March 29.

            "Will do, Steelheart."  Stargazer released the depressed button on the control panel and held down another.  "Quicksilver, Steelwill, and Bluegrass, report to the Command Centre.  It's urgent!"

            * * *

            Hangar.

            Bluegrass, Quicksilver, and Steelwill were finishing cleaning up the Mirage in the hangar.  After hearing Stargazer's rough baritone voice sounding over the speaker, Bluegrass said, "Aw, shucks!  You know, guys, Stargazer doesn't have but two sounds:  urgent and dang blasted urgent!"

            "Heh, heh!" laughed Steelwill.  "Isn't that the truth!"

            Quicksilver said, "Well, let's get up there and find out what's going on."

            * * *

            Command Centre.

            "For what reason did you call us, Stargazer?" asked Quicksilver as he and the others arrived.

            "Mumm-ra and the Plundarrians are lying in wait behind an asteroid for the Feliner, the vehicle in which the Thunder Cats are coming," said Stargazer.  "I called Steelheart.  She told me to send you to ambush the Sky Tomb in the Mirage as quickly as possible."

            "A pleasure.  Come on, Hawks!  Let's go!  What are the co-ordinates of Sky Tomb, Stargazer?"

            Stargazer looked at Kidd's console.  "They're 100-27-99."

            "Thank you, sir.  We're gone!"  The Silver Hawks entered the Mirage and left, bending around behind Hawkhaven.

            * * *

            "Ambush"-asteroid.

            They arrived at the asteroid behind which Sky Tomb was hiding within minutes.  "There it is," said Bluegrass.  "It sure ain't a pretty sight!"

            Quicksilver replied, "That's true, but we must stop the ones who are in there."

            "Gladly.  Prepare to launch."

            Steelwill, Quicksilver, and Copper-Kidd all flashed on their visors and announced, "Ready!"

            Pressing the all-four pod release button, Bluegrass said, "Releasing!"

            After the release, Quicksilver ordered, "Wing-it!"  The three Silver Hawks 'clipped out' their wings.

            Bluegrass pulled a lever on the right side of his seat and then said, "All right, baby!  Let's hit it!"  The Hot Seat separated from the main part of the Mirage.  Bluegrass then pressed a button on the left part of the steering mechanism.  A laser shot out of the back of the Hot Seat and cloaked the main part of the Mirage.  After that, Bluegrass got his Laser Guitar and put it in his lap.  He held the instrument as any right-handed guitar player would normally hold a guitar while sitting.

            Within Sky Tomb, S-s-slithe slithered, "Ha, ha, ha, ha!  The Feliner is-s-s flying toward our little as-s-steroid!  Yes-s-s?"

            "Right!" said Aluro.  "The cannons are all aimed for the Feliner.  The Vari Cannon is at full power!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            Bluegrass turned a dial tuner on Hot Licks, his digital sound system.  "I need some kind of off-beat tune, Hot Licks. . . somethin' nearly atonal that will knock their ears way out of joint!"  He stopped, hearing a crazy, barely tonal tune coming out of Hot Licks's speakers.  "Ha, ha, ha!  That's the one!"  He played his Laser Guitar to that tune.

            In the Sky Tomb, the evil ones heard the 'music.'  "What in the name of all the ancients is that?" screamed Mumm-ra.

            Tug-mug shouted, "Ahhhhhh!  Atonal music greatly offends my eardrums!  Yahhhhhh!"

            "Where is that crazy noise coming from, anyway?" screeched Luna.  "The pain!"

            Vultureman squawked, "Caw!  It seems to be coming from behind us!  Cawww!  What a racket!"

            Near the Mirage, Steelwill laughed, "Heh, heh!  Cowboy is tuning them out!"

            "Open fire at Sky Tomb!" said Quicksilver.  "Bluegrass's tune should be ten times as effective on those Plundarrian cretins with music lasers."  Quicksilver, Steelwill, and Copper-Kidd all fired both their shoulder-laser-blasters at Sky Tomb.  Bluegrass blasted Sky Tomb out of the sky with the laser from his Laser Guitar.

            In the Mirage, Bluegrass laughed, "Ha, ha!  Say good-bye to your li'l ambush plan, Plundarrians!  I'm a-gonna tune you guys out!"

            "Caw!" Vultureman screamed.  "My ears cannot stand that dissonant music for much longer!  Get us out of here!"

            "I do think that we should make a tactical retreat as of this time," said S-s-slithe.  "Yes-s-s?"

            Luna said, "Great idea, S-s-slithe.  Let's move it!"

            The Feliner was nearing the asteroid where the Plundarrians had had their little 'ambush' planned.  They picked up the music because of the artificial atmosphere being held in this region of space.  "Goodness!" said Lion-O.  "I've never heard such a racket!"

            "It seems to be coming from behind that asteroid," said Tygra.

            Lion-O said, "I'll check it out."  Lion-O removed the Sword of Omens from the Claw Shield and put the hilt in front of his eyes.  "Sword of Omens, give me sight-beyond-sight."  He saw Sky Tomb and the Silver Hawks, who were attacking it.  "Well!  Sky Tomb is behind that asteroid, and it looks like it was planning to ambush us.  There seem to be lasers blasting it. . . from the Silver Hawks!  They must have found out about this before we did.  One of their laser blasters is emitting a laser beam in the form of a musical staff with musical notes!  Sky Tomb seems to be trying to escape back to third-Earth.  Wilykit, is Wilykat still asleep back there?"

            Wilykit nearly had to yell to say, "He's still out like a burnt-out bulb, Lion-O.  Surprising, considering that fortissimissimo {fór-tés-sé-més-sé-mó}� music!"  [� - Very, very loud; fff.]

            "Yes!  Sky Tomb seems to have escaped from the Silver Hawks' blasts.  It's heading back for third-Earth."  Lion-O re-sheathed the Sword.  Sky Tomb flew by the Feliner.

            Cheetara said, "It's gone past us."

            From the radio was heard Vultureman's voice, which said, "We'll get you cursèd Thunder Cats another day.  Caw!  Right now, we need to get away from the Silver Hawks.  Caw!"

            "You want to go after them, Lion-O?" asked Panthro.

