Darkwing skulked out of the offices of SHUSH, and climbed onto the Ratcatcher. Launchpad was sitting in the sidecar, and looked at him.
"I can't believe I took this case," Darkwing mumbled as he put on his helmet. "Come on, LP. We've got to get back to the house before J. Gander and Grizzlikoff can get there with Bushroot!"
"Gee, this is kinda like when we ended up with Tuskernini in that Adopt-A-Con program," Launchpad said.
"Right. And I'm not going to let my guard down around Bushroot."
"But what if he really does want to go straight, DW?"
"It was the same with Tuskernini, LP. I don't believe a word of Bushy's story. It could be a trick!"
Darkwing and Launchpad drove up to Darkwing Tower, hidden in the Audobon Bay Bridge. Within minutes, the chairs in the living room of the Mallard house began spinning around. Gosalyn was sitting on the couch, watching TV. She glanced over at the chairs spinning, and then went back to the TV.
"Hi, Dad," she said. "Hi Launchpad."
Launchpad and Darkwing (who was out of his costume, and now back to his guise as Drake Mallard) got out of the chairs, and went over to the couch. Drake flopped down next to his daughter, and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Gos, whatever happens this afternoon," he said. "No matter how weird it seems, just go with it. I'll explain it later."
"Okay . . . . " Gosalyn said, wondering what the heck her father was talking about. She was going to get that answer sooner than she expected. There was a knock on the door.
"Well, here goes nothing," Drake said, getting up. He opened the door, and there was J. Gander Hooter, Grizzlikoff, and Bushroot standing there.
"Mr. Drake Mallard, I presume?" J. Gander asked.
"Yes, what can I do for you, gentlemen?" Drake asked (as if he didn't know).
"I spoke to you over the phone this morning, about a meeting with us, and Darkwing Duck."
"Oh yes, yes, you did. Yes, Darkwing Duck called a few minutes ago, saying something about a . . . . witness protection . . . . thing."
"Allow me to introduce to you Dr. Bushroot. You may be familiar with his record."
"All too familiar," Drake mumbled under his breath.
"In anycase," J. Gander continued. "Dr. Bushroot wishes to go straight. He wants to give up his life of crime."
"I'm turning over a new leaf, so to speak," Bushroot said. Then he laughed. "A little plant humor there."
"Very little," Drake muttered again.
"Dr. Bushroot has also agreed to help us capture the rest of the Fearsome Five," J. Gander continued. "But we needed to relocate him to a place where Negaduck and the others would never think to look for him."
"And your house came up on SHUSH computers as beink in the safest neighborhood of St. Canard," Grizzlikoff said.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that one, Grizz," Drake mumbled.
"Vhat did you say?" Grizzlikoff asked, giving Drake a funny look.
"Nothing," Drake said, quickly. "Nothing at all."
"Well, Mr. Mallard," J. Gander said. "We'll leave Dr. Bushroot in your hands. If you have any problems, you can call on Darkwing Duck."
"Oh, I'll do just that all right," Drake said, as J. Gander and Grizzlikoff left. Once they were gone, Drake stepped back, and allowed Bushroot to walk into his house. Bushroot walked in, and just stood there. He didn't quite know what to say, or do. Drake didn't quite know what to say, either, so he went to the living room. Bushroot followed. When Gosalyn saw them, she looked right at her dad, and said,
"Dad! What are you, nuts?!"
"Gosalyn, remember what I said earlier?" Drake asked. "Just go with it, and I'll explain later."
Gosalyn gave her father a weird look, and then turned to Launchpad. Launchpad just shrugged. Bushroot looked over at both of them.
"Hey, aren't you Darkwing Duck's sidekick?" he asked Launchpad. Then he turned to Gosalyn. "And you're that little girl I've seen around Darkwing a lot, too."
"Uhhh, yeah," Gosalyn said. "I'm, uhhh, president of the Darkwing Duck fan club! I follow him around and stuff because I get all the latest Darkwing news."
