"More powerful than Q?"

            "Yes, sir," the young man said.  "The Traveller is also part of the Continuum.  His duty was to alert me to my abilities and to teach me to use them responsibly."

            "I see.  And what is the Q-niverse?"

            "My own universe.  I completely botched it up."

            "No!" said Q.  "It is just that Ludwig von Koopa had Q-cubed powers, along with you and those others.  I keep feeling there's another we don't know about."

            "I must stop that creep, Ludwig," Wesley told Picard.  "Only you can help."

            "Me?" Picard exclaimed.

            "Yes," Q said.  "We'll tell you the details."

            * * *

            Congregation Chamber, Hawkhaven, orbiting Bedlama, Limbo, Milky Way Galaxy, Q-niverse.  Stardate 1 049 504.1; December 31, 2994.

            With permission, Beethoven accompanied the Wily- and Tygra-twins to the Second Extended N-Team's first official meeting.  He had a small notebook in case he found any inspiration.  Most of the members were present.  "First," said Steelheart, presiding over the meeting, "it is an honour to have you here, Herr Ludwig van Beethoven."

            "Thank you," Beethoven said.  "And it is an honour to be among you people."

            "Thank you.  Now, the roster.  I found it in the computer yesterday night."  She tapped a button on the control panel in front of her.  "Computer, display the first list."  The list of names for the Silver Hawk Division's members displayed on the screen on the other side of the long room.  "Okay.  Me?  I'm here.  Steelwill?"

            "Here," Steelwill said.

            "Quicksilver."

            "Here," said Quicksilver.

            "Bluegrass."

            "Here."

            "Copper-Kidd."

            "Here."

            "Stargazer."

            "Here."

            "Hotwing."

            "Here."

            "Flashback."

            "Here."

            "Moonstriker."

            "Here."

            "Condor."

            "Here."

            "Thunder Cat list."  It appeared.  "Oh.  We never removed Lion-O's name."

            Snarf said, "Steelheart, I'll do it."  He hit a button, and Lion-O's name disappeared from the list.  Out of grief, Snarf almost left, but with courage, he did not.

            "What happened?" asked Beethoven gently.

            "Discovering how abrupt the opening to your Grand Symphony in c minor� is," said Bluegrass, "evil Melodia used her Sound Smasher and that tune."  [� - To distinguish between major and minor scale, titles such as C Minor (or C minor) are replaced with c minor, with the pitch name in lowercase.  While this is done with b, c, d, e, f, and g minor, this is not done with A minor, however.]

            "Oh," said Beethoven.  He had read much about the past millennium the previous night, including Melodia.  "I'm sorry she misused my work so atrociously."

            "Not your fault," Steelheart said.  "It is hers for abusing it.  Tygra."

            "Here."

            "Cheetara."

            "Here."

            "Panthro."

            "Here."

            "Wilykit and 'Kat."

            "Here."

            "Snarf."

            "Here."

            "Bengali."

            "Here."

            "Pumyra."

            "Here."

            "Lynx-O."

            "Here."

            "Snarfer."

            "Here."

            "Additions?"

            "Astutusgatito and -gatita Wily and Tygrachatonne and -gatinha Cheeta," Wilykit said.  The four names appeared on the list.

            "Gatito and Gatita."

            "Here."

            "Chatonne and Gatinha."

            "Here."

            "Next list."  The Mario-Team & Good Koopas list replaced the Thunder Cats list.  "Mario."

            "Here."

            "Luigi."

            "Here."

            "Toad."

            "Here."

            "Yoshi."

            "Here."

            "Queen Peach Toadstool."

            "Here."

            "King Spike Koopa."

            "Here."

            "Prince Baron Luis de(Spike)Koopa."

            "Here."

            "Prince Vice Lt. Larry (Spike)Koopa."

            "Here."

            "Prince Larceny Chief Roy (Spike)Koopa."

            "Here."

            "Princess Wendy O. (Spike)Koopa."

            "Here."

            "Prince Morton (Spike)Koopa, Jr."

            "Here and present."

            "Princes Lemmy and Iggy (Spike)Koopa."

            "Here."

            "Additions?"

            "None," Mario said.

            "Next."  The N-Team Base list appeared.  "Kevin Keene."

            "Here."

            "Princess Lana Deschain {dáy-shehn}."

            "Here."

