Gosalyn descended the broken and cracked concrete stairs of the apartment building Taurus Bulba had been reducing to rubble. Nocking an arrow, she drew, aimed for the building across the street, and fired.
Darkwing Duck's blue smoke billowed around the shattered windows, the tendrils curling along the facade of the structure.
Gosalyn walked down the street, making sure to stay visible as she strode away from the burning frame that once used to be the Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice Bakery. The block was eerily silent, the pop and crackle of the former bakery the only noise that filled the space between crumbling buildings. There were no explosions. No whine of Taurus Bulba's engines. No echoing rumble of the Thunderquack.
Just Gosalyn and the empty street.
She grabbed another smoke arrow.
Nocked.
Aimed.
Fired.
An insurance firm took the hit, the blue smoke wafting from the spot of impact and dissipating into the air.
Should she aim higher? Maybe fire an arrow with a little more kick? She did have another flare arrow, but Launchpad might mistake that as a cry for help and she needed him to focus on Darkwing.
She hesitated on using an exploding arrow. Sure this block in particular had sustained plenty of damage already so what would one more hit do?
Still.
She didn't want to destroy the city if she didn't have to.
Gosalyn was reaching for another arrow when she heard Bulba's engines approaching behind her. Smirking, she skimmed her fingers over her arrows, feeling each fletching for the familiar notches and texture.
"And here I thought you had been destroyed." Taurus Bulba lamented.
She needed the coarser fletching. Where was it? "It takes more than a few explosions to take me down."
Fingers grazing the arrow in question, Gosalyn pulled it out and spun to face Bulba.
She didn't even have enough time to nock the arrow before Taurus Bulba's claw grabbed ahold of her, iron talons wrapping around her shoulders and upper arms. She grunted, her side protesting at the rough treatment, but tried to keep the discomfort from her face, not wanting to give Bulba the satisfaction. He must have seen her pain anyway because he grinned and shot up into the sky.
"But there is something that will take you down, Gosalyn," Bulba sneered, his voice booming over the wind whistling past her. "I just need to be more… creative in finding it."
"Good luck with that," Gosalyn said. His claw ensured she couldn't move her arms at all, but that didn't mean she couldn't move her hands. Carefully spinning the arrow in her fingers, she pointed the arrowhead at Bulba. She just needed to get more of her arm free then she could jam the weapon into his open chest.
The armor had been blown away in the explosions Gosalyn had hit him with, his entire upper torso an open cavity of wires and spinning cogs. All the easier to get an EMP arrow lodged in.
She glanced around, seeing the tops of skyscrapers zoom past her. But not the Thunderquack. Hopefully that would still be the case when she thrust the arrow in Bulba's chest. Even jammed in a chest cavity, Gosalyn was sure the radius of the pulse would be enough to down a nearby airplane.
"I do not need luck," Taurus Bulba thundered.
Grunting in response, Gosalyn tried to maneuver her way down. If she had another inch or two and she'd have free range of her lower arm. That was all she needed.
"I have Audubon Bay," Taurus Bulba said calmly as he came to a stop, hovering in the air.
Gosalyn froze, all thoughts of turning the situation to her favor gone as she glanced up at Taurus Bulba.
Why the Bay?
Did he know?
He couldn't.
He grinned maliciously down at her. "And I hear you are a very good swimmer."
He did.
He knew.
Bulba nodded past her shoulder, his gaze cast down towards whatever lie beneath them.
Slowly, she craned her head around, glancing over her shoulder at the ground a few hundred stories below.
And.
Yep.
There they were.
The waters of Audubon Bay swirling beneath her.
Even this high up, even secured in Taurus Bulba's iron grip, her vision started to gray along the edges. Her heart pounded mercilessly, choking her breath which was already starting to come out in gasps. There was a breeze stirring the waters below, creating small waves along its otherwise glassy surface.
Anything.
Literally anything but this.
It was Bulba's harsh cackle that snapped Gosalyn out of her trance. Needing to look anywhere but at the water, Gosalyn turned her head around and met Taurus Bulba's eyes.
He must have seen her terror because his grin nearly split his face in two.
