Love-15
Authors' Notes: This story is a Collaboration by BrideofBasil, Darkwing5143, and LuckyDuck29, who hope you are enjoying this Ludwig Von Drake and Darkwing Duck story as much as we are enjoying writing it.
As much as we would love to own our favorite feathered friends; Ludwig Von Drake, Darkwing Duck, Negaduck, and other character mentioned
from the Darkwing Duck and/or Ducktales Cartoon Series are the sole property of Disney.
We would like to personally thank all those who have left their complements and reviews. We really appreciate them!! You're all so totally
Awesome!!
-----------------------------------
Chapter 3: Meeting of the Minds
Negaduck became completely infuriated by the maze of boxes he had to wade through and that they fell on top of him. As he fell, he felt a small piece of metal that poked him on his back as he hit the floor. When he was able to get the boxes off of his person and was able to wearily stand, he reached behind him and grabbed the small metal piece. The mallard then walked along the walls and finally found the wooden staircase that led upstairs to the first floor. He grabbed onto the railing and climbed the stairs, then flipped the switch that was located on the stairwell wall.
When the lights were activated and he could see, he closely examined the metal piece that stuck him in the back, and he immediately knew what the object was. He quickly located a hammer that was on top of Ludwig's old wooden workbench. He laughed maniacally.
"Hey Darkwing Dork! Are you so delusional that you actually thought that your stinking bug could stop me!! Yeah, right! What planet are you living on, duck? That's pathetic, even for you!" Negaduck said as he was talking into the mic with emphasis and squeezing his left hand into a tight fist.
"Well, listen to this, you moron! I am now standing in the very basement of that old geezer and there isn't a thing you can do about it! Where are you? Funny, I don't see you here---aww, did you get lost along the way? That senile old teacher probably forgot his own address! But, don't worry, Dripwing; I'll be here waiting for you!"
Negaduck spoke tauntingly as he raised the hammer and smashed the bug.
Thinking that there was only one bug that was planted on his person, Negaduck growled as he put his hand under his snarling beak.
"Gee, I wonder how long it's going to take that idiot crime fighter to find his way to the Professor's house. No doubt, that knob probably is trying to impress that old fossil with his so-called equipment that he got out of a crackerjack box." He then rubbed both of his white feathered hands together and said, "Oh, well, that gives me more time to have a look around."
Negaduck stood up on his webbed feet and reached for a hat box that was near the ceiling and threw it on the floor. He tossed the lid aside and dumped the contents on the floor. He looked at the old, brownish-white loose leaf paper and angrily thumbed through the entire stack of notes.
"Hey, I can't read these blasted papers!! They're in German!!!"
Then Negaduck randomly kicked over another stack of boxes, and grabbed a box, dumped the contents, and read the notes.
"These are in German, too!!"
The aggravated black masked mallard then started to pace on the cluttered concrete floor. He thought about who he could get to translate these documents. Certainly the idiots that made up the Fearsome Five weren't smart enough to read these notes. Then his thoughts suddenly turned
towards Duckburg.
Launchpad smiled as Darkwing asked how Ludwig was at holding his breath. He remembered DW doing this with Gosalyn. Launchpad had
been on another bike at the time and had no idea where they'd gone.
He closed his eyes and held his breath as the bike went into the bay, but he had no trouble hearing Negaduck's ranting when they broke the
surface. Launchpad had kept the ear piece in his ear the whole time. Then he saw Negaduck smash one of the bugs. That was all right because Negaduck apparently didn't have a clue that the one Launchpad had planted in the sweat band of his fedora a year ago was still intact and fully operational. He had planted the tiny electronic device in the red fedora as it flew off the mallard menace's head when DW had kicked him.
Launchpad was surprised that Negaduck hadn't found the bug by now.
Darkwing had planted the bug Negaduck had just destroyed when the Professor was keeping him occupied with the chocolates being thrown
in his devious double's face. The bug was so small that Negaduck would never know it was there. There was also the bug Launchpad had
planted in the Troublemaker just before Negaduck had left for City Hall, while Darkwing and Ludwig were still inside the university building.
There was no chance of missing anything the caped criminal was planning.
Launchpad grinned; he was eager to play the tapes for Darkwing and see DW's reactions to Negaduck's taunting. As usual, Darkwing was
one step ahead of his dastardly doppelganger.
