- Header Author's Everlasting Notes BEGINS -
"Nothing, ever" has been discontinued. I can't find the time to continue writing any longer. I also lost the inspiration and interest mainly due to the enormous load of corrections needed and remaining chapters to write. This header has been updated in November 2016 though in order to comply with 's guidelines and make the story visible again. I just might do something about this old creation of mine but I cannot promise anything. Anyway, hope you still find it "readable" and thanks to everyone who left feedback throughout the years.
All spelling and grammar errors you locate are my bad since I usually write in a hurry when inspiration strikes, also English is not my first language. Anyway, I hope you will enjoy this fanfiction series and that it might inspire you in turn. Credits to those who can hazard a good guess where the title is taken from and what it refers to.
~Andreas W
On Ownerships of Characters
This is a fan fiction which means I do not own nor have I ever owned any of the original Biker Mice From Mars characters. All other people/mice/aliens/etc figuring in these stories are created and therefore owned by yours truly with the exception of:
1. Spark
2. Stunts
3. Starblaze
4. Kickstart
5. Centerline
6. Mrs. Davidson
These six characters belong to JWC who was kind enough to let me borrow them for this imaginary adventure.
The time-lines in these stories are based on the Earth-time and the military 24-hour system.
Warnings!
Some of the story chapters contain foul language (but the worst words have been stripped voluntarily been stripped since they were deemed redundant), cases of nasty violence and later even erotic descriptions unsuitable for readers under sixteen years of age. You must be (or claim to be) 16 years or older to continue reading.
I am not saying this to belittle you - I do it FOR YOUR sake. You have been warned so please do not harass me if you find my story discomforting. Thank-you very much.
Also, please do not try to blatantly rip off or modify my stories in any way, okay? If you wish to borrow my characters you'd better ask before doing so. This is common courtesy and sense, people. Also, respect the characters which I in turn borrowed and do not use them without expressed permissions from JWC. Not adhering to these words of wisdom might result in you getting a rather pissed author on your back and that would not be nice, now would it?
- Header Author's Everlasting Notes ENDS here -
Andreas W's
"Nothing, ever"
Part 5 "The skies are clouded"
Earth
May the 21st, 2000
09:45
"Oh crap..." Charley groaned quietly to herself and threw a glance at the alarm clock. "9:45am already? What a wonderful hangover..."
She reluctantly dragged herself out of the bed and slowly opened the wardrobe, muttering: "Clothes, clothes... What should I wear today? Perhaps something thinner than usual..."
She grabbed a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that was a few sizes too large for her. A pair of panties and a towel were also added to the little pile of clothes.
Still half asleep, she climbed down the ladder and hurried over to the bathroom.
"Great, yeah! Being all cracked down by some stupid brats' weed. Mom wouldn't like to hear about this!" She told the tired female in the mirror.
Charley was actually feeling quite pissed.
Not at anyone special, just pissed, even though the sun was shining brightly, the day was as warm and fresh as ever, and people free from work (well, SOME of them).
Perfectly cold water washed over her and somehow raised the mood a little.
The Judgement Day still waited somewhere behind a corner and she hoped that the three mice wouldn't come by today.
What she needed most of all was rest, and perhaps some relaxed working on some vehicle and perhaps even getting paid for once.
All right, the three mice WERE aliens from another planet who tried to keep the evil aliens from destroying the planet, but did their hero-work pay?
NO! Not at all!
SHE was the only one who actually HAD an income, and she always had to work hard while the guys just played around.
They actually enjoyed their hero-mission.
Well, it couldn't be denied that she liked HER job as well, and even enjoyed to join the Martians during their trips... BUT still; she had an income.
Inside the garage was a broken MC waiting for repairs.
She had promised the owner it would be fixed the next day so Charley decided to do that during the fore- and afternoon.
The only problem was if the guys showed up because then there would be nothing done.
They would most likely mess up the place and leave the cleaning for her.
No way!
Not today.
10:30
Charley had finally begun to be concentrated when somebody knocked on the garage-port, repeatedly.
At first she tried to ignore it, but the one who knocked was persistent.
Charley went up to the door and unlocked it, cursing lowly, ready to give one of the Martians a good telling-off.
But it was no Martian.
A human woman she knew from before was standing in the door opening to her big surprise.
She wasn't that common woman you meet on the street a Sunday afternoon.
The woman happened to be nobody else than Julia Lennox, the most successful female directory ever.
Charley couldn't press out a word at first, no matter how hard she tried, but Miss. Lennox wasn't quiet at all.
"Hello! You are Charlene Davidson, I presume? The female mechanic?" And without waiting for an answer, she went on, "You must help me. You see, I was on my way to a very important meeting when my car was fried, somehow. I think I must have some oil-leak. Could you give me some immediately assistance? I will pay you very well, of course."
"Alright then, come in." Charley managed to say and showed the female into the garage, then pulled the switch to open the ports.
Outside waited a red Ferrari 360 Modena and its newly waxed coach reflected the sunlight.
The car was about 4.5 meters long and appeared to be well designed for high speeds.
