The Black Arrow
               by Jessi

 Gabriel Alex sat quietly behind the gunners at the Megakat City
Shooting Gallery. She was storing the different techniques away for 
future use that night. The attractive young she-kat usually did this 
every other weekend or so. When she wasn't doing that, she was 
sharpening her skills at archery. Rumor said that she was one of the
best in the city. Her small house was littered with trophies from 
contests and championships. Occasionally, she would go hunting, but 
preferred plain target practice over all.
 Another reason she came here was to check out all the tomkats
that hung around the gallery. On this particular day, a handsome caramel-
colored kat with dark eyes and one heck of an aim caught her attention.
After watching him a while, she finally mustered up enough courage and
walked up to him after he had finished that round.
  "You're pretty good. Do you come here very often?"
 He looked up from reloading and smiled shyly at the pretty she-kat.
  "Yeah, every week. How about you?"
  "Oh, not very often."
  "Are you any good?" he asked, holding out his revolver.
  "No. Not at shooting guns anyways."
  "Well, what are you good at?"
  "Archery is my sport."
  He smiled and held out his paw.  "My name's Jake."
  "Mine's Gabriel," she said, shaking it.
  "Hey, I have to pass the archery gallery on my way home. Maybe I
 could meet you there."
  "Why not? How long will it take you to finish up here?"
  "Not much longer."
  "Okay, would an hour long enough for you to finish up and meet me
 there?"
  "Yeah. See you there."
  "Bye."
 Gabriel walked outside, smiling to herself. Jake was so handsome and 
calm she couldn't help but fall head-over-heels in love with him. If 
only he knew how she felt.
 Little to her knowledge, he felt the same way about her. Her deep 
tannish fur, green eyes, and dark hair was enough to catch any 
tomkat's attention. Also, her good attitude and shyness fit in with that 
category as well.

***********************************************************************

 
Dark Kat sat in his chair, going over his plans to destroy the city. He
chuckled to himself, engulfed in his thoughts. It was such a perfect
plan. Why had he not thought of it before?
 He was planning to take over the new chemical plant and use the 
chemicals for his own uses such as bombs and poisons. He had hired a
group of thugs to rob the Megakat First National Bank to distract the 
Swat Kats as he completed phase one of his foolproof plan. Even if 
they did manage to find out, he would be ready for them, and, this time, 
he would destroy them plain and simple. No machines this time, just him 
and a gun.

