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Glimmer - 05:15

“911, What’s the address of your emergency?” Glimmer said calmly. Her temporary demotion was dragging on, and tonight was supposed to be her final shift before getting back on the field. The silence on the other side left little for Glimmer to know. She took a sip of her coffee as she read the name on the screen, “hello? Is this Catra? Catra D’riluth?”

“Yeah. Hi honey,” the other side of the phone crackled. Her tone was clearly aiming for endearing but landed short, instead coming across as forced, even a little shaky. Glimmer frowned.

“What’s your emergency? Are you aware you've called 911?”

“Yes,” Catra’s voice was wavering, clearly on the edge of a sob.

“Have you been drinking?” Glimmer asked, realising this may just be someone drunk dialing not realising the impact of their call.

“No,” Catra responded shortly.

“Why’d you call?” Glimmer tried again, growing increasingly frustrated. Glimmer shifted in her seat at the responding silence, her head resting on her hand as she rubbed her forehead. A hum emanated from the other side of the phone call, the only evidence Catra was still on the line. Then, after a long wind of hesitation, Catra responded;

“I just wanted to talk to you.”

“Right, I’m hanging up.” This wasn’t a chat line; it was 911. There were people who were in imminent danger and this woman was clearly just wasting Glimmer’s time. This was the third damn prank call in a row, and she was quite frankly exhausted from her long shift. Glimmer’s hand slid over to the end call button when Catra inhaled quickly.

“I’m out for a drive, sweetie,” Catra rushed out in one trembling breath, and in the background of the call Glimmer heard a muffled, deeper voice. Suddenly, Glimmer’s finger froze above the button, her body halting as she came to a chilling realisation.

“Is someone dangerous in the car with you?”

“Yes,” Catra replied shakily. Glimmer began typing into the computer-aided dispatch system. The murmuring voice in the background returned, some form of instructions Glimmer couldn’t make out, before Catra forced out more words, “don’t tell your dad, let's keep this between us okay?”

“Is it just you and the other person in the car?”

“Yeah,” Catra confirmed, her voice breathless.

“Are you pretending to call your partner? Sister? Daughter?” Glimmer mentally cursed herself- how the hell would Catra be able to answer discretely? She was about to apologise when Catra began speaking again.

“You’re always gonna be my little baby,” Catra responded, her voice breaking as she spoke. Daughter.

“Okay, do you have an actual daughter?”

“No,” Catra confirmed. There was a quavering tremor in her voice.

“Any family?”

“No, I’m sorry,” Catra sobbed. Glimmer inhaled, staying calm under the immense pressure.

“Alright. I’m gonna list some colours of the car, and you’re gonna respond with ‘it’s fine’ when I get it. Red… Green… Blue… White-”

“It’s fine,” 

“Do you know the license plate?”

“Wrap it up,” a man's voice commanded beside Catra. Glimmer could hear Catra’s breath stutter.

“Don’t you get it? I love you,” Catra quavered, “remember that, please,” her voice turned desperate, like she was trying to communicate something. Glimmer’s face shrivelled with confusion- there was no way this random woman was professing her love, so what was she really trying to say? Glimmer’s thoughts were cut off by the man’s voice speaking up.

“Hang up,” the voice instructed, before the call ended.

Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)

Adora Greyskull - Today, 05:18

Catra was a name Adora hadn't heard in years. Not since she joined the police academy, spurning their friendship to ash. Her heart was in her throat when she received the CAD call, her captain sending her and Bow out. Glimmer was the one who received the call, and with what little information they had, Adora needed to know exactly how it went- every detail, every word, every breath Catra took. She dialed for Glimmer, “I need more information.” Adora insisted, not bothering with a greeting. Glimmer was surprised, if the silence on the other side of the phone was anything to go by.

“I noted everything on the CAD,” Glimmer said. She was following protocol, but Adora needed more than what was just standard.

“No you don’t get it, Catra and I used to know each other. I need to know everything about the call,” Adora insisted, her voice warbling for a second, “Bow’s going to the house and- and I’m passing the last known coordinates but there aren’t any suspicious vehicles. The colour just isn’t enough.” Adora had to pull herself together- she already felt her mind buzzing with how quickly this all began to unravel. It was only a few moments ago that she hadn’t heard the name Catra in years. Glimmer inhaled sharply, understanding Adora’s urgency.

