Displaced

Part 5

Lost in old spell books, so old the pages seemed to crumble at the slightest disturbance, Mumm-Ra searched. Flickering lights and cold drafts haunted the room, keeping evil spirits company. Shadows danced on the walls, seeming to live when all else lay still and dead. The shadows were the liveliest things in the room that whispered death. Volumes of ancient lore and carefully preserved parchment hoarded the magical incantations that millennia of evil had managed to produce. Spells of death, decay, torture, and forgotten evils crowded the dark corners. Even as long as Mumm-Ra had plagued the world, he himself had mastered only a tenth of the spells he’d seen. And he’d only seen a tenth of the spells in the room. There were some evils even Mumm-Ra couldn’t control.

But Mumm-Ra wasn’t searching for a magical spell. He was searching for a scientific document. What had happened a few days ago could not be remedied with magic alone. The time for that had come and gone. He needed to combine technology with magic.

When Vultureman had explained Ma-Mutt’s situation, Mumm-Ra couldn’t accept it. He could believe it. In fact, it was the only solution that fit every piece of the puzzle. But he couldn’t accept it. If he were to be honest with himself, something he hadn’t done in quite literally ages, he still hadn’t accepted it. He thought he’d had more control over the energies he summoned. How could things have gone so awry?

The Lunattacker would be at the pyramid soon with the prisoners. When they had left Cat’s Lair, Mumm-Ra had gone ahead of the Lunatacs and mutants. He knew he’d need a head start. But his head start had turned into a dead end. What he was looking for couldn’t be found. And he didn’t have the scientific knowledge or technical skill to tell the others what had to be done.

"Ma-Mutt…"

The mummy’s soft sigh probably blew away some frayed pieces of an old spell. But he didn’t care about the preservation of evil’s fruits. He cared about the only being in the world who more than merely tolerated his existence. He cared about the only creature in his realm who cared for him in turn. He cared about his pet. He cared about Ma-Mutt.

Mumm-Ra’s head sank down on his arms in despair. If things didn’t turn around, he would never see Ma-Mutt again.

* * * *

"She’s coming around."

Cheetara heard the voice as if it were coming from far away. But she knew it was right next to her. She recognized Panthro, read the concern in his voice, but realized she would have to wait a while until her body caught up with her mind.

"Will she still be able to hear us?"

Apparently so, Cheetara thought. The voices were getting closer now. It wouldn’t be long before she would be able to wake up.

"Let’s just be grateful they got her away from the Thundranium. Otherwise, we’d have to watch her in shifts."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You Lunatacs and mutants don’t even trust each other. We’re not going to let you watch Cheetara alone."

"What could we possibly do to her?"

The voices were definitely closer. Cheetara could also feel a tingling sensation. It’d been a while since she’d felt a sensation of any kind. After that horrible mental shove by both Alluro and Tygra, it was a wonder her mind was still intact. But they had kept her from joining them in their world. She could still feel a push from somewhere, but for now, at least, she was safe.

Other noises were beginning to find their way through Cheetara’s mental haze. There was a hum of machinery and the hiss of hydraulics. A powerful engine was throbbing in the background. RedEye and TugMug were playing poker somewhere nearby. Jackalman and Chilla were watching and taking bets on the outcomes of the games. She hadn’t heard Kat’s voice. Panthro, Tygra, and Alluro were watching over her. And besides noise, she could now feel herself being jolted around. She was in some kind of vehicle and she was moving. Concentrating, Cheetara forced out a groan.

"Did you hear that?"

"Told you she was coming around."

Cheetara gritted her teeth together and opened her eyes. For a moment, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She squinted and then gave her head a shake. After congratulating herself on being able to shake her head, she returned to the problem at hand. "Panthro?"

Above her, a fuzzy gray blur grinned. "Welcome back."

"I can see you."

For a split second, time froze. And then both Tygra and Alluro had crowded Panthro out of the way. "Say that again," Tygra ordered.

"Tygra? Alluro? I can see you, too. You’re hard to make out, but I can see where you are."

"I don’t think we succeeded," Alluro murmured.

"Under the circumstances, I think we did the best we could," Tygra replied.

Panthro shoved the other two back out of the way. "You can see us?"

Cheetara slowly sat up. She was shackled to the steel floor, but no cage surrounded her. She recognized the interior of the Lunattacker. She could also see Chilla and Jackalman peering over the shoulders of RedEye and TugMug were they sat absorbed in their game on the other side of the compartment. In a corner by one of the two entrances, Wiley Kat and Ma-Mutt lay sleeping. "Yes. I can see all of you. What happened? What’s happening now?"

"You almost faded," Alluro explained. "I guess you faded enough to see into our world. TugMug got you out of your Thundranium cage and brought you up here. You’re just behind the control room for the Lunattacker. The prisoners are still in the back. Right now, Luna’s driving and we’re heading for Mumm-Ra’s pyramid.

"Mumm-Ra has an idea of what’s happening to us," Panthro added. "He might be able to fix it."

"The mutants are also tagging along," Tygra mentioned. "They’ve probably reached the pyramid by now."

"But what’s happening?" Cheetara asked again. "Not what you just told me. I want to know what this ‘fading’ is."

"If we knew that, we’d have discovered a way to reverse it," Tygra answered.

"Hey!" TugMug had suddenly noticed that Cheetara was awake. "No funny business," he warned. "We have unpleasant ways of dealing with young cheetahs."

"Almost there," Luna called back from the controls.

"Let’s get her back in her cage," RedEye suggested. "I’ll clean up here."

TugMug nodded his agreement. He picked up a stout chain and approached Cheetara. The chain was wrapped around her neck and Cheetara instantly felt herself weakening. "Nice touch," she snarled. "Thundranium. Can’t even handle a girl, can you?"

TugMug gave the chain a vicious jerk. "That’s enough out of you, Thundercat," he growled.

"You owe me two midnight watches, by the way," RedEye called.

"Later," TugMug snapped as he dragged Cheetara into the back.

"There’s the pyramid," Alluro observed. He was standing in the doorway to the controls and watching out the front screen. "What’s our next move?"

"Stay close," Chilla answered, coming over to stand by him. "Don’t get separated."

Panthro had gone over to wake up Kat and Ma-Mutt. "Tygra, can we use your whip as a leash again?"

The tiger grimaced as he glanced down at his whip. "Just as long as someone promises to wipe up the drool."

"Wimp," Panthro snorted.

"And no gnawing on it," Tygra added. "It’s frayed enough as is."

"Hadn’t planned to," the panther answered, taking the whip from Tygra’s hand. "Come on, boy," he said to Ma-Mutt.

