When the plague made its first real appearance, it only caught a handful in its deadly grasp. But its ensuing terror and rapid spread more than made up for its hesitant start. The speed at which the disease swept through Third Earth filled its inhabitants with both wonder and horror. During the initial stage when the only manifestation of the coming menace were its symptoms, the plague was deceptively benign. There was no hint of impending disaster. A few dizzy spells among the Warrior Maidens. A fever or two in the Wollows’ village. A slight trembling on the part of the Lunatacs. General weariness for the Thundercats. Nothing that anyone would notice, report, or worry about in the least. That it would spread as far or as fast as it did was beyond anyone’s imagination. And no one thought of how deadly or painful it would become.

The only ones immune to the disease, or the Pain Fever as it would later be termed, were Mumm-Ra, the Berbils, and the mutants. No one bothered to think twice when Mumm-Ra and the Berbils showed no signs of sickness, but the mutants were a different story. The best guess at the time was that it had something to do with their mutant DNA.

The Warrior Maidens were the first ones to be truly hit. Almost overnight, five maidens fell to the Pain Fever’s burning convulsions. Among them was Nayda, Willa’s sister. The next day, seven Wollows were taken ill. When RedEye didn’t show up for his watch and Luna stormed into his room, ready to tear him apart with Amok’s bare hands, she found his sweat running like a river and RedEye himself unconscious and in a state of violent seizures.

Nor were the Thundercats immune. While out in the Thundertank, Panthro’s communications suddenly blacked out and the Sword of Omens began roaring in earnest. Through Sight Beyond Sight, Lion-O saw Panthro in the seat of the Thundertank in a dead faint, sweat beginning to bead and torturous groans escaping from the panther’s pale lips.

During that first chaotic week, quarantine was instituted across the board. No one wanted anything to do with anyone else. Four more Warrior Maidens succumbed to the Pain Fever during the next few days. Working around the clock, Tygra and Pumyra were able to determine that the disease could not be caught through another infected individual. This opened up the quarantine, but the disease itself was still a mystery. No one knew how it was carried, exactly what it did in the body, or how to cure it.

Much to everyone’s surprise, the first concrete information on the disease came from the Berbils, who were not affected by it. For some reason unfathomable to everyone except the Berbils themselves, pieces of mutant DNA had been saved from some of the mutant attacks. Using this DNA and extracts of Panthro’s affected tissues, it was learned that the disease directly targeted the nervous system. The mutants were immune due to a slightly different structure in their spinal column that resulted from their mutated DNA.

Two things resulted from this information. First of all, those searching desperately for a cure now knew exactly what was targeted and had a better idea of how the disease worked. The second consequence came from the mutants. Knowing themselves to be immune, they set out to make life miserable for everyone else. And only seconds behind them was Mumm-Ra.

"We think it’s contracted through the skin," Pumyra told the gathered Thundercats. It had been two weeks since the onset of the disease, but it might have been a day for all the progress they’d made in fighting it. "Once inside, the disease latches on to the nerve endings, slowly infesting the neural cells. This directly affects the brain and produces the first symptoms: trembling, dizziness, inability to concentrate, fever, and tingling. It slowly works its way toward the spinal column and branches out from there, inflaming all neural cells as it goes. In the end, it reaches its ultimate target—the brain."

"Not a very pleasant bug," Tygra added quietly. "And we still have no idea on how to stop it or how to immunize against it. We’re not even sure that it’s contracted through the skin. That’s just a guess based on the course the disease seems to take."

All the Thundercats, with the exception of Panthro, were gathered together in the control room of Cat’s Lair. The Tower of Omens had been abandoned, mutant attacks being too frequent for comfort. There was really nothing they could do except band together and wait.

"So what is Panthro going through now?" Lion-O asked.

"Pain." Pumyra massaged her throbbing temples. Too many sleepless nights were beginning to tell on her, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten. "I’m not sure I can explain it. It’s like he’s being burned alive. Every pain-center is being over-stimulated, and his fever is well into the danger zone. Imagine touching a fire and then keeping your hand in it. But the nerves aren’t burned away. The pain just keeps going and going."

"Ouch," Snarfer whimpered.

"You can say that again," Snarf agreed softly.

"Ouch."

"I wasn’t being literal."

"I sense you’re holding something back from us," Lynx-O broke in, riding over the two snarfs. "Something in your voices says that there might be an option we can look into."

"If there is, you must tell us," Cheetara agreed. "We can’t let anything go unchecked in this. Third Earth is falling before this disease."

Tygra and Pumyra exchanged glances. Lion-O roughly cleared his throat. "Okay, you two, what’s going on?"

"It’s a long shot," Tygra finally answered. "Nothing more than an ancient legend kept by the Warrior Maidens. Pumyra and I were over there yesterday and Willa dug up an old scroll. According to it, a very similar disease swept through the population sometime during the second age of this planet. A cure was found before the extinction of all higher life forms, but the cure was sealed up and used as a bargaining piece in the wars that ultimately ended that age. But the scroll said some of the cure survived the final upheaval and was stored in a stronghold to the south. From the rest of the information, I would judge it to be the southern jungles on the south continent."

"Is there any truth to it?" Wiley Kit asked.

Kat nodded with his sister. "Yeah, I mean, it’s just an old myth. But do you think it could help?"

"Rowr, is there any possibility that this whole disease is just an elaborate trick by the mutants or Mumm-Ra?" Bengali glanced around the conference table.

"That’s one of the first things we considered," Pumyra answered. "But the mutants were as afraid as everyone else was before they found out they’re immune. That leaves Mumm-Ra. I wouldn’t put it past him to create a disease like this, but even if he played a part in this plague, it’s still just a disease. We know that much. And with a cure, we can fight back."