"1 to 100 km/h in less than five seconds." Julia Lennox said with a small grin. "But now it doesn't even start."
"I will check it out. Can you help me to push it into the garage?"
"Sure."
10:45
"Puh. That's is! Now let me take a look at this. After I have closed the doors, that is." Charley wiped her face and pulled the switch to the ports. "I don't want any unwanted visitors today. They tend to disrupt my concentration."
"I understand. Is it okay if I sit down?" The other female asked.
"Yes, of course. There're sodas in the refrigerator if you want one."
"Thank-you." Julia Lennox opened the fridge-door and pulled out a coke.
"Amazing car you own." Charley said as she opened the hood to look inside. "Must have cost a fortune."
"Right. The specially designed fittings and extra equipments raised the price very much, but it's all worth it. That car is a dream to drive. Quick as a weasel."
"Personally, I stick with bikes. I was brought up among bikes and I guess it's in the blood." Charley had started to feel comfortable at last. The first little shock had vanished and she felt a little curiosity itching in the head.
"The growing-up times always characterizes. No matter how much one try to resist it. I have never been fond of bikes, or even bikers." Lennox said as she went up to Charley. "I hope it doesn't offend you."
"Oh, not at all! It's not like I'm that typical biker myself. I just like doing repairs, having my garage and all that, you know."
"Yes. I can figure it out." Julia laughed lightly. "Do you find the trouble?"
"Yes, here. Seems like one of the cables to the generator are cut off and that means the battery must be empty."
"Damn! I will have to skip that meeting then. Luckily I called them ahead and told that I might not show up because of these car-problems."
Charley didn't reply and inspected the cable carefully.
The damage couldn't come from wearing. A pair of nippers had been used to cut the cables off.
-If she managed to drive all the way here, she must have cut them off herself. But why?
"Meetings, meetings all days. It's not always all beer and skittles to be a director for a big company." Julia went on. "We're also involved in the hi-tech branch now, and are seeking talented people. They're rough to find when you need them. Always hiding somewhere and pop up when we DON'T need them. It must be comfortable to have a work-place like this."
"Yes it is. I like it, even though it IS boring now and then." Charley answer and began to mend together the broken cable. "I have some grades from the local university and that's all. Sometimes I long for doing something else."
"I can understand that." The other female said and inspected the bottle she was holding for no particular reason. "I have been at Harvard and the University of Tokyo, studied economy and technology among lots of other things. Came here and founded Techtoys Ltd. mostly as an experiment. I had never imagined how successful it would become. Soon, I had about ten employees and it has been rolling on ever since."
"You came right in time, huh?"
"Exactly. I was very lucky."
"Can't talk against that! Well, I think the work is done. Let's see if your car works."
"You get the honour." Miss. Lennox said with a sly smile and threw the car-keys to the female mechanic.
Charley got into the car and turned the key around.
The Ferrari's powerful engine roared to life without any problems.
"Seems like it's working just fine now. It was just all simply a broken cable." She said and turned off the engine and stepped out.
"Oh." Lennox seemed to be surprised but Charley could see a little sparkle of slyness in her eyes. "How much? Is 100$ enough?" She put the dollar-bill in Charley's hand.
"But…this is too much.."
"Not at all! You put your work aside to help me with the car. I appreciate people who're helpful. Helpfulness a gift many people don't possess, I would say."
"I just can't say no now, can I? But I might be able to offer you a cup of coffee?"
"Sure, I would love to." Miss. Lennox smiled warmly and accompanied her hostess to the kitchen.
Damn, she's smart and really got to me! But whatta hell...
12:49
"So; I have at least caught your interest?"
"You sure have. I am actually flattered that you ask ME out of all people."
"My, my." Julia Lennox grinned widely. "Don't be. Your abilities and possibilities are endless, because you're a damn good inventor and mechanic. Exactly that kind of a person and go-ahead spirit I need in our group."
She paused and put a calling card on the table by her side.
"This is my private phone number and address. When you've made up your mind, give me a call or write a letter and you will be able to start the next day. You have my word. And all that you possible don't know yet are you going to learn quickly. I have never been bad at discovering people with great potential. Trust me on THAT one!"
"I will need a while, to think… You see, I've never gotten any offer like this in my whole life."
"That's because no one has realized your potential." Julia Lennox replied definitely.
"And", she added, "you're a female. And the most directors are PIGS!"
The word 'pigs' was spitted out of her mouth, filled with contempt and loathe.
"But it's time for me to leave. It's been great talking to you."
"I can't say anything but the same." Charley said as she accompanied Julia Lennox to her car.
"One more thing!" Charley said through the open window on the driver's side of the car as Julia Lennox put the keys in and started it.
"What?"
"You're not too bad at cars. You know exactly which cable to cut, don't you?"
Julia grinned widely and blinked innocently.
"May be so, hun. May be so. See ya around!"
She backed out of the garage, waved and hit the accelerator.
Roaring and screaming, the Ferrari accelerated and disappeared out of sight within a few moments.
Charley walked back into the garage, filled with mixed emotions but also feeling way better than she had felt for months.
