Prologue:..

It was a warm summer afternoon...the Caribbean Sea reflected the sun that would soon set on the horizon. A lone seagull trying to spot some tasty fish in the water below...

C'mon, c'mon, tasty ones...ah there! ready to dive and...WHATHE--??

And the lone seagull is startled and barely dodges the huge yellow seaplane that passes by it like a blur!

- Baloo!! They are gaining on us!! - a young bear cub in a green sweater yelled while standing on the co-pilot chair, head poking through the window to see the 5 smaller planes flying behind them and approaching, each plane bearing the infamous Air-Pirate Symbol.

- Hang on to yer cap Lil Britches! - the big gray bear with the yellow pilot shirt and hat behind the yoke of the yellow plane yelled as he pushed it forward, sending the seaplane into a dive toward the blue ocean and pulling back at the very last moment. Behind them, one of the planes was not so lucky and crashed into the waters.

-  That Big Oaf with his widdle little fancy tricks shall NOT escape this time, Yes no?? Fire!! Fire!! - bellowed the pilot leading the small squad, a fox with wolfish features - or a wolf with fox features, depending on who you ask!- dressed in a blue coat, gray pants and boots and speaking with a heavy french accent.

And following his orders, the other pilots started firing at the large yellow cargo plane! The big gray bear swerved his plane from side to side in a zig zag pattern, managing to avoid  most bullets but not all: some hit against the hull loudly and one broke his rear mirror!

- Man, I guess that means I ain't getting a Christmas card from old Karny this year! - joked Baloo. One could wonder how the big bear could make jokes in a situation like that but the young cub and navigator, Kit, knew better. His Poppa bear was nervous and their plane - the Sea Duck - was fully loaded with cargo, and very heavy, so their chance of outmaneuvering the pirates was getting smaller and smaller as they approached.

- Baloo! We gotta loose the cargo or they'll catch us! - Kit yelled, looking very worried now.

- No worries kiddo! You see, it's July 17! - Baloo grinned as he hit the throttle as much as he could, the twin Superflight 100 engines screaming as they were pushed to the limit.

- July 17?? What that has to do with....OH! - the young cub's face lit up as he understood everything.

In his cockpit, Don Karnage grinned as his squad was about to get the Sea Duck down as a Christmas turkey...and he would finally get his hands on his former protegé and the dim-witted pilot bear! He would scrap that silly yellow plane and make trophies with the parts! Perhaps even a statue of his handsome self, yes no?

But the pirate captain was awaken from his reverie by the loud boom of an explosive shell detonating between them and the Sea Duck.

- Captain! Battleship! - Mad Dog yelled frantically from his cockpit. Indeed, there was a huge battleship right below them and the Sea Duck was heading right for it! The ship many cannons were firing and covering the cargo plane, and if the pirates insisted on the pursuit, they would surely be brought down one by one.

- That darn Baloo!! RETREAT!! Back to the Iron Vulture men!! - screamed the pirate captain as they turned their planes around and fled - almost all of them as one plane was brought down by the ship's fire and the pilot parachuted into the ocean. A military boat accompanying the ship soon darted to retrieve the downed pirate.

- Thanks fellas! - Baloo bellowed waving from his pilot window at the sailors standing on the deck of the U.S.S. Fireclaw Battleship. After a few passes around the huge vessel, he pulled up and resumed his course to Cape Suzette.

- So that's why you weren't very worried about pirates on this run! Because you remembered the radio announcement of battle maneuvers here scheduled for today! - Kit cheered as he sat back on his seat.

- Yeppers! Looks like Ol' Karny didn't hear 'bout it though! - Baloo grinned as he sat back and rested his big feet on the yoke, guiding the plane steady. - You see, kiddo, ol' Baloo here can use his head!

- AND his belly! - joked the young cub - We escaped the pirates but we are late again! How do we escape Rebecca?

- Aw, Becky won't mind it as long as we get there with the cargo, and we have it! But why somebody need twelve crates of Pigmy crafted pottery? - The big bear wondered.

 But soon the famous cliffs of Cape Suzette came into view and he dismissed his thoughts....they were home at last.

 

- Chapter 1 (still unammed)

 

- Higher for Hire..-

- TWO HOURS LATE!! AGAIN!! - The small bearess dressed in a pink sweater and purple pants screamed while her finger jabbed at Baloo's chest. She kept walking forward, forcing the big gray bear to walk back until he bumped and fell sitting on his old easy chair.

