joined in on the hunt, running with the crowd of singles.

A short moment later, the club was all but empty save for Baloo, Louie and a few waiters. The waiters did their job in cleaning up the mess, while Louie just looked shocked, as he stared at the stage where all the ‘women’ had been just a few moments ago. Baloo on the other hand was still sitting at his table, drinking his favourite milkshake.

Baloo had entered Louie’s less than a few minutes ago.

After escaping the pirate’s ship, he had flown straight to Louie’s, which was less than a couple of minutes away. He had quickly landed the Sea Duck, and had practically busted his way out of his plane, through the doors to Louie’s, and straight up to the microphone on the stage. He had only just made it, when the pirate’s had appeared. Baloo had made sure the Genie, who was now asleep in his bottle, had understood not to let the pirates appear until a few minutes after he had made his wish.

“Baloo?” Louie began, trying to find the words. “How did you… I mean, how… How in heck did you find all those gorgeous women?!”

Baloo took a swig out of his glass. “You might say I got my wish granted, pal. So tell me, how do you think your business has fared tonight?”

Louie breathed through his mouth. “Man, cous. About a few minutes ago, I was all but ready to close this place down for the night. When all of a sudden, all these guys, every single man from here to Cape Suzette came bursting through my door, ordering every drink I could think of. I was so swept up off my feet, I didn’t even notice you come back. Hey, by the way, how did your date go with Miss short-skirt there?”

Baloo took another swig. “Well, it was a night to remember, that’s for darn sure.”

“You’re not jealous about all the guys chasing after her?” Louie asked, a little confused. It wasn’t like Baloo to go off a pretty girl so quickly.

Baloo shrugged. “Let’s just say… I got to know a few things about her that didn’t much appeal to me.”

“Oh, sooo… “ Louie straightened his shirt. “You err, wouldn’t mind me having a crack at her, would you?”

Baloo held up his hand. “Louie, my man, trust me. Don’t even think about it!” He laughed a little more, as Louie looked at him curiously, but just shrugged it off and went back to cleaning glasses.

As Baloo took in his last drink, the main entrance doors burst open, and Don Karnage rushed in, looking as though she’d just run through a thorn bush.

“Well, howdy there, Miss Katherine!” Louie greeted her warmly, jumping to her side. “What a fine pleasure it is to see a lot more of you, and I mean that sincerely, in my...”

“Can it, ape-man!” Karnage pushed him aside, and ran up to Baloo. “Baloo, please, I’m begging you, you’ve gotta help me! I’m being chased by all sides!”

Baloo just sat where he was, idly checking his nails. “Shouldn’t worry too much, Karny. Sunset will be here in about, oh… twenty hours or so.”

“I can’t last twenty blasted hours, I’m… OHHH!” Karnage yelped, as something pinched her on her rear.

She spun around, and found a small waiter grinning at her.

“Hey, baby,” he spoke in a surprisingly deep tone of voice. “How’s about you swing some of that sweet stuff my way?” he said, clicking his tongue, and winking at her.

Karnage grabbed him by his large ears. “Touch me again, and you’ll wish you had stayed in the trees, primate!” Karnage hissed.

The waiter looked a little shocked, but that did nothing to lessen the width of his grin at her. “Heeeeey, I luv a lady with spunk!”

“Ah, come on, Karny,” Baloo grinned. “Pretty tail like the one you’ve got, who can resist?”

Karnage glared at him.

“But I wouldn’t be so bossy with him right now, Karny, if I were you?” Baloo got up from his seat.

“And why, may I ask, not?” Karnage asked, still glaring.

Baloo grinned again. “Cos your boyfriend just got back.”

Karnage’s eyes bulged, and she turned quick to see the big white bear come staggering through.

“Ah, there you are, baby-cakes!” he said, swaying on his chubby feet. “Come on, pucker up, and let’s get to know each other better… [BURP]!”

“Really need to work on your courting, buddy,” Baloo commented, while Karnage wasted no time and ran out through the nearest door, the endangered species close on her tail.

“Baloo?” Louie said, his face all confused. “What was she talking about? And why were you calling her Karny?”

Baloo shrugged. “Just a nickname I thought up for her. Trust me, by sunset tomorrow, you won’t even remember that gal… literally.”

Before Louie could say anything further, Baloo made his way out the door, waving so long.

As he walked outside, along the piers, Karnage rushed by with the fat guy still hot on her heals.

“I’LL GET YOU FOR THIS, BALOO!!!” Karnage’s feminine voice shouted out to him.

“Sorry, one date’s the most you’ll get out of me this lifetime, Karny!” Baloo shouted back, laughing, as he waved goodbye to his foe.

By Nicholas Killpack

Colour By Kitsume

As well as Karny, Baloo listened to the excited shouts of some of his buddies in the distance, and the squeals of Karnage’s men/women as they tried to stay one step ahead of their would-be admirers.

He made his way to his plane, and past by some of Kahn’s pilots, four panthers, three of whom were standing around, clapping their hands, while the fourth was in the middle, doing a Tango with one of the ‘girls’. The way the poor she-pirate looked, he/she would no doubt prefer to being in jail instead of there, as the panther held her similar to the way Baloo had held Donna… or Don Karnage as it were, earlier that night, with his hand around her hip, and dancing cheek to cheek.

Baloo shuddered, as he remembered the events of his night with ‘Donna Katherine’.

Just as Baloo reached his plane, he remembered something, and reached into his shirt, pulling out the Genie’s bottle.

“Now what do I do with you?” Baloo thought out-loud. The Genie had explained that he could have any wish he wanted, but none of them would last any longer than a day, so that was of no use to him, since all he really wanted was the Sea Duck. And judging from the way Karnage’s wishes had gone, Baloo didn’t dare to try.

After a few minutes of thinking, Baloo finally made his decision. He looked up at his beloved plane, and said, “Someday, baby,” he promised. “Someday, Poppa’s gonna find a way to get you back… but sadly, that day’s not today.” He kissed his hand, patting it on the door of the plane.

He then reached back his arm, holding the bottle, and flung it with all his might, right into the ocean.

The bottle landed in the water, and resurfaced a few moments later, the currents bobbing the bottle up and down, as it slowly floated out to sea.

By Nicholas Killpack

* * * * *

Louie’s Island; The Following Day; Sunset:

Karnage remained sitting behind the bushes, in the jungle area of Louie’s island.

He/she, as well as all of his turned men, had been spending the day hiding out around the island, hiding from every hormone-crazed male that had set foot on the isle and seen them.

Most of Karnage’s men had grouped together, finding a secluded spot in the island forest. They were quite tired, having spent most of the night running for all their worth from every guy, short, tall, drunk, and downright ugly.

A lot of them were all talking about what they were going to do to the Genie once they got their hands on him. Others just complained about how tired, and how sore their feet were. Most of them however chose to remain quiet and still. When asked about this, and how they fared during the night, they were instantly told to shut up and mind their own business.

“Captain?” Dumptruck, still in his/her pink and flowery patterned bikini, spoke with a deep feminine voice. “How much longer are we to wait, yah?”

“Be patient,” Karnage fumed. “The sun, she is almost completely set.”

Mad Dog sat on the sand, idly twiddling with a medal.

“Where did you get that?” Dumptruck asked curiously, since Mad Dog had no medals of his own.

Mad Dog didn’t look up. “Oh, Barney gave it to me,” he/she said.

Dumptruck’s eyes widened. “Barney?”

Mad Dog was looking the medal over, checking its worth. “Yeah, one of the pilots from last night,” he said. “Quite a nice man really. Wanted me to keep this, to remember him by. Also, he wanted to give