Ghost files: part 2

Case 4

The lost children.

It’s been over three weeks since Kit was clear of any wrong doing, but the streets seem to become more and more dangerous, hospitals are filling up and most cases involve drug users. The Chief of police was back in his office, even if the doctors kept complaining to him to get more bed rest, how could he rest, his city was falling apart, he didn’t truly know who he could trust of his officers and the few people he did trust were doing everything they could to try and stop the drugs from getting to the streets. “Chief we just got another call the Ghost was spotting in down town busting up a well known street pirate hangout.” with that the chief grabbed his hat and the two quickly raced to the scene. As they arrived they found a scene they had come to expect from the Ghost in recent days, the street pirates out cold, while one of them remained awake balled up in a corner sobbing like a frightened child.

“Alright Lupe book them all.”

“For what?”

“I don’t know jay walking for all I care, just hold them for 24 hours, I’m sure most of them are wanted for something else anyhow.” with that Lupe nodded and headed for the phone and rang up the station while the chief walked around looking at everything until he came to the sobbing pirate who looked up at him for a minute before pulling his thumb out of his mouth.

“He t-told me t-to give this to you.” with that the grown badger pirate handed over a scrap of paper that had a time and place written down on it. The chief looked at it for a minute before wadding it up and shoving it in his pocket, later that night as the chief walked out on a roof top at the time and place on the piece of paper he looked around and didn’t see anyone.

“Alright Ghost I’m here, and I’m alone.”

“Well your correct on one of those chief.” Shade said, as he seem to appear out of nowhere a few feet away.

“Do you have any idea on what the under world is saying about you, most of my snitches have gone straight because they don’t want to see your true face, not after some of the stories that those in lock up have passed on, some say you’re a demon, some say the grim reaper, the one we brought in today swore you took him to a pit of Hell when he told you to go there.” Shade smirked slightly, he had been forcing memories into the criminal element since he had gotten back making them see their worst fears when they refused to give him the information that they had and he wanted. “You need to tone it down a bit Ghost, last thing we need is a religious man hunt break out in this city.”

“And what about the drugs chief, we’ve done a lot to keep them off the streets but they keep showing up, the hospital is getting more cases by the day, sooner or later there isn’t going to be a non-user in the city. We need to find out who is making them and we need to shut them down before it’s to late.” Shade’s voice rang true, and the chief knew it, the drug dealers had been pushing the drugs harder as of late and had been finding knew ways to do it. A week before they had broken into a pick up location and found that they had been mixing the drugs to make candy to start selling to kids, another time they found it liquidated and mixed into soda pop that was going to be handed out at a ball game. The chief knew about these cases but didn’t know about a close call that one of Shades friends had.

***********

One week ago

Local park

***********

Rebecca was sitting on a park bench smiling as she watched Molly play, the sun was just about to go down and Rebecca felt safe knowing that Baloo was on the other side of the swing set watching to ensure that nothing happened to Molly. Just across the street Rebecca could see Kit buying a plane model and smiled knowing that soon he would be her son legally. Her attention however was snapped back to the park when she heard a lot of children screaming, as she looked she saw Shade standing between Molly and a clown. As both Baloo and Rebecca ran up to see what was going on, Molly ran to her sobbing slightly. “Mommy he hit me.” Rebecca looked at Molly then at the clown.

“How dare you strike my daughter.” Rebecca scolded as she looked at the clown.

“I was preventing her from getting hooked.” Shade responded getting Rebecca and Baloo to both look at him.

“Are you insane I was just trying to give the children free candy.” the Clown said, with a smile on his face, only to loose it when Shade’s claws dug into his wrist.

“Hey leave the clown alone, he was just trying to bring smiles to are kids faces.” another parent said, as the parents in the area started to circle Shade and the Clown. As the mob started to form Shade turned his attention away from the clown and started notice that he was in a tough position.

“what are you going to do now Ghost?” the clown whispered with a smirk on his face. Shade’s head snapped in the direction of the clown’s face and he bared his teeth letting out a low growl as his eyes locked with the clowns, and he started to speak. Images that filled the clowns mind as he found him self being engulfed in darkness, forced to see his worst nightmares appear before him, while anyone else looking on only heard Shade speak, and saw nothing out of the ordinary

“I know your secrets Bruno, I know who you are, I know what your trying to do. I know just how tainted your candy is, and I know the darkness that lies deep with in your heart, now tell them.” with that the Clown started to sob in fear as Shade let go of his wrist.

“It’s made with frost, I was going to get them hooked and then make them pay next week, then start selling it to their parents.” As the clown started to confess to a plan to get the children of the park hooked on drugs, the parents stepped aside as Shade left, only to stop and look at Molly who was still holding her hand that he had slapped a piece of candy out of just before she put it in her mouth.

“I’m sorry for slapping you little one, it was for your own good.” Following that event Shade lead the cops to the mixing lab from information that he had taken from the clown’s memory.

*******

Present

*******

“We both know that time is running out, the drugs are getting into the city faster and we aren’t any closer to finding out how it’s being made or how it’s getting in.” Shade argued, as he looked at the chief. “I’m tired of seeing the people of this city turning their minds into goo, and I’m tired of watching parents sitting by their children’s bed side in the hospital because some one tricked them into taking the stuff in the first place.” with that the chief crossed his arms and glared at Shade.

“That’s not how we work Ghost and you know it, we don’t go around busting up people with out some kind of hard proof, so from now on if you want this partnership to keep working you don’t make a move with out clearing it with me first, is that understood.” Shade clintched his fist and turned his back on the chief.

“I make you this warning Chief, if any more children get hurt because of this poison all bets are off, I will hunt down and break everyone involved, that includes any crooked cops I run across. I’m tired of watching the future of this city slowly being destroyed, and if that means I have to work with your officers chasing me again, so be it.” with that Shade vanished once more and the chief lowered his head. The Ghost was a good person to have in the shadows, but he was starting to get a little out of control.

The following evening, Shade was standing on the cape suzette orphanage roof, and was looking over the city, the lights illuminated the streets as he scanned them, to many times had there been close calls, to many times had he seen children hurt by the drugs that had been getting pushed, be it by them getting hooked on them, parents while under their effect lashing out at them, or just simply an addicts driving while using. He was doing everything he could to try and keep the city safe, but it just didn’t seem like enough, he was growing tired of watching the busiest place in the city be the hospital, and it was slowly driving him mad hopping that every time he heard those sirens that no one that he cared about was being rushed to the hospital. As Shade stood on top of the orphanage, a strange act caught his attention, a bus pulled up and children started to get moved from the orphanage to the bus. “Odd it’s to late at night to have a field trip.”

“They’re getting taken away.” a little girls voice said from behind getting Shade to spin around and find himself looking at a small bobcat girl holding a doll and smiling at him. “You the Ghost right?” with that Shade smiled and bowed slightly.

‘This kid snuck up behind me with out me even knowing it. I must be slipping’ the little girl smiled as she walked up to the roof’s edge and looked over. “Shouldn’t you been in bed little one?” with that the girl smiled and shook her head.

“I wanted to see my brother before he left.” the girl said, as she pointed to a boy bobcat getting put on the bus. “His name is bobby and when he get older he’s going to come back for me.” Shade looked at the girl and smiled slightly.

“Come back? Where are they going?” Shade asked, as he looked at the bus.

“They’re going to a camp outside the city, it supposed to teach them a job so when they get older they can work.”

“Teach them a job, but your brother doesn’t look that old from up here, how old is he?”

“He’s almost me-leven.”

“Me-leven? You mean eleven?”

“That what me said.” the girl said, as she pouted, and scowled at Shade for correcting her. “All the older kids get taken to the camp to learn something, and we never see them again.”

“Is that so.” Shade looked at the bus and then at the girl once more with a smile on his face. “Well little one, how about I go and check out this camp for you, and come back to tell you just how nice a place it is?” with that the girl smiled as she looked at Shade.

“And tell big brother that me miss him.”

