July 10.

            "Made any progress?" she asked.

            Almost mad, he whirled around and almost shouted, "What!"

            "Wesley!"

            Wesley was extremely humiliated.  "Sorry, Mom.  I'm. . . ugh.  How do you mean?"

            "Your relationship with Wilykit."

            He smiled.  "Now, that, I don't think, is much of your business.  I shall tell you, however, that I love her."  He stepped into his room to get ready for bed.  Beverly was almost shocked.  She got over it quickly, though, reminding herself that Wesley had never been this deeply in love before.  She mentally hoped the best for it, as such deep relationships could have terrible emotional consequences if ripped out.  She remembered Troi telling her that the deepest relationships are the ones to be encouraged, with the exception of deep hatreds.  Beverly felt that Wesley's love was going deeper than her own love with Jack.  She resolved to try not to interfere in any way with the development of the two young people's relationship.  However, she wasn't so sure about Wilykat.

            The door signal rang again.  As she went to admit the visitor, she wondered who was there.  It was Wilykat.  "Good evening, Wilykat," said the doctor.

            "Good evening, Doc," said Wilykat.  "I would like to see Wesley."

            Beverly thought this might put herself at risk of starting a disagreement. . . something she didn't like.  However, she said, "I'll ask."

            "Thank you."  Beverly went over to the door to Wesley's room and tapped a comm-button.

            "Wesley," said Beverly, "Wilykat is here to see you."  She stressed the A in Wilykat.

            Wesley said, "I'll be right out."  He came out, his uniform still on.

            "Wesley," said Wilykat, "may we speak alone?"  Wesley nodded.

            Beverly turned to Wesley.  "I'll be in my room if you need anything, Wesley," she said.  "Just let me know when you're finished, okay?"  She went into her room.

            "Have a seat," said Wesley.  Wilykat did so.  "What's on your mind, 'Kat?"

            Wilykat said, "My sister, a fact of which you are probably aware, has never been in love before.  Yet, I've noticed some - oh, what is it? - some things that don't happen normally with people, even Thunderians, in love, especially not the first time."

            "I assure you," said Wesley, "that I am not the more aggressive one."

            "I know, and I trust you," said Wilykat, nodding.  "Don't get me wrong.  I like you, Wesley.  I've looked up your record.  So, what the devil if you made a few mistakes?  That's life.  The good significantly outweighs the bad.  However, out of the professional field, I'm wondering what's going on between you and my sister."

            "The extent has been kissing."

            "I'm glad to hear that. . . and, from what I understand, kissing taking a long time.  By the way, I'm wondering. . . is she going too fast for you?"

            "No.  No, not at all."

            "I hope you're not just saying that because of your human male ego, Wesley.  I know several humans, so I know what that can be like."

            "I'm not!"

            "I'm sorry, Wes, but I am concerned.  Some female members of the Wilykat Race tended to have what is called a 'point-of-no-return zone.'  It occurs in a certain stage of the physical excitement process.  Once it happens, the young lady is locked in the process either for two hours or until. . . well, the logical end of the process."

            "Are you saying that the female is locked into sexual excitement either for two hours or until the sex occurs?"

            "Yes, in terms you might use."

            "Thanks.  Maybe I could have found out for myself."  Wilykat tried to be amused, but he could not.

            "Don't worry," said Wilykat.  "I am one hundred one percent positive that you haven't even come close to that point."

            "Well, that is a relief."

            "If you get that far and aren't prepared for copulation, there is an option.  Well, actually two.  Well, there would be two if you were Thunderian.  So there is one option.  If you were Thunderian, you could force her off with your strength and hold her arms until she stopped struggling.  That would require about two minutes.  Now, the option that would work for a human.  You can bring a sedative or sleeping agent, such as sleeping gas or a hypospray that instils sleep and works on Thunderians.  Understand?"

            "Yes, I understand, Wilykat.  Thank you for your advice."  Wilykat shook hands with Wesley and walked to the door.

            "Just be lucky," said Wilykat, "that you didn't have to learn the hard way, like Tygra.  The Cheetah Race has the same thing.  Oh!  And how do I know about copulation.  Other than that we learned about it in school, Wilykit and I looked in that book Tygra gave us on our race.  And we - heh, heh - took some time to study corresponding human characteristics.  Thunderians and humans share the same things except a few gene and chromosome types, strength, sex drive, eye-pupil shape, ear-shape, and, in certain instances, body colour and hair areas."

            "Ear-shape?"

            "Yes."  He pulled the end one of his ears out from behind his hair.  It was shaped like that of a Vulcan or a Romulan.  "Like Vulcans and Romulans, we have pointed ears."  Wilykat then tucked his ear back behind his hair.

            "I see," said the young human.  "See you later, Wilykat."

