hatchlings and will return how long can you hold out?” Kit could hear Shade using a low growling tone across the mike understanding how some reports on the Ghost back at Cape Suzette.

“Are you insane we need help now, please for the sake of the patriotic flounder help us, are air support is down, and their planes are ripping us apart.” a frantic voice came across the radio and Shade sat back in the pilot seat. “Please whoever you are, please help us we need help down here, the women and children are already in the shelters, but we won’t be able to hold out much longer we need air support.” Shade took the mike once more as he put it close to his mouth.

“Roger that.” with that Shade put the mike down, and tapped the controls with his fingers.

“Shade you can’t get in the middle of that, you heard them it’s a war zone down there and.” Before Kit could finish what he was saying Shade pushed the stick forward and cut through the clouds. Once in the clear he started to shoot down any plane in his path. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!”

“Sorry Kit but it’s a logical transaction, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, and these people need help. I’ll do my best not to get shot down, but you’re going to have to join me for this ride, I’m not going to let these monsters kill any more innocent life on their march of death.” As Shade flew the plane, Kit kept finding himself asking the same question over, and over, where did Shade learned to fly.

“That’s right honey listen to her, let her tell you what to do.” the voice was back, haunting Shade’s ears as he followed his heart, and felt the controls guide his actions. “Got one on your six, you remember what to do?”

“Got one on my six?” Shade looked at the small mirrors at the top of the canopy and saw an enemy fighter on his tail. “Remember what to do?” Shade pulled the stick into his gut and hit full rudder causing the plane to snap role, slowing it down, and getting the Kit, and Molly to scream, as the enemy fighter zoomed past. “Tag your it.” Shade open fire once more shooting down the enemy fighter.

“That’s right kiddo you got this.” Shade tried to remember the voice as he kept going, listening to its warnings giving him helpful reminders, reminders that he remembered from long ago, until finally it snapped. He did remember the voice, he almost kicked himself for not realizing it sooner, as a smiled crossed his face, and as tears filled his eyes.

“Barbra.”

“That’s right kiddo, I’m here along with the rest of the Night Witches.”

“We got your back kiddo, now let’s show them some real flying.” Gloria voice rang in Shade’s ears as he took aim at another fighter. “That’s right kiddo lead him on and take him down.”

“Your in command kiddo, these chumps got nothing on you.” Brianna voice came next, as Shade shot down another fighter. “These skies belong to you, teach these chumps what happens to those who want to cause trouble.” Shade could hear something else behind him it sounded like Kit screaming, but it sounded like he was miles away.

“Keep it up kiddo, show these novice pilots what it really means to face the son of the Night Witches, let’s show them some real Black Magic.” with that Shade noticed that another enemy fighter was on his tail, as he tried to same snap role trick the enemy did the same. Shade brakes to the left, roles, and reverses but it’s clear that this pilot had sunk his teeth in and wasn’t going to be shaken off by some cheep tricks.

“Last one Shade looks like he’s pretty good, got any more tricks in your sleeves.” Shade pulled back on the stick and pushed the planes throttle all the way keeping an eye on the enemy fighter in his rear view.

“Come on, come on I know your ceiling is close.” Shade said, as he kept a close eye on the plane behind him, his heart was racing sweating dripped from his forehead as he kept going. Then he saw it the sign he was looking for, as the enemy fighter started to jerk slightly Shade pulled back on the stick once more pulling the P-51 over and brining its guns on the now stalled enemy fighter filling it full of lead until white clouds of coolant started to spew out.

“That’s showing them kiddo.” Shade smiled, at the sound of Barbra’s voice, as he started to see the battle field once more, seeing the Hauser troops now on the run knowing that their Air support was knocked out of the sky.

“This is Thembrian high command, to the pilot of Black Magic, who may I ask is piloting?” a voice called over the radio and Shade took the mike.

“This is the Ghost, hope I didn’t step on anyone’s toes down there but it looked like you could have used the hand.”

