Harbinger Chapter 12, a thundercats fanfic

TC is the property of WB and its affiliates. Any concepts not originating from the TC universe are the property of these creator(s) unless otherwise noted.

Characters will not completely resemble the 1985 rendition, nor the 2011 rendition. This is a reimagining of the Thundercats series as a whole and not entirely based on either series. Nor is it based on any other fan work. The creator(s) of this work reserve the right not to answer any questions or respond to any reviews. This is meant to mimic a professional work and will be conducted as such.

Episode 12

The Generals of the Alliance

Panthro breathed a little easier whenever Snarf brought news of Lion-O, Cheetara, and Tygra over the days they spent underground. He wouldn't admit it but his protectorate being out of his sight made him more nervous than anything yet had.

Except for the fact that he now had two kittens to look after. That…was another matter entirely.

Wilykit liked to hold hands and Wilykat liked to do things on his own. Kat hated cooked vegetables and Kit only liked them if they were stir-fried with sauce. Neither one wanted to go to bed when he told them to and when they squabbled over nonsense like whose tail was longer or who had inherited their dad's ability to flap his ears better Panthro could have slammed his head in a door. Repeatedly.

And yet, on the other hand, he didn't want to leave them in the inn on their own. They would bundle together on the one bed and cuddle up as kittens did, and the sight touched something hard in him. They were good kids, annoying. His heart didn't often kindle but it warmed at the sight.

He grunted and went to take a leak. The warm feeling faded. Thank goodness.

Panthro read through the scroll three times to make sure he understood the orders and when the kittens got up he showed it to them. "Will they believe us?" Kit asked. "The merchants might just think we're playing a bad trick."

"Given the history of the area I think they'll be willing to listen. But listen; I don't want you guys telling anyone about what's supposed to happen. You'll leave little notes around the sector. That way you won't get held up or caught."

Kat looked up at Panthro. "What about Lion-O, Cheetara, and Tygra? Are they gonna be okay?"

"They'll be fine. I'll see to that. You two need to leave the messages and get back here where it'll be safe."

Snarf watched from the roof yet again, keeping an eye on the kittens as they deposited messages everywhere there were merchants in the sector. Every vendor and stall, all the little stores, each one had several snippets of paper scattered around. Each one said the same thing.

"Don't gather together at the amphitheater. It's a trap like last year."

Snarf was key to the next step. Some merchants read the messages and seemed stunned, whispering amongst themselves in the stalls and stores. It was at this point he would dip down from his perches in some quiet, shadowy spot and whisper, "It's true. Stay away. Tell your friends."

The merchants would flip out and Snarf would flee, satisfied by their reaction. Lion-O had made it clear that they had to keep as many merchants out as possible for this plan to work. There had to be few enough that Red wouldn't bother unleashing the Mutation.

There was one other reaction he had to look for, and the bag around his neck – sloshing full of red paint – was part of it. If he saw a merchant that looked as if they understood the message too well, eyes shifty and unnerved, Snarf stole up behind them and swung the bag, dropping a splotch of paint on their back. They were marked; Panthro was to take them down when they happened down abandoned alleyways and stow them in an abandoned house. Alive, so they could be interrogated by investigators later.

It was difficult but by the end of the day Snarf managed to mark – and Panthro managed to beat up – sixty merchants that Snarf was…ninety-percent sure were bad. Oh he hoped they were.

Snarf returned to the tunnels after his paint had run out. Phase two was ready to begin.

Tygra had never encountered someone who could turn hot and cold so quickly and smoothly as Lion-O. With them he was their ordinary, nice Lion-O who could fight pretty good but didn't really want to hurt a fly. Then, in the whirl of his cloak, he was the Fangs of the West; quiet, civil, and deadly as sharpened metal. He spoke with authority, expecting to be obeyed. It was utterly peculiar.

At no point did he take out the Sword of Omens. It remained tucked safe and useless in the gauntlet on his back.

Tygra wasn't sure he liked it. Of course he knew Lion-O was keeping some secrets from them. He just hadn't thought they might go as deep as he was beginning to think they might. The tournaments took place within the courtyard of the palace stationed in the Imperial City, and that he had fought in them for years was very strange; he wasn't technically old enough. His parents must have been high-ranking to get him in, even with his talent. Then again, if he served the king, he was likely of an old bloodline or something…perhaps he was the king's armor-bearer. Such a position was honorable and it made some sense. No doubt he would be trained as a fighter then.

Regardless, it was Lion-O who was with them now, even though he was masked. Snarf lay flopped across Cheetara's lap, letting her scratch his belly with a blissful look on his face. "All right. That's half of the merchants of the Mutations trade, so…yes, we can handle that. We should be able to deal with them if we run into trouble."

Lion-O looked at the three. Tygra stood up. "Tygra, I need you to gain control of the camera room without making a ruckus. Sneak in, knock out whoever's watching, and get to the controls for the tunnels and gates of the amphitheater. After it's clear seal the doors and open the tunnel to the kennels so the mutated merchants can get to the amphitheater. Watch the cameras to make sure they all get out and then seal them in the theater. Once that's done, break the controls so no one can alter them." Lion-O paused for breath. "Can you do all that?"

"Sure. They had labels on everything. I get the feeling none of these guys are very bright. Except Red, maybe. And this goes down during the announcement? Why not just do it now, not even risk the merchants?"

"Because we want Red and the others outside the tunnels so Cheetara and I can get all the captives out without anyone getting hurt. Red is going out to deliver the 'news' to the merchants and oversee the Mutation, so he has to be out there at least." Lion-O examined his blades for wear. "I don't want to risk any innocent bystanders getting killed," he murmured. "Even these treacherous people are worth something. I want as few people as possible down here when Cheetara sets off the final phase."

Tygra shook his head. "That soft heart is going to get you killed someday."

Cheetara paused in rubbing Snarf's belly. "The more people that can be interrogated the better. I think it's a good idea to empty this place out before I do my thing. After we get the prisoners out of the cells I head to…where is it, Snarf?"

"Three halls over to your right and it's the second door on your left. They keep plenty of expensive goods in there that they use for traveling and covering their black market trade, and there are small kegs of oil for maintaining the power generators. You should be able to carry one in your arms and another on your back."

Nodding, Cheetara resumed her gentle scratching. "I douse all the Mutation I can find. Snarf marked it on the map." She held up a crumpled piece of paper and Lion-O looked it over. "There are fifty rooms where they stockpile it. If I can make a trail that leads to each room, the chemicals will catch fire and it'll spread through the tunnels. Their operation will be dead."

She chewed her lip. "Are you sure it won't hurt anyone above ground?"

"Nah, this stone isn't flammable." Tygra knocked on the wall. "And there aren't any wooden supports or anything, so after the fire burns up its fuel and runs out of oxygen, it'll burn right out. Don't worry so much."

Lion-O's tail was whisking around, a sure sign of nerves. "Cheetara, set the fire when you're at the exit. Don't light it early no matter what. The last thing I want is for one of us to get trapped down here…no matter how fast they are," he added. "As we know, tunnels are tricky." She gave him a weary smile and he chewed his lower lip. "If we have to fight, fight to flee. Don't get sucked into a long battle. If we have to go up against Red or Nfumu, we'll do it above ground."

Snarf wriggled. "When I said I loved sabotage, I didn't mean this kind. I think we should just get the people out and forget about burning the tunnels."

Tygra shook his head. "Look, these creeps will set up shop somewhere else if we don't take out their remaining supplies. We thought only the north was making Mutation before and we were wrong. The more we wipe out the better off the people will be. And it gets us closer to the people threatening Icla." Selfish it may be, but Tygra took it personally when the place his mother dwelled in was unsafe. They dared come near who he valued and thought they could mess with her? Tigers were dangerous when you crossed them.

Snarf sighed. "I suppose. Everyone just be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you loons. I'm getting attached."

Cheetara kissed his nose. "Don't worry. We'll make it work. Dawn tomorrow we'll be ready."

Someone rapped on the door, loudly, and Lion-O opened it after Snarf had hidden under the bed and Tygra and Cheetara donned their hoods. It was an amphibian, skin slick and blue. "Red wants to see everyone. Guests have arrived with news about the group that's been ruining our operations, and they're going to help with the Mutation trap." He rushed off and Lion-O looked at the others.

Tygra drew his teeth over his tongue in thought. "Why do I not like the sound of this?"

Lion-O saw Slithe and Gyp first and his first words to the others were, "We are in deep goo-no."

Snarf – who had not seen Slithe but had heard of him, and remembered Gyp all too well – bared his teeth as Tygra tucked him under his cloak. "I thought the Berbils dealt with him!"

