Series: Phurranha Title: Hangar Thieves Author: David Noble E-Mail: Dnoble49@hotmail.com Status: New Dates: Nov 30-Dec 14 Notes: Just a reminder that Phurranha is my own as are the other characters that are not part of the original SWAT Kats show. The SKs followed Phurranha to his base on the shore. They saw the tank ridges that emerged from the hulls. "This guy's really got something if he can invent a craft like that all by himself." T-Bone pointed out. Razor humped. "I told you he copy kated us. I knew he was tricky." Phurranha drove into his garage. "It's better than leaving subs in water where they could tarnish quickly," Phurranha said, as he got out. T-Bone shook his paw. "I'm T-Bone, nice to meet you, eh, what's your name again?" "I'm Phurranha." "Nice name. Suits you." "Pleased. And you must be Razor?" He offered Razor his paw. Razor usually shook paws with people he met, but those he was distant with or those he was suspicious of. Phurranha was one of those kats to him, so Razor just waved. Phurranha sighed and felt hurt. T-Bone put his paw on his shoulder. "Don't worry, buddy. He'll get used to yeh. Well, enough greetings, who are you?" "I'm a ocean pilot for aqua combat. My sub is a nuclear M-12." "Nuclear, huh? That could take you half across the globe without refueling!" "Yeah. Nuclear engines are pretty self-propellant and mine travels Mach 2." "Good, same as our Turbokat. Well, why did you decide to become a crime fighter?" "My dad always loved the ocean and we used to take many trips and go scuba- diving at Anakata Island. You know how clear the waters are, like seeing an underwater sunny sky. I loved submarines when I was a kitten. Well, I observed how submarines were designed and how they are driven. I went to classes on them, but the information wasn't needed since there were no villains on the sea until the Pastmaster came along." Razor listened and softened up only a little. "So would you call your studies wasted?" "What question is that? Would I be a sub pilot if they were wasted?" "Sorry. Anyway what did you do with your early years?" "I was an enforcer for Feral. It seems everyone wants to be an enforcer, risking the pain that comes with it. I think it's foolish. I got into a fight with him about me firing off cue, even when it was my call. I quit before he said 'you're fired!' I don't like taking humiliation from a nobody." T-Bone gave him a high five. "Neither do I. So you left and you found the material to build a sub?" "Yes. Professor Hackle and his crew offered to help me, but I managed most of it on my own. I call myself Phurranha as a relation to the fur eating fish. It's quite a vicious mammal." Razor shivered. "I definitely would not want to be fish bait. We eat the fish, the fish not us?" he said. "They don't think so." "Anyway, what about your father?" T-Bone asked. "He worked at the salvage yard after commander Jacques Gerard made him leave the enforcers. Feral was still a kid back then. He and his employees built an underground hangar and fought crime on their own whenever necessary." "Wait a minute. Your dad built an underground hangar?" T-Bone asked anxiously. "Si. They called themselves the Victor Squadron. The enforcers almost caught them, so they headed out, hoping some kat would take over in the future. I've always wondered what would happen to that hangar. Maybe it's just dusty walls and an old jet that's obviously outdated." "Phurranha, I want to show you something! Hop in the Turbokat!" T-Bone grabbed Phurranha by the arm. He sat behind Razor and saw many switches and operating buttons. "Don't you touch one! You may be an aqua fighter, but you don't know anything about the Turbokat." Razor warned, pointing his finger. "Sure thing. Don't be so angry please." Razor grinned as he thought he could put some heat on Phurranha. "As long as you keep your hands to yourself, everything's cool." Phurranha crossed his arms as T-Bone headed back home. ********* On a Katamaran Trawler, five hoodlums were preparing their hi-power pistols and spear guns. "It seems like the SWAT Kats as they're called have continued what we started twenty-five years ago!" one of them said, spitting out tobacco. "We'd better find out who they are. Without that pesky Jacques, we can have that hangar we built back and evacuate those thieves." The two talking kats tapped their liqueur bottles together. "But then there's Feral who's even more inquisitive and suspicious than Jacques," said a third. "You'll see. He was a brat who couldn't accept the significance of right and wrong. Now he can't accept the importance of the innocent and is still weak in the head." An enforcer crew scoured the site. "Attention, perpetrators! You're under arrest for attempt of terrorism!" "Let's hit 'em!" The rascals fired their spears and rifles at the enforcers. Some of the choppers were hit. Three shots hit the ocean craft. "Don't vandalize our property!" One of them activated a grenade designed to explode in ten seconds and tossed it in one of the helicopters. "Get out, now!" The pilot grabbed his partner and jumped out in the nick of time