Cat And Mouse: The Whale, Part 3 free porn video

CAT AND MOUSE: THE WHALE - PART 3 by Bluto WEEK 11 "Alcatraz Island is a national landmark out in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the Island of Alcatraz is a world unto itself. Isolation, one of the constants of island life for any inhabitant -- soldier, guard, prisoner, Indian, bird or plant -- is a recurrent theme in the unfolding history of Alcatraz. "Alcatraz Island is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most popular destinations, offering a close-up look at a historic and infamous federal prison long off-limits to the public. Visitors to the island cannot only explore the remnants of the prison, but can also learn about the Indian occupation of 1969-1971, early military fortifications (the first U.S. fort on the coast), and the West Coast's first (and oldest operating) lighthouse. These structures and the island's many natural features -- gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and bay views beyond compare -- are being preserved by the National Park Service which is working to make it accessible to visitors, preserve its buildings, protect its birds and other wildlife, and interpret its history..." "Or thus says the Park Service's official website," the Medium told her fellow Protectors. "For the government to allow us to set up operations here must be a really big deal." A big deal, indeed. The Cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco and the State of California -- with help from the United States Government -- had finally decided on a course of action to resolve the Killer Whale situation. After keeping Ricky Simmons on the move for more than a week, never even spending a night in any one location, it was finally agreed to transport him to the infamous island in San Francisco Bay. An extraordinary decision for more than one reason, as it meant the landmark and popular tourist destination had to be closed to the public and evacuated, costing various government agencies and small business owners potentially millions of dollars in revenue, depending on how long this stay lasted. Simmons was given a room in the main cellblock of the fortress-like old prison itself, far from the water, with a 24-hour guard made up of SWAT team members. Three dozen heavily armed agents representing the city, state, feds and military occupied the island and hoped to stop the Whale before he could make it to that main building. To help them do that they were equipped with two armored personnel carriers and an assault helicopter armed with Hellfire missiles. Three Coast Guard cruisers loaded with ordinance were on constant patrol in the treacherous waters surrounding the island. Also on hand were two members of Luchadores Maximos, there as a concession to the Mexican Government, which was still steamed over the Whale's rampage through Puerto Vallarta earlier this year. Add to all that the Protectors -- Nightman, Cat and Mr. Fix-it -- in addition to the Medium - and some people were still worried. "I don't like it because it's too close to the water," Nightman said uneasily. "Killer Whale gets his strength from the water and there's a hell of a lot of it within easy reach for him." "The last time you fought him you were in the desert and he still kicked your ass," Nancy Miller said undiplomatically. "No, here we can use the heavy artillery and won't have to worry about civilian casualties. The Coast Guard alone has enough firepower circling this place to keep Godzilla out." Miller had come from NYC to join her team due to the importance of the operation. Although he could understand why she wanted to be on hand, Nightman couldn't help but feel her presence was a slap at him and his handling of the situation so far. El Penduloso and Tetasitas were the only Luchadores to survive the Whale's Mexican rampage without major injury and they were determined to avenge their teammates any way they could. While Nightman wasn't sure how much help a couple of glorified wrestlers would be against the Whale, he wasn't about to turn away any warm bodies with his own team at such a low ebb. Besides, the two hot shots provided some lively sparring partners for Cat and himself at practice time. El Penduloso, who looked like Gilbert Roland with muscles, was a giant of a Mexican at 6'1" and 250 pounds, while the stern Tetasitas was his female counterpart at 6' and 175 pounds. "My friends, it will take all our efforts to defeat this Whale person," El Penduloso said. "He has taken first blood against both our organizations and we must get revenge, yes?" Nightman had to agree. The Girl Goliath, one of the strongest Protectors, was out for the count and scheduled to return to China after a lung transplant operation. The Arrow was still not yet fit for duty and, as far as he knew, the Mouse wasn't ever returning from her supposed trip to Europe. He had heard some good things about the kids, Cat's daughter and the Medium's guru's grandchildren, back in New York, but they were so young he certainly couldn't ask them to come out and help in this critical situation. So young ... just like Nightboy... "No," he thought. "We'll just have to hope we have enough manpower right now to stop the Whale." "Any idea when the Whale will strike?" he asked the Medium, but he already knew what her answer was going to be. "You'll be the first to know when I get a glimmer, boss," she said. "But, unless my visions start kicking in again like they used to, I'm about as much value to this team as a three-card-monte dealer and junk." "Do not put yourself down, senorita," El Penduloso said gallantly. "Everyone serves his purpose in a time of crises, yes?" "A crisis? Ha, more like a hoax and mass hysteria." The speaker was Dr. Jim Van Cleve, marine biologist, University of San Diego. It was decided that this mission needed at least one member who was actually an expert o even though he was totally skeptical about the very existence of the Whale. "That 'hoax' you speak of so cavalierly broke my back a couple weeks ago in LA, Doc," Cat asserted. "And he's left at least a dozen people in hospitals spread over three countries. Some of those people are good friends of mine, too." "Well, for someone with a broken back you seem to be getting along just fine, Ms., err, Cat," Van Cleve said, as Cat slunk nearer to him. "The person you fought was no doubt a lunatic, a freak of some sort given great strength by his madness. But the thought of some half-man, half- animal supervillan is ludicrous." As she approached Van Cleve, Cat pulled her tail away from her costume and twirled it seductively. She "accidentally" smacked him on his bald head with that tail, then took off his fogged up glasses and wiped them clean on her vast cleavage. She handed them back to the befuddled scientist and smiled. "Well, big boy, if this is all make believe, then someone is going through a lot of expense for nothing." "You've got that right," Nancy Miller said. "Keeping all this muscle on the Rock is costing a bundle. I hope the Whale attacks soon, before the politicians start counting the pennies." "Oh, I get it now," said Cat, turning to face Miller. "That's why you moved Simmons to a damn island. You're using him for bait, you're hoping that putting him so close to the water will encourage the Whale to attack here and now. You're gambling that we can pick the battleground and still beat the Whale where he's at his strongest." "You know, Cat, unlike some others I could mention, I've always enjoyed your way of saying exactly what's on your mind," Nancy Miller said, with a sour expression on her face. "But right now I think your mouth is writing a check your ass can't cash." "Ooo, look who's talkin' trash," Cat said, as she turned and patted her generous behind. "Baby, I've got plenty of ass to pay any bills you can write." The security guards who always accompanied Miller