The moon high overhead was still full, but it was now just on the verge of waning. Silent as death, the large black-furred feline moved as stealthily as a living shadow through the darkness between the buildings. Her sensitive whiskers flicked slowly around, helping her find her way through the deep shadows as her keen sense of smell told her that her quarry was near. Approaching the end of the alley where the light from the moon made it far easier to see, a pair of predatory green eyes looked ahead at the apparently abandoned building that was the entrance to the tunnels below. The scent was strong, and she knew this was the right place. The trick would be getting in.

A tiny shape caught her eye and Meka looked up to see the little insect-eating bat darting quickly through the night air. It flitted about the area and the jaguar watched it from her hiding place within the shadows. The large feline made a very soft 'chirping' sound, and the bat turned and flew down to her. It landed on her shoulder, making a very soft and very rapid chirping/clicking sound. She nodded and mentally thanked the little bat-spirit as it then flew back off to circle and watch the goings on below it.

Slowly, carefully, she made her way toward the building, being very cautious as she searched for any form of traps. The surveillance camera caught her attention, but her Gift allowed her to move unseen in the darkness, and she ignored it as she continued forward. Once she reached the door, she very gently placed a paw to it, then with a very soft click, it unlocked and creaked slowly open. The trio of creeplings just inside the door turned at it's opening and began to chitter excitedly. But they never saw the ghostly figure move through the darkness around them. She could kill them easily, but it would reveal her presence, and that's not something she was ready to do just yet.

Tracking her target was more difficult than the previous vampire. The labyrinthine system of old mine tunnels and caves was far more complex than Vairen's warehouse, or even Moira's Haven. But even so, she expected more traps or guards, yet this particular vampire seemed to prefer more solitude and subtlely. At least as far as she could notice. There were no other creatures, living or undead, that she found other than some creeplings. Not even rats.

Meka froze, despite the fact she was virtually invisible anyway within the dark tunnels. She could hear a deep voice echoing from up ahead. The silent predator continued cautiously forward toward the source of the voice. Looking slowly around a corner, she saw her quarry. The large purple kat stood in what appeared to be some sort of control room, leaning on his cane and talking to a trio of black-clad kats working at the computer consoles. Several of the small pink creeplings chittered around their master. Meka's tail lashed as she began to stalk forward.

The night-cat's ears twitched as she listened to Dark Kat instruct the three ghouls in the design of construction of some sort of large mechanical device, the plans laid out on the computer monitors as they worked on the plans and the programming. Meka knew nothing of The Maker's tools with the exception of simple weapons such as blades, bows and spears, though the destructive power of guns and explosives did fascinate her, as they did most of the more war-like werejaguars. As she continued to listen, she began to realize that it was some sort of vehicle or similar machine. But it wasn't the machine itself that caught her attention, it was one of the weapons it was supposed to utilize. Some form of ray device meant to synthesize natural sunlight. A weapon against other vampires.

Meka flattened her ears. Moira had known that Hard Drive had stolen the plans, having used the theft as a diversion for when she sent Chigger to capture Sarita's kits. But she did not know that somehow her rival had gotten ahold of those plans. This put a whole new focus on things. The black jaguar decided it was now time to act, and she walked calmly forward, then shifted forms.

"Very interesting designs, but it would be ill-advised to use them in the manor that it seems you are planning."

Dark Kat spun around quickly at the voice, as did the three ghouls in shock. The creeplings all chittered loudly and jumped up and down in surprise and irritations, hissing as the massive black form that kneeled down watching them with her predatory green eyes. Dark Kat narrowed his eyes at the crinos beast only a few yards from him.

"Impossible... how did you possibly get in here without any of my guards or security systems finding you?"

She shrugged casually. "I am Balam. We are both powerful warriors and great mystics, deadly hunters able to move soundlessly and invisible through the jungle shadows. Believe me, it really wasn't that difficult."

He glared coldly, but held his ground as he watched the werebeast. The three kats sitting at their terminals couldn't hide their fear though, and Meka grinned darkly as she sensed it. Even the creeplings continued to chitter and hiss, but didn't dare approach the massive beast. Dark Kat wasn't completely unprepared though, and he remained completely calm.

"So you've come to kill me then? Then why show yourself when you could have simply been done with it without having to reveal yourself?"

"Because I haven't come to kill you. Yet."

This piqued his attention a bit. "Very well... Then what is it you want?"

"Well, surely you've heard of what happened at Vairen's Haven..."

"Your handiwork, I presume?"

"Correct. The fool wouldn't listen. He was too ambitious. And he paid the price."

"And what does this have to do with me? Or your presence in my domain?"