Using the remote control that was located on the handlebars of the motorcycle, Darkwing activated the underwater elevator shaft and when
the bike entered, the soaked trio were lifted up within the old masonry walls of the bridge tower. The mallard looked at Launchpad and Ludwig
and chuckled as he observed water pouring out of the Professor's satchel. When the elevator's platform was level with the floor of the hideout, Darkwing addressed Ludwig.
"Well, this is it!" the mallard said excitedly as he stuck his hand out, displaying some expensive equipment. "Within these walls lies some of
the finest crime fighting equipment in the world," Darkwing said, trying to impress the Professor and put his open hand on his chest. "It's all
the latest in crime-fighting technology. I have everything a champion needs to catch those nefarious forces of evil!"
Ludwig, who was turning blue from holding his breath by now, suddenly realized they were on dry land. He spluttered and gasped as his old
lungs took in some welcome gulps of air.
"Ach, Himmel!" he said at last, still trying to get his breath. "Vat a kooky rrride DAT vas!"
He looked down with dismay at the water dripping out of his satchel.
"Mine papers! I hope da ink on 'em didn't shmear!!!" He frowned. "It's a good t'ing I put da formulas in der glass bottles, an' mine zofty-vare in
a plastiks box dere!"
He stared around at Darkwing's quarters.
"Ach, nice eqvipments you gots dere, Mister Darkving!" he said excitedly, then he went up to a computer console under a screen. "I vonder
vat zome of dese liddle buttons vill do?" he asked, as he started to touch a green button.
As Darkwing was wringing his cape dry, he turned to observe the Professor about to press a button on the console of his laser equipment that
he used to divide objects in half that were found at crime scenes in order to have a better look at what mysteries may be locked inside.
"Professor, don't touch that! The last time Gosalyn touched that, she fried my tail feathers!"
Darkwing spoke in a panic because he didn't want to see his guest get hurt.
Ludwig jumped a bit when Darkwing yelped at him, but otherwise he was quite unperturbed.
"Not to vorry, Mister Darkvings!" he replied with a jovial laugh. "Ve don't vant your tailfedders
fried no more!"
Launchpad laughed when he heard Negaduck ranting about Von Drake's notes being in German.
"He can't read your notes, Professor; pretty clever of yah to write them in German. But he's gonna
want someone to read them for him. Any ideas who might be able to around here?"
Darkwing looked over to Launchpad.
"Wow, you mean all the notes are actually written in German! Ludwig, you are a genius! Did ya hear this? Negaduck can't read your notes
because they are in German!"
"Ach, da notes?" Ludwig asked, adjusting his spectacles. "I am most alvays writin' dem in German. I t'ink best in mine natives languages!
An' of course I am a genius!"
Darkwing then cupped his lower bill and said, "Well, this does give us time, as Negaduck will try to first find someone who will be able to
translate the notes, so no doubt he and his cohorts can manufacture Ludwig's formula." Darkwing then turned to Launchpad and inquired,
"Since you came from Duckburg, who do you know that would be able to translate German and who would be evil enough to team up with
the Mallard Menace?"
Ludwig listened intently, wondering what his old stomping-grounds of Duckburg might have to do with Negaduck's need of a translator.
Little did the professor know that a certain determined lady---if lady she was---had left her hideout in Mt. Vesuvius and was looking to
make more trouble for Scrooge and his fellow Duckburgians…
Launchpad put his hands behind his back and thought for a minute, then looked at Darkwing.
"There's one person who might know. Magica De Spell is a sorceress in Duckburg. Actually, she lives mostly in Italy , but she's got a
rickety old three-story in Duckburg. She's always trying to get Mr. McD's Number One dime for an amulet she says will give her the
power to rule the world. If she gets the professor's formula, I'd hate to think what she could do with it."
Darkwing turned and faced Launchpad and inquired, "LP, I have never been to Duckburg, and although I am aware that old Scroogie
does have enemies, usually that egotistical, spot-light stealing, glory seeker of a rolling junk heap takes care of the old duck's security."
The masked mallard spoke with scorn for Duckburg's highly praised and decorated hero, Gizmoduck.
"Why can't the press ever write GOOD things about me? Why is it that when ever I make a HIGH profile arrest, there is no one
around?"
Darkwing looked at the Professor.
