Trouble with Bits and
bites
chapter 1
by Leanna
Kat sat at the computer
console in the main control room of cat's lair, he was in the
process of running a routine scan when an error message popped on the
computer screen," File not found. What the…. what do you mean
file not found," Kat grumbled pushing more buttons and typing in
codes. No matter what he tried nothing happened he kept getting the
same error message. The young man sighed and called down to the
hanger, "Panthro you got a minute..i'm having a slight problem up
here".
Panthro looked up from under the hood of the tank and
grabbed an old rag and wiped off his hands," what kind of a
problem, "the panther asked.
"Come up and you'll see,"
Kat replied and cut the connection.
"Times like this I wish
there was two of me," the panther grumbled as he headed up to the
control room.
Kat was nearly at his wits end when Panthro
arrived, "So what's your slight problem," He asked.
Kat
turned in his chair," there's something wrong with the computer,"
Kat said, "it's giving me error messages and saying it can't
perform certain tasks because the file isn't found".
"Well
I was working fine this morning," the panther nodded, "I checked
it myself"
"Well something happened, from the time you
checked it and when I came on duty," Kat snorted.
"Who was in
here this morning," Panthro asked trying to see what the problem
was.
"Umm, not sure, it won't let me call up the logs," Kat
frowned.
"Who was on when you got here," Panthro asked
shaking his head.
"Umm, snarf was here when I got here then he
left," Kat said.
Panthro grumbled and walked over to the comms
, "Snarf did you touch the computer this morning when you were in
here," He asked.
"No Panthro I just stopped in and no one was
around so I stayed until Kat arrived, "Snarf answered back.
"Well
someone who didn't know what they were doing messed up the system
then took off," Panthro growled looking back at the control panel.
"Kat. Grab the manual and back up disks, we have to locate the
problem," the panther sighed.
"I would but their gone," Kat
said.
"Gone what do you mean gone, "The panther growled,
"that's it if I find out who's been messing around with the
computer system their hide won't be worth dust".
"I'm
sure it was an honest mistake," Kat said feeling sorry for who ever
done this.
"Mistake or not, who ever done this should have
called for help," Panthro snorted and sat heavily down in the
chair.
Kat said and tried to think of where all the thundercats
were; he knew some where out on patrol and other's were off else
where and weren't due back for a few hours, so the only left him,
Panthro and….." oh boy," Kat said.
"What," The panther
asked giving the young man a side ways glance.
"Oh umm, nothing
just thinking," Kat nodded and played around with the computer some
more.
"You know who do this..Don't you," Panthro asked.
"I'm sure she didn't mean too. You know how complex this
system is," Kat nodded.
"Yes I know I built the thing,"
Panthro said cocking a brow.
"And well her being fairly new and
she don't know the system that well, it would be easy to make a
mistake," Kat shrugged hoping that the panther would be calm enough
to see his point.
Panthro grumbled and rolled his eyes, "I'll
go find her," he said getting out of his seat.
As soon as he
stepped out in the hallway, the woman in question had her face buried
in the manual grumbling to herself, she didn't see the big panther
until she ran smack into him. The lioness felt like she ran into a
brick wall as she started to fall backwards.
"So we're
returning to the scene of the crime," Panthro asked lightly
grabbing the woman's arm to keep her from falling.
Leanna
slowly looked up, cringing as she finally looked at the fuming
panther, "I ummm," she started to say.
"Yes," Panthro
said letting her go and crossing his arms.
"Umm…hi," she
smiled
The panther just looked at her and scowled, her smile
quickly faded, she knew she was in trouble," I was coming back to
see if I could fix the mess I made".
"What in thundera did
you do in the first place to mess it up," Panthro barked, "Do you
know were half blind now".
"I guess I pushed the wrong
button," she cringed.
"It would take more then the push of a
wrong button," The panther grumbled.
"I said I'd fix it so.
I'll fix it; "she nodded and went into the control room with the
panther close behind.
