The Pond
3:23pm
Mallory vaguely realized she had begun to tap her foot in anticipation outside of Phil's office. She was happy for once that his office was above their living space; otherwise the others would have had to listen to the voices rising. Wildwing had called off the game at 9:15am they were scheduled to play in an hour and a half and since then has met resistance from not Phil but the owner of the Mighty Ducks. She didn't like the thought of being "owned" by someone, she had enough of that on her home planet to last her a lifetime; but thankfully he didn't come around much so it was out of sight, out of mind. Until now… She thought about going in there herself but knew she was tied. Wildwing was the team leader both on and off the ice; she was just right wing forward defense in hockey. It wasn't her place to kick the door in and give the human a piece of her mind like she wanted to. We are wasting frickin time. Every second Wildwing was stuck in there listening to the CEO was another minute Airika could be being killed and or already in the process of dying. As the thought squeezed the fear she took a moment to think rationally. Airika was the only one Mallory had ever grown to trust so quickly. After the Lucretia incident she had sworn she'd never let her guard down ever again with anyone besides her teammates, but Airika was different. She didn't know how or why but she was. I care what happens to her. Wow. Am I getting soft?
The door finally opened and the three came out. Phil looked harassed with bits of his hair frizzy and standing on end. The CEO was tense and Wildwing was quiet like he was waiting for a response. The CEO looked around and noticed her. "Pressing your ear against the door were you?" He barked.
"Excuse me?" She dropped her hands from their crossed position.
"Hrmp." The CEO didn't wait for a response and turned to walk away. Then he paused and pointed back at Wildwing. "This better be a one time deal." He disappeared.
"Well." Phil gave a nervous laugh. "That could have been worse…."
Mallory ignored him. "What did you tell him?"
Wildwing took a breath. "The truth. Most of it." He glanced at her and jerked his head in the direction of the elevator.
"You're going?" Phil trailed after them. "Right now?"
"Yeah." Wildwing paused long enough to get the mask out of his locker. "Let's go." Mallory didn't need to be told twice.
….
"Question. Do we have even the slightest idea where the hell the Raptor is?" Nosedive was first to break the silence.
"No." Tanya's face was tight with worry as she studied the side computer screens for any energy readings as the Migrator trundled down the main road.
"So we're just going to drive around aimless-Wait a minute." Nosedive suddenly trailed off and then jumped up. In his rush to get out of the co-driver seat he got tangled in the seatbelt.
Mallory was finding herself in less and less of a mood for everything as time progressed and it appeared Duke was too, though the ex-thief kept his temper in check. "What are you doing kid?" He asked, his tone exasperated.
Nosedive didn't answer instead he waved the grey duck out of his seat, earning a look. "Move." He reached underneath and pulled an advertising magazine free.
"Real estate?" Mallory wasn't impressed. "Really?"
Nosedive ignored her. "Bro take the next left.
"Why?" The older Flashblade, despite the question, took the turn.
"There was a new development just put in."
"What's your point Nosedive?" Mallory snapped.
"My point Mallory is that." He jabbed a finger out the windshield at a house.
She found herself without a response as she stared at the crappiest house she had seen in a while nestled between two mc-mansions. Almost as bad as the one I rescued Dive and Buzz from. An excuse couldn't even be made that the house was there first as she doubted the developers purposely scrunched the three buildings together as close as they sat.
"Thrash told me about it today."
"Dragaunus is losing his focus." Grin murmured.
"So what's the plan?" Nosedive tossed the real estate magazine back into Duke's empty seat.
"Get in and get out." Duke answered, his gaze set on the faux house.
"And if we run into obstacles?" Tanya asked, her features slightly ashen.
Wildwing killed the lights knowing more than likely the Saurians had no clue they were even there. Even though the house had windows the Raptor did not. "Deal with it the best way we know how."
….
The Raptor
For once Airika was thankful her cell was pitch black, her throbbing head would have no doubt been worse if the small room was lit. The Lord had sent both Chameleon and Wraith along to question her as to whether or not she had seen anything, particularly pertaining to the Mighty Ducks arriving. The answer both times had been silence, no different than her usual response. Fear had been slowly growing as she realized her head was oddly silent. She had always had a slight buzz, like an annoying case of tinnitus. She had figured long ago what ever it was it was tied to her ability to see future situations. But now her head was silent except for the loud throbbing. She had to move, she had been lying in the same position for hours. Knowing she was about to regret it she rolled slowly into a sit and swallowed the nausea. I must have a concussion…how can I not after Siege's punch. Unable to see anything she wished she knew what time it was. At least she could have a sense of something in her sightless black world. She reached up and lightly touched the spot on her head that hurt the most and felt strands of her hair laden in a dried crust. Blood. I bled. The pain intensified so she quit aggravating it and sat quietly in the darkness occupying her mind with wondering what the Mighty Ducks were doing. On one hand she hoped they noticed the glaring differences between her and Lucretia. If Airika had half the sarcastic conceited attitude her twin had she might have been able to voice her opinion out loud as to how dumb the plan was before Lucretia sent her back to this hellhole. Did Lucretia honestly think she was going to be able to fool Wildwing and the others? Again? Then again she half hoped they wouldn't figure out the discrepancies because if they did, they'd most certainly launch a rescue mission for her that would be dangerous for all of them. She wasn't worth the risk, that much she knew. She just wished if they had figured it out, Wildwing was smart enough to lead his team to forget about her. They were safer that way. But if Lucretia did give herself away, Airika wanted them to abandon their noble intentions just once of not killing anything and kill the bitch. In all her twenty-two years of life she had never wished anything bad on her twin, even at her worst, even when the truth came out about Dev…. She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts and regretted it as she was left with her head swimming. Hoping against hope that sleep might make the pain go away when she woke up she closed her eyes.
