Reformation
Chapter Fourteen
The SHUSH experimentation lab was running just like any other day. Not one of the white coat-clad scientists gave the dramatic situation that had happened a few nights earlier another thought. They merely continued on with their research, as instructed by Director Hooter.
Up in his panoramic-view office overlooking the lab, Jacob Mallard was busily packing the last few of his belongings into a box. The office was the cleanest it has been since he had first moved in, and it had been a while since he had been able to see glass surface of his desk. He seemed to be on auto-pilot, determined to make his exit from the building as soon as possible. He wouldn’t have even noticed J. Gander standing in the doorway if the old bird hadn’t cleared his throat.
Jacob merely glanced up before looking down again to throw some knick-knacks into the box. “John.”
“Jacob,” J. Gander acknowledged in return, although a bit less edgy than his old compadre. He watched Jacob silently for a moment, then took a few steps into the office. “I really wish you would reconsider your decision, Jacob.”
But the old agent only shook his head insistently. “No can do, John. I cannot stay with an agency that condones the employment of agents who play God and have no respect for research and life.”
The cynicism was thick in his voice, but being used to the behavior of his friend, J. Gander let it roll off his back. “He was a criminal, Jacob. A felon. A murderer. I highly doubt that society would be as willing to hand him mercy as you have done.”
“He was still a person,” Jacob countered firmly, looking up to stare the Director straight in the eyes. “Before he was killed, he was more of a person than most of the agents you have working in this place, whether you were able to see it or not. I was able to see it in him, John, because I was the only one who gave him a chance despite the failure of Passidone.”
The two held each other’s gaze for a moment, Jacob’s filled with spite and regret while J. Gander’s were filled with conflict. Then Jacob returned to packing his belongings, now roughly dropping things in the box to deliberately make loud, agitated thuds.
Then J. Gander perked up a little, his voice more encouraging. “Why not stay a little longer and continue your research, Jacob?” he suggested hopefully. “This experiment yielded enough results for you to continue research and perfect your Passidone formula–“
“There’s no need to continue,” Jacob interrupted as he piled on a few files on the top of the box. “As you just said, the experiment supplied me with results that I never had expected, but were more viable than any I had planned on.”
J. Gander raised his brows questionably, waiting for him to continue.
Jacob leaned forward over the desk. “There is no need for Passidone. People don’t need to take a drug to change their negative behavior. They can do it on their own with the right environment and the right people for support. Negaduck was proof of that.”
There was another moment of silence before the SHUSH Director made one last attempt to get one of his long-time prized agents to stay. “I wish there was some way to change your mind.”
“Listen to me carefully, John. As long as Jake Mallard is within SHUSH ranks, I will not be,” Jacob promised sternly. “He is bad for your agency. He is reckless and power-hungry. And here is a new piece of information for you: the other night, he killed his own son.” He paused to examine the very subtle look of surprise the old gander struggled to suppress. “I just hope that someday you will see Jake Mallard for who he really is. And when that day comes, give me a call.”
Jacob picked up the box of his belongings and crossed the office toward the door. But before he could pass J. Gander, the Director reached up and snatched one of the files from the top of the pile in Jacob’s arms.
“What is this?” J. Gander asked and then read over the front cover of the file to answer his own question. “This is the entire research design and report for the Passidone experiment? This is SHUSH property, Jacob. You can’t take this with you.”
“Ah, but I beg to differ, John,” Jacob retorted as he freed one hand to pluck the file from his hands. “If you look over the contract I signed at the beginning of this project, you will notice that I did not sign the Release of Information waiver. It is still mine, and I am going to make sure that it all stays right where it belongs.”
Jacob then flashed the flabbergasted J. Gander his trademark cunning smile and gave a short nod. “See ya around, John.”
He stepped out of the office without a second glance and made his way through SHUSH without acknowledging any of the stares or occasional questions past co-workers gave him. Jacob Mallard was intent on leaving it all behind him. He only had to make one final stop on the way out, and that was at the front employee services counter to turn in his badge. Setting the box in his arms down so that he could fill out the paperwork that was required for just about everything, he did not notice another agent come up to his side, who was nonchalantly leaning against the wall and watching him with a smirk.
“Checking out?” the snide voice asked. “What’s the matter, Mallard? Don’t want to play the game anymore?”
