Lion-O made his way down the council room, surprisingly after a good night sleep, he walked in to find Dion, Leon, and Bengali already seated talking among them selves. "Morning all"

"Morning Lord Lion-O" they replied in unison.

Cheetara joined in afterwards. "Morning everyone. I hope everyone slept well," She said taking her seat.

Lion-o smiled sheepishly. "Bengali where is Myra and Shula?"

"They haven't arrived down here yet. Probably be here soon I guess"

Lion-O nodded, and plonked himself down. Myra then slowly entered the control room, smiled weakly at everyone and sat down slowly.

Shula strode into the control room, fashionably late. He had dispensed with his armor plating and now wore a tight black body suit, very similar to Lion-O's. "Another day, another dollar" he smiled.

Lion-O nodded, and looked at the group. "What would be the most logical plan to follow Shula?" he asked. "Considering the eye is unable to help, you are our last hope"

Shula put his hands together and looked at the group. "Are we assuming he's still alive?"

Lion-O nodded. "With what Myra brought back, if we don't find him we can safely assume he is dead?"

"I don't think so. With Schwenk no body, no evidence I'm afraid. Bloodied clothes prove nothing...are we even sure it's his blood?"

"Pumyra tested it, it was human blood, it was found all over Myra even inside her mouth" Cheetara confirmed.

"Schwenk's blood?" Shula pressed

"I ran a search of the database with the DNA, found in the blood," Pumyra added. "It belongs to Gaston Schwenk," she said softly. Myra leaned back emotionless.

"Leon did you find anything on the scanners?"

"Myra... please describe what happened...before we go to the site"

Myra sighed heavily. "I don't where to start," she said shakily. "I was walking through the woods, and he came out of no where, I think I was in the wrong place in the wrong time. He pounced me, recognizing me from when he was at the lair, calling me Moira. He pinned me down, after a fight, ripped at my clothes. And then." Myra shifted, uncomfortable. "I fought as much as I could…but he wouldn't stop punching, taking what strength I had left. He was bragging how he was "Gonna tell his buddies how he banged a cat" I got angry; I wasn't about let that happen. His clothes was ripped with both of our blood, I pushed him hard, he fell backwards in the river, he didn't come up for a while, then I saw his body face down floating away…" she finished to a silent room. Lion-O coughed awkwardly. Leon shook his head in disgust. Cheetara sighed inwardly, Dion smiled at Myra.

"Why do you think he drowned? After all, his injuries weren't so serious that he was unconscious?"

"Well the fact he didn't come up for a quite a while, then his body came up face first, and floated downstream. He wasn't moving"

"Take me to where this happened!" Shula said flatly

"Ok" Myra replied unfazed. Lion-O stood up. "We will all go. Then Shula can advise who can search where. Sounds good Shula?"

"Fine...let's not waste any time" Shula stood up.

Lion-O stood and led the group outside. They reached the woods. "You lead now Myra," he said softly. Myra nodded, and leads them to the clearing where she and Schwenk had their "fight" complete with the river nearby. Blood, and signs of a struggle where still visible. "We are here." Myra stated.

Shula knelt down and examined the blood. He prodded some of the blood with his finger and sniffed the sticky black residue. Then he sucked his finger and explored the taste. "Show me where he fell in the river"

Cheetara screwed her face up at the sight of him tasting the blood. She gave a worried glance to Lion-O. The Lion shook his head in response.

Myra led him where they fought just be the riverbank. "I am pretty sure it was here"

Shula looked around for a while "are you sure? There's no blood here"

"I think so, it happened so fast" she exclaimed, looking desperately for blood. She spotted some a few feet away. "There seem to be blood there, that could be it"

"I thought you said he was practically bleeding to death" Shula simply placed his boot on the few spots there were.

"That's what it looked like" she shrugged. "I don't know about human biology, from what I saw and have seen I thought it was enough, I could be wrong. Although I wasn't wrong about him floating motionless, down the river"

Shula turned to Lion-O "Where does that river lead?"

"To the ocean" Lion-O replied.

"Well obviously!" Shula snorted, "how far away is that?"

Lion-O snorted in return. "Well are near the bridge of light, which leads straight out to Berserker territory in the ocean"

"There's not enough evidence to prove he's dead!" Shula said emphatically

"Well what should we do then" Lion-O asked. "What would be the best course of action?"

"What would you do?"

"Search the nearby area, that's the hunting plains, and there the Berbil village, all the forests around here, I was only asking as you know him best out of all of us, I thought you may have a good idea where he may go"

"If he's alive then he will be as close as is safe to you and the Cat's Lair. He will be watching you all, and as for Myra, she would be in great danger. He would attack again and make up for last time. In time could you not try the Eye again?"

