Mission 3:

Enter the Strays


Chapter Update: 6/20/23 - See below for changes!


Ethan's eyes opened to a sharp but warm light. The mellow white sky above and a golden tree partially covered his face. It felt nice, and Ethan wanted to close his eyes until he heard a soft hum. He recognized it and raised himself in a sitting position. He was in the middle of nowhere with some bright green grass circling him. The area was barren and was just a white void around him. A blurry figure emerged from nothing and soon became solid. A figure cooked something on top of the oven, humming a soft melody gently.

The figure became more transparent, revealing a short-haired woman with one golden highlight. She stopped humming and turned to look back at the boy and smile, showing her freckles and tomboy appearance. She wore a white tank top and an orange sweater tied around her waist that lazily flowed behind her.

Ethan's eyes glued to the woman, his mouth quivering as he attempted to speak. It has been many years since he heard her hum. Unlike that night, he wanted to run up and hug her, never letting go and wishing she stayed with him. His legs refused to budge, and he felt like something rooted him to the ground. Had he convinced her to stay, she would still be alive. His mouth was mouthing some words briefly, but nothing came out. Confused, he touched his mouth and realized he couldn't speak. This was unfair, as he wanted to say something to his adoptive mother, Zoe.

Zoe rolled her eyes and returned to her work. "You better wake up already," she said, continuing to hum.

Ethan tried repeating the words he wanted to say, but nothing came out. He soon felt a wave of sleep and drifted back to the ground. He cursed himself and tried desperately to stay awake, but his head fell back onto the grass behind him. His body drifted down into the grass and the darkness.


Ethan opened his eyes to find himself in an unfamiliar room. The hospital room had a door to the right and windows to the left, overlooking the city's skyline—a soft hum near his right side. Upon hearing the sound, the boy turned and saw someone checking his vital signs and jotting down notes. The boy briefly wondered if he had fabricated everything related to cats. Someone brought him to a hospital after getting removed from the elevator.

That thought had only a few issues.

Ambulances avoid the outskirts, even for the most urgent cases involving children. Two, his arms hurt, specifically where the mutant bit his hand. Ethan looked down at his bandaged arms. Finally, the person who was hairier than any female he's ever seen. It was a cat, not a person.

This cat had blond fur and a messy, light brown ponytail. She wore a doctor's uniform and fiddled with her pen as she spun it. Upon turning around, her gentle face displayed green and blue eye colors. They locked eyes for a moment.

"Uh… Hi?" Ethan said. He shifted on his bed and eyed the cat cautiously.

"I see that you're awake. Are you feeling better? Any pain?" the female cat said. She grabbed her stethoscope, signifying the boy to sit up, which he hesitantly did. "Take a couple of breaths."

The cold steel touched Ethan's back, yet the warm paws brushed against his skin. The doctor's ears flicked as she listened to his heart. Has he been to the hospital before? Ethan's mind drifted away, trying to ignore that a cat was touching him instead of a person. She smiled and finished, putting the tool back around her neck and looking at his face. Her eyes lacked hostility or fear. She was waiting for him to speak first.

Ethan's eyes drifted toward a name tag near her chest. He squinted and tried reading it but couldn't make it out. The doctor noticed his eyes and understood.

"I apologize. I should have introduced myself. My name is Evelyn Sharp, and I'll be your doctor," Evelyn said. She grabbed the seat nearby and sat close to the boy.

"Oh… that's unexpected. So, you're not going to slice me open or something?" Ethan said.

Evelyn gave a small, horrified expression and waved that question away. "I'm a doctor, not a mortician. I'm here to check on you and ensure you are all right."

"…. Right," Ethan muttered. The exit was nearby. However, the idea of escape was impossible, as he noticed they secured him to the bed with both arms cuffed to each side. The cuffs were long enough for him to scratch himself. If he had a small tool, he could try to escape when left alone. He wondered if Dex revealed his lock-picking capability, as everything seemed distant.

"Sooooo… what happened?" Ethan said.

"Oh, you mean what landed you here? Your body was going through various experiences. Fever, erratic breathing, and it goes on. Luckily, it was only briefly, and we stabilized you here. Here, been Enforcer H.Q.," Evelyn said, waving to their room.

"Oh okay, uh-" Ethan stopped and spotted a blood bag, which its pipe drifted down towards his arm. Blood flowed inward instead of outward. He weakly raised his other hand and reached for the tube.

Evelyn put her paw on Ethan's arm, preventing him from trying to pick at it. She gave him a soft but affirmative look, shaking her head so he would not mess with it. The boy retreated his hand and nodded at the doctor.

"You lost a lot of blood. Thankfully, there was no damage inside, but you could not stop coughing blood. I apologize for not getting your consent, but I had to take a risk and donate some of mine to keep you stable. It was a gamble, but blood donations between us are possible," Evelyn said.

She smiled, but Ethan could see the exhaustion etched on her face, her disheveled hair, blinking eyes, and slumped shoulders giving it away. He sat there, grappling with his thoughts, unsure whether to express his gratitude towards her for saving his life. Not saying thank you would have resulted in Zoe hitting him. She seemed sincere and had done nothing to warrant any hostility towards her. He eased off but was still alert in case the circumstances shifted.

"Thanks, doc," Ethan said.

Evelyn sighed, shifting her chair closer and stretching her hands. "That's a relief. Thankfully, I'm a great gambler. You would have haunted me for the rest of my nine lives if you died."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You are pretty weird. You know, I think every cat I've seen since coming here either wanted to hurt me or run away from me. Why aren't you-"

Evelyn waved at him to forget about it, eyed the T.V. on the corner, and pointed at it. "Let's not dwell on that. I have a good sense with kats… err…. well, anyone around me. That was yesterday's problem. Curious to see what we offer on T.V.?"

Ethan stared at her in puzzlement, but her attitude eased him as she reminded him of Zoe. His interest in seeing the world's channels outweighed his desire to ask many questions. It could wait as well as the 'yesterday's' comment. He copied her smile and got comfortable as the cat grabbed the remote nearby.

The anchors discussed the weather and specific topics in the first segment. Ethan watched while the doctor changed the channels, from 'Scardey Kat' to commercials to the history channel. It was a lot to process, making him realize he was no longer home. After a bit, they landed on an old movie called 'Hard Shell,' which barely began.

It was cheesy, reminding Ethan of one of those old black-and-white movies from his world. However, it was entertaining enough, and it had colors. The bonus for the boy was the kats acting in it and fighting a giant beetle. A narration concluded the movie. Wondering if it was the last occasion, the cats ominously alluded to the beetle's reappearance.

Ethan noticed it enthralled Evelyn. "It wasn't bad! Though some effects look outdated. They could have picked a better insect."

"You're kidding? Hard Shell paved the way for its future sequels. It pushed other filmmakers to create monster movies like Deep Blue, a gigantic shark that terrorizes beachgoers. Beast, a scientist, accidentally turns himself into a mutated monster," Evelyn gushed. She stopped her rambling when she noticed the boy's confusion. She blushed underneath her fur and rubbed her head.

Ethan laughed. "Man, you must love this stuff. I wish… I could show you some of our world's horror movies."

