Parts 86-89
Part 86
Midnight fell upon Thundera. The Thunderians slept content as they felt protected by the defenders of Thundera, the Thundercats. The Thundercats, Panthro and WilyKat weren't sleeping happy as they like but tried their best not to worry about their other comrades. However, with the traitorous Tygra missing, they knew Cheetara was in danger and there wasn't a thing they could do about it.
Another danger they were unaware of was WilyKit. In her new dark attire, the Thundercat stood in front of Cat's Lair. It's been a while since she's been in the lair. She knew what she had to do and that was to rid the Thundercats of Panthro. Once a friend, was now a sworn enemy. WilyKit hated him with all her heart because he was the one who murdered her parents, and she was going to avenge their deaths.
The Thundercat knew the night security would be on. Using her knowledge of the lair's security, plus her extra stealth and agility she learned from the mutants, she easily got in the lair. She quietly passed the bedrooms until she came to Panthro's room. That room, she entered.
Panthro slept on his back. His upper body was exposed and his head rested under his left arm as if it was a pillow. WilyKit pulled a small purple vial from her pocket. She looked at it thoughtfully. A mutant scientist gave it to her while she was being trained on Plundarr. When the scientist told her about it, WilyKit thought it was perfect for Panthro. She also had on black protective gloves to protect her from the affects of the concoction in the vial.
WilyKit opened the vial and walked to Panthro. She parted his lips slightly and poured the contents in his mouth a little at a time. The panther began to grumble a little in his sleep. WilyKit stepped back with a smile.
"Time for you to face your fears, Panthro."
Panthro began shaking with chills. He unconsciously pulled the covers on him. Suddenly he became hot. He threw the covers off him. He tossed and turned on the bed. Beads of sweat appeared on his face as he fought the sheets and pillows of his bed, fighting his dream, facing his fears.
A young panther child ran in the woods. He had to be about five years old and he was a skinny panther at that with a head full of hair. It was sunset and the panther was trying to hurry out of the forest before dark. He knew strange things happened at night and he didn't want to be a part of it. No, he didn't fear the night. He gotten over that at age three, but it was the things that happened at night, the things that come out at night are what scared him.
The more he ran, the more lost he seem. Night fell quickly and the panther really began to get scared. He had to get out of the forest. He had to get home where he would be safe. Creatures of the night began to make there appearance. A hooting noise cause the scared panther to look up. He saw an owl hooting and staring at the panther curiously. He ran from it and gotten himself deeper in the forest. Sounds from the creatures of darkness surrounded the boy. He heard a slithering, rattling noise to his left, a growling noise to his right, the sound of an animal howling to the moonlight.
In an attempt to get away, the little boy ran into a dark cave. He sat on a cold rock, closed his eyes and covered his ears with his hand, trying to get the scary noises out of his mind. The panther now felt something land on his hair. He removed his hands from his hair and heard a soft, squeaking noise. The boy searched in his pocket for his small flashlight. He turned it on and flashed it around the cave. He saw bats sleeping, suddenly awaken by the annoying light that disturb their sleep.
The panther stepped back and felt the same thing on his head. He grabbed the thing and knocked it down. It was a bat. It got back up and flew towards Panthro. The other bats who were hanging down begin flying at the panther to help their friend from their attacker.
"No! Get away!" the boy screamed.
He fought them off the best he could losing his flashlight in the process. Mistakenly he ran deeper in the cave. The deeper he ran the darker it had gotten. He ran into something soft and sticky. Cobwebs he knew. Now he had more trouble. The boy ran into a big web, disturbing the family of spiders in a cocoon. They scattered all over the panther. He knocked it off him as best he could. They crawled over him, from his hair to his legs.
"Get off me! Get off me!" He screamed scared and crying a little bit. The bats surrounded the panther, pecking him. He turned the other way and ran out of the cave fighting the spiders and bats.
Finally he made it out of the cave. He collapsed on the ground certain that he got all the bats and spiders off him. He felt something crawling up his leg. He look back and saw a huge black widow spider crawling on him. He knocked it off his leg, and ran further away. He reached a lake. The panther threw water on him. He still heard that same squeaking noise on his head. The boy touched his head and quickly threw off a bat off it, losing some of his hair in the process. He saw the bat shrieking at him with its fangs hanging out.
Panthro shrieked and dropped the bat. He ran again. Only now he has transformed into his adult self. Panthro continued to run in the forest until he got out.
"You think this is over?!" Yelled an angry voice. "I'm just warming up."
Panthro looked around and a swarm of bats surrounded the panther. He took out his nunchuks and tried to fight them, but the screeching, wing flapping and their ugly faces frightened the panther. The big muscular Thundercat screamed in a high-pitched voice.
Panthro tossed on his bed. The sheets were stuck to him as if it was his own skin. He was drenched in sweat. "No! Get away from me!"
WilyKit leaned against the window shield amused. "Big, strong Panthro afraid of bats and spiders. How pathetic. Let's see if he fight his nightmare or die trying."
*****
It was near sunset when Cheetara demanded Erica and Sylvia return Lion-O to her. The cheetah knew Lion-O was there. She could feel his presence, but she couldn't pinpoint it.
Erica looked over the cheetah unimpressed. So this is Lion-O's wife. She won't get him back. "You want you husband back?" Erica scoffed. "What makes you think we have him?"
"I had a vision of him and you two were in it." Cheetara told her.
"A vision?" Erica was slightly amused. "Listen, Cheetara..."
"Lady Cheetara," Cheetara corrected her firmly.
Erica glared at Cheetara upset. "Whatever. We don't have your husband. So you might as well go somewhere else."
"Are you the ruler of this planet?" Cheetara asked.
