Resurgam

Part Two

The first she knew that trouble was heading her way was a high-pitched whine. Then a mighty hand picked her up, carried her along at speed and unceremoniously ejected her from the end of the exhaust. Pumyra rolled with the momentum, finally coming to a halt some yards away. Just as she was picking herself up, flame spat from the pipe, missing her by inches.

"Whew, that was too close," she said, moving to a safe distance. "Now, where to find help?"

It was an interesting problem, more easily said than done. In the short time that she had been with the Thundercats, she had been introduced to such allies as the Berbils, Wollos and Warrior Maidens, but she had a nagging suspicion that they weren't going to be able to help. Had it been a simple matter, then perhaps, but glowing hands and eyes, demonic possession and people with weird names definitely fell into the otherworldly category. She had heard the other Thundercats talking of such happenings in the past and the solution invariably involved the Sword of Omens. In this case, however, that wasn't an option. The Lord of the Thundercats was under the influence of this Resurgam and she guessed that he couldn't willingly get to the Sword. Nor could she get to it; that would mean risking going back into the Lair. Given the hostile reception and the risky route she had used to escape, returning wasn't an idea she relished.

Still, Cheetara had told her to get help and she intended to do so. After a moment of indecision, she settled on asking the Warrior Maidens. Even if they couldn't help her, perhaps they knew someone who could. Setting out in the direction of their forest home, she broke into a run and pushed herself as fast as she could go.

Barely had she started running, however, than she saw plumes of smoke rising above the trees. Knowing that it came from the Berbil village, she changed course and headed in their direction. As soon as she emerged from the forest, she saw the cause. The four Mutants were rampaging through the settlement, smashing the huts with clubs and using flaming branches to set the thatched roofs ablaze. Berbils scattered before their onslaught, running in panic, clutching what few possessions they had managed to save. Without hesitation, Pumyra rushed into their midst and roared a challenge at the Mutants. They stopped in their tracks and slowly turned to face her. Only then did she realise her mistake. Their eyes burned as brightly as the torches they held and the voices that came from their mouths were flat and had a harsh metallic ring.

"You, girly, threaten us?" Slithe sneered.

"I don't think so," said Monkian.

"Let's teach her a lesson in respect," said Jackalman.

"Awk, get her!" yelled Vultureman.

They charged, all four at once. She held her position until they were almost upon her, then sprang clear above their heads. As expected, they were unable to stop and barrelled into one another, banging heads and collapsing dazed to the floor. Yelling to the Berbils to get clear, Pumyra was on the verge of following them when she heard a small whimper. A quick glance showed her the Berbil child standing sobbing at a window of one of the blazing huts. Tossing her caution aside, she dashed in, grabbed the child and was out again just before the roof caved in. Handing the child to its grateful mother, she paused a moment too long, for hairy arms grappled her around the waist and brought her to the ground. A knee pressed into the small of her back as her belt was yanked off and used to tie her hands. Then someone grabbed a handful of her mane and pulled her up. Four Mutants stared down at her, eyes glowing with red fire.

"Let me go!" she yelled. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Our master's bidding, yes," said Slithe.

"Mumm-ra?"

The four broke into a laugh and spat onto the floor.

"Resurgam then?" she ventured. "You serve him?"

"As should you, girl," said Vultureman.

"Hoo-hoo, what should we do with her?" asked Monkian.

"Make an example of her, yes," said Slithe. "So that all Third Earth will know that our master has kept his word. Resurgam!"

With that, Monkian and Jackalman hauled her up between them and dragged her to the outskirts of the village where an old candy fruit tree drooped from the heat of the fire around it.

"Get me a rope," Slithe said to Monkian, who scurried away. "We'll hang her from this."

"No, wait!" she cried out. "I serve Resurgam."

"Awk, we are his followers," said Vultureman. "We know the will of Resurgam. There is no place in his world for you, girl. For this insolence, you will die."

"I can learn," she said. "I will serve him better in future."

"Foolish female," Jackalman sneered. "Resurgam gives no second chances."

"Then Jaga help me," Pumyra whispered under her breath.

Monkian came dashing back, rope in hand. Slithe took it from him and tossed it over a branch of the tree. Testing it several times to make sure it held, he motioned to the others to bring her over. Despite her struggles, she couldn't prevent herself from being dragged under the tree. The noose was slipped over her head and the knot tightened.

"So will perish all those who oppose the rule of Resurgam. Hail our master!"

So saying, he viciously pulled on the rope, jerking her up into the air. There was a terrible moment of suspension, of suffocation, of lights before her eyes, then she was falling and the ground came up to meet her and she crashed onto a hard, unforgiving surface. She lay for a moment, drawing precious air into her starved lungs. When she finally managed to look about at her new surroundings, she had a brief impression of confinement, of bars encircling her, before a harsh voice filled the air.

"So, Thundercat, it comes to this."

She blinked several times, shuffled over to the bars and glanced down to see Mumm-ra staring up at her. The Ever-Living Servant of Evil had a thunderous expression on his withered features. As he raised his hand, she felt her cage move through the air until she was suspended by his magic alone above the bubbling slime of his cauldron.

"How dare you!" he roared. "Think that you can best me! Tell me how it was done and I shall make your death a lot quicker than that which the Mutants had planned for you."

"How was what done?" Pumyra said, still groggy and very confused.

He snarled and gave a quick flex of his fingers. The cage jolted and fell some way before stopping abruptly.