The doctor's ears perked. "So, your world has horror movies too? It is a shame… Do you have some that you remember fondly?"

Moments passed, and Ethan attempted to explain his favorite horror movies. Evelyn would nod and appear to be enjoying herself as she listened to his summaries of his favorite movies. At first, Ethan was slow and very hesitant with his words, yet Evelyn sat with full attention towards him. Words became more expansive and the descriptions more precise as he kept telling the stories of his world. It felt easier to ask questions when he could not recite more movies. Evelyn had no qualms with it and answered all his questions without a pause. He learned some things about her home world and how to spell their race name correctly.

A male's cough cut their conversation, which made them turn to the door to see a male kat and an older she-kat. Evelyn whispered to Ethan their names to him.

Mike dressed professionally in a white shirt, black work pants, and a loose black tie. His fur was caramel and light-colored, his eyes were gray and green, and he was short and built like a tank. Around his mid-twenties, the assistant was younger than Evelyn and gave off a professional vibe. However, he betrayed his professionalism by waving at Ethan. A barely noticeable grin played on his lips as if he was trying to resist the temptation to abandon his post.

"You are taking a liking to this kit. Right, Grim?" June said as she approached them.

Ethan gave a puzzled look to Evelyn. "Grim? Like the Grim Reaper?" he asked. He noticed Evelyn got serious, grabbing the chart and standing up to report to her superior.

"Don't worry, Garden Mother, I did not abandon my first task and have reported to you if anything has changed. There's no brain damage or significant or life-threatening injuries, and he will quickly recover within a few days. I recommend I monitor him for a couple more days to make sure," Evelyn reported. She waited for her boss's next order.

June patted Evelyn's shoulder. "At ease. I trust you can take care of him." She then turned her attention to Ethan. "Can you believe other doctors refused to look at you? Didn't they sign an agreement to save any life? Such a shame!"

Ethan felt unease. June was smiling at him, but her eye was coldly watching him and waiting for a response. He diverted away towards the outside window and occasionally glanced back.

June held her chin with one hand and leaned towards the boy, appearing amused at his actions. She pulled the chair back, creating a screech, and walked to the center of the room. Before sitting down, she looked at her assistant, who nodded. Evelyn left with Mike and gave Ethan a small smile before departing.

Ethan felt his stomach drop when it was just him and June. It did not help when June silently watched him and never broke contact. Eyes akin to experienced police officers in Finford, vigilant for trouble and waiting for mistakes. He was careful around those adults and sneaked away with his stolen loot.

"So, how long do you plan to stare at me?" Ethan stuttered.

"As long as you possible, why? Do I frighten you, small kitten? You caught my interest. Before I tell you something, I must ask you a few questions. Eyes here," June said. She stuck one claw out and waved it to herself.

Ethan sighed as he returned to look at June's only eye. It was like a predator waiting for its prey—no hiding behind adults or shadows this time. Without words, Ethan showed he was ready to hear whatever June had to say.

"Are you here to hurt us?" June dryly said. Her facade dropped, and she waited for the boy to respond.

"No…no, I'm not. Look, I just-"

"Yes or no?"

"NO! Fuck, what's- "

"Was it by accident or on purpose your arrival here?"

"It was an accident, I- "

"Are you a child?"

"What?! Whatever, yes, I am!"

June paused, standing up and heading towards the window. Her gaze drifted out the window, lost in contemplation. Ethan wondered what she was waiting for and worried he said something wrong.

"Can you use that power again?" June said.

"Huh?" Ethan said.

"Let me repeat, can you use those powers again? Remember, at the beach."

Ethan blinked, looked at his injured hand, and shivered. He doubted his ability to achieve it again. It just happened, and he could not invoke his memories of that day. It was like his memories turned on and off at certain parts. Perhaps he can do it again with some effort.

"I think… I'm unsure if I'm honest," Ethan muttered.

There was a long pause. June moved after some deliberation. She turned her bubbly personality on and laughed, which made the boy flinch, confused about what was happening. June returned to his side and touched his shoulder.

"Alright. Welcome to the Strays," June said. "So happy to have you."

"Huh?"


Chance Furlong kept himself entertained with push-ups in a solitary confinement room. The tom's grueling workout lasted hours, and sweat dripped onto the frigid floor beneath him. He ended his set and stood up, pacing and cooling down. The warm light of the first rays of light filled his room.

The burly tom grumbled and went to the wall with some scratch marks. He stuck a claw out and marked another day. It had been a couple of days, reaching the end of week one, since the fight, and he was already prepared to go about his lone day as usual. He repeated a cycle of sleeping, exercising, and eating. He had a one-hour window in the morning and evening to shower and take care of his business before being sent back to his room. Chance tried not to worry and focused on other things during the prolonged solitary confinement punishment from the warden. The warden knew full well that this was a cruel period but had it out for him and any omega-related individuals in prison.

Chance cursed under his breath, wishing for a chance to hurt that fat warden and show him a thing or two. The kat shook his head and went to his corner. He waited for the sounds of guards walking, kats crying, and potential conflict. Of course, a kitchen staff rolled a cart around at a particular time. The disgusting loaf of food mashed together was the only thing they served them in confinement.

The first loaf came in the food pass, and the tom approached it and picked it up. It was a jumbled mess with dry fish, barely cooked vegetables, and whatever else they tried to mash in this dry and hard concoction that was food. It smelled rotten, and it felt like an uncooked ramen noodle pack. The yellow-fur tom ate it without thinking, retreating to his corner while the smell made him wince and his tongue quivered. He pressed on and gulped the last bite, feeling terrible and bitter at the lingering taste in his mouth.

Chance sighed, leaning his head back, thinking of just relaxing and waiting for the next period to arrive so he could shower. The sound of approaching footsteps broke Chance's rhythm. He perked his ears and listened to them. The sight of a paw followed the sound of two cats arguing near his door with cuffs emerging at the food pass.

"Prisoner Eight Nine One, turn around and come to the door slowly! You have some visitors today!" one guard barked, jiggling the cuffs for the tom to hurry.

Chance's eyebrow lifted in confusion, but he followed instructions, getting a break from his routine and seeing who these visitors were. Once the guards cuffed his hands behind his back, he backed away and waited for them to open the door. One signaled him to come out, and they escorted him down the hall.

The first door opened when the camera confirmed the guards passing other confinement cells. They first saw a long, big chain wall on opposite sides that guided them towards the general population building in the center. Over the chain fence, on each side, recreational equipment for the prisoners when the period arrived. He could swear he could still see the few teeth he knocked out of those toms. Down the path and reaching the door leading into the building, they spent more time walking, turning, and making their way through the halls. They passed a massive double door where the general cells were and entered another part of the building. They then passed the corridor that led to the visitor's area.

Chance worried for a bit, wondering if they bribed these guards. He prepared himself in anticipation and tested how secure the cuffs were. He could attempt to claw the hole, but that would take too long, so bull-rushing and kicking was his solution. His attention drew to a door they were approaching, and they led inside him with a hard shove. He was prepared to fight but paused, realizing the two cats did not resemble prisoners or Enforcers.

