All the Kings

Darkwing was quaking in the wide wooden corridor as he stood beside his friend, still waiting to see the judge.

"I ... I don't believe it. I mean, I ..."
"DW, you knew Grizlykoff was after you."

"No, he was after Drake Mallard. He just hated Darkwing Duck. He wasn't after Darkwing Duck. Besides which, he'd never figure the connection on his own. Anyway, I'm not talking about Grizlykoff. I'm talking about Director J Gander Hooter."
"Uh ... huh?"
"J Gander Hooter figured it out and told him. He ... told ... Grizlykoff!" Darkwing tugged on the brim of his Fedora hat. He could barely contain his feeling of betrayal and horror.

The door to their side cracked open and a short grey rat in a pinafore dress that did nothing to add to her narrow figure addressed him. "Darkwing Duck?"
"Yes?" He turned, emptying his mind of his personal feelings in the face of his work.
"Judge Pekking will see you now."

"About time."

Darkwing burst through the door. Anything would help to get his mind off this betrayal.

"Judge Pekking." He tipped his hat.
"Hello, Darkwing Duck?" The judge looked suspicious at Darkwing. But then everyone had that expression for him when it came to the law enforcement officials and so he continued on.
"This is very important for your personal safety. Were you in a soldier contingent to Ducklehoff about twenty seven years ago?"
"Actually, yes I was." The judge looked at him in surprise.
"Do you remember an incident on the field?"
"Hmm ... you're stretching my memory on that one. Let me think ..."
"It's very important, sir. Three people are already intentionally murdered and there are nineteen other victims as collateral to the damage."
"So many?"
"Well, okay, technically one of them was a heart attack but all the others stand for the charges."
"Okay, who are you charging?"
"I haven't had the chance to nab him yet, but I really must press your memory, sir."
"I don't even remember any names." He hesitated, "except for poor Rolf." He frowned, averting his eyes. "Ahem."

"There are only three of you left now, sir. What side of the argument were you on?"
Pekking looked up at Darkwing. "Ah. You mean the mutiny?"
Darkwing nodded. "Yes, sir!" Darkwing gesticulated. "Please, time is if the essence."
"Oh, sorry. Well, I was on Harris's side. Of course it didn't really matter who was leading us while we all were up to our eyeballs in it." Pekking mused, thinking back. "Mallard; that was his name. In the middle of a war ... it was unbelievable." He shook his head.

"Our position was compromised. We were running from the enemy. It just wasn't appropriate to question orders. I mean, we were all up to our eyeballs in it ..."
"Okay, thank you, sir. From what you tell me I don't think you're in immediate danger."
"I hope you catch him, Darkwing. Eighteen people and a heart attack. This maniac needs to be stopped."
"Don't worry; I will stop him, sir." Darkwing smiled grimly. "It'll be really good to watch Euston throw the book at this one."

Hooter opened the door of the Attorney's office and took a breath in the hallway.

Euston followed him out of the room. "I'm sorry, J. He shouldn't have even had a gun on him. Not in his emotionally compromised state. And I still question his sanity."
"Euston, my agents are prime targets from multiple enemy's agents. F.O.W.L., Hiroshena smugglers, Oringkski mobsters ... My point is that to deprive Agent Grizlykoff of a weapon is much like forcing him to play Russian roulette." Hooter looked away from the lawyer as a door up the hallway opened and closed.

Hooter watched Darkwing Duck step out of Judge Pekking's office followed by his flight suited assistant.
"DW, how do you figure that Pekking's not in any danger? He was in the contingent after all."
"Because, LP. Curtis Mane died only when he returned to St Canard. Mr Lott only returned to St Canard to visit his estranged daughter. But here sits Pekking for years and years in plain view of all St Canard residents. It only makes sense for him to be on Harris's side of the argument."

Knowing Darkwing Duck's secret identity just made the caped avian that much more tangible and knowing about his daughter made Hooter feel that much more respect for his contract operative. Hooter cleared his throat.
"Darkwing Duck?"
"Director Hooter." Darkwing replied stonily. His eyes moved on past Hooter to Rex Euston standing behind him. "Mr. Attorney Euston what a coincidence."
"Indeed." Euston spoke up. It's very good that you're here, in fact. We have a statement by Grizlykoff on an altercation that happened about an hour ago. He states that you were in his apartment."

