Beth knocked on the door. "Come in!" came Gosalyn's shout from within, and she entered. Everyone was in the living room, all looking at the TV, although there was an ordinary story on. "Hi Beth!" said Gosalyn, waving at her. Launchpad also waved, and Drake gave her a nod, clearly his mind was still on Bushroot X's rant.
"Did you see him?" Drake asked of Beth, although it sounded more like a demand. "What a lunatic! Where does he get that ego?" Instead of making the obvious comment, Beth looked thoughtful. "Poor Bushroot...it must have been so traumatic, what happened to him."
"What? Did you forget that he's the villain? Even before his accident, he wasn't wrapped too tight!" exclaimed Drake.
"Maybe." said Beth noncommitally. She didn't want to get into an argument with him, not when they were supposed to having fun. She tugged nervously at the collar of her sweater for a moment, then clapped her hands together. "So! Am I going to beat you all at Monopoly tonight or what?"
"Fat chance!" said Gosalyn as she ran to get the board and the others sat around the living room coffee table. Even Drake seemed to forget about Bushroot X for the moment as they began to play.
Not too far away, in a mixed residential-business part of town, a young man was taking an evening walk. He was a handsome duck, with a good build, and very bright. The night was clear, and he looked up at the hundreds of stars in the night sky. In fact, he was so busy watching the stars that he didn't hear a van pull up behind him. Nor did he pay attention when two doors opened and closed.
A second later, he was seized by two masked thugs, both wearing Bushroot masks, designed to look as frightening as possible, and ugly green jumpsuits. He had no time to do more than kick his legs and cry for help before he was thrown into the back of the van and the doors slammed shut. The two henchmen jumped into the cab of the vehicle and drove away fast, and ten seconds later there was no indication of the horror that had taken place there...or was about to.
"Mallard Gardens! That's 2000 dollars!" announced Gosalyn. Grumbling, Drake handed over the money. "Looks like you win again Gos." said Launchpad, and indeed the little girl had cleaned everyone out. Drake sat and brooded. "What's wrong Drake?" asked Beth. "You're usually a better player than this."
"How can I play when that demented dandelion is on the loose?" snapped Drake. Beth sighed, she might have known. He was still thinking of Bushroot X. "I guess you'll have to wait until he strikes again, DW." said Launchpad as he took a drink of his banana smoothie.
"Great...get there after he's committed some crime, that'll make me look real heroic. I can see the headlines now--Darkwing Duck, Better Late Than Never." Drake slumped down in his chair and sulked. "If only I knew where he was...if I can take on FOWL and the Eggmen, I can take on him and his goons and win."
"But you've already fought them." mused Launchpad.
"Rub it in, why don't you." replied Drake archly.
But the wheels in Beth's head were turning as the discussion went on. She went home around 11 pm, and thought even as she walked along. There must be a way to trace Bushroot X's location...those broadcasts were coming from somewhere...but how to find them? If she could find that out, it would be easy for Darkwing to find Bushroot X. But even as she planned what could lead to the plant-duck's defeat, she still couldn't help feeling sorry for him...
The male duck couldn't believe this was happening to him. He had been stripped to the waist and his hands tied above his head against a wall. Perspiration rolled down his face in the hot and humid environment of what looked like a basement. Standing guard was one of the thugs that had kidnapped him. His face was masked by what looked like a Bushroot mask, but with some alterations, such as black, hollow eye holes that hid even that indicator of emotion, and a fierce looking beak with teeth, and of course the jumpsuits. The young man felt uncomfortable just looking at them. How must they feel, inside the suits? But the Husk-Man showed nothing.
"What's going on here?" he finally cried. The Husk was silent. The man wondered what was next. He soon found out.
A door on the far side of the room opened, and in came Bushroot X and another Husk, carrying something the man couldn't see. The plant-ducks blue eyes could be seen under the mask that was an exact copy of his own face, glazed over with what could only be pure madness. He also wore a jumpsuit, with boots and gloves that were designed to accomodate his root feet and leafy hands. Bushroot X stopped in front of the helpless man.
Despite his fear, the captive found his voice. "What do you want with me?"
"The same thing I want with everyone else. You are all to blame, and you will all be part of my new world." said the villain. Anyone who knew Bushroot's voice would have recognized it, but the mask left it sounding oddly distorted, stripping away the aspects of it that made the plant-duck sound relatively harmless. That was the old Bushroot. "Did you fools think I would forget? Did you think I wouldn't seek revenge?" His voice rose as he spoke, and finally he backhanded the man across the face, leaving him dazed and sagging. It was like solid metal was under the glove, not just a leaf-like hand.
"It dosen't matter what I want with you. In a minute, you will belong to me." With that Bushroot X nodded to the Husk-Man, and with disbelief, the man saw that it was another Husk mask. Then panic as he knew what was about to happen to him took hold. "No...no, no, please, no!!" he begged hysterically. Bushroot X paid no attention.
The Husk-Man stepped forward and swiftly pulled the mask over the struggling prisoner's head and stepped back. Within seconds, the masked man began thrashing back and forth, as much as his shackles would allow, screaming and yelling horribly. Bushroot X merely watched, until the man finally sagged limp, perspiration running down his sides.
"Get him ready." ordered Bushroot X, and the two Husks stepped forward to release thier newest conscript. Bushroot X turned and stalked out of the room.
To be continued...
Darkwing Duck and all related characters are property of Disney. Beth Webfoot is property of Rebecca Kelly, used with permission. The concept of Bushroot X and the Husk-Men are property of the author. (C) 2008 Eric Smith.