The room had a steel table and two chairs on opposite sides. The concrete room had no windows and a single light bulb. Brown male kat stood vigilantly in the corner and watching Chance. The old female she-kat sat near the table and appeared enjoying herself. She waved at the guards, who promptly left, closing the door behind them and leaving the three inside.

"The hell is this? Who the hell are you?" Chance snarled.

The boss used a hand gesture and a stony stare to stop the other tom from getting ready and asked him to back out. The old she-kat ignored the other tom's eagerness to fight and smiled instead. Her eyes analyzed Chance as she appeared to think about something.

"Chance Furlong, one of the Swat Kats, that terrorized and almost blew up the city's Enforcer Headquarters if your doppelgangers didn't stop you. My my… Aren't you just a gem? It seems you are still itching to fight after all these years. What a story! The best pilot the Enforcers ever had. They stripped you of your rank and position after ignoring Feral and destroying the brand-new Enforcer building. You were forced to become a meaningless mechanic in a dump yard and pay for the repairs you've caused. Then, the same kat you were chasing after during that fateful day, you become his lackey and one of the Swat Kats. And now… Just a prisoner rotting away in Alkatraz," she listed while getting more comfortable in the chair.

Chance's fur stood up. She must be someone of importance if she knew the specifics. Most kats lacked complete knowledge. Was she a captain in the Enforcers? Yet they did not look like Enforcers. "Listen, who the hell are you, and what do you want?"

"My name is June, and behind me, Mike. I would consider myself… A friend," June said. She leaned forward and smirked at the tom.

Chance turned around. "The hell! If you are here to waste my time, I'll leave," he said. He reached the door and got ready to call the guards.

"I offer freedom and your wings back."

Did he hear right? Chance looked back to study June's face. She appeared cheerful and nonchalant about being near him, yet he could tell her hawk eyes were eyeing him down like prey. Then there was her offer. It seemed too good to be true. The harsh winds, the breakneck speeds, and the clouds beckoned him. He also recalled his…. no, he had no partner. Chance rubbed his head and then headed towards the chair, sitting down and waiting for June to continue.

"You'll work for me and follow my orders without question. In exchange, you'll leave this island and return to the skies," June explained.

"To do what, exactly?" Chance said.

"Hmm… saving the city, aiding citizens, doing missions, and… capturing or eliminating those that would cause harm to Megakat City," June said. Her smile dropped, getting serious. "For instance, Dark Kat."

Chance leaned forward. "Huh, now that would be something," he said. He itched to pay the kat back for leaving him to his demise.

"I already recruited your friend a while ago," she added, but the tabby scoffed when she mentioned that.

Chance leaned back. "I don't have friends."

"Aw, that's almost sad to hear. He said the same thing. Maybe you can fix it by catching up?"

"Can it!"

June chuckled and raised a paw. "All right, sore subject, I see. Well, anyway, moving on… interested?" she asked again.

The offer was too good for Chance to decline, and he knew it was his only choice. It would be no more prison for him and the opportunity to kill Dark Kat, which was very enticing. Also, the tom was getting sick of the loaves and craved a decent, juicy burger.

"Fine. When can we leave?"

June looked at Mike, signaling him to proceed, and he quickly pulled up his notepad and worked on something. "Not yet. I'm working on that. It should be soon."

Chance yawned and relaxed for once. "As long as I can get out of here, I don't care," he said. June stood up and headed towards the door with Mike in tow.

June halted near the tabby. "I'll see you soon, T-Bone," she said, continuing towards the exit. She stopped and turned back. "Oh, before I forget, you also have another condition for- "

"I'll do it. Not like you were giving me a choice of things."

June nodded. "Good answer," she said. She opened the door and signaled the nearby guards that they were done.

The guards entered, grabbing the tabby and preparing to guide him back to his cell. It felt unreal, and he wondered what awaited him after leaving. Details could wait until he left. He only knew of his condition. He got curious and stopped to look at June one more time.

"So, what is it?" Chance asked.

June grinned. "You'll see him soon."

"Him?"


A couple of days passed, and Ethan patiently waited in the waiting area of the building's internal garage. He was still in Enforcer's H.Q. Two Enforcers were standing guard near him, ensuring he did not run off somewhere. However, Dex was trying to get his friend to focus and not bother the boy while waiting for Ethan's pickup.

Simon's curiosity won, and he was now at Ethan's side. Ethan groaned as the usual was about to occur with Simon's questions of the day. He threw his hands in the back of his head and waited for the tom's first question.

"So, going back to yesterday's conversation, there are creatures similar to us in your world?" Simon said.

"Yeah, though they are more like pets. I read a book about the many types of cats in my world—from domesticated to wild ones, big, small, and a good range of cats. None of them talk or stand on two feet," Ethan said.

"Hard to believe that, us as pets, it's an insult to kat kind," Dex grumbled, heading to Ethan's other side.

Simon laughed, and his tail flicked behind him. "So, why no tail? Did you guys lose it?"

Ethan tried to think but lacked the answers to the questions. Most of his knowledge came from things he had seen on T.V., books, and stolen comics. He did not want to admit it, but he was the worst person to ask about Earth. He just shrugged his shoulders, which Simon pouted since it was the usual response.

"Sorry, I'm not the best person to ask about things," Ethan said.

Dex coughed loudly, "Delinquent." He laughed as the boy gave him a middle finger in response.

Ethan recalls June saying she would pick him up later without specifying a time. Evelyn came to check on him various times till she was comfortable with his condition and just told Ethan that she would see him later. It puzzled him, and he kept getting more questions than answers when asking.

The interrogators kept him locked away in his room for these days and subjected him to constant questioning. He would answer their questions yet avoid talking about his personal life. Some coaxed him, some scoffed, and some growled at his silence. Thankfully, he had these two kats near him to keep him sane.

After June's party left on the first day, Simon barged into his room asking questions while Dex trailed behind him with an annoyed expression. Thanks to Simon's big mouth, he realized that Dex had stepped up twice for him - once at the beach and the second time when they needed volunteers to watch over him. Feral, their commanding officer, was also present that day. The Enforcer would supervise Ethan, so Feral warned him to behave himself. Feral reminded his toms to keep watch and report anything suspicious.

The two toms argued about the best place for Ethan to eat. A small smile formed on his lips, silently thanking the pair for making the experience tolerable and a break from the boring bits. Except for Evelyn, the two near him were the only kats he had no problem with, but he did not divulge his personal life to them. Seeing Dex attempt to be the professional Enforcer while Simon was the opposite was amusing. Simon quickly broke it as soon as Feral left them alone with him. Dex would growl at his partner but ease up when he could not establish a line between Ethan and Simon. At one point, Dex joined in.

Simon secretly gave Ethan food and games, observing how he would respond. They risked themselves and would face punishment from their superiors if they treated him like a friend. Thanks to their openness, he gained knowledge of their world and upcoming events, such as the Festival of Winter.

Upon hearing the elevator door open, the trio looked.

Feral and a sergeant exited the elevator. Feral glared at the two toms that were not in their post. Dex and Simon quickly assumed their position and saluted their commander. Feral sighed and rubbed his face before signaling them to be at ease. He turned his attention to the boy.

