MISSION 2:

The Sea Comes for All


Chapter Update: June 19/23 - see below for notes.


Far from the beach, a couple of kats were scuba diving in the coral reef, searching for a dropped stash. They were mafia members and nearly coughed a hairball when seeing the Enforcers at the beach. Their initial worry subsided as the Enforcers focused on something on the beach. Two individuals went down, and one remained in the boat, watching the beach with binoculars in case the enforcers made their way toward them.

Criminal enterprises have adapted to the changing transportation of narcotics with varying success. Only creativity and unconventional ideas kept their product from the Enforcers. Searching for their precious cargo, these cats committed another day of crime. It was slower, but the enforcers had not yet caught wind of this strategy…

One of the scuba divers wearing blue overalls signaled his red scuba diver to check the opposite direction while he checked the other area. The red diver signaled affirmation and swam to where the other pointed, leaving the view of the blue diver. Blue diver continued his search, swimming closer to the coral and inspecting the small openings to avoid missing anything.

The blue diver wished things were like the old days instead of mucking around the open waters where sharks lived. He did not want to become fish food and quicken his paddle across the coral area. A beer and warm towel awaited him above.

Aquatic life swam around him and avoided the kat as the fish went in different directions in their home. The beautiful coral reef was a popular tourist attraction among many in the city's waters. Recent issues of missing boats and kats have led people to avoid this area. Kats have complained about monsters in the area. That made it perfect for this criminal group as they could stash drops and pick them up without civilians accidentally finding them.

The blue diver spotted something yellow at the edge of the coral reef. It barely avoided heading down to the abyss below. He got excited, thinking it was the drugs, and swam down, ready to be done with this scavenger hunt.

As soon as he reached the container, the diver realized it was an open barrel, much to his disappointment. He was about to swim back, but something caught his eye. The label read 'Megakat Nuclear Plant.' He muttered to himself about telling his boss they needed a new spot.

Before he could move, an enormous shadow eclipsed the sun above him. Only looking up briefly, he saw something fall and barely registered the other diver's head before disappearing into the depths. Bubbles erupted from his mouthpiece—a flash whipped by.

Only a red splatter remained on the wall…

The creature turned its attention toward the boat. It dragged the ship into the ocean within a minute. The intruders went from three to none.

The creature spotted the busy beach and was curious. Hunger won out, and it saw a feast. The animal craved the kats and wished to play with the remains.

It swam towards the beach.


A furless kat lay on a medical bed with his arms restrained by a mechanical device and I.V. attached to his arm connected to the nearby equipment. A white room with a cold steel floor and harshly glowing white lights above enveloped the sleeping boy. The furniture included a bed, two chairs, a desk, and a sink. Notable items include a large black mirror, a one-way mirror, and a door on the other side.

It wore all-white clothing, which gave him a prisoner look. He was barefoot, and some bandages covered him from the minor injuries he sustained when underneath the water. He was still breathing, and his chest slowly fell back and forth as he was in a deep sleep….

The stranger watched every moment. The beach was here moments ago, and now only modern contraptions surrounded him. A typical kat would fear getting caught, but he wasn't because he was invisible. As he raised his hands, the light quickly shone through it like glass. Coming to the world cost him some magic. However, that's where his new sleeping batteries came to play. Batteries? Despite seeing them for the first time, he seemed knowledgeable about the surrounding things. He wished he could retrieve his dormant memories with the same feat, which was impossible.

For now, the creature before the stranger was the biggest mystery to solve. The kit was otherworldly, and chaos encircled the kit. He felt his energy returning to him as he stood by this recent visitor. He resolved the eternal sleep, but now he needs to prevent the frightened kats next door from killing it. Despite lacking claws or anything frightening, it puzzled him that the kats feared the thing.

The stranger laughed and wondered when it would wake up. A fresh memory sparked in the stranger's head of something he could do. He placed his other hand near his right eye.

"Eyes of Revelation," the stranger chanted. He closed his other eye and looked at the kit with a new vision.

The room was dark, with only the boy visible, illuminated by shining cosmic lights. Like a rock in a river, the flow avoids the boy. With a swipe of his paw, the kat switched back to his normal vision. The stranger grinned and became more excited at the revelation.

"So, this little thing has magical capabilities. It seems the flow of mana has not yet connected with him," the stranger muttered. How can he force the connection? Another thought came. The stranger was getting his memory back slowly and appearing as puzzle pieces to collect. He instinctively inserted his ghost hands inside the kit's heart.

"You better thank me later," the stranger said. Energy transferred from his paws to the kit. "And let me give you a temporary buff as a welcome gift."

With one final push, he shook the essence of Ethan's soul.

XXX

Ethan gasped, and his eyes shot open. His whole body jerked forward. A buzz in his head and the machines going wild filled his ears' canals. His eyes drifted around. His vision was unfocused as he could only see the glare above. Ethan winced and realized his restrained hands when he tried to touch his head. What's going on? Why are there cuffs on him? Where is he?