“I sure can, but first I need to know your name.”

“Oh I Sandy.” with that Shade nodded and then watched as the bus started to pull away.

“Well Sandy I better go so I don’t loose that bus, need to know where this camp is don’t I.” with that the little girl started to push Shade in the direction of the bus to hurry him along, getting Shade to smile slightly. “Alright I’m going, I’m going. Just like you should be going to bed.”

“You go to camp I go to bed, don’t forget to tell bobby I miss him.” with that Shade nodded and quickly started to chase after the bus. It wasn’t until early the next morning the bus arrived at a camp sight miles away from the city. As it pulled up the children kept looking out the window shocked at what they were looking at. All except one, in the back seat Shade, no longer in his Ghost outfit, was looking at what could only be described as a mining operation. He had been able to hitch a ride on the roof of the bus and moments before it was time for the bus to arrive at the camp got the driver to pull over so he could hide his Ghost outfit for later, to everyone on the bus he had used his shadow skills to make them believe that he had been inside the bus the entire time.

“Hey Frank your late.” a guard informed as the doors to the bus opened up and all the children came running out. As Shade walked out he lined up like all the other kids and looked around the camp, and already didn’t like what he was seeing.

“ALRIGHT FRESH MEAT, LISTEN UP!!” all the kids turned and looked at the man yelling. Shade looked at the man dressed in a fine white suit smiling a cruel toothy smile as he looked at the children. One look at the slime and he realized just who he was looking at, one of the many escaped convicts Seymour the man was arrested by a officer of a wild life group for using an illegal weapon, his sea world show was shut down because of cruel and harsh conditions. Shade quickly scanned the area and could tell that the slim ball hadn’t changed that much the conditions in the camp was harsh for the workers, and by looking at leather straps being held by all the guards, should any of the child labor step out of line, they soon wish they hadn’t.

‘From animal abuse to child abuse, this man just got moved up my most hated list of scum.’ Shade though to him self as started to follow the rest of the children towards a old mining cave.

“Your going to work for your food here you little brats, if you don’t work you don’t eat is that clear.” Seymour informed as he watched the children moving towards an old mining cave. Through several trips down an old elevator the group arrive deep beneath the earths crush to find that there was a massive garden down below, being cultivated, and cared for by more child laborers. “Your going to each be given a job, and your going to take good care of this garden, and if you don’t.” the children jumped as Seymour took a leather strap and snapped it once, getting most of the children to start whimpering. “I’m glade we have this understanding. Now as for the rules, if you don’t work you don’t eat you know, but a more important rule you should know is that YOU WILL ALL KEEP YOUR MOUTHS SHUT!!” the children jumped as Seymour glared at them, not a peep not a sound, you wont speak, you wont whistle, and most of all I don’t want to hear any of you whimpering, the only reason any noise should come out of your mouth is if your screaming out because one of the guards had to put you in line and you’ve already messed up by then.” with that the children started to huddle together for some kind of comfort as they looked at the guards who started to stretch out their straps. “If you break this rule you’ll be spending time in the box.”

“W-what’s the box s-sir?” Bobby asked, as the other kids pushed him forward. (Seymour) more looked down at the young bobcat and grabbed him by his hair pulling him to the elevator.

“I’m so glade you asked brat, the rest of you follow.” Seymour ordered, as the elevator started to go up. Once to the surface the children got rushed to an area of the camp that 5 metal boxes sat near the fence line. “This is are boxes, should you break the no noise rule.” Seymour opened a box and through Bobby inside then slammed the door shut. “You’ll be spending the day inside of it.” Seymour explained as he looked at everyone.

‘That will kill him.’ Shade thought to himself as he glared at Seymour locking eyes with him for an instant, but it was long enough for him to take control.

“But seeing that this is your first day I think that’s enough.” Seymour said, as he opened the door and let Bobby run back to the group of now terrified children. “Now since your introductions are complete, GET TO WORK YOU LAZY GOOD FOR NOTHINGS!!!” As the kids got rushed back down to the garden, one of the guards walked up to Seymour who was now holding his head.

“Sir you’ve never let a brat off so easy, what gives?” the guard asked, only to get a confused look from Seymour.

“I don’t know,… but I don’t like it.” for the rest of the day Shade worked in the garden of the mine. He had found where the mushrooms were being cultivated, this was the break he and the chief had been looking for, but now he had to find away to get the message out to the chief. As Shade worked he tried his best to keep the other children in the mine from breaking the rules, but noticed that it was a lot harder then it looked, it seemed that the guards were just as cruel as Seymour, they went out of their way to try and hurt the workers, pushing them down and then beating them until they got back up and back to work. The screams in the mine was a constant reminder to Shade why he had to make his move fast, the others didn’t deserve to be treated this way and needed to be rescued from this nightmare, and the guards along with Seymour needed to be taught a lesson on kindness.

As the sun started to set he put his escape plan into action, through the still of the night he left the sleeping quarters and made it pass the guards. He ran as fast as he could to get away from the camp, but as he made it to where he had hidden his Ghost outfit he found himself at a cross roads. The wrist radio didn’t seem be in range for him to call the chief. He could try his best to get back to the city and inform the chief but even if he ran all night and day it would still take him three days, or he could raid the place himself with what little he had at his disposal. The odds were against him, he was armed with non lethal weapons, were the guards are armed with guns, along with the straps that they beat the workers with. This one thought drove Shade to face the direction of the camp, if he ran back to the city it would be three days or more for those monsters to hurt the children, three more days of that mine being filled with the screams of pain and the sobs of innocent life that had done nothing to deserve such treatment, three more days that could cost just one of the children their lives, and in Shades heart and mind that was three days to long. He know the odds are against him, but he couldn’t live with him self if he ran this time, and more life was lost. He had to stand and fight this time, if not for his own honor than for the children in the camp, and the citizens of cape suzette.

Once he was dressed Shade ran back to the camp and used the cover of night as his greatest weapon, standing against a well armed enemy was one thing but what he needed to do was take way the miners greatest edge, their weapons, he made it to the camp armory expecting to find someone watching over it, but smiled as he found the place empty, as he started to take the weapons apart he removed the one key piece to each weapon so not to tip the guards that the weapons had been tampered with. Once he had disable the weapons in the armor he snuck out and got to the vehicles of the camp and as me moved from one to the other cutting wiring from under them he kept a close eye guard movements, and noticed that for the night shift it seemed the only guards working above ground were in the watch towers. Time was starting to run out now Shade could tell by where the moon was sitting in the night sky that the night was almost done. He knew he had to find a place to hide, he had taken out the vehicles and weapons, so he knew that he had taken away a little bit of this enemies edge, but to go at them in his now exhausted state would be foolish, if not insane. As he finished with the vehicles Shade headed for the one place he knew he would be able to get some kind of rest, into the mine it self, he went deeper then what the guards went and as he made it to a large clearing, he climbed up one of the old beams and hid inside a hole in the wall that he figured used to be a vent system when the mine was really up and running.

As he closed his eyes Shade found himself back in the training dojo with his panda father who had a smile on his face. “You showed good judgment today my son, you knew that it would take a long time for you to make it back to the city and returned to fight, you disabled your enemies weapons and are now resting so that you have the upper hand when the time comes to face them, so that is why we are going to practice here.” with that the scenery changed and Shade found himself back in the mine. “As you once explained to young Cloudkicker this is only a memory so with what little information we have on the area, we will train and use images of the very men you are going to fight as your training partners.” with that Shade nodded and started to move around. “You know the rules of training no tricks, only hand to hand will be aloud.”

“I understand father.”

“Good, now begin.” As day came and left Shade slept in his hiding spot, mentally running through countless drills preparing for the coming fight, it wasn’t until Shade was woken up by a child screaming that the training stopped. As he moved slowly from his hiding spot he found Bobby on the ground holding his arm up in a defensive manor as one of the guards held the strap in the air about to bring it down on the him.

