Lurching up, T-Bone struggled to remain conscious. He had to get back to Razor and the others. To Lieutenant Feral. And he had to get Dark Kat, he reminded himself, clenching one hand weakly into a fist. He began the arduous climb up through the sideways room, thanking heaven for the fact Big D had seen fit to bolt some of the furniture and equipment to the floor, providing convenient handholds for the dazed SWAT Kat. By the time he'd scaled the short flight of steps leading to the lab door, gripping either side of the frame, his head had cleared, although his body, particularly his back where he'd hit the throne, still ached. Dang, he thought, did that big purple jerk have to have such an uncomfortable throne? Oh well. He picked his way through the smashed control room, eager to reunite with his friend and the others.
He had to get back in the game. Like him, he knew Dark Kat was down but not out. Just because his ship had crashed didn't mean their arch-enemy didn't have some further trick to destroy Megakat City up his sleeve. And he was soon to find out how right he was.
Razor sat on the outside of the ship, a war of emotions broiling inside of him. His friend. No, his brother. Gone. All thanks to Dark Kat. Nearby, Felina stood nearby, unwilling to leave his side. Zeckis, the technician who'd turned against their enemy, was picking his way down the exterior of the hulk, apparently eager to get as far away from his former master's crashed vessel as possible. Razor didn't blame him, and would've loved to have walked away himself, but he didn't want to just yet. He wanted to sit here a little while longer.
He thought back to when he and Chance had first met in the Enforcer Academy. Never in a million years had Jake Clawson imagined he'd become lifelong friends with the hot-tempered, frankly juvenile tom their drill instructor had partnered him with for the duration of their training. And yet somehow, despite having very little in common, the two had become fast friends. So much so that Jake had sacrificed everything for Chance. When cyber crimes tried to headhunt him out of training, he'd turned them down, choosing to become a patrolman with Chance. When Chance finally got his wish to join the air division, Jake had gone with him to be his gunner and navigator. And when Feral had thrown them out, Jake had gone with him then, too. Not that he'd had much choice, of course; Feral had fired both of them. But, Razor reflected, had Feral fired only Chance, he was sure, deep down, he would've quit to go with his best friend.
And then they'd become SWAT Kats together.
And now T-Bone - Chance - was gone. Razor felt tears welling up in his eyes.
He'd get the Turbokat back from the Enforcers. He wasn't as good of a pilot as T-Bone, but he could manage. He'd hunt that big purple pile of crud down to the ends of the Earth, and then he'd-
"Hey," a weak voice said from behind him, "a little help here...?"
Razor and Felina turned. T-Bone was poking up out of the opening that had once been the front viewport of the Fear Ship's control room. Bruised, battered, bloodied, his suit torn in some places, but alive. Razor leaped up and ran over, helping his friend climb out. He was relieved beyond words and felt like kissing T-Bone, but refrained. No need to get too mushy. His friend was alive now and that was all that mattered. Now it was time to finish Dark Kat.
"Well," said Razor, surveying the vast expanse of the ship they stood on. "I think we stopped."
"And in one piece, too," said T-Bone, who winced a little, "well, mostly. Always a good day when we manage to crashland without blowing up."
He glanced around.
"Where's the other guy?" he asked.
"He split," said Razor, jerking a thumb in the direction Zeckis had gone.
"What say we follow his example?" suggested T-Bone.
Razor was about to agree when...
"Hey!" he cried, holding a hand up for silence. "Listen!"
Everyone paused and listened, hearing the sound of jet engines. Looking around, they saw the Turbokat approaching from the distance. Shocked and overjoyed, T-Bone ran over to the edge of the rocky exterior of the downed airship, pausing as he observed it was a good twenty feet or so to the ground. But nothing was going to keep him from his baby, and so he began making his way down, following the path Zeckis the technician had taken. Razor and Felina hurried after him.
"I don't believe it!" he was saying. "It's the Turbokat!"
"Yeah, but who's flyin' it...?" asked Razor, squinting into the sky.
"It's Uncle Ulysses!" cried Felina.
"Feral?" gasped T-Bone. "No way!"
Felina shoved her way between them, hurrying down, overtaking Zeckis, grinning and waving joyously at the approaching jet. She jumped down, landing deftly on her feet. She continued waving, trying to get the Turbokat's attention.
In the cockpit, Feral spotted her and was overjoyed. His niece was safe! He started to wave back, but checked himself, and offered a stern salute instead. His niece returned it happily.
"Feral to Headquarters!" he said into the radio. "I see Lieutenant Feral and the SWAT Kats! They're all alive and well!"
General Boggs and his lieutenant listened as Feral's report came through. Steel hovered behind them, acting Mayor Briggs' orders in the back of his mind.
"I repeat!" Feral's voice came through the speaker. "Lieutenant Feral and the SWAT Kats are alive!"
The assembled Enforcer technicians cheered.
"They did it!" said Boggs' lieutenant. "Those vigilantes actually did it!"
