Sekhet

Saga One - Phased Reality: Alternate Lives

Dedicated to Toireasa,
The Biggest Jellicle

Part One - "Slaughter"

Blood. It was everywhere. On the grass, the trees, the corpses, and him. The proud, bloodthirsty Pollicles, a pack of murderous alley-dogs, lay heaped everywhere.

"Fools," the bloody creature muttered. "Why did they attack me?"

The Pollicles had been chasing a calico kitten, a female. In the pursuit, this creature had noticed them and their intended victim. He had warned the snarling hoard to leave the kitten in peace, for he could see evil intent for their victim in their eyes, but they would not be swayed. They had turned from the kitten onto her self-appointed protector - a fatal mistake. During the battle, the mysterious kitten had disappeared.

The creature wiped the sweat from his brow thoughtfully, as he tried to control his gasping. "Very wise for her to leave so suddenly . . . but I didn't even catch her name," he sighed.

The moon shone above, only a quarter full. It resembled the claws of the creature that had just battled for life and death under its ghostly gleam.

He looked fearsome. As he sat on a rock surveying the scene, two wings fluttered on his back, and one wing was on either forearm, totaling four. He carried across his shoulders what at first glance appeared to be a double-bladed scimitar, with the blades bending down. He was covered in armor, and appeared to be feline.

Then the creature moved, causing spikes to appear and disappear up and down his arms and legs. All were covered in Pollicle blood. On each of his elbows and knees there was a single, larger, more formidable spike, and when he stretched, like some graceful, horrifying red shadow, they shrank to keep him from injury.

He retracted his weaponry, and ever-so-slowly folded all four of his wings. His back wings were membranous, and could be used for flight or gliding. His arm wings were joined to his wrists, and jointed twice after that, like a praying mantis' spine-covered forelegs. They were used for fighting and shielding, being made of what appeared to be heavy leather, sharpened to a razor fine edge.

He shook himself, and his fur glowed underneath the drying Pollicle blood. Then, like an expanding bubble, the glowing field around him started to slowly expand, cleaning his fur and disintegrating the battle grime. Then, in a flash of light and a sound like a thunderclap, it formed an orb around the creature, grew to fifty times the size of its originator, and disappeared, during which most of the corpses vanished in flames.

Then the creature moved into a half-crouch, jumped, and flew off into the night.

Part Two - "News"

"Sheesh, is this dumb or what?" asked Electra. Pouncival, Tumblebrutus, and Etcetera were playing tag in the Junkyard, while Victoria, Cassandra, and Electra (who was trying to act like a Queen) were sitting on the side.

*POOF*

"AGH!" Cassandra and Electra jumped in the air as another, smaller cat appeared behind them.

"Greetings, ladies." Mistoffelees said, as he tried desperately to rid himself of the clinging static electricity. His unfashionable discharge of energy, while mostly rare, was in this case an unfortunate offshoot of his teleportation.

"How many times do I have to ask you not to DO that!" grumbled Electra.

"Yes, you could try to appear in front of us, instead of letting us think lightning just struck our tails!" Cassandra agreed.

Victoria just smiled. She was used to Mistoffelees "dropping in", and she found Mistoffelees' unwilling fans quite amusing.

"It would be nice to have some warning," she said with a single upraised brow.

"Okay, how about this? I drop a lightning bolt in front of my target position first, then teleport just behind that!"

Tumblebrutus had stopped playing with Pouncival and Etcetera and had walked over to the group. He caught Mistoffelees' last sharp remark. Etcetera and Pouncival were playfully growling at each other in the background, and Tumble, Victoria, Electra, and Cassandra just stared at Mistoffelees.

"You sound like pack of fleas is on your tail," Tumble grinned. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry," apologized the black-and-white-furred magician. "But something is definitely up. I just don't know what yet. But you know about Jemima? She won't tell me anything about last night!"
Tantomile and Coricopat entered, complimenting each other's comments . . . as usual.
Tantomile spoke first. "Is it serious?"

"How is Jemima?" Coricopat added.

Mistoffelees sat down next to Victoria. "I don't know WHAT is up, and that is what is bugging me. I've asked Munkustrap, Mungo, and Rumple to scout the fields north of here, especially up near that place with the trees. I heard screaming there. Last night."

This caught the ears of Pouncival and Etcetera, and they stopped playing. It was now quiet.
Pounce spoke up. "If you ask me, it sounded like a pack of Pollicles found a poor critter to 'hound'!" Etcetera pushed him over at the joke, and they went back to wrestling and chasing one another in and out of a set of pipes.

"You don't think that Jemima was involved in what happened over there, do you?" Coricopat asked.
Mistoffelees frowned, deep in thought. "I don't know, but I would think that she is-"

A voice with a familiar accent careened over the walls of the junkyard like an anvil, interrupting Mistoffelees: "Misto! 'ey, Misto-o-o-oooo!"

"What is it, 'Jerrie?"

"Did you find something?"

"Where's 'Teazer?"

Mungojerrie popped over a car's top, just next to a huge tire, panting (which is RARE for a cat).
He flopped down on the trunk and gasped, "We got a pack o' problems. Munkus wants yah to meet him over at the ol' place wit' all o' those trees. It's awful, I had to walk 'Teazah 'ome 'fore comin', so Munkus is prob'ly fit to be tied. It was awful!"

