Chapter 9
The Scroogerama Dome was shaped like a giant top hat and tastefully decorated with posters advertising its shows and various actors.
Gosalyn practically drooled when she saw a poster depicting a mud-covered cast member called the Thing. Drake rolled his eyes, but Gosalyn grabbed him by the arm and hauled him inside, quickly finding their seats. Scrooge had upgraded them to the third row and they had an excellent view of the stage.
Soon, the curtain lifted, the auditorium darkened, and kooky, creepy music started playing.
Wolfduck stepped on stage in his threadbare trench coat and fedora and invited the audience to have "a howling good time."
Gosalyn leaned over to Drake to whisper all the trivia she knew about Wolfduck. She stopped a second later when the unassuming duck transformed before their eyes into a werewolf.
"Keen gear! This is way better than the movies!" she exclaimed.
Drake just sank into his seat. Why did the werewolf have to be first? He remembered all too well the time he'd spent as a wolf duck. His foot started moving toward an itch on his side and he felt imaginary fleas all over him. It was all Drake could do to sit still in his seat.
The various creatures from "Monsters Unanimous" formed a creepy chorus line and sang and danced to the music. Gosalyn pointed out each monster and mutant, earning annoyed looks from the people seated around her. Drake grinned nervously and asked Gos to keep her voice down.
As the show drew to a close, Wolfduck told the crowd they would get a chance to meet their favorite cast members in the lobby and reminded them to pick up souvenirs at the gift shop.
Gosalyn charged to the head of the line and went straight to the Thing, peppering him with questions about the goo he was covered in.
"How do you keep that stuff from drying out? Do you have bottled mud with you to reapply or do you just spritz it with water? And while we're on the subject of water, does it have to be a certain type of swamp water, or can it be any water, like say from a mountain stream or a natural spring?"
Before the Thing could answer, she went on.
"Do you eat fish or snails and frogs and such, or are you more of a grass and leaf eater?"
"Gosalyn..." Drake hissed in her ear. "You're overstepping the boundaries between curiosity and obsession. Remember, this is a man in a..." he grimaced as he took in the strange, dripping creature before him. "A realistic, slightly malodorous costume made of...mud..."
"Come on, Dad, give me a break. I can tell a real monster from a phony any day," she brushed him off.
"P...p...pardon me for...i...i...interrupting, Sir..." Wolfduck said in a hoarse halting stutter. He was in the form of an unkempt duck. "I couldn't help but n...n...notice how intrigued the young lady is with our c...c...company. P...p...perhaps you'd both like a t...t...tour backstage?" he produced a couple of tickets to validate his claim.
"Oh can we?" Gosalyn swung around to Drake with an eager smile.
Drake smiled and ruffled her hair. "Why not?"
"Yippeee!" Gosalyn jumped up in the air with her fists raised. She snatched the ticket from the obliging monster's hand and scooted off toward the security entrance.
Drake and Wolfduck just barely managed to keep her in sight.
The duckling got to meet the whole company up close and personal. She pelted each one with questions and barely listened to the answers before moving on to something else that caught her interest. She also mentioned that her dad's girlfriend was a real live witch from Swannsylvania.
This earned Drake some interested stares. He hurried to reel in his child by offering to buy her a souvenir. Fifty bucks later, they stepped outside with their purchases, plus a complimentary hat and soundtrack thrown in by the monsters after hearing it was Gosalyn's birthday.
Drake loaded the bags in the car and they stopped at a restaurant for dinner. As they ate, Gosalyn regaled Drake with all the stuff she'd learned and recounted her favorite parts from the show. She finally ran out of words long enough to finish her meal before asking about dessert.
"What?" Drake started. "How can you think of eating after polishing off a plate here, plus popcorn and candy from the theater, (not to mention cake and ice cream) all within four hours after lunch?"
"Hey, I'm a growing kid," Gosalyn smirked, patting her stomach.
Drake sighed and was about to summon the waiter when his cell started vibrating. He fumbled to answer and frowned in surprise at the number.
"Hello?" he asked.
"Drake! Please tell me you've got a spare suit with ya...!" Scrooge's voice was loud enough for Gosalyn to hear him.
"A spare suit...?" Drake asked blankly.
On the other end of the conversation, Scrooge did a face-palm. He forced himself to calm down and lowered his voice a bit.
"Aye. There's been a disaster! Giz'maduck is out of sorts and I need you to get to me bin immediately! I have an important job for you!"
Drake brightened.
"'Disaster's' my middle name! 'Be there in two shakes!"
Hanging up, Drake signaled for the check.
"Keeeen gear! Now we're gonna see some real action!" Gosalyn swiped her fist through the air.
Drake gritted his teeth and turned back to face her.
