Hiya!
Man, one of the hardest things about writing is to remember all the names, I saw that instead of Primer I had written Harley in the last chapter in one sentence but I corrected that... Sorry about the confusion, that is always my struggle to get the girls' names right in this story XD I don't know why, the males are easy to remember but for some reason all the female's get messed up in my mind...
Thanks to everyone who has been reading this or the "prequel" to this story. If you would be so kind it would mean a WORLD to me if you could after reading write a few sentences, comments, helloes whatever... It would help my motivation to write big time since right now even though I'm having these ideas in my head ready to write down I have a struggle to write them for some reasons... I don't know why...
So thanks to you all readers out there!
And special thanks to my ever-so-loyal commenter Vlaatjee... Thanks, I don't think this would be even possible without your nice comments! And also your great stories to fuel my passion to write my own!
Anyway,
here's chapter 22 (already, wow!)
Hope you guys like it!
-SpaceFlora
The Good, The Bad and the Rebels
Chapter 22
Loyals
"Throttle...! It's Lieutenant Radius, he requests to speak with you..." A Freedom Fighter hollored a little further away as Throttle was getting his bike refueled. Throttle nodded and took a towel from the near-by table to wipe his hands to it as he followed the male Fighter to the main hall with hurried steps.
"Get those bikes ready, bros! We're leaving in fifteen minutes!" Throttle then glanced behind him, ordering the Fighters and the rebel rats who were all gathered in the garage, to check that their bikes were ready to rumble. The tan furred male walked into the main hall and made a beeline towards the VidCom.
"Lieutenant." He then nodded when seeing the white furred male's stern face on the big screen.
"Please, just call me Radius, I'm no longer part of the Army as I think both of us know by now...I've already done too many violations against my previous employer... It would be wrong not to mention hypocritical to still use my rank." Radius only concluded.
Throttle could see now that Radius was not anymore wearing the Army khakis and stripes and honory medals but instead he had a plain dark t-shirt on. Somehow the change of the wardrope did not bring change in his character as the white furred male looked as stiff as ever.
"Very well...Radius...I'm glad to see you're okay, we haven't heard from you since we found Modo and Simson..." Throttle sat down on the chair.
"I had to keep low profile...I also had to get a new mobile VidCom since the Army's equipments that I used could've been tracked down."
"Wise. They do grow men from boys in the Army after all..." Throttle only huffed lightly, looking a bit amused as he crossed his arms. Radius on the other hand, if he was amused about this remark did not show it.
"Well, let's just hope that you guys are right...about all this." The white furred ex-Lieutenant only stated.
Throttle gave a sigh as he leaned back in his chair.
"Trust me. I would want nothing more but to be wrong about this. But I'm afraid that's not the case. I also believe that things are actually much more worse than they seem..."
"How so?" Radius narrowed slightly his eyes.
Throttle observed the male, his red eyes moving behind the green field specs as he lightly tapped the handrest the same time. He then glanced around the main hall, scratching his scalp underneath his long hair before changing his look back on the ex-Lieutenant.
"I think you better get your ass over here before I'll start explaining anything... We'd be here all night and right now our bros need our help to get their asses here safely as well, so..."
"Stoker's heading back already?"
"Yeah, things got... a bit heated there..."
Radius nodded but then cleared his throat.
"So...My brother-in-law..? He's...alright or...?"
"He's fine. For what I've heard that guy just barely missed the early grave and got a nice row of stitches to prove that but he's currently more concerned over his bike that's still m.i.a. So all in all, he's back to being normal for all I can tell..." Throttle gave a reassuring smile but continued.
"Also this little thing happening at the borders right now, the tanks rolling in there, Army soldiers getting ready to shoot before asking... It don't exactly make things safer or easier... Bros better try be quick with their border hoppin'..."
"I don't think it's wise for them to try cross the border on their two-wheels, Army can detect a Freedom Fighter bike from miles away."
"You suggest they take a cab?" Throttle joked and noticed a slight twitch on the corner of Radius' mouth but the former Military officer cleared his throat.
"I think the best way to do this would be if we gave them the ride... We're currently trying to locate the safest route to cross the border as well." Radius commented and Throttle raised his eyebrow behind his specs.
"We? Who's we?"
"The reason I called you is because I managed to get in contact with some of the soldiers still loyal to General Carbine."
Throttle's mouth dropped a little but he quickly recovered although still looking doubtful.
"Wait... You got in touch with the loyals...Already?"
"Well, I promised to do that and I did. I'm a man of my words."
"Yes, ofcourse..Sorry..." Throttle gave a small chuckle.
"It's just... Wow... You work fast." He added.
