Chapter 3
"What is so urgent that it couldn't wait until the morning?" Tygra asked before yawning. He'd only gone to bed a couple hours before after getting off the morning shift. He was back on duty at eleven that evening and sleep was something he desperately wanted before he started his second shift.
"Scuttlebutt and possible payback," Mandora address the half-asleep tiger.
"Scuttlebutt could have waited," Tygra shook his head.
"Payback?" Ben-Gali asked.
"Oh yes. Seems our little stunt six months ago did not go unnoticed by the Mutant high command," the Evil Chaser explained.
"What is taking Lion-O so long?" Pumyra wanted to know.
"He didn't answer my radio call to his office so I sent Lynx-O down to check on him," Panthro told the group.
"You sent the blind Cat to go check on your King?" Mandora raised an eyebrow.
"In case there was stuff that nobody needed to see," the panther said. They all looked at each other and discovered that the only Cats missing were Lion-O, Cheetara, and Lynx-O.
"Well played good sir," Ben-Gali gave him a wink and under the table grabbed Pumyra's hand. She gave his hand a squeeze and then directed her eyes directly into his. He gave her back a small smile. Later, they would be playing their own game of cat and mouse.
"Sorry about that," Lion-O smiled as he entered the room. Not one hair was out of place and he looked as if he'd only been sitting at his desk engrossed in some paperwork.
"Did I miss something?" Tygra asked as he looked the young King over and then turned to his brother tiger.
"I think we all did," Ben-Gali shrugged as Cheetara took a seat next to him. She too looked as though she had been only digging through the book from the caterer.
"I smell a rat," Pumyra chuckled.
"You and me both sister," Mandora smirked.
"What's going on?" Lion-O looked around the room.
"I believe there was some debate about what exactly was taking you so long to get to the meeting my liege," Lynx-O spoke up as he took his seat.
"Lively food discussions that is all," the lion told them before focusing on Mandora.
"Right and I'm the Easter Bunny," the Evil Chaser smirked before continuing,
"I came here tonight because we have scuttlebutt that we are in the process of confirming."
"What kind of scuttlebutt?" Panthro wanted to know.
"The kind where the Mutants amass an army and attempt to lead an assault on New Thundera and Third Earth simultaneously," Mandora said.
"How would that be possible? They don't have the ships nor the man power to launch such an offensive," Lion-O wanted to know.
"It seems the target date is the day of your wedding. They're using the national holiday as cover. They'll attack while everyone is watching their King and new Queen. My guess is that they will try to assassinate you in an attempt to squash any resistance," the Evil Chaser did not mince words.
"Any proof of that?" Tygra gave her a look.
"My spies are good. I've never had a reason to doubt them yet. They are in the process of getting me hard evidence but I wanted to bring it to your attention now. We know from surveillance that the Mutants are stockpiling weapons and running maneuvers," she explained.
"Great Jaga," Lion-O murmured.
To Be Continued…