SWAT Kats: The Dragonfly Saga
[This is a series of short stories inspired from my original SWAT Kats 'Shadow Trilogy'. Each "chapter" is an individual story, taking place in chronological order. This first story in the Dragonfly Saga picks up with the end of the last chapter of part 3 of the trilogy, Shades of Shadow. This first story mainly pertains to Elena and her return to Megakat City, as well as brings Lt Felina Feral into my stories for the first time. It basically serves as the "bridge" between the Trilogy, and the short-story series. Note that mentions of certain characters and events (such as the character Elena Kougré, her ability to change into an owl or werekat, Jake/Razor's ability to use magic, and the Astral Stone), all pertain to my Shadow Trilogy and not to the original SWAT Kats cartoon show.]
summary: Having lived out her life in the reincarnation of a silver owl, Elena is sent away from the Shadow Relm, and returned to her original body, just outside of Megakat City! After reuniting with her closest friends, the SWAT Kats, Elena then later meets a tough, kick-ass female Enforcer and the two she-kats must team-up to stop an armed-robbery-in-progress.
This story is rated "T" for mild violence and language.
Resurrection
The silver and white owl sat perched on her favorite branch of the ancient oak tree. It was winter again, but the hot spring kept the grotto very warm year-round. Nineteen years had past since she had hatched. Her avian body was now facing old age. Some her of her talons had small cracks, she was missing a few flight feathers, and her wing muscles were very stiff in the evenings when she first woke up. There was also a small chip missing out of her beak from a long ago fight with a larger owl. The bird had enjoyed being able to take flight and soar wherever, and whenever she wished. She loved the peacefulness of the forest. But it still wasn't enough.
Once, a lifetime ago, she had been a kat. A powerful sorceress, and a witch. Witches who lose their lives in service to their Goddess are granted a new life. They are reincarnated as a sacred animal. But sorcerers, unlike witches and druids, don't gain their magic from the Gods. They're not meant to be reincarnated, because they keep all of their memories and most of their powers. Most tend to go insane, and some turn into evil monstrosities. The old owl remembered once such sorcerer. His name was Kirok, and he had allowed himself to be killed, so that he could be reborn as a powerful lich. In fact, she was the one who had killed him the first time. A mistake he made sure she regretted.
The old owl gazed with dark golden eyes into the bubbling waters of the hot spring. Her eyes were slightly cloudy. She couldn't see as well as she used to. But her memory was still as sharp as ever. She remembered what that sorcerer had done. How he had tried to kill her by sending a monster for her. That failed, so he went after her companions instead. The bird let out a soft sigh at the memory of the other two kats. One, a very close friend. The other, her lover. She missed them. Even reborn as a bird, she still could have stayed close to them, but they were no longer on this world. They left, back to their own world, barely more than a week after her fledging. She only saw them a few short times.
The owl closed her eyes. She knew her time was drawing to a close. With her failing eyesight and aging wings, she had been unsuccessful at hunting these past few weeks. She had lost a lot of weight, and barely had the strength to even fly across the small grotto which was her home. Turning her golden eyes up, she looked at the crescent moon above her, showing faintly through the narrow opening of the crevasse far above.
'Tonight. Tonight I shall pass on again, and leave this body behind.'
A gentle wind blew down from the crevasse above, ruffling her feathers. She looked back up, and heard a soft voice echo across the stone walls.
My kitten, you have lived a long, good life. This was my gift to you for your service to me. But I fear my gift was also a curse to you. No sorcerer is ever meant to be reborn. Yet you were both sorceress and witch. I know your heart has grieved these many long years.
The bird closed her eyes. She spoke, not with words or sounds, but with her thoughts. With her heart.
'My Queen, you have granted me a great gift. The pain in my heart is mine own, and not of your doing.'
I understand. But still it is wrong. I would allow your rebirth again, but your power is still too strong. You cannot be reincarnated, because you cannot live a natural life. Your memory of your first life will always remain. Your mind shall always be that of a kat, and never that of your new life.
'Then what is to be done with me? Shall I pass on to the Relm of Night? Or worse?'
She feared she would pass into the dark underworld, the relm of Hel. But it would be no more than she deserved.
No. You will be resurrected, as a kat.
The owl's eyes opened wide with shock.
