Sorry for the long wait, folks - real life and work have been rough these last few weeks. I've finally gotten my writing mojo back and will have another chapter posted soon after this one. Also, there will be future chapters that focus on T-Bone/Chance specifically, so don't you worry. I finally have the plotline figured out for this story and T-Bone will also get his moments in the sun. Do leave a comment if you're enjoying this story - I live for comments!
Pain was the first thing Chance became aware of, followed by a loud ringing in his ears. Groaning, he slowly rolled onto his back, only vaguely registering that he was indeed alive if the pain shooting up and down his body was anything to go by. Even his whiskers hurt. The smell of smoke and burnt tar was heavy in the air and he struggled to drawn in a deep breath between his aching chest and the heavy smoke.
Chance blinked his stinging eyes as he raised himself onto his knees. There was something warm trickling down his temple – blood – and he swiped it away.
"Jake," he shouted, or tried to. He coughed hard for a few seconds until he was finally able to drawn in a deep breath. Through the haze in the air he saw a familiar, lean form move slightly.
"Jake!" Chance said again, scrambling to his paws despite his aching body.
By the time Chance had stumbled over to Jake's side the slighter tomkat was already struggling to stand up. Chance hauled Jake up by his scruff, holding him steady while he caught his breath. Jake seemed battered but otherwise mostly unharmed – there was blood trickling down the corner of his mouth from where his fangs had caught his lip but that was the only visible injury Chance could see.
"Chance," wheezed Jake, coughing. "You okay?" he rasped. Chance nodded as he let go of his friend once he was sure Jake was steady on his feet. He then stumbled through the miasma of smoke and dust until he found the switch for the emergency ventilation and lights.
"Watch your eyes," he warned before switching both on.
The massive fans they had installed just in case of a major fire were still functional and whirled to life while red emergency lights flooded the hangar. Soon the smoke was fading enough that they could breathe a bit easier and take in the damage.
The hangar was wrecked – Chance was still amazed they were even alive but he wasn't complaining. And the Turbokat, secured at the far side of the hangar, appeared to be untouched. He and Jake both quickly put out the worst of the small fires that were still burning. Even though the explosion from the spare jet fuel barrels had been enormous the explosion hadn't been as deadly as it could have been. One of the first modifications they had done to the hangar was to fire-proof every square inch – they both knew how dangerous an experimental jet and spare fuel stored in the same building could be.
"Those scuzballs," growled Chance, lowering his fire extinguisher. "Just look at our hangar!"
"Why didn't they finish us off, and they didn't even touch the Turbokat," added Jake, wincing as his split lip bled afresh.
"Because they know we'll come after them," growled Chance, already moving towards his locker and pulling out his flight suit.
Because of Callie, was the unspoken thought that hung in the air, heavier than the smoke around them.
"You know it's a trap, right?" said Jake as he tied on his bandanna, having changed into his own flight suit even faster than Chance.
Chance snorted. "Since when has that stopped you?" he asked as he pulled on his gloves.
Jake finished tying his bandanna and looked up at Chance. The leaner tomkat's fur was singed and there was still dried blood on his muzzle but his eyes were hard and determined.
"Never," said Jake with icy calm.
They looked at each other for a moment, a silent agreement passing between them. The gloves were officially off – this was personal. Mac and Molly Mange had made it clear they would kill Callie, had nearly destroyed their hangar, and knew their real identities. As the SWAT Kats, Chance and Jake had always been careful to not use lethal force unless absolutely necessary, but this time was different.
Chance nodded. "C'mon, let's go kick some metallic tails," he growled as they ran towards the Turbokat.
Within minutes they were streaking out of the smoldering remains of the salvage yard and racing towards the city.
"Did you…ah, know them, Callie?" asked Manx, blinking in confusion at the stricken look on his deputy's normally composed features as the news continued to describe the wrecked salvage yard and possible causes of the explosion.
