Turnabout

by Melissa Wong

  “What’s the point of this then?” Purple Tiger exclaimed, “It’s like they wanted us to come out here for no reason!”

  “Maybe it’s a decoy and they’re doing evil things somewhere else?” White Lion suggested.

  “Ha! Evil things. Gotta love this kid,” Green Jaguar snickered, ruffling his hair.

  “Red Panther still hasn’t shown up or contacted us,” Purple Tiger said, crossing her arms over her chest. “What if the aliens have her, or turned her evil like Nina and Maria?”

  “I can assure you that we do not have your companion,” a voice came from ground level. Blue Caracal looked down to find a short, black-cloaked figure with its hood turned up at them.

  “Clokua! Shut down your hard light projection or whatever that thing is,” she yelled, pointing at the bird creature. “It’s not fooling anyone!”

  He poked at a small device on his wrist and the monster vanished. “This puts a damper on my plans. I had hoped to speak to the only member of your team that is not present by using a creature to distract you. However, Tana seems to be out of credits, so this was the best I could do with what resources I had available.”

  “Whatever you were gonna say to her, you can say to all of us!” Purple Tiger growled.

  “But you are missing a member. Technically you are not all, and are thus incomplete.”

  “Cut the crap Clokua,” White Lion shouted, “You made me drop out of a top-tier championship clan battle for this bullshit!”

  “Will you at least allow me to join you unharmed? Continuing to converse at this distance will eventually become tedious.”

  “What do you guys think?” Blue Caracal asked. The others nodded, and she turned back to the ledge. “Okay, come up.”

  He suddenly appeared on the roof before her, causing her to jump backwards with a yelp. That was fast. If he had skills like those then he wasn’t just Tana’s lackey—he might be a serious threat. They’d have to be careful.

  “Before we start, I have a question for you,” Blue Caracal said, recovering her composure. “What happened to Tana, anyway?”

  Clokua let out a surprisingly long sigh before speaking. “Vetrina is what happened to her. The two of them are sisters, and—”

  “Holy crap, alien genetics must be a clusterfuck if those two are sisters!” Green Jaguar interrupted, “Either that or Vetrina soaked up all the boob genes when they were incubating or whatever you aliens do.”

  “They’re Kaheenian, from the planet Kaheen located in Sector Nine of the Lunian Galaxy. I believe they reproduce in a manner humans would find familiar.”

  Purple Tiger cleared her throat. “We’re getting off topic.”

  “Ah, yes. They are siblings and do not get along. Tana did not even speak of a sister until after her unexpected arrival—and I can see why. From the moment Vetrina arrived, she devoted all her time and resources to undermining her younger sister. Once Tana had enough and confronted her, she responded by encasing Tana in a shard of petroite.”

  “The same stuff she used to turn people evil!” Blue Caracal exclaimed.

  “Petroite reacts differently depending on the species. In humans it seems to suppress inhibitions and realign what could be perceived as a moral compass. To the Kaheen, it functions as a low-level toxin that also amplifies latent mystic abilities.” He chuckled briefly before continuing, “I wonder if Vetrina knew how it would affect me, or if she simply saw me as harmless enough to not bother.”

  “How would it affect you?” Pink Ocelot asked.

  “I am Kuroniti, and the core of our home planet Kuronit used to be made entirely of petroite until it was mined out—or so I’ve been told. The genetic trait that makes us susceptible to ultraviolet damage is the same one that renders my kind impervious to its effects.”

  “So that’s why you wear the cloak,” Purple Tiger murmured.

  “Originally Vetrina left the crystal containing Tana with me—as a reminder of her power, I suppose,” he continued. “I was trying to research how to free her when Vetrina suspected what I was trying to do and took it back. I have no idea where it is now, but I intend to retrieve it and set Tana free.”

  “Is this the crystal?”

  Everyone turned to see Red Panther on the other end of the rooftop, holding out a long violet-black crystal with a dish cloth around it.

  “You’re fashionably late,” Green Jaguar told her, his arms akimbo. “You hate being late.”