'But.. that's not permitted? The other Gods... they would be furious!'
You are not born of this world. This has been you home for so long, as well as the place of your death. But it is not where you belong. The other Gods have agreed. You will be sent away, and resurrected again upon the world on which you belong.
The bird's heart sank. The world on which she belonged... the world on which she was born... She knew that if she were returned there, back in her kat form, she wouldn't survive long. She would be put to death by the very government that had raised and trained her. Final death... perhaps that's what the Gods had planned afterall.
The source of your sorcery still calls to you. That is where you shall go. Not to be reborn, not to be reincarnated, but to be resurrected, whole again. You shall be as you were the moment your soul left your body, in age and in spirit.
'But... the Stone? You will send me... to where the Stone is?'
She couldn't believe it. That could only mean she was being sent back to her friends. To him.
Yes. Lay yourself down, Elena. Leave that avian body behind you. And I shall return you home.
The owl closed her eyes, and exhaled deeply. After a few moments, she opened her eyes again and spread her wings. Gliding down to the ground, she curled up against the base of the massive oak. It would be her final resting place on this world, for this body. The aging owl closed her eyes one last time. She breathed slowly, feeling her heartbeat slow. She felt as if she were going to sleep, but it was a sleep from which there was no waking. A final deep breath. She released it slowly, and with the breath, also released her spirit.
The moon shown bright and full overhead. The she-kat slowly opened her eyes. It took a few moments for her vision to clear. She was in a forest, but not one that she recognized. The trees were very different. And it wasn't winter. Where was she? When was she? Slowly, the kat sat up. Her head throbbed. She groaned and placed a hand to her head. A hand... not a wing! Her vision was clearing, and she looked down at herself. She was a kat! Not a bird! Not just any kat, she was herself again! The Gods had kept their promise.
Slowly, carefully, she stood. Reaching back with a hand open, she gripped the night air and pulled it about herself. The shadows seemed to collect into her grasp, and were pulled about her. The Shadow Cloak caressed over her body, covering her unclothed form in a protective layer of black. She still had her magic. At least some of it anyway. She then looked up at the moon. It wasn't silver, it was more pale. It wasn't the moon of the Shadow Relm, but she still recognized it.
"Home..."
Closing her eyes again, she bid her body shift. It responded. She still had the power to change, even though she did not have the Stone. But the Stone was on this world. She could feel it. And she could feel it's keeper. He wasn't too far. And where he was, so would her lover be too. She had to find them. Light chocolate fur melted into silver feathers. Arms became wings. Paws became talons. She retook the other form that was so familiar to her. The form she had worn for the past nineteen years.
Nineteen years... how long had it been here? Only a few months at most. Time passed so differently between the two worlds. And sometimes, the difference wasn't even stable. A few hours could become a few days or several months. A few months could potentially be years or decades. It wasn't relative. Perhaps the stress of travel between two very different worlds affected the time stream. Still, it didn't matter. She was home.
Spreading her silver wings wide, she took to the air. Once she passed the layer of trees, she knew where she was. In the distance, she could see the many high buildings of the huge city. She flapped, gaining in altitude. Finding a strong air current, she rode it, letting it take her out of the forest of trees, and into the forest of steel, stone, and glass. Tilting only slightly, she angled her body away from the heart of the large city, and toward the south. Toward the bay. Toward the salvage yard...
She had forgotten how large the city was. In her tiny avian form, it seemed to stretch on forever. But she didn't care. Only one thing mattered now. Eventually, she came in sight of the salvage yard. She swooped low, and spread her wings wide, extending her talons. Carefully, she landed on a tall pile of scrap, overlooking the back of the garage. There were two windows on the upper level on the back side, and she could see them quite clearly. She felt the Stone. Felt it's power calling to her. The curtain moved inside one of the windows. She saw a figure stare out into the darkness towards her. Spreading her wings, she swooped down to the ground, and shifted. She heard the dog barking, and looked up as he ran towards her. She stood, just in time as the large canine jumped. His huge paws hit her hard in the chest, but she kept her balance as she felt his wet tongue on her face.
"Okay. Aries! Okay. Yes, I'm back."