"No. I'm Royal Advisor and this is Princess Sylvia...."
"Then why am I talking to you?" Cheetara cut her off.
"You should be talking to me because my power outranks Sylvia. Her sister is the queen but she is tied up at the moment," Erica smiled at that. They didn't know how right she was.
It was obvious that Cheetara and Erica weren't getting along. Sylvia decided to step in. She knew they had Cheetara's husband and she noticed how pregnant Cheetara was. It was clear that she was in her ninth month and the cheetah should be resting instead of looking for her husband.
"Why don't we go inside and talk?" Sylvia offered and looked at Cheetara. "You should get off your feet in your condition, Lady Cheetara."
"Thank you. My friends and I accept you hospitality." Cheetara smiled at Sylvia. She got a positive feeling at her, but as she looked at Erica, she got a lot of negativity from her. The Thundercat knew something was going on and she bet her honor as a Thundercat that Lion-O was a part of it.
*****
Diana looked over Lion-O's sleeping form on the floor. He laid stretched on the floor with chains on his wrists and ankles. Diana nudged Lion-O awake by touching his leg with her foot.
"Wake up, Lion-O. Wake up."
Lion-O stirred and opened his eyes. He could still feel the affects of the Thundrainium from his arm and leg. "Oh," he groaned. "Thundrainium."
"Thundrainium?" Diana questioned.
"It weakens Thundercats." Lion-O explained.
"Right." Diana nodded. "Thundrainium affects Thundercats including Thunderians."
Lion-O turned to her surprised. "You know who I am?"
"Yes. You're Lion-O, Lord of the Thundercats."
*****
WilyKit relished Panthro struggling in his sleep. "Die, Panthro. You coward."
Panthro groaned and grunted in his sleep. "Get off me! No, no! Don't come any closer! Argh! Aah!"
WilyKit only laughed.
Panthro was on his back. The bats were hovering over him. He was helpless against them. He heard an evil, but familiar laugh over him. The panther knew that laugh. "No. No." He had to break free from his nightmare. If not, he would die from his fears.
"No! No! NO!" Panthro shouted and sat up in bed in pool of his sweat. His breathing was heavy, erratic. He looked up and almost jumped out of his skin. He dared ask who it was. "Ursula?"
WilyKit decided to play along. After all with her makeover, she did look like her mother. "Yes, Panthro. It's Ursula. The woman you killed never knowing their children would become Thundercats and that her daughter, WilyKit, would seek her revenge for what you've done."
"Ursula, I didn't mean it. I was angry. You killed my fiancée!"
"And you went back on our agreement! I warned you what would happen if you betrayed Ralik and I and you paid the ultimate price! Not only could you not accept your punishment but you took away the parents of two innocent children. You thought you made atonement by visiting them and helping them to become Thundercats. That won't help. That won't make up for what you did. The only way it will compensate for what you did is when I see you die by my hands!"
A realization came to the panther. He knew that wasn't Ursula. She was dead. It couldn't be her, but only... "By your hands? WilyKit, is that you?"
*****
Lion-O stared at Diana. "Why didn't you tell me who I was when I couldn't remember?"
"I'm just now learning this by Sylvia when I was captured and put in here," Diana explained.
"How did you get in here?"
"I discovered treachery between Sylvia and Erica and confronted them with it. I made a foolish mistake, got knocked unconscious and was put in here. When I woke up, I was chained to this chair. I'm sorry for what they are doing to you Lion-O."
The Lord of the Thundercats was confused. "What do they want with me?"
"They want you to be my husband."
"Husband? I can't be your husband. I'm a married man."
"I know that..." she paused holding back her own hurt and looked at Lion-O. "You remember?"
"Yes, I remember who I am. I went to tell Erica and Sylvia that I was leaving because I had to get back home, but they caught me off guard and trapped me in here."
"I see." Diana said understanding. "I promise you, Lion-O. They will be pay for this treason."
*****
WilyKit smiled a sinisterly at Panthro. "Yes, Panthro. It's me. WilyKit. I fooled you as well as I scared you. You know, personally, I think it's pretty pathetic. Panthro: strong, brave Thundercat, afraid of bats and spiders. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. How ever did you make it pass grade school? Is that why you're bald and you bulked up?" The thought made WilyKit laughed. "Hahahahahaha! How pathetic."
Panthro got out of bed and walked to the younger Thundercat. "WilyKit, about your parents. I'm sorry for what I did. I didn't mean it."
"Yeah, right. It was clear tonight when you shouted about Aline!"
"WilyKit.." Panthro began as he reached for Kit's hand.
WilyKit responded by grabbing Panthro's arm and throwing him across the room. Panthro landed on his back hard. He got back up, and before he could react Kit attacked by kicking him in his face with her right leg. She swiftly turned around and kicked him in the chest with her other leg. Panthro groaned and leaned over. WilyKit balled her fist and hit the panther on his back with her strength, causing him to fall on the floor. She stepped on his hands with her high heeled boots.
"Don't WilyKit me. The next time we meet, you will die." Her voice was pure evil. The innocent, happy Thundercat was gone and now Panthro was facing a woman bent on revenge and nothing would delight her more than his death.
Panthro, bleeding from his nose and gasping for air, saw WilyKit jumped out of his open window.
With her catlike agility, WilyKit easily landed on the arm of the lion of Cat's Lair. She looked up at Panthro's window. A wicked smile cam across her face. "You don't know it, dear Aunt Vasa, but you're going to play an important role in Panthro's demise."
