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Deep in the catacombs of Beach's abandoned Pneumatic Railway, a solitary brick in the wall of the tunnel moved, and was pushed forward. Finally, it slipped out of the wall and fell to the ground; having been pushed down by several muscular Lenape mice.

"We are here," Chief Wulisso declared, being the first to jump down to the ground, "The lair of the steel snake."

"Yes but doesn't this open up to the middle of the city?" Fievel asked.

"We will not exit through the main entrance," said the Chief.

The mice all took turns hopping down to the ground from a safe height.

"We will need transportation to get to the island," Wulisso said to Nellie, "Do you have any idea how this may be accomplished?"

"I suppose you'll need to stow away on a human boat," Nellie answered, "It will take time to plan it out, get you on the right ship and try to do so without your tribe being seen."

"Time you do not have," Wulisso assumed.

"Afraid so," Nellie replied, "Will you be okay down here?"

"At least we will not drown here," Wulisso answered, turning to his tribe and telling them in the Lenape language that they would be camping in the subway tunnel for the time being.

"As for us, we're goin' ta the train station," said Hiram as he caught Olivia when she jumped through the hole in the wall.

"But daddy, couldn't we-"

"No, Olivia," he interrupted, "And that's that."

Olivia pouted, as Fievel hopped down after his father.

"I guess we could check up on Tony when we get back," said Fievel, "He's probably already been let out of jail."

Tanya and Vartan hopped to the ground as well.

"What you are wanting us to do, Nellie?" Vartan asked.

"I suppose that's up to you and Tanya," said Nellie, "You can go see Fievel and your father off at the train station. I plan on visiting the dog pound next; with any luck, if we can help Lone Woof out of there he and his council can help us get rid of Mousey and prevent Quinn from flooding the Lenape hideout."

"Tanya," Papa put a hand on her shoulder, "Vhy don't you come back vith us?"

"Come back? To Green River?"

"Zis Quinn is after you now. It vould be safer if you left town."

"But I…" she looked to Nellie.

"It's up to you Tanya," Nellie said.

Tanya thought it over for a long moment. She wanted to help her friends, and she wanted to help Quinn. But, now that Quinn thought she'd betrayed him, maybe going back with her family was the smart thing to do. What was sadder was that she had a performance scheduled that night…but she knew if she went through with it, she'd be in danger. She gave a sad sigh.

"I guess…I guess I should go with you and Fievel, Papa…"

Her father hugged her, "I know it's a hard decision, but you'll be safer vith your family. You're a talented girl, I think you'll be a successful singer no matter who tries to stop you."

"I hope you're right," Tanya said, her eyes watering, because she'd have to give up her dream of being a performer in New York.

Vartan looked on with sympathy.

"What are you going to do, Vartan?" Tanya asked.

"I do not wish to leave your side," he said, before looking to Nellie, "But do you need me?"

"You've always been a big help, Vartan," said Nellie, "But I understand if you want to go too."

"I do not want to leave Tanya again," he said. Tanya gave him a hug too.

"What about you Catherine?" Tanya asked.

They looked around. But she wasn't with the crowd. The last of the mice had already come through the opening in the wall. Where was Catherine?

_______________________________________________________________________

Catherine wandered among the abandoned tents in the Lenape hideout, still feeling responsible for making the Lenape relocate. She looked upward.

"Okay Fidget, they're gone. Come out."

A flapping could be heard as Fidget descended from the ceiling.

"Ha, about time," he said, circling Catherine before landing on the ground, "So, toots, where are we going?"

"We can't really go the same way everyone else went," said Catherine, "Or they'll see us. But maybe we could climb up that pipe we took to get down here. That would bring us straight to the sewers."

"Good thinking," said Fidget, "Can you climb it?"

"I can try," she said.

"Good. Let me get somethin' clear to you though, I'll lead you to the hideout, but after that, I'm gone. Let 'em think the natives killed me."

"Trust me, keeping you around is just a means to an end," Catherine said.

"You're not the first to think that. Now where's this pipe?"

"This way."

Catherine led Fidget to where she and her friends had first entered the hideout. It was at the end of a long tunnel, with the secret panel that opened to it still ajar.

"Alright, let's go," said Fidget.

"After me," Catherine said, "I don't want you fluttering off before helping me."

