Drifter's Way: Chapter 1

Search for Hope

By Drifter Song

September 3, 2000

Revised February 20, 2002

Copyright Drifter Song, 2000-2002 all rights reserved

"This is going to hurt," Silver muttered to himself as his ship streaked across the sky toward a tall, dilapidated building.

Charley was working on cleaning up the shop when she saw something blazed across the sky just outside the window. What in the world was that, she thought as the object streaked by. Was that some kind of meteor?

Silver braced for impact but he knew that there wasn't much that he could do. His ship was breaking apart as he wrestled with the controls. The only thing that I can do is eject, he thought, maybe the remains of the ship will buffer my impact somewhat. Silver ejected and watched as the remains of his ship crashed higher up on the building than what he was going to. Both he and his bike crashed into the unyielding building, as parts of his ship fell in blazing chucks about him.

"What the…" Charley remarked as the dilapidated, abandon building next to her just seemed to explode.

Charley ran outside just in time to see the last remnants of the old, six-story warehouse fell into the pile of dust and rubble. What's going on here, she thought. Was this something that Limburger was planning to scare me into selling the Last Chance Garage? She wondered. Well it failed miserably, she thought with satisfaction. She turned and walked back into her garage to finish cleaning.

Silver slowly came to consciousness with a moan. Where am I? He thought as he sat up slowly. Looking around he found himself buried in the remains of the building that he crashed into.

"Well, I survived," he muttered to himself. "That must say something." He then looked around at the mess that was left of the six-story building as he tried to get his bearings.

"Ohhh no!" He cried when his eyes came to rest on his ride. His bike lay under a huge slab of broken concrete and steel beams. Carefully he stood up, wincing at a sharp pain in his side. He placed his hand against the spot where he felt the pain and realized that it was warm and moist. He looked down at his hand and found that it was covered in his own blood. He shook his head and thought, there is nothing that I can do for this now. I need my bike; without it, it will be much more difficult trying to find the Biker Mice, not to mention I don't think that many humans here on earth have sentient motorcycles either. Slowly Silver made his way over to his bike and began moving the rubble. With the rubble gone, he began to examine the damage. There was quite a bit of it.

Sighing he got up, "I have to find a repair shop or I'm going no where", he muttered to himself, again placing his hand to his wounded side. "The sooner I have my ride fixed the faster I can have a look at this minor inconvenience. He gave his bike a loving pat and added, "Don't worry, baby I'll be back for you soon," then began to walk away.

Silver was surprised when he found himself not to far away from what looked like a mechanic's garage. Slowly he made his way toward the building, and as he got closer he could read the sign above the door.

"The Last Chance Garage, that's an interesting name", Silver said softly, then looked down at himself. Hmmm better hide this, he thought as he wrapped his tail around his waist. I'm no sure how humans are going to handle my kind. I'm glad that my helmet stayed intact, I only wish that I had brought something long-sleeved to wear. Ahhh well there is nothing that I can do about it now. He was only wearing a leather vest the color of Martian sand. Then almost as an after-thought he reached into his pocket, took out a strip of cloth and wrapped it securely around the tattoo on his upper right arm. Taking a deep breath, he readied himself to enter the Last Chance. Gently he pushed open the door and walked inside.

"Hello, is anyone here?" Silver called softly. "I need inquire about getting some parts for my motorcycle."

Now that sounds stupid, he thought, what place on Earth is going to have parts for a ride that has something equivalent to a nuclear power.

The pain was starting to get worse; again Silver placed a hand to his side. He could feel that the wound had reopened and fresh blood flowed. He began to feel weak and leaned gently against the doorframe for support. I can't let this bother me, he thought, grimacing in pain; I have too much to do!

"Just a moment," a voice called from the other room. "I'll be out to help you in a second."

Silver looked up when he heard the voice and when a woman emerged from a room at the back of the garage with a greasy towel in hand and caught his breath. He hadn't been expecting the owner of the garage to be a woman. Not that there was anything wrong with a woman running a garage. Some of the best mechanics in my clan are women, Silver thought, but it just seemed odd to him for some reason. Maybe it was because I'm on Earth. She was tall for a human woman, he could guess that she stood about 5'7." She had shoulder length brown hair and was dressed in a slightly baggy long-sleeved shirt, rolled up to her elbows and a dark pair of pants tucked into work boots.