“Say that just one more time you little brat and I’ll beat you black and blue before I throw you in the box.” the young bobcat sniffled as he looked at the guard, but then gulped.

“He’s coming, and he’ll get you. The Ghost is going to come to are rescue one day and he’s going to make you sorry.” Bobby said, only to see his words irritate the man.

“Not as sorry as your about to be you little….” The guard didn’t finish his words as he toppled forwards landing just beside the whimpering Bobby who looked up and smiled as he saw The Ghost standing in front of his hiding place. As Shade made his way to Bobby he made sure that he was alright before a smile crossed his face.

“I think it’s about time the guards learn this mine is haunted.” As Bobby looked at Shade a smile crossed his face. When it came time for shift change the nightshift guards of the mine waited for the elevator to come up with a group of kids, but as time passed and no one arrived one of them went down only to find that the garden was destroyed and abandoned.

“THE CROPS BEEN DESTROYED!!!” the guard yelled, up the shaft and word soon spread in a heart beat the children for the nightshift where locked up in the labor cabin and ever guard in the camp went down armed with guns.

“WHERE ARE THOSE WORTHLESS GUARDS!!” Seymour demanded as the men started to move out. “If those brats think they’re going to get away with this, they’re sadly mistaken, I’m going to take away their food, have them work double shift, beaten before they go to bed at night and the first thing when they wake up. Oh they’re going to be sorry they ever did this they’re going to be….” Seymour stopped with his ranting when he entered one part of the mine to find three of the dayshift guards almost cocooned to the wall by a thick sticky substance. “What is this mess.” Seymour said, as he touched it only to find it to be like a thick paste like substance. Just then from another part of the mine came screams from another group of guards, as all the teams ran in the location of the screams they found that three of the guards where hanging upside down covered in the same sticky substance. “ALRIGHT YOU BRATS SHOW YOURSELFS OR SO HELP ME I’LL PUT YOU IN THE GROUND LIKE THAT LAST GROUP OF KIDS THAT THOUGHT THEY COULD GET AWAY WITH THIS!!” The words rang through the mine and Shade’s ears perked slightly. As he made his way through the shadows he returned to the area that the dayshift workers where hiding.

“They’ve killed?” Shade asked, and the kids that had been there the longest explained a tale of a few kids that got together and tried to make a break for it through the mine. As they told their tale Shade clinched his fist as he listened to what happened to them when they got caught. The children were not shown any kind of mercy, even when they pleaded for their lives. “Alright.” Shade’s voice was calm not raised, no sign of emotion could be detected as he turned his back to the children. A darkness started to fill his heart towards these men, as he made his way through the mine, as he found himself in this new dark place of the mind, body, and soul he knew that he had to be careful, it was the warning that his father always told him about the Shadow skills, the more he used it the easier it got, but also the more corrupt his own spirit could become until finally he could turn into the very thing he hated. Else where Seymour and a few guards were still searching one part of the mine while other groups went different way.

“When I get a hold of these brats I’m going to.” before Seymour finished the first screams rang out from another part of the mine, they ran to try and see if they could at least get one of the children that though were behind this trouble but only wound up finding their fellow guards knocked out, their faces beaten with their own guns.

“Hey boss look at this.” one of the guards said, as he pointed to a sharpened cock stuck inside one of the support beams. “They got weapons boss.”

“Don’t be an idiot, we have guns and I don’t care how good they can throw, they can’t out run bullets.” just then a sharpened cog stuck into Seymour’s left leg causing him to scream out in pain. As he looked in the direction that the cog came from he could see in the pail light the rough outline of a figure standing at the end of the tunnel. “Oh your going to pay for that you little brat.” with that Seymour pulled his gun and pulled the trigger, only to hear it go click. “What.” As he looked at the gun he through it to the ground and looked at the guards. “WELL DON’T JUST STAND THERE SHOOT HIM!!” the guards pointed their guns only to have the same thing happen. Seymour looked at his men then watched as two of them fell to their knees when multiple object stuck into their legs.

“You might need those.” Shade said, as he started to walk towards the group. Seymour looked down to see the firing pins from the guns stuck into the guards legs.

“Stop him.” Seymour ordered another guard as he got up and started to hobble away. As the remaining guard walked forward he picked up a chain laying near by and started to swing it around with a tooth grin on his face.

“I don’t know who you think you are but I’m going make you sorry that you were ever born.” As soon as Shade stepped into the light the guard’s cocky smile vanished as he found himself looking at the Ghost. “You know if I take out the Ghost I’ll be a legend in the city.” the guard said, as the smile started to come back.

“I’ve heard that before.” with that the guard brought the chain down only to have Shade block it with his wrist and let it wrap around. “You really shouldn’t play with snakes.”

“Snakes?” at the sound of a hissing the guard looked down and found a Snake looking up and hissing at him. The guard let go of his end of the chain Shade spun around and used the chain like a whip wrapping it around the guard feet and pulling hard causing the grown man to loose his balance and fall backwards hitting hit head on the old mining tacks knocking him out.

“One to go.” As Shade walked past the guards he had just hurt he threw several small orbs onto the ground, and breaking them, as a liquid flew from them and landed on the guards, it slowly started to spread and cover them in the same sticky substance that had trapped the others. Seymour was running for his life he could hear the ghost behind him taunting him. “Seymour, you’ve been a bad boy Seymour, it’s time to pay for what you did Seymour.” as he kept running he got lost in the tunnels, he didn’t know which way to go and soon found him self at a dead end, but this wasn’t the place he wanted to be, he didn’t want to be in this one section of the mine, not at this time, not with what was following him. In the small clearing of the dead end was 5 markers indicating shallow graves, Seymour gulped as he looked at the markers, he feared that he would soon share the fate of the children that lay in those graves, as he turned to leave he found himself looking at the Ghost standing at the only exit.

“Please, let me go… I give you anything you want.” Shade didn’t say anything, his head slowly looked at the grave markers and Seymour turned his head to look at what Shade was looking at. “Please not that, I’ll do anything you want, please I’ll make a mends, I’ll treat the kids right, I’ll turn my self in just please don’t kill me.” Seymour pleaded again, as he looked at Shade their eyes locked for a minutes and Seymour could only see two black voids looking back at him.

“I am unable to take your life Seymour, because I made a deal with the chief of police that I wouldn’t.”

“Oh thank my lucky stars.”

“But I never said they couldn’t.” Shade said, as he pointed at the graves and Seymour turned and found him self looking at a nightmarish scene, of the lost children looking back at him. “Enjoy your sleep over.” with those words Shade turned and left Seymour to the nightmares of his own mind, only to hear Seymour’s screams of terror fill the mine. Hours later after the chief had been called the entire mining facility was filled with cops, as the guards where brought up one by one, the chief looked at each of them and saw the terror that they had towards Shade. As chief Baldwin walked up beside him he patted Shade on the shoulder.

“You did good Ghost.”

“This day isn’t over with, I want the head of your child protective department at the orphanage by 5 o’clock tonight.” with that the chief nodded and then looked at Lupe who took control of the crime scene. Later that night Buffy Vanderschmere hung up the phone in the orphanage office with a smile on his face.

“This is the easiest money me and Muffy have made in years.” Buffy said, as he leaned back in his chair and smiled, when there came a knock on the door. “Come in.” with that the door flung open as if a large gust of wind knocked it open getting Buffy to sit up and lay eyes on Seymour who was smiling at him. “What do you want I’ve already sent you a loud of brats this week, don’t tell me you need more.”

“Oh my no, I just wanted to look at the future labor force before you send them to me.”

“Yeah, yeah. Anything else?” Buffy asked, as he looked at Seymour.

“Yeah, I was kind of wondering something, you’ve only been sending me all the boys, I know you have girls in this orphanage what happens to them?” with that Buffy smiled slightly and leaned back in his chair again.

“I got my contact, they get shipped off around the world as servants to some higher up types like us, you know butter those guys up keep in good, never know when this racket might be shut down.”

“Oh I get ya, your selling the girls as servants like slave labor, and given me the boys to keep in good with are boss.”