"There's no way Slithe took down the Berbils on his own," Cheetara said reasonably, watching the two on the platform like venomous serpents. "They sent Gyp to a Thunderan village didn't they? So he could be held for trial?"

"I think so. It sounds like the proper, merciful thing they'd do along with the Snarfs." Tygra's eyes glinted like gold from under his hood. "He probably freed Gyp from the local authorities because he was too weak to beat us on his own, lily-livered nonfel."

Cheetara shot him a look but Lion-O put up a hand. "We need to keep our heads down. If they don't see us and they accompany Red to the amphitheater, this plan can still work. Just don't panic."

"Fangs, these people wish to meet you," Red called. Lion-O muttered something in his mind that was very, very colorful and gestured for Cheetara and Tygra to stay put. "Everyone has heard of your skill, not the least of which being my fellow generals. Thunderan or no."

Lion-O approached slowly, wondering if Slithe or Gyp had good enough senses to tell it was him by his smell.

They'll only know if I panic. Control, focus, temperance. Put Lion-O away and bring the other one out. Just like always. The other one knows what to do and what to say.

Lion-O exhaled quietly and opened his eyes again. "I've never been one much for political affiliation," he said mildly. Voice clear and calm, a part of him wondered at this other person he became. What if one day he went away and didn't come when he was needed? This refined person had been cultured ever since he was a baby, but the false face might crack someday.

Worse yet, what if Lion-O wandered away and the mask couldn't be removed?

"You're wise. It leads to trouble." Slithe watched him with narrow eyes, but if he was suspicious he showed no other symptom. "I hear you defeated Nfumu. No small task."

The ape stood in the crowd and everyone could hear his knuckles crack. "Only in a duel. And he is a worthy opponent," Lion-O said softly. The last thing he needed to do was enrage Nfumu again. "Surely there are more important, interesting people to meet than I?"

Gyp interjected before Slithe could speak. "Hardly. We're going to need your help! Someone's been taking down our agents!"

The crowd murmured and Lion-O made certain his tail was out of sight; the red of his hair might tip them off. "I've heard about that. A group of cats?"

"Yes, but I mean here, now! Look at how few merchants are here!" Gyp looked to Red, whose scowl was darker than usual. "If she finds out about this there are going to be problems…"

"Quiet." Red's nose wrinkled with a snarl and he rounded on Lion-O. "Someone has been spreading word through town about the trap being set. We're going to spring it in half an hour to catch all that haven't heard. It won't be what we want, but it'll be something. And I want you up there in case anyone shows up. You'll take care of them quietly."

Lion-O kept his tail low, hoping they didn't see his fur bristle with alarm. The plan required him to be down here. "I'm honored. Though I should think Nfumu could handle this sort of thing as well as I." The ape grunted, unmoved.

"'Quietly' isn't in his vocabulary," Gyp said plaintively. "Red's been telling us about you; don't start thinking you're going to be a head around here just because you can wave a couple of blades around. You're strong, sure, but you're Thunderan. No Alliance member would work for a feline. So you follow Slithe with the other guards and we'll set up all the technical things."

Lion-O wanted to step on his foot but just nodded. His heart was racing; what did he do now? Cheetara was fast as breath but she couldn't free the prisoners, guide them out, and then burn the Mutation all on her own. It was too dangerous. And Tygra would have to man the camera controls. They would need him, but how was he to get down into the tunnels if he was to protect these loathsome generals?

As Slithe passed Tygra and a few others Lion-O felt something light connect with his hip and scuttle under his cloak. "We'll make it work," he heard faintly, and his stomach lowered a few inches. Leave it to the others to be thinking just when he needed their help the most. He exhaled a slow gust and hoped in their abilities.

Slithe might have glanced back with suspicious slits for eyes, but in the flicker of a torch the look was gone.

"Looks like it's happening early." Panthro was crouched atop the amphitheater wall, observing the merchants as they entered, whispering under the archways and stepping through uneasily. "Ghen, we didn't reach them all."

Granted there were far fewer than there ought to be, and all of them seemed nervous. Kit and Kat's tails lashed as they watched the men and women enter. "We gotta do something! I wish Lion-O were here; what do we do?" Kat asked.

"Well, we gotta keep these guys busy and get the merchants out. I don't think that's changed." Panthro scanned the platform, spotting Red and – much to his chagrin – Slithe and Gyp behind him. "You gotta be kidding me."

"Ooh, those jerks! I thought Gyp was going to jail," Kit said hotly, pouting.

"He was supposed to." The moonlight glinted off a metal mask and Panthro's lips thinned into a flat line. "Lion-O's out here. Looks like they wanted to bring bodyguards." The kittens looked for him and it was only after Panthro pointed him out that they recognized him.

"You don't think Slithe knows, do you?" Kat asked. Panthro shrugged.

"I doubt it. What I want to know is where the people with the Mutation are. The doors aren't closed yet, but if those vials are thrown there's going to be trouble."

"I don't think they're people. Look!" Kit pointed several feet to their right. A light was glowing gently, shining a spotlight down into the amphitheater to light the darkest places. People stood under its glow but Panthro squinted at the machine shining the light out. There was something lodged under it and he crept over to remove it.

It looked like a small catapult, or a crossbow meant to sling bolts. Its trajectory looked to be the same as that of the light, and Panthro opened the machine and into his hand fell a little tube of green chemical.

"You kids get better at this all the time," he marveled. Kit peered over the edge to spy out more lights.

"If each one has a throwing thing there are five more. Panthro, we don't have time to get them all!"

"We can't just jump in to fight though, the bad guys will hurt Lion-O!" Kat whispered. "If they know who he is-!"

Panthro shushed him. "I'll buy you and the others time. Don't worry, just get rid of the Mutation. Then get out of here and hide at the inn. Don't answer the door, just protect yourselves at any cost."

"Wait, what are you going to-?"

The question remained unfinished as Panthro climbed over the edge of the wall and slid down between cracks and falling bricks, reaching the ground quietly and creeping through the crowd of merchants, tail coiling. Red seemed almost ready to start, but Panthro took out his nunchuks and hoped his acting was as good as it used to be.

"Fangs of the West!" he roared. The sound echoed through the amphitheater like thunder and everyone fell back from him like leaves skittering across the ground. Red stopped in shock and Gyp squawked. "I'd heard you'd sold out but I didn't want to believe it! You've turned your back on the Code!"

Lion-O's mouth had fallen open for a second but he shut it then, just in time for the generals to look at him curiously. "What are you doing here, panther?" he asked, voice condescending.

"Trying to talk sense to a Thunderan champion! Those people look up to you and you turn your back on them for profit and amusement? You're the lowest of the low!" Panthro spat on the ground and Lion-O started down from the platform.

"Leave it to a soldier to make life all about duty. Haven't you ever thought that maybe there was more to it than following orders all over creation?" Lion-O unsheathed his swords and Panthro noticed that the doors were still open. A few merchants had already bolted.

Red gnashed his teeth. "Shut the door," he muttered, "I told them to shut all the gates once we reached several hundred! Why aren't they closing?"

Panthro had a good idea why; it involved stripes and a witty attitude playing havoc with a technology system. "All you merchants need to get out! This is a trap, just like the messages said!"

Lion-O bared his teeth. "Be quiet, oaf!" More traders broke away, fleeing for their lives. Red screeched after them.

"Fangs, kill him! He's the one ruining everything! He's with that group that's been causing all the problems!" Gyp called. Lion-O nodded and leaped forward, blades meeting nunchuks with a shower of sparks. Panthro was much stronger but Lion-O had the flexibility and speed.

Panthro looked into the eyes of the mask, familiar blue gaze meeting his. "Serpentine spar style?" he asked in undertone.

Lion-O smiled. "My favorite."

Then the weapons parted and met again, weaving into a deadly whirl.

Tygra watched the battle with some interest but he was far more focused on watching where the Mutation traders were in the tunnels. Cheetara was moving fast, trying to get cell doors open but they were all locked and he knew precisely where the keys were – hanging from his finger. Security room housing the keys…how cliché. She was nowhere near his position and there was no loudspeaker system, so it was all he could do to wait and hope she'd happen by. He didn't want to attract attention and he'd never be able to catch up, so he settled for looking over the screens and controls.

This one would open the tunnel under the platform, Lion-O could use that to get in to help with the cells and getting people out. But he couldn't open it with the generals on it, they'd follow him. Tygra gnawed his lip and hoped that the kittens were safe somewhere. Darn those kids, knowing them they were off trying to help and it frightened him to think of them being caught. He wasn't a believer, but at moments like this he almost prayed.

