Chapter 10
Falco's heart nearly stopped as she vanished from sight, along with the two guards. He slammed on his helmet with trembling hands. "Emergency teleport!" The avian vanished out of the cargo bay and appeared in space, several feet away from Katt and the guards. "Activate jet pack!" He flew towards her, heart racing. Please be alive, please be alive!
Her eyes were shut tight, and her body motionless. Falco collided with the guard who still wore her helmet. He ripped it off, wincing as the pirate's eyes ruptured out of his skull. "Fuck!" His arms were trembling as he rushed to get the helmet on Katt's head. Relief flooded his body as he heard her gasp over the com. "What the fuck, Katt?!"
She gulped in air and breathed deeply for several seconds. "I... I had to get rid of them... so you guys could make it out."
"Thanks, Katt. I'm glad you're okay. That was brave of you." Fox said.
"More like stupid! You're such a moron! What the fuck possessed you to do something like that?!"
She turned towards the ship and switched off her com. Her heart ached more than her lungs. Her face was still regaining normal body temperature from exposure to space. "Activate jet pack." She flew towards the Great Fox, leaving Falco in the midst of the dead pirates.
The avian took a deep breath and forced it out angrily. His hands were still trembling, and tears had formed in his eyes. Why am I so freaked out? I shouldn't have been that scared... I need to calm the fuck down. He clenched his teeth and turned towards the ship. "Activate jet pack."
Fox was the last to reach the ship, coming in the air lock about a minute after Falco.
"The team never needed you anyways. The only reason we let you join us because you begged us for so long!" The bird shouted.
"Falco!" Fox snapped. "Stand down!" He gave an exasperated sigh. "Slippy, take off. We're done here." He turned to his teammates. Katt looked as if she were about to cry. "Cool off! Both of you."
Katt left, walking as fast as she possibly could without running. Her bedroom door locked behind her, and then she broke down. She slid to the floor and curled her knees to her chest.
As Fox walked by, he could hear her sobs. He stopped in the hallway and reached to knock, but decided against it.
The feline stood and wiped her eyes, then blew her nose with a tissue. "I'm not going to let him see me cry," she told herself. She took a deep breath and changed out of the space suit, then went back to the hangar to put it away.
On the way back, she saw Falco on the bridge. He was frowning at a laptop screen.
"Falco, can we talk?"
"You're too clingy. Gimme a break! I can't always be at your service." He snapped.
"I just want to talk, you self-centered sack of feathers!" She cut back.
He glared. "Just leave me alone, Katt. Get out of here."
She walked back to her room, holding back tears, and opened up her suitcase. Get out of here. If that's what you really want, then I'm going. You could have just said you didn't love me, Falco. I would have understood that. She sniffed and wiped more tears off her face as she packed up her clothes.
Falco clenched his teeth and subconsciously balled his left hand into a fist as he scrolled through social media updates he didn't care about. That was too close. I can't believe she did that. I...I almost lost her. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"You okay?" Fox asked, noticing his expression.
"I'm fine! Mind your own damn business!" The avian snapped. He scrolled through several pictures of people he no longer spoke to, hardly even paying attention. She said she loved me, and then she pulls this bullshit? She almost died. And for basically no reason. We could have handled the two guards. The boxes were already scanned. What the hell possessed her to risk her life like that? He noticed his fist and ran his fingers through his head feathers. "I need a drink."
He stood and walked angrily down the hall, huffing as he passed Katt's room. When I cool off, we're going to have to have a serious fucking talk about when it's okay to put your life in that much danger. If I hadn't followed her... He shuddered at the thought and pulled his bottle of whiskey out from under his bed. Maybe I do love her...
He took a huge gulp, making a face as he swallowed the bitter liquid. "Chasers are for pussies." He said weakly, taking another long drink.
Katt walked down the hall, pulling her large suitcase behind her. Two bags were strapped over her shoulders as well. She held a piece of paper in her hand.
Fox looked up as she entered the bridge, and frowned.
"Here's my account info. Deposit my share when it comes in."
"You're leaving?" He asked.
"I quit."
"Why?"
"I can't... I just can't. I'm sorry." Against her best efforts, her eyes brimmed with tears.
Fox sighed. "Falco?"
She nodded. "I might come back in a while, but... I just need to go solo for now. I need to straighten out my head. If you don't see me again, I wish you the best."
"Did you say goodbye to him?"
She shook her head. "I can't. The more I think about him, the more I want to stay, but... It's not going anywhere. And now there's drama on your ship, and..."
"No, don't worry about that." Fox stood and pulled the bags off Katt's shoulders, holding them both in one arm. "You're a good teammate. I wish you the best, Katt." He gave her a tight hug.
"Thank you, Fox." She returned the embrace, leaving two small wet drops on his sleeve. "You, too."
"I'll walk you out," he said, carrying her two bags towards the hangar. "If you ever need anything... don't hesitate to call us up. I'll even leave Falco behind on the ship, okay?"
"Okay." She offered him a weak smile.
He loaded her bags into the small fighter's cargo area. "Take care, Katt."
"Thank you."
He nodded as she climbed into her ship, and stayed in the hangar to watch her take off.
After several minutes, Falco came running into the room. "Where's... where's Katt?"
"She's gone, Falco."
"When's she gonna be back?"
The vulpine shrugged. "She quit the team. It's none of my business what she does now."
Falco stared agape at the empty slot where her ship had been. "Why'd she quit?"
Fox rolled his eyes. "I wonder." The avian balled his hand into a fist and left the room.
Several minutes later, Falco stormed onto the bridge with his one bag full of belongings.
"Where do you think you're going?" Fox asked.
The avian tossed the leader a thumb drive over his shoulder. "To find her. Deposit my share, will ya?"
Fox caught the drive and stared in disbelief. "You really love her, don't you."
Falco stopped in his tracks. He glanced over his shoulder, and then left in silence. I'm coming, Katt. I'm sorry.
To Be Continued...
Katt's story continues in Chapter 10 of Prelude To An End. Falco's story continues in A New Beginning.
