Happy holidays to you readers! I hope this update makes a decent Christmas present. Please enjoy, and God Jehovah bless.
Saved by the Bell
At Jake and Chance's Garage, the guys were installing more missiles, weapons and such in their trusty jet. A good thing because their alarm phone from the deputy mayor's emergency call flashed and blared.
Chance, as T-Bone, was the first to answer the call, "Yes, Miss Briggs?"
"SWAT Kats, there's really big trouble, it's Dark Kat, he's flying in an airship and shooting lasers left and right. He just dropped by City Hall."
"Did anyone get hurt?" Jake checked as Razor.
"No, but someone I just met will be. A she-kat was taken by Dark Kat's missile net and pulled into his ship."
"What? Do you know who this lady is?" T-Bone asked, serious and concerned about the life of whom he thought was a random civilian.
"She's about my age and said her name is Rosella Pearl."
The toms' hearts almost stopped as they stared at each other. Rosella had been captured by that purple psychopath?!
"We're on our way into the TurboKat, Miss Briggs," Razor pronounced the very next second, the twosome suiting up and running straight into their jet. "Do you know why he abducted this Miss Rosella Pearl?" he asked, pretending neither of them knew her.
"He wasn't targeting her. The net was for me, but she pushed me out of the way and ended up taken instead."
"Miss Pearl did that?" T-Bone asked, both heroes awed by their kitten-hood friend's brave sacrifice.
"Yes, but as soon as Dark Kat sees she's ruined his kidnapping plans…"
"Wait, Miss Briggs, we don't know that yet," Razor said, not wanting himself or either of the kats to be in despair. "Dark Kat might still use her. A hostage is still a hostage even after kidnapping the wrong one. Until we know for sure, Miss Pearl is still alive. Do you know where Dark Kat flew off to?"
"From the direction he went, I think he's making his way northeast of MegaKat City."
"Are you sure? There's not much a doomsday maniac like Dark Kat would target."
"I know what you're saying, Razor, but that is where he's going."
"Well, we'll find out what his business there is when we get there. At least we know where he'll be taking Miss Pearl," T-Bone put in, trying to be positive like his partner. "Meanwhile, Miss Briggs, you and Mayor Manx should call the Enforcers to safely escort you two Enforcer HQ in case Dark Kat comes back to City Hall."
After the call ended, the duo flew straight into the direction the deputy mayor said Dark Kat was headed.
"How the heck did Rosie get mixed up with Dark Kat?" T-Bone asked. "I thought she said she and her friends would stay close to the club at all times."
"I don't know, either, T-Bone, but all we have to know is: she is mixed up in it and we've got to get her out of it."
Both boys tried not to think about it, but they knew she had to be terrified. All her life, she was kept safe by her family when they were growing up and she had moved away before things became this dire, and now look where she was.
The she-kat in question held still in the net when she knew she was inside. She was quietly scared beyond description. Dark Kat had snatched the wrong woman, and he was going to murder her in fury of the error.
She braced herself for her demise when the confounded net was pulled off her, the girl gasping from being surrounded by the hideous little gremlins she knew were called Creeplings. She flinched when they dragged her backwards by her arms.
Rosella squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the horrid creatures making her wrists press against a metal wall before they put them in shackles, her arms forced to be next to the sides of her head.
The restraints and wall were cold, but at least she wasn't touched by the tiny monsters. Unfortunately, she had to tolerate hearing them making the grunting noise in front of her, making her shiver.
"Now, now, my Creeplings, it isn't polite to stare," a very deep, bone-chilling menacing voice "lectured", a cane tapping the floor as he stepped closer, making the vile followers of his back away as he stood in front of his entirely unexpected captive.
"Well, then, go ahead with your ranting and raving, and get my death over with." Rosella requested in her head, avoiding eye contact.
She fought the tears, refusing to give him the satisfaction of pleading pitifully for mercy and of how a coward like him is stronger and more powerful than a small, ordinary kat like her.
However, though she hid it, she was very heartbroken that this was most likely the end. She would never be able to say good-bye to her college and childhood friends or see her beloved island home again…
"At least Miss Briggs is safe from his sinful clutches."
"Welcome aboard my vessel. I know it's not a first-class flight, but it's no secret I don't entertain much."
Rosella was shocked at how… calm he sounded. He took the wrong girl. Was he pretending just to cruelly tease her? She looked at his large shadow on the floor in front of her to study his body language… but she could see no shakes of rage, just absolute stillness.
Even stranger, he hadn't said anything else yet. As if he was waiting for something… To figure out what to do with her, maybe?
She held still herself and closed her eyes when he reached the end of his cane to tilt her chin up.
"But this will be entertaining for all gathered to this social occasion of mine."
"I don't even hear any displeasure in his tone… How can he not care he captivated someone else…? Hang on…"
Now that she thought about it, his timing with his net seemed… deliberately bad, like he didn't want Miss Briggs at all.