The merchants were out. Red was visibly fuming and Tygra smirked as he howled. He'd open the platform if Lion-O and Panthro had a chance to bolt, but what about the generals? His smile faded when he considered, after the others were safely out of the tunnels, just letting the mutated out with the generals sealed inside. These were the worst of the worst after all, scoundrels and scum of the Alliance. They made this substance that ruined lives and who knew how many good soldiers had died at the hands of their men and orders?

All the same, the idea of leaving anyone to die by being torn to pieces made his blood run cold. He shrugged it off. "Lion-O's rubbing off on me," he muttered.

The prisoners all had to get out before he could close the doors. There would be little chance of escaping through the tunnels after all. Curse the generals, they were getting ready to intervene in the battle. Maybe he ought to open the platform now after all and drop them into the tunnel to stun them-

Something hot and damp passed over his ear. It twitched and Tygra recognized an angry breath in three-tenths of a second and ducked.

Just in time. Nfumu's mace would have shattered his skull if he hadn't gotten down and he rolled aside and leaped to his feet, taking out his whip as the ape lowered his weapon and turned to him with an expression like thunder. "Did you think we wouldn't watch the room?"

Tygra had knocked out the lizard that had been overseeing matters but Nfumu would not be so easy to take. His mouth was dry as he managed, "I'd hoped you wouldn't. Is this operation really worth it at this point?"

"Sure. I kill one of the cats that's been causing so much trouble for our trade. Do you know how many years we've worked to make it this powerful? How many heads I've had to pop from shoulders?" Nfumu walked toward him, arms loose. "We'll recover quickly indeed once you nosy little cats are out of the picture."

Tygra stepped backward and felt one of the chairs behind him. "I can't persuade you to join us or do the right thing? Maybe join us around the campfire for a rousing family song?"

Nfumu's lips peeled back, yellow teeth baring like the rocks of a cave. "I don't have many tiger teeth. If I knock them out will you still be able to talk?"

Instead of replying Tygra grabbed the back of the chair and swung it up and hurled it toward Nfumu. As it shattered across the brawny arm that drew up to block it Tygra leaped forward with his whip unraveling and snapped it in the direction of the unsuspecting wrist. He snapped it back and pulled with all his might.

Nfumu didn't budge, just looking at his arm and the whip wrapped around it. Tygra had enough time to curse mentally before the ape pulled at the whip, jerking it out of his hand. The tiger ducked before the mace could connect with his face and tried to think of a way to take this brute down. The nonfel could kill him with the right blow, and then he'd go find Cheetara or the generals who would certainly look for her and kill Lion-O and Panthro.

His mind was being pulled in two directions so it was no surprise that Nfumu's hand found his neck and he managed to suck in one breath before the ape began to squeeze.

It felt like his eyeballs were about to pop from his head. He could hear the blood stumble in his veins and ears as the vise grip crushed his neck, all too aware of the pain. Tygra sputtered, unable to let his breath go, and kicked at Nfumu. His toe claws left red stripes along the ape's chest and arms but he was feet above the ground and couldn't get any force behind it.

Nfumu's teeth seemed to blur and grow brighter as his lungs began to burn. His fingers stopped operating and Tygra fought to keep his arms up and fighting, but they just wouldn't obey. They hung down like weights and all he could do was twitch.

Suddenly Nfumu screamed and the smell of burning fur hit his nose. This was because the hand released him and he exhaled and inhaled, hyperventilating to make up for the burning darkness of his eyes. There was a great feeling of weight hitting the ground beside him and he slowly sat up, sight returning.

Nfumu twitched on the ground senselessly, Cheetara staring at the prone body with wide brown eyes. "Tygra?"

"'M okay," he managed, trying to get up. She ducked and lifted him to his feet, examining his neck. "He's tough. Gotta kill him now."

Cheetara looked pale. "You doofus, look at your neck. It's one big bruise."

"I'm a doofus? Oh, sorry I'm not psychic and I didn't see the future of Nfumu showing up!" He took her staff which was still smoking faintly. "I'll deal with this tailsucker."

"Tygra!" Cheetara hadn't exclaimed at his curse but rather at the screen; Panthro and Lion-O were continuing their duel but Slithe, Red, and Gyp were circling around. The duel paused and the generals focused in like predators on Panthro, and Lion-O appeared to be doing some fast talking.

Tygra snarled and gave her staff back, leaving Nfumu prone on the floor. He had no more time; he grabbed the nearest lever and forced it down.

The platform slid away and the generals turned to it in shock. Lion-O and Panthro pelted for it and leaped down into the dark. Tygra threw the switch again, leaving the generals in the amphitheater.

"This is not what I had planned," Lion-O said, lifting his mask in order to wipe the sweat from his face. "Snarf, what's happening?"

Snarf had been quite cramped huddled under Lion-O cloak and hanging on to the sheaths of his swords. Now he jumped up to the lion's shoulder and stretched as he ran. "Tygra was going to go to the camera and control room and Cheetara was going to try to free the prisoners. Something must have gone wrong."

"Cheetara's fast, but she can't have freed all of them in such a short time. Do you think the generals will be able to follow us?" Snarf noticed that even Panthro gave pause looking at the bars on either side when they came near the pens. Two gates rested on either side of them that could open with the flip of a switch, and the beasts inside were slavering at the sight of strange cats. "They're all ready to be released…it must be him working the doors."

One small door blocked their way. It was the only thing that would keep the mutated from sprinting off into the tunnels once their prison gates opened. Lion-O tried it, found it locked, and Panthro just kicked it in. The hinges held but the lock broke away. They slipped through it and Panthro shut it, taking a crate from the hall outside and placing it in front of the door.

"What now?" The panther scanned the corridors and Snarf sniffed the air.

"Let's head toward the prisoners and the control room. Tygra and Cheetara are probably somewhere along the way," Snarf said. Lion-O nodded and took off, stripping off his mask and made for the hall that held the control room with his guidance.

Panthro looked into a room or two. "Mutation and money. Why am I not surprised?" He kept pace well because of his long-legged stride but stopped when he found a locked room. "What's this?"

"A cell. We'll need the key to open it. Some of the merchants haven't been mutated or were going to be used as hostages," Lion-O said. A great snapping made Snarf look round as Panthro tore the door from its frame. The cat inside screamed but she poked her head out when nothing attacked her.

"Wh-What's happening? Is it-it time for my Mutation at last?" she whispered. She was a tiny brown thing, twenty maybe. Her eyes were red as if she hadn't stopped crying for hours. Panthro shook his head.

"We're busting this place up good so come on. You need to get out. The authorities will help you as soon as we get out of here. Don't be afraid."

Gruff though he was, Panthro's size and strength seemed to rally what little courage she had. She followed them, torn clothes dirty and whipping around her ankles. Panthro broke down every door on the way and Snarf kept mental count. "That's thirteen. There should be forty more if my count is correct."

On their way to fourteen and the control room they ran into Cheetara and Tygra and a few dozen other people trailing behind them. Lion-O's relief at seeing them was cool like rain on a hot day and Snarf hopped to Cheetara in delight. "You're all right!"

"Barely. Nfumu tried to tear my head off," Tygra rasped. His throat was turning purple and he held it as if he were ill. Lion-O's face became agonized and Snarf remembered that he hadn't killed Nfumu in battle. Snarf tapped his head with a paw.

"All right we need to get the prisoners out. We're just about ready to spring the Mutated into the amphitheater." Suddenly he stopped and looked around. "Wait a minute. Where are the children?"

"Up on the walls. They're filching the Mutation vials from the machines that were going to sling them." Panthro seemed unconcerned and Tygra's jaw dropped.

"Wait, what? You just left them up there?"

Panthro looked at him witheringly. "The battle between Lion-O and myself was all to distract the generals. Those kittens want to help in the safest place I can think of, that's the best I can hope for. Besides, you know of any way to get up those walls other than climbing? I had a heck of a time following them up there."

Tygra massaged his throat and glowered but seemed to find nothing to say. "The sooner we get out the sooner we can check on them," Cheetara said faintly. Snarf hopped to her shoulder and gave her cheek an encouraging lick. She seemed very upset by something but he couldn't figure out what it was.

"We were on our way to free the rest of the prisoners," Cheetara said, glancing around Lion-O to see said group peering back at her. "Tygra, you know the way out of the warehouse exit, right?"

"Yeah, I guess. Snarf?" Tygra seemed distracted and Snarf could hardly blame him. He sniffed the air and pawed at his nose afterwards.

"Follow the hall, left, right, left, straight for three turns and right and then up and out." Snarf hopped down when he received an injured, irritated look. "Or I'll just go with you."

Tygra nodded and started to raise his voice. "Okay, all-"

He stopped hoarsely and coughed. Cheetara checked his neck and her lips tightened. "I should have been faster," she whispered.

