Wonderduck: Origins
I know what your all thinking "OMG ITS NOT SCENT SEDUCTION!?" but I have had this piece in the making for a good while now and wanted to get it finished. I wrote this as a thank you to my pal Wonderduck for being such a cool guy and his contribution to the furry fandom with his artistic talent. I do hope you all will enjoy even though it is 95% clean.
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Wonderduck:
Origins
"Quickly Duck into the pond," cried a gruff old badger. They must never know what you are. Live your life amongst your own kind , I will take responsibility. This world will need heroes!"
Circling the pond at an unnatural clip the duck turned back to see his protector running toward an approaching fire light shouting madly.
"I AM THE HERO! I AM THE HE-
Before the frightened fowl could even think to react the fire consumed the badger. Paddling into the shadows the duck watched as a mob marched to the water's edge. Even though anger consumed the young bird he could not betray the sacrifice the bread giver had made for him.
"That's the last of them," shouted the leader of the mob. "No more villains and no more heroes!"
Fifteen Years Later
Though the golden age of super heroes had ended in tragedy there was not a soul who cared. After the last villain fallen the world ushered in a new age of peace , but it soon became a witch hunt. The public turned on the heroes who had once kept them safe. Taking it in their heads that those left with power could only corrupt without evil to balance them
A two month crusade ended in the deaths of over a thousand of the greatest Heroes to ever live. For all they had given the world the heroes only memorial was to be put out of mind and forgotten. The age of peace continued on without a care.
Sunken faced and unshaven sat a cat upon a bench at the waters edge of the very site where the last hero had fallen. He had been there every day for the longest time , though he fed the ducks while he sat he mostly fed a bad drinking habit. Even though he went unnoticed the feline remained hidden under the hood of a tattered and smelly sweatshirt.
Day after day the cat arrived with a loaf of bread in one hand and a bottle of scotch in the other. Sharing one sided small talk and general rants with only the ducks was the only thing he did that seemed to draw any attention to himself. Usually feasting on the heels of the bread before lighting a rank smelling Stogie the feline would stumble off into the dusk only to repeat the cycle the next day.
Squatting behind a bush under a storm blackened sky the cat simply shook his head as he read the evening edition meant for wiping his ass. If one truth from the golden age was finite it was the fact that peace never lasts. On that morning it had once again ended in the mysterious slaughter of thousands of amusement park goers. No witnesses left alive and only a handful of missing park attractions had left the already stunned authorities even more perplexed.
"Coulda seen tha comin a mile away," belched the feline wiping himself with the funny pages.
Sighing the haggard cat tossed the heels of the bread to the ducks waiting patiently before him. Lighting his Stogie he turned his head to the sky. Pulling his fallen hood back over his face he made to stand only to hear a voice at his side.
"I knew you were one of them," stated the voice.
"What's that now," he growled turning to find he was alone.
"You're a hero."
Jumping from the bench he stumbled around in a circling finding only the ducks were in his company. Though hearing voices and seeing things wasn't anything new to him when he was drinking his identity had never been a question of his hallucinations.
"The ear proves it," stated the voice whispering from beside him.
"Who's there," he shouted pulling the gloves from his hands. "I don't want to hurt you , but I will if I have to!"
"Gonna light me like one of your cigars?"
Turning again the feline tripped over his own feet falling face first onto the wet grass. Head spinning he tried to pull himself up , but it was all he could do to keep from blacking out. Hands to the ground he felt owner of the voice creeping closer. Opening his eyes the cat found himself face to face with a brilliant white duck.
"Oh its just you," he laughed. "Sorry lil guy but I am fresh out of rye."
"I should hope so. I much prefer the honey wheat."
Staring wide eyed at the duck looking down on him the cat blinked several times before chucking the bottle of scotch.
"The Feline of a Thousand Fires right?"
Knowing he had seen the duck's bill move that time he shook his head and crawled away. Dunking his head in the ice cold pond the feline surfaced to find the duck standing at his side.
"You know they shit in there all the time don't you?"
"Yeah...... How the...... What is going on?"
"Come inside and I will explain everything to you," the duck stated pressing a wad of chewing gum on a nearby lamp post.
An ominous gurgle from within the pond gave rise to a stainless steel elevator connected to a matching catwalk.
"Where are you going," the duck shouted seeing the feline turn away from the pond.
"Well if you really are talking then there was no need to chuck the scotch."
Though the elevator ride was swift they had passed almost a mile under ground. Cut stone and completely furnished the duck's layer was the last thing the cat had expected to see that day. Full of computer equipment unlike anything he had ever seen he knew there could only one explanation for the fowl.
