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Chapter 21: Trouble on all Fronts

Feral tried his best to make more time with his mate by not working overtime as often but it still didn't ease the growing strain he could plainly see in Ten's face.

It made him feel bad and uncomfortable. It didn't improve by the time, Turmoil decided to blow into Megakat's airspace again. This trip out, she was out for T-Bone's blood. She swept in on a storm filled night sky and began firing at Enforcer Headquarters, trying to draw out the SWAT Kats.

Feral was at home with his mate when the call came in. They were cuddling on the couch, the dark tom trying to ease his mate's tension in his company. Not feeling the bond was making Feral more than frustrated now and caused constant friction between them...his guilt...Ten's pain. This was one of their more amendable nights and he was making the most of it, that is until his radio toned off beside them.

Groaning in annoyance, Feral picked it up. "Feral!"

"Commander, Turmoil is firing on Enforcer Headquarters. The control tower has had to be evacuated and she's managed to prevent any launching of the fighter squadron. Only the choppers on patrol are dealing with her squadron and the SWAT Kats have just made the scene and are engaging her personally." The Dispatcher was shouting urgently over the noise of machine guns and the enforcer tower's canons.

Feral lunged up from his seat and rushed to the bedroom. "Are any tanks launched yet?" He bellowed as he quickly got dressed. Tendaji grimly aided him by holding his boots as he stamped them on.

"No sir! Unable to leave the building. Far too much debris around the base that fell from the top floors blocking the exits." He was told.

"I'll be there as quickly as I can. Are there any choppers that can pick me up?" He asked as he put on his coat.

"Yes sir! Sending one your way now!" The dispatcher said tightly, a loud boom nearly drowning him out.

Feral grit his teeth as he clicked his radio off. Tendaji stood tensely before him. The dark tom pulled his mate close and kissed him hard. Pulling away, he stared at his lion mate for a moment.

"I'll be careful I promise. I'm afraid I'll not be home for a while if the damage is as bad as they say it is." He said unhappily.

"I don't doubt that. Sorry your building is taking such a hit, Uly. Keep safe!" Ten said, forcing his arms to stay at his side while every instinct was telling him not to let his mate go. It was so very hard for him to let his mate handle so much danger and not try to protect him. His mind told him bluntly, 'he's a warrior and he's been doing this for years' but his heart just wouldn't listen. It was his mate, the one who could very well be carrying his cubs, and who should be taking better care of himself. It made him sick and worried. The fact the bond still was silent made it even worse for him.

Leaving his mate behind, Feral hurried to the roof where he waited for his ride. Every time he left his mate now the stress was getting worse. Dubaku had been wrong. It wasn't just Ten who was suffering, so was he. As a chopper came out of the rainy skies and began to land near him, he shoved his pain away as he did every time he had to leave.

As they flew nearer to Enforcer Headquarters, he was appalled at the significant damage Turmoil had done to his building. All the windows of the tower had been blown out, huge chunks of masonry was on the sidewalk below. The big guns were still firing at the fast moving jets with no effect except to keep her away. Fortunately, no more damage was being done because the SWAT Kats had managed to entice her away.

However, he could see the pair of vigilantes were having a hard time of it. The Turbokat was taking hits and being battered as they dodged and tried to take her out of the sky. It didn't help that they were being ganged up on.

He had to launch his jets to give them some cover. It wasn't for them he was doing this as he jumped out of the chopper and ran for the jet hangar. It was because Turmoil would go after them again if she managed to take out the SWAT Kats.

The auxiliary flight line was still in one piece so he launched every jet he had a pilot on duty for and went after the barely visible battle above the city. As they got closer, Turmoil's wing force peeled away from her and made for them. Soon they were in a heated battle, the weather making it nearly an even conflict.

Finally, the SWAT Kats managed to get the upper paw and take Turmoil out of the sky. The enforcers, with only a ten percent loss rate, finished off the rest of her squadron. Having trashed her jet, the pair had caught her trying to escape in a small jet pack. She was now hanging in one of their nets. They flew to the auxiliary flight line and dropped her net onto the cement surface. A crew of enforcers ran out to take custody of her.

Instead of leaving, the Turbokat landed near the edge of the flight line and left room for Feral and his flight to land. Leaving his jet, Feral strode quickly to the sleek black jet. Before he could demand why they were there, the pair jumped down from their cockpit.

T-Bone raised a paw, demanding attention. Feral blinked balefully at him but held his piece.

"We have some bad news for you Commander. Through some contacts of ours we've discovered you are still sought after by slavers. Your previous owner has put up a ridiculously high bounty for your hide." T-Bone said soberly.

Feral paled then flushed with anger. "That bastard!"

"Listen, we know you'll do what you can to keep yourself safe and so will your mate but even you can't be on your guard 24/7 so I've got a tracking device I've designed to be hidden in your fur. That creep has really upped the stakes and it won't be long before some jackass tries to win the cash. Give us all a break and wear this, please," Razor urged him.

