The Past is The Future Chapter 11, a thundercats fanfic

THE PAST IS THE FUTURE….

A ThunderCats Fan Fiction work by Frederick P. Kopetz.

Chapter Eleven

"Some Unusual Bonds of Friendship"

It was evening near Kievski.

Panthro was sitting on the banks of the Dnieper River, near the dock district.

He was surprised to find out that the Dnieper was deep enough here to allow ships to come up the River. One of the local dock masters told him that as an after-effect of the wars in which Mumm-Ra had wiped out most of humanity, the river-bed had been made deeper than it was even in more ancient times.

Panthro was watching the different sailing ships, oar-driven ships, different kinds of junks from the Far East nations, and even a steamship or two on the River.

Cheetara came up behind him in her usual clothes and sat down beside him in the night.

"Where were you?" he said.

"I was out running. The purpose was to clear my head."

"Why, Cheetara?"

"Doctor Panremus told me that, honestly, LionO and WilyKit should now both be dead. Both of them suffered what would have been mortal wounds. But…"

"But what?" said Panthro.

"There's some sort of power about them. I can feel it," said Cheetara. "Something uncanny that is causing them to heal faster than they should have…much faster. The Doctor says that LionO just needs some time to heal and some exercise; the internal injuries are healing well, and he did not have to do as much surgery on him as he expected." Tears filled Cheetara's eyes. "He woke up earlier today. They were saying that might not happen for weeks. But what about Kat? What's going to heal him?"

"There's something weird coming up the River," said Panthro as he looked up. "Do you see it?"

"Lights," whispered Cheetara. "A huge object with lights…coming up the River…"

Major Graulus then came up. "No need to be concerned. I think I know what that big thing is. Believe it or not; it's not hostile. The City's already been in touch with it by radio…"

"Looks like it's just five ells away already, and I can already see navigation lights on that thing," said Panthro as he whistled.

"What is it?" asked Cheetara.

"It identified itself as 'a battleship'" said Major Graulus. "All of my tech guys were looking at the scopes and sensors, trying to get a good look at it. She's not only a battleship; she's a huge spacecraft; probably Dreadnaught class or bigger. Remember those green planes we saw in the battle?"

Panthro nodded. "That thing's like an ancient aircraft carrier? It has air wings flying off it? We haven't seen such a thing in thousands of years! Some guys in my military history class say that ships that big never existed, except in legends."

"What's she called? Did she report a name?" said Cheetara.

"She did," said Graulus. "Earth Federation Space Battleship Pennant Number SBB-55A…the North Carolina."

"Was that an old state of the old American States?" said Panthro.

"She was," said Graulus. "You notice her pennant number is just two digits? She's one of the truly ancient faster-than-light ships. The one with the greatest reputation is the Ghost Ship; the legendary SBB-01 herself."

"Did that thing ever really exist?" said Panthro.

"It seems we are in an age where the Legendary Past is fast becoming our Future," said Cheetara. "As it was when we first started out; I cared for LionO. I was sworn to his welfare. Now, the circle closes, and our past again becomes our future and I am again caring for him, rather than…our enemy. Then, what is it? Our Future is our Past? What sort of other circles are set to…close?"

The Circle of Mumm-Ra, said a quiet voice in Cheetara's head. And you seek healing for WilyKat and LionO? Do not look far, said the voice. Their Future comes from the Past.

Cheetara had no idea where that soft but authoritative voice had come from.

A moment later, a siren and horns began to blow in the dockyards.

The dock master said on the PA system, in both the local language and in their Common Standard tongue, "All ships must clear the main channel. The main channel must be clear at the center of the River. The newcoming ship will be dropping anchor in the middle of the basin. The exact middle…of the basin…."

Cheetara then stood up. Her ears twitched. "I don't know if you can hear it…but I can…I hear the song of the ship's sensors. It's a distinctive pinging sound-they are reading the very ground with an ancient technology at a magnitude now lost to us…"

"Look!" said Graulus.

Then, they all saw the majestic pattern of multicolored lights coming up the water in the night. Lights of all colors, flashing and reflecting off the water.

They were awed. The ship had a deadly beauty to her in the darkness. A soft thrumming roar was all around her, and some sort of steam or vapor blew around the ship as she cruised through the waters of the River.

Then, Cheetara said, "I see the sailors on the decks in the dark! Manning the rails!"

"What sort of animals are they?" said Panthro.

"I see a very, very few Cats who are very, very tall…bigger than our species," said Cheetara. "In…only their fur? Oh, my Goddess! How can they bear to be that way…unless….are they the Ancestors? And the rest of those beings, in multi-colored uniforms…"

"Humans!" said Panthro in shock. "Tens…fifty…there's over a hundred humans…all saluting us with their hands at their hearts, with those hands up in fists!"

Panthro raised a fist to his chest in like manner as he watched the North Carolina roaring by, with its flashing lights, huge bow, many antennae, and massive guns in naval turrets raised near the center of the huge ship.

Then, there were gun-houses on a massive superstructure, and, finally, there was a huge tower looming over that superstructure. Near the tower's top, near a construction with flashing lights on it, there was a small balcony of some type, with an open hatch behind it. A figure could vaguely be seen in the eerie blue light that shone on from the inside of the ship. The figure was tall, somehow slender, with the lower half of the figure's body hidden behind a balustrade or blast shield on the observation deck where it was manning the rail. The figure's face was hard to see, shaded by the shiny brim of an ancient Naval Cap in black and white, but Cheetara thought she saw a tendril of blond hair whipping around the figure's chin. The figure's long black great coat trimmed in red and gold could just about be made out, with a long white scarf trailing in the wind around the tall, slender figure's shoulders. None of them could determine the figure's species, nor even the figure's gender. What they had seen of the officer's coat told them that somehow they were probably looking at the mysterious vessel's Captain.

Cheetara picked up a strange sense from the saluting figure, though.

She guessed that there was a Power hidden in this Captain's mind and spirit, like a beautiful, deadly sheathed battle sword from the East.

The rest of the ship passed with a roar as she sailed up the River to her docking place.

"You know what I hope?" said Graulus.

"What?" said Panthro.

"I hope those guys really are on our side."

"I sense they are, Graulus," said Cheetara.

The next morning came.

In the Dog City of Kievski, six days had passed now since the battle had ended.

