Darkwing Tower, Saint Canard, U.S.A., Darkwing Duck's Earth.

The Thunder Kittens were waiting for Darkwing.  They wouldn't have gone at all if Steelheart had not required that they, as heirs to the Sword, spend a day learning from each team-leader; if Lion-O died or passed lordship to them, they would be leaders of the Thunder Cats, and a new election would have to take place.  They had enjoyed all the others, especially Kevin, but they doubted they would like working with Darkwing, the last one.  Wilykat paced impatiently, while Wilykit sat patiently.  �J'ai pensé {Zháy pahⁿh-sáy} [French] (I thought),� said Wilykat, �que Darkwing était très ponctuel {kuh dahrk-wihng áy-teh treh pawⁿhk-tüehl} [French] (that Darkwing was very punctual).�

            Wilykit said, "You used the wrong verb tense in the independent clause, my dear brother."

            "Oh, all right!" said Wilykat.  �Je pensais que Darkwing était très ponctuel {Zhuh pahⁿh-seh kuh dahrk-wihng áy-teh treh pawⁿhk-tüehl} [French] (I thought that Darkwing was very punctual).�  " �Pensais {Pahⁿh-seh} [French] (Thought [imperfect; je-form])� is spelled P - E - N - S - A - I - S!  Need me to spell �était {áy-teh} [French] (was [imperfect; il-form])� for you?!?"  Wilykit giggled.

            "No," she said.  �É - T - A - I - T {Uh-ahk-sahⁿh-teh-gü-táy-ah-é-táy} [French] (E - acute accent - T - A - I - T).�  "Right?"

            Wilykat said, "Yeah.  Of course.  You're always right."

            "Not always," said Wilykit.  She smiled.  "If I were, I wouldn't have put up with you this long."  Wilykat grimaced at her little joke.  He found no amusement in it, though he knew she was just kidding.  If he had telepathy, he would shout the following into her mind:  That was a cheap shot, Wilykit!  And he wished he had telepathy now. . . though he knew he soon might.

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid, orbiting Darkwing's Earth.

            Above the planet orbited Metroid, cloaked.  In the control room, Eggplant Wizard reported, "They are alone in Darkwing Tower, Thy Wrinkledness."

            "THESE AREN'T WRINKLES!!!" screamed MotherBrain, frying Eggplant Wizard.  "How many times have I told you that?!?"

            Dr. Wily said, "Relax, Queen MotherBrain.  I'm ready."

            "Excellent, Wily," said MotherBrain.  "Activate it!"  Wily pressed a button.

            King Hippo asked, "How are you so sure that this will work, MB?"

            "Because, idiot," said MotherBrain, "the Thunder Kittens are more curious than a cat in a refrigerator full of goodies!  Their burning curiosity will lure them into my trap. . . and it's certain to work, because they don't speak Spanish!  Put 'em on the viewer."

            * * *

            Darkwing Tower.

            Back in Darkwing Tower, a permanent warp opened.  "What's this doing here?" asked Wilykit.

            Wilykat said, "I don't know.  I wonder where it leads."

            Wilykit said, "I don't know, but we're going to wait for Darkwing, like we were told to do."  Wilykat opened his mouth to argue, but he was interrupted by Darkwing's voice.

            "I am the terror that flaps in the night!  I am the flea you cannot scratch off!"  A blue column of smoke appeared.  When it faded, Darkwing was revealed.  "I am Darkwing Duck!"  Purple smoke appeared near him.

            Gosalyn Mallard's voice said, "I am the point on the arrow of justice!  I am the heroine that gives crooks the shaft!"  In her Quiverwing Quack costume, Gosalyn appeared.  "I am Quiverwing Quack!"  Darkwing clapped his hands.

            "Nice intro!" remarked Darkwing.  He turned to the Thunder Kittens apologetically.  "Sorry I'm late, Kits, but I had to wash and iron my cape.  My sidekick used it to wax the car!"  Launchpad came in and just shrugged.

            "Not a lot in the brain-department, huh?" asked Wilykit.

            "Nope!" said Launchpad, not offended a bit.  "DW says that I don't have enough upstairs to fill a thimble."  Feeling slightly embarrassed, Darkwing pulled his collar.

            Darkwing said, "Well, I. . . whoa!  What's this warp doing here?"

            "We don't know," said Wilykit.  "It opened up just before you came in."  Darkwing frowned thoughtfully.

            "Hm.  Steelheart usually calls before she has new warp zones opened."  He tapped his communicator.  "Steelheart, this is DW."

            "What," barked Steelheart with extreme impatience, "do you need, Darkwing?  I'm practically up to my visor in work.  I hate tax-time immensely."

            "Well, a warp zone just opened in my Tower, and. . ."

            "Call Kevin.  I'm sorry for my rudeness; I don't mean to be nasty or rude, DW, but I have a lot to do.  Talk to you later."  The communicator beeped.

            "Nothing from her," said Darkwing.  He tapped his communicator again.  "Captain N, this is Darkwing."

            Pleasantly and brightly, Kevin's voice replied, "Hi, Darkwing!  What's up?"

            "Well, this warp zone just opened, and. . . well, we don't know where it goes."

            "I'll be right over to check it out," said Kevin.  Darkwing's communicator beeped again.  In a moment, a pillar of bright energy appeared.  The energy transformed into Kevin's form.

