Cat's Lair, home to the refugees known as the Thundercats, was running in peak condition. A recent attack by the mutants had left the group weary but able to fight another day. Tygra and Panthro were busy working out in the gymnasium.

"Looks like you're slowing down, old timer," Panthro laughed.

"Old timer eh? Could an old timer do this?" Tygra asked deftly leaping over his companion. In mid air he wrapped his bola whip around his body. "Now you see me, now you don't," Tygra said, vanishing into thin air.

"I don't know too many old timers who can do that, but let me assure you it won't help you," Panthro said, unleashing a jet of gas from his nunchuks. Tygra began to cough and sputter before falling to one knee, turning visible once more.

"Nice trick. How'd you do that?" Tygra asked.

"I've been tinkering with these babies, trying to get them to shoot other things. Sleeping gas seemed like a natural," Panthro said.

Cheetara whizzed through the forest, dodging bushes and trees. "Just a little further and then I'll head for home," she thought. She had suffered a mild leg injury from the mutants, Monkian had paid dearly for that attack, and she wanted to make sure that she could still operate at peak efficiency. On the horizon she spotted some smoke, "So much for heading home. I'd better notify Cat's Lair," she thought.

"All right Cheetara, you be careful, snarf, snarf," Snarf said from his post in the control room. "Is everything okay Snarf?" Lion-O asked.

"Cheetara's just investigating some smoke near the warrior maiden village," Snarf replied.

"Hmm. Maybe we should send Panthro and Tygra down to help her out," Lion-O said.

"Cheetara's a grown woman. If she needs help she'll ask for it, snarf, snarf," Snarf pointed out.

Cheetara soon discovered, as she had feared, that the smoke was indeed coming from the warrior maiden village. Several of the huts were ablaze, and the cause soon became apparent when she saw two of the Lunataks standing amidst it all. "Alluro and Red Eye. I should have known you two would be involved," Cheetara said.

"I'm touched Thundercat. You remember our names. But do you remember our powers?" Alluro asked.

"Perhaps you are also wondering where the warrior maidens are?" Red Eye added with a chuckle.

Cheetara looked up in surprise to see twelve warrior maidens armed with bows pointed at her. Relying on her lightning reflexes Cheetara dodged the arrows and sent her bo staff flying. It spun through the air and shattered the crystal atop Alluro's psyche club. With the warrior maidens now against them Alluro and Red Eye soon found themselves bound and on their way to Cat's Lair.

Unseen by the female Thundercat a pair of eyes slowly tracked the group before pursuing. When the time was right, the shadowy figure lunged at Cheetara.

"What?" Cheetara gasped, as she fell forward onto the ground.

"You can't possibly defeat me," a raspy masculine voice said.

"Oh yeah, we'll see about that!" Cheetara said. The figure let a raspy laugh and breathed swiftly on Cheetara's neck, encasing her in a block of ice.

"You are friends of Chilla, correct?" the figure asked.

"Who wants to know?" Red Eye asked.

"My name is not important to the likes of you," the figure said.

"Very well. Since you appear to have the upper hand. Yes, we are," Red Eye said.

"Good. Then you can take me to her," the figure said, "unless you'd rather I leave you here with the cheetah."

"We don't have a choice Red Eye. We'll have to follow this stranger," Alluro said.

"That's right. The name, by the way, is Knave," the figure said, "Chilla's half-brother."

On the road Knave told them his story. "A long time ago a young Thundercat whose name is unimportant now crashed on one of the moons of Plundaar. She was a cheetah by descent. My father, and Chilla's, found her and made her his slave. To make a long story shorter she produced a child for him. He was not pleased and had her killed violently. He was about to do the same to me when my step mother, bless her soul, suggested they keep me. He named me Knave, signifying what he thought of me. I grew up in Chilla's shadow. But she cared for me more than she's ever cared for anything. As a result I became loyal to her, and her alone. When I heard that she had gone missing, I eagerly began preparations to follow her. After all this time I've finally found where she landed."

"Are you sure you're related to Chilla?" Red Eye asked. Even before the words had left his mouth a second sheet of ice had been spewed forth, covering Red Eye's jaw. "I think you just got your answer," Alluro whispered.

"Luna, I thought you'd only sent out Red Eye and Alluro to attack the warrior maidens," Tug Mug said, standing at the window to Skytomb.

"Of course I did, why?" Luna asked.

"Because there are three people carrying a block of ice," Tug Mug said.

"How dare Chilla defy me. Amok, when Chilla gets here crush her!" Luna said.

"Did I hear my name?" Chilla asked, entering the room. Instantly Amok lumbered over to her and pinned her against the wall. He raised a massive fist to knock her out but Luna stopped him.

"If you're here, then who helped Alluro and Red Eye?" Luna asked. Chilla walked to the window.

"I don't know, but I for one would like to find out," Chilla said. The three Lunataks and Amok headed down to investigate.

Back at Cat's Lair Lion-O was getting worried. "Cheetara should be back by now, and she's not responding to communications," he said.

"Meow. I don't like it Lion-O, snarf, snarf. Maybe the Sword of Omens can help," Snarf suggested.

"Good idea. Sword of Omens, give me sight beyond sight," Lion-O said, holding up his magic sword. The comforting surroundings of Cat's Lair faded from view to be replaced by an aerial shot of Cheetara in her current state. "Great Jaga! Cheetara has been encased in ice by the Lunataks. We've got to rescue her," Lion-O said.

Less than an hour later Lynx-O, Panthro, Tygra, Snarf and Lion-O were zipping across the terrain of Third Earth. Before they knew it, they were at the Forest of Mists. "I still don't see how you're going to get us through there," Panthro said.

