The initial tension of the gathering in Cat's Lair was quickly dissipating as the two groups united in an impromtu 'getting-to-know-you' party down the hall from the coucil chamber to a much friendlier room with a lounge-like quality. Though the Thundercats were extremely curious, histories proved to be less complicated to make up than expected and it was generally assumed that the game sprites had been programmed to accept all but the most glaring of discrepencies. For the most part, the players claimed to be from other planets, the Thunderians masquerading as refugees, although a very few of them maintained that they were native to Third Earth, whether it was from the planet's furthest reaches or one of its previous incarnations.

Still, the atmosphere became more and more jovial as the newcomers related their most recent adventures, the players exchanging significant looks as Snarfer described the shark-like thing which had 'nearly' eaten him.

"If what Bast said is true," whispered Laura to Felina, "then I'm pretty sure that Snarfer was the main course. There's something oddly comforting in knowing for sure that the game sprites can be instantly regenerated even if our own characters can't."

"I suppose it has to do with how real this game feels," agreed Felina in a low voice. "I could lose myself in this illusion of Cat's Lair if I'm not careful. I can smell, touch, and probably taste things as though they're really here. Events like Snarfer's regeneration remind us that we're in a game and knowing that, we don't have to worry about being harmed. Even know, if I try, I can feel the sensor suit on me: the eye-wear, hat, and even the tab in my mouth."

Laura would have responded, but Lion-o came to sit beside her. "You say you were sent here on a mission to find your ancestral home?" the young lord asked her, sinking down into one of the low, heavily padded chairs beside the human females. These seats were oddly shaped, the back and one side of them sweeping into a gentle recline so that users might sit straight against the one side or drape themselves languidly over the over. Lion-o chose the latter, a most feline concept of comfort.

Not wanting to seem presumptuous and tower above the ruler, Laura mimicked his posure and found the position much less strenuous than she would have thought. "There were two of us, actually," said Laura with some disappointment. "We are from the planet Terra Nova, a human colony. Our historians have researched our myths and think that Third Earth might have been the original home of our human ancestors. Ian and I were sent here to investigate, but our ship crashed into the sea and our escape pods must have drifted away from each other. I haven't been able to find him."

"Some of the others have mentioned looking for friends as well. Maybe if they're described to me, I can try to locate them with the Sword of Omens," offered Lion-o reluctantly.

"You don't sound optimistic," said Felina gently, already comfortably reclined.

"Well, I have had visions of others through the Eye of Thundera before," admitted Lion-o, "but usually other Thundercats were involved. I'm not sure how the Sword will work with regards to non-Thunderians. Still, it might be worth a try."

"I would appreciate it," said Laura gratefully as she spied a white cat strutting along the wall and winding its way around the chair legs, finally stopping to sit and stare at the trio. She seemed unimpressed.

"So this is Jetkitten," said Felina indulgently. "I don't suppose a cat such as yourself would deign to sit up here with us mere mortals, hmm?"

Jet seemed to sniff and turn her head slightly off to the side as though saying, "Oh, I dont know...make me an offer," before the shrieks of three kittens caused her eyes to widen in alarm.

"There she is!" cried Wilykit happily, diving between the adults, followed closely by her brother and Wilycub. Alarmed, Jet suddenly vaulted onto one of the couches and dove behind Felina as the children came running up. "Can we play with the cat?" Wilykit asked Felina. "We've never seen one so small!"

"Jet is more than just a cat," Felina teased the kitten, "and I don't think she likes your rough play. Where's Woodstock?"

"Projecting things at Cheetara," replied the female twin with a slight pout. "We don't want to hurt the cat...um...Jet. Why won't she play?"

Felina reached out experimentally with her mind. Jetkitten *was* unusually sulky, but seemed to respond somewhat to the human woman. "She is too small for your games," Felina told the kittens finally. "And she misses the friend who understands her best."

"Awww...poor Jet," sympathized Wilykat, perching on the edge of Felina's chair. "Can I pet you, Jet? I won't pick you up or anything..."

Jetkitten grudgingly poked her head up from behind Felina and draped her front paws over the woman's waist. When the kitten reached for her she gave a little snort and looked away coolly as if to tell him that she was merely tolerating him and at the first sign of funny business, all petting priviledges would be revoked. Still, she couldn't help purring a little as the boy scratched gently around her ears.

"Who's her friend?" Wilykit demanded of Felina as Wilycub also perched on the edge of the woman's chair. "And how would she understand a cat? Can she read minds like you?"

