Mission 19: Shattered

The waves crashed, sending a thunderous splash as they hit the sizeable vessel. The pitch-black ocean view had nothing to offer—small pecks of the stars provided barely any light. While the ocean stretched far, it offered little comfort as its dark waters appeared to swallow anyone who would dare plunge into nothingness.

Suddenly, a white light turned on, making Ethan squint and put his hands up to shield his eyes. He wondered how long he'd been in deep thought not hearing the loud rotors of the enforcer helicopters.

"Bandit! You were told to stand by," a familiar voice snapped through the helicopter's speaker.

A slight groan nearby made Ethan shift his attention to the deck, seeing bandana-wearing kats sprawled around the area. Some spots still sizzled where they aimed and shot their weapons when he evaded them. Around this area, weapons sprawled around the ground, and broken crates revealed their contents. Brand new gear spilled from the crates along with the foam pills that acted like cushions.

With an exhale, Ethan stood from his position above and outside the ship's bridge. Suddenly, he felt his legs feeling weak, and he crashed to the side of the metallic hood.

"Ethan! You okay?" a different yet familiar voice asked.

Hitting his legs, Ethan cursed at his limbs, though he felt his body aching and sweat dripping. Something clinked near him, and he saw the golden watch. However, the front looked awful, with glass appearing as if someone had shattered it. He wondered if it was magic that was the reason it stayed on.

Shaking his head, Ethan grabbed it and returned it to his pocket. He put a thumbs up, pulling his beaten neckerchief down. "I'm fine, Simon! Tell Dex to calm down before he coughs up a hairball."

With that, things moved quickly, with boats appearing in the distance and docking at the side. The Enforcers Aqua Force quickly rounded the bad kats, securing and collecting all the stored weapons aboard. Some kats extend a passing thanks or a friendly 'hello,' while others stare at him disapprovingly. He ignored them, trying not to lose an ear as Dex shouted a storm. Then the Aqua and Helicopter Units captains came, chewing Simon and Dex for not keeping Ethan in check before going at Ethan.

Ethan kept quiet, already used to this ongoing format. It usually starts with trouble happening somewhere. He deployed with Simon and Dex. The captains and lieutenants told him a plan or to stay on the sidelines until needed. He ignored them, went solo, and did the job with minor damage.

"Come on. Let's go," Dex said with a defeated breath. He kneeled, scooping Ethan off the floor and carrying him towards the helicopter.

Dex placed Ethan in the back seat, and Simon helped with the straps as they made it in. Dex patted Simon's shoulder, signaling he would head towards the front to start the rotors. Before leaving, he shot Ethan a final disapproving look.

Sitting next to Ethan, Simon plopped down and put on the seatbelt. He raised his hands and stretched, grunting before leaning back and relaxing. "Say, want to grab some grub before we head out?"

"I don't know," Ethan muttered. "Just drop me off at the room."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Okay," Simon whispered. He shifted closer, pulling and letting Ethan rest on his chest. A hum escaped him as he looked ahead with a pensive look before returning to Ethan. "Pretty impressive stuff. How did it feel?"

"Like usual, with any transformation."

"But you flew over here?"

"Yeah."

"I always wonder how birds felt." Simon chuckled, rubbing his chin.

"It was," Ethan stopped. It didn't matter. He shook his head. "It was fine. Look. I'm tired, Simon. Just let me sleep."

Simon's ears lowered. "Okay. Just know… if you want to talk… me and Dex will be there to hear you out."

Holding his tongue, Ethan said nothing, letting the heaviness in his eyes hold him…

Even though his neck still stung, he ignored it, barely focusing on the comic before him. He threw it aside, drifting his attention to his new quarters in the Stray's base. The opened boxes with his few things inside were the only thing of note in his barren room and unoccupied furniture. It was only a door down from Chance's, but he wished he could have gotten something farther away, though that was how far June would allow him to move.

A gentle knock on the door came. There were two more when Ethan didn't respond. Knowing he couldn't ignore it, he begrudgingly moved and opened it.

There stood his guardian, looking so tired. "Hey, kiddo. We have a meeting." He leaned to the side and peeked inside the room, returning with a slight frown. Do you need help setting up?"

