Unknown Enemies

Part Eleven

Lion-O spent the next afternoon in the library of Cat’s Lair. He was researching the cheetahs and lions history in an attempt to figure out when the hatred had started. So far, two hours of research produced nothing.

Lion-O.

“Cheetara?” Lion-O called.

I must meet with you tomorrow night at our usual spot. I’ve something very important to tell you.

“I’ll be there.”

Ten O’ clock.

The next evening, Cheetara got dress for her meeting with Lion-O. She was excited and scared. Cheetara was going to leave the cheetahs for him and have his children. She couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he told her she was carrying his children, but then she was scared to go on this journey and to tell Lion-O the truth about her.

Talia entered the room. She shook her head at Cheetara‘s behavior. Never had she seen her friend so nervous. “That’s the tenth dress you’ve changed into.”

“This night is very important for me,” Cheetara said looking at herself in the mirror. Cheetara shook her head. No. She couldn’t wear this one either. It revealed a little of her stomach.

“I think I have what you need to make that outfit complete,” Talia said and left the room. She came back with a blue cloak. “This can hide your stomach until you’re ready to show it to him.”

“It’s not that noticeable is it?” Cheetara asked.

“You’re carrying twins. You’re going to show quicker because of that,” Talia explained. “I can see it on your stomach and face.”

Cheetara put on the cloak and it fit perfectly. “Thanks.”

Talia helped Cheetara gather her luggage. “Let’s get you ready then. Now remember, with twins you will have to eat as twice as much.”

“I will.”

“All right. Let’s go. I’ll drop you off at your rendezvous.”

The two left the room and walked down the stairs with the luggage. They were glad the Elders or Chase weren’t relocated nearby otherwise this escape couldn’t be done.

“Aren’t you going to give me a hint as to who this guy is?” Talia asked.

“No. You’ll see when we get to the meeting point,” Cheetara said. “But you will be surprise at who he is.”

“Really? So, I don’t know him and I will be surprise at who he is,” Talia pondered that thought. “I wonder who that could be.”

When they reached the bottom of the steps, Talia opened the door and gasped at who were there--Leela, WilyKit and WilyKat.

“Don’t move,” Leela ordered.

“What do you want?” Talia asked.

“I could arrest you, but since I’m in such a good mood I’m just going to arrest Cheetara,” Leela said pointing to the woman at the bottom of the steps.

Cheetara didn’t recognize Leela but she recognized the twins.

“On what grounds?” Talia asked. “I know you’re ThunderCats and all.” She looked snidely at Leela. “Well, two of you anyway and you can’t just storm in my home, threatening to arrest my friend without an explanation.”

Leela pulled out her taser gun and shot it on Talia’s stomach sending volts of electricity flowing through her body. Talia fell to the ground unconscious. “That’s my explanation.”

“Talia!” Cheetara called from the stairs. Part of her told Cheetara to run while another part of her told her to check on Talia, but her feet wouldn’t move from the spot she was planted on.

“Leela, you didn’t have to do that,” WilyKat argued. “We could have just told her.”

Leela picked up Talia’s unconscious body. “And leave Cheetara a chance to escape? I don’t think so. Not when I got some strong collateral.” She held the taser to Talia’s neck and turned it up to the max. “The next volt will kill her unless you surrender to me, Cheetara.”

WilyKit and WilyKat were surprised by Leela’s actions. “Leela, what are you doing?” WilyKit asked. “This isn’t the ThunderCat way.”

“Capturing a criminal like Cheetara, means I do it any way I can. She’s the Cheetah Leader for crying out loud! The death of countless lions--men, women and children are on her hands and you want me to show her mercy?! Are you mad?!” Leela yelled outrage by the twin’s disgust. Leela glared wildly at Cheetara. “What’s it going to be, Cheetara? I know you’re the Cheetah Leader. It’s over.”

What choice did Cheetara have? She couldn’t let Talia die.

“If you spare her life, I’ll surrender to you.”

Leela smiled wickedly at Cheetara and tossed Talia’s unconscious body to the floor. “That’s more like it.” She nodded her head at the twins. “Arrest her.”