"Do you know how many hours it takes me to iron this cape?"
Then he turned back to Launchpad.
"But if I make ONE LOUSY MISTAKE, you can bet your tail feathers that the media, as well as Saint Canard's SO-CALLED FINEST will,
without any shadow of a doubt, be there just to make me look bad!"
Darkwing's usually white feathered face was now red with anger.
"I mean, those lousy cops just can't wait for an excuse to throw me behind bars, and the media is only too happy to portray me as a hood
instead of a hero!"
Darkwing's mood suddenly changed from anger to despair as he put his hand on his face and shook his head.
"I could save the President's life from eminent danger or save the world from Gosalyn's Mutant Space Aliens, and I wouldn't even get as
much as a pat on the back. But the Almighty Gizmoduck walks an old lady across the street, and he gets all kinds of rewards and recognition.
What's he got that I ain't got, huh?"
After a few moments of silence and stares, Darkwing asked Ludwig, "Aren't you originally from Duckburg?" The mallard then turned to the
both of them and asked, "I don't know anything about this Magica D'Spell. You two will have to fill me in. What kind of a duck is she? Is
she a witch like Morgana only evil? What special powers does she have? I want no surprises. Also, how will Negaduck get in contact with
her?"
During all this, Ludwig stood staring and blinking as he listened to Darkwing's tirade. And he'd
thought his nephew Donald had issues…
"Ach, Mister Darkvings, vat a lil' temper tizzy!" he declared, shaking his head. "Da Professor had no idea you vas havin' da self-esteem
proba-lem! An' vy does Saint Canards not respect you? You iss one-a da bravest an' smartest duckies I know! Vell, not smart as Da
Professor," he added quickly, "but not too bad!
"In answers to your question, Mister Darkving," Ludwig continued, "I came ta Duckburgs ta live, yes---years ago. A vhile back, I vas takin'
leave from mine teachin' at da University dere, but I heard dat Saint Canard University could be usin' some help, an' dey gots a nice laboratory
b'sides. As for Magica Da Spell, the professor explained, he had only heard of her from Scrooge's constant complaints about her trying to
steal his Number One Dime. "I haf never met da lady," he confessed. "An' I iss not so sure dat I vant to! In da meantime, Mister Darkving,"
he suggested kindly, "does you know Da Professor iss also highly skilled in psychology? Make an appointa-ment after all dis iss over,
an' ve talk about your problem wit' da publics, an' dat Gizmoduck guy dere!"
Launchpad waited patiently, facing Ludwig and Darkwing with his hands behind his back, for Darkwing to finish his rant on Gizmoduck,
then for the professor to give his opinions. He'd been waiting for the chance to voice his thoughts to Darkwing on Gizmoduck. They were
both his friends and their rivalry made him feel very uncomfortable at times.
"I've been thinking about you and Gizmoduck," he said when the professor finished. "You freelance, except when you work for SHUSH,
and since SHUSH is a secret organization yah can't tell anyone about it. Gizmoduck works for the richest duck in the world, and since
Mr. McD's a public figure, Gizmoduck gets more recognition and more people see what he does and how he does it. It doesn't help
much that you have an evil double either. I mean, for a while there, when you were hit with that ray that turned yah into whatever yah
looked at, Negaduck had people thinking you were committing his crimes."
Then he put his hand on Darkwing's shoulder and spoke gently.
"But not everyone thinks you're a hood. You wanted Master Lee's approval most of all and you've got that now. There are a few cops
who know you're a hero. As for the media, well, reporters are not always honest. They wanna sell news, not print the truth. A lot of
reporters will make yah look bad just because it'll make their stories more popular. Papers need sales and TV needs ratings."
He smiled and patted Darkwing's shoulder. His tone became both confident and affectionate.
"But you'll show everyone! One of these days we're gonna get a really big case and you're gonna make it impossible for anyone to
make you look like the clown they want yah to be! You're a real hero and I'm gonna help you prove it!"
Darkwing nodded and looked at the grey concrete-tiled floor of the tower, and realized what his faithful sidekick was saying about
Gizmoduck was true. Working for the world's richest duck certainly aided the rolling ham mounted on a single wheel in getting him
all the free and positive publicity from the media, and the depressed mallard envied how the public loved and adored him.
"Thank You, Launchpad."