Leanna sat down and placed the manual on
her lap and started typing things in.
After a few minutes she
stopped and thumped her hand down on the console, "do you have to
stand behind be like that," she said turning and looking at
Panthro.
"Umm as a matter of fact…. Yes I do I want to make
sure you don't mess things up any more then what they are, "The
panther stated.
Kat snickered as the lioness turned back around
and made a face and mumbled something under her breath.
Panthro
watched carefully as Leanna punched codes and file names into the
system," you have to look for the root directory first," he said
pointing to the screen.
"I know that," the lioness growled
and slapped his hand.
Kat chuckled," I'm going down to see if
I can find Lion-o or Tygra," he nodded and quickly left the control
room.
"I was just pointing it out, "panthro said taking Kat's
empty seat.
"Don't you have someone else to pester or
something to go grease or oil," the lioness said trying to figure
out what the hell she done wrong.
"Nope," the panther smirked
as he just sat and watched.
The lioness soon grew frustrated and
threw the manual over her shoulder and sighed, "Who's the
brilliant one that designed this system, you have to have a
university degree just to read the freaking manual," she grumbled.
"It's actually pretty straight forward," Panthro said as he
got up and retrieved the manual off the floor.
"I'm not smart
like you," The lioness said frustrated, "what little I do know. I
learned on my own".
"I don't remember anyone saying you
were dumb," The panther said scratching his head trying to think of
a way to speak to this woman without her flying off the handle. He
was use to the direct approach, not stepping on eggshells to prevent
hurt feelings.
"Well I feel pretty dumb right now," Leanna
sighed and held out her hand for the manual.
"Sometimes this
takes more then one person to figure out what's wrong. At least let
me help," Panthro nodded, "we'll go over everything step by
step and I'll teach you a few things along the way".
The
lioness looked up at him, her pride wouldn't let her admit failure,
but at this point she would try just about anything to save face, she
didn't want to look like a complete idiot, especially in front of
the panther, she nodded her head and turned back to the screen.
The
big panther sat back in his chair, "Now can you remember exactly
what you were doing when this happened," Panthro asked.
Leanna
though for a minute, "I was trying to reconfigure the scanners to
go infer-red.. I know there is a way to do it, I've watched Tygra
do it many times," she answered scratching her head.
"Yes,
it's just a simple command," Panthro said as he tried to call the
information up, he looked and saw a few of the files were missing.
"Did you happen to delete anything," he asked puzzled.
"Umm,
well I was looking up something at the same time, so I might have by
mistake," the lioness cringed waiting for the panther to blow his
top.
Panthro just shook his head, "another one…this computer
system is not meant to play games on," he sighed.
"I wasn't
playing a game," Leanna said, "I was looking up something".
"Well what ever you were looking for it wasn't in this file,
you deleted half the command codes for the scanners," Panthro said.
Leanna looked over, "oh. I'm…I'm sorry," she said
quietly, "so if we just put the command codes back it should work,
"she asked hopeful.
"Yes," Panthro nodded, "but in order
to do that we have to take everything off line and it would leave us
totally defenseless".
"How long will that take," the
lioness asked," a few minutes".
"No it can and may take
most of the day," Panthro nodded," Tell me something…why didn't
you tell anyone or come ask me for help".
Leanna looked at him
and blushed slightly," Well for one, you're not exactly known for
being level headed," she shrugged. "And two, if I told someone I
messed up the computer I'd never be allowed in the control room
again".
"Leanna.no one is prefect everyone makes mistakes,"
The panther said.
"And how many mistakes have you made this
week," Leanna asked crossing her arms.
"Plenty," Panthro
nodded.
"Yea right. Thanks for trying to make me feel better,"
Leanna said plucking the manual from the panther
"Ok let's
started," Panthro said," I'll alert the others while you find
the codes".
While Panthro was on the communicator to the other
Thundercats, a loud string of thunderian curse words made their way
to his ears. He quickly cut the connection and turned," what," he
asked getting a sinking feeling.