"Would I go and do a thing like that?"

"Probably."

She climbed into the pipe. Spreading her arms and legs she was able to climb the sides of the pipe upward. Fidget waited until he was high enough up and did the same.

"You better not fall on me," Fidget said, spreading his wings and legs to climb upward.

The pipe went on for a long time, to the point where if they were to fall, it would end very painfully for them. But eventually, Catherine felt the pipe curve horizontally, and was able to crawl on her arms and legs again. Fidget soon followed behind. There was a dim light at the end of the pipe. In a few moments Catherine and Fidget both emerged back inside the storm drain.

"Do you know where we are?" She asked.

"Hm…" Fidget looked around, "I think we go that way."

"You sure?"

"Pretty sure," he remarked, "At this point I'm doing you a favor, so trust me. We're gonna have to get past this lizard thing on the way there, so you know."

"Lizard?"

"Yeah, it eats bugs, and whatever else falls into its mouth from above. I can just glide over it, you'll hafta jump."

"Okay…" Catherine felt a little scared at this.

The two of them walked through the tunnel, along the softly flowing water. It was certainly creepy down there, every once in a while they'd see a cockroach scuttle by. It made Catherine's fur stand on end.

"Why did Quinn choose to have his hideout down here?" she asked.

"Warren already had a hideout down here a long time ago, all it needed was some sprucing up. It's well-hidden too. Mostly it's still Warren's hideout; Quinn just uses it for meetings."

They walked for a while longer down the tunnels, before reaching the chasm in which the reptilian creature lurked. Catherine peered over the edge, and the beast poked its head out of the slimy water, licking its teeth and staring at her. Her eyes widened.

"What is that thing?"

"No one seems to know," Fidget said, spreading his wings and gliding across, "There, now it's your turn."

"Sure you can't carry me across?" Catherine asked.

"Not only am I supposed to hold your hand and walk you to the hideout, but I gotta carry you now?"

"Oh come on, it's not that far! I don't think I'd make it if I jumped."

"Fine, just this once."

Fidget flew back across, hovering over Catherine, "Just grab my legs."

Catherine did, and Fidget flapped harder, to carry her across the chasm. The beast below looked upward, hoping Fidget would drop her. But, she let go of his legs as soon as solid ground was beneath her.

"You need to lay off the crumpets," Fidget remarked.

"Oh shut up."

The two of them walked a short distance more, down the cavernous storm drain tunnel. They could hear voices echoing through the tunnels; it seemed like a lively discussion.

"Sounds like they're here," said Fidget, as they noticed messages painted on the walls. One read "No dogs allowed." The other, "The Mott Street Maulers".

"So this is the place?" Catherine asked.

"Yep, and that's my cue to get outta here," Fidget said.

"Where will you go?" she asked, out of curiosity.

"Maybe I'll go back to England," Fidget said, "I've had my fill of the States. Good luck with Quinn, hope ya don't end up as cat food."

"Well, thanks…take care I suppose."

With that, Fidget flapped his wings, and headed back in the direction they came. Catherine drew a breath, and turned around toward the hideout.

"You two can't get along for at least a little bit longer?!" came an angry plea.

"Waul don't belong in my city," replied someone with a Brooklyn accent, "Simple as dat. I don't care what your daddy planned out in dat will of his. Hell I could partly blame him for my bein' sent to Hong Kong anyway; if he hadn't sold me those antiques then Basil would never have come to New York."

"That still would have happened even if Basil weren't involved," Quinn shot back.

Catherine peered around the corner. The room was full of cats, members of the Mott Street Maulers. Warren was seated at a table and Quinn was on top of the table, pleading with Warren to call off his war with Waul's gang. Catherine at once felt extremely nervous; this could go downhill fast. She wasn't even sure how to begin.

"Point is Quinn, I've got my gang back, and now I want things ta be just like the old days again, except without the silly rat mask. You might be 'mayor' to the mice, but who's got the real power here? Who's always going to have power over mice like yourself? Cats, that's who. We're in every country that mice are in. And it's the same all over the world."

"But you'd be even more powerful if we all worked together, don't you see that? You're breaking your alliance with Waul, with the dogs, and with me."

