PSYCHIC: ALIEN INVASION
Chapter 4: The Aftermath
The occupants of city hall discovered all the aliens had turned to powder when the leader did. Now they had a mess to clean up and new technology to study.
Feral, the SWAT Kats, the various scientists that had been with them, Ms. Briggs, Mayor Manx and McLeon went to look the giant spaceship over.
"I'm concerned that the creatures might come here to find out what had happened to their advance scouts," Razor said uneasily.
"Yeah, so am I. So how do we make it clear to them that they aren't welcome here?" T-Bone said tensely.
"By throwing up a psychic barrier around Aristal when they appear," McLeon said without batting an eye.
Everyone gaped at him.
"Uh, just how are we to do that? Feral is untrained you said but even if he was, he's only one kat and Dr. Sinian said your kind were nearly extinct." Callie asked for all of them.
"Oh we're not many, that's true, but numbers are not what counts. It's the power of the individual psychic that matters. A single psychic can be quite formidable as you witnessed by Commander Feral's uncontrolled power display. I will have to test him to determine just how strong his power is but just on this example alone, I can tell you he can protect all of Megakat City on his own." Mcleon said, no doubt in his voice or manner.
Now everyone gaped at Feral who looked just as stunned.
"So...what you're saying is, there are probably enough psychics on Aristal to defend us when or if these aliens attack again?" Razor asked a bit skeptical. "But if that's so how come the aliens managed to take us?"
"We were completely unprepared. The attack came far too quickly for us to mount any kind of defense. These creatures were apparently aware of our small population of psychics because they sought those with talent and incarcerated us. In this instance we were very lucky to have a blocked psychic protect us by accident." McLeon said soberly.
"But you say there might be enough powerful psychics to prevent a repeat?" Razor persisted.
"At this moment, I can't answer that but I will find out. A meeting with those that know is in order and I will do that immediately. I will also have to take Commander Feral with me for a little while. He must receive enough training immediately to at least manage shields and how to control his power. I'm holding it for him now but that is a strain for me. I am sorry that I must take him when it is obvious his skills at organizing and managing his enforcers to restore order is sorely needed right now but it can't be helped." McLeon said apologetically.
Mayor Manx was appalled, "But...but...my citae is in near ruins. It will take everyone's help to restore it to normal!"
"We are not the only country that has suffered, Mayor. We need to get reports on how the other leaders faired and if they are safe too and that there are no aliens left." Callie said urgently.
"Oh no! You don't think there might still be other creatures on the planet?" Mayor Manx said in fright.
"Calm yourself, Mayor Manx. I can assure you that the aliens have all been destroyed." McLeon said quietly.
"Huh! Just how could you know that for certain?" Feral said in disbelief.
"The power the leader wielded told me he was the main force behind the attack. The guards had no real mind at all. Believe me I tried to influence them when I first encountered them but there was nothing to touch. However, I could detect a more powerful mind behind them and I was proven correct when the leader finally appeared. However, it doesn't hurt to check, certainly." McLeon said equitable.
"I'll feel better if we do!" Callie said with feeling. Everyone nodded in agreement.
Sighing in resignation, Feral asked, "Do you think I could at least get my enforcers started on this mess and give orders as to what to do with this thing? I need to brief my second as well.
"Yes, though there is little time, I know you must do this. I will have to stay by your side though to maintain the block in your mind." McLeon answered.
Grimacing, Feral simply gestured to an enforcer vehicle miraculously intact and walked toward it. As they left the area, the SWAT Kats decided to make their way to their hidden base to obtain one of their other vehicles since the Turbokat was gone.
"We'll go take a look around the city, Mayor Manx and let you all know how things look," Razor told them as the two departed.
"Thanks you two!" Callie called after them. Turning back to the Mayor and scientists she said, "Well I'm sure Pumadyne will want to take this thing apart and see how it works. Commander Feral will get things moving toward clearing streets and taking census of the katizens to see how many we've lost and who needs help." She paused to sigh, "It's going to be a lot of work and long hours to return the city to a bit of normalcy."
Everyone nodded agreement and dispersed to take care of their own affairs while, Callie told the Mayor to go home to rest while she got started on the long road to restoring the city.
Driving to Enforcer Headquarters, Feral tried to reach his radio room. He was relieved when a voice responded.
"Commander Feral!? Are you alright sir?" Came the concerned voice of his duty officer.
"Yes! As near as we can determine, the aliens have been destroyed. Put out an all call so that I can give new orders to help the city recover." Feral ordered. "I'm on my way there now."
"Yes sir! See you when you get here, command out!" The officer responded in relief.
"You are very efficient and thorough, Commander. You are going to need those skills as we train your mind." McLeon observed.
Feral winced at that but didn't respond. He had far too many things on his mind right now.
McLeon watched, impressed as Feral took command upon returning to Enforcer Headquarters. The older kat sat at a desk out of the way, no one paid him any attention as they focused on their leader. Everything that needed to be done to restore the city and protect its katizens was quickly set in motion, no detail was ignored as Feral fired off his orders to his squadron leaders in a brisk and efficient manner.
When he'd given everyone their orders, he sat down at a control center and began calling his counterparts in other countries to get updates. Except for a few instances, this went as smooth as could be expected after a war had ended. If he couldn't get a report he simply left his own and gave a contact when someone could return the information.
More than two hours later, he had things humming along and his second had been briefed but not given very much about his Commander's intended absence.
