Turns out they got further than ideal. I sat in the back of the room pretending to only half listen while watching cars on the street below us.
On the screen was a drawing of a face and several photos it could go with. My eyes paused on the second to last one. Oliver Stunning, that completely fit. I pulled up his data on my phone that was strapped to my paw. Has a sister, Olivia Stunning, probability of being right given the noted info, 83%. I wonder if they will kill everyone on the list or actually dig further in?
Well I don't know them it's not a huge issue if he dies, stupid goal of saving everyone, why on earth would heroes limit themselves like that. Not much I can do about it. The dumb nagging continued in my head. Fine how do I save a tiny little cat with three big cats out for his blood? All while keeping my identity as a cold blooded killer safe.
To my surprise Lyra actually picked out the guy.
"Pretty sure it is him, I will know for sure once I've smelled him." She stated. "How to find him though."
Darts paw shot up, "I've seen him, my human goes to a school with him."
I frowned, the entire world and the cats all picked from the same area!
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go pick up a cat!" Dart asked.
Pride nodded, "Snow?"
I stood up and unsheathed my claws instead of answering. Looks like I'm calling in sick to work tomorrow.
Pride nodded, "Good, I think it is time for us to know our humans. Go ahead and show them. We wouldn't want to accidentally kill ourselves."
Dart turned into a small chubby guy named Mason. And Lyra turned into a girl. My eyes narrowed at her, the same girl from the shark tank, Lilly.
They were looking at me. I looked at Pride.
"Is this wise?"
His glare on me intensified. "Yes, I would hate to accidentally claw you up."
Well no huge way around it, I will be creating a fake identity for myself.
I turned into myself.
"Cody Hunter, works as a mailman, but is fond of murder."
That should be enough, I already had Cody Hunter the mailman or I guess mailwoman, now to just add more social media about her. Maybe I will make her employee of the month three months ago.
"And you?" Lrya looked at Pride who was still a lion.
"Irrelevant, I am not worried about killing myself." He stated.
I totally saw that one coming, of course he wanted our info without giving his own. Not like I was going to say anything either.
"Well then Dart", Pride smiled, "Shall we go meet your classmate?"
We wandered through the dark city until we reached an open area. A rubber track made a lap in front of us with a building behind it.
"We are both seniors here." Dart added as we crouched by the school.
"Why are we here now? Shouldn't we come back tomorrow? You know, when there are students." Asked Lyra.
"He is on the basketball team, they had a game tonight." Dart replied.
"Basketball? I thought he was small." I added.
"He is, but he can shoot hoops very well." Dart continued.
(What I want to know is how Dart knows him so well.)
(The human he took over probably did.)
A half hour later a bus pulled in and a team of humans wearing sport jackets got out chatting happily, they must of won the game.
Last out of the bus was the little guy Oliver.
"Well Dart go say hello to your friend." Pride shoved him forward with a paw.
Dart flinched then changed to a human. He waited until Oliver walked away from the group to help put away equipment then scampered toward him.
"Mason?" Oliver looked at him, "Why are you still here?"
"We uh, need to talk." Dart dragged him toward us.
"Mason?" Oliver looked concerned, "let me finish here first."
"Go ahead," called another guy, "we would hate to ruin your romance!"
"Very funny Liam!" Oliver called back, he glanced at Dart, "fine make it quick, you have been acting so weird lately."
Dart dragged him again in our direction.
"Wait you aren't actually asking me out right? I'm afraid I already have a girl I...." his voice trailed off as he saw us.
His form flickered and turned see through but Lilly and I dumped paint cans on him before he was gone.
He gulped, "Uh, hi guys, what can I do for you?"
Pride grinned and wrapped a paw around him.
"You are going to do nothing. Just sit pretty in a cage for us." Pride ran his claws through the guys hair. "Be a good little bait now."
We abducted him back to the base Pride had picked. All the way on the top floor a slight chill pricked the air.
"If you don't want to find the fastest way down I suggest you don't try to run." Pride held him out the broken wall. "I think this distance should kill you, or at least gravely injure."
The tiny cat froze as Pride waved him around a little. Far below cars honked at each other.
"Lyra is it set up?" Pride called over.
"Yes sir!" Lrya replied.
I lounged on my block of concrete watching the city below again. I didn't want to seem too involved.
"Snow aren't you going to help?" Asked Lyra.
"Just kill him." I muttered back.
"He is bait!" Lyra replied.
I shrugged, but padded over to her.
"Keeping a hostage is nothing but trouble." I looked at Pride, "even if he dies the other team won't know he is dead yet."
"They will ask for proof of life." Pride replied. "Otherwise I would agree."
"Separate from your cat!"Lyra demanded.
"No!" Oliver replied.
I saw Pride unsheathe his claws, shoot this could end badly.
"Listen Camo was it?" I asked as I stuck out a claw and dragged it through his fur leaving a bloody whelp on one of his legs. "We aren't asking."
"Snow! Lyra yelped, "we are keeping him alive!"
"Alive doesn't need to walk." I retorted and raised a claw again for a second leg when he split from his cat.
"Okay fine, you win." He glared at me with hatred in his eyes and a small tabby in his lap.
Lilly grabbed the tabby and tossed it in a cage and locked it. Then she hand cuffed Oliver to a pole.
Pride nodded in approval his claws sliding back in.
"Now look pathetic!" Pride smiled and tossed Lyra a camera. "Dear team save, or maybe I will send it directly to you Night." Pride contemplated his message, "we have one of your cats. Meet us in a few days, who knows maybe we will give him back. If he lives that long. More details to come."
Lyra stopped the feed.
"Post it on all the social medias." Pride added.
"What is the point of this exactly?" Lyra asked.
"To terrify the humans." Pride smiled. "Take and destroy their hope. "We still have plenty of time to gather the nuclear codes and destroy the planet. Might as well have a little fun before we actually start. We should give our viewers back home a good show."
He walked over to the cage and put his huge lion face by the tiny tabby.
"Don't worry Camo, I will make sure you wish you already died." Pride purred. "Snow your on first watch, then Lyra takes next. Let's see if we can make the other team a bit jumpy!"