stiffened and quickly glanced at her as if for some command. After a fraction of a second, she merely relaxed and smiled at the lion-woman. "Our fight is with the Whale, Cat," she said. "It would be best if we all remembered that. I'm going to take a tour of the island's defenses. Anyone care to join me?" Most of the group, which also included local officials and some military leaders, took off, leaving Cat, the two Luchadores and the Medium behind. "Not a good idea to antagonize Miller," Gaby said. "You know, you wouldn't even be on the team if she hadn't spoken up for you." "I really couldn't give a shit," Cat said, with a shrug. "It was Mouse who wanted to be a Protector and now she isn't even around. Medium, you know as well as I do that a lot of these people are going to get hurt when the Whale attacks, maybe even killed. I think they should know just exactly what they're signing up for and why the battle is going to be fought here." "I hope you are not speaking of us, Gata," El Penduloso said as he put his hands on his hips. "Remember, we Luchadores have fought the Whale before so we know what that monstrosito can do, and yet we will eagerly face him again for the honor of our fallen comrades." Tetasitas, whose command of English wasn't nearly as complete as her partner's, grinned and said "Si." "By the way, senior," Cat said, while eying the front of El Penduloso's brief tights. "I was wondering what that name of yours means. Does it have anything to do with that big lump I always see in your tights?" "Ha, ha, ha," El Penduloso laughed, as he ran his hand through his black, oily hair. "That is for me to know and for you to find out, yes?" "Hey, how come you don't always wear your mask like other Luchadores? You prance around all the time wearing nothing but your tights and those white boots." "Aha, when one is as handsome as El Penduloso, one does not deny the ladies the pleasure, yes? And I might ask you why you always have your beautiful eyes hidden behind dark glasses?" Gaby rolled her eyes and threw her hands into the air. Cat guffawed and offered to treat everyone to some Mexican food for lunch. A temporary commissary had been set-up for the convenience of the fighters and there was even a small medical tent manned by volunteer staff. "Perhaps, when the Whale gets here, we can get you both to compare your 'equipment' for our entertainment," she said. "His 'outfit' is even skimpier than yours. I'll take off my dark glasses for that." Ten miles away, in the San Francisco hills, a lone figure watched Alcatraz Island through the thick fog. It was a huge man, covered in a shapeless overcoat and careful not to garner too much attention to himself. "Tonight, Ricky, tonight," was the only thought on the man's mind. *** "The long wait is almost over, my friends," the Commander told his eager minions. "In two days we attack the Basilio house and win the greatest treasure in the world. The Protectors are still fooling around in California and we cannot be stopped!" A lusty cheer rang out among the gathered bad guys at Destroyers HQ. They were all there: the regulars, the wannabes, the mercenaries and the grunts. Close to 30 of them altogether for their biggest job yet. The plan was simple. Surround Basilio's building in East Harlem, cut it off from the outside world. Neutralize all the residents. Bring in the Indian, who guaranteed he would have no trouble locating the treasure. Secure that treasure. And leave. Simple. "Or so the Commander tells us," Weapons Master said, with a sneer. "I don't like it." "Jesus, what's your problem?" EXO2 said. "You've been against this job from the start. What's the matter? Are you chicken? Chick, chick, chick?" The Weapons Master's eyes went cold and his hand drifted toward the big automatic pistol which was always by his side. "If you were not my teammate, boy, I would KILL you for saying that. No one calls me a coward and lives." "Woah, slow down, guys, testosterone overload," said EXO1, as she quickly positioned herself between the two men. "Weapons Master, my brother is an idiot, but he does have a point. You've never warmed up to this project and I'd like to know why." "Why? How do we know that this so-called "treasure" is so valuable? We only have the word of that damn Indian and who is he? Some weirdo who popped up out of nowhere. He rubs me the wrong way, I tell you. There's something about him I don't trust. Maybe it's crazy, but he gives me the same vibe I get off the Cat." "That is not so crazy, my friend," the Blue Ninja added. "I, too, get that same vibration. Can the two of them be connected in some way?" "Well, I'm not getting any 'vibrations' but I don't much care for this set-up myself," Junk Yard Sal said. "I don't mind following the Commander's orders. He's a nut, but he pays well and he's never led me wrong. But this Joe Santi dude creeps me out. The way he looks at you, like you wuz some lab rat, or worse, some salmon swimming upstream during spawning season. I swear I seen him licking his lips at us when he thought no one was lookin'." "So, I'm a nut, am I?" It was the Commander. Somehow he had approached the quarreling Destroyers without being noticed and was intently listening to their heated conversation. "My dear Sal, haven't you ever wondered where those paychecks you love so much are coming from?" "I, er, well, yeah, I guess so," she stammered. "I'd always assumed you wuz responsible for all that." "I wish it were so, my friends, but my pockets are not nearly so deep," the Commander said, with a sigh. "The successful jobs we have pulled didn't clear nearly enough money to cover an operation this big. I must confess I am merely an employee, just like the rest of you, and I must follow my orders. My employer - who WILL remain nameless - has a mole in the Protectors organization. It was that mole who found Joe Santi and brought him to us. My employer, the man who pays the bills, has great confidence in Santi. If he says we are to invade a house in East Harlem for the greatest treasure in the world, then, that is what we are going to do. And we will do it without question, do I make myself clear?" The Destroyers looked gingerly at each other, then they all nodded in agreement to the Commander. "We will do as you say, Commander," the Weapons Master said. "I will keep my opinions to myself, but they are still my opinions." "Good enough," the Commander said. "Now, go over those plans again, I want you to be able to recite them in your sleep." The Commander walked away and into his office, which once was forbidden to all but himself, but now had another occupant, a huge, bear-like man who seemed to banish all light from the room with his mere presence. "This Weapons Master is unimportant to our plans, you know," he said, in his pitch black bass voice. "It would be a small matter for me to make him disappear." "Do that, and I swear I will find a way to make you pay for it." Since he always wore his skull mask, there was no way to tell what the Commander's facial expression might be, but his voice let Joe Santi know he meant every word. "Surprising concern coming from someone famous for killing his henchmen." "I merely kill, demon. I have a good idea what you do." If Santi was surprised that the Commander had struck so close to the truth about him, he didn't let on. He just chuckled and returned to watching the various television monitors lining the walls of the room. *** An enthusiastic training session was coming to an end at Protectors HQ and everyone there had the same thought on their minds: what wild and wondrous animal will Lupe turn into next? Since the Times Square incident, when she had spontaneously turned into a chimpanzee, Lupe had successfully taken on the aspects of eleven different animals. Her years of addictively watching Animal Planet and Nature were paying off. "Try somethin' big next time, chere, like a horse or a