May 22.

            Mumm-ra's Pyramid.

            At the Pyramid, the evil Mumm-ra watched these events in his cauldron with his mangy dog, Ma-mutt.  "So!" exclaimed Mumm-ra.  "That blasted N-Team has created a system of molecular transportation and a system of subspace communication.  Well, I'll reach out and crush them!"  A warp opened in front of one of the enormous statues, the one that was now to the right of Mumm-ra.  Through this warp emerged Mega Volt, Quacker Jack, and Liquidator.  "Ah, my evil pals!  How are you today, Spar-. . . Mega Volt?"

            Mega Volt said, "I'm fine, and, for the sake of your bandages, Mumm-ra, I'm glad you rectified that!  I hate to be called the S-P-word."

            Innocently, Quacker Jack asked, "What S-P-word?  'Sparkie'?"

            Mega Volt screamed, "DON'T CALL ME. . ."  Before Mega Volt could do anything, Liquidator short-circuited him.  "YAAAH!!!  Hey!  Liquie!"

            "Cut out that stupid squabbling out, blast it!" ordered Liquidator.  "As Ludwig's first officer, I am obligated to keep the two of you in line!"

            "Oh, all right," said Mega Volt and Quacker Jack together.

            Liquidator asked, "Now, what is it you want us to do, Mumm-ra?"

            "Well," Mumm-ra said, "you see, in their duties, the Thunder Kittens must collect apples."

            "Apples?" said Mega Volt incredulously.  "Ha!"

            "Yes," said Mumm-ra, "it does sound rather silly, but I was wondering if you could find a perfect one and put this in it."  He got a worm out of his cloak.

            Quacker Jack asked, "Why a worm?"

            "Heh, heh!" laughed Mumm-ra.  "Because of what I am about to do to it.  Watch, my fearsome friends!"  The eyes of the four man-beast-statues lit up.  "Ancient Spirits of Evil, instil in this worm the spell of everlasting sleep so that the one who eats it in an apple will be put to sleep forever and that only I can cancel the spell!  Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"  The eyes of the stone statues simultaneously fired rays at the worm, instilling it with the desired effect.  When the magic was over, Mumm-ra said, "Heh, heh!  Find a good apple.  This worm will defy the Thunder Cats' detection tactics."  The warp re-opened.  Bushroot ran in.  "Why, greetings, Bushroot!"

            Turning to Bushroot, Mega Volt said accusingly, "You're late, Bushie!"

            Panting, Bushroot said, "Sorry, guys.  Ludwig wanted a report from me."  Liquidator put his hand on Bushroot's shoulder.

            Liquidator assured, "Don't worry, Bushroot, ol' pal.  If they hurt you, I'll kill them!"

            Quacker Jack said, "We wouldn't hurt Bushie.  He's too weak to fight back."

            "Very funny," said Bushroot, disgusted at the accurate thought of his being weak.  "Did someone say something about an apple?"

            "Yes, my dear Bushroot," replied Mumm-ra.  "I have a plan.  This worm. . ."  He showed the worm.  ". . .I have enchanted with a spell that makes the one who digests the worm fall into a deep sleep.  I need an apple for this worm when the Thunder Kittens go on their errand of collecting apples."

            Bushroot asked, "Whom are you aiming for?"

            Mumm-ra answered, "Steelheart has visited that infernal Cat's Lair often since December of '92, when the N-Team beat the whole Brain-Team.  That would make it about half a year.  Anyway, just in case she would want an apple while she's there. . ."  Mumm-ra stopped off as he saw the evil smiles manifesting themselves on the faces of the members of the Fearsome Four.  "You get the idea?"

            Bushroot said, "Hee, hee!  I wouldn't mind sacrificing just one apple for a bad cause.  Hee, hee!"  He grew an apple from his left hand and snapped it off.  "Behold!  An apple!"  He handed the apple to Mumm-ra.  The mummy examined it after taking it.

            "Heh, heh!" laughed Mumm-ra.  "Excellent!  Thanks, Bushroot!"  The worm disappeared.  "I have put the worm inside the apple."

            "Now," said Mega Volt, "I'll take it to where those Thunder Brats will find it!  Heh, heh, heh!"  Mumm-ra gave the apple to Mega Volt.  The image in the cauldron changed to a forest scene.

            "This," explained Mumm-ra, "is the area where the Thunder Kittens usually go to collect apples, as it is rich with apple trees."

            Mega Volt said, "So I see.  Put the apple where it will be noticeable?"

            Mumm-ra complied, "You have the idea, Mega Volt."

            As Mega Volt left, Quacker Jack said, "Have fun, Sparkie!"

            Mega Volt said, "Doh!  When I get back, Quacker Jack, I'm going to fry you for calling me that!"  Mega Volt entered another warp.

            * * *

            Apple Tree Area, third-Earth.

            He ended up hidden behind a tree near the area shown in the cauldron.  "Okay, here I am," he whispered to himself.  He looked at the beautiful apple Bushroot made.  "How do I make this thing stand out?"  He was ready to go when he saw Wilykat and Wilykit beam into the area.  He kept hidden.  "Oh, damn!  Ludwig warned us about their new transporter system; I should have been on guard!"

            Looking around, Wilykit asked, "Did you hear something, Wilykat?"

            "I was about to ask you the same thing," replied Wilykat.

            Still hidden, Mega Volt said, "If they discover me, I'm a dead dog!"  He considered the apple.  "Wait a minute!  I know how to get them to discover this thing!  Heh, heh!  This ground is soft enough not to bruise the apple but hard enough to give the sound of the apple's thump.  Heh, heh!"  He lightly tossed it back.  "And I thought this was going to be hard!"  The Kittens heard the apple hit the ground.

            Wilykat jumped and asked, "Did you hear that?"

            Wilykit calmly said, "I did.  Calm down; it was only an apple."  Wilykit pointed in the apple's direction.  Wilykat went to get it.

            Wilykat smiled as he regarded the apple.  "Hmm!  And not a bad one at that.  It sure looks good."  He put it in the apple-basket Wilykit had brought along.

            "We still have to get at least a dozen, Wilykat."

            "I know!  You think I'm stupid or something?"

            "I'll opt for the or something, but I won't tell you what the or something is."

            "Thanks a lot, 'Kit."

            "Don't take it badly.  The or something is pretty darned nice.  Let's get to it."

            Mega Volt watched as the two went about their apple-collecting business.  "Hee, hee!  This was much, much easier than I could've hoped!  The two saps!"

            Wilykat, still jumpy, said, "I still hear something!"

            "Calm down," said Wilykit.  "It's just your insanely wild imagination."

            "Oh, sure," said Wilykat.  "For all we know, Sparkie could be hiding behind a tree somewhere!"

            Furious in an instant, Mega Volt said, "No, Mega Volt; resist the urge!  Resist!"  He could not resist.  He sprang out from behind his tree, all parts of him sparking.  "DON'T CALL ME 'SPARKIE,' THUNDER BRAT!!!"

            Quickly, Wilykit hit her communicator, and, even more quickly, she said, "Transporter, transport two to Cat's Lair. . . NOW!!"  Before Mega Volt could fry them, the transporter beam caught them.

            Mega Volt screamed, "NO!!!  DAMN IT, THEY GOT AWAY!!!"

            * * *

            Cat's Lair.

            The transporter beam deposited them at the door to Cat's Lair.  There, Wilykit sat on one of the steps to the door.  She looked up at Wilykat and said, "That wasn't very bright, Wilykat."

