Ardua awoke in pain, she felt something warm on the bed with her, it was Snarfer.  Ardua looked to her side and saw Panthro, he looked back as if he was seeing something he didn't quite believe.  Panthro's eyes were tired, and red, he rose and took her hand.  Ardua's voice cracked as she said, "Panthro?"  Panthro sat up and rubbed his eyes. Ardua smiled and said, "You look like crap!" Panthro's face brightened, the tired look was lessened, and Snarfer jumped off of the bed and ran down the hall. As Panthro pressed his lips to Ardua's cheek, she heard the foot falls of an army approach.
      Soon all of the Thundercats were in the room with Ardua, and sighed a collective breath of relief as they realized the worst was over. Everyone told Ardua that they were glad that she was alright, and that they were glad to have her home. Ardua thanked everyone for going to Plundarr to get her, and after a few moments of hugging and happy banter, Snarf drove everyone out of Ardua's room so that she could rest. Tyger requested to stay for a few moments, Snarf protested, but Panthro dragged him away, and closed the door.
      Ardua looked to her side and saw pictures that Keena and Tark had drawn for her, as well as a picture Kera had drawn depicting an exploding building.  Ardua laughed, and she felt a sharp pain in her chest. Tyger sat down on a chair and scooted closer to the bed. "'Tyg." Tyger brushed Ardua's face. "I was so worried about you. Everyone was. How long was I out of it? Two days."  Ardua rose painfully and looked at herself in the wall mirror, she saw her black eye and very swollen nose, as well as a bandage that covered the whole left side of her head. "Damn." Tyger pulled Ardua's sheets closer to her neck, because she was wearing nothing underneath. "The Sword of Omens has mostly healed your wounds, but you still need to relax and not move around a lot.  Your lung is still healing, if you start jumping around the wound may reopen." Ardua looked at the intravenous solution in her hand, then noticed she was missing fingers.  "Tyger, where are my fingers?" She said weakly and added, "And my clothes?  Tygra cleared his throat. "We had to take the fingers off, mother was afraid that they would get infected and turn to gangrene, they were so crushed, you wouldn't have had much use out of them anyway. As far as the clothing goes, your wounds are draining, and clothing would stick to them." Ardua sighed, and made a face. "Does the rest of me look like this?" Tyger nodded. "What else is wrong with me healer?"  Tyger stroked his chin.  "Let's see, Three broken ribs, two cracked, deep cuts on your arms, legs, back, a slight one on your face." Ardua looked at Tyger and asked in panic, "What about my eye? We think it's okay, your brow is more pronounced, so it kept the sword from cutting your eye. We had to bandage your face and head because of cuts on your forehead and scalp. I also hate to tell you this, but we had to cut off your ponytail, and some of the hair on your scalp, we had to sew your wound up, and your ponytail was saturated with blood, it was nasty.  Great." Replied Ardua. "Don't worry about the top of your head though, Cheetara cut the hair so you can cover the bald spot at least."
       Tyger continued the damage report. "You also have a bruised kidney, a slight concussion, thank the Gods for your thick skull." Tyger said with humor on his voice. Ardua was too tired to hit him. "And the grand finale and the one that almost got you, a punctured lung." Ardua sat and pondered her injuries.  "You would have died, if Lion-O hadn't used the Sword of Omens to heal you. Died?" Tyger sat back down and held Ardua's hand again.  "Well, i'm okay now, 'Tyg. What's this stuff?" Ardua pointed painfully to her i.v.. "Antibiotics, for your infection."
      Ardua looked around. "What else happened while I was out? Well," Tyger brushed the hair out of Ardua's exposed eye. "Lynxana is a Thundercat again. Really? Yes. That's great! I have always thought a lot about her. She's not as hard as she seems to be." Tyger grinned. "Who does that sound like?" Tyger bent down to kiss Ardua when Kera and Tygro, as well as Terron and Jella sneaked back into the room.
      Ardua looked to her side. "Hey, Kera, I like your picture." Kera made a flamboyant hand and arm gesture. "I thought you would. I think it captures my inner turmoil, and lust for life.  I stayed in the lines too!" Ardua chuckled lightly. "The only turmoil you have is the BS floating around in your head."  Kera stuck out her tongue. Ardua's attention then turned to the guards. "Who are you two?" Tyger giggled as Kera and Tygro introduced the guards. and told Ardua about their secret wedding. Ardua's one exposed eye opened wide.

