A little action and a little plot, wrap it up with some conspiracy and intrigue, and you get, this chapter. Enjoy, I've got little else to say but 'Happy Friday'. *Small reddish brown kiwi bird jumps on a small rubber pouch that blows a party favor before wagging his tail feathers*
Disclaimer: I, Lord Genesis Shadow, do hereby state that I do not own the rights to SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron. Thank you and have a nice day.
…
I didn't have to think as I checked the name on the ballot and put it in the envelope, following with the commander's in the other. I turned and walked out toward the ballot box and put them in, and the women smiled.
"Thank you for voting." The one closer said. "I hope this is a close one. We could all do with some more excitement." I laughed.
"I'd say it depends on what kind that excitement is." I said. They both laughed.
"True." She said. "But Mayor Manx has been in office for fourteen terms, and I don't think he's going down without a fight."
"The one thing he fights for seriously, it seems." The other said. I gave a casual salute as I turned and walked away toward my bike, but the air felt different all of a sudden.
As I passed by a group of kats, one reached out quickly, and I pulled back to avoid getting punched. The crowd rushed away quickly and a kat with a Mohawk rushed me. I dodged his punches for a moment before he threw a hard straight, so I ducked under it and grabbed his arm before slamming my palm up into his elbow, dislocating it with a loud crack. He yelled in pain before throwing another punch, but I caught his arm under my own and pulled up at his elbow, causing him to let out another yell before I gave him a shot to the kidney with my left fist. He staggered back before I spun and got him with a roundhouse kick in the face. He fell backward, taking out a table. Just as he hit, however, I spun and avoided a two by four held by a kat with a leather jacket.
"This is for our brothers and sisters!" He said angrily. I caught the board on a downward swing, breaking it in half, and I spun, hitting him in the face with it and throwing it down. He fell quickly, and I looked around carefully to see three more.
"Call the Enforcers!" A woman called.
"He is an Enforcer!" One male kat called. "That's that, Leon Mane, from the news the other day! He's got this!"
"Call the Enforcers!" I called. "I don't have any handcuffs!" I dodged two at once, leaning back and grabbing the ground and raising my lower body to kick both of my attackers in their jaws. I did a series of backward somersaults until I was at my motorcycle, where I kept my tools, one of which being a tire iron. I took that quickly and blocked another two by four with it, and I quickly kicked him away. 'Three more, two getting up, this idiot staggering… Go for the knock out, quickly.' I spun around as he rushed back, and the tire iron connected to his shoulder, and as he fell, I kicked him in the chest. The other two got up as I spun the iron a few times. "Give up now and you get to enjoy the ride to jail instead of just waking up there. Make your choice." The one rushed faster than the other, and I hit his fist as he tried to punch me, and I kicked the other in the knee. As they reeled, I punched the closer one before throwing the tire iron into the forehead of the other. They fell to the ground, and I relaxed again. The crowd was silent before a few began cheering, leading to the rest as sirens approached. I kicked up the tire iron and put it back as the squad cars approached. The Enforcers rushed out, a few pointing guns at me before lowering them. I just gave a short salute before getting on the bike. "They chose poorly." I started the engine after putting my helmet on and drove off to the cheering crowd. 'Hopefully this gets us a little more public support. If not, that's still five more stupid kids off the street.'
…
I punched the heavy bag while the others in the room went about their training. I moved fluidly from one attack to another, combining the teachings of one style with the motions of another, creating a heavy series of attacks with no visible signs to defend from. If I had been sparring, I would likely have knocked out my partner at least four times before they could get close to hitting the ground, leaving one massive headache as well as soreness for a few days. As I moved into a series of strikes inspired by a cobra's strike, I spun and nearly hit the commander, and he seemed surprised, and almost worried.
"At ease, captain." He said. I lowered my arms and let out a calm breath.
"Sorry, sir." I said. "I was lost in the moment."
"That 'moment' probably would have made me 'lose' my coffee." He said. He sat down on a machine by me. "Felina informed me that you know several styles of martial arts, and that you told her this at a diner?"
"I didn't care for the 'techno' club I was forced to 'celebrate' in." I said. He laughed quietly as I sat as well, grabbing my sports drink and draining about a third of it.
"So, Krav Maga." He said. "Israeli close quarters. What kind of camp teaches kids how to fight like that?"
"A good one." I said. "Year round, mostly just me and a bunch of other kids that didn't feel like going home. We had classes, and then courses around the area. Nice place. Not a lot of trees, but we had fun." He nodded.
"A pilot and a hand to hand combatant." He said. "How good are you, exactly?"
"You'll recall those kids I knocked out the other day at Jenkins' apartment building." I said. "That's me holding back." He laughed quietly. "If I had to fight seriously…" I pointed my thumb at the bag, which had visible damage to some of the canvas. "Let's just say if this was a kat twice my size, I'd have probably have left a lot of bruised organs, broken bones, and at least a moderate concussion."
"Life or death situation, don't hold back." He said. "What else do you know?"
