Roots of Revenge
-Chapter 1-
Blood and Soil

There was a knock at the door. His hand remained steady as he packed the two small vials into separate cases, as he tried to ignore it. The lab around him was saturated in a green aura from the array of various potted plants. The lights casting long leaf like shadows on the wall, and making it appear like a grim scene out of a B horror movie. The hesitant knock came again. His vibrant blue eyes snapped to the door as he slipped the cases in his lab coat pocket.

"What is it?!" he barked, colder than he intended but he didn't really care. He had just perfected his life's work after three long days with no sleep. If he wasn't so exhausted he would be wondering why the sky hadn't split, why angels weren't singing the hallelujah chorus at his harrowing feat. The door gently crept open.

"I'm sorry Dr. Bushroot, but there are some men here to see you." Said the pretty young brunette sweetly.

"Send them away Rhoda, I'm very busy." He turned away from her. She always made him uncomfortable; she was far too pretty to be a botanist. If he had known she was the one on the other side of the door, he certainly wouldn't have been short with her. She always made eye contact with him, always politely and intently looked into his eyes. He, personally, found it helped to look at his hands while talking to her. Why was he such a coward?

"They were very insistent Reginald." She stepped into the office and closed the door all but a crack. She continued in a frightened whisper. "Not to mention, they're pretty shady looking to boot," she paused. "Are you in some kind of trouble?"

His whole body tensed. No, it couldn't be. Not tonight, was it the sixth already? Thoughtlessly he started searching his pockets, already knowing that his keys were behind the front desk in the lobby. In an instant he spun around and grasped her firmly by the shoulders.

"Rhoda I need you to stall them!"

"What?!"

"Please! I can't explain right now…" he moved in close to her and he noticed she blushed. "..There is a sample of the solution hidden in the compartment in the second drawer. Don't get it tonight, or even tomorrow… Don't let anyone know about it!"

"Reggie what's going on? What are you going to do?" Her eyes were wide and scared. She was concerned for him? Cared about him? Oh why did he have to be such a coward?

"I have to get out of here." He released her and opened the top drawer of his desk. He fumbled through the mass of papers and office supplies until his hand wrapped around it. He pulled out the worn box cutter, and eyed it numbly. The razor was old, dulled by daily use. Really it was not much of a weapon but it would have to do.

"Reggie..."

"Don't!" He cut her off as he slid the box cutter in his jacket. "Don't ask me any questions! If you do who knows what might happen." He turned and couldn't help but meet her eyes. He knew he looked pathetic, a mallard in his early thirties, lanky and dark haired with two big bright blues eyes looking desperately at her. Wondering if he had been too self defeating to see that concern on her face. Had she always looked at him the way she looked at him now?

"I'm going now," he grew very pale, "try to stall them but don't get yourself in trouble. Damn."

With that he ran out. He tore down the hall, his big clunky feet making more noise than he wished they would. He could hear them, cackling, how far could he get? Where would he go? He burst out the back door of the facility and an icy night breeze slapped him in the face. His eyes darted frantically around the area, looking for an escape into the cool spring night. His eyes drifted to the skyline, the lights of Saint Canard were like a haze that hung over the trees... the city! He felt a wave of excitement. If he could get to the city he was sure he could shake off the thugs there! His plan started to hatch as he began to sprint. He'd take the path through the woods, they came to an intersection that was always teeming with taxis. His hand instinctively patted his pocket, the two boxes were still there snug and safe. If he could just patent the botanical growth solution he would make enough to pay the loan sharks off. Why did he ever go to them for money? His research was important, but was it worth all this? He had heard about how underhanded the crooks were, but he just didn't seem to have his wits about him when he made the arrangement. Did he really have his wits about him now? He was running, the woods rising around him, fallen branches biting at his ankles and leaves slapping his face.

