The Portal Part Two

	Sign In Sign-Up

Disclaimer: I don't own the BMFM or anyone from that show. I do, however, own . . . Mari, Mandy, Snowfall, Ice, Greyruff, Goldeneyes, Ironclaw, Sharptounge, and Tracer. I don't own ShimmerWing or Varitos, they are (C) to ShimmerWing and is used with permission. I make no money from this and do so only for my and other's enjoyment.

Rated R for gratuitous violence generally found in horror flicks - of which, surprisingly, I am not a fan of - and the occasional swear word.

The Portal

Part Two

By Goldenmane

***************************

Mari sat with her eyes closed. She concentrated on the blackness before her. She had had some practice traveling in the astral when she was in New Orleans. Yet what she did now, though no different, pressed the boundaries of her abilities.

She could see a blurring of dark grey at times and knew it would be Tracer. He wanted to see how good she was at a little mind game he played now and then.

Mari snaked her tail out, catching part of the blur, tripping and tackling Tracer when his form appeared.

*Good,* he sent. *Very good. And you say you have no talent for working seriously in the astral.*

'Not like you mean,' Mari said. 'Renaud never got around to fully teaching me and working with me beyond what he knew I could already do.'

Tracer nodded, heaving himself up with Mari's help once she removed herself from him. *You might be a natural.*

Mari only shrugged. 'Care if I ask you a question?'

*Depends.*

'Since the astral has nothing really to do with the body, why don't you project yourself with a voice?' Mari asked gently.

Tracer turned. *I did, at first, but then I realized that I was only denying the truth. That's why, even here, I send only.*

'Sometimes we have to relive the past, if only in our minds. So we never forget where we've been.'

Tracer said nothing, his broad back to her.

Mari stiffened as some sensation coursed through her. She looked around wild eyed. 'Something's happened in the real world. Something's happened to the guys. I can sense it.'

Tracer led them back to their bodies. *Shimmer? What's the situation?*

*Not as bad as it could be. We've been joined by Tallina. So far no casualties and the injuries are at a minimum, though we have lost the elderly mouse,*

"Stoker," Mari said. "I've got to get down there - "

* - It's not safe.*

"Safety be damned, my friends are down there and they need help. You can sit by all you want, but I can't," Mari said, rising. "Please, Tracer, open a portal to Earth."

Tracer nodded slowly, rising. *Just remember that you will be a primary target.*

"I know," Mari said solemnly. She looked to her right at a scuffling noise. Vinnie stood in the doorway, a worried look on his face.

"The oddest thing happened. I picked up Snowfall and got an image of the guys under attack. Something's happened, hasn't it?" he asked.

Mari turned to Tracer then back to Vinnie. "I'm going down. Something's happened to Stoker, ShimmerWing can't find him and the rest are getting trashed."

"I'm comin' too," Vinnie began.

*I can give you some protection,* Tracer sent. *But normally it takes months to adjust the armor to your particular biorhythm. I can't say what the side effects could be, but it is better than nothing.*

"I'll take it," Mari said.

"Count me in," Vinnie added. "Where's this armor?"

Tracer turned, removing two vials from a locked case. He handed one vial to both of them. *Open these vials and hold it in your hand. The armor will alter itself to your own form. You will be encased in armor harder than Terran diamond, though lighter than you could imagine.*

They opened the vials, pouring the dark metallic liquid into their hands. Suddenly the pool began to vibrate, then took on a semi-solid state before expanding. Mari closed her eyes and half cringed as a cool fire raced over her fur. When she opened her eyes, she stood there looking at Vinnie in shock.

"Cool," Vinnie said, impressed.

Mari started to chuckle, especially when she looked down at herself. Her arms and chest were covered in metal that moved with her. Her hands had on a different shade of the same metal with a button on the back of one gauntlet. Her legs, she assumed by how Vinnie was armored, were covered in metal, almost a fancy bodysuit, though she could see distinct edges where the joints were and a raised 'knee pad' and elbow guards. Even most of their faces were covered in the metal, though, Mari noted, the armor ended around Vinnie's face plate, not quite a perfect edge.

