Under normal circumstances, it was the greatest experience in the world for Megavolt to become fully charged after having his energy drained or shorting out. He despised feeling so wretchedly vulnerable, weak as a kitten. He had always thrived upon the healthy, glorious sensation of raw voltage being pumped into his system, steadily flowing through him.
But for the first time in his life, he found himself unable to care. None of that mattered anymore. Though he was at full strength now, having just been recharged by some Eggmen, he barely even noticed; he had not felt more helpless and despondent in so long, not since that fateful night he had truly lost everything in addition to his identity as Elmo Sputterspark- his innocence, his parents, his best friend... which, ever since he'd had his memories returned to him, had seemed like only the day before.
Those bittersweet memories had given him the courage and inspiration necessary to seek out his old friend, re-build their relationship. Although filled with natural uncertainty and trepidation about the bizarre wind of Fate that sent them back into each-other's lives, although time and circumstance had dramatically changed them over the years, they found that what was once between them had not been lost. In the short while they had been together again, they had felt their way along carefully until they could stand it no more, and had rapidly begun to evolve and discover new things between them. So far, there had been no pain, no more fear, no regrets. Not yet, anyway; fickle Fate had cruelly wrenched them apart again before they could even begin to determine where to go from there. Maybe it would've all worked out between them, maybe not... now, they would never know. And not knowing was far worse than if their attempts would have failed in the end, despite their mutual efforts.
I promised. I promised her I would never let anything separate us again, Elmo thought miserably. I didn't fight for what was rightfully ours hard enough... and this is exactly why we were separated all those years ago. All because Elmo Sputterspark is too weak and pathetic. I am a loser... I should have known I could never escape Megavolt's shadow. It just wasn't meant to be. I'm so sorry, Eleanor... I've failed you again. Maybe you're just better off without me... at least now, I'll never hurt you again.
"What's this? The all-powerful Megavolt too yella ta even try to fight for his freedom?" came the mocking voice of Steelbeak. He stared up at the electric rodent, who was strapped to the center of an enormous machine. His plug-shaped helmet was stuck firmly into a socket above him, and a giant, lengthy cord that wound around the base was fastened into his chest socket.
I hope you can forget about me someday...
"Ain't ya even curious as to why you've been inserted into such a position of... power?"
Elmo didn't answer.
"Hey, boss, I think he's crying!" a particularly large Eggman realized in surprise.
Steelbeak chortled loudly. "Oh, man! This is too rich, it's gotta be fattening! I wish the rest of the city's criminal element could see this! For such a ridiculously overpowered guy, you sure talk big, but you seem to lack a certain spark about ya, ya know what I mean? No wonder you're always getting licked by Darkwing!"
"But, uh... you've never defeated him either, right?" another Eggman pointed out.
Stealbeak glared at the lacky, who instantly cowered. "Don't make me scuff up the suit!" he snapped.
He turned back to Elmo. "Well, I'll tell ya why we commissioned your old friend, Negaduck, to recruit your services. Ya see, in its ever-consistent goal of global domination, F.O.W.L. has been searching for a way to bring the masses to its knees in a neat, cozy, no fuss-no muss manner that not even a certain vigilante could hope to resist. For that, we would need nothing short of a weapon of infinite raw energy with the destructive capacity to render entire cities to a smouldering pile of rubble. More to the point, in order ta operate dis here baby, the brainchild of months of sweat and blood- and I tink you'll like this part, pal- we needed just the right source, as befitting such a beauteous instrument of death and mayhem." He stroked it proudly. "So den, here's the plan in black-and-white- if the woild don't submit to us in twenty-four hours, we'll simply destroy a random city or town in a random nation every hour until they get wise. Starting with- and this is the best part- the very city that Darkwing Duck is sworn to protect." He shrugged. "Cliche, I know, but hey- I never said F.O.W.L. prided itself on originality. Just power."
Eleanor. Icy horror plummeted like a stone into Elmo's gut.
"NO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS! I'LL NEVER LET YOU HAVE MY POWER!" he screamed. In a fit of enraged desperation, he instinctively gave off a tremendous surge of electricity.
"Whoa, Megs, babe- such a genius of your field should know dat all your power is strictly confined to the ray right now. I hate ta break it to ya, but you're all wired in with no place ta go! I thank youse for your willing cooperation, but you can just relax. We'll do the rest!" Steelbeak punched in a short series of commands on the machine's computer.
And suddenly, pain- raw, unnatural pain unlike anything Elmo had ever known- tore into him. But worse than that, he realized what was happening.
He was charging up the ray.