"Wait, intentionally bad capture, quiet acceptance, and that letter… No, no way, it's impossible. This monstrosity sent me that letter to lure me to City Hall…? Why in blazes would he do that? I'm just an ordinary she-kat, no one of importance like the deputy mayor… And how does he know anything about me in the first place? We've never met at all."
She kept in mind that Dark Kat was silent again. Was he… giving her time to do the math? Then her deduction was correct. But still why?
She wanted to ask him, but she had a feeling his response would have been it was for him to know and for her to find out.
"Your fur is white."
"Excuse me?" she asked carefully with a quiet voice, brave enough to look up at him only because she was perplexed by his odd comment.
"Your fur, it's the most uncommon color I've ever seen on a kat, not that I'm criticizing because… Well, who am I to judge?" he pointed out with a small chuckle, motioning his left hand up and down at himself, regarding his purple fur. "Speaking of uncommon, I didn't hear you scream when you reeled in my ship or when my Creeplings greeted you."
Knowing he was expecting her to acknowledge, she said as calmly and steadily as possible, "Paralyzed by fear." She didn't dare say something insolent or vain to agitate him or push her luck. To do otherwise would have been suicidal.
"Well, whatever you call it, the silence is refreshing," he proclaimed as he turned around to return to the cockpit. "If you cooperate and keep your head down, you can still keep your head."
"Sounds reasonable," she remarked, keeping her voice collected, but her suspicions were still very high. Whatever he wanted her for, he wanted her alive.
What was this sociopath's game? …Whatever it was, she had a feeling this new onslaught of his was giving her more than the role of a hostage.
"All right, Dark Kat, I'll go along with this, not that I really have a choice…"
She was glad to be left alone for her to take deep, quiet breaths to keep herself calm as she braced for wherever this was going, hoping the SWAT Kats would stop him as always.
When her captor sat back down at the controls, he tapped his right fingers on his cane excitedly as he murmured to himself in complacency, "There is some of him in her, but let's see how much more. Don't disappoint me, Thomas, I want to see what you left behind."
The Enforcers arrived at City Hall to protect the mayor and deputy mayor. Lieutenant Felina Feral and a few of her colleagues were the first to enter inside and meet with the blonde she-kat who was looking distressed, holding a letter in her hands.
"Deputy Mayor, we're here to escort you and Mayor Manx. On the way, can you give us the details?"
"There's not much to tell, I'm afraid."
"Any information would help. Come on." The girls rode in her squad car alone to Enforcer Headquarters. "Now, what all happened? Dark Kat didn't seem to touch City Hall."
"No, but he did stop by to look for a captive, but he took the wrong one instead of me."
"He took someone else by mistake? Who?"
"It was someone I just met at the door, Rosella Pearl."
"Rosella?" Felina asked, shocked and dismayed.
"You know her, lieutenant?"
"Yes, she and some friends of hers own that new club on the outskirts of the city. I met them some nights ago and made friends with them. And you say Rosella was the one captivated?" she checked.
"Yes, why do you sound that surprised?"
"She said she and her friends would stick close to home to avoid these frequent assaults, so what was Rosella doing at City Hall of all places?"
"I'm actually still figuring that out. She said she had received a letter from the mayor about a catering, but I know nothing about it and I'm usually the first to know."
"… Are you saying she received a forgery?"
"That's what I think. I haven't spoken to Mayor Manx, but I honestly don't think I have to. I still don't understand who would send her a forged message, though it's the least of her concerns right now," Callie finished, leaning back against her seat, still dreading whatever she was being subjected to in Dark Kat's dastardly hands despite her giving the SWAT Kats the lead.
The lieutenant didn't say anything, but her intuition told her that the timing of a false note and Dark Kat's offensive were no coincidence. Whatever he had up his filthy sleeves, Rosella was most likely going to be the first to suffer.
"Do you know where he took her?"
Rosella leaned against the wall, closing her eyes as she patiently waited for where this was going to entail. She knew she wasn't going to like it, but she had to play it cool until the SWAT Kats would arrive which she hoped was soon.
She was still wrapping her mind about how a criminal found out about her. She did used to live in MegaKat City, but only in the safest neighborhood, and her family didn't want her near the busiest part of town even with Jake and Chance with her.
Downtown was usually where the "action" was. She thought, as far as anyone was concerned, she was pretty much non-existent to the rest of the city…
"But Dark Kat wouldn't waste his time with just anybody… Wait, if he knows my name, then… That's impossible, but it would have to be the only explanation…"
She would get her answers soon enough when she felt the vessel land. She slowly opened her eyes when the cockpit door opened, Dark Kat's shadow on the floor. She hid her annoyance and disgust at the obnoxious Creeplings and their stupid noise.
"Creeplings, help our new friend up on her feet. I imagine she would like to stretch her legs after the long ride."
