ThunderCats
Bio-Booster Armor Guyver
Eye of the Storm
Episode 15
Sho had no idea why he was being summoned to the Medical Wing. In fact, he had no clue why everyone had been so tense lately. He wondered if it had anything to do with that ship the Lair's sensors had spotted several days ago. Bengali wouldn't say a word as they worked in the Forge, nor would Myrlha when they were alone. Sho had chalked it up to ThunderCat business, having no illusions of his place in those affairs. A Vanguard had no political clout, and Sho was entirely fine with that. The looks of admiration, even awe, he got at odd moments while out and about made him feel several kinds of awkward. He just wasn't used to being a hero, and didn't think he ever would. There was one, a rather short Wildcat who looked as though he wanted to snarl at everyone and everything, who had piqued his curiosity. He was still learning the ins and outs of Thunderian society.
However, there were a few who sent him hostile looks when they thought he couldn't see them. That had Sho troubled. He had no illusions about being universally loved by his adopted countrymen, but that?! It was why, when his schedule allowed, he went out among the people. If he could learn the intricacies of his new social order, then perhaps he could figure out why he got those looks.
"Right on time!" Lion-O's voice brought him back to reality. Sho stopped, his confusion now doubled. Cheetara stood next to him, and both were radiating good cheer. What the hell was this, anyway?
"Of course." He didn't use Lion-O's name, with him being king it didn't seem right, but knew he hated titles when not needed. "So, what's up?"
"There's someone very special inside," Cheetara began, "who wants very much to meet you."
"Whoever was on that ship, right? Must be someone pretty important."
"You could say that." This came from Lion-O. "Go on in, Sho. I won't spoil the surprise."
The door slid open, and Sho saw the unknown man standing by the bed. He was clad in a suit of dark purple, his body still well-muscled though aged. His hair bore more white in it than red, the eyes obviously sightless. Sho looked at his face before turning back to Lion-O, then back to the man. Realization hit like a falling bomb.
"Oh," was all he said.
"Quick on the uptake," the man who was obviously Lion-O's father said. "I like you already, young Sho. Helping free so many of my countrymen from bondage didn't hurt either."
"We'll leave you two alone," Cheetara said as they took their leave. Sho looked back at him, finally recalling his name.
"So, you're Lord Claudis. It's an honor."
"Oh, stop with the titles, Sho. We're alone in here, and I despise them as much as my son does. Come here." Sho obeyed, letting Claudis run his hands over his face. "So young... Yet older than my own bloodline. I've been told of your deeds, Sho. Allow me to thank you."
"Oh, um... Well..." Claudis laughed, holding his stomach.
"Just as modest as I've heard you to be! I can feel your blush!" Claudis laughed a little more before his face turned serious again. "To think, that one with your power and your quality should exist. It is an honor, Sho Fukamachi."
"Thank you, sir."
"So, how do you like being among Thunderians?"
"I'm still learning my way around, but I like it."
"Good, good. You uphold the Code quite well, I'm told."
"I try." Sho blushed at that. Handling praise was still something he was trying to get a grip on. Being in Claudis' presence was becoming more awkward by the moment. Yes, he'd done good things, but being lauded a hero was something he would just never get used to.
"How about transforming?" The question snapped him out of his latest reverie.
"Um... Huh?"
"Oh, come now, what's the harm?"
"Has... um... anyone told you what happens when I do that?"
"Is this a problem?"
"Pumyra will have the problem." Claudis' expression caused him to heave a sigh. "When I change, a barrier surrounds me."
"And?"
"Well... Anything within about two meters of me gets... kinda destroyed."
"Oh." Claudis said simply. "I see. Well, then..."
"Yeah..." The silence thickened between them. "I'd love to, but..."
"Forgive me for asking. I wasn't told everything about your power."
"I definitely will, though," Sho said, taking the out he'd seen.
"I shall hold you to it."
Pumyra sat in the laboratory, staring at readouts concerning the bio-booster armor. So much data, and still so few answers! She reached for her personal recorder, on which she made notes for later transcription. She could have had Kyrrana do that, but the woman had enough on her plate. Besides, there were some things Pumyra preferred to do herself.