            The young Thunderian said, "See you later."  Wilykat left.  Wesley pressed a comm-button on his mother's door.

            "He's left, Mom," said Wesley.  A few seconds after, Beverly came out.

            "I trust his visit was informative?" asked Beverly.

            Wesley smiled.  "Yes, Mom.  It certainly was."

            * * *

            Bridge, Ludwig's Warbird.

            "Nearing the Q gate," said Larry.  Suddenly, an alarm went off.  "What is that?"  Roy checked his monitor.

            "It's those blasted Silver Hawks again!" said Roy.  "I'm getting P.O.ed at them."

            Ludwig said, "Well!  Let's say 'hello' to them!  Ha, ha, ha!  Fire some disruptor blasts at them!"  Roy readied the weapons.

            "Weapons ready," said Roy.

            "Fire at Will. . . and at Quick and at Raw-hide, too!  Ha, ha!"  Roy pressed the fire buttons.  The Mirage, in which the Silver Hawks were coming, slid unscathed through the assault.

            "Damn!" shouted Roy.  "They got away!"  Ludwig slowly rose to face his brother.

            " 'Damn'?  Did I hear 'damn' pass through your lips?" Ludwig asked, acting shocked.  "Make up for it!  Blast open that dam-. . . that darned gate!  Pardon me!"  Roy pressed several keys.  Ten disruptor blasts and ten photon torpedoes were shot at the gate.

            Bluegrass wisely decided not to pilot the Mirage too close.  In the rightmost pod, Steelwill was stewing, as was Quicksilver in the leftmost pod.  Steelwill was counting the photon torpedoes, while Quicksilver counted the disruptor blasts.  "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten," they both counted.  When they had both reached 'ten,' a huge gap formed where the weak point of the gate was.

            "That does it!" shouted Steelwill.  "Get 'im, rawhide!"

            "Yes," agreed Quicksilver.

            "Right!" said Bluegrass.  The gap, however, was huge enough to let the Warbird slip in and cloak.  "Rats!  He cloaked and entered!"

            "We'd better call Hawkhaven," said Quicksilver.

            Bluegrass tapped a comm-button.  "Aw. . . it's no use.  I guess our proximity to the gate is blocking our transmission signal."  He tapped his communicator.  "Mirage to Cat's Lair.  Come in."  He waited a minute.  "Cat's Lair, this is the Mirage.  Come in."  Nothing.  "Durn!  Maybe I oughta call direct.  Mirage to Hawkhaven.  Please come in."  Not so much as a peep.  "Hawkhaven, this here's the Mirage.  Come in."  Not even the slightest stray of static.  "Durn!  Mirage to Darkwing Tower.  Come in."  No response.  "Darkwing Tower, this is the Mirage.  Come in."  Still not a sound.  "Blast it!  Mirage to the Palace of Power.  Come in."  A response.  However, it was so static-filled that he couldn't make out a syllable.  "Palace, we're barely receiving you.  Strengthen signal output."  He heard more static.  In a moment, it cut off.  "I'll be hog-tied!  No one can hear us!"

            "There is one other possibility," suggested Steelwill.  "The Thunder Kittens."

            "It's our only chance, so we must take it," said Quicksilver.  "Do it, Bluegrass."

            Bluegrass tapped his communicator.  "Mirage to Thunder Kittens.  Come in, please.  I repeat, Mirage to Thunder Kittens.  Please come in."

            * * *

            Thunder Kittens' Quarters, Deck 13, Enterprise.

            Wilykit was in her bed when Wilykat re-entered.  "So," said Wilykit, "care to tell me what you went to tell Wes?"

            "I just warned him about a few things to expect," said Wilykat.  "That's all."  A closer look told him that Wilykit had nothing on.  "Glad to see you're even practising Thunderian traditions on a human starship, 'Kit."

            "What do you mean?" she asked.

            "Well," he said, "you're wearing nothing under your sheets."

            Wilykit said, "I'm sure some humans sleep like this, Wilykat."

            "When they haven't the ability to hide their organs in the leg-joint area with a skin barrier like we do?"

            "I do not actually see where we have to," said Wilykit.  "There's nothing dangerous underneath."

            "I don't see why humans would sleep naked and leave those organs exposed."

            "Now, Wilykat," said Wilykit, "do you know something I don't. . . like what you told Wes?"

            "It's no secret, Wilykit.  I merely warned him about your sexuality and standard mating habits of female Wilykats."

            "Oh."

            "By the way, what did you and he do?"

            "We went to Ten-Forward and each had a non-alcoholic drink.  We talked some.  We went to the Betazoid program on the holodeck.  The location was the Jalara Jungle.  He explained what the real Jalara Jungle was like and sat down on a log perpendicular to a tree and leaned against that tree.  I sat down in front of him.  He complained about being tired but not being sleepy.  We kissed each other for about two seconds, but his telling me that that wouldn't help his non-sleepiness was a signal to me that I might be going a little too quickly.  I honestly didn't believe that I was going to hurt him, Wilykat."