LionO was sitting alone near the ThunderTank, in a pensive, serious mood as he worked on the words of a letter that he was writing on a scroll. He glanced now and then at the massive steel-grey shape of the North Carolina on the River. The ship, as massive as a floating castle, was hard to miss, but LionO had little interest in the fantastic ship at this time.

He heard soft footsteps behind him, and he turned when he saw Cheetara approaching in the meadow he was standing in near the walls of Kievski, not far from the River.

"You…look…different," LionO said as he looked Cheetara over.

The young Cleric had acquired a different outfit; Cheetara now wore a light brown dress trimmed in lace that complimented her gold fur. On her neck, she wore a necklace of light blue crystal, with a dark brown sash that tied around her waist. The dress she had on ended at her knees; her legs were bare except for her fur, and on her feet, she wore simple plain brown sandals.

"Like the outfit?" said Cheetara as she twirled in her dress.

"I like the outfit, but I like the Cheetah in the outfit even better," said LionO. "Where did you get that?"

"It was given to me in appreciation by a tailor; she also made the white dress I will be wearing in four days, in the early evening, when we Bond at Sunset. And you can't see that yet," she said with a wink and a smile.

LionO nodded, standing. To Cheetara, he seemed a little stiff.

"How is the wound healing?" she said. "I was very worried about you."

"I've been better," said LionO. "Much better."

Cheetara nodded. "You would not believe my hatred for that traitor Pumyra. While you were out, we made sure she had no resting place."

"How did you do that?" said LionO.

"Panthro, Bengali and I made sure her bones were cremated, the ashes broken to bits, and then tossed to the River," she said as she gestured at the River. "You know that is the traditional punishment for the worst of Traitors, so they will never have a resting place in the afterworld…save for the very Pit. I pray someday we can do the same dishonor to the bones of another…"

"To Mumm-Ra?" said LionO.

"Well, yes. But I was thinking of someone different."

"Who?" said LionO.

"A certain Tiger," said Cheetara as she shut her eyes. Tears ran down her cheeks. "How could he say those things about me? After he used me, used me as a tool to hurt you…made me pregnant when he forgot he was Bonded to someone else…how dare he suggest that he and that whore he went back to would take me and enslave me in a harem like the worst of the Tyrant Kings who were finally hung on the gibbet by the Cats of the city six centuries ago in the Dark Times?"

"I should have known he would try something like this," LionO said. "Cheetara…I never told you everything about what happened on that day when we dueled after you lost the cub."

"What happened?" said Cheetara.

"He and I fought hard. First, we fought with staves. Then, with swords. Finally, he threw down his sword after I broke it while we fenced, and he went at me, animal-style, with his claws out. I clawed him and bit him in return. Our clothes were torn to tatters, both of us. Then, he did the worst thing you can do in a duel. Something so against the Code of Thundera that they say only Mumm-Ra and some of the Lizards have done this."

"Did he…go below the belt?" said Cheetara.

LionO nodded. "Yes. He tore my breeches open, shamed me with the utter exposure of my privies in front of everyone, and told them he would take my manhood and keep me from ever having an Heir, even if I lived. In utter pain and in utter rage, I fought off his punches, deflected his claws from…that…and then, I knocked him down and ripped out his eye. I would have torn out his throat if Panthro had not stopped me, saying the duel had gone far enough and I had clearly beaten the scum-master. Be thankful to the Reverend Ones you slept through that duel. From Rival…to…Enemy. An Enemy as vile as Mumm-Ra himself."

"What a monster," said Cheetara as she held him. "Thanks to the Reverend Ones you are still intact, LionO…"

"How would you know that?" said LionO.

"Who do you think bathed you when you were unconscious after Pumyra attacked you in the battle?" Cheetara said with a gentle smile.

"I hope I won't be too…pained in the stomach to be able to Bond with you, Cheetara," LionO said. "As in the wedding night…"

"LionO, even if you are ill…you are getting over an injury, my darling," said Cheetara as she held her affianced Lord. "If needs be, we can wait…"

"I would pray to the Reverend Ones that we do not have to wait," said LionO. "A King should give his Queen the pleasures of the night after the Bonding of our spirits and souls…"

"I know," said Cheetara. "LionO…when we are Bonded, I am longing for you to share my bed at last. What can be done, O Reverend Ones? And…there is another issue."

"Yes?" said LionO as a coldness hit his heart.

"Under the Code, we should be wed, if possible, by a High Cleric," said Cheetara. "Or, at least by another Cleric. Yes, the Rebbe of the City has agreed to Bond us, but I would pray that one of our own can at least help with the vows, to make them fully legal, and to cement your rightful claim to the Throne against…that Usurper who calls himself King."

Then, the loving but troubled young couple looked up…

…and stood in awe as they saw a female Cleric, robed in white, and hooded, approaching them.

"Perhaps I can help," said a gentle but authoritative voice from under the cowl. "At one time, I was once a Cleric. In fact, you could say that I was the High Cleric of my Tribe, far in the East. And I was also a great ruler. But that was long, long ago, and far away, in the past."

"Who are you?" said LionO as Panthro came up.

"The Light in her," whispered Cheetara. "Oh, Goddess, LionO…the Light…"

The Cleric stood there. Indeed, the robes she wore above her bare feet made her look much like a Thunderian Cleric, but, there were differences. Somehow, they looked more archaic.

"Again, who are you?" said Cheetara. "I sense no evil in you…"

"That is because there is none. Permit me to demonstrate, please, LionO," said the newcomer as she raised her hand, which they saw was clad in tawny fur.

To LionO's shock, the Sword of Omens flew from its claw shield to her hand. She looked at it, and raised it to her hidden mouth and kissed it. Then, she handed it back to LionO. "Evil cannot touch this Sword. You know that. And why am I here? You could say, perhaps, that it is an answer to prayer…"

The Cleric bowed to LionO and Cheetara, and also bowed to Panthro.

Then, she threw back her cowl.

Panthro's mouth fell open in utter shock, because the Cleric looked like a young Thunderian Lioness with a honey-gold mane somewhat darker than Cheetara's mane, with distinctive curls at her cheekbones, a simple silver circlet about her brow with what looked like a small jewel at its apex point, and ears that projected outwards from a gentle face covered in tawny fur, but with dark brown eyes that were both sensitive and piercing at once. However, the gentle, feminine face had a set to the jaw that hinted at an inner strength much greater than the dignified, yet frail-appearing form that housed her spirit.

