Disclaimer: More characters are introduced in this one, and alas, they're not mine either.
Again, thank you reviewers. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, I hope you enjoy it.
--
Darkwing Duck eyed the deteriorating walls of Billy Bob's Fish n' Chips.
"What is it with you villains and old, abandoned warehouses anyway? Why not a comfortable condo with a nice view of the bay or something?"
Negaduck regarded him in a calm manner.
"Hey, a warehouse has got it all – heavy machinery, lots of space, dark, gloomy décor, no girl scouts skulking around…what's not to love?"
"I see," Darkwing said pointedly.
There was a long, tense pause that caused Negaduck to begin pacing and Darkwing to tap his foot.
"I still can't figure out why in Satan's name I agreed to go through with this," Negaduck declared.
Darkwing glared at him and said, "It was your 'brilliant' idea to begin with!"
"I didn't think you'd go along with it!" Negaduck snapped, "especially after you said, and I quote, 'This lame piece of tripe you call an idea goes against everything I deem appropriate, I won't do this'!"
"Rest assured Negs, you are the last person I would ever want to compromise with."
"You and me both, Porkwing. And I'll have you know it delights me to see the kind of risk you've so moronically thrown yourself into."
"Ha, I scoff at your supposed risk! They'd no sooner team up with you than me. They hate us both."
"But you forget, they FEAR me."
"They also fear the light of truth, which I, Darkwing Duck, so effortlessly represent. And not only are they afraid of truth, but they're also late."
"Gee willikers, there's a surprise."
No sooner had the black-masked mallard finished his sarcastic remark than he heard the squeak of a door opening in the next room. Darkwing and Negaduck leaned against their door, listening intently.
There were several tentative footsteps, followed by a chair scraping the floor and a rustle of leaves as the visitor sat down. The door opened again, mingled with bells jingling.
"Bushfruit!" came a jovial voice, "Long time no crime spree! Hey, where's the fire?"
"What fire?"
The door opened again, and the sound of water sloshing could be heard.
A gurgling voice boomed, "It's finally arrived! Here to wash away all your – what are you guys doing here?"
The door swung open with a loud slam and a figure burst into the room, breathing heavily.
"I came here as fast as I could," wheezed a nasal voice, "Where are the little darlings?"
"Right here, Sparky!"
"I meant the lightbulbs! And if you call me that one more time Banana Brain, I'm gonna…wait…why are all you guys here? It's not my birthday, is it? Please don't tell me it is, I can't take anymore bobbing for apples…"
"Or fried apples, in your case."
Darkwing smiled grimly behind the door.
"Yep, sounds like they finally showed up. Okay Negaduck, we've got to approach them tactfully and non-aggressive-like if we want them to cooperate…"
"Hey fellas, anyone know why the heck we're all here? Last time we were all together it was with Negadope," the nasal one pointed out.
"Hee hee yeah, the masked mallard of meatheads!"
Negaduck saw red as he eavesdropped on the conversation.
"LEMME AT'EM!" he roared, "I'll disembowel 'em! I'll make shish kabobs out of their tiny brains! I'll – "
The villain charged forward, but Darkwing grabbed him by the cape and held him back.
"Hold it! There will be no disemboweling while Darkwing Duck is on duty!" Darkwing reminded his double desperately.
The chat of the other four continued with a, "I don't know who is worse, Negacluck or his wannabe Doltwing Dork!"
"What? Hey…" Darkwing growled, releasing Negaduck's cape.
"Man, if I had Negaduck here right now I'd – "
The black-masked mallard exploded through the door, his face bent in fury.
"You'd what, Bushroot?!" he bellowed.
The deep green plant-duck's voice died in his throat.
"Negaduck!" the Fearsome Four gasped in unison.
Darkwing trudged into the room as well, not looking too pleased himself.
"And Darkwing Duck?" Megavolt, in usual yellow jumpsuit and battery pack, asked.
"Two egomaniacs for the price of one!" Liquidator, soggy as ever, announced.
"What do you want with us?"
"It's so late!"