WilyKit and WilyKat went to Cheetara. Even though they had proof Cheetara was the Cheetah Leader, it felt wrong to arrest her, especially like this.

Leela on other hand was beaming with joy. The sound of the cuffs clicking on Cheetara‘s wrists were joy to her ears. “Cheetara, you are under arrest for leading the cheetahs on vicious and injustice attack against the lions. Oh, and don’t try to put up a fight against these ThunderCats,” Leela said and punched Cheetara across her face. “We know you’re pregnant and you don’t want to harm the babies.”

Cheetara’s eyes widen at the news. How did she know?

Leela turned her attention to WilyKit. “Kit, you know what to do.”

“Right,” Kit said and she ran up the steps.

“What’s she going to do?” Cheetara asked.

Leela punched her again in the face. “You‘re in no position to ask me questions. I can do what I want.”

“Leela, go easy,” Kat said. “She’s pregnant.”

“Go easy on her?! Killing those babies would be the best thing for me! Now put her in the Thunderstrike! No, wait!” Leela said as an idea came to mind. “I must call the guest of honor.” Leela pulled out her communicator. “Leela to Cat’s Lair.”

“Panthro here. What is it, Leela?”

Leela made sure to watch Cheetara’s face as she spoke. “Is my fiancée home?”

“No, he stepped out.”

“Get in contact with him and transfer the lines to my communicator.”

“All right.”

Leela just smiled at Cheetara wickedly as she waited for Lion-O’s voice to be heard over her communicator.

“Lion-O, here.”

Cheetara gasped. She was scared now. This was Lion-O‘s fiancée. She had heard of her but Cheetara never knew what she looked like and now that she was talking to Lion-O, Cheetara knew it was over for her.

“Hello, darling,” she purred. “I have wonderful news and you must return home immediately.”

“Leela, I can’t right now.” He sounded annoyed and desperate to get rid of her. “I have something important to take care of.”

“Nothing can be as important as this.” Leela smirked at Cheetara. “Trust me. I have the Cheetah Leader.”

“What?!” Lion-O sounded shocked. “You have her? How did you do that?”

“If you come home, I’ll tell you.”

“I’m on my way.”

“Good.” She laughed wickedly. “I’ll see you at home, darling,” Leela said and cut off the communicator.

“You’re Lion-O’s fiancée,” Cheetara said in a heavy breath.

“For the leader of the cheetahs, you are really slow.” Leela slapped Cheetara. “Of course I’m his fiancée. I’m the woman he loves, the woman he will marry and deliver his children.”

“I found it!” WilyKit shouted at the top of the stairs. She ran down and showed Leela what she had been looking for--Cheetara’s helmet.

Leela took the mask in her hand. “Ah. The Cheetah’s Leader Mask.” She looked at the twins, proud of their assistance. “We’re done here.”

Leela stepped out of the house followed by Cheetara who was escorted by the twins. Cheetara was put in the back seat with Leela and WilyKat. WilyKit was going to fly them back to the lair.

“WilyKit, get us to Cat’s Lair as fast as you can. That woman in there may alert the Cheetah Elders as to what has happened.”

“You got it, Leela,” WilyKit said and hit Thunderstrike at full power.

****

Cheetara heart was pounding so hard she felt it was going to burst from her chest. She was so scared that she started hyperventilating. WilyKat offered Cheetara some water but Leela snatched it away saying Cheetara didn’t deserve it. Cheetara wanted to escape but how was she to do that with three strong Thunderians surrounding her without harming her children. Her children were her top priority and although things looked grim now, Cheetara couldn’t help but think to when she and Lion-O were together. Cheetara shook the image out of her head. That time was over now. It was time to face the truth--she was going to lose Lion-O forever once he sees her.

From the corner of her eye, Cheetara watched Leela. She knew Leela wasn’t going to have sympathy on her. Cheetara never thought she would confront Leela. For someone who was suppose to be the future Queen of Thundera, she was vindictive, evil, and hardly joyous and exultant if something bad was happening and it seem to he happening to her. Leela never fought in the war but the victory was hers. She captured the Cheetah Leader.