"Friend… How many lucky prisoners are given the honor of being called 'friend' by top crazed criminals?"
She looked warily as the pink undesirables undid her restraints. It wasn't important, but she couldn't understand how a nice color like pink was the color of these repugnant things' skins.
Rosella silently let the awful creatures push her up and towards the dastardly Dark Kat who was confident enough to keep her in control by just having his large left hand around her upper torso, her upper arms pinned to her sides.
"I hope you weren't too bored alone in here. I've had to make several trips to collect components for my new doomsday device."
She shook her head, not making any eye contact or comments because she didn't trust herself not to say the wrong thing. Although, she was very scared at the mention of a doomsday device which explained the constant stops on the way to his hidden lair.
"Good news: you get a free front-row seat of my conquer of MegaKat City."
This time, she couldn't resist asking a good question, though she made certain to keep her tone quelled, "A free show…? How stimulating. So, then, when does the captive play her part in this?"
"Patience, my dear," he responded, lifting his cane, "you'll find out. First, I'd like to monologue as we villains are well-known for. It also helps pass the time."
"How joyous. I get to hear him talk as scary as he looks," she thought sarcastically.
She kept in mind that Dark Kat was always prepared for everything. That meant he would have a sort of trap for the SWAT Kats, no doubt, though they always seemed to find a way around his obstacles.
"I just hope they won't be complacent, for them and everyone else's sakes."
At Enforcer HQ, Riku was marching assiduously straight inside after he and the others at the club heard of how Dark Kat had abducted Rosella instead of Deputy Mayor Calico Briggs, and Riku insisted everyone stay at the club while he went to find Felina to ask what all could be done to save the imprisoned redhead.
He was very thankful to see her speaking with the deputy mayor.
The lieutenant saw the silver-haired tom coming up.
"Felina."
"I know, Riku, Miss Briggs told me everything. Don't worry, we're going to do all we can to get Rosella away from Dark Kat," Felina comforted, her left hand on his right shoulder. "Fortunately, we know where he went."
"I knew she shouldn't have come downtown alone, but she insisted…"
"Well, then, she did you a favor, or you would be in danger, too."
"Still, she's not accustomed to these things. I know she won't be rash enough to pull any stunts…"
"We're not giving up on anyone, Riku, leave it to us."
"I trust you, Felina, and these…SWAT Kats we've been hearing and watching on the news," Riku nodded, making sure to lower his voice about the two heroes so the rest of the Enforcers couldn't hear, especially her uncle, wherever he was.
"That's all I ask," she appreciated. "You may want to stay here in HQ until this is all over, though. Whatever Dark Kat's plan is this time, I don't think it's safe to be out on the streets right now."
"I had a feeling that would be the case. All right."
Truthfully, he didn't want to be here, either. He wasn't a fearful young man, but he didn't trust this city any more than his friends did who he knew would be worried about him as well since he was away.
Felina got prepared as Riku sat on the nearest chair, his wrists on his knees before he sighed in deep concern, his left hand wiping his forehead and bangs.
"Excuse me, you're friends with Rosella Pearl?"
Riku sat straight up, surprised to be spoken to by Calico Briggs. "Yes… Miss Deputy Mayor?"
"I'm sorry to bother you at a time like this, but I think I should share with you what caused this."
She explained as she held the forged note that apparently wasn't from the mayor at all.
"What, then who…?"
"The lieutenant and I have a terrible feeling this has to be from Dark Kat himself."
"What? What the heck would someone as infamous as Dark Kat would want from a harmless girl like Rosella?"
He knew about the life she had growing up with Chance and Jake, so she couldn't have been known by many people, let alone any villains.
"We don't know, I was hoping you would have an inkling."
The silver-maned tom reflected hard on this, his right hand holding his chin. What could Dark Kat have known about Rosella and what would she have that he would want? He certainly went through a lot of trouble to kidnap her.
"You said she was captured right after she kept you safely out of range?"
"Yes."
"… Then, he obviously wanted everyone to think he intended to abduct you. So that means… whatever his real intentions are, he wants many people oblivious about it."
It didn't make sense to him, though. Surely, that fiend must have known the Enforcers, the deputy mayor, and soon the SWAT Kats would all know she was his real target… then whom exactly was he hiding his reasons from and why?
Rosella was led through a very long, chilly hallway which meant this hideout was very large, hence his device must be as well.
"Here we are," Dark Kat pronounced, standing in front of a metal door. "This is where the show starts, and you will meet my star of the show."
"Star?" she queried, wondering if he had an accomplice.
"Well, star attraction," he clarified.
"Hmph, typical dominator demeanor: loves hearing themselves talk and showing off."
She braced herself for something terrifying. Knowing the demented inventor's style, it had to be some sort of explosive or implosive. Or a mountain-sized destructive toy like that metallic spider he once used.
