Disclaimer:  I don't own the BMFM, Charlie, Carbine, Rimfire, Stoker, Limburger or Brie.  I do, however, own, Mari, Mandy, Ice, Turbo, Fire, Firefall and Sunspot.  I make no money from this, and I do so for my and other's enjoyment.
 

                                Firefall
                                Part One
                (C) 2/17/1999 All Rights Reserved
                             By Goldenmane
                           ***********************
    Fires raged throughout the city of Detroit. Mari knew this might be Detroit's darkest hour. Brie had begun a campaign to take the city one way or another. There sounded a horrendous explosion followed by a very energetic howl. "That's what ya'll get for damaging the Changing Times."
    Mari turned Ice toward another Dune Ranger. She let off a series of blasts, watching in complete satisfaction as several dune buggies exploded. She watched a midnight black bike wind through the debris, its rider shooting Dune Rangers with uncanny accuracy. 'That's Mandy for you,' Mari thought.
    "Brie spotted north west of here," Mandy said over her helmet's radio. "Something about river front property."
    Mari swore. Brie set up a front so he could go after the real prize. Lake Erie. Mari turned at unexpected explosions, she saw a red bike streak through the rubble.
    "Hey, watch the merchandise," she heard Vinnie say. "This is grade 'A' mouse material."
    "Mutual aid, as requested," Throttle said as he pulled up beside her.
    Modo flanked her on the other. "Thought we'd never get here. Rush hour traffic can be murder."
    Mari ducked a volley of laser fire. "You're here now. That's all that counts."
    "Split up - " Throttle said.
    "-Ah, the ol' 'divide and conquer'." Vinnie finished, easing in beside Modo.
    "Yeah, well," Throttle said, half defeated. He drew a deep breath. "Let's rock."
    "And ride," everyone chorused, including Mari, though she added her own battle cry. "Let's rock 'em 'till we drop 'em."
    Mari raced down the street on one wheel. "Let's go, Ice." Any resistance met ended in disaster for Brie's army.
    Movement out of the corner of her eye brought her to a screeching halt. 'I though all of the civilians had fled once the fight began?' She resumed forward motion, trying in vain to reach the youngster who stood paralyzed. Mari watched in horror as several laser bolts struck around the boy, relieved when he remained unharmed. She swerved, putting Ice in the path of a laser bolt, launching herself to grab the boy.
    She rolled away, clutching the boy to her chest. She could feel the heat of the blast on her back, knowing Ice had taken a great hit. Disoriented, Mari tried to crawl to safety, only to find herself unable to move her leg. 'Wonderful,' she mused. 'By the moons, the child?' She glanced around and found no sign of him. Wearily she laid her head back to the pavement, awaiting help soon to arrive.
    "Mari!" she could hear Vinnie cry.
    "I'm ok, sorta. Ice took it worse than me. But what about the child?" Mari blurted out. She could hear him jump off his bike and run to her.
    "You threw him clear of the blast with your tail. I saw him scamper off, unharmed," he said, turning to his bike. "Bike, cover fire."
    Mari half smiled as he helped her to sit up. She nearly ripped her helmet off, wiping blood from a bitten lip. She turned to watch the soot-covered child pause, staring at her, before scampering away. Her ice-blue eyes distant.
    "Guess he's never seen a Martian in his life," Vinnie said, tending to her leg. He looked up, noticing her gaze. He followed it to see the retreating boy. "Remind you of Blaze?"
    "Yeah."  Mari cast her gaze skyward, trying to visualize where their home world would be in the bright day sky.
    "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't know. I hoped you had gotten over them by now, but I . . . "
    Mari shook her head, silencing him. "It is in the past. Now we have to save Detroit. And the Earth."
    "Call a retreat," Mandy yelled. "I'm almost outta ammo."
    "Agreed," Throttle said. "Back to your base."
    Mari rose with Vinnie's help, leaning all her weight on him. "To the Changing Times, then, and please, be gentle with Ice," she said.
    "Me, careful?" Vinnie mocked innocence. "Since when aren't I?"
    Mari only chuckled, hopping on her good leg to Vinnie's bike. 'I hope this isn't the end for us all,' she thought. 'I hope we can win for the sake of the Earth.'
                                                                            #
    Out in the depths of space sped a ship, a sleek silver arrow against the diamond-studded sky. The sole pilot fought control of the craft, attempting to send a radio message for help. She braced herself as the ship lurched sideways. She grabbed her shoulder as it snapped backwards under the force of the ship's movement.
