Chapter 8: The Commander and The Letter
AN: Thank you Ulyferal for being my beta.
Grey woke up later that morning, feeling marginally better. He looked at the time and nearly panicked as he thought he was late for school then remember Chance had told him he wasn't going. He also recalled, his dad was going to talk to Jake about what he'd told them as well.
Not wanting to really rehash that memory again, he got dressed and went to the bathroom to wash up. Finished, he headed downstairs to the kitchen, sort a hoping he wouldn't see anybody until he'd had a chance to eat first.
As he turned the corner at the bottom of the stairs to head for the kitchen, he froze at the sight of his dads talking to a really big tom whose back was to him near the stairs that led down to the garage.
The three were talking in low voices, the strangers was a deep baritone. He didn't know if he should just go ahead to the kitchen or go to their side or, the one he voted for, going back upstairs until the guy left.
Before he could make up his mind, though, Jake spotted him and glanced over at him which made the other two stop talking and turning to look as well.
Grey was stunned to see the stranger was none other than Commander Feral, who eyed him oddly.
"Grey... go eat something...there's milk in the fridge...we'll talk to you in a little while," Jake told him softly, offering him a weak smile.
Nodding, Grey turned away and headed for the kitchen. He could feel the Commander's eyes on his back as he left the room. He wondered why Feral was here in the first place as he went to the fridge and opened it up.
He really didn't feel like eating so grabbed a can of milk and shut the fridge. Hoping they'd left the living room, he went to the doorway and peered out. To his relief the three weren't there so he was able to head for the couch to watch some TV. He grabbed the remote once he'd dropped down on the cushions and began to flick through the stations. From downstairs he could hear their voice muttering but couldn't make out the words.
He gave up trying to hear the conversation and turned his attention back to the TV. He was watching a Scaredy Kat cartoon when his fathers called him. He turned off the set and went downstairs to the waiting room of the garage and was greeted by the three males eyeing him.
Uncomfortable silence followed his arrival and he shifted his shoulders nervously waiting for someone to speak. He was surprised. when it was Feral.
"You've grown quite a bit since I saw you last, Grey," he said, gruffly.
Grey blinked in surprise, "how do you know me?"
Feral sighed. "I was the one who met you first and was responsible for giving you over to these two to be raised. I must say, they didn't do too bad a job of it."
Jake and Chance blinked in surprise at the unexpected compliment from the normally taciturn tom. Grey didn't know the Commander at all except by reputation and the TV so wasn't aware that he was actually more forthcoming with information than was his wont.
"Uh, I guess I should thank you then..." Grey said hesitantly.
"Not necessary." Feral grunted. "I'm here because your fathers have told me something very serious has happened to you. I need to ask you some questions about what happened so I can deal with it."
Nervously, Grey nodded but was still hesitant to discuss it. He glanced over at his fathers questioningly, both gave him a nod to go ahead and tell Feral what he knew.
Grey took a deep breath before asking, "what…what do you want to know?"
Feral opened his notebook to a new page and holding his pen, asked, "tell me more about these nightmares you've been having..."
Grey did the best he could, though the subject upset him a lot. His fathers went to either side of him to show support and offer comfort if he needed it.
"Alright, describe for me, the female you say was your mother..." Feral continued, writing down the information Grey gave him. "Now, I want to hear everything that happened when you were kidnaped. Leave nothing out no matter how small," he ordered.
Grey looked away not wanting to answer that question as it was still to upsetting and scary. "I don't want to talk about it."
Feral swallowed down his impatience. No matter how much he needed this information, he couldn't forget this was a kitten and he'd been traumatized by what had happened to him. Dark Kat was a frightening tom as he well knew. The fact the kid was still alive told him Dark Kat wanted something really bad from him and he had to know what that was.
Taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out, Feral got a grip on his famous temper and said, patiently, "I know you are afraid. I've met this Kat myself and he is a scary creep."
Grey interrupted, shock and surprise in voice, "how do you know who it is? You weren't there!"
"Your description of him to your father tells me exactly who he is...you were taken by Dark Kat," Feral said, grimly.
Grey could only gape at him. 'Dark Kat? That was Dark Kat?' He was horrified that he been taken by the worst omega imaginable and was still alive...for now.
"Look, I know this is a shock but it's very important we know why Dark Kat wants you?" Feral pressed the kitten, urgently.
Grey shook his head. Now he was more scared than before and was terrified for his fathers safety if he told Feral what he knew.
Rolling his eyes toward the ceiling, Feral mentally asked for strength then remembered something that might help this situation. He looked over at the two ex-enforcers.
"You still have that letter I told you to save?" He asked.
"Yeah, I've got it...you think its time for him to read it?" Jake asked, concerned.
"Yes! He's old enough and he needs to know why we're so concerned. Go get it."
Jake nodded and left the room for upstairs.
To try and prepare the kitten, Feral said, gently, "your mother was killed protecting you from Dark Kat. She managed to escape with you but was shot. She lived long enough to hand you over to one of my patrol officers and give him a letter."
Grey's eyes filled with tears as he stared at Feral beseechingly, "why her...why me...what does he want with me..." he had always been afraid that his mother had abandoned him but this was so much worse.
"We don't know but your mother was a brave soul to do what she did to give you a chance at life. She loved you very much," Feral said, softly, offering what comfort he could.
Chance was surprised and grateful Feral was making this effort. It changed how he saw the stubborn tom.