As he attempted to break free, the cuffs were light yet strong, like steel. The monitor was picking up, and he felt sick. He bolted out of the bed. However, as soon as he touched the cold floor, he felt imbalanced, and he moved onto the wall, hitting it as he struggled to stay up. A sharp ring infiltrated his ears, and he was kneeling the next second. The wires and lines stretched to their limit.

The world spun, and the ringing grew louder. Ethan compared this experience to a drug trip. Yet, he was unsure since he had never done drugs. That was a lie. His adoptive mother chastised him when he fooled around with a cigarette he found. The only person who gave a damn about him. He whimpered and covered himself, wishing it would end.

A foot appeared before Ethan. He blinked twice and attempted to raise his weighted head. Above him, a tall person wore one of those radioactive suits and goggles that were blacked out. Ethan's eyes wandered behind the figure. The door revealed a small hall and an entry into the viewing room. It automatically closed.

Ethan felt fear as the stranger in the mask got closer, towering over him. Dread kept Ethan from saying anything, and he waited for something horrible to happen till the suited person reached a hand towards him.

"Need some help?" a male voice said.

Ethan deliberated, then grabbed the man's hand. The masked adult lifted him to his feet and led him back to the bed. After fixing the wires, the man returned the I.V. stroller to its original position. Ethan then watched the man grab a chair and bring it so he could face Ethan. The man crossed his legs and shifted his body forward towards the boy, putting his hand on where his chin should be.

After a long, awkward silence, Ethan moved his attention elsewhere. "Uh… so where am I?"

"Where do you think you are?" the man said.

"How the fuck am I supposed to know that?" Ethan snapped. He was unsure if it was courage or the lingering effects of whatever was in his system, but it did not matter, as he needed answers. "Are you some kind of oddball that enjoys kidnapping people?"

The outskirts had kidnappings, including children like Ethan. Some of him also wished that he was still dreaming. That this was just an odd dream.

The suited man didn't react, which made the boy queasy in the stomach. The man appeared lost in thought as black goggles looked at him. He wondered if this person would cut him up, hence the suit. Of course, the man could be under the Young Bastard's payroll. This could be the secret villain cell they owned. Ethan slapped himself internally to focus and not think with his wild imagination. Avoiding one thought led to another of the man's potential actions.

Finally, the man spoke.

"Kidnap you? I think you are mistaken here."

"Then the fuck is this?" Ethan raised his hands. "Also, who the hell are you?"

"You can call me Specter. So, I have told you mine, so what's yours?" Specter asked.

"Esmond, though, just call me Ethan. What kind of name is Specter?" Ethan said. Another swift pain in his head came. He winced and grabbed it. It felt more robust and like whispers were invading his ear.

"Something the matter?" Specter's voice brought Ethan back, making the boy notice he was now standing before him. Not a single sound alerted the boy of the man's movement.

Ethan also noticed that Specter was carrying a weapon and some device. Both tools were reaching a distance for Ethan. Memories from last night held him back from attempting it. He did not want to risk getting involved with another person with a gun.

"It's nothing. I just need some water," Ethan said, brushing off his pain.

"All right. Let me do something first," Specter said. He grabbed the restraints and the device with his other hand. He placed them near the boy's cuffs, quickly disengaging them, the hard thud hitting the floor below and missing the boy's feet.

They both remained still. Ethan was the first to move, rubbing his hands and averting his gaze. Specter paused briefly before leaving.

"Oh… are you also hungry?" Specter asked.


Many kats from diverse fields watched, waiting in suspense. Enforcers were ready, clutching their weapons, and the scientists were excited to have a live alien in captivity. They filled the room with monitoring equipment that watched Ethan from different angles and his stats, like his heartbeat. Two doors, each on opposite sides, one leading to the outside and the other to Ethan's confinement. Desks, papers, notes, and lab equipment occupied the room. The viewing area provided a perfect view of the boy for all. The two prominent figures were standing near the mirror. One was the commander of the Enforcers, Ulysses Feral, a dark brown tom with a firm and prominent jaw. The other was a similar-aged she-kat named June "Garden Mother" Snow. They gave the impression of working together, but they were not….

Feral growled, turning to face the other unwanted guest. June just smiled as she took notice of his anger. No one spoke in the room. Feral knew it. His relationship with this she-kat was like oil and water. A few minutes ago, they were nearly at each other's throats.

-_Moments Ago_-

Feral had just arrived at the building holding Ethan, seeing kats watching the invader with curiosity and fear. Feral's usual attire was the commander's coat, white shirt, tie, black boots, light gray pants, and swagger stick as he made his way to the center of the room. His eyes went to Ethan, and he tightly gripped his cane when he confirmed it was an alien. A part of him wished it was a mistake, but he knew wishing got nothing done, and only actions do. He got everyone's attention when he slapped his stick on his enormous paws, making his enforcers salute him.

"Report," Feral commanded, and one scientist approached him.

"From what we have gathered so far. I'm afraid all we can offer is mere speculation for the moment. We did a brief examination of the creature. Unlike us, it does not have many furs, teeth give the impression of it being omnivorous, and x-rays do not show any foreign objects inside him," the scientist said. She halted as soon as she reviewed the commander's face. He didn't want to hear this.

