Chapter Two
Puma-Dyne Block 31: 2:57 AM
Everywhere he looks, a sense of claustrophobia begins to develop within the fears of a lone Enforcer security guard as he patrolled along the various structures of the 31st Block at the edge of Puma-Dyne. To him, they look more like gigantic creatures with boxy frames of reinforced concrete and steel towering all around him, a nightmare that came to life in the darkness. He found it strange for the staffers working in Puma-Dyne and thought of how they cared little for aesthetic architecture. Having to hear time and again the same explanation that safety is of utmost priority in case an accident occurs, the design of each building serves its purpose, enough to survive even a nuclear fallout. He believes it, of course, yet it only took nighttime to change his mind.
He kept his left paw over the radio hooked unto his Kevlar vest as he feels the hard plastic with his fingers. He glances at it now and then for every few feet he walks in hopes that someone might call. To him, having to listen to another voice made him feel more at ease rather than the kind of weight and protection the pulse rifle could offer him as it was slung over his shoulder.
The radio crackled with static as he immediately unhooked the transceiver with trembling paws.
"SP31 calling Conway. Do you copy? What's your status, over?" The radio hissed.
Conway straightens himself and replied like a true Enforcer, yet his voice stutters. "Loud and clear, SP31. Perimeter is secure and not even a rat on sight, over."
"Uhh, copy that. Return to Post for relief. By the way-- Hanks, Miller and I are gonna have a little poker game tomorrow night at my place and we need a fifth. You want in? Over."
Conway fell silent for a moment still deciding if whether he should accept or not. For every second that pass, he could almost imagine the buildings would come to life and about to trample him at any second. He shudders.
"You're just gonna clean me out of my savings, Closs." Conway huffed. Puffs of warm breath came out of his mouth from the autumn cold. "But anything's better than being alone out here. Tell the guys I'm in and I'll only agree to a penny-nickel-dime game, over."
Closs chuckled on the other line. "That's a big affirmative. Return to Security Post. Over and out."
His heart finally stopped racing after hearing his friend's voice over the radio as he prepares to return. Before he could hook the receiver over his vest, a hollow metallic sound filled his ears that every muscle in his body froze, his hands paralyzed that he dropped the radio to the ground. Trying to break free from the paralysis, Conway removes the rifle strap from off his right shoulder and trained the rifle with his right hand. He kneels down to pick up the receiver from the ground and placed it over his mouth and spoke.
"Conway calling SP31. I think I heard something."
Closs's voice crackled from the speaker after a few moments: "I'm not getting any readings in my scanners. Seismic, thermal, audio, night vision: nothing. Over."
His throat begins to dry up as he checks the surroundings. At one point as he looks towards the narrow path heading to the back of Block 31-C, he could feel every nerve in his body was focused towards the path that causes the skin under his fur to crawl.
"I swear, Closs. I heard something." He screeched.
Inside the Security Post 31, the Enforcer in front of the communications panel kept punching commands on his computer.
"You're such a scaredy kat, you know that? Next time I'm gonna assign Jenkins as your partner in a daytime patrol and I don't care how annoying he gets with his lame-ass stories." Closs grumbled as the holo-screen began showing live video feed from where Conway was standing, while the remaining unoccupied areas of the screen showed different perspectives and readings near where he stood. He waits for a moment, and one screen shifts itself on top and places an electronic marker on it. "Okay, my scanners picked up something… it's kinda like… kats alive!"
Conway's hands shook as he trained the rifle with both hands, his thumb sliding the switch below the saddle grip of the stock close to his right cheek; the rifle hums to life with fusion energy. His breathing turns feverish as he prepares himself for what might jump out in front of him.
"An empty can of tuna lying at the back door near Block 31-C, you knucklehead." Closs said flatly. "Get back here before the Commander chews your head off if he ever finds out about this."
Conway continued to hold his rifle up, as he continued to stride slowly towards the specified building. He breaks out in cold sweat, as his entire back shivers from the tingling sensation on his fur. Between fear and duty, Conway was on the verge of being torn apart by his own instincts.
"I'm just gonna take another sweep through there before returning to Post. I might need some backup as well. I could really feel something wicked around here."
Without waiting for a response, the lone Enforcer steels himself through the path, his rifle ready to shoot whatever that moves. Drops of sweat began to trickle off his chin as he approaches the Testing Facility where mostly prototype engines are being tested to use for space programs conducted by the MegaKat Aeronautics and Space Administration. He knew of the reputation in this particular building after having heard rumors of one male kat who died in an explosion over a year ago and believed to be haunting the place. He nearly jumped off his skin the moment the tip of his boots trod against a small metallic object and skidded along the concrete path. He aimed his rifle at it and his forefinger in the verge of pulling the trigger.
"There's the can. Now where did it come from?" He whispered to himself as his voice shook.
He didn't have a moment to assess himself when he hears it again; this time he watched the empty can of tuna jump off into the air and landed only a few more inches away from him. His eyes widened on the verge of popping out of its sockets and his arms shook uncontrollably, no longer having a good grip on his rifle has he prepares to run away screaming. He turns around when he stops dead on his tracks as he saw something else standing in his way. It was a silhouette that was shrouded within the shadows. His jaw drops open when he notices the glowing red eye on its left and his legs began to tremble.
It was the last thing that burned in his mind when the eye flashed, and his vision instantly fades to black.
"Conway. Conway! SP31 calling Conway! Do you copy?" Ross shouted over the communications panel.
