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gotpropane-questionmark · 5 years

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Ok so this is my summer-christmas-gift for @irradiatedsnakes !

When Drake Mallard starts developing romantic feelings for his best friend Launchpad, he seeks for advices to the McDuck family...

Little disclaimer ; I’d like to precise that English isn’t my first language, so please be indulgent towards this piece of writing. But it didn’t take away any of the fun and love I had while writing it. It was a really great experience and I hope you’ll like it. :)

(This takes place a month after the events of ‘The Duck Night Returns’)

Ever since they first met, Drake started developing more and more feelings for Launchpad. He couldn’t exactly explain why and how but he knew that there was something special about him.

He wanted to ask him out for about a week now, but was way too nervous to do so. It felt like an impossible thing to do. But it also felt like something he had to do.

It preoccupied his mind all the time, and even Gosalyn was getting a bit worried. His mind was constantly somewhere else and he was a bit distant.

“Dad, what’s the matter ?” She asked tenderly.

“Dad”, the sound of that word resonated in him. Even after a year since he adopted her, the word ‘dad’ still makes him emotional.

“Oh nothing Gos, it’s just... grown up stuff” he said after a little hesitation.

He didn’t felt like it was the right time to tell her. How could he ? How could he tell his daughter that he’s in love with his best friend, that he can’t stop thinking about him, that he constantly feel the need to be close to him and that he cannot imagine a future without him ? No, he couldn’t.

Still in his head, he suddenly looked at the time on his Darkwing Duck themed watch. The gold and purple one. The 1995 collector model he got for Christmas when he was about Gosalyn’s age, and realized it was nearly 11pm. He quickly came back to reality and said: “Gos, are you trying to pull a one nighter again ? Come on, go to bed...”

“Ok Dad...” she said, disappointed because her plan didn’t worked.

He followed his daughter to her room and wished her goodnight. He also told her “I love you” approximately 7 times. He deeply cared about her.

When he went to bed, he had his last Launchpad thought of the day, but this time, he was even more decided to ask him out. He wanted to take him somewhere, for a date. Where they could bond, he could tell him about his feelings and could ask him on more dates.

The problem was, he didn’t know where to take him out. In fact, they knew each other for about a month and he still didn’t know much about Launchpad. His personal life was sort of... mysterious. He didn’t know much about it. besides the fact that he once ate 3 burritos in one sitting. And that he was really close to this ‘McDuck family’...

Then he thought: ‘‘What if I go to the McDuck’s tomorrow ? I can ask them stuff about Launchpad ! I’m sure they know him better than me.’’

The next day, he was even more sure of his plan. He waited for Gosalyn to go see her best friend Honker. He didn’t have to worry, he knew that as long as they were together, nothing could happen to them.

He then took the bus, to Duckburg. While he was in, he tried to think of ways to ask his best friend out and questions to the McDuck family without raising any hints of his romantic feelings for Launchpad. It’s not that he didn’t want to share the information, he just didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. Plus he’ll find a way to tell them later. He already had something big to do today.

When he arrived to Duckburg, he was a still a bit struck, even since the last time he was there. This big city was sure a big change from the calm suburb where he lived. He used to live in St Canard but when he adopted Gosalyn he thought that a little house near Duckburg was a safer place to raise a child.

He then asked someone about the location of McDuck Manor and they pointed out in direction of a huge bin, with a giant dollar sign on it and said ‘’the manor’s just behind that’’

A bit confused, he went into that direction. When he finally arrived, he found himself in front of a grid. He saw an intercom system and pressed the little button on it. The voice of an old woman answered, she had a British accent. ‘’Scrooge McDuck’s manor, who’s speaking ?’’

‘’Hum, Drake, Drake Mallard, I’m a friend of Launchpad’’

The grid opened.

When he arrived, he was pushed away by four kids playing around. It looked pretty dangerous. When they finally realized there was a stranger in the room they stopped what they were doing and looked at him. The situation was a bit awkward.

Dewey was the first one to break the silence, he shouted “Hey I recognize you ! You’re the guy in the costume who fought with Launchpad the guy with the other costume !”

Drake was confused but said “Hum, yes. Yes I am.”

‘’You see I’m a... friend of Launchpad. You kids seem to know him. Since I’m his friend, I wanted to... know him better.’’

