Disclaimer: The SWAT Kats are owned by Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs.
Callista will always, and forever be a queen. Despite the times where she ruled being long gone, the citizens are still drawn to her. Who knows? Governess Callista Feral?
"Magic my good doctor," Callista said.
Henry turned his body to the right, looked at Callista, completely confused, then asked, "What?"
Callista went over to the right side of the bed, lifted the sleeping kitten from Mark's chest, and as she ran her the fingers of her right paw through Raphael's hair, she re-stated, "Raphael, Callie, and I wield the power of magic."
Nancy closed the curtain, went over to Henry, then said, "Its true Dr. Feldman. She is a sorceress, and a very good one. This she-cat alone performed more miracles up in the Cancer ward than we could do with decades of research."
"Nancy, what you and Callista both are saying is not possible. The monitors must have malfunctioned, or something," Henry said.
"There was nothing wrong with the monitors Doctor," Mark said after he stopped kissing Lisa. "I saw my parents, who my brothers and I buried. Our mother died in a car fire and our father had succumb from the affects of a stroke." He turned his head slightly to the left to face Lisa, and said, "My father said they knew I was going to marry you the second you set foot in the house."
"You father and mother knew I was going to marry you? How?" Lisa asked.
"He said he'd never seen me so happy and in love before," Mark said as he ran his fingers through Lisa's hair. "By the way, I like what you have done to your hair."
That caused Lisa to laugh for a second before she kissed him quickly, then said, "You can thank our son for my hair coloring Mark."
"Remind me to thank him later," Mark said as he ran his fingers through Lisa's hair. "I find it, very sexy." He gently pulled Lisa down to him and into a fiery kiss, which she responded to, very favorably.
Everyone watched as Lisa straddled his waist as she kissed him. Then Henry coughed into his left paw and said, "As much as I love seeing two cats, so deeply in love with the other, you can't do what you were planning in my Trauma Bay. Lisa, once I clear him, you can take him home and do what you want."
Lisa climbed off of Mark with her face completely flushed from both embarrassment and the passionate kiss.
"Now, if you don't mind, I would like a complete work up on you Mark and if all the tests come back normal, you can go home. Just don't let your wife send you back here again, ok?"
Lisa stroked the fur on Mark's left cheek as she responded, "I can't guarantee that doctor, I plan on making him pay for worrying his family."
Mark gulped, then said, "Maybe I should stay here for a few days. I did die after all."
"Yes you did my husband. But now you are alive and well. At least temporarily that is," Lisa stated before she leaned forward and whispered into his right ear, "Too bad I'm pregnant already, I plan on draining you."
As much as he loved making love to Lisa, he found out that when she wanted, she could be a real Wild-Cat in the bedroom. "Please have mercy on me, dear," he pleaded.
"On that note, I have a Day Care, Community Center to open later this morning," Callista said. She handed Raphael back to Mark, then said to Lisa, "If you need a Kitten-Sitter tonight, I'll be glad to watch Raphael for you, while you take care of your husband."
"And I thought you were a great queen who loved all of her subjects," Mark said.
"I am and I do Mark. I'm simply doing a favor for one of my knights. What she does with, or to her husband is none of my business," Callista said with a wink of her eye. Then in a flash, she and Ulysses returned to their home.
Henry turned to Mary, then asked, "Did you see that Mary?"
"I did Henry, I'm not sure what to make of it," Mary answered.
Henry turned around to face Felicia, who was currently finishing cleaning up some of the un-used medical supplies. He went over to her with the look of a worried father on his face, then said, "I think we need to have a little chat Felicia."
Felicia's heart was instantly filled with dread since Henry was one of the cats she never wanted to disappoint. He always made time for her to teach her how to be a better nurse, he supported her when she wanted to start the Self-Defense classes in the hospital, and mostly, she knew she could come to him with anything that bothered her and he would listen. "Yes doctor," was her response as she put the gauze packets she was currently holding back into one of cabinets and closed the door.
