While Chance was having his unexpected meeting with Tara, Jake was pushing his way into the early crowd that had gathered within the club. The Night Prowl was hopping and the music was pounding hard enough to feel through one's body.
It took him some minutes to find Genus who was getting a drink at the bar.
"Hi handsome!" Jake shouted close to the wolf's ear.
"Hi yourself. Good timing." Genus said with a huge grin as he handed over the drink he'd gotten for Jake then took a sip of his own.
"Thanks. Wow! This place is crowded for being so early." Jake said looking around.
"I'll say. I think it's a celebration as well since I heard many cheer about the death of Dark Kat which hit the evening news." The wolf commented.
"Oh that's right. With all that's been going on I forgot the public would be ecstatic about that piece of news." Jake nodded, pressing his body against Genus more, staking his claim against any other male trying to horn in and there were a few eyeing them both enviously.
Genus could only grin as he saw what Jake was doing. It made him feel good to know this small Kat felt that strongly for him to warn off other males. He pulled Jake closer to his face and gave him a passionate kiss that was eagerly returned.
When it ended, Jake was panting and his face was flushed. Genus could claim to feeling a bit overheated himself.
"How about a dance, lover?" Genus asked.
"Ohh, great idea." Jake agreed, wrapping an arm around the big wolf and tugging him out on the crowded floor.
They danced and enjoyed themselves for a couple of hours before finally deciding to leave.
"Want to get a bite to eat...I'm starved!" Jake asked.
"Yeah, me too. You know the area better, pick a place." Genus agreed.
They stepped out into the cool night air and made for the cyclotron. Handing Genus a helmet, Jake put his on and started the powerful engine. In minutes they were zooming off to a place that served excellent Barbeque.
They chatted about various inventions while they ate then made for Genus' apartment. They barely made it into the apartment before they were making out heavily. After the first rush of lust had past, they made their way to the bedroom and stripped off their clothes.
They lay caressing each other lazily. Though he was loathe to bring it up, Genus knew he needed to take this moment to let Jake know some of the important things that had happened recently, one of them being about him.
"Jake?"
"Hmm?"
"I need to relate some things that have happened that will affect you and your partner." Genus murmured as he leaned forward a moment to kiss Jake on the forehead.
Jake's eyebrows came together in a frown. "Oh? Like what?"
"Well my captain has asked us to feel you and Chance out about joining our crew. You both would be a big asset to us as well as give you new challenges to help you grow into the potential we can see in you." Genus said carefully.
"Wow! That's really great but who would protect Megakat City? I know we plan on inserting robots into the enforcers and elsewhere and there is no doubt that will help but it will take awhile for the enforcers to learn to handle having robot partners. Until that happens, we would still be needed." Jake pointed out.
"Not if our mission to end your major criminal infestation is successful. The enforcers would have only the normal criminal element to deal with which is what they've been trained for. Also, if Ms. Briggs turns out to be a good candidate at becoming a sorcerer, that will solve your occasional magical criminal." Genus explained.
Jake was silent for some minutes as he processed this information. "It sounds good but there are many things that could go wrong. Ms. Briggs might encounter an enemy that is more skilled than her. Feral might hinder the progress of the robot integration and possibly gum up the program. The robots might develop a problem that could be far worse than the Metallikats could ever be or the two metal heads could go on a rampage themselves. You see what I mean?" Jake told him.
"Yes and that is one of the things I like about you. You can see all the angles of a problem to the last detail and that talent is why you are so needed by us. But in answer to your questions, Feral won't gum up the works because he won't be here and..."
"What?" Jake said, sitting up suddenly and staring at Genus in shock.
"Well, that was the other thing I was going to tell you. Feral is mated to Kam and intends to leave with us rather than leave his mate behind." The wolf explained.
"Mated? Who's the hermaphrodite?" Jake asked, totally taken aback.
Genus grinned at his lover, really taken with that steel trap mind of Jake's. He loved talking with someone who was nearly several jumps ahead in a conversation and required very little in the way of explanations to know what was going on.
"That would be Commander Feral. It threw poor Kam for a loop when he got a nose full of the tom's very exotic scent. It drove him into a mating rut and he took Feral rather harshly but from what he told me the Kat submitted willingly and even better, was head over heels in love with Kam. They've bonded as well so we know fate meant them to be together." Genus said, still amazed by that himself.
