Here it is, sorry for the long wait. So, do you like the new title?


"What do you want?" asked Kristy, pulling against the hunter drones as they brought her up before Dragonuse's throne.

"Ah, such a feisty young duck." said the Saurian overlord, leering over her, "a pity I don't have more time to enjoy this." Before Kristy could speak he raised his gun and shot, hitting her square in the chest with the stun-gun blast, leaving her slumped in the drone's arms.

"Put her in the cell and proceed with phase two," he instructed his henchmen.


Jason and Zack both gasped as Siege entered the holding cell area, carrying Kristy's unconscious form over his shoulder.

"What did you do to her?" exclaimed Zack.

"Back off, birdies," ordered Siege, motioning them away from the cell door with his laser gun. They immediately complied and Siege deactivated the power grid just long enough to toss Kristy on the floor. Then he reset the grid and laughed as he stalked away.

"Hey Kriss, you okay?" asked Zack, kneeling to cradle her head.

"W-What?" Kristy's eyes fluttered open.

"Kristy, what happened?" asked Jason, crouching next to her, he noticed that she had trouble focusing her eyes.

"Um...I don't really remember," answered Kristy slowly, "Dragonus wanted to know what we're here, but I'm not even sure."

"Welcome to the club," joked Zack, "none of us know why we're here."

"That's not what Dragonus thinks," muttered Kristy softly.

"Kristy, you sure you're alright?" asked Jason.

"Oh yeah, just a little wuzzy," answered Kristy, "I'm just gonna go lay down for a sec."

'Something's not right bro," whispered Zack as Kristy stumbled back to sit leaning against the back wall.

"She's probably just tired, and we have no idea what those Saurians did to her," said Jason, not really believing himself.

"Sooner we break out'a here the better," said Zack.


"I think I've got it!" announced Tanya, jumping out of her seat in front of Drake 1. She'd been working furiously ever since their return to the pond almost two hours ago, trying to track the Saurian's teleportation energy.

"You know where the Raptor is?" asked Canard, gazing up at the giant screen.

"Yeah, uh...well, no...not exactly. I mean I just triangulated their last teleportation location, and it could be the Raptor, or maybe just a new hideout."

"Coolio! Let's go kick some Saurian butt," suggested Nosedive.

"Chill Dive," said Wildwing, setting a hand on his brother's shoulder, "we can't just go charging in there. We need to know who, or what, came through that portal."

Before he could continue Duke raised a hand. "Don't worry, I'm way ahead of you. Just let me grab my gear and-"

"No way you're in there alone," argued Mallory.

"Why, are you worried about me?"

"In your dreams L'Orange. This mission is too important for just you."

"Fine, we'll all go," decided Wildwing, ending the argument before it could escalate, "we'll take the aerowing so we can have a quick escape."

"And when we get there?" asked Tanya.

"We'll figure it out on the way," said Canard, "let's move!"

In the aerowing they decided that Wildwing, Canard, Duke, Mallory, and Tanya would go into the Raptor. Nosedive and Grin would stay with the aerowing, guarding their retreat and ready to takeoff at a moments notice.

"Land here Dive," instructed Wildwing, using the mask to guide them in under the shield. They passed through and Nosedive gasped as a pile of rocks turned into the giant maroon spaceship, he could never get used to that. He brought the aerowing down next to the ship, where Wildwing assured them there was a secret door.

"Okay, everyone maintain contact through the comms," ordered Wildwing.

"This is a reconnaissance mission," added Canard, "don't try anything fancy. Just get in, get the info, and get out."

"Long as Nosedive's with the plane we should be fine," said Mallory.

"Hey! I'm a valuable part of this team, though totally undervalued...Where'd they go?" Nosedive stopped his rambling when he heard the hatch close, leaving him and Grin alone. "So Grinster, whatcha wanna do first?"

Wildwing led the way to the throne room, but deferred to Duke when it cam to avoiding the sentry drones. The ex-thief was leading them through an airvent when Dragonus's raging reached their ears. "I want to know who they are! I don't care how you do it, but remember to leave the prisoners alive. I may yet have a use for them."

Wildwing motioned for a retreat and they backed out of the vent into an empty corridor. "I guess they weren't his allies," stated Mallory.

"Uh, do you think the prisoners might be ducks?" asked Tanya. Canard and Mallory both shook their heads.

"The military did some research, but never could duplicate the Saurian's dimensional Gateways," explained Canard.

