HOPES AND DREAMS

Chapter 2: A Surprising Advocate for Sabrens

Feral squirmed uncomfortably and licked his lips. He wanted to jump his mate so badly it was making him tense and urgent. The hour the two of them had spent mating frantically on his office floor had not eased his need. T-Bone could feel his mate's heated look burning a hole in his back as he firmly kept his eyes straight ahead. Thankfully, the flight line was only one floor below his mate's office. He stepped off quickly the minute the doors had opened.

The tabby had only taken a few steps when he felt a rush of air beside him. Frowning in confusion he looked around quickly then spotted his mate standing on the wing of the Turbokat waiting for him. Shaking his head, he noted the many stunned looks as he hurried to join Ulysses. Even though he had witnessed Uly do this stunt before it still caught him off guard. No one should be able to move as fast as the wind.

T-Bone signaled the canopy to open and Feral quickly climbed into Razor's seat. The SWAT Kat leaped easily into the pilot's seat and fired up the engines. With consummate ease, he lifted the jet into the air and quickly took them home. On the way, he keyed his radio and contacted his partner.

"Razor, come in!"

"I'm here! What was the emergency?" Razor asked. They had been working together in the Reflex Room when Feral's signaler went off.

"Uly's in heat! Could you please, pick up Jeremy by five and keep him until I call! You copy?" T-Bone asked.

"Roger! Don't worry about a thing, he and I will have a good time!" Razor told his friend reassuringly. "Enjoy yourself!" He couldn't resist saying in a smirk laced voice.

"Oh sure, I just love being mauled by my mate!" T-Bone said sarcastically. "Anyway, thanks buddy, I owe you one!" T-Bone said signing off.

He was soon guiding the Turbokat to their new apartment building. After Jeremy's birth, Feral had finally conceded that they should co-habitat. When Callie had learned of their hunt for a large enough place that was close to their work, she informed them of an opening in her secure, condo apartment building. It had a roof garden and a helicopter pad.

The condo for sale was a large four bedroom located on the penthouse floor. There were only two other apartments sharing the floor. The stairs to the roof were just a few steps from their door, the garage was a secured area under the building, and the pad could accommodate the jet for short periods.

Feral had a great deal of his income saved, having few needs. He was able to buy the condo outright. That had bothered T-Bone's pride but Feral soothed him by telling the tabby to be responsible for the utilities.

After putting each of their own decorative touches in place, they were pleasantly surprised to discover they had similar tastes and their home reflected this melding of two such different lifestyles. The only irritant for T-Bone was keeping his identity secret as he went to and from their residence. They insured their door was always locked when they were home and had the windows of the condo treated so that they could see out but no one could see in allowing T-Bone to be Chance in his mate's company.

To retain some degree of privacy in their admittedly very public lives, the pair never flaunted their mated status, preferring to be very low key and were never seen together much in public except when duty threw them together. Their son, Jeremy, was kept in a daycare located on a very secure floor of Enforcer Headquarters. Feral had initiated and got funding for it some years before he mated, finding it significantly reduced the stress of concern about their kittens welfare for married enforcers while they were performing their duties. Jeremy had only been going for a couple of months but was having a good time there.

Their enemies had learned to keep their distance from them as well. Dark Kat's death and Turmoil's easy defeat being good lessons that this pair was not to be messed with. The Sabren pair didn't lower their guard though. The Pastmaster was not aware of the changes in the city since his last appearance so he was considered a very big threat though Dr. Viper could be a great nuisance as well.

Landing smoothly and gently on the rooftop landing strip, T-Bone shut down the engines and popped the canopy. His mate went flying at high speed for the roof door and out of sight. Rolling his eyes, T-Bone jumped down from his seat and secured the jet. He loosened his clothes in preparation for what awaited him in the apartment.

Meanwhile, back at Enforcer Headquarters, Steele had aired the room out and set to work on the things his commander had left as well as work he had on his own desk. He checked the time and saw he was due to give a briefing in an hour, per the Commander's orders, to the soon arriving mid-shift.

Steele allowed his mind to muse about Sabrens. Since their 'outing' to the public, those working with them in their daily lives were quickly learning the ways of these reticent creatures so as to prevent encounters from turning deadly. Unlike katkind, Sabrens had high moral standards they lived and died by. Lying, cheating, killing (except in defense and duty), cowardice and avarice were things they simply weren't capable of.

They could stretch the truth or lie by omission or self preservation or because their job required it but for no other reason. This combined with their special physical characteristics (powerful forms, deadly energy, speed, acute senses), it wasn't really surprising to find them in such places as the enforcers, police, medical, fire, security, construction or other heavy duty work..