"And yet it has back-fired on you, for those you sought to make your allies have turned against you. Tell me!" he demanded. "How did you do it?" Her hesitation was that bit too long and once more the cage dropped, only just stopping above the unctuous surface of the cauldron. "You test my patience, Thundercat. I spared your life back there only to get this information from you. If you refuse to tell me, then you are of no further use and die you will."

"Wait!" she cried, seeing his fingers start to twitch. "We didn't do anything!"

"Liar!" he yelled. "I saw your friends go to Castle Plun-darr. When they left, the Mutants were under their control. You must think me foolish indeed if you plot against me and expect me not to know."

"It wasn't us," Pumyra tried again. "It was Resurgam. He's taken over my friends and--"

"What did you say?" Mumm-ra interrupted her.

"Resurgam. Surely you sent him to..." She trailed off as what the Mutants had said struck her. Their reaction had been violently anti-Mumm-ra. Whatever she had supposed was apparently wrong. "You didn't send him?" she asked uncertainly.

Mumm-ra muttered something and waved his hand. At that, the cage door flew open. He made no attempt to help her, merely turning his back and walking away, so she had to leap to the safety of dry land. As she did, the cage plummeted into the depths.

"Thanks," she said. "For nothing."

"Watch your tongue!" Mumm-ra snapped. "You would be now strung up like a chicken now had I not intervened."

"True," Pumyra said. "Well, thanks for that. And I mean it."

He snorted. "I don't want your thanks, Thundercat. I want to know how Agrippa came to be released."

"Who?"

"The one you call Resurgam."

"Isn't that his name?"

Again the snort, this time ringing with pure contempt. "That is a statement, not an appellation," he said. "It means, 'I will rise again'. It was the last thing he said before his head died. Get on with your story."

"Why should I tell you anything?" Pumyra said, stubbornly folding her arms.

"Because, Thundercat, I am the only one who can give you the information you require," he shot back. "Now, speak!"

"I don't trust you," she said. "You've taken me prisoner, threatened me with violence and you expect me to tell you anything?"

A low laugh echoed around the empty spaces of the Pyramid. "There's the door," he said, gesturing to an opening that had appeared in the wall. "Leave, and good riddance to you. But don't come crying to me when Agrippa destroys everything you know and love."

She was on the verge of leaving when something in Mumm-ra's voice changed her mind. Almost like... sincerity? Did he really mean it? Every time she had so far encountered this evil being, his one and only intention had been to destroy her and her friends. She had no reason either to trust or believe him. But the shock on his face had been genuine enough when she had mentioned Resurgam. Perhaps here indeed was the help she sought.

Making up her mind, she took a deep breath and told him the whole story, of the building of the Tower of Omens, of the word and picture drawn in blood on the wall, of the slab that Tygra had found, of the night before and of what had happened at the Lair. As she spoke, the sneer slowly slid from Mumm-ra's face and his expression grew ever darker.

"So," he said when she had finished. "You have brought this upon yourselves. Serves you right. All the same, and as much as it goes against my better judgement, I find that I am forced to act. In my own interest, you understand."

"Because this Resurgam or whatever his name is wants to take over Third Earth?"

Mumm-ra nodded slowly. "This world is mine and I will permit no one, repeat, no one to take it from me, not you meddling Thundercats, nor any other being who thinks he can defeat me."

"So who is he?"

A long sigh rattled from his decayed chest. "Many years ago, when this world was in its first age and I was still 'relatively' young in my death time, the world I knew slid into decline. Others came, claiming an empire that stretched halfway across the then known world. They brought with them new gods and turned my people's faces from our ancient deities. As their followers dwindled, so did their powers. Thus, my evil masters bade me go forth and find those who would worship them as in the old days and restore their powers. And so I did. I found many seeking a greater experience than their inferior gods could give them. But most of all I sought an apprentice, one who would help me to bring this mighty empire under my control."

A rueful smile twitched his lips as his thoughts drifted back across the centuries. "I searched for many years, travelling through many places, encountering many people. Then one day I found myself in a place called Eboracum at a time when a new emperor was being proclaimed. In those times, it was customary to celebrate with games, the bloody type. To win the love of the ignorant masses, prisoners were thrown to wild beasts or slain by armed men. Amongst these wretches, I found what I was looking for. A lad young in years, yet already so corrupt and depraved in mind that only the worst death was deemed suitable for him."

"Sounds lovely," Pumyra muttered under her breath.

"Oh, he was perfect," Mumm-ra said with a laugh. "A brilliant apprentice. But I should have known better. He played the part of the fawning pupil to perfection, all the while biding his time. I discovered too late that he meant to usurp me by going to the source of all evil, to the Dark Lord, Set. I was saved only by the indignation of the Ancient Spirits of Evil, whose own existence was threatened by this upstart."

"They destroyed him?"

Mumm-ra shook his head. "His union with Set had made him more powerful than the Ancient Spirits. They could no longer defeat him. So, on their behalf and mine, I devised a particularly crafty plan. I praised his greater ability, told him that the time was right for him to take on the Ancient Spirits of Goodness. And they, being predictably concerned about the good people of this land, would not tolerate so great an evil. The Lord of Light, Horus, once destroyer of Set, was invoked. While they fought, I, along with the Ancient Spirits of Evil, distracted Set and so his apprentice was defeated!" Mumm-ra's eyes glowed fiercely in remembrance of a victory that might have occurred only yesterday given his response. "Agrippa came crawling back here," he continued. "On his hands and knees, he came, begging forgiveness of the Ancient Ones. But they turned their faces from him and demanded his death, which of course I carried out."