Swallowing his tears, Grey gave Feral a grateful look as he said, shakily, "thank you!"
Feral just nodded then looked up when Jake came back into the room holding an old letter in his paw. He handed it over to Grey who took it hesitantly.
Grey stared at the paper then up at his fathers but it was Feral who spoke, "that will help you to understand a little bit about your mother and your past and to believe us when we say you are in danger and that we are here to help you."
Chance and Jake went close to their son and placed a paw on each of his shoulders. Grey had a bad feeling what he was going to read was going to upset him a lot.
Trembling a little, he opened the letter and began to read his mother's last words.
"To those who will care for my kit,
If you're reading this then, sadly, I passed away but my kitten hopefully has survived and you are caring for him. You might wonder why this happened.
Some time ago, I was kidnapped by Dark Kat and was made a prisoner. He had one of his ninjas mate with me to produce a kitten for his master. I have no idea why. What I do know is Dark Kat wants my son.
I beg of you, please protect my son from this terrible enemy. I have named him Grey Pawson.
Dear Grey,
"If you are reading this then my hope that you are alive and well has been granted. Know that I love you very much and had not wished to leave you but things just didn't work out as I'd hoped. Anyway, I hope you are happy in your new home with your new parents. I wish I could be there but fate had other plans for us.
I love you. Keep well and grow strong. Goodbye. Your mother.
Grey began to sob as he heard in his mind the last word on the letter echo the one she said in his dreams. He had wanted to meet her all his life but now he knew that was never going to happen. Some part of him wished he'd died with her, but he knew he couldn't so dishonor her bravery at saving his life by thinking that way. He needed to be strong and survive as she wanted him to. But it was going to be hard after learning this. He turned toward Chance and sobbed against the broad chest of one of the only two parents he'd ever known in his life.
Jake gently hugged his son's back adding to the comfort Chance was giving.
Feral sighed and waited out the storm the letter had caused. He eyed the two toms he'd given this responsibility to and was pleased to see they had given their hearts to the young orphan and it showed by how much Grey trusted and loved them back. He no longer felt guilty about leaving the kitten with them.
It was awhile before Grey managed to stop crying and let go of his fathers, giving each a thank you kiss on the cheek for their support. Jake handed him a handkerchief so he could clean his face and clear his nose. His son gave him a watery smile.
When he could think again and his head was clear, he turned to Feral. "Okay, I'll try and give you everything I can remember," he said quietly.
Feral nodded and held his notebook ready.
"I think I was darted which explains why I wasn't aware I'd been snatched. Just before they took me I did know someone was watching me but I was out of it in the next moment. When I woke, I was in a cold, stone room somewhere, laying on a bed. Suddenly, the door opened and there he was. He ordered me to stand up and follow him. He led us to another cold, stone room and had me sit in a chair while he took another across from me. He studied me for a moment then told me I was special. I thought he meant intelligent but he said that was only part of it. He said I had special abilities and he had use of them. Then he yanked my hand across the table between us, brought out a knife and cut off my thumb. I screamed and blood covered my paw and clothes, the pain was terrible. Then, I guess I blacked out because the next moment I was being splashed with a bucket of water. The pain was gone, to my shock, and my thumb was totally intact as if it had never been injured but the blood was still there around it so I knew I hadn't been dreaming. He shouted, "it works"." Grey paused as he remembered that terrifying moment.
Feral asked, quietly, "did he say why he wanted you?"
Grey shook his head, "n-n-not really, he just said something about 'unexpected drawbacks but liking the results then told me he'd be watching me and when the time was right he'd come for me again' that's all. Then the bastard darted me and I woke up at home. The blood was cleaned from my clothes and my fur."
Feral's face was grim. He'd heard enough as he closed his notebook and put it in an inside pocket of his greatcoat. "Thank you, Grey. Now I want you to listen to me carefully. Never go anywhere alone, you're not going back to school for the time being, and I want you to keep your head alert for danger at all times until we get Dark Kat, understood?"
"Yes sir," Grey said quietly.
Satisfied, Feral turned to leave. Grey called out to him. "Hey, Commander!" Feral paused to look at him questioningly.
Grey walked up to the huge tom and gave him a hard hug much to the Commander's stunned surprise. "Thank you for saving me and giving me such wonderful and caring parents," he said sincerely.
Embarrassed, Feral hugged him back then Grey released him and stepped back. Nodding at the kitten, Feral left the garage, followed by Chance and Jake. He spoke urgently with them for a few minutes before climbing into his hummer and leaving the yard.
As he drove back to his office, he smiled to himself. It was nice to be thanked for doing something right in his life. Now he hoped he could keep that kitten alive and safe. And with Dark Kat being his enemy, that was going to be real difficult.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Hidden in a tree that overhung the salvage yard, another tom watched Grey as well. He was hardily bored from the long hours up in this tree. It didn't make him happy to see the Commander drive into the yard early this morning and hang around for more than an hour. Bur now the big tom had driven off, so now, maybe was the time for him to meet the one they told him was his little brother.
A smile crept across his face as he thought, 'so, this is Grey, huh? I certainly didn't expect to have a sibling but what the hey, I might as well go down and meet him finally."
He slowly climbed further out on the limb then jumped down on top of a heap of junk, pausing to be sure no one had heard him but the three living here had already returned inside. Perfect! He climbed down the pile and stealthily sneaked toward the entrance of the garage.
