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 13

All seems hopeless, somehow. Bulba is at a dangerously unfair advantage.

A tense silence has fallen over the conference room. Each individual sits pondering the problem at hand, seeking an answer.

LaunchPad is seated next to Darkwing. He looks across the table at Tracker "Isn't there anything you can tell us. I mean you are from the future. Isn't all this like grade school history to you?"

Tracker gazes at the pilot. In spite of the grievous situation, he smiles inwardly. One thing that is the same in his reality – LaunchPad is still LaunchPad.

I'm sorry to say, it doesn't work that way. I am from an alternate future. Things are too different in the reality I am from." he says dejectedly. "However," he adds a trace of optimism rising in his voice "We can at least improve the odds in our favor."

"How?" Scrooge who sits next to him asks.

"Use the Super Elastio Alloy , make the armor to use against Bulba."

"That will take too long, lad. Bulba will have made his move by then."
"No," Tracker replies slowly "It wouldn't take long at all. A few hours maybe – if it's done right. As I have said the Super Elastio Alloy and the Bio Enhancement Gel are the two main substances of that formula that is used to create the B.E.A., but they aren't the only substances. I believe SHUSH has some of the other components needed – and they can be used to strengthen the Armor. I have seen the data on the disc, I - I think I can remember.

Between Dr. Bellum and Gyro, they could create an armor that could stand up against Bulba, even if he uses the Bio Enhancement Gel." He looks at Gyro "I can right down the instructions for you."

Gyro glances at Bellum, who nods in agreement. He looks back to Tracker. "We can sure give it a try!"

It strikes Scrooge as strange, somehow, that Tracker knows so much about the data on the Disc. Didn't he say that SHUSH hadn't had a chance to make the armor before FOWL stole the Disc? Didn't he also say, he had only just recovered the Disc before he crossed the vortex into this reality? Then again, there is no reason to mistrust Tracker.

Scrooge pushes it out of his mind – for now.

As soon as Tracker has given Gyro and Bellum all in the information needed, he and the others depart SHUSH headquarters.

They board the compact jet and take off.

Inside the compartment. The kids are seated in the isle across from the adults, though seated may not be the right word. True to the nature of children they are fidgety and inquisitive of what the adults had done at SHUSH.

Scrooge sits on the isle seat with Tracker next to him by the window. Darkwing sits across from Scrooge. They explain what is happening and what they are planning to do.

"They'll contact us as soon as the armor is ready." Scrooge tells them. "In the mean time, we'll go back to Darkwing's Hideout and try to figure out where this Taurus Bulba is."

"The hideout?" Quiverwing asks her voice sounding both uncertain and nervous. She looks at her father "Dad, is that such a good idea? Bulba knows where the hideout is."

"I know kiddo, but we can't just hide in a corner and wait for him. Besides you kids will be more protected there than back at Mr. McDuck's mansion." Darkwing explains with great understanding. He knows how his daughter feels about facing Bulba again.

Quiverwing forces a smile "Guess you're right." she says attempting to sound confident. Then her eyes move from her father to Tracker, who is staring blankly out the porthole.

Darkwing follows his child's gaze. Tracker is making a valiant effort to pretend he's not there. Darkwing sympathises. He knows how very awkward he feels looking at himself. An alternate futuristic version of himself – but still. Tracker is as much Darkwing Duck as he is. Even more unnerving, he is just as much Gosalyn's father.

Darkwing recalls that day the summer before. The fight against Dark Warrior Duck, the injuries he'd suffered, Guardian, but most of all Tracker. Not because Tracker had any great powers as Guardian did, rather because of what Tracker had told him.

Just before the Time Posse as they had been dubbed, went back to their own realities, Tracker had asked to speak to Darkwing.

There, in a clearing near the woods, Tracker had given him a warning of a possible future outcome of his life. In his reality. Tracker aka Darkwing Duck had married Morgana in the fall as they had planned. Everybody was happy at first, they were a family. Then they discovered Morgana was pregnant. They were going to have a baby!

It was at that moment of their greatest joy that the terrible twist of fate was set into motion. So overjoyed was Drake Mallard at the prospect of a baby that he blindly neglected his daughter. More than neglect, some might have called it abuse!

Though he never realized that he was in fact mistreating her. Gos was always so mature

for her young years, he sometimes caught himself expecting her to act like an adult.

Tracker confessed to being so unfair and cold with her that she finally ran away. It was her tenth birthday, and the last day he'd ever seen her again.

Tracker said he had looked for her so long, clinging to hope that he'd find her.

Tracker had warned Darkwing, that day, to guard his ways to never do anything to drive Gosalyn away from him. For without her, he was no longer Darkwing Duck. For that reason he had chosen to change everything he was as a crime fighter. His attire, his way of fighting crime – eventually – even his name.

Heeding his alternate selfs warning, Darkwing had told everything to Morgana and they had agreed to postpone the wedding, hoping that it would divert the hinge of fate.

They are already taking steps to make sure the terrible thing does not come to pass. They will wait until passed the time the baby was born in the other reality, before getting married. They made plans to build on to the house or move. They would do what ever it took to keep Gosalyn happy.

Though Darkwing still has a feeling there is something more, something Tracker isn't telling him.

Darkwing realizes he is staring at Tracker and quickly diverts his eyes back to his daughter. She is still looking at him with pleading eyes. He smiles warmly at her. "Hey don't worry kiddo. Everything will be alright..."

Kraaaccc..zzzztttt... a thundering eruption from just outside the plane is followed by a violent jolt as the jet rocks wildly to the side.

The unsuspecting passengers are tossed into the air and onto the floor – all but Tracker who manages to hold on to his seat.

"What was that!" Mrs. Beakley cries.

Before Scrooge or Darkwing can speak Tracker yells from his seat next to the porthole "Company!" he calls gazing out the window. He turns his head to look at Darkwing "It's Bulba!"

To be continued...