            "Ooh, I hate that transporter!" exclaimed Darkwing.  "Every time I use the blasted thing, I think my atoms are going to get scattered all over the galaxy."

            "That," said Kevin, "is a slight possibility.  But only if the pattern-buffer suffered a severe malfunction."

            Darkwing said, "Hey!  I'd just as soon use a warp zone."

            "Speaking of which," said Quiverwing, "there's the one we called about."  Kevin removed a tricorder from his belt and analysed the warp.

            "Permanent," said Kevin.  "I don't know where it leads."  He put the tricorder away.  "Of course, there's only one sure way to find out."

            Frightened, Launchpad said, "Bu-bu-but what if it closes while we're on the other side?"

            "It is permanent, my dear Launchpad," said Kevin soothingly.  "And, even if it was temporary, the molecular transporter could transport us back.  The other end, according the my tricorder, is in transporter-range."  Something about the Thunder Kittens wanted to tell Kevin that if it was was essentially grammatically incorrect, but they kept their mouths shut.  They had no reason to hassle the most popular N-Team member, who just happened to be the second-in-command.

            Darkwing said, "Then, let's go!"  The six entered the warp and wound up in. . .  "A desert?"

            Wilykit said, "That's what it looks like."

            Already beginning to sweat, Darkwing said, "We'll need water if we're going to explore."

            "Good idea," said Kevin.  "The transporter could replicate pure water and put it into this."  He got out a canteen.  "But it's already full of water.  And we may find an oasis or a river or a something."

            Wilykit examined the immediate area with her excellent vision.  Another of the Wilykat Race's advantages was that heat of the Sahara in midday in summer was to a Thunderian as a 24�C� day in late spring was to a human.  When she finished, she said, "I find the sand to be like samples taken from the American Desert 1 200 years ago in Steelheart's history.  Could this be a time-warp as well as a location-warp?"  [� - About 75�F.]

            Re-examining the warp, Kevin replied, "It is possible, but I hardly think it would traverse a chronological width of over 500 years.  More possibly, it's 200 or slightly less."  He put the analysing device away.  "The readings show that it is extremely doubtful that even any time difference exists. . . even so small as a millisecond."

            Wilykat said, "Let's see if there are any people around here. . . humanoid or not."  They began to walk south.  A kilometre or two later, the Kittens saw a town.  Still rather far from the town, Wilykat said, "We appear to be coming to a rural town of 5th-class technology.  The town ID sign says, 'Los Ángeles.' "

            "Very early 19th Century," remarked Kevin.  "When California was a Spanish Territory."

            "Of course," said Darkwing, "we don't know that this is truly that."

            "In any event," said Kevin, sweating, "our clothing is completely wrong for the era.  Let's get back to the Tower."  He tapped his communicator.  "Six to transport to Darkwing Tower."  The transporter beam got the six and took them back to Darkwing Tower.  "I think I can get clothing appropriate for the era for at least three of us."

            Darkwing, knowing that Kevin meant the three most human-like of the six, asked, "And what of Launchpad, Quiverwing, and me?"

            "I'll see what I can do," said Kevin.  He tapped his communicator.  "N-Team Transporter, transport one to the Palace of Power."  He was transported there.

            Wilykit said, "If it is Spanish territory, we need to know Spanish."

            "We know some," said Wilykat.  �Buenos días, buenas {Bwáy-nós dé-ahs, bwáy-nahs} [Spanish] (Good day, good). . .�

            "Learning French was learning grammar, such as learning conjugations, word placement, knowing about when to use être {eh-truh} [French] (to be) as the auxiliary in the compound tenses, and a lot more than just simple greetings, salutations, and apologies!  I suspect Spanish is very similar, at least in that regard."

            "It is," said Darkwing.  "But they always use the same verb to form the perfect tenses."

            "Did you study Spanish?" asked Wilykit.

            "I had no choice," said Darkwing.  "At my high school, at least two years of foreign language were required for graduation, and I didn't want to study German, the only other one my high school had.  It's a harsh language, and I don't think they use the verb that means to be to form the true passive.  They have three genders, different with words.  They probably have more pluralising methods than English.  Besides, I love Spanish."

            "Yeah, I've heard German.  How can they stand such a harsh language?  What did you like about Spanish?" asked Wilykat.

            "It's a Romance Language, meaning it comes from Latin like French and Italian; uses �ser {sehr} [Spanish] (to be)� to form the true passive; has two genders, easily designated by the articles; only adds -s or -es to pluralise nouns.  There are only five pure vowel sounds to boot:  ah, áy, é, ó, ú.  Every single letter is pronounced."  Wilykit knew they were actually getting into a friendly conversation with Darkwing.  She did not dare mention it, as it might ruin this.

            "We once heard Steelwill saying something about Castilian Spanish."

            "It's practically the same as American Spanish.  The main difference is in pronunciation.  Castilian Spanish is used in most of Spain.  All other Spanish-speaking areas use Latin American pronunciation."

            Wilykit said, "I think Steelwill was fake-complaining about it."

            "Did she use the sound of th as in 'Thunder Cats'?"

            "Maybe.  I cannot remember off the top of my head."

            "If she did, it was Castilian.  The sound in Latin American is of c as in 'ancestor.' "  A miniature version of the ThunderQuack, the FlashQuack, flew into the room and opened its beak, revealing a screen.  "The FlashQuack!  J. Gander needs to speak with me."  He pressed a button.  The Director of SHUSH, J. Gander Hooter, appeared on the screen.  "Darkwing Duck, code Alpha-Pi-3, here, Director Hooter."

