As always I'd like to say that I do not own Darkwing Duck - that mouse does, doesn't he?
Chapter Ten
At first he thought that he was in bed, except that he generally slept in a horizontal rather than a vertical position. He also didn't usually sleep while strapped to a pole. It tended to keep him awake for some reason. He tried reaching for his knife only to discover that it was missing.
"Looking for something are we Negsy? Goodness me, whatever can that be?"
That voice, he hated that voice. He opened his eyes to discover that he was on top of St Canard Tower, tied to the flagpole. Three metres away, staring steadily at him were Darkwing and Quiverwing. Darkwing held up a yellow handled knife, smirking all the while.
"Could it possibly be this thing that you were looking for? Do you know we found it up your left sleeve? You need to be careful, you might cut yourself. I think I ought to keep this for safe-keeping."
Quiverwing just smiled sweetly at him, actually, thought Negaduck, smiling like that meant that she was scaring him more than Darkwing, That smile was just disturbing. She wasn't meant to be all sugary sweet and nice.
"Quit smiling like that Gosalyn – you're scaring me." Quiverwing's smile merely grew into a grin.
"And that leads us nicely into our first question – how do you know who we are?" He glared at Negaduck as he spoke, daring him to deny it after so brazenly showing he knew the true identity of Quiverwing.
"You want me to tell you? Fine Duck, I will. But first you have to do two small things. Then we'll talk."
Darkwing eyed his foe warily, "What are they?"
"Take off our masks."
"What! You're not serious, Darkwing Duck take off his mask in public?"
"We're at the top of Darkwing Tower. No one can see this far up and recognise you. Take it off."
"B-but binoculars and telescopic lenses."
"Why would they be pointing up here? Take it off. Now."
Darkwing looked at Quiverwing, she shrugged. Great, no help there then. He looked again at Negaduck who was just keeping his steady gaze on him. He really didn't like obeying Negaduck in this but if it got him the answers he was looking for, and, well, it wasn't as if they hadn't seen each other without the masks before. He wondered what Negaduck was up to. He turned away and lifted his trembling fingers up to his face and reached around behind his head to undo the knot. Slowly he turned around. He looked into his opponents eyes.
"Now me."
He went behind Negaduck and undid the knot that kept the black mask in place, strange that they both used the same knot – a reef rather than the simple granny that everyone else used. He held the mask in his left hand as he walked around to face him. And looked into his own face.
"Do you understand now? I could spot you anywhere – with or without the mask, the meeting at Gosalyn's school proved that. We're identical Dipwing – right down to the name our parents gave us – Drake Mallard. You've even been to my house in the Negaverse; 537 Avian Way, your address. We have the same irritating neighbours who annoy the Hell out of us. Only my Muddlefoots are of marginally more use to me than yours are to you.
"And with all of this information you still had to have me spell it out for you. Ha ha, I guess I got your share of brain cells to add to my own. I've known who you were from the moment I first caught sight of you on my second trip to this universe. And you call yourself a crime fighter."
"Darkwing could only stare at him, mask forgotten in his right hand, whilst feeling a complete and utter fool, realising that Negaduck was right; the clues were all there and he had missed them. He, Darkwing Duck, had failed to spot the most obvious and pertinent clues relating to him and his evil double. He was a failure.
"Oh and Darkwing, even if I, like you, had subconsciously ignored all of these telling signs, the fact that you called me Negaduck first when I was dressing down on that day we met outside Gosalyn's school would have given me a big clue that I couldn't ignore."
Darkwing's mouth dropped open as he realised his mistake and then he groaned softly; with all the mistakes he'd been making recently perhaps he should retire, he didn't deserve the title of crime fighter.
Quiverwing looked at Negaduck, although she felt a little silly for not guessing the connection between her father and his doppelganger, she didn't feel as bad as her father obviously did. Looking at him he appeared to be worse than the time he first tried to fight the Fearsome Five on his own. He looked at least ten years older. She had to distract him; he could fret about it later. She looked back at Negaduck; he was smirking at the psychological damage he had caused.
"Great, this is all very well and a nice little story you've told us but why haven't you done anything with this information."
