October 30, 8:30 PM
Best friends and mechanics Chance Furlong and Jake Clawson lounged on the worn-in couch in the living area of the salvage yard they so lovingly occupied watching a Scaredy Kat Halloween special, Chance more animated than Jake. There was a crash from the television set and Chance erupted into a fit of laughter, holding his ribs as he gasped for breath; his companion simply rolled his eyes as he attempted to find what his big yellow and brown-striped friend found so entertaining.
"Oh…Jake, I love this cartoon." commented Chance as he straightened up and turned the television off. He looked to the brown kat next to him.Jake was smaller than Chance and occasionally shy and passive, characteristics that prompted the bigger kat to act as the protective big brother. On the other hand, Chance was more outgoing and used to roughhousing. What an unexpectedly excellent combination for Megakat City's "vigilante" justice team, the SWAT Kats.
Jake rolled his eyes as he said, "You never cease to amaze me buddy."
Suddenly there were a set of loud crashes and scraping metal outside. The two kats raced out the door ready to fight. However, only silence and shadows met them in the deserted salvage yard.
"It came from over there." Jake said, and both went to the site of the disturbance: nothing out of the ordinary, just a bigger mess than usual. Something caught Chance's eye and he bent to snag it.
"Hey, look at this Jake." He held out a spray canister to his friend. "Looks like some pranksters are getting into the holiday spirit a night early." Without a second thought, Chance threw the canister away into the unknown. A cool night breeze swept around the best friends and Jake shivered slightly.
"This Halloween seems to be weirder than any other one I can imagine so far." he commented, thinking aloud. "Some kats have been acting strange lately and others are pulling disappearing acts. Remember that old katizen from yesterday, the one who needed his truck to be jump-started? He didn't seem normal at all. His face was too pale and he just kept looking at us with that dazed stare, like he was in another world. Plus-"
Chance took Jake's pause for breath to interrupt. "Chill out buddy. 'Tis the season after all! We'll see a bunch of nuts tonight as well as tomorrow, maybe even some leftovers on All Saint's Day, and then that's it until next year. Besides, that kat yesterday looked sick and his driving was fine."
Jake appeared satisfied with the sensible explanation and changed the topic. Sniggering softly he asked, "So what about Mayor Manx's infamous invitation to the SWAT Kats? Think they'll show up to his Halloween party?"
"Don't know. After all it is at the Megakat City Tower penthouse and a costume party." Chance selected a moment to ponder a thought. "Do you think if we show up without costumes Feral'll figure us out?"
"If he doesn't someone else will, Felina maybe." responded the gunner as both kats reentered the building. However, just as they were beginning to get comfortable, the alarm rang shrilly and Chance and Jake were forced to jump back up.
"What's the problem Ms. Briggs?" Chance asked into the intercom.
"SWAT Kats, there's a disturbance outside City Hall. Mad Kat and his jokesters are after Mayor Manx."
"We're on our way!"
"Humph, we shoulda known Mad Kat wouldn't pass up today and tomorrow to create chaos." Jake said as he and Chance rushed to the hanger.
"I bet he has a whole new list of games to play with us, especially made for Halloween!" Chance replied, swinging open a locker. Then the SWAT Kats jumped in the Turbokat, T-Bone driving, Razor in back.