Disclaimer: I do not own Darkwing Duck, Scrooge McDuck or any other Disney character.
Authors Note: Again, this fic ties in with "The Path Chosen." This is one of the alternate realities that Darkwing could have chosen. Fair warning; another Darkwing Duck / Ducktales crossover!
Hidden Dawn
Part 5
Gyro and I work tirelessly on the costume. Two days pass, we've made many alterations. The costume is now black. I convince Gyro to make a harness into the costume to support the back. The futility belt is replaced by a small kitbag that is attached to the harness in the back, hidden under the cape. The decorative lightening bolt is removed from the hood.
Now somehow, I managed to find myself the living mannequin for the costume. Gyro has me talked into modeling it for him. Well since there is a mask, I agree.
OK, Now I am standing in the middle of Gyro's Lab/ house in ebony underwear, complete with matching gloves, boots and mask.
The real scarey part is, I'm comfortable with it!
I walk around the room getting the feel of the costume.
"How does it feel?" Gyro asks eagerly.
"Very springy." I reply hopping around in the conforming spandex. I suspect the new and improved Electro Touch Activated Spring Pads ( that had given Mr. McDuck the ability to leap great distances in the original costume) in the soles have something to do with that. I'm rather enjoying myself, until Gyro suggest we take it outdoors to test it. Outdoors! Where people can see me in these elaborate Fruit of a Looms!
"Well we have to test it to make sure all the bugs are out. I didn't test the landscaper very well before I tried to use it, and you know what happened with that!"
Ack! I can't argue with the facts, but still - ack!
Gyro walks outside and I peak around the door to make sure nobody sees me.
"Come on Bill, no-ones around." Gyro assures me.
OK, I step outside in the black costume, hoping no unexpected visitors stop by.
"Alright now Bill, try the Spring Pads out. Just apply a little pressure to the heals.."
I do as I'm instructed, putting my weight on the heals of the boots and..."Ahhhhh!"
I'm being propel through the air. Approximately 60 feet up, I begin to panic. Then I slow for a few seconds before plummeting back down toward the ground! Again, I fall back on pure instinct, grabbing the ends of the cape and letting it catch air and act as a parachute. I drift on the wind back to the ground, using my weight to maneuver in the direction I wish to go. I land only a few feet in font of Gyro. "I think the Spring Pads still need work." I state the obvious.
He pays little attention to my statement, being somewhat impressed with my ingenuity. "Bill, that was fantastic!" he exclaims taking hold of the cape to look at it "A parachute cape! That's ingenious! I could redesign the cape, make it out of silk and you could almost glide on the air!"
I honestly don't know where this comes from but I hear myself say "Why not a Glider cape, then!"
"Ohhh, Ohhhh, what a remarkable idea Bill! A Glider Cape!" Gyro is enthused
by the idea. "I'll start working on it right away," he says as he rushes back into his lab.
I call after him "Do you think you can work on those Spring Pads while you're at it?" Uh, I really don't think he hears me. I follow him inside closing the door behind me.
Another day's work and the Glider Cape is ready. Gyro can't wait to try it out!
I can.
We go out early to try it out. Yep, I'm the test dummy again - in more ways then one! Just over the hill, we stand in the cold. Gyro in a warm coat and cap and me in my ebony elastic longjohns, complete with Glider Cape.
"OK Bill, now remember, you have to keep your arms spread to glide properly." Gyro explains as I stand there trying to come to terms with my momentary predicament. I don't know who I am, where I come from, I met this guy Gyro only a few days ago and now I'm about to try out a crazy Super Hero costume for him. Okay - nothing strange about that, right?
I take a deep breath, find my balance and apply pressure to the heals of my boots.
In a heart beat I am being catapulted into the air. At least Gyro made those adjustments to the Spring Pads. I am only propelled ten feet into the air. Spreading my arms, I let the cape billow out fully, catching the strong frigid wind. The ends are tethered to my gloves. In only seconds I find myself sailing on the winds like a bird. How strangely easy it seems to come to me. Just how to shift my weight, just how to move my arms, so that I navigate through the skies with such ease. I love it.
