Cat's Lair was strangely busy that morning. Tygra was going over the blue prints to the Lair while Panthro was running around trying to get the Thundertank up and running again. Wily Kit and Wily Kat were being their usual rambunctious selves as they played a game of tag throughout the Lair while Snarf was busy cooking in the kitchen. Luckily for Cheetara and Lion-O they had drawn monitor duty.

"Anything on your end?" Lion-O asked, bored.

"Nothing much. Just the usual activity down in the Berbil village. How about you?" Cheetara replied.

"Same thing. The most exciting thing is the warrior maidens eating breakfast," Lion-O said.

"Cat's Lair to Tower of Omens. Come in Tower of Omens," Cheetara said into the communications device.

"Tower of Omens here. Yes sir. Snarfer here," came a cheerful voice.

"Any news to report Snarfer?" Cheetara asked.

"No sir, not a thing," Snarfer replied.

"Maybe we'll get a quiet day, for a change," Lion-O said hopefully.

Little did the Thundercats know that their day was about to be disrupted. Rocketing through space, carrying a small, but powerful weapon, came the Iron Maiden. The ship had been attacked by space pirates, who had broken off pursuit at the sign of a second vessel. This other vessel had ignored the Iron Maiden, leaving it to its fate. The pilot of the ship was long dead, killed when his control panel had burst into flames. The ship's trajectory had it pointed straight at a section of forest that was being patrolled by the fearful Jackalman.

"Nyah ha ha! Jackalman to Castle Plundaar. I've just seen something crash nearby. I'm going to investigate it," Jackalman said, forcing himself to speed on over to the location.

"Very well Jackalman. Keep us informed, yesss?" Slythe, the leader of the evil mutants said.

Jackalman's skycutter wove between the trees until it reached the downed ship. He felt a sense of fear well up within him but shoved it aside in favor of curiosity. Discretion being the better part of valor, though, he looked through the window of the ship to see if anyone was inside. He saw only the pilot, and he was dead. Releasing a breath he didn't know he'd held Jackalman slowly opened the small hatch on the side of the ship.

"Jackalman," whispered a musical female voice.

"Who's there?" Jackalman demanded, reaching for his club.

"I am the great Illara," the voice said, "and I lie before you. Please free me from my mortal bonds and I will grant you power beyond your wildest imaginings."

"I don't know. I can imagine quite a lot," Jackalman said, still looking for the source of the voice.

"With the power I can give you could be more powerful than Slythe, Mumm-Ra, Luna, even Lion-O!" Illara said.

"More powerful than Lion-O?" Jackalman asked.

"Yes. And all you need to do is place me around your neck. I am trapped inside this box. Please, free me," Illara said.

Jackalman needed no further encouragement. Soon Slythe would be begging him for mercy as he brought Lion-O's body before him. "Nyah ha ha. This is going to be great!" he said aloud. He opened a small box and found a medallion inside. It was a piece of gold shaped as a circle with two bands of platinum wrapped around the ring. Stretching across the gold ring were three strands of hair. Somehow Jackalman knew that this is what gave Illara life. "It is because I have increased your knowledge. So long as you possess me, carry me on your person, you shall have infinite wisdom," Illara's voice told him. Jackalman hopped onto his Skycutter and sped off towards Castle Plundaar.

"Well Jackalman. What did you find, yesss?" Slythe demanded.

"Oh, uh, nothing Slythe. It was just a meteor. An ordinary run of the mill meteor," Jackalman replied, the words tumbling out of their own volition.

"Are you sssure that'sss all it wasss?" Slythe asked.

"Caw! Maybe I should check it out," Vultureman suggested.

"No. I am most certain that it was only a meteor. If you doubt my words . . . " Jackalman began threateningly.

"Then you'll what, you cowardly wretch!" Slythe asked, reaching for his club.

"Then I'll destroy you!" Jackalman roared, feeling a wave of energy flooding through his veins. Instantly tendrils of flame shot from Jackalman's hands and slammed into Slythe and Vultureman.

"What'sss happening to usss?" Slythe asked, falling to his knees.

"Caw! I feel so weak, so very weak," Vultureman gasped before toppling to the ground as well.

"Hoo, hoo! What have you done Jackalman?" Monkian asked, as he entered the room.

"I've absorbed all their energy and powers. I'll do the same to you if you don't obey me," Jackalman said, giving Slythe a good kick in the ribs.

"All right Jackalman, hoo, hoo, I'll serve you," Monkian said.

"Tower of Omens to Cat's Lair, come in Cat's Lair, snarfer, snarfer," Snarfer chirped.

"Cheetara here. What is it Snarfer?" Cheetara asked.

