Disclamer: I do not own the SWAT Kats. I only own the plot and the other stuff was not part of the SWAT Kat Universe.
Story Summary: This is a SWAT Kats Fanfiction. When one of the SWAT Kats accepts a deal from the one kat that was responsible for them being fired from the Enforcers and their placement in the salvage yard, the SWAT Kats will be in a situation that none of their skill will solve. Will this tear the SWAT Kats apart, make it strong, or will it finally be recognized as a respected protection force from the true evils that plagues Megakat City and the world? Or will the SWAT Kats once again be held as true heroes or will they again be victims of the same forces that got the SWAT Kats up in the air in the first place? In this story, Volcanus Erupts did not happen and this takes place after The Dark Side Of The Swat Kats
Chapter Summary: As Chance and Jake was fixing Commander Ulysses Feral's jeep at the Megakat City Salvage Yard, Ulysses gives one of the tom-kats a deal for the both of them. One who was offered the deal has accepted it as the tom-kat tries to convince the other one to take it. The Two tom-kats will be in a situation as one of them questions the ethics of the deal along with the true cost and meaning behind it. Will both of the two tom-kats accept or refuse the deal, or only one of them accepts the deal and leaves the SWAT Kats altogether as the other one will bear the burden of being a true hero for katkind alone?
A/N: Warning! This story will contain a lot of themes. The main theme is slash-(male x male) and yuri-(female x female). If these types of relationships does not fit your fancy, then I suggest not to read any further or the new stories that will posted in the references of this one. This is my first SWAT Kats and I hope it turns out well!
Please tell me if any mistakes so I can correct them.
Now enjoy and don't forget to review!
Chapter 1: A Deal Gone Bad and a Promise Broken
Located on the outskirts of Megakat City was the Megakat City Salvage Yard and Auto Repair Garage. This place was the home of a lean-build cinnamon furred tom-kat that was Jake Clawson who was Razor and a thick-build peach furred tabby tom-kat that was Chance Furlong who was T-bone of the SWAT Kats.
It was the middle of the afternoon as the two junkyard operator tom-kats was finishing up repairing cars and then closing the garage for the day.
Jake gave a long sigh as he sit down at a nearby stool and pick up a torn red rag that was underneath it. Then the lean-build cinnamon furred tom-kat wipes the sweat and oil off his paw on the torn red rag with his right paw.
As Jake place the now oiled torn red rag down, he then proceed to to the spare lockers of the garage to change out of his blue mechanic jumpsuit. Once there, Jake then sit down on the bench as he uses his right and left paws to take off his black work-boots. Then the lean-build cinnamon furred tom-kat had place his black work-boots inside his locker, as he use his right paw to find the zipper that was located at the middle collar and then unzipped it to pull it off his body.
When Jake was done removing the oil-stained blue jumpsuit from his body, the lean-build cinnamon furred tom-kat was now revealed to be wearing a black t-shirt, tight fitting black jeans with black matching socks. Jake then took a thick coat hanger with his left paw and used both paws to place the hanger inside the arms of the jumpsuit, then used his free right paw to find the zipper to zip up the jumpsuit, zipped it up, then place it inside the locker and closed the door.
After that, Jake then grab some black tennis shoes that was inside the locker and placed his feet into them so his socks would not be covered in dried oil that was on the floor. When finish changing out of his work jumpsuit, Jake then exit from the garage locker room then went upstairs to the bathroom to wash his hands and proceeded down stairs to the kitchen to get stated on dinner.
Jake looked at his friend Chance that was sitting on the couch watching the television, he then notice that his friend was longer in his jumpsuit as he were wearing a red t-shirt, blue jeans and white tennis shoes.
As they was fixing cars in the garage, especially a jeep that belonged to Commander Ulysses Feral of the Enforcers, Chance was nervous all afternoon. There were several times during the day when Jake almost asked Chance exactly what was going on, but every time when Jake would worked up to the courage to, Chance was nowhere to be found.
Chance Furlong was not a tom-kat that was particularly prone to reluctance, so having him hover about inconveniently for most of the afternoon while he was fixing Ulysses Feral's new Enforcer Jeep was more than enough to tip Jake Clawson off to the fact that something strange was about to happen.