Wiley Kat yawned and stretched. "Are we there yet?"

"Close enough," Panthro told him. "Time to get up."

Ahead of them, the pyramid loomed. Its onyx sides gleamed and yet seemed to suck in the light. "I never thought I’d be happy to see that," Tygra murmured.

"This is good," Jackalman grunted. "Dead meet undead and ever-living."

"We are not dead," Chilla hissed.

"Not yet," Tygra agreed. "I guess we’ll find out how long that will last in a few minutes."

* * * *

"The pyramid? Why would the Lunatacs take them to the pyramid?" Lynx-O scowled at the Braille board. "Think, Snarfer. The Thundercats still live. I can get their life-readings. But the Lunatacs are taking them to Mumm-Ra. And the mutants are with them. What is going on?"

"Maybe they’ve formed a new alliance," the snarf suggested.

The old Thundercat shook his head. "Not them. And not when there are prisoners over which they can quarrel. This is something unexpected. There is more happening than what we can see."

"Maybe they think we have Alluro, Chilla, and Jackalman. They’re still missing, snarfer, snarfer. Yep, I bet that’s it. They’re interrogating them." Snarfer paused for a minute. "And that means they’re going to torture them! Lynx-O, we have to do something now!"

"Calm yourself, Snarfer," Lynx-O ordered. "Why would they take them to Mumm-Ra to be interrogated? They are quite capable of doing that on their own. What is Mumm-Ra’s involvement?" The lynx was quiet for a moment. Snarfer fidgeted, but didn’t say anything. Finally, Lynx-O broke the silence. "I think you’re right to an extent. I am getting the feeling that this has something to do with Alluro, Chilla, and Jackalman. And somehow, I don’t know why, I also feel that Tygra, Panthro, and Wiley Kat are involved. It has something to do with their disappearance."

"I thought they were vaporized," Snarfer whispered.

Lynx-O caught a growl in his throat before it could come out. "That was only Bengali’s supposition. There is no proof that they are dead."

"But then where are they? They’re nowhere on Third Earth. They haven’t left the planet. Where could they be?"

"Perhaps that is why Mumm-Ra is involved," Lynx-O mused. "Perhaps he holds the answer. I believe the time for waiting has passed. Let us pay a visit to Mumm-Ra."

* * * *

Lion-O’s first waking sensation was a burning across his chest. That wasn’t pleasant, he decided. But then, as Lion-O thought about it, he’d never had a good experience when recovering from unconsciousness. He made a mental note to try and prevent blacking out in the future. Laughing grimly at himself, he began to run a self-diagnostic.

Nothing was broken that Lion-O could tell. He was shackled at the wrists, but his feet were free. He was lying on cold stone. His back muscles were beginning to cramp from the dampness. The burning in his chest persisted, and Lion-O remembered the Thundranium cannons. Thundranium residue must still be there.

Opening his eyes slowly, he waited for them to adjust to the dim light. Above him towered a stone statue. Lion-O groaned silently. Mumm-Ra’s pyramid. Of all the places to wake up, why did he have to wake up in the pyramid? He shifted his head to the side and saw Wiley Kit, Snarf, Pumyra, Bengali, and Cheetara. They were chained as he was, both wrists shackled together and hooked to the wall.

Near Mumm-Ra’s cauldron, he could see Lunatacs, mutants, and the occupant of the pyramid. They were having a conversation, but it was too quiet for Lion-O to make out any words.

Lion-O shifted his position, trying to stretch out his back. What had they done with the Sword of Omens? It was probably somewhere in the pyramid. Lion-O looked around in an attempt to see it and then his ears caught the sound of Cheetara talking. He looked over at her and discovered she wasn’t talking to anyone. She was just talking. Curious, Lion-O tried to catch what she was saying.

"Isn’t that a little far-fetched?…I didn’t mean it that way, but I don’t see how…Okay, so it might have been a little premature to dismiss it like that…I would if they would pay any attention to me…No! I am not going to let him do that…Someone tell Chilla she’s completely lost it…That might work. Do you think he can do that?…I guess." At this point in the conversation, Cheetara lifted her head and looked to the center of the room. "No, I think he’s completely ignoring us."

"Cheetara? Are you okay?"

Cheetara looked over at Lion-O. "You’re awake? That’s great. Can you summon the Sword of Omens?"

Lion-O glanced at the gathering around the cauldron. "I could, but they’d notice it as soon as I did. And they’d put me out of commission before the Sword even reached my hand."

Cheetara seemed to look at someone to her left. "What did I just tell you?" She turned back to Lion-O. "I know you don’t believe me, but I can see Tygra, Panthro, and Wiley Kat. I can hear them. That’s who I’m talking to. Alluro, Chilla, Jackalman, and Ma-Mutt are with them. I can see and hear them, too."

Shaking his head in confusion, Lion-O tried to get a handle on the situation. "You’re certain? You’re not just imagining this?"

Cheetara gave him a glare that would have startled Mumm-Ra. "They’re here. Panthro’s found the Sword of Omens. It’s in the sarcophagus. It wouldn’t take too long to get to you." Cheetara suddenly looked toward the group of Lunatacs, mutants, and ever-living sorcerers. "Oh, you’re right. There’s a spell on the sarcophagus." She turned back to Lion-O. "Scratch that idea. Kat says Mumm-Ra sealed his sarcophagus and the Sword would have to force its way out."

Lion-O attempted to find a response to this but was interrupted but a soft snarl. Bengali slowly sat up and looked around. Spotting Lion-O, his eyes glittered. "Okay, what’s the plan?"

The lion inwardly sighed. "Wait. Just for a little longer. Something strange is going on."

"Don’t make it too long," Bengali growled.

Sitting beside Cheetara, two Lunatacs exchanged smug looks. "I think the Thundercats are going to get themselves into trouble," Alluro remarked.

"As if that’s anything new," Chilla laughed.

"Watch your mouth," Panthro warned. He looked over to the cauldron where Jackalman, Tygra, and Kat were trying to eavesdrop. "Cheetara, if you can handle these two idiots, I think I’m going to join the others."

"Go ahead," the cheetah answered. "I’m trying to convince Lion-O that I’m not crazy. I don’t think the Lunatacs are going to be a major distraction."

Panthro nodded and started over to the cauldron. Still tied with Tygra’s whip, Ma-Mutt was forced to follow him. "What’s going on over here?" Panthro asked as he neared the others.

"Mumm-Ra’s been telling us about some stars, some constellations, and something about pushing things into other dimensions," Jackalman informed him. "If you ask me, Mumm-Ra’s short a few bats in his belfry."

"I think the saying works the other way," Kat commented.

"No one asked you, twerp," the mutant snapped.