Making the dog get off of her, she walked around to the front of the building, Aries following at a heel, his tail wagging happily. Just as she approached the front, the door opened. She looked up, and smiled at the two kats.
"I told you, I'll always be near..."
Chance couldn't believe it. He had dreamed so many times that she'd return. He thought that perhaps this was another dream. But everything felt so real.
"Elena... are you...?"
She smiled softly, the moonlight reflecting in her emerald eyes.
"Yes. I'm back."
"But... how?"
"I had been reincarnated as a bird. A silver owl. I lived, and died, in that incarnation. But the Gods felt I didn't belong there anymore. I am both a witch and a sorceress, the keeper of the Astral Stone. Never before has any kat ever been both. So they sent me away. They sent me here. Not reborn, but resurrected."
Now he knew it had to be real. No way could he have dreamed up that answer.
The she-kat smiled and walked over to him, then suddenly threw her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder. Chance put his arms around her waist and held her close, as if he were afraid to let go, that she would be taken away from him again if he did.
Jake smiled at his two friends, very glad that they had been reunited again. Around his neck, the Astral Stone dimmed to a soft blue glow.
"It's good to have you back, Elena."
The she-kat looked up and over to her friend.
"Thanks, Jake. I'm glad to see your alive and well also."
"Heh, yeah. Thanks to you."
He still remember that she had sacrificed her own life to restore his when he had died. It was something he could never forget
It took about two days for things to return to some semblance of being 'normal'. The new Turbokat was working wonderfully, and with Elena back, they began working on a new optical monitoring system to install. This time, one sensor would also be placed with a full view of the cockpit, just in case. Jake and Chance had told Callie that Elena was 'gone', not that she had died. That made it a bit easier to explain that she had suddenly returned.
Elena was a bit restless. She had spent too long living as a bird, and wanted some semblance of 'life' back beyond simply working in the garage and on the jet. At around six in the afternoon the third day after her return, Elena put on a pair of dark blue jeans, her black boots, and her black leather jacket over a dark blue shirt. She was still putting on the fingerless gloves as she walked out of the bedroom.
Jake was working on something down in the hangar, but Chance, as usual, was upstairs watching his cartoons. He turned and gave her a curious, slightly worried expression when he saw her outfit. She gave him a reassuring look.
"I'm going out for a little while."
"You gonna be okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just going for a ride. No trouble, I promise."
She gave a sweet smile, then headed down the stairs into the garage.
Chance smiled back. He knew better. He knew that trouble always seemed to find her. Still, he turned and yelled down the stairs at her.
"Be careful!"
"Of course!"
The tabby shook as head as he heard the motorcycle's engine revving up. The bike then peeled out, fast.
Despite nearly two full decades of time passing, living another life, in another form, she still remembered all of her skills perfectly. She pushed the bike's speed, zigging easily through traffic at what would for most be completely reckless, but with her keen senses and sharp reflexes was simply enjoyment. She kept her mind open, searching for any Enforcer patrolkats watching out for speeders and dangerous drivers. Basically, who would be looking our for someone like her. Everything she felt herself approaching, she just turned down another side-street out of the way, or slowed quickly down until she passed out of sight, preferring the former if it were possible.
After a while, she came to an older part of town with far less traffic. The light ahead turned red so she slowed to an easy stop. About twenty seconds later, she heard a sound behind her. Another motorcycle. Elena turned her head around to see the black Katwasaki Ninja pull up right next to her at the light. The rider was obviously female, though the black helmet hid her face. She wore black combat boots, brown cargo pants, and a black leather jacket zipped fully up. The other she-kat revved her black bike, and glanced towards Elena. She grinned under her helmet's mask, revving her own bike even louder. No words were said, but the silent agreement had been reached. As soon as the light turned green, both bikes jerked up onto their back wheels, and spun off hard.
Elena opened the throttle, increasing her bike's speed. The other motorcycle was obviously well maintained. They both pushed the speed up to over 130 mph down the nearly empty street. Elena knew she could go faster, but she wanted to see what this other she-kat was capable of first. She increased again. 142. The other bike easily kept pace. Ahead, the street suddenly dropped down a hill. Both bikes shot over the hill and into the air. The black motorcycle came down first, then Elena's right behind. As soon as she hit the ground, she jerked her bike up and increased the speed a little more. They had both cleared over four miles in a very short amount of time.
