A ball of yellow goo flew across the room and splattered on the already messy viewscreen. Alluro wrinkled his nose in disgust as he watched it slide down the glass, leaving a greasy trail in its wake.

"Do you mind?" he said.

TugMug paused in his slow, considered raking out of his ears and shot him a quizzical look. "What's the matter with you?" he said in a surly voice.

"I'll give you two guesses," Alluro said, pointing to the sticky wax globules on the screen.

TugMug snorted and re-inserting a finger in his ear canal waggled it about vigorously. "The trouble with you, Alluro," he said, barely audible now above the wet, smacking sound of his gummed-up ears, "is that you're too fussy."

"Perhaps, I am," he retorted, "but when I can't tell intruders from your bodily fluids, I'd say we all have a problem. Your personal habits would make Ma-Mutt blush."

"Moan, moan, moan, that's all you do," TugMug said, idly toying with an amber nugget he had extracted. He rolled it into a neat ball and flicked it at the viewscreen. It landed squarely on the symbol for Cat's Lair. TugMug rubbed his hands together and chuckled. "See that?" he said. "The Thundercats wiped out by my earwax!"

"If only it was that easy," Alluro sighed.

"It could be," grunted TugMug. "I've plenty more where that came from."

The reply Alluro wanted to give was drowned out by the sound of a fast approaching screech. Seconds later, Luna burst into the room, yelling and slapping Amok on his broad head.

"Alluro! You prize fool!" she shrieked. "What in the Plun-darrian fog pits do you think you're doing?"

"What d'you want, Luna?" he said testily.

"It's not what I want," she snapped. "It's want they want that worries me!"

She pointed at a small dot in the upper left-hand corner of the main viewscreen. Alluro peered at it. He had mistaken it for a dollop of TugMug's earwax, but as he watched he saw it move ever closer towards their position.

"Well, who are they and what do they want?" Luna demanded.

"What d'you think I am? Psychic?" Alluro snapped.

"No, but you are on watch duty, allegedly," she retorted.

Alluro gave her a withering look and turned back to the control panel. "The proximity indicator was fried last week when we had that run-in with the Thundercats. I'm still waiting for that spare part TugMug promised me to mend it."

"Hey, don't get your knickers in a twist," he said. "It'll come."

"But in the meantime, we have to rely on you to keep your wits about you," said Luna. "Ha, lucky for us that I happened to see it coming out of the window."

At that moment, RedEye came rushing in. "Do you know we've got company?" he said.

"We've already done that bit," said Luna. "We've moved on to who are they, which we'll never find out unless this fool here gets his finger out!"

With undue hurry, Alluro called up a close-up view of the approaching ship. The screen blinked and showed an image of a sleek silver vessel. Two slim wings swept back to a spiked tail topped by an impossibly narrow fin. The cockpit seemed rather too small for the demands of long distance travel, a suspicion confirmed by Skytomb's sensors, which showed that living space had been kept to a minimum. It was a ship for a show-off, being impractical, swanky and expensive, and from the moment he clapped eyes on it, Alluro knew he wanted it more than life itself.

"Wow," RedEye breathed. "A Cosmic XS class."

"A what?" Luna said. RedEye repeated it, adding a few more impressed noises. "Now what the hell is a Cosmic Excess when it's at home?" she snorted.

"Only one of the most sought-after ships in the galaxy," TugMug informed her. "D'you know how much those things cost, Luna?"

"Enlighten me," she said. He did and she almost fell off Amok's back in amazement. "So, we've got rich visitors coming. I say let's take their ship and use it to get off this stinking planet!"

"And how do you suggest we all fit in?" Alluro said mildly. "Unless we all sit on each other's laps."

TugMug and RedEye exchanged glances about what they thought of that. Luna curled her lip in dislike and gave Alluro a dirty look.

"All right then, we steal it and sell it and use the money to buy our way off Third Earth. Any smart remarks about that?"

"None spring immediately to mind," he said. "No, Luna, I think it's a good idea. The only problem is how do we get our hands on it?"

"Mere details. That I leave up to you idiots. That's why I'm the leader. I come up with the plans, you put them into operation."

"Ship stop," said Amok.

So rarely did the lumbering brute speak that when he did he tended to command complete attention. Alluro glanced back at the screen and saw that he was right. The ship had stopped, right outside their front door.

"Brilliant!" Luna said. "Let's go relieve them of their precious ship." With that, she pointed her whip in the direction of the door and Amok carried her ceremoniously from the room.

"Yeah, right, and what do we do, Luna?" TugMug muttered.

"I heard that," came her voice from the corridor.

"Come on," said Alluro. "She's a pain in the butt, but on this occasion, I'm inclined to go along with her hare-brained notions. A ship like that..."

"Kinda makes your mouth water, don't it?" TugMug said.

"A greasy saucepan would make your mouth water," Alluro retorted. "Don't cheapen a thing of beauty with your base desires."

"Yeah, you're not getting your mucky paws on it," said RedEye.

"And who's gonna stop me? You?" TugMug snarled.

The two Lunatacs were squaring up for a fight and, against his better judgement, Alluro intervened. "There'll be time to squabble over who's getting what later," he said.

"Just let me sort this two-bit twit out and I'll be right along," said RedEye.

"And if that ship leaves, it won't matter one jot who wins," Alluro reminded him. "Now come on."

Chilla had joined Luna and Amok by the time they finally made it outside. Taking up position, they waited while the ship hissed and cooled. Light appeared under the black windows of the cockpit and a section of the roof slid back. Inside was just one passenger, who stood up to meet them. She pulled her flying helmet off and tossed her lilac hair in a most exaggerated, although slightly alluring, manner. There was something about her that seemed vaguely familiar, although it had nothing to do with the tight-fitting purple bodysuit slashed down the middle almost to her waist nor the dangerously high, dagger-like heels of her lilac leather boots.

Alluro felt his mouth dropping open and the plasma projector he held slowly slid from his hands and crashed onto the floor. In such a state, he barely registered the furious noises coming from Luna's direction. Strangely though, he was aware that it wasn't the usual ranting that went with another failed mission. Rather it was a mixture of disgust and downright outrage.

Their visitor smirked. "Nice to see you too, Luna," she said. "Now would one of you boys be so good as to help me down?"