            Hooter said, "Darkwing Duck, we need you down here at SHUSH Headquarters immediately.  F.O.W.L. is probably up to something again."

            "Okay, J. Gander," said Darkwing.  "On my way!"  He turned off the screen.  The FlashQuack closed its beak and left.  Darkwing grabbed his hat and put it on.  "Let's get dangerous!  TO THE RAT-CATCHER!!!"  Darkwing leapt onto the Rat-Catcher.  "Come with me, QW, Wilykat, and 'Kit!  LP, if Kevin gets back, tell him we went to SHUSH Central."  Launchpad nodded.  The Kittens got in the sidecar; Quiverwing got on behind Darkwing as Darkwing put on his crash-helmet.  When all had on their crash-helmets, Darkwing started the engine, zipped the Rat-Catcher out the window, and made a PERFECT landing on the street below.  He zipped along into the city.

            Wilykit remarked, "Nice sunset."

            Darkwing said, "Yeh, yeh, yeh!  The pretty bay, the warm wind.  What an evening.  Just perfect for nabbing crooks."

            * * *

            SHUSH Central.

            At SHUSH, Director Hooter, Agent Grizzlykov, and Dr. Sarah Bellum were patiently waiting for Darkwing's untimely entrance.  Suddenly, smoke appeared.  "I am the terror that flaps in the night!  I am the slimy bug that crawls up your pant-leg!"  He, the Kittens, and Quiverwing Quack appeared as the smoke faded.  "I am. . ."

            "A chaperone?" said Grizzlykov.  "I was not knowing that you were being a chaperone, Darkwing!"

            As Grizzlykov was laughing, Darkwing told the three, "I told you he would act like this!"  Grizzlykov regained control.  With good grace, Darkwing said, "May I introduce the Wilytwins and Quiverwing Quack."

            "Oh!" said Hooter.  "I've heard a lot about the Thunder Cats before."

            "We're the youngest," said Wilykit.  "I am Wilykit, and this is Wilykat."  Hooter picked up an old newspaper.

            "Yes!" said Hooter.  "What you two did a few weeks ago was something I found quite remarkable."  Wilykit read the paper and smiled.  It was an article about their exploits that have been recorded in Part 3 of Section 4 of this story.

            "Why'd you call me here, Director Hooter?" asked Darkwing, eager to get on with the topic.

            Hooter said, "I have a feeling that the Fiendish Organisation for World Larceny is at it once more, Darkwing.  We've investigated some crimes that have recently been committed.  Two elements common to all scenes are plant-like matter and some kind of toy."

            Darkwing thought.  "Hm," he said.  "Let's see. . . is there some other similarity between the places at which the crimes were committed?  A street?  A phone number?"

            "I can't think that up off the top of my head," said Hooter.  "Oh!  There is the number five that seems common to them.  Anyway, we've just put secret surveillance cameras in all the unrobbed banks."  Something on his desk beeped.  "There's a break-in in progress at the Fifth National Bank!"

            "We're going!" said Darkwing.  He, the Kittens, and Quiverwing leapt out an open window into their previous positions on the Rat-Catcher, and, when they were ready, Darkwing accelerated QUICKLY in going to the Fifth National Bank.  There, they saw a crazy-looking electric car.  "Mega Volt's here."  They parked next to the road, and Darkwing paid the parking meter.  The four went up to a window and peeked in.  They saw that Liquidator and Negaduck were standing watch while Quacker Jack and Bushroot were breaking into the vault.

            "No sign of Electroface," said Quiverwing.

            "Probably in the stupid-looking vehicle," said Wilykat.  "Let's nail those four idiots hard!"

            Inside the bank, Quacker Jack and Bushroot broke into the vault.  With a Romulan-style disruptor-pistol in his hand, Liquidator impatiently said, "Hurry, Bushie and Quackie!  I smell cats. . . as in Thunder Twerps!"

            "We're going as fast as we can!" said Quacker Jack.  He and Bushroot entered the vault.  Bushroot swung his arm and grabbed all of the money by causing the arm to grow around it during the swing!

            "Got it!" said Bushroot.  "Let's. . ."

            Darkwing's voice said, "I am the terror that flaps in the night!"

            Running out of the vault, Bushroot and Quacker Jack yelled, "Let's make like a banana and split!"  Smoke blocked the door.

            Aiming the disruptor at the smoke, Liquidator said, "It's that inferior product again!"

            "I," said Darkwing, "am the bat in your belfry!"  He, the Kittens, and Quiverwing were shown as the smoke dissipated.  "I am Darkwing Duck!"

            "You need to shorten your intro!" said Negaduck.  "Well, if it isn't Darkwimp Dope, Quiverwilt Quirk, and the Dunder Brats."

            Wilykit began, "Watch what you. . ."

            ". . .call us, Negajerk!" finished Wilykat.  The two covered their eyes and blinded the four villains with a flash-capsule.  When the flash had dimmed, the Kittens were behind the villains.  Liquidator fired the disruptor at Wilykit, but she leapt out of the way of the discharged energy.  Wilykat tossed a cement-capsule into Liquidator and hardened him.  Before Liquidator hardened completely, Wilykat took the disruptor.  When Bushroot went after Wilykit, she made him go unconscious by blasting him with a capsule of weed-knock-out-gas.  Quiverwing shot Quacker Jack with an arrow of sleep gas.

