An intentionally decorated van; which was a black base color and on each side of the van it looked as though skeletal paws where clawing at the sides, pulled up off to the front right of a rather large building with many kats surrounding it at the base of it's steps. At the top of the building there was and arch that had rather bold lettering on it, which read Enforcer's Headquarters. This place looked freshly built and clean, though it had actually been several years since this place was actually built; there just happened to be a constant need to rebuild sections of the place. Most of the kats there seemed to be young and it looked as though that there were over one hundred of them; talking and milling about in many groups that made up the mass. All of them varied in ages, height, fur color, and even different social circles. Quite a few of them stopped in mid conversations to look at the van rather oddly, as though it was odd to have a van pull up at the local police force. Finally the driver, a brown tom, swung the door open and jumped from the cab of the van to land on his red convers. He raced to the side of the van and yanked open the sliding door. Allowing for four other kats exit into the bright mid-day light. A young blond haired gray fured she-kat paused as soon as she got out of the van looking out to the crowd that was there. Rubbing her new tattoo of the SWAT Kats logo on her arm she took a deep breath; a small smile grows on her lip at seeing the turn out. The rest of her group that was pulling the instruments and equipment out of the van.
"A'ight ya all, lets get this party started. Tal, stop looking and help up out." Said the brown tom-kat which jarred the blond she-kat from her thoughts. She bounded over to the back of the van with the others and hauled up one of the speakers. Taking it over to the base of the steps leading up to the front door of the Enforcer's headquarters. The original plan was to have then set up at the top of the stairs of the EHQ steps, yet they would have needed to get approval from city hall. As much as the Mayor was more of a business man then a politician he would not go far as to piss off the Enforcers that much. Even the Deputy Mayor, Ms. Briggs, who works more with the people, would not have even approved of it. That was a nightmare and waist of time they were not going deal with. Instead they were setting up on the sidewalk which was public property to do as they wanted. Within minutes everything was set up and testing to make sure their equipment was hooked up and projecting. They were lucky enough to get their hands on a small generator to power everything. At this point every young kat there were now fully attentive to what this diverse band was up to. Then the one called Tal stepped up to the mic and looked back to her band mates. She mouthed counting one to three, and at three the band started to play, she faced the mic and began to sing.
"If you feel so empty
So used up, so let down
If you feel so angry
So ripped off so stepped on
You're not the only one
Refusing to back down
You're not the only one
So get up
Let's start a riot, a riot
Let's start a riot
Let's start a riot, a riot
Let's start a riot
If you feel so filthy
So dirty so fracked up
If you feel so walked on
So painful so pissed off
You're not the only one
Refusing to go down
You're not the only one
So get up
Let's start a riot, a riot
Let's start a riot
Let's start a riot, a riot
Let's start a riot
If you feel so empty
So used up, so let down
If you feel so angry
Just get up
Let's start a riot, a riot
Let's start a riot
Let's start a riot, a riot
Let's start a riot"
(originally by Three Days Grace)
The song closed, and the crowd, cheered clearly getting pumped up. This is why they were here, this protest concert in front of the police force headquarters. Then the she-kat at the main mic turned to take a swig of water before addressing the crowd.
"Hey ya all having fun today?" The whole crowed responded by cheering, hooting, and closer to the band yet still keeping their ditance enough not to blow their ears out with the music and giving the band some space.
"I just wanna thank you all for coming out to 'Keep the SWAT Kats' protest. It's great to see so many kats are for out heroes. An' against the stupid Enforcer taking 'em out." Once again the crowd cheered. Getting a closer look it could easily bee seen that each of the adolescent kats were wearing or had some sort of representation for the said vigilantes. The blond she-kat could not help but smile at the sight before her. If this didn't get the attention of the city she was not sure what would. "We all know what the SWAT Kats do for us. Which is a lot more than the lazy ass Enforcers can say they do. They take down the most dangerous of criminals out there and make this city safe for us again."
Everyone erupted into cheers and hoots, which soon turned into a "SWAT KATS" chant, even some of her band mates joined in. A big grin spread over her face at hearing the chanting and seeing how it was pulling more people from their offices that were around the HQ. Then an unholy gleam hit her eyes as she saw the news station pull up in their van, and Anne Gora herself stepped out to hurrying her crew to set up. Finally they were going to be heard. Slowly the chanting quieted down which gave her a chance to continue.
