Disclaimer: Baloo, Rebecca Cunningham, Don Karnage, Kit Cloudkicker, Molly Cunningham and WildCat are (c)1990/1991 Walt Disney Company and are being used without premission. The writer has made sure that all material represented here is not used for profit and is used with the upmost respect to Disney and the Tale Spin team. All other characters are the property of the writer.
Part 1 - The End of the Begining
It had been seven years since Don Karnage killed Baloo the bear and Rebecca Cunningham. He didn't think twice about pushing them off the Iron Vulture as Kit Cloudkicker and Molly Cunningham watched in horror. They couldn't stop it from happening. Karnage made sure they were being held down by his two strongest pirates. They were only children when it happened- Kit,17 and Molly,9. They got away from the pirates with Kit's crafty mind, but going back to their lives was hard. Don Karnage disappeared. Kit took over Higher for Hire.
Circa-1948. Kit was grown now. He was 24 and had shed the green sweater and baseball cap for a brown leather jacket with a blue henley shirt underneath and an Indiana jones type hat. Molly was 16 and turned her pigtails in for long golden hair and her overalls for a slim sundress. And Wildcat was still Wildcat. Their life was going good until an unexpected visitor came back to Cape Suzette.
The beautiful orange sun rose over Cape Suzette. Kit Cloudkicker woke to the sound of the old SeaDuck's new engines. Kit's eyes flew open. He sprang out of bed and ran to inside the open window in his bedroom.
"Hey! Molly! Get down here! I'm ready to go" Molly called out of the window of the Duck.
Kit ran down the stairs to the pier with his pajama shirt still on. Molly turned off the engine.
"Molly, what are you doing?" he demanded walking up to the plane's window. "I told you when we leave for Barlow today I'll give you your first lesson after we leave."
"I had breakful waiting for you already."
"Of course you would. Now get back get inside."
"Why can't we go for a practice run?"
"I know you can't wait. I know how it feels. But it is worth the wait to finally get the controls."
Something was stirring in Kit's bed. The covers were moving. All the sudden, a toffee brown female bear popped out from under the covers. She had silky brown hair, shoulder length, and gray-green eyes. She was wearing a long violet nightgown. The young bearess glared around the room for Kit, but her husband was not in the room.
"Kit! Kit honey!" she called.
"Down here in the kitchen, babe."
The girl climbed down the stairs slowly and went to the kitchen. Kit was at the stove cooking an egg for Molly. He turned to see his wife.
"Morning Beautiful."
"Happy morning, Guinna" (pronounced Gu-na). 'Happy morning' was an expression Molly got from one of Kit's friends.
"Good morning Molly. Hey Kicker." Guinna sat down at the table next to Molly. Kit went over to his wife holding the frying pan and kissed his wife on the cheek. He scrapped the egg out of the pan on to Molly's plate.
"What do you want for breakfuls, Guinna?"
" I just want coffee"
"Are you positive? I can always cook you something."
"Yes."
"Okay."
Wildcat walked in the kitchen with a bagel in his hand. "Hey everybody."
"Morning Wildcat" they all said at the same time. "I found this on the Sea Duck. Can I have it?"
"Sure Wildcat" Molly said finishing her egg.
"The Duck is ready to go, Kit."
"Thanks Wildcat."
"Kit, you're not going to make it home tonight."
"Why not?"
"I don't want you flying long straight aways. You could fall asleep and crash."
"Alright GG." Her full name was Guinna Gabriella. Kit loved calling her GG because she hated it. "I'll stay over night. Your the boss."
"Actually Kit. I'm the boss", Molly interrupted, "Ya'll just run the business because I can't."
"We know, Molly."
"I forgot to call Shawn" Molly said running into the office and dialed her boyfriends number.
"She is absolutely crazy over that boy."
"I always see them making out on the pier all the time" Wildcat said.
"The boy better not hurt her or I will hurt him."
"You sound just like a brother, Kit. Too over protective."
"I promised Becky before she was thrown out the Vulture that I would raise Molly the way she would have. I never go back on my word."
"Don't I know. The first day we met you said you'd love me forever and you haven't since."
"And I never will."
Kit walked into the office where Molly was talking to her boyfriend.
"Time to go, Molly."
"Okay. Bye Shawn. I love you. Okay. Bye."
They all walked out to the pier.
"Are you sure you don't want to come, Guinna?"
"Yes, I have a lot of work to do."
"Okay." With that, Kit kissed his on the lips then ran into the Duck as Molly started it.
"Bye Wildcat" Molly shouted.
"Bye Mollycat."
"Bye Guinna. I love you."
"Back at ya, Kicker."
Kit taxied the plane, took off and disappeared beyond the cliffs of Cape Suzette.