Drake was wisely choosing his words, he didn’t wanted the raise any suspicions.

“Sooo what kind of food does he like ? What’s his favorite movie ? What about his musical tastes ? Has he ever mentioned things about his dating life ?

“Oooookay, it’s getting weird now...” said Louie while taking a few steps back.

Webby interrupted him :“If you want to know all these things, why don’t you ask him directly ? He’s in the garage ! Launchpad ! There’s someone who came to see you !” She started calling his name.

“I don’t think it’s gonna be- well I don’t know about this- how did you- is he really here ? I-I should just go- I...”

“Woah cool I got some company !”

At the moment Drake heard Launchpad’s voice his heart started pounding, and the little confidence he had disappeared immediately. He just wanted to get out of here.

“Hey Drake !” Nice to see you bud ! Launchpad said. “You wanted to see me ?”

“Umm, yes !” Drake decided to take all of his courage. It was too late to back down. “Yes, and I wanted to ask you... something.”

He realized everybody in the room was staring at him.

“Can we go somewhere private ?”

They were alone, in Launchpad’s room. Well more of Scrooge’s old garage. The place was small but personal. It felt like Launchpad.

“You wanted to ask me something ?” He said.

Drake took a deep breath and said: “Yes. I wanted to... see, we’ve know each other for a while- well a month but you know- and since then I started feeling closer and closer to you...”

“Hey me too !” Launchpad answered cheerfully.

“Y-you too !?” Drake was surprised.

The kids were bundled up to the door, trying to hear everything.

“Anyway, this last month has been really good actually and I think you’re the reason why...”

“Ah gee ! That’s nice ! Love you too pal !” He gave him a little punch on the shoulder

“Love-love, you love me ?”

“Yes I do ! You mean a lot to me Drake, and not only because of the whole Darkwing Duck thing, I love you.”

There was a short pause before Launchpad broke the silence and said “Wanna go on a date ?”

On the other side of the door, Huey, who managed to hear this part of the conversation said “Guys, I think LP just asked him out on a date”

“A DATE ?! How romantic !” Webby exclaimed.

As the kids started getting excited for them, they couldn’t help but move around and as they did the door which led to the garage opened and they all fell onto the ground.

Drake and Launchpad turned around and stared at the kids.

Dewey started chanting “Date ! Date ! Date ! Date !” And everyone followed. Even Launchpad.

When they all stopped chanting, Launchpad turned around to Drake, but he disappeared.

He left out a post it note on the ground that said “Can’t wait to see you Friday. Let’s ! Eat ! Burritos !”

Hey ! I guess my work here is done... Just kidding. Anyway I had so much fun doing this fic, it’s an exercise I really like to do and it certainly won’t be my last one !

Um I hope @irradiatedsnakes that you’ll like it ! And happy summer Christmas ! @ducktalessummersanta2019

#ducktalessummersanta #ducktales summer santa #drakepad fic

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rebellingstagnationblog · 6 years

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“Trim Up The Tree” from “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (Day 28 of 31)

I got real angsty a few stories ago (”All I Want For Christmas Is You”) and this is my attempt to try and fix it.

Negaduck would be so pissed if he knew how many people were in his house. But he didn’t need to know the number. Or who specifically was here. Christmas was the one time of year when you could use magic as an excuse for anything untoward happening.

So, magic.

Not ten people coming and going as they put the house back together.

Negaduck was still in the Prime Universe, anyway. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

“I’ll build that,” Gosalyn said to Goofy who was carrying a piece of what would become a bed frame up the stairs.

“I don’t mind puttin’ it together—”

“Dad,” Max said, his tone patient. “We’re not supposed to go in the bedroom.”

“Well, okay. But if ya change yer mind, I’ll be more’n happy to do it fer ya.”

“I appreciate it,” Gosalyn called as Goofy ascended the stairs and set the bed frame in the hallway. He loped back down the stairs and out to the truck that Gosalyn had commandeered to bring the furniture to the house.

“Sorry,” Max said, rearranging his grip on the kitchen chairs he was carrying. “He gets excited about building things.”

“Usually I’d let him,” Gosalyn said, looking up at Max. “But Negaduck’s bedroom is… private. I feel weird going in there.”

“Once he sees everything, he’s not gonna care that you were in his room, Gos.”

She sighed. “I hope not.”