            "No, not now.  Keep going," said Lion-O.

            In the Mirage, Bluegrass laughed, "Ha, ha, ha!  That there Sky Tomb ran away from us!  I wouldn't know why."

            "It's because of you, rawhide," said Quicksilver.  "You blasted that turkey they were riding so badly that they just ran away!"

            "Piece of cake, skip!"

            "You just tuned their ears out so badly that their ears will be ringing for a month!" laughed Steelwill.

            "A year, Steelwill!" said Bluegrass.  "I ought to tune them out even worse the next time!  They ran like a comet!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            * * *

            Brim*Star.

            Over at Brim*Star, Mon*Star and Yes-Man were watching this little episode.  Mon*Star said, "So!  That cocky Bluegrass wants to play tough with them, huh?  Well, I'll cut him down to size."

            "Size!  Yes, boss!  Uh, how?"

            "I'll give him a taste of my Light*Star, Yes-Man.  Ready the Transformation Chamber."

            "Ooh, yes, boss!  Certainly, boss!  Right away, boss!  You've got it, boss!  Ooh, yes!"  Yes-Man turned on the transformation machinery.  Brim*Star tilted so that the Moon*Star's radiation would shine into the Star*Crater.  The light from the Moon*Star shone onto the antennae, which carried the radiation to a point above Mon*Star's Transformation Chamber.  The claws pointed down toward a point directly above Mon*Star's head.  The Moon*Star's light shone onto Mon*Star, who was beginning his transformation chant.

            "Moon*Star of Limbo, give me the might, the muscle, the menace of Mon*Star!"  With Mon*Star, just as with Mumm-ra, by the last word, the transformation was complete.  Mon*Star used his elbow-jets to fly up to Sky Runner, his loyal space-squid that served as his vehicle.

            * * *

            Steelheart was flying from Brim*Star slowly, nearing the Penal Planet.  She was taking her time flying back to Hawkhaven.  Ah, thought she to herself.  All these stars never looked lovelier.  Wait a minute!  I've just had a sudden thought:  Mon*Star!  I'll bet he's headed out of Brim*Star.  I'll never have a better chance to turn back and intercept him before he causes any trouble.  She turned her head around.  There he is now, right behind me.

            Mon*Star did not see that he had been spotted until it was too late.  "Heh, heh, heh!  I'll never have a better chance to blast Steelheart while she's off-. . . wait a darned minute!  She's turning around!  Oh, damn!  It looks like I've tried to bite off more than I can chew!  Come on, Sky Runner.  Let's get back to Brim*Star!"

            Hmm.  He's turning back.  I'll blast him!  Steelheart fired her shoulder-lasers at Mon*Star.

            "Blaaaah!  Move faster, Sky Runner!  Faster, you bloody idiot!  RETREAT!!!"  Sky Runner turned upside-down after being blasted, and Mon*Star began to fall out because of the Limbo solar system's weird artificial gravity.  "BACK TO BRIM*STAAAAAAAA. . .!!!"

            "Ha, ha, ha!" said Steelheart.  "I sure ruined his plans!  Now, I shall get back to Hawkhaven.  Ah, here come Hotwing and Flashback, on their patrol of the Penal Planet.  Steelheart to Hotwing and Flashback.  Head back for Hawkhaven.  There's no trouble around here."  The two saw her.

            "There she is," said Hotwing.

            "Then, I suggest we just go back to Hawkhaven with her."  When the three reached Dolare, Condor and Moonstriker had just completed patrol.

            "Well, what do you know?" said Steelheart.  "Appears that Condor and Moonstriker have just completed patrol, too.  Steelheart to Condor and Moonstriker.  Have you found any suspicious activity down there or at Bedlama?"

            "Not a bit, Steelheart," replied Moonstriker.

            "Then head back to Hawkhaven with us."

            * * *

            Hangar, Hawkhaven.

            Quicksilver, Steelwill, Copper-Kidd, and Bluegrass had just safely escorted the Feliner to Hawkhaven.  "Thank you for saving us from the Luna-tacks, Silver Hawks," said Lion-O.

            "No need for thanks, sir," Quicksilver replied.

            "Actually, it is we who should thank you," said Bluegrass.

            Steelwill said, "Yes.  If you had not warned us of the Mob's plan, we would have been in the fourth quarter with one minute left and one point, the Mob having 30 points."

            "Well, we only did what we thought was right," said Tygra.

            "Yes," Panthro said.  "When we found out that the evil Hardware had created that weapon, we also discovered that it could destroy all of you.  We had to try to tell you, at the very least."

            "Our commander, Steelheart, has gone to make sure that there was no suspicious activity around Brim*Star, the home of Mon*Star," said Quicksilver.  "She will probably be back in a few minutes.  Our former commander, Stargazer, is upstairs."

            "Pardon me, but could you give us some introductions, please?" asked Lion-O.  "I'm afraid I don't know your names."

            Bluegrass said, "Sure, sir.  I am Captain Bluegrass.  Here in the silver is Colonel Quicksilver, Steelheart's second-in-command; and this here in the copper is Copper-Kidd."

            "I'm Lieutenant Steelwill," said Steelwill.  "My older - by a second - sister, Steelheart, has an outer shell that looks, in colour, just like mine."

            "It seems then as though we'll not have much trouble telling who is Commander of the Silver Hawks around here," said Lion-O.

            * * *

            Mumm-ra's Pyramid, third-Earth.

            Vultureman once more voiced his remarks in the most disrespectful and negative manner he could.  "Caw!  I TOLD YOU THAT THIS DAMNED STUPID PLAN WOULD NOT WORK, MUMM-RA!!!  I TOLD YOU, BUT NO!!!  YOU ALWAYS KNOW BEST!!!"