As he let Gosalyn go.
For a second she floated, suspended over Audubon Bay, released from Taurus Bulba's restraining hold.
But then gravity yanked her down. Towards the water.
The breeze transformed into a wind tunnel, whistling by her as she tumbled down through the air, fingers clenching her bow and arrow as if her unyielding grip on them would somehow save her.
She'd managed to avoid large bodies of water since her run in with Paddywhack three years ago.
Until now.
Now she was going to drop below the waves, water pressing in on all sides, pulling her down, slowly suffocating her. She'd sink straight to the bottom like she had all those years ago when Quackerjack's teeth had hooked onto her cape.
There was no Negaduck to save her this time.
No Darkwing to dive into the water and pull her into the safety of the Tower.
No Launchpad to fly in at the last second and scoop her out of the air.
Something snagged onto the strap buckled around her waist.
Jerking to an abrupt stop, Gosalyn cried out in surprise as her back arched almost painfully. Gravity tried to pull her down still, but whatever had grabbed ahold of her quiver strap won the tug-of-war and yanked her upwards.
She glanced back down at the water. The waves were so much closer. She'd probably fallen about a third the distance. Maybe half way.
Holding onto her weapons all the tighter, Gosalyn pulled them into her chest. Pulled her legs up towards her chin. Tried to curl into a ball. Tried not to think about how close she'd come. To being swallowed whole under the unrelentingly chilling waves of the Bay.
Looking up at whatever — or whoever — had grabbed her, Gosalyn inhaled a shaky breath. Bulba's claw was gripping her strap, and he was smiling still.
This was going to be like their first encounter, wasn't it? When Taurus Bulba's vulture had dropped Gosalyn over the cityscape of St. Canard. Again and again, the bird of prey scooping her up in its talons mere seconds before making contact with the pavement only to drop her again when they reached the tops of the skyscrapers.
Back then, Bulba had been using Gosalyn as a means to get Darkwing to reveal information.
But now.
He was lording over the fact that he was in control. Exploiting her fear. Showing off that he was the one in control.
"Give up, Gosalyn. Surrender now and I will release you."
"Yeah, right into Audubon Bay," Gosalyn said, proud when her voice only shook a little.
Taurus Bulba kicked his engines into high gear, soaring higher up into the sky.
Just like last time.
Except this time she was alone.
"You cannot win," Bulba said calmly.
"Probably not," Gosalyn admitted.
She really didn't see a way out of this. Bulba would drop her in the water again and again and again until Gosalyn admitted defeat. Or drowned.
She'd been so stupid to not heed Negaduck's warning. To not ask for backup.
He was expecting her to return to the Negaverse.
Launchpad had promised to come back and get her to safety.
Darkwing would wake up in the hospital and ask for her. And she…. What? Wouldn't be there?
No way.
She was going to see Darkwing again even if she ended up on a gurney beside him. If nothing else, to make sure he was going to be okay.
Her mind made up, Gosalyn glared at Bulba. "Doesn't mean I have to give up."
Taurus Bulba sneered and started to soar higher.
Gosalyn aimed and, using all the force she could, kicked her feet up. The bull grunted as her boots made contact with the soft flesh and bone that was left in his face.
Using the momentum of her kick, Gosalyn straightened her spine. The webbing of her quiver strap slipped through Bulba's metal claw.
As she began to drop down towards the waves of the Bay once more, Gosalyn breathed in deeply.
On her exhale, she twisted, getting her feet under her. She shoved the arrow she'd been gripping into her beak, teeth clamping around the shaft as she reached for another arrow.
Her fingers met nothing but air.
Glancing back, her eyes met an empty quiver.
Awesome.
Guess falling through the air and kicking a villain in the face meant your arrows fell out of your quiver. Noted.
But now what?
She kept her feet underneath her, trying to stifle the panic that was clenching in her gut.
All she had was the EMP arrow in her beak, knives strapped to her ankles, and a pistol at her thigh.
The wind whistled past her.
The reflection of the sun off the water blinded her the closer she fell to the surface.
"There are clips on one side for your bow and the clips on the other side are for an arrow. Sort of a last resort when you're quiver's empty thing."