“Okay,” Max nodded and glanced toward the kitchen. “I’m gonna go set these down and then we can talk about this.”

“There’s no time for talking,” she said.

Max frowned and Gosalyn led him into the kitchen so he didn’t have to stand in the hallway holding the chairs any longer than necessary.

Once he’d set them down, she gently placed her hands on the sides of his face. “I appreciate you, so very much, but we really need to get this done and get out of here. I promise we can talk about all of this later, yeah?”

Max leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers. “You won’t change the subject or pretend it’s resolved when it isn’t?”

Gosalyn withheld a wince; he knew her so well, maybe a little too well. “If I do, you’ll call me out on it.”

“That’s not much of an answer,” Max said, sighing. “But all right.”

Gosalyn smiled softly as she met his soft brown eyes. “Love you.”

Max brought his arms around her in a hug. “Love you, too.”

He walked back to the truck, Gosalyn following and continuing to direct traffic as Scrooge, Donald, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Launchpad, Drake, Goofy, and Max helped move in the new furniture.

Gosalyn had initially been planning to just swap out Negaduck’s old furniture for new as his Christmas present this year, but then he’d set his house on fire so she’d had to do an entire reconstruction. Using handymen from the Negaverse, she’d managed to get the building back up to code, rewiring everything, putting in new plumbing, and a central heating and cooling system. The works. She’d pretty much had crews working around the clock for the past few days, but the promise of Negaduck no longer bothering the work crews or their families after this job was done had been enough to motivate them crews to work through the night.

That and the expensive goods Gosalyn was giving them for their trouble.

The real challenge had been keeping Negaduck away from the Negaverse.

She’d come up with flimsy excuses of finding a hideout for Negaduck within the Prime Universe before he went back home. He and Drake felt uncomfortable with Negaduck crashing in Darkwing Tower, so it hadn’t been hard to convince the Masked Menace to find a place of his own.

He’d found a few potentials and was staking them out today, but he planed on returning to the Negaverse tonight, regardless if he found a new hideout or not. And Gosalyn couldn’t keep him away forever, even if she used her most concerned expression and made her eyes real big, saying, “You don’t have a home. Please find a hideout here then we can find you a new house there. One universe at a time, Papa Wolf.”

That line had only worked a few times. Even then, he was probably humoring her.

So, tonight.

Most of the house was finished, at least. She just had to put his bedroom together then she could send him a text in that horrendously complicated texting system he’d made her memorize, and let him know she was waiting for him in the Negaverse.

Then she’d see what he’d say to her rebuilding his house without his input. Or supervision.

She hadn’t been lying when she’d told Max that Negaduck was private. There were hideouts he refused to take her to. Parts of the house he didn’t like her in. He’d lived on his own for years and was only now learning to make room for someone else.

And he’d had to hide away parts of his life so no one would find them and exploit him.

Which Oblivion had made worse. He thought everything through so carefully before pulling the trigger — literally and figuratively — on anything now. Hid any sign that he’d been anywhere, even going so far as to hide his tracks in the snow or avoiding puddles so he wouldn’t track any water. He was contemplative. Didn’t set off any explosions unless he was absolutely sure of his success.

He’d broken out of that to burn his house down.

But Gosalyn had fixed it.

Did he want her to, though? A year back together had done little to bridge this weird gap in their relationship. She couldn’t read him like she used to.

So, honestly, who knew how this house transformation would go?

“Whaddya say to ice skating tomorrow?” Max said, leaning in the doorway in between the living room and the hall with a smile. The frame didn’t bend under his weight. Gosalyn would need to adjust to this new house as much as Negaduck would.

“Are you seriously asking me out on a date when we have to put a whole house together?” she asked.

“It’s all done,” Max said, glancing around. “We’re just putting up the decorations now. But ice skating? We were interrupted last time.”

“Because we weren’t supposed to be there,” Gosalyn said.

Was the house really done? That meant Negaduck was all the closer to seeing it.

And Gosalyn would find out if she really knew him as well as she once did.

“It’ll be official now,” Max said, walking over to her. “And totally legal. And it’ll get that worry off your face.”

Gosalyn smiled nervously. “I’ll know how much he hates this by then. No need to worry when I know he’s upset.”

“He won’t hate it,” Max reassured her, setting his hands on her shoulders.