Jacob only shook his head, forcing himself not to look up into the eyes of his malevolent double. He had to clench his jaw to keep himself not to say something in the middle of the SHUSH lobby that he would regret later. “It’s all just a game to you. Is that how it is?”
There was a smirk from Jake. “Admit it, Jacob. When it comes to you and I, it all narrows down to whoever is the most clever, and who is the least susceptible to hindering emotions. That has always been your weakness.”
“Only you would regard emotions as a weakness, you snake,” Jacob muttered lowly as he slid the filled out paperwork to the clerk behind the window. He turned to face his nemesis. “And only you would resort to taking the life of your own flesh and blood to better your status.”
Jake narrowed his ice-cold green eyes, his expression darkening. “Try all you want to glorify a public enemy, friend. It is a futile effort, because all that anyone else will see is his true character as a psychopathic, murdering criminal. You’d be wasting your time and soiling your reputation in the process. That is something that I have learned and you still have failed to realize.”
“Then that just goes to show how naive society really is,” Jacob countered with bitter resentment. He turned his body to face Jake straight on with a solid stare. “They are too busy looking at the headlines and blatant criminal acts that they fail to see who the real criminals are. The ones who are most dangerous are right under their noses, but they are blind to it because of how well the scum is hidden.” He stared hard at Jake to prove his point. “Villainy wears many masks, but none is more dangerous than the mask of virtue.”
Jacob could see the corner of Jake’s bill tremble, wanting so badly to curl into a sneer. The two glowered at one another for a moment.
“Your badge?”
Jacob turned his attention back to the clerk. He paused for a moment, then reached to his belt to pluck off the badge engraved with the SHUSH insignia. He placed it on the counter and handed it over to the clerk, who nodded conclusively.
Jake watched with a raised brow. “You’re not going to miss all of the power and privilege of the badge, old friend?” he taunted.
“Quite the contrary,” Jacob replied with a bit of a satisfied tone in his voice. He faced Jake with a subtle, menacing smile on his bill. “I am now free of the leash. If I were employed as a SHUSH agent and committed a capital crime, I’d be locked away in 24 hour solitary confinement in a federal prison. Now that I am just an ordinary citizen, the worst I would receive would be life in a state prison or the death penalty, neither of which frightens me.”
Jake Mallard eyed him suspiciously. Then Jacob stepped forward until he was close enough to whisper lowly to his enemy. “One day, very soon, my friend, I am going to kill you.”
Jacob stepped back, still holding his devious smile. Then he bent down to pick up his box in one hand, his cane in the other, and proceeded to limp his way across the SHUSH lobby to the doors. Jake watched him until he disappeared outside, his eyes narrowed and his fists clenched. He could feel the heat rising from beneath his feathers, but he was unsure if it was a result of anger or...paranoia.
Minutes later, Jacob was shoving the final box into the back seat of his new Audi. Once everything was situated, he closed the back door and turned around to climb into the driver’s seat. But a gaudy purple motorcycle and its purple-clad rider caught his attention as it screeched to a halt in the parking lot. Jacob leaned over the open door of his car as Darkwing hopped off of the Ratcatcher and approached him.
“Nice new wheels, old man,” Darkwing commented snidely. “Fully loaded? Heated seats?”
“Looking for Jake?” Jacob asked, skipping the hero’s remarks and cutting to the chase. “He’s in the lobby. Should be easy to spot. Just look for the rising steam coming from his head.”
“Hardy har-har,” Darkwing sneered back. “But I’m not here to see him. I’m here to see you.”
“Is that so?” Jacob asked. Even though it perked his interest, he feigned disinterest. “Well, best make it quick, boy. I’ve got places to go.”
Darkwing opened his bill to reply but froze. His eyes panned to the back seat of the car, which was loaded with boxes which were filled with office supplied and belongings. He looked back up at Jacob with raised brows. “Taking a vacation?”
“You can say that. An indefinite vacation.”
“You’re leaving SHUSH?” Darkwing asked, somewhat astonished. Then he scoffed. “Figures. NOW you leave SHUSH when you have no reason or other commitments. Not like 20 years ago when certain important people in your life needed you more than SHUSH,” the masked vigilante continued to rant with dramatic arm movements.
Jacob instantly caught on to Darkwing’s bitterness, and it didn’t surprise him. In his younger SHUSH days, he worked long days and spent barely any time with his family, especially when they needed him most. Darkwing’s resentment was understandable.
