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 5

Part Five

It was morning as Drake slouched in his chair at the kitchen table. The unopened cookie jar sat on the table in front of him and he gazed at it with his head on his crossed arms. Gosalyn came and went. His resident copy was still asleep from their efforts last night: patrolling and looking for some answer as to what had dragged him across from one universe to the next.

Launchpad eventually came in, yawning himself awake. "Can't sleep, Drake? Maybe try some warm milk."
"I can't drink milk." Drake sat up. "I can't sleep, LP, because there's a demonic fiend loose out there and I'm disconnected from my family." He rubbed his temples.
"I'm sure your Gosalyn will keep an eye out for them."

Launchpad grabbed a cup of coffee from the percolator machine and stood there for a moment, gazing through the window to the sunny world outside. "It sure is a good thing that light doesn't affect you, Drake."
Drake raised an eyebrow at him and decided to dismiss the comment. "The Midnight Mallard, trounced by an unseen attacker. Oh, how the mighty have fallen."
"It could be worse."

Drake looked up at Launchpad incredulously. "I'm mystified by your reasoning, LP. In actual fact it could be worse! For all I know, they are all dead. For all I know, the multiverse is collapsing in on itself as we speak! I wish you guys'd let me talk to Megavolt and Quackerjack. At least Megavolt. He's the single best person I can think of to ask about all this."
"Y'gotta remember they are criminals."
"I am aware of that. But I'm sure I can reason with them to help us."
"Well, you could try talking around DW again. Hey, maybe if you tell him how you were planning on reasoning with them?"

"Speaking of whom."
Launchpad turned around, footsteps sounded down the stairs.
"Good morning, guys." DW reached into the fridge and pulled out the milk. "Where's Gosalyn?"

"Over at Honker's playing Whiffleboy." Drake from the table replied. "She took her baseball bat, so she may have a match on later with the neighbourhood kids."
DW frowned at him, "what else would she be doing with a baseball bat?"
Drake shrugged, "she could be practising her counter zombie moves."

There was a knock at the door. "I'll get it." Launchpad disappeared out of the kitchen.
"And that's Fenton Crackshell." Drake flinched as he said the name.
"Oh, no." DW agreed.
"Fenton's not so bad." Drake covered his face with his hands. "It's Gizmoduck that really gets to me."
"What-?"
"Go on, you're the home owner."

DW gave him a dirty look and headed dutifully out into the lounge room area. "Hi, Fenton. How's it ..."
"Drake, buddy! So good to see you." Fenton oozed with enthusiasm and bull headedness.
Drake was feeling it spilling out all the way into the kitchen. Drake's nerves twinged. "Oh, no. Not the TV!" He stood up as he heard Fenton and the other two go into the lounge room.
"Oh, hey it's time for the news."

He spun around on the spot, closing his eyes. He checked his clothes. It was day, and with a little presence of mind, he was now dressed in his old purple colour scheme, a perfect match for this universe's Darkwing Duck. He raced out into the lounge room and flicked the TV off right in front of the others. "I think those things are on far too much." He crossed his arms, "when was the last time you went out for some fresh air?"
"But ..." Fenton looked at the TV forlornly. Then his mind clicked over, "Darkwing Duck, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, I never realised my reputation had made its way to Duckberg!" Dark bowed. "I try to keep a low profile. 'A watched pot never boils', you know how it goes. Drake Mallard and I go way back. Best friends, right, Drake?" Fenton looked at Drake, who was nodding in a somewhat glazed expression.

"Actually, Fenton ... buddy." Dark Duck grasped Fenton's arm, pulling him gently away from the others. "Launchpad has been telling me how good an accountant you are. He said you were the person to see about my books. And, would you look at that, it's such a lovely day outside! Why don't we take a walk and we can talk about it." He dropped his grip on Fenton and walked to the entranceway. "I mean, that is if you're interested in helping a friend in need out."

"Oh, well of course!" Fenton gushed and followed, eager to perform another act of community service, whatever it was. "I'll see you guys later."
"Uh, sure, Fenton ..." The door closed behind them. "Having more than one of me certainly does have its advantages, LP."

"He sure changes clothes very fast." Launchpad tapped his beak in thought. "Boy, Drake's in for an ear-bender! Fenton loves talking about accounting. He can do it for hours non-stop."

"He's obviously buying me some time." DW recalled what they'd glimpsed of the news report. "Hmm. That robbery of the defence research facility had Negaduck all over it. But there's only one way to be sure. Come on, LP."

Dark Duck used delta waves to ad-lib in his conversation with Fenton. This allowed him to ask the right questions and to appear at least semi-intelligent on the subjects of accounting and business. They talked for ages as they went along.

"Oh, that's a nice looking greenhouse." Fenton announced, looking up. 'A little pot-plant would do wonders for my office.'
Dark Duck looked up at Bushroot's greenhouse too. "Yeah, the owner takes great care and pride in maintaining the plants in his care." Bushroot wasn't very motivated in selling his friends, and Dark thought it best to mention this. "It's not so much of a shop as more of a research-"

"Shall we go and have a look then?" With renewed energy, Fenton hurried up the pathway to the greenhouse.
Dark shrugged and followed after him, just happy that Fenton was happy. For the moment, Gizmoduck was not out there stepping on capes in the crime fighting business.