Elena forgot to pay attention, until it was too late. Both she-kats looked behind them at the sound of the siren. The Enforcer cruiser pulled out quickly from the side-street where it was concealed behind the tall buildings, it's lights flashing.
'Aw crud...'
They both slowed down, and pulled over right next to each other. The cruiser pulled up behind them and Elena looked to the other she-kat, who put down the kick-stand on her bike, not even bothering to shut off the engine, and just leaned back calmly. Elena grumbled to herself as she turned her own bike off and removed her helmet, shaking out her long sooty-black hair. Behind them, the two street cops got out of their cruiser and began to approach the she-kats.
When they were about three yards away, the other she-kat finally removed her helmet, shaking out her own raven hair to just below her shoulders. Elena noticed she had a pair of white tufts in front of her ears similar to her own red ones, though Elena kept hers braided. The two Enforcers froze in place, staring. Elena swore she saw one of them mouth the words 'Oh shit.' The other she-kat turned and smiled to the two cops.
"Is there a problem, Officers?"
"Uhh.. yes Lieutenant. Do you realize exactly how fast you and your friend were going?"
Elena jerked her head to the other she-kat in surprise. She was also an Enforcer?
"Actually the speedometer in this thing isn't working too well. And anyway, this is the only open stretch to blow out the new exhaust filter. I needed to make sure this thing's working properly in case I end up on a call."
"Uhh... well... yes ma'am, but you do realize you're still not supposed to do that on city streets?"
"So I was supposed to go all the way out to the desert, about two plus hours away, for a ten minute test run?"
"Lieutenant, your uncle.."
"Knows that I've been working hard on getting this thing tuned up, and knows that I took it out for a test ride! Got that, Officer?"
"Uh, yes ma'am! But, you're friend..."
"Was ridding with me just in case anything happened."
"Yes ma'am!"
Both Enforcers quickly jumped back in their car and drove off. The she-kat laughed.
Elena was dumbfounded.
"Lieutenant?"
The she-kat turned to her and smiled.
"Lt Felina Feral."
"Feral? Any relation to Commander Feral?"
"Yeah, he's my uncle. You know him?"
"No. Just know of him. My boyfriend's an ex-Enforcer."
"Really? Anyone I may know?"
"Not sure. Chance Furlong."
"Heard of him. He and his partner 'left' the force a few years before I joined it."
Elena nodded, noting the Lieutenant's choice of words.
"And you are?"
"Elena Kougré."
"Nice to meet you, Elena." She gave a soft laugh. "So where'd you learn to ride like that? You're pretty damned good."
She just shrugged. "Ex-military. Had extensive training on a variety of vehicles."
"Military? Where?"
"Mind if we talk elsewhere? I'd kinda like to get a drink after that little episode."
Felina laughed. "No problem. I know a good bar not too far from here."
Putting their helmets back on, the two she-kats sped off again down the road, going a bit closer to the actual speed limit this time.
It was about eight or so when Elena and Felina pulled up outside the small bar. It was a fairly clean place with only a few patrons, most of whom obviously knew the Lieutenant. Elena guessed they were also off-duty Enforcers. Felina led the way up to the bar and the bartender pulled out a bottle of beer without even her asking.
"Here you go, Lieutenant. And you miss?"
"Karona with lime."
The bartender nodded and pulled out the bottle, popping off the cap with the claw of his thumb and placing a small slice of lime into the top of the bottle.
"Here you go."
Felina placed a five on the bar before Elena could even take her bottle.
"On me."
"Huh?"
Felina grinned. "Hey, you might've actually beat me in that little race. That's one Hell of a bike you got. Custom?"
She smiled back at the tan-furred she-kat. "Thanks. And yes, designed and built it myself."
The two then made their way over to a nearby empty table. Felina popped off the cap of her bottle with a claw and took a few gulps before setting the beer on the table. "You said ex-military. Where?"
"Long story. And too damned much red-tape involved for me to really say much. Needless to say I have no plans on ever going back."
Elena made a mental note to make up her own "file" on her megacomp later, should this Enforcer decide to attempt confirmation on her story.
"Really? And why is that?"
"I got sick of all the shit. All my jets and weapons were being used to kill other kats with, and I wanted nothing more to do with it."
