Chapter 26: A Day of Revelations
Feral arrived at work a few minutes earlier than normal. Grabbing himself a cup of coffee and a protein bar the Sergeant had thoughtfully kept stocked for him in the break area, he sat down at his desk, ready to tackle the work that had backed up a bit from his sudden departure yesterday. He'd only gotten a couple of reports done when his second in command came to see him.
"Good morning sir," Steele said cheerfully.
"Good morning, what's up?" Feral answered mildly, in too good a mood to be annoyed.
"I have a report here that I initiated on my own, sir. After the incident with you and another Sabren yesterday, I felt this subject needed to be addressed..." Steele began to explain, handing the Commander the report he'd begun.
Feral's brows went up in surprise as he took the report and began to scan it. Flipping through the carefully researched pages on each Sabren who was an enforcer, his eyebrows climbed even further. This report was well done and gave Feral a better idea of how many Sabrens were within his command. The background information on each officer was also very useful. He looked up and stared at Steele with a pleased and impressed expression on his face.
"This is amazing work and unexpected coming from you. I'm impressed. What moved you to do this?"
Steele blushed at the compliment. "Well, sir. It occurred to me that you might not be aware of how many Sabrens were in your command. Yesterday's incidents showed me we also didn't know how many of them are mated or single. I felt it was extremely important that we in command be aware of the numbers of Sabren we have and their status because of their value to us in a fight. You proved that when you and a mix of civilian and enforcer Sabren's stopped Dark Kat. Our Sabren's on the force should be on a special list so when an emergency comes up that requires their assistance, we know exactly where they are and be able to muster them more quickly. The next time an omega shows up, the help of the Sabrens could take them out much quicker, reducing property damage, and, also, not requiring the SWAT Kats help at all," Steele explained passionately then added, "not that your mate isn't helpful when we need it."
Feral snorted, "I may be mated to a SWAT Kat but that doesn't mean I like them interfering with our operations." He paused to eye Steele with new appreciation.
This was a well thought out plan he proposed and one he should have thought of himself but of course, since it affected him it wasn't surprising he hadn't. What did please him most was Steele stepping up to the plate and becoming a good officer at last. Something he had said, though, caused Feral to frown in puzzled confusion.
"I'm very pleased you are becoming the officer I need you to be and are thinking about what the enforcers need rather than how you can get ahead. However, I noted you said this was begun because of 'two incidents.' I know I was one of them...what was the other?"
"When I was giving those briefings to the shifts like you ordered, a Sabren officer was behaving just like you. Knowing what his problem was I managed to deal with it quickly before an incident, like someone getting hurt, could occur. An unmated Sabren was at the briefing and was able to tell me what it was like for single Sabren's and how they managed their power dumps. During the conversation, I learned he didn't wear a medallion. I took him aside and spoke with him privately and learned, though his problem isn't the same as yours, it was similar enough that I thought you might be able to help him. I asked if he would be willing to see you and he reluctantly agreed. I was going to ask you if you had time to see him soon," Steele explained.
"This incident opened my eyes to a potential problem among our forces as well as around the city where Sabrens work. By not being familiar with your species, sir, we could have all kinds of incidents occur that could be prevented if we knew more about you. We Kats desperately need to be made aware of what you're capable of and how to deal with situations involving Sabrens in the workplace. I figured I would begin my research by speaking to all the Sabrens in our command and try to make up some kind of guide book. Right now, though, I'm still compiling where all the Sabrens are and getting their stats," he finished.
Sitting back in his chair, Feral nodded. "You handled the situation at the briefing very well, Steele and you've succeed in shocking me even further with your passion and desire to solve a problem I hadn't anticipated. But, then I've been wrapped up in my own problems with my mating I just didn't see it. I'm very pleased you have foreseen such a need and are already working on it. Let me give you a leg up on the research. My mate found a Sabren professor who has researched everything about our kind but hasn't put it in anything that could be disseminated easily. You just might be the one to do it finally. His name his Professor Rendar at the Megakat University," he said, looking through his address book and locating the professor's number. He wrote it down and handed it to Steele.
