The horrific destruction waged upon Badda Bing, Port Wagoo and Olde Victoria unsurprisingly garnished major attention in news broadcasts around the world. Real-life tales of incredible monsters and living dead were rampant, and it did not go amiss that sightings of an infamous sky pirate airship were attached to each incident. There was immediate speculation about whether the pirates had caused these terrible and tragic events ― but wait. Some began to come forward with their eye-witness accounts on how the pirates were fighting against the monsters. In Badda Bing, several claimed that they saw pirate planes attacking the colossus, and swore up and down that it was in fact the pirates who put it down. In Olde Victoria, some accounts were given about seeing the pirates facing off against horrendous ghouls on the docks of the River Thumbs.
One person in particular gave what could be considered the definitive account linking these events and the extent of the sky pirates' involvement. That person was Katie Dodd, who told a tale of how the skyfaring villains weren't exactly the villains in this case, and in fact worked to save the world. Save it so they could have something to rob blind, so it was important to note, but save it nonetheless. In a radio interview that went famous across the globe, she began with the words, "I know how crazy this sounds, but…"
Whether this would change anyone's mind on how Don Karnage's gang was perceived, who knew. People will believe what they will. And news changes. A little matter of the near end of the world might not be a headliner for long. Any day there'd be a giant squid climbing a skyscraper, reports of a full-blown Martian invasion, ghost sightings, a mummy stepping out of his sarcophagus… you know, the usual stuff. And speaking of the usual stuff, don't think this pirate crew won't be back to giddily pillaging the free skies before long. As a certain someone would say of it, is what we do, yes-no?
Elsewhere in the world, there was a new attraction being brainstormed on the sketchboards in Badda Bing. 'You heard the story,' so read the early drafts of radio advertisement scripts, 'now see it for yourself! The Colossus.' Yes, the king had an ancient city revealed at his doorstep that held the wonder of a mysterious technology that brought machines to life, not to mention remains of mechanical gryphons and mechanical exoskeletons, all which could invite scientists from all over the world to come study and try to make sense out of... and he might get around to that, but, you know... priorities. Don't be surprised if billboards for Ophidiumland start showing up sooner or later.
And at Higher for Hire, life was adjusting, as it has a tendency to do. Not without some expected sorrow, especially for Baloo, but he had Wildcat, Louie, Rebecca and others to lean on. Indeed, they all had each other to lean on. I could not tell you that Baloo and Kit would never see each other again, if fact that would probably be very unlikely. I could not tell you there would ever be closure between them, nor could I tell you there would ever not be. Time will have the last word on that. What I can tell you, in the here and now, is that the makeshift family at Higher for Hire yet remained a family, and Baloo would find a smile again.
The sky pirates, meanwhile, retreated to Pirate Island, returning home with half the crew it set out with. The Iron Vulture needed another restock and a fair amount of repair ― and perhaps everyone was due for a little extra rest. Especially while the captain was away. He was away because, as for a certain pirate and his protege, there was some unfinished business to attend to…
The captain said to make sure to bring a shovel this time. Kit made it a point to bring two. No way he was gonna let the captain pull that 'supervisories of the labor' propwash again.
The hidden, and now unhaunted island of Cabo Diablo was much more appealing than before. A warm, natural hue saturated the beach. The water and foaming waves sparkled blue. Seagulls squawked in the distance. There was no sign of any of those skeletons they encountered before ― seems they really did just get up and walk on out of the place, but forget that. That part was over. What remained of the island still had plenty of mystery and fascination to it, like an abandoned (and now half destroyed) 17th century pirate town. There were also the eerie valleys among those slanted monolithic rocks, its dark, leafless forests, and who knows what else, all of it was just begging for more exploration. They came packed for it this time, now that they had a chance to take their time and maybe spend a couple days away from the rest of the world. Karnage had left behind his fancy blue attire for the jacket and denim trousers he had donned on their first venture here; what he did not leave behind was his fancy bed and covers, which occupied almost all of the space in the back of their pirate-converted cargo plane ― which left any certain reckless reptiles to have to take their sleeping bag outside. But above all about this island, it was one that a certain treasure map had branded with an X.
Pirate and protege once again found the islet where Ol' Diamond Davey had buried his treasure. They double-teamed the shoveling, and cackled when they at last heard that exciting clunk of a shovelhead striking a wooden chest. From among their supplies they tied a rope to one of the chest's handles. The chest was heavy, and took a considerable amount of work to hoist out, but they went at it wholeheartedly. Once it was up and out, Karnage wanted plenty of room to spread out the spoils, so they each took an end and carried off the islet and onto the beach. It was secured with an iron padlock. Karnage went to fix that small inconvenience with a sledgehammer, but Kit stopped him, producing instead a perfectly lock-picking-sized hairpin.
The captain conceded, with a smidgen of disappointment for not getting to bash something to hell with that sledgehammer ― so he was not so entirely unhappy that the lock turned out to be rusted solid on the inside. To Kit's chagrin, when he yanked the hairpin out, it looked like it had been chewed up.