At Panthro’s side, Ma-Mutt let out a small whimper. Looking down, the gray Thundercat could see the dog watching Mumm-Ra’s every move. "Patience. We’ll be back soon," he soothed. "I can’t believe I’m trying to calm Mumm-Ra’s puppy down," he grumbled.

"We all have weaknesses," was Tygra’s cryptic response.

"Meaning?"

Tygra shook his head in dismissal. "Forget it. Just listen to these guys."

Sighing, the panther followed his teammate’s advice.

"And you sssay this star pulses with energy that you could channel?"

"No," Mumm-Ra said irritably. "I can not channel it. That is why I cannot reverse what has happened. I needed the alignment of the planets to make the energy controllable. And even if the planets were still aligned, I can’t send the energy back."

"Awwwk, so you pulled down energy that pushed them into another world? But things are still being pushed away. How is that happening?"

"I don’t know," Mumm-Ra grumped. "Maybe I didn’t get a chance to close the link because the spell was never completed. I was rudely interrupted."

"That rude interruption was what prevented us from following the missing ones," RedEye commented.

"That doesn’t matter now," the mummy answered, dismissing the matter. "What matters is that Ma-Mutt is in a different dimension."

"But not completely," TugMug observed. "Because to an extent, he’s still with us. Kind of. We need to make it more than kind of."

"And Mumm-Ra can do it," Luna concluded.

"NO!" Mumm-Ra roared. "I can’t. Haven’t you heard anything I’ve said? The spells I used are based on scientific theories created in First Earth. I don’t have the scientific knowledge. However, if I did, I might be able to improvise a counter-spell."

"You know, I don’t think you’ll like this idea, but what about Mumm-Rana?" RedEye asked.

"Out of the question," Mumm-Ra stated flatly.

"And she’s not well-versed in scientific knowledge, either," Vultureman added. "If Mumm-Ra doesn’t know what principals the spell utilizes, she wouldn’t either. What we need to figure out is what this star is and what the energy is."

Panthro felt a hand on his shoulder and looked to see Tygra drawing him away from the conversation. "What?"

"Does any of that sound familiar?" the tiger asked.

Puzzled, Panthro shook his head. "Should it?"

"What about conservation of mass and energy?"

"I don’t see how transferring some energy from a star would force us out of our plane of existence."

"What if the energy was from a different dimension?"

Panthro stared at his friend. "And how would that happen?"

Tygra grinned. "If I understand Mumm-Ra correctly, he’s describing a star that is not visible to the naked eye or even our more powerful telescopes. In fact, it’s beyond the scope of this galaxy. And it’s not a star at all. It’s a quasar."

For a moment, Panthro’s mind was blank. And then things started to click. "You mean, what the Thunderan scientists used to call a white hole?"

"Exactly!" Tygra answered. "As matter and energy are absorbed into black holes, their absence is made up in quasars, or white holes. They spew out energy and matter into this universe."

"But wait a minute. That was only a theory. No, it wasn’t even that, it was a hypothesis. No one knows what happens in singularities. Nothing can escape an event horizon. There’s no reliable data, questionable data, or even just plain data!"

"But remember how Mumm-Ra described this thing," Tygra argued. "It fits the theory."

"Hypothesis," Panthro corrected.

"What are you two arguing about?" Kat asked.

"A fairy tale," Panthro grumbled.

"A possibility," Tygra asserted.

"Even if you are right," Panthro continued, "what are you going to do about it? And how does it tie in here?"

"If I’m right, Mumm-Ra used the planets and magic to channel an unusual amount of energy down to Third Earth. In fact, he channeled more than this planet could handle. And it created a singularity. The excess energy is being absorbed while other things fade so there is still a balance."

"Now I know you’ve lost it," was Panthro’s response. "A singularity? We have a small black hole on Third Earth? I think you should sit down, Tygra."

"Not a black hole as we know them," the tiger answered. "Just a gateway of sorts. And I bet the energy is still being channeled to Third Earth. If we could stop it, we’d quit fading. And if we could reverse it, we’d be pulled back into existence."

"Oh, now that sounds easy," Jackalman said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"I didn’t think you were listening," Kat said. "You said you weren’t interested."

"I wouldn’t miss the chance to listen to two insane Thundercats. I think the strain of death has really gotten to them. The rest of the afterlife should be interesting."

"Ma-Mutt, sic him," Panthro ordered.

"So much for conversation," Tygra groaned.

"It was a nice idea," Panthro conceded. "But even if it was true, I don’t see how it could help us. And the likelihood that it’s true is, well, remote."

Tygra glared at his fellow Thundercat. "Let’s get a second opinion," he suggested. "In fact, let’s get several." Tygra turned away from the cauldron and walked over to Alluro, Chilla, and Cheetara.

"I promise this is no joke," Cheetara was saying. "I can really hear them. And now I can make out where they are."

"And she could be right," Wiley Kit seconded. The kitten had awakened a few minutes ago, but it had seemed longer than that. "The mutants were saying how they’re still here. They’re still alive, but they can’t be sensed."

"I make it a point to distrust mutants," Bengali commented. "Is Pumyra still unconscious? I think she needs to examine Cheetara."

"Cheetara, can I run something by you?" Tygra interrupted.

Cheetara nodded. "Hang on, you guys. Tygra’s here now." There were some sighs of frustration but no other responses. "What’s up?" Cheetara asked, ignoring the others.

"Alluro, you should probably listen, too. Mumm-Ra describes the spell he used on us as a spell that channels energy. When the planets were aligned with a certain star, a star he calls the gateway star, he can pull down excess energy from a different dimension. Using that energy, he was going to force all of us out of this plane of existence. But before he could completely control the energy, Ma-Mutt bumped into him and he lost his concentration. When that happened, he thought the energy vanished. But energy doesn’t just vanish like that. It left the pyramid after pushing Ma-Mutt out of the way and went for its destination. When it got to the canyon, it forced us out of its way."

Alluro and Chilla stared at the Thundercat. Panthro had come up behind Tygra to listen in. "I overheard most of that, too," the panther added. "It’s what Tygra’s concluded that I find hard to believe."

"I follow you so far," Alluro said slowly. "I guess it’s good to know what happened. So what do you make of it?"

"Mumm-Ra described the placement of this so-called star and how it fits in with the constellations we know. Based on that, I’ve figured out what quadrant of the sky this phenomenon is in. And from what Mumm-Ra describes in how the energy works, I think this gateway star is really a quasar."

Tygra was met with blank stares. Behind him, Panthro cleared his throat. "I hate to say I told you so, but—"

"Wait a minute," Alluro said. "You’re saying Mumm-Ra pulled down excess energy from a quasar and transferred it here?"

