Author's Notes

DISCLAIMER – Look, I don't even own a motorbike, much less three (very good-looking) rodent riders. If you suspect in some way that I'm making money off of this, you have stinkfish for brains -_-

HOLY CRAP IT'S BEEN NEARLY A YEAR?! My god, almost a year since I updated this fan-fiction. Look, you can all throw things at me, but wait until after this chapter to do so! This is the result of forcing myself out of a Writer's Block slump. Home was a drabble from before that hadn't quite been written up, and The Best Part was another attempt at forcing myself into motivation. Well, I'm back. So yeah, let's count how long that lasts…

Anywho, I would like to give a shout-out to a couple of people. First and foremost will be ElvenAngelMayCry. Her writing charisma REALLY helped me through this. And I know, it's probably against some etiquette to do this sort of a plug, but you should really read her Devil May Cry stories some time; she's REALLY good. And I mean, REALLY good.

Second shout-out goes to inuficcrzy. Wonderful woman, she is. Got me out of my initial slump and back on my writing feet. She's easily a direct influence on this chapter (see if you can spot the reference!), so to you m'dear, a big thankee! And don't miss reading out on her Oh My Biker Gods… series either. I think that one easily has the most potential, but the Shattered, Repaired, Renewed series is just as good. Read it sometime; I can't describe its awesomeness.

Finally, I would like to shout out to ALL of my friends on Project EVO Forums. Loads of them are writers, some not, but all of them were inspirations to me for this chapter. Special thanks go to Shenorai and Foxxeh (a.k.a. Red Fox).

Now, without further ado, I'll quit my insane prattling and give you my chappy. First chapter in this story for a while, so bear with me.


Rock 'n' Ride Chapter 6 – Solace and Slight

Vinnie was driving Modo insane. It was official. The big grey mouse huffed in frustration as Vinnie called the 'plan' over to him for what was probably the hundredth time.

"When we get there, we radio that jerk Throttle," Vinnie said hysterically as they streaked through the streets of Chicago. "If we can't reach him, we go straight to Carbine."

"Chill out, Vincent," Modo said. His voice was even, but he was also squirming on the inside. "We've been over the plan a hundred times. And it's not even really a plan, more of a…goal."

"Modo." Vinnie's voice was ice cold. "Charley-girls in the claws of the cats. My best girlfriend has been captured by furry feline felons. Do. Not. Tell. Me. To. CHILL OUT!"

"We're here anyways," Modo growled, pointing at the Scoreboard.

Vinnie was silent for a few heartbeats. "Yeah," he said finally, "but who's that?"

Modo followed Vinnie's gaze. Someone or something was hovering above the Scoreboard. "I dunno, bro. I've never seen anything like it. What in the gods' names has wings and a tail like that?"

Vinnie was opening his mouth to reply when he felt a dull thudding sound inside his head. A second later, his antennae began to tingle and twitch, and a voice echoed through Vinnie's (usually empty) mind.

Vincent van Wham? the voice asked. Vinnie replied, "Yeah." The voice continued a second or two later.

Do not bother speaking your answers, for so long as you think them, I shall know. I see that Throttle is not with you. Good; it will give me time to explain and get you two caught up. Meet me in the Scoreboard, both of you. I have much to say, and I expect Throttle will be here in a few hours. With that, Vinnie's antennae ceased tingling and the dull throb in his skull faded.

Modo looked over to Vinnie. "Hey bro…did you just have –"

" – A voice talking in my head? Yeah; you did too?" Vinnie frowned as Modo nodded an affirmative. He looked back at the Scoreboard, and sure enough, the figure was gone. He and Modo exchanged a look, and then gunned their bikes, shooting straight for the Board.


Twenty minutes later…

"You're a what?" Modo asked incredulously.

"An Allsie," the figure said simply.

"Never heard of 'em," Vinnie groused suspiciously.

"That's because my race is virtually extinct," the Allsie said sourly. "Look, we can argue about this till Doomsday, or I can give you the run-down on Throttle. What do you want?"

Vinnie was about to shoot off his mouth when Modo smacked him upside the head. Ignoring the indignant cry of his comrade, Modo looked back at the Allsie. "Sorry about Snowball, here. We've –"

"DON'T CALL ME SNOWBALL!!!" Vinnie screeched.

" – Never really had good experiences with aliens beyond Charley. What did you say your name was, again?"

The Allsie inclined his head. "My name is Hera Ledro, son of Creig Ledro. And you need not explain yourselves nor your mission; I know all about you."

"How?" Vinnie asked, warily curious.

"Stoker. I've known him for a while, now, and he always bragged about you three. If he meant what he said – and he almost assuredly did – then you guys were the sons he never had."