So the sledgehammer it was. WHAM!
Eagerly they lifted the lid, the old, deteriorated hinges creaking. Their faces glowed in a golden reflection.
"Unbe-lieve-able…" breathed Kit. Karnage licked his lips lest he start drooling.
First, on top of everything, was a diamond as large as the captain's fist. Karnage picked it up by its edges with the tip of his finger and thumb ― not that his fabulous, filthy-less fingers would ever put a smudge on anything but he wasn't taking a chance. Holding it up to the sky, it sparkled like there were a hundred bright stars inside of it. He and the boy were speechless.
Then there was the rest. The chest was laden with shiny, clinky, golden coins, brilliant strands of pearls, bejeweled rings and necklaces, gems of every color of the rainbow, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, topaz and more. Karnage gingery pocketed the diamond, dug his hands into the chest, lifted up handfuls of the treasure and let the pieces slip through his fingers. Kit did the same. It would seem the sound of all that clinking had a tickling effect on their humor, and they couldn't help but to giggle.
The captain started taking handfuls of loot out and setting it aside on the sand. "Come on, boy! I want to see it all!"
Kit helped him, and in moments they had the chest emptied, its glorious sparkling contents laid out before them. And Kit had to agree, it was something to see, spread out like that. Like a king-sized bed made of jewelry and coins. But just gawking at it, it turned out, wasn't exactly what the captain had in mind, as he suddenly rolled into the middle of it all. Say what you want about Don Karnage, but the guy knew how to enjoy a treasure. You've heard of people making snow angels ― ever hear of making treasure angels? Well, they were officially a thing now, as Karnage demonstrated while giddily cackling.
"Aw, lookit you." Kit shook his head at him. "Are you actually just having... fun?"
"Is possible. Shut up, boy."
The heck with it, thought Kit, Treasure angles it was! He jumped in and immersed himself in the clinky, shiny goodness. To think, a treasure hunt actually paid off for once. So this is what that felt like. It was awesome!
When the angels were carved out, they lazily laid there, and a quiet moment came. They watched the sky, listened to the relaxing hiss of the ocean, the splashing of the waves rolling up the beach. Neither could know for sure what the other was thinking about, but they shared a pretty good guess. The journey.
Don Karnage reached in his pocket and fished out Ol' Davey's majestic diamond. He held it up to the sunlight; bright spots of refracted light danced over him and the glistening treasure.
Kit got goosebumps watching the light dance through the gem as the captain turned it. He sat up momentarily and plopped his head on the captain's chest like a pillow, looking up and admiring the diamond's shining splendor.
"It is something, no?" said Karnage.
"I'll say," said Kit. "So, do I get to know the big secret now?"
"You mean, what I'm going to do with it?"
"Uh-huh."
Karnage brought the diamond to his chest and gave it an unnecessary polish, then held it back up. "Yes, I think it is time you found out my most perfecto plan. I know exactably what to do with it." He proffered it to the boy. "Here. Is yours."
Kit blinked. A shocked, confused, wordless breath rattled from his throat. If you've ever imagined anyone actually verbalizing an ellipsis, "..." it was something like that.
"Yes, boy, this is where you take your dingy little digits, like thi-is," Karnage took Kit's hand and placed the diamond in it, all the while sighing loudly and rolling his eyes, "and you hold on to it yourself."
"Uh… what?"
"What, what? I talked too fast?"
Kit sat up, wide-eyed, clutching the diamond with both hands. "Wh-what do you mean, mine?"
"I mean it's yours! Not really brandishing the brain powers today, are we."
Kit had to suck in an emergency breath, because he had momentarily forgot to breathe. The gem, with mesmerizing effect, sparkled in his eyes, which were getting a little watery. "What am I gonna do with it?"
Karnage did not deign to lift his head, shoulders, or any other part from his comfortable, treasure-basking supine position as he shrugged. "Whatever you want! That is the whole point of it being yours."
Kit couldn't help but stammer. "I… I didn't expect… I mean… this is a fortune."
"Hmph. One little rock. The rest is mine."
"I... don't know what to say."
Karnage's arm rose with a finger pointed up, statesman-like, "Thank you oh thank you my incredible capitan who is also my very favorite person for ever and ever and always… try starting with that." Kit lunged on top of him and hugged his neck. "Or... that," said the captain.
"Thank you."
"Yes, well. We all know how you like the big, expensive stones, no?"
At that, Kit sat up, brandishing a stink eye. Karnage grinned toothily. But then Kit was back to the diamond. He was completely enthralled with it, it's beauty, its size… its value. He had never held a fortune like this in his hand before. There was an incredibly awesome plane sparkling in there, somewhere. A plane, and who knows what else. Anything he wanted. Anything.
"Captain?"
"Hm."
"What if… and I'm just sayin' what if, so don't get crabby… but what if I wanted to give it to someone?"