            "You didn't," said Wilykat.  "You're a Thunderian Wilykat female.  You can't help your aggressiveness, though you can control it."

            "You're right.  What if one of the three periods occurs when I'm with him?"

            "Oh, God!  You're going to have to tell him about it, 'Kit.  I didn't think to."

            Over Wilykat's communicator came Bluegrass's static-encrusted voice saying, "Mirage to Thunder Kittens.  Come in, please.  I repeat, Mirage to Thunder Kittens.  Please come in."

            "It's Bluegrass," said Wilykit.  Wilykat tapped the communicator.

            "Yes, Bluegrass?" asked Wilykat.  "This is Wilykat here.  Go ahead."

            "Oh, thank God!" exclaimed Bluegrass.  " 'Kat, that there Ludwig just don't know when to quit.  He just opened up that grid-gate with. . . how many?"  Some mumbling.  "He just opened the grid-gate with ten photon torpedoes and ten disruptor blasts."

            Wilykat's blood pressure jumped.  "What else?"

            "While cloaking his battleship, he entered the gate."

            "Oh, no!  Thank you, Bluegrass. . . I think."  He tapped his communicator.

            "What're we going to do, Wilykat?" asked Wilykit.

            "You are going to get some sleep," said Wilykat.  "I'm going to Captain Picard or Commander Riker or whoever is presently on the Main Bridge."  He left.

            To herself, Wilykit said, "Not on your life am I staying here, my dear brother!"  She exited her bed and got on her clothing.  She went quickly to deck 7.  She went to the door to this room and pressed the signal button.  The door opened and showed Wesley.

            "Well, hi, 'Kit!" he said.  He suddenly noticed the look on her face.  "What's wrong?"

            "Bluegrass of the Silver Hawks just called Wilykat and me," she explained.  "He told us that Ludwig just opened Q's gate with ten photon torpedoes - "

            * * *

            Main Bridge.

            " - and ten disruptor blasts," said Wilykat to Data.

            "Hm," said Data analytically.  "Did he recloak as soon as he had entered the gate?"

            "Yes, Commander.  It might seem logical that he's headed for the Federation."

            "That is possible."  He tapped a comm-button on the command chair.  "All senior officers, please report to the Bridge at once.  I repeat, all senior officers, please report to the Bridge immediately."  The turbolift doors opened.  Dr. Crusher, Wesley Crusher, and Wilykit stepped off.

            "Oh, blast, 'Kit!" said Wilykat.  "I thought I made it clear. . ."

            "You are not my keeper, Wilykat!" said Wilykit, going quickly to him so she could whisper.  "I am older than you, and I saved you a little time at least.  Now, we shouldn't fight."

            "As if we were going to anyway!" snapped her brother.  "I said that I wanted you to stay in our room!  I didn't want you to overexert yourself!"

            "Oh, now, I've had it!  How dare you presume to command me, younger brother!!" she said right before marching into a turbolift.  "Deck 11."  Wesley gave Wilykat a cold look.

            "Well!" said Wilykat.  "She asked for what my plan.  I said and I quote, 'You are going to get some sleep.  I'm going to Captain Picard or Commander Riker or whoever is presently on the Main Bridge.' "

            "You certainly gave her a cold reaction," said Wesley.  "You are younger than she is.  Why wasn't she the one to issue commands?"

            "I'm sorry, all right?"

            Wesley told him, "I'm barely going to excuse you, but your own sister's opinion is going to be the one that counts."  He entered another turbolift.  "Deck 11."  The turbolift doors closed.

            Wilykat, almost crying, whispered, "I'm sorry, 'Kit."

            * * *

            Holodeck 2, Deck 11.

            She was crying.  It was such an awful sting to get yelled at by her own brother.  She felt it was her fault.

            She didn't even bother to commence a program.  She was just sitting there, leaning against the grid-wall, blaming herself for everything.

            She didn't even look up when the door opened.  Wesley came in.  He saw her sitting there, crying her heart out, and went over to her.  He got on his right knee and put his left hand softly on her right shoulder.  "There, there, 'Kit," said Wesley.  "It's not the end of everything."  Wilykit looked at Wesley.

            "Wesley, he yelled at me!" said Wilykit.

            "Oh, it's not your fault," said Wesley.  "Matter of fact, it's not his either.  It just plain happened.  He had expected you to do as he said."

            "But I didn't want to do what he said," said Wilykit.  "I didn't have to.  I wanted to tell you personally what's going on."

            "I understand," he told her.  He knew how to snap her out of this, even if it made her furious.  "Human males have a big ego, too."  He got back on both feet.

