(Nightshade)

It was a dark and stormy night in the Cape Suzette, as a scream was heard and figure in the shadows moved swiftly in the allies, while else where Rebecca Cunningham found her self in a dead end only venturing out for a quick moment for some medicine for her sick daughter, only to find her self being chassed by a few thungs. To get away she had kicked the leader of the group between the legs and ran but now she found her self trapped, it would only be a matter of time before the thugs came around the corner and who knew what would happen to her when they got a hold of her. As the first Jackel spotted her he smiled, as he called the others over. Once they had all came into view, she gulped as she could see the hunger in there eyes. As fear started overcome her, she closed her eyes as the last image they came to her was her little girl sick in bed waiting for the medicine, and as this image came to her, she knew that she wasn’t about to let these thugs keep her from making her little girl feel better. As tears started to run down her cheek she grabbed the only thing she could, a trash can lid. “Get away from me!” Rebecca demanded only to have the thugs laugh at her.

“Oh no lady, before we just wanted you money, now we want your hide.” the leader said, as he looked at Rebecca and pulled out a switchblade. “And lady when they find you tomorrow, there isn’t going to be much left.” The leader said, as he tossed the blade between hands and smiled at Rebecca. As he took a step closer Rebecca threw the lid, only to watch the weasel dodge it, only to have his arms tied to his side as a manrikigusari chain wrapped around him. “WHAT!? WHO DID THIS!” Jackel looked around as he struggled to get free, but to both the groups reaction as well as Rebecca, a figure dressed dark grey cloths jumped down infront of Rebecca. With a mask over it’s face Rebecca couldn‘t tell much more then the fact that the person standing before her had sky blue eyes, she could tell by the size of the body her savior was small. “I don‘t know who you are, but when I get out of this I‘m going to show you a hole new meaning of pain.” the leader stated as a few of his thugs started to undo the chain around him.

“Well I’m called many things, but I like Shade.” By the sound of the figures voice Rebecca blinked several times, it was a child a male child standing before her staring down this group of thugs, as if it was nothing to him. “Can you run?” Shade asked, as he turned and looked at Rebecca. For Rebecca things where happening to fast as she was letting the scene sink in, barely hearing the question Rebecca nodded, as she looked at the masked child before her. “Good.” with that Shade spun around and held up his right hand and a shot a stream of fire at the thugs, as they took cover he grabbed Rebecca’s wrist. “RUN!” As the two ran past the Jackels, who where rubbing their eyes, Shade lead the way until they reached the main street and looked at Rebecca. “Get out of here.” Rebecca looked at Shade and was about to say something until she heard one of the thugs yell that he had found them. “GET OUT OF HERE!” Shade yelled, as he reached into a pocket and threw several small orbs that filled the ally with smoke.

“I can’t leave you to fight them alone.”

“You won’t have to.” Shade said, as he reached for a stone and hit an alarm box causing a fail safe system to go off. “let’s go.” with that Shade followed Rebecca as she lead the way and ran down the street. She looked back several times, making sure that Shade was right behind her, as she reached the main door of her apartment complex, she turned to say something to him, but he wasn’t there. She looked around for a few moments, calling to him, but with no response she went inside. She made it back to her apartment she locked the door, and headed for Molly’s room where she reached into her bag to try and find the bottol of medicine she had went out for, but she then remembered she never made it to the store. As she looked at Molly she felt terrible, and was torn about going back out.

Else where Shade was in one of his hiding spots, as he took off the wet cloths he sat down near a fire to try and warm up, as his cloths started to dry off. “I’ve seen her before.” Shade said, as he reached for an old scrap book and started to flip through it, until he came across a picture of Higher For Hire that Rebecca was standing in with Baloo, and Kit. “Business woman, so she’s smart… Why would a smart woman go out on a night like this? The streets them selves are void of citizens, well more so then normal… come on Shade think *ACHOO!* yeah great get a cold.” with that Shade put the book down and walked over to an old desk and opened a draw. As Shade picked up the bottle of cold medicine he stopped for a moment and then turned back to the scrap book, walking over he opened the book and found the image once more looking he saw Kit. “Her son must be sick, she went out to get medicine for him, but did she get it? and if she didn’t, that means she might risk going out again.” with that Shade grabbed his cloths and went back out. First place he went was where he left her, back to her apartment complex, once outside he ran his finger across the names until he found her room and headed up. While back inside the apartment Rebecca had resolved to try once more, time was running out to try again because the store would be closing soon enough. Once she reached the door there came a knock. She froze in fear wondering if her attackers had followed her home. she reached for the phone and was about to start calling the cops.