alligator," said the Arrow, who was once again supervising the training. "Haven't you been paying any attention at all, man?" Diego scolded. "As far as we know she can only turn into mammals, so alligators are out. And whatever she turns into will weigh no more or less than her normal bodyweight, so she'd be a mighty funny looking 100 pound horse." Three non-protectors were allowed into today's session: Tony Bass, who was rapidly becoming the Protectors' unofficial mascot; Wendy J, who was still the kid's hands-on martial arts trainer and still learning more about the nature of her charges; and Nicky Greao, who was there to study the problem of constructing a practical costume for Lupe. Nicky was again posing as his female alterego, Nicole. He told everyone it was to protect his true identity, but Tony suspected it was because he enjoyed the attention a certain Richard Gibbens Robichaux had paid to the glamorous Italian woman. "Lupe, I'da likea you to try turning into a bata next, to see whata we'll have toa do abouta the wings," Nicky said. Lupe couldn't help being slightly embarrassed by her current costume -- a modified spandex bikini that allowed for the various shapes and forms she could now assume. She hoped Nicky could come up with something soon that was a little less revealing. A few moments of concentration and her body simmered and stretched and soon she was the largest bat the world had ever seen. Her arms lengthened and stretched and now had leathery wings attached to them, while her legs turned short and stumpy. Her hands and feet featured long, sharp claws and her entire body was covered in coarse brown hair. Lupe had deliberately chosen a species of bat with fairly benign facial features, but she still had the long sharp teeth, pointed nose and huge black eyes that have inhabited so many nightmares over the millennia. She did not like what she saw in the gym mirrors. "Concentrate on what you can do, not what you look like," Micki said, as if reading Lupe's mind. "Why don't you try to see if you can fly?" Lupe started flapping her arms, generating enough wind with her 12-foot wingspan to knock over anything that wasn't tied down. She finally managed a wobbly liftoff and headed for the ceiling. She circled the cavernous room several times, did a few loops and rolls, then grabbed the trapeze bar near the ceiling with her clawed feet and hung there upside down just like a real bat, her body almost completely covered by her wings. "Wooee, ain't dat something, Ralphy?" Tony said to the little baby he was caring for today, who giggled and cooed and clapped his hands in excitement over the giant bat. "Ha, ha, I wonder if dis kid is going to remember all dis when he grows up?" "OK, that's enougha bat action, Lupe," Nicky shouted. "Come on down and changea back." Lupe gracefully alighted on the floor and in moments was back in human form again with a few quick tugs to return her bikini to its proper place. "God, I forgot how hideous bats look," she said, shaking her head, "especially a giant bat. I'll scare the bad guys to death if they see me on a dark night!" "Aw, don't be so sensitive, child, you looked beautiful to me," Wendy J said. "If I was a shape shifter like you I'd be ecstatic. You can change into a beast that can even give little Micki a run for her money." "Yeah, arm wrestling a chimp is a challenge all right," Micki said, with a chuckle. "How did it feel to have the senses of a bat?" "Great! I could hear a conversation two of the security guards were having at the front of the building, " she said. "And I can tell you what everyone here had for breakfast - Arrow, you should really cut down on the sausage, it's bad for you. But my vision was weird. Everything seemed totally washed out, like I was in the desert or on a white sandy beach at high noon." "Well, ofa course, a bat's eyes are madea fora the dark," said Nicky, as he drew some chalk lines on Lupe's body. "Whew, ah don'ta know. Witha the range of shapes and sizes you cana go through, the best idea may be for youa to just sticka with the swimsuit and maybe adda a mask ora helmet ora sometin' for your head." "Euww, gross," Lupe said, screwing up her face. "I don't want to be running around fighting the bad guys in a bikini." "Come on, cuz, why the false modesty?" Diego said. "You got nothing to be ashamed of." "Oh yeah? Don't forget, CUZ, it wasn't that long ago that I never left the house because of, well, you know." "Aye, mamasita, I never realized. You are still uncomfortable about that?" "What the hell are they talking about?" the Arrow asked Micki. "Is the kid afraid she's goin' to get her period while she's wearing that get-up and have a accident?" "None 'a your damn business, redneck," Tony Bass interrupted. "It's private and it's nothin' you'd understand." Micki put her arm around Lupe's shoulder and led her away from the discussion. "Lupe, if anybody has an excuse to have body issues it's you. But, believe me, the swimsuit isn't that bad. I wish we had fabric made out of "unstable molecules" for your costume, but this is the real world, not some comic book. We just have to make do with the materials we have. OK?" "Yeah, OK, Micki," Lupe said. "You're right, the suit isn't really that bad and I've got to stop being so sensitive. Besides, I can still wear something over it until I have to go into action. Do you think that Little Wildcat costume Nicky made for me will fit over this thing?" "Hey, everybody," Wendy J shouted. "Look what's on the TV!" The national news had just begun and the lead story was a report about the Protectors and their mission on Alcatraz Island. *** The sun was sinking into the Pacific and the security forces on the Rock were at yellow alert. A television reporter in combat camos -- one of the few reporters allowed out of the hundreds of organizations that requested access to the facility during this crisis -- filed his nightly report. He and a handful of other reporters and camera operators had been "embedded" and were being allowed to stay here 24/7 until the siege was over. One place that was off-limits to the media was the ready room. It was really just an old storage room close to the dock that had been outfitted with some card tables and folding chairs, but it was a convenient place for the Protectors and the rest of the island's defenders to relax and grab a coffee, a smoke or just some casual conversation. "Damn Freedom of Information Act," Nancy Miller said, after she got away from the cameras and microphones. "We sure don't need all this publicity about our actions." "But Nancy," Cat said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Don't you want to make sure the Whale knows where his quarry is so he'll come and get 'em?" "I think the word has been spread quite well, Cat," Miller said, between clinched teeth. "Ah, senoritas, there is no need to bicker," said El Penduloso, who was enjoying a cup of very strong, black coffee. "At a time like this we only have each other to rely on, yes? How about a song to lighten the mood?" In addition to wrestling, the muscular Mexican fancied himself a singing sensation and, in fact, had several best-selling albums back home. He even brought his guitar along to help fill the long hours of waiting. He started strumming "Mexico Lindo" and singing the words as well. "I can't believe this, Gaby, it's like some corny old TV show I remember from when I was a kid," Cat said. "Roy Rogers or Gene Autry, singing to the cowhands by the campfire on the eve of the coming fight." "Is that guy for real?" It was Rick Simmons. Until now he had been content to stay in his tiny but secure room, but tonight he was showing himself for the first time. He ran the gauntlet of reporters and was here now to spend some time with his defenders. "Mr. Simmons, so nice to see you," Nancy Miller said. "And to what do we owe the pleasure of your company?" "Hey, this