The Raptor
"I NEED THAT GIRL!" Dragaunus pounded his seat's armrest. Smoke twisted out of his nostrils as he sat fuming.
His henchmen stood; quiet for once as they let their leader have his temper tantrum. Lucretia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. It was a good thing she didn't make a face because suddenly Dragaunus was in her face.
"Why can't you read?! If you could I wouldn't need your poor excuse of a sibling."
"Read?" She repeated testily. "I don't read because I'm not a freak."
"Well." Dragaunus straightened. "I'm in need of a freak. In fact, if it came down to you or her…it would be her every time." Satisfied his words brought fury to the haughty duck's eyes, Dragaunus turned, leaving the control room. "Get me that duck!"
…..
Later that day
Airika opened her eyes groggily, feeling like a she had been hit by a truck. She always felt that way after she had one of her dreams or a vision. She barely had the gumption to turn over, but she managed. Feeling a headache coming on, she shut her eyes and fell back to sleep.
…
The galley
"You have some explaining to do." Tanya marched into the kitchen. Nosedive shuffled in behind her, half awake. He took his seat next to his brother and laid his head down on the table.
Mallory had known it would only be a matter of time that Tanya would demand an answer to last night. That was the only trait Mallory didn't know if it was good or bad with Tanya. If the duck wanted to know something, she didn't easily forget. The redhead glanced at Wildwing, wishing he'd rescue her. She had explained everything the night before to him. As she resigned herself to telling them all, Wildwing did stop her.
"Tanya. We'll tell you later. All of you."
Nosedive had dragged himself to a half sitting position, his head resting on his hand. "It isn't that big of a deal Wing…not some big secret."
"Why don't you wait to speak until you're more awake…" Mallory said, dismissing him.
"She told Me that night I roped her into the video games."
That grabbed Mallory's attention. "What? You've known this whole time?"
Nosedive rubbed his eyes. "Did I stutter?" He sat all the way up. "She's a transmundane."
Mallory had expected Tanya to start with the twenty questions, instead the female duck was shocked to silence; her mouth hanging open.
"See." Nosedive was watching her. "It's that easy."
"Shut up." Mallory snapped.
Duke and Grin, like Tanya, remained silent. Then Grin broke the silence. "Is that why Dragaunus had her?"
"Yes." Mallory answered quietly.
"That doesn't make any sense." Tanya finally found her voice. "She was in horrible shape when we found her. She still kind of is. If Dragaunus wanted her for-" She faltered. "-For mystic purposes, why would he have treated her so badly?"
"Because she lied Tanya, to him about everything she saw. The reason Dragaunus didn't obliterate the Aerowing that is sitting under the ice right now is because she wouldn't tell him where Canard hid it."
"Did she know Canard?"
"She knew of him. And she didn't tell Dragaunus we were coming to destroy the Monitor Tower."
Tanya didn't look so convinced. "Transmundanes usually have some form of telepathy or mind-control."
Nosedive looked at her like she was nuts. "What are you saying? That this is all an elaborate ruse they cooked up? What person would let themselves be abused like she was, just to infiltrate another group?"
Tanya shot him a glare. "Her sister is a psychopath. Psychopaths are willing to do just about anything to reach an end to their plans."
"Tanya." Mallory was for once appalled at her friend's response. That comment was something she would have said, not the tech. She looked at Wildwing for his reaction; he was merely watching the blonde duck.
"Transmundanes are unpredictable. You aren't in her head. You have no idea if she is sending information back to them. Half the time she's alone in her room."
Nosedive rolled his eyes. "Do you remember what Grin said when we first found her? He said her aura isn't clouded like the other one. Since when is he wrong?"
"Whatever." Tanya put her hands up. "I'm done."
Nosedive noticed Duke staring at Tanya in an unblinking gaze. Then the older duck noticed him and turned away.
….
Airika had dragged herself out of bed and reached the door of the galley in time to hear the discussion. She stayed in the shadows, feeling a sense of betrayal and loss. Scenes like this were the reasons she kept her abilities a secret. No one understood. No longer hungry, she left the hall and returned to her room.