*****
Once inside the vast palace, Cheetara, Bengali and Sarah were treated to dinner and given rooms to stay in. Although, Cheetara wanted to continue to talk to Erica and Sylvia about Lion-O, Bengali talked Cheetara out of it and told the woman they would talk to them the next day. Later that evening, Bengali and Sarah met with Cheetara in her room.
"I don't understand, Bengali. Why do you want to hold off the search for Lion-O?" Cheetara asked sitting on her bed.
"Like you, I get the feeling that Erica and Princess Sylvia are hiding something, and if we rush through it, we may not find anything." Bengali explained.
"So, you're saying to take things slow and it'll eventually come out." Cheetara said understanding. "The moment I landed here, I felt Lion-O's presence. He's here. I know it."
"If he's here, then we'll find him," Sarah said and shot a concern glance at Cheetara. "However, I still don't like it that you want to come here. Suppose you go into labor."
"I'm not due for another week and a half. Besides, with this being my first child, I'll more than likely be late."
"And I thought I was the doctor here," Sarah said folding her arms.
Cheetara gave her doctor an assuring smile. "I'll be fine. I'm going to be very careful. The last thing I want to do is harm my child." Cheetara felt her child kicked. She instantly put her hand on her stomach. "I think we better call it a night. I'll see you all in the morning."
*****
Erica stepped outside the palace. It was surprisingly cool that night so she wrapped her shawl around her. She takes a stroll around the Feliner and spat in disgust. "I can't believe Lion-O's wife came in search of her husband. She won't get him back though. He's my key to ruling this planet."
The Royal Advisor gasped as a tight grip came around her. As good as fighter as she was, she struggled with the invincible force. The strange force came around her, nearly cutting off her air supply. Tygra appeared.
"You're going to tell me everything about Lion-O's whereabouts or else," Tygra threatened. "Do you understand?"
Erica gasped for air and nodded in understanding. Tygra loosening his grip a little.
"Good. Now talk."
Part 87
The next morning, Panthro called Vasa over to have a talk with her and WilyKat. When she arrived at the lair, he immediately escorted her to the council room. WilyKat knew since he told his aunt to come over, it was bad news about WilyKit.
"What is it? You looked worried. How did you get that cut on your nose?" Vasa asked as she entered the room. She took a seat be her nephew.
"It's WilyKit. She was here last night."
Both WilyKat and Vasa were stunned.
"What did she want?" Vasa asked.
"How is she?" WilyKat asked.
"She's angry and is determined than ever to kill me for Ralik and Ursula's death." Panthro explained.
"No," WilyKat shook his head in disbelief.
Panthro looked at the Thundercat. "I'm sorry, but it's true. She almost gave me a heart attack last night when she showed in my bedroom dressed as Ursula."
"Ursula? Her mother?" Vasa feigned surprise.
"My sister didn't do that." WilyKat still not wanting to take in the news.
"She did, Kat. She looks just like your mother." Panthro didn't want to tell them about the other incident. It was too embarrassing. "She's a lot stronger now. I have the bruises to prove it. She also promised I will die the next time we meet, and from the looks of it, it would be soon."
WilyKat couldn't believe what Panthro was saying. The sister he knew wouldn't do such things. Threaten to kill Panthro? The sister he knew wasn't a vengeful person. He knew her better than anyone else. She was the closest relative he had. No, she couldn't be capable of such things.
"NO!" WilyKat shouted rising from his seat, getting Panthro and Vasa's attention. "My sister wouldn't do that!" He shouted as angry tears formed in his eyes. Not wanting to hear anymore, he ran out.
"WilyKat!" Panthro called after him.
Vasa grabbed Panthro's hand. "No. Let him go. He needs to alone."
*****
In the middle of the night, Diana awakened with a cramp in her side and a crick in her neck. Sleeping sitting up, was doing her no good. She tugged on her chains again, but to no avail, it didn't break. Sighing, she look over at Lion-O sleeping on the floor. Somehow she had to get Lion-O out of here. When he awakens, they were to go over a plan that may get them out of there.
The door opened and Erica stepped in with an unusual smile. Diana knew Erica knew something and it wasn't good for her or Lion-O. Erica leaned over Lion-O and shook him.
"Lion-O, wake up. I have a surprise for you."
Lion-O opened his eyes and growled when he saw Erica. "What do you want?" He snarled sitting up.
"Ooh, such a temper. That must be taken care of. Anyway, I have a gift for you."
Erica stood up and went back to the door. She opened it and Tygra stepped in.
"Tygra." Lion-O growled.
Tygra smiled confidently at his Lord with a crooked smile.
*****
WilyKat rode on his Hover cycle to the outskirts of the city. He stopped at Lake Jaga to cool off, let things about his sister settle in. It was a bit of a sanctuary for the Thundercat. He picked up a rock and threw it on the lake. It bounced on the water.
"I thought I find you here."
WilyKat looked up at a tree and saw his sister. Kit jumped down and her brother's mouth nearly fell to the ground when he saw his sister in her new get up. Her hair was down a parted in the middle. Her black outfit looked cool to him but it wasn't his sister. The heavy orange make up on her eyes were a little too much to him. He wondered if it really was his sister.
"Kit?" He asked unsure.
"Panthro told you about me coming into his room, didn't he? I had a feeling you would come here. You always do when you're upset."
WilyKat hugged his sister ignoring what she had just said for the moment. "I've missed you, Kit."
"I've missed you, too, Kat."
He pulled back to look her over. "What's with the makeover?"
"I've decide to go for a new look."
"I see. Is it true? What Panthro said? Did you threaten to kill him when you see him again?"
"It's what he deserves," she answered breaking from her brother's arms and walking away from him.
"It was an accident, Kit."
