Roots of Revenge

Prison Cells and Promises

Tonight the misery of his body was out weighed by the heaviness of his heart. They had lost patience with him and now they were after her. Jonah Waddlemyer put his head in his shaking arthritic hands. That monster Bulba had probably sent Hannigan to fetch his granddaughter. He closed his eyes and blocked out the cold damp cell in which they held him in on "uncooperative" nights. He shut himself away from the aching of his empty stomach, his heavy conscious, the pain of this old body, and thought of her.

He was not much of a religious man… he always banked in science but lately he'd been praying as if he were a priest. She was all he cared about, and he could do nothing to protect her. If God was real he would have to help the innocent child from the grim fate that sped toward her… wouldn't he? So he prayed. This night he wished nothing more than someone to keep her from their grasp. Someone to care for her and to shelter the flame of her spirit from the cruel wind of this evil world. Someone was clanging on the bars of the cell and he was forced to abandon Gosalyn once again. The bright red of the bull's suit glowed like the eyes of a demon in this dungeon, and it's owner was sneering.

"Gud evenink Professor, eets time to go bak to vork. Yoo wouldn't vant your dear Goesahleen to join us and see how sluggish you haf been." He let out an evil chuckle.

"Please Mr. Bulba, leave my granddaughter alone, she has nothing to do with this!" Waddlemyer pleaded, he could feel the tears forming in his eyes.

"Now, now Jonah… do not be afraid! She will be treated as generously as you have been…" The bull turned laughing to himself and two henchman pulled Waddlemyer from his prison.

"Please…," he silently pleaded. "…someone protect her."

Darkwing had fallen asleep sitting in front of what he liked to call his "crime lab" computer. He had access to thousands of files encrypted and not, from this very chair. He had verified that Gosalyn certainly was Professor Jonah Waddlemyer, former inventor for S.H.U.S.H.'s granddaughter and only living relative. He had supposedly died in a lab fire ten months ago, but no body had been found, an investigation was still in progress and for the most part most believed he was dead. However former friend and partner J. Gander Hooter , now head of operations at S.H.U.S.H. was not so easily convinced. He currently was on a full scale investigation to find his comrade. Darkwing couldn't help but question the methods the veteran had used to try and lure Bulba to reveal his hostage's location. Gosalyn was a person after all… not a lure. After reading up on the girl's deceased parents , Angus Waddlemyer (deceased two years and five months mugged and murdered in back alley of St. Canard.) and Regina (died two years ago of traumatic depression), he went on to research any thing he could by the name 'Bushroot'. He found a small number of files on a Reginald Bushroot who worked out of a Glomgold incorporated owned research facility a few miles south of the city. He was a botanist who was researching a growth formula for plant life. He barely skimmed the first five pages before his exhaustion caught up with him. He fell asleep quite awkwardly in the swiveling chair and dreamt that dream.

It always started the same, he was alone in the dark with blood coating his hands. A blinding flash of white dazed him and he was surrounded by people, no giants, dressed in white. They were entirely too tall, and in perfect unison they pointed to a bright opened doorway. He obediently approached it and as he looked in through the frame there was a never-ending hallway. Blindingly white, yet dark and twisted. He passed through the frame and slowly trudged along the passage the blood dripping off his fingers, leaving a blood stained trail behind him. Doors lined the walls and there were small barred openings at the "giant's " eye level, also small sliding panels were queued up along the bottoms of the doors. This was an asylum. Voices shouted out at him as he passed, screaming, crying, ranting, some even harshly tearing him apart. Tonight a new voice joined the repertoire, J. Gander growled at him through the darkness behind the door, questioning his lifestyle and his sanity. A door stood ajar before him… a blood-red darkness shadowed the padded cell. Before he wanted to he was pushed inside and barricaded in tightly. He tried to call the white coated giants back… tried to tell him they made a mistake when he felt the eyes burning him. He wasn't alone in here. Another mallard stood behind him, lurking in the shadows and holding up his bloody hands. Drake backed into the padded door, trying to distance himself from this person. This duck then raised his blood soaked hands to his bill and licked them. A shiver ran all through him, and the monster opened his mouth to speak. What came out was a shrill siren that jolted him awake.

Lights were flashing and the alarm was shrieking. Darkwing covered his ears wincing and stood up from his computer.

"I told her not to try and leave." He grumbled as he punched the silencer button on the control panel before him.

He proceeded down the ladder and headed to the bay entrance. He was not at all surprised to see her hanging from the ceiling in a net. She struggled madly and he stood below her crossing his arms.

"What did I tell you?" he called up to her.

She ignored him. He sighed and slid the hidden panel on the wall, revealing a small switch. He glanced up at her wondering if perhaps she shouldn't stay up there for the remainder of the night. Ultimately he flipped the switch and the trap slowly lowered her to the floor, where she squirmed her way free.

"May I be so bold as to ask why you are bent on leaving my protection Ms. Waddlemyer?"

"Because, I need to save my grandpa!" she snarled as she kicked the net bitterly for good measure.

"And you think you can do this alone? In the earliest hours of the morning?"

Her eyes fell upon him and he saw the desperate little girl inside the tough exterior stare back at him.

"I have to try."

"Listen… I know you want to help him, but rushing out there is not a good idea." He rubbed his eyes wearily. "And I also know that sleep is something that will help you clear your head. You can go home tomorrow but for now you stay put all right?"

"Darkwing?" she asked softly.

He was taken back in surprise by her sudden change of tone, and looked at her. Her eyes were turned to the floor and she was wringing her hands together.

