Chapter 22
Divided and Conquered
It had been a year so far.
Negaduck had first...encountered the Dorkwing Dimension a year ago. Oh he had known about other dimensions for some time before then, thanks to a certain brat and her interfering grandfather's inventions. While he didn't have the technology to pass between dimensions then he did keep the girl around, just in case she ended up being useful. So far, no, but sometimes it took a while for long time investments to bear fruit. Still, even without her help he had found the rip in the bakery that led him to that twisted town and its Dipwing Dogooder. For the first few months he had only clashed with Darkwing, occasionally catching glimpses of the doubles of the at the time only three headaches and the lone headache that was Megavolt.
Then Megavolt teamed up with the other three losers, and an idea formed.
It hadn't been hard to get their Dork doubles to go along with the scheme. Unlike their true counterparts the Fearsome Five were a collection of loners whose motivations were either greed, mad science or sheer batshit lunacy. Which made them easier to handle. All he had to do was throw the occasional bone their way and they fell in line like tamed chickens. He hated them all, but they were useful. He could put aside his hate in the pursuit of his goals.
He didn't want to take over that twisted mirror of St. Canard, but he did want to take over the real one. The mirror was useful for getting cash and for practicing plans, but it wasn't going to be his kingdom. At least not now. Maybe in the future. But for the here and now, he wanted the real St. Canard.
And today, a year to the day that the idea for both the Fearsome Five, and later the new Injustice Ducks, had been planted, he would take the next big step on the road to taking what was rightfully his. He had already gotten rid of Ace. Most of the other minor gangs had fallen in line after that, mostly due to fear. The only outliers were crazed ''super villains' like Dr. Fuzzball and the karate kangaroo, that firebreathing lizard and a few other freaks that were on his hit list. He didn't care if they ended up joining him, or were run out of town, or killed. In the end they would all fall in line one way or the other.
There was only one big obstacle standing in his way.
"We are taking out S.H.U.S.H." Negaduck declared to the room in general.
Five pairs of eyes stared at him. The owner of the sixth pair sort of glared at a point on the left wall as if their owner was trying to develop x-ray vision. Honestly, it was downright childish. Was the Dorkwing Dimension's Gizmoduck as much of a brat as the real one was?
"HEY, CAN!" Negaduck grabbed a paperweight from his desk and hurled it at Fenton's head. To his annoyance the accountant managed to duck it even though Negaduck could still him still staring at the damn wall. "I'm talking here! Pay attention!"
Fenton's finally actually looked his general direction. Negaduck had the infuriating impression he was still looking over Negaduck's shoulder instead of meeting his eyes just out of pure bratty spite. "I can hear you. I was under the impression I'm just here to kill things for you. I don't give a shit about the details...although you are aware that S.H.U.S.H is an international spy organization with tendrils in almost every city in the world, right?" Negaduck glared as the accountant continued. "How do you expect the seven of us to take all of that down, exactly?"
"I know that, dimwit. I'm just talking about the one in this city. The one led by Hooter." Negaduck growled.
Fenton finally looked at him in the eyes, and Negaduck got the impression that this...idiot thought that Negaduck was the stupid one! If he didn't need the little twerp...
"Well alright then." Fenton huffed.
Negaduck then began to go over the plan. To be more accurate he was almost waxing lyrical about how much of a genius he thought he was. Fenton kept facing the crime lord, managing on his own to develop the glassy eyed look that most teenagers managed to accomplish in the presence of a particularly boring teacher. He had been shoved into this room at the base where he had been imprisoned and forced to listen to his captor rant on and on and on. He wasn't sure what this place had been originally but it looked to have at one point been a warehouse, and this was likely a break room of some kind. It was long, with a table to match it, and a whiteboard where Negaduck had scribbled more of his master plan. To Fenton it looked like a child had drawn it. It was infuriating. And now he was expected to work with a 'team'? Fenton considered his 'teammates' or what Negaduck had told him were now his teammates.
Of all of them, Fenton was the most wary of Morgana. For some reason, after five minutes of talking with her, he found that not only was she convinced that Negaduck wasn't that bad, and that she could help him find a better way to run the city and that all he needed was a chance to become a better man, but she was also a witch. He couldn't help but dislike her instantly. He was starting to realize that she sounded and acted...well a lot like he had around Gandra. With the benefit of hindsight he saw that potential disaster her relationship with Negaduck would lead to and he was determined to not touch that mess with a ten foot pole.
Stegmutt was clearly not as deluded, but he was also a thug and perfectly willing to go with Negaduck's plans as long as he was also paid and given the power he craved. There would be no help from him, and no help from his old 'buddy' Launchpad.
The only one that Fenton thought he could actually work with was, surprisingly, the fish woman. The poor thing looked around, lost and confused and clearly out of her depth. From the way she kept in the background, watching the others like a terrified mouse Fenton was sure that she had just been thrown into this situation without a chance to get used to it. A bit like him, actually. The only difference was Fenton was used to being strung along by crime lords. This poor kid had no clue. Unless it was an act of some kind she and Fenton seemed to be the two people the least invested in Negaduck's insanity.
Finally, after what felt like an hour of ego stroking, Negaduck managed to get to the meat of the plan. And while Fenton managed to keep himself from looking interested at all in the proceedings, he did start to listen. He only needed one opportunity to slip away...