“I don’t—”

“You gave him his home back, Gos,” Max said, looking her in the eye. “He’ll probably be surprised, but he won’t hate anything.”

Gosalyn took a deep breath before saying, “I used to know that. But ever since Oblivion…. I’m not sure of anything anymore.”

Max brought up a hand to stroke her cheek. “A place like that would change anyone who visits. Doesn’t mean you don’t know him. Or that his feelings towards you have changed. You two just have to get used to each other again.”

“It’s been a year already,” Gosalyn said. “How long is this supposed to take?”

“As long as it needs to. Which I know isn’t much of an answer or one you want to hear right now. But you can’t put a time limit on this. One day, out of nowhere, things’ll just click again. And if they don’t, that’s okay because I know you’ll keep trying and that’s all that matters.”

Gosalyn pressed herself to Max’s chest and was immediately enveloped in his arms. He cradled the back of her head with one hand and some of her insecurity fell away. It would return when she was facing down Negaduck, but for now, she felt sure in her decision making. If Max believed in her, then maybe there was something to this.

“Are you two gonna make out?” came Huey’s voice from the direction of the living room.

“Oh, gross,” said Louie.

“Boys,” said Scrooge, his voice stern.

Max and Gosalyn stepped away from one another and faced the others.

“We weren’t making out,” Gosalyn said, the mere thought of doing so in Negaduck’s home sending a jolt of discomfort down her spine.

“But you tend to see in others what you want for yourself,” Max said with a smirk. Dewey laughed as Huey and Louie blushed before grabbing the Jack Skellington garland to weave it through the banister.

Max glanced down to Gosalyn. “So. Ice skating tomorrow?”

She smiled softly. “Sounds good.”

“I can show of my moves for once,” Max said, grinning. “And we can talk more about all of this. And you can tell me how much Negaduck didn’t hate it at all.”

“That’s a lot of talking,” Gosalyn said, but somehow was already looking forward to it.

“Learned from the best,” Max motioned to Goofy who was walking by them.

“Sure did!” Goofy threw an arm around Max’s shoulders. “Ain’t nothin’ gonna get resolved if ya don’t talk ‘bout it.” Max nodded in agreement before Goofy tousled his hair.

“This is a lot of skulls for Christmas,” Drake groused, glancing around at the decorations. “It’s a lot of skulls in general.”

“Good thing it’s not your house,” Gosalyn said, raising an eyebrow.

“She’s got ya there, DW,” Launchpad said.

The last of the Christmas decorations up, Gosalyn escorted everyone back to Duckburg so they could return to their own universe. With goodbyes and promises of favors returned, Gosalyn saw them off.

But Drake lingered. “Everything okay?” he asked.

Gosalyn shrugged. “I don’t know how Negaduck’s gonna react, but otherwise, yes.”

“I’m sure you have nothing to worry about, but I’m here if it all goes south.”

Gosalyn took his hand and squeezed it with a smile.

“But anything that gets him out of the Tower is something I support,” Drake said. “I’ll make him like it.”

“Always thinking of others.”

“It’s in my nature,” Drake preened, but he sobered as he observed her. “But really. It’s gonna be fine.”

Gosalyn hugged him. Even if Negaduck hated it, if Gosalyn had miscalculated, she’d have this. She was always safe here, with her father.

Separating, Gosalyn said, “Get going so they can close the portal. I have a bed frame to build.”

Drake shuddered. “Glad LP and I don’t have to put that together. I don’t think we’ve recovered from building LP’s new one a few months ago.”

“See? I’m doing this to help you. Guess altruism runs in the family.”

Drake smiled. “Looks like it, sweetheart. Tell me how this goes?”

“Of course.”

With a nod, Drake disappeared through the door.

Gosalyn returned to the house on Avian Way and got to work. When she had Negaduck’s room more or less together, she texted him and walked around the house, just to make sure everything was ready.

And hoped with every step that she hadn’t made a huge mistake.

#darkwing duck #drake mallard #gosalyn mallard #launchpad mcquack #max goof #goofy goof #scrooge mcduck #huey dewey and louie #writing #fanfiction #31 days of christmas #a very merry geronimo christmas

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blyanten · 7 years

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THE DUCK AVENGER PK2: #9 DEGREES OF SEPARATION

So, once again it’s aliens!

