Chapter 38

"So how much longer do you have to have Mumm-Rana in your head?" Leo asked as his older sister wheeled him to breakfast in his new wheelchair.

"Not too much longer. Mom said they were clearing the last moon today and hoped to be done by the end of the week," Sahara said. It had taken weeks to go planet by planet and make sure that all five moons were empty. The Mutants had to develop special gear to go to each planet and had been sending as many troops from Plundarr as they could to make sure things went faster. Then with the help of life-readings and troop deployments they had been absolutely sure that the planets were void of Mutant and Lunatac life.

"Did they actually bump into any Lunatacs?" The younger litah wanted to know.

"No surprisingly not yet. Guess they figured with the Mutant slaves locked up and no way for them to leave the planets that they didn't need to leave anybody behind," she told him.

"Or maybe they didn't care and didn't intend on coming back. I mean eventually the food would have run out and the Mutants would have starved to death," Leo remarked.

"The automatic food dispensers they put in were set to last a month. So you're probably right," his sister shook her head as she was about to open the door to the dining room, Leo put the brakes on his wheelchair down.

"What is it Leo? This is your first breakfast out of the med bay. Are you nervous?" She was suddenly concerned and bent down so that they would be at eye level. After all the last few weeks had been difficult and she worried that he just wasn't ready to face the ThunderCats in his wheelchair.

"No, I'm not nervous. I just need you to understand something before we go in there," he paused before continuing,

"I will be telling everyone that I will not seek to rejoin the ThunderCats. I leave leading our people in your capable hands."

"But Leo…"

"No buts. You are perfectly capable to wield the Sword and be Queen. Why else would you been given the task of protecting me?" He smiled.

"Did you talk to Dad about this?" She asked.

"He told me to do what was best for myself and for Mari and to worry about being King later. Tygra has told me that the swelling has gone down completely. There is nothing I can do but be in this chair. Even if by some miracle, I can walk again, I will never be able to charge into battle without some sort of apparatus. That would just be dangerous for not only me but our troops. I cannot be selfish," he told her. Sahara put her arms around him and gave him a big hug.

"Just know that I will always be there for you, should you need anything," Leo said as they pulled apart.

"And I you, brother. Should you ever change your mind, I will be more than willing to step aside. You have what it takes to lead Thunderians, don't ever doubt that," Sahara smiled before removing the brakes on his chair and pressing the button to open the door.

"Good morning you two," Lea smiled at the siblings as they entered the room. She too sat in a wheelchair but only because she wasn't quite strong enough to stand on her own. The swelling in her spinal column had gone away and the damage done had been corrected. It wasn't perfect but she walked on her own for the first time the other day and she had every intention of getting back to fighting shape.

"Morning! You haven't happened to have seen Dad have you?" Sahara asked.

"Matters of State, I'm afraid. He and your mother are seeing Whizz-Ra's troops off. He will join them with any luck as soon as we get Mumm-Rana out of your head," the lioness explained.

"Ah," the litah nodded.

"And then he's going to check on the construction of the new hangar. Pan is down there checking things out now. We should be fully operational by the end of the day," Lea smiled.

"Good news all around then. Unless of course, Snarf hasn't made Candy Fruit pancakes, then there will be trouble," Tyler smirked as he came up to the siblings and pulled Sahara in for a kiss.

"Pancakes are ready! Snarf, snarf," came the call. Choruses of 'I'm starving' and 'Let's eat' made their way around as the group sat down for a hearty breakfast.

To Be Continued…