Chapter 6
Weeks passed and Bob was still confined to Cat's Lair. He hadn't even been introduced to the Tower of Omens' ThunderCats. Lion-O was trying to make up his mind what to do. He was beginning to wonder if Jaga had meant Cheetara's restlessness or Tygra's.
"What in the name of Thundera am I going to do?" The Lord of the ThunderCats wondered aloud. There was a knock on the library door and Lion-O bid for the cat to enter.
"Oh hello, Bob." He said.
"Hello sir. Can I ask you something?" The large ThunderCat asked sitting in a chair across from Lion-O."Sure and you don't have to call me sir. You can call me Lion-O." The Lord of the ThunderCats said.
"Is there something I can do? I feel as if you and the others don't trust me. Father says that you just need some time to get used to me but I want to help. That is what being a ThunderCat is all about." Bob told him. It was weird to hear him call Tygra, father. Shaking that thought from his head Lion-O explained some things to Bob.
"I'm sorry if my behavior has been poor of late. There are quite a few things on my mind and I've been trying to sort them out. I'm afraid that trust is something that has to be earned. When I was new at being Lord of the ThunderCats, I would trust anyone without question. It had proven to be a bad thing on quite a few occasions. That is not to say you aren't trustworthy, I just like to be cautious." He said.
"I understand. Well then I will await your decision as to what I should do." Bob nodded and slowly got up from his chair.
"Give me a few more hours. Then I promise to have an answer for you." The Lord of the ThunderCats promised. Bob nodded again and left the room.
Lion-O waited for the Ultimate ThunderCat to be far enough away from the library. He didn't want Bob to see him head for Cheetara's room. Slowly he poked his head out the door and saw the hall empty. Quickly, the Lord of the ThunderCats made for the ramp that led up to the next floor.
Now outside the cheetah's door, Lion-O knocked. The female ThunderCat swiftly pulled him into the room. That's when she saw the look on his face.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"I don't know what to do. I just talked with Bob and I want to trust him, I really do but Jaga's warning keeps popping into my head." The lion told her.
"Well I think the best way to find out what he is like to slowly introduce him to our allies here on Third Earth. Let him handle some of the squabbles between our friends and see how things go. If everything works out ok then we can trust him with Third Earth. If not then we'll have to figure out what to do with him." Cheetara recommended.
"Sounds like a good idea. I have to figure out how to introduce him to the other ThunderCats first." Lion-O said.
"Well we could take him out to the Tower of Omens and introduce him that way. As far as New Thundera, a videoconference is going to have to do. Panthro and the kittens aren't due back for another three months." She told him.
"Why didn't I just talk to you earlier? You're just chalked full of good ideas." He wondered.
"I don't know. I'm just chalked full of them." The cheetah teased. Lion-O smiled and kissed her.
"I haven't been finding you in my room lately. Is the nightmare gone?" The Lord of the ThunderCats wondered. Cheetara's mood changed and she shook her head sadly.
"I've been trying to stay inside it long enough to see who or what kills you and then me but I can't. I suppose the only thing I can do is wait until it changes again." She told him.
"How are getting any sleep? You know its ok if want to come to my room and wake me up." The lion said.
"No, then you don't get any sleep and you need it; if what I dream is actually true. Besides I can't allow that nightmare to ruin what may be left of my life." Cheetara firmly stood her ground.
"All right, just promise me that if you need me to come get me. I'm here for you." The Lord of the ThunderCats said.
"Thank you." She said. The two kissed again and then Lion-O promised to see her later.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Pumyra stood in the control room with Lynx-O, Ben-Gali, and Snarfer a few hours later listening to Lion-O. He said that would be coming over to discuss something that he thought would be better discussed in person rather than over the airwaves. It seemed odd considering that there wasn't anyone listening in on their conversations anyway but the other ThunderCats agreed to be ready for him.
After the conference ended, Lion-O and Bob got into the ThunderTank. He put the metal cover up over the driver compartment. It would be dark soon and then it wouldn't matter but until then Lion-O didn't want to take any chances.
They arrived at the Tower of Omens about twenty minutes later. Lion-O and Bob climbed out of the ThunderTank and mounted the ramp to the upper floors of the tower. Before entering the control room, the Lord of the ThunderCats took a deep breath. Here goes, he thought.
The others were standing around talking when Pumyra's eyes went wide. Ben-Gali cocked his head to the side and raised his eyebrows at her expression. Lynx-O snapped everyone back to reality.
"Hello Lion-O and to your friend."
"Hi Lynx-O. I want you all to meet Bob Cat. He is a new addition to our fight for the Code of Thundera." The Lord of the ThunderCats introduced his companion. For being around seven feet tall and having large muscles, the new ThunderCat seemed to actually be very timid.
"Its nice to meet you. I'm Ben-Gali and this is my fiancée Pumyra." The white tiger smiled and extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you." Bob said carefully taking the other ThunderCat's hand. Then he took Pumyra's.
"Don't worry, I won't break." The puma joked noticing how carefully he shook her hand.
"Yes of course." The big cat said. He seemed to be incredibly nervous. Lynx-O and Snarfer greeted the new ThunderCat and tried to make him feel comfortable.
While they talked, Lion-O pulled Lynx-O aside. He was sure that the others were wondering where exactly Bob had come from.
"I will explain everything to you and later you can explain it to Pumyra, Ben-Gali, and Snarfer." The Lord of the ThunderCats said.
"Yes, I would like to understand the situation completely. He seems like a very good person." Lynx-O smiled.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWThe storm raged as the cheetah ran through the rain. The familiar scene played out in front of her. Cheetara found Lion-O and then the huge being stepped from the shadows. This time instead of automatically grabbing for her bo-staff, she just stood there.
The creature seemed confused by this action and walked closer toward her. Cheetara didn't move as it did this, something inside her screamed to run or fight or anything but stand there. She had to know who it was.
Thunder rumbled and lightening struck, illuminating the forest around them. Cheetara recognized the figure but refused to believe what was before her eyes. The creature smiled and shouted over the storm,
"The Code of Thundera will live on, forever! You are the only thing standing in my way! Surrender or suffer the fate of the others!"
Her response was to pull out her bo-staff. The creature nodded and withdrew his sword. This was all too easy.
"It's a shame you didn't join me! I would have looked forward to a companion but now the only companion you'll have is my sword!" It said again shouting over the storm.
Cheetara moved to strike with her staff but the creature was faster. He sliced the fighting stick in half. Then he lunged at her. Avoiding the blade, the female ThunderCat ducked and rolled over to Lion-O's dead body. Swiftly, she grabbed up the Sword of Omens and the Eye of Thundera came to life. It roared and the ThunderCat's symbol projected from the hilt of the mighty sword as the blade extended to its full length.
Charging at the creature, Cheetara swung the Sword of Omens. The other blade smashed into it and the two continued to fight. Unfortunately, her opponent was stronger. He knocked her down and tried to get the Sword of Omens away from her. The cheetah refused to give in and she kneed him in the groin.
This gave her the opportunity to push him off. Quickly, she scrambled up and pointed the sword at him. With one mighty swing, the cheetah brought the blade down but something stopped her. There was a funny feeling in her stomach and she looked down.
Warm blood poured out of the wound in her stomach. The monster had shoved his blade right through her. Cheetara sank to her knees and her foe pulled the weapon out of her and then smiled as he watched her bleed to death.
To Be Continued…