She turned back to her brother. "Can you honestly look me in the eye and say that you don't hold a little grudge against Panthro for what he did? By Thundera, he killed our parents. If it wasn't for him, they'd be alive right now. Can't you see that? Our parents would be alive. Imagine how proud they would've been of us? Don't you remember how heartbroken we were to learn about our parents death? Weren't you angry when you learned they had died?"
"Yes," Kat admitted after a long pause.
Kit laid her hands on her brother's shoulders. "Didn't you feel anger in your heart when we finally learned that someone was behind the death of our parents.?"
"Yes, but--"
"Now we know the person responsible for out parents death. Don't you think it's time for justice be served and that Panthro pay for the crime he has committed?" Kit asked persuading her brother.
WilyKat was so confused by his sister persuasion. Yes, he was and still feel anger for his parents death, but he wasn't sure if he should blame it on Panthro. Panthro was a big influence on him growing up, but then again his father may have influenced him if he had the chance. He just didn't know.
*****
Panthro pounded his fist on the table. "Blast it! This is my fault! All of it! If I hadn't chase Ralik and Ursula, none of this would be happening. They would've been alive right now."
"And Thundera would be in ruins right now." Vasa said and turned him to look at her. "Panthro, whether you know it or not, you saved the lives of everyone on Thundera, especially Lord Lion-O's when he was a baby that night."
"You're not understanding, Vasa. I killed their parents. I killed their parents!" He pointed to himself. If I didn't lose my temper, Ursula and Ralik would be alive now. Thundera wouldn't be in ruins because Jaga stopped them. Everyone was safe. All I had to do was stay with Aline when she died, but no, I had to get revenge and I'm paying the price that I deserve."
Vasa shook her head in disbelief. "Panthro, you're not saying what I think you are saying. You really don't want WilyKit to kill you, do you?"
"It's what I deserve. Aline told me that if I don't control my temper that it would get the best of me with a price. Who knew the price would be Aline?" He asked himself. "If only I knew they were going to take her. I should've went with her when she went on that trip."
Vasa walked away from Panthro's side. He has every right to talk about her. He loved her. He was going to marry her. If he knew that I knew they were going to kidnap Aline, he would never forgive me, let alone see me again.
*****
"What are you doing here, you traitor?!" Lion-O shouted angrily. "Or was this all apart of your plan?"
"Actually, it wasn't my plan," the confident Tygra said walking in the room. "My plan was to leave you for dead in the capsule. However, your miserable self was brought here and taken care of. Your memory loss explains why you haven't contacted us."
"What have you done with Cheetara?"
Tygra smiled. "Ah, yes, the beautiful Cheetara, my dearest love and your soon to be ex-wife. Yes, you heard me--ex-wife. She doesn't love you anymore. A woman can get quiet lonely when her husband abandons her."
"I didn't abandon my wife." Lion-O argued.
"You have the nerve to call Cheetara your wife when you're not even wearing your wedding ring." Tygra pointed out to Lion-O.
Lion-O looked at his hand and noticed his ring was gone. "My ring? Where is it?"
"I should tell you, Lion-O, that the moment I got back to Thundera to mend Cheetara's broken heart, we made love."
"Liar!" Lion-O growled.
Tygra only laughed. "You wish. We made love in a way your young mind couldn't imagine. So hot. So intense. So passionate that she screamed so loud she was hoarse. I was so good I left her weak for days. After our lovemaking, she said she never felt so alive as a woman; and she never thought it could be so good."
Lion-O's blood boil. He never felt so mad in his life. The Lord of the Thundercats knew he was lying but to even say it was enough to make him attack Tygra. He roared angrily and charged on Tygra. He knocked the tiger to the ground and begin choking him. Though bounded in chains, Tygra found the lion to be surprisingly strong. He obvious hit a nerve that shouldn't have been touch. Erica tried to pull Lion-O off Tygra, but Diana tripped Erica with her leg. Tygra used what strength he had left and knocked Lion-O off him. Tygra grabbed Erica's hand and pulled her out the room with him. Lion-O got up to charge on him again. Erica quickly locked the door.
"So close and yet so far away." Tygra said.
The two jumped when they felt Lion-O's body ramming against the door.
Erica turned on the speaker to Diana's room. "That's as far as you go. You're never getting out of here, especially with our guests here."
Diana and Lion-O looked at each other. "Guests?"
*****
"Come on, Kat. Can't you see that I am right?" Kit asked trying to get her brother on her side.
WilyKat sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Kit, but no. Don't you realize what might have happened to Thundera?"
"No, Kat. You're not understanding. Jaga foiled our parents plan so Thundera was safe. Panthro ruthlessly hunted them down and killed them."
"After our mom killed his fiancée," WilyKat pointed out. "He loved her, WilyKit and our mother killed her just because he didn't go with the plan that would kill Claudus, Jaga, and harmed the rest of our planet."
"He took two lives, Kat. Two for the price of one. He took from two innocent children, their parents, scarring them for life. Good Thundercats don't do that, but Panthro did. How can he be a good person if he killed someone."
"How can you be a good person if you want to kill Panthro?" WilyKat threw the question back at his sister.
"For justice. There's nothing wrong for killing someone in the name of justice." Kit pointed out.
Kat lowered his head. Maybe his sister had a point in wanting revenge. "Maybe...maybe you're right, Kit, but I don't think Panthro should die. Maybe be punished like a suspension from the Thundercats." He stared at his in her eyes. "Promise me, Kit. You won't kill, Panthro."
"WilyKat," his sister begin to protest.
"Promise me, sister. Promise me you won't kill Panthro."
WilyKit knew when her brother made her promised something, she had no choice but to agree to it. "All right, Kat. I won't kill him, but he will be punished." Sorry brother, but either way, Panthro is going to die. I may not kill him directly, but indirectly......
