several destinations, delivering Kahn’s cargo, and were eager to order and relax.

 

“Yah, don’t cha tink ve should be on our way?” Dumptruck asked his companion.

 

Mad Dog scraped up some more of the ice cream special. “We’ve been scouting for professions all night, we deserve a break. Besides, if we wait a bit longer, till some more people fill the place, then they won’t notice us leaving.”

 

Mad Dog and Dumptruck had gone out, as ordered, to retrieve professions for themselves, the captain, and the crew. Unfortunately, as anticipated, their faces were well known by the police, and the large reward for their capture did not help matters either. So they had spent the whole night going from one crooked trader to another, until they at long last had all the professions they required.

 

Dumptruck kept his hood over his head. “Yah, but I don’t like being out in the open like this… I ‘specially don’t like bein’ out too long vithout the Cap’ns approval. I warn you, Mad Dog. If he’s mad, I’m not gonna be the one that gets yelled at.”

 

Mad Dog waved him off. “Just a little longer. We’ll just tell him about the police and everyone out for us. He won’t suspect anything, and then we’ll… “ He stopped, as Dumptruck had practically pulled his hood right over his entire face, his face slumped to the table.

 

“What are you doing?” Mad Dog asked, but Dumptruck just grabbed his snout and pulled him down to his level.

 

“Don’t look now, but ve have company,” Dumptruck warned him, and pointed to the main door.

 

Mad Dog looked over his shoulder, and immediately felt like running for cover himself.

 

Baloo walked through the front door, smiling cheerfully at everyone, giving them a tip of his cap as a fellow greeting, before walking up to the bar-stand where Louie was even now preparing one of his Crackatuo Sundae Specials.

 

“Hey, Louie!” Baloo greeted his long-time friend. “What’s up?”

 

The club was still far from full, and in the stillness, Mad Dog and Dumptruck were close enough to the bar to hear every word that Baloo and Louie said perfectly.

 

The two of them did their traditional greeting, a high-five, and Louie grinned at his rotund buddy. “How ya been, cous?”

 

Baloo stretched his muscles. “Couldn’t be better, bud,” he said, and then noticed something on the wall. “Hey, what’s this?”

 

Louie turned his attention to where Baloo was looking. “Oh that,” Louie smirked. “Just something I thought of to get some more customers in.”

 

On the notice board, where there were usually photos of all the pilots that came through Louie’s Place, including Baloo’s at the top, there was a large poster. It read: -

 

 

SINGLE’S NIGHT,

 

THIS WEEK!

 

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

 

 

“A single’s night?” Baloo mused. “Kinda desperate sounding, don’t you think, Louie?”

 

Louie snorted. “Maybe, but there are all sorts of good blokes in this joint, cous. Most of them are way up the dating river without a paddle, and could use a little help. Besides, like I said, it might help bring in a little more business for me, and… it’ll give us one heck of a Saturday night to look forward to!”

 

Baloo laughed. “Now you’re talking my language, pal! Oh, and while you’re at it, how bout fixing me up one of your… ”

 

Before he could finish, Louie had already placed one of his sundae specials in front of him.

 

Baloo grinned. “You know me too well, Lou.”

 

“Been wondering where you got to, Baloo?” Louie asked, as he wiped the bar down. “Where you been lately?”

 

Baloo shrugged. “Ah, you know, the usual. Becky’s been getting me up at the crack of dawn to do delivery rounds.”

 

“Why so early?” Louie asked.

 

Baloo took his sundae, licked his lips, and dove straight in with his spoon. “Mmm… “ He spoke with his mouth full. “Wants me to make room… for the shipment… emeralds… “

 

Mad Dog and Dumptruck’s ears both pricked up instantly at the words ‘shipment’, and more importantly ‘emeralds’. That meant two things for the two Air Pirates… One, they could get into the captain’s good books with this information… and two, they could finally get to do some real good plundering at long last.