Boggs glowered, mixed emotions flowing through him. Despite himself, he was glad everyone was okay, but he still had a job to do. He touched the Army technician manning the radio on the shoulder. "Tell Feral to get them out of there on the double," he said. "As soon as they're safely out of the way, we can blow Dark Kat's ship to oblivious. Preferably with him in it!"
The technician turned and relayed the order. Boggs turned to leave, only to find his way barred by Lieutenant Commander Steel and a group of Enforcer commandos.
"General, I think your work here is done."
"What are you doing...?" the Army officer demanded to know, annoyed.
Steel cleared his throat, and, relishing every single word, said, "By the authority vested in me by Mayor Briggs, I'm officially removing you from command of this operation. If you resist, I'll have you thrown out."
Boggs blinked, speechless, but decided not to press his luck, stepping back wordlessly. A few of his soldiers were present in the operations room, laser rifles slung, and Boggs held up a placating hand, motioning for them to stand down. They surrendered their weapons to the Enforcers without a fight. Steel was right. With Dark Kat's ship downed, the Army's work here was done, and it was only fitting that the locals resume their authority. Still, Boggs disliked having to acquiesce to Steel of all people. The General didn't know him very well, but there was something slimy about the young lieutenant commander Boggs didn't like.
As one, the Enforcer technicians surged forward and retook their stations from the Army personnel, who politely got up from their seats and stood aside, turning the stations back over to their rightful owners. They then stood back looking defeated but still professional, as things return to normal in the operations room.
"And what about Feral?" Boggs asked, remembering the Enforcer commander's insubordination. "Remember, he flagrantly disobeyed my orders while I was in command! Or will he be included in that 'proposal' Briggs mentioned before...?
"We'll see about that," said Steel with a gleam in his eye, smirking as he walked past the old General.
If in fact Feral's insubordination charge stuck, he realized, he would become the new commander. There'd always be a challenge from Feral's niece, who enjoyed more popularity with the rank and file than he did, but Steel decided he'd cross that bridge when he came to it. He chuckled to himself as he surveyed the Enforcer techs performing their duties. Callie became acting mayor, and soon, with luck, he'd become acting commander. Today was definitely a day for big changes.
Feral landed the Turbokat. Felina ran to her uncle as he got out of the jet, grateful to be out of the cramped cockpit, and walked over. The two stopped and faced one another. For a moment, neither said anything. After all, the last time they'd spoken face to face, it hadn't exactly been on the best of terms. Feral's massive arms opened as though to embrace her, but she stopped him, taking him by the wrists and lowering his arms. He coughed and after a moment instead offered another perfunctory salute.
"Good to see you alive and well, Lieutenant," he said, clearly uncomfortable with displays of emotion.
"Oh, Uncle...!" said an amused Felina.
The SWAT Kats walked up, Zeckis trailing behind them. "Thanks for bringin' us our jet," said T-Bone, frowning, "although I gotta ask why."
Feral puffed up his chest and stood with his arms behind his back. "I was coming to save you..." He glanced at the crashed Fear Ship. "...although it seems as though there's no need for that now. Who's he?"
This last question was directed at Zeckis. The technician in the purple uniform swallowed and meant to take a step forward and confess his involvement, but was stopped by Felina. She smiled and laid a hand on Zeckis' shoulder.
"A friend," she said. "Just someone else that needed rescuing from Dark Kat.
Zeckis smiled. Feral grumped but decided not to press the issue for the moment. Hearing the sound of more jets approaching, the turned and watched as the Army Air Corps began approaching. T-Bone and Razor looked forlorn.
"Guess this means it's back to the slammer for us," said T-Bone.
"Only for the time being," said Feral after a moment.
"What do you mean?" asked Razor.
"Deputy Mayor-I mean acting Mayor Briggs apparently has a few ideas about precisely what's to be donw with you." He raised one eyebrow in disapproval. "And knowing her it doesn't involve prison."
The SWAT Kats were floored. "MAYOR Briggs?!" cried T-Bone. "What's been goin' on while we were busy kickin' the crud outta Dark Kat?"
"A lot," said Feral, clearly impatient and not wanting to explain much right then. "Now come on, I think it's best we get out of here. Those jets are General Boggs' men coming to finish the job. You haven't met him yet, but believe me, when he says he means to finish the job, he means it literally. We're fortunate enough I just heard over the radio he's going to let us get clear before they firebomb this entire area out of existence just to make sure Dark Kat is gone for good."
"Then I suggest we take what little kindness has been extended our way and get out of here. Come on."
In a secret area of the ship, Dark Kat led his surviving Stalkers to where a large number of fighter jets were stored. They each had "D" insignia on the sides. Most of them had been sitting parked on the floor when the ship crashlanded, and so they were thrown and jumbled across the hangar and irreparably damaged, but several others were suspended by mechanical pincher mechanisms from the ceiling and still hung there safely, eight in all, plus a ninth jet that was larger and more impressive than the others and included a silver shield emblem on either side to go with the "D." Dark Kat's personal fighter.
"To your ships. We'll give those miserable SWAT Kats and their Enforcer friends one final surprise!"