"So it doesn’t really matter who started it, if anyone did," Lion-O finished. "We need to find a way to stop it. Later, we can worry about placing blame."

Bengali nodded. "You’re right. But it still burns me to watch it happen. Does Panthro know what’s going on inside him?"

"We’ve kept him under heavy sedation," Tygra replied. "He hasn’t been aware of much. During his moments of coherency, we did a little explaining. But the pain was so intense that he couldn’t concentrate on our words. But too much sedation isn’t good. We’re going to have to let him come completely out of it pretty soon."

"Brrrr, what are we going to do Lion-O?" Snarf whimpered. "The mutants keep attacking, Mumm-Ra keeps scheming, snarf, and all of us are still vulnerable to the disease."

Lion-O sat staring at the Sword of Omens. Against natural enemies, and even a few unnatural ones, the Sword’s powers were a force to be reckoned with. But against a mindless disease, he was powerless. If there was anything Lion-O hated, it was the feeling of helplessness. And that was the feeling now sweeping over his tired body and exhausted mind. He was completely helpless. There was nothing he could do. And now everyone was looking at him expectantly. It would be a mistake to show weakness. They were already desperate, and they needed to trust in something. But what did he have to offer them?

"We do what we’ve been doing," the lion answered heavily. "We keep looking for a cure. We keep defending our Lair and our friends. We follow every lead, no matter how far-fetched. Tygra," he said, looking to his friend and advisor, "I want you to find out about the myth from the Warrior Maidens. I don’t care that it’s only a legend, we need to search everywhere. Pumyra, keep working in the lab. The rest of you, be aware of your own health. If you sense anything unusual, report it immediately."

"We’re all very tired, Lion-O," Cheetara said quietly. "I don’t think we’d sense anything until it caught us like it did Panthro."

"And that’s another thing," Lion-O continued. "We need sleep. I know you’re all anxious to do your part, but we need to start a shift schedule. This goes for Tygra and Pumyra especially," he added, glaring at the two. "We aren’t any use if we’re too tired to see beyond our noses and exhaustion will only put us in a weakened state of health. Pumyra, Kit, Kat, Lynx-O, and Bengali will rest now. That’s an order. I’ll put you to bed myself, if I have to. Later, Tygra, Cheetara, Snarf, Snarfer, and I will rest. Objections?"

"I’ve got chemicals in the lab," Pumyra protested. "It will take another hour before the results are completed and then half an hour to examine the tissue."

"I’ll finish it for you," Tygra offered. "Meanwhile, I’ll go back to the Tree-Top Kingdom and see if Willa knows anything else."

"Lion-O and I can keep watch on the Lair while Snarf and Snarfer help Tygra with your experiments," Cheetara added.

"Then everything works out," Lion-O finished. "And if we stick together in this, Jaga help us, it will continue to work."

"And Jaga help us if it doesn’t," Lynx-O murmured quietly.

Although Willa’s natural disposition tended toward the sober side, it was still a shock for Tygra to see her now. She was pale with fear and worry, shadows under her eyes speaking of sleepless nights. The twinkle in her eye that could sparkle with hidden mirth was gone, lost in the glazed look she now turned on her visitor. "I don’t know that we have any more information, Tygra. I think that scroll was all we had in our collection. I can check, but…"

"That would be wonderful," Tygra assured her, wondering if there was anything he could say to ease her pain. Or his own, for that matter. "How’s Nayda?"

As soon as he said it, he knew it was the wrong thing to ask. Willa’s eyes closed and her breathing sharpened as she tried to control her emotions. "I don’t know what to do for her," the woman answered. "She grows worse everyday. The drugs you gave us don’t seem to be doing much for her anymore." Willa shook her head and shuddered. "Come. I will look for more scrolls. You can see her for yourself."

Tygra followed the despondent warrior through the maze of trees and vines until they came to Willa’s tree home. Around him, Tygra could hear the hushed murmur of other voices coming from different parts of the jungle. But there was no soft laughter, no muffled giggle. Once in a while, a soul-wrenching groan would tear at his heart. He tried to put the voices out of his mind, but it was no use. And he knew that if Panthro weren’t under sedation like he was, he would share their pain. For what seemed like the hundredth time that week, he cursed the warrior maidens and their stubborn vows that made them refuse to take sedatives. The strongest painkillers just wouldn’t work on this disease. More wailing echoed through the trees and Tygra felt his heart catch in his throat. "How many?" he asked.

"Fourteen, as of last night," Willa answered.

"But no one’s died from it?"

"It might be better if they did, but no. No one’s died."

"That’s something," the Thundercat said, almost to himself. "I would have expected the disease to progress faster than it is. Most do. With all the pain it’s causing, it’s a wonder any who caught it are still alive."

"Was that supposed to be a comfort, Thundercat?" Willa asked as she entered her dwelling. Tygra cringed at the harshness in her voice.

"Just a fact," he answered meekly.

Willa turned her back to him and went to a large chest by the wall. "If there are more scrolls that speak of this disease, they will be in here. I will look and see if I can find any. Nayda’s in the next room if you want to check on her progress."

Tygra nodded and turned toward the other room. He entered quietly and took in the situation before doing anything else. Nayda lay strapped securely to a bed. A cold, damp rag lay across her forehead and a trembling constantly shook her limbs. Her chest rose and fell in an erratic dance, telling Tygra of the struggle she went through just to breathe. Her eyes were closed, but Tygra guessed she was awake from the tightness in her mouth. She was trying desperately not to scream. "Nayda?"

Her eyes opened slightly and Tygra wanted to cry. The warm, brown orbs were dull and tortured. They rested on Tygra, but for a while, there was no hint of recognition. And then she smiled, but the smile was horribly forced. "Hi."