"Ok" Lion-O agreed. He took the sword of omens out. "Sword of Omens, give me sight beyond sight!" he commanded. After few minutes, he looked away from the swords eye in frustration. "Its still doing the same thing" he exclaimed.

"Hmm. Something is not right...can you not feel it Lion-O?" Shula scowled.

"It is a bit of coincidence I must admit" Lion-O Agreed. " Lion-O sighed. "We cant do much else then search for him"

Shula took Lion-O to one side and spoke in a mere whisper. "I know that we've had our differences so far, an I'm sorry for that...but, it's the girl...Myra...she's not telling the truth about something. Please forgive my impertinence, but try to believe my sincerity in this."

Lion-O looked at him surprised. "What would Myra have to gain from lying?" he pointed out.

"At this moment in time I have no idea" Shula shook his head. "That's why it doesn't make sense. How DID he escape from your cells...I imagine they must be very, very secure"

"From the information that I was given, she went to feed him unaware of who he was, he took his chance and attacked her, forcing her to release him,"

"That's three times she's been attacked by him. So far, everything he has done here, everything revolves around Myra. How could he force her to release him, surely there must be alarms and all that technology?"

"Of course the alarms where set off, we found Myra dazed, she had been struck in the face, and it had to be stitched and there where hand marks around her neck apparently, That would tell me otherwise then she set him free purposely"

"OK Lion-O, how much do you want this man captured?"

"You know how much I want him captured, what are you getting at?"

"Do you trust me implicitly?"

"So far I suppose. You haven't given me a reason not to…yet"

"Right. This is between just us two. We're going to come to the conclusion that he's dead. I will hang around for a while piecing it together...but, we shall secretly monitor Myra very closely, because either willingly or unwillingly, she is the key to getting him"

Lion-O nodded, and looked over to Myra who standing with a comforting Cheetara. He wondered if Shula was right. He glanced back. "Ok Shula. Give it 48 hours. If nothing comes from it, we can move on form this " he asked.

"Agreed...for what it's worth, I hope I'm wrong...oh, and one more thing. When we do capture him, you will hand him over to my custody won't you?" he smiled a toothy grin.

"You know I have to as per space regulations, hopefully that will solve any issues for me and you…so you are welcome to him" he replied.

"I'll save you a mouthful of the spoils then?"

"Oh Jaga no ... that's fine, I just want him out of way of other thunderians, that's enough for me"

"Don't knock it until you try it...nothing like prey squirming under your body as you take the first bite" he licked his lips.

"Not my cup of thunderain tea…a bit old school Shula don't you think?" Lion-O replied.

"That's a shame...still, I'll have him all to myself...don't like sharing anyway" he laughed. "I can probably keep him alive for a few hours before he loses too much body to stay alive. I guess that's where we're different...ah, well"

Lion-O had to laugh at his remark. "You and him seem to go way back. Just don't give me a reason not to trust you Shula."

Myra sighed as she got back into the lair. She went into the control room to find Bengali as he returned first. "I am just doing a system check on my ship Bengali," she said.

"OK, do you want me to come and help you?"

"Ah no, wont take me long, just a system diagnostic" she shrugged.

"OK, well, maybe I'll pop over later and see if it's going OK" he smiled.

"Ok I will be only a hour or so. Just let me know when you are on your way" she smiled back.

"No problem" he replied

Myra smiled and walked out. She left the lair and entered her ship, locking the entrance door behind her. She walked into the bridge. "Schwenk?"

Schwenk span around in the captain's chair looking serious "I'm going to take over the whole world...mwhahahaha!" he grinned. "What a lovely chair... so full of, power!"

Myra folded her arms, laughing. "In your dreams"

"And what dreams I have" Schwenk stood up and threw his hands to the sky "I'm living my dream... I've got Myra and I love her!"

Myra smiled sweetly. "Then I have my dreams," she said back in a cold manner.

"What are they?"

"I have you," she said walking up to him. "And that's enough for me to get what I need…" she said,

"And..."

"That makes me the most content woman in the system" she said, emotionlessly.

"And.?"

"What?" She said a little uneasy.

"OK, I'll help you out Myra... OK, just fill in the gaps... I love Myra and Myra bleep me?"

Myra faked a smile."…Of course I love you" she managed, gritting through her teeth.

"You see, that wasn't difficult was it" he kissed her

Myra broke off the sudden kiss "No I guess not. Just haven't said in a while" she replied.

"Didn't expect to say it again"

"Oh...sorry. I didn't mean to drag up the past!" he said sincerely

"No, don't worry its good. Means we both can move on" she said, rubbing her mouth.

