"Czarina. I should have known. I've had suspicions about it almost from the beginning," Dwayne told her.

He crossed his arms, appearing sympathetic to the entire situation. Part of him wasn't too certain how to deal with the secret that he just discovered. Czarina watched him as he walked up to the bed and sat down next to her. Gingerly, she pulled up the covers with her good hand and Dwayne inwardly smiled at her modesty with him.

"How?" Justin wondered.

"First of all, there were the stories that both Jo and Tera told me. They were quite simliar if you ask me. Then there's the few times where Czarina disappeared and Tera immediately appeared," Dwayne explained. "Now the three of you say the necklace is coming here as we speak and it's close?" Dwayne asked them.

They nodded as Jennifer stood up and walked over to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder and he glanced up at her.

"Yes but we don't know who has it. For all we know, Hapar might have it and could have somehow found out about this place," she replied.

Dwayne glanced between the two cats before hurrying out the door. The three watched him leave as Justin slightly shook his head.

"Brave man. I just hope that the prophecy has the time to complete itself before Hapar finally kills us and takes back Czarina. Everything is so close," Justin muttered.

00000

Dwayne hurried down the halls, brushing past the people already milling out of their quarters and back to their posts. Dwayne ran up to the room he was in just a few minutes before, talking to General Thorton. He slammed open the door to find the general sitting in the chair. Thorton stood up and placed his hands on the table.

"What the hell is the problem Lieutenant?" he demanded.

"We might have a problem on our hands General," Dwayne replied.

He gasped for air as Thorton carefully watched him. The general sat back down in the chair, carefully watching the lieutenant as he sat down as well.

"I can accept that but what is this possible threat from exactly?" Thorton asked.

"From Hapar. But what I've recently been told by Justin, Jennifer and Tera, someone's on their way here with the necklace that was ripped off Tera's neck last night. They fear it might be Hapar," Dwayne explained.

"Hapar might be on his way here?" the general asked, slightly confused.

"They can't tell who has it, just that it's coming," Dwayne replied.

"For all we know, it could be in the possession of one of our own people or even Doctor Slate," Thorton told him.

Dwayne nodded in agreement as he followed Thorton out of the room. The two hurried up onto deck to find a helicopter slowly making its way towards the Dark Horse. Both men gave a sigh of relief.

"It looks like it's not Hapar after all," the general said.

"That's good news but we don't know how long it will be before he really does find us," the lieutenant replied.

Thorton nodded in agreement before starting to head back inside. The lieutenant patiently waited as the helicopter landed and the doctor stepped out.

"Doctor Slate, you don't realize how glad I am to see you," Dwayne told her with a huge smile.

"I don't think you've been more happy to see me Lieutenant. What's the matter?" Slate cautiously said.

Dwayne motioned for her to follow, which she did. She was curious for the lieutenant to explain his actions.

00000

"You can't be serious! Tera's here along with Justin and Jennifer?" Slate cried out.

"They're here all right and they're still in danger though I have one question for you," Dwayne replied. "Where's Tera's necklace?"

Doctor Slate was surprised and it showed on her face. She walked over to the bag she brought with her and reached into it. She rummaged through the bag for a moment before pulling something out. Dwayne's eyes perked up in surprise once he saw what it was for the doctor was holding Tera's necklace.

"That's why I was coming here in the first place. I thought it was best if it was here and get another opinion on it as well," Slate replied. "How did you know I had it with me?"

"Let's just say a few friends told me you were coming," Dwayne told her.

Slate was a bit surprised with what he said as he walked across the room. She could tell that he was nervous about something but she couldn't tell about what.

"I still don't think that it's a good idea that Rusty's here right now. I'm afraid he's going to find out something he shouldn't," Dwayne confessed.

Slate gasped for he read her mind. She walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"If you're worried about him finding out you're Big Guy's pilot, I doubt it will happen. I mean, he hasn't found out yet," Slate assured him.

"Yeah but he was actually told by Neugog, saw me being ejected from the Big Guy and there were several times that he came very close to finding out," Dwayne replied.

He sighed as he sat down in the chair, Slate following close behind. He placed his elbows onto the table and his hands onto his chin.