"No," Ethan muttered. He moved out and closed the door behind him. Ignoring the tabby, he moved down the hall.

They said nothing as they strolled down the hall, letting the silence between them stay.

Ethan recalled waking up in the medical wing the following day after he attacked Jason before then being placed in his room on lockdown until further notice. That night was a blur, though he knew what he had done. Slight guilt washed over him, though, and that got squashed when Jason's words echoed in his ears. It hurt so much that he almost cried the first night. Yet, he felt so numb that he sucked everything inside of him, leaving a hollow feeling in his chest.

Nothing happened. Ethan's one-week lockdown ended, and everything went back as it was.

That was a lie.

Everyone else seemed the same, though there was a glint of something in their eyes. Maybe it was nervousness, hatred, or fear that Ethan would snap again.

"Hold up," Chance cut in, touching Ethan's shoulder.

Ethan stopped, seeing they were at the corner with the meeting room entrance a few feet away. Jason, with Benson and Tina, were coming from the opposite hallway. They were talking among themselves until Jason noticed him. His eyes widen slightly before ducking his head and hurrying inside. Confusion clouded Tina's face until she spotted Ethan. Her eyes narrowed, and her fur stood on end before she swiftly entered the room. Sporting a conflicted expression, Benson furrowed his brows and offered a brief nod of recognition before trailing after the siblings.

Letting out an exhale, Chance mumbled something to himself first before speaking. "Just give them time. For now, just try to give them space and be careful where you walk."

Ethan said nothing, glancing at the hand on his shoulder before shaking it off. His guardian looked hurt when he did that, but he didn't care. All he could focus on was how Mike would look at him when he walked inside. The caramel tom's worried glances at Jason, while Ethan became the target of his empty or angry stares.

"Hey, you two," a voice called out.

John waved at them, and Jake followed beside him.

"You two working on something together?" Chance asked. He gave a silent nod to Jake, which he returned.

"Getting our communication room up and running along with some minor things," John said simply. His attention shifted to Ethan. A worried expression crossed his face. "Hey, kid. You doing good?"

"I'm fine," Ethan said. He rubbed his neck. "If you are concerned about that, don't worry. They put a shock collar in me."

With a confused look, John blinked and quickly glanced at the two adults for answers. Both Jake and Chance wore the same tense expression. Jake clicked his tongue while Chance averted his eyes. But before John could say anything, he leaned his head and waved a 'hello' to someone.

"Hi there, doc," John said.

Ethan could feel Evelyn's eyes, though he refused to look back at her. As she moved in, he could hear the faint sound of her footsteps coming to a stop on his other side. He saw her arm extending towards him from the corner of his eyes. He instinctively moved away, avoiding her touch. Retracting her hand, a melancholic expression washed over her face as she silently watched him. Now Ethan felt other eyes on him.

Chance coughed, moving closer to Evelyn, gently placing his hand on her back and tilting his head at two other toms. "Can you three give me a second? We'll be there soon."

Jake and John nodded, looking at Ethan one last time before entering the meeting room. Despite wanting to stay, Evelyn slowly nodded, kissing Chance quickly and gently waving at Ethan before heading inside. Once they left, Chance stood before Ethan. The tabby seemed unsure, his contemplation clear as he rubbed his chin. Eventually, he pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled, a sign that he had decided and was ready to speak.

"Ethan," Chance said.

Ethan said nothing.

"Ethan?"

Nothing.

"Ethan," Chance repeated with some exasperation. "Look. If you are going to be mad at someone, then be angry at me. From the beginning, Evelyn never wanted to share anything about you. So, please don't shut her out. She cares about you. I." His eyes soften, with his shoulders slumping and ears folding. "I care about you, too."

Ethan felt those words warm him briefly, but they went away. The almost seven months felt empty now, and he couldn't tell what was real. He didn't want to talk about it, feeling it cut into him the moment his mind lingered on it for even a second. He shook his head. "It's okay, Chance. You don't have to pretend anymore. Nobody has to pretend. So just stop," he whispered the last part, moving around Chance.

