Chapter Twenty
The sound of a car's engine reached a pair of dark brown ears, telling the female they were attached to, that her guest for the evening had arrived. Her golden eyes raked the living area one last time, checking that everything was immaculate, and comfortable. These were only temporary quarters, rarely used by her as she had her own home out near Megakat Springs. But these sufficed when she needed to visit Megakat City. Better than a hotel, as a matter of fact, especially since they required privacy for their clandestine work. However, tonight it wasn't business but a relative who needed to see her and this was the safest place to do that.
Her niece, Felina, had checked through proper channels after running into Kazuma, to see if Urabe had also come to town and once determining that, asked if she could see her privately. Urabe sent back immediately that...yes she was in town and she'd be happy to see her. She requested Felina come to her home tonight.
That gave Urabe time to debrief her team then discuss their next move. It was decided that Karel would go see Professor Hackle and attempt to gain the old tom's trust. He also had to find a way to get close to the SWAT Kats, a task he didn't really relish.
As for Kazuma and Antonio, Urabe needed them to continue their search for Dr. Viper. With Turmoil and the Metallikats dealt with, the next on the list was the mutant kat. Based on Karel's intel, Dr. Viper was planning something major and they needed to find him before he could execute it.
Finally, Raina had brought up some data she wanted to show her leader but said it could wait until after Urabe's meeting with Felina.
Her mind was brought back to the present when a firm knock hit her door. Turning toward it, she took two steps and opened to the smiling face of her niece. Returning the smile, the older Saharas moved aside to allow the younger females to enter. For this evening meeting, Felina opted for casual, wearing only a plain white t-shirt with faded blue jeans, leather jacket, and running shoes on her feet. Once inside with the door closed, she gave her aunt a warm hug.
"How you been, Auntie?" Felina asked as she released her aunt.
"I've been fine, considering the jobs I do," Urabe said warmly. "Would you like some tea? I just got some fresh tea leaves from China town."
"Yes, please." Nodding, Urabe turned and headed for the kitchen, Felina trailing after her.
While Urabe headed for the counter to make the tea, Felina went to the small kitchen table and took a seat then watched her aunt efficiently move around the kitchen as she did her self appointed task. In the comfortable silence, Felina tried to think how she could bring up the conversation she'd had with T-Bone. She sighed mentally. Perhaps asking Urabe why she was here might be the best way to start.
"So what brought you to the city, Auntie...other then my uncle finding his mate?" She knew Urabe wasn't here to test Abi, that was Kazuma's task.
"Oh this and that," Urabe said, deliberately vague. She walked to the table carrying two cups of tea, handing one to Felina before taking a seat at the table across from her niece.
"And would one of those things have to do with the Metallikats or Turmoil for that matter?" Felina asked penetratingly, her eyes watching Urabe closely while she took a sip of her tea.
"I suppose you're wondering where they've disappeared to...hmm?" Urabe wasn't surprised her niece suspected she had something to do with the disappearances, after all, she was an excellent Enforcer and was aware of what Urabe did for their kind.
"It seemed too coincidental that you're in town and suddenly omegas turn up missing...so...?" Felina tossed the ball back at her aunt, now certain Urabe was involved.
"And you don't believe in coincidences," Urabe finished for her, smiling. "All I'll tell you is you don't have to worry about any of them as they've been permanently taken care of. That should make your job much easier, that is, until a new villain makes an appearance."
Felina's right eyebrow rose at her aunt words. "Ahh...so you are on a job, one that has to do with our current batch of omegas, eh? Does Uncle Ulysses know you're here?" She suspected not.
"No, he doesn't and I want it kept that way...at least until we're done," Urabe said firmly, locking her golden eyes on the younger female's darker ones.
Puzzled and fuming a little, Felina demanded, "Why now? This city has been under siege by the omegas for years! Why get involved now?"
"Past actions made it impossible for us to be involved until a few years ago and you have your fool of a mayor to thank for that."
"Mayor Manx? What does he have to do with this? Did he ask you to come?" Felina asked, surprised.
Urabe burst out laughing "Hell no! He'd faint if he knew we're here at all. No, it's because he failed to honor a bargain he made with us years ago that we're forced to come in now and clean up his mess...among other things."
"Those other things wouldn't be the SWAT Kats too, eh?" Felina asked, shrewdly. Her aunts expression went from warm and open to cold and expressionless in a split second.