"How obliging of you," said Pumyra dryly. "I'll bet that's why you're not on his list of best friends."

"Ah, but this world is only one of a series of circles, my dear. The death of the physical is not an end. What happens to that physical, however, affects its continuity. My people believed that unless the proper rites were performed over the body of the dead, the ka, or body double in spirit form if you will, would be unable to travel to the Duat, the Land of the Dead, for the weighing of the heart before Osiris."

"Surely he would have been judged as a bad person?"

"Yes, and descended into the realm of Set, back to his master," Mumm-ra said. "That had to be prevented at all costs. Who knows what revenge they might have concocted? No, better that they should be kept apart for all eternity. Thus, I had his body burned and the ashes hidden in the desert and sealed beneath a great slab. The good-doers placed the Eye of Horus upon it, to prevent his ka from seeing into it. And so, for thousands of years, has the soul of Agrippa wandered this world, seeking his lost body, while his ka has lingered at the gates of the Duat itself, neither able to return nor able to enter. Needless to say, while he has been out of harm's way, I have confirmed my grip on this world."

"Well, that's up for debate," said Pumyra.

"Perhaps," Mumm-ra grunted. "Ironic then that we need each other to defeat a greater evil."

Pumyra nodded reluctantly. "Okay, then what do we have to do?"

"Now, as before, we will need the help of the Ancient Spirits of Goodness. I trust you know Mumm-rana the Merciful."

"Sort of."

"Good. Then you can go and get her. We'll be in need of her help. Persuade her to meet me in the Forest of the Unicorns. Nice neutral territory. That should satisfy her suspicious mind."

"But how do I find her? I wouldn't know where to begin."

"Tiresome child," Mumm-ra sighed.

He raised his hand and directed a beam of light at her. It engulfed her, flared briefly, then was gone. Pumyra had to blink several times to clear her vision and found herself standing before a massive white pyramid.

"Thanks, Mumm-ra," she muttered, as she headed for an ornate doorway in the pyramid's sleek sides. The interior took her by surprise. All light and sweet smells, this was nothing like her evil counterpart's dank and gloomy tomb. Unsure quite where she was supposed to find this Mumm-rana, Pumyra made her way hesitantly towards a large sarcophagus on a raised dais at the far end of a massive chamber. If it followed the plan of Mumm-ra's pyramid, then this seemed a likely place to find its ever-living occupant. Sure enough, as she approached, a bandaged figure slowly sat up, stretched and turned her head towards her.

"Welcome, child," she said. "I am Mumm-rana the Merciful. I see that you are a Thundercat. I have sworn to help you and your friends. What brings you to my Pyramid?"

"Trouble, my lady," said Pumyra, sinking down to her knees before her. "We are in desperate need of your help."

"Rise, child," said Mumm-rana, climbing out of her sarcophagus and gliding towards her. "None kneel to me." Offering her hand, she helped Pumyra to her feet and smiled kindly. "Now, what is the cause of your anxiety?"

"An ancient evil, lady. Mumm-ra--"

"Do not mention that demon's name in my presence," said Mumm-rana, holding up her hands. "In the past, he tricked me and used me against the good people of Third Earth. I will not fall into his powers again."

"No, lady," Pumyra continued hurriedly. "This is no trick. This concerns an evil apprentice of his called Agrippa. It seems that we released him. Unintentionally, of course. We disturbed his tomb out on the plateau where we're building a tower."

The breath that slipped from Mumm-rana's lips sounded like the gentle rustle of leaves on a hot summer's day. "Ah, Agrippa," she mused. "'Resurgam' he promised and thus it has come to pass. The udjat was destroyed, no doubt?" At Pumyra's blank expression, she pointed to a painting on the wall of the chamber. "You saw an eye like this?"

"Yes," Pumyra said, recognising the distinctive elongated, almond shape with the brow hugging its contours and the two lines descending from its lower lid. "What is it?"

"That is the udjat, the Eye of Horus, a safeguard against the forces of evil. It was placed on Agrippa's tombstone when we buried him in the earth in the hope that it would bind his evil there forever. And yet he is free once more." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Tell me, child, does he command his own body or that of another?"

"If you mean, has he taken over my friends, then yes. He seems to be concentrating on Panthro, although the other Thundercats are acting weird as well."

Mumm-rana gave a grim smile. "Then we must waste no time," she said. "Come, let us go and meet with Mumm-ra. Where is he?"

"The Forest of the Unicorns," said Pumyra. The sorceress's hand touched her shoulder, there was a flash of light and suddenly she was in a clearing surrounded by trees. A few yards away stood Mumm-ra, grinning maliciously. At her side, Mumm-rana's emaciated frame had filled out and she had assumed the form of a well-built, muscular woman, clad in a tight bodysuit, fur skirt and helmet. Pumyra had to do a double take to be sure that it was the same person.

"So, foul one," said Mumm-rana, eyeing Mumm-ra with dislike. "Once more you find yourself in need of the power of the Ancient Spirits of Goodness."

Mumm-ra's lip curled with contempt. "I need no one, witch, remember that."

"Then why have you summoned me to this place?"

"Oh, I thought you might be interested to know that your beloved world is about to be conquered by a sadistic megalomaniac."