            "The Hell? Were Cheetara and Tygra pissed? No," Said Tygro, "Mom and Dad evidently thought we were up to something else, so when we told them the truth, they were okay with the marriage." Ardua smiled at Terron and Jella. "Congratulations, you don't have any idea what you are in for." Tygro looked at Tyger and Ardua and said, "When are you two going to get married, you two have courted enough."
      Ardua smiled widely at Kera and Tygro, despite the pain in her face. "I'll have to get you guys a place setting or something, paper plates and plastic flatware is always good." Kera giggled, "Oh, come now, your highness, surely the princess of Plundarr can afford better. Bah!" Ardua waved her hand painfully. "Damned place, I don't care if I never hear about it again! You wouldn't believe what those people do! Give us an example!" Said Kera eagerly as Snarf jumped into the room. "Snarf, snarf, Ardua will have to give you all an example later, she needs to rest now!" Snarf climbed a small wooden step ladder and got on Ardua's bed.  "See you later, Ardua," Said Kera. "when you get better we'll all have to go to the Cat's Tail and try the all you can stand for six credits special." Tyger bent down to kiss Ardua and Snarf smacked his head with a paper. "Snarf, snarf, Ardua needs her rest now, not your kissyface! Damn, Snarf!" Snarf hit Tyger with the paper again. "Language! Snarf, Snarf!." Tyger rubbed his arm. "You didn't hit Ardua! Ardua is sick snarf, snarf."  Tyger kissed Ardua anyway and slipped out of the room before Snarf could assault him with the rolled paper again. "See you later, 'Dua."
       When everyone left, Snarf held a cup with a straw for Ardua to drink out of, and shook his finger. "Brrrr, I should put out a swear jar snarf, snarf, with all these potty mouthed kids around, poor old snarf could retire. I raised you all better than that, snarf snarf." As Snarf stroked her head, and continued his rant, Ardua smiled and soon fell asleep, thinking of how wonderful it was to be loved and cared for.
      After Ardua fell asleep, Snarf quietly crept out of the room, he still had his duty to look after Lion-O, but he didn't mind looking after Ardua either. Snarf didn't like the fact that she was hurt, but he did enjoy having someone to look after that really needed it.

      A week past and Ardua was feeling better, she was off of her antibiotics, and was moving around better. Claud-Us and the other Third Earth Thundercats filed into Ardua's room to say goodbye. "Thank you, all of you for coming to get me. I am glad that you guys weren't hurt." Ardua individually thanked and shook the hands of Kelec, Wilykat, Terra, Nica, Couga, and Claud-Us. When it was Jaroc's turn he refused to take Ardua's hand, and turned to leave. The other Third Earth Thundercats looked at him. "Jaroc!" Said Nica. Jaroc turned and spoke to Ardua. "I didn't go to get you for your sake, mutant. I did it for Panthro, and because Lord Lion-O commanded it." Jaroc looked at Ardua with contempt. Ardua looked back with surprising calm and said, "I thank you anyway, despite your motivations." Jaroc turned and walked away, leaving Nica to apologize for him.  "Ardua.. No, Nica, I understand, I wouldn't like me either if I went through what he and his family did. That doesn't matter Ardua," Ardua interrupted. "It's okay, really.  You can't be loved by everyone." Nica and the others laughed, then hugged Ardua and left for the hangar.
       Ardua was glad that Panthro and Tyger weren't in the room, she was afraid that an argument, or moderate fist fight would have ensued.

       Later in the hangar as everyone was preparing to leave, "Wilykat, Terra," Boomed Panthro as he slapped Wilykat's back. "I hope that the next time that you need to off load something that you will use a blanket!" Wilykat and Terra sheepishly smiled. "Well, Panthro, We were in a hurry." Panthro laughed. "I know, I know, I was just teasing you! Ramp doesn't even look like it has been damaged now. Do you two still use your old bag of tricks when fighting those blasted Berserkers, and mutants?" Terra laughed, and kissed Panthro's cheek. "Silly, Panthro, tricks are for kids!"
      Claud-Us motioned for everyone to get on their respective ships. Lion-O put his hands on Claud-Us' shoulders and said with pride, "You did well, son. Thank you father." Lion-O and Claud-Us hugged, then Claud-Us leapt into the Jetcat.  Panthro pulled electrical lines from the Thunderbolt. "Thank you all again, for helping us save Ardua. Have a safe trip back." said Lion-O.  Nica glared at Jaroc as they boarded the ship.  Soon the Thunderbolt and Jetcat were underway for Third Earth.  Lion-O looked at Panthro. "Wonder why Nica was so ticked at Jaroc? I don't know, Lion-O you know how women are sometimes." Lion-O nodded knowingly and went inside to see Ardua.