"Y-yes," said Callie, swallowing hard. "They took care of my car…they were friends of mine…"
It didn't seem real to her – she was dimly aware of Feral firing off orders into his radio while Manx continued to look uneasily between him and Callie. She barely noticed…she had just seen Jake and Chance a few hours ago…Chance's warm laughter and Jake's reserved but no less genuine smile were still fresh in her memory.
But there was no time for grief – Feral was already demanding his best teams get down to Megakat City Savings Bank and for a car to pick him up at City Hall ASAP.
"What about me?" cried Manx.
"Sergeant Safford and a group of his kats will stay here. And so will you, Miss Briggs," snapped Feral as the deputy mayor made to follow Feral.
"I am going with you, Commander. And unless you handcuff me, you're not stopping me," she warned as Feral's eyes narrowed.
"Fine," snapped the commander. "I don't have time to argue – just stay out my way."
Nodding, Callie followed Feral outside to where an Enforcer car was waiting for them.
As they rushed towards downtown, sirens blaring, Callie rummaged desperately in her purse for her communicator. She suddenly remembered that she had left it on her table in her rush to leave her apartment. Cursing herself for a fool, Callie craned her neck towards the window, searching the dark sky for the Turbokat's familiar shape. It was pointless – she could barely see anything through the rain that had started falling again.
"I'm not sure the SWAT kats will be able to help this time, Miss Briggs," said a lieutenant next to her, correctly guessing she had been searching for the Turbokat.
"What do you mean, lieutenant?" she asked, turning away from the window with a confused frown.
"The commander put out an arrest warrant for the SWAT kats," explained the lieutenant.
"What?" exclaimed Callie, her grief over Jake and Chance momentarily forgotten as she glared at the lieutenant, her green eyes snapping fire.
"He can't do that without a court order!"
"And I obtained it, Miss Briggs," said Feral from the front seat, glaring at Callie through the rear-view mirror.
"Judge Silvestris is an old friend of mine," said Feral. "He agrees that – regardless of the…assistance the SWAT kats may have provided in the past – they're still accountable for destroying public property, not to mention illegally flying an unlicensed jet."
"And having unauthorized weapons," added in the lieutenant helpfully. He quailed when Callie glared at him and promptly fell silent.
"This isn't over, Commander," said Callie, seething. As much as she wanted to continue the argument she knew this wasn't the time or the place.
They arrived at Megakat Savings Bank to a swarm of Enforcers cars, squadrons, and reporters.
Feral quickly found the captain in charge of the scene and ordered him to set up an intercom and televised screen set – there were TVs in the bank lobby that they could hack into and thus communicate face-to-face with the Metallikats.
"Status report," snapped Feral. The captain saluted Feral, casting an impatient glance at Callie standing next to Feral before reporting.
"It's not good, sir. The scum have already killed one security guard – they released one hostage to relay their demands," the captain added, nodding grimly to a hysterical young she-kat that was sitting huddled in one of the Enforcer cards.
"Is she alright?" asked Callie, her stomach lurching at the mention of the dead guard. How many more kats were going to die today because of her?
The captain, clearly irritated with Callie's presence, ignored her question completely as he continued speaking with Feral. "We have snipers surrounding the building, sir, but with this rain…well, it'd take a miracle to get off a clean shot."
It took all of Callie's self-control to not mention that Razor could make the shot but she held her tongue. She wasn't here to pick a fight.
"Feed is open and running, sir," said a tech suddenly, waving Feral and Callie over to a hastily-made shelter where several computers and monitors were hooked up. Feral grabbed the intercom and spoke loudly into it so he could be heard over the pouring rain and thunder.
"This is Commander Feral of the Enforcers. We have you surrounded, Mac and Molly Mange, so make this easier on yourself and surrender!"
Molly grinned at the huddled group of terrified kats that she and Mac had corralled in the lobby of Megakat Savings Bank. She glanced down at the still form of the security guard whose neck she had snapped before coldly stepping over the still body. The fourteen kats had been forced to sit in a tight group, Mac's cannon arm casually aimed at them. They had released one of the bank tellers so that she could pass on the Metallikats' demands to Feral and were now waiting for the Enforcers to arrive.