"I'm hungry for – "
"ALL RIGHT!" Darkwing screamed, "Time is of the essence people! Let's get down to business. You all know why you're here – "
"For the fire! FIRE! Toys! They're burning the Whiffle Wuss at the stake!" Quackerjack cried elatedly.
"Uh, no. I got a call saying they were opening a plant sanctuary," Bushroot said.
"So sorry, but that's not correct. Research shows that the St. Canard docks is the cache for organized crime! Least that's what the phone call said," Liquidator proclaimed.
"But I heard…something…can't…remember…" Megavolt grunted, pounding his temples.
Bushroot sputtered, "Wait, so we all got calls to come down to the same creepy place for different reasons?"
"Correct Bushy, and we called you. We had to get you all down here one way or another, and since you're so gullible, why not?" Darkwing stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
"How'd he get our numbers?" Mr. Banana Brain asked.
"It's called a phonebook, moron," Negaduck spat, glaring at the jester holding the strange doll.
"We're in the phonebook?" a clearly shocked Megavolt inquired.
"Anyway," Darkwing interjected, "as you may have already known, the nefarious Taurus Bulba is on the loose."
The masked mallard paused dramatically, waiting for pained gasps and grave nods. On the contrary, all he got was a "Taurus Bulba? That's a zodiac sign, right?"
Darkwing felt like he had been slapped in the face. What gives? Had they been sleeping under a rock on Mars?
"You mean to tell me, that none of you have ever heard of Taurus Bulba?!" he asked in high-pitched voice.
The Fearsome Four shook their heads. Darkwing let out a strangled cry and shouted, "The biggest crime lord of the decade, my arch enemy, who nearly took over the world – twice – but was thwarted by none other than Darkwing Duck, who risked his life – twice – to save you and the other citizens of St. Canard from utter elimination!"
"Ooooh…that Taurus Bulba," Bushroot drawled.
"Biggest crime lord, pah," Negaduck scoffed.
"I thought I was your arch!" Megavolt cried.
After regaining his composure Darkwing continued, "And now he's, heh heh, trying to obliterate me and take over the city again so uh, I uh, that is to say, Negaduck and I um, we need your h…your h…"
"Our hamburgers?" Quackerjack tried.
"Sorry folks, but the survey says the caped crime fighter and the caped crime causer need our help," Liquidator cooed smugly.
"HA! That's rich!" Megavolt laughed and began chanting, "Negaduck needs our he-elp, Negaduck needs our he-elp, Negaduck needs our ULP!"
Negaduck grabbed him by the collar and shoved his beak into his goggles. He stared the rat down, until Megavolt squeaked timidly, "Sorry."
"So what if we don't help you? You tried to steal our powers, power-stealer!" Quackerjack cried, pointing an accusing finger at Negaduck.
"Yeah, and us helping Darkwimp…enough said," Megavolt stated.
"Give us one good reason why we should help," Bushroot declared while crossing his leafy arms.
"You either help us or have your soul stolen. It's really one or the other," Negaduck pointed out.
"Cool!" Quackerjack exclaimed.
"S-soul stolen?" Bushroot stuttered.
Negaduck cleared his throat and said casually, "You got it Bushbrain. You either lend a hand or you don't. Lend a hand, save yourselves from a horrible fate. Don't lend a hand, and that stupid bull destroys the city. So that means no more plants –"
"No! He can't! That's horrible!"
" – no more money – "
"No refunds available?"
" – no more toys – "
"D'oh!"
" – and no freaking lightbulbs."
"Not even a forty watt?"
"Not even a forty watt."
"NOOOO!"
Darkwing rolled his eyes.
"So are you guys gonna help us or not? I need an answer in oh, about uh, NOW," Darkwing snapped, tapping his foot even harder. He was really starting to lose his patience. Surrounded by capricious super villains while his daughter's life was on the line did not fit in his favorite situations list.
"So let me get this straight…" Megavolt began, producing a frustrated groan from Darkwing, "You want us, four super villains who haven't worked together in over a year…I think it was a year…anyway, you want us to join up with the two ducks we hate most to save a city we try on a near nightly basis to rob blind, just because you say so! IS THAT IT?!