Mistoffelees looked ready to drag the rest of the story out of Mungojerries' hide, but Mungo kept on muttering half-incoherently. "It was something big, twice as big as a normal 'ousecat! At least, it had huge paws! Scorch marks and bloodstains all over the place! A few pieces of bone, and . . . Aw, rats! Mistoffelees, WE HAVE SOMET'IN' BIG! Munk wants you to get over there right away, he thinks . . . ." Mungojerrie looked like he was going to be sick remembering what he saw. "He thinks," Mungojerrie whispered, "that we got another magician!"

"So that's it, eh?" Mistoffelees pondered.

Victoria was worried. "What is it, Mistoffelees?"

"It would have to be a magician," said Mistoffelees. "A powerful one, powerful enough to block even me! And Jemima came to the Junkyard from that direction, she may have seen the creature, which is why she won't tell us anything!"

Mistoffelees and Victoria looked at each other. Victoria spoke what was in all of their minds.

"Be careful, okay?"

Part Three - "Possible Threat"

Mistoffelees walked over the debris towards Munkustrap. "What in Heaviside's name happened?" Debris was everywhere. Scorched, bloodstained, and shredded grass--even the ground was torn and cut! The trees looked like they had been through either a hurricane, acid rain, or a firestorm. Not more than a dozen leaves were visible on each tree, and the rest was bare.

"RATS!!!" yelped Mistoffelees. He bent closer to see what had gotten his foot. "A Pollicle's jawbone?"

"It gets worse," replied a grim Munkustrap. "Stand up here on this side of the valley."

Mistoffelees did so. "Look," pointed out Munkustrap. "See the patches of green? What do you make of them? There must be twenty, at least."

Mistoffelees felt like he was at last sharing something in common with the near-green Mungojerrie, who had refused to come back for anything short of being forcibly dragged.

"They represent bodies," he whispered. "The grass remains in those places in the valley because some object, most likely a body, absorbed the brunt of this attack, thereby protecting the grass at the cost of the object's structural integrity."

Munkustrap looked at Mistoffelees. "What do you think could do this?"

Mistoffelees walked to where the remaining islands of grass formed a point. "Since all blasts except implosions go outwards, this must be the point where the blast was generated. Mungojerrie said something about the creature being twice as tall as a normal housecat. These footprints," Mistoffelees pointed at indentations in the ground, "seem to corroborate 'Jerrie's fancies about the creature's size. I have heard and studied many stories about different species of felines and their abilities. This only fits one species that I know of."

"Well, then, for Heaviside's sake, what is it!?"

Mistoffelees looked uncertainly around. "I don't know exactly what caused this, and I might be entirely wrong, but . . ." he walked over to directly in front of the Jellicles Second-in-Command and looked him in the eyes. "It could be a caracal."

Munkus looked dubious. "And that is . . . ?"

"A caracal is an almost totally red feline, about twice as big as a normal feline, with the main difference in fur coloring being a tuft of black fur extending from each ear, giving a somewhat devilish appearance. Incidentally, caracal means 'Black Ears'. They come from Asia, or someplace thereabouts, and are known for their blinding speed in striking their victims. As a matter of fact, people would bet on how many birds in a flock a single caracal could kill before the flock dispersed. Caracals could even beat a cobra's strike!"

Munkustrap looked a bit miffed, consciously considering for the first time that this creature might be able to hurt his friends, his tribe, and his family. "So it's a feline mongoose, so what?"

"It eats mongooses. And," Mistoffelees continued quietly, "Those ear tufts alone have been said to have more power in them than I might have in my entire coat."

Munkustrap would have started swearing then and there, but he was too genteel for it. "Get the other Jellicles. This is an emergency, and we are having an emergency meeting."

Mistoffelees looked grim, but he wasn't necessarily surprised. Emergency meetings were rare, and only called in extreme cases. "But after all," he thought, as he got ready to teleport to tell the other Jellicles about the meeting, "isn't this extreme?"

Part Four - "The Lonely Warrior"

"So what are we here for, anyway?" purred Cassandra.

"They won't tell me anything yet," replied Exotica.

Cassandra pointed to a corner with a single kitten occupying it. "They think that Jemima might have seen it."

Exotica looked at Jemima, then back to Cassandra. "But even if she did, why won't she tell us?"
Cassandra stretched delicately. "Too beautiful? Too horrible? Who knows?"

Exotica started drawing figures in the dirt with her claw. "Whatever it is, I guess it's too much," she muttered.

All of the Jellicles, like Cassandra and Exotica, were jittery. An emergency meeting? For what? What could cause such a major breach of tradition?

Munkustrap and Old Deuteronomy were conversing behind a mostly intact crate. "Mistoffelees believes that there is only one," pointed out Munk, who was trying to be composed.

Old Deuteronomy sighed. "Yes, and Mistoffelees also thinks that we would stand no chance."
Munkustrap decided to throw all attempts at composure aside. "What if this creature does work for Macavity? We could all be in very serious trouble. We have no idea what we are up against-!"
Munkustrap's voice faded away, and both he and Deuteronomy turned in unison to look behind the crate. The Jellicles were screaming, and when Munk stepped out from behind the crate, he saw why.

He saw . . . IT.

Before him was a magnificent sight, one that would have made them all forget the carnage wrought by the thing, less than half a kilometer away. The creature was large, but not as large as they had expected. Still, it would have been on eye level with Tugger or Munkustrap, had it been on the ground. However, it was hovering above them, with large black wings.

Its fur was red, with black tufts on the ears, giving them an elongated and fearsome appearance. Its paws were big and accentuated by huge claws that resembled talons. It pulled the claws on its left paw in and out constantly, almost flexing them to an unheard rhythm. Its right hand held what appeared to be an unstrung bow, until the Jellicles saw the two blades projecting from the centralized handle.