God bless Tony Mallard.
Reaching back once more, Gosalyn's fingers skimmed along the edge of her quiver, unclipping the arrow she'd slid in there earlier.
Whipping the arrow around, Gosalyn nocked it and fired.
It sailed out over the waters, the grappling hook soaring towards Audubon Bridge.
Wrapping the rope around one wrist and gripping it tightly, Gosalyn's eyes focused on the grappling hook.
It bounced along the cable of the suspension bridge.
And fell towards the water.
She heard Bulba roar somewhere above her.
Since the grappling hook hadn't latched onto anything, she had all the slack in the rope she could hope for.
She wrapped it around her wrist again before letting go.
Grabbing the EMP arrow out of her beak, she nocked and drew.
She pressed the button on her bow near her pinky finger, triggering the one handed release.
Gosalyn reached back out and gripped the rope with renewed vigor, finding the grappling hook and watching its progress.
It bounced in between the hangers of the bridge, the hooks still not gripping onto anything.
The salt of the water assaulted her nose.
Taurus Bulba's engines roared above her, getting closer.
Gosalyn twisted back and saw the bull plunging down towards her, a snarl twisting his face as his claw reached for her.
There was blood running down his nose. Her kick hadn't been for nothing.
She could hear the waves gently lapping below.
Gosalyn aimed and pushed the button by her index finger.
The arrow released, soaring up towards the bull.
But he easily dodged it, a smug smile replacing his murderous glare.
Well.
She was officially out of ideas.
The rope tightened, painfully jerking her abruptly to the side, almost yanking her arm out of its socket and her side blossomed in another wave of pain.
Gosalyn faced forward, slinging her bow over her shoulder and bringing her other hand up to grip onto the rope.
The grappling hook had landed on the deck of the bridge, the prongs firmly planted on the metal side.
Thank God.
Something exploded behind her, causing her feathers to stand on edge.
Chancing a glance around, she saw Bulba wavering, one of his engines spluttering as the blades stopped spinning. He plunged toward the waters of the Bay.
Small victory that it was, she would take it.
Swinging down under the bridge, Gosalyn tucked herself into a ball, holding onto the rope for all she was worth.
She swung back and forth under the bridge, the rope gradually stilling with each pass until it settled, hanging straight down.
Gosalyn glanced down and saw the gentle waves of the Bay only a few inches from her boots. Sucking in a breath, Gosalyn unwound the rope from around her wrist and hoisted herself up further, using her legs to push herself up and away from the water.
Taurus Bulba released a ferocious roar, the sound bouncing around under the bridge and sending a shiver down Gosalyn's spine.
She was practically unarmed down here. Guns didn't work against Bulba. And while her knives could cause some discomfort, they wouldn't stop him.
She needed another EMP arrow. The first one had managed to take out one of his engines, even after exploding a fair distance behind him. There were more EMPs in the Tower; her arrow bag with the extras Tony had built was next to the arsenal wall where she'd dropped it off before jumping into the Thunderquack with Launchpad earlier.
If she got up to the Tower, she could grab more ammunition and finally finally end this.
The water sloshed underneath and Gosalyn yanked herself up further, fear kicking in again.
The noise increased below her, the waves crashing persistently… there was something beneath her.
Shifting her gaze downward, Gosalyn caught sight of a pair of eyes peering at her from the waves.
But not the pair she'd been expecting to see.
"Liquidator," she breathed.
"Come one, come all!" he called, splashing the water around him noisily.
The spray caught Gosalyn's boot and she scrambled further upwards. "Would you—?"
"Act now, this is a limited time offer!" Liquidator swam out from under the bridge, splashing nosily and looking upwards.
Oh, great.
He was working with Taurus Bulba.
Reaching one hand over the other, Gosalyn started climbing up as quickly as she could.
But the rope swayed drastically, Gosalyn almost losing her grip. She clung to it, looking back down at Liquidator.
But he wasn't anywhere near the end of her rope.
So what had caused it to move?
Her confusion was cleared as the rope was yanked upwards. Towards the bridge.