"That is not assured," said Mumm-rana. "From what this Thundercat tells me, it may be possible to remove Agrippa from the body of the possessed one."

"Do tell, my dear," Mumm-ra said, giving a lazy yawn. "I'm all ears."

"Can I ask a question?" said Pumyra, putting up her hand like a pre-school cub. When both glanced in her direction, she felt vaguely silly and lowered it again. It was overawing, being amidst beings of supernatural powers, good and evil. They were so powerful and she was just ordinary. She guessed that they felt the same way from the tolerant smile that Mumm-rana gave her. "I don't understand," she continued. "How was Agrippa able to come back? Why didn't he join Set?"

"Haven't I already made that clear?" Mumm-ra snapped. "Your pathetic friends revealed the location of his body. His soul would have been there like a shot. Then all he needed was the blood of a living creature to revitalise his body and bring his ka back into his world. Once his ka was established here, all he needed then was another body to inhabit. As for why, what virtue is there in him ruling the Land of the Dead, when he could just as easily rule the Land of the Living?"

"Blood?" said Pumyra thoughtfully. "There were some creatures killed in the Tower. Their blood was used to write that word on the wall and draw that eye."

Mumm-rana shivered. "It is blasphemy to defile the udjat with blood. Through this evil act was he able to enter the body of your friend. It need only have taken a few seconds, but in that time your friend would have become Agrippa's unknowing host. Once again, this gentle world is threatened with the rule of Set."

"Then it is imperative that we stop him and save Third Earth and my friends," said Pumyra. "But how?"

Mumm-ra gave a snort of laughter. "The same way as once before. The trouble is that neither of us is as young as we once were. I am still weak from that spell in the pits of Firerock Mountain and Mumm-rana spends most of her time asleep. Hardly a match for Agrippa, are you, old girl?"

She scowled at him. "The power is willing, Mumm-ra, even if the flesh is weak."

"Then it would seem that what you need is stronger flesh, my dear." His eyes flicked in Pumyra's direction. "And it just so happens that you have a volunteer."

Pumyra felt the weight of both their stares. "Oh, no," she said, starting to back away. "No way. I can't go back there."

"You must," said Mumm-rana. "The Ancient Ones cannot maintain this body of mine and fight Agrippa at the same time. I must remain in mummy form if we are to fight this battle and win. In such a guise, Agrippa will never let me approach him. He is too clever to allow me near him again."

"Again? It was you?" Pumyra gasped. "You were the one who defeated Agrippa originally?"

"I was not always as you see me now," she said, twitching her eyebrows coyly. "Once I was called a great beauty. It was enough to captivate Agrippa. It was not difficult to gain his confidence and so get close enough to him to defeat him."

"Shame that the years have not been kind," Mumm-ra remarked.

"Nor to you, demon," she shot back. "Your vileness has increased beyond my recollection. No wonder I failed to recognise you on our previous meeting."

Turning her back on the visibly bristling mummy, Mumm-rana clasped her hands together and a bright glow emanated from between them. When she opened them, cradled in her palms was a small statuette, strangely humanoid in form and gaudily decorated in turquoise. The strange shape made Pumyra wonder where she had seen it before and it took several moments before she realised it was similar to the sarcophagi in the two pyramids.

"This is a ushabti," Mumm-ra explained. "It will channel the power of Horus and the Ancient Spirits of Goodness. The ka of Agrippa will be drawn from your friend's body and contained within this sacred piece. But for it to be effective it must be placed over the heart of the host."

"But how am I meant to...?" Pumyra trailed off into stunned silence when she realised what this plan could well involve. "No," she said. "Panthro is my friend. I couldn't, wouldn't..."

"Not even to save your fellow Thundercats?" Mumm-ra sneered. "Not even for Third Earth?"

"I'm sure it would not come to that," said Mumm-rana, pushing her evil counterpart aside. "Have courage, child, and all will be well. Agrippa has a weakness for a pretty face. You should not find it hard to win his trust."

"I'm sure you'll do whatever is required to bring our plan to fruition," said Mumm-ra, with a chuckle.

"What exactly will you be doing while I'm beguiling this apprentice of yours?" Pumyra retorted.

"What I did before. Working with the Ancient Spirits to disrupt the power that Set sends to Agrippa."

"And I will call upon the god, Horus, to once more destroy his ancient enemy," said Mumm-rana. "Listen carefully to me, child, for now I must tell you the secret words that will invoke the power of goodness when you have placed the ushabti upon his chest." She leant close to Pumyra's ear and whispered the words to her. "You understand?"

Pumyra nodded. "Then what happens?"

"Then we will all play our part," said Mumm-rana. "If we are successful, the evil will be purged from the body of your friend and all will be as it was before. Those afflicted will have no memory, but you must remember, child, and this duty we give to you, for we will both be weak from our battle. To ensure that Agrippa is forever trapped within his prison, you must throw this ushabti into the churning depths of Firerock Mountain as soon as you are able. Do not forget to do this, lest the forces of Set rise once more."

"I will remember," said Pumyra solemnly.

"And now you must go," said Mumm-rana, raising a glowing hand in her direction. "May the gods stand with you in your quest."

