Chapter 4

Lady C froze right before her downward swing of her meat cleaver into Darkwing's head. She stared into Darkwing's eyes and softly whimpered, "Drake…?" Lady C's body began to shudder violently and her eyes rolled back into her head.

Launchpad grabbed the shuddering Lady C and pulled her off of Darkwing. Launchpad yanked the cleaver from her stiff hands. He held Lady C in his burly arms and asked, "DW, are you ok?"

Darkwing lay still on the ground. He was blown away; after all that Lady C has done to him—the humiliation, the molestation, the perforation, the subjugation and the near assassination—it was all done by Binkie! And she called him Drake; Darkwing's heart palpitated.

"DW? You alright?" Launchpad was worried. Darkwing wasn't moving and he looked like he lost a battle with a demonic weed whacker. 

Darkwing slowly stirred and responded, "I'm alright." He got up on his feet and looked to Launchpad.

"Thank goodness." Launchpad breathed a sigh of relief. He continued, "Lady C, she was about to kill you but she froze up then started trembling."

"She might've had a seizure. The same thing happened to me when I broke the mind control. I didn't realize it previously but maybe she was under mind control herself. But right now she looks cataleptic." Darkwing slowly approached Launchpad. He gazed at Lady C in Launchpad's arms.

Launchpad looked down to Lady C and was startled. He cried out, "Binkie?" He didn't really look at the woman's face earlier. He was so concerned with preventing her from killing Darkwing. Launchpad knew she was Lady C even though she didn't have her cloak on. The woman had the same general built, deep blue coiffure, light blue leather gloves and boots as Lady C. Who else would she be, besides Lady C?

Darkwing checked Lady C's vitals. He said, "Yeah, she's Binkie. But she can't really be Binkie because the real Binkie is with her family in St. Canard. I'm guessing this woman is a clone."

"A clone? Wow! I guess so."

"Her vitals are good. She'll survive." Darkwing concerned, held Launchpad's arm and asked, "How are you doing, LP? You were out for a long time."

"Don't worry, I'm feeling fine. I just got a really good rest," Launchpad joked.

"Are you sure you're ok? You were in the processing pod for awhile. You don't feel brainwashed in any way?"

Launchpad mused for awhile then answered, "No. I feel like my brain is dirty like normal." Launchpad chuckled.

Darkwing laughed and shook his head. He happily replied, "Thank goodness. We don't have much time. The Consbrainer 800s will go online soon. We have to stop that from happening."

"What about Lady C—Binkie—whomever—what will we do with her?"

"I say let's take her with us. I definitely don't want her to stay with FOWL." Darkwing was queasy with the notion that Lady C knew his alter ego name. He assumed Lady C must have been programmed with Binkie's memories. Darkwing went on, "I want to get her to SHUSH. Lady C needs to be examined. I think SHUSH will be very interested in Steelbeak's monster." He took the cataleptic Lady C from Launchpad's arms. Darkwing began to search her for weaponry.

"Monster, DW?"

"Yeah—in the traditional sense," Darkwing simpered then gloomily continued, "She's far too fast and strong to be a regular Binkie clone. She's an enhanced assassin that I believe was created by Project Pygmalion. I really hope she's one of a kind. I could barely battle just her alone. I fear the thought of a legion of super soldiers like her."

Darkwing took off of Lady C's body a variety of deadly objects and he placed them in a pile next to him. Daggers, swords, knives, forks, spatula, frying pan, rolling pin, ice pick, saw, meat cleaver, etc … constituted the large pile of weaponry next to Darkwing. "I hope you don't mind but can you carry Lady C? I think I only have enough strength to stop the Consbrainer," Darkwing said.

"Sure thing," Launchpad replied.

Darkwing satisfied with his search of Lady C, handed her back to Launchpad. Darkwing warned, "I believe Lady C should stay cataleptic for a long while. Hopefully long enough for me to stop FOWL's fiendish plan. Be careful, with her. Even though she looks like Binkie, remember she's not. She's really a wickedly wily wildcat of a woman."

"No problemo, DW!" Launchpad came to attention and staunchly saluted.

