Tomb Chamber, Mumm-ra's Pyramid, third-Earth.

The dangers of the galaxy were numerous, but none were as dangerous as the evil Prince Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa, whose despicable heart was dominated by evil, and his wicked Evil Koopa Family.  He had just warped down to the Pyramid to perform the following tasks:  awaken Mumm-ra, Quacker Jack, and Bushroot; de-cement Liquidator, his first officer; and recharge Mega Volt.  When these five were fine, he began his little chat with them.  He was EXTREMELY angry.  "I saw," said Ludwig with logical precision, "that the Thunder Kittens beat you."

            Mega Volt began, "Well, Prince Ludwig,. . ."

            "SILENCE!!!" screamed Ludwig.  Back in his logical tone, he calmly yet angrily said, "I would not like to be interrupted at this moment, Mr. Elmo 'Mega Volt' Sputterspark.  How could you, five powerful members of the Brain-Team, let those two win?  Please provide a simple answer that question."  Liquidator stepped up.  "Very well, Liquie."

            Liquidator said, "Those two Thunder Brats came just as we were about to destroy the Sword of Omens.  We thought that, if we were able to beat Lion-O and Captain Nit-wit, we would be able to defeat them.  We let our guard down."

            Ludwig smiled.  "Thank you.  But why did you let your guard down?"

            "We gathered that they were less intelligent and more frightenable than either Lion-O or Captain N.  We felt that their knowing of our power would scare them into succumbing."

            "I see.  Thank you very much, Number One.  After hearing that, I can't blame you.  They are not at all like normal children I've seen."  He showed his despicable grin.  "However, I do know how they might be beaten.  You see, they get their strength, as you might call it, from working together, as a single unit.  Separate them, and I'd say you have two kittens who wouldn't know the person to whom to turn for the next suggestion.  Wilykat, if you've not noticed, is not quite as bright as Wilykit.  They also care deeply for one another, though they do not always show it.  In fact, they hardly ever show it.  That could be something to our favour, if we implicate it enough and in the right way."

            "Excuse me," said Mumm-ra, "but what about the full-grown Thunder Cats?  They'd be sure to try to do something first before letting the Thunder Kittens try it."

            "That would be just like them.  But what's the big deal about the big ones' height?" asked Ludwig.  "If you're wily enough, being big can just be an awkward obstacle."

            "That," remarked Bushroot, "sounds like something one of those little Thunder Brats would say.  What about the rest of the N-Team?"

            "Ha!" laughed Ludwig.  "The Mason-Team and Justice Ducks are not nearly powerful enough to defeat any of us.  Half-wit-egotist Dippy-duck and his Justice Twerps, separated, are so stupid that any one of them can only beat King Hippo and Eggplant Wizard, combined, on the IQ scale.  The Justice Ducks and the Mason-Team can be done in by the Luna-tacks and the Mutants easily, if taken by surprise.  In fact, I want those two groups dealt with first.  My dear Mumm-ra, would you mind telling the Mutants and Luna-tacks to do so?  If they object, tell them that I'll come to destroy them if they refuse my command."

            "My pleasure, Prince!" said Mumm-ra.  Lightning flashed into the Pyramid.  The eyes of the man-beast statues lit up.  Mumm-ra chanted, "Ancient Spirits of Evil,. . ."  Wind began to blow his cloak back as the four statues approached him.  ". . .transform this decayed form. . ."  The statues, bathing Mumm-ra with evil energy, encircled him.  ". . .to Mumm-ra,. . ."  His cloak and bandages flew off; the double-headed snake emblem glowed on his chest; he grew into his more powerful form.  ". . .the Ever-Living!"  By the last word, Mumm-ra had finished transforming completely.  Cackling evilly, he flew out the 'window' near the top of the Pyramid and went to Castle Plundarr.

            "Trust you Mumm-ra, Prince Ludwig?" asked Mega Volt.

            Ludwig answered, "Yes, I trust him, Mega Volt.  What about you?"

            Mega Volt said, "So do I, but something about him doesn't feel right.  Maybe it's just me."

            Ludwig said, "I see.  Well, my friends, let's go back to Planet Metroid."  He got out a radio.  "MotherBrain, would you open the warp from Mumm-ra's Pyramid to Planet Metroid, please?"  A warp door opened.  The five villains entered it; then, the door closed.

            * * *

            Thunder Kittens' Room, Cat's Lair.

            At Cat's Lair, the Thunder Kittens, who were in their room, were extremely bored, and Lion-O, who was in the control room, was keeping watch.  "Darn it, Wilykat!" said Wilykit.  "I have never been so bored in my life."

            Wilykat said, "Me, neither.  We should've beaten Pumyra and Snarfer to the punch and gone to New Thundera with Tygra, Panthro, and Cheetara."  Wilykit smiled and shook her head.  "Oh?  Why not?"

            "The business with the apple."

            "I was afraid you were thinking about that.  -Sigh.-  I would almost rather have done something to deserve staying cooped up like this, but we did nothing to deserve this.  This feels worse than being grounded."

            "You didn't mention that, at the moment, we're safe.  That's downright boring."  She began to pace.  "I wish we had something to do!  Have you any ideas?"  She looked pleadingly at Wilykat, who shook his head.

            "Sorry, 'Kit.  I have no ideas about what we could do."  Wilykit frowned.

            "I need to do something, or I'll go crazy!"  Wilykat perked up and smiled, having an idea from his annoying side.

            "Oh?  You're not already crazy?"  Wilykit was angered.

            "Cut that out!  Brothers sure know how to get their sisters annoyed."  She went to her bed and stretched out on her back with her hands tucked behind her head.  "If I go to sleep, don't wake me up unless you get an idea or there's an emergency.  Okay?"

            "Sure, 'Kit."  He grabbed a chair, went over to her bed, put down the chair, and sat near her.  He examined her with a mischievous look that made her nervous.

            "Uh, Wilykat, you're making me nervous.  Why are you looking at me like that?"

            "Oh, I just am."  His conscience said no; his annoying side said yes.  After a moment, he could not resist what his annoying side was telling him to do:  he began to tickle Wilykit in the belly.

            "What the - hmph!"  In a moment, Wilykit uncontrollably exploded with laughter.  "HA, HA!!!  Quit it!  Ha, ha, ha!  Stop!  You're making me angry, 'Kat!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            "Oh, come on!  At least you're laughing now!  Heh, heh!"

            "Only because - ha, ha, ha! - I cannot help it!  Ha, ha, ha!  I thought I wasn't ticklish anymore!  Ha, ha, ha!  How - ha, ha! - how can I be?  Ha, ha, ha!  Darn it, 'Kat, stop it now!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            "You're ticklish because you were never tickled much before, 'Kit."