Darkwing and Negaduck glanced at each other, then nodded.
"Yeah, that's pretty much it," Darkwing said.
Megavolt turned back to his three group mates. They muttered to one another as Darkwing and Negaduck watched. Finally, the Fearsome Four turned around, hands behind their backs, looking for all the world like elite businessmen.
Liquidator began, "The consensus shows: we will help you. But wait there's more – we have one condition."
"Spill it," Negaduck said irritably.
"Negaduck, you won't steal our powers. Again," Megavolt stated briskly.
"You won't be a bossy poopykins," Quackerjack continued.
"And you won't resort to name calling, attempts on our life, gracious brutality, or any distinctive likenesses thereof," Liquidator finished.
Negaduck scowled as Liquidator turned to Darkwing.
"And to the terror that flaps…"
"No ego!"
"No tricks!"
"No arresting!"
"No name calling!"
"No mental degradation!"
"Basically, don't be yourself."
Darkwing vented his frustration through his tapping foot while Negaduck snarled, "That's a hell of a lot more than 'one condition' you knobs!"
"Ah ah ah," Quackerjack chided, "no name calling…"
Darkwing and Negaduck slapped their foreheads and groaned simultaneously.
--
A cold, foreboding breeze swept by, shifting Quiverwing's hat and tussling her bangs. She shivered involuntarily. Nothing on the stark rooftop shielded her from the unusually cold weather, save the heavy steel cords that bound her hands and feet.
Launchpad was looming over her, arms crossed. Four days ago he was one of her best friends. Now he was ready to strangle her if she tried to escape.
Aviana was busy being interrogated by Taurus Bulba, who was convinced that if he could not extract any information from Quiverwing he could certainly get it from her. Every now and then the duckling heard furious snippets from the conversation…
"For the last time, who is Darkwing Duck? Where does he live?!"
"I told you, I don't know! I've lived here for a week! I couldn't tell you what my phone number is!"
Quiverwing let out a shaky sigh. She despairingly recalled her father once telling her telling her that "her foolhardiness knew no bounds." At the time she had mocked him for using the word "foolhardiness" but now she wished she would have heeded his words. For once.
Why had she ignored him completely? Why didn't she just listen when someone was trying to talk her out of risking her life?
She was immortal, that's why, invincible, just like Darkwing Duck was. Any minute now she would hear "I am the terror" and everything would be fine.
Quiverwing fidgeted with the cords that chafed her wrists, waiting as patiently as a stressed eleven-year-old could. No masked avenger arrived, not even, dare she think it, a cop.
Aviana landed next to her, tearing the small crime fighter from her daydreaming. Bulba shoved Launchpad aside and hovered over them. Aviana said a few choice words to him that made Quiverwing crack a grin.
"Say what you will, your impudence will be justified later," the cyborg snarled.
Taurus turned to Quiverwing with a nauseating smile that caused her tenacity to ebb away like the tide. A murderer was no more than a foot from her face.
"And how are you tonight, my little spirited one?" he asked.
Quiverwing eyed him warily. His voice sounded strange, his one real eye edging on hysteria. The duckling's heart stopped. He must be preparing to end her life. Cold blood. She needed to stall, to provide the little window of opportunity for Darkwing to slip into.
"So uh, how's the robot gig been workin' for ya? Has your life been any, um, different?"
"Stop trying to buy time," Taurus Bulba reprimanded, "you have nothing to bargain with, you little tormenter. Besides, why would I kill you now, without the pleasure of your father to bear witness? Why, Goosalyn?"
The cyborg stretched his robotic arm towards Quiverwing's face. She cringed and backed away frantically, only to collide with Launchpad's leg. No escape. There was a metallic whir as the pincers that sufficed as Bulba's hand clamped down of the soft material of Quiverwing's mask.
She squeezed her eyes shut and the bull peeled off her mask with surprising gentleness. The pincer bumped against her beak, not so much the cold metal as being touched by something vile making her shudder.