Taurus Bulba was on the bridge. Pulling her up to meet him.
And she was still very much out of arrows.
The way she saw it, she had two options.
One: she could have a show down with Taurus Bulba on the bridge with her knives and pistol.
Two: she could dive down into the water and use the secret Darkwing Tower entrance under the Bay to grab more weapons and attack from above.
Option two was better. It was way better.
But Gosalyn wasn't sure if she could find the courage she'd had earlier. When she'd freed herself from Bulba's grip, fully expecting to fall into the water. And seeing how desperately she was clinging to the rope as it was hoisted upwards even at the thought of diving below the waves….
Bridge confrontation it was.
She'd probably have to resort to hand to hand combat. She knew she should have trained harder on that.
As she approached the deck, Gosalyn gritted her teeth, ready to roll onto the bridge and sprig up into action.
Seeing Quackerjack, Megavolt, and Bushroot pulling the rope up surprised Gosalyn enough that she didn't try to take them out before going for Bulba.
Bushroot wrapped his vines around her waist, her side throbbing with the added pressure, and pulled her over the edge of the bridge, onto the roadway. Quackerjack coiled the rope of the grappling hook while Megavolt peered down to the Bay below.
A huge wave crested over the side of the bridge, Liquidator splashing up next to Gosalyn.
She jumped away, shoving Bushroot's vines away from around her. He backed off, holding his hands up in surrender.
Gosalyn grabbed her bow and reached back for an arrow.
Oh, yeah.
She didn't have any.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down!" Megavolt said, stepping up beside Bushroot and Liquidator.
"That's easy for you to say," Gosalyn said, reaching for her pistol and flicking the safety off. "You're not the one who's outnumbered." She aimed at no one in particular, but the Fearsome Four tensed at seeing the gun pointed at them.
"Neither are you," Bushroot said gently, his tone soft. Her chest ached with the familiarity of the expression on his face, a mirror of Reginald Banner in the Duckvengers universe and Reggie the head gardener at Avian Abbey. It was for those gentle Reggies who meant Gosalyn no harm that she relaxed, bringing her pistol down. Turned the safety back on.
"So you're… on my side?" she asked.
"Four villains for the price of one!" Liquidator said, which Gosalyn took as a confirmation.
"Excuse me, four?" came another voice.
Gosalyn turned and saw Steelbeak meandering over to her. Behind him was Ammonia Pine, Moliarty wearing some insane sunglasses to protect his eyes, Splatter Phoenix, and Paddywhack.
But someone was missing.
"Where's Negaduck?" Gosalyn asked, glancing back to the Fearsome Four.
"We thought he was with you," Quackerjack said with a shrug.
"Why would he be with me?" Gosalyn asked.
"You two are partners," Megavolt said.
Gosalyn raised an eyebrow and had a sarcastic comment at the ready, but Bushroot explained, "He said he was gonna set a few traps. We were supposed to wait here in case Taurus Bulba tried to escape the city." He shrugged. "We just assumed Negaduck was going to find you after he finished his… whatever he was doing."
"I haven't seen him," Gosalyn confessed, worry slicing through her. If Negaduck had come this far, had already traveled to her universe, he wouldn't have left her to fend for herself.
Unless he couldn't make it to her. Unless he was buried under rubble or….
Max had said he'd seen something red in the bakery. Just before Bulba had blown the building up in a blaze of fire and smoke. Mentioned he might have seen a hat….
"Even with your reinforcements, I will be victorious!" Taurus Bulba thundered.
Gosalyn looked up and found the bull easily. He was flying lopsided, his good engine working double to keep him in the air. He bobbed and weaved, unable to stabilize and looking like one of those toys that was impossible to topple over.
Inspired, Gosalyn said, "Paddywhack, I think Taurus Bulba wants to play."
A gleam in his eye and a smile spreading across his beak, Paddywhack grew to the size of a giant and reached for Bulba, who still tried to escape even with his one working engine.
Glancing around at the villains around her, Gosalyn realized what Negaduck had sent.
A team.
