CHAPTER FIVE- Hero For A Night
Darkwing and Todd arrived at the museum and quickly departed from the motorcycle. The snuck in through the back door and began to search the darkened building for their suspect. They checked the first five floors of the museum and found no signs of robbery. They then reached an art exhibit on the sixth floor, and to Darkwing's surprise, found Steelbeak swiping priceless paintings from the walls. Darkwing then went into his customary introduction. "I am the terror that flaps in the night," he proclaimed.
"Oh gawd," Steelbeak said, noticing the duck and his companion.
"I am the eavesdropper who accidentally discovers all of your deepest darkest secrets," Darkwing continued. "I am Darkwing Duck!"
"Bravo!" the evil rooster said sarcastically as he clapped his hands. "Now let's get dis ova wit. I'm gettin' awfully tired." He let out a yawn.
"You return that artwork at once, Mister!" Todd commanded.
Steelbeak looked at him and laughed. "What's dis? It has appeared that Darkwing Jerk has replaced his dimwitted sidekick wit a... toitle?" He continued to laugh.
"You'd better stop laughing at me!" Todd said assertively. "And return those paintings!"
"Why doncha make me?" Steelbeak asked.
The turtle fearlessly made his way toward the menacing villain.
"Hey Todd," Darkwing said. "Why don't you leave this to a professional?"
As Todd got close, Steelbeak kicked the small reptile, knocking him over on his shell, so that he could net get up.
"Time to crack dis nut," the fowl said as he stood over Todd, his steel jaws glimmering.
Darkwing moved over toward the two of them. "Don't worry, Todd, I'll save ya."
"I'd like to see you try and get through my shell," Todd said defiantly.
"What are you doing, Todd?" Darkwing asked worriedly.
"Relax," said Todd.
"Dis kid's got a death wish," Steelbeak said. He then picked Todd up, flipped him over and attempted to bite into his shell. Darkwing covered his eyes, awaiting the inevitable. He would however instead hear a loud clang and uncover his eyes to find that Steelbeak's jaws were mangled by Todd's tough exterior. The smiling turtle then brushed himself off and stood up.
Just then, police sirens could be heard and the room would soon be filled with swarms of officers, who then surrounded Steelbeak. "If it isn't the elusive Steelbeak," one of them said. "We've been after you for a long time. Nice work, you two."
"It's all in a day's work for Darkwing Duck," announced the duck.
Todd glared at him.
"And my trusted fill-in sidekick," Darkwing then said. He patted Todd on the head. "Nice first case, kid."
"Thanks," the smiling turtle said.
"Let's get home."
"OK." The two then departed from the museum and headed back to Darkwing's humble suburban residence.
Launchpad and Paula were resting comfortably in bed at her apartment. The female swan gently rubbed her body against the larger male duck's. "Come on Launch, honey," she said seductively. "Why don't you tell me who your boss Darkwing really is."
"I'm sorry, Paula," Launchpad said. "I can't do that. I've sworn to keep that secret."
"Come on," she said. "I don't see what the big deal is. It's not like me knowing is going to affect anything."
"Why do you keep asking me about Darkwing?" asked the pilot. "I'm your boyfriend..."
"Well, I'd like to know a little bit more about your world. Is that too much to ask?" Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Who could that be?" Paula quickly got out of bed and threw on a robe, as she was wearing only a slip. She headed to the door and opened it.
Standing in the doorway was a tall, muscular handsome male swan. He had piercing blue-green eyes and brilliant white feathers. He was dressed in a black leather jacket, a pair of tight-fitting blue jeans and black boots. He carried a box of chocolates and a large bouquet of flowers.
"Oliver?" The female asked, stunned. "I thought you never wanted to see me again?"
"I've changed my mind, love," the male swan said. He spoke in a charming and polite English accent. "I'm sorry about all the terrible things I said to you that night. I want you to come back to me and leave that horrid F.O.W.L. organization behind." He then presented her with the flowers and chocolates."
"Oh, Oliver dear," she said, holding him close. "Of course I'll come back. You're the only one for me. I wasn't getting anywhere on this FOWL assignment anyway."
"Who is it, Paula honey," Launchpad said, emerging from the bedroom.
"Oh, this is Oliver," Paula said. "A... friend."
"A boyfriend?" Launchpad asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Sort of..." Paula said weakly. "I think it's time I come clean with you, Launchpad honey."
"About what?"
"I have no feelings for you whatsoever," she said. "I was only using you to get to your boss as part of my mission."
"Mission?" the duck asked, confused.
"Yes," she responded. "You see, I've been working for the Fiendish Organization for World Larceny, better known as..."
"FOWL," the stunned Launchpad said, finishing her sentence. "How could you do this to me?"
"Well, I had just broken up with Oliver here," Paula explained. "And had taken a job as a secretary for FOWL, when they decided to change their 'Darkwing Strategy'. They searched their organization for the most attractive female, and decided it was me, of course. They then made me a full agent and sent me to seduce you into spilling old Darkwing's identity... They were going to give me a $2 million bonus if I managed to find out... But now that my Oliver's back, I couldn't care less, so your secret's safe."
"Yes, well my secret's fine, but my heart..." Launchpad said.
