Chapter 9
"Who do we know that has that kind of balls? I mean destroy a ship, capture the scientists, and then vanish without a trace?" Ben-Gali asked.
"Well if Mumm-Ra was still around we wouldn't be having this discussion. However, I don't think we'd have to look that far away from our old dead enemy," Lion-O postulated.
"You really think the Mutants, whilst gearing up for war during your pending nuptials would try something like this?" The white tiger wasn't sure it was possible.
"A new fuel source could be just what they need or just what we need. Either way, they want the scientists to confirm whether or not the sources found on SG-17 do not fall into our hands," Lion-O pointed out.
"I hate to admit it but he's right. How long would a flight to SG-17 be from here?" Tygra asked Zuthra.
"It's about four hours from New Thundera so almost a day. Shall I call Mandora and get her take on this development?" The leader of the ECAIS team wondered.
"Please do. We need an update on what the Space Council of Planets thought as well," Lion-O said.
"All right gentlemen, I'll get right on that. In the meantime, you might as well catch up on your rest," Zuthra suggested.
"That sounded like a plan if Lion-O hadn't decided to tell me a scary story," Ben-Gali chuckled slightly to lighten the mood but it was hard to fathom at the moment.
"Put an alert out for Mutant ships in the area too. Once they are done with those scientists, I fear they will have no use for them," the lion told the Evil Chaser.
"Yes, I fear you are right," Zuthra nodded and left the room. Tygra turned to the other two cats and said,
"Sleep is definitely in order now. We might not get it later. Lion-O, you especially. Can't have that ticker of yours having trouble with you fighting exhaustion and Mutants."
"Yes Snarf. I'll get right on that," Lion-O chuckled while Ben-Gali tried to hold his laughter in but failed miserably.
"That's enough. I'm the oldest of the three of us here so march your fuzzy butts over to the guest chambers," Tygra scolded. This only made them laugh more but they laughed as they left the room and headed for comfortable sleeping arrangements.
Meanwhile, on New Thundera, Cheetara was calling it a morning and waking up for her first shift. Heaving a sigh, she figured it would be a long week without Lion-O and the others but there was nothing to be done about it. The investigation was proceeding and the authorities were handling it while the ground troops kept the planet on high alert in case of possible attacks.
"Coffee?" Lea asked when the cheetah meandered into the Control Room.
"Oh yes please," Cheetara nodded, grateful for the hot liquid.
"Rough night?" The lioness gave her a look as the cheetah almost slammed down the whole cup despite how hot it was.
"What's with the twenty questions?" Cheetara raised an eyebrow.
"That coffee could have removed oil stains from the hangar floor and you slammed it down like it was ice water," Lea commented.
"Just thirsty I guess," the cheetah replied.
"Uh huh," the lioness eyed her friend and knew that something more was going on but she didn't push it. Still as the quiet filled the Control Room, she wondered just what it would take for her friend to tell her what was going on.
To Be Continued…