Reformation

by Rachel Faraday

Chapter Five

"Are you certain he is not faking it?" J. Gander asked with caution. He and Jacob were walking through the secretive compound the following day, and the SHUSH director had just been informed of the previous night's events.

"Positive," Jacob replied firmly, confident of his own analysis. "His passive biomarkers have improved within the past week, and the aggressors have been diminishing. What happened last night only supports the research findings, John. I'm certain that it's working."

They stopped in front of the facility's exits, and Jacob gave his old friend a successful smile. "I think we're ready for Phase 2."

J. Gander studied Jacob's face for a moment, and he could see the eager sparkle in his black eyes. And he could see the confidence. "Come with me to my office. We will make the final arrangements there."

"I don't care how they were lost, Agent. Those field analysis reports were more valuable than your life!"

Chief Agent Jake Mallard was once again faced with the task of executing disciplinary action upon one of SHUSH's less-than-finer agents. It was minuscule task in his day of duties, and it was an exhausting one. But he had to admit, he did like the petrified expressions of terror on each and every one of the agents' faces as they were confronted with Jake's wrath. The rookie agent standing before the merciless chief hadn't uttered a word since he stepped into the feared office.

"I don't care of Bigfoot took them!" Jake snarled from behind his desk. His narrowed brows shadowed his eyes, giving him a more darker appearance, and thus further intimidating the already shaken agent. "Just find those reports, Agent! Or else your job and any hope of future employment anywhere in this city will be lost as well!"

The agent, unable to find his voice, could only nod vigorously before making his exit out of the office as smoothly as possible. But Jake could see him shaking, and he could smell the sweat on the youngster's forehead. This brought a pleased smile to the mallard's face. How he loved striking fear into those below him--one trait which he shared with his villainous son. Despite donning the badge of SHUSH, he certainly wasn't saint.

Just as Jake was ready to go fetch himself a rejuvenating cup of black coffee, there came a knock at his office door.

"Enter!" Jake barked in an agitated tone.

The door slowly pushed open and a young female agent timidly poked her head inside. "Agent Mallard?"

"Ah, Nora. Come in," he replied, his voice now more welcoming. Jake was always more cordial to the women of SHUSH for obvious reasons. He was a man, afterall. His sharp appearance, his status, and his charm made it easy for him to make any female swoon for him. This was good for his ego. "What can I do for you?"

"I've got that report from the morgue you requested," Nora informed in a professional manner, although the request had been anything but professional. Jake had wanted to get his hands on the death certificate and morgue papers regarding Negaduck's execution. However, Director Hooter had locked the file as confidential, and made it impossible for even the Chief Agent to see the paperwork. But that wouldn't stop Jake. He knew Agent Nora Daniels was a shy young woman with low self-confidence. And she was a lead physician in the morgue. So with the help of his charisma and sensuality, Jake was able to get Nora to grant him this favor in return for a 'favor' of her own.

Jake passed her one of his sly smiles and held out his hand in which Nora set the file. Without saying another word to her, Jake opened the file and read over its contents regarding his son's execution. What he was really looking for was the death certificate, which he found to be the last page. His eyes immediately fell upon the authorized signature. Normally, it would have been signed by the head physician on duty that evening. But it was signed by someone else.

Jacob Mallard.

He slammed the folder shut and quickly got to his feet. Jake strode past Nora without a second glance and was out of the office within seconds.

Now he was confident. Jake knew Negaduck was still alive, and that Jacob had something to do with his survival. This would explain his counterpart's presence had been scarce around SHUSH for the past couple of weeks.

The chief agent made his way through SHUSH, sweeping by other agents who quickly tried to make way. He kept his eyes sharp for any sign of his Jacob or one of his closer associates. After he had nearly made a full round through the building, he was prepared to turn back and resort to other means of finding his double's location. But just as he rounded a corner near the director's office, there they were.

Jacob and J. Gander.

They were about twenty feet in front of him, discussing with one another, and neither had yet noticed his presence. Before they could see him, Jake spun back around and hid himself around the corner, but he leaned in close to listen in on their conversation.

"All of the arrangements have been made. I just hope you've considered all of the possible consequences of rushing into Phase 2 prematurely," J. Gander said skeptically. The concern of something going wrong was clear in his voice. "I've thought long and hard about this, Jacob. And I trust your discretion. This is entirely your call."