“Yeah and don’t think your going to black mail me because if you try and talk I’ll tell the boss and he’ll come after you with everything he has, remember those two agents of his are both deadly to look at as well as to cross.” with that Seymour nodded a few times.

“Hey would you happen to have the number of my contact on the delivery of the mushrooms, I’m kind of having trouble getting in touch with them.” Buffy looked at Seymour funny and then smiled.

“Not a chance, you want that information you talk to the boss and tell him you’re an idiot who can’t keep a simple number straight.” with that Seymour smiled and looked Buffy in the eyes, only after a second Buffy found himself looking at the chief of police agent Witherspoon and the Ghost in his office. Shade was stumbling backwards for a second holding his head.

“Ghost are you alright?” the Chief asked, as he looked at Shade who shot a deadly glare at Buffy.

“No I’m not, their boss thought of everything. I can’t get the information we need for the rest of the drug ring.” with that the chief nodded and Witherspoon ran up and grabbed Buffy.

“You’re a bunch of fools, my boss is going to find out, and your all going to pay for getting in are way.” Buffy said, as he gloated and looked at Shade. “And Ghost, he’s got a message for you. Come and get me.” Buffy finished passing on the taunt as Witherspoon pulled him out of the office in hand cuffs. The chief looked at the door and then at Shade who was still holding his head.

“Blast, I thought we had this ring shut down finally.” the chief said, as he looked at Shade who was starting to walk around, trying to shake off what happened to him. “You sure you couldn’t get anything from him?” Shade only shot the chief a dirty look through blood shot eyes.

“Are you seriously asking me that question right now?”

“Sorry I was just hopping that you might have been able to get something, even something minor might of helped.”

“The only thing I got was a mental attack, and the only low life I know that has escaped in the past couple of months that would be able to do such a thing is Savitar.” with that the chief nodded and then walked up to Shade.

“Are you sure your going to be alright?”

“I don‘t have time to be injured, this night isn‘t over.” Shade said as he climbed into the window

“Your going after the shipping boat aren’t you?”

“That I am, but I’m going to need you to call harbor patrol and tell them to prevent any ship from leaving.”

“Alright.” with that the chief headed over to the phone and started to dial, but as he turned back around to wish Shade luck he found the room empty. “Good luck Ghost, those kids are counting on you.” an hour later at the docks a shipping boat loaded down with crates stood quite, as the captain and the crew watched the harbor patrol searching the boat.

“Well thank you for your time Captain, sorry for the trouble your clear to go.” the head of the harbor Patrol said, as he handed the captain his documents.

“Not at all sir, after all I run a clean and upright transport company here, I had nothing to hide.”

“Good to know sir, and good luck on your voyage.” with that the harbor patrol team got off the boat and the captain smiled as he waved good bye.

“ALRIGHT MEN WE’RE SHOVING OFF!” As the Captain yelled these orders his men ran around and the boat started to move out, but as the cliff opening came into view and the Captain smiled he started to notice the ship slowing down. “What are you doing helms men? Why are you slowing down.”

“I’m not sir, I have the engines to maximum and we’re still slowing down.” with that the Captain looked down at the controls and then picked up the phone to the engine room.

“What’s going on down there? Why are we slowing down?”

“Well Captain Stoneheart, we seem to be having trouble with the engines.”

“WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE!?!” The Captain yelled as he gripped the phone ready to reach through it and kill the person on the other end.

“Well sir it seems that some one has torn them apart, and taken out the engine crew members their all tied up and asleep right now.”

“WHAT!?”

“Yes sir, and if that wasn’t bad enough sir I think this ship is haunted.”

“WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DRINKING!?! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS GHOST!?!”

“Well sir I guess I’ll just have to prove you wrong on that won’t I.” with that the connection was cuts and Captain Stoneheart blinked several times before he realized who he had just been talking to. He quickly ran over to the com system and called out across it.

“ALL HANDS HEAR THIS ALL HANDS HEAR THIS THE GHOST IS ON THE SHIP I REPEAT THE GHOST IS ON THE SHIP, YOU HAVE ORDERS SHOOT TO KILL, I REPEAT SHOOT TO KILL MEN!!” As Captain Stoneheart pulled out his revolver he started to head down into the bowls of his boat only to find what Shade had said to be true the engines had been torn apart Shade had cut all the electrical wires and covered them in oil even if they could replace the wires the Captain didn’t dare fire the engines in fear of setting the ship on fire, as he found the crew tied up and out cold he started to grind his teeth and turned to the men that had followed him. “I WANT HIS HEAD BY MORNING IS THAT CLEAR!!” As his men ran off to try and hunt down Shade they soon found this task much harder then they first thought, they knew the boat they knew everything about the boat and all the places that a person could hide. But as they got further and further apart they started to hear things, and slowly Captain Stoneheart found himself alone on the ship with the Ghost, his men laying ever where on the deck, in the halls, a few where tied up and hanging from the boats crane. With each sound in the shadows Stoneheart spun around and fired his guns. He was slowly being driven mad as it seemed the boat was getting more and more unfriendly.

“What’s the problem Captain?” Shade’s voice seem to come from ever where at once and the Captain pointed his gun in one direction as he started to look around in all direction. “You seem to be a little spooked.”

“SHOW YOUR SELF DEMON!!”

“Demon? I think you have me confused with someone else, I’m the Ghost.”

“WHERE ARE YOU!?”

“I am every where Captain.”

“IMPOSSIBLE.”

“Really, I don’t think so, I am but a visible representation of what the people of the this city wanted, to those that harm the innocent I am something unpleasant or horrific that has real no set material form. I am truly neither here or there, and just when you think you have me in your sights the truth of the matter is that I’m really right behind you.” Captain Stoneheart spun around but still found no one behind him. “I appear when you least expect it, and vanish just as fast.”

“YOU CAN’T BE REAL!”

“Can’t I? Tell me my good captain if I wasn’t real then how would I know about the space between the outside of the ship and your hull, holding 8 little girls that your transporting to an undisclosed location on your charts, so that they will be sold off somewhere else? It was their tears my dear captain, their cries for someone to come to their aid that brought me here tonight.” Shade walked out from the shadows and looked at the Captain. “Do you hear the sirens captain?” Stoneheart turned and face Shade gun drawn but could hear the sirens coming towards them. “Put the gun down Captain, you’ve lost this night.”

“Not a chance, if I’m going down I’m going to take you with me.” but as he aimed his gun he felt something pulling his hands down, as he looked down he could hardly believe what he saw the shadows had come alive and was slowly binding him.

“I told you Captain of what I was, to those who harm the innocent I’m something truly horrific.”

“This can’t be… this can’t be happening.” as the captain started to fell the shadows pulling him down into the darkness he gasped and looked the Ghost in terror. “Please, don’t kill me.” Stoneheart begged as he watched Shade slowly walk up to him and kneel down in front of him.

“Oh captain my captain, death is to good for the likes of you, but then again there are far worst things then death in this world, and when you are freed from your torment, you will confess to everything, because if you don’t, I can promise you that there is no place you can hide that I will not find you. There is no cell, no prison, no island that they can put you on that I will not be able to get to you.” with those words Shade stood up and walked away. And as the Captain drifted deeper into his own personal nightmare Shade smiled as saw the harbor patrol arriving. On the deck Shade could see the chief of police standing and smiled slightly. As the chief climbed up and saw the scene he looked at Shade who was still looking out at the city.

“Where are they?”

“In the inner part of the hull.” with that Shade walked down into the hull followed by the chief and the harbor patrol team, as they got to the lowest deck Shade lead them to an opening that let them look at the inner part of the outer hull. As he pocked his head in he smiled as he shinned some light and climbed inside. “This way.” as they climbed into the narrow gap they followed Shade until they reached about half way down the ship, where they found several makeshift benches welded to the hull and on each cot laid a little girl tied at the wrist. “This is how they got the girls out, on each inspection your men only shinned alight at the opening, they never walked in this area because once a ship is put to see trying to do this is very dangerous.” Shade explained and the harbor master nodded.