***********************************************************************

 Gabriel was at the archery gallery about fifteen minutes early, just
enough time to check and adjust her bow. To her surprise, Carol, one of
her hunting buddies, was there.
  "Hey Gabriel, what are you doing here so early?"
  "A friend is coming over to watch."
  "Oh really? What is she like?"
  "_He_ is very sweet, and he's shy too."
  "Sounds like you two will get along just fine. I'll be seeing you."
  "Bye Carol."
 Gabriel had just made the final adjustments on her bow when Jake 
walked in. He came up behind her and quietly watched her take a 
practice shot. She drew her bow string, took quick aim, and released.  To
his surprise, it was a perfect bull's-eye. He walked up beside her. She
glanced over him, smiled and released a second arrow, hitting the 
target only fraction of an inch away from the first.
  "Not bad. How long have you been practicing?"
  "A few years. I was training to be an enforcer, but that jerk Feral 
 didn't like my attitude or the fact that I was better then him at 
 problem solving, so I was kicked off."
  "I know how you feel. My partner and I got kicked off for Feral's 
 mistake. We had our missiles locked and everything, but he had to have 
 the glory of shooting the plane down and we wound up running into his
 new tower while we were arguing with him and we had to pay for it."
  "It's just not fair."
 She raised her bow and took aim again, but she gasped in pain and it 
missed the target completely.
  "Are you okay?"
  "Yeah."
  "What's wrong?"
  "I broke my wrist a few months ago."
 Jake found himself holding her paw and examining it. Both kats blushed
wildly.
  "Sorry," he apologized.
  "It's alright."
 Jake looked at his watch."I have to get going. Maybe we'll see each 
 other again sometime soon."
  "Maybe. Bye, Jake."
  "Bye."
 When he was gone, Carol came back over to talk. 
  "Does he know about your little secret?"
  "No. I'm not going to tell him unless we really start to like each 
 other."
  "Oh. Hey, speaking of that, don't you have to start your rounds at 
 seven?"
 Gabriel looked at her watch: 6:45 P.M.
  "Oh crap! I only have fifteen minutes to get ready!"
  "Yeah, you better get going."
 Gabriel quickly packed up her bow and arrows and went home. She put 
her practice bow away and ran into the kitchen. Gabriel went to the 
back of the pantry and crawled into a small door. After standing up, 
she ran down a narrow, twisted stairwell. When the young she-kat
reached the bottom, she bounded over to a locker and stripped off her 
clothes. She changed into a dark, light-weight outfit. Gabriel tied up 
her hair and put on a mask and helmet. 
 After changing clothes, she retrieved from a metal cabinet a black,
high-tech, compound bow and jet black arrows. She placed the quiver of 
arrows on her back and walked over to a garage door and pressed a 
button on the wall. The door opened up to reveal a black ultra-light
plane.
 Within ten minutes, she was up in the air high above Megakat. She 
turned on her radio to the enforcer calls. What luck, a bank robbery at
Megakat First National Bank. Just as she was turning, two other aircraft 
spotted her. One was Feral's chopper; the other was the 
Turbokat. The Swat Kats had been listening like she had been when they
heard her and Feral arguing.
  "This is Commander Feral. Land your craft for further investigation."
 Black Arrow smiled and flipped on her voice disguiser.
  "Don't you have anything better to do other then pick on me?"
 Razor could make out Feral's low growls over the radio. He grinned.
Finally there was someone other then T-Bone and himself that would stand
up to the old grump.
 Felina's voice filled the TurboKat's cockpit.
  "Uncle's upset that there's a new kat trying to do the Enforcers' 
jobs."
  "Who is it this time?" asked T-Bone.
  "She calls herself Black Arrow. That's all we know so far."
  "She?"
  "Yes, she! Is there something wrong with having a she-kat as a hero?"
Felina spat.
  "No. No. Nothing wrong with that."
  "Good."

***********************************************************************

 Black Arrow stood by the doorway, getting ready to scare the crap out 
of the bank robbers. She peered around the corner and spotted an 
opportunity, the breaker box. After selecting and loading a diamond 
tipped arrow, she took careful aim for the wall behind the top of the
box and released. It hit directly in the middle, cutting the power to 
the entire building.
 All were quiet when they saw her dark silhouette. Her glowing eyes 
were the only thing that could be made out perfectly.
  "Okay, guys, put the money down."
 The three thugs slowly put the money down and raised their paws above
their heads.
  "Good. Now, get up against the wall like good little kittens."
 Seeing her weapon, one robber tried to make a run for it. After taking
two bounds, an arrow came between him and freedom.
  "I wouldn't do that if I were you," Black Arrow purred.
  "No problem!"
 The sound of sirens cut their conversation short.
  "If any of you move . . ."
  "Halt!!"yelled an Enforcer.
  "Sorry, can't stay and chat."
 With that, she sprinted to her plane. Just as she reached the door, the
Swat Kats arrived. Razor's heart jumped at the sight of her. T-Bone only
managed to raise an eyebrow before Miss Briggs' communicator blinked to 
life.
  "Yes, Miss Briggs?"T-bone answered.
  "T-Bone, it's Dark Kat. The bank robbery was just a distraction. He's
 attaching the new chemical plant."
  "We're on our way."
 Black Arrow, who was already heading home, noticed the Turbokat 
racing towards the plant. Curiosity got the best of her, and she 
steered her small craft in that direction as well.