He took her to a place that had a window overlooking a deep chasm below.
Rosella's left eyebrow raised as she looked at the pitch-black giant hole, not understanding what this meant… Her blood chilled at the thought of him sending a missile or explosives to somewhere that doubtlessly had a tunnel leading under MegaKat City.
Her chin was tilted by the side of Dark Kat's cane as he showed her what was really going underground. "Behold, the key components for my plan."
She was completely baffled when what came lowering from the ceiling were several car-sized iron… bells?
"Those were the reasons why the trip to here took so long," he began to explain.
"This guy is psychotic. What the heck do bells have to do with anything? … No, he wouldn't do something like this without a calamitous reason. Still, what harm can several big bells do?"
She asked herself what her father or friend Riku would have thought of. Well, the harm it could be if a person was too close to them, the noise would harm the ears… but that wouldn't have made MegaKat City his.
She silently listened to every word he said as he started monologuing, "I know it's not what I usually use, but I these bells are much more powerful than meets the eye or ear in this case."
"Always refreshing to meet a lawbreaker with a sense of humor."
"However, the purpose of my plot is not to assault the citizens' hearing, but… to really shake these up."
Shake… Her eyes widened when she put it all together. He was going to use the bells to vibrate the foundation of the city?! But then that means, everything and everyone will all… collapse.
"I take it you've solved the riddle."
"… Yes…" she answered quietly, her locked hands leaning on top of her upper legs before her left eye caught something interesting, "Here's what I don't understand… what, pray tell, does that sword hanging on the wall have to do with all this?"
It was a blade with a black handle that was hanging by metal hooks in the wall… and it was strangely not locked in a case…
"Oh, that? That's for when the thrills really start."
"There's somethin' suspicious about that… One would think he'd have that safely under lock and key… or hidden. Unless he wants one of the SWAT Kats… No, no, he knows they're not swordsmen…"
The next thing, he had the Creeplings hold her by the wrists, dragging her to the corner that was next to the wall where the sword was…
"He's taking a mighty big risk letting his captive be near a sharp blade… Or is that…? No… but then he actually knows how to… and he really did know… But how?"
It didn't matter right now. She glanced at the sword with Dark Kat's back to her as he ordered for the iron bells to be delivered on tracks in minecarts to underneath the unsuspecting city.
"No, this is a trap, and I won't fall for it… I want something to be done, but I'm no heroine. This is a job for the SWAT Kats and the Enforcers."
The SWAT Kats were flying, following a jet trail Dark Kat's ship left behind which only happened after he robbed an ironsmith incorporation.
From what they learned from the radio to secretly listen in on the Enforcers' frequency, he stole several iron bells a customer had ordered.
"Bells? What would Dark Kat want with bells of all things?" T-Bone asked, totally weirded out.
"I don't know, T-Bone, but he didn't take them without a really dangerous reason. What we do know is since he's decided to leave a trail in the sky, he's expecting us to pursue him. Or should I say, he's inviting us to follow him."
"Don't tell me, Razor, I can guess the key word: trap."
"Bingo, buddy, but that's not the most uncomfortable part. It's the fact he's made the choice not to keep himself under cover."
"He's gotta know we'd hunt him down no matter what."
"Yeah…" Razor replied, his right hand holding his chin, "but he's knowingly making it hard on himself when it would make things much easier leaving no leads… and taking a hostage he, clearly, doesn't even need."
"Wait, you're saying he's making this challenging and using an innocent citizen just because?"
"He is making this challenging, but not simply because. He'd never go through trouble for nothing."
"Well, whatever game he's playing, that still doesn't change Rosie needs us. If we don't find and stop him, she's the first to go before MegaKat City."
"You're right about that, T-Bone," Razor agreed solemnly, "trap or not, we're saving MegaKat City and Rosella."
When they followed the end of the trail, they had found a large plateau. Using their X-ray Beam, they also found a way to sneak in.
Rosella remained held in the corner by the Creeplings, praying for a miracle. Meanwhile, the heroes found a way in without any obstacles which meant this was a trap for sure, but they had no choice. Their goggles set with X-ray visions helped them find the girl restrained by the imbecilic imps through a wall to their right. They could also see their worst enemy watching the bells lowering into a tunnel.
"There's Rosie," T-Bone whispered, very relieved to see her. "She's still alive."
"And unhurt," Razor added, gratified he was right about her still being used.
"Come on, let's get her out of here and get Dark Kat and his gremlin goons."
"Hang on, pal, before we go gung-ho, let's see what we can learn about Dark Kat's new master-disaster plan. While we're at it, let's see what he's got planned for us, too."
They looked very carefully and saw wires in the entrance which meant an alarm. What they also saw, which they didn't understand at all, was a sword close to where Rosella was.
