Power Play

Chapter 6: Internal Struggles

By perper

There was something Megavolt should remember. Several things, actually, and he couldn't remember any of them. It was almost there. But for the past six hours, no matter how he tried, he couldn't remember. He just knew that it was something important.

"Do you know?" He asked a bulb in the overhead light.

…

"Geez, I was just asking. You're overworked; let me help you." He stood on a simple wooden chair and unscrewed the light bulb. "Now, isn't that better?"

"And I thought we had issues." Plague shook her head at the amusing display.

"He's obviously suffered trauma from those pathetic weaklings. Anyway, it's his gift. He is a god." Apollo reveled in Megavolt's insanity.

"A very disturbed god."

"Think what you like, Plague. You'll see; he- all of us, really- will taste glory even if it means dealing with madness."

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

"You will not scream, do you understand?" Darkwing, keeping his voice in a whisper, gave Quackerjack a raised eyebrow.

"What about your fancy smoke?" Quackerjack grinned widely.

"Nothing! It has to surprise them! Not a peep! No playtime, no bananabrain, and no laughing!"

"Awww, you always ruin the fun…"

"Would you just do what I tell you! Now go!"

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

Negaduck was very angry. So far today had not worked out as it should have. And it was getting worse. Much, much worse.

His stomach was churning and he leaned over the toilet seat just in time for vomit to violently eject from his mouth.

"How long are you going to be in there?" His goody-goody doppelganger peeked into the dim bathroom.

"As long as I want!"

"…"

"What!"

Darkwing remained aloof while shuffling things around in the cabinets above the sink. Not finding what he was looking for, he left. Negaduck growled and eyed him the whole way.

"He's still not cooperating?" Quackerjack asked.

"No, and there isn't any more lotion or anything."

Quackerjack sighed and gently rubbed a burnt patch on his arm. Darkwing, the only one to come out of their earlier foray without a serious problem, sat down on a couch in their make-shift hideaway. Without any effort his thoughts drifted to other places.

Gosalyn…I couldn't protect you.

He had tried to exact vengeance upon those responsible- those manipulative, super-powered freaks- but failed. And now he was stuck hiding with two of his worst enemies. Quackerjack was suffering from several burns as a result of the encounter with the pyro- wolf.

At first he didn't even know Negaduck was there- ha! Great minds do think alike- until that cat girl grabbed his twin's wrist and her eyes glowed an all-too-familiar green. Negaduck had been sick on his stomach ever since.

Green eyes. Morgana. How could you?

"You have a fight with your girlfriend?" Despite its quiet bluntness, Quackerjack's question derailed his train of thought completely.

"What?"

"Your girlfriend, she fought against you."

"How do you know-?"

"Like it isn't obvious." Negaduck broke in the conversation, coughing a bit.

"Oooohhh. All better?" Quackerjack asked.

Negaduck just gave him a menacing glare and the clown returned to the awkward, melancholy silence he was in before.

"She hangs over you more than any of those other Justice Dweeb pals of yours. Of course, the pickings are rather slim in that group."

Darkwing opened his mouth to come back with a snide retort but thought better of it upon realizing that Negs had a point, excluding himself of course.

"So we're stuck. Got any brilliant ideas?" Negaduck was being sarcastic but Darkwing actually zoned out in contemplation of their situation.

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

"Looks like Bushroot has a girlfriend." The Liquidator whispered- as best a creature entirely made of water could whisper anyway- into Megavolt's ear.

"Hmm?" Liquidator frowned as he realized that he hadn't got his electric companion's attention.

"So you did an experiment on yourself? Isn't that dangerous?" Plague knew that science fanatics sometimes did weird things but didn't ever think that she would meet such a well-adjusted one.

Bushroot shrugged, "It was important to me. I didn't think it would turn out this way, but I get a lot of nice benefits from it."

Over in the opposite corner, hidden by a shadow, Topheth watched the two talking and with every word that passed either's lips he became angrier. Plague would say he was being a baby but he wasn't about to be replaced by a walking flower.

"I…I remember bells." Megavolt looked up at the Liquidator with an expression looking for affirmation.

The Liquidator stared at him for a moment, "Bells?"

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

Quackerjack looked in a mirror checking his face for any burns. His vanity was getting the better of him. It was fortunate he had a private room where he could take off his mask. It was on the bed-still looking vaguely comical even without its wearer. Or, it had been on the bed. Out of the corner of his eye, Quackerjack saw the reflection of something moving. He spun around quickly and found Negaduck toying with his mask.

At this point, Quackerjack was embarrassed and his cheeks were turning as red as his hair. He gathered what strength he had and said sternly, "Give that to me."

Negaduck had never heard his subordinate be so firm, so commanding, so much like him really- he didn't think that the jester was even capable of it. It was probably because the mask was not on his face but Negaduck suddenly realized how much older Quackerjack was. Instead of causing anger, a smile crept up on Negaduck's face and he indulged an urge to push Quackerjack to see how far he would go. Still, grinning he replied, "You think you can command me, you pathetic idiot?"

"Give me my mask." This time his voice was lower, and he growled the words. Negaduck's demented smile only got bigger.

"As I recall, you are still indebted to me."

"You said yourself that the team was gone and that you didn't want me around. I don't owe you anything."

"Yea, I lose my temper like that. It still doesn't mean I'm not going to make you obey my every whim."

Tired of someone actually looking at his real face and mocking him, Quackerjack lunged for his mask. Negaduck kicked the shoulder where Quackerjack had been wounded. The now serious joker reeled backward and gasped from the pain.

Negaduck, still wanting to push Quackerjack's limits, slowly walked up to him and grabbed a burned arm. Quackerjack whimpered at the pain but still tried to keep a threatening look on his face. Within a few moments though, his fear overtook him and he looked away in defeat.

"I thought so." Negaduck shoved the mask into his other hand and then let go of his arm.

"I really hate to interrupt you two, but…" Darkwing had walked in just moments ago and was finally acknowledged with a grunt from Negaduck, "What do you want?"

"I was thinking about a way to beat our common enemy. I think I may have a way to give us an advantage."

"Uhmm...How do you know you can trust us?" Quackerjack asked, eager for any chance to distract Negaduck.

"I don't really. But we all have the same problem and we know what happens when we face these guys apart. It would be easiest on everyone if we worked together until this is over."

Negaduck momentarily opposed but remembered the vomiting. It could work out to his advantage; after all, Darkwing's guard would be let down. He could easily kill him along with the supers. Hiding a grin he agreed and, since he had lost the earlier struggle for dominance, Quackerjack wasn't given a choice (at least not by Negaduck).

"Okay, what's this great plan?"

To Be Continued…