Chapter 2: Cats Always Land on Their Feet

A tear rolled down Batz's face as he stood in the graveyard. The funeral service had come and gone, and everyone except him had left. Guntz, not even a year old now, had been taken back home by a friend, to give him a bit of breathing room to mourn.

Why did she have to leave him so soon…?

He remembered when she had bought Guntz into the world, the little bundle of joy that he held in his arms, how happy they both were that they had a son to call their own, and now…

And now he was alone…

A set of footsteps walked along the gravel behind Batz, and he turned around to see Janga, still dressed in his formal attire of a waistcoat and shirt, his glasses a little crooked. Batz gave a little sigh of relief that it was someone rather close to him. Ever since he had saved Janga from that band of raiders, he and his wife had taken him on as a bit of a pet project, to see if they could turn him from something of an amateur into a self-reliant bounty hunter. They hadn't been sure why they were trying to, but something about him had spurned them to give it a shot, and for the most part it was working.

Janga stood next to Batz, deciding to keep quiet for now as he joined him in looking upon the gravestone in front of them. It was hard for him too to believe she was gone.

"I'm… sorry, Batz…" Janga said quietly after a short pause. "She was a great woman… you were lucky to have her…"

Batz wiped the tear from his eye and tried to clear his throat. "Y-yeah… she was…"

His mind was still numb from the events that had taken her away. She had insisted on going off with him on another assignment, as she had been staying with the infant Guntz most of the time while Batz went out on jobs with Janga joining him in her stead. Batz had acquiesced, wanting to give her a break from it all as Janga looked after Guntz for the day. But it had turned out the job contract had been a trap, designed by that same raider group who had caused trouble for so many years to lure in and get revenge on some of the bounty hunters that had captured and killed so many of their numbers. Batz and a couple others had managed to escape and kill all the raiders who'd been lying in wait… but his wife… and many of his peers… hadn't been so lucky…

Janga chose his words carefully, knowing Batz's fragile state of mind. "I'd understand if you'd rather I find my own place to stay now, if you need some space alone or something…"

"No." Batz said, a little too abruptly, before turning to Janga, his expression softening a little. "I… I think I could use the company…"

Janga seemed a bit surprised at the offer but smiled all the same from it. Ever since they'd taken him in, a homeless amateur bounty hunter going on tough assignments for whatever paltry sum he could, he had grown close to them, and to Batz especially. He had never felt any jealousy towards his wife, she had been so accommodating to him after all, and seemed to see that potential in him that Batz did in turn. All the same though, he felt some sort of odd feeling for Batz that didn't quite fit into friendship, and he did wonder if there was more there at all.

His thoughts were interrupted when Batz perked up a little and wrapped his arm round Janga's shoulder, seeming to want the companionship. Seizing up at first, Janga then settled down and relaxed into it a little. It felt nice.

Actually, that reminded him… "Hey Batz, I just remembered, some of the bounty hunters are planning a sneak attack on the raider's headquarters in a bit of a revenge mission for the lives they took. You wouldn't happen to be interested, are you...?"

Batz thought for a moment. Getting revenge in his wife's name was tempting… but he ultimately shook his head. "Nah, I don't think she'd like me to put my life in danger like that. Not when I have a son who needs his dad, eh?"

Janga nodded, accepting his decision. "Of course."

They both stood in front of the grave for a time.

"Well, if you need me, I'll be there for ya!"

…

Janga looked in the mirror and grimaced at the look of his bloodshot eyes.

Sobriety was a bitch.

He had thrown out all of the alcohol in his house in an effort to finally clear his head of the fog that was being drunk, and he both was glad for it and despised it. He could think clearer than he had in a long time, but that just meant that the regrets he'd been drowning in booze were resurfacing in a big way.

Still, he'd set his mind to it, and he wasn't about to back out now. Not when the opportunity for finally being free of it all was before him.

He looked at the purple coat and scarf that were adorned on his couch, a remnant of his days collecting bounties, both before and during his employ for Garlen, and he sighed. There was no way he could wear those, not when he was trying to clean himself up. He'd be recognised right away in them after all.