"Well, what can I say... I don't fuck around. Army teaches to be efficient. You guys could learn a thing or two in there, too..." Radius corrected his posture.
"Was that a joke?" Throttle leaned back in his chair again, clearly happy to see this man got also happy genes somewhere deep down. Radius only managed to bring a small smile on his face as an answer. Throttle cleared his throat as his look became thoughtful again.
"So... How many men are we talking about here? How many loyals you managed to get in contact with?"
"Around fifty."
Throttle made a surprised look but then leaned forward again.
"I'm sorry... Fifty as in five-zero?"
"That's usually what it means..." Radius answered dryly but continued.
"Well, that's the amount I could get in touch with at least, I'm sure there are more. She was... she is a very respected Army Officer."
"I'm just glad that she didn't piss off everyone in the Army Base..." Throttle shook his head, but he looked proud.
"Yeah, well, clearly she pissed of someone..." Radius only muttered back.
"Did the loyals have any information on her? Have they heard anything about how she was holding up or...?" Throttle asked now turning to worried. Well, as worried as he allowed himself to appear infront of the VidCom.
"No. They're making it sure that only a very few people get to see or talk to her. She's being kept in this highly secured area. They're not taking any risks as they know that you guys are trying to free her."
"Not trying. We are gonna free her." Throttle answered but turned his gaze briefly on the floor. Radius observed this younger male, many years younger than him sitting there in the chair. The tall and like the rest of the Fighters, a well-built man who had always his field specs on so he gave quite a mysterious apparence as he was somewhat hard to read but Radius could tell that he too was well-respected among his fellow Fighters as it seemed that they've put him in charge now that Stoker wasn't around. The tan furred male didn't show too much emotions either but just so Radius could see that he wasn't completely hardened by the war, he was still a man very much connected to this world around them. Radius didn't know if he could've said the same thing about Stoker, but the older male had always been a bit more...quirky one, ever since he had left the Army and started his own troops and even before that. Radius didn't know why but he somehow felt more at ease talking with Throttle instead of Stoker. He seemed so much more level-headed. Radius then cleared his throat.
"So, you tell Stoker that we're picking them up wherever they are at the moment... No man is left behind while I'm around."
"Pick them up? With what?" Throttle asked a little doubtful now facing the big screen again.
"Well, the loyals got us a few Army trucks, that might save us from some suspicions if we encounter the Army... It buys us time for sure even if those won't totally work as a coverage. Also we can try to fit the bikes in as well if necessary, the trucks are big."
"Wait... You stole Army vehicles?" Throttle raised his eyebrow.
"Borrowed them." Radius corrected but fully comprehending what they had done but not really too keen to show that to this rebel. Throttle only nodded, looking pleased as well as humoured.
"I like your style, Lieutenant..." Throttle nodded pleased but then gave a sigh.
"Thanks. I mean it. I know you and Modo might have your differencies..."
"No...That's all in the past. That is if he's not picking up a new fight..."
"Well, if you wanna stay on his good side maybe don't mention his bike when you see him... The bond between them two is something I can't even comprehend sometimes either..."
"Very well."
"Safe travels, Radius. We'll be waiting this side of the borders. Call us if there's trouble. We'll be keeping an eye on the border as well."
"I think it's a little too late to be safe...I think it's more about survival from now on." Radius only replied.
"You might be right, Radius..." Throttle nodded before the call ended. He turned around and gave the Freedom Fighter present in the room a look.
"Call Stoker and tell him that Radius will pick them up."
The Fighter nodded and was on it as Throttle started to walk towards the garage again but nearly bumped into Aprilia.
"Throttle, hi... You're all leaving soon?" The light brown furred female asked her big brown eyes looking tired but still observant.
"Yeah." Throttle replied while tightening his gunbelt around his pelvis.
Aprilia nodded back and looked down at her hands, fumbling with her fingers.
"...be safe, okay? I don't think I could handle anything too dramatic at this point anymore..."
"It's been a crazy month, I must admit..." Throttle nodded while observing this small curvy creature infront of him with her big messy fair blonde hair that she hadn't still combed. Well, it had been hectic to say the least and Aprilia wasn't the type to put her looks before the more urgent stuff.
"Yes." Aprilia nodded, biting her lower lip but then shrugged her shoulders while crossing her soft arms, lowering her look to study the floor.
"You guys really know how to throw a homecoming party, hu...?" She added wryly and Throttle only gathered a gentle smile on his features and laid his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently and caringly before he left the female Martian to stand there, looking after him.
"Don't worry, doc, we'll bring the boys back safely."
