Chapter 4

Prayer

Oracle and Don Karnage prepare for battle as the situation is further complicated

After a day of investigating, nothing had turned up. The horses were grazing in the field, peacefully.

Until she came.

The clouds split apart to reveal a violet bi plane with the letters SHUSH in gold, they came down to the plains of Mars at a frightening speed, never letting up to stop.

Random stared at the sky wistfully, with almost the creep of a grin over his face.

Oracle stared at him

"Random you okay."

"Oh a nothing."

"Since when is MacCawber interested in archaic twentieth century aviation." Static shrugged.

"Or early 21^st century aviators at least." Oracle smirked.

The plane spun into the Earth, nose first. The horses spooked in every direction.

"Oh great. She scared the horses." Static slapped himself in the forehead.

"You know I could easily do her job if you gave me a lawn chair and a hat." Flight suggested.

The red head duck smiled and saluted.

"Agent 313, Jet McQuack reporting for duty."

"Hello Jet."

"Greetings." Random bowed.

"Hi Guys. Hi Random."

"Smooth landing, McQuack." Flight grinned "Now we have to round up the horses again." Flight shouted.

"Sorry Flight. There are gravitational currents and wind patterns I have yet to consider, when flying on Mars it’s a different atmosphere."

"Yeah I’d like to reconsider the pilot." Flight unfurled his wings and headed after the panicking horses.

"What brings you to this corner of the solar system."

"Latest intelligence reports on Time Pirates."

She handed Oracle the key pad.

"Action footage from the attack on the USS Pocahontas."

"Only video."

"The ship was badly damaged, holeo records were destroyed.

"Okay."

The FO watched the footage.

By now they recognized the figure of Don Karnage in blue. He drew his light saber.

"Skip ahead we’ve seen this part."

They showed a picture of a strange looking dog skulking around the computers "Frappucino Pedicure, second in command by all indications. We know he’s the astronavigator." Jett announced.

Huge ice swords burst through his mittens.

"Hah. That is what you call an ice cream headache."

The robed figure came out of the darkness.

"It’s that chick from the bar!"

"Franchesca McDuck aka Thorn. Empathic level, ten. She’s the ships empathic counselor."

The frail short duck put her head in her hands. A second later she ripped a hole through a solid steel door.

"What in the heck?"

"She must be using her electromagnetic powers to augment her strength." Static said.

"Meaning."

"You know how when you put two magnets together they stick if they are of the different polarities, or bust apart if they are the same polarity."

"Yeah."

"That’s what happened to the door." Random said.

"Wow she looks like one tough customer."

"She could be harder to beat than Don Karnage, if she has all those mind powers they said she did."

Static looked in the background. The Silver Disquette stared at the camera and threw her disq destabilizing the recorder. It went fuzzy.

"But that Ice guy looks scary." Flight said.

"I’ve encountered similar creatures as Frappucino in my studies of opponents. The Liquidator, Bubbles, the Black DeCaph."

Oracle scratched her head "Yes, that aqueous canine creature."

"He shouldn’t be invulnerable. It was reported only the Liquidator is definitely immortal. The others probably can be killed."

"We are only here to bring them to justice, Random."

"And I’m here to be realistic. They won’t afford us the same mercy we would give them. If I can kill I will."

"Who are these guys? The freaking seven sammurai?" Oracle muttered to herself.

"Don Karnage, Frappucino Pedicure, The Silver Disquette and Thorn. The Time Pirates." Jett said.

"Who are these guys? The freaking Alpenor Seven warriors?" Don Karnage muttered to himself

"There are four of them. Flight." Frappe tossed them a picture of a duck with four wings.

"It’s definitely the guy from the Cantina, Frankie." Dolly informed her friend.

"He carries an amulet which contains the power of wind."

"The Amulet of the Rainforest."

The video showed Flight decimating a castle tower.

"It’s a good thing we got these photos."

"I wish it were in holeo. Even video would be better."

"Random MacCawber a self proclaimed demon mage."

Brian stared at the duck

"He looks hybrid. What do you make of it McDucke? Does he look-"

Frankie turned her head and stood up.

Brian covered his mouth.

"Sorry McDucke. I didn’t mean it."

"I’m going to chapel." Frankie said grabbing her staff.

"I really didn’t mean it." Brian said

Disquette saw the picture of the slim young rat creature. She examined it closely. It couldn’t be him, he seemed too nice. She sighed.

"Their leader is a woman named Oracle."

Don Karnage looked at the photo closely as if he had seen a ghost.

The edges of his teeth began creeping out.

"You recognize her?"

"I see she’s come across my path again." He said a deathly and quiet as he could.

The Pirates stared at his reaction.

"Didn’t she used to be in SHUSH?"

"Yes Martian exchange."

"It is time to set things right again." Karnage dropped the photo, staring at it as it floated to the ground. He closed his eyes.

"This time she shall pay."

"Are you okay Justin?" Dolly said.

The fox walked out of the room.

"He’s gonna break something." Dolly sighed holding the picture of Static.

