As the clouds overhead rumbled with the sound of thunder, Jeremiah and Dudley flew with Raj in tow. Below them, the car of mercenary monkeys opened fire. Raj was certainly feeling the thrill although seeing dogs sprout wings and take flight caught him by surprise.

"Where did you get those?!", he yelled over gunfire.

"Just a moment.", Jeremiah stated as he let go.

Dudley managed to catch Raj as large lightning bolts fired off and hit Jeremiah as he put his hand upward. After about five more bolt hit him, Jeremiah opened fire at the car. Dudley could see the elemental control machine in Jeremiah's palm and knew what Jeremiah was planning. As lightning struck the plains, fires erupted, but their pursuers weren't out. The car then shifted into a plane which took off and continued to engage. A couple monkeys jumped out with jet packs and engaged Jeremiah as Dudley continued to fly forward with Raj. Dudley wanted to help, but clearly Jeremiah was doing just fine on his own. As he flew a few feet forward, another bolt of lightning flashed his way and nearly missed him and Raj. Raj held on cause he was about three hundred feet in the air and surrounded by thunderclouds with lightning ready to fire at any second. Dudley dived into the thick jungle nearby and the plane chased them. When they got into the thick trees, the plane halted and clearly the monkeys were fed up with the chase or realized they needed to beat a retreat cause they turned and flew off. Jeremiah returned a minute after Dudley landed and set Raj down and folded his wings back into his back. Jeremiah did the same, but Raj still looked a little shaken.

"You okay?", Jeremiah asked.

Raj nodded.

"I'll be fine.", he said as he calmed down a little.

"What were those?", Dudley asked.

"Khan's goons.", Jeremiah stated, "They scope out his prey and inform him of it's whereabouts."

"You mean the psychotic killer who wants us dead?", Dudley asked.

Raj's eyes went wide.

"We're being hunted? Why don't we just explain that-"

"Nobody explains anything to Khan.", Jeremiah said firmly, "Khan would rather kill you than hear you out."

That shut Raj up. Jeremiah looked up at the departing clouds and saw that night had fallen.

"We'll set up camp here for tonight."

In another part of the jungle, the monkeys from earlier pulled their vehicle( which was in it's jeep form now) into a large compound that was built around ancient ruins. The orangutan got out just as Khan came out from behind the shadow of a statue.

"So Louis, what happened?", Khan asked as he sharpened a serrated knife on a whetstone.

Louis( the orangutan) sighed heavily.

"The prince gave us the slip. I admit that he had help, but not one who could control the heavens."

Khan raised an eyebrow.

"Control the heavens?"

Louis explained everything and his fellow primates helped by acting it out. Khan listened very carefully, but didn't look impressed.

"So my prey has got an edge eh? Well, I think I need to tip the scales of the hunt."

Louis looked unsure.

"What do you mean sir?", he asked nervously.

Khan didn't answer. He just turned and went inside a ruined hallway he had redecorated into a hunting hall filled with maps, traps, and brewing beakers of strange liquids. He ushered Louis to follow him which Louis did. He walked into the back and pulled out a small decorated box that looked like it had once been in an ancient relic.

"I had a feeling I would need this when something intervened with my hunt in this kind of matter."

Louis looked concerned.

"Sir, are you sure we should use that?"

Khan turned around and sneered causing Louis to freeze up.

"This kind of prey isn't going to pass me by. And for your sake, you better not mess it up."

Dudley hoisted the hammocks he had woven from large tree leaves and vines and placed between some trees. While he was doing that, Raj had gathered some twigs and tinder and after working a little in the fire pit Jeremiah dug a little earlier before he went to get some more water, had a nice fire going. Rest assured, it was well managed and not in any way able to cause a forest fire. Dudley was in awe.

"Where did you learn to do that?", he asked Raj.

"My dad had me on a very special education.", Raj explained, "I admit that I was pretty hesitant at first, but now it actually comes in handy."

Dudley noticed Raj looked a little worried when he said that, so after he hung up the hammocks, he came over to talk as Raj maintained the cheery blaze.

"Hey, I had parent problems too once."

Raj got interested.

"Really?"

Dudley nodded.