Finally, somebody who understood to VALUE her real capacity.
16:19
The motorcycle she had promised to repair was all fixed and ready for being picked up by its owner. Charley washed off her oily hands and laughed almost merrily.
Life was so great and she had no more duties that kept her from doing anything.
She hurried over to the phone, picked up the receiver and dialled the number to her mother's little farm.
Tone after tone came out of the speaker, no answer.
"Damn!" She exclaimed annoyed and threw the receiver back on the phone. Right now she would do anything to share the day's wonderful experience with someone.
A sound of a couple motorcycles suddenly echoed from outside.
For once, they came exactly when she wanted them there.
Throttle, Vinnie and Modo.
They all three stopped dead at the same time on the garage-floor and turned of the engines.
"Hey guys!"
"Whoa Charley-girl! Have you won the first prize or somethin'?" Throttle asked when he saw her beaming face.
"Almost Throttle. ALMOST!" She laughed and began to whistle as she walked over to the table and picked up the calling card.
"What's that stuff?" Vinnie looked like he was about to die by curiosity.
"Take a look. She came to visit me personally. Offered me a top-job within her company!" Charley handed over the piece of paper with a cheery laugh.
"JULIA LENNOX? THE BABE?!" Vinnie exclaimed and his face split in a big grin. "May I come and visit you at work, sweetheart?"
"No!" Charley scowled, then went back into her beaming state. "I got an offer I simply can't reject! Great pay, great work as chief for the software-invention-division. Free lunches, all insurances paid, great pension, the best working environment I have ever heard of! Not to forget the possibility to advance in the company. Miss. Lennox said that she wouldn't hesitate to make me the managing director! Finally someone has fully valued what I can do!"
Charley laughed and sat down by the table, eyeing the mice whom suddenly looked pretty bothered.
"What's the problem, guys? Aren't you happy for me?"
"Sure we are Charley 'maam, congrats." Modo said and sat down.
"Then why do you guys look like the tax arrears have come?"
"It's just that...we won't be seeing you as much as before. Not be able to take you with us." Vinnie said, muffled.
"Oh, COME ON Vinnie! You never let me accompany you on the funny missions anyway! I'm always supposed stay here or save your tails when you've gotten into some real sludge!"
"Yea, but that's what I mean, sweetheart. How will we be able to manage without you? It's like losing you or something..."
"You're so sweet when you dare to speak your mind out!" Charley got up and hugged the white-furred Martian. He quickly turned red and mumbled something inaudible.
"You two feel the same?" She spoke to Modo and Throttle now.
"Well, kind of…" Modo began.
"Yea, we just don't want to lose you after all this time." Throttle filled in.
"Guys, you are just, too cute!" Charley exclaimed and treated the two remaining mice as she had treated Vinnie.
"I won't be gone forever! I'll work between 8:00am to 16:00pm Monday to Friday. Julia said it's her belief that people who have a creative work need much spare time to set the ideas free. So it's not that bad!"
There was an unusual cherry atmosphere in the garage the rest of the day.
The four friends were not really aware of the darkening sloes that promised there would be a thunderstorm, and that somewhere in Chicago was somebody planning murders.
Something big, dangerous and very global.
Devilry ruled in that place, wherever it was located.
Mars
May the 21st, 2000
17:10
Timothy Waltwilth from Earth had not spent his time in bed.
He had been sleeping way too much the last days and was now filled with deadly hyperactivity. Spark was still asleep and not in the condition to play anyway, so he had thrown off the hospital clothes and dressed up in the other ones he'd gotten from Starblaze earlier that day: a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt with an emblem of a flying hawk.
He quickly tied the white sneakers and slipped out of the room quietly, careful not to wake up the sleeping Martian.
Outside the room was an almost empty corridor with beds standing by the sides and windows along the opposite side.
The hospital was located in the middle of the Starhill City, one of the few Martian cities that hadn't yet been attacked by the Plutarkians.
People used to explain this by pointing at all the large, thorny mountains that surrounded the city.
To attack from the air would be very risky and the fishes simply hadn't the guts to go to try.
The city itself was one of the last beautiful places on Mars.
There were actually gardens, filled with real flowers like a modern city, such as Paris, Tokyo, New York, London, like any Earth-city.
The population was calculated to 300,000 individuals and that made it Mars' biggest city, the one that was least affected by the wars.
That city was going to be very carefully explored, Timmy decided.
Though he had been told to stay close to the hospital (something he had totally forgotten), was he leaving by using the fire escape.
Spark and he had been placed on the hospital's highest floors and it was about 400 feet to the ground.
The outlook over the city was incredible and the high mountain-tops all around it made it even more impressing.
After many minutes of running along the fire-ladder, Tim finally reached the bottom and jumped the last six feet down on the lawn at the hospital's west side.
In front of him there was a large street, mostly trafficked with motorcycles but there were also vehicles that reminded of cars from Earth.
It was going to be the most awesome expedition ever! If only he'd been able to have one of his friends with him during that adventure.
Timothy ran down the sidewalk, aware of the many surprised gazed that were thrown in his direction when people recognized him being human and all.
