The Portal Part 3

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Disclaimer: I don't own the BMFM or anyone from that show. I do, however, own . . . Mari, Mandy, Snowfall, Ice, Rock, Junior (but not the character Marshall who he is based from), Greyruff, Goldeneyes, Ironclaw, Sharptounge, and Tracer. I don't own ShimmerWing or Varitos, they are (C) to ShimmerWing and are 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 Three

By Goldenmane

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

Sharptounge had the others. Meals for the snake man to help him open the portal to ShimmerWing's dimension.

Mari turned, working on Ice. She cursed every so often, jumping back when Ice's control panel sparked once. She sighed, tinkering more with her bike before finally rising with a resounding sigh of content.

"Now what," Vinnie said.

Mari only barely mumbled. "I need to rescue the others."

"You can't do it alone," ShimmerWing said.

"I won't sit by and let them win," Mari said, returning to Ice.

"I'm going with you," Vinnie said, unsteadily rising.

"You need to rest and heal," Mari said. "And no, you can't take Stoker's bike."

Vinnie began to protest, instead he sat with a thud, wincing.

Mari fired Ice's engines and sped out of the Changing Times, toward the last known location of Sharptounge. She was determined to rescue her friends. No matter what the cost.

When she arrived, she set Ice once more to guard while she slipped in suddenly. She listened to talk between Tallena and Ironclaw and breathed a sigh of relief. Apparently Sharptounge could only eat so much, and he had had his fill shortly after she had rescued Stoker. The rest of his 'meals' were being kept in a cold area to preserve them.

Mari crept along, checking every door, finding no trace of anyone. One door, when she tried the knob, had a light coating of frost on it. She settled her nerves and opened the door. She made her way along the rows of empty crates and cardboard boxes, pausing to listen. Somewhere, near the back, she thought she could hear moaning. She increased her pace, rounding a corner, dropping to one knee.

"Where are the others?" Mari asked Carbine.

"Back there. They wanted me to keep a watch," Carbine said slowly around a broken jaw.

Mari nodded. "Anything major?"

"Not that we couldn't patch up," Carbine said, sighing. "A few broken bones, cuts, the usual," she paused. "What about Stoker?"

"Hangin' in there. Tracer's working on him now. Goldeneyes and ShimmerWing are also helping, but ShimmerWing is out of this battle," Mari said. "I found Vinnie also, he's resting."

Carbine slowly nodded.

"Come with me and I can get us all portaled out of here."

"How?" Carbine asked, following.

"I fixed Ice's transport unit and rigged it to the shield I made. I should be able to widen the shield to get us all and transport out," Mari said, stopping when she rounded the corner, finding the others.

Mari went to each of them, checking on them all, confirming for herself what Carbine had said. She half smiled to herself when it seemed that no one would die on her, only be out of any fight for quite a while.

'Ice, time to go. Prep the shield and come on in. Stealth if possible, if not, then blast right in,' Mari sent.

She waited, hearing a sudden commotion outside. She sighed. 'Ice, prepare to transport, bike bay back home.'

Ice skidded around the corner, screeching to a halt in front of them. Ironclaw and Tallena stopped at the entrance and advanced slowly.

"Ice, shield and transport, now," Mari said, watching as the area around them shimmered blue, then turned immediately to black, all shades of grey, and back to black before materializing into the Changing Times. Mari drew her laser, grimacing. Ironclaw and Tallena stood before them, quizzical looks on their faces.

Mari wasted no time, firing at the duo, Goldeneyes adding her own firepower as well. Mari watched in complete satisfaction as Tallena fell, dead, Ironclaw only a moment behind her.

They all paused. Even Tracer turned. *So, finally, we score a victory.*

"At what cost?" Throttle asked.

"Whatever cost it takes," Mari said solemnly.

Now all they could do was wait. Wait and plan. Greyruff still remained and they needed to stop Sharptounge before he could open the portal all the way. Even now Mari could feel something around the city that bothered her. She knew it had to be the portal, and by the look of terror creeping into ShimmerWing's reptilian visage, Mari had to be correct.

*Sleep, all of you,* Tracer suddenly sent. *Greyruff will be hard pressed to bring Sharptounge food at the rate they all had been.* He turned to Mari. *And if you wish to keep fighting, you will need to recover sooner or later. Now seems as good a time as any.*

"What about portalling back to your base?" Mari asked. "I think we'd all rest better there."

Goldeneyes nodded. "I'll open a portal."

They picked themselves up, some needing assistance, Tracer carrying Stoker, and walked through the portal. Once on the other side, many of them collapsed from exhaustion, needing time to regain their strength.

Mari went directly to Mandy and Charlie, checking on Snowfall and telling them what happened. Charlie immediately ran out of the room, much to Mari's half smile. She picked her daughter up and cuddled her, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Do you think we can win this one?" Mandy asked.

Mari shrugged. "We did get two of them, but look what it took. If only that damned armor hadn't failed . . . but what can we do but go ahead."

"We can't let them win," Mandy said. "I'll leave you time with Snowfall, and try to get some rest."

"If I can."

Mandy only nodded, shutting the door quietly behind her.

