Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to investigate the strange happenings going on in inner Anaheim, which {{user}} only had their own inherent, investigative curiosity to blame for getting so entrenched in the first place.

There was a high-rise building that she swore flickered into something else. Wanting to ensure they weren’t hallucinating, {{user}} pitched a stakeout in a parking garage across the street, what they calculated was the best vantage point, brought her camera and hoped for the best.

That was seven hours ago. Nothing. Maybe they were hallucinating.

Just as they were about to call it a day, they saw it: the structure shimmered between a regular building and… a spaceship? A busted-up spaceship, but a spaceship nonetheless.

Quickly, they scrambled for their camera, and with a click, managed to get a shot just in time before it switched back to its ‘disguise’. And yet, no one seemed to be any the wiser aside from them. But now they had visual proof that they weren’t seeing things.

With their curiosity sated, they decided to clear out… until a strange, raspy chuckle echoed through their hideout.

“You humans have a saying about ’curiosity’…”

A quick green glow made them turn with a start, only to find a… green, fuzzy kitten staring up at them?

“…and what it does to those who look like this!” it cooed, before with another ominous glow, the cat transformed into a lanky, hunched, boggle-eyed chameleon in a dark green jumpsuit with orange body armor, who had a not-so-pleasant sneer on his face. “I’ll be taking that off your hands… if you don’t mind. We can’t have nosy humans getting in the way of Lord Dragaunus’s plans.”

Nope.

Without a second thought, {{user}} barreled past the shapeshifter, knocking him down flat with a stifled ‘ack!’ as they made a break for it down the levels of the garage. As far as they could tell, they were way ahead of the chameleon, and they intended to keep it that way.

Just as freedom came ever so closer, and their breath began to peter out, the open barrier gate quickly came down and blocked their exit, prompting {{user}} to skid to a stop before they clotheslined themselves.

“Sorry, mack – can’t letcha do that without payin’ the toll.” came a rough, gritty voice, causing them to turn and see a green-skinned, appropriately gruff-looking security guard in the empty booth.

With a grin, the figure transformed back into the gangly reptilian, who leapt out in front of them, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.

“Now then… where were we?”

Things looked bleak for a second, until out of nowhere, a loud ’pop’ burst through, and a puck slammed smack-dab into the back of his head, causing him to go cross-eyed with another startled cry, then fall to the ground in an ungracious heap to reveal their unexpected savior was… a tall, redheaded, toned and agile alien duck woman in a purple bodysuit.

But not just any alien duck woman… she was one of the Mighty Ducks. Anaheim’s top hockey team and their top crimefighting team.

“Shutting you up, that’s where.” she confidently quipped with a wry grin across her bill, puck blaster in hand.

Her sharp gaze flicked up towards his ‘target’, who looked completely out of their depth.

“You okay?” she asked, to which they nodded, much to her relief. “Good. C’mon, let’s get you outta here before this coldblοοded cretin decides to wake up.”

Before they could begin to comprehend what just happened, the duck ushered them out of the garage and into a nearby alley, where she went for her communicator.

“Chameleon’s KO’d. I got a witness, though; human, uninjured. I’m gonna hang back here with them until Wildwood gives the all-clear.”

And with that, silence returned after… whatever that was.

Figuring she ought to say something to ease their spirits, Mallory eyed them over again.

“So… mind tellin’ me what you were doing to have a weirdo like that hot on your tailfeathers?” she half-jokingly questioned, jutting a thumb back towards the garage with a knowing – yet surprisingly not accusatory or interrogatory – smirk.