            Shrugging sheepishly, Wilykat said, "Sorry, 'Kit.  I knew I heard something."

            "You'd hear Ludwig frying Eggplant Wizard on Metroid if there weren't a vacuum in between there and here!" shouted Wilykit.  "Probably literally!"  She looked in the basket and was nearly shocked.  "And we only got six apples!  I can hear Lion-O or Tygra or Panthro now:  'grounded for a week'!"  She put the basket on one of the steps as the door opened and Lion-O came out.

            Upon just seeing them, Lion-O said, "Hi, guys."  He then took a closer look at the expressions in their faces.  "Uh, is something wrong?"

            Wilykit looked up at him and said, "If it weren't for my quick reflexes, Wilykat would be a torch right now.  He heard something and said, 'For all we know, Sparkie could be hiding behind a tree somewhere!'

            "Then, Mega Volt sprang up from behind a tree and yelled, 'DON'T CALL ME "SPARKIE," THUNDER BRAT!!!' "  She inhaled deeply and slowly to let some of her anger leave her.  She was way too high-strung, and she knew it.  "After that, I activated my communicator very quickly and had the two of us transported here before Mega Volt electrified Wilykat.  And, right on top of that, we only got six apples."

            Lion-O shook his head and said, "Don't worry about it."  He knew the next question was unnecessary, but he absolutely had to ask.  "Wilykat, she is telling the truth?"

            Straightforwardly, Wilykat said, "Yes, she is.  To the syllable."  He sighed.  "I'm very sorry.  I don't know what I did wrong."

            Lion-O said, "It's okay. . . by me, at least."  He took the basket and considered the apples.  "Hmm.  One unusually pretty one."

            Dejectedly, and seeing the look on his sister's face, Wilykat said, "I know it doesn't make up for six more."  She was making him feel guilty, whether she knew it or not.

            Lion-O took the lovely apple and examined it by turning it over.  "Oh, just go ahead and drop the subject, Wilykat," said Lion-O pleasantly.  "As far as I am concerned, it's forgiven and forgotten.  Just cheer up."  Wilykat managed a smile.  Containing her anger, Wilykit got up.

            Wilykit kept her anger very well-hidden and said, "Well, I'll be inside if anyone needs me."

            Lion-O, pretending that he didn't know that she was angry, said, "Sure, 'Kit.  Go ahead."  She entered Cat's Lair.  "You know she's angry, don't you?"

            Wilykat sighed and said, "Yes, I do.  She cannot hide it. . . not from her friends and brother, anyway."

            * * *

            Crypt Chamber, Mumm-ra's Pyramid.

            At the Pyramid, Mega Volt angrily paced.  "That damn Thunder Brat had the nerve to call me 'Sparkie'!" said Mega Volt in an offended manner.  "Well, he'd better feel lucky that his cute sister had the speed to beam them both out of there almost immediately!  If she hadn't, he would be shrieking loud enough to wake the dead!  Uh, no offence, Mumm-ra."

            "None taken," said Mumm-ra.  "I actually relish the notion."

            Quacker Jack said, "Well, Mega Volt, what is important is that you got that apple there."

            Liquidator complied, "Yeah.  I would have hated to liquidate you."

            Offended, Mega Volt almost shouted, "Oh, yeah?  Well, I didn't see your H₂O molecules there, Liquidator!"

            Liquidator warned, "Don't make me angry, Mega Volt.  You did a good job back there.  I hate to be angry with you."

            Mega Volt said, "Well, same here.  But, now, let's see what goes on in Cat's Lair, shall we?"

            Showing in his cauldron what 'went on' in the control room at Cat's Lair, Mumm-ra said, "Yes, we shall.  Heh, heh!"

            * * *

            In the control room at Cat's Lair, Lion-O was keeping his eyes on the viewscreen in order to be alert for any sign of trouble.  To himself, he said, "Berbil village. . . Warrior Maidens' treetop kingdom. . . everything is peaceful.  Darkwing Duck would hate it."  A red button flashed; an alarm sounded the red alert.  "Intruder!  One moment."  He turned around.  Steelheart materialised.  "Oh, good; it's only you."  He pressed the red button to cancel red alert.

            Smiling, Steelheart said, "You sure have your alarm system up to date!  But, then, I guess that that is usually a top priority, huh?"

            Lion-O replied, "Yes.  Have a seat, please."  Steelheart found a chair and sat in it.  "What brings you back here?"

            Steelheart said, "Oh, just to say that we've finished. . ."  She was interrupted when the door sprang open and the Thunder Kittens sprang in.

            Wilykat demanded, "Where's our intruder?"

            "The intruder alert," Lion-O said smoothly, "went off when Steelheart beamed in."

            Slapping herself in the face in infuriation, Wilykit said, "See, Wilykat?  Uh. . ."  She thought for a moment.  �. . .je t'ai dit que ce n'était rien!  {. . .zhuh táy dé kuh suh náy-teh ryehⁿh!}  [French]  (. . .I told you that it was nothing!)�  "Uh, is that right?"

            Smiling, Steelheart said, "Only if you meant, 'I told you that it was nothing!' "

            Half-glaring at Wilykat, Wilykit said, "Yes, that's right.  Thank you."

            Shrugging, Wilykat said, "I just wanted to make sure that nothing was happening!"

            Wilykit said, "You certainly aren't paranoid, by any chance. . . are you?"

            "No," said Wilykat, "but how were we supposed to know whether it was Steelheart or some villain?"

            Wilykit said, "Okay, 'Kat, I see."  She shrugged.  "Sorry."  She was really still mad at him, but she hid it so well that not even he would know. . . or so she thought.

            Lion-O asked, "Want an apple, Steelheart?"

            "Oh, I guess so," answered Steelheart.

            Lion-O asked, "Would you guys mind getting us a couple of apples?"

            Wilykit answered, "No, we wouldn't mind at all.  Come, Wilykat."

            * * *

            The image in the cauldron faded.  "Ha, ha!" said Mumm-ra.  "At least one of the two leaders will be put to sleep.  The Kittens will undoubtedly want to give the better one to Steelheart."

            "When they do," said Liquidator, "she will sink into slumber.  Ha, ha, ha!"  In the original German, he then perfectly sang this part for the treacherous Mime from Act I, Scene III of Siegfried from Wagner's The Ring of the Nibelung:  "Siegfried will slay the dragon and be overcome with thirst.  From roots and flowers that I picked, a drink shall I brew for him.  Drinketh he just a drop of the potion, sleeping soon shall he lie.  With the self-same weapon that he o'er there forgeth, him shall I clear from my path, and mine will be Ring and treasure!"  The other four clapped their hands.  "Thank you, thank you!"

            * * *

            Kitchen, Cat's Lair.

            Wilykit almost dragged Wilykat into the kitchen.  There, she said, "Give me the good-looking apple, please."

            Wilykat said, "Since you said, 'please.' "  He got Bushroot's apple and handed it to Wilykit.  "Why do you sometimes talk to me nastily?"

            Beginning to show her anger, Wilykit said, "Because of your tendency to be just a little bit on the stupid side!"

            Half-shocked, Wilykat exclaimed, "Stupid?"

            Wilykit explained, "Well, you know Mega Volt hates to be called 'Sparkie'; yet, you call him that."  She showed even more anger.  "And, if I weren't around to save your cute little neck, you would have been barbecued."

