(Ghost files part 1)

(Case One: The false Ghost.)

It was late the first night at Louie’s, the night sky was clear and besides the nocturnal animals on the island

A new creature moved through the brush until he reached a clearing, as Shade laid down and looked up at the night sky he smiled slightly as he closed his eyes, his lair was great to sleep in and loui’s hotel hut wasn’t bad but nothing compared to sleeping under the stars and since Rebecca and Baloo insisted on staying Shade figured it would be a great time to enjoy the night instead of working it. As he slept he found him self in what he could recall a training dojo in Panda’la the scene was from his past as he watched a younger version of himself being trained by his instructor, as he walked up and watched he ignored what was going on and looked at the teacher, he smiled softly as he looked at the female Panda. “Aunt Julia.” Shade said, as he looked at the woman. “You used to be the greatest warrior in Panda’la… well next to my mother. You were kind and loving you always played with me when I was sad, but were stern when it came to my training.” As Shade looked at this memory his fist started to clinch as he started to get annoyed, this was only opening old wombs that had scared badly, as he spun around he took control and his Ghost outfit covered him. “WHY HAVE YOU SHOWN ME THIS!!” Shade demanded as he glared into the Shadows wanted to know what had made this pain full memory haunt him.

“I only wish to know if you remember how to use what you had been taught so long ago.” with that Shade found himself looking at his father.

“You could have just asked.” with that Kouken nodded and walked up to Shade. “First rule of combat was to never show my full ability you taught me that father.”

“I also taught you to always practice your art.”

“I do.”

“Not just your fighting stiles and your weapons training Shade, I’m talking about the real Shadow skills, the ones that have been passed down for ages. The ones that you are one of the few true warriors of.”

“I know father, but I have not yet seen a reason to unleash them upon those that I am fighting right now, and to show my hand to soon will give future criminals a heads up.”

“And not practicing them at all will duel your skill.”

“I understand father.”

“Do you?” with that Kouken held out his hand and a staff appeared. “Do not consider this a punishment my little warrior, you need to re-master the Shadow skills, your fighting and weapons handling is good but there is always room for improvement, and that is why I am here, from this day forward every time you sleep you and I will train, not only in fighting stiles, and weapons skill, but also in your Shadow skills.” with that Shade nodded and got into a fighting stance. The two trained for what seemed like and forever, but when Shade woke up he found that the sun was just starting to come up, as he made his way back to Loui’s he smiled slightly, he had missed sparing with his father. When he made it back to the guest rooms he looked into the room he saw four important people in his life, he didn’t know how he had grown close to them, he always thought he was being so careful not to let it happen, but some how it had and he couldn’t loose them, not like the others. As he started to walk into the guest room he looked down at his new cloths, seeing that he didn’t want to remain as the Ghost any longer, and the fact that he just wanted to be left alone and not asked a lot of questions about his secret life he had opted to let Rebecca ask Louie if she could just grab a few cloths from the lost and found. She didn’t do to bad in Shade’s mind a nice pair of pants, some decent shoes, and a clean shirt, thought he had a hunch that she was being guided to the cloths from the same presence that was keeping him up at this late hour.

When time came to return to Cape Suzette, Rebecca smiled as she looked at Shade, he had spent the entire time with the family and she was sure that he would finally give up fighting crime, but as they started to approach the cliffs she walked into the cargo area and found him back in the Ghost cloths.

“Shade… didn’t you like this past week? I mean you got to act like a normal child and have fun, wouldn’t you like to have that from now on, I mean to be able to have a normal life?” Rebecca asked, as she walked up to Shade who looked at her and then turned his back to her as he put on his right glove.

“I would madam, but I can’t. In the city, in the darkness there is something that brings fear into the hearts of the criminals, something that makes the petty thugs think twice before they break the law and makes the crime bosses loose sleep, because they know that what is coming after them wont stop until they are captured, or until they are out of reach.” Rebecca listened to these words and grew concerned, worried that Shade might have been fighting crime for to long and had fallen into a dark place that no one could bring him back from. When they pulled into the dock of higher for hire, the group was shocked when several Police officer ran down the dock and stormed the Sea Duck putting everyone at gunpoint while 2 of the grabbed Shade.

“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?!” Rebecca demanded, as she glared at the police officers.

“We’re here to arrest the Ghost.” one of the officer responded as he held firm to Shade. “For the past two weeks the Ghost has been terrorizing the city, breaking criminals out of jail, bank robberies, jewelry stores robberies, muggings, and that’s just the start. We knew he worked for you so we waited for you to return so we could finally arrest him.” Deep down Rebecca knew she could let the cops take Shade, she knew that he would be detained and would no longer be able to put himself endanger, but at the same time she couldn’t let him be punished for something that he didn’t do. A brief moment past as her eyes locked with Shade’s and she knew what she would have to do.

“GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY SON YOU CLODS!” Rebecca yelled, as she looked at the officers. “Look at him he’s only a child, do you honestly think he’s the Ghost, he’s just dressed up as his hero.” Rebecca explained as she handed Molly over to Baloo and then walked up to Shade, who seemed slightly shocked by what was going on until he understood what Rebecca was doing.

“Mommy help me, their scarring me.” Shade cried out as he started to act like a scared child as Rebecca walked up and removed his mask.

“See he’s just a kid, so get your hands off of him, before I start making phone calls and getting your badges taken away for assaulting my son.” As the cops let Shade go he quickly wrapped his arms around Rebecca. “You see what you’ve done, he’s going to have nightmares for weeks thanks to you.”

“I’m sorry ma-am it’s just, we’ve been trying to catch the Ghost since last week, he’s been on a crime spree, when we saw your son… I’m sorry for disturbing you ma-am.” with that the cops started to back away and left the Sea Duck. As their squad cars rolled away Rebecca turned and looked at Shade, who had picked up his mask and was putting it back on his face.

“Shade, didn’t you hear them? The entire city is looking for the Ghost because of some one posing as you.” As Rebecca spoke Shade walked to the side door of the Sea Duck and stopped when Rebecca put her hand on his shoulder. “What are you going to do?” Shade turned his head slightly and looked at Rebecca’s hand before he removed it.

“I’m going to bring them to justice ma-am.” With those words Shade ran up the docks and vanished into the stormy night.

“SHADE!” As Rebecca looked out into the night tears started to form in her eyes, she felt she was so close to getting Shade to stop and keep him safe from his own self destructive ways until this latest turn of events happened.

“Don’t worry Miss Cunningham he’ll be alright.” Kit said, as he looked out at the night. “If anyone can handle him self Shade can.” An hour later a lone Police officer was running down a side ally being chassed by a group of street pirates.

“Your in the wrong part of town flat foot.” one of the pirates called out, as the cop turned a corner and found himself in a dead end. “Come on boy’s it’s time we have some fun.” the officer looked on in horror as a group of seven street pirates filled the ally and slowly made their way towards him.

“Back off or I’ll…” the officer stopped as he reached for his gun and found it missing.

“You’ll what flat foot, you dropped this a block back.” the leader of the group, a large bovine, said as he pointed the gun at the officer. “One less pig to get in are way boys.” As the hammer was cocked back on the gun the officer could almost see his life pass before his eyes as he looked down the barrel of his own gun. Just then in a flash the gun was knocked out of the bovine’s hand and the ally filled with smoke.

“Did you really think I would never return?” The Ghost voice filled the smoke, and was soon followed by the sounds of a struggle and the pirates screaming as if they had just seen their worst fears. After a few moments the smoke cleared and the officer was shocked to see the sight before him the street