    With seasoned ease her partner took over and guided the doomed craft towards the nearest planet, a blue-green world they had heard about in tales and stories around the pilot's bars. A world they might be able to find allies on. A world where they just might find a savior or two. A world known to be teeming with life, unaware of the perilous danger they faced from alien invaders.
    A world called Earth.
                                             #
    "Won't they ever give up?" Mandy said, reloading her laser's cartridge.
    "Since when have they?" Mari craned her arms to let loose a massive two-handed volley of laser fire.
    "Brie'll never leave us alone. Not since the fountain incident." Vinnie took over Mari's cover fire. "I bet he's still cheesed."
    "Not as much as every time we force him to hire new goons," Mari said.
    Mandy's turn came all too soon. "The Changing Times can't take much more of this. Where are the guys?"
    "I'd say there," Mari said at the crossfire of outside lasers.
    Vinnie howled his trademark laugh. "I knew the guys wouldn't let us down."
    "Even towing Ice, we still made it back first," Mari said, firing another round.
    "Missed us?" a voice said suddenly. Mari nearly loosed a startled bolt. Thankful she didn't.
    "Throttle?" Throttle stood there, clutching an arm that bled profusely. "We almost didn't make it. Modo should have followed me."
    "Right here, bro." Modo lowered his arm cannon. "Just making sure no one followed us."
    A long, loud, low rumble stopped everyone in their tracks.
    "Earthquake?" someone asked, only to be answered by a:" Dummy. There aren't any 'quakes in Detroit."
    The rumble grew louder until everyone had to plug their ears. The Changing Times began to shake, pieces of tile falling loose. With an explosion that further rocked the garage, the group looked out the window, watching a great fireball expand.
    "That's a ship," Mari said quietly. "Had to be."
    "Then whoever it is, they may be hurt. We gotta rescue them," Vinnie said, going to his bike. "C'mon bro's. Let's rock."
    Throttle stopped him. "Wait. Looks like Brie's more interested in the ship than us."
    "All the more reason to reach the ship before he does." Mari turned to look at the guys.
    "No need," Modo said, looking out the window. "Whoever they are they bailed before the ship went down." At his words, the sounds of a renewed fire fight met their ears. They could hear the explosion and curses from Dune Rangers, and the revving of a pair of bike engines.
    "Those . . . those are Martian bikes," Vinnie almost cried.
    "Whose?" someone asked.
    Mandy dodged a stray laser bolt. "If we survive this, we may find out."
    The silence that suddenly followed the incredibly short battle seemed deafening. If it had not been for a pair of purring engines right outside the building, the quintet would have believed the world had ended.
    "Citizens, you ok?" a female voice said from outside.
    "Yeah," Throttle said. "Thanks for the help." When the group rose from their positions, they stopped. Indeed astride two racing bikes sat two Martians. One female, the other one male. Both had helmets on, obscuring their features, though both of them had the same shade of red-brown fur.
    "Mice?" the female asked incredulously. "On Earth? Then you three must be the legendary Biker Mice. But who would you be?" She hinted toward Mari.
    "They are the Biker Mice," Mari said. "And I am Mari, former leader of the Rockers."
    The female shook her head. "Never heard of 'em."
    Mari quirked a brow. "How couldn't you? Turbo and the gang have to be active, even after all this time."
    "I know the name Turbo. He was stationed in the old base near Monument, right?"
    "That's him. Do you know where he is?"
    The female shook her head again. "Sorry. All I know is that what I've read of the old reports is that there was a unit formed right after the fall of Monument, but that every member disappeared shortly after. No records mention the name."
    Mari could only stare in disbelief. "Are you sure? I was at Monument. I fought there. I know the Rockers existed. I was their leader and Turbo was my mate. The reports have to be wrong. If they were wrong about me, then why not Turbo?"
    The female shrugged. "All I know is what I've read, but Army documents aren't always reliable when they're that old, ya know." She paused. "You know the situation on Mars, right?"
    "We haven't gotten much from Mars recently," Throttle said. "We've tried to put several calls through, but they're being jammed."
    "Plutarkians are back, worse'n ever.  They want revenge for their ungraceful ousting off of Mars. I thought you'd been updated. Sorry 'bout that," the male said, removing his helmet. "The name's Sunspot, and this here's Firefall. We're members of the elite fighting unit the Shimmers under Nazira."