Henry felt her torment and gently laid his paw on her shoulder, then gave her one of his re-assuring smiles that always made her feel better.
Felicia gave him a light smile, then followed him out of the Trauma Bay, closing the curtain behind her.
Sniper let go of Havoc and went to the right side of the bed. She took off her helmet, then hugged Mark as tightly as she could. "You mean so much to me, Mark. I don't know what I would do without you in my life."
"You mean a lot to me too, Sniper. I love you, little sis,"
"I love you too, big brother," Sniper said before raising her head from him, wiping the remaining tears away, then saying, "And if you ever make your sisters worry about you like this again, this will be the last kitten you will ever sire! Cause we will kill you!"
Mark smiled at her, then brought her in for another hug and kissed her cheek.
Dr. Feldman opened a door to one of the Private Grieving rooms and stood aside so Felicia could enter.
As Felicia entered the room, her head was low, her tail was almost dragging on the floor, and she was not acting like the confident she-cat Henry knew and loved like a daughter.
He closed the door and instantly embraced Felicia, then said, "I don't know if I should be proud of you, or be furious with you because now, every time you are not with me, I'll be terrified that one day, it will be you laying on that stretcher, dying right in front of me."
Felicia embraced him tightly, then said, "I was hoping for the first one doctor."
Henry pulled back so she could look into her eyes and saw the torment she was feeling in them. "I've always been very proud of you Felicia. I knew you were destined for more than being a nurse and a great teacher. However, I never imagined you as a SWAT Kat."
Felicia ran the fingers of her right paw through her hair as she said, "I never imagined myself as one either Henry."
"Then why? I've met the Saitos on more than one occasion, and I know they wouldn't be over joyed with your decision," Henry stated.
"Master Yoso wasn't thrilled with my decision. Actually, he acted pretty much the same as you did Henry. But, we came to an agreement. I keep working with you at the hospital as a nurse and take over for him as the dojo's sensei, only then would he endorse my decision to be a SWAT Kat. As for why, I've always loved helping others," Felicia said before she looked out of the door at her friends and family across the hall, now smiling and joking with each other. She continued, "plus, I feel very close to my SWAT family. They are all brothers and sisters to me."
"You would have to be blind not to see that Felicia, but is that enough? Knowing one day, you, the she-cat I consider a daughter may end up not coming home to the ones you love? Never being able to come home to your future son or daughter? Never seeing your husband, or wife's smiling face ever again?" Henry asked.
Felicia tightened her embrace with Henry again and let a few tears leave her eyes, wetting Henry's shoulder. "I consider you a grandfather as well Henry, and I look forward to the day I get to walk into this hospital to introduce you to my son or daughter. To answer your question, I believe it is. We all took a vow to give our lives for the sake of another, that vow can not be broken. If I was there when Adonis was injured, I would have done everything I could, including taking the bullet myself so he would continue living without a second thought."
"Its your life Felicia, so its your decision. But I for one will be very upset, if you end up in my ER," Henry said as he returned her embrace.
A smile crossed her face, then she said, "I'll do my best not to make that happen."
"Please do that, I would hate to be the one to tell your parents your gone, then have to bury a daughter," Henry stated.
A few hours later, Callista and Ulysses were walking the halls of the newly build Day Care, Community Center that once was a Drug Den. She was wearing a light blue business suit and a pair of matching high heels.
Ulysses wore a simple suit and not his Enforcer's uniform. However, there were several Enforcer officers patrolling the area. Not that they were needed. Callista's newly formed Community Patrol made sure that the center was completely safe for all and under their watch, the neighborhood thrived. Crime was at an all time low, the citizens congregated on the streets again, and the once litter and graffiti laden area was now clean.
"This is better than I expected," Callista stated as she looked through one of the windowed doors which opened up to a classroom lined with tables with the latest computers and technology for the citizens of the area to use, free of charge of course."
"Thank you Mrs. Feral, we simply did what you asked,"
Callista righted herself and looked over to her associate, then said, "Yes you did. But I never expected all of the artwork painted on the walls or the large widows allowing in so much light."