"Look, Gos, something has happened to Giz. I need to get to the bin to take his place for the night. And you don't want to sit with me all night long and be bored out of your mind, do ya?" Without giving her a chance to reply, he raised his hands in an exclamation. "Of course not! So, while I'm skulking the shadows for the slightest hint of heinous unrest, you will be spending the night in one of the guest rooms. You've got your overnight bag and your new comic books and McDuck's...um, servant..." Drake said the word distastefully as he finished paying for their meal and walked out to the car. "...To see to your every whim. You'll be fine. And Launchpad will be back (sometime) soon to take you home."
"But why can't I go with you? It's not like you're going to be facing off a horde of super villains. It's just the Beagle Boys here, and you and I can take them in our sleep!" Gosalyn punched her fist for emphasis.
"You're going to the mansion and that's final! (Boy, never thought I'd say 'mansion' in a sentence like that...)" Drake muttered to himself as he thought about what he'd just said.
"Hmmph. Since when did 'mansion' become synonymous with 'prison'?" Gosalyn grumbled as she climbed into the car.
They arrived at the mansion fifteen minutes later. Donald and the triplets greeted Gosalyn warmly and Duckworth took her bags inside. Scrooge shook Drake's hand and spoke at a volume meant for his nephews' ears.
"I assure you, Mr. Mallard, we will look after Gosalyn like she's part of our family...which she practically is already!" he added with a smile and furtive glance over his shoulder. He sighed. "I'm just sorry you were called away on business. And on today of all days..."
"Yeah," Drake agreed with a convincing amount of regret in his tone. "I made sure to specify I was not to be disturbed on my daughter's birthday and wouldn't you know it, right as we're finishing dinner one of our companies undergoes a network melt down. And of course they just have to have my expertise to assist them." He sighed and glanced at the house, seeing five heads craned his way.
Donald and the triplets pretended to be busy and wandered back into the den.
Gosalyn hesitated. She looked like she wanted to hug Drake. He lifted his head higher, trying to tell her it was alright to come over. She frowned and walked away, her head and shoulders stooped, which meant either she was really disappointed or she was trying to make him feel sorry for her. Either way, it got the point across.
Drake's shoulders slouched. He hated it when she gave him that look. Especially since all she had wanted was to stay by his side and help him. He'd let her down. He sighed wearily.
"Are ye alright, Lad...?"
Drake started. He'd forgotten McDuck was still there, watching his every move. He straightened and tugged on his vest.
"Yep, yep, yep...Nothing Darkwing Duck can't handle..." he said proudly, but some of his usual bravado was lacking and Scrooge noticed.
"I know," he said, lowering his pitch and volume in a fatherly tone. "It's hard ta' juggle responsibilities. It takes a special person to be both a father and a hero. Add to that the well-being of an entire city, and you've got a job fit for an army. I admire ye, Laddie, but I don't envy ye..."
Drake beamed proudly and stood tall. With a pep talk like that, he could face anything that came his way. "Thanks, Mr. McDuck. I won't let you down!" He stepped confidently toward his vehicle.
"That's the spirit Lad...!" Scrooge smiled, clapping him lightly on the shoulder as Drake opened the car door.
Drake grinned and hopped into his station wagon, driving off.
Scrooge went back inside, passing Gosalyn in the hall. He patted her head.
"Don't be sore at him, Lass..." he muttered softly. "He's only looking out for both of yer best interests..."
"Oh, I'm not mad, I'm..." Gosalyn paused and stared at Scrooge's back.
He glanced over his shoulder and winked at her, smiling lopsidedly before yawning and heading into the den where his nephews had congregated.
Gosalyn considered the implications of that strange smile. Scrooge had basically made up that cover story for her dad on his own... Why would he do that, unless...
Suddenly it made sense. The invitation to the manor. The party. The presents. The tickets. Scrooge' and Drake's disappearance earlier that afternoon. The cover story - Scrooge McDuck knew her dad's identity!
A lump formed in her throat. Scrooge was one more person who could be used against her family should he be kidnapped and questioned by a villain. His knowledge could jeopardize her dad's safety! Still... She was kind of glad that he knew. It was hard keeping such an awesome secret from everyone. It would be nice to have another adult to talk to.
Something else occurred to her. Her dad had mentioned Scrooge in his final letter to her. He'd said Scrooge had offered to help her should something awful happen. More importantly, her dad trusted Scrooge with her wellbeing...Well, if Darkwing Duck trusted Scrooge McDuck, she could trust him, too.
She leaned on the couch to see what the boys were watching. It was a special on Africa she'd seen a million times already. She sighed wearily.
Scrooge glanced at her from his chair.
"I forgot to ask yer father...what time do ye usually go to bed? The boys have a ten o'clock curfew..."
"Ten is fine..." Gosalyn muttered. She wasn't about to admit that she was sent to bed at eight almost every night, or that Drake always tried to be there to tuck her in. She briefly wondered if that routine was going to change now that she was almost a teenager.
"Hey Duckworth!" Huey called from the couch. "Could I have a scoop of some chocolate ice cream?"