            "All right, Negaduck!" said Darkwing, drawing his Gas Gun.  "Suck sneeze-and-scratch powder, evildoer!"  He blasted Negaduck with the mentioned type of gas.  Negaduck went into a sneezing fit and a scratching frenzy.  "Now for Sparkie!"  They hid behind the wall next to the door.

            In the car's driver's seat, Mega Volt was beginning to get worried.  "What in the world is keeping the others?" asked Mega Volt.  "I'm going to have to check on them.  And I was listening to my favourite singing group, the Conductive Metal Band!"  After a thoughtful moment, he turned off everything, left the car, and noticed. . . "Darkwing Duck's motorcycle!  That means that that condemnable Darkwing is also here!"

            Leaping out through the door, Darkwing said, "Right first time, Sparkie!"

            "DON'T CALL ME 'SPARKIE'!!!" screamed Mega Volt.  He blasted at Darkwing, but Darkwing eluded the lightning bolt.  Mega Volt's next shot, though, nailed the duck in the chest.

            Quiverwing leapt out.  "I am the point on the arrow of justice!" she said.  "I am the water that shorts out your evil plans!"

            "Oh, no!" cried Mega Volt.  "Not another darned superhero!"

            "I am Quiverwing Quack, the heroine that gives crooks the shaft!"  She readied her laughing-gas arrow, but Mega Volt popped a hole in the tip of the arrow, releasing the gas on Quiverwing and making her laugh.

            "She must take her heroing class from Darkwing," said Mega Volt.  "If she'd learned from a real superhero, she might have learned the element of surprise."  Suddenly, he got hit by a pouring of water which not only short-circuited him but half-drowned him.  "Now, that," he screamed angrily, "was definitely a damned good surprise!"

            Wilykit, holding the hose that had drenched Mega Volt's positrons, said, "Did you like my dampening your electrons, Mega Volt?"

            "Ooh, it was a cursèd Thunder Kit!" shouted Mega Volt in pure anger.  "Damn you, Wilykit!"  Wilykat came from behind a corner.

            "I operated the valve, Mr. Sputterspark!" said Wilykat.

            "DEFEATED AGAIN BY KITTENS!!!  WHAT IS THIS DRATTED GALAXY COMING TO?!?" screamed the extremely angry Mega Volt.

            "Oh, have a nap, spark-plug-brain!" said Wilykat.  He blasted Mega Volt with a sleeping-gas capsule.  This capsule's gas knocked out Mega Volt.  Darkwing revived from his electroshock.

            Darkwing said, "Ooh, my head.  That blasted Mega Volt!"

            "We got 'im," said Wilykit.

            "Good," said Darkwing.  He saw that Quiverwing was laughing.  "What's with her?"

            "When she got her crack at Mega Volt," explained Wilykat, "Mega Volt popped the part of her arrow containing the laughing gas, and the gas affected her."

            Darkwing said, "Well. . . good job, guys."  He plucked Liquidator's disruptor off Wilykat's belt.  "I wonder what this is?"

            "It's a Romulan-style disruptor-pistol," said Wilykit.  "Wilykat confiscated it from Liquidator."  Darkwing gently handed it back to Wilykat.

            "Well," said Darkwing, "I don't want to be the one to explain to the cops if the building gets dematerialised."

            Wilykat heard sirens in the distance.  "DW, I hear some sirens."

            "Good.  The police are finally on their way.  Let's go."  They got on the Rat-Catcher and went to Darkwing Tower.

            * * *

            Darkwing Tower.

            "That's more than valid," said Kevin.  "Especially if the Kittens and QW agree."

            "We do," said Wilykit.

            "I do," said Quiverwing.

            Kevin said, "Good!  Ah, DW, I only managed to find three outfits of the proper type and size.  One will fit me; one will fit Wilykat; and one will fit Wilykit."

            "Well," said Darkwing, "I guess it won't kill QW and me to wear our costumes."

            Launchpad said, "DW, I should stay here.  The other Justice Ducks may stop by, and they may need an explanation."  Really, though, he did not want to be in that heat again.

            "Good.  You stay, Launchpad."  Launchpad nodded.

            Kevin turned to the Kittens.  "The outfits that will fit you won't fit over your present clothing.  So, you'll have to. . . well, you know what I mean."

            "Yes," said Wilykit.  Kevin had laid the outfits on a table.  He handed one to Wilykat and one to Wilykit.

            When Kevin proceeded to go to the restroom first, Wilykat stopped him.  "What?" asked Kevin.

            "Ladies first," said Wilykat.  Kevin smiled.

            "Of course.  'Kit?"  Wilykit entered the restroom.  In a few minutes, she came out in her outfit:  one which, in 19th-Century Spanish America, would signify the daughter of a wealthy landowner. . . with an elegant dress.  "Okay, 'Kat.  You go ahead."  Wilykat couldn't resist mocking the way Wilykit looked.

            "I know," said Wilykit before Wilykat could even get a word out.  "It looks silly."  Especially with the Thunder Cat insignia on the front.  Wilykat entered the restroom.  When he exited, he appeared to be the son of a wealthy landowner.  His attire was much less laughable than Wilykit's.  The two silently agreed to the opinion that women had not been treated very equally in Spanish America. . . something that a Thunderian would not tolerate.  When Kevin had finished, he appeared to a Spanish American to be a wealthy landowner.