"What do ya wanna do now?" Duke asked their leader.

"We rescue them," answered Wildwing immediately, "we can't just leave them here. Duke, think you could get down to the holding cells and break them out?"

"Not a problem, but what 'bout the security cameras? Dragonus is bound to be watching 'em carefully."

"I can take care of that," volunteered Tanya, "I just need to find the surveillance system."

"Good. Canard, you and Mallory watch Dragonus, tell us if anything happens, and I'll help Tanya. Duke, wait for my signal. Got it?" The mask of Ducain flashed as he turned his head to face each of them. There were no objections so they all moved out.

Duke made his way quickly through the Raptor, he could move much faster on his own than with the others. He paused outside of the holding cell area. "All set," he whispered into his comm.

"Okay, just wait while Tanya finishes looping the video," instructed Wildwing, "and...you're good, make it fast."

Duke pushed the door open a crack and peeked through into the seemingly empty room. He drew his saber and cautiously approached the cell blocked by a glowing red energy grid, on guard for a trap and suddenly wishing he had some backup. Sure, he'd always worked alone back on Puckworld, but over the past two years he'd gotten used to being part of the team.

"Hey, anyone in der?" he called softly. Two figures picked themselves up from where they'd been sitting against the wall.

"Whos' there?" challenged one of the figures, a teenaged duck with familiar looking pitch black hair tied at the nape of his neck.

"Calm down kid, I'm here ta get you out," assured Duke, peering closely at the energy grid.

"Wait a minute, Uncle Duke?" ventured the other boy. His feathers were and identical match for the other boy's hair, and the same as the boy's father.

"Jason?" Duke could hardly believe it, the last people he expected to see were the his old friend Blade Cooper's sons. "Zachary? How'd you two get here?"

"Long story," said Zack, rolling his eyes, "but how're you gonna get us out'a here?"

"Easy enough, I am the notorious Duke L'Orange after all." He pressed a button on the control panel and the energy grid disappeared. The boys were followed by a lost looking girl, probably their same age.

Before Duke could ask who she was an alarm started blaring. "Shit! It must've been linked to the energy grind," explained Duke, "come on, we've gott'a get out'a here." That's when his comm went off.

"Duke, get out of there," warned Canard, "Dragonus heard the alarm and he's coming."

"Hey, I've got three kids with me!"

"Ah stars...we'll try 'n hold them off, but hurry. I'll tell Wing."

Duke lead them through the halls at a run. Eventually they heard the sounds of fighting from around the corner. "Okay, wrong way," said Duke, but then a group of Drones turned the corner behind them. "Alright, try our luck with the other way."

Zack and Jason both reached under their sweatshirts and took out their sabers.

"Fine, but no heroics," instructed Duke, "just stick close so we can get out'a here." They rounded the corner, where the other four ducks were battling the Saurians. Dragonus was the first to spot them.

"No!" he bellowed. "Siege, Wraith, get the prisoners!" Duke, Jason, and Zack each deflected the lasers shot at them, but Duke could only watch as a fire ball headed straight for the girl. Suddenly Canard was there, he jumped and pushed her out of the way, but wasn't quite fast enough to avoid the fire ball grazing his left arm. The two tumbled to the floor in a ball of tan feathers.

Dragonus roared and aimed his laser straight at them, but Wildwing saw him and slid in front of them, deflecting the blast with his ice shield. "Canard, you okay?" he called.

"Yeah, thanks bud." Canard reached down with his uninjured arm to help pull the shocked girl to her feet. "Kristy?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"Hiya Canard," she greeted sheepishly.

"How'd you get here?"

"Later," interrupted Wildwing, pushing themboth towards the exit, "let's go!"

Wildwing covered them as they raced for the aerowing then gave the order to take off.

"You got it bro," said Nosedive, getting them air born.

Canard and Duke led the three new ducks to the extra seats in the back. Tanya soon joined them to help wrap Canard's arm.

"Uh hi there," she greeted the teens

"Tanya, this is my sister Kristy," explained Canard.

"Um yeah, that's me," said Kristy, shaking her hand.

"Okay...and I'm guessing they're not your brothers." Tanya pointed at the two boys.

"My friend's kids," was all Duke would say, "Jason and Zachary."

It was a quick trip back to the Pond, and once they got there Nosedive hopped out of his seat, that's when he noticed the three extra ducks. "Whoa, who're they?" he exclaimed.


Read and review, really, I want to know what you think, even if you hated it.

Noreen