A/N: 'Parallels' and 'Cause and Effect' are both legitimate episodes of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is a family show, it is a science fiction/action genre, and it is a story about people and morals.

A/N: I could edit this forever, but I shall post it as it currently is.

St. Canard Prime: Part 3

Part Three

"Well, I don't know, DW. It could have been Negaduck in disguise." Launchpad said as they drove down the streets of St Canard.

"Yes ... except Negaduck would've taken Gosalyn hostage or something worse, LP. What I saw was the tail end of a black cape as it disappeared out the doorway, and Gosalyn yelling out 'Darkwing Duck' for the whole neighbourhood to hear."

"Oh, you know Gos; she's probably just worried about you. Er him. Boy, this is getting confusing."

Darkwing reached the red light and stopped. "I have to agree with you on that one, LP. Not to mention; I have a strange feeling about this."
"Oh, man, I hate it when you get those."
"What?" Darkwing blinked at him. "Don't I usually end up being right?"
"Exactly! W-why can't you get one about bunnies for a change?"
Darkwing looked away, shaking his head. The light turned green and they continued on.

"I am the Terror that flaps in the night!"

Darkwing screeched the rat-catcher to a stop and jumped off.
"Hey, that's your line, DW."
"Shush!"

"I am the nightmare that you just can't wake up from."

The sound of running feet drew nearer, as the criminal ran directly towards Darkwing and Launchpad. He yelled when he recognised the caped vigilante. The beagle came skidding to a stop and stumbled onto his knees in front of him. "I am Darkwing Duck." Darkwing said, glaring down.

He put his hands together, begging Darkwing. "Okay, okay, I surrender! I confess, I'll tell them everything! I give in! Take me to jail, lock me up! Please, just don't hurt me!" He pleaded, his words ended in a pathetic whimper and sob.
"Sure, we can do that." Launchpad cheerily came forwards, hooking a pair of handcuffs onto the distraught criminal. He pulled him away to a nearby street phone to call out a squad car.

Darkwing headed in the direction the criminal had come and found himself in a dark alley. "I've been looking for you."

"Why would you want to do that? On the last count, I wasn't a criminal."
"You've upset ... someone I care about a great deal."
"Oh. I didn't mean to do that. I was more troubled than she was, believe me."

Darkwing Duck was still trying to locate the owner of the voice. "Why don't you come out where I can see you so we can talk properly?"
A dark form materialised from out of the shadows. "Is this better?" The duplicate stepped slowly towards him.
"Yes, much better."
"Perhaps we should talk somewhere that the walls don't have ears?"
"Yeah, well, I suppose ..."
"I'll meet you there." The duplicate disappeared into the shadows again.

"I never fully realised how effective that really is!" Darkwing Duck murmured appreciatively as he headed back to Launchpad and the rat-catcher.

"Something sure is different about this copy of yours, DW." Launchpad said, getting back into the sidecar.
"Oh?" Darkwing raised an eyebrow at Launchpad as he reached for his helmet. "What makes you think that, LP?"
"You know the guy we just pulled in? He was confessing about things that he did two years ago in Duck Vegas."

"Two years ago?" He put his grey fedora into the sidecar compartment. I wouldn't know what he did somewhere else."
"It was Duck Vegas, two years ago."
"Very peculiar. Well, let's go find out, LP."

The monochromatic Dark Duck looked out on the city lights from the window of Darkwing Tower. It was a beautiful pulse of life. None of it he shared. Disconnected from his family, he was just downright lost. He pushed his mind out as far as he could. Could he get a message back to his own wife? He could try.

After several minutes, he sank down onto the floor, weary for the emotional effort. It was too far. The connection was just static.
"I'm so lonely!" He yelled. He looked at the cement floor. "And so empty."

"We'll do our best to find out who did this."

He started, looking up at the old, familiar Darkwing Duck. This was someone he literally hadn't seen in years.
"Yeah, and we'll see about getting it put right." He gazed up at the two of them, tears in his eyes.
"I could always count on you, Launchpad. Thanks. Both of you." He smiled, his eyes tearing again. "And Gosalyn."