Neither Khans interacted that morning. Eliza hardly ate the breakfast on her bedside table, too eager to escape her imprisonment. As Sam the chauffeur drove on, Eliza stared up at the clear sky. Anyone else would see this as a good omen, but it only reminded her of what she was missing out.

By the time they were three blocks from the school, Eliza spotted Kit. "Sam, stop," she urged.

"But we're not there yet," he replied.

"I know but- " she paused. What if Kit was angry with her? Maybe she shouldn't talk to him now. No, she couldn't wait any longer. She had to apologize or the guilt would eat at her all day. "It's only a few blocks away. I can walk from here."

"I'm sorry, Miss. Mr. Khan said- "

"He only said I couldn't meet people after school."

"Even so- "

Clearly, he was afraid of his boss just like the rest of them. Probably tired like them too. "Don't you want a break? If I walk, that gives you more time." Sam touched the brim of his hat thoughtfully. The temptation had him, though he still looked hesitant. "And I promise not to tell. Please!"

"Very well then."

"Thank you!" Eliza squealed, bounding out of the car towards Kit, calling his name.

"Eliza!" Kit jumped. "You startled me."

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to." She stared at her feet. "Kit, about my uncle. I should've told you."

Kit waved a hand. "Hey, don't sweat it. I can guess why you didn't."

"You do?"

Kit grinned, pointed at her with his arm outstretched dramatically and said, "Look, there goes Shere Khan's niece." Eliza laughed. "I want to be her friend," Kit continued in a droll voice, "so she can buy whatever I want."

"Stop!" Eliza howled, clutching her stomach. Kit laughed with her. He was right though. She laughed some more, but not because of Kit's joke. She was just glad he wasn't the type of person he described. Kit was just happy to see her laughing again.

Unawares to the children, two figures lurked between an alley.

"You hear that?" Mad Dog whispered. "It's definitely the Khan brat."

"Time to nab?" asked Dumptruck, pulling a large brown sack out of his jacket.

"Not until they're less public."

"So how are you doing?" Kit's voice softened.

"Okay," she shrugged. "Except for being grounded a month."

"Oh," Kit lowered his eyes. "Sorry."

"Could be worse."

"Could be a lot worse," Kit added.

"Speaking of which, how did he know Baloo?"

"Well, you see," Kit rubbed the back of his neck. "Baloo and I might've helped him out of a few scrapes."

"You're kidding!"

"I'm not."

"Why didn't you say so before?"

Kit shrugged. "Didn't think to."

"What did you guys help him with anyway?"

"Remember when those robots took over all the planes?"

"Yeah," Eliza glowered. "My dad lost his job because of them." She remembered him fuming that this was his brother's fault, and even came close to calling him and giving a piece of his mind.

"A lot of pilots did," Kit added. "Including Baloo."

"Thank goodness my uncle cancelled them."

"Yeah," Kit chuckled. "The old bucket of bolts couldn't even handle air pirates."

"Wait," Eliza's eyes widened. "You mean pirates attacked him?" She may have been angry with him, but she would never want him in danger.

"Yep." Kit grinned. "And guess who saved him."

"Baloo?"

"You got it. And one time," Kit snorted, "the Jungle Aces and I saved him and Ernie from a mad scientist and his robot."

Eliza joined in the laughter, pausing only to add, "I don't believe it."

"Believe it. The robot thought Ernie was Bullethead."

"The comic book hero? Come on!"

"I'm serious. Mr. Khan didn't even act scared, he just said," Kit narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice, "I am not amused."

Eliza snickered. "Now, that I believe. But you know," she looked back toward Khan Tower, overlooking the rest of the city. "I was starting to like him."

"No kidding?"

Eliza briefly recounted the weekend's events.

"No way," said Kit. "You stormed out and survived?"

"Yeah," Eliza let out a soft laugh. "Guess I was too upset to think straight."

"I know what you mean," Kit's head drooped. "One time, Baloo and I got into a fight after I went cloud surfing," he said.

"But he didn't mind last time," said Eliza as they rounded a corner, leading to a quiet section of the street.

"Yeah, but I was being stupid and showing off." Kit kept his eyes on his feet. "I'll never forget how scared he got. This crazy stunt-flyer saw me and then- " Kit then noticed a lack of footsteps. He had been too lost in that painful memory to realize he was alone. "Eliza?"

"Yowch!" a familiar voice howled passed the corner. "She bit me!"