  “We were worried sick!” Purple Tiger scolded her.

  “I’m so sorry. It’s Sunday and that’s family day for us. I tried to sneak out several times, but Mama caught me,” she apologized. “But my auntie called, so I probably have a good two hours now before she notices I’m gone.”

  Clokua’s demeanor seemed to change as he moved toward her, stopping himself as he raised a hand toward where his chest might be.

  “You should not handle that with exposed skin,” he warned.

  “I haven’t been. Vetrina dropped it when we fought her at school and I meant to have Green Jaguar scan it, but things have been so crazy I never got a chance. At least now we know what it is. And you’re not getting it.”

  “On the contrary—I would prefer that you kept it.”

  “Why? So Vetrina comes after us instead of you?” Blue Caracal snorted.

  “That is not it.”

  “Then why give your trapped friend to your enemies?” Purple Tiger asked.

  “Tana is not... a friend. She is a valuable partner who saved my life more than once. Statistically, she’s safer in your hands than she is in Vetrina’s,” Clokua said. “To be completely honest with you all, if it were up to me we would have left Earth a long time ago.”

  Green Jaguar scoffed at that.

  “This planet is your home, and you are correct to defend it. I only continue to fight because it is the will of my masters, the Darvori.”

  Red Panther took a step toward him. “Darvori? Is that what Criatan and Cretora are?”

  “Just Princess Cretora,” he replied. “Prince Criatan is a Tronatian, and their recent marriage was to cement a peace treaty between their respective planets.”

  “But... Criatan really seemed to like her,” White Lion said. “He pulled out all the stops to make her happy when I was kidnapped!”

  “Oh, the prince is certainly infatuated with his bride. It is she who takes issue with him. In fact, she takes issue with the whole idea of being married off and forced to conquer new planets for the Darvorian Empire.”

  “Wait—so that’s what this is all about?” Blue Caracal cried, “We’re being attacked because of a space wedding?”

  “Yes.”

  “So if we get them to get a divorce, they’ll leave?” Green Jaguar asked.

  “Man, I don’t like the idea of breaking up a marriage, even to save the Earth,” Purple Tiger said, scratching the back of her head. “I mean, it’s so hard to find love...”

  “Tell me about it,” Red Panther muttered, wrapping the crystal back up. It was the first time she’d heard Sara be even remotely bitter about something, and her heart ached for her. What had they hoped to achieve by hurting her like that?

  Red Panther tucked the bundle underneath the black cloth belt at her waist before straightening up and glaring at the cloaked figure before them.

  “Clokua, was it?” she asked, causing the alien to straighten at the sound of his name. “You seem to be kept in the loop about a lot of things. Do you know whom Criatan and Cretora cast as Chase Claravon?”

  The silence that followed was deafening, stretching out way longer than it should have. The longer it went, the more suspicious Blue Caracal became. It was him, wasn’t it? How was it him—he was so short and Chase was so tall!

  Clokua finally spoke, his voice undeniably shaky. “It was... me.”

  Red Panther didn’t seem fazed by his confession, but Pink Ocelot reached out and put a hand on Green Jaguar’s shoulder—which was promptly shrugged off. He put it back, and Green Jaguar
resigned himself to scowling at the little cloaked being.

  “Why?” she asked, her voice hard. “I’ve been wracking my brain since this all happened, and I can’t possibly figure out what you gain by making a fool of me.”

  “Nothing,” Clokua said quietly, seeming to shrink even more. “Hurting you was not part of the plan. I feel awful! Well, I’m sure I would if I were still human.”

  “What kind of half-assed apology is that?” Green Jaguar screamed.

  “I am the end result of several generations of alterations to my species. The capacity to feel certain emotions has been removed from my genetic code in order to make my people better servants for the Darvori. My diminutive stature is one such alteration.”

  “So... you’re the alien equivalent of a pug?” Pink Ocelot asked in disbelief.

  Clokua nodded. “I suppose that is a fair comparison. We’ve been designed to be even-tempered and highly intelligent, and to lack the capacity to care about being a subservient species. A modicum of the fear response was even left intact to ensure complete compliance. But...”

