Kristy stayed where Dragonus had thrown her, lying on the ground. She didn't want to attract the Saurian's attention again, and her right shoulder really hurt from where his talons had dug into the skin. A wet tickle down her back told Kristy that the bleeding hadn't stopped yet. She rolled over just a bit so more pressure was applied to the wounds. I actually remembered some of that first aid stuff, she thought sarcastically, mom would be so proud of me. Though passing out would feel good right now, but that might take a while. I don't think I lost enough blood for it to be too dangerous... Kristy lifted her spinning head slightly when Lucricia stomped into the room.
"Dragonus, are you done with the brat yet?" She asked, walking right up to the already angry Saurian.
"When I have the mask. Then you can have your fun," he answered coldly, "but for now she is still mine." Dragonus turned his glowing yellow eyes on the duck and she backed away
"You know this is probably a trick," warned Lucricia, taking a seat out of his reach.
"You underestimate them," said Dragonus. A few steps brought him to where Kristy was trying to sink into the floor. "The ducks claim to fight on the side of good. They wont do anything as long as I have a hostage." He looped his long fingers through the energy bands around Kristy's wrists and pulled her closer. "Besides, I'm not going to let her out of my sights," he flashed a mouthful of glistening teeth at Kristy and she cringed, both from the pain in her shoulder and from fear.
"Fine!" Lucricia rose from her chair. "But as soon as you've got the mask I get to put my plan into action." She retreated back down the hallway from where she'd appeared.
"Oh, you're gonna be in trouble," teased Chameleon, morphing into a little kid and pointing at Kristy. "That crazy duck is gonna make you wish we had killed you!"
"Enough," bellowed Dragonus, "it's time to go." A bright green light filled Kristy's vision. When her eyes cleared she saw they were in an old warehouse.
"Nice dump," she commented. Dragonus just responded by shoving her over to Seige.
"Make sure she doesn't get away," he ordered. The strong orange henchman tightened his grip on Kristy's already sore shoulder.
"Ow! Leme go," Kristy had discovered new courage, and she was going to use that to her full advantage to annoy these goons so much that they'd let down their guard.
"Shut up kid," threatened Seige, "or you're gonna be in trouble."
"I don't think so," Kristy grinned despite the pain, "you kill me and you wont get the mask." Seige loosened his grip just a bit, but it was enough to release the pain in her shoulder. Kristy suddenly had the advantage. Before she'd been afraid that Dragonus would kill her, but know she realized that he couldn't. He needed her. It was a powerful feeling.
That feeling disappeared when Lucricia stepped out of the shadows to slap Kristy across the face. "Better mind your manners kid," she taunted, taking pleasure out of seeing a purple bruise forming along the girl's cheek.
"What are you doing?" Roared Dragonus, seeing his prisoner hanging weakly in Seige's grasp. "We went over this. I need her alive!"
"She's fine," snapped Lucricia, "but you shouldn't let your captives think that they're not in any danger. It gives them ideas."
The evil overlord glared at Kristy. "So you thought you were safe, little duck," he smiled, "once your brother hands over the mask, you'll be the first to die."
"My lord, the I can see the Ducks' vehicle approaching," reported Wraith through Dragonus' communicator.
Kristy had to try distracting him again, just long enough for Canard and the others to get here.
"It's not going to work," she stated defiantly, "they'll still beat you, even without the mask." Dragonus roared and grabbed her by the arm. He pulled her away from Seige and blew a pillar of smoke right in Kristy's face.
"You're testing my patience, but it's not going to work."
Canard and the others were crouched at the door way, stalling so Duke and Nosedive had time to get into position.
"Okay," said Wildwing, feeling uneasy because he didn't know what was on the other side of the door, "we get in there, distract them just long enough, then get out." He didn't like leaving the real mask back at the pond, but he had to so Dragonus wouldn't be suspicious of the fake one Canard was carrying. Wildwing gave his friend a quick smile. Canard was handling this fairly well, but the strain was showing in his troubled brown eyes.
When they heard Dragonus' roar through the door Canard bolted. He crashed through the door with the others a second behind.
"There goes the element of surprise," commented Mallory dryly, but she stopped right inside the door. They'd entered just in time to hear the evil Saurian say, "It's not going to work,"
then burry his talons deeply into his captive's arm.
The girl duck, who had to be Canard's sister, Kristy, cried out in pain as the blood flowed freely.
"Dragonus, enough!" Announced Canard, his puck launcher aimed at the large Saurian. Dragonus pulled his talons out and slowly licked the blood off. Kristy kneeled on the floor trying to hold her arm, but unable to because her wrists were still bound together.
"Where is the mask?" Asked Dragonus, he grabbed Kristy's hair and pulled her head backwards. "I want it now or she dies."
"Right here," Canard tossed the 'mask' to where he was standing. Dragonus released Kristy immediately and snatched the it out of the air. "Now let her go!"
Dragonus smiled and crushed the fake mask with his bare hands. "Now you will all die!" He drew his laser and turned towards Kristy. "Starting with her - "
Dragonus didn't get to finish his threat because then Duke used his grappling hook to swing down from the rafters and tackle the large lizard. Nosedive was right behind him, using his own grappling puck to make an less-than-graceful landing next to Kristy. The rest of the ducks took this as a cue to abandon their earlier plans and attack the shocked Saurians.
"Hey T-girl, you alright?" Nosedive asked as he pulled Kristy onto her feet. He sliced through the energy bonds with a knife borrowed from Duke.
"Dive! You're really alive!" Kristy threw her arms around her friends neck. Dive returned the quick embrace and noticed the blood on her arm and back.
"Do you think you can hold on 'till we get out'a here?"
"Do I have a choice?"
Nosedive chuckled and put his arm around Kristy's waist. "Hold on," he warned before flicking the reverse switch on his grappling-puck gun. They practically flew back up to the rafters.
"V, dude, better warning next time," commented Kristy when they stopped.
Dive grinned sheepishly an shrugged as he bent and unhooked the grappling-puck from a rafter.
"Not another move," commanded a cold voice.
Nosedive looked up to see Lucricia DeCoy aiming a huge laser right at him.
"Kristy, run - "
"Take one step and he dies," interrupted the traitoress duck. "Did you two really expect to outsmart me?"
"Dive, duck!" Called a voice from below. Lucricia turned to see who had spotted her and Wildwing sent the puck flying. She jumped back and avoided getting hit. Nosedive tried to jump back too, but he lost his balance and fell off the narrow rafter beam.
"Nosedive!" Kristy grabbed his hand with both of hers as he fell. That wasn't a good idea, she thought as her injured arm protested to the extra weight.
"Kristy..." Dive was cut off by his own scream as Kristy blacked out from the pain and they both fell. The last thing she remembered was falling forward, then nothing.