Disclaimer: The SWAT Kats are owned by Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs.
I meesed up and posted chapter 42 twice, as penance, I am giving you a bonus chapter.
Sorry all. Please read the previous correct chapter before this one.
Please welcome SWATKat132 to the crew. Enjoy your flight.
Felina placed the pawcuffs on Katerina rather loosely so she would be a little more comfortable, then led her back to her car. Once Katerina was seated in the back, Felina walked around the car and got into the driver's seat. She started the car and drove off back towards MegaKat Prison.
The prison transport bus pulled up to central booking, and several bystanders stopped to stare as a parade of officers escorted Dark Kat off the bus. They had tried to put him in a squad car, but he was simply too tall and broad. Even with his paws confined in pawcuffs and surrounded by several armed guards, he still cut a menacing figure as they brought him into central booking. Once he got to the desk, a gun barrel was placed to his right temple and one of the guards said, "I am removing the cuffs temporarily. You are to remove everything from your pockets and place those items on the desk. If you make one false twitch, I will not hesitate to shoot." To emphasize his point, he cocked the gun and clicked off the safety.
Dark Kat complied and removed everything that he had in his pockets, placing the items on the desk. Then his paws were wrenched behind his back and re-cuffed, but he only sneered at their attempts to assert their authority over him. Then they shoved him towards the section of the room reserved for mugshots. Once they reached the proper area, he was slammed against the wall and told to face the camera. Dark Kat put on his most menacing glare, and he couldn't help but note with satisfaction the way the camera operator began to sweat. The flash went off, and they told him to turn to the right. When he didn't do it fast enough, a couple of the more burly officers came forward to make him do so. As soon as they were out of the picture, the camera snapped, capturing Dark Kat in profile.
Then they pushed and prodded him over to a changing area before removing his pawcuffs again, but keeping their guns trained on him as they ordered him to strip and change into prison attire. Dark Kat did so, his head held high. If they were trying to embarrass him, they had another thing coming. He was a magnificent specimen, after all.
A phone rang, and one of the guards answered it. After a few minutes, the guard walked over to Dark Kat and said, "You are in luck, Dark Kat. Your arraignment is scheduled for this afternoon. You only get to spend a few hours with us before the Feds come and pick you up." The guard turned to his fellow guards and said, "Take him to isolation cell number 4. Dark Kat is to be placed under armed watch at all times."
Dark Kat was led to the cell and placed inside, then the door was closed and locked. An armed detail was set up outside his cell.
Callista opened Callie's door and saw Persival crouched down on the floor near Callie's head, ready to attack anything or anyone who came near his mistress. Callista also noticed that he had been crying. He was obviously still blaming himself for what had happened to Callie. She said to him, "Go and take a break, Persival. I will tend to her while you get some food and rest, and stop blaming yourself for this. You could not have rescued Chance from the explosion, and there was no way you could have stopped Callie from using her powers. I know that you love her with all your heart, and you would have gladly taken her place if you were able to."
Persival looked directly into Callista's eyes and replied, "Milady, when your granddaughter climbed on my back to go and round up those little monstrosities, I should have flown her back here instead of placing her in danger. I should have disobeyed her wishes, but I had to be the obedient familiar to her instead of doing what my head told me to do. My mistress overextended herself because I chose to let her fight instead of protecting her. So tell me, Milady, how is this not my fault?" Persival started to cry again as he turned to face Callie.
Callista got down on her knees and hugged Persival. She said, as she placed her face next to his, "You have a heart that is as big as this city, Persival. You love her as much as Chance does, and you will do anything she asks because of that love. There is no fault in that, Persival. You love her so much, that you are willing to let her go so she can learn and grow from her experiences. That is something to be commended. A love that strong and deep is a rare gift. Please stop thinking that you could have stopped her from trying to save Chance. She loves him as much as you love her, and nothing would have stopped her from trying to save Chance from that fiery mess he was in." Callista started crying, herself, as her emotions got the better of her.
