S.H.U.S.H Head Quarters

Drake had large bags under his eyes and was mentally exhausted. He was dawning his iconic uniform of Darkwing duck. The Masked Mallard had hoped to speak with J. Gander Hooter about using S.H.U.S.H.'s resources to call of the duck hunt for the Fearsome 4 since they were innocent for once. However, he had been waiting for him. Vladimir Gryzlikoff was by no means a fan of the freelance purple agent. He had always been Hooter's right hand and eventual successor. However, much to the grizzly bear's annoyance Darkwing was considered his left hand. The bear insisted that Darkwing fill out the proper paperwork since the S.H.U.S.H. commander and chief was in a board meeting at present, Darkwing had all the time in the world. "No excuses." Was the last thing Gryzlikoff said to him before dropping a pound of paperwork on the table in front of him.

After a few tiresome hours, he was finished. Truth be told he didn't remember half of what he had written in those papers. Gryzlikoff thumbed through the paperwork. "Everything is in order," he said in a professional tone." As luck would have it, Commander Hooter's meeting was rescheduled for tomorrow. I will personally escort you to him. We have had Headquarters renovated to accommodate for the F.O.U.L. agents we captured after the Duckthulhu incident, no thanks to you.' He put down the wad of papers and motions Darkwing to follow. Darkwing followed in a silent rage. "I hate spies." Darkwing thought. His experience with the deceitful bunch has left him rather bitter. Even more so since he had lost her because he was foolish enough to trust one. The large bear picked up Darkwing's rising rage and regret. 'If it makes you feel any better, the Rooster was among the agents we arrested." He said not looking at Darkwing, but toward the two-steel door with the words 'prison block.' above it.

Steelbeak paced around his cell, his talons clacked against floor as did so. He, along with other F.O.W.L. agents present during their leader's failed attempt to raise Duckthulhu, have been brought here for questioning. The rooster had been relieved of his fancy duds and was give a pale blue prison uniform. His cell much like his fellow inmates had no windows, contained a single bed attached to a wall. The only thing that separated him and the hallway was a thick, glass, see-through door. The suave rooster had spent most of his time planning a careful escape. Steelbeak knew all too well that he was on his own, F.O.W.L wouldn't spare the resources or manpower to help one of their own, not even him.

He laid down in his bed facing the glass door. Steelbeak made himself comfortable as if he were in his own house, with his arms tucked behind his head and had his legs elevated. He was not about to let S.H.U.S.H break him or his spirit to get any information out of him. However, between long questioning sessions and trying to escape, he was rather bored. He missed the life of danger and fancy that he had become accustomed to. Steelbeak was also a very social bird, who hadn't had a decent conversation with anyone, other than his integrator which was usually one-sided. The steel doors slide open grabbing the attention of the prisoners, except for Steelbeak, who acted uninterested.

He changed his tune though when he heard the inmates shouting angerly, and spitting out of death threats and insults to a certain Darkwing Duck. He leaped out of his bed and darted to the glass. The Masked Mallard himself was here after 3 years. "Well looky at what we's has here," he said in his gangster-like slang. "The Great Darkwing Duck graces with 'is presents." Steelbeak pressed against the glass of his prison. Darkwing ignored him and pressed on to the end of the hall. "I love it when you play hard to get partner, but sooner or later yous gonna have ta acknowledge me!' He yelled over his load cellmates. "I'll be waiting here when ya' do!"

J. Gander Hooter's office hadn't changed much since he took over, the walls were lined with books and notes he had written himself. He was old fashioned and didn't trust the S.H.U.S. H's defensives against hackers despite it being the best one of the best on the planet. The ancient bird looked up from a chess game he had been playing himself. "Darkwing my boy," he said getting up to greet him. "It is always good to have my left hand here at headquarters. Now, what can this old bird do for you? ". Darkwing looked at with no expression." I need you to have the police call off the manhunt for the 4.". Hooter gave him a look of slight confusion. The attack on the warehouse has been all over the news, it was considered gang violence and The Fearsome 5 were involved, the police had already collected Quackerjack's body as evidence against them. "On what grounds?" he asked.

Darkwing was silent for a moment, he trusted Gander with his life, but he was a practical duck and would want to uphold the law. As a freelanced agent he didn't have to tell him the whole truth, and he could operate on his own rules. Gryzlikoff had glowered him from the moment he uttered his request. Darkwing averted his gaze from the bear. "I conducted my own investigation that night, cutting around the police." Darkwing began. "The five were involved, but they were not the instigator, nor was it a hitman from another gang." He paused. "The shooter at the warehouse was a weapons specialist, with plenty of insight as to how the Fearsome 5 had operated. He is one of my clones.".