A probe is flying through space, looking for a single person. Well, you gotta give it to them for not being afraid to take on near impossible tasks. Whoever it is has apparently committed the crime of… leaving. Leaving Corona, to be specific.

Seems a bit extreme. What else did he do?

This probe crashes on Earth, somewhere cold and snowy. It does so right in front of some scientists, Suzy, Gary and we don’t know yet.

The… it’s not quite a narrator, or rather, it is, but it’s specifically about the probe and the fate of whoever escaped Corona. While there’s nothing said that wouldn’t apply to any criminal, it sounds more ominous with every word.

Suzi climbs down to get it, thinking it’s just a meteor. Instead she finds this.

Aliens.

So they call the big boss, and you get zero points for guessing who.

This is the most awkward infodump I’ve seen in a while. “Hey, it’s *insert name and job and name of workplace of the person you’re talking to*. Why not add a text box saying “HEY, AUDIENCE, ARE YOU GETTING THIS???” as well?

Argale Cardaxis, who quite frankly sounds like a supervillain, even if he doesn’t look like one, gives a comprehensive list of all his degrees, before admitting he can’t even begin to imagine whatever the thing that fell from space is.

Everett on the other hand seems to have a suspiciously good imagination regarding the mystery object.

… I was about to say get off the furniture, but with the change of position between the two panels, I have to ask. Did you somersault over the desk?

Everett tells Argale to lock the thing away until he gets there and cancels all his appointments. He also calls for Birgit and Boring, despite them being very busy at the moment. Everett then takes a moment to consider what to do know that “it” has happened.

While Everett is dealing with his personal drama, the Avenger is late again. Not for work exactly, but there was a meeting beforehand, about vacation days during Christmas. Apparently, it’s winter in Duckburg, despite no snow and trees with full crowns of leaves.

Guess global warming is a problem everywhere.

Fitzroy decides to be a dick, and picks the same vacation days as Donald did. Having worked there longer, Fitzroy has a much higher chance of getting those days off. Being the new guy sucks. On the other hand, Donald is a parent, so that should be taken into consideration… okay, let’s move on before I get too deep into thinking about this.

Rupert drags Donald out before he says something stupid, saying it’ll all work out. Rupert is spending Christmas with Stella. Seems like the incident with the shitty ex-boyfriend sent them down the right path.

Everett is holding a meeting with his minions. Lyla’s replacement is Mike Morrighan, who is looking rather nervous.

The reason Everett is doing this is that they’re still working on the image problems they’ve been having lately, and have decided that allowing certain journalists access to Ducklair Enterprises’s most advanced research center will help with that. Birgit and Boring aren’t thrilled, but Everett, seeming a bit short with them today, points out that they get paid a shitload of money to do whatever he wants.

He “invites” them over for dinner that same evening to prepare. It’s not an invitation, it’s order, but they agree, probably thinking about the aforementioned money they’re paid.

At Duckmall, Lyla asks Donald where to find winter clothes. She needs them since she‘s going to the South Pole, hint hint. Unfortunately, she doesn’t actually know anything yet, so Donald has to keep going on his round, after complimenting her new snowpants.

That evening, at Ducklair Manor, Morrighan shows up 15 minutes early. He’s called both Lyla and Angus, inviting them to the South Pole. He tries to convince his boss that he’ll keep Angus under control, but Everett shoots him down, telling Morrighan that he’s staying in Duckburg. Everett will go down there himself. It’s all very awkward.

So this is all just an excuse to go to the South Pole without it getting all over the newspapers as some kind of mystery trip?

Morrighan will get to spend a weekend at Ducklair Manor, looking after Juniper.

…okay, I get Lyla, Lyla’s good, but Morrighan?

Everett leaves the two to make conversation, as it’s 7 o’clock and Birgit and Boring know to avoid awkwardness by being punctual. They’ll also be staying in Duckburg btw, it’s not just Morrighan.

Juniper tells Morrighan to relax, Everett is just being a little authoritarian. For that one pane, Morrighan seems to relax, and then Juniper asks him to explain the purpose of flowers, so it gets all weird again.

Well, there’s aestethics, food, spices, perfume, being a necessary part of nature...

However, Juniper seems more clearheaded than any other time we’ve seen her.