"So, what's new in tin cat alley? How my friend Shula and pals?"

"Well I can understand why you think if Shula what you do. He nearly made Lion-O flip apparently.

"Oh, he's quite a character!" he replied grimly

"I took him to the place where the incident occurred. I think he bought it, just continuing investigation"

"Really... that's not like him"

"Is it?"

"Uh huh, he is very persistent normally... he is fairly keen on meeting me, you see"

"Well he is staying for a further 48 hours wrapping things up, He says he assumes your dead"

"OK... that's bad! That is not how he operates"

"So he has figured it out!"

"Maybe... what else did he say about me and him?"

"Nothing."

"OK...did he say what he was going to do to me?"

"I think he shared with Lion-O I heard your name mentioned and him laughing and Lion-O looking uneasy"

"OK... I know what that is then... do you know?"

Myra shook her head.

"Have you got a strong stomach? I want to tell you exactly what will happen to me"

"Go for it, gives me an idea who I am dealing with"

"Right...this is what has happened to those who have helped me...and got caught. He will take me to his ship and tie me up. His first bite will be on my shoulder...lots of meat...not too many blood vessels. Then my hands, maybe one finger at a time... maybe more. He loves the crunch. He will eat the major muscle parts first. He will take his time, he will be slow and will always eat in front of my face."

"Can you imagine the pain? Imagine that lasting for many hours"

Myra gulped. "Well what do we do? We can't let this happen"

"We don't get caught! To be captured is to die like that...simple."

"How? He is here now on third earth"

"If he does capture me...then shoot me...don't worry about him, just kill me!"

Myra nodded. She understood why. "Although I will have a go first at him. I am not having him mucking everything up"

"Let's hope it doesn't get to that! I don't understand why he's giving up though...in his position, would you?"

"Maybe I was that convincing?"

"Maybe" he replied, rubbing his chin "Or..." Schwenk suddenly looked panicked "Were you followed?"

"No," she said, sure.

"I hope not... oh god, what if you were!" he started panicking

"Stay calm" Myra soothed.

"I'm trying," he said, trembling

Myra held on to his shoulders and looked into his eyes deeply. "Where is he? Where is Gaston I know? Stop it. Focus, otherwise he has won already and we might as well kill each other now"

"Yeah, yeah...you're right. Let's get some food, maybe that'll help"

Myra nodded in relief. "Lets go to the dining quarters," she said leading the way.

"Lead on"

Myra smiled back at him as she walked on ahead. She reached the dining quarters and fixed something to eat for them both, she gave Schwenk a plate of food. "Here, this will make you feel better" she smiled.

"I'm sorry about my nerves... I'm guessing you might have been expecting someone else in the 'war criminal' department... someone stronger, maybe"

"I must admit, you are completely different to what I read and was told about you. But there is two sides to every coin" she replied.

"You are right... I just wish you'd met me years ago. Before...well, ...you know" he stared at his plate. "Both sides were shiny and immaculate then!"

"I don't mind spending the next few years buffing the coin up to its original shine" she winked.

"I know... the past will always haunt me though... haunt us!"

Myra shrugged. "Don't tell me your starting to feel guilty on what happened?" she asked a little surprised. Maybe he was change more then she thought.

"Part of me...I've killed so many...no names, no faces...just numbers."

Myra smiled weakly. "I of course don't know what that feels like. I wish I can make it go away, but I can't. To stay alive we have to look ahead, not back."

"Can't forget the dead though... I drag them through time like an anchor!"

"I know. Just deal with it how it works for you. I will be there for you when it gets hard" she smiled, taking a bite of bread.

Schwenk looked a little confused "Why though?"

Myra look at him back just a puzzled at his question "Why will I support you mean?"

"Uh huh. Not being funny Myra, but I really should be like the bug you crush under your boot! "Why help me?"

"Because I can. I can't explain it, so …that's it" she said, pushing her plate away. "I told I love you just now didn't I?"

"I know... I don't mean to be cynical...but you can see my point, right?"

"What is that not enough?"

"OH please Myra, please let's not argue...you know what I mean...to even love in the first place...you see my point, right?"

"No I don't. Why love me? I am everything your supposed to hate. We don't choose who we fall in love with" She said.

Schwenk shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry Myra...I shouldn't have said anything...please forgive me!"

Hang on, don't cop out on me. Explain what you felt. What did you mean?"

"OK...I'm a thunderian mass murderer, you fall in love with me, let alone not killing me. Please I don't want to have another fight...I never implied your love wasn't enough...it is! It just seems strange that every big cat wants my blood... you want me in a funky way. I love you!" Schwenk hugged her

Myra hugged him tightly back, sighing deeply in relief. She was glad her cover wasn't blown.