"And now Commander Ulysses S. Feral, the head flea bag himself, has issued an arrest warrant for the SWAT Kats!" As she had said this there would a loud amount of booing and hissing at event he mention of Feral. "The SWAT Kats are heros! Not criminals! It's obvious that Feral's head is too far up his own ass to see it. So I say we make them see it with our voices! We make it loud and make them listen!" Now the crowd roared louder than before making the electricity and energy thick throughout the rally.
"Now to introduce you to all of us who pulled this out into the light. Smashing the drums Brock will blow your mind." A whitish tom-kat held his stick over his head as he seemed to bask in the cheers for him.
"Our sweet tooth cavity waiting to happen Angie on the keyboards." A tannish she-kat with red hair shyly waved as she recived some kat calls along with her apluse.
"My best friend Amanda and right hand trouble maker is on the guitar, and Track will make you bask in his base." The brown tom-kat strummed just once along with light brown she-kat.
"An' I'm Tally. A'ight this next song I know ya gonna love. An' if our heros are watchin," Tally motioned to the Ann Gora's news crew that just set up and stared rolling. "We hope ya like it too. T-Bone, Razor, this whole thing is for you both." The band set them selves up again to hit out the next song on cue, and to say they were sure it was going to rock the audience was un understatement.
"Na na na na na na na na na na na na [x2]
I guess I just lost my tom-kat,
I don't know where he went,
So I'm gonna chill with Razor,
I'm not gonna give two shits,
I got a brand new attitude and
I'm gonna wear it tonight,
I wanna get in trouble,
I wanna start a fight,
na na na na na na na I wanna start a fight,
na na na na na na na I wanna start a fight!
[Chorus:]
So, so what
I'm still a rock star,
I got my rock moves,
And we don't need you,
And guess what,
We're having more fun,
And now that they're done,
I'm gonna show you tonight,
We're alright,
SWAT Kats fly high,
And Enforcers are tools,
So, so what,
I am a rock star,
I got my rock moves,
And we don't want you tonight.
(Enforcers wanna keep us down! )
The waiter just took my table,
And gave it to Comander Ferl (shit!),
I guess I'll go sit with T-Bone,
At least he'll know how to hit,
What if this song's on the radio,
then somebody's gonna die,
I'm gonna get in trouble,
Steel will run from a fight,
na na na na na na na Felina's gonna start a fight,
na na na na na na na we're all gonna get in a fight!
[Chorus]So, so what
I'm still a rock star,
I got my rock moves,
And we don't need you,
And guess what,
We're having more fun,
And now that they're done,
I'm gonna show you tonight,
We're alright,
SWAT Kats fly high,
Enforcers are tools,
So, so what,
I am a rock star,
I got my rock moves,
And we don't want you tonight.
Enforcers weren't there,
They never were,
They want it all,
But that's not fair,
Mayor gave you life,
SK gave their all,
Enforcers weren't there,
They let us fall.
[Chorus]So, so what
I'm still a rock star,
I got my rock moves,
And we don't need you,
And guess what,
We're having more fun,
And now that they're done,
I'm gonna show you tonight,
We're alright,
SWAT Kats fly high,
And Enforcers are tools,
So, so what,
I am a rock star,
I got my rock moves,
And we don't want you tonight.
No, no, no, no
We don't want you tonight,
You weren't there,
I'm gonna show you tonight,
SWAT Kats fly high,
We're just fine
Enforcers are tools,
So, so what,
I am a rock star,
I got my rock moves,
And we don't want you tonight!"
(Original song by P!nk modified by me)
As the song closed the crowd that had been jumping in time with the music erupted into roaring cheers. Tally looked around with the biggest smile on her face that anyone had ever seen, this was Everything that they were working for. Then it happened, the enforcers have started to surround their peaceful protest, riot gear in place as though they thought that these young kats were too dangerous. As usual Commander Feral had arrived the last moment when everything was set up and now all the young kats were aware they were surrounded, a megaphone in hand.
"Youth of Megakat City. This is Commander Feral of the Megakat City enforcers. I order you to cease and disperse immediately. I repeat, cease and disperse immediately. You do not have authorization to be here for this protest."
