I do not own Duck Tales.
Enjoy!
Launchpad blinked as he saw the world before him.
"The puzzle you gave me, I converted it to a building for Jigsaw," he said, keeping in persona as he walked and Launchpad looked around with amazement.
He put his hand on the door and the door opened up, they walked in and he kept an eye on Launchpad amazing reaction.
"You're in luck," he said "It seems everybody but you is busy today. You missed the crowd of the new building opening. So let me brief you on the rules of our secret society"
He saw Launchpad wasn't listening and snapped his fingers at the Duck getting the Duck's attention.
"Number 1," he said. "If you meet a society member in your normal daily routine don't approach, however, there are certain scenarios where it is acceptable like if you want to pass them off as a college friend or something. I myself, do a little street cleaning on the side. It helps keep me occupied when I'm not being sent out to recruit members. This job is perfect because they don't check if your a robot, as long as you can clean in a dangerous environment they will let anybody in."
"Really, that is the perfect covered for a robot. It makes sense now" said Launchpad.
"Now onto the second rule," he said. "When you meet somebody else under the name Jigsaw, mission or building, there is a special greeting you need to learn." Before he said the Egyptian Arabic phrase. "This phrase basically means 'The Jigsaw is interlocked'. Don't worry about remembering it, you'll be hearing a lot from the older members so it's impossible not to learn it. You'll also be learning a lot of Arabic as well and to motivate you there is even a trophy for those who managed to master the language. However, if your not comfortable with the greeting there is also a secret handshake you can learn"
"Yes, a secret handshake!" Said Launchpad. "I've always wanted to learn a secret handshake all my life. I'm pretty sure everybody around me has one too."
The sad thing was, even Donald Duck had one with his former bandmates.
He showed the Duck the handshake, this handshake had been invented years ago in his childhood because of course, it was when they got to the last part, he said. "Don't be afraid to put your whole strength into this grip."
And Launchpad did.
He could have sworn he heard a bone snap.
But he didn't dare show how Launchpad had effectively killed his arm.
"You can practise that every time you come in here or at an event," he said. "Rule 3. When your summoned, always be aware of your surroundings. Listen for footsteps, do not directly go to the meeting place. Do a bunch of random stuff, escape out of a window of backdoor if you have to. Just make sure your not followed. People get very curious if you can't lie well. However, there is a fail-safe on the door. If it doesn't appear before you when it should, then you have been followed"
Before he said. "So basically, you'll end up looking a bit crazy instead"
"I've met a bunch of crazy people so I'm fine with that," said Launchpad, shrugging.
Indeed he had.
"Now onto the perks,", he said, "You will receive something that will help you keep mementoes of any Jigsaw experiences you have." Before he said. "Now we normally find members who live alone or have one person living with them. But because you are surrounded by so many people, make sure the piece you need to activate it is kept hidden. Hide it in the glove compartment or something, just make sure if somebody goes snooping in your room, that they won't be able to find it."
"This is going to be so cool," said Launchpad "I have the perfect place to hide it"
"Now four," he said. "Never. And I mean never show or tell Scrooge McDuck about this society"
"Why?" Said Launchpad.
"Because the man likes to be a member of everything," he said. "If we're not evil than he wants in. And it's not just his insisting either. As the richest duck in the world, clubs and society's throw themselves at his feet in hopes of a donation. Jigsaw is a unique society, we don't invite members because their rich. If we did, Flintheart Glomgold would be a member and nobody wants that duck around"
He shivered and Launchpad could see his point.
From what little he had seen of the Duck, that dude was unhinged, always evil laughing, talking about how he wanted to destroy his employer, pouring money into schemes that don't go anywhere in the end, the dude's poor tired adviser.
Yeah, even he didn't think he wanted to be trapped in a room with that guy.
"And the final rule," he said. "Don't tell anybody your part of a secret society. If you try, the mark on you will burn to warn you. If you persist, then you incur the wrath of the mark" making the duck eyes go wide before he said, lighter. "Other than that. Have fun. Do amazing things and make friends. Would you like to see the training room?"
And Launchpad slowly nodded his head and followed him.
"Awesome." Said the Duck seeing the room.
"The bookcase is filled with books to learn moves. Well, of course, there isn't something like spy level or military level moved, here" he said. "However, the books will definitely help you reach new heights" before he said. "And if you need a spotter, then I'm the robot Duck to call."
However, the instant he said that Launchpad had a look of absolute shock.
"...You would help me train?" Said Launchpad.
"Well, I don't see why not. Were comrades now" he said, staring at the Duck.
Wait a minute...
Had nobody in that mansion of 10 plus people, actually, offered to help him train before?
However, from how touched Launchpad looked, he could tell nobody bothered.
"Alright!" Said the duck.
And thus his life as a punching bag began.
Thank.
God.
For.
The.
Puzzle.
A single blow from Launchpad would have landed a normal person in the hospital, however for him, he steamed for a bit and then his body was ready to go again.
However, he would have quit within minutes but it clearly meant so much to the big guy that he had somebody to train with him.
And not only that, he had the brains to try and get the Duck to follow the book.
When he finally said goodbye to Launchpad, the Duck had decided to call himself DarkWingDash as his Jigsaw name, he felt like his relationship with the Duck had deepened somewhat.
However as he laid in bed, he realised that he needed to find a fighting expert, he had no experience in actual fighting, book knowledge can only get him so far with the guy.
He needed a fighting expert.
That's who he needed to find next.
And the Puzzle approved of his choice.
He closed his eyes and woke up to find the blue sky staring back at him and not his old wooden roof.
Huh?
Duck feet passed him.
He sat up and saw a street he hadn't seen in years.
It was the street leading up to his old elementary school in his home town before his family moved when he was in middle school.
He hadn't seen the street in years but he recognised it.
Meanwhile, people just passed him with disapproving looks, they probably thought he was high or an alcoholic.
He ignored them.
What was he doing here?
And then it happened, an old lady with her grandkids walked down the street, she had a cane in hand and was limping.
For some reason, the Puzzle within him was pointing at her.
It wasn't pointing at the lively and youthful kids but the limping old lady who looked like she couldn't even chew right.
If he didn't have the knowledge about a certain cliche, he would have dismissed her entirely.
So it was her, huh?
He began to follow her, he got her name by pretending to be a charity worker that helps old people to her neighbours.
Madline Seabath.
That was her name.
If she indeed was an expert, she would have realised that she was being followed however she showed no reaction to it.
Or perhaps, the mere fact that she showed no reaction was much more alarming.
He hopped between towns and watched her.
But the more he watched her, the more he began to realise Madline was an incredibly lonely old lady.
Her grandkids did not live with her so she had a very old person daily routine. Nobody came to visit her and when she did get knocks on the door, it was from people trying to sell her things
But her eyes reminded of Scrooge, old yes but they weren't dead, they were waiting for the next adventure.
Who was Madline?
Not even her neighbours really know who she was, they just saw her as the old lady who was nice to everybody.
Interesting, old lady.
One day, both of them locked eyes with each other but he walked away because he wasn't ready yet.
When he was sure that he could escape if things got out of hand, he walked up to her front door and knocked.
What he didn't expect was the automatic door opening by the old lady.
The old lady stood on the other side and said. "So finally you decided to approach me. Come in"
He kept his surprise contained and walked in, her house only to find it spotless, even the walls.
Interesting.
"Please sit down," she said pointing to the dark green couch.
"How about I stand?" He said.
"I'm not going to attack you," said the old woman, laughing. "Truth be told being stalked has got to be the most entertaining thing that has happened to me in years. Not many people pay attention to this old lady. Especially somebody who is not an expert."
Plus, if he wanted to kill her, he would have come at her already.
And thanks to practising with Launchpad, his robotic voice had stopped sounding like the voice you hear in a cheesy 60's tv show and he said. "Your right, Madline. I am not an expert. I was not designed for combat. I've been following you because I wanted to see what kind of person you are, I do not care for your background. Just the person you are now"
"Ooh, and what kind of person am I?" She said.
"Somebody who will listen to me instead of attacking me on sight," he said, before bowing and saying. "Allow me to introduce myself. I go by the name Spy" his eyes glowed. "My role is to meet potential candidates for my secret society. The society aim is to gather unique and interesting people all over the world. Whenever the society is involved, you shouldn't be surprised if you end up jumping out of a plane just for fun or running past a golem. Our aim is just to do something interesting"
The old woman said nothing.
"I want to extend an invite to you to join our secret society," he said. "However to join, you must do something epic in front of me. If you do not wish to join, then I will leave and you'll never me again"
"And my memory will go too, right?" She said.
He said nothing.
Neither confirming this theory or rejecting it.
"I'll join your secret society," she said.
He blinked owlishly.
That quickly?
"I'm old," she said "Do you think I love wasting away in this house? I still got some years left in me and I'll rather jump from a plane than read another knitting magazine"
Indeed she did feel like Scrooge.
"Well, then just do something ep-" he didn't get to finish.
His blue tie got cut in half and a large chunk just fell to the floor.
He looked up to find the cane pointed him.
"This Cane is made completely from plastic. No hidden compartments at all" she said, she struck it on the carpet and he could see it bend.
It was indeed plastic.
She had managed to cut his tie with a plastic cane.
It didn't get more epic than that.
His eyes glowed and he smiled and said. "Welcome to Jigsaw, Madline"
And then she found herself alone.
Her mark came for her when she was asleep.
He appeared in her living room and said. "Would you like to meet a member?"
"I've been waiting for you to show up all day," she said, not even batting an eye at the impressive door.
They went in and he walked her through the hall and they entered the training room.
Launchpad was there, currently trying and failing to use his legs.
Launchpad saw them and then saw the old lady.
However, before the Duck could say anything Madline said.
"Nobody has every properly trained you have they?"
The Duck blinked.
"Your physic relies on upper body strength entirely. Anybody can build muscle but if you don't know how to effectively use what you have. Even a child will be able to beat you" she said, and the Ducks eyes went wide. "So you know the reality. There is hope for you"
"DarkwingDash meet-" he began.
"Gummy," she said. "Call me Gummy. I will be more than happy to kill some time you"
"No offence but lady-" said Launchpad, looking at her baggy arms but that's when she swept him using her cane, and then hit certain of his body which sent the Duck flying and landed with a thumb a meter away.
She walked calmly to him and held him down by the cane on his chest.
He couldn't move.
"Lesson one," she said. "Don't underestimate the Cane"
And Launchpad stared and said. "You have got to be the coolest granny I have ever met."
And the Duck lived with Miss B.
The old woman smiled, amused.
This guy reminded her of her Nephew Tomas.
Meanwhile, he smiled, he had obtained another member and she was willing to teach Launchpad.
However, having Launchpad learn a new skill from the current and future members of the society won't bite him in the ass one day right?
He shook his head.
Nah, he was fine.
Launchpad rarely ever got to be impressive so this was fine.
And scene!