"Can you tell me anything that's not speculation? Or things I can see myself?" Feral snapped and looked at the alien. His boots clicked toward the mirror. "I need answers! Whether to prepare my Enforcers for an incoming attack or something to ease the council before they decide to do something rash."

An elected mayor once ran Megakat City's government, and the council assisted in other matters. Years ago, the mayor's ineptitude and his deputy mayor helping an omega allowed the board to gain power and take control of the city. Feral accepted the change as the city was becoming too big, and each council could focus on separate sectors. Yet change always brings additional problems. Feral was not a fan of the kats' trigger-happy approach, which caused issues for the commander when diplomatic solutions took longer. Despite hiding it and having a commanding presence, the tired commander hoped this threat was manageable.

"Sorry. However, some good news. The Enforcers who found it showed no signs of illness. They are in their last test. Everything seems clear. We will monitor them for a few days to ensure," the scientist said.

"That's a relief," Feral said. He returned to face the doctor. "Did they mention anything about the creature's discovery?"

"Hmm…they mentioned it talked in central tongue like us, the creature mentioned, and I quote, 'I'm at the beach' before falling asleep. Oh… We examined all his clothes but found nothing dangerous except a broken pocketknife. There was no I.D. on the creature, but we can tell it's male, sixty-one inches in height, and appears young, with our estimation being like….. a kit."

Feral sensed a shift in the air. Some Enforcers shifted at the news and appeared to ease their grip on the weapons. Others looked down and pondered the situation. The rest kept firm and watched the invader like a monster. They fix their eyes on the glass. Feral remained silent for a bit before choosing his words and getting ready to take control of the situation.

"Assuming that is true," a female voice rang out. Everyone looks at the door.

"Why are you here, June? I can see you brought one of your Strays," Feral said while noticing another kat waiting at the doorway.

The new arrival was an old she-kat in a black coat, gloves, and a gray pencil dress. June's fur was snowy white, and her one good eye was a piercing blue. Her other notable feature was her eye patch that covered her left eye.

The other kat, Benson "Specter" Scratch. The tom shifted his oval glasses on his covered upper face, hiding his identity from the kats. Currently, Benson was donning his Specter persona. Despite the mask, Feral knew of his real identity, as high-ranking Enforcers knew about this team. The tom had gray and black fur, dressed professionally, with a button-up shirt and a black plaid vest. A hazmat suit that was halfway set up covered Specter's lower half. The hazmat revealed a gun and badge, preventing him from being mistaken as a high-class bartender. Specter waved to greet the other kats, but all eyes were on the female she-kat.

June's face was blank, with no expression as she approached the commander. June turned it into a smile, and she patted his shoulder like an old friend. "Why can't you be happy to see me? Have you been eating well? How's life?" June said.

The commander considered throwing something at her but kept it to himself. She did not wait for him and walked towards the window. "I'm guessing one of the council members called you."

Feral sighed and approached the feline to be by her side. Of course, those kats had called her. Certain members would prefer June to handle things, as she had no chains to hold her down. There would be no paperwork if the help did not exist officially to the public. The Strays are convenient for the council. He glanced at her, who kept looking at the boy.

"The invader appears small, doesn't it?" June said. She raised her paws and signaled for her companion to approach. "I would like my tom to talk to him when it wakes up."

"If I remember correctly, this is Enforcer business only. You and your strays can wait until my team finishes questioning first," Feral said. He always was unlucky to be surrounded by kats that ignored his orders and jumped headfirst into things. His words didn't matter to June, making June the worst.

June chuckled. "Ah, don't be like that, Feral. You're aware of the outcome when I'm here. What's the score…. twenty to five. You are not the greatest in politics, Feral. I have a better relationship with the council. Let's not waste time and give my team the first chance. You can have the scraps when we are done," she said. Her dagger eye told him to back off.

Feral grimaced. However, he quickly realized another kat was missing. June's shadow was nowhere to be seen. He grinned and shook his head.

"I assume you have the proper documents to gain authority over the site. But knowing you, you don't, and that would mean I have control till that happens. My toms will escort you out until that happens," he said, signaling the nearby enforcers to kick them out.

June eyed the approaching guards. "Hmm… I guess you would be right. My assistant should have gotten one right now… however, I feel you will make it difficult for him to come. As for you two. I don't recommend getting closer."

The guards stopped, wary of approaching further. However, the guards were in the middle of two influential figures, eyeing them to follow their orders.

"I would appreciate it if you did not threaten my kats," Feral said. He raised his cane toward June. "You'll get your turn later. I'll save you the best scraps."

Feral and June shared a fierce gaze. The enforcers and doctors kept their eyes on them but failed to realize that somebody had shot up from their bed. June's soldier put on the suit while creeping to the door.

"Garden Mother, I'll be heading inside," Specter said. He opened the door with the device, and he made his way inside.

Feral glanced at the door and mirror. The alien was now up. He scowled and glared at the annoying she-kat.