"Yes, sir, that would be correct."
"He claims that Storkein Harris pulled a gun on you."
"Sure. He did." Darkwing shrugged, nonchalantly. "I have that effect on a lot of criminals who carry fire arms. It's part of my job. I naturally expect it."
Hooter hesitated. "You left the scene. Why?"
Darkwing blinked at Hooter for a moment, as though he were shocked that Hooter didn't understand why. "Discretion is the better part of valour." Darkwing answered, self-consciously brushing off invisible flecks of dirt from his black and grey outfit. "The fact of the matter was that Grizlykoff had also reached for his gun. He's not exactly incompetent with his aim and having considered all such things like two guns pointing at me from different directions from no less than two ex-military officials, I decided a tactical retreat was in order."

"But don't worry, Mr. Attorney." Darkwing's voice resumed an energetic tone. "I'll catch Harris. All his original targets are dead so he's not a real threat to society anymore. And now he knows that Darkwing Duck is after him and I've already found him once so my job is half done. It's just a matter of time now."
Hooter blanched before turning. Darkwing was acting as if he didn't know anything about Harris's demise. "Uh, Mr. Attorney?"
"Yeah, I heard, J. I'll sort out the paperwork on this end and have him released."
"Who? You've got Harris? Why are you releasing him?" It was a very convincing act.
"No! Calm down, Darkwing. No one's going to release Storkein Harris. He's not going anywhere." Hooter reassured him.

"Gee, who caught him in the end?" Launchpad asked.
"It doesn't matter, Launchpad." Darkwing's voice took a strangely sullen tone. "They were too late to save Mrs. String's father. I hope you give Harris a long jail time, Mr. Attorney. He has his victory. He certainly doesn't deserve his freedom."

Darkwing suppressed a yawn. "Come on, Launchpad, there's no reason to hang around here anymore." He nodded to Hooter. "I'll lodge my reports tomorrow night, sir." Then the crime fighter turned back to Launchpad. "Come on, LP, there's plenty more criminals out there that need to be stopped ... but for right now, we should use our time to our best advantage and get some much needed rest." He took Launchpad's arm and with a fling of his cape, they disappeared.

"Whoa." Euston murmured, "I didn't guess that one."
"Oh, he always does that." Hooter faced St Canard's recently appointed State Attorney. "It doesn't make sense." Hooter confessed with a sigh. "He would've heard the shot; Darkwing should have gone back to the apartment to manage the situation." Hooter sighed. "I don't understand why Darkwing would lie like that. I guess we'll have to-."
"I believe him, J." Euston put his hand on Hooter's shoulder. "Grizlykoff shot Harris because he thought Darkwing Duck's life was in danger. Darkwing confirms that he was there, and that Harris was intending to fire on him. That clears your boy. Case closed. Forensics will show that Harris's fingerprints are the only ones on his weapon. Ballistics will come up positive for your Firebug Murderer and we'll get to bury someone who we can confidently say killed nineteen people including the unfortunate Mr. Lott."
Hooter looked at him in confusion. "But ..."
"Go on, go pick up your agent, J."
Hooter looked up at Euston feeling incredibly grateful, deciding it must be Euston's goodwill letting Grizlykoff off on such a shoestring explanation. "He is a good agent, Rex. Both of them. Thank you, I truly owe you one."
"Uh, just ... This is just as a purely subjective observation, J." He put his hand on Hooter's shoulder. "But there seems a lot of misunderstanding between these two agents of yours. I don't know how far back it all goes but if something isn't done about bridging that gap, one of them could end up falling into it." Euston stepped back. "I'll sort out the paperwork from this end and email a PDF copy to you."
"Uh, thanks." Hooter hesitated. "If you send it to Terri, she'll know what to do with a PDF email."
Euston laughed and shook his head. "Okay, Terri it is. Oh, and definitely keep your eye on those Oringkski."

As Attorney Rex Euston's door closed behind him, Hooter hurried off to pick up Grizlykoff.