FAIR WARNING: There is some blood.
An explosion sounded outside, drawing Zoster's attention. Inside his main lab, each computer was meeting a similar fate, one by one. Zoster howled with all his frustration and slammed his fists on the ground. All the data stored on those terminals were now undoubtedly lost.
He stood up again, a communicator in his hand, and his teeth gritted. "I will make sure you pay dearly for this! This is Zoster, I need-" The communicator was shot out of his hand before he finished. Zoster turned to stare at Darkwing, who kept his blaster pointed at the scientist.
"I don't think so, you sick, sordid scientist! Your sinister schemes stop right now!" growled Darkwing. Rage was bubbling over and his vision grew red. He lunged at Zoster, bringing the scientist to the floor once again.
Darkwing began punching the Evronian multiple times with the ferocity of a volcano. There was nothing left. He almost lost his daughter for good, and all he wanted now was the death of the one responsible. He slammed his blaster into the scientist's face over and over, eventually drawing green blood.
Duck Avenger was speechless. Darkwing was supposed to be the cool-headed methodical crimefighter. He had never thought his friend was capable of such unbridled rage. It was eerily reminiscent of his own outbursts.
Snapping out of his stupor, Duck Avenger dashed to Darkwing and pulled him off of Zoster. The panting duck stared at his enemy, who struggled to move even an inch.
"How does it feel, Evronian scum?" spat Darkwing.
Zoster growled and managed to stand shakily. "I'll deal with you worms later!" he hissed. He then limped out of the room, clutching his face, which was still leaking his blood.
Darkwing moved to give chase but Duck Avenger held him back. "Darkwing, forget about him. Those busted terminals will keep him busy. You need to get what you came for."
Darkwing sobered, remembering why they were even here and rushed over to Gosalyn. He hurried to undo her restraints.
"How'd you get here, Dad? And who's that guy with you? Is that the Duck Avenger?" Her excited babbling was halted temporarily as Darkwing scooped her up and squeezed her tight.
Now he knew she was safe. She was back in his arms once again. Tears dripped onto her shirt as his heart overflowed with joy.
"Oh, Gosalyn, I'm so sorry," he whispered, rubbing the back of her head gently. "I thought I lost you for good." He held her out and studied her face.
"Come on, Dad, I knew you'd come back. No villain from Earth or beyond can stop Darkwing Duck, right?"
Darkwing laughed, wiping away tears with his sleeve. "Yeah…that's right." He kissed her forehead and embraced her again as Duck Avenger and a free Launchpad looked on.
"How do you deal with him, LP?"
"I'm his biggest fan. I wouldn't trade this for the world."
A blaring alarm cut through the moment, turning all eyes around the room.
"DA, remember how the terminal I hijacked exploded?" One interjected.
Duck Avenger began to sweat, a bad feeling welling up in his stomach. "Uh, yeah…?"
"The function I triggered spreads like a virus to other Evronian computers on the same network. Even the ones controlling vital ship functions!"
"Critical damage to engine controller. Engine going offline," said a voice over the public address.
"Uhhhh, I'm pretty sure that means we get going!" remarked a nervous Launchpad.
"This way!" called Duck Avenger, heading to the door. Launchpad, Darkwing and Gosalyn were right behind. He fired his X-Transformer at the door's panel, destroying it. The door opened and all four ducks bolted down the hallway.
As they ran, a soldier ran past them, fire engulfing his back. "The engine room's on fire!" he wailed.
"Attention!" came Zondag's voice over the PA. "This is an evacuation notice! All personnel report to the launch bay for immediate evacuation!"
"Just great!" groused Darkwing.
"I've got an idea! Everyone link arms!" Duck Avenger snatched up Darkwing's wrist, Darkwing snatched Gosalyn's hand, and Gosalyn took hold of Launchpad. "Here we go!"
Duck Avenger shot his fist forward and activated the jet capabilities of the X-Transformer. The whole group shot forward at twice their running speed, blazing past bewildered Evronian soldiers.
They burst through to the launch bay and touched down on the wing of Ducklair's starship.
"Whoa, what a ride!" exclaimed Launchpad. He was cut off by laser blasts in their direction.