"Since when does Dark Kat use swords instead of fire-powered weapons like bazookas?" T-Bone queried with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't know, but that seems to be all he's got. We should worry about that pit down there. If he has bells that are no doubt supposed to go in there… Wait, T-Bone, you see that?" Razor indicated, pointing at the underpass far below the building.
"I sure do, he's got a tunnel underneath this place and a very long one leading away from it."
"And it's in the direction of MegaKat City."
"But what do bells under the city have to do…?"
Razor already did the math, and his eyes were wide in horror. "Cats alive! He's gonna cause an earthquake."
"An what?" the tabby asked, confused.
"He's gonna ring those bells and their vibration will make the town collapse under the tunnel…and crush everything and everyone."
"No…" T-Bone denied, dismayed at such a nightmarish thought. "Well, then, what do we do to stop them?"
"One of us will have to stay to stop Dark Kat from ringing them here while the other flies back to warn everyone and destroy the bells in case they still head over there."
Minutes later, once T-Bone had gotten away in the TurboKat, Razor made his way up to the ceiling where the bells were hanging, but the plan was to cut the ropes lowering them.
He was spotted but thankfully by Rosella who kept her eyes on the floor in front of her, not wanting her gaze to give him away.
Her heart raced at the thought of witnessing the SWAT Kats in person and not on TV like back on the islands, but she kept in mind how important it was they thwart another of Dark Kat's scheme.
She had a good feeling what their plan was: make the bells fall in this hideout. No bells to transport in the mines, no earthquake.
She braced herself for noise as Razor cut each rope only almost all the way before he used his Glovatrix to fire a blade to slice off their hold on the iron bells that fell like boulders and fell hard on the floor to Dark Kat and the Creeplings' astonishment.
The redhead congratulated Razor on a job well-done in her mind, though both of them knew Dark Kat would instantly guess the one responsible for the sabotage.
"SWAT Kats…" he growled, holding his right fist before he smiled wickedly. "Oh, well, there's still one silver lining to this dark cloud. In fact, this is what I was looking forward to the most."
Rosella's skin twitched when she realized he knew this was going to happen and she feared for the pilots' lives as the Creeplings tightened their grip on her to keep her in place.
All that happened was Razor falling through a trapdoor, but he used his Glovatrix again to use a grappling hook to pull him to Dark Kat's level.
"Good of you to drop in, SWAT Kat. Where is your teammate? Not running late for the party, is he?"
"Nah, he just went to get the chips and dip. He'll be back soon enough."
Rosella enjoyed the banter but was worried about what Dark Kat had up his sleeve.
"He can take his time. I only wanted one of you to attend, anyway. Now, since my conquest for MegaKat City fell short, so to speak, as long as we're here, why don't we have a wild time?"
"Sorry, but I'm here to escort the lady home. Wild parties like yours don't suit people like her," Razor said confidently, his hands on his hips.
"People like her?" Dark Kat echoed, unfazed by his current solo foe's promise. "As if you know her."
Razor kept a perfectly fixed expression to keep both kats from realizing the truth. "I know as well as you she risked her safety for another lady's life. That's all I need to know."
"Oh, and you act as if she wasn't my actual guest of honor at all."
The two smaller kats' eyes widened in shock.
"What do you mean she's the actual guest?"
"You'll find that out because neither of you are going anywhere at the moment. Creeplings, seize him!"
All the minions actually released Rosella to attack Razor at their master's command. She backed up to the corner, staying out of the way as she prayed for the lone SWAT Kat's success.
Razor knocked one Creepling after another, expecting Dark Kat to grab that sword on the wall. However, one Creepling used its teeth to bite on Razor's left ankle, the chompers giving him a shock that made him fall on his right side.
Rosella gasped, shaking her head. That was why Dark Kat didn't touch the sword. The Creeplings' were the weapons all along to paralyze him.
She had a good idea he had another weapon on him which made her look at the sword again… Her shoulders shook, but seeing the helpless SWAT Kat pinned by the foul goblins, she fought the tears and grabbed the blade while Dark Kat wasn't looking.
"I'll wager you didn't see that coming, did you, SWAT Kat?" the fiend gloated, Razor's teeth baring at the colossal jerk.
"And I'll wager you saw this coming, didn't you, Dark Kat?" Rosella asked in a clear voice, the purple scoundrel casually looking over his right shoulder to see the she-kat standing a few steps away with the sword pointed at him. "Exactly as you planned from the beginning."
"Yes… though a bit later than I had anticipated."
"Then that letter really was from you, not the mayor."
"Correct," Dark Kat confessed willingly, turning around, lifting his left finger up.
"…Then if this sword is for me, where's yours?"
"What sword?" he asked, playing coy, leaning both of his hands on top of his cane.
Rosella grinned, "Please, Dark Kat, everyone knows you're always many steps ahead." She indicated her head at his cane.
The villain smirked in satisfaction before he stood straight up, his left hand touching the knob on his cane. "Insightful. Reminds me much of another opponent I knew."
