Adam sat on the edge of a building's roof looking up at the setting sun. He didn't know why, but just looking at the scene put his mind at ease. It only lasted a few moments cause then he felt an overwhelming vibe almost crushing his previous feeling of peace into one of dread and awe.
"Are you the one who carries the wings of Harjuk?"
Adam looked around, but saw nothing.
"Up here sharp stuff."
Adam looked upward and noticed a ghostly outline of a giant reptilian being that almost covered a large part of the sky, but the face stood out.
"Lord Servain of Sauria?", Adam asked in awe.
"Yeah, who did you think you were talking to?", the entity answered.
Adam grew more uneasy.
"Um, I think you're mistaking me for someone else. My name is Adam DeCoy and I have no idea who Harjuk is."
Servain's expression darkened.
"I never mistake a deity's lingering presence.", he said firmly, "And what's this I hear about you tampering with his flesh samples?"
Adam grew nervous. The look on this guy's face was enough to scare him half to death so it would sound wise not to leave this guy guessing.
"I got a little carried away and tried to make my kind better, but I was wrong about it. Dragaunus only wanted better soldiers and-"
"Dragaunus?", Servain asked with his expression turning to one of curiosity, "Why would he have you do that if your kind is against him?"
"Hey, my sister Lucretia tricked me into thinking I was helping my fellow ducks okay?", Adam insisted, "I don't even know what Harjuk even is so can you please explain to me?"
Servain sighed.
"Fine. Millenniums ago, during the first age of saurian ruling, the pantheon governed the races fairly and kept balance. Harjuk, the Lord of Trickery was usually causing mischief and trouble so he or others could get a laugh. His sister Varjakil, the Lady of Ruin only wanted to spread chaos and destruction so others were miserable. Of course I had to put my foot down, but did they listen? No, they just turned on each other and wound up obliterating each other off the face of creation."
He paused a moment for this to sink in. Adam was interested right away.
"So, having these wings makes me part deity or something?", he guessed.
"That would seem to be the case.", Servain answered, "But I'm feeling that you're not the only one."
Adam nodded.
"Lucretia has saurian power too and I'm guessing that since she's also like me that I have to stop her right?"
Servain smiled.
"You read my mind. Keep an eye on her and keep her from causing trouble okay?"
Adam gave a salute.
"By your command high father.", he answered before looking confused, "Why did I say that?"
Servain's image vanished leaving Adam alone again.
/
"Eyes on the puck ducks!", Wildwing called out.
The ducks were in the middle of practice and Phil was in his office as usual.
"Okay, who's got what available.", he muttered as he flipped through his planner.
A knock came on his door.
"Come in."
Klegghorn came in looking concerned and carrying a tray of coffee which he placed on Phil's desk before sitting down himself.
"What's with you Palmfeather?", he asked, "Miss being human?"
Phil looked his way.
"It's been over seven months since I got feathers and a beak, I can barely show up anywhere without people getting uneasy, and I'm almost late on the rent on my house."
Klegghorn raised an eyebrow.
"You don't pay rent.", he said calmly, "And your mortgage was paid off last week."
Phil sighed. Klegghron always could see through him. His television flickered on mysteriously and a commercial came on.
"Are you tired of being what you are? Looking for a change in your routine? How about some downtime as another species? Well all that is behind you now. Stop by the latest shopping area of Dimensional Limbo: Shopvania where out motto is: If you're looking, we're selling."
The screen showed a large department store hovering in space with the logo below it before going into another commercial, but Phil had turned it off.
"Phil?", Klegghorn asked, "What's with the look?"
Phil smiled.
"Klegghorn, how does the team feel about shopping?"
Klegghorn frowned.
"Phil, they're hockey playing alien ducks. They probably don't have time for-"
He paused cause it was clear Phil wasn't listening as he left the room and sighed.
"Just my luck.", he muttered.
/
"Phil, are you sure that there's a rift opening at the mall?", Tanya asked skeptically, "Drake 1 didn't detect anything."
The ducks had filed into the Migrator and were already on the way to the mall, but only Phil seemed sure.
"Sounds like Phil just booked us another one of his "get-rich-quick" schemes.", Mallory said sounding annoyed, "Like the time he once o get me to wear that awful swimwear?"
Nosedive chuckled, but went silent when Mallory glared his way.
"Guys, I'm serious.", Phil insisted, "It's a rift opening to...a...deadly prehistoric land."
Wildwing looked unsure.
"If we don't find a rift Phil, you owe us big time.", he said firmly.
Canard tensed.
"Wing, something's up around here."
Tanya pulled out a small radar that started beeping rapidly and loud.
"Wow, it looks like there is a rift here."
"Nothing seems out of place.", Thrash stated as the Migrator pulled into the mall's parking lot.
"Do not be deceived by outward appearances.", Grin said sagely, "I'm feeling strong vibes coming from inside."
The ducks came out with Morpha alongside them. Nothing seemed out of place, but there was nobody around. Cautiously, Wildwing led the ducks up to the doors and placed a hand on the handle.
"Okay, after I open the door, then we fire if anything bad comes out."
The others nodded and after taking a breath, Wildwing pulled the door open. Nothing happened.
"That's odd.", Klegghorn stated, "I thought for sure there was a disturbance in there. Tanya's device must be glitched or something."
"The mall is empty.", Thrash stated as they went inside.
They came in through the food court entrance, but nobody was around and the lights were off.
"Okay, this is weird.", Canard said, "Why would the mall be open, but nobody around?"
A loud clang went off and the ducks turned to see the doors become encased in iron.
"Great. Now we're trapped.", Mookie groaned.
Morpha went over to the doors and hit them a couple times only to get electrified and sent flying to the feet of the ducks.
"Morpha, are you alright?", Nosedive asked.
Morpha weakly gave a thumbs-up.
"Yeah, he's fine.", Mallory stated, "Now how do we get out of here?"
"Split up.", Wildwing stated, "First one to find an exit contact everyone else."
/
Phil cautiously walked behind Wildwing and Canard as they walked down a line of closed shops.
"What kind of rift just opens and nothing happens?", Canard asked.
Phil gulped.
"Maybe it's a rift to somewhere in Dimensional Limbo that has something creepy, slimy and a mouth full of fangs that can get into a room through a crack in the wall."
Canard rolled his eyes.
"Phil, I have seen crazy things in Dimensional Limbo and in no way have I seen anything like that."
A little further down, they came to a fountain where around the corner a shop was open with the lights on. As the ducks got closer, the sign over the large door became clear.
"Shopvania: You want it, we sell it.", Wildwing read.
And that was when a shower of confetti came snowing down and two female clerks came out wearing slick outfits and big smiles.
"Welcome to Shopvania, how can we help you today?", they asked in perfect harmony.
Wildwing, Canard and Phil just looked stunned for a moment before Wildwing got his resolve back.
"We're looking to have a word with the management.", he stated.
"Well you've found him my good man."
The ducks looked behind them to see another clerk dressed in a fancy suit and bowler hat with fancy feathers along the brim. He twirled his cane in the air and gave a bow and smile.
"The name's Carlos D. Snippet. Greatest salesmen in all the reaches of Dimensional Limbo at your service."
Canard tensed.
"Don't give into his flattery.", he warned, "He's a con man and creep."
Carlos gave a hurt expression.
"My dear friend, I would never con a duck so fine and esteemed like yourself."
Phil was calmed right away.
"Look Carlos sir, we were wondering if-"
"I could explain why I'm here?", Carlos asked.
"No.", Wildwing said firmly, "We're not interested in-"
"A way back to Puckworld?", Carlos asked.
The three ducks looked amused and Carlos changed to a smiling face again before he twirled around and reappeared in front of the store.
"If I can have a moment of your time, I have for today only, a once-in-a-lifetime deal that you would be foolish to refuse. I have in my wares a special Build-It-Yourself Dimensional Gateway set. Comes complete with tools, instructions and power suits for transportation. Once assembled you can explore the vast reaches of the unknown, dazzle your friends and family, and go on a field trip nobody will ever forget! And if you purchase in the next five minutes only, I'll cut the price to 99% off!"
The salesladies behind him were standing on opposite ends as he came to a side and a large box appeared in between them with a price tag on the top.
"How much we talking here?", Wildwing asked.
Carlos' smile got bigger.
"Ninety-nine dollars and seventy four cents paid up front, cash or credit is accepted."
"Deal.", Wildwing stated.
The moment he finished, a cash register appeared in front of Carlos as the crate floated to his side. Wildwing gave a credit card to him which he swiped and a recite came out which he handed over.
"There you are my good man.", Carlos said still smiling, "Pleasure doing business with you."
/
Canard looked unsure as he and Wildwing walked away with the crate.
"Are you sure you did the right thing?", he asked, "Carlos is known for shady dealings."
"What else can we do?", Wildwing asked, "Quasleet might be able to fix up the gateway back home with this."
Canard then noticed Phil walking up behind them looking just as curious.
"So that's it?", Phil asked, "We let Carlos set up shop here?"
Canard frowned.
"That's what he wants, but I think we need to shut it down before anyone else shows up."
Phil looked at the clock at the center of the four way intersecting hallways.
"The place opens in thirty minutes. How can we-"
"Hey ducks."
Wildwing, Canard and Phil looked to see the other ducks show up and Morpha at Nosedive's side.
"We looked all over.", Duke reported, "All doors are closed and bolted with magical forces."
Canard rolled his eyes.
"Of course Carlos would do that."
"Carlos?", Mallory asked.
"A domain ruler from Dimensional Limbo.", Canard answered, "He makes sales and deals with anyone who passes by and not many people can get far or resist his charm. He sold us this gateway generator kit and-"
"Say what?!", Tanya asked.
Before anyone could stop it, Morpha used a couple tendrils to use as crowbars to open the crate only to reveal an empty crate with a note. Wildwing picked it up and frowned.
"Please wait seven to eight weeks for drop off at address when signed at bottom of this paper?! I can't believe I fell for that guy!"
Canard smiled.
"Told you."
Nosedive looked just as upset.
"Geez, you try and get a package only to find it's a form for it. Talk about rip off."
Wildwing took a couple breaths and turned to Canard.
"So how do we outdo the best salesmen in Dimensional Limbo?"
Canard looked thoughtful and then his eyes fell on the now open crate. An idea was coming to mind and a plan as well.
/
Carlos slid his hands through a stack of hundred dollar bills and chuckled.
"Suckers.", he snickered, "I promise them a gateway generator kit, and they only get the order slip. Am I a genius or what?"
"Hey Carlos, you there?"
Carlos snapped his fingers and the bills went into his cash register and he got up and gave a smile at Mookie who was in front of him with a crate.
"Welcome to Shopvania, the greatest shop in all Dimensional Limbo, how can I help you today?"
Mookie smiled.
"Carlos, what if I told you I have a special bargain just for you?"
Carlos' smile got bigger.
"Oh, you want to make an exchange with me. Go on, I'm listening."
Mookie put her hand on the crate and Thrash came out behind it.
"Carlos of Shopvania, we would like to offer you the one thing you don't have for sale right here inside this very crate."
Carlos frowned.
"I have everything there is to sell, what could you have I don't?"
Phil came out wearing his special salesmen outfit.
"You're sales will be finished amigo. And we're in a good mood today and hoping you could make a deal."
Carlos' smile returned.
"So, what is it you want from me?"
"You take the shop back to Limbo.", Mookie answered, "Once you get this, you have to promise you'll pull the shop and all your merchandise back into Dimensional Limbo."
Carlos looked thoughtful.
"That's it?"
"That's it.", Thrash answered, "Deal or no deal?"
Carlos thought for a second.
"How about I throw in a special enchantium?"
"One that makes change?", Phil asked.
Carlos nodded eying the crate greedily.
Phil pulled out a paper.
"Initials here, here and here. Signature on the bottom.", he said pointing with a pen.
Carlos signed and then he handed over an enchantium that looked dark violet and blue before seizing the crate. The moment he opened it, a huge vortex opened and the shop he had began getting sucked into it with Carlos looking both shocked and angry.
"What?! There's nothing here! I've been swindled!"
The other ducks laughed as Carlos went into the vortex.
"How does it feel to have a taste of your own medicine?", Duke called out.
The moment Carlos was gone, the shop became nothing but an empty lot. Phil rubbed the enchantium in his hand.
"Man I can't wait to be human again.", he said smiling.
There was a blast of light and Phil stood there still a duck, empty handed and looking pretty scorched, but he'll be okay.
"You sure got burned on that deal.", Canard stated smiling.
Phil frowned.
"I asked for an enchantium that would make change-"
"Well it changed the way you look from two seconds ago.", Mookie put in.
Phil's frown darkened.
"Darn it."