Darkwing arched his brow. He worried that he and Launchpad are functioning on three wheels with a few screws loose. Oh well, it's not like that hasn't happened many times before. Darkwing stated, "Let's—"

The egg basket from the interrogation room came out from a hidden panel on the wall. It rolled to Lady C's cloak and picked it up. It then went over to the pile of weapons and scooped it up into its basket with its quadruple arms. The egg basket then went to Darkwing and fixed his hat to an attractive jaunty angle.

Darkwing said in bafflement, "Er, much obliged." 

The egg basket waved to Darkwing, rolled back to the hidden panel and departed.

Darkwing asserted, "As I was saying—Let's Get Dangerous!"

Launchpad had slung the cataleptic Lady C over his shoulder. He and Darkwing cautiously navigated the facility passageways in search of the main control room before time ran out. As Darkwing and Launchpad moved through the dangerous FOWL structure, the unconscious Lady C's mind drifted….

She deposited the bag of trash in the metal trash can. She couldn't take the rancid smell of rotten broccoli and fish remains anymore in the kitchen. The stench was making her nauseous. She was going to really scrub out the kitchen trash bin and turn up the air freshener. She shivered in the blustery wintry air; it was just such a quick trip to the curb that she only wore a thick robe over her clothes. She felt she better get back into the house before she becomes a Popsicle.

"BINKIE!!!" Drake Mallard screamed.

She was confused. Why was her next door neighbor screaming at her? She looked up and replied, "Drake…?" She saw there was a car spinning out of control down the icy street of Avian Way and it was quickly heading her way. She was so terrified that she petrified on the spot.

Drake ran with all his might and did a handspring into a double flip. He soared through the air and adroitly caught her in his arms as he landed. Drake then swiftly leaped with her in his strong arms. They flew in the air and landed in a snow bank on the Muddlefoot's lawn.

Drake had landed on top of her. He pushed himself off of her and examined her. She was still soundlessly petrified. Drake worriedly questioned, "Binkie, are you ok?"

She raggedly gasped, "Oh my goodness!" She quickly pulled herself up and looked to the curb. The trash can was flattened down like a piece of tin foil. She was just standing there; that could've been her body. She began to tear up and tremble. Drake put his arm around her and gently comforted her.

"Drake, you saved my life. Oh, thank you—thank you so very much." She cried against his winter jacketed chest.

"You're welcome," Drake replied, "Binkie, are you alright enough to get back into the house unaided?"

She affirmed, "Why, yes. I'm all right now. Thanks." Drake gently helped her onto her feet. He reached into his coat pocket and offered her a handkerchief. She took the handkerchief and began to wipe her tears.

Drake said, "I'm going to check on the occupants of the car. They might need some help."

She dazedly nodded, 'Yes'.

She went into the house and watched Drake help the occupants of the car which was an elderly couple. Drake got on his cell phone and contacted emergency services for the couple. Drake also checked the driver's vitals and comforted the elderly woman until official help arrived. She was totally amazed; she never seen this side of Drake before. He was so commanding, so gallant. It was like Drake was a completely different person from the timid recluse that she thought he was. She also didn't realize before that Drake was exceptionally athletic. She never saw him workout around the house; where did he get those moves? From that moment on, she never looked at Drake Mallard quite the same way. It just wasn't because of the mere fact that Drake heroically saved her life but that she somehow intangible felt there was something more to him.

Darkwing griped to Launchpad, "Stupid me! That darn basket was right in front of me with all of our gear. For the love of Justice, why didn't I jump it and take back our stuff? My mind must really be scrambled."

Launchpad distantly spoke, "Scrambled … like an egg.…" He briefly looked mystified then all right again.

Darkwing gave Launchpad a concerned look.

Lady C heard voices, they sounded like Launchpad and Drake. She loudly moaned.

Launchpad was startled while Darkwing prepared himself for the worst.

Lady C groaned, "Launchpad?"

"Yeah?" Launchpad took Lady C off his shoulder. He gently put her down and supported her on her feet.