"…My father wouldn't be the opponent you're referring to, right?"
"Yes, Thomas Pearl, my most worthy opponent from… the good old days," he explained, unsheathing his double-edged sword.
Razor felt even more stunned than from the dumb Creeplings' teeth. "Hold a flipping minute. He knew Rosella's dad? Mr. Pearl and Dark Kat were… enemies?"
"… Funny, he never once mentioned you."
"Let's just say we were kats living different lives before he even met your mother."
"You even knew the life he led before my parents died?" she queried, improvising in desperate hope to buy time until T-Bone, wherever he was, would come back to save them. If she couldn't survive, hopefully the bigger SWAT Kat could rescue Razor who was more important.
"He… wasn't able to keep many secrets from me, but you're only stalling."
Rosella silently sighed, hating how insightful he was.
"If you want more answers, I'll happily give them, but any more delays or if you escape, this SWAT Kat's life is mine here and now."
"Fine, you did work hard arranging this party of yours, after all," she lightly smirked, trying to soothe her nerves.
"There's that Pearl charm and humor I've dearly missed."
She cried "en garde" before they clashed, the girl remembering the sword lessons her beloved father taught her since she was a child and had kept practicing even after him and her mother's passing.
Razor was amazed at how she had kept her skills as sharp as the blades she and Dark Kat were wielding, parrying his swings. When her back was turned to the noble tom, he tried to tell her to forget him and run.
"Miss Pearl, no, don't do me any favors. Save yourself."
"I'm afraid that's not optional, Razor. Besides, he'll just find me again, anyhow," she pointed out, never taking her eyes off Dark Kat. "This match decides both of our fates."
"You're half right, this match does decide his fate, but yours is far from over."
"And I'm supposed to take your word at that? Even if so, why let me live?"
"Because I let your father and his small family live safely ever since he… retired from the one he used to live before he married."
"Then… you've been spying on us all those years we used to live here?"
"Correct again."
"Why? If he got in your way as much as the SWAT Kats do…"
"He did, really, but as I said, those days were the best years of the first half of my nine lives."
"… Hmm, I suppose I should thank you on his behalf, then, but that won't make me go easy on you, considering the stakes."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"No, Miss Pearl, he'll cheat," Razor warned persistently.
"Of course he will," Rosella said, unsurprised since she knew his reputation in this city, "but I still have no choice."
"No choice at all," Dark Kat agreed grimly before they crossed blades to make an 'X', "Your father taught you well. This rush is similar to when we used to duel."
"Thanks, but not completely similar, right? If you were his rival, you're clearly just going easy on an opponent not as experienced as you 'cause you're having the most invigorating time you've had in years."
"Is it that obvious?"
"Obvious enough," she answered calmly.
"Hm, you're just as careful not to be overconfident as your father was. Something two heroes I know and other individuals who worship them should learn," he remarked.
Rosella wanted to keep the duel and banter up as another way of buying time, but she feared Dark Kat would make sure Razor perished whose upper torso she could see from the corner of her left eye he could shift slightly.
"T-Bone, no offense, but you're welcome to hurry back." "So, how long until one of your faithful followers bites to stun me? That is, if you decide to keep me a prisoner or not."
"Oh, they're allowed to do no such thing. This is just a one-time spar until you choose to lead the life your father led."
"Is that what you're hoping for, Dark Kat, to replace my father, your sparring partner?"
"Yes…and no. There were times your father was close to defeating and capturing me, so his retirement was both a relief and a partial disappointment. And while you're almost as good, your way of life is just too safe to be exactly like his."
"But in case I do become exactly like him, you want me alive and kickin' for more kicks."
"Well, the life of a fugitive can be very monotonous since we can't socialize."
"All the more reason to live inside the law, not outside of it, but I'm sure my dear father gave you the same advice that you declined."
"Correct again, young Rosella, but he always wanted to give a fair warning."
Warning… Then perhaps the most insane thing came to mind. "So do I, Dark Kat." Asking her father's spirit to give her courage, she dashed to (offscreen) slay the Creeplings which, despite her detestation of them, she wished she didn't have to do and picked a limb Razor who was like a poor ragdoll picked up by a child.
"So, here's my warning: If you kill this SWAT Kat, you kill me, too. Although, I wonder what is more important to you: Ridding yourself of one of your enemies or re-living the good ol' days with my father through me?"
"Miss Pearl…"
"Razor, if he does away with you, he deserves to lose a pleasure of his," she said, determined to improvise the best she could.
"Oh, my, I should have known you'd pull a stunt like this eventually. You risked your nine lives for the deputy mayor, so of course you'd risk them for a hero," Dark Kat asserted, a bit disappointed his game was coming to an end sooner than he had expected.
"Well, better me than someone important."