"You're the last hero aren't you?
"That would be me. I was but a young hero all those years ago and the bread giver refused to let them destroy me. He knew the mobs had know way of telling who exactly the heroes were , so he sacrificed himself to ensure my survival."
"You blend in very well," blurted out the cat with a drunken chuckle.
"I had to in order to survive. I waited five years before I even thought to start constructing this place. Since it's completion I have waited for the day when I would once again be needed."
"And all of this state of the art technology is kept secret by a piece of bubble gum?"
"That piece of gum is composed of five trillion nano sensors that can instantly analyze my DNA as well as the unique chemical structure of the oil my feathers produce."
Clearly still drunk the feline's interest had turned back to the bottle.
"I suggest you take a hot shower and sleep off whatever you've been drinking , because we've got work to do. Showers are at the end of the corridor and you can stay in the second room on the left."
"Wait! Work? What work," the feline shouted as the duck disappeared into one of the many doors leading from the chamber.
Waking in a plush bed rather then next to a dumpster the feline knew what had transpired the previous day had in fact happened. Finding his way to the center the layer he spotted the duck fast at work on many of the different instruments. Though clearly making his presence known the duck continued to work as if he hadn't heard a thing.
"So what is your name," he asked loudly making sure the fowl could no longer pretend he wasn't there.
"Duck," replied the duck. "Or if you prefer my super hero handle , Wonderduck."
"I am-
"Nelkor of Voroxi , Yes I know who you are. The fabled feline said to be the first hero of Earth , born from the fires of Sol before the planets themselves."
"I am not quite that old , but I have been around for a good long while."
"Nelkor it is time to get you back into a cape," Duck stated pointing to a small pedestal opposite the computer displays.
"I don't do capes," Nelkor growled. "And who said anything about being a hero again?"
"This did," Duck shouted pointing to the display. "It was shot by the only camera that wasn't completely distorted by the event."
"That's impressive how?"
"The camera was nearly twenty miles from the amusement park."
Even from such a great distance the massive distortion was clearly visible. Knowing the amount of power needed to create such a distortion shook the hesitation from Nelkor's mind.
"What else do you have on the distortion?"
"Other then a lightning strike and the fact that it was picked up by several satellites there's nothing."
"We've got work to do," boomed Nelkor jumping up on to the pedestal.
Though the golden age had passed it was clear to Duck that it's ego still burned brightly in the fiery feline. Setting focus back to the task at hand he continued his work pretending not to hear Nelkor's rants.
After hours of standing in place a brand new super suit lowered from a nearby machine. Looking it over Nelkor nodded rather impressed with the design. Not bothering with manners the feline stripped off the tattered rags he'd changed back into and slipped on his new outfit. Smiling down at the Alchemist's triangle on his chest Nelkor nodded again feeling the pride he'd once felt.
"At least I will get to look good till I cook the suit," he laughed creating a spark with the click of his fingers.
"The suit made from a nano tech polymorphic ceramic fiber," Duck stated pointing once again to the display. "It will stiffen and cool rapidly when exposed to intense heat. Theoretically it should be able to withstand the heat of your Nova Leap."
"So you know about the Nova Leap," Nelkor chuckled impressed with the fowl's knowledge.
"I know as much as the next hero would about it. Though I have my own ideas on how it works."
"Really?"
"It has nothing to do with super speed. You can manifest yourself out of any open flame," Duck stated playing an old bit of News footage from one of Nelkor's battles. "It's more impressive that no one figured out how you did it."
Lighting two pieces of paper ablaze Nelkor exploded into a fireball engulfing the first page. A second later the fireball erupted from the other sheet. The suit still intact Nelkor nodded in approval once again before extinguishing the still smoldering papers.
"So what , you're some kind of super genius gadget maker? Or do you have real powers?"
"I can fly," laughed the fowl returning to his work.
"What exactly is it you are doing?"
"I believe the lightning strike is what fueled the magnetic field that caused the distortion. Since skies are going to be clear for the next few weeks who ever this villain is they will need an alternative power source."
"Is that what you are looking for," Nelkor asked pressing his finger to a flashing dot on the screen.
"Its one of the sensors I deployed. Whatever caused the distortion is near its location."
Closing his eyes Nelkor stood frozen for a minute before disappearing with the spark of his fingers. Bursting from a hobo's fire nearest where the sensor had gone off he turned only to find the duck floating in midair beside him.
"I guess you can fly!"
"I was out of the layer before you even snapped your fingers," the duck shot back before streaking off toward the sensor.