“Shit, okay, I picked up the call and she was pretending I was her daughter, which meant the offender didn't know she called the police. I thought she was fucking around and almost hung up but then I realised something serious was happening. She has no family we can get into contact with. At the end of the call she told me she loved me and to remember it? It felt a bit too personal, I don't know. I’m totally freaked,” Glimmer exhaled, “I’m off my shift, just outside of the call centre near our precinct. I can ring her from my phone?” Glimmer offered.

“I’ll pick you up and you can call her in the car. Get Entrapta there to trace the call,” Adora instructed. If she could hear Catra’s voice, maybe she’d be able to detect a tell that someone else couldn’t. “I’m continuing along the road but it’s not looking good.” Adora desperately wanted to avoid any possibilities that didn’t include Catra’s safety, but there was no evidence she’d been there, no crumb trail leading them to her. They hung up and Adora was left to fixate on every white car. When she’d find one, it’d have multiple people, or a woman behind the wheel, or someone that wouldn’t match the description. Adora’s hands were gripping the wheel tightly, her jaw clenched as she started to lose hope.

Bow Archer - Today, 05:20

“Brightmoon Police Department,” Bow said as he knocked on a door. It was Catra’s neighbour, or allegedly, since they never confirmed it was her address. A tall, scorpioni woman opened the door and Bow’s eyes widened. She looked at him skeptically.

“Can I see your badge?” She asked, crossing her pincers over each other. Bow showed it, “okay, what’s happening?”

“Is your neighbour Catra D’riluth?” he asked. Scorpia gulped.

“Yes,” she nodded.

“Did you see anyone entering the house?” Bow questioned further.

“I heard some yelling this morning. I tried to ignore it though, ‘cause Wildcat doesn't like people knowing about her personal life. She’s uh, dealt with a lot of crazy fans, if you know what I mean,” Scorpia scratched the back of her head.

“I’m not sure I do,” Bow replied.

“I mean, the fame and everything means everyone's in her business. People even approach me in public just because we’re friends and I’m not-” Scorpia rambled.

“Sorry, she’s famous?” Bow remarked in shock. Scorpia tilted her head and nodded, like this was supposed to be common knowledge, “did you see any car outside of her home?”

“No but I have a security camera,” Scorpia said. The slightest bit of relief flooded in Bow, because they may have gotten a lead.

Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)

Adora Greyskull - Today, 05:29

“We’ve got security footage from her neighbour, Scorpia,” Bow said over the radio. Adora let out a shaky exhale, “she was forcibly shoved into a car before it drove off. It’s a white Toyota Corolla,” there was a moment of hesitation as clicking sounds came over the speaker. Glimmer sat in the backseat with Entrapta whilst Adora sat in the front seat, idling outside of the call centre, “the number plate is too blurred, it’s intelligible.”

“Did you look at it frame by frame?”

“Yeah, there's nothing,” Bow confirmed. Adora let out a frustrated yell.

“We can’t get SWAT or air patrol until we get a plate. Highway patrol is looking but we have barely anything to go off. Should we get the news on this?” Glimmer suggested, “if we do a state-wide television broadcast of the security footage we might have a civilian report a tip.”

“She’s, um she’s supposedly a famous singer,” Bow disclosed before they made a decision, “she’s apparently just gotten home from a tour.”

“What?” Adora couldn’t stop her murmur, broken that on the nights where Catra felt impossibly far, she could’ve been performing near Adora’s house. The physical distance between them was never the reason she felt alone though. It was the stretch of time in the middle of them, hurt and spite at each other simmering down to plain sadness. Now, each of Adora’s memories she shared with Catra gleamed like a knife, bright and sharp but painful. 

To think that the girl who shaped her entire formative years now teetered on the edge of life-threatening danger terrified Adora to her core.

It made sense though, why Catra seemingly had no one they could get into contact with. Fame had to be isolating.

“I don’t know if the broadcast would cause worse issues. We’ve got a clear motive now, at least,” Bow raised. Adora couldn’t consider what he was saying properly, too lost in the rush of her thoughts.

