THE SECRET LIFE OF AN ENFORCER COMMANDER
Chapter 6: Old Memories
It's Saturday morning and the sun is just rising overhead. Each member of the Black Ops team is getting used to working with the SWAT Kats and my unusual power. My ability to fire energy bolts startled my elite team at first but it wasn't long before everyone was able to work together.
After working out for a few hours, the team was able to work together smoothly. Since everyone was an expert fighter, we only needed to adjust our many styles into a cohesive whole. We split our separate ways satisfied. A few more practice sessions should ensure that we will be ready for anything.
A week later the police finally get a solid lead. I'm invited along for the sting operation they've been working concerning the prostitute ring funding the gunrunners. Midday is chosen for the assault since the brothel occupants would be sleeping. We weren't interested in busting the Johns. It's the Madam and her guards we're after.
The police surround the rather posh looking home in an upscale neighborhood. I stand directly behind the pair of detectives in command of the operation. The signal is given and we charge into a well appointed living space and spread out. Within moments, the Madam and her guards are captured. Screams and curses permeate the air as police officers burst into bedrooms. I'm with two officers as we slam open a door of a room we've discovered just off the dining room. The sight that greets us turns our stomachs. The young calico female, looking to be no more than 16, is huddled on the bed. A brutish, powerful male is hovering over her, a whip in his paw. The bloody marks on her body were a testament to the male's skill.
As the officer's with me slammed the perp against the wall and handcuffed him, I felt my mind slide back to that moment when a similar powerful male stood over me with his claws extended, blood dripping from them. My blood!
The memory gripped me and suddenly I was screaming in terror and fear, my body glowing with the power I now store up due to the training sessions. All I could think of at that moment was defending myself from my mate's cruel treatment. Some small part of my mind was trying to tell me what I was experiencing was not real but I couldn't seem to break through the flashback.
The terrified scream of a saber filled the air and froze the Sergeant's blood. It was the Commander! He needed to get to her quickly. He'd been caught with a group near the kitchen. He pushed his way free and rushed into the room. On the bed was a terrified young she kat, near the wall was a prisoner and two shocked officers and hunched in the corner near the door was the Commander. She was displaying raw fear, her eyes were glowing and wild, her body shone with glittering energy and her claws were fully extended. The Sergeant knew she was caught in a flashback. He called to her, approaching carefully but mindful of her warning to not get too close.
"Commander Feral, Sir, it's me! It's alright, come back, it's not real! Your mate isn't here! It's not real!" He repeated the statement over and over, keeping his voice calm even though her very appearance frightened him. He'd never seen her in full saber mode and it was terrifying. She shuddered and shook her head. Heaving for breath, she looked away. He realized she was trying to regain control and, fortunately, everyone stayed frozen waiting to see what would happen next. Slowly the Commander withdrew her energy, her eyes returned to normal and she retracted her claws.
"Are you alright now, sir?" the Sergeant asked her carefully.
"I'm...okay, Sergeant. Thank you!" She answered rather shakily.
"Why don't you go outside for a few minutes, sir? Allow everyone to calm down." He suggested 'As well as yourself' he thought privately. She nodded and moved carefully out of the room.
"What the hell was that all about and what happened to Commander Feral?" one of the still shaken officers asked as he and his partner muscled their prisoner through the door.
"He's had a very bad experience in the past and this incident caused him to flashback to it. Commander Feral is a saber and that was a fright display. He's alright, really." The Sergeant tried to smooth over the difficult moment.
They just looked at him and shook their heads. It had been a scary thing but they needed to get on with the operation.
I walked through all the activity and out the front door and away from everyone only stopping when I reached the sidewalk. I was badly shaken, my head throbbed and I felt nauseated. How could I lose control like that?! What had happened to that young she kat resonates too deeply with me. The reminder too recent and tender to bury and all it took was a scene like that too bring it all back and wipe out all the progress I had made. 'Enough! I have no time for this now!' Shoving it away to the back of my mind, I shook myself out and returned to the scene.
Officers were coming out the door with their prisoners and leading them to the cars as Detectives Breen and Faller were giving a quick run down for the CSI team. Everyone else was clearing out to let the team do their thing so I collected my Sergeant and we followed the caravan of cars back to their precinct.
I watched the interview of the Madam from an observation area. She'd been seen dealing with one of the dead gunrunners. The detectives were trying to badger her into revealing where the money was going and who her contacts were. It was a grueling three hours before they finally succeeded in getting the money chain. It seems we were even more lucky then we dreamed. The Madam had been trusted a little more than the others when it came to knowing who was behind the scenes, either that or her lover was a blabbermouth. Didn't matter, we now knew who was the mastermind. Of course, finding him was still going to be a problem. When Dark Kat doesn't want to be found, he can be damn near invisible.