-_Present_-

"I'm not in the mood for games today, June. I dislike it when kats gamble like that and put everyone else in danger," Feral said.

These kats took the risk and waited for no one. Where he would have to wait for approval, warrants, and other blocks, the Strays did not have the same restrictions.

"The protocol is to wait for all the results, but I don't have time," June said, swatting the cane.

Feral was interrupted by Specter's return to the room. He had unzipped some parts of the hazmat suit in front, exposing only his face. Specter halted when he noticed what was happening and waited near the door.

"Ah, Specter, how was it? Made a new friend?" June asked.

"I don't sense any threat. I gave him multiple chances to attack me and let him see my weapon. If we are to assume everything is true and how he acts. We are dealing with a kit from another planet. He's terrified and seems unaware that he's in our world. Honestly, I thought it would have been harder," Specter said frankly, almost sounding bored.

June's smile dropped, and she got serious. "Hmm… that's disappointing. How do you plan to proceed?"

Specter looked around and headed towards a scientist's desk, where a lunch bag and a metal water bottle awaited him. The scientist would object until he saw Specter's eyeing him and stopped himself from saying anything to the tom. Enforcers guarded the door as Specter walked towards it.

"Well, feed it… but might be impossible," Specter said.

"Feral… tell your kats to move. My tom has already contacted the alien. Let's proceed and observe how things play out. Or do you want to send one of your kats inside and talk to him?" June said.

Feral glared at the she-kat but took a minute to scan the room. He debated allowing June's team to take point. His pride urged him to throw them out, but his former self was absent. Had he been a better commander in the past, things would have been different, especially after finding out the identity of his two former adversaries. He closed his eyes and exhaled. Now was not the time to regret. He was a commander, and his kats came first. Feral wanted his kats to return home safely with their families.

"Fine. However, if this escalates, it will be your head," Feral reminded. He signaled his kats to let Specter in.


Ethan only realized his hunger when Specter brought the snacks to the room. He opened the big chips, ate them, and felt the energy returning to him with every chip. It did weird him out how it tasted like fish. He saw a cat cartoon with tuna in the first bag. The boy reached for the interesting nearby pastry, but Specter moved it before he could get it.

"Don't worry. I'll give it to you if you answer my questions. First off, how old are you?" Specter said.

Ethan wanted him to buzz off. However, his eyes shifted to the gun and back to the kat. If only he could hide in the shadows, but the harsh light showed everything. He sighed, thinking it would be best to follow along to avoid a bullet.

"Thirteen and some months," Ethan said, letting out a burp. "These are some interesting chips. Never seen them before. Are they from another country?"

"Of sorts. Second, where do you live?"

Ethan groaned and raised an eyebrow at the question. He wanted to ask Specter, but the sweets claimed his attention. To think was impossible when the stomach demanded food.

"C'mon, you found me in the elevator, right?" Ethan said while trying to reach for the snack.

Specter moved the snack away. He stayed quiet and looked up for a minute as if thinking. It appeared he had completed his thoughts and looked back at Ethan.

"Ah, so you live here too? This is my emergency bunker, and I've found you along the way," Specter said, handing the pastry to the boy.

Ethan sparked with curiosity as he opened the wrap, took a bite, and looked around the room. "Wait! Are you one of those weirdoes that believe in the end of the world?" Ethan said.

"I prefer to call it prepared. You could thank me since I could have left you there."

Ethan laughed. "Yeah, you are right, thanks. I didn't expect this on the outskirts," Ethan said. He was thankful he was still home and hidden from the Young Basterds's goons. His smile vanishes as he remembers what his father did and wonders what he should do. Home is no longer safe, and the gang will look for him.

To be fair, Ethan always wonders what he will do when he reaches adulthood. His father would always comment on how he yearned for it to happen so he could officially kick him out. Finford was huge, yet it felt small for Ethan. He felt invisible as doors shut in his presence. A ghost that none would interact with. He hated thinking like this, preferring to spend his time sneaking into movies or playing in the arcade till dark. Yet, the ugly truth always came back to him despite his entertainment.

"Everything alright?" Specter cut in.

At least someone was paying attention to him.

"Why the mask?" Ethan deflected.

"A precaution in case of any disease."

"Really? Aren't you a weird one?"

"Why were you there?" Specter asked. Ethan looked away. "All right, I'll ask something else. What school do you go to?"

"I haven't been to school."

"Why not?"

"I'll tell you if you hand over that bottle," Ethan said, eyeing the silver container.

Specter handed it to Ethan, and the boy grabbed it from his hand, opening it and taking a sip. Ethan's eyes widen, and he spits to the side in disgust. Black hot liquid escaped and fell to the ground below. He finally made the adult jerk when he did so.

"Ugh…coffee. I thought you brought me water," Ethan said, disappointed at the taste. A chuckle turns his attention to Specter. "It's not funny, you asshole."

"I apologize. It's all I had," Specter said. He stopped, rubbing his head before shifting forward. "So, tell me?"

Ethan sighed and took a swing of his only drink. He wondered how long this would take. It was not like he had anywhere to be or was rushing to collect a few things he owned back in the apartment.