            "Okay," said Wilykat.  "You're upset."

            Wilykit exclaimed, "You're darned right I'm upset!"  She put the contaminated apple on their apple-scanning device and activated the device.  She lost her composure little-by-little with every word.  "I'm still cursing you in the back of my mind for your almost getting yourself electrified by that stupid live wire."

            Wilykat said, "Well, I'm sorry that I didn't have the opportunity to thank you before for saving me."

            Wilykit lost her composure completely but managed to keep her voice under control.  "That would have changed nothing, you idiot!  With the way you acted today, I almost feel insulted by the thought of your being my brother!"

            Very hurt, Wilykat said, "What?  But. . ."

            Near yelling, Wilykit shouted, "But nothing!  If you're going to keep acting like an idiot, we are through together!"  She would never mean that, of course.

            Extremely hurt and on the verge of crying, Wilykat softly asked, "Why are you yelling at me?"  Wilykit washed the apple, as the scanning device had detected nothing wrong with it.

            Half-yelling, Wilykit shouted, "Please do not ask stupid questions!  Just scan an apple, darn you!"  Feeling not like perturbing Wilykit further, Wilykat, instead of arguing, just got an apple and had it scanned.  The scanning device indicated that the apple was rotten to the core.  "Oh, excellent choice."

            Trying to sound much stronger than she but really sounding much weaker than she, Wilykat said, "How was I supposed to know?"

            Trying to sound much weaker than he but really sounding much stronger than he, Wilykit uncontrollably yelled, "I DON'T KNOW, WILYKAT!!!  YOU TELL ME!!!"  She stopped and tried to tone down a bit and to regain her composure.  Trying to keep anger out of her voice, Wilykit said, "Sorry about yelling at you.  Please, Wilykat, just scan another before I do any more unintentional yelling.  I just don't feel right."  Wilykat did so.  The next apple he scanned was okay, so he washed it.  Softly, Wilykit said, "You give yours to Lion-O; I'll give mine to Steelheart.  Okay?"

            Meekly and nervously, indicating in some way that Wilykit had scared him slightly, Wilykat said, "I'm in no position to disagree."  Wilykit found an ache the back of her throat, which she found she could not swallow away.  "You okay?"

            Wilykit nodded, looked softly into his eyes, and said, "Yes, Wilykat.  Let's go."  They went to the control room, Wilykit leading.

            * * *

            Control Room.

            The Wilytwins entered, both composed, giving no indication of what had transpired.  Handing the pretty yet contaminated apple to Steelheart, Wilykit said, "Here's yours, Steelheart."

            Pretending to be jealous and as Wilykat gave him an apple, Lion-O said, "Oh, you're giving her the pretty one!"

            Steelheart regarded him with mock seriousness.  "Are you jealous?"

            Seriously, Lion-O said, "No; it makes no difference."  They both began to eat their apples.

            Trying to get her mind off her anger, Wilykit said, "So, Steelheart, how's it been going?"

            Steelheart replied, "Oh, can't complain.  It's been pretty peaceful."  She took a large bite, chewed it up well, and swallowed.  "Too peaceful, now that you mention it.  What was Mega Volt doing?"

            Suddenly protective now, Wilykit patted Wilykat's leg.  "That stinking electrified mutt was trying to electrocute my poor brother."

            Steelheart said, "I know that; do you know what Sparkie was planning?"

            "No," answered Wilykat, "we don't."

            "I suggest," suggested Wilykit, "that you not call Mega Volt 'Sparkie,' Steelheart.  That was exactly what Wilykat did before Mega Volt tried to electrify him."  She began to feel a little anger creep into her mind, but she managed to flush it out.  Steelheart finished eating her apple.

            Steelheart complimented, "Very good apple."  She yawned.  "Oh!  Suddenly, I'm beginning to feel a little sleepy."  She began to have trouble staying awake.

            Worried, Lion-O asked, "Uh, Steelheart, do you feel okay?"

            Shaking her head, Steelheart managed to say, "I don't know!  I'm losing you guys quickly . . ."  The next moment, her body was very limp, and she had passed out.

            Very concerned, Wilykit said, "Uh, oh!  What's wrong, Lion-O?"

            Lion-O went over to Steelheart and checked her pulse.  "I wish I knew, Wilykit.  You two stay here."  The Kittens nodded in agreement.  Lion-O punched his communicator.  "Two to beam to Quicksilver's office at the Palace of Power Hospital."  He and Steelheart were beamed away, leaving the Thunder Kittens at Cat's Lair.  Wilykit began to examine the core of Steelheart's apple, which was dropped.

            Wilykit said, "I wonder if this apple had anything to do with it."

            Wilykat said, "I can make no suggestions, 'Kit.  I wonder how it. . ."

            Suddenly, Wilykit exclaimed, "YECK!!!  Someone put a worm in Steelheart's apple!"

            Nearly laughing, Wilykat said, "Heh, heh!  I guess I can yell at you now, eh, Wilykit?"

            Wilykit half-screamed, "This is not funny, Wilykat!  Someone deliberately put a worm in that apple and hid it from our sensors!"

            "Who and how?" asked Wilykat.

            Wilykit assumed an attitude of Sherlock Holmes.  Captain N beamed in behind Wilykat; Wilykit said with a good educated English accent, "Indubitably, my dear brother, Mega Volt has something to do with this.  Good day, Captain N."

            Amazed, Wilykat asked, "What?"  He turned around and saw Kevin.  "Hey!  Don't do that again!  You'll scare me to death!"

            Captain N patted Wilykat on the shoulder and said sincerely, "Sorry if I scared you, pal.  I just decided to drop in when Lion-O delivered Steelheart's lifelessly-inactive body to Quicksilver's medical office."

            Wilykit got out a pipe that Holmes would have used, except that the pipe had no tobacco and was not lit.  She said, "Undoubtedly, as she had just fainted, and Lion-O just beamed with her into the Palace of Power's medical facility!  It's elementary."

            Wilykat sighed.  "Great, Kevin.  Now she's acting like Sherlock Holmes."

            "Correct, brother.  I have consulted all of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novels about Holmes and have read many.  But back to the case at hand!  What natural inhabitant on third-Earth would have motive to terminate the victim?"

            Captain N, acting like Watson, said, "Only one:  Mumm-ra!"

            "EXACTLY," said Wilykit, "which leads to my working theory about this rotten-to-the-core apple!"

            "That Mumm-ra cast a sleeping spell on the apple?" asked Wilykat confidently.

            Wilykit answered, "Not precisely, though you're close.  That Mumm-ra did so to the worm, had Bushroot make this apple, transported the worm into the apple, and had Mega Volt deliver the apple in a way by which Wilykat and I would readily notice it.  Since it was beautiful, they knew that we would deliver the apple to Steelheart."

            Wilykat scratched his head and asked, "How did you figure that out?"

            Wilykit answered, "Deduction.  When you get a grasp for it, it is elementary, my dear Wilykat."

            Smiling, Captain N asked, "And when Mega Volt attacked?"

            Wilykit answered, "For the simple reason that he heard the nickname 'Sparkie' uttered in place of his actual name.  It is elementary, my dear Captain N."  She stuck the mouthpiece of the pipe back in her mouth.  She then sheepishly muttered, "Sir!"

            Captain N smiled and said, "And I have some proof for that theory, Wilykit!  Tally-Hawk was scanning the Pyramid when Mumm-ra had the Fearsome Four listen to his plan.  Wilykit has explained perfectly."