"The windows were donated by the local distributor. Once I informed them of what was being built, they were more than happy to help out. The artwork is another story. One of your guards found the building being tagged by a local artist, so to speak. She was caught with the can of paint still in her paw. She wasn't exactly thrilled to be detained. However, after she was given a choice of either painting over what she did, or going to jail, she was more than willing to correct her ways."
"That still doesn't explain all of the vibrant murals that are everywhere," Callista said.
"She's upstairs currently finishing up one of her murals now, she can tell you why she started these exquisite paintings herself."
Callista and Ulysses were led upstairs to the second floor where the Adult Education classes were to be held. Along each wall were more paintings ranging from fields of flowers, to oceans with rippling waves. Each seemed more intricate the farther along they went down the halls.
Then they came up on a girl, wearing an old pair of denim coveralls, sitting Indian style on the tarp covered floor. Her dark blonde hair was very messily tied up, she had a thin paint brush in her mouth, another one in her left paw, and a pallet of various colored paints in her right. She was working on painting a very detailed sunflower that was growing in a grassy meadow.
"This is the girl who painted every single one of the murals Callista,"
Callista took a few steps forward and crouched down on the girl's left side. "I'm very impressed with your work." She said.
The girl who was concentrating on the flower wasn't expecting anyone to come up and talk to her. She was startled and almost jumped out of her own fur. Then calmed down, turned to her left, then said, after she removed the brush from her mouth, "Thanks, and you are?"
"My name is Callista Catlow Feral. I own this building,"
The girl started to get nervous again after hearing Callista was the building's owner.
Callista picked up on the girl's nervousness and gently laid her right paw on her left shoulder. "You have nothing to worry about, Though I'm curious as to why you decided to create these wonderful paintings?"
"The short answer is as bright as this place is, the light gray painted walls made it look like a penitentiary. There was no warmth, nothing inspiring, just blank walls. After talking it over with the manager and he told me what the building was going to house, I talked him into letting me paint a mural on the wall right by the front door. I first painted over the graffiti on the outside, then started working on the inside. One wall quickly turned into two, two into four, and before I knew it, I had almost every wall decorated. I hope you don't mind?"
"I don't mind at all," Callista said with a smile on her face, then she had an idea. She stood and asked, "What's your name?"
The girl put her brushes and pallet down, then answered, "Summer." She extended a yellow paint covered paw to Callista.
"Er..," Callista said as she looked down at the yellow paw.
"Sorry, I get engrossed in my work," Summer said as she took her paw back and tried to wipe it clean with a blue handkerchief she pulled out of her coverall's pocket.
"Its alright Summer, I do have another project for you. Care to take a look?" Callista asked.
"Sure, I need a break anyhow. Do you have any idea how hard it is to accurately paint a flower?" Summer asked as she pocketed the blue handkerchief.
Callista sort of knew what Summer was talking about. When she was younger and her powers were just starting to emerge, she entertained herself by creating cute little creatures that would dance and play. However, being very inexperienced, some of her creations weren't so cute, nor so little. Luckily for her, Esmeralda was always near. "Not quite. But my experiments in the kitchen didn't always come out as I planned." She fibbed since she didn't know if she could trust Summer just yet with the family secret. "Come, there is something I want to show you."
Callista led Ulysses and Summer down the hall to a set of stairs that headed back to the main level of the building.
As they descended down the stairs, Summer looked at the blank walls with only simply fluorescent lights illuminating the way. She asked, "Is this what you wanted to show me?"
Callista chuckled for a second, knowing what she had planned was on a much grander scale than some stairwells. "Hardly, this is only the pathway to what is waiting for you."
After they exited the stairs, they walked towards a large pair of double doors with a sign above it saying, 'Infants to Toddlers'. But before they entered, Summer stopped, turned around to face Callista, then asked, "What are we doing here?"
"You'll see," Callista said right before she opened the right door with her right paw, and entered.