Maybe he should actually put an effort into helping take down S.H.U.S.H? After all, Gandra was a member, or at least associated with them, and he might be able to take a bit of revenge on her. Or at least give that as a motivation that Negaduck would be able to understand. If he acted like he was coming around to Negaduck's way of thinking than he might let his guard down.
And there might be information about Louie or Dewey in the S.H.U.S.H base...
And speaking of which by now Negaduck had started to talk about what parts of the base they were going to attack. Apparently he wanted his demented girlfriend with him when he attacked Hooter directly. Stegmutt was supposed to find and pacify some bear fellow named Grizzlikov, and now Negaduck was starting to glare at Fenton who stared right back.
"Launchpad." Fenton suddenly said very loudly. The thug had been leaning against the wall, next to another skinny guy that Negaduck had called Lamont. Launchpad looked up, a little surprised that Fenton was talking to him. He had mostly been glaring at Launchpad up until now.
"Yeah?" Launchpad replied.
"Gandra used to work with S.H.U.S.H, didn't she?" Fenton growled.
"Yep."
"Right, where do you think I'd find their records?" Fenton asked.
"Hey, you take orders from ME!" Negaduck shouted, and Fenton glared back at him.
"Motivate me." Fenton snarled.
Negaduck's beak worked up and down in wordless rage, and Fenton plowed ahead.
"You want me to do what I do best? Give me a motivation. I may not be able to get to Gearloose since he's on your payroll, but there are still plenty more people I can get revenge on. One of them is Gandra Dee, and she helped S.H.U.S.H before." Fenton leaned closer and glared at Negaduck. "You can order me, and I'll have to do what you ask. But that doesn't mean I'm going to make the effort to give a shit. Unless I have a reason to. So give me that reason...boss."
For a moment Fenton was sure that Negaduck was going to leap over that desk in the room they were in and throttle him right then and there. But instead Negaduck chuckled, then let out a laugh.
"Was wondering if you'd ever get the guts to challenge me." Negaduck grinned at Fenton. "Fine, Gizmo. You take out the lab for me, and I'll let you ruffle through whatever paperwork you want. You either take out Dr. Bellum, or get her to work for us. I don't really care if you kill her or just drive her off. Just make sure she leaves and doesn't come back."
Fenton really thought that killing would be easier. Less chance for revenge, but he was glad he had the option to avoid that.
"You gonna want anything from that lab or do you just want me to lay waste to it?" Fenton asked.
"Depends. Leave it if she joins. Break whatever you want if not, as long as you leave any important science papers or blueprints or formulas laying around. Might want to have Gearloose look them over later. Otherwise, go nuts."
Fenton nodded, then focused on trying to pretend he was interested in what Negaduck was saying for the rest of the meeting.
How could one duck talk about himself so much was a mystery for the ages.
Fenton was shaken once again out of his mulling when Negaduck declared, with a theatrical flourish "By tonight, all of the criminal underworld will belong to me...and you guys, the Injustice Ducks!"
Fenton stared at Negaduck, then looked at both the fish woman and then to Stegmutt. He looked back at Negaduck. "Are...you serious?"
"...I'm not a duck." the fish said, and Fenton was half surprised that she could actually talk.
"To be fair, I used to be." Stegmutt shrugged.
"MAJORITY RULES and BECAUSE I SAID SO!" Negaduck bellowed. Fenton was half impressed with how the duck's voice could go from shouting to quiet and then back to shouting again. He wondered if Negaduck rehearsed that. And his long speeches.
Finally, Negaduck slammed his fist on the table and roared. "ANY QUESTIONS, KNOBS?"
"Yeah, two." Fenton said.
"What?"
"First, what about the Four? You think they'll notice us storming a building and taking out another crime syndicate?"
"That's where Lamont and Launchpad come in. They are going to be leading the distraction." Negaduck grinned. "The biggest damn crime spree of the year!" He grinned over at his two oldest minions. "Keep whatever you can take, dorks! It's a Negaduck Christmas in July!"
"Oh hell yeah." Launchpad laughed in delight. "This'll be fun!...I thought you hated Christmas...and it's not even July yet..."
"...Launchpad...don't look a gift spree in the mouth, okay?" Lamont shook his head.
"...okay."
"What's the second question, Gizmo?" Negaduck glared back at Fenton.
"...do you have a volume control?"
Fenton was forced to duck another paperweight.
After that Negaduck dismissed them to get ready for the raid. But to his annoyance, Lamont stayed.
"Is there something you're confused by?" Negaduck glared at him.
Lamont took in a deep breath. He hated talking to Negaduck about things he just knew the crime lord would hate to hear, but it needed to be said.
"Boss, I don't think this is going to work."
"It's a great plan, moron."
"It''s not really the plan itself, but the people involved." Lamont took another deep breath. "The Injustice Ducks aren't going to work."
Negaduck glared and placed his chainsaw on the table in clear view. "Explain."