“But how did you know they would be in here?”

“I didn’t, I snuck on board when you where doing your inspections, and figured I would look in the areas that your men didn’t, that’s when I found them, but by the time I had gotten out of the hull they had already started off, I had to stop them so I destroyed their engines, and once I was able to put the rest of Stoneheart’s men to sleep I was able to send out that communication from his radio room.

“Alright let’s get these children out of here, and those crew men in cuffs.” by the time they got back to the docks the night was almost done, and as Shade started to walk away the harbor master looked at the Chief. “So that’s the Ghost… any idea of who he is?”

“Not a clue, but I have a hunch by his size that he might be hiding more secrets then who he is.”

“His size?”

“The way he carries him self, talks, and acts I’m assuming that when he was growing up he must have been the smallest and got picked on a lot.”

“Ah so he must be a runt.”

“That runt has been taking down criminals right and left, and has already solved 2 major crimes, and has helped us make a dent in the drug ring of this city.”

“Let’s just hope he stays on are side.” As the two grown men talked they didn’t notice Shade vanish from sight. But on his way home he couldn’t help but pay a visit to the Cunningham house hold, though Baloo and Rebecca hadn’t been married yet, it was coming soon, and as Shade looked in on them he smiled as he could see that Kit was really enjoying his hearts desire, Kit had a family, and soon it would be all legal. Shade was glade for Kit but he couldn’t help to feel just a little envious of him. As Shade kept on his path back to his lair he smiled knowing that he was able to save a lot of innocent lives on this day.

*****

Case 5

Jail house blues

*****

Buffy wasn’t bluffing when he said that Shade and the chief would know just how powerful he was. Drug addicts had been turned against the police and the Ghost. From what the chief and Shade gathered, the drug lord had offered five pounds worth of frost to anyone that could stop the police from meddling in his operations, and ten pounds of the stuff to anyone that was able to take down the Ghost and bring proof. This brought a hole new problem into the mix, stores had been selling Ghost costumes for over a month now, and almost every little kid in the city had one, after a few cases of children getting hurt because of some tripped out nut thinking they were the real Ghost, the police issued a special report telling parents not to let their children wear the costumes for their own safety. While at the same time the real Ghost seem to make it a point to remain a thorn in the Drug lords empire by taking down his dealers, and their little drug houses as well. It was clear to both sides that if the others wanted to fight they would be more then happy to bring it on.

One night as Shade was making his rounds he saw a late addition paper at one of the news-stands. “Hot hands ma-ma?” with that Shade got to the street and started to read the article. After a few minutes he tossed a quarter on the news stand and headed off towards higher for hire. As he reached the building he walked inside to find Baloo sitting at Rebecca’s desk. “Why is Rebecca’s face on the front page?” Shade asked, as he looked at Baloo who looked up at him and then shook his head.

“I don’t know, she seemed so happy and this morning, she just went and tried to rob a bank.”

“I got the bank job info from the paper. Now mind filling me in on why she did it?”

“I wish I could, but I can’t, I don’t know why she did it, she just went to the bank and robbed it,… I didn’t even know she owned a gun.” Baloo said, as he got up and started to walk around the room in a shocked daze. “I’m already getting calls from child protective services, they’re saying that this isn’t a good home for Molly or Kit and are threatening to take them away tomorrow. Everything was going so well, we were going to get married next month, Kit had new parents, the company was doing great, and then she does this I don’t even know what to do.” with that Shade nodded and then put the paper on Rebecca’s desk.

“Your going to be strong Baloo, for Molly’s sake you have to be strong, children can pick up on bad things and if Molly sees you freaking out like this she’s going to think everything isn’t going to be alright.” Baloo stopped pacing around for a minute and looked at Shade, the way he spoke Baloo almost forgot that he was talking to a child himself, he had seen Shade do a lot of things, and had always noticed how he carried himself and spoke, if not for the fact that Baloo knew the truth he would of believed that Shade was an adult as well.

“Listen Shade, I know you’ve done a lot, I know you’ve done things at your age that I’m impressed about, but you can’t go against the law, you said it your self you’re a good guy, and even if your broke Becky out where would we go?” Shade looked at Baloo confused for a second and then smiled slightly.

“That’s the spirit big guy, keep telling jokes like that keep the humor alive. As for me I’m going to go and have a talk with Rebecca and find out what drove her to a life of crime.” As Shade headed out the door Baloo was left stunned in the middle of the office. A few hour later in the Cape suzette Female prison Rebecca lay on a hard prison bed sobbing lightly as her life had just been turned upside down. She didn’t truly know how everything had happened so fast one minute she was feeling on top of the world, her business was booming, are family was growing, and she was getting married in a month. Just then she heard a squeeking sound, as she sat up she started to look around scared that there was a rat in the cell with her. As she started to tear up again she looked towards the window the only link she had to the outside world only to be hit in the head by a rock.

“OW!”

“Oops, sorry about that.” Shade said, as his face appeared on the other side of the bars. As Rebecca walked up to the window rubbing her head she looked at Shade with a smile on her face.

“What are you doing here?” Rebecca asked, as she reached through the bars and put a gentle hand on Shade’s face, trying to force a smile as if being brave in front of him. Shade found him self smiling back excepting the tender touch before he shook his head and got serious.

“I should be asking you the same thing.” Shade said coldly as he locked eyes with Rebecca. “I need you to remember the events that happened today, I need to know what happened and how.” Rebecca nodded but then found herself back in the higher for hire office looking around stunned Shade appeared beside her in the Ghost outfit.

“How did we get here?” Rebecca asked, and Shade smiled slightly.

“I did this with Kit to help solve his case, and now I’m doing it with you, these are events in your memory I need to see what happened and.” Shade noticed Baloo, Kit, and Molly standing on the stairs looking at Rebecca. “Where they there?” Rebecca turned and looked and shook her head.

“No Kit was in school, and Molly outside with Baloo… Why are they standing there now?” Rebecca asked, as she looked at her family, and Shade shook his head.

“It’s because of you.”

“Me what am I doing?”

“You’re letting your mind wander, you’re thinking about your family and how you wont be able to see them again if we don’t solve this case.”

“But I don’t even know anything else past this point.” just then the phone rang and both turned and looked at Rebecca’s desk to see the phone lift up. “What’s doing that?”

“You are.”

“The bank is open, shouldn’t you take some money out?” a voice rang through out the memory and then Rebecca and Shade where standing in the middle of the street in front of the cape suzette national bank, with cops around them pointing guns.

“You see I got that call and then I was here, holding a gun and a bag of money.” with that Shade looked at the scene and then turned to Rebecca.

“If the conscious part of your mind doesn’t know what happened, then maybe your subconscious will.” with that the scene went back to the office, only everything seemed slightly off almost wavy.

“What’s going on?”

“This is what your subconscious part of your mind saw.” Just then they watched as a ghostly figure of Rebecca appeared and slowly walked out of the office, as they followed they both watched as it went into an ally and received a gun from a shady dog. And then followed her to the bank where she held the place up, before walking out and stopping in the middle of the street and waited for the cops to arrive and arrest her. “That doesn’t make any since.” Shade said, as he looked at Rebecca.

“What doesn’t?”

“Well the entire thing. First I’ll give them credit for the hypnotizing you to do this, I have to admit that is interesting since if this did go bad only you would get into trouble and not the one behind it.”

“Great why don’t you just give them a pat on the back.” Rebecca said sarcastically as she folded her arms and started to tap her foot. Shade looked at her and smiled slightly.

“I’m planning on giving them a boot to the face, but that’s not what makes no since, you robbed the bank, you could have gotten away free and clear and they would of gotten the money, but instead they had you stop here and wait for the cops as if wanting you to be arrested.”

“But why would they do that?” Rebecca asked, as she looked at Shade.

“That’s why this makes no since, and unfortunately this can’t be used to get you off, I need to get better proof before your trial.”