From the blaring sounds of sirens and the whirling of approaching helicopters, it sounded like they didn't have to wait much longer.
"Stop those kits' snivellin', or I'll do it for you," she snarled at a pair of young parents who had twin kits pressed between them. The terrified parents desperately tried to hush their children.
"Leave them alone, you freaks," growled a young security guard boldly. Mac strode forward and pistol-whipped the young tomkat hard enough that he fell over. Groaning, the guard slowly sat up, glaring at Mac despite the blood running down his temple.
"Keep your mouth shut unless you want to end up like your friend," said Mac, gesturing over his shoulder at the older guard Molly had killed.
"You all can thank da deputy mayor Briggs for your current predicament," added Molly, grinning. "Until she surrenders, you're all fair game."
"The SWAT Kats will stop you!" the hot-headed young guard insisted.
Mac sneered. "I doubt it – we know who they really are," he added, smirking at the surprised looks on the hostages' faces. "And once we announce their identities, it's open season on the SWAT kats!" he added with a laugh. "Every lowlife in da city will be huntin' dem down for their blood!"
"You're lying," the young tomkat continued, unaware of the Metallikats' growing annoyance. "And even if you weren't, there's no way Feral or anyone else could catch them. He's been trying to arrest the SWAT kats for over a year now – they're too good to be caught!"
Molly picked up the guard by his shirt collar and lifted him above her head like he weighed no more than a feather. She shook him hard once before yanking him closer. The young tomkat didn't flinch despite being utterly terrified.
"You so sure 'bout that?" she hissed, her glowing red eyes filled with hate. "Tell me somethin' – what makes those two fighter jocks so different from the likes of Mac and me, huh? They go around blowin' this city up – what makes youse suckers think that they won't turn on this city?"
"I know those types – I've seen it before with cops – they get cocky, think they're untouchable, can do no wrong, dat the law don't apply to them."
Molly smirked as she saw the slightest flash of doubt in the young guard's eyes. "It's only a matter of time before they decided that they're above the law."
Suddenly a voice blared out through an intercom. "This is Commander Feral of the Enforcers. We have you surrounded, Mac and Molly Mange, so make this easier on yourself and surrender!"
The Turbokat hurtled through the air, T-Bone keeping the jet on course despite the increasing winds and rapidly darkening sky. The rain had started up again and was soon pouring and even though it was mid-afternoon it was getting darker by the minute.
The weather was the least of T-Bone's worries; he had flown under far worse conditions. Concerned at the silence from his partner he twisted his head back slightly to speak over his shoulder.
"Any luck, Razor?"
"Negative. Callie's signal is still showing at her apartment. She must have left it behind," replied Razor, his tone even but T-Bone could recognize the underlying worry in his partner's tone.
"At least that wasn't stolen," muttered T-Bone as he banked to avoid a particularly strong gust.
They fell into a grim silence – they both knew that the Metallikats would make good on their threat against Callie. The Manges had cultivated a reputation for brutality even before they had become the Metallikats. Callie was the only elected official in the city in recent memory that had stood up to them and other mafia members – every gangster in Megakat City knew Calico Briggs couldn't be bribed, which had made her a particularly hated name among the criminal underworld of Megakat City.
Razor had never believed in letting his emotions get the better of him – "head over heart" had always been his motto and had served him well as an Enforcer. He had eventually developed a reputation of being somewhat cool – even icy – among his fellow cadets. T-Bone was probably the only kat who had been able to immediately see through Razor's walls, just as the latter had immediately recognized T-Bone's sometimes clownish antics as just that – an act.
He knew T-Bone was anything but a fool, and T-Bone's ability to read people had done the same for Razor. Sending his partner's tumultuous emotions, T-Bone tried to reassure him.
"We'll find her buddy – don't worry," said T-Bone, pushing the engines even faster.