***********************************************************************

 T-Bone and Razor entered the plant. Hearing Dark Kat's voice, they 
followed it down a long corridor. At the end of the hall the Swat Kats 
found him, only he had been expecting them.
  "So nice of you to join me," he said, holding his `guests' at 
gunpoint. "Now, I'm going to finish what I should have done years ago."
He took aim for Razor's heart. "Let's get rid of you first since you are the 
most likely to get away."
  "No!!" screamed the new arrival.
  "What the . . ."
 Before he could say another word, an arrow was thrust into his shoulder
blade. Dark Kat roared in pain. Another was shot into his forearm, 
causing him to drop the gun.
 Speaking of unfinished business," she said, aiming for his forehead, but,
before she could release his doom, a familiar pain ran up and down her 
arm, and the arrow barely scratched the top of Dark Kat's head. He 
vanished down a hole in the floor as he vowed revenge.
 Razor stood, deep in thought, trying to work out what had just happened.
He knew who Black Arrow was. It was Gabriel who had just saved their 
lives.
 He spied a creepling coming up behind her with an iron bar in its 
claws.
  "Gabriel!!"
 It was too late; she sank limply to the floor. Razor fired his glove-a-
trix, killing the creepling. He ran to where she had fallen.
  "Gabriel? Wake up."
  No answer.
  "Come on. Please!"
  "Jake?" she asked weakly, not opening her eyes.
  He nearly cried. "No. Razor."
  "Razor?"
  "We have to get you to a hospital."
  He picked her up and carried her to the Turbokat.

***********************************************************************

 They left her at the hospital, relieved that there was no serious 
damage caused.  The doctors did discover her true identity though: Gabriel
Alex. Now, her Black Arrow days were over.
  Jake came to visit her the next morning. She had been sound asleep in
her room. He walked over to her bed and put his paw on her forehead.
  "Gabriel?"
  She yawned. "Razor?"
  He smiled. "No. It's Jake this time."
  "Good Lord, this is confusing."
  "I know. Are you feeling better?"
  "A little."
  "Good. I have good news and bad."
  "What's the bad news?"
  "Everybody found out who you are including Feral."
  "What's the good news?"
  "Thanks to Miss Briggs you don't have to worry about a hospital bill, 
 and you don't have to go to jail." 
 She didn't look any happier.
  "What's wrong?"
  "It's back to my plain, boring life as a nobody secretary."
  "Come on, Gabriel, there's still plenty of things you can do with your
 life."
  "Black Arrow was what I did with my life, Jake. Without her, I can't do 
 anything."
  "I can think of plenty of things you could do with your life."
  "Like what?"
 He bent over and kissed her gently. "Like get married and start a
 family."
 Gabriel smiled shyly. "Those do sound like good ideas, but where
would I find the right tomkat?"
  "I'm afraid I can't help you there. That's up to you."
 Jake got up from his chair and turned to leave. He looked back at her
again before leaving the room. "Think about it, okay?"
  "Okay. Bye Jake."
  "Bye."

***********************************************************************

 Gabriel returned home the next week. Her house had been trashed by 
angry gangs. The walls had been spray-painted with graffiti. The 
windows had all been broken. Inside the house everything had been 
stolen.  Right down to her newspaper. Poor Gabriel felt like crying; even
though it was a small, one-kat house, it was her home. 
 She ran down to her hanger and cried a few minutes, but then she 
straightened up and pulled herself together. Luckily, the hanger hadn't 
been found so everything was still there. Gabriel called the garage. 
Jake would know what to do (she hoped).
  "Hello?"
  "Chance? This is Gabriel. Is Jake there?"
  "Yeah, hold on."
 She heard Chance yell for Jake, the thumping of feet, and finally . . .
  "Jake speaking."
  "Jake? This is Gabriel."
  "What's wrong?"
  "Every dirtbag criminal and gang that I ever turned in came to my 
house last night and had a party. The place is a wreck. I'm afraid they 
might come back tonight."
  "If you're asking if you can stay here tonight, you're more than 
welcome to."
  "Thanks, Jake."
  "Do you want to pick me you up?"
  "No, I can . . ."
 The sound of heavy footsteps above her cut Gabriel short.
  "Then again. I think you better," she whispered.
 Sensing the urgency in her voice, Jake understood what was happening.
  "I'll be right there."
 Gabriel hung up the phone quietly and sat down to wait for Jake.