Tygra nodded. "And because there was no singularity close by, a temporary singularity was created. And we were sucked into it. But this singularity is no longer temporary. And according to Vultureman’s scanner, it’s still displacing things. The energy is still linked to Third Earth."

"Our own little black hole," the Lunatac mused.

"Excuse me," Chilla interrupted, "but will someone explain what’s happening?"

"What Tygra’s saying," Cheetara explained softly, "is that Mumm-Ra accidentally created a black hole. A small one, that is. I’m guessing that if the spell had been completed, the energy link would have been cut off, right?"

"That’s what Mumm-Ra said," Tygra confirmed.

"Cheetara? Did you just say something about a black hole?" Lion-O asked.

"Wait a minute," the cheetah ordered. She turned to the blur that was Tygra. "This quasar would have had to be connected with another black hole. A real one."

Alluro nodded in agreement. "And if the quasar is now linked here, that black hole is going to disappear."

"That’s our solution, then," Tygra said. "We’ve got to get the energy that’s being channeled here and direct it back to the black hole."

"I can’t believe you guys actually support him!" Panthro exclaimed.

"Have you heard a better idea?" Alluro asked.

"I bet Jackalman could come up with something better," the panther snorted.

"If you consider death better, you’re right. That’s the only thing Jackalman has suggested," Tygra answered.

"And you still haven’t solved another problem. How do we redirect this energy?" Panthro pushed.

"Mumm-Ra," Alluro answered.

"If the energy is being directed here," Chilla reasoned, "he doesn’t need the planets to channel it. It’s already being channeled. He just needs to redirect it."

Panthro threw up his arms in dismay. "If you all want to be crazy together, go for it. I want to see you convince Mumm-Ra that this is what he has to do."

"I’ll talk to him," Cheetara offered. Turning toward the crowd around the cauldron, she tried to get their attention. "Hey! Hello over there. Anyone listening?" There was no response. Thinking quickly, Cheetara hit upon an idea and looked over at Lion-O, who was becoming more concerned with every word the cheetah spoke. "Lion-O, we need their attention. Would you summon the Sword?"

Lion-O shook his head. "Are you okay?"

"Tygra and Alluro have an idea that just might work."

"You’re certain you see them?"

Cheetara nodded solemnly. "I swear by Jaga that they are here. They are speaking with me. And we need Mumm-Ra’s help with this idea."

"Is this the idea that had to do with a singularity?" Bengali growled.

Cheetara completely ignored him. She kept her warm eyes on Lion-O. "Please get their attention."

Finally, the lion nodded. "If that’s what you really want."

"It is."

Lion-O’s head turned to the sarcophagus. "Then be ready to do some fast-talking. Because their reaction time is probably going to be amazing."

"I hate unconsciousness," Bengali grumbled. "Do we have to go back there so soon?" Everyone ignored him.

Lion-O reached his hand out as far as his chain would permit it. "Sword of Omens, come to my hand!"

A rumbling started to shake the pyramid. The sarcophagus was enveloped in a flurry of light as the Sword of Omens battled the spell that kept the coffin closed. The mutants dove for cover, the Lunatacs scattered, and Mumm-Ra roared in anger. "The Thundercats! They are summoning the Sword!"

At Mumm-Ra's words, Lion-O was suddenly surrounded by Slithe, Vultureman, Monkian, Luna, RedEye, and TugMug. But the Sword managed to drill through the sarcophagus and came barreling toward Lion-O’s hand before they could do anything.

"Ho!" Lion-O cried. His chains were severed and he leaped to his feet. He would have tried to free the others, but Amok was faster and wrapped his huge arms around Lion-O’s chest. With the sudden pressure, Lion-O felt a rib snap. Dropping the Sword, Lion-O went limp in Amok’s grasp, hoping to convince the giant Lunatac that he was willing to cooperate.

"I don’t know what compelled you to do that, Thundercat," Mumm-Ra hissed, "but you will pay for destroying my resting place."

"Wait!" Cheetara called out. "He did that to get your attention. I need to talk to you."

"Talk quickly," Mumm-Ra ordered. "Your leader’s life hangs in the balance."

* * * *

Piloting skillfully with a portable Braille board, Lynx-O brought the Feliner to a successful landing. Two hundred yards away, Mumm-Ra’s pyramid loomed. Though overcast, the skies were calm. The ground was still, the air was heavy, and the pyramid seemed inactive. Sensing all this, Lynx-O couldn’t help but feel a trifle uneasy. Something was going on.

"Lynx-O, I don’t like this. Nope. Something about this just isn’t right, snarfer, snarfer." Apparently, Snarfer also felt nervous. It wasn’t just Lynx-O’s imagination.

"It feels uncertain," the lynx agreed. And uncertain was probably the best way to describe what was happening. It was as if the pyramid was brooding. As if it didn’t know its next step. Undecided, Lynx-O thought. Uncertain.

The two began to creep closer to the towering monstrosity. Resting beside it lay the Lunattacker, Vultureman’s Flying Machine, a Skycutter, and a Nosediver. "Lunatacs and mutants," Snarfer hissed. "What are they doing here?"

"Cooperating," Lynx-O answered.

Beside him, Snarfer let out a low growl. "Now I really don’t like this. Let’s get the Thundercats out of this and get back."

Despite his growing feelings of unease, Lynx-O had to hide a smile at Snarfer’s statement. "I think getting in, getting out, and freeing them are going to take a bit more planning." Using a small sonic device, Lynx-O examined the surrounding area. "There’s still an open entrance into the pyramid on the north side. That must be how the Lunatacs and mutants entered."

"It will be guarded," Snarfer warned.

"All things here are guarded."

Snarfer grumbled something about paranoia and scampered silently ahead of Lynx-O. As far as his snarf eyes could see, the coast was clear. As he got closer to the pyramid, he could see the small doorway that Lynx-O had found earlier. Nothing moved in it. So far, their presence around the pyramid had gone undetected. But Snarfer didn’t feel that would last. Lynx-O came up behind him, carefully navigating the craggy ground. "What’s the next move?" the snarf whispered.

Studying the doorway, Lynx-O considered for a while before replying. "We’ll be sitting ducks if we go down that way," he finally answered. "But there isn’t another way into the pyramid unless we want to attract a lot of attention. But there’s nothing to protect us here. And nothing for us to use as shelter."

"It is dark," Snarfer offered. "That should hide us for a while."

"Darkness won’t inhibit Mumm-Ra or RedEye." Lynx-O thought for a little more, but couldn’t fathom a different approach. He shook his head in frustration, but the time for a decision had come and gone. "Let’s go," he whispered. "But we stay together and we stay low."