Snarf felt a wave of boldness strike him. These cats had rescued his people – his darling Sarfina – and now they were trying to do the same for these. He cleared his throat and called, "Attention! All merchants present, attention!"

The group murmured and then became quiet. Tygra straightened and swallowed, Snarf popping over to his shoulder. "All of you need to come with me and this tiger. We know of several exits and we're going to lead you to a safe one. You mustn't go near the amphitheater after this; tell any city guards and investigators you find that there are Alliance generals there and that we're going to be containing their Mutated hostages in the locked theater."

"What?" One dog yipped and Snarf had to cover his ears. "Haven't you seen those things!? They're monsters! They'll kill everyone they find and eat the bodies!"

"They are people. They've been turned into these beasts by the real monsters. And we have a cure for the Mutation that we're going to try to administer as soon as we can." Snarf gave Lion-O a questioning look and he nodded imperceptibly. "The amphitheater's gates are sealed and they'll be held there until there is a way to administer the cure."

Mi-Ao stepped forward and said, "Listen, these cats have freed us and fought for us. I don't think any of us is in a place to question their plans." He looked at Tygra in particular and said more lowly, "Your mother will be terribly angry you're getting injured. But she'll also be very proud."

Tygra smiled in spite of himself. "Sounds like a regular day with her," he rasped.

"But aren't there going to be merchants there? Is that where they were going to be turned?" one woman asked.

"Not any longer. They were scared away before the gates locked. The only people there now are the generals. It's a perfect pen." At this the group seemed more interested; all of them had seen the massive gates and knew the strength of the stone. Snarf waved them toward himself and Tygra and pointed with his tail. "Like I said, follow the hall, then left…"

Tygra paused once. "I'll meet you back at the theater. Cheetara, can you throw the last switch to send the mutated up the tunnel?"

"Sure. Get some medical attention. We'll be fine."

As he led the people away Cheetara turned to Lion-O and Panthro. "We're still burning this place's resources. I'll do it."

Her face was suddenly set harder than steel and Panthro blinked. "Say what?"

"I'm going to burn up the Mutation. Then I'll throw the switch. That'll give you guys time to grab one of the generals." Cheetara's eyes seemed red now and her teeth showed. Lion-O hesitantly reached for her arm.

"Cheetara, are you okay? Why do we need one of the generals?"

"Because Nfumu's probably gone by now. We didn't kill him, we were too worried about the prisoners." Panthro glanced at Lion-O. "I'm not crazy! Look, if we get rid of all the generals that's okay but they have information that Thundera, and Tropo, and every other city could use! They know more about the trade than we do! If we can capture one of them and the rest get killed, we'll be able to deal a blow to the Alliance and to the Mutation trade. But in the off chance they escape, we can't leave them anything. These guys come back, and they ruin everything because of it."

Cheetara gestured to the tunnels. "Do you really think that the investigators will destroy all this? No, they'll look it over and stockpile it somewhere as evidence. And you can bet some of them are in on the trade. What are the chances that all these resources will just go right back to the trade if they're not destroyed?"

The girl sounded fierce and her claws seemed sharper than usual. Panthro examined her face; he'd seen that look in soldiers. It was usually after their unit was destroyed and they were the last ones to survive. "Girl. Tygra's all right. We're all right. You don't need to go doing anything rash."

"I know everyone's all right! But…but he wouldn't have gotten hurt if I hadn't dragged him along in the first place." Cheetara had started pacing from one side of the hall to the other. "He's nearly been killed several times now; we all have. He didn't want to come along, he came to keep an eye on me-"

"And check on his mother," Panthro interjected.

"Still! He's family. I'd gotten there a second or two later…"

Cheetara stopped and pressed her forehead to the wall. Her blond hair seemed to slump. Panthro crossed his arms. He definitely knew this look, and he could talk a man out of it. But a woman was different, at least in his experience. "I know how you feel. How many times do you think I've saved a soldier in the nick of time? But you've gotta push that image of what might have happened out of your head and think. This is no time to freak out. It didn't happen and that's all that counts."

But Lion-O took her shoulders and tugged her from the wall. Her forehead and the tip of her nose were scraped from contact with the rough stone. Then he hugged her.

It was very uncomfortable for Panthro to watch. Hugging was not his thing. After a long moment she sniffed and hugged him back. "Cheetara. Everyone's all right. You saved him, just like you saved me. You've done enough."

He released her after a long moment. "We're not burning the place out. We'll try to capture a general, but you just be ready to flip the switch when we get one out. If we get them above ground everyone will see for themselves what kind of things have been going on. And even if the generals get hold of the Mutation again, we'll think of something. It's not worth putting yourself in any more danger. Okay?"

Cheetara nodded. "Sorry. I just…I want to destroy this whole place. These monsters think they can ruin peoples' lives…"

She firmly wiped her face. "I'll be okay. Try to capture Red and climb up the walls to where the kittens are. Whether the generals are in there or not I'll open the tunnel for the mutated."

Panthro sighed in relief. He'd dealt with men in hysterics before but not so many women. Y you couldn't pop one across the face and tell them to man up. It was indecent. "All right, let's have a cuddle after all this is done. I'm done pulling my punches with all these freaks. Let's take 'em down."

He noticed that Lion-O licked his lips as if he wanted to speak and couldn't quite do so. Cheetara extended her staff warily. "I'll wait at the control room. If the battle starts going bad, just climb out and I'll open the door."

Panthro would have preferred to open the gate and just let the generals get what they deserved, but the idea of actually dragging one into jail where they belonged was very appealing indeed. He'd hoped Gyp would be imprisoned but he'd had his doubts. Never count on something getting done unless you did it yourself, no matter how fuzzy and adorable the Berbils were.

Besides, the king would need the information when they got back. This thought sobered him. They could put an end to this Alliance madness and get information to break the Mutation trade if this went right.

Panthro watched Cheetara run off and followed Lion-O, whose tail seemed low. The generals would be waiting.

Kat didn't dare to just throw the Mutation away. Instead he and his sister placed the vials in their packs and pillowed them with bits of cloth. Once they'd gotten all the vials they tucked it into a little crevice they found, a gap where a brick had once been.

Then they watched the generals try to get the platform to open, ducking down silently behind the walls and whispering as the three stamped and snarled and hissed at each other.

"Wonder where Nfumu is?" Kit wondered aloud. Kat shook his head.

"Probably in the tunnels. I'm not worried. Lion-O handled him once; he can handle him again. When do you think they'll open the door for the mutated merchants?" he asked.

Kit blinked. "I don't know. They have to get the generals out first, don't they?" Kat gave her a look and her mouth pursed. "They aren't just gonna kill 'em…are they?"

"It wouldn't be any more than they deserve. They tried to kill one of Tygra's friends, Mi-Ao, and they tried to capture and hurt tons of people. And you remember Slithe, he would have killed both of us. Gyp experimented on the Snarfs. These are really bad people Kit." Kat glowered down at the three, wondering if the tunnel was opening or if he was just imagining it.

"I know. But…Lion-O and the others have always tried not to hurt people if they could help it. They wouldn't just let the merchants tear them up." Kit shook her head. "They're nice. Even Panthro."

"It isn't about being nice Kit. Captain Masti was nice and he was killed. You wanna let that happen again?" Kat stopped watching and just lay down. "I'm beginning to see why Panthro didn't want us to come. All this scary, bad stuff happening…it's hard. I don't understand it all, and I wish I didn't understand what I do." He shut his eyes.

Kit didn't reply for a while, ducking down next to him wearily. The air was pleasantly cool and the flat ground was hard but it wasn't too rough. It was getting on toward midnight and both were growing tired. "We should go back to the inn," she said at last.

Kat put a hand on her hair with a thump and felt bad for being so sharp. They were tired and frightened, and worst of all they were alone. Lion-O or Cheetara would have made them feel better, and Tygra would have told them some crazy story. Panthro would have ignored them and made sure their blankets were clear of bugs and set them up clean and neat, and Snarf would curl up next to their tummies.

A great clank made them both sit up, electrified, and the platform slid away as they tucked themselves to the wall again. "It's Lion-O and Panthro!" Kit said.

Slithe was looking at Lion-O was a flat expression. "I should have known."

The Fangs mask was gone now and Lion-O seemed a hundred times gentler for it. "It's time you paid for what you've done, generals. If you surrender now you won't die. This is your only warning." Lion-O's voice was quiet and he paced toward them. Kit's tail drooped and Kat bit his lip.

"All this time I've been going up against a group led by the Fangs of the West…I don't feel so badly now. I thought some soft milk-sucker was besting me, but it's been a hardened warrior all along." Slithe eyed Lion-O with new respect and Red snarled.