The head was well suited to the body, which was muscular, stocky, yet lithe, and Munkustrap could believe that the creature could have killed them all right then and there in seconds.
It had some sort of suit as well. Battle armor, most likely. And magical armor, to boot. No converted soup cans ever looked like that. It was what appeared to be liquid metal, polished turquoise, blood red, and iron silver, and held together by some force emanating from the creature. It struck Mistoffelees, who afterwards told the others, that it was fitted so tightly that it was almost crushing the creature within. There was a varied assortment of bladed, bashing, bending, throwing, and pole weapons (which were collapsible) all attached or dangling from the suit, and even miscellaneous weapons, such as a spiked chain, a rope javelin, and even a garrote (strangling cord) and a Cat-O'-Nine-Tails.

"Still," thought Deuteronomy optimistically, "they're only deadly if he knows how to use them." Then he remembered that the body count estimate of Mistoffelees and Munkustrap had topped at nearly two dozen.

"My name is Sekhet," the creature said. "May I enter your abode?"

"If you put away your weapons, and swear to not harm us, we will listen." Munkustrap was again trying to appear calm and composed, and under the circumstances was doing admirably; he would have fooled normal felines. The only thing was that the object of his address was anything but "normal". And the creature knew it.

"As if you have a choice," the creature said, for it was hard to attach the noun "Sekhet" to such a being. However, it was not said haughtily, but as if pointing out a matter-of-fact. "Still, I have not come to give battle to you. Rather, I am powerful, and, it is true, killed other beings, such as the Pollicles which you have seen, but have come a long way to get to this place. I come peaceably, as well, for it would be foolishness to try to hurt those whom I have come to greet."

The creature swooped down onto a metal framework overlooking the tire. "Perhaps you are concerned about the happenings with the Pollicles. Please do not be. They attacked a mere kitten. I do not, however, know her name. I interceded for this kitten’s sake, and they turned to attack me while the kitten escaped. So it happened that they signed their death-warrant."

He fluttered his wings anxiously. "I didn’t want to kill them. I would have left them in peace. Nevertheless, I could not leave that kitten to their blood-seeking jaws."

"Still," he continued, "It is not with an easy conscience that I say these things, but I know in my mind that what I did was justly called for. I have sought you out, battling long and hard against all obstructions to get here. Still, I must-- wait!"

Sekhet's eyes had grown wide, for he had seen Jemima and recognized her, as she had come to the forefront of the Jellicles. "You are the one for whose life I did battle? What is your name? Who are you-?"

While addressing his beneficiary, however, the giant momentarily seemed to stumble, but regained his balance on the formation of steel. "I shall hope be able to know your name soon, but forgive me, for my time grows short."

He turned to the Jellicles. "I hate to rush things, but time is, as I have said, of the essence. Grant me one thing, though, I beg of you, before my time runs out."
Old Deuteronomy, who had mounted the tire, then addressed Sekhet. "Speak, and we shall listen. What boon do you ask of us?"

The creature was breathing heavily, and was swaying from side to side. Rather, the entire structure of steel was swaying! "I ask for only one thing," the creature replied. What he said next stunned them all:

"Acceptance."

Sekhet's face had taken on a frantic look, as he tried to talk rapidly. "I have long sought for a place where I would not have to fight. Where I would be accepted and befriended! I do not wish to fight! And yet . . . and yet . . . ."

The creature's chest was heaving in and out rapidly. "I need your help. I have come to collect one whose title is 'The Hidden Paw'. It is the final mission I have set for myself. I cannot allow such an odious villain, whose filthy paw stretches into thousands of evil doings, to stay free. Extortion, blackmail, kidnapping, even murder, are within his power!"

The winged orator had noticed the uneasy shuffling of his audience. "I assume that, from your reaction to this person's title, you know him. If this is the case, do I also correctly assume that you are the Jellicles? No matter, I must remember the time!"

It was speaking in short breaths now, and was struggling to keep its eyes open and from toppling down. "No, not now! I cannot-"

It composed itself and re-addressed the Jellicles. "I have engaged this same person's minions after the battle with the Pollicles, which you already know of. I inflicted many deaths, and even more will not wake another morn, but I am satisfied to say that, even so, there still are some who will be dealt with according to laws, not claws. However- however, they were able to- . . . To . . . ."

A leak, and then another one, and another, spouted from the too-tight armor, spraying blood. This Sekhet, it was later learned, had fought the Pollicles, then sought out and fought Macavity's minions, was subsequently wounded, then fitted his armor to keep from bleeding to death. He had then waited for the meeting of the Jellicles, to address them.

Sekhet swayed for a moment, then fell to the ground, in a mess of wings, metal, and blood.

Part Five - "Black-Ear's Story"

"Rats," moaned Mistoffelees' patient, the unarmed and unarmored hulk of Sekhet. "Have I achieved it? Am I really with the Jellicles, or is this yet another dream from which to wake with tears of rage and helplessness?"

Mistoffelees had been with Sekhet through most of the night, using his magic to heal the battered warrior. "It is no dream," Mistoffelees replied. "You are with . . ."

He never finished. Sekhet tried to sit up with a start, groaned, fell back, and lay still with rounded eyes fixed on the smaller fellow magician. "You are the famed Mistoffelees, are you not?"

