Biker Mice from Mars

Gargoyles

"Business Partners"

Pt 2.

"I openly admit Mr. Xanatos that is indeed an Exemplary Example of Excellence in Erecting of an Elevated Edifice." Limburger oozed with a carefully calculated level of envy while looking out of the red and black helicopter's window coming onto the landing area atop the soaring Xanatos Building's roof.

"Oh, it's nothing special." David Xanatos replied while leaning back in his chair with a casually relaxed smirk. "Until something better comes along, it's just home." Limburger politely chuckled at the little joke as the helicopter settled onto the landing pad.

Attendants emerged from nearby corners on the Ancient Walls of Castle Wyvern, rushing forward to secure the vehicle safely down and helping its passengers exit onto the rooftop, while others worked the powerful skylights illuminating the sky.

Limburger stepped quickly away from the vehicle, ignoring the personnel, while Xanatos stopped to acknowledge and thank most of them by name, he turned and got the attention of the one nearest. "Steve, have the engine checked and the interior thoroughly cleaned, something was making the oddest smell, don't want that hanging around when Fox gets back from Australia, thanks a lot."

Pretending He didn't overhear that bit, Limburger stealthily tapped at one of the gold buttons on his jacket, a nearly inaudible hiss emanating from all around him. He took a couple of air testing sniffs before he let out a little sigh of relief before moving to rejoin his host at the Castles Main Elevator.

As the doors rolled shut, Xanatos relaxedly put his hands into jacket pockets, once again projecting that well-practiced aura of extreme casual confidence. "I'm sure I've already said it, but I must congratulate you on the breakthroughs you've made with your technology Limburger."

"Oh, Thank You, Mr. Xanatos, you cannot begin to fathom how much your prestigious admiration flatters me, but I cannot accept it all for myself. I must share it amongst my most cherished employees who truly helped to achieve our success." Limburger all but purred grovelingly.

"The business opportunities that our little merger could open up should go a long way towards impressing all the right people, and once we've convinced the city to grant us the permits and approvals to move forward things should get very interesting, and please call me David."

"Oh, but of course David, and thank you." Limburger acknowledged appreciatively. "I'm sure that with your most impressive sway with both eh legal and elected officials, the city will have no problems whatsoever with accepting our proposals most promptly, and please call me Lawrence."

"You couldn't have timed your proposal at a better time, Lawrence, I just recently lost some Construction Equipment in my Southwestern Properties." Xanatos commented while pushing a button, sending the elevator car descending to the Castle's Main Hall.

"Before we meet our gathered guests downstairs, remind me again of the details of your reaching out with this modest proposition again?" Limburger took on a well-practiced and modest theatrical posture of regret and remorse.

"As I am sure you are most aware, my beloved hometown of Chicago has suffered a series of somewhat anomalous misfortunes, I in attempting to do my best to perform the expected charitable civic duty as is due a successful businessman, but alas I have experienced some, shall we say unexpected financial frustrations, and find myself incapable of carrying out said civic duties, so I reached out to those more capable than I."

"I do seem to recall hearing about a couple of them. The city's Main Power Station was nearly destroyed in some kind of gas leak, then massive flooding and people claiming that the city was nearly overrun by Slime Monsters?!" Xanatos couldn't keep the smile from his face at recounting the events.
Limburger chucked. "Oh, you know us Simple Midwesterners, we've got Vivid Imaginations, to say the least!" Xanatos smiled as the Elevator let out a ding, announcing their arrival at their destination. "Come on Larry, we've shown them the preview, Let's go sweep the bureaucrats off their feet with the real show!"

Xanatos patted Limburger on the shoulder and turned to leave the elevator. "Hmm, there's that smell again, hope it isn't on my suit." He mumbled while making a sour face. A buzzing came from Limburger's suit pocket. "Let me take this call, and I'll join you most promptly." Limburger replied through a slightly forced grin.

Xanatos just nodded and walked out of the elevator, jovially waving a hand while calling out to the mayor. The grin vanished from Limburger's face shooting a spite-filled glare at the departing Xanatos as he pulled his mobile phone from its holder.