before the grenade went off. A cloud of yellow-black smokes burst and sparks went flying like fireworks. The Katamaran Trawler sped away at 30 knots like a trout leaving a rippled trail. The officers stopped firing. "Better call Feral and tell him the situation," one of them said. "He already knows." "Any trouble here, men?" Feral asked. "Five criminals in a craft exploded one of the choppers and sped off." "Always got plenty of choppers. What did they demand?" "They were planning to find out the SWAT Kats hangar, sir." Feral was pleased with hearing about what the thugs were after. He wanted to trace them down to where they were going, but the event about Phurranha interested him more. "I've always wanted to know about their whereabouts, but I'll save that for later! Did you by chance see who this sea hero was?" "No sir." Feral pondered. The thugs headed down to Phurranha's base. "So this must be where the crime fighter about on the ocean hangs out! I've heard many kats talk about him!" "We don't need crime fighters, sky, land, or sea. Time to sink his ship!" Several grenades were discharged on the sub's hangar. They crashed his base and the halls of the submarine were greatly dented. Nuclear source from the tanks leaked out and a great puff of green-yellow smoke filled the area. They gave each other high fives. "Now that's what I call nuclear-reactivity! The jerk will *wail* his loss." "Too bad for the king of the seas! Now let's go!" They got away before Feral came by. He noticed the blazing wreck. "Extinguish it!" The enforcers hosed down the area. Much of the garage was blown away and Feral saw a sub bent and almost cracked in separate parts. "Holy kats! Whoever owned this place and this craft will certainly be repaid!" "Sir, I think you might want to look at this." An enforcer showed him a pile of darts and two giant guns shaped like the Poseidon staff. "Oh yeah. Now I understand clearly what the captain said." Feral noticed a piranha sign on a slab and nuclear fluid. "Ah oh. Better get this crud sucked up fast. Tow the craft away and junk it. This might give me clues to who this new vigilante is!" ********* Phurranha looked out as he rode over the salvage yard, where he saw tiers of cars on top of each other. "Looks like the cars are piling high to be the best," he joked. "But this looks like a regular salvage yard, even though the biggest I've seen. Chance and Jake are in charge of it. Where's the hangar?" "Wait until you see it." T-Bone opened the steel door and Phurranha found himself going underground into ¬ km long runway into an elevator that took the guys up to the hidden hangar. "Know this place?" "Why, it's so familiar! My dad as I recall build this place and you guys updated it, huh?" "Yeah, with a little tech genius," Razor said, jumping out of his seat. Phurranha jumped out after him. He hit his feet hard on the ground. "That's quite a high jump! Don't your feet get sore?" Phurranha asked, rubbing his feet. "We've jumped with shoes on or off from greater heights, so this is nothing," Razor said. "So Phurranha, you say your dad build this hangar?" T-Bone asked, getting the letter. "Yeah, he did with several other associates. After this place was almost uncovered, no one has ever discovered this place, except you two." "Well, here's something I think you should read." T-Bone handed Phurranha the letter. He read it and clasped it to his heart. "This was my dad's writing! He was the one who started this anonymous crime fighting business. I guess I let you SWAT Kats have the inheritance, since now you know who I am!" "I knew that your real name was Tipo Marino, from the story you told us." T- Bone said. "I wanted my crime fighting name to remain anonymous! You guys had better not reveal who I am!" Phurranha pointed his triton staff. The SKs raised their paws. "Gee, be cool fishboy! We won't tell anyone! Not one soul!" Razor said. "Promissimi?" "Not even Miss Briggs knows our SWAT Kat identities. Don't you tell anyone who we are and we won't tell anyone who you are. Deal?" "Ok, deal." T-Bone joined his glovatrix with his staff. "You, Razor?" Phurranha asked. "Hm, I suppose I should grateful." Razor gave a soft smile and joined. Then he turned the screen on the wall and the news reported the scene of Phurranha's garage and sub damage. "How did that happen? That was my submarine!" Phurranha cried as he saw his trusty sub towed out. T-Bone walked over to him. "I don't know what to say, buddy. We should have stayed where we were." "That was my pride and joy!" They saw Feral on the screen reporting a scene of an unknown sea hero. "Now, I know I'll be found out!" he covered his face in his paw. Razor felt pity for him. "Gee, we're sorry Phurranha. It's my entire fault for being jealous. I guess my envy cost you your precious watercraft." Phurranha didn't listen. He walked up the steps. "Phurranha, where are you going?" T-Bone asked, following him. "I don't know." Then the intercom rang and Razor answered it. "Yes Miss Briggs?" "Better keep cover, guys! Five terrorists are after the both of you and are demanding to take