The mask exchanged hands and Bulba fingered the material with his gloved hand. He stared at it longingly for a moment before carelessly tossing it into the air. Gosalyn watched as her identity of Quiverwing Quack floated away in the breeze.
"Now that we can finally be face to face, Goosalyn, do you notice anything interesting about our view?" Bulba asked silkily.
Gosalyn followed his gesture and stared at the St. Canard skyline. So what, it was just the city…and Audubon Bay Bridge…and the tower…
"Uh oh," Gosalyn hissed, her green eyes widening.
Aviana's gaze flitted from Bulba's sick grin to Gosalyn's horrified expression, not enjoying being left in the dark. Taurus Bulba was becoming uncharacteristically giddy.
"It is so simple…you and Darkwing, you are not impenetrable blockades of stone. You can be toyed with, tortured, killed…so easily! With you, little Goosalyn, in my clutches, why, Darkwing will do anything! All for his dear daughter! He may even destroy his own hideout, should I feel the need."
Aviana's eyes nearly popped out of her skull and her head snapped back to the bridge. Unfazed, Bulba continued.
"I wondered…oh how I wondered…how could mere mortals defeat ME, the most powerful being on Earth…I did not realize how vulnerable you were. That you and Darkwing are made from flesh and blood, not stone…the flesh and blood you have denied ME!"
Taurus looked down at the pale but otherwise unshaken Gosalyn with an almost grandfatherly expression.
"Goosalyn…you are a child. And children enjoy jokes, do they not? I have a joke for you, I have something that will make you laugh. It makes me laugh. Here it is: Why did the meddling little girl and the egotistical clown cross the road?"
Gosalyn did not answer but Taurus Bulba continued without missing a beat.
"So they could lend their flesh to Taurus Bulba!"
The cyborg's head pitched back in hysterical laughter.
"That was perhaps the worst punch line I've ever heard," Aviana whispered weakly.
"And I thought Dad told bad jokes," Gosalyn croaked.
The bull's cackling persisted. It was cold and unnaturally high-pitched, like he had swallowed an entire helium tank. Aviana gave him a revolted stare, but Gosalyn just watched in silence as Taurus Bulba's sanity slipped away from him.
--
"The dire dwelling is demonized by devilish drones deterring the duck's duty. Undaunted, the dashing, determined duck of danger decides to – ow! Quit poking, bucko!"
Quackjack giggled and danced out of Darkwing's reach. The rest of the motley crew regarded the heavily secured building gravely.
"There must be a pretty good reason why I'm doing this, if only I could remember it," Megavolt said, then grunted as Quackerjack poked him at the base of his skull.
"It was a very good reason," Darkwing assured him casually.
"Long time user, first time complainer: how do we infiltrate Gooseman Brothers?" Liquidator asked, then lurched as Quackerjack stuck his finger right through his watery head.
"Ooooh lay off!" Bushroot griped to the jester as he poked him in the side.
"We infiltrate it with the help of the whiner-forty-niner over here," Negaduck answered, gesturing to the plant-duck.
Quackerjack crept up behind Negaduck in what he believed was with cat-like stealth, his finger poised. Negaduck whipped around.
"Touch me and you can kiss your internal organs goodbye!"
Quackerjack pouted and sulked back to Megavolt. He whispered something into the rodent's ear that sounded like "spoilsport."
"Okay gentlemen," Darkwing began sarcastically, "there's an open window on the left, fourth story. Keep to the shadows and be quiet. Silent. No even a peep. Got that?"
"Got it!" the Fearsome Four said loudly, a broad grin on each face.
"You've got a knack for setting yourself up Dupedwing," Negaduck commented.
Darkwing scowled and muttered, "No one asked you."
The six unlikely cohorts snuck down the alley single file; Liquidator bringing up the rear, Darkwing and Negaduck waging a silent but violent battle for the front. They retreated a block from the Gooseman building and looped back around – an assault from the side would be less dramatic than a frontal one.
"Y-You said that I, I would have s-something to do with infiltrating this, er, what is it you want me to do, exactly?" Bushroot stuttered, looking from the eggmen to the fourth-story window.