He'd seen that she wouldn't be able to beat Taurus Bulba on her own, so he'd sent reinforcements. Even if Negaduck himself wasn't here, she had others to rely on, a support system to back her up.
Just like her father had tried to tell her countless times over the years.
He and Launchpad had never wavered, always present and ready to assist whenever needed. Their constance had given her the strength to become a crime fighter. To go out and fight for good.
And Negaduck becoming one of her greatest allies, someone she'd come to deeply care for, had proven that her efforts to fight for good, even — especially — in others, were worth it.
So now, when she was sure she couldn't win, she would still fight. She owed her father and Launchpad that much.
Turning to face her band of misfits, Gosalyn holstered her pistol and pointed at Megavolt. "You head into the city and tap into the police scanners. Get them over here as quickly as you can."
"Why me?" Megavolt whined. "I wanna fry some bull." He flexed his hands, a spark of electricity flashing between his fingers.
"I could send someone else," Gosalyn said. "But I'd rather you be as far away as you can when I fire an EMP."
Gulping, Megavolt nodded and started back towards the city.
"Bushroot," Gosalyn said, pointing at the half-plant, half-duck, "go with him. Make sure the two of you get back here before anyone catches you." Bushroot jogged to catch up with Megavolt who was speed walking down the street, apparently eager to get away from Gosalyn's incoming EMP.
Looking over to Ammonia, Gosalyn asked, "Can you clean up this mess?" She pointed to the traffic jam the citizens of St. Canard were currently sitting in as they tried to flee the city. Those nearby were watching the villains with trepidation, locking doors and rolling up windows.
Ammonia's eyes sparkled as she ran along the lines of cars, yelling instructions to get people to move and using her mop to direct traffic.
"Steelbeak, Moliarty help her out," Gosalyn called. "Make sure everyone gets away safety."
"You have a criminal genius at your disposal and you use him to clear up a traffic jam." Moliarty rolled his eyes.
"I didn't wear da right shoes for dis," Steelbeak lamented.
But both of them followed Ammonia, waving down motorists who didn't follow directions and answering questions citizens posed.
Gosalyn spun to look at her remaining villains. "Splatter Phoenix, Quackerjack and Liquidator, draw Bulba out over the Bay if you can."
Liquidator grinned and splashed back into the water.
"Just so we're clear," Quackerjack said, glaring at Gosalyn. "I'm only doing this so I don't get on Negaduck's bad side."
"Sure thing, Quackster," she said.
Quackerjack sneered as he dug through his pockets until he located his toy yacht. He tossed it over the bridge with an, "Incoming!"
The toy yacht grew life-size, its bow appearing near the bridge. Gosalyn recognized it as the same yacht that had been used three years ago. When the Fearsome Four had worked with Paddywhack, Ammonia, and Steelbeak to try and take over the city. The same day Negaduck had been taken away from her.
She tried not to see the boat as a bad omen for things to come.
Splatter Phoenix climbed aboard the yacht, Quackerjack following. He was about to step onto the boat when he turned back to Gosalyn. "Don't tell Negaduck I said that."
"Said what?" Gosalyn asked with a wink. Quackerjack studied her then nodded, jumping onto his boat.
Gun fire and the zap of Taurus Bulba's lasers snared Gosalyn's attention and she took cover, tucking herself by the bridge railing and watched the exchange between the villains.
Bulba was firing at his new opponent, Paddywhack holding up his hands to protect his face. The bull was relentless, firing continuously at Paddywhack as best he could; his machine gun was firing in random spurts in whatever direction it felt like. But the laser was still effective and Paddywhack shrunk back to normal size with a whine as he was blasted one too many times.
Bulba looked around and caught sight of the yacht and lost no time in flying down to investigate.
Gosalyn darted across the bridge, dodging the cars that were slowly starting to move thanks to Ammonia's efforts. She climbed up onto the cable and sprinted up to Darkwing Tower. Once inside, she headed to the the armory wall and grabbed another grappling hook arrow and two EMPs — just in case — before surging up the spiral staircase to the second floor.
Making her way over to a window, she climbed out and balanced on the ledge as she fired her grappling hook arrow towards the roof. She gave an experimental tug to make sure it had caught onto something before shouldering her bow and ascending to the rooftop of Darkwing Tower.
