SWAT KATS CHRISTMAS TALES

Chapter 6: A Bitter Christmas

(My Friend, My Enemy)

He stared up at the moonlit sky outside their mountain hideaway. It was bitter cold but he never moved to go back inside where it was warmer.

It was Christmas Eve, but it might as well have been any other night.

Old pain and sorrow held him this night. In a distant past, he faintly remembered being happy and celebrating this time of year with friends. Those days were long ago and best forgotten.

His present life was one of misery and fear. His best friend was his enemy and, barely, tolerated partner.

They'd been hiding in the mountains now for more than four months, ever since their altercation with those good SWAT Kats. Dark Kat hadn't found them and as far as they knew, he had disappeared as was his wont when his plans went wrong.

Still they didn't dare to return to their hangar under the salvage yard. He and Razor were reduced to sneaking back there for parts, food, and mail at least once a week.

The rest of their time was spent sparring viciously with each other, arguing constantly, repairing the Turbokat or, like now, keeping out of each other's way.

His shoulders slumped, the pain of being alone and friendless weighing him down. He remembered when it hadn't been so.

Razor and he had been fearless and enjoying being on top of the world as the best flight team in the Enforcers then it all came tumbling down around their ears.

All that was left were memories, filled with pain, humiliation, and bitter anger over what had been and of all the wrong choices they had made that had brought them to this point in their lives.

In his mind's eye, he saw again the camaraderie of the good SWAT Kats......how they had helped each other and, especially the way they treated each other.

In that other dimension, he was certain they were enjoying a warm and happy Christmas season with friends and each other.

It almost made him wish that such a thing was possible for him. He stared at the cold moon, unshed tears in his eyes for what might have been.

Shivering, he finally left his lonely post and made for his equally lonely sleeping place.....prisoners of the life they had made for themselves.

Christmas would not be coming here....not now.....not ever.