Aprilia watched as the broad back of this tall male disappeared into the other part of the Headquarters. She shook her head and continued her way towards the sleeping quarters and her own room. As she was walking the corridors she past an open door and she took a few steps backwards and peaked inside. She saw the auburn-haired female alien soldering something by her tiny table. It looked complicated but that was not surprising to Aprilia who had witnessed already many times how smart this female from another planet actually was. It was lucky that the guys had bumped into her after crashlanding on Earth, otherwise things could've turned out very differently she thought...Aprilia still looked at the female working but decided it was rude to spy like that so she knocked on the door that was ajar. Charley startled but gave her a look and a brief smile.
"Come on in, Aprilia..."
"Oh, I don't wanna disturb...I just wanted to check that you were okay..."
"You're not disturbing. I could use some company to be honest... Ever since I came here the guys have been playing hide and seek with me while leaving the whole search part out..." Charley muttered but waved her hand as a sign for Aprilia to step inside this little room and Aprilia took a few careful steps and looked around her and the stuff Charley had already unpacked again to their designated places.
"Yes, they have kept themselves busy. If I didn't know them better I would say that they have some trouble adjusting to the life back home..." Aprilia nodded slowly, trying to joke while letting her eyes wander on the items and with careful and curious looks she took in her surroundings and all the weird looking things her fingers becoming suddenly itchy as a great urge to run her fingers on every little object got a hold of her but she crossed her arms to prevent her to do just that. She might be curious by nature but she had manners and self-restraint above all.
"So, you've unpacked your stuff I see...Again. Planning to stay this time?" Aprilia then gave Charley nearly a mischievious smirk that somehow caught Charley by surprise, the blonde curvy Martian was usually a bit more reserved while hanging out with her.
"Well, I already used all my "scared-little-girl-gone hysteric" energy so I guess I'm now back being just...me. So, yes is the answer to your question. I'm planning to stay this time. Who knows maybe Mars has better working opportunities than Earth does..." Charley joked as well.
"I used pretty much all my savings on those three fur brains and their rides and something tells me they ain't gonna pay me back..." The mechanic from the blue planet then tapped her bed.
"Have a seat."
Aprilia nodded and carefully sat down and gave Charley a small smile while keeping her hands on her lap, like she would be sitting in a waiting room, looking a bit shy and uneasy. Charley couldn't help but give a small laughter as somehow she was the total opposite of these loud and rowdy Martian males she had comen to know so well during the last three years.
"What?" Aprilia looked a little confused.
"Nothing... It's just... You're so sweet."
Aprilia blushed a little.
"I understand completely how the big guy's so smitten for you."
Aprilia blushed harder but nodded back shyly. Charley shook her head, raising her brow.
"That's why I find it hard to believe that he didn't tell me anything about you while staying on Earth... I mean, I should kick him for that..." The mechanic huffed looking thoughtfully at the mechanical parts stacked on her desk.
"He didn't mention me at all?" Aprilia asked disbelief in her voice.
"No. But he is a more silent type, I mean compared to Vinnie... Well, compared to Vinnie even the firejets are quiet as mice but... Modo always talked about his family, his mom and niece and nephew...But not once he mentioned you..." Charley then suddenly gave Aprilia a bit hasty look.
"I'm sorry, this might not be too nice of a conversation...And I don't mean to talk shit or anything..."
"No, no... That's okay. I'm actually quite interested in why's that...I mean..." Aprilia started but then looked at her hands again.
"Well, it can be that our relationship status was quite complicated to say the least while he was there on Earth but... I don't know."
"Complicated?" Charley repeated.
"You know, we were not really together during that time...And then when they briefly visited Mars we got back together again but then he left to Earth yet again... You know, for a such a laidback man he's quite restless..." Aprilia drawled. Charley only smiled friendly before she turned more towards the Martian female, hunching a little on her seat.
"Do you... Still feel him? You know, with that... mind..walk...thing...?"
Aprilia only shook her head slowly.
"No... But I guess it just fades away, you know...The connection after awhile... Or then I'm just too tired to keep the connection..." She talked but then as her mind started to go again towards the more unpleasant feelings and fears she suddenly shook her head again and gave the Earth mechanic a smile.
"Anyway! Let's talk more about what it is that you're doing in here in secrecy like a mad scientist would!"
Charley gave a laugh.
"Well, since I managed to open that mind-control machine Rimfire stole from the government...I've been trying to understand how it works and well, it's quite fascinating to say the least! I'm constantly amazed by your technology here!" Charley then cleared her throat looking ashamed for some reason.
"Well, it's atleast intriguing to a nerd like myself but maybe I'd bore you with it...I might sometimes forget that not all get excited about a bunch of wires and gadgets..."
