considerably boring as that might be.

 

“By the way,” she asked. “Might I enquire you as to the origin of your name, Mr. Baloo? It doesn’t exactly sound local, if you understand me?”

 

Baloo shrugged. “It isn’t, it’s Indian. The ones with the turbans, not the feathers.”

 

“Ah,” Karnage thought, a little bewildered. “Forgive me, but you don’t exactly come across to me as an Indian man?”

 

Baloo laughed. “I’m not, but I was born in India. My folks were missionaries, helping out here and there around the country. I came along while they were still doing the Good Samaritan thing, and they named me Baloo, which is Indian for ‘Bear’. They thought it suited me. Then when I was about five, they moved back here to the states, and eventually settled in Cape Suzette.”

 

“Interesting,” Karnage said. She had always wondered about his name to be honest.

 

“I have a couple of pals who still live in India,” Baloo said, fiddling with the controls. “Old Kaa and Bagheera… Kaa’s a bit of a freak, as he’s always trying to hypnotise you. He’s really into that stuff, something to do with his family or whatever. And Bagheera… he’s the stiffest, most wooden guy to ever walk the earth. You’d swear he walks about with a broom stuck up under his tail all the time... ”

 

Karnage nodded, attempting to look interested, but wasn’t really listening, as she was too busy keeping an eye out for any sign of her glorious Iron Vulture. 

 

“But they’re good fellows,” Baloo insisted. “They were always good fun to have around when we were kids. They live in a village somewhere around the jungle, last I heard from them.”

 

Karnage muttered an “Uh huh”, not taking her sights off the window and radar.

 

“So?” Baloo took his hands off the steering wheel and placed his feet, of all things, on it. He stretched his arms out, giving a huge sigh. “What do you like to do for fun, babe?”

 

Karnage shuddered in anger. The titles ‘babe’, ‘gal’, and ‘honey-buns’ were really starting to tick her off.

 

“Ummm… “ she began, unsure of what to say. What do you say to a question like that, when the things you enjoy doing most of all is piracy?

 

“… I liiike… “ she stuttered slightly. “… flying?”

 

Baloo laughed out loud, slapping his leg. “Man oh man, gal! You are SO perfect for me!”

 

Karnage shuddered.

 

“Any gal who likes flying has definitely got points on my book.” Baloo added.

 

‘Points?’ Karnage felt more and more uneasy. Lord, help her! Baloo was not only flirting with her, he was measuring her up. 

 

Karnage knew that she was now an attractive woman, thanks to that moronic and soon to be decapitated Genie.This was all yet another wish gone haywire. She had wished to be someone that Baloo would take notice of, and that was exactly what she had got.

 

‘No more wishes after tonight,’ she promised. ‘Or all millennium!’

 

Baloo tried to keep his eyes on the controls, to concentrate on the flying, but ‘Donna Katherine’ was making it unbelievably difficult. He just couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

 

‘Donna Katherine’ was every guy’s dream, with a pretty face and a beautiful accent… And man, did he ever dig that crazy accent of hers… Every time she spoke, it was like the temperature went up a few hundred degrees. Not to mention that possibly illegal dress that she was wearing, which was so tight that she looked more like she was wearing body-paint. She had a perfect figure, with a pair of slim legs, a cute fluffy tail, and the biggest pair of…

 

“Sodoyouknowhowtofly?!” Baloo asked suddenly at top speed, and wiped his sweaty brow, smiling nervously.

 

* * * * *

 

The Iron Vulture; Same Time:

 

Mad Dog sat twiddling his thumbs, as Dumptruck steered the ship. They had kept the ship hovering in the same airspace now for hours, as per the captain’s orders. He had ordered them to remain there until they saw Baloo’s plane, and then take him by surprise.

 

“Any sign of him, Dumptruck?” Mad Dog enquired, but all he got was a shake of his comrade’s head.

 

“Not a sausage,” he moaned. “Maybe the captain’s plan didn’t work?”

 

“Do his plans ever?” Mad Dog sneered slightly.