            "SILENCE, VULTUREMAN!!!" screamed Luna.  And yes, she did shout the following as loud as she could.  When she was furious with an ally, she abused ears rather than bodies.  She mouthed off the following very quickly.  "AT LEAST SKY TOMB'S ENGINES ARE NOT DAMAGED LIKE HALF A YEAR AGO WHEN THOSE DAMNED THUNDER CATS, CHEETARA, TYGRA, AND THE THUNDER KITTENS, OVERLOADED THE STARTER MOTORS AND CRASHED SKY TOMB!!!  AT LEAST THE ANCIENT SPIRITS OF EVIL ALLOWED MUMM-RA PERMANENT EVER-LIVING POWERS AND LET HIM FREE US LUNA-TACKS AND YOU MUTANTS FROM EXILE ISLE, AND HE HELPED US LUNA-TACKS RE-BUILD SKY TOMB AND ITS MOTORS!!!  IN FACT, THE MOTORS RUN BETTER NOW SINCE MUMM-RA REPAIRED THEM!!!  WHEN I'D HEARD THAT THE SPIRITS OF EVIL HAD EXILED MUMM-RA FROM THIRD-EARTH, I WAS WORRIED!!!  THEN, I HEARD THE SPIRITS HAD ALLOWED MUMM-RA TO PERMANENTLY CONTINUE LIVING - FOREVER!!!  WHY DO YOU NOT GIVE THE MUMMY SOME RESPECT?!?  HE DID, AFTER ALL, FREE US FROM EXILE ISLE!!!"

            "Yes-s-s!" agreed S-s-slithe, not quite so eager though to blame Vultureman as to get Luna to shut up her high soprano voice.  It was most irritating at high volumes.  "S-s-so, Vultureman, SHUT UP ABOUT IT!!!"

            "Caw!" Vultureman cried.  "Okay.  I'm sorry, Mumm-ra."

            "Apology barely accepted, but it is accepted," said Mumm-ra warningly.  "Now, let's see what those despicable Thunder Cats and Silver Hawks are up to with my cauldron."  The cauldron's evil waters showed that the good guys had congregated in the Command Centre of Hawkhaven.

            Steelheart said, "Hmm.  You say that you found out that the evil Hardware had created that weapon by way of the Sword of Omens and your good friend, Jaga, Lion-O?"

            "Correct," said Lion-O.  "We could not allow those evil creatures to destroy you.  You may have been goners if we hadn't warned you."

            "Damn right," said Stargazer.  "We definitely would be goners by now."

            Lion-O gently inquired, "Must you use that word, Stargazer?  One quirk of our society is that we tend not to like much cursing."

            "Oh!  Excuse me, Lion-O.  I'll try to refrain from it."

            Steelheart said, "I suggest that all of us combine to form a larger group.  If one part of the group would ever get in trouble, the other part would help out."

            "Great idea, Steelheart," agreed Lion-O.  "That way, Mumm-ra, the Plundarrians, and the Mob would be out of their evil business."  The waters of the cauldron cleared.

            "Out of business, eh?" said Mumm-ra incredulously.  "Well!  We shall see about that.  Here is the plan, my evil cohorts!"

            "Caw!  Not another confounded plan!" complained Vultureman.

            "Do not interrupt him, Vultureman!" S-s-slithe shouted.  "Yes-s-s?"

            "As I was trying to say before I was so rudely interrupted!" snapped Mumm-ra.  "Luna-tacks, I suggest that you guys capture that fat Snarf, that puny Snarfer, that immature Bengali, that stupid Pumyra, and that blind Lynx-O."

            "Excellent idea, Mumm-ra!" screeched Luna.  "If we had that blasted Snarf, Lion-O would not dare attack us!"

            "Precisely the point, Luna!  Mutants, I suggest that you kidnap the wretched Ro-Bear-Berbils."

            "Caw!  I hate this cursedly dumb idea, Band-Aid-Body!"

            In fury, Mumm-ra screamed, "BAND-AID-BODY?!?  YOU'LL REGRET THAT, VULTUREMAN!!!"

            "What?  Did I select the wrong choice of - caw! - words?"

            "Uh-huh!" said S-s-slithe.  "Monkian, Jackalman, the Luna-tacks, and I should be leaving!"

            Mumm-ra shouted, "Yes!!!  S-s-slithe, Monkian, Jackalman, Luna, Amok, Tug-mug, Chilla, Red-eye, Aluro, and my dear Ma-mutt, if you value your hides, race out of here like bats out of Satan's home!"  The eyes of the Ancient Spirits of Evil lit up.  Lightning flashed into the Pyramid from the four obelisks.  S-s-slithe, Monkian, Jackalman, Ma-mutt, and the Luna-tacks left the Pyramid as quickly as possible.  Mumm-ra was, once again, transforming.  Vultureman was paralysed with fear.  "Ancient Spirits of Evil, transform this decayed form to Mumm-ra, the Ever-Living!"  Once again, by the last word, Mumm-ra was completely transformed.  "I'll destroy you for this insult, Vultureman!!!"

            "But - caw! - I didn't mean to say that, Mumm-ra!  Honest!  No harm intended!  Caw!"

            "I'll let you go this time, Vultureman.  In the future, be careful of what you say.  It can get you into BIG trouble, as you found out."

            "Caw!  I guess I should go along with your idea, Mumm-ra."

            "Yes.  It would be very wise to do so. . . unless, of course, you want to be blasted into moon-beams!"

            "Caw!  Gulp!  Got it, Mumm-ra!  I'll be on my way!"  Vultureman tripped over his own feet in his first few attempts to leave.

            After Vultureman left, Mumm-ra laughed, "Hee, hee!  I love to tease these idiot Mutants.  They will believe anything I tell them.  The only reason I do not destroy them is that their service is good and that only they provide good service to me.  Heh, heh, heh!"

            * * *

            Cat's Lair.

            Snarf heard an alarm sound.  "Oh, no!  Snarf, snarf!  Bengali, quick!  Come in here!"  Bengali entered.

            "What is it, Snarf?" asked Bengali.

            "Snarf, snarf!  A couple of Luna-tacks - Aluro and Tug-mug - are here!"

            "Oh, great!  One cannot resist the hypnotising power of Aluro's club without strong will-power!"

            On a knoll outside, Aluro said, "Hmm, hmm, hmm!  Let us see how those Thunder Kitties like a taste of my Mesmerisation Club!"  Aluro took the handle of the club.  He swung the handle so that the club would fly over the top of Cat's Lair.  "Give up, you pitiful Thunder Cats.  It is impossible to win, so you might as well surrender to the Luna-tacks.  Come out on your hands and knees."