            "A big ego?" she snapped, getting up.  "I don't have a big ego!  I have leadership over my brother!"  She was staring at him in the eyes.

            "Maybe that's true," said Wesley, "but you had enough of one to want to tell me what was going on in person."  He stepped closer.  "Or maybe you needed something and didn't know it."  They began kissing.  To make it easier, they stretched out on the holodeck floor and held each other close.  They had no knowledge that, right after they finished this, there would be a new emergency to draw their attention away from prematurely expressing their love.

            * * *

            Main Bridge.

            Picard said, "Hm.  It would seem that we are presently up the creek."

            Data analysed this.  "Up the creek, sir?"

            "Later, Data.  We have to assume that Ludwig wants the Federation."  Wilykat nodded.

            "He wants any country or countries he can get his hands on," said Wilykat.  "Compared with this ship, how is his against Starfleet?"

            "That ship," said Worf, "is sufficiently advanced to give us a good fight.  If that is the case, then he might be able to defeat other Federation ships.  Ludwig's battle cruiser is prepared for battle in any form."

            "No wonder he calls it the 'Warbird,' " Wilykat whispered to himself.

            "What was that?" asked Picard.

            "No wonder Ludwig named his ship the 'Warbird.' "

            Riker said, "No real surprise.  It looks like a Romulan Warbird."  Picard looked at his first officer.

            "Commander, inform all areas of the ship to prepare for an emergency Saucer-Separation," snapped Picard.  "The Saucer will continue the present mission; the Star*Drive will go back and stop this Ludwig."

            "Aye, sir!" said Riker.  The senior officers went to their respective stations, including LaForge to Ops.  Wilykat and Beverly were the only visitors to the Bridge.  They sat at the chairs on the end of the horseshoe ramp.  "Yellow-Alert!"  The alert-flashers shined yellow.

            * * *

            Holodeck 2, Deck 11.

            They had just finished kissing.  Wesley was thinking of the next thing to do.  His mind was muddled by the pleasant sensations with which it had just been overloaded.  Wilykit was waiting.  They then heard three sharp pairs of beeps.  Afterwards, they heard the computer voice announce, "All decks:  Yellow-Alert."

            They then heard William Riker's voice say, "Cadet Wesley Crusher, please report to the Main Bridge."  This ended their thoughts of love and began their thoughts of action.  They almost ran out of the Holodeck and to the nearest turbolift.

            Once inside the turbolift, Wesley called, "Main Bridge.  Guest Quarters, Deck. . ."

            "Belay the 'Guest Quarters' order," said Wilykit.  "I'm not going to miss this for the world."

            "Okay," said Wesley.  The turbolift started moving for the Main Bridge.  Once there, Wilykit stayed in the aft deck while Wesley went down to Captain Picard.  "Cadet Crusher reporting as ordered, sir," said Wesley.  Picard stood.

            "Mr. Crusher," said Picard, "I have made up my mind.  You are to take command of the Star*Drive Section."

            "Sir?" asked a bewildered cadet.

            "The Saucer will be heading for Hawkhaven with new warp engines which Commander LaForge's teams are activating as we speak.  The Star*Drive is to go to stop this Ludwig's advance into the Federation."

            "Aye, sir," said Wesley, this time much more confidently.

            "Your bridge crew?"

            "Any you'd prefer that I leave behind?"

            "One:  Counsellor Troi."

            "Okay.  Lieutenant Commander Data, Lieutenant Worf,. . ."  He anticipated how he should mention his mother.  "Dr. Crusher, would you mind being at communications?"

            "No, sir," said the doctor.  The one thing she could do and do well. . . other than to command that the crew blow up the Borg by hiding in the sun and to practice medicine, that is.

            "Thank you.  Data, Worf, Dr. Crusher, and. . . someone for Conn.  Ah. . ."

            "Did I hear Conn?" asked Geordi.

            "Yeah!  Want to join us?"

            "No problem," said LaForge.

            "Mind if one of us comes along?" asked Wilykat.

            "No, but just one," said Wesley.  "We can only fit one more on the Battle Bridge."

            "You go, 'Kit," said Wilykat.

            "Okay," said Wilykit.  Oh, my God, she thought to herself.  I hope I don't make Wesley make an error.  She pulled herself together internally.

            "I'll arrange that all nonessential personnel be removed to the Saucer," said Picard.  Wesley nodded.

            Geordi suggested, "We should leave Lieutenant Lefler in charge of Engineering on the Star*Drive.  I have great confidence in her capabilities."

            "Very good," said Picard.  "How are your teams coming with the new warp engine?"

            "So far, so good," said the chief engineer.  "Should be just like the one down there in Engineering."

            Picard said, "Excellent.  Mr. Crusher?"

