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This article's subject relates to the 24 expanded universe.This is a production article written from an out-of-universe perspective
This article is for the novel. For the virus featured in the novel, see Cat's Claw virus.

24 Declassified: Cat's Claw is the fourth novel in the 24: Declassified series.

Overview[]

Jack Bauer believes there is an imminent threat against the G8 summit, being orchestrated by terrorist for hire Ayman al-Libbi. However, he is unaware that there is another radical group targeting the summit, until their activities are brought to his attention by Mercy Bennet, a woman whom Jack once had strong feelings for. Their investigations intertwine throughout the day. Jack's daughter's life is threatened when he catches the scent, and he is engaged in a race against time to save her while simultaneously stopping both terrorist parties from accomplishing their goals.

Official summary[]

The world's most powerful leaders are gathering in Los Angeles for the G8 Summit, unaware that they have been targeted by two separate terrorist groups, each with its own lethal agenda. Uncovering and disarming one bomb would be difficult enough; eliminating both will be nearly impossible.

On the trail of a rabid Islamic assassin, rogue CTU agent Jack Bauer doesn't know that another conspiracy is brewing around him—a poisonous plot to violently dictate the future of the free world. If Bauer does nothing, in twenty-four hours the entire planet may be plunged into chaos, its primary heads of state ruthlessly destroyed. But if he acts, his daughter Kim will die instead.

Timeline[]

Cat's Claw is known to have taken place after Trinity in 2000, yet before Day 1. Cat's Claw begins and ends at 7:00am PST. Then tension between Jack and Teri Bauer suggests that they have not been separated yet, but may do so soon. This would place Cat's Claw at least 6 months before Day 1.

Format[]

Cat's Claw can be split into three clear plot arcs:

  1. Jack Bauer's hunt for Ayman al-Libbi and Mercy Bennet's hunt for Seldom Seen Smith.
  2. The attempt to stop the double threat on President Harry Barnes and Chinese Permier Xu Boxiong's lives.
  3. Jack's race to find the antivirus for Cat's Claw for the two world leaders and his daughter Kim.

Major subplots[]

  • The rowdy protestors outside the Federal Plaza, and the subsequent riot later in the day.
  • Jack Bauer's past relationship with Mercy Bennet, and his strained relationship with Teri.
  • Jessi Bandison's feelings for Kelly Sharpton.
  • Seldom Seen Smith's reluctance to kill, encouraging Frankie Michaelmas to take things into her own hands.
  • The G8 members discussing whether or not China should be allowed to become a member.

Episode guide[]

Prologue[]

  • One month ago: Mercy Bennet, an agent for the LAPD, arrived at Gordon Gleed's home where he was found dead by a blunt trama to the head.
  • Five days ago: After their vacation on Catalina Island, Jack Bauer and his wife Teri Bauer made their way back to LA on a ferry. As they got off, Jack bumped into a man that he suspected was is Ayman al-Libbi.

7:00am-8:00am[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7 A.M. AND 8 A.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

Protestors began to show up outside the Federal Building in West Los Angeles, where the G8 leaders were supposedly conducting their meeting. Jack Bauer brought his daughter Kim there as part of Teen Green, where she was conducting a political science assignment with her friend Janet York. Tony Almeida was conducting surveillance together with FBI agents McKey and Nick Dyson, using facial recognition software (FRS) to aid in their attempts to find any suspicious persons in the vicinity.

Mercy Bennet contacted Jack, claiming that she needed to meet with him immediately. He agreed before being informed by Tony that they had a lead. Jack went to pursue it, reassuring Teri that Kim was fine on the way. He was told that the FRS recognised Muhammad Abbas conversing with a man in a blue shirt. Using a shotgun microphone, Tony picked up only fragments of their conversation, due to the heavy traffic.

An unidentified man was told about Jack's role in the investigation of a certain someone, although it was unclear who. He decided to gain some leverage over Jack by focusing on Kim.

8:00am-9:00am[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8 A.M. AND 9 A.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

Jack inadvertently assaulted a police officer who seized his ankle, and quickly identified himself as a federal agent. This disturbance made Abbas and his contact leave. Mercy met with Jack and filled him in about a group of radical eco-terrorists by the name of the Monkey Wrench Gang, named after the infamous book, and how they had a problem with Gordon Gleed, the man whom Mercy was investigating. She claimed that the leader went by the name of Seldom Seen Smith. Jack was skeptical about her intel, but changed the subject and began discussing their relationship. Mercy claimed that she believed there was still something there, but there was nothing to talk about. She handed him a file and drove off.

Nick Dyson was called by the unidentified man, and he suggested that they kill Jack. However, the man refused to kill anyone unless it was absolutely necessary. He told Nick that he had a plan.

Kim tried to flirt with Brad Gilmore, but her attempts were interrupted by a man from the LA Weekly. Conducting a short interview, he ended it and ended up stabbing Kim with her pen, appearing like an accident. However, he had in fact injected her with a weaker strain of the Cat's Claw virus, intended to kill her after twenty four hours.

