So…2020 hit me like a train wreck.

The lockdown at the start was bad. I had to keep a schedule (says the person who stays up till ungodly hours therefore not getting enough sleep and still tries to function like a normal human being) whilst trying to keep my degree alive by self-studying at home (amidst endless distractions).

Then when the lockdown finally lifted, I got hit with huge amounts of university projects. Then to top it all off, my grandfather passes away, and his funeral needs to be pushed back because my family needs to self-isolate after a Covid scare (meaning I also miss the final project of the year so arrangements need to be made so I don't lose my degree. My grandfather's funeral was also today so, yeah).

Needless to say, I wasn't in any state to be writing. I am so sorry to keep you guys waiting. Thank you to everyone that has stuck with this story during its hiatus.

I hope you guys enjoy this Chapter.

After three days spent at Throttle's home, they were packed and ready to move on to Modo's house visit. The boys spent quite some time saying goodbye to Amelia, which Charley understood. It would likely be a while before they would see each other again. Throttle pulled back from his hug to place his antennae against his mother's, the ends glowing briefly, leaving both mice smiling. Amelia looked at her son with tears in her eyes.

"You take care of yourself. I don't want to hear that Charley pulled you out of a scrape." She ordered sternly. Throttle chuckled, holding his mother close.

"I promise, Mom." He finally pulled away, leaving a kiss on his mother's cheek, before heading over to his bike. Amelia smiled before turning to Charley.

"I'm holding you to what you told me three days ago. Keep the boys safe, but look after yourself as well, Charlene Davidson." Charley was startled by the use of her full name, even more so when Amelia pulled her into a tight embrace. The human could do little else but wrap her arms around the elder mouse, who put a gentle furred hand against the back of her head. "You are a good influence on the boys. I'm sorry about what happened to you, but I am so grateful that you are here now." Charley blinked back tears as she smiled.

"So am I." she whispered, as Amelia pulled back and beamed at her. The roar of engines coming to life made them pull apart as the boys rolled up next to them, Vinnie's tail wrapping around her waist and pulling her behind him. Charley focused back on Amelia. "It was an honor meeting you Amelia, take care."

"The honor is mine Charley. Good luck you lot." She said with a final wave as they all rode off. Charley waved back until she was out of sight, before turning back to face Vinnie.

"So, who are we seeing next?" She queried, although already knowing the answer. She heard Modo's laugh over the roar of the engines.

"I'll admit, my clan is a bit larger than Throttle and Vinnie's." Charley tilted her head at the term.

"Clan?" She couldn't remember her guys ever mentioning this back in her time. Much like they never mentioned Amelia, or Vinnie's grandmother. She could chalk it up to the fact that it merely never came up in conversation, but Modo had mentioned his family many times and neither Throttle nor Vinnie had added their parts. She tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her gut at what that implied.

"We Mice have clan units. Normally, there is a Patriarch and/or a Matriarch. Since my dad passed, my mom has been my clan's Matriarch, until I am ready to take on the role as Patriarch." Throttle explained. Charley glanced over at him.

"Why aren't you the Patriarch now? And, if there's only two of you, can you be considered a clan?" She felt awful for asking this, but it seemed like a legitimate concern. If Martian clans were really that small, they could easily be wiped out in one fell swoop. Vinnie turned his head slightly.

"Well, clans can be any size really, but normally it's around 5 or 6. And becoming a patriarch is a bit complicated, Charley. In order to become a Patriarch, the elders of the Martian council need to acknowledge him as the new patriarch, usually with the previous Patriarch or Matriarch's permission. And that can only happen once Throttle has come of age, or if he has found a partner to lead with him." Vinnie clarified. Charley whipped her head back.

"Of age? You mean you guys are still considered kids?" Modo looked back at her with a sheepish look.

"Mice are only considered old enough to become Patriarchs or Matriarchs at around 26 years. But we ain't youths anymore if that's what you're worried about, Charley ma'am." Charley nodded along, before leering at the guys.

"So, none of you are old enough to become Patriarchs, but have any of you found potential partners yet?" She felt Vinnie stiffen a bit and saw Throttle and Modo blush under their helmets. She giggled. "Should I take your silence as a yes?"