"Yeh, and, uhhh, I live here," Launchpad said. "Uhhh, I, uhh, help Drake out, 'cause he's a single parent, you know, and, uhhh . . . . the sidekick thing, I just kinda go out and ride around with Darkwing Duck when he calls."
"Oh," Bushroot said, not quite sure if he understood. Then he cleared his throat. "Uhh, I just want to thank you for letting me stay here, Mr. Mallard. I mean, I know I used to be a criminal and all, but really, I do want to . . . . ."
"Whoa, wait, stop hold it!" Drake shouted, suddenly darting in front of Bushroot before the mutant plant duck could sit in one of the chairs.
"Uhhh, what's wrong?" Bushroot asked, a little nervously. Drake jumped into his chair, and gripped the armrests.
"My chair!" he shouted. "Nobody sits in this chair but me! Capeesh?!"
"Uhhh, yeah, capeesh," Bushroot said, still nervous.
"It's a dad thing," Gosalyn said. Bushroot merely nodded, and went for the other chair. Once more, Drake jumped into it.
"Launchpad's chair!" he shouted. "Nobody sits here but Launchpad!"
"But you're . . . ." Bushroot started. But he backed off when he realized Drake was not only giving him a fierce glare, but growling at him as well.
"My house, my rules," he said, through clenched teeth.
"Uhhh, o-o-okay," Bushroot stammered, beginning to back away. He headed for the sofa, but before he sat down, he looked at Drake, as if he were asking for his approval.
"The sofa is fine," Drake said. "Just stay out of these two chairs, and away from the walls."
Bushroot just sat down on the sofa, feeling a little intimidated at Drake. Launchpad sat down in the other chair, while Gosalyn got up on the sofa, next to Bushroot . . . . . but she didn't get too close.
"So, what made you decide to quit being a criminal?" she asked.
"Well, I thought about my criminal record," Bushroot said with a shrug. "Truthfully, the only major crimes I've ever pulled was when I was a member of the Fearsome Five. I don't really belong in that group. I mean, the other four have done stuff worse than I ever did, and Negaduck just wanted me in the group because of my powers."
"Yeah, I kind of don't think you really belong with them," Launchpad admitted. "I mean, the Liquidator is a born slime ball, even before he became the Liquidator. And Megavolt is just nuts, and Quackerjack is even crazier . . . . and then there's Negaduck . . . ."
"Right," Bushroot said.
"Let me just ask you something, Bushroot," Drake said, going into "Darkwing" mode for a moment. "Just what do you suspect is going to happen when Negaduck finds out you've defected?"
"I'm not really sure," Bushroot said. "All I do know is that it's not going to be pretty."
Bushroot couldn't have been more right. At that very moment, Negaduck was having a meeting with the remaining members of the Fearsome Five.
"All right, you knobs," Negaduck said. "Where is that pollen headed plant?!"
"Beats me," Quackerjack said with a shrug. "I'm not my mutant's keeper!"
"Doesn't he know when I call a meeting of the Fearsome Five, I want the Fearsome Five! Not the Fearsome Four!" Negaduck shouted. "Spill it, Liquidator. Where's Bushroot?!"
"The party you have reached is unavailable," Liquidator said. "Please hang up and try again later."
"Oh brother," Negaduck said. "I've got a good mind to bring you to a boil and turn you into soup! Megavolt, where is he?!"
"Why would I know?" Megavolt asked, with a shrug. Negaduck slapped his hand against his forehead.
"YOU IDIOTS!" he screamed at the top of his voice. "WHAT IN THE WORLD DO I PAY YOU FOR?!"
"Uhh, but you don't pay us," Megavolt pointed out.
"SHUT UP, DIM BULB!" Negaduck screamed.
"Shutting up," Megavolt said, taking a few steps backward.
Negaduck walked over to the window, where Bushroot had been planting flowers in a window box. Negaduck yanked a daisy out of the box, and began plucking petals.
"I don't know where that sniveling sapling has gotten to," he said as he plucked. "But if he's done what I think he's done, I'll find him . . . . and then I'll mulch him!"