            "Wilykit," said Kevin, "before we go, there's something I should tell you.  In general, women weren't extremely highly regarded in society at that time era.  By law, they could not serve in public office.  However, women did play an essential role in certain areas, like Spanish America.  What I'm saying is that you shouldn't act extremely assertive."

            "How can I when I can't speak a quarter of what those people speak?" she demanded.

            "You will most likely understand, for the most part," said Kevin.  "Spanish is similar to English and very similar to French and to your own language, Ancient Thunderian.  Well, I think we should go now.  I have obtained proper currency for the area and the era in the form of an amount of pesos equalling VL�1 thousand."  The other four going with him nodded.  They entered the warp.

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid.

            "How were we supposed to know that they wouldn't go in immediately?" demanded Eggplant Wizard.

            MotherBrain screamed, "Shut up, idiot!  Ludwig's coming out in the Warbird.  I. . ."  Something beeped.  MotherBrain pressed a button.  "MotherBrain to Ludwig.  Come in."

            "Ludwig, here," replied her devious stepson's voice.  "What is it, MotherBrain?"

            "Your cloak is shadowing."  She heard a muffled curse spoken in Italian.

            "Thank you, MotherBrain.  Ludwig out."  The comm-link was cut.

            * * *

            Ludwig's Warbird.

            The Warbird, Ludwig's massive battle-cruiser designed as a Romulan Warbird, clipped through space toward Darkwing's Earth.  On the bridge, Ludwig snapped, "Get that shadow away before the N-Team detects us, Mouser!"

            At the engineering station, Mouser replied, "Aye, sir."  He made some adjustments to the cloaking device.  A confirming beep was heard.  "Our cloak is back to 101% efficiency, sir."

            Which means no cloak shadow, mused Ludwig.  In ten minutes, they were orbiting Darkwing's Earth at a distance of one million kilometres in order to avoid pulling the planet out of orbit with the huge ship's gravity.  Metroid, in turn, entered orbit around the Warbird.  Both the Warbird and Metroid were cloaked.

            * * *

            Ludwig transported to the Metroid control room.  "Okay," said Ludwig to MotherBrain.  "Tell me what happened, MB."

            "The Thunder Kittens didn't go immediately into that warp."

            "Strike one!"

            "Instead, just now, they've entered with Darkwing Duck, Captain N, and Quiverwing Quack."

            "Strike two!"

            "They are disguised appropriately for the era, too."

            "Strike three!  We're out!  Fudge it all.  The Warbird will fly out to that Earth immediately.  You are to follow.  It is in the uncharted area of VideoLand."

            "Let's go," said MotherBrain.  Ludwig nodded.  He ordered that he be transported back to the Warbird.  He was, and, from the transporter room, he went to the bridge.  On the bridge, he gave his orders to his bridge crew:  Larry 'Cheatsy' (Bowser)Koopa at the helm and ship's operations; King Bowser Koopa at communications; and Roy 'Bully' (Bowser)Koopa at security.  Mouser was at the engineering and science station, while Hardware was in Engineering.  Larry entered the course and engaged the engines at the speed required to take the Warbird to the mentioned Earth in twelve minutes.  Fortunately for them, the ship would need two hours to burn out the engine at that speed.

            All-in-all, not too bad, Ludwig mused.

            * * *

            19th-Century Earth.

            Kevin and the Kittens arrived at old Los Ángeles.  Darkwing and Quiverwing, per Kevin's suggestion, hid.  Kevin and the Kittens looked around, and they saw some interesting places, including the one marked, 'Tavern Escalante,' and the one marked, 'Alcalde.'  To Kevin, Wilykit silently asked, "What exactly is an alcalde?"

            Kevin silently replied, "He's the mayor, the administrator of the town.  In small ones like this, he has a lot of political power.  I. . ."  He saw someone running out of the bank with a big sac of money.  "Oops!"

            He heard someone from the bank shout in Spanish, "A bandit!  My gosh!  There is a bandit!"

            He saw the Cárcel {kahr-tháyl} doors open. . . and the fat Sergeant Mendoza came out while rubbing sleep from his eyes.  He wore a blue colonial Spanish American uniform with a tall black hat; he was about as tall as King Hippo and had a black moustache and black hair.  The instant he saw the bandit, his eyes opened wide, and he exclaimed in Spanish in his high tenor voice, "My alcalde!  Someone just robbed the bank!  Alcalde!"  The sergeant ran into the Alcalde's office.  Kevin was amused by the silly Mendoza.

            "Why are you being amused?" demanded Wilykit in English.  "A burglar just stole money from the bank!"  Kevin shook his head in amusement.

            "Sorry," said Kevin.  He went to the stumbling bandit, who was trying to get away from the authorities.  In Spanish, he called, "You!  Bandit!  Stop!"  This only encouraged the burglar to go more quickly, so Kevin decided to cause him to make wrong turns.  The soldiers, backed by Alcalde Ignacio de Soto, came out of the Cárcel.  De Soto was about as tall as Kevin.  He had silver hair and a dark moustache, and he wore a sharp, grey dress uniform.

            "Mendoza," said the Alcalde in a strong baritone voice in Spanish, "stop that bandit!"

            The sergeant replied in Spanish, "But. . . yes, my alcalde."  He motioned to some of his officers.  "Let's go!"  The officers moved so as to block the bandit, who was actually running right into their clutches, thanks to Kevin's pursuit.  They succeeded, and the sergeant personally nabbed the perpetrator of the crime.  "You are under arrest."  Reluctantly, the person dropped the stolen sack of money and allowed himself to be taken into the Cárcel.  The Alcalde went over to Kevin.