            "Ha, ha, ha!  Quit!  Ha, ha, ha!  Stop right now!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            Neither Wilykat nor Wilykit saw the door open or Lion-O come in.  "Ah-ha!" exclaimed Lion-O, smiling.  Wilykat turned and saw him and stopped immediately.  "So, you two still engage in childish games, eh, Thunder Kittens?"  Wilykit, sitting up, gasped for air and got the laughs out of her system.  Her face then became flushed with more anger than Lion-O had ever seen.

            "He did it, Lion-O!" said Wilykit furiously.  "This was entirely not my idea!"

            Wilykat said, "I couldn't help it!  I was so bored, and Wilykit just looked too. . . too. . . too vulnerable, lying there.  I couldn't control myself."

            "You know how I hate to be angry, you. . . you. . . you. . . oh, I won't even use the word which, at this moment, I believe properly describes you!  You took advantage of my helpless position and made me so angry!"

            Rather concerned, Lion-O asked, "What's wrong, Wilykit?"

            Wilykit exploded, "I'll tell you what's wrong, Lion-O!  My brother did not even ask me if tickling me was okay!  If he had asked me if he might first, I might have said that he could!  I wouldn't have just gone over to him and begun to tickle him without asking first!"

            Soothingly but nervously, Wilykat began, "Look, 'Kit,. . ."

            Wilykit angrily turned to him and yelled, "Shut up!!"  Wilykat shut up.  "Now I see why we're still treated like kids!  That's what my annoying little brother acts like!"  She angrily stormed out.  Lion-O wisely decided not to get in her way.  Sitting on Wilykit's bed, Wilykat put his face in his hands and began to cry softly.  Lion-O went over to him and sat on Wilykit's bed to Wilykat's right.

            After a few moments, Lion-O softly asked, "Are you okay?"  Wilykat looked at him and tried to nod.

            "I think so, but I don't understand why she yelled at me."

            Lion-O asked, "Why did you make her mad?"

            "I didn't know she would get so angry.  I just thought she'd laugh it off.  She said something about it being my fault that we're still treated like kids.  She hates it, I think."

            Lion-O put his right hand on Wilykat's left shoulder.  "That's what the two of you are in our eyes, Wilykat.  It's not so much as what you two do or say.  My gosh, I still feel like a kid sometimes.  Has she ever yelled at you before?"  Wilykat thought over whether he should tell Lion-O or not; he decided to do so.

            Wilykat sighed, then said, "Yes, she has; once.  It was when we were fixing the apples for you and Steelheart."  Lion-O gave a nod in a manner indicating he wanted an explanation.  "I began by asking her why she sometimes talks to me in an antipathetic manner.  In a few seconds her voice sounded loud enough to go through the roof.  She said that she thought that I was stupid; she said that, with the way I had acted when we were gathering apples, she almost felt insulted at having me as her brother.  After a while, she managed to tone down."  He sniffed.  "It's probably unintentional."  He definitely believed that.  That scared him witless, to think that his sister could get so angry with him.

            "You sure didn't show anything about it.  You two looked as though you'd gotten along quite well, and you two sure fixed Mega Volt, Bushroot, Liquidator, Quacker Jack, and Mumm-ra."

            Still disappointed, Wilykat said, "Yeah."

            "Don't you think 'Kit was a little harsh on you?"

            "Certainly, but I don't want to be yelled at again.  Her yelling at me scares me more than anything else."

            "Well, I'll have a talk with her, 'Kat.  That is, if I can find her."  He noted a little relief in Wilykat's face.

            "Thank you," said Wilykat, "but I'd prefer that I do it.  Brother to sister.  I'm the one who made her angry.  This is our matter.  See you later, Lion-O."  He got up to leave.

            "See you later, Wilykat," said Lion-O.  "Good luck."  Lion-O felt he would be overstepping his bounds if he tried to interfere.  He wanted to help, but he realised that there was little that he could do.

            "Thank you."

            * * *

            Wilykit hopped across several trees and located a pretty lake.  After returning to the ground, she went near the edge of the lake and sat down, her arms keeping her back up and her knees pointing to the sky.  Looking up at the sky, she sadly said, "My goodness, I don't mean to get so extremely angry at my brother for doing these things, but I can't help it.  I let my emotions act before I think.  I wish I weren't so mean-tempered."  She sighed.  "The worst part is that I probably hurt him too much."  She brought her hands together in front of her lower legs.  She put her face in the space between her legs and her shoulders and began to weep to herself.  "I feel so awful about the whole thing."  Suddenly her head perked up, and she was suddenly alert.  "What's that sound?"  She sprang up, completely erect in a fraction of a second.  She silently went toward where she heard the sound and hid near the place behind a tree.  I shouldn't have come out here alone! she thought to herself.  I sure hope it's not some villain.  She moved her left hand up to her capsule-belt and took off a flash-capsule.  She continued to listen, her ears naturally having the best hearing of any other Thunder Cat.  It's getting close now, she thought to herself.  Either someone's looking for me, or someone's lost.  I have a feeling it's the former.  At least my flash-capsule will blind whomever it is if the person poses a threat.  A bush near her began rustling.  She inched away from it.  Out of the bush popped Bushroot!  Bushroot!  I don't think he's looking for me, though, she thought, as Bushroot was looking around.

            "Ah, such a nice forest!" said Bushroot, surveying the area.  "Very unspoiled.  At least those kitties know how to keep the forests clean.  Unfortunately, that won't hit it with Ludwig.  He and Liquidator just want the Thunder Cats out of the way.  And I can't blame them, either, as they do too much good."

            Boy, would I like to show you something good! thought Wilykit, putting her capsule away.  That stupid plant.  He's lucky I'm not Darkwing.  She then heard another sound. . . one she heard when she and Wilykat leap through the trees together.  Wilykat was coming!  If that brother of mine makes us have an encounter with that half-plant-half-duck aberration, I'll. . . no, I won't yell at him.  I've already been too nasty to him, made his life too miserable.

            "Well," said Bushroot, "I'd better beat it.  Those cats may try to mess me up if I'm around."  He got out a radio.  "Ludwig, all-clear!"  With that, a warp opened.  When he had entered it, the warp closed.

            Whew! thought Wilykit.  For a second there, I was awfully worried.  She then heard a very loud crack in the background!  "Wilykat!" she yelled worriedly.  She quickly darted into the forest.  She saw Wilykat hanging from a rather loose limb.  Wilykat did not see her.

            "Oh, darn it," said Wilykat.  "Idiot!  You knew that stupid limb would crack, Wilykat."  Even worse, the limb he was holding onto was now cracking.  "Oh, great."

