Drifter's Way

Chapter 5: The meeting, for good or ill?

By Drifter Song

July 19, 2002

Copyright Drifter Song 2000-2002, all rights reserved.

Silver woke the next morning before the sun even rose, thought the lightening of the sky showed that dawn was not that far away. Shoving back the blanket that covered him he sat up and stretched a bit stiffly due to his wounded side before he put his boots back on and retrieved his vest. He stood up and headed out of the back room as quietly as possible. He made his way through the garage back to the work area to find Charley asleep in the same uncomfortable chair she had been in the night before, as he lost the argument as to who was taking the bed. Making sure he didn't bump into anything he headed back out of the work area and leaned against the wall by the door, thinking while the sun started to rise. After he waited for a few more moments making up his mind he headed back into the work area and walked over to the chair. Once there he looked down at Charley and the debate began anew within his mind.

Should I move her? Silver thought, It would be better for her to sleep in her own bed. He sighed softly before he leaned down to pick the woman up as carefully as he could as he tried not to wince to badly in pain, but to no avail.

Just as soon as Charley was lifted from the chair she jerked away with a sharp intake of breath, and started to squirm in his grasp. Startled she looked around in a frantic state as she tried to get away till she recognized Silver. Amazingly enough Silver managed not to drop the frightened woman.

"Hey!" Charley said flustered tone, still partially asleep but functioning none the less. "What are you doing?"

"Moving you to a more comfortable place to sleep, Miss Charlene," Silver replied softly as he made his way towards the back room.

"I was fine where I was. You shouldn't even be up let alone worry about me, you're wounded." The woman began to protest as Silver rounded the corner into the back room.

Silver just chuckled as he set Charley down on the bed. "As I have told you before Miss Charlene, I'll be just fine, you on the other hand deserve to rest in the comfort of your own bed, you have done enough for me already."

"I give up," Charley said with a sigh as she gestured a bit wildly with her hands before lying down. "Just a few hours, that's it!"

Silver just smiled as he turned and left the room, closing the door after him. He managed to tinker around quietly in the work area for quite some time before Charley awoke once again and came out to greet Silver before heading outside to check to see if any of the parts she ordered had arrived yet.

* * *

At the scoreboard in Quigley Field Vinnie woke earlier then the others and decided just to take off for Last Chance Garage. The roar of Vinnie's motorcycle taking off out of the scoreboard would wake the other two Martian men. Throttle sat up with a groan, as he slapped a hand to his forehead, as Modo rolled out of bed to see if he could catch sight their boisterous Bro.

"Vinnie," Throttle muttered under his breath as he got up just shortly after Modo.

"Well there he goes," Modo's words drifted through the scoreboard to Throttle as he made his way out to where the big grey mouse stood looking out of one of the score slots in the board.

"Well we better go after him," Throttle said with a light sigh. "Knowing Vinnie he's gonna get himself into trouble some how."

* * *

"Hey there Charley girl," Vinnie said with a wave as he parked his ride. "I'll be back in a sec to help ya out."

"Hi Vinnie," Charley replied as she heard Vinnie call to her but she was so absorbed in trying to figure out the best way to move the crate that was dropped off that she didn't quite pay attention that Vinnie was going inside…yet.

* * *

Inside the work bay Silver, who had been working on his motorcycle stopped at the sound of footsteps through the Last Chance. His ears twitched slightly as the sound of the footfalls were heavier then Charley's. He turned to see who entered the room not realizing the bandaging that he replaced over his arm caught on the handle of his motorcycle, till he nearly pulled it loose. Catching the falling bandaging as he twisted to his feet his pale gaze fell upon Vinnie. A mild bit of shock registering on his face at the sight of the other Martian man.

"Whoa ho ho! Well lookie here!" Vinnie said enthusiastically after he got over the light bit of shock in seeing Silver as well, "I never expected to see another Martian mouse around here. How's it goin' man?"

