DuckTales © Disney
In Launchpad's Shack, Danny was sitting on an old tire with some pillows inside
as he took his mind off of things playing a new videogame of his favorite superhero: "Arachno-Duck"
It made him feel a little better..but, Louie's hurtful words still lingered in the back of his mind.
Was Louie right?, had his very presence only made things worse?
Part of him wanted to run away, in a desperate hope to give back what he took.
But, even he knew that wouldn't do any good. It wouldn't undo the last twelve years.
(and, besides. Della would only hunt him down no matter how far he tried to run.)
And, then there was Webby. Sweet, Wonderful Webbigail.
He loved her so much..and, she loved him, despite how different he was.
But, that proved to also be a problem, as Mystica De Spell tried to use her against him.
And, Danny feared that under different circumstances..he might've submitted to the witch.
Danny didn't even want to imagine a world without Webby in it.
which only made Mystica's earlier words sting: "Love isn't your strength..It's your WEAKNESS."
Danny finally stopped playing his game, and laid back down on his back.
"You doing okay, kiddo?" asked Launchpad, looking at Danny.
"oh..I don't know, Launchpad." began Danny. "I just don't know."
"Did you have a fight with your bros?"
"You could say that." said Danny.
"Well, cheer up, little man." said Launchpad, ever optimistic. "Siblings fight all the time.
I know I fought with my sister alot! But, they eventually make up in the end, so don't feel too bummed out."
Danny chuckled weakly at this..but, still frowned.
*KNOCK!, KNOCK!, KNOCK!*
"COME IN!" called Launchpad, before Danny could say anything.
As the door opened, Danny looked and saw Webby, Lena, and Dewey enter.
"HEY!, Dew-Man! How's it going?!" exclaimed Launchpad.
"Doing alright, thanks." answered Dewey. "We're just here to talk to Danny."
Danny breathed out. "i'm..not really in the mood right now."
"Yeah, well..Too Bad. We're HERE, so scoot over." said Lena, as she sat REALLY close to Danny.
"Danny..don't take what Louie said to you too seriously." began Webby, as she sat next to Danny.
"Yeah, man. Louie does alot of stuff without thinking." said Dewey.
Danny breathed out. "It's fine..really. I'm not even angry."
"You should be." said Lena. "Greenie was WAAAY out of line."
"I know, but..I get why he feels the way he does." said Danny.
"Looking back, I do kinda feel like I 'stole' something from my brothers."
"You can't "steal" what mom gave to you freely." said Dewey.
"You lost your mom, Danny. and, unlike us, you can never get to know her better.
MY mom simply gave you back something that was taken from you. You can't hate yourself for that."
Danny breathed out sharply. "I know. I just wish things had been different.
I wish we could've grown up, and experienced everything together."
"So do I..But, we can STILL do that, Dan." said Dewey.
"Better LATE, than never." added Lena.
Danny looked at his friends and family..then, smiled at him. "I guess so."
Lena then placed her hand on Danny's shoulder. "Feel better, now?"
"a little, yeah.." said Danny..who then began to look out of the window.
He then stood up, walked over, and began to gaze out at the stars.
"What is it?" asked Lena, as she, Webby, and Dewey walked near Danny.
"he's out there..my UNCLE." began Danny, his voice tense.
"Somewhere out there that monster exists..and, he is coming for me."
Webby place her hand on Danny's shoulder. "We won't let him take you."
"HOW?!, you saw what happened." said Danny. "Mom plowed him with a whole spaceship, and it only slowed him down!
How can we possibly fight someone even more relentless, and ruthless than a "T-100!?"
"uhh..Gizmoduck?" Danny eyed Dewey. "yeah, your right..he'd crush him."
"We'll figure something out, Danny." said Lena. "We'll HAVE to."
Danny breathed out, then shivered as he continued to stare out at the stars.
Lena frowned..then, smiled as she got an idea. "Hey..cool game. Can we play?"
Danny looked at Lena. "Sure!"
Lena smiled as she picked up the controller. "Arachno-Duck", huh? Cool.."
"He was my favorite superhero growing up!" said Danny.
"My favorite was Paperinik, the Duck Avenger." said Dewey.
"Mine is Maui Mallard!" exclaimed Webby
"DARKWING DUCK!" exclaimed Launchpad (from afar)
"OKAY..So, how do you play this game?" asked Lena.
"Here, let me show you.." began Danny, as he took the controller.
[Meanwhile..]
At the dark side of Earth's moon..a massive starship shaped like a spearhead lay still.
