PROLOGUE TO SAGA 3 A RUN FOR YOUR MONEY AUTHOR: Felicia McFurry EMAIL: Mel_B_52@hotmail.com Notes: About 5 years had passed between saga 2 and Saga 3. During those 5 years, the SWAT Kats were still unable to find Ricochet and Sub-Zero was turned back to a normal kat. He is now a SWAT Kat with the code name ShadowKat in honor of his sister. During the day he is in part-time training in the Enforcers. Dark Kat is no where to be found, but he is constructing a major empire of young kats who want to bring down MegaKat City. Scorpion is still loyal to him but was transformed back to his normal self since Dark Kat's plans failed and he wanted to have no memories of it. He is now a general to Dark Kat and basically his second in command. The chapter starts off with ShadowKat going to a base which he found out to be Dark Kat's. Let's begin shall we? ****************************************************************** The SWAT Kats were preparing to go on their MegaKat exercise. Every now and then they would try to fly past Feral's Enforcers. Commander Feral had constructed a new base near the outskirts of the city. It was near the canyon. Commander Feral was so pleased by its new enhanced radar system that every time it could always now detect the SWAT Kats and now even he was a threat to them. But for many weeks, Razor was working on a stealth modification and now tonight was the night to test it out on Commander Feral. ShadowKat was already in the Turbokat behind Razor's seat. Razor had placed him a movable seat behind his seat so now ShadowKat could be with him during flights. Razor felt if ShadowKat wanted to be part of the Radical Squadron then he needed some experience, so tonight would be some excellent experience and some fun. T-Bone and Razor were walking up to the Turbokat, they had just returned from the centrifuge, as usual, Razor had passed out because T-Bone was pushing the envelope. "How's your head?" T-Bone asked and then grinned. "It's all alright. I'll be fine," Razor said as they walked towards the Turbokat. "I'm sorry about that, buddy," T-Bone said as he smiled. "Don't worry I'll get you back later," his partner replied and then grinned. "Ah, now you are dreaming," T-Bone said and then chuckled. Razor chuckled back and the twosome made their way into their seats in their jet. After they got into ready position, Razor looked back at ShadowKat. "You ready?," he asked. "Ready as usual," ShadowKat replied and then smirked. T-Bone and Razor started to flip on switches to warm up the Turbokat. "Our MegaKat exercises are fantastic. The day we go against MegaKat City we're really going to kick tail. You know?" Razor said. The Turbokat's engines started to warm up and then T-Bone punched the throttle making the Turbokat scream out of the tunnel. ****************************************************************** As they made their way to their destination, Shadow Kat said, "I don't think that New Blue Manx Project is going to happen for me. Spoke to your buddy, Feral. He doesn't feel I have enough fighter time to qualify." "And what did you say to him?," T-Bone asked. "Thank you very much sir good-bye," ShadowKat replied. "You will never change will you? And that my friend will be your downfall," T-Bone said. Razor gave him a mean look. ShadowKat slightly growled. "You know what your problem is?," he asked challengingly. "Yeah. I am always right," T-Bone replied coolly. He wouldn't let this kid get on his nerves that night. "You *think* you're always right," ShadowKat replied and then grinned. Razor's eyes wide. He couldn't believe that ShadowKat would try to say something like that to T-Bone. He feared T-Bone's reaction. But to his surprise, T-Bone answered, "That's deep." 5 minutes later they were nearing Feral's radar station, the SWAT Kats decided to go ahead and let him know of them coming for once. "Hey, Commander. You still awake?" Razor asked into his CB which was always on the Enforcer channel. "Copy, SWAT Kats. We're ready and waiting. Be advised. We're going to catch your sorry little butts and bite down hard. You may pass that on to that hotshot pilot with my compliments," Feral said through his mic. He was seating at a console which contained a lot of computers and gadgets. Many Enforcers were at the computers, tracking different things while other Enforcers were hustling about, exchanging information. "Oooh. Feral is giving us attitude. You want to take a turn at that, buddy?," Razor asked his partner and then smirked. "Tell him I am going to fly this thing in one ear and out the other. He won't even know we were there," T-Bone replied, and then grinned. Razor grinned evilly back and then spoke into the CB, "Copy, Commander. T-Bone says if anyone can catch us, you can." Then they turned off their contact with Feral. "You ready, partner?," T-Bone asked, eager to make Feral go nuts. "On your command," Razor said and then smiled with the same eagerness as the burly pilot. "Go to war," T-Bone said. "Initiating Stealth Mode, "Razor said with glee and pushed a button on the console. The Turbokat's engines became silenced and their landing lights turned off. Then the Turbokat made noises as a thin coat of metal came out of slots that they had made on the Turbokat, that opened. The thin coat was all black and was a different type of metal which made it hard for detection. Now the TurbokaT was all black. "Commander, they've gone to Stealth Mode," an officer called out to Feral from his position at the console. "We lost them on the radar. Anybody still holding? Anybody?" Feral shouted, not really angry yet. "Got capture on their heat signature. They maybe running cold. But the air above ten five is cooler," Felina replied. She decided to help her uncle that night. "Descend to 400 feet AGL. Altimeter setting 3001," Razor said to his partner as they were now in the canyon. They were in the clouds above the radar station. "Air Speed .7 Mach, 3001. 400 Feet," T-Bone replied and then dove down to set the heading to that feet destination. ShadowKat looked out the canopy at the disappearing clouds and saw the cliffs of the canyons and how close the jet was approaching them. He knew now that his dad and his partner were really crazy. "Lost them!," Felina cried out when she saw the blip on her screen disappear. "D*mn. Well keep hunting. Keep hunting," Feral said as he constantly looked at the computer for any sign of them. "We're right below their eyes and ears. Proceed to primary target," Razor said to T-Bone. Sweat was rolling down his face. Only a couple of hundred feet to go and they would pass Feral's radar station. Beating him once and for awhile and proving that Razor's new modification was a success. The turbokat was basically now, scraping the canyon. "Descending to 200 feet," T-Bone replied, sweat on his face to. He was soo close, he gripped the stick tighter as he became more and more eager to beat Feral. Razor was watching his dimensional radar in the back seat. "Ridge coming up in 6 seconds." "I got it," T-Bone said with confidence. The turbokat flew over the ridge, its belly just about to touch the ridge. When they were clear their destination point. Razor took off his oxygen mask with joy. "Whoo! Very nicely done. Excellent!" he said happily to his partner. Feral stood back at his console, gawking. He couldn't believe it! All of that money into that new modern technology. Which he understood to be far more superior than the SWAT Kats'! He glared at the CB, which he heard the SWAT Kats laughing and shouting of triumph over at their end. "In your face, Feral!," T-Bone shouted into the CB. Feral hit the console with his fist in anger. He was soo ticked off! "Let's head home buddy," Razor said. T-Bone nodded and then turned back to their course that would take them back to their hangar. All of them were happy, this wasn't just about beating Feral but also to make sure that their modification was a success because if it was then they could use to go find Dark Kat and find Ricochet once and for all. Razor looked out of the canopy at the stars as they were heading back. He sighed and softly. Then quietly to himself he said, "That was for you, Rico." To be continued....