In the distance he heard the slamming of a door and angry voices. Had she gotten him enough time? His heart was nearly pounding out of his chest. Would they catch him? Could he convince them to let him off again? Twice they came hounding him for reimbursement and twice he had promised results. A branch caught his bill and he stumbled with a soft curse. He had been through this wood a thousand times, the sun lighting the canopy illuminating stencils of the leaves on the grassy path. The wind playing with the foliage making it dance like a technicolored ballet. Now the trees leaned in and grabbed at him, their gnarled fingers scraped and cut his skin. One swiped his face and he felt the blood soak his feathers. The path was now a minefield of mashing, gnawing teeth trying to trip him up. His breath was short and stabbing, but through this he could hear them gaining. Of course they would, he groaned to himself, they lived for this stuff. The trees rose around him and before he knew it, it was there. The giant tree he had sat under so many times, so often he came out here to think, to be alone, and get lost in his own thoughts. How he always wanted to ask her to join him. But here in the darkness, in the creeping shadows, it beckoned to him. His strength spent he found himself on his knees gasping for air at its roots. He knew he was there, but it felt like he was in another place, reliving his childhood. He couldn't feel the cuts, the bruises, not even the blood streaming down his face. He stayed on the ground, his eyes turned up to the massive branches over head, swaying gently in the night sky. When a hand grabbed him violently by the scruff of his neck and yanked him to his feet.

"Reggie.. Reggie.. yer resortin ta runnin'? You have no idea how sad dat makes me." Sneered the surly well-dressed goat that held him to eye level.

"I… I can explain..."

"Reggie, me an' tha' boys have had enough excuses outta you."

"Please... please give me more time! I'll get your money.." Reginald was regaining his senses while his teenage years ran through his head.

"We've heard dat twice already, ain't we boys?" The goat didn't lose his amused smirk but the other lackeys growled.

"No, no, this time I can do it! I..." he reached into his pocket. His heart leapt as his fingers brushed the box cutter. No, he thought, not until I need it. He pushed it aside and grasped one of the boxes. "This!" He held it up, the goat regarded it with little interest. "This is a liquid that can enhance botanical productivity ten fold with just one drop! If you just give me time, I can patent it and I can pay you back your money and then some!"

Hammerhead, was a goat of many trades. Tonight he was playing the role of muscle to regain a debt. He wasn't keen to be here at the minute, but something came up to halt their more interesting jobs. Plus, he was always up for tormenting this pencil neck. So he took the box and shoved the trembling botanist into his cronies who quickly latched onto him. He popped open the case and turned the little vile between his fingers the amber liquid sliding lazily in it's glass prison. He smiled showing every one of his yellow teeth. "Tink dis will be a hot seller doc?"

"Are you kidding? With that, one plant can feed twelve people for two months!" Reggie felt a surge of pride, while his college years nagged at the back of his brain.

"Well den whaddya say me an' da boys drop it off to da boss for ya?"

"What?" Reggie blinked, distractedly.

"Ya heard me doc. We'll take this as a down payment..."Hammerhead was almost surprised at how fast Reggie's mood changed. In one second the fear disappeared and was replaced with a scowl, a rage that could skin a cat with a glance. He wouldn't have pegged the timid duck to be capable of such a look, it was kind of refreshing. Those burning blue eyes were locked hatefully on Hammerhead with one outcome in mind. Before any of the goons could properly restrain him the box cutter came out. Reggie's body moved on adrenaline and anger. He swiped a henchman named Mouth straight down his left arm, while the horse named Hoof was sliced across his chest. One last desperate swing caught Hammerhead right across the face. The goat caught the botanist's trembling hand harshly, the razor digging deep into his palm but it looked like he didn't feel it. The little mallard lashed out at him as best he could. Hammerhead wrapped his free hand around the duck's face, blocking out the death glare he was being assaulted with."Ya know...I really had hoped ya wouldn't cause a scene Reggie." Snarled Hammerhead's bloody face.Mouth grabbed Reginald by the back of his coat and threw him to the ground. As he crashed to the grass, rage pumped through him and other people's blood stained his clothes. Little white lights floated in front of his eyes, the force of the fall had knocked the wind out of him along with his senses. The slideshow of his life was nearing its end in his mind. Hammerhead's mouth moved and it took a while before the words reached Reggie's ears. The two bleeding thugs took out their concealed weapons with malicious grins. His eyes scanned the glinting butterfly knife and the billy club, panic seizing his heart. The sound finally reached him. Hammerhead's words said:

"Rub him out."

Darkwing Duck and other related characters are (c) Disney I have used them with out permission, no profit was made. This story however is (c) Christina Smith 2004/2006.

---- Update 5-2-2007

Hi hi, the early chapters of this story have been bugging me for a loooooooooong time. So I tweaked them a bit. Nothing really big, I added some smoother transitions and skimmed them quickly to fix the lingering errors.