            The Alcalde said in Spanish, "Sir, I believe that we have never met.  Thank you for your help.  I am Ignacio de Soto, and I am the alcalde of the town of Los Angeles.  And what is your name?"

            Kevin replied in Spanish, "I am Kevin Keene."  He noticed that the Alcalde was using Castilian Spanish, so he used it.

            "Ah!" said de Soto in Spanish.  "You aren't from around here."

            "Right, Alcalde."

            "Well, your friends and you are welcome here.  If you have any trouble, contact me.  Understand?"  He was talking in particular about trouble with Zorro.  He had no idea he was talking with someone who supported Zorro.

            "Yes," replied Kevin.  He knew the alcalde was speaking of Zorro, and he had no desire to tell him, at least right now, that he supported the black-clad hero.  The alcalde shook hands with him.

            "Welcome to Los Angeles, sir!" said de Soto.

            Kevin replied, "Thank you very much, Alcalde."  De Soto went back to his office.

            "Ignacio de Soto," said Wilykit quietly in English.  "One of Zorro's enemies."

            "Yes," said Kevin in English.  "How did you find out?"

            "Quicksilver told me when I broke my leg during our search on New Thundera," said Wilykit.  Kevin nodded.

            "I see," said Kevin.  "Let's see what goes on in the tavern, shall we?  A tavern is basically an inn and, in this case, a restaurant, sort of.  The only public place in this now-dinky little town."  They entered the Tavern Escalante and saw people dispersed at tables.  Quiet, Kevin thought out loud.  Must not be the dinner hour yet.  He went to an unoccupied table with the Kittens trailing behind.  The lady behind the counter in front of the kitchen, la Señorita Victoria Escalante, came up to them.  She was about the same height as the sergeant, and she had long, wavy black hair and a beautiful face.

            "Good day," said the young lady in Spanish in a mezzo-soprano voice.  "I don't believe I've seen you around here before."

            Kevin replied in Spanish, "That may be because we haven't been here before."  The lady was mildly amused.

            She said, "I am señorita Victoria Escalante, and I run this tavern.  What would you like?"

            "Hm!" said Kevin.  "I am not sure.  Do you have a menu?"  Escalante handed him a menu with the items and prices written on it with pen and ink.  "Thank you!" he said just before looking over the menu.  Escalante decided to let him wait a moment, so she moved back to her counter, as she had some other things to attend to at the moment.  Kevin explained the beverage-portion of the menu to the Thunder Kittens.  ". . .and all of these are alcoholic," he explained in English.  He pointed to another region on the menu.  "These are not alcoholic.  You may order one of those."  The Kittens nodded.  "I suggest this one."  He pointed to one labelled la sidra de manzana {lah sé-thrah dáy mahn-thah-nah} [Spanish] (apple cider).  "It means apple cider.  I particularly like it."  The Kittens smiled.

            "Yes," said Wilykit.  "Please."  Wilykat nodded in agreement.  Kevin signalled to Escalante.  She came back.

            "Have you decided?" she asked in Spanish.

            "Yes, ma'am," said Kevin in Spanish.  "I would like a medium glass of white wine.  My friends would like two medium glasses of apple cider, one each."

            "Yes," replied Escalante.  She went to obtain the desired items.  She returned with them, and she gave the proper drinks to the proper persons.  "That will cost ten pesos."  Kevin removed the necessary money from the customary place.  He handed it to the señorita. . . plus 5 more pesos.

            "Keep the change, please."

            "Oh, thank you very much, sir!"

            Kevin said, "You're welcome.  Is something wrong?"  He could determine from her expression that something, indeed, was wrong.

            Escalante answered, "Nothing, except that the Alcalde made a new tax yesterday.  Speaking of taxes, did he make you pay the traveller's tax?"

            "No," said Kevin.  "Why?"

            "He makes everyone who enters Los Angeles pay this tax," explained Escalante.  "You will have to pay it at some time before you leave Los Angeles.  Oh!  What are your names?"

            "I am Kevin Keene," said Kevin.  "This is Wilykit, and this, her brother, is Wilykat."  The Kittens seemed to be absorbing the grammatical information from what was being said, interpreting which verb tenses and subjects are being used.  It had prepared them for Escalante's next question, directed to them.

            Escalante asked, "And how are you?"

            Wilykit took a microsecond to think up the proper conjugation from what she had heard.  She then answered in Spanish, "We are fine, thank you.  And you?"  She half-surprised herself, not to mention three-fourths surprising Wilykat and totally surprising Kevin.

            "I am well," answered Escalante, thinking nothing was the matter.  She looked at Kevin.  "Is something wrong, Mr. Keene?"

            "You may call me Kevin," said Kevin.  "And everything's fine, thank you."  Escalante nodded; then, she went back to her counter.  Kevin and the Thunder Kittens finished their drinks.  Kevin whispered to the Kittens in English, "Watch me, Thunder Kittens.  Make sure I don't do anything stupid.  Alcoholic drinks have an effect on the human nervous system that one calls intoxication, and it can make the most sensible human completely ludicrous.  Particularly young people, like me."