Alluro was a second behind RedEye in rushing to her aid. She slid into his arms and he lowered her to the ground, shooting Alluro a look of triumph as he did so.

"What a sweet boy you are," she said, tapping him on the nose. "And you are?" RedEye was barely able to stammer his name. "Oh, sweet," she said, winking at him.

"And you are, Miss?" he asked.

"She's no Miss," Luna muttered. "And no lady either. This is my cousin, Lunette."

"The very same," said Lunette, giving a pretty little curtsey.

"You have a cousin?" Chilla said, eyeing the newcomer uncertainly.

"What's so strange about that?" Luna snapped. "People have cousins, and she's mine. You got a problem with that?"

Chilla shrugged. "Couldn't care a less frankly."

"And nor do I," said Luna, giving Lunette a nasty look. "So you can turn right around and go back where you came from!"

Lunette sighed theatrically. "Can't do that, I'm afraid. I've had a teensy-weensy bit of trouble with my ship."

"Really?" said RedEye in all sincerity. "That's a tragedy."

"Yes," she said sadly. "And I only picked it up today. I blame the silly garage. I asked them to make sure it was topped up, and they only give me half a tankful of Thundrillium. I mean, I ask you. What's a girl supposed to do? I was running on fumes when I picked up your energy signature and headed here to this... place. Where are we, by the way?"

"Third Earth," Alluro said quickly before any of the others could respond.

"How unoriginal," Lunette said. "And how primitive." She gave Skytomb a disdainful glance. "Don't tell me that you actually live in this thing, Luna dear?"

Luna slipped from Amok's back and strode over to her. Lunette stood a good foot taller in her heels, but the family resemblance was still unmistakable. She had the same piggy eyes and full lips, yet somehow was able to carry it off with a degree of sensuality that translated into ugliness on Luna's flat features, which right now seemed more twisted than usual by her obvious annoyance.

"Now listen here, you," she said, waving her whip in Lunette's face. "Who d'you think you are, turning up after all this time and expecting us to provide you with fuel?"

"Well, we are family."

"Even less reason why I should put up with you," Luna snapped.

"And you did borrow five dinars from me the last time you were on Plun-darri Prime."

Luna scowled. "Oh, yes, so I did. Then why has it taken you so long to collect?"

"Frankly, darling, everyone thought you were dead. It has been ten years, you know. Hmm, and I can see they haven't been kind," she said, in mock sympathy. "And I've been so busy. I've got my own business now, you know."

"And what is it that you do?" asked TugMug.

"I'm--"

"A tart!" Luna filled in for her.

Lunette clicked her tongue. "Really, dear, you shouldn't talk about yourself that way." Leaving Luna fuming, she turned a dazzling smile on the male Lunatacs. "I provide a discreet service for discerning males with particular preferences."

"Go on," said Alluro breathlessly. Only when Chilla thumped him in the small of the back did he realise that he was drooling.

"How can I describe it?" Lunette mused, toying with a crescent moon pendant that hung between her ample breasts. "Let's just say that I make fantasies come true."

"Still pulling that old game," Luna sneered. "Aren't you a bit long in the tooth for that?"

"I've been told that I have a rare beauty," Lunette said. "Someone once said that 'age cannot wither me, nor custom stale my infinite variety'. Sweet, don't you think?"

"A downright lie, if you ask me," said Luna. "You're almost fifty if you're a day."

"Well, you are five years older than me so you should know." Luna's eyes blazed with fury, but Lunette ignored her and returned to her appreciative audience. "Actually, I prefer to term myself a professional fantasist. I have this ability, you see, to respond to the needs of my guests. For example, the 'friend' who bought me this ship prefers a Staggarian companion, complete with tail and antlers."

"You mean, you know what we want, just like that?" asked RedEye.

Lunette smiled winningly and sidled over to him. She traced the line of his jaw and batted her eyelids at him. As she did so, her appearance began to change. She grew taller, greyer, and with two huge disk-like red eyes that dominated her face. Her waist shrank and her burgeoning bosoms threatened to escape the confines of her laced top. RedEye's eyes almost popped out of his head.

"Oh, my gods," he breathed, as she stood before him, playfully twirling the long ponytail that was pulled up high on her head. "It's gotta be my birthday."

"Pull yourself together," said Luna, smacking him across the legs with her crop. "It's only an illusion. It's nothing special. Even that wretched Tygra can do that."

"Yeah, but not as good as this," said RedEye. "How...?"

"Is it possible?" Lunette finished for him. "Ah, it's a gift."

"She's a freak," Luna snorted. "Her father was one of those chameleon sorts, and this is the result. Look at how tall she is. It's unnatural."

"I am half shape shifter, it's true," said Lunette, changing back to her more familiar form and flashing the disappointed RedEye a dazzling smile. "Along with the ability to take on any guise I wish, I also have some psychic awareness. That way, I can anticipate the required image. Marvellous, isn't it?"

"Peachy," said Chilla icily. "But as fascinating as all this is, I don't see why we should have to give you any of our Thundrillium."

Lunette looked her up and down and instead appealed to her three male admirers. "You could spare a little, couldn't you, boys?"

"Now wait just one minute," said Luna, moving between her and her slavering audience. "We're not running some charity for beleaguered travellers, you know. Thundrillium is hard come by on this planet. We have to fight for every bit with those accursed Thundercats..." As she trailed off into silence, her eyes narrowed and a sly smile slowly twisted her lips. "The thing is, Lunette, you want fuel, you'll have to work for it. You scratch our back, we'll scratch yours. Understand, sweetie?"

Lunette's eyebrows arched magnificently. "What exactly do you mean by 'work', cousin?"

Luna chuckled. "I want you to be nice to someone. 'Anticipate' his desires for a while. You know, string him along with all the usual lines."

"Who are we talking about?" asked Chilla.

"Lion-O." Luna silenced the protests of the male Lunatacs with a piercing shriek. "Shut up, you fools!" she yelled. "You seriously think she's interested in any of you? Get real. She's here, she wants something, and we can use her to get rid of those blasted Thundercats."

Lunette pulled a face. "Thundercats? Oh, no, Luna. I don't think I could. I try not to associate with felines. It's all that fur. I do find it gets everywhere, if you know what I mean."

"D'you want Thundrillium or not?" Luna snapped.