            "MegaMan."

            "Here."

            "MegaMan X."

            "Here."

            "Dr. Cain."

            "Here."

            "Roll."

            "Here."

            "Rush."

            "Arf!"

            "Simon Belmont."

            "Here."

            "Kid Icarus."

            "Here."

            "Princess Zelda Harkinian."

            "Here."

            "Link."

            "Here."

            "Chief Samus Aran."

            "Here."

            "Any additions?"

            Kevin said, "Yes, ma'am.  James Chemsos, Jane Physicost, Zan, Jayna, Batman, Robin, Zorro, and Felipe."  The names were added to the list.

            "James Chemsos."

            "Here."

            "Jane Physicost."

            "Here."

            "Zan and Jayna."

            "Here."

            "Batman."

            "Here."

            "Robin."

            "Here."

            "Zorro and Felipe."

            "We're here."

            "Next list."  The Mason-Team Subdivision list appeared.  "Perry Mason."

            "Here."

            "Della Street."

            "Here."

            "Paul Drake, Sr."

            "Here."

            "Paul Drake, Jr."

            "Here."

            "Rupert Jackson."

            "Here."

            "Kennith Malanski."

            "Here."

            "Hamilton Burger."

            "Here."

            "Lt. Arthur Tragg."

            "Here."

            "Lt. Andy Anderson."

            "Here."

            "Lt. Steve Drumm."

            "Here."

            "Sgt. George Brice."

            "Here."

            "Additions?"

            "None," Mason said.

            "We're moving now!  Next list."  The Justice Ducks list appeared.  "Darkwing Duck."

            "Here."

            "Launchpad McQuack."

            "Here."

            "Gosalyn Mallard."

            "Here."

            "GizmoDuck."

            "Here, present, and accounted for!"

            "Morganna."

            "Here."

            "Neptunia."

            "Here."

            "Stegmutt."

            "Here."

            "Additions?"  Darkwing and Scrooge McDuck both stood.

            "Scrooge and all his associates on the Secret-Team," Darkwing said.

            Scrooge said, "I concur."  The two sat.

            "Very well.  Scrooge McDuck."

            "Here."

            "Huey, Dewey, and Louie Duck."

            "Here."

            "Mrs. Beakley."

            "Here."

            "Webbigail van der Quack."

            "Here."

            "Duckworth."

            "Here, madam."

            "Mrs. Crackshell."

            "Here and tuned in."

            "Good!  Director J. Gander Hooter."

            "Here."

            "Agent Vladimir Grizzlykov."

            "Here."

            "Any teams to add?"

            "Yes," Picard said.  "The Enterprise-Team.  Ever since Ludwig dissolved Starfleet, this is the first engaging sort of career that has interested us."

            "I see.  New list."  The screen blanked.  "Name:  Enterprise-Team Division.  Members?"

            The names were added as Picard called them off.  "Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander William T. Riker, Doctor Beverly H. C. Picard, Lieutenant Commander Data, Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge, Lieutenant Commander Counsellor Deanna Troi, Lieutenant Worf, Lieutenant Robin Lefler, and Captain Wesley Crusher."

            "Captain Picard."

            "Here."

            "Cmdr. Riker."

            "Here."

            "Dr. Picard."

            "Here."

            "Lt.-Cmdr. Data."

            "Here."

            "Lt.-Cmdr. LaForge."

            "Here."

            "Counsellor Troi."

            "Here."

            "Lt. Worf."

            "Here."

            "Lt. Lefler."

            "Here."

            "Captain Crusher."

            "He is elsewhere," Picard said.

            Wilykit said, "Wesley is attempting to enact a plan that will help us overthrow the evil regime."

            "Very well," Steelheart said.  "Ludwig van Beethoven, if you would like to enter the N-Team, there are no restrictions, so long as you support, basically, Thunderian principles."

            Beethoven had acquainted himself with those standards.  He loved them.  "Quite possibly."

            "You are in excellent shape, sir," Quicksilver said.

            "Thank you.  I shall seriously consider it."

            "Very well," said Steelheart.  "We now need to decide upon who will be the leader.  Someone strong.  Someone intelligent.  Someone with mental, emotional, and physical endurance.  I don't feel that I can handle the job so well again, so I ask you not to choose me."

            Paul Drake, Sr., said, "And I was ready to tout you in my speech, Commander!  I did last time!"