During the afternoon, Chance would avoid Jake during the time when the lean-build cinnamon furred tom-kat would almost asked him of what was going on with his behavior. Chance was afraid because of what might happen if he told him of what he did and every time when Jake got to close, the thick- build peach furred tabby tom-kat would slip away unnoticed.
Jake sighed, and then went to the garage's kitchen to get out the pans along with other utensils for cooking as he had realized that something truly big was going down for the both of them because of Chance's attitude.
As Jake sighed again at the atmosphere that was providing from the awkwardness from Chance's mood that somehow made it way to the kitchen that had made Jake unfocused on cooking. Jake shook his head sideways as to shake the mood that he was getting and focused back on the cooking. Most of the things Jake cook was enough since he made enough for the both of them.
Jake was still amazed that nothing bad had resulted from Chance moodiness that had him acting strangely all afternoon, but everything seemed okay for the most part. Jake was even beginning to relax more and enjoy being with Chance.
Jake was finished putting the last of the meal on the table as the lean-build cinnamon furred tom-kat was rather satisfied with the way everything had come out. Jake had called Chance's name from the kitchen to letting the thick-build peach furred tabby tom-kat that dinner was ready and had hoped that this dinner would make his partner open up of what was troubling him.
"Dinner is ready." Jake said.
The sound of Jake's voice has made Chance immediately snapped out of his trance of looking at television as he rubbed his left paw at his stomach that was growling at it's typical roaring voice. Chance had got up quickly from the couch as he used his left paw to pick up the remote control that was beside him and pressed the red button that had resulted of the television turned itself off.
Chance then proceed to walked very quickly towards the kitchen where Jake was cooking dinner and more than slightly amazed at the lean-build cinnamon furred tom-kat's cooking as he looked at the table with a full of food as he couldn't help but to smile.
Then Chance's mood went to mildly happy to complete sadness as he was hoping that his explanation that caused this change of atmosphere would not ruin their appetites.
As Jake has already had fixed plate full of food and then handed towards Chance, Chance himself had reached out and grabs the plate with his paws without saying so much as a thank you.
Jake's facial expression went from slightly happy to a full blown of sadness when Chance didn't thank him for the meal as he usually did. Then Jake himself sighed as he fix his own plate then proceeded towards the table to sit down across from Chance and the two tom-kats has started to eat their meals.
The atmosphere of the dinner table was too much for Jake as he sighed softly paused in his eating and watched Chance eating his meal. Jake realizes that this tension can't go on much longer, for it would affect their mission as the SWAT Kats. Jake knew that Chance was hiding something because of the mood he was displaying now and it could be something huge.
In his heart, Chance knew the mood he was in was going to affect them both since he have not said a thing since eating. Chance wanted to believe that this was going to work out fine, but there was nagging suspicions at the back of his mind that maybe it wasn't going to be at all.
The tension at the dinner table was awkward that Chance has taken a moment of pause of eating his dinner and decided it was time to tell Jake the reason that he was acting so strangely around him as to break the tension of the dinner table.
When Chance was taking a break of eating his dinner in the middle of eating his dinner, he was thinking of the deal he accepted from Ulysses in hopes in telling his partner and giving him the badge would ease the tension and accept the deal just like he had. Then Chance look up at Jaker who was watching him the whole time and begins to speak with a bit of nervousness.
"Jake... can we... stop eating for a moment? I've got something for you.. a surprise if you will." Chance said.
Jake was shocked by the sound of Chance's voice because of the tension cocked his head and raised a eyebrow intensely curious at what could have Chance so wound up as Jake asked with a questionable tone in his voice.
"Oh. Really? What is that?" Jake said.
Chance nodded as he remembered the deal that Feral told him and continued in hopes nothing bad happens while explaining the whole thing that could change their lives forever. Then Chance answered again with the nervousness in his voice.
"Yeah. It's something good for the both of us." Chance said.
Chance used his free left paw to slide inside of the left pants pocket and pulled out a black leather object from within as he set it on the table and slid it across toward Jake.