A beam of energy shot from her hand, engulfing Pumyra in its brilliance. When it died away, she found that she was no longer in the Forest of the Unicorns, but on the edge of the wood near Cat's Lair. From here, it was hard to believe that its residents were under the spell of a power-hungry madman, yet as Pumyra skirted the covering trees towards it, she soon saw that the nightmare was all too real and getting worse by the second. Drawn up outside the Lair were several vehicles. Along with the usual assortment of tatty Mutant flyers was something much larger and sturdier. Momentarily puzzled, it wasn't until her eye fell on the crescent moon insignia on its broad sides that she was able to identify it as Lunatac.

"So, not only my friends and the Mutants, but the Lunatacs as well," Pumyra muttered under her breath. "I'll bet that really pleased Luna."

As she watched, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a movement. Coming towards Cat's Lair was a procession of Berbils, Wollos and Balkins, all laden down with parcels and dragging carts and wagons between them. Agrippa hadn't wasted any time, she thought bitterly. The sacking of Third Earth had already begun.

But it had given her an idea about getting into the Lair. Waiting until they passed close by, she darted out and joined their number. Stooping and grabbing an old blanket from one of the wagons, she tried to blend in. The Wollo family she had joined gave her a dull look and Pumyra wondered if she was seeing another manifestation of Agrippa's powers in reducing them to pliant submissiveness. Either that or they had learnt the hard way what happened to those who tried to stand up to this tyrant. Hoping fervently that it was the former rather than the latter, she adopted the same look, kept her head down and trudged slowly towards the Lair.

As the procession neared the edge of the ravine, the bridge started to extend out towards them. The main doors opened and, to her surprise and consternation, she saw Tygra, Alluro and Amok came down the steps to meet them. If they intended to conduct a search, then she was bound to be discovered. Worse still was what could happen to the ushabti. She looked down at the statuette and wondered where she could hide it. As if in answer to her thoughts, it began to glow and remould itself until she was staring down at a Thundercat insignia. Silently thanking Mumm-rana, she clipped it over her own insignia and hoped the next part of the plan would go as smoothly. Whatever is required, Mumm-ra had said, and to an extent he was right. The safety of Third Earth and the Thundercats hung in the balance. She would use all the feminine feline wiles at her disposal, but further than that? She seriously doubted whether she could.

The reckoning came sooner than expected for the wagon in front of her stopped abruptly and she only just managed to avoid colliding with it. The gathering came to a halt and stood with heads bowed, waiting.

"Subjects of the mighty one," declared Alluro. "Our master."

"Resurgam!" chorused the group.

"Ruler of Third Earth."

"Resurgam!"

"Servant of Set."

"Resurgam!"

"What do you bring him?" said Tygra.

"All that we possess," said the group. At that, they began to lay down their parcels at the foot of the steps and empty their wagons. Pumyra watched, feeling helpless and distressed as she watched these simple, honest people willingly give up all they owned to satisfy the foibles of a maniac. Tables, chairs, glasses, baskets, even the doll of a Wollo child, and suddenly she knew that she would do anything to send this demon back to his limbo existence.

Breaking from the group, she threw the blanket away and prostrated herself before the threesome. "I give myself," she declared. "For I have nothing else to give."

"You, girl?" said Alluro. "What have you got that our master would want?"

"She is the deserter," said Tygra. "She ran from our master. She must pay."

"Death, death," Amok chimed in.

"Then let the great one do it," said Pumyra. "So that I might kneel before him and beg his forgiveness."

She looked up just in time to see Tygra and Alluro exchanging glances, then nodding. They stepped forward, dragged her up by her arms and hauled her up the steps between them leaving Amok to supervise the moving of the tribute into the Lair. Inside, she barely had time to glance around to see where the others were than she was bustled into the Council Room and dropped unceremoniously onto the floor. Except it was the Council Room no longer. The massive round table had gone, replaced by a dais that stood between the windows with a throne on top of it. Either side of the five steps that led up to it, Lion-O and Monkian stood to attention, red of eye and emotionless. Before the throne, his back to her, was Agrippa. He too had transformed himself, discarding Panthro's uniform for a draping of purple fabric trimmed with gold, while around his head was a crown of shimmering leaves.

"A prisoner, great one," said Alluro, bowing low.

Agrippa turned slowly and fixed evil eyes on her. "Ah, the girl," he said. "My minions told me of your defiance." Pointing a finger at Tygra, he growled. "You will be punished for your failure to end her life earlier, make no mistake about it."

"Yes, great master," Tygra said flatly. "I have failed you."

"Yes, you did," came the gruff reply. "A mistake you can rectify now. Kill her!"

"Please, no!" Pumyra cried, rising to her kneels, clasping her hands together and bowing her head. "Have mercy. I did not know your power, master. I was afraid. That is why I ran. I am guilty only of ignorance. Spare me and I will serve you."

With her eyes fixed on the floor, she listened to the long silence with bated breath, then caught the slap of sandaled feet coming ever closer until Agrippa stopped in front of her. She could feel the weight of his stare on the back of her neck and a trembling started in her hands. There was a faint rustle of fabric as he bent and put a finger under her chin, forcing her head up to look at him.

"How?" he said.

"How what?"

The flat of his hand replaced the finger to slap her under the jaw. "How can you serve me, girl?" he spat.

"In any way you so wish, master," she said in a tearful voice.