            Sounding impressed, Wilykat said, "So, either Wilykit is a real Sherlock Holmes,. . ."  He began to sound suspicious.  ". . .or she sneaked a peek at their plot by tapping into Tally-Hawk's sensors!"

            Wilykit said, "One needs not to do either in plain, simple deduction, my dear brother."  She put the pipe away and got up, resuming her own attitude and her usual U.S. accent.  "Exit the stupid pipe.  The hard part will be to stop mummy-brain's plot."  Lion-O beamed into the room.

            Lion-O said, "Hello, Kevin.  Did I hear anyone talking about stopping Mumm-ra?"  Wilykat pointed to Wilykit.  "I, ah, see."

            Rather proudly but not too proudly, Wilykit stated, "I just deduced that demon's plan, Lion-O."

            Smiling and intending to make Wilykit angry, Wilykat said, "Or, possibly, she recited it after watching Tally-Hawk's scan!"

            Restraining her anger, Wilykit said, "Be careful, Wilykat.  You must might regret it if you ever got on my bad side."

            Intentionally angering Wilykit, Wilykat said, "What?  You have a good side?"

            Angry, Wilykit blurted, "Why, you . . .!"  She realised his attempts to make her angry.  "Oh, never mind.  We'll finish this later.  Right now, we have to stop Mumm-ra."

            Lion-O said, " 'We'?  Heh, heh!  Fat chance, young lady!  You two stay here.  Kevin and I shall go to stop Mumm-ra."

            Wilykat and Wilykit, together, began, "But, Lion-O,. . ."

            Lion-O interrupted, "Please, Thunder Kittens!  You must stay here, in relative safety."

            Wilykit, intending to make a point, said, "Relative safety?  Oh, sure.  Just watch King Hippo and Eggplant Wizard come and try to. . ."

            Lion-O, having had nearly enough, said, "Please, Wilykit!  You can handle them.  It is probably very dangerous at the Pyramid, as Mumm-ra and the Fearsome Four are probably there.  Probably too dangerous for you two."  Of course he knew otherwise, but he loved her and her brother too much to see them go into that dreadful place.

            Wilykat soothingly said, "Look, 'Kit, why do we not just. . ."

            Ignoring her brother, Wilykit challengingly said, "Look who is talking about things being too dangerous!  I think. . ."  She realised that what she was saying may be too much.  She shook her head and calmed down.  "Sorry, Lion-O.  I'm in an awful mood today, and I apologise.  If you get into too much trouble, call us, okay?"

            Lion-O said, "Okay, Wilykit."  Fortunately, his temper was not as short as it had been when they first arrived on third-Earth.  He used to think that everyone had to treat him like a king just because he was Lord of the Thunder Cats.  He now knew better.  "See you two later."  He and Kevin stepped away from the Thunder Kittens.  Lion-O tapped his communicator.  "Transport two to just outside the door to Mumm-ra's Pyramid."  He and Kevin were beamed away.

            Wilykat admiringly said, "Boy!  You acted like you were challenging him, Wilykit!  But why?"

            Wilykit answered, "Because, brother, I am tired of our being treated like kids all the time!"

            Wilykat said, "But, 'Kit, that's what we are right now."

            Wilykit shouted, "Just because my body has aged only fifteen years does not mean that I am still a kid in intelligence!  And, though, you may act ridiculous at times, I know that it is the same with you."

            Seeking to change the subject, Wilykat said, "The ageing!  Our bodies have aged very gradually.  We've not even undergone puberty yet."

            Drawn to the subject, Wilykit said, "Yes.  And how did those suspension capsules keep us at the same point in maturity as we were when we originally left Thundera?  Since Lion-O did so, I thought that the two of us would have aged at least ten years."

            Wilykat remarked, "Finally, a mystery worthy even of Sherlock Holmes!  I'll keep an eye on the screen here; you can search for clues if you want to do so."

            Wilykit objected.  "No.  At least we'll hardly get bored if we stick together."

            * * *

            Mumm-ra's Pyramid.

            At the Pyramid, Lion-O led Kevin through the passageways to Mumm-ra's tomb chamber.  Captain N said, "Lion-O, this place is historically intriguing!  It is a devil of a lot like the pyramids of the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt in the time era of 2700 B.C.-2200 B.C."

            Lion-O asked, "Did pyramids have much historical significance?"

            Captain N answered, "Yes.  It is not known at present on my earth how the pyramids were built.  Though terrifying, this place is great.  Ancient hieroglyphics. . . in fact, I saw many pictures of the Great Pyramid, and this pyramid's interior looks. . ."  He saw something that scared him greatly. ". . .oh, my God!"  He looked closely at a particular carving.  He turned very white.  "I feel it cannot be at all possible!"  He swallowed.  "I have seen this before, Lion-O.  In a history book was the statement that this literally damned symbol was found only in the Great Pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu of ancient Egypt."  With an ominous fear in his eyes, Kevin looked at Lion-O.  "My goodness, if this is the Great Pyramid, then why has Mumm-ra not tried to invade my twentieth-century earth?"

            Lion-O reassuringly said, "If he existed then, he was probably resting his wicked, demonic powers during that time.  Most likely, this earth is the future of your earth and the Silver Hawks' earth.  Or your earth may not even have Mumm-ra."

            Captain N sighed.  "I hope so.  But what in the devil happened to Earth's civilisations between second- and third-Earth?"

            Shaking his head, Lion-O said, "I don't know.  With what you've said, I'm not sure that I want to know.  Let's move it."  He had terrible images swirling in his mind.  Mumm-ra, wreaking unspeakable havoc on second-Earth. . . his evil powers destroying all civilisation.  If it had happened, it would have been an utter disaster.

            In the tomb chamber, there was no activity whatsoever.  The sarcophagus was sealed.  Kevin drew his Zapper.  Lion-O whispered to Kevin, "Mumm-ra sleeps.  The Fearsome Four is not around."

            Captain N whispered back, "This has the definite putrid scent of a trap.  Let's be ready for anything."  Lion-O nodded.  The sarcophagus glowed as they made their way into the chamber.  "Mumm-ra!"  The sarcophagus did not open, but Mumm-ra's voice came from it.

            "Right, Captain N!" said Mumm-ra.  "Welcome to my home!  You are my fifth and sixth guests today.  Mega Volt, my first, is here to greet you."  They saw Mega Volt jump out from behind the upper-left statue.  "Mega Volt, give Captain N a warm welcome!"

            Sparking from head to toe, Mega Volt said, "Oh, I shall!"  Mega Volt went to Kevin.  "Kevin, Mumm-ra would have greeted you himself, but he is all wrapped up in his work right now."

            Captain N said, "I get it, Sparkie!"

            Mega Volt shouted, "Ooh, don't call me 'Sparkie'!"  By pressing 'left' on his Power Pad, Kevin slid to the left and avoided Mega Volt's response.  Kevin blasted Mega Volt into the cauldron with his Zapper.  Being shorted out by the cauldron's water, Mega Volt screamed, "YAAAH!!!  DAMN YOU!!!"

            Lion-O said, "You shouldn't use curse words, electroface!  It isn't very nice."

            Still in his sarcophagus, Mumm-ra said, "Well, pardon Mega Volt!  He certainly overreacts quite a bit, doesn't he?  My second guest, Quacker Jack, is eager to greet you."  They saw Quacker Jack come from behind the lower-left statue.  "Quacker Jack, teach Lion-O about dental hygiene while you're at it."