Jake raised a curious eyebrow and he watch the black object slid towards his direction. It was something that Jake recognized immediately, an Enforcer Officer Identification Wallet. Jake looked at the object with a hateful gaze after a moments of hesitation. Jake wasn't sure he wanted to hear the explanation, but he could not help it, not while with Chance was watching him so nervously.
As Jake took the wallet wiht his left paw and opened it, he then saw a small facial picture of himself staring in front of the top part from the ID half including the badge on the bottom part of it.
The pure shock on Jake face and his body held him silent long enough for his eyes to realize a promotion was included as a lieutenant in the otherwise completely perfect set. Finally Jake looked up at Chance with a wordless plea for an answer he couldn't even begin to make himself think of.
Chance remembers the deal that Feral gave him in the garage that afternoon and decided to accept the deal. The thick-build peach furred tabby tom-kat then look at his lean-build cinnamon furred tom-kat friend shocked expression, then took a deep breath and his eyes drifted downwards to explain to ease the atmosphere as he swallowed nervously and begins to speak again.
"I dunno that if you're gonna like this. Feral said it was the only way." Chance said.
As Jake was still in shock, he wanted to know what was his friend mean by the Feral said it was the only way and wanted to know was it the same Kat that they knew or it was the she-kat that they knew who share the last surname.
After looking at the inside of the badge still in shock, Jake looked up at Chance for an answer he couldn't even begin to make himself think of as it made him speechless. Jake finally managed to get over his shock, but barely as it was something that his brain steadfastly refusing to process of what was given into a complete picture. Then Jake asked with shocked in his voice.
"Feral?" Jake said.
The question made Chance looked up at his stunned partner with a firm look. The tabby tom-kat didn't know why his partner didn't know who he was talking about so he gave Jake the answer to his question softy.
"Commander Ulysses Feralof the Enforcers." Chance said.
When Chance confirmed the answer to Jake's question, the tabby tom-kat could practically feel the anger radiating from the small lean-build frame of Jake's body when the he hatefully glared at him and answered with a bit of soft anger in his voice.
"I know who Commander Ulysses Feral is. What does Ulysses have to do with this and when since he was anything, but Feral?" Jake said.
When Jake ask the question with anger in his voice, Chance was nervous all over again as he tried to explain the reason why Ulysses did what he did and to want to live his dream to be an Enforcer again with Jake by his side. Chance then answered with nervous and a bit of awkwardness in his voice.
"Since Ulysses and Felina sharethe same last name... I thought it would be appropriate to address him as Ulysses, instead of Feral. As for the situation at hand, All I wanted... wanted I just ... wanted ... I'm sorry. I'm getting off track again." Chance said.
Chance realized the main reason for him being nervous was because he knew that Jake would be angry when he didn't put in his input with the deal that Ulysses has given them that could affect both of their words as he shook his head to get rid of his nervousness. Then Chance had gathering up some new words that summarized the whole point of the conversation and tried again.
"Ulysses Feral had told me that he wanted to re-evaluate his Enforcers along with the commandos as he tried to make it all work properly. But the Enforcers didn't have the funds for re-evaluate of a unit or the cutbacks that the Enforcers was getting for the bills for property damages form city hall. Ulysses told me that the Enforcers was more important than anything and that we would have to make some sacrifices. He told me this while we was fixing on his jeep when you went out to get our dinner for the evening." Chance said.
Chance paused at his explanation as Jake continued to stare at him with the strange look of shock and questionable look on his face.
As for Jake, he was unwilling to let any of the ideas the back of his mind was coming up with to be heard until his partner had finished. Four years, including the friendship that they shared, rated that much and more.
Since Jake didn't say anything as he paused his explanation, Chance felt it was safe to continue the whole thing with the same nervousness in his voice.
"So this is kinda a reward for all the good work we did. I got one too we get to live in a apartment that is completely refurnished with everything. We don't have to live like this any." Chance said.
After Chance had said that, Jake looked down at the badge and then back up at his partner. The cinnamon tom-kat realized that if he do decided to go back, what would mean for them and their lives here as he tried to make sense of it all.