“Mrs. Cunningham.” Shade called from the other side of the door, he was in pain now his head throbbing, his heart pounding, his lungs felt like they had been crushed, his nose would stop running, and in a flash Rebecca ran over and opened the door. “Tonight, you went out for medicine didn’t you?” Shade asked, and Rebecca was slightly shocked.

“Y-yes, but how did you know?”

“Logical deduction ma-am did you get the medicine you went for?”

“No I was about to head out again to get it.”

“Don’t bother.” with that Shade held out an unopened bottle of medicine to Rebecca. “Take this ma-am, take care of your child.” with that Shade started to turn to leave but as he did he stumbled slightly, getting Rebecca’s attention, in enough time to catch him as he started to fall. Rebecca looked around for a few moments before pulling Shade into her apartment and taking off his mask.

“Oh my gosh your burning up.” Rebecca said, as she touched Shade’s forehead. Rebecca looked at Shade for a moment and then started to remove his wet cloths, she couldn’t let someone that helped her die, and she wasn’t about to. The next morning Shade awoke to find him self in a queen size bed.

“MOMMY HE’S AWAKE!!” Molly cried out causing Shade to hold his head, only to notice that his mask had been removed.

“Molly honey, I told you to stay in bed.” Rebecca said, as she looked at her daughter who only smiled up at her.

“Yeah, but you didn’t say which bed.” with that Rebecca rolled her eyes as she walked over to Shade, and looked at him.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I slept under the train tracks on 64^th street.” Rebecca smiled, as she looked at Shade he was a wolf with light grey fur, sky blue eyes. “Mind if I asked, what happened?”

“You passed out, running through the streets in a down poor with a cold, kind of does that to people.” Rebecca sat down on the bed and looked at Shade as he slowly sat up. “Now I haven’t heard anything on the radio yet, but I think it would be best if we call you parents, and tell them that your alright.” Shade opened his mouth to say something, but Rebecca covered his mouth before he could say anything. “And before you try mister, yes I’m going to tell your parents what you did last night, although you helped me, you could have gotten really hurt, and being a mother my self I know that I would be just devastated if anything happened to my little Molly.” with that Rebecca removed her hand and looked at Shade who only smiled at her, then turned to Molly.

“You have a very kind and loving mother Molly, she risked a lot last night to try and make you feel better, so take it from me, love her, and listen to her, even when you think she’s being mean, she’s really just looking out for you, and trying to keep you safe.” with that Shade turned to Rebecca. “I know all of these things, because once my parent were gone I learned about everything they did to make me happy, to make me safe and protect me.” Shade then turned back to Molly. “And I really hope that you never find out what it means to loose some one so special.” with that Shade sat up and looked down at his bare chest. “I would like my cloths back ma-am, I need to go.” to Shade, he had already over stayed his welcome. As he looked up at Rebecca he gave he a stern look, because he could already see a look in her eyes that he didn‘t like. “My things, may I please have them back?” Rebecca was partly shocked by this turn of events while at the same time guided Shade to lay back down and covered him up.

“You need rest, will talk about your things later, for today your staying inside, just like Molly, and getting plenty of rest.” shade opened his mouth in protest but was then caught off guard as Molly crawled up beside him.

“Can I stay with Shade?” Molly asked, and Rebecca smiled as she picked her daughter up.

“I think he would get more rest if you stayed in your own bed, like you should have been this entire time.” Shade watched as the little bear cub waved at him, as Rebecca carried her out of the room. Then started to question if he should just leave, apart of him told him to run, but something told him that it would be alright. As Shade looked at his choices he grumbled slightly knowing that he needed his gear back, as he closed his eyes Shade took a deep breath and started to sleep once more.