“That’s in three days, do you think you can?”

“I think I can give it my best shot.” with that Rebecca found herself back in her cell looking at Shade through the bars. “I’ll do what ever I can to get the proof to clear your name ma-am, but you need to stay strong.”

“Alright, but please hurry.” with that Shade left and Rebecca went back to her prison bed with a little more hope for the future. Early the next morning Witherspoon walked into his office he found Shade sitting in his desk waiting for him.

“Well this is a surprise, the famous Ghost breaks into my office.” Shade gives Witherspoon a distasteful look as he sized him up real fast.

“You’re a good man Witherspoon, I can tell.”

“That doesn’t mean a lot coming from you, so how about you tell me why your in my office before I call the cops.”

“Have fun, call the chief, but first let’s talk about the Cunningham kids.” Witherspoon was slightly setback by Shade’s response, but then got serious.

“What about them, their mother was arrested for bank robbery, their father is a lazy slob, that’s a cargo pilot he could be gone days at a time leaving those children uncared for.”

“Those children are in the best hands they can be in, I’ll admit that Baloo isn’t going to win father of the year anytime soon, but he cares for those kids, on top of that their mother is innocent of the crime.”

“You have proof on that?”

“I will, I’m not asking you to not take the children in time, what I am asking for, is that you give me at least the day of her trial, if she is found guilty then you take them, if I can prove her innocents you leave them alone.”

“And what kind of proof do you have to even make me consider this?”

“I know that she was hypnotized into robbing that bank, she was not in control of her own body at the time there for the crime was not hers.”

“Are you kidding me? that’s all a bunch of bull.” with that Shade looked Witherspoon in the eyes and then smiled.

“Tell me Witherspoon what time did you come into work today?”

“Seven in the morning like I always do why do you ask?” with that Shade looked outside and the sun was already high in the sky.

“Seem a little later now doesn’t it.” Witherspoon looked out the window shocked before he looked at his watch it was now 1 in the afternoon.

“And do you normally come to work dressed in clown shoes?” Witherspoon looked down and noticed that he had a pair of clown shoes on. As Witherspoon looked up he was about to yell at Shade but found his office empty, as he sat down at his desk and took off the clown shoes he found a note sitting on his desk. “By the time you read this it should be the afternoon, and you just came out of my trance, I’ve been long gone since this morning, if this isn’t enough proof for you, then wait until you get home.” Just then Witherspoons phone rang and as he picked it up he heard the sound of his wife on the other end.

“Honey, I know your busy and everything, but can I ask why you took one of my bras this morning?” with that question Witherspoon looked around his office and then felt something binding under his shirt, as he started to feel his chest he blushed slightly before closing his eyes.

“It was to prove a point honey, I’ll bring it back when I come home I promise.” As wither spoon hung up the phone he grabbed the note left by Shade and tore it up before throwing it away. “Next time I see him I’m going to pop him one.” Earlier that morning when Shade got back to his lair he laid down and closed his eyes, once back in the world of dreams he found himself back in the training dojo where he found his father waiting.

“I need answers.”

“You wish to know how to break a mental block?”

“That but also how to trace a hypnotist.”

“You can’t.”

“What do you mean I can’t, there has to be someway to find out when a person was hypnotized, to find out who did it.”

“There is but your not ready for it, You have let your emotions cloud your judgment in these matters and if you learn any more, the power given to you, it could turn you against your very goal.”

“I am trying to save a person’s life.”

“You are trying to save a person you like, you already mentally attacked one person because of the acts they had committed. You locked them in their worst nightmare for hours, nearly scarring them to death. If I taught you more you would only twist it.” Shade clinched his fist and glared at his father. “DON’T YOU DARE GIVE ME THAT LOOK YOUNG MAN!” Kouken walked up and looked down at Shade. “Maybe you’ve been doing this to long, maybe you’ve forgotten that once you start using the Shadow skills the way you have been, the worst it’s going to get, you will find it easier to torture people in such away, you will soon learn how to control their actions and then kill them at will, that is not the Shadow guard way and you know that.”

“The Shadow Guard? I’M THE LAST OF THEM!!! And if you haven’t noticed yet times have changed, criminals have changed, and right now I’m trying to save a city that is falling in on it self.”

“AND WHO SAID YOU HAD TO!!”

“I DID!!! I REFUSE TO LET ANOTHER CITY BURN!!” As both father and son stood against one another, fur raised in the heat of anger. After a few minutes both turned away from one another.

“I will not teach you anymore Shadow skills until I think you are ready to handle the power, until then you’ll just have to deal with what you know.” Kouken turned and looked at Shade’s back and signed slightly. “I know this is hard for you to understand but I do this for your own good.”

“And while you do what’s for my own good, and innocent woman gets locked up and her family torn apart.”

“You can’t save everyone my son, sometimes you have to let people go.” The following evening Shade woke up and could see the sun starting to set. As he got dressed he headed for Higher for hire and entered through the top of the building, as he listened to Baloo talk with Kit and Molly he could hear Molly sobbing slightly, as he peaked in on the scene he could see Baloo sitting in his easy chair holding the two children.

“It’s not fair.” Molly said, as she looked at Baloo.

“I know pig tails, I know. But at least Mr. Witherspoon has given us until after the trial to stay together.” Baloo said, as he gave both children a hug. “And don’t worry we’re going to make the best of those few days I promise.” As Shade looked down on the scene he couldn’t give up on this family, he just couldn’t, something inside of him couldn’t bare the thought of this family getting broken up. As he left higher for hire he made his way to the female prison, hopping that Rebecca had some more information locked away in her mind that he had missed the day before, maybe he would be able to find out who hypnotized her. As he made it to the window from the night before he found the cell empty, looking around he could tell that it was the right room, but Rebecca wasn’t there. He moved quickly to the roof, and into a vent, he had to find Rebecca to get the information he needed. As he made his way through the system, he listened closely hopping to hear something that would lead him to Rebecca’s direction. After about an hour of moving around he heard a scream echoing through the vent system followed by laughter. As he moved quickly and quietly through the vent he found Rebecca restrained to a shower stall soaked from head to toe in her prison garb.

“How does it feel Cunningham.” A sly fox lady asked, as she walked up and grabbed Rebecca by her chin. “How the tables have turned.” Shade couldn’t get a good look at the woman but he hated the way she was acting, and talking. “I must admit when you got me sent here I thought it was all over with, but instead I get this offer to not only make some money on the side but to take control of this dump, I had to jump at it. Now all I have to do is make sure that my clients get their stuff and keep the not so willing prisoners in line, where as my girls that had enough brains to join me get to have all the perks.”

“Your sick Muffy, do you have any idea of what your doing to this city, those drugs are killing people.” Rebecca said, through gasp as she looked at the Fox lady.

“Oh please who cares, it’s their own dumb fault for taking the stuff, if they want to kill their brains who am I to stop them.” with that Muffy put a bit of mud on Rebecca’s nose and smiled. “You missed a spot girls you should try again.” with that Shade watched as Rebecca was sprayed down with a water hose getting her to scream again before it was turned off. “Now that we have you nice and clean on the outside miss business lady I think it’s time we get you cleaned up on the inside, I think you might be hiding something. Amy would you mind giving Miss Cunningham a full cavity search.” At those words Shade jumped through the vent and landed in front of the female convicts dressed like guards. “The Ghost? GET HIM GIRLS!!” before anything was done Shade threw several darts knocking out most of the fake guards. While Muffy ran for her life out of the shower room. As Shade cut Rebecca free she fell to her knees gasping, and smiling slightly.

