MISSION 16

Trinity Point Pt 2


Silence overwhelmed the school inside. The only activity going on was the zombie-like kats that waited for commands from their master. It would take one single order to turn this school into a hellscape.

Unlike inside, it was deafening outside, and footsteps ran around. Voices yelling, ordering, or arguing filled the air. Leaders flooded the entrance, setting up a temporary command center facing the biggest obstacle. Politics! None could agree on the best method of engaging the situation, and all with varying solutions on what to do.

"We must engage as soon as possible before our kats are endangered!"

"Are you mad? We don't know what we are dealing with!"

"Let's deploy a small team and-"

"We should-"

Something needed to be accomplished. Chambers eyed the fools and kept silent about her operation as it would create more turmoil. The lucky she-kat that got out relayed what had occurred to them. However, another messenger came out, with it being the she-kat's husband and under the influence of the spirit. Umfrey spoke through the kat like a puppet and told them not to act hasty. The kittens' lives were in their hands as well as the guest. They had until a couple of hours to vote who would live in the attending party.

Chambers pulled out her watch.

"Midnight?" Chambers muttered.

Chambers quietly left the tent, looking around for a spot to get an update from her kats inside. She halted and looked at the school. Everyone understood they listened to no one except June, so they had little control over them. She had no opinion on them, whether it be bad or good. Results matter at the end of the day.

"Good luck Strays," Chambers said.


The chill of the night continued, unaffecting the drones still waiting patiently without emotion. A pair of kats were standing near an exit of a dormitory. The harsh smell of oil lingered across the halls, enough to make someone cover their nose at the assault. Their ears perked at the nearby commotion, instinctively turning their heads toward the sound from the corner. They shifted in unison towards it and grabbed their makeshift weapons to deal with whatever it was.

In the shadows, a massive figure behind them slammed their heads together. The controlled kats let out a cry and fell to the ground. Chance wore a makeshift bandana mask and knelt to check on them.

"Try not to hurt them too much," Evelyn said, also donning a mask. She handed ropes to the tabby, looking around as her partner worked on tying the kats.

"They can bill the Enforcers," Chance grunted, quickly tying the kats and dragging them to the side. Evelyn appeared lost in thought, making him sigh and approach her with a touch. "Stay sharp for now, Grim. We can check on our kit later. He's in a better place than these other kits."

"I know," Evelyn exhaled, shifting towards the entrance and peering out. She clenched her fist, "I'll handle the other side. You handle the boy's side."

"Splitting up? Not really a fan of that, especially since we don't know who the enemy is and how they control these kats," Chance said, peering out and watching for any other incoming kats.

"You got a better idea?" Evelyn challenged, smirking when the tabby stayed silent.

"Crud….just stay safe out there and keep communications open with John," Chance said, wishing he had a decent weapon instead of relying on his fist. He had no problems dealing with kats in a fight, but the unknown side of things in this battle is what he had a problem with. "Once we clear our sides…..reconvene towards the building where these fat kats are held."

"Roger, T-Bone," Evelyn said, letting the tabby break the door open quickly and carefully heading outside. She stopped and turned towards him, "Not how I expected tonight to end."

"You got that right," Chance said. He grinned, "What were you expecting?"

Evelyn blushed, "Get your head out of the clouds and focus!"

Chance laughed. Evelyn left as soon as she turned the corner, and he frowned.

"Please stay safe…..both of you."


The silent air filled the caves, and darkness covered every corner. The only light was the flashlights lying on the ground and showing the shadowy figure of the petrified boys. Ethan and Kyle were frozen in time as they did not utter a word and remained stiff. Their eyes were like milk, and their mouths hung as they waited for the spirit to return.

The echoes of whispers were assaulting Ethan from the moment he was struck.

Ethan shivered, slowly raising his hand toward his ring and pulling it out. Darkness surrounded the boy, and it was sucked toward the ring as he collapsed to the floor. Ethan gasped for air, eyes darting around and trying to understand what had happened. He touched his head and moaned as it rang with a buzz.

"What the hell?" Ethan grumbled, standing up and swaying as he did. He froze when seeing Kyle and quickly approached him with a shake. "Kyle? KYLE! Wake up!"

Kyle remained silent and unfazed.

Ethan pinched his friend's hands and got nothing back.

"Shit shit shit," Ethan said, looking for anything to help his friend or anyone. He could not think straight and was freaking out, lost on what to do. He smacked his head, "Calm down, Ethan. Think for a second and figure out the best move. Oh yeah…John, do you copy?"

"KIT!? Finally, we have some good news! What is your situation?"

"Apart from being tired and confused….pretty much okay though my friend isn't responding to me. Also, what do you mean by some good news?"

John began to give a brief explanation of what was occurring outside. Chance and Evelyn were dealing with a situation. Important kats were being held by some unknown force that could control them.

"Sooooo, should I check it out after I move my friend somewhere safe?" Ethan asked.

"Let me ask your pals for-"

"Don't! They are just going to tell you for me to stand by! I'll meet them at the ballroom and do some early spying for you guys," Ethan said, gearing up at the prospect of saving kats. He grabbed his friend, "Going dark for a bit!"

"Wait, kit!"

The boys fell towards Ethan's portal and disappeared from view.


John groaned, losing connection and unable to see Ethan once he entered his portal. He focused on the other cameras and eyed all the moving parts. A good amount of kats were waiting for orders, and the Strays were slowly taking them out and tying them down with whatever they could find. They would lose focus and try to get their kit out of harm's way if he said anything. He grumbled under his breath and eyed his partner.

"So….I could feign ignorance or tell them right away. What would you do?" John asked. He knew the objective mattered. He knew what the right thing to do was but felt stuck. "Why do I have to deal with kits!"

"Not sure, darling. Our world's kits come first, but…..he's also a kit, and they are his friends," Alex said, returning to her folder of Baxter. She frowned and let out a huge sigh, shaking her head and looking back at John. It would be simple to stay quiet and lie, but that's what they did with Baxter's sister. What was the right move? Who was more important? She sighed, letting out a weak smile and touching her companion's hand. "Let the tabby know. Evelyn barely got to the other side, and we could work with him to clear his side faster. I hope his kit isn't the impatient type!"

"Hopefully, he is not the impatient type, either," John said, clicking on the channel to contact Chance. "T-Bone, do you copy? We have a situation."


