"Heartbeat is stable."
"Breathing is getting faster…"
What's going on…? Why can't I move…?
"Dr. Lux, he's struggling."
"He's beginning to wake up, Dr. Lux!"
Who are you people…? Augh!
"Substance 35 has been injected. Continuing with the procedure."
Why…My body…It's in pain…it's unbearable…! Make it stop…please…!
"Cutting open the section."
No…No…! No!
Canard woke up screaming once more as he fell out of his bed. He breathed heavily as he frantically looked around to see himself in his bunker.
Canard rubbed his head. "They still haven't stopped…" he mumbled. He pulled up his shirt and looked over to where the cuts and incisions were made. Faint scars littered about. A gentle reminder of what he endured. He pulled his shirt back down. That wasn't just any nightmare. Perhaps it was more of a memory. But the most important thing from the memory had to be the name.
"Dr. Lux…" He said aloud. The name of his probable tormentor. Images flashed in his mind, showing the outline of someone standing over him. This made Canard shiver as he held himself.
"This isn't good…" Canard mumbled. He needed to know…he needed to remember what happened to him, but it was like…his mind was blocking it. Canard swallowed the thin saliva in his mouth. It did nothing to cool his parched throat. He was still wide awake, yet drowsiness was behind his eyelids.
"I need a drink." He mumbled getting out off the floor. On his way to the kitchen he passed by Wildwings room. He could've sworn he heard some noises coming from it. Canard ignored it for the time being as he kept walking to the kitchen.
-\-
Wildwing was groaning in his sleep. The dream he was having wasn't like Canard's, but was just as confusing. Wildwing heard voices as the scenery around him was blurred. Like, he couldn't see anything clearly. But he could hear clearly, and what he heard were voices. One female and one male.
"Are you sure we can do this?"
"I know we can do this! We've come this far. You, me, and the boys! There's nothing that can stop us now!"
"I know, but I'm worried about you. What if you…if you…"
"Hey, look at me. I'm not going to die to those Saurian Slimeballs. Not now, not ever."
"Oh Drake…"
"We will win this, no matter what it takes, Ginger."
Wildwing's eyes shot open. He sat upright as sweat beaded down.
"Another dream about Drake Ducaine…" He mumbled. It had been awhile since he had his last dream about the legend. He raised a brow and rubbed his chin. "But why am I having them? They have to mean something…"
Wildwing looked to see Nosedive still asleep. He sighed as he got up from his bed. "I need some water…" Wildwing headed for the door to his shared room and walked out, making sure not to wake up Nosedive.
Wildwing walked down the hallway and entered the mess hall but stopped when he saw Canard stilling at the table, drinking some milk. Canard looked and gave Wildwing a weary smile. Wildwing smiled back. He grabbed himself some water and went over to Canard.
"Guess you can't sleep either?" Canard asked.
"What gave it away?" Wildwing joked to his best friend.
Canard chuckled before saying with a slight frown. "…I had more of those visions." He told Wildwing.
Wildwing put a hand to Canard's shoulder. "You wanna talk about it? I'll tell you about the weird dreams I've been having."
Canard looked curious. "You've been having weird dreams too?" He asked.
Wildwing nodded. "Now this may sound crazy, but they're about Drake DuCaine!"
Canard paused and blinked a few times before smirking. "Are you not telling me something?" He asked in a teasing way.
Wildwing scoffed and punched Canard in the arm. "I'm not-I'm serious, Canard!"
Canard couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I couldn't help it."
"These aren't just any ordinary dreams, they're like memories of DuCaine's battle with the Saurians. I hear the voices of others too." Wildwing paused to drink his water. "Do you know anyone in Drake's legend named Ginger?"
Canard thought for a long moment as he drank his milk.
"I…I can't say I have." Canard replied. "Was that a name you heard?" He asked.
"Yeah," Wildwing scratched the back of his neck. "I started having these dreams the night you returned."
"Weird…" Canard mumbled as he drank some more milk.
"Actually, Crystal mentioned the name 'Ginger' before." Wildwing realized.
"Crystal? That woman you went out to dinner with the other night?" Canard asked.
"Yeah. She said that Drake DuCaine married someone named Ginger." Wildwing thought for a moment. "Maybe that was them."
"Woah. So there's gotta be a reason you're having these dreams." Canard drummed his fingers against his glass.