In a flat tone, Urabe asked, "Now why would you ask that?" She knew very well her niece was on the fence about the vigilantes making her be at odds with her uncle and her job as an Enforcer. It was not a good position for the young female to be in.
Shifting a little uneasily under her aunt's cold stare, Felina told Urabe what she'd come here to see her about in the first place. "I got a late night visit from T-Bone and was surprised when he asked about you." Felina watched her aunt's body stiffen at her words.
"And why would he think to ask you about me?" Urabe growled, wondering how the tom had connected Felina with her.
"He knew my uncle had gold eyes and being rare, was surprised to see another with those same eyes. Thinking it was limited to our family, he logically assumed I would know you."
Shaking her head, Urabe was surprised but let that go to ask something more important to her. "That tom….what did he ask?" She ground out trying to ignore the sudden ping of joy and happiness she felt when she heard Chance was looking for her.
"Just that he felt a weird connection between you when he touched you," Felina said with pretend casualness, her ears picking up the sound of a low growl coming from aunt's throat.
Urabe didn't respond immediately. Felina wasn't aware she'd met Chance at the grocery store and he'd taken her paw making that connection between them. The younger Saharas thought they'd only just met during their recent battle. How much should she tell her niece?
Felina could see she had disturbed her aunt significantly and might not receive the answer she wanted so pushed on with her next question. "So just what exactly do you have planned for the omegas and the SWAT Kats?"
Still a little distracted by the subject of the sandy colored tom, Urabe said, "Oh, nothing too serious about them but the omegas...well...watch and see."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As evening deepened, a couple cuddled on a lounger on the patio of their log cabin watching the stars come out. As tonight was their last night in the woods, they were making the most of it before heading back into their hectic lives in the city.
Feral drew in a deep breath of night air then tightened his hold on his mate, drawing her closer to him to keep her warm against the cooling temperatures.
Her ear now laying on his massive chest, Abi listened to the rise and fall of his breathing and the strong pounding of his heart. She loved the feel of his powerful arms keeping her close like this, it felt so safe and proved how much he loved her. Turning her head, she nuzzled him, taking a deep breath of his wonderful scent. A part of her so wished they could remain this way forever but they had important lives waiting. A small frown creased her face as she thought about having to face Callie when she explained how she and Feral had come together in the first place. That was a conversation she wished she could pass on.
She doubted Callie would believe her if she said Feral was a member of the mythical species called Saharas and that she was permanently bonded to him as lifemates...even if she'd been allowed to tell the deputy mayor. Though it would be so much easier if she could so Callie would leave them be. But that was not to be so she had to find another way to explain how deeply tied she and Ulysses were and that it wasn't just a fling. She sighed mentally in resignation. No, her next contact with Callie was not going to be easy nor pleasant.
"If you're that concerned about talking to Callie, we could just call in and stay awhile longer," Feral suddenly said, looking down at her, understanding in his eyes.
"How did…oh right the bond. I forgot you can feel my emotions at times. But to answer your question…no. I would rather face Callie sooner rather then later." Abi leaned her head back so she could see his face.
"If you wish. I suppose the best way to get her off us is to tell her how we met and began to date and, most particularly, how we're mated now," he said.
"The first part of that is a good idea but not the last. We can't tell her we're mated so I guess I'll have to say we're in a committed relationship but I'm not sure our friendship will survive that information." Abi was afraid Callie might not take the loss of her chance at Feral very well and their friendship would be ended because of it. After all, the deputy mayor had been after Feral for some years.
"Don't worry about her. And if she doesn't like the fact we're together…well that's her problem not yours or mine." He wasn't happy that the matter of a certain blonde haired and peach fur colored she-kat was making his mate so upset. It made his primal side growl aloud about it.
"Oh, that reminds me, there's something else I needed to ask you..." she said, pulling a bit further away from him. He growled a little at her pulling away but listened to what she had to say.
"Ask away."
"It's about your family, since they know about us does this mean I'll be meeting them soon?" She kept the fact she'd already met Urabe out of the bond.
Feral was quiet for a few of minutes, thinking. He couldn't tell her that she was to be tested first to insure she could be trusted so what could he tell her? There was no doubt in his mind that Abi would get long well with his grandmother and sister but if Kazuma deemed her untrustworthy then, he didn't want to think about what his best friend would do based on that. But right now he needed to tell her something. He would not have her worry when there was nothing she could do to change what was about to happen.