"No, no...! Please, tell me! Fellow-nerd signing up here...!" Aprilia turned enthusiastic while Charley raised her eyebrow at her, never seeing the calm doctor this hyped-up and the blonde female turned a bit shy again.
"I mean, I didn't become a doctor and a scientist by accident... I was the biggest nerd in my class..."
Charley smiled back and nodded approvingly.
"Modo has such a great taste in women." She said but then turned back on the machine and started to explain about all the things she had found out about the machine's technology.
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The ride was a bit bumpy as the trucks were driving through the old sand roads of the Brimstone city. It had turned dark already by the time Radius and the Loyals had comen to pick the five mice and two rats up outside the city hospital. It had been a tight fit but after all everyone managed to find space inside the two trucks alongside the 25 soldiers in each. Even the four bikes fitted in.
The streets were filled with holes in varius sizes so everytime the truck hit a hole everyone in the back of the truck jiggled in their place. It was hot, too as the truck was packed with Martians. During the short ride they had travelled since they left the hospital Modo had been trying to relax his mind even though feeling everyone's eyes on him and on his somewhat worn-out look, with his battlescars and injuries, his bionic arm, his blood-dried clothes...Even if the others in the truck were soldiers, quite much like himself, he was fully aware that he looked like he had gone through more wars than the others. And right now he didn't need that kind of attention that he normally got in every situation with new people. Normally he didn't care, but right now he just tried to block the outside world out and just stared at the truck's wall. But every once and awhile he gave glances on the far corner of the truck where Primer was sleeping on the floor on top of a big pile of Army blankets. As Radius along with the loyals had comen to pick them up the ex-Lieutenant had not been excited to learn out that Primer had gotten involved with this mess, too. After a brief but heated discussion between Radius, Stoker and Modo they had comen to a conclusion that for now Primer would stick around but they would try to come up a place where she would be safe. And that was anywhere but inside Brimstone City.
These soldiers he was currently sharing the ride with were also all very aware who was at the moment sitting amongst them. They had all heard about the rumours of the three best Fighters The Freedom Fighters had so now even if they all tried to be discreet about it, they all had their eyes on this large male, who was bigger than most of the mice they'd encountered, and who had a bionic arm attached to him and an eyepatch. The big grey furred male had been silent all this time as he had just been sitting there, looking straight ahead, not moving even a finger. Everyone could see that he had hurt himself recently as he had bandage wrapped around his side and left leg but he didn't show any signs of being hurt. He just looked like he was lost in his own thoughts. Another bump on the road and everyone bounced in their places.
"Man, the government surely should invest on the road perservation..." One soldier tried to crack a joke next to Modo but the Freedom Fighter, albeit being a big aficionado of humour, only closed his eye and tried to sit more comfortably, leaning back, his arms crossed, feeling suddenly how tired his body was after everything he had been through the last few weeks. What they had been through with his bros. They had been back on Mars less than a month but it felt longer since it had been pure craziness from the second they had stepped their biker boots back on the red soil again. He didn't even know what to think of it all. He only knew he was tired. He wished he could just crawl under a blanket and stay there for a few weeks. And to know that it would be impossible, that there was no rest in sight, it made him feel even more tired. Every bone and muscle in his body hurt. He had noticed that he didn't even have his normal body strength either as his body was just aching for some sleep, food and rest.
He knew this feeling, this level of fatigueness. It was familiar from the days of war. It was all familiar to him, the constant alertness, the long periods without any sleep or nurishment... One got used to the constant tiredness, though, and for the stomach crying for food, the stinging sensation all around the muscles...It wasn't nice, but one somehow managed to pull it off. Somehow one managed to find the ultimate stretch, the last bit of energy when needed. But it wasn't something anyone craved for, to live a life constantly on the edge of a breakdown.
As the grey furred male kept his eye closed, he could feel himself sinking deeper into this dreamland that felt ever so inviting right now. He was grateful he didn't share the ride with Vinnie who was currently in the other truck and he could imagine that there would be no sleep for anyone in that vehicle. Vinnie would not leave an opportunity like a truck full of new listeners to go by without telling all about his greatest and craziest adventures which were all very familiar to Modo. He had heard them all millions of times by now but what's more is that in many of those adventures he had, along with Throttle, being there as well. Something which Vinnie somehow managed to forget to tell in his animated and enthusiastic re-enactements.
Not that they should even be sleeping right now, it was all chaos at the moment, there was a huge risk in the attempt to cross the border. They could all be shot, or atleast try to be shot. But still, as his mind and body were so tired and as he had learnt to be very creative about the places and times when one could sleep, even if just a little while (a trick that every soldier usually learned pretty fast out on the battlefields...), he just couldn't keep his mind from slowly but surely making its' way to the dreamland where the memories morphed into a one big weird world.
