face, filling his entire vision.

 

“Okay, Wildcat,” Baloo said to the Mechanic, as he leaned forward, testing the brakes and pedals. He shuffled around a little, wiggling his hips, trying to get comfortable on the small bicycle seat. “Bike’s fine,” he told him, and started peddling, his huge rear-end bobbing about like a giant grey beach-ball. “I’ll see you later. Adios!”

 

‘Ohhh, Lord have mercy,’ Karnage thought, dismayed and scarred for life, swooning at the giant wobbling monstrosity in front of him. ‘Somehow, I do not find this view all too that enjoyable.’

 

Well, Baloo had been right about one thing… Karnage was definitely seeing a whole lot of something today.

 

By Nicholas Killpack

 

* * * * *

 

About Fifteen Minutes Later; Near Cape Suzette Park:

 

 

Baloo panted, as he peddled the bike up the long hill, not noticing the way the baby kept frantically trying to get out of his little seat, but was unable to do so because of his restraints…

 

By Turock

 

It was rather amazing the things that Wildcat could do. He had put this bike together in almost no time at all, fixed a baby-seat at the back, and even added a small horn to the handlebars.

 

The only downfall to it was that, unlike that tiny motor-tricycle that Wildcat had once invented, this bike had no motor engine, and so Baloo had to work it the old fashioned way… by painstaking, leg-turning stamina.

 

Baloo heaved a long breath as he leaned forward, resting his head on the handlebars, his backside up in the air, and peddled his legs until he was sure they were going to drop off.

 

He gave a small smile, as he viewed some of the sights before him, the sun dazzling off the tall city-buildings, the wind blowing through the park trees, and the sounds from the crowds of people buzzing all over the place. “Some view, huh, kid?” he asked behind him.

 

Karnage didn’t say anything, part of the reason because he couldn’t talk, and the other reason because the view he was stuck with was… less than spectacular, to say the least.

 

The infant-turned Air Pirate kept his eyes tightly shut, trying to escape the horrifying sight of wobbling grey mass in front of him.

 

At that moment, Karnage wanted to make two specific wishes. The first one was to make the Genie appear so that he could skin him alive for the nightmare vision that he had been stuck with today, and second… a blindfold would be a sure blessing.

 

“Everything all right back there, kid?” Baloo asked, and reached his hand back, quickly checking that the baby was okay, feeling his button-like nose, and tickling him under his chin.

 

Karnage tried to bite him, but seeing as he had no teeth, all he could manage was a dreaded sucking, to which Baloo simply laughed and wiggled his finger about in the baby’s mouth.

 

They soon came up to the park, and Baloo was grateful to slow down. One hill a day was plenty enough exercise for him.

 

“Oke doke, little fellow,” Baloo cooed at the infant, bringing the bike to a stop, and reached down to pick him up out of his seat. “How’s bout we go take a walk in the park, huh?” He also added silently, “And we might as well go check out the local ice cream truck, too.”

 

The baby had a curious look on his face, almost as though he was about to be sick. Baloo couldn’t think why, as the baby hadn’t eaten anything yet today. He jiggled the baby in his arms, getting a few boos and coos out of him.

 

“Cute little fellow, ain’t ya?” Baloo said, and after parking the bike he walked into the park, trying to remember where the ice cream truck was stationed.

 

Karnage fumed, as Baloo held him close, He had always hated to be jiggled about, even when he had been a real baby. He could never stand being bounced about so.

 

Baloo soon found the ice cream truck, and after rushing up to it, he hungrily ordered a large quadruple-stacked ice cream cone… and then ordered another one, after having practically shoved the first one down his throat. With his second cone, he walked around and soon found a nice secluded spot in the park, under the shade of a tree, and sat down with the baby resting on his belly.

 

“Want some?” he asked the baby that he had affectionately nicknamed ‘Baby Britches’, knowing he couldn’t answer. “Oh wait, that’s right… Babies don’t eat ice cream.” he emitted Rebecca’s voice, smirking. “Sometimes I wonder if Becky had a sheltered life as a kid?” he wondered, and relaxed in the shade.

