Hello everyone! It's new chapter time of Drawing the Short Straw

Felina and Razor's impromptu evening comes to an abrupt end when a dangerous adversary crosses their path. Will they be able to survive this new threat?

Author's note: Thanks for all the reviews everyone! I glad you all like my story.

So I don't spoil anything, I'd like to dedicate to Mack Bolan. Because if I didn't read his books, I wouldn't have been able to write this chapter.

And the reason this chapter works is because of the awesome Ulyferal. She helped me out by soothing out quirks and fixing mistakes. Thanks! You're the best!

I'll have more thoughts about this chapter in the next author's notes.

Enjoy!

-AkaneKitty

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Drawing the Short Straw
Trouble Comes Knocking

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"I'll walk you to your apartment's front door, Felina."

"You don't have to, Gunny. I'll be fine. It's only a few blocks away,"

"I'd consider it bad manners to let a lovely female such as yourself walk home alone. Especially since she bought me a fishburger."

Felina removed her borrowed helmet with a grunt. "I can take of myself..."

"I know that." Razor said, with firmness in his tone, as he powered down the Cyclotron. "Indulge me."

Felina made more protesting noises, but it was mostly for show. While she could and did take care of herself, she really didn't mind when a tom decided to be a gentlekat. To be honest, she rather liked it. Better than a tom not thinking at all and assuming she didn't appreciate such gestures.

"All right, Gunny. You win." Felina slid off the bike and punched Razor lightly in the arm. "But you're hiding your bike. It'll attract too much attention, even though not too many kats have moved here yet."

"Yes, ma'am."

Felina made her home in the new MegaKat City downtown district of La Galleria. It was mostly composed of shop storefronts with apartments and living spaces above them. Since the district was created recently, the only business established there was a small grocery store.

She and some other international business workers were the only kats that moved in to take advantage of the cheap rent. By the end of the year, the district would be full of shops and kats and the rent would go sky high.

Felina waited until Razor had stashed his Cyclotron into a hidden alleyway and returned to her side. She then led the SWAT Kat toward her building, which happened to be across the street from a pizza parlor that was opening soon.

Using her peripheral vision, Felina kept an eye on Razor. She noted how attentive he was, watching the shadows for anything out of the ordinary. She then realized she should be doing the same thing herself...but she was more concerned about something else.

Slowing to match Razor's gait, Felina linked her arm though Razor's, moving in close to him. Again, the wizzo could feel how soft she was.

"Fel-"

"Come on, Gunny! This will be the only time I'll be able to walk with you like this until Halloween." Felina squeezed Razor's arm. "Besides, if there are any nosy neighbors, all they'll see is a happy couple walking down the street."

Razor said nothing, covering his slight embarrassment and any warm feelings by continuing his watch. Something didn't feel quite right, and it was part of the reason he insisted on walking Felina as close to her apartment as possible.

That "sixth sense" that all gunners possessed was speaking to him and it was irritating that he couldn't pinpoint the danger. Finally, Razor just stopped in his tracks, nearly throwing Felina off balance. She unlinked her arm from his and eyed him questioningly.

"What is it?"

"Gunner's sense...or warrior's sense if you're feeling flashy." Razor reached into his jacket, pulling out what looked like sunglasses. Slipping them on over his mask, his claws started flying over his glovatrix. Felina was curious.

"Is that-"

"A portable Head's Up Display, or HUD for short. Very similar to the one I use in the Turbokat. It connects wirelessly to my glovatrix." Razor began scanning the street. "It's something I developed for use when I'm on the Cyclotron. Hadn't had time to test it until now."

"So what do you see?"

Razor's scan settled on a dark alley a block or so away. A grim smile lit his face. "I'm picking up a faint sound signature from that alley over there."

Felina turned her head to stare at the dark mouth of the alley. Nothing could be seen of course, as they were too far away, so that meant checking it out. Frowning, she reached for her gun. "I'll make first contact."

"Felina..."

"I carry official power. I can tell whoever it is to move along if it's nothing serious." Felina flicked off her gun's safety. "Besides, I'm sure you still want to continue your scan."

Reluctantly agreeing, Razor readied his glovatrix and followed her as she walked toward the alley slowly. Before turning into it, Felina brought her gun up in front of her. Razor stood beside her but out of sight of the alley mouth with his glovatrix raised.

She stepped into the center of the alley mouth, pointed her gun into the darkness and barked, "MegaKat City Enforcers! Come out slowly! Paws in the air!"

