Command Centre, Hawkhaven, Limbo.

Wilykit arrived.  She saw that Steelwill was working at a station, and she went to him and asked, "Lt. Steelwill, where is Commander Steelheart?"

            Steelwill answered, "She is in her office, and she is talking with the Romulan commanders:  Tomalak, Torreth, and Sela."

            "Hm," said Wilykit.  "I must talk to her.  I promised Captain N that I'd do that."

            "I see.  Ah. . . give me moment, please."  He opened a comm-line to his sister's office.  "Lt. Steelwill to Commander Steelheart."

            Steelheart responded, "Yes, my brother?  Is everything going all right?"

            "I believe so.  Wilykit is here, and she must speak with you.  She said that Captain N asked her to do that."

            "What must she tell me?" asked Steelheart.  Steelwill looked at Wilykit.

            "It is necessary that I tell you," said Wilykit, "that Captain N wants to come here to Hawkhaven with his four new friends of that world which he. . ."

            "I see!" interrupted Steelheart.  "At what time?"

            "At 21.00 in the hangar," said Wilykit.

            Steelheart exclaimed, "Oh!  Excellent!  In Saint Canard, Darkwing has just become very famous, - took the idiots living there long enough to find out he was their hero - and he has just had a big restaurant built in his honour.  Both Capt. Picard and Adm. Tomalak want a big dinner in order to commemorate their having met the N-Team, and the Federation and the Romulans both said that they could be there together.  Finally, you tell me that Kevin is going to show our world to his new friends this evening at 21.00.  A favourable coincidence for a change!  The N-Team, the Federation, the Romulans, and the new friends met by Kevin can dine at that restaurant at 22.30!  There, we can serve food by humans, Thunderians, Klingons, and Romulans, thanks to the variety of sources with which Darkwing's restaurant is affiliated.  What do you think of my idea?"

            "As usual," said Steelwill, "I find it very good."

            Wilykit did not feel completely comfortable with this plan.  It was not necessarily because the Federation and the Romulans were going to have dinner together; she knew that there were risks involved when members of those two nations were somewhere together. . . especially each with its most powerful ship.  It was something different.  But, she liked it.  "Yes," said Wilykit.  "Your idea is good."

            "All right," said Steelheart.  "We are going to do it.  Tell Wilykat, please, Wilykit."

            "Yes.  'Bye, Steelheart."  She tapped her communicator.  "Wilykit to the Enterprise."

            The voice of Riker responded, "This is the Enterprise.  Go."

            "I am ready to come back to the Enterprise now."

            "You may return here right away.  Transport directly to the Main Bridge."

            "Very well, Commander," said Wilykit.  She tapped her communicator again.  "N-Team Transporter, transport me to the Main Bridge of the Enterprise."  She was transported there.

            * * *

            Darkwing Tower, Darkwing's Earth.

            Wilykat, Picard, Data, Worf, and Troi arrived in Darkwing Tower.  Wilykat looked around and called, "Darkwing, where are you?"  Blue smoke appeared.  Worf drew his phaser, but Wilykat motioned him to replace it.  "This is no one dangerous.  Only someone very stupid."

            Darkwing's voice called, "I am the terror that flaps in the night!  I am the flea that bites the hound-dog of evil!"  Darkwing exited the smoke.  "I am Darkwing Duck, the hero who defends the city of Saint Canard!  I hope that you have interrupted me for something VERY important, Wilykat."

            "Wilykit already called you," said Wilykat to him.  "She told you. . ."

            "Oh, yes!" said Darkwing to him.  "I remember now.  She told me that you would come with some people from the Enterprise."  Wilykat indicated Picard, Troi, and Worf.  "Oh!  I apologise."

            "Darkwing," said Wilykat, indicating the ones whom he mentioned to him, "may I introduce Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise; Lieutenant Worf, Chief of Security on the Enterprise; and Counsellor Troi.  To you, Enterprise officers, I introduce Darkwing Duck, the N-Team leader of this region of the galaxy."  Darkwing Duck and Picard shook hands.

