Ch. 6: Trapped

Tech held Rev in his arms. They were, or supposed to be, alone. "Come on love, wake up." He whispered again. Emerald eyes, dazed and confused, blinked up at him. Suddenly, Rev opened his beak and Tech immediately rolled him over. BLAH! Just like the others had done.

Once Rev was finished getting rid of whatever was left of the sedative they had injected him with, he looked up and the first thing he said was "Where'd the clown go?"

Tech couldn't help but smile, but a vicious rage rose up in him nonetheless. That bitch was gonna pay BIG for this, and not just for Rev, but for making all of them suffer like that. "It wasn't real, Rev. It was all in your head." He explained soothingly. "Mastermind injected all of you with some sort of fear potion that made you 'live' your worst nightmares. But I promise you, none of it was real."

"Where are we?"

"We are in a hole." stated Tech with a soft growl. "You can't fly out and I can't manipulate us out. Sorry but, we're trapped."

"Where's the other?"

"Nearby. She put them in these tubes with the same force field that was her prison I had designed for her. They can't use their powers either. I saw them when they dragged us in here. Ace and Lexi are in one and Slam and Duck are in the other. I just wish there was a way to at least talk to them, but fat head and her gang of spooks took our communicators."

"Oh. How long have I been out?" Rev was talking slow, it was the effect of the sedative, and possibly fear.

"You were the last to come to, but that wasn't too surprising seeing as how you were the last be injected with both poison and antidote." Tech explained.

"Poison?"

"I call it that, but it wouldn't have killed you, it just would've held you in a suspended state of terror, that's all." Tech reassured him quickly.

"Tech, how thick are these walls? If they're not too thick, maybe I can get us out." Rev said, observing the interior of their prison thoughtfully.

"I doubt they're paper thin." Tech replied looking at Rev. "But that aside, how do you think you can get us out? You're a road runner, love, not a wood pecker."

"I know, but I think there might be a way nonetheless." Rev replied. He crawled up (which looked like a painful act) to the wall and felt it with his hand. "Hmm… If I could muster up enough energy, I could punch us out. You know, use my fists like a drill or something…"

Tech came up behind him and wrapped his paw around his thin shoulder. "Don't try and anything now, you need to rest before you even try to use your powers. That much energy exerted after awaking from a sedative can lead to some un needed complications on your body."

Rev, before he even could argue, lost all strength in his arms and collapsed into Tech's lap. Nodding weakly, he closed his eyes and gave in to his weary muscles.

Ace didn't try to use his lazier eyes. After almost killing himself and Lexi with the rebound from his first attempt, he decided to give it up. He sat with his back to the wall of the tube, staring straight ahead, every now and then giving a quick glance in Lexi's direction. It was funny, all he wanted was to hold her and stare at her for hours, before she disappeared into the darkness again. But all she wanted was to curl up as far away from him as possible, and bury her face in her knees. He saw her shaking from tears but when he had tried to comfort her, she almost gave him a taste of her brain blast, so he had to back off. As much as it pained him, he knew that she would come around on her own terms. He took to looking around and trying to figure out how they were going to get out of this mess. He looked over at the tube next to him. Duck and Slam sat slumped against the walls. Slam had a dead look in his eyes, and Duck, he was looking mistrustfully at Slam, and occasionally turning his head and staring at Ace with the same hostile expression. Ace couldn't figure it out. He looked around for Tech and Rev, but he couldn't see anything. Did he loose some of his vision after all? No, he could make out tunnels and passage ways on the other side of the stone room they were in, they must have taken them somewhere down there. But why would they separate those two from the rest of them? It didn't make any sense.