Chance knocked down a couple of kats, dodging their attempts to subdue him and getting the upper hand. He would try not to hurt them too badly, especially the controlled she-kats that attempted to claw his eyes out. If only he had proper defensive weapons, he could knock them out without the worry and traverse the school with his glovatrix.

"Uh oh," Chance said, evading a sword, and the attacker got it stuck in the wooden wall. He punched the tom and knocked him out. "Swords?! Where the hell are they getting-"

The current hallway had shields, swords, and knight's armor decorations.

"Of course," Chance grunted, hoping it was just swords he had to deal with.

"T-Bone, do you copy? We have a situation," John said.

"Of course," Chance said, eyeing his surroundings before clicking on his ear. "What's the situation?"

"Ethan woke up and is on the move. He is transporting himself and his friend to a safe location but will head toward the ballroom afterward," John said.

"WHAT?! Tell that kit to stay put! For the love of….." Chance stopped, rubbing his head and looking around the room for something to secure the kats. He noticed a door labeled for the clean-up crew and quickly opened it. "John and Alex, help me secure this area quickly."

"Way ahead of you," Alex chimed in. "You got a couple more kats to take down. John will guide you to the fastest route, and I'll watch for any developing issues."

"Roger….crud! If it ain't drooling kats I'm dealing with, it's him," Chance said. He is going to have a good long talk with Ethan after this. He grabbed anything he could find and secured the knocked-out kats with tape.

Chance hurried towards the next spot and followed John's guidance closely. He was careful before, but now he was a speeding bullet that would not hold back with his swings. Chance mused that a couple of broken bones would not hurt anybody as he saw his following targets.


After leaving his friend at the infirmary, Ethan watched from the top of a building, trying to get a better look at the ballroom windows but being too far to see anything. The remaining guest's movements could be seen from inside. It was odd. It was quiet and peaceful here, but kats were probably freaking out inside. He sighed, bit onto one of the gummy balls, and mused what to do. His heart was beating fast after transporting Kyle around, feeling drained and almost throwing up when he arrived.

"I wonder how much time we have left," Ethan mumbled, groggily looking in the direction where the clock tower was at. He stood on top of the ledge, "Rested enough. Time to head out."

"Negative! Stay put and wait for T-Bone," John quickly came on. "Give him a few. He's almost done on his side and will head towards you shortly."

"Oh, come on! Better than just waiting…..I can check it out and report back what I find," Ethan said, rubbing his hands together and chanting a portal before John could argue with him. He looked at the glovatrix and handgun he left on the floor, "Let him know their things are here! See ya in a bit!"

"Kit, listen for once and-"

Ethan dropped towards his portal and entered his shadow world, creating a slide and dropping faster toward the ground floor. He understood he could manipulate the space to varying degrees from practice and experimenting with Jake. The only downside was that transporting living things required him to be inside as he could not move the tom when attempting from outside. However, moving the Sky Twins required much energy, and they nearly caused him to black out.

Ethan grunted and stood up when he reached the ground floor, heading towards the direction of the ballroom. The map reading was going to help as it was studied to death. The ballroom had several connecting doors. However, the best option was the kitchen since nobody would expect him there. He could rush the travel but risk collapsing to the ground if he did so.

The misty blue-purple was like a mirror of the outside, shifting like a breeze in the ocean and following the kid's alteration if he chose to do so. The world was quiet except for Ethan's lone footsteps and panting. No matter where you looked, it was a vast space of nothingness and everything.

There should have been only one living thing in this world if not for the small dark shadow that eyed Ethan from a distance. Its eyes were white like snow, and no figure, almost like a gas that shifted freely like the world. It appeared to tilt its head as it watched the boy go about his journey. This was not the first time the boy caught its attention, sensing him when he cried that one time on his first mission and following him on this plane from that point on. There was no hostility, just pure curiosity as it freely followed the boy.

For now, it would stay hidden. However, its inquisitiveness beat its caution. One day it will meet Ethan.

Ethan sprinted toward a slightly elevated floor and ascended toward a flat spot. He put on the brakes and quickly analyzed his position before heading right into a wall and taking several steps. He chanted his exit and opened a small portal, poking his head out to make sure before moving his whole body inside.

The kitchen is filled with stainless steel equipment and the smell of cooked food attacks the nostrils. Plates of prepared dishes surrounded the kitchen, from cooked salmon with lemon to cookie ice cream treats. There was a mess in a particular spot and evidence of a struggle with some minor blood on the floor.

Ethan's mouth drooled at the sight, and his stomach cried to be filled with something other than the gummy. His hands swiped at the sushi, mewed at the taste, and took a couple more bites. If only Evelyn could cook something delicious when he needed energy. He stopped and shook his head to focus on the task, licking his fingers and moving towards the door.

Outside the small hole windows, kats were standing around, whether they were under control or not. The adults blocked the center, but a green glow could be seen, and Baxter's figure could be briefly seen. The mask was almost completely covering his face.

Ethan clicked on his ear only to hear static on the other end, making him wince and turn it off. He was alone now, with front-row seats to the madness that was going on in the ballroom. He looked toward where he came from and back to the scene. Ethan had no time to think as his hands tipped a dish, creating a crash.

A nearby kat turned its head towards the kitchen door and moved.

"Shadow Gateway," Ethan squeaked, drifting inside and moving forward toward the center of the ballroom. He had spotted a nearby table with covers that touched the floor. The gateway made a sound, so the hope was that there was enough noise going around for no one to spot him there.

Ethan reappeared below the table, flinching when hearing the small tear and wind. He stayed down and tried to control his beating heart, hoping it would not give his position away. After a few moments, Ethan slowly pulled the drape up to see nobody was looking at him and caught the guard leaving the kitchen. The cloth was let go, and none was the wiser of the new guest.

"John, do you copy?" Ethan muttered, only to hear screeching on the other end. He flinched and turned it off, focusing on the drap and lifting it again.

The sound of music and cries drowned the area. Baxter was playing his violin and was afflicting the kats around him with a spell. At first, it was just the guards, but now he was almost done brainwashing the remaining few that whimpered for their release.

"Say Leo….do you think they will realize that no matter what they do? You lot are going to die by their hands?" Baxter said, watching the bloodied kat on the floor. He stopped playing his tune and waited for the gasping kat. "A bit rude not to respond to me. Maybe I should-"

"Don't," Leo coughed, lifting himself from the floor, his hands struggling to raise his beaten body. He managed to get on his knees and stare at the mad violinist with spite. "I….don't think so."