A few minutes after she returned to her room, her face wet from crying, she heard her door open with a whoosh. She stayed where she was, sitting in the darkest corner of the room, her knees drawn up. The near silent footsteps pointed only to one person.
Duke sat down in front of her, leaning against her bed. He stayed quiet for some time while she tried to stifle her sniffs.
"I know you heard everything."
She didn't respond.
"You can't take Tanya seriously when she gets like that. She has a bad history with Lucretia and she's just-concerned about us as a group."
"Because I'm the wolf among the sheep." She whispered sadly. Her gaze hardened slightly. "Why are you even here?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
She looked away. "Now you understand why I wanted to return to the Lord. It makes sense. He makes his demands, I say nothing, and I get my time with Siege. And I didn't have to hide what I am."
He studied her for a moment. "You could have told us in the beginning…I'm just asking. Are you really that miserable with us? Because you right here and now, upset, I think you want to be with us."
She whispered something incoherently.
"Is that a yes?"
More tears slid down her cheeks, to which she jerkily wiped away. Duke watched her and then stood, putting his hand out to her.
"C'mon. You need to eat something."
Airika stayed were she was, but when Duke didn't leave, she tentatively took his hand; letting him pull her up.
….
When the two returned to the galley, Duke noticed Tanya's somewhat subdued behavior. She watched Airika before turning back to her food. The ex-thief was just pulling a choice of hot or cold cereal for Airika when the kitchen door swung open wide.
"BOOBIES."
Nosedive groaned into his cup. "I should have stayed in bed."
The human's sudden entrance had scared Airika; she flinched, bumping into Duke before quickly pulling away from him like she was acid.
"Don't worry! It isn't a promotional event."
"Mmm." Nosedive faked interest, his demeanor clearly sarcastic and earned a kick under the table from Tanya. "OW." He hissed.
"Um. I got this letter and we need to address it like-now." Phil paused looking at the paper in his hand. "Remember the whole lockout situation you guys had with those Saur-Sar-those lizard things. And Klegghorn got involved?"
Being reminded of that rose Wildwing's annoyance slightly, not necessarily at Phil but at the past situation. "What about it?"
"Well he had to fill out a report about-the situation and he left out the parts about them and your upgrades. However Lisa Femino is quite the digger. She immediately picked up on the holes and demanded answers and Klegghorn being a captain of the police department, couldn't lie."
"So what are you saying?" Wildwing eyeballed the paper, wishing Phil would just give it to him.
"Well it's March 24th and I just got the letter last night. The city officials are coming here and you know, the place is great looking..."
Wildwing 'tsked. "Phil I said before the conditions were only you and then anyone we invite is allowed down here."
The human glanced over at Duke and Airika and sighed heavily. " That isn't the point Wing babe. When you guys landed here, you needed documents, remember? To say you could stay, legally…." The human was leaving something out, obviously put off with saying what it was.
"Oh no." Mallory realized what Phil was avoiding mentioning. She stared at Wildwing who was still confused. "She doesn't have paperwork."
"Who doesn't?" Nosedive asked stupidly.
Mallory dramatically waved her hand towards Airika. "Hello."
"Oh." The kid studied Airika for half a second. "Well it can't be that bad… what could happen?"
"She'll be transported to the nearest immigration detention center." Tanya murmured emotionless.
"Immigration?" Nosedive scoffed. "Like that's going to help. The humans better start making their shitty technology more advanced so they can supply a cosmos transportation plane and then magically get the gateway open so then we can all leave."
"Well." Phil cut in before Tanya had a chance to retort. "Since that is the case. She'll be held there permanently until papers are made and since she is an alien, like all of you, she isn't going to be top priority."
Wildwing rubbed his face, ticked off that he was being made to think so early in the morning on their day off. "They aren't taking her. We belong together."
"They aren't going to see it like that Wing." Mallory's features were tight with worry. "You can't stop them…WE can't stop them."
"How much time do we have?" Duke broke the silence. " -'Til they get here?"
"Uhh." Phil scratched his head. "Half hour, maybe?"
"That's all we need."