A NEW HOME

January 14^th, as we reckon it, and Bengali sat in a bar with his wife for ten years, Pumyra. The pair could remember with stark clarity the day Mumm-Ra had cast his most powerful spell on Cat’s Lair. It had propelled the Thundercats into another dimension, into the year 1999 on Earth.

"So, Thundercats, you think that you have bested Mumm-Ra, the ever living?" he had cackled.

"Surrender now Mumm-Ra, we’ll go easy on you," Lion-O had replied.

"I have one more trick up my sleeve, Thundercats!" Mumm-Ra had shouted, before hitting each of them with a strange powder.

At first they had tried to return but then they had drifted away. Surprisingly the first to desert was Panthro. He had signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation and become their World Champion in under a month.

"I’ve never understood why you like this stuff," Bengali commented, holding up his glass of champagne.

"Oh relax, drink up. It is our anniversary," Pumyra said.

"Yeah I know, it’s just that this is the first year no one has called us. At least last year we had Wily Kit and Wily Kat call," Bengali sighed.

"You know as well as I do that they’re busy with things down at Thunderkitten Enterprises. They’ve got the new model hover board coming out. The Condor or something like that," Pumyra said, clinking her glass against Bengali’s.

"Well then, to us and our wonderful friends," Bengali replied, downing the liquid.

Lion-O tossed his McDonald’s hat into the corner of his small apartment. "Another tough day at work Lion-O?" Snarf asked.

"You can say that again. I swear that my boss doesn’t respect me at all. He complained that I wasn’t putting the burgers in the middle of the bun," Lion-O said.

"You’d better be nice to him. You’ve already been fired from two fast food places this year," Snarf said.

"Kentucky Fried Chicken doesn’t count. I quit there after they refused to tell me what went in their coleslaw!" Lion-O retorted.

"All the same. We need the money. Jaga knows that I’m having difficulty advertising cat food nowadays. It seems like those network guys are more interested in the younger model, Snarfer!" Snarf sighed.

Cheetara looked over at Tygra. "Why, Tygra, why?" she asked.

"I don’t know. I just can’t help myself, I guess," Tygra replied.

"If you needed the money that badly you could have asked," Cheetara said.

"That wouldn’t help his immediate problem. As you can see, he’s going through some serious withdrawal symptoms. If he doesn’t hit a rehab clinic, who knows what’ll happen?" an officer behind Cheetara said. The female Thundercat stood and handed a check to the man. "I’ll take him from here," she said. The guard unlocked Tygra’s cell and motioned him out. He hardly seemed like himself, he clung to Cheetara’s arm as she led him to her waiting limo.

"No, no, no. This is all wrong," Wily Kat grumbled, "Our latest model is supposed to be the Flyer, not the Fryer. Where’s that designer?"

"Janice, send in that Melissa!" Wily Kit shouted into the intercom.

A few minutes later the door to their joint office opened and a young woman entered the room. "You called?" she asked.

"Yes. Was it you who wrote the wrong name for our upcoming line of boards?" Wily Kit asked. The woman, Melissa, looked closely at the diagram that her employers held out. "That certainly looks like my writing," she began.

"This isn’t a fast food place. This is a high-tech car company. Now, fix this drawing before you leave or else you’ll be fired," Wily Kat said.

"Yes sir. At once sir," Melissa said, slinking out of the room.

"I just had a brilliant idea," Pumyra said.

"Every idea of yours is brilliant," Bengali replied.

"Why don’t we get the gang together for the weekend up at our cottage?" Pumyra said.

"I don’t know. Mr. Prideaux is harassing me about that deadline," Bengali said.

"Oh Jonathan’s got plenty of other books to publish. One less won’t hurt. Besides, it’s only the weekend," Pumyra said.

"You’re right. I’ll get out my address book and we’ll track them down together," Bengali said.

"First alphabetically is me, but I don’t count. So onto Black Claw, Tygra’s mentor," Bengali said.

"Where’s he?" Pumyra asked.

"Last I’d heard, in Detroit, in a small book store," Bengali replied.

"That’s a little out of the way. Maybe I should go find him while you deal with someone else," Pumyra said.

"Next up is Cheetara. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in town so she should be easy to find," Bengali said.

"Leave the list on the counter. When I’m done, I’ll check the name off and move onto the next," Pumyra said.

The pair hopped into their Ferrari and drove to the airport where the Thunderstrike was being kept. "See you later honey," Bengali said, kissing her lightly.

"You bet your stripes you will," Pumyra replied.