 

“Suggest we don’t stay for third dessert,” Dumptruck said to his companion. To which, Mad Dog nodded, and the two of them got up hurriedly to leave.

 

* * * * *

 

The Iron Vulture;

Don Karnage’ Quarters;

One Hour Later:

 

 

Don Karnage sat at his desk, studying his map, plotting any possible heists that he and his men might take up, but so far he had yet to find a heist that his men could even handle.

 

“Captain?” the voice on the intercom sounded. “Mad Dog and Dumptruck have returned. They wish to speak to you.”

 

“About time, too!” Karnage angrily shouted. “Send them to me at once!”

 

A few moments later, Dumptruck and Mad Dog came rushing through his door, looking as though they had just run a marathon.

 

“Dumptruck!” the larger of the two sounded his name.

 

“Mad Dog!” the other followed his example.

 

“Reporting for duty as ordered, sir!” they chorused together, saluting their captain.

 

“Where in the seven skies have you two been?” Karnage ordered. “And second of all, do not, I repeat, do NOT enter my quarters without first hearing from me that it is okay to do so, understand?!” He slammed his fists onto his desk.

 

Dumptruck and Mad Dog saluted again, nodding their heads simultaneously.

 

“Good!” Karnage then got up, and walked slowly around his desk, touching his sword. “Now, would you be so good as to tell me why you have been gone for so long from your posts?” He drew his sword, and plucked a hair from Mad Dog’s moustache.

 

Mad Dog opened his mouth to speak, but Karnage silenced him.

 

“Ah, tut, tut, tut!” Karnage said, slapping his pirate’s nose. “Do not speak until I have given you the say so… “ He waited a few seconds. “Okay, now you can speak.”

 

Mad Dog looked as though he was about to start whining, as he bowed shortly before the captain, practically pleading for mercy. “Sorry, captain. But we lost track of time, and… “

 

“This is not a good excuse!” Karnage told them, as he tested the sharpness of the blade with Mad Dog’s hair. “Timing is everything to a pirate. Have I not always stressed to inform you of that?”

 

“Yes, sir, but… “

 

“Ah, ah, ahh, no more with the butting,” Karnage toyed with his sword. “Now, what may I ask was so important that you felt it necessary to be so late in your return to your duties, hmmm?”

 

“We were at Louie’s, yah, and… “ Dumptruck began.

 

“Where?!” Karnage looked up sharply. “Are you two of your tiny minds? Did you intend on getting yourselves captured by advertising yourselves in one of the most public places of the public? Go out and slap yourselves!”

 

“But, boss… “ Mad Dog whined. “Baloo was there, and we… “

 

“Baloo!” Karnage’s sword was dangerously close to their throats now. “So, to top it all off, you were fraternising with my enemy, no?”

 

“No, cap’n,” Dumptruck interjected. “We were incognito, and we overheard Baloo and one of his buddies talking.”

 

“Talking?” Karnage lowered his blade a little. “Talking about what?”

 

“About a shipment of emeralds that Baloo’s supposed to deliver,” Mad Dog finished for his partner.

 

At the word ‘emeralds’, Karnage instantly forgot about Mad Dog and Dumptruck’s lateness, and his eyes widened, as the thought of precious gemstones began filling his mind.

 

“Emeralds?” Karnage spoke hungrily. “You are saying that old Baloo has finally got himself a worthwhile loot for us to plunder?”

 

“Yah, boss,” Dumptruck nodded his head vigorously. “We heard him say so to his friend, the ape called Louie.”

 

“When will he be running his run?” Karnage quickly asked.

 

At his question, Dumptruck and Mad Dog instantly went quiet.

 

“Ummm… “ Mad Dog began.

 

“Well, you see, cap’n… “ Dumptruck tried to speak.

 

“Well?” Karnage repeated. “When will he be shipping the shipment?”

 

Dumptruck lowered his head shamefully, and fearfully, while Mad Dog just stepped back, closer to the door.

 

“We don’t

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