Duck too had failed in escaping. He had tried for almost thirty minutes to teleport out of the holding chamber but to no avail. He sat, glaring at Slam and occasionally Ace and Lexi. Lexi didn't seem to notice, she was balled up in the corner with her face buried in her knees. Despite his new found mistrust for his team mates, Duck couldn't help but be worried about her. Ace, however, did see his looks, and he returned them with his own, questioning ones. Duck's heart seemed to fail. Of course he would be confused, he hadn't known what Duck suffered, no more then he knew what Ace had suffered. He knew he was being unfair, but he couldn't help it. That sedative, that fear serum, whatever it was that made him have that horrible dream, it brought all his feelings to the fore front of his mind. It was like everything that he had ever suppressed or overshadowed with close to narcissistic behaviors, was some how highlighted, making it impossible to truly concentrate on anything, including how to get free. He was still hearing the other's cruel words and laughter. He still heard their taunts of how useless he was. He still saw that wall, felt that rope in his hands, and felt the pain as again and again he fell, failing to prove them wrong. Well, if you just sit here, and let these thugs get the better of all of you, then you will never be able to prove them wrong, in real life where it actually counts. A voice said inside his head. So get up off your fucking tail feathers and find away out! Come on, you're Danger Duck! Show them that you're more then just talk, and who knows. Maybe if you're lucky, Misty Breeze will get wind of what you did, rescued your team single handedly, and maybe give you a winner's kiss. His heart seemed to skip at this thought. Right. He thought to himself. He looked all around. They couldn't use their powers…why? Then it hit him, the sedative. It had weakened them to the point where they couldn't exert enough energy. Well, that's inconvenient. He looked over at Slam. He would be the ideal person to really get them out of there, if he could use his powers. But it seemed from the look in his eye, that the temporary loss of his abilities wasn't the only issue. Duck didn't know how to make him snap out of it, mainly because he didn't know what was troubling him. He assumed that it was whatever he had suffered while in that drugged up state, but who knows, maybe that's how he gets if he doesn't eat every hour on the hour. Duck wasn't sure, they'd never really been in a situation where Slam didn't have something in his mouth every hour on the hour. But, that aside, now wasn't the time to try and bring life back to him, not yet anyways.

Steeling himself and clearing his throat, Duck stood up and began yelling for someone to get the asses in there quickly. Massive came running in to see what all the commotion was about. Ace was looking at Duck suspiciously, but Duck didn't even bother looking at him. He didn't want Ace to say anything and risk his plan failing.

"What is it lunch meat?" Massive asked in an annoyed toned.

"I'm cold, I need a blanket." Duck said.

"Yeah, right. Like I'd ever-"

"I heard Mastermind and Sykes has something special cooked up for all of us." Duck said. "They said something to that effect when Syfer was dragging me in here. If we die of…of…"

"Exposure." Ace helped him out, although he wasn't sure what Duck was up to. He figured he was just going to be one of those complaining captives who always requested useless stuff.

"Yeah, that." Duck said nodding.

Massive grumbled. He didn't think that they had been awake enough to hear any of the plans for them. "Fine." He snapped, then he turned to Ace. "What about you, bunny? Do you request any special cover from the draftiness?" he asked sarcastically.

"I don't t'ink so doc." Ace glared. "But if you could let us out that would be nice."

"I don't think so, doc." Massive shot back.

"Get them a blanket too." Duck ordered. "He might be too much of a pride ass to want one, but Lexi's gonna need one sooner or later."

Ace glared at Duck.

"As you wish, o master of the condemned." Sneered Massive as he walked off to get the blankets.

"What are ya play'n at, Duck?" Ace demanded as soon as Massive was gone. But Duck didn't respond. He accepted the thin, ragged blanket that Massive tossed at him. It passed right through the shield and landed on Duck's head, a second one landing beside Slam. Ace's blankets landed at his feet and on Lexi's head, she didn't even bother taking it off. Ace walked over and freed her from its folds. He swung both of them over her still shaking shoulders.

Duck said nothing as Massive walked out of the cave again. Ace stared at him. To someone who didn't know him very well, it would've appeared that he was just making the same arrogant look as usual, but Ace wasn't one of those people, he knew Duck very well. And what he saw, was a real, determined gleam behind the usual mask of arrogance. What was he cooking up?

About an hour or so later, Duck called for someone else to get in there. This time, Weather Vein came in, arms crossed, an irritated expression on her face.

"What?" she demanded.

"We need food." Duck said.

"Why?"

"Gees lady, ever hear of a final meal?" he asked her irritably.

Ace couldn't help but feel slightly impressed. Whatever Duck was planning, he was doing a good job at getting the materials he needed.

"Fine, how about, roasted duck?" she sneered wickedly as lightning sparked across her fingertips.