"Your jets and weapons?" This really got Felina's attention.
Elena just shrugged casually. "Yeah. Aeronautics engineer and weapons designer. I designed, built, and test-flew military aircraft, as well as their weapon's systems."
"Flew? You're a pilot too?"
"Sort-of. Had a problem with the test-run of my most recent aircraft, and that's when I decided to leave."
"And you won't go back?"
"Hell no."
"I see. So how long have you been in Megakat City?"
"Not long. Only a couple months now."
"You got a job yet?"
"Kinda. I'm helping Chance and Jake out with their garage at the old salvage yard."
"Ever consider becoming an Enforcer?"
"No. I've had enough with that line of work."
"Just out of curiosity, what was your rank?"
She had to smile at that one. "Captain."
Felina leaned back in her chair and gave a soft laugh.
"So you outranked me then. Nice."
She just shrugged again. "What can I say? Could have made Major had I stayed, but after that little incident with my prototype jet, that was it."
"What exactly happened?"
"As I said, too damned much red-tape."
The two she-kats spend another two hours in the bar talking and getting to know each other. It's clear they had a lot in common and were on their way to becoming friends. Eventually Elena looked over to the clock on the wall.
"Crud. After ten. I should probably get going. I know Chance is gonna start wondering where I am." She smirked. "For some reason, he seems to think I might end up getting into trouble if I'm gone too long."
"Amazing how guys always seem to think that, like we can't take care of ourselves!"
She had to laugh. "Oh he knows I can take care of myself. And that's the problem!"
Felina also laughed as she stood up. "Gotcha. My uncle's the same way!"
They left the empty bottles on the table and headed back out to their motorcycles. Felina turned her's on and revved up the engine.
"So you're heading towards the salvage yard, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, my apartment's that direction, mind if I ride with you for a bit further?"
"Of course not."
They both put their helmets on and kicked up the stands on their bikes. The two motorcycles turned and headed off down the street, at a steady clip of about 50 mph in the 35 zone, Felina taking the lead and setting the pace.
They had only gone a few miles when a sudden sound caused both of them to quickly jerk the bikes to a skidding stop. Both she-kats pulled off their helmets and looked towards a nearby 24/7 convenience store. Not taking her eyes from the store, Felina spoke softly to Elena.
"Did you hear that too?"
"Yeah. A gun shot."
"Right."
They quickly pulled their bikes off the street and ran around to the alley behind the store. Felina pulled out a pair of guns, tossing one to Elena.
"You do remember how to use one of those, right?"
In one swift motion, Elena unclicked the safety and cocked the gun, loading a round into the chamber. "Yes."
"Good. Then cover me."
They both moved quickly to the store's back door and Felina checked the handle. Locked.
"Ready?"
Elena nodded, holding the gun facing up, her back against the wall on the opposite side of the door as Felina.
Felina turned and kicked the door hard, causing it to fly inward, bending the hinges. Felina went in first, gun aimed, and Elena quickly followed. Seventy years had passed since Elena was actually in the military, but it was the same as her computer and mechanical skills. They were still as sharp as if she had just left. She may have been an engineer, but she could still use weapons just as well as she could build them. She had also been required to take a course of Special Forces training to continue her work, should she ever have to go into the field with her highly specialized weaponry. Felina checked the right side of the back storage room while Elena checked the left. They kept their voices low, trying not to be heard in the store outside.
"Clear."
"Clear!"
Elena's ears suddenly twitched towards the other door. "Crud! Down!"
She and Felina both ducked behind some boxes just as a tall but skinny kat burst through the door holding a gun.
"Who's there? I know I heard somethin'!"
A voice called from the store itself.
"Anyone back there?"
"Don't see no-one! Back door's kicked in!"
Felina suddenly stood up, her gun pointed straight at the other kat.
"Enforcers! You're under arrest! Drop the gun!"
She then quickly ducked back down as the kat fired two shots at her. He would have fired move, but was hit from behind and thrown forward onto the ground, the gun flying out of his hand. A knee came down hard between his shoulder blades, pinning him down as a hand grabbed his wrist and jerked his arm behind his back. He felt the barrel of another gun against his neck, and heard the voice of another female.