Around him, the city changed its look and became more and more drowned with flowering.
Green trees that didn't look like any trees he had seen before and beautiful orchids.
The city also had lots of large springs beneath in the rocky ground. Big underground lakes the Plutarkians never got to steal.
Martians usually had to produce their water through electrolysis; merging oxygen-atoms with hydrogen-atoms. The problem was that the water tasted weird and distilled because it lacked salt and all other natural minerals.
Real water from the large lakes was rarely used and could be bought bottled for a good penny.
Tim didn't know anything about that at all, and if somebody had bothered to try to tell him, he certainly hadn't listened.
He was too busy looking at everything and everyone, and suddenly, he found himself standing before a large building with a sign that read: LIBRARY
Tim went inside.
A female mouse who obvious was the daily librarian sat before a desk, reading a newspaper when the boy walked up and knocked on the desk.
She jerked and looked at him with big surprise, then collected herself and asked: "What can I do for you, young fellow?"
"Hi! Comics? Do you have any?"
The lady Martian burst out in a hearty laugher and got up from the chair.
"Yes, we have. Come, I will show you. You may call me librarian Cecilia."
"I'm Timmy. I thought most Martians had, like, hardware-names!"
"It's the most common yes, but everyone is not named after things." She said and showed him to a part of the building where a little group of Martian children were located.
"Here they are. You'll find what you're looking for yourself, I think." She smiled. "But ask me if there's anything you want to know. I will be at my desk where you found me. Good luck, Timmy."
The Martian children had already paid attention to the human and crowded around him, asking question.
"Whoa! You are a REAL human?"
"We've never seen any for real!"
"How did ya come here?"
"How old are ya?"
"Who are your parents?"
"Have you ever read The Supermouse?"
"You look cute without tail'n fur!"
"Do you have a bike?"
Timmy tried to answer the most questions at the same time, feeling slightly embarrassed over the statement from a golden-coloured Martian girl with large blue eyes who was named 'Starfall'.
Her parents were both typical bikers who had went to the library to get some relaxation from all stress.
Since Timmy was used to have lots of children around since the orphanage-time had he no problems to get along with the Martian kids.
It felt like he had taken a big jump into a great tale, and it was way funnier than laying awake in a boring hospital-room.
As the hours went by new kids arrived, but most of them left one after another.
Starfall showed a very intense interest in Timmy and got him to tell that Stoker and some of the freedom fighters from Brinston were currently his guardians.
When it was time for her to leave because her parents called, she gave him a quick kiss ("ICK!") and winked giggling while she ran off to her parents who waited by the entrance.
Tim was very surprised and rubbed the cheek violently, trying to remove all girlie-bacilli she probably had tried to poisoning him with.
A pale-grey Martian boy with the name Rave seemed to be there without his parents' knowledge.
Rave was also six years old and as active as most boys in that age.
His bad luck had left him with two careless parents who always were too busy with themselves to take remarkable notice of him.
Sure, they supplied all his needs and were never mean or something like that, but they seemed to forget him every now and then.
Rave himself, claimed that it just felt great to have parents who allowed everything but Tim got the impression that he was very sad over his parents' lacking interest.
"Man! We've been here for like three hours now!" He said, looking at a little clock he carried in the grey green-sweater's pocket.
"That's a cool clock! Where'd ya got that?" Tim asked.
"I got it from dad when I turned five. It's the best thing I've ever gotten. He says it belonged to grandpa and before that, grandpa's pa."
"Family stuff? I have nothing like that."
"It must be bad to be without parents, dude, but I tell ya, sometimes it's better than having parents who rather care about work than you."
Tim immediately got what Rave was trying to refer to.
"Gotcha, let's get outta here and eat somethin'! You have any money?"
"Sure things, mommy gave me enough. I can probably pay for us both if we go to the right place! Come! I know a perfect bar for bikers!"
The two boys shouted 'Good-byes' to Mrs. Cecilia the librarian before they left the building and ran down the streets.
A dusky light told that the twilight wasn't far away and it made things even more curious, Tim thought.
After a few minutes, they had reached a combined bar/restaurant with flashing neon signs saying 'The Bad Biker's Bar'.
Loud music could be heard from inside.
"Ain't this place just some beer-place?" Tim asked, knowing that they wouldn't' get any beer due to their ages.
"Don't worry dude! They serve real cool food! I know Mr. Champ. He's real nice and awesome at making eatable stuff!" Rave assured as they walked through the front doors.
Inside, an old song by the Clash was being played at a load volume.
The place was filled with bikers who smoke, drank beer/root-beer, laughed/argued and all that you usually see in a typical bar in the middle of a city.
Most of them were too busy doing what they were doing to recognize that a human had appeared among them.
The ones who did glanced at Tim with interest and started to whisper.
Timmy himself didn't see that at all, and if he had, it hadn't really bother him.
He was simply too young to understand and be nervous.
Also, he was there with his MARTIAN friend!
"Heya Rave. Whoa! Who'z that fellah you've gotten?! A HUMAN!" Exclaimed a tall and muscular mouse behind the bar desk.