* * * *

Snarf awoke to what sounded like complete chaos. His first impulse was to scold the Thunderkittens, but before he could summon the strength to do that, he realized he was chained. And then the fight came back to him. Slowly opening his eyes, he looked around.

The first thing he saw was Bengali. The white tiger was chained next to him, but hadn’t noticed that Snarf was awake. He was intent on the scene that was taking place over by Cheetara. And this scene soon enveloped Snarf, too. Wiley Kit and Cheetara were yelling at Mumm-Ra to listen to them. Luna was threatening to have Amok break Lion-O in half, though Lion-O clearly wasn’t struggling. The Sword of Omens lay at the lion’s feet, but the leader made no move to retrieve it. Vultureman was waving his arms and trying to get the attention of the other mutants who were urging Amok to squeeze Lion-O into a mass of goo. The only one not involved in some way was Pumyra, who lay unconscious on Snarf’s other side.

"That’s the way to handle this," Snarf whispered to himself. "Unconscious like Pumyra." With this thought in mind, he tried to keep completely skill and listen to what was going on.

Mumm-Ra was calling for quiet and for once he was being heeded. "Now, Cheetara has something she wishes to share. We shall hear it, and then decide Lion-O’s fate." Mumm-Ra’s tone of voice didn’t bode well for the fate of the lion.

"I think I may have an answer for you," Cheetara began. There was instant murmuring, but it quieted down. Cheetara continued, talking quickly to get it all in. "Mumm-Ra, your gateway star is really a quasar. It works with a singularity to dispel energy and matter into this dimension. But when you pulled its energy to this earth, it displaced what was here and formed a dimensional tear. For want of a better term, we could call this tear a black hole. And it’s still here because the quasar is still dispelling energy here. To stop it and reverse what’s happened, you need to redirect the energy back to the original black hole."

There was complete silence when Cheetara finished. It took some of them a little while to grasp what she had said, but Vultureman immediately caught on. "There’s a singularity on Third Earth? How hard were you hit over the head? That defies all the laws of physics."

"Channeling energy from a quasar does, too," Kit broke in. "But with the assistance of super natural powers, it was done."

"I say we squish the lion," Monkian suggested.

"And how did you come up with any of this?" TugMug demanded of Cheetara. "Did you sixth sense tell you or did you actually think for yourself?"

Cheetara bristled but managed to keeper her temper under control. "I know you won’t believe this, but this singularity has started to affect me, too. And mentally, I’ve become tied to Alluro and Tygra. I’m partly in their world. I can hear them, and I can almost see them. This was Tygra’s idea."

"All right, kitty," Vultureman sneered. "If this was Tygra’s idea, why don’t you point him out to me? Where is your striped friend?"

Cheetara visibly relaxed, seeing an out. "He’s looking over your shoulder at your portable scanner. And he says it’s the most bonehead job of wiring he’s ever seen."

Vultureman jumped and brought the scanner in close to his chest. "You may have gotten him right, but where are some of the others?"

"Panthro and Ma-Mutt are over next to Lion-O. Kat, Alluro, and Jackalman are behind me and a little to my left. Chilla is pacing around the pyramid. Right now, she’s next to the cauldron."

"Well?" Slithe asked. "Is she right?"

Wordlessly, Vultureman nodded his head. There was complete silence. During this entire time, Mumm-Ra had been watching, listening, and thinking. Now he decided to act. "We will need to go to where the energy from the star is strongest," he instructed. "It’s too weak here. I can’t feel it at all. We need to go back to the canyon where this all began."

"You’re not taking them seriously, are you?" Luna demanded.

Mumm-Ra glared at her. "Bring the prisoners with you," he ordered. "They’ll act as insurance."

"But even if she can see or hear Tygra, that doesn’t mean Tygra’s right," Vultureman protested.

"The principals this spell was based on have come back to me. Cheetara is right. I don’t know if this will work, but I don’t see an alternative," the mummy grumbled. "And I don’t see a need to explain myself to you," he added with a warning note growing in his voice. "We are going back to the plateau. All of us."

* * * *

Lynx-O and Snarfer leaped back into the convenient shadows of a statue as the mutants, Lunatacs, Thundercats, and ever-living demon made their way out of the pyramid. The two had overheard enough of the conversation to be thoroughly confused. And yet at the same time, hope had begun again. The missing Thundercats might still be returned to them. But they would have to act quickly.

"We’ll need to follow them," Lynx-O decided. "If this works, and the others come back from that alternate plane of existence, they’ll be surrounded by adversaries."

"They already are," Snarfer observed. He and the lynx started to creep after their opponents. "And what about the Thundranium? Uncle Snarf and I are okay, but what about the rest of you?"

"You and Snarf will have to handle the Thundranium, then," Lynx-O answered.

Snarfer came to a dead halt. "You mean you don’t have a clear plan?" Though the snarf was part of the Thundercat’s team and tried to play the part of an independent youngster, he was far too reliant on the guidance of the older cats. In times of trouble where instinct led him one way, he usually heeded their advice. An uncertain Lynx-O bothered him more than anything else about their current situation.

"Not yet," the lynx was saying. "I will, but not yet. I need to get a better feel of the situation. I don’t know what will happen when Mumm-Ra attempts this. I just know, I feel, that we will be needed."

Hesitant about the situation, Snarfer nodded slowly. "Then it better be a good plan, snarfer, snarfer. With all those enemies, there isn’t room for error."

"Snarfer, in our work, there is never room for error."

* * * *

The moment he set foot outside the Lunattacker and onto the plateau where it all began, Tygra knew part of his theory was right. The displacement was stronger here. He could feel himself getting weaker and weaker. A grunt from behind told him his feelings were shared.

"So far, so good," Alluro groaned. "I think."

"Keep close together," Panthro warned, but the warning wasn’t necessary. Even Ma-Mutt sensed the need for closeness as the feeling of being pushed out of existence, or pulled, Tygra corrected himself, grew stronger.

"And make sure we keep Ma-Mutt in the center of our little circle. I don’t want Mumm-Ra singling him out and leaving the rest of us," Chilla added.

"I don’t think he could do that," Tygra argued. "I think the transition has to be all or nothing. I don’t think he can single something out. And if he cuts that quasar’s link with our world, we’re all back."

"If we make it that long without dying," Kat murmured.

"We will," Panthro affirmed, though his confidence was only skin deep. More than ever, he felt the impending touch of death. A demon he’d managed to cheat for years, he felt it finally catching up to him. One little push, and over he’d go.

"Come on, if we’re going to go through with this charade, let’s get it over with," Jackalman grumped. But the others noticed that he, too, was staying close to them and there was a hint of fear in his scavenger eyes.