"That's fantastic, sir. Thank you. I'd be honored to put together a pamphlet everyone can use and hopefully this professor will be the key to getting it done at last," Steele said, relieved and very happy. He was afraid he would be having to talk to dozens of Sabrens to get what he needed, this was going to be far easier.
"You're welcome. Also, as to the young officer, I do believe I have time today to see him. He's on midshift, correct?"
"Yes sir. His name is Tommy Drake."
"Hmm!" Feral mused to himself as he checked his calendar. "Seems I'll have a little time at twelve-thirty. I need to see my son at the daycare so have him meet me there."
"Certainly, sir. I'll contact him as soon as I return to my office. As for the report I'm working on, I hope to have it completed by the end of next week."
"Don't rush it. Take all the time you need to make sure it's as complete as you can make it. About how many have you found to be unmated so far?"
"About a tenth, sir. Not a high number thankfully."
"You're right that is very good news. Do all of them except for Drake wear a medallion?"
"Yes sir, they do."
"That's good to know. Alright, I'll see what I can do for Drake. Thank you for your initiative on taking on this task. I truly appreciate it. Your caring attitude toward Sabrens and helping them and Katkind work together better is a credit to your improved character and I will make a note of this in your next performance report. If the finished report is as good as your preliminary work that I see here, you will be up for a commendation as well," Feral said sincerely.
Steele could only blush and stammer a moment before saying, "I'm only doing it because it's so vitally necessary, sir. But I thank you for your confidence in me. I won't let you down. If you'll excuse me now, I'll contact Officer Drake."
"You're dismissed," Feral said warmly. Steele flashed him a smile then about-faced and left the office. Leaning back in his chair, Feral shook his head, still not able to get over how much his second in command had changed. 'Hope it continues. He'll make an excellent Chief Enforcer if he corrects the other areas he's deficit in,' he mused thoughtfully.
A few hours later, he walked to the elevator and took it down to the medical floor to visit the day care center. Nodding at the monitor at the desk he looked in through the glass and saw Jeremy playing with a dump truck not far from where he was standing. He smiled warmly at the sight. Despite how he had felt during his pregnancy carrying a Sabren kitten, now he couldn't imagine being without him.
The monitor eyed him questioningly.
"I'd like to see my son for a little bit, please," he requested.
She flashed him a grin and got up to go into the room behind her. She said something to Jeremy and the little kitten jerked his head up and met his mother's eyes. A huge smile crossed his little face as he jumped up and ran for the door barely able to contain himself to wait long enough for her to open it for him.
"Mommy!" He squealed and leaped into his mother's waiting arms.
"Hello, love. Were you good for your Uncle Razor?" Feral asked as he returned his son's hug and nuzzled the small face lovingly.
"Yeth. We had pizza an' played!" Jeremy said giggling and enjoying his mother's attentions.
"That's my little one. Mommy's glad you had a good time and was good for Razor. I'm proud of you!" He murmured, taking a deep sniff of his son's scent into his lungs. He never knew motherhood could feel so wonderful. After hugging a little longer, he lifted his son by his arms and whirled him in a circle making the kitten shriek with laughter.
He stopped a few minutes later when he caught sight of a nervous officer standing in the doorway, uncertain about coming in or bolting away by the look of trepidation on his face.
Pulling his son back into his arms, Feral bounced Jeremy on his hip while gesturing for the young officer to come forward.
Gulping, nervous in the presence of his commanding officer, Drake sidled into the room. He desperately wanted to be elsewhere. He had been surprised when Lt. Commander Steele had called him at home and told him the Commander would see him at lunch time today. He had hurriedly showered and raced to the building. He'd never expected to be able to see Feral quite so soon. When he had arrived at the daycare door, he was taken aback to see the gruff Commander warmly holding and interacting with his tiny son.
As he stood nervously waiting for Feral to speak, he looked down at the little face that watched him curiously. The kitten was a lighter brown than Feral with black strips on face and arms and possessing a head of black hair. He suspected the stripes must be from the kitten's SWAT Kat father. The brilliant green eyes must certainly be since the Commander's were gold.