            Quacker Jack replied, "As you say, bandaged buddy!"  Quacker Jack went over to Lion-O, who readied the Sword of Omens and the Claw Shield.  "Knowest thou how important dental hygiene is?  Very!"  He tossed two pairs of snap-teeth at Lion-O.  "Ha, ha, ha!  It's play-time!"

            Trying unsuccessfully to fight off the teeth, Lion-O said, "These teeth are hard to combat."  One pair tried to bite his belly, but he moved the Claw Shield there, and the shield stopped the teeth for a moment.  Lion-O managed barely to keep the teeth from biting him, but he could not fight the teeth off.

            Quacker Jack laughed, "Have fun, kitty-cat!  Ha, ha, ha!"  He got out Mr. Banana-Brain, his stuffed doll companion.  He changed his voice to that which might be possible for Mr. Banana-Brain and said, "He's in a real jam, Sam!"  Changing his voice to normal, Quacker Jack said, "Thank you, Mr. Banana-Brain!  The Thunder Cat is about to become food for my pets!"

            Captain N exclaimed, "Pets!  That's it!"  He tapped his communicator.  "Duke, here boy!"  Duke, Captain N's dog, beamed in and, with a fierce growl, scared Quacker Jack's teeth away.

            Quacker Jack growled, "Grr!  Whose mangy mutt. . ."

            Captain N said, "Duke is not mangy!"  He patted Duke on the head.

            Quacker Jack exclaimed, "Blast it!"

            Lion-O said, "Good idea!  HO!"  The Sword of Omens knocked out Quacker Jack with a single blast.

            Mumm-ra said, "Excuse him, please!  I guess Quacker Jack overreacted, too!  However, Dr. Bushroot won't toy around!  Guest number four?"  Bushroot came from behind the lower-right statue.  "Teach Kevin about gardening, Bushroot."

            Giggling, Bushroot said, "Aye, Mumm-ra!"  He went over to Kevin.  "Hmm.  I know what'll let you blend right in with my garden!"  Bushroot grew an ivy around Kevin; it touched his hands and neck.  Pretending to be embarrassed, Bushroot said, "Oops!  I used poison ivy!  What a rash mistake."  After getting the poison ivy off himself, Kevin scratched ferociously.  "Too bad.  He'll be too busy scratching to fight!  Hee, hee!"

            Mumm-ra said, "Good, Dr. Bushroot.  Kevin must be having a really vine time scratching!  Heh, heh!  Now, my third guest and only superior around, I request that you properly greet the Lord of the Thunder Cats personally!"  A puddle came around from behind the top-right statue. . . a puddle that changed into Liquidator's form!

            Liquidator, in his advertising voice, said, "Lion-O, why risk embarrassment or getting hurt when you can merely surrender right now?"

            Bringing the hilt of the Sword to his eyes, Lion-O said, "Because I am the Lord of the Thunder Cats, and the Thunder Cats hardly ever give up!"  As the hilt of the Sword was held to his eyes, the hilt grew into the apertures of the Eye of Thundera.  He then lifted the sword as high as he could.  "Thunder, Thunder, Thunder, Thunder Cats, HO!"  With each 'Thunder,' the Sword's blade grew in height.  At 'Cats,' the Eye opened to become the Cat's-Eye, the symbol of the Thunder Cats.  At 'HO!' a beam with the symbol on the end shone out of the eye, accompanied by the Thunder Cats' Roar, resulting in the Thunder Cat Signal.  The signal extended to Cat's Lair.

            "Ha, ha, ha!  Futile attempt, kitty!" laughed Liquidator.  "Half the Thunder Cats are on Thundera, and those Kittens are too young, weak, twerpy, and immature to save you!"  Liquidator grabbed the Sword.  "Adiós {Ah-thyós} [Spanish] (Good-bye), Eye of Thundera!"  Liquidator surrounded the Eye with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand.  The signal cancelled, and the Eye closed!  "Ha, ha, ha!  The Eye of Thundera is not damaged.  I have a ring of ice frozen around it, preventing its awakening.  Voilà!"  He removed his thumb and forefinger.  He had created a ring of ice around the Eye.  "But wait!  There's more!"  He snapped his fingers; water from the cauldron came and clamped around Lion-O's upper body.

            Trying to break free, Lion-O grunted, "-Grmph!-  How is it possible?  I cannot move my upper body.  This water must be stronger than Thunderian steel!"

            Liquidator said, "It is, Thunder Kitty!  Let's hear you roar now!  Ha, ha, ha!"  He did the same to Kevin.  "My control over water lets me tell how hot or cold I want it to be, how strong!  I assure you that you will never get out of there.  Ha, ha, ha!"  Jaga appeared.

            "Well, Kevin," said Lion-O, "we seem to be caught between a flood and a hard place."

            Kevin sighed.  "I can't disagree."

            To Lion-O, Jaga said, "Lion-O, you cannot break free of Liquidator's trap, but you cannot give up hope, either.  At present, Wilykat and Wilykit, though not of much relation to you, will be your successors.  Once they understand that, the Eye of Thundera will serve them as well as you."

            Lion-O said, "But, Jaga, I cannot tell them that!  I can't communicate with them."

            Jaga said, "They saw the signal and began to come immediately.  Even though they cannot see or hear me, they can sense what I am saying if they concentrate."

            Lion-O said, "They may not, Jaga.  Sometimes, they react before thinking."

            "I am certain that Wilykit will listen.  She will understand what I tell her and can pass the information on to Wilykat so that he, too, may understand."

            "Okay.  To me, it seems the only solution, Jaga.  Thank you."

            Jaga disappeared.  "Keep up hope, young lord.  Keep up hope."

            Lion-O thought to himself, I hope they will understand the magnitude of this situation.

            Quacker Jack mocked, "So!  The mighty Lion-O talks to himself!  Hee, hee, hee!  I'm supposed to be the crazy one!"  The sarcophagus opened.  Mumm-ra emerged.

            Mumm-ra said, "No, he does not talk to himself, Quacker Jack.  Jaga, his mentor and the one who saved him from being obliterated in Thundera's explosion, can communicate with him and him only.  Therefore, we can only get Lion-O's end of the conversation.  Since it was not very lengthy, we didn't get anything.  Not that it matters.  The Sword, Liquidator?"

            Liquidator handed the Sword of Omens to Mumm-ra.  "One Sword of Omens delivered!  Another successful delivery by the Fearsome Four Delivery Squad!"

            Mumm-ra said, "Hee, hee, excellent!  We can now be rid of this blasted thing forever."

            Lion-O thought to himself, Where are the Thunder Kittens, anyway?

            * * *

            Outside, Wilykat was waiting near a vent into which Wilykit had gone.  Wilykit had entered a few moments ago to find another path to the tomb chamber.

            Wilykat thought to himself, I probably shouldn't have let her go in alone.  If she gets hurt, I'll. . .  Wilykit, dusty, came out of the vent.  "I'll be darned!"

            Quietly, Wilykit said, "Success, Wilykat!  At the end of this vent is a grate which is sort of a doorway into the tomb chamber."

            Smiling and shaking his head, Wilykat said, "You're going to be in trouble.  You're all dusty."

            Wilykit made a sarcastic smile.  "Very amusing.  You will be, too, when you get through."