            "It's a pleasure to meet you," said Picard.

            "The pleasure's all mine," said Darkwing to him.  Picard's communicator chirped, and he tapped it.

            "It's Picard," said Picard.  "What is it?"

            Riker's voice responded, "It's Commander Riker, sir.  Wilykit has to go down there and tell something to Wilykat. . . Steelheart's orders."

            "Why not let the Thunder Kittens come and go as they wish?  It should not be necessary for them to ask us for permission to leave from and to return to the Enterprise.  Right, Will?"

            "Yes, sir.  Permission to leave from and to return to the Enterprise whenever they wish?"

            "Yes, Will.  You understand."

            "I'll tell Wilykit, sir.  Riker out."  A few minutes later, Wilykit materialised in the room.

            "Wilykat," said Wilykit, "I have something to tell you!"  She and Wilykat went to another part of the room.  "My dear brother, guess what Steelheart would like to do."

            With the intention of making her laugh, Wilykat told her, "She wants to feed us to the wolves?"

            Wilykit was amused, but she only responded, "No, my brother.  You know what has been happening to Kevin, right?"

            "Yes, until the Warbird entered into orbit around. . . Batman's Earth, I believe."

            "Very well.  At Hawkhaven, Steelheart has been becoming acquainted with the Romulans.  You know that a big restaurant in Darkwing's honour has just been built, right?"

            "I know that," said Wilykat.

            "Well, Steelheart says that the Federation and the Romulans want a dinner for celebrating having met the N-Team.  To Batman's Earth I have just gone, and I have just missed the possibility of defeating MotherBrain."

            "Yes."

            "One of the Wondertwins had just defeated her.  The female.  Yes!  Not Kevin, not Batman, but her!  And she must transform into another animal!  And she has to touch her brother before doing that!"

            "Maybe their species is not very strong physically."  Wilykit shrugged.

            "Maybe," said Wilykit.

            "What were they like?"

            "Whom?"

            "The Wondertwins."

            "I do not know.  Physically, they are like human teenagers.  They are that age.  However, they have ears like ours."

            "I understand."

            "Anyway, Batman, Robin, and the Wondertwins want to see the N-Team's world; so, they will go to Hawkhaven with Kevin at 21.00 this evening.  Steelheart wants that they, the Federation, the Romulans, and the N-Team have dinner together at that restaurant."  Wilykat gulped.

            "Oh, no.  You will never persuade me that this plan will work.  You can attend, but I shall not."

            "Agreed, it's dangerous.  That's why you and I must attend. . . in order to make certain that nothing bad will happen."  Wilykat crossed his arms and shook his head.

            "Not this time."

            "Brother, be there."  Again, Wilykat shook his head.  "Why don't you want to do it?"

            "How can you ask that with a straight face?"  "Don't you remember that it's your turn?"

            "Really.  I would never do anything of the sort in public!"

            "Is that a promise?"

            "Have I ever lied to you?"

            Reluctantly, Wilykat admitted, "Not that I know of."

            "If I ever lied to you, Wilykat, my conscience would worry me to the breaking point; then, I would tell you very emotionally that I had lied to you and that I was very sorry and. . . you understand, right?"

            "Yes.  But, if it is my turn when we are at the restaurant, I cannot assure you that I shall do nothing."

            "Thanks for the warning."

            "Wait a moment!  Oh, great Jaga!  MotherBrain!"

            "You're right, Wilykat.  She is more dangerous than any other member of the Brain-Team."

            "Maybe.  She is extremely dangerous, certainly.  Let's tell the plan to Picard."

            "All right."  They go over to him.

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid.

            MotherBrain had just arrived, with a new jar and added fluid.  Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo arrived with her.  Larry had already arrived before them.  "Is Metroid ready to go there?" asked MotherBrain of Larry.

