It was surprising to everyone how well the two criminals hit it off. At first there had been bets on how long their friendship would last, as neither Megavolt or Quackerjack were known for playing nice with others. But as days turned into weeks, and nothing more had happened but a few tiffs over being called 'Sparky' had occurred, the jailers and fellow inmates were beginning to think it was a bet they were going to lose.
Ignorant of this transgression, Megavolt and Quackerjack found themselves in the prison courtyard on a nice sunny day- being forced to clean up the trash on the blacktop as their punishment for pranking another set of guards just the day before. Quackerjack beamed happily as he found another piece of garbage, aiming it at his new buddy a few feet behind him- a trashbag stretched out in Megavolt's arms.
"Ooookaay, ready for another catch?"
"Depends, " the electrical rodent began hesitantly, "You're going to actually get it in the bag this time, right? I'm getting REAL tired of you throwing trash in my face!"
"Depends." Quackerjack echoed, mockingly. "Are ya gonna catch it this time, or not? A pitcher can only do so much with a lousy catcher, ya know!"
Megavolt growled as a half-rotten banana peel flew through the air, and landed on his nose with a gross, sloppy sound. It was fried to a black, crispy husk with one well-aimed finger, and Quackerjack couldn't have been more thrilled to see it.
"Oohhh, got some of your old spark back there, Megsy?"
"Yeah, so?" he mumbled. He didn't even flinch or recoil this time when Quackerjack skipped over and leaned in close to whisper to him.
"What say we use a little of that to slip out of here, and play some real games?"
"'Real games'?" Megavolt had to raise a brow at that. In the little time he had gotten to know the crazed-clown, Quackerjack had been known to call almost anything a game. Even things the mad scientist sure as heck wouldn't call 'entertainment'. "You're not talking about seeing what we can flush down the toilet again, are you? Because that was the one that got us into solitary the LAST time."
Quackerjack shook his head, his bells jingling with him.
"No, not that, silly! I'm talking about breaking outta here!"
"Oohhh..." A malicious grin slowly began to spread across Megavolt's face. "Why didn't you say so?"
The bag of trash was dropped, and Megavolt wiped his grimy hands on his prison uniform. He didn't know about his new pal here, but he sure was tired of playing with garbage.
"Oh, goody!" Quackerjack clapped his hands with glee. "Glad you're on board. So here's what we're gonna do..."
As the plan was whispered, Megavolt began to cackle softly. Oh, yes, that was perfect! No more cafeteria slop, no more mandatory showers, no more nightmares involving suffocating in a school locker-
Okay, maybe he would still have to deal with that third thing, but freedom was definitely in their grasp.
Sneaking around a fully guarded prison was surprisingly not as hard as Megavolt thought it would be, having always assumed that having jailers at every corner would be enough to deter anyone. Quackerjack, however, had not been bothered at all as he playfully tiptoed and danced around them. Even being able to stop long enough to make silly faces behind the guards' backs, and mock them as they talked to each other. Boy, talk about a waste of taxpayer's money if THAT was the quality they were getting…
But hey, their stupidity was their gain!
First step in the crazed-clown's multiple step plan was simple enough: what they needed was to find enough junk to construct some sort of tool to get out of the place. While Megavolt was more of a metal and wire kind of guy, the electric rodent was surprised to see that Quackerjack could use any old junk. At first they were reasonable enough, like bed springs and nuts and bolts; but once the other villain began stealing toothbrushes and the old jail filling clerk's false dentures… Okay, he was beginning to think maybe Quackerjack was pulling his leg on the whole scheme.
Megavolt had been wrong as the next thing he knew there was a pair of chattering teeth chasing him around their shared cell. Quackerjack laughed as the teeth ran Megavolt up to the second bunk like a treed cat. Megavolt eyed the thing, warily, as it bounced and snapped at him, just barely out of its reach.
"How did you DO that?" Megavolt questioned, half in awe, and half in disgust.
"Anything can be a toy in the right hands." Quackerjack replied, proudly. His electrical pal rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, great. How is this... toy gonna get us out of here!"
Quackerjack rolled his eyes, making his way towards the bunk bed when he began to push the frame over towards the window- taking Megavolt along with him.
"WOAH, watch it!"
"Ya know, ye of little faith" The toymaker sneered, the amusement of the other's doubt starting to fade" this isn't my first time forced into timeout. How about ya scooch over lil' and let your ol' Uncle Quacky just do what he do-do!"
