Outside the Bulkans' Village, third-Earth, Delta Quadrant, Milky Way Galaxy, Original Universe.  Stardate 49 761.64; April 4, 1993.

Wilykit still sat crying underneath the tree she had found.  She still did not want to admit to what had happened.  She knew that she had to leave, but she did not think that she could ever face Kevin again.  She had failed to protect his brother, and though she had avenged his death in rage, Kevin had the right to do anything - absolutely anything - that he wanted with her.  Though he was normally very reasonable, he could become extremely angry when his brother was harmed or threatened.

            Kevin and Lana approached quietly.  They had no problem doing this.  When they were close enough to see Wilykit, Lana said quietly, "She looks pretty upset, Kev."

            Kevin sighed.  "I have to do this, Lana."

            "Please.  Don't be hard on her."

            "I won't, Lana.  I promise."  They slowly neared Wilykit.  They got within half a metre without disturbing her.  "Wilykit?"

            Wilykit stopped crying and looked up at him.  "What do you want?" she asked, frightened and nervous.

            "Sh, easy," he said soothingly, getting on his knees next to her, since she was sitting.  "I'm sorry, Wilykit.  I didn't mean to scare you."

            "You had every right to do that," Wilykit told him.  "I failed.  I failed to protect your brother.  According to Thunderian custom, I must willingly permit you to punish me or do anything else you desire with my body."

            "Don't."

            "I must!"

            "What did you do to believe you deserve such potentially cruel punishment?"

            Wilykit sighed.  "Kevin. . . a clone of Ridley was at the Berbil Village.  After posturing, he shot a fireball at Michael, who used his Power Pad to leap out of the way.  Michael retaliated with a Zapper blast, but Ridley's clone jumped into the air, too.  Then, that clone hit Michael point-blank in the chest with another fireball!"  Kevin gasped in horror.  "I caught Michael, handed him to Lieutenant Tragg, and destroyed the clone.  The rest of the monsters ran off in fear."  She began crying loudly.  "I failed, Kevin!  I'm supposed to protect my Amoro Eternamente!"

            Kevin sighed.  "Wilykit, I doubt you could have successfully stopped Ridley," he told her softly.

            "Don't give me that!  Your brother's almost dead now thanks to my utter failure!  In fact, maybe you should kill me so I won't feel so terrible for years on end!"

            He hugged her warmly.  "Wilykit, aren't we brother and sister in a way, now that you and Michael did what you did?"

            "I. . . I guess.  Why?"

            "Then let me be your big brother for a moment."

            She kissed his cheek after putting her arms around him.  "Oh, you're so sweet, Kevin!"

            "Wilykit, please try to stop beating yourself up about this," Kevin told her.  "Since when did I ever tell you to protect him?"

            She sighed.  "Never."

            "Very good.  Why, then, should I have expected you to do it at that moment?"

            "I don't know."

            He kissed her cheek.  "I wouldn't do that.  I'm sorry I got mad earlier.  I had no business getting mad and scaring you off."

            "I still have to. . . make this offer, Kevin."

            "I don't want to punish you."

            "You don't have to, but that's certainly an option."

            "Well, I'm not going to do it, Wilykit.  Michael wasn't dead, was he, when you last saw him?"

            "No, but he wasn't breathing."

            "Did you try your healing touch?"

            She looked as surprised as if he had slapped her face.  "No, I didn't!  I didn't even think about it!"

            "Maybe there's a chance."

            "Sure!"  They released each other and got up.  They heard a warp open nearby.  "What's that?"

            "Sounds like the warp we used," Lana said.

            Wilykat came running.  "Wilykit!" he called.

            "Brother!" Wilykit exclaimed.  The two came together and hugged each other.

            "Wilykit, what's going on?  Lieutenant Tragg brought Michael to VideoLand and took him down to the hospital."

            "I'll explain while we go to the hospital.  I have to go see Michael."

            * * *

            Hospital, Palace of Power, VideoLand, Delta Quadrant.

            Quicksilver examined Michael's body.  His prognosis was quite grim.  That blast by Ridley's clone did quite a bit of damage at such short range.  The young man's chances of survival were very low.  The Silver Hawk doctor had ordered several procedures in attempt to save him.  He had managed to get him breathing again, but his heartbeat was irregular.  His pacemaker and heart were healthy, though, so that meant there had to be some nerve damage.  He sighed, deciding he had to break the news to the sixteen-year-old.  He used a wake-up hypospray on Michael's arm.

            Michael coughed and tried to sit up.  "Don't try to get up, Michael," Quicksilver said.

            Lying back down, Michael opened his eyes and looked around only by moving his eyeballs.  "Great," he said.

            "Michael, that blast of Ridley's clone caused some severe damage," Quicksilver said.

            "No wonder I'm in pain.  What will happen, Doctor Quicksilver?"

            "I don't know whether you can survive," Quicksilver said honestly.  "But if you survive the next several hours, your chances will be far better."

            Michael understood this.  Not even doctors could save everyone.  He knew better than to panic or to shout.  Of course, he felt some fear, but he controlled it.  "Where's Wilykit?"

            "-Sigh.-  According to the Thunder Cats, she ran off when Kevin tried to question her about you.  She thought you'd been killed, and she wasn't too far wrong, either."

            "I'll survive," Michael said most optimistically, and with a determined look.  Quicksilver was impressed, for Michael was willing to fight to stay alive.  Many kids his age would probably be scared out of their wits or demandingly impatient.  "Get me Perry Mason, though.  I want to make sure my video games go to someone who needs them in case I'm wrong."

            Quicksilver smiled.  "All right."  Then, the door opened, and Kevin, Lana, and the Wilytwins entered.  "Hello, people.  Yes, you may visit."

            Kevin came over to Michael and knelt beside him.  "Hi, there, little brother," Kevin said.

            "Hey, Kevin," Michael said.

            "-Sigh.-  I'm glad you're alive."

            Michael grinned.  "Are you kidding?  Just you wait.  After this, I'll be better than ever."  Kevin could tell that Michael was determined to pull through this.

            Wilykit came over.  "I want to try to heal you, Michael."