 

Baloo savoured the taste of the ice cream, his eyes closed as he listened to the sounds of the park, from the singing birds and the laughter of the passing people, to even the warm summer breeze blowing through the trees.

 

Baloo sighed contently. This was sure a lot more peaceful than being at work to be sure, and though he would never admit it to her, Baloo had to admit that coming to the park was definitely a stroke of genius on Becky’s part. He rarely went to any of the public places in Cape Suzette.

 

He was so content sitting there, licking the sugar and humming his favourite tune, that he didn’t notice as the kid started to crawl away, over his belly.

 

Karnage had had enough. He knew he was stuck like this only until the end of the day, but he had already gone through more than enough for one lifetime, let alone a day. He had been cuddled, cooed at, and then jiggled about. The way Baloo treated him, he wasn’t a baby… he was a rag-doll.

 

He slowly crawled over Baloo’s gigantic gut. He was normally more cautious, with a little more stealth, but being a baby was not as easy as it looked. His body felt as though it was made entirely out of Jell-O. It was taking all of his concentration not to slip and fall off.

 

Finally, he made his way over to the side, and after positioning himself a little further forward; he slid down Baloo’s side onto the grass. Fortunately for him, Baloo was more intent on finishing his ice cream than keeping an eye on baby Karnage, and had yet to notice that he was leaving.

 

‘Okay,’ Karnage thought to himself, as he started crawling as fast as he could. He panted furiously, as he waddled over the green grass of the park, not bothering to look back to see if Baloo had noticed him missing yet. If he had done, then Karnage doubted that he would be letting him still make a crawl for it.

 

‘I’ll just make my way over to the other side of the park,’ he panted. ‘Maybe I will be able to smuggle myself into someone’s bag and… ‘

 

“Ohhh, look at you, sweetie-boo!” a velvety voice sounded.

 

‘Huh?’ Karnage thought, before getting whisked up into the air.

 

While this was going on, Baloo finished his second helping of ice cream and licked his lips and fingers, sighing in content. “Man, that was good,” he said aloud. “Kid, trust me. When you’re big enough, there is nothing gonna be sweeter than tasting your first helping of… “ He stopped, noticing finally that the kid was no longer on top of him, or anywhere near him for that matter.

 

“What the…?” Baloo got up instantly, looking for the kid, but saw no sign of him anywhere. Panicking, he began searching, rushing over to the sidewalk and staring across the park.

 

“Oh man!” Baloo sweated in fear. “I’ve lost cargo before, but never a whole baby!” He blanched in fear, not just for the safety of the baby, but also of what Rebecca would do to him if she found out he had lost their first infant client.

 

‘I’m sooo dead!’ Baloo thought.

 

Then, the sweet sound of a baby crying reached his ears, and he looked over to where the sound was emitting.

 

“There, there,” a woman’s voice said soothingly, and Baloo felt a fresh sense of fear well up inside of him. He knew that voice very well, as did most of Cape Suzette.

 

Broadcast Sally, the Hippo-woman who was perfect for radio… Best heard and not seen.

 

She had in her arms the baby, which was even now bawling his eyes out, as she cuddled and fussed over him.

 

“The kid’s got taste, gotta give him that,” Baloo said. And after taking a deep breath, he made his way over to them.

 

“Hey, Sal,” he greeted his would-be admirer through his teeth, but still attempting to sound friendly, however hard that might be.

 

Sally gave him a hungry look, almost as though her eyes were sizing him up for a Sunday roast. “Well, hello there… Big Bear,” she said seductively, using her pet-name for him.

 

Baloo cringed at the sound of that name she used for him. Why was it he always attracted the more boisterous type of the female gender? Every time they met it was like he was in firing range, with her as the cannon and him as the target.

 

“Glad you found Junior for me,” he said, hoping to make a run for it without her trying to get another date out of him. The one date with her had been plenty, one that he cared to forget.

 

“Oh, is it yours?” she asked

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