Tygra made his way to her bedside and felt her forehead. "That fever’s pretty high. Let’s see if we can bring it down. I wish you’d take something to help you sleep."

"Can’t," she mumbled. "Can’t do—it. Vulnerable."

"We’re all in this together," the Thundercat reminded her as he dipped a rag in a basin of cool water lying by her bed. He swabbed her neck and face gently. "You need to rest. You’re not in the fight right now. You can be as vulnerable as you want."

"Warriors—don’t sleep—in—trouble," she whispered.

"Maybe not, but right now you’re not a warrior. You’re sick." But even as he talked, Tygra knew his words made no difference to Nayda or any of the other Warrior Maidens. Their minds were set. They would not take medicine that put them to sleep. It had been a chore to get them to accept painkillers.

"Always—warrior," she answered him.

"Tygra?" Willa’s voice floated through the doorway. Tygra turned toward the sound. "I think I’ve found something. Would you like to have a look?"

"Be right there," Tygra answered. "Just hang on a little longer," he said to Nayda. "We’ll find someway to help you." But leaving the room, the tiger couldn’t help adding under his breath, "I hope."

Bengali sauntered into the control room, begrudging his nap but feeling better for it nonetheless. He found Snarf and Snarfer pouring over an old parchment that was stretched out across a back table. "What are you guys up to?"

"The Warrior Maidens found a map of the stronghold where the cure is kept," Snarfer answered. "We’re trying to find its location in our data files of Third Earth."

"Unfortunately, snarf, the land has changed and getting a match has been really difficult."

"But Uncle Snarf and I are getting closer, yep. I can feel it."

"I’m glad someone’s getting close to something," Bengali muttered.

"Ho, Bengali," Cheetara greeted as she entered the room. "You’re not due on watch for another half hour or so."

"I’m well rested," the tiger responded. "I thought that maybe there was something I could help with."

Cheetara shrugged as she checked the monitors. "Things are pretty quiet. Lion-O and Tygra are working in the lab, the snarfs are working here, and I’m kind of going back and forth between the two."

"No mutant attacks?"

"Not yet. Kind of odd, but I’m not complaining. Oh, and Tygra’s going to ease Panthro off sedatives, so he might wake up during your shift. Pumyra will know what to do."

"Any change in his condition?" Snarf asked.

"No," the cheetah replied softly. "Not for the better, anyway. But I don’t think he’s going downhill, yet. If you want a break, you can go see him."

Snarf shook his head quickly. "That’s okay. I think I’ll pass."

"It’s hard to see him tied down to a bed, isn’t it? Even if it’s for his own good," Bengali observed gently.

"We can’t let him injure himself when he goes through his seizures," Cheetara explained.

"I know," Snarf grumbled. But it still bothered him to see a Thundercat tied down, even if it was only with medical restraints. He turned back to the map in an attempt to circumvent his frustration.

"Hey, did you hear that?" Snarfer suddenly asked.

"Hear what?" Snarf paused to listen, but couldn’t hear anything. He shook his head disapprovingly at the younger snarf. "Just concentrate on what you’re doing, nephew. You’re hearing things."

"No, wait." Snarfer held his hand up for silence. "There it goes again."

Bengali cocked his head. "I think I heard it, too. Everyone, just listen."

And then they all heard it: the sound of a desperate scream, muffled because of the extensive soundproofing that could be both a blessing and a hazard in the Lair. "That came from the kitten’s room!" Cheetara exclaimed.

"Let’s go," Bengali ordered, racing out of the room.

Following Bengali down the hall, they ran smack into Wiley Kat. He wasted no time in grabbing Bengali’s arm and yanking him down the hall. "It’s Kit! She’s got it!"

"Hold on, Kat," Bengali soothed, though he didn’t slow his race to the room the two Thunderkittens shared. "What’s the problem?" But Bengali’s heart was already sinking. He knew exactly what the problem was.

"She’s got that sickness! That sickness that Panthro has!"

Cheetara had reached the room ahead of everyone and was already inside. When the others entered, they found the cheetah holding a struggling Wiley Kit close to her chest and trying to restrain her wild flailing. Cheetara’s eyes lifted at the sound of their approach and Bengali read the story there in the warm amber that had suddenly gone cold. A second Thundercat could be added to the list of victims.

"Not Kit, too," Snarf murmured.

"Unc, we gotta do something! We can’t just let this happen!"

"I’ll get Pumyra and Lynx-O," Bengali said quietly. "Kat, find Lion-O and Tygra. Tell them what just happened."

"I’ll carry Kit to sickbay," Cheetara offered. The kitten had gone limp and the cheetah carefully gathered her in her arms. "Tell Pumyra to meet us there."

"Come on, Snarfer," Snarf instructed. "Let’s get back to work on that map. It may be our only chance."

Snarfer nodded, but his usual feistiness had vanished. It was as if the reality of the disease had hit home. He hadn’t been there when Cheetara and Lion-O took Panthro to the Lair. He wasn’t there when Tygra and Pumyra worked desperately to try and keep Panthro operating at levels close to normal. He’d never even seen the panther since the onset of the sickness. But he’d just watched Wiley Kit shudder and convulse in horrible agony as the disease made its presence known. He’d seen the Thundercats in trouble before, but it was always against a tangible enemy, one they could fight back against. But this callous force that was now taking them at its leisure, this was something else.

He felt his uncle’s hand on his shoulder and looked into the elder snarf’s eyes. He read the same story there and much more. His uncle had dealt with things like this before. Seeing this gave Snarfer some much-needed courage, but he still wasn’t the cheerful, young snarf he’d been a few minutes ago.

"Come on," Snarf repeated softly. "Let’s work on that map and have a nice, long talk."