            Quicksilver smacked himself in the head.  "Darn, I forgot!  Otherwise, I'd have called Wilykat down here earlier!  Go ahead, 'Kit."  Wilykit put her hands on Michael's chest.  Quicksilver used his tricorder to continuously scan him.  "Yes!  That's doing it!"

            "I'm feeling better already," Michael said.

            "Good work, Wilykit."  He put his tricorder away.  "I guess, though, that it would be useless to tell you to take it easy for a while, Michael."

            "No, it wouldn't," Michael told him.  He carefully got up.  "Wilykit, thank you."  He hugged her.

            "Michael, I must confess, I thought Ridley had killed you," she told him.

            "Oh, you poor girl," he said compassionately.

            "Come, guys," Kevin said.  "I don't think it's over yet."

            Michael released Wilykit.  "Thanks, Quicksilver."

            "Sure, Michael," Quicksilver replied.  Kevin, Michael, Lana, Wilykit, and Wilykat left the hospital.

            Michael asked, "So, is everyone evacuated?"

            "All but the Thunder Cats," Kevin said.  "MotherBrain didn't see fit to block the escape of the Snowman of Hook Mountain, of the Tuskas, or of any of the Thunder Cats' other allies on third-Earth, other than the ones we had to save."

            "Did she send any clones of Kraid?"

            "Nope.  Good job on apprehending Windy and his companions."

            "It was a good group effort," Michael said.  "Kevin, somehow, I just. . . didn't sense MotherBrain after I returned to third-Earth after telling Wilykat to shut down the field generators."

            Kevin frowned thoughtfully.  "Yeah, same here.  Just what does that mean?"

            Wilykit said, "It means she left!  -Gasp!-  Voyager!  What if she's after Voyager?"

            "But how could she know just where it is?" Kevin asked.

            "What if a couple of her goons slipped onto the ship before we warped it away?" asked Michael.  "Like Eggie and Hippo?"

            "Blast!  I'm going to go over there.  Michael, you want to stay here?"

            "Sure.  I made that promise to Quicksilver."

            "Good."

            "May I come with you, Kevin?" Wilykat asked.

            "Sure.  I'll get you a Power Pad."

            "Sounds great!"

            "I'll stay and keep Michael company," Wilykit said.

            "Sure," Wilykat agreed.

            * * *

            Later, Kevin and Wilykat came to the throne room, where Voyager's senior staff was waiting near Lana's throne.  "I told Captain Janeway what you were thinking, Kevin," Lana said.

            "This is our concern, as well," Janeway said.  "We'd like to come with you."

            "Sure, Captain," Kevin agreed.  He turned to Lana.  "Lana, I want the team ready in case we have to fight again."

            "Certainly," Lana told him.

            "If you don't hear back from us within ten minutes, come after us with the entire N-Team Base, except Michael.  He needs recuperation time.  If he tries to come, chain him to his bed."

            Lana had to smile at the seriousness with which he said this.  "Got it."

            "Okay, guys.  Let's go."  He led the way to the warp to the field on New Thundera where the Voyager was.

            * * *

            Voyager, New Thundera, Delta Quadrant.

            Kevin, Wilykat, and the senior staff of Voyager emerged near the ship.  Kevin, Janeway, and Tuvok approached the ship.  Tuvok tapped his commbadge.  "Computer, this is Lieutenant Tuvok.  Has anyone boarded the ship since I ordered you not to let anyone board?"

            "No," the ship's computer replied.

            "Is anyone on board that does not belong to the ship's crew?"

            "Yes.  They match the descriptions of Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo.  They boarded the ship before the ship was transported away from third-Earth.  The Eggplant Wizard has disrupted the holographic matrix in Sickbay, overriding the doctor's autonomous controls, and King Hippo has called Metroid.  They are presently attempting to deactivate your command."

            "Are they succeeding?"

            "Negative."

            "Those two are pretty stupid," Kevin said.  "I don't know why MotherBrain employs them, except that they work for free.  Of course, that also applies to Ridley, who is almost as despicable as she is."

            Tuvok commanded, "Transporter, lock on to King Hippo and Eggplant Wizard."

            "Transporter locked on King Hippo and Eggplant Wizard," the computer replied.

            "Transport them to my present location.  Energise."

            Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo materialised in front of the trio.  "What?" King Hippo exclaimed.  "No!"

            Kevin drew his Zapper and aimed it at the two.  "Don't try anything," he warned them.

            "Please don't hurt us!" Eggplant Wizard begged.  "MamaBrain and Ludwig told us to do it!  They told us. . ."

            "Hush up before you spill the beans, you idiot!" King Hippo snapped.

            Wilykat and the rest of the Voyager senior staff stepped over.  "Well, well, if it isn't MotherBrain's two stooges," Wilykat said.  "You two are under arrest for aiding and abetting MotherBrain and Prince Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa."  He extracted two pairs of handcuffs from his belt.  He handed one pair to Kevin, then put one pair on King Hippo while Kevin put the other on Eggplant Wizard.  "You have the right to remain silent.  You need not answer questions without your legal representative present.  Any information that you give can and will be used against you in a pertinent manner in a court of law.  You have the right to a legal representative.  If you cannot afford one, the court will appoint one.  You have the option of confessing and begging for the court's mercy."

            "Not us!" King Hippo snapped.

            "Just checking.  You have that legal right."

            MotherBrain's voice boomed from King Hippo's radio.  "King Hippo!  MotherBrain here.  Where the heck are you and Eggplant Wizard?"

            Kevin grinned as he took King Hippo's radio.  "Your idiots are currently indisposed, MotherBrain," Kevin said into the radio.  "They're going to jail, as a matter of fact."

            "What!?" MotherBrain shouted.  "How did you know they were in Voyager, Captain N?"

            "Oh, call it a hunch.  And my little brother is quite alive and well.  Your cheap clone of Ridley didn't succeed in attempting to kill him."

            "Oh, well.  I would try to bargain with you for Voyager, but somehow I expect you wouldn't be willing to do that."

            "You're right.  That ship belongs to the Federation, not to either of us, MotherBrain."

            "But in mere minutes, it shall belong to my team!"

            "Kevin, please give me that," said Janeway.  Kevin handed her the radio.  "Now see here, MotherBrain!  This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager."