    "Do you know if your leader was from Monument? I know there was a Nazira there. It's such an odd name, you know . . . " Mari asked pensively.
    Firefall shook her head. "Don't think so. Last I knew she was from Brimstone." 
    "So," Throttle said hastily, glancing toward Mari. "What brings you two to Earth?"
    Sunspot tucked his helmet under his arm, running a hand through his short blonde hair. "Plutarkians left behind a few ships when we ran them off of Mars. So Firefall and I decided to take one for a spin. With army permission, of course."
    "And that's where we encountered a small group of Stingrays still hanging around out there. We crippled most of the ships, but not before they could damage our craft," Firefall continued, removing her own helmet, shaking her long blonde hair free. "We crashed here just in time to save your tails, it looks like."
    Throttle fell silent as Mandy tended to his wounds.
    "Well?" Sunspot asked. "How's a Martian s'posed to return home. Earth's not exactly up to par with us."
    Mandy only quirked a brow, deciding not to get into the argument.
    "Only way is to crash Brie's tower and use his transporter," Modo said. "Good luck, cuz he'll be on guard more'n ever."
    "Nothing a Shimmer can't handle," Sunspot said, replacing his helmet. "All right, let's go. Time to light up this old town."
    "Wait a minute, citizens," Throttle said. "You don't know the layout of Brie's tower. Mari here does."
    Firefall looked to her companion. "Guy's right. This is their turf, not ours."
    Sunspot removed his helmet. "Could always use a bite to eat. Fine. We'll play by your rules while we're here. Wherever here is."
    "Detroit," Mari said. "Or at least what's left of it. Besides. This may be the break we're looking for. Brie apparently planned on taking something from Lake Erie, though with you two here, I don't think he will."
    "Want us to scout?" Throttle asked. "Just in case?"
    "Yes," Mari said. "But if any Dune Rangers survived, and I know some will, they'll tell Brie of other mice here, and he'll concentrate on you two."
    Sunspot unholstered his laser for emphasis. "Then if he does, we'll be ready for him. A Shimmer does not shirk duty, no matter what it is."
    "Good to hear it," Vinnie said, an edge of sarcasm in his voice. "Because Plutarkians never rest."
                                             #
    "The guys've been gone over an hour, and we still haven't gotten anything accomplished," Sunspot said, slamming a fist on the table, his red-orange eyes betraying his eagerness.  "We gotta do something.  We gotta get back to Mars."
    "Cool yer jets, hot shot," Vinnie said from his perch on the couch arm.  "When the time to go comes, you'll have all ya can do to keep ahead of Brie."
    Mari nodded.  "He may be a tough old fish, but he still knows how to fight."
    Firefall scanned the map one more time.  "What about you lot.  Ever thought of going back to Mars?"
    "Not with Plutarkians stinking up the Earth," Vinnie said.
    "We kinda have a small obligation to this world," Mari said.  "Besides, if the Plutarkians gain Earth, then they'll have resources to conquer Mars for good."
    Sunspot calmed some.  "I see your point, but sitting and talking is getting us no where.  We have to go."
    "I'm gonna have to sit this one out," Mari said.  "No way I can ride with this leg."
    "Sweetheart, there ain't nothing ya can't do with a little help from your friends," Vinnie said, whistling to  his bike.
    Mari stared in amazement as Ice followed meekly.
    "All ya gotta do is hang on," Vinnie said, helping her to hobble to Ice.  "Besides, you know the layout first hand.  Mandy said she hasn't been as deep inside Brie's palace as you have."
    Mari had to agree, begrudgingly, and accepted her helmet when Vinnie offered it.  "The guys can handle themselves.  Time to ride."
    "Finally," Sunspot said, racing to his bike.  "Time to whip some tail."
    "Lock it and load," Mari said.  "Let's rock 'em 'till we drop 'em."
    "Let's ride," Vinnie said, the group leaving in a screech of tires and a cloud of smoke from the Changing Times garage.
    Mari did not complain when Vinnie stated he would not leave her side.  She would need help, after all.  Riding a bike with a broken leg, she had told him, would be nearly impossible.  He had come back with the fact that years ago Modo had ridden with a broken leg, and he with a broken arm, and they still trashed Limburger and the Road Ravens.
    Mari had to agree that with the accelerated healing Martians had, her leg would heal enough to guide Ice by the end of the day.