Lion-O rushed back to the lair feeling guilty. He was to see Cheetara again. He missed her for the past two months, but duty called. He had to attend to business: the capture of the Cheetah Leader.

“How did Leela capture the Cheetah Leader? Cheetara will forgive me for not meeting her. This is important. The next time we meet, I’ll tell her I’m the Lord of the ThunderCats. It’s time the truth come out.”

Lion-O parked his hover car and rushed inside the lair. Panthro was waiting for Lion-O and told him that everyone was in the dungeon waiting for him. When they entered, Lion-O saw the Cheetah Leader in her prison cell with her helmet on. Leela approached Lion-O and planted a long, hot kiss on his lips. The other ThunderCats looked uncomfortable, but no one was as uncomfortable as Lion-O. Cheetara closed her eyes, refusing to look at the display.

“Honey, when you hear how I got the Cheetah Leader, you’re going to want to marry me tomorrow.”

“How do you know it’s the Cheetah Leader?” Lion-O asked.

“Well, I did some investigating. It all starts with the blood WilyKit and WilyKat found on the ThunderClaw. From a tip, I figured out the Cheetah Leader’s name but I’ll save that for later. And thanks to you mentioning that the leader was hurt, I began to think she would need medical attention. On a hunch, I had the twins track down a cheetah doctor not living near the elder’s previous home. I had the twins to spy on the doctor’s house and discovered the Cheetah Leader was there. Thanks to these wonderful twins, we were able to capture her. The press will be here momentarily for a statement. If you don’t want to speak to them, I will do it for you and give you all the credit.”

Leela opened Cheetara’s cell. “I’ll let you do the honors of taking off her helmet.”

Lion-O walked in the cell. He looked at Leela surprised. “Impressive work, Leela. You’ve done a good thing.” He face Cheetara and stepped forward. Cheetara stepped back. This continued on until Cheetara was cornered against the wall. Lion-O was confused by the Cheetah Leader. She seemed so cowardly. He thought she would stand up and face her adversary with bravery. Lion-O placed his hands on the helmet.

“Please, don’t,” Cheetara begs.

Lion-O could feel the tears falling from Cheetara‘s eyes onto his fingers. “I’m sorry, but you brought this on yourself,” Lion-O said and removed the helmet. He gasped loudly, taking a few steps back.

Cheetara stood there shamefully with tears spilling from her eyes. She tried to close her eyes but she couldn’t look away from the look of shock on Lion-O’s face.

“Everyone, I give you the Cheetah Leader—Cheetara!” Leela said wickedly. She laughed so wildly as if she won the lottery.

The ThunderCats didn’t understand the behavior of Lion-O and Cheetara. Why did Lion-O react this way? Why was Cheetara--who was suppose to be a ruthless leader, stand there so shamefully?

Leela was the only one enjoying this scene. She turned around facing the ThunderCats. “Everyone. Let’s leave these two to talk. I’m sure they have a lot to talk about.”

“Why?” Panthro asked. “We have questions of our own.”

Leela waved a hand ignoring it. “I’m sure Lion-O will answer all your questions at the right time, Panthro. Am I not right, honey?” Leela asked Lion-O.

“Leave,” Lion-O spoke in a cold voice that even sent shivers down Panthro’s spine. “All of you leave now. I want to talk to Cheetara alone.”

One by one, the other ThunderCats. Leela was the last to leave. Before she left, Leela said, “I’ll deal with the press, dear. You’re going to have your hands full.”

“What was that about?” Tygra asked when all the ThunderCats left the dungeon.

“I know,” Panthro said. “Why was Lion-O so mad and adamant about us leaving? We have a right to be there, too.”

“I’ve never heard Lion-O sound so angry,” WilyKit observed. “It was scary.”

“I feel sorry for Cheetara now. She’s going to get it,” WilyKat said.

Leela heard that remark as she was the last to leave. “Don’t you dare feel sorry for that woman. She is responsible for a war that plagued our world for months. This is a time for celebration. Come, we have a press conference to prepare for.”