"Some son Throttle turned out to be," Vinnie groused. Bitter resentment oozed through his voice.

Hera's face contorted piteously. "Well, Vincent, let me explain what Throttle went through before you jump to conclusions." With that, Hera Ledro launched into an account of Throttle's doings since the mouse left. He ended with leaving to battle the Plutarkians, then fell silent.

Modo and Vinnie were quiet throughout the entire relation. The, finally, "It still doesn't change the fact that Charley-girl got kidnapped because of Throttle."

Hera's eyes shot up at Vincent as he uttered his statement. "What?" Hera asked, incredulous.

"Yeah," Vinnie said dispassionately. "We were up in the Land of the Igloos –"

"Canada," Modo interjected at Hera's confused expression.

" – When the cats got the jump on us and took off with Charley."

Hera looked thoughtful. "I wondered why she wasn't with you," said Hera, "but I thought you guys just left her to keep searching while you came back. I never would have thought that the cats would be so bold as to grab Charley of all people. She –"

"'She' what?" a voice interrupted. Vinnie, Modo, and Hera whirled around to see Throttle standing in the doorway of the Board, garbed in a Catatonian Claw Trooper uniform.

"'She' what?" Throttle repeated.

Vinnie walked over to Throttle, his mouth working up and down. He gazed intensely into Throttles eyes, covered as they were with his old shades, and stood there, yammering silently.

Then he thumped Throttle across the jaw.

Throttle took it well. The blow sent him sprawling into the wall. Rubbing his jaw, Throttle fixed his dishevelled specs and looked at Vinnie, who was bent over with his right arm – and its tightly curled fist – tensed, panting with anger as he stared viciously at Throttle. Throttle said, "I guess I deserved that."

Modo walked up, his one eye glowing bright red. "Oh yeah."

Throttle looked to Hera. "You told them, didn't you."

"Everything," Hera affirmed.

"How? You don't know what happened to me on that ship."

"No," Hera admitted, "But I got a good look at your eyes while I was healing you, and Karbunkle was on that ship; I could feel his malevolent mind. I can put two and two together, you know."

"Well, I guess that saves me a bit of work." Throttle kept his voice level enough, but he was tense inside. He knew that the only thing that was holding Modo and Vinnie back was the fact that Hera had explained his situation.

"Not really, Throttle," Hera admonished. "What have you been doing between the time I healed you and now?"

"And why?" Modo said evenly, "are you in a Claw Trooper uniform?"

"Well…" Throttle sighed. It was an embarrassing story to say the least. "It went like this, big guy.

"Hera here healed me but then took off to fight a group of stinkfish. I left the cave he was healing me in and started for home. A patrol of Plutarkians caught my tail and I had to jet hard. I got far and lost them, but ran into a patrol of cats at the edge of the desert. At first, I don't think they saw me. But just as I was putting my stealth mode on, one of the cats pointed me out.

"Bros, I thought I was dead. But then they started laughing, and they just couldn't stop. I guess naked Martian is a dangerous look, because I took out all of them and stripped one my size of his uniform. The ride was really too breezy before then."

Hera smiles, but Throttle's attempt at levity was lost on Modo and Vinnie. Throttle looked at his feet. "Look, bros, I'm sorry. I know I was a total idiot –"

"Duh," Vinnie said severely.

"– And I'm not justifying what I did. I just hope you can understand it." With that, Throttle turned and walked of to his old room, intent on finding his clothes. I hate this uniform, he thought bitterly. He preferred his get-up from the good ol' days…


Vinnie and Modo stared after Throttle. They didn't even turn when Hera spoke up.

"Think what you will about Throttle," Hera said, a slight growl to his voice. "But don't you dare think of him as a coward. He did what he did because he thought it was best, and at no small sacrifice to himself."

Modo was staring at the spot where Throttle's door closed, obscuring the tan mouse from view. But he was staring for a whole different reason. Before leaving, their leader had shed the shirt part of the Claw Trooper uniform, revealing a host of scars that Modo had never seen before. "Hera, sir…You told us that Karbunkle was operating on him. Are those scars…"

"Yeah, Modo," Hera confirmed. "They are. I did what I could, but there was no way I could heal that much damage without leaving a trace of it. I don't know enough about it to take away scars like that."

"Doesn't matter," Vinnie said darkly. "He left us hanging. Bros don't – OW! What the hell was that for?!"

Modo had smacked him hard across the head, and Vinnie was now rubbing the back of the flesh part of his skull. "That," Modo growled, "was for putting him down like that. Didn't you see the scars on him? He's got more scars than he has skin now!"