“I have my reasons,” Jacob insisted defensively.
“Oh? And what might those be, hmm??” Darkwing demanded impatiently.
Jacob sighed. He knew that he would not be able to explain everything to Darkwing. He was hot-headed, something that he had no doubt inherited from his father. There was no way he would believe him, no matter how sincere his words.
“You wouldn’t understand, boy.”
But Darkwing raised an eyebrow, using his skills of deduction to come to a conclusion. “This is about Jake, and everything that happened the other night!”
Jacob passed his son an over-exaggerated expression of praise. “Well done! Your deduction skills never cease to amaze.”
“Don’t patronize me!” Darkwing spat angrily. Then he folded his arms across his chest and stared at Jacob. “Why did you do it?”
The elder mallard blinked, feigning ignorance. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“‘No idea’ my tail feathers!” the hero snapped. He waited until he had Jacob’s eyes on his. “Why did you do it? Why did you risk your neck for that preposterous public enemy? Surely you didn’t think that Negaduck had the ability to change because of some miracle drug.”
Jacob sighed and lowered his gaze to the cement ground at his feet. He tapped his fingers on the top of the car door. “Whether you would like to believe it or not, Drake, he wasn’t born a malicious madman. He was just like any other person until a disastrous event twisted his mind into the villain that the city knows him to be. With my research and work, I believed that even the worst of society has the ability to change. And he did change. Only nobody wanted to see it or believe it.”
Darkwing stared for a few seconds then let out a loud laugh. “Ha! You expect me to believe that??”
Jacob shook his head and sighed again. “No, Obviously not.”
The ex-SHUSH agent climbed into the driver seat of the car and closed the door. He put the keys in the ignition but before he could start the engine, Darkwing had his head sticking through the open window.
“Wait,” he insisted, the cynicism and sarcasm gone from his voice. His blue eyes were no longer hard and resentful, but curious. And hurt. “I need to know. He wasn’t even your son, and still you...And, well, I’m your...”
The boisterous hero couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence, not knowing how to form the sentences properly without sounding like a wounded child.
But Jacob was able to pick up on what Darkwing was struggling to ask him. He leaned toward the window. “You are my son, Drake. And while I wasn’t able to be with you for reasons that you will never fully understand, you always have been and always will be my son. I would do anything for you, even if you find it hard to believe.” He paused to look him in the eyes. “Drake Mallard is my son. And for a brief time, Negaduck was Drake Mallard. He was who you are when not wearing the mask and cape. But he was helpless, clueless. And vulnerable. Not like you. He needed someone to protect him from those who insisted on still seeing him as a monster, and I was the only one willing.”
Jacob turned the key and the car engine hummed to life. He revved the engine once, and he could barely make out Darkwing’s words over the noise.
“But he was Negaduck!” he pointed out again, the idea still unfathomable. “Why help the public enemy??”
Surprisingly, Jacob allowed himself to chuckle and shake his head. “Come now, Darkwing. Even you should know the answer.” He looked up at him with a knowing smile. “Someone had to when no one else would. Isn’t that what a hero does? Help those who need it?”
“But I–! I mean, he–!” Darkwing tried to retort, but he could not find a strong enough rebuttal. “Well, yeah. Yeah, that’s what a hero does. I mean, I would know, heehee.”
Jacob nodded once, knowing that he made his point. There was a short awkward silence.
“Well, at least the citizens of Saint Canard will sleep more soundly knowing that the nefarious Negaduck is off the streets for good,” Darkwing said with a familiar sense of pride he tended to get whenever he locked up a dangerous criminal.
“That may be,” Jacob chimed in but with a grim timbre in his voice. “But don’t think that someone just as dangerous won’t take his place, Darkwing.”
“Ha! No dastardly delinquent will escape the daring do of Darkwing Duck!” the caped crusader declared with a dramatic sweep of his cape. “There is nowhere for them to hide!”
“Don’t be so sure.”
Darkwing’s ego instantly deflated and he passed his father a pout. “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean??”
“Just do yourself and the city a favor, Darkwing, and remember this.” Jacob looked him directly in the eyes with a warnful gaze. “Sometimes the most dangerous criminals are hiding where you least expect them, and they are wearing the perfect mask to deceive everyone around them.”