    They steered clear of the crash site, thankful the fire had  not spread.  Red flashing lights could still be seen in the distance, a sure sign Detroit's fire department had everything under control.
    Ahead lay Brie's palace, as he had renamed the West Tower.  Years of Mari trashing the joint had forced him to build lower and lower, until the Palace covered only two stories.  Inside would be opulent treasures and riches no human could ever hope to own.  And the fish they wanted to scale.  Brie.
    "Engage weapons," Mari said.  "We're coming up on the outer defenses. Blast at will."
    Vinnie laughed, "It'll be great to trash some Plutarkian.  Limburger's gone kinda silent."
    "You'll get your chance now.  Heads up, everyone.  Hostile territory beginning . . . now."
    At Mari's word a hail of laser fire and missiles sped their way, exploding all around.  The group released their own volley of lasers and missiles, destroying or damaging all of Brie's outer defenses.
    The second wave of Brie's defenses, caught Firefall off guard.  She had to swerve, bumping into Sunspot to avoid a laser blast.  Sunspot jerked the bike sideways, skidding into Mandy.  Mandy rared her bike, flipping over backwards.
    "Ice, cover fire," Mari yelled, breaking away from Vinnie.  She heard him yell the same to his bike.
    "I'm ok," Firefall said, "But I can't say about Mandy."
    Mandy raised a hand.  "Fine here, Sunspot, ok?"
    "Bruised but alive," he said, rising to a crouch, laser in hand. "I can't say the same for our bikes."
    "Leave them," Mari said.  One of you behind Vinnie, the other with me.  Mandy," Mari said.  "Care to sit this one out?"
    Mandy rolled over, crouching.  "Guess I'll have to.  Make it out in one piece, ok?"
    Mari laughed.  "Since when don't we?"
    She waited for Firefall to mount Ice before starting off.  She noted Vinnie and Sunspot sat right behind them.  Both bikes continued to lay cover fire.
    Mari ducked low, crashing Ice through the front door of Brie's palace.  Vinnie made his own entrance a few feet away.  The palace seemed empty. A little too empty for Mari's taste.
    "This way.  I'll take the shortest route possible.  I don't like how silent this place is," Mari said, revving Ice's engines.
    She took off, riding up a staircase.  Brie liked his transporter on the second floor. Something about a constant rodent problem infesting the ground floor.  Mari pressed on, wondering where Brie's defenses hid.  They should have tried to stop them by now. Even if it had been a token resistance.
    She fired a missile, blasting a hole in the wall, beyond lay a transporter, ringed with Brie's army, his Number One standing before the transporter.
    "I'd suggest you all lay your weapons down," he said.  "And leave the bikes where they are.  Brie's gonna be very happy when I deliver you to him. Four mice for the price of one.  Not  bad catch."
    "Yeah, right," Vinnie said, dismounting.  "All you caught yer self is a buncha trouble."
    Number One cocked his laser.  "We're the one's with the weapons, smart mouth.  I'd suggest moving away from those bikes before my guys get a little trigger happy.  And if those bikes make a move, even a twitch, you four will become one with the powers above.  Got that?"
    Mari dismounted, gritting her teeth at the pain in her leg.  Firefall supported her under one arm.  "I think allowances have to be made," Mari said, letting Vinnie take her under the other arm.  "Seein's how my leg is busted."
    "Just no funny stuff," Number One said.  "Boys, take 'em to the holding pen. Make sure they're nice and comfy."
    Mari did not like the tone of his voice, wishing Throttle and Modo waited outside to help them.  Mandy would tell the guys what had happened when they got back.
    If they got back.
    Until then they would just have to hold out the best they could, and plan their own escape.
                                            #
     Mari grimaced at the bonds that held her to the wall.  She looked over to Vinnie, Firefall and Sunspot, and sighed. She then looked to Vinnie's bike and Ice.  Both bikes had been chained down, though they resisted the bonds and fought Number One who attempted to remove their AI chips.  He couldn't get anywhere close to either bike.
    "How are we gonna be rescued?" Firefall hissed from beside Vinnie.
    Mari shrugged. "Mandy's still outside.  She knows we haven't returned. She'd radio the guys and they'd bail us out."
    "Easier said than done, sweetheart," Vinnie said, nodding his head toward the door.  Brie entered and walked toward the mice.
    "Ah, finalwy.  You wodents are mine," Brie said, laughing and bouncing up and down.