"Kid," Chance said, putting a firm paw on Ethan's shoulder to stop him. "Please. Let's just talk."

"Talk? Are you for real?" With a scoff, Ethan brushed off Chance's hand and turned to face him. He felt the anger bubbling inside him. He shoved the tabby away. "There's nothing to talk about."

Chance barely moved, though he looked surprised from the shove. "I'm not excusing what I did. It was wrong, and I'm sorry. But if you let me explain the whole situation, you can understand why I did it."

"What is there to explain? You and Evelyn reported everything about me to the entire team! They know things I didn't want them to know!" Ethan stopped, biting his lip and clenching his fist. He ducked his head and shook. "Now that I think about it, Feral, Talon, Winston, Roger, and some other Enforcers looked at me differently the month I talked to you about my dad. Fuck. How many know about me?"

"I'm not sure," Chance offered. He reached again. "Ethan. Please let me…"

"Don't fucking touch me!"

Chance flinched, pulling his hand back. "Okay. Sorry. But let me talk to you. Please, Ethan."

"Why?" Ethan asked with so much venom. The bubbling anger consumed him, causing his unfiltered thoughts to spill from his lips. He wanted to hurt Chance. "So you can just tell every fucking kat about it?"

"No," Chance blurted out. "That's not what I'm doing here."

"Yeah, sure. Now you care," Ethan said, waving his hand dismissively at Chance. "I should have listened to Jake's warning months ago. Man, I'm regretting it now. But that's what I get for trusting someone like you."

Chance froze, his eyes widening. He struggled to say something, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly. A shaky reply from the tabby finally came out. "Ethan… please don't… please don't push me away."

Ethan paused and observed tears welling up in his guardian's eyes. It felt wrong as he expected Chance to snap or growl at him. He wanted to quit. A part of him wanted to apologize. One side wanted to run away. However, the angry side was winning, encouraging him to twist the knife. The words were already forming before he could stop.

"I want nothing to do with you."

Ethan opened his eyes and saw the white ceiling above. Groaning, he slowly lifted himself upright, pushing the sheet away from him, and hopped off the bed. He checked the time from the nearby clock to see it was almost morning, making him click his tongue and wonder if he had time to meet Miles. Yet before he could think about it, he noticed a white bag and a drink on the floor table. There was a folded note stapled on the top.

Opening the bag and munching on the apple, he read the note.

'Hey, kid! I heard you've been working with the attack squad as of late. Sergeant Talon helped me deliver this to you. Say thanks to him the next time you see him. I hope you don't forget your partner from the detective agency. Swing by when you get the chance. From your favorite mix and mutt—Winston. P.S. I think the usual brooding detectives and my dad miss you.'

He felt his lips twitch, almost feeling a smile. As he finished the snacks and the drink, he tucked the note in his jeans pocket and headed out from the barrack room. The barrack hall greeted him with similar doors on each side of the long hall. The enforcer barracks served as a temporary home for enforcers to rest, with full amenities such as a shower room. It was close to the floor, holding the dining and break room. The many things this colossal HQ offered amazed Ethan.

Several kats were strolling through the expansive hallway when they suddenly paused their conversation and stared at him with various expressions. Yet none ever bothered to talk or linger as they did their daily business. They must have been told to expect him and not to bother Ethan.

Ethan received more stares as he approached the elevators but ignored them. When his ride arrived, the doors opened, and Feral stood there. The intensity of Feral's yellow eyes increased as he looked up from the paper he was reading.

"Huh. I was expecting to catch you tomorrow. However, it seems I can have that chat now," Feral said. He pointed a sharp claw next to him. "Get in."

Sucking in a breath, Ethan complied, moving in and standing next to the big brown tom. The elevator doors closed, and it raised them. "Did you just get in?"

"Want to try that again?"

"Morning… sir. Did you just get in?"

"Better. I am just entering, and I wish you morning too," Feral said, returning his attention to the front. "I've gotten some complaints from last night. Care to explain to me why you keep ignoring your superiors?"

Ethan hissed and clicked his tongue. "Sir. I got the job done. So what does it matter?"

