AUTHOR'S NOTE: Before we begin, I wanna wish you all a Happy New Year! 2018 had its ups and downs for all of us, I'm sure, but I have high hopes for 2019. Hope you enjoy my first chapter of the new year!

FAIR WARNING: This chapter deals with the kidnapping of a child and also contains brief mild language.

The controller left Gosalyn's hands at the crash outside. Usually, it meant Launchpad was home. He took pride in being able to crash anything.

But that violent sound was anything but a friendly LP crash.

She crept to her door and slowly turned the handle to peek out. Five odd creatures were marching in through a front entrance that was without a working door.

This is right out of Alien Starforce 5… she thought, rubbing her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

No, they were real. They crept around the foyer, looking from side to side with their sidearms at the ready.

"She's somewhere...I can taste the delicious emotion…" she heard one of them speak.

Delicious emotion…? What were these far-out freaks talking about, and what the heck were they even doing here? There was no one else in the house right now. Darkwing and Launchpad were still at the hideout.

It was time for her to be a hero.

She slammed the door and searched for her Calisota Slugger, as the sound of marching feet spiked her adrenaline. Ol' Betsy was quickly dug out of her closet, and she dove under her bed as the marching grew louder.

Splinters flew around the room as her bedroom door met a similar fate to the front door. She held her breath as the strangers' feet stepped across the threshold.

Upon entering the room, Zargon studied it from top to bottom. The place was an absolute mess, certainly an anomaly to all the well-behaved children on Evron. Garments littered the floor, bound paper artifacts cluttered the dresser, giving off a general feeling of chaotic disarray.

There were potential hiding places all over, but he could sense that she was here. It was just a matter of where.

"Come out, little girl," Zargon cooed. "I promise you are in no danger. We would simply like to talk to you."

The feet approached the bed and Gosalyn seized her opportunity. "Ok. I'm all EARS!"

She swung her bat at Zargon's leg. He yowled in pain and grabbed his ankle. Gosalyn crawled out and scurried for the door.

Kursaal saw her emerge and dove for her, but he missed and crashed into her dresser. He rolled over, completely dazed.

"You absolute moron!" Zargon shouted, watching Gosalyn escape. He limped to the door. "Don't let her get away!"

Gosalyn jumped onto the railing and rode it down to the ground floor. The other three soldiers were waiting for her. She leaped at the end of the rail, Evronian hands swiping at her as she wound up and whacked all three on their beaks. They fell backward as Gosalyn touched down by the open entrance.

"So let's talk, space freaks! What do you want with us?" she demanded.

Zargon made his way to the upstairs railing, wincing with each step. Gosalyn looked up to see him laughing from deep in his throat.

He smiled down at her. "You are as spirited as we imagined, little girl."

"Darn right, and there's plenty more where that came from!" said Gosalyn defiantly.

"I am pleased to hear this, for it will serve our mighty empire well."

Suddenly, Gosalyn was forced to the ground. The bat slipped from her fingers and rolled out of reach.

"I have her, sir! Shoot her!" an Evronian called to his commander. She was firmly pinned to the floor, the Evronian soldier seizing the opportunity while her back was turned.

Gosalyn struggled but she was no match for the raw might of the alien. "Lemme go or I'm gonna tear ya limb from limb!" she grunted.

Zargon stepped carefully down the stairs and to Gosalyn, the paralysis gun in his hand. "A threat I'm sure you would make good on," said Zargon in a hushed tone, kneeling down to her. "But alas, that's not going to happen. Do you know why?"

Fear had returned to her as his threatening stare met hers, and she closed her eyes, feeling the gun tip pressing against her forehead.

She silently called out to her dad for help. He promised to always keep her out of harm's way, but little did he know that his greatest fear was about to come true.

"N-no," Gosalyn answered, afraid to know what her father never would.

Zargon's beak curled up as he leaned his beak to Gosalyn's ear and whispered, "Because Evron conquers all."

A whooshing and whirring sound diverted all eyes to the living room. The armchairs at the far end were flipping end over end rapidly.

After a few seconds, they ceased, and seated atop them were Darkwing and Launchpad. Both beaks dropped in horror at the scene that befell them.

"Evronians!" gasped Launchpad.

"Gosalyn!" screamed Darkwing.

"Retreat!" barked Zargon, and fired the gun point blank in Gosalyn's face. An orange light enveloped her, rendering her lifeless and still. Her face was one of unabashed terror.

"No!" Darkwing cried and charged at the aliens, ready to rip them apart for absconding with his daughter. The Evronian that held Gosalyn down scooped her motionless body up in his arms and made a beeline for the front entrance. Darkwing hurled himself at them just as they were out of the way and he quickly met up with the cupboard under the stairs.

Launchpad ran after his hero and saw the Evronians making a hasty exit. One of them looked back and fired his phaser at Launchpad. He couldn't dodge it in time and the laser shot surged through his muscles like a sucker punch, forcing him to the ground.

Darkwing shook his head and lifted newspapers off his back. He saw his stunned sidekick and rushed to him.

"Launchpad!" he shrieked, shaking his pilot's shoulders.