There was one area where they were very dangerous and that was in the defense of their mate and kits. They would kill swiftly and brutally if their family was endangered. Though extremely rare, a deranged Sabren, one who by his very nature could be deadly to those around him, was quickly put to death by its kind. It was done quickly and quietly by those who knew the person. They saw nothing illegal or immoral about their actions. It was done for the good of their kind and a mercy to the Sabren in question.

Having been involved when the Commander had difficulties accepting his mated status and subsequent illness, Steele was becoming intimately aware of Sabren needs. He actually felt Sabrens had gotten a raw deal and was glad to see them coming out of hiding. Though he was the first to admit there was still a great deal unknown about them.

This morning's lesson was a case in point, showing him just how much he needed to find out about Sabrens to insure harmony between them and their katizen co-workers. He had a strong suspicion that there was a fair number of Sabrens among the enforcers. He set out to learn who they were as he feared problems could crop up now that they were free to be themselves.

He shook himself and noted it was time for him to leave. It was a short elevator trip to the first floor squadron briefing room. He walked to the door and waited as their squadron leader gave out assignments then asked him to enter. He walked up to the lectern and gave an acknowledging nod to the squad leader before turning his attention to the officers sitting before him. As he looked around, he noted an officer standing against the wall looking tense and a bit agitated.

"Officer, take your seat," Steele ordered sharply. Squadron Leader Lt. Byson straightened in concern and eyed his officer in surprise. He hadn't paid any heed to him standing in the first place and was a little upset to be caught out by Feral's second.

The officer in question jerked alert and hissed at Steele, flashing over long fangs and glowing eyes.

Steele was only momentarily startled then annoyed as he muttered, 'Crud! What were the odds of seeing this twice in one day?' Aloud he turned to Byson and said in a low urgent voice, "Where is this Sabren's mate?"

Lt. Byson blinked at him in surprise, shocked at his officer's behavior and at Steele's rather blase attitude about it instead of his usual frightened reaction to danger.

"Uh, he's filing a report on an incident he was involved in just before getting to work, sir." He explained.

"Well you better find him ASAP. His mate's in heat and pretty dangerous right now. Get moving!" Steele snapped in irritation.

Keeping a close eye on the officer in question, as the squad leader ran off to find the mate, Steele cleared his throat to recapture everyone's attention.

In a low, calm voice, Steele told them, "Keep calm, no talking and don't look the Sabren in the eyes. He won't make a move toward you unless you give him a reason too, since you are not what he's wanting right now." Steele warned bluntly.

They waited tensely and tried not to look at the now softly growling and pacing Sabren against the wall. In a few minutes, running footsteps could be heard. Steele moved to the door quickly and stepped outside the briefing room in time to catch the breathless young officer and clap a paw over the tom's mouth.

Leaning close, Steele said tightly, "Your mate has gone into heat. He's only got one thing on his mind and that is to rip the clothes off you as fast as he can. Don't speak or make a sound." He warned as he carefully removed his paw. The officer stared at him in shocked respect. Steele turned to Lt Byson. "Does that break room have a couch in it?" He asked tensely.

Eyes wide in puzzled confusion, Byson answered quickly but kept his voice low, "Yes sir!"

"Good, go see if there is anyone in there and if there is, chase them out." He ordered then turned to the waiting officer, noting his name he said, "Officer Silker, as soon as you are in the break room, I want you to call your mate. I strongly suggest you at least get your pants off before he appears. How long have you been mated? Don't answer aloud show fingers."

Officer Silker raised one finger.

"Is that one month or one year?" Steele asked.

Silker mouthed the word year. "Okay, so you should be used to this then. Go on down to the room." He ordered the young officer. The tom nodded quickly and made his way down the hall where his supervisor was just pushing a pair of officers out.

"Lt. Byson, close the door once they are in there and leave a sign warning everyone to stay out." Steele called softly down the hall to him. Byson nodded his understanding just as Silker passed by him and into the room.

Silker quickly pulled his boots off, then his pants and underwear, leaving them on a chair nearby. Going to the couch against the wall, he took a couple of cleansing breaths before calling for his mate, Jeffery Stone.

By this time, Steele had returned to the room, startling the Sabren who hissed and laid his ears back. The blond second in command very wisely kept his distance and walked calmly toward the front of the room and waited, showing the Sabren he wasn't a threat. Moments later, a voice called the Sabren's name loudly from down the hall.

Officer Stone made an odd, urgent sound in his throat and tore out the door. Nodding in satisfaction, Steele retook his position at the lectern. Only a moment later, Lt. Byson stepped back into the room, closing the door behind him.

"Now that that is taken care of, give me your attention!" Steele began then gave the briefing the Commander had ordered. When he had finished, he asked for questions. An older officer raised a paw.