"Out of all of of them, only Stegmutt knows what he's doing. That woman thinks she can change you. Once she figures out you are stringing her along she's not going to take it well. If you are lucky she'll just run off crying. If we aren't lucky she could turn us all into bats or something. The fish is about as hardened as jelly. She'll crack at the first battle and she'll either get herself killed or abandon the team. Probably at the worst possible moment. Gizmoduck is a unpredictable lunatic and once he's done with his own hit list you think he'll just be happy being our hit man? He'll turn on us the moment he gets an opening!" Lamont snorted. "Not to mention he can't play well with others. I've been watching him. He looks at the others like they're bugs. He's not a team player and he might take out any of the others the moment they squeak wrong! Not only that but they've never even trained or worked together at all! They have no idea how to fight like a team!"
"Which is why I gave them all different assignments, at least for this operation. You are right. We do need to keep an eye on them. That's why I have you. You keep an eye on the gang for me. They are just part of the gang now. Keep an eye on them, Lamont."
"How do you expect me to fight Gizmoduck if he goes rogue!" Lamont yelled, almost hyperventilating.
Negaduck got up, leaving his chainsaw, and walked over to Lamont until beak and snout were nearly touching. He lifted a hand and placed it on the hound's shoulder, and Lamont shivered in fear. It wasn't a friendly gesture, he knew. Negaduck's hand was an inch from his throat. It was a threat, just one that was less bloody than the chainsaw.
"I don't expect you to fight him. I expect you to watch him. Learn about him. Hell, be his friend if you have to. Then, when and if he does plot against me, just let me know." Negaduck suddenly grinned, and somehow that was worse. He patted Lamont on the shoulder. "Like I said, do you job, old pal."
Negaduck turned away, picked up his chainsaw, and left, leaving his oldest ally behind and giving him time to recover from a close encounter of the Negaduck kind.
"Damn it Mallard." Lamont whispered, and not for the first time, he wished he had just shot Negaduck a long time ago.
Lamont himself had six lieutenants under him at every given time. Negaduck never bothered to learn their names and in fact Lamont was almost certain their leader had no idea they existed. Or if he did Negaduck long ago had decided that he didn't care how Lamont ran the gang.
In some ways that was a good thing. Negaduck had a lot of pride, but he was also wise enough to know that he wasn't a people person and could only inspire fear and loathing in others. For the actual details of leadership, he left all of that to the goon who had been with him the longest.
"Alright, we are hitting several places in the city. You all get to keep what you steal this time. Every bit of it." Lamont swept away his misgivings and attempted to present a strong front to his men. Four other ducks, two males and two females, a female owl and the tallest was a large komodo dragon.
"Any idea why the boss is being so...generous?" The komodo dragon frowned at him. Lamont had known the dragon for the longest time. He was an original gang member, and had managed to survive avoiding prison, Negaduck's temper, and attacks from mutants and superheros. Of all of them, Lamont trusted Chris the most.
"He was ranting something about Christmas in July." Lamont shrugged. It was a good thing that Negaduck was so predictable, in that he was completely unpredictable. Lamont could have told the group anything as long as destruction was involved and they all would have shrugged and agreed. "You know the boss, Chris. He's in a mood."
"We talkin' a good mood, or a murder mood?" Chris raised a ridged eyebrow. The dragon was a tall guy, but not nearly as muscular as Launchpad.
"A Negaduck mood."
"Ah." Chris cracked his knuckles and lashed his tail, the only indication of his eagerness to get started. "Alright then."
"Okay boys, this is how we are going to do it."
Megavolt blinked at the cupcake plopped before him at breakfast. He looked up at Quackerjack's cheerful grin and frowned in confusion. "It's not my birthday. I'm pretty sure I didn't tell you that."
"You haven't. You will, one day." Quackerjack said, his confidence annoying Megavolt this early in the morning. "But that's not why I got us those. It's been a year since you finally joined the team, remember?"
"Oh yeah. You dragged me into a fight with Phyros then kidnapped me." Megavolt grinned up at his friend. While his words were harsh, his tone was pretty light.
"And aren't you glad I did?" Quackerjack munched his own breakfast sweet. "Admit it. We are a great team."
"Yeah. Okay. I admit it. You were right. Stop gloating."
"I'll consider it."
"It is kinda weird it's been a whole year." Bushroot said. Though he didn't eat food anymore, he was happy enough to come over to them as they waited in the greenhouse, the radio tuned to the police frequency.
The Liquidator also sloshed a bit closer to his flesh and blood friends, even though he also couldn't eat. He never expected to miss eating as much as he did, but he did. The powers were nice, but he honestly missed doing normal things. He sometimes wondered if Bushroot felt the same, but maybe he could taste the sunshine or the fertilizer?
Actually, that last one sounded kinda gross.
While the Liquidator was contemplating this, Megavolt reached into a bag he brought with him and pulled out four circular devices, one of them covered in what looked like clear plastic. "Actually," He said, "This is a pretty good time to show you guys these. I figured that we spend to much time being unable to communicate if we get separated, so I made us each these communicator things. Actually thought of it due to that walky talky business last time. I even made a waterproof one for you, Likky." Megavolt slid the plastic one over to the Liquidator.
"Aww," Quackerjack grinned. "Thanks." He made the communicator vanish into a pocket somewhere. Meanwhile, Bushroot had put his around his wrist, part of his leaves keeping it covered. The Liquidator's ended up sort of floating around his shoulder. Megavolt decided he should find a way to camouflage it too, if he ever decided to upgrade them. Right now they would do though.