"Larry, indeed." He growled. "I'll sweep the entire city out from under your feet before I'm done you, infuriatingly inept industrialist." He raised the phone to his tiny ear.

"What is it Karbunkle?" He snapped. "Eeehh I just wanted to inform you that those frustrating furballs have just been spotted, and they're watching your location from a nearby rooftop, your Overbearing Officiator."

"Excellent. Those Peevishly Predictable Pests are Prompt if nothing else. Keep an eye on them and let me know the instant they make a move, but don't do anything else unless I order it." He growled and made to put the phone back before remembering something while pushing his jacket button again, a faint hiss coming from the gilded fastener. "Oh, and my dear Karbunkle, your new Deodorizer, it needs more WORK!"

"I don't think you guys should knock that one down." Charley suggested looking at the giddy heights that Xanatos's imposing skyscraper. The building dominated the Manhattan skyline. Dwarfing nearly everything around it. The Medieval Castle placed on top of it (Complete with dungeons and tunnels underneath) couldn't fail to amaze.

"That would have a negative effect on the property values." Throttle chuckled. "Not to mention making a bit of a mess." Modo added. "Am I wrong or is this place even taller than the old Red Tower back on Mars?" Vinnie asked, clearly impressed by the structure.

"You want to jump over it, don't you!?" Charley shot a challenging jab at Vinnie. "DUH!" He replied with a trademarked crazy smile, looking at the large structure and already calculating the best speed and angles to do just that. She rolled her eyes keeping her typical comment about testosterone and adrenaline being a bad mix to herself.

"Better brace yourself there Charley, cause that's pretty much the plan." Throttle shrugged with a slight smile, that didn't do a very good job of hiding the same hint of crazy that was on Vinnie's face. "YES!" Vinnie shouted, arms shooting up over his head, so excited he looked like he was ready to jump right now, with or without his bike!

"What!? Are You Crazy!? Him, I expect something like this from, but not you!" Charley gasped, indicating the Over-Excited Adrenaline Junkie she was sitting behind.

"Whoa Mama, we're gonna jump over that!?" Modo chimed in, the wide-eyed gray giant seemed like he couldn't buy this, even after all the crazy stunts they'd pulled over the years. A similar smile popped up on his face matching his two bros.

"More like onto it, big guy." The Tan Martian pointed up at the castle. "That part to be exact." Vinnie's excitement levels jumped a couple of notches. "Oh, this just keeps getting better!"

The area he indicated for their landing spot was the high watchtower at the extreme top of the castle at its most dizzying height extreme top. A very small tower. "And we're gonna do it without jets or retros too." Vinnie looked at the tower and back at Throttle. He looked like he could pass out from excitement overload!

"You're telling me that we're actually jumping up into the stratosphere, and then making a non-powered drop that requires literal pinpoint accuracy? I could kiss you!" Vinnie joked shaking with barely contained building excitement.

"Yeah, well I could hit you, both of you!" Charley snapped, taking a swing at the back of Vinnie's helmet, which he effortlessly dodged. "You've pulled some real whoppers in the dumb ideas department, but this, this might be the topper!"

"We gotta figure out what Limburger is up to with this Xanadu guy before they do whatever it is they're planning." Throttle explained while Charley pointed out that Limburger's new partner's name is Xanatos. "Eh, whatever." He shrugged.

"Not that I'm 0pposed to this little stunt, sounds like a lotta fun but what do you know about this guy, Charley Ma'am?" Modo asked, being one to ask a good question for once, while also high-fiving Vinnie, appreciating fellow excitement seeker.

"Not much really. I do know that he's one of, if not the richest guys on the planet." She answered Modo. "So, he's a bad guy then. What more do we need to know." Vinnie shrugged, as it ended the need for the discussion.

"What? No, that isn't always the case!" She exasperatedly pointed out. "But, that aint what all your TV shows and movies tell us." Modo added. "You can't believe Everything you see on TV Modo. He looked like he wasn't sure if he bought that or not.