"It's quite simple. Moira doesn't want to rule a destroyed city littered with corpses. What would be the point? Why rule a dominion of destruction and desolation? Is it not better to have actual living 'cattle' "

"Indeed, but that little bitch has been a thorn in my side from the very beginning. I have been making plans to rule this city long before even her sire came to this world."

"True, and always you have failed."

She gave a dark smirk, and the large vampire-kat growled hatefully. Mostly because she was right.

"But this time shall be different. The little war between Moira and Vairen have weakened the Enforcers defenses, and even the Swat Kats are less prepared now. This time I will succeed, and she will not stop me."

"Don't be too sure of that, Dark Kat. As you already said, I could have easily killed you rather than simply revealing myself, had I wanted to."

"So why then are you here? What is it your Master wants?"

The midnight werecat growled softly at the mention of a vampire being her 'master'. She narrowed her predatory eyes coldly at the purple kat.

"She knows what Hard Drive stole, and she knows that you have it. Your little toy may work against other vampires, but it'll be a double-edged sword. It will have no affect against us, and we will still have the advantage. This city is extremely large. Would you rather rule half of it, or be brought down collectively?"

Dark Kat raised an eyebrow curiously at this. "What do you mean... 'collectively.?"

"It's quite simple. Moira has captured two of Sarita's kits."

His jaw dropped in surprise. He had personally fought the Hellcat and knew very well what she was capable of. The beast was virtually indestructible, and yet that little fool not only had the audacity to try and take her kittens, but actually succeeded? Meka grinned, noting his shocked expression.

"Yes, it is true. And because of it, Sarita has fled her den in the park back to the Swat Kat's hidden base. She also has captured the weredragon, who now fights for us."

"That's not possible!"

"Oh but it is. With both Nakela on our side, and the kits in our possession, neither Sarita nor the Swat Kats would dare oppose her. In fact, she has already made a bargain with them. She has returned one of the kits, in exchange for their help against you."

"WHAT?"

Now Dark Kat was furious. His creeplings and ghouls all cringed at the sudden outburst, but the werecat merely shrugged uncaringly.

"And with her own spies and contacts within the Enforcers, it wouldn't be too difficult to gain their support against you either, whether they even know it or not. All it would take was leaking the information of where your hideout is, and of the security measures within it. A daylight attack, and you would stand no chance."

He snarled hatefully, a massive fist clenched so tightly over the top of his cane that his knuckles bulged and turned white, his fists quivering.

"Out with it then! Why have you really come here!"

"Her control on the Enforcers is slowly increasing, and eventually she will have full control of them."

"Not so long as Feral is in command."

"What is time to an immortal? He will not be in command forever, nor will Manx be mayor. In fact, surely you've noticed the gradual breakdown within City Hall over these past several months."

"Indeed. Since Briggs 'disappeared', that fool no longer can keep this city running as it should. Which is why I have been preparing to..."

"Take it over? Yes, the political structure is breaking down, but that is being remadied as well. She is gaining more inside influence there too, just as Angelida had begun doing. But it's the Swat Kats and the other werejaguars that are the greatest threat, correct? But not when their own betray them. The were-dragon will be our greatest weapon against them, and they do not dare act against us so long as we have both her and Sarita's daughter."

"That may keep the jaguars at bay, but if Moira believes that it will deter the Swat Kats then she greatly underestimates them."

"Not true. Think about it... how long has Sarita been here? And now she has kits? She could not possible have been carrying when she arrived..."

His jaw dropped. Dark Kat was very cunning, and had always tried to anticipate his opponent's moves, and yet this was something he never would have seen coming.

"You're saying that... one of the Swat Kats...?"

"That is exactly what I'm saying. They will not challenge Moira, so long as she holds the daughter."

"Which one?"

"That I cannot tell you, though knowing Sarita as I do I have my guess... Regardless, if you choose to continue to oppose Moira, then your fate shall be the same as Vairen's. But this city is far too large for her to possibly rule all of it. She is only interested in half anyway. As for the other half..."

"So she wants me to help her..."

"She simply wishes that you remain out of her territory and do not try to expand your own dominion too far for now. Wait until the time is right, until full control of this city can be gained, and the power that goes with it."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then be that the case, you shall never see another nightfall."

With a final casual shrug, she shifted back into her sleek felis form and turned to simply leave back out the way she came. Dark Kat watched the feline as he considered his options. With her presence revealed, he could make certain that she never leaves his lair alive. But if she was right, and Moira actually had control of the Enforcers, City Hall, the werejaguars, and even the Swat Kats, then perhaps that insane little tramp was more clever than he believed. And if that was the case, then perhaps...

"Wait."

The jaguar paused, and glanced back over her shoulder. Dark Kat gave a cruel grin.

"Perhaps an agreement can be reached afterall..."