Ok, massive apologies for not getting back sooner. Life has been so busy recently, which alas has led my to fics being neglected, and this was meant to be the end. But became something different as I was writing it. I promise I will get to the end as quick as I can, and here we go...

Scars of his Past:Final chapter

Part 3

With the Iron Vulture coming towards him, Kit bore down and steadied himself in the air. With the few times he had used it, he knew his landings still needed more work, a statement he had never shared with Baloo. As the lined up perfectly with the flying fortress, Kit passed through the gap effortlessly, and trying to grip on of the bars above him, to stop his fall, he failed and was forced to jump off the air foil as it clanged to the ground, metal upon metal. Standing up, he looked around to make sure he wasn't seen, even though he was by a vent shaft and no one but he knew how useful it was. As he pulled the Walkie talkie from his bag, and opened communications. "Calling Baloo, this is Kit." There was a moment of silence, which seemed to carry on forever "Little Britches to Papa Bear, do you copy?"

"Loud and clear Kit." Came the reassuring sound of Baloo over the airwaves, as Kit sagged slightly with relief.

"Going to the engine room, to plant a bomb. Going to have to maintain radio silence until then."

"Copy that, good luck kiddo. Baloo out."

On the Sea Duck. Baloo leaned against his controls and just held the radio in his hand. The moment Kit opened the channel, any word he said was being fed to Khan's planes, so he knew he didn't have to contact anyone. As he just stated at the Vulture silently willing his boy to plant that bomb and dreading the moment that he did.

The sounds were still the same, the same smell coming from the decks, a combined scent of sweat oil and the lives of the men who inhabited the place. To Karnage's credit, nothing had been changed since he had left, he concluded, and he noticed that the venture through the rafters was so familiar that he literally could do it in his sleep. Kit froze suddenly, and peered down, even though he was hiding behind steel piping and no one would spot him unless they looked up, and Kit was certain they never did, there was no mistaking the sounds of Karnage's boots on the deck.

Kit felt a bead of sweat trickle down his spine and noticed that even from his vantage points Karnage's impeccable hair looked slightly dishevelled. "How dare they make my life difficult, how dare they close the skies to me. I am the great Don Karnage!" Kit realised that Dumptruck was walking next to him, and they way he was tilting his head Kit could swear he was rolling his eyes at that statement. Something Kit occasionally did himself, when Karnage was on one of his rants. Kit watched them both turn a corner, but could still hear Karnage for a good thirty seconds as he ranted to anyone who was unfortunate enough to cross his path, as Kit breathed out a sigh of relief. He hadn't seen the Don is so long, and for that split second his original fear had begun to emerge and was swiftly banished.

Moving his head slightly so he could see there was no one in the vicinity, as the maintenance men and engineers filed out of the room, leaving the engines that powered the Vulture exposed as Kit dropped to the ground. One thing he had kept to himself, the entire time since he knew that he was going to head back to the Vulture he had lied and said that he would be hidden in the rafters, but there was a small moment when crossing the deck he would have to drop down, to get to an old hatch.

Glancing behind him, ensuring that he was out of sight, he almost hesitantly stepped forward, even though his foot made no sound, it still managed to echo in Kit's ears, as he stepped forwards he could feel the vibrations of the engines coming up from between his toes, as he made his way to the hatch, noticing that he wasn't too far from the Infirmary, the room where he had spent too much time.

Directly beneath him was the engine room, this was where the bomb would be planted, and in a few minutes it would be over, as Kit made his way further. He already knew he had minutes to get to the other end of the ship, which is when he would climb out of the highest ledge, fire the flare gun and the Calvary would arrive.

As he inched closer to the hatch, he held out his hands, just in time for a hand to clamp over his face, immediately Kit struggled, as he felt himself being dragged backwards to the Infirmary, as the door open and he was dragged inside, as the door slamming behind him, and he became accustomed to the familiar light. He could see that almost nothing had changed in the months he wasn't there, as Kit struggled to release the hand across his mouth, as he was spun around and looked up into the bewildered face of Mad Dog,

"Jesus Christ, What are you doing here?" The weasel demanded as Kit took in his surroundings and after so long away from the Pirates, began to feel slightly concerned at the sight of the weasel in front of him. "I'm here to stop, I mean put a stop to Karnage." Kit stammered, knowing how pathetic he sounded. "It's because of the map you sent." Recalling the initials he had seen on the makeshift map at Khan's.

Mad Dog blinked, but suddenly looked relieved "They found that, they actually found that. That's brilliant, that means they can put a stop to this mad man." The look of relief was on Mad Dog's face which caused him to look a few years younger, before it was replaced with concern. "But if you got the map, what the hell are you doing here?"

Kit quickly filled Mad Dog on at what was happening, including the pilots on standby to invade the place, even after everything he had been through and his unease at everyone, Kit knew he didn't have a choice but to trust him completely, as he watched the expression on Mad Dog's face stay completely surprised.

"Oh seriously, how are you meant be do that?" Mad Dog said sarcastically, as Kit finally finished, omitting a few details along the way.