"Vincent," Hera said quietly, "you should look at Throttle's face under the glasses. His old specs actually cover the scars well, but those are the worst scars of all.

Just then Throttle came out. He regarded everybody with an expression of sincere apology. "Look, guys, I jus – oof!" Vinnie moved forward and shoved Throttle down and pinned down Throttle's arms with his knees. "Hey!" Throttle protested. "I know I deserved that thump, but –"

"Just shut up before I really hit you," Vinnie said flatly. Without hesitating, he grabbed Throttle's specs and pulled them off.

What he saw almost made him physically ill. Throttle's eyes were surrounded by dark, fur-less scar tissue, and serrated edges bordered the wrinkled flesh. The scars extended in a jagged strip on either side of the face, toothed edges which extended all the way over his temples and down to the bottom of his ears. Vinnie subconsciously reached up and touched his mask, where he knew similar damage was hidden from the world.

Vinnie tore his eyes away from the haunting scars and dropped Throttle's glasses on his chest. He got up and walked over to the side of the Board, keeping his back to the group.

"Vincent?" Throttle called tenderly. He took to leaning on his elbow when Vinnie had removed himself, and a concerned look painted his face as he put his shades back on. When no reply was forthcoming from the white mouse, Throttle walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, bro, talk to me."

"I'm sorry," Vinnie choked out. It was so quiet Throttle had to strain to hear it. Then, louder, "I'm sorry, okay? I should have trusted you, should've known that you wouldn't have left unless you were sure of it."

"Nah, you were right, bro," Throttle whispered. "I never should have left."

Modo walked over to the two and put his mammoth hands on their shoulders. "Hey, we all made mistakes. What matters is that we're bros again, right?"

"Yeah," both Throttle and Vinnie replied.

Modo looked straight at Throttle. "Look, bro, I don't like what you did, but I know you're not perfect. We make mistakes, and I forgive you."

"Me too," Vinnie said, smiling.

"Thanks, bros," Throttle muttered. "That means a lot, and I'm real sorry for being such an idiot."

"Not that this isn't touching and all," Hera interjected, "but we have some cats to cook."

The bros started at his voice; they'd completely forgotten he was there. Throttle looked at Hera and nodded. "Yeah, we do. Now where's Charley-girl. She wouldn't want to miss out on a rumble like this." Turned away as he was, he didn't notice Vinnie's expression darken.

"That's why we're cookin' them, bro," Vinnie said. When Throttle looked at him, a puzzled expression was on his face. Then, slowly, realization dawned on him, and he gritted his teeth and bunched his fists in anger. His tail writhed and spasmed from his temper.

"What did they do to my Charley-girl," Throttle growled.

Vinnie had Throttle sit down and then launched into relation of their story since Throttle left. When he arrived at the point of the ambush, Throttle's visage contorted. A dangerous look permeated his face, and a fire burned in his eyes like nothing else.

"So they want either me or the Regenerator," Throttle managed, his jaw sore from the intensity of his clenching. "Dammit! Did they say where they were meeting?"

"Yeah, they said in the Canadian Shield. But then they contacted us while we were on our way back and said that we'd have to find them! And they may not even be on Earth! We came here to radio Carbine; see if she could pinpoint the cats." Vinnie was, by now, nearly as mad as Throttle.

Hera stepped in with a suggestion. "Look, wherever they are, we have to find them. Let's contact Carbine now and get a plan going. Gnashing out teeth won't do us or Charley any good here." Everybody agreed, and Vinnie set to work getting the radio to function.


"So you do have the Regenerator?" Carbine asked. The comms radio added static to her voice, but it was still relatively clear.

"Affirmative," Throttle said.

"Then we can't jeopardize our mission of a single Terran. Return the Regenerator to base, Commander."

Throttle scowled. "Forget it, Carbine. We don't leave one of our own behind, you know that."

"No Charley –" Vinnie began.

"No Regenerator," Modo finished. His eye was glowing dull now, but his anger was rising quickly. He'd never liked Carbine's arrogant and condescending attitude.

Carbine narrowed her eyes. "We need that Regenerator. Would you risk our entire planet for the sake of one Terran?"

"Let's not play the blame game here," Hera interjected hurriedly. He looked directly at Carbine. It was his first encounter with the she-mouse, and he was not having good first impressions. Manipulative bitch, she was.

But Hera wouldn't say that out loud.

"Look, Carbine," he said dispassionately, "I know that you are worried about your planet, but I have an idea for saving your planet and Charley."

The space between Carbine's brow and cheeks narrowed. "Do tell." It was quite plain that she didn't trust the blue-furred alien. In her opinion, anything as tall as Modo with the brains of Throttle was dangerous.