"One time, my mom found out I had a dangerous job and tried to make me quit. I understand she was overprotective at times, but sometimes I think she was over the edge. Luckily she changed her mind when she saw how good I was at it and that it was helping other people out."

Raj looked a little better, than looked curious.

"Dudley, do you think my dad and I are the same way you and your mom were?"

Dudley gave an assuring smile.

"I'm quite sure. And I know your dad has got quite a lot of luck to have a son as you."

By this time, Jeremiah had come back with some water and some fruit.

"What's going on here?", he asked calmly.

"We were just talking.", Dudley said calmly.

"About what?", Jeremiah asked.

"Just about how my dad is gonna feel about getting me back.", Raj said quickly.

Jeremiah looked unsure and Dudley could tell he wasn't buying it.

"Okay, I was telling Raj about the time my mom almost made me quit.", Dudley admitted.

"The time Birdbrain made a toilet blasting laser which your mother took as an early Mother's Day gift?", Jeremiah asked.

Dudley nodded.

"Yep, that's the one."

That convinced Jeremiah as he sliced up some mango and other fruit and handed them out on plates made from split rocks.

While the threesome had late dinner, it was soon time to hit the hay( if you get my drift), but as Raj settled in, Jeremiah took Dudley aside.

"You got to admit Raj has some skills in survival.", Dudley stated.

"I'll agree on that.", Jeremiah stated, "But we can't let our guard down."

Dudley looked concerned.

"You don't think Khan will assault us here will you?"

Jeremiah looked equally concerned.

"He's not going to sit by and let us get away from him. He'll kill Raj with a single swipe."

He swung his hand near Dudley's face, but missed on purpose to show his point. Dudley sure got the message, but he wasn't backing down.

"At least he's got us to help keep him safe."

"For now.", Jeremiah put in, "But don't underestimate a hunter like Khan. He has more than booby traps and arrows in his arsenal."

Dudley sighed.

"So what do we tell him?"

"We won't have to.", Jeremiah said calmly, "Cause he's listening."

They turned to see Raj come out from behind a tree looking both concerned and worried.

"Sorry I overheard."

Jeremiah didn't look upset and neither did Dudley. They both could see that he just wanted to know what was up.

"It's fine.", Jeremiah stated, "We were just talking."

Raj raised an eyebrow.

"Why would Khan want me dead?"

"He's driven mad by his addiction to hunting.", Jeremiah stated as Dudley and him helped Raj get into his hammock, "But he's not getting you without us nearby."

That made Raj feel better and Jeremiah kept some embers glowing in case they needed them. Just as Raj got in, Jeremiah tensed. Something was up and unfortunately that was when the monkeys attacked. They came out as if out of nowhere and Dudley and Jeremiah were taken by surprise, but they could hold their own. But Raj got scared and he was about to scream when a couple of the assaulting primates swiped him out of his hammock, but one covered his mouth so he couldn't. As they swung off, the others followed suit although they looked pretty roughed up when they did. Jeremiah noticed Raj was missing and Dudley did too.

"Great, now we have to find him for the third time.", Dudley groaned.

Jeremiah just growled and clenched his fist. Clearly he wanted to finish those monkeys off.

Louis was overlooking the whole thing and when his minions came up with Raj tied and gagged, he was smiling.

"Well played boys, it was all worth it."

A couple stepped forward and looked cross.

"That wolf almost killed us and almost did if we didn't pull out.", one scolded.

"And the other almost had us leave with second degree burns.", the other sneered as he showed his still smoking behind.

It burst into flames again, but his partner used his jacket to extinguish it. Louis didn't look at all concerned.

"A few burns and scrapes are worth it for the next phase.", he grinned, "Escort our guest to his room and make sure he doesn't get ideas."

A couple other monkeys took Raj away as the two who complained went off to get treated for their injuries and Louis made a phone call.

"Our bait is obtained Khan."

"Excellent. Get him to the plains and be ready for a chase.", Khan said from the other end, "And if you mess this up, consider yourself dead."

Louis hung up and went back to a map of the surrounding area.

"Who does that overgrown house cat think he's fooling?", Louis grumbled, "I slave all day long for that beast, and for what?! A simple instruction and a death threat if I fail."