      Kera looked at Ardua. "Oooooh, healer....I have "a pain"," Kera batted her eyes. "can you FIX it?"  Ardua jokingly threw a box of tissues at Kera. "When are you two going to tie hands? Kera, it's too soon! You have been courting for almost two years." Ardua looked at Kera and set the record straight. "We have been bonded for one and a half years, we have courted one month." Kera gave Ardua a sip of whiskey. "Sugar, it's been long enough, aren't you, well, you know," Ardua rolled her eye knowing what was coming. "What, Kera? Curious?" Ardua looked away. "NO!" Kera grinned. "Liar!"  Ardua rose higher in bed. "I just want us to make sure we are doing the right thing." Kera shook her head. "If I were you i'd grab that white tiger puma and...." The risqué repartee was interrupted by a knock.
      "Ardua, it's me, Lion-O are you decent? No, but come on in, I have on clothes, now." Lion-O laughed, and walked inside.  "See you later, 'Dua." Ardua rose her hand to the departing Kera.
         "I hear Pumyra's going to take that bandage off of your head today. Yes. I'm afraid of what's underneath, I just hope my eye is okay. I'm sure it will be, 'Dua." Lion-O paused.  "Have you thought anymore about what you and I talked about? Yes, I have. And? The life of a Thundercat isn't for me. Why? The forces of evil and bad people feel the need to try to destroy you every once and awhile." Lion-O smiled and nodded. "That does knock some of the shine off doesn't it?  So," Continued Lion-O, "what will you do now? I am going to rent the room above Bengali and Pumyra's forge and work there for awhile, then try to get a job as an engineer somewhere, maybe at Jaga City Utilities. I can help you with that." Ardua smiled. "Thank you, Lord Lion-O but I want to make it on my own, it wouldn't be fair to everyone else for me to get under the table help. Well, Ardua, you can always have a job here as a mechanic. Well, I think i'll live at the forge for awhile, and we'll see." Lion-O grinned wickedly. "You could always be a Warrior Maiden." Ardua slightly smiled and looked at Lion-O with a squinted eye. Lion-O quickly got back to the main conversation. "I guess that Tyger is thrilled that you are going to be working the forge? I suppose so, that's all he's talked about all week.  He and Panthro have been taking my things to the forge."  Lion-O patted Ardua on the back gently. "Have you two talked about getting married?" Ardua sighed. "Extensively. And? I think we're moving too fast, Tyger and I have technically courted for only a month. I,"  Ardua quieted. Pumyra walked into the room. "Sorry Lion-O I have to take off the princess' wrappings." Ardua sighed.
      "Before I go, Ardua there's something I want to ask you. I have been thinking about your injuries, and some of the other Thundercats' scrapes over the years lately. The Totem of Dera is the only missing piece of the Treasure of Thundera, and it belongs with the rest, it is part of our heritage. How would you like to help us find it, like helping build some recovery equipment?" Lion-O looked at Pumyra and asked, "Pumyra, will Ardua be healed in a month? Thanks to you and the sword, probably, if she will stop being stubborn and stay in bed like I told her to!" Lion-O looked at Ardua and she replied, "Yes, please, put me on the team. Good," Said Lion-O. "I'll tell Tygra, and Panthro. See you later Ardua. Thank you Lord Lion-O." Lion-O walked down the hall.
      Lion-O thought that there were too many extraneous distractions in Cat's Lair for Ardua and Tyger to re connect with each other, and certainly no truly private place for them to talk. He was trying to think of a way for Ardua and Tyger to go to Third Earth alone.  Lion-O walked and thought, he just had to find a way to get the idea past Panthro.
       Pumyra  began to cut the bandages off of Ardua's head.  Soon they were off and to Ardua's great relief she could see perfectly out of her eye, she then began to look at the cut on her face. "Oh, Jaga, Pumyra." Ardua's voice broke, she tried not to allow it to happen but tears began to flow down her cheeks. They stung. "Look at me, i'm a mess. I'll have a scar for the rest of my life." Pumyra rubbed Ardua's back and tried to allay her fears. Pumyra looked at Ardua gently. "I assure you the cut isn't that bad, it didn't even need stitches. If you leave the cut alone and don't pick at it, it will heal and you will barely be able to see it, besides, the fur on your face will cover it if there is one. Really? Yes." Pumyra kissed Ardua's head, and she felt somewhat better. Pumyra changed the subject.