"The Catatonians have no idea who I am," Hera stated. "As such, they are also unaware that I have allied myself with the Biker Mice. I could provide a decent distraction, allowing the bros to sneak in and rescue Charley from behind."

"Maximum explosion potential on the front lines…I like it!" Vinnie's exclamation was accompanied by a savage grin.

"Couple of problems, though," Throttle interjected. "One: we don't know where the cats are. And –"

"Two," Modo finished, "Vinnie can't even conceive quiet, much less sneak through a Catatonian base.

"Well," Throttle admitted, "we can put Vincent on the front line with Hera. It'll add to the confusion and give us a better chance to sneak in."

"I think I may have a solution to the first problem," Carbine interrupted. "Reports show that there's been a lot of furball activity in one of their key bases here. More than usual. In addition, a strange bio-signature is in the base. Our biologists assure me that it is a female human."

Throttle was suspicious, and cocked an eyebrow. "I dunno, Carbine," Throttle said. "It seems too obvious. Either it's a decoy or Cataclysm is setting up a trap."

"Regardless, it will serve both ends. It'll save Charley and allow us to secure the Regenerator."

"One more problem," Hera cut in. "How are we going to get to Mars? From what I read in Vinnie's mind –"

"YOU READ MY MIND?!" Vinnie screeched in indignation.

"—You haven't been able to spare enough troops for a decent escort and transport. In addition, only an idiot would have missed the constant Catatonian patrols in Earth's magnetosphere. The cats are disabling and capturing any satellites, rockets, or otherwise that Earth sends into space. One can only imagine they'd tear a transport apart, especially a Martian one."

Carbine nodded and thought for a moment. "Hmm…" She started sorting through papers off-screen, uttering an exclamation as she found something. "Aha! Our scientists have been working on an experimental cloaking device. So far it's passed the tests and performed better than expected, but it's never been used in the field. We'll produce enough to attach to your escort. It will take about two days to produce enough, and another two for the transport to get to you."

"Four days," Throttle said incredulously. "Four days of waiting, and six until we get to Mars?"

"If we're lucky," Carbine affirmed dryly.

"But…Dammit, Carbine, isn't there a faster way?" Throttle gritted.

"Afraid not, Commander. Sit tight, and keep that Regenerator safe. We'll contact you when the transport has been dispatched." With that, Carbine stood and deactivated the comm unit, sending the screen into static.

Throttle pounded his fist on the table and engaged in many colourful swears and oaths. If the situation had been even a little less serious, Vinnie would have been impressed with his bro's vocabulary. As it was, however, he shared in Throttle's frustration.

Hera put a hand on Throttle's shoulder. "Don't worry; we'll get 'em. In the meantime, I'm going to call in a few favours, make sure that our reception on Mars is as warm as it can be. Heck, I might be able to ensure that we can get off this rock in one piece."

"Before you go," Vinnie said, eyeing Hera, "I've gotta know: how did you read my mind?"

Hera shrugged. "You pick up a few things by the time you've reached my age. In any case, anybody can use telepathy. It's even easier for Martian mice, since you guys are more telepathically attuned than most any other race. It just requires focus and discipline." With that, Hera turned and left.

Vinnie took one look at Throttle and turned to go. Modo quickly followed suit.

Throttle sat there in his chair, staring at the screen of static. His fists clenched and loosened continuously, cords bulging on his hands. Behind his shades a fierce look fixed his gaze on his knees. He pounded his fist once against his leg and got up, knocking the chair he'd been sitting in over. He stormed to the door, thinking all the while:

We're coming, Charley!

FIN


Throttle: Oh, you are such an ass, Jon.

Hera Ledro: I know. I'm the biggest asswipe of them all.

Vinnie: Well, at least he knows how to make a friendship reparation scene.

Modo: …You know what reparation means?

Hera Ledro: Right, we'll leave them at it.

Hera Ledro: I have news that is potentially disappointing to many readers. After much thought (and I do mean MUCH thought), I don't think I'm going to continue with the morbid tones I started off trying to do. It just isn't me, and I need to practice writing morbidity more before I actually WRITE-write it. But don't any of you worry; there'll be lots of blood to come.

Author's Stuff

So yeah, read and review blah blah blah. It's getting to the point where I can only count on a few people to review. Come on, spread some love! And even if you don't like it, tell me why! That's the thing I hate, is that people come around and look at a story, think it's horrible, but don't say WHY. We can't give you good stuff if we don't know what makes you happy! SO TELL US!

Anyways, thanks for reading ^_^ No, that FIN does not mean this is the last Chapter. Far from it; I've got a WHOLE twisted storyline ready for you guys. Hope to get the next chapter out soon!

~Jon