The Sun had just risen on New ThunDERa, but all was not calm. The Thundertank could be heard roaring toward an unknown destination. The driver, Panthro, was Happy. A large grin played across his face as the wind whippped through his fur. He turned to talk to his passenger, the Thunderian Tor

"What a perfect morning for testing the tank’s newest modifications. First we’ll try out the new Glide Wings, with them, even the largest ravine shouldn’t be a problem. All I have to do is make the Thundertank take the initial leap, then at the appropriate time deploy the wings and glide the rest of the way."

"And you’re sure it will work?" Tor asked, a worried expression crossing his features.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha…what’s the matter Tor? After all this time, you don’t trust my inventions?"

"It’s not that Panthro, its just…well…sometimes bad things just happen. I just don’t want anything to go wrong."

"I understand Tor. If you want, you can just watch ok? I’ll let you out at the ravine and then conduct the test myself. Don’t worry about it."

"A-are you sure? Your not angry are you?"

"No. Why would I be? If you’re scared, you shouldn’t do it. I won’t think any less of you." Panthro answered.

"Ok then. I’ll just observe." Tor replied, visibly calmer. It didn’t take long for the Thundertank to reach its destination, a rather wide, but not to deep ravine. Located not far from the Canyon of Youth. Panthro pulled to a stop just before the edge and turned off the engine.

"Perfect! It’s wide enough for my test, but not deep enough to be a fatal drop should something happen…" With that last part Panthro looked sympathetically over at Tor. "Not that something will. It will be fine, you’ll see." Panthro insisted.

Tor nodded his agreement and stepped out of the way. Panthro ignited the engine; it came to life with a thunderous roar. He put the tank in reverse, and sped backwards to give himself the stretch of land he would need. Then, with a last look, and a nod to Tor, floored the gas. The Thundertank reached an incredible speed in a very short distance. Before he knew it, the time had come for Panthro to make the Thundertank leap into the air. However, just as he got to the exact spot at the edge of the ravine, the ground gave way. The land was too soft and caved under the tank’s awesome weight. The Thundertank, now unbalanced, could not make the leap and started to plummet.

"NO! Panthro you have to get out now!" Screamed Tor, as he looked on in horror, helpless.

Panthro got thrown from the tank, into the ravine. He landed on his feet, but was promptly struck in the head by a piece of rock knocked free from the ravine wall, and fell unconscious. Tor was already climbing down, when he heard the Thundertank slam into the Ground below with a sickening crunch. When he reached the bottom, he was frozen in sheer terror at the site before him. The Thundertank had landed on Pantho’s right arm, severing it.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Panthro screamed, as he bolted upright in his bed. He was covered with sweat and breathing heavy. "Blasted nightmare, when will it stop." As he said this, Panthro rubbed his right arm. His hand glided over smooth metal. It had been nearly three months since the accident that took his arm occurred. He replaced it with a bionic arm, but in his heart felt that he would never feel whole again. ‘What was that Tor said?’ Panthro thought, ‘Sometimes bad things just happen.’ Panthro got out of bed shaking his head. Tor had felt so guilty about everything, felt that he should have been with Panthro, or done something…anything. Panthro had tried to console the young Thunderian, let him know that there was nothing he could have done. That he was glad that Tor wasn’t in the Thundertank to end up maimed or worse. Nothing, however, could alleviate Tor’s guilt. Panthro hoped that Cheetara, who had offered to council Tor, could help him.

Panthro was stirred out of his thoughts when the intercom in his room crackled to life. "Panthro? It’s Tygra, I’m calling an emergency meeting in ten minutes. Something has come up that demands our immediate attention."

"Ok, be right there Tygra. Panthro Out. Hmmm, never heard Tygra sound so urgent before, wonder what’s up." As Panthro was getting dressed he remembered Two days ago, when Lion-O, along with Snarf, Lynxo, Kat and Kit, answered a distress call from Willa on Third Earth. Apparently there had been a rash of sneak attacks all around Third Earth, and no one could seem to identify the source.