Darkwing looked up as Launchpad touched his shoulder and then started to pace.
"Well, for one thing, I would never, EVER want to work for that miserable, money-hording, mind controlling duck. I work for no one
but myself, while that glory seeker is taking orders directly from his boss telling him exactly what to do and holding his hand while
he supposedly fights crime!"
Launchpad didn't correct Darkwing about Scrooge. As much as he loved and respected Mr. McD, he had earned the reputation of
being a bossy miser.
"I, on the other hand," Darkwing continued, "take orders from no one! And you said so yourself, Launchpad!" Darkwing said with
much enthusiasm and vigor, "take away that suit of his, and you have nothing but a naked duck with goose bumps!"
Launchpad fought back a laugh as he pictured Fenton Crackshell shivering outside Mr. McD's money bin without his suit. Fortunately
for Launchpad, he knew how Fenton dressed. He wore a yellow button down shirt with a collar, solid red tie, green business vest and
blue sports jacket. So he didn't have to picture him naked. That was one image Launchpad could happily live the rest of his life without
seeing.
He didn't respond out loud because DW didn't know Gizmoduck was really Fenton Crackshell. Launchpad would never tell him who
Gizmoduck really was, or even that he knew, for the same reason he would never tell Gizmoduck/Fenton that Darkwing Duck was really
Drake Mallard. He knew how important it was to keep their identities a secret; he didn't want to put them, or the ones they loved, in
danger. Besides, if he told DW who Gizmoduck really was, how could DW be sure he could trust Launchpad not to tell anyone he was
Drake?
Launchpad wasn't even sure Fenton knew he knew the truth, and he was almost positive Mr. McD didn't know. Most people didn't think
Launchpad was as smart as he was, but Mr. McD had accidentally called Gizmoduck "Fenton" right in front of him when they'd been on
that planet with the robots that wanted to melt them down for useable substances and melt Mr. McD's money down for robot parts.
Launchpad had known Gizmoduck's true identity almost from the beginning, but unless and until Drake and Fenton decided to reveal
themselves to each other, Launchpad would take both their secrets to the grave.
Darkwing continued talking in his usual loud, ego-building voice.
"I, on the other hand, rely on my superior intellect, my fists and my webbed feet. I fight crime without the aide of any fancy suit! That's
why SHUSH chose me, Darkwing Duck, to solve cases even their own best agents can't figure out, even with all their years of so-called
college education. Besides, Launchpad, I don't need anyone's approval, and at least I have a lot of great help along the way from my
best friend."
The hero then returned the pat on Launchpad's shoulder and smiled at his loyal sidekick.
Launchpad paused as he smiled proudly back at his boss, trying to think how to describe Magica.
"Like Morgana?" he asked thoughtfully, then shook his head. "No, Magica's more evil than Morgana ever was! She wants Mr. McD's
dime and yah wouldn't believe some of the things she's done to try to get it! One time she even kidnapped the boys! She once had a
rain cloud follow Mr. McD and everyone around him that made their worst fears come true. I wasn't there for that one, but the boys
told me. She sent Mr. McD forty years into the future once and tried to trap him there. He was stuck in a future where she took his
dime and the rest of his fortune and everyone worked for her, even Webby and the boys. She had a magic mirror once and tricked
Mr. McD into protecting it for her. She said it predicted the future, only she made the futures he saw happen. She was trying to
convince him that if he didn't give her the dime something terrible would happen. 'the time I remember most is when she cast a
spell to bring her shadow to life. It was gonna grab the shadow of the dime and bring the real one back to Magica. She lost control
of that one though. The shadow locked her in a closet and cast a spell of its own to make all the shadows in Duckburg come alive
and try to take over. She wants that dime and she'll do whatever it takes to get it. I don't know if she knows any German, but if she
does, and if Negaduck can get her to read the professor's notes, she could spray Mr. McD with the formula and make him give her
the dime. If she creates that amulet no one will be able to stop her!"
Darkwing looked at Launchpad with sheer horror on his face as he listened to the evil deeds that Magica was capable of.
"Wow, Launchpad! She actually was able to create a rain cloud that was able to instill thoughts of fear and panic into their heads!
And she actually sent Scrooge McDuck into the future!"