Mistoffelees would have laughed if it had not been such a serious remark. As it was, he tried to comfort Sekhet. It was a strange gift with him, but he was able to sense feelings of other beings all the time, although he could read minds only if the thoughts were on the surface and unblocked. And he sensed that this Sekhet had fought long and hard to get to him. "I am known as Mistoffelees, although I do not call myself famous. But before you wear yourself out talking about me, tell me about yourself . . . ."

The human cried bitterly. It wasn't an adult, and it was not a child. It was in pain, a dull, throbbing pain throughout its entire body. It didn't know where it was, and remembered nothing but the name of Emil Dorian, what Dorian had done to him, and the Change . . . .

He remembered a small, gray-striped cat, comforting him. His mother's cat. He remembered a fox, murderer of the cat. And the cat's name: Princess.

As all these thoughts spun through his mind, he remembered more. Such as, ever since her death, perhaps even before then, before his birth, he had been fascinated with cats. Claws, jaws, fangs, and speed, strength, and if you could gain it . . . love. He had always wanted to be like a cat, intelligent, of course, like humans are, but to at least have some of the abilities of these "ultimate predators."

What a gullible fool he had been! He was excellent with technology, and that had been his downfall.
Or not! He had been asked to help in tracking down a hacker, using his own hacking abilities to find the person or persons involved. Pity that he actually found the responsible party. Emil Dorian had used the viruses to lure the humans with messages embedded in the coding, and this human had fallen for them.

The only bad thing about the whole business was that the human had actually found Dorian's base, off the Florida Keys. Captured and outwitted like some fool fresh from the street.
Now he was on the street. He, out of eight billion people, just had to be Dorian's guinea pig. Still, he had gained as well as lost.

He had lost his humanity. He had lost his relationships, his friends, family, everyone.

He had gained powers beyond the lot of humans. He had gained abilities, speed, strength, everything that was a part of a feline, and more. And he had gained enemies.

"Welcome to your new home, David," Dorian had said to the human. Dorian had perfected genetic manipulation, and created chemicals needed to achieve a catalytic state, combining human and feline abilities and assets. He had also injected a tranquilizing chemical, but the human was able to escape. Pitiable the way Dorian writhed beneath the powers of his creature! However, Dorian could not be allowed to go free, nor could anyone be sought out for help by the creature, so the newborn creature crushed Dorian’s face even as Dorian screeched for the creature’s submission.

And then the screaming. Oh, the screaming! I pray you will never hear the like! Then it was finished. He was dead. He had strapped the creature in a lab table, but he had forgotten that as it metamorphosized it would grow in strength and size (although the creature shrank afterwards), and to modify the restraints accordingly. Nevertheless the human had already started the transformation process wrought by Dorian's biological studies, and Dorian was dead at the hands of his creature before he fully realized his fate.

The creature then realized that he had the ability to communicate with animals. He quickly found that there actually was a clan of felines known as the Jellicles, in the human world a great legend, and so he determined to seek you out. He fought his way across nearly half a world to find this place.

Mistoffelees was feeling admiration and pity for this creature, as well as a somewhat sick feeling in his gut from the descriptions. "But why do you fight and kill? Were you really human? And what happened with the Pollicles?" he asked incredulously.

Sekhet looked around, seeing his room for what seemed the first time. "I shall answer your second question first, since it is the easiest to answer. Yes, I was human. All too human." Sekhet's eyes gleamed.

"And as to your first question, are not some things worth fighting for?" Sekhet continued. "For Justice, first of all, although mind you, I strive to mix it with mercy, where applicable. Family and friends, second of all. However, in all this, I fight for what is right by law according to situations in which I find myself. I do not try to kill unless there is no recourse, but in this reality into which I have been thrust, killing seems a part of it all. Do you not kill mice to eat? However," Sekhet rolled his eyes to the heavens, looking for some guidance in his explanations, "there are murderers, and there are crimes. And for some of these, the ultimate penalty must be carried out by mortals, to send these foul creatures to a Higher Court. And that must be carried out through execution. Through Death."

Sekhet sighed. “The way one determines whether execution is warranted or not, though, is through laws. Unfortunately, as with the Pollicles, one might not have time to do anything but defend oneself.”
He sat up a little, and continued. "You will understand someday, when you have dear ones to protect, like these Jellicles, or a mate, or kittens. As for myself, though, I have no one to protect. Therefore, I fight for Justice and for those in need, but not for family, and not for friends. I have none of the latter."

Part Six: "Why?"

"But I do not understand how killing can right all wrongs!" Mistoffelees said in exasperation to Old Deuteronomy.

"Mistoffelees, I did not say that execution was right for every wrong." Old Deuteronomy corrected, then motioned to the kittens playing outside the vicarage. "When they disobey, they are disciplined according to their actions. You do not have any family, aside from Bustopher and myself, and I find that you are attracted to this fellow magician. But let me explain some things to you, which I see Sekhet trying to fulfill."

Old Deuteronomy looked out again at the kittens, and rubbed his head. "If, for example, Mungojerrie or Rumpleteazer stole some object from you and destroyed it, would you not expect to be paid back for it in full? And if the object was expensive, they should pay a lot, and if not, they should pay less, correct?"

"Yes, I think so . . . ." Mistoffelees was concentrating hard.

"And they could replace it, or pay for it in food, or money, or some other commodity, could they not?" Old Deuteronomy said.

Mistoffelees turned back to Old Deuteronomy. "Yes, but how could that justify my taking their life?"
Old Deuteronomy sighed. "I did not say that it would. But for some things, such as stealing an innocent life, to do justice and right the killing, the life of the killer must be taken as payment, and you could not accept money, or food, or anything less for a life."