"Right…..they haven't even moved an inch, and granted, who wants to be responsible for these kittens' death? At least they have their priority straight…..or they are too busy arguing with each other on whom to save first," Baxter said, gritting his teeth and shivering as he touched his head. "No matter….soon this will all be over and-"

"What's your plan after this? Go on a crusade to punish all the 'elites?' It does not have to end like this," Leo said. "You are not thinking straight. Let everyone go, and we can still- "

"SILENCE!" Baxter growled, summoning a couple of notes and aiming them at where a couple of kats held Leo's wife. The wife whimpered at the sight and put her head down, waiting to get killed by the sharp notes.

"No, please don't!" Leo begged, "Don't hurt my wife. If you want to hurt someone, then hurt me."

Leo got his wish as the notes tightened, flung towards his fingers, and cut some off from his right. A bloody roar echoed in the room. Leo gripped his hand and clenched his teeth as blood oozed where his missing pieces should be.

"LEO!" Leo's wife yelled, trying to fight off her captors. "Don't hurt him anymore…..please, I beg you. Please stop."

Baxter's ears fell, and he looked away.

"Why couldn't you be like this to my sister? Why couldn't you show the same compassion as you do with your wife?" Baxter said, heading toward the huffing Leo. "Every nation promised to do their best to get everyone home that day. How quickly it changed from 'working with the bomber' to, 'we don't work with the terrorist' when their family was saved. WHY? Why did that happen? You and the rest promised us…..me to have my sister back in one piece!"

"I'm…sorry," Leo whispered, "I'm sorry. We should have done more. You are right. I can't speak for the others, but I am sorry."

Baxter clicked his tongue and walked away.

"But to do this…." Leo said, standing up and holding his injured hand. He nearly stumbled but held firm, "…..tell me. Would Rose be okay with this?"

Baxter froze. He wanted to summon a cord to slash Leo's throat, but he did not. Rose was a gentle soul who liked to help kats worldwide despite not being glamorous. Would she be okay with this? No, she would not. Baxter's hand shook as he gripped the violin and wished things could have gone differently. He rubbed his mouth and looked around at the mess he made.

"Do you think he's speaking from the heart?" Umfrey said, taking control and spinning Baxter's body back to Leo. The mask covered his whole face by ninety-nine percent. "No….this sorry lot would say anything to escape this situation."

"I don't think I can continue this," Baxter said, shaking his head.

"Just one final step! One last push and I'll handle it from here," Umfrey cooed, lifting the violin towards his neck. "Just strike him down!"

"No, I think this is good enough," Baxter said, struggling as his other hand prepared to play a note.

"And what? Do you think they will learn their lesson just like that? Don't be a fool, Baxter….in time, they will repeat the same mistake. Do you want another kat to lose someone? Do you want someone to cry fake tears when they get someone killed?"

Everyone held their breath as they watched the scene before him, two different kats talking in one body. Leo bit his lip and hoped things would turn out okay, looking at his wife and trying to ease her worries over his injured self. A single decision that could damn the whole lot or save them.

Baxter shook, almost appearing to lower his violin. He stopped trembling, closed his eyes, and flicked a note toward Leo. A sharp energy blast from the heavens came down, ready to split the kat apart.

"SHADOW GATEWAY!"

Leo yelled as he fell down a portal, which closed above him before he was struck by the energy, leaving a smoky dent in where the kat stood. Another yell rang, this time from Leo's wife, as she dropped to the floor and disappeared.

The ruffling sound of cloth and things falling off a table crashed nearby. All eyes shifted towards the unwelcomed guest, that hurriedly ran to the nearest exit. Ethan summoned a small portal to get behind an incoming guard and stumble on the other side. The boy struggled towards the door and opened it, giving one final glance to Baxter.

"Get him!" Baxter hissed after recovering from the initial shock. He flicked some notes and gathered control over the remaining kats. The mask halted its progress, and his one eye remained untouched.

Like a crashing wave, all the controlled kats ran toward the door and chased after the boy. Their master shifted his cords and turned himself into notes that swam after his prey.

Ethan ran. The door crashed behind him. Footsteps were speeding in his direction. He jerked at a turn and quickly rushed down the hallway. One of those emergency doors awaited at the end of the hall.

The whispers alerted the boy and warned him to cover his ear.

Ethan did so as bright green notes flew above him and showed the upper half of Baxter. A green mist sprayed toward him. The notes attempted to penetrate his ears but disappeared as soon they could reach him. He slammed against the exit, making the alarm go off and cry out a screech.

The boy met the cold floor harshly as he tumbled down. He grunted and quickly spun around to back up, expecting Baxter or his minions to be on him. This was not the case! Baxter was on the floor, holding his head and growling as the alarm blared. The skull was ripping away from the teacher's face. Baxter flicked a short tune that blasted the speakers and lightbulbs.

Darkness befell the inside, with only multiple green eyes staring out the door. Ethan felt a shiver and attempted to stand up, but his knees were locked. His hand shook, and he could only crawl back as he watched the door. He was out of gas and out of options.

Something shifted, creating a little rustle by the nearby shrubbery and a heavy thud as someone stood behind the boy. Ethan felt the firm grasp of someone swooping him up and lifting their glove toward a building. 'The glovatrix?!' Ethan thought before feeling jolted up towards the top of the building.

Chance moved them out of harm's way. The tabby grunted as he landed, turning the hold on the boy so he could be over his shoulder. He ran across the tiles as he kept glancing for any attacks.

"T-Bone?" Ethan finally let out.

"Can you move?" Chance said.

"No. I'm a bit out of it for now," Ethan replied. He bit his lip and sheepishly grinned at the tabby, "You're not mad right?"

"What do you think?" Chance growled, glancing at the nearby structure and shooting another hook to get as far away as possible. He clenched his fist and jumped as the hook pulled them with force. No time was wasted as the pair kept moving. "For now, let's get to a safe location. But don't think you are getting out of this one scott free. You hear?"

"Riiiight," Ethan groaned. He gripped the tabby's arm, "Is Evelyn-"

"She's okay for now," Chance assured. He clicked his ear, "John, watch my back."