"Na, we're just breaking our alliance with Waul. If you don't want to be our ally though, dat's your call, see? First rule of politics; choose your allies wisely. Now you can either choose my side, or Waul's. If you want my expert opinion, you'd be an imbecile to choose Waul; remember what he did to your daddy?"

"You're putting me in a very difficult position, Warren. I'm not going to take sides. Look, if this turf war cannot be prevented, then very well. I'll be allies with whoever wins, and Madame Mousey can help me flood the Indians tonight."

"You could post-pone it."

"And give Nellie Brie time to prevent it? No. The public is expecting it now, it's already going in the newspapers. My popularity would plummet if I didn't go through with it."

Catherine cleared her throat, and stepped forward into the room. The cats turned their heads, and Quinn turned around.

"Quinn, please, you have to stop this. All of this."

"Who is she, how'd she get in here?" Warren demanded.

"My questions exactly. Have I seen you somewhere before?" Quinn asked, getting an uncanny feeling upon seeing her; something he'd felt before, but couldn't remember when.

"I saw you at Tanya's performance a couple nights ago."

Quinn thought for a moment, "Ah…the lady I bumped into, now I remember. What would compel you to walk into a den of cats and certain death just to see me again?"

"I knew Ratigan well. Far too well. If you don't want to end up like him then you cannot follow his path."

"How do you know Ratigan has anything to do with me?" Quinn demanded. Was his lineage becoming common knowledge now? He couldn't risk that.

"I'll tell you, if you agree to not let the cats eat me."

"I can agree to these terms up until after you've told me at least," said Quinn, "Out with it."

"Not every day a snack just wanders onto your plate," Jake said hungrily, "Hurry it up, I'm starving."

Catherine was nearly scared out of her wits, standing before Quinn, and Warren's gang of cats. She knew if she worded herself wrong she could end up being eaten in an instant. She only hoped Quinn would spare her; if he could that is. It didn't seem like he had much control over Warren anymore.

"I told you I knew Ratigan well. This is true. He…he helped start my career as a singer when I was only a teenager. I thought I loved him. But…I got pregnant with his child."

Quinn's eyes widened.

"It was too dangerous for him to have a child, so when the baby was born, he sent the baby to an orphanage in America. I didn't want him to, but he left me with no choice. That baby…was you, Quinn."

"What? But…but this is impossible."

"I'm 37 years old Quinn…I was young when I had you."

Warren glared at Catherine, and then looked at Quinn, who was in a state of shock.

"Looks like the snack is postponed boys," said Warren, "Unless of course Quinn says otherwise."

Quinn couldn't stop staring at Catherine.

"How do I know you're not lying? How do I know this isn't some plan set up by Basil and Nellie Brie?"

"Look at me Quinn," said Catherine, "You'll know your own mother when you see her. You know I'm telling the truth."

Quinn was silent for a few moments, before turning to Warren.

"I have to go. If you must go to war with Waul's gang, try to be reasonable about it, hm? Leave the mice out of it. I…don't want this to impact my popularity polls, you see."

"A reasonable enough request," said Warren, "And after we boot Waul outta town, I look forward to workin' with you."

"Yes, well, best of luck," said Quinn, looking to Bill and Chester, who were watching the scene from afar, "You two, escort this…woman…to my office. We're going back to Tammany Hall."

"Yes sir boss," said Bill, as he and Chester took Catherine by the arms.

Quinn slid down the leg of the table.

"By the way…do either of you recognize her?"

Catherine knew Bill and Chester from before. She looked to them both.

"Hey, now that you mention it…" said Bill, "She looks like that barroom singer, used to be Ratigan's, um…well one of Ratigan's girls. Miss Kitty Mouse."

"Yeah, or one of her sisters," said Chester, "They were triplets, right?"

Quinn now knew at least some of what Catherine said was true. He turned for the sewer tunnel, "Come along then."

They escorted Catherine out of the Mott Street Mauler's hideout, Quinn walking in silence, as Warren looked on.

"What do ya think of that, boss?" Aces asked.

"I'm thinkin' Quinn might go soft soon," said Warren, "Let's focus on gettin' Waul out of the picture first, and see what happens. If Quinn does go soft, we can always replace him with a new mayor who'll do our bidding."

Jake gave an evil chuckle, "Just like the old days."