Launchpad McQuack

Reginald Bushroot stepped out of warehouse eight with Belladonna, heading back to Hamil Corp to collect Simon. They'd only been walking for a few minutes when he heard a dark echoing voice all around them.

"I am the terror that hunts in the night."

"Hunts?" Reginald frowned, calmly looking around. "Are you a vampire?"

"I am Darkwarrior Duck."

Reginald took a step back as a large shiny black thing was thrust into his face. "A missile launcher?" He refocused his eyes, looking at the purple caped duck with the spikes on him. "This is ludicrous. I haven't done anything."
"Double-homicide-resisting-arrest-kidnapping-willful-endangerment-theft-destruction-of-property-co-conspiracy-counterfeiting ... shall I go on?"
"That's-not-me-anymore!"
"I recall Morgana Macawber tried that old line on me." Darkwarrior tsked. "Once a criminal, always a criminal, Bushroot."
"Not!" Reginald countered, his temper flaring. 'No, wait a minute. That's not my temper; that's his temper.' Reginald rubbed his head. 'He's the one that's emotional here, not me.' He reasoned. 'But if he's feeling like that it can only mean one thing!' He gulped.

Reginald considered their surroundings, doing a mental scan of the area for backup. 'Warehouses, docks ... where are all the trees?' He widened the mental search and found a listening mind. 'Help! I've got a Darkwarrior here about to commit herbicide on me!'
'I'm on it, keep him talking, Bushy.'

"Off home, Bushroot? Is that where you thought you were going?"

Beside him, Belladonna let out a quiet warning growl, making Reginald straighten. He looked at the weapon in the Mallard's grip again. Of course, he was staring at the weapon of a serial killer, passionate about his job. "Have ... you got weed-killer loaded in that thing?"
"Yep."
"Seriously?"
"It's my special blend that I used last time on you." Darkwarrior looked around. "These streets aren't exactly tree-lined, are they, plant-scum?"
"So ... you're thinking of using it again?"
"Oh, I'm gonna use it." The mallard grinned, and with his glowing red eyes he looked completely demonic, "already locked and loaded. I just wanted to enjoy catching you again."
"Well, I've got some news for you ... Dark ... warrior!" Reginald pointed at the duck's weapon in disapproval. "This makes you a criminal!"
"You've got to be tough to get the job done to cleanse St Canard of the criminal element." He raised the weapon at Reginald. "Anything else you want to add for your closing statement?"

"Yeah." Reginald crossed his vines. "I ... have just ... one ... thing to say." He dragged out the moment for as long as he could.
"Well?" Darkwarrior prompted in annoyance.
"The thing I want to say to you is: Good ... night."

A gas grenade landed at Darkwarrior's feet, spouting out a cloud of sleeping gas. Reginald dove out of Darkwarrior's front view and watched from the street as the purple nightmare collapsed into unconsciousness. The plant-duck sighed in relief and stood up. Belladonna was standing exactly where she had been. In her unconscious state the sleeping gas had no effect.

"Oh." Reginald sighed in relief at his rescuer, "thank you."
"You're lucky I listen when children tell me things." Launchpad said, coming up to stand beside the sleeping menace.

"Where's Quiverwing Duck?" The air ace pulled out a pair of handcuffs and hooked them on Darkwarrior's wrists.
"I think he got pulled into another universe again. Will those handcuffs really hold this guy?"
"He's out for the moment. Once we get back there'll be no problem containing him. What goes for a vampire will go for him."
Reginald held his hand out in offering. "Let me help."
Launchpad shrugged. 'Sounds more like a demand than an offer.'
"Launchpad, if this guy gets loose again people are going to start dying." Reginald shook his head. "If you only knew what's in this guy's head. I-I mean you-you don't wanna know. And besides, now we're short a Darkwing Duck again and-and Juan Ducker ... my kids ..."
"Alright, buddy, you win!" Launchpad chuckled, "help me get him into the rat-catcher." Reginald took his feet and together they hauled him up to the next street where the rat-catcher stood parked.

Reginald turned for a moment to Belladonna. "I'm alright now, Bella. Get Simon; get our son home." She didn't respond, and just came and hugged him again.
Launchpad stiffened. "What's the matter with Donna?"
Bushroot read the concern and fear in Launchpad's mind. "She's alright; she's just sleep walking at the moment."
"She's not hungry, is she?" Launchpad asked nervously. "Coz those two things kinda go hand in hand when it comes to v-vampires."
"She was hungry but she's alright now." Reginald insisted. "It's okay."

"Sorry, you know, just ..." Launchpad stood there, unmoving beside the rat-catcher, still tensely watching Belladonna.
"He's gonna wake up." Reginald hissed, pointing nervously to Darkwarrior in the sidecar. "Let's just fix this guy so he won't hurt any more people, huh?" He grabbed his wife's hand and brought her to sit in the side-car beside the sleeping mallard.
"Good thinking!" Launchpad instantly felt much better and he got onto the driver's seat. Reginald sat behind him.

"If he wakes up and starts causing trouble, your wife can eat him for us." Launchpad revved the engine and they shot forward into the night.

A/N: "It's a very scientific principle called: 'Thinking Positive!' " No question about it, when you need a positive influence in your life, call Launchpad McQuack.