Pale blue orbs blinked a moment before a smile slid across Silver's muzzle as he gave a light sigh of relief, at the sight of the white Martian mouse whom was missing half his face. Apparently he wasn't going to have to go find the Biker Mice like he thought he was.

* * *

Outside Charley finally registered that Vinnie went inside and she stood up looking at the door for a moment. As nothing detrimental seemed to be happening. The Last Chance didn't seem like it was going to blow so she went back to trying to open the crate so she could move part of the pieces one at a time.

* * *

"Things are starting to look up," Silver replied to Vinnie in his silken tones.

"Excellent! What bring you to Earth," Vinnie asked as he held out his hand to Silver. "Th' name's Vinnie by the way."

"I came here to find the Biker Mice and apparently I have found one of them, or should I say one of them has found me," Silver said as he looked at Vinnie's hand for a moment. His tail twitching softly behind him, before he reached out to take the white furred man's hand, he let go of the bandaging in the process. "My name is Silver.."

Then it happened, seemingly in slow motion for Silver, the one thing that he had hoped he could avoid. Once he let loose of the bandaging it slipped off; it was obviously far looser then he had thought. He could see the look on Vinnie's face change as the tall white mouse caught sight of the tattoo on Silver upper right arm. Vinnie jumped back as if he had touched something as vile as a Plutarkian, his ears going flat against his scalp, tail lashing madly.

"Your one of THEM!" Vinnie hissed as his eyes narrowed. "Your kind isn't wanted here!"

"I didn't come here to start a fight," Silver replied raising his hands in surrender as he took a step back.

"I bet you're here to take Charley girl away aren't ya," Vinnie said as balled up one fist and took a swing at Silver. "What not content enough with taking Martian woman anymore?…" He then followed through with another swing as he continued on talking all in the same angry tones. "…That you have to come here and take Earth women too!"

Silver back away from the first punch and rolled over the seat of his ride to put the motorcycle between Vinnie and himself as the second punch had come a lot closer to hitting him before he managed to retreat to the other side of his motorcycle. He winced in pain as he felt the two-day-old wound in his side strain with his movements as he came to his feet once again.

"That is not my intention at all," Silver replied, "why would I want to take Miss Charlene from her home? I came here seeking aid, not women."

"Lying bastard," Vinnie hissed.

Silver's words fell in deaf ears as the motorcycle was not going to stop the angry white mouse as he lunged over it, trying to get to black Martian on the other side. Not quite clearing the large piece of machinery Silver's bike tipped and came crashing to the garage floor on its side. Not expecting that, Silver was knocked off his feet, one foot pinned beneath the bike, with Vinnie coming straight towards him, his fist leading the way. In desperation to get away, Silver took a swing at Vinnie, who not only managed to smack the black Martian soundly across the face just before he tried to get his hands around the black Martian's neck. He felt the hit connect with the side of Vinnie's face, and he knew that he swung with a bit more force behind the punch then what was necessary. Between the weight of the motorcycle on his leg and as well as Vinnie's weight and urge to kill him, all Silver could think about was survival. The motion of the swing tore the dark Martian's side wound back open and it began to weep.

Vinnie reeled back at the force of the blow to the side of his head and stumbled back off of the downed motorcycle. Though he regained his balance quite quickly, Silver barely had enough time to pull himself out from under his ride before Vinnie was after him once again with a vengeance. Silver managed to stay on the defensive; he really had no reason to fight with Vinnie. As he scrambled out from underneath the downed motorcycle he used his tail to wrench his sword and scabbard free, though he could not fully escape the next succession of blows from Vinnie as the white Martian managed to close the space between Silver and himself. Silver again retreated, though both his side wound and the bruising or possible fracture to his leg hindered him quite a bit. At first Silver used the sheathed sword as an item of defense, as seasoned warrior who held both age and a bit more experience, he used Vinnie's own angry and aggressive actions against the white mouse as the pair moved back out into the center of the room.

"Please… I have no wish… to fight," Silver said yet again, through labored breathing as he hoped that his words would some how reach the angry man before him.