            Working with something under the control panel of Ludwig's super-computer, Larry answered, "Don't worry!  My goodness."  In a minute, he got up.  "It is ready to go there."  MotherBrain smiled wickedly.

            "Hee, hee!  Excellent.  I shall return immediately to the Warbird.  You will order that Metroid follow me to Darkwing Duck's Earth."

            "Yes, my dear MotherBrain!  Whatever you say!"

            "The Warbird and Metroid shall be cloaked from here to DW's Earth.  Understood?"

            "Understood.  Should we go now?"

            "Yes.  We shall interrupt those do-gooders while they have dinner.  When I leave, cloak Metroid, and follow the Warbird.  Pay attention to its speed and everything.  Decloak along with it.  Do as it does.  Got it?"

            "Yes.  I shall do it."

            "Eggplant Wizard!  King Hippo!  Stay here!  Do nothing!  Do you understand me?"

            Eggplant Wizard responded, "Thou art understood, Queen MotherBrain!"

            "Good," said MotherBrain.  She turned to Larry.  "You understand that which you are to do?"

            "Exactly," said Larry.  "Follow the Warbird straight to Darkwing's Earth."

            "Good lad.  The warp will be 29."

            "Very well."  Larry turned to Lemmy, who was at the control panel.  "Lay in speed, warp 29.  Wait until I say so before engaging."

            "Right, sir!" said Lemmy.

            "Now," said MotherBrain, "I'm leaving you.  I'll be back aboard once we enter into orbit around Darkwing's Earth at a distance of 5 000 000 kilometres from the surface."

            "Right," said Larry.  " 'Bye!"

            " 'Bye!" said MotherBrain.  Iggy pressed a button marked 'MotherBrain' on a device and ran his hand along a lever.  MotherBrain disappeared as green energy.  Larry went over to the command area.

            "Okay," said Larry.  "Lemmy, as soon as the Warbird gets underway, set a course to follow it, and activate the speed I just told you."

            "Yes, Larry," said Lemmy.

            * * *

            Bridge, Warbird.

            MotherBrain arrived on the Bridge from the transporter.  She situated herself on the central command platform.  "All right, guys.  Set course bearing 289 mark 49; activate speed as warp 29."

            Wendy, who had taken Larry's position at navigation, input the information and said, "Course laid in; speed set."

            "Engage!" said MotherBrain.  Wendy engaged.  The Warbird turned toward Darkwing's Earth and sped off toward it.  Metroid followed it a second later.  Because of its smaller size and quicker acceleration, Metroid's warp envelope nearly entered the Warbird's.  "Activate the cloaking device."  Roy, still at the weapons station, tapped a key.  The massive ship disappeared from view, and Metroid did so a second later.  "How's Larry doing?"

            "Pretty well," said Roy.  "He's right behind us, and he's cloaked."

            MotherBrain smiled.  "Excellent.  Push 'er up slowly to warp 30.0 and hold there."  Wendy did so.  Metroid followed suit perfectly.  "Perfect.  When shall we arrive?"

            "At about 20.00," said Roy.

            "Good.  We'll arrive with time to spare."

            * * *

            Control Centre, Hawkhaven, Limbo.

            "We gladly accept your proposal, Commander Steelheart," Steelwill heard Tomalak's voice say from the door to the corridor to Steelheart's office.  He turned and saw two Romulans, one half-Romulan-half-human, and one Silver Hawk emerge from that door.  The Romulans were Torreth and Tomalak, the half-Romulan-half-human was Sela, and the Silver Hawk was Steelheart.  "At your time 22.30, dinner at the restaurant."

            "That is right," said Steelheart.  She led the Romulans to a computer and activated a galactic map.  "Here are the co-ordinates."  She tapped a few buttons, and the co-ordinates of Darkwing's Earth appeared on-screen.  Sela indicated the shortest possible path - a line - from Hawkhaven to Darkwing's Earth.