When Jake remembers the incident from the destruction from the Enforcer Headquarters four years ago, he wanted to know what Ulysses Feral will do the right thing by admitting his guilt to the press and clearing their names that way. Then Jake decided to ask Chance in a calm voice of what Ulysses Feral will do to in that regard.
"What about the debt that Ulysses Feral had wrongfully place upon us and the license to be re-instated back within the Enforcers. Will he admit the part of his involvement in destroying the upper levels to the Enforcer Building to the kats under his command, including the city council and the members of the press?" Jake said.
Chance remembered the deal he accepted that would erase their debt including his civilian license that would clear all charges and shook his head. As for Ulysses admitting for what he has done to the kats that was under his command by placing the blame of the blunders cause by his own interference, Chance knew that Ulysses would might never admit of what happen to the Enforcer Building upper levels four years ago was really his fault. Then Chance looked at Jake and resume the conversation that he had by the deal that Ulysses has given them.
"The debt's not a problem. My civilian license is a little harder to fix until we're officially re-instated. As for Ulysses admit of his part of destroying the upper parts of Enforcer Headquarters, he probably won't because he might be in lot of trouble and the Enforcers can't lose him. Ulysses told me that he needed more Enforcers that can do the job and he did promised he would try to make things right."
Jake's face dropped to stare at the badge still in his paws, Then Jake sighed reluctantly as he was facing up to something in the back of his mind that he had never thought of happening for years. The cinnamon tom-kat sighed softly, folded the wallet, then pushed it back across the table and begins to speak with a frim tone in his voice.
"Let me get this straight? You accepted this deal for the both of us without my consent first? This bribe will affect us and you did not even wait for my input on the matter. We are partners, Chance. We do everything together, including making life changing decisions. In the back of my head, I know of the real reason why all of this has happened, and I can not say I much care for it anymore. Whatever the price for that Enforcer ID badge or Ulysses has given us in general, I do not want it." Jake said.
Since Chance started talking, Jake looked at him and could see the tabby tom-kat's stricken expression of the refusal of the badge. Chance tried to convince Jake in a soft tone to take the badge that Ulysses work so hard to give them.
"But... But it's yours. You're back on the force again same as me. You earned it." Chance said.
Jake looks at Chance and was shaking his head in disappointment. In the lean-build cinnamon furred tom-kat mind of how could anyone let alone Chance could accept that badge after all the anger, pain and humiliation they both went through because of them being with the Enforcers including the corruption in the ranks of command.
Then Jake remembered the hurt that Ulysses Feral had caused Chance and himself by blaming them for a crime that did not commit. Then as time passes the hurt went away the both of them was enjoying a little bit of peace and freedom they now have. Just because Chance decided to sacrifice his morals, freedom and duty for glory, doesn't mean he should too.
"After four years of being free, thinking and believing I am free, I do not want to go back to the Enforcers as Ulysses as the Commander. Nothing is worth answering to a kat like him again." Jake said.
After Jake had said that, Chance was feeling a bit sad about the reason that Jake did not get his input of the deal that could change their lives for the both of them and did not want to go back to the Enforcers as it's chain of command was too corrupted by selfish pride. It also didn't help on how Chance could also understand why Jake does not want to be under the command of someone like Ulysses Feral.
Then Chance didn't get to finish trying to explaining on what he had to say because he wanted to convince Jake to give the Enforcers and Ulysses Feral and himself a second chance as a result his voice was strained.
"I don't understand this..." Chance said.
After what Jake just told Chance of why he didn't want to go back to the Enforcers with him. Jake continued refusal of the deal made Chance confused as the peach-furred thick-build tabby tom-kat just did not know what to say next. Chance pleaded Jake with a soft strained voice to take the badge including everything with it because he wanted his best friend and partner for four years to be with him.
"I'm sorry that I didn't wait for your input for the deal, but it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Please. Jake. Just take it." Chance said.
When Chance was done talking, Jake remembered the day when he left Chance and Ulysses alone in the Salvage Yard's parking garage as too went to the store to get their dinner for the evening. The cinnamon tom-kat remembered them talking just before he had left and when he came back from the store along with Ulysses or his Enforcer issue jeep no longer in the garage, that is when the awkwardness between the two of them begin.