"I swear this thing hates me,"
Leanna sighed and kicked the bottom panel with her foot.
"Why,
what happened," the panther asked half panicked.
"I was
putting in the command codes when it decided it wasn't going to
cooperate with me and it's shutting it's self down," The
lioness said discouraged.
The Thundercat's computer troubles
didn't go unnoticed. Deep in the bowels of the black pyramid, the
ancient devil priest was awakened by his faithful pet. "What is it
this time Ma-Mutt," The old mummy complained being disturbed from
his slumber, "Better not be more rats running around. That's what
I got you here for".
Ma-Mutt grabbed a corner of the mummy's
red rob and tugged him towards the cauldron, "Better be important,"
Mummr-ra said rising his hands and commanding the dark murky water to
show him what was important enough to wake him.
"Oh..This maybe
a good thing," the ancient mummy cackled patting the animals head,
"it seems Ma-Mutt, that our feline foes are having a bit of trouble
with their defense systems" .
The mummy's faithful pet looked
up at him and barked happily under his master's praise.
"Lunatacs," Mumm-ra called," I have some news that will
interest you".
"What do you want Mumm-ra," Luna screeched,"
we're busy".
"The Thundercat's home is defenseless .now
is the perfect time to strike," Mumm-ra said ignoring the lunatac's
leaders insolence.
"Really now," Luna smiled," well that is
news. Thanks for the heads up," she said.
"Lumatac's,"
Luna bellowed, "you heard Mumm-ra..We attack at dusk".
By
the time Lion-o made it back to cat's Lair it was nearly dark, he
ran up stairs to check on the panther's progress , his jaw dropped
at the sight that met him when the doors parted, The control room it
was in complete chaos, panels where removed and scattered over the
floor. Computer terminals where blinking on and off. Wire where
exposed.
"What in Thundera is going on here?" Lion-o demanded
as he looked around the room.
"It's the computer system, it's
completely crashed," Panthro answered.
"Well fix it."
Lion-o replied.
"We are trying. But it's going to take us
most of if not all evening to fix it," Panthro nodded.
"Do
you need any help," The lion asked.
"No..Leanna and I should
be able to handle it, "the panther nodded, "but this means we're
defenseless though"
"Ok," Lion-o nodded," I'll have the
other keep watch while you two get busy with this".
The two
worked in silence for about an hour before Leanna spoke, "How's
it coming along," she asked nodding to the screen.
"Slowly,"
Panthro replied rubbing his eyes, "this could take all night, you
had better get some rest," The panther said not taking his eyes off
the screen.
"That's okay, I'm not tired," Leanna said, "I
made this mess, the least I can do is see it through".
"I'll
be right back". she got up and left the room and returned a few
minutes later with two cups of tea.
"Here," she said handing
her a cup, "Snarf said it's your favorite".
"Thank-you,
"he said giving her a small smile.
He turned back to the screen
that suddenly went black and power went out in over half the lair.
Panthro growled and got to his feet and walked over to one of the
consoles. Leanna watched as he flipped a few switches and pressed
buttons, his frown turned into a smile when he touched one of the
panels gently then he balled up his fist and brought it down hard on
the corner of the panel, to his surprise the screen and the power
came back to life.
"Just got to show it whose boss, " he
grinned as went over to another control panel.
The lioness just
chuckled
"Dang blasted thing…. This control panel is
complete locked out, I will need you help with this one," Panthro
replied as he bent down and remove the access panel.
"It's
close quarters down here, but we need to do two different things at
the same time,"
Leanna got down beside him, they where now
laying face to face, "see that port," panthro said pointing over
her head, 'yes," Leanna replied trying not to notice how close
they where. "I need you to replace it with this, while I pull out
the old one down here, but they have to be done at the exact same
time," Panthro said handing her the new the component
"Ready,"
The panther asked.
" Ready," Leanna answered.
