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 24
SHUSH agents work alongside the police to rescue the victims on the crumpling St. Canard Bridge. Tracker works feverishly to mend the support cables Bulba had severed in the battle. Though he has long put away the hi-tech gimmicks he once used, he recalls a unique toy Dr. Bellum once gave him years before, when he was still known to the world as Darkwing Duck.
If only it is still tucked away somewhere in the Darkwing costume. He fumbles around in his vest pocket for awhile before pulling out what looks like a piece of bubble gum. He studies it for a second. Yes, this is it, if only he can recall how to activate it.
As he holds onto one of the still intact support cables of the careening bridge, he squeezes the object in his tightly clutched fist.
He waits.
Soon he can feel the palm of his hand becoming increasingly cold.
He waits. Not yet. Not yet.
The freezing cold effect spreads through his hand and wrist to the point of being painful.
Not yet.
Then he feels the object begins to expand in his hand.
Now!!
He throws it to the ground at his feet and leaps away.
There is a loud crackling noise before the object dispreads into a wall of pure ice, expanding across the entire damaged side of the bridge.
Gasps of amazement go out as the people all around look upon the fantastic artificial glacier that now acts as a temporary support for the bridge.
Sighs of relief go out as the bridge has stopped swaying. The cars that still slide down the slanting bridge come to a safe halt against the secure wall of ice.
"Hey, DW always wanted to find a good reason to try that gimmick out!" calls a cheerful voice.
Tracker turns to see Launchpad approach him. "Well, this was definitely a good reason." Tracker replies "But it's only temporary."
"Still, comrade, you saved the people." Gryzlikoff says coming up to them. Both Tracker and LaunchPad stare at the bear in astonishment. Comrade? Did Griz actually just refer to him as Comrade?
Never has the gruff bear ever said anything almost nice to him, not even in the reality he comes from. Even as the arrogant Darkwing Duck transformed into the humble and seemingly sad Tracker, Gryzlikoff maintained a healthy dislike for him.
My agents will help the police get things under control here. You must get back to SHUSH headquarters immediately.
Realizing Gryzlikoff is right, Tracker doesn't give the bears uncharacteristic kindness toward him a second thought. He and LaunchPad run for the ThunderQuack.
Meanwhile...
Within the halls of the collapsing SHUSH building.
Noting Scrooge gaze passed him, Bulba steels a glance back. He sees him, as do they all. The duck dressed in silver and white. Bulba spins to face him. It takes a bit for reality to sink in. This was Darkwing Duck. He is wearing his own Bio Enhancement Armor. Regarding him in silence, Bulba feels something different about Darkwing Duck. Not just physical appearance, there is something more.
"So Darkwing, I see you have acquired your own Armor? I doubt you have had time to accustomed yourself with it." He pauses, waiting for a reply.
Before him, the Duck in White stands silent.
This unnerves Bulba, though he does well to hide it. "Nothing to say, Darkwing Duck? Tell me, how does this costume make you feel? Powerful? Invincible? Intoxicating isn't it? I quickly found that I was becoming addicted to the armor. That sensation of a force within you. Ah, yes. Very addictive!"
It seems that the armor doesn't just enhance the physical body, but the mind and emotion as well." comes a calm reply. "You have a thirst for power, Bulba. That thirst is intensified – along with your ego it would seem."
"You are one to speak of egos Darkwing Duck. Your ego is as Big as McDuck's Money Bin." Bulba scoffs.
But again, his remark is answered with silence. Bulba scowls. There truly is something different about Darkwing Duck now that he bears the Bio Enhancement Armor.
"Let us see, Darkwing Duck, if you know how to use the Armor."
With those words, Bulba fires the eye laser.
With lightning fast reflexes, Darkwing leaps nimbly into the air to avoid the blast.
In a single flowing motion, he lands, tumbles, springs into the air and delivers a powerful kick to Bulba's unprotected gut.
Even with his own B.E.A. Bulba feels that blow with such intensity that it buckles him to his knees.
Pivoting in a fighting stance, he delivers a spear hand strike to the side of the cyborgs neck causing him to collapse to the ground.
Through clinched teeth the villain growls "I have had enough of being knocked down!" Unexpectedly, the cyborg rises to his knees and throws a punch into the side of the corridor wall, causing the area all around to come crumbling down.
Scrooge, Gyro and the kids can not escape in time.
Grabbing the nearest child which happens to be Dewey, Scrooge dives for a nearby doorway "Get down kids, Quick!"
The children rush for the safety of the sturdy doorway. Huey stumbles, however, over the fallen debris. He falls.
"Get up!" Quiverwing yells as she grabs his arm in an attempt to help him. But the loud rumble from above draws their gazes upward as a large support beam topples downward.
They haven't a chance to react.
"Down!" commands a voice from out of nowhere. In a heartbeat, Tracker springs over the downfallen rubble. He grabs both of the kids, shoves them against the wall and shields them with his body.
The support beam comes crashing down on them along with the remaining part of the ceiling.
"NOOOOO!!!" the cry that escapes Darkwing's lips is almost unearthly, sounding as a cry from the otherworld.
Without thinking, he bounds forward with a vicious attack upon the cyborg. He deals out strikes and blows of pure fury, empowered by the force of the B.E.A.
The blows are too rapid for Bulba to counter. In seconds the battle is over and the villain is unconscious on the floor of the collapsed edifice.
His most dangerous enemy is defeated so quickly that Darkwing doesn't even realize what he's done. His mind is on more important matters.
Through the thick cloud of dust he struggles to see. He places an index finger to the button on the side of his visors. The infra-red setting activates.
He brings the silver sequenced cape up around his bill to filter the dust.
He moves across the cumuli of plaster and stone.
Where are they?! Where are they?!!
Oh please, oh please let them be alive. Oh God, please please let them be alright!
"Gosalyn!" he cries out to his daughter, not stopping to think that he is calling her real name. "Gos, where are you?!"
He listens, hoping beyond hope to hear his daughter sweet voice call out to him.
"Gos!"
No answer! No movement. No sign of life...
To be continued...