Though there were protests on the part of snarfs, cheetah, and red tiger, the shifts were exchanged on time and half the Thundercats were sent to bed as previously scheduled. As Lynx-O pointed out when Lion-O wasn’t around, their leader needed to feel useful. His decisions as of late had been half-hearted. The shift schedule was something Lion-O had stuck to and the best thing the Thundercats could do to help their leader was to follow this schedule. But their sleep was robbed of its restfulness by dreams of the disease and worry over their two Thundercat comrades.

While the others rested, Pumyra strapped Kit securely down and gave her a good dose of sedatives. A cold compress was placed on the kitten’s forehead and tissue samples were taken. During the watch, Pumyra analyzed these samples and compared them with Panthro’s. There was no doubt about it. Kit and Panthro were casualties of the same implacable enemy. An enemy no one knew how to fight.

"Rowr, Kat wanted to see her, but I told him he’d better not."

A startled Pumyra whipped around to see Bengali in the doorway to sickbay. "You idiot, you scared me. I thought you were supposed to be on watch."

"Lynx-O and Kat are doing fine, so I thought I’d come see how you were doing." Bengali’s head tipped slightly to the side and his eyes probed into hers. "How are you doing?"

For a moment, Pumyra was tempted to blow the tiger off with some glib answer and get back to work, but she couldn’t do it. She’d had enough of the sickness and she needed to find release somewhere. She found herself answering Bengali before she even realized she was speaking. "I do this. I can’t do anything for them." She hung her head to hide the growing blush of her shame. "I can’t help them."

A little alarmed at Pumyra’s despair, Bengali swiftly moved to her side and pulled her into a warm embrace, wrapping his strong arms around her. "You’re doing the best you can," he purred softly. "No one can do more than that."

Pumyra shook her head fiercely and tried to push away from him. "That’s not good enough. I need to do more than that. How can I stand here and let them die? They’re going through pain that we can’t even imagine! Panthro will be awake within the hour. How can I face him? I have nothing to offer him, no relief or hope to give. I’ve failed the Thundercats, Ben. I’ve failed them."

"Easy," the tiger soothed, pulling Pumyra closer. She buried her head on his chest and started to shake. Bengali hoped he could find the right words to say, as he’d never been very good at giving comfort. That was the puma’s department. "Pumyra, you have to remember that you never completed your medical training. But for someone who never completed it, you’re doing better than anyone could have hoped. You’re easily a professional healer and then some. Rowr, Panthro will understand that. And he’ll appreciate what you and Tygra are trying to do."

"But it’s not enough!" she whispered.

"To them, it is," Bengali reassured her.

Pumyra shook her head, but Bengali continued to hold her tight. The tiger could feel the warm moisture of her tears as they trickled down his chest. "To me, Pumyra, your work will always be enough," he whispered. He gently rubbed her back and felt the tense muscles start to relax. Pumyra let out a sigh that was part-sorrow, part-gratitude.

"What would I do without you, Ben?" the puma murmured as she snuggled closer to the tiger, relaxing her body against his own.

"I would be nothing without you," Bengali answered, nuzzling her neck as a response, his lips just brushing the tip of a gracefully pointed ear. His nose caught the scent of her feminine pheromones and he was suddenly very aware of how close together they were. He could feel her gentle contours pressing against his own powerful muscles and the rise and fall of her chest as her breathing gradually relaxed. As Pumyra’s head rested on his muscled chest, she must have heard his heart begin to race and feel him stiffen. Her head tipped back ever so slightly, her eyes shone in surprise, but she made no move to pull away. Instead, her hands started to massage and rub Bengali’s chest rhythmically, in a soothing motion. She pressed even closer to him, sending tremors across his muscles and feeling a sudden exhilaration in her own body. Frightened and confused but unable to fight the feelings that were overtaking him, Bengali slowly brought his head down, coming closer to Pumyra’s—

The alarms suddenly began to blare. Both Thundercats were instantly all business, play forgotten. Bengali was the first to get to an intercom. "Lynx-O, what’s going on?"

"Mutants," Kat answered for the older Thundercat. "What else?"

"Just Jackalman and Monkian on Skycutters," Lynx-O added. "But they’re almost within firing range of the Lair."

"I’ll take the Thunderclaw," Bengali responded. "Have the Cat’s Eyes ready to back me up." Switching the intercom off, he briefly turned back to Pumyra, feeling a slight blush but pushing past his awkwardness. "Remember, have faith in yourself. Don’t let Panthro see you like this when he wakes. He needs to see confidence, even if there is none. I know you’ll pull them through this." And without another word, Bengali raced out of the sickbay for the hanger.

"Thank you, Ben," Pumyra murmured after him.

Though the mutants were ultimately driven back, the defenders were reminded that their enemies were still out there. Even though the Lunatacs wouldn’t do anything, nothing prevented the mutants or Mumm-Ra from trying. When Lion-O, Tygra, Cheetara, and the snarfs awakened, they were immediately informed of the attack and another council meeting was called, this time in sickbay so that Panthro could participate.

"I say we look for the cure the Warrior Maidens mentioned," Cheetara voted.

"You do have a point, Cheetara," Lynx-O said. "We’re sitting ducks. Mumm-Ra and the mutants can both take us whenever they’re ready and the disease is already doing part of their work for them. We can’t go on like this. We need definitive action or ultimate surrender. There isn’t another choice."

"There’s always another choice," Lion-O protested. Though he’d initially supported this mythical cure from the Warrior Maidens, Wiley Kit’s fall had reminded Lion-O that this disease could strike any of them at any time. And sending Thundercats away from the Lair had now become a risk he didn’t want to take. "That cure might be nothing more than a wild goose chase. We can’t spare Thundercats to search for it; we’d be more vulnerable than we already are."

