***The Lion Walks Tonight...***
Disclaimer: I do not own Darkwing Duck, Scrooge McDuck or any Disney character . Bagheera, is actually a character from "The Jungle Book."
The "Iron Lion" Tsunami, and Valiant are my creations. The Cerulean lions, the Lazuli tribe, and the Cerulea island are completely fictional.
The Cerulean lions are meant to have a "lovable" Disney characteristic to them, rather than, that of, the more realistic wild animal.
Chapter 14...The Tiger Strikes!
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Shere Khan has long planned for this day. By evening, armies have assembled on the beachfront of his small island. Soldiers, mercenaries, and all manner of low life assassins have gathered together in the name of plunder and ill gotten profit.
They are awaiting Shere Khan's arrival. Their attention is draw to an eerie low, mechanized humming that seems to be coming from the ocean near the beach. Then something – enormous break through the surface of the water.
The vessel looks like a cross between a UFO and the Good Years blimp! There are – fins on either side of cold metallic craft. It has, what one might call, an exoskeleton. Smooth seamless girders that covered the top of the vessel like a giant spiders web. It is an intimidation sight to behold.
As the awestruck onlookers watch, the vessel moves closer to the beach.
It stops and a huge hatch slide opens on the side and a bridge like walkways slides out to meat dry land.
A voice calls over unseen speakers "Enter!"
Hesitantly, the hired soldiers do as they are bid. Filing in, they slowly step onto the walkway and enter. They find themselves inside a huge fuselage. A
large monitor embedded into the right wall activates. The image of Shere Khan appears. He is no longer dressed in the high priced three-piece suit, but camo military fatigues.
Behind him can been seen two glass pod-like chambers. Both are occupied.
The assembled warriors recognize Iron Lion and Tsunami immediately. Many of Khans hired soldiers have been on the receiving end of justice, dealt out to them by the two heroes. It gives them boundless pleasure to see the two crime fighters in such – captive states.
Khan addresses his army with arrogant confidence "You all know why you are here. "We are about to do what my father and his father before him have failed to. We are going to conquer Cerulea and vanquish their so-called heroes.
I doubt I have to remind any of you of the potential bonus that awaits you. After all, it has been told for hundreds of years of the vast treasure that is hidden somewhere in Cerulea. Buried there by the fabled Darkwing Doubloon.
When we conquer Bagheera and his honorable Knight's, the spoils of war are yours for the taking. We attack Cerulea at dusk!"
There is cheering among the troops as they already celebrate a victory that has not yet been claimed.
Among the soldiers of fortune are individual cloaked head to foot in black, armed with the traditional weapons of swords, throw stars and nunchakus. These are ninjas.
One of these assassins does not seem to be so inspired by Khans words. The first chance he gets, he slips away, unnoticed. Making certain he is not seen, he moves off by himself before withdrawing a small communicator. He speaks into it in a hushed voiced "Khan is planning his attack, tonight. More than that, he literal has a flighty fortress."
"He isn't wasting his time," the voice on the other end answer "I will contact Bagheera. Be on guard, there are authentic ninjas there. Do nothing to arouse their suspicions."
"Understood, Master Lee. I best cut communication before his people pick up this transmission."
He hides the communication device away. Before returning to the ranks of the assembles army, he reaches a hand back to touch the bow-staff that he carries across his back. It is his weapon of choice. The thought that he may need to use it to fight his way out, if his cover is blown, crosses his mind. But he casually shrugs it off "Can't be any worse that fighting the Bully Boys with a broomstick." he mutters to himself before returning to his roll of spy.
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***Just a few miles outside Cerulea , over the ocean.****
The ThunderQuack has been in the air since early afternoon on a direct course for Cerulea. Valiant has almost had to wedge himself into the back floor of the jet. But he has not made any fuss over the fact that he is fairly cramped back there. Instead, for the most part, he has been laying quietly with his large head resting on the backseat.
Launchpad glances back at the lion from the pilots seat. He is thankful that the big cat is so calm by nature. He recalls DW telling him something about the Cerulean lions. The people of Cerulea sometimes refer to them as land-dolphins because of their intelligence and instinctively protective nature. The lion's are born people-friendly.
It's no wonder so many exotic pet owner covet them so highly. They would fetch a king ransom on the black market. That is, if anybody had ever succeeded in stealing them.
Launchpad notices that Valiant, ever so often, sniffs at the backseat, purring softly. There is a secret compartment under the cushions of the backseat. Launchpad wonders if there is something in the compartment that has the lions interest. Maybe he forgot and left a basket of food in their again, like he did the last time – for three weeks. Boy, did the ThunderQuack ever need an air freshener after that!
There is definitely something inside the compartment that has Valiant interest.
Then an idle thought plays through the pilots mind...
He glances again at the hidden compartment. It is large enough to occupy five small children, isn't it?