"Roger, I just got a feed from the ballroom. Huh, I'm losing some connection with the cameras behind you. What the hell is going on?"

Ethan clicked his receiver, "It's Professor Baxter! I think the energy he is emitting is causing all the issues!"

"Which means if the cameras are out, that's where he is. Hold on, kit!" Chance said, dropping them to the floor below and ducking back against the wall. He carefully put the kit down and signaled him to stay silent. They were now hidden between two buildings, a small alley with a few doors nearby.

Chance's ears flicked as he felt the feedback invade his ears. He winced and looked up to catch a green mist passing them quickly. The awful noise continued for a moment before it stopped.

"John, do you read me?" Chance said.

"…..hear you! Huh, it seems you both are on to something. Judging by the time I lost you….I'll say he affects our surveillance…..a rough estimate of a range of three hundred to three hundred fifty feet. I can give you a general idea of where he is based on which cameras are turned off. He's zooming north and…..just stopped. Wait, those cameras are now becoming active!"

"He's probably heading up to get a better view," Chance grunted, moving towards the corner and getting confirmation.

Above the sky, a tiny figure scanned the area and played some strings back toward where they came from. The energy bolted out like a fan that arced toward the ballroom area. The controlled kats were some distance away, freezing as they were touched by the command and all separating in different directions.

"Guess he is sending the search party for us," Chance said, heading back towards the kid and kneeling to put a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "You good?"

"Yes…shit, we have to get back to the ballroom. I managed to save two kats before Baxter could execute one of them. But he's hurt and needs to be checked out as soon as possible," Ethan said. However, it was difficult to stand up as his legs were not responding. He punched his limbs, "C'mon….I'm not that tired. Why the hell can't I move!"

Chance looked at the boy. Ethan's whole body was shaking, sweating, and breathing fast. He could hear the boy's beating heart with his paw. He ruffled Ethan's head.

"Kit, you are scared," Chance said, seeing the boy jerk towards him with disbelief.

"Me? Really, Chance? I dealt with a giant squid, a serial killer, and several gangsters. Why the hell would I be scared?" Ethan asked. He inspected his hands which were still trembling, and his stomach felt like he had butterflies. "I'm just…..tired."

"It's okay to be scared."

"I'm not! Jeez, just drop it."

Chance sighed, picking up the struggling kid despite the protest. He shifted towards the other corner. It was quiet, and there was no sign of any kats around. Chance pressed the kid close and sprinted towards another building.

"You froze. It's perfectly normal to be scared. It's what keeps us alive and moving. The downside is it can make you freeze at the worst times," Chance continued, shifting his attention around for danger.

Ethan scoffed despite feeling comfortable and at ease in his guardian's arms. It was embarrassing! Yet, he did not want to argue with Chance. Then again, it is not like they had not talked about fears at their lowest point.

"Do you…..get scared while on missions?" Ethan whispered.

"Of course I do," Chance said without missing a beat. The boy's head was down and in deep thought. "It's in the back of my head at all times."

"How do you….deal with it so you don't freeze?"

"I admit I am scared but mentally push myself to finish the task," Chance said. The kid did not seem convinced. He chuckled, "Did I ever tell you about my first time flying?"

Ethan shook his head.

"Well, let's say my first go at it…..I blew chunks in the bathroom," Chance admitted.

"You did?" Ethan said, looking up in disbelief. "Were you terrified when you flew?"

"More like before and after my first flight. I was so excited, yet I had this other side that worried things would go wrong. I accepted it and focused on flying the best I could once I got in. Of course, my fears hit me when it was all over," Chance said. He looked at the sky and reminisced about the good old days. His younger self felt like he was free and could do anything. Yet, now things felt bleaker, and he felt clipped. Ethan put his head close to Chance's chest. His gaze eased up, and he shifted the kid close. "Don't worry, lil' bud, I got you."

Chance moved with the assistance of John's guidance. A silent dash across the school, dodging kats' gaze and avoiding any confrontation.

After some time, they made it toward where Evelyn was last spotted. Chance laid the boy down and waited for a nod before continuing. The tabby commanded Ethan to follow him and abide by his hand signals. They moved in the shadows, listening for any sounds, and moved into the girls' dormitories.

Chance's ears perked up, and he put a fist up.

A crash was heard, followed by scuffling and Evelyn hissing. Both males stood up and ran toward the door. The door swung open, with Evelyn holding onto a tom from behind and covering his mouth with a wet towel. The tom struggled but lost consciousness as the chemicals worked their magic, and he went limp. Evelyn double-checked to ensure he was down before noticing the two males.

Evelyn sprinted towards Ethan, hugging the boy and pulling away to check for any injuries.

"Are you hurt?" Evelyn said, getting a shake. She heaved a huge sigh, hugging the boy again. "Thank the higher gods. You sure nothing's wrong?"

"I'm FINE. But….you are squeezing me….too….hard," Ethan gasped. She lightened her grip but refused to let go. He rolled his eyes, but his hands moved in to get closer to her. She was warm like Chance, putting his last remaining troubles at ease. "I'm glad both of you are okay."

Chance kept a lookout. Yet his attention would sway towards the two. He got close and touched the she-kat's shoulder. "Let's move inside. Has John informed you about the situation?"

"Yes. How are we supposed to deal with that?" Evelyn said. She guided Ethan inside with the tabby picking up the fallen tom. Her tail moved freely as she waited for the tabby to tie their brainwashed victim with some nearby cords. "You fought the Pastmaster way back. Any solutions on this new foe?"

"Not currently. We butted heads when our goals collided, but we never beat one another," Chance admitted. He grunted as he tightened the cords and checked them before looking at Evelyn. "You've secured this area?"

"Yes. Our friend here was the last kat, so we solved one problem. Now we have to defeat more brainwashed kats and their boss," Evelyn sighed. She rubbed her neck, sore after tussling with a bunch of kats. A solution was poorly needed, but the adults had none. "We shouldn't engage until we better understand our foe. However, we can't twiddle our thumbs for too long and risk them putting the kits in danger again."

"Affirmative. There must be a way to defeat him. Oh, that reminds me," Chance said, handing Evelyn's pistol to her.

"Thanks, some peace of mind at least. However, I'm unsure if bullets can harm a spirit," Evelyn said.

"That hasn't been confirmed yet. Though we will soon find out."