"But I already told you, I don’t even know where to start as far as a cure goes. Neurology is far beyond my scope," Pumyra argued.

"And mine," Tygra added. "The best we can give you is a more powerful pain reliever. That won’t do any good."

"I don’t—know, I—might like it," Panthro grunted. Perspiration beaded his gray forehead and his jaw was clenched tight. "Are you sure—you can’t put me back—to sleep?"

"Only if you don’t want to wake up again," Tygra answered.

Panthro grumbled something, but didn’t say anything more. His fists were tight and the muscles in his forearms bulged as they surged against his restraining straps. A constant trembling shook his body and his breath came in tight rasps that gave everyone shivers. Kat couldn’t help but think that this would be Wiley Kit’s fate in the next few days. He shuddered and turned away from the two patients.

"Look," Bengali said, breaking an uneasy silence. "I know that sending Thundercats away from here is probably not the best idea. But we don’t have a better one. I don’t see Panthro enjoying his stay in sickbay, and Kit won’t either when she wakes up. We need to find a cure, and we need to find one fast. And if the Warrior Maiden’s southern trip is currently the only option aside from synthesizing an antidote, I say we take it."

"We’d only have to send one Thundercat," Snarfer suggested.

"No, we’d have to send two," Lion-O insisted. "At least two. The mutants aren’t going to be compassionate to Thundercats outside the Lair. They know we’re tied up in here and can’t send help if others get in trouble. And even two Thundercats might not be safe outside the Lair. A trip to the south is a risk that I don’t think we need to take."

"Lion-O, please," Lynx-O interrupted gently. "We must do something, if for no other reason than for the sake of our own sanity. We can’t sit here while our friends suffer."

"Please," Cheetara echoed. "Let us do something."

"There’s still enough of us to effectively guard the Lair," Snarf pointed out.

"But how long will that last?" Lion-O demanded. "Did Kit show any signs or symptoms before she started the seizures?" he asked Wiley Kat.

The Thunderkitten was silent as he tried to collect his scattered thoughts and feelings. "I don’t think so," he finally answered. "She was a little dizzy before she went to bed, but we all were. We’d had no sleep. I didn’t think it was anything more than that. If only I’d known…"

"You could have—done nothing," Panthro wheezed. "Don’t blame yourself." He ended his sentence with a tortured groan that tore at everyone’s hearts. "You couldn’t prevent—it," he added.

"There’s no guarantee that more of us won’t fall to the fever, but there’s no guarantee that we will, either," Tygra reasoned. "But if we don’t do something quickly, it’s a sure thing that we’re going to lose a few players forever."

Lion-O’s hands tore through his silky, red mane for the hundredth time that day. Inwardly, he pleaded for Jaga to appear and help him in his decision. But he had the feeling that Jaga was just as confused and lost as he was. The Thundercats were on their own this time. "All right," he gave in. "We’ll look for the cure. Snarf, Snarfer, do we have any probable locations?"

The two snarfs exchanged glances and shrugged. "We have five possibilities," Snarf answered. "We couldn’t narrow it down anymore. There’s all on the southern continent and all in the heavy jungles."

"It’ll be difficult going and who knows what kind of creatures live down there," Snarfer added. "But there are five possible ruins that could house a cure for this disease. All look like they might be from this world’s second age."

"Sounds as though we have enough to go on," Bengali decided.

"Five?" Lion-O asked. "That’s still a lot. Can any of our vehicles reach these sights directly?"

"Um, well, snarf, that’s the main problem. They’re so covered in growth and the forest is so tall that, brrrr, there isn’t a landing sight within a mile of any of these sights."

"So whoever goes will have to be hacking their way through dense jungle for a couple miles to get to it and then to get out, too." Lion-O pinched the bridge of his nose. He felt a solid headache coming on. "Any volunteers?"

"Me," Cheetara spoke up immediately. She was aching to get out and about.

"And me," Tygra said before anyone else could speak. "Someone with medical knowledge should go to determine if the cure is really the cure."

"Can I go too?" Bengali asked.

"What about me?" Kat asked. "I want to do something to help my sister."

"A small snarf might be a good idea," Snarf put in.

"Okay, that’s enough," Lion-O snapped, surprising himself and everyone else. The lion rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout like that."

"We understand the cause of your anger," Lynx-O answered for everyone. "But we do need a decision."

"Right," the lion mumbled. He ran his hands through his mane again and sighed. "Tygra, Cheetara, and Snarf. You’ll go." As Lion-O finished this sentence, Pumyra and Tygra quickly exchanged looks and Tygra nodded shortly. Lion-O paused but decided it was nothing and continued. "Bengali and Kat, we need you here to help Lynx-O, Snarfer, and me. The mutants are going to go crazy when they find out we’re sending others out. Pumyra, I want you down here with Panthro and Kit. Don’t give a second thought as to what’s happening outside the Lair. A cure or something to prevent it is your top priority."

"Right, Lion-O," the puma agreed.

"What about—me?" Panthro managed to get out.

Everyone looked at the shuddering panther and then caught a slight twinkle in his eye. Even Lion-O had to smile. "Get better. That’s an order from the Lord of the Thundercats."

"Can’t question your—authority, now can—we," Panthro grunted.

"You’d better not," Lion-O told him. He turned to Tygra. "Do you know enough about this cure to recognize it if you find it?"

Tygra’s wry smile immediately put Lion-O on his guard. "When we find it, I’ll know it."

A groan in unison around the table was the response. Lion-O glared at the tiger. "You have no idea what you’re looking for?"

"The instructions on how to enter the hold are very detailed. I’ll know if we’re in the right place or not. And if we’re in the right place, I’ll know where to look. And if I know where to look, and I find something where I’m supposed to be looking, I’ll assume that’s the cure, run a preliminary test, and be back here before you can say Lords of Thundera."