But they wouldn't stow away, not after all the trouble they have gotten themselves into these past days...
With a long weary sigh, the pilot reminds himself that this is Gosalyn / Quiverwing Quack, after all. Of course she would stow away and so would the McDuck kids!
"Alright guys, I know you're back there, come on out!" he calls in a loud clear voice.
No response.
At this point, even Launchpad is getting fed up with the girl's reckless defiance. His voice raises in an uncharacteristically agitated tone "I said – out, now!"
That did the trick. There is a small clicking sound as the seat cushions raises and five sets of eyes gaze nervously from within the hidden compartment.
"All the way out, guys, come on!"
Hesitantly, the children all clamber out of their hiding place, having to climb over Valiant in the process. The big lion didn't seem to mind.
Quiverwing slipped quietly into the passengers seat in front, while the other kids sit in the back.
The masked girl looks up sheepishly at a very displease Launchpad. "Hehe, I guess you're wondering what we're doing here?" she says apprehensively. "Well, uhh...we were just climbing into the backseat to say goodbye to Valiant when we all accidentally fell into the secret compartment in the backseat and the lid slammed shut and it..uhhh...jammed. Yeah, it jammed shut and I guess there wasn't enough oxygen inside for all of us and we passed out and when we woke up..." She trails off, realizing that even she doesn't believe that pitiful excuse for a story.
With a huff, she collapses against the back of the seat "OK, we just didn't want to miss out on any of the adventure. So sue me!" She grouses, throwing her arms up in the air.
The pilot is still displeased with the kids for having sneaked onto the ThunderQuack after promising to stay out of trouble. Right now, he is taking a very serous and all too grown up attitude with the kids. "Gos...err...Quiverwing, you do realize your dad is going to do a lot worse than sue you, right? Not to mention that both your father and Mr. McDee are going to have my tail-feathers for this!"
The mental picture of both Scrooge McDuck and Darkwing Duck yelling at him-at the same time flashes through his mind's eye. The pilot feels a cold chill run through his entire body – that was a disturbing image!
"Sorry Launchpad," Quiverwing says softly. The pilot glances over at her. She is looking at him with those big-green eyes, seemingly so full of remorse. But right now, Launchpad doubts how sincere she really is.
Gosalyn sees her fathers adventures as no more than an elaborate game, not unlike her video games. Her young mind has not wrapped around the fact that her actions could get herself or somebody else seriously hurt, including her dad.
He glances back at the boys and Webby who are seated quietly in the back. "You do know your Uncle Scrooge will be furious when he find out?"
"Yes Launchpad," is all the response he receives.
Just then, the lecture is interrupted by the voice coming over the ThunderQuack radio. "Hey, fella, what are you doing here?"
Launchpad and the kids all jump in surprise. They instinctively gaze out the windows at the darkening skies, searching for the owner of the voice. There are no other aircraft is visual range, however.
Launchpad picks up the microphone "I'm Launchpad McQuack...I'm a friend of Darkwing Duck. I'm returning Valiant -you know - the Iron Lion's pet, to Cerulea." The pilot tried to explain as quickly as possible.
"Well that's just bad timing on your part fella. You flying into a potential battle zone!"
"B...battle zone?" the pilot asks a bit confused. Again his gaze sweep the dark skies around him, this time he is looking for hostile aircraft. "I don't have anyplace else to land, we're over the ocean!"
"You have a point, but I suggest you..."
"He's got bogies at 6 o'clock!" A female voice can be heard in the background, perhaps the co-pilot.
Launchpad glances behind him. Something moves behind the jet in the darkness. In a few seconds a small fleet of very highly sophisticated stealth bomber have formed a box formation around the ThunderQuack, blocking any chance of escape.
The pilots first thoughts are of protecting the kids. He can't risk a dog fight against so many jets with the children on-board.
So what does he do.
He doesn't get a chance to ponder the situation, however, as something huge
rises from the depth of the sea just in front of them!
To the children, the whole thing plays out like a scene from a low-budget monster movie. Like the mythological Kraken, it comes up out of the dark waters in the pitch black of night. It rises into the sky until it looms intimidatingly before the ThunderQuack.
A hatch opens on the side of the strange vessel as Launchpad is forced to stay on course, by the unfriendly escort. He has no choice but to fly the ThunderQuack right through the open hatchway, to whoever or whatever awaits them inside.
The large metal hatch slides shut, and again immerse itself into the ocean depth.
From a distance, the entire scene is witnessed. A unique yellow, twin engine plane, of an old-time design, soars through night sky. The two occupants exchange looks of dread. The female co-pilot picks up the microphone "We'd better tell Bagheera ."
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***Cerulea, Dr. Bluewing's office...***
The small group is discussing everything that has taken place up to this point. Goose Lee's informant has succeeded in warning them of Khan's plans.
