REDFRUIT RISING
Morning at the Khan tower.
Michael sat nervously, as he waited for Shere to finish his own breakfast. Don Karnage's photo's of their adventure under the museum had arrived yesterday, and Khan had said very little. Molly had said more, in the one phone call she had made, mostly having to do with being grounded until the heat death of the universe... maybe longer.
Khan finished the roll, precisely folding the napkin, and depositing it on top of the dish, where a maid took it away. He looked up at Michael.
"So I am to understand that in addition to your other... misadventures, that night, you encountered Don Karnage?"
"Yes, Granduncle."
"And you did not feel the need to tell me of that encounter?"
"Ah... I didn't see any reason to worry you?"
"Michael...."
"I... hoped you would not find out?"
"Much better." Khan paused.
"So that is what became of the 300$ camera you were so proud of...." Khan looked at Michael.
"Well yes, that-I mean Don Karnage took it and in all the chaos, I decided not to try to get it back."
"Wise. Michael, in addition to breaking and entering, which is both illegal and beneath you, you placed Molly Cunningham and Jereem Kalin in potential danger."
"But-"
"The fact you didn't expect there to be any danger is only a slight mitigation of your actions..."
*I am going to die...* Michael thought.
"Therefore, in attempting to gauge the action I should take, I have come to a conclusion."
*Here it comes*.
"You'll have to buy back your camera, by getting a job... and not with Khan Industries, or any of its affiliates." Shere said in the same precise voice.
"What?"
"It is always important to learn your own abilities, Michael. Working outside of the company, where you will get no special favor." Shere raised a hand, stilling Michael's reply. "I did not say you would seek such favor, but you will get it... even if you try to refuse it." He paused.
"Given the money you already have in your account that is accessible to you, you should be able to purchase the camera in a few months, if you apply yourself." Khan took a sip of coffee. "Given that your school is on break... I suggest that today would be a good day to seek out potential places of employment." The older Tiger got up and entered his office, with the crowd of flunkies and hangers on waiting at the door. Michael sat there, stunned, and then a smile came across his face.
*This will show Shere that I'm capable of working on my own!*
***
Molly sat in Higher For Hire, waiting for the boom to fall. Rebecca had decided, after her initial rant, to wait until the next day to finish her... conversation with Molly. Becky finished her paperwork, then looked at her daughter for several seconds. Molly started squirming. Usually, silence was not one of her mother's larger problems, making this quiet pause unnerving in the extreme.
"So, Molly... you went into a deserted building, or rather broke into it, to get some pictures, and ended up getting chased all over the place by Karnage and a ghost?"
"Ummmmm.... Yes."
"Why?" Rebecca asked.
"Michael wanted to get the pictures really, really badly... "
"So he made you do it?"
"No, I decided to go on my own." Rebecca sighed.
"And Michael lost his camera out of the whole affair?"
"Yes." Becky looked at her daughter.
"Then, young lady, part of your punishment will be no more late nights out... at least until I think you've learned your lesson. I'll decide if there's anything else by this afternoon. Now, why don't you go help Wildcat with the engines." Molly got up and left, grateful to have escaped anything worse. Baloo walked in the door as the bearcub walked out of it.
"So what's the punishment?" Molly's godfather asked. Rebecca sighed.
"Well...." She paused. "Michael and Jereem are probably Molly's best friends, so I don't want to come down on her too heavily." She paused. "I'm going to dock her some of her allowance, and make her work here during her vacation.... It's not much of a punishment, but compared to some of the things you and Kit did.... it wasn't much of a crime either." Rebecca smiled. "And she was right when she reminded me that at no point had she actually *lied*," Baloo laughed.
"Well... she can help out during the week... she's a pretty fair navigator, too." Rebecca nodded.
"Well, if she does go with you, don't hit any fun spots if she asks... this is supposed to be a punishment..."
"No fun places... What'd I do, Beckers?" Baloo asked. He sighed in mock resignation. "I suppose I'll live..." Rebecca smiled at him.
