Act 96 - Date: 12 July 1993
Section 5: Q-niverse
Part 3: The Romulans and the Remaining SuperFriends
First and Only Division
Sixteenth Chapter
Characters: Thunder Cats, Silver Hawks, People of the Enterprise, Romulans, Mon*Star's Mob, Plundarrian-Team, Brain-Team Base, Fearsome Ten
July 12.
Ludwig's Warbird, above Batman's Earth.
"H Roy checked. "Hm! Five, Kevin inclusive!"
"Well, then, we'll get them," said MotherBrain. She regarded the clock. "Two minutes precisely." Precisely one-half minutes later, a blip appeared on the sensors. "What is that?"
Roy reported, "Hm! It's the Mirage, my mean brain-mama!"
"Oh! Hee, hee, hee! Well, fire up the forward disruptor array and aim it at the Mirage." Roy input the necessary information.
"Ready and waiting, MotherBrain!"
"I don't like this," said Larry 'Cheatsy' (Bowser)Koopa. "It looks too much like a draw-play, if you'll pardon the football terminology. I believe we should get the do-gooders while we have the chance, cloak, and run like a bat out of hell!"
"That isn't the way Ludwig said to do it," said MotherBrain.
"He also didn't tell us not to improvise if we felt it needed!" Larry snapped back.
"My dear, he didn't tell us that we could do so," said MotherBrain. "Raise shields!" Roy pressed a series of buttons, and the shields formed around the huge ship. The ship was so close to the planet that the shields almost snapped off some air. "Now, since we cannot transport while our shields are raised, we'll have to risk being fired upon at some point."
"If we did it my way," said Larry, "we wouldn't have that problem!"
"Your way isn't how Ludwig outlined it to us," said MotherBrain.
"Oh, c'mon, dear," said Bowser. "It's safer than Ludwig's plan. And Ludwig always says that it's better to be safe than sorry."
"Very well. As soon as shields are down, transport!" The Mirage whacked the Warbird out of orbit before the shields are lowered. "I hate when that happens."
"We've been knocked away from the planet," said Larry. "We're too far away for transport." MotherBrain frowned.
"Grr!" growled MotherBrain. "Can the Mirage track us when we're cloaked?"
Bowser engaged some sensors. "No," said Bowser. "They aren't linked to the N-Team's blasted cloak-tracking grid. The Mirage hasn't the ability to track us by itself when we're cloaked."
"Drop shields and cloak!" The enormous ship faded out of view on the outside. "Excellent. We'll wait nearby until they leave." The ship turned away from the planet and approached a midway point between the orbits of Earth and Venus. The 'head' of the ship turned toward Earth, as if waiting for the Mirage to leave. "What are they doing, Roy?"
Roy said, "They're scanning the planet, and they're trying to find us. They cannot track us."
"Good. My gosh, how did they know we'd be here?"
* * *
Brig, Deck 38, Enterprise.
Wilykat stormed in to supervise Security's escorting Ludwig to a cell. They got him in there safely, and they sealed it. Liquidator, who was resting, was awakened. "Who? What? How? Where? When? Why? To what extent?" He saw Ludwig in an adjacent cell. "-Gasp!- Thy Highness!"
"Thine truly," said Ludwig. Liquie looked around and saw Wilykat. "And it is the fault of him and his bloody older sister."
"Right," said Wilykat. "It was our fault, Waterhead!"
"You are awfully damned lucky that this cell keeps me from using my water-controlling abilities, except to keep my body in its normal form, Thunder Kitten!" said Liquidator.
"Oh! Are we angry?" asked Wilykat. "Well, Ludwig, if you had not even come here, you would not be in the brig. You did come, so what can I say? 'Bye, our 'friends'!" He left.
Ludwig said, "I hate him and his sister."
"What now?" asked Liquidator.
"MotherBrain has the command," said Ludwig. "Her leadership over the Brain-Team Base gives her slightly more power than Father's third-officer-ship. We must wait for her to do what she must do. Hopefully, she won't make the mistake we made. . . the mistake of coming here."
* * *
Conference Room, Kazara.
Torreth was going back over the orders for what seemed like the billionth time. She hadn't fully understood them at first, and she was just beginning to get the hint now. She went back to the beginning and read back through. She did so again. She laid the padd on the desk and left to the Bridge, where Tomalak was checking things. They stood straight and looked at each other for a second for recognition, then they went back to their business. . . Torreth's being going to her command chair. When she had sat down, Tomalak came up to her. "I must compliment you on your efficiently-run ship, Commander," said Tomalak. "When I was a commander, I would have appreciated a crew such as this."
"Thank you," said Torreth.