            "Sorry, Paul.  Tout someone else."  The detective sighed and withdrew the copy of his speech.  "What!"

            "I had it all ready, too, since Lt. Tragg unjustly accused me of rehearsing mine when we elected the leader of the First Extended N-Team," Drake said.  "Anyone got a blue ink pen?"  Tragg got one out of his coat pocket and handed it to him.  "Thank you, Lieutenant."

            "Ah, I'll need that back as soon as you finish, Paul," said Tragg.

            "Of course."  Drake began editing.  "This may take a while."

            "In that case," said Quicksilver, "I have some comments to make."

            "By all means, Quick," said Steelheart.

            "Very well.  First of all, we need a constitution or some other form of organisation.  See what happened a millennium ago."

            "Yes," Wilykit agreed.  "Find a better way to distribute authority, as well."

            "Definitely.  Now, the subdivision leaders are the ones eligible for the position.  Who are they, again?"

            Della Street said, "I recall.  Silver Hawks:  Steelheart.  Thunder Cats:  Wilykit.  Mario-Team & Good Koopas:  Mario.  N-Team Base:  Captain N.  Mason-Team:  Perry Mason.  Justice Ducks:  Darkwing Duck.  Enterprise-Team:  Captain Jean-Luc Picard."

            "Thank you, Miss Street.  To speed up the process, whoever does not want to lead the whole kaboodle should raise one of their hands.  I'm addressing the leaders."  Some leaders raised a hand.  "Let us see. . . Commander Steelheart, Mario, Perry Mason, and Darkwing.  Thus, it is now between Wilykit, Kevin, and Captain Picard."  The hands went back down.  "Pretty good.  Determined from the previous election, Steelheart shall be fourth in the line of N-Team command; Mario the fifth; Perry the sixth; Wingie the seventh.  All we have to decide is who the first, second, and third will be.  I think this should significantly improve the votability."  Drake crumpled up his speech.  "What!"

            "That blows my whole speech out of the water," Drake said.  "All of 'em are good.  Personally, I would go with the lady."

            "Very well.  Does anyone else have any comments?" asked Quicksilver.  No one did.  "All right, then.  Shall we commence?"  He activated a program with his input pad, one of which everyone had in front of them.  "All right.  Everyone has an input pad.  To select a certain candidate, type in the first letter of that person's name - W for Wilykit, K for Kevin, or P for Picard - and hit the ENTER key.  Discounting Rush, we have ninety-three members and one thinking about being a member, I believe.  Since one is absent, I believe that we should have ninety-three entries if everyone here votes, including Herr Beethoven.  I think we should let him vote, since he may become a member.  Thus, I am afraid that a two-way tie is possible.  Any questions?"  There were none.  "Very well.  Let us proceed."

            Within half an hour, everyone had finished.  Steelheart had the computer figure out how many people voted for whom.  "Very well," Steelheart said.  "The results:  Picard - 13; Kevin - 32; Wilykit - 48."

            "Well, well!" said a quite familiar watery voice.  Liquidator, near one wall, returned to his humanoid-dog shape.  "Once more, she snatches defeat from the jaws of victory!  Or should 'defeat' and 'victory' be reversed?"

            Wilykit demanded, "Liquidator, what in the heck are you doing here?"

            "Ludwig told me to make sure you're not plotting against him."

            Sarcastically, Wilykat asked, "Now why would he think a bloody thing like that?"

            "Did he receive MotherBrain's approval for sending you?" demanded Wilykit.

            "Barely," Liquidator said.

            "Beat it before she changes her mind."

            "Oh?  Well, my business here has been completed, anyway.  Later!  And don't forget to get the number-one Liquidator brand!  It'll knock your socks off!"  He warped to Metroid.

            Wilykit said, "I would appreciate it if everyone began trying to think of a way to humanely force the emperor and MotherBrain from power.  Any suggestions will be considered, no matter how lame, idiotic, or wacko they may seem.  Kevin, you're my second-in-command."

            "Yes," said Kevin.  "Then come Picard, Steelheart, Perry Mason, Mario, and Darkwing."

            "Right-o.  Everyone act naturally.  Go where you should, and try nothing foolish.  Until we get an idea, I want few to cross a Brain-Team member other than the idiots. . . e.g. Eggplant, Hippo, and the like."

