Gathering Clouds
Part One
Rebecca glared at her daughter over her desk. Molly looked back, but couldn't quite match her mother. The two were both alike and unalike, with a family similarity. Rebecca's thick auburn hair contrasted with her daughters golden hair, carelessly bound in a short ponytail, and Molly was already as tall as her mother. However, the younger bearess couldn't match her mother's poise, or in this case, her anger.
This isn't going to be good. The young bearess thought, looking at her mother, the note from school, and the fact that Baloo had broken speed records leaving the building.
"Molly Elizabeth Cunningham." Rebecca began. Molly hated it when she was right. "What is going on with you, young lady?" Rebecca asked, "Your grades are decent, but these problems in school! Scuffles, fights, and now this! Do you know that that broken desk is going to come out of your allowance, young lady!" Molly tuned her mothers rant out, largely because she had heard, it, with a variety of variations, many times over the last year. Unfortunately, she couldn't say anything to justify herself.
"And furthermore young lady, you're grounded for a month!" Molly looked up, opened her mouth to protest, then sighed.
"Yes mom. Can I go home now?" Becky looked puzzled, not expecting that reaction, then nodded shortly. Molly turned around and walked out to the bus stop, grabbing her bag on the way. Rebecca sighed. Convincing Molly to give up her overalls and bag for more suitable clothes and a purse was such a lost cause that Rebecca hadn't even tried in the last several months. Perhaps she would grow out of her tomboy stage... but Rebecca certainly couldn't speed the process.
Baloo poked his head in, as he saw Molly leave.
"No slammed doors?" He asked, then let himself in the rest of the way. "That's a difference, Beckers," Rebecca sighed, not even bothering to make a pro-forma protest against the nick name. She waved Baloo over to the other chair, and the Bear lowered himself into it. He looked better then he had when Becky had bought Baloo's air service, largely because she had badgered him into getting regular check ups... that and the one time a case of severe heartburn on an all nighter cargo flight had turned out to be a minor heart attack. That had convinced him, for Kit's sake if not his, to stop behaving as if he was still 18.
"I don't know, Baloo." Rebecca said, "Usually, well.. you know how Molly can react to a punishment, especially if she doesn't think she deserves it, but...."
"But she's not acting that way?" Baloo asked, rhetorically. The bear shifted in his chair, thinking. He was in some respects a stepfather for Molly, even if he and Rebecca remained strictly friends, whatever some of the more unfriendly competitors might try to say. "Ya'know Rebecca, it's almost as if she does think she deserves it..."
"Then why doesn't she do something about it!" Becky almost yelled, waving at the slips of paper on her desk. "Baloo, she's been in a dozen fights this year. Many more of them, and she'll be expelled, and I'll have to send her to a private school. That's not the worst of it, either! Yesterday I got a call from-" She bit off her words. Baloo looked at her, noticing her knuckles paling on the edge of the desk.
"Who, Rebecca." He asked,
"Child services." She said quietly. "Baloo, I'm a single mother, and... some in city government don't like the idea of working single mothers... as if a single mother has another alternative." She said, laughing bitterly. "If this keeps up, they might try to declare me an unfit mother and...." She broke off, unable to continue.
"Now Beckers, that isn't going to happen." Baloo said, "Buttonnose is having a phase, that's all. You did, I did, Kit did, or have you forgotten about that?" Becky laughed, in spite of herself.
"Oh God, no. I still think that the fact you both survived was a not so minor miracle." She paused, "But I still need to find out what's going on. This weekend, could you come over and we'll both talk to her? If Kit's back in by then, he could come too... she's always confided in him."
"No problem." Baloo said. "I just hope that you both survive the next three days. You do realize the being grounded means she's going to be in the apartment all the time." Becky smiled,
"We survived Don Karnage, We can survive this." As Baloo left, she added in a whisper, "I hope."
The next day at the junior high, Molly sat in a little bubble of anger. She couldn't tell her mother why this was happening. Molly quietly worked during the rest of the day. By the end of the day she had almost caught up with all the work she had had to miss yesterday. In the library, during last period, she almost missed the teachers cough.
"Molly?"
"Yes, Ms. Thomson." She said, looking up at the elderly fox.
"I just finished speaking with your mother."
"Did she tell you anything?" Ms Thomson sat on the edge of Molly's desk.