Narak turned and said, "Sir, it appears that we are approaching a system of mainly class-humanoid planets. All but a few have artificially controlled climates, and several of those are artificial themselves. They seem to be in a straight line out from an artificial G-2 V type star."
"Hm," said Torreth. She contemplated the situation very calmly. "Very well," she said. "Let's explore the system. Keep our cloak activated."
"Yes, sir." The Warbird turned towards the Limbo System and was aimed directly for Hawkhaven. It was soon between Hawkhaven and Bedlama. "We are presently between a class-humanoid artificial satellite and the planet it is orbiting. This planet is also class-humanoid." Torreth thought. She wondered what she was going to do.
Torreth ordered, "Drop cloak and raise shields."
* * *
Command Centre, Hawkhaven, Limbo.
"Commander!" Hotwing almost shouted. "Look here!"
Steelheart looked out the window where Hotwing was pointing. As the alarms activated, the Romulan Warbird Kazara faded into view right before their very eyes. "My. . . what the heck?"
"That's the Romulan Warbird," said Flashback.
"Is it identifiable?" asked Steelheart.
Flashback said, "The alphabet is similar to the Roman one, but the wording is different. It would look like capital K - A - Z - A - R - A."
"Hm. Kazara. Okay. Romulans. Heh, heh. The scene is getting a bit crowded. Next thing we know, the Car-. . ." She had a sudden thought. "Where is Metroid?"
"Uh, oh," said Moonstriker. "Si-. . . I mean, ma'am, it's. . ." A huge brain faded into view on the opposite side of Hawkhaven.
"Uh, oh," said Steelheart. "Metroid." She looked up. "Thank you," she said sarcastically. She turned to Moonstriker. "What is the Romulan Warbird's weapons status?"
"Their shields are up," said Moonstriker. "Their disruptors are entirely inactive. They have no weapons activated, but their shields are up."
"Metroid?"
"Shields up; weapons systems completely activated."
"Where is it?"
"If you're thinking of using the Warp Shield, forget it. Both vessels are too close." Steelheart's options suddenly became severely limited. This job was severely difficult at times. She made a simple decision.
"Okay," said Steelheart. "If Metroid attacks either Hawkhaven or the Romulan vessel or both, retaliate against Metroid. If the Romulans attack, hit them back and pray to God that Metroid doesn't join the Romulans."
* * *
Sky Tomb, Dark Side, third-Earth.
In the Sky Tomb, the Mutants, Luna-tacks, and Mob were planning their attack. "Well," said Luna, "what shall we do?"
"I have it!" said Hardware. "Hmm, hmm! It's always part of my job to be a little sneaky. Hmm, hmm, hmm! What we need to do is to replicate some diatomic Thundrainium-234. Then, we can use it to hold off the Thunder Cats while we swipe their treasure! Hmm, hmm, hmm!"
"Yes!" said Luna. "The number of protons in atomic Thundrainium-234 is detrimental to Thunder Cats, but we could not use it, as it has seven exterior electrons. Yes. Diatomic Thundrainium-234 is also very much more detrimental to Thunder Cats. Aluro, you had something?"
"Ah, yes!" said Aluro. "A Thundrainium atom has 117 protons. The one about which we're talking has 117 neutrons and 117 electrons, also. Because it has an even number of protons and neutrons, it is not radioactive. Now, according to my studies, calcium Thundrainate would be better against the Thunder Cats. Its formula is Ca2TuO2, in which Thundrainium and oxygen form a molecule called Thundrainium dioxide, a liquid that reacts explosively with alkali and alkaline metals. In short, combined first with oxygen and the molecule formed by that with calcium, Thundrainium is so effective that we would only need one gram of it to down all Thunderians in a two-kilometre radius."
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Luna. "Excellent! Work on your compound, my dear Aluro. You have finally found that which will do the Thunder Cats in!" The villains laughed wickedly.
* * *
Main Bridge, Enterprise, orbiting Darkwing's Earth.
"Report, Number One," said Picard, stepping onto the Bridge from his Ready-Room.
"The Romulan Warbird has just decloaked at Hawkhaven," said Riker. "It would appear that Metroid has just decloaked there, also."
"Metroid and the Romulans," said Wilykat. He shook his head. "If both vessels decide to fire at Hawkhaven, the Silver Hawks are in great danger."
"And the Enterprise would be unable to stop the Romulans," said Picard. "That is because we are too far from Hawkhaven." Wilykit stepped onto the Bridge from the Observation Lounge.
"Well, Captain," said Wilykit, "MotherBrain obviously improved the cloaking device on von Koopa's Warbird. I cannot find it."