That was when Jake realized that Ulysses must have said something to Chance for him to be this tense and forceful of him to take the deal they was supposed to accept. That when Jake asked Chance in a soft gentle voice.
"What the hell did he tell you? You know there was a price to pay for them, or for not accepting them. I will not work for a commander who will sacrifice their own subordinates under his command just to protect their ego and pride for exchange of the safety of the innocent. That thing is not a commander, that is a egomaniac monster that is posing as one." Jake said.
Chance realize that Jake was a tom-kat with high morals of helping the weak, a strong sense of justice with an even stronger view of equality for everyone regardless of their social status. Chance also knows that Jake was also a very firm believer of doing the right thing and the accountability for when things go wrong. While Chance was very accepting of the deal that Commander Ulysses Feral have given him, it made Jake angry and shocked the lean-build cinnamon furred tom-kat to the core.
Jake has always thought and believed that Chance was a tom-kat with a huge sense of justice. Then when Ulysses who was responsible for their wrongful conviction and placement in a metal disposal yard that offered Chance a deal to come back the Enforcers as has accepted it without thinking of the cost, Jake did not know what to think of him now.
When Jake answered that question, Chance was still trying to convince Jake one more time to forgive Ulysses for what the tom-kat has done. Then once Chance was done with that, then he would explain on why Ulysses did what he did as an odd plaintive note creeping into his voice when he spoke.
"He's trying to make things right, Jake. This isn't the way it was supposed to be, but you know how important it was for the city that the Enforcers was there. They're the city's main defense unit. Feral will do anything by the book and the best of his ability to to protect the city. Feral will even to sacrifice the kats under his command, including us to keep the city safe. Ulysses used to be a glory-hound egomaniac when he threw us off the force by protecting his own pride, image and job. The commander himself has changed, Jake. Just because Ulysses gave us another chance to come back with the Enforcers that resulted of him cutting corners it doesn't make him a monster." Chance said.
Jake was surprised when Chance said that, he then nodded and let out a loud chuckle as to questioning the statement in the least. Once Jake was done with his chucking and in a instant, his body was filled with passion along with anger as he got up from the dinner table, then slammed both of his paws begin to speak again.
"He just didn't have the money?! Was that the shit he fed you?! We were doing just fine protecting the city and he booted us because he just didn't have the money?! You were there, Chance! We was doing just fine up there until that ego-maniacal fool came out of nowhere and messed things up be forcing us out in the middle of a battle! When everything went straight to hell, that monster place all the blamed on us, then fined us and sentenced us to run this Salvage Yard until we paid for the mistakes that was cause by his inflated ego! That arrogant fool has even blame us to the press and tarnished our image for the sake of saving his own! If we somehow do tell the truth, no one will believe us! Our credibility was shot to hell and no amount of nicely priced goods, money or a simple promotion is going to change that fact!" Jake said.
That was when Chance finally realized that he could not convince his best friend for five years to come back with him, or to forgive Ulysses Feral for what he did out of anger because of his pride. Hopefully in time, if Chance could convince Ulysses to make the SWAT Kats as part of the Enforcer Special Commando unit or let Jake be part of the Enforcers Defense R&D Department to use the cinnamon tom-kat knowledge of reverse engineering to build defenses for the Enforcers, then maybe the Jake will come back. Until then, Chance must try to convince Jake with all his might in a strained voice to defend the katizins as the SWAT Kats discreetly while in their Enforcer uniforms.
"But we have to, there has to be the Enforcers or the SWAT Kats to defend the city from criminal threats!" Chance said.
Jake looks at Chance and nodded with agreement. In truth Jake was hoping that Chance would refuse the deal that Ulysses promise them, then take the badges back, come back to the salvage yard and forget the whole thing altogether. For Chance to accept such a deal, had made Jake so angry that his voice was matching his feelings as the lean-build cinnamon furred tom-kat had resumed speaking.
