Chapter 2
It was a few days later and Lion-O sat inside the control room on New Thundera. The lion sat in thought about Cheetara's dreams. Usually when the cheetah dreamed it was a premonition of things to come. The same questions buzzed about in his head. Why do I die? Where and when does it happen? Am I worrying over something that could just be a dream and nothing more?
A beeping from the control panel called his attention away from these questions. It was Cat's Lair on Third Earth wanting to talk to him. Pushing the correct buttons, Lion-O brought Tygra up on the video screen.
"The satellites are completed. Ben-Gali and Panthro are loading New Thundera's onto the Feliner. We'll launch it before entering the planet's atmosphere." The tiger explained.
"Excellent! You'll need to refuel here and we can have some time to talk. How long do you think it'll take you to get the satellite in orbit?" Lion-O asked.
"Panthro and I are estimating about an hour or two. We'll keep in constant contact with you to let you how things are going." Tygra told him. Lion-O nodded.
"You'll have to explain to Cheetara and I about tracking it with the sensors. Well I'd better let you go so you can get back to work. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Lion-O." The orange tiger told him. The video connection was cut and the call ended. Lion-O got up and went to find Cheetara.
Panthro, Tygra, and Ben-Gali loaded the Feliner with the satellite. The ThunderKittens had returned to Cat's Lair and Snarfer went back to the Tower of Omens. Everyone had their instructions and the Feliner was ready for take off.
Snarf, WilyKit, and WilyKat watched the ship blast off toward Third Earth's atmosphere. It had been Snarf's complaint that if something bad was to happen what were they going to do. Pumyra, Lynx-O, and Snarfer could handle the Tower of Omens but he wasn't so sure about defending Cat's Lair. Panthro had reminded him that the Mutants, Lunatacs, and Mumm-Ra weren't on Third Earth anymore and the worst thing they would come up against was probably some squabbling between the Balkans and Wolos.
WilyKit and WilyKat waved goodbye as the Feliner took off. Snarf hurried them back inside and told them to watch the sensors. He was such a worrywart. The ThunderKittens just rolled their eyes and did as they were told.
The Lord of the ThunderCats found Cheetara sitting out inside the Cats Head mouth atop New Thundera's Cats Lair. It was her favorite place to watch the sunrise and set.
"The others called. I think its time to move the cot out of the control room." He said sitting next to her. The cheetah nodded.
"Lion-O, I appreciate all you've done and I'd also appreciate it if the rest of the ThunderCats didn't know about my nightmare." She requested.
"You have my word. I…" the lion stopped himself. There was something he wanted to say but wasn't quite sure how to put it.
"What is it, Lion-O?" Cheetara asked.
"I hope that your nightmare goes away." Was all he said. The cheetah could tell that there was something else he wanted to say but he quickly replaced it with 'I have to go watch for the Feliner.' With that, Lion-O was gone.
Cheetara remained inside the Cats' mouth. She had felt Lion-O watching her as she'd dozed on and off in the control room. He had suggested that she try to get some sleep somehow and she had decided if he were there that she wouldn't have the horrible dream again.
But the vision had come again and many times she found herself being consoled by the Lord of the ThunderCats. The cheetah reflected on how good it felt to have him hold her. Then shaking those thoughts from her head, she returned to the control room.
Sometime later, Lion-O received a call from Tygra on the Feliner. He reported that they were about to put the satellite in orbit. Then Ben-Gali's voice came over the radio.
"I'm going to hold her steady as Panthro and Tygra get things going out there." The white tiger told Lion-O.
"Good. How are things back on Third Earth?" He asked.
"Very quiet. It that quiet that makes you think that is unsettling. I think most of us are finding it hard to sit still." Ben-Gali said.
"Its that quiet here too." The Lord of the ThunderCats lied.
"That's probably why Tygra came up with the satellite idea. Its actually quite clever." The tiger replied.
"Yeah. How are they doing out there?" Lion-O asked.
"I'll check. Give me a second." Ben-Gali answered. He switched the frequency to tap into Panthro's headset.
"How goes it?" The white tiger asked.
"Pretty good so far. We'll have this done soon. Lion-O giving you all the riveting news from the planet?" Panthro asked.
"Its about as boring as watching paint dry down there as it is back home." Ben-Gali remarked.
"Hopefully the satellites will keep us busy. Tell Lion-O to get some food going. I'm starving." Panthro laughed.
"Will do. I'm switching back frequencies. Talk to you in about five minutes." Ben-Gali smiled and moved the dials.