*Just concentrate on where you want to go and the armor will open a portal there. If you encounter any problem with the armor, there is a small ridge on the back of the neck guard that, once pressed, will revert the armor to its liquid state,* Tracer sent. *I can't say how your bodies will react to the armor, or it to you.*

Mari nodded. "In war we have to take risks." She looked toward Vinnie. "Ready?"

"As I ever will be," he said.

*I have sent your bike down,* Tracer sent, looking at Vinnie.

Mari concentrated, finding it relatively simple to open a portal. Little different than when she cast her mind in search of others. She looked back once before entering the glowing portal.

On the other side she moved, waiting for Vinnie to come through. She thought the portal out of existence once he had emerged and paused. Faintly she could hear the sounds of battle.

"I'll go scout for Stoker and Ice," Mari said. "You go and see how you can help the others."

Vinnie nodded, mounting his bike who began to protest. "Never did like me in armor," he half quipped before speeding off.

Mari turned, looking about. She centered her nerves and sought Stoker. She gasped at the sensations, a part thought intruding into her own.

Ice. Frozen. Stoker's bike as well. Tallena.

Mari broke contact, shaking her head to clear it of the feelings. She opened a portal and leapt through, rolling to a crouch. She closed the portal, cursing when twin attackers fired on her from different angles. She sought her attackers, leaping up, surprised how far she soared.

"Ice," she yelled, quirking a brow when she began to float. She carefully thought about floating down and half smiled when she began a graceful, slow, descent.

"Ice, it's me under all this plate metal," Mari said. "Hold yer fire, both of ya," she added when Stoker's bike came into view.

Both bikes ceased fire as Mari gently touched down, still amazed at what she could do in the armor. She went to Ice who growled her engine, backing away before finally recognizing her rider.

"Look kinda weird, don't I?" Mari half chuckled. "I don't suppose either one of ya know where they took Stoker?" Mari asked, looking around. Her stomach turned cold when she saw the still glistening patches of Martian blood on the ground.

Both bikes began to beep and Mari punched a button on Ice. "Glad they didn't take ya," Mari said, patting Ice. "At least you know where they've set up base. Too close to home for my comfort."

Mari mounted Ice. "Follow us," she added to Stoker's bike. Mari opened a portal, riding through. She brought Ice to a skidding halt in the bike bay of the Changing Times.

Once Stoker's bike was through, she closed the portal, though remained on Ice. "Stay here and guard the place." She added mental images of Vinnie in armor and ShimmerWing, Goldeneyes and Tracer to her words before speeding out of the Changing Times.

Once she had arrived at the building Ice had said contained Sharptounge, Mari dismounted, setting her bike on guard. "I'll call if I need ya." When Ice began to protest, Mari added. "Stealth this time, old gal. I need to sneak in quieter than an Earth mouse."

Ice started to protest again, quieting as Mari sprinted away.

Mari laid low, still trying to adjust the armor. She felt uncomfortable with all that metal on her. She was used to fighting without any hindrances, though Tracer had basically said the armor would be the only thing to stand between her and Vinnie and death. Mari did not want to think of the consequences.

Tallena sat nearby, absently chewing on one of her talons. Her dark eyes seemed content to stare at the lump of fur and flesh before Sharptounge. Mari had taken all her willpower not to lose what little lunch she had had when he began to feed. Watching a snake feed, especially a sentient one who loved to torment their still kicking meal, did not appeal to her in the least.

Greyruff and Ironclaw were no where to be seen. No doubt they searched for more food. A fact that made Mari shiver.

A huge roar and screech made Mari's blood run cold. Greyruff and Ironclaw had returned.

"Sharptounge, here's a nice tasty morsel for you," Ironclaw said, releasing the snake's next meal before landing with a clatter of metal talons on stone.

