but his last words had already been spoken. Anna fell across his chest, weeping openly. George took Dive's lifeless hand and squeezed it as he rubbed Anna's back. Duke hugged Tanya; Terry held Mac. Wing stood alone smiling with tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Wildwing," Tanya's voice was cracked. "How can you be smiling at a time like this?"
"He is saved." Wing looked to the floor before studying everyone's face carefully. When his gaze fell upon Anna he held his right hand out to her. She jumped off the bed and ran to him and he lifted her onto his hip. "I now know what I have to do." Dive had lied; his purpose in life had not come to pass before he died. It came to pass in the moments just after his death.
Final A/N: You will have to forgive these tears of mine and the runny nose. some horrendous noise placed here Ah much better. Did this story help the first? And just so there are no more cries of injustice; I will write a continuation to this. I have foreseen the aftermath and such and the story is in a relative time space continuum. Don't ask. It has been started, but I'm busy with God's work (his work cannot wait). In time I may get around to finishing it. If you have any constructive criticism or any comments please feel free to leave a review or email. Till the next time I post (which may be a while or maybe not who knows when it's me who's writing) smile, live, laugh, love and God Bless.
Silver Elf Child