Staying in the shadows so not to be detected by the nearby planet's primitive sensors.
Inside the massive warship..a lone figure marched down the hall.
She was a Duck, dressed in black and looking worried.
Up until recently, Mystica De Spell was being held in a detention cell,
awaiting her SEVERE punishment for her failure in retrieving the Master Kaiburr Crystal.
She wondered if Lord Zelus was skipping straight to her public execution.
(It wouldn't surprise her. Given the name of this ship was "The EXECUTOR")
As she entered another corridor, she was met with someone else.
a Middle Aged "Hue-Man" dressed in a dark uniform with colored "squares" on his coat.
"Admiral Briggs." spoke Mystica.
"Avian." responded Admiral Briggs, not even addressing Mystica by name.
"Seems we are BOTH being summoned by his lordship."
"Appears that way." said Mystica.
"Word on the ship is that you failed on your ONE mission on that pitiful speck of a planet."
Mystica sneered at Admiral Briggs. "Funny. I could say the same about YOU.
Even from my cell, I heard the guards talking about how you let Della Duck escape!"
Admiral Briggs looked flustered. "That was the fault of the Centurions guarding her cell."
"YOUR Centurions."
"The faults of my men PALES in comparison to your string of failures, AVIAN." argued Admiral Briggs.
"So, we'll see who has the last laugh..at your execution."
Mystica scowled, doing her best to hide her dread.
..She would not give this pompous windbag the satisfaction.
At long last, the pair reached the doors leading into the ship's 'Throne Room'
(It was REALLY the Observation Deck, but it was practically Lord Zelus' throne room.)
The two Centurions guarding the door stood at ease,
Allowing the Admiral and Duck Witch to enter the chamber.
Inside was a wide open chamber surrounded by thick glass that gave a scenic view.
The crew of the Executor were truly amazed at the Galaxy they were in..but, NOT in a good way.
All these planets and star systems, and yet (as far as they knew)
there was only ONE planet in this whole system that supported life.
(and, it was such a primitive world at that.)
As Admiral Briggs and Mystica De Spell approached the throne,
it finally turned around to face the pair.
Mystica gasped upon looking at her dark master (for seeming the first time in person.)
Lord Zelus STILL hadn't repaired, or healed himself since he returned.
and, both her, and Briggs could see the damage and injuries that he had suffered.
Their focus was mainly on his face, as only the lower half of his respirator mask remained intact,
leaving his pale, bald face exposed to the open air, and allowing them all to look him in the eyes.
His very dark, unnatural eyes.
(("Do you know WHY I called you both here?")) spoke Zelus
"Because we both failed you." answered Mystica, bluntly.
(("Correct. But, only ONE of you failed me more than the other."))
Admiral Briggs then smirked smugly as Lord Zelus continued.
(("Mystica..When I first made contact with you through The Force, I gave you specific instructions to follow.
I provided for you faceted Kaiburr Crystal for the purpose of tracking the MASTER Kaiburr Crystal
that The Exodus took from me so many years ago..but, you cost us an advantage."))
Mystica frowned.
(("THEN, once you finally DID locate the master crystal..You ONCE AGAIN tried to empower yourself.
an action that cost us yet ANOTHER advantage when you allowed it to be destroyed."))
Admiral Briggs chuckled at Mystica's scolding.
(("Your failure would appear to be colossal, and beyond any mercy. HOWEVER..")) as Zelus trailed his sentence,
both Mystica and Admiral Briggs looked at the dark lord. (("From the ASHES of your failure..you still Triumphed."))
"Excuse me?" said Mystica, hardly believing what she was hearing.
(("When the Master Kaiburr Crystal was destroyed, it shattered into BILLIONS of fragments.")) explained Lord Zelus.
(("Having already been buried DEEP underground in a cavern, the shards were seeded within the caves.
Creating a Kaiburr Crystal Cavern..Not unlike the "Kaiburr Worlds" in our own galaxy."))
"and..what does that MEAN exactly, My Lord?" asked Mystica.
(("It means this once Backwater Planet is now a valued resource to us.")) said Lord Zelus
(("We can harvest the crystals in the cavern to form new lightsabers for our legions of Inquisitors.
and, Although having the Master Crystal intact would've served us well..This is a good enough consolation."))
"So..I did well?"
Lord Zelus rolled his eyes. (("YES. you did..WELL."))
Zelus then glared at Admiral Briggs. (("Which is more than I can say for YOU, Admiral Briggs.."))
"Lord Zelus, if I may.."