Darkwing opened his bill to respond, but no words came out. He could only stand there with his mouth agape and silent as Jacob put the car into gear and pulled out of the SHUSH parking lot for one last time.
From the entrance to the building nearby, Jake watched with narrowed eyes until the car was out of sight. He looked to where Darkwing stood scratching his head. Seconds later, the agent was at his side and placed a hand on his shoulder, startling the young crime fighter.
“Easy, Darkwing. We may be armed but you don’t have to worry about SHUSH agents getting the drop on you,” Jake said with a light chuckle.
“Err, right! I knew that!” Darkwing quickly tried to recover. He looked back in the direction in which Jacob had disappeared, his father’s words still lingering in his mind with a hint of suspicion attached.
Noticing Darkwing’s distraction, Jake quickly broke his concentration. “It’s lunch break. I’m on my way to the Rainforest Deli. How about you join me? My treat.”
“Uh, well I...” Darkwing began. He didn’t want to disappoint Agent Mallard, who he still looked up to. “Sure, why not? Can’t fight crime on an empty stomach, right?”
“Indeed...” Jake agreed, his devilish smile appearing on his bill the second Darkwing’s back was turned.
The cold water of the Audubon Bay lapped against the massive pillars that suspended the busy highway bridge above. The sun, now a brilliant shade of orange was only half visible over the horizon as it began to retire for the evening. It sent bright shades of oranges and reds skimming over the calm water below. Across the bay, ships were docked in the port, their deckhands busily unloading cargo. Along with the wooshing sound of the occasional car speeding by, the calls of gulls echoed in the pre-dusk sky.
But Jacob Mallard barely noticed any of his surroundings. His car was parked in the breakdown lane just behind him, and he leaned against the safety rail of the Audubon Bay Bridge. For several long moments, he gazed out over the glistening water. In one hand were all of the documents pertaining to the experiment. His experiment which had taken years of calculation, research, and patience. In his hand was all of his hard work, which didn’t exhibit the results he had hoped to achieve.
On second thought, however, the experiment had been anything but a failure. He achieved his goal, just not in the way he had planned. His hard work had paid off, and he did make a difference. Jacob Mallard had achieved the unthinkable: he proved that even someone as ruthless and maniacal as Negaduck had the ability to change.
His work was complete. Jacob looked down at the file in his hands, and with a flick of his wrist, tossed it over the side of the bridge. Papers scattered in the air and fluttered down to the water like leaves. They floated on the surface for a moment before slowly sinking beneath the dark water.
Jacob turned his attention to his other hand, which was balled into a fist. He opened his fist and stared down at the black piece of satin material.
Negaduck’s mask was the source of his being. And while it had defined who he was for nearly half of his life, he had managed to break free from the prison it had made for him, if even for a short while. Jacob smirked as he ran his thumb over the mask, wondering if he really did make as much of a difference as he believed. Negaduck was strong-willed and no one told him what to do without being riddled with bullets. It was very possible that he could do anything as long as he wanted it for himself, whether it be to steal the world’s most precious gemstone or reform.
With a smile, Jacob closed his hand tightly around the mask and looked out at the disappearing sun.
“You proved that anything is possible, boy,” he said aloud. “Here’s one last thrill. You deserve it.”
Jacob then gently tossed the mask into the air. But rather than falling straight down to the water, a breeze caught the garment and carried it through the sky. He watched the mask dance in the air toward the horizon. With a final nod, Jacob took his cane and slowly returned to his vehicle. He started the car, then drove the bridge out of Saint Canard.
Your childhood eyes were so intense
While bartering your innocence
For bits of string
The grown-up wings
You needed
But when you had to add them up
You found that they were not enough
To get you in
To Pay for sins
Repeated
And for all the years you borrowed
And for all the tears you cried
And for all the fears
You had to keep inside
I am the way
I am the light
I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes
I feel your dreams
And in the dark I hear your screams
Don’t turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I’ll be right here
I’ll never leave
All I ask of you is believe
I never wanted to know
Never wanted to see
I wasted my time
Till time wasted me
I never wanted to go
Always wanted to stay
‘Cause the persons I am
Are the parts that I play
So I plot and I plan
And I hope and I scheme
To the lure of a night
Filled with unfinished dreams
And I’m holding on tight
To a world gone astray
As they charge me for years
I can’t pay
~Savatage, "Believe"