"You're a devious little bitch, aren't you?" Lunette retorted. "Very well. I'll 'be nice' to this Thundercat. But I want my Thundrillium now."

"So you can skip off without pulling your weight? No way! You'll get it when my plan comes to fruition."

"And when's that?"

Luna rubbed her hands together with obvious relish. "When the Thundercats are dead!"

***************

There were certain drawbacks to being the youngest of the adult Thundercats. One of those was the seemingly automatic assumption that he had nothing better to do with his time and so ended up being given the worst duty of the day. Today, that meant going fishing. As it happened, a lazy afternoon spent in quiet pursuits on a fine summer's day had much to recommend it. All the same, Bengali found reluctance dogging his every step. Fishing he could handle, but it was what he was fishing for that worried him.

Everyone was in agreement that something was wrong with Lion-O. Over the past week, he had been walking around with a silly smirk on his face. Half the time he seemed to be in a dream, the rest he spent sighing like a lovelorn cub. Something was on his mind, and the other Thundercats wanted to know what. So, as his friend, and being outvoted by his elders, Bengali had been sent to find out what was wrong with him.

"If it's something serious," Tygra had said, "we should know about it."

"And if it's not?" Bengali had protested. "What if it's personal?"

"Use your discretion," he had been told. "We just want to know that he's all right."

So, here he was, dutifully on his way to go fishing for information. A part of him felt slightly guilty at prying. Really, it was no one else's business. Unless of course it was something serious. But what degree of seriousness merited telling the others, he wondered. And what if it was something terrible, and Lion-O swore him to secrecy?

Such worries tormented him as he wended his way through the Forest of the Unicorns to the place where they had arranged to meet. With his mind on other things, he wandered into the glade, only to stop dead at the sight that met his eyes.

Lion-O had beaten him there, but had not been idle in his absence. He was currently indulging in a passionate kiss with someone whose yellow hands were making a mess of his mane.

For a moment, Bengali was too shocked to move. He knew he should leave, then return making enough noise to make them aware of his approach. But before he could, they broke their kiss and fell into each other's arms. Cheetara saw him over Lion-O's shoulder and quickly pulled out of the embrace. Lion-O turned round in surprise, looking a little flustered and embarrassed.

"I'd better go," said Cheetara, pushing her rumpled mane back into place. "I'll see you later, Lion-O. Don't forget."

"Yes, right," said Lion-O. "I'll be there."

She backed away, blew him a kiss, then left, winking at Bengali as she passed. When she had disappeared from sight, Lion-O fairly exploded with impatience to tell him his news.

"Bengali, you'll never guess what's happened!" he exclaimed.

"I think I can probably guess," Bengali said, casting an uncertain glance at the place where Cheetara had been only a moment ago.

"She loves me," said Lion-O, his face glowing with pride. "And, oh, it feels wonderful."

"Looked pretty good too, from where I was standing. How long has this been going on, Lion-O?"

"Five days, six hours and twenty-three minutes," he sighed. "She loves me, Ben."

"She does?"

"And wants to be with me forever." Lion-O grinned. "And you know what? I think tonight is gonna be the night."

"Is it? Well, good luck." Realising what he was saying, he paused. "Wait a minute. Are you being serious?"

"What?"

"I mean, is this for real?"

Lion-O looked indignant. "We love each other. We want to get married."

"After five days?"

"I've known Cheetara a lot longer than that."

"Yes, but..." Bengali hesitated, wondering how to put it so as not to offend. "Well, it's just that somehow I never pictured you and Cheetara together."

"Nor did I. It's fantastic. All my dreams are coming true."

"Actually, Lion-O, I always thought, and call me silly if you like, that Cheetara wasn't really that much very sort of... well, attracted to you."

Lion-O huffed and folded his arms. "This is exactly what she said would happen. Because of this attitude, we've had to keep our love a secret. It's been really hard, pretending that there's nothing between us, when all I've wanted to do is shout out how much I love her. Well, I tell you this, Bengali. I'm the Lord of the Thundercats. I can do what I want and I don't need your approval!"

With that, he stormed away. Bengali groaned, knowing he had handled the situation badly, and set off after him. He finally found him sitting by a stream skimming stones across the water. Bengali sat down beside him and stared at him until Lion-O was forced to meet his gaze.

"Go away," he muttered when he had at last got his attention.

"Lion-O, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to doubt you."

Lion-O took a moment to consider his words, then nodded. "Yes, I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to shout. I just don't understand why you find it so hard to believe Cheetara loves me. She does, you know."

"Yes, I could see that."

"And you of all people know what it feels like to be in love."

"I know that too. But I'm also your friend, and I don't want to see you get hurt."

Lion-O shot him a puzzled look. "Hurt? Why would Cheetara want to hurt me?"

"This all seems a bit quick, that's all."

"It's been a whirlwind romance," said Lion-O, reclining back on the long grasses. He stared dreamily up at the drifting clouds, and Bengali could tell that his thoughts were far from this place.

"So, when are you two getting married?" he asked.

"Soon. Why?"

"From what Cheetara's said in the past, I thought she had certain ideas about that sort of thing."

A knowing smile crept across Lion-O's lips. "She does. But she said she was tired of waiting. She said that if we died tomorrow she would regret forever us not being together." Lion-O rolled onto his side and stared up at him. "That really means she loves me, doesn't it?"

"Sure sounds like it."

"But you're still not convinced," said Lion-O, frowning.

"It's not that. I just always thought that Cheetara was a bit prim, if you know what I mean."

"Not when we're together she's not. She's all over me."

"That's slightly more information than I need, Lion-O," Bengali said, turning away to unwrap his fishing rod. "I think we should make a stab at catching something, or Snarf will want to know what we've been doing all afternoon."

"He'll know soon enough," said Lion-O.

Flicking the hook and line into the water, Bengali watched the bait bobbing idly about on the surface and wondered. At least he knew now why Lion-O had been acting strangely. But to his mind, it fell firmly in the 'personal' category. If Lion-O and Cheetara wanted to tell the others, that was their business. Still, he couldn't get a niggling worry out of the back of his mind. Lion-O and Cheetara... the more he thought about, the more it seemed odd. In the spare time he could snatch with Pumyra, they often played a game of speculation about their fellow Thundercats. It was good-natured and light-hearted stuff, but certain conclusions were always reached, one being that Lion-O and Cheetara were the unlikeliest pair under Third Earth's sun. Had they been so wrong, he wondered. Had they misread the signs? Looking back, he was sure not, but still he couldn't deny what he had seen between them earlier.

"About tonight," Lion-O said, startling him out his thoughts.

"What? Oh, yes, I'll cover for you, don't worry."

"No, it's not that. I was wondering... well, what should I do?"

Bengali felt the blood rush to his cheeks. In many ways, Lion-O was very naive. Having gone straight from brat to adult meant he had missed the best and worst bits of the teen years. So, when he needed advice, he asked, usually in the most direct way possible. Not that Bengali minded sharing his years of experience, but sometimes he wanted just a little bit too much detail.

"We've had this conversation," he said. "You remember, about who does what and where and when."

Lion-O shook his head with impatience. "I know that. I mean, I know what to do, but what do I do?"

"You've lost me."

Lion-O pushed himself up on one elbow. "Like do I take flowers, or what?"

"Flowers, yes, that's a nice touch."

"Do you give Pumyra flowers?"

"Not lately."

"Why?"

Bengali had to think for a minute and realised that he had no good answer to Lion-O's question. Why indeed, he wondered. "I don't know," he admitted at last. "Anyway, just do what you think is right."

"In that case, flowers it is," said Lion-O. With that, he jumped to his feet and stretched. "I'm not in the mood for fishing. I think I'll go for a walk. D'you mind?"

Bengali shrugged. "Go ahead."

Lion-O nodded absently and started away, following the course of the stream. Bengali watched him go for a moment, wondering what he should. First loves were always intense and Lion-O was clearly smitten. The whole situation still seemed wrong somehow. He didn't know Cheetara well enough to come to any clear decision about her motives. But he knew someone who would.

***************

The Lair was quiet when Bengali arrived home. Panthro and Tygra he knew were out testing the Feliner's space drive, the twins had gone camping with Snarfer, and Snarf had gone to the Tower to help Lynx-O stock up on provisions. But there was one person he knew would be home because she had said she had some tests to run in the infirmary. When he found her, however, she was in the Control Room, bending over a panel of blinking lights. He crept up behind her and with his free arm grabbed her around the waist.

"Fool," she laughed, feigning annoyance at him for frightening her. "What are you doing here? And what have you got behind your back?"

He brought his hand forward and held out to her the bunch of flowers he had picked on his way there.

A broad smile of delight lit her face. "For me? What have I done to deserve this?"

"Oh, nothing," he said, pleased at her response. "You deserve them, that's all."

Her eyes narrowed a fraction. "You're up to something."

"Do I have to be up to something to get my special girl flowers?" She was suspicious, but kissed him anyway. "Actually, there was something," he said after she drew away.

"I knew it. Not now, Bengali. I'm busy."

"But I wanted to ask you something."

"About?"

He cast a wary glance over his shoulder to make sure they were alone. "It's Lion-O," he whispered.

"He told you what was wrong?"

"Yes. He said that--"

He stopped abruptly as a cry and a curse broke the still air. His attention was immediately directed down below the control board where he now noticed that several of the panels had been removed. As he watched, a pair of feet emerged, followed by the rest of their owner. Getting up, Cheetara blew on her burnt fingers and grumbled something discouraging.

"Blasted relays," she muttered. "Why can't Panthro do his own repairs? Oh, hi, Bengali."

He stood gawping at her, before Pumyra's elbow in his ribs brought him back to reality. "Yeah, hi to you too. Everything all right?"

She snorted with obvious annoyance. "No, since you ask. What were you saying about Lion-O?"

That was a warning shot, he guessed, a reminder not to mention the details of their relationship. But Pumyra was waiting and his mind was a blank as to what to say.

"Well, go on," Pumyra urged.

"What? Oh, Lion-O, he's... just fine."

Pumyra put her hands on her hips and gave him a look of exasperation. "Ben! You were going to tell me what he said."

"Was I? Oh, right. Well, he said he was… happy, that's what he said. He said he was happy, because... er, everything's going so well lately. Yes, that's what he said." He patted Pumyra on the shoulder, smiled at Cheetara and looked about desperately for something to change the subject. "Those relays," he said. "Want me to take a look at them? I'm free for a couple of hours, Cheetara, if you've got somewhere you have to be." He bit his lip, realising he had said more than he should have done. "I mean…"

Cheetara's eyebrows lifted. "Okay. I get this strong impression you want me to go. Well, as it happens, I do have a few things to do this afternoon, so I'll leave you two to it." She made her way to the door, pausing for a moment to look back. "Just get those relays done. The last thing I need is Panthro on my case."

"We will," said Bengali. "Don't worry. Off you go."

"Right," said Cheetara, giving him an uncertain look. "I'll see you all later then."

"That was very rude of you, Ben," Pumyra said, when she had gone.

"Yes, but I had to. I couldn't say it in front of Cheetara. It was something to do with her." Bengali quickly explained and as he did so Pumyra's expression slowly changed from incredulity to amusement.

"I don't believe it," she said.

"Believe it. I saw them kissing not twenty minutes ago."

"Cheetara and Lion-O? Impossible. She's been here all afternoon."

Bengali folded his arms defensively. "Can you prove that? Do you know for certain that she didn't slip out for a moment to snog our lord and leader? And do you know where she's going now?" Pumyra shook her head. "Well, all I'm going to say is don't wait up for the pair of them."

"You're serious about this, aren't you?"

"Deadly."

"Let me think about this." Tapping her fingers to her chin, Pumyra took several turns about the room, lost in thought. Bengali waited until finally she came to a halt. "Something's wrong here," she said. "If it's true, I'm very happy for them. But why then keep it a secret? And I don't believe that nonsense about people not approving. Frankly, if something is going on between them, then Cheetara's playing it very cool. She was all for you asking Lion-O what was wrong with him. Why would she do that, knowing you were likely to find out their secret?"

"She had to support the others or it would have looked suspicious."

"We have to ask her. Better to have it all out in the open."

"No," Bengali said quickly. "She'll only deny it and Lion-O will know that I've betrayed him and he'll never tell me anything again."

"Then we have to tell Tygra. He'll know what to do."

"Is that wise?"

"He's the head of the Thundercat Council, Ben. If it's true, he's big enough to accept it."

"I hope so. A jealous tiger is not a pretty sight."

"Right, that's what we'll do," said Pumyra. "We tell Tygra and do whatever he thinks is best." She glanced up at the clock. "They won't be back for a while though. What shall we do till then?"

Bengali pulled her into his arms and turned on his best smile. "Oh, I can think of a few things to pass an hour or two," he said.

"So can I," she said, handing him a spanner. "Those relays still need fixing, or Panthro will go ape."

"Spoilsport."

"Well, the quicker you get it done..."

***************

Before the Feliner's engines had died to a whine, Bengali was already heading across the hangar with Pumyra following. The cockpit opened and a weary-looking Tygra slid out.

"I need a word with you," said Bengali.

Tygra looked slightly surprised at being pounced on the minute his feet touched the ground. "What, right now?"

"Sooner if possible."

Something of his earnestness must have told Tygra that trouble was brewing for he sighed and relented. "Well, what is it?"

"Lion-O," said Bengali.

"Ah, you found out what's wrong."

"Yes."

"And?"

"He's in love... with Cheetara. And she loves him. Apparently."

Tygra blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I know it sounds far-fetched--"

"Unbelievable," said Pumyra.

"But I saw it with my own eyes," Bengali went on. "I saw them kissing and… stuff."

"I think I get the picture," said Tygra. "Well, this is a surprise. Why haven't they said anything about it?"

"Because Lion-O thought we wouldn't approve."

"Of what? That doesn't make sense."

"That's just what I thought," said Pumyra.

"And what does Cheetara say about this?" Tygra asked.

Bengali shot Pumyra a glance. "Well, we haven't had a chance to ask her. She went out."

"Where?"

"She's with Lion-O," said Bengali, lowering his voice. "They're... well, you know, cementing their relationship."

Tygra's eyebrows rose so high that they almost vanished into his mane. Whatever he was about to say was lost when a siren sounded in the background, alerting them to an incoming message.

"We'll discuss this later," he said, starting for the door.

"He's upset," said Bengali, watching him go.

"Of course he is," said Pumyra. "You didn't exactly put that very diplomatically. You know how he feels about her."

"Jealous tiger alert," he muttered. "I'm only glad that we're living at the Tower."

"If anything's going on," Pumyra reminded him. "As you said, we haven't asked Cheetara what she thinks of this situation yet."

"Yeah, we got kind of side-tracked, didn't we?"

She gave him a warm smile and wrapped her arm around his waist. "Come on, lover, let's see what's happening upstairs. That message could be them right now, announcing their engagement."

By the time they made it up to the Control Room, the viewscreen was flickering into life. Broken lines ran across the blurry image, indicating that a good deal of interference separated the sender from the Lair. Tygra was seated at the main panel, adjusting the reception. When the picture cleared up, they found themselves staring at Luna's hugely grinning face.

"What do you want, Lunatac?" said Tygra.

"I've got something you might want, Thundercat," she squeaked. "Lost anything lately?"

Bengali gave Pumyra a puzzled look and in return she shrugged.

"Then let me enlighten you," said Luna. They saw her hands come up and move the camera round beyond her immediate vicinity to where her fellow Lunatacs stood, a slumped, chained figure at their feet. Alluro jerked up the red mane of their captive and confirmed that it was indeed Lion-O. The camera moved back to Luna's face and she smirked.

"Release him," said Tygra.

Luna waggled a finger at him. "Now, now, you know that it doesn't work like that. You've got something we want. We've got something you want. Let's make a deal."

"With you? I wouldn't trust you to keep up your side of the bargain."

"If I'd wanted him dead, Thundercat, dead he would be," Luna snapped.

"Then what's wrong with him?" Pumyra asked.

"Alluro's given him a little something to keep him quiet. If he's asleep, he can't use his precious Sword. So don't be expecting any miraculous escapes. And don't you go trying anything either, or Amok will tear your darling leader apart with his bare hands!" Clearly enjoying her power, Luna chuckled. "Right, now I've got your attention, listen up. I want fifty tonnes of Thundrillium and your flying ship by tomorrow morning. If you're sensible and you do it, you'll get your leader back. You'll also have the added benefit of knowing that you'll never see us again."

"If not?" Bengali asked.

Luna leant forward so that her whole face filled the screen. "Then we'll be a thorn in your side forever and you'll be burying Lion-O bit by bit!"

With a fierce snap, the screen went blank.

"What are we going to do?" said Pumyra.

"Comply," said Tygra. "What other choice do we have?"

"We can't give them Thundrillium and the Feliner, knowing that they'll leave Third Earth and go off to terrorise other planets."

"You heard Luna," said Bengali. "They'll kill Lion-O if we don't do what she says. What worries me, though, is if Lion-O's at Skytomb, what's happened to Cheetara?"

"What about me?"

The sound of her voice made him spin round to see her standing in the doorway. "Cheetara! You're here? How?"

"The normal way anyone gets anywhere," she said, coming over to where they stood. "Bengali, you're really acting weird lately. Is he getting enough sleep, Pumyra?"

"He's got a few crazy notions at the moment, that's all. Haven't you, Ben?" She said it with such emphasis that he looked at her in surprise.

"Hey, I know what I saw," he protested. "Cheetara, where have you been this afternoon?"

"At the Berbil village. I've been helping them with their vines. Why, what's happened?"

Pumyra and Tygra fixed him with questioning stares. "Okay, so it was a trap," Bengali said, holding up his hands. "The thing now is, where are we going to get fifty tonnes of Thundrillium?"

***************

"Fifty tonnes," Alluro mused. "Wasn't that a little excessive, Luna?"

"Yeah, where on Third Earth are they gonna get that much Thundrillium?" said TugMug.

"Who cares?" snorted Luna. "If they can't do it, they'll have defaulted on the deal, and we get to kill Lion-O anyway. However it works out, we'll have won. We'll dump this place, take the Feliner and our Thundrillium and get as far away from Third Earth as possible. Wonderful!"

"Your logic is impeccable, as ever," said Alluro. "Except for one thing. When we kill Lion-O, the Sword of Omens can be used by one of the others. I don't think they'll be too pleased, do you?"

Luna huffed and muttered something under her breath. "Then we'll toss him out of the ship as we're flying away. Happy now?"

"Better," Alluro said. "As long as all contingencies are covered."

"Now that's settled, what about our deal?" asked Lunette.

Luna scowled and swivelled her chair round to face her cousin, who was leaning against one of the side consoles. "You'll get yours when we get ours," she snapped. "And not a second before."

"You promised me--"

"When my plan came to fruition, I said."

"It's practically in the bag," said Lunette.

"And that's usually when things go wrong," Chilla remarked.

"Well, that's your problem. I don't see why I should have to wait around here any longer."

"Hey, sweetness," said TugMug, sidling up to her. "I'll keep you company if you're bored." He groaned as she ground her elbow firmly into his ribs.

"I said I want my Thundrillium, Luna, and I want it now!" she said, storming over to where Luna sat.

Luna stood up on her chair, so that for once she towered over her. "And I said you'll get it later. So put up with it, sweet cheeks!"

Lunette scowled. "I wouldn't put it past you to leave me here on this gods' forsaken dustbowl."

"Hard bun," snapped Luna. "You can't have what we haven't got. When the Thundercats turn up in the morning, you can have a whole tonne of Thundrillium to yourself, how's that?"

"I don't need a tonne. I just want what I'm due."

"And you'll get it." Luna turned on a sickly smile. "You trust me, don't you, cousin?"

"About as far as I can throw you. But," she added, giving her a dirty look, "as it seems I'm stuck with it, I'll have to take your word for it." She stalked towards the door, pausing on the threshold to look back. "I'm warning you, Luna. Double-cross me and you'll regret it!"

Luna stuck out her tongue at Lunette's departing backside. "Silly bitch," she growled, when the door had shut behind her. "Perhaps we will leave her here. Serves her right. She's got too much lip."

"Luna, you can't," RedEye protested.

"And why not? If the boot was on the other foot, she'd have no compunction in abandoning us." Luna folded her arms and snorted. "I'll bet she knew exactly where we were all those years. 'Just happened to find us', yeah, right! She's as crafty as a cat, that one. No, I've made up my mind. Lunette can stay here and keep Mumm-ra company. Ha, she'll like that."

"But Luna," RedEye said, "we had a deal."

"Since when did you ever worry about that?" said TugMug. "I'm with Luna."

Chilla smirked. "One poke in the gut and his whole outlook changes."

"Shut it, you!" he hissed.

"You twit," she retorted. "Lunette is way out of your league, as is any woman with half a brain."

Luna cackled heartily. "Then it's decided. Lunette stays. And just to be sure, we'll take her ship as well. Who wants to fly it? What about you, RedEye? You knew what it was, I say you get first go."

"Whatever you say, Luna," he muttered sullenly.

"That's right," she crowed. "And what I say goes. So out goes Lunette!"

***************

"How much?" asked Panthro.

Tygra glanced over at the mound of raw Thundrillium ore in the Thundertank's trailer and shook his head. "I guess three tonnes, maybe a little less."

Panthro tossed down his shovel and swore under his breath. "Half the night we've been doing this," he muttered. "And all we've got to show for it is three lousy tonnes!"

"That would usually be considered a good haul," said Cheetara.

"I know," he sighed. "But we're still forty-seven tonnes short of saving Lion-O's life."

For a while, he stood staring at the gash in the rocks where they had been digging. In the uncomfortable silence, Bengali felt Pumyra slip her hand into his and squeeze it reassuringly. But no amount of comfort could ease the guilt that weighed heavily on his soul. He had been responsible for bringing them to this place. Several hours ago, the situation had looked promising. The readings had indicated a bumper source of Thundrillium. Since then, all it had yielded was a good deal of stone and a few scattered lumps of ore spread out across a wide area. No wonder the readings had been so good. Now the wide beams from the Thundertank's headlights showed the situation all too clearly. The vein was exhausted.

"This is hopeless," WilyKit said. "Four hours until daylight. We'll never make it."

"Don't say that," said Snarf with a small shiver. "We have to make it, for Lion-O's sake."

"This is all my fault," Bengali said dejectedly. "I should never have brought you here."

"We all agreed that it had potential," said Lynx-O. "The fault lies with the sensors, not you, Bengali."

"That's going to be small comfort to Lion-O. 'Sorry, we couldn't help you because our sensors aren't up to it'."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" said Tygra.

"What we should have done in the first place," said Cheetara. "Gone in all guns blazing and rescued him. Giving into blackmail like this only makes matters worse. Once they see that their petty intimidation works, they'll keep coming back for more. And knowing the Lunatacs, they will, again and again."

"But I thought Luna said they would be leaving," said WilyKat.

"Believe that if you will!" Panthro said. "Cheetara's right. I say scrap this idea. We go in now, rescue Lion-O and tell Luna what to do with her fifty tonnes of Thundrillium."

"And your precious leader would be dead before you set one foot in Skytomb."

The speaker stood shrouded in gloom some way behind them. Confident she had their attention, she stepped into the light. Small and slim, purple in colouring, with a luxuriant mass of hair that hung down past her shoulders, she had something of Luna about the eyes that was unmistakable. Finally stopping between them and the Thundrillium core, she stood with hands on hips, bosom thrust forward, and a scornful expression on her face.

"So you're the Thundercats," she said.

"And you are?" said Tygra.

"Lunette. Luna's cousin."

"I see," he said cautiously. "And what can we do for you?"

Lunette sidled over to him and fixed him with a mildly alluring smile. "Several things spring to mind," she purred, running a finger over her lower lip provocatively. "However, for the time being, I have a proposition for you."

"What's this about?" Panthro growled. "Start making sense, lady, or get out of here. There's no love lost between us and the Lunatacs, especially not when they're holding our leader prisoner."

"Oh, yes, Luna's deal," she said. "How's it going, by the way? Managed to get the ransom yet? My guess is not, but then that's just what Luna was hoping."

"Why are you telling us this?" Tygra said.

Lunette smiled knowingly. "Luna's a devious little toad. I've never known her keep a deal in her whole life. She's even trying to do the dirty on me. The concept of honour amongst thieves seems to have passed her by. I find that very hurtful, especially after all my efforts to help her in this little charade."

"What exactly did you do?" asked WilyKat.

She threw back her head and laughed. "Can't you guess?"

As she spoke, a change came over her. A ripple travelled up her body, leaving in its wake longer legs, greater definition at the waist and replacing her purple colouring with yellow skin peppered with dark spots. She stood proudly in their midst, toying with a lock of hair that draped temptingly into her cleavage. That she knew exactly what she was doing was evident when Bengali found his gaze drawn to her burgeoning bosoms. They strained against the low cut of her leotard and seemed ready to spill out at any moment. Only when he felt Pumyra's finger under his chin, closing his jaw, did he realise that he had been staring.

"By Jaga," he breathed. "She looks just like--" Pumyra glared at him and put a finger to her lips. "But she does," he protested.

His words fell on deaf ears, however, for his friends were more interested in how their fellow Thundercat would take it. Not well, Bengali noted. Cheetara had a look of annoyance on her face. Her lips were pursed, both hands were on her hips, and she looked ready to explode with fury.

Both females eyed each other for a long moment, before Lunette turned on a dazzling smile and purred like a winsome kitten. "Like looking in a mirror, isn't it, dear?" she said.

"Not really," Cheetara returned. "Whose warped imagination did you spring from?"

"Lion-O's," she said casually. "My appearance is his ultimate fantasy, apparently."

"The boy's got taste," Panthro murmured approvingly.

"You must understand, it was nothing personal," Lunette went on. "It was a business arrangement, plain and simple. Admittedly, I did lure him into a trap, which I do feel a little bad about. He was quite cute. But I needed fuel, and my cretin of a cousin said I could have it if I did this little job for her. I've got nothing against you and your Thundercat friends. True, I'm not fond of Thunderians, but needs must as they say. So I'm prepared to set aside our differences and come to an arrangement with you."

"Oh, isn't that generous," Cheetara snorted.

"This what I propose," Lunette continued. "I'll bring your leader back to you, and you give me enough fuel to get off this hell-hole and get home. What do you say?"

"Why should we trust you?" Tygra said.

Lunette grinned broadly, aware that she had piqued their interest. She blinked and another ripple transformed her back into her normal state. "Do you have any other choice?" she said. "Stick with Luna, and she'll take your Thundrillium and kill your leader. A shame really, he's a nice boy, for a Thunderian that is. The trouble with Luna is that she makes everything so personal. I, on the other hand, am in it for what I can get. It's business, nothing more."

"Interesting," said Tygra, thoughtfully stroking his chin. "How much fuel are we talking about?"

"My ship will need twenty gallons of refined Thundrillium."

"We've probably got that back at the Lair," said Panthro.

"No!" yelled Cheetara. "You can't do deals with this person!"

"Why not?" said Tygra. "We want Lion-O back. This may be our best chance."

"After all, what have you got to lose?" said Lunette.

"Plenty," Cheetara snapped.

"As always, we'll put it to the vote," said Tygra. "What say the rest of you?"

"Sounds good to me," said WilyKat.

"Weeow, anything to get Lion-O back," agreed Snarf.

Approval was unanimous, much to Cheetara's obvious displeasure. The deal was struck, and as a show of goodwill, Lunette was advanced a gallon of Thundrillium so that she could get her ship moving again. Clutching the fuel can, she darted away into the darkness, not before giving Tygra a knowing wink. An uneasy silence descended in her wake, until the awkwardness made Bengali feel obliged to say something.

"Well, she was different," he said.

"You can say that again," said Panthro, giving a low whistle. "She certainly had a few things going for her."

"Yes, I noticed you looking at them," Cheetara said. "Let's hope for Lion-O's sake that oversized breasts aren't her only claim to fame."

"That'll do for me," Panthro smirked, earning himself an icy look worthy of Chilla. "Come on, Cheetara. I'm only teasing."

"And I'm not finding it funny. That crazy woman has just walked off with our Thundrillium. Do you really believe for one minute that she'll help us?"

"She can't go very far on one gallon," said Tygra.

"Far enough," Cheetara muttered. "Let's hope you're right. I'd hate to say I told you so!"

***************

Alluro felt a slight tremble run through his seat as he sat at the console in Skytomb's control centre, idly running a diagnostic on the ship's internal sensors. An hour or so earlier, lights had come on all over the place. The system seemed to have gone into a loop. So far, his search for the cause had proved fruitless. He was about to call it a day and blame it on the temperamental atmospherics in Darkside, when the floor had shuddered just enough for it to register up his spine. Growing ever stronger by the second, it kept up a rhythmic beat, not unlike an approaching Fist-Pounder. He knelt down and pressed his ear to the floor. Not perhaps the wisest move, for at that moment Amok came thundering in, with Luna clinging to his horns for dear life.

"He's gone!" she shrieked.

"W-what?" Alluro spluttered, still reeling from his near crushing.

"Lion-O! Get up, you prize fool, and find him!"

Alluro stared at her in stupefaction for a moment. "Impossible," he said, when he finally focused his thoughts. "He was drugged. I saw to it myself."

"But not well enough," she said. "It's your fault, you great stupid clot!" She went for him with whip raised and brought it down with a stinging blow on the top of his head. "We could have had it all. Enough Thundrillium to get out of here and the Lord of the Thundercats dead!"

He was saved only from a further beating by the intervention of the other Lunatacs, who came hurrying into the room, alerted to trouble by Luna's peals of rage and his screams.

"Well, tell them," Luna yelled at him. "Tell them how you let us all down!"

"Tell them yourself," Alluro shot back. "Lion-O was drugged. If he's escaped, it's your fault!"

Her eyebrows twitched to the top of her forehead. "And how do you work that out?"

"I told you to put a guard on the door," he said. "But would you? No, you knew best. I'm not carrying the can for you, Luna."

"Lion-O's escaped?" asked RedEye.

"Darn right he has," Luna said. "And it's Alluro's fault. Because of his incompetence, we have no Thundrillium, no Lion-O, and we're stuck with that bimbo out there!" She took to smacking her whip across her palm. "Am I gonna make you pay for this one, Alluro!"

"Where is Lunette anyway?" said TugMug. "We were meant to be getting together tonight for a... oh, you know, a coffee or something."

"She's probably preening herself somewhere," said Chilla. "I tell you this, Luna, if that witch has to stay, I want other arrangements made for the bathroom. What is she doing in there?"

"You don't ever wanna know," said Luna. "But you're right. Where is she?" The scowl slowly slid from her face. "You don't suppose...?"

Alluro could almost read the thoughts racing through Luna's mind. Before she could give the order, he had already called up in the internal sensors. The only life signs that registered in Skytomb were in the control centre. The outside cameras confirmed it -- Lunette's ship was gone.

"Why that double-crossing, double-dealing, cretinous little..." In the middle of her tirade, Luna suddenly stopped. Her brow furrowed and suspicion showed in her beady little eyes. "Why would she do that? As far as she knew, she would only get her fuel when we got our Thundrillium. Unless..." Luna stared at the others accusingly.

Alluro held her venomous glare, returning it in the confidence that his conscience was clear. Surely that would apply to the others, he thought. Only when RedEye took a few steps back did he realise how mistaken he had been.

"You traitor!" Luna roared.

"Sorry," he said. "I didn't know she was gonna skip off like that."

"You told her?" Alluro said.

"I had to. Didn't seem right to leave her here. She was kinda pretty."

"Pretty devious, if you ask me," Luna snorted.

"Or pretty smart, depending on how you look at it," said Alluro. "Well, what do we do now?"

"We still need Thundrillium. If we can't get it from the Thundercats, we'll have to find it for ourselves. The dirtiest, muckiest job on all of Third Earth." She scowled deeply, until a wicked grin tweaked the corners of her mouth. "And I know just the Lunatac for the job. RedEye, get a shovel and get digging!"

***************

He knew she was back from her run, because he had heard her footsteps out in the hall. All the same, Bengali knocked on Cheetara's door a little hesitantly, not really expecting her to answer. Lunette had kept her word and Lion-O was home and safe, but Cheetara was still in a huff about being imitated by Luna's over endowed cousin.

To his surprise, however, the door did open. "What d'you want?" Cheetara said tersely.

"Lion-O's awake," he said.

"Good. How is he?"

"He's fine. It's just..." Bengali shuffled uneasily, not sure how to put what he had to tell her. "He's embarrassed, understandably, and…"

"And you wondered if I would have a word with him and make everything all right?" She released a sigh that gave him some indication of the level of her annoyance. "You do realise that I'm just as embarrassed as he is?"

"I know. But you know how to handle it better."

"Flattery will get you everywhere," she said. "Doesn't mean I'm talking to you though."

"Although technically," Bengali said, as he hurried to catch her up as she set off down the corridor, "by saying you aren't talking to me, you are really."

"Don't push your luck," she growled.

Reaching Lion-O's door, she paused outside, long enough to take a deep breath, then took the plunge and went it. Bengali noted that Lion-O was exactly as he had left him, buried under the blankets on his bed with a pillow over his head. An anxious-looking Snarf sat by his side, trying to get some sense out of his distraught charge. He looked up when they entered the room and relief washed over his face. Cheetara put a finger to her lips to shush him before he could give away her presence in the chamber. Then, sitting down on the bed, she rested a hand lightly on the mound that was Lion-O's back and gently shook him.

"Lion-O?" she said. The mound moved slightly as he tried to burrow down deeper into the blankets. "You can't hide from me forever," she went on. "Sooner or later, you'll have to come out from there."

"Don't want to," came Lion-O's muffled voice.

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Because what?"

"Because he fancied someone he thought was you who turned out not to be," Bengali said.

"I think you've said enough," Cheetara said, giving him a warning look. "Or not, as the case might be."

"It wasn't his fault," Lion-O said from beneath his pillow. "I told him not to tell."

"And he certainly kept his word. Lion-O, I don't blame you."

For a moment, there was silence, then the blankets moved again. Lion-O cautiously removed the pillow from his head and looked out. "You're not angry?" he said.

Cheetara turned on her most forgiving smile. "About what? Because you wanted companionship? Everyone needs a little of that. No, I'm not angry. Actually, I'm flattered. Although clearly it's not me you want." She glanced down at her cleavage. "I'm not as well endowed as your ideal female for a start."

"Actually, I think you're just perfect," Lion-O murmured. When she looked over at him, he quickly averted his eyes. "So, are we still friends?"

"Of course," she replied.

"And us?" Bengali asked.

"You're forgiven," Cheetara said, patting his hand. "What you did, well, you did with the best of intentions. Just, next time, make sure you've got your facts right."

Bengali nodded. "Yeah, sorry, Cheetara. I guess I should have known."

"Yes, you should." She got to her feet and smiled down at Lion-O. "We'll expect you down for dinner. See you later."

With that, she went on her way. Snarf made several unnecessary checks on his charge, wanted to know if he was sure he was all right, and, after being reassured five times, finally left, muttering about cooking something special for the evening meal to make everyone feel better. The door closed, and Lion-O and Bengali were left alone.

"You think I made a fool of myself, don't you?" said Lion-O.

Bengali shrugged. "You fell in love with the wrong person. It happens."

"I certainly did that." He sighed and flopped back on the pillows. "Why didn't I see it, Bengali?"

"Depends what you were looking at."

Lion-O scowled at him. "They weren't that big."

"I've not seen anything that size since Snarf's birthday balloons. Panthro's eyes almost popped out of his head."

"Mine too," Lion-O mused. "I couldn't believe my luck. I remember we kissed, then everything went black. I guess I was knocked out. So much for my special day." He gave Bengali a sideways glance. "Although I hear that not everyone's day was such a disaster."

Bengali saw the glint in his eye and frantically wondered what he knew. "Oh?" he said uncertainly.

Lion-O grinned. "Snarf was telling me that a vase of fresh flowers mysteriously appeared in the Lair yesterday. You poached my idea. Did it work?"

"None of your business," Bengali muttered. To his annoyance, Lion-O chuckled. "Well, are you coming down or not?" he said gruffly. "I can't sit around here babysitting you all day."

"Oh, I don't know," Lion-O said. "There are certain advantages to it. For example, what would you say to a fishing trip as therapy for your leader's wounded soul? And I promise not to run off this time."

In a straight choice between Lion-O's offer and an appointment with the Thundrillium processor's grimy innards, there really was no contest. Leaving Lion-O's room to collect his stuff, Bengali reflected that there were worse things than being the youngest adult in the Lair, especially now he had a fellow conspirator. If he had anything to do with it, Lion-O's recovery was going to take a very long time indeed!

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