Chapter 11: Liam

…

"San Francisco, home to the largest jewels in the world. That's where we are going," said Duke to Tonya and Nosedive as they flew over the coastline of California in the Arrowing.

"I don't know Duke. Are you sure you know where Falcone will strike next?" asked Nosedive.

"Yeah, there's a pattern to these robberies. He's going after the world's biggest jewels, and the biggest diamond is in Frisco," replied Duke.

"And you know this how?" chimed Tonya.

"Hey, I gave up thievery. I didn't say I gave up my love for priceless jewels," answered Duke as casually as he could, trying not to let Tonya's accusatory question derail his focus on the mission ahead.

Within less than an hour, the trio landed at the Pacific Museum. Duke knew he had to escape the presence of his comrades as fast as he could. If Falcone saw him with Tonya and Nosedive, he would certainly not believe that he was a rouge duck.

Duke approached the side door of the museum first and noted the lock was picked and it was slightly ajar.

"Hmm…Falcone's already here," he said scratching his chin. The dark grey duck ran into the museum, remembering from the blueprints he studied how to hide in the nearest air duct. Within a flash, Duke was in the walls, overlooking a confused Tonya and Nosedive.

"Duke?" Tonya asked tentatively. "Duke?"

"That's strange, I thought I saw him just a minute ago," Nosedive comedically answered.

"Sorry, guys. I just have to do this alone," Duke whispered to himself from the air duct. Suddenly, Duke heard a familiar ruffling of feathers coming from the shadows of the museum floor.

"Ah, fellow art lovers!" exclaimed a devious voice.

"It's Falcone!" cried Tonya worriedly. Duke watched intently, ensuring that his friends would not get hurt by their encounter with the falcon.

"How quaint, you must be from the Audubon society," he chuckled as he drew his saber and forced Tonya and Nosedive into a back room vault.

Duke marveled at how mature Falcone had become. He was taller than the average duck, with broad shoulders and a toned and muscular physique. His beak was polished and sharpened to a deadly point and he wore a velvet red cape to accentuate his pristine brown feathers. He did, indeed, look formidable.

The bird of prey lifted his sword and with one swift stroke downwards, he destroyed the Puck blasters aimed at him by Tonya and Nosedive. Nosedive stared up at Falcone with not a hint of fear in his eyes. Duke was proud of the young mallard. He was starting to take after Wildwing—facing his advisories with not an ounce of panic.

"Your communicators, if you please," Falcone said nonchalantly as he held out his hand.

Tonya and Nosedive obeyed as the door to the air-tight vault closed on them. Duke felt his heart sink with guilt, but he knew that Tonya would be able to get them out. She still had the Omni-tool on her, after all. It was now Duke's turn to strike back.

Falcone slowly lifted the priceless diamond off of its display pillow and deviously smiled. As he raised the rock to his eyes to examine it, a puck blasted out of seemingly nowhere and shattered the stone. Falcone gasped to find Duke standing across the room reeling in his puck shooter.

"Still can't tell the difference between glass and the real thing, huh Falcone?" Duke snickered.

"Duke! Old boy, what a surprise!" replied Falcone, clearly unnerved. "I thought you would be with those do-gooder ducks of yours!"

"Nah, they are driving me crazy. I'm done with those birds!" exclaimed Duke as he held up the real diamond to Falcone.

"Ah, well, I work alone now, old boy. You know how it is—better insurance that way."

"Not from what I've seen! You work for Dragaunus! I want in!" replied Duke, drawing his duck saber and placing the jewel in a safe side pocket on his utility belt. Falcone reciprocated and drew his electric saber. The two lunged and clashed swords. Each one charging and repelling with grace and ease.

Falcone has gotten good, but I've held the Star Sword. I can wield anything!

Duke leaped again and this time, Falcone didn't anticipate. He tried to parry, but tripped on his red cape and fell backwards.

"All right, all right old boy! Let's cut a deal," Falcone wheezed from the ground as he held his hands up in defeat. "You can be in, but I want that diamond back."