"Entry 108," she began once the record button had been pressed. "Suppositions on the functional nature of the bio-booster armor." She stretched in her seat as she called up the relevant data. "The organism seems to act in the manner of a step-up transformer, converting Sho's own bio-energy into enormous power. As for how it happens... be damned if I know." Pumyra stopped speaking for a moment, collecting her thoughts. "My scans of Sho in his human state indicate that his species produces a fair amount of electricity, and quite a bit of heat energy. The enhanced strength and speed can be explained by enhancement of the muscle and nervous tissue. None of this, however, explains the raw power of the megasmasher." Pumyra took a sip of coffee, the fuel of all professionals, before continuing. "Not gonna lie, this has me stumped."
The door slid open to reveal Myrlha. Pumyra ended her dictation, slightly embarrassed at having forgotten about calling her into her lab.
"What's this about?" Myrlha asked as she took the seat Pumyra indicated.
"I'm speaking only as a physician," Pumyra began. "Myrlha, how close are you with Sho?"
"We share a bed. I'd say that's pretty close."
"Oh. So, you're intimate?"
"Where is this going?"
"Myrlha," she began, easing her chair to the one in which the other sat, "Are you and Sho trying to start a family?"
"I'm... not sure where this is going," she said.
"Centuries ago," Pumyra began, "Interbreeding between the clans was nearly impossible." Ancient traditions of pure bloodlines had held on well after Unification. "With the advancement of medical science, interbreeding became easier, but..."
"We're not talking about cubs just YET!" Myrlha cried out, shocked.
"Which is why I'm bringing this up now. Myrlha, I like you. I hate the thought of hurting you, but it's better if this is made clear now." Pumyra stilled her emotions, wanting to make this message as concise as possible. It was a hell of a thing to tell a young woman so in love, especially since she had a child of her own now.
"Okay." Myrlhas' voice carried an unsteady note in it. Even if they hadn't been thinking about a family, this was a raincloud Pumyra hated to bring.
"Sho isn't from a different clan, he's from a different species. I understand that humans and Thunderians are compatable sexually..."
"But we might not be able to breed."
"Yes. Even if you could conceive, and I hope you can, I have no way to know how the Guyver will affect the child."
"Wait, what?!"
"The armor bonded with Sho on the genetic level. Unfortunately, I can't tell how."
"Why not?"
"Sho is the only human I have a genetic profile for," she explained. "Without another to use as a control, I can't tell exactly what changes the bio-booster armor made to him. The only human settlements we've had any experience with have been with Warrior Maidens, and they don't trust our medical science worth a damn." Which was an irony, since the ThunderCats had learned more than a few herbal remedies from them.
"I see." Pumyra saw the hurt in Myrlha's eyes, and hated having put it there. Better to have done it sooner than later, but that was only a small consolation. "Well, we haven't really talked about a family... I mean..."
"I'm not saying it's impossible," Pumyra said as she placed her hands on Myrlha's wrists. "I truly hope you can."
"But... we might not..."
Oh, damn, she thought. Pumyra knew she would take it hard. "Listen. There are other options if..."
"Thank you for telling me this," she said in a near-mechanical voice as she stood. "You were right. It's best to know now." Myrlha turned and left, and Pumyra could say nothing to her retreating back as the door opened and shut once she'd passed.
Alone. She had never felt so utterly alone in the bed she shared with him. Myrlha rolled onto her stomach, holding the sheets of his side to her nose and breathing in his scent. She had thought about the things Pumyra had said before today. Hearing it, however, had sent a spike of pain through the haze she had pulled over the issue. A child. Of course she wanted one, just not so soon. A life with Sho. To have one, but not the other. The thought brought tears again.
Even if they could start a family in the natural way, how would the child be affected by the Guyver? It was a question she had never once considered. She loved him, no doubt about it, but would his armor affect their child? Assuming they could even concieve one? Questions raced about her mind. She wanted a baby to grow inside her, to feel a new life within. To be denied that...
It was so unfair. To have found happiness, love, all that she'd wanted after being in chains for so long, to learn that this one thing might be denied her. Part of her, irrational and hurt, wanted to lash out. To scream in Pumyra's face for saying what she did without one hundred percent certainty. The larger part of her mind forced it down as nonsense, reminding her that the other woman had been right to tell her now. Even if she had a child of her own...
Myrlha buried her face in the sheets which smelled so much of him. She knew she would now count the minutes until he returned.
"You still haven't told me why you're doing this," Grune said as he flexed the metal arm Ratar-O had provided him. Never would he have thought to have that particular Mutant as his sponsor again. The mission was simple, keep the ThunderCats' attention away from certain areas. That it dovetailed with his own goals, which he had kept to himself, only sweetened the pot. The cloaked man who sat in the corner of the capacious tent merely shrugged. The cowl dipped over his eyes, leaving only a sharp nose and thin lips visible above the needle-tip chin.