Quackerjack, after picking up his dangerous dentures, quickly scaled the ladder before pushing the other villain out of his way. Now directly in front of the metal bars, the duck gave another windup to his teeth before placing them on the middle bar.
Megavolt found himself surprised yet again as the thing began eating through the metal as if it was a graham cracker. Quackerjack giggled.
"Talk about getting your iron intake, ey Megsy? Hehe!"
"Whoa, nice!" Megavolt commented, suddenly doubly glad that thing hadn't gotten a hold of him. Without another thought, the rodent stuck his head through the newly created opening, and began to scramble out. He didn't get very far, though, before he was yanked back in and faced with a scowling Quackerjack.
"What do you think you're doing, Megadolt? Remember the plan? Distraction first, and then we make our escape!"
Megs gazed sadly at the exit, so close, yet so far away. But, his nutty friend was right. They wouldn't make it far with dozens of cops and security guards... not to mention the dogs... on their tails.
"Oh, right." He nodded once, vaguely remembering their plan. He cast a glance over at the cell door.
"But how- oh."
The teeth were already chowing down on those bars.
The next step was also pretty simple, but Megavolt wasn't liking it. Sure, setting off fires throughout the prison wasn't that big of a deal, but the fact the demented clown wanted him to short circuit the building- even blowing up all the lights- was enough to make him pause. He was a liberator of electronics- not their executioner! A quick reminder from Quackerjack, and how the darkness and shutting down alarms was the reason behind it, was enough to make him put his feelings aside.
"Well…. C'est la vie, I guess." Megavolt shrugged.
As far as Megavolt was concerned, the various light bulbs in the place had whispered to him, telling them the location of the main breaker box in the building. They had also assured him that they were willing to die for the cause. In reality, the electrical tuned villain had merely been able to sense the electrical currents in the walls, and deciphered the location that way.
The basement where it was located may not have been very heavily guarded, but the halls needed to get there were. Thus, the small office on the other side of the building became a prime target for arson.
That was where Quackerjack's simple paddle ball came into play. Never in Megavolt's life had he seen somebody use a child's toy to knock out guards. All it took was for the crazed toymaker to give them a good thwack at the back of their heads, and they were down for the count.
"Hahaha! Just like cracking a few eggs for an omelette, wouldn'tcha say?"
Quackerjack wasn't the only one doing all the work. When there were multiple jailers in an area it took Megavolt sneaking up behind them and simply placing a hand on each of their shoulders. From there it took little effort to fry the guards into unconsciousness.
"I'm sure they found that shocking." The electrical rodent laughed. Quackerjack joined in as well with his own retort as he patted the criminal on the back.
"Oh Megavolt, you're simply electrifying!"
By now, despite their cautionary sneaking around, they had captured a little bit of unwanted attention. Backup was sent out, but a couple of rogue criminals running around a tightly sealed prison became second priority to the flames now billowing out of Office A3, and quickly spreading down the hall.
Megavolt tried reasoning with Quackerjack as they fled, that cutting the power wasn't even necessary now, but Quackerjack insisted it was, if they expected a clean getaway.. Megavolt decided he was right when, after rounding a corner, they were met with two very large, and very armed police officers, barrelling down the hall at them. The two escaped criminals yelped, and took off running down another hall; it looked like they'd be taking the long way..
The police officers didn't seem to notice they had been led in a circle, until they saw their targets pulling frantically on the basement door. The officers did, however, stop, and exchange confused looks. What would these two wackos want in the basement? The door's lock-along with the rest of the handle- clanged to the floor, and the officers gave chase again when Megavolt and Quackerjack bolted down into the dark basement.
Quackerjack had taken the lead as he practically jumped down the stairs, not a thought of caution entering his mind in the slightest. Once down the steps the demented duck continued on ahead before disappearing into the jail's clutter- the basement being where they stored their extra furniture and other miscellaneous objects. Megavolt felt a sense of panic hit him as he lost track of his cellmate.
"Quackerjaaaaaack," the electric rodent whined inbetween breaths, just barely being able to keep out of the guards' grasp, "you can't just… just… leave me to these guys!"
Some friend HE was! Before Megavolt could start swearing against trusting anybody just as much of a whack job as himself ever again, the villain had to stop right in his tracks as he found his path blocked. The bricked wall and the two jailers trapping him like a rat in a twisted maze.
"GREAT, a dead end. I'm done for!"
"Alright, Megavolt," the first guard smirked, the baton in his hand slapping into the palm of the other threateningly as he came upon the inmate. "No where else t'run to. How about playing nice and comin' with us, huh?"