"I don't know why but there's something different about this time. With the cats and Tera here, they add a whole new aspect to the problem. They know my secret, Slate. I don't know how but they do," Dwayne finally said.

Slate nodded as her gaze went over the necklace. She picked it up and stared at it, somehow entranced. Dwayne glanced over at it and soon became entranced by it as well. A soft mist was soon released from the necklace, engulfing the area beneath their feet. The mild glow that was being produced seemed to hypnotize them as they climbed to their feet and walked away from the table. It was as if the necklace had a mind of its own when it suddenly stopped glowing and the two fell to the floor in a heap, the necklace landing a few inches away from Slate's hand.

00000

Hapar stood at the open door, gazing out over the Dark Horse. A huge grin had crossed his face as he turned his head enough to see Jewel standing next to him.

"Let's give them a hello they'll never forget. Let them know we're here since it doesn't look like many have seen us yet," Hapar told her.

"Yes, captain," she said.

She started towards the bridge, leaving Hapar to watch the Dark Horse.

"They're here and so is the necklace. I knew the kind doctor would lead us right to them," Hapar murmured.

00000

Thorton walked into the room to find the Rusty talking to the Big Guy. The three members of the Pit Crew were sitting at a nearby table, playing cards. He quietly walked over to them and they looked up at them.

"Have any of you seen Lieutenant Hunter? I need to speak with him about something," the general requested.

The trio glanced at each other before shaking their heads.

"We haven't seen him since the dance last night," Jo replied.

"Probably talking in some room with the doctor, who just came on board," Mack put in.

Their conversation was interrupted by several loud explosions coming from the decks above. A bang came to one of the door and Jo ran over to it, opening it to find one of the soldiers.

"What's happening up there?" demanded the general.

"We're under attack sir by an alien space craft. They are demanding we give them Tera but we don't know who she is, let alone where she is, sir," the man replied.

Thorton growled as he gave instructions to the man to keep holding off the attack and that the Big Guy would soon be out to help. He turned towards the Pit Crew just after the man left and the door was closed.

"Find Lieutenant Hunter! We have to get Big Guy out there in order to defend ourselves!" the general ordered them.

The three nodded before running to find the lieutenant.

00000

Jewel hovered above the Dark Horse, carefully watching everyone scramble around the decks. She flew down undetected by the personnel. She silently made her way through the decks, past the people milling the hallways. She walked past a room and glanced inside. Jewel had to step back for she couldn't believe what she was seeing. She smiled as she walked inside to see Lieutenant Hunter and Doctor Slate lying unconscious on the floor.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? I never expected it to be this easy," she muttered.

She walked over to the necklace and picked it up off the floor. She tossed it into the air a few times, staring at the bodies of the lieutenant and doctor.

"Now all of you will die. Not even your Big Guy can stop us now," she quietly told them.

She stepped out of the room and began to make her way towards the deck. Once there, she began to flap her wings and headed back towards the ship.

"So how did it go Jewel?" wondered Hapar.

"It went way too easy," she replied.

She held up the necklace for Hapar to see, causing him to give a knowing smile. He took it from Jewel and stared at it for several moments.

"We now have the advantage and they don't know it yet," Hapar said.

00000

Doctor Slate groaned, trying to remember what had happened. She placed a hand on her head as her vision began to clear. She glanced around the room to find the lieutenant still on the floor, unmoving.

"Lieutenant Hunter!" she cried out.

She hurried over to his side, completely forgetting about the necklace. Slate gently touched his shoulder, hoping to get a reaction from him but she didn't. She checked his pulse and she barely caught it, making her heart jump into her throat

"What happened? Lieutenant Hunter, are you all right?" she wondered, the distress starting to creep into her voice.

She noticed that he was lying on his stomach and she pushed him over onto his back only to find that he wasn't breathing. She gasped before tilting his head back. She breathed into his mouth, hoping to revive him. After several tense moments, she wasn't getting anywhere. Tears began to blur her vision as her attempts continued to fail.

"Lieutenant Hunter, don't leave us. Please don't leave me," she whispered.

00000

Czarina restlessly slept in the bed as Justin and Jennifer listened to the noises coming from above them. They grew worried as each moment passed by them, knowing very well that any one of them could be their last.

