Challenge #04801-M052: Good Kitty

The human's cat was normally very gentle with the avian crew. Never attacking, sometimes batting at feathers, but only the ones that were already shed and dropped to the floor. So the hissing and growling, keeping them away from the cargo hold's door was shocking. Fortunately, because the cargo hold's main door was tightly closed, that also meant NO ONE was in there when the faulty hatch blew, and the hold suddenly depressurized. Keeping the human, the crew, AND the cat quite safe. -- Anon Guest

Teebs was not a Skitty. He was a domestic shorthair chocolate tabby, according to Human Zolt, and knew how to behave with Avian Havenworlders. He was death on true pests, literally, but a true gentle soul with any given cogniscent.

That was why it was so surprising to see Teebs actively hostile whenever anyone went near the door to Cargo Bay Seven. Snarling, hissing, fluffing himself up, even swiping his claws at anyone who came too close to the door interface. Teebs never drew blood on any of the Avians, but did manage to cut Zolt's skin. Just once.

"Kitter's serious," said Zolt, squeezing blood out of the cut. "Teebs doesn't like something in there."

Just as Zolt announced that, there was a soft whoompf, and a large juddering of the ship indicated that something had gone very wrong. In a handful of further seconds, the alert system went off.

"Air system compromised in Cargo Bay Seven," recited the ships' systems. "Cargo Bay Seven is sealed. Recommend dry dock refurbishing at the next possible port."

Readouts indicated that there was no atmosphere in Cargo Bay Seven. The surviving cams revealed that one of the small doors had blown completely out. Some cargo was disturbed, and may be damaged, but it was better than losing crew to an unforeseen door seal failure.

Unforeseen by anyone but Teebs.

The instant the lock clacked into place and the red warning light went on, Teebs resumed being the sweetest little fluffy boy in existence. Rubbing up against assorted legs and purring fit to shake something loose. And, in the case of Zolt, cleaning any part of him that the cat could reach.

"Cats and other animals can sense things people can't," Zolt explained with Teebs in his arms, who was busily applying sandpaper tongue to Zolt's neck. "Teeb's must've felt or heard something before we or the systems could notice. Definitely time for an upgrade."

"And kitty treats," added Companion Vej.

"Of course kitty treats."

[Photo by Megan Stallings on Unsplash]

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