She felt sorry for Brother Justin. Sometimes he was the only person in the world who understood her. She missed her dad and all, but she knew it wasn’t her fault that the timeline had been altered. It wasn’t her fault that Mars was this way. But Justin felt everything was his fault. He refused to believe he couldn’t be blamed.

"I’ve dealt with these sorceror types before." Frappucino held up the picture of Random. "Back in the old days you couldn’t walk ten feet in St. Canard without running into one.

"What is a sorceror?" Dolly asked.

"One who works with magic, one who practices magical arts. Like a psionicist or a chemist." Frankie said.

"Or a baker like Uncle Aaron?"

"No. They can do much greater harm."

"That varmint looks cantankerous to me. I wouldn’t want to cross any of them. An exercise in futility." Brian looked at the pictures of destruction Flight had caused.

"Let’s just hope that we can get them before they get us."

Dolly hid the picture "Maybe if they fail they’ll have to return to earth."

"They won’t afford the same mercy we’d give them." Frappe tried reasoning with his young team member "If we can kill them, we must."

"We must keep the Elludium kb 97 space modulator, before it goes right back into the wrong hands."

Mr. Emilio Muster sat in the large office putting his feet up. He had been through a lot that day. Walking all over the Corporation Headquarters.

There was a knock on the door.

"Enter."

A strange old goose, with yellowed feathers and graying red hair entered the room.

"Ah Miss Muddlefoot. Please have a seat."

Noelle Muddlefoot, the director of Interplanetary Affairs, first in line for the position as next director of SHUSH.

"I’m not that old yet Muster, next you’ll be expecting me to carry around a cane."

But she did end up sitting.

"I got HQ to send down Agent McQuack. I couldn’t get them to send anyone else."

"Isn’t there some way you can get SHUSH down there."

"I wish I could Muster. But SHUSH has always considered the DJK outside of their jurisprudence. If you’d want to bring the great Don Karnage Trial on Earth where everybody could find out-"

"God no. Don’t even joke about that. He’d love to get to Earth sing all the way to the gallows. We don’t need any martyrs on our hands. It’s the Corporations problem. We’ll get him ourselves then."

Muster looked at Muddlefoot.

"My real question is about Oracle. Doyou know her?"

"I was her kick boxing coach when she first came up to Shush."

"Is she really going to side with us?"

"She’s a good kid. But a kid. Doesn’t think she has to play the game. I’d never mess with her though. She’ll learn fast if she lives up to her potential."

"Is there anyway we can get her full support for the long haul?"

"Unless she kills Karnage in the heat of the moment I don’t think she’s going to be able to. She has too much integrity for this kind of work."

"Something has to be done, to motivate her…"

"I don’t think you should be talking to me about this Muster. I shouldn’t even be here."

"Muddlefoot."

"No you’re talking about things that would get me in trouble."

"Mud-"

"Do you realize how much shiv headquarters would put me through if they found out about half the stuff we’re talking about her. Doctoring videos is one thing but…. Look all I’m saying is that if she finds out what really happened…."

"Look it’s not going to be much longer. The drought will end, Don Karnage will be dead, and everyone will just end up very happy. The farmers will be happy, the workers will be happy, and we’ll be very happy, when you get that position, as Head Director. I don’t think you’d be foolish enough to stop now. It’ll work out."

"The sad thing is Muster. You actually believe that."

"If you don’t believe it then why are you here."

"This is for Frankie. She’s my niece. I’m not going to let her ruin her life anymore than she has by herself."

"You’re doing all of this to protect your niece?"

"It’s more than that. I love the McDuckes. They are my family. They’ve done more for Earth than any family. They are good people. If all this business about a revolution gets out all that will be forgotten."

"Well then Frankie will come back to her senses I suppose. Right now all we can do is wait. And hope that Oracle succeeds."

Oracle returns to the ranch.

"Absolutely nothing. One dead end and one magnetized unconscious team mate."

"Why don’t you ask your Mom? She seems pretty smart."

Serena sat sewing on the porch.

"Hi Oracle honey. You get what you’re looking for?"

"Don Karnage is still out there."

Serena hummed and continued sewing.

"You’ve been living here longer than anyone you are sure to know. You might be the only person who can help us Mrs. Coxcombe." Static said supportively

"I don’t see why you’d think I’d be a big help." Serena said wistfully. "I’m just one old woman."

"Mother, What do you know about Don Karnage?"

"I know I don’t agree with him. I hate the corporation too, but I am not willing to die to get rid of it. I left my fighting days back on Earth."

Oracle sighed, "I mean where can we find him."

"I don’t know. He’s a sneaky little fellow. I don’t think you will be able too."

"Mother, if you know where he is please tell us. This isn’t about political ideology."

"Everything is politics dear." Serena stroked her face.

"Don Karnage is evil." Oracle said.

"Why?" Serena looked up, her strange old eyes burning bright.

"Because no one else would have done that to Daniel."

There was a long pause. Serena put down her sewing.

"I think you’ve been away to long to judge what is right and what is wrong for Mars." Serena said. "This isn’t Earth, it’s not as simple. This is Mars."