"I hardly think ice cream is an appropriate snack after all the other 'goodies' you've had today, Master Huey..." Duckworth smiled.
"Aw, come on! Dinner was like, an hour ago! I'm still a growing guy!"
"Us too," Dewey piped, exchanging a grin with Louie. "Louis and I would like to join our dear brother in partaking from the freezer."
Duckworth's smile broadened. "Very well, Master Dewey. I shall consult your uncle..."
"Uh, which one...?" Louie asked with a frown, glancing over at Scrooge's chair. To all the kids' surprise, including Gosalyn, he wasn't there. He had left the room at some point during the conversation.
"Both of them..." Duckworth replied with a smug smile.
Leaving the boys to their nervous fidgeting, Duckworth turned to Gosalyn and quietly asked her what she would like.
She chuckled. Her dad would blow a gasket if she had ice cream twice in one day, on top of cake, popcorn, candy, and other goodies.
"I think I'll pass for now," she said good-naturedly.
As much as she would have liked to go on a sugar binge, she wasn't really in the mood for it. Besides, every time she had too much sugar, after the rush she would end up falling asleep somewhere around the house and Drake or Launchpad had to carry her to bed. She didn't want that to happen here. She may be a kid, but she still had her dignity.
Duckworth returned shortly from the kitchen.
"I'm terribly sorry to disappoint you, boys, but I'm afraid there were only two scoops of ice cream left. I divided what was left into three equal portions."
"Awwww...!" Louie and Huey groaned.
"Thanks for checking, Duckworth," Dewey said politely, though he couldn't quite disguise his disappointment.
"I know," Louie got up. "I'll ask Uncle D to pick up some."
"Ha ha! Good luck with that, Bro," Huey chuckled, turning his attention back to the TV.
Louie scowled but didn't comment. Gosalyn caught his eye and he shrugged. He didn't care if she joined him.
They followed the sound of voices to the study, finding both uncles in conversation.
"Poor Giz'maduck... The formula won't wear off until forty hours have passed since his last dose... Then he'll be out of sorts for a whole day..." Scrooge shook his head woefully.
"Awww..." Donald moaned softly. He put a hand on Scrooge's shoulder to try to cheer him up. "Well, look at da bright side! At least he went away after you went to Gyro's."
"Aye. I hate ta think of what he's going to do until that stuff wears off..." Scrooge shook his head at the thought. "I'd hate to be his mother at a time like this..."
"His mudder?" Donald asked, his lisp becoming more pronounced in his confusion.
"Uh...just a saying, Lad," Scrooge recovered from his slip of the tongue. "Wherever it is that he goes when he's not working for me, I'm sure he's got someone who cares aboot him. And I'd hate to be that someone when he waltzes through the door tonight..."
Donald nodded. He fished in his pocket for car keys. "Well, I guess I'd better get to the gas station before they close..."
"Now's your chance to ask him," Gosalyn told Louie. Louie nodded and started to go into the room when Scrooge started speaking again.
"Just a minute, Donald. I have a wee favor to ask of ye..." Scrooge held up his hand.
Donald scowled. Since when was anything concerning Scrooge a "small" favor?
"I know its outta yer way, Nephew, but I would appreciate it you would stop by the bank."
"What for?" Donald replied, narrowing his eyes.
"Ye know the formula we've been talking about that affected Giz'maduck and Gyro so poorly?"
"Yeah..."
"I've got it here in me pocket." Scrooge produced a vial with a cork in it from his coat. It was half full of a thin blueish liquid.
Donald tilted his head to study it. "Is that all of it?" he asked carefully.
"Yes. I made sure of it. I dinna want to destroy it, as it could come in handy in a crisis, but I canna chance having it mass-distributed. Gyro's the only one who knows its ingredients and I've got the only sample left...besides what poor Giz'maduck has. Now I want you to take it in this safety deposit box..." Scrooge pressed the said box into Donald's hand before he could object. "...To the cheapest, poorest bank at the edge of town. Open an account under your name, or you can make up one if you'd prefer. Just make sure it has no connection to me..."
"I'm not sure about dis..." Donald muttered, staring at the box in his hands and the proffered vial uneasily.
"I'm only asking because I trust ye. I wouldn't want to send Duckworth, as he'd be too obvious. And I certainly canna go myself. I'd draw too much attention!"
Scrooge tried to hand the vial to Donald again, but he backed away.
"What about yer money bin?" Donald asked pointedly. "Why don't you stash it in there? It'll be more secure..."
Scrooge nodded. "Aye...momentarily. But if someone were to break into mah bin tonight, they'd have all me wealth and the formula. At least with the formula in a different location, we could use it to track down the thieves. And who's going to break into a cheap safety deposit box at a cheap bank, anyway? Me plan is foolproof. The only ones who know everything are you and me. Not even Gyro knows..."
"Well... I don't know..." Donald said, his resolve weakening.