            "If we did that at warp 25," said Sela, "we could be there under eight hours.  Since it is 13.00 now, that will give us plenty of time."

            "Very well," said Torreth.  She activated a radio.  "Sub-Commander Narak, this is Commander Torreth.  Lay in a course. . ."  Steelheart calculated the numerical course necessary for the flight plan Sela had proposed.  Torreth read the course.  ". . .bearing 17 mark 90.  Prepare for a speed of warp 25."

            "Yes, sir," replied Narak's voice.

            "Well," said Steelheart, "I shall see you later."  Tomalak smiled reassuringly.

            "As shall we see you later," said Tomalak.  He liked these people.  He reflected back to what Torreth had said about diplomatic solutions, and now he fully endorsed the idea.  He was glad he had come along with Torreth.

            "Kazara transporter," said Torreth, "this is Commander Torreth.  Please transport three up."  The three Romulans disappeared in green energy.

            "You know what?" said Steelheart.  "I like them."

            "You know what's even stranger?" asked Steelwill.  "So do I!"  The Romulan Warbird turned toward Darkwing's Earth and zipped off.  "Not even cloaking."

            "Steelheart," called Bluegrass, "there's somethin' strange on my readouts."  Steelheart went over to him and read the screen.

            "Unusual," said Steelheart.  "I've never seen anything like this before."  She pressed some buttons to perform functions to clarify the readings, but to no avail.  "Hm.  It would seem as though nothing were there, yet. . . yet, something is there."  The sensor readings changed.  Steelheart was amazed at the readings.  "What!  Now it says that, indeed, nothing is there."  She took a look at one off-variable.  "But that thing is off.  If truly nothing were there, that variable would say, '1.00.'  Looks like it says '2.03.'  Something is moving out there. . . on the straight line from Metroid's belonged position to Darkwing's Earth.  Find. . ."  That reading suddenly changed to '1.00.'  "What!  Now it says that there is nothing there!  Oh, I give up.  Quicksilver, get over to those co-ordinates in the Sprint Hawk and pronto!  Check out whatever's going on out there, and be sure you're back in time for supper!"

            "Right, ma'am," said Quicksilver, making a quick salute and zipping out of his seat into the elevator.

            * * *

            Science Lab, Ludwig's Warbird.

            Dr. Wily, mad scientist extraordinaire, was working on a very special device. . . one that only he could make now, as Ludwig was captured.  On the computer, he input several delicate specifications that were necessary for the invention.  He had just stopped entering these specifications when the door-chime beeped.  "Come," he said.

            The door opened, and MotherBrain entered.  She said, "Wily, haven't you finished yet?"

            "My goodness, MotherBrain!" said Wily.  "This has never been done before.  Simply to pull this off will be a scientific achievement, but I cannot even do this without the proper time.  I have just input the necessary specifications, so I am all ready to make the devices."

            "Good.  How long will that take?"

            "Not long.  Just a second."  He set up a replicator.  "The molecular pattern has already been input."  He went back over to the computer and linked it to the replicator.  "Now, I just have to activate the replicator.  Replicator, give me the molecular-transport-device number 274, the Wily Special."  An armband with a computational device appeared.

            "That's all?" demanded MotherBrain.  "A bloody armband?"

            "The computer in it is very, very small," said Wily.  "But it is very, very sophisticated.  Watch."  He activated the computer on the armband.  The computer was close to his finger.  On the little display screen was shown:  'Eggplant Wizard to here.'  A few seconds later, Eggplant Wizard appeared in the room!

            "Hey!" demanded Eggplant Wizard.  "What happened?"

            "It worked," said Wily.  "But that is not the device's purpose.  Its main purpose is to have the wearer warped from a cloaked ship to another place or another place to a cloaked ship.  In both cases, the wearer and the cloaked ship are undetected."