"Yes, there does and the SWAT Kats are not the Enforcers! I am not going back to the organization who thinks it is alright for a leader to sacrifice their employees for protecting their personal pride and gain! The Enforcers cannot do the things the SWAT Kats does as they are heroes of the weak and the enemies of the corrupted as they do whatever possible that all kats can live in piece, not a selective few. You and I know this for a fact!" Jake said.
Chance was shock and frustrated of how the whole thing didn't go the way he hoped. Deep inside he was hoping that Jake would for forgive Ulysses Feral and accept the deal that would let him come back to the Enforcers. The tabby tom-kat was distraught of it all as his voice was sad and soft when he resumes speaking.
"I... I don't get it. This deal was supposed to make everything better and back to normal to have a chance to live a better life again." Chance said.
Jake looked at his distraught friend strangely as he laughed at him for even suggesting that bribery was going to fix things make everything better for them. Once done with laughing, Jake resume speaking more quietly.
"Better? Beyond becoming an Enforcer again with the commission which came along with a new promotion that includes better living conditions, what part of the bribe was better and normal?" Jake said.
Then Chance wanted to try one last time to have his best friend and partner for four years to forgive the commander in hopes of come back with him to the Enforcers. With the passion in his chest was slowly going down in his chest Chance begins to speak more softly.
"Don't you want to be an Enforcer again, the way it should've been four years ago before our placement here?" Chance said.
When Chance said the word Enforcer, it instantly left a sour taste in Jake's mouth along with the rising anger that was building up inside the lean-build cinnamon furred tom-kat. It made Jake furious and emotional when the cinnamon tom-kat shook his head angrily as he spoke.
"Hell no! Like I said, I will never accept a payout from a leader in order to justify their actions and will never become an Enforcer again! I will not answer to anyone who was like Ulysses, a tom-kat who places the blame on their own actions on someone else with no sense of self-accountability! If Ulysses' willing to take out the kats that is under his command in the name of pride that would cripple the city's only defense for his own ambition, then he was a fool and should resign himself as Enforcer Commander. What if we didn't become vigilantes huh?! What if I am satisfied of being a junk yard operator and a part time unlicensed mechanic, what then?! This would have gone well if he let us taken out Dark Kat first! Not only that, he blamed us for the destruction that he cause our jet to crash at the Enforcer Headquarters four years ago and he did not even took not one ounce of the blame! I say, to hell with the Enforcers and to the commander himself! If Ulysses wants to charge me with the laws we broke for doing his job for refusing this deal he gave us, he can! I am not going to give into threats blackmail or bribes, Chance Furlong! I am not afraid of that monster that will try to append me, or prison if I get or even death anymore! I finally understand what I was trying to do by enlisting within the ranks of the Enforcers, and it was not something I can do as a Enforcer!" Jake said.
After the outburst that Jake did, the room was silent for a good two minutes. The silence was too much for Chance as the thick-build peach furred tabby-tom-kat replied in a soft voice because he could not think of anything thing else to say to his lean-build cinnamon tom-kat friend anymore.
"Oh. I see." Chance said.
Once the conversation was over that had left the table to fall into uncomfortable silence for five minutes as Jake sat back down and went back to eating, though Chance had clearly lost his appetite because of it.
Chance then look at Jake's Enforcer ID wallet that was now on his side on the table again and made a decision. The tabby tom-kat then grips the wallet that his partner refused tightly as he got up from the table.
"I guess I'd better take your Enforcer ID wallet back then." Chance said softly.
Jake couldn't believe what he was hearing and hope he was wrong for the first time in his life. Jake did not want to believe that Chance was leaving the SWAT Kats, abandoning the promise they had made to save the city. To make sure that he was wrong about the assumption, Jake wanted to know was his partner and best friend for five years was coming back to the Salvage Yard to resume their duties here. Then Jake asked Chance softly about him returning after he told the commander the complete refusal of the deal and to turn in both of their Enforcer ID wallets.
"That is okay. Is it safe to assume that you are turning in both of our badge and is returning back here, right?" Jake said.
The question that Jake asked got Chance thinking about his only choice, for it was the only way to share his dream to the only person that matter to him. The tabby tom-kat was thinking of ways on how to get Jake to come back with him to the Enforcers as partners again.