At first, there was nothing but silence, but soon a figure slowly emerged from the shadows. It was dressed totally in black, with a mask obscuring its face. Felina squinted to get a better look.

"I can't tell who that is. Can you, Razor?" She whispered.

Razor peered around the corner and using his HUD, zoomed his optics onto the figure. He recognized the outfit the figure wore as ninja garb, as well as the katana strapped on its back.

Frowning, he murmured, "... looks like one of Dark Kat's ninjas."

Felina's gun never wavered from her target as she asked, "Don't they operate in groups?"

"Usually."

"First time for everything," Felina muttered, then raised her voice. "You over there! Come forward slowly and get your paws-"

"Lieutenant!"

Felina barely had time to react when Razor tackled her, sending them both sprawling to the ground. Barely holding onto her gun, Felina tried getting up only to be knocked down again by Razor, who covered her.

"What are you doing?" She began to ask, angrily when she yelped as she heard something go flying overhead and implant itself with a sickening thud into the brick building behind her.

Razor rolled off, and Felina finally had a chance to see what caused the sound.

"Throwing stars?" Felina was mortified. "But I didn't see-"

"They're made of some sort of non-metallic alloy. You wouldn't have seen any glint." Razor answered Felina's unasked question. "I barely saw it with my HUD."

Razor noticed the ninja starting to advance, albeit slowly, toward them. He quickly glanced at Felina and said, "Two targets are harder to hit than one!"

She nodded. And with that, the two separated with Felina taking cover around the corner of the closest building. Razor sprinted across the street, trying to increase distance between himself and Felina. He could hear the throwing stars chase after him as he took cover behind a metal construction pillar. He stared across the distance at Felina.

"Wait for the pause!"

"Roger!"

More throwing stars were thrown at Razor's position, causing sparks to fly off the girders. At the rate the stars were being thrown, Razor began to suspect there was something odd about the ninja kat. Long moments passed as before the barrage finally ceased. Razor locked eyes with Felina.

"Now!"

Leaning out from cover, Razor and Felina fired their respective weapons. Bullets and mini missiles hit square the person in the chest, causing the ninja to stagger back and disappear in the resulting smoke. Both ceased firing, waiting for the fog to clear.

"Damn it!"

When the smoke dissipated, Felina could finally see the reason for Razor's curse.

The ninja strode confidently and calmly toward them, readying itself for another attack. Scorch marks and burnt clothing dotted the ninja's chest, yet it showed no signs of being injured in anyway. Felina couldn't believe it.

"Those were center shots! How can he still be standing?"

Razor once again focused his HUD's optics on the ninja, concentrating the visor's power on the it's chest. A grim smile played on Razor's lips as he confirmed his worst suspicions.

"It's a robot!" Razor cursed under his breath. "That explains how it's shooting those throwing stars so fast."

"What? I thought Dark Kat didn't like robots!"

"He doesn't! Not after he couldn't control the Metallikats!"

"So why is his ninja a robot?"

"Maybe it's not a Dark Kat ninja." Razor tried getting a better look but a barrage of throwing stars forced him back into cover. "To be honest, it looks more like the Metallikats' grown up kitten than anything else."

"How is that even possible? Other than reactivating Zed, can they even..."

"...Don't give me that visual, Felina." Razor tried making himself as small a target as possible as the assault continued. "And unfortunately for us, my armor piercing ammo is back with the Cyclotron!"

Felina ducked back behind her brick cover as some throwing stars found their way toward her. "So what do we do, Gunny?"

"I have to go paw to paw combat. It's got a katana, but I have something that will hopefully level the playing field for me." Razor replied, putting his HUD away. "But, first, I've got to disable that paw that's throwing the stars."

"On it! Just be ready to shoot!"

"What are you doing?"

"Just a little early practice for the annual MegaKat City Bravest and Finest softball game." Felina slipped out of her stilettos and crouched down to pick one up. She glanced over at Razor. "Ready?"

Razor waited for the precise pause that developed between throwing star barrages. It came fast.

"Now!"

With all the force she could muster, Felina heaved the stiletto at the ninja's paws. While the ninja turned slightly to focus its throwing stars at the shoe, Razor lined up his shot.

"One in million..."

With pinpoint accuracy, Razor shot a mini missile at the ninja's paw. To his satisfaction, he was rewarded with sparks and the barrage of throwing stars ceased. Bursting from cover, Razor retrieved the ASP, a retractable baton, he had hidden in a pocket and ran full tilt at the ninja. With a flick of the wrist, the ASP extended to its full length.