Mistoffelees jumped up. "Then why isn't Sekhet dead? He has killed!"

Old Deuteronomy frowned at Mistoffelees. "Sit down. I said 'stealing an innocent life'! If someone has committed murder, killing an innocent, sentient creature, then the guilty life must be taken to exact justice through execution. That is the difference between murder, and execution. And as for the penalty of death, execution, governed by Law, is the only payment acceptable for murder. Murder holds to no limit of atrocities, and is either governed through Law and execution, or it will not be governed at all."

Mistoffelees stared at Old Deuteronomy. "I think I understand. May I go now?"

Old Deuteronomy stood up. "Yes, you may go. But I think that you have worried Sekhet unnecessarily. You did rush out in quite a hurry, if I remember correctly, and he probably thinks that he did a poor job of explaining his position."

"Yes, I did," Mistoffelees looked uneasy about his next question. "But can he stay with us? Is it safe?"

"He would die for us, to be accepted by us, as we are his last hope for friends, and you think it is not safe? And there is something between you four . . . ."

"Four? But it is only Sekhet and I!" Mistoffelees sputtered.

"And Victoria and Jemima. He has saved Jemima from death, and I remember some things about Victoria, which you could not, and she will tell all of you about it. At the Ball."

Part Seven: "What happened?"

Sekhet was slightly astounded at the Jellicle Ball. It held a romantic grace and happiness about it which he had never beheld. It was different than he thought it would be.

It seemed that a certain "Grizabella" whose name seemed to be popping up now and again had been sent to the Heaviside a Ball ago. He tried to take comfort in the fact that a certain Victoria had deigned to come over and accustom him to the Jellicle's history, and had told him that Grizabella had been in a worse fix than himself, and had yet been accepted.

She had offered to dance with him, but he had declined. "I dance the dance of Blood and Fire, but this is beyond my current abilities," he had told her humbly.

Still, there was something strangely familiar about Victoria, something so close, but so far, out of his grasp.

Perhaps it was the way she walked. Or it could have been the tilt of her head as she had smiled at him. And there was something about her acceptance of outsiders that seemed to be fluttering wildly in the back of Sekhet's mind. She seemed like a . . . sister?

Sekhet shook himself violently, then stopped because of the faint clinking of his armor, which he had put back on after a thorough cleansing. "In case of any . . . unusual . . . happenings tonight," he had replied to the somewhat awed and fearful glances at the darkened blades. He did not wish the blades to shine tonight, for he had been told of the last appearance of Macavity at the Ball, and had resolved to be as inconspicuous as possible. Sekhet had decided to try to surprise any intruders, and looking like the strings of light strewn around the Junkyard would not help. Sekhet, however, found it virtually impossible to be only a part of the background.

The kittens were nice, when they weren't chattering. "Tuggs", as Sekhet had started calling the Rum Tum Tugger, had asked if he could try out Sekhet's suit.

Sekhet had deadpanned. "Over my dead body," he had replied, only half joking. The look on Tuggs' face when he said that was enough to set Sekhet laughing. When the others heard the laughter and took it for a joke, they had laughed too. "I would not harm you," Sekhet had said, to allay unnecessary fear. "Still, it is my armor, but if you wish for me to build a suit for you, I could."
Even so, some were a bit too cautious around him. He had heard whispers and such, amplified by his magic, and had resolved that they were too afraid of him. Something would have to be done about that.

By this time, Jemima had come over to talk with the savior of her life.

She sat by Sekhet, who was still staring down at the Ball from his perch. "How are you? I hope you aren't hurt too badly from defending me?"

He turned to speak to her. "No, it's not too bad," he motioned to a twirling black-and-white form. "Mistoffelees is a very sufficient doctor. And how could I feel bad when such a wonderful event is taking place here, before my very eyes?"

Jemima looked with Sekhet at the Ball. "It is beautiful." she commented. Then, not being able to contain it any longer, she burst out. "I want to thank you for saving my life from the Pollicles who were chasing me!"

Sekhet smiled. "Believe me, it was easier fighting for you than talking with you. I didn't have to think when I was fighting."

Jemima blushed. "How could you not think when fighting?" she queried.

"It's easy. In such a suit of armor as mine, you simply have to get close to your opponent. But come," he motioned out at the dancing felines before them. "Surely talk of battle is inappropriate for such an occasion?"

"I suppose so. Still, it was very heroic of you to rescue me."

"It was no effort." Sekhet said shortly, then smiled apologetically at her. "You see, I long to protect the weak from harm, to help those in need. Not many creatures help each other now, and I can't stand others being tormented because of the whims of monsters like Macavity."

He paused, rubbed his head, and spoke again. "You see, I wish for nothing more and nothing less than to have friends and to protect them from harm."

Jemima moved closer to Sekhet. "Nevertheless, thank you . . . Oh!"

A blue orb had appeared around Sekhet, and had blocked her movement towards him.

He winked at her. "Have to watch out for those force fields, now . . . ."

Sekhet and Jemima were broken out of these reveries suddenly by Munkustrap telling them that Old Deuteronomy was going to give an address, and that Sekhet, Mistoffelees, and Victoria were to come up on the tire.

