land and start throwing out the gas grenades! once enough pirates are asleep, it's easy for you all to board the ship and fight off the rest! C'mon, guys! Who's with me?

The pilots exchanged looks among themselves, but nobody stepped in.

 

-Lil'Britches...it's...it's just too darn dangerous! - Baloo said - We can't have you alone down there while we are up there and...and..

- But it's the ONLY WAY! - the boy insisted - C'mon we can do this together!

- But Kit - Rebecca said - you will be alone down there...

- Well...he doesn't have to be... - the Higher for Hire accountant stated as he got up from his chair - I can  go with him, if that's okay.

- YOU?? - everybody said in unison.

- Well, yeah, me - Goldwing said - I will go with Kit and make sure he stays in one piece while we put the pirates to sleep.

- Well, now - Baloo looked down at Jon - You can't fly a plane but You can cloudsurf like this kiddo?

- Ah..no, I don't think so...but if you do a low pass I can jump from the plane and dive...I bet I can swim and  climb the ship and then meet with Kit, and we can do the gas thing. - the accountant said - C'mon guys, I have been nothing but a fifth wheel since we took off from Cape Suzette. Lemme help!

The pilots were doubtful but Rebecca stepped forward.

- Jon...you are not a fifth wheel. You saved me and Molly and that I will never be able to repay. We can't ask you to risk yourself again for the city - she said.

The golden brown bear smiled - Miss Cunningham, I'm not risking myself for the city...I'm doing it to keep Kit safe, even though I doubt he needs saving - he smiled at the boy who grinned. - Besides, if I can survive being hit by a truck, I guess taking a swim won't kill me...

Rebecca and Baloo looked at each other and then at Kit.

- Well...if you are sure you can look out after each other.... - she said.

- Ah still don't like it! - the big bear protested - it won't be no game down there, folks! Those pirates are not the brightest bulb but they got them guns and are trigger happy!  We...- then pilot and navigator looked at each other, and Kit looked at him with pleading eyes.

-We...aw, darn it....- he adjusted his pilot hat defeated - I'm in...

Then another pilot stepped in - Me too!

And that was followed by another...and another...soon all the pilots at Louie's place had signed for the dangerous mission.

- So it's set! - Kit stated - Let's do this, people!

 

 

 

- Chapter 4 -

The menacing figure of the Iron Vulture loomed over the city of Cape Suzette. People were still running off the streets, screaming, and trying to lock themselves inside their homes. Even the police was fleeing when the Air Pirates would shoot at their cars from their planes. And those who were not flying and shooting were already on the ground, breaking windows and invading stores and business and taking everything they wanted and sometimes setting up fires inside for fun.

Inside his tower, Shere Khan watched as his city was plundered. The massive tiger turned from the window and sat down before his desk and, as his intercom beeped, he pressed the button to talk.

- Mr. Khan - a frightened feminine voice of his secretary came through  - S-Should I call your Limo, Sir?

The tiger eyes were cold and unemotional. - That will not be necessary, Mrs. Snarly. This tower is perfectly safe--

However, he was interrupted by the sounds of the windows from two floors below shattering under the gunfire from a passing pirate plane. Khan's only gesture was to pause for a moment and then continue - I will stay, Mrs. Snarly, thank you. - and he turned off the intercom.

The richest man in Cape Suzette placed both his paws on his desk, staring with eyes growing visibly narrower...then he unsheathed his claws and dragged them against the wood, leaving deep marks and snarling one name - Don....Karnage...

Meanwhile a strange squad of planes, led by a familiar yellow cargo plane, was getting closer and closer to the U.S.S. Valiant. Soon they were within visual range.

- Okay, fellas, you all know yer thing. - Baloo broadcasted on the radio to the other planes - We gotta distract those guys so Kit and Jon can give 'em sweet dreams. You're both ready back there?

The navigator was setting his goggles on and had two crossed belts with grenades over his chest in an X. - All ready here Papa Bear!

Jon himself was taking off his glasses and jacket and gave them to Rebecca - After this gets wet it would weigh a ton...so Kit, tell me again...HOW are you going to get on that boat? - the accountant asked as he got himself a grappling gun.

Kit simply grinned  - Like this! - And he pressed the button that opened the cargo bay doors, grabbed his surfing rope, ran to the edge and jumped.

