A DREAM OF FREEDOM LOST
Chapter 11: Woes of Pregnancy and Dark Kat Too!
A month went by without incident. The therapy visits seemed to be finally giving Feral some peace of mind and he didn't resent the OB appointments quite so much anymore to Chance's relief. The omegas had been quiet as well allowing them both to adjust to these new circumstances.
Today he was running their personal obstacle course with Jake. He needed the exercise to release some of the tension he carried almost daily now. So far Jake was leading and he needed to buckle down and change that. Putting on more speed he sprinted past his partner reaching the mountain of trash first this time. Rapidly climbing up he snatched the rope swing and made it across the deep pool of water below (without the rope breaking this time) and raced on toward the next obstacle. Jake was hot on his heels, only a minute behind, as they grabbed the poles and vaulted over the makeshift trash hill. Landing almost together they ran at breakneck speed toward the finish line. Jake put on a spurt of speed and crossed the line with Chance at the same time. They grinned at each and slapped palms.
"Radical, Chance. We've not done that in a long time." Jake grinned.
"Yeah! It felt good." Chance sighed in pleasure as he and Jake walked back to their apartment for water and a shower.
"Glad we got out and burned some energy. I gotta say Chance, you've been really uptight lately." Jake said cautiously.
"Hmph! You've noticed, huh?" Chance muttered.
"Hard to miss, buddy. Want to talk about it?" Jake offered.
"What's to talk about? My mate is driving me crazy and I'm just wiped trying to placate him all the time. I love him but he is driving me to distraction." He groused.
"I thought he was getting better especially after seeing that therapist for a while. What's going on now?" Jake asked concerned as they went up to their apartment and he grabbed two bottles of water and tossed one to Chance.
Chance caught it and downed a healthy swallow before answering. "The therapy is helping but the pregnancy is moving so fast he's just having a hard time getting used to his changing body. Unlike a normal pregnancy where the female has a lot of time to get used to the idea, Uly is being given no time to adjust. He's already showing and last night the kitten moved for the first time. I had to peel my mate off the ceiling. He freaked. He hasn't been in therapy long enough to really accept being a mother." Chance ranted then groaned, "Man that just sounds so weird, Feral a mother. Crud!" He shook his head and finished his water.
"Hu! I'm having a difficult time picturing it myself." Jake grimaced. "I'm also having a hard time seeing you as a dad." He snorted finishing his water too.
"I think I can be a good father. I just didn't plan on being one so soon. I can identify with Uly on that. Neither of us wanted a kitten now. After all, we are still trying to get used to each other and our lives are in danger all the time. Not a good time to raise a kitten." Chance sighed tossing his bottle in the trash then going to the living room and flopping down on the couch.
"I wish there was something I could do to help you, Chance. I hate seeing you this stressed out." Jake said as he joined him on the couch.
"Thanks, buddy! You've helped by letting me vent. We'll get through this. It's not like we have a choice you know." He smiled gratefully at his best friend.
"Huh! That's the truth." Jake agreed. "Want to take a shower first? We could go take in a movie. We haven't done that in a while and it's a great stress reliever. At least the omegas have been giving us a break right now too." Jake suggested.
"You know that sounds like a great idea but you go first. I want to call Uly and let him know my plans so he doesn't wait up on dinner. Long as I'm with him by eight it shouldn't be a problem. He knows I need a break." Chance said as he got up to use the phone.
"Great! There's a good sci fi movie playing. Why don't you check the times while I wash up?" Jake said enthusiastically, heading upstairs. Chance just nodded agreement while he waited for his call to connect.
At Enforcer Headquarters, Commander Feral set the phone down in its cradle slowly. His mate had called to say he was taking in a movie with his friend. He needed the down time and their work was caught up. He told Feral he would be home by eight and not to wait to eat.
Times like this, he felt jealous of Chance's friendship with Jake. He hadn't realized just how lonely he'd been until his mate filled the emptiness. He squashed the sudden ache he felt. 'Damn pregnancy hormones.' He cursed, they made him swing rapidly from one emotion to another leaving him constantly off balance. He hated it. Suddenly infuriated with himself, he got up, locked his desk, and headed to the elevators. Stopping at the gym floor he headed to the lockers.