Mari closed her eyes and prayed. She knew the bloodied form Ironclaw had dropped in front of Sharptounge. She knew him all too well. She rose, drawing her laser. She would not let Sharptounge feast this time. She would stop his build up of energy. Mari knew she would have to stop them before they could open the portal to their world wider.

Though Mari desperately wished she had help. That she could rely on the calvary to pull her tail out of the fire. Everyone seemed quite silent since she had received the armor. No Tracer, no ShimmerWing, no Greyruff.

Mari fired a warning shot that grazed Sharptounge's snout as he bent to feed. She slowly made her way toward the snakeman, ever mindful of his armored tail. Her own tail lashed in a combination of anger and agitation. He held onto his snout, his dark eyes mere slits.

"No one interrupts me," Sharptounge shouted. "Least of all a furball like you."

"No one dines on my friends," Mari said, grabbing the future meal of Sharptounge with her tail, dragging him safely away from Sharptounge's fangs.

She hefted Stoker to her shoulder, surprised when he felt no heavier than Snowfall. Mari began to slowly back away, her laser trained on Sharptounge, though Ironclaw began to advance, his metallic wing feathers clicked together. She made sure to hold her tail at an angle so that she would run into something before she accidentally bashed Stoker into it.

Mari hit a button on the back of her gauntlet with her thigh. "Ice, home in," She said. "Rescue needed. Alert the others." 'If they still live,' she added silently.

"Stop her," Tallena nearly roared.

Mari grunted as she ran her tail into the wall. She edged her way down, firing several quick warning shots between Ironclaw and Tallena. "That's close enough," she growled. She stopped when she heard Ice's engine. She waited as Ice blasted through the wall, screeching to a halt before her rider. Mari gently eased Stoker in front of her, speeding off, back to the Changing Times.

This was one Halloween she would rather not have had.

She cursed her luck as Ironclaw began a pursuit. She activated Ice's weapon's systems. She waited, keeping half an eye on the radar, the other on the road. She swerved the craters and rough patches of road their battle to date had caused. A beep of Ice alerted her to another blip, heading fast and low, straight ahead. She had little time to react as a colored streak shoot overhead. She skidded to a halt, turning to see the iridescent dragonlady ShimmerWing engage Ironclaw.

Mari kicked Ice into gear, leaving the two otherworldly beings to battle it out. Her time to fight had ended. For now. Now she had to tend to Stoker's wounds.

She arrived back at the Changing Times without further incidence, carrying Stoker through the door, Ice following. Stoker's bike backed up as she entered, beeping softly. Mari laid Stoker down on the couch and checked him over. Mari bit her lip, trying to calm herself. Ironclaw's metal talons had ripped into both of his sides where he had carried Stoker. Compounding the whole mess were the cuts, lacerations, and broken bones apparently suffered by the drop in front of Sharptounge, and the battle that must have raged when Ironclaw went after him. After all, the leader of the Freedom Fighters would not have gone willingly.

Mari wished she had Mandy's help, anyone's help, but she knew the others had their hands full and everyone else was back at base. If they could stop the portal from opening, Mari mused while she began to clean the worst of the wounds that she could see, then fine. If not, then it wouldn't matter where they went. The evil released by the portal would consume the Earth.

When Stoker's breathing became shallow and began to rattle, Mari began to worry. She listened to his lungs, grimacing. By the sounds they had started to fill with fluid. No doubt blood from internal bleeding. If she could not find the source and correct it, without the aid of surgery, then he would no doubt die.

Mari had seen wounds worse that this in mice who had lived. Then again, she had seen mice die when the healers thought they would live. Life was a precious and precarious player in the game. And fate, it seemed, held all the cards.

Her body stiffened suddenly in pain. She grabbed her sides, falling to all fours. "Not now," she ground out around the pain. "Dammit, you can't fail. No armor is gonna get the best of me."