Karnage raised his head, squinting at him. Somehow he surmised the boy's "someone" didn't mean him. He cupped his face and groaned into his hands. Maybe one day the boy wasn't going to drive him nuts. Not today! But after letting that groan out, he let his arms fall limply and resignedly. "You do what you want with it. But don't be a hasty pudding, either. Think about it."
Kit nodded, and resumed using the captain for a head pillow, alternating stares between the diamond and the sky. He heard Karnage clear his throat quietly, and felt him shift around like he was suddenly not comfortable.
"I was… perhaps… not so entirely in the most absolute correctness... when I told you to forget about them," the captain admitted.
"Aw, I wasn't listening anyway." Kit turned his head to him and grinned. "But ya know, I like this thing where you admit you're wrong about stuff."
"I did not say wrong! And don't get used to it, that was the last one. So hear this! From now on, any-thing I ever did, are happening to be doing, or will do into all forever and futurity that you don't like ― thpthpthp!"
"You fee-eel gui-lty," Kit teased in a sing-song voice.
"Someone around here ― I'll let you guess who ― is about to get a big diamond up his nose."
And speaking of the diamond, Kit went back to holding it up and catching it in the sunlight. Karnage stared into it as well. To him that translucent gem was like looking into a crystal ball. He saw visions in there, each sparkle a tale of an adventure to come. There were a lot of sparkles.
"There is a whole world out there for us, boy. We're going to find all of it. And you remember all those yesterdays before today?"
"Yeah?"
"Well stop it. No more yesterdays. Just the nows. And the tomorrows."
"The nows and the tomorrows," repeated Kit. "That works." In a moment, he added, "When today becomes one of those yesterdays, though… it might be a yesterday that I forget to not remember."
"Hmph." Karnage wiggled mildly, adjusting himself more comfortably in the bed of treasure. In a deep breath, he savored the scent of metallic and salty scents of gold coins on a sandy beach ― the smells of adventure. "Same."
A time went by where they did not speak, and just enjoyed the relaxation of the moment, with the occasional clinking of pieces of treasure being shifted around, picked up and admired.
"I really liked the Stormhawk," mentioned Kit. "We should look for another plane. Ya know, somethin' just like it."
"We should. We will." Karnage already knew better than to assume there was no ulterior segue on the boy's mind, so there was no surprise when the kid also mentioned,
"I did pretty good flying, huh?"
Karnage snorted at him. "Is that what you call what you did?"
"Well, I did. You gotta admit. I think I'm pretty ready for some real lessons, don't you?"
"It would seem to me, my cloud-headed hellion, every time you got into some flying, there was always some crashing. Lots of crashing. As in, still too-young-to-fly crashing."
"Aw, c'mon. I flew to Louie's ― and uh… that was just a small crash." He noticed Karnage raising his head to look down on him, and it was not a kind look. "Uh, okay, so maybe we won't count that one. But then there was the gryphon! What about that?"
"Crashed."
"No fair! It got shot down."
"Same."
"Ugh. How about the Petral, then? I flew that one all the way from Badda Bing."
"Crashed."
"But I didn't crash it!"
"Too bad. Counts as a crash."
"In that case, I guess it's not even worth bringin' up the Stormhawk?"
"It could be. Go ahead, try."
"Okay, so I did fly that one out of ―"
"Cra-ashed," interrupted Karnage.
"Aw, for cryin' out loud."
The wolf cackled and grabbed Kit around the throat playfully, inducing some giggles and ticklish squirming. "Ah, flying. I know what it's like, you know. I remember being your age and dreaming about it every day."
"Every day? I dream about it every ten seconds."
"Good dreams, yes?"
"The best dreams."
"Well. I promise you this, my boy. I will never dream of keeping you from always dreaming about it."
Kit smiled, gazing into the sky. The captain was right, he thought, there was a whole world out there for them. And they were going to take it on together. Maybe what to come wouldn't have anything to do with a diamond, or finding a particular plane, or any ideas they attached to today, or anything else that could be considered expected. Maybe it would, but who could say, and that was part of the wonder of it. After all, expecting the expected didn't always quite pan out expectedly. Case in point, everything that led to this exact moment. Everything that led to Don Karnage realizing his protege's dream for him. Don Karnage figuring out a few things about a certain four-lettered word. Oh, he knew the captain was thinking he won this so-called reckless reptile over ― but Kit didn't have the heart to tell him he was wrong. The truth was, as far as he believed, it was the other way around. He won his captain over. No exaggeration, that meant more to him than anything that could come out of a treasure chest. The treasure chest was a pretty close runner up, though. The awesome part was, there was no doubt in his head that the captain felt the same way. And whatever adventures were to come in the great wide unknown, expected or not, his heart was racing for it. It was him and the captain now. Kit Cloudkicker and Don Karnage ― watch out world.
And he liked what the captain had just said; maybe it required the standard bit of Karnage-ese translation to let sink in, but it sounded like a nice, comforting sentiment. Until, with a blink, he actually realized what it meant.
"Hey!"
~fin