…
Command Chamber
"I'm warning you Siege another outburst like that and I'll bury you so deep into this planet's soil and bedrock it'll take a full excavation crew to remove your sorry hide."
"I'm gettin' tired of lippy ducks." Siege growled. "They need to learn their place. That girl lives with those feathered freaks for less than three months and she comes back to us disrespectful."
Dragaunus took a step into his henchman's personal space so his meaning was crystal clear. "If you caused any damage to her brain, any what so ever. I'll make sure it's a long and painful death. We need her brain… Wraith needs it."
Siege rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, more of that sorcery crap. I thought we were movin' away from that shit and becoming more technologically independent."
"Technologically independent." Dragaunus echoed. "Now there's a word. Technology doesn't seem to get us anywhere incase it escaped your attention Siege. Against my better judgment I'm giving Wraith the benefit of the doubt."
The burly Saurian made sure his back was turned when he rolled his eyes at the ridiculousness. The double standards were beginning to annoy him. If he or the other two had even appeared like they were disrespecting the Lord, they would have been sporting grievous injuries or been cremated in the ship's furnace. Yet this freak of nature, this pet of the Lord's, was allowed to waltz right back into the Raptor and insult them without any consequences. He prayed he broke something when he slammed her in the head with his bucket-sized fist. If anything it would teach her to think before she spoke for next time. If there is a next time. I know where she is. It'd be so easy. Could smother the bitch. What's Dragaunus going to do, perform an autopsy?
He smiled to himself as a plan began to form.
….
Duke volunteered to go into the faux house first, a favor he had begun to do more often. For a split moment Wildwing let himself think about how far the ex-thief had come. In the beginning when Canard had first rescued him and his brother and they met the other commandos, everyone was aloof with each other. Duke had a strange air about him then, an oozing of the fact that he didn't need to lean on any of them for support, that he could leave at the drop of a hat and be okay with the decision. Since then the ex-thief had come around, Wildwing noticing the biggest change since Airika joined them. Airika. He hoped they weren't too late. He didn't want to think about what sort of state they'd find her in considering the obvious signs of physical abuse they found her in the first time. He should have acted on his suspicions sooner. He had noticed some differences immediately and yet passed them off as nothing.
-Like her change in demeanor. Lucretia can pretend to be Airika all she wants. She'll suck at it every time.
"You comin'?" Duke reappeared from the darkness.
Wildwing took a breath to clear his thoughts. He had to stay focused. This wasn't just about keeping his team safe; it was about finding and keeping Airika safe too.
…
"Strange there aren't any drones." Tanya whispered as the group slowly made their way down the corridors that seemed to stretch forever. Was the ship really that big?
"Maybe Dragaunus destroyed them all as a stress release." Nosedive's head was on a swivel.
"We can't keep walking around." Mallory hissed. "The more we do the bigger chance we have of being caught and the more time we waste."
Wildwing felt his frustration growing. She was right. Airika could be stuffed in a vent for all they knew. Then he remembered something. "I know where she is."
…
The Pond
Lucretia's patience wore thin quickly as she stood confined to the storage room in the basement of the duck's living quarters. How could she be so damn stupid to let Wildwing get one over on her like that? When she caught up to those ducks he was going to be her first victim. No one outsmarted her and got away with it. She uncrossed her arms and gave the laser sealed entrance a glare. If she knew those morons they wouldn't install a laser that would kill her, it would most likely hurt like a bitch though. She glanced around for something to draw some of the energy away. Nothing. Of course not, that'd be too easy. She sized up her obstacle again and then took a breath; she could deal with the pain. She was just steeling herself for a major inconvenience when she looked up and then smiled. Why suffer jumping through a laser enforced shield when she could climb into the ducts instead?" Morons.
…...