Dark Kat exhaled deeply, shaking his head as he sheathed his sword. "Definitely your father's daughter. Noble and resorts to desperate measures. As much as I don't want to, I want to be rid of at least one SWAT Kat."
"In that case, he will be the first to go, but on my terms, not yours!"
She pinned the shocked and horrified Razor on the floor, on the (again offscreen) mess that dead Creeplings' body made, the pilot watching as his kitten-hood friend raised her blade in the air before she dropped its tip down hard.
Dark Kat stood where he was, even more taken aback at what she was doing, though he couldn't see her quickly putting the SWAT Kat out of his misery after he grunted in an agonizing noise.
The purple kat remained rooted where he was as she lifted him by the front of his flight suit, his shirt stained as he was dragged to the railing where she threw him into the hole.
"Now… it is my turn. One more fair warning, Dark Kat: people who are obsessed with anything are their own worst enemies, not just everyone else's."
She took her sword to her throat without Dark Kat seeing because her back was still turned to him, then she fell over with the sword whose metal clanked all the way down until no sound was heard, silent as a grave, so to speak.
The felon couldn't believe what he just witnessed. She killed both the SWAT Kat and even her own self just to keep him from doing it himself?
Just when he could at least say he had one less enemy, he was in for one heck of a jolt when a grappling hook was launched upwards from the pit, the "deceased" kats headed for the ceiling.
"Surprise~" they called, Razor gently taking Rosella's right hand to lead her to safety.
Dark Kat, though infuriated one of his two worst enemies was still breathing, was most impressed with the act, insincerely dramatic and morbid as it was.
"So, she used the blood from my massacred Creeplings to disguise his death, did she? Sickening but resourceful."
During the run, Rosella wondered about something, "Pardon, not to sound like a worry wart, but I don't suppose your teammate is outside in the get-away jet for us?"
"He… should be," he responded, a bit uneasily.
"Should be?" she repeated, feeling slightly ill.
"He had to give an alert to MegaKat City while I did the rest."
"Okay, I understand. You must have seen the bells and tunnel and guessed Dark Kat's most unusual plan for destruction."
"Yep, and it is the weirdest plan he's ever come up with."
"Well, there is a theory to a person's madness, be it semi-mad or completely mad."
"Yeah, we've learned not to underestimate guys like him."
They made it to the top of the plateau where it was nightfall before already they could see, to their relief, T-Bone returning in the TurboKat itself. He saw his two friends waving, making him smile widely they both got out alive.
"Sorry I got your suit… messy," she apologized to Razor as they waited for their ride. "I had to use something to fool Dark Kat."
"No problem, I'm just glad you weren't serious about saving Dark Kat the trouble of doing us in," he understood, pretending he was beheading himself, using his right hand as an imaginary sword. "That was a great trick, though, playin' dead."
"Well, if it can work for possums," Rosella shrugged casually, both of them smiling. "It was the least I could do for you for savin' MegaKat City by the bell from those iron bells. Where'd he steal them from, anyhow?"
"An ironsmith incorporation, apparently, that a customer ordered."
"Hmm, a customer ordered bells like that that Dark Kat happened to need for his literally earth-shakin' idea?" she thought suspiciously, her right hand holding her chin, her left hand on her hip.
"Yeah, that is an interesting coincidence," he agreed. "At least it would be if it was a coincidence, but we both think not."
They stopped conversing as T-Bone opened the Bombay doors under the jet to lower a cable to bring them inside, Razor carefully holding his left arm around Rosella's waist as she put her arms around his shoulders.
"Hey, T-Bone, what kept ya? Long line at the grocery store?" Razor joked, referring to the chips and dip quip from earlier, wanting to make Rosella feel better from everything today which did the trick.
"Nah, just a long trip back."
Rosella smiled which made Razor content. Still, the more she thought of it, the odder it felt when these magnificent heroes sounded… familiar.
She had heard their voices on T.V. from quick interviews with the reporter Ann Gora from Kats' Eye News, but the more she heard them in person... She looked at Razor whose muzzle's color did remind her of someone.
She noticed the feel of his muscles which made her think of…
"No, it can't be… but then again…" She felt stiff when she did the figuration to Razor's observation.
"Are you okay, Miss Pearl? The breeze too cold?"
"Ah…" She blinked when she saw Enforcer jets from the distance, headed straight for the plateau. "Invited the Enforcers to join Dark Kat's soiree, T-Bone?" she called to the bigger pilot.
"Heh, why not? They needed to find somethin' exciting to do."
"How considerate." The white she-kat hoped to see her friend the lieutenant Felina. She rode in the backseat with Razor as T-Bone at the front received a call.
"T-Bone, are Razor and Rosella all right?" they heard their favorite Enforcer ask.
"We're fine, lieutenant," Razor answered, "but I don't think we should be here right now. I have a pretty good idea what Dark Kat is gonna do with his new digs after he let himself be discovered."