"I knew I didn't trust you! I knew it! You've been the one ruining everything!" Red was pacing back and forth, voice shrill. "Gyp, why didn't the Mutation fly? What's going on up there?"

Gyp? Oh nuts. Kat grabbed his sister's hand and ran for it but a shadow under the moon fell across them. "The kittens! They emptied the machines!"

Kat felt talons scrape his tunic but the sound of a cord being fired from Lion-O's gauntlet made Gyp fall short and screech. It had wrapped around his leg and Lion-O pulled the cord back as Panthro anchored the bird down. Kat and Kit both watched breathlessly as Gyp was hurled onto his tail feathers.

"We can make this easy gents. Your operation failed, you've no helpers or resources…your men abandoned you and most have been locked up. This place is going to flood any minute with the people you've mutated. And they're hungry." Panthro waved an arm at the amphitheater. "Either give up and be arrested or be eaten. Even a Mutant can't take on all of those and us."

"Yeah, what he said." Kit jumped as Tygra appeared over the wall, winked at them and slid down the other side. His voice was raspy and his neck was bandaged but he seemed fine other than that.

Gyp and Red were both seething but Slithe just turned in a circle to examine everyone. "You've no idea of what a Mutant can do."

A loud thump made Kat jump; Nfumu had come over the wall several yards away and dropped down as Tygra had. Some of his fur smelled smoky and his face was livid. Tygra hastily moved so he was nearer Panthro and Lion-O. "The girl is probably in the control room. One of you get her; the Fangs is mine," Nfumu said.

The others shared glances and Panthro snarled. "You'll deal with us here first, barbarian."

Nfumu suddenly grinned, teeth uneven. "Fine." He opened a pouch on his belt and tossed three green vials to his fellows. Each caught theirs as if it were a friendly round of drinks. "I thought we'd need a little extra."

Lion-O, Tygra, and Panthro all grimaced when the needles entered flesh, quicker than they could move. Kat looked at his sister in horror and tugged at her arm. "Come on! We gotta do something!"

"You're right." She followed him as they jumped to the nearest rooftop, feet stinging with the impact.

If Gyp and Slithe couldn't fly it would have been possible and wise to leave the Mutants in the theater and use Lion-O's gauntlet to get out. The inside of the amphitheater was much smoother than the outside and it would require the cords.

But Slithe's wings were sprouting and Gyp's were expanding further by the second. So it didn't really matter.

Slithe moved like water, rolling with muscle and thrumming with a growl. Gyp was the same as ever, talons lengthening and his beak screaming calls. Red on the other hand became four-legged, swelling like Talbot had and his fur darkened to scarlet. His teeth slavered and he grinned, yellow eyes narrowing. "It's good to be back." His muzzle pulled back in a leer and he uttered a low, soft howl, stretching his head back toward the moon. He looked like a great red wolf, and his muzzle wrinkled with a snarl.

Nfumu changed the least. He doubled in size, ballooning into a titan, and his muscles were larger around than melons. One blow from that beast could kill someone. His mace seemed half as large as before and Nfumu tossed it once into the air. He caught it on the way down and smiled, brutish face squarer than before and eyes turning blacker.

Lion-O drew his blades and glanced from foe to foe. He would need the Fangs for this. Sliding the mask out of his pack he put it on and exhaled, letting the sound echo into his ears. The mask of the Fangs made it easier to be the Fangs. Four Mutants would require his best planning. "Okay. Tygra, you handle Red. Your whip can be used to bind his legs, trip him, goad him, and even strangle. Panthro, you go for wings, Gyp's first. One less to worry about. I'll keep Slithe and Nfumu busy, you guys try to get your licks in while I distract them."

"Keep your backs to each other. They'll gang up on us if we don't," Tygra said. "Got any antimutagen?"

"One canister. The rest is with our supplies at the inn and in the Thundertank. Nfumu would probably be the best to use it on for battle but we need to try to capture Red. He'd be the easiest to contain."

Panthro said nothing save for, "Then let's go."

Lion-O had been right in assuming that both Slithe and Nfumu would go for him. Both were massive but he was small and quick, ducking and rolling through grasping claws and fingers. Tygra was fine with Red he observed; he was using his whip to trip up the jackal, although he had to watch the snapping jaws. Red was probably the weakest of all. Gyp was afraid to approach Panthro and leave the area – Lion-O expected the investigators to have some kind of weapons that could reach him – and he only dared to swoop low and claw for a moment before rising again.

Lion-O braced himself to go for the kill but there were two things that stopped him. The first was his own weakness he supposed. The second was the fact that Slithe in particular gave him no opening to anything fleshy or vulnerable.

Nfumu's fists hammered the ground, leaving indentations and cracks in the stone where they connected. "Come here! I'll have your fangs as my prize!" Lion-O gauged his energy against his foes and knew that it would only take one mistake to end everything.

Cheetara would be waiting. Red was baying on the ground, forelegs tied to his hind legs. Tygra had an ugly gash along his forearm but he looked quite satisfied overall. Lion-O heard Gyp veer off and snarled. "Panthro, throw me!"

The panther didn't miss a beat. Lion-O ducked Slithe's tail and sprinted for him, planting one foot in the brawny hands.

Then he'd been hurled upwards, bulleting toward Gyp. He struck out with both blades and they hit flesh. Gyp screamed and started to fall. Lion-O dropped and felt Panthro catch him like a toddler and put him back down. "Thanks," he said. Panthro grunted.

Gyp rolled to the ground, panting through his beak and holding one leg close to his belly. "Cheaters!"

"Look who's talking, Mutants!" Tygra called. Nfumu lurched close to him and he backed up, Lion-O jumping in to intercept, needling the thick, hairy arms. Three spots of blood appeared before the beast retreated a few steps.

Slithe had not taken to the air and Lion-O didn't intend on letting him. But now things had grown quiet and tense; two Mutants were out of the picture, if Gyp hobbling away from battle was any indicator, but the remaining two were far stronger and Tygra couldn't use his weapon while Red was bound. Lion-O handed him the canister and turned his attention back to Slithe and Nfumu. "Panthro?"

"Yeah?"

"What now?"

Lion-O realized that they were matched quite evenly when Slithe's snaking head started jabbing at them, teeth flickering as he hissed. Nfumu rounded to his back – Panthro stood there, ready to intercept – but Nfumu rammed into him and shoved the panther into Lion-O. This pushed him much closer to Slithe and those sharp teeth. Lion-O raised his swords and met the teeth, holding them away, but the ape was still pounding away at Panthro. He'd had the advantage of speed and flexibility before, but against the raw power…

Lion-O's arms were starting to shake. The teeth came closer and closer, sliding along the blades. He shoved one sword down as far as he could and struck something. Slithe roared and cracked his head back to remove himself, blood flying from his tongue.

He hadn't cut all the way through but it was enough. Lion-O sprinted to Slithe's side and rammed his blade into one of the membranes of his wing. It cut like dry leather and made a popping noise when it separated.

Slithe kicked him and scrambled away. Lion-O's organs felt like they'd been struck by a boulder and he lay on his back for a few seconds, coughing and stunned. Somewhere he heard Red yelp and hit the ground with a much lighter weight.

Nfumu's face came into his vision with that heavy mace in hand. "I'll pick your teeth out of the shards of your skull." The mace was just a great black mass directly over Lion-O's head and his hair lifted when he realized it was descending with the swiftness of death.

He rolled just enough for the mace to hit the end of his ponytail and tear out a few strands of hair. Nfumu made a sputtering noise and Lion-O lifted his head to see the length of Tygra's whip around Nfumu's neck, throttling him, and the tiger holding on the ape's head like a rider on a wild mount.

Lion-O's stomach turned when he saw Nfumu's eyes roll back but Tygra did something that shocked him; he unwrapped the whip and Nfumu sucked in a rattling breath, hitting his hands and knees. At the same time he started to shrink.

Lion-O looked to Red, who was back to his puny, sniveling self on the ground. Where had Tygra gotten a second canister? He looked at the tiger who gestured with a thumb toward the nearest wall. Lion-O followed the move and spotted Kat and Kit peering over the edge at them. There were two more vials of antimutagen in Tygra's hands. "I love those freaking kids," Tygra said.

He shot Nfumu a cold look and Panthro took the vials, heading toward the bleeding Slithe and Gyp who was simply cowering, size aside. Tygra crossed his arms and said, "So what do we do?"

Lion-O heard Gyp shriek and Panthro swear; the bird had taken his smaller size and used it to flee, flying into the air and abandoning his fellows in spite of his leg. Lion-O would have been upset but he was still feeling the sting of his hairs that had been pulled from his scalp by the mace. Three generals was pretty good in his book.