Felina laughed. "I don't really read minds," she said. "Not yet anyway. My powers aren't strong enough for that. I just read feelings. And Jet's friend is a 'he', not a 'she'...but I don't know his name." *At least I can't be sure of the name he's using in the game,* she added silently. "He understands her because he knows her. Do you and Wilykat have to speak all the time to understand each other."

"Nooo..." admitted the kitten reluctantly. "But at least we *can* talk!"

"Well, sometimes silences mean more than words," smiled Felina looking over to find Laura and Lion-o deep in conversation.

Laura had just finished describing Ian to the Thundercat Lord and he was now looking thoughtfully at the Sword of Omens. Forming as clear a mental image of the missing person as he could, Lion-o lifted the weapon so as to bring the hilt level with his eyes. "Sword of Omens," he intoned solemnly, "give me Sight Beyond Sight."

The gathered beings all turned to watch as the Eye of Thundera glowed briefly and the mutable alloy of the sword's hild stretched to curl and form two small portals through which Lion-o could gaze. Despite the expected results, there were gasps and murmurs of amazement from the players as they watched the familiar ritual being performed right in front of their faces. The other Thundercats looked on with a sense of pride that this simple act, so natural to all of them, could inspire such awe.

"Sword of Omens," said Lion-o when the psychic fields were calm, "show me the one I seek. Show me Laura's friend, Ian as he is at this moment...be he on Third Earth or Beyond."

Everyone waited with baited breath, the kittens stiffening in anticipation. Felina also noted Jetkitten watching the lord with rapt attention. If Lion-o could find Ian, then surely he could find the Mad Bassist!

"The image isn't very clear," said Lion-o quietly. "Hold on...I...oh no..." Concentration was broken when the alarms of Cat's Lair sounded abruptly. Lion-o looked up sharply from his scrying. "I almost had it!" he said angrily. "I had the sense that he was in trouble, but I don't know where!"

Panthro cursed as Laura paled. "Try again. I'll go find out what's going on."

"I'm going with you," said MDG Calypso-578.

"Me too," added Ruka.

"Me three," grinned the older Wilykat.

"No!" said Panthro firmly. "I'm not having my control room turned into a three-ringed circus just because a few guests are curious!"

"You don't understand," said Ruka quickly before the others could protest. "Although we don't all come from the same place, some of us DO know each other and have lost track of travelling companions...just as Laura and Ian were separated. A stranger to you might be a known friend...or foe...to us."

"Actually," said Wilykat, "I'm just curious."

"Alright...okay," said Panthro in a hurry to get up and check the monitors. "Just don't touch anything!"

Agreeing whole-heartedly, the three players followed Panthro out of the lounge.

"What happened to Ian!" cried Laura desperately.

Lion-o raised a hand for silence as he attempted to use the Sword of Omens once again and Felina disturbed the various cats and kittens around her to sit up and offer comfort to her friend as she waited fearfully for the verdict. After several moments of checking the psychic spheres, Lion-o paled.

"He's at the Vortex," he said, mouth dry. "More accurately, he's *in* the Vortex."

Laura uttered a little cry of shock and dismay. Game or not, they hadn't had time to explore it together and she didn't want either of them to lose their Terra Nova personnae so soon.

"He has," Lion-o continued, attempting to calm her, "a friend with him. There is a rope connecting him to the outside, but the other one isn't strong enough to pull Ian out against the force of the Vortex. As far as I can tell, he went in there to rescue someone else...but their face wasn't very clear. In any event, we have no time to waste...that rope won't hold out forever. Tygra, I started this hunt, I'll finish it. You're in charge here while I'm gone...deal with whatever is at our front doors. Laura, you're free to come with me if you like since you know Ian."

"I can control the air," said Rhythm. Lion-o turned to look at him curiously, so the player persisted. "I am called 'Wind' because I can control the air...well...most weather patterns actually. I'm still mostly untrained, but air is sort of my specialty."

"Then come with us," said Lion-o. "I'm sure we'll need your help."

"In that case, I'm in too," said Xahji. "I don't have weather powers, but I am a warrior, and I come armoured."

"Fair enough...but no more. Down to the hangar everyone! We'll take the Feliner. There's no time to waste!"

Laura lept from her chair and hurriedly thanked Felina for her comfort...though it was obvious from her eyes that her mind was a million miles away...and followed Lion-o out the door, Rhythm and Xahji right behind her.