            "Okay, 'Kit.  Lead the way."  Wilykit led Wilykat through the vent to the tomb chamber.  They found the grate.  "Ah!  I see the cauldron, the sarcophagus, Mumm-ra, Lion-O, Kevin, the Fearsome Four. . . uh, oh!  Mumm-ra has the Sword of Omens!"

            "It's up to us to stop Mumm-ra and the Fearsome Four, since Lion-O and Kevin are captured."  They began to discuss plans.

            Meanwhile, in the tomb chamber, Mumm-ra said, "I've waited for this moment for years, my evil friends."  Liquidator put watery tape around the mouths of Lion-O and Kevin so that they could not say anything orally.  He used a stream of water from his arm to adhere the two to the wall.  As for Duke, he had been chained and muzzled by the same wet villain.  "The Sword of Omens:  in my hands and at my very disposal!  So many times has it been in my hand, and all of those times it has left it unscathed.  Not this time!  The cauldron waters will engulf the Sword of Omens and destroy it in a few minutes after I drop in the Sword.  Third-Earth and New Thundera will be ours!  Ha, ha, ha!"  Mumm-ra and Fearsome Four cackled madly.

            Back in the vent, Wilykat said, "No, Wilykit.  They might notice us."

            Wilykit looked through the grate.  "Oh, no!  They're going to toss the Sword into the cauldron!"

            Wilykat, in an effort to calm her, said, "No; Mumm-ra will chant some magical nonsense for half an hour; then they'll throw the Sword in."

            "How comforting."  Wilykit sat down.  "-Sigh.-  If only we knew what to do!"  Jaga appeared out of the light.

            Jaga said, "You may not be able to see or hear me like Lion-O can, dear Thunder Kittens, but concentrate, and you will be able to hear and understand my thoughts."  He surrounded Wilykit with his cape.  "Concentrate and listen, Wilykit.  This is Jaga speaking to you."

            Wilykit's expression and manner changed.  Wilykat asked, " 'Kit, is something wrong?"

            Wilykit said, "-Sh!-  I think Jaga's trying to talk to me somehow."

            Wilykat said, "Only Lion-O can see and hear him, Wilykit!"

            Jaga said, "That is true, at present, Wilykit.  However, only to a certain extent, as you can hear me if you concentrate hard enough."

            "He's telling me," said Wilykit, "that I can hear him if I concentrate on it."

            Jaga said, "That is correct.  Now, listen to me with extreme caution."  Wilykit shut her eyes and focused her concentration on what Jaga had to say.  "The Liquidator has shut the Eye of Thundera by encircling it with a ring of ice.  You two, in the future, will be the leaders of the Thunder Cats, as you are close to Lion-O.  Once one understands that one will be leader, one is able to use the Sword of Omens.  Even if you two use it now, Lion-O will still be able to use it.  I add that you must use the Sword if you plan to succeed on this mission.  Now, answer me:  do you understand that which I have just told you?"

            Very bravely, Wilykit said, "Yes, I understand."

            Jaga said, "You must tell Wilykat and make him understand what I have just told you, Wilykit.  That understanding that one will lead the Thunder Cats one day in the future, distant or close, is very vital to using the Sword as the leader would use it.  Do you understand and will you do what is necessary?"

            Wilykit answered, "Yes, Jaga.  We shall do whatever we must."

            Jaga said, "I must leave now, Wilykit.  Good-bye."  He disappeared.

            With one tear streaming down her face, Wilykit managed to say softly, "Good-bye, Jaga."  She looked Wilykat in the eyes.

            Wilykat began, "Tell me what. . ."

            Wilykit quickly interrupted, "I have to, Wilykat. . . and immediately!"  She began to tell him what had happened.

            In the tomb, Quacker Jack was now holding the Sword of Omens.  He nervously said, "Hurry up, Mumm-ra!  Let's dunk the Sword!  I get more and more nervous every time I look at it."

            "Patience, my dear Quacker Jack," said Mumm-ra.  "Patience is a virtue.  The cauldron is not yet ready to take the Sword.  The proper chemical reactions won't take place quickly enough.  We must wait until the entire cauldron waters are boiling.  Heh, heh!"

            Mega Volt asked, "What are you worried about, Quackie?"

            Quacker Jack said, "I'm worried about those two meddlesome brats, the Thunder Kittens."

            Mumm-ra said, "The Thunder Kittens?  Ha!  They will find that they are not nearly clever enough to deal with us!  Lion-O and Kevin, watch with fear as the Ancient Spirits of Evil fulfil part three of their eternal pact with Mumm-ra!  And you thought the agreement wasn't written, I'll bet!"  Lightning flashed onto the four obelisks surrounding the Pyramid.  The obelisks transferred the lightning to the top of the Pyramid, which flashed it into the tomb chamber.  The eyes of the four man-beast statues, representing the Ancient Spirits of Evil, lit up.  Mumm-ra began his transformation process.  "Ancient Spirits of Evil, transform this decayed form to Mumm-ra, the Ever-Living!"  By the last word, he was in that form.  "Ha, ha, ha!  Those two will never stand a chance against us now!"

            Back in the vent, Wilykat sighed and sceptically said, "Well, I guess I have to believe you."

            Wilykit reassured, "And you know that Jaga is right."

            Wilykat said, "Of course.  Jaga is always right."  He looked through the grate; his eyes widened.  "Oh, no!  Mumm-ra has transformed!  They must have anticipated our arrival!"

            Wilykit smiled.  "Then, I don't want to disappoint them."

            Wilykat gulped.  "I don't like the direction this conversation is taking!"

            "You don't have to like it," said Wilykit.  "You just have to do your part as a Thunder Cat.  I shall."  She carefully removed the grate.  "There."

            Wilykat took the grate and laid it aside quietly.  Then, he took a peek downward.  "Well, we're only a few decimetres away from the floor."

            Wilykit said, "Let's surprise them!"  They each took one of their blinding capsules and tossed them into the chamber.  When they hit the floor, blinding light flashed, and the two Thunder Kittens leapt out of the vent and ran to the centre of the room.

            Mega Volt screamed, "Yaaah!  Where is that cursèd light coming from?"  In a moment, the light faded, and everyone looked to the centre of the room.  "You!"

            Wilykat said sarcastically, "I can tell you're glad to see us."

            Sparking, Mega Volt said, "Yes, Thunder Brat!  Now, I can repay you for what you called me!"  Wilykat took out a canteen that he always carried.

            Wilykat said, "Just try it, . . . Sparkie!"

            Mega Volt shouted, "DO NOT CALL ME 'SPARKIE'!!!"  Wilykat opened the canteen and swung it so that all the water flew out and hit Mega Volt.  Mega Volt was short-circuited.  "YAAAH!!!  DAMN YOU, THUNDER BRAT!!!"

            With mock seriousness, Wilykat warned, "You shouldn't use profanity, Mega Dolt.  You know where you'll go if you do."

            Putting the Sword on the base of one of the statues and nodding to Bushroot, Quacker Jack said, "Oh, young lady?"  Wilykit looked at him.  "How about a toy?"  Quacker Jack got out a toy soldier and showed it to Wilykit.  "Kids love to play with toys."

            Wilykit said, "Sheesh!  You insult my intelligence.  That thing is probably loaded with sleeping powder."

            Winding up the soldier, Quacker Jack said, "Well. . . you are right!"  He positioned it so that it was aimed at Wilykit.  Bushroot had moved behind her so he could catch her when she fell.  "Have a nice nap, little kitten!"  The soldier fired.  Wilykit quickly moved out of the way so that the sleep powder fired into Bushroot's face.  Quacker Jack gasped.  "May you be damned!"