The Thunderstrike hadn’t been used in years, but was still in working order. Pumyra worked on Broadway as an Actress and so earned enough to pay for a hanger for the vehicle. Although it had been a while since she had flown it the memories flooded back to her. Soon the ship was airborne.

The hotel the visitors were staying in was crowded with autograph hounds. Cheetara, though was not to be seen. Bengali walked up to the front desk and motioned for the receptionist. "Could you call Cheetara’s room and inform her that Bengali is here to see her?" Bengali said.

"One moment please," the receptionist replied.

"Tygra, you rest here for now. Everything will be fine," Cheetara said, laying Tygra on top of her bed. Tygra moaned softly as his eyes closed. "There, there. I’ll be right here beside you until morning," Cheetara whispered, kissing his brow. The phone rang and Cheetara answered it.

"This is the front desk calling for a Cheetara," the clerk said.

"I am Cheetara," she replied.

"There’s a man here to see you. Says his name is Bengali," the clerk said.

"Bengali? What’s he doing here? Send him up, I’ll be waiting," Cheetara said.

"All right, up you go. Room 7B," the receptionist said and then muttering, "You could only get two cat people in New York!"

The Thunderstrike flew swiftly toward Detroit. In no time at all Pumyra had made a smooth landing at a local airport. The Thundercat hopped into a cab and made for the address Bengali had left her.

"Bengali! It’s so nice to see you again!" Cheetara said.

"What’s wrong with Tygra?" Bengali asked, stepping into the room.

"He’s going through some tough personal problems. I’m helping him out," Cheetara replied.

"Oh. Look, Pumyra and I are throwing a big get together this weekend. I know you’ve got a game on but would it be possible for you and Tygra to make it down?" Bengali asked.

"I’d have to ask my coach. Tell you what, I’ll give you a ring when I find out," Cheetara said.

"That’d be great. Look, I’d love to stay and catch up on old times but there are plenty of people on the list. If you can’t make it, let me know and we’ll catch you after the game tomorrow," Bengali said.

"No problem," Cheetara said.

Bengali drove down the highway, the wind rushing through his fur. He felt truly alive and excited by the prospect of seeing his friends once more. The next one on the list was Lion-O, and his apartment was on the way home. He’d just leave a message on the machine for Pumyra saying that he was taking care of him and Snarf.

Pumyra handed the cab driver a generous tip and entered the mall. She thought briefly about buying herself a new outfit for the occasion but figured that she had better catch Black Claw before his shift ended, assuming he wasn’t already home.

"I’m sorry, but we sold our last copy of ‘The Exile Returns’ by Bengali this morning," Black Claw was saying to a customer as Pumyra approached.

"However, if you leave me your name and number I’ll see that my husband sends you a copy," Pumyra said.

"Why would he want a book autographed by your, Pumyra!" Black Claw said, turning.

"Sorry. I don’t have a Pumyra. I do, however, have a Bengali," Pumyra replied. The customer nervously handed her his name and number before leaving.

"Black Claw, what are you doing this coming weekend?" Pumyra asked.

Bengali examined the list of names: "Apartment 312: Elvis Smith. Apartment 313: James Deahl. Apartment 314: Lion-O," he read aloud. He bushed the buzzer for 314 and waited for a voice to let him in. "Who is it?" Lion-O’s voice asked, he sounded tired.

"It’s me, Bengali," he replied. There was a loud buzz and the main door unlocked. Bengali opened it and went up.

Bengali could tell Lion-O’s apartment by the odor emanating from inside. Pizza boxes and Chinese food containers littered the floor, despite Snarf’s best efforts to keep it clean. "Uh, excuse the mess," Lion-O said, running a hand through his unkempt hair.

"Don’t sweat it. I’m here because Pumyra and I were thinking about throwing a weekend party. What’s your schedule like these days?" Bengali asked.

"It’s pretty busy. I’ve already used up all my vacation days," Lion-O said.

"Can’t you get someone to switch with you?" Bengali asked.

"After that incident where you failed to show up on someone else’s shift, I doubt anyone will switch with you, snarf, snarf," Snarf said.

"What Snarf said. Sorry, you’ll have to do without us," Lion-O said.

"It won’t be the same, but I understand," Bengali said.

Pumyra hit the play button on the answering machine. There were three messages.

"Bengali, Jonathan here. How’s that book coming along? The public wants a sequel soon. Get back to me. BEEP."

"Pumyra, it’s Bengali. Just finished talking with Cheetara, she’s got Tygra with her. They’ll get back to us. Just heading to Lion-O’s now. BEEP."

"Bengali, Pumyra. This is Cheetara. I didn’t think the coach would let me. We’ve got an important game against the Mighty Ducks and Tygra’s being cared for by a rehab clinic as we speak. Sorry. Hope you have fun anyway. BEEP."