Razor nodded but didn't reply as he worked the controls, trying to find the Enforcer emergency band. As hard as he tried his thoughts kept drifting back to the last time he had seen Callie – it had been less than a day ago but still seemed like forever. His paw tightened subconsciously on his controls as he remembered checking on her the night before.
She had looked so lovely asleep, her face for once free of care and her hair spilling across her cheek and over her neck in soft waves. She had looked so young and…not exactly frail, but delicate. He sometimes forgot how young Callie was – several years younger than him and Chance – it was easy to do as she always carried herself with such grace and poise.
As Razor had adjusted the blanket over her he had suddenly been overcome with the urge to brush her hair away from her face and kiss the delicate curve of her cheek. But he hadn't – instead he had gone back to his worktable, toiling away until he had fallen asleep, exhausted at the table.
The SWAT kat's thoughts were interrupted when Razor finally found the Enforcer emergency band. He and T-Bone listened, their hearts sinking at what they heard.
"This just in," said Ann Gora's familiar, cultured voice. "An update on the hostage situation currently happening at Megakat Savings Bank – fourteen hostages have been released in exchange for Deputy Mayor Callie Briggs. The deputy mayor is now being held by the Metallikats. It is unknown if she is still alive – "
Razor shut off the broadcast, nearly ripping the dial off of the panel. He met T-Bone's gaze in the rearview mirror.
"Gun it, T-Bone," was all he could say.
"Roger that," snarled the pilot as the Turbokat's engines roared.
After the last hostage was unceremoniously tossed out of the lobby Molly slammed the bank's doors closed again, crushing the handles into an impromptu lock.
She turned back to Callie with a smirk. "Nice of you to join us, deputy," Molly all but purred. "Too bad your precious SWAT kats are nowhere to be found."
Callie glared at Molly but said nothing – she had nearly begged Feral to let the Metallikats do an exchange of hostages to buy them time to break into the building. They had learned from one of the hostages that somehow, Mac and Molly had wired a bomb to go off somewhere in the bank.
How they had done it in so little time Callie wasn't certain – she strongly suspected they had help from an insider – but it didn't really matter now.
"They'll come," said Callie determinedly, ignoring the pounding in her heart. She had no intention of playing the martyr but also couldn't just let the Metallikats pick off the hostages one by one while the Enforcers tried to find the bomb.
"Heh, betcha don't know our little secret," said Mac. Seeing Callie's confused look the robot continued. "We know who the SWAT kats really are."
Callie scoffed. "Yeah, right – tell me another," she said coldly. When Mac and Molly just stared at her she felt her heartbeat quicken. "You're lying," she said slowly.
"Nope," said Mac, chuckling. "Right before we blew up the salvage yard – "
"You blew up the salvage yard?" gasped Callie, anger coursing through her veins. "Yeah, too bad we didn't take you out – we was lookin' for our hovercraft," Molly continued as if discussing the weather.
"You killed my friends, you monsters!" Callie raged, lunging for Molly who simply batted Callie away like she was nothing more than a troublesome fly.
"You don't know –" began Mac, looking surprised but Molly smacked him hard.
"She really doesn't know, Mac," muttered Molly. "This could work to our advantage."
Molly turned back around to Callie, grinning as she stood over the deputy mayor. "We heard that you were getting' your car fixed there – too bad your friends were in the way. So I guess it's your fault that they're dead!" she added with a vicious laugh as a stricken expression came over Callie's face.
Molly's laughter quickly faded, however, when a familiar rumble – louder than the thunder outside sounded. For a moment the Metallikats looked almost frightened.
Callie's heart soared – she'd recognize that sound anywhere. It was the roar of the Turbokat's engines.
"C'mon, to the top floor!" snapped Mac, grabbing Callie and shoving her in front of him as they took the elevator to the penthouse office suite on the twentieth floor.
