LogFAQs > #968194079

This is what led us to the next stage of Cheetahs story. She wanted to travel to Lamumba to re-upp the ritual that gave her the power of the Cheetah in the first place, and though Pepper was not the one to put it on the big board (I couldnt think of a justification that would fit Peppers super serious teachers pet personality), eventually the mission was scheduled to benefit both Cheetahs desires, and those of Catman. Cheetah was entirely interested in her own goals, so despite having a walkie talkie, she ran off to deal with the ritual she needed to bolster her strength, while the rest of us dealt with Catmans end of the bargain (described in his write-up). But in the emotional aftermath of Catmans realization, he ran off and left us to find Cheetah, who had gone radio silent. While this wasnt necessarily out-of-character, this was still on the heels of the LAST time shed gone on a field mission and wound up minus an armso we had reason to worry.

We wound up meeting her ritual allies and everything seemed okay at first, with us engaging in a similar ritual ourselves. Pepper dove right in, perhaps spurred on by Cheetah offering to give Pepper the same kind of strength and power she herself had obtained. But it was all a trap, and we wound up unconscious, only to awaken imprisoned beneath the temple, with our powers being very slowly siphoned away. It turns out that Lamumba is ruled over by the spirits of the lion, the cheetah, and the leopard, and those three spirits are at war, so the temple of the cheetah is trying to siphon power from whomever they can to gain an edge. This meant luring back their champion (and a group of the champions unsuspecting allies) and stealing their powers away.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/6/5/AAAe4tAADsnN.png
Yes, when we woke up in their clutches, we found ourselves faced with a protector goddess (who is still in our med bay, I believe), but more importantly to THIS write-up, we discovered the all-to-human Barbara Ann Minerva. Where she got clothes and a pith helmet, I dont know. Its magic, Ill just say its magic. And let me tell youall of the things that were just inferences and assumptions about Cheetah? They were completely validated when we interacted with her original form. From minute one of meeting us again, Barbara was just whiny and weak and pathetic, and she couldnt think for a second that she was anything more than worthless. I mean, in the context of a TTRPG, shes not wrongbut still.

That moment was like putting a final piece into place in a jigsaw puzzle. Cheetah is fierce and badass and independent, and she refuses to ever allow herself to be weak or at another persons mercy, because thats the kind of person she used to be. It didnt matter how smart she was or how much of an expert in her field she wasshe was always weak, pathetic, Barbara Ann Minerva. And that plays again into the relationship with Pepper, viewing Pepper as that pathetic, nerdy scientist that she hates about herself, only starting to warm up when Pepper took that first step towards true empowerment. Now granted, Pepper tries her best to bolster Barbara in those moments of weakness in Lamumba (because even Pepper wasnt a complete coward prior to unlocking her powers), but yeah, theres just this completely antithetical whininess about Barbara that makes her feel like a completely different person (even though that insecurity is still deeply entrenched in Cheetahs overall persona).

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/6/6/AAAe4tAADsnO.png
As the icing on the cake though, when Hector was about to bestow his lion powers on Catman to name him the lion champion of Lamumba, Barbara resorted to heel tactics to leap in the way and claim that power for herself. As a result, she is not Cheetah for the time being, but rather than Lioness. We havent gotten a TON of content from her in this form, but it has certainly restored her cocky swagger. I do hope she returns to Cheetah eventually though, if only because dayum. Still, now it feels like shes really on a path where she and Peppers stories can get more complex and interesting, moving forward. That can only be good at this point, now that were on the right track.

Hint for #1: Every hint since the top ten has pointed to one person, and now its finally her time.