            "Good," said MotherBrain.  "Now, let's get veggie-breath out of here."

            "With pleasure," said Wily.  In a second, Eggplant Wizard disappeared.  "When the computer on this band touches its wearer's skin, it can read that person's nerve impulses and transport the wearer without any vocal or physical effort on the wearer's part.  The catch is that the place either from which to be transported or to which to be transported must be cloaked."

            "Understood," said MotherBrain.  "From here to the Enterprise?"

            "As long as we're cloaked," said Wily.

            MotherBrain said, "Excellent.  Get me two more of those things."  Wily nodded.  He put that arm-transporter in his pocket and had the replicator make two more.  He took them when they were made.  "Let's go to the Bridge."  They left the lab and went to the Bridge.

            * * *

            Bridge.

            As soon as MotherBrain had come onto the Bridge, Roy said, "MotherBrain, there is some impertinent Silver Hawk out there in the Sprint Hawk."

            "Is our cloak malfunctioning?" asked MotherBrain as she took her position.

            "No," said Roy.

            "Any possibility of smacking the Sprint Hawk while we're cloaked?"

            "No."

            "Wait a moment," said Wily.  He stepped over to Mouser at the science station.  "Maybe if we configure the systems like this. . ."  He made several adjustments.  The science station's screen was a theoretical view from space.  A bolt shot from nowhere and smacked the Sprint Hawk.  "Ha, ha!  -Wheeze!-  Roy!"  He went over to Roy.  "Make these adjustments:  phaser blasters 99% efficiency; cloak spread 20% to the rear, 80% forward.  Fire-while-cloak modifications for firing rear disruptors!"  Roy made the adjustments.

            "Hm, hm!  The adjustments are made!" said Roy.

            "Now," said MotherBrain, "fire!"

            * * *

            Sprint Hawk.

            Quicksilver was in the region where the cloaked vessels were.  Small as it was, the Sprint Hawk could easily match their warp 30.  "Nothing," he said.  "But this is where the disturbances should be."  He looked through the reddish canopy.  It appeared that some part of a ship decloaked then, but it was very faint.  "What the. . ."  He checked the sensors.  "Nothing!  The sensors say nothing's out there!"  That ship was the Warbird.  Out of the rear shot a blast that whacked the Sprint Hawk.  "Hey!"  He shut down the engines and dropped out of warp.  "What the devil happened?"  He checked the sensors.  What he found out was basically this:  a phaser shot rang out of nowhere and smacked the Sprint Hawk.  There was no serious damage, but it was very puzzling.  "Darn!  Steelheart's going to have a fit!"  He hit several keys, and a laser shot out and opened a warp to Hawkhaven.  He piloted the Sprint Hawk into this warp.

            * * *

            Bridge, Warbird.

            "Did he pick us up?" asked MotherBrain.

            "The sensor readings he got said only that a phaser blast came out of thin space and hit the Sprint Hawk," said Wily.  "The rear of the Warbird was very faintly visible, but the sensors could not detect it.  The person who did, indeed, see the rear of the Warbird could swear that it was an illusion, unless he were an android.  Roy, you should redistribute cloak efficiency."

            "Yes," said Roy, who immediately did so.

            "That Silver Hawk must be awfully darned baffled," said Wily.

            "Give me the transporter devices, Wily," said MotherBrain.  Wily did so. . . with all three.  "Thank you.  Wendy, my dear Bowser, and Roy, I have a job for you."

            "What about our stations?" asked Bowser.

            "I'll keep an eye on them," said Wily.

            "I should like you to go to the Enterprise and free Ludwig, Mumm-ra, and the Fearsome Five, and here is how you ought to do it," said MotherBrain.  She showed them the devices.  "You can use these to transport from a cloaked place to somewhere else or from somewhere else to a cloaked place.  Either must be cloaked, and both can be cloaked, for these devices to work."  Wily nodded.  "You don't need to make vocal commands or physical inputs.  The computer on the armband touches your skin and reads your nerve impulses, telling where you want to go.  Do you understand?"