“We’re gonna call her. I don’t think we should send it in yet. If they’re listening to the radio and the offender hears it she’s gonna be in trouble. Everyone’ll wanna cover the story of a popstar taken hostage.” Glimmer said. Bow hummed in agreement and Adora was just thankful Glimmer was calling the shots- her mind was buzzing too loudly to think.

“Standby Bow, don’t talk,” Adora said, shifting in her seat. Glimmer began calling her, and Entrapta set up the trace. When the call picked up, Adora’s whole body disconnected, her hearing being the only thing she paid any mind to.

“Hello? Who is this?” a man’s voice responded. His low and commanding voice dismissed all of Glimmer’s thoughts with a wave of intimidation. There was a beat of silence as Adora and Glimmer made eye contact in the rearview mirror, her grip on the phone tightening and her lips parting slightly. 

This was the captor. 

Glimmer forgot how to speak, her heartbeat thudded in her ears. A chorus of anxiety built up in her chest, tightening every muscle slowly, imperceivably until Glimmer was speaking through her closing throat.

“I thought this was my mom’s number. Dad doesn’t have it saved on his phone,” Glimmer responded, her voice nervously high and squeaky. Glimmer had to be quick- there was no time to hesitate, not with how dangerous every silent second was, “is she there?”

“If it’s my daughter she’ll be calling from her dad’s phone. I don’t have it in my contacts,” Catra's voice interjected behind him, unevenly spoken and quieter. Adora’s heart leapt to her chest at the first sound of Catra’s voice- the rough, husky timbre it once had was replaced with a scared wavering, yet Adora recognised it nonetheless. The hum of the engine audible from the other side of the phone cut out and Glimmer began silently panicking- the perpetrator had gone on mute.

“I just wanna talk to my mom, I don’t know what to do and she told me not to talk to my dad so I’m not but I need to hear her,” Glimmer forced her voice to crack, trying to cry. She needed the stress to get to her; being calm under stress was fatal if it meant she couldn’t convince the abductor that she was Catra’s daughter. She tried to shut off all her barriers, and let the emotions flood in, “is she there?” Glimmer managed to cry out noisy sniffles into the phone.

“Please, just let me calm her,” Catra pleaded, her voice faint on the call. Adora had her hands clasped in a prayer. She wasn’t religious, but she’d call to any god if it resulted in Catra’s safety.

“Fine,” the man’s voice relented, and shuffling came through the speaker, before Catra’s voice came through.

“Hi honey, I’m here. Don’t worry.”

“Catra we need a number plate. We’re struggling to find you,” Glimmer attested. Adora just wanted to comfort her, but Catra’s mental state was precarious under this stress. Adora's voice would only freak her out.

“Don’t you get it, I love you.” Catra repeated so quietly the microphone barely picked up on it.

“She said that before,” Glimmer said to Adora. Adora frowned, trying to figure out what she really meant. She had no doubt it was some sort of code.

“Location acquired!” Entrapta whispered, albeit loudly, and Adora started the engine, turning her lights and sirens on. Entrapta hooked the location to the GPS

“We’re trying to find you, Catra. Pretend like you're comforting your child,” Glimmer insisted.

“Don’t cry, I know it’s scary,” Catra consoled, even though her voice was shaking. It was the worst kind of irony, and it dug the pit in Adora’s stomach deeper as her hands tightened on the wheel. They began to tremble until she willed them to stop, “I’ll be home soon.” Another few minutes of Glimmer and Catra talking passed, Glimmer trying to assure Catra and Catra desperately fighting for her cover. Adora merged onto the highway Catra had to be on, but the trace wasn’t exact enough..

“Give me the phone,” the man’s voice instructed. Adora’s heart skipped a beat and the hairs on the back of her neck rose, “she’ll be fine.”

“No, no, no, please,” Catra begged, her voice harrowingly desperate. Adora’s knuckles grew white from how harshly she was clutching the wheel. Catra’s voice grew stronger, the defiant streak she always had glaring its head, “she’s my daughter, don’t fucking-”

“That’s enough!” he yelled, “say goodbye!”

“Listen to me Catra,” Glimmer instructed, the words flying out of her mouth whilst she brought the speaker as close to her mouth as possible, “we need something. A plate or something identifiable-”

“I have to go honey,” Catra said, letting a gap pass before she pretended to respond to Glimmer, “no don’t say that. Don’t you get it, I love you? Please don’t forget it,” Catra insisted before hanging up.

