Thanks for all the comments. Someone asked how Vivica, Charley, and the Mice wound up back on Mars. I apologize for that. I will give an explanation in this next chapter. Plus, I know a lot of you are wondering what Throttle's child is going to be like. I will do my best to tell his story. Thanks, Ladydaisys🌼 Now onto the chapter.
Adjustments-Chapter Sixteen
"Enough, Ondine!"
Vivica and the wolf that confronted. her both looked up to see Rayford approach them.
"Stop this at once!" He said.
Ondine transformed back into her human form
"She disgraced our clan, Rayford. She should die!" Ondine replied.
Vivica transformed back as well.
"Not by your fangs I wont!" Vivica shouted.
"You aren't half the leader Daniel was!" She shouted back.
"Why? Because he was your brother? He was a pervert!"
"He was still my family. And because of you, he's dead!"
"What happened to Daniel was an accident. I had nothing to do with this."
"She is right. Daniel was a coward who abandoned many of our people to die in that fire. Vivica saved all of us." Rayford said.
"What about bearing a child who is neither wolf nor human? She tainted our blood with our enemy's. How can she be a good leader?' Ondine questioned.
"Vivica is still one of us as well as our leader. We are of one blood. We should never let anything or anyone divide us." Rayford said, "We have a right to obey her."
Ondine glared at Vivica for a moment then she calmed down.
"It is your right as leader of the clan. I will comply with it but I don't have to like it." She grumbled.
Then she walked away.
'Thank you, Rayford." Vivica said.
"Can't have any dissension in the clan. Where have you been, Vivica?"
"Doing what I can to protect my son."
"You went to Mars to see that man mouse, didn't you?'"
"He's my son's father. I had a right to go. Besides, as leader of the pack, I don't owe you or anyone else an explanation!" She yelled.
"He'll never love you like I could." He began, trying to hug her.
She pulled away from him. She folded her arms about herself.
"Forget him. He's not like us. We're wolves. We could devour all of his kind with one gulp! As they sleep, they would be helpless against us."
'You will not harm them! Any of them! That's an order, Rayford!" Vivica screamed.
"As you wish. But it would be in your best interest to consider more suitable mates. You still have not excepted my offer to become my wife."
"I cannot. I'm sorry but I can't love you like you wish."
Rayford angrily looked away.
"I will retire to my quarters."
"Think about what I said, Vivica. The future of our clan depends on it."
She walked inside the chocolate shop up to her apartment. She sat on her bed. Her eyes fell on an empty baby's crib. Then her eyes filled with tears. She broke down
"Velo...forgive me...My Velo...my love..."
She already missed him. But she had to protect him. She would do anything to keep him from harm. That's why she came to Charley the other day with a request. She remembered the conversation.
Flashback...
The Biker Mice and Charley were back in Chicago at the Last Chance Garage when Vivica and her mom showed up. Aunt Agatha had been in an uproar over Vivica's pregnancy. After calming down her mom, she went to lie down on Charley's sofa in her living room. The Biker Mice left on their bikes to spy on Limburger Tower.
Charley and Vivica were alone. Charley was making repairs to her truck.
"The guys are going back to Mars thanks to Carbunkle's dimensional portal." Charley said.
"What in the world is that?" She had asked.
"Carbunkle is one of Limburger's stooges. A creepy mad scientist who invented a way to bring space criminals from other dimensions to Earth. Fortunately, the guys stopped them before they could do any damage and usually shipped them back where they came from."
"And this, what did you call it?"
"A dimensional portal. You use it to travel to other dimensions. I actually went to Mars once in it.. Don't tell the guys but I have a surprise for them."
"What kind of surprise?"
"I managed to copy some of Carbunkle's software for the dimensional portal." She replied, getting up and going to a coveted up tarp in a corner.
She pulled it off.
"And voila! I created my own portal! Now the guys can visit Mars whenever they like." Charley beamed, glancing at the portal before her.
"That thing can take you to Mars?" Vivica asked.
"It's in the experimental stage right now, but yeah it can do that." She replied.
"You think it could take me to Mars?" Vivica asked.
"It can. But why do you want to go to Mars?"
"I have a good reason for going."
"Vivica, get over Throttle. He has a girlfriend. And she's not going to give him up without a fight."
"I thought they broke up."
"She still loves him."
"She's a psycho. But that's not why I want to go. I have something very important I want to say to him."
Charley narrowed her eyes suspiously.