"Yeah," said the other, just as menacingly, "or are we gonna have t'do this the rough way?"
Megavolt didn't even get a chance to respond before the basement echoed in a loud cracking sound. The inmate only had to blink before his would-be tormentors were on the cold hard ground- the once missing Quackerjack standing over their bodies with a broken leg from a bedpost.
"Ya know, " the demented duck laughed, grin stretching across his face in dangerous glee, "I do so like it when people play rough."
"I'll, uh, remember that..." Megavolt mumbled, warily, as he stared at the unconscious guards lying at his feet. He wasn't sure if he should be impressed or concerned, so he settled on both. "Thanks."
Megavolt stepped over the men on the floor, as if they were nothing more than discarded trash.
"So, did you find the breaker box?" The electrical villain asked, following Quackerjack as he began strolling away into the darkness.
"Yes. Y'know, it's funny; I found it, then realized I was all out of volt to jolt it with!"
Megavolt caught the mildly accusing sarcasm in his tone, and glared. The glare did nothing in the dark, but he did it anyway.
"Yeah, well, you wouldn't have been, if you hadn't left me stumbling around in the dark with those monsters!"
"Oh, stop being such a worry wart. Like I was REALLY just gonna leave ya. What fun would it be if I broke outta here on my own?" Quackerjack paused to sigh dramatically as he leaned on his glowering pal. "If I left you here I'd be back to playing all by myself again. Just me, myself, and I. Where's the fun in that?"
The rodent found his glare slipping some as he eyed his cellmate on his shoulder, finding himself oddly touched by the sentiment.
"You… really mean that?"
Quackerjack nodded his head vigorously, the bells on the end of his hat jingling just as violently.
"Sure do, pal-a-reeno! Cross my heart, and all that jazz." After quickly miming a giant x over Megavolt's chest, Quackerjack finished the gesture by roughly poking the rodent in the nose. Before the assaulted villain could get angry again, the demented duck was already running on ahead.
"Now come ON, Sparky, we gotta prison to fry!"
"I told you not to call me that!" Megavolt hissed, but was too preoccupied with not losing track of Quackerjack again to get too worked up over it.
When they got close enough, however, he didn't need to worry about it; he could once again sense the currents, and they brought him to life. Megavolt stood in front of the dull grey metal box, rubbing his hands together. The tips of his fingers sparked, lighting up the darkness in quick, blue-tinted bursts, revealing the malicious smile on his face.
"So, we finally meet."
Up stairs, fire alarms squawked their last cry, a split second before the lights went out- throwing the prison into blackness.
However, when the two convicts bolted up the stairs and threw open the basement door, it was not darkness they were met with. The lights were on, albeit dimmer than usual. A low, steady hum filled the building. Quackerjack was the first to speak up as his hat drooped with the rest of him in confusion.
"WELL…. that most certainly was NOT a part of the plan. I thought cutting off the power would make this place darker than sack of Santa's coal at Christmas." Pouting, the duck turned to his partner in crime as as he whined. "Megavoooolt, why didn't it wooooork?"
Megavolt had been wondering the same thing, before his eyes opened widely in realization. He laughed as he hit himself on the forehead at how simple the answer was.
"Duh, of course! Back-up generators! Places like this usually HAVE those. If it was a bug it woulda bit me." The rodent's laughing was cut off as he hummed to himself in thought- rubbing his chin. "Gee, wonder why we didn't think of that?"
"Think we should just run for it?" Quackerjack asked, just as calmly and thoughtfully.
"Yeah, sure. Seems like the best plan, really."
There was a pause before the two began screaming madly, as they ran as fast as they could back to their cell- where freedom awaited them.
Soon, they were slipping through the window of their cell- which is what they should have done in the first place, Megavolt thought- and racing away from the hulking prison. The alarms didn't sound, and the search lights seemed to be out of commission, so perhaps their little trip down to the basement hadn't been for nothing, after all.
Before long, they were both chuckling and giggling as they ran. Megavolt couldn't remember the last time he had this much fun! Then again, he couldn't remember a whole lot of anything. Still, they ran, they laughed, and when they heard the dogs barking in the distance, they laughed even harder.
Out of breath, but safe, the two choked out even more cackling laughter as they sat atop a tall building in the middle of the city.
"Well, that was fun." Megavolt concluded. "...What now?"