A slight growl was all that Silver received before Vinnie charged him, though this time the tall black mouse was ready. He shifted to move out of the way as he swung the sword sheath into Vinnie's right knee, unsheathing the weapon in the same move.

Vinnie let out a yelp of pain as he lost his footing and fell heavily to the floor on his side before rolling over onto his back. Before he could even twitch a muscle to get up there was a sword tip resting inches above his throat.

"I am… sorry," Silver said softly, though panting breaths, it felt as if his side was on fire, his vest was slowly soaking up the blood as the torn wound wept on to fall in slick droplets to the floor.

* * *

As the fight started inside of the building, Throttle and Modo reached the Last Chance garage, to find Charley still working on the crate full of supplies.

"Hey guys…" was all that Charley could say just before the crash of machinery sounded inside the garage as the Bros turned their bikes off.

Charley jumped, dropping the small box of parts she was holding before she turned and rushed towards the building, Throttle and Modo just looked at one another before following closely behind.

"What's going on Charley girl?" Throttle asked as he followed along.

"I don't know?" Charley responded, as the sound of the fighting grew louder the farther they went into the shop.

* * *

The sound of footsteps caused Silver's ears to twitch slightly, but it was the gasp he heard behind him that caused him to turn his head to catch sight of Charley skidding to a halt in the doorway. He bowed his head slightly, adverting his gaze from the woman as he swung the sword tip away from Vinnie's throat and took a step back.

"Get away from him, you lowlife," came the deep throaty growl of Modo's voice from behind her and Charley looked over her shoulder to see Modo leveling his arm blaster right at Silver. Modo's focus was upon the tattoo upon Silver's right arm.

As the adrenaline ebbed away the sword held in Silver's hand began to quiver before it fell loose from his grasp and hit floor with a near defining clang before Silver's body followed suit, as the man dropped to his knees in pain. His left hand clutching his bleeding side as wisps of silver hair fell free from the braid he wore to lie like liquid strands against his dark fur.

Without thinking Charley darted across the room to Silver, not understanding what was going on one bit. She had never seen the guys' treat one of their own kind like this in all the time she had known them.

"I'm…sorry Miss Charlene," Silver said softly as Charley dropped to her knees next to the black Martian, he locked his pale blue gaze with her green for just a moment before turning away, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I never wished… for this to happen. I am so… incredibly….sorry."

"Get away from him, Charley girl," Throttle said, the tone in his voice was urgent and almost deadly as he watched Vinnie get up, the spot where he was hit was starting to darken under his pale fur. The reflection of the silvery tattoo rested upon Throttle's glasses, the form of a Martian wolf crouched over the freedom fighter symbol.

"What is going on here?" Charley asked in confusion as she wrapped her arms around Silver protectively, not budging on inch.

"I …had hoped… that you would understand…understand that I have come to you for aid," Silver said though grit teeth, breathing slowly before he turned his gaze to Throttle. "Hoping that you would be the ones not to judge…to be able to see past the rumors and lies spoken about my people."

"Why don't you give him a chance to speak," Charley asked. "Would it cause that much harm to hear him out?"

"Too much with all the lies that he'll weave," Vinnie spat.

Silver spoke the honest truth, before he looked down at Charley again and slowly raised his right arm, clasping his hand over one of Charley's own and gently pulled away from the woman. Once free of her grasp, one of her smaller hands still left within his own. He spoke again, "Miss Charlene please do not endanger yourself for me, I do not want to see harm brought to you because of me, after all you have done."

One of Throttle's ears gave a slight twitch as he listened to Silver and watched Charley. He was not sure what to believe at the moment as every fiber in his body told him to listen to his Bros but there was something about Silver's actions that he could not ignore.

"You have got to be joking right!" Charley responded, as Silver just shook his head slowly.

"Wait a minute Bros," Throttle said after a few moments of silence as he placed a hand on Modo's outstretched arm. "Maybe Charley is right…maybe we should hear what he has to say."