"I've spent a long time studying the history and myths of this world," the man who called himself Agito replied. "The chance to help make history is one I cannot pass up."
"Even if it involves fire and bloodshed?" Agito smiled at the question.
"That, Grune, is the best kind of history. No one ever forgets it." Grune had a hearty laugh at that.
"A man after my own heart!"
"Tell me, if you will, why it is you wish to kill this Lion-O so badly? Is it to make history?"
"My legacy will be written in his blood, and that of those who bow to him."
"I see. Interesting." Grune took a seat on a handy cushion and set about to adjusting the arm's response.
"Those stockpiles of weapons you showed me... Not as good as Thunderian arms, but better than swords and arrows. Once I begin to carve out a kingdom, I'll have all the hostages I need to keep the ThunderCats at bay." The boy, Sho, would be held back as well, especially if he adhered to the Code. Lisker, if he was still with that damn Wollo bitch, might be held at bay as well.
"There are more," Agito replied.
"Good."
"If there's nothing further?"
"No, not now."
Agito did his best not to snarl as he left Grune's tent. The members of the Clutch raced about, cradling ancient weapons and leering at the thought of imminent conquest. Fools. These examples of base existence had no clue that they were being used. Neither did Grune, for that matter.
Time was running out, he knew. His plan to bring Sho under his sway had failed. What had replaced it was hardly the best option, but was all he had. He knew what Grune had to be looking for. If it led him to what he sought, so much the better.
"Damn," Lisker muttered as he re-entered Watershed from the eastern entrance. The two guards, each bearing a steel sword with a musket along his back, nodded and posed no challenge as he walked through. The noise of commerce and street performers along with the throng of people brought to his admittedly tired brain a strange amalgam of Wall Street and, say, Mardi Gras. Minus the beads and the hedonism.
The first interview, or interrogation depending on one's outlook, of Mezzo had lasted long into the night. Lisker hadn't bothered changing back, letting the alien tone of his voice through the sonic buster rattle the bastard. Mezzo had spotted that trick, but had no clue what his enhanced sight, hearing, and the sensor medals told him.
Mezzo's heartbeat had been rapid, but fear explained that. Pulse high, sweating, clearly afraid. Again, all attributable to fear. Early the next morning, Lisker had set off into the wilderness bearing camping gear and in search of the Clutch's last known location. Once out of the sight of Watershed's lookouts, he'd transformed and made the trip in record time.
The area Mezzo had given him had looked as though a frat party had rolled through with no brakes. While no beer cans had been in evidence, there had been discarded animal carcasses aplenty along with long-extinguished campfires. A sizeable force of men and Trollogs had been there, judging by the tracks. He had followed their trail south, until satisfied that they were well and truly moving away from Watershed. Grune and the Clutch were no longer his problem.
As Lisker dodged between a pair of Tabbots who had been talking animatedly about something or other, he considered alerting Sho and decided against it. The Thunderian colony had to have far better tech than Watershed, not to mention a Guyver of its own. Tired as he was, Lisker still questioned exactly what Grune could be up to. True, the man's hatred for their king bordered on the psychotic. True, also, that his hate extended to their very way of life. Even so, he'd be facing far more favorable odds against Watershed. Besides, Grune had to have hated him about as much as he did that Lion-O guy.
Lisker shook his head to clear it as he made his way to Gil's home. What the hell was that bastard up to? Sho could handle him and his new cronies alone. With both hands tied behind his back. Guerilla warfare tactics? THAT wouldn't work for long. And where, exactly, had that prosthetic arm Mezzo had mentioned come from? He filed that away for later pondering. All he wanted to do was deliver his information, then get to bed. He'd walked back from his search, just to kill time and make it seem like he'd spent days searching instead of hours. All this effort to hide his powers. Lisker snorted at that as he approached the door.
It opened on the third knock. Maria blitzed him, wrapping her arms about his midsection and snuggling against him.
"Well, you certainly look like hell," Gil quipped. William, having recovered from his ordeal, was sitting before the dormant fireplace with a chessboard between himself and Natalie. Benjamin sauntered up to him, offering a corked bottle of his atomic beer.