It wasn't that they cared that much for him but the alternative was Steele and no one wanted that incompetent in command of the military forces of Megakat City. They had enough problems keeping the omegas at bay as it was so despite Feral and themselves rubbing each other the wrong way, he was still the better option for the city.

Feral eyed the pair for a long moment. His first reaction was to tell them to go to hell. But he paused. He knew they weren't doing this because they cared about him personally but that they cared about Megakat City as much as he did even if they went about it the wrong way. So it made sense they didn't want him gone. It made him feel odd that they were willing to put up with him rather than see the city in flames due to an incompetent replacement. It was a strange kind of compliment.

"Very well. I have a feeling my mate might still object so I hope it's as invisible as you think." He growled a reluctant agreement.

"Oh it is." Razor grinned, inwardly relieved. If Feral had refused he would have found a way to place the tracker anyway. He stepped forward, pulling out a tiny device that looked nearly invisible except for its electronic innards.

Feral stared at it in astonishment. "What's the range on that?"

"Over twenty miles!" Razor smiled proudly. "Now hold still a moment..." He reached up to Feral's throat and was stopped.

"Uhm...that's a favorite spot of my mate..." Feral said, mumbling in some embarrassment.

Razor stopped and stared at him nonplussed. "Well then where do you suggest I place it that it won't be found by your mate." Mildly amused at Feral's discomfort.

Feral had to think hard about that. His mate had a way of going over nearly every inch of his body when they made love.

"Uh, well somewhere in my hair or behind an ear perhaps..."

Keeping his smirk to himself, Razor gestured for Feral to lean forward. He looked around a bit and noted that the lion apparently liked to lick the top of his mate's hair because it was a bit bare there and it wasn't due to balding. He switched to the ears and noted the lion apparently favored Feral's right ear more than the left so buried the device with a dab of special glue into the space between Feral's ear and his hair. He studied it for a moment with a flashlight and was pleased that it was invisible.

He stepped back and Feral straightened up. "Okay, there's a special glue I put it on with. Don't take a shower for at least an hour. After that just don't brush too hard the area between your left ear and your hair. Hopefully your mate doesn't change his habit of nibbling on your right ear any time soon."

Feral reddened. "How long does the battery last?" He asked to change the subject.

"I made sure it was very long lasting...about six months. Let's hope they either make a move or give up."

"If you're taken, we'll notify your mate that we've got a tracker on you. Until then he doesn't have to know." T-Bone added.

Feral nodded. "Alright. Thanks." Waving them off, he turned away and walked back toward the hangars. Behind him he heard the Turbokat lift off. That small SWAT Kat was a brilliant inventor. Not for the first time, he wished that kat worked for him.

It took hours to remove most of the debris on the street and on his primary flight line then he had to report to Ms. Briggs, who was at home, about how much damage there was and set up a back up control tower till the main one was repaired.

It was well after midnight before he called a halt since it was too dark to do more. He was torn about whether to go home or stay at headquarters. After debating several long minutes, he decided to go home.

He stepped into his darkened apartment and tiredly stripped his coat and weapon off. A shadow suddenly appeared at his side. He didn't startle, knowing by scent that it was Ten. His mate hugged him to reassure himself that his mate was alright then guided Uly to the bedroom where Feral allowed him to help strip off his sweaty clothes.

"How bad was it love?"

Feral sighed and gave Tendaji a brief synopsis of the damage. Ten whistled in shock. "That's terrible. How long's it going to take to get you back in working order?" He helped his mate off with his boots.

"Too long. I won't know the exact amount of time until I look at it in the morning and have construction give me an estimate." Feral groaned as exhaustion dragged at him.

"Well it's obvious it will be another long day for you so let's get you into the shower then bed." Ten coaxed his mate to his feet. He turned on the shower. While they waited for the water to get hot, Ten gave his mate a shoulder massage.

Feral sighed and relaxed, glad now that he had decided to come home. "I have some other news for you. The SWAT Kats came by some information they relayed to me. Apparently my former 'owner' desires my return and has a bounty on my head. They tell me it's significant. I wanted you to know." Not surprised when his mate tightened his fingers for a moment and hissed.

"That bastard!"

"Those were my sentiments when I heard about it."

"I know you don't like it but I'm going to beef up your protection." Ten said flatly, brooking no argument.

"Yeah, I know." Feral said in resignation then he stepped into the shower and moaned in relief at the feel of the hot water soothing his tired body. He soaped down and remembered not to mess to much with the area hiding the tracker. He was actually relieved to be wearing that. He didn't want to think about falling into the paws of that sadist again without anyone knowing where he'd gone. It made him cold inside.

He finished his shower and allowed the dryers to get rid of the water rather than use a towel. Naked, he padded out to the bedroom and climbed into the bed where Ten was waiting for him. His mate turned out the light and spooned him from behind. Feral sighed contentedly and was soon asleep.