"Love is strange," she said quietly after a while.

"It sure beats a catfight any day of the week!"

Schwenk finished the food on his plate and pondered. "I don't think we can stay he for much longer. We're pushing our luck! We need a way to get enough power to get away"

"I know." Replied Myra taking his plate and clearing it away. "They have power cells in their generator room, we can use them, but I would suggest we do it when we are going to leave, its going to set off every alarm in the lair"

"In that case it's the last thing we do before we depart this miserable rock. We need to hobble Shula's ship and Lion-O's too, then steal the cells...this is one hell of a tall order."

"I suggest we plan this well. We only have one chance" Myra sat down.

"I'm all ears!"

"Right," Myra sighed. "I could take out Shula's and Lion-O's ship, I will create a power surge on their power grid, that will keep them busy for a while"

"No.I'll take care of Shula's ship...it'll be fun. More personal"

"Fine, I will sort out the power cells. You take out lion-O's ship as well. I will create a scuffle in my sleeping quarters, so it throws off my back, simply because if you have a hostage, they wont do anything rash will they?" Myra winked.

"I can't take out Lion-O's ship as well, it'll double the chances of getting caught. Just do your power surge thing"

"Fine. I will take care of lion-O's ship with this," she said, going through a nearby storage cabinet. "This device will drain its power then overload it in the ships system creating the power surge" she said. "You can have one for Shula if you want it"

"It's OK, I'll leave my mark" he smiled.

Myra shook her head smiling. "So I take it I stealing the power cell for the ship on my own?"

"No.you will wait for me...we do that together!"

"Ok, so Shula ship and Lion-O's ship, then lair power cells, then off we go?"

"Oh yes, simple as that!" Schwenk stopped and cocked his head to one side. "Can you hear someone?" he said quietly.

"Myra's widened. "Bengali! He must be checking up on me! Hide" she whispered.

"Not being funny, but where's your wardrobe...it might mask my smell!"

"In the docking bay, loads of leathers in there that would mask your scent, just next door to here"

Schwenk ran quickly to the docking bay and hid himself amongst the leather. Myra had some of her dirty clothes amongst the pile. Schwenk did find the combination of smells both arousing and nauseating.

"Myra, you there" Bengali called.

Myra flushed, "in the kitchen Bengali, just fixing something to eat, want something?" she called casually.

"Sure, why not. I'm starving!"

Myra smiled, and fixed them both something to eat. She set out a place setting for Bengali, and sat the opposite side on the dinning table.

"Enjoy"

Bengali started eating the food. "Mmmm, delicious as usual. Wow, I could eat a horse"

"Thanks!" Myra chirped. "I can fix seconds if you need it." She watched on Bengali heartily enjoying his meal. I can see to the way to your heart is through your stomach" she smiled.

"My stomach has been growling for ages... I must admit, that was one reason I popped over."

Myra smiled sweetly. "I only just finished the diagnostic. I just need some power cells replacing, apart from that she is fine. Was that the other reason you came" she smiled. She let off a few pheromones in the air, to cover the scent of Schwenk was still lightly evident in the room, and she would just have to go with how Bengali would interpret her smell.

"Have you bathed recently... sorry, I know it's an odd question"

Myra blinked. "Erm, I bathed this morning. Why do I smell?"

"No, it's not that..." Bengali stood up "There's just an odd smell here...can't seem to recognize it though, it's very faint."

"Maybe some of the food is going off in here. I haven't been in here for a while. Don't worry your food is fine!" she laughed, letting off more pheromones.

"It's not food...no, it's something... oh I don't know, just a strangely familiar smell that I cannot place"

"Maybe I need a bath after all," Myra suggested. "Or it could be you!" she joked.

Bengali laughed. "No, my food doesn't digest that fast! Oh, I don't know, it'll probably come to me later"

"Yeah, it will more then likely will, she said standing up and walked over to him. "Would you like seconds?" she winked.

"Go on then, you've tempted me... while you're doing that I'm going to stretch my legs"

"Ok." Myra smiled and went back to fixing some more food for him.

Bengali got up and headed into the next compartment, it was the docking bay. "Geez Myra, this place is a tip! I'll give you a hand clearing up if you like" Bengali called out. Schwenk froze and hoped the white tiger didn't get any closer.

Myra finished fixing his food, and run after him into the docking bay. "Oh no you don't to do that. Any way these is only "lady things" I prefer you didn't see, we are not that well acquainted Bengali," she laughed. "Come on, I finished fixing your meal" she said, beckoning him to follow be holding on to his arm. Bengali blushed a little under his fur at Myra's re-mark. He coughed.

