Title: A mouse by Any Other Name

Author: Mandragoran

Rating: R (For violence)

Disclaimer: The Bikermice do not belong to me, they belong to other people other then me...the other mice characters belong to me though...please ask permission before using them...thanks



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The sound of metal on metal filled the old abandioned Plutarkian

base.

"How much longer?" A voice winned

"Not much I'm almost there..." Another replied

"I'm sick of being stuck here....how much longer?"

"Would you shut up?!"

The sound of metal snaping and a door swinging open.

"There!" The two voices said together. Footsteps padded down the

empty coridors, but oddly enough it was only one set. The door

to the old base opened for the first time in about five years

and a figure steped out into the red sands of Mars. She was

female about five foot in height. Her red hair that hung down to

her waist was like liquid moten and her skin like ash. On closer

look you could see what was a tail. It dragged behind her in the

sand making pattens in the shifting sands. She wore the tattered

remains of some kind of uniform, of what is undefinable.

"Where are we?" She asked squinting in the sun.

"How the hell would I know?" She answered herself but in a almost

diffrent sounding voice.

"I just thought..."

"Shut up! No one asked you!" The woman stood there in the sand

arguing for all apeariences with herself.

She heard the sounds of motorcycle's approaching and one part of

her almost shouted in joy and the other sneared in contempt. She

ducked into the shaddows of the doorway crouching low in the

dirt. A lone rider came over the sand trailing dust behind him

like a typhoon.

"Easy prey..." The meaner side said and slunk through the sand.

The rider didn't see her until she was in his path. He slambed

on his breaks and she jumped at him. He struggled in her grip

and she slambed her elbow into his unprotected throat, crushing

his windpipe. He spasmed for a moment and went still.

"Why did you do that?" She asked as she moved her hands over the

young man's clothing taking them off.

"We need his clothing and his bike." She took off his helment and

it was a young mouse underneith.

"A mouse?" She gestured to his tail and then their own. "Do you

think we arethe same species as this one?"

"It doesn't matter, only survival matters....besides he didn't

help us back at the building did he? Didn't let us do when the

rest left? Didn't find us? We helped ourself and that's how it

will always be!"

She undressed the young mouse and dressed in his clothing.

"I wonder why his ears are so large? We don't have such large

ears...."

"Then were not like him and it doesn't matter." She climb aboard

the motorcycle and sped off over the dunes, this seemed famillar

to her.

"Were to now?"

"We're going to make them pay for hurting us...make them pay for

even thinking of hurting us! We shall have or revenge and then

we will have some more!" An inhuman laugh rippled from her

throat her lips twisting up in an evil smile.

'

Zip' A ziper closed the nylon bag and two mice lifted it up and

bought it into the compound.

Carbine rubed her fingers against her temples. "Any leads

Chrome?" She asked to the orange mouse by her side.

"Sorry," He said, shruging his shoulders. "Me and Jess

found him out by that old Plutarikan base, you know the one out

by the southern desert?" She nodded and he continued "Found him

just like that...poor bugger."

"Wonderful." Carbine sighed, her tail flicking through

the air. "Just what this planent needs more plutarkians."

"I don't think the Plutarks did it." Jess came up between

the two of them and folded her arms over her chest. "There were

tail marks in the sand, maybe a rat?"

"Makes sence," Chrome nodded "Rats and Mice don't get

along."

"True," Carbine sighed but was still frowing. "But I can

see a Rat taking his bike but his clothes?"

"Not gona get far in a Freedom Fighter garb!" Jess

muttered "He'll stick out like a soar thumb."

"I don't like this, not one bit." Carbine turned around

and looked towards the compound. "STOKE!!" She bellowed.

About a minute later an older mouse walked out of the

compound and towards the three of them.

"You called?" He asked in a dry sarcastic voice.

"I want guards increased around here." She gestured

around. "And I don't want any mice going out alone."

"Slow down girl." Stoke shook his head "The 'don't go out

alone' we can manage but 'the extra guards' is going to be a

problem. We're under maned as is!"

"Just do it!" She snaped at him and turned on her heel

marching back into the compound.

Stoke muttered something snide under his breath and

turned towards Jess and Chrome.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" He asked

"As a matter of fact.." he gave Jess a meaningfull look

and picked her up, slinging her over his broad shoulder.