The golden brown bear eyes widened and he ran to the edge in panic, only to see the bearcub flip open his airfoil and slip it under his feet and gracefully surf the clouds behind the Sea Duck.

- Man....now I've seen everything... - the accountant whispered very impressed.

- Okay, boys, time to face the music! - Baloo screamed from the cockpit and the squad of planes dove toward the battleship.

From the bridge of the U.S.S. Valiant, Gibber looked at the sky and gasped, came to Don Karnage's side and whispered in his ear.

- What do you mean they are attacking again?? I thought those eediots had run out of their silly tin planes! Don't they know that it is foolish to attack the Legendary DON KARRRNAGE?? - But the Pirate Captain looked at the sky and indeed saw many planes coming toward them. - ALL MEN TO THE CANONS! - He commanded while he raised his cutlass - BRING THEM ALL DOWN!

And the pirates hurried to the cannons on the deck and started firing at t the small squad.

-Fireworks started! It's our cue! - The big gray pilot flying the Sea Duck yelled as he fell behind, letting the other planes pass him and come closer to the battleship while he approached the ocean.

At that moment, Kit let go of the rope and using his unique skill, he glided toward the deck of the Valiant. But just before he landed, a pirate came running from below the deck and spotted him.

Not that it did him any good. Kit did not slow down and landed with his airfoil on the Pirate's face, knocking him cold, flipping in the air and landing on his feet while he folded his airfoil back and then slipped it inside his sweater. - Let's hope this works - Kit whispered as he took out one grenade and ran toward one of the cannon cabins.

In the skies, the cargo pilots were doing their best to dodge the cannon fire coming from the battleship. Two planes were grazed and had to turn around, while the others kept their diversion. 

Close to the ocean, the Sea Duck was flying as low as Baloo could bring her. -Okay, I see Kit landed, Books! Yer turn!

The accountant gave a thumbs up and when Baloo did a close pass toward the battleship, Jon jumped off the open cargo hold, diving in the waters. He swam as fast as he could to get close to the hull of the huge battleship and, when he emerged, he took out the grappling hook and aimed at the starboard rail and fired.

On the deck, Kit, who had a wet towel around his face to protect from the gas, was putting the pirates to sleep. Two cannons were out of commission now and he was running toward the next.

- What eees going on here??? Those silly planes are not firing, why?! - Don Karnage growled, and he pulled the binoculars Gibber had hanging from his neck, along with Gibber himself, and looked through them - But...those are not fighters...they are those worthless cargo pilots we attacked, yes-no? But what are they....non..NON!!! - he screamed as he finally spotted the familiar yellow cargo plane. - NON, NON, NON, They are NOT going to ruin my wondrous plan this time!!! WHY ARE YOU EEEDIOTS NOT FIRING!! FIRE!!!

The pirates who were not sleeping in their cannon cabins kept firing at the incoming planes. The Sea Duck had joined them in the diversion, and dove toward the battleship in a corkscrew, narrowly avoiding the gunfire past her. Don Karnage saw her coming fast and gasped in horror as it seemed that the plane would kamikaze-crash against the ship. But from behind the yoke, Baloo just grinned and he pulled up in the last minute before hitting the vessel, making Rebecca and Louie scream.

- BALOO! - She gasped, her face still white - Do NOT do that again, please!!

By now, Kit was about to throw another grenade inside a cabin...when something grabbed his arm.

- Hey, what are you doing here?? - Mad Dog yelled as he grabbed the navigator's arm, a cutlass in his other hand ready to strike.

But before Kit could react, a hand came from below the ship's railing, grabbed the pirate by his vest and pulled him overboard, sending him into the ocean with a big splash.

- We're taking over the ship, you mind? - Jon said as the wet accountant pulled himself aboard the battleship while answering the dropped pirate's question.

Then a loud alarm came out all over the ship.

- They know it's a trap! - Kit screamed and then he looked from one side to the other, pulled out the grenade belts and gave them to Jon - Keep them busy here, I have an idea! - the bearcub said, opened one of the doors and closed behind him.

- Wait kid, what.. - was all the accountant could say before Kit disappeared...then he turned around and saw pirates rushing down from the bridge. - Aw, great...- and he quickly took off his wet shirt and wrapped around his head and started throwing grenades.

On the Iron Vulture, the radio crackled to life and Karnage's first mate, Will, answered.

- Will, bring the Iron Vulture around and tell those useless eeeediots on the ground to attack

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