Chapter 26
Hours would pass and no word had been heard from the Evil Chasers. Lion-O spent most of that time on the phone with anyone he could think of to see if they could provide any answers or wanted the ThunderCats' assistance. Cheetara had intended to sleep but between the thought that Mandora could be dead and the construction noise, there was no sleep to be had. Instead she tried to help Lion-O in any way that she could.
Ben-Gali, Panthro, Li-en, and Cavan worked to get the Feliner operational again in case they needed to use it. While the EMP should not have disabled the mechanisms for more than a few hours, some of the more delicate electronics were completely fried and had to be redone. It was grueling work but they needed to be at the ready the moment they were told to get moving.
Now, as day faded into night, Lion-O received a call that the Evil Chasers had given up their search at the scene of the debris. Nothing could be found and they were heading back to the Vertus to tow it to its new destination of the Evil Chaser base. The lion heaved a sigh and called for all ThunderCats to meet in the Conference Room.
"I've called you all here because the Evil Chasers are giving up the search for Mandora and Shiner. Officially, they are reporting her as missing in action but unofficially…" Lion-O trailed off.
"I must return to base. Mandora was my commanding officer. They will want a full report and they will want it in person," Pali stood from his chair. It was evident that the Mutant was struggling with the news but he was trying to be professional. No one blamed him for being upset. Mandora was a great friend and ally and they were all hurting but it probably hit the Mutant a little bit harder given what the Evil Chaser had done for him.
"You're not going anywhere. I spoke to the High Command and they want you here. With Mandora missing, they need the Evil Chaser presence to remain in this sector. They've promised backup for you and Officer Shay which should be here by first light," Lion-O said.
"Then I must gather my mother and father. We may be the only members of the tribe here but Mandora was like a daughter to them. It is only proper we give her the proper sendoff," Pali told them.
"Agreed. Go and give our condolences to your parents," the lion smiled slightly. Pali nodded and headed out of the room.
"I did not want to give the lad false hope but there might be a way to find out if Mandora is still here and not in the Astral Plane," Lynx-O spoke up.
"I was thinking about trying to contact Jaga through the Sword but the Eye refused to call him. I haven't had time to try and figure out why," Lion-O admitted.
"If Mandora is in fact gone from this plane, there will have been a large disturbance in the balance of Good and Evil. As you know, everyone is attached to the Astral Plane, not just ThunderCats," the lynx said.
"So perhaps she is not dead but somehow in between?" Cheetara raised an eyebrow.
"It could very well be. There are only two things that would allow us to try and reach her; one would be the Sword and its ability to penetrate the Astral Plane, and two would be the Book," Lynx-O explained.
"The last time we used the Book of Omens, Lion-O almost got trapped in there!" Cheetara was not having it.
"The Sword it is then," the lynx did not argue.
"I couldn't get it to do anything earlier. If it won't heed the Lord and King, who will it heed?" Lion-O wanted to know.
"Your family is now part of its inner circle. When you married Cheetara and had children, all of them are future heirs to its power, along with Lea, of course. Perhaps, what it needs is someone else's touch," Lynx-O said. Lion-O shrugged and handed it to Cheetara. She tried to get the Eye of Thundera to open but it refused. She then handed it to Lea, whose attempts ended just as poorly.
"That leaves the children," Cheetara was nervous about what that could mean.
"They're only five and seven," Lion-O looked to Lynx-O.
"Then we try Leo first. He is the first born," the lynx seemed calm about it despite the children's parents not being so. Lion-O heaved a sigh and took up the Sword and headed for the Med Bay. Everyone followed him, anxious to see what would happen.
"So what's up guys?" Doctor Pungali asked as they all entered the Med Bay.
"We need to borrow the kids," Lion-O said.
"Right this way," the doctor smiled slightly and led them to the room where Leo, Sahara, and Snarf were playing.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Sahara was all smiles despite her condition.
"Hey baby," the cheetah went to her and pulled her in for a hug.
"What's going on?" Leo was a little more curious than his sister. His father however, did not get the chance to tell him as the Sword growled at Sahara's giggle. Her mother had sat down next to her but wasn't tickling her or playing any games. Everyone looked at everyone else for a moment or two and then Lea asked,
"Sahara, what's so funny?"
"You guys," the little litah said.
"Oh yeah?" The lioness cocked an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Sahara smirked and held out her hand. Before Lion-O knew what was happening, the Sword wrenched itself free and landed in the little girl's hand. At this point, almost everyone was gaping at her. The Sword was heavy and yet she held it as if it were one of her toys.
"What?" She asked.
To Be Continued…