Chapter 13
"Okay, are you ready, Grace?"
Wildwing stood several feet from her in a training room at the Pond, watching Grace expectantly.
"I don't like that you're staying in the room while I strike those mannequins," Grace said as she gestured towards a couple of mannequins Tanya had set up for target practice.
"You need our help to recreate a tense scenario," Duke said, standing a little way to the left of Wildwing. "Otherwise, I wouldn't let Tanya strap things like this to my arm."
He held up a shock device that was bound around his left arm. Wildwing had one just like it. Tanya had said that the devices would generate enough of a charge to lightly shock her teammates and cause just a little pain to simulate an attack. The devices would be activated when the mannequins began to pulled toward the ducks by small robots.
"We'll be fine as long as you aim for the mannequins," Wildwing said. "Okay, you ready, Tanya?"
"Just say when," she said, standing on the opposite side of the room with a remote.
"Remember, Grace, this training is about controlling your powers. See if you can solve this problem by causing the least amount of damage."
"But quickly," Duke said holding up his arm with the device on it. "I'd rather not have to wear this for too long."
"No messing with the actual devices though!" Tanya called out. "In a real conflict with other outsiders, you have to deal with them before you heal us."
"Target the mannequins, got it," Grace assured her.
"Start the simulation, Tanya!" Wildwing commanded, and Tanya pressed a couple of buttons on her remote.
The mannequins were steadily drawn towards the ducks from the back of the room, and in a moment, Duke and Wildwing both cringed and clasped their arms. Duke dropped to his knees, and Wildwing bowed his head and shoulders.
And Grace did not try to halt the distress she felt as seeing them in pain. She raised her hands towards the mannequins, but suddenly, the little robots at their feet steered them directly behind the ducks, blocking her shot.
Grace tried to run forward, weaving from side to side a bit to try to get a clear view of the mannequins to avoid hitting the ducks when she struck, but the mannequins kept moving around the ducks thwarting her attempts.
"You need to act faster," Wildwing said with a groan as he also dropped to his knees. But even with both ducks down, Grace saw that the robots were tilting the mannequins to the side to make them less tall and harder to hit.
Finally, Grace stopped with furrowed brow, and she dropped to the floor which she struck hard with her fists. The blow sent tremors rippling out before her. Duke, Wildwing, and the mannequins with their robots were thrown up into the air by the force.
Grace flung out an energy blast towards each robot that crippled them in the air. Then she raised her hands and caught Duke and Wildwing before they hit the ground and carefully swept them off to one side, letting them land gently on the floor.
Tanya walked forward as the training exercise ended and looked at the cracked floor tiles. The mannequins had both lost at least one arm or a leg due the impact of landing on the floor. Duke and Wildwing stood up and walked over to survey the scene.
"We might have to keep working on your technique," Wildwing sighed. "This still looks like collateral damage to me."
Grace crossed her arms.
"At least I only struck the robots."
"And the floor," Tanya scoffed, pointing to the cracks. "But that was good acting on your part, guys. That pain looked believable."
Duke rubbed his left arm with a frown.
"Oh really, sweetheart? That's cause this thing actually hurts!"
"You big baby," Tanya laughed.
Duke turned his gaze to Wildwing for support, but the team leader looked away.
"Uh, that's probably enough training for one day. We can try again tomorrow."
"Yeah, and Nosedive can wear this thing for a change," Duke said with a smirk.
The training continued for another week or so as the city of Anaheim continued to be safely nestled beneath the dome, and its citizens remained happy and healthy. Wildwing contacted Xanatos to learn that New York was also doing well behind the pillars.
But just about the time they were all starting to feel more confident, they caught part of a news interview with Chase. The focus of their conversation appeared to be about some recent support OtherEarth, Inc. had given to other hockey teams in the country. Chase was expressing his interest in the sport and how OtherEarth, Inc. was wanting to become more involved with the league.
"Our information indicates that OtherEarth, Inc. has granted donations to nearly every hockey teams except the Mighty Ducks. Care to explain?"
"We've reached out to their manager," and Chase faced the camera as he said, "We are hopeful they will respond to us soon."
The interview ended, and Nosedive said,
"No way that guy's a hockey fan!"
But Wildwing had already risen from the couch and was calling Phil.
"But why would OtherEarth, Inc. start giving money to these other teams?" Mallory asked.
"I dunno, but it seems like more than just spite," Duke said warily.
Wildwing heard Phil pick up and began demanding to know what he had been sent from OtherEarth, Inc.
"Hey, relax babe! All I got was a phone number. But when I called the number, nothing happened. I thought it was another scam after what you said about them."
"Tell me the number, Phil."
Wildwing wrote it down and then ended the communication. Grace rose from her seat and walked over to him.
"Any ideas about what this really is?" he asked her.
Grace took the number from him and considered it.
"That news story was a reminder that you will have to travel outside of Anaheim for some hockey games. Those at OtherEarth, Inc. will know the game schedules, and you'll be vulnerable. Without my protection, you could easily be attacked as Duke was."
"It won't be safe for you to travel with us," Wildwing said. "They'll anticipate your presence, and there could be people from the Agency searching for you."
Grace looked down at the number. It was a phone number, but it wasn't intended for Phil's use.
"I think Chase wants to talk to me."
"You think he wants to strike some kind of bargain?"
"It's possible. He would have seen what I did to Vivian. But with this, he wants me to know that he still has a few cards to play."
"What if it's a trap?" Wildwing asked.
"I don't think it could be one that I have to fear. But just in case, perhaps I shouldn't call this number from the Pond. We don't want to give the Agency proof of my location."
Wildwing nodded.
