Annan kept Tom and Jerry's names from the original. He couldn't very well call them Lily and Jerry—Lily was the king of Free City's cats. Imagine the trauma if they found out their leader was a cat that couldn't even catch a mouse.
Jerry also happened to share the name of Maria's younger brother.
"How's our little brother Jerry doing lately?" Annan asked, fishing for information.
Maria had grown immune to Annan's occasional familiarity. "No idea. He's either dead somewhere, been eaten alive by that Greyfur Rat, or been captured for breeding..."
"Couldn't you say something nicer?" Annan complained.
"That's the fate of Ratfolk. Most don't live past three."
Annan fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Would you want your brother to come to Free City?"
"I'm afraid he wouldn't want to."
"Why?"
Maria put it poetically. "Some birds cannot be caged. Every feather on their wings glows with freedom."
"You mean he doesn't want to leave the Rat Nest?"
"Yes."
Annan found that a pity. Jerry was a Champion Rat. If Annan could bring him over, Free City would have its own Ratfolk Legion.
In the end, Annan kept the name Jerry as a favor to Maria. She cared more about her brother than she let on, though as a Stuen Rat, she had cast aside most emotions she considered useless.
Granted, there were at least ten million Ratfolk named "Jerry," if not a hundred million... And no one would connect an adorable, lively mouse with a Champion Rat that had killed countless people.
Annan also put Maria and Gale down as consultants on Cat and Mouse.
With those credits to their names, the Stuen Ratfolk would have to think twice before making a move against them.
New World Pictures, second floor.
Annan, Yoram Gweizdi, the Painting Person,