            "Hee, hee, hee!" laughed Tug-mug.  "Nice work, Aluro!  They are coming out on their hands and knees!  Hee, hee, hee!"  Literally!

            "Yes!  Hmm, hmm, hmm!  Thunder Cats, move it to Sky Tomb. . . now."

            Mesmerised, Snarf and Bengali echoed like automatons, "Yes, Aluro.  We shall go to Sky Tomb as you command."

            * * *

            Sky Tomb, Dark Side, third-Earth.

            Over in Dark Side, where Sky Tomb had just landed, Aluro and Tug-mug arrived with their two prisoners.  "Good work, Aluro," said Luna.  "We now have two Thunder Cats. . . Bengali and that stupid-looking Snarf."

            Snarf said, "Snarf, snarf!  Look who's calling me stupid-looking!  Snarf, snarf!  Lion-O will save us."

            "Not likely, hairball.  Mumm-ra's going in the Mumm-rot right now to Limbo. . . and catching Lion-O is one of the reasons he's going!" said Luna.

            "No one can stop the Sword of Omens, Luna," said Bengali.  "You will learn that some day."

            "ENOUGH!!  Take them to our cosy little 'guest quarters,' Red-eye.  That will keep them out of our hair."

            "Yes, Luna," Red-eye said.  "Come, you two.  Don't try to run and hide. . . my infrared-light-tracking eyes will fix into your heating systems, so there is no way to hide."

            "You will never get away with this, you old witch!" Snarf shouted.

            "I think that I shall get away with it, Snarf.  The other Luna-tacks and I shall.  Ha, ha, ha!  By the way, thanks for the compliment, fuzz-face!"

            "Snarf, snarf!  That wasn't meant as a compliment!"

            Bengali said, "You will never make me go, Luna-tacks."

            "We shall see about that, Bengali," said Aluro, pointing his Mesmerisation Club at Bengali.  A blue beam of light blasted out of the club and into Bengali's face.  "I order you to go, Thunder Cat.  It is useless to fight my powers, kitty, so you might as well do as we say and not risk getting hurt over this.  Our prison is sure a lot more comfortable than our baggage compartment."

            "No!" cried Bengali.  "I shall not go.  I must not give in."

            "You must co-operate, Bengali.  After all, it is useless to struggle."

            "I. . . I. . . I. . .  I shall co-operate, Aluro.  I shall peacefully go to the prison with Red-eye."

            "Oh, no!  What have you done to him, Aluro?  Snarf, snarf!"

            "Hmm, hmm, hmm!  I have mesmerised him, Snarf.  I don't want to have to do it to you, too."  Snarf came up with a quick plan. . . not much, but it might be enough.

            "Snaaaaarf!  Oh, well.  I could never resist your mesmerisation anyway, Aluro."  Snarf turned as if to follow Red-eye and Bengali but quickly swished his tail across Aluro's legs and tripped him!

            "Yaaaaaaaaaah!"  Aluro crashed face-first on the floor.  Snarf had already run out of the room.  "Ooof!  You want us to go after him, Luna?"

            "No!  Let him escape.  That pathetic fur-ball may very well lead Lynx-O, Pumyra, and the wretched Snarfer back here.  That fits into that decrepit mummy's plan, since we'll have the best opportunity to catch them once and for all!  Or, we could follow the wretch!"

            "Hee, hee, hee!" laughed Chilla.  "What a 'chilling' idea, Luna.  Then, we will have those puny wretches like putty in our hands."

            "Hmmm.  Then, I guess we shall need to wear gloves!"  The despicable Luna-tacks laughed evilly.

            * * *

            Tower of Omens.

            About ten minutes later, Snarf was very near the Tower of Omens.  "Snarf, snarf!  There is the Tower!  With all this hard running, it would be just my rotten luck if no Thunder Cat - snarf, snarf! - were there!"

            Within the Tower, Pumyra detected Snarf on the sensors.  "Hey, Lynx-O!  Someone is headed here.  He seems to be running awfully fast."

            "Yes, I know," said Lynx-O.  "My ears are picking up some rather strong vibrations."

            At a monitor, Snarfer said, "It's Uncle Snarf!  I wonder what he is doing here. . . without Bengali!  Yep!  This is sure strange!  Let's go out to meet him and see what's going on."  Right outside, Snarf had just made it to the door when he collapsed.  Lynx-O, Pumyra, and Snarfer had just arrived at the door when they opened it and saw poor Snarf.

            "Uncle!" cried Snarfer.  "Are you okay?  Snarfer, snarfer!"

            Snarf opened his eyes and said, "Snarfer.  Lynx-O.  Pumyra.  Thank Jaga I made it!"

            "Why, Snarf?" asked Pumyra.

            Lynx-O asked, "What's wrong?"

            Snarf said, "The Luna-tacks have captured Bengali, and they probably let me escape so that I could lure you into Sky Tomb and have you caught as well.  Snarf, snarf!"

            "Great assumption, Uncle Snarf," said Snarfer.  "I could not have guessed it myself.  Nope!"

            "That probably is why they allowed you to escape, Snarf," Lynx-O said.  "What is the present location of Sky Tomb?"

            Snarf responded, "Mrow!  Right now, it's deep in that spooky Dark Side."

            "Then we'll have to get through that Forest of Mists."

            "No, we won't."

            "Why not, Uncle?" asked Snarfer.

            "I found a special route bypassing the Forest, and the route saved me a LONG time."

            Pumyra said, "Nice work, Snarf, but no matter how we go into Dark Side, those Luna-tacks will be expecting us."  Just then, Sky Tomb landed at the Tower of Omens.  Or not, she thought to herself with dread.

            The Luna-tacks came out of Sky Tomb after it had landed.  "You will not have to worry about that special route, pitiful creatures!" said Luna.  "Ha, ha, ha, ha!"

            "Luna-tacks."

