Chapter 1

Bill sat at his desk, god, he was tired. This job was shit, but he wanted to eat, so he kept at it. Old; he felt so old, he was surprised he made it in every day. After all, what did he have left to look forward to? Go home to his cat; eat a cold dinner that was leftover from the night before. Just once, he wished he had something different in his life, at least a woman friend. Smiling, yeah, he thought that would be a nice problem, but they all saw him as a creep or stalker.

Sighing, he made his way to the elevator to head home, stopping a moment; he had to go back and get his keys. Stepping back into the office, there was a crashing sound; Bill looked back into the hallway, seeing that half the hall had collapsed. Shaking his head, he gathered his keys and made his way down the fire escape twenty floors. Christ, he thought, he’d sleep good tonight.

Emerging on the street, Bill saw the emergency equipment that was arriving. Smirking, Bill watched, mouth open, as they all walked around him and kept going inside. What the hell was going on? Walking by the fire engine, both front tires exploded then went flat, a moment after he passed. Shaking his head, he just kept going; might as well head home. With no friends, there wasn’t all that much left to do.

Looking up, Bill saw that it was clear out; smiling, he decided the 10 blocks wouldn’t be that bad after all. Halfway home, Bill was suddenly pushed against the wall, a gun in his face. “Ok asshole, hand it over! All of it!”

Bill nodded as he started to empty his pockets; he was just starting to hand the man everything when a car appeared out of nowhere. Bill tried to warn the man, honestly he did, though nothing seemed to come out of his mouth. The man was there one second and cut in half the next; Bill just stood there, his mouth hanging open.

The car stopped, and a very attractive woman got out. She looked at the mess and what was left of the man. Shrugging, she was about to get back in her car when she slowly turned and stared at Bill. OMG! Bill thought, is she thinking of running me over also?

Walking over to him, the woman gave him a serious look over and reached out to push his chest. Taking a step back from the light shove, the woman’s eyes opened wide as she waited, tapping her foot. Then she looked up and stated, “Well?”

“Uh ... excuse me? Is everything alright?” Bill asked the woman, now that he’d found his voice.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll deal with you in a moment. What do you mean you can’t? He has a what?!!” Turning, the woman began to re-examine Bill all over, though the biggest surprise was when she grabbed his crotch! The next thing he knew, he was across the street against the wall of a building. The woman was also against a wall on the opposite side of the street.

Shaking her head, she quickly got to her feet and drew a strange-looking gun. Bill started to laugh; it actually looked like those guns he’d seen in sci-fi pictures. An angry look on her face, the woman pulled the trigger; that’s when the strange, really strange part started to happen. Bill saw her pull it then the world stopped moving, even the wind; what the fuck, Bill thought. Shaking his head, he simply walked away.

The woman blinked; what the hell? She’d pulled the trigger; that son of a bitch was an enemy agent, he therefore had to die. Blinking again, she stared at the empty space as the beam hit the wall and dissipated.

Bill kept going, now to his small apartment; he quickly escaped inside. His cat came running immediately; looking up at him, Bill could swear she had a concerned look on her face. ‘Ok, today is getting stranger and stranger,’ Bill thought.

“Hey Twitty girl, daddy’s home; sorry I took a little longer than I thought I would. God, what a weird ass day, you should have seen the kibaras at work.” At his feet, the cat’s eyes were suddenly wide in surprise.

Bill went into the shower; he felt sticky as hell, quick shower and a nap that might help.

Twitty looked at the bathroom door and padded her way into the bedroom. Opening the closet, she walked to the back, touching her paw to a spot on the back wall; a black flat box appeared. Opening automatically, the cat’s paws moved in ways that a normal cat’s paws should.

Giving a heavy sigh, the cat waited until a balding man came on the screen, “This is Control, identify.”

“This lookout 5431-x royal,” the cat said, a strange voice coming from the feline.

“Confirmed, connecting.” A moment later, another man took the first’s place.