After grabbing a Pepsi and the list of names Pumyra sat down on the couch. She crossed of Black Claw’s name. He had a hot date for the Saturday but had sent his regards. With Cheetara and Tygra not able to come, and Lynx-O now deceased three years that meant four Thundercats were unavailable. She heard the roar of Bengali’s engine and waited for him to come in. "You’re home!" he exclaimed.

"I only just arrived. What’s the news?" she asked.

When they had swapped stories, they looked at the rest of the list. "Tell you what, Bengali, I’ve got some connections in the show biz industry. I’ll call up some people to find out where Snarfer is," Pumyra said.

"And I’ll travel down to Thunderkitten Enterprises and talk to Wily Kit and Wily Kat," Bengali said.

"That leaves only Panthro. I guess whoever is free first gets to do that," Pumyra said.

"Hi, is Sylvester Stallone about? Tell him it’s Pumyra," the female Thundercat said.

"One moment while I go see what he’s doing," a man said. Pumyra was put on hold and listened, rather reluctantly to an old Britney Spears song. After a few moments a deep male voice came onto the phone. "Hey Pumyra, what’ve you been doin’?" it said.

"Not much, Sly, how about you?" Pumyra asked.

"Working on a new movie. What can I do for you?" Sylvester asked.

"I’m trying to track down Snarfer. I know the two of you got to know each other after that Voltron movie a while back," Pumyra said.

"No, sorry. Haven’t seen him since then, except for his commercials for ‘Yum Yum’ cat food," Sylvester replied.

"Don’t worry. I’ll see if Spielberg knows anything," Pumyra said, hanging up.

"May I help you sir?" Janice the secretary asked.

"Yes, I’m looking for Wily Kit and Kat," Bengali said.

"Another cat? Hmm," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Do you have an appointment?"

"Uh, no. I’m an old friend though," Bengali said.

"Your name please?" Janice asked.

"Bengali," he replied.

"One moment then. Sorry to disturb you two but there’s a Bengay here," Janice said.

"Bengali," he corrected.

"Bengali, Bengay, whatever," she said.

"Send him in," Wily Kat’s deep voice said.

The Thunderkittens had changed from their days with the Thundercats. They had dispensed with their colorful clothes and had donned suits and ties. Wily Kat and Wily Kit had shot up to about 6"1 and 5"9 respectively. Wily Kit’s Rolex watch glittered as she extended her hand. "Nice to see you again," she said.

"How can we help you?" Wily Kat asked, sitting in his large chair.

"If you’re looking for a job, we can find room for you. In fact, there’s a worker we’ve been thinking about replacing . . . " Wily Kit began.

"Uh, no thanks. I’m happy with my book writing career. Actually what I came by to ask was whether you’re busy this coming weekend. We’re throwing a little party, Pumyra and I," Bengali said.

Wily Kit punched a few buttons on her computer before looking up. "Sorry, that’s the weekend that we’re launching the first Condor in Miami," she said.

"Oh, that’s too bad. Maybe we can get together some other time," Bengali said.

"That would be nice. Feel free to drop in anytime, just try to book an appointment first," Wily Kat said.

Bengali shook their hands once more and departed.

"Snarfer’s got a big photo shoot this weekend, Mrs. Pumyra. He’ll be tied up most of the time," Snarfer’s agent said.

"Thanks for your time," Pumyra said as Bengali entered the door.

"Well?" Bengali asked.

"He’s busy. What about you?" she replied.

"They’ve got some ribbon cutting to do," Bengali replied.

"That leaves only Panthro," Pumyra said.

"Then we’d better make some calls," Bengali said.

"Hey Panthro," Pumyra said.

"Pumyra! I haven’t seen you since you appeared in Cats last year," Panthro said.

"That was last year. We’re rehearsing Fiddler on the Roof now," Pumyra said.

"Cool. What’s up?" Panthro asked.

"Bengali and I were wondering if you were free for the weekend," Pumyra asked.

"‘Fraid not. We’ve got our big pay per view ‘Shut Yo Mouth’ coming up," Panthro replied.

"Well, good luck then," Pumyra said.

"Thanks. You too," Panthro replied, hanging up.

Bengali and Pumyra sat on the front porch of their cottage, alone, facing the surf. "It seems weird not having everyone around," Pumyra said.

"It’s kind of funny though, no one was available," Bengali said.

"Just means we get to spend more time by ourselves," Pumyra began, running her hand along Bengali’s arm.

"I think it’s getting a little cool, maybe we should go inside," Bengali said suggestively.

Back to Fanfic Archive