There was a sudden noise from the radio. Quackerjack's eyes darted to the radio, then he gulped down the rest of the cupcake he was eating and then downed a small bottle of milk as the panicked sounds of the police came forth.
"Four targets! The north bank, the mall, the museum and the university science labs! Looks like Negaduck's goons, but no signs of heavy hitters!" Bulba's voice came through over the almost incomprehensible panicked police jargon. He knew very well that the Four kept tabs on them, and make sure they knew what was going on.
"No sign of heavy hitters, meaning no Stegmutt, Morgana or Gizmoduck." Megavolt pondered for a moment. "Smells like a trap to me."
"Four targets, maybe they are trying to divide us, then let his goons soften us up before bringing out the big guns?" Quackerjack growled.
"That's what I would do." the Liquidator said.
"Kinda weird, this happening right when you give us a way to keep in contact." Quackerjack sort of grinned at Megavolt. However, the rat was to busy thinking on what do do.
"Alright, Bushroot, since you know it the best you take the university. Quackerjack, mall. I'll take the bank and that leaves Likky with the museum, that okay with everyone?" Megavolt commanded.
The others each nodded and both the Liquidator and Quackerjack moved to head to their destinations. Only Bushroot stayed back to watch Megavolt go over to the phone and dial a number.
"Steelbeak?" Bushroot asked.
"Yeah. I don't like this. I want to make sure we have backup in case this goes wrong." Megavolt said.
Bushroot gave him a small smile. "Good idea."
Megavolt left a message on the answering machine and slammed the phone down. He gave Bushroot a nod before racing out of the greenhouse, on his way to stop his collection of Negaduck's goons.
Who know when the duck himself would show up?
"So, this is the headquarters of the most feared crime ring in the underworld." Fenton blinked at the thoroughly unremarkable building before. "Impressive."
"Gizmo, if they had a huge damn castle like your last employer, everyone would find them. Use that damn skull of yours for something other than numbers." Negaduck growled. Fenton wasn't sure if it was a good sign or a bad sign that the crime lord was now using the shorter version of the suit identity rather than his actual name. At least it wasn't variations of calling him an idiot or a tin can.
"Dear, what are we waiting for?" Morgana gently asked Negaduck. Fenton decided not to point out to her the violent twitch that went through Negaduck's face before he looked up at her, schooling his features in something more pleasant.
"Lamont has to give us the single. Can't have the Four coming to stop us. Don't worry, this is a good thing. S.H.U.S.H deserves this." Negaduck's voice was almost pleasant. Normal. Fenton wondered how the woman couldn't tell how fake it was.
Fenton slid his eyes to other two. Stegmutt was looking away as well, mostly to hide the small snicker he was producing. Apparently he had figured out the game Negaduck was playing with his 'girlfriend', but was apparently just amused by it. Meanwhile, fish lady was looking at the two and frowning. Fenton was sure the fish was figuring things out herself, but he wasn't sure if she was just failing to get the undertones or just didn't care. Or maybe she was disgusted by bird mating rituals. Who knew?
Finally, after what felt like an eternity to Fenton, a radio beeped from somewhere on Negaduck's person. He talked for a moment on it, then gave a demented.
"Alright kids." Negaduck grinned down at the building. "Knock knock, Gizmo."
Fenton growled to himself and launched a missile at the general direction of the front door. The door, to his surprise, crumbled, but behind it was a steel door, much thicker. So maybe there was more here than met the eye? No matter.
Fenton launched himself at the door, two saws emerging from the suit. He activated a command to make them red hot, and the saws bit into the steel. It was thick, but the saws cut through them. It took a bit longer than he would have liked, but he was in.
He was greeted by a storm of bullets, some of which might actually have done some damage had Morgana not summoned a magical barrier between them and Fenton's face. With another gesture each of S.H.U.S.H's men found that the guns they were holding had become either cats, mice or budgies. The cats that were once guns started to either violently scratch the thugs holding their tails, or wiggled free to chase birds and mice.
Despite himself, Fenton found himself giving Morgana a grateful nod. He was impressed.
"Alright, Gizmo, the lab is down the hall to the left. Have fun."
"You know what...I think I will." Gizmoduck found himself grinning as he followed Negaduck's directions.
At the very least, it was be stress relief.
Megavolt paused before the bank. He was pretty sure this was the one he and the other Four had defended from Negaduck when Megavolt had first joined up with the others. For some reason that fact made Megavolt somewhat nervous.
Still, he didn't have time to wonder for too long. He burst through the doors, hands crackling with electricity as he prepared for whatever scheme Negaduck had cooked up.
To his further suspicion, there was no sign of dinosaurs or witches or sea monsters or metal lunatics. Instead, all he saw was that tall komodo dragon guy that occasionally could be found backing up Lamont. Lamont himself was directing a group of thugs, who had blown up the vault and were stuffing the cash in sacks. Lamont turned, frowned and tapped the dragon on the shoulder. The dragon turned and nodded. He leaped forwards, tail lashing back and forth.