But Callie wasn't going to go down without a fight. Her heart aching from the loss of Jake and Chance, and emboldened by the arrival of the SWAT kats, she did the only thing she could think of to help the SWAT kats. If she could separate Mac and Molly it would give T-Bone and Razor a better chance against them.
As soon as they exited the elevator Callie suddenly turned and kicked Molly as hard as she could, at the same time slamming her paw down on the controls that would activate the emergency elevator system. Startled, the robot didn't have time to even shout before she was plummeting down the elevator shaft, the elevator falling down after her.
After landing the Turbokat on the roof of an office building T-Bone and Razor took different routes to get into the bank where they couldn't be seen by the Enforcers or the Metallikats. T-Bone took the bottom route and worked his way up as he searched for any signs of Callie. Meanwhile Razor started at the top, entering through the ventilation system.
Pausing only to shake the rainwater from his fur, Razor tapped his helmet to activate his radio.
"Any luck so far?"
"Negative," said T-Bone's voice, slightly gravelly through the radio. "I'm on the first floor – in a building this size this could take hours." Razor heard the sound of sliding metal before T-Bone spoke again. "I'm checkin' the elevators just in case – what the heck?!"
Razor suddenly heard an enormous crash and what sounded like something very loud and very heavy crashing onto the floor.
"T-Bone! You okay?! What was that?"
"It was Molly Mange, or what's left of her," said T-Bone with grim satisfaction. "Fell down the elevator shaft – looks like it was from the top floor. And I'll bet anything Callie's up there."
"Roger that," said Razor, already moving swiftly towards a window.
Mac turned away from the elevator shaft, his expression deadly as he stalked towards Callie. He struck her hard across the face and she stumbled backward, hitting the wall. Before she could even blink a strong, metallic hand was gripping her throat, hauling her clear off of her paws.
"I'm going to make you pay for that, you interfering little twit!" he snarled, shaking Callie like a ragdoll before flinging her away from him. Callie landed hard on her right side, the force of the impact knocking the breath from her. Her right ankle twisted hard as she landed but she barely had time to register the pain before Mac was upon her again.
She bit back a gasp of pain as Mac brutally lifted her head up by her hair before gripping her by the throat, dragging her face close until she was staring right into Mac's red, hateful eyes.
"C-coward," she managed to grit out, spitting a mouthful of blood right in Mac's face.
Mac snarled and slammed her hard against the wall, her paws dangling several inches off the ground. His fingers began to tighten and Callie kicked out in a vain attempt to free herself.
At least she'd get to see Jake and Chance again, was her last thought before her vision went black.
Suddenly the weight was gone and Callie wheezed painfully as the sudden rush of air into her lungs made her cough hard. She heard someone shout, followed by a tremendous crash, before she blacked out.
Razor landed on the balcony that was adjacent to the top level suite and looked up at the large, floor-to-ceiling windows. His angle was such that he could clearly see inside the room and what he saw horrified him.
Mac had Callie by the throat – there was blood on her face – and when Mac slammed Callie hard against the wall, his fingers tightening Razor's vision went red. He knew Callie was seconds from having her neck broken and didn't hesitate.
Gripping the grappling hook cable, Razor took a running jump and swung towards the window, glass shattering as he crashed through the window and threw himself at the Metallikat with a furious shout.
Mac turned around at the crash, his red eyes widening as he saw Razor streaking towards him. He barely had time to fling Callie away from him before the SWAT kat tackled Mac with enough force to throw them both clear across the room.
The force of the impact knocked both kats to the ground, snarling and cursing as they each tried to gain the upper paw. Razor knew he was no match for Mac in terms of brute strength but he didn't care – rage and adrenaline were coursing through his veins as he began raining down punches.
Snarling, Mac kicked Razor hard in the jaw and threw the smaller SWAT kat off of him. Razor wasn't easily deterred – he rolled as he hit the ground, regaining his footing and in one fluid movement, picked up a nearby standing ash tray and swung back around with it. He caught Mac hard in the jaw, repaying him back for kick, and continued to hammer down blows onto the robot.