  “But?” Blue Caracal prompted.

  “But I fear something may be amiss with me as even in this, my true form, I still feel echoes of what I felt as a human. Though if I am honest, those issues may have begun even before I first took a human form.”

  “Maybe it’s Earth?” White Lion suggested, “Maybe our... uh... atmosphere changed your DNA?”

  Blue Caracal pinched the bridge of her nose. “Just shut up! This is why you’re failing science.”

  “I don’t need science,” White Lion declared, “When I’m a famous video game designer I’ll have so much money I can hire nerds like you to do the sciencing for me!”

  Clokua took a couple of steps towards Red Panther. “In fact... I began to feel those things when I first saw an image of you.”

  Red Panther blinked and put one hand against her chest.

  “You can’t just experiment with people’s feelings like that,” she said softly. “Despite being physically tenacious as a species, some of us humans are emotionally fragile and easily hurt. I developed real feelings for Chase.”

  “Chase’s feelings were real as well!” Clokua cried, also placing one hand against his chest. “They were real—numerous and overwhelming! He was drowning in them. When he saw your reaction to his being a Claravon, his heart shattered!”

  Her eyes widened and she inhaled sharply before responding.

  “My heart shattered as well! But unlike you, I have to live with it. I can’t just slip off my feelings like a winter coat and pack them away without a second thought.”

  “If I had the capacity to be Chase again I’d do so in an instant,” Clokua said, “Even if it hurt. Even if all I ever felt was misery! I cannot take away your pain, but it’s unfair that you have to suffer alone.”

  Red Panther fell to her knees before him.

  “It’s not fair,” she began, the sound of tears wavering in her voice. “I wanted to be angry with you... but I can’t.”

  “Yes you can!” Green Jaguar exploded. “He’s the enemy!” Pink Ocelot shook his head at him and sighed loudly before whispering something that seemed to shut him up.

  “It goes against all logic,” Red Panther continued, wiping one eye. “It goes against all rational thought even—but I forgive you, Clokua!”

  “What?” Purple Tiger exclaimed, her shock quickly turning to embarrassment when she realized that she’d spoken aloud.

  “I don’t understand,” Clokua said, sounding taken aback, “Why would you do a thing like that?”

  “Because I fell in love with Chase,” she said, looking at the ground. “And I suppose by extension, I fell in love with you as well.”

  Blue Caracal glanced at Purple Tiger, who was gesturing wildly at the two of them with her hands, an expression of angry confusion on her face. She understood what she was saying loud and clear—she couldn’t believe this was happening either! But after alien invasions and superpowers... were strange romances really so weird?

  She looked over at Pink Ocelot as she thought the last part and reached out, taking his free hand in her own. He looked at her in surprise, then gave her hand a small squeeze.

  At that moment an image flashed across her mind; a vision of a drop of water landing in a pool of darkness, rainbow-colored ripples radiating from where it had landed. The sound of it echoed clearly in her ears, and she looked at the others.

  No one else seemed to have heard it. It came again, and this time there was something within it—a phrase that sounded like a different version of what she used to heal petroite damage.

  Strobe. Aqueous. Restoration.

  The longer she listened, the clearer it became. Was it the Great Power giving her a new spell? Was it something coming from within herself?

  Red Panther smiled bitterly as tears ran down her cheeks. “I’m living proof that someone can know a lot, but still be an idiot.”

  “You are most certainly not an idiot,” Clokua told her, hesitantly reaching out a hand before withdrawing it. “The conversations we shared were some of the most enjoyable and engaging I’ve had in all my cycles. It’s rare that I have found an intellectual equal in one who is not another Kuroniti.”

  “Chase...” she breathed.

  “If it were possible I’d take on a human form permanently and join you here on Earth—but Princess Cretora would never allow it!” he exclaimed, taking her hands in his. “She’s the only one with the power to make that happen.”

  Blue Caracal slid her hand away and walked towards Clokua and Red Panther, summoning her weapon as she did so.