"Faster would—be better," Panthro suggested.

"So when do we leave?" Cheetara asked.

Tygra shrugged. "Is now too soon?"

"A little on the late side," Snarf mused, "but I guess it will have to do."

To try and draw the mutants away from the departing Thundercats, Lynx-O, Bengali, and Pumyra used themselves as bait and began racing by Castle Plun-Darr on the Thunderclaw. Confused but eager at the chance to confront the Thundercats, the mutants took the bait and started to chase them, leaving their scanners unmanned. Vultureman and Slithe chased Lynx-O in the main pod while Jackalman and Monkian chased the other two pods. The Thunderclaw was easily faster than the mutants’ ships, but they cut the speed back to make the chase more interesting and to give Tygra, Cheetara, and Snarf a chance to get to the southern continent.

Watching through the Sword, Lion-O saw the mutants giving chase and gave the signal. The Feliner took off and with it went the hopes of the Thundercats. It went unseen by the mutants. Even Mumm-Ra didn’t see it, as he was watching the antics of the Thunderclaw as well. But it didn’t escape unseen by everyone. Although the disease was attacking them, too, the Lunatacs hadn’t abandoned their hated foe. TugMug watched the Feliner departing for the southern jungles and tracked it as far as the scanners would allow it. "Now what could they be up to?" he wondered.

The day after the Feliner departed, Wiley Kat wandered far away from the Lair. He didn’t know where his steps led him, but he didn’t argue. He needed to be away. He knew he should be helping with the watch, the chores, the tests, anything. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t stand another minute in the same structure that housed his dying sister. Panthro was under the sedatives again, but sheer pain was beginning to fight back against the drugs. More often than not, Panthro would wake in screams and convulsions, begging for relief. But Pumyra could give him nothing. He was already overdosed and probably addicted to several of the medicines they were using. Wiley Kit had not awakened since the initial seizure, but she trembled and groaned in her sleep.

Still not sure where he was going and beginning to realize he didn’t even know where he was anymore, Kat started climbing the trees that towered above him. He could remember jumping through the trees with Kit and wondered if he’d ever do it again. "Morbid thoughts," he grumbled to himself. "I’ve got to stop this. I’m no use to anyone." But saying it and doing it were two entirely different things. For all that he knew he had to stop, he couldn’t. He continued climbing through the branches of the trees, not having the energy or the desire to jump and swing.

He was almost on top of them before he realized it. He probably would have waltzed right in on them if the sun hadn’t glanced off shining metal and almost blinded him. Startled out of his inner battle, the first thing his eyes saw was the Lunattacker. Instinctively, he flattened himself out on the branch and looked around. He couldn’t see anything, but a little further on was a clearing, and voices seemed to be coming from the clearing. Cautiously, he edged closer.

"You’re sure this will work?"

"Awwk, of course not. It hasn’t been tested. And can’t be tested unless we catch something with an advanced neurological system that’s susceptible to this disease."

"Then what good is it going to do us?"

"We find someone who has yet to catch the disease, inoculate them, and then expose them to the disease. Awwk, after that we’ll know for certain."

Kat could now recognize the voices. One was clearly Vultureman’s. The other had taken a bit longer, but he could now make out Alluro’s hypnotic drone. What were the two of them doing together? Something about an inoculation and the disease? Hardly daring to hope, Wiley Kat crept closer.

"Don’t look at me, mutant. And don’t think any of the Lunatacs are going to volunteer as guinea pigs, either."

"Relax. The Thundercats have the disease, too. We can swipe one of them when they’re not looking or one of their allies."

"They’re sick. That means they’re going to be doubly on guard, especially since your stupid friends keep trying to attack them."

Kat could hear Vultureman’s indignant squawk. "You asked me to help you research. I don’t have to. If I’m going to be insulted, I’ll just pack up my equipment and—"

"You’ll do no such thing," Alluro interrupted. "You need the parts from Skytomb and I’m the only one who can give them to you. Don’t force me to hypnotize you. I need your ingenuity, but there are ways around that."

Kat dropped from a branch to the mossy forest floor. He was only a few feet away from Vultureman and Alluro. They were surrounded by portable tables and what looked like an impromptu chemistry experiment. Kat was once again reminded as to why he avoided Tygra’s lab. The smell was practically lethal.

"Besides," Alluro was saying, "if we cure one of our enemies, we’re doing them a favor. I thought it best to wait the disease out and let it take the Thundercats with it."

"Have you nothing in that Lunatac head of yours? Awwk, we’ll cure them and then kill them. It’s not that difficult."

Wiley Kat had completed a circle around the two accomplices and was trying to determine his next move. From beneath a table he tried to see what it was they were arguing over. If it was a cure and he could get his hands on it…

In his excitement, he became a little careless and bumped the table leg. It didn’t make a loud noise, but it was enough. Jackalman and Alluro were on him before he even realized he’d made a mistake. "What have we here?" Alluro laughed. "A snooping Thunderkitten. Where’s your twin? Or do we have to go looking for her?" Before Wiley Kat could respond, a blue orb had shot out of Alluro’s psyche club. "Where’s Wiley Kit? Who else is with you? What is the situation at Cat’s Lair?"

Kat felt his will crumbling under Alluro’s influence, but he couldn’t do anything. Vultureman held him firm and in Kat’s weakened physical state, brought on by worry over Wiley Kit, he wasn’t a match for the mutant physically. If he’d had another second, he might have been able to utilize one of the pellets on his belt, but that second was denied him as Alluro guessed his thoughts and tightened his control.

"No, kitten. That’s not what we want. All we want is information. Be a good kitten and tell us."