"Excellent," said Picard, almost disgusted. Data turned to him.
"From the tone of your voice, Captain," said Data, "and from the expression on your face, I can tell that you do not really mean that it is an 'excellent' situation."
Wilykit said, "Captain, I believe we should discuss our present problem."
"I agree," said Picard. "My Ready-Room?"
"Yes. I believe that Commanders Riker and Data should listen in, too."
"Very well. Commander Riker, Commander Data, come with us into my Ready-Room." He took a quick glance to make sure that LaForge was not on the Bridge. "Lieutenant Worf, you have the Bridge."
"Aye, sir," said Worf. Riker, Data, Wilykit, and Wilykat followed Picard into his Ready-Room.
Once he had taken his seat behind his desk, Picard said, "Everyone, have a seat if you wish." The others allowed Wilykit to settle into the seat across from Picard's desk. Wilykat went to the couch. Data and Riker stood together next to the narrow end of Picard's desk. "Now, Wilykit?"
"Our problem," said Wilykit, "is that MotherBrain is, for now, temporarily the head of the entire Brain-Team. That is a big problem, as she is an excellent leader."
Wilykat recognised his cue, which was Wilykit's stopping. "MotherBrain has more experience. Her defeats have caused her to become increasingly more and more formidable. She is also a good leader. Certainly, Ludwig, Liquidator, and Bowser are excellent, but MotherBrain has had more experience as a leader. She has mental superiority over the other free members of the Brain-Team. She knows how to lead. That particular villain has come closer to reaching her aims than any other Brain-Team leader when the divisions had not even heard of each other yet. Ah. . . wrong phrasing. Her group of idiots and the Evil Koopas had heard of each other, but they had not met. Anyway, - heh, heh - MotherBrain's the worst of the bunch."
Data began, "I judge from your nervous laugh that. . ."
"That will do, Data," interrupted Picard.
"Yes, sir."
"We face several problems at once," said Wilykit. "Number one: The Romulan Warbird and Metroid are within firing range of Hawkhaven. Number two: Ludwig's Warbird is threatening to capture Kevin, has evaded the N-Team's cloak-detection grid, and could easily destroy the Mirage, which recently went to the place in the VideoLand Galactic Area where Kevin is. Number three: the Luna-tacks, the Mutants, and the Mob are probably, right this instant, planning an attack which could relieve us Thunder Cats of the Treasure of Thundera. The Chain of Loyalty allows us to be loyal to one another without straining any conscious control to do it. The Book of Omens contains secrets that, if in the wrong hands, could destroy us. The Double-Headed Jade Dragon of Doom, if in one piece and activated, could enlarge, engulf someone, and shrink back down to its normal size. Deceptively pretty."
Wilykat barged in. "The Totem of Dera has healing powers great enough to bring life to inanimate objects. The Thunderscope can locate any of our treasures and, indeed, any of us."
"And the Eye of Thundera is the source of our non-natural powers," said Wilykit. "Wilykat and I don't have any of those, but all of the others do. Tygra and his invisibility. Cheetara and her super-speed. Panthro and his super super-strength. Were the Eye of Thundera to be destroyed, their super powers would all vanish. The Thunder Cats with those powers would be weakened. Also, if the evil-doers were to utilise Thundrainium, the cellular structure of any Thunderian near it would be weakened, especially those with powers granted by the Sword. Thundrainium-234 is worst of all because it is stable. Its atomic number is 117." She left a little room before saying more for Data to interject, and Data took advantage of this opportunity.
"I thought that elements above a certain atomic number were radioactive," said Data. "Of course, that has to do with the number of neutrons compared to the number of protons. If the element has an atomic mass of 234, the number of neutrons is, indeed, equal to that of protons, the element could be stable. But such would be extremely rare."
"Such an element is natural in places other than this galaxy," said Wilykit. "In fact, a compound called Thundrillium is necessary for our equipment. Its chemical formula is read sodium Thundrainoxide, NaTuO, and that compound with Thundrainium is not detrimental to us. The chemical abbreviation of Thundrainium is Tu. It is common as a diatomic element, as it has seven valence electrons. For the record, it is a halogen. . . right under fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. Calcium Thundrainate, formula Ca2TuO2, is extremely weakening to all Thunderian races except for the Wilykat Race. The Thundrainate ion is TuO2-."
"Excuse me," said Data. "Do you mind if I interrupt?"
"No. Go ahead."
"Thundrainium, in our world, is not naturally created. It has a very short half-life. It is called 'ununseptium,' and it has a mass of over three hundred. That makes it extremely radioactive."
"Make the proper scientific logs," ordered Picard. "This may be important scientifically."