"Officer Drake. It was brought to my attention that you are having difficulties accepting a mate and refuse to wear a medallion. Is this correct?" Feral asked lightly.
"Yes sir!"
"Relax, Drake. I'm not going to force you to do anything you feel morally against. I've been there so I know what you're feeling. Even with a year of counseling behind me, I still harbor some resentment that I was forced to mate. Maybe it will help you to understand that it isn't natural for us to feel this way," Feral said understandingly. "Let me send my kitten back to play and you and I will have a little chat," he told Drake then turned to Jeremy.
"Mommy's got to go, sweetheart," he said to his son, giving him a kiss and a nuzzle. "I'll see you later."
"Mommy, you get me...not Razor?" Jeremy asked, frowning a little.
"Yes, I will, I promise. Now you go and have fun."
Jeremy's face split into a big smile then gave his mother a wet kiss on the cheek. Feral handed his son off to the monitor and waved goodbye before turning to leave the center. Drake followed uneasily. Feral said nothing as he lead the way to the elevator and remained silent on the ride up to his office.
Once in his office, he walked to the bay of windows facing his flight line and stood a moment collecting his thoughts. Drake came to stand near him and took in the spectacular view while he waited. He thought about how Feral had interacted with his son. It was sweet and heartfelt. Would he feel the same way one day?
His attention was brought back to the room when Feral cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Some of us have had the misfortune to be raised by mother's who were uncomfortable with being mated. Their views on a very necessary biological imperative is what succeeded in a making some of us be very screwed up in our thinking," he said gravely then turned to look at Drake directly.
"I don't know your background but mine was terrible. My mother resented being mated, then my father died making it impossible for my mother to go on without him, so he left me with a non-Sabren, a relative of my father's, and disappeared. I later learned he had committed suicide rather than live without his mate. I was only six years old at the time. I grew up with no idea of what I should be doing with my energy and with no knowledge of how my body worked. It didn't help matters that my aunt thought being with males was wrong, never realizing it was a matter of life and death that I do so."
"Oh God, sir! That's terrible!" Drake blurted in shock.
Feral shrugged his shoulders, "Yeah, well it certainly screwed with my head and I'm paying for it now. I'm just incredibly lucky to have bonded to such a strong mate even if he never would have been my choice nor I his."
"Uhm, yeah! That must have been really hard to take especially since he is a vigilante and all," Drake commiserated with him.
"You have no idea. But as crazy as that seemed, he has turned out to be an extremely loving and wonderful mate," Feral said shaking his head in amazement at that hard won realization.
"So it doesn't feel like slavery to you?" Drake asked cautiously.
"Only sometimes. At the moment it happened, I felt so bad about being trapped, I was willing to die and take the SWAT Kat with me in the energy chamber," Feral said soberly.
Drake stared at him in shock. "Suicide, sir?"
Feral sighed and grimaced. The memory still haunted him at times. "Yeah. I was really a mess." He said ruefully. "So, tell me, if you're willing, what was your kittenhood like?"
Drake sighed, embarrassed and reluctant. He turned to stare out the window. His commander patiently waited him out.
"Well, I guess I can safely say it certainly wasn't as traumatic as yours, sir. But my mother did resent being mated. He was in the enforcers and had gone into heat while on training maneuvers. My father was a member of his squad. The way I was told it happened, my mother fought off the whole squad that wanted to mate him but my father was the one who set off my mother's instincts. They broke away and mated but even after I was born, my mother maintained he hadn't wanted to be mated. Their bonding was flawed in some fashion which allowed him to not be with my father as much as they needed to be and he didn't bond to me very well either. My father did his best but I wanted my mother. His attitude about his bonding soured me on wanting to be mated myself. Though I don't feel its slavery, I do feel it takes my choice away from me...that nature decides who our mates will be not us," he said sourly.
