*****
[Ch. 4 Even stevens]
"It's only a little one. One of us ought to handle restraining it." The human positioned the rifle's end towards the struggling gargoyle. "But just incase; I got it covered"
Lexington eyes were glowing with frustration as he tries to pry the net off of himself. One of the Quarrymen came forward to restrain him but pauses when the olive green creature roared in his direction; a warning to keep his distances. Though the human clearly had the advantage; anything that could be that intimidating, even when caught, shouldn't be taken likely. That was also clear with his companions and another Quarryman stepped forward with him to help. The little gargoyle soon felt a pair of hand pressing on his shoulders and pinning him faced down on the ground. He tries to pull free when the other human had pulled one of the anchors out of the ground in front of him, but more force was added to keep him still, barely.
"Jeez, I feel like I'm wrestling an alligator!" The man was practically lying on top of the small gargoyle as his companion unearthed the rest of the anchors. "For a runt this one's pretty strong."
"Just keep it still." He pulls the last anchor out. "If you can hold on to its upper body, I'll get its legs."
Though the gargoyle was the size of a young teenaged boy they weren't going to take any chances. Lexington felt his body being shifted and his arms being pinned to his torso as the first human rapped his arms around him. He also felt a pair of hands pressing down on his hip and thighs. Thinking fast Lexington whipped his tail upward. 'Thwack!' He made contact with the second human's head with enough force to shove him at the first human, shoving him away. The little gargoyle gets up, rips free of the net, and tries to dash for the trees when, 'Poootch!', he gets hit in the arm by the tranquilizer dart. Lexington staggers up on his legs and pulls the dart out. The sanative didn't subdue him right away so he was still able to fight as another Quarryman tires to tackle him to the ground. Three more ganged up on him, beating on him, trying to restrain him again. It was a hard fight for both sides until the tranquilizer took its toll. It happened when the small gargoyle threw off two of his enemies and was bout to shake off the third when his vision blurred. His strength soon gave out and soon it only took that one Quarrymen to hold him still.
"Give it up already." The small creature struggles weakly against the human's sudden iron grip. "That dose is strong enough to take out a horse."
Out of cruelty the human held Lexington's head and a headlock; choking the little gargoyle as he forces him to his feet. Then the Quarryman shoved him toward the others. The one that caught him earlier with the net rammed his fist into the little gargoyle's stomach. Then, Lex was shoved again to another human, who kicked him towards another, who hang wired him, forces him to his feet again and shoves him to the last guy who backslapped him across the face and left him sprawled on the ground. The group stood in a circle around the small creature; smirking as it shook from the beating.
"Radio the chopper and give'em our coordinates," the lead human ordered. "Once we're back at HQ we'll deal with this thing more thoroughly. We may be able use it as bait for the bigger ones."
They all watched with dark pleasure as the little gargoyle tried to lift himself off the ground in an effort to crawl away. The lead Quarryman took the satisfaction of kicking him down again and holding him by stepping down on his side. They were all content with just tormenting their prey that neither of them heard the fast paced scrapping of plastic wheels on concrete. Something rushed forward and hits two of the humans from in between them. The leader only had time to see a figure of a duck before he was hanged wired and checked into a tree. The remaining four however got a good look at what had hit their comrades.
"So ya like picking on little guys, huh?" the giant duck turned around with a scowl. "Lets see how ya handle one about your size."
Lexington stirs at the familiar voice. With an effort he manages to open his eyes and through a blurry and daze haze; he caught a glance at… the youngest Mighty Duck. He was wearing some strange form of armor this time and didn't look at all like the frightened duckling from two nights ago. He looked like… a warrior. Was this some kind of dream?
"Another monster!" cried one of the Quarrymen. "Get it!"
Two of them rushed forward. 'Alright Divey let's see if those lessons actually paid off.' The first human reached him quickly. He ducks, dodging a punch, and caught the guy by the waist and flung him over his head. A move he saw his brother use against Siege in his first battle with the Saurians. The second human reached him as he back was turned, after flinging the first guy; Nosedive's leg lashes out and knocks the guy out with a roundhouse kick. That he learned from watching Mallory when they foiled their first bank robbery, though he'd never admit it to her. The remaining humans came at him from his right and left sides, he jumps high and rolls out of the way just as they were about to grab him. They slammed into each other and fell like a ton of bricks. Duke would have loved that move. The last thing he did was bow with his hands flat against each other like Grin would do after a battle. He shifts his attention towards the small, green, trembling creature that was struggling so hard to hold its own head.
"Whoa, easy little dude." He ran and slides right over to the little gargoyle. "Easy now, I gotcha." He helps the smaller figure sit in a reclining position. There the young alien put Tanya's lessons to go use and got a good look at the injuries and the gargoyle's glazed eyes. "Ooooooh man, you're really out of it huh?" Soon Nosedive heard moaning coming from the humans. "We've better jet and fast."