Megavolt grinned. The dragon was big, but he wasn't Phyros. He wouldn't explode something when struck by Megavolt's powers. He was just another thug. No problem. He sent a bolt of electricity towards the dragon, who raised his arms in defense. Megavolt noted the man was wearing long black gloves, a skintight black suit, and thick boots. He also had what Megavolt assumed was a leather jacket. Oh, and a pair of long punching claws in his hands. Metal wouldn't help the poor guy here. Megavolt almost felt sorry for him.
To Megavolt's shock the dragon seemed to shrug off the electric attack and went to drive the claws into his face. Megavolt ducked out of the way, a bit surprised.
"The hell?"
The dragon laughed. "I'm not dumb, Megavolt. I remember the last time we fought. I'm wearing more rubber than a tire! Honestly, it's really uncomfortable, but it's worth it to see the look on your face."
"...who the hell are you?" Megavolt blinked.
The dragon frowned, as if disappointed. "...I suppose we all blur together after a while. Never mind. Hello, Megavolt. My name's Chris." The dragon suddenly slashed with his tail, striking Megavolt to the side. Megavolt twisted and landed on his feet, now even further away from the vault and the slightly smirking Lamont, who was still directing the rest of the thugs.
Chris approached Megavolt, cracking his knuckles and swishing his tail back in forth as he finished his thought. "I'll be your mini-boss for the afternoon."
Megavolt wasn't really a melee fighter, but after a year training with someone as unpredictable as Quackerjack you got creative. He grabbed a nearby tall lamp and yanked it out of its socket. He swung the heavy lamp at the dragon's face, breaking the round glass lampshade and the bulb underneath on the dragon's head. Chris grunted and punched again for Megavolt, who attempted to aim a bolt of lighting at the man's metal claws. To his horror, the attack did nothing.
"I told you! I prepared for this! They're plastic! You're going to have to fight me like a man, you fucking nerd!" Chris laughed.
"Okay, really starting to dislike you." Megavolt said as he ducked a series of rapid punches that might have given him more holes in his face than a slice of swiss cheese. He backed up again, not exactly skilled at the fine art of beating a man with a lamp, but he did manage a few more swings at Chris.
"Honestly, I really dislike you too." Chris replied, almost cheerfully.
Megavolt really wished he had his team with him right now.
Fenton used his retractable mechanical hands in the suit to slam a few S.H.U.S.H agents into walls and through a few doors as he rolled in the general direction of the lab. It seemed even with what were supposed to be highly trained secret agents his reputation had preceded him, and most of the people that dared attack him were either shaking to badly to fight effectively, or were just ducking behind things and waiting for him to pass by, or even just fleeing in general. He wasn't concerned with the runners. Even though Negaduck had most of his gang on the spree, there were still enough surrounding the building to deal with stragglers.
With a slight grin he finally came upon a door labeled 'Laboratory'. Finally. He was about done with this nonsense.
Fenton opened the door the usual way, via missile, and rolled to a stop as he crossed the threshold. The slight pause was due to the fact that the small lady before him was holding some sort of ray gun at his face.
"You are Dr. Bellum, correct?" Fenton said, in full Gizmoduck mode.
"Yes, and you're Gizmoduck...honestly, that suit is very interesting. Mind telling me more about it?"
"I have no idea how it does what it does. I didn't make it."
"Huh. Disappointing. I was hoping there was a real scientist under there, not some stooge."
"Your choices right now are join Negaduck, or I blow your head all over the floor. You have five seconds." Fenton growled.
"...you know, as fun as working with Negaduck would be, I'll have to say no." She grinned, and suddenly pulled out a remote and pushed a button. "I've been saving this guy for a while. He's been here a long time. Fairly hungry. I want to see if he'll peel you like a can opener."
Fenton, who never had the best situational awareness when he was focusing on people pointing guns in his face, finally noticed the cages aligned on the wall opposite him. There were...creatures there. Things with tenticals and claws and metal bits and all sorts of mutated monstrosities. He then focused on the cage door across from him now swinging open.
What emerged from the cage took him slightly off guard. It was about the size of an average man, hell, he could probably have looked Fenton in the eyes if he weren't balancing on top of a tire at the moment. However, the rest of his appearence was startling.
It looked like something halfway between a person canine and an animal. Most people didn't have that much fur, nor did they hunch over, nor did they have long claws that scraped the ground, or ears that looked like they belonged on a bat. The fangs overlapped over its bottom and top jaws, remaining exposed even when it briefly closed its mouth.
All of that would have been bad enough, save for the fact that someone had ripped off its left arm, and replaced it with a cybernetic replacement. Its eyes had also been replaced with what looked like red camera lenses, and the claws that scrapped the ground were not claws at all, but metal replacements. Smaller bits of metal were stuck all over its fur. It reared up and let out a terrible, pain filled scream at Fenton, and now he could see a thick metal collar pulled tightly against the poor things neck.
"What...the hell have you done?" Fenton couldn't help but let the astonishment and disgust he felt at this 'scientist' leak out of his bill.
She gave him a sick, demented grin. "Cybernetic werewolf."
Fenton didn't get the chance to properly express his general disgust with her as the werewolf rushed for him, claws slashing and teeth biting for him. He wondered if he'd be a wereduck if the monster managed to land a bite on him. Fortunately as he brought up his arm the things teeth didn't penetrate his metal shell. He grabbed the thing by the scruff and attempted to hurl it towards its creator, hoping that the werewolf would maul the mad doctor instead. Fenton no longer cared if the woman wanted to join or not. He was not going to let the monster that was Dr. Bellum get away with this. His situation with the Gizmosuit was bad enough. But this was a step to far.
