Chapter 3: Alone in a crowd
Preparations for the new treaty between Earth and Mars were on the go. Dr. IQ High fiddled with his gloves nervously, hoping and praying everything will go well.
And that Dodgers won't do anything to sabotage it.
IQ sighed. Duck Dodgers was a mystery to everyone. The reason he did things was crazy and selfish. His origin is unknown. In all, IQ knew very little about the duck he released from cryogenic sleep. Dodgers rarely spoke about his past and what he did back then. IQ would blame it on memory loss but every time Dodgers looked at Cadet in a quiet moment, he seemed sad, depressed even. So that was enough confirmation to IQ that Dodgers had all his memories in tact but would rather keep it to himself.
So he was now stuck with an egotistical lying jerk who only cares about himself with a mysterious past. If only IQ knew he was wrong.
A familiar space ship made it down into the landing bay of the Galactic Protectorate. Just as the ship appeared, the Martian fleet made its appearance into the atmosphere. Cadet and Dodgers made their way over just as the Queen's ship landed.
Queen Tyr'ahnee stepped out of the ship with Commander X-2 by her side. Truth be told, she was reluctant about the treaty as a whole but was convinced by none of than Duck Dodgers himself to give it another chance. She still remembered the conversation that had occurred several nights ago.
She had promised that she wouldn't mention that he asked her to give it another chance. That request weirded her out further. For a while, she thought the duck was severely sick, going as far as to send a spy to check his vitals only to find the duck was healthier than he had ever been.
" Queen Tyr'ahnee", Dr. IQ said bowing respectfully.
" Dr. IQ High", Tyr'ahnee said with a curt nod before turning to the duck," Dodgers".
" Tyr'ahnee", he said with a nod of his own.
" Shall we continue with the treaty doctor?", Tyr'ahnee said.
" Of course, right this way. Dodgers, Johnson, come along", IQ said leading the way.
Dodgers stopped as Star Johnson grabbed his arm, the captain sending the duck a glare," Yesth?", he asked impatiently.
" Just so you know, I'm going to be watching your every move. This treaty is important and we can't have you ruin it", Johnson hissed.
Dodgers huffed," Relax, I don't plan on sthabotaging anything thisth time", he said before yanking his arm away," Now c'mon, IQ's waiting on us".
Every monarch and leader that was already in alliance with Earth had arrived for the occasions as well as other agents of the Protectorate. Dodgers figured that nearly everyone was here. He took his place next to, surprise surprise, Commander X-2.
" You didn't tell her anything, did you?", Dodgers muttered to X-2, who jumped in surprise at Dodgers' appearance.
" I didn't tell a soul... or a robot", X-2 replied.
Dodgers nodded," Good", was all he said.
Cadet came next to him," I-I-I can't believe we're a-actually gonna m-make peace with Mars", he said.
" I feel the same way, Cadet", X-2 said with a sigh," Hopefully nothing bad happens".
Something in Dodgers' head clicked, giving him that uncomfortable feeling of something bad is about to happen. Being a toon, that sense is usually right 99% of the time, making the duck tense as his eyes landed on Tyr'ahnee with the President of the Protectorate standing next to her. However, Dodgers knew it wasn't her that was invoking that feeling... it was what directly underneath the floor where she stood.
" Cadet, what's underneath thisth floor?", Dodgers asked, his eyes never leaving the floor where Tyr'ahnee stood.
" Um... T-The g-g-ga-garage where the ships are k-kept. W-Why are you asking, Cap'n?", Cadet asked.
" I need to get outta here. Meet me outsthide, Cadet", Dodgers said before excusing himself for a 'bathroom break'.
Cadet sent a worried glance in Dodgers' direction. X-2 watched suspiciously as Dodgers left the hall.
" Is he up to something?", X-2 asked.
" I d-dont know. H-He said he wouldn't cause any trouble", Cadet stuttered," I better check on him".
" I'll come too", X-2 said before both and Cadet excused themselves, earning a strange look from Tyr'ahnee and one suspicious-looking Johnson.
When they exited the hall, they already found Dodgers pacing about worriedly. This was what made Cadet and X-2 more uneasy.