Jake just sat there blinking in utter amazement. "OMG! Who would have guessed that would happen. No wonder Feral seemed more relaxed and less quick to lose his temper lately." He shook his head and thought some more. "Okay, that answers the Feral question...what about the rest?"
"All the other problems would be handled by the appropriate people, Jake. Give them a chance to do their job for once. You guys come swooping in rescuing everyone which never allowed anyone else to develop ways to do the job without you. Yes Ms. Briggs will be green but I have no doubt she'll be up to the challenge and there is Dr. Sinian who can provide her the backup she needs from all the history she guards in Queen Callista's spell books. We already discussed how the robots would be prevented from running amok. As for the Metallikats, personally, I would like to install an inhibitor in their brain. It would act as a 'leash' as it were. Whenever they crossed the line into their former bad behavior the 'leash' would yank them back and remind them they are no longer criminals." Genus said in grim amusement.
Jake gave a sudden laugh at the image of the two metal robots on leashes like dogs. "I like that idea a lot. This will cause some objections but the alternative is soo bad I think we could convince the Professor it is in the pair's best interest to do it and I hope you're right about the new method of keeping the robot army from causing trouble."
"It's been used elsewhere, Jake with very few serious problems recorded. So, I'll leave it to you to bring it up to the Professor about the Metallikats and I'll explain the technology though I have a sneaking suspicion you could do that as well." Genus snorted in amusement.
Jake blushed at the compliment. "Probably." Then he sighed. "Still, I would feel uneasy leaving the city that way before everything is firmly in place and functioning."
"As to that, you don't have to worry. We are not on a time schedule and the Captain has indicated to me that we may be here for several months yet." Genus reassured him.
"Oh, well that's a relief. Hopefully, all the kinks will have been smoothed out by that time. As for me leaving...I'm not certain Chance would be willing but I would love the chance to see other worlds and technology though I would miss my home. But if a space station gets built we can return home occasionally and that would be enough for me." Jake mused.
"I'm glad to hear that. I've gotten attached to you and I'd be very lonely if I left without you." Genus rumbled happily, pulling Jake closer to him once more.
"So would I, actually. I've never had a lover I can discuss everything with and not have them go cross-eyed or be bored to tears. Besides, the sex is fantastic!" Jake smirked as he cuddled up to the huge wolf.
"Mmmmm...yeah I certainly agree on that." Genus growled quickly covering the tom's body with his and kissing him to distraction.
Calico Briggs toyed with her pasta, not really eating it. Across from her was Abi Sinian, watching her in concern.
After the long meeting at city hall then the hour long discussion with Tara, Abi had suggested the two of them grab dinner at their favorite Italian restaurant. They had talked about inconsequential things as they looked over the menu then ordered but now with their meal before them, she could see Callie was still disturbed by the day's happenings.
"Callie?" She called to companion softly.
Callie blinked then blushed. "I'm sorry Abi. My mind is a million miles away."
Abi smiled. "I could see that. Care to talk about it?" She asked gently.
The Deputy Mayor sighed and stared at her friend. They had met when she took office and had been best friends ever since. Whenever they could get away from their busy schedules, they tried to have dinner together, go to the gym, attend a movie or a play. Abi was fun and very intelligent and if Callie were to admit it to herself, much more interesting company than the males that constantly hovered around her seeking her for political reasons rather than just for herself.
"I'm just a bit nervous about this business about me becoming a sorcerer like my ancestor. It is just one more thing added to my already full plate. However, I can understand the need. It isn't just the Pastmaster that's a problem but any other criminal that has magical abilities. We just don't have the defenses to fight them. The SWAT Kats have managed but just barely and only because of just plain good luck. I'd hate to rely on that all the time." She sighed dispiritedly.
Abi sighed mentally. Callie was right, as Deputy Mayor she worked ridiculously long hours and had very little free time to herself. Now add this possibly new responsibility and she didn't know how the pretty she-kat was going to handle the load.
"I'm worried too, Callie. You work so many long hours as it is and your life is in danger from the omegas as it is. Now they want to add this new responsibility and danger on top of that. How will the Mayor act when his Deputy is suddenly called to handle a magical criminal when he needs his paw held?" She said shaking her head at the total worthlessness of their current mayor.
