Trust issues -- Chapters 9 and 10
Sorry I didn't post last week. I was at my cousin's wedding. Chapter 9 Panthro and Ben-Gali put their protective suits on and headed into the plastic containment area. They carried their tools and searched around the outside of the ship for what would seem to be an electrical panel. “The markings on the ship are all mixed up. Some are burned off and others are just plain missing.” Ben-Gali commented through their radios. “It does seem odd but of course back when they made the ship everyone might have had certain specs and made a lot of the ships the same way.” Panthro remarked. “So good for them and bad for us.” The white tiger shook his head. “Basically.” His friend smirked. The two kept looking until Panthro found what they were looking for. “Here it is. Lets crack this bad boy open.” The two worked on the panel and managed to get it off. Inside was a mess of wires and panels. “Oh boy. I guess they weren’t much for organization.” Ben-Gali sighed. “I guess not. Lucky for us, the navigational panels are unique and easy to tell from the others.” Panthro said as he carefully moved through the panels on the right side of the compartment with his fingers. Ben-Gali looked around on the left side and soon the two had found what they were looking for. “Wow. These seem to be in bad shape.” The panther gave a questioning look. “If you’re saying that then I know we’re in trouble.” Ben-Gali teased. “No, I should still be able to pull stuff off of them it’ll just take longer than I was hoping is all.” Panthro explained. “Well let’s get this panel back on and then we can take a better look at them in the shop.” The white tiger said. Panthro gave a nod and the two made quick work of the removed outside panel. Then the two headed back to Cat’s Lair. On the other side of the planet, a dark shadowy figure stood above his bubbling cauldron watching the scene unfold. He smirked and raised his decaying hands up to clear the waters. Slowly the red caped figured turned and headed for his sarcophagus. “I know you are there Dolosa. You can’t hide from me.” Mumm-Ra said to what seemed to be no one. “I think I’m losing my touch.” The shadowy figure materialized out of nowhere. “That is possible considering I haven’t heard from you in over a hundred years.” The ancient mummy turned to the figure that now stood in front of him. “But what is a hundred years to you? It’s like spitting into the mighty ocean.” Dolosa commented. “This is true. So what brings you to New Thundera?” Mumm-Ra questioned. “Can’t I come visit my old friend?” The shifty creature asked. “Yes when you want something and considering you live up to your namesake I feel even less eager to help you.” Mumm-Ra told her. “This time is different. I’m here to help you.” Dolosa said. “Really? And what makes you think you can help me?” The ever-living source of evil wondered as he turned and headed for his tomb. “There are some pesky creatures on this planet and I thought that it would be fun to use them as my puppets. I believe they are called the ThunderCats.” This made Mumm-Ra stop in his tracks. “I figured I could use my gift and make them turn on each other and those they are sworn to protect. Only problem is when I’m finished with them, this planet will be without a ruler.” Dolosa told him. “Why is that a problem?” Mumm-Ra inquired. “You know I hate the light. So if we created a partnership, I figure this planet will be easy pickings.” The shadowy figure said. “Ah, so you want me to step in when you cannot.” The ancient pile of bandages gave her a questioning look. “Kind of. With you terrorizing them during the day and me terrorizing them at night, the whole planet will collapse.” Dolosa smirked. “I like the sound of that.” Mumm-Ra gave a gruesome smile. Chapter 10 Cheetara awoke from her induced sleep to find Pumyra sitting next to her bed. The cheetah was surprised that her husband wasn’t there. “Where is Lion-O?” She rasped out of her dry throat. The puma handed her a glass of water and the cheetah quickly quenched her thirst. “He went to go check on the boys process with the navigational panels.” Pumyra smiled. “The Boys?” Cheetara asked. “Sorry, Panthro and Ben-Gali. Those two have been joined at the hip for the past few days.” The puma chuckled. “I bet. So do you think I’m crazy?” Cheetara wondered. “No, and neither does anyone else. That tape you found on the ship has proved that something was going on among the crew of Solvay’s Pride. Lion-O is still extremely worried about you though.” Pumyra told her. “Sometimes I worry that Snarf somehow rubbed off on him.” The cheetah cracked a smile. This made them both laugh. “Well you are the mother of his cub and his wife. I think that gives him a right to worry.” Pumyra said as she carefully lifted herself out of her seat. Cheetara smiled thoughtfully and changed the subject. “So not much longer until your cub comes along.” “No, a few more weeks and I’ll have my regular body back. Although I think I will miss the shelf I had.” The puma joked. “I know I didn’t miss it. The not being able to go on missions and having to make Lion-O always running around getting things for me.” The cheetah said. Pumyra was about to answer when the general alert went off. “BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!” “I’d better go check that out.” The puma started waddling for the door. “Oh no you don’t.” Cheetara removed the monitor patches that were on her chest and got out of bed. The instrument panel set off an alarm but the cheetah quickly shut it off. “You keep your cub safe and I’ll go check it out. I want out of that bed anyway.” Before Pumyra could argue, Cheetara was gone in a flash. The female ThunderCat raced down the hall to the control room where the twins had just shut the alarm off. “What’s going on?” Cheetara asked. “Something tripped the sensors but we can’t see anything.” WilyKat told her. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?” WilyKit wondered. “Did you run the Cat’s Eyes?” The cheetah inquired, ignoring the girl’s question. “I did but they didn’t pick up anything.” Kat explained. “Reset the sensors and keep your eyes peeled. I’ll go find Lion-O; maybe the Sword of Omens can help.” Cheetara said. “He’s with Ben-Gali and Panthro in the workshop.” Kit told her. The cheetah gave a nod and was out the door in a second. Within a matter of moments she was in the workshop and found the three ThunderCats. “What’s all the hubbub?” Ben-Gali asked. “Why aren’t you in bed?” Lion-O wondered. “I’m not sure what the hubbub is and as far as being in bed, I can’t take it anymore. Lion-O can you look through the Sword and see if anything is going on outside?” Cheetara inquired. He wasn’t sure why he should but he did it without question. If something had tripped the sensors and the cheetah needed him to look then he’d look. “Sword of Omens give me Sight Beyond Sight.” He commanded. To Be Continued...