Shattered Freedom, Chapter Seven
#22 of Decision & Sacrifice
Biker Mice From Mars
IN
Shattered Freedom
_ By: Whipblade _
Chapter 7
After leaving Throttle in Tweak's care, Paige made her way to Duo's exit, where Vinnie was waiting leaning against the door jam.
"Hey sweetheart." Vinnie greeted, he pushed himself off the wall. "Ready to go?"
"Ready as ever." she forced herself to smile. "I must warn you, I'm not in a habit of fighting big scary mice." half chuckling she exited the ship.
Paige held her parka tightly in a small fist, nestled under her chin. Her big dark eyes frantically scanning the roads and sidewalks. Her other paw clasped to Vinnie's like a vice as he lead her around the parked cars.
"Don't worry. Modo wouldn't hurt a fly." Vinnie plopped his arm over her shoulder, trying to ease her.
"I'm a rat, not a fly, Vinnie." she eyed the Last Chance Garage skeptically. "Ma'ze told me how big he is."
"He's about to be a daddy. He won't harm you. Trust me." Hugging her close he opened the door.
Smiling politely, Paige followed Vinnie into the garage. "Hello?" her soft voice called out.
Nothing stirred in reply. "Must be in the house." Vinnie summed.
Opening the fire door, Vinnie moved aside for Paige.
"Charlene?" Paige smiled shyly spotting the human sitting at the kitchen table, a 'what to expect' pregnancy book in front of her. Beside her, sat the largest mouse she had ever seen.
"Modo, Charley, this is Paige, she's a doctor." Vinnie introduced.
"Miss Paige." Modo stood, seeing how nervous the small narrow snouted rat was he pulled out a chair for her. "Please sit, would you like something to drink?"
Charley smiled warmly. "We have root beer, milk, water and orange juice."
"Throttle drank the last of the O.J." Vinnie inputted.
A small giggle escaped Paige. "Thank you." She sat down Modo pushed the chair in easily. "I'm alright, thank you."
Modo gave a nod and took his seat.
"Thank you for seeing me." Paige said settling in as Modo took Charley's hand. The love between the two was more than visible. They radiated.
"We're delighted to. You perked our interest just by merely requesting to see us." Charley admitted. "But why are you so interested in our baby?"
Vinnie smiled as Paige relaxed. "I'll be in the shop." he said leaving the three be.
Modo gave his bro a nod.
"Not just your baby, your pregnancy as well." Paige informed. "I'm a doctor, a Obstetrician." she set a note book and pen in front of her.
Charley smiled relief evident in her face. "Thank you, in that case, for seeing us."
"You're very welcome." Paige replied with a smile, flipping open her note book. "Some basic information you may or may not know is that Martian Mice have a very high infant mortality rate, they are also under developed at birth compared to most other species. Especially humans."
Charley and Modo both nodded. "Yeah, we knew that." he smiled warmly.
"Throttle voiced his concern about a previous miscarriage you two suffered?"
Charley shifted uncomfortably. "Yes, that was... years ago..."
Paige smiled seeing the pain in Charley's eyes. "I want to make sure you two don't have any more hardships during this pregnancy."
"Why would there be any more?" Modo asked.
"There is a child on Duo Scythe, who is part mouse. The mother neglected to tell anyone the child was a half-breed. When she went into labor, we thought she was delivering prematurely. Then we almost lost the infant thrice while still a pinky. It wasn't until the antenna's darkened that we realized he was a mouse, and not a deformed preemie."
Charley bit her bottom lip. "Throttle mentioned how baby mice are born, but he didn't say of complications that can arise from there of."
"Most men don't." Paige giggled lightly. "I take it you've read or are reading books for humans?"
"Yes. Both of us."
"Have you decided what planet, and how your going to have this baby?" Paige asked looking to both parents. "It's an important decision."
Fear cemented into the couples hearts. "Not yet." They answered.