"He's ready," came Jacob's insistent response. "I have staff monitoring the other test subjects, but I will continue to focus on Negaduck. All I need from you, John, is to uphold the secrecy of this project. That is perhaps the most important element of the experiment. We cannot let anyone outside the assigned staff know about what we are doing. If Negaduck is revealed to the authorities, nothing can stop them from killing him."

Jake held his breath as he listened. Upon hearing that his suspicions were correct, he smiled devilishly.

"Of course, Jacob. If you require my assistance on anything else, don't hesitate to ask," J .Gander reminded.

Sensing the conversation was coming to a close, Jake quietly shuffled away down the hallway before he could be spotted. Jacob gave J. Gander's hand a friendly, concluding handshake and nodded before they left in opposite directions.

Jacob made swift strides back to his office with his head held high. He figured it would probably be wise to check in for any messages or minor work that required his attention before his cover began to slip, exposing the experiment. But first, he had to make another stop to take care of other important business.

He pushed open the door to the empty men's restroom and stepped over to one of the urinals lined up against the wall, unzipped his gray trousers, and began to relieve himself. But before Jacob could finish, he heard the restroom door creak open again. Thinking nothing of it, he didn't look up from his business until the identical mallard stopped at the urinal to his right.

"Well, the famed Jacob Mallard decides to resurface in broad daylight," Jake stated casually as if the two of them were best friends. He lowered the zipper of his black slacks and mimicked Jacob's actions.

There was something in Jake's tone of voice that made the feathers on the back of Jacob's neck stand on end. And his devious double's shifty posture sent up a red flag to be cautious with his words. There was suspicion in the air.

"Resorting to harassing me in the men's room, Mallard?" Jacob sneered without looking up, determined to keep his cool and calm demeanor while in Jake's presence. He couldn't risk the experiment being discovered, especially by the Chief Agent. "Or perhaps the curiosity of just who is the bigger mallard got the better of you. Tsk, tsk. A bit insecure, are we?"

Jake brushed off the lude accusation and fired back with his own. "I'm not the one with something to hide, Agent," he growled lowly in his gravelly voice. "You've made the effort to be scarce around SHUSH. Don't think I haven't noticed. Been keeping busy?"

Without even so much as a flinch to confirm the suspicion, Jacob zipped up his pants and turned away. "I don't know what you're talking about, 'Sir'," he argued, emphasizing Jake's title with disdain as he approached the sink to wash his hands.

"Of course you don't," Jake humored with a roll of his eyes. He knew Jacob was a smooth operator, and that finding the proof he needed would be a difficult task. Once finished, he zipped up his pants and joined his double at the sink. "I know you're up to something, Mallard. You can't bullshit a bullshitter," he commented over the running water.

"Well, it takes one to know one, right?" Jacob shot back and looked at him with a raised brow. His voice was calm, but Jake could sense the cynicism and passed him a glare in return. They were the same duck with a crafty mind, and they each knew how the other one played the game.

"Whatever it is, I'll find out," Jake promised. He shut off the water and dried his hands with a paper towel. "You'll slip up, and when you do--"

Jacob interrupted with a low amused chuckle while he also dried his hands. "Believe me, ol' boy. The last time I slipped up, I got a bullet in my leg, and I have you to thank for that," he said and leveled himself on his cane. "I've made a lot of promises in my lifetime, many of which I haven't been able to uphold. Once again, I thank you for that dilemma. However, one promise which I made long ago which I do intend to keep was to never let myself be taken off guard by you again."

His words were so firm, so sincere, that they sent a small wave of paranoia through Jake's body. Then he vowed to himself to see that Jacob broke yet another promise. He would uncover whatever he was doing and put another bullet in his other leg if the chance comes along. But for now, he would back down.

And wait.

Jake silently sneered as Jacob walk past and out the door without passing another glance in his eternal enemy's direction. The rivalry between Jake and Jacob Mallard greatly dwarfed that of their son's, Darkwing Duck and Negaduck. It was a battle of epic proportions that would never end until one stole the other's life.

The following morning, Jacob burst into Negaduck's cell with a bright smile on his face. He looked like an excited young man.

"Well?" he asked the villain eagerly.

Negaduck nervously wrung his hands together from where he sat. "I'm not sure I'm ready for this..."

But Jacob was confident enough for both of them, and he stepped forward to place a hand encouragingly on his shoulder.

"Of course you are. You're ready, Drake."

~*~