He sighed, stretched his wings, said goodbye to Jemima, and fluttered over to the tire from the old refrigerator upon which Jemima and he had been crouched. He laughed to himself. At least all the kittens aside from Jemima couldn't seem to get over the fact that he had been human and had metamorphosized into what he currently was. They thought he had been born with his wings and that they were the best things since yarn. The younger ones seemed to have resolved not to leave him in peace without getting at least one pair each, which was why he had positioned himself on the refrigerator.

"I have something to tell all of you," Old Deuteronomy started. "We all know, except for Sekhet, the unusual circumstances of Victoria's appearance, and that her mother was a gray-striped American tabby."

There was a murmur of assent from the Jellicles, while Jemima gave a claws up from the refrigerator and Mistoffelees looked at Sekhet, who was busy staring at Victoria.

Victoria paused and had looked at Sekhet in a way which would have made him shiver, if he had not been so entranced by what was promising to be an interesting tale, in the very least.
He had no idea what he was in for.

Victoria primly shook herself, and stood. "My mother was killed by a fox, as most of you know, in America," she stated. "Through some relatives I was able to get to England, and was able to find some of my other relations here." She looked lovingly at Old Deuteronomy.

She moved into a comfortable position. "Some of you know the stories I've told about my mother, but I've only told two of you this story I am about to relate."

The kittens gathered in closer. Old Deuteronomy and Mistoffelees looked at each other, and Old Deuteronomy smiled knowingly. Old Deuteronomy then looked at a beaming Jemima, then nodded at Victoria to continue.

"What you don't know is that my mother, Princess, was specially attached to someone. Her Mistress' human kitten. He had smoke-gray and blue eyes. She called him Andy, and my mother would watch him for hours, to protect him."

Victoria sighed as her eyes gleamed in the moonlight. "My mother hid me as soon as I was born with some of my relatives, as I have told all but one of you," she looked pointedly at Sekhet, who was shifting uncomfortably, since everyone else had turned to look at him. "However, I once was able to glance my mother's charge before I was sent here. She must have sensed that she was about to die, but ever since then I have wanted to meet that funny human creature again." She turned to look again at Sekhet.

"What is your human given name?"

"Andrew David."

"And your mother? Did she have any cats?" Victoria prodded.

Sekhet didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He didn't know where this was leading, or what they would do with him, but he hoped for the best . . . .

Part Eight: "Deliver us from Evil"

Sekhet addressed Victoria. "Yes, my mother had several cats, and yes, one was called Princess. One of Princess' littermates was called Cricket, but . . ." Sekhet composed himself. "Well, I don't know what happens from here, however . . ."

"It's okay, no one's gonna bite you, ya' know." Tugger tried to put in helpfully.

Sekhet looked around the meeting space. "They'd better not," he muttered under his breath.

"But if you really are the offspring of my . . ." Sekhet looked up thoughtfully. ". . . 'Godmother', perhaps we could . . ." His voice trailed off.

Sekhet sighed longingly. "Rats," he exclaimed. "Forgive me, but I don't seem to know how to put this any other way: How do I become a Jellicle?"

Old Deuteronomy smiled at Sekhet, who looked uncertainly back at him. "I think we could tell you that." Munkustrap, Victoria, Jemima, and Mistoffelees smiled.

"Nevertheless, there are some tests involved," Old Deuteronomy cautioned.
Sekhet shook himself, and stood. "I have an idea; how about we skip all the tests . . . if I bring you the head of Macavity? Your tests would be quiet awkward for me, for Mistoffelees has told me about them, and I did not start out a feline, but human."

Murmurings around the Junkyard came to the Tire like waves on an ocean shore.

"Is that possible? To capture Macavity?" asked a cat whose name, it had been told to Sekhet, was Alonzo.

Sekhet flew up onto an oven, and all of a sudden all of his joint-blades appeared. A small crackle, then another, and another, flew about him, until he seemed wreathed in a suit of lightning about his armor. Even Mistoffelees was impressed with the light show. Sekhet then spun around and impaled a can behind himself, pointed it at the middle of the Junkyard, and started the can glowing.

*ZAP* The can, which was now a molten mass in the middle of the Junkyard, gave silent testimony to the menial, but deadly, energy, expended on itself by the bladed warrior.

"Oh yes," Sekhet grinned at the attention his proposal had gotten. "It is very possible. And Macavity . . . is here."

* * * * *

"Macavity!? Here? NOW!?" the Jellicles were close to panic. Sekhet looked at the Tire, on which Old Deuteronomy, Victoria, Mistoffelees, and now Munkustrap and Demeter were sitting.

"Oh yes, he is here. At least, I sense someone exactly like him," Sekhet said to the group of scared felines.

"And who are you, to show such cheek to me?" a new voice spoke, and silenced the commotion.
A red ginger tom, huge, lean, and hairy, with a dirty coat, and sunken, baleful orange eyes, hideously disproportionate claws, and a zig-zag patterning stepped up on a car, on the opposite side of the Tire from where Sekhet's oven was.

"Ah, you must be Macavity.” Sekhet gazed at the tom. “You cause a lot of damage around town, but I knew you would get to me sooner or later. I don't wish to kill you, however, if you don't surrender immediately, I suppose I could capture you.”

Macavity laughed. "I think you underestimate me. I propose that you surrender. Otherwise things might not go very well."

Macavity snapped his claws and several dozen huge rats appeared on the mountains of junk surrounding the clearing.

"That's all the excuse I need, Macavity. Jellicles," Sekhet turned slightly, still keeping Macavity in his field of view. "What am I to do with this Macavity? Capture him for you, or simply boot him out of the Junkyard?"

Timid nods of approval and murmurs of "get him out of here!" reached his ears.