From the outward appearance of the building it was clear whoever was creating the distortions was already inside. All planning was thrown aside as screams of terror began to emanate from within the torn open entry way. Rushing in without a second thought Nelkor stumbled into a bloodbath of twisted metal and body parts. Glancing at each other the two heroes tried desperately to navigate the scrap heap.
"Fuck the element of surprise," Nelkor shouted as molten plasma began dripping from his fingers.
Swiping furiously at the maze of metal shards Nelkor couldn't help but feel Duck's penetrating stare.
"WHAT?"
"Move," shouted the fowl as his eyes began to glow under his mask.
Jumping aside Nelkor watched as Duck unleashed a volley of lasers. Wiping away the heat from the metal with a wave of his hand the feline proceeded down the mangled corridor.
"I can see why you went with Wonderduck," Nelkor stated inspecting the cleared path as they pressed forward.
A fresh batch of screams coming from the level below brought the urgency of the situation back to light. Slicing through the floor with a massive jet of plasma Nelkor and Wonderduck dropped into the chaos. What once was a surgically clean lab was now a gutted war zone.
"No please don't," screamed a voice through the blinding smoke.
"Leave my sister alone," screamed another.
"What the hell is this place," Nelkor shouted as the smoke in the room funneled into his hands.
"Its an experimental fusion facility," Wonderduck replied shooting a laser at the figure looming over the screaming lab workers.
Turned back on him Wonderduck side stepped the beam attempting to fire again at the villain. Unable to penetrate the force repelling his attacks he signaled to Nelkor to circle around. Leaping from spark to spark till Wonderduck gave the signal again Nelkor launched himself into the distortion.
"Unhand them evil doer," shouted Wonderduck flying into the distortion.
Seeing the face of evil Wonderduck stepped toward the villain completely at a loss for words.
"What the hell is that thing," Nelkor shouted trying to get closer to the screaming lab workers.
"It appears to be one of the attractions from the Animaltronics display at the park."
"BIRD OF FEATHER! BIRD OF FEATHER!" wailed the metallic beast craning it's head around to stare down Wonderduck.
"You will release the females at once or we will be forced to destroy you," Nelkor growled his hands consumed by green flames.
Screaming the two female lab works shot toward the metal monstrosity , magnetized to it's chest plate by the collars on their necks. Even inside the distortion Wonderduck found his lasers were no use against the villain's metal hide.
"Looks like we'll have to do this the old fashion way," he shouted rocketing toward the villain at full speed.
Drilling into the evil doer with his beak Wonderduck struck repeatedly as he darted around trying to find a point of weakness. Joining in on the assault with a flurry of molten fists Nelkor pummeled the villain with all his might.
"YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME! YOU CANNOT DEFEAT UBER OSTRICH!"
Rising from the floor the giant metallic bird Sprayed the lab with a shower of razor sharp feathers. Melting the on coming metal storm Nelkor began lobbing balls of plasma at the enraged Ostrich.
"We've barely dented him," Wonderduck shouted vaporizing a second torrent of feathers.
Like a rush of wind moving past them the magnetic distortion retracted back into the Ostrich. Thinking they had damaged the foe Wonderduck and Nelkor jumped at the struggling lab workers to try and free them. Caught off guard the heroes were repulsed as the distortion reexpanded putting them through the wall of the laboratory.
Struggling free of the rubble the heroes found them selves staring up at a massive hole breaking out into day light.
"That thing has taken those lovely lab workers," Wonderduck shouted tapping the golden clasp on his cape. "Damn it!"
"What?"
"The sensor in my cape is fried. I have no way of telling where he is headed."
"I nailed him in the back with a plasma ball," Nelkor gloated. "As long as that puppy is burning I will be able to leap to his location."
"Leap to my layer and take a tracking device," Wonderduck instructed brushing pieces of concrete from his feathers. "Once you activate it I will be able to find where ever you leap to next."
Getting a running start Nelkor disappeared with a flash , burst from a candle inside the layer , and grabbed a locator before leaping again. Appearing just behind Uber Ostrich Nelkor hit the ground running trying his best to keep up with the floating fiend.
Followed by several large bangs as he broke the sound barrier many times over Wonderduck nothing more then a red blur latched onto the shoulders of Nelkor. Streaking after Uber Ostrich the caped quacker released his feline cohort like whiskered ballistic missile. Hitting with such force Nelkor knocked the deranged attraction from the sky.
"The jig is up Uber Ostrich," He bellowed striking the villain repeatedly.