They stepped through the unlocked door and Dark Duck started pointing out the different species as they passed. Bushroot's greenhouse was a blessing to him. After talking so long about accounting, Dark needed a break. Or else he might break something.

"I didn't know you were such an expert in plants, Darkwing."
"I love nature." Dark deftly replied. "You don't get so much variety in the city, though." He moved through the greenhouse slowly. "Plants are fascinating. If you cut them down they simply defy you and grow back up." He turned around. "Bt by far the single most amazing thing with plants is their virility. If ducks multiplied as easily as plants germinate from seedlings, why, then we'd have a very large problem. So I always say thank goodness they're plants and not ducks."

"Well ... except for weeds. But that sounds a little anti-person for a crime fighter."
"Not at all, it just gives a good contrast. You can trust plants. Even a devious plant will do only as they need to do. Ducks are harder."
"Well, maybe, except for that Bushroot character ... I ... heard about."

Dark shrugged. "You can't blame him for being part duck. Not anymore than you can blame anyone else for being full duck. Attacking based on ordinary faults leads to a certain kind of insanity within you." Dark smiled at Fenton, tapping his temple for emphasis.

"Think positively, my friend. Nobody's perfect, and if they were, that would make life dull indeed."
"That sounds like you might be giving up the superhero business."
Dark Duck laughed. "I'll always flap, Fenton. I'd like to think of myself as a solid case for discouragement."
"Why do you...? I mean, a lot of people wonder. They're not sure whether you're good or evil."
"I fight crime." Dark turned away from him. "And I hold myself accountable for everything I do."
"Do you think it's enough?"
"Of course not."
Fenton blinked, that wasn't the expected answer.

"That's why I need Launchpad around. It's the people in my life that keep me from ..."
He turned away suddenly. "Negaduck?" He laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, boy, do I love Negaduck."

"They keep you from Negaduck?"
"I ... no, he's ..." Dark looked at him.
"I'd better go."
"No, wait!"
Fenton dashed out of the greenhouse.

"Curses! D'oh, and Negaduck's gonna kill Gizmoduck. Real smooth, Darkwing. Me and my big beak! What a waste of time, stupid accountant, can't stand still for five minutes ... D'oh, this is my fault. I can't even enjoy one criminal in peace without other people- now never mind; just fix it." He strode towards the door.
"Darkwing Duck?"
"Oh, hi Bushy!" He replied much more cheerfully than when he'd been berating himself. "How are you?"
"Well um ... I uh... Why do you ask?"
"Oh, you know, friends and acquaintances. You're not doing anything criminal at the moment, are you?"
"On-on my last check I wasn't."
"There, you see." He smiled at Bushroot. "I'll see you later, Bushy." He stepped out the door.

Darkwing threw in the smoke cartridge amidst the sound of an electrical surge.

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

"Oops, power outage!" Negaduck laughed as Gizmoduck fell noisily into a bulky heap at Darkwing's feet.
"Gizmoduck? What are you ..." Darkwing reviewed the robotically enabled crime fighter. 'Fenton Crackshell.' "This is my city, why are you here?"
"It's a long story, Wingy. You don't happen to have a remote power generator on you, by any chance? I'm a little ... inanimate."

"If you two would be so kind as to pay attention?" Negaduck said, standing before them with his remote control of doom. "See, I've refitted this whole room with all the works. And I've got a few things I want to destroy with it ... starting with you!" He cackled and Darkwing dropped to the ground as the villain pressed the button. Darkwing felt the rush of air as the wrecking ball passed narrowly over his head. There was a metal clunk, and he looked up on Gizmoduck's cry, in time to watch him disappear out of the window.

"No!" Darkwing squawked and raced over, his grapple in his hand, but he was too late. Gizmoduck was gone.

"Aw, feel a bit bad, killing off another crime fighter?" Negaduck laughed. "Pity you don't have any super duck powers. You might've even saved him."

Darkwing turned to Negaduck. "You killed Gizmoduck." Darkwing pointed his gas gun at Negaduck. "But you can't kill me as easily, Negaduck."
"Why, Darkwing!" Negaduck continued in his mocking voice. "No super powers, you don't even have a super suit. You don't wear Kevlar ..." He grinned. "You're nothing." He brandished his remote control. "And you're about to become ... nothing!" He laughed.

"I am an idea, Negaduck." The room echoed.
Negaduck frowned, "alright: how'd you do that?"

The room laughed at him. "Oh, Ducky, I thought you knew better than that! I am the terror that flaps in the night." The room laughed again. "I am the very last screw that seals your coffin."
"That's not you." He frowned at Darkwing. "It's a hoax."
"Give it up, Ducky." The room echoed. "You haven't a chance."