            "Yes, my pretty," said Chilla.  "We thought that we would save you the trip.  Now, 'chill out,' Thunder Kitties!"  Chilla blew her -60�C� breath at Pumyra.  [� - Exactly -140�F.  ([(9/5 x �C) + 32] = �F; [5/9 x (�F - 32)] = �C]

            "Uh, oh!  I'm going to. . ."  At the last word, Chilla's breath froze Pumyra.

            Aluro laughed, "Heh, heh, heh!  That's cold, Chilla.  Now, it is time for hypnosis!"  Aluro aimed his Mesmerisation Club at Lynx-O.  "Give up, old cat.  There is no use in struggling.  To do so is futile.  You cannot win against the power of Aluro."

            Lynx-O struggled, "I. . . must. . . not. . . give. . . in.  I. . . must. . . fight. . . this. . . mesmerisation. . . power."

            "You must give in, Lynx-O.  After all, struggling is very useless."  Aluro knew he had the old cat.

            "I. . . I. . . I. . . I must give in.  I shall obey you, Aluro."

            Aluro said, "Good.  Now, I want you to follow Red-eye to the prison.  We do not need any trouble from you Thunder Cats."

            "I hear you, and I shall obey."  Lynx-O followed Red-eye, who was carrying the frozen Pumyra, to the prison.

            "Get the Snarfs!" snapped Luna.

            "Come on, nephew!  Let's make tracks!" Snarf said.

            "You've got it, Uncle!" said Snarfer.  Snarf and Snarfer ran as if they had wild, rabid dogs chasing after them.

            "They're getting away!" said Aluro.

            Tug-mug picked up his Gravity Carbine and leapt out.  "Relax!  I'll 'lighten' those two Snarfs up!  Ha, ha, ha!"  He aimed and fired his Carbine at Snarf.  "Lighten up, Snarf.  Ha, ha, ha!"  He hit Snarf, who then really went up in the world!

            "Snaaaaaaaaarf!  I've always wanted to lose weight, but this is ridiculous!"

            "Get the blasted brat, Tug-mug!" screamed Luna.

            "I don't know if I can run from the beam from Tug-mug's Gravity Carbine, but I have to try for Uncle Snarf!" said Snarfer.  "Snarfer, snarfer!"

            After firing 12 shots at Snarfer and missing, Tug-mug said, "Oh, no!  That puny fuzz-ball is getting away!"

            "Let him go," said Luna.  "At least we have the wretched little Snarf."

            Snarf said, "Hey!  Watch whom you're calling wretched, lady!"

            "Grrrrrrr!  I don't think you have any say at this time to tell me to watch what I'm saying.  Besides, I AM NOT A LADY!!!"

            "Suck eggs, Luna!" Snarf said in Plundarrian Spanish.  In English, he continued, "Lion-O will save us!"

            "That is the whole idea, Snarf.  As long as we have you, those Thunder Cats would not dare lay a finger on us. . . especially not Lion-O.  Oh, and great pronunciation of Plundarrian Spanish."

            "Thanks.  Oh, why don't you catch those Berbils and Warrior Maidens and take them and us to Limbo so you can tell the Thunder Cats that?"

            "An excellent idea, little son of a gun!  Those Mutants are in the process of capturing the Berbils and Warrior Maidens right now.  I think, however, that those Mutants may need a little help with the Warrior Maidens.  Aluro, prepare for take-off to Castle Plundarr at once."

            "Oh, no!  Snarf, snarf!  What did I say?"

            Tug-mug said, "Hee, hee, hee!  You ought to watch what you suggest, hairball!  Ha, ha, ha!  You may say things that you do not intend to say."  Sky Tomb took off for Castle Plundarr,. . .

            * * *

            Castle Plundarr.

            . . .where the Mutants had already imprisoned the Berbils.  They were talking in the control room.

            S-s-slithe said, "Good work, Vultureman!  That contraption of yours-s-s really worked in catching thos-s-se ridiculous-s-s Berbils-s-s!  Yes-s-s?"

            "Caw!  Thanks, S-s-slithe."  He looked out one of the windows.  "Hey!  Here comes Sky Tomb."

            "Yes-s-s!  They mus-s-st be coming to help us-s-s to catch thos-s-se Warrior Maidens-s-s!  Yes-s-s?"  When Sky Tomb landed, the Mutants went outside to greet the Luna-tacks.  "Hello, Luna-tacks-s-s.  What brings-s-s you to Cass-s-stle Plundarr?"

            "We have come to aid you in catching those Warrior Maidens," said Luna.

            "That's-s-s what I was thinking.  We acc-s-sept your offer in aiding us-s-s.  Yes-s-s?"

            "Save the hissing sounds and just get into Sky Tomb if you want us to help you."  The Mutants entered into Sky Tomb's main entrance.  "Tug-mug, you pilot Sky Tomb to the Warrior Maidens' village, while I tell the Mutants about my brilliant plan."

            Tug-mug said, "Yes, Luna.  Er, Luna, I thought it was Snarf's brilliant plan."

            "Shut up and get us flying before you're flogged with an electric whip!"

            "Oh!  Ah, right, Luna."

            * * *

            Hangar, Hawkhaven.

            Over at Hawkhaven, down in the hangar, a message was about to reach Cheetara's mind.  "The Mob has been rather quiet during the time we've been here," the speedy telepath said.  "You don't suppose. . . -GASP!!!-"

            "What is it, Cheetara?" asked Steelheart.  "Is your sixth sense telling you something?"

            "Yes.  The other Thunder Cats, the Berbils, and the Warrior Maidens are in danger. . . I can sense it."

            "As you see, Cheetara has become our 'alarm' on such vital matters," said Tygra.

            Lion-O said, "I'll try to get a clearer view with the Eye of Thundera."  Lion-O put the hilt of the Sword of Omens to his eyes.  "Sword of Omens, give me sight-beyond-sight."  The Eye showed him the Luna-tacks catching Bengali, Snarf, Pumyra, and Lynx-O; it then showed that the Berbils were being caught by the Mutants; and finally, it showed him the Mutants and Luna-tacks catching the Warrior Maidens.  "By Thundera!  The Mutants and Luna-tacks have abducted Bengali, Snarf, Pumyra, Lynx-O, the Berbils, and the Warrior Maidens.  They are coming here in Sky Tomb."