"Well, sort of sweetheart." Vinnie admitted. "Throttle over there is currently courting a lady mouse named Carbine." Charley smiled, remembering the brash and headstrong female mouse. They hadn't been able to interact much in her time, but she considered Carbine a dear friend.

"Carbine, huh? She a looker?" She directed the question at the tan-furred mouse, who relaxed in his seat visibly.

"Oh yeah. She's amazing. She's currently a soldier in the Army, but my girl is aiming high. I guarantee you, she's gonna be a general someday." Charley could hear the absolute pride and devotion in Throttle's voice, and grinned as she turned to the grey-furred mouse on her right.

"What about you Modo? Any one special in your life?" Modo blushed and stuttered a bit.

"Uh, n-no ma'am. See, my older sister is the current Matriarch of my clan, she's got things pretty much handled. So, I've got time to find someone special." Modo explained, before smirking and looking back at his youngest bro. "Lil' Vinnie here though…" Vinnie stiffened even more as he looked to the large mouse. Charley caught on and turned her attention to the blushing mouse.

"Got your eye on someone, Macho-mouse?" She added with a smirk. Vinnie chuckled nervously.

"Well, sorta…" He was dodging the question, which made Throttle chuckle.

"He's got his eye on Harley." Vinnie yelped and swiped at Throttle with his fist, which he effortlessly dodged with a guffaw. Charley laughed at their antics.

"If you've got an eye on Harley, how come you aren't courting her yet?" She was genuinely curious. She noticed how Harley and Vinnie seemed to flirt a lot around the headquarters, but they never seemed to go further. Vinnie slumped a little.

"I…don't think she's that into me. I think she and Stoker may have some chemistry." Charley couldn't explain way those words made her heart ache suddenly, but she quickly shook it off.

"No ways. I've been hanging out with Harley enough to know that she doesn't have a thing for Stoker. If anything, I'd go as far as to say she is really interested in you, Vinnie." The mouse in question straightened in his seat, and turned his head to look at her face. Charley didn't think she'd ever seen the mouse with such a vulnerable and hopeful expression on his face.

"You…you really think so?" his voice was almost too soft to hear. Charley's own smile softened as she nodded. Vinnie grinned widely and turned his attention back to the road, leaving the matter behind. Charley took the silence as a good thing for once.

Planet: Mars

Location: Plymview Grotto

Approaching Modo's home just before sunset, Charley could see what appeared to be a small garden outside the cave entrance. A female mouse was kneeling next to a bush, digging around in the dirt. From what Charley could tell, she was in her early teens. Her fur was a light tan, and her blonde hair was pulled back into a half-up do. Her ears twitched before she turned around, spotting the motorcycles and standing up. She had a white tank top on under a purple crop top, and light blue, dusty cropped pants that fell just below her knees. Her brown boots reached just where her pants ended.

She lifted her hand up to block the sun from her eyes and squinted at the approaching bikes, before beaming and starting a full on sprint towards them. The bros slowed down to a stop, as Modo quickly took off his helmet and jumped from his bike and spread his arms open. The girl jumped straight into his arms with a joyful laugh.

"Uncle Modo! I'm so happy to see you!" Modo laughed brightly as he swung her around.

"Hey there, lil' niece. Man, you're sprouting like a bean stalk." He gently put her down. Vinnie and Throttle got off their bikes, with Vinnie helping Charley off with his tail. "Primer, there's someone I want you to meet." Modo wrapped an arm around Primer's shoulders and with his other beckoned to Charley to come closer, which she did with no hesitation. "This is Charley Davidson. She's an Earther that got captured by the Plutarkians. Now, she's with me and the bros. Charley, this is my niece, Primer." Charley smiled at the girl, holding out her hand.

"It's nice to meet you Primer." Primer blushed a little, and took her hand shaking it gently.

"It's really nice to meet you Miss Davidson." She near whispered. Charley beamed at her.

"Just Charley is fine." She wanted to say more before Vinnie shoved his way past her.

"No way, this can't be Primer. I could've sworn she barely reached your hip last time I saw her!" Vinnie wrapped his arms around her, lifting her into the air. Primer let out a squeal of delight, even as she wiggled to get out of his grasp.