He snorted. "Do you know how much I hate women?" he said. "It was a lying, deceiving witch who brought me to this, and now you come to me saying that you will serve me?" The hand under chin suddenly moved to encircle her neck and pulled her up to her feet. Stood before him, she had to bite her lip as his fingers started to trace down her chest. "I should kill you. That would give me pleasure indeed. But it has been a long time," he murmured approvingly. "And you are tolerable, I suppose." With his other hand, he snapped his fingers. "Get out," he said to his attendants. "Make yourselves useful elsewhere." Obediently, they went out, leaving Pumyra alone with Agrippa.

Taking her hand, he led her over to the throne. His hands ranged down her body until he came to her waist, then, lifting her up, he sat her on the edge of the dais. Moving in between her legs, he pulled her to him and eyed her appreciatively.

"This body is strong and powerful," he said, in a voice so low that it was almost a purr. "I had forgotten such feelings. But you, girl, you will serve me, yes?"

"If you so wish," she said, hesitantly bringing her hands to rest upon his shoulders.

He jolted as though her touch had burned him. Grabbing her hands, he pulled them behind her back and held them there. "The pleasure is mine alone, girl, and not for you," he said. "Understand?" So saying, he jerked her hands back further, making her yelp at the discomfort.

"Yes, master, I understand," she said.

He smiled with sadistic satisfaction. "And if you wish to live, you will not complain at your treatment. If you cry, I will give you something to cry about. If you try to resist me..." He paused, staring deep into her eyes with such intensity that Pumyra felt her stomach start to churn. "I will make you suffer, girl, if you try that," he continued. "And believe me when I tell you that making people suffer is what I was always good at."

"I do believe you, master."

"Good," he said. With his free hand, he began working down the shoulder of her tunic, following its progress with its mouth, not kissing, but biting just enough to tease the flesh without drawing blood. All she could do was to bear it. His strong hand held hers in a powerful grip and her tenuous attempts to free herself were useless. The worst part was knowing that help was so near and yet so far. The ushabti was there, ready to use against him, but she couldn't get to it. She shut her eyes against the tears and prayed it would soon be over.

But then the grip was loosening on her wrists and the hand was removed. So engrossed was Agrippa that he was letting both hands roam her body. Without a second thought, she pulled the ushabti from her insignia and pressed it against his chest. Agrippa started and stared down at the thing upon him. Before he could recover, Pumyra darted away from his clutches.

"I call down the Wrath of Horus!" she yelled, reciting the words that Mumm-rana had told her. "Avenger of Osiris, Slayer of Set, Light before the Dark, Goodness before Evil, help us now!"

For one terrible moment, she wondered if something had gone wrong. An age seemed to pass as she watched the expression on Agrippa's face change from confusion to fury. Then, as he started towards her with fearful oaths and curses, white light split out from the ushabti, surrounding him in its glow. He tried to fend if off, with all the success of a unicorn pestered by flies. Blinding in its intensity, the struggling figure at its heart all but vanished from Pumyra's sight, leaving only the sound of his cries of rage and terror to tell of his presence. At the height of its power, the very lights of the Lair seemed to dim and flicker under the onslaught. And suddenly it was over. Strands of light streamed back into the ushabti, taking with it the black soul of Agrippa. His screams were sealed within the tiny coffin as the light died. Its task complete, it fell from Panthro's chest to the floor, where it lay smoking.

From her corner, Pumyra stared at Panthro, not knowing what to do. The big panther stood stock still, his eyes, now devoid of their unearthly glow, fixed on some distance horizon. Then, he grunted, shook himself and rubbed his brow.

"What happened?" he muttered. "Feel like I've been run over by a Thundertank."

Pumyra almost cried with joy. Leaping to her feet, she hurried over to him. "Panthro, thank Jaga you're all right."

"Yeah, I am, but what in the name of Thundera am I wearing?" he said, fiddling with the reams of fabric about his shoulders. "What's been going on here!"

"It's not easy to explain," Pumyra began, glancing nervously towards the door where sound of shouting could be heard. "I think we should go and check on the others first."

Out in the hall, all hell was breaking loose as Mutants and Lunatacs realised where they were. Everyone was shouting at once and making little sense.

"Hoo-hoo, you think you can just come waltzing into Castle Plun-darr and take us prisoner?" Monkian was yelling. "We'll show you, Thundercats."

"Who cares about you?" Alluro snapped at him. "They destroyed our home!"

"Now we're gonna destroy yours," TugMug chimed in.

"What? You think we want you here?" Lion-O shouted at him. "Get out!"

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out!" said WilyKat.

"And you can get rid of that heap outside Lair," Bengali said. "Call that a Thundertank?"

"No, blue eyes, that's a Lunattacker," hissed Red Eye.

"Huh, looks more like junk to me."

"Oh, yeah? Wanna put it to the test?"

"Any day!"

"You're asking for a punch, you are," snarled TugMug.

"And who's gonna give him one? You?" jeered WilyKat.

A fight looked imminent until Pumyra stepped forward into the affray and held up her hands for calm. "Everybody, please, if you'll just give me a minute to explain," she said.

"Where d'you come from?" Lion-O and Alluro said almost simultaneously.

"More to the point," added Tygra, "where are the others?"

As if on cue, a door opened and Cheetara charged out, holding a broom at the ready in place of her staff. She stopped in her tracks on seeing the gathering, causing Chilla and Luna who were following to bump into her. Silence reigned as both sides regarded each other, one warily, the other in amazement.

"Well, look what we have here," said Luna at last. "A brawn convention."

"Why don't you shut up and give your brain a chance to catch up?" Cheetara growled at her.

