Swat Kats
"Shriner's Park "
By: Storm T. Furlong
Inspired by the song from Melissa Etheridge


     Commander Ulysses Feral hated going anywhere near the old park. He used to 
do so many things there when he was a teen. He hated those years. He looked up in 
time to see Sabrina come his way. He growled something. She walked towards him.
    "Please for once just listen to me," she said.
    "Fine," he said.
    "You made me leave because you didn't love me anymore, right?" she asked.
     Feral growled.
    "Give me a straight answer," she said.
    "I didn't want to break your heart," he said.
    "You did any way. I didn't tell you something when I left," she said.
    "What's that?" Feral asked.
     She took out a picture from her pocket and gave it to him.
    "That's Jaysen, your son," she said.
     Feral's expression changed.
    "Why didn't you tell me?"  he asked.
    "You didn't give me the chance to. You had me crying, Ulysses - I couldn't tell 
you when I was crying," she said.
    "I'm sorry what I did to you, Sabrina. I never met to hurt you," he said.
     Sabrina crossed her arms over her chest.
    "No, you're not. Your words are hollow and cold like your heart," she said.
     She started to walk away and he grabbed her arm.
    "I've lived to make myself cruel, Sabbie," he said.
     She turned and looked at him. She then shook her head.
    "Don't start now. You're a cruel heartless tom-kat now," she said.
    "I'm sorry about what happened back then," he said
     She growled.  "Liar," she said, walking away.



Eleven Years Ago:

    Sabrina Coleman ran down the silent high school hallway. She then nearly ran 
into her class door. She opened it panting. Her classmates laughed. Her teacher Ms. 
McKing shook her head. 
   "Do you have a reason for your tardiness?" she asked.
   "Yes m'am," a teenage Sabrina said quickly. "My car broke down."
   "This is the last time, Miss Coleman," she said as Sabrina sat down next to a 
tom-kat wearing a black jean jacket.
  "Smooth," a teenage Ulysses said.
  "Thanks," she said.
   His long black hair was curly and spilling onto his shoulders. When class was over 
they walked to Sabrina's locker. She was working the combination as he talked to her.
  "Mom is still begging me to join the Enforcers," he said.
  "Same here," Sabrina said, taking out her book bag from her locker.
  "So," he said. "You got plans tonite?" he asked.
   She looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "Why?" she asked.
  "I have plans," he said.
   She looked at him.
  "You're serious?" she said.
  "As a heart attack," he said.
  She smiled, "I'm free," she said.
  "Well," he said leaning against her closed locker. "I planned for us to go to the 
movies and see that Bat Kat flick."
  "Then what?" she asked.
  "Maybe a party at the beach I heard about," he said.
  "Ooh," Sabrina said. "Tempting."
   Ulysses stuck out his bottom lip.
  "Please?" he asked sweetly.
  "I have wanted to see that cutie Micheal Katon in the black outfit," she said.
  "Funny," he said.


Later That Night:

   Sabrina smiled as Ulysses grabbed her and put her over his shoulder. She yelled 
loudly. They were just walking out of the theater and this was embarassing Sabrina. 
She pounded his back with her small hands. He set her down and smiled.
  "If I asked you something will you hurt me?" he asked.
  "Depends," she said.
   He took her into his arms, and she looked at him curiously.
  "I really like you I have for the last three months," he said.
  "You're asking me out?" she asked.
  "I was trying to until you interrupted me," he said.
  "I will!" she exclaimed, squeezing him.


Now:

   Commander Feral sighed and fell onto his bed. As he did, he felt a small wooden 
box he hid beneath his bed years ago. He pulled it out and dusted it off. Years of 
memories he locked away started to return as he looked inside it. The memories came 
back in a painful blur behind his eyes. He closed his throbbing eyes and a tear ran 
down his cheek. He opened his eyes and looked at the first picture that was on top. 
It was of him and Sabrina. She wore a pale blue prom dress and he wore a black tux. 
He wore his long hair in a braid. He reached behind his neck and realized it was 
gone. What had he done to himself? He then got up and looked at himself in the mirror. 
He barely reconized himself. Why did he lock all the memories away? He stared at his 
face with a sudden horror of what he had done. His eyes looked hard and sad, his hair 
was short and cut tightly into what looked like a jar lid. Then he saw one tear fall 
down his cheek as he thought something…
   "Sabrina," he said aloud.


Three Hours Later:

    Ulysses stood patiently at Sabrina's door, the small wooden box tucked underneath 
one arm.  He knocked loudly. He heard the sound of a young tom-kat say, "I'll get it!" 
The sight that greeted him next took his breath away.
    Standing in the doorway was a tom-kat with his fur and hair color. His hair was 
done up in dread locks and signs of the beginning of a mustache. He stared up at Feral 
and then looked at Sabrina. The ten year old walked to the couch and jumped onto his 
attacking a bag of potato chips. Sabrina walked to the door and looked at him. She 
smoothed back her hair then exhaled.
   "You want to come in?" she asked.
   He walked in and she closed the door behind them.
  "Baby, can you go to your room and watch your tape?" she asked.
  "Sure, Momma," he said.
   He took the tape from the VCR and left the room. Sabrina turned off the TV and sat 
down onto the couch. He sat down next to her. He gave her the small box and she covered 
her mouth with one hand.
  "I thought you got rid of it," she said, on the verge of tears.
  "No. I just forgot about it," he said.  "Why would I get rid of something you worked 
on so hard carving for me ?"
   Sabrina started to gently sob. Ulysses reached around her and put his arms around her. 
That made her sob even louder.
  "Shhh," he said. "It's going to be alright."
  "What made you remember?" she asked.
   He took out a picture from the box - the prom pic - and showed it to her.
  "That did," he said.
   She cried out and buried her face in his chest. He put his arms around her and 
sighed.
  "I missed you Sabrina," he said.
  "I missed you too,' she said.


THE END?



Well next time it's the Swat Kats again… Expect some strange happenings to follow!