            Straightening, Wesley said, "Yes, sir?"

            "Be careful," said Picard.

            "Yes, Captain."

            * * *

            Battle Bridge, Deck 8.

            The crew for the Battle Bridge exited the Emergency TurboLift and went to their positions.  Wesley took his place in command; Worf went to Tactical; Beverly took Communications; LaForge got Conn; and Data had Ops.  Wilykit was the only one out of place on this stark bridge.  Wesley ordered, "Computer, replicate a second command-style chair in front of the Communications station."  The computer did as ordered.  Wilykit sat down in it.

            "Hm. . . hard," she observed.

            "Sorry about that."  Wesley raised his voice.  "Captain, we're on the Battle Bridge."

            "Acknowledged," said Picard.  "We will separate as soon as every detail has been attended to."  Wesley nodded.  Everyone spent these few minutes getting ready.  "Everything is ready, Wesley."

            "Ready down here," said Wesley.

            "Initiating auto-sep sequence."

            "On-screen."  The screen showed the neck of the Enterprise where the Saucer and Star*Drive were joined.  The ship was not moving.  The massive locks opened, and an enormous gap opened between the Saucer and the Star*Drive.  This gap widened as the Saucer pulled ahead.  As the Saucer pulled away, the locks closed up.

            Data said, "Separation is successful, sir."

            "Thank you, Commander," said Wesley.

            "Happy hunting, Acting Captain Wesley Crusher," declared Picard.

            "Same to you, Captain Jean-Luc Picard.  Good luck."  He shut the comm-line.  The Saucer zipped into warp.

            �Qu'elle reste avec tout le monde sauf les scélérats {Kehl rehst ah-vehk tú'l mawⁿhd sóf láy sáy-láy-rah} [French] (May she stay with everyone except evil-doers),� Wilykit said.

            Data processed this.  "Sir," said the android, "it seems she used correctly several words in order to construct a sentence in an obscure language known as French."

            "Obscure?" asked Wilykit.  "It may be obscure where you live, Mr. Data, but it is overall the second-most-spoken language in the worlds I know."

            "Ah!  Pardon me."

            Wesley was smiling and shaking his head.  "Data, set a course for the hole in the Q-gate."  Data made the necessary adjustments.  "Now, get down to Engineering and tell them to make ready for maximum acceleration."  He got up and addressed the entire Bridge and, through the comm-lines, the entire Star*Drive.  Data was in the turbolift when Wesley began.  "Now hear this:  maximum acceleration, as you should know, means that the engines will be tested well beyond their safety limits.  We need to approach our enemy's vessel as quickly as possible."

            * * *

            Main Engineering, Deck 36.

            Data arrived in the turbolift.  He looked around and found Lieutenant Robin Lefler, temporarily acting as chief engineer, delivering some orders.  He went up to her.  "Good evening, Commander," said Lefler after finishing with the orders.

            "Good evening," said Data.  "The acting captain said to make ready for max."

            "And what, pray tell, is Wesley's reason?" asked Lefler.

            "He wants to get to Federation space as quickly as possible," said Data.

            "Well, that is good enough," said Lefler.  "Thank you, sir."  Data nodded and turned back to the turbolift.  "All right, guys!  We've got to max it this time."

            * * *

            Battle Bridge, Deck 8.

            Data was already at Ops when Wesley issued his command.  "Engage at max," ordered Wesley.

            "Aye, sir," said Data.  He did so.  The Star*Drive made a half-turn, and it sped away to the gate.

            * * *

            Battle Ready-Room.

            Wesley was going through some things in the Ready-Room just off the Battle Bridge.  It was all so stark down here.  The kind of bridge Lieutenant Worf loved.  The door beeper sounded.  "Come," said Wesley.  Wilykit came in.  After the door closed, Wesley exclaimed, "Well, got my first official command!"  Wilykit smiled.

            "Temporary, but a command nonetheless," she said.

            "I never knew you knew French."

            "I do."

            "Know any other languages?"

            "Yeah; English!"

            "I know that!"

            "Just Thunderian languages.  This Battle Bridge is so blasted deprived of glamour," said Wilykit.  "It feels a little oppressive, also."

            "The Klingons would prefer this bridge to our Main Bridge.  Oh, how impolite of me.  Have a seat."  Wilykit took the chair across from Wesley.

            "That lionfish in the Main Ready-Room is so pretty," said Wilykit.

            "Yeah.  I'll bet it's awfully pretty. . . especially to a cat!"

            "Are you implying that I would eat raw fish?"

            "Maybe."

            "Not unless I were starving.  The last thing I could possibly stand is raw fishmeat.  Thunderians have very particular tastebuds."  She said it so as to make sure he understood she meant it.

            "You always seem just a little curious."

            "Certainly.  Kittens are naturally curious.  I just decide not to let it kill me."