***********************************************************************

 When he arrived, he parked a few hundred meters away from her house just
in case. He used the woods that surrounded her house to his advantage.
When her tiny house came into view, he saw a vehicle parked in the 
driveway. A small kat stood beside it, waiting for something. Jake heard
some sort of conflict going on in the house. In a few minutes, the 
sounds ceased and a huge, burly tomkat stepped out of the house with a
ticked Gabriel in front of him. The smaller kat walked up to her and 
took her chin in his paw.
  "Aren't so tough without your bow are you?"
 Gabriel growled angrily and spat in his face. He slapped her across
the face. 
  "Dark Kat sent us here to get rid of you. Let's get this over quick -
 I'm in a hurry."
 "Good luck trying."
 With that, she dropped to her hands and tripped her captor. The other 
kat in front of her made a run for the car, but Jake got there first and
grabbed him.
  "Oh no you don't," Jake said, lifting his tiny opponent off the 
ground.
  "Oh, yes I do," he smiled. "Get the girl, Joe!"
 Another kat appeared and tackled the unsuspecting she-kat. Gabriel 
didn't know how to get out of this situation, so she was completely
helpless.
 Jake panicked for only a second, then slammed the small kat against the 
car door, knocking him unconscious. He then jumped onto the kat that had
pinned Gabriel down and sunk his teeth and claws into his back. The 
tomkat howled in pain. Jake defeated him easily.
 Moments later, Jake and Gabriel were watching the police as they hauled
the three crooks off to jail.
  "Are you okay, Gabriel?"
  "Yeah I'm fine."
  "Are you still up to staying with me tonight?"
  "What do think?" she smiled.
 Jake grinned shyly at her and remembered what he was going to ask her.
  "Why didn't you fight back when that kat jumped you?"
  "I don't know how to do that trick yet."
  "I could teach you."
  "No. I can manage."
  "Okay, whatever you say." 
 Jake opened the truck door for her and started the engine. This 
certainly had proved to be an interesting evening.

***********************************************************************

 Jake and Gabriel circled each other, each waiting for the other to 
make the first move. She decided they had waited long enough and 
pounced on her opponent. He dodged the attack and tripped her. The 
anxious she-kat quickly recovered from her fall and whacked Jake one 
right in the side of the ribcage. As he gasped for air, she tripped and 
pinned him to the mat. 
  "I win again," she giggled.
  "I don't think so," he replied, knocking her off her feet and taking 
her place as the dominant figure. "Give up?" he asked, pinning her wrists 
and ankles down.
  "Okay, I give."
 Jake looked down at the panting she-kat and smiled. This was the second 
time in a row he had successfully pinned her. He could tell she was 
starting to get tired, but she never wanted to quit.
  "What are you smiling at?"
  "Hmm? Oh, nothing."
 She grinned and kissed him gently. He purred softly and returned her
kiss. Both were now purring deeply.
  "Hey, you two," Chance interrupted, "the mat was meant for fighting on."
 The two lovers looked up at him instantly.
  "Hey, do I bother you?" Jake asked.
  "No, but I'm never doing that."
 It had been several months now ever since Jake and Gabriel had chased 
away the gang at her house. Now, Gabriel had practically moved in with 
her fiancé, even though her house had been fixed weeks ago. Jake didn't 
mind her staying at all. He needed the extra company, and, besides, it
would only be a week or so before they could sleep together without 
feeling guilty about it. 
 Chance didn't mind as long as they would move out when they got 
married. He didn't need or _want_ to be a babysitter. He knew that once 
Jake got started it would be no time before there would be a kitten to
take care of. Gabriel didn't much either; she was already asking for it.

***********************************************************************

 About a year after they were married, Jake still worked at the garage 
with Chance. One afternoon Gabriel came over to talk to her husband. 
She pulled him into a private corner and told him a shocking little
secret.
  "Umm, Jake, I went to the doctor this morning about the flu that I 
have been getting on and off all month."
  "Well what's wrong?"
   She smiled shyly and kissed him lovingly.
  "You do know that we have been fairly busy lately right?"
  "Right," he grinned knowingly.
  "Just thought you would want to know."
  "I kind of suspected it."
  "I think you'll make a good father."
  "And, you will make one heck of a good mother."

***********************************************************************


                          The Beginning