Lady C looked up at Launchpad and weakly smiled. She said, "Oh dear! Launchpad, why were carrying me?" Launchpad silently gawked at her. She looked to who she thought was Drake and was bewildered. That person wasn't Drake but Darkwing Duck. She perplexedly stared at Darkwing.

"Do you know who you are and where you're at?" Darkwing nervously questioned.

"I'm Binkie Muddlefoot—" Lady C looked at her surroundings. It looked like a tiny, shadowy utility room. "—and I have no idea where I am," she replied.

"She thinks she's Binkie!" Launchpad incredulously remarked.

Lady C was miffed. "Why, of course, I'm Binkie. Who else would I be?"

Darkwing cautiously answered, "Does Lady Cleaver ring a bell?"

Lady C gawked at Darkwing for a long while. She subsequently looked down at herself. She tentatively touched her leather outfit and held her long white pearl necklace in her hands. She looked up with her face contorted in sheer horror. Darkwing immediately grabbed Lady C's mouth to stifle a scream.

"Please, Lady C—Binkie—don't scream. We're in a very dangerous situation, ok? Nod yes if you understand," Darkwing said.

Lady C nodded, 'Yes'. Darkwing slowly pulled his hand off her mouth. She whimpered, "Ooh, oh my! I think I know who I really am now. I'm really Binkie Muddlefoot. I was kidnapped and transformed into Lady Cleaver by FOWL."

Launchpad balked. "That can't be!!"

Lady C said, "But it's the truth. I know I'm Binkie Muddlefoot. I know it in my soul." Lady C's eyes widened and she fearfully placed her hands to her face. She whined, "Oh no! What happened to my children, Tank and Honker? What about my husband, Herb? Oh my poor, poor Herby! Are they all safe and sound?" She began to cry.

Darkwing held Lady C and comforted her. He responded, "Don't worry. They're all doing fine back in St. Canard." He thought about how they're all fine with Mrs. Muddlefoot back in St. Canard. He wondered just who was he really comforting in his arms. He contemplated that this woman must be a confused clone. Poor thing; when will the real situation of her existence be told to her? How will she handle the harsh reality?

Lady C pulled away from Darkwing and tenderly held his disguised face in her gloved hands. She softly spoke, "I realize what I did and nearly done to you. I'm so very, very sorry. I don't know how you can ever forgive me."

Darkwing said, "Don't worry about that. I believe you were under mind control and programmed to be an assassin." He couldn't grasp that this was the same woman who moments before nearly planted a cleaver in his skull.

"Thank you," she replied. She turned to Launchpad and addressed him, "And I own you an apology too."

Launchpad coolly waved his hand and answered, "That's ok. I agree with DW. You weren't in your right mind to be held accountable."

"Well, I don't feel any less guilty," she disconsolately responded as she wiped the tears from her face. She perked up and declared, "I'll help you destroy The Consbrainer 800."

Darkwing gestured in a 'No way, José' motion. He complained, "No! I think you're not quite up to the challenge."

Lady C asserted, "There's not enough time to argue. The Consbrainer 800 will be online soon. I'm going to help you guys out. Remember, I was in charge of this facility. I know all about the equipment and layout of this base. I know a short cut to the main control room where everything can be shut down. Come with me."

Darkwing and Launchpad warily stared at Lady C. She noticed their apprehension and pleaded, "Look, I know I did some horrible things and I'm a little confused right now. But I have to stop this FOWL plot. I just have to set things right and redeem myself. I know that deep within my soul, I'm a good person. Please, let me do this."

Darkwing knew that feeling of wanting redemption all too well. He answered, "Ok. I can't deny your chance at redemption."

Launchpad beamed. "Welcome aboard … um … er…."

Lady C giggled, "I guess you can continue to call me Lady C while I'm still in costume." She touched her deep blue feathered bangs and commented, "I really hope this dye wasn't a permanent." She walked to the back of the utility room to a vent. She swiftly jump kicked the gate off the vent. She gestured to the open vent and announced, "Let's go!"

Launchpad headed towards the vent and commented, "Wow! She's a take charge kind of gal."

Darkwing snorted, "I knew that was a shortcut."