"Well, let us just say I learned in the streets. I've never been good at school," Ethan said. It was the truth. Ethan left school early, and nobody cared enough to report his absence. If the boy recalled, his last year of school was in the fourth grade.

"Parents?"

"Don't got any."

Specter turned his head towards the monitor that beeped a bit before returning to Ethan.

"Fine. What do you intend to do after departing from here?"

"I don't know. Maybe searching for a new place," Ethan suggested. He considered going to an unfamiliar area, away from Young Basterds' territory.

"Planning on leaving?" Specter asked with a hint of excitement in his voice. "Do you have a ride waiting for you?"

"I wish, no, just planning to walk or catch a bus."

Specter's shoulder slumped down, and he eyed the silent monitor. Specter was expecting something else, yet Ethan did not know what it was. This whole interaction was weird, and the questions were strange. Similarly, the adult stayed quiet and tapped his foot on the floor. Ethan was more focused and noticed the guy's four fingers. Does his headgear have something poking out?

"You remember what happened to you? Specifically, before you woke up?" Specter asked.

Ethan was about to speak when he stopped, realizing his memory was fuzzy. He remembered taking the step, falling, and that's it. His brain was trying to remember what occurred next, but it was like they wiped it from him with only a momentary burst of images coming to mind. Whenever he tried to concentrate, the whispers returned with sharp pain.

Without thinking, Ethan shot up, breaking away from the connections, and walked away from Specter, pacing back and forth as he grabbed his head. The headache intensified with time. The boy felt drums were assaulting his head.

"Ethan, you okay?" Specter said.

Ethan groaned and stopped moving, dropping to his knees as it worsened. Initially unclear to Ethan, the whispers started making sense, with no actual words being spoken. He could piece together what they were trying to say.

Danger. Death. Big.

The pain faded, but the alarms kept ringing. Ethan took a deep breath, the sweat dripping from his face, and surveyed his surroundings. He ignored Specter, who had drawn his weapon, and looked towards the wall opposite the mirror. He stood up in fear and backed away from that wall.

"Something big is coming, something from that direction," Ethan whispered, trying to understand this feeling.

Specter heard Ethan and cautiously approached the alarm boy, looking toward the wall Ethan discussed.

"Hey, Ethan. Ethan!" Specter demanded. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't know… I don't know, I just heard whispers, and I feel something dangerous is approaching us fast!" he said. It was challenging to explain this sensation. All his nerves were shooting like fireworks, and his body was telling him to move.

Both of them got alarmed when they heard a loud bang, an explosion nearby. Then more bursts followed quickly, and it sounded like a fight was happening outside. Did gang warfare break out, or were the police casually firing explosives at them? Ethan sensed a warning and faced Specter.

"Specter move!" Ethan shouted as he bolted to the side quickly.

Specter moved back quickly, avoiding the ceiling and tentacle splashing into the room. The tentacle pulled back suddenly, exposing a beach, the sky, and a giant creature heading toward the tanks and enforcers.

The sighting was of a giant squid. No one expected to see a giant squid with two legs, moving tentacles, and a mouth underneath its eyes. Its skin was purple-red and had a necklace of its victims, both fresh and old. It also wore items from its long list of broken ships. Its black ink drooled from its mouth to the sandy beach below. It was akin to seeing a cave dweller of the sea.

After the attack, the two individuals collected themselves on opposite sides of the room. Furniture, equipment, debris, and the division created in the room lay around them. Only the viewing room and mirror remain.

Ethan coughed, standing up and looking at the distant destruction. Countless questions struck him, but his brain could comprehend nothing. The dirty streets, the projects, and the various homeless were gone. He's never visited the beach, only seeing it in movies. The monstrous squid stood out like a horror movie creature.

"What is that? Hey, Specter, are you-" Ethan stopped when he saw Specter. The mask was gone. Only a cat's face quizzically looked at him.

Specter touched his face and finally realized why Ethan looked at him in fear. "Kit, stay put- "

Ethan ran out of the hole.

It was like a war zone for the boy as he saw a cat army fighting the mutant squid. However, both scared him as his brain tried to process what was happening around him. He scanned the area once more. Temporary tents filled the site, and some of them got destroyed. Injured cats lie around him. Specter's calls for him to return were fading as he proceeded further away. Cats moved towards the mutant with guns that shot lasers and bazookas, ignoring or just not seeing the boy, as they had a more significant threat.

A roar grabbed Ethan's attention, and he saw it sending tanks flying and causing destruction. He shudders at the thought of facing the creature and moves away, avoiding it.

"Where the fuck am I?" Ethan said. He ran to the side as a whisper warned him of an attack. Debris fell where he would have been. The warnings gave him chills and intensified when danger approached.

Ethan ducked and ran, which proved hard with the hot sand below his exposed feet, but he pressed on, even though he was avoiding death by inches. The cats had a vast beach setup, and he was only halfway through.

A whisper came, and Ethan tripped. This saved him as the barrel of a tank speared above him and tore an opening at the big tent near him. Breathless and tired, Ethan struggled. The food from earlier and his fears were helping him push through, but he was running out of gas.

