"Are you nervous, Jake?" Jake's father asked him as he inspected his son, making sure everything was buttoned and hung correctly. Jake stood tall, looking more like a statue than a man, but he was just trying to hide his fear.
"Yeah, I do feel nervous," he chuckled nervously with a shaky voice. This is it. He thought proudly to himself. The day I have been planning for nearly a year.
"Like father like son, wouldn't you agree Ben?" Chance asked coming in to take his spot next to Jake. He, like Jake and Ben, was wearing a black tux, reserved for only special occasions like this. The only thing different with Jake's tux was that the buttons on his coat were pure gold and his eye patch was white.
"You said it Chance," Jake declared acting it was just a walk in the park, but his right eye suddenly became moist. "I wish... I wish mom was able to see this day. I miss her very much."
Ben placed his hand on Jake's shoulder and he gave him the "I understand" look. "Yes, she would have been so happy, but at the same time very sad to see you get married so soon." Jake knew what he meant by that. Before her death, he and his mother were always so close. They went shopping together, Jake would help her clean the house, and she would always help him learn how to understand women. But, there was one thing his mom did that he hated. She kept him in a crib until he was ten.
At that very moment the preacher walked in and took his places at the front of the alter. His old brown eyes put a chill in everyone's bones, it even made Jake forget how nervous he was. Jake then looked around at those assembled; he didn't know many of the people here, since a lot of them were part of Callie's family.
Five minutes later...
Wedding music began to fill the air of the church, as Dr. Sinian and Dr. Konway came in, walking down the center aisle. Followed by Lt. Steele and Felina, who worked very hard to make sure Lt. Steele didn't stop to flirt with some of the girls. Commander Feral was the last to come in; he was escorted by a surprise guest, Turmoil. It was easy for Callie to grant her parole, but it was a lot of trouble getting her on the approved list, due to her criminal past, but she only agreed to do this if T-bone would go on a date with her. Still for being a cold hearted she-kat, she did a fine job walking with Feral down the aisle. Of course it would have been nice if she smiled, but that would be asking a lot of her. Each took their places assigned at the practice, and awaited the ceremony to begin.
As Felina looked at Turmoil with disgust, she couldn't help but smile at seeing how the she-kat slap Manx for using his cell phone to get a picture of her underwear as she walked by. Still, she wondered why Callie would allow this woman to be granted bail, but if Callie wanted her out then she must have seen a good use for her.
There was a pause in the flow of people, after Feral and Turmoil. Those waiting up by Jake started at the back door, waiting for the next person to emerge. But it only shocked everyone to see Cybertron, as it wheeled its way down the aisle. Cybertron was carrying in one robotic hand a basket of petals, as it wheeled down the center aisle, dropping rose petals every so often. It appeared to be very happy. In its other hand were the two rings that would be given to Callie and Jake.
Suddenly the music erupted, and everyone stood in the rows. Callie stood next to her father at the end of the great hall, she wore the most beautiful white gown, with long sleeves, made of exquisite silk and her father wore a nice tux, but his tie was the wrong style. In the bright lights Callie's most precious possession, the locket she wore around her neck constantly, which was given to her on her birthday by Jake, shined like a tiny sun set upon her chest. Her golden blond hair reflected the light perfectly; making her hair look like it flowed into the dress, as if the two were one. Those assembled sat in awe of the beautiful woman who glided gracefully down the aisle. Her green eyes were barely visible under the Vail she wore.
When Callie reached the spot where Jake stood, both shared a happy smile, then the preacher started the process of making them husband and wife.
"Before I start the 'I do' part, I would like to say a few things from Genesis 1:27-29." the preacher said pulling out a bible from under his robe. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Then he told them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have domination over all that is on It." the preacher stated reading through his notes. "This is just one of the many reasons God gave man a mate, but he also did this so man would not be lonely. When a man reaches his adult age, then he leaves his mother and father to live on his own, but he might find the one God chose for him along the way." the preacher said looked at both Callie and Jake.
It was time to get things going, so the preacher turned to Jake first. "Jake Clawson, do you take Callie Briggs to be your wife, to be yours forever, through sickness and health, for as long as you live?" he asked.
Jake looked deeply into Callie's eyes. "I do." he said proudly proving his love for her. Then he slipped his ring onto Callie's finger.