            He's going to fall! Wilykit thought.  She quickly climbed a tree and leapt to a limb near the one where Wilykat was.  Thanks to her strength and agility, she was several metres above the ground in seconds.  "HANG ON, WILYKAT!!" she shouted as she got out her rope.

            "WELL, MY OPTIONS ARE RATHER LIMITED, WILYKIT!!" pointed out Wilykat.  Wilykit swung the rope down to him.

            "Grab my rope!"  Wilykat let go of the cracking limb with one hand and grabbed the rope with that hand.  When he securely had it, he let go of the limb.  As soon as that happened, the limb cracked off and fell to the ground.  Wilykit had a solid hold where she was, so she did not slip any with her brother's added weight.  She pulled up Wilykat to her limb.  "Are you okay?"

            "Yeah," said Wilykat.  "So, I did something else stupid.  Go ahead and yell at me."

            "No way, Wilykat," said Wilykit with a glint of humour in her eyes as she gathered her rope.  With a hint of guilt in her voice, she said, "I hate yelling at you."

            Wilykat said angrily, "Well, that sure surprises the sugar out of me!"

            Wilykit firmly said, "Don't try yelling at me, Wilykat.  It doesn't faze me."

            "We'll test that!"

            "No, we won't.  I might have slipped, too, if I were swinging out here."

            "Oh, so you admit that you may do it!"

            "Yes, I do.  Look, I don't feel like having a childish argument.  If you came out here to argue, go back to Cat's Lair."  She slid down the tree to the ground and landed without incident.  "COMING DOWN, BROTHER?!?"

            Wilykat shouted, "I'M COMING!!!"  The same happened with him on sliding down:  no incident.  "See?  I did something without messing it up."

            "Cut it out," said Wilykit.  "Let's not argue."

            Wilykat smiled and said, "What's the matter?  Isn't being yelled at as fun as yelling?"

            Getting angrier, Wilykit said sternly, "Look, Wilykat, I'm sorry that I upset you!  I don't like it.  You sometimes just make me feel so angry. . ."  She stopped off.  She then said, more sympathetically, "Please, don't make it any harder on me than I have on myself.  I feel so angry with myself for having yelled at you.  I can't stand it."  Losing emotional control, she began to cry softly.

            "So," said Wilykat, with no emotion whatsoever, "it's as strong a burden on you as I thought."

            "I'm sorry, Wilykat.  I'll try not to yell at you again.  Can you forgive me?"

            Wilykat's face showed no sign at all at how it was tearing him up inside.  His beautiful orange eyes showed neither compassion nor anger.  Wilykit's tear-stained eyes, however, showed her sadness, showed him that she was sorry for yelling at him.  "No," replied Wilykat emotionlessly, "not at the moment."  Wilykit's eyebrows pleadingly saddened.

            "No?" she said.  "You can't forgive me?"

            "In fact," continued Wilykat, "I won't.  How does it feel without anyone to comfort you?"

            "Not very good," she said, her sadness increasing.  "I never meant to hurt you."

            "I realise that," he said, still unshaken on the outside.  He started to wonder how he was able to continue this punishment.  "If you'll remember, though, you made the mistake of yelling at me a second time, so I assume you did it the second time because I forgave you.  Maybe this will keep you from doing it a third time."

            Wilykit sat and used the tree to lean her back on.  "Wilykat, I know I hurt you.  I know this is ripping you apart inside."  Wilykat went and leant against the same tree to her left.  He continued to show no emotion.

            "It might be; it might not be," said Wilykat.

            Soon, Wilykit's face was stained with tears.  "Why are you doing this?" she asked, her tear-filled eyes pleading for mercy.

            "To show you how it feels," said Wilykat, his eyes saying absolutely nothing and his voice revealing nothing at all about how he felt, "to have no one giving you compassion."

            "You know how you told me to let you know if I needed another hug?"

            "Yes."

            "Well,. . ."  She was choked up.  She buried her face in her hands.  "I need one right now."

            "Ask Lion-O," said Wilykat emotionlessly.  "I'm not going to give it to you, because you might think that you can yell at me again."  She turned to him, anger trying to penetrate through the tears filling her eyes.

            She tried to shout, "I NEVER INTEND TO YELL AT YOU, WILYKAT!"  She was too sad to really yell.  As soon as she had said this, she resumed crying.  "I'm sorry I yelled at you!  You just make me so insanely angry at times!"  Wilykat's gaze was still as stony as ever.

            "I see," he said.  The burden was almost too much, but he still managed to keep any emotion out of his face or voice.  "Maybe you ought to. . . no, it mightn't work."  Wilykit looked back up at him.  She knew how to get to him, and she had just gained the control to do it.

            "You can't hide it from me forever, you know, Wilykat."

            "What?"

            "Your emotion."  She got up, rubbing the tears out of her eyes.  She managed to put strength in her voice.  She pointed at him and looked him in the eye.  Putting compassion into her voice, she said, "I know that you're not as cold as a stone, brother.  You know that you're breaking up inside.  You cannot hide that from me, no matter how hard you try."  She put her hands on his shoulders.  "Wilykat, hiding your emotions isn't good.  It's better just to say, 'the heck with it!' and let out your emotions."  She gave him a warm smile.  "Come on, Wilykat.  Let it out."

            Something gave way.  Wilykat began to cry softly.  "You. . . how did you do that?"  He sniffled a little.  Wilykit hugged him.  "How did you make my barrier crack?"

            Rubbing his back, Wilykit said, "It was easy, Wilykat.  I knew that your emotions were so built up inside that it would take a little effort to get it out of you.  You know you can't hide much from me."

            Wilykat put his arms around her.  "I thought I could get you to beg and plead for my forgiveness.  Instead, you made me sorry I tried."  He rubbed her back.  "This time, though, please try not to yell at me again.  I can't stand it."

            "Okay," said Wilykit.  "I'll try not to.  You try not to annoy me."

            "Okay, 'Kit," said Wilykat.

            "Oh, how sweet," said a familiar, watery voice.  "The kids are making up."  The Thunder Kittens released each other and turned to see. . .

            "The Liquidator!" exclaimed Wilykat.

            "Aaaaaand the winner of the name-that-villain contest is Wilykat, the male Thunder Kitten!" said Liquidator.  "His prize is a one-way trip for two toooooo oblivion!  The deliverers of the tickets will be Quacker Jack and his electrocharged buddy, Mega Volt!"  Mega Volt and Quacker Jack came up from behind a tree.

            "Hello, Thunder Brats!" said Mega Volt.  "I am the static that electrocutes your fur!  I am the dog that nips at Thunder Cats' heels!  I am Mega Volt, and you sure as heck had better not call me. . ."

            "Ah, shut up and electrocute them, Sparkie!" said Quacker Jack.