       "Tyger has put all of your things into your apartment, except for your really personal things, like underwear, I did that. Thank you, Pumyra. Very much.  Bengali and I have talked and we have decided to let you live there free. No. But why? Because it's not fair, and I want to earn my own way. If you don't charge me a fair rent i'll go somewhere else." Ardua sighed. "I know you are both trying to be good to me and I really do appreciate it, but I need to be a big girl now. " Pumyra put her hands on her hips. "You are the most stubborn woman I have ever known in my life! Thank you." Pumyra took the cast off bandages and put them in a bag to be discarded.  "All right, Ardua. We'll let you have your way."  Ardua smiled.  As Pumyra turned to leave the room she said, "I know that you have been getting up and roaming the halls, you will never get better if you don't rest and relax. But, Pumyra, i'm bored, and i'm almost better! No, you are not! You had better stay in bed or I will tell Lion-O that you are not fit for helping with that mission." Ardua sat down on her bed. "That's blackmail! You betcha, kid! Now lie down and get some rest!"  Ardua had a protest in her throat, but it died. She knew better than to argue with a healer.
        "Well, Father this is it, pretty isn't it? That it is son, I think she will like it." Bengali turned a braided platinum, and silver band in his fingers.  "When are you going to ask? In a month or two," Tyger sighed and sat down. "but just this morning Ardua said that we were moving too fast.  I was hoping she would just go ahead and marry me." Tyger took off his torque and played with it.  "Ardua said that she wasn't ready for the commitment, usually it's the other way around!"  Tyger put his hands on the back of his head. "I don't know, Father." Tyger sighed. "Maybe she has a point, Tyger." Bengali said as he put his hand on Tyger's shoulder. "But, Father, We have known each other our whole lives! Yes, Tyger," Bengali paused and chose his words carefully. "but there are other aspects of a love relationship that I , um, assume that you two haven't explored," Bengali hastily added, "but that is none of my business." Tyger blushed then looked at his father. "Oh, well,  no. That is a great change in anyone's life, Tyger, and it carries heavy responsibilities, even after marriage, you also said that she is fearful of having children, and I can understand why, with all she had to put up with as a child." Tyger looked at Bengali and changed the subject.
      "Lion-O had asked me to help find the Totem of Dera in the Baleful Swamp.  I heard about that.  Lion-O said Ardua is on the team to make some kind of recovery device, but I hope she's going along on the trip as well." Bengali looked at his son with empathy, but decided to be realistic. "Well Tyger, I hate to crush your hopes, but don't look for it. I don't think the idea will fly with Panthro.  But it would give us a chance to talk things out." Bengali patted Tyger on the back. "Ardua admitted she loves you didn't she? Yes. She's courting you isn't she? Yes. Well, son, just go at her pace, she'll marry you, i'm sure. If you push her she will run from you. You ought to know by now, you can't make a woman do anything she doesn't want to! That's what mother said. Listen to your mother, Tyger." Tyger smiled, and Bengali got out a piece of iron for them to purify in the fire.
      "No, Lion-O as per the bonding rite, Tyger has to seek my permission to court, if they are on Third Earth, and I am here, he can't." Lion-O looked at Panthro and tried again. "They need to be alone, Panthro, after everything that has happened. They have courted for only a month." Panthro continued his work, and argued with Lion-O. "That's the last thing they need, to be in a romantic place alone."
      Tygra watched the exchange and took another bite of his sandwich. "Panthro," Sighed Lion-O exasperatedly, "the Baleful Swamp is hardly what I would call romantic. Come on, Panthro say yes. No." Lion-O desperately looked at Tygra. Tygra winked and swallowed the last of his lunch. "Um, Panthro,"  Panthro growled and looked at Tygra displeased. "Not you too! If Ardua and Tyger went to Third Earth, Couga could chaperone them, couldn't she? Couga is a member of the Panther clan isn't she?  I'm sure she wouldn't mind, she holds the Panther ways as sacred as you, she certainly won't allow any, um...undesirable activities to occur, no more than Ardua will." Tygra and Lion-O sat in silence while Panthro thought for a moment. "Did Ardua say she wanted to go? Well, Panthro," Said Lion-O. "I just mentioned her being on the team to help find it, like building some recovery equipment, I didn't say anything about her going to Third Earth. So Ardua said nothing about going to Third Earth herself? No, Panthro, nothing at all. I am the one who brought up the whole matter." Panthro put down his spanner. "I'll think about it." Lion-O smiled. "That's all i'm asking you to do." Lion-O looked at Tygra mouthed "thank you" and left the hangar.  Panthro looked at Tygra and said, "It's a conspiracy!"