"I… I'm sorry I've been a horrible brat… but… can you help me? Please help me get him back…" she sounded on the verge of tears.

"Hey…" he put his hand on her shoulder. "Of course I will… it's what I do." She sniffed loudly. "But first I think we both need to get some sleep, am I right?"

"D… do you think you could sit with me until I fall asleep?" she asked sounding thoroughly embarrassed.

"…Sure."

She walked past him and made her way back to the bed. She threw the covers over her head and curled up in a ball facing away from him. He sat on the end of the bed. He'd have to say something… damn it. He never was very good with talking to kids.

"You think my Grandpa is still alive?" said the mound under the blankets. "You don't think they'd hurt him because of what happened today, do you?" Her voice cracked towards the end of her question and she tried in vain to hide it.

"I'm sure he's alive Ms. Waddlemyer. He's too important for them to hurt him." It wasn't much of a consolation, but it was the best he had.

"Why do they have him anyway? Why'd they do this to us?" She hopelessly asked as she curled into a full fetal position.

His heart sank at the sound of her voice, he wasn't sure what to tell her. He was positive Bulba was using Waddlemyer's genius to construct something terrible, and getting Gosalyn would only quicken that progress. She must know that as well? Or was the question aimed more at one of the most shady areas, morals? Bulba had taken away her life with out a second glance, now he's back to steal her away as a morbid source of motivation.

He patted her leg comfortingly.

"Don't worry Gos…. Everything will be all right. We'll get him back."

She peeked out from under her fabric cocoon.

"You really are going to help me aren't you?"

"I wouldn't be much of a hero if I didn't aid a damsel in distress." He smiled softly.

"Who are you calling a damsel in distress!" She playfully huffed.

"Oh begging your pardon, perhaps a lady with as much spunk as yourself would be in better hands with Gizmoduck?" He testily snorted.

"What? That rolling Swiss Army knife? You could take him out in a heart beat!" She punched the air and was wearing an enthusiastic smile.

"Oh you think so?" He smirked.

"Are you kiddin'! After what you did in the park you could take out two Gizmoducks! Are all your days this exciting?" Her eyes twinkled.

"Not at all… sometimes I just sleep." It was only after he said the word that he realized just how truly exhausted he was.

"Sleep?" She repeated disappointed. "But I thought crime never sleeps! You should be there to strike it down with your formidable fists of fury!" She slammed her right fist into her left palm.

"I'm there to 'strike down' the stuff that goes over the police's heads. And besides what good is a tired champion of justice?" he stifled a yawn.

"I suppose." She mumbled as she laid back into the pillow, her eyes closed as she did so. "Darkwing?"

"Yeah?"

"Do I really have to go back to the Orphanage tomorrow? I mean can't I stay here with you? "

"Stay here? No, I don't think that would be wise."

"C'mon I could be your sidekick!"

He laughed. Gosalyn smiled brightly, he had a good laugh. It was happy and reminded her of her Grandfather.

"Sidekick? No. Sorry young lady but the best thing for everyone would be for you to return to the Orphanage." He watched her eyes look away sadly.

"I hate it there. Today was adoption day, you have no idea what it's like to have everyone push you aside to spend time with 'decent' children. To have all your friends taken away to homes where they'll be loved." She spoke bitterly but choked on the last word.

"Yes I do."

Her eyes shot up to him faster than the crack of a whip. He was no longer facing her, his eyes were shut and he was slouched over slightly.

"Were you an orphan too?"

"For most of my life." His eyes opened and were warmer than they had ever been since she met him. "I know what it's like to be alone Gosalyn, to remain in a state of numbness just to pass the days. I grew too old to remain under the city's care and they pushed me out." He waved his hand and glanced at her. "I can't blame you for not wanting to go back but we both know you have to. We're not going to find your Grandfather if you're hiding up here." She nodded in agreement. " Good. So bright and early I'll… uh 'UN-kidnap' you, sound good?"

"You won't forget about helping me find Grandpa will you?"

"Hey I'm not so old that my mind is mush, besides I'm sure you'd track me down and knock my light's out if I did. And it's something I've learned not to break promises to people who have as much spirit as you have." He tapped her beak gently. In an instant she caught him by surprise, quickly hugged him and kissed his feathered cheek.

"Thank you Darkwing!" She whispered as she lay back down and settled in once more.

"Uh.. don't mention it." He rubbed his cheek still a bit shocked.

There was a sudden change in her breathing that told him she had fallen asleep. He chuckled and wearily got up. He wasn't sure how, but this little girl he had met not twenty four hours ago had successfully torn down every defense he had built to keep people out of his life. Launchpad was the only other person who had accomplished this feat, and she broke in at record time. She was something else alright. He hated to admit it, but he'd miss her when he took her "home". He'd make it right, he vowed to himself as he started to climb back up the ladder again. He'd set everything right, her grandfather was alive and she'd have a family again… he'd make sure of it.

Darkwing duck and all related characters are (c) Disney This story is (c) Christina Smith --------------- Argh. My happy little PC is dead, and I had to type this up on the family mac... which doesn't have Word Perfect.. so I had to alter EVERYTHING manually... so I apologise if there are rouge html stuffs or if spacing is off (like the title), along with puncuation marks.. for some reason all the question marks when MIA I think I got them all but... le sigh. In other news... the second installment is finished, and I'm already hard at work on numbah 3. So If I must I will continue typing on this god awful mac, but I swear I will get this story up in it's entirety BEFORE the end of the year aggh.. Sorry I've neglected ya'll and thanks for your support.