Duck gulped but refused to back down. "No, how about whatever the hell you got?" he shot at her.

She stomped off, presumably to talk to the others about Duck's request.

"What are ya plan'n Duck?" Ace asked with more curiosity in his voice.

"Plan?" Duck asked, appearing confused. "What plan? I'm just cold and hungry, that's all. You're the leader, Ace. If you can't think of a way to get us out, then I guess we're trapped."

Ace's hopes fell slightly. Although, it was Duck, so he probably was just playing to his needs. Ace shook his head a little, he was reading way too much into this, it was Duck. He couldn't be thinking of anything to get them out. Or if he was, he wouldn't have been able to come up with anything good so fast. Or would he? Ace wasn't sure. Duck may seem idiotic at times, but he could surprise you once in a while. He hoped this was one of those times.

Weather Vein came back, carrying two trays, both with a pile of dried meat and stale bread, and two cups of ice cold water.

"Here." She snapped, shoving one tray into each cell. "Eat up."

Duck and Ace looked down, unenthusiastically, at their 'final meal'. Neither one of them were big meat eaters.

Shrugging, remembering the number one rule his adopted parents taught him 'beggars can't be choosers'; Duck lifted one scrap of meat and gulped it down in one. It wasn't that bad he thought, but he better not ask what it was. He had a feeling that if he knew, he might loose his appetite. Eating a few more scraps, pieces of bread, and gulping down the ice cold water, little more than half was left. He pushed the tray over to Slam who just sat there and ignored it.

Ace, after he had eaten about half of his tray, scooted over to Lexi.

"You hungry, Lex?" he asked in a cautious tone, not wanting to startle her into using her powers on him. She ignored him.

Ace and Duck looked at each other. If they were going to survive this, they needed to get these two back on their feet, and soon.

Slam sat there, holding his knees, staring straight ahead of him. He was just barely listening to all the words that were floating around him, he was still in the cage in his mind's eye. When Duck pushed the tray over to him, the first thing he saw was the water, rippling slightly from the movement. It was in a container almost identical to the water in the cage and that didn't help at all. He shook and continued to stare ahead, whimpering slightly as he felt Duck put a hand on his shoulder. He was half expecting pain, but all he got a was a soft squeeze of reassurance.

"Come on slugger." Duck whispered. "Snap out of it." He leaned in closer and began whispering earnestly into the devil's ear, so low only Slam could hear him. Slam's eyes grew wide and looked at Duck, startled and slightly impressed. "But, you have to get out of this fucking funk first." Duck told him firmly. "I don't know what your fear was or anything, and you don't have to tell me. All you need to know is that it wasn't real. It was just in your head, and that it could never happen in a million years, got it?"

Slam shook his head slightly. "(It was real, Duck. It was a memory.) " he whispered through his usual grumbles. "(I was in a cage, part of the circus, people laughed at me. I'm a freak.)"

But Duck put his hand over the devil's mouth firmly. Then with a look of discussed drew it back, whipping the saliva off on his shirt. "Listen to me, you are NOT a freak. You're just…different. Trust me, be glad you're the way you are. Because that's exactly what we need. Now, eat something will you?"

Slam looked at him and finally, reached out and grabbed the tray. "(Thank you.)"

Lexi was sobbing. She couldn't help herself, how could she face the others after that? How could she face Ace? She was powerless to stop her own step father, how could she possibly stop anyone else? She wasn't a hero, she was just a wanna be who tried to prove she could hang with the big boys; Duck was better than she was. This thought, surprisingly, didn't seem to sting as much as she would've thought. Maybe because you always knew he was better than you, you just never wanted to admit it before. A voice rang in her ear. She shook her head. It doesn't matter. I don't care about being better, I just don't want to be weak anymore. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up, Ace was looking at her, worry etched all over his face. But, who ever said you could chose to be strong? The voice asked.

"Lex, come on, ya gotta eat somet'in."

More tears fell as she flew forward, the blankets falling to the ground, and buried her face into his chest.

"I c-can't even pr-pre-vent m-my own de-demons from w-inning." she sobbed and hic-upped as he held her close, trying to calm her down. "I c-can't d-do anyth-ing. I-I'm usele-ess."

