Danielle traversed the empty streets for a ways, noticing that dawn was approaching quickly. She was quiet and quick with her pace, and trying to stay close to buildings to keep out of eyesight. She'd barely managed to go a block before a low rumbling shook the ground.
She stopped in her tracks, listening.
More thundering erupted in the distance. Her head jerked around back towards the base. She gasped when she saw over a hundred hunter drones coming from the east.
"Oh, no...!" She was too scared to move at first. Maybe if she stayed in the shadows, the Hunter Drones won't spot her, right? Wrong. One hunter drone blasted near Danielle's foot, forcing her to move. Sensing the movement, the hunter drone signaled others, and prepared to fire. Danielle did the only thing she could think of, run. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her. But a small squadron of Hunter Drones followed her. Danielle was trying to think of what to do to lose them, but she had to concentrate on staying on her feet, when she stumbled and nearly fell. Danielle didn't stop or slow down, she just kept running.
Back in the base, Canard was jolted awake by the base's alarm. He jumped out of bed and threw on his clothes, grabbing his weapon and rushing out to the command center. Along the way multiple soldiers darted past him, arming themselves or going to their battle stations.
"Report!" he barked, running into the room where a dozen others were scrambling around.
"Saurian raid, two commanders controlling over two hundred drones," Thom replied.
"Dammit, how did they find our location?!" Canard growled in frustration, knowing no one would be able to answer that. "All right, the front line needs to get topside and stop the roof from caving in on us. Let's get our best fifty out through the south side, ASAP." He pulled up the base's schematics, pointing to the areas in question. "The rest need to start evacuations. Take the north sewers and protect our civilians."
He ran to the exit, Thom watching. "What about you?" the redhead asked.
"I'm going topside," he stated simply, disappearing around the corner.
Abby and Amy in the meantime were gearing up. "Y'all are gonna have to man the fort Amy, they might need me out there!"
"Oh, dear me! I do hope Danielle's alright." Both geese looked toward the personal chambers.
"Calm down, she's gotta be around."
"You don't suppose she's with the Captain?"
"Frankly, I'd be surprised."
Canard ran up to the medbay entrance. "Waddlemeyer, Vanderquack, Angelwing! Prepare for evacuations! Take our most precious resources, and-" he paused, looking around. "Where the hell is Angelwing?"
Abby and Amy were running around, gathering everything they could. At that question they both looked at each other, however.
"We were gonna ask ya!"
"We have not seen her this evening."
"She got some shuteye in our bunk last night; 23A," Abby added as the two geese resumed their frantic packing.
Canard nodded and bolted in that direction. 'Dammit Danielle, what are you up to?'
Canard had reached the door to the personal chambers and was about to type in the pass code when his communicator went off.
"Report!"
"Captain! We've got a situation, we need you out here!"
"I'll be there soon!"
The tan male punched in the code, and entered the room. Danielle wasn't here. 'Where the hell is she? We've got to go.' Suddenly he saw a piece of paper on the third bed, addressed to him.
He grabbed it, but his communicator buzzed again."Captain! Front lines have made it outside, but they're getting ambushed!"
Canard cursed, pocketing the letter for later. He rushed out of the room. "I'm on my way! As soon as I'm out, seal the south entrance! We will hold them off long enough to get our civilians to safety!"
Danielle screamed, running into another alleyway. She'd lost sight of the base, and ran blindly when the small group of hunter drones spotted her. Laser fire continued to be fired at her, and every hit felt like it was getting closer.
Suddenly, she tripped and fell. Danielle was sure the Hunter drones were sure to get her now! Then, before they could open fire, there was a crash. The Hunter drones turned to see. And there was a giant, hulking duck. He was light gray with black hair tied back in a ponytail. He was wearing a plain white A-shirt, with maroon pants. But hat stood out was that this duck was packed with muscle. He was holding pieces of the drone he ripped apart with his bare hands!
"You guys are really starting to disrupt my inner tranquility..." He rumbled.
Danielle watched, fascinated, as the giant duck proceeded to rip apart the remaining robots like they were made of paper. When he was done, he approached her and bowed, both hands pressed together.
"T-thank you," she breathlessly said. "You saved my life." He offered a hand to her, which she gratefully took to help her stand. "Who are you?" she incredulously asked, still looking at the metal debris with wide eyes.
"You may call me Grin."
Danielle stared at the huge male duck. "G-Grin?" She repeated. Grin nodded once. "And, what is your name?" The smaller female glanced at the ground. "Danielle." Grin looked at the logo on Danielle's jacket, recognizing it. "You are one of the Resistance, correct?"
"Oh! Um, I-I mean...I don't know...I messed up...again."
"Mistakes are but practice for the true path," he stated calmly.
"They will be evacuating," he stated, looking back towards the smoke trails in the sky.
Danielle was worried, there were a lot of Hunter Drones in the area. The soldiers seem tough, though. But still...
"Why do you hesitate?"
"Because... I did something wrong, Cana-I mean Captain Thunderbeak might not accept my help. Or my apologies." Danielle finished the last part quietly.
"Have you apologized?"
The female duck sighed. "No,' she answered.`not directly."
"Then you do not know if he will accept the apology, unless you try."
She took a moment to think about it, and looked to the south, where her brother's family was supposedly housed. Distant explosions brought her attention to the base she had run from, and her mind wandered to those innocent civilians in the throes of another attack. Would they make it out okay? How many injured soldiers would return, in need of help?
"The Hunter Drones are already attacking the base, everyone is fighting for their lives as well as the civilians. The McMallards, Greybeak, Wally, Abby, Amy, and...Canard."
Danielle thought about it and realized, she can't walk out just because she's feeling bad. Whether or not Canard cares about her shouldn't matter anymore, she has a duty and she has uphold it. She adjusted her backpack and looked in the south direction. "I have to go back...Derek and his family will just have to wait."
She looked at the huge gray drake. "I-I can't ask you to come with me Grin..."
"I go where I am needed," Grin simply said, walking towards the base.
Danielle, pausing as she watched him, ran to catch up. "Thank you ... again, I guess."
Grin, his attention to the battle in front of them, nodded briefly. "Your aura is pure. Perhaps you will assist these ducks where others are unable to."
"Well...I'll do my best..."