Louie spent the next hour sitting in his cell, trying to come up with some sort of scheme to con his way out. Without the full understanding of Bulba's plan, he wasn't left with a whole lot of options. Frustration simmered beneath his calm exterior. With his hands folded behind his back, he paced the length of his cell. Only one thing was clear–I need to find the kid. I can figure everything else out once I know that Philly's alright.

Louie halted mid-step, his ears perking up as a clicking sound echoed down the concrete hallway. It grew louder and then slowed. Some scientist chick in heels and a lab coat came around the corner and stopped in front of his cell.

Helllooooo, blond and beautiful! This is gonna be fun.

He casually strolled to the front of his cell and folded his arms over the bars. "Hey so I've been stuck in this waiting for hours now and I don't have all day. You think you move this whole grand villainous plan along, doc?" He winked.

The woman didn't even look up from her clipboard. She handed him a little empty vial. "Fill this up please."

He turned the tiny vial in his hand and puffed a chuckle.Uh, with what?Smirking, he poked his beak through the bars. "Yeah, sure thing, beautiful. Just unlock the door for me and show me to the restroom, I can handle the rest."

"Louie, don't make this harder than it needs to be. You know what I meant." Finally, she lifted her head. The bluish tint in her eyes was unmistakable, sending a jolt through him.

With one look, he was yanked six years into the past. His throat became the Sahara desert. "Susie?"

She raised her brows, a slight smile tipping her lips. "I was wondering if you were ever going to notice."

"Are you kidding?" He straightened his posture on instinct. "My brothers and I practically fought over you all throughout highschool. Well, you know, until you graduated early."

Her eyebrow bounced. "Don't I know it. Where are you brother anyway?" She glanced back down at her clipboard. "I thought you three were attached at the hip."

Louie wrapped his arms around the bars, feeling the cool metal rub against the crooks of his elbows. "Eh, I had them removed."

She rolled her eyes and stared at him in the coming silence. "You spit in that vial or am I going to have to call in reinforcements?"

What Louie thought might have been a moment of nostalgia, remembering the old days, was actually just her getting impatient.Okay then, it's going to be like that, then.He twirled the vial between his fingers. "What are you doing here anyway? Last I checked you were leaving school as valedictorian and were off to change the world." His eyes widened.Waaaiit a second."Didn't you date Gus?"

Susie groaned and hugged her clipboard to her chest. "It was only six months in highschool, and that was before he became a jerk." She sighed and glanced down the hallway on either side before coming closer. "I'm a botany major, studying both plant sciences and how they relate to us and our bodies. I needed a summer internship and Gus put in a good word for me."

"Wow. What a small world. You know, Gus also put in a good word for me. And look." Louie spun around. "I get my own office and everything."

Susie's soft expression grew cross. She tapped her pencil against her clipboard.

"Don't get me wrong. I think it's great that you're getting to live out your dream and everything. But you do realize that Taurus Bulba is an egotistical maniac with tendencies to nearly rip the world in half, right?" He peered through the bars into her blue eyes.

"I didn't come here for your opinion. Good grief, you Ducks are all motor-mouths. How about you just put that fast-talking mouth of yours to good use." She stepped back, propping a hand on her hip in a bold, sassy stance, one foot popped slightly as if she owned the place. As she looked from him to the vial in his hand, her head tilted to the side with an expression that screamed, "I dare you to keep talking."

Louie's mouth suddenly felt very dry. He rubbed his throat. Why does she want my spit? First off, that's gross. Secondly, this is Bulba's facility, whatever she wants with it, it can't be good."Actually, I don't think the oral factories are up and running today." He tossed the vial back to her before laying down on his "board" against the wall and kicking his feet back. "Come back another time."

Susie dragged her hand down her face and groaned. "Ugh, that's not even a scientific quip."

"Well, what can I say? I'm not Huey, thank goodness." He folded his hands behind his head, his smile widening.

She tossed the vial onto his stomach. "Just fill the glass with your saliva, would you? The longer I'm over here, the more Bulba will think something's up. It's better for both of us if he doesn't know we went to school together. Besides," she added, her voice dropping, "I hate mixing my work and personal life."

Louie sat up, smiling. "Ohhh,personal,huh? That's very forward of you, Sus."

Susie clenched her jaw. "Don't call me that. It's not personal and you know very well that you've never had a chance with me. Now drop the games and spit."

Look at that. We're tipping the sweet, gentle princess right to her edge.Louie leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "What do I get out of it?"

"Well, for starters, Gus won't come over here and collect it for you."

It's not like I haven't been beat up by Gus before. Besides, she's bluffing."Hmm… how abouuuuut… no."

"What about the kid? You want to see him?"

Louie's ears perked up. He tipped the vial close to his lips, peering at her from the corner of his eyes. "I'm listening…"

Susie sighed, rolling her head back. "I will have them bring the little boy back to you if you hock a loogie in that vial."

Louie's smile widened, unable to suppress his amusement. Hearing the most dainty girl he'd ever known say "hock a loogie" like she was some grungy backwoodsman was comedy in its most innocent form. "Why do you want my spit so bad? If you're that obsessed with me, just ask. I'd be happy to give you an autograph as a souvenir."

Susie looked down at her clipboard, clearly pretending to read whatever was written on it. "I'm studying the super growth formula. Since you've been carrying it on your person for the last few days, I want to study to see if it's had any side effects on the body."

His brow arched.Riiiiiight.

"We need a sample of your DNA to test in relation to the formula, alright, to see whether or not you carrying it made any changes to you or the formula itself. Just… trust me." She looked up, her lips forming a slight, concerned smile.

He turned his attention to the glass vial in his hand.This is a terrible idea.After a long moment, he lifted it to his lips and dropped a dollop of saliva inside of it. As he stepped over, he spotted Gus out of the corner of his eye with Philbert tied up at his side. He glared back at Susie. "I don't trust you. But a deal is a deal."

As Louie handed her the vial, still smirking, Susie's hand shot out and, with a quick tug, plucked a feather from his arm. "Ow! Hey!" Louie recoiled, rubbing the spot where the feather had been. "Was that really necessary?"

She held up the feather in one hand and the vial of saliva in the other, spinning both between her fingers with a satisfied smirk. "Souvenir."