Chapter 10: Viper Develops a Cure
Twenty minutes later, Dr. Kenton was ready to leave, Razor had arrived, and the only problem they were faced with was trying to get Feral to allow a shot to be given. He was resisting like any three year old would.
T-Bone had escorted his mate back to his room to wait while Razor guarded Viper with two of the hospital's security guards. Viper hissed but submitted to being handcuffed.
Now T-Bone was doing his best to try and coax his mate to allow Dr. Kenton to inject him.
"Nooooo!" The big tom wailed, holding his arms tightly to his body and backing away.
"Come on, love...it's to help you...please..." the tabby wheedled but to no avail. Sighing in dismay, he looked over at the doctor.
"Why don't we wait until we get to the labs, it might be easier to get him to do it then."
Dr. Kenton sighed as well. "Fine, no point in upsetting him any more than necessary. We'd better get going," he said resignedly.
T-Bone nodded then turned back to his mate. "Okay, no shot right now. Let's go for a ride on my jet. Would you like that?" He asked, feeling strange and awkward talking kitten talk to a grown tom.
"Yeah, go ride!" Feral cheered, clapping his paws and allowing T-Bone to wrap an arm around him and lead him out.
Only ten minutes later, the odd looking group was winging its way to the Bio Tech Labs with T-Bone again forced to ride in the cargo hold with Feral who was excited and a little afraid as he clung to his mate.
Viper was harnessed to his seat and the hospital guards went along to watch him for the SWAT Kats. When they arrived at Enforcer Headquarters, Steele and Sgt Fallon met them. They were shocked by Feral's new behavior and pleased to see Dr. Viper but extremely unhappy to learn they couldn't just lock him up.
"You're going to allow him to do what?" Steele shouted, shocked.
"He's deteriorating too fast and Viper is his only chance to recover or do you want to be the one that puts him down once his memory is completely gone?" T-Bone shouted back, his face a mask of anguish sorrow and worry.
Steele shut up instantly, horror on his face as he realized just how precarious his superior's condition was and what would have to happen if they failed to save him. He really looked at the SWAT Kat for the first time and could see the toll this was taking on him as well.
"No, I don't but I don't like this," he said, in a more subdued fashion.
"I know, neither do I," T-Bone responded resignedly.
Nothing more was said as Steele and Fallon took over guard duty with Razor for Viper, releasing the hospital guards to go back to work. The group received concerned and unhappy looks from all the enforcers they passed as they made for the labs.
Dr. Konway had quickly set a work space up, contacted some technicians to assist and set up a secure room for Feral with a bed.
After brief introductions between doctors, Konway led them to the room where Feral and T-Bone would stay while they waited. Razor, Steele, Fallon and their prisoner, Viper, waited in the main lab.
Now it was time for the dark tom to be sedated, it would be easier for all but especially for the tom that he be asleep during the long process of finding a cure. But when Dr. Kenton prepared the injection and attempted to administer it, they met with the same resistance as before.
"Don't want! Can't make me!" Feral sulked trying to pull away when Dr. Kenton approached with the needle.
"It's alright. It will make you feel better, I promise. Please do it for me...hmmm?" T-Bone coaxed his mate gently nuzzling his face.
"Nooo...don' like needles!" Feral whined pitifully burying his face in his mate's chest.
"I know. Nobody does but you won't feel anything but a sting. Come on sugar!" T-Bone pleaded softly his heart tight at how far his mate's mind had gone.
Dr. Konway fought to hide the horror he felt at his Commander's behavior. He'd been told only the bare bones of what was wrong but being faced with the actual thing was a shock. The clock was racing and they had very little time to save the dark tom. He watched worriedly as they coaxed the reluctant Commander to accept the shot, anxious to get started on a cure before it was too late.
After several more minutes of pleading, Feral finally submitted and was soon sleeping peacefully. Sighing gratefully, T-Bone exhausted as well, decided to use the time trying to get some rest rather than stew and pace waiting for the cure to be made.
Relieved to be getting started at last, Konway hustled Dr. Kenton off to a lab area he had prepared. Razor followed with Viper as Steele and Fallon kept guard near the exit. The odd group got to work immediately.
Surprisingly, Viper went to work without any arguments or snide remarks. The others treated him like a fellow scientist and things moved along rapidly. As they determined what he was doing, Kenton and Konway willingly let Viper lead the way in the research needed and conducted the experiments themselves letting their assistants to the scut work so things moved along quicker.
