Chapter 5

Binkie continued to sob when she heard a noise at the front of her prison cell. She looked up and saw through her teary eyes a shadowy figure gesturing to be quiet. 

Binkie scrambled towards the Control Room of the facility. She still couldn't accept the fact that Drake Mallard was dead. She would have to find out the truth for herself. Maybe there could be some glimmer of hope.

"What are you doing here?" Steelbeak yelled.

Binkie twirled around and petrified.

Steelbeak barreled over to her and growled, "You stupid fool. Go back to your post."

Binkie defiantly retorted, "No! Why should I? There's nothing for me to go back too." She fled towards the cloning sector.

Steelbeak was prepared to send some Egg Men to retrieve Binkie when he heard a loud bang behind him. He spun around and saw a large billowing blue cloud of smoke. He placed his hand to his head and groaned.

From out of the smoke a voice bellowed, "I am the terror that flaps in the night! I am the original that gets stuck in the copying machine! I am—Darkwing Duck!!!"

Steelbeak hollered to the Egg Men nearby, "Get 'em boys." The Egg Men shot at the blue cloud of smoke.

"Suck goo evildoers!" Darkwing shouted from behind Steelbeak and the Egg Men. Darkwing pointed his innovative gas gun and immediately shot a shell at the FOWL flock. Steelbeak and the Egg Men were instantly coated in a gluey glop. Steelbeak and the Egg Men muttered a long string of curses as Darkwing placed his gas gun in his jacket. Darkwing then ran towards a tiny alcove under a control panel and got Binkie out of her secure hiding place. Darkwing addressed Binkie as he helped her stand up, "Mrs. Muddlefoot, let's go!" He grabbed Binkie's trembling hand and led her towards the emergency shuttle banks.

Darkwing and Binkie rushed towards the shuttle bay. As they bolted through the facility they ended up in the cloning sector which was situated next to the emergency shuttle bay. FOWL researchers screamed and panicked when they spotted Darkwing Duck. Some ducked under tables as others fled to the emergency shuttle bay in order to escape. Darkwing secretly smiled at the terror he struck in the hearts of the depraved FOWL scientists. Darkwing with Binkie in tow turned a corner of the sector when they ran right into Binkie Muddlefoot.

Darkwing felt the Binkie holding on to his hand grasp it tighter. She gasped, "Oh my word! It's ME!!"

Darkwing stared in shock, indeed the woman before him was the carbon copy of Binkie Muddlefoot. Darkwing said in a hushed tone, "It's the clone."

The Binkie in front of them narrowed her eyes and responded, "Right you are." She turned and fled towards a steamy glass tube against the wall.

Darkwing shouted to the Binkie clone, "Mrs. Muddlefoot—er—clone; Where are you going?" Darkwing pleadingly reached out towards the clone.

The clone tenderly placed her hand on the steamy glass tube. She turned to answer Darkwing but she instead was surprised by what she saw.

The moment Darkwing saw the Binkie clone gape; he instantly realized he was in danger. He let go of Binkie's hand and swerved sideways. Steelbeak narrowly missed cracking his semi-automatic rifle into Darkwing's head.

Steelbeak grunted, "I should've just gunned the quills off your ass." With that Steelbeak pointed the business end of his rifle at Darkwing's head.

Darkwing sneeringly said, "Wrong end, Steelie." Darkwing jump kicked Steelbeak's rifle a second before Steelbeak fired. The misdirected bullet hit a red biohazard panel against the wall.

One of the scientists screamed, "Oh heavens!" Alarms in the facility furiously rang out.

Steelbeak loudly cursed. Egg Men ran into the cloning sector. Steelbeak squalled, "Abandon ship!" The Egg Men and FOWL scientists scrambled to the emergency shuttle bay.

Darkwing scooped up Binkie who was cringing on the floor. Darkwing queried, "You alright?" Binkie nodded, 'Yes'.

Steelbeak viciously cackled, "'Dis isn't over Darkwing Duck! Not by a long shot." Steelbeak with the dutiful Egg Woman fled to the emergency shuttle bay.

Darkwing retorted, "With your lousy shooting. I would say it is." Darkwing then turned his attention to the Binkie clone that was desperately clutching the glass tube. Darkwing called the clone, "Come on, Mrs. Muddlefoot—clone. It's time to get out of here."

The Binkie clone cried, "I'm not going anywhere. My life is here."

Darkwing peered at the glass tube that the Binkie clone was clutching. He noticed that it looked like a body was inside the tube. He noticed the body was partially formed but one could tell that it was an adult drake. His blood ran cold when he realized what was in the tube. Or better yet who was in the tube … it was to be a clone of him. He couldn't believe it. FOWL still went ahead and cloned him without the mind probe.

Binkie screamed, "Mr. Darkwing!"

Darkwing snapped out of his thoughts and realized the facility was breaking apart. The equipment around them sputtered and exploded. Thick choking smoke began the fill the air. Darkwing screamed to the clone, "Come on! If you want to survive you have to go now." She despondently glared at him then buried her face against the glass of the cloning tube. Darkwing went to go grab her when a chunk of the ceiling fell in front of him. He clenched his teeth in frustration. He considered all life precious; manufactured life was still a life. But he had a duty to save the real Binkie too.

