Moonlight

~New York City, NY

With her M24 sniper rifle in hand, Roxane laid in wait on the rooftop of an abandoned factory just across the street from an old warehouse. She had received a tip from a source that a Russian scientist by the name of Jozef Sokolov or one of his cronies would be making an appearance in the Warehouse District of New York's Lower Eastside. The pantheress had a bone to pick with the good scientist; after all, he was one of the contributors of the project that had created her...the perfect assassin of Benandanti-were lineage, scientifically enhanced and government tested. All those involved where going to pay dearly for what they had done to her, especially the good Dr. Sokolov.

Just then three black H2 Hummers pulled up outside of the warehouse, which drew Roxane's attention. Peering through the scope of her rifle, a smile crept upon her lips when she saw that it was a group of CIA agents but sadly Sokolov wasn't among them. She took consolation that she had his favorite assistant in her crosshairs. 'Better than nothing,' she said to herself as she focused in more clearly on the young man's blond head. Little did the group of seven down on the deserted street below know that she had a special surprise for them; death was waiting for them ten stories up from the dirty streets of New York.

Carefully taking aim with her rifle, Roxane placed her finger on the trigger and pulled. The young man's head exploded in a hail of crimson as the hollow point bullet impacted the back of his head. The agents quickly drew their weapons and began to hunt for the unseen assassin. The body on the ground was still bleeding out when Roxane gazed through the scope again and picked off a CIA agent with a shot to the chest. "Find out where the hell those shots are coming from!" one of the agents yelled as they ran for cover behind the vehicles. They could run but they couldn't hide from the scope of one very pissed off pantheress.

~****~


~Lower Westside, New York

ShadowCat slowly lifted her head, inhaling deeply and sniffed the air; cars, people, rats, and all other things that fill the air here in New York City. Suddenly, a large paw smacked ShadowCat in the face and rested there on her nose. Grumbling as she turned her head, SC nudged the golden-fur body of her littermate Naima to make her turn over and move the offending paw from her face. Slowly uncurling herself from the bed, she yawned and stretched before opening her gold-green eyes.

Feeling a tug on her tail, ShadowCat looked behind her found Naima had awakened and was now playfully chewing on her tail. She lifted her lip and growled at her sister before flicking her tail away. Naima's bright golden eyes glittered as she pounced after the elusive tail. SC was having none of it and moved away and the morning chase was on. Shadow Cat raced around the loft growling and snarling as Naima followed closely behind in hot pursuit. SC suddenly flipped around and reared up on her powerful tiger hind legs and Naima leaped into her arms. They rolled, snarled, nipped and kicked at each other. Had anyone seen them they would have thought that the two were trying to kill each other, but this was pure play. SC shifted into her leopard form and dashed quickly away and back onto the bed. She laid her front paws down, narrowing her eyes as Naima crept towards her. SC’s back end wiggled and muscles bunched in anticipation. The younger cat crept closer then pounced onto her sister. Both cats crashed together off the bed with a loud thump as they rolled around on the floor, trying to get the best of the other. As they fought and rolled, they hit the TV remote causing the TV to come on and blared loudly:

"This just in; a shooting has occurred in the Lower Eastside Warehouse District. Details are still sketchy still but we have Bill Sharron on the scene. Bill what can you tell us?"

Both tigresses stopped and watched the TV. Their intense stares not wavering as the scene changed from the CSI units photographing the crime scene to a man wearing a gray suit, blue tie, his salt and pepper hair combed to help hide is receding hairline.

"Yes, Diane. As you can see there are two bodies on the ground. Police agents and FBI are on the scene but have yet to release anymore information." In the background men roamed the scene, ‘Do not Cross’ bright yellow tape was strung across a large area to mark off the crime scene. An ambulance, police cars, swat van and several unmarked cars were shown as well. "The bodies are being moved as we speak. We do know that the buildings in the surrounding area have been searched by swat teams. So we believe this was not an accidental shooting."

Shadow Cat snorted as her body rippled and it changed from feline to human form. Tanned complexioned, red hair with ghost strips of black and of course her gold-green cat eyes; she was truly an exotic beauty to behold. She felt Naima shift as well, very similar in looks except, SC eyes stayed in their gold-green cat eye shape and Naima’s was a light golden brown.

"What do you think, SC?" Naima asked as she looked over at her sister. “Do you think it a one of those human sympathizers?”

SC didn't move but continued to watch as a man wearing dark sunglasses, a trench coat and silver hair walked into view, looking down at the bodies. SC growled deep in her chest. She knew that man, the hair, the stance and walk.

"Dr. Jozef Sokolov."

Naima hissed then shut off the TV. "Why is he here?"

SC turned towards her. "Hunting."

"For us?"

"No, sister mine. For whoever it was that killed his cronies."

Naima sucked in a breath. "Another one of us?"

SC nodded. "Most likely, remember Ari said there were more labs than just the ones here in the US. All of them doing the same research. We really have no idea how many or what the Government has done or made."

"What do we do?"

"Nothing for now. Just watch our backs and if they come close, we do what predator cats do, Naima…kill to protect. I am going to take a shower then we will go eat."

Naima sat down on the bed and nodded. SC strolled to the bathroom, turned on the light and looked at herself in the mirror. Just as she turned on the shower, the memories she had tried so hard to forget flooded her mind. Pain, the tearing of flesh, the smell of blood, and whimpering of the dying. Shaking her head as she stood underneath the steaming spray of water, she screamed at her mind to stop it, to stop with what had happened at that damned place. The Lab, it was always the lab! It was the main reason why she always slept in cat form since they practically stripped away any humanity that she had left.

"Who are you? What is your name?"

"ShadowCat."

"Good. What is your purpose?"

"Hunt and Kill."

"Good, kitty..."

"Good Kitty, hah! I am not a good kitty," she said to herself as she stepped from the shower and dried herself. Then flashing on her favorite outfit, which was an exact replica of Halle Berry's Cat woman costume.

Returning to the living area, Naima was waiting. She preferred the street look where as SC loved her bodysuits. Walking out to onto the balcony of their apartment, they sniffed the air again. The night was their friend and they loved it. Closing her eyes, SC listened to the night, waiting to hear what stories it had to tell.

Naima watched her older sister by ten minutes. She loved her and she knew she had night and day mares from their captivity. SC had protected her as much as she could. Always taking the brunt of the punishment from the handlers at the lab. Naima smiled she wasn't as deadly or mean as SC but together they were lethal.

Stepping over the railing, ShadowCat jumped the two stories down to the alley below. Landing in a crouch, she slowly stood to her full five-ten height. Naima followed, landing quietly beside her. Slowly they walked down the alley with a predator's grace. A sudden noise behind them had them both turn together with synchronized precision. Several men and a dog stumbled around the far corner of the alley.

SC's eyes glittered with malice. Naima just grinned since this was a bad time to come into kitty territory. Maybe they wanted to play with a couple of kitties.

"Hey baby. How much for a good time?" one of the men called out to SC. As they closed the distance between them both soon realized that all the men’s heads were shaven clean.

'Skinheads...go figure.' SC voice rang in Naima's head.

"Oh, for you we won't charge a thing for having a good time," SC answered sweetly. The skinheads laugh and elbow each other. As the distance slowly narrowed the dog caught a whiff their scent, whimpering it tucked its tail between its legs, stopped in its track and tried to pull away. The one man holding the dog’s chain, yanked on it hard and the dog whimpered but didn't budge.

"Whaz your name beautiful?" one of the men asked SC. Getting with in reach of the first man, SC grinned as she made a fist and slammed it into his jaw, dropping him where he stood. Naima jumped the one next to him, hitting him with open hand full force to the chest. The skinhead flew backwards landing in a heap among the day’s garbage.

SC round kicked the man to his left, knocking him a ways down the alley. The dog pulled on its chain and broke free, running away as fast as it could. The sisters made fast work of the group of men. Catching the last man standing who still hadn't moved, the dog’s chain still in his hands, SC stalked over to him slowly until his back flat against the wall, too scared to move. "W-What are y-you?" he asked her, terror filling his voice.

"I am shadow and your worst nightmare, baby," she whispered huskily before slamming him in his gut with her fist then kneeing him in the groin. As he crumpled to the ground, moaning and cupping himself, SC turned, joined Naima and walked away laughing down to the end of the alley. This night was starting off nicely.

~****~



Several street hustlers wolf whistled at Roxane as she buried her hands into the pockets of her long black leather trench, which flared out behind her like a cape. Roxane always paid attention to her surroundings since she was never sure when the next would-be attacker would jump out at her. 'Or at least attempt to surprise me,' she said, since she would usually see them first and take them out with ease.

She knew that Sokolov had to be in the city and would be on the hunt for her, but she was determined to draw him out first before he got his hands on her. Thoughts of what he did to her still made her skin crawl, especially when he referred to her as his ‘special one.’ Roxane was going to show him just how special this predator was when she put a bullet right between his eyes.

As she turned the corner onto another street, Roxane immediately noticed two tall women walking towards her and her head snapped up in alert for she could sense that the women were not human. She shouldn't have been so on edge, except these shifters were different than all the others she had encountered. One was a redhead dressed in a black leather bodysuit and the other was a honey-brunette dressed in a black fitted tank and jeans.

SC took note of the tall, raven haired woman as she walked passed her. The quiet yet very dangerous powers coming from the woman immediately let SC know that this woman was no ordinary Were. Looking over her shoulder at the woman, she sniffed the air but continued on her way. There was definitely something about the woman that screamed danger even though she looked very docile. 'We will meet again,' SC thought to herself as she walked on.

“You noticed her too?” Naima asked SC. “There is something about her, I think she’s the one who did the shootings.”

“I think so too, Neema, but for now, let’s just keep our eyes and ears open for that one.”

Roxane looked over her shoulder at the redhead and brunette as she passed. From the women’s walk, she could tell that they were very much the predator much like herself. She was powerful and had a quiet yet dangerous air about her....however, it couldn't be possible that there were more genetic anomalies out there like herself. Or were there....?