Gently as he could manage the blonde teenage duck scoops the little gargoyle into his arms and activates his stakes again. Lexington only felt like he was floating off the ground and was hovering. There was a slight jolt from underneath as if to add a little more height. Then there was a rocking motion followed by a sound in the distance. The humans got over their dizziness slowly and in time to see the huge duck skating off with their quarry.
*****
Back at the Castle
The play had ended very late and the other ducks had come back right after the performance was done. Wildwing, not having notice that the duck-cycle was gone, went off towards their rooms to check on his brother. With it being so late he had to have been asleep. Duke was flipping through the channels on the TV. Grin was meditating of course and Mallory and Tanya were talking about the play. Broadway was watching them through a nearby window while the other gargoyles were off on their own errands.
"Yo Broadway," Brooklyn landed next to his bigger brother. "Have you seen Lex?"
The aqua colored gargoyle shook his head. "No. I thought he might have been with you."
"He's nowhere in the castle." The clan second in command glances through the window. "No one knows where he is."
The ducks were just about ready to head off to sleep when Owen had entered the living room with a tray of light finger foods. He began offering them to the ducks when their masked leader made his appearance. Wildwing had just come back from his room after learning that his brother was gone.
Owen offered the tray to the female ducks "I hope these are to your liking."
"Excuse me, Owen?" the white mallard interrupted the human. "Have you seen my brother?"
"Why, no Mr. Flashblade." The blonde assistant faced him. "I had assumed he left with you and the others to the show."
"No, he stayed behind." Informed the older brother with a small shake of his head. "Stars, where can he be? He's never out this late."
The two gargoyles overheard the conversation. Surely their smaller Rookery brother was watching over the flock's duckling again. Why else would the two of them be absent at the same time? However they still felt that something was wrong. It was almost dawn.
*****
Back at Central Park
"Keep looking! They couldn't have gotten far!"
The Quarrymen had regrouped and were now combing the park. They search in the foliage, in the bushes, along the paths that ran all through the park, but still their prey had eluded them. That's because they weren't just dealing with a sedated gargoyle; now they had to deal with an active alien duck that practically invented the rules of Hide-and-Seek. Rule 1: Know what to look for. Nosedive was up in a tree, sitting right on top of the truck where the branches spread sideways. In his lap he held the small, semi conscious, creature he had saved. This young duck knew how to pick his hiding places well for they were perfectly hidden within the branches.Rule 2: Keep quiet and wait. Once the coast was clear Nosedive gather the limp figure in his arms and drops to the ground. Rule 3: Always keep them guessing.He carried his new little friend until he spots a huge low bush. Seeing its potential the feathered teen glances around and scurries toward it, drops to his knees, then quickly but gently nudges the little goblin-like creature underneath the bush and follows right after him.
"Oooo, your pals out there are really starting to ruffle my feathers." Nosedive kept his voice low when he spoke. If anything he had make the little creature feel safe around him after what he's been through. "But don't worry. I'm a master at this kind of rough housing."
He hears footsteps and falls silent, with one arm rapped protectively around the little gargoyle and the other gripping at his puck-launcher; just incase. The two saw a pair of feet cautiously walking in front of them. They stop right at the bush and soon rustling sounds were being made above them. Nosedive quickly moved his hand and covered the gargoyle's mouth when it nearly let out a groan. When nothing happened the human went away to search another place. The young duck waited a full five minutes before moving out into the open.
"Okay little guy lets go. My duckcycle's not to far from here." Gently he starts moving the limp figure. "The sooner we get it, we are so outta here."
Then the olive green gargoyle caught a glimpse of sunlight. "Oh no… the sun…"
"The sun?" the blonde teen turns and sees the first rays of light.
"Can't move… during… the day…" He manages to shy back under the bush. "You must…leave me… here."
Nosedive didn't understand as he watched the bat-like being curl up on the ground and rest his head on his arms. Then it hit him. How this small creature and the others like him came to life when the sun had set. Apparently they could only come out at night, period. The young alien's brows frowned when he heard voices heading their way and nodded to the gargoyle in understanding.
"Don't worry little buddy. I got your back." Before the little gargoyle could reply the sun rose, and right before his eye Nosedive saw him turn to stone. "Whoa… Little guy?… Hey buddy." Nothing.
"I think I heard something over here!" Footsteps were running their way.
'That's not good.' Nosedive scrambles to his feet and took off for the path. He knew that little hunting party would see him; it would make it easier to lead them away from the vulnerable being frozen in stone. So he dashed off on his skates and picked up speed once he heard them.
"There's the duck! Get it!"
"Where's the gargoyle?!"
"It won't get far! Capture that duck and we'll find it!"