Binkie spoke in a far away voice, "I think she's unbalanced."

Darkwing agreed, "Yes…. Mrs. Muddlefoot, we have to go." Darkwing grabbed Binkie and they ran through the falling debris towards the emergency shuttle bay. Suddenly, the entire facility lurched. Darkwing and Binkie were caught off guard and fell to the floor. They slid into the corner near the door to the emergency exit. Large chunks of wreckage tumbled in their direction. Darkwing held on to Binkie and leap out of the way of the tumbling rumble.

Binkie cried, "The exit is blocked. My goodness, what are we going to do?"

Darkwing screamed, "We'll have to make our own." He whipped out his gas gun and shot a pellet towards a far wall. He clutched onto Binkie, wrapped his long dark blue-violet cape around them and braced himself. The pellet that wedged into the wall exploded, revealing the cool nighttime St. Canardian sky. Darkwing then placed a grappling hook attachment in his gun and shot it towards the breach. He hollered, "Hold on tight, Mrs. Muddlefoot." She promptly obeyed. Darkwing then set the gun to reel them up. He mournfully glanced towards the last location of the Binkie clone. The smoke was so thick in that area that he couldn't make anything out. He silently said a prayer for the clone. 

Darkwing got himself and Binkie onto a ledge by the breach in the wall. He unlatched the grapping hook and put his gas gun away. He looked out of sky fortress and saw that it was careening towards the icy waters of Audubon Bay. Darkwing was glad that he knew Binkie was a decent swimmer. He wrapped his arms around Binkie and shouted, "It's now or never!"

Binkie hysterically wailed, "What! Mr. Darkwing? Oh no!"

Darkwing with all of his might lunged at the rupture with Binkie securely in his arms. Binkie clutched Darkwing as tightly as she could and shrieked as if it was the end of the world. Darkwing hoped that he correctly calculated his leap so that they would successfully clear the falling fortress when it hit the water. He and Binkie made it out of the airship and tumbled to the bay below. He prepared himself for the rough landing into the water.

He hit something … hard. Darkwing grunted, "Ouch! The water of Audubon Bay is a lot harder than usual."

Binkie was on top of Darkwing. She rolled off him and shook her head. Binkie dazedly replied, "I don't think we hit the water."

Darkwing slowly got up into a sitting position and looked around. He and Binkie were on a "bill" of a sleek red and violet jet.

The glass casing of the cockpit opened. The pilot beamed and said, "Nice of you two to drop in."

Darkwing and Binkie gleefully spoke in chorus, "Launchpad!"

"Come on in," Launchpad said. Darkwing and Binkie quickly got into the cockpit of the Thunderquack. Launchpad continued, "I saw the fireworks in the sky and didn't want to miss the show."

Darkwing happily patted Launchpad on the back. "Thanks pal." Darkwing looked to the location of the sky fortress. It had hit the water of Audubon Bay and was rapidly sinking. Darkwing requested, "LP, can you take us in a little closer? I want to see if there are any survivors."

Binkie apprehensively commented, "Yes, my—clone. Maybe she's still alive?"

Launchpad puzzled out loud, "Clone?"

Darkwing didn't take his eyes off the water. "It's a LONG story, LP. I'll explain it later."

Darkwing saw the last of the sky facility sink into the water. There was a momentary stillness in the water before a very loud explosion occurred. A large column of water and debris shot up out of the bay. Launchpad deftly banked the Thunderquack out of the path of the murky column. Launchpad stabilized the Thunderquack's flight then piloted the jet to circle back. The occupants of the Thunderquack stared at the rippling watery grave of FOWL's former research airship. Launchpad turned on the Thunderquack's searchlights while Darkwing utilized his unique spy binoculars to search out any potential survivors.

After a couple of minutes, Darkwing put away his binoculars and heaved a deep sigh. He didn't think anyone left on the FOWL fortress survived. The local police, emergency and news helicopters began to fill the skies in the region. Darkwing gloomily turned to Launchpad and said, "I think it's time we left." Darkwing briefly paused before continuing, "I have to alert SHUSH about this event; once we get Mrs. Muddlefoot back to her family."

Binkie began to sob. Launchpad confusedly glanced back at her. "Don't you want to go back to your family?"

"Of course, I'm so happy my nightmare has ended. But—Launchpad—I don't know how to say this but—," Binkie choked back her tears, "Drake's dead." Binkie doubled over and bawled.

Launchpad briefly goggled Binkie. He then gave Darkwing a bewildered look.

Darkwing assured, "Don't worry Mrs. Muddlefoot. Drake's alive and well. I rescued him."

Launchpad calmly commented, "Thank goodness."

Binkie looked up and dazedly gawked at Darkwing. "Really? Where is Drake, Mr. Darkwing?"

Darkwing flustered in his response, "Well … I rescued him awhile ago … I guess he's on his way home … Um, yeah."

"Oh." Binkie gave Darkwing an incomprehensible glance.

Darkwing felt a strange cold sensation down his spine. He nervously coughed then addressed Launchpad, "Let's get Mrs. Muddlefoot home."