" C-Cap'n, is there s-something wrong?", Cadet asked.
" My alarm bell went off. Sthomething or sthomeone isn't supposed to be here", Dodgers muttered.
" Alarm bell?", X-2 questioned.
" I-It's almost like a s-sixth sense. I-I-In C-Cap'n Dodgers' head. I-It's usually right", Cadet explained," Do you think it's in the g-g-garage?".
" Hasth to be. Where elsthe would it be?", Dodgers said pressing the down button of the elevator.
" Perhaps it's nothing. Maybe you're just nervous about the peace treaty", X-2 suggested.
" That'sth a possibility. But let'sth check thisth out firsth", Dodgers said entering the elevator," Coming, Bowling Ball?".
X-2 sighed before he entered the elevator with Cadet. The doors closed before they found themselves descending towards the garage. Dodgers felt heat grow on his painted feathers, making him nervous.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Suddenly, Dodgers was in a coughing fit as a strong familiar smell entered his personal space. His lungs burned and he could feel the ink in his veins boil and his painted feathers felt like goo.
" Dodgers! Dodgers, are you okay?!", X-2 said in wide panic at the duck's sudden fit.
" I'm fine", Dodgers said in a raspy voice that was far too scratchy for his liking," It'sth the sthmell... too sthrong".
Dodgers stood up before he stumbled out of the elevator just as Cadet stopped him falling.
" Cap'n, I think w-we should take you to see s-s-s- a nurse", Cadet said carefully.
" I'm fine Cadet. Really", he said unconvincingly.
Cadet looked at him worriedly before he followed the black duck. X-2 too glanced at Dodgers before reluctantly following to make sure the duck turned out okay and didn't need serious medical attention.
Although X-2 would agree, the smell in the air, it was burning his lungs immensely.
" What is that smell anyway?", X-2 asked.
" J-J-Judging b-by how strong it is a-and the f-fact that I've b-been in hardware stores before... I-I'd say it's... paint thinner?", Cadet said confused.
Dodgers shuddered at the words," Oh mother", he said in a scratchy voice.
He knew what would happen if he were to be in direct contact with paint thinner. Already being in the same enclosed air was weakening his health, especially weakening his lungs as the smell of the chemicals burned and threatened to have him throw up some ink, which he is dangerous for not only himself, but for Cadet and X-2 and everyone else who don't know they are living cartoon characters. He just hoped it wasn't what he thought it was, then he would be in real trouble.
" Fellasth, give me a sthmall headsth up if ya sthee anything stuspiciousth looking", Dodgers said as he took his blaster from his belt.
Had he been with just X-2, he would have brought his old trusty mallet out, but was here was Cadet and he knew nothing about what X-2 saw. He never told Cadet about his past because he didn't have any reason to. Cadet only knew Duck Dodgers, his captain. Well X-2 didn't know everything but he knew more than Cadet did.
Suddenly, something obscured Dodger's vision, which made him reel back in fear. His mind raced. It couldn't have been him, could it? It would explain the strong stench of thinner but what was he doing in the future alive?! He thought Disney had gotten rid of him! So it must not have been him.
" C-c-Cap'n, is something worng? Y-You seem on edge", Cadet asked concerned.
Dodgers didn't answer, instead his eyes were scanning the large area until he saw something that caught his eye. Something gray caught his visionu underneath a ship. He felt cautious but out of curiousity walked towards the ship and bent down to grab the gray thing. After one small tug, Dodgers managed to free the object from underneath to reveal something that utterly made him feel even more sick.
A dirty, worn out old plush toy of Bugs Bunny.
It was priceless. An ancient treasure in Daffy's eyes. No doubt the plush was an heirloom to some child who hadn't been introduced to classics. There was absolutely no Looney Tunes merchandise in stores anymore, and by how worn the toy was, it had obviously been passed down. He wondered...
" Hey fellasth, do you know who thisth isth?", Dodgers asked gesturing to the plush toy.
" Oh! T-T-That's umm... uh... I can't remember. But I have seen him before", Cadet said thoughtfully.
