God bless Biker Mice, and Charley too. Nothing they ever have comes easily.

Chapter 4

"You've got to be kidding me. He turned her into a what?"

"You heard me right, Stoker. A Martian Mouse," Throttle answered into the communicator.

"...Not that I'm complaining, but why the hell would he do that? What's to gain? He doesn't have some kind of microchip implanted in her to try and control her or something?"

"Nope, we checked," Modo said, blushing at the memory of the search. "She's clean. According to Limburger's crew, he was supposed to turn her in to some kind of monster that would destroy the city. Can't imagine how he thought a Mouse could do all that."

Stoker couldn't help his snort of disbelief over the communicator. "Yeah, I can't imagine that either. So, you boys need a pick up for the lady so the boys and girls in lab coats can check her out?"

"As soon as you can," the grey mouse confirmed. "She's only got two and a half days left, so hurry!"

"We'll be there in six hours. I'll have Rimfire pilot the ship again. Nothing makes that kid put the pedal to the metal like rushing off to see his favorite uncle." The older mouse blinked innocently at the worried looks the three mice sent him. "What? Oh, don't worry. He's gotten much better at the whole 'landing' thing. He should actually make it to the ground this time! See you soon, Stoker out."

Throttle shook his head as he got up from the communicator. "You know, I swear he enjoys seeing Charley pitch a fit over property damage."

"But she puts on such a great show! Her cheeks get all red and her eyes are snappin', its awesome! She really is pretty when she's mad. Almost as good looking as me," Vinnie said with a cocky smile.

Modo shot him a look. "Can the bravado, Vincent. As far as I'm concerned, you still owe the lady an apology. Preferably before we get to Mars."

Vinnie immediately lost his grin and looked away, an almost nervous look on his face. "Yeah, I know," he said quietly.

At such pensive silence after that utterance, Modo and Throttle shared looks before splitting up. Throttle was now headed over to the garage to talk to Charley, while Modo would stay and try to get a line on what was going through Vinnie's head. The Mouse and pseudo-Mouse had barely said two words to each other through dinner, and the air between them was awkward and stiff. Normally, the tan and grey mice would leave the two alone to work things out naturally. But something told them that this would be something very serious, that could make or break what the two had together. Succeed or fail, it may very well hang on what Modo and Throttle found out tonight, and it needed to be done now.

Throttle rolled his bike into the garage, inwardly cursing his luck as he parked and set the kickstand. Why'd I get stuck with the tough one? "Hey Charley-girl, you still working?"

She rolled out from under a compact car, glancing around the garage to see if any other humans were around. Not seeing any, she yanked off the helmet and got up, heading toward the doors to lock up for the night. "Yeah, but I'm closing early. If I have to stay one more minute in that helmet, I'll kick it across the garage! How can you stand keeping your antennae cooped up in those things?" She gingerly rubbed the red appendages, wincing at the feel of the now raw skin.

"You just learn to live with it, I guess," he said with a soft chuckle. The tan mouse cleared his throat, really not wanting to start this conversation. "So, how are you doing? With the whole species change, I mean."

She cocked an eyebrow at him as she put away her tools, her tail absent stacking several wrenches and cranks into the appropriate bins as her hands worked on sorting out various bolts and knuts. "Um, as well as can be expected, I guess. Why?"

"Ah, just wondering. I was thinking you might be a little freaked out by everything, or something like that," he said sheepishly. I don't see how you could not be. Honestly, I'm amazed she's doing as well as she is. I know I'd probably loose it for a solid hour if it had happened to me.

"Well, of course I'm freaked out," she said in exasperation. "I mean, how's a girl supposed to work around here when I've got a helmet stuck on 24/7? This fur is so freaking hot that I've almost soaked my workshirt and jeans through with sweat! And my tail's been twitching non-stop every time I hear a loud or sudden noise. Is this normal? I know I must look like an addict needing a fix right about now!"

You are a little twitchy. "Its not that bad. Actually, you look like you could use some rest. You know, that stuff you do after being changed to a different life form, a full day of work, and worrying about changing back all day long."

"Har har, Mr Sarcastic," she drawled. "Not that I don't enjoy your company, but you could have called to ask about my state of mind. Why the late night visit? Something on your mind, leader-boy?"

