Chapter 30

The night was a long one. Lion-O was sure that he didn't get much sleep as he spent most of the night wondering what Baki would do or say. To him, there was no easy way out of this. It still seemed like suicide, no matter what option he chose. If he did not take the Evil Chasers help, then the High Council would blow him out of the sky before they ever got close enough. If he took their help, his own people could kill him for the idea of "oversight" as Tiberius had mentioned. The Commander had been right. Plundarr could not afford another dictatorship. While the High Council were technically not a dictatorship, they behaved as one.

"I've seen that look before," Cheetara commented as she rolled on top of him.

"Am I that easy to read?" He asked, looking down at his fiancée, moving his arms around her waist.

"Sometimes my King. Of course, things are kind of difficult at this moment. Our own are dealing with some problems along with our allies," the cheetah said.

"I suppose there will be more trouble as we rule together," Lion-O nodded.

"That is why we will do it together. The weight of the world can be heavy and definitely a burden that needs to be shared," Cheetara said, putting her head on his chest. Lion-O kissed the top of her head.

"How'd I get so lucky?" He wondered.

"Well I've been told that I'm quite the catch," she teased.

"That you are. I'll remind you of it every day," he promised.

"Ah I see. You flatter me, my King," Cheetara smiled and kissed his bare chest.

"You honor me. You had every right to never open your heart again. No one would blame you. The fact that you chose me… I will never be able to express just how much that means to me," Lion-O admitted.

"I believe you tried last night," the cheetah smirked. Admittedly, before sleep, the two tried to make the most of the time they had together – something that had been in short supply while sleeping different shifts.

"Tried? I did not succeed?" He asked.

"Oh, you did, my King. I only wish we'd been able to go a few more rounds," she chuckled, and it moved from her body into his.

"Well perhaps I can accommodate you soon. I'm surprised we even got in what we did," Lion-O told her.

"I fully expected to be asleep as soon as I crawled into bed," Cheetara admitted.

"Probably my fault. I started something that we apparently both wanted to finish despite being exhausted," he smirked.

"Anytime my King, anytime," she kissed his chest one more time before crawling off of him and heading for the shower.

"We can't be late for breakfast," the cheetah reminded him, her hips swaying as she moved.

"Right behind you," he promised. They were soon under the hot water, enjoying each other's company. Still they knew that breakfast more than likely brought Captain Baki's final decision.

They entered the dining room to find Slythe and Arzu sitting with the rest of her crew. Ayşegül, Hamza, Refik, and Esen had looks on their faces that made Lion-O wonder what was going on. He indicated to Cheetara that he was going to go talk to them and she nodded before heading to make them breakfast.

"I hope those looks don't mean what I think they do," Lion-O took a seat next to Slythe.

"You have been most kind to us King Lion-O but…" Esen stopped herself.

"But you want to go back to Plundarr?" He asked.

"I will not be going back. Lord Tygra has said he will help me become a doctor, something my mother had always wished for me. With her gone, I will honor her memory," Refik said.

"We will be glad to have you," Lion-O smiled.

"I will not go back," Ayşegül told him.

"I am with her," Hamza said.

"Then you are both welcome," Lion-O said, wondering what Esen was worried about.

"Choice is not something we are used to. I would love to stay here with my comrades, but I worry the choice will not be mine to be made," Esen explained.

"Baki will expect you to join him," the King said.

"I fear it. How can we say 'no'? He is the reason we knew that we had a choice. He is the reason that we are now free. The Captain would not have stood her ground had he not inspired her," Esen told him.

"You are free to make your own decisions. We allow that here on Third Earth. If we need to fight for you to stay, we will do so," there was no hesitation in the Thunderian's voice.

"This is why he is King. I will enjoy my time here," Arzu smiled.

"So, you're staying because of him?" Slythe gave her a look.

"I finally got you back. You think I'm leaving you now?" Arzu gave him a look of her own.

"Good. Then you will be the first contingent of Mutants to live freely amongst us. As such, Third Earth will do whatever we can for our friends. Do you think that if I offered amnesty to Baki's troops they will abandon their mission?" Lion-O suddenly asked.

"A free Plundarr is very alluring. I would be hard pressed to believe they would. However, if they think death is what they are headed for, they may abandon ship as it were," Arzu admitted.

"Well then I'll speak to the other leaders and we'll see what shakes loose," Lion-O nodded. He was about to stand up when Cheetara approached, Mandora in tow.

"Baki wants to speak in twenty minutes," the Evil Chaser said.

To Be Continued…