*********************************************
After a long visit with Paige that didn't put him in a good mood. Throttle wandered into the center office where Tweak wanted to talk about something else. Having heard the old gray rat was a psychiatrist, Throttle expected the ol' ink dots and battle fatigue questions.
Minutes after the initial pleasantries, Tweak asked something a little odder than even a Biker Mouse could conjure.
Tweak sat behind his desk. In front of him Throttle drummed his fingers obviously bored and annoyed.
"Let's play a game." Tweak suggests.
"Kay." Throttle shrugged expecting a monopoly board to appear.
"Now I know the whole story behind Mace on Mars." Throttle gave a slight nod thinking maybe snakes and ladders.
"I want you to tell me one, just one good memory of Mace." Tweak smiled.
"SAY WHAT!?" Throttle yelled jumping to his feet, the chair fell backwards hitting the floor behind him.
"Just one."Tweak said keeping his calm.
"How about you go fuck yourself you son of a fucking ass hole!"Throttle snarled grabbing the nameplate in front of him. "You wanna know a good fucking memory? It's the one where I rip your ugly ass head off!"
Tweak's ears fell flat as he ducked the nameplate whipped at him. "I'll give you a day to think about it." Tweak said as he inched towards the door. Throttle grabbed the flat screen computer monitor.
Tweak escaped just as the screen shattered against the closed door.
Lance looked over to see Tweak frown shaking slightly. "Same as Snowball?"
"Worse, this one tried to kill me." Tweak stated taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling.
"What's with the shouting?" Vinnie asked entering the infirmary.
"Throttle."Lance said as Tweak winced hearing his favorite chair splinter against a wall.
"Played 'The Game'?" Vinnie asked peering into the therapy room.
"How did you guess?" Tweak huffed.
"Mainly the swearing.....Wow!"Vinnie gave a low whistle. "He's really trashing the office. I never seen him so pissed before."
"You're going to be seeing a lot more of it." Tweak sighed. "That was just asking for one happy memory of Mace... on Mars. I have yet to ask him about Stoker or anyone else."
Vinnie frowned. Turning away from the window and the snarling Throttle, Vinnie looked to the two Ikkywarian's. "He's worse than we thought?"
"A whole lot worse, Vincent."Tweak sighed leaving the tawny to finish destroying his office.
"I'm going to need help on this one." Vinnie frowned leaving the ship quickly.
Modo walked down the gray hallways that smelled like disinfectant and wet fur. Ahead of him walked Vinnie in a black uniform that seemed a little baggy for the white mouse. The screams had died down, but the swearing and violent tendencies towards anyone within the Ikkywara ranks prevented anyone letting Throttle out of the trashed therapy office. Vinnie looked around the empty infirmary. "He's in there bro." Vinnie motioned.
Modo frowned. He never saw Vinnie shy away from Throttle, the tan mouse was a sick stick; he couldn't possibly harm anyone if he tried.
Modo slowly opened the door and peered in. Slumped in the mist of disaster sat Throttle, arms cross and eyes glaring.
"Come on bro, let's go home.," he offered his metal hand.
Throttle eyed Modo warily before slowly standing up. Cane in tail, Throttle carefully stepped over the broken and strewn furniture pieces. "Sounds good." horse and a little tired Throttle took Modo's hand.
The trio never saw a single Ikkywarian as they left the cloaked ship. Charley watched Modo usher Throttle upstairs.
"Is he alright?" She asked Vinnie.
"I dunno.... I just don't know." Vinnie replied slowly entering the living room, he slumped down on the sofa.
********************************************
Mars had at one time held the up most perfect situations and opportunities to capture mice; However, with the war over, Marshall Law still in effect and only a small percentage of technology having been recovered and redeployed; Those opportunities were now far and few.