"And what d'you think you're gonna do with that broom, spots?" she retorted.

"You've heard of a clean sweep," Chilla sneered.

Cheetara was about to reply to that when she caught sight of Pumyra. Her mouth fell open and the broom dropped from her hands. Pumyra pushed past the others and went over to her.

"Oh, gods, you're... you're alive," Cheetara said. "You are all right, aren't you? I'm not dreaming."

Pumyra shook her head. "No, Cheetara, you're not. It's all over."

"Really?"

"Ask them."

"Is it?" Cheetara said, glancing uncertainly at the gathering.

"Is anyone gonna tell us what's been going on here?" Panthro demanded angrily. "I'm still waiting for an explanation as to why I'm dressed like... like..."

"A curtain?" WilyKat suggested. "Where's my sister?"

"Not with us," said Cheetara.

"Thank the gods," muttered Chilla. "That's all we needed, a bawling kitten."

"Where were you then?" asked Lion-O.

"You locked us in the cells, to rot apparently," said Chilla. "Lucky for us that the doors came open. Don't you remember, Thundercat?"

"No, I don't," said Lion-O. "But if you were down there, where's WilyKit?"

"In her room," said Tygra, who had been consulting the wall console. "I'll go get her."

"So, is anyone going to explain?" TugMug yelled, finally losing his patience. "Like why the hell I'm here in the Cat's Box?"

"Cat's Lair," Pumyra corrected him.

"Whatever," he snorted.

"We'll tell you on the way home," said Luna as she headed for the door. "Think yourselves lucky, Thundercats. The only reason that you're still standing is because I'm tired. You interrupted my beauty sleep. I won't forget that in a hurry."

"Especially when you need it as much as she does," muttered Alluro, putting on his best smile when Luna glared at him.

The Lunatacs headed for the door, leaving the Mutants still scowling at the assembled Thundercats.

"And who's gonna tell us?" said Jackalman.

"Ask Mumm-ra," Pumyra said wearily. "He has all the gory details."

"Next time, Thundercats," Slithe began.

"Yes, we know," sighed Bengali. "Next time we won't be so lucky. Thank you. Goodbye."

Clearly dissatisfied, though unsure quite what to do about it, the four had no other option but to leave. The sounds of engines roaring into life drifted through the door as Tygra came down the stairs carrying a tearful WilyKit in his arms.

"See?" he was saying gently to the kitten. "Everyone's back to normal."

WilyKit looked at Panthro, took in his attire and sniffed. "What about him?" she asked.

"I'm all right, WilyKit," he said. "But I'm still waiting to hear what happened."

Pumyra sighed and smiled. "It's a long story, guys."

"Well, I think we're all the mood for listening," said Lion-O.

"I'd like to know how you managed to get out of that exhaust in one piece," said Cheetara. "I thought you'd..." Casting an anxious glance at the upset kitten, who was hugging her brother, she rephrased what she was about to say. "I wasn't sure that you'd managed to get out."

"I don't know what happened," said Pumyra. "It just blew me out."

"It would," said Tygra. "The system automatically runs a jet of air through the pipes before igniting the generator if a blockage is detected."

Cheetara thumped him. "Why didn't you tell me that? Do you know how upset I've been, imagining what had happened to Pumyra? You rotten--"

"I did tell you," he protested, fending her off. "I mentioned it ages ago, after that time I had to use the exhaust to get into the Lair."

"Well, I didn't hear you say anything about it."

"Because you never listen."

"Wait a minute," said Bengali, interrupting them. "Are you saying that Pumyra was in the generator exhaust? That is so dangerous. What were you thinking?"

Pumyra smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Don't worry about it, Bengali," she said. Taking his arm, she steered him in the direction of the Council Room. "Follow me, everyone, and I'll explain everything."

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

The Thundertank roared to a halt in a cloud of red dust. As the engines idled into stillness, Lion-O slid back the hatch and looked over to where the furious heat from the churning depths of Firerock Mountain was creating a haze in the air. He could almost smell the Thundranium and taste it on his lips. Even at this distance, he was starting to feel its effects as a general feeling of weariness swept his body.

"This is as near as we can get, I'm afraid," he said, turning to Pumyra. "Are you sure you want to do this on your own?"

She nodded. In her hands was a bundle of cloth in which lay the ushabti containing the ka of Agrippa. "It's my responsibility," she said. "I've come this far. I might as well finish it."

"Yeah, well, you be careful," said Bengali, who leant over the partition from the rear compartment to pat her on the shoulder. "If you feel yourself coming over faint, just give us a call."

She gave his hand a squeeze and smiled up at him affectionately. "Thanks, I will." With that, she leapt out of the Tank and started towards the edge of the cliffs.

Lion-O watched her go in silence, until Bengali's voice broke his reverie.

"Too dedicated, that's her problem," he said.

"Hmm," Lion-O grunted, giving him only half of his attention, while his gaze was fixed firmly on the slim figure making her way through the heat haze.

"It's the same with her patients, you know," Bengali continued. "Sees it through to the bitter end."

"Hmm."

"She did well, didn't she, though? Considering that we've not long been Thundercats."

"Hmm."

"She saved us all. If it hadn't been for her... well, who knows where we'd all be now."

"Hmm."

"She's very attractive, isn't she?"

"Hmm." Suddenly realising what he'd said, Lion-O felt the blood rush to his cheeks and he turned an embarrassed face to look up at Bengali. "I mean, oh, er..."