*****
"Guests? What other guests are here?" Diana asked.
"Wait a minute. Tygra said I was left for dead so he didn't know I was here. So how did he know?" Lion-O wondered. It suddenly hit him. "Cheetara. Cheetara is here, isn't she? Where is my wife?"
"Ah, the boy's astute." Tygra said impressed. "However it won't do any good."
Erica shut off the com link. "Cheetara senses Lion-O's presence but she doesn't know where he is. A feisty woman she is. Coming here when she's nine months pregnant. The nerve of her. Sylvia's going to have the others busy in the morning. You should go back to the Feliner now while everyone's sleeping."
Tygra nodded and became invinsible. He hurried back to the Feliner. It wouldn't be long before Cheetara has no choice but to go back home.
Erica waited until she was certain Tygra was out of earshot before speaking again. "If Cheetara gets too close on finding Lion-O, then I might have to take care of her.....permanately."
Part 88
Sylvia spent most of the day giving the Cheetara, Bengali and Sarah a tour of the palace and avoiding the questions Cheetara was asking. During the tour and each room they have been, Cheetara felt as though Lion-O has been there. She also sensed his presence, but couldn't tell where he was. The cheetah also knew that the tour was a diversion, but a diversion from what Cheetara wondered.
The past few days, pregnancy has hit the cheetah hard. She knew she had to take it easy because of her condition and recent false labor pains she has been receiving. One hit her in the middle of the night. Cheetara did feel she should return to Thundera, but she knew Lion-O was here and had a funny feeling her cub did too. And that kept her going.
"Sylvia?"
Sylvia stopped and looked at Cheetara. "Yes."
"I only have one question: Where is my husband?"
"I've not a clue what you are talking about."
"How can you say that?" Cheetara protested angrily. "You know he's here. I feel his presence in every room. I'm carrying his child. I....I..." Cheetara fell back and Bengali caught her.
The three hovered over the unconscious cheetah concerned.
*****
Vasa entered her house and dropped her purse on the sofa. She sat on the sofa pondering what to do, taking in the news Panthro told her about her niece, and Kit's threats that she would kill Panthro. The female wildcat thought about her past and her secret, her contact with the mutants and the fact that she knew Aline was in danger and she didn't do a thing to save her.
Vasa listened to the voices on the other side of the door. She was in a lavish bedroom. A room fit for a king. In fact, it was a king's room. She was wearing a tight mini black dress that was sheer over her midriff. She wore a lot of heavy makeup that went with her position.
"What have you found?" Rataro asked.
"Their Chief Mechanic, Panthro, is engage to one of the common workers at Cat's Lair. Her name is Aline." Ursula answered.
Rataro rubbed his mustache. "Good. This can work to our advantage. I don't care what you do, but I want this Aline kidnapped and Panthro force to sabotage the Thundertank so that we can control it. That way, when Jaga and Claudus leave for the opening ceremonies, they would meet their deaths."
"We can have Aline captured in two days." Ralik said.
"Make it so," Rataro commanded. He entered his room and Vasa stepped away from the door. "I know you were listening."
"You can't let them do this. You promised me that Ralik and Ursula won't invade Cat's Lair. "
"I lied," Rataro said simply.
"I won't let you do this. I'll tell Lord Claudus." She threatened and marched passed Rataro.
Rataro grabbed her by the arm and forced her to look at him. "You do that and I'll make sure that this mission will be Ralik and Ursula's last."
"You promised me that if I be your special girl, you would stop giving my brother and his wife missions."
"They are the best. I can't get rid of them until I have a better group of spies and until I do, they will work for me and you will be mine." He said wickedly and kissed her. Vasa tried to break through but Rataro held her tighter. He broke apart and pushed her on the bed. "Now do your job and please me."
Every time she thought about her time on Plundarr, she would find herself in tears. She couldn't fathom what she did without breaking down in tears, but she did do it in an attempt to get her brother from Rataro. A useless attempt.
"I got away from you Rataro. Unfortunately, I couldn't save my brother. Now my niece is in trouble. I can't believe she fell into the darkness of her mother."
"I see it as an eye opening experience that aloud me to see the truth after all these years of lies," Kit responded standing in the doorway.
*****
When Cheetara awakened, she was in her guest bedroom. Bengali, Sarah, and Sylvia were looking over her concern.
"What happened?" Cheetara asked touching her head.
"You fainted," he doctor said sternly. "I knew this was a big mistake. We're leaving first thing in the morning."
"No, I can stay a little longer." Cheetara protested.
"No, you can't. The last thing you need is an early labor brought on by stress of your missing husband," Sarah argued. "Bengali and I will question Sylvia while you stay here. I'll check on you when we get back."
"All right," Cheetara reluctantly agreed. She watched as the three left the room. Cheetara waited a few more minutes before getting out of bed. A smirk appeared on her face. "They fell for it. Good." She walked to the door and opened it. No one was in the hallway. "With them thinking I'm in here, I can search the palace the way I want to."
A sudden cramping pain hit her abdomen. She closed the door and leaned on it, breathing heavily, trying to brace the pain. "No," she breath. "Not now. I can't go into labor now." She held her hand onto her stomach until the pain passed. She took a minute to adjust herself. When she felt comfortable again, she walked out.
*****
Vasa wiped the tears from her face and stood up to face WilyKit. "WilyKit, I didn't hear you coming."
"You weren't suppose to," WilyKit commented.
"WilyKit, don't murder Panthro. He doesn't deserve this."
WilyKit only scoff and looked away.
"It was an accident. If he could go back and change it he would." Her aunt argued back.