            "Yes," said Bowser.  "We do."

            "Then, you may go now.  You should think about transporting to the control panel for the brig of the Enterprise."  She gave the transporter devices to Bowser, Roy, and Wendy, who got their sceptres and put the armbands to which the transporter devices were attached on their right arms.  Then, they picked up their sceptres and left.

            * * *

            Darkwing's Tower on Darkwing's Earth.

            "Well," said Wilykit, "I am having a strange suspicion right about now, and I suspect that something about Ludwig is about to happen."

            "Hm," said Wilykat.  "Same here.  You should probably check on the repugnant little rat."

            "Right," said Wilykit.  Picard nodded.

            "Though he may be in my ship's brig," said Picard, "I believe, from your information, that MotherBrain possesses both the capability and the wish to free him.  So, I agree."

            "Captain," said Worf, "my security officers can handle a big cerebrum."

            "Oh, yeah," said Wilykat.  "They couldn't stop the Fearsome Five from conquering the Enterprise.  If Wilykit had not been there,. . ."

            "Wilykat, shut up," said Wilykit.  "It would not serve well to anger the security chief of the Enterprise."

            "All right," said Wilykat.  "But if you ever tell me to shut up again, I'll going to tickle you to death."  Wilykit tapped her communicator.

            "N-Team Transporter," she said, "transport me to the Enterprise Bridge."  She was transported there.

            "You are feeling rather angry toward her right now, Wilykat," said Troi.

            "Please do not pry into my feelings, Counsellor," said Wilykat.  "And please excuse my bluntness, but they are none of your business."

            "Well, you are being impolite right now, Thunder Squirt," said Darkwing.

            "Do not call me that," said Wilykat.

            "I bet Steelheart would not have sent you on this mission if she knew you would react like this," said Darkwing.  "She might have found someone more suitable than a smart-mouthed little brat!"

            "Quit with the names, Mr. Feather-Duster!  You'd better not get into calling Lt. Worf anything, or I assure you that he will be unhappy."

            "Very unhappy," affirmed Worf.

            "You have not the authority to give me orders, Thunder Kitten!  I am from another section of the team.  You, on the other hand,. . ."

            "You are beginning to tread on very dangerous ground, my dear Darkwing!" said Wilykat.  "We may have no authority to give each other any orders, but you know how strong I am compared to how strong you are.  You'd better be lucky you're not insulting Panthro, or your feathers would be all removed by now.  Keep it up with me, and you may not have any feathers."

            "Well!" said Darkwing.  "Aren't we in a bad mood!"

            "I can't help it.  It's just that Wilykit is beaming right into danger, and I cannot save her."

            "You are extremely close to your sister," commented Troi.  "That is very good.  One doesn't have to be a telepath to figure out that you are close."

            "Counsellor, do you think that there is the slightest possibility that I am a little too rough on her?"

            "No.  I think you're just tired of her treating you like she does.  She has some feeling of superiority over you."

            "Well, she's right there."

            "I don't think so.  She just acts a little more serious than you, and that difference is noticeable."

            "She acts so much more formal than I," said Wilykat.  "She corrects me every time I make a grammatical error."

            "I think she does it just to aggravate you," said Troi.

            "Well, if that is the case, then she's definitely succeeding!  She drives me crazy.  I hate it when she does that."

            "Well, you can overcome it," said Troi.  "Maybe you can even beat her at it."

            * * *

            Brig, Enterprise.

            Riker and Wilykit quickly went to the brig to check on Ludwig, the Fearsome Five, and Mumm-ra.  "Well," said Ludwig, "if it isn't the female Thunder Brat."

            "In person, vile reptile," said Wilykit.  "Along with Commander William Riker."