It took a moment for him to look directly at Nfumu and place his blades at the panting ape's throat. His bulk was mostly gone, leaving only the still-imposing ape. But he was on his hands and knees and his eyes seemed animal, afraid. "What are you going to do?"

"…Execute you. After all the people you've killed – all the people you've enjoyed killing – I think that's the only fair thing to do. Same for Slithe. Red will be taken in to custody." Lion-O found he was breathing hard and that his mind was racing. Why not just have him arrested too? And Slithe? No, they were too strong, they couldn't be held. But his doubt must have shown on his face, along with his desire not to kill.

Nfumu's expression was fearful, hand extending in supplication. "I surrender. I'll turn myself in. Please don't kill me. You've shown mercy so far, why not now?"

Lion-O's hands wavered, blades dropping a quarter of an inch. This was so much like Hammerhand that it was truly eerie, and his knees wanted to knock. Could he kill someone? Even when they asked for mercy? He couldn't know if he meant it…but what if Nfumu did? Could he kill even a criminal? Could he end a life? Was "what if" enough?

Lion-O had decided after Captain Masti's death that he must become stronger, harder. But at the sight of frightened, hurt eyes – eyes that knew all the things he knew – he couldn't make himself move. The shrunken ape seemed so small after his Mutation that Lion-O almost pitied him.

"Lion-O!" Wilykit had climbed down the wall to be heard. "Come on! Cheetara's got to throw the switch! Let's just take them to the investigators and-!"

Nfumu's fear disappeared like smoke, cunning black as earth in his face. He ducked forward and kicked at Lion-O's legs, sweeping them out from under him, lifting his mace as he did so. Kit screamed and rocketed toward them, grabbing the ape's side to bite him, and Lion-O saw Nfumu pick her up like a little doll and hurl her. Her head cracked on the nearby wall and his heart stopped for a full three seconds.

She fell to the ground and didn't move. Kat bawled from the top of the wall and dropped for her, and Nfumu moved without pausing toward the boy with his mace readied.

He would kill the kittens, if he hadn't killed one already. He was going to kill the children. Kill them. Kill.

Lion-O moved so quickly that he didn't quite know what had happened until the kittens were in his arms and the smell of blood on his clothes filled his nostrils. He was just aware of slicing his swords across each other and Nfumu turning just before they connected with hair and meat and the tough crunch of bone. Then the metal was free and he had sheathed his swords and was cradling Kit in his right arm and had brought Kat protectively under his left.

Silence fell and Lion-O heard Kit whimper and start to cry as she held her head. He felt his eyes start to water and thanked the Creator. Then he felt Kat shudder – one great shake from his feet to his head that remained strongest in his shoulders. "Lion-O…you killed him."

Lion-O glanced back once and saw Nfumu's body on the ground and the place feet away where his head…Creator no, don't look. He wrapped Kat in his arms and hid the boy's face against his neck. "Don't look Kat. We need to move, now."

Tygra and Panthro were staring at the corpse. Slithe had taken his chance while his wings were still halfway there and flopped unceremoniously up the wall, escaping by the skin of his teeth. He left a trail of blood behind him and Red just sat staring at them, shaking like a brittle twig. Kit started wailing with the pain and with a senseless move she grasped her head. A huge lump was coming up and Lion-O took her to Tygra. It took a minute to make the cat aware of his presence. "Take her and treat her head with some ice. I have to make sure Cheetara gets out all right."

He turned to Panthro, who had recovered in a blink. "Take Kat. Don't…let him see anymore."

Panthro took the boy who simply burrowed tightly into his arms as if he wanted to be as far from this place, this blood – this Lion-O – as he could be. As if to help them escape him one gate opened and the others left. It shut after they had gone with Red in tow and Lion-O turned away and forced himself to look at the body. Only seconds ago it had been living, breathing, sweating. Now it would rot into the ground.

No. It would be eaten by starving creatures. It was fresh meat to them, nothing more.

All he was sure of was when he took Nfumu's head – eyes still open, moderately mean and puzzled – and placed it back against the neck in a semblance of dignity. His hands were soaked in the blood; he rubbed them over the ground and stared at the bloody, claw-shaped curves in the ground.

"Creator forgive me. He would have killed the kittens…forgive me." His voice broke and he turned his back to the body and climbed up the smooth wall with the gauntlet's cords. There were places where the stone was cracked where claws had tried to find purchase. Then he dropped down the other side and ran, half-stumbling as he went to find the exit nearest Cheetara's postion.

But the smell of blood stayed with him. It was on his swords and clothes and the smell had a taste, thick in his mouth. He had killed for the first time and there was no running away from that.

Cheetara knew what had happened from the cameras set up in the lights. So when Lion-O came in she stood up and was beside him in a second.

His face had been spared most of the blood because of the mask but his hands were sticky with it. The Fangs of the West was long gone; Lion-O had returned and was going to be there for a long time. Cheetara held him in her arms for a long moment and absorbed the tremors in him.

"You okay?"

He didn't reply. Cheetara tucked her hand against the back of his head and continued, "You did what you had to. You saved the kittens. You didn't do anything wrong. Protecting the innocent isn't wrong."

Lion-O lifted his head and couldn't meet her eye. "Did you open the tunnels?"

"Yeah. I sealed the gate after the others were out and I waited for you to scale the wall and then I opened the tunnels. Come see."

Lion-O obeyed, still turned away from her. The amphitheater was filling up, the tunnel clear of doors and locks. The mutated surged toward the moonlight like bugs from under a log. "There are already investigators and politicians showing up," he observed.

"Yeah. I think Snarf went to spread the word." Cheetara paused for a minute and tilted her head, finally catching sight of Lion-O's face. His eyes were wide and dry and seemed strangely blank. "Lion-O."

He looked at her, face lit by the screens. "We probably didn't need to let them out you know. Since we're not burning the place down. I just realized that," he said quietly.

She studied his face. "…I think it'll be easier to deal with them in one pen on the surface. And how long have they been underground? The light will do them good." Cheetara had been afraid when Tygra had nearly been killed, and if anything had happened to either kitten she would have collapsed. But seeing Lion-O like this made her feel strangely calm. Calm like when she needed to fight and tear into an enemy.

Cheetara folded one hand across his forehead, swiping his bangs out of his face. "Nfumu chose to hurt innocent kids and you chose to protect them."

His lips moved but it was nearly ten seconds before he could make his throat follow suit. "It was just so easy. I didn't even think. I just moved."

"The motion was easy because you were just thinking about saving the kittens. You're not a murderer, Lion-O, so get that out of your head right now." Cheetara checked the screen and threw the switch to close the door underground. Then she took his hand. The blood was starting to dry. "Come on, we need to get above ground. They'll need our help and we have to tell the investigators what we know."

Lion-O followed her and Cheetara paused only once on the way out. A room with Mutation and gold inside it was open, door slightly ajar. Her jaw set and she muttered, "Hang on."

It took ten seconds to break the tables and send the Mutation shattering over the floor. She stepped around the broken glass and green liquid and – wanting to spite this foul trade in any way she could – she scooped a generous helping of gold into one of her packs. "I guess if we use it, it's better than these guys having it," she said. With that she and Lion-O left, her anger only slightly sated by the destruction of the vials.

"You have to be mad and talented to pull off something like this. You've got Xiame's face and Matrae's blood."

Mi-Ao sat beside Tygra, sipping a mug of tea as the investigators rushed about, busy arresting the men Panthro had locked up. Tygra had ice packs tucked into the collar of his shirt and listened to the sound of roaring from within the amphitheater. "No one is going to believe this. A few cats breaking the back of the main route of the most deadly trade in the world? You ought to be very proud Tygra. I owe you and your friends my life." Mi-Ao patted his shoulder and Tygra drained his mug.

"Ah, that's what we do. I can't believe Red was actually one of the mayors in Tropo and the owner of Haus Scarlet. Prostitution, politics, and drug trades. He had a finger in everything. Pretty cool that you're going to be taking over his office until they elect a new official," Tygra said. "Think they'll arrest any of the harlots?"

"Probably the ones that won't sleep with an official to get out of it." Mi-Ao sighed, bewildered. "Apparently I'm to convert the brothel into an inn. Some of the locals are outraged and the others are overjoyed that an outsider's to work on it. The mayors said that I showed guts and that I knew markets. That's all they want."

"Not to mention you're probably the only one they can trust not to be in the Mutation trade considering you're the only person not from Tropo," Tygra snorted.

Leaning back, Mi-Ao watched the gates to the amphitheater. They were strong and even when the mutated paced across it and pawed the bars they never shuddered. Tygra's amusement faded and he set the empty cup aside. "So give me the update. What are they thinking?"

