Corneria City, Corneria
May 9th, 2611
The knock came at about 9:30 in the morning. Ron Hayward, a hyena with an eyepatch over his right eye and crude prosthetics in place of some of his fingers, glanced at the door to his apartment.
"Who the fuck could that be?"
He switched off his TV, got up, and went to the door. Activating a small monitor beside the door, the wild dog was greeted with the sight of a female cheetah in a beige jacket and a black top and combat pants.
"What the hell?"
To further add to his surprise, the cheetah delivered a kick that sent the door flying open. That didn't last long, for as she was entering the apartment, Hayward wrapped an arm around her midsection and slammed the wildcat to the floor. Placing an arm on her throat, Hayward glared into the cheetah's eyes.
"Whada ya know, Alvarez's little girl all grown up."
The feline responded by sinking her teeth into his arm and then delivering a headbutt when he released her.
"You're gonna pay for what you did, Hayward."
The two then exchanged punches, with Hayward finally delivering one that sent the cheetah falling backwards into the TV.
"I'll make you scream, just like her."
He was quite surprised when the wildcat drew a blaster and fired, hitting him in the right arm.
"Graagh!"
The cheetah stood up and aimed the blaster at the hyena's head.
"Who's screaming now, Hayward?"
But the feline was also in for a shock as the wild dog rolled a flashbang grenade at her. She thought that the blinding light and ringing in her ears would be the end, that her quarry would use the chance to kill her. But shockingly enough, her vision and hearing returned, and when they did, she saw that the apartment window was open and led to a fire escape. Peering outside, the cheetah spotted Hayward dashing into a nearby alley. He was gone before she could line up a shot.
"Damn."
She charged down the stairs as fast as she could, down past the side of the apartment building, and into the alley, where five figures opened fire on her. The feline barely got to cover.
"Woods, Warren, after her." she heard one of them call out.
At that, the cheetah tossed a smoke grenade behind her and fled.
Back in the alley, Hayward glared at the three men in front of him. They were a black-furred German Shepherd in a similarly coloured leather jacket and grey camouflage pants and bearing a scar between his eyes, a crocodile in a black t shirt and blue jeans, and a dark skinned human in a green camouflage jacket and pants.
"You mind telling me what this is all about?" snarled the hyena.
The German Shepherd holstered his blaster and began to speak.
"Quite simply, Mr Hayward, we're here to make you an offer."
Hayward raised an eyebrow. They had chased off that damned cheetah, maybe even killed her.
"I'm listening."
"You would be required to make a lifetime commitment to our organization." continued the shepherd.
"But the rewards are worth it. Show him, Jones."
As the human stepped forward, Hayward got a better look and recognized him.
"I know you. You're Jerome Jones of the Bloody Chain."
"Formerly." the human replied and lifted up his pant leg, showing that the lower half of his leg was cybernetic.
Hayward grunted and turned back to the canine.
"I'm in."
Just then, the other two men, a human with blond hair and similar attire to the shepherd, and a black-furred jackal in a yellow shirt and a grey vest and pants returned.
"We lost her, Varner." said the human.
The dog shook his head.
"Doesn't matter, we got what we came for."
He looked back at the hyena.
"Welcome to the Cult of Baphomet, Ron Hayward."
Later
The sting of the iodine didn't bother her, nor did the stitches.
What bothered her was the fact that he had gotten away. The feeling only got worse when she got out to the waiting room and saw two familiar figures. One was a male cheetah in a wheelchair, the other was a female snow leopard.
Sighing, the wildcat seated herself in one of the room's many chairs. The other two came over and the man placed his hand on hers.
"I had him Dad. I was so close."
He nodded in understanding.
"I know, Connie."
His expression became pensive.
"But you do realize that even if you get him, it won't bring her back."
Unable to answer her father, Connie Alvarez simply lowered her head.
Two days later, back at her apartment, Connie was halfway through a can of beer when her communicator went off. She answered and was surprised by the identity of the caller.
"Fox McCloud?"
"Good day, Miss Alvarez. I have a proposition for you."
"I'm listening."