Disclaimer: I do not own Darkwing Duck, Scrooge or any other Disney character.

From the author: Little reading aid her. The 'scenes' that take place in LaunchPad's mind are in bold italic to make the story easier to follow. I hope.

PHENOMENON Part 3

The duck stopped in shock "Launchpad, is that really you?" Scrooge exclaimed. 'What are you doing out in the middle of the ocean, in a storm no less?"

"I'll explain later, Mr. McDuck. Right now, my friends are still out there!" LaunchPad said looking back out into the pitch black of the stormy night.

An hour had passed. The crew of the cruise liner had taken the lifeboats out to search for Darkwing and Gosalyn but to no avail. No sign of either Darkwing or Gosalyn could be found. The rugged ocean was a danger to be out on in the small lifeboats and the crewmen were risking their very lives just going out in them. Finally, they had to give up the search.

Back on the captains bridge. LaunchPad sat with a warm blanket around him listening as the captain tells him they had to call off the search.

"But you gotta keep looking... we can't just leave them out there!" LaunchPad pleaded.

The captain shrugged "I'm sorry, we tried but this is a cruise liner not a rescue boat. We can contact the coastguard once we're back to shore. I'm sure they'll find them."

Launchpad heaved a deep sigh knowing the coastguard wouldn't even attempt to search for them in this weather.

Scrooge was standing near the pilot at the time "I would not worry too much if I were you Launchpad," he said, patting him on the shoulder "From what I've heard of this Darkwing fella, he's a survivor."

Scrooge's words gave Launchpad comfort, Darkwing Duck was undeniably a true survivor.

"Look, lad why don't you come back to my cabin and rest. I'm sure the boys and Webagail would be thrilled to see you again."

Realizing there was nothing more he could do to help Darkwing and Gosalyn, LaunchPad agreed.

He and Mr. McDuck made there way to the cabin through the ever falling rain.

A short time later. LaunchPad was sitting in the McDuck quarters (best cabin on the ship of Course) telling his story to everybody. Mrs. Beakley, Webagail, Huey, Dewey Lewie, and Scrooge sat around listening with great interest. Scrooge was particularly interested, mostly because this was the first time Launchpad had talked openly about his position with Darkwing. "And that's it," LaunchPad finished as he took a sip of the Hot Chocolate Mrs. Beakley had prepared for him. "I thought I heard DW calling to me, but when I came too, I was in the middle of the ocean, all alone."

"Gee LaunchPad, why didn't you tell us you worked for that Darkwing Duck guy?" asked Lewie who was sitting on the arm of the chair Launchpad occupied.

"Yeah, we had to hear about it from GizmoDuck." Huey added.

LaunchPad couldn't help but smile, GizmoDuck always made a point of getting under Darkwing's skin. "GizmoDuck talks too much," LaunchPad said jokingly "DW says GizmoDuck may have an electric powered super suit, but he has a SOLAR POWERED MOUTH – it runs from SUN UPto SUN DOWN!" He heaved a little sigh "Look it wasn't anything personal guys, but the less people who know I work for Darkwing Duck, the better. He's got a lot of enemies. I wouldn't want any of my friends or family to get hurt because of what I do."

The explaination seemed to satisfy everybody.

"So what are you guys doing out here?" he asked.

"Taking a 3 day cruise on Uncle Scrooges new luxury liner, the Silver Doubloon." Dewey chirped then added a bit downhearted "But I think next time we'd better check the weather forecast."

LaunchPad grinned at the boy but then turned his eyes to the porthole, watching the rain fall hard against the glass. He couldn't stop worrying about Darkwing and Gosalyn.

"There's nothing more anybody can do for now, LaunchPad." Scrooge said as if reading his mind "And your worrying isn't going to help your friends one bit."

LaunchPad took a long ragged breath. "I know Mr. McDee. It'd just if I

was the one in trouble, DW would find a way to help me." he was feeling both helpless and guilty at the moment. He was safe and warm on the cruise ship while Darkwing and Gosalyn were God only knows where.

"If there was just some way of knowing, Some way of contacting...." he fell silent for a moment. Contacting them! Of Course! "I completely forgot." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a long slender object that looked something like a pencil.

"What is it?" Webagail asked curiously.

"It's a highly advanced state of the art communication device."

"Oh, she said innocently "You mean it's a walky-talky?"

"Yeah, DW has one too. Maybe I can reach him!" Launchpad turned the device on and spoke into it. "LaunchPad to DW, come in DW." Nothing but static. He tried again "DW are you there?"

In the Emergency Room of the St. Canard hospital, Darkwing was keeping a bedside vigil. He was leaned back in the hardwood chair, his eyes closed in an effort to get some much needed rest, himself. "DW are you there?" called a voice.

Startled Darkwing shot straight up in the chair and looked around for the owner of the voice. No one else was in the room except , of Course, Launchpad. Darkwing looked down at the pilot, could that have been LaunchPad?

Leaning down close to his friend Darkwing spoke as clearly as he could "LP? LP is that you?" No answer. The hope slipped away from Darkwing.

Perhaps he'd just imagined the voice. He started to pull away from Launchpad when a very low, almost inaudible gurgle came from the pilots throat. Again Darkwing felt hope spring up inside him "LaunchPad, if you can hear me, say something?"

"LaunchPad, if you can hear me, say something?" a faded voice could be heard from behind the crackling static.

LaunchPad jumped to is feet excited "Yes, DW! I hear you, boy am I glad.." Just then a loud crash came from outside and the ship lurched violently to one side knocking everybody off balance and sending them tumbling across the floor.

The ship was now obviously tilting severely to one side.

"What happened?!" exclaimed a shaken Lewie.

"I don't know lad, but don't panic." Scrooge said trying to keep the children calm.

Still clutching the communicator in his fist, LaunchPad pulled himself slowly to his feet. The crepitating of static was even louder now "DW, are you still there?!" LaunchPad called frantically. No answer.

to be continued...........