Author Note:

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~The Nerdlings

Chapter 8- Unfinished Business:

Third Person:

The team headed back out through the jungle, each traveling their own way. Spider-Man was swinging VIA vines and his webs. White Tiger was running and jumping as well as occasionally jumping from tree to tree. Nova flew above them to get a sky view of things as Power Man was running. Both Animal and Kato- who was still in her human form- were jumping from the trees.

"You know what I don't get," Spider-man said as he swung from tree to tree, "Why isn't he going after the idol again?"

"Maybe it's not good enough of a target," Nova suggested.

At that, Kato turned to him, her eyes flashed yellow and she growled. Nova gulped,

"Err... I didn't mean it like that."

"What I don't get," Animal growled, "Is why the hell didn't they put him in that specially made cell? Do they even realize how much time and effort I put into it?!"

"Perhaps they are too arrogant in thinking that they could contain him themselves," Iron Fist suggested.

"And that would be reason number 56 of why I hate government facilities," Kato added.

"How many reasons do you have," Power Man asked curiously.

"About 100 or so, probably more... I really don't like the way they run things."

"Oh, how so," Iron Fist asked.

"Well, for one, they don't listen to anyone younger than them or who isn't an agent. The leader is usually some big-idiot with an bigger ego," Kato explained, "Oh! And they always think that what there doing is for the best when it's not... Plus they don't like anything different from them."

Kato got a glazed look in her eyes and Animal nodded in understanding. Power Man looked over the two in curiosity as a few different things ran through his head. Both of them must've had some bad experiences with government facilities or facilities in general... Maybe that's why Kato won't join? Well I guess we have to convince her that SHIELD is good... or at least, I'll convince her. She doesn't deserve to be out here alone unless she's happy.

"He's nearby," Animal and Kato said at the same time as they sniffed, "About ten feet that way."

They both pointed forward and the team got ready as they moved. Kato stopped for a brief moment as she growled.

"What's the matter," Power Man asked since he was the only one to notice her hesitation.

She sniffed the air again,

"I... Another Katojns is near, young I think. Probably a kit..."

"A kit?"

"A kitten, a child... we must be careful."

Power Man nodded,

"Got it."

I smelt it too, but I figured that right now the top priority is Taskmaster, Animal thought.

"There he is," Nova shouted.

Taskmaster seemed sinister as he held a small child in his grasp- a young girl roughly four years old. She was struggling against his grip as she hissed. From head to toe, she was covered in pitch black fur. She had bright green eyes with slighted pupils, cat ears, and a fluffy black cat-tail. She wore a simple brown cloth dress that was worn and teared up slightly.

"Stop," Animal ordered, "We don't want him to hurt the kid."

Kato was growling as her bristled,

"She's but a kit... if he hurts her, I will personally escort him to hell myself..."

Power Man looked over, a bit in shock, but nodded solemnly. The others stopped in their tracks, glaring at the villain. Taskmaster turned to them,

"Well aren't you a bit slow?"

"What do you want with the kid," Spider-man asked, "I knew you were creepy, but not that creepy."

"Always with the quips," Taskmaster said, "Perhaps I should have to explain it to you since you all are so very slow... I was never after the idol, I was after them," he held the girl up by her wrists as she struggled.

"Do you realize that they're a new species, imagine how much money someone would pay to have a child like this, an animal that can easily be tamed," Taskmaster continued, "A soldier, a good one too... Perhaps even a better assassin."

"You cannot do that," Kato growled as her eyes were shining yellow with a slighted pupil, "I, we will not let you... The tribu will come after her and they will get her back..."

"With a large bag of catnip, they can easily be distracted," Taskmaster said dismissively, "And once I find out where the others are, I will not only distract them, I will kill them- at least the adults... The kids are much more easily tamed."

Kato hissed in disgust at the man,

"And people wonder why my kind hides from people like you..."

"Your kind? Oh you're that cat," Taskmaster said thoughtfully, "Interesting, I was unaware that you could change forms... That will add to your price."

"Get him," Animal growled, "Before I kill him myself."

Both Animal and Kato were growling at Taskmaster, staring concerned at the young girl.

"Distract him," Spider-Man order, "Go!"

Nova flew up and shot a few blasts at the villain, which he easily dodged- the girl still in his grasp. As the team each shot different attacks at the man, Kato worked on getting closer.

"I can do it," Animal offered.

"No, she is my kind and therefore my responsibility, I know her mother... I will get her..."

Animal nodded and went back to trying to distract Taskmaster. She flew in front of him, launching herself for a kick at his face. As she did that, Kato came up behind Taskmaster and slashed at his arm, making him cry out as he dropped the girl. Kato snatched up the girl and got her away from the villain just as Animal's foot connected with his face.

"This isn't over," Taskmaster snarled, "Because I will get them..."

With that, he disappeared into the brush. Just as the team was about to go after him, Animal stopped them,

"We have more important things right now."

She motioned towards Kato and the child.

"You're right," Iron Fist agreed, "Protecting the youth secures the future... And it's the right thing to do to return the young one to her family."

"Wow," Tiger commented, "Who knew that Kato had a way with kids?"

"What do you mean," Power Man asked.

"Take a look, yourselves."

They all turned to Kato. She was still on the ground, just sitting there with the young girl in her arms. The team didn't even notice that Kato had transformed into her Katojns form. The girl was so small, even for a four year old, and much smaller than Kato. The girl must've been barely three feet tall, very thin, and must've weighed only 30-35 pounds- a lot smaller than Kato's 5' 7" frame. The child, while cradled in Kato's arms, looked so helpless and peaceful. The child looked sleepy and yawned as she cradled into Kato's chest and arms.

A purring sound vibrated through the air as Kato comforted the child.

"Is that... her purring," Nova asked, "Wow, she really is a cat."

"It's both of them purring," Animal informed, "I can hear both of them."

"It sounds like it's one sound," Power Man pointed out, "How could you tell it's both of them?"

"It's a comforting thing," Kato explained, overhearing their conversation, "We are cat-like, yes. As a way of showing affection and comfort, we do purr. When purring is in sync, it symbolizes that bound that all Katojns have. Yes, I might have been kicked out by my family, but that doesn't make me any less of a Katojns."

She stood up slowly, holding the sleeping child in her arms.

"Her name's Vaquinha," Kato informed, "I met her when I first came to Brazil when she was three... Granted, I did have to transform so she would calm down in my presence... I'm pretty sure that her birthday is in a few days, so we have to get her back to her tribu before then... Plus, we also have to warn them about that Taskmaster, correct?"

"Right," Power Man agreed.

"Interesting," Animal commented as she smiled at the sleeping child, "Her name's Vaquinha, that means kitty in Portuguese."

"Yes," Kato agreed, "If a child is named cat, or something similar, in their native tongue it's a sign of respect for the future, a way to bless the child, and a way to give them good luck. Of course that's just superstition, after all, my name means cat in Esperanto and that wasn't much luck for me."

Kato gave a small smile,

"But we really do have to get back quickly."

"So she can celebrate with her family, yeah we get it," Tiger said.

"It's not just that, it would be her fifth birthday, and that's kind of a big thing. It's when a child gains their human form- well, they always could, but they never could access it until they learn how to do so, so on their fifth birthday they are taught how to transform by their parents and the chief. It's a great thing, really."

"Wow, you have a lot of different things for your species," Nova whistled, "All that honor and stuff..."

"We're not just a different species," Kato said dryly, "There's a lot of different cultures within our species as well, like I said, we're just as diverse as humans..."

"Enough chat," Animal snapped, "We need to go warn them."