"Well unfortunately, Drake...that is exactly how it is. We don't have a choice and, under a normal upbringing, we wouldn't have a problem with that knowledge. Our mothers took that ease of acceptance away from us, leaving us fearful and unhappy," Feral said bluntly. "Look, no matter how much we want it to be otherwise, nature decreed this is the way we find our mates. We can't change that imperative. Believe me, nature is right every time so fighting it is a waste of energy. If it really bothers you that badly then end your life here and now."
Drake gaped at his superior in shock.
"No, I'm not crazy. A year of therapy has forced me to understand that this is just the way things are. If you truly want to be happy then just find your mate and accept it. But if you have no desire to be mated, go on the way you're going and you'll just blow up eventually and endanger those around you."
Shaking his head, Drake scowled. "That's no choice at all! And I would never endanger others!" He said angrily, forgetting who he was speaking to.
Feral just eyed him with perfect understanding. "Exactly! And yes you would endanger them just by not mating!"
Drake stayed angry for a few moments longer, his fists clenched but as Feral continued to watch him patiently, all the anger finally drained out which left the young Sabren feeling empty and hopeless. "Not fair!" He whispered, tears of distress hovering in his eyes.
Feral sighed and reached out to gather the distraught tom into his embrace. Drake was shocked and tried to push out of the Commander's arms but the powerful tom only tightened his hold. The younger Sabren gave up and shuddered, sobs breaking free from him.
It felt strange and wonderful to have someone who understood and was willing to comfort him. As an added bonus, the bigger tom actually absorbed some of his excess energy so that he didn't feel soo over loaded. Then, to his surprise, he felt a wonderful feeling of warmth and security pour through him. He'd forgotten about this ability of theirs to soothe each other when stressed. This was something he had been denied but had seen being used once as a teen. He sighed and relaxed in the tom's arms and was finally able to control himself once more, only then did Feral release him.
"Feel better?" He asked softly.
"Yes sir. Thank you!" Drake murmured. Taking a deep breath he said heavily, "I guess I should see this counselor of yours. Maybe he can help me."
"That's the spirit. I'll give you his name and phone number. I expect you to make an appointment as soon as he has an opening. I hope you get lucky and find your mate without the medallion though I'm afraid I have to insist you not wait too long to find him or you will have to wear the medallion," Feral said mildly.
"Uhm...I think I may have already done so sir." He admitted painfully.
"Really? What makes you think so?" Feral asked curiously.
"Well, I work out at the gym on Hope and Twelfth Street. Last night a male caught my eye. Just the sight of him sent a sharp jolt of something through me. It frightened me and I left in a hurry," He admitted, ashamed.
"Hmmm, it does sound like you have found him, alright. You should seek him out the next time you're there," Feral encouraged him. "Treat it as picking up a date and let it go from there, however you won't be able to hold out very long before the desire to mate will be too strong."
"Maybe you're right, sir, but I'd certainly like to try anyway," Drake agreed reluctantly.
"Good luck then. I certainly won't gainsay you for wanting to try," Feral snorted in amusement.
Drake eyed him a moment. "Sir, the bond...is it as intense as I've been told?"
"It's the most incredible thing I've ever experienced in my life and it knocked us both out when it took effect. Suddenly, you no longer feel alone, there's this warm sensation of someone there in your mind sharing your emotions. Rather than feel like an invasion, it's more like finding the other half of your soul. Even trying to describe it doesn't explain how it feels...you'll have to experience it for yourself to know what I mean," Feral said with a shrug and a smile then he went to his desk to get the phone number of his therapist for Drake.
Moments later, he was handing it over to Drake who took it in a daze. This had been a very emotional meeting and he was feeling drained by the whole experience.
"Good luck getting to know your new mate and be sure to tell Lt. Commander Steele your change in status after it occurs. He's taking a census of all Sabrens for a report he's compiling and keep me informed as well. Please come to me anytime you need a little moral support," Feral told his rattled officer, clapping a supporting paw to the tom's back as he walked him to the door.
"Yes sir! I will. Thank you for taking the time to see me." Drake said feeling a bit light headed.
"You're welcome," Feral said dismissing him.
Drake nodded, walking through the door for the elevators, in a haze of confused emotions.