            "AS I WAS TELLING THE THUNDER BRAT, DON'T CALL ME 'SPARKIE,' CHUCKLES!!" screamed Mega Volt.  Quacker Jack tossed a pair of snap-teeth onto Mega Volt's muzzle.  "Ow!"  Mega Volt shocked the teeth off.

            "That was for calling me 'Chuckles,' Sparkie!" said Quacker Jack.

            "DON'T CALL ME 'SPARKIE'!!!" screamed Mega Volt.  He shocked Quacker Jack to a crisp.  He turned to the Thunder Kittens.  "And, now, little kitties, prepare to become anatomically obscure French fries!  Heh, heh, heh!"

            "-Gulp!-  I think we'd better beat it, Wilykat!" said Wilykit.

            Wilykat said, "Good idea!"  He tapped his communicator.  "N-Team Transporter, transport two to Cat's Lair!"  They were immediately transported back to the steps right outside Cat's Lair.

            Mega Volt said, "Oh, fudge it!  Those brats got away again!"  Liquidator growled.

            "Mega Volt, if you hadn't gotten so darned angry at Quacker Jack for his calling you that name," Liquidator half-screamed, "the Thunder Kittens would have been crispy kitties by now!"  Liquidator short-circuited Mega Volt, who shrieked.

            * * *

            Cat's Lair.

            At Cat's Lair, the Kittens looked at each other when they arrived.  "That," remarked Wilykit, "was awfully darned close!"

            "Yeah," said Wilykat.  He smiled and said, "Just don't yell at me again."  He went in just when Wilykit was about to say something to him.

            Wilykit said to herself, " 'Just don't yell at me again!'  Like I was even thinking about it!"  She followed Wilykat.

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid, orbiting third-Earth.

            Up above third-Earth, Metroid was in orbit.  "So," said Ludwig, "you two idiots fought again."

            "Sparkie was dilly-dallying!" said Quacker Jack.  "I just told him to get on with it!"

            "Don't call me that, you imbecile!" said Mega Volt.  MotherBrain picked up Mega Volt and Quacker Jack with her tentacles.

            "Shut up!" said MotherBrain.  She knocked their heads together and dropped them, knocking them senseless.

            Liquidator said, "Those two couldn't capture a dead cat lying in broad daylight."  He got on the planetwide intercom.  "Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo, get in here this instant, or you'll be turned over to the N-Team!"  Before he could turn off the device, Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo were in the room.  "You idiots are one ten-billionth of a second late!"

            Panting more than any jogger, Eggplant Wizard said, "Sorry, but the lift was busy."

            King Hippo said, "Yeah.  You're just as bossy as Ludwig and MamaBrain, Waterhead!"

            "If you want to be beheaded," said Liquidator, "call me that again!!"  No response.  "Good.  Now, we are having a little trouble with a couple of kittens."

            "The Thunder Kittens?" asked King Hippo.

            "Exactly," said Liquidator.  "I want the two of you to. . ."

            "No way, Liquie!" said King Hippo.

            Eggplant Wizard said, "Those two are too wily for us to handle!"

            Liquidator growled, "-Grrr!-  If you don't get down there to Cat's Lair to get the Thunder Kittens this instant, you're going to regret disobeying my orders!  Return without them, and you'll be punished, but it'll be worse if you don't go right now!  Guaranteed!  Go get them. . . now!"  The two saluted him.

            "Okay," said Eggplant Wizard.  He tossed a broccoli on the floor.  The broccoli turned into a warp to Cat's Lair.  "Coming, king of fat?"

            "Yeah, I'm coming, wizard of stupidity!"  King Hippo punched Eggplant Wizard into the warp and followed.

            "You're making a mistake," said MotherBrain.

            Liquidator said, "No, I'm not, MotherBrain.  I want an excuse to punish their worthless hides!  It ought to be entertaining to see the Thunder Kittens wallop them!"  He pressed a button.

            * * *

            Control Room, Cat's Lair.

            In Cat's Lair, the Thunder Kittens were relating their little misadventure with Quacker Jack, Mega Volt, and Liquidator to Lion-O in the control room.  "At least you escaped before Mega Volt sautéed you," said Lion-O.  "I wonder what happened to them."  Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo warped directly into the control room. . . the warp dropped them on the floor!  "Hey!"  King Hippo squashed Eggplant Wizard by falling on him.  He got up, peeled Eggplant Wizard off the floor, blew him up, stood him up, and gave him a big punch in the eye, knocking him on his back.

            "You stupid eggplant!" yelled King Hippo.  "You'd better be lucky that Liquidator doesn't come and water you right now!"

            "You fat slob!" said Eggplant Wizard.  "Waterhead wants an excuse to punish us!"  The Thunder Kittens got sneeze pellets off of their pellet-belts and tossed them at the two idiots.  "That's why he sent us here to get the Thunder Kit - achoo! - Thunder Kittens!  -Achoo!-  What in the world is going on?  -Achoo!-  -Achoo!-  -ACHOO!!!-"

            "Oh, come on, idiots!" said both Thunder Kittens in unison.  "Our pellets are nothing to sneeze at!"  Lion-O could not resist laughing.

            King Hippo said, "-Achoo!-  Come on, nitwit squash!  Let's beat it before the Thunder Kittens can beat us up!  -Achoo!-  -Achoo!-"  They warped to Metroid.

            "They are idiots!" announced Wilykat.  "They have failed to capture the Thunder Kittens!"

            Wilykit said, "Yes!  They even called Liquie 'Waterhead!'  And their prize, Wilykat?"

            Both Thunder Kittens said, "Excruciating torture by the Liquidator!"  Lion-O laughed again.

            "You two are amusing," said Lion-O, shaking his head.

            * * *

            Back on Metroid, the two imbeciles were tied up to the wall so that their fat rears were sticking out, ready to be lashed by Liquidator.  Liquidator said, "You failed to capture the Thunder Kittens!  You went so far as to call me 'Waterhead'!  For both of those transgressions, the two of you will pay dearly!  Say good-bye to your worthless hides, imbeciles!"  He turned his right hand and arm into a lash and began to whip the two idiots' bottoms to death.  A signal beeped; Liquie stopped.  "Please enter."  The door slid open, and Ludwig and Mumm-ra came into the room.  The door slid closed behind them.

            "The Luna-tacks and Mutants," said Mumm-ra, "have agreed to - heh, heh! - dispose of the Justice Ducks and the Mason-Team."

            "Very good," said Liquidator.

            Mumm-ra looked at the two stupid lackeys and asked, "What are you doing, Liquie?"

            "I," said Liquidator, "am punishing these two idiots for failing to capture the Thunder Kittens."

            "Why did you tell them to do it in the first place?" asked Mumm-ra, not understanding.

            "So that I would have a valid excuse to have fun punishing them."

            "Ah!"