" Hmmm... I can't say I know who he is. Is he an Earth celebrity from your time?", X-2 asked.
" Yeah he is...", Dodgers trailed off when he saw a pair of small acid green eyes watch him before they disappeared.
He clutched the plush, panic rising. There was only one thing on his mind that was to get out.
" We have to get outta here", Dodgers said hurriedly before dragging the Cadet and X-2 back to the elevator.
" W-W-Why C-C-Cap'n, d-did you s-see something?", Cadet asked worriedly.
" We just need to-", Dodgers was cut off by the large hand that now blocked the elevator door.
" HeLlO Duck"
Dodgers gulped as a slobber blotling edged closer to him. He could see the look of terror on Cadet and X-2's faces. The smell of thinner was making him sicker, he'd definitely have to take a few days off after this... that is if he makes it out alive or the thinner slips him into a coma.
" Dodgers, what is that?", X-2 asked fearfully.
" Can't explain. JUST RUN!", Dodgers screamed as the three men ran off as the slobber roared in fury.
More blotlings appeared much to Dodgers' annoyance. He was running much faster than X-2 and Cadet and that was without using toon speed. Because he KNEW what would happen if those things touched him.
' And I doubt they still produce Paint pills in this century', he thought.
Paint pills were the greatest creation the laboratory in ToonTown ever made. After an incident where a human child drank paint after he saw his cartoon idol do it because he was suffering severe eraser rashes at an elementary school, toons had scoured for ways to take in paint in a way that children won't kill themselves. He remembered Marvin was a part of that project and gave the idea of transforming paint into a medicine. Before Daffy left, it had two forms, liquids and pills, the former for home purposes and the latter for far from home emergencies. However, he used the pills more often, the liquid just left a bitter taste in his mouth. But thinner was quite scarce nowadays, and Dodgers noted that Cadet and X-2 seemed to have had a stronger resistance than he did.
However, just because they have stronger resistance, didn't mean they immune.
Dodgers had to grab Cadet as he got too close to the spladooshes, causing it to explode. He shielded Cadet, but as a result, the thinner splashed onto his back. Dodgers bit back the scream that was crying to escape his throat as the thinner seeped through his soot and onto his back.
" Dodgers! The vent!", X-2 yelled, pointing at the vent shaft which was big enough to for all of them to fit through.
They ran into the vent, before the blotlings could hurl themselves at them. But that didn't mean the attacks were over. Slobbers clawed at the vents, narrowly missing the men and tried to reach for them, but their main goal was specifically Dodgers.
" Did you anger another alien race?!", X-2 exclaimed.
" What? No! They're not even alien. Look, I can explain everything", Dodgers said while hurriedly crawling through the vents.
" P-P-Please d-do. Also, what's that b-b-black stuff on your suit?", Cadet said pointing at the stain that was just growing.
Dodgers cursed when he saw the back of his suit. His paint was thinning and running off his back like blood. This was definitely his end.
" Okay, thosthe thingsth are called Blotlingsth. They're a menace but pretty difficult to get rid of. Alstho, you can't touch them or elsthe they'll burn you. Touching them is almost like touching acid or some really dangerousth chemical. I'd suggesth you watch what you touch", Dodgers said before he saw the opening of the vent," Thank Harry Warner", he said before busting the vent out.
" T-That s-s-still d-doesn't explain your b-b-back, C-C-Cap'n", Cadet said.
" We have to evacuate everyone. The treaty can wait. Those blotlingsth will chomp at everyone like a dog to a bone. We have to hurry", Dodgers said, ignoring Cadet.
Cadet frowned, he knew his captain was hiding something from him and he knows it has to do with how weird he had been these past few days as well as that injury. And he planned to find out.
When they got back to the hall, the President and Queen Tyr'ahnee were shaking hands, signaling that the peace treaty had been signed. Cadet rushed over to IQ High in panic.
" W-We n-n-need to evacuate the b-b-b-bui-premises immediately, sir", Cadet said.
" What? Why?", IQ asked. He hoped it had nothing to do with Dodgers.
" C-C-Cap'n Dodgers spotted some c-c-creatures infiltrating the building. H-He s-s-says they're extremely d-d-dangerous", Cadet said.