WilyKit looked back at Vasa. "The only thing he would change is Aline dying and you know it. I still don't see how you can love him. He killed your brother. Blood is suppose to be thicker than water."
"Ralik knew what was coming to him, living the life he lead."
"And yet you did everything you could to save him....from your point of view." Kit replied back. She rolled her eyes. "This conversation bores me. It's time for to get on with my plan."
"What do you mean?" Vasa asked worried.
"Panthro lost Aline. Now that he's in love again let's see if he can save his new love and himself." WilyKit smiled a wicked smile her aunt knew all too well.
"Kit, do not this."
"Too late. It's starting and if you try to make an escape, I'll kill you right now." Kit walked over to her aunt. "You're going to do everything I say or else."
*****
Erica continue down the hallway and entered her bedroom. She goes to her dresser and picks up Lion-O's wedding band. "Such a nice band. Besides being a pain in the neck, that Cheetara knows how to pick out a ring." She put the ring down and walks in her private bathroom and closed the door.
Picking up a brush on the counter she ran it through her hair. "Another day or so and Cheetara is out of here. Then I'll make Diana marry Lion-O. Of course they would have to have a child. Then maybe a year or two later both Diana and Sylvia will meet an unfortunate accident and then finally I get to rule and I get Lion-O in the process. My family been servants to the Diana's long enough. It's high time I come to power."
The sound of her bedroom door opening distracted her. Erica opened her door slightly. Her face contorts in a vicious and angry glare as she notice Cheetara entering the room.
Cheetara looks around the room. "If I'm going to find Lion-O, I'm sure to find evidence here. That Erica is hiding something. I know it."
Cheetara sat on the bed and look in the night stand beside it. She gets back up and looks in the closet.
Erica could feel her anger rising. That little--. She stops her thoughts when Cheetara looks toward the bathroom. Uh-oh. Quickly, she got in her shower and hid behind the shower curtain.
"I wonder if anything is in here," Cheetara thought as she entered the bathroom. She opens the linen closet but only found towels. She opens the medicine cabinet and saw nothing that would give her clues as to where her husband may be. She opened a drawer on the sink vanity. She gasped and immediately closed the drawer. "I knew Erica was a threat, but I didn't think she'd be this much of a threat. What kind of woman keeps a gun in her vanity drawer? I better watch out for her from now on." The cheetah walks out the room finding nothing.
Erica slowly opened the shower curtain. She stepped out quietly and opened her drawer on her vanity and pulls out her gun.
"If Cheetara gets too close on finding Lion-O, then I might have to take care of her.....permanately." (87)
"It's come to that. She's gotten in my way for the last time."
Cheetara looked around frustrated. "There must be something in here that will give me a clue about Lion-O. There has to be." She glanced around the room until something on the dresser caught her eyes. The light from the sun streaming through the window made a certain object on the dresser sparkle. As if mesmerized, Cheetara slowly walks to the dresser, hoping she sees what she think it is. A gold ring with diamonds on it. A wedding ring. Lion-O's wedding ring. Tears started to form in her eyes as she picks it up. The cheetah reads the inscription.
" 'In mind, body, heart and soul'. It's his ring. It's Lion-O's ring. He's here. I found him. He--" She gasped in pain as her head was pulled back. Erica had her arm around the pregnant cheetah's neck. A gun was pressing on the right side of the cheetah's large abdomen.
"You make one move and your baby dies."
Part 89
It was night time now at Cat's Lair. Panthro entered to retire for the night. He switch the light on and saw a black rose on his bed under a letter. Confused and concern, the panther walks to the bed and opens the letter. His eyes widen in horror. The panther races out his room calling out WilyKat's name.
Ever since his talk with his sister, WilyKat held a grudge against Panthro. Maybe his sister was right all along about wanting to kill Panthro. No, the Thundercat thought shaking his head. No matter what, a Thundercat shouldn't kill. Blood for blood wasn't the Thundercat way. Hearing Panthro calling his name, he got up from his seat in the control room and met Panthro halfway.
"What is it, Panthro?"
"It's Kit," Panthro said handing Kat the letter. "She's kidnapped Vasa. Let's go."
WilyKat read the letter. He followed Panthro. The panther jumped in his Thundertank and WilyKat got on his hovercycle, wondering what his sister was up to now.
*****
Lion-O slammed his right arm against the door again. A habit he has been doing since he awakened only taking little breaks.
"It won't work, Lion-O. Once that door is locked, it's impenetrable. It lined with titanium. The only other way out is through the secret combination but Erica changed that and I haven't a clue as to what it could be," Diana explained.
"I have to get out of here. My wife and child need me. And with Tygra out there, they can only be in danger." Lion-O responded still slamming against the door. "Shouldn't someone here me pounding on the door?"
"Not if the sound proof's on." Diana construed. She wanted to help Lion-O. She really did in spite of her feelings for him. "Lion-O, if you could break these chains on me, then I may be able to help you get out."
*****
"I think we should check on Cheetara," Sarah suggested as she and Bengali walked down the hall towards her room.
They question Sylvia but to no avail, she revealed nothing about Lion-O. Either she was lying deceptively well or she was telling the truth. Whatever it may be, they were leaving the next day whether Cheetara liked it or not. She was too close to deliver to stay on Minerva any longer.
Sarah knocked the cheetah's door and called her named softly. When there was no answer, she knocked again. After a third try, she opened the door.
"She's not here."
Bengali entered the room and looked around for her. "Cheetara's not here. She must have tricked us so she can look for Lion-O alone. One of these days her brash heroism is going to get the best of her. Come on, let's go find her before she gets in trouble." Bengali ordered.