That night, T-Bone came to me for one of his visits. I had to admit that I was glad he was here tonight. I was seriously stressed about my behavior earlier today and the revelation that Dark Kat was behind the threat to the city.
He found me huddled on my couch, unable to sleep for fear of a return visit of today's nightmare. T-Bone slipped in quietly and sat down beside me slipping an arm around my waist comfortingly, somehow sensing that I was upset and needed him close.
Ulera was curled up tightly, her arms wrapped around her legs on her couch in the dark living room. I could see the gleam of her eyes as she turned her head to watch me come in. Something bad must have happened today at work. Maybe she'll open up to me if I just sit close and hug her.
We sat there in the dark not saying anything. I appreciate T-Bone's patience and willingness to let me be until I was ready to speak. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to relax my body. The feel of his heart beating and the warmth of his chest against me was soothing and after a few more minutes, I felt comfortable enough to begin relaying the days' events. He listened quietly without interrupting me, though I felt him tense when I reached the part of my loss of control, but he said nothing until I finished.
"So Dark Kat, huh? Well that's not a big surprise really. But it definitely means we are in for a war such as this city's never seen before." He sighed grimly. "As for what happened at the brothel, you can't blame yourself. You did regain control and that is all that matters. What happened to you was horrible and will never really go away completely. The best you can hope for is it fading to a vaguely disturbing memory and nothing more." He hugged me gently and rubbed my cheek with his.
I snuggled against him and sighed. "Can you stay the night? The nightmares seemed to stay away or at least aren't soo bad when you are with me."
"Sure, no problem. Razor doesn't expect me till morning. Did you eat?" He asked gently.
"No. I've been too upset." I admitted.
Smiling, he pulled me to my feet and led me to the kitchen. "Okay, let's find something light for your stomach and some herbal tea. Hmm?"
I smiled back and rummaged through the fridge. He helped me put together a light snack and made some tea. We sat companionably at the table while I finished my meal. I tidied up and we headed to my bedroom.
Ulera was more at ease now as we prepared for bed. I thought a little seduction might keep the nightmares at bay. As we slipped into bed, I began trailing kisses from her neck slowly down her chest. She moaned and stroked my back with her fingers. I moved back up and kissed her deeply while continuing to stroke and caress every inch of her. I wanted her, the rapid beat of the pulse in her throat, the firm curve of her breast. Soft and strong and warm. Her breath caught, released on a low sound of approval. Her hips raised both invitation and demand. It was a flash and burn when I plunged into her, the glorious shock of being taken. She could see my eyes, watching her, even as she flew over the crest. Over it and into a storm of speed and heat. I crushed down on her lips and the storm reached its peak, I felt her fly with me.
Breathless, with her system starting its long slide back, she blinked up at the dark ceiling over the bed. He lay over her, his weight pressing hers into the mattress, his heart drumming with hers. His lips brushed her cheek, then he shifted, drawing her back against him again. Snuggled against him, she fell asleep with a smile on her face.
Except for a vague, disturbing and rapidly fading dream toward morning, she had slept more than seven hours straight without waking. T-Bone was still snoozing beside her, smiling tenderly, she leaned over and kissed his forehead. He slowly opened his eyes and tried to focus on her face as he gradually got his brain in gear.
"Good morning, beautiful. You look rested this morning." He grinned at her leaning close for a quick, hot kiss.
Returning the kiss, I sighed, "Yes, thanks to you! I had some kind of weird dream this morning, but I can't remember what it was now." I jumped up and headed for the shower. He chuckled and joined me. "Keep your paws to yourself, T-Bone. I really need to hurry and get going this morning." I smirked slapping his paws away. Laughing, he promised to be good and helped me wash my back and I returned the favor. Soon enough, we were both dry, groomed, and dressed for work.
"What are we going to do about Dark Kat?" T-Bone asked.
"All I can do right now is follow any rumor we can find on his whereabouts and hope we get a lead. Otherwise, we'll just have to wait until he springs his plans." I shrug my shoulders helplessly.
"Well, you know we could scope out a few mountain ranges and volcanoes. Those are his favorite hiding places and we have an X-Ray device that will let us spot it if it's there to be found." He offered.
"That's sounds like a good idea, but please be careful. He can see you just as easily as you can see him." I warned.
"Fortunately, the X-Ray device has a long range to it. We won't have to get too close to locate him but we'll be careful." He promised. "We'll get started tonight. It will be harder for him to see us in the dark unless he has infrared scanners."
"Keep me informed." I ordered him.
"Yes, Mamm." He smirked. I smacked him playfully. I still find it hard to believe how very comfortable I am around him.
He gave me a quick kiss as he headed for my balcony to head down to his hidden cyclotron while I went down the traditional way via the elevator to the parking garage.