            Wilykit acted shocked.  "Trying to cover up profanity by using formal language structure!  Unspeakable!"  Grabbing one of her sleep-capsules, Wilykit said, "How about a taste of your own medicine, Quacker Jerk?"  She tossed her capsule at Quacker Jack.  He was coated with sleeping gas and fell to sleep.  "Have a nice nap, Bushroot and Quacker Jack!"

            "Not bad," remarked Wilykat.

            "Thank you," said Wilykit.

            Liquidator screamed, "You!  You!  YOU!!!"

            Getting out one of his cement capsules, Wilykat said, "Oh, shush with the you's, Liquidator.  How about thou's for a change?"  He squeezed the capsule once and tossed it into Liquidator.  The capsule released cement into Liquidator's body.

            Liquidator screamed, "Yaah!  I'm being cemented!"  After a few moments, he turned into a slab of cement.

            Wilykat said, "Now, that is what I call a hardened criminal!"

            Wilykit said, "Eww!  I hate bad puns!"  She threatened to punch Wilykat.

            Wilykat apologised, "Sorry!"  She lowered her fist and they both laughed for a moment.  As Liquidator's consciousness faded, Lion-O and Kevin were released, and the ice surrounding the Eye of Thundera melted and dripped onto the base of the statue on which it was resting.

            Wilykit said, "I guess Liquidator's control of water is possible only when he is conscious."

            Mega Volt screamed, "Damn it!  You blasted kittens!  I'll fix all of you!  But, first, it's good-bye to the peanut gallery!"  He blasted some energy that bound Lion-O and Kevin back to the wall.

            "Not again!" said Lion-O.

            Mumm-ra said, "Now, for some assurance!  Hee, hee, hee!"  Mumm-ra pointed to Lion-O and Kevin.  Chains came out of the walls and secured Lion-O and Kevin.

            Lion-O tried to struggle and grunted, "Struggling seems no use.  Thunder Kittens, if Jaga has spoken to you. . ."

            Wilykit interrupted, "He has. . . to me, and I told Wilykat what Jaga told me."  She dodged a shot made by Mega Volt.  She then ran to the statue where Quacker Jack had deposited the Sword and grabbed the Sword.  Suddenly, the Sword blasted lightning around her, and the Eye glowed.  In a moment, the lightning stopped flashing, but the apertures in the hilt formed.  "What in the world was that?"  Jaga appeared, and he was now visible not only to Lion-O but also to both Thunder Kittens.

            Jaga said, "That blast, Wilykit, was that which would have sent the Sword flying out of your hand, had you any evil intentions to fulfil with the Sword."

            Surprised to see Jaga's spirit talking to her, Wilykit said, "J-j-jaga?  I thought that only Lion-O could see you."

            "So," asked an equally baffled Wilykat, "how can we see you?"

            Jaga said, "Wilykit, you can see me because you have just gained use of the Sword of Omens as Lion-O had.  Wilykat, you can see me because of your twin-relationship with Wilykit.  You have seen Lion-O use that Sword; you both know how to use it.  Farewell."  He disappeared.

            Wilykit shouted, "Jaga, wait!"

            Lion-O managed a faint smile and said, "He has a habit of doing that, Wilykit."

            Mega Volt yelled, "Try to get me with that, brat!"  Wilykat leapt up to him.

            Wilykat ordered, "Don't call her that!"  He kicked Mega Volt into the cauldron, where Mega Volt was again short-circuited.  "And the sparks fly once again from Sparkie!"  Mega Volt was too busy to respond. . . or to hear.

            Mumm-ra said, "You may have the Sword and may have stopped the Fearsome Four, you kittens, but you'll never stop Mumm-ra, the Ever-Living Source of Evil!"

            Wilykat leapt over to Wilykit.  "Would you give me the Sword of Omens for a moment, please, 'Kit?"  Wilykit took hold of the blade of the Sword with her left hand and handed it to Wilykat so that he could grab the handle with his right hand.  When the Sword was completely out of Wilykit's hand and completely in Wilykat's hand, it did exactly the same to Wilykat as it had done to Wilykit.  He handed the Sword back to Wilykit.

            Wilykit taunted, "Come and get us, Band-Aid-Body!"

            Mumm-ra screamed, "YOU'LL REGRET THAT INSULT, WILYKIT!!!"  He blasted energy at Wilykit. . . energy which she deflected with the Sword.

            "Home-run hit!"  Wilykit ran up to Mumm-ra and said, "First base!  I've something to show you, mummy!"  She held the Sword so that it reflected Mumm-ra's face. . . the most powerful weapon against him.

            Shrieking, Mumm-ra shrank back to his pre-transformation state.  He said, "Yaaah!  No!"  When he tried to get to his sarcophagus, Wilykat got right in front of it.  "No!" begged Mumm-ra.  "I must re-enter my sarcophagus!  I am very weak!  Only there may the Lazarus Force of the Ancient Sprits of Evil keep me alive."

            Wilykit ignored his plea and said, "Let's see. . ."  She moved the hilt of the Sword of Omens up to her eyes.  The apertures in the hilt grew.  She was looking through the Eye of Thundera.  She ordered, "Sword of Omens, give me sight-beyond-sight."  Her eyes and the Eye of Thundera glowed.  She saw bluish light surrounding the image of Quicksilver attempting to treat Steelheart in his medical office.  The glow faded, and, suddenly, her eyes saw past the hilt once more, as the apertures unformed and the hilt shrank back to a straight line and the Eye closed.  Her eyes stopped glowing.  "Amazing!"

            "What did you see, Wilykit?" asked Lion-O.

            Wilykit sighed and said, "I saw that Steelheart is still suffering from that worm."  She began to smile.  "Say!"  She turned to Mumm-ra.  "If you will release Steelheart from the effects of that apple, my brother just might consider the possibility of letting you enter that sarcophagus of yours."

            Mumm-ra said, "Well, little kitty, if I could do so, I would do so."  He then lied, "But I have not the energy, so I cannot."  Wilykat kicked Mumm-ra in the leg.  "Ow!" shouted Mumm-ra in pain.

            "Liar!" shouted Wilykat.  "Do you want to see your face again?"

            Mumm-ra gasped and exclaimed, "You wouldn't!"

            Wilykit taunted, "Oh, wouldn't we?"  She tossed Wilykat the Sword.  Wilykat caught it by the handle and saw his young, dusty face perfectly in the Sword's reflective blade.  He was really very handsome, but he was not vain in the least.

            "Gee," said Wilykat, "if it were nothing else, the blade of this Sword would be a good mirror.  Want to see yourself, Mumm-ra?"

            Mumm-ra put a hand over his eyes and screamed, "NO!!!  I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU ASK!!!"

            "You'll do whatever we ask," echoed Wilykit.  "Okay.  Release Steelheart from the sleep spell. . . now!"

            "And do it right, Mumm-ra," threatened Wilykat, "or you'll be seeing yourself again!"  He shoved Mumm-ra over to the cauldron.

            Mumm-ra made the cauldron waters spit out Mega Volt and show Steelheart and Quicksilver.  He then chanted, "Ancient Spirits of Evil, release Steelheart from the worm's sleeping trance."  He turned to Wilykat.  "Now, will you let me in there?"

