Cloaks
By: Maria a.k.a. Ylla
Continued from: Confession

	"Wake up, wake up," said the alarm clock. A pretty girl, in her early twenties, turned in her bed. She opened her eyes and yawned. She got up and yawned again. "Wake up, wake up."
	"Okay, okay, I'm up, I'm up," she said. She had long red hair, big brown eyes, and a pretty face and overall, was very beautiful. "Radio, Z-100," she said and the sound system turned on, on the right radio station. "Shades," and the room was filled with light of the new dawn. The apartment was full of appliances that listened only to her voice,  and had such technologically advanced microchips that the only place to find them was in this apartment and one or two other places. The girl stopped listening to the song. For couple seconds it was just beautiful music, but then the words appeared.

"If I ran away,
I'd never have the strength,
To go very far.
How would they hear
The beating of my heart?
Will it grow cold
The secret that I hide?
Will I grow old?
How would they hear?
When will they learn?
How would they know?"

	A tear appeared on her creek, but she wiped it off. She couldn't think of that right now. She walked into the bathroom and locked the door. Fifteen minutes later, she came out, and opened her closet. She found an outfit to wear, and put it on. It was a short black dress and it fit her very well. She sat behind her dresser and brushed her long hair. Then, a smile appeared on her face. She put down her brush, picked up one of her lipsticks and opened it. The color was bright red, and she drew a smiley face on the mirror. She was about to put it down, but then wrote "Mal-Mal" next to the smiley and drew an arrow.
	"There. Now, nobody can say that I am sad," she said and smiled again. But it was a fake smile. She looked in the mirror. "And no one can say that I am Mallory, even though I am. God, I love cloaks."
	She was done with her makeup and looked in the mirror one last time. She got up and picked up her purse. Mallory, even human, still had the same voice, but there was no one who knew her as a duck and her as a human at the same time, so it didn't bother her. She turned to the radio and was about to tell it to turn off, when the song caught her attention.

"Muses: Girl, don't be proud
It's okay, you're in love.
Meg: At least out loud
I won't say I'm in love."

