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Shattered Freedom

Chapter 21

On the bridge of the Blood Claw, the vast space filled with crew, stations and posts with two chairs in the center. Behind the captains command chair, a sleek island station for battle weapons.

"Is that every one?" Admiral Dark Wolfe asked his security chief, Domino.

"Yes sir, every Martian is accounted for." Domino replied her cloak pushed back to expose her Ikkywara uniform.

"Good." Dark Wolfe nodded his large metal and furred head. "Domino, have Dee Dee Valdez round up the Duo Scythe's maintenance crew and start fixing that Vindicator."

"Yes sir." Domino replied sending a message to Dee Dee's Portable PAWW unit with the instructions.

"Razor Kon, have RJ head the registration of the incoming Martians." Dark Wolfe barked.

"Yes, sir Admiral." Razor Kon saluted as he sent communications to RJ.

"Cinder, start undocking procedures, head to the Milky-Way Galaxy, Mars." Dark Wolfe ordered.

"Sir." The gray four-armed canine nodded as she started undocking procedures while Fayth started plotting the course.

"Beth, find Duo Scythe's bridge crew and bring them up here."

"Yes sir." The lanky ferret Beth saluted as she stood. She quickly called the nearest lift.

"Domino, get your tail down to those prisoners and organize them. I have no idea what these Mice are capable of, but I need to know."

"Yes Sir." Domino saluted boarding the lift with Beth.

"Sir, do you believe these Martians are a threat?" Razor Kon's deep rumble of a voice inquired.

"They're temperamental to say the least." Dark Wolfe grumbled rubbing his chin. "Either way, it's best to know and be prepared for anything."

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In the decks below Vinnie stood silent at he watched Throttle tenderly caress Paige's cheek and hair, leaning over her and talking softly while the other casualties of Duo's fight and the seven mice that were escorted to the infirmary were treated by various creatures. One, looking like a midget bear with a gray beard tended to the males while a Chihuahua tended to the females. Ratchet, Hummer and Tweak were also among the strange new crew.

"Excuse me, Vinnie?" RJ strolled up behind the white mouse with a metal half-face.

"Yeah?" Vinnie turned around to face the raccoon.

"Admiral Dark Wolfe requested you take over the registration of the prisoners." RJ's smooth voice stated.

"Me? Why?"

"You have been among the Duo Scythe's crew correct? You do know how to use and understand the complicated Data PAWW units correct? You also are familiar with the procedures and processing protocols of the Ikkywara?" RJ's rapid fire questioning left Vinnie slightly dazed.

"Yes." He finally muttered.

"Good, than here is the registry PAWW and Deck two is where the prisoners are going to be contained." RJ smiled.

"They're Martians! Not prisoners!" Vinnie snapped ripping the PAWW unit out of RJ's black hands. "And they are only sleeping down there, they are not contained!"

RJ's pointy black ears fell. "Yes, erm, your right.... Former prisoners." He coughed. "Either way." Smiling again RJ continued on slightly daunted by the mouse's ill temper. "You get to have first crack at all those deprived females." He trotted away, his brown and black ringed tail bouncing with each step.

"That's a bonus I can go for." Vinnie grinned, turning he strolled towards Throttle and Paige.

Tweak walked up to Throttle. "Here." handing the tawny mouse a sprits bottle. "Spray this in your mouth, try and hit the back of your throat without gagging." Tweak instructed.

Throttle nodded not raising from his seat; beside him, rested Paige on a gurney.

"Is she going to be all right?" Vinnie asked making his was to the group.

"I'll be fine, just need some down time, with all those mice coming in, I feel so useless." Paige sighed trying not to roll on her side to see her boys.

"I'll have none of that talk Paige. You lay there and rest. Besides, we already brought in the sicker ones." Tweak stated.

"My poor Throttle." Paige smiled at the tawny mouse. "You look like Mace walloped you again."

Throttle smirked. "And then some." he said running his tongue over the inside of his mouth. "This stuff tastes funny.

"It's chococrunch." Tweak informed. "Spray as necessary, should take about a week to heal."

"What's a chococrunch?" Vinnie asked.

"Candy bar." Paige answered.