“Hello Twitty, something must have happened if you are reporting in.” The man said, a small smile on his face.

“Yes sir, it is apparent that the mind shield has started to fail. Also, I am starting to pick up increased energy readings from him. I believe he has finally started to emerge. Oh, he used a homeword today, Kibaras.” The cat reported.

The man’s eyes went wide; this was the best news he’d had in a long time. “Guard him well, Twitty; the future of our world depends on him ... and you.”

“May I please take off this form? I long to walk on two legs again,” Twitty asked.

“NO! You know you can’t until he can detect you.” Getting quiet, the man said. “I am sorry, daughter, it has to be this way. If he is starting to emerge as you say, then it won’t be long. Be well and safe.” With that, the box was dark and again hidden on the back wall.

‘Crap,’ Twitty thought, ‘he better be. She was tired of walking on all fours!’ Twitty heard the shower shut off and exited the closet. She was going to have to watch him even more now, she thought with a sigh.

Bill walked into the bedroom stark naked; Twitty had to avert her eyes. She might be in another form, but by god, she wasn’t dead!

“You know, now that I think about it, the woman I saw later that hit the robber?” Bill told Twitty. “She was strange also. I swear she pulled a ray gun on me. Then she fired it, but everything froze, so I just walked away. Strangest damn day I have ever had!”

The cat’s eyes got wide again; he had used the time freeze? She hadn’t detected it! Holy crap! He WAS emerging! Opening up her senses to their fullest, she was almost blown away by the amount of power that he was showing. Sighing inwardly, she hoped he finished soon; she so longed to walk upright again. She understood it was her duty, but it had been 5 years now! She wished she could kick some sense into the man; a royal just didn’t deny who they were like this.

“Another thing, Twitty,” Bill continued. “I could swear she grabbed me between the legs, and we were repelled against each other in opposite directions!” Bill looked at his cat, who he swore had a startled look on her face. “I know, as I said, this has got to be the weirdest day I think I have ever had.

Across the city, the woman shook the bum, making the man pass out. “Bah! Useless! If any of you are holding out on me, I’ll skin the lot of you!” Throwing the unconscious man against the wall for emphasis, the woman smiled evilly and walked out of the alley. Getting into her car, she rolled up all the windows and touched several spots on the dashboard.

“This is agent xzxx-9,” the woman said, irritated.

“This is main control, hold your ass! You’re early to be reporting in, x-9,” a young man said.

“Cut the bullshit, you asshole!” The woman suddenly snarled at the man.

“You have been on that backward planet far too long,” another man replied a moment later.

Sighing, the woman nodded, “I am sorry, father, and I am somewhat frustrated. I found him today, but like an idiot, I administered the wrong test. I agree with you, father, five of their years is far too long.” Taking a deep calming sigh, the woman continued. “I actually saw him! Then he time froze me before I had a chance to counteract it. At least we know he is still alive.”

“WHAT!!? He time froze you? I think we need to bring you home, Gleena, while there is still time,” the man said, his face softening.

“No, father, I am the only one who has seen him in all the time the agents have been here. Besides,” here the woman smiled, “The test was a failure considering who he is, but the energy has helped me greatly.” At this, the woman’s guise changed slightly; her hair went from blonde to red, and her breasts grew a size as her butt became tighter.

The man’s mouth opened in surprise, “So he really has started to emerge. How much of your power do you now have?” The man asked, excited.

Reaching inward, the woman’s eyes went wide as she reported, “It feels like I have half of what I should. Let me try something.” The man watched as the woman’s shape changed into a large cat. Well, almost; she was about half and half. She had the tail, some red fur, the ears, and whiskers. Sighing, the woman nodded and changed back. “Oh god, father, that felt so good!”

“I know, Gleena; it was good to see you in our other form. Try to find him; it should be easier now with half your strength back,” the man said, then was gone.

A thin smile crossed her face as she felt the calmness taking hold of her. God, it was good to be almost normal again!