As he slept Rebecca checked up on Shade often only to find him having a nightmare, his face seemed to be in great pain, his hands where clinched, his body ridged, and he winced and moaned in pain. She didn’t know what he was dreaming about, but she could tell that it was terrible as she walked up, and placed a hand on his head. “What are you dreaming about?” Rebecca asked, wishing she could know what was going on in Shade’s young mind, to know what she could do to help him. Her heart went out to him as his face was replaced with Kit‘s for a moment.

The young navigator had become very dear to her, though there was a few times that he had gotten under her skin, she had been looking to him as a son for the longest time. He always wanted to please her, thought she didn’t fully know if that was because he looked up to her, or if it was the fact he was scared of getting another lecture from her.

 The entire time she had been thinking about Kit, she failed to realize that he was still touching Shade’s forehead, and when she did realize this she smiled slightly seeing that Shade had calmed down a little. His nightmares had gone and it was a sign that brought a smile to Rebecca’s face, but as she started to leave the room she heard a faint groan come from Shade.

 After a while Rebecca sat down and started to rest her self, taking care of two sick children was taking it’s toll on her, though Shade slept the entire day, Molly more than made up for his portion of protesting about staying in bed. As Rebecca closed her eyes, after getting Molly to lay down for a nap, the hidden nightmares, the thoughts she had been having for the past few months about Kit, started to come to the forefront of her mind. Her darkest fears of what could of happened to her young navigator that only came to her mind every so offten and was quickly blocked out by her self, was now forcing their way back.

The thoughts ranged from Kit staying a Pirate, all the way up to his own demise, the final image that Rebecca saw was mostly thanks to Daring Dan. Some how Kit had found his way to Daring Dan’s air show, and the stunt that Baloo was there to save Kit from didn’t end nearly as well, as Kit tried to fly through the rings of fire, and failed, she could almost hear Kit scream in pain as the trick went wrong and he fell to the ground. “KIT NO!” Rebecca yelled, as she sat up in her chair breathing heavily. “Only a dream.” Rebecca told her self, very glade that it was just that. As she smiled, her body have shaken, while just happy that what she had seen was nothing but a dream, there came a knock at her door. As she opened the door she found her self looking at Baloo, and Kit, who was holding his hat in front of his chest. “Kit, Baloo what are you two doing here, you should be delivering those mangos to Pango-Pango.”

“Don’t worry Beckers, we took care of that delivery, and came back to see how Molly was doing.” Baloo said, as he looked at Rebecca who seemed shocked as the two walked in.

“How is Molly Mrs. Cunningham.” Rebecca turned to Kit and smiled.

“She’s doing much better, but I have to talk with Baloo for a moment Kit, can you go keep an eye on her?” with that Kit looked from Rebecca to Baloo who shrugged in just as much confusion. As kit headed for Molly’s room, where she was sitting in bed with her dolls, Rebecca turned to Baloo and looked very serious. “Please sit down Baloo.”

“Uh-oh what did I do this time?” Rebecca opened her mouth and was about to scold Baloo but stopped noticing that this was one of the rare times that she had asked him to sit down before she was about to scold him. “Uh Becky?” Rebecca was shaken from her trance as she looked at Baloo and smiled slightly.

“Sorry, last night I went out to get Molly some medicine.”

“In that storm, Becky you should have just called, I would have gone and got the stuff for pigtails.” Baloo said, as he looked at Rebecca but then stopped. “What happened.”

“How did you know anything happened?”

“Look Becky your not the kind of person to tell me about what you do in your off time, you went out last night and now your acting a little funny, so what happened?”

“I was attacked last night.” in a flash Baloo was on his feet, fist clinched, and teeth showing with a low growl.

“Just tell me what they looked like.” Rebecca had never seen Baloo this way before, unless someone threatened Kit, Daring Dan was lucky the cops got to him first.

“Baloo it’s alright I’m fine, Someone else helped me last night.” with that Baloo’s expression changed from rage to confusion as he looked at Rebecca.

“Oh no, not another love interest.” Baloo flopped back into the chair he was sitting in, as Rebecca put her hands on her hips.

“And just what is that supposed to mean?”

