I actually meant to post this two days ago, but I got knocked on my ass by a sudden cold that left me practically bedridden the first day, and barely functional the second. I'm slowly starting to recover, but I imagine it will be a few days before I am right as rain again. It's not the dreaded Virus though, so small blessings at least.

Please enjoy this...albeit a little late...chapter! Only a few more to go!

Mace smirked with glee as he watched Charley move like a zombie towards the garage. Her 'bros' too occupied with their own conversation to notice her. The sound of the engine revving and leaving the garage also went unnoticed when another group of mice were informed of Brimstone's surrender. Mace snuck into the garage and watched her disappear into the distance, before taking out a short wave radio.

"Deep Pocket here. Got another assignment for you."

She'd kept her end of the deal and kept her mouth shut. But in the end, he was a rat.

Throttle made his way down the hallways to Stoker's room. It had taken the entire morning for their software to crack the Plutarkian computer module, and it was nearing late afternoon. Regardless of how defeated Stoker had sounded this morning, he figured the General would want to see what information the module held.

He frowned. Charley should really be present for this as well. But he hadn't seen her all day. Harley had mentioned she was supposed to help her this morning with some bike repairs, but she never showed. She had stayed at Headquarters last night to talk to Stoker, but if anything, he had just seemed more downtrodden than the night before. He finally reached the General's room and gave a brisk knock.

"Stoke? It's Throttle." He called out, waiting for a response. He nearly jumped when the door suddenly opened, and he tried not to let his shock show.

Stoker looked awful. His eyes were red, tear tracks staining the fur on his cheeks. He had dark circles under his eyes and his hair was very messed, like he'd been gripping at it. A quick glance past his arm into the room and he saw the partial destruction. Scattered paper, an overturned desk, and what used to be the desk chair laying in pieces on the floor.

"What is it, kid?" He snapped back to attention. Stoker's voice was hoarse as hell. Throttle had no idea what could have happened between this morning and now, and he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"We, uh, we've nearly cracked the module. Figured you'd like to know what's on it." Stoker barely reacted to the news as he stepped out of the room and closed the door, hiding its contents from the world.

"Sure." He paused as he was about to walk ahead. "Listen, kid, have you noticed anything off about Mace?" Throttle quirked an eyebrow at his mentor and nodded.

"So, you noticed too, huh? He rubbed me the wrong way earlier." He admitted. Stoker nodded mutely.

"Keep an eye on him." He ordered, and started to make his way down the hall. Throttle fell into step behind him.

"Will do." He agreed, then glanced back towards the end of the hallway, biting his lip. "Hey, have you seen Charley around?" Stoker seemed to freeze for a moment, and Throttle paused.

"She…she went for a drive." Throttle's brow furrowed at Stoker's hollow reply. But before he could ask, Stoker started moving again. "C'mon, let's see what's on this thing."

Now he knew something was up. And it had something to do with his sister and the state Stoker was currently in. He made a note to try and call Charley as soon as possible.

When they got to the mess hall, most of the fighters had heard the news and were standing ready. Stoker and Throttle joined Modo, Vinnie, Harley and Carbine at the monitor. Vinnie glanced around.

"Hey, where's Charley?"

"She's not joining us." Stoker announced dismissively. His bros' eyes widened and they glanced at him, and he shrugged in response. At that moment, the module began beeping and started revealing the image held within. And what they saw made Harley gasp in horror.

"A Plutarkian Tug-Transporter." Carbine's observation caught the attention of the entire mess hall.

"In Tharsis Rise Volcano." Harley added with dread. The Freedom Fighters had known for ages what Plutarkians did to the planets once they were done with them. Dragging them across galaxies to orbit around Plutark like a sick trophy display. Modo leaned closer to the screen to inspect the image.

"Oh Momma. Mars is gonna become Plutark's newest moon."

"Unless we pull the plug on that Tug." Vinnie went on to say. Throttle turned to Stoker.

"How about it, Sto…" he trailed off when he noticed the look on Stoker's face. It was pure rage, but there was a tenseness to his jaw that didn't match it. Stoker turned to them with stern resolve.

"To battle, Freedom Fighters." He growled out, marching to Purpose. The rest of the Fighters cheered and headed for their bikes, but the bros, Harley and Carbine all glanced at each other before moving to theirs. Something was up. Throttle had just placed his helmet on his head when he heard Mace speak up.

"I'll contact the Army." He shared a glance with Stoker, who glared and nodded before placing his own helmet on his head and driving off. Throttle shared a glance with his bros and gestured with his hand the sign 'stick with me'. They both raised a brow but said nothing as they drove off. He heard Mace call out over the roar of the engines. "Ride free…comrades!" He felt another shiver run up his spine at Mace's tone.