"Radar picked up some kind of object crashing into the planet. I'm sending the co-ordinates now," Snarfer said.

"Hmm. That's near Castle Plundaar. I think we'd better call in the rest of the Thundercats. Snarfer, I want you to stay behind at the Tower and keep an eye on things. Tygra will do the same from here," Lion-O said.

"I'll speed on ahead and check it out," Cheetara said.

"Be careful. Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats, ho!" Lion-O shouted, his sword extending as he did so.

Within moments the Thundercats had assembled in the Thundertank and Thunderstrike respectively. "Now, on to that object!" Lion-O said.

"Now, the Thundercats have probably realized that something landed near our base and they'll probably go investigate it. That means we should set up some kind of trap for them," Jackalman reasoned.

"Hoo, hoo. I guess that makes sense," Monkian said.

"Of course it makes sense. Now follow me," Jackalman said.

Cheetara forced herself to slow down. She didn't want to arrive too far ahead of the others, and she couldn't hold her speed for too long. As it was, it didn't take her very long to reach the crash site. Carefully, she poked at the wreckage and found a journal made by the deceased pilot. She flipped it open to the last page and began to read aloud.

"That stupid Illara is driving me crazy. The sooner I'm rid of her, the better. Even that box isn't blocking out her telepathic powers. She's singing so beautifully. I almost want to put it on, just for a little while. No! I mustn't. I've seen far too many fall under that siren song. I'm not going to be another victim. If only this ship could go faster, I could reach that black hole. I may go down trying to be rid of it, but at least no one else will be made to suffer."

Cheetara put down the journal, confused about what the pilot had been talking about. Then she heard the sound of someone approaching. "Looks like we've got us our first Thundercat victim," Jackalman cackled, "surrender now and I won't hurt you." Cheetara glared at Jackalman, and Monkian behind him. "You have a lot of nerve to attack me by yourselves, especially if you think you can beat me," Cheetara said.

"I don't think I can beat you, I know I can," Jackalman said.

Once again Jackalman heard the instructions from Illara and raised his hand, palm facing Cheetara. The tendrils of flame wrapped around the Thundercat. It was more difficult to control this time, as Cheetara struggled fiercely, but her efforts were wasted. Soon she fell to the ground, a lifeless husk.

"Hoo, hoo. Is she dead?" Monkian asked.

"Not really. She just has no strength. Think of it as a really long nap. Unless I choose, she will lie there forever!" Jackalman said.

"Hoo, hoo. Do you really have her powers?" Monkian asked.

"Tell me what you think," Jackalman said, running circles quickly around Monkian.

"Wow! You were right. Hoo, hoo. The Thundercats don't stand a chance!" Monkian said.

"I beg to differ," said Bengali, as he, Pumyra and Lynx-O emerged from the Thunderstrike, parked nearby.

"Ah, more Thundercats. I'm going to enjoy this!" Jackalman said.

"Hoo, hoo. But Jackalman, what if the rest show up?" Monkian asked.

"You know Monkian, I'm beginning to tire of you. Farewell," Jackalman said, absorbing Monkian's strength.

The three Thundercats stood dumbstruck. They had wondered how Cheetara had been taken down, but to witness Monkian drained of energy filled them with fear. "If we attack from different directions we might be able to stop him," Pumyra said. The three then slowly circled Jackalman.

"What do I do Illara?" Jackalman asked.

"Do as I instruct. Cheetara possessed mild telekinetic powers. Focus that energy at Bengali to levitate him away. Then use Cheetara's agility to deflect Pumyra's missiles at the others. You should also use Vultureman's flight abilities to get above them," Illara said soothingly.

Jackalman nodded slowly. It sounded like a good enough plan. He felt his feet lifting off the ground without conscious effort. Then he batted Bengali backwards with a flick of his wrist. Pumyra, as Illara had predicted, began hurling her exploding marbles at him. Flinching ever so slightly he used his forearm to deflect the tiny missiles at her companions. Then, with all three somewhat distracted, he began to siphon off their energy as well.

In Mumm-Ra's pyramid the ancient sorcerer watched Jackalman's actions with concern. Perhaps this artifact should be taken away from the mutant before his attentions turned towards Mumm-Ra himself. "Ancient Spirits of Evil. Transform this decayed form to Mumm-Ra, the ever living!" Mumm-Ra shouted, as the winds and mystical energy turned him from a decrepit looking mummy into a muscle bound warrior.

Lion-O reached for the Sword of Omens as he heard it let out a warning signal. "Stop the tank Panthro," he cautioned, "Sword of Omens. Give me sight beyond sight." With the sword in front of his eyes Lion-O was able to watch the battle that had just taken place. He detailed to the others what had happened. They all expressed concern for their comrades. "We've got to do something, snarf, snarf," Snarf said.