Two days later, they’re on their way to the South Pole. Angus is seasick and annoyed at having to act as a camera man. Also, it’s cold. Lyla is unbothered by everything, except Angus himself. Angus of course, thinks Everett has a hidden reason for inviting them.

He’s right, but as usual, for the wrong reasons.

Everett meanwhile, is getting angry with Argale, who failed to look the spaceprobe away and not experiment on it. He doesn’t stay angry for long though, as whatever Argale just showed him seems to give him a minor panic attack.

I can’t take this seriously, not with that art. Also, did he hang up on Argale before freaking out? Or is Argale going “...uh, are you okay...?” from the other side of the screen?

Or a big one, as Juniper senses something wrong all the way back in Duckburg.

So, it’s not just twins having psychic connections, it’s family members in general?

She immediately goes from the rather passive person we’ve seen so far to looking Morrighan straight in the eyes and telling him they’re going into town.

My, my, give the girl a goal, and she becomes unstoppable.

Morrighan is not in a position to refuse, and off they go.

In town, the Avenger is going on patrol, enjoying the quiet night, where DUckburg doesn’t look like the lair of loonies who…

I wonder if this is another reason why Everett keeps letting the PR-office deal with Juniper. Less people to make sure isn’t brainwashed into doing stupid shit for her.

The Avenger moves Morrighan to safety, but can’t seem to get him to listen. Juniper cheerfully informs the Avenger that she’s the only one who can talk to Morrighan right now. But she didn’t do anything wrong, she just asked for help to find the Avenger!

The reason she called for the Avenger is that she can feel her father is in danger.

The Avenger tells her Everett can take care of himself and tries to leave, but Juniper gets his attention by claiming the entire expedition is in danger.

It’s taken you nine issues of this to tell Everett to go fuck himself? I know it’s long been a character trait, but I keep being surprised at how forgiving the Avenger is.

Anyway, that makes the Avenger pause, as that means Lyla is in trouble. He asks why she didn’t go to Birgit or Boring, but Juniper doesn’t trust them. She’ll be half-right, eventually.

Unfortunately, the Avenger doesn’t quite know how to get to the South Pole. He’s having fuel issues, remember?

And then he realizes who he’s talking to. He tells Juniper he’ll do it, but she needs to give him free access to Ducklair Universe so he can refuel, and presumably stock up for later. No problem. The Avenger flies off, feeling this went pretty well and a bit friendlier towards Juniper.

Donald takes the time to drop by work and ask for time off, shortening his Christmas vacation.

At the South Pole, Everett goes straight to Argale, leaving everyone else to introduce themselves to each other.

At least three of the people present have manners.

In the lab, Argale explains that the cellular units he took from the probe are inorganic, but intelligent, and seem to have an extraordinary capacity for adaption. Basically, they can turn into whatever is around them. In the lab, they’ve taken on the characteristics of the sterile solution they’re in, if they get out, they’ll turn into ice.

Argale has made a “diluent”, capable of interrupting the process, but he’s still not exactly sure what it is. Everett suggests it’s a weapon made by the army, but Argale brushes it off. Everett would know, he’s worked with the army for years.

I don’t follow the logic here, but okay, sure.

The others have also entered the base, and Angus has the camera out and filming already.

Yep. :D

Everett tells Argale to put everything away and come meet the guests. Argale says he’ll be right there. Not a single reader believes him.

Up in the sky, the Avenger is on his way. It’s a long trip though, so he decides to take a nap.

BABY PENGUIN! I’ve never noticed that before.

At the base, Argale has failed to show up and for once Everett and Agnus can agree on something. This is taking way too long. Everett tells Suzy to go find him, while Gary hands out the press kits Morrighan made.

Huh, guess they agree on not liking Morrighan much too.

To the surprise of no reader, Argale has taken off, with the samples. Everett tells everyone to move it, and goes to follow.

Meanwhile, Argale is muttering to himself about Everett having too many scruples. How can he not want to study this amazing unknown thing that fell from space outside the safety of a lab?

I always have to grin at the difference between the Everett we see and the one the people familiar with him in universe sees. Because between Hobey’s comment about Everett refusing kickbacks and this, it seems like anyone actually familiar with him thinks that he’s trying to be both honest and careful. Which… no.

Argale seems to have failed lab safety at some point, because not only does he take the samples out, he then fails to keep an eye on the intelligent, adaptive cellular units, and instead gets distracted by a noise, convinced he’s been followed.

Well, yeah, you did just steal those things.

It’s SPIDER-DUCK.

This is when the Avenger arrives, crashing right through the ice monster. A piece of it goes flying, while the Duckmobile goes down.

Argale gets buried by snow, rather than crushed by a piece of ice. Lyla digs him out, while Everett asks if he made it. Lyla says yes, but it turns out Everett was more worried about the giant ice monster.

Ice cold, but I can’t quite fault his priorities here.

Angus wants more action, which is when the Avenger staggers onto the scene.

Aw, the gang’s all here!

Later, at dinner, Angus is fucking thrilled. With the Avenger there too it’s suddenly news.

Everett interrupts to allow Argale to speak. Which he does, for a whole sentence, before handing it over to Everett who… will discuss it in the morning.

The two of you are so… bitchy.

Angus calls them out on whispering, and the two move somewhere private. All the way to the other side of the room. The Avenger reveals that Juniper sent him, having sensed danger. Everett goes quiet, noting that Juniper’s powers are getting stronger.

The Avenger doesn’t let the sudden silence go without comment, and Everett tells him to tread carefully, before calling it a night.

Angus makes an attempt at talking to the Avenger later, but the Avenger cuts him off immediately. Lyla however, is welcome. And unlike the Avenger, Lyla immediately brings up another possibility regarding Juniper: Everett told her to send the Avenger down there.

Everett is in his room, meditating, when he senses that “it” is coming.

The Avenger takes Everett asking Juniper to get him down there seriously, it seems he’s finished adjusting to Everett being the bad guy now, and then the phone rings. Again, no points for guessing who.

Angus, still wandering the base, ends up in Argale’s room, where the scientist it tearing the place apart looking for the diluent he made. When Angus arrives, he suggests that Angus come along. He’d find it informative, especially with regards to Everett.

Who is watching the entire thing, along with Lyla and the Avenger. He also has the diluent, and thinks that Angus and Argale with be in trouble without it. I guess he thought not having it would keep Argale from doing something stupid, but no such luck.

Outside, Argale says he’ll catch up and sends Angus off in one direction. He then hides, and watches as Everett, Lyla and the Avenger confronts Angus.

Argale attacks Everett and takes the diluent back. Angus decides this is the time to start filming again, while the others check on Everett, who seems more baffled at Argale taking him by surprise than injured.

Removed from context, this is quite possible the single most satisfying panel in the entirety of PK2. And I say that as someone who likes Everett.

Meanwhile, the piece of the ice-monster that flew off earlier has pulled itself across the ice, towards the base and has now identified the objective. Starting immobilization procedure.

Argale runs inside the base, locking the others out. He even changed the code so they’re very stuck. Except that the Avenger is very out of patience, and blasts a hole in the door.

Meanwhile, Argale has well and truly lost it. He’s stolen the other cellular units and knocked out Gary and Suzi. He also seems to have figured out something about Everett, but nobody is saying it out loud.

You know, I honestly don’t. Tell me, what did you learn by hanging out with ice-monster bits that made you do this? Not the turning on Everett part, I’m down with that on so many levels, but the “knock out my colleagues and steal those things” part.

The ice-monster then interrupts the conversation.

For the record, “immobilize” is not synonym with “crush beneath your feet”.

Everett tells everyone to run, as the ice-monster is after him. Not being privy to the information both Everett and Argale is working from, everyone else takes this with a grain of salt.

The Avenger knock Everett out of the way, and gets a surprisingly serious thank you in return. Everett also tells them to take care of Gary and Suzi while he goes after Argale.

He finds him in the garage, and confronts him. Everett suggests Argale stay on his side, he can accomplish so much there. He also reads Argale’s mind, noting that it was pure once.

I am not entire sure what “pure” means here, but I am going to note that down as further evidence that Ducklair style telepathy messes with people’s heads (Unless it’s done carefully? The Avenger is still fine after all).

In this case, Argale seems to have developed a rather dangerous obsession with the cellular units, somewhat similar to Hobey and the antennas.

Argale even seems to have a connection with the ice-monster, since he seems able to sense the ice-monster’s precense when Everett doesn’t in the next scene.

Argale takes the mind reading badly, and tries to hit Everett with a wrench, missing because Everett dodges. He tells Argale he won’t be able to hit him, and that Argale should know that.