Callie grimaced. "Don't remind me! He's such a pompous windbag and coward that it boggles my mind how the public continually votes for him but then if he's out so am I unless I want the headache of sitting in his seat. All those political games would be much more than I have to deal with now. He eats up all that pandering to his ego and I just hate that kind of attention."
Now it was Abi's turn to grimace. "So true! Though I personally think you'd make a much better mayor. Anyway, the point is moot since we're stuck with the set up we have now until next election." She sighed in agreement. "Still, taking on more responsibility, especially something as dangerous as this, worries me a lot, Callie."
"I know, believe me I do, Abi. But what can I do about it? I've never shirked my duty to this city and I won't start now." Callie said firmly, reaching for her glass of wine and drinking a large sip. Holding the glass, she returned her eyes to her friend. "Besides, maybe magic will help me get my job done faster. Got to be some spells that would make my work go faster." She said facetiously.
Abi sighed and shook her head. "There are some so called helper spells but there's a lot to magic then simple parlor tricks, Callie. Some of it is downright dangerous and could kill you. I hope Tara's people are as skilled as she says they are so you aren't left knowing just enough to wipe the city out but not correct your error." She said gloomily.
"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence!" Callie said, hurt her friend thought she couldn't handle this.
Abi winced at herself for causing her friend pain. She reached out quickly and took Callie's paw in hers. "I'm sorry, Callie. I didn't mean to be so doom and gloom. This just scares me and I don't want anything to happen to you." She apologized.
Callie liked the feel of Abi's paw holding hers. It made her feel cherished. Though the SWAT Kats cared about her, it was part of their hero complex more than an actual personal concern about her welfare. Abi, however, cared about how she was feeling and tried her best to make her feel better whenever times got hard.
"I know, Abi. Like I said I'm afraid too. But with you by my side, I can do this. Will you do that for me...be there through all this and after?" She asked softly.
Abi stared into those brilliant green eyes and felt a deep need to help this she-kat no matter how difficult this might get for them both.
"I'll not leave your side." She swore quietly, holding the paw a little tighter before letting go.
Back at Feral's apartment, Kam had ordered food and they were quietly enjoying their Chinese meal. The dark tom was still ruminating over all that had been discussed during the day, his face somber.
Kam watched his mate anxiously. There was one more subject he needed to discuss with Uly but didn't know if he should wait until later. However, no time would be good to learn this and he'd rather Uly heard it from him than by accident later.
Sighing, he set his fork down and cleared his throat.
Feral blinked out of his introspection and eyed his mate warily.
"Uhm, I know I've hit you with a lot today love, but there is one more thing you need to be aware of." Kam said delicately
Feral laid his fork down, steepled his fingers and sighed. "Let's hear it."
"My captain has asked that we approach the SWAT Kats and feel them out about joining the crew." Kam said plainly.
His mate just gaped at him. Whatever he'd thought Kam was going to say this certainly wasn't it. "You mean I still wouldn't get away from those two?" He choked, angrily.
"Now, Ulysses. T-Bone is an exceptional pilot and Razor is just too brilliant to be left fighting crime here. Two such brilliant talents are badly needed aboard the Wotan and they would benefit by expanding their skills beyond what they've learned so far. Of course, we don't know if they will accept the offer. All I truly know is Razor has gotten really close to Genus. How Tara and T-Bone get along I'm not so certain but both parties are asking them tonight to see what they say. I just wanted to let you know the option is being offered to them so you wouldn't be caught off guard if they do accept and you see them aboard." Kam said soothingly.
Feral just shook his head. "I don't know if it's such a hot idea to have that arrogant tom around me. Razor isn't too bad but T-Bone..." He grumbled irritably.
Kam sighed mentally. "Well, if it's any consolation, love, the Wotan is a big ship as you know, so you won't really run into them that often."
"And that is the only good news you've given me." Feral said sourly.
"Maybe this will make you happier, they are being told that you and I are mated. I'm sure they are just gagging and choking about that news." Kam grinned wickedly.
Feral's eyebrows raised at that information. "Actually, I should be extremely angry that they are being told I'm an hermaphrodite except the information won't be a secret if they are accept your offer so the thought of their horrified faces at this moment knowing I'll be on the ship and what I am does make me feel a bit more cheerful." He finished, matching his mate's grin.
Kam grinned back, relieved he had been able to cheer his mate up. He picked his fork up and dug into his meal once more. He heard his mate sigh and do the same.