Author's notes: In this chapter griddlebone makes an interesting discovery in her back garden and the past catches up with her. Macavity has 'great' plans for Etcetera involving Munkustrap. Etcetera's caught in the middle of an old relationship and has to make a choice, does she stay with her mother or return to the junkyard? What to know what happens? Read on and find out!

"Well done Griddlebone, this will do well in feeding my henchrats."

The pure white Persian bowed and thanked Macavtiy for the complement. The kitten lay sprawled at his feet.

"I am in a generous mood, ask anything of me and if it's in my power I'll give it to you." Macavity's eyes flashed dangerously at Griddlebone, daring her to choose something extravagant.

"I am not asking a lot my Lord…" A term all in Macavity's employ had to address him by, "…but there is one thing I desire. I wish for my daughter, Etcetera, to be promoted within your ranks."

Macavity considered the offer for a moment. "Well, not anyone can become high in my ranks without proving their loyalty first. I will give Etcetera a task to do and if she completes it to my liking then she will be promoted, if not then I'll have to find a suitable punishment."

Griddlebone bit her lip nervously, "And what would you have her do?"

Macavity's grinned suddenly became malice. "I want a head on a plate. Not just any head though, I want Munkustrap's. If she can bring his head to me then her loyalty will be proven, if not then it shall be her head on the plate. I'll mount it up on the wall behind me as a warning to those who dare defy me. Now go!"

Griddlebone scurried to her paws and backed out of the room with haste.

"YOU DID WHAT?"

Griddlebone dodged to the left as a mug flew towards her. "Please hear me out…"

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'VE PUT MY LIFE ON THE LINE FOR SOME USELESS PROMOTION!"

"Etcetera I…"

"NO!" The young queen screamed, "THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THIS! WHAT IF MUNKUSRAP'S MY FATHER? I CAN'T KILL MY FATHER!"

Griddlebone dodged another mug but the shards pieced her legs as they hit the wall behind her. She pretended not to notice.

"You don't even know if he's your father, Etcetera I'm sorry…" In all the time she'd been with the young queen she'd never seen her so angry or upset before.

"BUT WHAT IF HE IS? WHAT IF I KILL HIM IN COLD BLOOD THEN FIND OUT HE'S MY DAD!" Etcetera shouted herself horse and kicked the sofa behind her. As she pulled clumps of her fur out, she stormed out of the room and up the very rickety stairs that Griddlebone was sure wouldn't take her angry marching.

"Etcetera…!" Griddlebone called after her but she received no reply.

Griddlebone sighed and returned to the sofa. Etcetera was right, she couldn't force her to do this but her life would be on the line if she didn't. Torn between her emotions, Griddlebone wandered out into the overgrown garden through a hole they'd recently made in the door. She stepped out into the gently glowing greenness of the garden and straight into a clump of thorns. Cursing and hopping on all but the injured paw for a moment Griddlebone continued through the garden but with extra care. The greyish grass felt oddly soft under her paws and if she looked closely she'd find patches of wild flowers amongst the thorns and bramble.

At the end of the garden was a large shed that was hanging on and standing up by the thick bramble that covered it. After a few minutes search, Griddlebone found a small gap in the thorns. She crept through and found a hole just big enough to fit her through. After a tight squeeze she was into the dark interior. As she let her eyes adjust to the surroundings she saw a low wooden table and a wooden chair in one corner of the room. Covering the walls where rickety shelves covered in tins and boxes and all kinds of seemingly random stuff. The floor was swimming in dirt and the walls covered in a strange sort of yellowy green grime. Griddlebone cautiously approached an unmarked tin that had fallen from one of the shelves and opened its rusted lid with ease. In side was a strange white powder that rose into the air like a faint yellow mist. Griddlebone quickly replaced the lid and put it down against the nearest wall.

As she sprung up onto the oddly solid table, she found a human gas mask and a box of matches. These were soaked through with water as was a tray with some sort of grey substance in it. Griddlebone sniffed at it gingerly and snorted in disgust at the pungent smell of rotting fish. Most cats don't mind this smell but after spending all those years on Growl Tiger's barge the stench was repulsive to Griddlebone.

A book in the centre of the table drew Griddlebone's attention. 'How to make explosives' the cover said. Griddlebone carefully turned the damp pages to the first one. 'To Brian Smith' was written inside the front cover along with 'happy 40th birthday, love Agnes'.

"What the…" Griddlebone muttered as she turned the pages slowly. It showed the reader everything they needed to know on how to create bombs, from how to get the ingredients to how and where to use them.

"What are you doing in here?"

Griddlebone shrieked and nearly fell off the table. She sprung to her paws and turned to the speaker. By the hole she'd entered the shed was a tall cat with a cloak hiding his face. Griddlebone knew this was a tom by the voice, it sounded strangely familiar to her but she couldn't put a voice to a face.

"Who are you?" Griddlebone asked at last, eyeing the tom with her cautious blue orbs that twinkled in the dim light of the shed.

"Don't you remember me Angel?" The voice cooed.

Griddlebone gasped and backed away, that was her old nickname one of her partners had called her. No one had called her that in years.

"Don't be scared Angel, I won't hurt you." The tom stepped forward slowly, holding out a gloved paw to Griddlebone.

The Persian stood rigid to the stop. Why was she so scared? Griddlebone couldn't think clearly, the room seemed to spin and the tom blurred into the swirl of colours. She hit the floor with a bang and was knocked into unconsciousness.

Oh scary! Even I don't know who this mistery tom is yet! If you have any ideas please let me know.