It worked. Somewhere in the depths of his self-pity Darkwing's detective instincts kicked in and his head came up.
"Hey why haven't you used this information to your nefarious advantage? I wouldn't have put it past you to attack us at home, it's not as if we were expecting you and, hey!" he turned to Quiverwing, "You weren't supposed to say anything!"
"And you weren't supposed to let Negaduck talk you into self-pity Dad."
"Oh, heh, heh, point taken, just stay silent from now on, okay?"
Negaduck watched this exchange with great amusement, "Gosalyn – silent, oh yeah I can see that happening – not. Even her Miss Goody-two shoes double can't keep her trap shut."
"What, you mean I have a double?"
"Of course you do – in the Negaverse, revolting kid, always wears a frilly dress with her hair in curls, took a shine to Dipwing here. What, didn't your Daddy tell you?"
"No he didn't," she replied glancing over to where her father was staring daggers at Negaduck.
"Aaah, then he also hasn't told you, no, I shouldn't say, I wouldn't want to break up such a great team." He paused for barely half a second before continuing, "Okay you dragged it out of me, he was going to stay behind to look after the brat leaving you on your own here."
Gosalyn could only look at her father in shock.
"Gosalyn…"
"Don't Dad, just – don't. We'll talk about it later when stalker boy isn't here."
"Stalker boy? I resent that remark, CALL ME NEGADUCK YOU KNOBS."
"Who cares what you're called, why have you been following my daughter?" Darkwing was mad, really, really mad; even tied to a flagpole, stripped of his weapons; Negaduck has still managed to take control of the situation. He had sent Darkwing spiralling into the start of despair. Then he had tried to drive a wedge between father and daughter and it wouldn't be until he and Gosalyn got home that he would know whether Negaduck had succeeded.
"But Drake, I thought that you wanted to know why I haven't come to your house and chopped you all into little tiny pieces? Make your mind up Duck, I've got places to destroy, people to kill – I can't hang around all day answering questions for you."
Darkwing put his previously forgotten mask back on, "Don't worry; I've called all your engagements for today off. I was rather hoping that you would answer both my questions, but please, tell us why you have been following Gosalyn first."
"Fine, I'll tell you – but only to Gosalyn. You've got to keep your beak out of it. This doesn't concern you."
"No way Negaduck, keep Gosalyn out of this."
"She was brought into this the day she became the Quiverwing Quack. It was you she was emulating. You were the one to bring her in to this. If you wanted her kept out you should never have let her start training to be a crime fighter. Ask her yourself if you don't believe me." He stared at Gosalyn as he spoke.
"Dad, he's right, I've already told you that you can't ignore my involvement in this."
"Fine, talk to Negaduck. I'm staying here though."
Gosalyn took her father aside, out of Negaduck's hearing but making sure that he was in eyesight. Lowering her voice to a half whisper she spoke to Darkwing, "Dad I think it'll go better if you're not here."
"WHAT! Of course I'll be here; I don't trust Negaduck an inch. You've got a delicate mind and I don't want it impressioned by any of his poisonous lies. And what if he manages to escape again? You could be hurt."
"I think he's already caused damage Dad," she spoke wryly. "As to worrying about my safety, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself but I guess you can stay as long as you are out of earshot."
"Gosalyn…"
"That's my final offer Dad."
"Well I'm not taking it. I'm staying here, within hearing range, and that's final."
"Then I'm really sorry about this Dad," she stepped up close to him and inserted the needle of the hypodermic syringe that was concealed by the folds of her costume into his left arm. He eyes gazed down on her in shock and betrayal before they shut and he sank to the ground. She gazed down on him in silence before picking up Negaduck's mask and walking over to him before tying it back on.
"Hey, that was some move kid. You're wasted in the hero business, have you ever thought about being a villain? The pay's better plus it has huge job satisfaction. You could even be my apprentice – I'm not getting any younger, it's time I started to pass my unique talents on."
"You shut it. There's no way I would ever join you. I just want to know one thing – why have you been following me?"
Negaduck grinned at her, "I thought that you'd never get around to asking me."
Don't worry folks nearly 900 words of chapter 11 have been written, I'll try not to leave you hanging too long. My thanks go to all of my reviewers.