            "I can see, twerp.  You and your brother are going to pay once we get out of here."

            "Sorry.  We don't carry around much cash."

            "Very funny.  Your mouth is like your brother's, though not quite so bad. . . and, one day, it's going to get you in a lot of trouble."

            "That is none of your concern, Prince Lug-nut.  We just came to check on you.  And how are you, Mr. Waterhead?"

            "You'd better feel as lucky as you are!" said Liquidator.  "If I weren't in this damned cell, you'd be liquidated something fierce!"

            "How very charming," said Riker.  "And do you not remember that you violated our ship?"

            "We are acutely aware of that, thank you," said Ludwig.  "Our mistake, thanks to that blasted Thunder Kitten and her bro."

            "Look, kitty," said Quacker Jack, "when I get out of here, you'll be having many more toys to play with!"

            Ludwig stated, "Thanks to you and that smart-aleck bro of yours, our plans to conquer the Enterprise failed.  Maybe I should have attempted this more clandestinely."

            "Maybe you should have just kept your bloody noses in Metroid where they belong!" replied Wilykit.

            "Was your only purpose in coming here to torture us?" demanded Ludwig.

            "No," said Wilykit.  "I'm here just in case MotherBrain is to come."

            �Vous êtes perdant votre temps {Vú zeht pehr-dahⁿh vó-truh tahⁿh} [French] (You are wasting your time),� said Ludwig.

            "Aha!  You should know better, von Koopa!  No progressive tenses exist in French, Prince L.!"

            "Hmph!  Little Miss Correction-Box!  You must make your brother awfully mad."

            "The other way around," said Wilykit.  "He makes me mad."

            "With great possibility, the opposite is also true."  Bowser, Roy, and Wendy appeared in the room.

            "Howdy, guys!" said Bowser.  He, Roy, and Wendy drew their sceptres.

            "Howdy, yourself, King Bowser!" said Wilykit.  "Visiting hours are over.  Beat it."

            "You say that like you expect us to do it," said Roy.  He leapt at her, but she moved to avoid him.  He crashed into the wall.

            "Wha!" exclaimed Bowser.  "Get Riker, Wendy!"

            "With pleasure!" said Wendy.  "Do you like sweets, Riker?"  She blasted Riker with a spell that clasped his arms to the sides of his body.  That binding turned into a huge, unbreakable peppermint ring.

            Riker admitted, "Not this kind.  I never was fond of encapsulating peppermint."

            "Your loss.  You're next, Thunder Kitten!"  Wendy blasted at Wilykit, but she kept moving out of the way of the magic.  "-Grunt!-  Be still, you feisty little. . . cat!"

            "Try and make me!" said Wilykit.  When she leapt for Wendy, Wendy finally hit her and gave her the same peppermint binding as Riker.  "Grunt!  Oogh!"

            "Heh, heh," said Bowser.  He blasted the guard with some magical sleeping powder.  He neutralised the source of power for the brig cells' force fields by blasting it with his sceptre.  The force fields were eliminated, and Roy pulled out of the wall.

            "Excellent," said Ludwig.  "Well, what do you have to say now, Thunder Kitten?"

            Wilykit was very unhappy.  She was very angry.  Of course, this was partly because she had to let herself be captured.  "If I had a mind to," she told him, "I would use certain language!"

            "Hm.  Well, I don't have the heart to eliminate you, my dear.  However, I can give the pleasure to anyone else on the Brain-Team who wishes it."

            "Wilykat will save me!  You just wait and see, Ludwig!"

            "Ah, ah, ah!  Call me by my formal name, if you don't mind."

            "I do mind; so there!"

            "I don't believe that the N-Team will like this," said Riker.