    "In your dreams," Vinnie said. "Not so long as there are mice free."
    Brie paused.  "How will they know?"
    "Because the Biker Mice always know." Throttle growled.
    Mari looked up and saw Throttle and Modo standing in the doorway.  "Mandy."
    Throttle nodded, laser trained on Brie. "She called us about the bikes and that you four hadn't responded to her calls. So naturally we headed back."
    "Drop it," Modo said, arm cannon pointed toward Number One.  "And tell your goons to back off."
    Number One dropped his laser and motioned for the others to do so.  When Brie looked toward him, he only shrugged. "Better off in one piece."
    "No," Brie shouted.  "You wodent's won't get away with this.  I pwomice you won't live to regwet this."
    "Now, now," Throttle said, while Mandy untied the others. "Pufferpusses like you shouldn't blow a gasket over a little mouse problem."
     Vinnie laughed.  "Yo, Bike."
    "Ice, show these gentlemen how to dance," Mari called, smiling.
    She heard twin beeps and watched both bikes break free of their restraints, aided by well-placed shots from Modo. The bikes began blasting the Dune Rangers.
    "Stop!" a voice bellowed from behind.
    Mari turned, staring, her jaw dropped.  "By the moons of Mars."
    "You know this Plutarkian?" Throttle asked.
    "He's the one who gave the order to kidnap me," Mari said coldly.  "He calls himself the Most Grand High Poobah, Lord Havarti."
    Brie quirked a brow. "Have we met?"
    "Probably not," Havarti said, walking to Brie.  "I am here at Lord Camembert's behest.  You are ordered to return to Plutark as I will now be in charge of the Detroit operation.  You will be reassigned."
    "What!" Brie shrieked. "No. No. No. I will not leave my Palace."
    Havarti grinned. "You  have no choice, Brie."
    Brie froze. "Number One.  Infowm my Dune Wangers we are wolling out of Detwoit now."
    Number One shrugged. "Ok, boys, you heard the boss."
    Mari closed her eyes.  'Ice,' she thought. 'Back Attack number six.'
    She waited, hearing a faint beep from Ice. Curiously enough, Vinnie's bike beeped as well. She knew Ice could read her thoughts, but not his bike. Not unless she asked it directly.
    Suddenly both bikes began to fire in all directions.  Mari yelled for a  retreat and led the charge out the door, hopping on Ice.  Vinnie's bike followed, lasers and missiles aimed toward Havarti, Brie and the Dune Rangers.
    Once they had cleared the hall and found a small breather, Mari yelled to the others. "Let's get out of here."
    "Point taken," Vinnie said.  "Wonder why the bikes choose that moment to fire?"
    "I'll explain once we're out of here," Mari said, gunning Ice's engines.  "Let's ride."
                                               #
    Once they had returned to the Changing Times, Mari collapsed into a chair, rubbing her leg.  "Mice may heal fast, but hanging in chains is not a recommended activity."
    Mandy tended to Mari's leg. "I just want to know why Plutark is shaking up the fish food chain of command on Earth?"
    "It can't be good," Throttle said, sitting on the edge of his bike.
    "I just want to know why my bike acted on it's own," Vinnie said.
    Mari closed her eyes. 'Bike. Roll ahead a few inches then stop.'
    She opened her eyes and watched Vinnie's bike roll ahead then stop, much to  his amazement. "I've always had this ability to talk to bikes," Mari said, smiling.  "All I have to do is concentrate my thoughts and tell them what to do. Like this." 'Little Hoss, fire engines, weapons on standby.'
    She watched as the group looked in amazement as Modo's bike responded.
    "Nice touch, sweetheart," Vinnie said, slowly nodding and smiling his lopsided grin. "I like it. Can ya teach me?"
    "It can't be taught. Far as I know I'm the only mouse with that talent," Mari said. "I can get most AI bikes to respond, though normally they won't listen to anyone but their riders."
    Throttle smiled approvingly. "Handy little ability."
    Mari nodded.  "It's saved Turbo's life and the others before.  It has never let me down."
    "But, getting back to the matters at hand," Throttle said, clearing his throat. "If Brie is out of here, will Plutark replace Limburger and the others?"
    "And we had gotten used to their tactics," Modo said.  "You said you knew this Havarti?"