over your hiding place." "Sure thing, Miss Briggs! T-Bone I think we've got invaders!" "Ah crud! Coming Razor! I think we've got trouble. Phurranha, would you like to help us?" T-Bone pulled Phurranha by the shoulder. "It's your hangar, now. Not mine anymore." "Look pal, we're the SWAT Kats. I told you that we don't steal good kat's identities. I was thinking that since you lost your sub, and your secret place has been found, maybe you could join us! We get kind of lonely with just two. I'd like to put you in charge of the hangar since this was your inheritance." "Are you serious? But I fight on the sea." "I think we can take care of something for you. You're a good shot and we need your help, young man! Will you be a SWAT Kat for just this once?" "Alright." T-Bone clasped his paw in his. "Good! It's settled then! Get down to the hangar and into the Turbokat! We've got work to do." ********* Enforcer choppers surrounded the evil pack. "You're all under arrest!" "Can't you think of something other than that?" The pilot of the evil craft fired at them as they zoomed past the choppers. The enforcers fired at them and managed to create cracks big enough for the watercraft to sink. The thugs got out their jetpacks and flew out of the wreckage. The SWAT Kats appeared. "Starting the fun without us?" T-Bone asked. "The SWAT Kats! We'll show them how to steal our hangar!" "You mean my hangar!" an Italian voice shouted. Phurranha appeared from the bottom door and aimed his staff at them. "It's Marino's son and the sea hero as well!" One of them whispered. "Well, too late, sonny! Consider yourself sunk and disinherited!" "This is my gift to you!" He released three darts and only two were hit. The two wounded ones were caught by the gabbling hooks and given to Feral. The other three flew close to the open trapdoor. Phurranha struck one of them in the chest with his staff, but he ignored the pain and flew in. The other two villains headed down into the hangar and opened up the concealed door. "Crud! Some tails are gonna catch hell!" T-Bone shouted as he turned the Turbokat around and followed them. The one in the Turbokat swiped the staff away and kicked Phurranha to the floor and aimed his weapon at him. "Say good bye, Phurranha! Your fish is fried." He was ready to fire, but Razor shot off his glovatrix and the weapon fell. The villain leapt on top of Razor and held a knife to his throat. "First, I'll skin this little creep!" Phurranha grabbed hold his neck and choked him until he passed out unconscious. He then tied him up and he and Razor tossed him out for Feral to catch. "This must be my lucky day! Villains from heaven!" Feral chuckled. "Hey, thanks. You saved my life, pal." Razor patted Phurranha's head. "You too. But now I think our identities are gonna be washed out." T-Bone landed the Turbokat in the hangar. He pounded his fist into his open paw. "Wait until I find those hangar thieves!" "Right here, SWAT Kats and Phurranha!" The two scoundrels shot at the Turbokat, crashing the windows and denting the hauls. Razor and T-Bone shot off their glovatrix, but the villains dodged them. "This hangar was built by us at the start and therefore, it is ours now! Give up your inheritance boys, and we might let you walk out of here alive." "This is our property, you slums! We rebuilt it and became the SWAT Kats! This hangar belongs to all three of us!" Razor said. "You vigilantes have always been known to be stubborn. We can be difficult too," They flung spinning circular blades. Razor and T-Bone burst them with mini rockets from their glovatrix. "You're smart, but not smart enough for us!" Razor said. They prepared a string of firecrackers filled with blasting gel that attached themselves magnetically to the walls. "Crud, our hangar's gonna blow!" Razor cried. "Say farewell to your funhouse and all your toys, boys." They lit the wicks that were consumed as the sparks raced to the first firecracker. "We gotta flood this joint!" Phurranha said, sending forth a gush of water from a hose. "What! Phurranha, you're as crazy as Razor is!" T-Bone cried. "Unless you want your hideout blown to bits!" T-Bone nodded and turned on another big hose. "No good, SWAT Kats! These explosives are connected everywhere!" Two of them started to go off. "Crud, we'd better hurry!" Razor waved the hose where the sparks were flying and they were extinguished, but one of the thugs shot into another cracker which set off. "Told you, we were difficult! Give up your hangar, and there'll be no more damage!" The thugs approached the SKs. "We'll see about that! Here Phurranha!" Razor handed him a glovatrix. The three kats set off hooks that grabbed the wires and pulled them down. Finally, Phurranha extinguished the burning string and the hangar was safe from anymore damage. "You cheated us!" the villains yelled. "We've gotta cheat to beat!" T-Bone said. The two thugs aimed a dart guns and fired. "You guys disabled our team! You stole from us what was ours! Especially that Adego!" Phurranha grabbed him by his shirt and socked him in the cheek. "That's for the insult!" "And this