Once everyone was far enough away, the lair was blown to smithereens which was typical of Dark Kat, to go out with a bang.
"Undoubtedly, he escaped before the big blowout, just in case," Rosella surmised.
"Bingo," Razor said, a catchphrase that also sounded familiar to the TurboKat's passenger.
"A tom I know would often say that."
"Sorry you had to come all the way out here for nothin', lieutenant," T-Bone apologized when the two flew beside each other.
"It's all right, at least the bells were stopped before they even left Dark Kat's hideaway, and at least my uncle won't berate you guys for collateral damage."
"That is a nice change of pace, but knowin' him, he'll still find an excuse to get ticked off with us, like Dark Kat still out of custody as usual."
"Well, still, MegaKat citizens can return home and sleep easily for another night."
"Excuse me, Felina, is everyone all right, then?" Rosella checked.
"Yes, Rosella, though we did have to evacuate everybody just to be sure. I should tell you, the guys at the club know about your captivity."
"Oh, boy, they must be worried and scared silly after all this. I have to get back."
"We'll get you home if you'd like, Miss Pearl," Razor kindly offered.
"I would like that…very much."
The SWAT Kats and Rosella bid the Enforcers farewell; the redhead very excited to ride with the legendary masked men.
"I am sorry again about your suit. I suppose I owe you money for gettin' it clean."
"No, it'll be fine."
"Wait, what about your suit? Yuck, does it have somethin' to do with that sickening stench?" T-Bone said, gagging.
"Uh…" Razor replied awkwardly, uncertain to discuss something so graphic about Rosella's work on the Creeplings, the girl looking at her lap in the same discomfort. "You don't want to know, but I will be washing this suit as soon as possible."
"Fair enough on both parts," T-Bone conceded, still queasy from the aroma. "Whatever happened, I'm glad I wasn't there, after all."
"You would have liked one thing, T-Bone, when I was supposed to rescue Miss Pearl after I literally put a drop on the bells, she rescued me with that sword on the wall."
"Wait, you threatened Dark Kat with a sword? Cool!"
"Well, actually, he had a sword in his cane all along. You guys know he's always prepared."
"Still, first you saved Miss Briggs, and then you saved Razor."
"You're half right about Razor, T-Bone, but I don't think Miss Briggs was the target at all."
"No, she wasn't. He was really after Miss Pearl instead."
"You? Why? What did he want with you?"
"Well, before we get into that, I'd like to discuss with you both something very… fascinating first which I hope you'll be comfortable with."
"Well, sure, what is it?" Razor asked, curious as any other kat.
"Well, I can't help but think of two very dear friends of mine when I think of you sublime gentlemen," she started, making them flattered and yet rather disquieted. "They used to be Enforcer pilots themselves and as good as Felina is before she enlisted. Very nice guys, too."
"They… sure sound like it," T-Bone remarked, liking the compliments despite his uneasiness. Razor himself didn't like where this subject was going.
"Funny, though, Razor, you remind me exactly of one of them. Even the way you said bingo is just like how he always said it growing up. Your physique feels like his does, too," she hinted, eyeing the tom next to her, can't help wanting to make him sweat even though she what she wanted most was something nicer for them.
"You don't say. The similarities are uncanny," T-Bone said, trying to play dumb, but it was a pitiful attempt.
She showed it by giving a painfully obvious, unconvinced look. "Are you gonna fess up or do I keep grilling when I talk to you at the garage?"
"T-Bone, I think the kat… No, two kats are out of the bag," Razor pronounced, giving in, his best friend in the front seat wincing as he silently sighed. "It's that obvious, isn't it?" Razor asked Rosella who nodded without hesitation.
"Oh, boy, do we have a world of explanation to do," T-Bone exhaled again, speaking up a bit.
"Well, I am looking forward to it, so you should know I'm not angry," she assured sincerely, "I mean, it does explain the strange ways you've been behaving since I came back."
"At least you're not upset," Razor approved.
"No, though I suppose you couldn't afford anyone finding out and revealing you."
"No, I mean, with certain parties like Feral and the crooked creeps we fight on a daily basis, yes, but…"
"We didn't want anybody to be in danger if they know who we are. People like Dark Kat would stop at nothing to get the info."
"I understand, but… you know I would never tell anyone at all, not even to Namine` and the others. I know how to keep things to myself."
"Then, first thing tomorrow, wait until you tell you the adventures we've had that haven't even made the news," Razor announced, feeling he could actually breathe now that a trustworthy person knew the truth, and that person was the kitten-hood friend whom they now didn't have to deceive anymore.
Well, at long last someone since the Metallikats (before they lost all memory of it), knows everyone's favorite cat duo's identities. Where will this lead, huh? Anywho, sorry it took so long, and I'm very sorry for the one too many dialogues in this chapter. I took my time and improvised the best I think I could. Still, I hope you all will look forward to the next chapter. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and God Jehovah bless.