            "Yeah," said Eggplant Wizard.  "Waterhead knew that we couldn't defeat the Thunder Twerps, so he sent us down there and, since we returned without them, he is punishing us."

            Liquidator said, "If you call me 'Waterhead' again, I will do more than punish you!  Do you understand me?"

            "Yes, I understand you."  Eggplant Wizard then mumbled, "Blob."

            "At least you said, 'blob,' instead of, 'Waterhead,' veggie," Liquidator said angrily.

            "Why are you letting him do this to us, Ludwig?" Eggplant Wizard asked.

            "How dare you not address me as a prince!" said Ludwig, pretending to be shocked.  "Flog him senseless, Liquie!"

            "With much pleasure, Prince Ludwig," said Liquidator.  He proceeded to do so.

            Over Eggplant Wizard's yelps, Ludwig instructed, "Now, Mumm-ra, I desire that the Mutants go after Perry Mason and his pals and that the Luna-tacks go after Darkwing's Justice Ducks.  Got it?"

            "Yes, my dear Ludwig," said Mumm-ra.  "I'll get them to it immediately.  Have fun, Prince!"  He went to instruct the Luna-tacks so.

            * * *

            Legal Complex, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            At the Palace, Kid Icarus's duty was to keep an eye on Mason's and Drake's offices, his bow and arrows ready for any intruder who might come along.  "Please," he said to himself, "no one come along."  A warp opened.  Out popped the Mutants!  "Mutants!"

            "Caw!  That's we!" said Vultureman.

            S-s-slithe said, "Yes-s-s!  Beat it, Kid Icarus-s-s, unless-s-s you want to be beaten up!"  Kid Icarus aimed for S-s-slithe.

            Kid Icarus said, "No way, Reptilian!  I shall not desert my duty-us!"  Just then, a plant in the hall grew and tied him up!  "Ung!  What happened?"  Another warp opened, and Bushroot popped out of it.  "Bushroot-icus!"

            "Heh, heh, heh!" laughed Bushroot.  "Looks like this plant has you all tied up, Kid Icarus!  Heh, heh, heh!  Now, my dear Mutants, you are free to capture Mason, Street, Drake, Burger, and all the rest of them!"

            "Hoo, hoo!  Thanks, Bushroot!" said Monkian.

            "Heh, heh, heh!" laughed Jackalman.  "Yeah.  Now, let's get them!"  The four hideous creatures went down to Drake's reception room and forced their way in.

            The receptionist said, "Yipe!  Who are you?  Do you want to make an appointment?"

            "That's-s-s no cons-s-cern of yours!" said S-s-slithe.  "Yes-s-s?"  Monkian blasted the receptionist with a net out of which she could not escape.

            "Hoo, hoo!  You won't be calling security or anything else, lady!" said Monkian.  "Hoo, hoo!"  Jackalman whacked open the door to Drake's office with his club.  In the office, Paul Drake was conferring with his son, Paul Drake, Jr.

            "What the hell!  Plundarrian Mutants!" exclaimed Drake, Sr.

            "You've got it, Drake!" said Jackalman.  "Hit them with the net-bomber, Monkian!"  Monkian used the same net-device to capture Drake and Drake, Jr.

            Drake, Jr., said, "Ooh, this. . . we can't break out of these sticky nets!  -Gah!-"

            "Good!" said Vultureman.  "See, S-s-slithe?  Caw!  I said that the net-bomber would be a success!  Caw!"

            With a hint of sarcasm in his voice, S-s-slithe said, "I'm s-s-sorry I ever doubted you, Vultureman.  Yes-s-s?  Now, let's-s-s get Mas-s-son, S-s-street, Malans-s-ski, and Jacks-s-son!"  Outside, Bushie was keeping an eye on Kid Icarus.

            Bushroot said, "Don't struggle, Kid Icarus!  You won't escape from that vine!"  When Bushie was not looking, Kid Icarus secretly moved his hand to the wall and activated a communication line.

            When the comm-line was open, Kid Icarus whispered, "Captain N-icus, this is Kid Icarus.  Can you hear me?"

            Quietly, Kevin's voice replied, "Yes, Kid Icarus, I can hear you.  What's wrong down there?"

            Kid Icarus whispered, "Bushroot and the Plundarrian Mutants are down here, and the Mutants have captured Paul Drake and his son.  Bushroot had a plant tie me up, but I managed to activate this communication line."

            "Okay," said Kevin.  "I'll have MegaMan get down there, then I'll be there."  The comm-line was deactivated.  The Mutants came out of Drake's office with the two Drakes.

            Drake said, "Captain N will get you ugly critters for this!"

            "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed S-s-slithe.  "You think Captain N is-s-s going to s-s-save you?  Ha!  Think again!  Yes-s-s?"

            "He shall!" exclaimed Kid Icarus.  "I guarantee!"

            Monkian said, "Hoo, hoo!  Shut up, angel, or I'll send you to heaven!  Hoo, hoo, hoo!"

            "Heh, heh, heh!" laughed S-s-slithe.  "Good one!"  The molecules of Kevin and MegaMan materialised in the room.  "What in the world. . ."

            Kevin had his Zapper aimed at S-s-slithe; MegaMan had his MegaBuster aimed at Monkian.  "Have you never heard," asked Kevin, "of molecular transportation?"  At that moment, Liquidator and Melodia warped into the room.  "Melodia and Liquidator?"

            Melodia, with the head of her Sound Smasher aimed at Kevin, said, "That's right!  But, now, prepare to be harmonised!"  She wrapped up Kevin and MegaMan with her wicked music laser.  "Ha, ha, ha!  Now, you'll be singing a different tune!  Ha, ha, ha!"  A blue music laser blasted the Sound Smasher out of her hands.  "What?!?"

            "Sorry, lady!" said Bluegrass, with his Laser Guitar in his hands and Side Man on his shoulder.  "You just didn't play my favourite tune!"

            "Ooh, I should have known that you would get in on this!" said an infuriated Melodia.  "I hate you, hick!"  Liquidator put his hand on her shoulder.

            "Calm down, Melodia," said Liquidator.  "I'll take care of the good ol' country boy!  Ha, ha, ha!"  He wrapped up Bluegrass with a stream of water.

            "Oh, durn it!" said Bluegrass.  "Get 'im, Side Man!"  Side Man flew toward Liquidator.  He fired several notes of music laser at Liquidator, but the laser just went through Liquidator without harming him any.

            Liquidator laughed, "Ha, ha, ha!  Your puny laser won't faze me, Rip-Hawk!  Ha, ha, ha!"  He knocked out Side Man with one swift and hard PUNCH.  "Yep, even the Liquidator knows when to use brute force!"  He turned to the Mutants.  "Get those who are in Mason's office, guys!"

