PART SIX:

All the cats invited the Loch Ness monster family and had a party. Topcat made a speech, "I am sorry that we cannot tell the press that these Nomed were responsible for the sheep vanishing. Humans are too stupid to be trusted with this alien technology. Now that the missing sheep have returned and now that no more will vanish; hopefully people will leave Nessie's species alone. As for our wonderful cat friends we have no way to repay your kindness except perhaps with one of these." Topcat then presented all the Scottish and Welsh cats who had aided him with a diamond. Topcat told them that they, Spooky, Panther and himself, had decided to go on another quest. "Perhaps we have done enough with the Catavenger. We have died after all, so I think it's time to turn the ship over to its new Captain. Congratulations Captain Toronto."
Toronto was overwhelmed, "But what about you?"
"The three of us, Spooky, Panther and myself have decided to take the flying saucer and set off for space. We believe we now know quite enough to fly our new toy. The Starship CatAvenger." He pointed at the saucer and the words "Catavenger" suddenly glowed to life on the hull. "We will take the evil aliens called the Nomed and hand them over to the good alien folks who our are friends." Panther nudged Topcat who said, "Oh there is one thing we would like, the steering wheel from the Catavenger."
"We can make a temporary wheel for you to use," Spooky spoke. "We would like something from the old Catavenger for sentimental reasons. Perhaps it may even bring us some of that so called 'magic' (whatever that might be.")
"We have already invited Otto to come with us." Panther now added, "but even the thought of his shorn tail restored by our alien friends isn’t enough to keep him from once more seeing our mutual friend Teba."
"I just wish we could say goodbye to our old friend Shel, but he would want to come with us and his home is on Earth," Topcat spoke, "and now that we have a starship we can always return, so let us not be sad and say goodbye but rather CATch you later!

EPILOGUE:

It took some tough sailing through the seven seas of space and time but the Catavenger arrived in Phoenix Arizona miniaturized and docked in an irrigation canal.
Otto stepped onto the canal bank where Captain Toronto then restored him to full size. "You be careful now," he called down to the tiny ship. "Stay with the Catavenger. I know you don't want to be here anymore than I do, but Topcat said that Ed Facio's wood fixture shop was the best place to get a new ship's wheel. We faxed him the order so it's ready to be picked up now. Just stick tight, I will be back and we will then be off to find Shel and Teba far from here where they live.

Three hours latter Otto returned and was dropped off on the bank by one of Ed's workers who then offloaded the wheel. If the human thought the cat was crazy for having this delivered to a canal bank; he kept his thoughts to himself after Otto tipped him five hundred dollars. The man tipped his hat and nodded his thanks and drove off in the delivery truck. In the opposite direction, far down the canal bank, something else caught Otto's eye. It was another truck on the back was written "Animal Control." Otto looked and saw the shrink ray gun hidden in some weeds next to where the miniaturized ship was hidden next to the canal bank. He knew what must have happened. "I told him to stay with the ship." Otto said to himself.
Another cat might have acted rashly but Otto was an exceptional cat. Otto the Fey had lived for countless centuries and seen countless things. All cats are what humans might call psychic and Otto had more than a normal amount of that ability, as did Shel's sister Jeanne D'Arc. Otto knew just what to do.

Shel's sister called her brother. "Shel, I was thinking it is time you get another cat. Snowball isn't much company now."
Shel and his sister arrived at the animal shelter after driving many miles across the desert and state lines. Shel instantly went to the cage containing a small gray and white cat. "This one," Shel said looking into Toronto's green eyes. "Yes he is the one and I think his name must be Toronto."

POSTSCRIPT:

So Toronto came to live with Shel and all the toy cats (and other creatures) once more came alive with the power of their love. Although Snowball and his wild friend did not wish to be house cats they stayed close by the house and became acquainted with Toronto. Otto had a joyous reunion with Shel's mother Teba and met once again with Toronto. As for the Catavenger, it was hidden away once more on Shelcat Cay until its time of need for whenever the world is in danger. It is always ready to protect us, as is the Starship Catavenger wherever it may be in the universe.

* Special thanks to my good friends Fluffy and Smudgie for the pictures and "volunteering" their cat crews. Dedicated to my mother and to my sister the saint.

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Sail on to the next tale -FINDER'S KEEPER'S

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