"Wow," said Gatotrueno solemnly from where she sat across the room. "And I thought this party was going to get boring!"

At that moment, Wilykat burst through the door. "Guess what, kitty cat?" he shouted joyfully, snatching Jet off Felina's chair and knuckling her head though she yeowled and scratched his arm. "We found ThunderManx for ya! That was a Warrior Maiden on the line...they're holding him prisoner in the Treetop Kingdom!"

"Is ThunderManx Jet's friend?" Wilykat asked Felina.

"Yes, I suppose he must be," smiled the woman in return, feeling more secure about her answers now that she knew what character name the player was using.

"Er...just what *do* Warrior Maidens do with male prisoners?" asked Gatotrueno, raising her eyebrows.

"Maybe they eat them! Or use them in fertility festivals!" the older Wilykat speculated loudly. "Wait...that would cover both, wouldn't it?"

"EWWWWWWW!" said Gato appreciatively.

"Anyway, we're supposed to go pick the panther dude up and tell Willa wether or not he's an evil maniac. If he hasn't been seduced yet."

Squirming out of Wilykat's grasp, Jetkitten leapt to the floor, arched her back and hissed.

"Hey...just stating the facts," protested the Wilykat player, lifting his hands as though to ward the little white cat off.

"What they will do," interrupted Tygra, finally managing to get a word in edgewise, "is keep a close watch on him. But if he does nothing to be considered a threat, they leave him alone. Looks like we'll have to send another dispatch. Panthro can lead this one, I'm sure. While he's gone, I think I'll keep watch in the control room...it seems that things are going to be quite eventful for a while. Cheetara, if you would like to continue entertaining our guests?"

"Of course, Tygra," smiled the cheetah.

"Oh! Can I go too, Tygra, can I?" asked Gatotrueno excitedly. "I've heard of Warrior Maidens and I want to see the Treetop Kingdom! I'm female and everything!"

Tygra sighed. "Alright...you can protect Jet from this one," he said, cuffing the older Wilykat lightly on the ear and steering him around toward the door. I'd rather he be under Panthro's care."

"Alright!" cried the player. "Warrior Maidens! Break out the Velveeta and chili peppers...it's going to be a hot night!"

"Come on, Jet...looks like we're paired up again," sighed Gatotrueno. "But stay off my head this time, okay?"

As the others headed out, Felina looked around the room. Of the laughing, chattering group, only Cheetara, Woodstock, the kittens and herself were left. Woodstock quietly groomed her paws and the children looked impatiently from Cheetara to Felina and back again as though waiting to see if they would disappear also. At that moment, Snarf wheeled in the refreshment tray which had left to replenish. "Where did everybody go?" he asked with some annoyance. "I just prepared all of this and now everyone has left?"

Cheetara's eyes lit suddenly. "Well, Tygra will be in the control room...perhaps with one or two of our guests, and the rest have gone off on minor missions to bring back even more lost souls for you to feed," she said slyly. "Why don't you leave some of that here for us and bring the rest of it to Tygra and whoever stayed behind. Then maybe you can relax for a little while and have the kittens make cake or cookies for all the newcomers? I think they're old enough to work without too much supervision and not get flour all over the floor, isn't that right?"

"Yeah!" cried Wilykit. "We can make cookies!"

"I like raw dough," said Wilycub.

"Me too," said Wilykit to the newcomer under her breath as Wilykat begged Snarf to let them have the run of the kitchen. "But don't say it too loudly or Snarf will watch us like a hawk. If we can get him distracted we can make extra dough just for eating!"

Snarf finally sighed and gave in and the children happily followed him down to the kitchens.

"You did that on purpose," said Felina, flashing Cheetara a conspiratorial smile. "What's on your mind?"

Woodstock stopped licking her paws. **Thoughts** she sent.

"Yes," said Cheetara a bit guiltily. "We all have mind powers to some degree...I thought we might take these few moments alone to share what we know. Mine are not so strong, but maybe...between the three of us..."

"Well, even if we don't increase in power, we can increase in understanding," nodded Felina in agreement.

**A good thing** commented Woodstock warmly.

"In that case, maybe we should slip into a smaller, more intimate setting," suggested Cheetara. "After all, when everyone returns they will come to this room first."

With a silent agreement, Felina helped the cheetah gather up what refreshments had been left for them and, followed by Woodstock, they moved down the hall to a small sitting room for a moment of psychic meditation.

*********************