“Ghost captain, post office spy, treasure hunter looking for a ruby doll.” Baloo said, as he held up his hand and raised a finger for each interest Rebecca had in the past. To his surprise he saw Rebecca blush and a smile slowly curled on his lips.

“Well this isn’t one of those.”

“Oh right Becky, sure anything you say.”

“Baloo, will you just listen to me for a minute, the person that helped me last night was a kid.”

“A kid?” Now Baloo was confused.

“Yes, he says his name is Shade, and from what he’s told me he’s an orphan.”

“Becky why are you telling me this, if you want to adopt your knight in shinning armor, I don’t have any say in the matter, it’s your choice.”

“Baloo that’s not why I’m telling you this.” with that Becky walked over to a closet and pulled out a box filled with gadgets and gizmos, as well as Shade’s cloths.

“Uh Becky? just how old is this kid?” Baloo asked, as he held up the mask that Shade wore. Rebecca glared at Baloo and snatched the mask from him.

“He passed out at my front door, he was running a high fever and soaked to the bone, I had to get him out of his wet cloths and into a warm bed or he would have died.” with that Baloo nodded a few times but then stopped.

“You let him in your house?”

“Baloo he would have died if I didn’t, he’s only a boy, maybe younger then Kit, but look at all these things of his, I’ve never seen anything like it.” Rebecca said, as she held up a few items. “He’s got gadgets and gizmos of plenty, Gears and cables galore.” Baloo looked at the equipment and nodded. As he held up a piece and smiled fondly at it.

“I’ve seen stuff like this before, when I was a kid, my old friend Buzz used to mess with junk all the time. Some of it was pretty cool, while the rest of it…well we didn’t see much of it after Buzz activated it.” with that Baloo looked at Becky and smiled.

“Kid’s pretty smart… if this stuff works.”

“I don’t even know what most of this stuff does, but if it’s anything like I saw last night, it works, and it’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” Rebecca rummaged through the box for a second and then pulled out one of the pieces

“He shot of stream of fire from this thing.” Rebecca held up a gauntlet like device. “Baloo he’s smart, and creative… but… but.” Rebecca found her self in tears, as she looked at the devices in the box.

“Hey Becky what’s wrong?” Rebecca looked up at Baloo, and wiped the tears from her face.

“Baloo I never really thought of it before, but have you ever wondered what might of happened to Kit if he never met you.” a grim look came to Baloo’s face as he looked at Rebecca.

“I try not to think of it.” with that Rebecca nodded.

“I never really thought about to deeply, I always told my self that he would of found a more responsible pilot.”

“HEY!” Rebecca smiled, as she got the reaction from Baloo.

“It wasn’t until today, as I watched Shade tossing, and turning, in his sleep that I thought that Kit might not have been so lucky.” With that Rebecca sat on her couch, and looked at Baloo. “I then started to think about what happened with Dan, how Kit could leave at any point and time if he liked.”

“Yeah I thought about that my self, but me and little britches are friends, he wouldn’t do that.” Rebecca raised and eyebrow and smirked slightly.

“Oh really, then all it’s going to take is another blow up between you two for him to run and join the Thembria air core again.” Baloo pulled his hat over his face remembering how much of a hassle that was. “Baloo, I think it’s about time we talked about legally adopting Kit.”

“We?” the look on Baloo’s face was priceless, it seemed a mixture and stun, confused, and completely lost.

“Yes WE, you don’t really think I’m going to let you have total say in how to raise him.” with that Baloo was about to say something, but then stopped.

“It would be best for Kit.” Rebecca almost fell out of her chair in shock, she thought she would have an argument on her hands at least, but as Baloo now looked at her shocked face it brought a smile to his own, getting Rebecca to snap out of her shock.

“Alright, I’ll contact the court house and start to get the papers ready.” Rebecca got up, started to walk away, but then stopped and looked at Baloo who was looking over the box of stuff. ‘Maybe he’s not such a lunk head.’ just then Baloo picked up the other gauntlet and got it to fire some kind of gas into his face, knocking him out. “BALOO!” Rebecca ran to his side to make sure Baloo was alright, only to smile when she heard him snoring. “Sleeping gas?… like you ever need help to sleep.” Rebecca said, as she smiled slightly then looked around to make sure the kids weren’t in the room and gave Baloo a kiss on the cheek. “Sleep tight you lunk head.”