"I'm…sorry, ma'am," said Panthro as he looked at the young female's eyes. "My mouth dropped open because you look almost just like a Lioness I knew some years ago. She died about nineteen years ago."

"Nineteen years," mused the Lioness in gentle tones with a hint of strength in the alto voice. Cheetara began to shiver a little once she heard that gentle yet powerful voice. "What happened nineteen years ago that you remember with such sadness?"

"The death of our last Queen," said Panthro. "Lord LionO's mother, who died after birthing him. I hope you will not be insulted if I say you look so much like her, my Queen Leona that it almost looks as if she lives again in you…"

"No. I am honored," said the Lioness. "Permit me to introduce myself. I am called Mother Abbess Snowmane by some. The name comes from a silly incident when I was a cub, long ago and far away. You could say I do not come from here. Yet, my Order was once in Communion with the Thunderian Clerics. I've been wandering the lands when I choose to, and I became aware that you are in need of aid?"

"We are," said Cheetara. "He's…hurt. Can you pray for him or make an offering of some sort? I can help with the offering, if we need to make a kill and build a bier. Or, can you point us to a Healer who can make a poultice that will help him?"

"I cannot help with an offering, building a bier is not needed, and I know of a Healer, but one who can help your young WilyKit. He is not my province at this time, but I will eventually guide you to this Healer. But, what I do have, I can give to LionO."

Then, Abbess Snowmane rested a hand on LionO's breastplate.

Her hand began to gleam slightly as Cheetara looked on in shock.

LionO jumped as a sudden warmth and electricity of sorts went through his body. Suddenly, the aches in his healing abdominal muscles and the pain in his bruised gut, which had been operated upon, all went away like bad memories.

He stretched, able to move again without pain. Snowmane took her hand away and said, "Cheetara, I would like you to instruct WilyKit in how to conduct a fitting Bonding Ceremony. I will be there with the Dog Rebbe and her to aid her. I also know of an old precedent, LionO."

"Which is?" he said.

"It is Canon Law familiar to my Order and the Clerics of Thundera. If you know the High Cleric and his or her retainers have all died in battle, to keep the Order going, as King, you have in yourself the inherent authority to consecrate a new High Cleric."

"Is it…true?" said LionO.

"I have heard of such a law, but it was seldom ever used," said Panthro.

"That was because the need seldom arose before," said a familiar, yet distant voice behind them.

The others then turned…

…and, in shock, they all saw Jaga appearing as a wraith before them.

"Thundera is rebuilding," said Jaga. "LionO, you will soon have both a Queen and a new High Cleric. Who better than the senior surviving Thunderian Cleric on Third Earth, the woman that you trust and love above all others?"

Cheetara knelt before Jaga, shamed by seeing her mentor again. "I am not sure I am worthy, Jaga. Not after all I have done…"

"You have not only expiated your debt; you have triumphed, Cheetara," said Jaga. "Indeed, you and LionO have matured much in the past few months. You are ready, Cheetara. Do not fear the new path that lies before you; of being High Cleric and that of Queen. And I trust Abbess Snowmane to aid you and Kit. And I will be at your wedding, in spirit, yes, but visible."

"How, and why?" said Cheetara.

"Your father died sometime after your birth and you never knew him, Cheetara. A bride should have a father figure to escort her to her groom. Therefore, I will walk you up the aisle, Cheetara," Jaga said. "And, LionO, it should be no surprise the Abbess healed you."

"Why, Jaga?" he said.

Jaga's spectral form then walked up to the Abbess. He knelt on one knee and kissed her hand in something that looked like homage. "The Abbess, as she is called, and I have had prior dealings. Let us just say that."

Jaga then disappeared. Then, the Abbess nodded in his direction and said, "I must leave now, my friends. I have others to advise, and much to do. But, in three days, I will return to help advise you and Wilykit, and to ready you for your Bonding. Fare thee well!" she said.

She then flipped up her cowl, and nodded to the group, bringing her fist to her breast in a gesture that looked like a salute. Then, she picked up her staff, and began to walk briskly away from Kievski.

"A Lioness of mystery…" mused Panthro. "And she used the same salute that those Cats and Humans on the North Carolina used."

"With a hidden power and strength," said Cheetara. "I sense, she is far more than she seems to be."

LionO began to raise the Sword of Omens, to his face, hoping to draw upon the Sight Beyond Sight.

"LionO, it will not work," Cheetara said.

"Why?" said LionO.

"Already, she puts a grey mist around her footsteps and about her person," said Cheetara. "She has a Light in her. And she can shield her goings from my eyes, and from the Sword."

"Who do you think she is?" said LionO.

"She's not evil," said Cheetara. "She said her coming was in answer to my prayer…The Reverend Ones…"

"Yes?" said LionO.

"The stories said that their Messengers could walk Third Earth among us. What if she is a Messenger of the Reverend Ones? Or…maybe even one of them in our guise?"

The others looked on as Snowmane faded down the road to a small dot of white.

In the darkness, Abbess Snowmane walked East, back towards a path that would lead to another part of the Steppes.

She needed to be alone to think for a time.

Events are coming together more quickly than we anticipated, she thought. Maybe five moons, in the parlance of these people, have passed since I saved Cheetara from herself in some of her visions, she thought. Indeed, not long ago, I guided her again. She has a vague suspicion of who I am, but she cannot draw it all together yet. That is good, for now, until I lay at least the hand I am playing on the table, hoping it'll be four Aces.

The Lioness stopped and leaned on her staff. I have others I need to visit, she said. He will be along soon enough. I feel the power of his coming from afar in the Realm. I know, my dearest, she thought. You will guard LionO, Cheetara and myself if HE dares to crash this Bonding. I don't think the desiccated Thing would try that. He knows facing me directly is utter spiritual suicide, being a Messenger from the very Presence. Tygra. The matter of Tygra…

The Lioness shut her eyes. She thought, It has been given to me to see that LionO will pronounce an Anathema on Tygra in a letter. It will be my job to execute it personally. It may give the cursed Tiger great pause for his actions, and cause even the Desiccated Thing to step back. However, as wergild, I must accomplish this and see to it LionO receives his Cat Emblem as the second task. He has cast himself out by his actions. Then, there is a third task I must do. One I must be very careful and delicate in so doing…because I must again, for the second time in my being, break the Circle of Time, and create a momentary Grandfather Paradox…to offer someone else some carefully framed advice, and a gesture of Hope. It will not break the flow of Time too much. She already has the Prophecy. She has seen a hint of its fulfillment already. I will give her, in this hour of her Darkness, another flash of light. Or, why do I speak of that young dewy-eyed Terran woman still in the first steps of her Quest as "her?" Cosmos, we know who she is!