Instead, he reached into his closet and pulled out a small box, inside which he removed a waistcoat, smart white long-sleeved shirt, and a pair of black trousers. It had been the outfit Batz's wife had picked out for him when they took him in, given him a bath, and thrown out his old rags that dared to call themselves clothing. He remembered being grumpy about the treatment, but at the same time grateful that someone was taking that time to do something nice for him without wanting anything in return. They had really taken care of him in a way he had not really gotten before, back during the early time in his life that he really did prefer to forget.

As he slid the smarter clothes on, finding they still fit him as well as they had when he was a younger man, his eyes fell onto his hat, the same hat Batz had gifted him after managing to complete his first solo mission as a bounty hunter. It even had his crosshair symbol on it. It had meant so much to the younger feline when he had received it…

…but no. It was still the look of a bounty hunter, and he couldn't bear to wear his symbol at that moment as it was. He bitterly reached into the box and pulled out a pair of prescription glasses and slid them on. They made him look like a complete dork, but at least now he could see clearer than he had in years.

Hooray.

As he moved through his living room, picking up a pen and paper, he began to write at a feverous pace. He did not believe that simply going up to Guntz and the others and providing his help would go down very well after all he had done to them, but perhaps he could still nudge them in the right direction from afar…

…

As Klonoa and Guntz sat down to breakfast, Klonoa having stayed over the previous night after another hero mission they'd gone on, a knock came at the door. Guntz went up to answer it, as Klonoa happily snacked on his sugary food. A short time later, the canine came back, seeming confused and holding a sheet of paper.

"Who was it?" Klonoa asked between mouthfuls.

"I'm not sure…" Guntz replied. "There was no one there when I looked. Just this note…"

The note was written in handwriting he did not recognise, and it said the following:

"The world is once again in danger, and only the heroes Klonoa and Guntz are capable of saving it. The information on this new threat can be found in the La-Lakoosha library, in the book 'History Of Claire'. Seek out the Aeternus. It will point the way forward."

Guntz turned it round in confusion. This really did read like an elaborate prank, or an out of season surprise birthday party. Still, it piqued his interest, and it wasn't like he had anything better to do, so…

"Hey Klonoa, fancy a trip to the library?"

…

Janga watched nearby as Guntz and Klonoa left their home and headed off in the direction of the library. He gave a slight smile despite himself as he stayed out of sight. It seemed like his plan was working…

…

"Never thought I'd ever see you look in the general direction of a book, much less read one, Guntz!"

"Enough with the sarcasm, Leorina, just help us out, alright?"

The pair had arrived at the library, and as much as Guntz was complaining, Guntz was glad to have run into a familiar face, that being the former sky pirate Leorina. Although having said that, more and more people were calling her Leo again these days.

She had recently taken on her once-rejected role as priestess-in-training, and was moving up in the Claire Moa Temple fast, no less because of the support the High Priestess had been providing her. Today, she was volunteering in the library, within which were extensive archives on the history of Lunatea dating back eons. If a book existed in this world, they probably had a copy somewhere.

"Hmm, well, it is certainly an obscure tome, this 'History Of Claire'." Leorina said as she scratched her chin, dressed up in her priestess uniform. "I'll have to go downstairs and look through the archives to find it."

"Sure, fine, we'll wait here." Guntz snapped in a huff at the delays as Leorina headed off with a slight smirk. Some things never change.

It took a little while, but eventually she returned to the waiting pair with the massive doorstopper of a book. Setting it down on the table they had sat down at, Klonoa and Guntz looked at the damaged and worn cover, featuring a golden rendering of the deity Claire herself. Opening it up, the pair began to sift through it, looking for a reference to the Aeternus. Leorina, feeling a bit bored from all the book filing she'd done that day, decided to join in.

"Look, there it is!" Klonoa cried out after some time as he pointed to a passage entitled "Claire's Aeternus" and the three crowded round to get a good look. The passage read the following:

"Of the artifacts said to be connected to the goddess Claire, few are so legendary and coveted as the Aeternus. Said to be a medallion of great craftsmanship, it's said that Claire created it as a trophy to her chosen champion, a being of unmatched power to all but her. Supposedly, only those wielding power comparable to her own would be capable of activating it and making use of its great rewards.

