Chapter 3

Drake gradually awoke in bed. He stretched himself out and noted that he must've been dreaming. He deeply yawned then groggily rubbed his eyes. He slowly opened his eyes and realized that his bedroom doesn't have space age style decorum.

Drake bolted up in the bed and scrutinized his surrounding. He definitely wasn't in his home or the Muddlefoots' for that matter. He was in what looked like a futuristic metallic prison cell, although it wasn't too futuristic since it had traditional bars for security. Drake jumped off the prison cell cot and began to examine himself. He wanted to make sure that nothing was implanted or removed from his body. He breathed a hefty sigh of relief that everything was in its place; nothing added or taken away. It was a good thing that he was already prepared.

"Drake? Is that you?" a soft voice whispered.

Drake turned to the direction of the voice. It sounded like it came from next to his cell. He cautiously whispered back, "Yes."

"Thank goodness. It's me—Binkie. I'm in the next cell."

"Binkie?"

"Yes. I've been here for awhile now."

Drake was taken aback that Binkie was here too. He could've sworn she was the one who knocked him out. Drake realized that even if Binkie did initially knock him out, he must have been additionally sedated since he was abnormally groggy.

"Drake, are you ok? I saw when they brought you in. You were unconscious. I was so worried that you might've been seriously injured."

Drake responded, "I'm ok. I'm just a little dazed. Are you alright?"

Binkie answered, "Thank heavens, you're ok. I'm—frightened—but otherwise I'm all right."

"That's understandable that you're frightened. At least, you're ok. I'm relieved to know that." There was a brief silence before Drake spoke up, "You say you've been here for awhile? And who are they?"

"Yes. I'm not sure how long I've been here but I feel that it must be more than a couple of days," Binkie said. Drake was horrified, he couldn't fathom that Binkie's been imprisoned here for so long. She continued, "I'm not really sure who they are."

"Let me fill you in 'den…," an ethnically accented voice from out of visual range crowed. 

The owner of the voice appeared from across the hallway so that he could be seen by both occupants of the cells. Binkie shrunk back into the depths of her cell. The tall debonair rooster with a steel beak cackled, "Aw, did I interrupt your little cell block party. Next time, I'll bring some potato salad." Drake ferociously glowered. The rooster taunted Drake, "Be careful lover boy; you're face might stick 'dat way." A look of embarrassment crossed Drake's face. The rooster then smugly announced to his captive audience, "Welcome aboard to duh Fiendish Organization for World Larceny—"

Drake interjected, "F.O.W.L."

The rooster exclaimed, "You catch on quick. Do you want a bread crumb, ducky?" Drake snarled. The rooster condescendingly continued with his speech, "Ditto Design Research Facility." The rooster then mockingly bowed. "Hi. I'm Steelbeak, your captor for the duration of your incarceration." He then gestured and some troopers in yellow and orange jumpsuits appeared. "And 'dese are your guards, FOWL Egg Men." A female loudly huffed. "And Egg Woman," Steelbeak added. He then shrugged and laughed, "Hey, FOWL's an equal opportunity employer."  

Drake angrily stormed to the front of the cell and shook the bars. "Whatever! Why is Binkie here? Why am I here?"

Steelbeak smirked. "My, my; As if I owe you an ex-pla-na-tion."

Binkie softly spoke, "Not to be rude, Mr. Steelbeak, but it would be really nice if you did let us know what you had in store for us. Please." Binkie bashfully batted her eyes.

Steelbeak courteously smiled. "Aw, lady. I can't turn you down. You even said, 'Please.'" Drake attentively listened as Steelbeak folded his arms and began his explanation. "You may realize your husband Herbert Muddlefoot, has had prior dealings with an organization referred to as SHUSH and a special operative of theirs, Darkwing Duck."

Drake had a barely perceivably smirk on his bill at the mention of Darkwing Duck.

Steelbeak went on, "FOWL High Command figured Mr. Muddlefoot might be linked with SHUSH or Darkwing Duck."

Binkie thoughtfully tilted her head and said, "No offense, Mr. Steelbeak. But I don't think my husband is involved in any kind of organization other than Quackerware." Drake grinned that Binkie was right about that.

Steelbeak cackled, "You may believe 'dat to be so Mrs. Muddlefoot, but you also have the honor of living next door to The Mallards."

Drake snarled, "Yeah, so!"

Steelbeak gave Drake a contemptuous look. "Come now, your close family friend is Launchpad McQuack. He's a known associate of Darkwing Duck. And isn't your girlfriend, Morgana McCawber. She's definitely had run-ins with Darkwing Duck, although I heard through duh grapevine 'dey're comrades." Steelbeak wickedly sneered at Drake. "It looks like you have a tendency to filch other people's property." Drake embarrassedly covered his eyes. Steelbeak chuckled, "I never would've guessed you to be duh type. I already lost the bet 'dat you had different tastes. I misjudged you." Drake glared at Steelbeak. Steelbeak joked, "But … Hey, I relate to your problem. Women are like potato chips, you can't have just one." The Egg Woman snorted and tossed her long wavy brown hair that cascaded from under her white egg shaped helmet. Steelbeak proudly ran his hand over his red rooster's comb and smirked.

Drake was peeved. "You know all that, huh? So the Binkie that's currently running around the neighborhood is a spy."

Binkie gasped and put her hands to her face. "A spy! Oh my!"

Steelbeak approvingly clapped his hands. "Bingo, my sharp suburbanite! But she's not just your average spy. She's a clone of Binkie Muddlefoot."

Drake and Binkie responded in unison, "A CLONE!!!"

Steelbeak nodded. "Yup! FOWL's Ditto Design Department is duh premier manufacturer of the finest clones anywhere. Each and every clone can be tailored to suit whatever needs necessary. The particular model sent to replace duh lovely Mrs. Muddlefoot was altered to be extra snoopy with low moralistic character."

Drake grinned at the enlightenment; it all was starting to make sense. He breathed a sigh of relief and felt a little less guilty. Although, he believed that he wasn't absolved of all culpability because of the coveting that commenced from his character.

Binkie whimpered, "I can't believe you made a physical copy of me."

Steelbeak replied, "Not just a physical copy but mental too; 'danks to duh Commemoreproducer mind probe. With the exception of the a-dul-ter-a-tions done to make the clone into a worthy spy, she has all of your memories and personality."

Drake enraged, "How foul!"

Steelbeak shot back, "Correct!"

Binkie hunched over and covered her teary eyes.

Steelbeak reached into his white tuxedo jacket and produced a white downy feather. He twirled the feather in his hand and said, "Aw, don't worry Mrs. Muddlefoot. You won't be duh only person in the neighborhood to have your very own clone." Drake's eyes bulged with terror. Steelbeak addressed Drake, "After duh physical clone of you is made, the mind probe will complete it with a copy your common bourgeois brain." Steelbeak triumphantly cackled as he headed off to the cloning sector.