Still, thought the Lioness as she saw no one was around. It is a hard and delicate job, indeed, to advise one's own self…without giving away that which she…no…my younger self…must learn to pass through the Fire. Although I am tempted, so tempted, to walk off the knife's edge and lay it all out…

The Lioness, or the Spirit who had taken the shape of a Lioness, sighed. She knew she would again have to pass out of her momentarily assumed corporeal guise. She looked in a puddle of water at herself, and shut her eyes.

She looked in the puddle at her reflection one last time.

Only now, she was no longer a Lioness.

Instead, She, one of the Reverend Ones, briefly appeared as the beautiful honey-blonde Human woman she had been in her mortal life eons ago. She smiled, and then, with a whisper on the wind, she was gone, her spirit flying away faster than the fastest breeze, to celestial realms where she knew Mumm-Ra could not go.

She had her own business.

One bit of business was to consult with Higher Authority.

The other was to meet some old, dear friends in the Celestial Realms.

LionO, Cheetara and Panthro returned to Kievski.

When they reached the inside of the City, WilyKit turned to them and said, "We've received a message from the crew of the North Carolina."

"Yes?" said LionO

WilyKit looked down at her feet and said, "The Captain would like to see you, LionO. We've received a message. The skipper of the ship asks that you bring Cheetara, Panthro, and WilyKat with you."

"When does the Skipper of that ship wish to see us; and how does he know of our names?" said Panthro, shocked.

"I don't know," said WilyKit. "May I come?"

"No," said LionO. "I'd like you to remain here with Bengali. Since you're being trained as our new First Cleric under Cheetara, it is time that you began to learn more in the way of duties. Go see the other Cats in our midst and see how they are doing as we take our trip."

"Of course," said WilyKit.

A while later, the group that had been asked for was heading towards the North Carolina.

They were to take a small Junk to the ship.

The Junk was manned by what were known as Siam'Ma Cats-a species of cats from the Far East around the City of Shangu near the coast of the Great Continent.

The Siam'Ma had mostly dirty-white fur with blue eyes and dark fur on their faces, hands and feet, and ears. They wore colorful robes and dresses, and they had quite an alien and exotic look to LionO.

The Skipper of the Junk Paolin, a Cat named Captain Xangu, who was of the Siam'Ma, bowed as he greeted them. The Thundercats in the party bowed back in the same manner, and Captain Xangu said, "Are you the Thundercats boarding that sleeping metal dragon?"

"We are," said LionO. "The Captain has called us there for a meeting; post-haste."

"Yes," said WilyKat, who walked in a decidedly shaky fashion. "It's my understanding they have a Healer aboard her that can make me well."

"You'll never get off her alive," said Captain Xangu. "Take a charter from me instead to go to where I hear you wish to go in Ni'phangyu; it'll only take a few days to cross the sea…"

"We've been summoned there by our Captain, who, I understand, aided us in the battle," said LionO. "I can't turn down an invitation like that, even if they are Humans…"

"I've always wanted to meet Humans," said Cheetara.

"Humans are cursed and strange creatures," said Xangu. "And, they have Cats aboard her who are strong barbarian monsters who wear no clothes. Cats who are seven feet tall and who can rip our sails with their bare claws! Cats who can see the future! Cats who are demons in cat fur…"

"We don't need your xenophobia," said Panthro. "We need to board that ship."

"And I want to get aboard her so I can be well," said WilyKat.

"Very well, then…I will take you," said Xangu. "But I want double the fare agreed upon with your girl messenger on the hover-board earlier."

"Here's thrice your damn fare," said LionO as he handed over all of the gold he had by throwing his purse at Xangu's bare feet. "Take us to that ship. Or do we have to strip and swim there?"

"I'll take you," said Xangu. "Thank you."

"I don't like him," whispered Cheetara.

"Neither do I," whispered LionO.

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER

The Paolin sailed across the River right to where the North Carolina was docked, stopping near the mighty space battleship's gangplank, which was lowered.

Steams and vapors from something venting on the North Carolina created an unearthly moan in the background as LionO, Cheetara, WilyKat and Panthro boarded the North Carolina.

They got their first sight of a Human at that moment.

They were surprised to see that Humans, indeed, somewhat resembled Monkians; hairless Monkians, to be exact.

The ranking Human there seemed to be a young Human with red fur on the top of his head and a white uniform with red markings, which included a red arrow on his chest, and he wore closed white boots with red soles. He had some sort of weapon on his shoulder on a strap. Cheetara was a little disappointed at the shoes because she vaguely wondered what sort of hind paws Humans had; did they have paws like their own, or ugly hand-like feet like Monkians?

Also, how do they walk in those closed boots? Cheetara thought as she looked down at her own sandals, which had no front sole, allowing her to flex her toes against the cold metal surface of the gangplank, which felt very alien to her. They have no way to grip the ground, or…the metal deck they walk on. How do they stay upright?

The red-haired Human then blew a small two-toned whistle as the Thundercats boarded the ancient First Earth warship. He gave them a salute with his fist to his chest as a very tall Human in a dark green uniform and helmet turned a weapon upon them. This Human stood at one edge of the gangplank.

The other being standing at the other edge, also bearing a weapon, was a very tall Cat with tawny fur not that much unlike LionO's. However, he was far taller, at about seven feet tall, and looked a bit more feral. His fur was thick, and he wore no clothing except for a bandolier across his chest. The claws on his hands and feet looked very intimidating to LionO; this Cat's hands and feet were bigger than his own, and he was taller than he was by a bit over a full foot.

"Halt," he said in a deep, growling voice. "This is a restricted area!"

"Ensign, we thank you for your vigilance," said the Human with red fur on his head. "However, these are the local Cats the Skipper wishes to see."