It was like the Duckvengers universe. There was a reason Tony had always stationed her atop high perches with more arrows than she could possibly use: she was strongest at long distance fighting. She had the best eyesight on the team, killer aim, and the ability to strategize and make decisions without a team leader present.
She didn't need to worry about distracting anyone or drawing them out. She didn't need to be on the ground, getting citizens to safety. She didn't need to worry about hand to hand combat.
All Gosalyn needed to do was get to the high ground, find a weakness, and fire her arrows. Give her team backup. Take down the enemy.
Sure, it wasn't how Negaduck ran the Negaverse; he was always one for handling everything directly.
And her father always had to be right in the middle of the action with Launchpad at his side to offer backup.
And that's what she'd been doing wrong, she realized as she reached the roof of Darkwing Tower and scanned the Bay for Taurus Bulba.
All these years, she'd been trying to do things their way.
Growing up, she'd adopted her father's methods. Tried the element of surprise, hand to hand combat, and using her surroundings to her advantage.
Partnering with Negaduck had given her new perspectives. She'd learned how to handle different kinds of weaponry, how to anticipate her opponents, and made sure she always had a plan even when — especially when — things went wrong.
She'd worn their costumes, used their weapons, adopted their methods of intimidation.
And she'd second-guessed everything.
Debated — for longer than she'd like to admit — if she should wear a hat with her costume to be more like her father.
Wondered if using a gun was really right for her like it was for Negaduck.
And she had managed to convince herself that if she tried this or learned that new thing that she could be as good as her father one day. As successful as Negaduck.
Readying her bow, Gosalyn grabbed an EMP arrow and nocked it, eyes trained on Taurus Bulba. He was bobbing around the yacht, dodging toys Quackerjack threw at him and avoiding paintings Splatter Phoenix tried to trap him in.
Gosalyn took into account the breeze. Saw that Bulba wasn't moving as quickly with one engine down. Recognized his flight pattern.
She inhaled as she drew the arrow back and took aim. For the open cavity in Bulba's chest.
Smiling, Gosalyn exhaled and released.
The arrow sailed through the air towards the madness of toys and paint splotches.
Soared through teddy bears and toy soldiers.
Over the paintings that now lined the yacht.
And hit its target, right into the cavity of wires.
Taurus Bulba immediately froze, the remaining engine failing and his laser cut off mid-shot. His one biological eye widened and he roared as he fell, his mechanical enhancements shut down completely.
He landed in the water with a loud splash and didn't surface.
Flashing blue and red lights started appearing on the banks of Audubon Bay, sirens cut to silence as the police cars parked along the shore.
Gosalyn studied the scene for a moment longer before sheathing her bow and climbing back down into Darkwing Tower. She snagged her phone from her bedside table on the way, texting Launchpad for a pick-up as climbed down to the deck of the bridge.
The cars were now moving at a reasonable pace so Gosalyn had to work her way across the street, keeping an eye the vehicles around her. Like normal.
She met up with Steelbeak, Ammonia, Paddywhack, and Moliarty and the five of them boarded Quackerjack's yacht when the vessel parked next to the bridge.
"Steer us toward the shore," Gosalyn said, nodding to where the police cars lined the banks. "I need to talk to the police."
Quackerjack glared at Gosalyn. "I can't steer us anywhere. You made my yacht lose power."
Leaning over the side of the boat, Gosalyn spotted Liquidator bobbing on top of the water, evidently the reason the yacht could still sail across the bay. "Can you take us to the shore?" she called.
He hesitated for a moment before he dove underneath the waves, creating a current and easily turning the boat around. Gosalyn backed onto the deck, trying to keep her breathing steady. Seeing Liquidator dive underneath the waves… it was so similar to last time. When she'd been thrown off this very vessel and he'd dragged her under the surface.
But things were different now. These villains wouldn't try that again. Not with Negaduck back in the game.
If he still was.
Gosalyn would need to locate him. She hoped he was trapped somewhere. Or hiding. Anything was better than finding out he'd been killed.