ain't a prison anymore, is it? I can go anywhere I damn well please." "Hmm, with an attitude like that, it's no wonder the Whale wants to give him a little squeeze around the neck," Cat said. "Listen here, limp dick, the only reason any of us is stuck on this rock is because we're trying to protect you from your ex. I'd keep that in mind before I shot off at the mouth again." "You're as bad as Barbara," Simmons said bitterly. "How is any of this my fault? I didn't make her go to Antarctica, I didn't force her into that damn cave, I didn't make her use that idol to become this Goddamn monster. Why don't you talk to the Whale, Ms. Cat? Didn't she say something about you knowing what she was going through? What did she mean by that?" "Ah, I'm sure I don't know what that was all about," said Cat, suddenly on the defensive. "I never met this Killer Whale before a couple weeks ago." "But it is true you two have similar, animal-based powers," Nightman said. "I wonder if that's just a coincidence." "Cat, didn't you tell us your powers came from an experimental cat food your father fed you while you were growing up?" Nancy Miller piped in. "Was that true?" "Look, you're going to have to take my word for it, OK?" Cat said, as she started to sweat. "Some things it's better not to know, you know?" "You also told us you grew up in Alabama," Mr. Fix-it, who had been sitting in the corner doodling with one of his contraptions, added. "So what happened to that corn pone accent of yours?" "I did grow up in the south," Cat said uncomfortably. "And my mother is from Alabama. Now, enough of these questions, OK?" At that moment Dr. Van Cleve entered the room to warm up with a cup of coffee. He had been taking readings next to the water and San Francesco's famously cold night air had chilled him to the bone. "Burrr, give me San Diego any day," he said, as he blew his breath on his hands. "Hey, who made this java? It's just the way I like it." "Oh, Dr. Van Cleve," Cat purred, as she grabbed the biologist and yanked him to her massive bosom. "Why don't you tell us something about killer whales, uh? That is your area of expertise, isn't it?" "Ah, err, why yes, Ms. Cat, it certainly is," he said, as he grinned stupidly. Several people stopped what they were doing to listen as he propped his foot on a chair and began to speak. "Ok, the scientific name for them is Orcinus orca. Orca means 'cask' or 'barrel' which is what the creatures shape looked like to the old- timers. They are the largest carnivores on the planet and they prey on pretty much anything and everything that swims in the sea, while nothing preys on them. However, there are NO substantiated accounts of them preying on humans. "The largest male on record was measured as 32 feet long and weighed 11 tons. They are native to every ocean on earth and they all have the characteristic black and white colorings which act as camouflage. It is believed that prey looking up at them confuse their shapes with the sky and clouds and fail to recognize them as threats until too late. "They have excellent hearing and use a form of sonar, just like bats. Their eyesight is also first rate and they like to pop their heads out of the water to spy around. As far as we know they have no sense of smell and the jury is out on their sense of taste, although they do show a preference for certain foods. "They have a single row of three inch, curved teeth that are used for grabbing and tearing, but not for chewing. They can swallow small seals and walruses whole and in their stomachs have been found the remains of polar bears and moose and even other killer whales. Groups of them have been known to attack and feed on much larger whales, including the blue, the biggest whale of all, and they have even been observed killing and eating great white sharks." Van Cleve was in lecture mode and would continue to drone on for quite a while. Cat was pleased with the distraction but somewhat concerned about the worried look on Simmon's face when he heard about what killer whales can do. "I guess I'd be worried myself, if I were a mere human and I knew one of those things was coming after me," she thought. Miller and Nightman, for their part, decided to let the matter of Cat's mysterious origin drop - for now. The Medium was raptly listening to Van Cleve, while El Penduloso kept right on strumming and singing, with Tetasitas joining in for the chorus. "Mexico Lindo y querido, si me muero lejos de ti, diles que estoy solo dormido, y me trajen mi querpo aqui." Time passed uneasily until most of the island's temporary residents went to bed. It was 2:00 AM and the only people stirring were a skeleton crew of military types still on duty. The Coast Guard cruisers remained on regular patrol using searchlights and sonar in an effort to keep all the watery approaches to Alcatraz covered. Mr. Fix-it volunteered for the night shift to represent the superhero contingent. In truth, he preferred these quiet hours, when there would be few others to interrupt his thoughts with their need for useless conversation. He was already working on his next robot, the replacement for Rover, and was totally enthralled with a printout of the plans for a Japanese automaton receptionist that was already at work greeting people at the Tokyo University of Science. "She can recognize 40,000 phrases in Japanese, Korean, Chinese and English," he read. "And not a bad looker from this photo of her. Oh, boy, I could really do something with that pile of microchips." The space between the Coast Guard cruisers' coverage areas was small, but it was enough for a slick black figure to pass almost undetected. "Got a momentary reading on the sonar, captain," one of the technicians on the lead ship said. "But it's gone now. Should we go to full alert?" "Naw, just radio the island and tell them there may be something heading their way," the captain said. "As big as this Killer Whale character is supposed to be, sonar would have picked up more than that." In seconds searchlights on the island swept the shoreline and heavily armed troopers searched for anything out of order. But after an hour with no results, the lights were turned off and the sonar reading was considered a technical glitch. As the troopers returned to their posts, an area of sand and brush near the shore began to stir. It was 4:15 AM and Mr. Fix-it was just returning from taking a crap. He'd been unnerved by the earlier alert and his bowels felt like they needed emptying. Two other men served at the watchpost where he was stationed this night, but neither were anywhere to be seen. "Cole! Pete! Hey, where are you guys?" he shouted. After getting no response, Fix-it looked around and for the first time noticed wet footprints, both in the room and on the sidewalk leading to the room. Not boot-prints - footprints. Large, wet footprints. Suddenly, Fix-it felt like the fellow playing the bass fiddle in the second "Creature from the Black Lagoon" movie. He ran out to the path leading to the former prison and spotted a massive figure moving rapidly toward the grim stone building. He almost stumbled over his two new friends on the path and was relieved to find that they were merely unconscious and tied up, not dead. Then, he did something uncharacteristic for Mr. Fix-it. He returned to the security hut, but, rather than sound the alarm, he opened a large box, the one he'd had the Arrow ship to him from NYC, and proceeded to put on the contents of that box. At that moment, Cat and Gaby both sat upright in their beds in the room they shared with Tetasitas. They looked at each other in the dark and both voiced the same thought. "He's here." They woke the soundly sleeping female wrestler and bid her get dressed and ready for immediate action. The lantern-jawed Mexican quickly pulled on her red wrestling mask, tights and boots and the three woman ran out to join the battle. The