"It matters when you disobey direct orders. Ever since that blasted incident in Megakat Towers." Feral came to a sudden halt, vigorously shaking his head and emitting a low growl of irritation. "Every single mission ends with you on the floor and helpless. To add to that, you come out with bruises and cuts. It could end much worse."

Ethan diverted his eyes from the brown kat and focused on the numbers that continued to rise. It was going too slow. He wondered if he should teleport to the flight line and get away. As Feral rambled on, Ethan's attention drifted, only catching snippets of what was being said.

"…now the entire city knows about you," Feral grunted, appearing before the elevator switch. He hit something, and the elevator halted abruptly. Facing Ethan, he locked eyes with him, his gaze unwavering. "Are you listening now?"

"Huh?" Ethan said, surprised after the brown tom hit the emergency button. "Yeah. I was."

Without uttering a word, Feral maintained a steady stare on Ethan. After a minute, he crossed his arms and exhaled. "You need to be more careful."

Knowing it was better to give an answer that Feral wanted, Ethan half-heartedly nodded. "Fine… sir. I'll be more careful on missions."

"That's not what I mean."

"Sir?"

"Every news outlet will have their cameras pointed in your direction. Try to be careful when around them. They can easily warp their citizens' opinion of you in an instant. Understand?"

"Yeah, sure," Ethan muttered.

Feral grimaced, putting his hands down. "If I had it my way, you wouldn't be out there."

The words stung Ethan deeply as if his father's voice had resurfaced to remind him of his insignificance. Something felt lodged in his throat, his cheeks flushed with heat, and an overwhelming urge to throw a punch coursed through him. With a downward gaze, he gritted his teeth in frustration. "Sure… then you, the enforcers, and the council won't have their special weapon," he hissed with annoyance.

Suddenly, powerful arms wrapped around his body, basking him in warmth. Ethan twitched at the touch, though he remained still as Feral released a comforting purr. It was odd… confusing… but it felt good.

"You are not a weapon. Just another young fool who likes to run into danger without a plan. You remind me of her. I would like you not to end up like," Feral stopped, pressing Ethan closer into the embrace. "Don't be stupid, is all I'm saying."

With no other word, Feral let go, punching the emergency button once more and restarting the lift. His usual strict persona took over, returning his attention forward.

Stunned, Ethan let himself rest against the back wall, unsure what to make of his interaction with Feral. The elevator doors opened here and there, and some enforcers entered. Soon, they stood between them as they kept riding up. It continued, with the occupants getting off at their respective floors and more taking their place. Soon, they arrived at the flight line floor.

Stepping out, Ethan quickly glanced back at Feral, who remained unfazed, his eyes locked forward as if the previous events were inconsequential. Just as the doors started closing, Feral's eyes darted towards Ethan, silently acknowledging his presence, a subtle gesture to maintain his image in front of his kats. Maybe Ethan was reading too much into it. He wasn't sure. The warnings and the embrace seemed genuine, but he doubted everything since the revelation from Jason.

Maybe June talked to him, Ethan thought. He turned, walking down the enormous hangar.

Stationed mechanic enforcers worked tirelessly as they inspected and fixed whatever was down. The returning and leaving pilots joked among themselves while their respective leaders, telling them to hit the showers after their debrief or be cautious when patrolling the skies. A couple of jets roared to life, driving out to face the long flight run, taking their respective position as the aviation flaggers waived their glowing orange sticks. They soon engaged their thrusters and roared down the flight lane, taking to the skies in seconds.

Ignoring the few stares from the kats that noticed him, he headed towards the big opening. Soon, he was walking to the side of the flight lane, trying to keep his eyes forward and not to the drop below. As the morning winds blew, they gently caressed his face, causing his suit and neckerchief to flutter towards the east. Shielding his eyes from the sun's intense rays, he could feel its gentle heat caressing his skin. The view was breathtaking, with the vast cityscape and diverse ecosystems stretching for miles.

Putting his hands together, he created hooks in each hand while sticking his thumb inward. "Shadow Form—Raven," he whispered. It turned dark for a moment, but soon, it returned, with him being of a lower height. Taking careful jumps to the edge, he reached it and slowly looked down to see his dark raven feet and misty black cloud shifting from his bird body.