            "Oh, it's quite a pleasure to speak with you, Captain."

            "Save the pleasantries!  Leave my ship and my crew alone.  Otherwise, I shall retaliate."

            "Now, now.  Surely, we can come to a mutually acceptable agreement."

            "Oh, we can.  Leave us alone, and we'll leave you alone."

            "Nice try, Captain J.  Look, if you please, towards the southern sky."  Everyone followed Wilykat's example, since he was the most familiar with the planet.

            Metroid decloaked in the sky above them.

            "Feast your eyes on my lovely home!  Ha, ha!"

            Wilykat snapped, "I've seen lovelier homes on turtles' backs!"

            "I heard that, you flippant Thunder Brat!!"

            Tuvok commanded, "Computer, raise shields."  The Voyager's shields were raised.

            "Oh, come now, Lieutenant.  I don't intend to harm your ship.  You all, on the other hand. . ."

            "Take cover!" Kevin shouted.  He grabbed Eggplant Wizard, and Wilykat grabbed King Hippo.  He, Janeway, Tuvok, Paris, and Kim ran to the west, and Wilykat, Chakotay, Torres, and Neelix ran to the east as a bolt of energy suddenly shot from Metroid towards where they had been standing.  It hit the ground just as they had jumped to safety behind the trees.  "That does it!" Kevin snapped.  He drew his Zapper.

            Janeway asked, "How can we help?"

            "Get on your ship and get your phasers ready.  The rest of us will draw MotherBrain's fire."

            "Come out come out wherever you are!" MotherBrain laughed.  Blasts from Metroid mowed down several trees.

            "All right," Janeway said.

            "And give Metroid all you've got when the phasers are on-line!"

            "Yes, Kevin.  Tuvok, Kim, you're with me."  She tapped her commbadge.  "Chakotay, this is Janeway.  Co-operate with the N-Team in firing at Metroid.  Lieutenant Tuvok, Ensign Kim, and I are going aboard the ship to bring the phasers on-line."

            "Aye, Captain," Chakotay's voice replied.

            "Come on."  Tuvok and Kim followed her as she approached the rear of the ship.

            * * *

            MotherBrain laughed wickedly.  "Yes!  We'll finish these fools off.  Keep a-firin', Mouser."

            "Aye, Your Non-Wrinkledness," Mouser replied.  "What about Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo?"

            "Try not to destroy them, if you can avoid destroying them."

            "That takes part of the fun out of it, but very well."

            "And you'd better make sure that no stray shots hit Voyager."

            "Got it."

            Ludwig grinned.  "You know, we really ought to start preparing our victory celebration."

            "Good idea, Ludwig!" said MotherBrain.

            * * *

            Bridge, Voyager.

            Janeway, Tuvok, and Kim were working to get the phasers back on-line.  They could see through the viewscreen that the shots were forcing their friends to retreat even further.  "Captain," Tuvok said, "I believe that we have done it."

            "Good," Janeway replied.

            Her communicator chirped.  "Captain Janeway, this is Captain N," said Kevin's voice.  "These shots are getting too close.  Have you gotten the phasers on-line?"

            Janeway tapped her communicator.  "We believe so, Kevin.  Lieutenant, lock onto Metroid."

            Tuvok locked the ship's phasers onto Metroid.  "Locked on," Tuvok announced.

            "Fire at will, full power."

            "Aye, Captain."

            * * *

            MotherBrain and all the Koopas cried out in pain as Voyager's shots connected with Metroid.  "Aaah!  Curse them all!" MotherBrain screamed.

            Mouser asked, "What do you want me to do?"

            "Keep firing, you stupid rodent!"

            Mouser's panel exploded.  He jumped away in time to avoid going with it.  "Yikes!  They've destroyed our blaster controls!"

            "Blast it!" Ludwig snapped.  "Get us out of here!"

            Suddenly, everything started going haywire.  "Yaah!" Mouser cried.  "They're knocking out the entire planet!"  He went to the sensor control panel, which was still operational.  "Oh, no!  They've hit the nerves that go to the central reactor core!  This place is going to blow like fireworks in New York City on the Fourth of July on Mario's earth!"

            MotherBrain was genuinely afraid.  "No!" she wailed.  "Activate the planetwide communication system."  Mouser did so.  "This is MotherBrain.  The whole planet Metroid is about to explode!  Evacuate immediately!"

            Mumm-ra went to the wall in one end of the room and opened a panel.  "Is this the central growth unit?" he asked.

            "Yes," MotherBrain said.  "That's the centre of the object that detached from my brain, and it's what I use to alter Metroid's anatomic geography as I wish.  Sedate it before you remove it.  Be extremely careful."

            Mumm-ra sedated the central growth unit, then removed the small clump of grey matter.  "Got it."

            "Good!  Now, I'll be able to grow a new Metroid, and the explosion of this Metroid won't harm us.  Let Ludwig have it."

            Ludwig held out his hand, and Mumm-ra handed him the central growth unit.  Ludwig hid it in his shell.  "Thanks," Ludwig said.  "I've hidden it where the N-Team won't ever search for it."

            "Now, let's get the heck out of here!" Bowser cried.  MotherBrain warped all the Metroids to safety in Ludwig's hidden castle on the Mushroom World, then they all retreated.

            * * *

            Most of the uncaptured portion of the Brain-Team warped to the surface of the planet just before Metroid exploded.  "No!" MotherBrain wailed at the planet's destruction.

            Captain N, Wilykat, Chakotay, Paris, Torres, and Neelix came out of the forest towards them.  Kevin grinned.  "What's wrong, MotherBrain?  Did we destroy your little brain-planet?"

            "I'm sure you know better than to destroy us," MotherBrain snapped.  "If you do, the reaction will destroy everything."

            "Oh, come on," Chakotay laughed.

            "Commander, it's true," Kevin said rationally.  "We can't destroy them.  We'll just have to imprison them for eternity."

            "Good luck even catching us!" Ludwig laughed.

            Kevin took out his communicator.  "Now, Lana!"

            Suddenly, all the Brain-Team was warped away!  Their collective cry of, "No!" echoed off the ship's hull.