"Vinnie, put me down!" Vinnie laughed as he deposited her straight into Throttle's waiting arms, where the tan-furred mouse started poking the girl in her sides, making her laugh.

"I get what you mean Vinnie. Modo, are you sure this is Primer?" He said with a fish-eating grin. Primer squealed with laughter as she tried in vain to get away from the offending hands. Charley decided to come to the poor girl's rescue as she quickly came around and poked Throttle in the side, making him drop her with a yelp. Primer landed on her feet and dashed to hide behind the Earther woman, seeing her as a safe haven from the three mice, her face nearly splitting with the size of her smile. Modo just chuckled at the whole scene.

"C'mon you guys, Charley's still gotta meet the rest of the family." Modo put his arm around her and started guiding her to the door, while Primer ran ahead. Charley heard her calling to someone inside just before as familiar face came into view. Instead of the young adult with well-defined muscles, Charley saw a scrawny little mid-teen mouse with light grey fur and brown hair with a shocking ginger streak running down the middle. He wore a yellow tank top and green cargo pants with brown boots, and a green vest. His face was bright as he ran up to them.

"Uncle Modo! What are you doing here?" Rimfire yelled as he approached them, Modo laughing as he wrapped his nephew in a bear hug.

"Hey there Rimfire! Me and the bros are making a few house calls." Modo then teasingly pulled on Rimfire's ears, which caused the young mouse to wince and pull away. But he wasn't looking where he was retreating to and walked straight into Charley, who caught him as he floundered.

"Whoa there, careful." Rimfire spun around and stared at her in open disbelief.

"Y-you're an Earther? On Mars?" Charley nearly flinched at his skeptical tone. Rimfire had always been very observant, even in the future. He had been the first one to point out that Stoker was slowing down, and from the story the bros had told her, been the first to discover the Tug-Transporter's weak points. Keeping her secret from him was going to be challenging.

Throttle came up to them and placed a supporting hand on Charley's shoulder.

"Rimfire, this is Charley Davidson. She was captured by Plutarkians three years ago, and escaped a few weeks ago. Stoker found her near the Argyre Basin, and she joined the Freedom Fighters." Charley watched Rimfire's face while Throttle explained, but she could see that he didn't fully buy the story. He opened his mouth, likely to ask a million questions, when an elderly voice stopped him.

"Are we all just going to congregate outside?" Everyone turned towards the voice, and Charley saw the softest smile spread over Modo's face as he nearly ran over to her. The mouse, to her credit, merely opened her arms and embraced the large mouse. He was nearly a full head taller than her.

"Hi Momma." Modo mumbled tenderly as he ducked his head to tap his antennae to hers. The mouse giggled as she pulled back.

"Oh Modo my boy, you are looking more handsome every time I see you." Modo blushed and rubbed the back of his neck shyly. She then turned her attention to the rest of the group. "Throttle, Vinnie, you boys are looking well. But it looks like you have a guest with you?" She said this while staring directly at Charley, a knowing glint in her eye. Modo took the lead.

"Momma, this is Charlene Davidson, our new teammate. Charley, this is my momma, Nora." Nora observed her with a critical eye, and Charley tried not to squirm under the scrutiny. Finally, Nora smiled.

"Well, I certainly expected someone furrier, but I suppose there is a story behind this." This caused the bros to laugh a little, and Charley relaxed as Nora held out her hand. She shook it, before Nora pulled her alongside her. "Let's go inside, I've got a nice okkesnip stew going. As my dear old white furred daddy used to say, a good meal always helps to get the ball rolling." Charley smiled as she was lead inside, with the bros following behind.

Rimfire studied the Earther all throughout dinner. Something just wasn't right. She was way too comfortable around his uncle, around all of them. Heck, Earth had only barely managed to send people to their moon the year he was born. They didn't know anything about the galaxy, or any forms of life outside of their own. And the bros? They had barely known her a month, but they were treating her like she was…clan. This wasn't right. His uncle wasn't that stupid, or gullible enough to trust someone that quickly. None of them were. So why were they trusting this alien? Who, by their own account, had spent far more time with the enemy than with them? Who was she?

Rimfire brought his mind back to the conversation as his uncle glanced around the table.

"Hey, where's Primrose?" he asked. The Earther looked up at the question.