Mi-Ao sighed. "It's only been three days. So they're not very far into the evidence, although they've tested the bones in the pit that the mutated were gnawing on and you were right; they're Nfumu's. But it looks like these merchants are all from the past six months. All the others were sent on already. The mountains are where the trail seems to lead. After that…well, the Luna forces aren't cooperating. There are laws to abide by, blockades, papers to process…communication is impossible as you well know."

The cat rubbed his forehead. "Heaven only knows where they are. We can't progress into the mountains."

Tygra nodded. "So…nobody that matches the kittens' parents were found?"

"Not that we've seen."

Unbeknownst to the kittens, the older cats had been trying desperately to find any note that might indicate if their parents were still there. A sample of antimutagen had been provided to the authorities of Tropo so they could reproduce it, but it had been done anonymously; the cats had to leave, and soon. Lion-O hadn't been comfortable with it but they didn't have enough to turn even one tenth of the merchants back to normal. Mi-Ao had vouched for the sample and even now a few of the merchants were being returned to their original forms. The glaciers would be coming into the mountains soon and they had to get through. More questions would consume more time.

The question now was what did they do for the kittens? They had believed their parents would be here, but they were possibly up north. If that was so, the cats would do everything they could to find and free everyone under the influence of Mutation, but…

Tygra sighed. Kit's bruise was already going down and she was enjoying being fussed over to a degree, but both kittens were smart. They would not be denied the truth for long. She could have been killed and there was no way of knowing what foes lay in the north. He placed his chin in his hands. Mi-Ao watched this knowingly. Tygra had discussed the matter with him.

"I could take care of them. I've children of my own, I know how. Perhaps you'll find their parents in Icla or Lune, if you follow the trail. But these are children…they can't go there. It's too dangerous."

Tygra smiled sourly. "We've brought them along so far. They're better at keeping out of trouble than we are, I assure you. But you're right. We planned to find them a place to live here if the parents plan didn't work out. They need to be somewhere safe…but they won't want to stay here. Not if there's a chance their parents are alive and trapped." He stood up slowly, feeling his neck. The bruises were nearly gone and the ice was melting, too cold for comfort. He removed it and said, "I'll see what the others think. Thanks for the offer."

Mi-Ao nodded. Tygra headed off, ignoring the investigators swarming the area and looking for the familiar door of the inn where they had been staying.

Lion-O met him at the door and accompanied him inside. It was a pleasant, wooden little building with small rooms and clean floors. It smelled like bread during the day and oak tables at night, and it reminded him of The Fancy Feline. He sighed. "So no sign of them," Lion-O said quietly.

Tygra nodded. Lion-O hadn't been talking much for the past few days and Tygra didn't want to push him. "Mi-Ao's offered to take them in. But you know they'll want to go north."

Lion-O started up the stairs and Tygra followed, tails low. "It would be safer here. We would look for anyone mutated. They don't have to come with us."

"Yeah." What neither cat wanted to say was that the kittens had grown on all of them and that it would seem colder indeed in the north knowing that they were leaving two heartbroken children behind. "You said you had a vision of them in the north with us."

"I didn't think you believed in visions."

"Maybe, maybe not. Just thinking out loud." Tygra opened the door and felt something short collide with his stomach. He grunted and looked down at a patch of bandages.

"You're back! Tygra, did Mi-Ao find out anything about our parents?" Kit turned to hug Lion-O too, hopping in place. "Panthro said you were going to talk to Mi-Ao. Are the investigators fixing a bunch of antimutagen? Where are the other mutated people?"

Tygra scowled at Panthro who returned the look. He then sighed. "Guys…Mi-Ao hasn't found anything about your parents. They were probably already sent north."

Kat was sitting by Cheetara but he stood up, meeting his sister's eyes. They seemed to commune without a word and he said, "Okay. So we go north and help more people. Right?"

His voice was lower than usual, and Tygra turned to Lion-O. It was his turn to give some bad news, withdrawn and moody or no. Lion-O sat down on one of the wooden chairs in the corner of the room and put his hands on his knees. Cheetara was sitting on the cot opposite it and Panthro was cross-legged on the floor, sitting by their blankets and makeshift beds. Lion-O looked at the kittens and said, slowly, "You guys, Nfumu would have killed you. Do you understand that?"

"Yeah. We do."

"I mean it. You're kids but these people are evil; they'll kill you if they get the opportunity. They don't care that you're young or want to find your parents. Kit, you could very easily have died." She twisted her tail between her hands as his voice grew lower, huskier with some tight emotion. "I know you wanted to help, but you ran right into danger. And the danger's only going to get worse in the north."

He shot Cheetara and Panthro a meaningful look. "I think it would be best if the kittens stayed here. Mi-Ao is willing to look after you while we search for your parents."

Kat's tail bristled but he bit his lip before speaking. "But we've been helping…"

"Yes, you have helped. You've helped a lot. But I'm scared to death of you two getting hurt. I…I think Panthro was right when he said we should have left you in Dera's Run."

At this there was a chorus of protests and Snarf – who had been contentedly kneading a place in one of the blankets – stood up and hopped to the floor. "Now wait a moment. I know you want these children to be safe, but leaving them in an abusive place wouldn't have helped anything. They've told me about it and it was dreadful."

"No, I mean with Dyre and Timbyr. They were good people and wanted to take care of you. But instead I let you come. I thought you were supposed to come. But right now, I don't care. I don't care if that's what the Sword of Omens wanted. Kit, for a second I thought you were dead because I was stupid enough to bring an innocent kid on a dangerous mission." Lion-O's claws tensed on his legs. "I never want to feel like that again. I want you two to be safe."

Kat and Kit stared at him. "But our parents…we have to find them. They aren't here but they might be north. How will we find them if we don't go with you?"

Kit's lip trembled and Lion-O sighed, opening his arms. She clambered into his lap and held his neck tightly. "Wilykit, you have to believe me; we are going to save every single person infected by this awful drug that we can. If your parents are up there, we'll find them."

Panthro said nothing and Tygra hoped the kittens' silence meant they were listening. "Hey, once everyone's turned back, you can bet the first thing they'll do is look for their families. Your parents will be asking about you guys and we'll tell them where you are! You just have to be patient," Cheetara said gently, smoothing Kat's hair.

He blinked at her. "But…we want to go with you guys."

Tygra's heart softened in surprise. "Why? We'll find your parents; you can trust us."

"Yeah, but we don't want anything to happen to you guys," Kit said. Kat elbowed her and she jabbed him back from Lion-O's knee. "Quit it!"

"You don't have to tell them that," he hissed. "It's so mushy."

"Well, I don't care! It's been scary traveling, but it's been fun too. And we like being with you guys. Nobody tried to help us before you did." Kit climbed down and looked at each of them. "You said it yourselves, we're a help. What if you need us and we're here instead of with you?"

Panthro sighed. "We'll have to do without. I'll be the first to admit you two have really come through. I was…well, wrong about you." The kittens exchanged glances. "But we've got an obligation to keep you two safe. We were lucky this time that you made it through."

"Blessed," Cheetara added. "We just…none of us could bear the idea of losing you two. It'll be a help to us – and your parents when we find them – to know you're safe with Mi-Ao."

"But will we be safe?" Kit asked.

"I think so. There'll be plenty of security now." But Tygra folded his arms as he thought about this. Considering all their enemies, perhaps this wasn't so clean cut as he'd first thought. Lion-O, on the other hand, stood up and stalked to the other side of the room. Cheetara looked at him in surprise. "Lion-O, what is it?"

He opened one of their supply satchels resting in the corner of the room and withdrew the golden gauntlet and Tygra stared as beams of golden light seemed to pour from it. Lion-O's face was drawn, angry, and he spat, "What do you want?"

The light dimmed in response and the red jewel in its hilt seemed to pulse. Tygra's jaw dropped; he hadn't seen the thing glow until now in spite of Cheetara saying she had. And yet she had lifted her hands, trying to cover her eyes as if the light were burning her. Snarf gazed at the weapon nonplussed.

"I hear it. It's…alive." All of them watched in shock as Lion-O bared his teeth and cast the sword down and flung himself away from it.

It was so quiet as the light went that Tygra didn't want to exhale. The sound would have been unbearable. Lion-O leaned against the opposite wall, elbows braced against it, back hunched. "I don't care what it wants."

Lion-O slowly straightened and picked the sword up as if he were picking up raw meat and stowed it in the bag. Kat turned from it to him and whispered, "It wants us to come, doesn't it?"

The tan throat vibrated, Lion-O showing his teeth. "It killed Araknay. I don't care what it wants. I'm not letting you kids get hurt and that's final."