Unfortunately, the woman had pushed a button on the wall and slid into a secret passage. The wall slid back as the werewolf crashed into it. The beast roared and turned back to Fenton, teeth bared and snarling. It roared and charged for Fenton, who slid out of the way. He didn't want to kill this thing, but it wasn't giving him much of a choice.
Maybe it was a mercy?
Fenton bristled, letting every weapon he had on the suit out. The creature may be a cyborg, but it didn't seem to have any shields or ranged weaponry. Maybe it either didn't have anything like that, or didn't know how to use them. Either way, a barrage would probably end it. If not, he had plenty of weapons.
"No! Stop! Let me out! I can get him to calm down! Please don't kill him!"
Fenton turned his head and blinked. Was that...a dog in a cage next ot the open one where the werewolf had been caged? It looked like it. It was a skinny, brown thing, with what looked like long clawed scars on its head.
"I'm not a dog! I'm a werewolf too! My name's Gary! GET ME OUT!" The 'dog' yapped.
The cyborg werewolf was lunging again, and Fenton chose to dodge. This was turning out to be a very strange day. He lashed out with a saw and cut the bars to the other 'werewolf's' cage. The beast leaped out and charged for its cyber cousin. To Fenton's shock the smaller werewolf held out a clawed hand, and it began to glow. The glow spread from Gary's hand to the metal werewolf's head. The bigger monster stopped and sat down, as if in a trance.
Gary continued to mumble something as he approached the other werewolf. He used his other hand, which glowed as well, and the collar broke from the cyber werewolf and fell to the ground.
"Okay, he should be safe now." Gary turned to look at Fenton with a small smile. "That woman figured out I was a werewolf. Grabbed some random kid they had a prisoner here and used my blood to infect him. It's not supposed to work like that. That's how you make feral werewolves, and it's a pretty bad business. Then she started this cyborg nonsense. Honestly, I have no idea what is wrong with her. She likes to combine her projects a lot. It's weird."
"...I noticed." Fenton snorted. At least Gearloose did one thing at a time. Fenton rolled over to the wall where Bellum had escaped and, after bit of destructive persuasion, managed to get it open.
To his annoyance all that lay beyond was a tunnel leading out into the forest beyond. Tire tracks indicated that she had some sort of car or bike that she had used to escape. She was long gone.
"...you work for Negaduck?" Gary growled slightly as he approached, the cyber wolf following meekly behind him. Fenton wondered if it had something to do with the fact that Gary's blood was used to change the kid.
"Not by choice." Fenton replied. "I'd rather be doing anything but what he wants."
"Then why are you helping him?"
"...complicated."
"Mmmm." Gary rolled his shoulders. "I have to get this guy to other magic users. Might be able to help him. But my old teacher...she's with your boss. I can't trust her anymore."
"Morgana? I wouldn't either." Fenton snorted. "...you know of Scrooge McDuck."
"The rich normal that lives in Duckburg?" Gary asked.
"Yeah. He has a witch helping him named Magica DeSpell. You might try them."
"...sounds like a good idea, and it gets me away from Morgana." Gary looked up at Fenton. "You might want to uncomplicate your life and get away from both of them. They're trouble."
"I noticed. Scram kid."
Gary nodded, barked at the cyber werewolf, and dashed away into the forest.
Fenton wished he could follow them, but he knew that Negaduck would track him down if he did.
Plus, he couldn't miss the opportunity to look for Dewey and Louie.
So, with a sigh, Fenton turned away, and rolled back into the building to report back to Negaduck.
Megavolt swung the lamp once more, managing a blow to Chris' side. The big dragon offed and Megavolt followed up with another bash to the head. Unfortunately, Chris recovered and swung his tail again, and Megavolt attempted to jump over it. However, he was just a bit to slow and was flung into a potted plant.
Chris rushed over and grabbed Megavolt by the throat. He picked the dazed hero up with a laugh.
"Really, I didn't expect this! Maybe working with those other freaks softened you up a bit, right hero?" Chris grinned up at Megavolt.
Megavolt gasped for breath, then suddenly he grinned at Chris. "Wrong."
"Eh?" Chris only managed out a small noise before all of a sudden both he and Megavolt were surrounded by smoke. Chris let his grip on Megavolt loosen as he looked around. A moment later he was flung out of the smoke cloud as a foot landed on his long snout.
As the smoke cleared Chris looked up to see a smirking rooster helping Megavolt up. Steelbeak straightened his suit and turned fully to Chris, white gas gun still held in his hand.
"Ya know, this is the point where I give you goons a nice long speech about the power of friendship and teamwork and I'm sure yall heard it before so..." Steelbeak aimed his gun at the gang. "Yeah, let's skip to the 'you're under arrest' portion, kay?"
Chris looked behind him to Lamont, who nodded. The dragon turned back to Megavolt and Steelbeak, and gave them a mocking salute. "See ya next time, hero!" He pulled a grenade out of his jacket, pulled the pin and threw it at the two. He then turned and ran as Lamont and the rest of the gang raced out the back, taking at least half of the bank's loot with them.