"Today is your last day here. Less on my plate," Feral said.

Ethan nodded, unsure what to say and avoiding the piercing eyes. He had some occasions where Feral would visit him, and they were… tense, short, and matter-to-fact. Feral and June were the same in eyeing him down to a monocular level and trying to read his intention. This tom was bigger than any kat he had seen yet.

A car engine roared inside the underground parking structure, which relieved Ethan as he did not want another session of being stared at. They saw a car with tinted windows approaching them, and it was difficult to determine who was inside. As the vehicle halted near them, Mike was the first to jump out from the driver's side and head towards the doors near the party. Opening the door revealed June, who moved out to greet them all.

June waved at Ethan and Feral. "Hey, if it isn't my two favorite toms. My my… Feral, I wasn't aware that you were going to be here. Do you miss me? Finally getting off your desk and ignoring work for once… progress."

"Please don't flatter yourself. Just wanted to see if you got approval," Feral snapped. Mike walked towards him with papers drawn. Feral grabbed and scanned it, grunting and handing it back to Mike.

"I wish you could trust me more, but I'll take seeing your scowling face from time to time," June said. Feral scowled at her. "All right. It's time to go, Ethan. There's a lot to discuss and do."

Ethan stepped forward but stopped to look at Dex and Simon. "See you guys around?" he said. The pair nodded at him. He smiled, then turned to Feral and waved.

Feral nodded and turned till he stopped. He reached into his coat and handed Ethan a sealed bag that contained a familiar pocket knife and neckerchief.

"You found them? I thought I lost them for good," Ethan said. Taking both out of the bag, he put on his neckerchief and checked the pocketknife. The boy's hand shook, and he tenderly put it near his chest.

Feral didn't react much. "Don't think anything of it. My Enforcers were cleaning the mess and found it."

Ethan moved close and hugged Feral without warning. Ethan did not care when he heard the gasps near him or felt the kat brick up at his touch. Despite being out of their way, having someone do something for him was weird. At first, he thought Feral was just another asshole. Now he was not sure and appreciated the gesture. Feral eased up and patted his back.

Ethan let go and headed towards the car. "I appreciate it. Gramps, you are all right! See you around too."

"It's Feral to you! Keep out of trouble, or it will be sooner!" Feral reminded.

Ethan was sure he saw a slight smile on the tom, but June moved him towards the car, and they soon headed off.


Ethan looked outside, seeing the high rises and multiple kats that went about their business. It was like his city but more considerable, appearing prosperous with activity. He could see no edge or sign of where the poor lived. Homeless cats and trash were scarce in the city and not easily noticeable. With the excitement of a child on Christmas, Ethan examined his surroundings and considered what else he might find.

Inside, the vehicle was like a limo with two facing chairs and two doors—a window in the wall for the driver to see through. A small table with drawers served as a workspace between Ethan and June.

"You feeling better?" June said. Ethan stopped exploring and looked at her.

"Uh… oh, you mean this? My hands feel fine now. I'm ready to do what you want," Ethan said.

"Is that so?" June murmured, which made Ethan wince. She put one elbow at the window, placing her head on her hand, and stared outside. "All right then."

"Aren't you going to stare me down?"

"Unnecessary, however, if you are asking for it."

Ethan shook his head. He declined, saying, "I'm good." A sudden realization hit him, and he looked back at June. "So… where are we going?"

"We are picking up someone, don't worry the who as you'll meet him soon. Kats alive! I scare myself sometimes at how good I am! Some needed more convincing, though," June muttered.

Ethan did not pry but was curious about whom she needed to convince to get him out of the building. He had heard something about a council from Simon, but the kat lost focus when a question about Ethan's world overshadowed his question. He sighed and wished that these kats would answer his questions for once.

The car kept going down a street, turning here and there, till fewer buildings surrounded them and made their way to a small port. Ethan could see it was Enforcer owned as the port was closed to the public. Mike provided paperwork to the guards, and they opened the gate leading inside. Only a couple of large boats and their noses pointed towards an island prison some distance away. The roaring waves and rocks surrounded the prison. The port had two buildings; a maintenance building and a smaller one for screening visitors. A hallway connected the two buildings. Civilians waited outside before entering, using a visitor's boat to visit family.

They parked the car near a boat. June threw a mask at the boy, which startled him as he desperately tried to catch it. A specialized black gas mask covered the entire head with tinted eyepieces so nobody could see the person's eyes. Ethan looked at June, who signaled him to put it on.

"While they know we are coming, they don't know you are here. So, avoid any unnecessary conflict, put the mask on," June explained. She exited the vehicle when Mike opened it.

Annoyed, Ethan cursed and stared at the mask in his hands without arguing. Ethan could understand one thing about his new boss. It seemed she had a habit of throwing kats off. The boy was worried and donned the mask as best he could.


Chance Furlong waited in the lobby, where visitors would wait before entering the prison. The warden and guards watched him as he sat comfortably in the lovely chair. He could not help but laugh at the warden's visible frustration. The warden got triggered and avoided looking at Chance.

Out of his orange prison jumpsuit, wearing whatever they found for him to wear from the lost and found bin: worn-down jeans, brown work boots, and a red shirt. With his possessions locked by the Enforcers, he had almost nothing upon his release. He had no time to worry. He grinned in victory as the warden's fur frazzled. It was a great day today. It seemed nothing could ruin it for him.

The group heard footsteps approaching, and the door opened to reveal June, Mike, and a tiny figure with a mask arriving. Most kats in the room eyed the small figure, but Mike approached the guards and warden with papers, and no one spoke. The warden grabbed the files with the signatures for Chance's release, taking his time and thoroughly inspecting. Chance knew the fat warden was hoping to find a mistake, and he chuckled when the warden frowned in defeat. With a signal from the warden, the guards left since everything was in order.

"I hope you're happy with yourselves," the warden snapped before gazing at Chance. "Let's see how long it takes for you to land back here."

"Didn't you say I would spend the rest of my nine lives here?" Chance said, receiving a glare from the warden as they left.

Only the four remained in the room after the door closed. Chance turned his attention to everyone else and then eyed the tiny figure, quickly noticing something was off about this kat. His head slightly tilted as his eyes caught the lack of tail and gloves that revealed an extra finger on both hands. Something was amiss, but June interrupted his thinking as she casually patted the masked individual's head.

"Where are my manners? Ethan, this is Chance. Chance, this is Ethan and Ethan, this is your new guardian," June said. She turned to leave, ignoring the two confused and shocked individuals behind her.

Guardian? Like a parent to a kitten? Chance realized the kit before he was in the condition that June mentioned. He mentally prepared himself for whatever June would have told him, but this was outside his wheelhouse of possibilities.

"Hold on, who the fuck is this? Isn't this just some criminal we just released?" he said as he pointed at Chance.

"What ya mean, you crazy bat of a she-kat!? What the crud is this?! Is this some kind of joke? I didn't sign up to be a babysitter to a brat. I'm a pilot, not a nanny," Chance added.

"I seem to recall… 'I'll do it. Not like you were giving me a choice of things,'" June repeated. She looked at Ethan. "Did you honestly think I could just leave you alone without someone watching over you every second?"