"Glad you're back bro." Vinnie smiled patting his bro on the back.

Throttle squirmed turning to Vinnie "Yeah, me too. Where's Riff?"

"With Modo and Charley, he doesn't know your back yet." Vinnie replied heading for the exit. "Now if you'll excuse me I got some girls to meet."

Lance entered the infirmary, spotting Throttle and Vinnie; he made his way over to them.

"Get some sleep Throttle." Tweak gently nudged Throttle out of the chair.

With a huff, Throttle slowly stood up. "Can't I stay here?" he asked looking to Paige with those sweet puppy dog eyes.

"No." Lance chuckled. "Come along I'll show you to your room."

Being pulled out of the infirmary, Throttle followed obediently, looking over his shoulder to the pretty nurse in bed. Whisked out the door, Throttle wiggled out of Lance's grip. "Okay, okay..... how far?"

"Not too far." Lance smiled. "Tweak didn't want you too far from the infirmary, just in case."

Nodding Throttle paused. "I should get my boy first."

"We need to talk before you see him." Lance stated as he continued down the corridor. Throttle following.

Lance stopped in front of a non-descript door. "This will be yours, Riffs and Vinnie's room till we get to Mars."

"And Vinnie?" Throttle questioned as Lance keyed the door open.

"As big as Blood Claw is, there isn't enough rooms for Duo's Crew to be aptly housed. We had to double up." Lance explained entering the room. "Unless you want to stay with Charley and Modo listening to Ivy cry."

Shaking his head Throttle stepped into the room. "Its okay, Vinnie's okay." The room looked slightly different from Duo's.

The kitchenette with a breakfast bar, the living room held a cushioned bench serving as the sofa and three bedrooms. Two on the left wall and one on the right wall along side the lone bathroom.

"So, what's a matter? What happened to Duo Scythe?"

"Long story bro. Sit down, I'll tell you." Lance sat on the bench.

*************

Confusion and excitement were among a few of the emotions the former prisoners felt as they took stock of the crates and chairs scattered around the cargo bays.

The males and females entered separate cargo bays, keeping them apart until the registration was complete.

The sudden lurch of the big ship startled the now free prisoners. Nothing else followed, and they soon forgot anything but their freedom.

Vinnie had recruited Twitch, Modo and Jade to assist in the registration of the Martians.

"We're calling them Martians?" Twitch asked with a frown.

"Yeah, there are three crews on this loaded ship, it's less insulting." Jade stated. "It is, right?"

"Yes ma'am it is." Modo smiled at the feline, turning to Vinnie the big gray mouse inquired, "Where do we start?"

"We take a cargo bay each. RJ, Vicky, Clip and Domino will be down any time now to lend a hand." Vinnie started.

The mix group of raccoon, Vixen, rat and lioness hurried from the lift.

"We're here!" Clip panted jogging down the corridor. "Sorry we got hung up."

"We got color coded PAWW units." Vicky giggled handing Domino, Jade and Vinnie a pink unit.

Domino frowned. "Couldn't I help register the males?"

Modo flicked on his blue unit. "And have deprived males slobbering all over you?"

"Valid point." Domino hummed. "Why are you helping with the females then?" She asked Vinnie.

A wide grin broke out over his face. "Because I'm more than happy to accommodate any deprived females."

"Ugh!" Domino grunted moving to the far cargo bay. "I'm not working with you."

Vicky giggled, batting her lashes. "Sorry Vinnie." She hurried along after Domino.

"Looks like its me and you Jade." Vinnie winked.

"Lead on Snowball, lead on." Jade laughed.

Modo and Twitch looked at RJ and Clip.

"I'll take the 'Wara with me." Clip chuckled. "I can get away with hitting him."

Modo chuckled, Twitch headed for the neared bay door. "Ready big guy?"

"More than." Modo smiled. "Name, age and species."

"That's all for now, as we head to the Milky-way, each one will be examined by an Ikkywara Medic." RJ stated coolly.

"Yippy." Twitch huffed opening the door. "Once they've registered, they can head to one of the three meeting rooms we've set up for lodgings."

Standing at the open door, Vinnie frowned seeing the females looking apprehensively at him.

