It was a quiet Monday afternoon at McDuck Manor. Too quiet. It was only a matter of time until-
"OH MY GOSH GUYS LOOK AT THIS!" Webby shouts, running into the boys bedroom.
"Webby calm down! What is it?!" Huey asks as Webby bounces up and down, holding something.
"What's that?" Dewey asks, noticing the piece of paper as Webby holds it out for the boys to see. It reads 'Duckburg Spring Youth Dance'.
"The Duckburg Community center is holding a massive dance for all the teens in town this Friday night! Guys we've gotta go!" The pink duckling seems close to bursting with excitement.
"A massive dance party? This is amazing! I get to show off all my moves!" Dewey says excited.
Huey takes it to read. "Friday night... For ages 13 to 17... Paired dances..." Huey pauses and goes back. "Wait, paired dances?! As in, like, dance with someone!? As in, like, a girl!?" Huey gets flustered. He had to learn how to dance with a girl?!
Webby, meanwhile, is texting Lena and Violet to see if they were going as well. They were. "Oh my gosh! Lena and Violet are coming too! This will be awesome!" Webby cheers, rushes out to tell Beakley.
Huey is panicking still. What will he wear? What will he do?
While Huey has an existential crisis, Louie agrees, having not paid much attention.
And the Louie realizes. "Wait a wha-"
Webby excitedly runs downstairs and to Beakley. "Granny! Granny! The boys, Lena, Violet and I are all going to the Duckburg Spring Youth Dance together!" As she hands Beakley the flier.
Taking it, she reads it through. "Oh, Webbigail that's wonderful! I assume you girls will take the boys as dance partners?"
"Maybe. Not really sure. But oh my gosh this will be awesome!" She cheers.
Beakley smiles, happy for her granddaughter. "So, do you know what you will be wearing to it?"
Then Webby realizes something, gasps. "Oh no, I don't have anything to wear! What'll I do?! I can't go dressed like this!" As Webby freaks out.
"Webbigail, please, calm down! I'll take you shopping for a dress before then, alright?" Beakley assures.
"Oh, okay, thanks Granny." Webby smiles as she sighs in relief, hugs Beakley, then skips off.
Beakley, however, decides to talk to Scrooge about this, given a few concerns. She knocks on his office door, and is let in. "Mr McDuck, we need to discuss something."
"Aye Bentina? What is it?" Scrooge asks as Beakley places the flier on his desk. "Eh? Some dance fer the kids? What of it?"
"I'm worried about their safety, especially given recent news..." As the newspaper Scrooge had been reading mentions Ma Beagle breaking out of jail... Again.
"Are yew saying you feel the need to protect her?" Scrooge asks.
"Not quite." Beakley sighs. "Webbigail is getting to the age where, as much as I want to, I need to let her fend for herself. But still, I worry about her more so here, given what the Beagle Boys tried at last year's dance." As the Beagle Boys, though only a small group, tried to kidnap all the kids.
"Then what do yew suggest?"
"I don't quite know to be honest. As I feel that, even if I do go, it may not be enough." As she recalls the Beagle Boys getting bolder in their crimes.
"Hmm..." As Scrooge thinks. "I may have someone in mind..." As he makes a call to a new, but proven trustworthy, friend.
Boone is in his cabin with Cross, enjoying a relaxing afternoon together as friends, co-workers, and her as his right hand. They are drinking tea, but vary in what way they are drinking it, as Cross drinks a cup of fresh-brewed tea, while Boone drinks a glass of sweet iced tea (because he is from the southeast). Then, Boone gets a call. Checking it, he is surprised to see it is Scrooge McDuck. He decides to answer on speaker phone.
"McDuck!? This is quite the surprise. How are you?" Boone says smiling.
"Fine, lad, fine. Look, I hate to ask such a menial task of yew, but, I'd like to ask a favor." Scrooge says.
"Well, I haven't heard it yet, so no need to apologize. Shoot." Boone says, taking a sip of tea.
"There is some sort of youth dance this Friday and the kids are going."
"Oh, the Duckburg Spring Youth Dance? Yeah I know about it. And good to hear the kids are getting out more. Anyways, what about it?"
"Well, if you heard, Ma Beagle broke out of jail, again, and Beakley is worried fer the kids' safety."
"Okay... Your request?" Boone asks.
Scrooge sighs. "I was wonderin' if yew could, well, run security there, given yew did promise ta' protect my family and offered to help me with anything."
As Cross takes a sip of tea, Boone answers. "Sure, we'd be glad to!"
Cross spits out her tea in shock, sputters and coughs, hitting her chest to try and clear it.
"Is, everything alright over there?"
"Yeah, Cross just had a bad reaction to me immediately agreeing to that rather peculiar request." Boone deadpans. "Anyways, I meet you later at the manor to discuss details?" Boone asks.
"Eh, sure lad. Does 4:00 this afternoon sound good?"
"Sure, see your then. Out." As Boone ends the call with a smile and takes a sip of his tea.
"Sir, you cannot be serious!" Cross argues. "Security detail at a dance for kids?! We are criminals! We don't do babysitting!"