"I agree, but what?" Panthro asked.

"Lion-O!" came a ghostly voice.

"What is it Jaga?" Lion-O asked, as the image of his long time mentor appeared before him.

"Cheetara found a journal that may be of some use to you. It may contain a way to defeat the talisman that Jackalman bears," Jaga said.

"But the only one who could get it is Tygra, and he's back at the Lair," Lion-O said.

Even before he was told to do so, Panthro had turned the Thundertank around and was speeding toward Cat's Lair.

The Thundercats, now with Tygra, were soon rumbling across the forest floor. Tygra, now invisible, quietly slipped out when they got near. "Wily Kit and Wily Kat. I want you two to try and draw Jackalman away from the ship. Once he's gone, we'll try and find a way to destroy that amulet," Lion-O said. Although the pair looked worried about their abilities, they had faith that Lion-O knew what he was doing. They hopped onto their space boards and soared off towards Jackalman.

"Hey! Jackalman! Over here!" shouted Wily Kit.

"Come and catch us, if you can," Wily Kat said moving away slightly from Jackalman.

"I'll catch you, don't worry," Jackalman said, moving to follow.

"No. Wait. They are trying to lure you away. Take Monkian's shield and aim properly. You'll take them down quickly. Then you can absorb them too!" Illara said.

Jackalman had to admit that Illara was right. Funny how she always was. He used his super speed to run over to Monkian and grabbed the mutant's shield. Two well aimed blasts took the space boards out from under the Thunderkittens. The same familiar tendrils of flame shot from his hands and took the youthful energy from the twins.

Tygra slipped behind Jackalman while he was preoccupied. He grabbed the journal from where it lay beside Cheetara and quickly opened it up to a random page. Hastily he began to read.

"Ah, Lynx-O's hearing has provided me with another little treat. So long Tygra!" Jackalman said. Tygra looked up and realized that Jackalman was looking straight at him. He uncoiled his whip and shot a fireball at the mutant. It was dodged easily but it provided Tygra with enough time to make a break for the Thunderstrike.

Jackalman was about to blast Tygra when he heard the Thundertank approaching. Instinctively he knew that Lion-O was the bigger threat. He'd have to leave Tygra, for now. "What have you done to the Thundercats?" Lion-O demanded.

"I've just put them to sleep, much like I'm going to do to you!" Jackalman laughed. A jet of flame shot out from Jackalman, seeking Lion-O, but it found Panthro instead. Panthro collapsed on the ground in a heap. "Such useless heroism," Jackalman muttered.

"By Jaga, no!" Lion-O shouted, "Ho!" The Sword of Omens came to life once more, extending to its full length and firing a blast of energy at Jackalman, seeking to incapacitate him, but Jackalman proved able to dodge the attack.

"Is that the best you can do? I'm beginning to wonder why we always lost to you," Jackalman said.

"Maybe you'd care to give me a try!" Mumm-Ra said, landing behind the confused mutant.

"Mumm-Ra? Helping Lion-O?" Jackalman asked.

"Only to stop you. Then I will defeat Lion-O myself!" Mumm-Ra said.

"I'm sad to hear that. You would have made a wonderful slave!" Jackalman said. He aimed a blast of flame at Mumm-Ra but missed by an inch. With the two most powerful beings on Third Earth on either side of him Jackalman knew he had to be careful.

"Concentrate. Use both hands to trap Mumm-Ra," Illara said.

"Use both hands. Yes, that will work," Jackalman said. With his arms parted Jackalman blasted Mumm-Ra full in the chest. Though imbued with great magical energy Mumm-Ra couldn't resist the draining power of the amulet. Soon he too was slumping to the ground, weakened.

"Lion-O. The threads! Aim for the threads!" Tygra shouted, from behind the Thunderstrike. Jackalman turned. A weakness in the amulet. It couldn't be. He swiftly blasted Tygra before he could say another word. "Lion-O, look out. You're the only one left!" Snarf whined.

"I know Snarf, and my friends' sacrifice will not be in vain. Ho!" he shouted, aiming this time at the three strands of hair on the amulet. There was a great rending sound as the amulet was torn to pieces. Jackalman fell to the ground as the energy he'd collected flooded from him back into their rightful sources. The mutants and Mumm-Ra, realizing what had happened, fled at once.

Back at Cat's Lair the Thundercats sat around their table. "Well, I hope Jackalman has learned his lesson. Never try and mess with something you don't fully understand," Tygra said. "I think that's the least of Jackalman's concerns right now. He's got to explain his actions to Slythe and Mumm-Ra," Panthro said. All the Thundercats began to laugh at Jackalman's plight.

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