His fur was dark brown and he had a dark brown beard and looked very merry. Tattoos covered his arms and in his left ear hung several earrings of silver and gold.
Rave jumped up on one of the high chairs before the desk and Timmy followed his example.
"Champ, this is my new friend: Timmy! He's from Earth and visits Mars for a while and he's under Stoker's supervision!"
"But not now, I guezz?" Champ laughed loudly and ruffled Tim's already tousled hair. "So whatcha want boyz?"
"Chicken with Mars-nuts and Star-Hill Cola for both of us!" Rave said and put the money on the desk. Champ took the bills, rolled them into a roll and put them into Rave's open pocket he had on the sweater.
"Noh money today boyz, the house'z treat tonight ya zee."
"Wow! Why?" Rave and Tim asked almost at the same time.
The Martian laughed a broad laugh.
"I am zelebrating the 10th year of thiz third-rate eating house! And zince Rave'z my dear cuztomer..." he smirked as he poured up two glass of the special Star-Hill coke. "Here're de drinkz boyz! I'll let Roazt take over zi dezk a while I make up yer zupper." He put down the glasses before the boys, blinked with the right eye and went into the kitchen.
A new tall Martian came out from the kitchen, holding a towel. His fur was mostly white but with strokes of silver. Besides that, he had large muscles and almost as many tattoos as Champ.
He snickered.
"So boys, you're up for a real snack tonight, eh?"
"You bet!" Rave exclaimed and sipped on the cola.
Tim sipped on the soda as well.
The taste was pretty different from Coca Cola from Earth.
A little bit sharper and more refreshing, but it definitely tasted way better than anything he'd ever tried to drink before.
"Don't drink too much", Rave said warningly, "or you won't be able to eat the chicken. I've done that mistake when I was here with mum and dad once. Couldn't stuff down a piece when I got the food."
He laughed.
"Alright, thanks for warning!" Tim grinned and sipped on the cola.
"Here ya're boyz!" Champ appeared again after being gone for ten minutes and gave them one plate each. "Bon appetite, az'ey zay on Earth!"
"Thanks Champ." Rave said and began to throw it into his mouth.
Timmy stared at his plate, fascinated.
It was chicken-meat, some kind of rice, covered with a brown/yellow sauce, along with mixed vegetables of different kinds.
He buried the fork into the food, and put it into the mouth, chewed on it for a while and decided that it tasted fantastic.
Then he also remembered how hungry he was and thus, he and Rave began to eat in competition.
Rave managed to empty his plate first. He leaned backwards and sighed contented.
Tim finished the meal and drank of the cola, feeling that wonderful feeling of contentment fill him too.
"That was…completely amazing!" He told Rave.
"Yah, Champ is DA BEST! YOU HEAR THAT CHAMP!" Rave hollered to the broad shouldered mouse who turned his head.
"This is the best I've ever eaten!" Timmy said loudly and Rave nodded furiously.
Yet again, the mouse burst out in a load laugher.
"'z it not the greatezt pleazure on the planet to see two boyz' zo filled?" He said and put a beer in the hands of a biker who wore a cool leatherjacket. "Ya boyz know that good ol' Champ iz expecting to zee you again, rightzo?"
"Yeah!" Both Rave and Tim laughed as they jumped down from the chairs with the glasses of cola in the hands.
"Now, you're gonna get to know this place!" Rave said and dragged Tim along through the mass.
Males and females were sitting all over the place and talked and listened to a jukebox that played everything from hard rock to punk.
"Hey brats! What the hell are you doing here?" A sharp voice said loudly, attacking from from behind.
They looked up and faced a huge biker who must've been at least 7'0 tall, with the biggest muscles Tim had ever seen.
Rave put on a sweet and innocent smile and Tim wasn't late to follow his new friend's example.
"Hi, Mr. Rage." Rave said, still smiling. "We're just about to look up the place, my friend wanna see get a look around!"
The biker looked down at the two kids and sneered unpleasantly.
"You brats shouldn't be here. Your mommies don't want you to get hurt, do they?"
"I don't have any mo..." Timmy immediately began, but was interrupted as Rave put a hand over his mouth.
"Come'n now Mr Rage, who would hurt us…" Rave began but got cut off when the Martian grabbed him by the collar and picked him up, leaving him hanging at least five feet above the ground.
"You can guess who, can't you?" Rage's voice was menacing. "This place ain't for little snotty kids and I will teach you a little lesson you won't forget!"
Being forgotten by the large mouse for a precious moment, Timmy grabbed a flowerpot from a window and just as Rage was about to give Rave a proper slap, he was got in the head and fell down to the ground.
"Stupid to take the chance and mess wit' us!" Timmy beamed like an overloaded glow-worm as he stood on the table, still with mould on his hand after having smashed the flower-pot in the Martian's head.
"Come on Rave, let's get outta here before he gets up on his feet!"
Rave appeared to be a little bit shaken up but who wouldn't be, after being so close to be beaten up for just being at an official place at the wrong time.
A load laughter broke out in the bar and Champ came up to the boys, followed by Roast, both grinning widely
.