"Of course," growled the huge male. "I am Ensign Agen, a Ralkhen member of the Pellian Naval Forces, on special liaison assignment with the Earth Defense Forces. Please pardon my lack of hospitality a moment ago; I thought perhaps you were spies. We have encountered enemies here, out of time and space, but I can see and feel you have been…touched…"

"By Whom?" said Cheetara, whose senses were awakening slowly as she stared at the huge Cat. "You…you have…some kind of link with all of your people! I can feel it!"

"Like the Cats of Legend," said LionO.

"Aye, we share a psychic link," said Agen. "Our link is with every one of us, our people, our Mother, and with our Lady and Patroness, the Pellian High Queen."

"Who is she?" said Cheetara.

"She is among us, somewhere. Where, you need not know! But We of the Race know exactly where she is at all times, as we are sworn to guard and succor her, but it is not permitted for me to speak openly of her whereabouts!" snapped Agen. "Kindly ask no more of me, I pray!"

"I won't," said Cheetara.

"How old is this ship?" said Panthro as he looked around.

A tall Human came down the gangplank from inside the North Carolina. The Thundercats noticed he had on a dark green uniform trimmed in black with black boots, and that his skin tone was different than the others; he had dark brown skin, and the fur on his head was shaved. He looked very large and intimidating, and WilyKat asked, "Are most of you Humans giants like these cats?"

"Hell no, I just eat all my cereal every day," he said in a deep voice as the others saluted him. "My name is Space Marine Colonel Paul Hemsford, head of this ship's Marine Assault Platoon and her Guard Platoon. We wanted to get into the battle, but instead, the Skipper just sent in the Green Hornets to work with those bird-creatures to assault your enemies from the air. On behalf of the Skipper, I welcome you Thundercats to the North Carolina. Which one o' you is Lord LionO?"

"I am," said LionO. "This woman here is my Chief Cleric and fiancee' Cheetara, and this man here in the dark clothing with the dark fur is my General Panthro. The young cat here is named WilyKat, a squire of my forces and a sort of Special Forces Lieutenant."

"The Skipper says he's the one who needs medical care, right," said Hemsford. "Let's get you up to see the Skipper. Ensign Agen, you're relieved. Mister O'Reilly, take his place at the Outer Guard position."

"Yessir," said the young Human in red and white, who presented his arms while Agen also presented arms. They nodded to each other as the guard changed, and then, they went inside the North Carolina.

They went through some corridors, where they saw glimpses of machinery of all sorts, as Hemsford said, "We'll be at the central people-mover belt soon-watch the belt when you board. It tends to knock you on your butt if you're not prepared."

The Thundercats got onto the belt, gripping it carefully with either their bare or semi-clad feet. They watched Agen as he used his claws and carefully boarded the belt, apparently quite familiar with how it worked as he checked his AK-01 Cosmo Rifle over as he boarded.

LionO was trying to figure out the Caste of the tall Ralkhen, but to him, it was quite impossible. The tall Cat, he noted, had a tail, but he didn't act anywhere like a slum-dweller or member of the underclass. Indeed, he seemed to be as well-schooled and as well-spoken as a Thundercat Noble, and he looked upon LionO with a strange expression in his eyes that seemed to be a mixture of pity and contempt. LionO noticed that under his fur, he seemed to have muscles on top of his muscles, and he also felt, rather than noticed, that he had a Sixth Sense…but one that was more honed and practiced, by far, even than Cheetara's…or, maybe even, Heaven Help them, Jaga's!

Agen looked at LionO and Cheetara and said, "Have you Bonded yet?"

"We are about to," said Cheetara querulously. "In just a few days. I'm scared."

LionO patted her on the shoulder as he hugged her while Agen said, "I've been Bonded to my Mate, Talski, for four years now. We met on New Pellias, although it was called Meccaner, then, around the time of the Battle of Liberation, where She first came to us like a Star out of the Night. "

"She?" said Cheetara.

"The High Queen," said Agen. "She's Human, mostly, with traces of both Pellian and Iscandarian ancestry in her blood. The Mother made it understood to us She lived a normal life, as normal as you can expect for a heroic young star-samurai married to one of Terra's most legendary Captains. She had already consorted with those we consider like unto goddesses when the Matrix Power was given to her by one we feared would be High Queen, but one who went mad. We do not speak that whore's name in our ranks anymore. It seems her madness was providential, and that the Matrix Power was meant to be given to this little Terran all along. She's indeed hidden-unless She chooses to reveal herself. When she does, it's not my business to question it, but I must say she's very impetuous and impulsive. She does things on a whim, apparently without much thought about it, like a tween, really. But Mother says she thinks on several levels at once…and that she's almost as wise…and as dangerous, as the Dark Lord himself."

"A tween?" said WilyKat.

"He's saying She seems to act like you and Kit," laughed Cheetara.

"Actually, she looks like an older tween, like you," said Agen.

"I think that's enough on the topic of Her Majesty," said Hemsford. "We don't want to scare these people, and we have no certainty to the fact that He is actually dead here, because one of his minions sure seems to be alive and bloody damn well and walkin' around in friggin' smelly bandages!"

"Tell me, Agen?" said WilyKit. "Are you…one of the Ancestral Cats?"

"I have no bloody idea what they are," said Agen. "Except that I know that some among us are trying to mate with Humans. The cats they breed are smaller than us, and look more like Humans crossed with cats. I mean to make no offense, but…"

"No offense is taken," said Panthro, who was quietly awed. "It appears that it's beginning already, LionO. They share some of our words…they look a bit like us…they.."

"Back to the damn present, you furry guys! We have to get into this car," said Hemsford when they stepped off the belt. "This is called an 'elevator' or 'lift'. It'll take us up through the Command Tower to the Captain's Quarters."

They boarded the elevator, and the Thundercats present were shocked when Agen punched a button and the doors hissed shut and then the car began to move upwards with a small lurch and a distant whirring of machinery.

It stopped a moment later.

The door hissed open.

LionO was shocked to see that they were in a small lobby before a set of large doors. He was even more shocked to be able to read a sign that said, in lettering like an early form of Standard, "CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS", although there was lettering above the letters he could recognize that looked strange. "What are those weird characters above CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS?" said LionO.

"Japanese for 'Captain's Quarters'," said Hemsford. "Half o' this ship was built in Long Beach in the States on a robotic production line, and half was built in Yokohama at the edge of the Great Megalopolis down in an underground dock where final assembly took place after the keel and hull skeleton were flown there from Long Beach. She's taken battle damage in our time to liquid nitrogen tank number four, which is why she's venting vapor and steam out the dump valve, which is broken. She can warp, but the warps are a little unstable until we can get some parts."