Bengali smiled. "I know what you mean, Lion-O. You find her attractive. So do I. It's one of the reasons why I fell in love with her."

Both looked over to where she was standing by the edge of the precipice about to consign Agrippa to oblivion.

"I might find her attractive," Lion-O said hesitantly. "But I would never do anything about it."

"I know," said Bengali.

"You do? Aren't you meant to warn me off or something?"

"No, I don't have to. I trust Pumyra. In fact, you could say that I trust her with my life. This makes it the second time she's saved me."

"Oh?" said Lion-O.

Bengali leant forward and rested his elbows on the partition. "I ended up in hospital after I took a beating from some thugs, who robbed me for the weekly takings from the smithy. Apparently, I almost died. When I finally woke up, Pumyra's was the first face I saw. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. So I just came out it with, asked her if she would go out with me."

"And she said yes?"

"Actually, she said no. Patient-healer relationship thing, she said. But I didn't give up. I kept asking and she kept saying no. When I was released from hospital, I stood outside all day until she came out and I asked her again. Finally, she said yes."

"Probably felt sorry for you," Lion-O said, giving him a sideways glance.

Bengali took it well enough. "That's what I thought. For that night, I was the luckiest cat on all Thundera. Granted, the date was kind of spoilt when the planet blew up, but you can't have everything."

Lion-O looked up at him in surprise. "Your first date was on the night that Thundera exploded? Didn't you consider that an ill-omen?"

A rueful grin slid across the tiger's lips. "We survived and ended up here. In some ways, it's the best thing that ever happened to me. I got to be with Pumyra, we fell in love and we joined the Thundercats. It's an ill wind, as my granny used to say."

"The same one who set foot outside her door on a cloudy day and died?"

"Ah, but what I didn't mention was that she was chasing her toyboy at the time."

Lion-O laughed out loud. "Oh, come on, Bengali. You just made that up!"

"That's the truth, honest. It's also why I take ill-omens with a massive pinch of salt."

"Excuse me? You were the one making the fuss at the Tower."

"Oh, well, that's just common sense. Blood on walls and dead animals aren't usually an encouraging sign." He fell silent for a moment, then sighed deeply. "I guess we'll have to find a new place to build the Tower of Omens now. If I were you, I wouldn't let Tygra be in charge of finding another site."

"It was an easy mistake to make," said Lion-O. "Evil entities being released by accident seems to happen a lot on Third Earth."

"But it's not something you want to happen too often," said Bengali. "You know, I still can't remember a thing about it."

Lion-O nodded in agreement. Despite being told what had occurred, he still had trouble believing it. There was a hole in his memories where it seemed he had simply ceased to register what was happening around him. The last thing he could remember for certain was sitting with the others in the shell of the Tower.

"And then Panthro went ape," Bengali said, as if reading his mind. "Talk about shock to the system. I almost died of fright."

"Don't mention it to him," said Lion-O. "He feels bad enough about it already."

"Still at least no one else remembers. Makes explaining things to the Berbils and the rest a lot easier."

"And no one was hurt, that's the most important thing."

"Yeah," Bengali said thoughtfully.

Lion-O looked up at him, noting the change in his voice, and saw that he was distractedly chewing at his claws, while staring at the hazy figure of Pumyra. "You're worried about her?"

"I could have lost her," he said quietly. "I don't know what I'd do without her now. I love her, Lion-O."

"Then why don't you make it formal? Marry her."

"Tried that. She said she didn't want to."

"What?" Lion-O spluttered. "Why not?"

"She said that we were happy as we were. And we are, I guess. Well," he added, "she's happy with it and that's all that matters to me. Ah, here she comes, at last."

Lion-O looked to where Pumyra was retracing her steps back to the Tank. The bundle was gone and, her duty thus discharged, she was smiling broadly.

"Done," she said, as she got back into the cabin. "Thank Jaga that's over."

"'Bout time too," Bengali grumbled, feigning a huff.

"Why? You got somewhere you should be?" she teased him.

"Only with you," he said, grinning down at her.

"You are so silly," she sighed. "Guess that's why I love you."

"Lion-O, about that room of our own," Bengali began.

"We'll see to it as soon as we get back to the Lair," Lion-O said, starting up the Thundertank's engine. "On one condition." Both Thundercats stared at him, curious as to what he was going to say. "While you're at the Lair..." He paused, prolonging their agony. "I get to use the bathroom before you, Bengali."

A lop-sided grin slid across the tiger's face. "All right, you're on. Thanks, Lion-O, you're a pal."

Lion-O hesitated for a moment at that. It was a long time since he had been called anyone's pal. He couldn't help but wonder if he really deserved such an honour. He had had some ungenerous thoughts about Bengali, most of them unfounded as he had just discovered. At least now he knew better. Perhaps he was just out of practice at being a friend. One thing was for certain, he decided as he turned the Tank for home, it was going to be fun remembering.

Finis

THUNDERCATS, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Ted Wolf. All rights reserved. Stories, characters and incidents mentioned in this work are entirely fictional. Characters, names, etc. are used without permission and the above story has no official endorsement. This is a work of fan fiction, for entertainment purposes only and certainly not for profit. No infringement of rights is intended nor any harm meant by its creation and existence. If this work brings a little happiness into this dreary old world, then so much the better. May you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Thundercats Forever! Ho!

Back to Fanfic Archive