"Yeah, I figure, but why not someone else? This guy looks like trouble!" Ethan said.

"Everyone else on the team has a criminal history except Mike and me. This works perfectly for me as I kill two birds with one stone," June said. She yawned as Ethan was desperate to devise a way to argue against it. She turned to Mike, "My my… these two aren't processing the information."

Mike gave a weak smile, appearing to apologize for the pair's misfortune.

"What's so special about this kit, anyway?" Chance said. He pulls the distracted kit's mask down. There was hair, yet nothing else that would look like a kit as its wide eye looked at him. He jumped back.

"Crud! What the hell are you?!" Chance snapped.

"Asshole, I was told to keep this on till we left!" Ethan snapped back, pulling the mask back on.

"Who are you calling an asshole? Shrimp?" Chance growled, which got a middle finger from the kid.

Chance never imagined himself to be shouting an alien once he got out. The other two observed as he did so from the sidelines. He eyed the kit, who appeared hesitant to be near him and kept a distance from him. He could easily throw the kit if he wanted to. June had briefed him about the team's purpose yet. Why was he chosen to be its guardian, and where does it belong? He barred his fangs to show who was in charge. Ethan jerked back. At least the kit was wise to know it.

"Both of you want to return to confinement?" June asked coldly. She dropped her smile and glared at the two.

Chance paused and looked at her, then at Ethan, who nodded silently in agreement. They grumbled to themselves something, and Chance wondered if he made the right decision to follow June.

"Good. Furlong, Ethan is now your responsibility to watch over, and Ethan, don't cause trouble for him. You two are stuck with each other. So, make the best of it!" June said, exiting the door that Mike opened and him following her.

Chance gave an icy stare to Ethan as he walked past him, letting Ethan know not to get in his way or cause any trouble, and he opened the door. He waited for the boy to exit and then followed the others to the next room, not trusting the kit to be behind him. He regretted calling today a good day.


It was getting late, and the sun was soon to set. Kats were heading home as the nightlights turned on. It was peaceful today. The city had no attacks today, and the citizens were thankful. However, awkwardness and silence fell on two individuals going down a road from the city towards a more uninhibited area. Only rats scurried around the deserted streets where the buildings had varying degrees of damage. This area used to be populated until an omega attack brought this section to its knees, slowly getting demolished by contractors with plans to fix it. However, with no set date, the focus has been on other sectors…

Chance drives a tow truck down these roads with Ethan sitting in the passenger seat. June and Mike dropped Chance and Ethan off near the vehicle, telling them to go to their new home and meet the rest of the team. Ethan objected to being left with the tabby, but June dismissed his worries and wished them a safe trip.

Confirming his initial conclusion, he looked around the vehicle and occasionally glanced at the road. Chance and his ex-partner had this old truck when they were mechanics in the scrapyard. He grumbled, wondering if June had planned this and if she knew they secretly changed it to turn into a battle vehicle under the right conditions. Another thought occurs. What was June aware of and unaware of? It bothers the tabby, wondering what kind of mess he has agreed to before eyeing the fresh pain in the tail at his side.

Ethan was no longer wearing the mask and looking outside at the barely lit area. It was strange to see furless and tailless kat. This kit had just arrived and was not from here. He wished June would have explained more, yet she brushed off his questions as they parted ways.

The boy appeared to have lost interest in the outside and moved in to check inside the cabinet. Chance reached out a slammed the cabinet shut, getting a glare from the human.

"Stop touching things," Chance said. He returned to the road and grabbed a piece of paper from the dashboard, trying to make sense of Mike's directions.

"Let me read it," Ethan said, reaching for the paper, which Chance quickly moved away.

"Not going to happen. What good can you do if you're not from here?"

"Better than you losing control, old man!"

Chance glared at the boy, unsure of the meaning of 'man' but sensing it referred to his age. "Don't call me old man, you shrimp."

"Don't call me shrimp, old man!"

"Just shut up, sit your ass down, and don't bother me."

Chance and Ethan stared at each other coldly. Ethan gave up first and gave him a middle finger before returning to look out. A rumble escaped Chance's throat, but he suppressed the urge to shout and returned to the road ahead. He did not want to deal with this headache and wished he could dump his tail somewhere. Yet, his freedom was on the line! He had to suck it up and see how things went with this kit.

Another thought came. He would soon reunite with his ex-partner and see how that furball had been doing. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as he cursed that the tom had gotten out before him as time passed. The tom is a technical savant and can craft things from scrap. Although Chance was knowledgeable about aircraft and vehicles, it was not the same. That tom could surpass him in inventing projects from nothing. He wonders how things would go once he reunited with him.

Chance shook his head and saw something that made his stomach drop. Ethan was poking half his body out the window and looking at something. He reached for the kit's shirt and pulled him back, slamming and securing the tiny body against the seat. His foot slammed on the brakes, and the wheels cried as he attempted to stop. The burning wheels of smoke filled his nostrils, and the burning rage bubbled inside.

"The hell are you doing?! I said sit!" Chance shouted, shaking the boy. "Put your seatbelt back on now!"

"I thought I saw someone," Ethan said.

"Huh?!" Chance said. There was nothing behind them when he looked back. He swished his head back at the kit. "I didn't see anything except your dumbass. Listen here and listen well. I can kiss my freedom goodbye if you get hurt under my watch. Do that again, and I'll tie you down. You got that?!"

Ethan nodded and shook. Chance released his grip, and the boy secured his seatbelt. He eyed the boy down before cursing and letting go of the brake. Now he had to worry about the kit being suicidal or doing something risky. Ethan would attempt to ignore him as he glanced at him occasionally.

It was a good couple of minutes until they reached the center of the abandoned sector, where a gate and control console waited for them. The tabby spent no time and drove near the console, pulling his new I.D. card, and it beeped in acceptance, which caused the gate to move. Once clear, he moves the truck inside, where the road becomes dirt, which leads towards an abandoned Enforcer building. Unlike the outside, trees and a metal fence that closed it off from the outside area, giving it a private park look, surrounded this area. This was a military training base established by the Enforcers. It was vast and secluded from the outside, with one entrance.

Approaching the building, a running track and outdoor equipment surrounded them on each side. There was also an area for military vehicles, a runway big enough for a jet to leave, a hanger, a shooting range, and a mix of different wooden buildings in the forest area. They initially saw the main building about four stories high, with subsections of attached buildings around it. However, it appeared abandoned, and an attack had damaged the fourth floor.

Chance parked the car near the center building. He watched his surroundings and waited until no unwanted guests were around to exit the vehicle. The truck shifted as he grabbed two duffle bags from the middle and exited. He placed both bags on the car hood and unzipped them. One bag contained his belongings, and the other had old clothes. He felt annoyed that he owed June something, and his bill was racking as his new boss kept doing things like this.

Ethan had exited the vehicle, carrying his duffle bag with new clothing inside, and approached him. He zipped the bags and tossed one with clothes to the boy. The new guardian's glare silenced the boy, who reluctantly carried the kat's stuff with no objection. He led them inside the building.