"What do you think?! We need to go up! Plants go up! It's not that hard!" Negaduck returned, exasperated.
Bushroot nodded fervently.
"Oh oh oh oh I get it!"
As the plant-duck rushed forward Darkwing called to him, "Be inconspicuous, the biggest advantage we have over Bulba is the element of – "
The mallard was cut short by a towering Douglas fir lumbering their way, each step it took causing the ground to tremble.
"…surprise," Darkwing finished dryly.
Various eggmen made frantic moves toward it, but the fir sent them flying with a swing of its branches. Bushroot cupped his leafy hands around his beak and shouted to the tree, "Hey Doug, can you do me a favor? We need to reach that window up there, the open one on the fourth floor! Think you can help us?"
Darkwing could only assume that the evergreen had obliged as the sound of wood creaking echoed in the air. The tree bent over, extending its branches towards the group. Megavolt, Quackerjack, and Liquidator backed away, but were soon scooped up in a mess of sticky sap and pointy needles.
"Hey Sparky, you like math – what did the acorn say when he grew up?" Quackerjack asked snidely.
"Don't call me Sparky!"
"EERRRR! Wrong answer!"
Negaduck, on the other hand, was not in a joking mood.
"Oh no ya don't," he snarled, dodging the swipes the tree made for him, "I don't trust anything that doesn't die if you skin it alive – HEY! WHADDAYA THINK YER DOIN'?!"
The tree plucked up the enraged villain by his cape and hoisted him into the air. Darkwing, who was lounging on a branch nearby, called to him, "Relax Negs, enjoy the ride! As I said before, this was your idea!"
Negaduck shouted the unprintable to him, but it was not enough to wipe the smug grin plastered on Darkwing's face.
No sooner had the tree picked them up then it dumped them through the window. They straightened up and brushed away the dirt, while Liquidator just frowned at the various needles and sap floating aimlessly in his body.
"See ya Doug! Thanks!" Bushroot called to the departing tree, waving goodbye.
"Yeah, thanks Doug," Negaduck muttered under his breath.
Darkwing squinted, trying to see his own hand directly in front of his face. The room was filled with inky darkness. Suddenly he heard Megavolt's nasal voice directly behind him, causing Darkwing to jump.
"Hmm, power's out. Need a light?" the rodent asked, a bolt of electricity crackling between his thumb and forefinger.
"No!" Darkwing hissed and swatted Megavolt's hand away, "we need to be as subtle as possible. We can't draw attention to ourselves!"
"And since we all have night vision like you Darkwing Dufus, we should have no problem getting up to the rooftop of a strange building in the dark. And should we crash into something and break it, at least it won't draw NEARLY as much attention as that little light," Negaduck drawled sarcastically.
"Can it Negaslime! If you're dumb enough to go waltzing into something in here then you can just hop right back out that window! That is, if you're not too afwaid of da big bad twee," Darkwing jibed in a babyish tone.
"Come over here and I'll tell you the story about how Mr. Negaduck kicked Mr. Ditzwing's ass!"
"Sorry Negadork, I'm too old for stories, buy I think Doug might be interested in a few!"
As the two mallards bickered in the darkness, Bushroot sighed. Standing in an unknown building in the dark listening to his two least favorite ducks argue was not his favorite pastime. He wondered absently if he had remembered to feed Spike when he felt a boot crunch down on his foot.
"OUCH!" the plant-duck yelped, hopping on one foot, "Why doncha watch where you're going Megavolt!"
"Me? What the heck did I do?" Megavolt screeched indignantly.
Bushroot hopped in a circle to where he heard Megavolt's voice. He could not see the rat's face, but he knew it must be showered in guilt.
"You stepped on my foot, that's what!"
"No way! I've just been standing here listening to Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dumber over here argue! You're climbing up the wrong tree petal puss!"
"You've got your wires crossed battery boy, whoever stepped on my foot has boots on! And since you happen to be the only one that bothers to wear shoes – "
"I didn't step on your stupid foot!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"SHUUUUT UUUP!" Negaduck bellowed.