Mumm-Ra was standing in the center of the plateau with his head bowed. He appeared to be in deep concentration. Everyone else stood a respectful distance away, but Luna’s patience was growing thin.

After several minutes of nothing, Luna was at the end of her rope. "Come on, bonehead! We don’t have all day."

Once again bound by Thundranium, the conscious Thundercat prisoners regarded her with disgust. Pumyra was still asleep and Snarf was still pretending to be.

Mumm-Ra lifted his head at Luna’s outburst and his red eyes gleamed. "Do you wish the return of Alluro and Chilla? If you do, be silent." He bowed his head again and slowly raised his arms. "I can feel it," he whispered. "The energy is here. It forks from the star. Some of it comes here."

"Can you reverse it?" Vultureman asked.

Mumm-Ra didn’t answer. He stood there with his arms raised, silent atop the dusty mesa. Luna shifted restlessly atop Amok. Amok could sense her frustration, but his simple mind didn’t understand the source. He wondered if he should try and break the Sword of Omens that Luna had strapped to his back. Maybe that would make her happy. But he would have to move when he did that, and Luna was happier when Amok wasn’t moving. It was a complex problem. Fortunately for Amok, an insect landed at his feet, and he completely forgot about his problem while he watched it.

Meanwhile, Vultureman was fiddling with his portable scanner and finding alarming results. "Awwwk, if you’re going to do something, you’d better do it soon. Their readings are getting weaker."

The mummy sighed. "I shall attempt it, but this is not a standard spell. Anything could happen."

"That’s the last thing I wanted to hear," Alluro gasped, trying desperately to get the oxygen that just wouldn’t circulate anymore. "An unconfident mummy who’s willing to admit it in front of his enemies. I don’t think this is a good idea anymore."

"I don’t think it ever was a good idea," Panthro grumbled.

"Just hang on," Tygra instructed. "We’ll get through this."

Silence fell over the canyon. All eyes were on Mumm-Ra. Standing completely still at the center of attention, the ancient mummy closed his eyes and focused all his concentration inward. Tentatively, he reached out for some kind of link with the energy from the star. He could feel it coursing down through space. He could feel it displacing bits and pieces of Third Earth. As he allowed himself to fall deeper into his trance, he could almost sense those things that were being displaced. Reaching out, he felt the presence of Ma-Mutt. But it was a presence that was growing weaker and weaker. He felt two others who were holding onto something in the real world and trying to keep the others with them. He felt Cheetara pulling with them, fighting the energies that were trying to blast them from existence.

Mumm-Ra fought down a wave of impatience. This had to be handled delicately. He couldn’t afford to make a mistake. "Slowly," he murmured to himself. Analyzing the energies at play, he mentally constructed a counter-spell. Running through it in his mind, the mummy realized that to reverse what had been done, he would have to bring more energy to Third Earth. He didn’t know if Ma-Mutt could take more energy.

Opening his eyes, Mumm-Ra looked at those gathered around him. Had circumstances been different, he would have gloated. Everyone was waiting on him. But at the time, the thought never entered his head. He only knew what had to be done and was suddenly certain that he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t take the risk. But if he didn’t act, Ma-Mutt was doomed for certain.

Making what was one of the more difficult decisions of his life in a lifetime that spanned millennia, Mumm-Ra reached out to his source of power, the Ancient Spirits of Evil. "Evil ones," he murmured. "I need once more, the power to channel the energies of space and time. Give me, your ever-living servant of evil, the power to save my minions." Though he didn’t add anything else to his plea, Mumm-Ra knew the Ancient Spirits would see the fine print. They would know this power also saved their enemies. And for a brief moment, Mumm-Ra felt nothing. A wave of fear washed through him. What if the Spirits refused his request, preferring to see Third Earth gradually fade away into oblivion? But then, as he was about to despair, the power he requested shot through him. Without hesitation, refusing to reconsider the consequences should this not work, Mumm-Ra released his spell.

To those watching, nothing happened at first. And then winds began to pick up. Light began to gather. Golden light, blue light, sudden crackles of lightning. And then Mumm-Ra gave a great cry as he was bathed in glow of amber.

In the world of the displaced ones, they huddled together as the forces they battled grew stronger. Breathing was impossible. Air no longer obeyed their heaving chests. Gripping as many as he could with his failing strength, Tygra concentrated on the only thing keeping them from fading away. He hurled himself, body, mind, and presence, at his only link to the real world. And with him went Alluro. Together, they hammered into Cheetara’s mind.

Cheetara screamed as the forces tearing the world apart rushed to enter her mind. She felt Alluro and Tygra crying for help. She could no longer see or hear them; they were pulled away too far and too fast. But she could dimly sense them. A faint mental hold was all that was left, but that was enough. Without another thought, she abandoned her Thundranium weak body and plunged after her friends.

Tygra!

Tygra’s mental hold on her mind grew stronger as she fell deeper out of existence. Here! We’re still here!

Cheetara started to pull back to the real world, using her body as a basis. But she couldn’t take the others with her. You’ve got to come with me! she shouted.

Kat was clutching Panthro’s waist, Ma-Mutt was in Panthro’s arms, and Tygra had Panthro’s shoulders in a grip of iron. Beside him, Alluro was locked with Chilla while Jackalman clung to both Alluro and Tygra. Tygra cast a despairing glance at the Lunatac next to him. Neither could breathe, but with the mental link they had established, they could read each other’s thoughts. We’ll never make it, was Alluro’s contribution.

Tygra could feel himself losing consciousness, but he refused to give in. Just a little longer! Mumm-Ra has to reverse it!

Sorry, the Lunatac answered as his eyes started to roll back into his head. His body began to grow faint and with it went Chilla, already starting to collapse. Ma-Mutt was already completely out and fading fast. Kat was starting to fall, Panthro was pitching forward, Jackalman was almost out, and Tygra himself knew his limits.

Cheetara? he called out with the last energy he had. I’m sorry.

NO!

Tygra had no answer for her. He could feel himself slipping into oblivion. Darkness had enveloped him. He couldn’t hear, he couldn’t see, he couldn’t feel. Cheetara’s hold on him grew weaker, weaker, weaker…

He felt it slip at last, his only link with the real world, and his last sensation was a sudden rushing of wind.

* * * *

But Cheetara also felt that sudden onrush of wind and recognized it for what it was. It was the reversal of energy. Mumm-Ra was pulling the energy away from the world. Catching her hold on the tiger just before it completely faded, she held on with all her strength. She could feel the others still dimly tied to them, but not one evinced any sign of consciousness. She knew she couldn’t hold them for long, but Cheetara didn’t have to. The energy suddenly blasted them all out of their world of quasi-existence. Cheetara was rocketed back to her own body. Completely exhausted, she dropped into the darkness of sleep.