    Mari sighed.  "Havarti had been stationed on Mars near Argyre Basin. Rock had been ordered to take his unit and destroy the base.  Well, we went in guns a blazin' and nuked the base back to the depths of Hades.  Havarti swore he would come back." She closed her eyes and focused her thoughts. 'I can speak mind to mind only briefly, but I can show you the images, without touch better.'
    "How . . . " Vinnie began, silenced by a look from Mandy.
    They saw images of Mars, the rocky remains of Argyre Basin, destroyed during the Plutarkian invasion.  They saw Plutarkians milling about a fortified structure.  The scene shifted to looking at a mouse, tall, darker brown fur with chocolate hair, and riding a red bike with flame designs on the side.  He smiled and looked ahead.
    The scene shifted once more and they could see the battle as if they lived it.  They could see Havarti, a gun trained on him, and a snarled response. 'One day I shall come back to haunt you mice.'
    'Over our dead bodies,' a voice said, and though the voice did not sound familiar, they could tell who it was.
    Turbo. Mari's lost mate.  The mouse on the flame-streaked bike.
    The images faded, and they all looked toward Mari. She looked up, her voice weary.  "Unfortunately all images come from my viewpoint. If you felt any emotions, they were mine.  I can feel emotions.  Another odd ability I have."
    "Mari-girl, you are full of surprises," Vinnie said, smiling.
    "But what I didn't show you is how Havarti blind sided our unit months later.  That took a toll on us.  Then he tried to set up another base.  Near Monument," Mari's voice broke.  "It was because of Havarti that Monument fell and my unit was cut to shreds."
    "And you lost your children," Modo finished for her.
    Mari nodded.  "I swore revenge on Havarti for what he did.  No, Turbo and I swore together. But I guess it's up to me now."
    "Not until that leg's healed," Firefall said.  "Give us a couple of bikes, and Sunspot and I'll scout for clues."
    "It's not safe.  We'll sneak in under cover of darkness," Mari said.  "Besides, I have a plan that is so foolproof, y'all'll just hate me for it."
    Vinnie smiled.  "I like your style, sweetheart."
    What the guys did not plan on was Mari's call to leave Detroit for Chicago.  They knew Brie would have left by that time, and she desperately wanted to find out why Charlie would not respond to their radio calls.
    They rode hard and fast, reaching Chicago by noon the next day, exhausted, hungry and ready for a fight.
    "Charlie!" Vinnie shouted when he saw the burned out shell of the Last Chance garage.
    "Calm down," Mari snapped.  "Try the scoreboard, then panic."
    She kicked Ice into gear and headed off, letting the others catch up. "Not good," she privately radioed to Mandy.
    They reached the scoreboard to find the ball field in ruins. Bomb craters pitted the field and the bleachers had been burned nearly to the ground.  They raced up the side of a wall and to the door to their hangout.  Mari waited, weapons pointed at the door while Throttle opened the door.
    One by one they entered, Mari astride Ice.  The inside seemed untouched from the chaos outside.
    "Charlie?" Vinnie asked tentatively.
    "Oh boy, am I glad to see you guys," Charlie nearly cried, running from her hideout to plaster herself around Vinnie's neck. "Limburger left on a Stench Carrier.  There is another Plutarkian here.  He goes by the name Junior. He seems familiar, but I can't say why."
    Mari waved her arm, encompassing what was left of the ball field outside. "Junior do all of that?"
    "He's worse than Limburger.  And he knows about you," Charlie said, looking toward Mari.
    "Another fan, eh, sweetheart?" Vinnie asked.
    Mari shook her head.  "Nope. Never heard of him.  How in the name of Hades could he know me?"
    "We may get the chance to find out," Modo said, looking down on them from his perch at the window.  "Several Stingrays headed this way.  But the design looks kinda different."
    They ran to the window. Mari tested her leg and decided to remain where she stood.
    "Oh, man," Vinnie cried.  "What's Junior up to?"
    "Hit the deck," Throttle shouted moments before a terrifying explosion rocked the scoreboard.  Mari remounted Ice and raced up the ladder.  She perched Ice's front tire on the window's edge and fired several rounds.  She whistled to the other bikes and they joined her, their riders moving behind.
    Soon a chorus of "It's tail whippin' time," could be heard as the bikes and their riders let loose volley after volley of laser fire. The mice fought back, the guy's hangout taking several good hits.
    Then, as sudden as the attack began, it ended.