“That we could of Ghost, but today is not over yet, we just got a report from the east a squadron of six enemy fighters are on their way here, are fighters are still engaged there and the ones here are in no shape to fly, would you be able to stay and help us a little more?”

“That’s a big 10-4 Black Magic always ready to lend a helping hand, but I have two hatchlings in my plane that are looking for Baloo and Rebecca Cunningham, the two people that brought back your golden statue.”

“Ah yes, the big round pilot and the loud lady, they were sentenced to the firing squad for threatening…” there came a loud muffling sound on the other side of the mike as behind Shade could hear Molly starting to cry.

“This is the High Marshall to the Ghost, your friends are alright, and they are my guest.” the High Marshall said, as Shade looked at the radio.

“Don’t take this wrong sir but I want some proof on that, I’m not about to drop off these hatchlings if I’m not sure that they will be put into loving arms.”

“We’re fine.” Rebecca cried out, as she grabbed the mike from the high Marshall getting a response of the sounds of Kit and Molly cheering.

“That’s a big 10-4 on the confirmation how much time before the enemy fighters get here?”

“Estimated time 10 minutes.” the High Marshal responded as he took the mike back away from Rebecca.

“Not much time sir, I’ll be doing a fly by, you just give me your word this family remains safe, and I’ll give mine that I’ll do my best to take these flying trash cans out of the sky.” with that Shade put down the mike and smiled as he watched the hatch open on its own.

“What are you doing Shade?” Kit asked, as he could see the ground below.

“Hey Kit, remember what I told you last night, about what I wanted?”

“Yeah… what about it?”

“If it means anything, I think you make a great big brother.” with that Shade turned the plane upside down causing both Kit and Molly to fall out, once clear Kit pulled the cord, and the chute opened. As the plane flew off he watched as the hatch closed back up, and Shade straightened out. As Kit looked down he smiled, as he saw the courtyard below and running out from a shelter was Baloo and Rebecca with several Thembrian guards as they got close enough Baloo pulled both children into his arms and knelt down so that Rebecca could wrap her arms around him.

“Molly, Shade is still flying you should have seen him he was like daddy.” Molly said, as Baloo started to get the chute off her and Kit only getting a shocked look from Baloo.

“What did you just call me button nose?” Molly turned, looked at Baloo, and looked away slightly embarrassed.

“Daddy… I can call you that right?” with those words Baloo wrapped his big arms around Molly and smiled. As Rebecca looked so happy at the two, then noticed Kit who was looking up at the sky.

“Kit is there something wrong?”

“It’s Shade, he’s up there all alone, and those enemy fighters are going to be here any minute… I hope he’ll be alright.” Rebecca smiled, hearing the concern in Kit’s voice. As Shade made another pass, he saluted to the family, and flew on while on the ground Thembrian troops cheered, as the lone fighter plane zoomed over head.

“GUARDS SEES THEM!!” Spigot yelled, as he pointed to Baloo and Rebecca. As 3 guards stepped forward 4 guards stood their ground to defend the family. “I ORDER YOU TO SEES THEM!” Spigot yelled again, no response this time as the high Marshall walked forward with his wife. “Oh your grand mucky muck these guards refuse to follow orders, I say that we send them to the firing squad after we have one this battle.”

“I see nozzle, and what makes you think I would let such a thing happen, to men that are following my orders?”

“B-b-but sir, those two were supposed to be put before the firing squad this morning, they broke out of jail, they threatened and officer of the people.”

“Yes… yes nozzle I know all of this, but this family is also good friends with the pilot that is are only air support, until the rest of our fighters can arrive, it would be very unwise of us to hurt friends of are lone fighter, that is also the Ghost that you fear so much.”

“The G-g-ghost?” Spigot looked up at the plane once more, and then thought about the number of enemy fighters that had just been shot down followed by the fact that there was no one up in the air in the area. “Right then, until this is over nothing will