"Only enough to let me know that you've haven't been honest with her." She paused. "Molly, you've got to tell us why this is happening someday... and someday soon. It's not like you... and I don't think you're doing it to cause problems. But no matter how much I think that Dave and his gang are at the bottom of it, it's you who are getting in trouble." Molly dropped her eyes, unable to meet Ms. Thomson's caring ones. She looked up again.
"I'll try to do better, Ms. Thomson. Besides," Molly said with a small grin, "For the next month, I spend all non-school time at home...." Ms. Thomson nodded, and looked up as the last bell rang. The Library was almost deserted, most of the students already gone.
"You'd better get home then, so you don't get into any more problems with your mother." Molly got her things and left the school, noticing how several of her "friends" realizing that Molly was the focus of trouble, avoided her.
"Hello, Molly." Molly turned around, seeing the small gray coyote who had come up behind her, stooped under the weight of his books.
"Hi, Jereem" She said, smiling. Jereem was smaller then her, and in truth was probably the last person anyone would of expected Molly to hang with, but she liked him.
"I heard about what happened." He continued as he walked with her, leg brace clicking on the concrete. "You know, I'm used to people making those jokes... It's not a big deal."
"Yes it is." Molly said angrily. You shouldn't have to listen to that! It doesn't matter that.
"My father's in jail?" Jereem asked quietly. "But it does Molly, and getting angry about it doesn't change anything." The two youngsters walked along the sidewalk, approaching the place where they would split up. "How much trouble did you get into, Molly?" He asked,
"Not much... I got suspended for a month, but..." Molly tried to crack a smile, "what am I going to do with no money anyway."
"I-" A new, very unpleasant voice cut him off.
"ohhh. Look at our little miss dangerwomen and her boyfriend." Molly and Jereem spun around to see the street behind them, deserted except for Dave and his hangers on. Dave, a large badger, was as usual, dressed in clothes that barely met the schools dress code. Dave was older then most of the other children, largely due to his inability to expend any effort... except when it came to tormenting those smaller then him. Most of his "friends" were about the same level.
Molly backed up slightly, worried but not yet afraid. She had never actually fought Dave... but the last fight with one of his circle had left the kid running to the principle in tears, his muzzle bloody. On the other hand, there were six of them here.
"So, Jereem do you have our money?" Dave said, walking towards him arrogantly. "I wouldn't have to tell everyone what we know about youuuuu....." he finished. Jereem looked down, then back up at Dave.
"I don't have that much money, as I told you earlier. If you're going to do it, then get it over with."
"Oh. I think we need to be taught some respect." The badger walked straight towards Jereem and then shoved him hard, sending him to the ground in a clatter of the leg braces. Molly ran to his side, and tried to help him get up.
"It's ok... Molly, don't do anything you'll regret." Jereem said, face white with the pain of his legs. Daves' shadow fell over them.
"Yeah, 'dangerwomen', " Dave said, advancing. "Take the advice of your boyfriend... Take a powder like your daddy did." Dave was so taken up with his wit that he missed the rage that convulsed Molly's face, that vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
"OK Dave." Molly said, "I'll take a powder," she said, before jumping up and burying both her hands wrist deep into his solar plexus. "When pigs fly!" She snarled, watching as he doubled over gasping and retching. She grabbed Jereem, abandoning her and his books, and took off down the street.
"Get them you idiots." Dave screamed/choked, as his six henchmen took off after them. Molly was only 30 feet down the road when two of them, a Hyena and the bear cub she had bloodied earlier, caught up with her.
"Gonna regret that, little girl." The Bear cub said, before sinking to his knees, the victim of a well aimed knee. Jereem was trying, and loosing in his fight with two others. Molly turned to aid him, when the Hyena and the two remaining members of the gang dogpiled on her. In a moment, they had her held securely, two holding her arms behind her back. Dave hobbled up to them.
"You know." He said. "I was going to let you off easy, but you seem to think you run the school." He slapped her across the face, hard. "Now," slap "What" punch "you" slap "need" kick "to" slap "understand," he continued, punching her again in the stomach, "Is that you do what I say, because I run the school, and I am-."
"An inbred lout with poor manners and worse breath," A new voice intruded. Dave turned just in time to catch a soda bottle right in the face. He went down like a polaxed steer, and the ones holding Molly let her go, turning to the new threat. Molly collapsed on the ground, trying to get some air into her abused lungs. She looked up and saw the newcomer, a tall tiger, was wearing the uniform of one of the more exclusive private schools in Cape Suzzette. The shock of unruly black hair and piercing green eyes completed his appearance. She figured that he was about her age.