Leader-boy? She's spending way too much time with Carbine. "Two things. One, we've got our ride to Mars."

"Stoker and Rimfire?" she asked in some excitement.

"Yeah, the dynamic duo will be here shortly," he said with a grin. "Nobody can keep that kid away from the Stalker ship."

"What's not to love about being a space pilot?" she said mischievously. "The pay might not be good but the scenery changes and they not only let him shoot giant guns and cause explosions, they expect him too!"

Throttle laughed outloud at that. "True, true. That's exactly why I got my pilot's license."

"Very cool," she said in approval. "So, what was the second thing you came for?"

His smile fell. Crunch time. "I was just wondering about what happens when we get to Mars. I mean, if something goes wrong and they can't turn you back to normal, would you be okay with that? Being a Mouse for the rest of your life?"

She gave the tan mouse a long look. "Honestly? I don't know. I've been thinking about it, all day. I-I'd have to move to Mars, wouldn't I?" She stopped him before he could say anything, "Of course I would, I know, can't stay on Earth with the new look. But I'd have to stay, you know that right?"

Throttle wasn't sure he'd caught her meaning. "I don't think I follow you."

"I mean, someone has to stay and fight for Earth with you guys, right? Who else would go shopping for you guys, because none of you know how to balance a checkbook, and who would help with the wiring at the Scoreboard, and"-

Mother of Mars, she's babbling, he thought in dawning horror. Oh gods no, she's about to-

Tears began to streak their way down her face, -"getting presents for Manuelo's little girls, their birthday party is coming up soon and-and-(sob)-Throttle, I-I-"

He winced, wishing he was anywhere but there at the sight of such a strong woman in tears. But he bit the bullet and pulled her close, crooning under his breath to soothe her. "It'll be okay, Charley, you'll see," he said. "Calm down, don't cry, its okay. It's gonna be okay."

"You-(hiccup)-you really think so?" she asked, almost instantly berating herself for acting like a little kid. She pulled back from him, blushing in embarrassment as she fought to get back under control. "S-sorry, Throttle."

"Don't worry about it," he said, finding a tissue much quicker than last time and handing it to her. "I'd be worried if you weren't all emotional. Feel better now?"

"Yeah," she said, sitting back against her tool bench. She drew in a shaky breath. "I think, if I have to stay a Mouse, I think I'd be okay with that. As long as you give me time to get used to it, yeah?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Nobody can ask you to switch species just like that and be fine from the get-go, Charley-girl."

"Thanks," Throttle, she said with a watery smile. "But you know I can't abandon Earth, right?"

"Of course," he said, shocked. "Who said you had to?"

"Its just that I have to stay until the Plutarkians are gone," she clarified. "I can still help you guys beat them, even if I can't do some of the things I would if I was still human. I won't stay on Mars while my home is in danger, Throttle, I can't."

"I know," he said. "And I agree. No one can make you leave or stay, that's still always your call."

"Okay then," she said. "And Throttle?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you really think I spend too much time with Carbine?"

"Huh?"

She shot him a mock-annoyed look. "Earlier, when I called you 'leader-boy', you said that I'm spending too much time with Carbine, remember?"

The tan mouse frowned as he thought back. "Charley, I didn't say that outloud. Did I?"

The mechanic shrugged. "You must have."

He glanced to the top of her head, where brand-new antennae had formed. An awful suspicion began to nag at him, and he decided to test out the thought. Literally. With a bit of effort that made his antennae glow a very faint yellow, he sent out a thought. Sorry to go off topic, but what do you think about the Nubs' chances this year for the pennant?

Charley blinked in surprise. "Baseball? You want to talk about baseball now? Oh-kay. Um, I think if they can get someone with an actual decent batting average, we might just have a chance. After they change the outfeilding line-up, of course-"

"Charley?" Throttle said in slowly dawning horror. "I didn't say that outloud."

"What, about the Nubs? But Throttle, I heard you-"

He used his tail to lift up her chin so that she could clearly see his face and mouth not moving, his antennae still glowing faintly as he thought, Charley, I'm not saying anything that you can hear with your ears.

She blinked in shock. "Your mouth's not...but I can hear...what is going on?"

"You can hear me," the Martian said in absolute surprise. "You can hear my thoughts. Without consciously using your antennae."

Charley summed up both their thoughts rather well. "...uh-oh."