I decide not to chance it too much. I glide around for less than a minute, plenty enough time to satisfy both of us that the glider cape does indeed work. I land, easily near a very excited Gyro.
"You were fantastic!" he proclaims patting me on the shoulder "as if you'd done it your whole life!"
I smile. I did do very well, if I do say so myself. "That was sort of fun." I reply. Sort of fun? I'm kidding myself - it was fantastic, so exhilarating! I want to do it again! Now! "Maybe I should give it another try? Stay up a little longer this time - to be sure it's safe?" I do a horrible job of masking my excitement.
Gyro laughs. "Alright with me Bill, just be careful. I wouldn't go to high just yet."
I smile, nod, take two long strides and activate the Spring Pads. Before I realize it, I'm sailing the skies. I glide on the cold winter winds, enjoying the exhilaration of it all. I lose myself in the feel of freedom. Not knowing my own identity doesn't bother me at this moment. The disturbing dreams don't concern me. I feel so free!
I am so contented, in fact that I don't realize how high or how are I've gone until a noise from below snaps me back to reality! I have to glide lower to see what the commotion is. Below me is the river. A wooden bridge looms low across the flowing body of water. People are standing near on the bridge staring down into the river. As I descend, I see several cars on the scene, two are wrecked. One is on it's side, the others front is completely smashed in.
A young boy sees me as I glide down. He points a yells "Look a Vampire!" A vampire? Let's see, dressed completely in black, a cape that probably resembles the wings of a bat, and I'm flying. OK, honest mistake, at least from a kid's point of view.
People turn to look in awe at the strange sight. But their stupefaction doesn't last. No sooner do I land than a woman runs up to me and blurts out in hysteria "Please help! There was an accident. A car went off into the river!" She points to the side of the bridge where the wooden railing has been broken. Skid marks lead up to the stop. I step to the side and look over into the water. Just under the surface, I can see the silver bumper of a car as it sinks into the depth. It is a disturbing thing to watch. People stand watching helplessly, not sure of what to do. No body willing to brave the freezing currents to try and rescue the occupants of the vehicle. In the recess of my mind a voice speaks to me "Help them. That's what you're here for. Help them." I hear a man say "We called for help. The police are on their way. I think they are going to contact Gizmoduck too."
Gizmoduck? Why does that name peeve me so? I'm definitely not a fan.
I look again into the river. I feel that the people in the car will be safe for the moment. Though the tide may toss the car about. The fact that it is so cold, it's safe to assume their windows were all up and their vents were closed. That will keep water from flooding inside and will trap enough oxygen to sustain them until help arrives.
Out of the corner of my eye a see something on the edge of the bridge shimmer in the light. I kneel down to get a better look. Glass! I pick up a large peace of the glass , carefully. I study it. There is a dark, transparent adhesive on one side of the glass. Tinting, used on windshields. This may be a bad sign. I stand quickly and glance back at the two damaged cars. Both of them have shattered windshields, but neither of the windshield have tinting to them. That means that the fragment of glass belongs to the immersed vehicle. The windshield is busted! They'll drowned!
In that fleeting moment, I realize that there is no time to waste, no time to wait for help. Nobody will get here in time, not even Gizmoduck!
Again my instincts take over, recalling training and experiences of a past that my conscious mind no longer retains. I close my eyes and listen. I listen to the sound of my heart beat. I will it to slow down. Some part of me knows just what to do. My heart rate slows, my blood pressure drops, my body temperature lowers. I know what's happening and I know why. But I haven't a memory to having ever learned such a thing. I am manipulating my vitals to better adapt my body to freezing temperatures.
It only takes a moment to prepare myself. I step to the side of the bridge, take a deep breath and dive into the freezing waters.
To be continued...