"It was more than just thoughts, DW. Their fears literally came true. Images of the boys came to Mr. McD and told him they didn't
love him and only stayed with him for his money. An image of him came to the boys and told them he never wanted them and to get
out of his sight forever. She could have wrecked their family if they hadn't talked about it and realized there was something wrong.
That was when they realized it was the cloud and Mr. McD figured out that it was Magica."
"And where is the boy scout of crime fighters when Magica comes to town?"
"Now that I think of it, I don't remember if she's tried anything since he started working for Mr. McD. Everything I just told yah about
what happened before he came to Duckburg."
Launchpad was very thirsty now. He couldn't remember the last time he'd talked so much, if he ever had. He went to the refrigerator for
a Koo-Koo cola. He remembered that the professor was hungry and found the left over apple pie that Binky Muddlefoot had baked the
day before. He took it out and cut two big slices.
"Do you want some, too, DW?"
He brought Ludwig his pie and soda, then went back to the counter.
Ludwig grinned happily. "T'ank you! I loves pie!"
Darkwing looked at the ceiling and put his hands on his hips as Launchpad opened the refrigerator door.
"Gosh, I guess I can be thankful that the worst Morgana has ever done to me was fry my tail feathers after I stuck my foot in my beak!
Magica really sounds dangerous, even more dangerous than Negaduck. Thank God he doesn't have any special magical powers!"
The hero then put his index finger to his beak and continued.
"But once Negaduck and Magica team up, there may be no stopping them, especially once they get their grubby feathered hands on
that formula! We have to think of a plan to prevent Magica and Negaduck from ever being able to get their hands on Ludwig's notes
so they can manufacture the potion. I just hope that the Professor has all of his notes and samples of that potion here with him, and
not in the basement of his house where no doubt Negaduck has already stolen one of the boxes to take to Magica."
Then Launchpad's question registered.
"Pie does sound good, Launchpad; I'll certainly take a piece. Sometimes a good piece of pie helps me think."
Darkwing Duck could never resist apple pie that was made by Binky, his annoying next-door neighbor. "She may be a definite pain in
the tail feathers," Darkwing thought, "but she is one fabulous baker!"
As the professor ate his own pie, he looked around the Tower, fascinated by its gadgetry and overall set-up. Suddenly, he caught sight
of an old photograph tacked up on the wall. The photo showed Launchpad with his aviator family standing next to some biplanes, and
Ludwig smiled warmly as he remembered his own long-gone days as a pilot.
"Dot's right, you are a pilot, Mister Launchpad," he declared. "R'mind Da Professor, ven ve haf more time, ta tell ya about ven I vas a
Flying Ace back durin' da Great Var!"
Launchpad smiled up at the photo, remembering the day it had been taken. It had been just after his family had helped him and Scrooge
defeat Bomber and the other Beagle Boys when the Flying McQuacks had flown into Duckburg for the air show. Launchpad had been
on cloud nine after learning that his family had always been proud of him, and their pride was genuine. His successful performance of
the Triple Decker Treetop Beebop Tuck and Roll, a very dangerous stunt that had wrecked the Joy Rider before, was the icing on the
cake. Webby had been honored to take the picture.
He looked back at Ludwig.
"I'd be glad to hear your pilot stories. Maybe you've met my family, the Flying McQuacks?"
The mallard observed Ludwig looking at Launchpad's portrait of himself standing next to his father, Ripcord immediately to his left, and
Birdie, his mother and Loopy his sister standing to Launchpad's right that was proudly hanging on the wall. He looked at Launchpad
and couldn't help but feel jealous that he grew up in a very loving home with a family that encouraged and helped him to become a pilot,
and backed him up every step along the way.
Darkwing, on the other hand, really never knew his parents, or much of his background for that matter. The hero looked down at the floor
and adjusted his fedora to hide his sad feathered face as he got depressed and thought about his rough childhood.
He was placed in an orphanage at a very young age, and never knew the circumstances that brought him to that dungeon. Drake Mallard
really never knew what it was like to be loved by anyone, until he met Gos and Launchpad. In fact, for the young boy it was quite the
opposite. Darkwing was still haunted by the nightmares of the continuous beatings he had to endure, both by the staff of the orphanage,
and by the older boys and girls. To this very day, the hero still carried the scars of his childhood from the daily mental and physical abuse
that no little six year old duckling should ever have to endure.
