"Yes! Yes! YES!" Darkwing all but flew around the Tower, collecting any manner of superhero fighting equipment he could get his feathered hands on and tossing them unceremoniously over his shoulder to his trusty sidekick. Launchpad managed to catch most of the flying machinery only to pass it up to Gosalyn, who was atop a ladder packing the Thunderquack.
"Finally, a challenge! These supervillains won't know what hit 'em once Darkwing Duck shows up!"
"Just Darkwing Duck?" Gosalyn quipped, rolling her eyes as she placed a crate of her father's gas canisters next to her bow and arrows.
Darkwing chuckled. "And Quiverwing Quack."
"AND his loyal sidekick," Gosalyn offered, smiling at Launchpad.
The pilot shrugged off Darkwing taking all the credit for a fight he had yet to win. "Don't worry about me. I'm just excited to be headed back home."
"We need you, Launchpad. No matter what Dad says. Or doesn't say." Gosalyn reached out and took the pile of Darkwing suits from Launchpad's arms. He'd packed all of his crime fighting gear but had yet to delve into his Drake Mallard closet. Did he think he wouldn't have to use his secret identity at all? Even Gizmoduck didn't go wheeling around in his supersuit all the time.
"Oh, I know, Gos. And I'll help where I can. But I'll have a lot of catching up to do with Mr. McD and the boys… Though, they probably won't be boys anymore…"
"Yes, yes," Darkwing cut in, waving away Launchpad's ramblings. "But don't forget why we're going to Duckburg, LP. We can't spend our time remembering the past and catching up to the future. The Fearsome Five have all but taken over the city and who better to vanquish them than DARKWIIIING DUCK?" He swished his cape around him dramatically, already imagining the throngs of adoring fans swarming to thank him for his selfless and death-defying deeds.
A look from Gosalyn, though, caused Darkwing to clear his throat. "With the help from his sidekick and hero-in-training, of course."
"I'm sure there will be some time for Launchpad to visit all his old friends, Fearsome Five or no," Gosalyn said.
She knew full well that the Fearsome Five would be spacing out their crimes over several weeks, giving Launchpad plenty of opportunities to see and talk to anyone and everyone he wanted. With Negaduck, her new partner, heading up the crime spree, Gosalyn was confident that both her father and Launchpad would walk away from Duckburg having gotten everything they wanted.
As would Negaduck. She needed to get to know Scrooge and those closest to him before coming up with a concrete plan to keep them distracted during Negaduck's money bin burglary. Yet, she couldn't help the wild thought here or grand scheme there which kept occurring to her. She had two weeks to figure something out before she had to make plans with Negaduck. There was plenty of time.
"I sure appreciate this visit to Duckburg, DW," Launchpad said, handing Gosalyn Darkwing's back up gas guns.
"Vacation time" wasn't something Darkwing had in his vocabulary, and going outside the St. Canard city limits, even for a weekend getaway, was simply out of the question. All vacations had to be taken within their town, if vacations were to be taken at all. And they usually weren't. Darkwing attributed it to the life of a crime fighter. Gosalyn attributed it to Darkwing's obsession with his image, not wanting to sacrifice a weekend where he could possibly miss out on some important crime. Launchpad didn't think much of it at all; he went where Darkwing went and did what Darkwing asked, as sidekicks do. Darkwing's life was crime fighting, therefore, so was Launchpad's.
"Launchpad, Launchpad, Launchpad," Darkwing sighed, shaking his head. "This is a hero's calling. Not a week of relaxation. Once we get the Fearsome Five under control, we have to return here as quickly as possible. The city could be under siege from any number of ne'er do wells, and Darkwing Duck needs to be on call to strike fear into their hearts. We're taking a risk as it is, traveling to Duckburg to make sure the Fearsome Five return to our city. I need to keep them confined to St. Canard where I can keep an eye on them, and I'm willing to take the risk of leaving St. Canard if it means protecting the fair citizens of Duckburg."
Gosalyn rolled her eyes, climbing fully into the Thunderquack to arrange the suitcases Launchpad was hauling up to her. She and the pilot exchanged a few knowing smiles as Darkwing continued his monologue.
"Yes, even the mighty Gizmoduck cannot handle the quintet of quizzical quandaries who have stumbled into his fair city. Only Darkwing Duck, the Masked Mallard of Darkness, can swoop in to save the day. How can I deny a fellow hero in distress? Especially when I'm the only one in the whole world that can help? It's a tough job but someone's got to do it, and I have taken up that sacred calling."