Ethan awed at the two adults, getting a sense of how they acted when they were with the Enforcers. A thought struck him. He was the only one to engage with the enemy so far. Ethan tried remembering every detail until their escape. A fire alarm was nearby.

"I think….he's affected by loud sounds," Ethan muttered, rubbing his head. He got the attention of the adults. "Well….I can only assume since he stopped chasing me after I activated the alarms. I saw Baxter and someone else separating when it happened. I saw a skull…..maybe that's the source of his power."

Evelyn glared at Chance. The tabby raised a hand in defense and growled, realizing their third eye had failed to inform her of Ethan's tussle with the magical being. Evelyn shook her head and pushed it for another time.

"Sound? … .we have nothing else to go on, so this is our best clue to defeating him," Chance said. He inspected his glovatrix, checking for anything that could irritate them. He had flash bangs, mini-missiles, a hook, and other features. "Crud. If only I had some banshee missiles or the Turbo Kat to rattle that green pest."

"The school should have megaphones for natural disasters. Hopefully, they are enough to irritate him," Evelyn said.

"Good idea! Let's go and get some," Chance said. He was heading down the hallway with the two following close behind. He looked at Ethan. "What else did you manage to see at the ballroom?"

As the trio headed towards the location, Ethan repeated everything he saw and his conclusions about how Baxter's magic worked. The adults listened carefully and mused about how to protect themselves. The conversation continued as they checked every corner and eyes scanned for any trouble ahead.


The ballroom was empty now, with pushed chairs and tables lying around, the floors covered in broken plates, and scattered food. The light above flickered as Ethan summoned a portal, letting Chance reach in a pull the two kats out. It was the perfect time to head back here! Nobody expects their victims to return to the scene of the crime. Evelyn hurried to the tom and soothed the weeping wife. The boy frowned as Chance headed off, and he followed after him.

"Wait. Look, I can-"

"Ethan. We have discussed this already. Stay with them," Chance sighed, shifting the two megaphones he strapped to his body. He crouched, "Listen….if this doesn't work, then I need you to protect them from harm."

"But that's why I should go. I can support you," Ethan said. He looks down, "Do you….not believe in me?"

"Kit…..it's not that," Chance said. "I can't risk you collapsing on me. One day, you'll be able to….just not today. This is important as fighting that professor."

Ethan shook his head, grimacing and refusing to look at his guardian. "Sure, it is….whatever you say T-Bone."

Chance fought the urge to snap at the boy, pushing his two emotions down and focusing on making the kid listen. The idea of Ethan getting hurt was something he could not live with. He rubbed his mouth and looked around for guidance. He turns his attention back to Ethan.

"Look at me," Chance said.

Ethan huffed, crawling to meet the other's eye. Both of them stare at each other, and Ethan eases up when seeing Chance's gentle gaze. He felt the tabby place his fist upon where his heart should be.

"Please stay here. I'll be back. I promise," Chance said.

Ethan halted. His mouth felt dry and original annoyance fleeted away. It felt too quiet. This was not true. Leo's soft breath and the weeping wife filled the area. A voice from the past could be heard, repeating the same promise, which was never fulfilled. Zoe never returned. Ethan shook. He hugged Chance, wishing the same thing did not happen.

Chance was not expecting it, yet he accepted it and sensed the boy's grief. Evelyn looked at him with a soft smile and mouth for him to stay safe. Chance nodded, pulling the kid back and grinning to show he would be okay. With one final ruffle of Ethan's head, Chance moved out and did not look back.

Ethan fixed his eyes on the door even when Chance left his view.

"Please….do come back. Stay safe out there."


The cold breeze above the sky touched Baxter as he scanned for any signs of prey like a hawk. He shifted his attention towards a couple of his kats searching around buildings, but they had yet to find their unwelcome guest. But, another thought came. Why was a Swat Kat here? Despite not wearing his trademark outfit, T-Bone was recognizable, especially with his signature glovartix. Other nations' citizens knew the omega problems that plagued Megakat City. It was like a Saturday morning cartoon, getting the latest information on what was going on in the hectic metropolis.

"Never expected to fight one of them here. Especially an old fossil like that," Baxter muttered. A million questions were zooming by, yet they would never be answered today. He shifted his violin, "No matter. You can deal with him however you like. I want Leo."

"I am more worried about the other one," Umfrey voiced. "The most significant danger is that wizard. That other beast can wait. We must get him under our influence and get your prey back."

Baxter nodded, despite knowing he was trading his soul for power. Sharing his body with the spirit, he could read the other's thoughts and understand his intentions. He did not care anymore and would not fight him on that. Just one kill, and he would not have to worry about it anymore. Just one! It had to be Leo!

"Where's that little-"

Something was launched from below, screeching and whistling towards the sky above where Baxter floated. It would have hit him if he did not fly to the side and avoided the attack. Before any other actions could be taken, a bright light attacked the teacher and sent him spiraling down. The green mist trailed behind as they landed on the roof with a bounce.

Baxter hissed, holding his eyes with one hand and firmly protecting his violin with the other. His ears flicked when hearing someone dashing toward him. He quickly summoned his bow and played a tune. A circle surrounded him and expanded outward. Tiles, chimneys, and everything were pushed with great force.

Baxter's vision started to return. He cursed and bobbed everywhere for his assailant, only to see nothing. It was that infernal Swat Kat, and he's been cautious.

"Still think we can ignore this one?" Baxter asked.

"That blasted kat! Oooooh. I'll handle him for now. Once I get that kit, you better finish the task!" Umfrey growled, taking over. He played a tune, and sharp tones whipped across the roof randomly. "Get out here, you little rat!"

Umfrey got no response which made him snarl. He walked forward while keeping his bow ready to play an attack. He stopped. A couple of large chimneys were still standing. A short tune was played, breaking one of them. Nothing. Another tune. Nothing. One remained, making him grin as he played a long, sharp song and prepared to fire.

It was too late for the musician to notice the tabby had gone around and was now behind him. Chance crouched towards him and put the megaphone close to Umfrey's ear. The awful screech blasted the eardrums, and it caused Umfrey's boney skull to pull slightly from Baxter's face. Umfrey roared, flicking a quick tune and zooming away toward the other side of the roof.

"Crud….not enough sound," Chance hissed, shifting back.