Unfortunately for Chance, Jake had made his decision as he was not coming back to the Enforcers with him. That had left Chance alone in his dream to be something big without someone like his best friend and and partner to share it with.
When Chance looked from Jake's Enforcer ID badge, then straight into the lean cinnamon tom-kat's eyes and sighed. The tabby tom-kat resolve to be an Enforcer again was strong for what he had always wanted and his dream was now coming true. Even if Jake didn't want to come back to the Enforcers, Chance will try to convince Ulysses Feral or make sure personally that no one will brother with Jake at the Megakat City's Salvage Yard. If someone discovers Jake's SWAT Kat related things, it would implicate him as a SWAT Kat and could charge him with the crimes when or if exposed. That alone could cause him his dream in the process. Chance shook his head sideways as he told Jake with a soft firm tone in his voice.
"It's what I've always wanted and I have the chance to get it back again. I need to do this, I have to go back. The city is better off with one SWAT Kat than none at all. I'll make sure the Enforcers don't bother you too much here at the salvage yard and try to have Ulysses get the debt cleared without you coming back with me on the force." Chance said.
After Chance said that, Jake had snorted of the way that his partner's wanted to protect the Enforcers from coming here and free him from wrongly placed debt. If Chance did not stay with him because it was the right thing to do, then Jake would not trust Chance to look after him, let alone keeping other Enforcers of coming here to expose their volunteer work to take it and him in the process.
"Yes they are and while on the subject of our volunteer efforts to keep the city safe, is your SWAT Kat things still inside your locker?"
When Jake asked about the SWAT Kat things, Chance body tensed up and realized that in preparation of leaving, he got them from his locker. Chance took them and packed them along with his personal things because he was under the impression that Jake was coming back to the Enforcers with him.
"No. It's within my things that I've already packed; I assumed that we were going back to the Enforcers. Since that wasn't the case, I guess you want them back?" Chance said.
Jake was kind of upset when Chance accepted the deal from Ulysses without thinking about the price that had to be paid and decided to leave the SWAT Kats to go back to the Enforcers under Ulysses' command. If Jake didn't ask about them, then Chance would have gone back to the Enforcers with his inventions without the lean build cinnamon furred tom-kat knowledge and that made him furious. Then Jake uses all his will power to keep his fury at bay and decided get his things back in a civilized manner.
"Yes. Just because you used my inventions as we were the SWAT Kats together and decided to throw all of that away to go back to the Enforcers that does not give you the right to take my inventions. I. Want. Them. Back. Now.
When Jake asked for the SWAT Kat items in a tone that would probably ended up in a fight, Chance did not do or say anything that could cause more than a conversation turned into a fight as the thick- build peach furred tabby tom-kat nodded and push his chair backwards to give him room to leave the table. Then Chance got up from the chair that he was sitting on as the thick-build peach furred tabby tom-kat walked upstairs and then proceeded towards the hallway to his room which was located from the right side of the hall with the door already open to get the SWAT Kats things from inside of his already packed bag that was sitting on the bed.
As Chance slowly walked towards his twin bedopens the bag, he then proceeds to separate all of the SWAT Kat gear from his personal belongings. The tabby tom-kat took out the SWAT Kat suit and the Glovertrix that was now on his bed.
The tabby tom-kat looks at them and wonder was he doing the right thing to leave his partner for four years for a dream that he always wanted.
Chance sighed in realization that it was too late now to change his mind as he repacked his personal things, then grabs his SWAT Kat gear and headed back down stairs to give it to Jake. As Chance descends from down the stairs, he went to the kitchen to approach the cinnamon tom-kat and handed over his gear.
Jake looked and then snorted at his now Ex-partner as he took the items from him. Then Jake walked to the other side of the garage, open the hatch and using the ladder to climb down inside the hanger to lock Chance's SWAT Kat gear inside his locker.
Once done, Jake walked to the ladder, climbed back up and then resurfaced inside the living quarters at the salvage yard as he nodded towards Chance before standing to pick up the dishes with a swish of irritation in his tail.
