A new morning dawned in the present, and Catra woke up.
She quickly gathered her hunting equipment with quiet resolve and planned to leave the tent. It was her last opportunity to achieve a successful hunt after all.
The girl still disliked the visceral idea of killing. Yet, a more powerful drive compelled her. She needed to unravel the enigma of her mother's relationship with her father. Rod was always very secretive about it… and this was her chance to pry that door open.
Before leaving for the hunt though, Catra looked towards her dad and a soft grin appeared on her face. It'd been some time since she allowed herself the comfort of seeing him sleep, and a peace settled within her in that moment.
She left. And sometime later, a gunshot ripped through the early morning quiet which halted Rod's tormented dream. He slowly pushed himself up and stretched his limbs, instinctively looking at Catra's empty sleeping bag.
Her not being there meant she was out there alone… in a wild canyon that was dangerous for someone so inexperienced. Due to that, he quickly got dressed in his usual clothing and left the tent with urgency.
Golden electricity flared into a brilliant aura around him. Then, he launched forward like a blur of energy. She was his responsibility, and he would fulfill his promise to Elena… no matter what.
Deep within the sunlit canyon, a solitary buffalo lowered its head to drink from a river in the center. He wasn't alone though. In the high branches of a nearby tree, a subtle movement stirred. It was Catra.
Her eye pressed on the scope of her rifle, aiming directly at the unsuspecting beast. Her body was still, save for the barest tremor in her hand caused by her deep subconscious fear.
She had the perfect shot and all she needed to do was pull the trigger… Right? She didn't want to though… Not at all…
How long until I feel normal doing this?
Will I one day come to like it?
These thoughts swirled through her mind… until snapping back to reality. She had to know about her parents. She "needed" this.
Come on, Catra! You can do this… just concentrate…
She was about to press the trigger, stopped only by a loud sound ripping through the atmosphere. It was Rod. He'd run all the way there, shattering the sound barrier and abruptly stopping.
"CATRA!" the man exclaimed.
Suddenly, the startled buffalo lifted its head and fixed its view on the man who just appeared. It made Catra's concentration shatter, tearing away her eyes from the prey too.
Less than a second passed, yet it was enough… The buffalo attempted to escape when her eyes snapped back to it.
She wasn't the only one with eyes on the beast. Rod noticed it too and instantly ran towards it, reasoning that following it might lead to his daughter. It was a sound plan that immediately changed. While passing the ancient tree where Catra was hidden, she moved.
The girl dissolved the sniper rifle back into her interlink, tensed her powerful legs, and jumped from the branches, causing the Gun Hero to look up in surprise.
With balletic precision, the girl shifted her body mid-air to get a clear view of the running buffalo.
"A-4 Sniper Class Rifle!" she yelled and yellow energy erupted from her interlink.
It generated a lethal weapon that Catra quickly grabbed and brought to her eye.
She may still be inexperienced when it comes to the outside world. Though… in that moment, she looked completely in control. She looked like her…
Rod saw the similarities between his daughter's determination and that of his wife. It was as if a hallucinatory image of Elena flickered in his mind, mirroring Catra's movements like a ghostly guardian.
"Elena?" he whispered.
Then, his wife's voice resonated clearly in his head.
"I love you two so much… Please take care of each other… for me…"
That moment caught up and forced his mind to flood with memories: picking Catra up from kindergarten, watching her play basketball in middle school, a lovingly drawn Father's Day picture she was nervous of giving him, keeping a protective eye on her camping trips, her high school graduation, and the quiet pride when she held her first gun…
It all peaked at that precise scene in front of him.
"She's gonna do it… her first kill…"
Catra exhaled and the world dimmed into a dark abyss. Everything faded except her target.
BANG!
The bullet slammed into the buffalo's head. And even if it wasn't a perfect shot, she had done it in a way only professional gun users would have.
When Catra's feet touched the earth directly in front of the fallen animal, a deep guilt consumed her. She stared at its form for what seemed like hours. She then kneeled and gently stroked its fur.
"I'm so sorry…" she whispered.
The girl quickly hoisted the massive animal onto her shoulder and began her way back towards her dad. Contrary to her, the man's vision blurred with tears.
The way she shot made him remember a late-night conversation with Elena, where they watched their little girl sleep.
"Remember how I said we are all free spirits? Well, she is something more… something amazing… breathtaking…"
Catra caught sight of her father's watering eyes and her frown softened into an annoyed smirk.
"Come on dad… you promised you would stop crying…" she rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry… I'm just so proud of you, kiddo…"
"You also told me you would stop saying embarrassing things like that…"
She normally hated every time he uttered those sappy phrases… Though, in the secret chambers of her heart, she kind of liked it.
"But… Thanks, dad… now… let's go finish mom's anniversary together," she said with a smile.
Rod fell into step with surprise.
"Yeah, that sounds good… but I'll only stop crying if you call me daddy one more time."
"Shut up before you ruin the moment, dad!"
The scent of campfire drew them closer to their tent and Rod's eyes noticed a metallic glint beside their pickup truck. Parked quietly behind their tent was a small aerial ship, and standing beside that, was Alf.
"Great…" Rod groaned.
"You okay, dad?"
"I'm just fine, why don't you head towards the campfire and prepare everything for our breakfast?"
The girl nodded and walked away. Him though… he headed towards the metal robot.
It was odd for Rod… the AI's body was crafted from metal platings and reinforced carbon fiber shields, something not normally seen in Alf's usual bodies... In other words, it was an "off-duty" heavy defense suit.
"Hello Rod, I hope you have had a wonderful morning," Alf's synthesized voice was flat and precise.
The man stopped directly in front of him.
"Hey Alf. I don't suppose you remember what day this is?" the man asked, crossing his arms.
"April 24th, your wife's death anniversary."
"And you know that when we grieve, we like to be alone, right?"
"This could not wait."
"Of course it couldn't."
"Affirmative. Miss Alex sent it to me."
"I already told her that I'm done with all that Gun Hero business…"
"Alex disagrees, and so does the public. They believe in the hero you showed to be at the capital long ago. The hero that saved them from-" Alf started before Rod cut him off.
"The public's the public, they'll believe anything the government tells them. Don't tell me she sent you to get me because of my looks."
"Of course not. If she wanted a perfect organism, she already has a perfect being like me by her side," the machine retorted, a hint of genuine offense in his tone.
"You know you're a robot, right? How would that even work?"
"I am an independent AI unit above the capacity of ordinary human beings. I make no mistakes nor do I have difficulty accepting other carbon organisms, unlike you."
"I don't know, Alf. Sounds like I hit a nerve in that chrome dome of yours," Rod responded with a teasing grin, "Either way, why would Alex need me if she has 'Your Majesty' to do her work?"
Alf remained looking down for a second, and when his gaze snapped back to the man, Rod was gone.
"You have got to be kidding me…" the machine murmured.
He walked towards the tent and saw Catra preparing a meal.
"Hi Alf! Just started making breakfast! Want some?"
"Good morning Miss Catra, I hope you have been well. I am good, thank you. I do not require organic foods-"
Rod emerged from the tent holding two water bottles and cut them off.
"Okay, I'm not saying I accept, but if I theoretically were to do so, what is that supposed mission?" he asked and handed one bottle to his daughter.
"Oh? A mission to the capital? Let's go! It's been sometime since I've seen Lofo!" Catra excitedly said.
"I'm not saying we're going… actually, now that you mention him, we aren't. Especially not today."
"Wha?!"
Alf smoothly stepped into their conversation.
"Just listen. An Ice Giant in the northern sector of the country has been spotted destroying hundreds of fertile acres. We have attempted to reason with him to no avail and he doesn't seem to be responding to any of our peace greetings. The ice giant is getting closer to Naya and some small towns around there, so Miss Alex is worried people will get hurt."
"And why hasn't she gone there to fix the problem? She's strong enough to take out a simple Ice Giant."
Catra's head snapped towards her father.
"We're not seriously gonna kill him, right?" she whispered.
Rod immediately turned to her and silently sought Alf's support.
"We will first approach a peace negotiation. We hope that with Rod there, the Ice Giant will be compelled to comply. After all, the feats of the great Gun Hero have been heard all around the country, even by stubborn organisms like the Ice Giants."
Catra's gaze moved back to her father with renewed hope.
"We have to help them!" she pleaded.
Her words made Rod's expression tighten. The AI used his daughter against him again, and it was seriously annoying.
He was about to respond, only for an insistent beeping to erupt from a micro radio on his belt. It made Catra quickly cover her ears. Rod touched a few buttons in the device and caused a hologram to appear.
"What is that about? Saved by the bell, Rod?" the machine asked with dry wit.
"That's trouble…" Catra responded and a familiar worry creased her brow.
The discussion ceased. It was time for action.
Alf boarded his ship and followed Rod and Catra, who sprinted towards a small town built to drill for oil and mana. They stopped in front of a small sheriff station where a bald man with a bushy mustache greeted them. They were then guided towards a sealed-off room at the back of the building.
"What's the matter, Officer Wattz?" Rod asked.
"Well, it isn't really a fight, but more of a package sent from the capital. It was designated to you," the officer responded.
"A package?" Catra continued.
"Yes. A package is an object or a group of objects that are-" Alf began until the girl cut him off.
"Yeah, yeah, I know…"
They reached a heavy door that Wattz pushed open. The room on the other side was simple. It was lined with packages, save for a single box resting on a desk in the center.
What truly caught their eyes was the putrid stench that permeated the air. It was an almost unbearable assault on Catra's beastwoman senses.
"Ew! It smells horrible here!" she exclaimed, clamping a hand over her nose.
That's where she noticed something. Through the decay, a familiar scent pricked at her nose. It felt… familiar.
"It would be best if you waited outside, kid," Wattz softly spoke.
"Understood," Alf responded.
He grabbed Catra by the hand and moved her towards the exit.
"Wait, wait! I wanna see!"
"It'll only be a few minutes, kiddo. We'll be right out."
After Alf shut the door, the three men fixed their gazes on the box.
"Now, what is this?" Rod asked.
"You're gonna have to see it to believe it," Wattz responded grimly and handed a folded piece of paper to Rod, "Before you take a look inside, here is the note that came with it."
The Gun Hero hesitated… causing Alf to initiate a rapid scan.
"It is safe, Rod."
The man's fingers grasped the paper and unfolded it. It released a sickening stench that erupted from its folds. His eyes fell upon a message scrawled in what appeared to be dried blood… and an expression of shock contorted his face.
The words spelled out a single accusation:
"YOU KILLED HER".
He stared at it for a mere second before thrusting the paper down, lunging towards the box, and carefully lifting the lid.
And thats… that's when an overwhelming wave of decomposition assaulted him. It took less than a second… Yet, time froze for Rod.
Inside the box was a beast-woman's pristine severed head... though it wasn't just any beast-woman's. It was someone he knew, someone he loved beyond measure… It was Elena's head.
She looked exactly the same as the last time he saw her… No decomposition… no changes… Her features were serene, as if in a quiet sleep. And that sight ripped through the fabric of Rod's soul.
"Oh lord…" Alf stated with a rare shock.
Wattz instinctively closed his eyes, and the hero just stood frozen.
He could have reacted in so many ways… and in spite of that, only one question echoed through the desolate chambers of his mind.
"WHO DID THIS?!"
He needed answers… He needed to find out how this unspeakable act had happened, and who was responsible.
"Alf…"
"Yes, Rod?"
Rod's hands clenched into white-knuckled fists and the veins on his forehead pulsed with anger.
"Tell Alex I'll meet her in the capital…"