He saw the sun glimmering in the clear sky, it was as clear day as it could be in this red planet. The sun shining out there like a bright star, hurting his eyes a little as he was watching it. He turned his look away as he felt something velvety wrapping around his bare feet and ankles. He looked down and saw the waves of the ocean brushing against his grey furred legs. His skinny legs, that was an indication that he was very young in this vision. He followed the waves moving back out into the ocean again. It was amazing and beautiful. The ocean, the water... He remembered he had been coming here ever since he had learned how to walk. The Coal Bay...The birds were singing up in the sky, he looked up to see them flying above his head, he had not heard that birdsong in many years now. There were no oceans, no birds and no fish anymore on Mars but here it all felt so real.
"Modo!" He heard a familiar voice calling him and he turned his head from the sea and towards the small village by the shore, just under the mountains.
"Modo!" He saw his mother running from the village, her apron still on, her thick black hair dancing in the wind and he didn't have her glasses on. She looked like she was in her late forties, she had always being older than most of the mothers of the kids of his age. She shouted something to him, something he couldn't quite catch but she seemed to be in panic. His ears twitched as he tried to hear the words more clear in this loud wind that was always there by the ocean but he heard only the birds, the waves crashing against the rocks...
"Modo! Come back!" His mother was getting closer by every second.
"They're attacking! We need to leave!" He suddenly felt his mothers arms around him, jerking him into movement. He nearly stumbled as his mother tried to force him to move faster.
"Modo!"
Modo startled as he woke up and looked around him in alertness only to see Simson's face infront of his.
"Modo? Sorry to wake you up, I know how much we miss the sleep but we seemed to have stopped..."
Modo cleared his throat and looked around him still in a bit of an unoriented state and noticed that the truck had indeed comen to a stop but the soldiers were all still sitting in their places, many of them staring at him. Modo swallowed but nodded at Simson.
"How long was Ah sleepin'? We've already crossed the borders?"
"No, it's been only a half an hour ride... I don't know where we are... Also as a rat I'm not too familiar with this city so your guess is as good as mine..." Simson talked while also feeling how the soldiers were having their keen eyes on him as well. He was a rat after all. And rats and mice did not really come along that well, their relationships between each other being awkward at best. Simson gave Seven a look who was sitting across to him, glaring at the mice back. His expression made it quite clear to anyone who made an eyecontact with him that he did not appreciate being goggled at. He then changed his look to meet Simson and he gave a nod at his leader.
"Boss, what's up?"
"Just wondering where we are... We couldn't have crossed the border already..." Simson talked but Seven only shrugged his shoulders back.
"Well, I don't know where we are either...I've been inside this four-wheel trampoline for the past thirty minutes as well..."
Simson nodded, but then they all heard steps outside and everyone inside the truck became alerted and placed their hands on their weapons. Inside the truck, no one could tell was it a friend or foe circling the truck. Soon the door to back was opened and Radius and Stoker peaked inside and everyone relaxed.
"We got ourselves a new plan. The Fighters contacted us just now and told that the route we were planning on using is already occupied by the Army." Radius started and Stoker then started to tap the floor of the truck along the rhythms apparently he only heard.
"Yeah, so Throttle sent us the coordinates to a place where we could rest for tonight. And longer if needed." The old Freedom Fighter looked chilled while the ex-Lieutenant next to him not so much.
"But if we wait... It could mean that it is even harder tomorrow to try to cross the border?" Simson asked but Radius shook his head.
"We have to do this the safest way, we're not on a suicide mission here. We need to know for sure what routes to use and that means we have to stop some place safe and I believe the place Throttle came up with is more than perfect."
"What is it then?" One Army soldier asked.
"Let's just say that for us Fighters anyway, it feels like coming home!" Stoker announced happily but enigmatically. Modo gave a sigh and leaned back again, closing his eye and he heard the door being closed and soon the truck nudged into movement again.
"Yeah, sure, why bother telling us about the place...We're only part of this mess..." Seven muttered, crossing his arms and legs. A slight smile appeared on Modo's face as he still kept his eye closed but listened to the speculations that started to go around the truck about the possible places where they would be heading. He knew where Throttle had sent them and yeah, in some sense, it was like coming home...
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Okay, there was the latest chapter for you all... Hope you guys liked it and feel free to leave a comment! I'm sorry if it lacked Vinnie, sort of... And I know many of you out there would like to have more Vinnie/Charley thing here but don't worry, there will come more Vinnie/Charley action in the near-future :)