"Wiley Kit has the disease. I came alone. We have no cure for the disease." As if from a distance, Kat felt himself saying these things, but there was no way for him to stop himself. He was no longer in control. And he was slipping farther into the hypnotic trance, completely losing track of his surroundings.

"TugMug mentioned something about the Feliner. It took off yesterday while the Thunderclaw distracted the gullible mutants." Vultureman squawked an objection, but Alluro hushed him quickly. "Where did the Feliner go? Who was on it?"

"Tygra, Cheetara, and Snarf. They’re going to the southern continent. The Warrior Maidens think there’s a cure down there."

Alluro pondered the new information. "How close are we to an actual cure?" he asked Vultureman.

"Years away. Once infested, awwk, it takes over the systems so completely that I don’t know how to extract it without inflicting permanent damage on the nervous system. It’s possible that we may never have a cure."

"But the Thundercats may have one," the Lunatac mused quietly. He turned back to Vultureman. "Will he do as our guinea pig?"

Vultureman’s beak twisted into a sneer. "He’s perfect. Let’s strap him down."

Wiley Kat returned to his senses to hear Vultureman and Alluro conversing over the results of some tests. He was firmly tied to an examination bed and an intravenous needle was taped securely to his arm. A shiver swept over him.

"So he’s definitely not a carrier," Alluro said.

"If he were a carrier, the vaccine would have accelerated the disease and he’d be in the middle of a large seizure by now. So no, he’s not harboring our little, awwk, parasitic friend."

"And now we can give him the disease?"

"Now," Vultureman grinned, "we can give him the Pain Fever."

Wiley Kat pushed against his bonds, not sure what was happening to him but certain it couldn’t be good. Alluro and Vultureman noticed his struggles and laughed. "Easy, little kitten," Alluro soothed. "We’ll know if the immunization works one way or another soon. Though, either way, you won’t be around for long afterwards."

Vultureman was injecting a fluid into the tube that ran into his arm. Almost instantly, Kat could feel a tingling sensation run through his body. "You might want to stay back," Vultureman warned Alluro. "If you touch any of this, you’ll get the disease."

"Why are you doing it intravenously?"

"It’s faster, awwk. It doesn’t have to incubate because it’s so concentrated in this fluid and it gets to the nerve endings faster."

Wiley Kat could back up what Vultureman was saying. He could feel fire begin to sear away somewhere deep within himself. But at the same time, he could feel it receding. His muscles twitched, but he could still control them. There was a slight trembling in the arm with the needle, but other than that, he felt all right. The pain died down and it was if nothing had happened.

Vultureman had turned to monitors that were positioned around Kat’s bed. "Crude, but it will work," he announced.

"What about differences in species?" Alluro asked.

"The way this disease works, I didn’t need to take that into, awwk, consideration. The Pain Fever attacks those with similar neurological structures. This formula works for those with similar structures, awwk. I wish I could have made it selective, but it didn’t work that way. We’ll just have to make sure, awwk, that the stupid Thunderbrats never get a hold of it."

Wiley Kat was far from idle during this time, though he was still bewildered as to what was happening. But figuring out the situation could wait until he’d made an escape. He’d managed to get one hand near his belt and could almost grasp the pellet with corrosive acid in it. Just a few more inches…

"What do we do with the kitten? Should I take him back to Skytomb as proof? Or do you want him?" Alluro asked.

"What am I going to do with him? Awwk, the only reason I’d want him would be for experiments with the disease. And now he can’t get it. Speaking of which—" Vultureman suddenly shoved a hypodermic into Alluro who let out a yelp. "Now you’re immune, too."

"Great," the Lunatac grumbled, rubbing his arm gingerly. "So I can take the Thundercat?"

"Only if you can catch me," Wiley Kat announced, suddenly springing off the table. He knew he should have made a quiet exit, but he couldn’t resist. The acid had quickly done away with the straps and he’d easily broken through before it could reach his skin. He raced for the trees, at the same time grabbing a bottle of what he hoped was the vaccination against the Pain Fever. He could hear Alluro and Vultureman shouting madly behind him, but he didn’t pause to look back. As he’d told Kit many times, if you don’t look back, you don’t know you’re being chased. And things become simpler. At least, that was the theory. Reality was slightly different.

He’d leaped into the trees and was springing from branch to branch, but he could hear the angry roar of the Lunattacker coming up behind him, pushing trees aside as it went. Vines and leaves snagged at his face while branches grappled with his tunic. He pushed ahead, but the Lunattacker was faster. As he jumped out of one tree, it toppled behind him. The Lunattacker rammed another tree before he could jump out of it and it was all he could do to catch a low branch of another tree. He was lucky he’d secured the vial to his belt or he would have dropped it. As he tried to pull himself up, he could hear the Lunattacker turning and focusing on him. But the branch upon which he hung suddenly snapped and Kat went tumbling to the ground. He tried to twist into a landing position, but the fall had taken him by surprise. As he landed, his knees buckled under him and he felt tendons tear. Choking back a scream, he tried to get to his feet, but his knees would have nothing to do with it. He fell to a heap in agony. Hearing a large gun powering up behind him, Wiley Kat cursed himself bitterly. Kit would have never let this happen. She would have made it back to the Lair. It was all because he’d let them know he was escaping. How could he be so stupid? The whine of building energy let him know the end was near. "Sorry, Kit," he whispered through clenched teeth. "I’ll miss you. But I guess you won’t be far behind me."

In sickbay, Pumyra had disconnected all alarms and connections with the control room with the exception of the intercom. For all intents and purposes, this cut her off from the rest of the Lair and she could work in complete silence. She’d asked Lion-O if she could remain undisturbed unless she called for help. Lion-O had agreed and they’d set up a policy of "don’t call me, I’ll call you."