            "Well, that's certainly one way to get rid of them," Chakotay said.

            Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo were horrified.  "What have you done to the Brain-Team?" the loyal vegetable sorcerer asked.

            "Oh, just sent 'em to jail," Kevin said cheerfully.  "To a high security facility.  In fact, you'll be joining them shortly."

            "Nuts," King Hippo said.

            * * *

            Michael's Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand, Delta Quadrant.

            Still quite clothed, Michael and Wilykit were holding each other and kissing compassionately.  They were lying on their sides on his bed.  They looked into each other's eyes when they stopped kissing.  "Michael," Wilykit said, "I'm so sorry for making a fool of myself."

            He smiled kindly and rubbed her left cheek with his right hand.  "You didn't know," he said soothingly.  "Quicksilver said you weren't too far off, either.  But I'm at peace with myself, Wilykit.  I'm prepared to die if I ever have to, though I'll always fight to stay alive."

            "Michael, I love you."

            "I love you, too, Wilykit."  He smiled again.  "Did you really offer yourself to Kevin like that?"

            "I had to.  I thought you were dead.  I felt utterly guilty."  She smiled.  "But I'm really happy you're still alive."

            "Thank you for repairing my body, Wilykit."  He kissed her lips.  "Now, I feel like doing again what we did earlier in your room."

            She smiled.  "Me, too."  They kissed more passionately this time.

            The door opened, and Kevin entered with Wilykat.  They grinned when they saw what their siblings were up to.  "And what'd you do to deserve that, sister?" Wilykat asked in a joking tone.

            Michael and Wilykit stopped kissing and turned to their guests.  "For one, she healed my body," Michael replied.

            "Well, I doubt you'd have done that with me, and if you had tried it, I wouldn't have appreciated it, since we're the same gender."

            "Well, you're right.  I'd never. . . well, let's not get into that.  What's up?"

            Kevin announced, "Most of the Brain-Team has now been incarcerated."

            Michael and Wilykit got up.  "Really?" Wilykit asked.

            "Yes.  Voyager's phasers destroyed Metroid, and everyone was forced to abandon planet. . . which means almost the entire part of the Brain-Team that we had not previously captured.  Now, they're all in jail."

            "Awesome!" Michael exclaimed.  Kevin and his brother did a high-five.

            "Michael, I'm sorry about this whole mess."

            "Hey, you don't have to be."

            Kevin crossed his arms.  "I was the one in charge of the mission, if I recall correctly."

            "Well, yeah."

            "So I assume responsibility.  No one else on our side was seriously injured, bro."

            "Kevin, why would this be your fault?"

            "Michael, I was in charge of a mission in which you were nearly killed.  I have to assume responsibility for that.  Don't argue."

            "-Sigh.-  Okay, big bro."

            "I'm also sorry for how I snapped at Wilykit."

            "Let's put that behind us," Wilykit suggested.  "You more than made it up to me, after all.  You're both very nice guys."

            Kevin and Michael smiled.  "Thank you," Kevin said.  "All the Thunder Cats have moved here now, after making absolutely sure that no one's been left behind on third-Earth.  Cat's Lair and the Tower of Omens have both been destroyed."

            "So, now, we have to move to New Thundera," Wilykit said.

            "You're all welcome to stay here as long as you wish to or need to," Kevin said.

            "You're very kind, but we're very proud.  We'll probably only stay as long as we have to.  Unless we get used to this place.  That's a possibility."

            Michael went behind her and rubbed her shoulders.  "I think it's one that I would enjoy quite a bit," he told her.

            She grinned as she turned around to face him.  "Maybe."  They put their arms around each other and kissed.

            Wilykat sighed and turned away.  Kevin was concerned by this.  "Are you okay?" the human asked quietly.

            "Whenever they kiss like this," Wilykat told Kevin quietly, "I think about Tygrana."

            "I'm sorry, Wilykat.  I'm sure they don't intend to hurt you."

            "I know, and they aren't hurting me."  He sighed.  "I just. . . wish I had somebody whom I could love like they love each other."

            "Don't worry.  You have plenty of time, Wilykat."

            "-Sigh.-  I know, Kevin."

            "Are you okay, brother?" Wilykit asked.

            Wilykat turned to her.  "Yeah.  I just. . ."  They came together and hugged each other as brother and sister.  "Oh, sister!  I wish Tygrana were still around!"

            "You'll be okay," Wilykit said kindly and sweetly.  She smiled.  "Come on.  Give me a smile."

            Wilykat felt her kindness pull a smile to his face.  "Sure, sister."

            "Well, now, what shall we do?" Wilykit asked.

            "We're going to throw the biggest party in history!" Kevin said.

            "Oh, boy!" exclaimed Michael.  "When?"

            "Three days from now."

            "How shall we keep the Brain-Team locked up?" Wilykit asked.

            "We keep them de-energised.  We've found ways to drain the Koopas' magic and to keep Mumm-ra from being able to transform.  And Mon*Star will not be kept anywhere near Limbo."

            "That's good.  What about Nuclesís?  He shall certainly attempt to free his cohorts or else try to take over VideoLand himself."

            "Some of us are going with James Chemsos and Jane Physicost to get him."

            "I can't come unless you absolutely need me," Michael said.  "I know what Quicksilver would say."

            "That's okay.  Hm.  There are still Agahnim, Ganon, Dracula, Medusa, and Dragon Lord, as well.  Well, we can deal with them.  We have their ring-leaders now."

            "They are still pretty malicious, though."  The door signal chimed.  "Come in."  The door slid open, admitting Ned and Cheryl.  "Hello, Mom and Dad."

            "Hello," Ned said.  "We're curious about what happened after we left."

            Kevin grinned.  "Well, now we've incarcerated most of the Brain-Team."

            "Great news!"

            Cheryl said, "It'd be rather pointless of us to ask you to come home, though, I believe.  Since each of you is greatly attached to a female who probably wouldn't like it as much on Earth as out here.  Not that I blame you, and we find it quite nice here.  MegaLand will be quite a nice place for Ned and me to live, especially with Dr. Wily in jail."

            Michael smiled.  "Have you decided definitely?"