The rest followed her into the dark room and as the door closed, the lights came on.
They were now standing in a very large room, there was a large skylight in the center of the room, which was still covered with opaque construction paper so it wouldn't be damaged, as well as several lighting fixtures designed to mimic the sun's rays when it was either cloudy or raining. There were several bassinets and cribs lining the outside perimeter of the room and a large play area in the center. The floors were all done in multi-colored eight inch square tiles that formed random patterns all over the room. Lastly, a wall was lined with shelves stacked with books aimed for very young kittens as well as playthings to keep them entertained as well as enriching their minds.
As they looked around in awe at what was created from nothing, Callista walked back into the center of the room, she said, "Welcome to the epicenter of the center. This is where the youngest and most impressionable kittens will be allowed to play, learn, and sleep without their parents having to worry about their child's safety or whether they are having fun!"
"This is amazing Callista, but why am I here?" Summer asked.
Callista walked over to her, her heels clicking on the floor with each purposeful stride. She stopped in front of Summer, put her left paw on Summer's right shoulder, then answered, "Look up."
Summer looked up, she noticed the blank white ceiling, almost begging to to be decorated. "You're kidding me, right?" She asked.
"Not at all, I want you to paint the ceiling anyway you want! As long as its kitten friendly," Callista responded.
Summer left her spot and examined the blank canvas Callista had just given her. She envisioned a blue sky with white fluffy clouds placed randomly around, then she looked at the walls. Even though they were painted with light blue paint, she thought they lacked something. Bringing her right index finger to her mouth while she thought about what that something was, she mumbled a question, "When is this center supposed to open?"
"Sorry, I didn't understand you Summer," Callista responded.
Summer removed her finger from her mouth, smiled, then said, "I always have something in my mouth while I'm working or thinking. It prevents me from grinding my teeth together." She then asked her question again, this time, with her mouth empty, "When is this center supposed to open?"
"Construction is supposed to be completed in two weeks, right after the paint completely dries and the building has a chance to air out I expect to open," Callista said.
Summer looked at her blank canvas one more time, then said, "I'm going to need help if I'm going to finish in two weeks, but I'll do it, on one condition." She turned on her left heel to face Callista and Ulysses, then said, "I'm going to need everything pulled away from the walls. This room will look like a Tropical forest once I'm done."
Callista reached out with her mind to see what Summer had in store, and instantly saw the walls painted with large trees, full of leaves, various birds, squirrels, snakes, and other creatures that would live in a forest, and the crystal blue sky above. She smiled, then said, "I'm sure I can arrange for that to happen, I can also arrange for a few cats I know to help you."
"That would be great, and thank you for letting me do this!" Summer said as she embraced Callista, leaving a yellow paw print on the back of her suit.
"You're welcome Summer," Callista said as she embraced her.
Ulysses leaned over to his wife, then said, "You shouldn't have let her touch you, there is now a paw print painted on your suit."
Callista completely forgot Summer's paw was covered in yellow paint. She pulled back and tried to take a look at her once well pressed, clean suit.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" Summer said after hearing Ulysses. She tried to find something on her possession to help clean off the paint but Callista stopped her by putting her paws on Summer's arms and saying, "It's alright Summer. I was never a big fan of this suit anyhow."
Summer stopped, looked into Callista's eyes, then said, "It doesn't matter, I still ruined it!"
Callista removed the suit's jacket, revealing the light blue blouse she wore underneath. "That's much better anyhow. The jacket was getting a little stifling to be in and don't worry about the jacket Summer, I know a few methods for getting stains out of clothing that work magic." Callista stated with a smile on her face.
Ulysses happened to look at his watch as he took the jacket from his wife. "You have to be out front for the dedication dear," he said.
"You're right Ulysses," Callista said before she kissed Ulysses' cheek, took his arm in hers, then said to Summer, "I look forward to seeing what you create!. See you in a few days Summer, and have fun painting those creatures." She then left with Ulysses.