"If I so much as sniff that," Lisker began, "I'll be asleep on the floor." He made his way to an open chair and allowed himself to flop into it. "I've confirmed what Mezzo told me. The Clutch is no longer our problem."
"Good news for us," Gil said, "and bad news for those cat people."
"Not so much, and that's what's got me stumped. Their weapons are FAR better than what I was able to give you. Plus, they also have a Guyver to throw. I have no idea what Grune's up to."
"You're obviously tired," Natalie said. "Rest, Lisker."
"Tempting, but I got some thinking to do."
"Never a good idea to do so when you're bushed," Gil said as he took the seat across from him.
"I'm used to it, believe me..."
"No, Lisker, rest."
"I'll stay with him," Maria said. Gil nodded once before the rest took their leave. Benjamin left the bottle of beer on the table next to the chair. Lisker doubted he'd need it, but was glad to know it was available. "Rest, love." She curled up into his lap, her arms about his neck and his own about her waist. Sleep came within moments.
"Well, that seems to be that," Dendel offered as they stood in the afternoon sun in the grass behind Gil's home. William flopped onto the grass, profoundly relieved at the thought of never seeing any of the Clutch again. Natalie, for her part, eased over to the stone table which rested in the sun and sat atop it with her shapely legs crossed and swinging lightly.
"Looks like all the preparations Lisker made didn't mean squat," Benjamin added as he popped his broad back. "Hell, it'll be easier to handle the next bunch a' punks what come through."
"Yes," Gil replied. His face wore a pensive expression as he pondered the newest development.
"From what I hear," Natalie began, "those cat people are even better prepared for such an attack than we are. And that is certainly saying something."
"Hm."
"Don't tell me you WANTED them to come back?" Dendel cried.
"Of course not. In all honesty, I'm relieved we didn't have to put those new weapons to use." The problem, he had come to realize, was that with reassurance at having them came the dread of having to use them. "I can handle an anticlimax on this one."
"So now what?" Benjamin asked for all of them. "If they ain't comin', ain't no need to keep plannin' for it, is there?"
"You don't put away plans like that," Natalie said. "Remember, I come from a Warrior Maiden tribe. We always practice our skills and our strategies. You never know when you'll need them."
"Well said." Gil smiled broadly at her. He had known Verona, and the news of her fate had been a blow even though their relationship hadn't been exactly equal. "I don't see your sisters launching a raid on my town, however."
"By now, Solange must be queen," Natalie said in a small voice. "Even if she's lost the support of the Clutch, once she's upon Verona's throne, her authority is absolute."
"But, they'd be nuts to come here!" William protested.
"Solange is insane," Natalie said. "She conspired with outsiders, used a forbidden extract, AND dared to tamper with another's blood. The queen's no less. Gil, I know you understand where I'm coming from."
"Yes. Even so, the disadvantage your sisters..."
"Former sisters," she corrected him.
"I apologize. What move could Solange make on us?"
"None that I can see, I admit," Natalie said after a moment's thought. "Solange craves power, perhaps the throne will be enough for her. We... THEY... fight to defend the Wood, not to conquer."
"She has a personal score to settle with you, and with Mister Lisker," Dendel offered.
"What if she showed up demanding we give Natalie back?" William asked, now sitting upright and clearly worried.
"She doesn't have a way to force my hand," Gil said. "She lacks the assets to successfully attack us, nor do we have any treaties or agreements..." He trailed off, a thought occurring to him. "They could close the road nearest their land."
"And demand you surrender me in return for its opening," Natalie finished.
"No," Gil said with finality. "I won't sacrifice an innocent life for the sake of commerce."
"Then, there will be bloodshed one way or the other," Natalie said, her voice and posture a study in fatalism. "Either mine alone, or many more. With or without Lisker's involvement." That last statement brought all present to an awkward pause. Lisker could easily remove any chokes Solange could place upon that part of the east to west road, though it would be tantamount to cold-blooded murder. "If I am not here, this might not be a problem."
"And if it still is? You said it y'rself, that bitch's loony."
"Solange sees all men as either beasts. She won't believe you if you say I've left, even if I do. She'll demand proof, even though she knows you can't provide it to her satisfaction. Allowing some of her warriors to search Watershed whenever the mood strikes her will make you seem weak to them all. Going to war will only prove that men cannot be trusted with power. If I give myself over..."
"I vote no on that."
Everyone's head jerked to find Lisker standing in the doorway leading into Gil's home. Maria was in front of him, her jaw hanging open.
"You CAN'T just give yourself to them!" she cried.