The next day, Kit and Molly made it back to Cape Suzette at 12 o'clock in the afternoon. They docked the Sea Duck and walked into Higher for Hire to see a nightmare. Everything was out of place. The desk was turned over and the walls were sliced.
"Guinna!" Kit called. "O! No! Where is she?" He ran up stairs. A note laid on their bed. It read:
Dear Keet Cloudkeeker,
It is me, the amazing Don Karnage. I have come back for you. I still want my revenge. I want you to met me thirty miles north of New Fedora tomorrow. I have taken your now wife for guarantee that you come. Keep your eye on that beautiful Molly. She is quit a young woman now, yes no? Please join me tomorrow or you will never see your Guinna again..................Don Karnage
On the Iron Vulture, Guinna woke up with a tight headache. She sat up holding her head. It was dark in the room. All she could see was the cot she was sitting on. ~ What happened ? ~ she thought. ~ Where am I ? ~ Footsteps started to come near her. They were getting louder and closer. The door opened to her room. Someone shined a light in her eyes.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?" Guinna demanded standing up fast.
The figure came closer to her. It turned the light down to the floor and a silhouette of a wolf stood two feet away from her.
"You know what I want, Guinna."
"Don Karnage. I thought you would never come back."
"Never say never. You know I want to have revenge on your husband. I use you to get him here."
"What will you do to him?"
"I will torture him and kill him."
"Thank you for beening honest. Now, What are you going to do with me?"
"Good question. It depends on your decision. If you chose to join me, I will let you live. If you don't, you will go down with your Keet Cloudkeecker. You don't have to answer me right now."
"Even if I have my answer."
"Think about it. You could have a change of heart."
Karnage walked out the room and closed the door. Guinna laid back down on the cot with a tear in her eye. ~ Please Kit. Don't come for me, but I know you will ~.
Back at Higher for Hire, Kit was stirring back and forth in his room. Thoughts of Guinna helplessly being taken from their home. No telling what Karnage is doing to her. His wife in the clutches of that madman made him so anger and upset. He knocked a lamp off the desk in the corner of the room. It cracked to pieces. Kit plumped down in the chair at the desk. He buried his face in his paws. A stream of tears began to flow.
Molly peeked in. She saw her friend and guardian crumbling into his emotions. There was hardly anything to do to get Guinna back.
"Kit" Molly said walking up to Kit and putting her paw on his shoulder.
"What Molly?"
"How are you going to get Guinna back?"
"I don't have a clue. Look at me," he said standing up, "The great Kit Cloudkicker. Ace of the sky. Air Pirates beware. It's all just a big joke. I can't even go save my own wife."
"This isn't the Kit Cloudkicker I remember. I remember the Kit Cloudkicker who didn't care if air pirates got in the way of someone he loves. Do you recall when you and Guinna got kidnapped by Karnage? You got her off the Iron Vulture without a scratch. I know you can do that again. I have faith in you, Kit. I know you can do it."
"You do?"
"Of course, I do."
Kit started to walk out the room fast.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to go save my wife."
"Wait for me."
Molly ran behind Kit who was already on the dock.
"Molly, you can't come."
"Why not?"
"I can't put your life in danger too. Now I want you and Wildcat to go to Shawn's house."
"Okay, I'll go."
"Good girl."
Kit jumped in the Sea Duck and took off.
Guinna woke to footsteps again. She thought the worst. A bull dog opened the door and lead Guinna to the captain's quarters. He pushed her into the Karnage's room. Karnage was sitting in a big armchair.
"What do you want Karnage?"
"Please, Guinna. Sit down."
Guinna sat in the chair across from Karnage.
"I want to talk to you."
"My decision ?"
"No. Actually, I want to talk about us."
"Us? There is no us."
"I don't understand why you stay with that rancid bear. Me and you. We could be the greatest team. I have more to offer."
"Like what?"
"I have more treasure than you can imagine."
"I don't care for treasure."
"I can make you're dreams come true."
A smirk came over Guinna's face. "Stealing and killing has always been my dreams."
Karnage stood up and walked over to Guinna. He placed his paws on her shoulders.
"I think you'll be changing your mind soon" he said in her ear. She jerked his paws off her shoulders.
The bulldog came back and brought her to her room. She went in and sat down on the cot. She heard a crackle under her. She pulled out a piece of rumpled paper from under her. She opened it up and read the message written on it :
If I had to run
If I had to craw
If I had to swim a hundred rivers or to climb a thousand walls
Always know that I would find a way to get to where you are
There's no place that far
"Kit. He's been here."
Guinna stuck the piece of paper in-between her skirt and her waist. ~ How did he get in here ? ~ The door opened again. It was the early morning guard.
"Now, what does Karnage want?" Guinna blurred out loud standing up. The pirate ran to her fast and covered her mouth with his paw.