            "Well, it looks like we have our work cut out for us," Steelwill said.

            On the intercom upstairs, Stargazer announced, "Silver Hawks and Thunder Cats, please come to the Command Centre immediately!  It's dang blasted urgent."

            "Well, I rest my case about what I said earlier," said Bluegrass.

            "Oh?" asked Wilykit.  "What might that be, Captain Bluegrass?"

            "I said earlier, as I had said several times before, that Stargazer only has two sounds:  urgent and dang blasted urgent!"

            "Boy, is that the truth!" laughed Steelheart.  "Let's go."

            Up in the Command Centre, all the Silver Hawks and Thunder Cats congregated.  "I just got a dang-blasted-urgent transmission from Snarfer on third-Earth," said Stargazer.  "He told me that the Luna-tacks and Mutants had captured the other Thunder Cats and were planning to catch the Berbils and Warrior Maidens and come to Limbo in Sky Tomb."

            Steelheart said, "Delightful.  Will, Quicksilver, Kidd, and Bluegrass, you four go out in the Mirage and foil the Plundarrians.  I am going out to Brim*Star to make sure that the Mob is staying in line.  The rest of you Silver Hawks stay here and monitor Limbo."

            All the Silver Hawks said, "Aye, aye, ma'am!"

            "Thunder Cats, you stay here and help the Silver Hawks," ordered Lion-O.  "I shall go with Steelheart in the Feliner and help her if necessary."

            "Lion-O," Wilykat asked, "may we come along, too?"

            "We?" echoed Wilykit.  "Since when did I express any interest in seeing that rotten Mob face-to-face right now?"

            "Okay!  May I come along?"

            "Not this time, Wilykat.  I'll signal if we need any help," said Lion-O.

            "-Sigh.-  All right, Lion-O."

            All the Thunder Cats said, "Thunder Cats, HO!"  Down in the hangar, Bluegrass, Steelwill, Quicksilver, and Copper-Kidd got into the Mirage.  Steelheart flashed on her visor and prepared to leave.  Lion-O entered into the Feliner and started its engines.  The Mirage flew out first; Steelheart then flew out and 'winged-it'; finally, Lion-O came out in the Feliner.  The Mirage headed toward third-Earth.  Steelheart and Lion-O flew toward Brim*Star.

            * * *

            Brim*Star.

            At Brim*Star, the alarm sounded.  "What in the whole darned Limbo Galaxy is that, Yes-Man?" demanded Mon*Star.

            Yes-Man operated the viewscreen and showed Steelheart and the Feliner approaching.  "It's Steelheart and Lion-O, Planet Master!  Yes, yes, yes!"

            "Grrr.  I do not like the looks of this.  Prepare for transformation, Yes-Man."

            "Transformation!  Ooh, yes, boss!  Certainly, boss!  Whatever you say, boss!  You've got it!  Oh, yes, yes, yes!  You've definitely got it!  Ooh, yes, yes, yes!  You have it!  Ooh, ye-. . ."

            "SHUT UP, YOU WHIMPERING WORM, AND PREPARE THAT TRANSFORMATION CHAMBER. . . NOW!!!  UNLESS YOU WANT TO SEE THE INSIDE OF THE DEEP SPACE EJECTOR!!!"

            Yes-Man understood the meaning of this.  "Whimpering worm. . . inside of the Deep Space Ejector. . . ooh, yes, boss!"  Yes-Man activated the controls of the Transformation Chamber.  The planet tilted so that the Star*Crater was directly beneath the Moon*Star's beams.  The light from the Moon*Star shone on the antennae, which carried the light to a point above Mon*Star's Transformation Chamber.  The claws pointed to a location right above Mon*Star's head.  The Moon*Star's light shone onto Mon*Star, who was now beginning to transform.

            "Moon*Star of Limbo, give me the might, the muscle, the menace of Mon*Star!"  Mon*Star was, once again, completely transformed by the last word.  "Let's fix those two rude intruders, Yes-Man.  Send out the welcome wagon!  Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

            "Rude intruders. . . the welcome wagon.  Ooh, yes, boss!  Tee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee!"  Continuing giggling, Yes-Man left to do as Mon*Star had ordered.  Mumm-ra and Ma-mutt then arrived in the Mumm-rot. . . which appeared right in the middle of the room!

            "What in the great moons of Jupiter is that?"  Fully transformed, Mumm-ra emerged.

            "Planet Master, it is I, Mumm-ra, the Ever-Living, who am here to aid you in catching those infernal Silver Canaries!"

            "Yes.  I have heard plenty about you.  I like what I hear."

            Yes-Man came back into the room.  "Ooh!  Mumm-ra, the Ever-Living, I presume?" asked he.

            Mon*Star said, "Correct.  Yes-Man, have you sent out the 'welcome wagon' for our two intruding, uninvited guests?"

            "Ooh, yes, boss.  I just sent out the entire Mob!  Yes, yes, yes!"

            "Ha, ha, ha!  Good work!  Mumm-ra, you will see what happens to good guys who intrude into my domain without welcome."

            "I think I'll like it," Mumm-ra said.

            "Oh, you shall!"

            Steelheart and Lion-O had recently arrived just inside the enormous crater.  "That tall, skinny fortress is Brim*Star Fortress," said Steelheart.  "That is Mon*Star's headquarters.  Uh, oh!  It looks like Mon*Star has sent out his welcome wagon, and I don't think that they're coming to present us with a tour ticket."

            "You appear to have the gift of being able to invent jokes on the spur of the moment, my dear Steelheart," said Lion-O.  "I'll agree that these creatures do not look too friendly."

            "Boy, is that the understatement of the millennium!"

            Pokerface, Zero, and Hardware were in the Zoomer.  Hardware said, "Heh, heh!  Let's show that Thunder Cat how we like trespassers and deal with them!  Heh, heh!"

            Timestopper, Windhammer, and Melodia were in the Limbo Limo.  Melodia laughed, "Oh, Hardware!  You're playing my song!  Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

            "Yes!" said Timestopper.  "It's going to be 'time out' for you goody-goody dum-bums."  Timestopper pressed the button in the middle of his belly.  A clock in the middle of his chest counted down from 6.00 seconds to 1.00 second.  Time on Steelheart and Lion-O stopped, and the 1.00 second remaining was converted to 1:00, which started a countdown to 0:00, when Timestopper would have to start back time.  "Ha, ha, ha!  Sit tight while we take you down to the fortress and blast you out of Limbo!"