"Oh, brother," Gosalyn muttered, earning a raised eyebrow from Darkwing.
"It is weird," Launchpad cut in, much to Darkwing's chagrin — no one appreciated a good speech nowadays — "that the Fearsome Five should go to another city to commit their crimes. What's wrong with St. Canard?"
Gosalyn dropped the hat boxes from her hands, the purple fedoras spilling all over the interior of the Thunderquack. One wayward hat floated down, landing on Darkwing's beak. He snatched it off, giving Gosalyn a look of disapproval.
"These costumes just came back from the cleaners. Getting them to Duckburg in one pristine piece is appreciated." Stalking over to the Thunderquack, he handed the lone hat up to his daughter who grabbed it.
"Sir, yes sir," she said, her tone coated in sarcasm. She straightened up and saluted him, getting a grin from Launchpad.
With one last stern glare at Gosalyn, Darkwing turned back to his sidekick. "I couldn't tell ya why the Fearsome Five have changed their location, LP, but I do know this: if in St. Canard, Duckburg, or Timbuktu, the Fearsome Five cannot hide from Darkwing Duck!"
"Sure, Dad. They changed cities to escape you." Gosalyn scooped up the last hat and stacked it inside its box, closing the lid. "It's not for some other reason that actually makes sense."
"Uh, like what?" Launchpad scratched his head. "Negaduck got away with those guns a week or two ago. I don't think he needs anything else."
Gosalyn nearly stumbled out of the Thunderquack that time, but managed to steady herself. She needed to keep her cool. No one suspected a thing. She and Negaduck still had their secret pact, and it would be staying that way.
Her near tumble from the plane went unnoticed by her father, who was bemoaning his defeat by his demented double. "Yeah, well, let's not talk about that little incident. Negaduck may have a brand new arsenal, but don't let that fool you. He could have stolen them with plans to use them in Duckburg. And we can't forget that triumph we had against Quackerjack at the First National Bank! The insane toymaker didn't even get a cent despite his best efforts. Perhaps he's gone to Duckburg to get the money he couldn't steal here thanks to the Terror that Flaps!"
At this rate, Darkwing would never suspect Gosalyn for arranging these crimes, even if she told him the truth. He was too wrapped up in his image, as per the usual, and hadn't managed to put two and two together. It hadn't occurred to him to consider why Gosalyn had suggested a sweep of the city about five minutes before the caper occurred. Or to wonder how she had made sure they were prepared with their anti-Quackerjack crime fighting equipment before they left Darkwing Tower. (No fight against Quackerjack was complete without a dental drill to fight off those toy teeth he used as his henchmen.)
"You don't think he's after Mr. McD's money, do you?" Launchpad asked, his voice rising in his worry.
"That's an idea!" Darkwing snapped his feathered fingers. "Quackerjack always needs a buck or two for his toy making. And the others in the Fearsome Five have never said no to a quick cash grab. Step on it, LP!" Darkwing ran towards the Thunderquack, flipping into his passenger seat and strapping himself in. "We have to get to Duckburg and warn Scrooge of the impending threat to his money bin before it's too late!"
"Hey, you don't have to tell me twice!" Launchpad moved the ladder away from the plane before running to his side and climbing in.
"What if they aren't after Scrooge's money?" Gosalyn offered, sitting down in her own seat, the only open spot with the plane fully packed. "Do you think he'll appreciate you barging in without an invitation? He's a busy duck, I'm sure he's got meetings or business functions all day."
Phase one: get all suspicion off of the money bin. Negaduck's robbery needed to be the last thing on anyone's mind. If she could manage to convince her father and the other ducks that the money bin was out of the criminal's purview, then Negaduck stood a chance of making away with his money. She needed to hold up her end of the bargain. Negaduck would be. Or so she hoped. Their St. Canard test run may have been a success, but that didn't mean the villain wouldn't turn on her the soonest chance he got. She would need to keep an eye on Negaduck. On top of everything else.
"No time for that!" Darkwing waved away Gosalyn's concerns as the plane took off. "We have evil doers to thwart!"
"Okay," Gosalyn crossed her arms, watching the retreating Audubon Bay Bridge and St. Canard skyline. "But when Scrooge yells at you for interrupting something, I reserve the right to say 'I told you so'."
"I reserve the right to say 'I told you so'," Darkwing mimicked, scowling back at his frowning daughter. "You won't have to say it at all, Gosalyn. You'll see. Once we get to Duckburg, everyone will be so relieved to see Darkwing Duck and his crime fighting team that all inconveniences will be forgotten."