A New Beginning? -- Chapters 10, 11, and 12
Chapter 10 Panthro and a few of the Lockti set about fixing the control panels in Cat’s Lair on New Thundera while the rest helped the wounded. The injuries varied from cut and lacerations to broken bones. “We have two broken arms and one broken leg that need immediate attention. Cheetara, can they bring over their Extractor?” Lion-O asked. Quickly, the cheetah relayed the question and received an answer. “They are bringing it over.” She told him. “Excellent. Panthro how long before you can get the power back up?” The Lord of the ThunderCats wondered. “I’m going to have to check the levels of Thundrillium and see why it isn’t flowing into the power channels.” The panther told him. “Uh about the power supply. Mumm-Ra emptied it before he left.” Kit spoke up. “What?” All the ThunderCats looked at her with the exception of her brother. “Yeah, he said that we weren’t going to be able to ruin his plans this time and he would finish us off later.” Kat said in his sister’s defense. “Well I guess we have to get some more Thundrillium.” The Lord of the ThunderCats sighed. “Don’t worry, Lion-O. We have our friends to help us.” Lynx-O smiled. That’s when Cheetara grabbed the side of her head. Quickly Lion-O was at her side. While he was trying to help her, the Lockti listened intently to Cae’s shouts. Then in an instant, they grabbed their Extractor and ran out through the control room doors. “Where are they going?” Lynx-O asked as he could feel the vibrations from the running feet. “The others have summoned them. They are returning to Third Earth.” Cheetara said as she let go of her head. Quickly the ThunderCats raced out of control room and out of Cat’s Lair but they were too late. The silver almond shaped ship took off for the atmosphere at an incredibly fast speed. “Now we’re stuck here. The Feliner is back on Third Earth.” Cheetara said. “I haven’t finished the engine modifications for the ThunderStrike yet so I guess we are stuck.” Panthro said. “Well then there are only a few things we can do. One, we have to get the sick bay doors open and move all the wounded inside. Next, we have to take the ThunderClaw out and retrieve Thundrillium. Panthro, try to get the control room in working order while the rest of us handle everything else. ThunderCats Ho!” Lion-O told them. Quickly, the group set about their tasks. On Third Earth, Tygra continued to call New Thundera but was getting no response. He had an unsettled feeling in his stomach about the whole situation. “Any luck reaching the others?” Ben-Gali asked as he walked into the Tower of Omens’ control room. “I’m not getting a response. How is Pumyra?” The orange tiger asked. “Well she gave me an argument about being left in her old room but I told her that if she didn’t listen to me that I’d be forced to strap her down so she let it go.” Ben-Gali told him. “Sounds like she’s feeling almost like her old self. Short of flying to New Thundera in the Feliner, what are we going to do?” Tygra wondered. “I think we’d better sit tight. We can’t leave Pumyra here alone and we can’t leave Third Earth alone either.” The white tiger said. “I’ll continue to try to contact New Thundera and then we’ll come up with a plan.” Tygra nodded. ************************* Mumm-Ra stood over his boiling cauldron watching the scene in space unfold. The Lockti were fighting amongst each other, not sure if they should risk their own safety by returning to the ThunderCats on New Thundera and Third Earth. He smiled as he lifted his arms to cast a new spell. Chanting in an ancient language known only to those that have lived for over a thousand years, Mumm-Ra watched as the heavenly bodies moved and to make way for the Lockti’s destruction. Chapter 11 Out in space, Qual took in all the arguments from his men. As their leader, the final decision was his to make but it was one he wouldn’t make lightly. Another tremor like that and some of the men wouldn’t be so lucky to escape with only minor damage to their sensitive systems. However, their new allies needed them. They were duty bound to their friends and until the tracking sensors were fixed they could not go home anyway. Standing from his chair, he addressed the troops. We cannot leave our friends when they need us. However without a good way of communicating with them, they will not understand why we left. Moc, get to work on a translator or some way of communicating with the ThunderCats on Third Earth. One of the men interrupted. Sir, we are in great danger if we remain on the planet. Another tremor could… Qual didn’t let him finish. We have never turned down our allies before and this is no time to start. We cannot go home and because of us our friends do not have a home, so we stay and help them. Another man interrupted him. Look what helping our allies did the last time! We fought for them and then we were forced out into space with our ships damaged and half of us dead. Qual turned and confronted the one who spoke out. If we are to repair our ships then we will need their help. If we don’t help them, we will float in space forever until we are all dead. Do you want that? I am your commanding officer and I have made my decision. Lox radio the second ship and tell them to return to New Thundera. The rest of us are to return to Third Earth. With that the crew set about doing as they were ordered and that’s when the alarm systems inside the ship went off. It’s a meteor shower! Cried the helmsman ******************************** On Third Earth, Tygra continued his efforts to reach New Thundera but all he got was static. Ben-Gali fiddled with a translator trying to modify it. I guess the worst part is that we won’t even know if this works until