"Yes, sir. Please, Wilykit, go ahead."
"Now," said Wilykit, "calcium Thundrainate has hardly any effect if at all on members of the Wilykat Race, but any Thunderian from any other race would become extremely weak up to about two kilometres away if there is even one gram of it. If the Luna-tacks, the Mutants, and the Mob create Thundrainium dioxide, which is a liquid, and then add calcium to it, they'll have a weapon which will be able to down all the Thunder Cats within Cat's Lair so that they can swipe the Treasure of Thundera. Only Wilykat or I could stop the evil-doers before they got away."
"What about the substance's effect on other humanoids?" asked Picard.
"There's no telling what the substance could do," said Wilykit. "There would probably be no effect, but one never knows."
Riker said, "Sir, this falls outside our jurisdiction. Remember the Prime Directive?"
"Oh, yes," said Picard with some degree of sarcasm. "Look, Number One. The Brain-Team has attacked us. They have proved to be hostile. The N-Team has helped us to keep the Brain-Team from stopping us. I believe that that deserves some consideration."
"With all due respect, we aren't even allied formally to the N-Team. Have we an obligation to aid them?"
"Excuse me, please," said Wilykit. "We didn't request any help. In fact, we suggest that you not help us, because you might not be prepared for what the evil-doers would do. You'd be endangering yourselves." "Wilykit is going to Cat's Lair," said Wilykat. "Despite my objections to the contrary, she decided she should be there when the Luna-tacks and their pals attacked. I am going to stay, in case there may be any problems from anyone else."
"Very well," said Picard. "Wilykit, you have my permission to leave as soon as you must."
"Thank you," said Wilykit. A beep sounded. Picard tapped a comm-button.
"Picard here," said Picard.
"Sir," said Worf, "we are receiving a call from Hawkhaven. Commander Steelheart wishes to speak with the Thunder Kittens."
"Pipe it through to my Ready-Room," said Picard. He tapped shut the comm-line and tapped on his terminal. Steelheart appeared on it, and she was worried. "This is Captain Picard, Commander Steelheart."
Steelheart said, "Captain, where is Wilykit or Wilykat?" Wilykit sprang up and almost flew to Picard's side.
"Right here," said Wilykit. " 'Kat's in here, and he can hear you." Wilykat nodded.
"Very well," said Steelheart. "Wilykit, this is, as Stargazer would say, dang-blasted urgent. Remember his two sounds?"
"Uh-huh, according to Bluegrass," said Wilykit. "What is this 'dang-blasted urgent' situation? Did you break your visor?"
"No! You're as bad as your brother." Wilykit smiled. "Look. Lion-O just called, and he said Sky-Tomb was approaching Cat's Lair. He said that, when Sky Tomb had gotten within three kilometres, he and the others began to weaken."
"I see," said Wilykit. "Tell them it's most likely because of calcium Thundrainate. Tygra will understand; I'll explain later. I'm getting over to Cat's Lair immediately; afterwards, I'm coming to Hawkhaven."
"Right," said Steelheart. "Steelheart out." The screen went blank.
"I think you should go," said Picard.
"As do I, Captain," said Wilykit. She went to the door and turned around to face the desk. She tapped her communicator. "N-Team Transporter, this is Wilykit. Transport me, please, to the entrance hall of Cat's Lair." She began to shimmer brightly. Then, she disappeared.
"The N-Team's transporter system," explained Wilykat. Picard nodded.
"I should have wished her good luck," said Picard.
Wilykat smiled proudly. "She doesn't need luck."
* * *
Control Room, Cat's Lair, third-Earth.
Cheetara and Panthro weakly fell to the floor. Tygra and Lion-O did not because they were securely in chairs, but they were weak nonetheless. Lion-O had barely enough energy to tap the communications button when it began to flash. Steelheart appeared on the screen. "Thunder Cats," said Steelheart, "help is on the way. When I contacted Wilykit, she said to tell you something about calcium Thundrainate."
"Calcium Thundrainate? Oh, great!" said Tygra. "No wonder we're getting so weak." Wilykit materialised in the room. "Wi-. . . Wilykit! What are you doing here?" "I'm here to help you!" said Wilykit. She easily glided over to Tygra, turned his seat around, and examined him with a tricorder. "Good. The calcium Thundrainate hasn't had any permanent effects so far." She went to examine the others.
"How are you not effected by this?" asked Panthro weakly.
"It's because of her and her brother's race," said Tygra. "In the long run, the Wilykat Race is the most durable. Calcium Thundrainate is not powerful enough to have any effect on them."