            "Got it," said Mario.

            "The Thunderians want desperately to help, so I'll let 'em.  I don't care what that pipsqueak Chief Justice Larry (Bowser)Koopa says.  Kevin, I want you to consider the options for stopping Ludwig."

            "Very well, Wilykit," said Kevin.

            Ludwig van Beethoven said, "Do not become like Napoleon Bonaparte, Wilykit.  He allowed human ambitions to bring him down."

            "I won't, Beethoven.  Trust me."

            * * *

            Kakariko Village, Hyrule, VideoLand, Milky Way Galaxy.

            The solidly brown-haired and blue-eyed Cerebrantonio {Cháy-ráy-brahn-tó-nyó} had warned his older twin brother Cerebraguillaume {cháy-ráy-brah-gé-yawm} that it would be excessively imprudent to bother the constabulary that had just thrown a broke Hyrulian family out of their home and into the streets, but the older one did not listen.  Guillaume {Gé-yawm} had just been taken to the Palace of Power for interrogation; poor Antonio {ahn-tó-nyó} knew not what to do.

            Chatonne and Gatinha arrived.  They finally had their Thunder Cat Insignias.  Kakariko was usually calm, which was why they often went there.  However, something was wrong.  They overheard that the family had been evicted; Chatonne was calm, and she kept Gatinha calm.  "Chatonne, do you sense one of our kind in distress?" Gatinha asked abruptly.

            "A Thunderian?  Why, yes," Chatonne said.  "Just now!"

            "Let's find the person."

            "Yes."  Soon, they found a young member of the Wilykat Race about their height, which was about Wilykit's height.  He was sitting on a bench and crying in an isolated area of the village.  Upon seeing him, Gatinha's heartbeat accelerated.  Chatonne was very concerned about the young man.  "Excuse me, sir," Chatonne said gently.  "What is wrong?"

            He raised his head to look at her in the eyes.  A Thunder Cat!  "It is my brother, ma'am.  We were here for a habitual short visit.  It is usually idyllic around here, but we saw that an officer was evicting a poor family.  Our sense of justice was immediately triggered, but my brother lost too much of his temper.  He decided to bother the officer about it.  I warned him that to do that would not be safe, but he ignored my advice and was taken to the Palace of Power for interrogation after the guard had shot the family dead.  All of them, including the children!"

            "My God."

            "Yeah.  I don't know what to do about it."

            "Who are you, sir?"

            "My name is Antonio Farfâla {fahr-fa-lah} vân Cerebra {cháy-ráy-brah}.  My twin, the elder, is Guillaume."

            "We are Chatonne and Gatinha Cheeta vân Tygra."

            He was immediately intrigued.  "Wow!  The math and music geniuses?"

            "We just know we like it, so we excel at it.  We have heard of you.  You and your brother graduated at the top of your class and set a record high."

            "Yeah.  You weren't there when we would have taken the highest math courses this scholastic year."

            "No."  Gatinha's feelings were almost out of control, and Chatonne felt it.

            So were Antonio's once he turned to her.  His intention was simply to glance at her to get a mental picture, but he wound up staring.  "Oh, my," he whispered to himself.  "I am in love."  He was quite correct about his feelings, as he normally was.  But he never felt his feelings attempt to slip through is control so much as he did now.  Yet he was an expert at controlling his feelings, and he did not permit these feelings to overcome him.

            Chatonne felt the emotions.  "Please not now," she said.  "Later, but not now."

            "All right, Chatonne," Gatinha said.

            "Will you two help me save my brother?" asked Antonio.

            "Certainly."

            Chatonne said, "Come with us."

            * * *

            Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            "You pea-brained son of a poop!!!" Prince Roy cried to the Cardassian troop who had brought in Guillaume.  "You mean to tell me that you left a Thunderian's twin behind when you brought in the Thunderian in question!?"

            "Are you out of your tiny, puny, insignificant, itty-bitty, stupid, ignorant, foolish, idiotic, moronic, infantile, infinitesimal, diminutive, no-good, crazy, loco {ló-kó} [Spanish] (crazy), dumb mind?" Morton demanded.  "Of all the. . ."  Roy turned to him.  "Uh, oh."

            "SHADDUP!!!" screamed Roy.  "I don't need your humongous mouth, Morton!"

            "I'm sorry," the troop said.  "If I'd had any idea. . ."

