Act 68 - Date: 20 December 1992
Section 4: The Extended N-Team
Part 1: The Ultimate Encounter
Ninth Division - The Race and the Triforce
Fortieth Chapter
Characters: Thunder Cats, Silver Hawks, N-Team Base, Darkwing's Justice Ducks, N-Team Secret Division, Mon*Star's Mob, Brain-Team Base, Fearsome Ten
December 20.
Hangar, Hawkhaven, Limbo.
B "That's Darkwing," said Quiverwing Quack, standing next to the wall near the elevator door where Kevin, Scrooge, Steelheart, and the Thunder Cats had warped in. "He doesn't usually spend a long time recognising defeat; he just shrugs it off and goes on. He may or may not get very angry about it."
"Well, he sure got very angry at me," said Wilykat, "when he contradicted my suggestion."
"He always wants to have it his way," said Quiverwing. "Of course, so do I, and he just crumbles when I give him a pouty look."
"Hmm!" said Wilykat. "I wonder if it'll work on Tygra!"
"Don't bet on it, Wilykat!" said Tygra, smiling. "I don't give in as easily as Darkwing."
"Well, I guess that that won't work," said Wilykat. Wilykit giggled. "And what is that about?"
"Oh, nothing, Wilykat," said Wilykit, ceasing her laughter. "It was just a little on the funny side."
"Oh, yeah? Well, you wouldn't think that it was so funny if you were on the receiving end, Wilykit!" snapped Wilykat.
"I never knew that you two argue!" said Quiverwing, pretending to be shocked.
"Well, of course we do!" said Wilykat. "Not to argue would be nearly impossible."
"Thunder Kittens," said Steelheart, "I need you and Quiverwing to keep an eagle eye on the race."
"What about the Triforce?" asked Quiverwing.
"That, too," said Steelheart. She got out an electronic notepad and activated it. She showed the Thunder Kittens and Quiverwing the screen of this device, which showed the Triforce Chamber, where Princess Zelda kept the Triforce. "This is the Triforce," said Steelheart, pointing out that which looked like the following triangle to the Thunder Kittens and Quiverwing.
"As you know, Ganon is itching to get his greedy paws on the Triforce because its power is very great. You also know it can do anything its holder wants it to do. . . well, almost anything. Zelda has specially trained guards on duty, she has an alarm and force field operated by her throne right under the Triforce, and Quicksilver's just sent Tally-Hawk and the Weapon Hawks out to Hyrule Castle in order to guard it. I want you to watch this. In case something goes wrong, I want one, two, or all of you three to come to me immediately. Got it?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Wilykat, Wilykit, and Quiverwing in unison.
"Good. In our seating area, I want you three to sit together near me, as close to me as possible. . . next to me, if you can. Tell me if Ganon comes and vanquishes the security measures we took. Okay?"
"Yes, Steelheart," answered the three together.
"Very good. I'll see you later." She went off after handing the device to Wilykit.
"Keeping you two out of trouble and keeping an eye on the Triforce ought to be interesting!" mocked Quiverwing.
"I get the impression," said Wilykit evenly, "that you, too, require supervision."
"Oh, ha, ha, ha, Wilykit!" said Quiverwing.
"Our task at hand, ladies," said Wilykat, "is to keep an eye on the Triforce. . . not to argue! Not arguing will make the task easier."
"Oh, yeah? Who put you in charge?" Quiverwing asked. Hearing this exchange, Steelheart realised something and went back to the small group.
Steelheart returned. "I almost forgot. The leading member of your little trio will be Wilykit. I hope neither of you other two has any objections, because they'll make no difference."
"None here," said Wilykat.
"None here, either," Quiverwing said.
* * *
Racetrack, Bedlama.
At the racetrack on Bedlama, many had gathered to watch. It was 12.00; the race was beginning. In the N-Team's seating area, the Thunder Kittens (Wilykat on the left) had sat down between Steelheart (to their left) and Quiverwing (to their right). As the race began, Kevin and Copper-Kidd took a nearly instant lead over Liquidator and Melodia, who were steaming mad about it. DW soon passed the villains and got right behind Kidd.
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Kevin. "Good flying, you two!"
"Thanks!" said Kidd.
"You're not bad yourself, Kevin!" said DW.
Infuriated, Melodia growled, "-Grr!- Let's get 'em, Liquie!"
Near the boiling point, Liquidator said, "You have it, Melodia. Everyone, make way for Melodia and the Liquidator!" Liquidator and Melodia 'slammed on the gas' and zipped right past DW and Kidd. Angered slightly, Kidd 'slammed on the gas' even harder and zipped back past Liquidator and Melodia.
"WHAT?!?" screamed Melodia. "Ooh, we'll get you, Copper-Kidd!" In the back, places 7-30 were rather constant. Generally, the N-Team members were in the odd-numbered places, the Brain-Team in the even-numbered. The real conflict was between the group of Kevin, Kidd, and DW and the group of Liquidator, Melodia, and MotherBrain. The same order of third to fifteenth was generally the same for the N-Team members in the odd places from seventh to twenty-ninth, and this held true for the Brain-Team members in the even places from eighth to thirtieth.
At the end of ten laps, the winner was Kevin, with Liquidator, half-steaming, in second place and Kidd in third.
As everyone went to leave, Steelheart asked, "Well, my three young lookouts?"
"Ganon went to Hyrule Castle," said Wilykit, "but Stronghold and Razor stopped him from stealing the Triforce. Almost pecked his piggy nose off."
"Good! Serves that rat right," said Steelheart. "Now, let's get down there." They went down to the track and approached Kevin and Kidd. "Very well done, Kevin and Kidd."
"Thank you, Steelheart," said Kevin.
"Thank you," said Kidd.
"And to you all, my friends," said Steelheart. Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa came over.
"Congratulations to you, Captain N and the N-Team," said Ludwig slightly dubiously but with rather good grace.
"Thanks," said Kevin in a similar fashion. "You should know that Liquidator and Melodia made it difficult."
"Er, well, thank you. Our deal holds that the next race, the two-lap race around the Silver Hawks' home solar system, is to begin in three-quarters of an hour. Tah-tah!" Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa went over to his pals.
"Just talking to the snake feels repulsive!" said Kevin.
Over where Liquidator was, Ludwig asked, "Well, Liquie?"
"He said," said a now three-quarters boiling Liquidator, "that two metal hawks tossed him out before he could get the Triforce. He said one of them almost pecked his nose off!"
"Probably two of the Silver Hawks' Weapon Hawks," said Ludwig. "I am beginning to despise those dive-bombing dimwits! I'm also beginning to hate those Thunder Cats and those Justice Ducks. Six more races. You get everyone ready, Liquidator. I must visit Ganon. I shall meet you on second-Earth, the Silver Hawks' home world, in twenty minutes."
"Right, Prince Ludwig," said Liquidator. Ludwig warped to Ganon's Tower. Liquidator warped the whole Brain-Team to second-Earth, where the second race would begin.
"Kevin," said Steelheart, "I shall go to Hyrule in order to see what he's up to. Since they have been told by me to keep an eye on the Triforce, the Thunder Kittens and Quiverwing are coming with me." Mostly toward the older Thunder Cats, she added, "And we have no time to argue about that!!"
"Right. I'll get the N-Team to second-Earth, then," said Kevin. "I should expect you in about twenty minutes?"
"Yes. See you then." Steelheart poured a warp formula on the ground; she, Wilykat, Wilykit, and Quiverwing (in that order) entered it. Kevin pressed a button on his Power Pad that he had tied to a warp zone opener, and the rest of the N-Team (including him) warped to second-Earth.