general alarm was now clanging, sirens were WHOOPING and spotlights revolving all over the island. On the water the battle cruisers were lighting up like Christmas trees as sailors scrambled to their duty stations. In front of the building with Rick Simmons' cramped quarters the Whale had already repulsed the first wave of armed defenders. Six of them with M16s blasted away at the demon-possessed monster. All of them repeatedly hit their marks, but the Whale didn't seem to notice. With a wave of his massive arms, he sent them flying, every one of them suffering concussions and/or broken bones. The Whale was halfway up the last flight of stairs leading to the floor containing Simmons' room when he encountered Nightman and El Penduloso. Both heroes were armed with bo staffs, one in front of the Whale, one behind. "You two again?" the Whale spat. "I guess I let you off too easy the last time we fought. Well, I won't make that same mistake. This time you'll both join all your friends in the hospital or the morgue." The two heroes had no illusions that they could defeat their inhuman foe with such simple weapons. They were only hoping to slow down the Whale to give the others more time to prepare for him. The confined space of the stairway actually worked to their advantage as they could hardly miss their target, while the Whale had no room to wind up his huge arms and strike at full power. El Penduloso fouled up the Whale's legs and feet and made him fall on his face, while Nightman rained powerful blows on his big head. "Arrgh, enough," he bellowed. "I'm tired of fighting you gnats!" Suddenly, the Whale balled up and rolled down the stairs, striking El Penduloso like a 500 pound mini-avalanche. He grabbed the stunned wrestler and flung him into Nightman. The momentum of his throw was so powerful that both heroes were smashed through the heavy door leading to the next floor. They lay sprawled on that floor, momentarily helpless, but the Whale forgot about them. He had spotted Ricky Simmons! "Ah ha, now I got ya!" Simmons, Cat, the Medium and Tetasitas were at the end of a long hallway, running away from the Whale as fast as they could. The Whale chased them furiously, his feet pounding the floor like an earthmover and air blowing noisily out of his breathing hole. Simmons and the women turned several corners but the Whale kept gaining on them. He was so excited about finally achieving his goal that he didn't notice that the walls and ceiling of the hallway he'd just entered were covered with a fire-resistant material. He was only a few feet from his prey when a heavy metal gate fell in his way and Cat shouted, "NOW!" Mr. Fix-it, who was just out of sight, threw a switch and three small magnesium/napalm bombs exploded in the hallway just as another gate was dropped to block the Whale's escape. At once the supervillan was trapped in a blazing inferno. He screamed in agony and hurled himself against the metal gates. He rolled around on the floor, frantically trying to remove the white-hot, sticky napalm from his body. A squad of men with fire extinguishers were on hand to make sure damage to the historic site was limited, while a squad of policemen with automatic weapons was there to make sure the Whale did not get out of the trap alive. "Ma'am, do you want us to spray the foam on him?" one of them asked Cat. "Otherwise he's going to burn to death in there! We can at least shoot him and put him out of his misery." "No lo desparas, dejalo quemar," said Tetasitas with an evil grin. "Es lo que el merece para lo que hizo a mis companeros." Simmons understood what Tetasitas said and cringed at the thought. He absently rubbed the spot on his left ring finger where his wedding band, long removed, used to rest. And, as much as Cat hated the Whale, she couldn't help remembering the time the Gamboli family had her in their clutches and cremated her alive. She had felt the pain of immolation and she knew exactly what kind of agony the Whale was going through now. As she heard his inhuman screams, she wondered whether she was actually starting to feel sorry for this horrible creature. With the last of his strength, the desperate Whale made one final charge at the gate. He smashed through and kept going, bowling over firemen, police and superheroes alike and starting small fires in his wake. It was like a scene from "The Thing From Another World (the original, not the shitty remake.)" He staggered to a restroom and crawled inside, somehow bracing the door behind him. "He went into the head!" one of the policemen shouted. "Come on, we got him cornered now! Wooee, look at the steam. Smells like a fish fry!" Cat, the Medium, Tetasitas, Rick Simmons and a half dozen heavily armed policemen stood outside the restroom door, wondering who was going to make the next move. Then they heard a tremendous racket from the small lavatory. "Hey, sounds like he's trying to bust out the wall to escape," one of the cops said into his two-way radio. "Better get someone waiting for him on the other side!" "I hear water running," said Cat. "I think the bastard is drinking out of the toilet like a damn dog. Medium, Tetasitas, get Simmons out of here, now!" With no further ado, all the policemen started blasting away at the restroom, splintering the door in a matter of seconds. When they ceased firing to examine their handiwork, a bullet-pocked sink came flying out of the room. "Look out!" Cat shouted, as the porcelain missile took out two of the startled gunmen. The toilet bowl came next and knocked over more of the stunned law enforcers, followed by the Whale himself, all ? ton of him. The remaining police aimed their assault rifles, but the Whale surprised them by shooting a jet of water out of his nose/snout like it was a high-pressure hose. The force of the spray knocked everyone but Cat out of the way. "This sum bitch just doesn't know when to quit," Cat muttered. "Hey ya bastard, you got me wet! You know cats don't like that!" The Whale was bleeding and burned, but he was still fighting. He swung at Cat, but she easily dodged the blow and returned one of her own. She had had Micki ship Mick's loaded gloves from the Mouse costume for her to use the next time she met Killer Whale. Fortunately, they were stretchable enough to fit her hands, which were so much larger than Mick's. "Haw, we're on more even footing this time, big man," she taunted, as she beat a tattoo on his broad face. "That napalm bath took you down a peg or two I'll bet." "You just keep on believing that, kitty cat," the Whale bellowed, as he wildly swung his enormous fists. "I've got plenty enough left for you and all your friends." With that the Whale picked up an office desk and hurled it at Cat. She easily jumped over it, but while she was in the air she couldn't maneuver and the Whale used that split second to land a telling blow to her jaw. Cat fell to the floor like a sack of potatoes, momentarily stunned, and the Whale ran off in the direction he saw Gaby and Tetasitas take Simmons. The Mexican wrestler saw the Whale coming and pushed Simmons and the Medium into an open cell and closed it behind them. "Stay in there," she said in her halting English, as Gaby protested. When the Whale arrived she smashed a chair into his face, then dashed behind him and jumped on his broad back. Spitting out Spanish curses, she dug and clawed at all the burns and wounds she could reach on the Whale's body, scraping off handfuls of raw, bloody flesh. The Whale roared in pain, then turned and smashed his back against the bars of the cell containing the Medium and Simmons. There was a sickening crunch and Tetasitas crumbled to the floor. She looked broken and was as still as death. "Bastard!" Gaby screamed. "You killed her! You killed her!" But the Whale ignored her cries and started to pull the cells bars out of the wall with his powerful hands. Gaby kept screaming, but her