"Well whatever the reason may be I hope it's fortunate." Wildwing took another sip from his glass. "What about you?"
Canard looked away a bit before speaking. "These…doctors, if you'd even call them that, were…experimenting on me…I think." Canard explained. "I…couldn't move. They injected me with something that paralyzed me, but hurt as well. I also heard this name. Dr. Lux."
"Dr. Lux?" Wildwing raised a brow. "Do you remember why they were experimenting on you or was that as far as your nightmare went?"
"I…I don't know why they were doing…whatever it is they did." Canard said as he slightly shivered.
"It's ok. Maybe you'll remember in due time." Wildwing looked away for a moment, licking his lips. "Then again, you probably don't wanna remember all that…"
"You're not lying." Canard said. "But I think I need to know."
"If you do have another nightmare or memory, just let me know." Wildwing smiled. "I'm going to make sure you and the team stay safe, no matter what. It's my duty as team captain, right?" Wildwing asked.
Canard looked surprised but smiled and nodded his head. "We'd better get back to bed. Isn't the game for the Stanley Cup tomorrow?"
"You bet, and we're gonna skate towards victory tomorrow!" Wildwing held up a hand for a high five, and Canard high fived his best friend.
"Well, let's go get some much needed sleep." Canard said.
Wildwing smiled as the two of them walked back to their rooms.
-\-
Wildwing and Canard weren't the only ones up this late at night. On the Raptor, which was ready to take flight once it had Balerium crystals, Mercury was working on the Mask nonstop since he was given more time from Dragaunus. But he never left the lab he was working in ever since. Chameleon was on his way to the lab with some water and food for Mercury. The door opened steadily.
"Hey Merc, I figured you might be hungry." Chameleon smiled. However, his smile fell when he saw the sight of Mercury on the floor of the lab, breathing heavily like he had just ran a marathon with no water. Chameleon set the tray down and rushed over to Mercury.
"Mercury!? Merc!? Speak to me! Are you ok?" He kneeled down to hold the other up.
Mercury's eyes opened as Chameleon helped him up.
"Chameleon…?" Mercury mumbled before reaching for his forehead. "What happened?" Mercury's eyes then widened. "The Mask…! I-I gotta finish the Mask!"
"Whoa! Take it easy!" Chameleon tried to tell him but Mercury wouldn't listen and as he slowly stood up. "I just found you unconscious on the floor! Give yourself a minute."
"What are you talking about?" Mercury questioned. "I'm fine…" Mercury then began coughing violently, and on his last cough, blood came out of his mouth and landed in his hand as he tried to cover his cough. Chameleon looked shocked to see this. But Mercury said, "…I'm fine, really."
"You're coughing up blood!" Chameleon exasperated. "I think you know that's not a good sign" Chameleon ushered Mercury over to a chair. "Please just give yourself a minute to rest." Chameleon grabbed the water from the tray and offered it to Mercury. But Mercury gently pushed away the glass of water.
"This is nothing…I'm fine." Mercury assured him.
"Mercury…"
"What's going on here?" Mercury and Chameleon looked to see Ryan entering the room. He took one look at Mercury and immediately rushed over, pushing Chameleon out of the way. "…You overworked yourself again." Ryan stated to Mercury.
"Ryan…I swear I…"
"Enough." Ryan interrupted Mercury, harshly. "I'm taking you back to the Sanctum." Ryan lifted Mercury's arm over his head and onto his shoulder to help Mercury stand up.
Chameleon remained silent. He strode alongside them. "You're gonna take him where now?" He meekly asked, worry written all over his face.
Ryan slightly glared at Chameleon. "Don't worry about it. He'll be fine." He assured the green Saurian before he used his watch to open a dimensional gateway. Ryan adjusted his hold on Mercury as they began to walk through, but before they left, Ryan looked back at Chameleon. "I'd be careful around Mercury, if I were you. Bonds can be very dangerous if forged incorrectly." After saying that, Ryan and Mercury left and the gateway closed.
Chameleon's face dropped to the floor. He frowned at what Ryan had said."What does he know…" He muttered. Chameleon gazed at the spot a moment longer and then went over to pick up the tray.
None of this would've happened if Lord Pain-in-the-Neck didn't rush him! Chameleon gritted his teeth at the thought. His shoulders slumped as he carried the tray down to the mess hall.
Co-Written with PurpleReign9000
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