Persival felt Callista's tears starting to wet his fur. He took his left wing and wrapped it around Callista as she wept into his neck. He knew that Callista was right. There was absolutely nothing he could have done to prevent Callie from trying to save the tom that she loved, but now there was a new weight on his heart. Seeing his mistress so devastated left him feeling helpless, and all he could do was hold her the best he could while she cried.
Callie started to wake, and heard the sounds of Callista and Persival crying. She opened her eyes, lifted her head, and saw Callista with her head buried in Persival's neck, with Persival's wing wrapped protectively around her, both sobbing as if their hearts were breaking. Callie groggily said, "Did anyone get the license plate number of that freight train that hit me? Ugh…" Then she laid back down.
Both Callista and Persival stopped crying, then looked at Callie. Callista let go of Persival, jumped up, and wrapped her arms around Callie's neck, while Persival sat on his hind legs and started swishing his tail as he folded his left wing tightly against his body.
Callista asked Callie, "How do you feel, and how much do you remember about what happened?"
Callie sat up in her bed and replied, "Before I answer, can I get some water or something? My throat is very dry and scratchy."
"Of course, Callie," Callista replied as she waved her paw and a large bottle of cold water appeared. She opened the bottle and handed it to Callie.
Callie drank from the bottle quickly, almost emptying it in one shot. She lowered the bottle, and then said, "Thank you, Callista." She paused before saying, "I am so sore. The last time I felt like this was after I ran ten miles, then did two hours of cardio at the gym. I don't remember feeling this bad even after I woke up from blasting Hard Drive."
"Callie, you slept for two days after you fired that blast. Your body actually had a chance to recover back then. You have only been asleep for about four hours this time," Callista replied.
"Oh, that explains it," Callie said as she rubbed the muscles in her arm. "I remember being in a place that was all white, and Chance and I were dressed in white linen. I was hugging Chance when a tan-furred she-cat with white, feathery wings took him away from me. I also remember something about him being judged by someone called Bast, but that memory is still foggy."
Callista closed her eyes and took a deep breath before trying to explain what had actually happened. She finally said, "You were in a place called Purgatory, Callie. It is the place that bridges the living world and the afterlife. That winged she-cat was my Sergeant at Arms from many years ago. Her name is Amelia, and she died in a battle fighting for my kingdom against a group of evil sorcerers, along with her husband. Bast is the goddess of all cat-kind. She has the ability to decide whether a cat is ready to cross over into the afterlife, or return to the living world. Bast is a very generous and compassionate goddess. Your fiancé has a very good chance of being returned to us instead of crossing over."
Even the thought that Chance might not come back from Purgatory nearly made Callie's heart stop. Her lips quivered as she remembered something else. She said, "I also remember you saying that I am pregnant with Chance's kittens, and Amelia saying something about Bast giving us her blessing. What does that even mean, Callista?"
Callista had wanted Callie to have that moment of joy when she discovered she was pregnant all to herself, but Callie had once again backed her into a corner. She replied, "Callie, when Ulysses brought you here, I had to examine you to make sure that you did not need to be brought to a hospital. As I checked your internal organs, I felt a change in you that I had not sensed before. I have felt that change in other she-cats when they became pregnant. I just froze. I had wanted to be as surprised as you when you found out. Although, I needed to make sure that you were physically alright. I continued my exam, and when I focused on your mid-section, I heard three faint and rapidly beating hearts. I started smiling and focused harder. That was when I saw three tiny fetuses growing inside of you. I am so happy that I am going to be a great grandmother in about seven months! Now, as far as Bast's blessing? That I am not sure of. I may be 500 years old and a very experienced sorceress, but when it comes to the will of the gods, I am as clueless as you are."
"Ulysses brought me here? Does that mean that he knows about SWAT? Oh, Chance is not going to be happy about this. If he survives, that is," Callie retorted.
