Disclaimer: I do not own Darkwing Duck, Scrooge McDuck or any other Disney character.
Authors Note: Again, this fic ties in with "The Path Chosen." This is the story of the one called Guardian, the Duck in White.
Meant to be: Part 11
Has time stopped or does it feel that way to Darkwing because his own heart has stopped beating. At least if feels that way. He can't feel his own heart beat.
Is he even breathing or has his breath frozen long with the rest of his body.
He stares at his future self and Tracker returns the fixed gaze. It would be an understatement to say the situation was an awkward one.
Scrooge finally breaks the cold silence "Uh, I think perhaps,we should all step inside." he suggest,thinking it best that the children didn't see Tracker – just yet.
No other words are spoken, the two Darkwings are able to break their rigid eye contact long enough to step through the sliding glass doors into the family room.
The atmosphere in the family room becomes quickly tense.
"Won't you sit down?" Scrooge offers Tracker a seat.
"Thank you Mr. McDuck, I'll stand." Tracker replies meekly.
Scrooge doesn't argue, he takes a seat next to LaunchPad on the sofa. To no surprise Darkwing also stood – on the other side of the room from Tracker.
Scrooge knows it can't be easy for either of them to face their own selves. He recalls how shocked Darkwing was when he discovered that the members of the time posse were all future versions of himself.
"Ah, I know this is awkward for the both of ya. But I think we should cut to the chase, here." Scrooge says. He looks up at Tracker, who is now standing with his eyes on the floor to avoid Darkwings gaze. "Tracker. I guess my first question to you lad, is, are you this Phantom we have been speaking of?"
With a slight tremble in his voice Tracker answers quietly "Yes."
Scrooge waits for him to go on, but it seems he needs a bit of coaxing. "Well, can you tell us what's going on here. Laddie?"
Drawing a deep ragged breath Tracker says "It's – complicated."
He walks over to the window to look out at the playing children.
Gosalyn, dressed as Quiverwing has proceeded to show the McDuck kids some self defense moves, taught to her by her father. She demonstrates some simple pressure point moves on Huey, who soon finds himself face down in the dirt. Wisely, it seems Webby Louie and Dewey would rather skip their turns.
Tracker watches the costumed girl with a heavy heart.
Oh how it tears at his very soul seeing her so young and carefree, knowing how he betrayed her love.
Tracker closes his eyes, forcing his thoughts to focus on the subject at hand. "When we crossed through the vortex that day – something – something went wrong.
That day on the hilltop, when we were all leaving this time, reality should have been set right; something happened. I stepped into the vortex, then..." he rolls his shoulders forward, tensing his body "then there was a blinding light, it dazed me and I was thrown back through the vortex; back here to this time, only it was a few days after we all left."
He lets his shoulders fall back as he says with a soft pain stricken utterance "I was alone."
"Then something still isn't right in this time." Darkwing states, as if knowing it for a fact.
"Something still isn't right." Tracker echoes. He slips a hand into his trenchcoat and pulls out a bundle. "This is yours, Mr. McDuck." he says handing the bundle to Scrooge.
Scrooge looks suspiciously at the tightly wrapped brown paper package. "What is it?"
"Your Super Elastio Alloy."
"The you did take it!" Scrooge exclaims jumping to his feet an accusing tone rises in his voice "Why?"
"To keep it from Bulba's grasp," Darkwing cuts in. Scrooge glances up at Darkwing, who eases himself into a chair, his eyes still fixed on Tracker. "You've been watching Mr. McDuck and his family – and mine , in case Bulba attacked."
Tracker steals a glance at Darkwing, he nods soberly then turns away again.
Darkwing goes on. "It was you who was in Gos..err (cough) - Quiverwing's room that night, and you were the one who left the newspaper in the tower; to warn me that McDuck's family was in danger from Bulba."
Tracker all at once spins and looks at his past self "Right on the money all the way."
Listening to the conversation, LaunchPad and Scrooge both realize that these are two indeed one in the same.
"Am I to take it, you've been the one haunting me family all this time?" Scrooge asks Tracker.
Tracker is quiet for a moment "I didn't mean to scare any of you, Mr. McDuck. I was just keeping close watch, in case Bulba did attack."
"I don't understand something," LaunchPad says to Tracker "Why didn't you just come to us and tell us everything."
"I was afraid to do anything that might upset the time continuum again! I've screwed up in that area enough times!" He spats. There is a bitter edge to his words.
"What do you mean by that, lad?" Scrooge asks with concern.
Finally, Tracker walks over and sits down on an ottoman by the sofa. "When we were fighting Dark Warrior at the Amusement Park, When we were in the caverns, I lost something – very valuable. A disc.
"Disc?" Scrooge asks "what, like a CD, you mean?"
Tracker nods.
"I went back to the Amusement park, but I couldn't find it. I search several days – or should I say nights, when the workers were gone. I did some detective work and discovered that somebody had found it and sold it on the black market. Somehow Bulba came into possession of it." Tracker pauses, rubbing his forehead with a trembling hand.
"And this ties in with Bulba wanting the Super Elastio Alloy?" Darkwing asks feeling a sense of dread coming upon him.
"You recall the special costumes possessed by both Dark Warrior and Guardian?"
All three of the listeners nod their heads. They remember too well, the power Dark Warrior possessed, power given to him by a costume made of a very special substance. Quiverwing has said the costume was called the Biological Enhancement Armor. Guardian seemly possessed his own Biological Enhancement Armor, which was why he alone was able to defeat Dark Warrior.
"The disc contains the information on the formula and blueprints for the Armor.
The Super Elastio Alloy is one of two main substances of that formula that is used to create the B.E.A. If Bulba were to get his hands on it..."
Tracker's explanation is interrupted by a tapping at the glass doors. Every body turns to see what looks like a remote controlled model air plain buzzing around circles outside the doors.
"What the?" Scrooge exclaims as he gets up to investigate. He opens the door and the tiny jet streaks passed him to hover in front of Darkwing.
"Hay, how did the FlashQuack find you here, DW?" LaunchPad asks in astonishment.
"I have a homing devise sewn into the cuff of my vest for the FlashQuack can locate me at any time." Darkwing explains tapping his finger to the left cuff of his purple vest.
The cockpit pops open and an image of J. Gander Hooter appears on the tiny screen.
"Darkwing, SHUSH has a serious problem!"
"Really? Still can't get Gryzlikoff to use underarm deodorant, huh?" Darkwing quips with a half-twisted smirk.
Ignoring the remark, J Gander continues "Twenty minutes ago, the criminal master mind, Taurus Bulba, broke into SHUSH labs and stole a newly discovered substance. It's a special gel that seems to, when applied to the skin, enhance the user's physical abilities."
"Ah no." Trackers mutters weakly burying his face in his hands. Darkwing sees this and realizes his future self knows something about it.
"I'll be there ASAP J. Gander!" Darkwing assures the old director.
"Tell him you'll be bringing company with you." Tracker says quickly, his face still buried in his hands.
Darkwing looks up at his alternate future-self through the dark visors, studying him for a moment."J. Gander, I'll need to bring somebody with me...I'll explain when I get there. Darkwing out."
With that the FlashQuack rockets off.
"Mr. McDuck," Tracker says standing up "You and Mr. Gearloose need to come along and bring the Super Elastio Alloy with you."
Scrooge gives the duck in the trenchcoat a baffled look "May I ask why, lad?"
"Because Bulba has just stolen a very powerful material. I said that your alloy is one of two main substances in the B.E.A. formula, well Bulba has just came in possession of the second substance!"
To be continued...