            Wilykit said, "Yes.  We won't keep you up any longer.  I know it's way past your bedtime."  Wilykat moved.  Wilykit shoved Mumm-ra into the sarcophagus, which closed when he was in it.  Wilykat gave the Sword to Wilykit.  "Let's do this together, brother."

            Wilykat smiled and said, "I get the idea, 'Kit."  Wilykit put the Sword into her left hand and released her right hand from it.  Wilykat grabbed the Sword's handle with his right hand.  The two looked at each other, Wilykit's left eye staring into Wilykat's right eye and vice-versa.  The lifted the Sword so that the Eye of Thundera came between their eyes.  The hilt-apertures formed; Wilykit's and Wilykat's eyes glowed, as did the Eye of Thundera.  The Kittens then stood side-by-side, holding the Sword up as high as they could.  Wilykat began, "Thunder,. . ."  The blade increased in height.

            Wilykit said, ". . .Thunder,. . ."  The blade heightened again.

            ". . .Thunder,. . ."  For the last time, the blade heightened.

            ". . .Thunder Cats,. . ."  The Cat's Eye formed in the Eye of Thundera.

            Wilykat and Wilykit in unison shouted, "HO!"  The Thunder Cat Signal glowed out of the Eye.  Upon seeing it, Lion-O's eyes and insignia glowed once.  He got strength from the Eye and burst free.  Wilykat reached to Wilykit's capsule-belt with his left hand and grabbed a capsule.  He tossed this capsule at Kevin.  The gas in the capsule corroded the iron in the chains holding Kevin, allowing Kevin to burst free.  Lion-O proudly went behind the Kittens and grabbed part of the Sword's handle.

            Lion-O, Wilykat, and Wilykit in unison said, "Thunder Cats, HO!"  The Signal roared.  The Kittens let Lion-O take and shrink the Sword back to its small state.  He put the Sword back in his Claw Shield, still on his hand.

            Captain N patted Duke's head and said, "I think that Duke and I've grown tired of this place.  Let's beat it before these five regain their energy."

            Lion-O laughed and said, "I do not think that I could have said it better myself."  He tapped his communicator.  "Five to transport to the Palace of Power Hospital."  They were transported there.

            * * *

            Palace Hospital, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            At the hospital, Quicksilver was much relieved.  He greeted, "Hi, everyone."

            Lion-O replied, "Hello.  Well, how is she?"

            Smiling, Quicksilver said, "She is much better, and she is about to wake up."  Steelheart woke up.

            Steelheart yawned and said, "Well, hello, everyone.  I am obviously in the hospital.  Someone please tell me what happened."

            Before anyone else could cash in, Wilykit said, "Mumm-ra happened.  That stinking mummy put a sleeping spell on a worm, had Bushroot make an apple, put the worm in the apple, and had Mega Volt put that apple in the area where Wilykat and I get apples much of the time."  She drew in a deep breath.  "That apple was the one I gave you, Steelheart.  I'm sorry, but our equipment said that the apple was fine.  I hope you're not angry at me."

            Steelheart smiled and said, "Certainly not, but, even if anyone were to be angry at you, no one could stay angry at you, Wilykit."  She sat up.  "Same with you, Wilykat."

            Wilykat continued Wilykit's subject.  "Well, 'Kit, you did help to scare that stupid mummy into releasing the spell."

            Lion-O explained, "When Kevin and I were captured inside the Pyramid, Jaga came and told me that the Thunder Kittens were my - how do I say this? - heirs, sort of, and that, upon understanding such, they were able to use the Sword."

            With a tone of scepticism in her voice, Steelheart asked, "The Sword?  As in the Sword of Omens?"

            "Yes, said Lion-O, "that one.  Even though Jaga had told me about it, I was really amazed when they began actually to use the Sword."

            Wilykit complied, "No kidding; so was I!  I guess our victory should be another proof of one of Snarf's favourite expressions."

            " 'You never know what you can do until you try!' " Wilykat quoted.

            Wilykit said, "I'll be honest with you, guys.  I really did not think that we were going to stop those mad nuts."

            Wilykat said, "Yeah, me, neither.  I feared that we were going to be creamed."  The door opened.  Stargazer came in.

            Stargazer said,  "Quicksilver, there's an. . . well, I'll be darned!"

            Steelheart asked, "What is it, Stargazer?"

            Stargazer asked, "What the heck happened?  How are you awake?"  The Thunder Kittens looked at each other for help; they found none in each other's eyes.

            "I think," said Wilykat, "that we shall have to write a report so that we won't have to explain everything every other second."

            "I agree," said Wilykit.  "Let's get to it.  We'll see all of you later.  Sorry, Stargazer, but you'll have to wait for our version."  They moved away from everyone.  Wilykit tapped her communicator.  "N-Team Transporter, transport two to the entry hall of Cat's Lair."

            * * *

            Wilytwins' Room, Cat's Lair, third-Earth.

            They proceeded directly to their room and desk, where Wilykit activated a computer and used an audio rather than keyboard interface to input the report.  Wilykat nodded in agreement with what she input.  When she was finished, she pressed 'save' on the computer; when that was done, she turned it off and turned to Wilykat.  She found herself unable to look into his eyes, so she looked down.  She emitted a sigh.  Finally, after several minutes, Wilykat asked, "Is something wrong, 'Kit?"  She looked up to meet his eyes.

            "Yes," she answered, "something is wrong.  Terribly wrong."

            "Well, what is it?"

            "I don't know if I can make you understand this.  Today, I let my emotions instead of my logic influence my actions.  That. . ."  She sighed.  ". . .is why I yelled at you.  I'd never intentionally hurt you.  Can you forgive me?"

            "Well. . ."

            "Please, Wilykat?  I don't mean to be harsh.  I never mean to be harsh.  I just can't seem to help it at times, so, sometimes, I have to let it all out.  It seems more intense when I have my anger focused on one person."  She sighed.  "It's hardest of all on me when the anger is all focused on you.  It's just so very difficult to keep it inside until I am alone where I can let it out when no one's around.  It hurts."  She put his right hand in hers and cupped her left hand on the back of his right hand.  "I'm sorry if I hurt you today."

            Cupping his left hand on the back of her right hand, Wilykat said, "Well, you did, but I forgive you."  He moved closer and rubbed her back with his left hand.  "Need a hug from your brother?"  She tried to bear a smile and nodded.  She let Wilykat hug her.

            "Oh, Wilykat, how can you be so understanding?"

            "I'm your brother.  I'm supposed to comfort you when you need it.  You do think you still need me, don't you?"

            "Of course I do.  I would be a complete idiot to think otherwise.  Right now, I feel lucky to have you as my brother."  Wilykat hardened his hug slightly.

            "Thank you, Wilykit.  I'll always try to be around when you need me."

            "I know.  Steelheart may think she has the best brother in the galaxy, but I think that I have the best."

            "You don't know how much I appreciate that, Wilykit.  I feel Steelwill is wrong in thinking he has the best sister in the galaxy, because I think you are."

            "Oh, thank you, Wilykat!"  Wilykat loosened his hug enough for Wilykit to look at his eyes.  "You don't know how much I appreciate that. . . or the hug.  Thank you."  Wilykat put his arms on Wilykit's shoulders and smiled.

            Wilykat said, "Just let me know if you need another, okay?"  Wilykit nodded.

            "I will," she said.  "Now, let's go tell everyone else that we've completed the report."

            "Okay.  Ladies first!"  The door opened.  Wilykit stepped out first, then Wilykat.  The door closed when they had both left.