            S-s-slithe replied, "Yes-s-s, Liquidator."  Jackalman used his club to bash in the door to Mason's private office.  "All right, Mas-s-son!  The game's-s-s up!  Yes-s-s?"

            Mason said, "S-s-slithe!  I'm calling Captain N right now!"  Monkian grabbed Mason's collar and dragged him out the door.  "Hey!"

            Monkian told Mason, "Hoo, hoo!  He's right out here, Mason!"  Monkian showed Mason Kevin, who was still all wrapped up in Melodia's music.  "Now, to net you!"  He used the net device to put a net on Mason.  "You won't get out so easily!  Hoo, hoo!"  The door from the reception room opened.  Della entered the office.

            Della Street said, "Perry, there's. . . oh, my!"

            "Well, well!" said Jackalman.  "If it isn't Della Avenue!  Ha, ha, ha!"  Monkian blasted her with the net device.

            "This net is sticky!" remarked Mason.

            "Yes-s-s!" said S-s-slithe.  "That's to keep you from es-s-scaping!  Yes-s-s?  It's-s-s Vultureman's only bright idea yet!"

            "Where are Malanski and - caw! - Jackson?" asked Vultureman.

            S-s-slithe said, "I don't know.  Look in the law library!"  Vultureman and Monkian went over to the door to Mason's law library and forced open the door.  Inside, Malanski and Jackson were studying a law book for a case they were working on.

            Malanski exclaimed, "What in the world. . . Mutants!"

            "That's what we are, all right," said Monkian, "and you're trapped!  Hoo, hoo, hoo!"  He blasted Ken Malanski and Jackson with the net device.  "It's a sticky situation for you!  Hoo, hoo!"  The Mutants moved the captured members of the Mason-Team division together in the hallway.

            Liquidator said, "Hee, hee!  Good work, Mutants!  Now, we still need Hamilton Burger, Lt. Tragg, Lt. Anderson, Lt. Drumm, and Sgt. Brice!  Heh, heh!"

            Kevin involuntarily exclaimed, "You idiots had better feel lucky that the Thunder Cats aren't watching the area right now, or the Thunder Kittens would fix you!"

            "The Thunder Kittens!" said Monkian.  "What are they going to do?  Scratch us?"  The four Mutants and Melodia laughed.

            "Go ahead and mega-laugh!" said MegaMan.  "You'll be mega-sorry when the Steeltwins catch up with you!"

            "Shut up, tin-can!" said Bushroot.  "The Mutants and Luna-tacks are wearing devices that make them invisible to the detection devices of the Silver Hawks and the Thunder Cats!  Hee, hee, hee!"

            "In other words," said Liquidator, "they are cloaked to sensors!  No?"

            "Yes-s-s!" said S-s-slithe.  "But what about the hick?"

            Bluegrass said, "I merely decided to pay a visit on Mason, scale-bait!"

            S-s-slithe warned, "Don't make me angry, cowboy!  That's a mistake few people live to regret!"

            Liquidator instructed, "Go ahead and take these Mason-Twerps back to Metroid, Mutants.  And give the Luna-tacks the green flag!"

            "Okay, Liquie," said S-s-slithe.  "As you order."  Vultureman opened a warp to Metroid.  They dragged in the captured Mason-Team members.  Liquidator turned to Kevin, Bluegrass, MegaMan, and Kid Icarus.

            Liquidator laughed, "Now, I have something special in store for the four of you!  Hee, hee, hee, hee, hee!"

            * * *

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

            At Cat's Lair, Lion-O was currently monitoring the area of the galaxy that was Darkwing's sector.  "Hm.  Nothing is going on around there.  I wonder how the duck's taking it.  Heh!  Probably not too well.  Let's see what's going on around Limbo. . ."  He typed in the commands to switch to scanning Limbo.

            * * *

            Meanwhile, the Thunder Kittens were quietly approaching the Sword-chamber.  "Are you sure we ought to be doing this, Wilykit?" asked Wilykat.

            "Oh, lighten up, Wilykat!" said Wilykit.  "I'm sure the Sword can tell us why we're still only barely teens on the maturing scale."  They reached the door.  "I've seen Lion-O open this before.  Let me see. . ."  She grabbed a stone near the door and turned it.  The door to the Sword-chamber opened!

            "I hope Lion-O doesn't get mad!" warned Wilykat.

            "Don't worry.  If he finds out, I'll accept full responsibility."

            "I may disapprove of this idea, but I won't let you be punished alone!"  Wilykit went over to where the Sword of Omens was resting.  When she moved her hand over the handle, the Eye of Thundera awakened.  When she picked up the Sword, the hilt-apertures grew, as did the Sword.

            "Hey!" she exclaimed.  "It grew!"  She lifted the sword so that her eyes were looking through the apertures.  "Now, let me see. . . Sword of Omens, give me sight-beyond-sight."  The Eye of Thundera glowed, as did her eyes.  It knew her request, but it showed her a void. . . a blank void.  She closed her eyes in disappointment and put the Sword back where its resting place was.  "Nothing.  The Sword of Omens could show me nothing."  As soon as the Sword was back on its resting place and she had released the handle, it shrank and the hilt became a straight line.  The Eye of Thundera returned to sleep.  "I'll be darned!  I thought surely that the Sword would give us some clue!"  Wilykat sighed.

            "We did this," said Wilykat, "and we got nothing."  Suddenly, the Eye of Thundera awakened and let them know there was something urgent.

            "Something's wrong!" said Wilykit.  "Lion-O would rather do this.  Let's beat it!"  They got out of the Sword-chamber and closed the door.  A few moments after that, a door opened, and Lion-O ran to the Sword-chamber.

            While opening the door, Lion-O asked, "Why didn't you look through the Sword, Kittens?"

            "We thought you would rather do it," said Wilykat.  As soon as the door opened, Lion-O and the Kittens ran in.  Lion-O quickly picked up the Sword and put the hilt to his eyes as the apertures formed.

            "Sword of Omens," instructed Lion-O, "give me sight-beyond-sight."  His eyes and the Eye of Thundera glowed.  He saw that the Luna-tacks were ready to ambush the Justice Ducks in Darkwing Tower.  "The Luna-tacks are going to ambush the Justice Ducks!"  He quickly picked up the Claw Shield, put the Sword in it, and put it on his leg.  "Stay here and keep an eye on the monitors, Thunder Kittens."

            "Okay, Lion-O," said Wilykit, but something in her eyes and voice said that she did not want to stay behind and miss the action.  The Kittens ran to the control room as Lion-O tapped his communicator.

            "N-Team Transporter," said Lion-O, "transport one to Darkwing Tower."  He was transported there.

            * * *

            Darkwing Tower, Audubon Bay Bridge, Saint Canard, Darkwing's Earth.