He changed into his sweats and headed for the weight room. An intense workout was called for to help him burn off the frustration and anger he was feeling about his burgeoning condition. He was already showing. It wasn't obvious in his uniform but in his sweats... since he normally had a flat well muscled stomach...it stood out plainly. He ignored the stares as he went to the bench press and began a punishing workout.
Sweating, he went to the running track next. He ran ten laps before going to the pool. The water felt soothing so he did a slower pace of laps for twenty minutes. Climbing out he headed for the locker room. Redressing after a warm shower, he returned to his office better able to handle the day's work.
Chance felt relaxed after spending the day with Jake. Changing to his T-Bone persona, he climbed aboard his Cyclotron for the quick ride to his mate's apartment. It had been a good day. He sincerely hoped the evening would be the same.
Slipping into Uly's apartment unseen, he found his mate in his recliner with his feet up just finishing a chicken dinner while he watched TV. To T-Bone's relief, Uly looked relaxed. He walked up to him and leaned over to give his mate a kiss. It was returned warmly. Smiling, T-Bone went to the bedroom to undress. He made sure the drapes were all closed tightly before dropping his secret identity. Most of the time he left his mask on just in case of visitors but it was evening and they were locked in for the night. He felt safe enough to be Chance rather than T-Bone.
Returning to the living room, Chance dropped onto the couch and sprawled. "So how did your day go, love?" He asked Uly quietly.
"It was okay. I did have a bout of mood swings when you called. I went to the gym and had a hard work out and felt much better. The day was pretty good after that. How was yours?" Ulysses said as he finished his meal.
"It was great. Jake and me did our obstacle course and finished at the same time. We haven't done that in a while and the sci fi pic we saw was pretty cool. Then we went to our favorite restaurant for Mongo Peppers and pasta. I feel calmer and more relaxed now." Chance said warmly.
"Then I'm glad you were able to dump your stress. I know I haven't been easy to live with lately. These damn hormones are just making it soo hard for me to be stable. I feel like I'm constantly on edge." Ulysses sighed annoyed.
"Then be glad your pregnancy is short, love. You won't have to put up with it too much longer." Chance said trying to be upbeat.
"Huh! What a thing to be grateful for." Uly snorted. Chance just shrugged and their attention was dragged to the TV by some antic of David Litterbins. The rest of the evening was quiet and comfortable for once between the two.
Two weeks later...
Dark Kat's sudden appearance broke the relative peace they'd enjoyed. To their shock the deadly criminal had come much more prepared than in the past. With his Fear Ship rebuilt and much more deadlier, Dark Kat had added a fleet of powerful tanks unlike anything the city had in its own arsenal. Each tank was heavily armed. He attacked at dawn when the city was barely awake and its defenders were getting ready to change shifts.
The alarm went out calling all Enforcers to duty. Feral had been wrenched from badly needed sleep. His pregnancy was starting to sap his energy. Chance listened tensely as the enforcer on the other end brought his Commander up to date on the force bearing down on the heart of the city. Barking orders to get all squadrons alerted and launched, he dragged himself out of bed and began to pull on his uniform.
Chance quickly put on his costume and helped his mate finish dressing. They were both out the door and downstairs in minutes. Tossing his mate a helmet, he pulled his on and started the Cyclotron. He sent an alarm to Jake to wake him. Moments later as Feral mounted and they took off for Enforcer Headquarters, Jake called him. He quickly brought him up to date and told him to bring the Turbokat to the enforcer flight line. Jake acknowledged grimly and signed off.
They arrived five minutes later. T-Bone secured the Cyclotron and followed his mate into the building. It was a beehive of activity inside as they went to the elevators for the flight line. Though he wasn't allowed to fly he ignored that restriction and had his jet prepared for immediate take off. The Turbokat arrived moments later and after kissing his mate and warning him to be careful and receiving the same warning, T-Bone ran to his jet. Taking the controls back from Razor he launched the jet quickly into the sky.
In only minutes they were hovering over Dark Kat's army while avoiding the Fear Ship for the moment.
"It doesn't look good, T-Bone. I count at least a hundred tanks down there with some pretty impressive armaments." Razor reported grimly.
"We're going to have to leave the tanks to Feral. We've got Dark Kat and his Fear Ship to deal with first." T-Bone answered.
"Yeah, I agree! Let's see what he's got!" Razor said as he brought all his armament on line.
"Gotcha! One Fear Ship coming up!" T-Bone said as he piloted the Turbokat toward Dark Kat's ship.