IQ sighed," Why is Dodgers always involved in everything? Cadet, are you sure what he saw-"
" Dr. IQ, I've seen them with my own eyes. They're monstrous", X-2 said, earning a look of Queen Tyr'ahnee.
" Commander, what is the meaning of this?", Tyr'ahnee inquired.
" I'm afraid, my Queen, we are about to be attacked. Dodgers had sensed something was wrong and we ran into these awful creatures. One of them directly attacked Dodgers", X-2 explained.
" What?!", Tyr'ahnee exclaimed before turning to the duck in question, who was rubbing his back like he had just stretched something he wasn't supposed to stretch," Is this true?!".
Dodgers chuckled nervously," About the creaturesth or my injury", he said.
" Let me see your back", Tyr'ahnee ordered.
" Hey! Back off sheila. I don't need help!", Dodgers said stubbornly," Besidesth, we have to get you and Mr. Presthident outta here before the big guy arrives".
" It's a bit too late for that now, isn't it Dodgers?"
The crowd gasped at the appearance of General Z-9 and Drake Darkstar, who smirked cruelly at Duck Dodgers.
" Z-9! How did you escape prison?!", Tyr'ahnee exclaimed.
" Oh I have my ways", Z-9 said darkly," Oh Dodgers, we hoped you liked our little gift down there. You know it was so hard to find a plush of him, since you know it's been centuries since he's been on television".
Dodgers stepped back in shock," You left that down there", he said clutching the plush in disbelief and held it protectingly against his chest
" It took a lot of digging into history. But then I noticed something interesting in one of the books. Tell me, Duck Dodgers... if that is your real name, are you familiar with the theatrical cartoon called 'Looney Tunes'", Drake said walking over to Dodgers.
Dodgers did a sharp intake of breath. He was in books, there were books on his show. When was he told about this? But the biggest thing that he dreaded was the mere fact that Darkstar and Z-9 possibly knew who he really was. That they knew he was Daffy Duck, a famous movie star that people at Warner Bros. would pay millions in order to retrieve him.
" Yes I'm aware of the Looney Tunesth", Dodgers said carefully.
" And we also assume that you're familiar with one of Looney Tunes' BIGGEST star, Daffy Duck, I presume", Drake said slyly, knowing that Dodgers-no Daffy was breaking on the inside," I've noticed... the two of you look similar, just like us but... you two look exactly the same like... you're the same person. Isn't that right... Daffy".
It was as the world came crashing down on Daffy's shoulders when Drake called him by his real name. He could already hear people's whispers, and see the look of betrayal on Cadet's face.
" You know an old friend came to visit. He gave us the useful tip about thinner and how it slowly kills you... perhaps you know him", Z-9 said as a dark shadow loomed over him.
People screamed at the sight of the King Shadow Blot, who loomed over everyone as a giant. The only person eho looked remotely calm was Daffy, who just stared at the blot forming.
" UgH IT fEELS so HAppY to see YoU agaiN after all THESE YeaRS", The Blot said looming over the duck captain," DaFFY".
End of Chapter 3
-There's an error in last chapter where I said that Dodgers has been in the future for 2 years but has been there since 2012. Dodgers was in the future for approximately six years.
- This story will contain Tyr'ahnee x Daffy later in the story, but I might as well prep up the ship before it sails.
-In story, the last Looney Tunes cartoon was released in 2089, which caused the downfall in their fame to the point where they are forgotten by the 2351. Pretty depressing. And think, this was because Daffy had left.
-2089 was also the last time they sold Looney Tunes toys and merchandise since the gang was falling apart without their duck. Which was why Dodgers assumed the plush was an heirloom.
-Had meant to say this previous chapter: Commander X-2 and Cadet look like Marvin and Porky respectively. With his withering mind, Dodgers would often mistake them for their Looney Tunes counterparts, especially X-2, since he and Marvin share similar temper problems (Cadet for me at least seemed a bit too timid to be Porky, but the young boy had his moments).
I hope you enjoyed thjs chapter and please read and review. See you soon.