"I have a bomb in this backpack, Kit confessed as the look on his face totally changed "What! What kind of idiots gives a kid a bomb?" He demanded whilst Kit almost looked sheepish, "It seemed like the right thing to do, as the time." Said Kit, as suddenly Kit turned to the sound of a small movement, in the room which caused Mad Dog's head to turn. "Wait here, he told Kit as he stepped over to what Kit assumed to be a pile to blankets, as the head of a little girl came into view. Mad Dog immediately whispered something to her, in attempt to calm the terrified look on her face, telling her that "Kit was a friend", it was an easy lie as Mad Dog stepped back, Kit took in that there were a few books, and a discarded plate on the floor Mad Dog stepped back to him and Kit decided to keep his voice to a whisper. "Who is she?"

At this question, Mad Dog looked aside unable to look at Kit in the eyes, "She's your replacement Kit. Karnage found her a month after you left. He brought her on board and told us that he'd found her in a slum, runaway from an orphanage, he gave her toys and said she now had a home."

Kit couldn't stop the horror on his face "Did he…"

"He never got the opportunity, the next day I brought her down here and told him that she had fallen overboard. I've been trying to get her off ever since, but we haven't landed in months." "A tired look crossed over Mad Dog's face, a look that Kit had never seen before. "Of all the crappy things I have done with my life Kit, Sally is only 6 years old. Like hell, I could watch that again." Mad Dog stopped and took a breath, before continuing. "I've done so many things Kit, thing I regret. Jut let me help you stop this madman and I'll confess everything."

Kit nodded as he realised that if Mad Dog hadn't dragged him into the room, which the little girl would have died instantly in the explosion, which horrified him as he pulled his Walkie-talkie out. "Kit to Baloo, to you copy?"

"Kit where the hell are you, you should have sent that thing ages ago." As he heard the panic in Baloo's voice and persevered.

"I know Baloo, but we have a situation on board, there is a child here." Kit quickly gave Baloo the comic book version of events and stated that Mad Dog was assisting them.

"Do you trust him?" Baloo stated, having forgotten that Mad Dog was in the same room with his son, who he raised an eyebrow at the question.

"Yes I do," Kit reassured him, and sincerely meant it, as he saw the little girl reaching out for Mad Dog, who instantly obliged and spoke to her tenderly. "Remembers when I said someone was going to get you to safety, well this is happening tonight. But I need you to be really brave and stay here, alright. The sky may become a bit choppy, so you are going to have to stay here" His reassurance reminded Kit of the many times Baloo had been there for him. Knowing that this little girl could easily get caught um in the crossfire, Kit reached up and pulled his bullet proof vest off his body, feeling suddenly venerable without the extra weight on his body.

"Put this on her, it will protect her." He told Mad Dog, who did as he said, before the weasel requested the Walkie-Talkie. "Baloo…right it is Baloo" He directed the question to Kit who nodded in the affirmative. "The engine room, we can't go near. But if we can get this to the main propeller it can take it enough damage, but keep this bird airborne. In the confusion, you can do…whatever it is you going to do." He said as he passed the device back to Kit. "Did you get all that Papa Bear?" Asked Kit, as Baloo confirmed, and said that the information was being relayed to Khan at that moment. Knowing that they had to keep radio silence, until the end Baloo and Kit said nothing, whilst Mad Dog gently ordered Sally, who had heard everything, but they were unsure if she had understood everything, but she knew she had to stay exactly where she was.

With a boost from Mad Dog, Kit scrambled into the rafters, from this point the majority of the area was open in the roof, so it would be easier to get around and Kit followed him silently above as Mad Dog slipped out of the room. Kit watched Mad Dog; go casually through the deck, nodding to a few people and pretty much taking it in his stride. Kit on some level admired his acting ability, as Mad Dog turned a corner and approached the propellers crew. Weathered and covered in grease, Kit realised he never got to know these three guys on his time in the Vulture, and from their pale complexion it was clear they didn't get out much.

The vibration from the massive swirling steal, caused all sound to become garbled, so Kit relied on lip reading, which he wasn't perfect at but it looked like Mad Dog was telling the men to take a shower and get a good meal on Khan's order as they glanced at each other, slightly suspicious at this sudden consideration for their welfare. But Mad Dog was known for holding a small amount of authority on the Vulture as Kit remembered, and he was happy to take advantage of it.

Mad Dog, looked up and motioned to Kit, as he dropped to the ground with a soft thud, they could feel the vibrations coming up from between their toes, but were able to speak freely.

"Can you get down to that"? Said Mad Dog, as he lifted a thick metal hatch, and both of them were almost knocked off their feet, by the harsh sound of the wind, and as they regained their balance, both of them peered over the hatch, a Kit just gasped. They were now at the back of the Vulture, staring at the huge propeller beneath them, Kit stared at the at least 25 feet he would have to climb down to plant the bomb. Ki could see his fear reflected back from the eyes of Mad Dog, whose face betrayed the same expression. Taking the initiative, Mad Dog gripped the steel ladder, which was never used when the Vulture was going at top speeds, and motioned for Kit to follow. As Kit took each step slowly off each step keeping his eyes ahead of him, and never looking down at the spinning propeller that could rip him apart if he fell.