"Form two lines, Name, Age, clarify species and head on out the door, stay to the right, there are dormitory beds set up for everyone. Take your pick."

"Do I get to see my son?" A peachy creamy colored mouse asked, her large green pleading eyes nearly hidden behind flame red hair.

Vinnie swallowed hard eyeing the generously proportioned breasts attached to such a curvy mouse. "After you're registered, sure." He squeaked. -she can't be much older than I am.- He thought frantically.

"Good. Make sure you take it all down, Cutie." She smiled batting her long lashes.

"Name?" Vinnie asked trying to keep his eyes on her face, they kept drifting downwards.

"Dawn."

"Age?"

"A lady never tells." She winked. "Thirty-four, by the time we reach home, thirty-five."

Vinnie looked her over respectively. "You don't look a day over twenty."

With a soft giggle she eyed his data-pad. "I'm a mouse sweet pea." Patting his furry cheek, letting her fingers linger a moment before walking away, her hips swinging suggestively.

Vinnie watched her for a moment before turning to the next female.

"Hey." A Strawberry blond mouse with creamy tan fur smiled, her developing teenage body already starting to scream 'heartbreaker'.

"Hey sweetheart what's your name?" Vinnie gave his best 'Macho Mouse' grin.

"Hope." She said her mothers green eyes shone behind her bangs. Her fathers' shy smile etched on her face.

Vinnie paused, he wasn't sure but she seemed familiar somehow.

"Age?"

"Fifteen, I'm a mouse, and Momma's from Vein Valley." Hope stated batting her long dark eyelashes.

"Vein Valley?" Vinnie gaped at the young teenager. Then over to Jade whom also heard the comment.

"I'll let the others know to add 'last known location' to the laundry list of questions." Jade replied looking at the creamy tan teen.

"Don't rob the cradle Snowball."

Vinnie chuckled. "Don't plan to." As Hope departed, Vinnie grinned. "It's the mom I'm after."

"Men." Grunted an irritated Martian rat.

Vinnie smiled. "Name?"

*******************************************

Paige slowly sat up in her hospital bed as a raccoon was rolled in. "What happened to him?"

Ma'ze chuckled. "Insulted one too many Martians."

"He alright?" She inquired unable to see the commotion clearly.

"Few bruises, I think Clip had the most fun." The brindle rat chuckled.

Giggling softly Paige laid back down. "Poor Clip, have to fight with the registry alone."

"Chip went down to help." Tweak replied looking over the battered raccoon. "A black eye bruised sternum and pulled tail."

"Oh, put him between the poor ill rat and that sweet lil' canine." Paige smiled meanly. "RJ should heal soon."

"His attitude or his injuries?" Tweak questioned.

"Hrm, that mix, he's likely to attain more bruises." Ma'ze chuckled. "Later." He waved leaving.

"Bye Magazine!" Paige hollered wiggling in her confined space.

"Another days rest missy, then you can get around on your own." Tweak smiled fatherly at her.

"I know Tweak; I just hate feeling cooped up." Paige sighed.

*******************************

"Keeping track of the Duo Scythe crew is harder than I thought." Razor Kon grumbled.

"Where have they been?" Dark Wolfe questioned in his gruff voice.

"Everywhere but where I was." Razor Kon replied. "There is a handful assisting with the Martian Registration, Deck two. Medics are in the infirmay, the commanding crew is MIA."

"It's a big ship." Cinder stated.

"As soon as they all get PAWWs on them the easier it will be to keep track of them." Dark Wolfe grumbled.

"You're sounding like it's all a bad thing sir." Fayth swiveled in her chair, facing the Admiral. "Having so many aboard Blood Claw just means that we have more interactions with different species and planetary cultures."

"Ever the optimistic." Cinger rolled her eyes.

"Still need Duo Scythe's commanding crew up here." Razor Kon pointed out.

"May I try to find them sir?" Cinder offered.

"Go ahead, Cinder, if we need you we'll call." The Admiral waved his paw.

"Thank you sir." Rising, the four-armed canine took her leave.

"Good luck; they're a hard bunch to find." Beth called as the lift door closed.

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To Be Continued

In

Shattered Freedom 22