Hemsford hit a button near the door and said, "Captain, I'm up here with Agen and the Thundercat Lord and his party. They've been sharin' intelligence. They might be bloody related."

"Interesting," said a voice whose gender was hard to determine since there was a heavy static on the speaker. "Bring them in, Colonel."

"Aye, aye, Captain," Hemsford said.

Then, the hatch opened through a command from the inside.

"Wizardry!" said WilyKit as he jumped and hugged Cheetara's legs.

"No," laughed Agen. "The Captain just pressed the lock button from the inside.

A moment later, the Thundercats entered a good-sized room with a large metal desk that took up much of the room. No one was in the room except for a single person who sat in a chair whose back was to them at the moment.

The room was filled with glowing green dials, control screens, keyboards, and something that resembled an ancient Human Computer sat on the desk. Only, Panthro guessed that this computer would be working, because cables ran from it to plugs in the surface of the desk.

The desk was covered with blue-covered notebooks with plans and blueprints of something….LionO guessed it was the ship…in them.

Cheetara was shocked to see some ancient tomes and scrolls sitting open on the desk, too.

She glanced at them and saw, in one scroll, something that had to be an ancient Sepiroth pattern of the Ten Spheres of Existence, annotated all over with ancient writing in a tongue Cheetara could not begin to make out.

Then, Cheetara's fine ears just made out a low voice…a Human voice…that of a male, on some comm device that the Captain had up to one ear.

The voice was youthful, and yet very firm and even slightly angry in its tones as he said, "Yes, Nova, we've just come through that rift ourselves."

"Why did you take the risk, Derek?" Cheetara heard the Captain saying in a low, gentle alto voice. The Captain is a woman? Cheetara thought. She must be a very big, tall woman…how does she get the authority to command these big humans and even bigger…Ancestral Cats…I'm sure of it, on such a big, wondrous ship? Was everyone a god or goddess in those days?

Derek, whoever he was, responded with, "Well, damnit, I saw you go through that thing after the Bolars hit you with that device. Of course I wanted to know what happened. The Star Force never leaves men or women down on the field if we can help it. Now we know where the rift ends up, and have some idea of how to get you back. Mark and the rest of Task Force Fourteen Point One have the last of those Bolars eating from their hands. I gave those bastards a little taste of the wave motion gun before I followed you here."

"This place is semi-barbaric," said the Captain in a low voice. "I sent that to you already. Be careful."

"You need parts and you need to receive new orders from me," said Derek. "I'll meet with you soon. And put on your dancing shoes, dear. I think we'll be going to that party together."

"You're impossible…sir," Nova responded back. "Love you."

The Captain then shut off her device, and twirled around in her chair and stood up, sidestepping over two steps, and then stepping forward to meet the Thundercats with a smile on her face.

LionO and Panthro were shocked to see that the Captain was not only a woman; she looked to be a somewhat petite but athletic woman who was about five foot six or seven, weighing maybe just fifteen stava in their measure, or somewhere between about one hundred and twenty to one hundred and twenty-five oldpounds. She had on the black and red greatcoat that Cheetara and Panthro had glimpsed the previous night, with a white scarf tucked into the collar. Beneath the jacket, she seemed to wear a pleated white skirt that came down about to her knees, which were startlingly bare and free of fur, like her legs, and even her feet, which were almost bare in single-strap brown sandals. The question Cheetara had about Human paws was answered when she noticed that the Captain's feet looked not that much unlike hers, although they were furless and she had no claws but rather had finger and toe nails somewhat like a Monkian, but buffed, nicely clipped, and covered with a shiny clear polish.

Her face was her most arresting feature; it was furless, but the nose and eyes looked a little like a cross between the features of Cheetara, and as Panthro noticed, the lost Queen Leona who was LionO's mother, although the eyes were an arresting dark brown shade and seemed to have a mixture of joy and deep wisdom in them…along with a trace of the Fire.

Cheetara shook a little when she realized that there was some kind of link between Abbess Snowmane and this woman; for their faces were very similar…and so was the Fire in their Eyes. The woman smiled and pushed her honey-blonde hair out of her eyes.

Agen looked at her, saluted, and bowed deeply. "Skipper," he said. "I bring you the Thundercats. This is…L…"

"They are already known to me," said the young Captain in her quiet alto voice. "Agen, Hemsford, please leave us. We have much to talk about."

"Yes, ma'am," they said.

Then, LionO was shocked when the Captain bowed deeply to him, took his hand, and kissed it. "LionO, Lord of the Thundercats. I had a dream about you last night. My name is Captain Nova Wildstar, although my name in Japanese in the birth and marriage registers of my family back in my current homeland is rendered in Japanese as 'Kodai Yuki'. I am the Captain of the North Carolina, and, as you can see, the Ralkhen hold me in some respect, for reasons I'd prefer not to get into for the moment. You caught me on the phone having a talk with my husband, bondmate, and commanding officer Admiral Derek Wildstar, his name being rendered 'Kodai Susumu' in the registers in Japan. Now…let's see if I analyzed this correctly…you're Cheetara, LionO's fiancee' and high priestess," she said as she took Cheetara's hand. "You're Panthro, their General," said Nova as she shook hands with Panthro. "And you're WilyKat, Special Operative, and you're dizzy in the head from your wound and you hate that you can't ride your hoverboard. Did I call it right?"

WilyKat nodded fearfully, and he hugged Cheetara's legs and said, "She's a witch! She can see inside my head! And she knows what I look like without clothes on! Protect me!"

The other cats laughed while Cheetara said, "WilyKat, I think she just has a veer developed Sixth Sense. Do all humans have that?"

"Some do in my time, but not many," said Nova. "It's a power that's awakened in a very few of us. It happened to me some years after I sat on a machine known as the Cosmo-DNA. It was a machine built by the people of Queen Starsha of Iscandar long ago, and it was given to us so that we could restore what was then First Earth, which had been bombed almost to ruin by an alien race known as the Gamilons. We gained the machine and fought them, but we later allied, almost by accident, against an even worse power known as the Comet Empire. After that war was over, in brief, I married Derek, and then an even worse evil came; the evil of the Rikashans and the Technomugar cyborgs, led by a Dark Lord known as Ekogaru who is a great threat to us in our time and whom still lives. In part of the wars with Ekogaru, I gained a power…"

"The Matrix?" said Cheetara.