            "Yes," Ned said.

            "We're going to move," Cheryl said.  "Now, we have to get ready to move."

            "Great," Michael replied.

            "Did everyone get off third-Earth all right?"

            "Yes, ma'am," Kevin replied.  "MotherBrain sent a bunch of her monsters from Metroid to attempt to block everyone's escape.  However, the N-Team was able to stop those monsters."

            "That's good."  She frowned thoughtfully.  "Somehow, I get the impression you're holding something back."

            Kevin sighed.  "Yeah.  MotherBrain sent a clone of Ridley, one of her most powerful servants, to the Berbil Village.  He. . . nearly killed Michael with a lucky shot."

            As the boys expected, their parents' eyes grew wide in surprise.  "Just how nearly?" Ned asked.

            "Nearly enough to make me think he was dead," Wilykit said.  "Each of Kevin, Michael, and me has tried to accept exclusive blame, but I think the fault belongs to all of us.  Kevin couldn't be there.  I was there, but I wasn't able to react until it was too late.  Michael got himself into it, but he couldn't do much about it either."

            Cheryl asked, "Just what happened?"

            Michael said, "Ridley's clone shot a fireball at me.  I jumped over it with my Power Pad and then fired a shot at the clone.  He leapt into the air, and he had the ability to fly, which I didn't.  His leap brought him right in front of me.  I could see what he was going to do, but my finger didn't reach the crossbar key on my Power Pad before he shot a fireball almost point-blank onto my chest.  I lost consciousness then.  The next thing I knew, I regained consciousness and felt like I had to get up, and I had to cough too.  Quicksilver's voice told me not to get up.  He told me my chances of survival weren't excellent.  Then, these three and Lana came into the hospital.  We learned a couple of days ago that the Wilytwins each can heal a person with a touch and conscious thought, and Wilykit, having just remembered about it, decided to come try to heal me.  That really did the trick, too.  Of course, Quicksilver doesn't want me exerting myself for a few days."

            Kevin, Michael, and the Wilytwins could all feel Cheryl's anger, but they also felt that she was attempting to control it.  She always tried to avoid lashing out at her children when something was wrong.  "I see," she said.  "Michael. . ."

            "This is the first time anything of this nature has ever happened to me," Michael replied when she paused.  "I know I should have been more careful."

            "Well, that's in the past," said Ned.  "The important thing is that you learn from this."

            "Yes," Cheryl agreed.  "Michael, do you still feel you can deal with your present occupation?"

            "Yes.  I didn't agree to it just because I like to have fun with video games.  I knew it had serious risks."

            She put her hand on his shoulder.  "All right, son.  I just wanted to make sure."

            Wilykit sighed.  "I think it was tougher on Kevin and me than him.  I became so angry when the Ridley clone hurt him that I blasted the clone.  The other monsters retreated.  That's when Michael was delivered to the hospital.  Then, the other Thunder Cats, whom we were helping, and I went to where Kevin and the N-Team were fighting.  I was still mad.  I destroyed about a fourth of the monsters, and the rest ran home.  That's when the guilt started setting in, though, when Kevin asked me about why I was that mad.  I ran into the forest when he began to get mad and asked if it was about Michael.  I regret that.  I'm not supposed to run like that."

            "Hey, it's okay," Wilykat said, putting his left hand on her right shoulder.

            "But there was something else, too.  I thought Michael was dead, and I thought of how Kevin would react."  Her following clarification was mostly for the benefit of Ned and Cheryl.  "He's quite like a twin to Michael, and twinship is a very sacred relationship to Thunderians. . . in fact, probably the most sacred relationship between mortals.  In our society, one twin can hold the other twin's Amory Eternamente responsible for the death of that second twin if that Amory failed to protect that second twin but was in a position to do that."

            "What kind of a custom is that?" Ned asked.

            "Mostly for intentional negligence, but it can apply to any case where the Amory was in the same area as that second twin to protect the rights of an insanely enraged twin.  I thought Michael had died, so I knew I had to give Kevin permission."

            "Well, I just might have gotten that mad if Lana and Link hadn't stopped me," Kevin said.  "I didn't know until a bit later what had happened.  I had cooled off quite a bit since then when Lana and I went back to get Wilykit."

            "I was crying under a silly tree while the atmosphere was deoxygenating."

            "Too bad I wasn't there," Wilykat said.

            Michael asked, "So you really thought I had died?  I didn't know it was that serious."

            Wilykit hugged him.  "You weren't breathing!  I let my feelings overcome me, I guess."

            "So, what would my brother have been allowed to do with you?"

            "Absolutely anything.  No legal repercussions at all on third-Earth or New Thundera."

            "If I had hurt you, I'd have hated myself for the rest of my life," Kevin said.  "Though that's probably nothing compared to how Michael would have felt when I had to tell him eventually."

            "I don't want to talk about that," Michael said.  "I'm all right, none of us has hurt each other, and the Brain-Team's been captured, so this isn't time to talk about such anger."

            "You're right, brother."

            Ned asked, "So, what goes on now?"

            "We're planning on throwing a big party in three days," Kevin said.

            "Sounds great."

            "There's also another villain on the Brain-Team, Charles Nuclesís, who lives on Chemistra, a world that has applied for entry to VideoLand.  A group of us is going with James Chemsos and Jane Physicost, the two N-Team members who live on Chemistra and are full Chemistrians.  Nuclesís was born on MegaLand to a Chemistrian father and a half-MegaLandian, half-Hyrulian mother.  They weren't evil, which is definitely the opposite of him.  He joined the Brain-Team, and we believe MotherBrain assigned him to his father's home planet."

            "What are Chemistrians like?" Cheryl asked.

            "Most are very good people.  They are human in appearance.  The Hyrulians' long, pointed ears are dominant over other humanoids' rounded ears, and Nuclesís inherited that trait.  MegaLandians are humans."

            "I see.  Are Chemistrians similar in size to us?"

            "Yes.  Their average height is a centimetre less than ours."

            "Okay," Ned said.  "Are any of you four going?"

            "Probably Wilykat and me," Kevin replied.

            "Yeah," said Wilykit.  "I want to keep my friend company."

