A/N: Sorry this took so long. Schedules can be a pup sometimes. Hope you enjoy! :)

Chapter 20

Mandora could hardly believe what she was hearing as the group moved toward the sick bay where Lion-O and Lucius were still cooped up. She, along with the ThunderCats, had assumed the Lunatacs to be small in number and in custody. However it appeared that only one of those things were true. The reason that the Evil Chasers had not given a warning was because the original gang of Lunatacs were still in custody.

"You must let me tell Lion-O about Leo after we are done filling him in on everything else," Cheetara pleaded.

"Of course. I can take over while you're doing that. No what exactly is wrong with him? I know Lion-O would never back down from a fight," Mandora said.

"A very long story but the short of it is, is that his heart is not strong enough to beat consistently; had he been fighting, he could have died. He gave up the title of Lord of the ThunderCats so that Leo could take his place," the cheetah explained.

"Lots of responsibility for the young man and the thanks he gets…" Mandora was back to grinding her teeth again.

"I know. I just…" Cheetara stopped as they entered the sick bay and Lucius stood at attention.

"My Queen! What news do you bring?" The reptile asked from his spot beside the bed of the King. Lion-O could tell from the look on his mate's face it wasn't good.

"Bad news, I'm afraid. The Lunatacs attacked. We don't have an accurate count yet but so far it has been confirmed that we have twenty men dead, seventy wounded, and around twenty still unaccounted for. The troops are combing the field for survivors and Tygra and Pumyra are working to save those that they can," Cheetara told him.

"What aren't you telling me?" Lion-O wanted to know.

"They had Mutant captives," Basheer said.

"Holy Thundera. How many of them?" The lion asked.

"There were thirty of them. Fifteen were killed by their captors before we brought the ship down," Basheer filled him in. Lion-O growled and looked to Mandora.

"We didn't have any idea this was going to happen. The original Lunatacs are still in jail," she said.

"There are more of them?" The King was confused.

"Apparently this was some sort of strike based on the union of Plundarr and New Thundera or they have issues with getting off the stick for revenge," the Evil Chaser told him.

"Any of them survive?" Lion-O asked.

"No, not that we can find, I'm afraid that we were a bit overzealous," Cheetara stepped in.

"I don't think so. They had Mila," Basheer said.

"Great Moons of Plundarr. Is she all right?" Lucius wanted to know.

"Cuts and bruises on the outside but I imagine on the inside she's in worse shape. I haven't had time to talk with her," the reptile explained.

"Who is she to you? You've been acting weird ever since we found her," the cheetah said.

"She was my girlfriend before she disappeared. Her parents never forgave me," Basheer answered.

"Forgave you for what?" Lion-O asked.

"Months before you came to Plundarr, I proposed to her. She had readily accepted despite the fact that her father forbade me to ask. I love her, I could not leave her. She got in an argument with her parents that night when she came home and the next morning she was gone. They assumed I had something to do with it but I did not," he explained.

"So the Lunatacs had them for a while which could mean there are more Mutants who are slaves. We must find them," Lucius said.

"Oh we will. Have Panthro up here on the double. I can't wait around anymore. It's time I joined the fight," Lion-O told them.

To Be Continued…