      For the next week, Panthro, Tygra, and Ardua devised several plans for recovery unit.  The final machine they settled on was a small unit with a multiple propeller underwater propulsion unit, and two cameras. One to maneuver by, and one to attach the Thunder scope to, in order to find the Totem more easily by it's glow. Two grasping pincers were on the front, in order to remove debris, and secure the Totem of Dera if it were found.  Lion-O approved the design and ordered it to be built.
      Over the next two months, Ardua went to the Lair gymnasium to exercise her muscles, and regain her strength, between that and working the forge with Bengali, Tyger, Pumyra, and building the recovery unit, she was once again in good physical condition. Tyger and Ardua also were able to continue their courtship, and were becoming more serious in their relationship.  Panthro gave his blessing to Ardua and Tyger to go to Third Earth alone provided that Couga was to watch over them, and Tyger agreed to abide by the bonding rules via Couga.  Soon, the day before the mission had come and Tyger and Ardua were loading their supplies, and double checking their supply list. Since Ardua and Tyger had never gone on a long mission before, Lion-O sent Cheetara to help them, in no time they were almost done.
      "Tyger, what do we need twenty rolls of toilet paper for? You never know, what if we get diarrhea? If we get it that bad we will die, Tyger!" Cheetara snickered and tried not to laugh out loud at the two argued and she left the room.
       "Did you pack our tents, 'Tyg?" Tyger slid next to Ardua and put his arm around her, then winked. "I packed our tent." Ardua grinned at Tyger. "I think you should pack another unless you want to sleep outside." Tyger, grumbling, shoved another tent into the cargo hold.  "Besides," Added Ardua with a wink, "we wouldn't be alone anyway." Tyger didn't quite what to glean from that remark.  Ardua then packed three weeks worth of dried food into the Feliner's galley.
      "Won't we need more than that? What are you planning to do on this trip, just eat and go to the toilet?" Tyger laughed. Ardua continued, "Hopefully it won't take that long to find the Totem." Ardua added, "Besides if we run out of food, we can restock at the Berbil village, or barter with the Warrior Maidens. We have to save all of the weight we can, because of the equipment we need"  Tyger giggled. "Are you still mad at Malasa, Ardua?"
      Ardua sighed and glared at Tyger. "She didn't know any better! I'm completely over that, I guess it did look like I was fighting a Thundercat, I was sparring with Claud-Us after all."  Ardua shoved another box into the hold. "Besides, she's the Queen of the Warrior Maidens now. I don't need to have my butt handed to me by them now, do I?" Tyger continued. "You weren't so forgiving when it happened." Ardua glared at Tyger. "Besides, if somebody did that to me, i'm afraid that I would hold a grudge." Tyger recalled the entire event mentally, with glee.
      "Cat's Lair, Tygra here. Queen Willa? I am sorry to bother you but I would like to speak to Lord Lion-O on a matter of great importance."  Tyger remembered being sent after Lion-O and walking back to the control room. "Queen Willa what may the Thundercats do for you today? Lion-O, I fear something terrible has happened. What?"
      Tyger remembered how angry Ardua was, and how red her face was when she sprung forward, bent over, and yelled with an arrow sticking out prominently from her posterior, "I'll tell you what happened, Lord Lion-O! One of these tree people shot me in the ass, because they thought I was a mutant!"   Tyger laughed uncontrollably.
       "You're thinking of it aren't you?" Ardua growled. "Oh grow up, and help me load this stuff!" Tyger wouldn't stop laughing, soon Ardua joined and they both were red faced.  The two eventually settled down and finished the loading job they started. The next day they would be headed for Third Earth.

      Ardua walked into the hangar after supper and saw her father working on the Thundertank.  Panthro looked up, smiled and bent back down into the machine. Tyger had visited him earlier and Panthro needed something to do to relax.  Ardua picked up a light and held it so that Panthro could see better. "Thanks, Ardua." More silence followed.