* * * *

"IT WORKED!" Vultureman crowed. "IT WORKED!"

Before him, in one large heap, the bodies of his comrades and enemies suddenly appeared. As one, they heaved a large breath of air.

From his chained position, Snarf gave out a large breath of relief. But a hand suddenly clamped itself on his mouth. "Shhh! We’ve got to get you out of here."

Turning around in surprise, Snarf saw his nephew working hurriedly as his chains. "Snarfer?"

"No time for talk, unc. We’ve got to work fast. Lynx-O’s going to protect everyone who just came back. We’ve got to free the other Thundercats."

Snarf turned back to watch the scene in front of him. Mumm-Ra had fallen forward and was shaking violently. RedEye, TugMug, Luna, and Amok were staring at the pile of intertwined bodies that had suddenly appeared. Vultureman was leaping up and down, Monkian was gaping, and Slithe was frozen where he stood. The only one not rooted to the ground was Lynx-O, who suddenly appeared in front of his fellow Thundercats. His light shield was out and his defensive posture was perfect. "No one move," the lynx growled.

"Come on!" Snarfer hissed in his uncle’s ear. He had already shoved a lock pick into Snarf’s hand and had moved on to work on Lion-O’s chains. Making himself move, Snarf picked himself up quietly and went to Pumyra’s side. The puma was pale as a sheet. During her entire imprisonment, not once had she awakened. Snarf tried not to think of what this might mean. She was breathing, but she had a nasty gash on the back of her head. Grumbling to himself, Snarf went to work on her manacles, praying that if they ever returned to the Cat’s Lair, something could be done for her. Next to him, Snarfer went to work on Bengali’s chains while a Thundranium weakened lion tried to regain his strength.

* * * *

"I don’t know where you came from," Slithe hissed, "but you’ll regret it, yesss."

Lynx-O couldn’t see the reptile, but he knew exactly where the mutant stood. He pivoted to face him, keeping track of where the others were at the same time. "Back off, Slithe. We’ll give you your jackal. Just let us take our Thundercats home."

"What kind of idiots do you take us for?" Luna shrieked. She and the other Lunatacs were advancing. Lynx-O backed up, silently urging Snarfer to hurry. He needed help.

"You don’t have proper medical facilities in Skytomb," the old Thundercat tried. "Let us take them to Cat’s Lair for examination. They may need medical assistance."

"The only one needing medical assistance will be you, Thundercat," Vultureman cackled.

Lynx-O suddenly jumped backwards and a blast of light stabbed out from his shield. A leaping Monkian yelped as he was shoved backwards. "I don’t think so," Lynx-O laughed. "You can’t even sneak up on an old, blind Thunderan." But Lynx-O knew that Monkian’s sudden leap had been close. He’d almost missed hearing it.

Just behind the lynx, Panthro stirred and moaned. His eyes opened slowly. They were glazed at first, but then they started to clear. Panthro took a deep breath and froze. He could breathe. He could breathe without undue strain. Hardly daring to hope, he held his hand out over the ground. His shadow lay beneath him. A large grin spread over his face and vanished just as quickly. He saw Lynx-O, his companions, and the array of enemies lined up against them. He surged to his feet, fought down sudden nausea brought on by weakness and lack of food, and took his place beside the old lynx. "Well, it’s good to be back," he commented, trying to hide his wobbliness.

"Ah, Panthro. It’s good to have you back," the lynx greeted.

"What’s all this? A welcome wagon?"

"Something like that," Lynx-O answered.

"Fools!" Mumm-Ra’s voice floated over the plateau to the standoff. He was still on the ground, but his eyes gleamed as he saw Ma-Mutt in the pile of bodies. "Take them while the rest are still unconscious."

It irked Luna to have someone give her orders, but for once, she put her pride aside. It was definitely time for some action. "Charge!"

Slithe felt the same way toward Mumm-Ra, but like Luna, he was also ready for a good fight. "Attack!"

Back to back, Panthro and Lynx-O prepared for the onslaught. But Lynx-O could feel Panthro’s weariness. It was in his voice and the way he turned to meet the attack. "I’m sorry it has to end this way," Lynx-O whispered.

Panthro growled, know what Lynx-O knew but refusing to accept it. "It’s not over yet."

"HO!"

A blast of energy shot through the attacking Lunatacs and mutants, knocking them to the ground. Behind the blast was Lion-O, holding the Sword of Omens and bracing himself on Snarfer. Bengali was getting to his feet, Snarf was moving to join them, and Wiley Kit was dragging Cheetara and Pumyra out of the way.

"No! Not now!" Luna shrieked.

"Lynx-O, can you call the Tank?" Lion-O shouted across the plateau.

"The Feliner is just down the slope. Will that work?" Lynx-O answered.

"Stop them!" Mumm-Ra ordered.

"Not today," Panthro replied, grabbing his nunchucks. Twin rockets exploded at the feet of TugMug and RedEye. Lion-O grabbed Cheetara while Bengali grabbed Pumyra. Together they raced through the cloud of dust and joined the others. Wiley Kit and the snarfs were right behind them. They immediately tried to rouse Tygra and Wiley Kat.

"We’ll have to run for it," Lynx-O observed.

"The Thundercats don’t run," Lion-O protested.

"Lion-O, at any other time I’d be the first to agree with you. But now is not any other time. We’re out-manned, out-maneuvered, and out-gunned. Let’s get out of here." Panthro let fly more rockets, but the mutants were now charging in earnest.

"HO!" Lion-O shouted, raising the Sword and enveloping the group in a shield.

"That won’t hold for long," Bengali warned. "I agree with Lynx-O and Panthro. We’ve got to get to the Feliner."

"They’re waking up!" Snarfer suddenly announced. Tygra and Kat were sitting up groggily, rubbing their heads.

"What happened?" Kat asked.

"Boy I missed you!" Kit exclaimed, throwing herself into her brother’s arms.

"We’re back?" Tygra asked. "We made it?"

"Let’s talk later," Panthro growled. "We’ve got to move."

Lion-O nodded. "Right. Let’s go. Lynx-O and I will hold the rear guard. The rest of you take off for the Feliner. We’ll be right behind you." Lion-O looked around to stifle the ensuing protest. "Now! Bengali, take Cheetara and Pumyra. The rest of you are too weak to do anything. Now, go!"

The shield surrounding them dropped and the attack began. Kit dove off the plateau, dragging Wiley Kat with her. Bengali slid down with Cheetara under one arm and Pumyra under the other. Snarfer and Snarf tugged at both Panthro and Tygra, trying to get them to follow.