(("You had ONE job, Admiral. JUST ONE: Keep the fugitive Della Duck contained.")) began Lord Zelus
(("This ship has HUNDREDS of detention cells. Each one capable of holding a small group of prisoners at once.
You had only ONE prisoner to guard, JUST ONE. and, you not only let her escape.."))
Lord Zelus then rose up from his throne, and slowly approached. (("You also ALLOWED her to STEAL an Interceptor.
..WHICH SHE THEN USED IN A FAILED ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE ME!
Your failure to contain ONE prisoner not only nearly cost me my life,
BUT it gave those Avians a chance to escape with MY nephew, WHO I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING YEARS FOR!"))
"I understand, milord." said Admiral Briggs. "And, I have prepared a report on the Centurions responsible for-"
(("YOU are responsible, Admiral Briggs.")) snapped Lord Zelus.
(("YOU are Admiral of this vessel. Which ALSO made you the Warden of the Star Destroyer's penitentiary.
and, even the most season soldier can be a colossal failure..if his commanding officer is INCOMPETENT."))
"But, My Lord-!"
(("SILENCE!")) roared Zelus, his rage building.
Both Mystica and Admiral Briggs stood rigid. Neither one daring to anger Lord Zelus any more than he already was.
(("As I was saying..You both failed me in spectacular fashion.")) continued Zelus.
(("But, Mystica's failure AT LEAST granted us a Crystal Cave to mine, and harvest..
What "blessing in disguise" did YOUR failure provide us, Admiral?"))
"uhh-"
(("NOTHING.")) answered Zelus, as he turned his back to the pair.
(("Other than one less Starfighter in our hanger, AND myself in need of suit repair, and a session in a meditank."))
"Lord Zelus..please accept my apologies."
Lord Zelus became silent..THEN, Admiral Briggs gasped as he clutched his chest.
Mystica watched as the old man convulsed as if he was suffering a heart attack.
But, the witch sensed dark forces at work. It felt as if..something was SQUEEZING the admiral's very heart.
Then, suddenly- *SPURT!*
Admiral Briggs dropped dead as his very heart imploded. CRUSHED like an empty soda can.
(("apology accepted.")) said Lord Zelus, his voice cold.
Mystica swallowed hard, even SHE found the method
that Lord Zelus used to execute the LATE Admiral Briggs to be..unsettling.
(("Lady Mystica..")) began Lord Zelus, who finally addressed Mystica by an official title.
"ye-YES, My Lord?"
(("Inform First Officer Talek that he has just been 'promoted' to Admiral."))
"Yes, my lord. Do you require anything else?"
(("Only that you assume command of The Warship while I recover in the medical bay.")) answered Lord Zelus.
(("I will summon for you afterwards. We have much to discuss regarding out next course of action."))
Mystica nodded. "As you command..MY LORD."
Mystica then walked off, feeling relieved that she was still alive,
and that her standing in this dark empire hadn't faltered.
Despite the meddling of Scrooge, her 'plans' were still on track.
After a short walk, Mystica soon arrived at the Bridge of the warship.
She walked down the narrow path, overlooking the officers manning the computers below.
She then approached the commanding officers at the viewing windows.
"Oh, my! you must be-"
"LADY Mystica. Lord Zelus' Apprentice, and Shadow." said Mystica.
"I have been placed in charge while his lordship recovers from his injuries."
"Oh, of course!, Milady." said First Officer Talek. "um..where is Admiral Briggs?"
Mystica smirked wickedly. "Retire. his..HEART just wasn't in it, anymore.
YOU are Admiral of the warship now, Mister Talek."
Talek grew pale. He was no fool..he knew exactly what Mystica meant by "retired."
"I see. I, uh..w-won't let you down, your grace."
"See that you don't, Admiral." said Mystica. "Now..would you kindly direct me to the Dojo?
I wish to speak with the..Inquisitors that I have heard so much about."
[End of Part 20]
[Author Notes]
More of a continuation of the prior chapter, I namedrop some characters that only Duckverse fans will be aware of.
But, other than that, the highlight of this chapter was on the Star Destroyer with Lord Zelus, and Mystica De Spell.
With THAT sequence, I decided to be creative with how Zelus "retires" his underlings.
We've seen too many instances of officers getting Force Choked. Instead, I went with a Force Crush.
(not a good way to go.)
And, yes. I have been playing Insomniac's Spider-Man on the PS4 on the side,
so that bit with Danny playing an "Arachno-Duck" game is a double reference
to not only that, but a certain Darkwing Duck episode as well.