Jack climbed into his SUV, intending on heading to the CTU Los Angeles office, but received a call from Teri. He told her he was heading to the office and she became irritated. During his drive toward CTU, his mind wandered over his feelings for Mercy and Teri. Not focused, he ended up the victim of a car crash after a pickup truck collided with his car.

9:00am-10:00am[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9 A.M. AND 10 A.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

Kasim Turkel and Nurmamet Tuman met with Abbas to discuss their business for the day. Abbas stressed the importance of how they continued doing their usual activities throughout the day to throw off suspicion.

Jack woke up in a pitch black room, and was told by a voice that Kim had been infected with a deadly virus. The man would only pass on the cure if Jack refrained from continuing his investigation. He claimed that he would monitor Jack's movements and ensure that he didn't deviate from the deal. The lights suddenly came on, and Jack was free to go. He immediately called Christopher Henderson back at CTU Los Angeles and told him what happened. Henderson sent Nina Myers to pick Jack up. Jack requested a full body scan as soon as he got back. He also called to check on Kim, and his heart sank when he discovered she'd been stabbed by a pen.

10:00am-11:00am[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10 A.M. AND 11 A.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

Jack immediately headed into the conference room and explained to Henderson what happened with his brief kidnapping. He believed it to be al-Libbi, and mentioned that there may be a mole on the inside, although it's unlikely it's with CTU. Jack was told that there was no transmitter inside him. When Jamey completed a background check on everyone and finds no one guilty, Jack furiously demanded that she expand the parameters before leaving to meet with Kim and ensure she was okay. However, on his way to the plaza, he received a call lecturing him about not obeying his end of the deal: to stay at CTU for the rest of the day. Angrily, Jack returned to CTU, only to discover that the transmitter was in fact, in his blood.

Mercy decided to call her contact named Willow, hoping he had some information concerning the Monkey Wrench Gang. When he refused to snitch on his partners, she dispatched some officers to his residence to keep him there until she arrived. When she did, he named Frankie Michaelmas. He called her to keep her at the protest at Federal Plaza and to make it easier for Mercy to find her. She met her twenty minutes later, and immediately cast suspicion on her because of her attitude. She challenged Mercy to arrest her in front of everyone before moving through the crowd.

al-Libbi met with Abbas after his meeting with Turkel and Nurmamet, asking how it went. Abbas showed him the money underneath the table.

11:00am-12:00pm[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11 A.M. AND 12 P.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

Mercy continued to follow Frankie through the crowd.

12:00pm-1:00pm[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 12 P.M. AND 1 P.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

1:00pm-2:00pm[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 1 P.M. AND 2 P.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

2:00pm-3:00pm[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 2 P.M. AND 3 P.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

3:00pm-4:00pm[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 3 P.M. AND 4 P.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

4:00pm-5:00pm[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 4 P.M. AND 5 P.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

5:00pm-6:00pm[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 5 P.M. AND 6 P.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

6:00pm-7:00pm[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 6 P.M. AND 7 P.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

7:00pm-8:00pm[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7 P.M. AND 8 P.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

8:00pm-9:00pm[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8 P.M. AND 9 P.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

9:00pm-10:00pm[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9 P.M. AND 10 P.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

10:00pm-11:00pm[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10 P.M. AND 11 P.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

11:00pm-12:00am[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11 P.M. AND 12 A.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

12:00am-1:00am[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 12 A.M. AND 1 A.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

1:00am-2:00am[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 1 A.M. AND 2 A.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

2:00am-3:00am[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 2 A.M. AND 3 A.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

3:00am-4:00am[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 3 A.M. AND 4 A.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

4:00am-5:00am[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 4 A.M. AND 5 A.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

5:00am-6:00am[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 5 A.M. AND 6 A.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.

6:00am-7:00am[]

THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 6 A.M. AND 7 A.M. PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.


Catsclawnovel

An alternate cover

Memorable quotes[]

  • "If Jack Bauer stomped into his office claiming to have uncovered a plot to assassinate the entire line of succession in the U.S. government, Henderson would probably believe him. But this..."


  • Mercy Bennet: You are a piece of work, Jack. You used the vacation with your wife as a setup for stalking out the docks. You're the best operator I've ever met, but you're a real son of a bitch.


  • Mercy Bennet: This virus isn't going to kill me. Knowing Jack Bauer is going to kill me.


  • Mercy Bennet: But... but do you ever wonder if what you're doing is okay? What if sometimes they are right and you're wrong?
  • Jack Bauer: Sometimes I'm wrong, but they're never right.


  • Ryan Chappelle: (to Henderson) Don't be surprised if someday you find yourself regretting that Bauer's around.

Appearances[]

Background information and notes[]

  • Time errors in the book include:
    • 12:10pm is incorrectly labelled as 12:10am on page 95.
    • 11:54pm is incorrectly labelled as 10:54pm on page 272.
    • Times 4:20am and 4:21am are incorrectly labelled as 4:20pm and 4:21pm on pages 312 and 313 respectively.


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