“That was the third time she said it,” Glimmer muttered. Alarm bells were ringing in Adora's head, analysing what Catra and Glimmer had said. Her grip on the wheel grew tighter, to the point her knuckles turned white. She was on the cusp of revelation, so close yet so far. She scratched at her brain, trying to figure it out. She and Catra used to understand each other like it was their mother tongue. They never even needed words to communicate. But now, too much time had passed, for Adora had words and yet it wasn’t enough. 

“Fuck!” Adora cried out in frustration.

“Adora, how close were you with her?” Glimmer asked, concerned as she glanced at her friend.

“Childhood best friends. The academy is what tore us apart.”

Catra - Past, 16:24

Catra was strumming her guitar, trying to distract herself from the letter glaring at her. It was addressed to Adora, but they never got mail. If she left it and Weaver got home, it would get thrown out. Catra should open it. But it was from the Brightmoon Police Department, and Catra knew all too well that they never had good news. For all Catra could tell Adora got caught speeding and was getting arrested. She could run away with Adora to evade the police, but it was a little ahead of schedule. Catra wasn’t 18 yet, so Adora could technically be kidnapping her. 

To stop her mind from spiralling she opened the letter. There were no secrets between them anyways and-

Catra’s heart stopped as she read. Catra crumpled the letter in her hand. Adora’s acceptance letter. For the police academy. Adora never even said she applied. Catra wanted to sink into the couch until it suffocated her. When Adora got home from her job at the local mall, Catra threw it in her face, “Congrats,” she said bitterly. Adora paused in her tracks, “thanks for telling me by the way. I love it when my best friend secretly applies for a police academy.”

“I got in?” Adora asked meekly. Catra scoffed, getting off the couch and leaving, “wait! Catra it’s in Brightmoon! This is our chance!” Adora must've known Weaver wasn’t home. It was the only reason she fought for Catra- as soon as Weaver was watching she acted like she didn't even know her.

“What makes you think I wanna move to fucking Brightmoon?!” Catra cried back, storming off to her room. She slammed the door. But Adora opened it.

“Don’t swear at me,” Adora eyebrows pinched together and her bottom lip pulled down. Catra was never harsh at her like this, They never struggled like this. Things were falling apart, unraveling too quickly.

“I’ll do what I want,” Catra hissed back as she packed a bag. Adora’s eyes watered- Catra never treated her like this, “you really wanna work for those pigs? They took me from my mom!”

“She was a drug addict!” Adora argued. Catra’s eyes went wide with anger.

“So what?!”

“She- she wouldn't even take care of you!” Adora continued. Catra’s fists clenched; Adora was weaponising the things she told her in private, the guilty admissions and sobs that Adora once comforted her through, “You’ve told me about the burn scars! You’re not supposed to cook when you're five years old, Catra. She neglected you!”

“Well you know what?! At least she loved me!” Catra screamed back. Adora was abandoned at birth. It was part of the reason they met- neither of them would be in the foster system if it wasn’t for their parents. Clearly it’d be the final straw as well. Catra pushed past Adora, and Adora let her go.

Prime - Today, 05:34

Catra was courageous. Prime could tell that much when he claimed her. She’d been far more resistant than the others he’d done this too- many had complied under threat of his great prowess, but not Catra. He knew eventually she would relent to his will, “I did not know you had a daughter,” Prime brought up as a conversation starter. His eyes flicked up to watch Catra’s frown deepen in the rearview mirror. Her hands were tied in her lap, her ankles bound in a similar manner. Prime figured a couple of zip-ties would do the job.

She wouldn’t speak to him, not unless he let her speak to her daughter. But that was a dangerous game. Catra needed to learn to free herself of her attachments, to truly embrace the future Prime was setting out for her. She didn’t like her fame- Prime could tell as much in the paparazzi shots. Prime would free her of her work and stress, give her a life where things were already planned for her. He’d done it for quite a few before, and although they weren’t appreciative as he’d hoped they still obeyed. It was fascinating, “how old is she?” Prime asked. Perhaps if he inquired about her daughter, Catra would open up more easily. He’d already indulged her requests of frivolous calls; his benevolence a rarity.