"How id she know I was planning on giving the forest inhabitants?" Summer asked before she shrugged her shoulders and went back to planning on how to decorate the room.
A half an hour later, Callista and Ulysses stood by the gate leading to the street, waiting for the ceremony to start. They were both flanked by five of Callista's Citizen's Patrol. Each member wore black t-Shirts, black cargo pants, and a dark red beret.
"Is this really necessary Callista? I'm still the Commander of the Enforcers and have several officers patrolling the streets," Ulysses asked.
"No its not. However, these fine toms and she-cats standing with us are the sons and daughters of the residents that live here. If it wasn't for them, this center would never have been built and this neighborhood would still be in shambles," she responded.
One of the toms who was standing next to Ulysses broke from his formation, took Callista's left paw in his, then said, "All the gangs in the area needed was a little incentive from your wife Commander to unite us in a common cause. With her assistance, this neighborhood now has a safe and nurturing place for the kittens who live here to play and learn in, without having to see the drug pushers, the street walkers, and all of the garbage which used to line these streets. Everyone who lives here is grateful and in debt to her." He then kissed her paw before returning to his post.
Ulysses almost wanted to rip the tom's hand off for not only touching his wife, but for kissing her paw as well. Instead he remembered how many knights must had had the pleasure of kissing her paw out of respect. "Callista, dear, you should run for mayor of this city. Between everything you have given this city over the years and the fact that the citizens seem to adore you, I can guarantee you would win."
"I know I'd vote for her," Another one of the Patrol said followed by another saying, "Same here!" And finally the one all the way to the left said, "Definitely! Finally a city official who isn't looking to line their own pockets. Plus, it won't hurt to have her up on the podium either. Your wife is smokin', Commander."
That caused Ulysses to chuckle as he thought how Callista would look behind a podium and the News Rags creating headlines stating, "City's new mayor taking on the 'Hot' issues."
Callista turned her head to the left, then asked Ulysses, "What's got you tickled dear?"
"Oh nothing really. Picturing the newspaper headlines after you take over for the mayor, that's all," he responded.
Callista quickly read his mind and saw herself, wearing something Callie would wear with the exception that the skirt stopped very high on her thighs, showing off most of her legs. "That's what you think I should wear, my dear husband?"
Ulysses turned and faced his wife, who's face was clearly showing her displeasure. He Jokingly answered. "But dear, you have the legs to pull it off."
She stroked his left cheek then said, "I do, and so can you, that is if you are not careful, my dear husband."
"You wouldn't, would you?" He nervously asked, as he slowly grasped her paw in his.
She pulled him down so she could whisper into his left ear, "The only time I will wear something along those lines is when I plan on going out on the town with you, and I've done much worse in the centuries I've been alive." She mentally shot him an image of him wearing a very short skirt and a pair of high heeled shoes which showed off his new, very feminine legs, then rested on her haunches, waiting for her husband to respond.
The Center's manager stepped up to a podium, which was flanked by several of the Community Patrol officers. He tapped the microphone to make sure it was on, then said, "Today is a great day. We are here to dedicate this center to the citizens of this great community. Parents can feel secure, knowing their kittens are in a place, completely free of illegal substances, free from the gangsters that used to freely roam the area, and has a staff, personally picked out by Mrs. Feral herself that without fail, teach and nurture your kittens in a warm and caring environment. Adults who are under or un-employed may come here, free of charge and take as many courses to get a job, or advance in their career. These fine she-cats and toms standing along side of me, watch and protect the area. They are your sons and daughters. Each one, simply needed a push in the right direction, and now, look at this neighborhood. Kittens are playing on the streets, cats are sitting on their porches, talking, having coffee, living their lives." He focused on the back row, on the she-cat that made all of this happen, then said, "The she-cat we all have to thank for this, and so much more is right in the back row, let's see of we can get her up here, and you can thank her yourselves."
As the manager started clapping, most of everyone in attendance turned around to face Callista and Ulysses, before clapping themselves and begging for her to get up behind the podium herself.