Ethan glanced back to witness the monster's rampage, and the military had injured it, but its skin was tough as steel, and the harm was minor. He considered resting inside the tent. Far away, the monster's attention remained on the cats.

A monster roar quickly made Ethan decide, and he jumped through the opening and ducked to a nearby desk. He peeked to see the battle. Helicopters were surrounding the mutant, and some cats were aiding the wounded out of harm's way. It didn't seem the cats would win soon, and they appeared to be losing forces with every passing minute. Ethan could have sworn that when his eyes met the mutant squid, it noticed him and seemed curious, hungry for something new to eat.

Ethan ducked his head back inside and tried catching his breath before moving on. A lab with equipment, thick plastic walls, protective gear, and curtains was inside the tent. A testing area for scientists was on one side, and a quarantine room was on the other. One of the thick support beams fell from the center and crashed into the quarantine area. The lab was in disarray, with scattered broken equipment and furniture. A damaged vehicle caused most of the damage and emerged from the hole, illuminating the room harshly. The boy also noticed a red puddle beneath the damaged car, showing that someone had died during the attack.

Ethan shuddered at the idea of it being him and decided he had rested enough.

"Hey! Anybody! I need some help here. God dammit!" a male voice rang out from the quarantine section of the tent.

Ethan prepared himself to run.

"Please, anybody! Someone! I'm stuck in here!"

Ethan paused, debating whether to help, but he had to flee before the cats found him. Brushing the call, as it was not his responsibility and reasoning that the cat would be fine inside, Ethan moved towards the exit.

"Help! I can't get to my injured friend. Please help! Please, someone, answer me! I can't reach him! Fuck, please, someone, anybody! He needs help!"

Ethan stopped. He looked towards the quarantine's entrance. It would be easy to book it and say goodbye to this mess. No one cared about him, so why would he risk himself for someone else, especially someone that was not human? For him, he was no hero, just some kid that read about heroes saving the day. Sometimes it would be great if he had powers and could do something. The boy's eyes drifted toward the vehicle and saw the blood again. If only things were simple. Ethan shook his head, then headed towards the quarantine room entrance, looking back at the escape route for a second.

Ethan went through the plastic curtains to the hallway. He arrived on the other side within a minute. Two containers on opposite sides of each other, built like mini-rooms with a bed and monitoring equipment. They currently locked two cats inside the glass walls and metal ceiling. A damaged container was pinning the lower half of the brown cat. Ethan could not tell if the cat was breathing from his position. The other cat's ears perked, and turned to see him, his relief expression hardening when their eyes met.

For Ethan, this was his first time meeting them. Unaware of it, Dex and Simon were the first to find him.

"You! What did you do?" Dex growled. His fur frazzled up, and the sharp claws would turn Ethan into Swiss cheese.

Ethan felt even more unsure about helping the cats, but he pressed on and moved toward them. He kept his attention on Simon. The beam had knocked the ceiling down, pinning the brown cat at his midsection, but the bed saved him. Ethan scanned where the beam fell and wondered if he should go through the small, sharp opening. However, he did not want to risk shifting the beam or injuring himself with the razor glass.

Ethan slowly turned back to the cream cat, nearly crumbling in fear as he saw the animal's eyes looking down at him angrily. He sensed the cat's intention to harm him, but he needed to evacuate them to escape the monster's attack.

Scrounging some courage, Ethan said, "Are the keys nearby?"

Dex only responded with a puzzled expression to the boy.

"The keys? Or do you not want to help your friend?" Ethan said.

"You're helping us? What's your game-" Dex stopped when he heard a groan from his unconscious friend. The cat gripped his fist and swung back towards Ethan. He tapped his toes and pressed his head against the glass. "Fine, unfortunately, the keys were with the scientist, and they haven't returned since the attack."

Ethan cursed under his breath. The locks looked simple enough to break. Desks and tools littered the surrounding area, and they were still intact. The boy headed there and began rummaging through the workstations and cabinets. While searching for something useful, he aggressively opened the cupboards and pushed things away. Papers, glass tools, and other things fell to the ground.

"What are you looking for?" Dex said.

"Something to break open the locks," Ethan shouted.

The boy pulled another cabinet and revealed some surgical equipment. The boy smiled at his find and returned to the awake cat's door, getting on his knees as he put the tools near the keyhole. Ethan stopped. "You're not going to attack me when I do this, right?"

"I'm not! Please hurry so I can help my friend," the cat snarled, which made the boy pull his tools back. "All right, I promise I won't attack you! I only care about my friend's condition… so please…. help me."

Ethan returned to focus on the door. He felt his hands shake as they heard another roar close by. He could hear his breathing get heavier—the mental image of the monster ripping the tent and eating him alive.

"What's going on outside?" Dex said.

"There's some kind of monster attacking the beach. It seems like a giant squid, but it looks fucked up than the usual kind," Ethan said, seeing the cat get curious.

"A squid? It's not an attack from you aliens?"