"Well, I was thinking about another diet... so this might be the start of something for you too..."
Baloo laughed and pretended to duck as he went outside, where the smaller form of Molly was bent over an engine, helping Wildcat take it apart.
***
Michael was discouraged, hot, discouraged, tired, discouraged, and discouraged, in that order. He had spent most of the morning looking for a part time job. His first problem was few places had any interest in hiring a 12-year-old. Most of the smaller markets used the family children for that, and the larger places had older teenagers doing the work. His second problem was the name. Most places politely declined his application, especially when they realized his relationship to Khan... others immediately offered to hire him at an extremely high salary... with no set duties. Michael declined those, offended at the idea that his only worth was his relation to Shere Khan.
Finally, he sat down on a bench, and thought. It seemed as if the only thing he might be able to do was.... mow lawns, and he shuddered at the idea. It wasn't the work that bothered him... just the fact that he thought he could do better, if only he could figure-
"Hi, Michael." Jereem's voice intruded on his thoughts. Michael looked up and saw the coyote, standing by the bench. Michael was happy to see that Jereem was walking with barely a noticeable limp.
"Hello Jereem." Michael said, depression coloring his voice. The small coyote sat down on the bench besides him and looked over.
"What is wrong?" Michael chuckled.
"Remember our little adventure in the station?"
"Yes?"
"Karnage sent photo's to Khan and Ms. Cunningham." Jereem nodded.
"He did me too."
"What happened to you?"
"Oh, nothing. I told Mom all about it when I got home, so she already knew everything... though I'm not certain she believes it even now." Michael glared at Jereem for a moment, then relented. After his life, the coyote deserved some breaks.
"Well I need to find a job to pay for the camera." Jereem looked at Michael.
"What about Mr. Khan?"
"It has to be a job for someone else." Michael said, "And so far, the best I've found is mowing a lawn..."
"Have you tried Higher For Hire?" Jereem asked.
"Higher For Hire.... that would me I'd have to talk to Ms. Cunningham...." Michael said. He was not looking forward to that conversation. Jereem looked at him.
"Well if you want to be friends with Molly, you'll have to talk to Ms. Cunningham sometime." He paused, "If you're worried about it, I'll go down with you."
"I'm not worried." Michael said, "It's just that...."
"You're afraid she'll throw you in the harbor for your part in the museum fiasco?" Jereem asked.
"Exactly. I apologized, but that was at a safe distance, over a phone..." Michael sighed. "Still, no time like the present... and the worst she can do is kill me..." He got up and slowly walked towards the waterfront, Jereem alongside him.
As the two got closer to Higher For Hire, Michael felt a great weight settling on his shoulders. Walking up to the door, Michael paused, then frowned as Jereem opened the door and walked in. Given a choice between entering the lion's (or in this case, the bear's) den, or standing outside like a prize idiot, Michael choose the lions den. Closing the door behind him, the tiger walked inside the office, noticing the cheery if somewhat outdated decor.
Rebecca was sitting at her desk, working on some paperwork. Jereem walked right up to the desk.
"Hello, Ms. Cunningham." Rebecca looked up at Jereem.
"Hello, Jereem. How's the leg?"
"Fine... I can walk all over town now." Jereem answered showing the light brace he now wore in place of the older one. Rebecca smiled.
"That's wonderful Jereem." Then her eyes fell on Michael.
"Hello, Ms. Cunningham," Michael said, somewhat more diffidently then Jereem had. The Coyote smiled; knowing that Michael hadn't known Becky long enough to notice the slight twinkle in her eyes.
"So you're the one who convinced Molly to break into a building, go underground, run into a ghost, get captured by pirates, and then slog through half the sewer tunnels in Cape Suzette."
"Ah... yes." Michael said, "That is about the size of it."
"Well, what brings you here then?" Michael swallowed, for some reason more worried then he had been about Karnage.
"Well, first of all, I wanted to apologize in person."
"Well, I'll accept it... this time."
"And I was also wondering, since Mr. Cloudkicker isn't here right now... do you have any work that needs to be done?" Rebecca looked at him, measuringly.