"I really don't know how much Ulysses knows or doesn't know, Callie. I do know that he was not mad when he dropped you off. As a matter of fact, Ulysses was more concerned than anything else. Now as for Chance surviving, knowing Amelia, she will fight for Chance to come back to us. You would have not been brought to Chance's side in Purgatory if you did not love him so much. Being a powerful sorceress helped you cross over. A love that strong is a powerful force, and will likely help sway Bast, from what I have read."
"So you think there is a good chance that he is going to pull through?" Callie asked.
"Yes, Bast is a very compassionate goddess. She would not allow Chance to cross over once she finds out that he is an expectant father." Callista said to Callie as she took Callie's paws in hers. "Would you like to go and see Chance? I am sure that he is going to want to see you."
"More than anything, Callista," Callie replied as she took her paws back and threw the blanket off. Callie then realized her state of dress, or lack thereof. She blushed in embarrassment, and so did Persival. He quickly turned tail and ran from the room.
Callista chuckled, then left the room also in order to let Callie get dressed. Callista found Persival curled up in the corner in a tight ball. Callista got down on her knees and gave him a comforting scratch. She said to him, "Don't worry about it, Persival. Callie had no idea that she was completely undressed when she threw that blanket back. Callie will forgive you, I promise."
Felina made it to the prison in record time. She pulled up to the main gate and presented her photo identification to the guard, who let her into the prison yard's parking lot. Felina found a parking spot by the prisoner intake door and parked the car. She got out and opened the passenger side door, then helped Katerina out of the car before closing the door again and locking it.
Katerina took one look at the prison's dark, gloomy brick walls, and shuddered. She almost wanted to turn and run away from the prison as fast as her feet would let her, but she knew if she did that, she could kiss her dreams of flying with the Enforcers goodbye forever. Katerina turned to Felina and said, "I am ready."
Felina led Katerina towards the prisoner intake door and opened it. When they passed through the door, they found Dr. Feral standing there waiting for them. She said to Katerina, "The warden and the parole board are waiting for you." She then said to Felina, "You have to wait outside. This is between Katerina, the warden, and the parole board."
"I don't think so, Adara. What I have to say to them is going to affect her life after she gets out of this hole. I am not leaving her side until she knows what her fate is," Felina replied.
Knowing that starting a fight with Felina in the prison would only get her fired, Adara backed down and let Felina escort Katerina to her hearing.
Felina thought that this was highly unusual to have a parole hearing just after returning to prison after a breakout. Either they were going to throw the book at Katerina and give her a tougher, longer sentence, or they were going to grant her parole. Hopefully the latter.
They arrived at the interview room after walking down various halls lined with cells and offices. Katerina and Felina took one last look at each other before entering the room. There was a long desk in front of them, and behind it was the warden. He sat in the center, while the other members of the parole board fanned out to either side. The warden said, "Katerina, please come forward and have a seat."
All three she-cats came forward, and while Katerina took a seat in the center of the room, Adara took a seat behind the desk, and Felina stood just to Katerina's left.
"Prisoner number 6849230, when you first arrived at our facility, your behavior was less than stellar. We had to place you in solitary on more than one occasion. After your third time in solitary for kicking a male prisoner in the crotch, you started seeing Dr. Feral. She told me about the attempted rape and that you were defending yourself. I had that incident removed from your record, and that tom was sent to a maximum security facility. Under Dr. Feral's care, you started helping other prisoners adjust to life on the inside, and you became a model prisoner yourself. We have reviewed the security footage of the breakout, and seen that you wanted nothing to do with it. However, you still left the facility without permission, even if it was not of your own free will. You will have to answer for that."
The warden was in the middle of speaking when Felina interrupted him, "Warden, you just said that she wanted nothing to do with it, and yet you are going to punish her for that? What type of justice are you practicing here?"