they come back. I’m not a whiz like Panthro or Snarfer.” The white tiger said. “If they come back. The earthquake must have affected them in an awful manner. It’s seems hard to imagine that a creature could be so sensitive to their surroundings. I have a sneaking suspicion that the earthquake was anything but natural.” Tygra told him. “I’m with you on that. It had to be Mumm-Ra. I mean when we got here there would have been seismic readings and alerts all over the screens and there was nothing. But could he send a spell all the way over here?” Ben-Gali wondered. “The last time Lion-O fought Mumm-Ra, he was more powerful than ever before. I think it’s safe to say he can do a lot of things he couldn’t before.” The orange tiger told him and then saw something coming in on the scanners. Up in her room, Pumyra couldn’t stand the fact that she still was having trouble feeling anything. The Extractor had healed up her shoulder and by poking herself she found that she could feel now down to the top of her thighs but no matter what she did she couldn’t get her legs to obey any of her commands. Damn it. I can’t be lying around while the others need me. The puma cursed herself. Determined to do something, she sat up, grabbed her legs and forced them over the side of the bed. Even if I have to crawl, I’m joining them in the control room. Things at Cat’s Lair on New Thundera were moving along as Lion-O, Cheetara, Lynx-O and Snarfer moved the Thundrillium into the melting room and began to make bars for the power system. “This is going to take at least another few hours to get enough to fill the tank. In the meantime we’re stuck here with our swords hanging out.” The Lord of the ThunderCats said. “Uh huh well we can help Snarfer make sure the system isn’t damaged.” Cheetara smirked. “So far it looks like everything is hunky dory but I won’t know until I’m able to turn it on and I can’t do that until we have the Thundrillium refined, snarfer, snarfer.” The young snarf said. “Well I’ll go check on how Panthro and the others are doing and then come back down here.” Lion-O told them. “Good luck.” Cheetara said. “Yes good luck Lion-O and don’t worry. We can handle things down here.” Lynx-O smiled. The Lord of the ThunderCats smiled and nodded and then headed upstairs. Chapter 12 Battle stations everyone! Take evasive action! Get us to the planet’s surface as fast as possible! Qual shouted to the men. They raced around the inside of the spaceship and quickly took up their posts. A meteor rocked the ship and the helmsman cried out, Our shields can take much more of the beating. They’ll hold just get us to Third Earth. Qual told him. Another meteor shook the space ship and a cry went up from the engine room. We’ve lost thruster four and number three is on its way out. Divert all power to thrusters one and two. We have to make it to Third Earth. Qual ordered. There was no response from the engine room as the ship took another hit. Call the engine room! Qual ordered. The helmsman tried to reach them but he never got the chance. The silver almond ship hit Third Earth’s atmosphere followed by a large explosion. Cheetara grabbed her head and let out a loud scream. The immense pain in her head was too much to handle and she passed out. Lynx-O quickly rushed to her side. “What happened?” Snarfer asked. “I don’t know but I feel a huge disturbance.” The lynx said. “Is she ok?” Snarfer wondered as Lynx-O checked her over. The cheetah’s pulse was weak and she was barely breathing. “Stay here and get the Thundrillium loaded.” He told the young snarf as he scooped Cheetara up in his arms. Snarfer was about to object but he never got the chance as Lynx-O was already leaving the room. Despite being blind, Lynx-O knew every inch of Cat’s Lair and he would get the cheetah some help. Halfway up to the sick bay, he ran into Lion-O. The Lord of the ThunderCats had been charging down the ramp. “The Sword told me that Cheetara’s was in trouble. What happened?” The lion asked as he took the unconscious cheetah from Lynx-O. The two quickly started up to the sick bay and the lynx explained what had happened on the way. Once they reached their destination, Lion-O laid Cheetara down and checked her vitals. Her pulse was still weak and her breathing wasn’t much better. Both ThunderCats were unsure of what to do next when the Sword of Omens growled. On Third Earth, sensors were going off all over the Tower of Omens. Quickly, Tygra pulled up the screens and saw what was happening. “There are some large objects entering our atmosphere. They look like they’re heading for Dark Side.” The orange tiger said. “Can you increase the images? What exactly is entering our atmosphere?” Ben-Gali asked. Tygra zoomed in and the readings came up on the screen. “Titanium, steel, and rock. Sounds like part of a meteor. Wait a minute, those pieces look familiar.” Tygra zoomed in some more. “It’s the Lockti’s ships! We have to get over to Dark Side now!” “Great Jaga! Come on let’s get in the ThunderTank.” Ben-Gali said. Quickly the two ThunderCats raced down to the hangar and jumped into the tank. The traction locked and the engine fired as the shot off across the desert toward Dark Side. Back inside the Tower, Pumyra inched toward the control room. She’d heard the alarms go off and she tried to hurry but her hands and arms were aching from pulling herself such a distance. The puma then heard the ThunderTank rev up and she knew there was no way to catch the tigers, so instead she continued to the control room and they would be surprised when they got back. ****************** Mumm-Ra watched the Lockti’s ships fall into Third Earth’s atmosphere. An evil smirk crossed his lips. “Two down one to go.” He said. To Be Continued...