            "Oh, beat it before I bloody vaporise you!" Roy ordered.  "Get that other one in if you find 'im!  Now, OUT OF MY SIGHT!!!"

            "All right."  The troop left for the Hyrule warp.

            "Cardies make lousy troops!" Roy said.  Of course, he would use the racist term for Cardassian.  "Come on, Morton.  Let's interrogate 'im."

            "Oh boy!" said Morton.  "Can I ask some questions?  Huh?  Oh, please, can I?"

            "All right!!  You can ask some bloody questions!!  LET'S JUST GET MOVING ALREADY BEFORE LARRY GETS WIND OF THIS AND SPOILS OUR FUN!!!"

            * * *

            Guillaume was sitting in the cell that had been the Wilytwins', though why he knew this, remembering the media footage, did not matter.  If only he had listened to his little brother.  Antonio had more common sense.  Why was Antonio not the older?  Maybe then Guillaume would not be in this mess.  Of course, chances were that even had Antonio ordered him not to do it, he would have done it anyway.

            The door to the outer corridor opened.  Roy and Morton entered.  They proceeded to his cell.  "I'm Prince Roy Koopa," Roy said in an offensive tone.  "This is my bigmouthed little brother, Morton.  What is your name?"

            "I am Guillaume van Cerebra.  Why am I being held here?"

            "I am asking the questions here!!" snapped Roy.

            "Don't you know it's not your race's place to interfere in non-Thunderian areas?" asked Morton.

            Guillaume began, "I was just. . ."

            "Silence!" Roy bellowed.  Guillaume cringed.  He had allowed himself to be caught off-guard, and now he was paying for it.  "You assaulted an imperial official!  Punishable by lashing with an energy whip!  If you co-operate, you may be let off with a reprimand!"

            "Might I ask something, please?"

            "No way in the bad place!  Your rear end was arrested for attacking a constabulably!"

            "Um," said Morton, "Roy, I believe the word is constabulary!"

            "Don't interrupt me when I'm yelling at a jailcat, 'Big Mouth'!!" screamed Roy.  Back at Guillaume, he continued, "You were arrested for attacking a constabulary!!  No, you don't get to make a bloody telephone call to your mama or to your blasted lawyer, Thunderian!!  Should've thought of the consequences before you jackknived that poor man!!"  What poor man?  "And don't you dare cry!!  I hate babies!!"  Guillaume was on the verge of tears.  What gave this reptile the right to come in and bully him like this?  The door opened again, and Larry entered.  Roy's expression changed completely.  "Hey, Larry!"

            "Roy, beat it!" Larry ordered.

            "But. . ."

            "I told you to beat it, little brother!!  You shouldn't be here in the first place!!"

            "Aw, you're no fun!"  Roy stormed out.  Morton was about to follow, but Larry stayed Morton by laying his hand on Morton's shoulder.

            "I am Prince Larry (Bowser)Koopa," Larry said congenially.  "I must apologise for my brother's terribly atrocious behaviour.  Your name?"

            "Guillaume vân Cerebra," said Guillaume.  "Do you mind if I ask something?"

            "Of course not!  Ask away."

            "Why were those innocent Hyrulians being evicted?"

            "Oh.  They didn't pay their housing tax in November, and their leeway had run out."

            "They were too poor!"

            "I'm sorry.  Happens often."

            "I was at Lord Wilykit's recoronation ceremony yesterday.  Stuff such as monetary trouble never occurs in the Thunderian Kingdom!"

            "It just proves your species's greater ability."

            "Thunderians do not exist to survive!" snapped Guillaume.  "We exist to help other people survive!"

            "Of course, you're taught to believe that," Larry said too nicely.  "Noble but worthless.  You attacked an officer; for that, you must stand trial."

            "Don't expect it to discourage me a bit!"

            "I'm sorry you feel that way.  I know a good lawyer."

            "I don't need a darned lawyer!  I know what I did was right.  If I must suffer for it, then so be it!  I know my suffering will be worthwhile."

            "All right, then.  If you have a brother, where is he?"  That instantly snapped the wrong chord with Guillaume.

            "DON'T YOU DARE HARM MY BABY BROTHER!!!  I'D SOONER DIE THAN LET YOU DO ANYTHING TO HIM!!!"  He meant that.