"Come on, snaaaarrrf, you’ve got to move!"

Tygra’s whip was shooting streams of fire and Panthro’s nunchucks were also blasting rockets from their hidden compartments. "We can hold our own," Panthro grunted as the kickback from his rockets knocked him into Tygra.

"No you can’t," Lion-O answered, deflecting a Thundranium shot with his sword. "Get to the Feliner."

"You can’t hold them back without us," Tygra protested, trying to regain his balance after Panthro’s hit.

"The others are waking up," Lynx-O snapped. "And if you worked as a team for a while, that will end quickly."

Looking at Alluro, Chilla, and Jackalman, Panthro could see this was true. "But—"

"Shut up and move!" Lion-O ordered.

Panthro was about to protest when Tygra suddenly grabbed the panther’s arm. "He’s right. Let’s go."

Panthro snarled, turned, and tumbled down the plateau with Tygra, Snarf, and Snarfer right behind him. As soon as they went, Lynx-O and Lion-O started to retreat, deflecting attacks and blasts everywhere.

The Feliner’s engines were ready and Bengali was outside hustling everyone in. When Panthro and Tygra rolled to a halt, he was instantly at their side. "Come on, let’s go." Hauling both Thundercats to their feet, he dragged them to the Feliner’s ramp. "Start the rockets!" he shouted to the cockpit. Snarfer and Snarf scampered in just behind the tiger.

"Here come Lion-O and Lynx-O!" Kit hollered back to Bengali.

"As soon as they’re in, we’re airborne," the tiger ordered. He shoved Panthro and Tygra onto the Feliner’s portable medical beds and strapped them down. "Don’t move, I want to have a look at you in a minute." And without another word, he was in the cockpit. Lion-O and Lynx-O came barreling up the ramp and the Feliner lurched as its rockets went to full throttle and the ship took off down the bumpy canyon.

Breathing hard, Lion-O stopped to rest next to Panthro and Tygra. "Well, we made it."

Panthro was already working at undoing his straps. "That was ridiculous."

"Hold it right there," Lynx-O panted, hearing what Panthro was doing. "You may feel fine, but we have no idea what your stay in that other dimension might have done to you. Wait until we get back and secure Cat’s Lair."

"That’s right," Lion-O agreed. "We’ve got the two of you, Wiley Kat, Pumyra, and Cheetara to tend to. So I don’t want any disgruntled patients. Understood?"

"And if they don’t understand, I’ll see to it personally that they get the picture," Snarf added in his best menacing voice.

Tygra sighed. "I know when I’m beat."

"Just don’t be too long about it," Panthro growled. "I’ve never been a good patient and I don’t intend to start."

Lion-O laughed and turned to Lynx-O and the snarfs. "And I thought I missed these guys."

* * * *

"Panthro?"

At the sound of his name, Panthro turned away from the windows in the council room. "Yeah?"

Wiley Kat looked a little hesitant, but came forward anyway. "Did you hear about Cheetara and Pumyra?"

Panthro nodded in response. "Pumyra gets to go back to the Tower of Omens tomorrow, too. Thank Jaga it was nothing more than a nasty concussion."

"And Cheetara doesn’t remember most of what happened. It was too surreal, I guess. At least, that’s what Tygra thinks. Because we were completely gone, we retained our memories. But Cheetara was trapped between both worlds."

The panther gave Kat a measuring look. "You didn’t come in here to ask me if I knew the latest on Cheetara and Pumyra. What’s bothering you?"

Kat shuffled his feet a bit and stared out the large windows. "And we’ve been given a clean bill of health, too." The Thunderkitten hesitated, and then plunged ahead. "I was just thinking. We worked well with the Lunatacs, and even Jackalman wasn’t too much of a hassle. Why? Did they rise to our level, or did we sink to theirs? Or did we meet halfway? Or are we all on the same level, but different sides of it? And why are we on different sides anyway? There wasn’t much of a difference when we were all in it together. It was almost like we didn’t have to be fighting."

Panthro was silent for a while, trying to find an answer and marveling at what Kat had just said. "This has been bothering you for a while, hasn’t it?"

"I guess it seems kind of stupid, but why do we fight when we don’t have to?"

"As much as it seems to be here, the Thundercats weren’t formed to fight. But here on Third Earth, that’s pretty much what we do," the panther conceded. "But the Code of Thundera is really what we’re here for. As long as we uphold it, we’re ultimately in the right. As for why we’re all on different sides, I guess it’s because of different goals. When we were displaced, we all had the same goal. We could work together because of that. Now, our goals are different. And the mutants and Lunatacs have goals that directly conflict with the Code of Thundera."

"I guess it just seems like a big waste," Kat mused. "We didn’t make a bad team."

"No," Panthro agreed. "We didn’t. And it would be great if we could continue to be a good team. But we can’t. They have their goals, and we have ours. And you have to admit, the Thundercats aren’t a bad team by themselves, either."

Kat nodded. "I know. But it was odd the way we all kind of worked together."

"Yeah, but the Thundercats have something that we never had when we were displaced. The Thundercats aren’t only a team; we’re a family. And when it comes right down to it, that’s all that matters."

"I wonder if Chilla and Alluro felt like we worked as a team," Kat pondered.

"Let’s hope not," Panthro growled. "If the Lunatacs and mutants ever figure out how to become a team, we don’t stand a chance. Their arguments and squabbling are probably our biggest ally."

Kat nodded thoughtfully. "Well, thanks for the talk," he said. "I’m going to see if I can find Kit. It’s amazing that she let me out of her sight for even a few minutes."

"She’s just glad to have you back," Panthro laughed. "Be thankful. I doubt Jackalman, Alluro, or Chilla got the same reception."

"Because we’re a family," Kat added. "And that’s what makes us a great team, right?"

"Right."

Kat’s eyes took on a different look as he glanced at Panthro. "And because we’re family, we help each other out. Right?"

Panthro eyed the kitten warily, but couldn’t see what was coming. "Right."

"So if one of us had a chore to do, and they wanted to do something else—"

"Get out of here," Panthro laughed. "I am not helping you with the dishes. Besides, I’ve got guard duty after dinner."

Kat grinned. "Thanks anyway." He walked toward the door of the council room. "It’s good to be back."

After Kat left, Panthro stared out the windows, thinking of what the kitten had said. The boy had struck home. Panthro realized that when he was caught between two planes of existence, what frightened him the most was the fact that he might fail the Thundercats and that he would never be with most of them again. Family. "Yes, Kat," the gray warrior whispered. "It is very good to be back."

The End

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