There was dead silence, save for Darkwing's quiet wisecrack, "Oh joy, now everyone in St. Canard knows where we are."
Darkwing seemed the only one who dared to speak until there was a quick whiff of gasoline and Negaduck's flamethrower blazed to life. Orange firelight flooded the room, flickering across the Fearsome Four's worried faces.
"Ooooh fire!" Quackerjack squealed.
"Now that we have some light on the subject," Negaduck said in a dangerously steady voice, "care to tell me just what exactly is the problem?"
"Well…uh…Bushbrain here, he uh…he said that I uh, seemed to have stepped on his foot, but I didn't – "
"B-b-b-but he did, he had to, whoever s-stepped on my foot was w-wearing boots, and he's the only one who w-wears shoes, right Negaduck? Negaduck?"
But Negaduck was not listening to Bushroot or even looking at him. Instead he seemed to be staring right past him with a "deer caught in the headlights" expression. Same with Darkwing.
"What? Do I have something in my teeth?" Megavolt asked brusquely.
No answer. He saw Darkwing numbly reach for his gas gun, then realize he did not have it. Megavolt frowned. What were they looking at?
Suddenly the Fearsome Four got the hint. They slowly turned around – and came face to face with dozens of sickly, brutish eggmen.
"They look like zombies!" Bushroot shrieked, seeing them up close for the first time.
"Two out of three doctors say that's because they ARE zombies!" Liquidator boomed.
"Told ya I didn't step on your foot," Megavolt commented.
The eggmen lunged forward and crashed through the Fearsome Four who let out a collective "AARRGGGHHH!" Darkwing saw Negaduck use his flamethrower on an eggman, only to get tackled from behind. The weapon flew out of his hands and they were covered in darkness once more.
"What I've always wanted, to fight killer zombies in the dark," Darkwing muttered, then was shoved roughly to the floor.
In the blackness Darkwing could hear the Fearsome Four's cries of terror.
"AAAGGHH! Help me!"
"Ow, quit pushing!"
"Ew gross!"
"Mr. Banana Brain! Where are you?"
"I can't see dammit!"
Darkwing stumbled to his feet and began wrestling with an unseen adversary. He was at a loss until he heard Negaduck's voice carry above the chaos.
"LIQUIDATOR! FREEZE FRAME!"
At the last second Darkwing realized what Negaduck was talking about and dropped to the floor. He heard what sounded like a tidal wave crashing above him. Suddenly everything was quiet, and a soft, green glow filled the room.
"This ain't doin' much for my knees," Darkwing grumbled, feeling his age as he once again pushed himself up.
The soulless eggmen glistened in the light, frozen stiff by a solid coating of ice.
"Frozen foods, aisle four," Liquidator said proudly.
Negaduck readjusted his hat and smoothed his cape.
"At least you can do something right, water boy. Okay, now that we've got that taken care of – hey, where's that light coming from?"
All eyes turned to Quackerjack, who was holding a glowing teddy bear.
"I forgot I had him," the toy maker informed, "I created this little guy to serve as a comforting nightlight to little children. I call him Hypno Henry!"
Darkwing frowned. That did not sound promising.
"Hypno Henry?" the mallard repeated ominously.
"Yes bazooka beak, Hypno. I thought it would be a good name for him, because for some reason or another he always seems to put people in this weird trance…"
Quackerjack's voice began fading away, and suddenly Darkwing couldn't tear his eyes away from the unusual teddy bear. The bear was trying to tell him to do something…
See the pretty window over there?
Darkwing nodded involuntarily.
Yeah, I see it.
Why don't you just jump out of it?
But won't that hurt?
No, of course not, it'll be fun!
Well, okay, whatever you think is best…
Darkwing began sauntering to the open window when the green glow faded away. Darkwing shook his head and blinked, his head clearing rapidly. Quackerjack whipped out a flashlight and illuminated the rest of the crew, giggling, "See, I told you he puts people in a trance!"
