Hello! Themusicmaniac here!

Chapter 3 here we come!

This story is a bit of a slow one, but the build up will be worth it, trust me!

Thanks for reading and enjoy!

My head was throbbing.

I don't think I've ever had such a bad headache in my life. I rubbed my head and felt the feathers against my fingertips.

My eyes snapped open.

As I realized where I was, I attempted to orient myself with my surroundings.

What started out as shapes became clear. I was sitting on a hospital style bed in a dark room, I carefully stood up and walked to the door and tested the handle. It was locked.

I sat back down on the bed as I scanned the room for other dangers or possible routes out. I was drugged. But why?

Why would Bulba want to drug me? He wouldn't do it for no reason.

As I thought about this, I saw it: a vent.

It was on the ceiling, so I would need to find a way to get up to it.

I examined the bed that I was sitting on and noticed it had wheels on it. I was lucky. There would be less of a chance of Bulba hearing me.

I took a minute to listen for him before carefully pushing the bed below the vent.

Then, I climbed on top and grabbed the vent cover. I almost dropped it as I pulled it from the ceiling, but was able to set it on the bed. I then set to climb into the vent. It took a couple of tries, but as I pulled my last leg in, I heard voices down the hallway. I crawled as much away from the vent as I could, turning a corner in the vent and stopping to listen.

"I need to check on something real quick. Meet me in lab 2B in a few minutes." That was Bulba.

"Okay" A female voice that I didn't recognize rang from down the hallway.

A few moments later I heard some small noises and the screech of a handle as Bulba unlocked the door and entered the room.

All was silent.

"Valorie… I know you're there."

I put my hands over my mouth as I listened and waited for him to leave. I heard a couple of noises, but I didn't dare move.

"If you come out now, I'll send you back home." Bulba called, "You've been asleep long enough for the ramrod to recharge. I can send you back right now if you just. Come. Out."

I waited longer as I heard shuffling.

"FOWL headquarters, this is agent Bulba. I've got a situation." I wanted to leave but his voice was still close. He'd hear me. So I listened.

"Agent Bulba, this is director Bradford. What is the situation?"

"There's a girl who could destroy my reputation and the Ramrod. She's escaped the lab ,and I fear things may get out of hand if she's not contained."

Bulba's voice got further away as I heard him start to describe me.

I let out a sigh of relief. I need to get out of here. Now. I listened one last time for Bulba and turned to the vent ahead of me.

I was terrified. FOWL was a supervillain organization that DW fought a lot during the show, and now they were on a man- no, duck hunt and I was the target.

So, what was my plan now?

Find DW? Bulba seems to have a lot of power, so is this before Darkwing was a hero? Is this before the show? No, he was a scientist and not a businessman. Something's different.

Should I try to find Gosalyn? She'd be at an orphanage right now, and there's little chance she'd know how to help at this point in time. Launchpad was also out of the question as I have no idea where his farmhouse is.

I plodded along the vent system, feeling my way through the darkness.

I didn't know where I was going.

I just needed to get out.

I jumped as I heard a voice from around the corner.

"Of course the Ramrod is safe. Yes. Yes Mr. McDuck. Why don't you come to my lab on the 5th to tour the lab and see the latest innovations we have at the St. Canard labs."

Bulba again. I carefully made my way to the vent cover above him.

"Mhm. We'll be happy to have you. See you then." He hung up his cell phone and put it into his pocket. I continued to watch him as he took out a key, opened a drawer on his desk, and picked up a walkie talkie from inside.

"Bulba to FOWL high command. How is the case going."

"Dr. Bulba, there is no record of the girl you just described."

"Of course there isn't. She is from another fictional dimension, not our own."

I scowled at this, but didn't dare make a sound.

"Well then, she should be easy to take care of. We are putting agent Steelbeak on the case."

"But sir, with all due respect-"

"Steelbeak has been briefed and is on the lookout for the target. This is not up for debate."

"Yes sir."

The line went silent, and I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. My eyes widened at this mistake. Maybe he didn't hear me?

Bulba snapped his head up toward the vent system, and I scurried across the vent as as he walked towards it.

"Valorie, please come back!"

"No! I don't trust you." I backed away from the vent slowly.

"Can you just talk with me for a second? Have a civil conversation?"

"The last time we did that you drugged me and locked me in a room!"

"It was for your own good!" He yelled firmly.

"WHAT?" I nearly screamed.

"People cannot know about the Ramrod yet. The truth about it's powers. The people who have been lost." The last statement sounded almost remorseful.

"Why? Why can't they know?" I said, lowering my voice at this.

"I'll be ruined!" As he said this statement, Bulba tore the vent cover from the vent, and I screamed and jumped backwards. I crawled away as fast as I could and kept crawling. I didn't care where I went, as long as I was crawling away from Taurus Bulba.

I never felt more lost in my life. I needed out. I needed out. I needed-

Light!

It was shining to my left. If it wasn't a room it was a way out. I crawled towards it as quickly as I could. It was cold, and it was bright, but not in a natural way. It was moonlight that shone through my exit way. I touched the grate that was the one small wall keeping me from my freedom. I pushed against it. It didn't move.

I pushed even harder the next time.

I rammed my shoulder against the vent with all my strength and repeated it multiple times. I could feel it coming loose. I stopped for a second, panting.

I decided to change my tactic, lest I accidentally fall shoulder first out of the building. I had no idea what story we were on, but I had a feeling it was higher up than I would like.

I repositioned myself so that my feet were first and kicked the vent. It only took two tries for it to come flying off and for my feet to be met with a gust of wind.

I crawled to the edge of the vent and looked down. Oh… oh my. I was twenty stories up! How was I to get down from here?! I looked for anything that could aid my escape, but there was nothing. I would have to jump, or try to escape from the inside. Either route seemed unlikely I would get out alive.

If only there was someone else to help me.

But there isn't. Climbing down was not an option as the building was covered in glass. There were some ledges, but I don't trust them to hold my weight.

Then I realized I had my jacket. I formulated a plan.

It was a desperate plan, but right now, I had nothing else.

I tied the arms around my neck into a tight knot. And flipped the back over my head and held onto the two ends in front of me. I flipped my legs out the end of the vent.

And jumped.

I tried to position myself horizontally, but my makeshift parachute was not working, I was in freefall. I screamed as I realized that these may actually be my last moments.

My life flashed before my eyes, before I felt the impact of… a bush?

I opened my eyes to find that I had landed in a bush in front of the lab. I hurt all over. My left arm had to be broken… but I was alive! I had little time to celebrate as alarms blared in the lab.

If he hadn't seen me push the vent cover off, Bulba must have seen that. I got up and limped for cover into an alleyway across the street as fast as I possibly could.

I collapsed against the wall.

How did I survive that fall?

Was it cartoon physics of this world?

Was it my duck body?

That would never be physically possible in my universe.

I was unsure of where to go next or unsure of what I'd find. I checked my body for any major injuries (as far as I could tell the worst was my arm, the rest was just sore), gathered my strength up, and started walking down the alleyway.

"Hold it right there, missy." I stopped in my tracks. I've… I've heard that voice before.

"Yeah."

"What are you doing running from McDuck labs at this time of night?"

"What business do I have telling you?" I said, as I turned around.

I gaped at the figure in front of me.

What on earth was Bonkers doing in St. Canard!?

Thank you to both guests who reviewed the story! I really appreciate your encouragement.

I have no current timeline for posting yet because of school. I have my story mostly planned out, but writing takes time.

See ya next time!