As soon as they were outside of the garage, he gestured for his bros to pull over. The rest of the Freedom Fighters, Harley and Carbine included went on ahead.

"Yo, what's the deal bro?" Modo asked as Throttle dismounted and removed his helmet, gesturing for his bros to do the same.

"Stoker and I think something's up with Mace. C'mon." he explained. Together they snuck back into Headquarters, just in time to catch Mace in the act.

"…ger, Deep Pocket here. The mice are taking the bait." Throttle grit his teeth.

"Excellent." The response came, before the line went dead. He nodded to his bros as Mace chuckled to himself, and they made their entrance. Mace gasped when he noticed them.

"Ah, your hunch was right, bro." Vinnie admitted, glaring at the mole. "We got us a stoolie in the ranks." Mace raised his hands pleadingly, and Throttle realized with a start that he had never seen the mouse without his gloves. They had, in fact, been hiding the gray, course fur that could not belong to a Mouse, along with a golden ring that signified his allegiance to Plutark.

"Hey…hey, easy comrades." He stuttered as he leaned forward and reached behind him. Throttle's eyes widen and he shoved Vinnie and Modo to the side a split second before the gun was drawn. Mace let off five shots in quick succession. The bros rolled to avoid them, and Throttle saw Vinnie grab one of the expanding flares Harley had given him the night before, striking it on the ground to light it and whipping it towards Mace. His bro's aim was true as it struck the weapon in the barrel of the gun, melting it and rendering it useless. Modo quickly sprang into action and tackled the rodent to the ground, holding him down with his knees.

"Yeah, Throttle, you smelled something sleazy alright…" he said as he grabbed Mace's face, which crumbled in his fist as he pulled back to reveal the rat beneath it, shaking in terror, "…a real Rat." He announced as he grabbed Mace by the collar and lifted him off the ground.

"Oh man. He's gonna pay big time for shattering my youthful illusions." Vinnie said with a vindictive sneer. Throttle waved him off quickly.

"Later bros, no time for Rat Passion." He lifted a set of ropes and gestured for Modo to set him down and secure him. "We gotta outflank an ambush." They worked together to tie him up, and were about to leave when the Rat started laughing.

"Oh, if you're so worried about me…how will you react when you find out?" Throttle knew they didn't have time, but something in his gut made him pause. His bros turned with raised brows to him, and he heard Mace chuckle.

"You haven't seen your dear sister today, have you?" he spun around, Nuke-Knucks activated and poised to strike as he picked up the prone man, shoving him hard against the wall.

"What did you do to her?" he snarled. Mace cackled.

"I didn't do anything…yet. But you should know, she was never a Prisoner of the Plutarkians." Throttle's first lowered slightly in confusion, and Mace smirked. "She's been lying to you all from the start." Throttle glared at the Rat and unceremoniously dropped him, turning to leave with his bros.

"Let's move." They raised outside to their bikes, barely giving themselves enough time to get their helmets on before they raced off. As they rode, Throttle reached out on the comms.

"Charley-girl, come in, this is Throttle." He heard nothing but static, and an unsettling feeling began to creep up his spine. "Charley-girl, respond."

"Try Comet's comms, bro." Modo suggested. Throttle did so without a moment's hesitation.

"Comet, Charley, this is Throttle. We are headed for Tharsis Rise. The Plutarkians are going to ambush the Freedom Fighters, please respond." Static was the only response. Dread began to pool in his stomach.

"You…you don't think…that Charley…?" Vinnie hesitantly voiced the thought that was going through all their minds. Throttle violently shook the thought away.

"No! No, Charley's fine. She's fine." He had no idea if he believed it or if he was trying to make himself believe. He thought back to this morning. Stoker's sour mood and the state of his room. "Stoker must know what's going on. We'll ask him later."

He silently prayed to all the gods that Mace was lying.

Stoker grit his teeth as he led his men into battle. The Plutarkians were clearly expecting them, no doubt Mace's doing. He very much doubted any Army reinforcements would actually show up. Of course, Charley had failed to mention the Tug-Transporter entirely, as well as the fact they would be fighting a literal ambush.

Well, you didn't exactly give her a chance to tell you.

Stoker snarled at the thought. Yes, he had given her a chance. Several of them, in fact. She had chosen not to say anything. He fired a rocket at some Sand Raiders approaching them, taking out the vehicles in one go.

You know how guilty she felt about Amelia. If Mace threatened someone else, she would have been paralyzed.

A crash to his right caught his attention and he saw Lance slide to a stop next to his bike. The mouse had passed a camouflaged Plutarkian turret and gotten shot. However, Carbine and Harley quickly returned the favor by blasting it.

