Chapter 16
The next day Slythe stood on the grass out in front of the Lair. Panthro needed more time as Snowman's haul had been helpful but it took time to carefully pull things apart and not trash them. The Feliner would be complete but not until at least tonight.
"I know you're out there! If you think I didn't, you're dumber than I thought!" Slythe seemingly challenged the sky. No answer so he tried,
"I'll give myself up! If you promise to leave Third Earth alone!" That's when he heard engines whirring. Inside the Lair, Lion-O ordered everyone to get ready to fire. If need be, they'd protect themselves.
"You expect us to believe that you aren't a Trojan horse?" An announcement came from the ship's PA system. The ship had to de-cloak to use it and Lion-O made sure that the aim was for the engines.
"Say the people who claimed to have left Third Earth! You want trust; you have a funny way of showing it!" Slythe barked.
"An uneasy truce then. We'll land to let you board, if the Lair will not fire on us," the person on the ship responded.
"You have my word no one will fire on you, provided you're speaking the truth, but I want guarantees! Anything happens and the Lair will not hesitate to bring the ship down, with me in it!" Slythe told them. There was a silence and the Mutant wondered if he had pushed his luck. Truth of the matter was, Lion-O would be firing on the ship, anyway. They all agreed that the ship wasn't leaving with the reptile.
The ship landed on the grass not far away from Slythe. The engines cut, which certainly surprised the Mutant. This was supposed to be quick and instead they had offered themselves up. The ship's ramp came down and out of the ship came four Mutants – female and male jackals, male monkian and female vulture. Then Slythe heard something.
"In the name of Third Earth! Drop your weapons and put your hands up!" It was Queen Willa and her Warrior Maidens. Next to them was Snowman and Snowmeow. They had popped out of their hiding places inside the forest on the other side of the ship.
"Slythe, you ok?" Lion-O asked. He, Cheetara, Ben-Gali, Panthro, and Mandora had exited the Lair, leaving the Kittens and Tygra to man the Lair's weapons.
"All good," he nodded with a half-smile.
"So it was deception after all," the female jackal gave him a look as they set down their weapons.
"You knew who you were dealing with when you asked for me by name. I'm surprised that you bothered to shut off the engines," Slythe gave her a look.
"She did so because I told her to," a female reptile walked out of the ship and headed toward him.
"Arzu?" Slythe couldn't believe it.
"Tales of my death were highly exaggerated," she smirked, walking right up to him and embracing him.
"It is good to see you. You captained the ship with only that crew?" He asked.
"Not exactly," she admitted.
"Well we'd be more than glad to hear all about it. Welcome to Third Earth. I'm Lion-O, King of Thundera, Lord of the ThunderCats," the lion and the others had walked up to them and stuck out his hand. The Warrior Maidens, Snowman, and Snowmeow had moved up as well. Willa had Nada and a couple of Maidens scoop up the weapons.
"Your Highness," Arzu bowed her head, "glad that you didn't shoot us down," she smiled and then shook his hand.
"I'm glad that it didn't come to that. So how did you manage to captain with that small of a crew?" Lion-O wanted to know.
"A long story that ends with a mutiny of sorts. Well a mutiny after part of my crew mutinied. Like I said, long story," Arzu explained.
"Then I suggest we handle those you've got left on your ship," the lion said. Willa nodded and approached with ten Maidens. Arzu nodded to the female vulture and the Mutant led them aboard the ship.
To Be Continued…