Closing his eyes, he jumped, feeling the harsh winds hit him as he dived. Soon, by instinct alone, he felt the need to raise his wings, feeling the downward slope beginning to rise. Once comfortable, he reopened his eyes to see the open sky and the gentle winds.

Inspecting the crack above him, Razor controlled the emerging rumble from his throat. He counted for a second, taking a deep breath before leaning and stabbing the button to halt the test run. Making a turn, the robots flying towards them floated towards the rock and exploded. The stationed sentry drones near the top froze before shutting down, their muzzles slumping down.

Soon, his partner's voice came, irritated. "Hey, what gives? You drag my tail out here, and you cut things short."

"Take us down," Razor said.

"Heck no. Let's finish this stupid test run and get back home," T-Bone shot back.

"Chance, take us down now!"

With a quick jerk of his shoulders, T-Bone shot a menacing glare over his shoulder. He expressed disbelief by scoffing and shaking his head before surveying his surroundings. Soon, he shifted the jet up, getting above the canyon before activating the hover mode of the Turbo Kat. He took them down to a long and wide, flat surface.

Razor jumped down as soon as the canopy opened. His shoeless felt the rocky, dry orange floor with every step. Soon, he was at the edge, seeing the desert oasis with Megakat City looking like the size of a claw from this distance. He felt a hard paw grip his right shoulder.

"Don't use my name when we're in the field," T-Bone snapped. "What the heck is the…"

Razor grabbed the hand, seizing it and twisting it before slamming the sandy tom on the floor. His companion yelled surprisedly before grunting and staring up in confusion. It didn't last as T-Bone seized Razor's leg with a growl, causing him to tumble down. Quickly, he lunged towards Razor, taking a few kicks as they tumbled and fought. Both continued until Razor got on top and hammered into T-Bone's skull. Some connected with T-Bone, blocking most until his hands stopped and relaxed to the floor, letting himself be open for attacks.

Razor froze his metallic hand when he saw his partner give up, nearly connecting squarely between the eyes. He pulled back, leaning back and resting on T-Bone's stomach. He panted, getting his breath back before hissing and tugging on the T-Bone's white shirt. "The heck is the matter with you? You could have gotten us killed today. Where the heck are you today?"

With his head down, T-Bone stayed quiet.

That pissed off Razor, hating seeing this cocky tom look so defenseless. It was pathetic. "There have been some close calls as of late. Get your head back in the game. I don't want to die a miserable death because of you. Got it?"

"You're right, Jake."

Razor stopped, wondering if he heard right. "Huh? The heck. Since when do you say 'I'm right'?"

"About everything," T-Bone continued in a defeated breath. "I… mess things up. That day, I should have backed out and let Feral shoot. You could have a better future if I just kept my mouth shut. I'm nothing but a piece of shit that hurts others. Ethan is… no longer talking to me. Maybe… I'll hurt Evelyn one day, and she'll leave me, too. I'll deserve it. I deserve everything I've gotten at this point. I'm sorry… buddy… I'm so fucking sorry for getting you into this mess," he croaked the last part.

The words stunned Razor, who was stuck on what to do as his partner crumbled before him and wept like a kitten. Hearing the tabby call him 'buddy' shook him, making him look away and bite his lip. He recalled all those days when Chance would call him that, back when they were still best friends.

No.

That wouldn't do it justice. The tabby was the brother Jake never had.

Swirling inside Razor was a mix of emotions, making it difficult for him to decipher his reaction to his friend's apology. Standing up and moving away, he took the first steps back to the jet, feeling the weight of each step. However, as he was walking, a small, pitiful whimper reached his ears, causing him to stop. Despite the intense hatred towards his old friend, that nagging part of himself urging him not to leave things like this pulled him back.

Razor turned back around, seeing his friend remaining on the floor as he left him. It hurt to see the tabby like that. He returned and settled near his friend's head, letting his foot dangle at the edge. He grasped his mask, removed it, and settled down before tugging off his black bandana. The afternoon sun grazed his furry cheeks, and the wind blew a gentle breeze that soothed him.