"Who are you?"
"I?" The voice laughed again. "I am the vampire that haunts your nightmares."
"No ... way." Negaduck gulped. "This ain't that universe. I got thrown outta that universe two days ago."

Negaduck spun around again; the image of Darkwing at the window was gone. "Tell me where you are and I'll blast you."
The voice laughed again. "That'll certainly bring the house down over your head." Negaduck paused and slowly, he looked up.

He stumbled and tripped. "It can't be. This is a different universe!"
"Oh no?" Dark jumped down from the ceiling, landing lightly on the floor in front of him. "I'll have to do a bit better to convince you, then." He laughed again. "My pleasure!"

"What ... uh, what do you want from me?"
"A fool's question! You know better than that, Ducky."
"Don't...! Stop calling me that!" Negaduck stumbled away, the monochromatic do-gooder laughed and advanced.

Negaduck had a moment of clarity. He jabbed at several buttons on his remote, letting off a stream of fireworks in the room and sharp blades, wooden stakes flew all around him from his square of safety. He took a breath. As the smoke cleared, Dark Duck was standing there in front of him. Negaduck grabbed his gun from his side.
"Ah, a series four destabilising ray gun. Not many of those around."
"Where's your weapon? What have you got?"
"Tsk, Negaducky, I am Darkwing Duck, and I am a weapon."

Negaduck turned his head to where the other Darkwing had been standing. How long had he not been there? He looked back. "There was more than one of you. You must'a followed him here."
"I like to give these sorts of impressions; I'm flattered."
"What do you want?"
Dark licked his beak, "I want you to ... run!" He snarled and pounced.

Negaduck's heart jolted and he bolted from the room.

Fenton woke up in a strange bed, in a strange house. It took him a moment to remember what the last few moments in his memory were.

Gizmoduck had crashed out of a high-rise window, without any power to his propellers. How had he gotten out of his suit?

"Oh, you're awake." Drake Mallard commented from nearby. "That's a piece of good news."

Fenton closed his eyes. What had happened? He took a sharp breath in. He recalled a rush of fur. With leathery wings and a massive size, bigger than he was in the suit, a creature had swooped out of nowhere. Its long sharp fingers had grabbed onto his robotic arms and snatched him out of his fall.

He felt himself shaking.

"You're lucky to be alive, Fenton. Darkwing Duck said it was a miracle you weren't dead."

"Something ... caught me. I don't ..." A vision of the creature's set of sharp teeth flashed through his memory. He gripped the sheet, looking around at the room, making sure this was reality.
"What did you see?" Drake handed him a glass of water.

DW came downstairs, looking around.

"Now where ..." He went into the kitchen. He watched the packets of oranges, and other fruit and vegetables land on the table. "You might've bought the store instead, Dark."
"Would you relax? I've got an inter-dimensional trust account. And this is Gizmoduck we're dealing with here. Cut me some slack."

"Hungry." DW watched his black copy grab an orange, wash it in the sink and bite straight into the peel. "What did you do to Negaduck?"
Dark laughed. "Mmm, I love Negaduck." He finished the orange.

"What the heck did you do to Negaduck?" DW squawked.
"I just scared him a bit, that's all."
"Where is Negaduck?"
"In lockup of course! You're very tense."

"Well, I wonder why that is? Maybe it's because you have Fenton believing there's a gargoyle loose in St Canard!"

Dark frowned. "I couldn't avoid that. I couldn't prevent Negaduck from pushing him out the window."
"You knew that was going to happen?"
"I'm sorry. I did try to keep Fenton entertained."

"How did you know his secret identity?"
"This is a tomato. Put it in the blender, what have you got? A tomato; it just looks different."

DW stared at him as he devoured the tomato. "You mean you can hear heartbeats."
"Yes."
"That means you drink blood."
"I have the capacity to drink blood, yes. It's the definition of vampire. I do avoid actually doing it."

"Oh, well that's all-what!" DW blinked. "... Avoid? Avoid! You shouldn't do it at all! Just straight not do it!"

"Let me give you some advice, DW." Dark fixed on him. "You know how you feel right now? If I were the duck, you the vampire, I'd be dead. It's not the vampire that's the killer. It's the temper in the vampire. Your temper, Drake Mallard. You've got to cool off."

He smiled. "And if you took a moment to notice, Gizmoduck is no worse for wear and that's no mean feat on my part." He started rifling through the paper packages. "Negaduck must have come with me from out of my universe. Now which bag did Sarah stash the broccoli?"
DW spied it in a bag on the other end of the table and handed it to Dark. "I want my kitchen back. I want my bedroom back." He clenched his beak. "And I especially want my universe back the way it was."

"I'd love to oblige." Dark looked up at him. "So we'll go visit Megavolt tonight, huh?" He grinned. "Don't worry, I can be persuasive."
DW sighed. "Just tell me you didn't bite Negaduck."
"I haven't bitten anyone since I got here." Dark crunched into the raw vegetable.
"Yuck! You're supposed to cook that first."
Dark shrugged and took another bite.