"Lt. Feral! If you would please shut your mouth for thirty seconds and let me finish, you will see where this is going!" The warden cleared his throat, and then said to Katerina, "Before you became Turmoil, you claimed that you were one of the best pilots in the skies. Neither male nor female could match your skills back when you were in Eastern Europe. I hold in this folder an application to the Enforcers flight academy that has been filled out on your behalf. The only thing that it needs is your signature, and an endorsement from an Enforcer officer. Your sentence is as follows: you are to complete basic and officers' training at the academy when the next course starts. You will be transferred to the academy barracks, and remain at the academy for the duration of your training. Upon completion, you are to be employed by the Enforcers Flight division with a rank of Pilot First Class. If any disciplinary actions are brought against you during your training, you will be returned to this facility, where you will serve no less than eight years in general population. Katerina Belikov, do you understand the terms of your sentence?"
Katerina could not believe what she had just heard. She was going to be sent to the Enforcers flight academy for training to be a pilot. She was so happy that she was going to be free from the walls of the prison that she forgot to answer the warden.
"Ahem, Miss Belikov, I still need your answer," the warden said.
"Oh, sorry, warden. Da, I understand completely," Katerina responded.
"Very well, Miss Belikov. I am releasing you to the care of Lt. Felina Feral, since she seems to have an interest in your case. Have I heard right, Lieutenant?" the warden said.
"Yes, I do. I'll make sure that she reports to the academy before the first class starts," Felina replied.
"Good. If she does not comply with this sentence as I have read it, as her endorser, you are responsible for her actions. Is that clear, Lieutenant?" the warden asked.
"Yes, I understand. May I take my charge and get her situated in my apartment, since classes don't start for another two weeks?" Felina asked.
"You may take her with you, but she is not to leave the apartment under any circumstances. Consider this house arrest. Do you understand, Miss Belikov?"
"Da, and thank you all." Katerina replied.
Felina grabbed Katerina by the arm and started leading her out of the interview room while saying, "Come on, Katerina, before they change their minds."
Once they were outside the interview room, Katerina stopped, pulled Felina into a hug, and said, "Thank you for all that you have done for me."
"You are welcome, Katerina, and it was your plan that put Dark Kat behind bars. Do you want to go and see T-Bone in the hospital before I take you to my apartment?"
"I would love to see him, if they will let me. I am not part of his family," Katerina said.
"You most definitely are, Havoc. Don't ever doubt it. Now we are going to have to make you an outfit similar to mine. I think you will look good in blue and red."
They both hugged each other one more time before leaving the prison.
Dr. Feldman finally removed the bullet from T-Bone's leg and completed the surgery. He finished bandaging up the leg and elevated it on a few pillows before turning to one of the nurses and saying, "Please take him to recovery and have security meet me in my office They're going to need to hold me back so I don't punch Dr. Roberts' and that resident's lights out!"
Razor watched as T-Bone was wheeled of the OR and into recovery. He breathed a sigh of relief, then he felt a paw on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Dr. Feldman standing next to him.
Dr. Feldman said, "He is going to need physical therapy. There was more damage to the muscles in his leg than I originally thought. If I had only had an X-Ray of his leg before I started, I would have taken a different path to the bullet, or just left it in. You heard everything that went on in there. I wouldn't blame you if you sued this hospital for malpractice, but that is up to you. I am giving my services to T-Bone at no charge, and I am going to advise the hospital board to erase all charges because of the screw up in the ER. If you want to, you can go down into the recovery room and sit with your friend."
Razor technically heard everything that Dr. Feldman said, but he could not process it at the moment. He was more concerned with T-Bone waking up than anything else. All he managed to say as he got up and shook Dr. Feldman's paw was, "Thank you for all that you have done for him."
"You are welcome, Razor. Go be with your friend. He is going to need someone with him when he wakes up," Dr. Feldman said, briefly placing his paw on Razor's shoulder before leaving the room.