With enough energy fed into it from the wearer, the Aeternus could activate and bestow them both eternal life and unlimited power, allowing them to remain at their post by Claire's side as her greatest warrior until time was no more, a living symbol of her might.

However, it seemed that wearing the Aeternus made Claire's chosen champion mad with power, and after a time they attempted to use it to usurp her role as the deity that looked over all she had created. Betrayed, she cast them down in a great battle and hid the Aeternus away in their tomb, deactivated so that it could not be used to threaten her or her lands. It is said it still remains there to this day, and when fed enough energy to match her traitorous champion, it could be used to grant immortality and infinite power once again."

"How interesting." Klonoa said as he finished reading the passage. "So, this Aeternus is basically a key to immortality of some kind?"

"Must be." Guntz replied. "And I'd bet from that letter that someone is after it."

Leorina, however, was deep in thought, and seemed rather worried. Guntz was quick to notice.

"Bee in your bonnet, Leo?"

Quickly scanning round to make sure no one was listening, Leorina waved them closer and started whispering to them quietly. "It is a concerning coincidence that you were pointed to the Aeternus now. Just recently an archaeological dig was conducted at an ancient burial site near La-Lakoosha. It found an old tomb that hadn't been disturbed in eons, and among the artifacts inside was a medallion that matched this description."

Guntz scanned the passage again. "So, the Aeternus might have been found?"

Leorina furiously shushed him but nodded her head subtly. "It's why we have kept its discovery a secret; we want to verify it's the real deal and keep it safe from those that may wish to cause harm to do it."

Guntz raised an eyebrow. "If it's such a big secret, then why were you told? Aren't you still just a priestess-in-training?"

The question sent Leorina into a mad blush that neither Guntz nor Klonoa were used to. "W-well, the High Priestess trusts me with things of… a secret… nature…" Clearing her throat and trying to pull herself together, she continued. "In any case, we believed that we were the only ones to know it was in our possession, but from this note it seems we have been compromised after all."

As Guntz and Klonoa chewed on this information, another priestess walked up to the three. "Excuse me, but I was given a note that I was told was for a 'Guntz' and 'Klonoa'?"

Klonoa took the note from them and read it aloud:

"They know of the Aeternus, and what it is capable of. It must be kept out of their hands lest the world be thrown into chaos and darkness. Go to the temple and inform those in power that it must be move without any delay, lest there be great calamity."

Leorina's face went white, and Klonoa seemed worried. It seemed that a new threat had threatened their world once again…

Guntz, however, frowned. Something about this was just too perfect… and how did this mysterious benefactor know about this threat, anyway? "Who was it that gave you this note?"

The priestess strained her head to remember. "I don't remember their exact look, but they were a cat I think, purple fur, big glasses, weird smart clothes, two differently coloured eyes I think."

Guntz's eyes widened, a fire starting to grow in them as he suddenly shot up and began to run for the door.

He couldn't be back… he saw him fall from a lethal height… there was no way…

He threw the door to the street outside open and scanned the crowd around him. Off in the distance, a purple furred individual locked their anisocoric eyes with him for a moment, before disappearing round a corner in alarm.

Anger rising in his head, Guntz ran off in a mad sprint in their direction, Klonoa and Leorina rushing out after him.

"Guntz! What's wrong?!" Klonoa called out after him, but Guntz didn't acknowledge him. His entire focus was on the figure he'd seen run out of sight.

Guntz ran faster and faster, turning the corner, seeing the slightest outline of a purple cat's tail duck into an alleyway, and within a few seconds he was in front of it, aiming his gun into the darkness before firing a single shot.

A male voice cried out in pain and fell to the ground. Guntz stepped forward and approached them.

Their outfit was all different, way smarter, they didn't reek of beer for once, and there was an uncharacteristic clarity in their eyes, but their identity was clear.

Janga. He was back.

"I should have known that fall wouldn't do you in forever." Guntz snarled at his oldest enemy.