POV of Wildwing
I got a serious case of what the humans called déjà vu as I stood with my team behind me in a hall that looked very similar to the one I had first met Dragaunus in on Puckworld. I wondered briefly if I should take my chances and ask Grin to pull the doors open but that would most certainly attract instant attention. Attention we don't need. If I could have it my way we'd locate Airika and all get the hell out without the Saurians ever knowing we were there; but that was a pipe dream. Sooner or later someone was going to find us. I wonder if this place has cameras…. The smooth whoosh of doors opening saved me from opening my mouth to ask Grin as two drones walked out stiffly.
"There are your drones Tawny." My brother stage whispered behind me. I heard someone shush him and then a whap as I was sure they hit him to emphasize their point. Betting the next hockey game it was Mallory.
I held my breath as the two robots marched by us and disappeared down the hallway. The sound of the doors starting to close startled me, as I had been too stunned by the fact the robots never registered us.
"Shit." Duke hissed.
"Move." I stood quickly and bee lined it for the doors. Mallory was behind me, followed by Tanya and Duke with Grin not far behind; just when I thought we were about to be cut off from Dive Tanya snatched him through the almost closed crevice and yanked him in.
I turned to assess what was ahead of us, activating the mask. The scene lit up as the mask began identifying everything I saw. The good news was I didn't see any more drones.
"Dragaunus has one cell block not far from his command chamber."
"How do you know that?" Tanya asked, skeptical.
I barely looked at her as I analyzed the situation I was about to lead them in to. "Canard." She dropped the subject like we always did any time his name came up.
I had just taken my first step when our welcoming committee appeared. More drones than I could count marched to a stop, their arms out with their wrist cannons pulsing in a soft glow, waiting to fire on us.
"Better late than never." Duke grumbled next to me.
"Tanya…Mallory, take the left right here and follow the hall to the end, then take a right, the cells should be there."
"What about you?" Mallory demanded.
I activated my shield incase the drones fired suddenly. "We'll hold them off." When neither of them moved, I snapped at them. An act I usually didn't display but I didn't want to be in the Raptor any longer than I needed to be. "GO."
They listened, tentative at first but then they turned and ran down the hall. The moment the two moved the drones sprung into action but we were ready for them. The drone closest to the hall Mallory and Tanya took was obliterated as Mallory spun quickly and not slowing her gait, shot it. I knew they'd be okay, hopefully we'd be as lucky.
…
Airika hadn't realized she fell unconscious until she opened her eyes to see two people standing in front of her cell, one of them bent down and using a tool to pick the lock. Her vision sharpened enough for her to recognize them.
"What are you doing here?" She asked haltingly as the pain in her head had returned to full agony.
"What do you mean what are we doing here? Getting you out." Tanya cursed under her breath at the lock. "I almost had it."
"Well get it Tanya." Mallory glanced behind her, her trigger finger tightening on her blaster. "Hurry up."
"Got IT." Tanya closed her omnitool and pulled the cell door open.
Mallory didn't waste time entering the cage and pulling Airika to her feet. "At least they didn't chain you this time." Airika closed her eyes, trying to will the nausea and fatigue away. "Let's go."
They had just reached the hallway they had turned down from when a figure stepped in their path. "Going somewhere?" Lucretia took two steps into the light.
"How in the hell did you get loose?" Mallory snapped.
Lucretia gave a simpering smile. "My secret. Let's just say you aren't as smart as you look McMallard, none of you are."
"I can live with that." Mallory shot back. "At least I'm not as dumb as I look." It took a moment for the insult to register before Lucretia let out a animalistic snarl, by then Mallory already let loose a hail of explosive pucks. "Hope you can run!" She yanked Airika into a sprint by the irate twin. Mallory thought she was fast enough but felt Airika's grip jerk from hers. She turned immediately and trained her weapon on her target.
"Not so fast!" Lucretia pulled her sister into a headlock and kept her in front as a shield. "Go ahead and shoot McMallard. What are you waiting for?"
"What's your real problem DeCoy?" Mallory countered. "Are you on a perpetual murderous PMS cycle or are you just jealous Airika came out sane and you didn't?"
Lucretia took the female's question in a different light. "She is not better than me!" Her expression grew crazed, making Mallory uneasy for the first time. She had taken a few courses in school that taught body language and had ranked higher than her peers in being able to determine a person's next possible move in a dangerous situation. Lucretia was hard to read. In fact Mallory could have deciphered more looking at a concrete wall.
"Let her go." She tried a new tactic, to try and keep the situation as low-key as possible considering the scene.
"Yes Lucretia. Let her go." A different voice joined them. Dragaunus appeared out of the shadows his eyes glowing maliciously. "We don't have a need for her anymore anyway." His tone took on a different meaning, one Mallory couldn't understand. Despite herself she found her morbid curiosity got the better of her.
"Why?" She asked suspiciously.