Tally's teeth were grinding in a snarl as the rage started to bubble under the surface. Their rights were undoubtedly clear and on file in the Megakat public library, in fact the whole band made sure to do their research before even forming the basic ideas of this protest. They made these rights known to their fellow SK supporters when they posted this even on the message boards and handed out the fliers.
"We know our rights, Feral!" Tally spoke with a slight growl into the mic. "We are not on your precious Enforcer property, we are on public property and we are keeping out of everyday kats ways. so you know what? Kiss my tail! Hell no we won't go! Leave the SWAT Kats alone! Hell now we won't go! Leave the SWAT Kats alone!"
The rest of the crowd began to chant with her as they were all turned out facing the riot of them moving forward or back, just chanting with their fist thrusting into the air. Again commander Feral used the megaphone to order the chanting kats to disperse and go home, yet no one was listing to the windbag. Just then a shot rung out and to the side she could hear Track yelling for everyone to hit the deck. Everyone of the protesting kats dropped, some screaming, others covering their heads, but all in all everyone was trying to keep from any flying projectiles. Expecting to hear more coming from the direction of the enforcers, but all Tally heard was Feral cussing and shouting for his people to hold fire or they would loose their badges.
"OH MY GOD, HE'S DEAD!" A she-kat in the crowd screamed horrified; those words had all the color drain from Tally's face
A few hours later the shock had still yet to wear off, their peaceful protect was aired as a music riot on the five o'clock news headed by Ann Gorra and commented on by Commander Feral. it wasn't until later while she was sitting outside of Feral's office waiting to be brought in to speak to the windbag after he was done with the press, that she found out what happened. Apparently a rookie with his first time on the field, if you could call the protest that, was a bit trigger-happy and thought that the kat he shot was trying to attack him. Knowing Feral as he always liked to put his enforcers in the light, he spun the story that his people were protecting them selves from the violently rebellious youths of Megakat City. Saying that indeed the rookie that fired the single shot was to be dealt with in the proper manner, but the ring leader of this heinous protest was in custody. That meant Tally, all ways the front man she was taking the blame for her band as they were released and were permitted to reclaim their equipment and van. Now she was sitting in Feral's office, eyes closed in a method to keep her emotions in check and a clear head; waiting for the commander to return with her file and the few choice words she knew he would have. Hearing the door slam behind where she sat, Tally didn't even flinch or look to the tall kat as his boots thudded on the floor. She could hear another set of boots standing behind her by the door. This was either Steal, the coward enforcer who was just as greasy as his buzzed top fur. Or it was Lieutenant Felina Feral, the commander's niece, as hard ass as well but easier to work with and a bit more understanding than her uncle. Most of the SWAT Kat supporters on the forums were really hoping that once the windbag were to retire she would be the one elected in his place and not Steal.
"Well Miss. Feathertail," Came Feral's voice from in front of her as he sat in his desk chair, opening her file. "I am sure I do not need to really repeat what your antics caused, a death of an innocent tom-kat. With these action of yours before we have been linnet in the fact they were only misdemeanors and disturbing the peace. Those have been kept off your records, but you have gotten way out of claw and others have suffered for it. This is your last chance, next time you will be locked up."
At these words Tally's eyes shot open to glare at the authoritative kat sitting in front of her. The way he was making it sound was as though he was putting all the blame on her for the death of one of the citizens that attended the protest. Tally was never one to take crap like that laying down belly up. "Well excuse me that one of your shitty rookies doesn't know how to keep his cool in a Peaceful Protest situation. Maybe if you stopped spending money on your shit building, and actually spent time and money to train the idiots that you put on your force, this would have never happened."