            "All right," Ned said.  "Hm.  I don't recall seeing any video games that have something to do with a Chemistra or any of the Chemistrians you mentioned."

            "They need not exist in video games," Kevin said.  "It just happens that video games have been based on many of the events that have occurred in VideoLand.  Not all events have to be covered."

            "I get it.  I guess, then, that not all events in the games have to be as they occurred here?"

            "That's right, Dad.  However, there are billions of parallels.  By the way, our Earth is in the region of space that's in the jurisdiction of VideoLand, though VideoLand hasn't interfered with it.  Something that would likely change, though, if Ludwig took over."

            "I see.  I just wonder how several people can have such accurate imaginations."

            "That is a good question.  Too bad I don't have an answer!"

            "Oh, well," Cheryl said.  "Michael, are you feeling all right?"

            "Yeah, Mom," Michael replied.

            "Good."  She and Michael hugged each other.  "I'm sorry you got hurt, son."

            "I'll be okay," he replied.

            "I know."  They released each other.  "Wilykit, don't torture this kid too much."

            Wilykit grinned.  "Of course not, ma'am."

            Ned shook his head.  "I see our boys are getting you two addicted to video games," he said, indicating the Wilytwins' new Power Pads.

            "Actually, I haven't had any chances to begin playing yet," Wilykat said.  "Kevin just gave me this stuff and is going to show me how to use it."

            Kevin said, "By the way, Mom and Dad, Steelheart's not feeling so hot right now, so I'm in command of the team."

            "I see," Ned said.  "What's wrong with her?"

            "She's feeling extreme guilt about what's been going on, so much that it might interfere with her decision-making."

            "Ah.  And so, the task goes to you for now."

            "Yes.  What are you guys going to do?"

            "Right now?  I'm not sure."

            The intercom signal sounded.  Michael went over to the wall where the respond key was and tapped the key.  "Michael here," he replied.

            "Michael, this is Lana," Lana replied.  "Is Kevin there?"

            Kevin came over.  "Yes, I'm here, Lana," Kevin said.  "What's up?"

            "Another Federation ship is approaching the gate, but on VideoLand's side.  It's coming from the direction of Quadrant Three."

            "Okay, I'll be right up.  Anything else?"

            "Not at the moment."

            "All right."  Michael tapped the button to end communication.

            "I'll come, too," Michael said.

            "Sure," Kevin agreed.  "Everyone can come who wants to."  All six of them left the room for the elevator.

            * * *

            Bridge, Warbird, nearing the Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            The dastardly Ludwig of the Q-niverse was planning to surprise the heck out of the Original Universe N-Team.  They would not expect what he was planning to do in the least.  "Larry," he said, "prepare to orbit the Palace of Power's planet."

            "With pleasure, bro," Larry replied.

            "What're we goin' to do?" Roy asked.

            "We're going to surprise them, Roy," Ludwig said.  "Prepare to drop the cloak."

            "All right!  What happens then?"

            "We blow them away!" Ludwig and Larry exclaimed simultaneously.  All the villains on the bridge broke out into malevolent laughter.

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power.

            Kevin, his parents, his brother, and the Wilytwins entered the throne room, where MegaMan was working on one of the terminals.  Lana was watching the android's screen as he worked.  She noticed the arrival of Kevin and the others.  "Hello," Kevin said.

            "Hi," Lana replied.  "That ship will be here in a couple of days."

            "Apparently, they have new technology making this ship mega-faster than Voyager," MegaMan said.

            "I see," Kevin said.

            MegaMan frowned as he observed something.  "Hm.  There's a spatial disturbance near this planet."

            "What kind?"

            "Looks like. . . it's a mega-humongous cloaked ship!"

            Wilykit came over and looked at his readings.  "See if you can make it decloak," she said.

            "Yes," Kevin agreed.

            "All right," said MegaMan.  He set up the emitter to emit high-frequency sonic waves along a high-frequency tetryon wave and fired a powerful shot at the cloaked ship.

            * * *

            Roy was at the tactical station of the Warbird, and he observed that the Palace had fired at the ship.  "Ah. . . Ludwig?"

            "Yes?" Ludwig said.

            "The Palace just shot something in our direction."

            "Will it hurt?"

            "No.  It's just a high-frequency sound wave travelling on a high-frequency tetryon wave."

            Ludwig's eyes widened.  "What the. . .?"  Just then, the wave hit.  The ship shook a little.

            "What in the world?  We're decloaking!"

            "Curse it!"

            * * *

            MegaMan's eyes widened as he viewed his sensor readings.  "Mega-whoa!  That is a huge ship!"

            Kevin took a look.  "That looks like a Romulan Warbird from the Star Trek series, but it's way too huge!  What sorts of readings can you get?"

            "A mega-super-fast dilithium warp drive.  Manned by. . . the Brain-Team!?"

            "What!?"  Kevin examined the readings.  "But this is not right.  That means they're not from this universe!"

            Michael said, "Maybe these are the ones who were in that shuttle."

            "That's possible, brother.  Darn.  They have all these weapons!  MegaMan, bring the defence systems on-line."

            "Yes, Captain N," MegaMan said.

            Just then, Ludwig and Larry popped into the room Q-style.  "Boy, was that stupid," Ludwig said.  "Firing on a huge ship."

            "That was to force you to decloak," Kevin said.  "Where are you from?"

            "Since you seem to know that we're not from this universe, we'll tell you.  We're from the Q-niverse, which was created by a do-gooding Q from this universe.  By the way, I am also of the Q, so you really shouldn't try to defy me."

            "What do you want here?"

            "I'm going to conquer every piece of reality, Captain N.  This is a real universe, but I won't stop here.  Eventually, I shall also own everyone's imaginary universe, for imaginary universes exist as certainly as tangible universes.  None of what God has created or has allowed to be created shall elude me!  The Brain-Team shall control everything!"

            "If you were any nuttier," Wilykat said, "the squirrels would be gathering around you."

            "You may think I'm nuts, and I may exaggerate somewhat, but we do intend to conquer as much as we can and control it.  Submit now, and I just might let you live to see the end of the hour.  Or the end of the year."

            "Are you serious?" Lana demanded.