The place appeared abandoned and dilapidated. They passed the front desk area and moved toward the only working elevator. It was a mess inside, and a light flickered above.

Chance stopped, noticing the kit had not entered inside and eyeing the elevator like a death trap. The kit looked around, possibly looking for another route, and sighed when he returned to stare at the elevator. The same face he would make when standing near open water. Was the kit scared of the elevator or the tight space? He shook his head, and he wanted to get today done with.

"Kit, I swear. Get your tail inside now!" Chance said.

Ethan grumbled something, scratching his arm and inspecting the elevator entrance again. The boy made it inside after a few moments. Chance refrained from pulling the kit inside and observed the boy taking cover in the corner. He pulled out the note and then pushed several buttons in a particular order before pulling the emergency button. It was sudden as the elevator doors quickly closed, and soon the pair went down.

It took a few minutes before the elevator stopped, and the doors opened, revealing a brightly lit, wide hallway. Ethan was the first to hop out and observe the hallways with doors to rooms.

"This is so cool! What is this place?" Ethan asked himself, deciding to move in a specific direction.

Chance pulled him back. "Stop moving around, you idiot, and just wait. Crud, why did I have to be stuck with you?" he said. He swung the kit behind him and scanned the area.

Ethan swatted the kats hand. "Same goes for you, old man!"

That does it! Chance tried keeping his annoyance at bay, but this kit pushed it. He grabbed Ethan's mouth and pulled him towards him. The boy's feet dangled freely above the air. He felt Ethan struggle to break free from his simple hold. "Come again?"

It was easy to lift Ethan. Once again, the tabby could not comprehend why the kit was there. Nothing stood out in the strength department, and he could, if he wanted to, snap Ethan's neck like a twig. Maybe the kit's strength was his smarts, yet that was hard to believe as he casually challenged a more prominent opponent. Even the scrawniest kat in prison could at least scratch him. Did June seriously stick Ethan with him? He had no interest in playing babysitter or a fath-

Chomp!

Chance was not ready for the boy to bite him. After dropping Ethan off, he quickly checked his hand for any signs of damage. The kit had teeth at least, yet not as sharp as kats. He hissed, preparing to give the kit a good knuckle sandwich until he noticed Ethan no longer in the same spot. Only the abandoned duffle bags remained. Ethan was already around the corner and sprinting from him.

"Get back here!" Chance growled.

Within seconds, he rushed towards the corner and swished around it. The boy had barely made it halfway, and Chance would be on top of him within a few moments. Ethan darted down as he attempted to snatch him. The boy shifted and flung around the corner, avoiding his hand. They were heading towards a double door, Ethan crashing into it and scrambling around a pair of legs. Chance eyed the panting boy but followed the legs up to see a she-kat.

"Ethan?" the she-kat said. Her arms were up, and she seemed startled by the sudden appearance.

"Evelyn?" Ethan said.

Chance's eyes lingered on Evelyn's sweet face. It had been a while since he's been near a she-kat. She was not half bad, and her gentle face was a bonus. He meticulously fixed himself, licked his paws to groom his hair, and confidently strode towards her. He disregarded the biter standing behind her.

"Hey there, names Chance Furlong. How about we share some milk and get to know each other better?" Chance said.

"Uh… Evelyn Sharp. Oh, you seem to be the recruit," Evelyn said. She turned to look at the boy, gently messing with Ethan's hair. "Have you eaten, Ethan?"

Chance glared at Ethan when he heard a snicker and the boy attempting to cover his sly smile. He mouths the boy to zip it and shows his bitten hand. Ethan zipped it and looked away, turning his attention to the approaching tom. Black and gray kat is coming their way.

"I see you finally arrived here," the black tom said. Extending a paw toward the boy, "I welcome you to our little hideout."

"Do I know you?" Ethan said. He shifted away and scrutinized the paw before him.

"Ah! I forgot I hadn't introduced my real self, Benson Scratch. Does Specter ring a bell?" Benson said.

"Wait! You again?" Ethan said. He tilted his head. "Why aren't you wearing your mask?"

"Another time, over tea maybe," Benson proposed. He squatted down and grinned. "At least now I can adequately thank you."

"For what?"

"Already forgot? I don't blame you, as the squid attack was not a very fun memory. If you didn't warn me, I would probably have been squished," Benson said. He stood up and eyed Chance with a stoic expression. "You must be Chance Furlong. We've been expecting you as well."

Chance grunted, wondering if Four-eyes had a problem with him already. It's not the first instance of that happening. To test Benson's reaction, he put out a paw. To his surprise, Benson shook it without a hint of anger or disgust. It appears Benson was the type not to be open to new kats until later.

"So, apart from you, who's the rest of the team?" Chance said.

"You've met Evelyn already. Our medical officer here and on the field. Her codename is Grim, and my partner while on a mission," Benson explained.

"Still don't appreciate that name," Evelyn interrupted with a sigh. She crossed her arms and eyed the floor, "I wish I could-"

"I can't believe this shit. I thought June was kidding when she said an alien was coming here," stocky, broad chest, red mix with gray fur Bengal kat called out. He laid back against the wall in a chair. Among the gadgets and mini bombs surrounding his table, his imposing figure stood out. He seemed on edge and was eyeing the boy with disgust and anger.

"That's Jason Tailer. His codename 'Atom' and our bomb technician and foot soldier," Benson said without missing a beat.

"HA…you seem to be scared there, you all right, little Jason!" the other she-kat mocked Jason's intensity, messing with a knife as she casually spun the sharp blade. Her black body and white face resembled a Siamese cat. Grey and white hair were present on her head. Her tank top revealed her toned muscles. As she approached, she ignored Jason's glare and appeared interested in the petite newcomer.

"That's Tina Pouncy. Her codename is Valkyrie, and her partner is Atom. She's our combat specialist and another foot soldier," Benson continued.

"You want to go, Tina?" Jason growled. He pushed his chair back, dropping his things and heading toward Tina.

Tina swished her attention towards Jason. "Ah, what's the matter? Did I hit a nerve again?" she heckled, readying herself as the tom approached her.

Chance snorted as a fight between Jason and Tina broke out. A battle of brawns and technique. Jason tried grappling her, but Tina swiftly ducked and turned her lower body to kick the tom in the stomach. Jason growled and grabbed her leg, swinging and throwing the she-kat toward a table. Tina hissed and recovered quickly when she landed on the top of the table, pouncing at the kat and using her elbow to hit him in the head.

Evelyn groaned. "Hey, don't pull each other's eye or break any vital areas," she said. They grunted an okay as they trashed the area with their fight.

Chance ignored them and scanned around, finding his ex-partner looking at him as he sat on a bench away from the group. Unlike others, this tom watched the tabby with an icy stare and showed no interest in the boy. Orange kat, missing his left arm, replaced by a mechanical one, was working on schematics and some items on the table he was at. It was pure hostility between the two as they threw daggers at each other.

"Who's that?" Ethan asked Evelyn.

Chance briefly looked to his side and saw Evelyn focusing on Ethan. The molly turned towards Jake, following the gaze back to Chance. Her eyes softened, and she turned away towards Ethan.

"That's our mechanic and technical genius, Jake Clawson, a bit of a loner, but he's all right," Evelyn said. "He is Chance's partner."