"I got you," Umfrey shouted, playing his tune to get control of the Swat Kat. The mist sprayed toward the kat and touched him. "I win! You almost got me there, you irritating kat. Now what will I have you do?"

Chance swatted the mist away from his face, making Umfrey's mouth drop.

"Sorry, you said something? You're going to have to speak up!" Chance smirked. He played with his ear covered with makeshift earplugs, "Now, if you were some sexy she-kat, maybe I would have listened."

"You think that's going to protect you from me?!"

Chance pointed at his ears again, "Still can't hear you. Are you stupid or something?"

Umfrey fur bristled and his eyes harden. He used his paw to indicate he would slash the tabby's throat. Chance laughed and waved at him to come at him. The bow touched the violin, and a quick lower, sharp tone was played, summoning a slit aiming toward the tabby. The Swat Kat flipped away and quickly shot his grappling hook to make his escape.

"COWARD!" Umfrey shouted, turning into mist and zooming after the kat.

Chance's eyes would shift around, picking a specific direction and centralizing the fight. He would switch focus and be attentive for a green light. Jumping out of the way and taking cover as he attempted to reenter the shadows for another surprise attack. He used his hook and flung himself out of harm's way. He shielded himself with the glovatrix's mini shield and crashed inside a building's window.

"COME BACK HERE!" Umfrey roared.


A few green blasts flew radically toward the sky like a light show. It stopped and then continued. The sound of buildings getting new holes and the whistling of small rockets. A heated battle from afar compared to the controlled ballroom where Ethan awaited near the window.

Ethan was glued to the outside, barely registering the voice behind him. The tender touch made the boy jerk and look back. Evelyn's dress was covered in Leo's blood, and she turned her head around to check on the quiet couple. Ethan followed her. Leo was out and comforted by his wife, who silently wept and kept a firm hold on him.

Another explosion occurred. Ethan spun back, pressing his hand on the glass and hoping to see the image of the tabby from a distance. A massage on his back told him not to worry, yet he could not ignore the outside.

"We should help him," Ethan said, shaking his head. "Waiting here. Doing nothing is pointless!"

"Getting in his way would not help him. He's one capable tom. The Enforcers had a tough time capturing him, so a single enemy will not take him down," Evelyn comforted. She glanced at the battle and frowned, moving the kid closer. "He's fine. Just have to believe in him, okay?"

"I just…." Ethan whispered. "….want to help."

"I know you do. I also want to help, but we must watch out for these kats and keep them out of harm's way."

Evelyn moved the kit to follow her, heading back towards the couple. Ethan stayed silent and had his head down.

Ethan felt a whisper in his ear. Neither a warning nor danger alarm, it was more like a breeze that urged the boy to follow his gut. There was some hesitation in the whisper as if it did not want Ethan to go but respected his wishes. Chance had training from the Enforcers and other experience as a Swat Kat. However, something was off, and the whisper knew it.

Ethan halted.

"Ethan?" Evelyn said, eyeing the quiet boy.

"I'm sorry, Grim," Ethan said, turning and whispering his escape.

Evelyn's eyes widen, attempting to reach for the boy but only inserting her hand inside the portal before being rejected as it closed. She shook, cursing, and was about to touch her ear until she froze. Distracting the tabby would be unwise, and it could cause him to lose focus.

"Shit!" Evelyn said, dashing towards the exit. She gave one brief call out to Leo's wife to stay put and that she would be back. The confusion and a frantic call for the doctor to return were ignored.


Mirrors shattered. Buildings were getting torn apart. Green energy waves were frantically getting shot out as Umfrey searched for the hidden tabby. The spirit huffed and snarled like a wild animal. Chance was adept at hiding and appearing for a big guy out of nowhere.

In the shadows, Chance watched the fuming kat at a safe distance and checked his inventory. He crouched behind a wall and counted the few remaining weapons. It was not good. One flash kat left, some explosives and gadgets. Nothing in the arsenal could separate the two kats inside the single body. Chance cursed, sighed, and his attention drifted around for anything useful.

Apart from the damaged buildings still being assaulted, more buildings were some distance away. Smoke was blocking the lower ground and slowly revealing itself as Umfrey moved to another location. A direction post stood in the middle. The music department building was close by.

Chance rubbed his mouth. There might be some tool there, but it was a big if it was enough. The other Swat Kat specialized in field combat, being always the first to engage kats on the ground while he focused on the air. Jake's brain worked faster and devised solutions from practical to insane. Chance shook his head. Why was he thinking about his partner now?

"Better head over there," Chance muttered, taking one look to confirm it was clear. He bolted toward the direction of the building.

He launched a grappling hook and swung toward the top of the building's upper floors. The cool breeze touched his exposed fur. His ears twitched when a small faint slash cut across the air. A green note cut his line. Feeling the sudden loss of ascension, Chance gasped and grabbed a lower edge with a paw. He slammed on the wall, grunting, but summoned his other hand to pull himself up.

Chance avoided the incoming attacks, swinging and using his claws to climb as fast as he could. The wall was getting pummeled with attacks and leaving a trail of dust and debris as the tabby ascended. He grabbed the last ledge and flicked himself over before another wave came, flipping and landing on his paws to then spin his body to land on his feet.

The ceiling was covered with tarps and equipment as the expansion was planned for the future. Equipment and cones surrounded the area. Warning labels covered the area for kats to not fall in the few openings.

"Still go it," Chance growled, rotating toward his enemy, pointing his glovatrix. A missile cried out as it went to the floating target, who summoned a green barrier, shifting Umfrey a bit back from the force.

Umfrey snarled, having enough of this little cat-and-mouse chase. He grabbed his violin and played a short tune, sending a solid wave of harsh winds toward the tabby.

Chance hissed, feeling the force as he shielded his eyes. He started to drift from the feet down and was soon sent flying. Chance yelled as he floated back, and the wave changed direction downward—a crash beneath the loose ceiling and him falling into a giant theater room.

Chance slammed onto the wooden surface, leaving a dent, and the wind escaped his chest. He hissed, attempting to shuffle his body over when he felt another attack from above. The ceiling was sent down toward the fallen kat. Chance gasped, shifting forward as much as he could.

Dust and smoke covered the theater. A roar of pain cried out in the room. Umphrey descended to the scene and flicked another wave of air to flick the cover away. Chance was pinned down by his left leg with some debris and a steel bar piercing his leg.