"Don't you worry. My braille board has never failed to get me through here," Lynx-O said, switching positions with Panthro.

"I still don't like this, snarf, snarf," Snarf said.

"Neither do I, but it's the only way of getting Cheetara back," Lion-O replied.

"All I need is a handful of DNA molecules from Cheetara and our master plan will be complete," Alluro said as he produced a large syringe. He carefully slid it into Cheetara's left leg, where she already had a wound, and filled a small vial. "Excellent. Now, once I perform a few tests on this, she can be returned to her people without trouble."

"You're wrong. The Thundercats are on their way now!" Tug Mug said.

"Very well. Chilla, Tug Mug, Knave go out there and buy us some time," Luna screeched.

"As you wish," Chilla said leading the trio out.

The Thundertank lumbered closer to where the three Lunataks had set their trap. When they were within range, Knave dashed by, his cheetah heritage confusing the Thundercats making them think he was Cheetara. Tug Mug swiftly pursued. As was expected the Thundercats burst into action. Tygra launched three fireballs from his bola whip at the fleeing Lunatak. This provided an opening for Chilla to freeze him in place. "Tygra! Panthro, you and Lynx-O take care of Chilla. I'll deal with Tug Mug," Lion-O said.

"What about me? Snarf, snarf?" Snarf asked.

"You stay in the Thundertank and keep an eye out for reinforcements," Lion-O said.

"Suits me fine," Snarf thought.

Knave nearly laughed. This was far too easy, yet Chilla had made it sound like the Thundercats were constant thorns in their side. No matter. They would be dealt with soon enough. Once that Thundercat leader left himself open enough. Knave turned sharply, knowing Tug Mug would follow, and aimed at Lion-O. At his current speed Lion-O wouldn't be able to see exactly who it was, such a move also placed himself between Tug Mug and the Sword of Omens.

"Cheetara! Get out of the way!" Lion-O shouted.

"I don't think so," Knave shouted, as he closed the gap. Jets of ice spewed from his mouth and covered Lion-O.

"Got him on the first try," Tug Mug said approvingly.

"But of course. Did you expect anything less than perfection?" Knave replied

"Well Chilla, you may have gotten Tygra, but I'm better than Tygra, and I'm willing to bet that you can't get me," Panthro boasted.

"Do not jump to conclusions. Chilla is a formidable opponent," Lynx-O cautioned. Panthro's nunchuks were out instantly and spinning rapidly.

"Very impressive, Thundercat, but you're in for a really cool surprise!" Chilla said as she, much like her half brother, spewed ice at the Thundercat. Panthro was prepared, though, and dodged the attack. He rolled to his knees and flipped a switch on his nunchuks. A cloud of sleeping smoke began to emanate from the handle and covered Chilla. Soon she began to swoon before beginning to fall.

Knave glanced up in time to see the smoke cover Chilla. "Deal with Lynx-O. I'll save Chilla," he told Tug Mug as he began to sprint towards his beloved. He caught her in his arms and gently laid her on the ground. "You're going to pay for that. You will die a slow and lingering death!" Knave shouted, jumping with his powerful legs onto Panthro.

Panthro didn't know who this strange man was. He looked a little like Cheetara, which explained why his friend hadn't been involved in the fight. Although Panthro was considered the strongest Thundercat, next to Lion-O, Panthro found himself pinned on his back in almost no time at all.

Knave swung his fist down, he wanted to make this Thundercat pay for what he had done to Chilla. "Dodge all you like panther, I can keep this up all day. Can you?" His fist slammed into the ground once more, though he blocked out the pain.

"I don't have to do fight back. You're on top of me!" Panthro said, flexing slightly. Instantly the spikes that lined his outfit extended, poking and prodding Knave, forcing the Lunatak to back off.

"So blind man, how would you like to go flying?" Tug Mug asked. Lynx-O ignored the taunt and concentrated on the sound of the Lunatak's voice. He heard the hum of Tug Mug's weapon and tensed his leg muscles. As soon as he fired Lynx-O jumped clear of the attack.

Knave breathed a sheet of ice over Panthro's nunchuks as the Thundercat began to reach for them. "Those little sticks won't be helping you now," he said. "I'm afraid, though, that it's your turn next."

Panthro's look of fear faded from his face as he saw Lynx-O jump out of the way of Tug Mug's anti-gravity blast. His friend had positioned himself perfectly. Instead of hitting it's intended target it slammed into Knave, causing him to rise steadily into the air.

Snarf looked at the ice statue of Lion-O and was pleased to see that his ministrations with a small hammer he'd found in the back of the Thundertank was having its desired effect. Tiny cracks had formed up and down it. Soon there was enough room for Lion-O to say one word. "Ho!" The Sword of Omens flared to life, bursting with heat. The ice around the lord of the Thundercats melted away into a large puddle. Saying "Ho!" a second time Lion-O fired a blast of energy from the Sword of Omens at Tug Mug, knocking him senseless.

"Well, now we storm Skytomb and rescue Cheetara," Tygra said, the ice having been melted away.

"Wait, look!" Panthro said.

"It's Cheetara, snarf, snarf, and she's just lying there on the ground," Snarf said. The others looked where Panthro and Snarf had indicated and saw that indeed Cheetara was lying wounded on the ground. Lynx-O was the first one to approach her. He placed his fingers on her neck, seeking a pulse, and turned to the others. "She will live but needs medical attention right away," he said.

"As much as I hate to do it, I say we leave the Lunataks here for now. Cheetara's safety has to be our first concern," Tygra said.

"Agreed," Lion-O said, picking his friend carefully.

"The question is, how did she get out here?" Panthro asked, as he started up the Thundertank.

"I have a feeling we're going to find out," Lion-O replied.

Continued

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