"Wilykit," said Lion-O, "get. . . get the Sword of Omens." Wilykit would not make him strain himself anymore. She said good-bye to Steelheart, deactivated the screen, and left for the Sword-Chamber. There, she opened the door, went in, and took the Sword of Omens, in which the Eye of Thundera was making its alarm-sound. She put the hilt of the Sword of Omens to her eyes.
"Sword of Omens," she ordered, "give me sight-beyond-sight!" The hilt grew, and the apertures formed. The Eye of Thundera glowed, and her eyes glowed. She saw Sky Tomb close to Cat's Lair. Then, she saw a dull flash and, again, she saw the room in which she was. She had a sneaky idea. It was a quickie, too. She left the Sword-Chamber. Then, she went to hide.
* * *
Control Room, Sky Tomb, outside Cat's Lair.
"One hundred percent landing," said Aluro. "Now shutting off engines." The engines were deactivated. "Ready to disembark."
"Hee, hee!" said Luna. "With that calcium Thundrainate, the Thunder Cats don't stand a chance against us! Hee, hee, hee!" With the other Luna-tacks, the Mutants, and the Mob, they left Sky Tomb and crossed the bridge to Cat's Lair. Aluro had the calcium Thundrainite in a test tube. They cautiously entered Cat's Lair. They checked everywhere, and they saw the four Thunder Cats there unconscious in the Control Room. "Ha, ha, ha! Let's finish them!"
"No!" said S-s-slithe. "We can use these cats-s-s for other purposes-s-s! Yes-s-s?"
"Ooh, you're right," said Luna. "How about we hold them for ransom?"
"A cold idea!" said Chilla. "Hee, hee, hee! The other N-Team members-s-s will pay dearly for thes-s-se Thunder Cats-s-s!"
"Good!" said Luna. "Once we've gathered the Treasure, we'll bag these Thunder Cats! Aluro, you stay here with them. In case we should encounter any more, they should still be weak as recycled paper by that calcium Thundrainate." The villains went to the room with the Treasure of Thundera. "Mon*Star, you may do the honours."
"Thank you," said Mon*Star. He shoved open the doors. The villains saw the whole Treasure of Thundera. "Here it is, guys! The mother-lode! Hee, hee! With this, we'll be able to out-do all of the other Thunder Cats. Metroid will then be able to smack Hawkhaven without the interference of those feline nuisances. And, on the Warbird, MotherBrain will abduct Captain N, leaving the rest of the N-Team at our mercy!"
"Let's can the antiquated evil-doer nonsense and grab the treasure before Steelheart or anyone else like that comes along and ruins our chance!" said Luna. Wilykit jumped up. "Well, well, well! What have we here? An itty, bitty Thunder Kitty!"
"Oh, very funny, moon-brain!" said Wilykit. "You didn't take into account the fact that calcium Thundrainate does not have any effect on members of the Wilykat Race!"
"Well, pip-squeak," said Hardware, "even if it did, we wouldn't need it to deal with you!"
"You don't, huh?" asked Wilykit.
"Chilla, freeze that Thunder Twerp's A-word off!" screamed Luna.
"With pleasure!" said Chilla. "Have an ice day, Thunder Kitten!" Chilla blew her cool breath at Wilykit, who evaded the icy reception.
"Oh, yeah?" said Wilykit. "How about some pepper?" She tossed a capsule at Chilla, and the substance contained inside made Chilla begin to melt.
"Aah! What is this?" asked Chilla.
"Oops!" said Wilykit. "That was the sodium chloride. Too bad."
"S-s-sodium chloride? That's-s-s s-s-salt!" She made a warp to Sky Tomb and ran into it. Luna growled.
"Damn! Aluro, leave the calcium Thundrainate wherever you are, and come help us!" ordered Luna through her radio.
"On my way, Luna," said Aluro. Luna put the radio away.
"Weigh her, Tug-Mug!" ordered Luna.
"You've got it!" said Tug-Mug. Wilykit avoided the blasts from his Gravity Carbine. "No use! She just won't wait for the scales!" Wilykit grabbed the Gravity Carbine. "Aah!"
"Let's see how you work this," said Wilykit. She set it for zero-grav and blasted Tug-Mug. He began to float.
"Yaah! Let me down!"
"Okay." She set it for normal and hit Tug-Mug again. Tug-Mug crashed.
"Yah! I'm beating it!" He ran into the warp to Sky Tomb. Wilykit broke the Gravity Carbine and tossed it in the warp.
"Who's next on the whomping list?" asked Wilykit.
"Whack her, Red-Eye!" screamed Luna.