  “I think I may be able to help,” she said, showing them the Lapis Strobe.

  “You are suggesting that you too have the ability to make me human.”

  “I believe so. I also believe that the change will be permanent.”

  “Don’t do it, Blue Caracal,” Red Panther begged, “It will only make him a target for Criatan and Cretora, and as a human he won’t be able to defend himself.”

  “I already am a target,” he said, turning towards her. “Not of them, but of Vetrina. As a servant I already lack the ability to defend myself—hence why I traveled with Tana, or employed the aid of stronger lifeforms. I would much rather spend what may be my last days in a form where I can fully appreciate your company, Sara.”

  Red Panther stood and placed a hand on his head. “Then I will protect you myself.”

  “As will I,” Blue Caracal said.

  “Hey, if you wanna live in this boring place then who am I to stop you?” Purple Tiger said with a shrug.

  “What she said,” White Lion agreed.

  They all looked at Green Jaguar, who was silently fuming, red-faced with his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Well?” Pink Ocelot asked him.

  The glare he shot him could have curdled fresh milk, but in the end he gave a sharp nod of his chin that was almost imperceptible.

  Suddenly the sky began to darken, and Blue Caracal turned towards Purple Tiger. She shook her head as the shadows grew deeper and Red Panther pulled Clokua in close, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

  “So Vetrina was correct!” a furious voice spat, sending a chill down Blue Caracal’s spine. “You were keeping the identities of the Feline Warriors from me!”

  Cretora descended from a bolt of violet light, the orb on her staff bathing her serpentine face in a horrific blood red glow.

  “It’s no wonder that all of her attempts to gather data, and all of my attempts to capture them have gone awry—you’re helping them!”

  “Princess Cretora—it’s not like that at all!”

  “Silence!” she roared, pointing her staff at him. “I’ve heard of defective Kuroniti before, but they are always culled during the childhood cycle. I’ve never heard of one turning on their master—and I never imagined that you Clokua, would be one of them!”

  “Perhaps I’m not defective,” Clokua yelled back, “Your p
redecessors bred us to learn, to absorb and analyze every bit of information around us in order to better serve you. Perhaps exposure to beings who express emotion so purely and openly has taught me how to do so as well!”

  Blue Caracal extended an arm protectively in front of the two of them.

  “Stay back, Cretora,” she warned. “He’s under our protection now.”

  Chapter 13

  Love is a Battlefield

  Cretora straightened her shoulders, drawing herself up to her full eight foot height.

  “I’m not in the mood for your games, Blue Caracal,” she growled. “I’ll give you one chance to drop your weapon and bow before your future ruler. This planet will be conquered by the Darvori, either with your surrender, or without it.”

  Blue Caracal forced herself to swallow and hoped that her knees weren’t actually shaking. Cretora’s towering, enraged presence was absolutely terrifying! She blinked, a slow, deliberate movement that drew her focus to the alien’s wide, golden-domed eyes.

  How the hell were they supposed to fight her—especially now that her weapon had been turned into a healing device?

  She thought of Tiki, and how she’d catch house lizards in the summer. She’d even caught a snake in the backyard once—one that was almost as long as her tail! If her own house pet could do that, then they could fight Cretora. They were the Feline Warriors! This was what they were brought together for, right?

  “We’ll never bow to you!” she shouted, pointing her strobe up at her. “And we’ll never let you have Earth!”

  “Fine,” Cretora declared, “Then you will be eliminated like the pests that you are!”

  She swung her staff, a swath of red energy crackling along the rooftop as if to punctuate her statement. They scattered in different directions in their efforts to dodge it, and she immediately followed it up by throwing a spell that looked like lightning after them.

  Blue Caracal turned in midair as one of the inverted bolts raced towards her, darker than any black she’d ever seen. It seemed to almost suck the light out of the space around it.

  “Raging Stormtide!” she cried, hoping her spell would block the attack. It didn’t, but it did send it crackling into the wall of what was once a pet shop. She landed hard, skidding across the pavement in a crouching position.