"In light of the circumstances, I am certain SHUSH can dispatch a regiment that could be here in a matter of hours." J Gander offers.
"I am afraid that they would not make it here in time, director," Bagheera declines the offer gratefully. But we are far from helpless...even under these stressful...times." A melancholy expression crosses the old panthers face.
It's so hard for him, Kuemba has always been like the child he never had.
Bagheera has always been so proud of Kuemba.
The young mallard was never one to take the easy way out. He always stood his ground against the most impossible odds and came out on top.
But perhaps the odds are too great for the Lazuli's young Lion to overcome, this time.
The old panther shakes off his fears, forcing his attention back to the visitors. He take a long deep breath. "I know, Mr. McDuck, that your main concern here is getting your dime back. I do understand this, believe me. After all, a single coin has been a great symbol of hope to this land for a long time."
"You are talking about the coin of the Doubloon? The one worn about his neck?" Scrooge asks curiously, the painting on the cave walls still fresh in his mind, as well as the story of Doubloon, written by his own wife.
"This is the same coin that Phantasma wears about his own neck?"
Bagheera nods. "That coin has been passed down, through the ages, as a symbol of justice. But only to the ones who have taken up the cause."
"The cause?" Grizzlikof interjects, his opinion of any masked crime-fighter is the same as always. "What are you meaning by cause, exactly? Is there a secret society that produces and trains masked fools to go around getting in the way of real law enforcement?"
"Hey! Nobody talks that way about Phantasma and keeps his teeth!" Darkwing exclaims.
As if Darkwing's react proves his point, Grizzlikof persists. "You see. He defends the Ghost of the Savanna as blindly as he does this Iron Lion. They are all being part of some strange cult."
"I'll give you cult you overstuffed shag-rug!" Darkwing's infamous tempter shows itself for the first time in days.
"Darkwing – Grizzlikof, please, this isn't the time or the place." J Gander speaks up. The old director shoots his chief agent a warning glare. "There will be time for questions later, but there are far more serious matters to attend to at the moment."
Before Chief Agent Grizzlikof can reply, a signal goes off near the computer console. Bagheera moves to the computer and taps a button.
An audio transmission comes over the speaker. "Bagheera, a jet was just taken prisoner by this huge – huge aircraft. The pilot said he was a friend of Darkwing Duck's and that he was bring Valiant back to Cerulea!" An obviously female voice speaks with a strong tone of sorrow.
Then a male voice adds "We tried to warn him about Shere Khan, but it was too late. There wasn't anything we could do to help, I'm sorry."
The panther steels a glance at Darkwing, who is shaken, to say the least.
Bagheera replies to the owner of the voice, with kindness "It's alright Kit, the Sea Duck isn't built for combat. You and Molly need to get out of here
quickly, head back to Cape Suzette. We'll be in touch soon."
"Good luck to you Bagheera." the male voice answers before transmission is cut.
"Khan has Launchpad?" Darkwing asks. He blinks in disbelief. This can't be happening, not on top of everything else.
"It would seem so," Bagheera answers, studying the masked faced carefully.
The contours of Darkwing face seem to show through the purple cloth mask.
The expression of shock is evident.
There is no chance for the conversation to go any further as the computer monitor flashes on. The image of Shere Khan fills the screen. The tiger is wearing a smug smirk as he addresses the elderly panther. "Greeting Bagheera, it has been a long time."
"Not long enough." the sage panther replies calmly.
"I was planning to stop by with a few friends tonight...just to say hello, but I ran into somebody on my way here. I believe both Scrooge McDuck and Darkwing Duck are acquainted with them."
Them?
The picture pans out to reveal not only Launchpad, but the kids as well. Their hands are bond in front of them and they are under heavy guard. The children are very frightened, even Quiverwing.
Darkwing feels his heart go still in his chest. His throat tightens so that he finds it hard to breathe. He can only stare at the image of his daughter. He can't move, he can't open his mouth to speak.
He closes his eyes. His heart cries out for help from the only person who can help now...Phantasma...
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***Somewhere in Cerulea...***
As if summoned by the unspoken cry, a ghostly figure moves in the night. "Darkwing, Lion, I am coming..." He speaks in a distorted voice that is as haunting and unearthly as his appearance. With a silver scepter clutched tightly in one hand, he taps his wrists together. A burst of bright light and he is gone.
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***To Be Continued...***
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From the Author It's been a long time between chapter, huh. That is in part, do to the fact that my old computer completely blew out on me. I had been actually working on this chapter when my old XP *kicked the bucket*.
There went my chapter.
For now on I back everything up on removable media.
Ah well, the good new is, I got a new computer and I rewrote the chapter with a completely different plot.
I am trying to get this whole story wrapped up without leaving any gaps in storyline.
Let me know what you think...