So he settled for, "I believe so. I know my grandmother is looking forward to meeting you. As for my older sister, I don't know. I haven't spoken to her for several months. Then there's my brother ... don't know what he'll think about you." He shrugged. "Anyway, there's Felina but you know her already and get along well. As for the rest, well you'll just have to meet them and make your own opinions on them."
"Does Felina know we're dating?"
"Oh yes. She's smart and had already figured out I was seeing someone seriously so when I told her who it was she was very happy for me. Said you would be good for me," he said smiling.
Smirking, Abi said, "Is that so? Well tell her I agree with her." She leaned back into his embrace, content for the moment. Wrapping her arms around his chest with her head against it, she closed her eyes and listened to his heat beat again. Silence fell between them for a couple of moments.
Then Feral blinked and said incredulously, "Wait, you agree with her?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As the morning sunlight began to creep over the horizon bathing the once dark landscape with bright colors, Karel stood before a security gate that guarded the home and lab of Professor Hackle. The place was located across the bay from Megakat City proper, clinging to the cliff side with its windows reflecting the beautiful waters below.
He was here to discover if the professor had duplicate personality disks of Mac and Molly and to see if they could gain his trust. Karel studied the layout of the place looking for any weak spots in the professor's security system. He would have to return later to test the system more thoroughly.
The other part of his mission was to try and get closer to the SWAT Kats, that should be fun. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he assumed the persona he needed to present in a few minutes. It was his habit to say his 'new' name several times and allow the new identity to seep into his brain so he wouldn't make a mistake as he played his part. When he felt confident he was ready, he pressed the intercom button.
He only had to wait a couple of minutes before an old voice was heard through the speaker. "Yes? Who I am speaking to?"
"Professor Hackle? I'm Dan Norris. I'm a student at Megakat University and I'm studying to become an engineer in cyber robotics as well as taking a couple of mechanics classes. I came across some of your work in the university library and many say you still hold the position of expert in the field of cyber robotics. I was wondering if I could speak with you on this subject and bounce some of my ideas off you?" Karel said speaking only half the truth. He was interested in cyber robotics and did have a few ideas but as for the rest, not so much. However, to insure a check of his bonifides didn't raise a red flag, he was already plugged into the Megakat University computer showing all that he'd said and that he'd been there two years already and that he was the top student in those particular classes he mentioned.
Kazuma and Antonio had spoken with some of the professors ... either paying them or using extortion ... to get them to say many good things about Karel if Hackle asked any of his old friends at the university about him.
His ruminated ended on a frown as he realized Hackle still had not responded to him. Concerned, he attempted to cajole the tom by mentioning some of the names of professors at the university to get the professor to trust him.
"What kind of ideas?" Hackle asked, sounding somewhat distrustful.
"Well, sir. I'm working on creating nanites. My idea is to have these nanites help a kat's natural immune system fight off diseases and infection; such as diabetes, cancer, healing broken bones, torn muscles, or even damaged minds," Karel explained, using a tone of barely suppressed excitement in keeping with his persona.
This was true somewhat, his village scientists were indeed working on such a creation as a means to help not only their kind but kat kind as well. If such a thing was invented and proven to be a success then one could only imagine what kind of relief and aid this would be to those who faced such serious illnesses. Urabe had even given permission to speak of what successes they'd made so far in creating nanites.
Once again silence fell. Hackle was apparently thinking over what Karel had said. The Saharas sighed and waited. If he wasn't able to gain the Professor's trust then he would head back to the safe house. Their alternate plan was to observe the professor for a few weeks until they knew his habits then break in and find what they needed but personally he didn't want to have to do that.
Suddenly the security gate began to open. Apparently, Hackle was intrigued enough to be willing to speak with him. Relieved, Karel walked through the open gate and headed for the front door of the home. The front door opened and an elderly tom eyed him intently as Karel walked toward him.
Reaching the tom, Karel dipped his head respectfully. "Greetings Professor. Thank you for seeing me," he said politely.
"Greetings. Please come in and we'll talk over coffee," the Professor said, stepping back to allow Karel inside.
"Thank you, sir, that would be welcome." He walked inside. Now came the hard part of this mission.