Prime had managed to delve deep into her personal life in his research, and whilst he found out Catra once had a fling, he never thought something had come of that- in particular a child. Part of him cursed himself for not being thorough enough, because if Catra had people in her life- unlike what his investigation suggested- her disappearance might not be a clean break like his other prizes were. Her daughter sounded young enough on the call that she wouldn’t know to call emergency services until Prime had Catra under lock and key.

“I’m not giving you information about her,” Catra reiterated as she had many times on this ride. Prime sighed and Catra flinched. Prime raised an eyebrow as he implicitly learnt another fact about her- she’d been hurt. By whom? He’d guess maybe a parental figure, considering a sigh was often a precursor to a violent outburst from a parent at the end of their stick. Prime could heal her, accept her, but only once she let her guard down.

If Catra wanted to keep her defences up, then Prime would let her… for now- allow her to muse on some semblance of control. It was only a matter of time before she was eating out of the palm of his hand.

Adora - Today, 05:40

Adora was painfully aware of time ticking, each critical second falling from her grasp. They’d been on this highway for too long, passed a couple of white Corollas but none with passengers that even remotely resemble what they’re looking for. As far as they’re aware, there’s only Catra and the perpetrator in the car. Glimmer got ahold of the initial call Catra made to emergency services, and they listened to that again, and then the call they made with Catra after again. Adora knew Catra was trying to communicate something, but it felt like she was screaming underwater, “whenever you mentioned number plates, she’d say the line.” Entrapta pointed out, stroking her chin. She always had an eye for patterns. Adora stared hard at the road ahead when she cracked it.

“Entrapta,” Adora suddenly stressed, her heart pounding in her ears, “Run the plate DYGIILY,” It was like she was breathing, above the surface after a long time of being submerged in water.

“What?” Glimmer uttered confusedly whilst Entrapta worked the software.

“Don’t you get it, I love you. She’s spelling out the letters of the number plate,” Adora explained, a rush thrumming through her. This is what Catra was trying to communicate, covertly divulging like one of their secret languages.

“There’s nothing, but I’ll run my algorithm for all plausible variations,” Entrapta confirmed, typing away, “The plate DYGI1LY belongs to a 2011 white Toyota Corolla!” Entrapta announced. Glimmer gasped in shock, but Adora was just praying it wasn’t too late.

“I’ll add it to the CAD and call the highway patrol,” Bow informed. Adora began speeding, switching on her lights and sirens. Several highway patrol units began sending updates over the radio, and Adora stepped on the gas as a ping came up on her GPS. Because the car pinged a licence plate reader on a gantry five minutes away.

Catra - Today, 05:43

Catra’s eyes were stuck on the carpeted floor, refusing to look at Prime. He didn’t deserve so much as a look from her. That was until the ringing phone was thrusted in her face, “it’s your daughter.” he said, “I added the number to your contacts. But Catra? This is your last call with her. You need to let go,” Catra quickly took the phone and picked up the call.

“Hi baby,” she said quietly, her voice still shaking as it had been this whole drive. If they didn’t find her soon, they might never find her at all.

“Catra, we got the plate,” It was Adora’s voice on the other side, and suddenly Catra broke down into sobs. All this time, Catra resented Adora, but now she’d be the reason Catra could survive, “You’re so fucking smart, y'know that? I can’t believe I didn’t understand your message sooner,” Adora whispered, like it was a violation to say.

“I love you so much,” Catra choked out, a hurricane of hurt and aching and yearning roiling in, overwhelming Catra. If she could have anything in this moment, it would be Adora’s arms around her, assuring her that everything would be okay. She hadn’t experienced that kind of comfort in years though, not since she ran away from their home.

“We’re coming-” Adora was cut off.

“She’s in view!” a high pitched voice squealed in the background, followed by the dispatcher's voice letting out a sound of celebration. Red and blue lights flashed from a disguised vehicle, but Prime wasn’t deterred.

“Give me the phone,” he said, “this is not the first time I have evaded the police and it will not be the last. If you try to rebel it will not end well.” Catra took a deep breath and whispered one last message into the phone.

“Adora, listen to me. Slam on the brakes.”