"Maybe... but most of our work is of the more physical nature..."
"I don't mind!" Michael said, perhaps too quickly.
"This doesn't have anything to do with a camera, perhaps?" Rebecca asked.
"Well.... Granduncle decided that I should pay for it... and I am a bit short." Rebecca raised her eyebrows.
"It must have been an expensive camera."
"About three hundred dollars, Ma'am"
*Yikes! That's more then some cars* Becky thought.
"Well I have some shipments that you can help on today, and we'll see how things go. I think we have a coverall in your size, no reason to wreck those good clothes working." Rebecca paused. "How does a dollar a day sound?"
*Better then mowing lawns...*
"Fine, Ma'am."
"Good. Jereem, do you want to do something?" Rebecca asked.
"Well, I was wondering if you could use some help from me," The coyote said.
"I could. I have to be inventorying everything in the business for tax time, and I'd really be able to use some help." Jereem nodded and moved forward as Michael went to change.
***
Outside, Molly swore, biting off the word as a springloaded clamp came loose and pinched her thumb. Wildcat looked up at her.
"Ya'know, that little ol springs probably saying the same thing. I mean I can hear it saying 'that mean ole bear keeps on yelling at me and I don't like it....'" Molly laughed at his comments. Wildcat had been, next to Kit, her most common babysitter, and she had long since come to love his... unique take on the world. She finally snapped the clamp down and hopped away from the engine.
"Well!" Molly said, "Now we've got the engines tuned... what's next on the list?" Wildcat cocked his head and thought.
"Well... I gotta make certain that all the control lines are nice an tight.. so they don't like get tired and go to sleep in the middle of the air... that'd be real bad." Molly nodded. She wasn't allowed to work on that part of the plane, the adjustments of the lines being as much art as science. "I know.. why don't you fix the radio... Baloo's been saying that he can't get his program's on'it." Molly nodded and walked over to the hatch to the cockpit, getting the larger box of tools she used on the plane.
"Molly!" A voice caused her to turn. She looked and eyes widening, saw Michael in a spare set of coveralls, waving. The bearess hopped down, and ran over to him.
"Michael!?" She asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Earning some money... the camera, you know." Michael said, looking at the shorter girl. Molly's face was smudged and dirty, and her normal school coverall had been exchanged for a grease-stained set that had seen much use. "You're the mechanic?" He asked.
"Not completely... Wildcat does the hard stuff." Molly replied. "But I can help him, and Kit showed me how to navigate, so I can also help Baloo. Are you coming along on the flight?" Michael nodded.
"Ms. Cunningham said I would help him load and unload the cargo, for today and tomorrow."
"I'll help you," Molly said, "I'm coming along to.. but these flights aren't very long... just a few hours each way." There was a shout from the warehouse, where Baloo was with a large number of boxes. "Oops! You'd better help Baloo, and I need to see what's wrong with the radio..." With that the two scrambled back to their assignments. Michael grinned, looking at the boxes... they couldn't be too hard, since most of them were pretty small. He declined Baloo's offer of a handcart, and bent down to pick one up. It didn't move. Michael not wanting to appear like some spoiled brat, put more of his back into it, and the thing still didn't move. Baloo looked at the invoice and then back down at the straining youth.
"Ya'know, Michael. Maybe ya'should use the handcart, these are.. 'genuine gold painted lead bricks' after all." Michael stopped short.
"Gold painted.... lead bricks?" He blinked. "Who would want those?"
"Some little company up north.. they're opening a pirate ship amusement park..." Michael blinked.
"Why don't' they just paint normal bricks?" Baloo laughed,
"There's a reason Rebecca wants money up front from them, Kid. Here, let me give you a hand with this." By the end of the loading, Michael felt like he had been working all day. At least it was over for now.
"Don't worry, Michael." Molly said, "I'll give you a hand unloading."