            At Darkwing Tower, Fenton Crackshell, whose secret identity was GizmoDuck, was lounging on the couch and reading the newspaper in the main hall.  "Oh, Darkwing!" he said.  "It says here that the Thunder Kittens just subdued Mumm-ra and the Fearsome Four with no help at all!"

            In a neighbouring room, his costume-changing room, Darkwing said, "I did not have to hear that, you know."  He came into the main hall as Darkwing.  "It's just not fair!  Those two kids shouldn't be allowed to fight mummies, electrifying and watery dogs, nutty ducks, and half-plant-half-duck aberrations!  Lion-O, I think, is way too lenient where those two are concerned!"

            "Worried about our ego, are we?" asked Gosalyn Mallard, coming in in her Quiverwing Quack costume.  "I'm younger than they are!  And see what you let me do!"

            "Only because I don't want to get into any arguments with you, Gos!" said Darkwing.  Lion-O materialised in the room.  "Well, hello, Lion-O."

            "Hi, Darkwing," said Lion-O.  "I'm afraid this isn't a social call.  The Luna-tacks are about to attack."

            Darkwing asked curiously, "How do you know?"

            Lion-O pointed to the Sword of Omens and said, "The Eye of Thundera showed me."

            "Hmm," said Darkwing.  "My sensors should have picked them up. . . unless they were cloaked!"  He took the paper from Fenton.  He saw the article about the Thunder Kittens at the top on the front page and showed it to Lion-O.  "How could you let them do that?"

            "First and foremost," said Lion-O, "I was in no position to disagree."  He pointed to a line in the third column.  "Read the second sentence in the second paragraph in the third column, and you'll see what I mean."  Darkwing did so.

            "So," said Darkwing, "you let them humiliate you!"

            "In case you didn't notice," said Lion-O, a little anger creeping into his voice uncontrollably, "the Thunder Kittens saved Kevin and me from those evil-doers!  I just care that they had the ability to stop Mumm-ra and the Fearsome Four."

            "Hmph!" said Darkwing.  "They just got lucky, that's all."

            Reining in his anger, Lion-O said, "No.  They knew what to do."

            Darkwing whispered to himself, "Presumptuous little brats!"  Lion-O's anger snapped free for a moment, but fortunately only in words.

            "What was that!?" Lion-O demanded.

            Darkwing said, "I called them presumptuous little brats!  What else fits their personality?  They go out of their way to get into trouble!"

            "They're adventurous," said Lion-O.  He then said with a smile, "And they seem to be a lot smarter than you!"  Darkwing angrily tossed his hat on the floor.

            "THAT DOES IT!!!" shouted Darkwing.  "Wilykat, particularly, is one heck of a smarty-pants!  Well, I'll tell you something!  I will be damned if I'm going to let two kids show me up!"

            "Take it easy, Darkwing," said Lion-O.  "They may appear small, but I think they're braver than I am.  They definitely have more tricks up their sleeves."

            "Ha!  Together, they're bold, but separate them, and you have two kids who are as helpless as. . . well, as kittens.  One doesn't know what to do without the other!  Particularly Wilykat!  They look to each other for decisions!  They are dependent on one another!  They work as an inseparable unit!  Do you understand?"

            "We'll test that!" said Lion-O.  He tapped his communicator.  "Wilykat, come over here."

            Wilykat replied, "Yes, Lion-O."  Seconds later, he materialised in the room.  "What is it, Lion-O?"

            "Darkwing Duck," said Lion-O, "was just accusing you and Wilykit of being too dependent on one another.  He says that you don't know how to work apart."

            "Oh, yeah, Wingie?" said Wilykat, angrily turning to Darkwing.  "We'll see about that!  I can stand up for myself!"  The Luna-tacks leapt in through the window.  Fenton quickly left to put on his suit.  "Well, well!  If it isn't the ugly squad!"

            Luna screamed, "You'll pay for that, Thunder Kitten!  Sic 'im, Amok!"  Her raucous 'steed' Amok charged for Wilykat, who got out of the way before Amok creamed him.

            "You missed, Amok!" said Wilykat somewhat needlessly.  He got a pellet from his pellet-belt.  "Come and get me, you stupid creature!"  He had angered Amok, who charged for him again.  Before leaping out of the way, Wilykat tossed the pellet on the floor, which released a slippery substance.  This caused Amok to slip and crash into the wall.  Luna fell off him onto her head and rubbed her head in pain.  "I hope you had a nice trip, Luna!  Heh, heh!"

            Luna screamed, "Drat you!  Chilla, freeze the dingbat that chanteth stupid nonsense at you!"

            "Yes-s-s, Luna," said Chilla.  "All right, Dark-. . . hey!  Where is he?"  Darkwing appeared to have vanished while Chilla was looking at her leader.

            Darkwing's voice, with a ghostly, mysterious quality, filled the room.  "I am the terror that flaps in the night.  I am the salt that melts your ice!"  A burst of smoke. . . and he appeared!  "I am Darkwing Duck!  Prepare to go to the cooler, Chilla!"

            Chilla said, "No!  You prepare to go to the cooler, Dimwit Dope!"  She froze him with her icy breath before he could move.

            Quiverwing Quack aimed an arrow at Aluro.  "Get ready for a nap, hypnosis-brain!"  She fired but missed Aluro.  Aluro blasted her with a beam from his Mesmerisation Club.

            Aluro, with his hypnotic voice, said, "Please, co-operate.  Struggling is useless.  You must give in.  There is no need for this senseless fighting."

            Quiverwing emitted, "I. . . I. . ."  Wilykat leapt at her and pushed her out from under the beam.  "Thanks, Wilykat!"

            "Why, you accursèd little Thunder Brat!" yelled Aluro.  He swung the handle of his club.  The club flew off and went to the ceiling.  It blasted everyone with its hypnotic beam. . . everyone except the Luna-tacks.  It even blasted GizmoDuck, who had just come out of a nearby room.  "Please, we need no senseless fighting.  We can work in peaceful coexistence."

            "That is not your intent!" Wilykat managed to say.  "You would. . . you would. . ."  From the window came a different voice. . . Quicksilver's!

            Quicksilver said, "You would rather destroy them than peacefully coexist with them, Aluro!"

            "What are you doing here, you blasted Silver Hawk?" demanded Red-eye.

            Tug-mug said, "How about you wait around, Quicksilver?  Ha, ha, ha!"  He set his Gravity Carbine to maximum gravity and blasted Quicksilver.  Quicksilver's legs were unable to support his now-heavy body.

            "Oh. . . I'm too heavy!" said Quicksilver.  "I get your pun, Tug-mug."  He could not get up.

            "You must give in," said Aluro.  "It is the only way."