"With pleasure!" said Red-Eye. Wilykit avoided his missile and grabbed the Mirror of Truth. She held it so that it reflected light at an angle at which it would overload Red-Eye's light sensors. "Yaah! That's too bright! Yaaah!" He ran into the warp.
Luna growled. She shouted, "ALURO, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!?"
Aluro, panting, ran up. "Right here, Luna."
"Fix this twerp!" Aluro looked at Wilykit.
"Oh, no. Don't tell me you're not affected by the calcium Thundrainate!"
"You wouldn't want me to lie, would you?" asked Wilykit.
"Blast!" Aluro took his Mesmerisation Club and aimed it at Wilykit. It bathed her in blue, hypnotic light. "You must not fight us. You must give in. It is the only way."
"Uh-huh," said Wilykit. "The only way to lose!" She hit Aluro with a pellet of sneeze-powder. When Aluro began to sneeze loud enough, he was propelled into the warp. Luna growled.
"Mutants," said Luna, "get her!"
"Yes-s-s!" said S-s-slithe, getting out a wooden club. "Let's-s-s get her!" Monkian got out his ball-and-chain weapon, Jackalman got out another wooden club, and Vultureman got out a claw-weapon. He swung it, but Wilykit's lightning reflexes kept the claw-like weapon from scratching her. She avoided Monkian's swing and kept from being hit by the spiked ball. She dodged S-s-slithe's and Jackalman's tries as well. However, a waiting Vultureman produced three cuts in her left arm with his weapon.
"Ow!" exclaimed Wilykit. She was unaware that that would send telepathic signals to her brother, to Wesley, and to Doctor Crusher. She was aware, though, that it hurt immensely, and she was even more acutely aware that she was furious at the moment. She decided to use her fury to her advantage. She physically charged at Vultureman and downed the feather-brain. She swung him by the legs, tossed him, and rammed S-s-slithe, Monkian, and Jackalman into the wall with him.
"Yaaah!" screamed S-s-slithe. "Let's beat it! Yes-s-s?" The four Mutants ran into the warp.
"Cowardly Mutants!" Luna screamed.
"Get her, Pokie!" shouted Mon*Star.
"All right, Mon*Star," said Pokerface. "It is always a gamble when you're dealing with Pokerface, the gambling boss of Limbo, Thunder Cat."
"Oh, shut up, S.O.B.!" said Wilykit. She was clearly angry. Unlike with other people, though, her anger made her smarter than a computer and more physically powerful than a starship at warp twenty-nine would be quick. Pokerface shot at her with his Poker-Cane, but she avoided his blasts. She ran by him and tripped him onto his back. She grabbed his cane and bent it to the point of breaking it.
"Yaah! I'm getting out of here!" Pokerface entered the warp.
"Mumbo-Jumbo," said Mon*Star, "show her your strength!"
"Grunt! Groont! Yes, Mon*Star! Grunt!" said Mumbo-Jumbo. The blue hemisphere 'button' on his head turned red, as did his eyes. He got on his hands and knees, and his horns pointed directly forward.
"Toro!" said Wilykit. "Come and get me, Mumbo-Dumbo!" Mumbo charged for her. She stopped him dead in his tracks when her hands grabbed his horns. She avoided the point of the horns and grabbed them beside his head. She pushed him back and flung him into the wall.
"Not even Steelheart could do that!" whispered Mon*Star to Luna.
"WHAT!!!" exclaimed Luna as Wilykit lifted Mumbo.
"Good-bye, Mr. Bull!" said Wilykit. She tossed Mumbo easily into the warp.
"Buzz-Saw, get her!" said Mon*Star. Buzz-Saw pulled a handle on his suit. The saw on his other hand began spinning, and he released it toward Wilykit. Wilykit leapt over it. She took the Sword of Omens and whacked the saw in two.
"What!" exclaimed Buzz-Saw. "But. . . but only the Copper-Kidd's discs can do that!"
"Not anymore, saw-brain!" said Wilykit, smiling again. She propelled herself at Buzz-Saw and thrust him into the warp. She landed on her hands and sprung to her feet while Buzz-Saw flew into the warp. "Next!"
"Zero!" said Mon*Star. "Stop the Thunder Brat!"
"With pleasure, Mon*Star," said Zero. He aimed his Memory-Stealer Staff at Wilykit and fired at her, but Wilykit evaded these blasts, too. She took the Mirror of Truth again and used it to reflect Zero's energy back at him. The energy whacked him in the chest, and that propelled him back into the warp. "Zaaah. . .!" Mon*Star was angry.
"Mo-Lec-U-Lar! A-Tom-U-Lar! Stop that Thunder Brat!"