"A few others, not really worth naming them all right now." I said. He just nodded before holding out a slip of paper.
"I'm promoting my niece, but despite my position, I need an officer's signature." He said. "Someone that vouches she's ready to be promoted to 'captain', captain." I took the paper and set it on my knee as he handed me a pen. I looked it over quickly, old training kicking in.
"She's got the skills of a major, if you were to ask me." I said. "Good enough to lead a large unit on her own, smart enough to handle important missions with a lot on the line, and capable enough to adapt to changing situations, even the unknown. She'll get that in a few days."
"After your promotion." He said. I signed the paper and handed it to him, and he put something else in my hand. "Congratulations. I know how much you don't like ceremony for this sort of thing. That's the sign of a good officer, if you ask me." I nodded as I looked at the new brass. "Now, after you're done, go pick up your new equipment." He stood up, but looked. "By the way, don't go near the experimental jets. Apparently when they're brought online, they give off lethal doses of radiation within seconds. Turns out they're nuclear powered, with some kind of propulsion system we still don't understand. We need to work out some kind of radiation shielding or a better power system so it can keep going without killing the pilot and their partner." He turned. "Don't tell Felina about this. This never happened."
"Understood, sir." I said. I put the brass in my shirt pocket before going back to my training, but just as I got into a rhythm, someone walked up and I turned, nearly grabbing his throat. "Jenkins, you're not going to last long if you keep sneaking up on me." He swallowed quietly.
"S-sorry, sir." He said. "I uh, I just… What was…" I lowered my hands before turning and immediately going back to my training.
"Commander says, the jets we captured, are nuclear powered." I said. "Only when they're on. Shielded when they're not, I guess…" I started kicking the lower part of the bag. "The thrusters work, but they want to come up with a better power system, or proper shielding. If they can get those thrusters working without killing us, I think we'll be more effective. But it would mean, learning new controls." I hit in three 'lethal' spots as he sat down where the commander had sat. "Did you hear about, our new missile payload?"
"Y-yeah." He said. "Memorized their use. Two of each. I know how they work and their flight dynamics I've studied them extensively since I got in this morning." I lowered my arms slowly, letting out a calm breath. "That's, impressive… You did stuff like that, at my complex. I looked up the moves… Krav Maga?" I smirked where he couldn't see. "You're, young to know that."
"I trained since I was ten." I said. "I take classes on my time off every now and then."
"Ten?" He asked. "Who trains a ten year old in that kind of hand to hand? Karate, maybe, judo, maybe, even kung fu, I can see happening, but… I mean, it's something that's just, brutal and… Well, you did take those kids down awful fast…"
"You learn what you can where you can." I said. I sat down and drank the sports drink until it was empty, and I tossed it over my shoulder, and heard it land in the refuse bin. "And if you want to do it well, you practice whenever you have some free time." He pointed behind me. "What?"
"That was thirty feet away, behind you, fourteen degrees to your left, there's no way…" He started. "But… How? How can anyone make that shot?"
"Memorize where it is, how far, and just, toss it." I said offhandedly.
…
"This is Ann Gora, Kats Eye News." She said. "I'm here, live at City Hall, as the results of the final voting polls come in. In just five short minutes, we'll see who will be the mayor of our fine city. Will Mayor Manx once more return to his office, or will it be Deputy Mayor Calico Briggs that finally takes over to let him retire as the longest running mayor Megakat City has seen yet? Stay tuned to find out." She went to interview a kat nearby holding a sign in favor of Miss Briggs, but I tuned it out as I ate my dinner, precooked chicken fried steak with gravy. It was good, but it could have been a lot better. I just didn't feel like cooking anything requiring too much effort. After having put kats in jail and training all day, even without any incidents calling on the air division, I just wanted to sit down, rest, and eat my dinner so I could go to bed. As I ate, I almost laughed. Another kat was talking about how the city wasn't ready for a female mayor, and that she should stay in the kitchen.
'Unreal.' I thought. 'After what she's done for the city, this idiot needs to go home and sleep off whatever he's on.' I cut another piece away and took a bite, but I was barely able to stomach it. 'Ugh, that's it, next time, spring the two bucks more for a better quality dinner. If I can't eat it, it'd take someone with ruined taste buds to enjoy it.'
"Okay, the votes are in, tallied, and double checked." Ann Gora said. I looked at the set as I put the tray down. A kat walked up to a microphone and set a letter down.
"The results of this year's election wasn't close." He said. "This year's mayor, by a landslide, is Callico Briggs!" The crowd erupted in cheer as Manx just smiled and turned to her, offering his hand.
"Well, Miss Briggs, I expected it to happen sooner or later." He said when the noise died down. "I gave it my all, and you won fair and square. And let me just say, it's about time." She took his hand with a smile. "If you ever need me for anything, just let me know, but from now on, I think it's time I retire. Good luck, Callie."