"One, open up!" yelled Darkwing. The hatch flew open and he ushered Launchpad and Gosalyn inside. He turned around to see Zoster firing at them from the hatch atop his escape pod.
"You'll pay for my research with your lives, Earth scum!" His eyes were wild, and he was shooting at them as fast as he could, pounding his fist on the pod with every miss. Duck Avenger was returning the fire just as rapidly.
"DA, let's go!"
"Get in! I've got him- AGH!" A bolt of energy caught him in the chest and he collapsed onto the wing, spasming uncontrollably.
"Avenger!" Darkwing dove on top of Duck Avenger, shielding him. He fired back at the pod with everything he had.
Without warning, the entire area shook and shuddered, and a metal structure careened down between them. Zoster lost his balance as his pod was tipped over. Darkwing yelped as he and Duck Avenger started to slide toward the edge of the wing. He clawed at the smooth win to no avail, but the descent was stopped by a crane arm protruding from the ship.
"Never fear, One is here!"
Darkwing exhaled in relief as he and Duck Avenger were snatched by their capes and thrown inside the ship, the hatch sealing behind them.
He locked eyes with his friend, seeing the very same pain that he went through at the hands of the Evronians.
"Are you ok, Donald?" he said worriedly.
Duck Avenger grunted, sitting up with slight difficulty, and gave Darkwing the thumbs up. "Yeah. Great honk, that packed a wallop…" he panted.
Darkwing sent a knowing look toward his friend. "I know."
Another explosion shook the place more violently, sending Darkwing and Duck Avenger back to the floor. "One, we need to get out of here!" said Darkwing, dashing to the pilot's seat. Gosalyn and Launchpad were already buckled into two seats on the right wall.
"Keen gear, what a neato spaceship!" squeaked Gosalyn.
"LP, get her buckled in!"
"Arming the fighter tip! Maximum intensity!" shouted One.
"WAK! Are you trying to kill us?!" screamed Darkwing, pressing himself against the grid of screens.
"If you didn't notice, we are trapped inside! I'm saving us by making a way out! Or would you rather stay here with the Evronians?"
Darkwing's heart skipped a beat at the thought, and at One's cutting glare. "Um…right. Carry on," he said, backing away slowly.
He saw an orange glow emit from the top of the windshield as a huge energy bolt shot towards the wall in front of them. The material was blasted away like nothing, sucked out to space.
"Hang on!" said One as the ship came alive.
Darkwing strapped into the pilot's seat tight. "I've heard that too much today…" he muttered.
The air pressure change sent pods and debris careening out of the giant hole the ship had made. Darkwing could see Evronian soldiers flung out as well, too late in boarding their pods. He gulped, seeing them lost to the never-ending ether.
The ship lifted off the ground and rocketed away from the Evronian mothership.
Darkwing could feel the ship vibrate for a moment, then just as suddenly, all was still again.
"What was that…?" breathed Darkwing, looking at One.
"A shock wave." One disappeared and a fireball filled the screens, tiny dots of debris hurtling outward like dust against the backdrop of Venus. Darkwing's beak dropped open. The Evronian mothership was gone.
"Great day in the morning…" breathed Duck Avenger, who had come to stand next to Darkwing. The two heroes locked eyes. They were quiet for a brief moment, then the two burst out laughing.
One returned to the monitor grid, a virtual eyebrow raised. "May I ask what is so funny?"
Duck Avenger tempered his laughter long enough to say, "I don't know!"
The two ducks went right on laughing, and One rolled his eyes. "Biologicals…"
They quieted down after a while, and Darkwing flicked a tear from his eye. "I can't believe we did it."
"Of course we did! I told ya we'd get Gosalyn back!"
"Gosalyn…" Darkwing looked back at his daughter. She was looking out the windshield at the expanse of stars before them. He unbuckled and walked over to her.
As he got closer, she smiled at him. "What's up, dad?"
He responded by kneeling down and hugging her, feeling her wrap her arms around his neck in return. "I'm so glad you're safe, kiddo. My Little Girl Blue."
"Oh, dad," chuckled Gosalyn. He kissed her on the forehead and stood up again.