"Shush. Do you want me to get caught?" The pirate whispered. But it wasn't a real pirate. Guinna looked into his eyes.
"Kit, Is that really you?"
" Yes, GG, it's me. I disguised myself as a pirate to get on. Now, babe, listen to me. Keep that same mope look you just had and pretend that I'm a pirate."
"Wait. Can I give you something?"
"What?"
She gave him a long kiss.
"Thanks for rescuing me."
"It is my pleasure, beautiful."
Guinna walked out with Kit holding her arm behind her back. He held a gun in the his other paw. They went down the corridor to the plane hanger. All the pirates were at breakful. They heard Don Karnage's voice slid closer to them.
"Quick. In here" Kit said dragging Guinna into a room. It was Karnage's quarters where Guinna had just been a few minutes ago.
"O, great! We're stuck in Karnage's room."
"No we're not. Just wait a second."
Guinna looked around the room lit by a single light on the ceiling. She glanced at the papers sitting on Karnage's desk. Something caught her eye. She picked up the piece of paper and started reading it.
"Kit" she said tapping him on the shoulder. "Read this."
He took the paper.
"Captives in sector 4B- Taylor Ashner, Baloo Bear. Wait! This can't be right."
"Keep reading."
He read some more than blurred out "Rebecca Cunningham! What kind of list is this? This has to be a mistake. Their not captives. I saw them fall to their deaths."
"Maybe it's a list of all the prisoners that they had on this thing?"
"No. It can't be. We're not on the list. So, how can this be?"
"I think our question is about to be answered. Quick! Give me the gun."
Kit tossed his wife the gun he was holding.
"What are you fixing to do?"
"Trust me. I have an idea."
Kit know he could trust one of Guinna's ideas. She never had a bad. Guinna stood flat against the wall next to the door. It opened with Don Karnage on the other side. He came in his quarters to discover a loaded gun in his face.
"So grateful that you could join us, Karnie."
"Come in and shut the door" Kit said walking up to him.
"I assumed you were going to crumble like a cooookie when I took your wife. I guess I was wrong."
"Long time no see. Huh, Karnage? I was hoping you'd stay gone with you're tail between you're leg."
"I couldn't stay gone forever."
Karnage reached for his sword, but Kit stopped him and took the sword. Guinna stuck the gun up to Karnage's head.
"Now we can't have you defending yourself."
"What are you going to do with me?"
"Good question, Karnie" Guinna sarcastically said.
"We're going to do something to you that you've done to us many times."
"Prepared to be kidnapped, Karnie."
"Now Karnie. While all your pirates are at breakful, we're going to go to my plane and leave. And if you say one word when we're escaping, my lovely wife will shot you."
"And I won't think twice about shooting you. It would actually be my pleasure."
Kit opened the door and glanced around. Coast was clear. They slipped out the room and ran to the disguised Sea Duck. Karnage was actually corroborating. The successful escape wouldn't last for long. A guard saw the scene and ran to get the other pirates.
"I know something would go wrong" Guinna said. They jumped into the Duck.
"We haven't been stopped yet GG. Get us out of here, babe."
Guinna started the plane. The pirates were showing up and jumping into their planes. Guinna took off with air pirates on their tail. The pirates started shooting at them. Guinna did her famous Kurosawa corkscrew near the water, but it didn't work.
"Kit, I can't get them off my tail."
Kit finished tying up Karnage. "I'm going out my board to try and stop them."
"No. You'll be killed."
"I know what I'm going, GG."
"It's not that easy for you to ride that thing. You're child anymore, Kit."
"I know what I'm doing" Kit said in a serious voice looking into his wife's eyes. She understood that that meant nothing was going to stop him.
"I love you."
"Back at ya, babe."
Kit ran to the back of the plane and opened the back of the plane. Holding the tow rope, he flew out into the air with bullets blazing around him. He pulled out his airfoil and stuck it under his feet. He started shooting at the air pirates. He hit one of the planes engines. It crashed into the water.
"I admire you're skill of flying, Guinna."
"Shut up, Karnage! I have to concentrate."
"If you're other half happens to depart and leaves you as a widow, I will fill in for him."
"Karnage, your not half the man Kit is. Your not even a man, your a coward that has other people do his dirty work."
"I'm ignoring your insult 'cause I know you don't mean it."
"Stick a sock in it" she said sticking one of Molly's dirty socks in his mouth.
Back outside, Kit had managed to crash two more planes. The gun was running out of bullets. He pulled himself back in the Duck.
"I'm back!" Kit shouted.
"Thank goodness."
Kit went back to the cockpit and looked at Karnage.
"What happen to Karnie?"
"He got on my nerves."
"Do you want me to take over?"
"No. I can handle it. I got an idea to get rid of those guys."