"Don't move!"
Felina tossed Elena a pair of handcuffs from one of her pockets and ran to the door. The other kat was bolting out the front door of the store.
"I'm in pursuit!"
Elena quickly tucked the gun into the waistline of her jeans and placed one end of the cuffs on the skinny kat's wrist, then stood and jerked him up and over to a nearby pipe. Checking that it was strong enough in case the crook tried to break loose, she connected the other end too it, securing the kat. Drawing the gun again and holding it with the barrel pointed at the ground, she ran quickly after Felina.
The other kat was considerably overweight and didn't get very far at all. He didn't even make it as far the door to the next store when the female Enforcer tackled him. He may not have been fast, but he was a big kat and even she had a hard time holding him down.
"DON'T MOVE!"
The kat somehow managed to throw Felina off of him and got back up to try and run again. This time however, he turned around to find the barrel of a gun staring him in the face about two feet away. Elena glared at the kat with her ears pinned.
"I believe you were told not to move."
Felina quickly grabbed one of the kat's thick wrists and hooked on a handcuff. With the gun pointed at him, in the hands of the pissed-off she-kat, he didn't even bother trying to fight back anymore as his other hand was brought behind his back and cuffed. Once the kat-scum was secure, Felina led him back toward the store. Elena turned and ran back ahead of them. Felina gave her a curious look as she ran past.
"Where are you going?"
"Didn't you see the clerk?"
"No?"
"Exactly!"
Felina then realized what she was so concerned about. They had stopped because they heard a gunshot. The first kat was armed, and neither of them saw the clerk anywhere in the store. She then heard the other she-kat yell from inside the store.
"Call an ambulance!"
It took less than three minutes for the first pair of Enforcer cruisers to pull up outside the store, and another six for the ambulance to arrive. Felina and Elena had the two criminals secured, and Elena was now putting pressure on the store-kat's shoulder to try and stifle the bleeding. She was right, he had been shot. Once the paramedics got there she told them that it was a through and through with nothing vital hit. They assumed she was a plain-clothed or off-duty Enforcer like Felina, and so immediately took over putting pressure on the kat's wounds without asking any questions. He was quickly put onto the stretcher and loaded into the ambulance without a word.
Of course, the other Enforcers had some questions, but Felina answered everything. Once the on-duty officers took over, Felina and Elena headed back over to their bikes across the street. Felina smiled at her new friend.
"You sure you don't want to join the Enforcers? Captain?"
Elena gave a soft smile and she mounted her motorcycle.
"As I said, I've had enough with this line of work."
"Somehow, I doubt that."
The two she-kats put their helmets back on, and sped off again down the dark streets.
It was around midnight when the silver motorcycle drove through the salvage yard up to the garage. Aries lifted his head at the noise, then just lay back down again when he saw it was his owner, going back to sleep. Once she had the bike parked and had relocked the door, she headed up the stairs and into the bedroom.
Chance was lying in bed, partially awake now due to the noise of her motorcycle. He looked sleepily up at her as she entered the room and tossed her jacket over onto a chair.
"Okay, you were out way too long not to have gotten into any trouble."
She glared at him playfully.
"Hey! It sounds as if you don't trust me?"
He smiled. "I know you better than that! So, what happened?"
She sat down on the edge of the bed and removed her boots.
"Maybe in the morning I'll hack into the Enforcer records and let you read the report."
Chance groaned and slapped a hand over his face. Maybe he didn't want to know!
Elena gave a soft playful laugh and climbed over the bed, kissing him on the nose.
He opened his eyes again and gave her an amused look. Whatever had happened, at least it sounded as if she had enjoyed herself, and there were no obvious injuries on her either. At least for that he was grateful.
"Brat."
She still had a teasing smile.
"Would you have me any other way?"
"No."
"Didn't think so."
[Hope you enjoyed this little short story, the first of the Dragonfly Saga. More to come!]
[Next Installment: Within the Shadows; Strange killings begin to happen throughout the city. Jake and Elena can both sense something, but can't figure out quite what. Jake believes it is another werekat, but Elena can't sense any magic that would have summoned or controlled it. As the killings get worse, the SWAT Kats must again face one of the toughest creatures they've ever head to deal with. Only this time, there is no master to control it! ]