Mari struggled to her feet, trying to remember what Tracer had sent to her about the armor. How could she get something off than molded to her body? She tried to remember, crying out when her body began to burn. Apparently the armor wasn't compatible with Martian mice.

'Oh, Gods,' she thought suddenly. 'Vinnie.'

Mari closed her eyes and fought to reach Tracer. 'Tracer, I need help.'

*What?* came the faint reply.

'Armor burns, can't get off. Stoker hurt bad.'

*Where are you?* Tracer sent.

'At the Changing Times,' Mari said. She could feel herself tiring from the strain of sending, let alone the beating her body was taking from something that was supposed to save her.

She didn't acknowledge Tracer as he portaled in, teeth gritted in pain, her body curled into an instinctive ball. When she heard a faint hiss and opened her eyes, she saw the armor literally melt off of her body. Stark coldness replaced the burning and she shivered.

*Ironclaw,* Tracer sent vehemently.

Mari nodded, grimacing at the force of his sending. "Sharptounge tried to feast. I stopped him," she weakly said.

*Your body should readjust in a few minutes. Rest now and I will see what I can do.* Tracer gathered the armor, portaling back to base. He returned soon with various instruments.

Mari could feel herself growing stronger and rose to all fours. She watched, sitting on her knees, as Tracer began to work on her former leader.

Somewhere, far in the back of her mind she could sense something. She calmed her nerves, searching out the feeling. She could see a half formed image of a battle. She snapped her eyes open when she realized who and what she was sensing.

She rose, unsteadily, and walked to Ice.

*And where do you think you're going?*

"They need my help, armor or no armor. "

*It's not safe.*

Mari half chuckled, grabbing her helmet. "I guess safety never was one of my greatest concerns. Only the safety of my friends." She mounted Ice, firing her bike's engines.

*Be careful,* Tracer sent softly.

Mari nodded once before speeding out of the Changing Times.

Mari rode hard and fast through the city, finding signs of debris all over the city, many parts she could sadly identify, though no signs of anyone.

She scanned her radar. Everything seemed silent. Too silent for her own tastes. Mari glanced around, skidding Ice to a halt when she thought she saw a part of rubble move. She sprinted from Ice and began to dig, working harder when she saw an iridescent wing.

In time she cleared the fallen debris from ShimmerWing and helped the dragonlady to her feet. "Nothing I could do. Goldeneyes neither. They were far stronger than we had imagined."

"They got the others?"

ShimmerWing nodded. "Goldeneyes portaled back just as the battle ended, looking for Tracer."

"He's at the Changing Times tending to Stoker," Mari said. "I noticed not many of the bikes survived."

ShimmerWing shook her head. "So long as they fought with their bikes, the battle went fine. Now, not so good."

"Go get some help, I'll see what I can do."

ShimmerWing nodded, portaling out. Mari turned, surveying the area. She followed the trail of debris, pausing when she thought she heard a voice.

Pain.

Mari followed the voice, finding Vinnie on the ground, barely breathing. She pressed the ridge on the back of his armor, watching as it literally melted off his body. She eased him over, noticing nothing apparently wrong with him.

"The armor doesn't agree with mice," Mari said softly. "Ice," she called into her helmet, "I need the medkit."

She waited, watching in worry as he began to shiver violently. She covered him as best she could, listening to Ice pull in beside her. She rose long enough to grab an emergency blanket from Ice and covered Vinnie. When the shaking did not abate, Mari began to worry.

'Tracer,' she sent. 'I've got Vinnie, but he seems to be having a more severe reaction than I did.'

*I cannot leave. Is there any way you can bring him here?*

Mari paused. 'I'll see what I can do. Has ShimmerWing got a hold of you?'

*She is here assisting me as is Goldeneyes.*

Mari did not like the sound in Tracer's sending, instead conserving her own energy. She hefted Vinnie over her shoulder and onto Ice. She made sure to keep him covered, kicking Ice into gear.

