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Chapter 8: Introductions
IQ High had seen many instances of people becoming a totally different person in the presence of others. But Duck Dodgers was one he never imagined would exist.
Egotistical, dim-witted but tactical genius, open-book but mysterious Duck Dodgers who never had a soft side even for the Cadet, was hugging this hare, who IQ finally noticed look gravely sick. The duck was stroking the top of his head gently, whispering words he never thought the duck would say so softly and even CRYING.
He glanced at Johnson and Cadet who too were taken back by the sudden display, especially Johnson.
" I thought you were gone fer good", Bugs mumbled.
Daffy chuckled dryly," The universe can't separate Daffy Duck from stardom. You know I'm too stubborn to accept defeat", he said playfully.
Bugs laughed," Eh, ain't that the truth. Lovely to see you never changed that much since you left", he said wrapping his arm around Daffy's neck for support.
" C-C-Cap'n? A-A- little h-h-hel- assistance", Cadet called out.
Dodgers grinned," Cadet! There you are!", he exclaimed.
" You know these maroons, Daff?", Bugs said pointing at the agents.
" Yep, I work with them! The pig's a friend of mine and my cadet", Daffy explained.
" Alright then", Bugs said before turning to Gossamer," Eh doc, mind releasin' 'em, they're in the clear".
Gossamer stepped towards them and slashed at the ropes with his claws, immediately releasing the agents.
" Thank you", IQ said rubbing his wrist.
" Your welcome", Bugs said curtly.
" -And they're not the only friends he brought along!", Foghorn yelled boisterously as he pushed Tyr'ahnee and X-2 inside.
Everyone's eyes were now on the martians, who froze as everyone stared at them.
" They look like something out of Game of Thwones", Tweety commented.
" Tyr'ahnee, Bowling Ball, eh what the heck, IQ, Cadet and Boyscout... meet Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes, my siblings", Daffy said.
" All of them... are your siblings", X-2 said as he looked around him at the different animals around him.
" Well Granny's more of an aunt but I'll expand on that later", Daffy said waving the question off," Fellas, you guys know those three but lemme introduce to ya to Commander X-2 and Queen Tyr'ahnee of Mars".
The two were surprised Dodgers had used their titles during their introduction, full on expecting their embarrassing nicknames as well.
" Your majesty", Bugs said bowing respectfully," I... am really sorry for anything Daffy may have broken while he was... wait... where were you?!".
The Looney Tunes mumbled amongst themselves as they stared at Daffy questionably.
Daffy chuckled nervously," It's a long sthory", he said.
Lola passed a chair on to Bugs to sit on before he collapsed.
" We have time", he said.
" Dodgers, should we really be telling them the truth?", Johnson stressed.
" They can handle it. I know my sthibsth", Dodgers reasoned.
" We can. So spill. Where were ya these last six years?", Bugs asked as he sipped a glass of water Tweety handed to him.
" Well ya sthee, Bugsthy. I got trapped in sthome ice for 3 centuriesth until Lightbulb over there got me out. Since then, I've really become my Duck Dodgers of the 24 and 1/2 century persona", Daffy explained.
There was silence in the room. The future group were expecting laughs of disbelief or even scrutiny. But we know the Looney Tunes.
" Wile... did you not check the future?", Bugs asked suddenly.
The coyote sheepishly shook his head before signing," Oops".
Bugs facepalmed while the rest of them roared in laughter. Even Dodgers was snickering at the small mistake.
" Wait, you believe him?!", Johnson exclaimed.
" Well... he has no reason to lie to us, and it's much more believable than him running away to the circus and marrying a bearded lady and had bearded kids with her", Lola said shrugging with a grin.
" Not one of his best lies", Yosemite coughed.
" Had the thought of him being dead ever occur to any of you?", IQ asked.
There was a heavy silence in the air, hesitation thick in the air. Daffy looked at the others expectantly, hoping one of them would say something.
" We... I think we'd know if he were dead", Bugs said.
IQ frowned," That wouldn't make much sense", he said.
Some of the Looney Tunes twitched when they heard that. Bugs frowned deeply," Daff, I think ya friends don't know what they're talkin' about", he said.
Daffy shook his head," The futuresth a WHOLE LOT different Bugsthy little brother", he said before a smile came on his face," Why don't we get all of ya comfortable? I wanna hear what I missed these last couple of years".
" I think I can update you on the trend", Lola said guiding him and Bugs away to the living room, the others following blindly following them while few remained behind.
Tyr'ahnee felt Prissy hook an arm around her own," C'mon, might as well learn a little about us and Daffy", she said before dragging her out of the room, the future gang following after curiously.
Tyr'ahnee admired the decor of the burrow, for something she imagined would be small and dirty, it was certainly quite extravagant and large. She admitted, it may have actually looked better than Dodgers, despite the similar earthy tone both homes give off.
" How does the ventilation even work?", IQ asked.
" Don't question it", Prissy said.
They reached the living room, the entrance of the burrow right above them. Tyr'ahnee didn't get the chance to admire the feeling put into the home before but it all surprisingly took her breath away.
She eyed the photos that hung on the wall, slipping out of Prissy's grip to get a closer look. It was Dodgers and Bugs, smiling as they stood on either side of a portly human man who smiled proudly at the camera, with a 'Happy Birthday Dad' scrawled messily at the corner.
" So his father is a human, but his siblings are of various other species", X-2 questioned
" How would that even work?", Johnson muttered walking past.
He wasn't enjoying this little reunion at all. The Blot may not be a threat anymore, according to Dodgers or Daffy as they call him, but Z-9 and Darkstar could have followed them to this time and could be planning their next move.
He looked towards Dodgers, who sat and listened quite attentively to the canary who had seated himself on the back of the couch, a feeling of anger striking like a match.
Suddenly, a memory popped up.
The duck was opinionated, that was what Johnson was sure of.
Throughout the tour of the Protectorate, the duck had made his distaste and rare interest clear, especially to him. Comments and insults flew out of his beak with an annoying lisp.
The last area they were heading towards was the cadet training centre, where Dodgers would choose his trusty right-hand man to help him on all his mission. Johnson was relieved he was beyond done with being a cadet.
" Now Dodgers, choosing a cadet is an important decision, the one you choose will stick to you until they die or betray your home planet. After that, the Protectorate chooses one for you. And trust me, you don't want a cadet that disagrees with you all the time. Protocols and such should be-"
It was only after a short while did Johnson notice Dodgers' absence, a small spark of anger igniting in him. Ten minutes had passed until Dodgers came back, this time, with a small, chubby young pig.
" I want thisth one"
Then the spark only grew to a flame.
Dodgers had never listened with such a attention. Not even Cadet or IQ could keep the duck from zoning off to a distant world or just blatantly falling asleep during a speech.
Speaking of Cadet.
He stood looking the photos with Tyr'ahnee and X-2, glancing once and a while at his captain before something caught his eye.
On a table was a photo of his captain, standing proudly next to a short creature who looked happily at the camera. Cadet picked the picture up and looked closely, his eyes not believing what they were seeing.
" I-I-It c-can't be...", Cadet murmured.
The creature looked like a Martian.
The creature WAS a Martian!
And it looked exactly like Commander X-2.
The sound of someone sliding down the hole towards the burrow alerted everyone of a newcomer. The Looney Tunes didn't look in the direction of the entrance even though the newcomer was arriving.
" S'probably Marvin", Sylvester saod shrugging," Porky's not coming until next week".
The future gang, although they would never admit it, were curious about this 'Marvin' everyone keeps mentioning about, especially Tyr'ahnee and X-2.
Something told them that this might knock everything they ever knew out of proportion.
Someone landed squarely on the feet as they emerged from the entrance, green helmet obstructing their view of the newcomer's face until he stood up.
" Greetings fellow siblings of mi-", Marvin froze as his eyes landed Tyr'ahnee and X-2, who were too frozen in shock.
" Marvin!", Daffy said boisterous.
" Daffy?!"
End of Chapter 8
It's rushed, so so rushed but at least it's out. I hope you enjoyed this. Next chapter will hopefully come soon (pray writer's block won't be an ass). See you!