"Callie Briggs, do you take this man, Jake Clawson, to be yours forever more. No matter what the future may bring, to be parted only by death itself?" the preacher asked after turning to her.
"I do," Callie replied. She then slipped her ring onto Jake's finger. The phrase the two lovers had been waiting nearly a year to hear was about to be proclaimed.
"Then by the power of the church, given to me by the Lord God, I now pronounce the two of husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Callie pulled back the vale that covered her face and Jake leaned into kiss her. Then it happened. Jake and Callie's lips met, they were now husband and wife. Callie's mother and father wiped the tears from one another's eyes; it was such a happy thing to see their little girl get married. Everyone was happy, even Turmoil was smiling now, but the only one who was not happy was the evil Pastmaster.
He had been watching the whole thing from the second floor balcony and he was so angry that his hands bent the handle bars of the stairs when he grabbed them. Oh, how the Pastmaster wished that the bar was Jake's neck, but he had to wait until Greenbox sprung his trap on the newlyweds. Until then, he would wait until for the right time to strike.
As the preacher stepped down off the alter, he looked at the crowd of people in the church. "Let's party!" he shouted wildly, then everyone left to head to the where the reception was to be held. The only one that stayed was Ben. He walked up stairs and confronted the Pastmaster.
"I think you made a mistake in coming here demon." he said with a smile as he drew a gun from under his coat. "There is no way I'm letting you hurt my son." The Pastmaster looked at him with a dark scowl. "Fool," he frowned, "I did not spend eight hundred years waiting for my chance to rule this world, and I did not come here to be insulted by a mere mortal who failed to save his beloved from a thief; a thief that killed her for her necklace. No I spent those eight hundred years planning my revenge on the one who ruined my life in the past and in this time."
Before Ben could pull the trigger, pain rushed through his body. It was caused by a poison that was injected into his neck by a blow dart shot by one Dr. Greenbox's men. The Pastmaster watched with amusement as the father of his rival slowly died, but he wanted to ask him one thing. Taking a knee next to the dying kat, he said, "Ben Clawson, do you fear death?"
"Screw you!" he growled ripping the dart from his neck and stabbing the Pastmaster with it in the chest. "Dark Kat will destroy you and rule this... city... very soon," Ben breathed his last and then he died. The Pastmaster pulled the dart out of his chest and walked off with a smile. "I guess he didn't fear death," he told the masked man. Then two more masked men showed up and dragged Ben's body away.
At the reception, the dining hall of the church was filled with guests, some would stop by to complement the bride and groom, some came by to leave their gifts and some just came to have a good time. Jake saw Chance getting some food, but then Turmoil came and pulled him into the crowd to dance with him. Felina saw it to and she felt angry at the she-kat for pulling such a stunt. Chance was not her boyfriend yet, but she really liked him, and now Turmoil was trying to steal him away from her.
"Hmm interesting..." Callie said staring at Felina. "Dad, could you do something for me?" she said turning to her father, who sat next to her.
"What is it Callie?" Jonathan asked with extreme interest. He hoped it would involve going to Dr. Konway's lab, there were so many interesting things there.
"I want you and Commander Feral to keep an eye on Turmoil. Just because I granted her bail, doesn't mean that she isn't planning anything." Callie said gravely taking a sip of her red wind. Callie's father did as he was told and informed Feral of his daughter's concern. During the time people would usually dace, Jake began to wonder about his father. He had not seen him for the last hour and now he was starting to worry.
Not too far from Jake was an Enforcer who stood by the back door. The Enforcer heard a knock and almost jumped, who would want to come in through the back door? So he opened to view port and looked out, and the only thing he could see was two figures being hidden by a bright light in the background. One was a woman and the other man.
"I'm looking for Razor, he is the mayor's husband." the woman said, her voice was gentle but majestic like a queen. Scoffing, the Enforcer replied rudely. "Yeah, and I'm the Pastmaster who wants to get under Ms. Clawson's tail."
The woman cocked her head as if she was insulted by the Enforcers words. "Just give Jake Clawson this," the man said sticking an envelope through the view port. "Tell him, that his father won't be joining him tonight, and we need to see him and Chance Furlong outside right now."