            "Yes, Princess Lana.  I am most serious.  I really don't care to see any of you die, so I won't have any of you eliminated unless you prove troublesome."

            "I don't know where you villains get your delusions," Kevin said.  "Why do you think we'd want to give in?"

            "To avoid a conflict such as the one that the Brain-Team of this universe caused on third-Earth.  Such a waste, by the way."

            "Leave people alone, and we won't have to fight back!" Lana retorted.

            "Oh, come now, Princess.  People grow docile and peaceful if they're left alone.  The waters of life are not supposed to be so stagnant."

            "You must be utterly insane," Wilykit said.

            "Maybe, Thunder Cat, but at least you aren't like your Q-niverse equivalent.  In fact, no one in this universe is strong enough to counter my strength.  Not even Q can stop me, that annoying insect that buzzes in Captain Picard's ear every so often."

            "Well," said Kevin, "if you're so powerful, why operate like this when you could just snap your fingers and eliminate us in the blink of an eye?"

            "It would be excessively rude of me to just snap my fingers without providing due warning."

            "That's about the only way you could've built that monstrosity of a ship," Lana commented.

            "Oh, not quite, not with the army at my disposal."  He frowned.  "And the Wilytwins from that universe sure managed to mess up the first model of this ship the first few days it was operational.  Ripping out dilithium crystals isn't very beneficial.  Oh, well.  At least they've caused no permanent damage."

            "Well, how did you build that ship?" asked Kevin.

            "It was a major construction effort, Captain N.  In my universe, Larry mesmerised Tygra to make the plans of the original, and we stripped the materials from Darkwing's Earth and MegaLand.  However, I designed the massive computer systems myself.  Planning for the junior Thunderians' mischief, I made the computer systems so that they couldn't be easily wrecked.  Now, though, the Thunder Cats there are far more dangerous.  Especially with Wilykit in the position that Steelheart once occupied in the Extended N-Team and the position that Lion-O once occupied in the Thunder Cats."

            Wilykat's eyes widened.  "What in. . . how'd she get to be leader of the N-Team and leader of the Thunder Cats?"

            "How else?  Lion-O was killed, and the Extended N-Team voted that she be leader!  Of course, he was brought back to life later, but he did not take back lordship."

            "Who managed to kill him?" Wilykit demanded.

            "The misguided Melodia.  Of course, she is now on the N-Team.  Like this universe's Melodia, Mon*Star severely misguided her.  However, she opened up to Bluegrass, who helped her realise that what she was doing was wrong.  She's changed quite a bit."

            "Why would Melodia open up to Bluegrass?" Kevin asked.  "She hates him."

            "Not anymore, in the Q-niverse," Larry said.  "In fact, you should see what they did on one of their vacations!"

            "Enough, Larry," Ludwig snapped.

            "What about him?" Kevin asked, indicating Michael.

            "Ah, yes.  One very important difference between this universe and mine."  He grinned wickedly.  "And one that has permitted my success, if I may add.  It seems that Michael was on a trip in the Sierras when Kevin was accused of stealing the Sacred Square, and quite heartbroken, too.  That stretch of time was a thousand years and two decades ago in my current time.  It's all really quite a long story, but in this stretch of time, MotherBrain pulled Michael from 1992 to this year, 3013."

            "The situation was a bit juicier, too, where Michael and. . ." Larry commented.

            "Larry!  Quit that!"

            "Quit what?" Kevin demanded.

            "Larry enjoys discussing sexual matters and romantic matters.  I don't really care one way or the other about the romantic matters, but the rest?  Ooh!  I'm glad that's not the only way to reproduce."

            Ned spoke up for the first time.  "What in the world are you talking about?  How else can one reproduce?"

            "Koopa magic!  It's how all my siblings and I were conceived.  My father used magic to replicate one of his own sperm cells, create an egg with a similar genetic structure, and combine the two, and he had the egg incubated for eight months.  Of course, with humans, it would be nine months."

            "Why did he do that?"

            "No one was attracted to him at the time.  But I doubt I'll ever find anyone to whom I am so basely attracted."

            Michael said, "Your Highness, I know of a useful four-letter word in English with a five-letter equivalent in French and one in Italian, and I believe you're full of it!"

            "Oh?  What gives you that notion?"

            "If King Bowser and MotherBrain are as attracted to each other as they claim, then you'll probably be attracted to someone."

            "Listen to him, Ludwig!" Larry snapped.

            "Enough," Ludwig said.  "If you people really want to know what the Q-niverse is like, I greatly suspect that the N-Team from there will be here soon.  They spied on the team meeting where we decided to come, after all."

            MegaMan exclaimed, "Mega-whoa!  Another mega-behemoth ship is decloaking nearby!  Slightly larger than the other."

            Ludwig went over and looked at MegaMan's monitor and grinned.  "I would bet the two Triforces and the Ring of the Nibelung that they're watching, making sure I don't do anything.  Wesley Crusher!  If you are watching, I'm sure these good people would like to make your acquaintance.  So, come on down!"  Wesley and the Q-niverse Wilykit and 'Kat materialised in the room.  "Oh, now!  Wasting transporter energy when you have Q-powers?"

            "Go get lost in an empty void, but throw out the Triforces and the Ring so we can return them to their rightful places," the Q-niverse Wilykit said.

            "Oh, really!  Is that any way to treat a fellow member of nobility?"

            "Ha, ha!  You dare call yourself noble?  You haven't a noble bone in your body, save between your waist and your legs!  At least that behaves, which is more than what I can say for your vulgar brothers."

            "Wait a minute.  Brothers?  As far as I know, only Larry has trouble avoiding lovemaking."

            "No wonder!  You spend so much time after your oldest brother that you don't pay attention to the others.  From what I've heard, Roy's even worse, and Morton's not much better."

            Ludwig frowned.  He knew that Wilykit would not lie about this.  "Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention."  He turned to Captain N and Princess Lana.  "So, you refuse to surrender?"

            "Affirmative to the utmost extreme," Kevin said.  "And your welcome, such as it is, has worn out."

            "Very well, but you haven't seen the last of me.  Not by a long shot.  I advise you to keep an eye on the jail where this universe's Brain-Team is being kept."  He snapped his fingers, and he and Larry disappeared Q-style.