"Look out!" Molly choked out as Dave's cronies converged on the Tiger. She needn't have bothered. One minute, they were charging him, the next, the Tiger was standing, surrounded by several groaning bodies.
"hmph." He murmured. "Uncle Khan seem to have had the right idea... imagine that." He shook his head and walked over to Molly. He offered his hand to her, and the golden bear cub took it, getting to her feet with a groan.
"Thanks," Molly said, having the unusual experience of having to look up at someone her own age.
"You're welcome," He answered. "Michael Khan, at your service." Molly blinked.
"You're Shere Khan's..."
"Grand nephew," He said, mouth setting into a firm line. "If you don't have anything else to say, then perhaps I'd better,"
"No, ah, I mean that thanks for helping me," Molly stammered, while wondering what she had said to irritate him. He paused, his face smoothing out again.
"I'm sorry, that wasn't fair." He turned back looking behind Molly. "It seems the other fellow has left the area. Maybe we should do the same before your friends decide to return."
"Ah, OK. I'm already grounded, so I really don't need another fight to get me in trouble." Molly said, getting her books, and walking with him, favoring her side just slightly. They came to the wall of Michael's school, where he turned to look at Molly.
"If you want, I could give you a ride back to your home." He said, gesturing towards a limo with the SK emblem on it.
"I'd better not... As far as mom is concerned, nothing happened today, and I'd like to keep it that way," The golden bear cub said ruefully. "Anyway, when I get home, I'm going to have to call Jereem, to find out why he left."
"We could have gone after him." Michael said,
"No." Molly said, with certainty, "When Jereem leaves like that, it's best just to let him be." She paused, "I'm Molly Cunningham." Michael nodded.
"Grand uncle has spoken of your mother." Molly looked at him.
"What did he say?" Michael let his eyes lower, and then, in a passable imitation of the older Shere Khan, said:
"An excellent, if small company. I shall have to one day see about acquiring it. Indeed." He looked at her, "Then he feeds something to one of his plants."
"A worker?"
"Only after a dramatic foul up of some kind or another. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow?"
"I walk home this way, so yeah." Molly said, as Michael got into the limo. Several of the female students from his school were gazing at her with unfriendly eyes, but she ignored them.
***
Jereem panted, his legs twitching with searing pain whenever he moved them. Still, he kept hobbling along until he got to the small, dingy house where he and his mother lived. He ran inside, locking the door after him. Going to the living room, he unhooked the phone. Molly would call. She always did after a problem, and right now, Jereem just needed to be alone. He didn't have the heart to tell the golden cub that her 'help' had just made things worse. Once Dave and the rest told, they'd have to leave. Even Molly would want him gone then.
***
Molly got back to the apartment, empty with Rebecca still at H&H. Taking advantage of her mom's absence, she called Jereem, but there was no answer. Either he wasn't home yet, or he had disconnected the line.... again. What had Dave known about Jereem? The golden bearess sat back in a chair in the living room, looking at the endless river of the waterfall. Chin in her hands, Molly thought about what Dave had said. It couldn't be anything the school knew... Maybe she could ask Ms. Thomson about it tomorrow. Behind her, she heard the door open, then close, and Rebecca came into the room, the petite bearess looking more then a little exhausted.
"Hi Mom!" Molly said, springing up. "You look horrible." Becky gave her a look, and Molly noticed the shadows under her eyes. "I mean, you look really exhausted,"
"Don't try to sweet talk me, Molly." Rebecca said, "I do look horrible.... There was another raid, and we had to change all of the air routes... which meant more gas, but nobody had thought to tell the rationing office about it...." She sagged into one of the chairs, letting out a sigh. She shot Molly another look. "Any problems at school today?"
"None at all, mom. Don't worry, I've learned my lesson." Molly said, realizing that she wasn't quite lying to her mother, even if she doubted Becky would see it that way.
"Good." Becky paused, "Honey, could you get your own dinner? I really am exhausted." Molly nodded, and went off, bustling around with the plates and utensils... after dealing with Baloo's first few attempts at preparing food during babysitting, Molly learned, out of self defense, how to cook. In a few minutes, she returned with soup and sandwiches, then looked at her mother, asleep on the couch. Molly considered, then decided that it would be better to wake her mother up.
"Mom?"
"ummm-I'm awake!" Rebecca shot up out of the couch, looking around, "oh. Oh, thanks Molly."
"Mom, maybe you should go to bed early tonight."