"CHROME!" Jess protested "You chouder head! Let Me

Down!!"

"Patiance Lover." He promiced a hidden hint in his voice.

"And stop calling me that!" Jess thwaked him up back of

the head and he chuckled.

"Sure thing lover!"

"AHHHHH!!! MEN!"

Stoker shook his head and went inside to see where in the

world he could conjure up some extra guards.



III.

Jess leaned her head on the window pane and looked across

the slowly lighting Martain sand. Rain would suit her mood right

now but when was the last time it had rained here? Months? It

felt like years....She ran her hands over her arms and folded

them across her stomach. Tears sprang to her eyes and she bit

down on her lip to force them back, they sparkled in protest.

Dry lightneing flashed across the sky and she was blinded for a

moment. Damn it wasn't fair. She'd only been back here for about

two years but it seemed that she had aged centurys in the last

26 months. She placed her palm flat against the pane and lowered

her head squeezing her eyes shut. The memories still hurt and

she tryed to change her thoughs to something else. Turning from

the window she looked over to the bed where Chrome lay fast

asleep. Did she love him? No, she didn't think so. Cared deeply

but not loved. She shivered in the cool night air and was

suddenly aware of how cold and how alone she felt in this world.

Moving back over to the bed she sliped under the sheets

and curled up against Chrome's side. He stiried in his sleep and

looked down at her.

"Don't tell me your up for a second round already?" He

said in a dreamy voice. She snuggled into his chest and he put

an arm around her to find her shaking slightly.

"Hey Lover," He looked down worry on his face. "You okay?

Your backs not bothering you again, is it?"

She shook her head no and burrind her face into his fur

letting herslf cry.

"Oh doll...shhhhhhh." He murmered stroking her hair.

"It's going to be okay, I'm hear for ya...."

She pulled back from him. "I don't need your simpithy!"

Lightening flashed in the sky and reflected in her eyes. "Don't

you dare pity me!"

He stoped himself from being snarky with her he could

feel her pain and he knew that she did this when she was scared.

"I don't. But I'm always here for ya Jess you know that."

Her eyes softened and she reached out and stroked his

face. He closed his eyes at her gentle touch. "I-i'm sorry

Chrome."

He smiled "Hun, you got nothing to be sorry for." He

assured her. He pulled her close to him again and she snuggled

into him wraping her arms around his neck, her finger played

with the fur along the back of his neck.

"That's what I love about you Chrome," She managed a part

smile "Your full of shit!"

"Now, now, Lover," He teased "No need for name calling."

"My heads just all screwed up...somedays I just don't see

the point." She rested her head on his chest again.

"The point of what?" He asked running his fingers through

her hair.

"Everything." She sighed "Sometimes I think it would just

be better if I had died in that explosion."

"Jess! Comon, you can't mean that."

"Damn straight I do!" Anger building in her voice. "The

fightings never going to stop! So we get rid of the

Plutarikians... we still have the Sand Raiders and the Rats!"

She sighed her anger expelling through the breath.

"You'll see...someday this place will be as we knew it!

The fighting will end and we'll all live happyily ever after!"

"Anyone ever tell you your a hopeless optimist Chrome?"

"Anyone ever tell you your a hopless pessimest?"

Jessie looked over his shoulder her eyes distance.

"Once." Was her reply. Her eyes wandered over to the clock on

the table next to the bed and she sat bolt upright.

"What is it?" Chrome proped himself on one elbow alarmed.

"Shit!" Jessie muttered throwing the covers off herself

and started searching around for her clothes. "I told Pirro that

I'd be in to watch the obtobsy this morning, on the mouse we

found! I'm late!" She struggled into her Freedome Fighter

uniform smoothing it in place.

Chrome watched from the bed her movement tantilizing him

in the slowly awakening dawn. "mmmmm....you should dress for me

more often." He said grining at her but with a underlying

hunger.

"Chrome, I'm late already! You know the shit Pirro's gona

layon me as is??" She pulled on her gloves, tugging them into

place.

"Oh let him wait!" Chrome grabed her with his tail and

pulled her over to the bed. "That mouse ain't going anywhere."

The scowl that came over Jessie face told him that he'd

just steped into it big time. "That's awful of you to say! He

was a fellow Freedom fighter, show a little respect!"