"Congratulations boys! We were just about to come to the rescue, but it seems like you managed to knock down one of the most aggressive fighters around!" Roast laughed.
"Ya! Now let'z trash him outta here!" Champ said and grabbed the out-knocked Martian's shoulders and Roast got his feet.
They dragged him out through a backdoor and threw Rage on a trash pile.
"You two better get yer azzez outta here'n go back home before he wakez up. He''ll not let ya get away wit' that!" Champ said and waved to the boys.
Rave and Tim nodded, said goodbye to Roast and Champ and ran away from the bar as fast as they could.
Behind them, a series of violent roars of rage could be heard from the trash piles, and they didn't want to see what Rage had to say about the whole thing.
But that didn't keep them both from laughing constantly as they ran through the city beneath the starry sky.
21:34
"Well, I guess it's bye-bye-time." Tim said sadly to Rave as he stopped by the hospital's main entrance. "It's been real fun to get to know ya. We must meet again."
"Sure, that'd be great! Besides, I think Starfall's pretty interested in ya. We could go to her place tomorrow. If ya're allowed to, that is. I think you're gonna get PRETTY grounded!" He showed the time at his clock and Tim gasped.
"Oh BLAST! It's late! They're gonna be mad! C-ya dude!" He waved and rushed inside the hospital's entrance.
Rave smirked and began to run home himself.
Not because he thought his parents' would be angry at him for being so late (which seven-years old is allowed to be out later than 19:30pm?). No, it was more because he was scared of running into Rage again.
Somehow, he managed to get home in one piece, but Timmy didn't know that until the next day.
He would soon be aware that he had his own problems to think about.
The door to the room on the highest floor where he had been sleeping was wide open and several upset voices could be heard from inside.
Suddenly feeling both ashamed and also a little scared he stepped inside the big room.
A whole lot of of eyes immediately fell on him.
There was a rather amazing collection of adults in there who all seemed to be pretty upset.
He could distinguish Spark, Starblaze, Centerline, Kickstart, Carbine, and two doctors from before.
Their gazes were nailed at him and nobody said anything.
The whooshing sound from the elevator-doors in the end of the corridor broke the silence, followed by footsteps and a few seconds later Stoker, Rimfire and Stunts appeared in the doorway behind him.
All in all, ten adults who were staring at him in a way he didn't like at all.
Without uttering a single word Stoker grabbed his arm in a very rough way and pulled him into a chair, took two steps backwards and folded his arms.
So did almost all the other adults in the room. Their eyes clearly told him that they wanted an explanation.
"I… I've been…outside…"
"We've understood that!" Spark said with dripping sarcasm. "Do you realize, that we've all been worried SICK, and that people have been searching for you all over the city?"
Tim looked down to the floor and didn't answer.
"Where have you been?" Stoker demanded. "I, Rimfire and Stunts have been searching for you for hours!"
"First, I was at the library... Then in that…restaurant…The Bad Biker's Bar…"
"Oh hell…" Spark groaned. "What kind of business did you have in that place?"
"I and Rave ate there."
"That's a hangout for lots of bad people! You shouldn't have gone there!" Centerline exclaimed.
"Yea, some guy almost kicked our butts for just being there."
"How did you get out of that then?" Spark asked chilly.
"I smacked a flower-pot in his head." Tim replied calmly and began to untie his shoes. "Mr. Champ threw him out on the garbage pile! You should have heard his bellows!" He smirked.
"Oh my..." Centerline groaned.
"I also made some new friends, like Rave. If ya're gonna punish me for it, go ahead!" Tim said with a face carved by defiance.
The adults looked strangely at each other and to Timmy's great surprise they burst out in a collective laughter.
He didn't quite understand how relieved the adults were to have got him back unharmed. There were plenty of dangers and traffic in the city and they had all been searching for him since the afternoon.
"No, we're not gonna punish you. This time. We're all so happy that you're alright!" Starblaze said, wrapped her arms around his little body and hugged him hard.
"Next time you're gonna go outside, you must ask one of us to accompany you. There're lots of dangers around here when you're a kid. You could have died! Or ended up all broken and bleeding. Who was the jerk who tried to beat you?" Centerline asked.
"Rage. He was a real mean dude. He just said that 'brats like us didn't belong there'."
"Rage alright. That moron's gonna get it someday." Centerline said growling, mostly to himself.
"You'll have to tell us everything tomorrow. It's bedtime for you now, darlin'." Starblaze added.
The adult mice began to leave the room, saying 'good-bye' and 'get better' to Spark, and Timmy received plenty of hugs and comments such as 'don't ever do that again', 'keep outta trouble' and 'you REALLY had us worried', before everybody save Stoker, Stunts and Starblaze were gone.
The three remaining mice were talking to Spark while Tim brushed his teeth and put on the pyjamas he had been given by Charley's mother before they had left Earth.
"Sorry for being so harsh with you but you really had me worried there." Stoker said and hugged Timmy before he too left.
Soon after Starblaze had helped Tim to bed and tucked him up properly before gaving him a goodnight kiss, ignoring that he whole-heartedly recoiled when she did so.