It took some three hours but finally a weird blue colored fluid had been produced and put in a needle to be injected into Feral. The doctor's were still reluctant to have anything to do with something a criminal mind had come up with but it had been tested as best as they could in such a short time and there really wasn't any choice about using it.
The three made for the room their patient was sleeping in. T-Bone woke immediately and watched them approach. Dr. Kenton was holding the injector filled with an odd blue liquid.
"That's it?" He asked anxiously, eyeing it with trepidation.
"Yes. At least we hope so. Unfortunately, there is no time to test it further to be sure. The Commander can't wait any longer," Dr. Kenton said sadly.
"I will warn you. It isss not going to be painlesssss. The serum will reverssse his energy and hopefully resstore it to itsss correct configuration within hiss body but it will hurt...a lot!" Viper warned bluntly.
"Ah Crud! He's suffered soo much already!" T-Bone exclaimed disheartened.
"No choice. It isss the only way!" Dr. Viper hissed.
"Damn! Well do it quickly and I'll do my best to help him. You probably should all leave as soon as you give it. No telling how he'll react," T-Bone sighed as he looked down at his still peacefully sleeping mate.
"We know, that's why I picked this room. It's insulated and we'll seal you in," Dr. Konway told him quietly.
With nothing left to do, Dr. Kenton reached for Feral's arm and injected the solution then the three quickly left the room. The door was sealed behind them.
Everyone quickly left and went to the security screen that was linked to a camera in the room so they could observe what would happen. Steele and Fallon joined the group at the screen. For security sake, Razor latched Viper to a nearby pipe so he couldn't escape while everyone's attention was on the screen. Viper didn't complain as he was interested in seeing the results of his work.
In the room, nothing seemed to happen for some minutes, then suddenly Feral's eyes widened as he woke abruptly then he was airborne as he launched himself from the bed to a nearby wall where the began to try and claw his way out, screaming the whole time.
Shocked and surprised, T-Bone flew to his mate's side and tried to help him as best he could even though pain roared through him as well. Both tom's faces reflected the agony they were enduring.
Razor moaned softly, wishing more than anything to be able to help his friend but all he could do was watch in horror.
Viper took a perverse glee in seeing the pain on the two's faces but was smart enough to hide his mirth.
Konway turned his face away as did Sgt Fallon, though the latter didn't take his eyes off the prisoner. Dr. Kenton watched, his face grave as he prayed for their agony to be short. Steele couldn't look away, it was like watching a train about to smack into another and there was nothing you could do but watch it happen.
But all too soon, Feral's body began to glow far too brightly for anyone to watch. The technician was forced to close the screen or risk burnout. Now all anyone could do was wait and hope the two walked out of the room alive.
Inside, T-Bone screamed, echoing his mate's roars of agony. His eyes were watering from the brightness that got through his closed eyelids and mask. He could feel the energies rising higher and higher and it was a race to see if they would die before his energy flow was restored.
Then suddenly, Ulysses stopped screaming and slid, exhausted to the floor with T-Bone clinging to him. Both lay there panting for air, while Feral's energy ran like stinging ants over T-Bone's body.
Groaning, he knew he had to take Uly now despite how out of it they both were. Moving a body that felt like lead, T-Bone reached around his mate's waist and grasped his hospital pj's, pulling them down along with his boxers. Feral groaned as his mate moved and pulled his body into a position for a quick mating.
Getting Uly up on his knees took some doing but the tabby finally managed it then pulled himself out of his g-suit, reared up over his mate's back and plunged in. They moaned in unison as T-Bone seated himself completely within Uly's hot channel. Wasting no more precious time, he set a fast, hard rhythm bringing them to a violent orgasm with the energy rolling off them in waves. T-Bone buried his face in his mate's neck fur when they reached orgasm to spare his eyes from the sunburst that filled the room.
They lay completely spent for some minutes then Feral let out a deep sigh and turned his head toward his mate who was laying splayed out with his head tucked against Uly's neck and shoulder.
T-Bone felt his mate move so opened his eyes to see how the tom was doing and was pleased and relieved when a pair of gold eyes looked at him with normal intelligence gleaming from them.
"Oh Uly, is that you in there, love?" He asked hopefully.
"I'm okay."
His eyes welled with sudden tears of joy as he leaned closer to kiss his mate. Feral sighed with pleasure both for feeling so much better and for, finally, feeling in control once more. A great deal of the heavy, depressed feelings had departed as well.
"We'd better get to our feet and get out here or they'll get very worried," T-Bone sighed as he rolled off his mate and slowly got to his feet. He set himself to rights then aided Uly to his feet and helped him pull his clothes up.