The blonde alien duck now skated in a zigzag motion to give them a harder target to hit as a barrage of gunshots filled the air. They all came into an opening that was laid out particularly for children's birthday parties and small picnics. Large mushroom-shaped tables and chairs and flower-shaped umbrellas were clustered in the middle; what could be better to duck and cover in? Since the chairs and tables made the space in between too narrow; the young duck had to deactivate his skate and run in between them. He ducks down once he reached the center and waits. All seven Quarrymen came and behold the area.
"Fan out!" the lead Quarryman ordered the others. "Find that duck!"
Fan out they did. Three of them went to search the surrounding area. Two went down another path and the other two made their way down the opposite path. The young Mighty Duck peeks over the table's edge, just enough to see over the rim. 'If I play my cards just right I could take them out, call the police and get back to my little goblin friend.' He only hoped that he could hold out until then.
*****
Castle WyvernBack at the castle Wildwing was pacing back and forth with worry. He had the others go and get some sleep and had been waiting for his brother to return. Duke, however, was spread out on the sofa. He had volunteered to stay up with the masked leader and wait. The ex-thief had dozed off, for the second time that night, while he waited. The white mallard let him rest; there was no reason for him to lose any more sleep than he already had. Nosedive had been gone all night and now almost half the day was gone and he hasn't even called. He's never done anything like this before, ever. Something was very wrong.
"His com!" The gray mallard shot up suddenly. "The kid always has his com on!"
"You're right!" realized the older brother. "Stars! Why didn't I think of that before?!"
*****
Central Park"Whaaaa!" Thawmp! And so the third Quarryman fell to the ground after getting flung into a tree by a six-foot blonde duck. There was no time to tie the human up as that said duck heard voices and quickly took refuge in a tool shed just as the remaining four came to investigate the scream. The young alien was only too glad that they haven't found the other two he tied up at the picnic area.
"It came from over here!" called one of the remaining hunters. "It's Jonhson! Ah man, he's out cold!" One of his teammates looks around. "That duck can't be too far. Split up in pairs and fan out."
Nosedive remained silent as the humans split up in pairs. Two of them went towards the path while the other two searched near by the shed. The blonde duck knew it was only a matter of time before they check the shed itself and takes a look around. It was like and regular shed, full of gardening tool, bags of fertilizer, flowerpots of all sizes, a gas powered lawnmower, and whatnots of all shapes and sizes. Maybe he could use something in here to set one of his infamous traps. Getting an idea of what to use he started to reach for the rake when…Beep! Beep! Beep!
"What was that?" asked one of the human hunters. The sound went off again. "It's coming from that shed."
'Ohno that's right! I've been out all night! Ah man!' Nosedive thought and quickly activated his com. "Wing!" he whispers.
"Dive! Where the Stars are…!" the white mallard started.
"No time." The teen cut him off with a sharp whisper. "Call the cops. Tell them to go to Central ParAAAH!!"
A barrage of bullet shots could be heard from the other side of the wooden door and the puck communicator as the teen alien ducks down and covers. The bullets broke through the wooden walls easily and more than one came uncomfortably close to hitting the alien duck. The extra jugs of gasoline were shot and the smelly fluids spilled all over the ground. The sound of metal striking metal could also be heard. Then the shooting stops as suddenly as it started and all that was left was his brother's voice yelling from the other end of the com-link. Nosedive soon could hear footsteps approaching the shed and knew he had to hide. Then the smell caught his attention. It was strong, stale, the whole place started to reek of it… smoke. The bullets had made small sparks when they hit the lawnmower and ignited the gas. Those things always had tank full of the highly ignitable fluid; and if the metal casing gets any hotter…
The Quarrymen were right outside the door. "When I open the door, be ready to…"
The door flung open and a giant duck practically flew out yelling "ITS GONNA BLOW!!". Before either human knew what had happen the shed went up in a flaming explosion. The force of the blast blew them and the alien duck through the air for a good distance. The two human were knock out cold when they landed. Nosedive landed hard on his left arm when he hit the ground, and rolled to a stop. "This is so going to leave a mark." He thought as he strains to his knees. "Thank the stars for body armor."He nearly fell over again when his left arm gave out on him. The jarring it took in the fall must've injured his shoulder… that and his communicator was broken.
"Oh man, Tanya's so not gonna like this one bit." He tried to pick up a signal but got rewarded with static. He glances back at the two humans, relieved at their moaning. "You guys are gonna have one UGLY headache when you wake up. Sorry I can't stay to watch." The young alien mentally thanked his brother for saving those energy bands they've taken from the Saurians and while back. That and all those lessons on knots and rope tying during his years as a Puddle Duck Scout really came in handy. "I'll just rap ya all nice and pretty like until I get the cops." He had to knock out the earlier guy a second time before tying him up as well. With that done he forced himself up on his wobbly legs and hurries away as best he could to hide from the last two remaining Quarrymen.