Jake looked at the mask he held, glad it was no longer the same one he wore under Dark Kat. However, he and Chance did many bad things under the banner of said psychopath. Maybe whoever has above protected those enforcers and kept the Swat Kats from crossing that other line. He rubbed the mask and exhaled. "Stop crying, you big… I mean… buddy."

T-Bone's ears perked, and he slowly shifted his head to look at Jake. Tears were still on him, though he wiped them away and sat upright. He looked down at where Jake held the mask before reaching up and removing his persona.

Chance put his alter ego down, rubbing the top before returning to Jake. His face bore a look of exhaustion and defeat, and the damp fur beneath his eyes contributed to his weary appearance.

Before Chance could say anything, Jake started. He sucked whatever past wounds still lingered and focused up. "What happened to us was not just your fault but mine as well. We could have buckled up and become what those kats became, but we kept making mistakes. I… made the worst mistake that night. You were gearing up to fight, but I gave up before it could happen and gave in to Dark Kat's deal. When I did that, I destroyed your last bit of fire, and you followed me into the darkness. I was bitter and angry. The constant humiliation and harassment from our dear fellow enforcers finally got to me. For that… I'm sorry, Chance. I broke us."

Chance's eyes widen. His attention shifted towards the barren desert, his eyes quickly searching the area as he maintained his silence. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Jake. No. I was tempted to take the deal that night. My fire was already gone before that."

Jake felt a twitch in his eyebrow. He snatched his friend's flight collar and pulled him close. A snarl escaped his mouth. "Huh?! I'm apologizing here, damn it. Stop trying to take the whole blame, or I'll kick your ass to where Evelyn can't fix you."

Though initially surprised, Chance snarled back and smacked his forehead on top of Jake's. "It's the truth, you moron! And you consider yourself a genius. Are you stupid!"

"The heck! I'll take stupid any day instead of being a crybaby!"

"Who are you calling a crybaby?"

"You, you big oaf!"

"Shut it, scuzzball!"

"Fatass!"

"No game, kat!"

Their throats rumbled with menacing growls and snarls as if warning each other to retreat. However, the sound slowed down, fading into a soft murmur after a few moments. Out of nowhere, they erupted into laughter and took a step back in unison.

Jake laughed, unable to take this weird turn of events. He saw Chance slapping his knee and holding his head back while laughing like an episode of Scaredy Kat was on. The experience of laughing together or witnessing the tabby grin seemed strange, but he finally embraced it and let go of any remaining resistance.

After a few more tired chuckles, they settle down, letting themselves rest and stare at the desert together in silence.

Jake glanced to check, seeing the tabby look more like his old self but with a small cloud looming over his head. He let them enjoy the silence more, opening the conversation again. With a tap on his friend's shoulder, he started it off. "The kid is hurt, but he's not gone. You just need to talk to him."

Chance exhaled, shaking his head. "The kid told me he wanted nothing to do with me."

"Yeah, we heard in the meeting room," Jake admitted, getting a look from the tabby. He shrugged his shoulders. "Thick walls but thin doors."

"Crud."

"Never mind that. Talk to Ethan."

"You're making it sound easy."

"Because it is."

"Sure."

Jake scratched the back of his head. "Talk to him, not like a friend but like a guardian. Let it all out. Afterward, let it stew with him and let him make up his own decision."

"But what if he still stays away from me?"

"Because he's like a mini you. Both of you are stubborn, loud, and act before you think. But when push comes to shove, you two will listen and face things. You two did fight before, during the first mission, no?"

Rubbing his head, Chance groaned. "That was different."

"Maybe, but you both came back together stronger than ever. I couldn't recognize the two of you since that mission. That little shadow followed you wherever you went and started picking things up from you," Jake said, recalling those few moments he caught them together. Ethan and Chance had a relationship comparable to that of a father and son, although Chance was utterly oblivious. Jake snorted. "I'll admit, it may be more complicated this time, but it's still fixable. You just can't let it sit like this for too long."

"You sure?" Chance asked, with ears perking up. He cupped his chin and rubbed it. "How would I go about it?"

Jake stood up, grabbed his things, and walked toward the Turbo Kat. "Heck, should I know? I'm not the one with the kid."