*****
A door opened on the highest tower of the palace. Cheetara stepped out first with Erica behind her and still pulling on her neck with her gun on the cheetah's stomach.
"Keep going." Erica ordered.
Cheetara kept walking on the terrace until she got to the edge, border walls that only came up to her stomach in height. "I can't go any further. What are you going to do now? Cheetara asked.
"You're going to keep moving until to fall off."
"I'll never do that."
"All right. I'll let you go if you leave now and promise to never come back." Erica suggested.
"I'll leave.....with Lion-O. Where is he?"
"You're in no position to give orders. So do as I say or your baby dies and you're going to do it. All you mother-to-be types are alike: doing anything for your child no matter the consequences for yourself. It's sickening. No way can I be a mother. It has to be all about me."
"That's because you're a cold hard--Aah!" Cheetara screamed as Erica pulled her neck back even further.
"What's it gonna be, Cheetara?"
*****
Panthro drove the Thundertank to their destination according to the letter. WilyKat was flying closely behind him in his hover cycle, quietly thinking about his sister, his aunt, Panthro and Aline. He turned on his com link with Panthro.
"Panthro, if Aline was alive would you still be seeing my aunt?"
Panthro frowned for a moment before answering. "I don't think it would be fair if I cheated on Aline, Kat."
"I know, but I mean, if Aline just happened to show up would you stop seeing my aunt and go back with her?"
.Panthro became confused and uncertain. He knew that he would always love Aline, but now that he got his life back on track with a new love, would he go back to Aline? Panthro didn't have an answer because either way someone would be hurt.
"Why do ask such a question?" Panthro replied back.
WilyKat only shrugged his shoulders. "Just wondering. Before you go any further with my aunt, you need to think about that and answer it. You don't have to tell me but at least let yourself and my aunt know."
WilyKat's profoundness caught the panther by surprise, which made the panther more curious as to why he asked that.
*****
WilyKit and Vasa stood on top edges of one of the highest volcanoes on Thundera. Kit had her aunt's hands tied in front of here. Her ankles were tied to a rope with it's ends tied down to a rock on the volcano further down. However, Kit made sure to cut the ropes so it would weaken by her aunt's weight.
"You're really going to push me into the volcano?" Vasa questioned.
"Don't worry. You're a cat. You're think of something, although I hope it's better than that pathetic fight you put up with me."
Vasa looked at the hot lava below. "I don't get it, Kit. Panthro will come get me when you push me." She then realized that this was a trap. Kit was baiting Panthro. "You're up to something else, aren't you."
"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. You're just have to wait and see."
The two wildcats looked down at the bottom of the volcano as they heard the loud rumblings of the Thundertank driving up the volcano. It stopped only a few feet from them and Panthro and WilyKat jumped out.
"WilyKit, don't do it!" Panthro yelled.
WilyKit only smirk cleverly. She saw her brother. He only showed sorrow, but she wouldn't let that bother her now. "Panthro, so good of you to show up."
"Let her go." Panthro ordered.
"Okay," Kit said cheerfully and pushed Vasa down the volcano.
"No!" Panthro screamed.
Kit's aunt screamed as she fell but she suddenly stopped. The rope her ankles were attached to finally reached it's end. Even though she was light, the thinning rope was weakening still.
Panthro ran to edge to save her, but Kit's voice stopped him.
"Go after her, Panthro, but you should know this. My dear, sweet aunt knew Aline was in danger but she didn't lift a finger to save her or at least warn you about her kidnapping. How did she know you wonder?"
Although she was in the volcano, Vasa could hear the conversation. "No, Kit! Don't say it! You promised!"
Panthro looked down at the woman in the volcano. "Then it's true? You knew?!"
"Oh, I haven't gotten to the good part yet. She was also a concubine, to put it nicely, for Rataro. She thought that if she satisfy his needs, Rataro would get my father out of being a spy. Of course it was all hopeless but she didn't find that out until my parents were killed by you. She knew about Aline's kidnapping two days before it happen. She had time to warn you but she didn't. Now tell me, Panthro. Can you forgive my aunt knowing the dark secret from her past, not the lie she told you, Kat and myself? Can you make love to her knowing where her body has been, with a Rataro, a rat, a mutant. A sworn enemy of the Thundercats, not to mention an ugly one at that. Ugh," WilyKit shuddered. "Even I wouldn't lower myself to that."
When Panthro didn't answer, she continued. "I'll leave you to decide." Kit smiles evilly and laughs victoriously as she approached her hover cycle she and Vasa rode in on and flew down the mountain. WilyKat hopped on his cycle and followed her.
Panthro looked down at Vasa. He saw that the rope was slowly breaking up. No doubt cut by WilyKit.
Vasa was sweating tremendously by the heat from the volcano. She was a good hundred feet from the lava, but even at that distance, the heat was immense. She looked back at Panthro and only saw hurt, pain, anger and betrayal on his face. She knew this was the end for her. No way was Panthro going to save her after learning her terrible secret. Vasa looked back at the lava closed her eyes and screamed as the rope finally gave way.
*****
WilyKat caught up with his sister at the bottom of the volcano. He pushed his cycle against his sister's. "WilyKit, stop!"
WilyKit only increased her speed. Kat increased his as well and pushed her harder. WilyKit lost control for a moment. When regain power of her vehicle and glared at her brother. "What you do that for?!" Kit shouted back.
"You know what you did! How could you?!" Kat shouted back.
WilyKit lowered her vehicle to the ground and got off it. Her brother did the same.
"You see I didn't kill Panthro as promised. If he die trying to save our aunt, that's his problem and his fault, not mine."
"You're not my sister. The sister I knew wouldn't do this."