words were indecipherable. At her command, all lose metal objects in the room began to vibrate. She pointed at the Whale and a score of sharp, metal missiles flew straight into his massive body. "Arrgh, you witch. I'll kill you for that!" The Whale gave one last mighty heave and the bars, along with a good portion of the concrete wall, were down. But before the Whale could enjoy his triumph, a large metal fist smashed into his jaw with shattering impact. "What's this now?" he asked, as he stumbled back. What it was was Mr. Fix-it in his battle armor, a combination exoskeleton/shining knight concoction he had whipped up years ago, but had never gotten the nerve to use until now. Fix-it's natural laziness, combined with his cowardice, had prevented him from testing it in actual combat, but the "death" of Rover had driven him past the limits of good sense and into rash action. "OK fish-man, you've met your match this time," he said, as he struck a fighting pose. "Now you're going to pay for what you did to Rover." "Rover, who's Rover?" the Whale asked, as he avoided Fix-it's next wild swing. "Oh, you mean that toy dog who exploded out in the desert? Hell, at least he put up a better fight than the rest of you heroes." The Whale smashed his fist into Fix-it's armored chest, but, despite the awesome power of that blow, the timid mechanical genius stood his ground and continued to pummel away at his massive foe. Wearing an exoskeleton wasn't going to convert Fix-it into a seasoned fighter, but the armor was almost impregnable, so he could stand toe-to-toe with the Whale, flailing away at his ham-fisted foe. The major flaw of the armor was its lack of maneuverability, but that didn't really matter much against the Whale. "Fix-it, let me help," Cat yelled, as she stopped watching and joined in the slugfest. Now it was two against one and in his weakened state, the Whale began to give ground. Cat and Fix-it backed him up to a large picture window, then they landed simultaneous hay-makers. The Whale staggered backwards through the plate glass and fell 30 feet down to the concrete. He stood on wobbly legs, then turned to see the two armored personnel carriers rapidly converging on him. "This isn't working," he thought to himself, and started stumbling toward the Bay. Nancy Miller, who had been keeping at a discrete distance from all the action, suddenly appeared and started barking orders into a two-way radio. "He's headed for the water," she shouted. "Cut him off. Damn it, bring up the helicopter. What do we have it here for if we aren't going to use it?" Cat leaped to the ground and followed the Whale at a prudent distance since she didn't want to get caught in the crossfire. The personnel carriers were blasting away with 50 cal. cannon fire, their tracers illuminating the night like fireworks. She couldn't tell how many of the shells were actually hitting the Whale, but he continued toward the island's wharf, the flickering gunfire making him look for all the world like a monster in an old black and white silent horror movie. Twice he fell to the ground, but he got up and shambled on. The helicopter finally got a bead on him as he entered a clearing and launched two Hellfire missiles. The explosions rocked the whole island and the Whale disappeared from view. "Well, by God, we got him for sure that time," the General, the military liaison, confidently told Nancy Miller. "No way that freak survived firepower like that." "We need to find the body, General," Miller said. "We can't rest easy until his corpse is in our possession." As the smoke cleared, Cat ran to the crater created by the missiles. She wanted to be the first to the Whale's body to make sure his threat was ended. However, she found no sign of him. She rapidly circled the crater and finally found the Whale's scent 40 feet from ground zero. "The explosion blew him all the way over here," she shouted. "I don't know how, but he dragged himself away. Look at that trail of blood!" Everyone raced to the dock and they arrived just in time to see the Whale, or what was left of him, slide into the water. "Noooo, don't let him get away!" Cat yelled. Without a second thought, she dived into the Bay after him, but she was lost in the murky, polluted water. Her super senses did her no good and she had to give up the chase. "Damn it, I missed him," she said, back on the dock. "Don't worry," Nancy Miller said. "We've got divers looking for him right now under the wharf. And if he gets any further out the battle cruisers are on the alert." In fact, all three cruisers had converged on this side of the island and their sailors were ready with weapons and depth charges. Nancy Miller, the General and Dr. Van Cleve kept watch with binoculars, while Cat was being briefed on the list of casualties by a fireman who was also head of the medical staff. "I can't believe one person did all this damage. About half of our fighters are out of action, mainly with broken bones and concussions. Hate to say it, but at least two guys are suffering from gunshot wounds, which means friendly fire. Of your superhero friends: Nightman has a broken arm and El Penduloso has a broken leg. The woman, Tetasitas, is the worst off. She's got a concussion, some cracked ribs and internal bleeding, but I think she'll be OK. We've called for two medivac helicopters to evacuate the wounded. The Medium and Mr. Fix-it don't appear to be injured. And, oh yes, Mr. Simmons didn't get a scratch." Simmons, who had joined everyone else at the dock, could hear the mocking tone of the fireman's last comment. "They blame me for this, don't they, Ms. Cat?" he said. "You all do. What did I do? People get divorced all the time. Sure, I was a lousy husband, but you can't kill someone for that, can you? I didn't turn Barbara into a monster, I didn't make her go insane. Why do you all blame me?" "Because we're in a mess and we have to blame somebody," Cat said, as she sipped on strong black coffee from someone's thermos. "Maybe, just maybe, if you live through this, you'll treat your next wife a little better. Ya think?" Simmons dropped his head and slumped his shoulders. A big, red sun was coming up over the horizon, but he wondered if his personal nightmare was ever going to end. On the lead cruiser a sonar technician was noticing activity on his screen. "Captain," he said over the com system, "I'm detecting a large bogey on the screen, depth about 200 feet... seems to be shaped like a whale... approximately 50 feet long." "Our briefing said this whale character had the ability to change into the real thing," the Captain said. "Notify the island and ready depth charges." "Captain!" the technician shouted. "I have a second bogey on the scope... slightly smaller, but definitely another whale shape." "What the hell, sailor," the Captain barked. "Are you sure about that?" "Captain," the first mate said. "Ship number two reports another whale on sonar and it's heading for the surface." "What's going on out there?" Nancy Miller said, as she listened to the chatter on her own receiver. "There's only one Killer Whale, isn't there?" At that moment a mighty marine mammal broke the surface only a few feet from the flotilla. It was soon followed by a second and a third, one by each cruiser. "Son of a bitch," said Miller, as she looked through her binoculars. "Those are humpbacked whales. They aren't our bad guy, they're an endangered species. Why are they here?" "Because the Whale called them," Cat said, with a thin smile. "So, he's not just a mass of muscle. He's smart, real smart. He knows the Navy can't use depth charges against real whales, so he gets to recover while they're here. I didn't know he had the power to call real whales to him. Impressive." The Medium and Mr. Fix-it, still in his armor, had joined Cat on the dock. "Well, I'm glad you're impressed," Fix-it said. "And what are we supposed to do while