Jake looked at Chance and shaking his head at the disappointment on how someone like his friend, now former friend could accept something that could had an impact on the city defenses and didn't care of the cost that came with it. To think his own friend had taken this deal without thinking of the consequences was disgusting and couldn't believe that he would even sacrifice their friendship in the process. Jake then told Chance in a sad voice that he had difficult of holding back the tears that was coming from his eyes.
"All things considered, At least you will have what makes you happy. You are getting paid for the job that we did for four years after our placement here and four years prior before we got sent here. That is the only different of what we are, was doing. As of right now, I am stuck with the promise that we made to protect the city without egomaniacs like Ulysses Feral and the Supercriminals who threating it on my own." Jake said.
Jake murmured with a trace of pain in his voice as he walked to the kitchen with the dishes. Jake was trying to distance himself of the Kat who did the most hurtful thing of all. Jake decided to be calm about this as to let them know that it was now over between them with some dignity. Jake told Chance with a bit of sadness in his voice.
"I am glad that you will have to live the great life again. Pay no mind as I was humiliated for the third time in my life.: Jake said.
When Jake decided to tell him why his life was that much turmoil and try to hold back the tears in his eyes and resume speaking again with sadness in his voice.
"First was from Pumadyne. Those thieving arrogant assholesstole my inventions and took credit for them. The second time was the Enforcers. You know that one since you were a part of that one. It was when that egomaniac of a commander who blame all the damage to the Enforcer building on us to cover up for his mistake. The commander told you he did that on the justification that we would have to make sacrifices and not of his own pride to, which was bullshit. The third one was the more hurtful of the other two. My best friend and partner for four years had just now walked out on me for the very thing that got us here in the first place. My former best friend and partner threw away the promise that we made to defend the city together and the friendship we have accumulated over the years. I just pray that the city along with the katizens does not pay for your selfish needs and the commander's egomaniac power trip." Jake said.
Chance's whole body was shaking as he nodded numbly. The picking up Jake's Enforcer ID wallet from the table and rubbing his trembling finger across the black leather cover.
Then Chance closed his eyes to see Jake's image in his mind as he then open his eyes to see that no one was in the room except him. The tabby tom-kat then looks around the room and took a deep breath as he then turns his head towards the kitchen where Jake was doing the dishes.
Chance looks at Jake for a minute as he shook his head sideways of the outcome of it all and then walked upstairs to his room door. Once Chance got to his room door, he used his free left paw to grip the metal doorknob and gave it a counter clockwise turn to the left turn as he used some very light brute force from his shoulder to push the door open.
Once the door was open, Chance then looked at his room as he went inside, lifted his left arm and used the back of his elbow to lightly hit the back of the door causing it to shut. Once the door was shut, the thick-build tabby tom-kat then place his left foot down leg as he used his eyes to scan inside the looked at the room that has been his home for four years to scan everything that was inside.
The room itself was not very spacious as Chance looked to his left to see the twin size bed with his already packed stuff on top of it. Beside the twin size bed was a small worn out table that had a small lamp on top of it. Then the thick build tabby tom-kat look to his right to see a tall matching very worn out wood dresser with a twelve inch television on top of it.
After Chance has looked all the everything that he has acquired by scrapping all these years, the feeling of sadness in his chest has begin to from. Every since Jake had refuse to go back with him, it made the thick-built tabby tom-kat feeling a bit unwanted.
No matter how much Chance told himself that everything would be okay, it did not feel that way because it had seems that whatever the peach-furred thick-built tabby tom-kat had tried to do, it always seem to backfire on his face.
Chance then look at the twin size bed and the slowly walked to it as his eyelids were getting heavy for him. Once Chance was at the twin side bed, he used both of his paws to moved the already packed stuff on the bottom part of the bed then looked at the bed kas he did not even pulled back the covers when he collapse on top of the bed with Jake's image in his mind and closed his worn out eyes.
As Chance closed his heavy eyelids to allow the darkness to take hold of him, the thick-build peach furred tabby tom-kat saw the face image of Jake as he whispered softly and sadly at the cinnamon tom-kat's image in his mind.
"I'm sorry... I'm so... so very sorry... Please forgive me..." Chance said.