"Yes, but how did you know that?" said Nova.

"Agen told us something about a Hidden Queen," said LionO. "Ma'am, do you know who she is?"

Nova nodded. "Can you cats keep a secret? You look sort of like young, underdeveloped Ralkhen to me, so I think we're safe…"

"I promise you we will not reveal what you tell us, Captain."

Nova sighed and said. "Since you're so close to the mark thanks to you and Cheetara here putting together two and two to make six, the Matrix is inside me right now. I'm the hidden High Queen that my Ensign Agen spoke of. Sort of a ceremonial post, actually, except when the Pellians are in full-scale war mobilization against ; then, I'd be expected to lead them, and I would, since the Pellians and Terra are very much allies in my time. And I really have to talk to him. He talks too damn much," Nova said as she smiled a little, sat on her desk, and took a sip of a drink from a mug. "This coffee's not strong enough on this ship. I like it nice and strong. Otherwise, it's not coffee. Darn Mark Venture, always getting on my back about my coffee…As for my powers…I gained them through a cosmic accident, like Agen spoke of."

Nova put down her coffee mug, and then quietly closed one of her ancient books-but not with her hands…instead, she used her mind to close it.

This shocked Panthro, who said, "Did you just do what I thought you did?"

"Some people say I've become a mystic," Nova said. "I'm a physicist and doctor by formal education. I understand your young Cat here has a head injury."

"Have you ever worked on humanoid cats before, ma'am?" said WilyKat nervously. "Ohhh…my head…"

"I can do one of two things…or both," said Nova. "I'm the ship's Chief Surgeon as well as its Doctor, assisted when I have to be on the Bridge by a young Doctor who was in class in Medical School with me known as Doctor Sophie Fairworth. I would like the chance to work on your young Cat in surgery, assisted by Doctor Fairworth. I'd like to try some microsurgery first, but if that does not entirely do the trick…I'd like to try to do some mystic healing…"

WilyKat took off the cap he had on, and he showed the bald spot on top of his head. "Uhh…a dog doctor worked on me first-can we do the psychic healing…first?"

"Let me check that," Nova said in a soft voice as she knelt before the young Cat and began to feel his head. "Damnit," she murmured after a moment. "Who put a crude, primitive drain tube in his head with stitches?"

"Doctor Panremus…the best in Kievski," said LionO.

"A crude man who is a butcher," Nova snapped with tears in her eyes. "The drain is not even one hundred percent sterile! It will have to come out post-haste! He's running a risk of meningitis with that thing in his head. I can heal the parts of his brain that are swollen once I have a small incision open, and get rid of any need for the drain tube…and I can even grow his hair back."

"Will it hurt?" said WilyKit.

"No," said Nova. "LionO, follow me to our Bridge so that you can call the Kievski Council. Then, he's going into surgery…"

"Of course," said LionO.

LionO found himself on the Bridge of the North Carolina a few minutes later, along with Cheetara and Panthro. Nova had called a Nurse, a human clad in a short white dress and white sandals, who gently took WilyKat off to what was called "Sickbay".

Nova sat down behind a large desk/control panel on a platform at the back part of the Bridge and said, "Would those of our ship's company please stand and introduce themselves to the Thundercat nobles aboard the ship? This tall Lion here is Lord LionO, this lady is Lady Cheetara, soon to be his Queen, and the tall man in the spiked armor is General Panthro. Combat Group Leader?"

A tall man with wild long hair and glasses, in a white uniform with red markings said, "My name is Commander Dashell Jordan, usually known as "Dash" to most. I used to be in charge of Naval Artillery on our prior command; now, I'm the First Officer of this ship; about to make Captain soon if I don't mess up…"

"Thanks, Dash," said Nova. A woman with a green arrow came to attention. "Your name?"

"Lieutenant Commander Fujiko Miyazaki, Navigation Officer," said the short-haired young woman as she saluted.

Nova then turned to the young woman behind the radar. She had long blond hair, and large light-brown eyes. "My name is Senior Lieutenant Sasha Wakefield, who's in charge of radar, analysis, and Living Operations."

A group of other officers was introduced. LionO saw that one of them, at Artillery, was a Ralkhen Cat with black fur named Dayliss. At the "Combat Radar" there sat a young woman with blue skin named Dayva Haanen; she was introduced by Nova as a "Gamilon".

Panthro looked over the crew, and he said, "Any Thundercats here?"

"Not funny," said Nova. "And you know it. Now, let's see to WilyKat's operation…."

SIX HOURS LATER….

LionO, Cheetara, and Panthro were sitting in a waiting room in the North Carolina's Sickbay when a hatch opened. In came Nova and a young dark-haired woman, who had on green, loose outfits that Cheetara had earlier learned were called "scrubs". It looked to Cheetara as if they had odd cloth shoes on, but as the dark-haired doctor leaned against a console to remove one of the covers, it turned out that these were paper covers that covered the sandals they had on beneath.

"Well?" said LionO.

"I removed the drain from his brain with Doctor Fairworth's assistance," said Nova. "He had to be worked on carefully afterwards, and I had to…use my abilities…to heal some of the damage."

"I questioned that, Doctor Wildstar…until I saw connective tissue just growing back in there," said Doctor Fairworth.

"How is he?" said Panthro.

"He should be well once he comes around from the anesthesia," said Doctor Fairworth. "He…"

A phone rang, and Nova picked it up. "Yes, Homer? Let me hear this right…he just landed on the fantail?"

"We had to give him immediate landing clearance, ma'am," said Dash's voice over the speakers. "He says he's been in battle."

"Who?" said Nova, as she shut her eyes and then quietly said, "Derek…"

"Come with me, Lord LionO," Nova said as she pulled off her shoe covers and threw on a white lab coat. "This is going to be important. Cheetara, you and Panthro can go see your friend. He should be waking up soon. Sophie, take them to him. Dash, you're still in command until I get back," Nova said.

Doctor Fairworth saluted Nova, who saluted back.

Nova and LionO ran through the ship, coming to the fantail, where a silver and red plane much like the one LionO had glimpsed the other day sat on the fantail, smoking in two places where men with fire extinguishers put out small fires on the ship. This plane had a number "01" at its nose in white.