"Thank you, Mr. Manx." She said. "You deserve a good long rest after all you've done for the city." I drank the last of my milk and tossed the empty can into the recycling box I'd set up. I turned off the set as I heard cheers all around, and I tossed the 'chicken fried steak' and the 'mashed potatoes' into the trash.
"Last time I buy that mess." I said. I walked toward my bedroom when a knock came from the door. I walked over and looked through, seeing a familiar face. I opened it. "Commander, is something wrong?"
"No, thankfully." He said. I let him in and he looked around. "A little, empty, isn't it? All this space, and you have one chair, one small table, a TV, and a small gym in a corner apartment this big."
"I try not to let it clutter." I said. "And it's not like I make enough to furnish an apartment all in one go." He nodded, turning to me.
"Come Monday morning, Miss Briggs formally becomes 'Mayor' Briggs." He said. "Though to be honest, she's been doing the work for the past six years, while her predecessor handled things for him the six years before that. It's all about the title." He looked out the window. "Monday morning, you, Felina, and I will bring Mayor Briggs to her office. I'll be heading a security detail while you and Felina fly in place of the usual choppers. My jet will be on the roof, and after Mayor Briggs is done with her speech, the three of us will fly toward headquarters while she waves to us. This was planned for either case, so she just needs to be brought up to speed." He looked at me. "Are you okay with putting on a show for the city?" I nodded.
"Yes, sir." I said. "Just stay above Mayor Briggs' car and don't hit a building." He nodded.
"Good." He said. "I'd hoped to get here sooner, but there was a surprising amount of traffic. This is the most attended election in years, all thanks to Miss Briggs' choice to run for mayor instead of deputy mayor." He looked around for a moment. "Hopefully she'll be able to pass a few things to give us a better budget. It's mostly thanks to Manx that we had such little access to mega alloys apart from a pair of prototypes every so often. If even an ace pilot squad and a small number of tanks had that, we'd be far more formidable against the likes of Dark Kat and the rest of those freaks." I nodded. "And one more thing, major." He walked over and held out an envelope. "This came to headquarters, for your eyes only." I looked at the envelope. "We scanned it, found no dangers, but I'll admit, I'm curious." I took the letter and looked it over before opening it.
"No stamp, or return address…" I said. I pulled out a letter and opened it. He looked at it and stared for a moment.
"It's, blank?" He asked.
"Some kind of joke." I said. "Or, maybe it's invisible ink. There are depressions in the paper." He shook his head.
"Well, that was all I came here for." He said. "Whatever it's about, let me know Monday if it was important." I nodded as he walked out. "And major." I looked to him. "Some potted plants might make the place seem less empty." I nodded.
"I'll find some this weekend." I said. He walked out, closing the door, and I walked over to the lamp on the coffee table and turned it on, holding the letter between it and myself. The letters were clear, and the ink shifted color to red. 'Dear Major Mane, this is a once in a lifetime offer that will not be extended again. Tomorrow at seven PM, be at the parking lot of the newly opened mall. Should you not be present, it will be taken as disinterest in what we have to say, and your place will be understood. Regardless, a package is en route to you, containing something you should appreciate. If you are present, we hope you are willing to listen to us. Bring a firearm if you so choose, as we understand the nature of this letter may be ambiguous, as it is from a party you may not be familiar with. Thank you for your cooperation.' After a few more minutes of rereading, I copied the letter onto a notepad just before the ink vanished completely. 'Interesting…' I put the letter back and put it in a hidden drawer with a few other things before tearing out the note and putting it in my jacket pocket. 'Well, time to hit the sack. Not much else to do.' I got up and walked over to my bedroom, removing my shirt and setting it in the clothes hamper. But just as I went to lay down, the phone next to the bed rang, so I picked it up. "Leon Mane."
"Captain, er, Major Mane, it's…" He started.
"Jenkins." I said. "I know your voice. What's going on?"
"Did you see on the news?" He asked. "Miss Briggs won the election. I'm still at HQ, and, the lieutenant and a few of the guys are planning on celebrating."
"I'll avoid the lieutenant then." I said. He laughed.
"Seriously, sir, tomorrow at seven, we're going to this new place down on K street." He said.
"I can't make it, I've got a meeting with someone." I said.
"Really?" He asked. "Sir, I know you didn't enjoy the party last time, but…"
"No, it's not that." I said. "I've really got a meeting at seven. I just found out a while ago, a request by letter. Tell you what, if it's over fast enough, I'll call and ask where it is. Let the lieutenant know so she doesn't try to break down my door."
"O-okay." He said. "Um, I guess… Oh, uh, about Miss Briggs winning the election, do you think we'll be part of the security detail?"
"We are." I said. "You don't think Feral would pass up a chance to show that the Enforcers take guarding the mayor any less seriously just because it's Miss Briggs instead of Manx?" He laughed. "She's done a lot already, and he's not going to let her get out of doing more now that she's sitting in the bigger office."
"Well, I guess, we might see you at the club." He said.
"Maybe." I said. "What kind of club is it?"
"Retro." He said. "I don't know what it's like but, it's worth a look."