Meanwhile, the professor---who was inclined to bounce conversations back and forth---was mulling over what Launchpad had said to
Darkwing earlier.
"Mister Launchpad is right, Mister Darkving," he told the purple-caped drake. "As far as I iss concerned, you are very MUCH a hero!
After all, many of da great men in history vas laffed at, at first!"
Ludwig's voice broke Darkwing's flashback and he looked up at the Professor and responded in a very soft voice, "Thank you, Professor!
I really appreciate the fact that you and Launchpad think I am a hero." Then a smile came back across his beak and he adjusted his fedora
so he could look at the happy Professor, who remembered the days of his piloting airplanes during World War I.
"If what you and Launchpad are saying is true about Magica's evil powers, then we best get busy and find out all we can about Magica
and her powers, so that we can devise a plan to stop her. Certainly Negaduck and she will no doubt team up so they can both get what
they want. Magica will use the formula to obtain Scrooge McDuck's number one dime and Negaduck will definitely use that formula
against the citizens of Saint Canard. Together, they will certainly try to take over the world. Let's go to the computer platform!"
Launchpad was occupied with getting Darkwing's pie and didn't see his face when Launchpad and Ludwig started talking about the photo,
but he sensed that something had changed. He was very sensitive to the moods of others, especially the people he knew well, and Darkwing
was getting depressed. DW never talked about his childhood and Launchpad could sense without being told that it was painful for him, so
he never pried. Darkwing would tell him when and if he was ready.
But DW was smiling again, looking at the professor, when Launchpad handed him his pie. Launchpad's eyes went to another photograph
hanging on the wall opposite the one with the photo of his family. It was a copy of one they had in their house. It was taken by one of
Gosalyn's friends at the orphanage the day Drake had adopted her, just after the papers had been signed and they were about to leave.
Drake and Gosalyn had their arms around each other and Launchpad stood behind them with one hand on Gosalyn's head and the other
on Drake's shoulder. They were all beaming.
He looked from the photo into Darkwing's eyes and smiled, trying to tell him with his own eyes that he had a family now and that he wasn't
alone anymore. He didn't want to say anything out loud in front of Ludwig. Launchpad and Gosalyn couldn't change whatever had happened
to Drake/Darkwing in the past, but they could help change his future for the better.
As for the professor, he had listened intently, and with horror, as Launchpad described Magica's diabolical exploits in her quest for Scrooge's
fortune.
"Dose stories about dat Miss Magica…not good!" he declared, shaking his head anxiously. " If she can cause so many troubles wit'---
whateffer she's got, I hate to t'ink vat she could do vit mine formula!" He shuddered as he considered the possibilities. Despite what
Darkwing had promised, Ludwig couldn't help but continue worrying as he considered all that Launchpad had said.
That his very formula might cause a crime wave to hit Saint Canard was surely awful enough. But now, because of LOVE-15, it was possible
that Scrooge, his own brother-in-law, might lose his entire fortune and the city Ludwig had called home---even the world itself---might be
turned completely upside down.
He set down what remained of his pie, his appetite suddenly gone, and his voice quavered a little as he continued:
"Mister Darkvings, an' Mister Launchpad? I made LOVE-15 only ta help people. But now, in da wrong hands, it can only HURT people!
Ve got ta stop dis from happenin'! I am t'inking…if we get mine formula avay from dat bad Negaduck? I t'ink I shall destroy it.."
Launchpad felt a rush of sympathy when Ludwig said he thought he should destroy the formula and why. He patted the professor's
back, being careful not to hurt him. Unlike Negaduck, Launchpad cared about Ludwig's old bones.
"Professor Von Drake," he said gently, "everything can be used for good or evil; it depends on who uses it. I mean, look at Mr. McD's
lucky dime. Mr. McD's been able to do a lot of good with it, but Magica will use it for evil if she gets it. Your formula can help people,
and when we get it back from Negaduck, SHUSH can keep it safe for yah. Right, DW?"
He turned to Darkwing and waited for his response. Darkwing nodded, but was too preoccupied with operating the computer to answer
verbally.
Ludwig felt better after what Launchpad had said. He liked this kind pilot, who in some small way reminded the Professor of himself in
his younger days.