Mace grumbled as he spotted yet another large group of mice careening around the open land. Crossing his arms he shook his head in disappointment. "I'm not going to get anything this way." His eyes shifted to the small out post base. "Or that way." Rubbing his thumb over his snake ring, he hummed thinking of a plan, trying to plot for a way to get a mouse or a couple of mice alone.
"Good Morning bros!This is your friendly weather report coming at you!" A far too cheerful voice howled from Mace's radio. "To the north of us, Sand Raider activity is at a low. Slow winds are keeping the dust down and Saber-Squids are a no-show. To the south, there's rodent activity of the Mice kind, a steady light breeze from the west. To the East, nothing to speak of other than it's squirrel bats matting season, stay out of that area at night. They're some big bugs to hit the bonnets! To the West, our lovely Ikkywara neighbors have started a training course, all those interested are to contact Wagon in the Learning center here in the City. Sun is shining brightly in the west, no cloud cover and winds are light and steady. Keep the channel open, more to come." The voice clicked off.
Stroking his long chin whiskers, Mace hummed. He picked up the Mick. and radioed the DJ. "Hey bro, this is Ikkywara Commander Lance." he keyed off and waited a beat.
"Hey, hey!Lance-boy!" The voice called.
"Looking for a certain white mouse of mine. Seen him lately?" Mace asked trying to keep a formal sounding voice.
"You betchya!Both o'em boys headed to Earth not long back."
A smile tugged at Mace's lips. He knew Plutarkians were on Earth. It was no secret.... well... except what he neglected to tell any Ikkywara fans. _"_That primitive planet, What for?"
"Oh you know, this-that-&-the-other-thing. Family mostly. Got a bro hogging' glory over on Big Blue."
"Why thank you kindly." he sent before setting the Mic. back in it's cradle. "For giving me more than enough information." Hopping a stride his bike, he laughed all the way back to his ship.
***
Stoker had heard the radio banter, having been in the short range of Crash's' broadcast. Recognizing the voice of the long forgotten foe. Stoker tried feverishly to interrupt the conversation, only to fall short. Whipping the radio to the ground, he tail-whipped it out of sight. Followed by loud profanity.
******************************
Hours later, Lance dared to venture to the Garage across the street poking his head in from the back door. He eyed Charley sitting at the table. "psst, Throttle anywhere in ear shot?"
"No." Charley smiled as she watched the Commander of Duo Scythe slink into her home like a young frightened Freedom Fighter.
"I don't know if it's a good idea to be here or not. But I thought Vinnie might like to read this book. It's a new one." Lance said gently setting it down on the table.
"Thank you Lance."Charley smiled. "I'll make sure he ----"
"YOU!!"Throttle's snarling voice snapped as he stood in the doorway of the kitchen.
Lance's ears fell flat. His brown eyes watched the cane come flying at him. Dodging it, he turned around and hit his face against the doorframe. With a yelp, Lance escaped without being tormented by anything else Throttle could get a hold of.
Charley rolled her eyes as the back door slammed shut. Standing up, she fetched Throttle's cane. "I wish you wouldn't do that. They're just trying to help you."
Throttle took his cane back. "Charley, if you had to recall your worst nightmares, and try to make them happy. You'd be psychotic too." he snapped. "Sorry, I'm not angry at you." he apologized.
"It's alright" she gave a tight smile and hugged him. "We'll get through this. You're not on your own here." Leaning against him she rubbed his back. "We're going to be spending more time with them Throttle. You need to tolerate them some."
Throttle pulled away from her. "Charley, I can't trust them, I can't trust Vinnie."
With hurt flanking her features, she reached out rubbing his arm. "Throttle, Vinnie tried to protect you. Don't blame him, he would have told you."
"When?"Throttle snapped pulling his arm out of her reach.
Charley sighed. "When he thought you were ready."
"I can't do this Charley. I don't want to." Throttle protested leaning his back against the fridge. "I don't want to be around those dogs and rats."
"I know." sitting back down in her chair, she sighed.
Throttle fiddled with his cane. "I don't really need this do I?"
