Nosedive became aware of a light beeping sound; opening his eyes groggily, he found himself looking at Asher's watch that was lite up in a soft green light. 7:15 dm (Day Median) He groaned and turned over, rubbing his eyes.

Next to him Asher was coming to, his fingers moving sluggishly around the watch's face to shut the alarm off. He then shot up straight, glancing at Dive ashamed."I'm sorry."

"For what? Coming in here? I don't care." Dive got up, pulling on a sweatshirt hoodie. "Come on, let's get you something to eat."

…...

His surroundings weren't making sense, the colors were too bright, too many colors, every step was energy sapping as he tried to make his way through the new world he had fallen into. Stumbling, he fell, his hands getting stuck within the melting ground.

He tried to make sense of everything but couldn't, the colors were too distracting, his brain was fuzzy. He felt sick and was only proven correct when he puked from the dizziness. Everything faded to black as he felt himself being pulled in every which direction, the pain was excruciating...it wasn't stopping-only getting worse-

…...

Canard's eyes snapped open, shakily he took in a breath. It wasn't the first time he had had a nightmare about limbo. Blinking away the images, he brought his wrist up in front of his face to see the time, 7:16 dm. He let his arm fall beside him before getting up.

…...

"Dive?"

"Mmm." Nosedive kept his eyes on the food he was cooking for Asher.

"When you said Wing and Canard were having a – a gay infatuation, were you really serious or kidding?"

Dive allowed himself a smile before sobering and turning to face him. "I was kidding...Canard would be the last duck to be gay and my bro's had a few girls back in school...he's too awkward around girls. He cares too much."

Asher played with a pen. "Oh."

"They're just really good friends. Canard used to hate me to tell you the truth."

At that admitted truth, Asher glanced up surprised. "He did?"

Dive nodded, "yeah, the feeling was mutual." He grinned, "he saw me as an obstacle in the way of Wing and maybe I was, but it all worked out in the end."

Asher's features clouded. "I heard that mom used to hate dad too."

Dive paused, "nah, she just didn't trust him, there's a difference."

"Because she knew he was a Brotherhood member?"

"Yeah," Dive agreed. "I always liked your dad actually, from the moment I met him. He was a more laid-back Wildwing, to me anyway."

"When did they start liking each other?"

"Your parents?" Dive leaned against the counter, thinking. "Hmm, I'd say they really started getting publicly cozy with each other right before we left Earth. The date would put it around the time you were-" Dive coughed slightly embarrassed. "-the date you were..." he awkwardly gestured his hands together without touching.

Asher understood. "When they had sex."

Dive suddenly straightened, getting back to cooking. "S'up Can..."

Asher turned to see Canard with a unusual blank look on his face. He wondered how much the tan duck had heard.

"Giving the kid sex-ucation?" He asked after a moment, making Dive cringe. Asher avoided Canard's persistent looks his way.

"Don't tell your mother, she'll kill me," Dive jabbed the kitchen utensil his way.

An evil grin spread across Canard's face. "We won't."

"I wasn't talkin' to you."

Asher didn't smile at their mild bickering. He haven't felt like being happy in a few days, Canard noticed.

Rather than embarrass the kid, he simply squeezed his shoulder, knowing Asher would understand his actions.

"Here, now eat or Mal will be after me for that on top of your-er...sex-ucation." Nosedive put a plate in front of Asher.

Canard folded his arms and laid his head down.

"What's wrong with you?" Dive asked.

"Who me? I'm just tired."

"Go back to bed."

"What? No, I want to go to the hospital with you." Canard rubbed his eyes.

"You look like shit, if I can be so truthful, don't repeat that," Dive jabbed a finger Asher's way.

"Thanks Dive," Canard replied sarcastically.

…...

Ducaine City Hospital

Duke refused to leave Mallory's side, resulting in the staff adding a bed in her room. He woke up sometime later to Regla sitting by him, his head hanging as he stared at his hands.

"I'm not dead yet."

Regla glanced up, an amused smile spreading across his face. "How can that be when you're the duck with nine lives?"

Duke breathed a laugh and instantly regretted it.

Regla watched him as he grimaced and then half turned to look at Mallory still asleep. "How's she?"

"Healing...she was more concerned with us then herself."

"That sounds like her."

Duke coughed wetly, his throat and lungs still irritated by the dust and debris created from the explosion. "I feel like I inhaled glass."

"CW5 has fiber-glass," Regla rubbed his palms together, "do you find that a bit strange Duke?"

"What?" Duke had managed to make himself ignore the oxygen mask the staff had left him up to that point. He picked it up weakly and pressed it to his beak.

"Are you okay?"

Duke swallowed, "I can't breathe...very-well."

"I'll get the-"

"No," Duke choked out, "I'm fine." He wheezed a little before able to calm himself down. "Regla sit."

Reluctantly, Regla sat down, his eyes on Duke in concern. "The CW5, don't you find it strange."

Duke gave one last cough before quieting, thinking over Regla's statement. "CW5...that was what Mox tried to kill ya with. And what he blew Mox Corp up with."

Regla nodded. "Are you sure he's dead?"

Duke froze, "you really haf'ta ask me that? A shit ton of steel, glass and Consonin (equivalent to concrete) caved in on the SOB. No one can survive that."

Regla ran his hand over his head, "I don't know Duke, your kid survived a monolor falling on him."

"That's different-"

"No. It's not, maybe a difference in weight but that's it. The concept is the same."

"What if it's true?" A feeble voice asked.

They turned to see Mallory watching them.

"What if he did survive?"

"He didn't kid, there's no way," Duke replied.

She didn't have enough wind in her to argue further. She shut her eyes, breathing in and out slowly.

"He's dead Regla," Duke finished firmly, with an air of that's final.

Regla studied his friend for several quiet seconds. "You're sure about that."

Duke didn't reply. The whole situation was eerie and Duke really didn't know, nor did he want to.

Behind Regla, Mallory was shaking her head. Duke pretended he didn't notice.