Silence filled the room. Though Gryzlikoff didn't show it in front of his boss, he infuriated. After the Darkwing Crisis. S.H.U.S.H. began investing in security from external dimensional forces, part of which was registering the clone Darkwings in the event they made contact again. Commander hooter had, of course, had put the freelancer in charge of the operation. He had no say in how it was done. Didn't prevent him from asking questions though. "Was it Darkwarrior?" the large bear asked. "No, the clone older than he is and doesn't match any of the known clones.". Darkwing replied. "How do you know?" J. Gander asked. Darkwing paused again. "I took the clone into custody this morning after he broke into my house looking for trouble." He answered. "I intend to get question him about his attack on the warehouse, and how he got here. As we agreed I do." The old commander walked to his desk and sat.

"Be that as it may," Gander started. "Why should we call it off? The Fearsome 5 um…4 still are wanted criminals.". Darkwing sighed. "The fearsome 4 are if reluctantly, aiding me in this case. They want to avenge their fallen comrade." Darkwing walked to the window. Gryzlikoff chimed in. "Oh, really," he said not convinced. "What about that infamous doppelgänger of yours? I doubt he is all friendship all of a sudden.". Darkwing turned to match the bear's gaze. "No," he growled, and for the first time, he lied. Negaduck is not even involved. He wanted to kill the clone on sight, so we fought him off and moved the clone to the tower. Make no though, mistake I am looking for him.". The bear and the duck glared at each other, not trusting the other. "Alright, then," Commander Hooter said. "I'll get the police to call off the search for the Fearsome 5, but on the condition that you bring both the clone and Negaduck here after you have filed your report." Darkwing paused. "deal."

The rooster's eyes followed Darkwing and Gryzlikoff as they pasted his cell. The senior agent was red in the face, must have gone Darkwing's way again. Darkwing looked tired. However, what grabbed his attention the most was the duck's expression. Steelbeak had seen it once before 3 years prior. The night he had tricked him into aiding in the summoning of Duckthulhu and keep it a secret from S.H.U.S.H and his allies. "Oh Darkwing," he thought amused. "What tangled web did you weave?". The suave agent leaned on the glass of his prison. He was still wanting to mess with the Duck Knight. "Hey, Dark," he yelled." What happened in Mr. Big Shots' office?" he asked. No response. "Oh, come on buddy, even though it was just for a night, we worked well as partners. Hell, if ye think about it, ya have a talent fir my kinds of work and it would be better under the guiding hands of F.O.W.L." Darkwing stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes hidden by the brim of his hat. The larger agent at his side stopped two paces ahead of them. Hell, Negaduck is already proof of 'dat ain't he, and he ain't even a member." Drake's blood began to boil at the sound Steelbeak's voice. He turned to him "I am nothing like that and I never will be." The foul rooster smirked and dropped his gangster-like demeanor. Darkwing was in front of his cell now. "Oh, are you sure about that?" Steelbeak retorted. "Your ego alone was enough to summon Duckthulhu, you betrayed S.H.U.S.H. that night to further your own ends, and you manipulated that witch into sacrificing herself to cover your ass. What was her name? Morgana Mac-. "

Crack. Steelbeak fell backward in surprise and hit the ground. There was a large crack in the top left corner of the outside part of the glass door. Blood was trickling from Darkwing's fist, his menace wielded dagger. The tall rooster stood up and lowered himself to Darkwing's eye level. "Tsk, Tsk," said he said still sporting a smirk. "Your Negaduck is showing, If I didn't know any better, I'd say you want to kill me. Maybe Macawber made mistake in saving you, thinking of as a hero, rather than the ticking time bomb you are." That was the last straw. Darkwing pulled out his gas gun, took out a full canister of tear gas and tossed it under the food door of Steelbeak's glass door. The gas spewed and spudded at was released. The trapped rooster ran to the back of the room and tried to protect his face from the gas.

Gryzlikoff put the squirming, enraged mallard in a headlock, lifting him off the ground. "DON'T YOU DARE SAY HER NAME AS IF YOU KNEW HER!" he roared trying to get free from Gryzlikoff. The bear dragged Darkwing back to the entrance, as two nearby agents rushed to help a whimpering Steelbeak. Once they were out of the holding cells and in an empty office, he released his hold on the duck. Darkwing whirled around, looking like a rabid dog ready to attack and glowered at his senior, who blocked his way out. "Are you done proving his point?" he asked with his voice thick with sarcasm. Darkwing was breathing heavily as he came down. He looked at himself. Drake's hand was a bleeding mess of flesh and glass, his uniform had loosed in his struggle against Gryzlikoff, and his gas gun smelled of smoke. The adrenalin left his body as soon as it came and collapsed in a chair. He waited for a strongly worded lecture from Gryzlikoff about his unprofessional behavior, and frankly, he deserved it.

"I should have you suspended and your gas gun confiscated," Said Gryzlikoff in a suppressed anger. "However, and I can't believe I am saying this, that be too much paperwork." The bear looked at Darkwing as the duck sat up in the chair and bowed his head. The mallard had not been here on his own initiative in three years." Look, we have a lot riding you as head of the clone investigation, If you can't hand it-" Darkwing interrupted. "No, I have it under control." He said with a start. "Good," Gryzlikoff replied. Darkwing left the office and headed to for the exit. It was going to be a long case he could feel it.