****

There was a cold silence between the two. Being afraid of Chase was nothing compared to being afraid of Lion-O now. She could see the anger boiling in his eyes, filled with betrayal. Cheetara wished he would say something, anything. The silence was killing her.

“You’re the Cheetah Leader?” He spoke after ten minutes of silence.

Cheetara swallowed hard before answering. “Yes.”

“How could you?!” He roared angrily and Cheetara jumped at his words. “How could you do this to me? To us?”

“I’m sorry,” she apologized.

“Sorry?! Sorry for what?! Sorry that you got caught?! Is that it?!” Lion-O shouted angrily. “Of course that’s it! What else would it be?! Oh, and stop those tears, you’re not fooling anyone and not me anymore. ”

“If you would give me a chance to explain…” Cheetara tried to speak.

“Explain what?! How you want to rule the planet and get rid of all the lions?! Yes, go ahead and explain that!”

“I didn’t want this, Lion-O. You must believe me,” Cheetara tried to reason with him.

“Believe you?! After finding out you’re the cheetah leader?! Fat chance on that!”

Lion-O paced back and forth angrily. “All this time…all this time I was with you, I was with the Cheetah Leader…the assassin trained to kill me.” He looked as if he swallowed poison and he stared at her with such vile hatred.

His lips curled in disgust as he looked at her. “I must give you credit, honey. You sure did rope me up good. The shy, innocent act was perfect. All the things I told you--my mother, my father. By Thundera, I married you! I slept with you! I loved you! I thought you were the one for me!”

“I am, Lion-O!” Cheetara cried. Tears were starting to fall down her face.

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear it! I’ve had enough of your lies!” Lion-O shouted violently at her.

Cheetara bit her lip and looked at Lion-O pleadingly. “Lion-O, please. I love you.”

Lion-O glared at Cheetara angrily. His finger aimed at her as he can shoot her dead with it. He already killed her with his looks. “Don’t you dare say that. Don’t try to soften this situation with your lies! I don’t want to hear it!!”

Cheetara jumped back. She was so scared of him, of his anger. She was afraid he would strike her and with his muscles and imposing body, Cheetara was afraid he would kill her at this moment.

“You never loved me! You used me! That’s why you couldn’t tell me you love me when we married! It was because you didn’t love me!”

“No, that’s not true!” Cheetara shouted still crying.

“Don’t cry. It doesn’t suit a woman like you. Tell me this, Cheetara. Did it feel good using me like that? Was it so good to your ego to have a man tell you everything about his life including his weakness and darkest secrets? Was it good for you to trap me in your web of lies, take you to my bed? Was everything you said fake, too?” His face sneered mocking. “Oh, you had to have acting lessons to keep yourself in control after all that, but then again, you probably had practice with it. I bet I’m not the only person you slept with. Am I?”

“No,” Cheetara said quietly. “But--”

“I should’ve known better.” Lion-O shook his head in disgust of himself. “I was a fool to believe that you never met the Lord of the ThunderCats, never known what I look like. How stupid I was? Of course everyone knows what I look like.” He laughed scornfully. “You are one terrific actress, I must say, fooling me like that. Have you always been this good or did you get good training to be such a vindictive, seductive, witch?! I don’t know why I’m refraining from using foul language to describe what you really are!”

Cheetara gasped.

“I can’t believe how blind I’ve been, but no more. You will be severely punished for your actions. The lives of countless lions’ death are on your bloody hands and rest assure, you will pay for that.” Lion-O said darkly. “ThunderCats can’t kill but I’ll be sure to find a punishment that will make you wish you were dead.” He turned on his heals, walked out the caged, locked it and stormed out of the dungeon.

Cheetara called for Lion-O as he marched out the room. “Lion-O. Lion-O! Lion-O! Please don’t leave! Don’t leave me! I can explain! Please, don’t leave! Don’t leave!” Cheetara cried heavily, falling to her knees as Lion-O slammed the prison door shut.

It was over. All over for her--her future with Lion-O, the happy lives of her children. It was all over and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it.

Go to Part Twelve

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