With that he stormed out the door and the kittens stared after him. And after a second, Tygra followed him.

He was sitting near the amphitheater when Tygra found him ten minutes later, staring at it with glassy eyes. It was a plain wooden bench he sat on, splintery and untended. Tygra leaned over the back of the bench and said, "You know you didn't have a choice. Nfumu didn't give you one."

"I know. That's not what's bothering me. Well, mostly." Lion-O had his hood up and the goggles on, concealing his eyes and hair. Nobody paid them any mind as they ran back and forth to markets and investigators slipped through doorways.

When he didn't say anything else Tygra scraped his index claw along the rough wood. "Does the Sword of Omens want them to come along?" Lion-O stiffened. "Why do you think it wants them in danger?"

"I don't know. I don't care. They can stay with Mi-Ao." Lion-O crossed his arms and Tygra knew suddenly what one more issue was.

He rested an elbow on Lion-O's shoulder. "I'll miss the rugrats too y'know." Lion-O lifted his head sharply and his mouth shut tightly. "I know it's only been about a month since we met them but they've really grown on me. I know it's hard, but…this is the best. I guess."

"Unless Slithe or Gyp come back to Tropo and take over again and massacre the city," Lion-O said. "You know Red won't stay in custody. He'll get out somehow and come after us too." This was such a stark thing to say that Tygra bit his lip.

"Well, should we bring them with us then? You were so sure we were supposed to bring them before, and I agreed."

Lion-O lowered his head to his hands. "I was sure of a few things when we first set out. I was sure I would be able to handle this, but now I'm not." Tygra pitied him when the lion's tail snagged on a scrap of wood jutting from the bench. Lion-O stood up, tugging it loose. "I don't even want to use the Sword of Omens. I'm not in control when I use it. It's got a will of its own."

"I guess." Tygra supposed that, considering the murky history of the blade, it might have some kind of artificial intelligence inside it. It may have some alien power source. The idea that it had a sentient mind struck him as strange, but he supposed he could be wrong. "Look, if it helps you at all, I think the Sword of Omens would have killed Nfumu. He nearly killed innocent kids. Whatever you believe, that's wrong."

"I don't know if Araknay should have died. I mean, what if it turns against one of you because it doesn't like what you're doing?" Lion-O sounded embarrassed to say this and Tygra realized why he'd kept the blade tucked away all this time. It wasn't just guilt he was wrestling with, it was fear.

Oddly touched, Tygra took Lion-O's shoulders and said in a frank, low tone, "Lion-O, you need to make your own decision. But through all of Thundera's history, the Sword of Omens has stood for protection and justice. I don't have much option but to believe in some supernatural energies at this point. I don't know about the Creator, but I definitely see some dark powers at work. That Araknay girl proved it. And if you've got something bad to deal with, it only seems logical to use something good to fight it."

Tygra scratched the back of his neck, feeling sentimentality rise up. "I mean…that person was ready to die. I don't know if I would have done what the Sword of Omens did, but she died smiling. The Sword hasn't done anything but protect us, and it knows that's what you want to do as well."

Lion-O looked at him, eyes invisible behind the goggles. "I don't know everything about you, but I know you'd do anything to protect the people around you. The Sword of Omens is your best bet for succeeding. So…I guess I think you should use it. At least the blame would fall on it next time you have to make a hard choice like with Nfumu." Tygra removed his arm from Lion-O's shoulders. "I'm going to let Mi-Ao know that I think it's best the kittens stay with him. You coming?"

Lion-O lifted the goggles to his forehead, holding back his short bangs with them. "Yeah. I think so. Tygra…thanks. I know we don't believe all the same things, but I do think you give good advice."

Tygra prodded Lion-O's side. "Yeah, yeah, you'd be lost without me. Quit moping. It's the best for the kids, right?"

Lion-O didn't reply and Tygra wasn't so sure if he would have been able to either.

It took three days to reach the northern sector of the city. It shouldn't have taken them so long even without the Thundertank, but leaving the kittens with Mi-Ao had been difficult. The last dinner they shared had been strained, painful. Kat and Kit didn't speak and didn't request one of Lion-O's dumplings as they always did. Lion-O said nothing at all through the meal and when the morning came and the kittens hugged each of them, he seemed to move mechanically.

"Thanks for bringing us here. At least we got this far," Kit whispered. Kat, who hadn't spoken much since Nfumu was killed, hugged Lion-O around the neck and trembled.

Lion-o kept the Sword of Omens with him as they trekked through the city incognito. They passed great markets and universities, apartments and entire slums. Political buildings seemed cleanest of all and the smell of every kind of food in the world drifted in the streets.

None of them paid any attention. The kittens would have wanted to explore and see everything and would have taken precious minutes to look with awe on the world. Even so they moved sluggishly, all the zest gone from their group and taking longer than ever. No matter how hard they pushed their feet, the sun always seemed to set before they got anywhere.

When they left the city at last and the land grew quiet it was worst of all.

Lion-O tried not to think about it, but it was hard when Snarf just lounged dully at night instead of being hugged by a kitten or invited to one of Kit's pretend tea parties. Tursi had indeed dropped off the Thundertank in a safe place; a turtle that owned a dock outside the city had it in a safe, dry hut. "I store things for people that can't bring them into the city." His wobbly neck made his head seem to bob. For one silver the tank was theirs again.

It was still so quiet, even over the roar of the engine. Cheetara talked with Snarf but this wasn't enough to drown it out. She ended up running alongside the tank to scout ahead, reveling in the wind and road. They had miles and miles to go before reaching the mountains and Lion-O found it unbearable to sit in the tank and watch the scenery speed by. That day seemed to last forever, and when night finally fell it was a relief.

Panthro opened the trunk to load some of their supplies into it and take out the camp equipment. When he did he stood still and blinked a few times, not looking terribly surprised.

They should have expected it, Lion-O realized. One kitten's rear end was being booted by the other's foot, and both had bundled little nests into the supplies to sleep on. It was Kat who opened his eyes first as he woke, bright as embers and not sorry in the slightest.

"We had nightmares that you guys needed us and we weren't there. The dreams were the exact same. So we ran ahead and hid in here before you guys got to the Thundertank. You're real slowpokes."

Lion-O gazed at them when Panthro looked up at the sky. The Sword of Omens was silent, content, and he said, "Did you tell Mi-Ao?"

"Left a note. You should probably message him." Kit dug out the messenger pad they'd stolen from Hammerhand and gave it to the panther, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "Are we in trouble?"

Lion-O said nothing. Panthro closed his eyes as if tired. "C'mon. We were about to set up camp. Go fetch the kindling, and look out for stinging bugs hiding under logs. If you're going to come you're going to get some real training."

The kittens smiled slowly, radiantly, and Lion-O took the messenger.

He couldn't help but shiver when he thought of the vision he'd received. If the kittens had gotten the same one – somehow, someway – perhaps the Sword of Omens knew what it was doing.

When he saw Snarf's face light up and heard the sound of the kids talking loudly, and that deathly silence faded away, he really hoped it did. But if it didn't, Lion-O would not hesitate the next time.

He would defend them with everything he had. Even if it meant killing again.

"I'm done with letting you handle things. You're a disgrace. It's no wonder why the Alliance has never made a successful move against Thundera."

Slithe hissed, pausing in doctoring his tongue. When he'd returned to his former shape the cut had shrunk along with his body, but stitching one's own tongue was no easy feat with broken glass as a mirror. "Because your agents have done so much better," he said, spitting blood at the communicator.

"I've been conserving resources, but no more. It's time for me to handle this. From now on you can make deliveries and collections with what little of the trade I can still salvage. I need thousands more souls to have a hope of holding the Harbinger, and you've ruined the chance I had for getting them." Her voice crackled and he heard something break; a pane of ice from the sound of things.

"I'm no errand boy!" Slithe retorted.

"Well you're no general! I'll have to send the girl out at this rate. She'll make a mess but she'll kill them all."

Slithe laughed. "They're strong enough to kill your little freaks. These cats will make short work of any Luna. I think they'll be coming close to the mountains now. How will you keep them from the pass?"

"I'm going to close it myself."

His grin ceased. "What?"

"My powers are greater than you could imagine, Slithe. And I have one more agent located outside of the pass in the south. If they take the route I think they will, he'll have a chance to thin their ranks. The delay will be enough. If I were you I would avoid the mountains. Winter's coming."

She cut off the signal and Slithe sat there on the beach in the moonlit sand. He kept stitching his tongue; Gyp would be back with fish soon, and he wanted to be able to eat by then.

Let her do as she pleased. He hated the cats, but at this point he would enjoy seeing the Luna squirm.

End of Episode 12