"Then, what do you suggest?"
"Wow, what woke you up?" Dendel asked.
"I did," Maria replied. "I shifted on his lap. He's a rather light sleeper."
"Will they send assassins after you?"
"No. No one is really allowed to leave the Wood, unless through death. What are you thinking about?"
"There just might be a way to keep Solange from getting too uppity and keep you alive at the same time."
Solange exited her new hut, formerly home of the now-late Verona and viewed her realm with satisfaction. It was all hers, now. Rinaldo's sudden disappearance had been something she'd factored into her own plans once his men had been laid to waste. However that Lisker had found out about him was immaterial. If that... male... thought removing her source of the extract would derail her plans, he'd been sadly mistaken. Cutting off Verona's dosage all at once after so long had led to her going mad with pain until her heart had finally just stopped all at once. All very tragic, all the proper rituals performed, the body properly burned, and then that wicker throne was hers. As were her people.
All the women, at least. Men were little more than animals in her eyes. Useful for making babies, but that was it. Solange didn't care about an heir, the power in her hands now was all and it wasn't as though she could take that with her when the Spirits called her to them. Having become queen, in accordance to the doctrine, guaranteed her a place among them. Besides, a woman could do all a man could do. Even do it all better. She had seen the pain of childbirth before, and wanted no part of it. In her new position, she could have her pick of both men and women.
Power, she thought, was all and it was indeed good.
She feared no assassin's blade as she trod the walkways among the boughs of the mighty trees. Murdering the queen was, by and large, incomprehensible to the peons beneath her. It had been an alien concept to her, once upon a time, until she began to see what power really brought. Dominance over everyone, a free ride into the arms of the Spirits of the Wood. Who WOULDN'T want that? Rinaldo, even if he was a mere male, had given her a golden ticket to that and at such a low cost.
"HEY!"
The shout brought her, and all the other Warrior Maidens, up short as several heads all searched for the source of the distorted voice. Solane alone recognized it and terror welled in her heart. In the name of the Spirits, why was HE here?! Solange looked up to find Lisker, fully armored, descending from the sky. Her eyes tracked him as he landed on the walkway directly in front of her.
"Enjoying your promotion?" he asked. Solange, to her credit, kept herself from shivering. "Good. We need to talk."
"What do you want, creature?!" she roared, pleased at how forceful her voice sounded.
Lisker wanted to groan at her false bravado. He didn't bother with further pleasantries, merely grasping her by the front of her tunic and commanding the gravity controller to hoist them skyward. He stopped once the trees were a mere green blur beneath them and her struggles became a desperate double-handed grip on his wrist.
"Listen," he began," I don't give two shits about how you became queen here. What I do care about is a certain girl named Natalie. I'm sure you remember her."
"Don't drop me!"
"Don't tempt me. I know you have a score to settle with her, and with me, but keep this in mind. You don't have what it takes to settle THAT kind of score." Solange's face fell at that. "I came here to tell you two things. First, Natalie's home is in Watershed now, until she chooses to leave it. Secondly, you WILL NOT take ANY action against Watershed. For ANY reason. Do I make myself clear?"
"Do you think I'll just bow to you?"
"Do you think I won't just drop you? Have you forgotten who you're fucking with?" Her eyes showed that she hadn't. "Remember that. You can stay queen of these amazons, so long as you do nothing against Watershed. Even if I'm not there, they can defend themselves from you. If I am there, well, you know what can happen."
"You'll kill us all, you monster?!"
"No. You. Mythra. Vera. Leara. Sehra. Vollu. Cecilly. Get the hint?" Solange went pale with the mention of each of her most trusted warriors. "Them, and you. Get it?" Her terrified eyes showed that she did. Lisker didn't like using such intimidation, but the current situation had made it unavoidable. "Keep that well in mind." With that, he eased them back into the canopy of leaves and set her down before rocketin into the sky once more.
Solange had no clue why her knees hadn't buckled. Only rage kept the terror at bay, and even that was impotent. Lisker had gotten those names from Natalie, there was no other explanation, and she knew he hadn't delivered an empty threat. Those words had dripped with murderous intent, and he could easily make them a reality. She ignored the women who surrounded her, their frantic questions, as she trod back to her hut. All the plans she had been making, all undone by that slut and her pet monster. She had never wanted anything more than rule of the Wood. She had that, now, along with a promise that expanding her reign would bring death to her and all whom she trusted.