"I can't tell you how long I'll be gone. Just collect all data on the city's progress toward restoration on the enforcer's end and get it off to the Mayor's office as soon as possible. Give Ms. Briggs updates as often as you're able. I know she'll be working late. The SWAT Kats are going to cruise the city and check for anything unusual and will call in a report. Don't give them a hassle and you be the one to take their report, thank them and tell them to go home and rest. Also, since they are without a jet, give them one in the repair bay. Razor won't take long to revamp it into a new temp Turbokat. They are our only watchers next to the observatory to monitor another visit by the aliens. Which reminds me, call the observatory and make sure they have a rotating staff monitor the screens for the area the aliens came from. We won't be surprised a second time." Feral said grimly.
Steele chewed his lip as he wrote notes to himself of Feral's orders. The near loss of their planet had straightened him out quickly. He had learned fast how to take orders and give them properly if they were to survive. He now had a good grasp of just how important the Chief Enforcer's job was and had a greater respect for Feral's ability to manage it. It was a heavy responsibility, one he realized he wasn't completely ready for yet. He nodded his understanding of his orders and saluted his Commander smartly before leaving to begin carrying them out.
Finally satisfied, Feral looked for McLeon and spotted him sitting quietly out of the way. He still felt uneasy leaving now but he'd done as much as he could to ensure things would run alright while he was gone. He hadn't missed how much Steele had improved since this whole thing started and he was relieved that he wouldn't have to worry about his second handling the job efficiently.
"Well, that's it! Shall we go where ever it is you say we have to go?" Feral addressed the old kat.
McLeon got up and headed for the door without a word.
As they climbed into Feral's sedan, McLeon finally spoke. "I suggest you go to your apartment and pack a small personal bag while I make some phone calls." He instructed.
Feral just nodded and pulled out into traffic. Soon he was speeding toward his apartment. There wasn't much traffic yet as katizens weren't aware they were safe yet. By nightfall, the word would have reached everyone, hopefully, and by tomorrow the city should be humming.
He rolled into his parking garage some ten minutes later.
"Lock your vehicle, you will not be needing it." McLeon said as he got out. Feral had a puzzled look on his face as he secured his vehicle. He led the way to the elevator and they ascended to the fourth floor. As he quickly packed a small carry bag, the old kat had told him no uniforms, McLeon was making some rather cryptic calls.
Thirty minutes later they were going back down to the lobby and out to the sidewalk. Waiting was a taxi. Feral was kinda surprised to see one this soon but taxi drivers were a hardy bunch of kats so he was happy to see this sign of things returning to normal. They climbed in and McLeon gave the address for the Megakat University campus. Feral frowned but held his questions for when they were alone.
The drive was about thirty minutes when the taxi reached within a block of the entrance to the University. McLeon suddenly called out and told the driver to go on a half mile further to a specific back road. The driver grunted an acknowledgment and continued on to the desired turnoff. As they drove down the designated road, Feral could see it was lined with huge trees. Some five minutes later the road ended in a cul-de-sac of small cottages. McLeon directed the driver to one set back a bit from the road on the left.
They climbed out and McLeon paid the driver. He lead the way up the pathway to the front door and unlocked it. He gestured Feral to enter then followed him and closed the door.
The room was cozy. Comfortable chairs were set around the space and in one corner was a fireplace. A small hallway was through one door and he could see the kitchen through another.
"Nice digs!" He complimented.
"They belong to the University and rented out to visiting professors and lecturers. They are rather nice and quite comfortable. Come I'll show you where you will be staying." McLeon said leading the way down the small hallway. "Here is the bathroom and the room across from it is yours. Mine is at the end. You'll find bedding and towels in your closet."
"Thank you!" Feral murmured stepping into the small room. The bed was a queen fortunately as he dropped his bag onto it.
"Why don't you get settled while I check my home and prepare us something to eat. It has been a long day. You may take a shower if you wish." McLeon told him.
"That's a wonderful idea. It'll help relax me." Feral agreed readily.
McLeon smiled warmly and left for the kitchen.
A little while later they were finishing soup and sandwiches in the living room and talking about what each had suffered under the alien's control. Feral offered to take the dishes to the kitchen and clean up, McLeon willingly let him, too tired to do much more.
Some thirty minutes later, Feral returned to find McLeon listening to soft music with his eyes closed. He snapped them open when Feral sat down across from him.
"Tomorrow we will begin your testing. For now I need to show you how to shield so that we both can get some sleep. Please close your eyes. I want you to visualize a strong wall. You may make it of anything you want, wood, cement, brick, steel...whatever you choose you must use consistently and, with practice, it will become second nature to erect it and keep it up without effort. Now do it!" McLeon ordered.
Feral blinked then closed his eyes and tried to do as instructed. He decided on an anthracite wall. It was the strongest he knew. It took him a while to build it but soon he had a glittering wall surrounding him in his mind.
"Very good! An excellent choice. So now let's see how strong it is!"McLeon said in his mind just before he slammed a psychic bolt against the wall. Feral jerked in shock and lost his concentration. His wall crumbled and he cried out in pain. McLeon ceased his attack instantly.
"You must not lose concentration no matter what!" McLeon barked. "Try it again!"
Rubbing his temples and giving the old kat a dirty look, Feral again built his wall. He was forced to hold it for a good ten minutes before McLeon again shot a thought bolt at it. This time he held onto it though he still felt a little of the bolt get through.
For the next hour, McLeon pounded his wall until he could hold it firmly and not let it leak. He was exhausted when they finally stopped another hour later.
"You have done well for your first lesson. Let's go and get some rest now." McLeon said heavily. Rising stiffly from his seat, McLeon headed for his bedroom, his student tirededly following him.