Flames glazed outside the window as the sky turned blue. Tyger was shaking in his seat, due to the intense vibration of the pod. It was only a matter of time when the pod will touchdown to the planet’s surface.

Red turned to Rila. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have drunk that vodka before we boarded! I feel like vomiting!”

Rila glared at him. “You never drank before we boarded this pod!”

Red laughed. “Can’t a big cat have a sense of humor?”

Rila rolled her eyes. She was getting tired of Red’s dumb jokes.

Tyger stared at the window again. Outside, the flames cooled off, leaving a clear ocean view. Tyger hoped they won’t land in the middle of the sea.

The pod shook and water splashed against the window. It slowly rocked back and forth.

“We landed.” Tyger took off his harness and got up.

He approached the hatch and turned the lever. When the hatched opened, Tyger peeked out.

The pod was floating in the ocean, but it was close to a beach. Behind the beach was a tall city. Glass covered each building in different swirling shapes and squares. Far behind the city was a tall mountain, standing like a wall.

Tyger knew it as Bay City. It was a place where the colonists enjoyed entertainment, gambling, and relaxing at the city’s luxurious hotels. His team visited there once to capture a computer hacker, who was stealing credits from the tourists. Red and Jage begged to stay longer because the drinks were good and the human women were beautiful. But they were still on duty, and most star rangers hardly get a break. There was always trouble in the galaxy that needed to be resolved.

“We are close to shore, but we need to swim to it,” said Tyger.

“But I can’t swim!” Patterson complained.

“And we don’t have any bikinis for Maya and Rila,” said Jage.

Rila glared at Jage. “Why do we need bikinis to swim?”

Jage smiled with a red face. “Because your suits aren’t waterproof?”

“Our armor suits can sustain in aquatic environments,” said Maya. “I do not understand your conclusion.”

“Yeah, stop doing your stupid jokes, Jage,” said Rila. “They aren’t funny.”

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Jage shrugged. “Well, that hurt my feelings.”

“Enough you stupid cats!” Patterson shouted. “You are acting like teenagers!”

“Technically we are teenagers,” said Jage. “Sort... Of.”

Red approached the admiral. “You can ride on my back, comrade. If it helps, you can pretend I am a boat.”

Patterson glared at Red. “Are you kidding me?”

“We don’t have a lot of time, sir,” said Tyger. “Choose an option.”

Patterson growled like an angry bear and climbed onto Red’s back.

“Now that is a good baby,” said Red.

“I hate you!” Patterson shouted.

Tyger dived into the water and paddled his feet toward the shore. Maya and Rila swam past him while Jage reached him. The catgirls were fast swimmers. Who knew in the cosmos why?

They touched the ground and strolled up from the surface as the waves splashed across them. After they got out of the water, they stopped on the beach and looked around.

People in their swimsuits turned to them with curious faces. Some of them were families and children, relaxing in the bright sunlight. The kids were building sand castles and playing ball with their friends. Some people were couples, lying under their umbrellas.

Red stepped out of the water and released Patterson. “Did we landed into an episode of Baywatch?”

Jage spotted two hot girls, wearing skinny bikini suits. They were lying on the towel, staring at him. He smiled at them and waved his hand. They waved back too, giggling.

Patterson pushed his com-link on his chest. “This is Admiral Patterson. I am with the Star Cats unit at Bay City. We need an extraction immediately. Do you copy?”

Tyger stepped toward Patterson and listened closely. There was only a buzzing sound, coming from Patterson’s com -link.

Patterson pushed his com-link again. “This is Admiral Patterson. I am with the Star Cats unit at Bay City. We need extraction now. Do you copy?”

Still, the sound buzzed.

“Goddamnit!” Patterson kicked the sand. “The conflict above us must be interfering with our communication! We will have to move on through the city.”

Tyger opened his mouth until a loud siren roared through his ears. It came from the city, and everyone panicked.

“Attention all residents of Bay City!” shouted a woman’s voice from a speaker. “Evacuate immediately! I repeat! Evacuate immediately!”

A loud explosion echoed from high above, and the people looked up. Burning debris was falling down through the sky like raining balls of fire.

The people screamed and dashed off from their resting spots. The parents grabbed their children, and the others left their belongings behind.

A larger falling saucer object burned as it fell toward the beach.

Tyger widened his eyes. “It is the Star Base!”

“Oh, my god!” Patterson shouted. “It is going to hit us!”

“Let’s move now!” Tyger took off first as his team followed him.

Red lifted Patterson and carried him over his shoulder.

“Put me down!” Patterson shouted while pounding his fists on Red’s back. “I am not a woman!”

“Does it matter?” Red asked.