       Ardua was accustomed to silence while working with her father so it was a complete surprise when he broke the silence, and started a conversation. "Ardua? Yes, Father? Tyger is a good man. Yes, he is." Panthro wiped his hands. "He has always loved you, you know that? I do now, and I love him the same way, and the same amount." Panthro smiled. "I was afraid that you would let him slip by." Ardua looked at her father in surprise. "There is nothing worse than letting someone you love slip by." Panthro's mind trailed off, and Ardua brought him back.  "Father, do you already have us married? No, I..." Panthro continued his work, Ardua was confused. "'Dua did I ever tell you about Cheetara and I?" Panthro asked, knowing full well that he never had. "No. Well, Ardua, I loved her, love her still. Why didn't you tell her? She knew, from the time of Old Thundera.  Well, Tygra loved her then too, still loves her now of course." Panthro sat down and motioned for Ardua to do so as well.
      "In the early days on Old Thundera Cheetara, Tygra, and I, well we were all friends, close friends. Tygra and I, we both loved Cheetara.  Panthro paused and realized that he was getting carried away. "Anyway, after the journey from Old Thundera to Third Earth, Lion-O grew to adulthood, she eventually fell in love with him. Tygra and I loved her enough to let her go. We figured that she and Lion-O would get married, the whole shebang. We were sad but were ultimately glad that she was happy. When the Thundercats came back to New Thundera, Plundarians, Lunataks, and a whole bunch of other people that don't bother with us anymore were giving us the business. During a battle with the Lunataks Tug-Mug broke both of Cheetara's legs while we were forced to watch." Panthro's brow lowered and he growled. "Short sawed off little piece of shit, when that happened, Tygra and I wanted to kill them all, regardless of the code." Panthro calmed himself, then continued.
      "Soon after that incident happened the attacks on New Thundera increased, Tygra and I were constantly trying to design and build new weapons systems to defend the settlements. Cheetara was depressed, it took a long time for her to recover both physically and mentally from her wounds.  Cheetara got an internal infection, if it weren't for Mandora getting her special medicine, she very well could have died.
        In the meantime Lion-O and Corby fell in love with each other, and so Cheetara set Lion-O free." Panthro got a screwdriver and shook his head.  "Poor Cheetara. When she found out her injuries were permanent, and that she wouldn't run again ever, she tried to be brave and not let it hurt, but to a cheetah, not being able to run is almost like a living death.
      Snarf had been hurt during an attack in the Valley of Snarfs at the same time, everyone else was spread pretty thin too, so it was up to Tygra mostly to look after Cheetara. I don't see how he did it, Tygra designed, helped me build, and still cared for Cheetara." Panthro sighed and took a drink of water. Ardua sat listening entranced. "I was so busy building, that I barely had time for myself, much less anyone else. I have always regretted not making time for Cheetara like I should have, by the time I did, Tygra and Cheetara were deeply in love, but they hid their feelings from me, to keep from hurting mine, eventually they couldn't stand it anymore and told me about their feelings for each other.
      I was angry at first, but then I moved aside," Panthro paused, then continued. "i'm glad that I did.  Cheetara and Tygra are so happy together, they are my two best friends in the whole world, they have two great kids, and they have found the happiness that they both deserve, especially Tygra.  I guess that they were meant to be together after all." Ardua looked at Panthro. "You have done pretty well all by yourself." Panthro put his hand on Ardua's. "I had you, and like my mother said "The Gods never close one door without opening another.  Shortly before the birth of Tyger, Tygro and Kera you came to me.  I don't think i'd be around without you."
       There was a long pause while Panthro hooked wires back up into the Thundertank, he was trying to think of a good way to say what he had on his mind.  "Ardua, I want you to do yourself a favor, hear me out on this one. Don't be stubborn." Ardua leaned forward and said with caution,  "Okay. I want you to say yes if and when that Tyger proposes to you. Huh? Just say yes." Ardua looked at Panthro with suspicion. "One other thing, 'Dua. Yes? If that boy tries anything fresh while you are gone, you kick the Hell out of him!" Ardua looked at her father laughing at how quickly he could go from marry him to kick him.
      Panthro looked over his work on the Thundertank again, shut the hood, then both hopped inside for a test run. Panthro turned the ignition, the alternator lights and power indicators flashed on but nothing happened. Both said, "Damn!" in unison. Ardua jumped out and smiled, then said to Panthro, "Technical tap?" Panthro grinned back. "Yeah, give it a good one!" Ardua pulled her arm back and hit the hood of the Thundertank as hard as she could. The monstrous machine roared to life.  Panthro and Ardua then sped off to get a beer, laugh, and talk more about the past and the future.