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Bounty Cats
Book 4: Chapter 1

Book 4: Chapter 1

The neon lights of Moreau City pulsed like a living heartbeat, casting their ethereal glow across the sea of expectant faces. Rei's fingers tightened around the microphone as she surveyed the packed arena. The crowd's energy crackled through the air, a palpable force that sent shivers down her spine.

Luna caught her eye, a mischievous glint in her sister's blue gaze. With a slight nod, they launched into their opening number. The thunderous beat dropped, and Rei's voice soared above the music, clear and crystalline. Her body moved in perfect sync with Luna's, their choreographed routine honed to razor-sharp precision.

As they danced across the stage, Rei couldn't help but marvel at the dizzying duality of their lives. By day, they were Kat-X, the chart-topping K-pop sensation that had taken Moreau City by storm. But when the spotlights faded, a different world awaited them - one of shadowy alleyways and high-stakes pursuits.

The song reached its climax, and Rei struck her final pose. Sweat glistened on her skin, mingling with the glitter that adorned her face. The roar of the crowd washed over her, a tidal wave of adoration that threatened to sweep her off her feet.

"Thank you, Moreau City!" Luna's voice rang out, breathless but exhilarated. "You've been amazing tonight!"

As they made their way offstage, Rei's comm unit buzzed against her hip. She frowned, glancing at Luna. They weren't due for another set for at least twenty minutes. Who could call them now?

In the relative quiet of the backstage area, Rei activated the holographic display. Hiro's face materialized before them, his usually easygoing expression tight with urgency.

"Rei, Luna, we've got a situation," he said, his words clipped. "That high-profile target we've been tracking for two weeks? He's been spotted near the concert venue. If we move fast, we might intercept him."

Luna's eyes widened. "Now? But we're in the middle of a show!"

Rei's mind raced, weighing their options. The bounty on this cyber-criminal could set them up for months, maybe even years. But abandoning their concert...

"How long do we have?" Rei asked, her voice low.

"Twenty minutes, tops," Hiro replied. "After that, he'll likely go to ground again."

Rei met Luna's gaze, seeing her own conflict mirrored there. With a slight nod, they reached a silent agreement.

"We'll be there," Rei said. "Send us the coordinates."

As Hiro's image winked out, Luna was already moving. "I'll tell the manager we're not feeling well. Food poisoning or something."

Rei nodded, her fingers flying over the keypad of her comm unit. Within moments, their backstage area transformed. A hidden panel slid open, revealing their hunter gear - sleek, leather outfits designed for stealth and agility.

As they changed, Rei couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. Their fans had paid good money to see them perform. But if they didn't take this opportunity, who knew how many more people the cyber-criminal might hurt?

Fully geared up, they slipped out through a service entrance. The cool night air hit Rei's face, a stark contrast to the stuffy heat of the arena. Above them, the towering skyscrapers of Moreau City stretched towards the stars, their surfaces alive with scrolling advertisements and holographic displays.

They moved swiftly through the shadows, relying on the cover of darkness and the distraction of the ongoing concert. Rei's enhanced hearing picked up the muffled beats of their music, a surreal soundtrack to their covert mission.

As they neared the coordinates Hiro had sent, Rei's senses sharpened. Every rustle of wind, every distant shout from a passerby, set her nerves on edge. Luna moved beside her, a silent presence radiating focused energy.

They rounded a corner, and Rei's breath caught in her throat. There, hunched over a data terminal in a deserted alley, was their target. The cheetah Humanimal's fingers danced over the holographic interface, his furry face illuminated by the eerie blue glow.

Rei signaled to Luna, and they split up, moving to flank their quarry. The plan was simple - overwhelm him quickly, minimize the chance for collateral damage or escape.

With practiced precision, they struck. Rei launched herself forward, aiming a sweeping kick at the criminal's legs. Luna came in high, her fist already in motion.

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But something went terribly wrong.

The cyber-criminal's head snapped up, his eyes wild and unfocused, glowing green like horror. A guttural growl tore from his throat, a sound more animal than human. Before Rei could process what was happening, he lashed out with inhuman speed.

His fist connected with her midsection, sending her flying back into the alley wall. The impact knocked the wind from her lungs, stars exploding across her vision. Through the haze of pain, she saw Luna grappling with the transformed criminal.

Gone was any trace of humanity. The cyber-criminal had become a feral beast, his movements erratic and brutally powerful. Luna barely dodged a vicious swipe of elongated claws, her face pale with shock.

"Rei!" Luna's voice cut through the chaos. "We need to retreat!"

Gritting her teeth against the pain, Rei pushed herself to her feet. She fumbled at her belt, fingers closing around a smoke grenade. With a silent prayer, she lobbed it between Luna and the raging creature.

Thick, acrid smoke billowed out, filling the alley. Rei surged forward, grabbing Luna's arm and pulling her away from the disoriented beast. They ran, their footsteps echoing off the concrete as they put as much distance as possible between themselves and the failed mission.

Several blocks away, they finally slowed, ducking into the shelter of a deserted storefront. Rei leaned against the wall, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Luna paced back and forth, her eyes wide with residual adrenaline and confusion.

"What the hell was that?" Luna's voice was barely above a whisper. "I've never seen anything like it. It was like he... transformed… Without transforming physically. Do you think he's suffering from Zoanpsychosis?”

Rei never attended medical school, yet the term ‘Zoanpsychosis’ was well-known in Moreau City. It refers to a hybrid’s mental illness that causes them to believe they are wild creatures. While it’s uncommon, excessive gene splicing in genetically altered individuals could impact their brain, stripping away their humanity. Fortunately, Rei and Luna underwent minimal gene enhancements to transform into beautiful cat girls.

Rei shook her head, wincing at the movement. "I don't know. But whatever it was, it wasn't natural. We need to report this to-"

A sudden, blaring alarm cut her words off. Their comm units lit up simultaneously, displaying an urgent city-wide alert. Rei's blood ran cold as she read the message scrolling across the screen.

"Luna," she said, her voice tight with dread. "There's been an explosion in the city center. Reports of widespread chaos..."

As if to punctuate her words, a distant boom echoed through the night, followed by the wail of emergency sirens. Rei and Luna shared a look of grim determination. Whatever was happening, it was clear their night was far from over.

With a silent nod, they melted back into the shadows of Moreau City, leaving behind the glitz and glamor of their idol personas. The accurate test of their skills as bounty hunters was just beginning, and the fate of their beloved city hung in the balance.

As they raced towards the epicenter of the chaos, Rei couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the cyber-criminal's transformation might be connected to this new threat. Whatever force was at work in Moreau City, it was unlike anything they had faced before.

The streets grew more chaotic with each block they covered. Panicked civilians rushed past them, their faces masks of terror. In the distance, pillars of smoke rose against the neon-lit sky, casting an ominous pall over the usually vibrant cityscape.

Rei's comm unit buzzed again. Hiro's face appeared, his expression grim. "Guys, it's bad. Really bad. The explosion... it wasn't just a bomb. There are reports of some kind of biological agent being released. People are... changing."

A chill ran down Rei's spine as she remembered the feral transformation of their earlier target. "Changing how, Hiro?"

"Into monsters," Hiro replied, his voice barely audible over the growing cacophony of sirens and screams. "Violent, mindless... It's spreading fast. You need to be careful out there."

Luna's hand found Rei's, squeezing tightly. "We will be. Keep us updated, Hiro."

As the holographic display winked out, Rei met her sister's gaze. Fear lurked in the depths of Luna's eyes, but there was steel there too. They had faced danger before and had built their secret lives around the thrill of the hunt. But this... this was something else entirely.

"We should head back to our suite," Rei said, her mind racing through their limited options. "Regroup, figure out what's really going on."

Luna nodded, but before she could respond, a blood-curdling scream split the air. Without hesitation, they sprinted towards the sound, their hunter instincts kicking into high gear.

They rounded a corner to find a scene straight out of a nightmare. A group of civilians cowered against a storefront, surrounded by a pack of snarling, twisted creatures. Rei's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the remnants of human features beneath the grotesque mutations.

"Those used to be people," Luna whispered, horror clear in her voice.

There was no time for shock or contemplation. The creatures turned towards them, drawn by the sound of Luna's voice. Their glowing green eyes gleamed with feral hunger, devoid of any trace of humanity.

Rei's hand flew to her belt, unclipping her electro-baton. The weapon hummed to life, crackling with barely contained energy. Beside her, Luna dropped into a fighting stance, her own baton at the ready.

"Remember your training," Rei said, her voice steady despite the fear churning in her gut. "We take them down, fast. No hesitation."

Luna nodded, a grim smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Just like how we started, sis?"

"Hell yeah," Rei agreed.

They moved as one, years of synchronized performances translating seamlessly into combat. Rei struck first, her baton connecting with the nearest creature's shoulder. Electricity arced across its mutated form, eliciting an inhuman shriek of pain.

Luna capitalized on the opening, driving her heel into the creature's midsection. It crumpled, twitching, but there was no time for celebration. The rest of the pack surged forward, claws extended and teeth bared.

Rei lost herself in the fight's rhythm, her body moving on pure instinct. Duck, weave, strike. The world narrowed to a series of split-second decisions and lightning-fast reactions. She was dimly aware of Luna at her back, the two of them moving in perfect harmony.

One by one, the creatures fell. Rei's muscles burned with exertion, her breath coming in ragged gasps. As the last mutant collapsed, she allowed herself a moment to survey the scene.

The inert bodies of their assailants strewn the street. The rescued civilians clustered together, their eyes reflecting a blend of fear and thankfulness.In the distance, the wail of sirens grew louder, signaling the approach of emergency services.

"We need to go," Luna said, tugging at Rei's arm. "Before anyone starts asking questions."

Rei nodded, her gaze lingering on the fallen creatures. What had caused this transformation? And more importantly, was there any way to reverse it?

As they melted back into the shadows, Rei's comm unit buzzed once more. She activated it, expecting to see Hiro's familiar face. Instead, she stared at the stern visage of Flora Blossom, Moreau City's chief of police.

"Rei, Luna," Flora's voice clipped, authoritative. "I need you two at the central HQ. Now. We've got a situation that requires your... unique skill set."

Rei exchanged a glance with Luna. They had worked with Flora before, tiptoeing the line between legal bounty hunting and vigilante justice. For her to reach out like this, amid such chaos...

"We're on our way," Rei replied, her mind already racing with possibilities.

As they made their way through the increasingly chaotic streets, Rei couldn't shake the feeling that they were standing on the precipice of something much bigger than a simple bounty hunt. The glittering facade of Moreau City was crumbling, revealing a darkness that threatened to consume everything in its path.

Whatever was coming, Rei knew one thing for certain - she and Luna would face it together, as they always had. The neon-drenched streets of their beloved city had become a battleground, and they were the only line of defense against the encroaching madness.

With a shared nod of determination, Rei and Luna picked up their pace, racing towards whatever new challenge awaited them at the central precinct. The night was far from over.