Chapter 21

Walking over to the laughing mutant Zerelda raised an eyebrow at him. "You drink Nitroglycerin? How is that possible?"

" Mwahabaha its my favorite! I love the hot air afterwards. Why are you here?" Looking at Zerelda closer frowned at her. Of all the times Modo encountered Fred, this behavior was odd even for him. "Your master is here. He gonna punish you if he catches you here." Fred looked around then replied "you gotta go before he does to you what he did to the other mousey girl. He was mean to her and she is the nicest mousey out of all you mouseys." all of a sudden Fred became angry. He looked directly at Modo and pointed his tentacle at him baring his teeth at him. "He would come in here and do things to her. I would hear her cry out for the white mousey but you three left her. It's because of you that he did what he did. They made her watch them kill clones that looked like you three mousey. He killed her and she let him because she wanted to be with the white mousey bad. She wanted her white mousey and to go home. " Snarling he ran up to Modo and bit into his cybernetic arm. He then started hitting him like a child having a temper tantrum. Modo kicked him off so hard that he landed in the wall across the room. Roaring to life, Fred started laughing hysterically and ran back into the laboratory side escape hatch as if nothing happened.

"What the hell was he talking about another 'mousey' and why did he say your master ZJ"

"I told you ZJ is not my name its Zerelda. Second that is none of my business as to the mousey and third that master bit is none of yours as well." She pulled out her blaster and head to the lab.

"ZJ.. I mean Zerelda wait at minute" Modo reached for her free hand and grabbed it gently pulling her to a stop. "I m sorry for whatever happened that caused this rift between us. I don't know what I did or..."

"It's what you didn't do...Damn it just drop it would ya. That was in the past and all is done." she turned her head so he would not see any of the tears threatening to fall at the moment. She whispered "the damage is done and it been a long time. Let the past die and let's get rolling we don't have much time now. " Pulling away from his grasp, Zerelda inched to the doorway to peek in. She breathed a sigh that Karbunkle was not there. Walking on into the room she went to the computers while Modo went to the recording bay. Sure enough there on the computers where files dating back to the war and beforehand. Looking up, she decides its best to transport the entire system to Dr. Vero. Maybe she could understand some of this mambo jumbo. Suddenly a crashing sound comes from behind Modo's left. Stoker's bike came crashing through the wall.

" Where's Karbunkle!"

" We don't know. Why do you want him?" Modo growled at him, his tail twitching dangerously along with his eye glowing a dull ruby red.

"That's my concern not yours rookies. That bastard belongs to me now. By the time I'm done, he won't be a problem for anyone else." Stoker's hands griped his handles on his bike till his knuckles where white under his fur. His eyes darted back and forth searching the room.

"No you don't General we need him alive and his talking abilities intact"

" Save it little she mouse! You have no idea the atrocities he..." the silence was deafening for a time. All three mice was staring at each when Zerelda bowed her head in silent resolve. She saw that determined look before, it was what saved her when she wanted to give in and die herself."Do you want Karbunkle that badly?"

"Yes!" he snarled

" Ok I'll tell you where he really is, I just transported him to the base before you came in. "

"Major why are you telling him.."

" where to find that lab rat? Because he is right! Why let the monster ruin one more life. General you want him that bad step into the transporter and I'll send you to him."

" Little Major that sounds like the most sensible thing you've done lately or even said."

" Glad to know you appreciate my thinking Stoker. Now if you would please step into the transporter, I'll send you to him. " Her unsmiling face and grim set jaw made Modo cringe a little.

" After the way you tend to put mice under with those blow darts, forgive me if I say no thanks."

" Why are you afraid? As you said I'm just a little she mouse and couldn't harm a soul" she said feigning innocence.

" Yeah right!" Modo and Stoker said in unison.

"Ok tell you what, you come over and you can punch in the coördinates yourself!" she said angrily her tail switching back and forth.

Leaving it up to chance, Stoker watched Modo and Zerelda for a moment. Her temper was rising with his so she must be telling the truth he thought. Walking over to where she stood he looked at the coördinates. Sure enough not long before was someone beamed to Mars. "Okay I can tell you beamed him there, send me over Scotty."

"Since when did you become Captain Kirk" Modo ask sadistically

"Back when I was dating your momma?" Stoker bit back a smile until he saw Modo let out a feral growl. The giant grey mouse launched himself at Stoker barely missing him. Zerelda had sent him over before Modo could reach him.

Growling he turned to see Zerelda glaring at him when he stood up. " What was that all about"

"Nothing" he barked at her, he brushed himself off and went back to the camera console.

"Sure what ever you say ass hole"

"Excuse me why am I an asshole?"

"As for as I'm concerned?"

"Yeah as far as your concerned. What the hell did I ever do to.."

"Me? That is my concern, not yours. "

"Oh that's just Plutarkian slime Zerelda Jane and you know it!" He growled low at her as he went back to the recordings.

Looking at the logs he found where they brought Charley in. The images made Modo growl and his lone eye vibrant red. Now he saw some of what Fred the mutant was going on about. There was three mice that could have doubled for them and one that looked like Stoker. After watching some of it; his growls became more intense. His hands were on the console as he griped the edge. Looking up at the Heavens, tears started rolling out of his eye. Zerelda stopped what she was doing to walk over to him. Looking at the recordings she saw how they were torturing Charley girl. Feeling remorse for what she had said before about Charley, she shut off the video feed. Modo had bowed his head at this point. Seeing him in such agony over his friend was more than Zerelda could stand. The ice that encased her compassion for him thawed a little. Taking a nervous breath, she slowly touched his furred arm. Shuddering, without even thinking he picked up Zerelda, crushing her in a hug close to his chest. His mind raced with all the feelings he has held closely in check all the past years. Everything in his world had been shaken to the core. His metal arm went around Zerelda's waist as his other hand cradled her head. He heard her heart skip a beat and start to race as she held her breath. He could smell her anxiety and other emotions at the same time. After he had calmed down enough he gently sat her back down on her feet, mumbling an embarrassed sorry.

"Don't mention it. Its ok." Rubbing the back of her neck she looks away shyly. Looking at the computer she decided to mention what she started to before. " Listen Dr. Vero needs to see the files on the computer can you help me put it in the transporter?"

"Yeah, and lets send that monitor and the recordings we can find. If we have to do the legal thing then at least we will have the evidence we need." Modo tried regaining his composure.

Back on Mars:

That shit! He isn't here, and I fell for it. First the tranquilizer now this! Stoker thought angrily and then realized where he was. He was in the infirmary outside of Charley's room. His blood ran cold. Someone knew she was here, but who and why.

"Good they found you!" Dr. Vero came round the corner sighing a relief of air. Now if she could get a hold of Karbunkles files.

"You mean you set me up!"

"It was for your own good. Charley and Harley have no idea that they are related! Those two girls are your twin daughters!"