"I think you're right, honey." Becky looked at her daughter, "And I expect you to be in bed by 10:00."
"OK." Molly said. Then, "Mom? If we aren't at war yet, why are we getting raided?"
"Well," Rebecca said, "Officially they're just air pirate raids."
"Riiiigghht." Molly said, "Nobody has even seen Don Karnage for the last three years.... and now he's hitting half the cargo planes and ships in Usland? It's the Alemians and everyone knows it. Why don't we do something about it?"
"If we say anything right now, without proof, it could lead to war." Becky said quietly, "And nobody wants that, not me at least, especially now that Kit's in the military." Molly nodded, and Rebecca continued, "By the way, Molly. Kit will be back this weekend, and... I think we'll have him over for dinner, if it's alright with you?"
"Great!" Molly said, and started to eat.
Later, Molly tried to call Jereem for the 12th time, and for the 12th time, got the disconnected signal. She sighed, and looked out of the front window, over the glowing skyline of the city. Finally, she got dressed for bed, and looked in Rebecca's room before turning the lights out. Her mother was asleep, lines of weariness running across her face. It seemed like more and more adults were looking like that, flinching with every news report. Molly knew why. War was coming. She went to bet, bitterly thinking about the fact that she couldn't even help a friend, much less stop the course of nations.
***
Jereem woke up, looking at the predawn glow of the horizon through his smudged window.
"Hey, son." Oh, God, no. He looked over, and saw his father, standing, a darker blot against the dark wall. "I told you your old man would be back, and this time, I'm gonna get it right."
***
Michael waited beside Shere Khan's desk. The large tiger, still erect and powerful despite his years, finished up one last series of papers, frowning slightly at the last one. He handed them to a flunky, who silently left, leaving the two tigers alone in the room. Michael said nothing, waiting for his guardian to speak.
"I note that your grades are excellent this term, Michael." Shere said, no emotion in his voice.
"As always, grand uncle." Michael replied. Shere shifted uneasily.
"However, the reports of a fight this afternoon do disturb me." Michael's eyes widened.
"You had someone spying on me?" he said, his claws coming out of their sheaths.
"Of course. You are quite possibly my heir apparent." Shere met Michael's eyes unflinchingly. "As such, you are a natural target for a kidnapping attempt, and I could not allow you to go unguarded."
"Well, then why didn't they intervene?"
"I thought that you wanted to have a certain amount of freedom, and your guardians understand that." He paused, "Besides, it is better if you learn to handle these situations yourself... it will aid you in the future."
"And if I fail, better that the great Khan name not be connected to my foul up. That you, granduncle. May I go now?" Without waiting for an answer, Michael spun on his heel and left the office. Shere raised his hand, then dropped it. He shook his head at the retreating tiger.
"That was a complement..." He said, too softly for Michael to hear. Khan didn't understand it. He had taken in Michael out of obligation, and with no small amount of trepidation. Michael however, was cut from a different cloth then his layabout father, and Khan had seen someone who might be able to take over his vast corporation. But they couldn't seem to come to any understanding, especially now that Michael was getting older.
"Hmph... Perhaps I have become too accustomed to having my orders instantly carried out." Shere said, returning to some more papers, weapons contracts. As much as he wanted to spend more time working to break through with Michael, now, more then ever, he needed to maintain a firm hand on the company.
"Ms. Snarly," He spoke into the intercom.
"Yes, Mr. Khan."
"I see that my orders for divesting the company of our Eporuean holdings have not yet be accomplished."
"Ms. Harmon is trying to negotiate a better price, Mr. Khan." Khan's claws came out, then retracted.
"If we still are negotiating when war breaks out, we shall lose everything. Tell her to get what she can... and then return home. Quickly." Harmon was loyal, but sometimes too focused on the immediate task.
"Yes, Mr. Khan." The intercom clicked off. Khan looked at his desk, strewn with plans for secret weapons, orders for new aircraft... better then 50 percent of his company was now dedicated to war related industries, and more would be converted. Some of his managers had complained.
"Idiots. Do they think we will be spared if the war is lost." He sighed. Better that it had come in 1938, or 1940. Then, with nobody geared up, maybe it would have fizzled out before too much damage. But now... with everyone armed to the teeth, the world was like a giant powderkeg sitting in a room filled with gasoline, just waiting for the match...
The tiger bent back to his work, feeling for one of the few times in his life, rather small and powerless against the tide sweeping the world.
END OF PART ONE