Stunts walked up to the human and gave him a surprising goodnight hug and so did Spark, and Tim was content after all commotion and the day's adventure.
No matter if they all had been angry with him earlier they all still REALLY cared about him, and that felt very good.
In fact, it was pure luxury.
Soon he slept, all happy and totally exhausted.
The three mice looked at the sleeping boy and Starblaze couldn't help but smile at the sight of his exhausted form.
"A typical human child, isn't he? Hyperactive, ahead of the time all the time, thirsty for life, curious and able to push all limits."
"No kidding." Spark chuckled lowly.
"He's a handful." Stunts commented.
"You bet he is. Two hands full, if you ask me. The question is what we are going do with him. If he has made new friends here, he might be willing to remain here."
Spark looked up at his girlfriend.
"Are you trying to tell me something?"
"Oh, you know what I mean, Spark." Her voice now had a stroke of tenderness in it.
He grinned gently and squeezed her hand, knowing what she had really wanted to tell him. They knew that they would never be able to have their own children but there were other ways to get a child.
Thus, he knew exactly what she was thinking and he was pretty sure that even Stunts were aware of it.
"We'll be sleeping in the next room." Starblaze said. "It is empty and we can use it for a while but we're leaving for tonight. Good night, love."
"Goodnight darling." Spark said lowly and kissed her before she left.
"'Night Stunts, see-you tomorrow bro." He squeezed the short mouse's shoulder.
Stunts smiled and blinked before he followed Starblaze out of the room and shut the door.
Spark leaned back in his bed and threw a gaze at the sleeping kid in the bed next to his.
Adopting a human could prove to be a too big step for him, because he was not that daddy-kind and he knew it. Besides, it would require too much of his time and responsibility.
But he also knew that Starblaze really wanted a child of her own.
They had not really tried for any so far for they knew already that Starblaze had been born infertile, since her ovaries were corrupted.
Lately she had spoken about eventually finding a Martian orphan. Still he wasn't quite fond of the idea at all.
Perhaps time would tell what would be coming next, and he supposed they'd have to see what would be best for Timmy.
Spark was laying awake a few hours before he could sleep.
Earth
May the 21st, 2000
23:21
Some discotheques are often overloaded of crimes such as drug dealing, bribes, prostitution and assaults.
The loud music, all movements and add the large amount of people crowding on a little space.
That makes it the ideal place for malicious people to make up their deals and discuss possible plans.
Someone wore a large black trench coat made of leather, a garment that had probably cost at least ten thousands dollars, black shoes and a large hat that successfully hid the face.
Someone was waiting for someone else and during that time, Someone checked the automatic and handy machine-gun that was hidden inside the coat.
Feeling the weapon's deadly cold metal made the person's mouth curve in a wickedly smile nobody saw.
Through the crowd of stoned and dancing teenagers, Someone #2 came walking.
It was a he, and his steps were long and self-confident.
His whole being radiated that he was completely determined and not scared.
"Here I am." He said when he reached the table. "May I remind you of that Dry Martini you owe me since the last time?" He continued and sat down by the table, facing the dark-dressed on the opposite side.
Someone #1 smiled again, though the man who had arrived couldn't see it.
But he was the right person, because he had known the secret phrase the courier was supposed to know.
Almost as if he wanted to assure Someone #1 that he WAS the right one, the man handed over the little white envelope underneath the table.
It slipped into the inside pocket in the black trench coat Someone #1 wore and stayed there.
With a flexible movement Someone #1 repaid the courier with a brown envelope.
The man ripped it open and read the documents that contained information about a money-transfer, regarding one million dollars.
"Do you excuse me?" He asked and waved a cellphone, whereupon the Someone #1 nodded.
After using a short-command to make an encrypted call to his bank in Switzerland, the man went through some security-processes and was soon granted a statement of the account, by a mild female voice.
He appeared to be content with what he'd heard, because he grinned slightly and put the envelope and cellphone in his pockets, got up and walked over to the bar, ordering a Dry Martini.
When he returned to the table, Someone #1 was gone, not very much to his surprise.
He shrugged, emptied the glass and decided to go home without fear, though he'd been giving out very important, secret-classified documents for a huge sum.
Everything and everyone has a price.
Outside, the street was full of people and all in all rather uncomfortable.
After he'd been selling some of the most protected secrets from the American Government's archives, it felt too dangerous to walk through large crowds, so he slipped into the dark alleys and began to walk home to his attic-flat.
That flat was located in a shabby block of Chicago and he would continue to live there, no matter if he just had been $100,0000 richer.
If he all by a sudden moved to a luxurious apartment, it would raise suspicions and that was exactly what he wanted to avoid at any cost.
His heads at work believed that he simply liked living niggardly, unaware of that Jack Strieber had huge debts that had forced him to live a parsimonious life the last years.
A few years back, Jack had become gambling mad and lost most in his life because of it.
The loan sharks had been chasing him and yet he couldn't stop.
His wife got fed up at last, got a divorce from him and moved to California along with his two boys, three years ago.