Ever since the terrorist attack over a year ago, Jesse Closs thought that Puma-Dyne had the best security in all of MegaKat City, because he believed that the Enforcers are out there, patrolling every sector of every narrow path the kat-made maze of buildings towering all around. Cameras were the only option to monitor even behind garbage bins if watchtowers could not get a much better view of the area as he watches the hologram screen floating in front of him. Laser turrets and SAM sites within a 50-meter radius, and even a small barracks located in the heart of the science and research district, Closs could have sworn that Puma-Dyne was a veritable fortress that could rival the Enforcer Headquarters. He takes a swig of the nearly cold coffee as he punched a few buttons. A large viewing screen floated over the holo-projector as he spoke over the microphone.
"Calling all SP31 units near Block 31-C. Check out the Testing Facility and pick up one of our guys, over."
He waits momentarily until four responses from different guards, three men and a woman, came over the speakers and replied, "Affirmative."
He watches from the command screen and in a few minutes, all four Enforcers arrived at the intersection between 31-C and 31-D and relayed their position.
"Go check the back door. That's one of our boy's twenty." He ordered, thinking that Conway must be pissing his pants by now. He fumed as he shook his head.
But no response came after more than ten minutes of waiting. He types in several commands on the computer. When he pressed the 'enter' key, he watched in bafflement as the numerous videos being fed on the main holo-screen rained snow and static one after another. Shaking his head in bafflement, he started punching more commands on his computer when the ground shook, knocking the senior security officer off his chair as well as the people in the room. He picks himself up; the holo-projector began flooding the screen with numerous warning signs and reports. Claxons blared and red strobes overwhelmed the fluorescent lights as the room shook violently followed by a deafening explosion that nearly made their hearts jump out. Everyone including Closs ran out to the emergency exits and gathered near the intersection, their faces froze in shock as they witness a bright glow piercing through the darkness. A large column of smoke billowed from the smoldering remains of the building, covering the view of stars like an outstretched hand of Death rising up in the air.
* * * * *
3:05 AM
Sleep was the last thing that Ulysses Feral had in mind the moment his phone shook him from his deep slumber and started his morning by hitting his shin on the antique rocking chair his great aunt left him. His face betrayed no signs of pain or confusion after a few minutes of groaning while slipping on his white long-sleeved shirt, pants, shoes, and his Enforcer issued shoulder holster that carried his side arm. But to him it's just another day, or before dawn, where he has a duty to perform. Looking himself in front of the mirror, his hands continued working over his necktie and pulling it off straight again whenever he fails tying a double Windsor. He sucks in all the oxygen he could fill his lungs as he stares at the eye bags in the mirror and shakes his head a little, filling every ventricle with fresh blood. With the pain in his shin slowly vanishing to a needle prick, he could have wished he were a machine and could do his duties tirelessly in a twenty-four-hour basis. Recharge time only takes an hour.
Feral dons his overcoat and straightens the epaulets and medals that decorate the left side over his chest, thinking it will be the first time he'll be on the job without a necktie. A knock came to his door before he could lay a hand on one of the upper buttons.
"Uncle Ulysses?"
He opens the door and finds a sleepy Felina standing on the other side as she scratches her head under her white sideburns. His eyebrows raised sternly, looking at the clothes Felina was sleeping in as he notices the overhanging white undershirt that much of her lower abdomen was exposed as well as the blue mini-shorts that could almost resemble her underwear. He could have scolded her for the getup she sleeps in; unable to relinquish in his mind the image of the little girl he used to carry in his arms whenever her family visits him back then. Now a full-grown and beautiful she-kat, she is now an Enforcer under his command.
"I thought I heard something being knocked over." Felina yawned. Her eyelids opened as she noticed her uncle's military attire. "Where are you going at this hour?"
"I knocked my shin against the chair to wake myself up." Feral answered, his voice sounded like he was coughing up a fur ball. "Well, now that you're awake, help me tie a double Windsor."
"Coffee could have done incredible wonders to a sleep-deprived old kat like yourself." Felina enters and reaches for the tie. Feral straightens up to his full height and raises his chin. She stood on top of the small stool to compensate for Feral's seven-foot frame as Felina flipped the ends of the necktie in knots with ease.
"You've been in the Enforcers for as long I was still a kitten and you still can't tie a double Windsor." She smirked. "Plus, you didn't answer my question. And even if you don't tell me, I want to come along." Felina said as she kept her eyes on the necktie.
"You don't have to come along. Just go back to sleep after this."
Felina shook her head as she pulls the back end of the necktie to tighten it in place and pats it with her right paw.
"All done. Now if you could just give me a minute to put on my uniform and…"
Feral huffs as he shook his head. "If I tell you then do you promise to just report to Enforcer Headquarters in a normal time?"
Felina crossed her arms as she looks at her uncle. She could only nod sleepily.
"There was an explosion in Puma-Dyne a few minutes ago." He said as he checks himself in the mirror again and picks up his black oak cane with a rounded silver grip resting near the door. "We lost five Enforcers out there in the inferno. I'm going there to check on the situation. That's all. No more questions."
Felina steps back as her uncle exits the room. Shaking her head at him, it was the first time that he explains a situation to her in that manner more than Ann Gora could squeeze out from him. She follows him from behind to the front door when he stops and turns around to face her. Then he takes her hand and gives it a paternal kiss on the top.
"Thanks for helping me with the tie, kitten." Feral smiled as he held Felina's hand with his left and gently patting it with his right. "Lock up tight once I get out."
Felina held her hand up to her chest as she watches her uncle drive off into the darkness. She smiles a bit. It was a long time since her uncle has ever called her kitten even after graduating from the Enforcers Academy a few years ago.