 

“Hold on!” Dumptruck suddenly said, his eyes thinning at the radar in front of him. “We’ve got something!”

 

“What is it?” Mad Dog asked quickly. “Is it Baloo?”

 

“Unsure,” Dumptruck frowned. “But it’s a small craft, which appears to fit the stature of Baloo’s plane.”

 

“Any other aircraft nearby?”

 

Dumptruck checked the scanner. “No,” he confirmed.

 

Mad Dog seized the microphone and shouted, “All hands, prepare for battle!” He looked back to Dumptruck. “Keep the Vulture out of Baloo’s radar. Trail back and sneak over his plane. By the time he even notices we’re there, we’ll catch him with the harpoon guns so fast, he won’t know what hit him, and we’ll reel him in like a fish out of sea!”

 

Dumptruck grinned. “Aye aye, sir!” he saluted, turning the ship’s wheel.

 

* * * * *

 

The Sea Duck:

 

“I am begging your pardon?” Karnage asked, bewildered.

 

Baloo swallowed, still looking at her. “I said, do you know how to fly?” he repeated.

 

Karnage snorted arrogantly. “I’ve been… “ She stopped, realising that if she were to say yes, then that would lead to a lot more questions, and she was having enough trouble as it was trying to bluff her way out. “I have… I have always wanted to learn, but unfortunately I have never gotten the chance.” she told him.

 

“Well!” Baloo stated. “Ain’t no time like the present, honey! Park your buns over here and give it a try.” he said, as he patted his knee.

 

The silence was so eerie; you could have heard a pin drop to the floor on the other side of the plane. Karnage looked at Baloo, who was waiting for her to accept his offer and come over.

 

‘Ooo-kaaay,’ she thought despairing. ‘How in all heaven’s almighty skies do I find a way out for myself this time???’ She wondered where the heck her pirates were? 

 

“Ummm…” Karnage thought quickly. “I am very flattered, as you say, Baloo. But alas I am… I am not so good with the machinery. I would only be risking damage to you, me and your plane.”

 

Baloo shrugged her off. “Nah, don’t worry your pretty little head off about that,” he assured. “Just park yourself right here on my lap, and I won’t let go of the stick till you’re ready. Okay?”

 

Is this was Baloo’s way of trying to make Karnage feel better, then he was doing a poor job of it.

 

“I, err… “ Karnage stuttered.

 

Baloo laughed. “Relax, babe!” He put his hand down. “I’m only having you on.”

 

Karnage felt the weight of the world drop off of her. “Oh!” she breathed in relief. “Thank you. I did not… “

 

“No need for you to fuss and worry,” Baloo reached out and touched one of the levers. “In fact, there’s no need for you to even get up out of your seat,” he said, as he pulled the leverstick.

 

As he pulled the lever down, Karnage felt her chair wobble… and move. At first, she thought perhaps there had been another high wind tossing the plane, but then her chair suddenly seemed to whiz right across the cockpit, straight up to Baloo’s side, where he wrapped his arm around Karnage’s shoulders.

 

“One of my newest instalments to the Sea Duck,” Baloo said proudly. “Just something in case I ever need to check the maps with my navigator. Saves him having to move all the way from the other side.”

 

Karnage felt her shoulders starting to get heavy again, and Baloo’s arm wasn’t helping.

 

Baloo smirked, as he gave a small squeeze to Donna’s shoulder. ‘Man, if only Louie could see this,’ he chuckled lowly, and then added out loud. “So how bout we give the flying lessons a go, huh?”

 

Karnage couldn’t help but just gasp and stutter, which Baloo took as a sign of a simple case of the worries.

 

“Now don’t you worry bout a thing, little missy,” Baloo spoke to her like he would do to a child. “Old Babaloo is here to protect you. You’re in no safer hands than his.” He patted her shoulder.

 

‘By God I wish I could believe that,’ Karnage prayed.

 

“Now, just take the stick in your hand,” Baloo told her, taking her hand gently and guiding it to the

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