"Ex-partner," Chance corrected. He felt the scar near his face tingle when that ugly memory appeared.

The press covered the pair's fall extensively, being captured thanks to another version of them stopping them. The explosion teleported them and their jet to Megakat City's Bay. Revealing their names would have damaged the Enforcers, so they hushed it quickly. Silence and gag orders came next, thanks to the Enforcers and the council's handy work, believing it was for the best and to maintain their citizen's trust. Only high-ranking Enforcers, the council, jury members, and a select few know the Swat Kats' names.

Upon hearing Jason gasping for air, Evelyn quickly glanced back at the fight. Tina had got Jason in a chock hold. Evelyn grimaced and hurried to stop to fight along with Benson, who was already trying to coax the adrenaline she-kat as she grinned in victory.

Chance watched the scene briefly before turning his attention to the distracted boy. He tugged Ethan's shoulder and got a startled look. He pointed his thumb towards the door. "Bring our things to our room. Our room number is seven."

"Why should…." Ethan stopped when Chance's eyes told him not to test him.

The kid grumbled under his breath but did as he was told. Chance monitored him and returned to look at Jake.


Carrying and dragging three duffle bags across the hall, Ethan groaned while searching for their room, feeling exhausted. He reached a long corridor with spaced doors. Room number '07' caught his attention with its bold, large numbers, and he went towards it. He opened it, revealing a big room with two beds on opposite sides and some old furniture, barren of anything else. The walls were white. The windowless room had one fixed white light, resembling a prison.

Ethan groggily headed towards the bed on the left, throwing Chance's duffle bags at the other bed in annoyance. He threw himself on it and relaxed on the somewhat comfy bed, noticing he had only two sheets of bedding, a thick green one and a thin white one, and a single pillow. At least he was out somewhere new, he reasoned in his head.

Glancing up at the ceiling, Ethan soon turned his attention to the other bed with the kats' duffle bags. He looked at the door before unzipping the duffle bag. He saw clothing in one and some personal stuff in the other.

A particular mask with a skull poked out, and he inspected it. Next was a folder with various things inside. A VHS about Megawar II dogfights. Finally, something wrapped in a plastic container. The comics and magazines in the container stayed unfolded even when he tossed them. He removed the lid, unwrapped the container, and picked up 'Scaredy Kat: The Wild Misadventures,' which was thicker than the rest.

The comic was based on an unaired movie idea. A frequently terrorizing evil group had captured a she-kat, and the scared protagonist wanted to save her. It was exciting, and it reminded him of an old cartoon with wacky characters and gags in his home world. He viewed the illustrations and the creator's vision.

While reading, Ethan didn't realize that someone had opened the door. One second he was on the bed, and the next second he was flying towards the other bed. Ethan yelped as he landed, his body inverted and his legs slamming against the wall. Everything was spinning, and he could only see his inverted view of Chance walking towards him and putting his paw out for him to hand him his thing.

Ethan had held the book close, thankfully not tearing it, and looked at the paw before him. Deciding reading time was over, he returned the comic to the tabby. Chance grabbed it and raised his fist, making Ethan flinch.

Chance stopped. He sighed and just flicked the temple of the boy's forehead with his thick finger, which got a hiss of pain. Satisfied, the tabby headed to his bed and sat down.

"What was that for?" Ethan groaned, feeling the sting linger in his head.

"I seem to recall telling you to stop touching things. This goes double for my things," Chance snapped. He tenderly puts the comic back in the container and sets it on his side. "Next time, I'll fling you off a building if you do that again."

"Jeez, old man. Aren't you a little old for comics? Anyway, it seems interesting. It's a shame that they could not make it to a movie. I think it could have worked like animated cartoons in my home world when they got their movies," Ethan said. He fixed himself and eyed the duffle bag with the kat's stuff.

"It would have," Chance said. He saw the boy staring at his bag and shuffled it away.

"I saw the helmet with the skull. Were you a biker or something?"

"That's none of your concern," Chance said, making the boy cross his arms and roll his eyes.

"Fine, old man, you suck as a roommate."

"Bite me. Let's agree on something. This side is mine, and that side is yours," Chance said while indicating with a hand where Ethan should not cross.

"Fine, old man."

"Fine, shrimp."

The pair stared at each other with hostility before breaking contact and working on putting their things in their respective drawers.

Ethan had a few things to unpack and finished first, putting his scarf and knife on the bed table near him. He cast a glance over his shoulder. The idea of regarding this kat as a guardian was unbelievable to him. June's words left him feeling oddly annoyed. He could not quite make sense of his emotions, as his father's face kept coming to mind whenever the word guardian came up. Despite everything, he recalled his good times with Zoe, revealing the other side of the coin. Maybe he should apologize for biting Chance's hand and try to start over. No words came out as he looked at the empty room. A fresh new start. Away from all his troubles back home. It was too quiet and cold here.

"Come here!"

Ethan rotated to gaze at the tabby. "You said something?"

With his back facing the boy, Chance glanced back. "I didn't say anything," he said, returning to the duffle bag.

Ethan was uncertain if he heard what he thought he did. It was late, and he had been awake since the morning. He shook his head, pulling one of the dresser's cabinets and grabbing a towel, wanting to shower and change into new clothes. He took his clothes and headed to the door.

"Where the hell are you going?" Chance asked.

"Shower, old man, unless you want to escort me, and every time I shower and take a shit," Ethan asked, getting him a hard pass from the tabby.

"I don't care as long as you remain inside the building," Chance said. He yawned as he lay on his bed. "Don't think of running away, or I'll string you up."

Ethan opened the door. "Whatever," he muttered, closing the door behind him and heading to the right. He remembered seeing a sign for the bathroom while looking for their room.

It was close by and near the rooms that housed the kats.

Ethan tiredly made it to the shower rooms, entered, and made his way to the male section of the area. It was a decent size for a whole football squad, with individual showers, benches, and lockers. Ethan was alone and quickly undressed, taking a shower and turning it on. The boy showered speedily and finished in record time. He wrapped a towel when he finished and was about to dry himself when he noticed the two enormous boxes labeled 'dry area' near the exit. Inquisitive and eager to check it out, the boy headed towards it and entered the glass box, seeing fans above him and buttons that read start and stop. He clicked it and soon met with a wave of hot air, quickly drying the boy.

"Cool!" Ethan shouted over the fans, turning the machine off and stepping out. He went towards his fresh new clothes and put them on, grabbing his old ones and tucking them between his arm. He exited the shower room and wondered where he should go next.

Ethan's eyes darted between the barracks, kitchen, and a new hallway. He felt alert and considered checking the new section. His eyes drifted towards the unknown, and he caught a particular figure staring at him down the hall. A kat with red fur and white on his nose. The same stranger from outside!

"What the?!" Ethan said, alarmed, and his body tensed up. He wondered how the stranger got into this secluded area. However, the boy had no time to think as the stranger calmly headed towards him, making no sounds as his shoeless feet touched the ground beneath him.

In an instant, the stranger stood beside Ethan, looking at him in surprise, smiling and reaching for the boy's shoulder. Ethan flinched, stepping back till his back hit the wall.