            "Can you prove you're on our side?" Kevin asked the three N-Team members from the Q-niverse.

            The Q-niverse Wilykit drew the Q-niverse Sword of Omens, and it extended to its full length.  "We fight for and preserve truth, honour, justice, and loyalty," she said.  "We also came to keep that rotten Ludwig in check."

            "Is he really a Q?" Kevin asked.

            "I'm afraid that he is.  Actually, he is a Q-cubed, with greater powers than ordinary Q, but then so is each of us three.  So is the MotherBrain from our universe, but luckily, she's staying there."

            "Is it true, then, all that he told us about that universe?" Michael asked.

            "Every letter," Wesley said.  "Fortunately, his veracity is something we can count on.  Since it's quite clear that this universe will not turn out like ours, we can give you a more detailed account."

            "Where's the Captain N from your universe?" Kevin asked.

            "He had to stay behind.  He's judging a proceeding against the Q-niverse's Nuclesís."

            "Isn't there a Lana there?"

            "Yes.  However, events occurred so that Kevin became ruler.  We can give you more specifics later."

            "I see."

            The O.U. Wilykit asked, "Was Lion-O really killed?"

            "Yes, he was," the other Wilykit replied.  "But not before I had learned that I was heir."

            "Ah, I see."

            Michael asked, "What was Ludwig not letting Larry say about my Q-niverse counterpart?"

            Wesley sighed.  "It's part of a really long story.  We could tell you now, but you'll have a zillion other questions about the context, so how about we tell you all this in chronological order instead?"

            "Sounds like a good idea.  Then, we can interject our questions along the way."

            "Exactly.  One thing, though:  they never attempted anything like what this universe's Windhammer did to third-Earth."

            "Well, that's good!" Michael said.

            "Yes, it certainly is."

            "Hey," Kevin said.  "What's ProtoMan's side in the Q-niverse?"

            "He's evil there," the Q-niverse Wilykat replied.  "At the point in this universe where his reprogramming by Wily was reversed due to Michael's help in capturing him, he couldn't be captured because Michael wasn't there to help."

            "I see.  And. . . and how could the Kevin in your universe handle his feelings for so long?  I know, I managed to keep Michael hidden until he came out here himself, but I think I might have burst if I'd done that for too much longer."

            Wesley said, "Well, he managed to do that quite well.  None of the N-Team, except Kevin and the Mason-Team, knew of Michael until MotherBrain transported him.  I do know, though, that Kevin was quite happy to see him, because I saw the reunion myself."

            The Q-niverse Wilykit asked, "Captain N, do you want us to address only you guys or all the N-Team?"

            "I think it would be fair to have the whole team in on this," Captain N said.

            "All right."

            "But first, this Wilykat and I were planning on helping James Chemsos and Jane Physicost collect Charles Nuclesís."

            "Oh, that's fine.  Of course, we will only assist where our enemies are concerned."

            "Sure.  We can handle any of our enemies by ourselves."

            "In the meantime," Lana said, "you may join us as our honoured guests.  Wait.  But how shall we distinguish between you and us?"

            The Q-niverse Wilykit indicated her communicator, an N-shaped badge on the left side of her upper chest.  "Here's how, Your Highness.  We wear these, but you haven't made them yet."

            "Oh, yes."

            Kevin frowned in thought.  "However, the Silver Hawks have been attempting to create a molecular transporter system able to send us across this half of this quadrant of the galaxy that we have blocked off."

            Wesley sighed.  "Well, do you know how Ludwig and Wily discovered how to crack your phasing technology?"

            "Not exactly," Kevin said.

            "The Ludwig from our universe sent the Mumm-ra of our universe to the Dr. Wily of this universe with a data padd that showed how to circumvent your system.  In fact, this universe's Mumm-ra is still in exile."

            Every member of the Original Universe N-Team who was in the room appeared surprised.  "But, then, I guess it makes sense," Michael added.  "I mean, those two have been having a hard time trying to find ways to break through the phasing barrier, so to speak."

            "Yes," Kevin agreed.  "And your universe's Ludwig, being a Q, could zap himself between the dimensions and study how the system worked.  Dr. Light and Steelwill made it so that you could never study any emitters from one quadrant separately from those in any other quadrant and come up with a way to beat our system.  You had to be able to study them simultaneously to figure out a way."

            "Yeah.  Like our new enemies," the O.U. Wilykit said.

            Kevin's eyes widened.  "Hey.  You don't suppose they might try to free this universe's Brain-Team, do you?"

            It was Q-niverse Wilykit's turn to frown thoughtfully.  "They just might," she said.  "-Sigh.-  Blast them.  If you'll excuse us, we'll return to our ship, the Enterprise-Effugium, and get ready for our presentation while you go after Nuclesís.  And believe me, it'll be one heck of a presentation.  Some nutty things have happened in our universe."

            "Sure," said Kevin.

            Wesley tapped his communicator.  "This is Wesley to the Enterprise-Effugium.  Three to beam up.  Energise."  He and the Q-niverse Wilytwins were transported to the Enterprise-Effugium.

            Kevin turned to MegaMan.  "MegaMan, keep an eye on both those ships."

            "Yes, Captain N," MegaMan said.

            "Why?" asked Michael.

            "Don't worry," Kevin said.  "I just don't want any of them to pull a fast one on us, that's all.  I doubt that they will, but I just have to make sure."

            Michael knew just what his brother was thinking.  Kevin did not trust either the Q-niverse Brain-Team or the Q-niverse N-Team.  The younger brother knew better than to trust the Brain-Team at all, and he knew better than to trust the N-Team outright, but he also knew by telepathy that the Q-niverse N-Team wished them well and would not harm them.  Knowing how adamant Kevin could be and knowing that his course of action was quite reasonable, though, Michael kept his mouth shut in public because if he got into an argument with Kevin, it might go on forever, and that was unwarranted at the moment.  They could argue later, and by themselves.

            "Well, Wilykat, let's take off," Kevin said.

            "Who's going after Nuclesís?" asked Wilykat.

            "You, James, Jane, and me."

            "All right, then."