In the abandoned resort, Seaside Park, Tanya set up some computers to make the call location untraceable. The ducks would remain close by to listen to the call, but Grace sat down in front of the receiver. She hesitated for a moment, and Grin walked up behind her.
"Anger does not have to define you," he said. "You can face them and defeat them with other forces."
Grace nodded and took in a deep breath as she dialed the number on the keypad. Grin walked back to the other ducks and waited.
Once the number was entered, Grace didn't hear a phone ringing, but there was a click and then a subtle sound almost like faint static.
"I assumed you wanted to speak to me," Grace said as her hands gripped the receiver, and she felt a presence on the other end of the call.
"Identify yourself," Chase's voice answered after a moment.
"Why? Would my name mean anything to you?"
"Perhaps not, but I like to know whom I'm dealing with."
"There's been no agreement upon any deals yet. Is that why you wanted to talk?"
"I thought it was time we got to know one another," Chase said in a smooth, business-like tone. "I wish we could have met the last time I visited Anaheim."
"So do I," Grace answered. "But it was better for you that we did not."
Chase laughed.
"Are you going to attack me as you did with Vivian?"
"That is not my intention, but it's best not to provoke me," Grace warned.
"Ah yes, you seem to care deeply for those ducks you follow so closely. Are they there with you now?"
"Stop playing games. Why did you want to talk?" Grace persisted as her tone grew colder.
"You know that you won't always be able to protect them," Chase continued. "But I don't want us to be enemies. Just think, if we were allies, we could come to an understanding about the ducks. They'd never again have anything to fear from us."
"But if I don't agree to your terms, you and your colleagues will continue to strike at them whenever you can," Grace clarified.
"We must draw our power from somewhere. And these limitations you have imposed upon us are excessive. Opportunities must be taken when they arise."
His words generated hot wrath within her like searing coals, but she breathed deeply and did not let her anger blind her.
"So what is it that you want?"
"It's clear you possess an extraordinary amount of power. If only the rest of us had your abilities, but since we do not, if you would only work with us, instead of against us, we wouldn't need to bother with your beaked friends."
"How would I work with you?" Grace asked.
"You could be a healer at OtherEarth, Inc. We'd give you your own office and protect you from the Agency. You wouldn't have to hide anymore."
"And what I am supposed to do with this office and my abilities, charge others exorbitant fees for my services?"
"We do have to make a living. You would have to work under contract to us, of course. We would decide the fees for your services and whom you would help, but the ducks would be left alone in return for all of this …and as I said, you could be free to live openly amongst your own race in this world without fear of the Agency."
"Free," Grace repeated softly. "Free to be your slave …while you go on stealing and weakening others for your own gain."
"It's the way the system works," Chase insisted. "And if you continue to interfere from the outside, you will come to regret it just as others before you have. Surely you're aware of what happened to them."
Grace's fury rose, but she wasn't willing to lose control again. Yet, at the same time, she wanted to respond in strength to Chase's threats.
Seizing the receiver, she gripped it tightly and closed her eyes. After a brief moment of darkness, she could see Chase standing over a speaker phone in his office, and once she concentrated harder, she made certain that he could see her, seemingly standing before him.
He appeared surprised and displeased to see her, but he didn't back down.
"I'm not here to fight," Grace said. "But if you or any of your associates come after the ducks, you will get a fight."
"So I take it you will not be joining us?" Chase said darkly.
"Join you? OtherEarth, Inc. will burn first. I want nothing more than to see your wretched business sink back into the mire from which it came. Consider this your warning. Leave the rest of this world alone, and I'll let you step away quietly. Persist, and you will be exposed for the hypocrites you are."
Chase's expression reflected his anger, but he quickly resumed his smug, professional demeanor.
"This refusal to cooperate means that upon the first time you and those ducks set foot out of Anaheim, you will be arrested and executed by the Agency …and the ducks will pay for your insolence. Whatever powers you have, you cannot stand against the forces at work against you."
Grace turned her gaze to the phone upon his desk. A red light was shining brightly under the word 'Record'. She looked back at him and smiled.
"I have no doubt there will be risks in the coming months, but if you hoped to use this conversation against me, you don't know whom you're dealing with."
She raised her hand slightly and said, "Have a good day, Chase."
Alert messages began beeping on his computer.
"Deleting all files … deleting all files…" an electronic voice said from his monitor. Chase rushed over to his computer and tried to stop the process, but suddenly his computer and phone began to spark and smoke. He was forced to step back, and when he looked up, his adversary was gone.
Grace released the receiver and sat back in her chair.
"Did you see what happened?" she asked, turning around to the ducks.
"Yes, it was like we could see what you were seeing on that screen there," Tanya said, pointing to the monitor.
"It was awesome!" Nosedive said. "You squashed that creep!"
"Just his network files and his computer, this time though," Grace said with a slight smile. "I'll admit that it felt more satisfying that my last encounter with someone from that office."
"You think he was planning to take that recording to the Agency?" Wildwing said.
"Yes, or use it as leverage against me, if I agreed to his terms," Grace's expression grew more serious. "But I have made things dangerous for all of us. Once hockey season begins, he is going to take every opportunity to seek revenge."
"He was going to do that anyway," Duke sighed. "None of us wanted you to take that deal to protect us while the rest of the world suffers and you have to work for them."
Wildwing nodded.
"We'll just have to do we can to prepare for the attacks. I'm mostly concerned with keeping you hidden, Grace. If the Agency seizes you, that's when we're all in danger."
"I think we need to know more about what the Agency uses to restrain and weaken humans like Grace," Tanya said. "I don't understand how they are able to do it."
"It might be time to call in a favor with Xanatos and the gargoyles," Mallory said. "We'll never be able to get near the Agency without drawing attention after all of this, but maybe they could."