- But Beckers, The Air Pir-- the big pilot started but he was cut off quickly.

- Again the Air Pirates!! You are an Air Pirate magnet! Just like the other twelve times this month! - she stomped her little bare foot on the wodden floor of the office. Rebecca was indeed not pleased. - Besides, I heard on the radio about the U.S.S. Fireclaw firing at Pirates and saving a big yellow cargo plane at 4:37PM! Sounds familiar? You should BE here at 3:00 sharp!!

She sighed and walked around looked at the mountain of paper on her desk. Business was better than ever but she was so busy doing the sales, taking care of the accounts and managing Baloo - a full time job that alone! - that she hasn't had much time for her daughter or even herself. Stress was starting to pile up as much as those papers!

- Miss Cunningham - the respectful young cub started - if Baloo were on time, then we would not have found the Battleship and the pirates would have the cargo now.

She looked at Kit and smiled...that indeed made sense. Wasn't it better to be happy that both of them AND the cargo were there safe and sound?

- Alright, Baloo. You are off the hook. THIS time! But you have been late with almost every delivery this month! You NEED to get your head in the game, buster! - The small bearess warned. As she had done so many times before.

- Yes Boss Lady! Ol'  Baloo here is a changed bear and you'll see yer cargo on time every time now! - the big bear promised, while crossing his fingers behind his back. Another promise, as so many before. Those two were incorrigible.

- Mommy? You promised...- a little yellow girl bearcub with pigtails on her ears looked up from the side of Rebecca's desk at her mom. Indeed, she had been promised a nice stop at the ice cream shop and some frosty pep with her mom.

Rebecca picked up her daughter in her arms and smiled - Well, it's late sweetie, and Mom still has so much work to do...

The big bear stepped in and in a surprise move, got Rebecca's trenchcoat from the hanger and quickly helped her get dressed into it. - A promise's a promise Boss lady! C'mon, I'll close the shop fer you! You two get some R&R, Doctors Orders!

She opened her mouth to protest but she didn't. Instead, she just smiled and gave Baloo a hug and whispered a "thank you" to him, then she gave Kit a kiss on his forehead and smiled at her daughter - Well, honey? The ice cream shop awaits us!

Molly nearly exploded and jumped into her mom's arms, and both bearesses left the office.

Baloo looked around and scratched his head.

- You know, Lil Britches...- he started - ol' Beckers been going thru nights here...she gotta ditch this paperwork thingie or she'll go nuts!

The bearcub jumped on Baloo's belly which prompted a 'whoof' sound from the big bear.

- Or hire some help...- Kit said.

- Hah! Would you really wanna some suit'n'tie type here helping Beckers order you round? - the pilot scoffed.-She just need ta get out and have some fun! Work ain't everything, you know? Talking about it...time for some munchies, ma favorite kinda fun!

And with that both bears headed to the kitchen, Baloo's belly already growling in anticipation.

 

- Cape Suzette, Downtown -

The yellow bear cub rubbed her tummy and smiled as she gazed at her empty ice cream glass. From the stool next to her, Rebecca finished her own, smaller ice cream and smiled. She loved to make her Molly happy.

-How was that, sweetie? - she asked, taking a napkin and wiping her daughter's muzzle.

-Yummm...thanks mommy! - Molly grinned, then looked at her doll. -Sorry Lucy, but you are to little to have ice cream.

-Oh, I think Lucy won't mind skipping ice cream, honey...- giggled Rebecca. -now, time to go home...Danger Woman will be on the radio in one hour.

-Yay! -the little girl jumped off the stool at the mention of her favorite show and hastily made through the ice cream shop door.

Rebecca had to park their car on the other side of the street, and was checking the keys in her purse as they crossed. Her mind, however, not all there, as she had spotted a "We are Hiring" sign on a business at the street and muttered how she had to place an ad. So absent-minded she was that her keys fell on the street.

-The keys to Danger-mobile! -announced Molly as she leaned to get them, Rebecca looking down at her playful daughter.

Then the next moment was a blur. as their whole world lit up when the truck lights blinded them, the driver hitting the brakes as hard as he could, making the tires screech on the tarmac.

That's when all the air left Rebecca's lungs when she was shoved hard off the truck's path and onto the street, falling on her side with a loud gasp of surprise, while a thud was heard behind her when the heavy vehicle stopped.

-MOLLY!! - was the first thing she said, still dizzy but getting to her feet to

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