The cockpit was open, and a man in a red helmet and white uniform with the familiar red markings was standing up in the cockpit.

A ladder was pushed up to the ship, and the man, who had on dark blue gloves and knee-high closed boots, climbed down, and stood to attention while Nova formally saluted him. He saluted back, and then pulled off his helmet and threw it to the deck.

He had wild dark brown hair that nearly hung in his eyes, a determined look in his dark eyes, and heavy eyebrows.

Nova looked intensely at him, smiled, and nearly knocked him over as she hugged him. "I felt you in that battle, Derek, and believe me, I was worried!"

"Like every time I fly in my Super Star?" he said.

Nova nodded; LionO noticed tears forming in the strong female Captain's eyes. The long-haired Human kissed her on top of her head and said, "Well, Nova, here's the evidence I made it here. And so did the Argo."

"Who attacked you and why?" Nova said.

"We were flying a recon mission over a city about two thousand kilometers east of here; a place filled with cat-people of all kinds who looked like shrunken Ralkhens. Soon, a bunch of planes jumped Cory Conroy and I; some of them seemed to be flown by creatures who looked like Tigers; others by Lizards. I fought some kind of dogfight with a very arrogant-looking Tiger with an evil grin and…"

"An eye patch?" snapped LionO.

"Oh, there's more of you furry bastards?" snapped the long-haired man as LionO snarled at him.

"I'm royalty, the King and Lord of the Thundercats, known as LionO, son of Claudus!" snapped LionO. "You'd best be more careful, human!"

"And I'm a flag officer of the Earth Defense Forces!" snapped the young man. "I'm Rear Admiral Derek Wildstar, Captain of the Space Battleship Argo, still known in some circles as the Yamato, and commander of the First Star Force! And you have a hell of a mouth!"

"And so do you!" snapped LionO.

Nova then stamped her foot and whistled. She made a big "T" with her hands and said, "Enough of the testosterone display, guys! Derek, you're a commander of many men and women, me included. LionO, so are you! It appears you two are both on the same side!"

"Nova, how can that be?" snapped Derek. "Their Tiger men shot at us; they splashed Miyagi, they splashed Culhaven Junior, and they screwed up Conroy and me!"

"That's because I'm at civil war with the Tiger," said LionO. "He's my brother, Tygra. And he's my worst enemy. Admiral Wildstar, I will offer you the best wergild possible for your losses."

"It'd better be pretty good," sneered Derek.

"You need to be looked at, and I think you need a drink, Derek," said Nova as she took him by the arm, quite firmly. "Really, getting ready to fight with our allies…I'm ashamed of you."

"And as for my leadership?" said LionO.

"YOU BELONG IN THE DOGHOUSE, YOU BIG CAT!" snapped Nova as she tapped LionO on the chest. "Men! SHEEEESH!" she said as she dragged Derek away.

"Interesting," said LionO to one of the men as he watched Nova dragging Derek into the ship. "He's her commanding officer, but…oh…yes," remembering that Nova had said she was a ceremonial Noble of some kind.

"We always wonder who wears the pants in that couple; they both do," said one of the damage control men. "Yet they love each other to have survived over thirteen years of marriage and they have five kids. The oldest two are now…uh…six going on seven. And they're as crazy as their parents," said the damage control officer.

"A lot of things are different here on your ship," said LionO.

"Yes, we've noticed the same about your planet," said the damage control officer.

THREE DAYS LATER…

Cheetara found herself taking a walk in Kievski, with her Bonding day being the next day.

It was a "girls' afternoon out" for her. WilyKat had healed up admirably from whatever Doctors Wildstar and Fairworth had done for him, and WilyKit smiled as she glimpsed her brother back to his old self, tumbling as he went down the street with Bengali.

LionO was busy in the palace with some crucial business with Panthro, the Kievski Council, Major Graulus, and Admiral Wildstar.

Cheetara had on a simple blue ankle-length dress, her brown sandals, and she carried a bag that she was collecting things in as she walked down the street with WilyKit, who was freshly outfitted in a smaller version of her gold and brown Clerical uniform, wristlets, and sandalboots. The outfit had been made in a machine on the North Carolina, whose commander, Captain Nova Wildstar, was walking along beside Cheetara in a blue shirtdress and her brown sandals, eating an apple.

"So tell me what this place reminds you of," said Cheetara.

"A massive SCA meet," said Nova.

"SCA? What's that?" said WilyKit.

"Where I come from, everything is modern and highly mechanized, except for large parks in and around our cities," Nova said. "Groups of humans form clubs to do various things. One of them is to recreate old history. SCA means "The Society for Creative Anachronism." Derek and I work in space and in highly advanced offices and hospitals, When we go to SCA meets, we wear clothes like the sort we see around here and play that we're in the past. That's what this place reminds me of. A massive SCA meet."

"Is that a compliment?" Cheetara said.

"Oh, it is," said Nova.

The women ended up going into shops to buy items for Cheetara for her Bonding day, which would be the next day. They bought ribbons, watched her being fitted for her dress, and saw her buying a beautiful lace veil.

As they walked along, another female Cat caught the group. She had on long robes and a hood.

She ran alongside the group and said, "Ah, yes. Soon to be Chief Cleric and Queen Cheetara?"

"Who are you?" WilyKit asked as she brandished her staff. Nova looked hard at her, fiddling with her handbag. Cheetara herself remained silent.

"A friend, believe it or not," said the young woman.

She threw back her hood.

"Abbess Snowmane!" said Cheetara. She bowed to her.

WilyKit also bowed, and said, "Pleased to meet you, Excellency."

But, Nova looked hard at her. Very hard. "I don't believe it," she said.

"You don't believe what?" said Cheetara.

"What I'm seeing," said Nova as she looked hard at Abbess Snowmane. "That's not your real name," she said softly. "And you're not even really a cat."

"Very astute, Nova," said Snowmane softly.

"Is…is she an enemy?" said WilyKit.

"I'm surprised you can't see the resemblance in our faces," said Nova. "It's about eleven thousand years after my time…but…but…this is…"

"Just say it, High Queen," said Snowmane quietly. "Just amongst us, should we share the truth."

"What truth?" said Cheetara.

"This woman…" said Nova. "Is really me. Or, rather, the spirit I will become after about eleven thousand years pass…"

TO BE CONTINUED….

With "A Bonding for the Ages"