Darkwing Duck: Something In the Air
Prologue
SHUSH Agents Featherby and Quillson, unidentifiable in their Department of Minerals uniforms, were escorted up to the labs in an efficient fashion that afternoon. Dr. Horton Powers, the scientist with whom they were meeting, had seemed reluctant to make an appointment to see them, despite their undercover titles. Small wonder though, really, since most of the "professional" interviews Dr. Powers had been involved in had turned out to be exploitational hype-fests, on the same level as tabloids. Agent Quillson had taped poor Dr. Powers on "A Modern Affair", the so-called news magazine show, where the elderly doctor had been railroaded by questions until his discovery began to sound like an elaborate farce which the television program had made up.
After some assurances that the Department of Minerals representatives were on the level (and, ironically enough, they were more on the level than the other groups who had taken an interest in the doctor), Dr. Powers had agreed to meet with them to discuss allowing their organization to take over the research on his discovery.
That discovery was, as far as anyone could prove, the Philosophers' Stone: a legendary stone coveted by alchemists hundreds of years ago, said to be of a substance so pure that its properties could actually elevate lesser metals to gold. The doctor had stumbled onto it a few weeks ago, and while so far the proof that the stone was truly the Philosophers' Stone of legend wasn't concrete, the doctor swore that the stone genuinely did complete the transformations of metals into gold, through and through. Lead, aluminum, and copper had so far been transformed.
SHUSH felt that, logically, they had better get their hands on it soon. The more time that passed, the more likely that the potentially powerful stone would fall into the wrong hands. Already, the doctor claimed, he was getting offers of millions of dollars for the stone. An organization like the Fiendish Organization for World Larceny, however, was not likely to offer any sum for such a prize.
The SHUSH agents stepped off the elevator and into a lab that rivaled their own R&D building in complexities, if not size. Dr. Powers, a short balding duck, greeted them brusquely. "Messrs. Featherby and Quillson, is it? And what is this urgent business we have to discuss?"
Featherby looked hesitant. "Perhaps this would be better discussed just between the three of us," he said, indicating the escort who had brought them upstairs. She looked insulted, but after Dr. Powers waved her along, she left with a huffy sniff. Featherby relaxed a bit. "Dr. Powers, we at the Department would be happy to offer you as much as you feel the Stone is worth in exchange for it. We feel that, with our labs and background, we'd have the necessary resources to study it in more depth-"
Dr. Powers gave a brief, humourless laugh. "My good gentlemen, you'll pardon my scorn, but thus far no one seems to realize why the offers of money mean nothing to me." He indicated a pile of golden lumps in the corner, and turned to look at his visitors levelly.
Quillson cleared his throat. "Quite a haul you have there, doctor," he said, and smiled.
"Yes," said the doctor. "I'm aware of that. So you see why I can easily refuse all the offers to buy this stone. Frankly, I have yet to meet anyone who strikes me as being worthy of its ownership."
"We don't want to own it, sir," Featherby said. "We want to study it. You would, of course, be given full credit for its discovery-"
"Then why not let me research it?" This was clearly the doctor's point of contention. "From the start, everyone has tried to take this stone out of my control, from those ludicrous interviews to those who are trying to buy it to gain their fortune in gold, to you men. I'm not so old that I can't properly study a rock, you know!"
"Well, sir-" Featherby began, but Quillson interrupted him. Featherby, who had not managed to finish a thought since he arrived, pulled a face.
Quillson spread his hands in front of him. "Doctor," he said in his most convincing manner, "we do have an alternative motive for coming here. But it's not what you think." Ignoring his companion elbowing him in the side, Quillson continued despite Dr. Powers's look of dislike. "We're here to make sure that the stone doesn't get into the wrong hands."
"And what are the wrong hands, Mr. Quillson?"
Quillson looked at Featherby, who sighed and nodded. "There are powerful organizations out there, doctor, who are going to do whatever they can to get at this stone. We are here to make sure that, no matter what it takes, those organizations don't get their hands on something this powerful. We believe that we are uniquely qualified to keep your discovery safe, and at the same time continue your research in a manner you would approve of."
Powers, who by now was looking simultaneously skeptical and curious, asked, "And just who are you?"
Featherby stepped forward, flashing his ID. "We're with the government."
"Yes, I know," the doctor nodded, scowling. "The Department of Minerals."
"Different branch," Featherby said sheepishly. He tapped the ID, and Dr. Powers peered at it more closely. His eyes widened as he saw the SHUSH insignia, and he looked back up at the Agent before him. Featherby nodded.
"Need to know basis," Quillson said, barely suppressing a grin. The straight-faced FBI agent was his favourite act to go into. "Strictly hush-hush."
Dr. Powers's attitude changed again, abruptly. "Gentlemen," he said, straightening and clearing his throat, "I- I apologize for my former distrust. But there have been a large number of, well, cranks-"
"Perfectly understandable, doctor," Quillson said reassuringly. "You were trying to protect your discovery, and that's just what we're trying to do. Do you think we can come to terms which are acceptable to your standards?"
"Money isn't important," Dr. Powers said, crossing the room to fetch the Philosophers' Stone from its case. "If you continue my research, as you say, I'll agree."
Featherby and Quillson smiled as the doctor approached them with his precious discovery. All three men were startled by a sudden laugh from the doorway of the lab.
A tall, well-dressed rooster stood leaning against the doorframe. "Well, I had a bet runnin' with some of the boys that we'd beat SHUSH here. Guess I'm out five bucks," he said, his tone snide. He didn't flinch as Featherby and Quillson both dropped to defensive positions, drawing their guns on him fluidly. Dr. Powers took a step back, nearlydropping the stone on his way.
The FOWL Eggmen seemed to come out of nowhere, all at once. While they were looking at Steelbeak, the Eggmen came from behind, from windows and closets and who knew where else. Featherby was taken completely by surprise, incapacitated by a blow to the head before Quillson spotted the danger to his partner. He fired a couple of shots, as Dr. Powers screamed at him to stop, it was damaging his lab... An Eggman went down, clutching his shoulder in pain, but Dr. Powers jumped in his way to protect his equipment and Quillson was forced to hold his fire.
He kicked an Eggman in the stomach, only to be tripped by two more and be clubbed when he fell. He clung to consciousness as long as he could, but another stomp to his head was too much for him. He blacked out, hearing Steelbeak's irritating cackle in his ears as he lost his hold.
Dr. Powers held tightly to the Philosopher's Stone, backing away from the menacing rooster who was now walking towards him. "You can't have this! I'll never give it to the likes of you!"
The rooster laughed again, in an especially grating way. "Ya don't have a lotta choice here," he said smugly. Too late, the doctor noticed that the thugs dressed in yellow were affixing masks. One dropped a large gas bomb as the rooster put on his own mask.
Dr. Powers made one last attempt at denying them their prize, and ran for the door to the elevator. Breathing hard as he ran, the gas overcame him before he even made it to the door of the room. Still barely conscious, he looked up as the rooster pried the stone out of his hands. "You've made FOWL High Command very happy, pal," he said, and stepped over him on his way out of the building. Dr. Powers slipped into unconsciousness with a devastated sigh.