Things Have Changed

Captured.

No matter how much I struggled, I couldn't free myself from my bonds. The Time Sweepers were smarter than I thought. Much smarter.

The last time I ran into the pesky cats, me and my team were trying to steal a rare time crystal in the Dark Valley World. Unfortunately the Guard Sweepers found us. We battled strong but the numbers seemed to double with every ticking minute. My team gave ourselves up as the Guard Sweepers closed in on us. You could tell it was an easy capture for them with the look on their faces. They bounded my team in rope. Luckily for us we escaped thanks to Cino and the new pocket knives he gave us.

We left the scene while the dumb cats were distracted by a red alert, probably due to another team of tom toms. We ran thinking that our mission wasn't wasted now we can avoid capture. But the Time Sweepers figured out how to counter our weapons.

It was simple. Create stronger rope - with metal! Not only you can't cut it with a regular knife, it scratches your skin until you have red marks all over. Brilliant, ain't it?

Course not.

10 minutes ago, I was sent on a solo mission to steal an artefact that Benito ordered for. It inscribed the history of the Time Sweepers and their existence. It was extremely important that I retrieved it from the Destiny Ruins. I snuck into the grounds of the ancient city and I bumped into the worst feline you could meet!

Blinx!

He smirked as his team of seven pounced on me. I fumbled for my gun but one of the mangy cats snatched it off me. I was left surrounded, defenceless without a weapon or space control.
Blinx laughed with satisfaction. "Never thought I would be seeing you here. Didn't think we would meet again." He frowned with fake disappointment. "You are pretty strong and you put up a great fight, but you also the weakest."
"Wha-?"
"You must be pretty daft thinking you could steal anything at all. It's 2012 for fuck's sake. For your whole life, you thought that you could defeat us. Such naive thoughts pull you down. Things have changed; mercy is now the last thing we give." Blinx's eyes ran cold. "Blind. Eight years you were blind to the real battle. We became a tight army, tough and fearless. We will stop at nothing until the flow of time is free from pests like you, even if it means we get sent to hell." Blinx knelt down and glared at me cryptically. "So, what are you going to do now?"

10 minutes later, I'm bounded by the painful ropes of steel. I desperately looked for an escape route but there was nowhere to go. Every area was heavily guarded by at least two sweepers. Shit.

I was led to the cell rooms by two Guard Sweepers. A long hallway stretched ahead. I looked around briefly. (Hopefully the cats didn't think I was looking for an air duct, not there were any. I was desperate.) The cells were sealed with metal doors and only a small window with bars to see through. Some of the gang might be here too. A large number of Guard Sweepers patrolled with a bitterness I've never seen before. The bastard was right. The cats have become insane!

The Guard Sweepers stopped at cell number three. They pushed me in roughly. "Heh, not being friendly, are you?" I chuckled. I tried to sound firm but my voice came out feeble.
The Guard Sweepers deviously grinned. "Friendly, what about it?" After they untied the rope, the Guard Sweepers sauntered to the door. "We'll see you tomorrow morning Tom-Tom, don't try escaping now or I'll personally punish you."

The door clicked loudly as they locked it shut.

I buried my face into my hands. For the first time in a long while, I was scared. Scared of what I was really fighting.