"Yes?"

"Sir, how did you know what was wrong with Officer Stone?" He asked.

"I wouldn't have if I hadn't just witnessed that same behavior this morning with our own Commander Feral." Steele allowed a small smirk to appear on his face. "You should have seen that arrogant SWAT Kat's face when his Sabren mate flattened him to the floor and proceeded to try and rip his G-suit off. Apparently, their heat cycle is so intense it just drives them nuts. I don't envy T-Bone. He looked whipped after only an hour when he finally managed to get the Commander to leave for home."

Though still amused by the image in his mind, Steele shook his head and said more seriously, "As funny as that may seem, don't forget just how dangerous these guys are. Never try to touch or attempt to communicate with one when they are behaving oddly. Always get their mate if they have one. I'm not sure how the situation is with unmated ones, though. Does anyone have an insight on this?" He asked the faces listening to him intently.

There was silence for a moment then a sandy colored and powerfully built tom got to his feet. He looked decidedly nervous. "Officer Drake, sir. I can answer your question."

"Are you a Sabren?" Steele asked, fairly certain he was.

"Yes sir. I am unmated. While we are looking for a compatible mate, we make casual contacts with willing partners for energy release and we don't have a very noticeable heat cycle. The intense cycle you described normally occurs after a first pregnancy." He said blushing a bit to be talking about such a sensitive subject.

"That's certainly good to know. However, if I understand correctly, these liaisons don't drain your energy sufficiently to keep you truly safe, that's what a mate does for you, right?"

He grimaced, but said, "Yes sir, that's correct."

Steele eyed the officer in concern, "Do you have a mating medallion?"

A guarded look came into the Sabren's eyes as he answered reluctantly, "No sir!"

"I see...I'd like to speak with you. My portion of this briefing is over...was there anything else you needed to say before I take Officer Drake, Lt. Byson?" Steele asked.

"No sir, I was just going to dismiss the squad." Lt. Byson answered.

"Fine, do that. One more note, there have been some new policy changes concerning Sabren's instituted. Please insure that you familiarize yourselves with them. Officer Drake come with me please," Steele said as he made for the door.

Drake swallowed nervously and made his way through his fellow officers to follow the second in command.

He caught up with Lt Commander Steele and they rode up the elevator in silence then he followed the blond haired tom to his office.

"Please, have a seat, officer. You're not in trouble...relax. I just want to talk to you." Steele said quietly as he sat down behind his desk. He eyed the young but dangerous officer silently for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

"Having gone through a lot with Commander Feral, I think I have a little insight into some of the problems you guys suffer. Our Commander didn't want to wear the medallion because he sincerely felt it would make him a slave. He was emotionally distraught about it to the point where he actually made himself seriously ill and nearly died. He received therapy which has helped him immensely. Now I want to ask if you are feeling the same way. If you are, I would be happy to make an appointment for you to speak with the Commander. He can help you understand and get you help." Steele told the officer.

Young Drake stared at Lt Commander Steele in shocked amazement. Everyone knew the scuttlebutt about how incompetent the second was. He was even called a coward and arrogant peacock behind his back. This change in behavior was unexpected. Steele looked sincerely concerned for his welfare. He was loathe to admit it but the second in command had hit the problem on the head which was a shock all its own.

Swallowing hard, he stared back into those understanding blue eyes. "I...I do feel the same way. It's very hard for me to want to give my life over to another. It feels like losing control somehow." He said painfully.

Steele felt a flash of triumph but didn't let it show on his face. He actually had called a situation correctly. He felt elated while at the same time feeling sorry for the poor creature in front of him. If he cared for males, he might have wanted to comfort the officer but he was strictly a het so he put on an understanding face when he answered the suffering Sabren. "Then I'll make an appointment for you. We'll have to wait until the Commander returns to work...uh...you wouldn't happen to know how long that'll be, would you?" He asked the officer curiously.

"Oh...uh...it usually runs about twenty-four to forty-eight hours, sir." He said softly.

"Oh, that's good to know. Alright, back to duty! I'll send word to you in the next few days. Try and keep a positive perspective and please don't allow your energy to get away from you." Steele told him. "You're dismissed."

"Thank you, sir!" Drake said, quickly getting up, saluting then fleeing as if his tail was on fire. Steele shook his head then made a note to himself to insure the officer got to see Commander Feral as soon as possible. He felt good being able to nip a potential problem in the bud.

'I'd better check for Sabren's on the next shift as well, then make a circuit of the fighter squadrons. I think the Commander will be suitably impressed when I give him a list of Sabren's within the force and their status.' He thought to himself, pleased with his plan.