Mission Duck

Chapter 1

"General, everything's ready for departure," the lieutenant said, raising a creamy wing in a respectful salute.

The general turned from where he stood gazing out the window upon the lake adorning the back yard of the military building. "Oh…ah, yes." He stroked his chin thoughtfully, eyes distant and ominous. "Only thing left to do now is tell the subjects."

"Zwei, for the last time, the ball will not hurt you!" Alice groaned as her sister jumped away from the yellow ball she had kicked towards her.

"Oh…um, right." She said awkwardly, still shaking.

"Got it!" Kimi hollered diving in and batting the ball towards the other duck where she sat weaving and intricate flower necklace. Humming quietly to herself, she braided the daffodils together, not even glancing up as the ball hurtled towards her. At the last second a clump of grass rocketed up in front of her and collided with the ball with such force the sphere sailed through the air straight into the goal posts.

"Nice shot, Echo!" Kimi yelled enthusiastically, earning an acknowledging nod from the singing duck.

"Ugh!" Alice screeched with frustration, agitated sparks dancing off her wing tips. "Zwei!"

Zwei cowered guiltily against the goal post, eyes darting fearfully towards her other siblings in a silent plea for help.

"Relax, Alice," Kimi sighed, "don't blame Zwei for the fact you're such a sore loser!"

"You…" She leapt towards him, a blazing inferno now shooting from her feathers, charring Echo's precious flowers.

"Children!" A booming voice echoed across the field. Immediately Kimi and Alice quit their squabbling, swooping into kneeling positions along with Zwei and Echo.

"Come. We must talk." The general's voice was cold and sincere, even with his children. Though he was their king, he was also the military leader and liked to retain the appearance of one who is hardened to the cruelty of war. He set off at a brisk pace back inside the building, leaving the four ducklings no choice but to trail after him, exchanging nervous glances amongst themselves. A summons from their father wasn't an everyday occurrence, and it was bound to be bad news.

One by one they filed into the steel, box like building, waddling down sterile hallways to the conference room where three other ducks sat. With a slight sigh of relief they recognized the lieutenant, a kind hearted duck who would sometimes sneak them tasty tidbits from the world outside the military base. As they settled down into the seats indicated by their father, he winked at them encouragingly.

However, the other two ducks were complete strangers. "Children," the general started, "This is Bernardo of the Earth ducks," he gestured towards one of them, "and his translator." The four stared with wide eyes at Bernardo who squirmed under their intense scrutiny. They had never met a duck from the planet Earth before, and it was a peculiar occurrence.

The general cleared his throat and announced to the kids, "Children, you're here because we need you to go on a mission." The reaction was immediate, as Alice leaned forward excitedly, Kimi sat up straighter with pride, Echo wiggled with anxiety, and Zwei shrunk back into her chair with absolute terror.

"Us?" Kimi asked, amazed. "But ducks train years to go on a mission, and we've had no training, and are only kids." She ignored the furious look Alice shot her.

"Do you doubt my choice?" The general's stony eyes glinted flintily, as he stared hard at his second oldest daughter.

"No, sir," Kimi responded, backtracking hastily. "But may I be so impudent as to inquire why you have selected us for this mission?" She glanced at the floor respectfully while he pondered how best to answer.

"It's because we're special, isn't it?" Alice asked, no longer able to contain her excitement. Because we have…powers?" Her voice dropped to a whisper on the last word as their special abilities were generally discussed.

"Yes," he grudgingly admitted. "It's because of your powers."

"Sir, what mission may we fulfill that requires our powers?" Echo's soft lilt broke the silence following his statement.

"You're mission is," he hesitated, knowing once he told them there was no changing his mind, "to save the planet Earth."

An unwilling squeak of fear burst from Zwei's beak, causing her to clamp a wing over it and look down at the floor in shame. The Earth duck looked at her with contempt, as if not believing she could save a pet tadpole, much less his planet. He squawked irritably at the translator, who said, "Bernardo believes these ducklings to be…" He listened intently again, "inadequate."

Their father responded with a cold glare and simply said, "Show them, children." Simultaneously, a forest grew inside the room while a fierce wind ruffled their down feathers and Bernardo's chair erupted in flame before being quenched by a spout of water.

Shock plain on his face, the Earth duck tried to shake the water off himself with as much dignity as he could muster, while the general shot a disapproving glance at Alice, who grinned smugly.

Bernardo squawked again, an annoying keening sound which the translator interpreted as "I see. They will…suffice."

The general's beak broke into a smile. "Well children, it's time for your debriefing."

Six hours later, they were ready. Having undergone serious studying about the workings of Earth and how to cover as "normal" ducks, Alice, Kimi, Echo, and Zwei were prepared to be sent off to save the planet Earth. As they walked towards the room containing the portal that would take them to what their father described as a "duck haven", the general filled them in on final points of information they would need.

"It was prophesied that you will need the help of a human," he admonished their skeptical glances, "and that there will be creatures who are not of that planet and know your true identity that will seek to harm you, but together you can do it."

They had reached the room now and Bernardo and his translator instantly hopped into the swirling green mist engulfing the far half of the room. "Good bye my children," the general told them, features softening a little bit as he bade them farewell. "Victory goes with you," With mixed feelings they all jumped into the mist and disappeared from sight.

"Sir, are you sure we shouldn't have told them what the prophet said?" The lieutenant questioned meekly after they had gone.

For a long moment the general stood there, face grim with indecision and guilt. "No, it is best for them not to know. They mustn't find out that one will not come back alive."