"Shit!" Megavolt grabbed Steelbeak and pulled him away. They almost didn't make it out the door before the grenade exploding, roasting Steelbeak's tail feathers.
"Awwww, that's gonna take forever ta grow back." Steelbeak mourned.
"Be vain later." Megavolt growled and activated his new communicator. "Guys, you okay?"
"...was having a bit of a problem, but then Dr. Fossil showed up to lend a hand. How are you doing?" Bushroot reported.
Megavolt looked at Steelbeak. "Did you call all of your people in to help?"
Steelbeak nodded. "Can't leave you guys hanging, now can I?"
"...thanks."
"Yeah...insert something inspirational about friendship here babe." Steelbeak stared at his ruined tailfeathers. "I'm busy wallowin' in grief here."
Megavolt rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. Friendship means you'll always risk your pretty feathers for a guy."
Steelbeak laughed and clapped a hand on Megavolt's shoulder. "Aww, ya get me so well, pal."
Megavolt laughed, then let out a sigh. "Let's check the others, make sure that Negaduck's big surprise isn't coming up next."
Fenton rolled into the main office of the place about ten minutes later. It might have taken him less time if he hadn't had to wait for the goon he asked for directions to stop trembling before him. He needed to find someone in Negaduck's gang that wasn't pants peeingly terrified of him. It was fine when he was on his own, but now it was just annoying.
Negaduck had S.H.U.S.H's leader, or at least the leader here, at chainsaw point. Fenton blinked at the tiny owl man behind the desk. He didn't look like much at all. Now the bear that Stegmutt was currently sitting on looked like he might do some damage, but he wasn't struggling at all, even with a mutant dinosaur on his back.
"Aw, Gizmo, you're just in time to see me evict the current resident." Negaduck gloated. "How'd it go with Bellum?"
"She ran off. Had to get rid of two of her experiments."
"Get rid?"
"Let's just say you won't be seeing them." Fenton shrugged.
"Aww, whatever. We'll have Gearloose look over the place later. Now, where was I...oh right!" Negaduck grinned down at Hooter. "You really should have listened to the old man. Maybe if you had helped the rest of the hoods around here, I wouldn't be in charge now. But aside from a few loose ends, with you gone I'll rule the criminal underworld of St. Canard. In half a year, I'll be running the city outright!"
Hooter glared up ineffectually at Negaduck. "If you really think the boss will let you get away with this-"
"And I'm bored now. Oh Morg?" Negaduck grinned at the witch. "Can you help me make this little guy a bit less...dangerous?"
Morgana seemed to think for a second, then gave a slightly wicked smile. Fenton watched carefully as the witch waved her hand, and all of a sudden there was no longer an owl person sitting in Hooters chair, but a wild owl. The owl looked up at Negaduck, confused and let out a mournful, sad little hoot.
Negaduck laughed and waved the wild bird away as he sat himself down in Hooter's chair. The sound gave Fenton a chill. "The most feared group in the world, and I took over their office in one day! HA!" He put his feet on the office table and stretched. "This is a damn good day!"
Fenton watched as Morgana grabbed the owl that had once been a man and magiced a cage around it. It gave a startled hoot and flapped its wings, but couldn't escape. Fenton wondered if the bird still had his original mind, or if he was truly an animal now. It was a scary thought.
"Nice thought, Morg. Keep him around." Negaduck finally looked at Fenton again. "You did good enough, Gizmo. I'm going to have to keep you indoors unless I need you to rob for me, but you get to look for your mark. And I'll even let you out of the room for a bit. Ain't I a nice guy when you toe the line?"
"...yes boss." Fenton said, hating himself the longer he stood there.
Still under Stegmutt, Grizzlikov raised a hand. "...may I join the illustrious Negaduck gang?" He asked meekly.
"Eh? Yeah, sure." Negaduck was still busy admiring his new office. "Stegmutt, let Lamont handle him. He'll know what to do." Negaduck chuckled again. "Now, everyone scram! I need to celebrate."
Fenton left as quickly as he could after that. He briefly wondered where in the world the fish had gone off to, but then again he didn't really care.
It would all be worth it, once he found the other two triplets.
If he found them.
Hours later, at an undisclosed location outside both St. Canard and Duckburg, Dr. Bellum found herself being led down down another hallway by S.H.U.S.H forces. She had driven as fast as she dared to this location, and was exhausted and dirty. However, the boss needed to know this new development.
The room at the end of the hall made her want to hurl. Everything was pink. Pink walls, pink roof, pink floor. It was covered with giant, fuzzy pink plushies of every variety, the biggest pile being stacked on the bed like a leaning tower of toy. The bed was a huge things, with pillars on each end holding up a frilly pink canopy. Pink lace ran up and down the pillars like choking vines.
Sitting on a tall chair, webbed feet dangling and kicking back and forth sat what looked like a little duckling girl with a frilly pink dress and a pink bow on her head. She sat before a pristine white table with a pink tablecloth. A pink teaset, the tea pot in the shape of an elephant, sat on the table. Gently, the small duckling took the elephant shaped tea pot and poured out some tea. She offered the tea cup to a large duck woman standing next to her like a bodyguard.
"Grammy, give our guest some tea."