            "Has there been a recent situation in which you might have been killed if you followed your curiosity?"

            "Yes.  Mind if I see that computer terminal?"  Wesley handed her the terminal.  "Thank you."  She removed a chip from her pocket and put it in a slot on the terminal.  "There.  Just copy that, and you'll have all the present N-Team members and Brain-Team members on file."

            "Thanks!"  Wesley got to copying.  Wilykit got to a position where she could look over his shoulder at the terminal screen.  "Trying to interrupt my concentration?"

            "No," she said.  "I'm trying to develop it. . . for both of us."  She got behind him and caressed his shoulders.  It felt good.

            "Oh. . . oh, stop," said Wesley.

            "But. . . I thought it felt good."

            "Yeah, but I shouldn't feel that good now.  I like it, but I just can't allow it."  Wilykit stopped.

            "Okay," she said.  "Sorry if I interrupted your concentration."

            "You're teaching me I shouldn't let my concentration be interrupted by you," he said.  "I didn't realise that."

            "Well, I'm doing it the wrong way.  Anyway."  The computer monitor showed 'complete.'  Wesley removed the chip and handed it back to Wilykit, who put it in a box on her pellet-belt.  "Now, I'll help you study the members of the N-Team and those of the Brain-Team."  She told the computer to show them the Silver Hawks list.  As she explained the information to Wesley, the two were progressively finding it easier to be neutral around one another.

            * * *

            Command Centre, Hawkhaven, Limbo.

            Steelheart, Lion-O, Captain N, Mario, and Darkwing were in front of a terminal being operated by Copper-Kidd.  Wilykat was telling them, ". . .and the Saucer will be there in an hour."

            "Thank you, Wilykat," said Steelheart.  "If anything else out of the ordinary occurs, call me back at once."

            "Right," said Wilykat.  "Wilykat out."  The transmission was cut.  Wilykat's image was replaced by the symbol of the Federation over the words 'End of Transmission.'

            Steelheart turned to the lower-'ranking' leaders of the N-Team.  "How is everything in your worlds, my friends?"

            "Fine so far," said Lion-O.

            "Okay," said Darkwing.

            "Pretty good at the moment," said Kevin.

            "Same here," said Mario.

            Steelheart said, "Good.  Darkwing, make absolutely certain that Liquidator and his pals don't get out of the super-villain prison."

            "Right, Steelheart," said Darkwing.

            "Dismissed."  Everyone but Kevin left.  "Something on your mind, Kevin?"

            "Yes," said Kevin.  "You know how Ludwig always leaves MotherBrain in command on Metroid?"

            "Mm-hm."  She suddenly realised what he was implying.  "Mm-hm!  Keep an eye on her, Captain N.  If Metroid comes one parsec nearer to the Saucer Section of the Enterprise, I want the alarms here to go like crazy."

            Kevin said, "Right.  See you later, Steelheart."  He tapped his communicator.  "N-Team Transporter, transport one to the throne room of the Palace of Power."  He was transported there.

            Steelheart liked Kevin.  He was dependable.  He had many abilities.  Still, something could happen to him.  In fact, she felt something might.  "Darn that Ludwig," said Steelheart.

            Copper-Kidd, in still trying to get his own foreign lingo out of his voice, tried to say, "Don't worry, Steelheart.  We've stopped him before."

            "Yes. . . 'we' as in the N-Team.  And I have never, personally, defeated him.  The Thunder Kittens have played that role a lot lately.

            "Anyway, Will, Quicksilver, and Bluegrass are on the job.  We can always count on them to do their best."

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            Kevin had much the same feelings for Princess Lana as Wesley for Wilykit, but he definitely did not show it as he arrived and told the Princess of VideoLand what was going on.  After all, Lana Deschain was the princess.  "Okay," said Lana, nodding.  "Have Kid Icarus and MegaMan make sure MotherBrain does nothing."

            "Right," said Kevin.  As he turned to leave, however, Lana tapped his shoulder.  He turned to her and gently asked, "What?"

            "Kevin," she said, "want to. . . go out?"

            Kevin didn't know what to say.  He had never been asked this by anyone before. . . not even by the Princess of VideoLand.  He answered, "Sure, Lana."

            "Then," she said, "meet me when you finish talking to Kid Icarus and MegaMan."

            "Okay."  He left the room.  Whoa!  Princess Lana. . . asking me out!  He gathered his thoughts and headed for a computer room, where MegaMan and Kid Icarus were working.

            "Hi, Kevin-icus," said Kid Icarus.  "What's up?"

            "Keep an eagle-eye on MotherBrain," said Kevin.  "If she goes towards the Enterprise, call Steelheart and me."  He made his good mood quite clear.  It had immediate effect on Kid Icarus and MegaMan.