"Now,
"Panthro said as he pulled out the old component while at the same
time Leanna put in the new one.
The control panel came to life,
"thanks, I couldn't have done it with out you," Panthro said
looking at the lioness.
Leanna looked at him and smiled, and then
suddenly a loud band came from the out side and the control room
rocked. The inside of the panel started to spark, Panthro
instinctively threw his arms over Leanna's head pulling her to his
chest, his shoulder spikes quickly extended cocooning them from the
flying sparks. Once it stopped, he looked at her and released the
spikes that were protecting her from the sparks, " I think we got
company," he said.
"Are you hurt," She asked.
"No,"
He replied his voice barely above a whisper as he let her go.
Panthro crawled out first and offered Leanna his hand, she took
it and he pulled her to her feet.
"Are you sure you didn't
get burnt," Leanna replied as she ran her fingers up his arm.
"Yes, I'm sure," Panthro smiled.
the Lunatacs fired
another barrage at the Fortress from the lunattacker sending the pair
to the floor as an explosion rocked the large cat's head.
Outside
the other Thundercat's were struggling to keep their home form
being invaded and destroyed. As the Lunataks got closer to the
drawbridge, Lion-o turned to his teammates, "Cheetara, see if you
can take out Chilla," he ordered raising his sword.
"Right,"
The cheetah nodded and disappeared in a golden blur.
Tug mug
spotted the cheetah, "No you don't," he said raising his
gravity carbine gun and firing, "Let's see you run now kitty,"
he laughed.
Cheetara gasped in surprise as she rose off the
ground, she no longer felt any traction under her feet so her speed
was useless, she tried to reach for her staff, but the second she
moved her arm, she was frozen by Chilla.
"One down, a few more
to go," Tug mug chuckled.
"While we distract them….Chilla
you and Alluro get inside the lair and flush out any remaining
Thundercats," Luna ordered. "Red eye… Take out that whelp and
his toy sword".
Lion-O started to raise the sword to summon the
others only to have it knocked from his grasp by one of Redeye's
discs, redeye laughed as the sword flew across the courtyard and
landed with a clatter on the concrete floor.
Tygra seen what
happened to Cheetara and Lion-O, he pulled back his whip and quickly
wrapped it around himself.
"Now you know you can't hide from
me Thundercat," Redeye said looking around using his infer-red to
look for the invisible tiger.
Tygra knew it wouldn't be long
before he was spotted, but he hoped it would be enough time for
Lion-o it retrieve the sword.
Lion-O growled and dived for the
sword as Luna fired a shot from the lunattacker, the lion rolled out
of the way as the shot came within mere inches from his head, he
reached up to make sure his thick mane had survived the close call.
However before he got the chance to grasp the sword he felt the
strong arms of Amok wrap around his ribs and lift him off the ground.
The beast's hand clamped over the Thundercats Lord's mouth
preventing him from calling the sword.
While Lion-O was
distracted and detained Alluro and Chilla entered the Thundercats
home.
"We have to get up to their control room," Chilla said
with an icy hiss.
Alluro looked around and started up the main
staircase, "come on I know the way".
Up in the control room
Panthro got to his feet, "We have intruders," he said as one of
the internal sensors chimed it's warning.
Leanna checked what
floor the intruders where on, "the internal defense system isn't
responding," she replied pushing more buttons.
"I'll handle
them," he said withdrawing his nun chucks, "you get on the lasers
and shoot that damn mechanical pest off the drawbridge," the
panther growled as another shot rocked the mighty cat's head
sending down paneling and wires.
The lioness turned to say
something but found herself alone, "gee thanks a lot panther,"
she said running over to the laser controls.
Luna spotted the
large cat eyes starting to glow as the laser powered up, the lunatak
lined up the sights of their gun and fired. The shot hit one of the
eyes dead center shattering it into hundreds of pieces. Leanna cursed
as the control panel sizzled sending sparks and smoke as the other
eye was destroyed.