The police were scattered, some setting up a perimeter, others on their radios, and the chief ranking officers looking out at the Bay, talking amongst themselves. As the yacht parked at a pier, they all zeroed in on the boat, approaching the shore with their hands on their weapons. However, they perked up when they saw Gosalyn disembarking.
"Quiverwing Quack!"
"We saw you take down Taurus Bulba!"
"Way to go!"
Gosalyn walked up to the officer who was clearly in charge and stopped in front of him.
"Hello, Officer…?"
The man straightened. "Aaron."
"Officer Aaron, Megavolt and Bushroot are working with me. If they're in your custody, I'll ask you to release them."
The smiles and excitement died as the cops all exchanged glances.
"With all due respect, ma'am," the high ranking officer said, "I can't do that. I'll take what you said into consideration when we're booking them and maybe it'll lessen their sentence. But I can't let them go even if they did help you. They're known criminals."
"I'm asking as a favor, officer. From Quiverwing Quack to the police force."
"And I'm telling you, ma'am, that that's not going to happen."
Gosalyn nodded, glancing at the cops standing around her. "It's been hard to get the public's trust back, hasn't it? That stunt three years ago, when a handful of villains tried to take over St. Canard and S.H.U.S.H. was infiltrated by a double agent, really set things back and people have been brutal in their criticism. But you've finally managed to start to get them on your side again. Which is really impressive, I'll commend you for that."
She looked back at the officer in charge, locking gazes with him. "And now you lock up two people responsible for taking down Taurus Bulba. The great villain who has destroyed half the city in the past few days. But fine. Have it your way. You can keep Bushroot and Megavolt in whatever squad car they're in right now. I just want to let you know that I have a few friends at the press and I'll be sure to tell them all about how you, Officer Aaron, locked up members of my team and refused to cooperate."
The officer shifted uncomfortably.
Gosalyn smirked. "Or you can hand Bushroot and Megavolt over to me and I'll be sure to tell everyone that we couldn't have done it without you." She raised an eyebrow as she tucked her hands behind her back. "So, what's it going to be?"
He regarded her. "Are you threatening me, ma'am?"
She shrugged. "It's closer to blackmail, but if you want to get technical."
Officer Aaron studied Gosalyn for a moment before dropping his gaze and turning to one of the police officers nearby. "Let them go."
She nodded and made a hand motion toward the crowd. A car door opened and Bushroot and Megavolt climbed out, looking supremely confused as the officers removed their handcuffs and shuffled them towards the yacht.
Gosalyn stepped aside, watching as they climbed onto the boat with the others. Turning back to Officer Aaron, Gosalyn said, "Never call me 'ma'am' again."
"Yes, ma… yes, Miss."
Nodding, Gosalyn walked down the pier. Crouching down, she found Liquidator still bobbing in the water and said, "The Negaverse portal was destroyed by Bulba. Head to your hideout here and wait for Negaduck or I to find you."
He rose up out of the water, saluted, and dove back underneath the waves, steering the boat away from the shore.
After making sure no one was going to try and stop them, Gosalyn walked back towards the shore.
Weaving her way through the police officers and cars, she said, "I'd start searching the waters, ladies and gentlemen. Taurus Bulba's technology won't be useless forever."
The officers sprang into action, Aaron directing his team to start looking for the bull.
Gosalyn was about to check her phone, but didn't bother pulling out the device when she saw the Thunderquack, miraculously unscarred, land by the Wacky Mackerel fish cannery. Launchpad waved to her as the cockpit opened, a bright smile on his face.
Gosalyn jogged to the plane, climbed aboard, and nearly suffocated with the force of the pilot's hug.
"I'm so proud of you, Gos," he told her, tousling her hair.
She ducked her head as she unclipped her quiver and tossed it in the back seat. "How's Dad?"
Launchpad took to the skies, flying them over to the nearby hospital. "They're looking at him now. Said they'd update me with anything as soon as they know."
Gosalyn nodded and settled into the cushions of her seat, wincing as her side throbbed. They were going to a hospital. Maybe she could have someone look at it.
After she found out what they had to say about her father.