A string of bullets fell toward the cockpit.
"Hurry and use your idea before they get closer."
Guinna flew toward New Fedora that was only two miles away and in sight. The coast guard saw the cargo plane with air pirates following.
"Sea Duck to coast guard."
"Coast guard to Sea Duck. Come in Sea Duck."
"We got air pirates on our and can't shack them off. Please get us some help before they crash us."
"Roger that Sea Duck. We'll be right there."
The coast guard flew up to the air pirates and started shooting. The rest of them went down and the Duck was free.
"Thanks coast guard."
"Just doing my job."
Guinna put down the radio and turned to Kit.
"Now you can take over, Kicker."
"Great flying, Guinna" Kit said climbing into the pilot seat.
"Thanks. Great cloudsurfing, Kicker."
"Thanks, beautiful."
Molly didn't listen to Kit when he said to go to Shawn's house. She called Shawn over to Higher for Hire. Wildcat stayed with them to chaperon. The morning was slow. The group was eating a little lunch around the kitchen table.
"Why did Kit say to call Shawn over?" Wildcat asked.
"I have no idea. He was so worried about Guinna. He told me to call Shawn to protect me if anything happens" Molly lied pouring some more milk in her cereal.
Molly heard the Sea Duck coming in.
"Sounds like the Sea Duck. I'll go check" she said creeping away from the table. She didn't want to face Kit after she lied.
Kit could see the cliffs of Cape Suzette. He glanced over at Guinna before he concentrated on the landing. She was sleep. She looked like an angel to him. He thought he may of lost her forever. If he did, he would of lost himself. Guinna had become his everything and knowing she was safe gave him all the relief in the world. He dropped altitude and landed. They had thrown Don Karnage in the cargo hold the rest of the way home.
"Guinna, wake up, babe. Were home" he said gently touching her shoulder.
"We are?" she asked opening her eyes.
"Yeah. You want to carry you inside?"
"No. You'll brake your back carrying me in."
"Naw, you're as lite as a feather" he said kissing his wife.
"Now, what. What do we do with Karnagy back there?"
"We relax first then drag the truth out of Karnage about that paper."
Wildcat and Shawn walked out to greet the couple. Molly was hiding somewhere around the area.
"Kit, you got Guinna back" Wildcat said opening the passenger door to the Duck.
"I got her back safe and sound."
Wildcat helped Guinna out the plane. Kit jumped out after her.
"Where's Molly?" he asked.
"She said she was coming out here to meet ya'll" Shawn said.
"Wait a second. I told her to go to your house, Shawn."
"You did? She called me yesterday and said I could stay the night."
"That girl is in trouble now. Shawn go find her."
"Yes, sir."
Shawn ran off to get Molly.
"Wildcat, help Guinna inside. I have some business to take care of."
They walked into the building and Kit went back into the plane. He went to the cargo hold where Don Karnage was. He was still tied up on the floor with a gag over his mouth.
"So, Karnage. You comfortable? I hope not. I'm going inside for a while you'll be locked in a closet. Be prepared to answer a lot of questions later" Kit told him.
Karnage just looked on. He was acting weird. Usually Karnage would be a trying to escape or be a pumpas wind bag, but he wasn't. Kit know he had something up his sleeve.
"I was thinking", Guinna said putting on her nightgown, "Am I getting soft?"
"What do you mean?" Kit said fixing the sheets on the bed.
"Well, when I was locked in that room on the Iron Vulture, I didn't even try to escape. I didn't even try to find a way out. I just lyed on the cot and sulked."
"When I found out you got kidnapped, I actually did crumble like a cookie. Molly had to give me a pep talk just to get me started." Kit settled on their bed. "Gee, you're right, Guinna. We are getting soft."
"I don't get. After all we been through, we almost didn't escape."
"Yeah, we've been kidnapped, beaten, I've been through a war for goodness sakes, but we had trouble escaping from the air pirates."
"I just don't get it. But it has been a while since any action has happen. It's been six years since anything big has happened to us."
"Your right, but how did we become so soft."
"We settled down. We have a family now that we really didn't have before. We got married young and we run a successful business and raise a teenage girl."
"Your right. We are settled down. That teenage girl thing reminds me. How are we going to punish that girl?"
"Don't make it a big punishment."
"Why not? She disobeyed me. She should be punished." Kit sighed. "What do you think Rebecca would of done?"
"She wouldn't let Molly see Shawn for a while."
"That's a good one. I'll tell her she can't see Shawn for a week. Only at school she can see him."
"When are we going to question our hostage?"
"Tomorrow hopefully he gives us some answers."
"What are we going to do with him after?"
"Send him to jail where he belongs."
"Why do you think he stayed gone for so long?"
"He was hiding from the war probably."
"I wish we could of hide from the war."