            "Right, Captain N!" said MegaMan.  "You can mega-count on us!"

            "Thank you.  See you later."  He left.  He met Lana just outside the throne room.  "Should I change?"

            "No," she told him.  "You're all right as you are.  I was wondering if we'd be going for a little ride in your car so we can be alone."  Kevin couldn't possibly ever be more excited than he was at this moment, unless she was proposing. . .

            "Okay," he told her.  "Let's go."  They entered the nearest elevator.  Kevin hit the key which said, 'Garage Floor 1.'  He was anticipating why Lana wanted to go out like this.  He couldn't put his finger on it, but the mystery was exciting him.  "Why?" he softly asked.

            "I just feel like being alone with you," she told him.  "We haven't really done this before.  I was always too worried that our relationship wasn't advanced enough yet.  But not anymore."  He just couldn't put his finger on what the devil she wanted!  It was driving him crazy.

            They emerge on the first garage floor.  At this time of night, no one would have to guard the door, so he could slip his ID card in a slot and open the door to the outside.  He led Lana to his car, opened the door for her, and, like a gallant gentleman completely foreign to many teenagers who had been his friends before he left for VideoLand, he waited for her to get in and shut the door softly but firmly enough for it to catch completely when she was in.  He went and opened his door and entered the car.  He put the key in the ignition, put on his seat belt as Lana put on hers, and locked the doors after he had closed his.

            After a minute, they arrived right outside the Palace doors.  "So," asked Kevin, "where would you like to go?"  Lana shrugged.

            Lana replied, "Someplace. . . someplace romantic."

            Aha! thought Kevin.  A clue!  He simply said, "Hyrule?"

            "Yes!  That would be perfect."

            "Hold on to your seat, 'cause here we go!"  He almost slammed the gas pedal in.  It stopped just as it went in 7/11 of the way, the r.p.m. gauge went almost immediately to 20 000 r.p.m., and the numbers on the digital speedometer went up into the three-number digits in four seconds.  Just as the 'needle' of the 'analogue' speedometer� went past 300 km/h, Kevin pulled back on the steering wheel.  The automobile sprouted wings on either side and thrusters from the back, and it rose in the air.  Kevin activated the air stabilisers.  This car was also sort of a 'shuttlecraft,' as it could fly through space at interstellar velocities.  I think I'm going to enjoy this evening, he thought.  [� - Everything in the instrument cluster is a holographic projection.]

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid, VideoLand.

            "Excellent!" said MotherBrain.  Metroid was still cloaked and was still orbiting 19th-Century Earth.  "Captain Ninny and Princess Pea-head have left the Palace of Power for Hyrule."

            "MotherBrain, Ludwig did not tell us to attack them," said Eggplant Wizard.  MotherBrain glared at him.

            "You're right, idiot, but he did not tell us not to attack them, either.  Besides, I'm really only second to him.  I know!  There's another planet in this unexplored area to which I can send those two.  Eggie, warp us to their position."

            "Aye, MotherBrain," said Eggplant Wizard.  He pressed a series of buttons.  Metroid warped from that location to a similar orbit above Hyrule, where Kevin had just landed.

            "Locate them," ordered the vain brain.  Eggplant Wizard performed another series of calculations.

            "They are on the surface, ma'am," said the vegetable.  "The energy signature of Captain N's vehicle indicates that they descended to the Castle of Hyrule about an hour ago, and their communicators would have us believe that they are at Lake Hylia."

            "Why would they come to Hyrule?" MotherBrain asked to herself.

            King Hippo suggested, "Well, you know what the Triforce does to those who have. . ."

            "That's it!" snapped MotherBrain in instant recognition.  "Thanks, King Hippo!  That must be why they went there!  I need you to get down there and shove them into a warp which I shall soon open.  Be careful, dimwits!"  The two got going into a warp.  "Wily, transport Mo-Lec-U-Lar from the Palace of Power to Brim*Star, but first call Mon*Star and tell him."

            "Yes, MB!" said Wily.  He called Mon*Star and informed him that Mo would soon be arriving.  Then, he transported Mo from the Palace of Power's Jail to Brim*Star!

            * * *

            Lake Hylia, Hyrule.

            Kevin and Lana were sitting together on the edge of the lake, allowing their proximity alone to have effects on their bodies without their really doing anything.  They were just sitting there, hand-in-hand, staring in each other's eyes.  So far, they had made no other physical contact.  "Kevin," Lana finally said, "this was a good idea."  They brought their lips together in their first real kiss together.  Lana had kissed Captain N on the cheek before for his heroic deeds, but this felt much, much better.  "I love you."