"The sister you knew is dead. She was blind to the truth. I'm much better this way."
"No, you're not," WilyKat argued.
"You don't think what I did was right?" WilyKit inquired.
"No! What you did was evil. Even though Panthro killed our parents, he has done nothing but good." Kat remarked.
"You're against me. My own brother." WilyKit stepped back from her brother as if she was betrayed. "Very well then. Since you side with our enemies, that means you're my enemy too." Kit said and kicked her brother in the side.
WilyKat fell back. "You're not yourself, Kit. I'm sorry but you leave me no choice." He lunged toward her and punched his sister in the face.
WilyKit wiped the blood from her lips with her hand. "So you're really going to side with our enemies."
She angrily pulled out a dagger. "Then you must die with them." She ran towards him with her dagger. Kat jumped back.
WilyKat grabbed the dagger and he and his sister struggled for control. "Give me the dagger, Kit. You're going crazy."
They raised the sharp knife above their heads. WilyKat forced the knife down and was trying to pry it from his sister's fingers. The dagger suddenly got between Kit and Kat. Each trying to pull the knife from the other. One to save a life, the other to kill. Abruptly a scream of pain echoed in the darkness of the night. Someone was stabbed. Kit and Kat broke apart. Kit saw the blood on her hands and around her stomach. Shocked, she looked at Kat with the knife jammed in his abdomen. Blood was on his hand and midriff. It continue to spill out of his body. Weakly, Kat looked at his sister and fell forward. She caught him.
"By Thundera, what have I done?"
****
Lion-O aided Diana by breaking her chains. In return, she used a hair pin to try to open Lion-O's bonds. She was able to free the ones on his ankles, but the ones around his wrist was causing her trouble.
"This must be a different kind of chains here, Lion-O. I can't seem to get it open."
"If only I had my Sword of Omens," Lion-O growled. A thought came to him. "If Tygra left me for dead and had no clue I was here, why didn't Cheetara used the sword to find me? She might have and brought it with her." He look to Diana. "I have an idea." The lion stood up and raised his hands in the air. "Sword of Omens, come to my hand!"
In Sylvia's room, the Sword of Omens growled in the Claw Shield. It immediately rise and broke free from the drawer it was in and flew to the voice of its master.
*****
Bengali and Sarah found Sylvia stepping out of the throne room. "Sylvia! Cheetara's missing. Have you seen here?" Bengali questioned.
"Missing how?"
"She's not in her room and it's because she's looking for Lion-O." Bengali explained. He saw an odd look on the princess' face, indicating she knew something. In a fit of anger, Bengali grabbed her by the shoulders. "Where is she?! It's obvious that you know something!"
"In her condition, she could be in serious trouble, especially since she's with child," Sarah added.
The fear of Bengali's angry voice and the warning from Cheetara's doctor about her condition finally got to the doctor. She couldn't do it anymore. She begin crying. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. It was all Erica's idea."
"What idea?!" Bengali growled.
"Lion-O." she cried. "He's here with my sister, the queen, trapped. I haven't a clue as to where Cheetara is. Erica may have done something."
"Where is Lion-O?!" Bengali shouted.
The Sword of Omens flew right pass them. It caught their attention. Bengali released Sylvia, and he and Sarah ran after the sword.
The Sword of Omens tore a hole in the titanium door and into Lion-O's hands. With the help of the sword, Lion-O was able to break free from his bonds. Lion-O aimed his sword at the door.
"HO!"
An electric energy shot out of the sword and created a huge hole in the door. Lion-O and Diana got out and saw Bengali, Sarah and Sylvia running towards them.
"Bengali, Sarah. Where is Cheetara?" Lion-O asked.
Bengali growled. "We don't know, Lion-O."
The Sword of Omens growled, signaling danger. Lion-O put the sword's hilt to his eyes. "Sword of Omens, give me sight beyond sight." Through the sword's hilt, he saw Erica holding Cheetara at gun point. "Erica has Cheetara. She's on top of the castle." The eye closed and Lion-O raced down the hall, with the others following.
Diana grabbed her sister's arm. "You know about this didn't you?"
"Diana, I had no idea Erica was planning this. I didn't know she had Cheetara. You must believe me," her sister cried.
"Believe you? After all you've done? If Lion-O's wife is hurt, you will not only answer to Lion-O but to me."
*****
"You're taking to long to answer," Erica said.
"I'm not leaving without Lion-O," Cheetara stated as firmly as she could, but she was very scared, not for herself but for her child.
"But you risk your baby's life?" Erica questioned pressing the gun further on Cheetara's stomach. "Have you ever wonder why Lion-O hasn't try contacting you. If he really loved you, he would have contacted you."
"That's because you did something to him, blocked his mind maybe," Cheetara said.
"Enough talk. What's your choice?"
Cheetara didn't know what her decision would be. She didn't want to answer because, well, she didn't have an answer. The Lady of the Thundercats knew there was a way out of this but right now she didn't know. She felt Erica pulled the gun away from her stomach a little. It was now or never. The next events happened in slow motion for the cheetah. Cheetara grabbed the gun and push it away from her stomach. Erica, still holding onto the gun, hit Cheetara's stomach with her knee. By instinct, the cheetah let go of the gun and put her hands on her stomach. Erica saw the opportunity and took it. She pushed Cheetara, causing the cheetah to lose her balance and fall off the tower. Lion-O knocked the door open and saw Cheetara fall.
"CHEETARA!"
Erica aimed her gun at Lion-O and everyone else as they entered. "Who's next?"
To Be Continued
Parts 90-92: HEH! HEH! HEH!
I love Tygra when he's forceful. Main page.