"Felina, if you've got a head shot, take it! That might be its weak point!"

"But..."

Razor leapt up and swung the ASP down at the ninja. Unfortunately, the robot recovered quickly and unsheathed its sword, blocking the attack. Landing back on his feet, Razor charged the robot again, swinging his ASP in an arc. Sparks flew as the ASP collided with the katana, and Razor was forced to use the ASP as an improvised sword. As the red eyes of the ninja robot gleamed at him, Razor hoped to hell that the katana wasn't sharp enough to cut through the thickened steel.

As Razor continued to parry the ninja's attack, Felina tried getting a line of sight on the robot's head. The robot moved too fast, and Razor's attempt to fight the ninja made a shot too risky.

"Damn it!" Felina cursed as she watched the sword fight continue. "No shot. I have to get closer.

Using Razor as a distraction, Felina slipped over to the concrete pillar Razor was using as cover. Readying herself, she aimed her side arm.

"Come on, Gunny...Give me a shot."

Mindful of Felina, Razor jumped back as the robot slashed at him. Before the robot could swipe at him again, Razor brought up the ASP, blocking the blade and pushing the robot back. Taking a quick look at his ASP, Razor remembered that the ASP could also be used as a shock baton. It lacked the punch of his mini Megavolt missiles, but it was capable of giving someone quite a jolt. In fact, he used it to override some electronic locks on the fly when he wasn't in the mood to use his glovatrix's hacking program.

That's it!

Tapping the bottom of the ASP, Razor activated the electrical component. The ASP vibrated slightly and small sparks arced from its tip as the ASP began charging. Now he needed to find a weak spot and...

"Gunny!"

Razor barely had time to react to Felina's yell when he saw the robot's free paw blur and crack him hard across the jaw. Stunned, he didn't even register the coppery taste in his mouth when the robot grabbed his jacket, hoisted him up, and slammed him brutally into the ground.

Air violently exploded out of Razor's chest and seconds later he lost the grip on the ASP, leaving him a crumpled heap on the ground. He wheezed as he tried to get up, noticing the looming shadow of the robot over him.

As the robot raised his blade, Felina stroked her trigger, shooting the robot point blank in the face. As her gun cycled on empty, the robot turned toward her.

"Felina!" Razor wheezed. "Run for it!"

She couldn't even do that as the robot was far too fast, batting the gun from her paw in a flash then clamping its metal paw around her throat. Lifting her off the ground, the red eyes of the robot gleamed as Felina clawed desperately at the paw tightening around her throat.

"Feral, Felina. Lieutenant Grade 1. MegaKat City Enforcers."

In their weakened conditions, its odd voice barely registered on Felina and Razor. The smaller SWAT Kat rolled over onto his paws and knees and blinked in shock. Was it talking? All Felina heard was a roaring in her ears from gradual air loss and spots before her eyes as it continued to choke her.

"Height: 5'8". Weight: 130. Family: Feral, Ulysses. Commander of MegaKat City Enforcers. No known significant relationships, male or female."

Razor, jaw throbbing with pain, tried desperately to get up. Eyes on Felina, the robot continued its monologue.

"Squad leader of Enforcer Helicopter brigade. Citations for bravery in the field. Up for promotion to Lieutenant Grade 2. 90% accuracy rating. Confirmed kills," the robot intoned emotionlessly. "Kill order: Not authorized."

When the robot reached that conclusion, it immediately eased its grip on her neck and released her to fall bonelessly to the ground, coughing and sucking in air.

Through with her, the robot turned to head for Razor. The SWAT Kat had managed to recover his ASP and had it hidden behind his back as he pulled his legs under him and stared at it defiantly.

As it approached, the robot intoned, "Razor. SWAT Kat. Weapons Officer. Height 5'9". Weight: 185. Suspected developer for Turbokat. 98.5% accuracy rating. Confirmed kills."

"Is that so?" Razor managed to rasp out.

The robot's eyes grew darker as it reached for the tom. "Kill order: Authorized."

"That's what you think!"

Razor leaped upward then lunged at the machine. The robot switched from reaching for the tom to using its blade, which blurred toward Razor's side. The SWAT Kat felt the icy burn of the blade as it sliced his left arm.

Barely flinching, and mustering his strength, Razor speared the ASP into the robot's eye. Springing back on his feet, he gripped his arm as he watched the robot claw at its face and staggered away.