Circling around Wonderduck moved in striking Uber Ostrich with his beak on each pass. Glancing the villain's chest at hypersonic speed he cut the collars of the passed out lab workers. Following lead Nelkor dragged the fallen females to safety while Wonderduck continued to distract the Ostrich.
"YOU WILL DIE BIRD OF FEATHER! YOU WILL DIE!"
Like a machine gun Uber Ostrich began firing metal slugs from his still open beak. Slashing at Wonderduck with scalpel like wings he continued to scream.
"YOU WILL DIE! YOU WILL DIE! YOU WILL DIE!"
Darting left to right Wonderduck flew between the villain's legs striking where wires had once held it in place. Crippling one of the Ostrich's legs in a shower of sparks Wonderduck circled around to take out the other only to be tackled by Nelkor.
"What are you doing?"
"Wait for it," Nelkor growled digging into the ground.
The distortion field expanded with intense force bending street lamps and crushing cars. Looking to the still glowing plasma melted to Uber Ostrich the feline vanished and reappeared creating an explosion that sent the Ostrich flying.
"GET DOWN!"
Not knowing that the villain's magnetic field was dependent on its location Nelkor turned to find several crushed automobiles flying toward him. Before he could snap his fingers the feline was struck sending him flying along with the car. Snapping his fingers inches before being crushed Nelkor rolled from a sparking street lamp writhing in pain.
"Nelkor are you okay," Wonderduck quacked frantically landing next to the injured feline.
"My arm is broken," Nelkor replied with a grimace. "Get the lab workers to safety! I will take care of him!"
Pulling himself from the ground Nelkor began to smolder the fire colored tufts of fur on the tips of his ears ignited. Walking toward the Ostrich bands of plasma began to ark from his body.
"Nelkor you can't do this alone!"
"You get them out of here Wonderduck! NOW!"
Charging as Uber Ostrich rose from the ground Nelkor Screamed with fury flailing his broken arm channeling the plasma at his opposition. Erupting into a fireball the feline burned brighter launching plasma and jets of fire of all different colors.
"TAKE THEM NOW," he bellowed to the frozen fowl.
Snapping out of his shock Wonderduck swept over the still unconscious females grabbing one with his feet and one with his beak. Circling the blazing battle to pick up speed Wonderduck watched as Nelkor struck the villain with more and more attacks. Speeding off toward his layer Wonderduck sighed as an explosion rang out from behind him.
Putting the females into one of the bedrooms Wonderduck hurried to the computer displays. Hacking into live signals from all over the city he looked on in horror as the local News stations filmed what was left of the scene he had just escaped. The street had been vaporized , all that was left where the combatants had stood was a smoking crater.
"You should have let me help you fool," the fowl yelled hanging his head.
Catching a glimpse of a flash behind him Wonderduck turned to find Nelkor slumped on the floor with steam bellowing off him.
Waking days later Nelkor found himself in the room he had slept in the night he met Wonderduck. His arm in a cast he dressed haphazardly in a change of clothes hung over the foot board of the bed. Finding Wonderduck sitting and laughing with the two females they had rescued Nelkor cleared his throat.
"Good to see you are up," Wonderduck laughed. "Ladies this is Nelkor , Nelkor this is Kalista and her sister Sinthia."
"Making friends eh?"
"So what happened to Uber Ostrich," Wonderduck asked changing the subject.
"Managed to melt the micro reactor he stole and drag him into my Nova Leap. Though I let go of him I do not know if he emerged from the leap. I hadn't targeted and ended up in an undersea fault line , I was forced to leap again before I was crushed."
"What? Now we wait for another villain to emerge or Uber Ostrich to return?"
"It is my time to leave," Nelkor said frowning at the duck.
"Leave?"
"All the heroes of my time are gone , as are the villains. It is time for me to pass the torch on to the next generation."
"I can't do this alone though," Wonderduck shouted at Nelkor.
"You won't have to. There are others out there , and I am going to find them. I will send them your way and tell them to bring the honey wheat."
"Others? But they are all gone."
"More have been born since the end of the golden age. I heard rumor of an elephant that can shell a ton of peanuts with its mind. Whether its true or not I intend to find out."
Extending a hand to the duck Nelkor shook the wing offered to him. Grabbing his suit from the hanger it had originally emerged the feline turned to the duck for one last farewell.
"Till we meet again my feathered friend."
"Till then," Wonderduck said smiling. "Now if you will excuse us we have some uh...... debriefing to do."
"But you don't-
"I never said it was me briefs that were being Ded," the duck laughed leading the feline sisters from the chamber.
With a smile and a snap of his fingers Nelkor disappeared.