Hi there,
I'm so restless at the moment. Well, been for over half a year. Anybody feels the same?
But - ha - I finished my further educations - passed all exams even though I spent my time in reading your stories instead of learning important stuff. But it's history now. 8 years of my life. I haven't even realised yet that I was successful.
I'm planning to get my bike driving licence this summer, until then I will drive with a friend of mine (who I barely know btw.) and I really love it. Did the same with my best friend years ago. But he has a baby daughter now and not much time. Yeah, the martian bikes are much cooler but I think with the whole armoury I would get in trouble with the authorities :)
Enough private talk. I finished another chapter (restless, you know). Much talking, bromance, wound licking, no action.
Vlaatjee - I find it hard to write out of Vinnies perspective. I'm kind of jealous here. I tried, really.

Thanks for your reviews. I'd like to know about your ideas what'll happen next - I do have a plan, yes. Still.. :)

Have fun.

Chapter 4

They spent the night in an empty cave, lit up a small fire and rested. When the faint sun rose above the red planet Vinnie was the first one awake. He sat by his bike while unwrapping his bandage slowly with shaking hands. He would never admit it, but he was scared to hell what was underneath. Hesitantly he turned away the mouse shaped mirrow of his bike with closed eyes.
„Hey, you're still the greatest," he whispered to encourage himself. Carefully he touched the wounded side of his face.
No fur, just wet pure flesh. Tears got in his eyes but they weren't tears of pain. „Oh, yeah. The greatest freak of all. That's what I am. No no no. What the great show of the walking skullfaced zombie. He once was a handsome guy - you won't believe it" he whined, to afraid to move the mirror back. This woke Throttle up who looked confused and disorientated. Modo was still snoring loudly. Vinnie did not notice, he was reaching out for the mirror with his hands still shaking: „A fucking freak, ha, who will ever wanna kiss with .." the words got stuck in his throat when he finally found the courage to look at his reflection. He stared at the mirror, eyes wide open.
„Holy shit."

Throttle got on his feet and felt his way towards the white mouse. „Vincent, what's the matter?" he asked worried. „Waaah," the said screamed, so startled that he nearly knocked over his bike in an attempt to move the mirror away. „Don't look at me," he sobbed, „I don't want you to see ..." He stumbled backwards and hiding his face behind his hands. Throttle knelt down before him and couldn't help but laugh.
The white mouse was irritated. „What's so funny about me being completely disfigured?" „I'm sorry. Vincent," Throttle said, still having a hard time to stop himself from laughing, „Really, I'm sorry. But .." He chuckled again. Vinnie shot him a look, with his hands still covering the nasty wound. „So, this is you feeling sorry? Strange kind of apology..." he grumbled. „Oh, bro. Already forgot that I lost my sight? You are just a pale scheme in front of a blurry grey background," he explained smiling. Uff. Right. „Oooooh. Yeeeeaaahh, I remember..." „Yeah, well, seems to be a serious injury you got here. Modo shall check it in the daylight," he added sternly. Vinnie felt his face blush. He knew it was not a lifethreatening thing, but it felt even worse. „So, what is it, Vinnie? Are your senses intact? Eyes, Ears? Mouth?"
The young mouse looked into his leaders cold eyes and felt ashamed. Still he was answering: „No. None of that. It's ..."
Sighting. Throttle was more than a close friend. He was his brother in arms, he trusted him with his life. „It's just my ego, you know," he admitted hesitantly, „My face is burned, the skin ripped off. I know it's stupid. Modo lost an arm and his eye. And you lost your sight. And I.. I am whining about my looks. I know it's war and I could've lost my life as well. So many others did.. Still.." The tan furred mouse closed his eyes, frowning, but remained silent. „I can't walk around like this, you know? I don't want anyone to see the messed-up thing which once was my handsome face," Vinnie continued, „I cheer people up and not scare them to death. And..., and the girls – who would ever wanna kiss a mouse looking like a freak show actor? I wonder what's left? If it's not the handsome, funny and charming guy... " He was lost in dark thoughts, gently touching his nasty wounded cheek.

Throttle cleared his throat and answered with a low voice: „I'm sorry Vincent. I really am. This is a hard price you've had to pay here. And I know words cannot change your burden. But let me get some things straight: You're the youngest Freedom Fighter ever and one of the most skilled, too. No one is faster than you are, your driving skills are exceptional. I would say you're the baddest mommajammer on the whole planet. You're a talented acrobat and brave.. or let's say you're laughing in death face as a daily business - in a suicidal way. And last, but not least – everything you do, you do with style."
The white mouse smiled and let his hands sink to the ground. „True. Van Wham style," he chuckled. „Yeah, Van Wham style, sometimes annoying, I have to admit," the older mouse smiled. Vinnie's mood lit up. „I wanna kick some stinkin' fish asses. Ha, they should have known better than to mess with Vinnie." „Me too, bro," Throttle agreed, „But first we'll lick our wounds, get it together and find Stoke and the other remaining fighters. Then we plan a retaliatory strike." Vinnie rolled his eyes: „Ah man, I hate the whole planning thing. I'm in with total annihilation. Planning is for old lame mice," he snored. „True," the tan furred mouse agreed, „as I am an old lame mouse I say we plan first. This is why I'm the leader here. Military tactics, you know. So get up, we have to wake Modo."

Modo was the one who was the most experienced in first aid and stiching wounds up. Vinnies stomach was in a knot while Modo examined his face with a blank expression on his face.
It was hard for the white mouse to stay quiet, but the grey giant scolded him for it was impossible to check the burn. The younger mouse shuffled his feet nervously and tapped with his fingers on his legs.
Modos face remained blank while he touched the white mouse face with his bulky fingers in a scientific way. The grey mouse started humming in a lively tone. „Modo, really. If you start singing now while you're treating me like a fucking lab mouse – I swear I have to kill you instantly," Vinnie growled. Modos expression changed from blank to irritated, then he started laughing with a deep and bellied sound. „Ah'm sorry, little bro. When ah do the nursery work I switch the role." „Hm," Vinnie snarled, still highly tense. „So, whats your opinion, doc?"
Modo stepped back and looked in the white mouse eyes. „Skin's burned, but not infected, yet. Maybe we can find some desert lilies and make a mash out of their roots. It cools and sanitised the skin. Then ah need to.." He was interrupted. „Yeah, mashed flowers and cabbage women stuff. But what's more important, d'you think the fur'll return?" Furrowed his brow, Modo threw him a questioning glance. Then hesistantly he answered: „No, ah don't think so."
Vinnie blinked his tears away – he so did not want to cry now. „Ah, so I need a bag on my head, with holes in it for my eyes, you know. Maybe I can use it so scare our enemies," he tried to sound cheerful but failed miserably. „It won't stay like this, you know?" Modo said sternly. „It'll heal and there will be scars left. Some fur might grow as well, but ah doubt that it'll cover the whole space." „Modo, stop this nurse tone. I have a gun and itchy fingers." „Sorry, bro."

Throttle, who stayed quiet the whole conversation while cleaning his weapons, interrupted now. „Enough mushy talk here, guys, we need to go. The sooner we reach Stoker and our comrades the better. Check your stuff and go. We'll be looking out for the lilies while we on our way. Modo, do you need more time to care for the burn or your arm?" „No, no. The wound's clean, ah'll apply the bandage and we can ride." „Copy that. Let's rock, bros," their leader said smiling and mountained his bike.