The Saurian Overlord gave her a dismissive glance before his expression brightened albeit layered in sarcasm. Mallory didn't need to turn to know the rest of the team had caught up to them.
"How the hell did she get loose?" Nosedive echoed Mallory's previous question.
"Shut up you twit."
"As I was saying," Dragaunus spoke loudly to command the attention. "There will be no more need for me to know the future because I can ask our mutual friend here all I want and I won't get an answer." He sniffed. "At least this time she has a good reason for not telling me what I want to know."
Lucretia was apparently as fed up with his riddle talk as Mallory was because she half turned to look at the Saurian. "What are you babbling about?" Mallory almost wished Dragaunus would end her in front of them for being an insolent POS.
"If you'd use your eyes you'd see your dear sister has suffered a rather significant head injury." Dragaunus snapped. He took a breath and then added calmer, "my idiot associate doesn't know his own strength…she no longer has the ability to see anything other then what's in front of her now. Therefore she's of no further use to me."
"You're kidding me." Lucretia was as stunned as everyone else. "That's all that was needed? Hit her in the head?"
Dragaunus didn't answer as he stared over Mallory's shoulder to who she was sure was Wildwing. "So the next question becomes what are we going to do about this little situation we have here?"
"I can answer that." Duke spoke before Wildwing could. "Airika comes with us and you can keep the shrew bitch. Problem solved and everyone is happy."
Dragaunus arched a brow. "I could live with that." He ignored the indignant squeak from Lucretia. "But there is the matter of her knowing this ship inside and out. I doubt she'll be joining you just to sit on the sidelines and watch you do-gooders fight the good fight."
"Why don't you stop talking about me like I'm not here." Airika finally seemed to have gathered enough bearings to focus. "Let go of me Lu."
"Shut up." Lucretia snapped.
"So." Dragaunus's face lit in a grin making Wildwing instantly tense. "I have a solution."
He didn't know where the saurian blaster came from but Wildwing knew immediately no one including Duke would be fast enough to stop what was about to occur. Lucretia was still half facing the Saurian with Airika in front of her when he pulled the trigger. Airika saw it coming and luckily ducked, the plasma ball grazed her left cheek and buried itself into Lucretia's head. Everyone jerked back in shock as they watched the event unfold and the evil twin stand still for a moment before her grip went slack on her sister and she fell to the ground. Shaking, Airika slowly turned to look down at her sister's body. Dragaunus showed no emotion at the mistake.
"Oops." He brought the weapon back up to fire again but the second plasma ball hit a wall when Wildwing blocked the shot with his shield.
Nosedive reacted in sync with his brother, for once attentive to the situation as he fired several smoke pucks, fogging up the hallway. Mallory wasted no time in grabbing Airika. "Move!" The injury assessment was going to have to wait. The run was short lived when the seven ducks found themselves surrounded by drones in the next room.
"Well this sucks." Nosedive checked his ammo. "And I'm out."
"I'm not." Mallory aimed and disintegrated a steam pipe, the air hot enough to melt the drones closest to it.
"I think we're a little outnumbered for once." Duke was counting how many robots stood between them and the faux front door.
"There is a way out." Airika murmured. She hesitated. "But you aren't going to like it."
Tanya gave a nervous laugh. "Trust me. We'll like it."
…..
"You still like the plan Tawny?" Nosedive snapped as he checked over his shoulder paranoid, for drones or the Saurians. "I don't like that they disappeared. Why aren't they following us?"
Airika was staring down at the plumbing pipe, not liking what she saw. Someone, probably Siege, had welded a makeshift drain stopper over it. They got wiser. It was how she escaped the first time from Dragaunus's monitor tower before she was caught by one of the large reptilian droids on Puckworld and also when they had reached Earth, her second escape. The Saurians weren't imaginative when it came to placement in their ships and buildings. Everything was identical. Same spot, same place.
"They plugged it. Must have gotten sick of me using it."
"Using it?" Mallory echoed. She looked down. "That's how you escaped? Using the drainage system?"
"It's the only direct hole to outside."
Nosedive was looking a little green. "I don't know bro. I think I'd rather blow my way through robots than swim in those sleazebags' crap. We can't all make it anyway."
Everyone automatically looked at Grin.
"Right." Wildwing itched his head, not liking the pressure he was being put under to make a snap decision. "Dive, Grin and Mal…think you can make it through the drones?"
"Oh I'll make it." Mallory had a determination in her eyes as she reloaded her blaster.
"Yes. We can." Grin answered quietly.
Wildwing nodded as he looked back at the exposed pipe. "-Before you go…Grin?"
The large duck bowed his head and then with barely a strain pulled the crude drain off their escape route.
"Thanks." He took a breath before looking at Airika sheepishly. "Ladies first?"
She didn't look at him or so much as act like she heard him. "Don't just drop in."
Duke glanced at Wildwing. "Why?"
"You'll see." She slid inside.