"Hey," Chance shouted, his footsteps hurrying toward Jake. He quickly reached and walked along with Jake. "Give me some pointers, buddy."

"Nope," Jake sang, waving a finger at Chance. "You're nearly thirty-six, buddy. I'm pretty sure some sage wisdom will come at you or something. Or what? Did you just build more muscle while in prison?"

"Someone got jokes."

They hopped onto the jet. However, Chance landed on the wing next to Jake's seat.

"Think you missed the landing," Jake said. He pointed a thumb towards where the canopy remained retracted. "Hop in already. Test day is a bust. No point in doing the course with a scratched window."

Chance patted the rim. "I just wanted to say thanks."

"Save it. It was nothing," Jake said.

With a simple nod, Chance moved towards his seat, stopping beside it and glancing back. "Hey… are we good?"

Something about that caused Jake to freeze when raising the black bandana. He felt his hands grip the sheet of cloth tighter. It was a simple question, but it meant so much more. With an exhale, he focused entirely on Chance, staring into those green eyes. "I'm not sure if I'm honest. There's still a part of me that wants to choke you. It'll end up with something that probably won't heal right and differ from before… but it will heal… I think."

Chance looked away, staring towards the right and back at the view they were looking at. He remained silent for a moment before grunting and jumping into his seat. As the canopy closed, he said one last thing.

"Good enough for me."

Feral rubbed his temple, feeling the anger still there as he looked at the file. Private information about a royal family's upcoming visit from a distant land is inside. His captain, who deals with private security on the home front, already worked out the details and debriefed the kats of his squad that would add to security to the already beefed one from the royal family. The team prepared everything, with eyes and ears ready for anything. They hope the restless factions in the king's nation do not appear during the three-day visit. However, it wasn't the visit, nor was the council stressing to him how important the king's visit was for their nation, but something else.

"Oh, Sourpuss," a voice whispered like honey in his ears.

Feral blinked, glancing at the side to see his mate there. He pondered over the moment she arrived and the duration of his introspection. "Sorry," he said, standing up and kissing June quickly. "Let's head home."

June let out an approving purr, resting on Feral's shoulder as they approached the door. Once near, they broke off and fixed themselves before exiting. They mutually agreed to keep their relationship private and knew that some wouldn't be keen on their status as mates. June had joked some nights ago that Henry, Roger, and Talon suspected them. Of course, Feral added that Henry was exceptionally perceptive with things, while Roger had seen them mess around in their younger academy days. Regarding Talon, Feral knew he may have given him hints during their shared drinks when out of uniform, but he would never tell June that.

They arrived at the massive garage on the lower floor quickly, took their respective vehicles, and headed towards Feral's apartment on separate routes. Within half an hour, they reached the destination at the same time.

Once settled inside, their defenses finally lowered, melting into each other's embrace. Sometimes, they act like a couple of naughty teens and barely enter the bedroom with any clothes on. However, tonight, they act like an old couple that have been married for years. They prepared a decent meal and chatted about their days before drifting towards the couch and settling to watch the David Litterbin Show.

As the show cut to a commercial, Feral felt June snuggle up closer to the side of him. She looked so adorable when they were alone. Of course, she would deny it if he ever called her that. But he couldn't cherish it longer, as that slight headache returned.

"Something wrong?" June asked, keeping her attention ahead.

"Why the question?" Feral said.

"You tensed up, and your heart changed beats," she said simply. She reached for the remote and turned off the television before facing Feral. "Well?"

Knowing there was no point in lying, Feral mentally prepared for how his mate would react. He gave her one last gentle brush on the head before speaking. "A royal family is visiting next week for three days."

June nodded. "I've heard about it from my network. Think some rebels will cause chaos in those days?"

"I hope not. I don't want these lions creating a mess in our city."

"Agreed. However, I can have my new tom check."

"You mean illegally break in and spy into private conversations, correct?"

June shrugged her shoulders, a playful grin on her lips. "Only if you get caught is it illegal."

"Am I not the Commander of the Enforcers?" Feral said with some playful authority. With one arm, he encircled June and brought her closer. "I arrest those that break the law."