"Yes, Planet Master," said Mo-Lec-U-Lar. He and A-Tom-U-Lar transformed into one laser cannon. They fired at Wilykit, who, as usual, dodged the blast. She decided to try out another Mo-Lec-U-Lar-disrupting substance she and her brother had made. She had capsulated it. She whacked the molecularly and atomically unstable beings with this substance, and it separated their molecules. The beings' molecules and atoms formed back into their original selves loosely. "What in the world? Oh, oh!"
"What was that?" asked A-Tom-U-Lar.
"My brother just came up with it," said Wilykit. "It was for the purpose of scrambling your atoms and making them reform back into yourselves. Be thankful I didn't use what I used on you earlier. Oh!" She took a pellet of her belt. "There's some more here if you enjoy it. I'm referring, of course, to what I gave Mo-Lec-U-Lar when he attempted to give America back to the British!"
"Gaaah!" exclaimed A-Tom-U-Lar. "Beat it, Mo!" The two ran into the warp. Wilykit put the pellet back on her belt.
"Who's next?" asked Wilykit.
"We'll deal with her!" said Luna. "Get her, Amok!" Amok charged for Wilykit. Wilykit went under and tossed Amok from under. Amok flew, with Luna, back into the warp! "Yaah! I'll get you yet, Thunder Braaaaaaaa-. . .!"
"Timestopper, get her!" shouted Mon*Star.
"Oh, calm down," said Timestopper. He tapped his time-stop button. Before the count-down reached time-freeze, Wilykit hit him with a pellet. This encased Timestopper in dark gas. "Yaah! Help! Aah! I'm. . . I'm afraid of the dark!"
"Yeah, I know what you mean," said Wilykit. "I can't sleep at night without a nightlight, either." The clock reversed and deactivated. "It's your type that gives adolescents a bad name!" Wilykit kicked Timestopper into the warp. "Who's next?"
"Windhammer, blow her away!" said Mon*Star.
"Yes, Planet Master," said Windhammer. "I predict a storm! Ha, ha, ha!" He swung his Tuning Fork. Wilykit powerfully scratched Windhammer's left thigh with her left index claw. "Yow!" He dropped his Tuning Fork when he went to feel his thigh. "That hurt!"
"Good!" said Wilykit. At that moment, she realised her arm still hurt, but she did not let that bother her. She whacked Windy into the warp with a kick. She broke the Tuning Fork and tossed it in after him. "The villain supply is dwindling."
"Very funny, Thunder Kitten!" said Hardware. He got out a laser pistol. "Stop this, Wily-twit!" He fired at Wilykit, who evaded his shots. She knocked him on his back by jumping so that her arms would push him on his back, and she landed on her feet. She grabbed Hardware by his sack and tossed him into the warp.
"Okay, queen of dissonant, arpeggiated Schoenbergian harmony!" said Wilykit. "Try lullabying me to sleep!"
"Why, you!" screamed Melodia. "How dare you compare me to Arnold Schoenberg! I hate atonality!"
"Oh! Good." Angrily, Melodia shot at the Thunder Kitten, but the Thunder Kitten leapt over Melodia's music laser. Wilykit grabbed the Sound Smasher by the handle and yanked it off Melodia, in the process pulling Melodia front-first on the floor. Wilykit tossed Melodia into the warp, Sound Smasher and all. "Okay, Mon*Star. We'll see what effect your Light*Star has on a Thunder Cat." She removed the Sword of Omens from her pellet-belt and placed it on the floor.
"What a fool you must be," said Mon*Star. "Have it your way, Thunder Kitten!" His Star*Eye glowed. A star-shaped beam about three centimetres thick extended out of that eye. Then, the extent from Mon*Star's Star*Eye remaining the same, the Light*Star's width diminished to under a micrometre, and the energy began spinning. It raced to Wilykit, whom it hit, encasing her in its energy. "Hee, hee, hee! What a fool you are! Ha, hee, hee, hee, hee!"
"Don't count your stars before their fusion processes begin, Mon*Star!" said Wilykit. She easily broke out of the energy.
"Yaaah!" screamed Mon*Star. Wilykit took the Sword of Omens and fired it at Mon*Star's belly-area. "AAAAAAAH!!!!" Mon*Star transformed back into his pre-transformation self, and Wilykit stopped firing. "Aaah! No!"