Obviously he was in a bad mood and really wanted Khan to just drown himself for all Louis cared for, but that would have Khan hunting him, so as much as he hated his post, he sucked it up and let a slow breath out.

"This better be worth it.", he muttered, "Khan may think his new help might be giving him an edge, but I think something else is up and when we have what it wants, it won't hesitate to finish us off."

Just then one of his monkey minions came in and looking pretty scared.

"What happened?", Louis asked.

The monkey was sweating, but clearly it knew that Louis wasn't going to let it slide so he fessed up.

"We lost our captive."

"What do you mean you lost him?"

Louis' minion took a breath and began to explain.

Raj couldn't see what was going on, but by the way he was moving, something was taking him somewhere. Just a minute ago he had overheard a struggle and some hissing going on. Now he felt like he was being drifted along on a river except he was dry and no sound of roaring waters was heard. After what seemed like hours, Raj felt himself getting set down and his hands came undone so he removed the blindfold the monkeys had put on him as well as his gag. He was now sitting in a tangle of thick branches and a large mound of fruit nearby.

"You're awake I sssee.", a voice hissed.

Raj tensed and cautiously looked around. Nothing seemed to be out of order, but Raj felt like he wasn't alone.

"I can sssee you shaking.", the voice continued, "After what I did to liberate you, I think you should be more consssiderate of me."

Raj had his back turned to a thick branch.

"Where are you?", Raj asked cautiously.

"Right here above you."

Raj looked up and saw a large python coiled around a large branch overlooking the tangle and fruit mound below it. This python was pretty big( as pythons often are) and long enough to extend all the way to the jungle floor far below. Raj jumped back as the python uncoiled himself and curled up in a sunny spot at the base where Raj was standing a moment ago.

"Let'sss not get off on the wrong foot here.", the python said politely, "Hello, my name isss Tashi."

Tashi extended his tail tip and paused so Raj could shake it, but Raj kept back.

"What? You don't shake?", Tashi asked raising an eyebrow.

Raj cautiously extended a hand and shook Tashi's tail and Tashi pulled it back shortly after he did. Raj was feeling a little braver now seeing that the snake hadn't done anything except say hello.

"Are you the one who brought me here?", he asked.

Tashi blushed.

"Guilty asss charged.", he hissed and then looked perplexed, "Why are you over there?"

Raj sighed.

"People tell me you're a crazy snake who eats whoever comes by after you hypnotize them."

Tashi looked perplexed.

"You believe that poppy cock?"

Raj was taken by surprise.

"Actually I did."

Tashi laughed out loud.

"Didn't anyone tell you not to believe everything you hear?"

Raj couldn't help but feel curious.

"So you're a vegetarian?", he asked.

Tashi smiled.

"You bet I am. Care for a bite?"

Dudley and Jeremiah had hiked for hours and still found nothing.

"Jer, can't we call it a day?", Dudley wheezed as he sat down on a large tree root.

Jeremiah paused, but looked concerned.

"We'll call it a day when we find Raj."

Dudley had caught his breath by now and was feeling pretty hot so he had some water before talking.

"There's only about a million places in this jungle. He could be anywhere."

Jeremiah sighed.

"I just hope it's not in Khan's claws."

Just then, Dudley sniffed the air.

"Hey, you smell something."

Jeremiah sniffed the air also.

"I certainly do. Is something cooking?"

"And why is it smelling like burned fruit?", Dudley asked.

That was when Dudley and Jeremiah followed their noses until they found a large tree that seemed about five feet wide and so tall it hid itself among other tree tops. They were up in no time and as they pulled the branches out of the way, there was Raj with some hot coals from an old looking torch and some dried fruit on some leaves nearby.

"Raj?", Dudley asked completely in surprise, "How did you get here?"

"I met a new friend.", Raj answered.

Jeremiah and Dudley came over.

"Who?", Jeremiah asked.

Raj smiled.

"He's right behind you."

Dudley and Jeremiah turned to see Tashi eating a mango and smile their way. Dudley and Jeremiah lept back, but Raj didn't look worried.

"Don't worry, he's a nice guy.", Raj stated as he came over to Tashi and helped himself to another mango from the fresh fruit pile.

To be continued...