            "Well," said Bowser, "it would appear that the N-Team, the Federation, and the Romulans now have a common enemy:  the Brain-Team!  Hee, hee!  I look forward to the attack that will crash your little party this evening!  Ha, ha, ha!  'Bye, Riker!  Ha, ha, ha!  Let's beat it!  These nifty little gizmos will take us to the Warbird!"  The 'gizmos' did take them - referring to Wilykit, Bowser, Ludwig, Roy, Wendy, the Fearsome Five, and Mumm-ra - to the Bridge of the Warbird.  Riker could not break out of the peppermint candy to save his life.

            "Well, I'm stuck."  Wilykat appeared in the room.  "Wilykat!  Thank God!  Can you get me out of here?"

            "I think so," said Wilykat.  He went over to Riker.  He grabbed the candy at two points and broke it effortlessly in half.  He helped Riker up.  "Is everything all right in here?"

            "No," replied Riker.  "King Bowser Koopa, Prince Roy, and Princess Wendy made an appearance.  Roy smacked in the wall in an attempt to get Wilykit.  Wendy hit me with that peppermint binding.  She got Wilykit when Wilykit tried to get her."

            "Wilykit!  Is she all right?"

            "I don't know.  Bowser eliminated the power to the cells with a cleverly placed shot from that wand of his, and Ludwig, the Fearsome Five, and Mumm-ra were liberated.  The ten villains escaped with a transporter device of theirs, and they brought Wilykit with them."  Wilykat naturally felt angry at the one other conscious person in the room, but he knew that Riker was not to blame.  "Are you angry at me?"

            "Yes, but I know better.  You could not have protected her.  It was easy for me to rip that peppermint prison in two."  He shook his head and stamped his left foot on the floor once so hard that the floor shook.  "I should have come with her, damn it!  I should have come and protected my sister!  Did Ludwig say he'd do anything to her?"

            "He said that he would allow anyone who wanted to do something in the way of eliminating her to do so."

            "No!  Blast it!  If they hurt her,. . . if they. . ."  He began to do the tear-part of crying.  "Why was I not here for her?  Who knows what they will do to her?  Why didn't I come with her?  If I had, she would not have been kidnapped!"

            "Calm down, Wilykat," said Riker.

            "How can you say that?" asked Wilykat.  "My sister has been kidnapped, and you tell me to calm down!"

            "Like I said, calm down!  You cannot do anything if you worry so much."

            "You're right.  But I should have come with her.  Poor her.  I hope that she is well, that those bad guys don't hurt her."  He closed his eyes, and he suddenly decided to talk to Wilykit telepathically. . . if he could.  After all, Thunderian twins had that ability.  The Thunder Kittens had not tried it before, but there was no better time than now.  He said to Riker, "Cmdr. Riker, at the moment, I am attempting to contact my sister telepathically.  Please tap my communicator."  Riker tapped Wilykat's communicator.  "Thank you.  N-Team Transporter, transport me to Darkwing's Tower."  He was transported there.  Riker returned to the Main Bridge.

            * * *

            Bridge, Warbird.

            MotherBrain was happy when she saw the 11 people materialising in the room, and she was even happier when she saw that one of these people - in a prison of peppermint candy - was Wilykit herself.  "Well, well, well!  What have we here?  A little kitty who has just lost one of her nine lives?  Hee, hee, hee!"  Wilykit growled at her.  "Ooh!  A wild cat, too!  Hee, hee!"

            "Very funny, MotherBrain!" said Wilykit.

            "I thought so, too," said Ludwig, going over to MotherBrain.  "What is the plan, MotherBrain?"

            "I shall tell no one until Wilykit is escorted from the room."

            "As you wish, MotherBrain," said Ludwig to her.  He looked at Liquidator and Mega Volt.  "Show Wilykit our brig, my friends."  Liquidator and Mega Volt went over to Wilykit and seized her arms.

            "You know that you will never succeed with this plan of yours," said Wilykit to MotherBrain.

            "Maybe, maybe not," said MotherBrain.  "But I must try, right?"

            "No," said Wilykit.  "You will regret having captured me when my brother stops you."