Panthro quietly made his way down the
corridor, his eyes scanning the hall up ahead; he stopped for a
moment listening for any intruders. He knew if they were heading to
the control room they would have to come his way. The panther glanced
up as the lights flickered, he knew that was not a good sign, he
turned and was about to go back to the control room when he heard
Alluro's hypnotic voice behind him, "look Chilla, he's come to
greet us. Wasn't that nice of him," Alluro chuckled and raised
his Psych club.
"And I'll happily show you the door. Or the
nearest window," Panthro growled as his nun chucks swung over his
head.
"Now is that anyway to treat guests," Alluro replied as
the ball on the end of his club sailed towards the panther.
"Unwelcome ones. Yes," Panthro snarled.
"I think this
Thundercat needs to cool down," chilla replied send an icy blast at
Panthro.
The panther dodged the blast only to be over taken by
the ball form the Lunataks psych club. "See told you he couldn't
do two things at once," Alluro smirked, "now Panthro you will
drop your weapon".
The panther growled, "now now…. You know
it's useless to resist," Alluro said increasing his hold on the
panther's mind," Now drop your weapon".
Panthro's
expression changed as the Lunataks hold took effect. A satisfied grin
crossed Alluro's face as Panthro's nun chucks dropped from his
hand and landed on the floor.
"Can I finish him," Chilla
asked ready to freeze the big panther solid.
"No.." Alluro
answered, "we may need him if there are any more cats around".
"Sure ruin my fun," The ice woman snorted.
"You can
freeze him later but for now we may need him," Alluro nodded.
Alluro and chilla headed to the control room with the hypnotized
panther in tow.
Leanna was putting out the electrical fire when
the doors opened.
"See told you there might be another one,"
Alluro said.
"What in thundera..How did you get in here," The
lioness said throwing down the fire extinguisher and reaching for her
cross bow.
"Seize her," Alluro ordered as Panthro came in
behind them.
Leanna raised her crossbow, "Stop where you are".
"You wouldn't shoot one of your fellow thundercats now would
you," Alluro smirked as Panthro made a grab for the lioness.
Panthro grabbed her crossbow out of her hands and snapped the thick
wood in half like a twig, splintering the shaft into tiny pieces.
Leanna knew she didn't stand a chance against Panthro; all she
could do was try and keep out of his grasp. She tried to bolt for the
door but a strong hand grasped her long thick hair and pulled her
back. Panthro wrapped her long ebony braid around his wrist a few
times to get a good hold on her. Leanna yelped as his sharp claws dug
into the back of her head threatening to crush her skill if she
moved.
"Take her out of here," Alluro ordered, "and if she
fights…. kill her".
The panther nodded and dragged the
helpless lioness out the door.
"Luna," Chilla called into her
communicator, "we have seized the control room".
"Excellent,"
Luna cackled, "We'll be up in a moment," she replied cutting
the connection.
"Got ya," Redeye said spotting the tiger as
he moved towards Cheetara. "One more step and she's done for,"
Redeye replied taking out one of his disks ready to throw it at the
Cheetah.
Lion-O struggled in Amok's powerful grip; the more he
tried to break free the tighter the creatures grip became, the lion
squirmed as his air was slowly being restricted.
"Give up now
while you can Thundercats," The Lunatak leader shrieked, "Unless
you enjoy watching your leader slowly suffocate". Luna nudged Amok
with her crop urging him to squeeze a bit tighter.
"Let him
go," Tygra growled making himself visible again.
"All in due
time thundercat..All in due time," Luna cackled, "Well Alluro
seems to have done his work well," she said as Panthro came out the
door with Leanna firmly in his grasp.
Luna nudge amok, "toss
them their precious leader," She said, "We have a new home to
renovate".
Amok threw the lion to the ground, Tygra ran over as
the remaining Lunataks went inside the lair.
"You alright,"
The tiger asked helping Lion-O sit up.
"Just a little winded,"
He nodded.
To be continued