"Seems like the end of the road Swat Kat," Umfrey cackled, landing on the stage and walking towards him.

Chance grunted, looking around the room for anything to help.

Nothing was valuable, and the theater was empty apart from the microphone on a stand and a few speakers in each corner of the room. The red sea of seats where on his right, and the big curtain was on his left. The pain was getting washed up thanks to the adrenaline as a million neurons fired a solution.

Ethan's head appeared from the upper area ledge. Wait what? Chance froze, turning his head back and seeing the human. He clenched his fist. 'Damn that kit!' Chance fumed internally. The boy aimed his hands toward Umfrey.

"Not a good idea to get closer to me!" Chance blurted, eyeing the approaching kat. He hoped the boy understood the words that were directed to him. The glovatrix was aimed toward the adversary.

Umfrey motions his hands downward at the tabby, summoning a big hand and forcing the kat face on the ground. There was no way he would let this Swat Kat move an inch. Umfrey would never admit it, but this kat was dangerous. He shook his head and was now a few feet from the struggling tom.

"It would be a shame to kill you. I'm going to need some strong kats when claiming this island. Those aristocrats are so feeble and break easily," Umfrey chuckled, bending down and reaching for the kats ears. "Oh, that's right. You can't hear me. How about now?"

"I swear I'll break your neck when I get out of this," Chance growled. He cried out when feeling pressure on his whole body. The floor beneath him began to crack.

"Impudent fool! You are in no position to fight me," Umfrey snarled, rechecking the wound to confirm. He eased up and scoffed. "Who was that, by the way? That little friend of yours earlier. He's not from here but has magic abilities like those kats in the Dark Ages."

"You think I'll spill anything? Choke on a hairball, you AGH!" Chance yelled. His body was picked up and slammed to the other side of Umfrey. Blood dripped from the leg, but the sudden impact refocused back the teacher. There was a crack coming from the chest area of Chance.

"Why can't brutes keep quiet and just answer the question?" Umfrey sighed, taking a look around and finally noticing his surroundings. He frowned, "Ah….we seem to be on a stage. I wonder if kats punish anyone who makes one mistake."

"Shit," Chance whispered, feeling his eyes giving up on him. He managed to turn his head towards Umfrey, who was standing in the middle of the room. The tabby's gaze darted around for the boy. Ethan had moved to the lower corner of the first level. He needed time to reevaluate the situation and a distraction. "A mistake? Huh….I can relate to that."

"I doubt that."

"Trust me. You aren't the only one that has gotten kicked down," Chance said, wincing as he felt warm on his leg. He wasted no time pointing to the microphone and the nearby speakers with his claws. Ethan froze, looking at the two items and nodding his head. A closed fist told the boy to wait till it was all clear.

Umfrey rubbed his head, "Hmm….. perhaps. Why are you keen on saving these kats?"

"I don't care for them. Just doing my job to keep my freedom."

"Freedom? Ah, I see…. Baxter's memory tells me that you were defeated some time ago. I guess you have become a slave to your former antagonist."

"Sort of. Better than rotting in prison for nine lives. So…." Chance grunted. "What's…..your story?"

Umfrey's turned to face Chance. The tabby was panting on his back as he attempted to stay awake. He touched the skull that covered Baxter's face. His fur, flesh, and anything else was stripped away, and only his head remained.

"Aw…interested in my sorrows?"

"Well, I can't move. So you have my full attention," Chance said, letting go of the fist. Ethan moved in.

Umfrey chuckled.

"You are an odd one. Hmm….fine, I'll entertain you. Though I am more of a performer than a teller," Umfrey said, lifting his violin and placing a bow on it, staring at a gentle song.

It wept an image of kat, Umfrey's old self, playing in front of a crowd. It seemed to be a ceremony, and the musician enjoyed entertaining the kats around him. A female royal approaches Umfrey, dancing closer to him, and him noticing her gaze. They smiled and secretly waved at each other as they had known each other since childhood despite their different upbringings.

The music lifted, and the passionate night led these two together. The she-kat cried out to him to take her away from this kingdom as she was destined to marry a kat she did not know or love. It seemed like the sun was rising for them as they planned their escape, only to be interrupted when a guard caught them.

The symphony started to turn, showing darkness as Umfrey was beaten and tortured for his actions. The shivering cold nights followed as the image of the she-kat lying on the casket, deciding to choose her way to live rather than be a destined one. Umfrey madness overtakes him, and making a deal with an unknown entity that strips him of everything apart from his skull. A thunderous roar and a huge crack sent some buildings down the depths.

Umfrey stopped.

"I miss my Abigal. My mistake was falling in love… maybe if I kept my heart at bay. She would have…." Umfrey trailed off, shaking his head and looking back at Chance. "Her family and those other royals punished us. It was not the first time my eyes laid on something like that. Such a rough time to live….so many innocent lives were lost to those with power. And using my good kat's body…..I can see time hasn't changed that."

Chance nodded. From the corner of his eye, Ethan had grabbed the microphone and jammed in near a speaker. Like a shadow, the tiny figure drifted towards the back without Umfrey noticing him. The tabby messed around his glovatrix, waiting for the moment to strike.

"Unfortunately, time is coming to an end. The clock will strike twelve soon, and I keep my promises," Umfrey said, lifting his violin and preparing to play a tune.

"You were curious about my little friend, right?" Chance said, getting Umfrey to stop.

"Oh? What's the sudden change in tune," Umfrey asked.

"A bit of a loose cannon, that one. A headache most times. Doesn't listen when I tell him to stay put," Chance said. He shook his head and smiled, "Though he's a good kit with much heart. Just needs someone to guide him in this crazy world."

The awful sound of feedback started to drown the room. Both males flinched at the sound, with Umfrey crying out as he grabbed his head. The skull separated from Baxter, and the hand that kept Chance at bay disappeared. Baxter attempted to use his violin. Chance shot his final flash kat, and aimed it toward the teacher.

The room was covered in harsh light. Apart from the awful sound of screeching, wet steps and something sprinting towards the center could be heard. The light finally gave out, and Chance was on top of Baxter, ripping the violin away from his hand. Chance threw it away and then grabbed Umfrey's skull, pulling it away from Baxter's face. Baxter growled and reached for Chance's leg, putting pressure on the wound.