Razor was relentless, ignoring the burning in his arms and shoulders as he used his impromptu weapon to push Mac away from Callie, who hadn't moved from where she had fallen. Mac, taken aback by the ferocity of the leaner (and to this point, he had always assumed weaker) SWAT Kat's attack, was forced to give ground.
When Razor next swung the ash tray Mac caught it and easily ripped it out of Razor's paws along with his glovatrix. Mac crunched both objects like they were tinfoil before tossing them away in a crumpled metal heap.
Snarling, Mac threw himself at Razor again as they grappled paw-to-paw. The Metallikat slashed viciously at Razor's head, managing to knock his helmet off. Razor grunted as the tips of Mac's claws caught his face, ripping his bandanna to shreds.
Razor ducked to avoid having his eyes ripped out and twisted out of Mac's grip only to pounce onto the robot's back. Mac snarled and tried to throw Razor off as the SWAT kat tore viciously into the wiring that connected Mac's head to the rest of his body. "I'm gonna rip your head off," snarled Razor, using his claws and even his fangs to tear into Mac with a ferocity that would have made even T-Bone wince.
Mac cursed and tried to grab Razor but the latter had the advantage of height and agility. Razor hung on determinedly, managing to yank some wires free before Mac caught his leg. He threw the SWAT kat off of him. Razor landed nimbly on his feet, panting and glaring at his opponent.
Mac glowered as he and Razor circled each other, the latter keeping himself firmly between the furious gangster and the deputy mayor.
"What's wrong, hero?" sneered Mac as he continued to circle the Razor. "Upset yer too late? I don't think she's going to be getting' up any time soon," he added with a dark chuckle, jerking a thumb to Callie's still form.
Razor knew Mac was trying to goad him into losing his temper. He didn't dare take his eyes off the Metallikat to check on Callie.
"Wassa matter? Scared? You're outta weapons."
"I don't need weapons to fight a coward. You wanna piece of me? Come on!" snarled Razor.
Without his helmet and bandanna Razor's features were clearly visible. His ears were flat against his head, the hackles along his neck standing straight up, muzzle curled back to reveal his fangs in a clear challenge. His face was bloodied from where Mac's claws had landed but his gaze was hard and determined. Had Callie been conscious, she would have been shocked to see Jake's normally laid back features twisted into such a fierce expression.
Mac laughed. "All in good time, hero. Not much of a crime-fighter, are ya? She's a goner," he added cruelly, jerking his head towards Callie's still form.
Razor swallowed hard as he continued to circle Mac, slowly inching towards the broken window.
Mac followed him, too preoccupied with his taunting to notice the direction Razor was slowly leading him in.
"You shoulda seen her expression when Molly told her youse two were dead – she was so upset, blamin' herself." sneered Mac. "I just wish I hadn't killed her before she got to find out her two beloved SWAT kats have been lyin' to her all along."
Razor's ferocious expression flickered for just a moment and Mac knew he had just hit a sore spot.
"I'm right, aren't I?" Mac continued, stalking towards Razor as the SWAT kat continued to give ground. "I can see it in yer face – you're carryin' a torch for her, aren't ya?"
"It's too bad really – tell me, did you ever get a chance to bed her before I snapped her neck?"
It took every ounce of control and training Razor had developed over the years not to leap at Mac – he knew the gangster was trying to make him do something stupid. It was working.
Shaking with rage but keeping himself firmly planted in place, Razor smiled mercilessly.
"At least I can still take someone to bed," he shot back. "How's your love life been since you were turned into a walking tin can, Mac?"
Mac let out a scream of fury and leapt at Razor. The SWAT kat moved like lighting, falling backwards as Mac landed hard on top of him. Ignoring the pain in his back, Razor kicked out with his hind legs, using Mac's momentum to fling him up and over Razor's head and straight towards the broken window.
Unable to stop his fall, Mac screamed as he flew threw the broken window and plummeted to the ground far below.