    Mari rose from behind a section of wall, as startled as everyone else. Each and every Stingray began to wink out of existence, as if they had been figments of their imagination. Yet the destruction outside let them know, this latest development had not been imagined.
    "Those craft seemed far too advanced for what Plutark has used, the usual transport capability aside." Mari said.
    Charlie looked to Mandy. "What if they have allied themselves with another race? The Stalkers perhaps?"
    Mandy shook her head. "They're trophy hunters,  not destroyers. No, there's something else going on here."
    "But what could it be?" Vinnie asked with a shrug.
    "I don't know," Mari began looking at each of them in turn. "But I sure as Hades intend to find out."
                                                #
    Mari, not taking no for an answer, decided she would be the one to sneak into Limburger Tower - Junior's Tower, she corrected herself -  and find out what changes had been made. She would not go alone, however, and intended to take with her someone who knew the layout of the Tower.
    When Throttle had tried to stop her, saying her leg hadn't fully healed, she flatly refused. Mari did not have the chance to say who would go with her as one mouse raced to his bike and called back to her to join him. Mari only shrugged at Throttle and Modo and followed Vinnie out of the scoreboard.
    The streets had been deserted, and several sections lay in smoking ruins. Mari had not seen so much destruction done to the Earth by the Plutarkians. She wondered if they finally planned to take what they wanted from the Earth by force, rather than by stealth.
    They arrived at the Tower and crept inside, their bikes following, ready for cover. Inside, they could hear voices, mostly Limburger's shouting, and another voice, softer, with a gravelly edge to it.
    "I will not give up my precious Tower to some upstart like you," Limburger shouted. "That overgrown flatulent Camembert has no right to evict me."
    "The decision's already been made," the other voice, Mari and Vinnie decided had to be Junior's, said in cold, steady tones. "The Tower is mine, now, and you have to leave."
    Mari shook her head at the stomping sounds and shrugged to Vinnie. "I guess Limburger isn't going as easy as Brie did," she whispered to Vinnie.
    They neared Limburger and waited, peering in through a crack in the door, watching the commotion. Mari set their bikes to watch for unwanted company.
    Limburger paced back and forth, his mask lay on the table. In his usual chair sat a Plutarkian, trim by most standards, and nearly Limburger's age. He wore no mask and his eyes seemed to hold a deadly calm.
    Mari shivered involuntarily.  Havarti may be hard to beat, but Junior seemed downright impossible. Yet he had done nothing to get Limburger out of his Tower."
    "I want complete authorization that you are to be here, and not I," Limburger continued to rant and rave, waving his arms about frantically. "If I have to I'll hire lawyers."
    "There's no need for that," Junior said. "Simply it is clear that you cannot handle three mice by yourself, while I have several - 'captives' -  you might say, quite well in hand."
    Junior paused. "Though I would have gladly taken the Detroit operation, leaving some other fish to this city. After all, the final piece to my 'collection', as it seems, resides there. A mouse named Marietta."
    Mari turned to Vinnie, brows raised in surprise. She looked back to Limburger and Junior.
    "I'm not interested in your purported victories or plans of conquest," Limburger snapped. "I want you out of my Tower now."
    "Take it up with Camembert," Junior said softly. "Plutark want's results. Obviously you couldn't handle the assignment. The other's as well are being removed."
    Limburger turned, a curious look on his face. He turned back to Junior. "Fine. I'll leave."
    Mari noted the quirked brow of Junior and hastily motioned for Vinnie to move aside. She thought to Ice to roll back and to tell Vinnie's bike to do the same.
    No sooner had they moved away from the door, did Limburger open the door and close it soundlessly behind him. Mari had already drawn her laser and aimed it at Limburger.
    "There is no need to do that," Limburger said casually, his voice low, dismissing Mari with a wave. "Shall we retire to a more, shall we say, quieter location to discuss our mutual problems?"
    "No way are we gonna trust a Plutarkian," Vinnie growled, looking to Mari when she shushed him with a glance. "Mari-girl?"
    Mari looked to Limburger. "Deal."
    Limburger smiled coldly. "Then follow me, my dear Martian marmosets."
    "No funny stuff, blubber-butt."
    "Why? Whatever would posses you to say such a thing?" Limburger mocked innocence.
    Mari only sighed. "Quit it you two. Just get moving." She did not like the way things had started to go. She hoped now some questions could be answered, and the new Plutarkians evicted from the Earth.
    Or at least get things back the way they had been before the rude awakening call.