"Son of a BITCH!" Chance howl. He ignored it and continued his attempts to separate the two.

"Get off me!" Baxter growled, clawing the tabby's wound and chest.

Their ears flicked when hearing a ripple near them and saw a portal appear. Baxter's eyes caught the new figure behind the tabby.

"T-BONE! Just put it inside and let go!" Ethan yelled, holding his hand out.

Chance grunted, swinging his hands and putting them deep inside the portal. He let go and retreated as the portal shut. A fist was delivered to the teacher and knocked Baxter out. Chance panted, slumping forward and tilting to the side.

They won.


"T-bone!" Ethan cried out, heading towards the tabby's side and inspecting the wound. He shook, wanting to pull it out or do something, but he was quivering too much. "Oh, right! Evelyn said….too…..I…..I…..shit….I don't."

Ethan felt tears coming out. He was stuck! He couldn't think straight. He was shaking. A touch to the face made him jolt, only to see that Chance was smiling at him.

"Hey, I'm the one with the metal rod in my leg, lil bud. Don't start the waterworks. I'll be fine as long as you don't pull it," Chance said, grunting as he used his other arm to lift himself to sit up. Ethan wrapped his hands around Chance's neck, whimpering and holding on firmly. "Ease up kit. It's okay."

"I froze!" Ethan exclaimed. "I froze…..what if you were badly injured….and I…I."

Chance sighed, pulling the kit close and nuzzling the frightened boy.

"You did good, kit. Though would it kill you to….ah forget it. Just-"

The main door slammed open. Evelyn appeared, huffing and panting as she ran to the ledge. Both males jerked their heads toward her.

"Ethan! T-BONE!" Evelyn shouted, sprinting down the incline and heading toward the stage. She jumped up and approached three figures. Her eyes scanned the situation, letting a heavy sigh when realizing the boy was not in critical danger and the professor seemed out of it. She ripped her dress and quickly applied pressure to the tabby's wound. "Ethan, help me here."

John communicated with them to confirm they were okay. The adults reported the situation and that Baxter was neutralized. The munchkin confirmed the problem was resolved as the controlled adults regained their wits. Ethan assisted with stabilizing the wound and wrapping it with whatever they could use for now. Evelyn would ask Chance felt and if he could feel his leg.

"I still feel it….though I'm probably not going run a marathon very soon," Chance joked, wincing as the adrenaline left his body.

"True….however, now that we address this," Evelyn said, looking at Ethan with a frown. "What were you thinking? You could have gotten hurt!"

Ethan looked away. He had hoped to avoid this until later, but it seemed Evelyn was not going it let slide. Chance shook his head when the boy attempted to get aid from him.

"I uh…just felt like something was going to happen to T-bone. It was a maybe, but I didn't want to risk it," Ethan admitted, wondering if his senses were evolving or if it was just the whispers attempting to help him. He rubbed his arm and held firm his view on the floor, avoiding the doctor's gaze.

Ethan saw she wanted to continue, but her ears flicked at the teacher's breathing behind them. She exhaled and rubbed the temple of her head. Now was not the time to reprimand. Securing the scene was crucial, and their distant helpers probably notified kats outside. They needed to remove their mask, reassume their fake identities, and get 'Nicholas' to the hospital. Chance placed a firm hand on her shoulder, and she understood he had the same concerns.

Evelyn looked around and noticed a few cords in the distance.

"For now, let's focus on moving out. Ethan, go fetch those cords over there," Evelyn said. "However, we will talk to you after this."

Ethan groaned, "Ah, come on, Grim! Can we just skip that and-"

"Ethan, listen to her," Chance instructed, pointing toward the cords. He mouth Ethan not to start when the boy attempts to argue.

"What the hell? One second, you two are ignoring each other, and now you are punishing me together?" Ethan mumbled, rubbing his head and strolling towards the far-away cords. A smile crept, "Did I miss something?"

"Ethan! Now would be a good time!" Chance said.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!" Ethan repeated, putting more effort into his steps.

Chance shook his head, turning to look at Evelyn—both grin.

"Thank you for the assists," Evelyn whispered.

"Anytime, partner," Chance said.

Ethan's eyes glanced back toward the pair, feeling a bit better at the sight. Yet why did he have to get scolded later? He sighed, hoping it was not long, and focused ahead as he was a few feet from the cords. At least the nightmare was dealt with. Umfrey was trapped inside his world, and they would deal with him later.

No one noticed the extra kit in the room until he spoke.

"Huh…..you survived. Color me impressed," Wyatt said, looking at the mess around him. "A bit rough around the edges…..Trevor, or should I say Ethan?"

Ethan stopped, feeling his senses telling him that things were not over. The other problem was, where the heck did this kit come from? He turned to face the nearby kit and took a step back.

"You? What the hell are-" Ethan said, hitting him that this kit knew his kat form's true identity. He took another step back. Something was wrong. He glanced toward his teammates, who had yet to notice the newcomer. "T-Bon-"

Ethan had no time as Wyatt whispered something and appeared before him. He could not breathe a word as he felt Wyatt zoom a fist into his throat. Ethan gasped, grabbing it as he felt crushed, and fell to his knees as he attempted to breathe.

Chance and Evelyn's ears flicked, hearing Wyatt's magic and seeing Ethan on the floor. Both were stunned, barely having enough time to react when Wyatt whispered. Wyatt flashed towards the unconscious teacher and placed a paw on him. It was a beam of light, and Wyatt was back to Ethan with Baxter in tow.

"Don't have time to deal with you blanks," Wyatt growled at the distant pair. He grabbed both of his prey, "Light Traveler!"

With a boom, a massive light formed around them, and they zoomed out of the hole on top. It sped off, and only the two remained.

"ETHAN!" both cried out as they could only watch.


It was quiet. Too quiet for Dante's liking as he sat on the edge of the floating rock. He was getting impatient but felt close to returning to full function. Time was such an annoying thing to wait for.

Dante smirked, "Now, I'm acting like that brat. He would probably be complaining at this point and asking for the time."

Dante stood up and paced around for a few moments. He tested his magic stability and summoned a familiar watch. He stopped, looking at it and wishing the Pastmaster had vanished when he got his answers. It would have satisfied him even if it was just his real name. He put the golden watch away in his clothes and crossed his arm as he stared at the endless void.

"Just a bit longer…. you're still alive, so that's good enough for now."