Darkwing looked around. Liquidator had morphed his arm into a hammer and had it poised above his head, Megavolt was aiming his electrogun right between his own eyes, while Negaduck had Bushroot by the throat. Judging by the bewildered looks on their faces, they were drifting out of their own hypnosis.
"I feel like I just ate an expired Twinkie," Megavolt muttered, holstering his gun.
"That was horrible! I heard this voice in my head that told me to do terrible things!" Bushroot cried.
Quackerjack looked at the plant-duck empathetically.
"Don't fret, you get used to it."
Negaduck tossed Bushroot to the floor and marched up to the jester. Grabbing him by the bells of his hat and yanking him forward, Negaduck screamed, "You KNOB! You complete imbecile! What the hell do you think you were doing, you – YOU HAD A FLASHLIGHT THE WHOLE TIME?!"
Quackerjack held Mr. Banana Brain in front of his face and cringed as Negaduck pulled back his fist. Out of the blue Megavolt complained, "Ugh, what smells like seafood?"
Negaduck's face went blank and he realeased Quackerjack.
"You mean like fish?" he asked breathlessly.
"Haddock, I'd say," Megavolt answered.
Negaduck shoved Megavolt aside and sniffed. It was rotten fish all right. He followed the stench to the ceiling, where there was an open air vent.
"I know how to get to them!" Negaduck cried.
"How so?" Darkwing questioned skeptically.
"Her boots, they smell like fish!"
Without another word, Negaduck pushed Bushroot to his knees. Bushroot grumbled, but Darkwing hopped onto the plant-duck's back and used him as a boost to reach the ceiling. Darkwing hoisted himself into the vent, followed by Negaduck, Megavolt and Quackerjack.
As Quackerjack tugged Bushroot into the opening, Liquidator asked hesitantly, "Uh, does that thing go straight up by any chance?"
"How else do you get to the friggin' rooftop?" Negaduck spat, his voice echoing against the metal walls.
"Are there any handholds?"
"It's an air vent Licky. No. What's the big deal?" Darkwing called down.
"When's the last time you saw water go uphill?" Liquidator snapped, "I can't do it, but there must be not one, but TWO ways to get up there. I'll see what I can do."
Liquidator sloshed away in search of another route. Not one to complain when a villain departed, Darkwing shrugged and continued shimmying up the vent. Negaduck muttered something and followed his double.
--
Gosalyn was watching cars traversing Audubon Bay Bridge when she heard a muffled, "Now I know what a sardine feels like," come from the metal airshaft beside her. No, it couldn't be. She was hallucinating. The duckling glanced over at Aviana, who was staring intently at the metal tube. She had heard it too.
More hushed voices began emanating from the shaft.
"I've got a phobia about small places…I CAN'T BREATHE!"
"Uh oh, electro-boy's having issues."
"Quiet you clamorous clods! We need to maintain the element of surprise!"
"I'm not sticking around a metal tube while Sparky's freaking out – MOVE IT OR LOSE IT DULLWING!"
Darkwing Duck suddenly popped out of the shaft, followed by Negaduck, Megavolt, Quackerjack and Bushroot. Gosalyn's eyes lit up. Aviana put a finger to her beak and mouthed "Shh", motioning to Launchpad, who was busy swatting away mosquitoes. Darkwing nodded and crawled silently to the two captives, Negaduck and the rest trailing behind.
The crime fighter tugged at the steel cords binding his daughter, but it was like trying to tear metal with his bare hands. To his surprise, Quackerjack offered him and Negaduck two pairs of his trademark toy teeth. Wordlessly the two mallards released the fake jaws on the steel cords. They chewed through the binds like they were made of butter, and everything was working perfectly until Negaduck's set of teeth turned on him.
The toy jaws clamped down on Negaduck's fingers with a loud crunch! Darkwing groaned inwardly but Negaduck voiced his opinions loud and clear.
"OH YOU MOTHER – "
The villain shook his hand wildly until the teeth let go. The crew watched in horror as the toy sailed through the air and struck a certain cyborg right on the head.
"Surprise…" Darkwing said feebly.
NOTE: Well, this might not be finished by the end of June, but it'll be close. One more chapter. Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion…