Shadow started shaking like an internal earthquake was going off.  She felt tired and exhausted. She fainted.  When she woke up a concerned captain cattitude was kneeling before her with elixir from Catmoon.  “It’s rough the first time you stop time.  Here drink this, It’s from Catmoon.  It will help you feel better. Without it,  you will be exhausted for several days.

With her hand shaking uncontrollably, Shadow reached for the elixir. She immediately drunk it down. She became more light-headed and felt a rush throughout her body. She became scared. “What’s happening?” she said barely able to talk. “The elixir is doing its job.  You feel weaker at first, but then you’ll feel energized like a rocket blasting off into outer space.  Give it a second,” he said. 

Shadow felt her body becoming hot and her heartbeat speeding up like a train at top speed. Electrical impulses were ravaging her body. Then, she became still and felt this overwhelming rush of energy travel up and down her body.  She could take on the world.  “There, I see the elixir has done its job. How do you feel?” said Captain Cattitude. Shadow replied in a quick, loud voice, “LIke I can take on the world.  I feel so jazzed to be alive. I want to run and shout from the top of the rooftops that I am here and to look out,” “Oh my, the elixir seems to have a stronger effect on you then the Catmoonings Hopefully the strength of it on you will die down soon.  For now, go to your room and keep a low profile.” “Sure thing boss”, said shadow as she jumped to her feet like she had springs on her paws. Shadow left the room and then ran and slid down the hallway to her room, giggling the whole time. Phoebe was not in the room as she slammed open the door to their bedroom.  “Whew, she is not here,” she thought aloud. Shadow climbed in bed knowing she would not sleep.  “I need to appear I am tired.  This is going to be hard when all I want to do is run up and down the hallways” she thought to herself. Just then Phoebe walked in.  “Good night Pheobe,” said shadow as she pushed herself further under the covers. “Good night superweapon,” she quipped back. “Huh,” said Shadow. “I know what power you learned.  I eavesdropped yesterday.  He is turning into something that scares the pants off me.  I don’t feel I can trust you,” said Phoebe. “Can we talk about this tomorrow? I’m exhausted, said shadow who knew she was lying to her BFF. “Fine,” quipped Phoebe as she started to change into her pajamas…

On her way to Captain Cattitude’s room, Shadow’s  heartbeat began racing out of control, she started to sweat, and she felt her fur start to tingle  “Are you ready to get this new power functioning correctly?” said Captain Cattitude as he motioned her to sit in a chair in front of him.“Yes, sir,” shadow immediately replied.  “Well, then, let”s get started,” replied Captain Cattitude.  Shadow stood up from the chair and began to wiggle her nose, swish her tail back and forth, and then wiggle ner nose.  This time she didn’t lose balance. “Purrfect,” said Captain Cattitude.you even started to glow a bit.  Now, we want to add the mind element to it,” he said. “Focus on freezing time by saying aloud  ‘umbra diablo Conte.” Try it again while saying those words aloud. Shadow tried the process.  She began to turn red.  “What’s happening,” said Shadow. “Your powers are growing significantly. As this power grows you take on properties of the colors around you.  You started to turn red because my guess is you were looking in the direction of the red roses on my nightstand.  Continuing what you are doing and the room will soon look greyish and color will disappear. When this happens the enchantment will take on even more power and time will stop.  

Shadow saw the room lose all its color and begin to look grey. And then it happened.- everything stopped moving but her. 

Shadow looked around the colorless room.  Time was still moving for her but everything seemed to be frozen  She walked up to Captain Cattitude and moved his paw to a different position. She laughed about the position she put him in. Then, suddenly it hit her – how do I get back to normal time.  She began to panic. Ten minutes had passed according to her watch.  She looked around the room and saw it was slightly regaining its color. Another five minutes passed, the room was vibrant with its original color,  and time began to click away as it had before she stopped time. When the room was completely colorful again, Captain Cattitude realized his paw had been moved.  “Good golly, it worked,” he said…

Visual Effects by Franchesca Az

Shadow was levitating in her and Phoebe’s bedroom.  She got no sleep as she was upset by Phoebe dissing her last night.  Her body cast an eerie green glow in the bedroom.  Phoebe woke up and was startled to see Shadow floating in the air. “Ay! “ Phoebe screamed. This startled Shadow who immediately fell to the ground. “Don’t scare me like that.  I lost my concentration,” said shadow rubbing her back end. Phoebe did not apologize, instead, she got up from the bed and headed to the bathroom to take a shower.

Shadow went to the dining room to go have breakfast; she couldn’t be bothered with Phoebe’s attitude this morning. Captain Cattitude, Suzie, Peter, and Beauldelaire were already around the table eating breakfast. “Good morning everyone,” said shadow as she took a seat. “Good morning,”  said everyone back to her.   On the table were pancakes, fruit cups, coffee, and orange juice. Shadow helped herself to the pancakes and fruit cups. Phoebe came into the dining room and sat as far away as she could from Shadow and Captain Cattitude. Shadow noticed this and thought how rude. “When can we continue our training Captain Cattitude.  “As soon as I finish my coffee, we can begin,” said Captain Cattitude to Shadow. “Ok,” said Shadow.  Shadow immediately gulped down her food,  She couldn’t wait to leave the table and Phoebe’s vibe towards her. Captain Cattitude took the last sip of his coffee.
“Come on Shadow let’s start your training,” he said. He then began to make his way to his bedroom. Shadow followed suit…

“I think we should give you a rest now.  You’ve been practicing for over six hours, and you’re starting to look tired.  Eat something then go lay down and go to bed.  You’ll need your energy for tomorrow,” said Captain Cattitude. “Yes, I am tired.  Thank you,” said Shadow as she left his bedroom to head into the kitchen to see what she could grab to eat.  The kitchen was pristine.  All the dishes were washed, and food had been put away if there was any left-over food to eat.  Shadow walked to the refrigerator. It was a big industrial refrigerator with one door.  Shadow opened the door and peeked inside.  Luckily there were leftovers inside.  There were fruit cups left-over from breakfast and sandwiches left-over from lunch.  She grabbed one of each and walked to the dining room table to sit and eat the food.  She was so hungry and tired she gulped the meal down. She cleaned her dishes and headed to bed 

Phoebe was just getting ready for bed when Shadow walked in.  “Hi, Phoebe, how was your day?” said shadow as she walked into the bedroom. “Fine,” mumbled Phoebe to Shadow.  “That good, huh?” said shadow back.  “I’m really tired can we just go to bed.  I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” said Phoebe as she lay down in her bed.  “Okay, sure,” said Shadow with a harshness to her reply as she felt she was being judged by something she did.  “Goodnight, Phoebe,” said Shadow as she lay down in bed feeling she did something wrong…

“I’ll show you first what this new power can do, just watch and observe,” said Captain Cattitude.  Captain Cattitude got a very serious look on his face and began to wiggle his ears and swish his tail back and forth, then he began to wiggle his nose.  Shadow watched intently but did not see what happened. He moved Shadow from the chair to his bed.  It was done so quickly she didn’t even realize it occurred.  Captain Cattitude stopped all his actions and clapped his paws together.  Shadow came out of the stop time event and only then, did she realize she had been moved.  She looked at Captain Cattitude asked,” How did you do that?”

“I showed you,” he replied.  “But I didn’t even feel you move me nor see you do that,” Shadow said complexed.  “I did it by stopping time.  You don’t remember it nor feel it because your time was frozen while I could still move about in time,” said Captain Cattitude.  “However, like the other powers, your mind needs to concentrate on the action while you perform the movements, which will prove difficult to do at first. For today, I just want you to perform the actions – you must perform them in the right order, or it won’t work.  Now I want you to stand up and try the movements.  First wiggle your ears, then swish your tail back and forth and then wiggle your nose.  The timing must be right, “concluded Captain Cattitude.  

Shadow stood up as instructed and began to wiggle her ears, then swish her tail back and forth, then wiggle her nose.  She discovered it was hard to keep all three movements in sync.  “No, no, you need to have all three in sync.  You look like a drunk right now.  You even almost lost your balance” said Captain Cattitude holding back laughter. “Now, try again,” he said.

While Shadow tried to perform the power again, Phoebe had been listening with her ear pressed to the door.  She was scared of what she heard. “What is happening to my BFF,” she thought. “He’s making her into some kind of superweapon,” she scorned as she walked away from the door to go think about what she heard…

Shadow followed Captain Cattitude to his bedroom where her training takes place. Captain Cattitude seemed serious today, more so than the other days of training.  He was standing in the middle of his bedroom when he asked Shadow to take a seat.  “Good morning Shadow,” said Captain Cattitude.  ‘Good morning Captain Cattitude,” replied Shadow.  Please take a seat.  We have a lot of important things to discuss regarding this new power you will be exposed to today,” said Captain Cattitude motioning at the chair in his bedroom.  “First off we will not talk about this power with other members in the safe house.  They are already afraid of you, and I suppose, afraid of me. This power can be very dangerous in the wrong hands.  Let’s start with the backstory.  When we visited Earth back in the days when the Egyptians were being pyramids, they never would have accomplished the feat if they didn’t use our mathematical skills. They also would never have been built as quickly as they were if we didn’t stop time. Yes, the new power I will train you in is to stop time.  Now, you see why we shouldn’t discuss this with anyone?.  It will terrify them.  It’s gravely important you only use this power when necessary which you may have to use on the government to save people’s lives if they locate us,” he concluded.

“Now, then let’s begin,” he said.

FBI agent Baudelaire woke up in anxiety.  “I must keep Captain Cattitude, Shadow, and Phoebe safe,” he said aloud as he jumped out of his bed and made his way to the shower.  “I know the girls are in danger.  I must be vigilant in keeping them safe,” he talked aloud as the water from the shower began to cascade on him. 

This is just what I needed, a nice hot shower to calm my nerves, he thought to himself as the water pummeled his fur.  Shadow is scaring me how she is growing and changing and learning these new powers, who is an egomaniac, could be dangerous.  I just hope she can’t read my mind, that will be troublesome for someone who is supposed to keep her safe, he thought as he dried himself off, got dressed and made his way to the dining room hall for breakfast.

“Hello agent Baudelaire,” said Shadow as he sat across the table from her.  She and the others were already done with breakfast and Captain Cattitude was telling Shadow to come along and let’s get to work on your new power. You could feel the tension around the table as others feared what this might be…

The artificial light coming through the fake windows cast an eerie glow in Phoebe’s and Shadow’s bedroom. It shown directly in Shadow’s eyes.  It woke her up.  Damn, she thought, I’m never going to be able to sleep in thanks to this fake light.  ‘Phoebe are you up? asked Shadow to a still sleeping Phoebe.  “I am now.  What’s up? said Phoebe.  “I’m nervous about today.  I’m scared this new power will prove to be too powerful, and it will take me over, that I will become evil.  “What is this new power?” asked Phoebe. “Captain Cattitude hasn’t told me yet.  He just said it involves time., something to do with controlling it.  It just sounds powerful and intoxicating,” said Shadow as she got up from bed to go take a shower. “Yes, it does.  Be careful don’t get caught up in the way it may make you feel Remember you are my BFF, and I know my BFF wouldn’t let it consume her.  I have faith in you,” said Phoebe as she too got up out of bed…

“Are we safe, Shadow,” asked a concerned Phoebe about the COVID 19 virus. “I think we are safe for now since we have had no contact with anyone for a month.  Suzie and Peter are the new people to our group, but they too have not had contact with the outside world. “I think we are safe, “concluded Shadow.  “Let’s go to bed.  I have another big day ahead of me.  I’m learning a new skill tomorrow that is supposed to be the hardest to learn and the most dangerous one if put in the wrong hands according to Captain Cattitude,” said Shadow.  “You’re so lucky to be taught all these skills by Captain Cattitude.  You’re very special.  I can sense that some people in our group are getting scared of you.  I don’t envy you in that way,” said Phoebe as she changed into her pajamas. “Yes, I know they are getting afraid of me.  I have been hearing their thoughts in my head,” said Shadow as she got under to the covers to go to sleep. “And you have these powers because you are descendent of Captain Cattitude’s species?” said Phoebe as she too got under the covers in her bed.  Yes, according to Captain Cattitude, said Shadow as she began to yawn. “Goodnight, Phoebe,” said Shadow.  Goodnight, my BFF, “said Phoebe as she closed her eyes…

After lunch, there was a special meeting held by Suzie and Peter regarding the Coronavirus. Italy is now in lockdown; the hospitals are filled to capacity.  The Coronavirus is now called COVID 19 and it is spreading throughout the world.  The United States was particularly unprepared for a Pandemic, and the numbers of those infected are rising significantly. “We must stay In place for several more months.  We can’t go outside. The situation is dire,” said Suzie. The good news is none of us are infected.  We want to keep it that way,” said Peter.  “We must stay in place.  Luckily since none of us are infected, we don’t need to wear face masks,” concluded Peter.  “What about our owners?  Are they safe?  Will you be able to update us on them?” said Phoebe close to tears.  “We will try to find out how your family is doing and let them know you are safe, but we have to be very careful.  We don’t want the government to know where we are,” said Suzie.  “There are still hunting for you four,” said Suzie. “As far as food goes, we still have enough for two months; after that, we will have to have food delivered. At that point, we will be at risk for exposure to COVID 19. We will then have to take steps to protect us for exposure to the virus,” said Peter. “Now I suggest we go about our days and do our work to keep this place and us safe,” concluded Peter.