Dark Kat didn't wait for them to catch up to him before he launched his attack. Fiery beams of some kind of energy weapon shot out at them. T-Bone swerved the Turbokat out the way at the last second.
"What the heck is that?" He shouted.
"I don't know but I don't think we want to find out what it can do to us. Let me try something!" Razor said as he concentrated on his monitors. Firing a spread of missiles, Razor tried to feel out the strengths and weaknesses of the Fear Ship.
Meanwhile in his jet, flying just short of the altercation between the Fear Ship and the Turbokat, Feral observed the situation. He sent beta squadron to test the enemy tanks. To his dismay the tanks shook off the lasers and small missiles like they were nothing. He had the squadron pull back. He watched the tanks roll over everything in its path and blast the phalanx of enforcer tanks and cars into burning wrecks in seconds. They were outgunned that much was obvious. They were fighting a defensive action trying to keep the tanks from advancing but they were losing ground quickly. He had two of his squadrons try to harry the tanks and keep them occupied while he desperately tried to think of some strategy that would defeat this seemly unstoppable force.
He had one desperate solution but there was no guarantee what he planned could work. It would take the cooperation of some very reticent kats. He saw his mate barely hold off the Fear Ships attacks with none of Razor's weapons making a dent in it. Below, the battle raged bitterly with the enemy moving forward with seeming ease.
Making his decision, he turned his jet away from the battle and headed for the Kats Eye News Station to make a desperate plea. As he left the scene, he told his squadron leaders to continue to harass the enemy but to try not to lose to many more enforcers doing it. Though it really wasn't meant to handle a jet, Feral managed to land it on the empty landing pad at the TV station.
Jumping out, he ran into the building and hurriedly asked for assistance to sent out an emergency message over all stations. The station manger had been informed of the Commander's demand and met him in the studio.
"Commander Feral what do you need to do?" The manager asked as he got his crew to set up for the broadcast.
"I've got to contact every Sabren I can reach. Just get me on every station you can. It may be our last chance to stop Dark Kat from taking over the city." He said urgently.
"Give me just a few minutes to set it up Commander. Wait here!" The manager went to the control booth and contacted his peers at other stations. He explained the emergency and set up a link to all stations in the city. When things were set, he walked back onto the set and got the Commander in place.
"Okay, Commander Feral, ready when you are!" He said stepping back behind the cameras.
"Right, let's do it." Feral said tightly running his plea through his mind.
"Quiet on the set, ready cameras and we are on in 1, 2, 3..." He barked pointing at Feral to speak.
"Attention all Sabrens within the sound of my voice. We are being attacked by a force we have no way of stopping with conventional weapons. To save our city from Dark Kat I'm pleading with you to come with me and use our energy to stop them. If we don't succeed Dark Kat will win and no one will be safe any longer. If we fail everyone must evacuate the city as fast as they can. If Dark Kat rules this city it will be a rein of terror. Please meet me at the Enforcer Headquarters steps. Please I can't do this alone and I'm risking my unborn kitten to save this city can you do any less? I'll be waiting!" Feral ended his plea and made his way off the set. He thanked the manager on his way out. All eyes stared at him in shock and dismay. Once outside he was hailed by Ann Gora in her news van.
"Commander Feral, I heard you on my monitors. You really going to try and make a stand with other Sabrens?" She said looking at him in concern, her eyes falling to his protruding belly.
"I don't have time to talk to you now Ann." He said anxiously looking for a way to get to Headquarters.
"Let us take you to there Commander we can talk on the way." Ann offered.
Sighing but not seeing any choice, he climbed into the van and it took off like a shot veering recklessly through the traffic. Johnny obviously knew it was important to get there as fast as possible. Feral hung on grimly as the van swerved around frightened kats and cars.
"The situation is that bad, Commander?" Ann pressed him.
"Yes. Dark Kat planned well this time. Nothing we have can make a dent in the tanks he's using and the Fear Ship is keeping the Turbokat at bay easily." He said.
"Are you worried about your mate?" She asked gently.
"Of course, just as he is concerned for me. I'm not supposed to use too much energy in my condition, but I don't see any choice." He said grimly.
"This is the first time anyone was aware that you were pregnant. When are you due?" She eyed him in concern.
"I'm due in six weeks and we didn't want anyone to know. It's private." Feral said tightly.