"Uh, ah, not before you tell me what this is all about," replied Duke, pointing his saber at Falcone's neck and kicking away his electric saber.

"Don't worry, I'll fill you in," the falcon said calmly as he took his finger and pointed Duke's blade away from his throat to stand. "Come on, my ship is one the roof."

Falcone walked ahead of Duke confidently. Duke wondered who was conning whom and got an uneasy feeling in his stomach. As he sat in the passenger seat of what was clearly a barrowed ship from Dragaunus, he felt the need to hurl questions at Falcone but he held his tongue an allowed his old friend to speak first.

Once Falcone and Duke were safely in the air and Falcone engaged the autopilot, he turned his captain's chair to face Duke.

"Well, old boy, I am certainly shocked to see you alive. I thought that botched heist left you high and dry in a prison cell. Surely, Dragaunus would have sold you into slavery," Falcone jeered.

"You really don't know me, do you?" Duke sharply replied, crossing his arms as he sat.

"Old chap, it doesn't matter now. I've been working for the dragons ever since the raid ceased over Puckworld. I took back the Brotherhood and helped secure their place beside our new rulers. We provided intel, strong hands, and slaves…"

Before Falcone could finish, Duke leaped from his chair and grabbed Falcone's collar. He pulled him close and stared at him with an unforgiving dark eye and a red, beady mechanical pupil.

"What slaves, Falcone! What slaves!" he spat hysterically.

"Easy, old chap. Liam was long dead before the slave trading began. No one was spared from those first days of the barrage. There's nothing anyone could do except wait out the bombing…"Falcone trailed off as Duke lost his ability to stand and collapsed back into his chair, speechless and truly numb with disillusionment. "I'm sorry, old boy. Truly I am."

My God, it's true. Liam is in the dark zone. My poor child. I truly have failed him. I must be strong for you, little Liam. I mean to destroy this hawk of horror.

"How did he die?" Duke asked with a sudden resolve.

"We were huddled in the basement of the layer when part of it collapsed from the bombing. I shielded him, honestly, I did. But the weight, the days of stale air after wards…we were all trapped next to our dying brothers. I loved that little chick. He was so much like you, sweet thing. I loved him like he was my own…"

Suddenly, Duke leaped out of his chair again, ignited his saber, and pointed it directly at Falcone.

"I should have been there! He was my son, not yours. Not Henna's. He was mine! You took my thrown. You tipped off the Puck Police. You! You betrayed everyone!" Duke was frantic, now.

"Easy, old friend. Only the strong rule in the Brotherhood," Falcone easily replied.

"No, Falcone, the Brotherhood was run by loyalty, fealty, respect…brotherhood!" Duke placed the tip of his blade as close to the falcon's sleek throat as he could without cutting it. However, Duke found that he was shaking—for the first time in his life, he was unbalanced. This was not a ruse. Falcone peered down at the trembling sword and smiled confidently.

"My friend, it is over. The strong crush the weak, the cunning outwit the fools. Accept this and follow me to riches beyond your wildest dreams in the Brotherhood. We could go home using Dragaunus's dimensional transporter. You can be restored to the Brotherhood. What do you say?" Duke stared at Falcone long and intently before he sighed deeply in shame, dropping his sword at his side. "There's a good lad. It will be just like the old days." Falcone stood from his chair and placed a hand on Duke's shoulder. Solemnly, Falcone declared, "We do this for Liam. For his memory."

Duke looked up at Falcone, his expression distant and pathetic, which was exactly the show of humility he knew would seal his charade. Except that, it wasn't entirely a ruse. Duke truly was shocked and devastated by the final loss of his son. His little chick, the light of his life. The chick he never knew he wanted until he held him in his arms for the first time, only a few years ago.

Duke looked down at his saber, still ignited and flaring with electricity. Then, the held it up between them, pointing the tip to the ceiling of the cabin. "I still don't trust you, but for Liam and the Brotherhood, I pledge my loyalty to you and to this mission." It was the first pledge Duke had ever intended to break.