"May I help you?" the woman said in a pleasant voice, "I was just about ready to close up shop and I wasn't expecting any customers this late at night."

Charley was a bit startled when she caught sight of stranger; she wasn't expecting some one so big by the sound of his voice. The stranger had to stand almost 7' tall. He was wearing what looked like a form fitting, jet-black shirt covered with a rusty red colored leather vest. His pants and gloves were the same color. He wore multiple belts around his waist and there were three leather straps wrapped around his right leg, half way between his knee and thigh, all deep rust in color. He also wore a black pair of biker boots. She couldn't see his face due to the helmet that he was wearing.

"Sorry to bother you ma'am," Silver said softly, "I'm not from around here and I had some trouble with my ride. I was looking for a place to buy parts, I hope that this isn't to much of an inconvience for you."

"No not at all," the woman said with a smile, and then she noticed that he was holding his side. "Are you all right?"

"I'll be fine ma'am," Silver responded, gritting his teeth against the pain. "It's nothing, really."

"Let me see," Charley said, as she walked over to Silver, dropping the soiled towel upon the desk as she walked past it to free up her hands.

"It's nothing really," Silver responded. "I'll be fine," he hoped that he wouldn't start to sway, for he felt terribly weak and was wondering if he would be able to stay on his feet.

One look at Silver's bloody side was all it took. Charley walked over to Silver's good side and slipped his arm around her shoulder and started to lead him off towards the back room. How odd, she thought, it almost feels like he's covered in fur. She shook her head, must be my imagination. I bet it is some sort of thin velvet.

"Ma'am, you don't have to do this," Silver nearly whispered as Charley led him through the garage. Please don't let me pass out before we get to where ever she's leading me, Silver thought, there is no way that she will be able to carry me if I do.

"You must be joking, right!?" Charley said to Silver as she helped him walk. She could feel his steps starting to falter more and more. "There is no way that I'm going to let you die in my garage. This looks awful serious."

Charley led the stranger into the back room of the shop and helped him into the bed that was there. "I'll be back in a moment to take a look at that wound after I get something to clean it up with." Then she left.

She a few moments later, carrying a few clean rags and bandages along with some antiseptics and a bowl of clean water, which she set down on a small table by the bed.

Hearing the mechanic's return, Silver tried to sit up. Gritting his teeth to keep from crying out in pain he collapsed back onto the bed, weak and exhausted. He was having a hard time staying conscious. Looking up at the garage keeper, he whispered, "Thank you for your help ma'am," before the darkness of unconsciousness overcame him.

Charley barely caught what the mysterious biker had said before he passed out. She shrugged slightly as she sat down in a chair next to him. This is so strange, she thought. Why am I even doing this?

"Well, I guess that the first thing that should do is remove his helmet. It would make him more comfortable," Charley mumbled to herself as she leaned over and unbuckled the biker's helmet. Carefully removed it and in doing so a long grayish colored braid tumbled out from inside. She nearly dropped the helmet when she saw the black furred face underneath.

"I wasn't dreaming when I thought that I felt fur", she muttered to herself. "I don't believe it. He's a Martian mouse!"

After a few moments the shock wore off and Charley went to work. It won't do him any good if I don't get this wound taken care of, she thought as she worked on trying to remove the biker's vest. Frustrated, since she couldn't get the vest off, Charley got up and went to find a pair of scissors in the other room. Digging through a drawer she thought, I know I have a pair of scissors in here somewhere now were did I…

"Ah ha! Found them," she exclaimed then dashed back into the room were her patient slept.

I don't think that he'll want this vest anymore, she thought as she cut it off his wounded side. At least I hope that he won't. It took her a while to bandage the wound given the dead weight of Silver unconscious form. When she was finished she went back out into the other room with to take care of the dirty supplies and clean up. Periodically she looked at the room where Silver slept, and when she finished, she sat down in the chair she had in the work area thinking, it should be comfortable enough.