When she heard a shrilling metallic scream, Mari craned her neck, grimacing. Ironclaw flew high, but close enough to make her worry. She swerved Ice into a nearby deserted building, tapping a button on Ice. She started to curse when nothing happened. She ran a quick diagnostic on Ice, sighing. Whatever Tallena had used to freeze Ice had damaged her transport systems. Though, the shielding she had rigged seemed in order still.

She tweaked the readings until a large dome of shimmering blue light encased the room. She eased Vinnie off of her bike, propping him against Ice. She knelt beside him, checking him over. There seemed to be no signs of improvement, though Mari was glad that there had been no serious complications. At least only the armor had dealt him damage, not anyone else as well.

Mari sighed, lowering her head. Things had looked all too bleak on Mars during the war, she mused, this couldn't be any worse than before. Could it?

Mari's head snapped up when Vinnie stopped shaking and became deathly still. She checked his pulse and his breathing. Both seemed weak and erratic. He had, she thought, had his armor on longer than she had. Had taken more damage from the armor than she had.

She rose and began to pace. There was nothing she could do, no wounds to patch, no skills she could put to use. She hated feeling helpless and found herself once more kneeling beside Vinnie. She ran a hand tenderly over his cheek, running her thumb along the edge of his face plate. His fur felt cold to her touch, his face plate like ice. Mari involuntarily shivered.

"Rodent," she heard Ironclaw hiss. "Show yourself."

Mari drew her laser in case her shield failed. She moved closer to Vinnie, shielding him with her body. She knew any attempt to protect them would probably fail, knowing what three otherworldly warriors did to the Biker Mice and the Freedom Fighters, including ShimmerWing and Goldeneyes. How could one mouse alone possibly win.

You have to.

Mari turned with a start, looking around. They were alone, though she could still hear a voice speaking to her.

You can do it. All you need is faith.

"Faith can only go so far," Mari muttered.

Faith sometimes can be all that stands between you and the end.

Mari shook her head, chuckling at the female voice. "Man, you kinda sound like me. Must be my consciousness has finally revolted."

This is a time when all things are possible. That which you know, and that which you can only dream of. I can't stay for long, but I can give you this, never give up, no matter how things look. Remember the past to help you win the future.

"What do you mean, 'can't stay long'? Just who the Hell are you?"

Help.

"Damn voices," Mari muttered, glad she didn't get a response.

She turned suddenly when Vinnie began to stir. She moved the blanket down, helping him to sit up.

"Where am I?"

"In the first deserted building I could find. Ironclaw is after us," Mari said. "Glad you're back with us."

Vinnie looked around, confused. "Wasn't there someone else here? I mean, I thought I heard you talking with someone. Another lady?"

Mari quirked a brow. "I thought it was only in my mind." She shrugged. "Do you feel up to a long ride?"

"Not really."

Mari nodded, turning to Ice. "If I can fix her transport unit, then we can transport out of here, other than that, we'll have to fight out way out."

Vinnie only nodded, watching her work on Ice.

Mari cursed every so often as she came across something else the beam must have damaged. She backed off when the shield began to flicker, glancing worriedly toward Vinnie.

She sighed, returning to her task. When the shield spluttered and failed, Mari turned suddenly, helping Vinnie to his feet.

"Time to ride, no shield means Ironclaw will be on us in a moment," Mari said, making sure to keep her tail wrapped around Vinnie. 'Tracer, incoming, Ironclaw no doubt on our heels.'

*Goldeneyes is ready to assist you.*

'Then let her portal in here and get us out.'

She could sense a slight pause from Tracer.

*I'm there,* Goldeneyes sent.

Mari waited, edging Ice toward the portal, waiting for the ok signal from Goldeneyes. Once set they hurried through the portal and into the Changing Times. Goldeneyes closed the portal, helping Mari with Vinnie. Mari relayed what she had found, confirming her fears from what ShimmerWing could tell her.