Before she could ask anything else the van screeched to a halt in front of Enforcer Headquarters. Feral wasted no time jumping out. To his relief there were at least ten Sabren's waiting on the steps with more arriving every few minutes.
Joining them he gathered them together. He waited another ten minutes to see how many more would come and when he saw no more arriving he got their attention.
"I want us to join paws and draw as much energy as we can in the little time we have left. Is everyone here mated?" He asked quickly. He was relieved to find that all that were standing there were. "Good, your mates will need to be standing by for afterwards. You have just a few minutes to make contact and inform them." Feral ordered.
He stepped away and waited gathering his own energy slowly. He reached into his pocket and took out his own communicator. "T-Bone can you hear me?"
"I'm a bit busy Uly." T-Bone gritted.
"I know but listen. I've gathered Sabrens together to try and destroy the tanks. I'm going to need you after. Do you copy?" Feral said quickly.
"Are you nuts? You aren't supposed to gather energy. It will endanger our kitten." T-Bone shouted in anger.
"If we don't stop him, there will be no future for our kitten. Just try to stay alive. Feral out." He cut off any reply his mate might make and rejoined the Sabrens.
"Are we ready?" He asked the group. He received nods all around. "Good let's do it then." Feral said reaching for the paw of the nearest Sabren and quickly there was line of them along the steps. Within moments all the Sabrens were glowing brightly. They were ready just in time.
Up the street came the retreating line of enforcers being pushed back by Dark Kat's tanks. As the battling forces came close to the steps Feral shouted over his shoulder to his officers to have the enforcer line retreat out of the line of fire. Obeying quickly the crippled and barely functioning line of enforcer tanks and rigs quickly retreated down the street away from the enemy tanks.
Now unopposed Dark Kats force came bearing down on the line of Sabrens. As soon as the tanks began to turn their turrets toward them Feral gave the order to fire their energy. A huge burst of blinding light struck the line of tanks dead on. For long minutes no one could see the battlefield then it was over. The tanks were incinerated and all that was left was a line of brightly glowing Sabrens.
Though exhausted, Feral had warned them to stay together until they had dealt with Dark Kat's Fear Ship.
Above them, Dark Kat had been gloating on his success in fending off the Turbokat's attacks though he was a bit annoyed that he couldn't knock them out of the sky. T-Bone had been doing his best to avoid all of the criminals attempts. Ignoring them for the moment, Dark Kat moved his ship down closer to his line of tanks to see how that battle was going. He was pleased to see them advancing on Enforcer Headquarters with ease.
Suddenly he noticed the line of kats on the steps of the building. He blinked in confusion. What was going on then he gasped in shock as the line of kats began glowing. He realized too late what that meant when the line of kats fired a bright burst of energy at his tanks. He couldn't see what happened until minutes later when the light died back. He cursed in fury when he saw his tanks were no more.
Swooping down he prepared to fire on the line of kats but before he even finished sighting his targets the Sabrens fired again slamming their energy into the Fear Ship. Dark Kat had only moments to realize all his systems were failing and his ship was melting around him. Panicking he pulled his struggling ship back up into a higher elevation to avoid the Sabrens attack and landed himself in the cross-hairs of the Turbokat and Razor wasted no time in blasting the crippled ship out of the sky. At last, Dark Kat had been utterly and completely destroyed. Below there was cheering going on.
The Sabrens broke up and sought their mates, disappearing quickly to have their power dumped before they were a threat themselves. Grateful to them, Feral wished he had been able to get their names so that they could be thanked properly but understood the need to leave quickly. He was beginning to need his mate rather badly now too. He looked up to see the Turbokat landing on his flight line. Turning away from the street he hurried up the steps and into the building. His officers moved out of his way giving him a clear pathway to the elevators.
He reached his office at the same time as his mate. They wrapped arms around each other in relief. They walked quickly into Uly's office and shut the door behind them. Making quick work of their clothes, T-Bone gently helped his mate to his paws and knees since a frontal entry wasn't possible with his extended belly in the way.
There was no time for gentleness as he entered his mate quickly. They both groaned at their union holding a moment to savor it then T-Bone pounded his mate hard bringing him to completion rapidly keeping his eyes firmly closed as Uly burst forth into incandescent glory. Below on the street, Ann looked up in time to see the bright burst of light from the top of the tower. She sighed in relief as she realized that Feral was now safe. Turning away she hurried to her van to make her report. She could win a Pulitzer for this.