	"Radio. Off," she said.
	She walked out of the room, heading for the door, when the room got darker. Mallory looked up at the ceiling and saw a dark sphere floating there. There were six of those. One was in the bathroom and three were floating all over the place, with the condition, that tow could never be in the same room. The remaining two were not spheres and did not float on the ceiling, but served the same purpose. They were highly technologically advanced mini power plants that used chemical reactions to produce energy. The spheres converted that energy into light, and would turn on and off depending on the distance from them to Mallory. They also used that energy to polarize the particles in the top layer of the air and push themselves up. The rest were smaller, block-like, had higher production rate and provided energy for all the appliances in the apartment. Mallory looked up at the one that went out and snapped her fingers. The sphere floated over and a small hole appeared in it. The hole grew bigger, as the sphere was coming closer and closer. When it reached Mallory, she put her hand in the hole and pulled out a very small crystal. She slipped it in her purse and walked to the wall. She pushed a button and a small square door opened. Inside was a chunk of rock almost the size of the spheres. She picked it up and placed it in the sphere, which followed her to the wall. The hole in the sphere closed and so did the door in the wall. Mallory walked to the door to her apartment and walked out. The moment she stepped out of the door, she bumped into Wildwing. She immediately put on a scared face, and looked at Wildwing like she saw him for the first time. And one thing that she noticed immediately, was the fact that he was not wearing neither his mask, nor his battle gear. That meant, that if she plays right, he won't know that she is Mallory, since to him she looked human.
	"May I help you?" she asked in the most innocent voice.
	"Yeah, I think so. Have you seen Mallory?" he answered.
"Who is Mallory?" That was strange. His com showed that Mallory was in that room, at least, for the past five hours. He should have taken his mask. Then, his sight fell on her wrist. A Mighty Ducks com with logo was there. That was where the homing chip was. That's how he found her.
"I'm sorry, but your com…," he started.
"What com?" she asked.
"That one," he said pointing at her wrist. "It belonged to my friend. There is a homing chip in it and that's what brought me here."
"Oh, I knew those vending places are no good. I'm sorry, but I just bought that yesterday and I thought it was just a watch."
"So you have never met the previous owner of this com?"
"I don't think so."
"Would you like me to take the homing chip out, so nobody would bother you again?"
"Would it be any trouble?"
"No, no, of course not. It'll just take a sec. Only, you will have to take it off."
"Oh sure," she said, taking it off. Wildwing watched her take it off and noticed something strange. The woman in front of him had only three fingers on each hand. And her hair, if it were short, it would look just like Mallory's. Oh well, probably just a coincidence. He took the chip out and said goodbye. The woman started walking off, when he stopped her.
"Wait. What is your name?"
"Why?"
"Just wonderin'."
"Oh, it's Melissa Marigold."
"That's a pretty name."
"Thank you," She said and walked out. She walked outside and got in her car. She took off heading for the center of the city. She stopped by one of the taller buildings and got out. Mallory walked into the door, disappearing into the blackness of the lobby. Half an hour later, she walked out. She had a sport bag over her shoulder. She sat in her car and threw the bag on the front passenger seat. Wildwing was watching her from behind the corner, and he saw that there was something written on the bag, but he didn't know what. In any case, I won't say what's inside on the tag anyway, he thought. He had a bad feeling about that girl. Something was very strange about her. He followed her to a parking lot, where she parked her car, got out and looked around checking, if anybody was watching her. Even though Wildwing was only two yards away, she didn't see him. After making sure that there was no one around, she took something red out of her purse. She turned and Wildwing got a better look at what it was. The result surprised him. It was a Saurian com! She turned it on.
"Okay, I'm ready," she said. Wildwing figured out what was happening, got out of his hiding, and ran right next to her. She didn't notice him and was teleported out. The next thing she saw was  some red room inside the raptor with Siege, Wraith, and Chameleon. However, instead of saying anything, like she expected them to, they aimed their guns at her. 
"Well, lookie, who we got here," said Chameleon. "A duck! It's okay, Wildwing, we won't hurt ya." Mallory, still in her human form, turned around and gasped. Wildwing was standing right behind her.
"What the heck?" was the only thing that came out of her. What was he doing here? Did he figure out who I am? Naah, he probably just followed me because I got 'his friend's' com, she thought.
"So, why did you bring him here?" sounded the voice of Dragaunus.
"I… I didn't."
"Did you try to double-cross us again?"
"No, no, of course not."
"Did you bring it?"
"I brought it, I brought your cloak, I brought your teleporter, and everything else, if there is any."
"Wha… What?" Wildwing was confused. Nobody was listening to him. He was just standing there.
"So turn the cloak off then," Dragaunus was growing impatient. The human took out a small red device, pushed a button, and started glowing. In five seconds the glow disappeared, and instead of the human stood Mallory. She handed Dragaunus the device and the communicator.
"Where is he?" Mallory said, not even noticing Wildwing.
"Did you bring the money?"
"No, I brought a whole bag of ancient scrolls," she said mockingly. "Of course I brought the money. Where is he?"
"Give me the money."
"Let him go, first."
"You are on my ship. You are in no position to even make requests."
"Oh, I don't care. I can just burn the money, I got plenty of it. And don't think I won't because I will."
"Small talk from a scared to death duck," Dragaunus sighed
"Okay. Bye, I'm leaving," Mallory turned to the door.
"Don't try to run away, because you…" started Dragaunus, but he was interrupted by a blast from the doors. Everyone looked at the doors and saw Duke, Tanya, Nosedive, and Grin. They were shooting at the Saurians. Mallory joined them and so did Wing as soon as he realized what was happening. The lizards also figured out what was going on and teleported out of the room. The ducks ran out, Tanya and Duke leading and others just following them. They ran outside, got into the Migrator and took off. That evening, back at the pond, Wildwing was still very confused of what happened. Especially, when he found out that Lucretia and Jessique were taken with them tot he pond.
"Okay, explain to me one thing," he said. "What happened today?"
"Okay," said Duke. "It's a long story, but listen. The idea was that Mal goes to Dragaunus and gets a mini cloaking device and a com, with a teleporter. She and Lizard-Lips agreed that he will release Dive, for a ransom of 30 mil. I haven't a slightest idea why Mal needed to cloak, but I'm sure she'll tell you if you ask her nicely. So, Mal somehow got those 30 mil, and acted as a decoy, while the rest of us fought Lucretia and got Dive out. Jessique was just a bystander, but we still don't trust her so we captured her too. Then, we get her out. I don't know how you fit into this picture, but I'm sure she'll tell you that too…"
"Wow, wow, wow. You trusted her that she will do her part and not tell Dragaunus everything, so you'll get captured too?"
"Wing," said Nosedive. "I don't know why you don't trust her all of the sudden, but whatever the reason is, this is ridiculous."
"Wildwing," said Duke. "Remember, I said that she'll be back, when she proves that she is trustworthy? Well, everyone, except you think she is not a traitor."
"Okay, so? Oh, I forgot! Mal, in two words, what was the end of your story?"
"I went back there that night and got caught. Spent the next five years in prison, got released on a condition, that I work for the government in some secret forces. It was better than prison, but I had to do everything they said, or they'd cancel me. Then Dragaunus hit. I was supposed to pretend to be on his side, with Canard, but…"
"There you go again! Spreading lies about my friend!"
"I'm just telling you what my assignment was. Well, you know the rest."
"Mallory, repeat after me: Canard is not a traitor."
"Maybe he is, maybe he's not. That depends on his own reasons for doing everything he did, the organizations slash clans slash cults slash who know what he belonged to, and of course, whether he is your friend or not. I'm tired. Wing, sleep on it and ask any question, yell at me and whatever else, you want to do, to hurt my feelings, anytime you want, but just don't do it today, okay," she said yawning and walked to her room.