Launchpad shook his head clear and laid eyes on his hero. "DW?" he breathed.

Darkwing's eyes were wild and fearful at this sudden attack. His eyebrows quickly lowered, the adrenaline channeling itself into vengeance and hatred for his counterattack.

"Get the Thunderquack," he growled.

Whenever Donald Duck had a lot on his mind, he would retreat to the roof of Ducklair Tower and lay in silence. The city soundscape was oddly soothing, and the empty night sky provided the ideal canvas for him to paint his thoughts on.

Tonight, he lay there in his Duck Avenger costume, thinking about the revelation he and One had just discovered. His best friend, Drake Mallard, was a superhero just like him.

It was amazing, and sort of baffling to Donald, that the poor mess he knew called Drake Mallard had rubbed elbows with evil. He could barely do the laundry without flooding his basement. And yet, he had gone up against crime kingpins, maniacal mutants, and even his own interdimensional clone, and came out on top in the name of good.

But the Evronians were not like those villains. They were smarter, organized, and more vicious in battle.

Duck Avenger could handle them. But Darkwing didn't have a cutting-edge AI or a high-tech multipurpose weapon. He only had himself and his ego.

And that would not be enough.

Duck Avenger's mind was clouded by his quiet worry, so much so that he didn't hear a floor tile move aside, scraping across the floor.

"One, I know you're there," he mumbled. Turning to his right, he saw One approach in an auxiliary globe, tethered to the hole with a strong, yet flexible tube.

"Was I really that obvious?" said One, disheartened.

Duck Avenger chuckled and shrugged. "No. I just knew you'd eventually find me here."

"Well, given what was revealed to us about Mr. Mallard today, I'm not surprised you would be up here processing it."

Duck Avenger sat up. "It's not really that, One. I've processed it just fine."

"I suppose you did. Quite loudly, if I recall."

"Oh, hush," Duck Avenger rebutted, waving One away. The AI simply laughed.

Duck Avenger turned his head back toward the skyline and fell silent again. The peace hung stiff between them for a moment, mingling with the traffic below, before he broke it with a sigh.

"I just…" He searched for the right words. "I just don't want him getting hurt."

"I take it you mean Mr. Mallard?"

"He's found out about a whole race of beings bent on destroying our world, and...I-I feel like that ego of his won't let him rest until one of them is down for the count."

"How do you know?" asked One.

"Simple logical deduction, One. You only just met him from a newspaper. We've been tight friends for months. You and I know what those Evro-heads are capable of. He doesn't."

Duck Avenger's gaze turned to the Audubon Bay Bridge, a tiny shape near the horizon. He closed his beak again, staring out at the bay. He watched the seagulls flying by, their tiny shapes gliding among Evronians atop their discs.

Wait, what?

Duck Avenger fished in his pocket for his binoculars, and put them up to his eyes to make sure they weren't deceiving him. The aliens' recognizable silhouette against the moonlight made itself clear to him, and his eyes widened behind the binoculars.

"What is it, hero?" asked One, curious about Duck Avenger's sudden change in mood.

"Evronians, One," he replied, "That's what."

One's visual receptors turned toward the bridge, and he zoomed in optically to get a clear view of the scene unfolding miles away.

"Why are they heading away from St. Canard, and who the heck is following them?" asked Duck Avenger. The Evronians were long gone by this time, an aircraft coming into view of the binoculars. It was shaped like a giant duck's head, with long wings protruding from either side, and it was trying to catch up with the Evronian fleet.

One captured the plane's shape into his memory and searched through his archives, trying to figure out who this unique plane could have belonged to. The answer was processed instantaneously, and his own eyes widened.

His finding would surely drive his friend into a state of panic, but why would he not deserve to know?

"What is that plane, One?" Duck Avenger inquired, removing the binoculars from his face and turning to his partner.

One sighed and relayed his discovery. "That's the Thunderquack, an impressive aircraft capable of air, water, and space travel. It was handmade by Launchpad McQuack…especially for..." One paused, gulping virtually. "...for Darkwing Duck."

"SAY WHAT NOW?!" Duck Avenger screamed. The binoculars clattered to his feet. The worry that gripped him all evening was becoming reality.

"NonononoNO!" Duck Avenger slammed himself against the guard rail, squinting to see the Thunderquack flying higher and higher into the sky. Not five seconds had passed before he dove into the elevator.

"D.A.!" One gasped, withdrawing himself back into the floor. His partner would no doubt be waiting for him at his main terminal on the 151st floor.

As fast as the elevator doors parted, Duck Avenger hauled himself toward One's towering green globe.

"I can't believe that delusional dunderhead is actually gonna try it!" he panted as he skidded to a halt at the great computer's vast array of buttons and knobs. One's comforting face appeared to meet him.

"Do you know where they're headed, One?" said Duck Avenger. The panic in his voice put One to work immediately. He scanned the sky with the Tower's powerful satellite for potential destinations and compared several possible trajectories based on the Thunderquack's rough heading.

"I've located an Astro-Raider just above the atmosphere," One informed. "It would seem our Evronian friends are headed in that direction."

"There could be more aboard that thing! Darkwing's gonna get creamed!" Duck Avenger exclaimed, his voice cracking with worry. "I've gotta warn him!"