            Buzz-Saw, Mumbo-Jumbo, and Mo-Lec-U-Lar were in the Road Star.  "Nice work, kid!" said Buzz-Saw.  "Mon*Star will be pleased with you!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            Mo-Lec-U-Lar said, "Heh, heh, heh!  Let's quickly blast them away before Timestopper must turn time back on."  Back in Brim*Star Fortress, the Thunder Cat and the Silver Hawk had been put in the Deep Space Ejector.

            Mon*Star said, "Nice work, Timestopper.  Now we can blast these two stupid leaders out of the galaxy.  Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

            "Hurry up, Mon*Star!" Timestopper said.  "The minute is halfway up.  When another 30 seconds passes, I'll have to re-start time, or my clock will explode."

            Mon*Star said, "Don't worry.  Yes-Man, stand by to propel these two buffoons into deep space!"

            Yes-Man had his hand on a lever that would send Lion-O and Steelheart into deep space.  "Standing by, Mon*Star.  Yes, yes, yes!  Hee, hee, hee!"

            "Hee, hee!  This will force them right through third-Earth. . . they will go directly to the other side within seconds!  Ha, ha, ha, ha!  FIRE AWAY, YES-MAN!!!  HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!!!"

            "Ooh, yes, boss!  Firing away, boss!  Whatever you say, Planet Master!"  Yes-Man pulled the lever and ejected the two leaders into space.  They soared across space faster than the speed of light, soaring past Dolare when Timestopper's minute was up and he re-started time.

            * * *

            Between Dolare and third-Earth.

            "Hey!" demanded Steelheart.  "What in Limbo happened?"

            "Help, Steelheart!" cried Lion-O.  "I can't fly!"

            "Don't worry.  Grab onto my legs.  I can fly, but I cannot stop our strong forward propulsion just yet."  Lion-O firmly grabbed onto Steelheart's ankles.  "It seems that we're heading for third-Earth.  Hang on."

            "Do not worry; I'll hang on as hard as I can."

            "We are nearing. . . no, we are passing the former Light-Year Limit, no longer in effect in terms of jurisdiction, currency, and legislation.  I can see Sky Tomb headed right for us.  I'll try to slow us down with my reverse jets."  Her heels fired jets, and she and Lion-O stopped in the middle of space after four or five seconds.  "Luckily Mon*Star didn't count on my new super heel jets."  They noticed the Mirage to their right and Sky Tomb right in front of them.

            In the Mirage, Steelwill exclaimed, "Hey!  That's Steelheart and Lion-O!"

            "You're right, Steelwill," said Bluegrass.  "I wonder what in tarnation they're doing in these parts of space."

            "As long as they're all right, who cares at the moment?" asked Quicksilver.  "Let's get out there and stop those lunatic Luna-tacks."

            Bluegrass pressed a button on his control panel.  "Prepare to launch, Silver Hawks."

            Quicksilver flashed on his visor and announced, "Ready!"

            After flashing on his visor, Steelwill announced, "Ready!"

            "Ready!" announced Copper-Kidd after having flashed on his visor.

            While pressing the all-four pod release button, Bluegrass said, "Releasing!"  The other three Hawks were propelled out into space.

            After the release, Quicksilver ordered, "Wing-it, Silver Hawks."

            "Give me a powerfully crazy tune, Hot Licks," said Bluegrass, holding his Laser Guitar.  "I need something that will tune out their thruster engines."  He twisted a dial and several crazy tunes came out of the speakers.  Then came a really crazy tune.  Bluegrass locked into it by pressing another switch.  "That's the one, baby!"  After opening his pod's steelglass canopy, Bluegrass stood and played his Laser Guitar to that tune.  "Ha, ha, ha!  I'll tune that sucker out this time!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            Within Sky Tomb, Luna screeched, "Aaah!  It's that terrible cucaracha-brained guitar-player again!  We'll stop that worthless noise-maker this time.  Turn on the music-shields, Vultureman."

            "Caw!  Got it, Luna."  Vultureman pulled a lever.  Vibration-proof shields formed inside the walls of Sky Tomb.

            "Ha, ha, ha!  Good work, Vultureman.  That Silver Squawk will not be able to tune us out again, not with these vibration-proof shields Aluro installed.  Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

            "Hmm, hmm, hmm!" said Aluro.  "They are sure to come aboard.  Let's fix them when they do."

            In the Mirage, Bluegrass said to Quicksilver, "Dang, skipper.  The monitors say that the Luna-tacks have activated sound-proof shields.  Oh, well.  I'll just have to 'rock the boat'!"  He changed the setting on his guitar so that it would fire its deadly music laser.  He switched to a classical guitar tune and played it.  A laser was fired out of the head of the Laser Guitar at Sky Tomb and managed to stop it cold in the sky.  "Hurry, Hawks!  I cannot hold this flying piece of tin off forever."

            "We heard him, Hawks," said Steelheart.  "Let's get in there and fix those blasted Plundarrians."

            Lion-O said, "I'm with you, Silver Hawks. . . as if I had any choice in the matter!"

            "Whatever you're gonna do, you'd better do it fast, 'cause I can't hold these here monsters off for much longer," Bluegrass warned.  The Silver Hawks entered Sky Tomb through a window, Lion-O on Steelheart's back.

            "What in Plundarr is happening now?!?" demanded Luna.  "What is that worthless cowboy up to?"

            Entering the room, Steelheart said, "The proper usage is:  'What is that up to which. . .'; oh, never mind.  You Luna-tacks are too much of utter idiots to know about proper usage of the English language, the Spanish language, the German language, the French language, or any language."

            "YOU!!!" screamed Luna with unrighteous indignation.  "How dare you insult us?  More importantly, how in the Moons of Plundarr did you get in here, you. . . you. . . you. . . you. . ."

            "Save your breath, Luna," said Steelwill.