"Yeah. Well, I guess it's time to go to bed."
"Good night, Kit" Guinna said pulling the covers over her.
"Night, babe. I love you more than anything."
"I love you too, Kicker."
Morning came quickly. Kit was ready to dig into Karnage who had been locked in the utility closet down stairs. But first he had to deal with something he didn't want to deal with- Molly. She had gottin up early to avoid him, but it didn't work.
"Molly" Kit said walking down the stairs.
She almost made it out the door. "Yeah, Kit?"
"We have to talk about you disobeying me. I don't like it. You shouldn't of done it."
"I know."
"Why did you do it than?"
"I'm sorry."
"Do you know that you were in danger? And you put other peoples lives in danger too."
"Yes, I know I was putting other peoples lives in danger, but I did it anyway."
"Why?"
"I don't know!" Molly cried with tears beginning to form.
"Molly, what's wrong?" Kit said putting his arm around the girl.
There was a short silence between them.
"You can tell me what's bothering you."
She raised her head with tears streaming down her cheeks. Her hair in her face. Kit pulled it back. "I didn't know if you remembered, but tomorrow is the day Mom and Baloo were killed."
"Yeah, kid. I remembered. I just didn't want to bring it up. It is hard to talk about."
"Well, I want to."
"Go ahead then. Let it out."
"I miss them more than anything and I'd give anything to get them back."
"I would too. But we can't do anything about it. We all have each other and that's what matters."
"That's right. That's what Mom would of said."
"What would Rebecca of said about you punishment?"
"Your gonna punish me."
"Rebecca would of."
"She would of . All right, lay it on me."
"You can't see Shawn for a week."
"What! You know I spend every waking moment with him."
"It'll only be for a week."
"Fine. Have a good day. Tell Guinna I said happy morning even though it isn't one and tell Don Karnage I'd spit in his face, but I'm late for school" she said walking out the door.
"Now time to have a little talk with Mr. Don Karnage" Kit said out loud.
He went to the utility closet and walked in. Karnage was tied to a chair. Kit turned on the light and took the gag out of Karnage's mouth.
"You're here to question me, yes-no?"
"Yes, I am."
"I won't answer what ever questions you ask. What is the subject, anyway?"
"This" Kit pulled out the piece of paper out his pocket. "What is this?"
"It's a piece of paper. Are you that stupid?"
"No, Karnage. What does this mean on this paper?"
"Read it to me."
"Captives in sector 4B- Baloo Bear and Rebecca Cunningham. What does that mean?"
"I do not know."
"Why was it on your desk?"
"I have no clue. Is that why you abducted me and brought me here to your trivial cargo business? You could of just asked me that on the Vulture."
"You could of fought back."
"I was not going to risk the chance I would get hurt."
"Since when?" Kit asked sarcastically.
"I do not know. I will not answer your cukoo questions. I want to talk to Guinna" Karnage yelled getting angry.
"Okay. If that's what you want."
Kit trugged out the closet frustrated. ~ Why does he want to talk to Guinna? She hates him as much as I do. ~ He heard a pot on the stove whistle. Guinna was already up making coffee.
"Good mornin' GG."
"Doesn't sound like a good mornin'."
"Isn't that true. I've had a rough morning so far."
"What happen?"
"First, I told Molly about her punishment. O, she says happy morning even though it really isn't."
"What did she do?"
"She broke out in tears. Tomorrow is the day Baloo and Rebecca was killed. She said she missed them. And I told her we did too, but we can't keep living in the past."
"Like we do?"
"We don't live in the past."
"What do you call our talk last night."
"I can't say."
Guinna was getting frustrated herself. "What was your other problem?"
"Don Karnage. He won't answer my questions. He says he wants to talk to you."
"O, no! I don't want to even set eyes on him."
"Guinna, please. He might tell you his secret he's keeping from us."
"All right, but I'm only doing this for you."
"Call me if he gives you any trouble."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah" she said going to the closet. Karnage's face lit up when she walked in.
"Guinna, what a pleasure to see you."
"Listen, Karnage. I want you to answer the question, so, I can get away from."
"What question?"
"Why is Baloo's and Rebecca's name on the sheet of paper?" Guinna shouted.
"I do not know. Do anyone ever tell you, you look ravishing when your mad?"
"No, because I was too busy choking them to death. Like I'm about you." There was a moment of silence. "And I don't get what your fascination is with me."
"You are a grand piece of work, Guinna. We could do many things together."
"If you adored me so much, then why when I was a child you locked me up in your slave camp…" Guinna had just answered her own question. The memory she had tried to bury away deep in her mind came back. The slave camp. The paper was a list of all the people he had in slaved. But why was Baloo and Rebecca's name on it. She raced out the closet to tell Kit.
