Darkwing Duck is not mine, neither are the stingers. Oh, I used the original game of Monopoly in this as it's the one I know best and is more likely to be recognised than the Lancashire one. Though I took a guess on the rent of Trafalger square.
Chapter Nine
Ten minutes after the duck in yellow exited the building the explosives that he had carefully hidden did their job and exploded. He stood on the fourth floor of the nearby five storey car park, looking at the smoking remains. Through the remaining windows he could just make out tendrils of flames reaching up, trying to consume what the explosion had left. In the distance he could hear the far away tones of the yelper of the fire engine as it tried to cut a path through St Canard's rush hour traffic. He grinned proudly; Negaduck was back and more than ready to get back to his usual itinerary of death, destruction and theft.
He breathed the smell of smoke in deeply, savouring the smell like the aroma of a fine wine. God he loved this city. The tiny spark of hope in his every victim that someone would come along and save them was something that he never tired of killing so that not even the cold ashes would remain. Back in his St Canard that spark had already been taken and though it had put him on a high that no drug could ever hope to compete with to think that he had bred such despair, it did become stale after a while. On the other hand, the banding of the Friendly Five into Darkwing's Ducks was slowly enabling the hope to start living again. Which would make it all the more fun when he went back to crush it again. At the moment though, this new playground was providing him with far more entertainment. He leapt onto his Troublemaker to go and create more wanton destruction.
In 537 Avian Way Drake, Gosalyn and Launchpad were playing a highly charged game of Monopoly. Especially since Drake owned Mayfair whilst Gosalyn held Park Lane and both were trying to convince the other to sell. While they were bickering Launchpad had managed to land on Trafalgar Square, which was another of Drake's properties, and had avoided the rent as Drake had been too distracted to notice before Gosalyn had picked up the dice and rolled. At which point Drake suddenly realised he was missing $22 rent and began to moan at both Gosalyn and Launchpad.
"Hey, that's my property you're on there buster. Why didn't you tell me? I want my rent. As the holder of the bank I demand that Launchpad McQuack pays $22 to Drake Mallard."
"Tough luck Dad, you missed it so you lose it. That's the rule."
"Well I think it's a very silly rule."
"Just take your turn Dad."
"Not yet DW, sorry Gosalyn but I'll have $75 from you for landing on King's Cross."
"Ha ha, that's the rule Gosalyn," Drake cut in over Gosalyn's moans of 'that's not fair,' "and now prepare to watch a master at work." He flexed his fingers, blew on the dice for luck, threw the dice… and moved his top hat to the 'Go to jail' square.
The alarms of the remote control console went off causing the board with a cascade of money, playing pieces and houses to go flying as Drake, Gosalyn and Launchpad rushed towards it.
"There's been an explosion at the Gala Cinema complex. The Fire Service, police and paramedics have been deployed. Hah, the police aren't able to detect their way out of a paper bag; this sounds like a mission for Darkwing Duck."
"And Quiverwing Quack," Gosalyn reminded him.
"And Quiverwing Quack," he agreed. "Come on compatriots; to Darkwing Tower!"
One trip through the spinning chairs and a quick change later they each left the tower; Darkwing on his Ratcatcher, Quiverwing in her Hoverquack and Launchpad in the Heliquack. Despite the Thunderquack's speed and agility Darkwing had come to realise that an aircraft with the ability to hover and take off and land vertically without using up expensive fuel in thruster rockets would be an excellent addition to his crime fighting vehicles. Launchpad had used his mechanical skills to build it to Darkwing's specification. Included was both a daytime and infra-red camera, used for tracking criminals in both night and day. These pictures could be transferred directly to the Ratcatcher and Hoverquack. In the week since they had been using it not a single criminal had slipped through their grasp. This time, though, Launchpad was to film the remains of the cinema to see if it would give away any clues as to what happened.
The fire was still raging by the time Darkwing and Quiverwing arrived there, hampering him in his search for clues.
"This is ridiculous. How long does it take to put out one small bonfire? If I were a fireman this would be out by now."
"Dad, the whole building's alight," reminded Quiverwing. "Relax; they don't want it burning any longer than you do."
"Relax? How can I relax? That fire could be destroying vital evidence and you tell me to relax?"
Quiverwing ignored him and instead concentrated on the burning building in front of her. She spoke into her radio, "Launchpad how about circling the area, we'll watch the images in the vehicles. Perhaps the perpetrator is still around."
"Quiverwing, you can't give orders like that to Launchpad."
"Why not? Isn't that what we should be doing?" Quiverwing asked puzzled.
"Well yes technically," he admitted.
"Well then what's the problem?"
"I'm the one who orders Launchpad about. In fact, Launchpad, do what Gosalyn said."
"Already on it DW. What do you see down there?"
"Buildings, more buildings, nope, nothing, nada. Not a sign of him. I'd give anything for a clue, any clue."
It was at that moment that a large explosion could be heard and a thick cloud of smoke could be seen from the other side of the city.
"Gee DW, would that be the clue you're looking for?"
"That it would LP. Carry on ahead; Gosalyn and I will be there soon."
Five minutes later Launchpad's urgent voice could be heard over the radio.
"DW, it's Negaduck, he's just blown up the Jolly Roger Rock Emporium. He's now on his Troublemaker heading east."
"Roger that LP, Negaduck can't escape me this time. We have your images and are driving to intercept, Darkwing out.
"Right Gosalyn, you remember what you promised last week I take it."
"I remember what I said Dad."
"Hmm, right then, I'll chase Negaduck whilst you can go on ahead and lay the stinger to take his tyres out."
Darkwing raced across the city, following Launchpad's instructions, to pursue Negaduck. He passed the local bowling alley and took a right at the next T-junction. There right in front of him, heading in the same direction was Negaduck. He gritted his teeth and set off in pursuit. Above him he could hear the throb of the Heliquack, slightly muffled by his helmet. Ahead he saw Negaduck glance back and jump in shock when he spotted Darkwing. Looking forward again he corrected the bike and turned left, almost losing Darkwing but Darkwing's lightning quick reflexes made him turn just in time.
"Gosalyn, I hope you're going to be ready with that stinger soon."
"Just getting into position now Dad, hang back a bit. We don't want Negaduck to turn again do we?"
Darkwing dropped back by a few metres whilst Launchpad copied him. Gosalyn took the stinger from its compartment in the Hoverquack and waited. When she saw the yellow suited duck she quickly deployed it across the road. The spikes dug into the Troublemaker's tyres causing them to burst. Slower to remove then deploy, the stinger was just out of the way before Darkwing swept past.
After losing control of his motorbike Negaduck had crashed into a privet hedge.
"Ouch," he said once before passing out.
As usual all reviews are welcome.