Later that night, Mallory was sitting on her bed, in her nightgown. She was reading a book, when she heard a knock on the door.
"Who is it? Ahh, who cares? Come in!" she said and the door opened. Wildwing was standing there. He looked at her and smiled. "Could you yell at me tomorrow, instead?"
"I didn't come here to yell at you."
"Oh, okay. In that case, come in, sit down," she said bookmarking the page she was on and closing the book. Wildwing walked in and the door closed behind him. Mallory moved and he sat next to her.
"I thought, you said you were too tired," he said.
"I'm too tired to argue."
"That's one thing about Phil, he's never too tired to argue," Wildwing smiled.
"Yeah. So, what brought you all the way to this hallway?"
"I… I was just walking by so I thought that I should come by and say hello," he lied.
"Liar."
"Oh, okay, I just thought that I acted like a real jerk for the past couple of days and came to say that I'm sorry." 
"It's okay, but thanks, I appreciate it."
"You probably can't wait till I leave, huh?"
"No, no not at all. I guess, I am sort of enjoying this."
"Oh, you are, aren't you?" he said playfully, picking up a pillow and whacking Mallory with it. She smiled, picked up another pillow and whacked him with it. Wildwing whined.
"Okay, that's enough pillow fights for me, for the next five years," he exhaled. Mallory took the pillow from his hands and gently put it back where it belonged. Mallory lay down, and there was complete silence for the next couple of minutes. Then, Wildwing decided to break that silence.
"So, what happened to Gus?" he asked. Mal didn't answer. Wildwing looked at her and saw that her eyes were closed, and her deep breathing was only heard in complete silence. Poor girl, he thought, she'd sleeping already. He got up and smiled at her. Just standing there and string at her, he loft track of time for the next ten minutes, and the only thing he saw was a beautiful girl duck sleeping right in front of him. He put the cover over her and walked out of the room.
As he walked out side and turned into another hallway, going to his room, he almost bumped into Jessie.
"What are you doing free?"
"I was freed by Mallory," she answered. "She said you told her to."
"When?"
"Just couple of minutes ago. Why? She freed Lucretia too, but she left and haven't seen her since."
"Mallory was in her room, for the past…" he looked at his watch. "… half an hour."
"Then, who was…" she tried to ask a question, but Wildwing grabbed her arm and pulled her in the direction he just came from.
"Let's go ask her, shall we?" he walked to Mallory's door and knocked. At first there was no answer, but then the door opened. Mal was sitting on her bed, still half asleep and trying to figure out what was happening.
"Mal, did you let Lucretia and Jessie go?"
"What? Huh? No, why would I do that?" Wildwing scanned her with the mask and saw that she was real.
"Because, I just met Jessie in the hall and she said you did."
"Talk to my stuntwoman," she said and fell back asleep. Wildwing walked out still pulling Jessie after him.
"Hey, would you let me go? You're hurting me," she whined. They walked up to the corner and Mallory came out.
"Hey, guys, wassup?"

To Be Continued

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The songs:
Live To Tell, by Madonna. 
	I Won't Say (I'm In Love), Disney's Hercules soundtrack. 
The lyrics may not be exact.