Which seems somewhat overconfident, considering that Argale has already landed one blow, but I guess Everett is prepared now.

But while Argale agrees, he’s smart enough to know that distractions can be fatal.

The ice-monster’s hand breaks through the wall, reaching for Everett, who’s been far too focused on Argale to notice its approach until now that it’s too late.

Everett really needs to start remembering that just because he’s always the smartest guy in the room, it doesn’t mean everyone else are predictable and easily manipulated.

Thankfully the Avenger arrives just in time to block the ice-monster, and yank Everett out of the way.

That looks painful.

The two then goes flying after Argale, who escaped on a snowmobile.

Angus has arrived, and got some action on tape, but the ice-monster also almost steps on him. Lyla also arrives and tells him to go look after Gary and Suzi, before running after the Avenger. Angus is baffled at how fast she is.

The Avenger and Everett has caught up with Argale, and the Avenger drops Everett down onto the snowmobile. Everett reaches down, and presses the release… pedal? For the locks holding the box with the cellular units and the diluent in place, sending them flying. The Avenger grabs them both, and the finds himself face to face with the ice-monster.

Everett tells him to throw the gun down, and when the Avenger does Everett grabs it out of the air and fires at the ice monster. Much like with the Avenger and the Duckmobile earlier, it seems like he hits one specific piece of the ice-monster, knocking it loose, but this time the piece collapses in on itself, melting instead of rebuilding.

“Excuse you, I had to hit a specific piece of ice among all the other ice.”

Lyla arrives just after this, asking if everything is fine. Everett takes the box of cellular samples from the Avenger as he confirms that everything is fine. He also asks about the base, and Lyla can confirm that Suzi and Gary are fine.

The Avenger notices that Argale is getting away, but Everett tells him to let him go. Argale can’t do more harm, and Everett will deal with it when he comes back.

Huh, he doesn’t have much choice, does he? They’re on the South Pole, and there doesn’t seem to be any other bases nearby. Unless Argale can reach another, distant, base before the snowmobile runs dry, his choices are go back or freeze to death. And even if he does reach another base, he’ll probably have to explain what happened, and then his story would have to be confirmed… well, his choices are basically “jail”, “go back” or “die”.

And then we never heard from him again!

Presumably because the series got cancelled, but, uh, it doesn’t look good for Argale based on what we got.

Everett tells the Avenger and Lyla he’ll explain everything back at the base. They share a skeptical look, while Everett thinks to himself that he’ll explain almost everything. Nice to see that everyone is on the same page about this explanation.

A few days later, they’re all on a plane back to Duckburg. Everett has asked to talk to Angus, who decides to cut the crap and ask what Everett really wants.

Everett wants Angus to drop the story he was going to do about everything that happened… in exchange for an interview with Everett, where Everett will most definitely not know any of the questions beforehand.

From Angus’s point of view, this probably looks like a good deal. Ducklair Enterprises is having image problems and what went down at the base most definitely doesn’t look good, and there are probably other issues with what happened too. Enough stuff went wrong that a very risky interview will be better for Everett.

And Angus definitely thinks highly enough of himself to think that he can get something better than “one scientist went nuts” out of an interview like this.

We know better.

At the other side of the plane, Lyla thinks this all worked out great, noting that it was nice of Everett to not only fix the Duckmobile, but also to transport it back with them in his private plane.

The Avenger is less happy, but mostly about being late for work. Again. Lyla laughs, but the Avenger says it’s not funny. His Christmas vacation is already being shortened. That said, after this trip, he has decided that there’s no place like home.

And at Corona, people are sitting up and paying attention.

You know what my favorite thing about this issue is? How utterly glossed over and almost ignored the reveal is. An alien probe from “Corona”, that Everett recognizes on sight, specifically saying that it’s targeting him, but much of it takes place in the middle of the action and no one actually comments on it, except some vague comments of vagueness from Argale. It’s the kind of thing I can imagine younger readers missing. And in-universe, it makes complete sense that the Avenger missed it this time around, since he wasn’t present for most of it.

But finally. Now I can stop dancing around this: EVERETT DUCKLAIR IS AN ALIEN!

I am saying it’s aliens.

#pkna #pk2 #duck avenger #comic #sort of #for fun #review

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