high out of the effective range of the Thembrian troop’s guns, while at the same time making it hard for Shade to get a clear shot. Baloo then watched as Shade preformed a split S maneuver and waited for Von Biege to follow. As Baloo watched on he saw the reaper of the sky take up position behind Shade, the young pilot tried to lead him close to the ground but the more experienced pilot wasn’t going to fall for the same trick that one of his wingmen fell for. As Shade pulled back up into the air Von Biege once again got on his six and this time started to fire just above Shade’s cockpit.

“Alright Von Biege, you know some of my tricks, but do you know this one.” Shade said, to himself as he chopped his power, and kicked hard rudder, swinging the P-51’s nose around at the same time opening fire and strafing the side of the 109 as it flew by, as he got in behind it, he could see black smoke started to come from the 109, as he kept shooting until his guns ran dry making sure that the 109 was down for the count. Before moving on watching closely for Von Biege to bail. Inside the cockpit of the 109 Von Biege tried desperately to open the hatch once Shade stopped shoot, as the fire from his engine started to come in through the controls, but as the ground came closer, and he tried harder, he saw four apparitions appear on his wings holding the hatch shut.

“Not this time Reaper, you don’t get another chance to put are Shade in your gun sights again.” the ghostly figure of Barbra said, as she looked at Von Biege who started to scream as his cockpit started to fill with fire moments before it crashed into the ground. As Shade watched the plane wreck he smiled softly, as he pulled back into the cloud coverage, setting the radio back to its previous setting Shade smiled slightly as he started to speak with a slight growl in his voice once more.

“Come in Thembrian high command, this is the ghost calling, how goes the battle front?”

“Ghost, oh thank the flounder that you are safe, all enemy forces are being turned away, once their air support was gone the ground units where easy to scare away. They could not stand against the glorious people’s military.” the radio operator announced as Shade rolled his eyes.

“Alright then, I’m going to take one more pass over and make sure that I didn’t miss anything, I’ll be landing in.” Shade looked at the fuel gage and smiled slightly. “In half an hour, also is your high Marshall nearby?”

“Why yes, but you cannot speak with him.”

“Do shut up, before I have you shot.” the high Marshall said, as he grabbed the mike from the operator. “Ghost you wish to talk to me about something.”

“I do your sir, I was told some friends of mine where endanger of your firing squad today.”

“That is true.”

“Alright then, I invoke Бой праведного.” at the statement of these words Baloo’s head snapped back and looked at the radio.

“Now just a cotton picking minute, I’m not about to let you do that.” Baloo said, as he stormed up and grabbed the mike getting several guns pointed at him. “There is no way I’m letting you do this kid.”

“You have no choice in the matter Baloo, once Fight of the righteous is invoked it is unable to be undone, in other words I’m doing it and you’re going home.” Baloo shook his head at the last statement as he looked at the high marshal.

“I am not of your family Baloo, there for if I should fail to be victorious in this, I take your place at the firing squad.” Shade explained, as he kept flying. “And before you think anything you say can change that. It won’t, the challenge can be made by man, woman, or child related or not.” Baloo looked at the mike for a minute before he turned and looked at Rebecca and gave a half hearted smile, she hadn’t heard what had transpired and he was glade of that, he was happy to know that his future wife and his kids would be spared of the threat of the firing squad, but at the same time he felt terrible that if Shade should happen to fail this he would be taking their place. Back in the plane Shade had turned off the radio and flew above the cloud coverage smiling faintly. “I miss you Barbra… I miss everyone that I’ve lost.”

“We know little one.” Shade’s head shot up as he looked to his right at the sound of a new voice, standing on his wing was a figure that he hadn’t seen for years, as tears started stream down his face his smile got larger and larger looking at the figure.

“Kang.” with that the figure gave Shade a slightly disappointed look.

“What ever happened to mother?” Shade blushed slightly as Kang gave him a smile and reached through the glass of the canopy and stroked his cheek.

“My little wolf, we know you miss us, we know you fight on to try and keep the true heart of Panda-La alive.” Shade turned and looked at Kouken who did the same as Kang and stroked Shade’s head.

“Yeah kiddo we’re all proud of you, for what you’re doing but we hate to see you the way you are.” Gloria said, as Shade started to notice four ghostly planes appearing around his.

“They’ve been with you since they’ve passed my son, each and every one of them helping you along on the path of life.” Shade froze slightly at the sound of the last voice, he had heard it once before, a long time ago, as he looked down he watched as two ghostly hand reached around him and wrapped around his, as the voice giggled slightly.

“Who… who are you?” Shade asked, not knowing this spirit by name, not remembering the face that belonged to the voice.

“My dear sweet little Shade, I would have been there to watch you grow.”

“Who are you spirit?” Shade asked once more as he lowered his head and tears came as he watched the other spirits vanish from sight leaving him and the ghost of a woman that he could not remember alone.

“I wish are time had been longer so that we could have known one another better. Me and all of your friends will keep watching over you.” Shade turned around slightly so that he could see the spirit’s face only to see the face of the pilot the night before smiling back at him. “I should tell you to stop, to give up the ghost, but we have seen the future events and know that you will be needed.” the females face grew said, almost sorry as she told Shade this and then perked up as she smiled at him. “You’ve made me and your father so very proud of you my little one.” the spirit kissed Shade on the cheek before it vanished like the others, and as Shade turned back around he kept looking forward with a smile on his face as tears streamed down his cheeks. When time came to land, Shade was met with a hero’s welcome by the Thembrian military as he walked up to the high Marshall and bowed slightly.

“It is an honor to meet you High Marshall, I take it that my friends are being taken care of?”

“They are.” As the two walked the High Marshall looked down at Shade and smiled slightly. “You know I am amazed that you are what we have heard so much about, if I would have seen you before the attack I would have thought it some kind of joke, but after your display in the air, I assume that what we have heard is true, but to then to take up the fight of the righteous, you must be something else, you sure you don’t have some Thembrian blood in you?”

“I’m almost positive on that, otherwise you might be looking at a blue wolf.” as The High Marshall and Shade walked into the firing squad area, Shade looked up into the VIP stands and saw Baloo, Rebecca, Molly, and Kit standing beside the high Marshall’s wife.

“The challenge has been made, an act that hasn’t been done in years, so ladies and gentleman don’t touch that dial as we bring you a blow by blow of the fight of the righteous.” Shade looked at the radio announcer then at the High Marshall.

“Don’t suppose I can request this not go across your radio air waves.”

“Sorry my superiors wish for this to go out.”

“Fine, let’s just get this over with.” As Shade walked into a circle of guards he took over his trench coat and then looked at a towering Thumbrian troop, as he got into a fighting stance he smiled slightly.

“HOLD IT!!” Spigots voice rang out and got Shade to stand up straight, as Spigot made his way to the center of the circle and then slapped his crop on Shade’s shoulder. “How do we know that you are not wearing some kind of protective armor under that shirt.” with that Shade opened up his shirt only to reveal some bandages wrapped around his mid section and upper body. “HA!” As Spigot struck Shade’s chest with his crop he smiled. “And what is this some kind of new armor of the USlanders?”

“It’s called bandages you small side of bacon.” Shade said, as he started to button up his shirt. Then winced as Spigot hit his wrist with the crop.

“And what if you might be hiding some kind of weapon under your sleeves? We’ve all heard about all your tricks and always having at least one ace up your sleeve.” Shade lifted up his sleeves and showed nothing under them.

“Happy?”

“NO.” Spigot hit Shade on the top of the head with his crop, as he spoke. “I am not happy. (*WACK!*) we