            "Don't you order me around, Silver Hawk!  I give the orders around here!  Aluro, mesmerise them!"

            "Hmm, hmm!  You are no match for my Mesmerisation Club!  Hmm, hmm, hmm!"  Aluro swung his club's handle so that the ball would float above the Silver Hawks' and Lion-O's heads.

            Right before the mesmerisation beam shone on them, Lion-O said, "You are a match for him.  Just resist Aluro's powers as hard as you can, and they will not overcome you."

            After the ball had activated, Aluro said, "Listen, Silver Hawks.  You cannot resist my powers.  Give in now, and there will be no unnecessary harm done.  Just be sensible.  There is no use resisting; give up."

            Quicksilver and Copper-Kidd were entirely unprepared.  "We shall co-operate, Aluro.  We shall obey."

            Steelheart, Steelwill, and Lion-O shouted, "No!  Do. . . not. . . give. . . in!"

            "Do not listen to them," said Aluro.  "Do as I say.  You cannot win.  Hmm, hmm, hmm!"

            The Sword of Omens can save us, thought Lion-O, reaching for the Sword with great effort.

            "I see that you are weakening, Lion-O.  Give in to my powers, and there will be no harm done."

            "No.  I shall not give in."  Lion-O reached again for the Sword of Omens.  Aluro was becoming slightly desperate.

            "No.  You must give in to my powers.  There is no sense in struggling; it will do you no good."

            Steelheart stepped out from under Aluro's 'moon-beams' and said, "Oh yeah, Aluro?  Here is what I think of your hypnosis power."  Steelheart fired a shoulder-laser at Aluro.  Aluro turned to run, but the laser blasted him in the back.

            "Yaaaaaaaah!"  Aluro fell face-forward onto the floor.  "Ooof!  Oh, blast you, Silver Hawk!"

            "Oh, shoot!" exclaimed Luna.  "Get that female Silver Buzzard, Amok!"

            "You are the worst lunatic of the Luna-tacks, Luna," said Steelheart.  "I was wondering what that white ape's name was."

            "Shut up!" screamed Luna.  "Grab her, you worthless good-for-nothing!!!"

            "Amok grab her!  Grunt, groont, grint!" grunted Amok, grabbing at Steelheart; however, she leapt up before he grabbed her.

            Steelheart landed and faced Luna and Amok.  "You'll have to do better than that, Luna," said Steelheart.  "Your 'bully' of a steed does not seem too safe for you to be riding."

            "SHUT UP!!!" Luna screamed.  "Amok's and my ancestors always were very close back on the Fifth Moon of Plundarr.  In fact. . ."

            "Save the darned ancestry, Luna.  I'd better fix you two."  Red-eye quietly sneaked up behind her and prepared to fire a knock-out laser at her.

            Thinking Steelheart would not believe a villain, Luna said, "Now, I think you'd better have a look behind yourself."

            "Thank you, Luna," said Steelheart.  She turned around.  "Hello, Red-eye!"

            "That's I!  Get ready for a knock-out!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            Steelheart blasted a shoulder-laser at Red-eye and said, "You'd better get ready for one, infrared-seeing monster!"

            The laser knocked Red-eye on his back.  "Aaaaaah!  Ooof!  I hate it when people do that to me.  Ooh!  Ow!"

            After Aluro's beam had decayed fully, Steelwill laughed, "Heh, heh!  She has fixed you dumb-head Luna-tacks."

            "Grrrrr!  Dumb-head Luna-tacks, huh?" Luna asked.  "Get him, Tug-mug!"

            Aiming and firing his Gravity Carbine at Steelwill, Tug-mug said, "Lighten up, smart-mouth!"  He blasted Steelwill, who afterwards was floating in the air.

            "Aaaaah!  What has happened to my gravity?"

            "Will!" Steelheart exclaimed.  "Are you okay, brother?"

            "Yes, I'm okay, Steelheart."

            "My Gravity Carbine was set on 'zero gravity'!" said Tug-mug.  "Now, you'll have no more gravity. . . unless, of course, I set it on 'normal gravity' and let you down.  And I'd only do that if you were over the Grand Canyon!  Hee, hee, hee!"  Just then, a blue music laser blasted the Gravity Carbine out of Tug-mug's hands.  "What the. . .?"

            Bluegrass was running in with his Laser Guitar.  "I came as fast as I could, Steelheart.  Did I miss any. . . yuck!  What ugly creatures do a couple of these Luna-tacks be!"

            "Grrr!  Watch whom you're calling ugly, you country hick!" said Luna.  "So you are the awful guitar player who's been knocking our engines out!"

            Bluegrass took his hat off and bowed.  "Ha, ha!  It was my pleasure, lady!"

            "THAT WAS NOT A COMPLIMENT!!!  AND I AM NOT, I REPEAT NOT, A LADY, BOZO!!!"

            Replacing the hat, Bluegrass said, "Hey!  Now that is crossin' the fine line to obnoxious, Ms. Bossy!"

            "Don't call me that!  I ought to just kick your ugly head off your neck."

            "I hate to say this, Luna, but you can't do that.  It's on too tight, and you can't break it because I'm too hard-headed."

            Steelheart could not resist the opportunity to add, "Very hard-headed."

            "Please, Steelheart.  Don't you start insultin' me, please."

            "I'm only fooling; and speaking of fools, harmonise these!"

            "Sure thin', Steelheart."  He switched his Laser Guitar to and played it on 'scatter-laser' mode, meaning that the laser became very wide and spread out.  "Yee-haw!  Eat laser, you dirty dogs!"

            "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Luna screamed.  "Curse you, cowboy!  I ought to kick your shin!"  The beam was holding back all the Luna-tacks.

            In the room next-door, the Mutants were listening.  "Hyanh, hyanh!  What do we do?" asked Jackalman.  "If they've stopped the Luna-tacks, we don't stand a chance!"

            S-s-slithe said, "Hmm.  Blas-s-st them!  Let's-s-s lay low and make sure those bozos miss-s-s us-s-s.  Yes-s-s?"

            Jackalman said, "Ha, ha!  For the milliardth time, S-s-slithe, you've got a good idea.  Ha, ha, ha, ha!"