"Alien? Look man…uh… cat…whatever you call yourselves…. I just woke up, and I'm freaking out as it is. Talking cats and a giant walking squid, I must be dreaming or something. I was in my building, and suddenly I was here… I… I don't know what's going on," Ethan said. He shook his head. It didn't feel like a dream, but real. He felt more relaxed, letting his emotion out as he fiddled with the lock.

The locks clicked.

Ethan slightly put his fist up in celebration, but soon he became wary as he stood up and backed away from the door. The cat exited the container and stood before Ethan. The pair watched each other, waiting for action.

"Let's not waste time," Dex grumbled.

Dex led the way. Ethan set to work on the door, with the cat keeping watch in case of danger. Ethan shoved the surgical equipment and messed with the lock, quickly finding his rhythm and opening the door. Dex promptly moved in when he opened the door and headed straight to Simon.

"Simon, c'mon buddy, wake up. This isn't the time to fall asleep on me," Dex said. He inspected the fallen ceiling, ensuring it was safe to move before grabbing it from the bottom and pulling it up. Dex looked back toward Ethan. "Hey, don't just stand there and help me lift this thing."

Ethan moved in to help. The boy put his arms at the bottom of the ceiling. It was heavy, and the giant fellow was also struggling to lift it, but they raised it enough to move Simon out.

"Get him out of there! I'll keep it up!" Dex growled as he tried to keep the ceiling from falling.

Ethan grabbed Simon, putting his arms around the cat's armpits and dragging the cat from his position. The boy was grateful that he was not pulling Dex, but Simon weighed a lot. Ethan groaned as he pulled them out of the container.

Dex released the ceiling and quickly dodged as it fell, causing the thick glass to shake and break. He hurried towards the two and quickly checked on his friend. Dex sighed and looked at the struggling boy beneath his friend.

Ethan cursed and pushed Simon away. He closed his eyes briefly, wondering if he still had time to leave, and reopened them to see Dex's paw reaching out to him. Confused, Ethan reached for the hairy hand. Dex swiftly lifted him to his feet.

Ethan was now standing in front of the cat again, and the height difference was significant, making the boy scream inside a bit. He was frightened and expected the tom to harm him until he witnessed Dex turn away and lift Simon from the ground. Ethan watched as the tom cradled Simon and positioned him close to his chest.

"Listen, thanks for the help. I appreciate it," Dex said.

"Uh… yeah… no problem. Glad I could help," Ethan said, eyes drifting to the exit.

"I don't advise that."

"Huh?" Ethan said, fixing back to Dex. The hostility in the cat's eyes dissipated, making them look softer.

"I think…. it would be best if you stayed close till whatever is happening outside is done. Even if you escaped here, the Enforcers are trigger-happy regarding aliens coming to our world. Trust me, when Simon and I found you at the beach, I was already thinking about shooting you," Dex admitted.

"Uh… so why would I- "

"I'll vouch for you. It's not much, but it would shield you and give you a better chance of living than if you run."

"How can I trust you?! Maybe you're just saying things to get credit once they capture me again!"

"You can't… you just need to. I won't stop you if you run right now. Though… I would feel guilty if they killed you. You can either come with me or do as you please," Dex said. He moved towards the exit.

Lost again, Ethan considered following the cat or finding his way out. The big unknown world that will probably kill him. He thought about his choices and opted for the cat's suggestion.

"Wait…fuck… fine," Ethan called out. He caught up to the cat, ensuring he had enough space in case things changed. Dex paid no mind to him and kept his focus on the exit.

"By the way… what's your name? My name is Dex, and this is my friend, Simon," Dex said.

"It's- "

Ethan stopped when a whisper came, telling him to duck. He scrambled to the cat and shoved him with all his might. It alarmed Dex as he tumbled forward with Ethan in tow.

"Duck!" Ethan shouted.

Ethan shielded himself as the tent tore apart. Objects flew past him, and the tentacle's wind lashed his face. Everything around Ethan disappeared momentarily, leaving only the trio amidst sand and debris.

When it felt safe, Ethan opened his eyes to a frightful sight, the monster staring down at him with his drooling mouth. He froze in fear, and even the whispers could not help him.

The monster slowly reached with one tentacle towards Ethan, cautious of the new meal, and the boy breathed in a panic. He thought the curious squid would eat him alive until he heard a growl near him. Ethan snapped towards the sound, where he saw Dex had grabbed a sharp metal pole, running towards the tentacle and swiftly stabbing it. It would appear useless at first sight, but the monster's tentacles' tips were softer, and the pole penetrated.

"Kid, run!" Dex screamed. He let out a sound as it swiftly knocked him back a considerable distance when the monster jerked its tentacle.

"No!" Ethan screamed. Dex hit the floor hard and remained face down on the hot sand.

The world slowed down. The injury agitated the monster, and it eyed the unconscious cat he sent flying. He roared angrily and raised one tentacle above the sky, preparing to swat Dex like a bug.