"So you aren’t going to help us. You’re going to let that monster get away again."

Serena sighed.

"Wash up for dinner, Honey. I’m making your favorite."

Oracle stood up and stormed out of there. She ran to the barn.

"Hey Orco, wait up." Flight ran after her.

The chapel of the Cloisters was outdoors. It was really only an altar made a natural rock formation in the middle of a field.

Frankie knelt praying as Don Karnage rode up.

He got off his horse, tethered it to the tree.

He held his fist to his forehead and dragged it to his heart. Than he knelt with his arms open.

They sat as the silence and wind swept over the Martian plains

Frankie lifted her head,they lifted their heads

"You seem ill at ease, Brother Justin."

"Nothing the Gods can’t cure."

Frankie sighed.

"In your Terran ways it has always disturbed me that vengeance is wrong. Why is this?"

"The taking of human life is wrong under any context."

"Even out of mercy, even out of honor for a loved one?"

"It is complex. But it is our way not your’s Justin."

"I can kill the woman who killed Voltaire now. She is here after me."

Frankie sat quiet.

"You never made it clear how he died to me how he died."

"It was before you came."

"How did she kill him?"

"I never saw her do it. But she wore his necklace around her neck. I saw it there and my heart turned cold. He swore on his life that he would never take it off. I tried not to think of him dead, but I could not help it. I thought of his body lying somewhere. I was mad with fear. I fled on my horse. But she followed screaming. She had a long whip. She lashed my horse, and my face. I thought I wasn’t going to get away. She was wearing his life around her neck, as if it were only a bauble. I could have turned around and killed her but I ran. She hit me in the eye. I grabbed the whip and pulled her off the horse. I should have ended it there. The murderess was lying unconscious there. But I loosed her horse..."

Justin looked up.

"I tried to lift up my arm to kill her. I knew I would never make it back to my own timeline, because of her. I ripped off his necklace and rode away."

"Something stopped you from killing her that time."

"I have no idea what it was. She did not only kill the man I love. She banished my people to an oblivion from which they will never escape. Because of her the Kingdom of Mars never was, everything I loved, everything that had meaning for me, all destroyed in an instant. And I think about all I could have done to stop her."

"A murder is always a great tragedy. And there are no easy answers." Frankie said, he touched his arm. "We must do what is just."

He cast one glance over to Frankie. He knelt closer to the altar.

"Before the Gods I make this pledge, somehow in some way. This woman shall pay for her crimes, on my honor, on my life, In the name of Mars, I swear it as Prince of Mars, as the Baron Du Coxcombe, as the Don Karnage, everything that I am. Oracle will pay."

Oracle visited the graveyard, and tethered the horse.

"Hi Dad."

The simple stone marker.

"The Spirit of Mr. Derek Benard Coxcombe lives in this place, wherever his body may lie.

He came this red new world to start a new life.

Loving Father and Devoted Husband, A dear friend.

The Baron Du Coxcombe."

Flight landed, and walked behind her.

"It was his wish that his body be buried on Earth next to his mother and sister, but he knew his home was here. It was where his heart belonged."

"Baron Du Coxcombe?"

"It was a stupid nickname. It was all before I was born. He beat up this one guy who called himself the Lord of Mars. So after Dad kicked him off the planet they called him the Baron, because a baron is higher than a lord."

"So I guess this means you’re royalty huh Orco."

Oracle laughed.

Close by was Daniel’s grave.

"He was a good guy. Not too bright, a little rude, but a good guy. I mean it’s hard growing up in a place like this. I guess he was just your average Martian."

Flight stood behind her.

"I left this place so fast, but he was willing to stay behind. I thought he was a sap. But I would have traded everything if he were still alive. I would have stayed behind…"

"We don’t need to play that game now."

"I’m gonna get that Karnage."

There was the thunder of hooves across the horizon. On the road so far below.

Riding hard two figures on their way from prayer, went down the road.

Frankie perked up her head, as she rode on the back of her horse.

"There’s someone here." She said.

"I don’t see anything."

"You couldn’t."

"It’s the one with wings. I think. I recognize… It’s not clear."

"Are they following us?"

"Not intentionally. Not yet." She panted in the communal response.

"One is the Winged the other I don’t recognize."

She tried to get a better sense.

"Anger. She’s angry. She’s angry at-"

Frankie stared at him.

"You. She wants to kill Don Karnage."

"It’s her." His claws wrapped around the horse’s reigns.

"It’s a trap. They are probably trying to lure you here. They are very clever they probably have a plan. There are two of them there. She’ll send the other one back and they’ll surround us."

"Well we better stop them before it’s too late."

Don Karnage prodded his horse along.

Flight looked

"Those two riders are coming back."

"What? There’s nothing but prairie out here."

Slowly the two dots came into view.

And Oracle could make out the faint outline of a red cape.

Her brain shut down.

"It’s him."
"Oracle. We got to get out of here. Those Time Pirates are bad news. We need reinforcements."

"You go get the others. I’m going to stop Don Karnage."

Flight took off to get the others.