"You throw it and loose it more than you actually use it." Charley stated seeing how Throttle jumped conversation topics was becoming a bad habit.
Leaning the cane against the counter he sighed. "Charley... "
She waited for him to speak, knowing he was going to finally tell her what has been making him cranky.
"After Paige examined me, she said that I may have to.... to have another operation." he sighed closing his eyes. "They don't have much experience with mice..."
She held her breath trying not to ask questions or worry.
He saw the fear and worry written all over her face. "It's not too serious. She thinks it was caught it in time."
"Throttle?" she stood moving to hug him.
Throttle turned his head away. "They want to do some cosmetic surgery too."
"It's going to be okay." She promised touching his face.
"I can't bring myself to let them do what really needs to be done, not just yet." he sighed resting his cheek on her head. "I'm scared."
Wrapping her arms protectively around him she ran her fingers through his choppy hair "Don't worry. I promise everything will be fine. Do you want anyone with you in the operating room?" she asked in a soothing voice trying to calm his fears.
"Vinnie." he sighed taking a deep shaky breath. "Just Vincent."
"Okay. When they're ready, Vinnie will be at your side."
"Thanks Charley. Modo is a lucky mouse." Throttle wrapped his thin arms around her.
"So are you." She whispered "So are you."
**************
Limburger sat in his office looking at the static filled screen, and a familiar rat face. "Mouse problem? You mean Mice problem. One of them irritating rebels have resurfaced." he snarled in disgust.
"Wouldn't you *Static* have them gone?" Mace smiled all too willing to do this for free.
"Yes." Limburger said.
"Where are you, and *Crackling noises interrupted the conversation.* All." Mace stated fiddling with a knife on screen.
"Chicago."
"Chicago? By a big lake?"
"Lake Michigan." Limburger confirmed.
"Consider you rodent problem *Static* with." Mace laughed ending the conversation. The screen went black.
Limburger snorted and laughed leaning back in his chair.
*******************
"Throttle, gotta pop out for a min, want anything?" Vinnie asked as he headed for his bike.
"I'm fine, thanks." Throttle sighed flipping a page in a thick book.
"'kay, Lance might pop by, try to take it easy and not kill him. They did save us." Vinnie pleaded, hand on the door knob.
Throttle sighed. "You trust them that much?"
"As much as I do Modo and You." Vinnie smiled. "See ya in a few."
Throttle hummed watching Vincent walk across the street. "If it means that much to you." he muttered looking back at the book.
***
Lance strolled into the Last Chance Garage. Closing the green front door, he peered into the vacant office before pulling open the heavy fire door.
"Knock, Knock." He called looking around the empty kitchen.
"In here." Throttle answered, his eyes narrowing at the canine.
Poking his head into the living room. Lance smiled seeing the tawny mouse sitting alone. A book in hand.
"What are you reading today?" Lance asked taking a seat near the mouse, trying to appear more calm than he felt.
"The big wonderful book of 'When Pregnancy Isn't Perfect, by Laurie A. Rich'." Throttle smirked, seeing the dog quake.
"Any good?"
"Define good." Marking his spot, Throttle closed the book. "What brings you here?"
"Test results." Lance frowned. "They aren't good. Tweak would like you and Vinnie to visit, separately." Licking his nose, he shifted. "Paige thinks there maybe more to what she already talked about with you."
Throttle swallowed hard.
With a sigh Lance looked to the tawny mouse. "I'm not a doctor, and I can't pronounce half the words needed, what I can tell you is something has started or is blocked in one or both of you. That's all I know."
Pinching the bridge of his snout, Throttle slowly rubbed his eyes.
"If you want, Paige can explain everything to you."
Dropping his hands away from his face Throttle looked to the short furred canine. "Yeah, if she can."
"YO! Bros!" Vinnie's voice excitedly squealed as the back door slammed shut. Skidding into the living room, Vinnie stopped dead, panting for air. His face lit up with excitement. "The Duo's going on a hunting mission!"