            "You have my solemn word that I do not have the intention to harm a quark in his body, Cerebraguillaume.  Just answer me, please."

            "Last time I saw him, he was on Hyrule, where he had gone with me.  He wasn't taken."

            This struck the wrong note with Larry.  "Is this true, Morton?"

            "Yes, it is," said Morton.

            "Oh, blast it!  Who's responsible?"

            "Trooper De Selt."

            "Dratted Cardassian slave-troops.  Wilykit is going to get wind of this and raise merry chaos with MotherBrain; I know it!  And with the power and influence Wilykit has, she can get away with raising as much chaos with MotherBrain as she wants!"

            "Let's get to Ludwig!"

            "No, Morton!  No time!  To MotherBrain!"

            * * *

            "Curses!" exclaimed the unhappy MotherBrain.  "Trooper De Selt shall be put on the rack for her incompetence.  Wilykit shall bring this up, and she shall be mad as a wet hen.  Larry, what in the world is wrong with letting the Thunderians aid the survival of other races?"

            "I'm not sure.  I just dislike it."

            "Let 'em."

            "What?  Why?"

            "That's the only way they'll leave us alone about it, Larry!"

            "Very well."  A moment later, the Wilytwins, the Tygra-twins, and Cerebrantonio materialised in the throne room.  The only non-Thunder-Cat was Antonio.

            "Well, good day, Wilykit," MotherBrain greeted genially.  "How can we help you?"

            "Save it, MotherBrain!" exploded Wilykit.  "What is this I hear about innocent people being evicted and a Thunderian being hauled in for interfering?"

            "He assaulted an officer," Larry said.

            "I don't care!  You weren't going to tell me about it; my telepathy tells me that.  Antonio, Guillaume's brother, told me even about the assault."

            Larry's evil eyes narrowed.  "Get De Selt."

            "Not at this instant," MotherBrain said.  "Wilykit, I'm terribly sorry about this incident."  She pulled a lever on a control panel on the wall, and Guillaume materialised in the room.

            Regaining his orientation, Guillaume said, "Where. . . brother!"  He ran to Antonio; the two hugged.

            "Guillaume vân Cerebra, I release you," MotherBrain said.  "Wilykit, I have decided to let the Thunderians aid other peoples."

            "Okay," said Wilykit.  "Thank you.  I shouldn't let it go at this, but I will, at least for now."  She touched her communicator.  "Six to casa di Tygra on New Thundera in the Milky Way."  The six were transported there.

            "Larry, in case you're wondering, my kindness is a hoax," said MotherBrain.  "Don't tell Ludwig or anyone what I'm about to tell you."

            "I shall not."

            "I'm also Q-cubed."

            "Whoa!  Really?"

            "How else am I able to keep Ludwig in check?  I am more powerful.  He cannot see the utter potential of this power because he is hungry for more.  However, it is so vast that he would be shocked; and he cannot know it, lest he destroy creation, unless he finds the amount of power he has to be satisfying.  I know Wilykit can see the potential, as can her brother, Wesley, and the Wondertwins.  She most of all."

            "Hm.  I see.  Ludwig is overcome with visions of incalculable power."

            "Yes; too bad for him.  These powers may be enormous, but they're still limited.  Wilykit or Wilykat can easily keep him from using his Q-cubed powers."

            "Can they do it to you?"

            "Not so easily, nor can I easily do it to them.  It has nothing to do with the magnitude of the powers belonging to any of us; it merely has to do with how the holder of the powers stores them.  The way your brother holds them makes it fairly easy for another Q-cubed to suppress his use of them, whereas the way I hold them makes it darn near impossible."

            Ludwig appeared.  "Hello, all!" he greeted enthusiastically.  "I have a good idea for my fourth symphony!"

            "Whoa, Ludwig!  Say what?"

            "What didn't you comprehend?"

            "You have a good idea for your fourth symphony?"

            "I mean it!  I just took a million notes on Mount Icarus!  I can present the work with my third!"

            "How can you compose a whole symphony in half a day?" asked Larry.

            "It'll only be about fifteen minutes long."

            "Fifteen!" MotherBrain exclaimed.  "Five movements. . ."

            "Nope.  Just three."

            "A three-movement symphony, eh?"

            "Brisk, brief.  No slow movements."

            "And what shall you name the work, if you intend to name it?"