"Teens, and we won't be. We go in, spend the night keeping troublemakers out, which is an easy task honestly, then come back. A nice, rather quiet, calm evening. Besides, half of you are dressed for it!" He explains with a chuckle, points out the more formal/professional look of more Toppats.
"Aside from that being below us, is it even remotely reasonable for you to go dressed as you normally are?!"
"The dress code is for the youths, and as head of security, I take my role seriously."
"You only wear military green!" Cross argues.
"Military police are a thing. Your point?" He raises an eyebrow sarcastically, grinning.
Cross sighs, to which Boone puts a hand on her shoulder.
"Look, think of this as a sort of shore leave. Okay? A break from all the actual hard work. Some of the men need it. You and I both definitely do. You need to loosen up!" He says smiling.
Cross sighs and relents. "Fine. But how many are we taking even?"
"Not sure yet. I'll discuss it with McDuck."
"Fine. Just hope this works out well." Cross says as she cleans up her spit take.
"No worries, it'll be fine!"
Later, at the manor, at 3:59 pm...
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK DING DONG
There is a knock at the door. Duckworth answers it. "Yes, how can I hel-" As he sees the Toppat co-leader standing there.
"Hmm, a ghost butler. Guess even in death one cannot escape servitude..." Boone jokes.
"Who are you?" The butler asks, eyebrow raised.
"Ian Boone. Toppat Clan..." He bows slightly. "Mr McDuck invited me over to discuss something." He answers.
"Hmm, please wait here one moment..." The butler closes the door and goes to inform Scrooge. "Sir, there is someone here to see you. He says he is from the, Toppat Clan?"
Hearing this, Beakley rushes to the front, unaware of the now good relations between McDuck and the Clan.
"Oh no, Bentina! Wait!" Scrooge rushes after to try and stop her.
The door swings open as Boone is tackled and grabbed, held in a head-lock.
Boone grins, sees McDuck had yet to tell her of the greatly improved relations. "So, is it normal to sick your housekeeper on all guests?"
"Only the ones that are a threat to his family!" Beakley snaps. "Mr McDuck! Call the authorities! I'll hold him here!"
"Beakley! Stop! It's alright, he's a friend! I invited him here!" Scrooge shouts.
"What?!" As Beakley releases Boone, who dust himself off. "What do you mean?"
Scrooge sighs. "He is the one I called to be security at the dance. I asked him ta' come over so we could discuss details..."
"Mr McDuck, you cannot be serious! They are criminals! How can you trust them with your family's lives!?"
"Maybe because I saved his, Mrs Duck's, and the kids' lives from those kidnappers the other month? Including your granddaughter's?" Boone points out.
"Just because you did one good thing does not mitigate your other crimes. Especially not those commit against Mr McDuck!" Beakley argues.
"Oh relax twenty-two..." He pats her on the shoulder, goes back to the door. "Your kids will be in safe hands!" He assures as he enters with Scrooge.
Beakley is flabbergasted. Did he just call her by her agent number? How did he know that?
In Scrooge's office...
"So, care for any refreshments while we talk?" Scrooge offers.
"Hmm, just a glass of iced water would be fine." Boone says.
"Very well. Duckworth, a cuppa tea and a glass of ice water, please." Scrooge says, sitting at his desk, motioning Boone to take a seat.
Boone sits in a chair facing Scrooge, the refreshments soon arriving via ghost butler.
"So, what sort of security detail are we talking?" Boone asks, taking a sip of water.
"Just somethin' ta deter the Beagle Boys mostly. Something more discrete than, well..." Scrooge gives a 'this' motion to Boone's outfit.
Boone rolls his eyes. "The other men will be dressed in more formal clothing I assure you. But you are NOT getting me to wear one of those monkey suits..." Boone declares, not being big of formal.
"You look like a bloody guerrilla!" Scrooge argues.
Boone shrugs. "More like a PMC. Just scares baddies more honestly. Besides, you'll be telling the community center you are sending a security detail for the event, right?"
Scrooge nods, then sighs and relents. "Ugh, fine. But no brandishing weapons around. No need makin' people nervous."
"We can do concealed and stashed weapons but we will not go unarmed. We have to be prepared for any inevitability." Boone says.
"Fine. How many will you be bringing?"
"Well, I thought about it and, including my right hand lady and I, nine. That sound good?" Boone asks, seeing Scrooge nod. "Good. Though I have yet to get those volunteers yet as we did not have a confirmed number until now."
"So, what exactly do you plan to do?"
"Simple stuff. We will be stationed in the main area of the building, watch for suspicious activity, remove potential threats discretely, basic stuff. Just keep an eye on things. Basic security detail with advanced backup plan."
"I see. And, you have no trouble doing this?"
"None at all! I kinda see it as a slight break from all the heisting and stuff, you know? Plus, I promised to protect your family."
"Very well, I'll contact the community centre and inform them so you can get set up." As Scrooge does so.
"Very well, I'll put out a memo to the men on the ship and select seven of the volunteers." As he sends one via phone.