he recovers?" "We get ready for his next attack," Miller said. "General, bring up the armored personnel carriers and the helicopter. Get every able-bodied fighter down here. I've got a feeling that he's going to be back real soon. Medium, get Simmons back in the prison building for his own protection." "No." "How's that?" "No, I'm not going back to hide while everybody else faces the Whale," Simmons said. "I realize I may not be much of a man, but I'm through letting others fight and die for me while I run and hide. The least I can do is stay here and face Barbara when she comes back. She's not evil, not really. She's always had a bad temper and turning into this monster was just more than she could take." The fighters looked at each other and shrugged. "OK, Ricky," Cat said. "It's your funeral. I'll try to keep you from getting your fool self killed." "Pathetic. You should let the male pig die at the hands of his wife." "Huh, who said that?" Cat asked. "Said what?" Simmons asked. "Come now, has it been so long since you heard my voice that you no longer recognize me?" "Malato-Zu?" Cat gasped. "No, it can't be you." "And why not, human? I never went away, you know. I've just been quiet for a little while. And if I were you, I would not answer me out loud. People will think you are talking to yourself, which, of course, you are." Realistically, Cat knew that the demon who gave her her power had to still be with her. But she had, foolishly perhaps, convinced herself she would never have to hear that hated voice again. "What brings you back at this inopportune time, demon," Cat thought. "I'm kind of busy right now." "Busy on a fool's mission," the demon said. "You cannot defeat Wollruo - the Whale as you call him -- as you presently are. He is much too strong for you and your human friends. You must give him the human male pig to satisfy his appetite for revenge or you must let me fight him in your stead." "No way, no way!" Cat thought. "I am not letting you take over. Certainly not in front of Nightman and Nancy Miller and all the rest. I'll figure out a way to stop the Whale as I am now." "Foolish mortal," the fallen angel smirked. "Wollruo was never the smartest of demons, but he is very determined. He will get Simmons, sooner or later, and all you and your friends can do is fail and die. Think child, who defeated Vuvoco and Ratesie? Not you! You had to call on me both times to save you. Call on me now, or you are lost." "You had Mick's help killing them each time." "Ah yes, our 'daughter,'" the demon said. "You chose her well, she is growing up into a woman we can be proud of." "Hey, hold on," Cat thought. "You said 'all you and your friends can do is fail and die.' Do you mean that the Whale can kill me, really kill me?" "Well, yes, of course, the same as I killed Vuvoco and Ratesie. What are you thinking, Katherine? You aren't considering ending your life again, are you? I thought you gave up that foolish idea a long time ago." "Something's coming," Nancy Miller shouted. "Something BIG." Everyone turned in the direction Miller pointed and even in the morning light a faint green glow could be seen radiating out of the water. Only 100 yards from the shore a huge black and white shape was starting to rise from the bay. "Oh my gawd," Fix-it said. "Am I in "Orca" or "Gorgo?" As if in slow motion, the full demon Killer Whale walked out of the sea. He was a mature male Orcinus orca, 30 feet long from stem to stern and more than 10 tons in weight. He had the characteristic large dorsal fin on his back, but instead of pectoral flippers and flukes he had arms and legs like a man. It was a sight the likes of which humankind had not seen in many millennia and even the seasoned fighters on the shore were struck dumb with primeval fear. "Fire, you fools, fire!" Nancy Miller screamed. The armored personnel carriers' cannons thundered into life, but by that time, the Whale was right next to them on the water's edge. He grabbed each by the undercarriage and flipped them on to their sides, rendering them useless. The helicopter entered the fray and unleashed another missile, but the Whale grabbed a tractor and used it for a shield. The 'copter came in closer and let lose with it's twin machine guns. "OK, King Kong," the pilot said. "See how you like this!" But the pilot made his run a little too close to the Whale, who used his mighty leg muscles to leap and grab the helicopter's landing gear. Then he smashed the copter's blades against a solid stone building, snapping them in two. He casually tossed aside the crippled aircraft and kept coming. "Call Travis Air Force Base," the General pleaded to the fleet commander. "Get them to scramble some jets over here pronto!" Mr. Fix-it was in the Whale's path, still in his armor, but totally lacking his recently gained bravado. "I, I, I'm not afraid, you big pile of blubber," he stammered. "I'll still take you on." The Whale's only response was to swat Fix-it with the back of his giant hand. Fix-it landed in a flowerbed a quarter of a mile away. Nancy Miller barked to the cruisers to use their cannons on the Whale, but the task force commander balked at that suggestion. "Ma'am, that's an historical landmark the Whale is standing on," he said. "I can't risk destroying it with artillery fire! I'm calling Travis for more helicopters." "Oh, this is not going well," the General said nervously. "Why didn't someone tell me this Whale person could do stuff like that?" Cat gave him a curious grin, then said something odd: "Themselves had seen me from slaughter come blood-flecked from foes, where five I bound, and that wild brood worsted. I' the waves I slew nicors by night, in need and peril avenging the Weders, whose woe they sought, -- crushing the grim ones. Grendel now, monster cruel, be mine to quell in single battle! " "What the fuck was that!" the General screamed. "Beowulf," Dr. Vav Cleve answered. "One of my favorite passages," Cat said. "Although I do prefer the translation that reads, '...with nicors I wrestled.' You see, nicor, in Old English, meant whale. Or maybe hippopotamus or walrus, no one's really sure." The General was apoplectic. "God damn it, are you a superhero or a high school English teacher? We're getting slaughtered here!" "You'd be surprised at exactly what I am, General," Cat said, then she turned to the Medium. "OK, Gaby, give it to me now." With that, the Medium handed her a heavy leather belt, which Cat strapped around her waist. She gave Gaby a thumbs up. "Remember what I said to do if worst comes to worst," she said, as she ran to Simmons' side. True to his word, Ricky had not fled to the prison building. He stood on what was left of the dock and faced the Whale as it turned for him. The Whale gave out a piercing squeal when it saw him and eagerly approached its long sought-after prey. "Hang in there, sport," Cat said to the trembling Simmons. "I've got a plan." The Whale loomed over the two of them like a building. All the able- bodied fighters left on the island, including Miller's bodyguards, Miller and the General themselves, were peppering the Whale with small arms fire, but he simply ignored the bullets. With one great hand he slapped Cat away and with the other he grabbed Simmons like he was a doll. He held the frightened man in his unforgiving grip, eyeing him greedily, licking his black lips and opening his cruel jaws. "Oh my God, the monster's going to swallow that man alive," the General bellowed. "Call the ships! I don't give a damn about the national monument, tell then to train their big guns on the Whale and fire!" Cat stumbled back from where she landed after absorbing the Whale's blow. Her nose was bleeding and her left eye was shut, but she still had a job to do. "General, any artillery fired at the Whale may not kill him but will almost certainly kill Simmons," she said. "I told you I had a plan and I'm putting it into effect right now." With that, Cat took a running leap at the Whale and jumped head first into his dank, slobbering maw. The Whale, startled, closed his mouth and swallowed with an audible gulp. Time stood still on the Rock, as all those who saw what happened tired to convince themselves that what they just saw actually happened. "Jesus Christ, what the hell was that," the General gasped. "Did she do what I thought she just did? Oh my God!" "No, no, no, no," Van Cleve kept repeating as he held his bald head in his hands. "Killer whales don't DO that!" Cat could see nothing. All was black, fetid, damp and foul. She held her breath and felt herself being moved by the involuntary muscles of the Whale's gastrointestinal tract down to the stomach. "Whew, now I know how Tommy Lee Jones felt in "Men In Black," she thought. "Hey, what's that green light up ahead? Must be Geppetto and Figaro fishing for tuna." Instead, Cat could see it was a small terra cotta sculpture, resting in one of the folds of the Whale's stomach. It was a miniature version of the Demon Whale, a killer whale with human arms and legs, and a very noticeable penis. "All right, I know you can read my mind," Cat thought. "Who's in charge now? Wollruo or Barbara Simmons?" "You made a mistake coming here, lion woman. I will show you no mercy. Just as you devoured my brothers, Ratesie and Vuvoco, I will devour you." "Hey, it was Malato-Zu who did all that devouring, but I'm not going to split hairs. Let me talk to Barbara." "Why should I, human? You do not tell me what to do." "Listen, tubby, I've got a leather belt around my waist stuffed with C4 explosive. I know you can survive just about anything, but if I detonate this baby here on the inside it will blow you in two. I've already left instructions to keep your two halves separated, to incinerate them and to scatter the ashes all over the world. Humpty Dumpty will never be put together again." "You play a poor bluff, human. Any explosion of such power would kill you as well." "And the bad part of that is? Do you really think I want to continue living this monstrous existence? If my death also brings on your death, why, that's just a bonus." "So what? The only thing that will die is my mortal host's body. My spirit will live on in my idol." "Yes, and I have given instructions that if your idol is ever found it is to be tossed into an active volcano. The person I gave those instructions to will be right here when I split you open and the idol pops out." There was a mental silence for a moment. "I will vomit you out before you can do this terrible thing. I will. . ." "Shut up, Wollruo. It's time I took over." "Barbara Simmons, I presume?" "That's right, Katherine, I'm here." Suddenly, Cat was no longer in the stifling belly of the Whale. Instead, she was in a pleasant meadow on a bright Spring day, wearing a yellow sun hat and dress and sitting on a wicker chair. A soft breeze brought the smell of fresh Kentucky honeysuckles to her nose and she could hear the buzz of the busy bees searching for pollen. She was Katherine Filin again, the real Katherine Filin, not some gross half- woman, half-lion thing. She was sitting with another woman, a pleasant- looking, somewhat chubby, bespectacled younger woman, also in a sun dress and hat and sipping from a soothing glass of lemonade. "Barbara?" Katherine asked. "The mind is a wonderful thing, isn't it, Katherine?" Barbara said. "In my mind, I'm still human, still a woman. But, it's only in my mind, isn't it?" "Listen to me, Barbara, of all the people on earth, I know exactly what you are going through. What the idols have done to us is enough to drive anyone mad. But why are you so obsessed with killing Rick? That's not going to solve anything and, believe me, after he's dead you won't feel a bit better." A tiny teardrop fell from Barbara's face and she blew her nose into a delicate lace handkerchief. "Ever since the divorce I've been consumed with hate for that man," she sobbed. "Day and night all I see is his face and his cruel, lying mouth. It's what kept me going through this nightmare existence all this time. It's what has allowed me to take more control over Wollruo than I normally could. If it were up to that demon, we would have been capsizing boats and eating helpless sailors all over the world, but I wanted none of that. I focused all his destructive tendencies on Rick and did what I could to avoid killing others." Katherine shivered for a moment, recalling the hundreds of victims slaughtered by Malato-Zu and wishing she had been strong enough to have prevented all those deaths. "I've talked to Ricky, Barbara," she said. "He says he's sorry for the way he treated you. He told me he takes full responsibility for the divorce. He was standing there on the dock, acting like a man for probably the first time in his life. He was ready to die to let you know he was sorry. Can you find it within yourself to forgive him?" "I, I don't know, Katherine. Even if I did forgive him, what about Wollruo? I've been promising him for months he could eat Ricky and if I tell him no now he may go berserk." A breeze suddenly arose and quickly gained strength. The two women held their skirts and hats as the sky became dark and flashed with lightning. And then, the grinning face of Malato-Zu filled the entire horizon. "Do not worry about Wollruo, little humans," she said. "I have reminded him of something he had apparently forgotten. He will not trouble you for now. Katherine, you need to leave this place. The process of digestion has already begun." The two women tearfully embraced, then the meadow, the dress, the wicker chair and Barbara Simmons disappeared, replaced once more by the Whale's foul stomach. Cat felt a churning and tumbling and was caught in a tide of bile as the contents of the Whale's stomach, all but the idol, erupted back up the G-I tract and out his mammoth mouth. Cat's superhero costume had pretty much dissolved away and much of her body was covered with acid burns, but she was overjoyed to smell fresh, clean air once more. "Cat, Cat, I'm so happy to see you and junk," the Medium squealed, as she hugged her friend despite the awful smell. "I did like you told me and convinced them to stop firing on the Whale while you were inside. Oh, girl, you were in there so long I thought you were never going to come out." "How, how's, Simmons?" Cat asked, as the medical volunteers covered her in a clean bed sheet and applied salve to her chemical burns. "Oh, like, the Whale froze as soon as you jumped in his mouth. It was the weirdest thing. Ricky boy was in his hand all the time you were inside and couldn't get lose, but as soon as you came out, the Whale let him go." Cat looked up and the Whale was turning to return to the sea. The Whale looked at Cat and what might have been a smile appeared on his face. He gave her the peace sign and thundered off for the water. "No, oh no, he doesn't get off that easy," the General bellowed. "That monster has caused millions in damage to people and property over two whole continents. No way is he just going to turn his back and walk away like that." But by then, the Whale was under the waves and rapidly leaving the San Francisco Bay. He swam with the humpbacks so the battle cruisers couldn't use their weapons on him and eventually converted to his more human form so even the aircraft following him soon lost track. Back on the Rock, Cat was having a talk with Ricky Simmons. "I hope you realize what a lucky bastard you are, Simmons," she said. "I think, in spite of everything that has happened, Barbara still loves you." "Ms. Cat, I don't know how you were able to talk to her, but I'm sure glad you did," he said, as he prepared to take a medivac to the mainland. "And, I am not bullshitting you. From now on I'm going to be a new man, a real man, for a change." "You'd better be, kid, or else I'll come loo