"Say What?" Throttle's eyes shifted between Vinnie and Lance.
"After the doctors go over the test results with you and Vinnie." Lance said.
"Tweak already talked to me." Vinnie shrugged. "Something about leg and jaw bone not aligned, calcium build up and re-breaking the bones.." he shrugged. "Nothing un-fixable."
"What do you mean leg and jaw bone not aligned?" Throttle asked.
"Don't worry bro!" Vinnie laughed. "It can be done while in space tracking that damn rat!"
Throttle took a defensive position. "Whose-a-what now?"
"Vincent, slow down, I haven't told him that yet." Lance patted the white mouse on the back. "And breathe Snowball. You'll suffocate otherwise."
"Fine, fine." Vinnie flopped down beside Throttle on the sofa. "So are you going?"
Blinking in confusion Throttle looked at his white furred bro. "Where?"
"To look fo-"
"We have a lead on the Pi-rat ship Mace commands. The Duo will be leaving shortly to find him, capture him and... if he survives Vinnie. Put the rat on trial." Lance cut Vinnie off.
"Oh." was all Throttle could muster to say.
"Throttle, think! This is our chance!" Vinnie started.
"Hush Vincent." Lance soothed the energetic mouse. "Let him think."
"I don't think I'd care for that one way or the other." Throttle finally muttered.
"You don't care to make sure Mace is at least captured?" Lance quietly asked.
Throttle closed his eyes. "Maybe, but I won't be doing it."
Vinnie rested his hand on Throttle's shoulder. "Bro, it'd be a chance to get back at him for all he ever did to us."
Throttle's ears fell. "What about the baby?" his voice a scarce whisper. "I'm not leaving them."
"You won't need to." Lance said softly. "If you wish to stay with your friends you can. I will not force you to do anything you don't want to."
Throttle looked at the black and tan dog curiously. The gentle lull in his strange voice made Throttle believe, and yet he just wasn't sure he could trust anyone again.
"You won't have to." Modo said standing on the stairs just behind Throttle. "We're coming with you."
"Say What!?" Throttle spun around, dislodging Vinnie. "You can't take that kind of risk!"
"It's not a risk Throttle. It's a necessity." Charley spoke up, crossing the room to the tawny mouse, wrapping her arms around him. "The human doctors aren't exactly going to deliver an alien child without questions. Even my doctor is already asking questions and setting up appointments with plastic surgeons because of the baby's tail."
"What about a mid-wife?" Throttle swallowed hard.
"They don't have the same training as a doctor, nor the same medical equipment as a hospital incase something goes wrong." she nuzzled his neck. "It's best for the baby."
Throttle looked helplessly to Modo. His last hope of getting out of this.
"She's right." Modo said knowing the puppy dog look the tawny was giving him. "I can't protect a city and a family bro. Not a newborn... It's either Mars or .... " he looked to the Doberman.
Knowing he was completely defeated, Throttle sighed heavily as Charley returned to her husband. "Yeah, fine..... I'll go to." he stuffed his hands in his track pant pockets. "Long as I don't have to do any fighting."
"Wouldn't dream of asking you to do that." Lance said a sympathetic smile on his face. "You've done your share; it's time we do ours."
"Great!" Vinnie jumped to his feet. "It'll just be like old times! Except..." he swung an arm over Charley's shoulder. "The hot babe is knocked up."
"VINCENT!" Throttle scolded.
"What?" Vinnie grinned getting a slap upside the head from Charley.
"I'm not knocked up." she grumbled walking back to her mouse. "We have more packing to do."
"Throttle, would you like to see Tweak or Paige now?" Lance asked also standing.
"Yeah." Throttle sighed with a grumble, he got to his feet. "Let me get my shoes."
************************
To be continued
in
Chapter 8
Whipblade
April 16th 2006