"NO- I mean, it isn't really necessary." Michael said, and was saved from the embarrassment when Rebecca called her daughter to the office to get some last minute paper work. Michael sat down in one of the two jumpseats set up for cabin passengers. Molly hopped in and strapped herself in.
Grinning, the Bearess turned to Baloo.
"Don't need any navigation this time, Baloo... just follow the coast up north for about three hours and then land at the really ugly looking park." Baloo laughed.
"Does your mother know you talk like that about clients?"
"She warned me not to look at the park too closely or I might go blind." Molly replied, getting a laugh out of both Baloo and Michael. The lion watched with interest as the plane flew towards its destination. The plane was old, and Baloo wasn't what Michael was used to, but he flew with a combination of flamboyance and skill that made the trip seem even quicker then it was. Molly was occupied with tuning the balky radio, and occasionally checking up on the map to make certain they were on course, more for practice then anything else.
"How do you stay in business?" Michael asked, honesty curious. "I mean, granduncle is always talking about getting and keeping long term clients so how-"
"Do we do it with screwball ideas like gold painted lead bricks?" Baloo asked, smiling. "Tell you something, kid, we can't beat ol' Khannie. He's got ships, a fleet of planes.. well you know. But," The bear said, taking a quick drink of soda pop, "we have clients that are too small for Khan to bother with, or who only want one shipment, and that only ever so often." he paused.
"They may not be worth Khan's time, but they're more'n enough for us... last month, Beckers had to turn down a flight.. we were over booked." The bear laughed, "I though old Rebecca would have a fit when she realized it." Molly chimed in.
"Besides, Michael..." She said, "If we had a few regular clients, we'd always be going to the same places, and that'd be *boring.*" Michael laughed along with her, and then sighed as the destination hove into view, the garishly painted park out of place along the coastline.
***
The Seaduck returned, and the sun was beginning to drop, the day not long past 3:00. Michael staggered out of the plane, just in time to hear Rebecca.
"Baloo.... That shipment for tomorrow just got moved up to today, could you take it over? They need this granite for the Patigonia Pet Peeve Rock contest tomorrow." Michael groaned. The boxes were even bigger then those he had loaded first, and if they were full of granite... this time, he started with the hand cart, which made things better... but not by much. Molly busied herself with checking the engines... although they didn't technically need to be checked after every flight on older aircraft it was a wise precaution, especially on those with all the modifications and quirks of the Seaduck. This time, there was little conversation on the flight, as Molly was a bit tired, and Michael felt like his arms were about to fall off.
***
Finally, the day was over. The Seaduck tied up to the wharf and buttoned up for the night. Jereem had finished helping Rebecca with the work and the businesswoman was impressed.
"Jereem, would you like to help out around here part time?"
"Certainly, Ms. Cunningham. Was I that much of a help?"
"Oh yes. Kit and Baloo were never what you might call book inclined, and Molly prefers being outdoors to this... if you're interested..."
"Yes." Jereem smiled, "I've always liked figures... they make sense, unlike people." Rebecca laughed.
"They do that...." Molly and Michael came walking in, the tiger looking slightly better after he had used the upstairs quarters to shower and change, but still walking slowly.
"Oh, Michael." Rebecca said, "If you want to keep working, we could use you tomorrow... we have a big day ahead."
"This wasn't a big day?"
"Oh, no... but tomorrow we have to get ready to send the Seaduck to Reticula... We'll be doing that over the weekend." Michael looked up. Rebecca continued, "If you're interested, I've already spoken to your granduncle, and we could use the help over the weekend." She paused, "I have to stay here, but Jereem will be going along with you three."
"I will?" Rebecca smiled.
"Only if you want to.. but I though you might like to see how a contract is done... and you could check out the invoice for me." As much as Baloo had changed, he still had an unnerving tendency to ignore minor little things like paperwork... leaving Rebecca to clean up the mess.
"Thanks!" Jereem said.
"Don't mention it." Rebecca said, "Michael?"
"I'll be here early," The tiger said.
*Even if it kills me.* He thought, as his back ached.