            " 'My Little Symphony.' "

            "Fits.  I'm intrigued.  Try it, by all means!"

            * * *

            Wilykit's Temporary Office (but probably to become permanent), casa di Tygra, New Thundera, Milky Way Galaxy.

            "I'm glad they didn't harm you," Wilykit said to the Cerebra-twins.  "My cousins tell me that you were the best students ever in their language classes. . . or in anyone else's classes, for that matter."

            "Yes," Guillaume said.

            Wilykit added, "They said you graduated at the top of the senior class at the university this year.  You have record-high G.P.A., even higher than others who have gone and graduated before you."

            "We know it," said Antonio.  "We tried hard."

            "Seems a lot like Thunder Cat material to me," Wilykat said.

            "From my sources, I think you would make two intelligent ones," Wilykit added.

            "I assume this is a serious offer," said Guillaume.  "I'm not the planner that Antonio is; he deserves to be older than I."

            "If only that were the way of things."

            "That is an offer you made, right?"

            "Yes, Cerebraguillaume.  How old are you two?"

            "Twenty."

            "Would you accept my offer?"

            "Antonio?"

            "I would," said Antonio.  "Wilykit, we cannot get parental consent.  Around two years ago, in early 2993, our parents disappeared.  After proving to Tygra that we could take care of ourselves, he granted us temporary adult rights until our parents returned or until we reached the Age of Legal Maturity, 28 years.  At 28, of course, the temporary rights would become permanent."

            "I remember.  Yes.  He told me about that.  Because of that, I'll overlook the age requirements this time."  She went to a table, opened the drawer, and removed an isolinear chip.  "Here.  I assume you have a normal SVGA computer?"

            "Yes, ma'am."

            "Good.  This is a computerised application form, good for twins.  Fill this out, and return it to me.  Disregard the message about parental consent."  She gave the chip - marked 'application form' - to Guillaume.

            "Got it, ma'am," said Guillaume.  "Thank you."

            "You're welcome.  Why don't you two get acquainted with the Tygra-twins?"  They knew what she meant.

            Antonio cleared his throat.  "My lord, I don't know what to do.  When I first saw Tygragatinha. . . I know what happened to me.  I just. . . can't explain the reaction."

            "I know how it is," said Wilykat.  "I felt that way once.  Your reaction means that you'd better get to know her, or you could regret it."

            "Shall I feel it, too?" Guillaume asked.  "When I first see Tygrachatonne?  I didn't look at her.  My eyes were either in my brother's or on the floor until we got here."

            "Most likely, Guillaume, but you might not.  There's really no way to tell until you see her."

            "Ah.  Well, thank you, Wilytwins."

            "Thank you, Cerebra-twins," Wilykit said.  "Farewell."

            "Farewell."  The Cerebra-twins left.

            "Cerebraguillaume definitely wishes he were the younger," Wilykat said.

            Wilykit said, "Yeah.  Cerebrantonio wouldn't mind that, either.  What do we do about it?"

            "Horse-junk, 'Kit.  Just flip around their respective stati�.  Antonio would have legal authority over Guillaume just as you do over me."  [� - To make an English noun ending in -us plural, Thunderians normally change the -us to -i.]

            "Well. . . maybe.  We can disregard the biological fact.  Who is mentally more mature?"

            "Antonio."

            "Yes.  Maybe they just came out in the wrong order."

            "Possibly.  They both want it, right?"

            "So far as I can tell.  And I can give 'em a signed statement about their legal stati."

            "Right."

            Someone knocked on the door four times.  "Enter, please," said Wilykit.  The door opened; Beethoven entered the room.  "Good afternoon, Herr Ludwig van Beethoven."

            "Good afternoon, Wilytwins," Beethoven said.  "You may just call me Beethoven."

            "Very well, Beethoven," said Wilykit.  "What can we do for you?"

            "I would like to thank you for ordering the works of the 'Anonymous' Composers for me.  You're right.  The devil that has conquered this universe has despicably stolen the credit for many marvellous structural symphonic features.  Some are subtle enough not to be noticed."

            "And I can see how he can get away with it," said Wilykat.  "He disguises the features so well that he actually can take the credit, due to his adaptation skills."

            "Besides the structure, he has composed three original and extraordinary symphonies.  The Tygra-twins have done extraordinarily, as well."

            "Oh?"

