by Roaming Tigress
Chapter One:
Double Planning
It was a muggy night in June when High Command ordered Steelbeak to obtain a rare species of native orchid from St. Canard Zoological Park. In the agent's eyes, it sounded like a ridiculously simple and pointless mission. For High Command, however, the plant was invaluable. Only forty known specimens were in existence, four of them being held at the zoo for conservation purposes.
Steelbeak grinned broadly as he looked up at the large screen were three ominous figures stared down at him. These were the shadow of High Command, the rulers of the Fiendish Organization for World Larceny. Quite normally reporting to High Command made Steelbeak nervous, but this time he was amused by them. To him, a plant was a plant, regardless of how rare it was.
"Boys, boys...De next t'ing you'll want me to do is to steal a coupla roses from de market!" The burly, handsome rooster laughed. "Or de dandelions from de school yard! I mean, dis is Bushroot stuff!"
"The orchids will fetch a high price on the black market!" The middle shadow hissed, not pleased by Steelbeak's sarcastic attitude. "I trust you will be successful. The zoo has the lousiest security guards in the city. If you can't complete this mission -- "
"I'll do it!" Steelbeak nervously interrupted, not wanting to know what would happen if he didn't succeed. "Jus' lemme take an Allegra and I'll be right out dere and on de job!"
"Good luck, Agent Steelbeak!" The figure on the left side spoke. "You'll need it!"
"No problemo, guys!" Steelbeak replied cheerfully as he sauntered down the hallway.
"Is this the best agent we have?" Questioned the shadow on the right, doubting Steelbeak's "greatness" for the organization.
"Yes," sighed the middle shadow. "Unfortunately."
*****
"Oh my little babies, I just know you'll love it here!" Bushroot said to himself, clearing away debris from a bench. He was preparing his greenhouse for the orchids that he planned on stealing from the zoo, not knowing of Steelbeak's plans. However, unlike the F.O.W.L agent, Bushroot wasn't planning on making money off of them. All he wanted to do was to liberate them from their confinement. "That zoo is so terrible, Spike. Those poor plants, never mind the animals!"
Under the bench was Spike, the plant/duck hybrid's faithful companion. He was curled up and fast asleep without a care in the world until a clay pot fell from the bench and onto his head. Startled, Spike awoke with a snarl and prepared to attack whoever dared to disturb his rest.
"Take it easy, Spike. Look, I'm sorry..." Bushroot apologized fretfully, reaching down and patting the oversized venus fly trap on the head. "Well, off to the zoo I go, Spike. Daddy's going to bring home a couple of friends for you!"
Spike licked his leafy hand, accepting the apology. He jumped around at the mention of going to the zoo, desperately wanting to tag along with his master on this trip.
"I'm sorry I can't take you, old pal," Bushroot sighed, giving his friend a last pat on the head. "You gotta stay and guard the greenhouse."
After a quick check on his plant collection, Bushroot was all set and ready to go. He cautiously slunk out of the door, half-expecting Darkwing Duck or a rival villain to ambush him. When the coast was clear, he quickly scrambled across the field and towards the park were the zoo was located. The sooner he would get there, the better.
****
Unfortunate for Bushroot, Steelbeak got to the zoo before he did.
Disclaimer:
Darkwing Duck, Bushroot, Steelbeak and other characters mentioned are © Disney.