Thembria

(Torque’s work shop.)

“Well, well what do we have here.” Torque turned to find him self looking at Don Karnage in heavy winter coat. “Professor Martin Torque I presume.” with that Torque started to back up only to find himself surrounded by Pirates. “Tell me, my good Professor, how would you like to get out of the cold?”

“W-what do you want with me?” Torques asked, almost frightened of the answer.

“My dear man, I only wish to make you a deal. You help me get into Cape suzette and, I promise you to get your vengance on a certain round pilot.” with this offer Torque’s fear started to go away as a smile started to cross his face.

“Where do I sign?”

Cape suzette

(Mental Asylum)

Two thugs, a gorilla and a rhino, walked up to a door being led by a very short Croc, dressed in a Doctors garb. “This is the one boys, get the door.” Both brutes grabbed the door and ripped it off it’s hinges, causing the alarms in the Asylum to go off. “I MEANT OPEN IT YA DUNDER HEADS!!”

“Oh sorry boss.” both thugs responded as they put the door back, and then opened it only to have it fall on their boss. “Uh-oh.”

“Both of yous are going to be sorry for this later, grab the Doc and let’s get out of here.” As the three broke out, the entire time their captive was laughing up a storm, as well as going on about how he was going to have his revenge on Khan for humiliating him, as well as calling for some one called M.E.L. “I don’t knows what Karnage wants with this nut bag, but as long as he pays I don’t care.”

(Cunningham Apartment)

It was hours later before any news of the break out of the insane asylum was heard, and as Rebecca heard who was broken out she shook her head several times and looked at Baloo, who had woken up from the sleeping gas. “With that nut on the streets there is no way I’m going to let Shade leave.”

“You don’t have much of a choice ma-am.” Rebecca turned to find Shade standing in the hallway, slowly walking up using the wall to balance him self. “I have done as you asked, I have rested the entire day. I will have my things if you please.” Rebecca looked at Shade, it was clear that he still wasn’t up to snuff, even though he had slept the entire day, the nightmares that he was having seemed to only make him worst not better. but the look of determination in his eyes told her that he wasn’t going to listen to her tell him to go back to bed.

“Shade look at your self, you need to eat something, your barely able to stand anymore.” Rebecca pointed out, and Shade looked at her. He was a wreck, his body was even worst off then before, and his mind was filled with the lasting images from his nightmares. “Your in no condition to go out, you need a little more rest, please, if anything, use some since in this.” Rebecca could see her words meant nothing to the boy standing in front of her. She could tell that this would only get worst, and that even if she refused to let him leave he would only find another way out and run. “If your not going to listen to reason at least listen to your belly, have a hot meal.” Shade was about to protest as he opened his mouth only to stop when their came a rumble from his belly.

“Traitor.” Shade said, as he looked down at his stomach. “May I at least have my gear back?” Rebecca smiled seeing that something had gotten Shade to think about his health, it wasn’t much but at least it would give her more time to think of away to keep shade in for the night.

“Everything except the flame thrower, I’ll hold onto that until it’s time for you to go.” Rebecca said, as she smiled at Shade and handed him the box of his stuff and held onto the gauntlet that shot fire. “You really shouldn’t play with fire, you could hurt your self.”

“Or some one else ma-am.” Shade said, as he started to put on his cloths followed by his equipment. “If you’ve forgotten ma-am, let me remind you that those men last night wanted to hurt you, and sometimes the only way to get through to people like that, is to give them a good dose of reality, and show them just how weak they can be in the face a true danger.” with that Shade finished strapping down his final piece of equipment to his body and he looked at Rebecca. “Be careful with that ma-am, playing around with something you don’t full understand could get you hurt.”

“Now just a hair picking minute.” Baloo said as he stood up from Rebecca’s chair and looked at Shade, only to have Rebecca hold out her hand to stop him. “Becky he can’t talk to you like that, he should have some respect for his elders.”