"If we need to find out something about Xanatos, we could just go to a Library and look him up. I'm sure there are plenty of articles in newspapers, magazines, and even on those new computer information networks."

The Mice looked at each other, and made discerning expressions before all turning back to her and replying all at once… "Nah." Charley just looked up at the night sky with that why me face. "Might I also point out that there is a big meeting going on over there, and the place is full of PEOPLE, and when it comes to being Sneaky, you guys aren't exactly the best at doing that!" She strongly reminded them.

"Actually, that means it's the best time to sneak in. "Throttle smiled at her beaming with his typically relaxed macho confidence. "How do you reason that?!" She shot back at him, somehow still capable of being shocked at their machismo-fueled bravado.

"It's like you said, this is a bunch of big business and government types, they're all going to be so busy blowing smoke and patting each other on the back, they'll be way too busy too even notice us."

"I'm not sure you guys are mice and not squirrels, because that is about the nuttiest thing I've ever heard!" Throttle just replied to her with another of his trademarked too cool-for-school shrugs. "You got this figured out yet Vinster?" He turned to the white Martian who'd been working on their jump path for the incursion this whole time.

"Planned, plotted, and to perfection boss mouse!" Vinnie grinned, almost on the verge of exploding with anticipation as he sent the route info to their bike's computers. All three beeped when the data was properly programmed.

"Yeah, let's do this!" Modo grinned and activated his helmet's energy visor. Vinnie and Throttle doing the same. "Now remember, don't pop your glider wings UNTIL the last second, and Not 5 seconds after, you got that VINNIE!?"

"Yes Dad, I got it, man you can be such a killjoy." Vinnie teased while curling his tail around Charley's waist and lifting her off the back of his bike. "Watch our tails, Charley, if we get spotted let us know." Charley held up a pair of binoculars. "You got it Throttle." She gave them a thumbs up, silently wishing them luck.

All three began revving their powerful bike engines! The entire rooftop began to shake like it was in a California Earthquake! Reacting with well-honed experience, Charley dived for what cover she could behind a brick wall!

Motors roared like chained monsters, holding one paw up as Vinnie watched the streets below them with laser-focused concentration. No words passed between the trio, Throttle and Modo's attention centered on Vinnie's raised paw, awaiting the signal! The power in the motors raging higher and higher!

"NOW!" He yelled, paw snapping to his own handlebars, as all three gunned their engines to max power! 3 sets of heavy tires biting into the roof! Scattering gravel and tar wildly behind them! Charley ducked behind her wall, thankful she still had her helmet on as the loose material ricocheted everywhere!

The motorcycles shot over the edge of the roof and down towards the streets below, engines and jets firing with a loud YAHOO mixed in! Charley jumped up and ran over to watch! Taillights and Jets make it easy to spot them!

The Mice hurtled across the busy New York Street, seemingly right towards the unaware traffic, but she had to admit, if there is anything Vinnie is great at, it's being Dangerous with Style!

Somehow, he'd timed it perfectly that they hit the busy intersection just as the traffic lights changed from green to red, allowing them to fly across the 4-way street in those few split seconds when there were no other vehicles crossing!

A stunned silence hit the area, but being New York, it didn't last long before the extremely hard-to-surprise or impress New York drivers started honking and throwing loud shouts and curses at the deranged bikers!

The Mice didn't slow down, in fact, they sped up! Not stopping at the curb, they used it to bounce themselves up and on the side of a building! Special Martian tires gripped onto the glass and concrete as their firing jets flung them up the side!

Using the office building like a launching ramp, they moved faster and faster, becoming literal vertical blurs! Charley almost couldn't keep them in view with her binoculars! Like Shooting Stars, just going in the opposite direction, they flew up off the top of the building and into the Dark Manhattan sky!

The Mice went higher and higher, their jets cutting out, making them all but invisible in the night. They'd also used the far side of the building across from Xanatos's skyscraper to help hide their ascent from anyone there who might have spotted them!

"Woo, kinda chilly up here!" Modo shivered, his gray fur fluttering as they went up! "Shoulda wore my mittens!" Vinnie loving every second of this just laughed. "Don't you mean mitten!?" Modo looked at his one flesh and fur paw then at his metal one. "Nah, that would look tacky if I just wore one!"