“I’m glade you’re here but your in way over your head, all the guards have been replaced with convicts the real guards are locked in the solitary confinement cells.” with that Shade nodded and could already hear foot steps heading for their location. “Just go Shade, you need to free the guards and stop them.” with that Rebecca lifted Shade up to the vent system letting him climb in. “Don’t worry about me, just stop them.” with that Shade crawled through the vent system he could hear in the distance that the guards had caught Rebecca and was being a little ruff. As he found an isolated area of the prison he sat down and thought about what to do next, the prison was over ran, from what Shade had heard it had something to do with the drugs on the street, and he had to help Rebecca. This night was supposed to be just getting some more evidence to help clear Rebecca’s name, but first he was going to have to find away to free the guards. After catching his breath and doing a quick inventory check of the items he did have, Shade went back into the vent system and made his way to the warden’s office. As he looked down he could see Muffy leaving the office pulling Rebecca with her.

“If the Ghost wants to protect you so bad, then I’m keeping you close until he’s caught.” Muffy explained as she pulled Rebecca along. While she kept walking away Shade dropped down into the office and started to go through the prison files, until he found the blue prints.

“Alright, time to call in some back up.” As he rolled up the blue prints he picked up the phone and made a call to the chief Baldwin of police’s office, once he explained that the prison had fallen to the criminal elements he could hear the chiefs fist hit his desk.

“I’ll get ever officer I have over there and will take that place back by force.”

“Bad move sir. I’m already in and I can free the guards that are already in here, and if you try to raid this place it would be like trying to attack a castle. To save life and limb sir I beg you to only block off the roads leading in and out of the prison cutting off their supply lines, as well as the drug lines that these prisoners have set up with what contacts they have in the city.”

“Are you insane that prison is made up of some of the most heartless women from this city and a few from around the world, what in the world do you intend to do?”

“At this point and time sir, I really don’t know.”

“That’s not very comforting Ghost.”

“It’s all I have right now, just please give me until sun up tomorrow. If the prison isn’t back in control of the officers, then raid it with every officer you have.” their was silence on the phone as Shade waited for the chief to agree to his terms.

“Answer me this one question Ghost, when you begged for me to only block off the roads, to save life and limb where you just concerned about the officers under my command, or are you concerned about the people inside that prison as well.” This time is was Shade’s turn to pause and think. As he looked at the door hopping no one was going to be coming in soon.

“Both sides sir.” another pause from the chief before Shade heard him take a deep breath and let it out.

“You have until dawn.”

“Thank you sir.” Once Shade hung up the phone he started to look over the files and notice that each file contained not only photos of the prisoners, but also of their families. Else where in the prison Muffy pulled Rebecca into the solitary confinement ward, by her hair, Rebecca’s hands where cuffed behind her back she now had a black eye and a bloody nose.

“I want you to look Cunningham, you see these ladies locked in this little rooms, those are the guards of this prison.” with that Muffy pulled Rebecca’s head back and smiled. “Your trapped in my world now Cunningham, no way out, and not even the Ghost will be able to help you here.” just then mention of the Ghost seem to stir hope among the trapped guards. “OH SHUT UP!!” Muffy yelled, getting the wing to get very quite. “You think he’ll be able to stop an entire prison of armed criminals, He’s trapped in here just like the rest of you.” with that Muffy looked down at Rebecca and smiled smugly. “Want to know a little secret Cunningham?” Rebecca looked up at Muffy, apart of her wondering how in the world she could end up this way, while another part of her wanted to give Muffy a black eye. “It’s the way the guards lost, you see they all locked them selves in these cells, and the warden opened my cell before locking herself in hers, you see they were all hypnotized into doing just that, just like you where hypnotized into robbing that bank.” Rebecca looked at Muffy in shock. “That’s right I know how you got arrested, because when I found out that you where going to get married to the large sack of lard, I just had to destroy you life, just like you destroyed mine.” with that Rebecca glared at Muffy. “And the best part is since the Ghost seems to like you we can use you as bait, to set a trap for him. Not only am I going to get my revenge on you and that large sack of lard for what you did to me and Buffy, but I’ll get a nice bonus for taking a thorn out of my providers side.” with that Rebecca struggled only to be pushed down to the floor. “But what’s even sweeter is that not only will you not be able to have your family, but you’ll have to live with the fact that it’s all your fault that The Ghost has died.”

“You wont win.” a voice said from one of the cells. “The Ghost will get you, he’s more then anything you can imagine.” Muffy kicked the cell door that the voice was coming from.

“He’s said to move in dark like a shadow, so fast that not even a ray of light can touch him.” another guard started only to have her cell door kicked.

“SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!!! THOSE ARE ONLY STORIES!!” Muffy yelled, as she glared at the cells, then picked Rebecca up off the ground. “Come along insurance.” As Muffy started to walk down the hall the other guards started to tell things that they had heard only in whispers from inmates and their fellow officers.

“I heard he took down an invading army that tried to take over Thembria, went up against six ace pilots and gunned them each down, before helping turn the tied to the ground forces.”

“I heard he’s taken down dozens of drug dealers, and muggers. Wrecked almost every street pirate hang out one night because he was hunting for a kidnapper.”

“Some of those convicts that have been brought in swore that he took them to the underworld before turning them over.”

“If that’s true then the rumors I heard about him walking on thin air and bullits not being able to stop him must be true.”

“They’re just stories, these can’t be true.” Muffy mumbled to her self as she kept pulling Rebecca along.

“Getting scared Muffy?” Rebecca asked, hoping to help scare her.

“Shut up these are just stories they can’t be true.”

“I heard that he’s able to move within the shadows, to become apart of them, so that he can sneak up on his victims and pull them into the darkness where no one can hear them scream.”

“I heard he has no real name, because he really is a Ghost, he has no home, and no one to care for, he fears nothing and no one, He’s swift like gale wind, he hit his enemies like a typhone, his heart is a ragging fire for justice, and his eyes are as mysterious as the dark side of the moon.”

“You hear about that camp just outside of town that they where forcing those boys to work in harvesting the mushrooms that are sent here, how he followed the head of the camp in to the mines that the mushrooms were being grown. I heard that he followed him to a dead in, the same place he buried five of the children, that he tortured, Seymour still swears that The Ghost raised the dead, he still lays awake at night scared to close his eyes because the children that he killed are going to get him.” Muffy shook her head trying to get that last tale out of her head, until she realized something, that event had happened recently, no guard would have known about it.

“How did you know about that?” Muffy turned around and saw the Ghost standing at the other end of the wing looking at her. “GUARDS SEES HIM!!” with that the Guards ran forward only to stop as several of them fell to the floor once Shade threw several sleeping darts hitting them.

“Before the rest of you follow her orders I want to give you some information on what I’m fighting for tonight.” with that Shade reached into his shirt and held out a hand full of photo’s. “I just shut down a work camp outside town that is producing the mushrooms that your helping package and send to a supplier, The camp was ran by fellow convicts, but the labor was children from the local orphanage.” with that Shade tossed the photo’s in front of the guards. As the convicts lowered their weapons they started to pick up the photos.

“WHAT ARE YOU IDIOTS DOING!!! WHO CARES WHAT THE LABOR WAS IF THEIR PARENTS DIDN’T CARE WHY SHOULD YOU!!” with that a lot of the convicts turned and glared at Muffy with tears in their eyes.

“You should be careful warden, you see a lot of these ladies are single mothers, so when they got brought in here their children got put into the orphanage, an orphanage that your dear Buffy ran. So in a since you helped send their children to this slave labor camp.” As the Convicts started to turn on Muffy she realized that she was in a no win situation, leaving Rebecca behind she ran for all her life as her once convict prison staff dropped their guns and chased her down the hall. Shade made his way to the cell control leavers he quickly flipped them all and the guards started to rush out and pick up the dropped guns and headed out to take back the prison. As Shade got to Rebecca she smiled as he started to undo her cuffs.

“So you do listen, maybe you’ll listen to me when this is all over with.” with that Shade smiled slightly then heard the sound of gun fire down the hall.

“Quick we need to get into one of these cells.” with that Rebecca nodded and went into a cell only to hear the solid steal door shut behind her. “Wow that really worked.”

“SHADE NO!!!”

