Power Play

Chapter 3: Serpent in the Garden

By perper

Bushroot was bored. He stared blankly out of a window; the sun wasn't out today. In the background were Megavolt and Quackerjack bickering over Negaduck's treasured machine. He had to admit that it had been mildly amusing to listen at first- after all, they fought like lovers- but it got old fast. After a moment of pondering whether a conversation with the Liquidator would be worth the walk to the next room, Reggie sighed, put his head in his leafy hands, and resigned himself to the window.

"That isn't right." Megavolt had momentarily relinquished command of the machine to Quackerjack.

"You didn't build it. We don't even know what it does, Sparky." Quackerjack prodded a circuit board with a small screwdriver.

"Ooooo! Don't call me that! Anyway, I do know electronics and – Oh my god! Don't do that!" The warning came too late and Quackerjack suddenly found himself extra crispy.

"Well," he coughed up a cloud of smoke, "we can rule that out." Megavolt snatched the screwdriver and shoved Quackerjack out of the way. "Awww, come on Megs. Let me help." Quackerjack whined. "This isn't playtime. Go do something else." Megavolt sighed.

Reggie had taken note of that last bit of conversation and expected Quackerjack to continue his pestering or walk off playfully offended and find a toy. Bushroot knitted his brow and rose in surprise as neither happened. Quackerjack seemed unable to speak and then looked down at the floor. His hands went limp by his sides and he trudged out of the room. He was actually hurt.

Until that moment, Reggie had never seen someone look five years old and fifty years old at the same time and he wondered if Quackerjack's age was catching up to him.

"Quacky, hand me that red wire." Megavolt mumbled.

Bushroot looked at him oddly.

"Hey, where did he go?"

- - - - - - - - - - - -

"Watch them closely."

"What if the ubermensch fight for the weaklings?"

"I can take care of them. Be sure to only go after those not like us unless you're defending yourself."

"No funny stuff; you promised."

In the darkness, Apollo grinned.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Okay. If anyone screws this up," Negaduck eyed Quackerjack viciously, "all four of you will pay!"

"You're the one that's going to pay, Negaduck!" Said mallard wasn't sure if he preferred Darkwing's annoying introductions over Gizmoduck's goody-goody attitude. Ah well, it didn't matter, he could kill them both and then not have to decide, "Don't you people ever take a vacation?"

Darkwing stood behind the rest of the Justice Ducks- Morgana included- covering his eyes and wishing that they would go home. Then again, LP would need their help once he got a hold of him for calling them.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"I don't think they even know what they're fighting over." Plague surveyed the battle that had ensued below. She squinted and then pointed a finger in Gizmoduck's direction, "Does he count? I mean technically those are superpowers."

"He uses a machine to do everything, without it he's nothing. Even the rat isn't that pathetic. We can't allow such…pollution to enter our master race." Apollo reasoned, slightly disgusted.

"Well?"

"I know, I know. Topheth, bring down the house."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Darkwing and Negaduck were conveniently taking their quarrel away from the others, and Negaduck was winning.

"A little off today, aren't we?" Negaduck grinned and swiped a dagger inches from Darkwing's stomach. Darkwing didn't reply, just being within sight of Morgana was spelling out a death sentence for him. Negaduck gritted his teeth: Darkwing could easily be killed and that would take all the joy out of the victory. Of course, Negaduck's natural reaction to frustration is violence and, acting on rage, he jabbed the knife wildly; this only served to worsen the situation on both sides.

Soon enough, though, the whole group was scattered; an explosion of flame erupted in the middle of the fighting. Negaduck and Darkwing suddenly forgot who they were and hugged each other out of fear while the rest scrambled about like ants that had been stepped on. Topheth stood dead center of the flames, looking around calmly.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Reggie ran as fast as he could until he knew for sure that not a single tongue of fire could reach him; he found himself several blocks from the glowing destruction. Panting, he rested against a brick wall.

"Hi there." Plague hung upside down from a ladder that was attached to the building.

"Aaaahhhh!" Bushroot screamed, covered his face and moved into a standing fetal position.

"Oh, sorry."

"Uhhhmmm…that's okay. I'm just jumpy."

"I'm Plague."

"That's a weird name."

"…and Bushroot isn't?"

"Touché. Hey, wait! How did you know my name?"

"A lot of people know your name. Come on, there's someone I'd like you too meet."

- - - - - - - - - - -

"And what about that clown? Don't you grow weary of that incessant whining? Not to mention that he's bossy." Apollo circled Megavolt, who had found himself in a nearby building seeking shelter.

"Well…" Megavolt had the strangest feeling, he just couldn't argue with this stranger.

"Seriously, should someone of your intellect be bothered with dolls and tea parties?"

While Megavolt did enjoy the occasional playtime, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He couldn't deny that QJ was a constant annoyance, and now that it had been brought up he wondered what purpose Quackerjack actually served in the group.

"I mean really," Apollo had glazed eyes but carried a demeanor of authority and reason, "why does your leader keep him around? Oh, I forgot, your leader doesn't have any powers. He's just trying to keep all of you under." Megavolt looked as if he wanted to agree but couldn't.

"Listen. Come with me and we'll discuss this some more later." Megavolt followed.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Gizmoduck seemed to be the only one who hadn't ran like a coward from the explosion and was making a futile attempt to put out the fire.

"Those…those cads!" Despite his effort, the flames spread.

- - - - - - - - - - -

"You let that weakling treat you like that? Morgana, you're a goddess. You deserve better." It was harsh, but Morgana couldn't help but feel that Plague understood.

- - - - - -

"The ocean is full of potential. You can't let these dry-landers destroy everything you stand for."

Neptunia grinned.

- - - - - -

"It's a limited-time offer. Think of all the benefits you gain by throwing out your old, obsolete boss and supporting our cause."

The Liquidator had never been able to resist a bargain.

- - - - - -

"Will Mr. Darkwing be there?" Stegmutt looked at Apollo with the best I'm-not-so-easily-duped face he could muster.

"Well no, but you will get this shiny nickel." Apollo held out the coin.

"…Okay!" Stegmutt clapped his hands.

Apollo turned to see Topheth, "You promised me that nickel!"

To Be Continued…

Perper says: That was a bit long but, it's actually a lot shorter than I had originally planned. Anyway, not much to say here but the main plot is beginning.