"Withdraw, Macavity, or prepare yourself for combat. I give you this single warning." Sekhet cautioned the feline Terror of England.

"I think not on both counts. You see, I know that you are just a kitten. Massive, yes, but you're not even half the size that a full-grown caracal would have reached."

"You should have heeded the warnings, Macavity."

All of a sudden Sekhet disappeared, and re-appeared behind the monstrous tom. Macavity cried out, and then . . . .

*THUD*

Sekhet had brought the handle of his sword down on the back of Macavity’s head. Macavity fell to his knees, shook his head, and turned, quivering with rage at the red giant behind him.

"One last chance, Macavity," Sekhet said to the raging feline in front of him.

A roar was Macavity's only answer. Macavity charged at Sekhet.

Sekhet stepped out of the path of the flailing Hidden Paw, and at the same time he threw a net at the place he had been, forming a door to nowhere. Macavity had too much momentum to stop, shrieking as he sprawled into the entanglement.

Part Nine: "It is finished"

The rats turned out to be cowards. After Mistoffelees and Sekhet had thrown some pillars of lightning and flame into their midst, they decided that there might be some truth in the old adage, "Discretion is the better part of Valor," and fled quickly with Sekhet, Mungojerrie, Alonzo, and Munkustrap in pursuit. After they returned, dusty and bitten from their chase, however, the Jellicles started to rejoice in Sekhet's reappearance, and for delivering them from Macavity.

Sekhet held out a dirty paw to silence the commotion. "I said I would give you the head of Macavity, and it seems I'm better than my word. His entire body is over there." Sekhet jerked a claw toward the cursing mess of rope and fur.

The remaining Jellicles looked at one another. The kittens had been taken by Jellylorum and Jennyanydots the Gumbie Cat to a safe haven after the "skirmish", as Sekhet had called it.
Sekhet muttered to himself as he walked over to the 'Fiend in Feline Shape'. "I've had it with his foul mouth." He quickly disentangled the wretch and clamped a paw over Macavity's mouth.

Sekhet and Mistoffelees stood facing each other, as the former struggled to keep his captive from biting his paw. "If there's no killing involved, then . . . I love my job." Sekhet grinned at Mistoffelees.

"Aye, brother magician." Mistoffelees grinned at the armored caracal.

"I don't want to kill him, but we've got to do something with him." Munkustrap said.

Sekhet and Mistoffelees turned to Macavity, still struggling with the net. "We've got the perfect place for him."

As they positioned themselves opposite one another with Macavity in the middle, they grinned at each other as Sekhet trussed Macavity back up. Then Sekhet and Mistoffelees stood, arms folded, eyes closed, and head bent. Then Mistoffelees opened his eyes and straightened up, and Sekhet immediately followed suit. Then, a bright hole, for nothing else could describe it, opened up between the two "brother" magicians, and sucked Macavity right through itself!

Everyone started talking at once "Where did he go? Where is he?"

"Oh, if my judgment of distance is correct, he should be right in the middle of cage #5 at the pound!" Mistoffelees replied, then laughed with everyone else at the thought of the 'Hidden Paw' finally smack dab in the middle of a cage.

Sekhet sighed happily, then frowned.

Jemima had returned from being carted off after the skirmish by Jellylorum and Jennyanydots.

"What's wrong?"

Sekhet looked at her, then at all of the Jellicles in turn. "This is my last mission. I have fought for my sanity, for friends, for life. I've fought nearly everything to get to this place, and now," he turned, a somewhat pleading look in his eyes, to Old Deuteronomy. "I want another shot at having a family. I know I may be asking too much of you, but I seem to have lost my first family for good, and you are all that remain for me. I cannot tell you how much it would mean to me to be accepted, but if you do not want me, then I shall die. There is no middle ground, for I can live no longer without friends."
He withdrew a long, thin stiletto from a hidden sheath near his arm. "I will return soon, to hear your verdict on this matter. I pray that you will answer with a yes." Sekhet replaced the stiletto, turned, and flew off towards the dawning sun.

Victoria, Mistoffelees, and Jemima looked at the Jellicles, then at Munkustrap and Demeter (who had joined Munkustrap), and finally, Old Deuteronomy.

Old Deuteronomy looked troubled, then brightened. "I cannot allow a total stranger, of a different species, into this tribe. He was right in that he would most likely not pass the tests. However, due to extenuating circumstances, if two Jellicles would promise to look out after him, I suppose . . . ."

Mistoffelees and Victoria jumped up. They started to thank Old Deuteronomy in a storm of gratitude, but he held up his paws and smiled. "For goodness sake, tell him, not me!"

"We will tell him!" they both replied, and started to rush off with Jemima in close pursuit.

*BOOM*

A cloud of smoke appeared, and Sekhet, no longer in armor (although he wouldn't be parted from his sword) appeared. With the dreaded "static cling" attached.

"Well, your teleporting trick does work, Mistoffelees!" he said happily, for he had been trying to copy Mistoffelees' tricks while talking with him in Mistoffelees' home. Then he noticed his fur. "Mostly." That got a laugh out of Mistoffelees and Victoria, remembering their own past recent dealings with the same problem.

Victoria looked Sekhet up and down dubiously. "I take it that this is why you wear armor?"
Sekhet grinned slyly. "Rats, she guessed my secret! But seriously, what did you decide?"

"We decided," both the white and black-and-white Jellicle said at once, with Jemima jumping up and down in the background, "that we have a new brother!"