"We’ll be gone for as short a time as we can manage, in the meantime, Tygra is in charge. You are all to obey him as if the orders have come straight from my own mouth."

"Lion-O, No! You should take me with you! I want to help, who better than me to notice what has changed on Third Earth? Pumyra and I were there for 2 years, surely if some new threat has surfaced we would be able to spot if before you could." Tygra had pleaded.

"I understand what your saying Tygra. But you’re my second in command; you’re needed here. You have to keep order here on New ThunDERa in my absence. I’m counting on you to keep ThunDERa safe." Said Lion-O.

"But…Fine I understand. Just be careful, you’re needed here too." Was Tygra’s reply.

"Understood." Lion-O assured, and left.

They hadn’t heard back from the team since they left; accept to say that they had arrived safely. Maybe Lion-O had reported his findings. If that was the case, Panthro thought, judging by Tygra’s tone it did not bode well.

Once he was fully dressed, Panthro left his room to step into a long corridor. He still could not believe how much larger this Cat’s Lair was, compared to the one on Third Earth. Another thing he found amazing was the new uniforms. They were great. Jaguara had used her powers to create them, when Lion-O decided that they should have a more unified look. He said he thought it would be a good influence on the way our people viewed us ‘We’re nobles, we will look the part’ Lion-O had said. Nobody minded really. The Uniforms looked fantastic, and had special properties. First, they could not be damaged. And second, they had heat-regulating abilities that made it possible for the Thundercats to enter places like the Caverns of Cold, without any extra clothing. The design of the uniforms were identical, with the exception that each Thundercat got to choose what base color they wanted. So, while they did have uniforms, they also got to keep a bit of individuality as well.

At the end of the corridor Panthro came to a large, winding staircase and began his decent. Already midway down he spotted Cheetor, a fairly new Thundercat. Cheetor was a male of the Cheetah clan. He had, Panthro recalled, similar powers to Cheetara, but with far more control over his psychic abilities. He could perceive and send thoughts. This proved an invaluable tool in combat, as messages could be relayed between teammates through him in secret. Their battles had never been so coordinated before he came. Cheetor was indeed a welcomed addition. Cheetor also carried a staff as his weapon. But it was not even close to Cheetara’s. First Cheetor’s staff was not extendable or retractable. Also, it had no magical properties. On either end of the staff are gold Claw shaped ends. They were similar to Panthro’s nunchucks. Each one is removable and conceals different things such as sleeping powder, or exploding marbles. Also the staff can be separated at the middle to turn into two fighting sticks. Cheetor uses his staff in the traditional staff fighting techniques. He is also highly skilled at using the separated form of the staff.

"Hello Cheetor. How are you feeling? Your headache gone?"

"No, but now it’s just a dull ache. It’s my own fault though; I know my limits. I should not have pushed them so hard." Cheetor replied, stopping to wait for the Panther.

"Do you have any idea what this meeting is all about? Tygra sounds edgy." Panthro asked.

"Not a clue. You noticed it too huh? I hope Lion-O and the others are safe. I would use my power to contact him, but I fear that the distance is too great. The strain might kill me."

"Then don’t. We’ll find out the deal soon enough. And I have a feeling that were are going to need every available Thundercat at top strength." Panthro replied as they reached to bottom of the stair well and took a sharp right, to go through the large double doors that lead to the meeting hall. All of the remaining Thundercats were there. Tygra, Cheetara, Pumyra, Bengali, Snarfer, and the newest addition to the team, Shade.

Shade was a Panther/Leopard highbred. She was superbly skilled in the martial arts, so much so that she rivaled Panthro’s own skill. Shade had a power that allowed her to literally become a shadow, and pass through solid objects. Because of this she ranked right up there with Tygra in the stealth mission category. Her weapon of choice was a sectional staff, with which she was an expert. Her weapon, when not in use is folded and held in a special sheath on the back of her uniform.

"Good, we’re all here. The reason I have called this meeting is because Snarf has just reported that they were ambushed and Lion-O, Lynxo, Kit and Kat were taken prisoner." Tygra began. "By none other than…. the Mutants."