* * *

Charley got up and stretched the stiffness from her joints. That chair's not as comfortable as I thought it was she pondered. Well I wonder if my guest is awake or not? She walked over to the room in back and peeked her head in.

"Nope still asleep," she said, speaking her thought aloud softly

It's probably a good thing. He'll need rest to recover. Now I wonder where that bike of his is? Charley thought as she walked around the garage tidying up her tools to help her think. After she was done picking up she went outside to think some more. As soon as she stepped outside she remembered, of course how silly of me! I bet his bike is somewhere over in what is left of the warehouse next door. The comet that I saw was probably his ship.

Charley made her way over to the remains of the old warehouse and began to carefully search for the signs of a motorcycle. I hope that it's not buried under this rubble or I'm gonna have one unhappy mouse. Charley thought, shaking her head as she chuckled to herself. Behind a large pile of rubble she caught a glimpse of something metallic shining in the morning sun. I bet that's it, Charley mused to herself. I wonder what our mysterious mouse's bike looks like. Her musings were soon put to rest; the motorcycle was an enormous piece of machinery. The motorcycle was the style of an old Earth hog, huge in size to accommodate its rider.

"Man, this is something that would make Throttle proud," Charley muttered to herself in shock.

Charley carefully made her way to where the motorcycle was carefully stored. As she got closer, Charley could see that the bike had sustained a great deal of damage when it had crashed. The fenders were dented in nearly to the wheels. The chassis was dented and scratched in deep rending scratches. One of the tail pipes was bend, while the other was partially torn off and dragging on the ground. She was just about to reach out to lay her hand on the handlebars when the bike revved to life and tried to move out of reach. The motorcycle rumbled like an angry animal, and quaked with fury or perhaps, fear.

"Easy, easy. It's ok; I'm here to help," Charley said softly to the bike. I forgot that these Martian bikes are sentient, she thought. I'd better be careful. "It's all right I just want to help you."

The motorcycle whined and rumbled, still trying to pull away from Charley even though the damage and the surrounding rubble prevented it from doing so. Charley took a couple of steps back she was sure that it couldn't move to well, but just in case it could she wanted to be out of its way.

"Look your rider is inside my garage and he's fine, now let me help you," Charley told the bike. At this the bike seemed to calm a bit. "That's better," she said, relieved that she no longer had to worry about being run over.

She walked over to the bike and began to clear a path. "I sure hope that you can still roll," Charley commented to the bike. "If you can't I'm not sure what I'm going to do." The bike rumbled softly in agreement.

It took Charley almost a half an hour to clear a good enough path to walk Silver's motorcycle from out of the warehouse's remains. "Ok, ready?" Charley asked the bike. I'm gonna need your help." To her surprise the bike could still roll. Charley carefully made her way out of the rubble and debris safely with one large Martian motorcycle. Opening the large bay door of the Last Chance she slowly wheeled the bike in.

"Boy do I have a lot of work cut out for me," She muttered to herself aloud. "But I'm afraid that you're going to have to wait just a little while longer. Vinnie's coming over to work on his bike and I don't what him to see you." While talking to the bike Charley walked over to one of the cabinets in the room. She pulled out a large drop cloth from it and threw it over the stranger's motorcycle.

"You're going to have to be quiet," Charley told the bike with a smile as she lifted up a corner of the cloth to look at it. The bike responded in agreement with a flash of its lights then turned itself off.

* * *

Vinnie arrived at the Last Chance Garage no more than ten minutes after Charley hauled Silver's motorcycle into the shop.

"Hey Charley girl," The 6'1" tall, white Martian mouse called boisterously as he strolled into the garage like he owned the place. "Do you have the parts ready? I just can't wait to get back on the road!"

"Almost Vinnie," Charley responded with a smile as she walked over to him, cleaning her hands with a towel as she walked along. "I have to grab a few parts from the back room so why don't you get started? I'll be right back."

"You want me to grab the parts for you Charley girl?" Vinnie asked when she turned and started to walk towards one of the many racks in the main bay collecting tools to start his work.

