On the fifth floor in a non-descript building in the middle of Saint Canard early the following morning, Gosalyn Waddlemeyer-Mallard enters her office. While this room is decent-sized and very well-equipped, it still isn't going to be mistaken for a four-star-hotel suite. As Gosalyn cross-references her knowledge of the materials stolen right out from under her beak the previous night, she replies in an only half-surprised tone "I figured there was something familar about those stolen materials. Those are the same materials F.O.W.L. used in the machines it used to give its Eggmen super-powers in the final five years of the organization's existence. All that is missing are the rare elements Wonderirite and Herculium to POWER the machine and Clucksmythe Unlimited holds all the rights to all the Wonderirite and Herculium in the city. There are even materials that can be combined with the items stolen last night to give somebody exposed to the rays of that machine EVEN GREATER powers, which are ALSO owned by Clucksmythe Unlimited. Clucksmythe Unlimited is owned by Cynthia Clucksmythe the First, who dad once told me was the first girlfriend of Willaim Combe Irones, who we now know to be Steelbeak. With that in mind, it's not that illogical to figure that Steelbeak might try to rekindle their past relationship in an effort to get his hands on those elements and materials. As soon as I wrap up the three cases on my desk; which should only take me about nine hours since they're all pretty common cases (one unsolved jewelry heist, one reported lost puppy and one case of suspected infidelity); then it will be time for Quiverwing Quack to make sure Steelbeak's courtship efforts are somewhat stymied.".
Suddenly, Gosalyn gets a call on the phone and hears an all-too-familar-voice. "Hi, dad." Gosalyn replies before slipping an anti-ease-dropping device on the phone (just in case) and adding "Yes, I've figured out the connection between all the materials that were stolen from those three office buildings the Super-Eggmen tried to rob last night, too. Don't worry, dad; I've beaten Steelbeak before. Heck, I've beaten him a couple of times even BEFORE becoming Quiverwing Quack full-time.".
On the other end of the phone line, Drake Mallard, who had ALREADY slipped an anti-ease-dropping device on HIS phone, replies "Well, just the same, I don't want you taking any UNNECESSARY chances. I'll be the first to admit that you've proven many times over you can handle most criminals; even SUPER-criminals; but you're NOT invulnerable. If anything bad were to happen to you, I don't know if I'd EVER forgive myself. Just because you're all grown up doesn't mean I've stopped caring about you." before sighing in genuine concern.
"I appreciate the concern, dad," Gosalyn replies truthfully before adding "but, like you said to me 25 years ago, I knew the job was dangerous when I took it. Still, I'll be as careful as I CAN be under the circumstances.".
Nodding understandably, Drake simply says "Okay, sweetie. Just remember that daddy DOES love you. Bye bye now." before hanging up.
Gosalyn thinks to herself "Dad worries too much sometimes, but that's just because he truly DOES care." as she starts to work on her case load.
Later that night, after Gosalyn has solved the jewelry heist (it was an inside job as she suspected; The jewelry store manager and two of the guards were the culprits), located and returned the lost puppy (which turned out to be a full-grown doberman that the owner simply CALLED a puppy) and handled the suspected infidelity case (it turned out that there WAS no infidelty; the boyfriend was just trying to buy a very nice gift for his girlfriend and said girlfriend only discreetly heard enough of the conversation between him and a female cashier to get the wrong idea), she then decides to stake out the Clucksmythe mansion as Quiverwing Quack, figuring that Steelbeak would show up sooner or later. Indeed, Steelbeak DOES arrive, dressed even BETTER than usual and bearing a bouquet of three dozen extra-long-stem roses. Ringing the bell, Steelbeak semi-nervously awaits Cynthia Clucksmythe.
Within a minute, Cynthia Clucksmythe the First shows up at the door and Steelbeak gets his first look at her in over 40 years. Though 64 years old, Cynthia still looks pretty much the same as Steelbeak remembers her; the only signs of her age being her slight limp and a few greying streaks in her red hair. "Willaim? Is THAT you? After over 40 years?". Cynthia asks with tears in her eyes.
"Yes, it is. I can't believe it; I've bin all ova da woild several times ova n' dis is da foist time I've seen youse in decades. I don't mind tell'n youse dat youse still look great, Cynthia. I know dis is probably a touchy subject, but..." Steelbeak starts before Cynthia answers
"Yes, Willaim; I HAVE been married; seven times in fact; though none that have lasted longer than three years and, in fact, only TWO of my marriages even lasted THAT long. I'm four times widowed and three times divorced; one of those divorces was to Flintheart Glomgold.".
"Heh Heh Heh Heh. Yeah. I hoid about dat.". Steelbeak admits before adding "I hoid youse got him in da divorce settlament REAL GOOD. Youse ended up gitt'n EVERYT'IN, which gave youse HIS entire fortune combined wid yers. Actually, I already KNEW youse were married seven times. N' FACT, I already know that youse actually have t'ree GRANDCHILDREN dat r' head'n fer college. I HAVE bin keep'n track'a youse afta all. Jest because I've bin too busy ta see youse doesn't mean I've stopped luv'n youse. I undastan dat youse taught I was dead fer five years wen youse married fer da foist time; youse felt youse had ta move on. I'm jest sorry it took me 40 years ta work up da noiv ta try ta see youse agin.".
Before the conversation goes any further, the flash of a flying strobe light arrow gets Steelbeak's attention and though the metal mouthed rooster is temporarily blinded, he's still been in this situation enough to know to tense his muscle enough to minimize the incoming blows, which happen to be a flying kick right to the back followed immediately by a roundhouse kick to the stomach. "Heh Heh Heh! Nice try, Quivawing, but youse don't git da cupie doll.".
Quiverwing Quack replies "Don't let Steelbeak snow you, Ms. Clucksmythe; he DOESN'T still love you; he would have tried to make contact with you a lot sooner than he did if he DID love you. His only interest in you is the fact that your company holds materials he needs to complete a device he wants to use to give himself super-powers." as she gestures the multi-billionairess inside the house and closes the door before nailing Steelbeak with a backwards leg-sweep a split-second before Steelbeak's vision returns.
"Why, youse no-good do-gooda. Youse r' toast!" Steelbeak shouts as he pulls out a high-powered laser pistol and points it right at the heroine at point blank range and pulls the trigger, blasting her on low-setting at first just to soften her up. Even at its lowest setting, the blast proves to be powerful enough to send a grown person right through a thick redwood door and the combination of getting hit by that blast and going right through the door leaves Quiverwing quite dazed. Steelbeak somewhat ups the laser pistol's setting only to have the gun literally back-fire when Quiverwing gunks up the works with a desperation glue arrow shot, which allows the costumed heroine a few moments to recover at least SOME of her wits. Once Quiverwing and Steelbeak are both back on their feet, Steelbeak replies "Fortunately, I was prepared fer da possibilty of'a standoff wid one'a youse supa-hero types as he reaches into his left jacket pocket and presses a button that signals eight Super-Eggmen to enter the room. "Take care'a Quivawing Crud, boys, but try ta do as li'l damage ta da house as possible." Steelbeak replies as he steps off to the side.
To Be Continued (you know the drill, Roaming Tigress).
Posted on Oct 6, 2001, 2:37 PM from IP address 63.59.161.73