"Your sister?" she queried, and Rimfire tensed again.

"How did you know that's my mom?" he made sure to keep his voice as even as possible. He spotted the moment of panic in the Earther's eyes before she smiled.

"Well, since no one else at the table is named Primrose, I figured that is who Modo was referring to." Rimfire narrowed his eyes at her, before his grandmomma sighed.

"Oh, she went to go visit Nitro, her husband, at the army base a few days ago. But she would be here if she knew you were coming Modo." Modo smiled. The Earther glanced over at his uncle.

"How old is your sister anyway? I'm assuming she's older than you, since Rimfire and Primer are around 16…I'm guessing." Rimfire fought the urge to scoff. That was an awfully accurate guess. Of course, no one else noticed.

"Yeah, Prim's 38 years old now. I was a bit of a surprise." Modo explained. Charley giggled.

"Well, I'd say you were a really good surprise." Modo blushed as everyone laughed, everyone but Rimfire that is. This Earther was joking with them as if she had known them for years, rather than just a month. Why was she doing this?

"Rimfire, are you ok?" He turned when his sister whispered to him. Primer looked nervous, and Rimfire shook his head minutely, gesturing that he would tell her later. After another 20 minutes of everyone chatting and not noticing the human's suspicious behaviors, his grandmomma finally got up.

"Well, I better start clearing up." She said as she reached for the plates. Charley stood and flashed her a smile.

"Here, let me help you, ma'am." She said as she took the plates.

"Oh, how thoughtful of you dear." Nora crooned, before looking over at her grandson. "Rimfire, why don't you and Primer prepare a room for her?" Rimfire nodded quickly as he stood.

"Sure Grandmomma." He was in no way comfortable with leaving his grandmomma with the human, but when he noticed the bros starting to clear up as well, he figured it was ok. If the human tried anything, the bros would stop her…he hoped. He gestured to Primer to follow him and they quickly made their way to one of the guest rooms. Once inside, he closed the door behind him and turned to his sister.

"What's going on, Rimfire? You were glaring at Charley like she was a Plutarkian, or a Rat." Primer stated as she walked over to the cupboard to pull out some fresh linens for the bed. Rimfire leaned against the door, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I just don't believe her story. I mean, doesn't it seem awfully convenient to you? She gets kidnapped by the stink-faces, escapes and just happens to be rescued by the Freedom Fighters?" His sister paused with the linens in her arms.

"Well…it does seem a little convenient. But Uncle Modo seems to trust her, so do Throttle and Vinnie." She started to pull the linens over the bed, glancing at Rimfire with a raised eyebrow. "Are you just gonna stand there, or are you gonna help me with this?" Rimfire rolled his eyes, but moved to take the other side of the linens and start straightening it out.

"Primer, she's only been on Mars for a month. How could they possibly know her well enough to trust her? Besides that, why is she so comfortable around us? We're aliens to her. Literally!" Primer shrugged as she fluffed out the pillows.

"Well, like you said, she's been here for a month, and according to Uncle Modo, she was with the Plutarkians for 3 years. Maybe she's gotten used to the idea of aliens." This caused him to glare.

"Exactly. 3 years with the enemy, as opposed to a Month with the Resistance. Who's to say she isn't a spy sent by the Plutarkians to infiltrate the Freedom Fighters?" Primer rolled her eyes.

"Rimfire, you're being dramatic. There's no way Charley's a spy for the Plutarkians." Rimfire gave her a dead-panned stare.

"Primer, she comes from the planet that made Star Wars." Primer rolled her eyes, again, with a groan.

"Star Wars isn't that bad." Primer turned around to open the windows. Rimfire smirked at the back of her head.

"You're just saying that because you have a crush on Luke." Primer stiffened and whirled around glaring and blushing.

"I do not!" Rimfire sniggered, before slumping a little.

"But seriously Primer, something just… isn't right about Charley. I can feel it." Primer studied her brother before sighing.

"Ok, how about I talk to her tomorrow? If you can keep Uncle Modo and the bros occupied, I'll ask her to help me with the gardening and try and figure out if your suspicions are founded." Primer stated. Rimfire came over and gave his sister a hug.

"Thanks sis. I owe you one." Primer sighed but hugged her brother back.

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