Harley stopped and saw to Lance's injuries while Carbine kept an eye and a blaster out for any approaching enemies. Though they hadn't managed to fully take out the turret, he noticed. Stoker raced over and released a stick grenade on the turret. The explosion and scream behind him filled him with satisfaction as he drew the fire of an automatic rifle away from the group.

If that truly was the case, then she didn't think him capable of protecting himself, or anyone else for that matter. Clearly she thought she was the only one that could keep them safe.

The woman agreed to face an Arch Povar before she even knew what it was. Do you really think she was ever thinking clearly when it came to protecting her family and friends?

Several Freedom Fighters flanked him as they closed in on a line of Sand Raider buggies. They scattered to avoid the enemy fire, and Stoker fired his weapons once more. He stopped to wait for the dust to settle and barely ducked in time when more of them appeared through the cloud. He spun around and race back the other way. He pulled out his gun and aimed it behind him, firing a single shot and taking out one of the buggies as another pulled up alongside him. Purpose sensed his intentions and ready his wheel spikes to take out the tires.

Suddenly, a force hit Purpose and he was launched from his bike. Thinking quickly, he grabbed onto the chassis of the buggy with his tail and pulled himself down, landing solidly much to the surprise of the Hyena's. Adding to their surprise, he reached down, grabbed them by their collars and bashed their heads together before tossing them out. He hopped down and took over the wheel, wincing as Plutarkians flanked his men from above and fired upon them mercilessly.

He heard the telltale whoops of the bros as they arrived, finally. He hoped this would mean the turn of the tide for them.

He was so stupid. He should have known better than to fall for a human.

She fell for you too, though. And she wanted to tell you something, and you didn't listen.

Stoker slammed on the brakes when he heard the bros scream in pain. Their screams had come from the other side of the hill. Unbidden, his mid recalled something Charley had said all those months ago.

But they didn't tell me everything. A lot was too painful. In my time they are different. They carry many more scars, and not just physical ones. There's so much pain and loss from the war. This war! I owed them this! I wanted to try and make things at least a little better for them. Spare them some of the horror I know is coming.

Dear gods, please…

He crested the hill and his heart stopped.

The bros lay in heaps among the debris of their bikes. Throttle was shaking on his knees, holding his hands to his eyes as blood streamed between his fingers, before collapsing on his stomach. Vinnie had rolled onto his back, severe burns across the right side of his face from his ear down to his jaw. Modo lay trapped beneath Lil'Hoss, a deep slash across his left eye and his right arm nothing but shattered bone and mutilated flesh.

Stoker choked on a sob as he scrambled to get up onto the hood of the buggy, intent on racing towards the bros.

She wanted to stop this….and you chased her away.

"No…No, no-"

A sudden, blistering pain spread across his chest and he cried out as he fell forward, toppling over the hood before landing in a heap on the ground. The sensation spread through his body like lightning, numbing his limbs within seconds. His last thought before succumbing to darkness was of Charley's tear-stained face.

She found herself sitting on the cliff in Fair Grove once again. She had no idea how long she had been out here, but judging from the sun's position, it was nearing late afternoon. This was becoming a habit. She and Stoker had come here several times over the last 6 months, enjoying many evening under the Martian night sky. Her heart pained at the memories and she swallowed hard burying her head in her arms.

She never thought she could screw up this badly. Even the time when Limburger had faked his death and framed her for the supposed crime seemed to pale in comparison to how screwed up this situation was. She reflected on everything that had happened to her in the past 9 months. Since she woke up on Mars and decided to try and change things.

Only, she hadn't really changed anything, had she? At least not for the better. She lied to her bros faces about who she really was. She nearly got herself and the bros in trouble for trying to sabotage the Tug-Transporter. Amelia likely lost her life because she was here, which nearly led to Throttle being banished. And Mace…she scoffed to herself. She let Mace intimidate her. She let a pathetic excuse of a rodent bully her into staying silent.

A low rumble and a nudge to her back made her look behind her. Comet had driven up the hill, clearly worried about her rider, but waiting until now because she sensed she needed space. She stroked Comet's casing as a faraway memory came to mind.

She stood with her hands on her hips after throwing Vinnie's words back into his blushing face. Throttle shrugged his shoulders.

"You coulda told us." She turned to him, rolling her eyes.

"I DID tell you, you adorable fur-brains, but you never listened!" she exclaimed, before explaining excitedly. "It was my new prototype bike for Washington. I figured I could test it out, and prove something to you lummoxes at the same time." She finished, crossing her arms triumphantly as Vinnie rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, ya did that, alright. Me and my big mouth." She nodded at his sheepish expression.

"Yup. Your foot fits inside it very well, if I do say so."

"We owe you a big apology, babe." Throttle expressed, to her delight.