Kit followed the source of the noise. To his horror, Mad Dog had Eliza in a bear hug, struggling to cover her scream. Beside them, Dumptruck held open a large brown sack. Kit slammed into Mad Dog. With a grunt, the pirate dropped Eliza, stumbling into his cohort.

"Come on!" Kit grabbed Eliza's hand, dragging her into a run.

"Get back here!" the pirates yelled, breaking into a pursuit. Kit looked back only once to see Mad Dog gaining on them, inches from grabbing Eliza. Kit pushed her out of the way in a nick of time, only for Mad Dog to snatch him as he had previously grabbed Eliza. "Gotcha!" Kit hammered his fists on the pirate's arms. Mad Dog held back one of Kit's hands with his own free hand, leaving one fist to pound weakly.

"Put him down!" Eliza screeched, prying at the arm holding her friend captive.

"Eliza, run!" Kit shouted, but the sack already came over the girl's head.

"Got 'er!" Dumptruck hoisted his catch. At the sight of his helpless friend, Kit scratched and bit at his captor's arm, only to get knocked on the head. Though dazed, he continued his struggle. "Say, what do we do with him?" asked Dumptruck, slinging the squirming sack over his shoulders.

"We'll have to take him too," Mad Dog restraining his flailing prisoner.

"But the captain said he only needed the girl."

"If we let him go, he'll get the police." He grit his teeth when Kit bit his hand. "Hurry and open the sack!" Dumptruck complied and Mad Dog flung the boy in, tangling him with the first prisoner.

"Kit! Ow! You're here!"

"Liza! You - Ow! - you okay?"

"No! What's – Ouch! My foot! - What's going on? What do these guys want with us?"

"I don't know. Hey, get your elbow off my chest!"

"I will if you get your knee off my leg!" In that hour of discomfort, bickering was all the children could do. Confined and tangled they were helpless to the pirates three times their weight.

The children's confinement seemed to last forever. Finally, the sack flipped over, releasing them tumbling in a heap. Though the fresh air tasted good, they coughed after adjusting to the stuffiness. Before either could stretch out, Mad Dog snatched Eliza by the shoulders while Dumptruck nabbed Kit. In front of them stood a tall, slim fox in a fancy blue suit. The children were more focused on the fearsome cutlass in his hands.

"Don Karnage!" Kit gasped. Eliza gasped too. She had seen the dread pirate's wanted posters and newspaper shots. The pictures didn't do his wicked grin justice.

"Lookity look," the pirate whooped. "You dumb heads didn't too a terrible job." He bowed in a dramatic, yet mocking manner. "Welcome aboard, Miss Khan."

Eliza faltered. "H-how?"

"And," Karnage noticed Kit. "My old puny protégé."

Eliza's head whipped toward Kit. "Wait, what?"

"Whoopsie!" Karnage taunted. "Did I embarrass you in front of your little girlfriend?"

"What?" the children chorused, reddening as the pirates laughed.

"Whatta ya want, Karnage?" Kit demanded, shaking off his embarrassment. "We got nothing valuable."

"You don't," Karnage pointed the tip of his sword at Eliza. "But she does."

"W-what do you mean?" Eliza stuttered, shrinking back against Mad Dog's knees.

"Or rather," Karnage picked his claws with his sword's tip. "Your dear old uncle has what I want: riches beyond imagination!" His attention moved to Kit. "Unfortunately for you, Baloo is about as rich as a desert. So, you're useless." He waved his hand dismissively. "Toss him."

"Wait!" Eliza screamed, as Dumptruck lifted the squirming Kit.

"Don't bother begging, young lady," Karnage jeered. "I don't do begging."

"He's not useless."

"Oh?" Karnage brought his head to her level so he looked straight at her. She hoped he couldn't see the beads of sweat. "Name one use and I'll reconsider."

Eliza found it difficult to think straight with those eyes staring into her. It was worse than her course, her uncle!"My uncle will pay his ransom too." Karnage raised a skeptical eyebrow. "He owes Kit a favor," she added. "Big time."

"Really?" Karnage straightened, out of her face to her relief. "For his sake, you better hope so." At his nod, Dumptruck lowered Kit, not too gently, back on his feet. Kit stared revealing his own skepticism. Eliza tried to hide her own.

All that waiting and I leave you with a cliffhanger. (Imitates Karnage) Hehe, I am so horrible am I not?

Don't worry, I'm working on the next chapter already.