"You little-!" Came from behind her as boots started towards her, good to know it was Steel. It was easy to get under the slime ball's fur and the rash greedy personality she was dealing with rather than an unknown kat. Feral barked his name rather quickly stopping the enforcer in his tracks from advancing on her rom the rear. There was no grin on Tally's face, she was already pissed and was not going to take shots without firing back. "Did I hit a nerve with the truth? What is it you old kats say? The world is full of hard truths, we just have to face them head on. Well here are some hard truths. Steel is as incompetent as your rookies, none of my generation respects you, Feral; we are just smart enough to keep in our rights not to be arrested, and Lieutenant Feral would be fantastic if she wasn't under your oversized thumb." Her hazel eyes locked with Feral's brown almost black eyes, filled with anger and challenge. As though she was daring for him to do something rash, she wanted to expose the enforcers as a dysfunctional system. Seeing the fire of irritation licked up in Feral's eyes at those words she though he had the top dog eating the poison. Yet instead of exploding as the thought Feral would do, he sat back and folded his hands in front of his face looking intensely at her. "Steel. Have Ms Feathertail escorted by Felina to a holding cell until her grandmother can come and retrieve her."
The next thing Tally knew was that she was sitting on the bench of the holding cell, her tail swishing slightly behind her in irritation at the situation she put her self in. Yet for the most part she was more calm and rational thinking that she was up in Feral's office. Her head was leaning back against the cool metal bars that could be felt through her hair and slightly was irritating her ears. She was the only one sitting in the cell currently so this gave her the comfort to close her eyes and let the adrenalin crash happen. Not too long after her eyes closed could she hear a door open and the distinct sound of heals clicking on the tile floor. They were sharp as though the wearer was determined to reach their destination; which was right up to her cell.
"Honestly Tally, I don't understand why you insist on being an activist like you mother." Came her aunt's voice from where the heals stopped. The caused the young she-kat to sigh and open her eyes to look to the middle aged she-kat. Aunt Paula was a secretary for one of the financial heads of Megakat City Biochemical Labs.
"That's how she was killed two years ago. I know." Tally sighed as she slowly stood and went over to the bars of the cell where he aunt was standing. "And before that dad died in a car crash when I was six. Don't you think I would remember something like that?"
The older she-kat huffed at her niece's response and just shook her head while pinching the bridge of her nose. "I just do not understand this obsession you have with these dangerous masked toms. Having them around will cause more problems for the city."
"It's not an obsession Aunt Paula, and they are heroes. They save the city countless of time, where the Enforcers could not have because of protocol or the mayor's business deals. They have every right to be recognized as the heroes they are." Tally defended while crossing her arms over her chest.
Aunt Paula looked over to the direction she had come from and waved her paw to someone standing where Tally could not see. Most likely the guard that was standing by while the she-kats spoke to each other. Smart tom, and a blessing for Tally. If he hadn't been there Aunt Paula would have most likely not have been as composed as she was. This was their first 'discussion' about Tally's rash actions and protest rallies. Looking over to the tom who pulled out the keys to release her to her aunt she recognized him as her normal guard enforcer. A tall light brown that was going gray in the top fur, he was about five years older than Paula. "Thanks, Rick"
"Not a problem. Just stay outta here, kid." He mussed her top fur affectionately as though talking to a family member.
"I can only promise that if the head hairball lets me exercise my rights."
"Tabitha Anne Fethertail!" Came the stern voice of her aunt which cut off any conversation that could have been started. The older she-kat quickly grabbed Tally by the elbow and yanked her from the cell door way. Tally only had a second to wave bye before being pulled from the room, and Paula did not let go even after that. She pulled Tally through the building and out to the parking garage, not releasing her elbow until they had reached Paula's car. Once they were in the car and on their way back home Aunt Paula released a heavy and tired sight.
"Honestly Tally, you are too reckless. Gallivanting around with that harsh misshapened group you call a band. Spreading songs that entice kats to go against society and getting yourself locked up in jail, so often that you are on a first name base with the officers."
"First off," Tally held up one finger from her paw to emphasize her points. "My band and Friends are not misshapened nor do we gallivant. We spread the truth about how society is going and slowly rotting it self if people don't wake up and pay attention. Finally, I know my rights, I've researched the laws, and Feral was infringing upon them. I could take him to court if he didn't have the mayor wrapped around his little claw." Another sigh escaped from Paula as tally crossed her arms and glared out the front windshield. "What happened to my sweet niece? You became so rough and cold. Yet there is still potential for you to join the Diamond Kats."
"That club with those pearly she-kats who only focus on their looks, social climbing, and saddling up with a man who will 'take care of them'? I'd rather puke out all of my internal organs. As for what happened to me, life, it changes people." Nothing more could be said between the two of them, they rode in silence all the ways back to Megakat city's suburbia.