            "Right," Wilykat whispered back in English.  "Alcohol has some effect on Thunderians, too, though not as much."  They got up once they had finished.  In Spanish, he called to Victoria, "Farewell, señorita Escalante."  He merely said a common phrase, not worthy of much surprise.

            "Farewell," said Escalante in Spanish.  Before they stepped out the door, Kevin pointed up his finger and turned to Escalante.

            In Spanish, Kevin said, "I forgot I was going to ask you something.  Please, could you tell us where the de la Vega Estate is?"

            "Yes!" said Victoria in Spanish.  "From the exit of Los Angeles, go north three kilometres�.  You will see the estate."  [� - About two miles.]

            "Thank you, señorita," said Kevin in Spanish.  The three left the tavern.  As soon as they had left, Sergeant Mendoza came up to them.

            In Spanish, Mendoza said, "Good morning, sir.  Are you Kevin Keene?"

            "That's my name," answered Kevin genially in Spanish, successfully keeping the alcohol from the wine from interfering with his mental functions for now.  He wished he had some alcoholic inhibitors from Quicksilver with him, though.

            "Well, sir, the Alcalde would like me to obtain the traveller's tax from you.  Could you please pay it?  It's 500 pesos for all three of you."  Kevin shrugged.

            "I don't see why not," said Kevin.  He got out the 500 pesos and handed it to the sergeant, who had a receipt and a government copy of the receipt ready.  Mendoza handed Kevin a pen, and Kevin signed the receipt and the copy.  Mendoza took the copy, bade 'farewell' and 'have a good time in Los Angeles' to Kevin, and re-entered the Alcalde's office.  Kevin and the Thunder Kittens left the town gates, and they located Darkwing and Quiverwing.

            "Hey," greeted Darkwing in English.  "What happened?"

            "First thing," said Wilykit in English, "we saw a bank-robbery foiled by the soldiers."

            "Then," said Wilykat, "Alcalde de Soto greeted us."

            Wilykit continued, "After that, we entered the Tavern of señorita Victoria Escalante and made her acquaintance."

            "We obtained some drinks. . . Kevin, here, ordered something with alcohol."

            "We paid for the drinks, and we remembered to ask señorita Escalante about where the de la Vega Hacienda was."

            "When we left the tavern, Sergeant Mendoza was waiting to ask for a traveller's tax about which Escalante warned us.  Kevin paid it."

            "I didn't see why not," said Kevin.  "After all, I had more than enough."  He was starting to feel strange; the alcohol was really going to his head.  Oh, man should I have had some of Quicksilver's alcoholic inhibitors!  What an idiot I was.

            Wilykit whispered to Darkwing, "I think the alcohol went straight to his brain."

            "It would to yours, too, if you had drank it," DW whispered back.  He didn't notice his grammatical error in 'had drank,' and no one wasted the time to correct him.

            Wilykit whispered back, "In many cases, the Thunderian digestive system is able to destroy alcohol before it gets out of the digestive system and into the bloodstream.  Of course, one type of Thunderian wine is made so that the alcohol can escape the digestive system; we are well-advised to drink milk first so that doesn't happen, and we should also eat something along with that wine."  Darkwing nodded in comprehension.

            "So," asked Darkwing, "where is the de la Vega Hacienda?"

            "About three kilometres north of here," said Wilykit.  Darkwing drew his Gas Gun.

            Darkwing said, "No problemo!"  He blasted a gas pellet on the ground between the five of them.  The gas enveloped them and transported them to 'about three kilometres north of there,' which was on a gentle hill overlooking the de la Vega Hacienda.  When the group saw it, Darkwing tried to begin his criticisms with, "Well,. . ."

            "Not one word, Wingie," snapped Wilykit.  Wilykit felt she, herself, was in charge since Kevin was intoxicated. . . even very slightly.

            "You say that as though you were in charge!" Darkwing spouted.

            Kevin, belatedly finding out just how much alcohol was in that wine, said, "Good idea, Darkwing!"

            "What!" exclaimed the duck.  "Well, since you're going to put a child in charge, at least you're putting the more sensible one in charge!"

            Wilykit said, "I am not a child, Darkwing.  At least, not by human standards."

            Darkwing said, "Well, I've got news for you:  you aren't human.  You're a Thunderian, and you're of the Wilykat Race.  So, starting from twelve years of age - as the book Tygra gave you says - the ageing processes become 100 to 1 000 times slower."

            "That has nothing to do with the mental maturity processes!" said Wilykit.  "Just the physical maturity processes."

            Wilykat said, "We know a lot more than that for which you give us credit."

            "Please spare me the 101% grammatical correctness!" said Darkwing.  "Besides, it won't help us here. . . not in English, anyway.  And, while you don't know much Spanish, I do."

            "You may be the speaker, then," said Wilykit.  They went toward the hacienda.

            Wilykat said, "You know, Wilykit surprised us a little while ago."

            "Really?" asked Darkwing.

            "She answered a question in Spanish by using appropriately the first person plural form."

            "Yeah," said Kevin.  "Surprised the heck out of me when I heard the word �estamos {áys-tah-mós} [Spanish] (we are)� pass through her lips."

            "I just pieced it from conversation I had overheard," said Wilykit.

            "I was even more surprised," added Kevin, "that she didn't say �nosotros {nó-só-trós} [Spanish] (we)� at any point."

            Wilykit said, "I hadn't heard it before.  So, I just - if you'll pardon my expression - 'winged-it.' "

            "Entirely stupefied me," said Wilykat.  "And why was it correct when she didn't use the subject pronoun?"