Consequently, Pumyra’s only company was Panthro and Wiley Kit. Kit was still under the influence of heavy sedation, but Panthro could no longer be completely sedated. His pain was so intense that painkillers and anesthesia were no longer effective. So he would sweat and gasp and occasionally talk with the puma while she waited for experiments to be completed.

"We have got to bring that temperature down," Pumyra murmured as she felt the panther’s forehead. "Here, try and drink some of this."

Panthro groaned under Pumyra’s touch. Every nerve in his body was on fire. Even the light sheets felt like thousands of fiery pins boring into his flesh. "I can’t," he whispered.

"You’re losing too much fluid," Pumyra pressed. "Just try and drink."

"Pumyra, I—can’t—go on like this."

The puma placed the glass to his lips and allowed the cool nutrient drink to brush against his skin and into his mouth. Reflexively, the panther swallowed. "Was that so hard?" the healer asked. "Try some more."

But Panthro turned his head away from the offered nourishment. Even movement like that screamed pain, but he couldn’t bare the thought of swallowing anymore. "Please," he begged. "No more."

Pumyra’s eyes began to sting and she silently berated herself. She was supposed to be a healer. She wasn’t supposed to become emotionally involved like this. "I’m doing the best I can, Panthro."

"It’s not—you," the panther wheezed. "I know you’re doing all—you can." He turned back to her and focused his blood-shot eyes on her warm, tender ones. "But it’s too much. Just—let me go."

"I’m sorry, Panthro, I don’t understand what you’re saying." But Pumyra had an uncomfortable feeling that she knew exactly what Panthro was saying. And it wasn’t something she was prepared to face.

"I can’t even lie—here without feeling like fire—is consuming me." Panthro inhaled deeply and winced. "Can’t—even breathe. There’s no—cure that will remove—this from my nervous—system. Please. Let me die."

Pumyra backed up abruptly, dropping the glass. It shattered on the floor and at the sound, Panthro groaned. Even noise was beginning to affect him. Every moment of existence was pure agony for him. Pumyra realized she was shaking and forced herself to stop. "Panthro, I can’t. I can’t do that." In her panic, she didn’t hear the intercom starting to call her.

"I don’t—ask anyone for anything, but—I’m asking you this. Please."

Pumyra shook her head violently as she continued to back up. "No." The intercom continued unheeded.

Panthro’s jaw clenched but convulsions seized his body before he could respond. As he lay helpless in the throes of a seizure, he screamed in pain. Pumyra flattened herself against a door in horror. She had never heard Panthro cry out like that.

The door suddenly slid open behind her and Lion-O had to catch her as she fell backwards. "Pumyra, what’s going on!? Why didn’t you pick up when I called? We’ve got—" Panthro suddenly cried out again in sheer anguish. Lion-O stared at his fellow Thundercat in disbelief. He looked back to Pumyra who was limp as a rag and still in his arms. "What’s happening?"

Pumyra choked back a small cry and pushed herself to her feet. "Every moment is agony," she whispered. "He can’t breathe, he can’t eat, he can’t even move without hurting himself even more." She couldn’t bring herself to say more.

Abruptly as it had begun, Panthro’s seizure ended. He let out an exhausted sigh and almost choked on it in pain. With a slight turn of the head, Panthro brought his eyes to rest on the Lord of the Thundercats. "Lion-O?"

The voice was cracked and hoarse. If he weren’t looking directly at him, Lion-O wouldn’t have guessed it to be Panthro’s voice. He moved to the panther’s side with a speed that would have impressed Cheetara. "I’m here, Panthro."

Pumyra braced herself against a wall, not knowing if she would be able to cope with this new turn of events. For Panthro to ask this of her, he must be in unbelievable pain. Lion-O should be told. She moved to take the lion aside, but Panthro was now speaking to him.

"I—don’t know if Jaga—told you this, but—you have authority—you’ve never—had to—exercise—before—now," Panthro wheezed. "The Sword—of Omens has a power rarely—used amongst—the Thundercats."

"I don’t think you should be trying to talk," Lion-O told him. For some reason, Lion-O felt strangely uncomfortable.

"No—I’ve got to get this—out," the panther pushed on. He looked at Lion-O with a strange look that sent shivers down the lion’s spine. He didn’t know why, but he took a few instinctive steps backward. Panthro didn’t seem to notice. He continued as if Lion-O hadn’t moved. "As Lord of the—Thundercats, will you—grant me a right only you can grant?"

Pumyra began to tremble, dreading the panther’s next words. Lion-O was also shaking, but he answered Panthro in a voice that belied his fear. "What is your request?"

Panthro closed his eyes briefly and seemed to gather his courage together. When he opened his eyes again, it was as if all the life had left. There was a vacancy that horrified both Pumyra and Lion-O. "Lord Lion-O, as a—member—of the Thundercats, I appeal to your sense—of justice, your—concept of—loyalty, your oath to—truth, and—your knowledge of honor." Pumyra felt her hair rise in response to Panthro’s formal appeal to the Code. No one appealed to the Code formally unless they were requesting something very grave and serious. And Panthro had never called Lion-O "Lord" before like that. Not officially. "Lord Lion-O, I—ask that you—" he stopped and gritted his teeth, "use the—Sword of—Omens to fulfill—my last—request. I request—the right to die."

Having finally said it, Panthro seemed to relax. Which is more than could be said for the others in the room. Lion-O had completely frozen. Pumyra was now in the hallway. Panthro focused his eyes on his leader once again. His voice dropped to a whisper and his plea was not that of a Thundercat to his lord, but that of a friend to a friend. "Please Lion-O. Use—the Sword. Release me. Grant me the right of death."