is for you!" The other jabbed him in the right arm with his dart. Phurranha started bleeding. T-Bone ran up and kicked him in the stomach. The other one got up and launched a small dart into T-Bone's leg. He keeled over. "Ah, crud!!" "Who are the real SWAT Kats, now?" Razor jumped and stomped in his face, with his toes hitting him in the eyes. "He-yah! It's time an eye checkup, pal!" His comm. started buzzing as he tied up the two criminals. "Yes, Miss Briggs?" "Is your hangar alright, guys?" "Yeah, it's fine Miss Briggs. We just got rid of a few uninvited guests." "I'll get Felina and the enforcers to come down." "No no! We'll deliver them to you at enforcer headquarters." "Ok, bye." Razor went over to T-Bone who was pressing down on Phurranha's arm and snatched the dart out of his leg. "Ow!!! Crud Razor, that hurt worse!" Razor bound his wound with disinfectant, stitching, gauze and tape. "I just hope Phurranha's ok." The Italian kat started breathing softly. Razor tore off his sleeve and gave him the same treatment. "Come on, T-Bone. Do you think you can fly, buddy? We've got some thugs to deliver." "I think so, but you stay here and watch over Phurranha." "Sure thing T-Bone." T-Bone limped lightly over to the two guys and packed them up on his shoulders. "Alright you guys, let's get you home!" He dumped them both in the cockpit. "I just hope this elevator isn't short circuited." "I think the Turbokat and the hangar have both needed a wash for a long time." Razor said. "Funny." T-Bone switched his remote and the elevator rose up the way it did before. Water came showering down on the jet. "I see what Razor means. Just a good old jet wash." The cleaned Turbokat blazed out and T-Bone was glad the shots had not affected the Turbokat's systems. Felina was waiting for him at the HQ. He lowered the two criminals down by the grabbling hook. "Thanks T-Bone! Where's Razor?" "He's back at the hangar taking care of someone." "Who is that, may I ask? My uncle's concerned about an ocean vigilante whose sub and hangar we found earlier today." "I'd better go now. See ya later!" "T-Bone, wait a minute!" But the SK had flown off before he could hear her. She sighed. "Guess my poor uncle will have to stay curious. I'd like to know who he is myself." ********* T-Bone rode back to the hangar and changed into Chance. He dragged himself up to the TV room and saw Jake tucking Phurranha and feeding him on the couch. Chance sighed. "How's our new ally?" "He'll survive." Phurranha sat up. "Jake told me who you two are. Chance and Jake are your names. I can keep a secret you know." "It's ok, Phurranha. We know who you are now." "Call me Tipo when we're not in combat, ok?" "Sure thing. And since your hangar has been destroyed, when my leg gets better, you're gonna have a place with us in the squadron. Where do you work?" "Megakat woodcrafts." "We'll call your boss and tell him you're not well now. You look like you could be useful for our furnishings." "Furnishings?" Tipo asked. "Sure! We could use some good quality wood furniture since we're doing you a service!" Jake said, patting his shoulder. Tipo smiled. "Gracie, mio amichi!" They all shook paws as one. "Welcome to the SWAT Kats, buddy," Chance said. "Thanks. But never tell Feral or anyone about Phurranha." "Cross my heart, Tipo." They both said. Jake saw a blown up sub dumped recently in the front yard and got an idea. ********* When crime appeared on the ocean again months later, T-Bone took Tipo down to the hangar. Tipo had a blindfold over his eyes. "What is this? Is this some trick?" "You'll see. We have a surprise for you." Razor waited for them to approach and lifted the tarp. "Ok, you can look now." Tipo smiled with a brightened face. There was mega- nuclear sub with the SK colors and had the piranha symbol on it. "Mille Gracie, SWAT Kats!" "You're welcome, but now we've got another fish to tame. You sub's got the tank wheels like you last one did. Drive up in the Turbokat and we'll let you take it from there at shore." ********* When they reached the shore, Phurranha got off and prepared to launch his new craft into sea. It glided smoothly. "Keep in contact at all times! We're together on this if there's any trouble, ok?" Razor said. "You got it. Let's kick some whale tail!" "Roger that!" They went off together and Phurranha shot off his dart-cannon at the whale. "Chomp on this, fish-breathe!" The whale was struck in the heart and died. "Nice job, Phurranha!" T-Bone said. "Thanks, now let's save the sinking crew, deliver them, and head back home." The SKs did so. The new SWAT Kat became more and more an important asset to Razor as well to T-Bone. Razor felt sorry for being so jealous, since he was a hero on sea and an inheritance to the underground hangar. Feral still was concerned about Phurranha, and wanted to search for him and his whereabouts. The curiosity made him forget about his worry for the SWAT Kats. The three SKs had to pray that the enforcers would not set about hunting for him and the hangar would not have to suffer the same abandonment it did twenty-five years ago. THE END