"Anything we want, Megsy!" Quackerjack draped an arm over the villain next to him, as he used his free hand to wave at the city below them- showcasing the nightlife. "Saint Canard is our playground, our oyster. We're free to play how we want, when we want!"
Megavolt found himself nearly toppling off the roof when the jester jumped to his feet- stretching his arms to the heavens as he laughed to himself. Megavolt watched him for a while before clearing his throat, getting the attention of the duck next to him.
"Soooo… like going to see a movie or something?" The electric villain asked innocently, never having done that with somebody before. Quackerjack scoffed, plopping back down next to his short-circuited pal as he patted him on the back.
"Boy, how long did they keep you cooped up in that place?" He chuckled. "Where's the imagination in 'going to the movies'? We're talking BIG, Megavolt- BIG!"
Quackerjack leaned in closer, eyes half lidded as they sparkled with childish mischievousness.
"Now think again: if you could do anything, and I mean aaaaaanyyyything… what wouldja wanna do? First thought- GO!"
"Uh-" Oh, put on the spot. The actual first thing on his mind had been going home and telling his friends about the adventure he had just experienced, but he skipped over that and searched frantically for a suitable answer. What did friends usually do together?
"Go... bowling!" He replied, triumphantly. His smile disappeared when he saw Quackerjack roll his eyes, and shake his head.
"With, uh... marmalade...?" He tried, watching his friend carefully for a sign he was on the right track. He was encouraged when Quackerjack smirked and raised a brow. "And, uh, a pack of wild panthers!" he blurted.
"HA! There we go, that's more like it! I knew you had a spark of imagination in there SOMEWHERE. Though…" Quackerjack paused as he thought over the plan. "Yeah yeah, it's there- I can see it now! It'll be a jubilee- a playtime galore! We'll get hyped up on sugar, play some games, all while playing dressup!"
While dressup wasn't exactly his thing, despite Megavolt's usual attire, he did admit it DID sound fun. Another train of thought, however, wiped the smile off his own face as he glared.
"Yeah? And then the next thing you know, ol' Darkwing Dolt will swoop in there and just ruin everything- sending us back to prison just where we started." Megavolt, now feeling down in the dumps when he was actually looking forward for a night out, deflated into his palms as he grumbled. "You'd think that overworked crime-fighting nut could just take a day off or somethin'."
"Well," Quackerjack began, stretching out the remark, "why don't we just make him?"
"And how the heck do you suppose we go and do that, huh? That guy's wound up so tight he doesn't even have anymore coil left to snap with. I don't think he even knows the meaning of a vacation."
The criminal clown beamed wider.
"Vacation, no. But you're right on the money about being one neck turn away from being a broken toy, hehe! If HE can't take a chill pill, I say we make him. Force it down his throat, if we have to! Better yet, we'll do to everybody!"
Megavolt rolled his eyes.
"You want to force people to take prescription drugs?"
"No, I don't want to force people to take prescription drugs." Quackerjack mocked back. "I want to make people so loosey goosey- without a care in the world- that we can play however we want without any fuddy duddies getting in our way! Think about it, we'll relax the city into submission!"
Megavolt stared back, blankly.
"I'm not following." he admitted. He wasn't about to give every person in St. Canard a massage and a foot rub.
"Uhhg... listen, Megavolt-" Quackerjack placed his hands on his pal's shoulders, and gave his a brisk shake, " the way I see it, with your electronic know-how, and my toy and weapon expertise, we could build anything! We would be unstoppable; think of the possibilities!"
"Oohhh..." Build? Now Megavolt was starting to understand. Not only did he understand, but he liked where this was going! He had never built anything like that before... "Yeah, that could be fun! Of course, we'll need supplies, a base of operations..."
"Check and check- I got hideouts all over this dumb city- and one of them is a warehouse full of all kinds of goodies from back when my precious company was up and running." A pause as the duck considered their options. "Though, I DO also have some stuff stuffed away in the sewers that might work too..."
Megavolt cringed.
"Are you crazy," he blurted out wildly, pointing at his face. "With a schnoz like this? My sinuses would rebel the moment I stepped foot in the joint!"
Quackerjack playfully squeezed the rodent's nose, verbally honking it before jumping back to his feet.
"Then it's settled then- Quackerjack Toys it is!" Megavolt merely glared up at him as he rubbed his sore nose. The toymaker ignored it as he went on. "Ooooooh, trust me Megsy- I promise you'll have more fun than you ever had before. Double that, even! This rinky dink of a town won't know what hit them!"
Megavolt had to admit… that DID sound promising.