"Kit! I know what the paper is for!" Guinna shouted running into the kitchen.
"Did Karnage tell you?"
"No. I figured it out myself. Its a list of the people in his slave camp. I didn't even think of it. It was the memory I tried to get out my head. I know that's what its for…"
Kit grabbed Guinna by the shoulders. The girl was getting too excited.
"GG, calm down. Now explain it to me slowly."
"The paper is a list of the people in his slave camp."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. It has to be."
"I'll take your word on it."
"Kit, we have to go there."
"Wait Guinna. You're jumping the gun here. We don't even know where the island is located and you haven't been to the save camp since you were nine."
"I know. But remember, we have Karnage to tell us where it is."
Kit grimaced and sat down in the old red chair. "He's not going to help us. Not unless you can persuade him."
"No. He won't tell us."
"Try."
Guinna gave a big sigh than walked back into the closet bringing a chair along with her. Karnage grinned and Guinna shot him malevolent expression. She set the chair down and sat on it.
"Let's get one thing straight."
"I…" Karnage started, but Guinna cut him off putting her paw over his month.
"Don't say anything. Now, like I was saying" she said taking her paw off his mouth. "I hate you. No, actually, I despise you. But for some reason you adore me. I don't get your fascination with me. I never have. Sixteen years ago, you kidnapped my family, imprisoned us in a slave camp than murdered my mother in cold blood. I don't see how you could idolize me so much and destroy my life at the same time. Please, tell me a clear explanation for your actions!"
Karnage was stunned by the speech Guinna just laid on him. He sat for a moment in silence lost in thoughts about what his fixation just said.
"Guinna. I cannot explain why you are so amazing to me."
"How could I be amazing to you? I was eight the first time you met me. I was a scrawny eight year old! What could I of done that was so amazing?"
"When I first saw you, I thought you were just another small child that I would send away. You were lined up with you're parents and I walked up to you. I looked down at you and you looked right back into my eyes and you handed me a paper. It was a little drawing you did. That's when I know I was in love with you."
"Just because I gave you a drawing I did. That's it!"
"I still have it too. I carry it close to my heart."
"I don't get it."
"You gave me compassion."
"I gave you a piece of paper with scribble on it."
"Please understand Guinna. You understood me when no one else did."
"I don't see how."
Guinna sat with her face in her paws. She didn't know what to think of Don Karnage's explanation. They sat for minutes in quietness with tension growing between them. Guinna thought of the question she was suppose to be asking and finally gained the courage to speak.
"I came in here to ask you a question I know you were gonna say no to. But I'm gonna ask it anyway. Bring us to your slave camp. You don't have anything to lose or anything to gain. So, tell us where it is so we can get on with our lives."
"I won't play games with you anymore, Guinna. I will corporate."
"You will?"
"I promise. But I want you to know, nothing will ever stop me from loving you."
That night, Kit and Guinna made plan to travel to the slave camp Guinna entitled hell on earth. Molly moped around Higher for Hire bored stiff. Without Shawn around, she had nothing to do. She wanted out, but she couldn't go anywhere, because of her punishment. The anger she felt toward Don Karnage didn't help either. She wish she could destroy Karnage to get her misery over with. She walked into Kit and Guinna's room where they were discussing what they were going to do tomorrow.
"I think we should take the Stargazer instead of the Sea Duck. Some of those pirates might remember the Sea Duck and I don't want to chance that. Do you think he's telling the truth, Guinna?"
"He was so sympathetic. I mean there's nothing he can do now. He's caught. And why would he keep trying to get me. He admitted he loved me. Is that a weird thing?"
"It's weird for Karnage to say the word love if it's not referring to treasure. But do you think he's really going to help us?"
"I hope so. It's worth a try."
Molly kinda stumbled in wondering what they were talking.
"Can I go for a walk?" she asked looking down at her feet brushing the hair out her eyes.
"You know you can't" Kit said standing up. He grabbed a ponie tail holder and pulled the girl's hair into a ponie tail.
"You said I couldn't see Shawn. You never said I couldn't go for a walk."
"It's dangerous right now."
"You call outside dangerous. Danger is right in our closet. And what's going on around here. What is this talk about Karnage loving someone or something."
Guinna sat Molly down on the bed and explained the whole story in detail.
"Your saying Mom and Baloo might be alive. I don't believe it."
"We don't know if they are. That's why we're going to go there."
"What are ya'll going to do when you get there? What if they aren't there? Will you leave? Will you free the rest of the slave?"
"After we see if their there, we'll go to the police and report it."
"That doesn't sound like ya'll. What happen to the risk everything attitude?"
"It apparently has fallen' out of us and into you."
"We can't take risk anymore, Molly. We're responsible for a lot of things. We didn't plan on it. It was fate."