Chrome winced "I didn't mean it like that," he apoligized

"I wasn't thinking."

Jessie smiled down at him. "No, you were just using the

wrong part to think with," She unwound his tail from her waist.

"Just hold onto those happy thoughts, I'll be back." She petted

the end of his tail patrinizing.

He sighed. "Oh ya,right!" He muttered sarcastically. He

got up and start hauling on his own uniform. "I might as well go

with you, not much for me to do here by myself."

"Well..." She gave him a wicked look.

"I don't think so." He said putting his hands on his hips

and looking indignent she even thought he would. It looked

pretty comical with him half into his uniform the rest around

his hips and laying on the bed.

"Comon Rusty, get the lead out."

Chrome looked at her and scowled hurrying to get dressed.

"You know I don't like that name."

"Ya, well I don't like it when you call me Lover." She

swished her tail in front of his face and then teasingly over

her body. He quickly looked back to getting dressed.

When he was finished dressing the two made their way down

the hallway and Chrome although much taller was hard pressed to

keep up with the lith white mouse.

"I just want to know what the hell is going on here!" She

muttered marching down the hall towards Pirro's lab. "I mean who

kills a mouse and takes his clothes too?"



IV.

"Your late." Was all Pirro said as the two walked into

the room.

"I got held up." Jess said looking pointingly at Chrome

who smiled in responce.

"I bet you did..."Pirro muttered "Here," He passed a box

full of plastic gloves in her direction. He pulled back the

sheet and Jessie looked at the mouse in front of her. His throat

was a mess of fur, skin, and cartlige. It looked as if something

had tried to wrip his throat out.

"Direct blow to his windpipe." He moved his hand over the

wound and nodded in satifaction. "Feel here?" He moved her hand

to the position and she felt the bones and noticed the edges

where smooth.

Pirro looked up. "Who ever did this knew right what they

were doing. I figure an females elbow or some small object of

the same shape."

Chrome cocked his head to one side. "Why say a females?"

"There's no bruse marks around the throat and no broken

bones on the side. It had to be small and conpact. Maybe a male

that was small but I'd rather place my bet on a female. Or like

I said something small shaped in the same form." He pulled his

gloves off and thew them in a trash, Jessie did the same.

"So, what did he die from?"

"Lack of air...crushed windpipe does that. I assume your

asking if there was any sign that he was killed other then the

obvious. Not that I can see, there are a few bruses on the upper

shoulders. Looks like he grapled with someone. Small, also

suporting the female theory."

"Thanks Pirro." Jessie nodded "Find anything else you let

us know right?"

"Course," Jess and Chrome turned to leave when he spoke

again. "How's the back doing by the way?"

"Fine." Jess answered curtly

"You were susposed to some see me yesterday for a chech

up." He frowned at her.

"Well as you can see I was kinda busy." She gestured to

the corpse on the table.

"I expect to see you here today then." He told her.

"I'm going to be busy today, there is a killer running

around." Jessie put her hand on her hip.

"Which you can catch after I say your fit for duty."

Pirro raised his chin. "I want you here after lunch, if your not

I'm pulling you from duty."

Jessie clenched her fists and her eyes flashed with

anger. "Fine." She muttered turning her back on him and left the

room.



V.

"How does that feel?"

Jessie bit back a wince. "That's fine." She said in a

tence voice.

"These stitches aren't healing as fast as I hoped." He

frowned and prodded her back again with his fingertips. "What

have you been doing lately?"

"The usual," She replied testly "Eating, sleeping, riding

my bike, blowing up Plutarkains, sex. You know the usual stuff."

"I thought I told you to take it easy. Expecitally on the

physical exertian."

"You did," She snapped "I just didn't listen."

"Well your going to have to listen!" Pirro snaped back

"This is your life were talking about here Jess! " He prodded

her back again and she bit down on her lip to keep from wincing.

"I felt you tence at that." He glared down at her. "Go get

dressed. That's it I'm removing you from duty till those heal."

"WHAT!!" Jessie exploded rounding on him "You can't do

that to me! I've got things to do!"

"Well they'll just have to do without you for about a

month or so. I'll inform Carbine and Stoker about my

desicision." He turned from her and she grabed his arm in a firm

grip and he winced with the presure.