"Please, Charley. It really is important. Just don't tell the guys."
"Oh, alright." She sighed.
End Flashback
She went to Mars with her son for the purpose of him being raised by his father. Vivica wanted him to be with his father's people and live among them.
At the time, she thought she was doing the right thing. Ondine and others like her in the clan openly spoke against her son. They considered him a freak.
She knew she had to protect him. That's why she went to Mars. On Earth, he'd never be safe. She had to do what she could for Velo. But already the pain of losing him was weighing in on her. But she told herself she was doing what was best for him.
"He'll be raised by his own kind. I did the right thing." She told herself.
Then why was her heart breaking?
...
Back on Mars, little Velo was thriving like a reed. Throttle took to fatherhood like a fish to water. He learned from Stoker how to feed him and change his diaper. Of course, like all new fathers, he made mistakes.
The first time he changed his son's diaper, Velo nearly peed on him. A tiny stream of urine shot into the air like a water fountain. Modo and Vinnie were walking in just as he was changing Velo.
"Heads up, bros!" The tan furred leader called out.
The two mice ducked as the urine shot past them and stained the adjoining wall.
"Oh, mama! I heard parenthood was a challenge but this is something else." Modo chuckled.
"Yeah, reminds me of me when I was that age. A sign the little bugger's gonna make one bad mammajamma!" Vinnie said, admiringly.
"Word of advice, Vincent. Call him Velo not bugger." Throttle told him.
"Chill, bro." The white mouse said, holding up both hands in front of him to calm the frazzled mouse.
"Man, this being a dad is hard work. But I wouldn't trade anything in the world for it." He said, smiling at the tiny mouse now blissfully asleep in his father's arms.
"Good thing Stoker knows how to take care of babies." Modo said.
The older command leader not only knew how to fight but he was also one of Martian Command's chief doctors. He helped mend the wounds of many of the soldiers in his unit.
Stoker knew what herbs and ingredients needed to make Martian porridge. It was what the Martian Mice used to feed their babies before the Plutarkian Invasion of Mars. Vinnie, Modo, and Charley helped Throttle by taking turns feeding little Velo and playing with him while Throttle got in a short nap.
Now the tan furred leader was wide awake after sleeping two hours. He then went to check up on his son. The baby was lying in his crib blissfully asleep.
"He's finally asleep." Throttle said, walking from the nursery and into the room where his two bros were.
"Knock, knock.' said a cheerful voice.
The mice looked up to see Carbine and Charley now enter the room.
"Keep it down. The baby's taking his nap." Throttle said.
'I've spoken to Martian Command and they've agreed to let Velo stay on Mars." Carbine began.
'That's great."
"I have even better news. Could you excuse Throttle and me for a minute?" She asked Modo, Vinnie, and Charley.
"We gotta go anyway. I wanna get some chow from the mess hall." Modo said.
"Hey, think they got any hotdogs?" Vinnie asked.
"Do you always have to worry about your empty stomach?" Charley retorted.
"Sweetheart, this mouse doesn't fight on an empty stomach."The white mouse replied.
"Figures."
The three friends now walked out.
"So what's up?" Throttle asked her.
"One of the judges of the Martian counsel also performs weddings and bonding ceremonies. I know it's sudden, but I figured we could plan our bonding ceremony or an Earth wedding if you prefer." Carbine replied, face blushing.
Throttle just looked at her in shock.
"This would be a good thing for your son. He'd have a mother and a father."
"He's got a mother."
'Throttle, you can't be serious. That painted up Earth woman is no role model for the boy."
"She's still his mother."
"Well, once we get married..."
"Carbine, we need to talk."
"Surel. What's up?"
He took a deep breath.
"It's about us getting married. I think we shouldn't."
"What do you mean?"
"I think we should go our separate ways."
"Wait. You're dumping me?!" Carbine asked.
"It's not what I want, but we're not good for each other. I have Velo to think about now. He needs a stable home."
"I can give him that home. It's that Vivica woman, isn't it? She's behind all this!" Carbine exclaimed.
Fear etched in the dark haired general's face.
"Vivica has nothing to do with all this. I can't live like this, Carbine. You jump to conclusions and accuse me of things that aren't true. The first time me and my bros came back to Mars, you had us arrested and tried to execute us."
"I made a huge mistake. I was wrong. I swear i'll make it up to you. Give me another chance with you."
"I'm sorry. But...no."
"You want her! That's why you're breaking up with me!"