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

            "NO!!!" said Wilykat.  "You. . . must. . . not. . . give. . . in!"  Four people arrived:  Launchpad McQuack, Morganna McCawber, Stegmutt, and Neptunia.

            "What," asked Neptunia, "are you barnacle-brains doing to our friends?"

            A familiar watery voice answered, "These 'barnacle-brains,' as you so call them, are capturing your friends, scale-bait!"  Liquidator zipped in through the window.  "Get the fish, Tug-mug!"

            "Hee, hee!" said Tug-mug.  "I'll make her wait for the scales!  Ha, ha, ha!"  He took away all of Neptunia's gravity with his Gravity Carbine.

            "Whoa!  I've really lost weight!" said Neptunia.  "But I didn't need to lose weight!"

            "Freeze, you other three!" said Chilla.  She froze Morganna, Launchpad, and Stegmutt before they could do anything.

            "We've got the Justice Dimwits, Liquidator!" said Luna.  "We've even got two Thunder Cats:  Lion-O and Wilykat."

            "So!" said Liquidator.  "Decided to come without your sister, have you, Wilykat?  Interesting decision!  Unfortunately, it may prove fatal!"  Lion-O tried to get the Sword.

            Aluro says, "Hmm, hmm!  Your Sword of Omens will do you no good.  The only Thunder Cat close enough to help is Wilykat, and he is next to you in the same condition."

            Luna ordered, "Let's get them back to Metroid.  Having the Lord of the Thunder Cats as our prisoner may prove very useful!"  Liquidator went over to Wilykat and grabbed his communicator.

            "Ha, ha, ha!" said Liquidator.  "With this, we can use the N-Team's transportation system!  Hee, hee, hee!"  Lion-O made quite an effort to reach his own communicator; he succeeded.

            Lion-O said, "Lion-O. . . to Hawkhaven.  Shut down the transporter system, Steelheart!  Liquidator has a communicator!"

            "Certainly!" replied Steelheart's voice.  A beep or two was heard.  "The transporter system is shut down.  Nice try, Waterhead!"

            Liquidator tapped Wilykat's communicator and shouted, "Boy, would I love to show you the what-for for calling me that, Silver Hawk!"  He looked down the hall. . . and saw warp doors!  "In fact, I shall show you the what-for, Steelheart!"  He leapt through the warp to Hawkhaven's Command Centre.  There, he found Steelheart standing beside Steelwill's station.

            "Oops!" said Steelheart.  "I forgot about the warp systems!"

            Liquidator said, "If either of you Steeltwins tries to shut down the warp zone systems, I'll kill the other!"  This momentarily terrified the Steeltwins into trying nothing.  Working quickly, Liquidator snapped his fingers urgently.  Water rapidly shoved Steelwill out of his seat; then, it tied up the Steeltwins back-to-back.  "Ha, ha!  This is going better than I'd hoped!  Hoo, hoo, hee, hee, hee!"  He tapped a comm-panel.  "Liquidator to Metroid.  Come in, my dear Prince Ludwig!"

            Ludwig's agitated voice came over the communicator circuits with perfect clarity.  The unbidden interruption was obviously not welcome.  "What is it, Liquie?"

            Liquidator, however, was quite confident that the news he had would please his irritated commander.  "I've just commandeered Hawkhaven, Your Evilness!"

            This magic sentence did indeed make the interruption most welcome to Ludwig.  "HAWKHAVEN?!?  HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!!!  How about the Silver Hawks?"

            "I've captured those do-gooding Steeltwins; Tug-mug got Quicksilver at Darkwing Tower.  As you are aware, we already caught Bluegrass at the Palace of Power."

            "Excellent job, Liquidator!  What about the Copper-Kidd?"

            "That other brat will be next on my list.  I'll make sure that he doesn't get me, boss.  I'll be careful with him. . . like we should have been with the Thunder Kittens."

            "Speaking of Thunder Kittens. . ."

            "Ooh, we caught Lion-O and Wilykat at Darkwing Tower!  I assume that Wilykit is still at Cat's Lair.  Actually, Wilykat puts up a good fight by himself."

            "I see.  Well, get Kidd and the rest of the Silver Hawks."

            "Aye, Prince Ludwig!  Rest assured that your empire will soon be created!  I shall talk with you later."

            "Okay, Liquie.  Farewell!"

            "Farewell, Ludwig!"  Liquidator cut off the comm-line.

            "You'll never succeed, Liquidator!" Steelheart exploded.

            "And we shall see to it!" added Steelwill.

            Liquidator said, "I doubt that.  You cannot even move, much less escape."  He went to leave.  Then, he turned around and said, "And forget about using your telepathic contact!  It will not help you to escape."  He entered the elevator.

            * * *

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

            At Cat's Lair, Wilykit was keeping her eyes on the monitor.  She asked herself, "What's going on?  What's taking Wilykat and Lion-O so long?  I'd better get up to Darkwing Tower and find out!"  She got out of the chair in which she had been sitting and tapped her communicator.  "N-Team transporter, transport one to Darkwing Tower."  Nothing.  "Transporter. . ."

            Liquidator's voice came over the communicator!  "Ha, ha, ha!  Steelheart locked out your precious transporter, because I got your precious brother's communicator!  Ha, ha, ha!  And, now, I've commandeered Hawkhaven, the Luna-tacks have captured the entire Justice Ducks, and Lion-O and Wilykat are out of commission!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            Suddenly, she was extremely worried.  "Wilykat," she whispered to herself.  "What the devil have you done to my brother, you wicked mutt?" she demanded.

            "Oh, he's safe, Thunder Kitten.  In fact, all of your friends whom we've captured are safe:  the Steeltwins; Quicksilver; Bluegrass; Lion-O; Wilykat; Captain N; MegaMan; Kid Icarus; Perry Mason; Della Street; Paul Drake; Paul Drake, Jr.; Ken Malanski; Jackson; Hamilton Burger; Lts. Tragg, Anderson, and Drumm; Sgt. Brice; Darkwing; Quiverwing; GizmoDuck; Neptunia; Morganna; Stegmutt; and Launchpad.  In a moment, the rest of the Silver Hawks will be added to the list!  Hee, hee, hee!"

            "Not if I have anything to do with it!" shouted Wilykit, concerned mostly for her brother but also for everyone else.

            "Well, you won't, kitty!  I've just cancelled the N-Team's warping systems at the source here on Hawkhaven!  Hee, hee!  Soon the five-sixths of the galaxy that we know will be the Koopulan Empire. . . with third-Earth being renamed Koopulus, the centre of that empire!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            Wilykit deactivated her communicator.  Helpless! she thought.  At the moment, I am entirely helpless!  Her thoughts were confused.  For once, she truly knew not what to do.