"At least."

"But Charley, I…" she turned to Modo as he rubbed at his neck, looking concerned. "I mean, the reason we didn't want you with us is cause you might get hurt, and you did! I…I don't want you getting hurt." The gentle-giant finished, and Charley stepped forward to caress his cheek.

"Modo, you and the guys all run risks. The point is, I didn't get hurt because I'm a woman. I got hurt because I did something dangerous."

She could finally sympathize with the bros. She had kept her secret to herself…because she didn't want anyone getting hurt. She had run the risks and failed. Because she had tried to do it all alone. Even as the Masked Motorcyclist, she had needed her bros to succeed in her more roguish endeavours.

Stoker was right. All this time she had justified herself by saying she was doing it for the bros, when she was really doing it for herself. She let out a sigh.

"I really screwed up this time, Comet." She mumbled, and her bike rumbled back comfortingly. She glanced towards the afternoon sun, and stood up. "I don't know if I can fix this, and Stoker probably hates me now…but I can start making up for it now." She reached for her helmet and placed it on her head, and was about to get on Comet when a snigger caught her ear.

"Hello Cutie…what are you doing out here all alone?" She spun around to see a group of rats surrounding her. Five of them in total. Charley grit her teeth. That snake.

"I hope you didn't spend all day coming up with that as a menacing introduction." She replied coolly as she slowly inched for her whip. The rats began cackling.

"Oh, she's a brave one!" one called out.

"Too much time spent with those Mice." Another replied. Charley almost had her hand on the whip, when one of them pulled out a gun.

"Now sweets, I'll only ask nicely once. Come nice and quiet, and maybe we'll send your dear Fighters something to remember you by." Charley glanced down at Comet, who shifted ever so slightly. Charley smirked.

"You want me to go quietly? Eat shit!"

A loud crack resounded and the rat screamed in pain and grasped at his face after the whip tore through it. Charley pulled out her gun and shot one of the weapons out of another rat's hand. Comet's engine revved and she pulled a donut, firing at the rat's herself. With her bike offering covering fire, Charley rushed forward, knocking a knee into the gut still screaming rat before bashing his head down with the butt of her gun. One grabbed her from behind, but she leaned forward with the grab, planting her feet before spring back with all her might, head-butting the rat in the muzzle. As he released her, she shot out a leg striking him solidly in the gut, causing him to double over and collapse. Three more remained, firing at her from behind a rocky outcrop.

She whistled for Comet who popped a wheelie before launching a rocket at the outcrop. The rats all dived away from the ensuing explosion. Charley raced forward, landing three successive hits with the heel knot, before knocking him out with a spinning hook kick. His companion fired a shot that caused her to drop her gun, but a quick crack of the whip later, she disarmed him herself and allowed Comet to knock him out. She heard scuffling and saw the last rat attempting to pick himself up and flee. One more whistle to Comet and he was knocked to the ground caught in a net. She picked up her gun and rolled her whip, placing both weapons back on her belt as she marched over to the remaining conscious rat. She pressed a boot down on his head, making him whimper.

"You've got exactly 30 seconds to tell me why you and your friends thought this was a good idea." She growled, pressing down with her boot.

"Alright, alright!" he snivelled. "Deep Pocket sent us! He said he needed you taken care of!" Charley glared at him, and pressed harder, making him yelp. "He said…he said we had to keep you busy!" That made her pause.

"Why?"

He gulped before continuing. "He…he said something about…arranging a trap, with the Plutarkians. Some…module or something the Mice found. D-Deep Pocket said…we were not to let you back before nightfall."

Charley's blood turned to ice, recalling her bros retelling of the events of the Tug-Transporter in their time.

We brought the module back early that morning, and gotten it decoded that same afternoon…

She turned in horrified understanding at the sun that was close to touching the horizon.

"Oh God, no." she whispered, turning to race to Comet, before thinking twice and knocking the last Rat out with a kick. She raced to Comet, turning the comms back on and calling the first person that came to mind. "Stoker, come in, this is Charley!"

Static.

"Throttle? Modo? Vinnie? Please respond!"

Nothing.

"No….no, no, no no!" She shouted, before tearing her helmet off and tossing it into the sand, falling to her knees and pounding at the dirt. "Dammit!" She screamed tears running down her cheeks.

This was it. She had failed them. The one thing she had wanted to change had still happened, and she had done nothing to stop it. She gasped for breath between sobs.

Suddenly, her helmet began beeping, indicating an incoming message. She crawled over to the helmet and placed it on her head, static scratching in her ears.

"Hello?"

There was nothing but static for a while, then she heard it.

"Hey Cyclone. Good to hear your voice again."

"…Bros?"

Please Review! I love hearing from you guys!