“Sorry Ms. Cunningham, but your family needs you, and I’m going to make sure that they get you back.” with that Shade ran towards the fighting. While Rebecca could only hear the fighting in the cell, as she pulled her knees to her chest she started to worry about Shade again scared that he was going to die this night. It was the longest night Rebecca could recall, unable to sleep due to the fears, the knots in her gut, as well as the sound of gun fire coming from somewhere in the prison. In the early morning the chief was true to his word his troops moved in, but by that time the prison had been taken back over, as officers started to help move prisoners back to cells. As the true warden opened the door to the solitary confinement cell that Rebecca was in she smiled seeing that she was safe.

“Ms. Cunningham?” Rebecca looked up at the warden. “He told me you would be in here.”

“Where is he?” Rebecca asked, concerned filled her voice and the warden smiled.

“He’s alright, when the police from the city arrived he left.”

“He left?”

“Yes, he said something about having to complete his rounds.” with that Rebecca signed as she looked down at the floor.

“Was he hurt?” the warden looked at Rebecca confused a little and then smiled.

“Ma-am if you would have seen him, I’ve never seen anyone move how he did, many times the prisoners ran away from him just by him looking at them, he earn his reputation tonight ma-am.” Rebecca didn’t care about Shade’s reputation as she looked at the warden.

“Was he hurt?” frustration now filling her voice as she looked at the Warden, who was shocked slightly but then smiled and patted Rebecca’s shoulder.

“No ma-am, from what I could tell, he made it out of here unhurt.” with that Rebecca smiled as she looked at the warden. As the two walked towards the warden’s office, Rebecca noticed that the prisoners ether sleeping or stuck in some kind of green goop, as she walked into office the warden smiled. “I have some good news ma-am.”

“What’s that?”

“With Muffy boasting the way she did, she’s cleared your name of the crime you were arrested for, we still need to find the person responsible for it. Thought with the ghost on the case I’m sure we’ll have that person tracked down soon enough.” with that Rebecca nodded, but deep down was concerned for Shade, the warden hadn’t really told her if he was hurt or not, and the fact that he was now trying to go after someone that could very well take control of him, had her even more concerned. Before she was just scared of Shade getting hurt, but knowing that there was a person that could very well turn him into a weapon scared her even more. “I’ve already called your house ma-am, and your husband will be here shortly to take you home. You’re going home ma-am.” Rebecca smiled as she heard these words, her heart was jumping as her anticipation could hardly be contained wanting to be home with her kids again. A few hours later as Baloo drove Rebecca up to there home Kit and Molly ran out and hugged Rebecca as she stepped out of the car, both very happy that she was back, and that their family wasn’t going to get split up. While Rebecca smiled and let tears role down her face, she could help but think some one else was watching them at that moment. Up on a hill side Shade sat, no longer dressed in the Ghost outfit but in normal cloths, with a telescope looking down at the reunited family. As a smile crossed his face he stood up and started to head back to his lair to rest, for another night was fast approaching, and his work wasn’t done yet.

The following evening Rebecca and the entire Higher for hire family went out to celebrate, one for Rebecca being released from prison and having a good case to keep her out of jail, as well as the mayor of the city sending the entire family tickets to the local magic show. What they didn’t expect was some one else sitting next to them.

“Shade!” Molly cheered, as Shade sat down next to her dressed in his street cloths.

“Hello there little one.” Shade said, as Molly stood up in her seat and hugged Shade.

“Oh thank you, thank you, thank you for.” before Molly could finish her thank you Shade covered her mouth and smiled.

“Your welcome, but no one should know why.” with that Molly nodded.

“Just like danger woman if anyone.” again before Molly could finish what she was saying Shade covered her mouth.

“Let’s not talk about such things until we are in private.” with that Molly nodded and Shade sat back in his chair. As Rebecca looked at Shade she quickly switched places with her daughter so that she would be sitting next to him.

“When the show is over, you and me are going to have a talk about such things.” Rebecca said, as she gave Shade a stern look. “And don’t even think about pulling a vanishing act.” It was strange Shade had stood against, thugs, pirates, and an entire army, but the look Rebecca was giving him sent chills down his spine. He was almost thankful when the curtain opened and a magician walked out on stage. Dressed in a tuxedo, with a top hat and a cane.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMAN WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF ILLUSION!” The magician stated as a flock of bird flew from his sleeves. As the show went on Shade sat quietly watching, Rebecca smiled as she clapped and looked at Shade who didn’t seem to move and went to nudge him but was shocked when her hand seem to pass right through his arm.

“What?”

“My, my, my it’s true what your file says Savitar you are very good at manipulating people’s minds, in fact I would dare say a master in that field, these people don’t even realize it’s being done to them.” the audience started to look around trying to find the voice that had just spoke, but as the magician started to laugh their attention turned back him.

“I’m flattered that you say so, Ghost is it?” the magician said, as his cloths seem to melt away to reveal a black cat smiling.

“That it is Savitar, though it doesn’t take much to figure out that once this show started the rise in unusual crimes went up, all of them during the day, knowing that I am only able to manifest my self at night.”

“Please Ghost don’t try and con a conman.” Savitar snapped his fingers and everyone found them selves trapped, in cells. “Now that we have the riffraff out of the way.” Shade appeared out of nowhere dressed in grey Samurai armor. “Ah I see you have come prepared.”

“I have Savitar, after getting a mental attack from one of your little mental traps I knew that I had to prepare for this encounter.”

“That would explain why I didn’t since you in the audience, people like you and me we can always tell when another is close by.”

“True, though some more then others, I am rather ashamed that you put me in the same boat as your self though.”

“Really, do tell?” Savitar’s cloths changed once more his more horrific then Shade’s, black scales covered his body, over that rough harden armor with spikes sticking out in several location, his gauntlets covered in sharp studs and his fingers coming to sharp points.

“You use your ability to manipulate people for your own gain, and you don’t care how it might effect them.”

“And you don’t do the same.”

“Only against the criminals of this city. I fight against those that wish to harm the innocent.”

“Oh please no one is innocent, everyone is guilty of something.” with that the two charged at one another, the trapped minds watched on, hopping that the Ghost was up for this challenge, hopping that this would not be his final battle, and even thought Shade was skilled in fighting, Savitar had the upper hand on this battle field, he altered the terrain, he vanished and reappeared at will, and even when Shade was able to land a blow, Savitar was able to inflict twice the impact upon Shade with a minor thought. “You’re out of your league Ghost.” Savitar said, as Shade landed hard from a devastating blow. “Did you really think you could beat me?” Savitar raised his right hand and shot bolts of lighting from his finger tips causing Shade to scream out in pain. “Did you really think you had a chance against me?” Rebecca and many others turned away as Savitar started to torture Shade, his screams of pain and the crackling of lighting could be heard, but no one wanted to see this, no one wanted to watch anyone suffer this way. After a few minutes Rebecca dared to look back, her heart was going out to Shade as she could see Savitar standing over him. She watched as the Evil man picked Shade up by the throat with one hand, and could hear his laughter as Shade’s torment. “You have been weighed.” Savitar delivered a devastating blow to Shade’s gut before dropping him to the ground. “Your have been judged.” Savitar kicked Shade in the face, and before reaching down and pulling Shade to his knees. “And you have been found wanting.” Rebecca couldn’t believe her eyes as she watched Savitar plunge his sharp fingers into Shade’s chest, and slowly turning him to what looked to be stone.

“NO!!!!” Savitar looked up at Rebecca from her cry of terror and smiled.

“WHERE IS YOUR HERO NOW!?! WHERE IS THE GREAT AND POWERFUL GHOST!?!” the people looked at the distorted face of Shade a look of intense pain for ever trapped in stone. In the mental prison Shade now found himself trapped in, it was dark and cold, he wasn’t ready to face Savitar, and as he wandered in the darkness the only thing he could think about was how he had failed everyone.

“I’m sorry.” As tears ran down his face Shade looked up only to see the darkness, the black void that was now closing in on him. He couldn’t help but wonder, was this to be his fate, was this to be his end?