As he watched Darkwing and Launchpad in front of the computer, for some moments he sat quietly---a thing unusual for him, since he
was known for being a chatterbox. Yet while he had been observing the two friends and absorbing their conversation, his brain had
been as busy as ever.
He hadn't seen the sad look on Darkwing's face earlier, but the Professor was not too occupied with his own troubles to sense an
emotional tension in the air. That Darkwing had self-esteem issues (especially with Gizmoduck), was all too obvious, but years of
psychological studies had taught Ludwig that such issues usually went deeper than mere envy or self-importance. Too often those
problems stemmed from unhappy childhoods, broken relationships, failed careers---or abuse. He wondered now: could that mask
on Darkwing's face be more than just a piece of cloth? Was it perhaps an emotional mask as well, hiding not just the eyes but the
soul?
Meanwhile, back to the formula. Unfortunately, Von Drake was as absent-minded as he was intelligent. Now, recalling what Darkwing
had said: "I just hope that the Professor has all of his notes and samples of that potion here with him, and not in the basement of his
house", Ludwig gulped as he suddenly remembered something else.
Looking both anxious and embarrassed, he waddled over to Darkwing and Launchpad, his hat clenched tightly in his hands.
"Mister Darkvings...Launchpad? I hate ta be da bringer of bad news…but mine lab is in mine basements, ya see. So, I t'ink I had da
formula written down on some of da papers in dere. An' maybe," he continued, clearing his throat and tugging at his collar, "a few
teensy liddle samples…?"
Before Negaduck left Ludwig's basement through the window from which he came, he grabbed a box filled with notes and placed them
behind the bush. Then he thought to himself that he just couldn't leave without leaving his mark. "Now," he thought happily, "it's time
for some mindless destruction, so he whipped out the chainsaw and sawed the wooden cellar staircase in half. "When that dippy do-gooder
rushes down these stairs," he thought, "that knob will surely break that fat oversized beak of his as he lands flat on his face on the hard
concrete!"
After the dirty deed was done, he climbed out of the window, grabbed the box and headed for the Troublemaker.
Negaduck pressed the red button located on the frame of the bike, which opened the lid to the secret compartment that was located directly
behind the menacing mallard's seat. He put that compartment there to fully conceal and store any weapons that he felt that he needed to
commit his cold, calculating crimes against the innocent citizenry of Saint Canard. The compartment was large enough even to conceal his
ferocious Rotweiler dogs that were used to destroy the teddy bears of The Calisota Teddy Bear Company a few years ago.
After the black masked mallard put the box in the compartment, he looked around at the peaceful neighborhood and thought to himself,
"What deviltry can I get myself into. I just can't say 'Good Bye' without leaving a nice parting gift for my friends from Lord Negaduck!"
The duck first observed that the mail box on the corner of Mandarin Way and Pintail Drive was being quite active. Then it hit the intelligent
mallard like a ton of Ludwig's hat boxes, "Ahhh, man this is perfect!" Negaduck maniacally smiled and rubbed his feathered palms together.
"Today is April 14, and these knobs are probably mailing their precious tax returns to the corrupt State of Calisota and to the feds to get
their refund that they think they are going to get. Well, not if Negaduck has anything to say about it! And, I do!!"
Negaduck reached for a bomb that he conveniently kept in the bike's compartment and bit the end of the fuse, and just waited for his
opportunity. He leaned up against the powerful bike with his arm resting on the black leather seat. Negaduck took great pride in his
customized Harley Davidson chopper motorcycle bike that he crafted by himself. The front of the bike was graced with a fiberglass
covering that was painted purple and black and was shaped like an evil duck's face and bill that came complete with razor-sharp
fangs for teeth. Behind the seat and compartment were the two vertical chrome bars that supported an actual duck's skull with two
femur bones that formed an "X" behind the skull. When he saw the line had finally ended, he walked over to the mail box, lit the fuse
and dropped the black bomb inside. He then ran back to the bike, started it up and quickly raced up the street and turned around.
Negaduck evilly laughed as he heard the box explode into a million pieces. He saw that papers were now scattered on the once clean
streets, and was thoroughly satisfied that many windows on the houses were shattered, as well as a few cars.
After the vandal admired his handiwork, he said, "Wow, Now That's Delivering For Me!"
The mallard quickly got the bike in gear and sped back to the main road towards the Audubon Bay Bridge to cross over into Duckburg.