***
Back at the tower, Michael lay in bed, tired but not yet ready to go to sleep and throw in the towel. Granduncle had risen to control the largest company in the world, from jobs much like the one he had... so why couldn't he make something of this. He sat up and went to his desk, looking at the paper. Shere had insisted he read it, to keep up on current events, but Michael seldom bothered with the business section... but when he opened it, his eyes widened, and a grin came to his face. This was a gift from the gods, indeed.
***
The next morning, Michael was up before the sun, preparing for his plan. He quickly clipped out the article, got every cent he had out of the safety box, and ran down to Higher For Hire, waiting impatiently for Molly and Rebecca to show up. When Rebecca arrived, she looked surprised.
"Michael? Why are you here so early?"
"I... wanted to get an early start." He said, truthfully.
"Did you have breakfast?" She asked.
"Ummm.. I skipped it."
"Not when you're working here, you don't." Rebecca opened her purse and pulled out some money. "Why don't you and Molly get something at the cart down the road?"
"I couldn't.."
"Yes you can... Trust me, you'll need the energy later today." Rebecca made shooing motions at the two as she walked into the office. "Just be back in thirty minutes... that should be long enough to get Baloo out of hibernation." Michael turned and walked down the street, Molly at his side.
"What is it, Michael?" Molly said.
"What do you mean?" The smaller bearess turned and looked at him, hands on her hips.
"The last time you had that look, we ended up running around under half the city... now what is it." Michael handed the part of the paper he had cut out to Molly.
"RETICULAN REDFRUIT CROP WIPED OUT BY LOCUST HORDE." Molly looked at the article, which went on to mention that the locust horde had only redoubled a shortage caused by slow production of Redfruit.
"OK.... and what's the point of this?"
"We are going to Reticula this weekend... right?"
"Yes?" Molly said. Michael threw his hands wide.
"Redfruit's are in a glut here... you couldn't give them away!" He said triumphantly. "We can buy some here, bring them along on the plane, and then make up all our money... enough for my camera, and a bunch left over for us!" Molly paused, then raised her hand, stilling Michael's speech.
"First of all... no we can't."
"Why?"
"Because the Seaduck isn't refrigerated for one thing. For another, fruit is really big for it's weight... and we couldn't load much without having to dump other cargo... Do you want to tell mom that or shall I?" Michael paused, slightly deflated.
"How about if we squeeze the fruit and just bring the juice? We could pack it into ice, and then sell it right off the dock... nobody eats the fruit anyway, they just drink the juice, so it'd be an even better selling point." Molly cocked her head.
"That'd cost a bit more, Michael... we'd have to rig up a press to squeeze out the juice... containers to store it in... Wildcat had an old compressor lying around... we could make a refrigerator out of it...." She looked at him.
"I think we could do it but...."
"Yes?"
"It's a lot of work, and we'll have to do it, as well as do the normal work..."
"I can handle it." Michael declared.
"What about the money?" Molly said.
"I can cover most of it, and for the rest..." he trailed off.
"I have some... so maybe that'll work." Molly paused.
"Are you certain this'll be worth it?"
"Molly Cunningham!" Michael said in a superior tone, ignoring her glare. "It's the simplest rule of business.... Redfruit drink is the most popular drink in Reticula. They are out.. and we'll have it. It normally goes for a buck a gallon, and I bet we can sell it for five, easily. Assume that we have 200 gallons of it and that comes to..."
"1000 dollars...." Molly practically squeaked. "I could get Wildcat that set of tools he's had his heart set on... and mom her new adding machine... and still have a lot left over for me!" She grinned. "I'm in!" Michael smiled.
"Good... then all we need to do is tell Jereem, and we are off!" He paused, "And we will have to ask your mom if we can rent a little space on the plane..."
"That's no problem... mom'll be happy that I'm getting into the business...." The bearess grinned, "This is going to make up for that entire Karnage mess!" She paused. "We're gonna have to do this all in the next three days..."
"I will handle getting the fruit... and I'll help you on the refrigerator." Michael declared confidently.
END OF PART I