Tired but happy, the two went to the door. T-Bone banged hard to let those outside know it was safe to open the door.
Outside, everyone except for Viper startled when a banging started at the door to the room. Hurriedly, Dr. Konway went to it and worked the lever to open the heavy door. Out stepped a tired pair who smiled at everyone, demonstrating that things were now okay with Feral.
"It's good to see you sir," Dr. Konway said, extreme relief lacing his voice.
Others murmured their agreement to that except for Viper.
"I've kept my part of the bargain now you keep yoursssss!"
Feral blinked in confusion and asked, "what bargain?"
T-Bone grimaced knowing his mate was not going to be happy with what he'd had to do. "Viper had a good idea what was wrong with you and how to fix it. The doctors were still trying to come up with a way to do it but you were running out of time so I made a bargain with the creep...he makes the cure to save your life and he gets his freedom."
"What? Are you all nuts?" Feral demanded in shocked anger.
"No, just didn't want to lose you," T-Bone said quietly, leaning closer to nuzzle Feral's face.
Feral blushed, uncomfortable with the display of affection before others. Though unhappy about the deal with Viper, he understood why T-Bone did it. He eyed Viper with bitter eyes.
Viper didn't care what Feral thought of it all, he just wanted gone...now! "Let me go!"
Razor wasn't happy about this part of the deal but a bargain had been made and he never welched on a bargain. "Yeah, yeah! I know Viper but I'm not letting you go here. Let's go!" Razor snapped, reaching forward and releasing the handcuff then hooking it back on Viper's other wrist.
"Where are you taking me?" Viper demanded.
"Back to the swamp of course. We know you have a lab out there somewhere. No way am I letting you wander around near here so let's go!" Razor ordered.
Knowing he was going to go home, Viper relaxed and did as he was told. Suddenly, Steele came forward and eyed Viper with distaste.
"You need guards on him while you fly him home. Let me send four with you and you just drop them back off when you're through," he offered.
Razor stared at Steele in surprise but nodded. "Good idea, have them meet me on the flight line."
Steele gave a nod then moved off to make a call. Feral eyed Steele's back in amazement. This was a side of the usually incompetent first officer he'd never seen before and he didn't know what to make of it.
"A competent Steele...what is the world coming to?" T-Bone murmured for his mate's ear only, amusement in his voice.
Feral couldn't help but smile at that comment then murmured back, a small smirk curling his lip, "I'd almost think I'd awaken in a new world."
T-Bone grinned. He felt tired but great and he realized it was because he felt no more pain nor unbearable grief weighing him down which meant his mate was feeling much better in his mind as well as his body though he knew Feral's other problem about the mating itself was still there but it was more manageable, finally, so it had been his physical problem that had colored all the rest and made life hell for them both.
Somewhere south of the city...
The Turbokat dropped down to a fairly sound piece of ground. Calling down to the cargo hold, Razor ordered the enforcers to released Viper as soon as he lowered the ramp. Minutes later, the mutant lizard took off at a run and soon vanished into the nasty swamp.
Mission completed, he took the Turbokat back into the air and returned rapidly to Enforcer Headquarters. Landing, he let the four enforcers out, closed the cargo hold, then headed back up to the Bio Tech Labs to see how his partner and Feral were doing.
While Razor was off on his errand, Feral had to put up with a battery of tests conducted by Drs Konway and Kenton. He endured blood draws, x-rays, and other specialized tests. By the time Razor returned, they finally released Feral to go home and rest for the day before returning to work.
Razor was thrilled to see his partner well and safe. For his friend's sake, he was also glad Feral was well once more. It had been a near thing and he was glad it was over. His partner looked worn out but happy. He dropped them off on Feral's apartment roof an hour later and wished them a good night, grateful to being going home himself.
Finally alone and settled on the couch in Feral's apartment, the two just sat and held each other for a long while too tired to do anything else.
"Do you really feel okay?" T-Bone asked quietly.
"Yeah, I do! I'm soo sorry to have put you through all that. I felt my mind slipping away and it was frightening. I've never felt so helpless before and hurt so much either," Ulysses murmured.
"I don't blame you. I'd have been terrified too," T-Bone said gently caressing Uly's paw in his own paw. "So we're finally okay now?"
"I think so. Now maybe we can finally try to get a life going, a strange one, but a life of some kind," Feral sighed, closing his eyes and laying his head back on the couch.