The stranger raised his paws. "Hey now, don't be alarmed. I'm not your enemy kit," he spoke.

"Who the hell are you?! How did you get inside here?" Ethan demanded.

The stranger chuckled and grinned at the boy. His tail swished behind him, and he scratched his head. He stretched and yawned as if he had just woken up.

"Ay kit, I'm ready to see your magic," the stranger said.

Tilting his head, Ethan raised an eyebrow at the stranger, "Magic? Like wizards?"

"Oh, you are aware of wizards? Does your world have them as well? It would make things easier."

Ethan shook his head, "That's just made-up bullshit! Get real! Tell me who you are."

"Oh really? Then explained two things. How did you summon those hands and come to this world? Also, this world is not a stranger to magic. Ask your new guardian or anyone in this building about a certain Pastmaster," the stranger said.

Ethan could not argue. He stopped and looked at the floor, reflecting on everything that had happened. Magic was such a foreign concept to him and hard to swallow. However, talking kats and mutant creatures reminded the boy that things were possible in this world. He got excited at the possibilities with his new powers, but the slight sting in his arms reminded the boy of the consequence of tapping into that power.

"You nearly died last time because you had no control over it. I can show you how to use it and avoid another collapse," the stranger said. It was like he was reading Ethan. He paws against the wall above the boy and stares at the kid below him.

Ethan flinched, shocked at how close the stranger had gotten.

"What do you say? How about trusting this kat? I promise not to bite," the stranger said, tail swishing behind him.

Ethan nervously stared at the kat and wondered if he should agree. His new senses signaled caution, but the danger was not imminent like at the beach. The 'trust me' comment was his only issue. His eyes narrowed, and he tried to push the stranger, but his hands passed through him. He tumbles forward, and he nearly tripped to the ground.

"What the hell?" Ethan said. As he spun back around, he saw the stranger's expression of shock and confusion.

Ethan's fear swept away, and he reached his hand to the kat's stomach and went through like before. The boy waved his hand in a car-washing motion without care. With a grin and a chuckle in his throat, he teased the stranger by miming a playful poke at his abs, which were beyond his grasp. The same applied to the stranger if he could not touch him.

After some pause, the stranger chanted, "Eyes of Revelation."

Ethan jerked when he saw the unusual eye, and it felt like it was peeling his soul. He pondered the kat's actions as he looked away. He turned back to see that the stranger had finished and was deep in thought.

"Hey. You haven't said anything for a while. You good?" Ethan called out, bringing attention back to him.

"I'm alright… actually… I've decided," the stranger said. He walked away and spun back with a paw raised towards Ethan. "Let's make a magical contract."

"Why the hell would I do that?"

"Don't worry. Let's say this deal between you and me prevents us from double-crossing each other. I offer my tutelage with no strings attached, and in return, I want you to be my home… permanently," the stranger said.

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

"Simple, you'll wear this," the stranger conjured a black metal wristband in his hand, though he stumbled as it appeared, "…. And…. it keeps me close to you. Think of it like my small home when I'm not here. Once you wear this, you can't take it off."

"Why should I agree?!" Ethan said.

"Easy. Your new boss and others will expect you to use your powers to help them. What happens if you can't do it and fumble around?"

Ethan shook his head. "I don't know. It shouldn't be a problem for- "

"Are you sure about that? If you can't do anything. Will they need you around?"

Ethan froze. What would happen when they asked for him to show his powers? He did not know how to summon it or use it! It terrified him, thinking that they would lock him back in solitary confinement until they did something else to him. Maybe they would just kill him and just open him up? The boy held himself close, and the thought made him breathe erratically. He shook his head and looked back at the kat offering to help him with his powers.

Ethan let out a large breath, trying to relax. "What's a magical contract?" he whispered, scratching his left arm.

The stranger scoffed, spinning the bracelet on his finger and tapping his chin with his other hand. "It's a contract. It's magic. No. BE-TRAY-AL," he said.

"Ok, dick… please explain how it works. Aren't ya saying you want to be my teacher or something?"

"By the higher gods… fine… and pay attention. I start with a chant while holding something like this bracelet. I announce the deal I am making to you and say, 'I, your name, or whatever you want to call yourself…. bind myself to x person.' The other person states their offer and binds themselves to x person. Got it? Good! So are we-"

"Why do you want to teach me so much? You got nothing better to do?" Ethan asked as he crossed his arms.

"Let's just say I need something to stay awake and play catch up. No more questions! Do we have a deal or not?"

Ethan assessed the stranger and questioned the decision. Making deals and going on dangerous missions are not his preferences. Failing meant being returned to the cell for further punishment. He groaned, nodding his head at the stranger and agreeing.

"Excellent!" the stranger shouted. "Let's get started! So first- "

"Wait."

The stranger's tail flicked angrily, snarling as he stared at the boy. "What is it now?!"

"What's your name?" Ethan asked.

"Huh?"

"I'll feel more comfortable if I knew your name."

The stranger's stern look softens, looking away from the boy. "I don't know. It does not matter right now. We just need to make the contract."

Ethan looked at the stranger, who appeared as lost as him. The boy circled the figure to view the kat's face. He is the absolute stranger, while this kat has no name. Placing a hand on his chin, he thought about what he could offer this kat as a name. It hit the boy, weakly grinning at the stranger and lifting a finger at the being.

"Then it's settled. Your name is now Dante! It's a name from a comic book character, and I always wanted to give it if I ever got a pet… though preferably a dog."

"Do I look like a pet? Certainly not a dog either!"

"Well, I need to call you something! So, Dante, it is!" Ethan nodded his head, ignoring Dante's glare.

Dante opened his mouth, yet closed it as he looked at the floor. He scratched his neck and thought about it. He nodded his head.

"Fine. Let's make this contract happen! Contract—Soul Bind. I… Dante…. agrees to teach the one that is called Ethan. I accept and bind myself to Ethan," Dante shouted, showing his paw for the boy to repeat. A beam of light had formed on the bracelet.

"I, Ethan, uh…. agree to house the one called Dante. I accept and bind myself to Dante," Ethan repeated.

When Ethan said the last word, the beams became a large chain with two sharp points, speedily stabbing the boy and the kat. The boy felt it. The chains entered his body, and he felt his soul being penetrated. Ethan watched in horror as it continued to enter him until the chains shook when the last bit of loose chain was no more. He looked at the strong chain connecting him to Dante, which disappeared briefly. He quickly touched the area it penetrated and ensured no visible openings existed.

"Catch," Dante alerted the boy, throwing the bracelet at Ethan.

Ethan reached for the bracelet with his left hand as he jumped. As the boy went for it, the bracelet zoomed in and attached itself to his wrist, glowing as it locked in place. The boy winced as he felt a slight burn on his wrist and inspected the new accessory.

They completed the contract.


AN: The chapter has been updated. I refocused the point of view and made Chance lead the story once they got to the Strays' hideout. I'll refer to characters' codenames when they dawn their alter egos to show better when they are on and wearing their disguise. Hopefully, you guys enjoy the changes and the focus as I update the following chapters. Till next time - GreyDog.