"You can't do that." He voice was low and mencing. "I can

do my job. This is all I have."

"The desision is made Jess." The finality was hard in his

voice. He pulled his arm from her grip her fingers having left

red marks. "Go get dressed."

"This is not the end of this, Pirro." She threatened.

He ignored her turning back to his chart in his hand.



VI.

The door slambed in the room and Jessie walked past

Chrome who was sitting in the sitting room listening to the

radio. He turned it down as she came by.

"So how did it go?" He asked following her movements

across the room.

The door to the bedroom slambed in responce.

"That well hunh?" He muttered going back to the radio and

fiddiling with the dial. Finally able to pick up a radio signel

he left it there for a few moments.

~Reports have it that the Plutarkian have moved west

across the Taro Dunes into the city of Shazian. There is no word

of casualitys yet but the militlary have told us that they have

sent renforcements. The numbers seem overwhelming though in the

sight of the superior firepower of the Plutarian forces....wait

a minute...I've just gotton a report...~ there was a pause in

the broadcast as the reporter talked with someone off mike.

~There seems to be a freedom fighter out on the field.~

Chrome sat up straighter. Charbine had sent military out

there eariler this morning but as far as he'd known Stoker

hadn't sent anyone out that way.

~Yes, a mouse who is definally wearing freedom fighter

garb. We are uncertain if it's male or female at this instance

but red hair and a tail was said to be seen. They drove into the

middle of the battle and plowed through the Plutarkians with a

vengence, seemly helping the poor citizens escape. The bike was

black in color flecked with red paint along the left side.~

Every mussle in Chrome's body grew cold and his fur stood

on end. "Jess! You better get the hell out here!" He bellowed.

She apeared in the door way instanly dressed in a long

t-shirt. "What's going on?" She asked her voice holding a sence

of inpatiance.

"That mouse that died yesterday? His bike has been spoted

on the battle field out by Shazian."

Jessie stalked over "Fighing with the Plutarkains no

dout."

"No, that's the weird part. Their helping the citizens

escape FROM the Plutarkains."

"Comon," Chrome urged gesturing at her "Get dressed

Stokes gona need to know about this."

Jessie muttered something under her breath "I'm coming."

She went back in the room and got dressed and the two went to

see Stoker.



VII.

The freedom fighter base was a flurry of activity by the

time they got there. The two moved up by the side of Stoke who

was already trying to calm a pirticular vocal freedom fighter

who was insisting they all charge out there and grab the rouge.

Chrome opened his mouth but Stoker raised a hand.

"I've heard, and no. Carbine and her group can take care of it."

"Hump," Jessie snorted snidely "The army can't take care

of a coctail party."

"What was that, Leutient?" Stoker said glaring down at

her.

"I said the army is a bunch of fools, Sir." She snaped at

him.

"You are way out of line, officer. They are our allies

and none of the mice here may agree with their tactics but we

are all on the same side."

"Now we are, but how many mice had to be slaughtered

first."

"That is quite enough. Now listen people," Stoker said

looking around at the group gathered around them. "The army has

asked us to stay out of this conflict. Shazian is a miltiry

town, and under the goverments juridiction. If we all go

barelling in there then we may just kiss out alliance with the

miltary goodbye. It's alway been on shaky ground as it is,

expecitally this last month, with the capture." Many of the mice

looked to the ground and placed hands on other mouses shoulders.

"We need to keep it together, to show the military that we can

be of use. We will catch this rouge mouse, or rat or whatever

the hell it is, and they will be held responsible for Shon's

death."

Many mice nodded in responce with and before they could

say anything else Stoker once again held up his hands. "I'm not

about to let this go unchecked however. If there is a freedom

fighter running around out there without otherizatin I want to

know. That's why I'm going to send a couple of you mice out

there to keep an eye on things." A few murmers went up from the

mice about. "Under no curcumstances will anyone confront the

enemy. This is an observation mission not a infiltry." He looked

about. "Shandy, Raid, Steel, and Tau. I want the four of you out

there and report back." The four mice nodded and they were out

the door before he could say another word. "Shah, and Orlin. I

need a couple extra guard out on along the east boarder." They

both nodded and hurried away. "And the rest of you....get the

hell outa here. Take some R&R or something while you can." A few

mice chuckled nerviously and the croud started to thin out. Stoke

turned and found himself facing Jessie. "What?" He asked

"I want to go out there Stoke, Chome and Me found

the body. I want this."