"Oh? I think I can convince you to overlook this tiny infraction. Hmm?" Placing her paw on his broad chest, Evelyn closed her eyes and kissed him deeply.

Feral accepted her, briefly breaking off to nuzzle and nip her neck before returning to her mouth. "Maybe… there's a… exemption to things," he said with each available breath.

June laughed, pausing and leaning on the couch with her head propped on her hand. With a look of longing, she smiled and gazed at him. Suddenly, her one good eye squinted, and she mouthed something as if repeating something until the eye turned sharp, and the frown replaced the smile. Closing her one eye, she took a breath before Garden Mother appeared. "What did they request?"

"For the boy to watch over the prince per request from the visiting king," Feral informed. He saw his mate tense at that but continued. He felt a rumble beginning to escape him. "I've tried to dissuade them, but the king had seen Ethan on the news that night. You know what those fools think, June. Better appease a capital prospect than care about the welfare of a kid."

With a disapproving click of her tongue, June shifted her position and sank into the couch. She appeared to be lost in thought as her eye remained fixed ahead. "And those bastards decide not to tell me. I bet they hoped to spring it on me at the last second. Probably their underhanded way to retaliate against me for that night."

"Will you be okay?"

June raised a hand. "I'll be fine. Nothing can be done, or things can be undone. I'll play ball for now, but if they think they can…" she paused, letting her words linger. Though she smiled, her only eye gave away her true intentions, emanating an icy and calculating gaze to kats that weren't there. She rose and headed down the hall leading to the exit. As she put on her coat, she paused at the door. "Sorry, love. Can I make up tonight some other time?"

Feral put a hand down before June could grab her keys from the bowl. He glimpsed her icy gaze towards him as she returned to look ahead. With a defeated sigh, Feral picked up her keys and closed the distance between them. He enveloped her in his enormous arms, offering solace and support. "Just don't terrorize innocent kats," he said, lifting the keys before her.

Grabbing the keys, June nodded and slightly turned her head to give him a light peck on the chin. "You know I don't do that. However, the same can't be said for no good kats," she said. She unlocked the door and left.

That migraine returned, and Feral pinched his head.

Erickson felt the world around him collapse as he replayed the last meeting. Then again, he should have expected something after the whole Megakat Tower incident. He was just unlucky to be the one to be close to the kid this coming week. Unfortunately, he did not know what Dark Kat or Asha had in store, as they would tell him the day before what to do.

Reaching into his pocket, Erickson retrieved a box of cigars and a lighter. With swift movements, he placed a cigar between his lips and flicked the lighter to ignite the flame. Nothing came out after a couple of spins. "Fuck… fuck… FUCK."

"Here," a voice said with a flick, sounding off.

Erickson glance to see Hick offering a lit lighter. Giving a nod of appreciation, he leaned in closer, the smell of nicotine filling his nostrils as he took a deep inhale. He briefly held the smoke in his lungs before releasing it steadily through his nostrils. It relaxed him and his nerves.

"Thanks," Erickson said.

Hicks leaned against the wall and stared. "I hope you can control your nerves when that day comes. You don't want to lose your head that day."

"Wow. Thanks, I feel so much better," Erickson muttered, flicking the end of his cigar. He took the opposite wall of the alley and leaned on it. He stared at the night sky. "Why couldn't it land on someone else? I think I have the worst luck among kats. Maybe it is that old fairytale that black kats are bad luck."

"Does that make me lucky?"

"Eh… maybe not."

Silence took over, with only the distant sirens and city nightlife humming. Erikson's smoke slightly covered the night sky. They were out of the bar and in the side alley, seeing some unknowing patrons entering for the night to drink, unaware of what was underneath.

"Once done, we won't have to be looking over our shoulders as hard," Hick said. He pushed himself out of the wall and headed towards the opening leading to the street. Pausing, he glanced back. "I wish you good luck when the day arrives."

Erickson kept quiet, watching the snow tom leave. He took a few more drags before throwing the cigarette on the ground and crushing it with his feet. Shoving his hands into his coat's pocket, he strolls out of the alley and down the streets. The upcoming task weighed heavily on his mind, causing him to bite his lip.

"Crud."