He heard Mad Dog touching the ground, a few seconds before he did, as the weasel helped him off the ladder, the wind had cut through Kit, and had turned his body to ice, something he hadn't realised until now, and even though he was now in a maintenance square, and could now speak audibly, but he was very cold. Mad Dog was breathing into his hands, whilst Kit waited for warmth to flood through his body, his hands were shaking too much for him to key successfully in the code for the bomb, as he managed to pull it from the bag, with aching fingers. Both of them just looked at the box, containing enough explosives to erase them from existence for a moment as Mad Dog suddenly said "Hey Kit, so that that Baloo guy your dad now, or something?"

Kit was surprised at the question, since it came out of nowhere, but confirmed it anyway. "Sorta, he's fostered me, and he wants to adopt me," deliberately deciding to miss out everything else he had been through recently, and also seeing a shrink on top of that.

Mad Dog looked thoughtful for a second, before nodding "Ok fine, then let's do this then." As Kit realised that his body was warm enough, to set the bomb. It was such a simple, but sophisticated device as Kit turned the activation key on, and the digital numbers flashed up, as he heard Mad Dog breath in. All he had to do was hit his date of birth, hit the red button and that would be in, as deliberately he slowly typed 07-19, The 19th of July, followed by the year and hit enter. Immediately the numbers sprung into life on the screen as they began to count down, 20 minutes which to both of them was an alarming rate, but it was literally seconds. Kit immediately radioed Baloo "Papa Bear its me, bomb has been set and primed."

Kit didn't get a reply as Mad Dog suddenly hosted him on his back, and went to scramble up the ladder. "What gives?" Started Kit as Mad dog hastily flew up the ladder, not for a second sagging with Kit's additional weight. "It took us 10 minutes to get down here kid." He yelled as the wind swirling around them cutting off any chance of speech, Mad Dog tore up the ladder, as Kit began to count the seconds in his head. Thankfully it took them only 9 minutes to get to the top as Kit's walkie-talkie crackled into life "You there Kit? Kit, Copy?" Kit heard the urgency in Baloo's voice, and felt exhausted, even though he had done nothing compared to Mad Dog, who since he had dragged an adolescent bear up a ladder whilst they were open to the elements, looked like he was about to shatter. "We're here Baloo, we're fine." He confirmed as Mad Dog added, with a wry smile "Speak for yourself."

"Ok, both of you need to get out of the blast area, it's going to go in minutes, get to higher ground and light the flares." Stated Baloo, as Kit to see Mad Dog trying not to bite back a witty retort as they both confirmed they were fine, and the line went dead again. Mad Dog got to his feet, and didn't need to tell Kit to follow him, as the pair travelled through the deck, thankfully it was deserted and Kit had no need to hide, at this point anyway. Kit grimly recalled Baloo's words on the Sea Duck, and realised how right he was, this was the worst part, the moment of anticipation before the mission, as his stomach was in knots, Kit knew the urgency of getting to higher ground as quickly as possible, but at the same time he desperately wanted to see the bomb explode, and felt a surreal moment of satisfaction that he was the one to plant it.

As Mad Dog and Kit travelled silently through the decks of the Vulture, Baloo leaned forward in his chair and begun to count down thru seconds, with every single one of them his heart sank even further. 60, 59.

58, 57, 56. On Shere Khan's private plane, he inspected his troops once more, and checked the weaponry, pleased that they all had enough ammunition. He had no idea what awaited them all, but a least was pleased with himself that at least he had given Kit a bullet proof vest, so whatever happened there was no way that boy could be caught in the crossfire. Something he had neither shared with Baloo or Bagheera, since he knew that their reaction would be…and everything depended on that boy.

40, 39, 38, Bagheera gripped the controls once more; until his knuckles were white this was in the final seconds as he like everyone else he suspected continued his countdown

30, 29, 28, 27. Kit and Mad Dog had finally made it a place they would be cleverly safe, a tiny area with an element of shielding, there was no chance to get to higher ground and light the flares, but he hoped Baloo would understand that. As they waited for the final seconds, Mad Dog felt a moment of guilt that Sally was still hiding, with no clue at what was about to happen, but it was better this way. No matter what happened, he had to protect that little girl as he finally began to vocalise the numbers in his head.

18,17,16. Kit began to join in softly, as the seconds seemed to take forever to reach the next one, the inevitable stretched out in front of them and now there was no going back, as he realised how right Baloo was, this was the moment of never going back.

Unbeknownst to either of them, almost the entire skies were filled with the same thought, the same countdown, waiting for the moment of inevitable, as the tension began to rise.

10,9,8,7.

Almost on instinct, Mad Dog wordlessly pulled Kit towards him, as the pair seemed to carry on the descending number with the same breath. Kit realised there was a touch of familiarity about all this as the last five seconds drew near

5,4,3,2

"Kaboom" Kit suddenly whispered in an attempt for humour, which caused Mad Dog to glance at him, as a second later…all hell broke loose.