"That's out of the question." Stoke put his hands on his

hips "You shouldn't even be here. You've been suspended from

duty."

"What?" Chrome started turning to her "You didn't say

anything."

"That's because there's nothing wrong with me!" She

glared at Stoker "I can do the job, Stoke. You know I can."

"Not according to Pirro and he's the physician around

here. Untill he says your fit, your off duty. Go home, relax."

"No!" Jessie grabed his uniform and slambed him into the

wall. Her eyes were wild and they seemed to bore into his. "This

is what I do! You can't take this from me!"

Chrome grabed her arms and wressled her away from Stoker.

He straightened his uniform and cleared his throat. "Take her

home." He told Chrome. "She's to volitile to be of any good to

me."

Jessie struggled against Chrome's grip but he held her

like a vice. "Let me go!" She screamed "I won't let you do this

to me! This is mine, do you hear me! I want this thing, I'm

going to hunt them down and kill them for what they've done!"

She was nearly histerical. "I won't let them win!"

Chrome struggled with her now, as she flayled about in a

frenzy. "She histerical!"

"Someone get Pirro!" Stoke yelled "And tell him to bring

some seditives!"

Jessie suddenly bit down hard on Chrome's hand and he

yelled in pain letting go of her arm. Blood welled up from the

bite. She took advantage and elbowed him in the stomach. He

doubled over in pain and Jessie managed to escape from his grip.

She pulled her gun from it's holser on her thigh and she leveled

it finding Stoker with one leveled at her.

"Jess," Stokes voice was soft but held a raw edge to it.

"You don't want to do this. Comon give me the gun." He reached

one hand out before him and her eyes darted back and forth at

the tence mice who had reacted to her screaming.

"Keep away from me!" She yelled "I'm not going to let you

stop me." She was looking for a way to escape. He eyes darted to

the closed window by her side and Stoke realized her plan one

instant to late. She jumped through the pane, her arms before

her face, shelding her eyes. Glass scratched across her arms and

she fell towards the ground. She hit hard rolling to her feet

she grunted in pain and wraped an arm around her waist. Whisling

through her teeth she ran across the sand away from the Freedom

fighter base. Her bike came speeding up by the side of her and

she jumped on. The two speed over the next sand doon and out of

site.

Pirro hurried into the room with a hypo in his hand only

to hear the mumering going through the room. He came over to

where Chrome was leaning against the wall holding his hand.

"What happened?" He asked inspecting the wound.

"It's nothing." Chrome said wincing as Pirro looked at

the bite.

"Looks like someone bit you!" he said astonished.

"Doesn't it?" He grined grimly.

Stoker came over. "It was Jessie." He said "She just went

balistic and flung herself from the window."

Pirro's eyes went wide and Stoker shook his head. "Damn

it. I should have seen this coming. She's been under too much

stress."

"What did you say to her?" Pirro asked

"I told her that she was removed from duty and she went

nuts."

Chrome looked at him. "I'm not surprised. She hasn't been

herself for the last month or so. Just before we got back. She's

actually calmed down since then though."

Stokers eyes looked as if something had just dawned on

him and he cursed under his breath. "Well we have to find her. I

can't let her run around in that condidtion, she's a danger to

herself and everyone she somes across."

"Let me look for her Sir." Chrome asked "If anyone can

get through to her I think I can."

"Agreed," Stoker said nodding his head. "But your going

to need someone to go with you. Pirro?" He turned to the doctor.

"Me?" He asked startled "But Stoke I'm no fighter, or

tracker."

"No but your a doctor and our only shrink, although the

later you kinda stink at." Pirro gave him a wry grin.

"Thank you sir."

"Go with him, she looked like she hurt herself in that

fall, and you may have to sedate her to get her back here. Try

not to hurt her but Chrome, if she does anything stupid, like

ride into the middle of that war zone, then get her the hell

out. Batter brused whatever as long as she ain't dead."

"I understand."

"Do you?" He asked "Our tail are this close," he held his

two fingers but inches apat. " to getting shut out of this thing

all together. If Carbine gets a glance at her in this unstable

condition she might just stop cooperation with the Freedom

Fighters. We need all of us working together to win this war. We

have to make the leaders sacrifice count for somthing."