"Sounds like a plan!" T-Bone agreed and leaned against his mate, closing his eyes as well.
Enforcer Headquarters, Bio Tech Labs...
Dr. Konway and Dr. Kenton spent the next couple of hours putting all the information they'd collected on Feral's case which contained all the tests done, the formula for the cure, lab results and any other pertinent data combining it into a cohesive report.
Dr. Kenton would take it with him to store in the Psych Records for use if another case appeared. The condition would be called the 'UF Syndrome' after Commander Feral who was the first test case.
Dr. Kenton planned on writing a medical article on it, sharing the credit with Dr. Konway and, though they were reluctant to, they added Dr. Viper as co-inventor. They didn't want to incur any animosity from the insane scientist at some later date.
Two days later...
After getting some much needed rest after the event that nearly took his life, Feral happily returned to work as did T-Bone. Poor Razor had a tough time trying to keep up with the garage and was greatly relieved to have his partner back at work.
It wasn't until a few days later that Ms. Briggs called Feral.
"Feral!" He barked into his phone.
"Commander...Ms. Briggs here. I need to have you do another press conference. We need to undo the damage of the first one. I hear things are well with you, which I might add, I personally am very glad to hear, and that it is safe for you to do this," she said briskly.
Feral sighed to himself, he should have known he wasn't off the hook as far as the public was concerned. "Yes, Ms. Briggs, I understand. When do you want to do this?"
"Well, obviously as soon as possible. How about nine tomorrow morning?"
He checked his calendar and discovered to his disgust, he was free at that time. "Works for me. See you there," he told her reluctantly.
"Excellent, thank you Commander. See you tomorrow," she responded then hung up.
City Hall...nine o'clock...
So the next morning here they were again facing the same wall of press, the difference this time was Feral's obviously calm and relaxed demeanor.
Without the Mayor, Ms. Briggs began the session. "Thank you for all being willing to come back after what happened last time. The Commander and T-Bone will explain what happened but remember, no personal questions will be tolerated so keep that in mind," she said firmly then moved away to give the mic to Feral.
"I must apologize for my behavior at the last press meeting. It was learned that my own energy had reversed itself and was feeding on me, causing my loss of control over my emotions then, subsequently. my sanity. By the time a cure was found, my mind was that of a kitten," he explained.
"I thank the courage and determination of my mate for keeping me from harming others and giving me comfort when I needed it most at the cost of his own sanity. The choice he had to make to save my life was made for love of me even though it meant letting a criminal be free. I don't hold that against him and am just grateful to still be alive. Since I wasn't aware during much of what went on after the press meeting, I'll let T-Bone fill you in," Feral said quietly turning the mic over his mate.
"It was a nightmare for me trying to hold onto my own sanity while Ulysses was fast losing his. Dr. Viper had come to the hospital where we were in the psychiatric wing to steal some new medicine they were testing. I heard the commotion his creatures were making and came out to investigate and was knocked out. When I came to, I found Uly attacking Viper. Though it galled me, I saved the miserable thing and at that moment I learned just how far Ulysses' mind had gone. It was then Dr. Viper spoke up and said he could cure my mate but the price was his freedom," T-Bone grimaced at that memory.
"Well, I really didn't like making a deal with a criminal but when I checked with Dr. Kenton, Uly's doctor, I found out they weren't any closer to figuring out a cure and my mate was running out of time. So we were forced to make the deal. Surprisingly, the creep did as he promised and with the help of Drs. Konway and Kenton, Viper created the cure. The result is standing here healthy and fine once more," T-Bone said, glancing warmly at his mate.
"Where is Dr. Viper now?" Ann Gora asked, jumping ahead of her peers as usual.
"Razor released him back to the swamps where we know he has a lab somewhere hidden. Don't worry! We will get him next time!" T-Bone promised.
"So everything is alright between you two now?" Ann asked studying both of them.
"Yes, though we have a long ways to go before we are used to each other. This is still odd after all. But now we have the time and I'm no longer so stressed about the bond." Feral said.
"Do you plan to co-habitate and how does Razor feel about this?" Ann pressed on, annoying her colleagues.
"That is personal and none of the public's business. As for Razor, he is slowly adjusting to my mating as well. We'll be alright! Now that is all we had to say. This conference is over. Thank you for coming!" T-Bone said politely but firmly. He and Uly ignored any further questions and left together. On the street they parted ways with a lingering kiss. They would see each other later that evening.
Feral returned to his office feeling better than he had for a very long time and he was gradually learning to accept his bonding without as much angst.