"Shut up." He told her firmly. "Ya not, you know how many bad guys ya beat up? Ya t'a second strongest fighta we got on t'a team."

"Se-second?"

"Well, right afta your's truly d'at is." He smiled down at her as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

He leaned down to kiss her, but she turned her head. She still felt her step father on her, she still felt him in her. She could still smell the booze, hear his heavy breathing. It was torture, and she had no way of stopping it. How could she make this pain go away?

"What is it?" he asked her softly.

"I-I c-can't." she said, even more tears falling down. How many was she going to shed before she ran out?

"Lex, does it have anyt'in t'a do with ya fear?" he asked her, raising his eye brow. "Cause ya know, it wasn't real."

"Mine was." She said, wiping the final tears away. "It was a memory…of my stepfather." She didn't have to say another word, but she again broke down.

Ace pulled her even closer, stroking her hair (well, her ears which, with the exception of her blonde bangs, acted like her hair). "He can't get t'a ya's now, he's gone. We won't let him near ya's even if he does come back. Tech and Rev will fight 'im, and Slam will throw him outa t'a planet, and even Duck'll egg 'im a few thousand times, and that's not'in compared to what I'd do to 'im." He said soothingly. "We're all here for ya, Lex. And keep in mind, ya can even take a crack at 'im now. Ya stronger now, not ta mention ya brain blasts which I'm sure he'd just love to experience. But I doubt ya even have ta worry bout him."

Lexi clung to his shirt as he sat there, holding her in his lap. "Come on, t'ough, ya really need ta eat somet'in. I t'ink Duck's found a way ta get us outa here, t'ough I can't be too sure see'n how's it's Duck we're talk'n bout, but ya'll need ya strength in any case."

She reached over and picked up a piece of meat, looking at in distaste. She glanced at Ace. "Trust me, I know." He told her. "But, it ain't d'at bad afta a while."

Steeling herself, Lexi put it in her mouth and chewed. It wasn't as bad as she expected. She finished the meat, most of the stale bread, and drank all the water. Then she rested her head on Ace's chest and closed her eyes. They were all exhausted, and seeing as how they weren't likely to escape anytime soon, they all wordlessly decided to catch a few hours of 'natural' rest before attempting anything.

Ace draped both blankets over him and Lexi, refusing to let her go. He tried his best to keep his eyes open for as long as he could, afraid that if he drifted off again, she'd be gone again. But eventually he had to give in to his weary eye lids.

Duck, before curling up on the floor beside Slam, tossed both blankets over him (seeing as how one wouldn't cover all of him). Slam had fallen asleep almost immediately after he finished eating. Duck saw that he hadn't drank his water. He grabbed the cup and placed it beside him. He'd need that later. He laid down on his side, knees drawn up and hands folded under his cheek. He closed his eyes and tried to keep the horrible words of his nightmare from screaming at him. They're my friends, they're not going to do anything like that. He told himself firmly. They must have some respect for me, no matter how small. They must no that I'm not completely worthless. The idea that he could be wrong hurt him more than he cared to admit, even to himself. Being an orphan, he had some abandonment issues. He had been adopted, true. But he had acted out so much, and he wasn't the smartest duck either, and he always had the impression that his parents never truly appreciated him, never really cared for him. In fact, he felt much more at home with the Loonatics than he ever did with the Miller's. Ace was like his brother, Lexi, his sister; Slam was like his favorite cousin, someone he constantly annoyed just for the fun of it, but really cared about him deep down; and Tech and Rev…they weren't as close, mainly because Tech kept making fun of him for his lack of understanding and because Rev's talking got on his nerves; but they had their moments, and he certainly thought of them as dear friends. Now would he ever let any of them know how he felt? Of course not. But it didn't mean that those feelings weren't there. He just wanted for them to recognize that he was an attribute to the team as much as they were and that he wasn't a complete failure, was that too much to ask for? Well they will see that, as soon as you can put your plan into action. They'll all soon learn that Danger Duck is not a duck who can be trapped.

That's right Duck, no one messes with you! anyhow...what is he plainning? Will he surprise us all by doing something amazing or is he really just playing to needs like Ace believes? keep reading and find out!