            "I love you too, Lana," said Kevin.  Of all the human characters, Kevin had the most resonant tenor voice; Quicksilver had told him that his voice would not deepen any further as long as he lived.  Kevin's range permitted him easily to sing the most difficult heldentenor roles and the deepest bass notes.  He stayed in the tenor range most of the time.

            Lana, on the other hand, was confined to the soprano range.  Her voice was beautiful and very agile even at the top of her range, but she could not go nearly as low below her high note as Kevin could below his.  "Don't stop if we start to make love, Kevin.  The power of the Triforce will bind us so that no one will ever be able to force us to make love with them."

            "Oh, Lana, I'd do it in a second!  There's no one I'd rather marry."

            "But. . . well, I've got to be honest, Kevin.  Aren't you attracted even slightly to Wilykit?"

            "Yes, but you have nothing to fear from that, Lana.  Wilykat has recently informed me that she's in love with someone else."

            "I see."

            "So, do you think I'd be stupid enough to cheat on you?"

            "Of course not, Kevin."

            Off the top of his head, he beautifully sang:  "My Princess Lana, thou most radiant jewel of the Kingdom of VideoLand!  Thy beauty of spirit draw'th someone most irresistibly to thee.  Thy land was under siege by the evil MotherBrain; the evil one nearly conquered the country.  When thou felt thou wouldst lose against her, the Ultimate Warp sent thee the one who selflessly saved thy kingdom.  With the tactics of many video games, he remained and willingly opposed MotherBrain's attempts to conquer thy land.  Today, thy subjects love and respect their ruler, thee, Princess Lana.  Only one, however, would love thee enough to unite maritally with thee; to share in the responsibilities of thy kingdom; to comfort thee, his ruler, in all thy moments of pain; to grant thee children and to help thee rear them to become rulers as kind, generous, and just as thou.  For until, even eternally beyond when death part us, Lana, I love thee!"  Feeling her love burst forward at his loving song, Lana hugged him and began to kiss him.  It felt so good that they did not even stop.  They just brought their arms around each other and lay onto the ground.  They began caressing one another.  If they were alert, they would have noticed that King Hippo and Eggplant Wizard were arriving.

            And the two idiots did, right in a place hidden from the two.  "Oh, yuk!" said King Hippo, revolted beyond belief.  Eggplant Wizard saw the opportunity in this.

            "Hee, hee!" laughed Eggplant Wizard very quietly.  "This is very fortunate for us.  They won't know we're here until we thrust them into MB's warp, and, then, it will be too late!"  Much as he hated to admit it, King Hippo knew that Eggplant Wizard was right.  In a moment, the warp opened.  The villains waited to see if Kevin and Lana had noticed it, but Kevin and Lana were still unaware of the situation.  (One would shudder with revulsion at the terrible violation of the commitment Lana and Kevin attempting to make.)  "Now!"  The two idiotic villains charged forward.  King Hippo almost ripped Lana out of Kevin's hands.

            "What!!!" exclaimed Lana.  Kevin was enraged when he saw the party-poopers.

            "King Hippo and Eggplant Wizard!  You are so low!" yelled Kevin, getting up.  His fury would make the strongest telepaths cringe.  MotherBrain materialised on the surface.  "You!  I knew you had something to do with this!"  Neither Kevin nor Lana had seen the warp yet.

            "How remarkably perceptive of you," said MotherBrain, smiling.  "How convenient that we caught you off your guard, Captain N!  Hee, hee!  Toss 'er in, King Hippo!"  King Hippo tossed Lana into the warp.

            "Kevin!" Lana screamed.

            "Lana!" screamed Kevin.  He turned to MotherBrain, fury burning in his heroic eyes.  "Damn you, MotherBrain!  You had no right to do that!  When I get back, I'm going to make sure Hamilton Burger hears of this. . . if I can keep from murdering you, that is!"  He ran into the warp.

            MotherBrain laughed.  "Hee, hee, hee!  Little does he know that that warp was one-way!  Hee, hee, hee!  That'll teach the fools to let their guard down!"  Link appeared from behind a boulder.  "What?  Well, Link!  Hello!  How are you?"

            "Save the niceties, MotherBrain!" said Link, his sword drawn and ready in his left hand.  "I see now.  You did it this way because the Thunder Kittens wouldn't enter the one you put in Darkwing Tower simply by curiosity."

            "Exactly," said MotherBrain.

            "Damn you!  How dare you do this to them!"

            "What do you know?  Good-bye, idiot!"  Before Link could even think about lunging, MotherBrain, Eggplant Wizard, and King Hippo had teleported back to Metroid.

            "Oh, no!" exclaimed Link.  He looked at the warp.  It closed.  "Damn it!!!  Zelda isn't going to like this!"  He ran back toward the Castle of Hyrule as quickly as he could.  It was times like these that he wished there were paved motor roads on Hyrule so he could drive, now that he could finally drive a stickshift without stalling it.