"Yes," said Wilykit. "Beat it before I make you!" Mon*Star needed no prompting. He was already through the warp. The warp closed, and Sky Tomb took off. Wilykit checked through the window and saw Sky Tomb heading back to its appointed position. She had a greater problem. What was she to do with the calcium Thundrainate? She decided to write a letter and leave it in the control room. She wrote that she had fought off the Luna-tacks, the Mutants, and the Mob and that she would get rid of the calcium Thundrainate somehow. When she finished writing, she grabbed the container with the calcium Thundrainate and tapped her communicator. "N-Team Transporter," she ordered, "transport me to the Hawkhaven Command Centre." That was where the N-Team Transporter took her.
* * *
Command Centre, Hawkhaven, Limbo.
Steelheart saw Wilykit materialise next to her. "Hello, 'Kit," said Steelheart.
"Everything went well," said Wilykit, smiling. "I whacked the evildoers back where they belonged, and I have the calcium Thundrainate." She showed the container to Steelheart, who took it.
"Good," said Steelheart. "I'll dispose of it." Steelheart had not even noticed the now-bloody scratch on Wilykit's arm. It had just begun to hurt so badly that Wilykit wanted to scream, but she would not. Steelheart turned to her and noticed that Wilykit had pain. "Is something the matter?"
"Yeah," said Wilykit. "Vultureman swiped me with his weapon.
"Don't you have pain?"
"Of course I do! However, I haven't the time to deal with it now. I must return to the Enterprise now."
Indicating Wilykit's arm, Steelheart told her, "Not like that!"
"Why not?"
"That isn't healthy!"
"I shall deal with it, but I have to talk to the Enterprise staff first. It's a matter of priority. I promise I'll have it looked at afterwards."
"All right. If you feel you must leave, I'll let you leave."
"Thank you, Commander. 'Bye."
" 'Bye, Wilykit." Before Wilykit could leave, something hit Hawkhaven. "What happened?"
Moonstriker shouted, "Cmdr. Steelheart!" Wilykit and Steelheart went over to him. "Metroid hit us out of our orbit! It's recharging its disruptor array." A brilliant flash made the dark space brilliantly white. A thin ray of energy shot from Metroid and smacked the Romulan Warbird full on its shields. "Now, Metroid hit the Romulan Warbird out if its orbit." "What!" exclaimed Steelheart. "Can you activate the Warp-Shield without enclosing the Warbird and Metroid?"
Yanking a lever, Moonstriker said, "At this precise second!" The Warp-Shield formed around Hawkhaven, protecting it from the Romulan Warbird and from Metroid. "Sorry about not asking your permission. If I had waited, Metroid would have been inside the shield with us."
"I am therefore happy that you did not wait for me to give it to you!" said Steelheart. "What are the Romulans doing?"
Hotwing said, "They're trying to return to their orbit. They're charging their disruptors." The Romulan Warbird whacked Metroid with a disruptor beam. A hologram appeared in the centre of the room; the character in this hologram was MotherBrain!
MotherBrain said, "Hello, vile do-gooders!"
"MotherBrain!" exclaimed Steelheart.
"That's I!" said MotherBrain.
"Why are you communicating like that?" asked Wilykit. "Certainly, a radio would be more economical."
"Maybe, Wilykit, but I like this form of communication better. I don't know why. I just do. Maybe it's because this is how I communicated with the N-Team before it so grossly expanded. Anyway, I want to tell you what recipe Steelbeak has in store for you. Take it away, Steelbeak!" She faded from the hologram. In her place appeared F.O.W.L. Agent Steelbeak.
"Yo! Thankee, thankee, MotherBrain!" said Steelbeak. "How ya doin', do-gooders? Hah, hah! In case you all is wondering, I am up on Metroid. You and 'dem Romulan dudes is gonna suck eggs when I am through with you. My recipe for destruction is secret. What 'dat means is 'dat I ain't going to tell yous guys what it is. Hah, hah, hah! Hey! Just hope 'dat 'dat Warp-Shield of yours holds out. Tah-tah!" MotherBrain replaced him in the hologram.
"Don't worry," said MotherBrain. "Rooster-breath talks big, but he won't wipe you out. Someone else will be wiped out, though, and you won't be able to do a thing about it! Hee, hee, hee!" Her hologram left the room.
"Beat it, Wilykit!" said Steelheart. "We'll handle everything." Wilykit tapped her communicator.
"Wilykit to Enterprise," said Wilykit. "Please come in."
"We are receiving you, Wilykit," replied Data's voice. "This is Lt. Cmdr. Data. Go ahead."
"I am ready to return."
"Very well. Transport to Transporter Room 4, if you please. I shall inform the captain of your pending arrival."
"Thank you, Commander. Wilykit out." She tapped her communicator twice. "N-Team Transporter, transport one to Transporter Room 4 of the Enterprise." She was beamed there.
"Now," said Steelheart, "to the problem of the Romulan Warbird and of Metroid."