"No thanks Vinnie, I can handle it," Charley responded as she playfully chucked the towel at him, then she disappeared out of the room.

The last thing that I need is for you to see who I have here, she thought as she quietly opened the door and slipped into the room were Silver slept. Why am I doing this!? I don't even know him!

"All right Charley girl," Vinnie called after her with a shrug, turned and walked to the bay door, where he brought his sporty, red ride, with it's matching personality to the white Martian mouse, in and parked it in the middle of the work area.

Let's see here the only thing that I'm missing now besides Charley girl's help is some tunes, Vinnie thought as he started to set up the tools, by the bike so he could get to work. Once he was done with the tool set up next to his bike he got up and walked over to the radio. He turned the radio onto a heavy metal station, full blast.

"Now that's more like it!" Vinnie commented loudly to himself as he walked back over to his ride and started to work. "Nothin' like jammin' to the tunes when there's work to be done."

Charley cringed when she heard the first few whining chords blare out of the radio. She knew full well that music would wake Silver, whether he was unconscious or not there was no way around not being bothered by music that loud.

Silver woke with a start, disorientated by the awful noise assaulting his sensitive ears He bolted painfully upright and looked around in confusion as the room swam about him.

"What is that awful noise?" Silver moaned in pain, then he lay back down and pulled the pillow up around his ears. Somebody, please make it stop." He then added after a few more moments of hearing the whining chords, "Will someone please put the poor thing out of its misery?"

"I'll take care of this," Charlie growled in anger when she saw Silver's reaction. "If I've told him once I've told him a thousand time to turn the music down!" Then she stormed out of the room toward the work area, making sure to close the door quietly behind her.

"VINNIE! TURN THE MUSIC DOWN!" Charley yelled at the top of her lungs as she covered her ears. "VINNIE!"

Vinnie was paying Charley no heed since he couldn't hear her over the music blaring from the radio. Hummed to himself and kept on working, the floor half covered in oil since he didn't get the pan under drain fast enough, as he had the oil filter nearly off.

"VINCENT!" Charley yelled sternly as she entered the workroom, ears still covered with her hands. "TURN THE MUSIC DOWN NOW!!"

Hearing his full name being shouted, Vinnie looked up from his work, at a very angry Charley who was covering her ears to try and block out the noise. His ears drooped and he quickly got up and turned the radio down to a more tolerable level.

"Sorry Charley girl," Vinnie called to her innocently from across the room.

Charley just sighed, crossing her arms about her chest, one foot tapped on the floor as she rolled her eyes at Vinnie before replying, "How many times do I have to tell you to keep the music down, Vinnie? I swear you never listen." Her anger just slipped away as she saw Vinnie trying to look innocent and cute.

"But you'll for give me right, Charley girl, cuz I'm just so darn cute," Vinnie responded with a charming smile.

"Don't press your luck," Charley called back, and then turned around. I'll be right back. I'm gonna go get those parts that we need to fix your bike."

"Ok Charley girl, I'll be here if you need me," Vinnie replied as he walked over to his motorcycle and went back to work with a slight sigh as his tunes blared softly from the radio. "Just not fair," he muttered to himself. "Good tunes need to be loud." He made sure that Charley was not in the room when he said that though or he'd be in some serious trouble.

Silver looked up when he heard the door open and saw Charley walk in.

"Thank you ma'am," Silver said weakly before he passed out cold.

Charley walked over to Silver, and checked his wounds and whispered to him, "Your welcome, and I'm sorry too." Then she walked over and gathered up the parts she needed and went back out to help Vinnie.

It took Charley and Vinnie most of the afternoon and into the early evening to fix his ride. Silver slept the whole time. When they were finished Vinnie tore out of the Last Chance Garage to go find Throttle and Modo, who were probably wondering were he was.

"Whew! I'm glad that that is over with," Charley sighed to herself as she cleaned up the garage, frowning at the mess that Vinnie had left behind in his haste to be back on the road. She wiped her hands clean with a towel she sat down in that chair and fell asleep almost immediately.