VIII.

Chrome and Pirro looked over the dunes before them each

on a bike, "She went..." they both started.

"I think out of the two of us I know Jessie better."

Chrome said "And if I know Jessie she's headed into the middle

of battle."

"You may sleep with the mouse," Pirro quiped "But I'm the

one that treats her. You'd be amazed what your patients tell you

and if you ask me, I say she would try to find out about this

thing more before she charged headlong into battle."

"Well nobody asked you," Chrome shifted in his seat atop

his bike. "And I think she tells me a little more then her

doctor."

"Jessie has some phycological theropy with me to after

she got back."

Chrome started and looked over at him. "I didn't know

that."

"I'm sure there's alot about Jessie you don't know." He

said smuggly "Like first of all Jessie isn't her full name."

"It's not?"

"No, it's Jessica. Although she doesn't like it." Chrome

looked back over the dunes.

"Why?" Chrome asked "Jessica is a nice name."

"I can't say, patient confidality." Pirro said a bit to

smuggly

"Bull shit!" Chrome looked to him. "What else do you

know?"

"Alot."

"I don't think you know anything else, and that Jessica

thing probabbly isn't a secret. I only knew Jess a couple months

before we were sent out on that mission. She wasn't very

talkitive after that."

Pirro nodded. "She was alot more friendly before that.

But then again she hadn't lost someone close to her before

that."

"And what's that susposed to mean?"

"Well it's just that she was close to one of the Freedom

fighter leaders, or so I've heard."

"Close?" Chrome's voice held a sort of how close term to

it.

"Like that." Pirro crossed his fingers. "She never talked

about it to me though. Wouldn't even bring it up. Though we

talked extencivly." He emphizied the last point. "She must have

loved him very much. It's a shame really."

He let the silence go for a few minutes. Before he turned

back to Chrome. "So, how long have the two of you been

involved?"

His tone sounded light but the implication was there.

Your just a subsitute. She didn't love you. Your just the

rebound guy.

Chrome gritted his teeth. "Almost two years now."

Pirro let a whissle out between his teeth. "That's a long

time. And she never told you?"

His tone once again light but the implications were

there. Two years and she still hasn't confided in you.Can't love

you that much if she still didn't trust you with her feelings

yet.

"No." He said testly.

"Hmmmm."Pirro rubed a hand under his chin. "After this is

all over I wonder what she'll do, I mean I can never see Jessie

to settle down."

The with you was left out but Chrome could almost hear it

there.

"I wonder what type of mouse it would take to tye that

one up for good."

"Are you implying that I couldn't??" Chrome finally

snapped

"I never said anything of the sort." Pirro objected but

the hint of that smug smile was there. "But now that you mention

it...I mean it has been two years."

"Oh and I suspose the type of mouse would be you!" Chrome

shot back.

"Well, yes. At least I listen to her. Not to mention her

back, I mean I care about her saftey after all."

The next thing Pirro saw was a fist coming at him and he

fell to the sand. Reaching up he held his jaw. Chrome stood over

him blocking the sun. "You barbarian!" Pirro struggled to sit

up.

Chrome put a foot on his chest and forced him back into

the sand. "I never came across a mouse that I didn't like." He

said in a snarl "But I beleive I'm gona make an exception for

you. Just because Jessie hasn't told me things about herself

doesn't mean she doesn't love me, you got that?"

"But you have to wonder don't you?"

"Listen," Chrome reached down and pulled him to his

feet."I have to work with you to find Jessie but I don't have to

like you. And you don't need you tounge to help her, so you

either shut-up or the next word you say's gona be you last." He

smoothed the doctors unifom and steped back. "That clear?"

"Crystal."

A beeping was heard over Chrome's radio.

He walked over to it and flicked a switch. "Chrome here."

~Chrome this is Stoker, we got a sighting of Jess over on

the south side near that old base. Over~

Pirro looked over and then to the sky.

"I got that Stoke, We'll check it out. Over and out." He

looked over at Pirro and got on his bike. "Not a word." He

warned. Pirro said nothing but that hint of a smile was there.

Chrome bent over his bike and took the lead. He'd been right

about this....what else could he be right about?