The large woman wordlessly nodded jerkily. Dr. Bellum took a moment to admire the blinking metal device pressed against the side of the other woman's head. Amazing what you could do with a little mind control device. Bellum, not wanting to find herself condemned as a tea party guest for the rest of her life, took the tea cup and politely sipped while she waited for the boss to finally stop playing her little game.
"Now, Doctor, tell me why you're here." The duckling raised her eyebrow at Bellum.
"Negaduck has taken over the St. Canard branch, Miss." Bellum said.
"Oh really? And how did he manage that?"
"Hooter is incompetent, ma'am. Or was. He ignored the threat that Negaduck posed. He ignored Ace's warnings. He failed to notice Negaduck gathering powerful followers. He had Gizmoduck on his side, miss."
"Awww, Gizmoduck?" The duckling pouted. "The same big meanie that gave poor old Unca Scrooge all those problems a year ago?"
"The same."
"Well that simply won't. Do." The duckling put her tea cup down firmly. "You can stay here for now, Dr. Bellum. But don't worry." The duckling's eyes narrowed. "I'll take care of -everything-"
Dr Bellum gave the little girl before her a small bow of gratitude. "Thank you, Miss Webby."
"You are dismissed."
Bellum beat a hasty retreat.
For a long moment, the true leader of S.H.U.S.H watched the door were the mad doctor had ran out as if the pink hounds of hell had been chasing her. Then, with a snarl to rival Negaduck himself, the little girl turned the entire table over, crushing the pink elephant tea set to bits.
"I just don't get it! Where was the rest of Negaduck's army? Where was the witch or the dinosaur or Gizmoduck!" Megavolt ranting to the others as they made their way back to the greenhouse. The sun was setting on the horizon, and aside from the first wave of robberies, the rest of the day had been eerily quiet. Megavolt had expected a follow up attack, but none came. If anything the anticipation of it had been worse then the fighting. Nothing had happened, and that drove Megavolt nuts.
"I don't know, but Bushroot and I are going to stay up for a while longer, in case he attacks tonight. Maybe his plan is to have us be nervous all day and attack later when we are all to tired to fight." The Liquidator growled as he went to open the greenhouse door for the others.
"Yeah, maybe you're right, but-"
Megavolt froze as soon as he stepped in the greenhouse.
At first he wasn't sure what the thing before him was. It stood on four, long spindly legs, like a deer. At first Megavolt thought its hide was as white as bone, but then he noticed that it was neither flesh nor bone, but some sort of metal alloy. It was shaped almost like a deer, but its head almost resembled a falcon, with a long tapering beak and a sharp hook at the end that pointed downwards. It's feet had what looked like four toes, one on the front, one on the back, and two on each side. It was tall enough to meet Gizmoduck in the eyes.
It seemed to stare at them, though it had no eyes to speak off, not even camera lenses or a visor. It just had a blank pointed metal face. However, Megavolt was certain it was staring at them.
"Get out of our greenhouse." Megavolt bristled and sparked at the thing. Was this Negaduck's attack?
The thing tilted its head to the side and seemed to study them.
"...such aggression."
The thing's voice made Megavolt shake a bit. He couldn't tell if it was male or female, but there was something impossibly old about it. Like Megavolt was facing an ancient being who had seen more and experienced more than he could ever comprehend.
"...keep it...you will need it." The creature said again, and it seemed to sigh, lowering its head to the floor. "It is coming. It knows you all. I'm sorry."
"What are you talking about, what are you, who are you?" Megavolt asked, questions almost running together.
"In time. Not time yet. Don't listen to a word she says. She speaks the truth, but it's always intended to be a lie." The thing seemed to look at Quackerjack as it said this last sentence.
"Wait, are you-" Quackerjack began, but all of a sudden the metal deer raised its head to the ceiling and screamed. It wasn't a scream of a living thing, more like an air raid siren. A warning of impending doom.
As the sound faded, the creature returned to simply standing there, watching as the four recovered their ear drums from the ear splitting sound. Megavolt stepped forwards, sparking along his hands. He didn't know what this thing was playing, but he was about to start blasting unless he got answers.
The creature lifted a leg and slammed it to the ground, the sound of a clear bell ringing through the air as it did so. Megavolt paused.
"Ten." The creature said.
Then it simply wasn't there anymore.
End Year One
A/N: So yeah, that the end of the first year of three years. We all know how it ends.
Or do we?
Lot of things in this chapter to set up, and I got a lot of plans for the future for the next two thirds of this fic. Unfortunately if this were a show the next two 'seasons' will probably be a lot shorter than this was. Mostly because I want to tell as much of the full story before I either burn out again or something else happens. I have an idea of creating a kind of collection of side fics later if I think of a good idea that would have fit in during this time period. We will see how that goes.
So now we have Negaduck at the top of the criminal underworld. Fenton trying to find the other two triplets and a the introduction of evil Nega Webby.
Oh, and the deer robot.
And cyber werewolves.
I plan on adding even more nega versions of different Disney properties to this. Nega Lion King in the style of Talespin. Nega Gargoyles, even Nega Mighty Ducks the animated one. You know, the silly one. I also have the germs of ideas for things like Nega Ninja Turtles.
Eventually this will just end up being the Negaverse version of my childhood in general.
Hope yall are willing to stick by the insanity.