Callista waved her left paw at everyone and flashed a smile, but she refused to move from her spot.
Two of the Community Patrol officers who were standing by her and Ulysses left their posts and stood in front of her. Then one of them asked, "Why won't you accept our gratitude ma'am? Without your help, this place would still be a slum. Not one politician cared enough about the cats that lived here to do anything in order to make this place better, but not you. You saw what this neighborhood could be again and gave the younger generation the proper motivation to make your vision a reality. I've read in the history books, this land once was ruled by a very generous and loving queen, who cared for all in her kingdom. Ma'am. As far as I'm concerned, you are our queen and savior. Therefore, you should be up there, looking over us and not standing in the back row." He turned to his partner, then asked, "You agree with me bro?"
The two officers stepped forward and each took ahold of her arms, then lifted Callista into the air. "I completely agree with you my brother." He faced the audience, then shouted, "All hail Queen Callista Feral! The future Mayor of MegaKat City."
"Now wait just a minute boys, I'm not running for mayor of anything! I love my simple life and I plan on keeping it. Now, put me down please!"
"Nothing doing, your majesty," the first one said as they started carrying her up to the podium.
To her surprise, almost everyone in attendance picked up on what the officer said and starting chanting, "Callista Feral for Mayor!" In a attempt to get her to actually run for the position.
The audience parted as the officers approached, allowing them to carry Callista up to the podium. And when they put her down, dead center, they stood at attention to her left and her right.
Callista looked out at those who attended and saw something in their eyes that wasn't there before. Hope, She noticed they all now had pride in their neighborhood again and hope for a brighter future. "Citizens of this community, seeing your faces here today is thanks enough for what C. C. Enterprises has done. However, it is I who should be thanking all of you. Without all of you, pitching in to clean up this neighborhood, it would still be what it formally was. Everyone of you should be proud of what you have accomplished. This center will hopefully be a beacon of better lives for all that live here and I hope everyone will take advantage of the center. Now, as for me running for the Mayor's office, I can not. I love my very simple life and I plan on keeping it."
"Mrs. Feral! You would do a much better job than Manx has done in the years he's been in office! We want you to turn this city back around and bring it back to what it once was!"
"I appreciate your sentiments, but I am not going to run," Callista stated, then looked out at the forlorn faces of those in front of her. Every single one of them wants change and for her to lead that change. She thought about it for a brief second then said, "I may not be the one to lead this city back to greatness, but I do know someone who can. I formally announce the Candidacy of Callie Briggs for Mayor of MegaKat City, that is after she has her kittens."
Back at the hospital, the crew was watching Callista give her speech. And when she announced that Callie would run for mayor after her pregnancy, Callie spit up her drink, then said, "What the hell grandma!" She turned to her fiancé, then said, "I knew nothing about this!"
Chance still had his eyes glued to the TV and noticed the audience start to chant something, "Can one of you turn up the volume?" He asked.
Lisa turned up the volume as loud as it would go and they all heard, "Callie Briggs for Mayor!" Being chanted over and over again.
"They want you to run Callie, are you going to let them down?" Mark asked.
"I can't run for Mayor! I'm going to be nurturing three sorceresses from birth! I can't put my family at risk!" She stated.
"I can take care of the girls Callie, I think you should run," Chance said.
"You can't be serious?!"
"I am, look at them. They want thing to change and want you to lead that change," Chance said.
Callie looked at the TV and the smiling faces on the citizens as they shouted her name. "I'll think about it,"
"This is Anne Gora. What was supposed to be a dedication of a Community Center turned into a candidacy announcement by the Deputy Mayor herself. As soon as I can reach her for comment, you will hear it here first. This is Anne Gora, reporting for Kats Eye News."
David switched off the TV in his office. He turned around in his chair to face the wall, then said, "The cats of the city wanted you to be their queen again my dear Callista. Instead, you thrusted your granddaughter into the fray. You will be queen again with me as your king. Your time is running out Callista, soon you will be mine."
End of Chapter