Ethan reached out for the tom, hoping to pull him from their great distance of each other and hopelessly trying to save the cat. If he did nothing, Dex would die and leave his partner behind. Ethan's pointless attempts to channel anything were not working, and he wondered if he would see the kat perish. It would not be the first time he was helpless. He felt he could have prevented his adoptive mother's death and his biological one. It would be great if he were like those comic book heroes, saving people and defeating the bad guys. Who was he kidding? He was weak, bowing down his head when troubles arose and staying silent when injustice occurred around him. He cursed his uselessness and wished he had the power to snap the monster into pieces.

In Ethan's mind, he cursed everything that had happened today. He cursed his father, Agatha, neighbors, Toby, the gang, and everyone who disappointed him. He yearned for the ability to do something. To act instead of accepting and pursuing his desires. He wanted to rescue the cat and annihilate the mutant. If there was someone that could grant him this feat, he did not care if he lost himself and would gladly let the darkness swallow him.

The whispers came on. However, these differed from before and were more venomous than before. A new whisper encouraged Ethan to succumb to his shadow and dark thoughts.

KILL!

As the boy looks at the monster, the words resonate in his mind. Ethan stood up and tried to squeeze the monster before him for no apparent reason except anger. It was like those games kids played with toys and buildings, pretending to shape the world to their imagination. However, Ethan was trying to use that idea of crushing the mutant.

KILL!

Ethan's left eye sparked a black color, eyes inverting in color, and he closed his hands with the squid getting closer.

KILL!

As Ethan grabbed the space where the monster was, he felt a sudden heaviness in his hands. When Ethan grabbed the area where the beast was, it surprised the monster and froze it in place. The tentacle dangles a few feet away from Dex. The squid roared angrily and tried moving from the invisible confinement but could not. Dark hands appeared, mimicking Ethan's position.

Ethan snapped out of his trance and could not believe what was happening. Yet as he eased his grip from the shock, the monster chopped hard on the left hand's area between the thumb and index finger. Feeling a sharp pain, Ethan examined the spot on his hand where the monster had bitten him. It felt like a dog bite, and he released his grip.

Despite its size, the monster bolted toward the ocean. Its eyes went wild, and it desperately attempted to reach the waters with its hands. It appeared like the monster sensed the danger if it stayed around.

Ethan growled, refocusing on the squid and reaching out toward it.

The spectral hands matched him. The black hands hit the monster's head with such force and speed that it caused fierce, sandy winds. Ethan was not his usual self, and his eyes were demonic. His anger remained, as he wanted nothing but to rip the monster.

The hands gripped the squid, which struggled and attempted to bite again after realizing it couldn't break free. Ethan braced himself and put his hands inside, feeling the sharp teeth. The monster tried biting down, but it was impossible as the hands gripped its mouth on each end. It looked back at where the boy stood, and the boy showed no sympathy while his blood-curdling screams echoed afar. With force similar to opening a bag of chips, the boy pulled, and the sound of flesh ripping mixed with the monster's screams.

Then silence swept the beach, the crashing waves, and the seagulls crying in hunger as a feast was now presented to them. The mutant's death was a sight. The mutant's lower mouth stretched so far that it exposed its insides, which spilled onto the sand.

Ethan snapped out of his trance and realized what he had done, looking at his injured hands covered in marks and bleeding. His eyes reverted to normal, and his anger had dissipated. The whisper hissed in annoyance but drifted back into obscurity. It almost sounded like the whisper promised it would return.

The sound of nearby footsteps and vehicles snapped Ethan's attention, confusing him. He thought he should run, but pain shot across his whole body like lightning before he could move one foot, and he dropped to his knees. It was waves of different things. A hot fever started, breathing was impossible, tears ran down his cheeks, and blood spilled from his lip. His entire body felt like it was hurting itself, and it felt like he was dying.

"Seems like you overdid it. How does it feel? Screaming body parts, trying desperately to breathe like drowning, and blood trickling down your mouth. Hmm…" a voice rang out.

Ethan's vision faded, but he could see a shadowy figure in front of him, looking down at him and inspecting his worsening condition.

The stranger kneeled and tried grabbing the boy's head, going through him like a ghost. He clicked his tongue. He sighed and stood up, looking towards where the squid's remains and smiling at the destruction.

"You lasted longer than I imagined. Don't worry, I'm not done with you yet, and I can't let you die. Shame, I give you a boost, and this is what you do with it…I expected a bigger bloodbath, not a little shit with a heroic complex… well, what's the saying? Beggars can't be choosers. I suppose…" the stranger spun back towards Ethan with a devilish smile before disappearing.

Ethan barely registered what was happening before him, and his head bowed. He was out….

A few moments later, the Enforcers quickly surrounded the boy with guns drawn and fingers already at the trigger. They snatched the kats away quickly and cautiously, and everyone was silent as they waited for orders. Feral and June arrived and observed the boy in the center. Ethan's intentions were unclear, leaving everyone unsure of what to do.


AN: Fixed some point-of-view problems, cleaned up some dialogue, and hopefully achieved more depth with the characters. I hope you guys enjoy the changes, as I will update the following chapters in the coming days! - GreyDog