They could only laugh at the expression on Sekhet's face, while he was trying to decide how to react to the wonderful news.

Part Ten: "Epilogue"

Sekhet and Jemima, Victoria and Mistoffelees, and Munkustrap and Demeter looked up at the full moon. Its light was ghostly, but kind and soft, flickering as storm clouds rushed before it.

"It is beautiful," Jemima said. She and Sekhet had grown close over the few months that Sekhet had lived with the Jellicles. The others present agreed, and Sekhet hugged her close.

"I think it is known as a 'Lover's Moon'," Munkustrap mused. Demeter nuzzled him.
Mistoffelees grinned in the shining darkness. "How appropriate." He licked Victoria behind her ears.
Sekhet shook his head. "Heh, you Jellicles . . .” he stood.

"What? What is it?" Jemima looked concerned.

Sekhet smiled mischievously. "Oh, nothing, I'm just going in to get something," he replied as he sauntered towards the Junkyard house he had built. "But I'd follow, if I were you. You see, I know something you don't."

A drop hit Munkustrap smack dab between the eyes. Another hit Demeter's tail, and soon it was pouring.

"You could have told us!" a somewhat soaked crew of felines whined.

"Too true, too true, but where would the fun be in that? Anyway," Sekhet pointed his palms out at the soaked group, as little gouts of electricity danced on them, reminding everyone of the other magician. Every single one was wet, except for Sekhet, who was already in, and Mistoffelees, whose magic had saved him a soaking.

"I can make it all right, but," Sekhet pretended to laugh like Macavity, then looked at them, "there is a price."

From his palms shot four orbs, which surrounded Victoria, Jemima, Demeter, and Munkustrap, vaporizing the water. But when the orbs disappeared. . .

"EEK!!!" Jemima screeched.

"AGH!!!" Victoria wailed.

"Look at this!" Demeter groaned.

"SEKHET!!!" Munktrap roared.

"Oh dear, it seems that I must have accidentally forgotten to tell you the price: static cling! WOOHOO!!!" Sekhet and Mistoffelees laughed as the others chased them around the Junkyard. At least, even if rain was wet, it would slick back their fur.

Life was good.

The End?
Let's hope not . . .



*1 A rope javelin is an Oriental creation consisting of a heavy pointed weight attached to approximately 5 meters of rope. It was swung around the head or side of the user with one hand holding the opposite end of the rope, then released, hopefully embedding the weight in the user's target. Because of the rope, it was retrievable. In shape, it was basically an enlarged plumb-bob.

*2 Sekhet was the Egyptian Lion-Headed god, in some legends husband to Bastet, the housecat-headed goddess. In some regions of ancient Egypt, Bastet was the near equivalent of the Greek goddess Demeter, keeper of home, family, and childbearing. Sekhet, on the other "paw", was the near equivalent of the Greek god Ares, a god of war, famine, plague, killing, courage in battle, and wholesale destruction. But Sekhet could only be tamed of his "bloodlust" by his tame and loving wife, Bastet, who was an alter ego in entirety to her husband, and so through his wife's influence fought Chaos (The Egyptian's Ultimate Evil) instead of everything (good and evil). The Ancient Egyptian religious system was weird, but I liked the story, like I like the Iliad and the Odyssey. Oh, and I AM a Christian, so don't think I'm some weird cultist or anything . . . . ;)

*3 Emil Dorian is taken from an animated episode of The Adventures of Batman and Robin. In the episode, he is revealed to have tinkered with genetics and chemicals to such an extent that he has developed a serum which can transform a human to a humanoid feline. With enough exposure, the human will lose all identity save what Dorian plants in their minds, and become a creature under the control of Dorian that is stronger, faster, bigger, smarter, deadlier, and more merciless than even a hardened human combat soldier. "The ultimate killing machine", for it can use existing human technology, and in a future envisioned by Dorian ruled by him and eventually "his creations", they could develop their own. He viewed felinity as the ultimate species in life, since he was portrayed as a godless scientist. He (of course) captures Selena Kyle (a.k.a. Catwoman) and starts the transformation process. And (also of course) Batman has to rescue her and change her back. The only difference is that I wouldn't want to change back! WOOHOO!!!

*4 It is true that, when I was little, my mother's cat, who in fact was really called Princess, "adopted" me. All I tell is from my Mother's memories, since I was too young to really remember her. She would lick me, sit and watch over me, and try to personally drag Mom in whenever Princess heard me crying. She also had a "sister", who was called Cricket (she pounced on everything, I've been told, therefore the name). She was killed by a rabid fox when I was about 2 years old. The fox(s, for it may have had a mate it had been running with,) is believed to have later been poisoned by one of our neighbors. I have adopted what seemed a perfect, yet strange, twist of fate into my story. One of those "What If" moments of envisioning Princess as a Jellicle. Victoria seems a perfect daughter, so sue me . . . For example:

Victoria = Queen
Princess = My feline "Godmother".

Victoria = Perfectly white.
Princess = Perfectly white except for gray tabby stripes on her back.

Victoria = a kindly Jellicle, the first to accept Grizabella, and then introduced Mistoffelees to her. Mistoffelees goes to me, and I go to Princess. Good points for making connections.
Princess = a creature who accepted me (I must have an inferiority complex, and few friends, eh? Oh yes...)

Incidentally, the reason for the name of this story, "Phased Reality", is a combination of my life reality, the Jellicle reality, and my dreams... Are not all of us somewhat insane?

*5 My full name is Andrew "Andy" David Williams. So what's better than using myself as "myself"?