            "Spanish-speakers don't generally do that," said Darkwing.  "And they don't have to.  The verb ending often signifies who the subject is.  They mainly use pronouns for clarity or stress.  �Usted {Ú-stáyth} [Spanish] (You [sing. polite])� is probably the most used subject pronoun.  It uses the third person singular of the verb, and, usually only once or twice, it is used.  Then, it doesn't have to be used, so long as it is clear that you're telling the person about him or her.  Anyway, I'll do the yakking."  Wilykit nodded.  They stepped through the gates to the estate.  The group appeared to appreciate the construction of the place.  Wilykit suddenly noticed something.

            "Darkwing," said Wilykit, "you're a duck.  I'm not certain that the people around here would understand."

            "Your other option is someone who's intoxicated," said Darkwing.

            "We'll come back later, then," said Wilykit.  They left the estate.  Then, they got their bearings.  "Let's see. . . from the warp, we walked two kilometres north to the town.  From there, we specified three kilometres north when we warped with Darkwing's gas.  Therefore, we should be able to tell the transporter to take us to this spot."  She found the knoll where they had arrived and pointed to it with her foot.

            "In that case," said Darkwing, "I'm not coming back.  I prefer warping over using the transporter.  I hate having my molecules ripped apart, then sewn back together."

            Wilykat shrugged.  "Warp zones, transporter, it doesn't matter.  Just as long as we can get here and back."  He removed a pellet from his belt and tossed it on the ground.  The gas that emerged enveloped them and took them to Darkwing Tower.

            * * *

            Darkwing Tower.

            Kevin said desperately, "Wilykat, get me to the Palace of Power before I completely lose my senses.  I need something."  He was having trouble controlling himself now.

            Wilykat nodded.  He went over to Kevin and tapped his own communicator.  "N-Team Transporter," said the Thunder Kitten, "transport two to the Palace of Power."  The two were transported there.  Wilykit sighed.

            "Well," said Wilykit, "I'm going to pay a call on Steelheart."

            "Okay," said Darkwing.  "I'll keep things straight around here."  Wilykit nodded.  She ordered that she be transported to Hawkhaven.

            * * *

            Ludwig's Warbird, above 19th-Century Earth.

            "Where in the heck are they?!?" demanded Ludwig.  Something on Mouser's station beeped.

            "Sir," said Mouser, "it seems as though there are residual traces from Dipwing's warp smoke."  Ludwig pounded the arm of his chair once in rage.

            "CURSES!!!" he exclaimed.  "Enter a high orbit."

            Larry said, "Aye, Ludwig."  He manipulated the speed and trajectory to enter an orbit 5 million kilometres above the planet.  Metroid orbited the Warbird.  Both Metroid and the Warbird were cloaked.

            "What we are going to do," said Ludwig, "is to create a major catastrophe in the United States of America on this Earth.  That will undoubtedly carry into Spanish California."

            Bowser asked, "What are we going to do?"  Ludwig made an evil smile.

            "Do you know the Treaty of Ghent?" asked Ludwig.

            "Yes," said Bowser.

            Ludwig said, "Well, the peace talks will begin in Ghent, Belgium, on this world in only ten hours.  What I will do is call Mo-Lec-U-Lar and have him transform into the negotiating team for the Americas.  He will kidnap them and replace them before the talks.  He will offer all the United States to Britain, claiming that the U.S. was wrong for breaking away.  In short, it will be as though the United States were offering itself back to Britain."

            "A devious plan!" remarked Bowser.

            "I've calculated what will happen," said Ludwig.  "I can't tell you all the delicious details, but it will become rather messy between Britain, France, and Spain.  The entire affair will be awful.  I will show up and offer a compromise they cannot refuse.  It will refer to VideoLand's Clause C, which they will think is just a technicality.  That mistake will make this Earth the first part of my empire."

            * * *

            Cmdr. Steelheart's Office, Hawkhaven.

            "What?" asked Steelheart as she dropped her pen.

            "I said that I think we found the area and time corresponding to the setting of your Earth's black-clad hero, 'Zorro.' "

            "Hm," said Steelheart, believing Wilykit, who despite her mischievous nature was not given particularly to relating fantasy as though it were fact.  "Did you notice any calendars?"

            "I think I might," said Wilykit.  "Let's see. . . I think I saw something saying �agosto {ah-gó-stó} [Spanish] (August)� 1814."

            "August 1814," said Steelheart.  "My God!  The reptilian mammal must be wanting to sabotage the Treaty of Ghent!"  She snapped her head back to Wilykit.  " 'Kit, Ludwig must not be allowed to sabotage that treaty.  It was what ended the hostilities between the U.S. and Britain."

            "What could Ludwig do?" asked Wilykit.  Steelheart assumed a straight position to allow blood to flow to her brain.  She put her joined hands on her desk.

            Thinking, Steelheart said, "He could capture the American negotiators.  Hmm. . ."  She separated her hands and snapped the fingers on her left hand.  "Damn!  He wants to give America back to the British!"

            "How do you know?" asked Wilykit.

            "Call it knowing your enemy.  It would fit his complex pattern of trouble-making."

            "Yes, I see.  What are you going to do?"

            "I'm going to find him," said Steelheart.  She flipped a switch on her desk, and the bookcase separated.  It revealed the viewscreen.  Steelheart pressed a button, and the galaxy appeared on the screen with the following overlay: