A month has past since Shade had become wanted by the police, and now not only does he have to think a few steps ahead of the criminal element but also those that he was considered allies on his war on crime, he had to remain in the shadows of the city, no longer able to lower his guard when in the presence of law enforcement, he could no longer trust even those that he had feelings for. No matter how many times he had stopped criminals, no matter how mature, or adult he had acted in the past, deep down he was still a child and over time even he found him self longing for even a kind word.

The rainy season had come again, and Shade stood looking over the city from the roof tops, he had forgotten how lonely it could get when fighting in the shadows, but then again not much happened on nights like this, not to many people wanted to get soaked to the bone, then again there was always that small group of people that didn’t seem to care, and wanted to make a fast buck.

As Shade went on his rounds he noticed a figure that he hadn’t seen in a while. It was Rebecca, she was rushing, he noticed a few feet behind her a few tough looking men following her, 3 thugs following close behind laughing slightly, but something seemed odd about them, something that he couldn’t put his finger on for a few second, until he noticed it. Thought their hair was messed up and looked filthy, it was cleanly cut, their cloths covered in dirt and grease made them look like street pirates at first glance but there was no holes, no tares and the cloths didn’t even look badly worn in, their was no strings and the seems looked still fresh from the factory. “So I wonder how much your getting paid Ms. Cunningham.” Shade said, as he watched the scene unfold. Rebecca ran into an ally and the thugs followed as they slowly walked up making rude comments and gestures for several minutes before Rebecca let out a scream, Shade remained in his position watching as he glared down at Rebecca. After a few minutes of him not stepping in the thugs walked up to Rebecca menacingly before they stopped a few feet from her and threw up their arms.

“WHERE THE HECK IS HE!?!” One of the thugs yelled, as he looked at the others.

“Come on Kevin give it some time, I mean we know the Ghost comes running when he hears a scream, and we know that some how he always comes to the aid of Ms. Cunningham and her family, we just need to try again.”

“TRY AGAIN!! Are you serious, that scream nearly broke my ear drums. If that didn’t get him running to her then nothing will, he’s ether not out tonight.”

“Or he has his hands full somewhere else, even the Ghost can’t be in two places at once.” with that the street thug took off his shirt and revealed himself to be a cop. “That was some really good acting Ma-am, but it seems that the Ghost isn’t coming to your rescue tonight.” With that Rebecca nodded.

“Even though he didn’t come out, we still have a deal right?”

“Yes Ma-am, are deal is still in place.” with that Rebecca smiled and started to walk away. “Do you need an escort home ma-am?”

“No thank you, I only live a few blocks from here.” with that the officers nodded and started to pile into a squad car letting Rebecca make her own way home. As for Shade he felt slightly hurt, as he tightened his fist and started to make his own way around.

“So even they would sell me out. I knew she liked money but I never thought she would try and cash in on me.” Shade said to him self as he leapt from one roof top to another. “Who am I kidding, I’m not related to her, or them, I knew she would sell me out.” As he made the final comment he stopped before jumping to another roof. “But if she was going to sell me out, why didn’t she just tell them what I looked like, or make Kit tell them where my hide out is.” with that Shade looked in the direction of the Cunningham home before shacking the thoughts and started to move again, it was the sound of sirens that got Shade to change his direction and head for smoke, seemed there was a fire, another apartment building ablaze. As he started to make his way towards it he knew the cops would be waiting like they always do recently, waiting for him to make his move so that they might be able to arrest him. Sure enough once he got close enough he could see them from the roof top police officers waiting for him to jump into the fire, waiting for him to be the hero.

“MY BABY PLEASE SOME ONE SAVE MY BABY!!” a woman cried out, Shade looked down and saw a female fox screaming for help, but also standing near a cop.

‘Was this another trick, were they really stooping this low to get him to make a move, did the officer tell this woman to cry out for help?’ Shade didn’t move as he watched from above, not knowing what to do until he heard the sound of a baby crying from the burning building. “Crude it wasn’t a trick.” Shade said, as he jumped into action jumping off the roof and using a small grappling hook to swing into a window of the burning building he quickly ran up to the floor the child was screaming from, as he kicked in the door he was able find the baby fox still screaming and chocking from the smoke that was filling the room. “Sorry I’m late kiddo but things have gotten rather tricky as of late.” Shade said, as he took off his jacket still soaked from the rain but quickly drying out, and wrapped the baby in it before turning to find the doorway had been consumed in fire. As he turned and ran towards the window Shade reached down to his belt and started to turn a small valve, as he crashed through it he could feel his shirt starting to expand, while at the same time his decent started to slow, by the time he cleared three floors he was almost hovering in mid air. As he reached the grieving mother the building started to cave in on itself. But as soon as he handed the infant off to the mother he was slammed from behind by the fire hoses now turned on him pinning into another building as the water pressure started to tear his shirt away.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HE JUST SAVED MY BABY!!” the woman yelled, as she started to hit the fire men. Soon followed by other people in the crowed.

“Are you kidding, he’s a wanted man, he just flew, and right now we don’t even know if he might have been the cause of this fire.” These final words started to tick Shade off as he started to force him self off the building. It wasn’t until the streams of water stopped pinning Shade to the wall that he was able to turn himself around and found that the firefighters had been subdued as well as the officers being held back, the woman ran up and handed Shade back his jacket and smiled slightly.

“I know this might not mean a lot, with the rest of the city after you and all, but just know that a lot of us really appreciate what your doing for us.” As Shade made his escape he knew that the people that helped him might be getting pulled up on charges of aiding him but then again it was good to know that there was a few people in the city that still had his back. It wasn’t until Shade found himself in front of Rebecca’s house that he stopped once more, this time wondering what deal they cut with her, what price was she willing to sell him out for.

The next morning Rebecca sat at her desk listening to the radio, smiling slightly as she heard about Shade’s part in the fire. It’s the way it had been going for the past week, thought she hated what she did the night before though she didn’t have much choice, but knowing that Shade was still doing the right thing, and helping people, was enough to make her feel better. Just then a grown Bore walked into the hire for higher office and looked at Rebecca.

“Cunningham we need to talk.” Rebecca turned her attention at the bore with a distasteful look on her face. “Last night was a bust and we’re going to need you to keep doing it, until we are able to capture the Ghost is that understood.”

“Mr. Slade need I remind you that this is my place of business and as such you will act accordingly.”

“And need I remind you that if you don’t do as I tell you, I can have your children taken from you.” with that Rebecca froze, this officer knew a lot about her and family. “Or do you think it would look good for people to know you have an ex pirate for a worker, as well as the same person that gave Don Karnage the power to start blasting Cape Suzette over a year ago.”

“Kit’s a good boy, and he’s mended his ways so why don’t you just back off.”

“Oh really, how about your husband, just how many traffic tickets has he gotten, Laws he’s broken?”

“Baloo is unorthodox at times, but he’s always done the right thing, and has always made up for his mistakes.”

“Then we’ll just stick with the fact that you have some kind of connection with the Ghost, something draws him to you, and your family to help, and that’s what I’m trying to exploit and if you don’t help me then I will make your nice fair tale of a life into a living nightmare, your daughter taken from you and put in an orphanage, your son sent to a detention center until his 18^th birthday where he will then be sent to jail, for the number of lives lost and property destroyed on that dark day, oh and let’s not forget your husband grounded and your business license stripped from you, all for aiding a wanted criminal, now you have until three this afternoon to think this over, and if I don’t hear from you, I can promise you the papers will hear about you.” with that Slade turned and walked away, leaving Rebecca speechless at this threat.

“Shade please don’t hate me for this.” with that Rebecca sat down and started to sob slightly as she covered her face in her hands. “Please forgive me.” As the time passed Rebecca found her self looking over an album of pictures of Baloo and her higher for hire family, so many smiling faces, and then as she reached the end of it she found news paper clippings from stories of the Ghost. As she looked over them she closed the book not knowing what to do anymore, she didn’t want to betray Shade, but if she didn’t do as Slade ordered then she would loose her family. A few hours later as officer Slade walked down street to a small fair like section, he smiled slightly as he heard a man calling out for a tunnel of terror ride.

“I’ll take one.” Slade said, as he walked up the steps and looked at the man.

“Oh of course sir right this way.” with that the man watched as Officer Slade got into the car and watched as it started to role away. On the outside everything seemed normal, on the inside how ever Slade smiled as the car stopped just out of view, and Slade got out to enter into a secret room where he found several men sitting.

“Oh no the cops we better give up.”

“Shut up Weazell.” Slade said, as he slapped Weazell upside the head.

“Alright Slade so what’s the word?” a gruff looking Dingo asked as he looked at Slade.

“Well Ms. Cunningham is still on the fence about helping the police capture the ghost, but then again once I started to threaten to take her kids away the fool agreed, and the best thing is everyone is the police station thinks she’s doing it to help us capture him.”

“That’s good, but you still haven’t captured him, he’s still out there messing up are plans for taking over this city.”

“Don’t worry it’s only a matter of time before that fool comes to the dame’s rescue and get’s caught.” in a flash the head of the table got up grabbed Slade by his shirt and slammed him to the table.

“THAT FOOL TOOK DOWN ARE DRUG RING!! THAT FOOL OUT SMARTED AND KILLED MY SON!! SO BEFORE YOU START TO UNDER ESTIMATE THAT FOOL AGAIN, DON’T FORGET THAT HE’S ALREADY CRUSH ONE OF ARE PLANS, SENT ONE OF ARES TO A MENTAL WARD, AND KILLED ANOTHER!” with that the leader of the group let Slade go letting the Bore stand up gasping for air, as he felt drops of blood where his boss had dug his claws in. “I want you all to listen, and listen good, we are no longer going to underestimate this Ghost person, before we believed him to be some masked nut running around, making it a little harder for us to ruff up a few people, when he started to work with the cops, he became a little more dangerous but still we believed him to be nothing more then a pain in are sides. But as he slowly started to take apart my Son’s drug ring we’ve learned that he’s not just some nut but a viable threat to all are plans, and until we find away to take that pest down we have to put all are focus on him, and find away to destroy him.”

“Well that’s hard when a lot of the lower class still sing his praises, didn’t you hear what happened last night, he saved a baby from a burning building and the residents of that building held off the cops and the fire fighters so he could get away.” Slade informed his boss only to cower slightly as the dingo shot him a cruel glare.

“So what you’re saying is the first thing we need to do is destroy his image, destroy what the people love, and get them to turn against the Ghost.” with that everyone around the table started to node. “Then that’s just what we’re going to do, send out the word to every low life in the city, and tell them that we’re going to take down the Ghost and they can pick up a bit of cash on the way with out getting into trouble, because the Ghost is going to be taking all the blame, Slade you’ll see to that.” the following weeks a new crime wave seem to hit the city like a storm. Banks, businesses, muggings, arson, grand theft, and more. News papers flew off the stands, the radios all over the city seem to ring out as the crime wave kept climbing at the scene of every crime was the Ghost committing the crime, and as the people started to rise up in arms demanding the mayor do something, the chief couldn’t say anything to defend Shade, he knew that there was no way that one person could be pulling off so many crimes, not in one night, and as the new mayoral election slowly started to come up, an unknown candidate, by the name of Achimedes Volentes, threw his hat into the race. He swore to rid the city of the Ghost once and for all, and almost over night this new comer to mayor election became a shoe in for mayor, both with the people that believed the story of the ghost becoming a criminal, as well as the protestors that hated Shade before he was even wanted by the police.

Weeks went by and Shade found his work harder and harder, as more and more people seem to be on the hunt for the ghost. Everyday as Shade returned to his lair with no luck in stopping the imposters he only turned on the radio and listened to the broadcast on the crimes that they had some how managed to do under his nose while he tried and worked out before going to bed. It wasn’t until the 16^th night that things changed for the better.

“I know what their doing.” Shade said, as he stood on a roof top and let the rain wash over him, his eyes fixed on the city below. “Destroy the foundation of a building and it will fall, destroy the peoples faith in me, turn them against me and it will only be a matter of time before I am captured.” Just then Shade’s eyes caught something funny in the Shadows, a pair of Ghost, sneaking out of the museum, caring bags of loot. “Interesting with that Shade kept to the shadows and smiled as he was slowly lead to a building where he watched a lot of Ghost running in an out, or in some cases drive in an out. As he was about to make his move he stopped as he watched a cop car pull up to the building, as he observed officer Slade stepping out of the vehicle he watched closely at what was going on, after a few minutes Slade came out of the building pocketing a role of cash. “Interesting, I wonder if Baldwin knows that he still has some crooked cops on his beat?” Shade was shaken from his observation as a bullet barely missed him as he made a run for it several more shots where fires and just barely missed him. As he ran for it he knew he wouldn’t be able to return that night. As the night turned to day the list of crimes preformed by the ghost came out Rebecca shook her head as she tossed the paper into the trash.

“How can people be so blind.” Rebecca asked, as she listened to the radio as the news report started and listened to how the people had started to turn on Shade again. “It’s happening all over again, can’t they see that it’s just people trashing his reputation.” Rebecca couldn’t focus on her work as she looked up to the ceiling knowing that she had put a grey windsock up at the beginning of everything, and Shade hadn’t come like he had promised her would, had something happened to him, was the reason that he hadn’t stopped this new crime ring because he wasn’t able to anymore, had his luck ran out and was he laying somewhere in a ditch, or shallow grave. As these nightmarish images started to haunt her imagination, another thing that she found strange was that Officer Slade hadn’t come around and threatened her since this had all started. Something was seriously wrong and she couldn’t take the stress anymore. As she heard the Sea Duck pulling in she smiled, she knew how she could find out the truth, but didn’t know if she really wanted to know it. As both Kit and Baloo walked in both looked rather somber, as they looked at Rebecca. “So I take it you heard the news.”

“It isn’t right Beckers that boy has done so much for this city and people are turning on him like rabid dogs.” Baloo said, as he took his hat of his head and started to crush it in his hands. “Have you.” Baloo didn’t finish what he was asking as Rebecca shook her head. “If I find out these low life scum did something to that boy and are destroying his image, I’ll.” Baloo stopped when he felt Kit put a hand on his arm, and then looked at Rebecca as Kit motioned to her, she was already starting to get upset at the thought. “But then again it’s Shade, that boy can take care of him self, he’s been doing it for a while.” Rebecca nodded and smiled slightly knowing that Baloo was just trying to spare her feelings.

“That’s actually something I need to talk to Kit about.”

“Me?” kit was shocked as he looked at Rebecca.

“You’ve been to his home Kit, I was hopping that maybe you could show me the way there?”

“I was blindfolded when he lead me there and I spent hours trying to find my way back when he sent me away I don’t even know if I could find it again.” with that Rebecca nodded and smiled slightly as she walked up and knelt down to Kit.

“Please Kit, do it for me.” Kit looked at Rebecca and could tell that this meant a lot to her, he also knew that since Shade had stopped coming around she had grown more and more worried about his well being, and her fears had slowly gotten worst after she started flying the grey windsock and Shade didn’t come around. As he nodded Rebecca smiled and gave him a hug.

“Thank you honey.” As Rebecca and Kit went into the storage area and slipped under the docks to a swear pipe they made their way through the maze for hours and as Rebecca could tell it was starting to get dark outside she knew that even if they did find Shade’s lair that he might not be there, but at this point and time she didn’t care all she wanted to do was see some sign that he was still alive. While at that very time Shade walked up to the building he had observed the night before in street rags and his fur covered in dirt to give it a more brown tone, as he walked in he quickly held up his hands as several men dressed like the Ghost pointed guns at him.

“I give up no shoot.” Shade said as he held his hands high into the air and watched as the men lowered their guns as Officer Slade walked up looking angry.

“Kid what the hell are you doing?”

“Well the Ghost,… well I guess one of the Ghost said that if I wanted a hot meal that I should come here.”

“Is that so, and did this Ghost tell you his name?”

“No, he said that all I had to do was say that I would work for free, as long as I got some food.” just then Shade’s stomach growled and Slade looked down at him.

“Fine free labor who cares, come here.” with that Slade walked Shade over to a table and sat him down as a long line of Ghost imposters started to line up. “All you have to do is simple take the loot and check off persons name.”

“Name?”

“It’s not really their name just a Ghost number like this.” with that the Ghost imposter in front of the table handed Slade a bag of loot. “Name?”

“Ghost 45.” with that Slade looked down the list and checked off number 45.

“That’s all I have to do?”

“Yeah, and when he comes back put another check by his name, the more checks the bigger his take.”

“What’s take?” Shade asked, as he gave Slade a confused look.

“Never you mind, just do as your told and you’ll eat tonight got it?” with that Shade nodded and then sat at the desk, The entire night as he took the loot and checked people’s names he secretly locked his eyes with each imposter, making sure to leave a small surprise for them, and when he wasn‘t doing it to the runners he would lock eyes with the guards for only brief seconds leaving them the same kind of surprise.

As Shade worked his mental magic in the heart of the crime ring, back at his lair Rebecca and Kit walked into find the real ghost outfit laying on a cot, as Rebecca walked up and picked up the outfit she noticed that the Cot had a large red stain on it, as she looked at the stain her worst fears started to rush into her head, while Kit walked up and started to scratch at the stain. “Is that?” her voice was barely audible as Kit kept scratching at the stain. “Kit?”

“Tomato sauce.” Kit answered as he looked at Rebecca who let out her breath. “He must have spilt something a few days ago other wise he would of stained his costume.” with that Rebecca nodded as she looked at the outfit and then hung it up on a coat rack. “So are we just going to wait here for him?” Rebecca shook her head, then looked at Kit with a smile on her face.

“We aren’t, I am, you have school tomorrow mister.” with that Kit smiled slightly as Rebecca went back to her mothering ways, just seeing that the costume was still in one piece and knowing that Shade was still alive, at least a few days ago, seem to boost her spirits. Before Kit left Rebecca smiled, as she walked up to him and kissed him on the forehead. “Straight home Kit, and get your homework done, I‘ll be home as soon as I‘m able to talk with Shade.”

“No problem Ms. Cunningham.” As Kit left Rebecca couldn’t help but smile as she watched him leave, she knew that there would come a time when Kit would call her mom, but she also knew that she had to let it come naturally.

Mean while, back at the criminal’s hideout, Shade was working hard putting into place pieces that would ensure the downfall of this crime ring. Through out the night he kept up his act of the hungry street orphan, and as the first rays of sunlight started to pierce the dirty windows of the hideout, he smiled slightly as he saw Slade walked up to him with a bagel. “Alright brat, nights done, get out of here before I haul you to the orphanage.” with that Shade nodded and took the bagel as he ran out of the building like a scared child.

It was a few hours later before Shade made his way back to his lair insuring that he wasn’t followed. But as he walked in he was rather surprised to find Rebecca asleep in the old easy chair that he would sit in when faced with a troubling case. As he looked at Rebecca from the shadows as he looked around a few times and searched the lair to ensure that there was no one else, before making his presence fully known. The way he did this was by climbing up a ladder to the second story of the lair and dropping a lead pipe, getting Rebecca to jump up holding her chest as her heart raced, after a few minutes of her catching her breath she looked around and saw the pipe, as she looked up slightly she noticed Shade now in his Ghost outfit, looking down at her from his position. “What have I told you about scarring me?” Rebecca scolded, as she shook her finger in Shade’s direction, only to watch as his eyes turned cold towards her. “D-don’t you give me that look young man.” She was shacking slightly his look was sending chills down her spin, he had never been able to do this before, she had never been scared of Shade before, but now she was terrified of him, of the look he was giving her. “Sh-shade?”

“How much?” Shade asked, his words cold and cruel, no sign of love or respect as he kept glaring at her.

“H-how much? How much what?”

“How much did they pay you? How much are they paying you?” Rebecca was confused by the question as she watched Shade carefully, she knew he was fast, and she now feared that maybe all the stories she had been hearing was true and that Shade had finally become the very thing that he hated, with the people of the city turning on him his hate could have twisted his mind, and with his abilities it wouldn’t take much for him to make people do his bidding.

“P-paying me for what?”

“TO BETRAY ME!?! HOW MUCH IS THE POLICE PAYING YOU TO PLAY VICTIM TO DRAW ME OUT!? HOW MUCH WAS ARE FRIENDSHIP WORTH!? HOW MUCH WAS MY TRUST WORTH!?” As Shade’s words echoed in the lair Rebecca stepped back slightly in fear, she had never seen Shade like this and apart of her couldn’t help but remember what he had been able to do to others, she was scared that he was going to hurt her now, while at the same time her heart felt like it was breaking as she feared that she had lost him, that she had failed to prevent him from going down this dark path.

“I,… I don’t understand?”

“Do not play innocent with me Ms. Cunningham, I have fought long and hard for this city, I have stuck my neck out several times to protect your family alone. I would have never betrayed that trust, even when things were stacked against you or one of your family members I never turned my back on you, or them. I went out of my way to find the truth, I risked everything to protect you and your loved ones,… AND YOU TRIED TO SELL ME OUT!!! SO I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH THE COPS ARE PAYING YOU TO BETRAY ME!?!” With those words Rebecca’s fear started to vanish as she realized what Shade was yelling about.

“Sell you out? YOU THINK I WOULD SELL YOU OUT!?”

“YES!”

“NOW YOU SEE HERE YOUNG MAN! I HAVEN’T SOLD ANYONE OUT, NOT YOU LEAST OF ALL! I’M BEING BLACKMAILED BY OFFICER SLADE!” As she mentioned the name she watched as Shade’s expression quickly change, and she understood that he had misunderstood what he had seen, but she was still angry with him for even thinking such a thing of her and she wasn‘t about to let up now. “Officer Slade is threatening my family, and every night I went out and played the victim, as you called it, I prayed that you wouldn’t come to my rescue.” with that Rebecca started to storm off, now angry that Shade would ever accuse her of betraying him.

“Anything you say Ms. Pot.” These words stopped Rebecca in mid step, as she slowly turned around she found Shade now standing in the center of the room his arms crossed looking at her. As she opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind, she stopped she realized what he meant.

**********

3 weeks ago

**********

Back when everything had started, when the police had issued an arrest warrant for Shade, or the Ghost as the warrant was written, he had come to them, it was cold night she remembered it so well because it was the first time they had made a fire in the fireplace, Kit, Molly, and Baloo sat in the living room making smores and laughing, while Rebecca watched on getting some final papers done from the days work, when there came a knock at the back door. Rebecca turned to the door and noticed that Baloo had heard it as well, as she shook her head to tell him that she would deal with it, she got up and looked through the window, as she opened the door and found Shade standing in the shadows hidden from sight. “What are you doing here?” Rebecca asked, her voice more cold then loving, she was angry with Shade for what she heard.

“I came because I need to talk.”

“We have nothing to talk about. Before I kept your secret because you where doing some good, and I really thought that in time you would come around and come to us when you thought things where getting over your head, I tried several times to talk you into coming to stay with us, but you kept refusing.”

“Because the city needed me.”

“The city doesn’t need another murderer.” those words came out of Rebecca’s mouth and almost instantly she regretted them, even in the shadows and through his mask she could see the hurt look on Shade’s face. Before she could try to take them back, before she could try and make a mends for what she had said he was gone. It was the heat of the moment she was angry with him and didn’t let him get a word in to explain anything, she had done that a few times before with Molly and Kit and every time she regretted doing it, but this time it might just cost her everything she had been trying to do with Shade.

**********

Present day

**********

Rebecca looked at Shade for several minutes not really knowing what to say. “I didn’t mean to say those things.”

“Yes you did, though you meant them to come out differently.”

“I tried to get in touch with you, I did as you told me a flew a grey windsock from the tower of higher for hire, but you never came.”

“I noticed the wind sock, but I saw your act before that, I figured the worst of you, just like you had of me.” The two looked away from each other not wanting to show the other of how truly ashamed they where over what they had done. “Why did you come here?” Shade said finally after a few minutes past.

“I wanted to see that you where alright.” Rebecca admitted as she looked up at him, then watched as he turned his back to her and headed for his work bench. “Are you alright?” Shade smiled slightly as he looked over his shoulder at her then shook his head in disbelief.

“The entire city has turned on me, I have no allies on the streets at night, with almost everyone trying to collect my head for the reward, and to top it all off I just finished yelling at maybe the only person that is my friend, accusing them of being just like every other money grubbing person in this city. Other then that, oh I’m doing just peachy.” Rebecca knew this life was starting to get to Shade, he was pushing himself beyond his limits every night, and with no safe place for him on the streets as the Ghost she knew that he was getting stressed out, but also knew that the only way that she would be able to get him to stop would be with if he wanted to stop, she had tried to convince him before but he had turned away from her offers of a good home in the past, but with the past few weeks she knew that this would be the best time of any to try once more hopefully he would see reason and agree to give up this life and at least try and live a normal one, even if he didn’t want to be apart of a family, at least he would have a good home, and be with people that did care about his well being.

“Then why do you keep doing it, why do you keep putting on this costume and going out?” Rebecca knew this life was starting to get to Shade, he was pushing himself beyond his limits every night, and with no safe place for him on the streets as the Ghost she knew that he was getting stressed out, but also knew that the only way that she would be able to get him to stop would be with if he wanted to stop, she had tried to convince him before but he had turned away from her offers of a good home in the past, but with the past few weeks she knew that this would be the best time of any to try once more hopefully he would see reason and agree to give up this life and at least try and live a normal one, even if he didn’t want to be apart of a family, at least he would have a good home, and be with people that did care about his well being.

“Why do you keep my secret from the police? Why haven’t you told the newspapers about who I really am and collect the thousands of dollars worth of rewards being offered by the city?” Rebecca was slightly shocked by this question and then smiled softly as she walked up and turned Shade to face her.

“Because it’s the right thing to do.” Rebecca responded as she looked at Shade, only seeing him smile. As he smiled at her she realized what he had just done, he had turned the direction of the conversation against her, which only got her to smile back at him, it was one trait that she really liked about Shade, he was very clever. “But this isn’t your fight, it isn’t your job to keep fighting, you gave it one heck of a run, you did a lot of good, but isn’t it time to hang up the mask, and coat, and let the Ghost vanish into the night where he appeared?” The smile on Shade’s face vanished slightly as he looked at Rebecca.

“I guess you’re right, but I just have to deal with this one last case. If the Ghost is going to retire, I want his reputation to still be somewhat good.” Rebecca didn’t really like the sound of this since Shade always gave her the same excuse one more case, one more crime and he would hang it up for good.

“It’s always one last case, you give me your word that when this is over with, that you’ll be done for good alright.” Rebecca looked at Shade, as he seem to hesitate in his answer she crossed her arms and gave him the same look that she normally gave Baloo when he hesitated in answering one of her questions. “Well I’m waiting.” As Shade nodded his head, she shook hers. “Oh no, I want to hear the words come out of your mouth, that way I know you can’t go back on are deal, I want you to say them.”

“You have my word that when this is all over with, that I’ll hang up my mask.” with that Rebecca smiled slightly, as she ruffled Shade’s hair.

“Good, and when you do you’ll come stay with us.” Rebecca added as she turned away from Shade and started to leave the lair, leaving Shade in shock.

“Now hold on I didn’t agree to that.” Rebecca turned and shot Shade a look that got him to mentally resort back to a scared child that had just angered it’s mother. “But that sounds wonderful ma-am.” Rebecca smiled as she started to walk away again.

“Good, then get some rest and be careful, I don’t know what you have planned for these imposters, but I’m sure that you’ll have this all wrapped up with by the end of this week.” as Rebecca left Shade slumped in his chair at the workbench and rolled his eyes.

“How does she keep doing that to me, I’ve faced killers, mob bosses, drug lords, and none of them can scare me like her and that look.” Shade questioned, as he leaned back and looked up at the bunker ceiling. “It’s got to be a women thing, they get old enough and they must be trained in some form of Shadow Skill.” after a while Shade did as he was told and went to bed, although as he thought about what the following evening was going to bring a smile crossed his face. As darkness fell upon the city the following night, Shade’s plan went in to action. A lone imposter ran for his life trying to get away from what was following him, his heart was racing, his vision was starting to blur due to not slowing down even for a second, but as he found a dark ally to hid in he jumped into a dumpster and started to gasp for breath.

“Do you know what happens when you anger a Ghost?” he heard a voice in the dumpster ask, the imposter started to look around and then found two glowing red eyes glaring at him. “You unless a wraith.” in an instant the imposter found him self pinned to the dumpster wall, as he opened his mouth to scream he found the very Shadows coving it and forcing his eyes to remain open as a dark figure slowly moved closer to him, it looked like the Ghost but it’s fur was matted and looked stained with blood, it’s eyes glowing red, with claws dripping a black tar like substance, it’s teeth looked razor sharp as it moved closer with a minor growl in it’s voice. “I’ve been kind to you low life scum up until now, now I’m just going to make sure you don’t bother the good people of this city again.” the figure moved it’s razor sharp claws close to the imposter’s neck, and upon hearing a minor whimper from the imposter stopped. “What is it? Do you wish to plead for your life? Maybe try to make me a deal to spare your life?” with that question the imposter nodded and the Shadows moved away from his mouth. “You wish to make me a deal, only the truth is what I seek, only a confession will prevent me from reaping your soul.”

“Alright I’ll tell you everything.”

“Not to me mortal thief, but to your justice of the peace, to your lawmen.” with that the imposter nodded quickly and felt him self being released from his bonds.

“Remember I will be watching, and should you try and break are deal.” in a flash the dark figure lunged forward bearing it’s teeth and claws stopping inches from the imposter’s face. “I will not hesitate to finish what we started here.” with that threat the figure slowly vanished back into the shadows leaving the imposter scrambling to get away. A few hours later Chief Baldwin’s home phone started to ring getting the tired police out of bed.

“Hello?”

“Sir it’s the station, we have a problem.”

“What kind of problem?”

“The Ghost sir, we’re being over whelmed by Ghost.”

“Excuse me?”

“They just keep coming in confessing to crimes, sir they keep begging us to protect them from something, saying that they have to confess or something is going to get them, we’re already at are capacity sir, and they’re still coming, what are we going to do?” Baldwin thought about the situation and only knew one reason this could be happening, as a smile slowly crossed his face now knowing that the real Ghost was innocent, he pondered what they need to do now.

“Alright call the prison tell them to send a few busses down, we’ll put them in the prison until their trials.”

“Yes sir.” As Baldwin hung up the phone he smiled slightly as he started to get dressed, but then noticed something on his nightstand near an open window, a card in the shape of a ghost. As he flipped the card over he smiled as he read the words.

“You’re Welcome.” Else where in the city Shade stood in the shadows smiling as he watched his only target of the night coming into view, their was no way for him to be everywhere at once, but with a minor hypnotic suggestion put into each of the imposters minds it seemed like he had been, when in truth he had been standing watch over the Cunningham residence knowing that when things started to get rough that Slade would try and use the Cunningham’s as leverage against him.

“You really shouldn’t have come.” Shade said as he looked down at Slade who looked up at him in freight.

“You, how are you doing this, how are you able to be everywhere at once, when the imposters started to roll in I got over to my storage place as fast as I could already to find that you had beaten my men into submission, now I find you where while I’m still hearing radio reports about more imposters turning them selves in all over the city, NO HUMAN BEING CAN BE THAT FAST!!” Shade looked at the officer and smiled slightly.

“You think I’m human, that is a comical. Do you not understand my name?” to Slade, Shade vanished from sight only to appear behind him. “I am a ghost officer Slade, I can be anywhere and everywhere at one time.” Slade watched as from behind Shade more Ghost appeared slowly walked around him until he was surrounded. “I can appear to be a child, or an old man, I can be male, or female, I can be anyone or anywhere I choose to.” the other ghost started to change shape and started to look like other people. As Slade watched in horror as he started to fear what was going on until finally all the other figures vanished and left Slade looking at Shade. “In the end justice will prevail Slade, and you will face it, but I’m not going to take you down tonight, I‘m not going to finish you off like Kage, what you’re going to do is tell that nice little group of yours of what you witnessed here, and warn them, I want you to tell them how it’s a bad idea to use people to get to me, I want you to warn them that should they try this course of action again I wont be just making your people turn them selves in I will ensure that none of them ever causes trouble for the good people of this city again. In other words Slade I’m telling you and your little group that should anything happen to people that you may think have a connection to me, or should your actions be intended to draw me out, I will gladly come, but upon are meeting I will ensure that you or anyone in your group aren’t able to cause such problems again, do I make my self clear?” As Slade hesitated on his answer a large shadowy figure from Slade’s deepest darkest nightmares appeared before him. “I SAID DO I MAKE MY SELF CLEAR!”

“YES!” Slade collapsed in terror as the image vanished before his eyes and the last thing he watched was Shade, the ghost, vanish into a thin mist. A few minutes later Chief Baldwin pulled up with several squad cars, finding Slade on the ground whimpering slightly.

“What’s going on out here.” Rebecca asked, as she walked outside to find the police on her front lawn.

“Sorry to have bothered you madam it seems officer Slade here has been running a ring of thieves posing as the Ghost for the past few weeks, and from what I have been able to gather the real Ghost stepped in tonight and dealt with the problem him self.” Baldwin informed her as he walked up to the front porch of the house.

“What’s all the noise.” Shade said, as he walked out from inside the house rubbing his eyes dressed in a night shift. “Oh cool real cops, did you catch a bad guy mister officer?” Shade asked, childishly getting a smile from Baldwin.

“In away, sorry for waking you people up, we’ll be leaving now.”

“Alright.” with that Rebecca moved Shade back inside and smiled as she shut the door, and looked down at him. “Was that really needed?”

“I’m sorry.” Shade said still in the childish voice.

“Oh knock it off.” Rebecca flicked Shade’s nose getting him to laugh slightly as Rebecca smiled at him. “Now that your name has been cleared, the Ghost can finally vanish into the shadows.” with that Rebecca started to walk up stairs and looked back at Shade smiling as he looked up at her. “I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow morning, and we’ll get you some new cloths as well, you’ll see Shade it’ll take some time getting used to it but you’ll enjoy being a normal person after all this.” As Rebecca looked at Shade she kept smiling for several minutes, before she realized that he wasn’t smiling back, he had the same serious look on his face that she had seen many times before, a look that told her that he still had to do something. “It’s not over is it?” Rebecca asked, slightly irritated as her smile vanished. “You’re not finished are you.”

“I’m sorry no, I was able to get a quick look into Slade’s mind his memory, it’s never really been over. The drug ring, The imposters, it seems that they’re connected, and it seems that the group that they where connected to is actually trying to destroy Cape Suzette.”

“That’s crazy.”

“Not really, it seems that they are trying to set the ground work for an invasion of a Hauser military force.”

“Hauser? Isn’t that the group that tried to take over Thembria?” Shade didn’t answer Rebecca’s question as he walked over to a window and looked outside, and watched as Slade and forced into a squad car. “Shade if this deals with that military group shouldn’t we inform the police, maybe even the military?” Shade turned his attention from the window and looked at Rebecca. He no longer had the stone cold serious look in his eyes, he no longer looked like a fearless warrior ready to face a force of unknown number, instead he looked like a frightened child that had just gotten in way over his head. “Shade what’s wrong?”

“I looked into his mind Ms. Cunningham, I saw the faces of those apart of the group, and I was able to only get a glimpse into each of theirs, the group,… this syndicate that he was apart of have been trying to cripple this country for a long time, they have members in every field and are ready to move when the time is right, Slade was only the beginning he was in charge of keeping those apart of the police department in line, and it worked for the longest time, until I showed up, I saw past the lies I through their smiles, and I brought them to justice, it was a simple plan really. Get the people to believe that those that were here to serve and protect were no better then street pirate, have a group come in and pose security group and flood the city with them, then when all the pieces were in place take over the city. I through a wrench in their operation when I started to take down the cooked cops, so they had to come up with another plan, thus came about the drug ring. From what I could gather on this one from Slade it was meant to cripple the city’s industry causing economic rune and let them come in like a knight in shinning armor to save the city and it’s people. Again my presence here foiled their plans because I was able to destroy the drug ring piece by piece and Khan industries were able to come up with a cure for those addicted to the drug. To top that case off by looking into Helmut’s eyes.”

“Helmut?”

“Helmut Von Stryker, the leader of this syndicate. You would know him better as Archimedes Volentes.” As Shade mentioned this name Rebecca felt like a cold wind had just blown through her home, as terror started to wash over her.

“The man trying to become mayor?”

“Yes, it seems the Kage was his son.” Shade let that bit of information sink in before he turned back to the window and looked at the empty street running past the house with a very dark image of the great city of Cape Suzette being destroyed like the small village back in Thembria. “Knowing that if they where going to have a chance to full fill their goal they would first have to take me down, but also knew that they wouldn’t be able to do so with the people still protecting me they devised this scam, destroy the people’s hero, make them believe that I had turned to a life of crime and become the terror of the city, Helmut would run on a platform to bring me to justice, and once he won he would focus on really nothing but that, although in the guise of this he would also most likely bring in Hauser troops calling them some kind of Ghost task force, he would also most likely raise taxes and relocate other funds into this so called taskforce so that he would be able to break the city’s economy, as well as give the Hauser force a very good foot hold for their invasion into this country.” Rebecca let all this information sink in and started to look at the pictures that she had already started to hang on the walls of Baloo, Kit, and Molly her family, the very people she would give anything for and feared the worst if the Hauser military was able to do just as Shade had described.

“We could try to.”

“As I have mentioned they have forces everywhere, political, military, industrial, I saw each of the members of the syndicate and know where their roles lay, and even if I went in and busted the syndicate right now, even if I gave solid proof of their plans these people are so well noticed and respected that they would be able to turn it against me, and claim their group was brought together to save this city and protect this country, there is only a small group of people I can honestly say I trust in this city Ma-am, but not one of them are a soldier, at least not for a war like this. I’m sorry to say this, but I’m not finished, at least not until this threat, this threat to the city, and it’s people, is taken down once and for all.” Rebecca looked at Shade, and though it went against everything in her mind, as she looked at the child that stood before her. In her heart and her gut she knew that he could do this, she knew that if anyone in this city that could stand up against this group of people it would be him, thought her mind screamed no don’t let him go, her heart said that she had to let him go, and her gut told her that he would be O.K.

Shade could see it in her eyes, and he smiled slightly, something about what he saw reinforced his will, it gave him hope to keep going and told him that he could do this, and he would not fail to protect this city, even in it’s darkest hour. “Don’t think you’re off the hook young man.” Rebecca warned as she forced a smile past all her fears for Shade. “When this is all over.”

“I’ll get to turn into a real boy.” Shade finished hopping to get a more natural smile from Rebecca.

“That’s right, and if you try and say just one more case I’ll give you a hard one.” Rebecca teased as she walked up and hugged Shade. “Just know that you’ll always have a place here.” It was early the next morning when Rebecca was at higher for hire that she heard the news from the radio.

“Well ladies and gentile-men it’s half past the hour and time for the morning news, and boy was a news day it’s going to be. He’s back people, back in the news and back on the street. For the past few weeks I’ve had the sad task of reporting on the Ghost being responsible for countless crimes across the city, each day reporting on a growing tally of thefts across this great city.” there was a moment of silence as it seemed the radio had got dead getting a slightly puzzled look on Rebecca’s face wondering if maybe the broadcast had been cut off. “But not today, oh it brings me great joy to read you this report that we got in from are field team this morning, not only did we find out that all these crimes had been committed by a group trying to destroy what was left of the Ghost image since his alleged murder of the drug lord Kage, and yes people I’m saying alleged since in this great country of are you are innocent until proven guilty, and even with the chief of police swearing he saw the Ghost shoot the drug lord that really doesn’t prove anything since this case could clear his name, a lot of people had been posing as the Ghost and trying to destroy the city’s faith in him, but it seems the one true Ghost came back last night and struck back with a vengeance, not only did he take down this crime ring in one single night, gathering up over 150 criminals and getting them to run to their nearest police station to confess their crimes, but he also captured the ring leader of the group, a dirty crooked officer of are own police, and a person that has been in the news for a while running along side are mayoral candidate Archimedes Volentes, when we tried to get a reaction from Mr. Volentes he had nothing to say, so since he doesn’t want to answer are question in person why not answer the people’s question Mr. Volentes, since you’ve mostly ran to clean up this city of crime, and the threat of the Ghost, as you put it. How do you intend to do that if you didn’t even know that the person you promised to put as the chief of police was actually the ring leader of these recent crimes?” While this question was being asked of Archimedes, back at the police station another question was just about to come up. Detective Thursday came storming into Chief Baldwin’s office and slammed the door behind him.

“WHO THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?”

“Detective Thursday, head of Usland special intelegance.”

“Never heard of you.”

“And you never will, but I’ve heard of you, and I’ve also heard of the Ghost. So has many of my superiors, and they like him, seems he’s been putting the hurt on was we believe to be a spy ring in this city.”

“A Spy ring? Are you kidding me? He’s been fighting criminals.”

“Ah that’s what they want you to think, but we’ve been keeping close tabs on everything, the drug ring, your crooked cops, and this recent crime wave, they’ve all been connected to one or more people that we suspect to be apart of this syndicate that has been trying to infiltrate Usland territory.” Baldwin looked at Thursday for several minutes, and shook his head.

“Is this some kind of sick joke? Did some one put you up to this?”

“This is no joke I assure you, we’ve already crippled one syndicate trying to get a foot hold in this country, in New Cork City, and we lost men, a lot of good men, taking that syndicate down.”

“But aren’t you supposed to be some kind of high government crime team.”

“We are, but nothing prepared us for what these people are capable of, as I said men lost their lives fighting the syndicate in New Cork, but here, this Ghost this one person has not only been able to take down two of their attempts on this city, and this recent crime ring set up to discrdebt him, he’s still alive to tell the tale.”

“Yeah and we can do the same thing, my men are willing to uphold the law and bring this group to justice.” with those words Detective Thursday stood up straight and folded his arms.

“You mean like officer Slade, or how about those cops that he took down when he first let his presence known.”

“We’re dealing with that as we speak.” with that Baldwin glared at Detective Thursday, he didn’t like this rabbit one bit.

“Very well, but let this sink in for a minute, we’ve been looking into Kage’s murder. By your own eye witness statement you swear that Kage was shot by the Ghost, and also that the Ghost is a few feet shorter then Kage correct?”

“Yeah so what?”

“Well upon reading the medical report the bullets that hit Kage hit him dead on, straight.”

“I know what dead on means.”

“If as you said the Ghost was shorter then Kage by a few feet, would it not come to reason that the bullets that hit Kage in the chest have entered at an angle, not straight, or are you going to tell me the Ghost raised his hand up and fired the gun so that the bullets would hit Kage dead on?” with this new bit of information Baldwin looked at Thursday slightly shocked. “In other words Chief right now I want you to know that I’m keeping an eye on you, seeing that it was your eye witness report that has put the ghost on your most wanted list, and this recent crime ring was being ran under your nose by one of your own.”

“Are you saying that I’m a suspect?”

“You heard me.” with that Detective Thursday walked out of the office leaving Baldwin shocked as he shook his head several times. Outside Thursday got into a car and looked at a fellow officer. “Now we wait.”

“Do you really think it was a good idea to tell him so much?”

“Get criminal scared enough he’ll run for protection, if we’re able to follow Baldwin to where this syndicate ring is, we’ll be able to put an end to their invasion plans.”

“Alright boss.”

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I know it’s been a while since I’ve updated but I’ve been spending a lot of time working out these entire story arc coming up, I really hope you like it.

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