"Panthro says you'd better have some food ready. He's starving." The white tiger's voice came back over the Cats Lair's radio.
"Not to worry. Cheetara went to see if she could scrounge something up. Hope you brought those supplies we asked for." Lion-O replied.
"Yup, they're in the cargo hold. Pumyra wondered if you guys had enough medical supplies and packed a few extra things in." Ben-Gali told him.
"She's always thinking about everyone's else welfare. How is she by the way?" The lion asked.
"Good. I have something I'd like to discuss with you in private when we land." The tiger's mood changed all of a sudden.
"Sure. I'm going to see what's taking Cheetara so long. Keep us posted." Lion-O said wondering what Ben-Gali wanted to say. Then connection was cut and the Lord of the ThunderCats wandered down to the kitchen.
Lion-O smelled something great coming through the door as it slid open. He smiled and walked in to find Cheetara stirring around a big pot.
"What is that wonderful smell?" Lion-O asked her.
"My secret recipe." Cheetara said guardedly.
"Why didn't you cook any of this stuff on Third Earth? Heck, why not before for just me and you?" He asked.
"Because I was saving it for a special occasion and this seems pretty special. Just think of all the Thunderians that may come to be with us." She seemed excited.
"I noticed that you covered up the bags under your eyes. Ben-Gali told me that Pumyra put some extra medical supplies in our bundle of goodies. Maybe you should take a sedative to get some sleep." Lion-O said changing the subject.
"But what if you need me or something? Then what are you going to do with me completely zonked out?" Cheetara asked.
"What good is it if you aren't at one hundred percent?" He replied. Cheetara was about to answer when Lion-O reached for his headset.
"Its Ben-Gali. I have to go back to the control room. We'll talk later." He said. "By the way, if what you're making tastes as good as it smells I think we're all in for a big treat." Cheetara just smiled as he left.
About half an hour later, The Lord of the ThunderCats guided the Feliner in. His friends jumped out of the spaceship and rushed to greet him.
"Its good to see you all. Now if you'll follow me, Cheetara has whipped up something special." Lion-O told them. All three said that they were hungry and that the snacks Snarf had packed just hadn't cut it.
Sitting down, in the dining room the group waited for the cheetah to come out. The smell had them practically drooling. Cheetara came through the door and said,
"We'll have to do this buffet style. I still quite haven't figured out how to serve it without creating a mess." The men gave a smile and grabbed their plates and bowls.
Soon everyone was sitting down and enjoying the meal. In fact, everyone had gone back for more.
"I think that Cheetara has given Snarf a run for his money." Tygra smiled.
"Yes. I definitely think so. What did you call it again?" Panthro asked.
"I called it a sloppy sandwich. The soup you ate was Snarf's, so I can't take credit for that." The cheetah smiled.
"A sloppy sandwich. What's in it?" Ben-Gali asked.
"Well I used tomato sauce, deer meat, and some special spices. It was something my mother passed down to me. Don't tell Snarf you know how he gets when someone encroaches on his territory." Cheetara told them. Everyone had a good laugh at this.
"Well I liked it very much. Thank you for the wonderful surprise." Lion-O said.
"Time to clean up I guess. That's the worst part." Cheetara smiled, standing up.
"I'll help you. I'm sure these guys have had a stressful day." The Lord of the ThunderCats offered. She accepted his help while the others went to get some sleep before returning to Third Earth.
The next day, Tygra went through all the specifics for checking the monitors and working with the satellite. Lion-O and Cheetara assured him that they got it and promised to let everyone on Third Earth know as soon as any Thunderians contacted them. Ben-Gali had loaded their packages into the storeroom so now they were ready to leave.
With the Feliner gone, Lion-O and Cheetara were once again alone. They had two more months on New Thundera before being rotated back to Third Earth. It was Cheetara's turn to watch the sensors and Lion-O went to the library to think.
Ben-Gali had talked with him the night before and he had promised to let him know his decision soon. What the white tiger had asked didn't seem like a bad thing but he had to check the rules and traditions before jumping to answer his request. In fact, Lion-O was shocked that his friend actually asked him first. Jaga interrupted his thoughts.
"Lion-O, beware the restlessness of your companion. What she sees can be true. Only you can change the future by the decisions you make."
"Jaga! What if I make the wrong decisions?" He asked his mentor.
"Trust your own judgment. I know you will make the right decision when the time comes." With that Lord Jaga was gone.
To Be Continued…