"Well' I believe fate can be changed. Now, I'm going outside to hang out with Wildcat" she said getting up. "At least he understands me."
She went back down the stairs. Molly started grumbling to herself. Passing by the closet, she heard her name being called. She opened the door.
"What do you want?" she asked Karnage scornfully.
"Could you please give me a moment of your time my little bearess."
Molly rolled her eyes at Karnage's comment and began to close the door.
"Wait! Molly came back. I just want to say one thing to you. Please."
"Okay. Say and get it over with."
"Do Guinna and Kit tell you why I'm here and what they are planning to do?"
"Yeah. So. What do you want to tell me?"
"It is true your mother is still alive."
"That's impossible. She fell out the Iron Vulture with Baloo."
"But they are alive. Trust me on this. Go with us to the slave camp and you will see your mommy again."
Molly slammed the door hard and ran out to the dock. Karnage had planted doubt into her mind. That was his plan. He know exactly what he was doing. Molly wiped away a tear and went to go see Wildcat.
The sun set over the island paradise of Tangelo. A big gray bear walked back to his bunker. He had welled for hours today and was exhausted. He fell on the hammock that was hanging in the small hut. A petite brown bear walked in after him and lied down on the cot by him.
"Hey, Baloo."
"Hey, Becky. How was work today?"
"Terrible. I had to do inventory on nails today."
"You call that hard. I had to make all them nails."
"Well, there's no need to fuss about it. It won't help. I had a dream about the kids last night. They were all grown up and their lives were going good without us." Rebecca started to well up from the thought of the kids. "I wish I know where they were. How they are. I can't stand not to know."
Baloo rolled off the hammock and put his arm around his friend. "Don't worry, Becky. Kit had to of found a way to escape. O'Karnie told us Molly was all right. You know Guinna would of taken good care of her."
"And Guinna. The poor girl just got a real place to call home. And Kit. What if Kit didn't make it. What if he did. He lost the only parents he ever know. What if Molly was put in an orphanage?"
"Becky. Calm down. We've been over these questions several time in the past seven years. We've done all right in this labor camp of Karnie's. I'm surprised he ain't as vicious as I thought he was. I can't believe I'm sayin' this, but he's treated us pretty good."
"Yes, if we corporate, we won't get sent to the burial grounds."
"And I'm plannin' on corroborating. I don't want to go down there. I heard of some terrible things that go on down there."
"Sometimes I wake up crying at night."
"Me too, Becky. And I'm not as emotional as you are."
"I wonder if things would be different if the kids _were_ here?"
"We wouldn't worry so much."
"Worry? What's worry when it comes to the kids?"
"I don't know, Beck. I don't know."
Kit brought Karnage on to the Stargazer, Guinna's plane, and set him in the passenger seat behind them. Kit thought it was so strange that Karnage was helping them and corroborating so peacefully. ~ Maybe he has given up ~. Although, Kit cautious andyanked the rope around Karnage's wrist a little tighter.
Molly had walked on to school and Guinna was ready to hit the sky. Guinna flow so Kit could navigate. Karnage gave them the directions to go west southwest from Cape Suzette. Which put them smack in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
"Are you trying to give us phony directions, Karnage?" Kit asked starring him down.
"No! The island should be right here. I would not give phony directions to my Guinna."
"She's not yours. Guinna is my wife and she will never love you!"
"Enough with the arguing! Kit, there's the island!" Guinna said pointing to a spot on the water.
"That's it!"
"See. I tell you truth, but you never believe."
"Karnage, how can we get to the island without any of your pirates spotting us?"
"I don't think I should tell you."
"Kit, take the controls" Guinna said getting up. She walked back to Karnage real calmly. "Karnage! We don't have time to play theses games! Either you tell us where we can land or I will push you off this plane myself!"
"I love it when you angry. But since you made threat, I will tell you."
"There is a dock on the farthest side of the island. No one hardly goes there. So it should be safe."
"Thank you. Finally."
Kit started dropping altitude then spotted the area to land at. Guinna looked through the binoculars at the people on the island. The slaves were loading cargo planes and making items and cooking. The pirate guards had guns in the hands and were just watching the slaves work. The scene brought back bad memories of her days in the camp. But her family was always together. They were never torn apart.
Kit landed the Stargazer at the vacant dock away from the civilization. They walked out the plane leaving Karnage inside. There was no one around.
"I'm surprised Karnage told us the truth" Kit exclaimed tying the plane to the dock.
"Me too, but what if he's setting us up for a trap?"
"We'll keep our eyes wide open then."
They trekked through the forest till they came up upon the camp. Guinna's stomach started to twist.
"Are you okay? You can go back to the plane while I look for them."
"I'm fine. I don't need to go back."
"Hey. What was so horrible about this place when you were here?"
