The following is a piece of fan fiction based on Biker Mice From Mars. All characters were created by Rick Ungar, original story by Tom Tataranowicz, and are not my property.

This is an AU retelling of BMFM and explores mature subject matter including death, violence, abuse, sex (con and noncon), torture, and mutilation. Reader's discretion is advised. Some character history has been altered from their original source but like I said, this is an AU.

Chapter- 3

"I need you to hold still so I don't singe you, okay?"

The mice-like aliens had finally stopped after riding for a little over an hour. The tan one was stretching, the white one who she rode with was leaned against his bike staring off into the distance, and the large grey one was carefully soldering off the shackles of Charley with a laser built into his arm. She didn't speak a word to him, rather she watched him with no expression on her face as he worked his way through her bonds, first her hands then her feet.

When the last of the chains fell beneath her, she took a step back, her tiny bare feet adjusting their balance in the soft red sand. She stared at the giant grey mouse while she nursed the pink mark on her wrist where the shackles had chaffed her skin. She was unsure what to think of these mice. She wasn't about to let her guard down like she did with Slobber. Every… creature she had come across so far on this godforsaken planet was a monster; how would this time be any different?

"All free now," the grey one spoke to her like she was a rabbit released from a snare. She didn't trust him. She didn't trust any of them. But her life was in their hands now just as it had been in Slobbers. "You're not hurt, are you?"

" No." She lied. Every bone and every muscle in her body ached, but she had a good poker face.

"So you can talk," the tan one spoke up. "I was worried we were going to have to start pantomiming in order to communicate with you." He paused as if waiting for a laugh from her. When the only response she gave was her expressionless gaze, he cleared his throat. "We know you're not from around here, from this planet. You're on Mars and we're Martians, Cave-Mice; my name is Throttle, the big guy who broke your chains is Modo and that guy over there is Vinnie." Modo gave her a smile and a nod, Vinnie waved at her without turning his head. Charley remained silent.

"Do you have a name?" asked Modo.

"Charlene"

"Charley?" asked Vinnie.

"Charlene," she repeated herself a bit louder and clearer. "I'm Charlene Davidson."

"Okay," said Throttle. "Charlene. Can you tell us where you came from?"

"Earth."

"Do you know how long you've been here?"

Charley shrugged. "Give or take six months, around half a year. It's hard to tell here."

"There's quite a difference between six months and half a year," said Modo. It was an odd comment to make Charley didn't put much thought into it. What did it matter anyway.

"Can you tell us who brought you here?" Throttle began asking questions.

"I don't know who they were. They just…" Charley stopped to swallow down the lump in her throat that was threatening to build up. Her throat was so parched that simply swallowing her own saliva was painful. She didn't want to talk about Lawrence. "Can you just tell me what you want from me? Or what you want me to do for you?"

Modo looked taken aback by her response. Vinnie shuffled and readjusted his leaning position. "Charlene, you gotta believe me when I say this," Throttle spoke softly as he took a step closer to her. His arms were up to his side and palms opened to show he was no threat. "You owe us nothing and we are not going to demand anything from you. You're free."

"I'm free, am I?" She let out an exacerbated laugh and looked up at the sky, unwilling or unable to look Throttle in the eyes. "I'm free to just wander that wasteland over there?" She pointed to the desert behind Vinnie. "I'm free to go back to that hell hole Slobber lives in? Or am I free to follow you around and live at your mercy?"

Vinnie stepped away from his bike and made his way towards the others. "Listen lady, I get that you might be having a bad time but a thank you would be nice. We didn't have to take you away from those Raiders and if you want a ride back, we'd be more than happy to oblige. We weren't even looking to rescue you; we were lookin' for…"

"Harley," Charley interrupted. Vinnie froze in his place.

"You know her?" asked Modo.

"No. You all were yelling her name at Slobber's a couple hours ago. I know it was her you were looking for, not me." She turned to look at Vinnie as she spoke, her gaze less emotionless and more tired. "I'm sorry that I'm not the person you wanted me to be. As long as I had been on this planet I haven't seen or heard of her or any other mouse, except for you three."

The four stood there and let the silence wash over them. Charley finally spoke up. "I am not free on this planet. I can't get back home to my life, my garage, my friends. Thank you for taking me away from that monster, but I'm still stuck here."

The three mice shifted uncomfortably in their feet. "We can't get you off planet, and you'll die out there in the desert," said Throttle. "We can take you back to civilization, mouse civilization, once your there you can stay with us or try to find your own way. It won't be easy going at it alone, but it will be easier there than any other place on Mars right now."

"Thank you for your honesty."

"Is there anything you need before we head out?"

Charley took a deep breath in and out. "I'm cold," she finally confessed, "and I'm thirsty."

The mice had not considered that Charley was more susceptible to Mars' cold temperatures. They all had their fur to keep their bodies insulated but all Charley had was her bare skin and in a flimsy white slave dress. Modo lifted the seat of his bike and pulled out compacted rucksack. He pulled a thin emergency blanket and draped it around her shoulders. He then gave her a flask from which she drank from greedily. When she was done, she licked her cracked lips and thanked Modo again.

The group was getting ready to leave when Vinnie pulled up beside her. "Am I giving you a ride back to base?" his voice was cheery but to Charley it seemed a bit forced. He was trying to forgive her.

"I don't have to ride with you if you don't want me to."

She had given him an out, but Vinnie still lifted her up with his tail and set her down behind her. This time she was able to properly straddle the bike as her feet were not bound. "It's fine. Only an hour or so until we're back at base. But this time you're going to have to hold on to me because my tail is all cramped up."

Charley held on tight to Vinnie's back, closer than she might have normally. Between his soft fur and the blanket Modo had given her, Charley felt warm. She wasn't prepared to let her guard down around these mice, at any moment they could drop the chivalrous act and show themselves to be just as cruel as the hyenas had been. But for now, she was warm, and her thirst was quenched. Her stomach panged with hunger, she was exhausted, every fiber of her being ached; but she was warm. She would allow herself this indulgence and wait to see what lay ahead.