Razor limped over as quickly as he could to Felina, who managed to get into a sitting position. "Fel? Felina, are you all right? We need to go now!"

Felina coughed and rubbed her throat. "Why? Is that thing dea-"

Not taking time to respond, Razor simply knocked Felina over, using his body to cover her. Felina was about to push the SWAT Kat off when she heard the loud crack of an explosion. Shrapnel rained down around them, and Razor was glad his leather jacket was thick enough to repel most of the pieces while others pierced the first layer. After a few minutes, everything was still, and Razor pushed up on his good arm.

Felina managed to lock eyes with him, and the swirls of emotion Razor saw told him what he already knew, and perhaps even more: That was too close.

Breaking eye contact by sheer force of will, Razor glanced back to where he last saw the robot. There was nothing left but a smoky blackened spot. As Razor stared back at the spot, he heard Felina cough a bit.

"You know, Gunny...another time, another place...I would be enjoying this."

"Huh?" Razor looked confused as he stared down at her and saw the teasing smile on her face. In an instant, he became very aware of where he was and hurriedly moved off her body.

Smirking, Felina pulled herself into a seated position while Razor, who was slightly embarrassed, searched for any new lights that might have turned on in any of the buildings around them, drawn by the explosion.

"Hmm...Doesn't look like anyone was disturbed by the ruckus," he commented.

Felina laughed lightly, stopping to rub her throat. "This is MegaKat City, Gunny. Unfortunately, it would take a larger explosion than that to get our fair katizens to panic and call the Enforcers."

"So I see." With the threat over, the last of Razor's adrenaline began to leave him and his body was letting him know just how hurt and sore it was. He decided sitting was a good idea and dropped to the ground beside her. "That's good for us."

Felina cast her eyes over his battered form and noted his left arm had been cleaved cleanly open by the robot's sword, going through the leather to the flesh beneath it. Blood began to seep out slowly.

Shaking her head, she reached over to roll up Razor's jacket sleeve to inspect the damage closer.

"Gunny, that wound looks bad."

"It feels like it, too."

"You need to go to a hospital for this."

"No way!"

"You need stitches and possibly a tetanus shot!" Felina retorted.

Razor shook his head defiantly. "No hospitals! I'm not going to risk being demasked!"

Felina let go of Razor's arm to cross her own arms over her chest. "So what will you do? You definitely can't ride your bike now."

"I'll think of something!"

"And you call us Ferals stubborn!"

"Well..." Razor managed to smirk, reapplying pressure to his arm, "...it takes one to know one, I suppose."

Felina stifled a laugh. Always the smartass.

There were a number of things she should be doing right now. Namely, reporting the incident to central command and taking a certain vigilante into custody. But, for once, she really didn't want to follow all those Enforcer protocols that had been drilled into her since the day she first signed up for the force.

Vigilante or not, the kat that sat beside her saved her life. That stood for something. And she at least owed it to him to help him out. She could always report the incident later, and bear her Uncle's wrath when he found out.

Smiling to herself, Felina extended a leg and began rolling down one of her stockings. Isn't this how she got together with Gabriel? Wounded in the field and she was the only trained combat medic around?

Funny how things turn out.

Razor was looking at her in shock. "What are you doing?"

"Gunny, you are causing me to violate a number of Enforcer protocols."

"Really? Such as?"

"Failure to report a crime to central command. Failure to report vigilante involvement. Failure to arrest vigilante. And..."

Felina took the stocking she had just rolled down and wound it around Razor's injured arm, making a makeshift tourniquet. "Rendering aid to a vigilante without proper authorization."

"There's a rule for that?"

"Well, it's mostly for providing support in the field, not medical aid. So maybe I won't get dinged for it."

Razor slowly stood up, and offered his good paw to Felina to help her up. "So what now?"

"You wanted to walk me home, Gunny. So you're walking me home." Felina stood behind Razor and started gently nudging him toward her apartment building. "And since you're talking to a former combat medic, I'm going to try and patch you up."

"I see."

"Think T-Bone will miss you? It is getting late."

Razor found himself too tired to care what his partner was up to. "Eh. If something happened, I'm sure I'll hear about it tomorrow. For now, I've got a pretty nurse to take care of me."

"Flatterer." Felina smiled. "That earns you a free massage, if you play your cards right."

Razor flushed, more out of pain than embarrassment. What exactly was he getting himself into?

Maybe he should have gone to the hospital after all.