The Enforcer looked confused by this, but he took the envelope anyway and said rather meanly, "Fine, now get lost." Then he closed the view port. Jake came up to him as he turned around. The Enforcer felt like he was frozen in his place because he had no idea how Jake could have come over to him without being heard. Slowly he handed him the envelope.
Jake held it in his hand and opened it, inside was his father's pocket watch. The Enforcer spoke the words to Jake. "He said: your father won't be joining you tonight and you and your friend, Chance need to see them outside."
As Jake called Chance over to the door, he felt something deep inside his heart, something that made him really worried for his wife's safety, but he left with Chance and went to meet the man and woman who had called for them.
When they left, Callie was busy talking with Lt. Steele on his unwanted sexual advances on two of the guests. As she scolded him a waiter approached her. He was carrying a package.
"Miss Clawson, this just arrived for you," the waiter murmured before he turned on his heels and disappeared.
It was a small box with three words written on it with what looked like to be blood: her name, and a big, red URGENT.
She lifted the small lid as she felt her gut tell her not to, but she did anyway. Inside there was a handheld gasmask, with a note next to it, also written in blood: DEAR CALLISTA. PUT THIS ON RIGHT NOW.
At that very minute an odd hissing noise was heard. There was a red smoke coming from the ventilators in the corners of the room. Waiters collapsed on the floor, letting trays of food crash with them. Her father who sat next to her fell backwards and her mother dropped her fork and fell face first into her salad.
Callie put the mask on.
A minute later, she was the only one still conscious in the dining hall. A hundred people had fallen around her. They all lay around her in many places, but they were still breathing, that made her feel a little better.
The front doors of the dining hall slammed open-violently. Whether she wanted it or not, Callie was receiving visitors.
Two pair of feet stepped in first. They were the Pastmaster and Dr. Greenbox, they led the way. The masked men followed quickly, toting the champagne and the glasses, and, of course, a video camera for this occasion of victory.
The Pastmaster saw Callie and smiled, with her in that wedding dress, it would be hard to run. So with careful attention to the bodies around him, he walked over to her, but stopped to look at something he remembered from his days. There up against the wall was a picture of the castle he used to live in, it was so lovely that he dropped a single tear; even if it was from his only eye.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dagger swinging into action. He glanced around to see Dr. Greenbox about to slice the painting. The Pastmaster raised a cautionary finger.
I kind of like this one," he declared. "Leave it or you don't get to become immortal."
Greenbox nodded and stepped back as he sheathed his dagger. He knew better than to disobey the Pastmaster, so he would listen to him for now.
In the meantime, the Pastmaster had other business to attend to. His date and future bride was waiting for him at the main table. Callie dropped the gasmask when she saw the Pastmaster walk over to her. It was happening all over again. And she started to pray for a sign of hope.
Outside the church, Jake and Chance could not believe who they were looking at. There standing in front of them was Queen Callista herself and with her was Carter. They had come to warn them about the Pastmaster's new plan and partner, Dr. Greenbox. But they were a little for that.
"And if you don't stop them, Megakat City will fall into darkness!" Callista said fearfully looking at the two toms.
Jake rested his hand gently on Callista's shoulder. "You know that Chance and I can stop them," he said confidently. "I would never let Callie down." Callista smiled. She still loved Jake, and was unhappy that he didn't stay in the past with her, but his place was here, with his own people and with his wife.
Callista removed Jake's eye patch. "Then may your heart guide you." she said giving him a peck on the cheek, and the kiss she gave him healed his left eye. Jake could now see with both eyes.
"Thank you, my queen," he said with a bow.
Callista smiled and turned her gaze then turned to Chance. Slowly she pressed her forehead to his, and then she began to chant something. It was hard for both heroes to understand a word, but during this Chance felt like he was being powered up for battle.
"What is going on?" Chance asked when he saw some strange symbols appear on his fur. Jake stood there, astonished that Chance was also a Dragon slayer like him now-the only thing that was different was the symbols shape and color. They were red and very small compared to Jake's.
Callista looked at them both and raised her hands to the sky. "Power of truth, give Razor and T-bone the power to defeat the evil that lurks in the holy house of God." she cried and red and blue lighting flew around them, as if they had become a lightning rod of power.
"Come," Carter gestured, "we must hurry if we are to save the future."