Razor left the gallery and went to find the recovery room. He found T-Bone laying on a bed with the ventilator still breathing for him, and his right leg tightly bandaged. Razor grabbed a chair and placed it next to T-Bone's bed. He sat down, took T-Bone's paw in his, and gave it a gentle squeeze. Razor then closed his eyes and fell asleep, himself.
Ulysses finished his part of the investigation at the treasury building and left the scene, then went back to his apartment to pack a bag, as Callista had requested. On the way, he picked up his phone and called Felina to see what had happened with Katerina.
Felina answered on the third ring, "Hello."
"Felina, what happened at the prison?" Ulysses asked.
Felina put the phone on mute and asked Katerina, "Want to hear my uncle explode?"
Katerina had no idea what Felina was talking about, so she just shrugged her shoulders.
Felina un-muted the phone and replied, "Not much. Katerina went before the warden and the parole board as soon as we arrived. She was very nervous, so I decided to stay with her. Adara was not going to let me stay, so I put her in her place. Anyhow, the warden started going over Katerina's stay at the facility, and how she had turned her life around. Then he did something that I was not expecting. He had a filled out application for the Enforcers Flight Academy with Katerina's name on it. Her sentence is that she has to complete basic and officer's training without getting into trouble at the academy. Katerina is to start her training when the next round of courses start, which is in two weeks. Until that time, she is under house arrest," she paused before continuing, "at my apartment. I guess the warden thinks that I will be a good influence on her, and there is more. When she completes her training and graduates from the academy, she is to be employed by the Enforcers at a rank of pilot first class."
Ulysses just narrowly avoided hitting another car at the news, then yelled into the phone, "He can't do that! That pigheaded warden can give her an application and order her to attend classes, but he cannot assign her a rank that high after graduation unless the application is endorsed by an officer of the Enforcers!"
"Uncle, her application was endorsed.. by me. You are going to have to trust me on this, Uncle. She deserves to be an officer when she graduates," Felina replied.
"Felina! You have really overstepped your bounds by doing that. You should have talked to me, and we could have worked something out. The rank of pilot first class is for those who show exemplary skill and loyalty to the force, and not someone who just graduated the academy!" Ulysses barked back.
"You have nothing to worry about, Uncle. Katerina is going to excel at the academy and prove you wrong. She is going to be almost as good in the air as I am," Felina rebutted.
"She had better. Since you endorsed her, you are going to have to take responsibility for her actions at the academy and on the force. If Katerina slips up even once, I am going to throw her off the force and bounce you back to traffic duty!" Ulysses said, and disconnected the call.
"That didn't go as I expected. I can usually get away with things like this with him. Katerina, you had better not make a fool out of me. My endorsement proves that I trust you to do what is right, and prove yourself worthy of not only being an Enforcer, but becoming an officer," Felina said.
"Felina, if I can call you that? I will not prove you wrong. You endorsing that application showed that you trust me, and cannot thank you enough. I will do my best in the academy and on the force. I am not exactly ecstatic about being placed under house arrest, even if it is at your apartment. It still shows that I am a prisoner. What happens at the academy when the other cadets want to go out and have fun? Am I allowed to join them, or am I going to be confined to the academy's grounds?" Katerina asked.
"I honestly don't know. What I do know is you deserve to have some fun before I take you to my apartment. So after we go and see how T-Bone is doing, you and I are going out and having lunch. Then if Callie is awake and feeling up to it, we are all going to have a girl's day out. Just the three of us, no toms allowed. Sound good to you, Katerina? Oh, Felina is fine, by the way. You start calling me Lieutenant outside of the office, and I will have to clean your clock. The only person who does that is my uncle."
A wicked smile crossed Katerina's face. She was going to like living with Felina. Felina was a very independent she-cat, and had a "Take No Crap" attitude that Katerina loved. She replied, "That does sound like fun. I have not had a day out with just females in such a long time," Katerina said as they arrived at the hospital.
End of Chapter.