"Hey Kriss, you in there?" called Dive, knocking on his friend's door. He heard a soft click, meaning the door had been unlocked and a moment later the sensors kicked in and it swooshed open.

"What's up Dive?" Kristy was lounging on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. She'd exchanged her ruined skirt for a pair of either Tanya or Mallory's jeans (she couldn't remember who'd given them to her) and pulled one of Canard's extra large Mighty Ducks team sweatshirts on over her t-shirt.

"That was really harsh of 'Nard to ground you like that."

Kristy stared at her blond friend. "If my brother hears you calling him that..."

Dive held up his hands in defense. "I'm just saying that I know what you're going through." Kristy gave his another look. "I mean I know what you're going through with the whole Canard-as-an-annoying-over-protective-brother thing."

"Thanks V," Kristy sighed, "but I was really looking forward to checking out the mall today." After that afternoon's events Canard had restricted his sister to the Pond indefinitely, meaning no trips to the mall any time soon.

"Nah, you've seen one mall you've seen 'em all," said Dive, moving to sit down on her blue bean bag chair.

"But I haven't seen one," countered Kristy, "at least not here on Earth." She shook her head. "I understand why he did it, heck even I'm kinda nervous."

"Kriss I'm really sorry I couldn't help-"

"Save it Dive, Canard's been apologizing to me all night. He really thinks it's his fault, but it's not."

"It's not your fault either!" exclaimed Dive.

Kristy sat up to look him in the face. "I know that. I've known it since, well, when they brought you in and we heard that she'd turned traitor. I just, I wish it wasn't real..."

"I know what you mean," comforted Dive, "I wish I could forget what happened in those camps, but..."

"It's impossible," finished Kristy. "I'd give anything just to be a normal teen again."

"But you were never normal to begin with." Dive ducked to avoid the pillow thrown at his face. "Thanks for the pillow," he tucked it behind his head and leaned back.

"You know what I mean. Doing things like hanging out, dating," they both blushed, "even going to school again. Not living on an alien planet, worrying about a Saurian overlord bent on domination and an psycho duck who's out to get me."

"Not watching people fall and die," continued Dive. Oh stars, thought Kristy, How could I be so stupid? Dive was trapped in a prison camp for like a year. I guess we've both got memories we'd rather forgeth.

"We could try the dating thing," he suggested, seeing her face fall, "just to see 'Nard blow a gasket."

Kristy leaned down and shook her head. "I'm sorry Dive. You're my best friend and all, and before this whole mess started I really wanted to, but..."

"It's totally fine, T." Dive jumped up. "You know what? This place is getting way too depressing. Wanna go check out the mall's night life?"

"Dude, grounded."

Come on, we'll take the duck cycles. Be gone and back before anyone notices we're gone."

"I don't know..." Kristy really wanted to go, but she also didn't want to face the wrath of an angry older brother.

"You said you wanted to do normal stuff again. What's more normal than a teenager getting grounded and sneaking out?" That was all it took.

Kristy jumped off her bed. "Ok, let's go. Lead the way, oh sneaky one,"