"Boy, DW, Duck Avenger really turned out to be something, didn't he?" said Launchpad.
"Yes indeed, LP. I don't know what I would've done without his help."
Duck Avenger joined the group. "It was nothing, Darkwing. After all, heroes help those they care about." He put a hand on Darkwing's shoulder and the two shared a knowing glance.
"Hey, does this mean you've got a new ally, dad?" said Gosalyn.
"Heh. Perhaps. You were quite the formidable opponent to those devilish denizens of darkness, DA."
"Hey, maybe you guys can be some kind of superhero team, like in the comics! All we'd need is Gizmoduck and-"
Darkwing waved his hands in the air, shaking his head. "Absolutely not! Yes, your help was invaluable, but I'm not about to be some Duckvenger!"
"Come on, DW, he'd love it! Plus, he's got a robosuit," Duck Avenger raised his eyebrows coyly.
"I'll kick you out of this flying machine!"
"It's my flying machine!"
As the two heroes continued to bicker, One rolled his eyes and deactivated his auditory receptors. They may have been arguing just like long-time friends, but he didn't want the trip home to feel any longer than it had to.
"Now, the trick with any entrance is how you present yourself. You want to strike fear into the hearts of your foes as soon as they look at you. Watch this." Darkwing vanished in a puff of blue smoke.
Duck Avenger would have to ask later how in the world he could do that.
Duckburg's purveyor of truth and justice was currently in St. Canard, having been invited out on a patrol by Darkwing Duck. They had done this off and on a couple of times since rescuing Gosalyn from the Evronians.
The ordeal had strengthened their friendship in an unlikely way. Now, they could depend on one another in the complicated and dangerous job they both were employed in, and though it took some getting used to for Darkwing, Duck Avenger could tell that he was enjoying this new arrangement they had going on.
Duck Avenger let his mind wander as he sat on the roof's edge, studying the quiet, darkened buildings of the business district. All lights were off, save for the streetlamps painting the blueish surroundings with a yellow glow. Usually, town center would be hopping back in Duckburg, but here, there was an eerie emptiness to the surrounding area. There didn't seem to be anything stopping your average thief or midnight hooligan from conducting their mischief. He could see why this was the first place Darkwing patrolled most nights.
Thinking about it, he had been gone for a little bit. Was this some kind of a joke?
"I am the terror that flaps in the night!" his voice echoed.
Well, there was his answer. Duck Avenger scooted away from the precipice and stood up.
"I am the winged scourge that pecks at your nightmares!"
He crossed his arms and waited for Darkwing to appear with a patronizing smirk across his beak.
"I am Darkwiiiiiing DUCK!" he announced, directly behind Duck Avenger. Duck Avenger shot into the air, startled out of his wits.
He returned to the roof as fast as he left it to see Darkwing rolling on the floor, howling in laughter. "Oh, you should've seen your face!" he cackled.
Duck Avenger's shoulders stiffened, and his face glowed red with embarrassment. "Oh, real funny, you big palooka," he grumbled. "This is why I prefer to just drop in and let the X-Transformer do my talking!"
Darkwing got up from the ground, his laughter reduced to light chuckling. "Where's the fun in that, DA? A hero lives for the flair and the dramaticism of eviscerating evil each and every evening!" Darkwing wrapped himself in his cape, emphasizing his words with a wave of his hand.
"If you say so, DW…" sighed Duck Avenger, his hands on his hips.
Sure, there were some kinks to work out in their dynamic, but he would help iron them out whatever they may be. Darkwing was his friend, and he couldn't imagine this any other way. Whatever future the fates had in store for the two single dads/daring heroes, they were ready for it.
All of a sudden, an explosion erupted down the block, drawing both heroes' eyes toward the rumbling. The clang of alarm bells followed immediately after.
"Sounds like it's coming from the Billions National Bank," said Darkwing. A gleam shined in his eye as he turned back to Duck Avenger. "Shall I show you exactly what I mean?"
"You bet, DW," he agreed, raising his X-Transformer.
The two slapped each other's hands together.
"Let's…"
"Get…"
"Dangerous!"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: And that's all, folks. For a post-credits bonus (like them Marvel boys), check out the epilogue!