"As much as I hate to interrupt you two, we're about to begin our descent so we should really keep an eye out for any passing air traffic below us, cause I think slamming into a 747 might mess up our little trip!" Throttle shouted out, breaking up his two bro's little comedy routine.

"Why, we got the right of way!?" Vinnie joked. "I hope they all kept their air brakes in working order!" Modo joined in. "Ahh, I think the thin air is getting to you two, you're sounding Lite Headed!" All three laughing now as they plummeted towards the rapidly approaching Manhattan Island!

"Whoa, wind gust, we're getting pushed off target!" Throttle cried out, their bikes shaking in the sudden gale, causing them to drift away from each other! "Quick, Three-way Tail Twister 2X!" His tail stretched out, gripping Modo's while Vinnie did the same with him, making them one falling object instead of 3 separate ones.

Using their combined mass, they shifted around using it to set them in a spinning motion, going faster and faster, sending them back towards the small tower at the top of the castle. Keeping them from being spotted by the searchlights on the rooftop and from slamming into a nearby building too!

"Oh, Mama! Really glad we didn't eat before we did this, gulp!" Modo groaned while swallowing. He really didn't like these spinning plays. "Woo, whatchya talking about this is great, faster go faster!" Vinnie yelled enthusiastically enjoying the danger!

"Not to spoil the fun but get ready to pop your glider-wings…NOW!" Throttle barked out, letting go of each other's tails, thin flexible wings snapping out from around the bike's headlights, sending them into a controlled, perfectly synchronized somersaulting roll towards the tower!

THUD! The bikes slammed onto the circular walled-in little tower! "Oof, ouch, ugh!" the Bros grunted at the bone-slamming impact. It almost sent them tumbling off their bikes! The tangled-up glider wings caught on each other's bikes and walls pinning them in place!

"Did we make it?" Modo asked opening his eye and looking around. "We did Big Guy, but I think Charley's gonna have some dents and joints to tighten up, and on the bikes too." Throttle moaned, deactivating his helmet visor, and pushing his dislodged sunglasses from the tip of his snout back up over his eyes.

"I dunno, I think we could've shaved a couple of seconds off on that wing release, it would've made that landing way more exciting." Vinnie mumbled looking back up into the sky, already recalculating the stunt again. "What do you guys think?"

Throttle and Modo just gave him one of their How has He lived so long looks. "I'll let ya know when my stomach gets here, so I can make a fully formed discussion." Modo sighed one paw on his giddy-feeling belly.

"I'm satisfied that we didn't get noticed by any of the crews down there." Throttle said sneaking a peak over the top of the ramparts. He ran a paw over the odd marks on the old gray stones. Looked almost like claw mark.

"At least Charley got an awesome show watching us pull that one off, too bad she didn't have a camera to record that for prosperity." Vinnie grinned just managing to avoid the temptation to wave at the far-off rooftop they left Charley on.

"I'm sure you'll never let us forget it. Now let's get these wings folded back up and sneak down into the tower and figure out what that Stinkfish is up with this New York big shot." Vinnie shrugged at their Tan Team Leader.

"I think I'd rather do that jump again than this next part." Modo growled looking at the small hatch at his feet. He didn't think his muscular frame was suited for this stealth part of their mission.

"Got no choice Modo, we got a city to save." Throttle pointed out leaning down to pick the latch lock with his tail. "Ah, we got this, we are the best of the best, I am at least so yeah." Vinnie shrugged. His self-confidence never wavers.

"Glad you feel that Vin, so you can go first." Throttle said pulling the hatch open and gesturing at the dark cramped stairwell leading down. "Hey, I pull this off and it's just another great Vincent Van Wham Exploit to wow Charley Girl with."

Throttle and Modo just sighed and nodded. Knowing better to say anything at this point. The trio made their way down. On the roof top across the busy New York Streets. No one was there to witness their activities. Only a discarded white helmet and a pair of dropped binoculars remained on the gravel roof...

To Be Continued!