"OK...hmmm, there's that smell again...it's weird... what the hell is it?"

"I have a lot of dirty clothes in here, plus it's been here for three months, must have festered a bit. Come on, your food is getting cold"

Reluctantly Bengali went for seconds "That's going to bug me now" he scowled.

"Oh come on, don't let a silly smell get to you, otherwise you will be in a mood for the rest of the week" she joked; handing him is plate after following him back to kitchen.

"I know...I'm sorry. You were saying about power cells?"

"Oh, I need two power cells, so the ship can recharge its power"

"OK, we'll see if we can grab some in a few days, when everything has calmed down again."

Myra nodded.

"I don't know how long that Shula will be hanging around for...he's a pain in the butt to be honest! Him and Schwenk deserve each other!"

"They are a pair, I agree with you on that one" she said, pulling herself up top of the table. "I thought he said he believes Schwenk is dead"

"Don't know on that score... he seems to be unsure himself"

Myra sighed. "I will just glad it when it will be over with so we can move on" she said.

"Hmmm. One thing I will say about Schwenk... he's a survivor. Shame he's so bad really... someone that tough doesn't deserve digestion" he smiled wryly.

Myra smiled weakly back.

"How did it feel for you? Being the thunderian that did kill him?"

"Weird. I never killed anyone before, like I told you at dinner the other day" she said. "But I did it without thinking twice. Hopefully for other thunderians sake that I was successful she sighed.

"I'm not sure how Lion-O feels about the possibility of his survival."

"Nor do I. considering the eye wont find him, it must mean something"

"If he's alive and if Lion-O found him, what would he do?"

"I don't know. I don't think Lion-O is the character to kill now. I think he would hand him over to Shula."

"And hand him over to his death? Is that any better than doing it himself?"

"I don't know. It might be different as Schwenk is a war criminal. He knows what's going to happen, but as the lord of the Thundercats he can't take the life of another, but he also knows the thunderians that died because of Schwenk. He is between a rock and a hard place. I don't envy him at the moment"

"I'm sure he has taken another's life before"

"Well I don't know that. I have only met him this one time" Myra shrugged. "It was just an idea"

"I know...not sure I couldn't do it myself...what with what he did to you...it makes it more personal"

I know that..." she sighed rubbing her arms, looking like she was reliving some unwanted memories. "I don't anyone to go through that as much as Lion-O"

"Maybe we should change the subject?"

Myra smiled as if to say thank you. "Is the food ok?"

"Wonderful!"

"Good, Have I managed to feel your hole of a stomach?" she asked.

"For the time being, but it won't stay full for long I guess. I'd better be getting back...try to come over soon, I don't want you over here on your own too much" he said kindly.

"Ok. I should be back in about a couple of hours, once I have tided my tip of a docking bay" she smiled.

With that Bengali left the ship and headed back to the lair. Making sure he had gone Myra rushed to the docking bay.

"Schwenk you can come out now" she called.

Schwenk uncovered himself from the garments. "Bloody hell...I stink" he screwed his nose up. "Isn't it time you did some washing...I'm guessing all your underwear and socks are here!"

Myra folded her arms. "You could of gone in the clean washing hamper. Not my fault in your wisdom you decided to opt for the dirty washing one" she replied.

Schwenk stood there and looked dumbstruck "You never said there was a clean one! Anyway, what's the big idea letting him down here...I thought I was a goner"

"I didn't get the chance as you was off and atom!" she snorted. "I had to be casual with him, so he didn't get suspicious."

"OK...it's fine. Now, we wait until dark. You will all have dinner together I'm assuming?"

"Yeah, Dion is cooking tonight"

"OK, when you're all sat down for your banquet, give me signal, I don't know, anything I guess. I'll work on Shula's ship. Then have a 'natural break' and fry Lion-O's ship, I'll meet you where the power cells are... then we'll get the hell out of dodge! Sound like a plan?"

"A huh. I will trash my room before dinner" she said.

"OK...if we get caught it's the old hostage routine...you'll need to get Lion-O's attention because Shula's not good in hostage situations I'm afraid" he looked edgy.

Myra nodded thoughtfully. "How could I do that? Any suggestions?"

"Suggest what?"

"Get lion-O's attention so Shula don't do anything stupid"

"You just make sure that Lion-O prevents me from harming you, and that he keeps Shula away as well. The last time I tried this routine it had rather unfortunate consequences for my poor old hostage...Shula has never really got the hang of the 'innocent bystander' routine I'm afraid, it's all fair game to him"

Myra nodded. "Its a date!" she smiled.