"Look," Oliver interrupted. "Your presence is no longer needed on these premises. There is the door." He pointed to the doorway. "I suggest you walk through it and leave me with my mate before I have to get violent." He gently stroked the feathers on Paula's curving neck.
"Ooh..." said the female. "You're sexy when you get assertive like that."
"Fine..." Launchpad said. He quickly gathered up some of his belongings that he had left in the apartment and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
"I'm glad that's over with," Paula said, slipping off her robe and revealing her beautiful shapely body to the male. "Now let's get into the bedroom. We've got a lot of catching up to do."
"OK." Oliver left his dirty boots and his coat behind and then followed Paula into the bedroom.
Drake Mallard awoke the next morning and headed out into the kitchen for breakfast. As he made his way through the living room, he caught a glimpse of a familiar sight: his longtime friend and trusted sidekick Launchpad McQuack sleeping comfortably upon his couch. He tried not to awaken his friend, but let out a loud sneeze as he passed by. Launchpad opened his eyes and looked up. "Hey there Drake."
"Heya, LP," said Drake. "So, how'd things go between you and your girlfriend?"
"Terrible," Launchpad responded. "It turns out she was just a FOWL agent trying to use me to get to you."
"What?" said a wide-eyed Mallard. "Why didn't you tell me about this when you got in?"
"I didn't want to wake ya," Launchpad said. "I figured Darkwing Duck had a rough night without his sidekick around."
"It was rough going," Drake said. "But I think I did OK."
"Oh."
The sound of the two conversing ducks caused Todd to awaken. He popped his head out of his shell and headed out to the living room. "Good morning, Mr. Mallard."
"Morning, Todd," Drake said.
"Who's this?" Launchpad asked as he curiously looked over the small reptile.
"This is Todd," Drake replied. "He helped me out while you were gone."
"I see," said Launchpad. "Well, I'm Launchpad. Nice to meet ya, Todd." He shook hands with the turtle.
"Nice meeting you, too," Todd responded. "Well, I guess now that you've got your regular sidekick back, you don't need me around anymore. I'd better be leaving." Todd started for the door as both Drake and Launchpad looked on stunned.
"That's an interesting choice of attire you've made there, Todd," Drake said, looking at the turtle in his white undershirt, white boxer shorts and black socks.
"Huh?" Todd said, puzzled. He then looked down at himself and blushed. "Oh... Thanks for telling me." He then disappeared down the hall to get dressed. Launchpad watched him leave and shook his head.
"That turtle's a strange little guy," said Launchpad, watching him leave.
"Well, his indestructible shell saved the day last night," said Drake.
"Oh?"
"Uh-huh," Drake said as he opened the front door and picked up the morning paper. "Smashed ol' Steelie's beak like it were a tin can." He sat down on his favorite living room chair and began to read through the newspaper. "Doesn't look like our little encounter was front page news."
Todd emerged moments later, fully clothed. He went over to Drake and shook his hand. "Thank you for everything, Mr. Mallard."
"Thanks for helping me out, Todd," Drake responded.
"It's no problem," the turtle said. "I really enjoyed our little adventure." He opened the front door and stepped outside.
"Bye, Todd," said Drake. "Come visit us some time."
"OK," Todd said, smiling. He then headed down the street, happy to have finally enjoyed some excitement in his otherwise uninteresting life. As he walked through Drake's neighborhood, its residents looked at him strangely, having never seen such a creature. Todd just smiled and politely waved to them.
Drake watched him leave, closed the door and then returned to his favorite chair.
"I still say the turtle's an odd one," Launchpad said. "He almost stepped out in public in his underwear."
"Give the kid a break, LP," Drake said, turning a page. "He's had a rough night. Todd's a video store clerk fresh out of college, not a professionally trained crime fighter like us."
"Guess you're right."
"Besides," said Mallard. "Walking out in your undies is not nearly as bad as answering the door butt-naked."
Launchpad's face turned bright red. "How many times must I tell ya, I'm sorry about that!"
"Why don't you tell that to my mother?" Drake asked. "She still hasn't gotten over that whole incident."
"Enough about this," said the pilot. "I wonder if we'll ever see him again."
Paula and Oliver were resting comfortably in her bed. The two swans were snuggled lovingly together, clearly happy to be in each other's presence once again. "Oliver, honey," said Paula.
"Yes, dear?"
"I was just thinking about your charming friend Todd," said Paula.
"Oh?"
"Yes," she said. "When is the last time you've heard from him?"
"About three days," said Oliver. "Why?"
"I hope nothing has happened to the little sweetie," she said.
"Now that you've mentioned it, it is pretty unusual for him to go this long without contacting me," Oliver said, sitting up.
"We should go over to his house and check on him," Paula said, also sitting up.
"Yes," Oliver began to put his clothes back on.
"And after that, I can go turn in my resignation to those idiots at FOWL," Paula said, searching her dresser for something to wear. "Good riddance to that bunch."
"I love you so much," the smiling male swan said.
As Todd got closer to his home, he noticed a suspicious-looking black van driving alongside him. As he started to move faster to get away from it, the side door of the vehicle slid open and a mysterious arm reached out and pulled the young terrapin inside the darkened van. The van then sped away, leaving no trace of either it or Todd.