Cats and Dogs – Birds, Cats and Heroes
"I don't know what you were thinking, Commander Cruger, but you better show better instincts than that in the future or I have half a mind to pull your rank and demote you back to the academy!"
Fowler Birdy has been chewing out Cruger for a good ten minutes now, in front of Kat and his rangers. While Birdy squawks about Doggie's incompetence his followers have no choice but to listen to the dressing down in silent fury. Jack and Sky have matching scowls, itching to stand up for their commanding officer and comrade. Syd looks down, upset while Bridge doesn't know where to look. Z is caught partway between looking at Birdy with contempt and at Kat with awe.
Kat's face has been slowly descending into unfathomable anger.
Soon Z is joined by Syd, then Bridge, and then the last two males. Their ears still hear Birdy but they are focused solely on the wrath Kat sends to the screen image of the bird with her eyes. Her fangs are bared angrily and if one listens extra closely, one might hear feline growling. The rangers continue to watch as her breathing increases. Her grip on her digi–pad tightens and turns her knuckles white. The normally sparkling green eyes, friendly and kind, are dark and steely. The pupils are like single slits made by a knife. She has had to listen to him before, but...
Katherine is livid.
"I should hope your command over earth SPD doesn't lead to its fall, like that of—"
Before Birdy can complete the horribly audacious sentence Kat is in front of the seated Cruger, face as dark as the day her home was destroyed. If there is one thing Katherine Manx will not tolerate, it's insult to her Commanding officer's integrity. Dare to insult Commander Anubis Cruger, you face the rage of Doctor Katherine Manx.
"Birdy, you shut that beak before I beam myself up and shut it for you!" Kat's voice has a rasp to it that betrays her underlying hisses. Her hair stands slightly on end, as an earth cat's fur does when alarmed or angry. Her grip on the console is so tight the steel is beginning to dent under her extended claws.
"Doctor Manx, you are out of line!" Birdy caws angrily, feathers properly ruffled by the Felina. The two look like any earth bird and cat facing off. As much as he wants to bring down the hammer and fire her then and there the ferocity of the Felina prevents him from it.
"You're out of line, Fowler, talking to Cruger like that! He is more of a commander than you could hope to be, and the fact that you would stoop so low as to even think of mentioning Sirius is inexcusable! You might be Supreme Commander but I will lay down my badge and all fourteen of my degrees before I let you slander the name of Anubis Cruger! You dare to say anything else negative and I'll go so far above your head I'll be able to hold your scrawny, feathered neck in my teeth!"
Bridge breaks some tension by turning to his teammates and mouthing 'fourteen degrees?' Kat seethes, baring her fangs in emphasis. This seems to have shut Birdy up, as he simply stares at her, astonished. "Well, Fowler, go on, say something!" Her eyes darken again and her voice is cold like ice. "I dare you."
Birdy breathes for a moment before starting calmly. "I apologize, Cruger, Doctor Manx is right—I crossed a line and I apologize. I hope to see better from you in the future but this is all from today. However," Birdy looks to Kat, who doesn't waver in the least, "you, Doctor, will learn to speak to a commanding officer. Birdy, out."
The screen goes black and no one dares to breathe for a moment. Kat's form is still stiff with anger, shoulders arched and claws still out. Cruger sits behind her silently, though he smiles, impressed, grateful, and flattered by her devotion to him. The rangers stand below, awkwardly.
"Fourteen degrees?" Bridge asks, characteristically breaking the tension.
Kat turns and the stress oozes out of her as she smiles at him with a small laugh. "Yes, Bridge, I have fourteen degrees in the scientific fields."
"But—what—how—" Only Bridge speaks but the others are silently wondering with him.
"Rangers, dismissed," says Cruger.
They smile and elbow–salute dutifully. Once out, Kat turns to Cruger. "Are you okay?"
"Am I—my head technician just chewed out my commanding officer for me with the ferocity of a thousand suns." Cruger chuckles deeply in his throat. Kat ducks her head shyly and tucks a curl out of her eyes. "Thank you, Kat, for having my back, as they say."
Kat smiles up to her old friend. "Any time, Doggie."
"Although, I do admit, I would love to see you have Birdy by the neck."
The two share in a healthy, hardy laugh at that. They delight in the mental image. Kat clears her throat. "That might have been a little overboard."
"I rather enjoyed it, you stubborn little kitten." Cruger smirks having turned Kat's term for him unto her. The smirk only grows when Kat glowers up at him. "In fact, you're even worse than I am, because I never verbally attacked a superior officer."
"Well, he had it coming!" Kat protests in her defense, and his. "I couldn't just let him talk to you like that. The rangers weren't in a position to protest so I stepped up!"
"That you did, and your dedication to me will always be dear to my heart, Katherine," it's said with a profound note, final, but not dark or sad. His smile radiates warmth.
Kat just stares up at him, the same unspoken adoration in his eyes mirrored and intensified in hers. "I dedicate myself to those worthy—warriors, protectors...true heroes."
"So, no overstuffed pelicans," Cruger chuckles, getting a chuckle out of her too. Her words continue to ring within him, though. In an attempt to express how gravely he appreciates her words and her as a whole, he embraces her. As he leans over her, it's unnatural but wonderful. She fits against him nicely, he notes. His arms encircle her easily. One paw rests on her shoulder and the other on her waist. She places her hands over both. "Katherine... "
"I know," she says. Words aren't needed. "Me too."