"One thing was was that they took us here against our will and made us do work. They never beat us, but it was wrong."
"Yeah. I can't believe this has been going on so long. We better start searching."
The two went around the camp area searching, but there was no sign of Baloo or Rebecca. Kit sat down on the ground next to a palm tree.
"I don't see them anywhere."
"There's more than just this area, Kit. There's a whole center to this camp and the beach. We've only covered one-forth of this place."
Just then, they heard a familiar voice in the hut near them.
"Baloo! Get up! Their going to be looking for. You want to end up in the burial grounds."
"What! Their bring to the burial grounds?" Baloo yelled snapping up quickly.
"If you don't get to work, they will."
"It's them!" Kit and Guinna said at the same time.
"We have to let them know we're here."
"But how?"
"Is the coast clear?"
"Yeah, but Kit. Kit come back."
Kit dashed to the hut. Piering around, he slipped into the hut. Baloo and Rebecca had their back turned while Baloo got dressed and Rebecca trying to come him down. They didn't even notice he walked in.
"Calm down" Rebecca said gently grabbing his paw. "As long as they don't catch you sleeping, they won't send you there. Okay. So, just calm down." She gently touched his cheek. Baloo composed himself.
"Thanks Beck. You know how ta get me calm" he said grabbing her other paw.
Kit just stood their watching the scene unfold. The two bears all the sudden turned to see him standing there. They all just stared for a moment.
"Baloo. Rebecca. Are you okay?" Kit finally said with a tear in his eye.
"Kit. Kit is that you?" Rebecca said.
"Yeah. It's me" he said embracing them.
"Kit, how… how'd ya find us?" Baloo asked.
"Karnage helped us get here."
"What! O' Karnie helped you? How? Why?"
"It's a long story. Lets just get you two outta here. Guinna's hiding outside."
Kit stuck his head out the hut. Coast was clear. He signaled to them to follow him into the forest. Guinna had heard everything they had said and was anxious to see them.
"Guinna. You came too" Rebecca said embracing her daughter with tears in her eyes.
"I'm here."
"I can't believe you found us, Lil' Britches. Well, you're not so little anymore."
"That's okay. I missed you calling me that, Papa Bear."
They embraced each other trying to saver the moment.
"We have to get back to the plane."
Kit lead the way as they trekked through the forest again. Kit stepped out of the brush to see Karnage had escaped.
"Hello. Glad you could join us" Karnage said confidently. Two of his pirates stood beside him.
"How did you…"
"I forgot to tell you that my pirates patrol the island. O, yes. I forgot sometining else."
One of the pirates brought out a familiar golden bear.
"Molly!"
"Molly! My baby!" Rebecca tried running to her, but Baloo held her back.
"What are you doing here?"
"Karnage told me moma was alive. He told me to come with ya'll. Kit I'm sorry."
"It's all right. I'd be okay. Now, Karnege, let her go. She has nothing to do with this."
"Wrong! I need her to get to you."
"Karnage, let her go. Please, for me" Guinna begged.
"I will let her go. If you become mine forever."
"I told you Guinna doesn't love you."
"Kit. It's okay."
"Guinna. You can't…"
"No. I have to. Karnage, let Molly go and I'll come with you."
"Fair enough. Come to me and I'll let her go."
"Guinna, no!"
She turned to Kit. "Trust me. I know what I'm doing."
Guinna walked half way then stopped. "Now let her go and I'll come the rest of the way."
"Let her go."
The pirate let Molly go. She ran to Guinna confused. "What are you doing?"
"Go to mom now."
"Guinna!"
"Just go."
Molly ran to her mom crying happy to see her again.
Guinna walked up to Karnage who was grinning from ear to ear. The guards started to grab her.
"No. Do not touch her. I know you would come around."
"I want you to let them leave this island."
"I can't do that. They will squeal on my little function I have here."
"Do not under estimate me Karnage."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll see."
Just then, they heard jets coming their way.
"Looks like the calvaries here."
Guinna had called the FBI that morning not telling anyone.
The family boarded the Stargazer. The FBI took over and arrest Karnage and his group. They boarded the slaves on planes to the bring them back to where they came from.
"So, how did you two survive the fall off the Iron Vulture?" Kit asked sitting in the navigator's seat.
"At the last second, I grabbed a parachute and we landed in the water near that island" Baloo replied.
"Wow. I can't believe that ya'll are here. I missed you so much mom" Molly said sitting next to Rebecca.
"I missed you more than every too, Molly."
"Kit."
"Yeah, babe."
"I gotta tell ya something that I've been wanted to tell you everysince I was kidnapped the first time a week ago."
"What's that?"
"Well, the day you and Molly went to Barlow. I went to the doctor. And Kit, we've joined the pudding club…"
The End