"Don't worry, old bean. It shouldn't be hard with Master Ducklair's technology to put a call out to the Thunderquack-"

"Then stop flappin' your yap and just DO IT, One!"

"Alright, alright! Don't overheat on me," One groused, then his head vanished from view, replaced by an hourglass as he attempted to transmit to the Thunderquack.

A moment later, though it felt like an hour to the panicky hero, Darkwing and Launchpad popped into view on-screen. Launchpad was in the pilot's chair, his face neutral, and Darkwing was pacing behind him, obviously tense.

"Hello there," Launchpad greeted. "Who's this?"

"I'm the Duck Avenger! I need to talk with Darkwing urgently!"

"Duck Avenger?" Darkwing remarked, then turned toward the camera. Seeing Duck Avenger on the other end of the video line, he ran over to address him. "Just the duck I was hoping to meet."

"Save the introductions, Darkwing. You need to turn around right now."

Darkwing raised his eyebrow. "Well, that's nice, but it's far too late for that. I've got a date with some extraterrestrial enemies."

"But that's just it!" Duck Avenger pleaded. "You don't know what you're getting into! The Evronians are-"

"A vile, villainous scourge," Darkwing cut in, emphasizing each adjective, "and they're about to meet their maker at the hands of Darkwing Duck! I know you may call the shots down in Duckburg, but calling me with a silly little warning is not going to turn this plane around."

"Well, he's got a point, DW. We don't really know how powerful the Evronians are," Launchpad remarked, trying to be the voice of reason.

"Yeah, trust me, you don't," Duck Avenger agreed, "Launchpad, just turn right around and-"

"Don't you tell my pilot what to do!" Darkwing yelled, pointing at the camera. "How did you even get this number?"

Duck Avenger didn't know how to respond. He certainly couldn't tell him about One. "Uhhhhhh, look, that doesn't matter. Please, just give it up! You don't have to do this!"

"Yes, I do!" Darkwing raised his voice. "Now kindly get off this line, Duck Avenger, or I may have to get nasty."

Duck Avenger pressed himself against One's globe. "Listen to me, please! Your stupid ego is no reason to-"

"No, YOU listen to me!" Darkwing screamed, silencing Duck Avenger. His fury was spilling out across their transmission. "Now, I don't know who you think you are, or how you got this number, but all I know is that someone I love was just abducted by those heartless knobs!"

Duck Avenger gasped and backed away from Darkwing's red face.

He wasn't hearing this. It couldn't have been true.

They had Gosalyn.

"So don't you DARE tell me to just turn around and give up!" Darkwing continued, voice distorting with all his emotion. "I'm going to face off with those insidious invaders whether you damn well like it or not, Duck Avenger."

His voice lowered to a deep growl at Duck Avenger's name, and his spine tingled in surprise. He had never thought Drake's voice could reach that level of deep-seated ire.

"It's a hero's duty to protect the ones he loves. But you probably wouldn't know anything about that."

Darkwing crossed his arms and was about to stalk away, when the Thunderquack began to vibrate.

"Uh, DW, I-I think we're being sucked toward their ship," Launchpad interrupted, fear tinging his voice. Darkwing's head whipped around past the call to behold a sight out of view to Duck Avenger.

He turned to Launchpad, his face now covered in powerful resolve. "Let's get dangerous."

Darkwing's hand reached out of the frame and the signal was cut off.

Duck Avenger stared at the now empty globe, beak agape in disbelief. This had to be a dream. Lady Luck couldn't have hated him THAT much to cause the worst-case scenario to happen.

The Evronians had captured Gosalyn, and Darkwing was absolutely going to die trying to rescue her.

Duck Avenger pulled on his hair and roared in frustration. "That stubborn NIMROD!" He dropped to the ground and beat it with his fist.

One's face returned to the globe. "Well...I don't think that call yielded desirable results."

Duck Avenger turned to face One, his seething outrage spreading to the computer. "You think, Captain Obvious?!"

One was taken aback at his partner's reaction, and he hung his head. "Sorry, old bean. I can see now that wasn't helpful."

Duck Avenger stood up and attempted to slow his breathing. His temper was flaring, and it wasn't helping matters either.

He wasn't Donald Duck right now. He was the Duck Avenger. He needed a cool, rational head to figure out how to proceed from here. He closed his eyes and focused on each breath. His heart calmed itself and he regained control.

He turned to One again, a determined expression on his face. He already knew what he had to do.

"I'm gonna save them, One."

One was caught off-guard. "What?"

"313-X can travel out of the atmosphere, right?"

"Uh, yes. A-and there are spacesuits in the garage where 313-X is parked."

"Perfect." Duck Avenger dashed off toward a doorway on One's left side. "Darkwing Duck wants to get dangerous, huh?"

"It does appear so."

Duck Avenger turned back to One, courage curling his beak upward. "Well, he's about to see me get diabolical."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ooooooooh, it's getting exciting. Darkwing's got a date with destiny and Duck Avenger's not far behind. Find out what happens on the Astro-Raider next time, in Let's Get Dangerous! Later!