“Let it go Baloo.” Rebecca said, as she looked at Baloo, then looked at Shade who had already started to get ready for a fight. “He’s just out of sorts right now, I’m going to assume you think us a threat right now, seeing how I’m unwilling to let you leave.” with that Shade nodded once. “Alright, I’ll make you a deal, have dinner with us, and stay around a little while to play some games, tell stories, have some frosty peep, and by 8.” with that Rebecca held up the gauntlet and smiled slightly. “If you don’t wish to stay then I’ll give this back with out any arguments.” with that Shade looked at the clock on the wall and then at Rebecca.

“On your honor, you swear that no one will try and stop me?” with those words Rebecca raised her right hand and smiled.

“You have my word of honor.” Rebecca said, proudly then watched as Shade seem to relax. “Great then, Molly, and Kit, are in Molly’s room Why don’t you go and play with them for a while.” Shade looked at Rebecca for a moment as if trying to figure her out, then nodded and walked away. “Second door on the left.” Rebecca called out, and watched as Shade followed her instructions. “Alright Baloo I need your help.”

“What?… but Becky how can you let him talk to you like that?” Baloo asked, as he looked at Rebecca. “I still remember that one time Kit gave you a bit of lip and you gave him a royal lecture, as well as me.” following Rebecca into the kitchen Baloo wanted to know why Rebecca was letting Shade get away with how he had just spoken to her.

“Because we had been working together for a long time Baloo, Six months by then, and I gave Kit that lecture because he was getting a little to big for his britches, and I also gave you that lecture because he got it from you. The way you talked to me infront of him he thought he could get away with it, and I had to nip it in the bud then and there, yet another reason why I want joint custody with Kit so he doesn’t pick up all your bad habits.”

“But it’s alright for that smart mouth to talk to you in such a manner?”

“I don’t know how long Shade has been on the streets Baloo, and from what you told me about the first time you ran into Kit he had the same kind of behavior.”

“Yeah but that was because Kit had been staying with the Pirates, he had to act tough so they didn’t walk all over him.” in a flash Rebecca slammed a large fish on the kitchen counter and turn to Baloo.

“Shade had to do the same Baloo, at least in the Pirates Kit was apart of some kind of group, Shade was on the streets, he may have had no one, maybe he had some people looking after him, I don’t know. What I do know is that right now something inside of me can’t just let him walk out that door tonight, at least not with out trying to stop him.” Baloo could see that some how Shade had struck a cord with Rebecca thought he didn’t know how, he knew he had to help her.

“I don’t understand Rebecca, but if this is what you want then I’ll help.” with that Baloo started to help Rebecca get things ready for dinner then smiled, as he heard laughter coming from the other room. “Sounds like a great time in there should we go and check?” As a smile crossed Rebecca’s face Baloo looked at her, as the sun came in through the window and covered her in it’s rays. He had never noticed her like this before, and smiled him self, as he started to see just how pretty she was.

In the room Kit looked at Shade as he walked in only giving him a funny look seeing the gear he had on, but then stopped when Molly ran up and smiled. “Shade you came to play.” with that Shade looked down at Molly and smiled, as he knelt down to the little bear.

“Yep that’s what I came to do little one.” As Shade stood up he looked at Kit, who was giving him a funny look, mostly from the stuff he was wearing. “Please to meet you, my name is unimportant, but you may call me Shade and I will respond.” with that Kit looked at Shade now confused.

“High I’m Kit… Kit Cloudkicker.” Kit said, as he shook Shade’s hand. “So you live in the building?” this question only got a laugh from Molly who looked at Kit.

“No, Shade spent the night because he fell, down and hit his head in the hall. Mommy said that he helped her last night.” with that Kit looked at Shade for a moment and smiled.

“So what did you do for her?” Kit asked, interesting in knowing a little more about Shade.

“I brought her antibiotics for young Molly here.” with that Kit smiled slightly.

“So you ran to the store for her that was nice.” with that Shade tilted his head forward slightly as if bowing in away.

“Na-ah, mommy said he was like danger woman.” in a flash Shade covered Molly’s mouth and smiled.