That had only resulted in an increasing wave of bets that he usually lost, pulling his economy down to the bottom.
He couldn't even pay the maintenances for his own children and thus lost his right to see them.
One could easily say that Jack Strieber was not overly content with his life.
After he had lost the contact with Dave and Benny, his two boys, life had simply lost most of its importance.
Every day he went to work, full-filled his duty, then went home to eat, sleep and worry about if someone was going to kick in his door that day.
His chiefs had no clue about that.
If they'd known, Jack very much doubted they'd allow him to keep the job.
And now he'd taken a large step and there was absolutely no turning back anymore.
He was a spy.
No matter what, Jack Strieber had realized that he really didn't care much.
He planned to pay back all the debts (that would be about $200,000 with the lending rate included), transfer at least $100,000 to his children and then leave the country for good with the remaining $700,000.
That would fit him nicely.
His plan was to invest some of the money funds and live the life he had never yet been allowed to live.
In his apartment was the passport and briefcases ready for his departure to somewhere far away.
After a few minutes of walking, he stopped by at a bar and entered.
The place was quite empty and the people looked like they were about to fall asleep on their chairs. The bartender asked him what he wanted in a very slackly way and Jack ordered a beer, then sat down by an empty table.
From one of the pockets, he picked up a pencil and an envelope with three stamps and a folded paper already inside of it.
He wrote down the address on the envelope first:
Louise Strieber
2910 Victoria Avenue
San Francisco, CA64194
For a long while, he was still and stared at the address, realizing how much he actually missed her and how much he had MISSED.
He had never been able to be a good father or husband, and he would most likely never see his children again.
Slowly and almost reluctantly, he put the envelope aside and began to write the letter, pausing all now and then to sip some on the beer.
Ten minutes later, the letter was written and signed with his name.
It read:
Dear Lou,
I have been involved in serious bad business, as you know from before.
The sharks have been haunting me day and night for long and I haven't even be able to buy presents for Benny and Dave.
Then, I got an offer I couldn't resist, and I had to do some bad things, Lou.
This was my only chance to get rid of the debts and be able to live again, although the price was very high.
When you read this, I am not longer in the country and I will never come back.
That also means neither you or Benny, or Dave, will ever see me again.
I am sorry I couldn't be the husband and dad I was supposed to be, and my decision has made it impossible for me to ever fill in that loss.
From what I remember, both Benny and Dave have talents for studies and I want them to be as happy as possible.
Thus, I have transferred an amount of money to you.
I hope with all my heart that you will accept it, because this is all I can give you, though it saddens me that it is ALL I can come up with.
See the money as an allowance to the boys' future schooling.
I want them to have all possibilities to choose what they want to do.
One more thing: if I would happened to die by some reason, I have arranged so that all my money/bonds and funds will belong to you and the boys.
Tell the little guys that I love them and regret I couldn't be their dad for real
Take care,
Jack
Jack sighed, then put the sheet of paper back into the envelope and sealed it.
For a while, he pondered over how she would react when she received his letter and read its intriguing message.
She would be shocked most likely.
Perhaps she would reject the money but he really hoped that she wouldn't.
Benny and Dave would need those for college when they had grown up and SHE couldn't help how HE had gathered the gigantic sum.
After emptying the beer, Jack stepped up and walked out of the bar without saying goodbye to the bartender.
In the end of the block was a post office located and he put the envelope into their letterbox, and prayed that it would come through and reach its destination.
Finally feeling lighter and happier, Jack walked home humming on a hymn he'd heard somewhere in his motley childhood. For the moment he had completely forgot to be careful and observing and that would cost him dearly.
When he reached the house in which his flat was located, he quickly walked up the stairs and ignored their old ornaments that once had been very impressive and gave the house a raised value.
But in that day, it was decayed and hosted homes for old ladies without income, drug users and miscellaneous pack.
They neighbours never bothered Jack and he was fine with the simple environment. The little place where he lived in could be cool in the winters, but the stove could also make it warm and comfortable enough.
That belonged to the past, though.
Soon, he'd live in constant warmth.
Smiling, without thinking, Jack put the key into the keyhole, unlocked the door and opened.
The first thing he recognized when the door opened was there were cables running from it. Then his eyes fell on the big red box on the floor with flashing light-emitting diodes.
Jacks eyes widened.
"OH NO!"
A horrible rumble engulfed his last thought when the bomb detonated.
The explosion tore off the walls and the roof fell down with a deafening bang.
Fire rushed down the stairs and put everything that could burn on fire.
In a matter of seconds the frames broke, causing the floors to fall down on each other and the old house got completely blown up.
Lights were popping up in all the surrounding houses and far away, one could hear approaching sirens sing their dirge.
When the fire brigade arrived, there was nothing left of the house or the people inside.
The dawning glowed in the east and it was May the 15th.
I love that special smell
When the sun shines down
After the rain
I remember how I felt
When I closed the files
Where I saved smiles
I made my bed and packed my gear
I don't know what it's worth
But I'm still here
I'll shave my head and volunteer
Am I closer now
What was that
I just couldn't hear
[Kent - OWC]
To be continued==-