"I don't know how they did it but they found us," Jennifer said.

She sighed as she stepped towards Justin, who was sitting in a chair with his fingers interlocked. He was leaning forward, elbows rested on his knees and fingers sitting just underneath his chin.

"I know, Jenn, I know. I can't believe that it will end this way, just like we feared it would. I think the only way that Hapar would have no control over her would be if the last part of the prophecy comes true but I don't see that happening in the next several minutes. As far as I know, the good doctor isn't here," Justin sighed.

Jennifer's stare turned towards the porthole, glancing to see the sun's light slowly drifting in through the clouds in the sky as the darkness began to fade away. Rain began to splatter on the windows and the two cats lowered their heads in despair.

00000

Thorton stepped onto the deck as the rain began to fall. He glanced in the direction the ship was located and began to growl. He noticed that Hapar was making his way down towards him. Hapar landed on the deck, several feet away from General Thorton. The alien smiled as he watched the human stand on the deck.

"Where is she?" Hapar demanded.

"Where is who? I have no idea what you're talking about," Thorton replied.

You know exactly who I'm talking about! Where is Tera? We know she's here," Hapar replied.

Thorton 's eyes narrowed in anger as Hapar held up the necklace.

"You've run out of time. She is ours again. Nothing can save you now," Hapar told him.

Thorton's face slightly turned to a look of confusion as he watched the necklace slightly glow. Hapar didn't appear to notice it in his gloating. Thorton was wondering what was happening and somehow, he knew he wasn't going to like it.

00000

The tears began to flow down Slate's cheeks as she sat next to Lieutenant Hunter. He remained unmoving and it worried the doctor to no end.

"Why does it have to be like this?" she quietly asked.

She placed a hand on Dwayne's shoulder and she was startled as he to cough and gasp for air. He slightly opened his eyes and turned towards her.

"Doctor Slate," he managed to say.

"Lieutenant Hunter, you're alive!" she cried.

"For a few moments, I felt dead. I could hear you, I just couldn't respond. I didn't realize how much you cared about me," he quietly said.

Slate gasped, placing a hand over her mouth. It was true that she did have feelings for the lieutenant but she never thought about revealing it to him. She gave a small smile as she allowed her hand to be grasped by the lieutenant's.

"Doctor Slate, for some strange reason, I have this sudden urge to kiss you right now," he told her.

The smile on her face grew as the tears continued to pour down her face. Dwayne somehow knew she wasn't going to resist as he began to lift himself up as she leaned down. They met halfway as their lips met in a gentle kiss.

00000

Czarina slightly opened her eyes as she began to move around in the bed, the cats not even bothering to look in her direction.

"Justin, Jennifer," she called out.

The two cats perked up and turned slightly to look at her. Both narrowed their eyes, climbing to their feet.

"Czarina, what's wrong?" asked Justin.

"I don't know but something's happening. I feel different," she replied.

The two cats stared at each other in amazement.

"You think it might have happened? You think it just might have completed in time?" wondered Jennifer.

"I think we're about to find out one way or another," Justin said.

A bright light filled the room, engulfing the three. When it disappeared, it left an empty room.

00000

Hapar smirked as he watched Thorton.

"Are you ready to give up human?" wonderd Hapar.

"Never! We will not be going down without a fight! No matter where Tera may be, we will help her defeat you," Thorton snarled.

Hapar glanced at the necklace and was surprised to see it brightly glowing. Thorton carefully watched the alien as he paced from side to side.

"No, this can't be! The prophecy is finished! I thought I finally had her! She is here now where is she?" Hapar cried out.

A light began to fill the sky above the Dark Horse. Everyone on deck stopped what they were doing and turned in the direction of the light. Hapar growled for he knew what it was.

"The prophecy is complete. I cannot believe it. They only have one thing left to do then," he growled.

The light disappeared and Tera appeared in the sky, angrier than ever, the two cats on her back.

"Looks who's back in action," Tera cried.

Jennifer held out a ball of white light, holding it above the Dark Horse below. Hapar watched her as she dropped it onto the ship below.

"No!" he yelled.

TBC...