            "Certainly.  The movements of their symphony are arranged in the same basic pattern as those in the symphonies I've mentioned, and they follow Classical form to a good extent, but the similarities stop there.  It is extremely moody.  In describing the very emotions of which a being is capable, it truly evokes them, nearly always many at once.  The effect is amplified by their split-orchestra technique.  It works for them."

            "But," said Wilykit, "it would not do a thing for you, since it is not your style, right?"

            "Correct, most likely.  Good composers use only what suits them or their purpose.  If the form is not available, they create it.  No problem.  And it doesn't matter whether people appreciate your work.  People can make mistakes."

            Wilykat asked, "Beethoven, how is it you know English?"

            "I really don't know the answer to that myself.  When he brought me back to life, the emperor must have made me able to speak, understand, read, and write English.  I speak German, French, and Italian as well."

            "I see," said Wilykit.  "You should learn Spanish, Portuguese, or Iberian.  Then, you'll be able to communicate with most people in the empire."

            "Hm.  I had been planning to learn another language.  I feel a little more adventurous now, anyway, that I'm back alive and that I'm younger in body.  However, the Tygra-twins do not need to change their symphony.  I believe that it is perfect."

            "Really?"

            "Yes.  What are you planning to do about Ludwig?"

            "I'm not sure.  Combined, Wilykat, Zan, Jayna, and I can subdue him.  He does not fully comprehend the extent of his powers."

            "I see.  When will you attempt this?"

            "Soon.  We can only prevent him from using his powers; we know not how to take them away."

            "If I may make a suggestion, from what I have seen of the video records, conducting takes up much of his concentration.  You might be able to sneak past his consciousness to his powers and rip the powers out while he's occupied."  Wilykit snapped her fingers.

            "Excellent idea, Beethoven.  I had not thought of that."  She pondered for a moment.  "Uh, huh.  Yes!  It just might work!  The Astutus-twins, our cousins, have told me that he puts almost all his concentration into conducting."

            "You will attempt it, then?"

            "Certainly shall.  Where are the Tygra-twins?"

            "Scanning their music sheets," said Beethoven.  "They'd worry about a misplaced 256th note in a super-fast movement!"  Someone knocked on the door.

            "Enter," Wilykit said.  The Tygra-twins opened the door and came in.

            "Can you believe it?" cried Gatinha.

            "The computer put the most important note in the most important measure in the fifth movement a half-step too high!" Chatonne exclaimed.  "Luckily, we caught it and fixed it."  Beethoven broke out in laughter.  "What, Beethoven?"

            "I rest my case!" Beethoven said.  "Please excuse me!"

            Wilykat patted Gatinha's shoulder, then Chatonne's.  "He is right, you know," said Wilykat.  "He told us he thought your work was perfect.  Quit worrying about it and relax, you two."

            Wilykit said, "Yes.  You've stayed up enough weeks on end worrying about that thing.  Can't you just get away from it for half a day?"

            "I guess you all are right," said Chatonne.  "And it is kind of silly to worry about a single note being too high by only a millimetre.  That is the stubbornest note in the whole symphony, and we've only now got it to work right.  That arpeggio is intended to be the dramatic climax of the symphony."

            Beethoven said, "Well, if you will excuse me, I have some work to do."

            "Very well, Beethoven," said Wilykit.  Beethoven left the room.  "Would you two like to go visit the Cerebra-twins?"

            Gatinha's heart rate went up.  "Yes, if Gatinha can control herself," Chatonne said.

            "Chatonne, once you and Guillaume look in each other's eyes, you won't remember the first thing about control!" said Gatinha.

            "Now, Gatinha," said Wilykat.  "It is possible that she won't immediately fall in love with him.  That is not a law that that happen.  It wasn't like that with me and Jayna."

            "They want their stati legally reversed," Wilykit said.  "Thus, Antonio would have authority over his brother instead of the way it is now."

            Gatinha said, "Yeah, I've sensed that.  But why?"

            "Guillaume doesn't feel mature enough for the responsibility, whereas Antonio does.  I want you to let them know that I am approving of it."

            "Okay, 'Kit.  See you two later."

            "See you later, Tygra-twins."  The Tygra-twins went to the front door and used the control panel there to find the address of the Cerebra-twins.  Just a tad out of town on the same side of town as casa di Tygra but on the opposite side of the road.  Just a short walk toward town.