"Now, now, Guntz!" Janga stammered as he tried to get to his feet. "You've got it all wrong!"

"I don't care." Guntz said quietly as he raised his gun. "You've gotten away too many times. I won't let you do it again."

He pulled the trigger, and a round went off right between the eyes as Janga fell back to the ground…

..and a few seconds later, started to get back up.

Guntz jumped back in horror as Janga shook his head, and the bullet wound in his forehead healed itself before his eyes.

"First of all, ouch." Janga said in a put out tone. "And second of all, maybe let me finish what I was saying BEFORE you shoot me, kay?"

Guntz's hands shook, as he raised the gun again. "N…no.. that didn't just happen… I can't let you walk away again… NO MORE!" he yelled out before letting off several shots into Janga's chest.

Janga once again howled in pain and fell back, only to get back up a moment later as the bullet wounds vanished as if they were never there.

"Guntz, just stop for a moment!" Janga yelled as he tried to get to his feet. "There's cybernetics in my bloodstream healing my wounds and keeping me alive! You can't kill me, no matter where you shoot! Believe me, I tried!"

Guntza looked on in horror at his old nemesis, as his attempts to shut him up forever were dashed. But then, a slight smile crept upon his face.

"No matter where I shoot, eh?" Guntz said quietly. "Then surely you won't mind if I fire one there, do you?!" He drawled as he took aim at Janga's crotch, only to be stopped by the sound of footsteps behind him.

"G-Guntz!" Klonoa called out as he coughed from the amount of running he'd done trying to catch up. "W-wait up, what's the problem!"

Then, he cast his eyes on the tall purple feline in front of Guntz and he understood immediately.

"Janga!" he cried out, before turning to Guntz in alarm. "Better give him what for, Guntz, he's dangerous!"

"I TRIED!" Guntz complained loudly. "Apparently he can't die anymore or something!"

Janga sighed. This was turning into one hell of a day.

Leorina finally caught up to the others, panting from the exertion.

"Jeez, Guntz, maybe let me know in advance before you decide to run a marathon…" she turned to look up at Janga, not recognising him at all since they'd never met. "I'm sorry, who is this?"

"Trouble." Klonoa said quietly.

"I'll say." Guntz said bitterly as he pulled the scrap of paper Janga had left them and held it aloft. "What's the game, Janga? Why are you making us run around after these breadcrumbs?! Are you leading us to a trap?!"

Janga felt sorely tempted to yell the truth back at Guntz, but he knew that would do no good. He had to be level-headed about this and decided to just get straight to the point.

"Garlen's back." He said quietly.

This gave Guntz pause, and he scowled at the news. "So, the old rogues gallery is back together again. What's the cyborg prick up to now?"

Janga grimaced at Guntz's assumption but took it without complaint and replied. "He's after the Aeternus."

Leorina let out a gasp of horror at the news, and Klonoa also looked worried. They had all fought Garlen before, and knew he was bad news.

"What…" Leorina said quietly. "What does he intend to do with it."

Janga took a deep breath in, and decided he couldn't put off telling them any longer.

"He is going to use it to reach immortality, and he plans to raze all of existence and use its power to remake it in his own image."

Leorina looked quite ill. As a priestess in training, both in the past and as of recent, she knew much of the legends of Claire and the artifacts she had left behind. If the Aeternus was on Garlen's radar… all of existence was in danger.

Guntz, however, just gave a sarcastic clap as he looked at Janga with scorn.

"Good job Janga, you almost made me believe you. But come off it. You can't seriously expect me to believe anything that comes out of your mouth."

Janga simply remained quiet, keeping his inner frustration inside. "I swear to you this is the truth."

"Oh yeah, Mr I-Was-Garlen's-Lackey?! What the hell would you have to gain from just telling us this, hm? Why go against the guy you've been actively helping for however many fucking years?!"

Janga's eyes locked with Guntz's, his voice finally raising a little as he gave it to him straight.

"Because if he is defeated and finally struck down, then I will finally be allowed the privilege of my long-overdue death… and you and everyone else will never be bothered by me ever again…"

That shut Guntz up…

This was unexpected news indeed…