Disclaimer: I do not own Darkwing Duck, Scrooge McDuck or any other Disney character.
Authors Note: Reader's warning. This ties directly to my fic "The Path Chosen", it also bridges the other fics, Tracker's Story "Synthetic Hero" and "Hidden Dawn". If you haven't read those fics, I doubt this one will make any sense to you.
Meant To Be: Chapter 23
At SHUSH headquarters...
The recreation room is filled the the chattering voices of children at play. The kids are finding the virtual reality games very enjoyable. They all sit around a small computer console wearing headgear and visors that look like something from a low budget sci-fie movie.
Scrooge McDuck stands in the recroom in front of a small window. He gazes out at the cars going by, listening to the children's vocalized play-by-play of the game.
Apparently they are playing Sinbad The Sailor and are fighting off pirate at sea.
Listening to them, Scrooge is almost tempted to try the games out himself, especially when Dewey pipes out something about a buried treasure.
Ah, to be a child again.
Scrooges thoughts are interrupted when Gyro enters the room "Mr. McDuck." The inventor calls softly not wanting to disturb the children's play.
Scrooge turns to look at Gyro. "How is the armor coming along?" Scrooge asks.
Gyro removes his specs to rub his tired eyes. "The Armor is ready Mr. McDuck. All we need do now is test it."
"Good, good. Not a moment too soon, either. I just hope Darkwing can figure out how to use it very quickly. This Bulba person has to be stopped!"
A slight scowl creases gyros face. "You know, Mr. McDuck, that's something I don't understand. From what I have observed anybody can wear the armor. It intensifies the physical abilities of any person who wears it. So why does it have to be this Darkwing Duck in particular who wears the costume?"
The question is meant with sincerity not criticism, Scrooge understands.
"I don't know why Darkwing Duck is the one to use the Armor, Gyro, except that Guardian was a future version of Darkwing and he was the one with the Bio Enhancement Armor."
Gyro shrugs "So we are all trying to turn Darkwing Duck into Guardian. That doesn't seem right some how."
"It does seem that way, I suppose." Scrooge replies. He wishes he could tell Gyro what he knows of Darkwing Duck's future, that Guardian is Darkwing Duck's rightful destiny. Guardian himself had revealed this truth to Scrooge before returning to his own time. If Scrooge had any doubts that Guardian was Darkwing's calling, those doubts are gone. The talk he'd had with Tracker, the night before, had convinced him of that.
The conversation is rudely interrupted by an explosion that literally rocks the floor under their feet. "What the!" Scrooge exclaims as he grabs the windowsill to keep his balance.
Gyro stumbles against the wall.
"What's happening!" Webby's frightened voice rings out. The kids all remove the VR gear to see what is happening.
None of them have a chance to react before they hear an alarm go off and a voice rises over the intercoms "We are under attack! Repeat, we are under attack!"
"Two guesses who that might be!" Scrooge calls to the inventor.
"Well, if it's Bulba, we'd better get the kids out of here!" Gyro yells back to him.
Outside SHUSH headquarters, the super villain has indeed launched his assault. With his new power, he easily rips apart a building that is built to withstand an attack from a small army. The few SHUSH operatives that are still there move to stop the attacker.
They open fire, but to their shock they watch as Bulba raises his armored limbs with unnatural speed, to deflect the bullets with ease.
"Nice, very nice." Bulba says examining the new alloy on his robotic arm. He finds that the bullets didn't even scratch it.
"Of course, It wouldn't do for both sides to have the same advantage. So I'm afraid I'll have to put a stop to your work..."
With that the monster breaks through the wall and enters the crumbling edifice.
Several SHUSH operatives pursue him, their guns ready.
It is all to simple, however, for Bulba to use his eye laser to cut the building supports and bring the ceiling down upon his attackers.
Most of the agents are now unconscious, injured or trapped in the fallen building.
"Now, where is the Bio Enhancement Armor formula?" Bulba calls, as if expecting somebody to actually tell him. He starts clumping through the building, knocking down what ever wall stand in his way.
Unfortunately, Bulba's attack has left Scrooge, Gyro and the kids stranded in the recreation room.
They listen to Bulba's rants from within the crumbling room.
As a large chunk of plaster falls from the vibrating ceiling, it misses Huey by less than a foot. The boy jumps in surprise "Unca' Scrooge, we got to get out of here!"
"Maybe we can climb out the window?" Webby suggest.
"We are on the second floor, darlen'. That first step is a doozy!"
"Not to mention, the building structure is highly unstable at this time." Gyro points out.
"Aye, our best bet is to try and slip out without that monster seeing us." Scrooge says as he slowly opens the door and peaks out. The hallway is in shambles. Debris
and fallen rough cast obstruct the passageway. Scrooge feels ill at the sight. It is all to much like the day at the amusement park. All the destruction.
Scrooge had never thought to see any villain who could equal Dark Warrior's insanity and chaos. He was wrong.
There is no sign of Bulba or anybody else in the dust filled halls. "Come on kids, stay close together and follow me." He slips cautiously out of the room, followed by Gyro and the children.
They are able to get to the emergency stairs leading down to the first floor. Thankfully, the backstairs are not damaged by Bulba's assault.
Scrooge leads them quickly down to the first floor. They move into the hall attentively. The entire area looks as though a tornado had touched down. Carefully, the small group starts to maneuver their way through the detritus and clouds of thick dust. The front door is only a short distance away. They should be able to make it.
But from under a large chunk of fallen plaster comes a stifled cry "Help!"
"What was that?" Webby mewls.
"Somebody's trapped under this stuff." Quiverwing says. She moves quickly to assist the victim. Without a a thought of putting themselves in danger, the others all go to help. They manage to lift a large piece of plaster to find a female agent pinned under a collapse support. Next to her lays a young male, unconscious.
"Take it easy, we'll have you out in no time." Scrooge says as he reaches to move the support.
But a thunderous rumble from above startles them. They all look up as they see the ceiling above crack and splinters seconds before the intimidating form of Taurus Bulba drops from the floor above.
"Greetings again Mr. McDuck!" he sneers. "Perhaps you might help me, I am looking for the formula for the B.E.A. It doesn't seem to be in the lab or any other part of this building. Might you know where it is?"
Instinctively, Scrooge steps in front of the kids, prepared to fight. He opens his mouth to speak, but he is distracted by a movement behind the cyborg. Somebody walks from the cloud of dust that looms in the ravaged corridor. He watches as an imposing figure steps into view.
Scrooge can not believe his eyes. A figure dressed in a white and silver clad costume with the dark tented visors and a fedora. The Duck in White.
To be continued...
From the Author:I've had some good days for writing lately. I hope to get this story finished in the next week or so.