“Now little one, as a favor I wish that you not tell everyone what your mommy has told you. Got to keep it a secret O.K.?” with that Molly looked at Shade for a moment, and then nodded. “But I’m pretty sure I’m no where near the level of Danger woman.” with that Shade turned to Kit and whispered. “Who is danger woman?” Shade didn’t get a response from Kit as he kept giving him a funny look. This question was soon answered as Molly started to tell him just who her favorite super heroin was. Two hours passed, before Rebecca walked into the room and saw that Shade was listening to Molly nodding his head and smiling as she kept going on about Danger woman, while Kit was, leaning against the wall asleep.

As the five sat down at the Cunningham dinning table, Baloo told tales to Molly with Kit adding in his own quips in and correcting Baloo every so often, while Rebecca smiled to see how her daughter looked up at the big bear, and seem to smile even more to see that her plan was working on Shade. As he sat and listened to the tales as well. It wasn’t until later as the four bears sat down that Rebecca noticed that Shade didn’t join them, as she was about to see where he had gotten off to she heard the sound of a piano key being struck. As Rebecca turned and looked at the piano she saw Shade standing in front of it looking down at the keys, though she couldn’t see his eyes she could tell as his hands slowly stroked the keys that he was trying to remember something.

“Do you play?” with that Shade turned his head slightly and looked over his shoulder at Rebecca.

“I only learned a little from a good friend of mine.”

“Really what was their name?” Kit asked, wanting to know a little more about Shade.

“Her name… her name was Nicole, she was a kind woman that knew a lot, and she taught me a lot, one of the things she always told me about music is that it was very powerful, it could raise ones spirits, or cause grown adult to cower in fear, but the most important thing of all is that the music should always come from the heart, and when it‘s done right, when the player of the music puts everything into the music, they can make those listening to it feel those very emotions.” Rebecca could hear the pain in Shad‘es voice as he spoke, and watched as he sat down at the piano. “May I?” Rebecca nodded, wanting to know what music kind of melody Shade would play after such a moving statement.

As the four bears listened to Shade play the piano, none of them really noticed it but slowly and surely the music was relaxing them, while making them happy. Baloo sat on the couch and closed his eyes letting the music take him away, giving him the feeling of flying as he put his arm around Kit, who was sitting beside him. While Kit leaned up against Baloo, and smiled looking across, seeing Rebecca sitting on the other side of his pa-pa bear. As Kit closed his eyes and let him self pretend that he was apart of a big family. Rebecca smiled as she held Molly in her lap, as the little yellow cub leaned up against her and started to fall asleep, Rebecca thought about getting up to put her to bed, but wanted to keep hearing the music as she failed to notice that she was now leaning up against Baloo. A feeling that she hadn’t felt since she was with her first husband started to fill her, as Baloo‘s arm came around her, and pulled both her and Molly in close.

After several minutes Shade stopped playing the piano, and then turned to the four. As he looked at the sleeping family, he smiled, as something inside of him longed to be apart of it. After a few moments he took a step towards them, the urge was starting to take hold, his heart told him that he might be able to lower his guard around them. He then took it back, as he clinched his fist, and turned his head away from the scene as if he was disgusted by it.

As he retrieved his gauntlet Shade headed for the door, putting his mask over his face and carefully closing the door behind him. Out in the elevator Shade looked up at the pale moon light bathing him in it’s glow. “Never again.” was all Shade said, as doors opened, and he walked away from the apartment complex.

*************************************************************************************Few things

1. This is only the first chapter, what Karnage is working on will slowly come to light in other chapters.

2. Shade is kind of a tip of the hat to not only Tale spin, but also a lot of the old 1930 heroes, but I mostly got an idea from The Grey Ghost, and his gear, as I put it, is mostly home made, and Steampunk. That’s right folks I’m trying to make, maybe the first, 1930’s Steampunk furry. (but his creations are within reason… even the flame thrower gauntlet… yes I‘ve made one.)

3. Shade’s past will slowly come to light in the next few chapters (when I finish tweaking them.)

4. though it happens in a lot of Talespin fictions, about how a fan character some how winds up with the main crew, I haven’t quite resolved that in my own mind, so he might or he might not.

5. Shade will not replace any characters, I will try my hardest on keeping that promise, because the show it self was great, the characters perfect, thought I still say they should of made more episodes.

6. Continuity As your read this story I just want to point out that I’m mixing continuity, from both the T.V. show and the Comics.