Mari rose long enough to strip out of her uniform, tossing it casually on the floor. She smiled, sitting on the bed. She gathered Snowfall up and dimmed the lights. Laying down Mari turned so she would face Snowfall and give her the larger portion of the bed.

Mari absently smoothed Snowfall's hair as the youngster began to yawn. Mari followed suit chuckling. "Infectious aren't ya?"

She ruffled Snowfall's hair once before turning the light out completely. She could barely make out Snowfall's shape in the dull light from the flourescent band of light along the floor's edge.

"Nite sweetheart," Mari said softly, kissing her daughter on the forehead.

Sighing, Mari closed her own eyes, grabing the blanket with her tail, covering them. She laid a protective hand over Snowfall and promptly fell asleep.

When morning came she awoke, startled to find someone sitting in a chair beside the bed.

"Charlie?" Mari asked.

"You never showed for breakfast and I decided to check on you. I . . . know how worried Vinnie was," Charlie said. "Besides, Snowfall was already up and ready to go when I came in."

Mari glanced around frantically, sighing when she saw Snowfall between Charlie and the bed, playing contentedly. She grabbed at the sheetcover when it fell down, remembering she hadn't bothered to slip into anything when she got into bed. Mari started to blush, covering it with a yawn.

"I don't mind seeing a naked mouse," Charlie said with a blush herself.

Mari turned, sitting on the bed. She made sure to keep her back to Charlie, her tail firmly clamped to her bum. She dressed quickly, if not a little clumsily, pausing when Charlie began to chuckle. Mari half turned, finished zippering her pants, and smiled when Snowfall began begging Charlie to play with her. Mari continued to dress, running her fingers through her hair before slipping on her half gloves. She sighed once more, stretching her back with a very audible crack.

"So? How is everyone doing?" Mari finally asked, sitting on the edge of the bed opposite Charlie. Snowfall immedieately turned from Charlie and scrambled up the side of the bed, climbing in Mari's lap.

"Healing," Charlie said. "So far only three of them can't fight. Carbine says she can fight with a broken jaw even though Tracer told her not to. Stoker has stabilized, though he hasn't come to yet , Rimfire is laid up with a broken leg and ribs, and Tracer told that Modo he has to stay for observation from a concussion. Other than that, no serious injuries."

"I bet they're all sore," Mari half chuckled. "I know I am and I didn't take half the beating they did." She paused, looking up, directly into Charlie's eyes. "How's Vinnie doing?"

"Back to his old self again," Charlie said. "He said the effects of that armor had worn off. Tracer gave him a clean bill of health."

Mari only nodded, returning her gaze to Snowfall. She could sense Charlie wanted to speak, but couldn't bring herself to. At least she didn't act so cold around her anymore and she seemed to have accepted Snowfall. Mari looked up, a grave look on her face.

"Whatever you want to say, go ahead," Mari said with a hint of dejection in her voice.

Charlie paused and Mari could sense her uncomfort. "I . . . just was wondering . . . "

"It has something to do with Vinnie, right?" Mari asked.

Charlie looked down. "I don't know how to say it."

"Just go with whatever feels right," Mari said, tickling Snowfall who giggled ecstatically.

"That's just it. I don't know how to say it," Charlie said.

Mari set Snowfall on the floor and leaned ahead. Ever so gently she let the tips of her antennae rest against Charlie's forehead.

'Don't speak, then. Just use emotions,' Mari said in Charlie's mind.

Mari could see nothing but blackness before her minds eye. Then something seemed to blur into focus, never fully materializing before fading from view.

"I can't do it."

'Try,' Mari sent. 'Focus. That's how I learned.'

"I thought you were a natural?"

Mari chuckled. 'I am, but it took some work on my part to refine what I can do. Since no one could help me, I had to do it on my own. Renaud helped with some fine points before I left New Orleans.'

"Vinnie . . . shared something important about him with me. Something he said he never showed you."

'Musta been something he didn't want me to know about,'

"He said it was his soul."

Mari half gasped, calming herself. 'That's deep,' she paused. 'You want me to show you my soul?'

Mari could sense Charlie's nod.

'It's not a pretty sight, let me tell you.'

"I can . . . handle it. I want to know . . . what attracted you to Vinnie in the first place."

Mari sighed. She had vowed to herself never to bring up any memories of the past. That she would keep them buried far from sight. She had never shared herself with anyone, with one exception. Turbo.

Mari started later in her life, after she had mated with Turbo, after they had started a family. She could feel her heart breaking at the sight of Turbo playing with Phoenix while Blaze sat nearby, banging on some blocks. Then she shifted the scene, jumping ahead to the aftermath of the battle, how they waited at HQ, in shock from the loss of so many good mice, and their families. The anger, confusion, the sadness Mari tried to keep in check. She didn't want to over burden Charlie. Mari then shifted to New Orleans and Renaud and how he had helped her and Ice after their crash.

Mari pulled back, scrubbing tears from her cheeks. She looked down at the worried look on Snowfall's face and scooped her daughter up, hugging her tightly.

Charlie only sat there, once more at a loss for words.

Mari slowly regained her composure. "Vinnie reminds me of Turbo. What we had once, and what Havarti took away. He also reminds me of myself. 'Like two peas in a pod', Mandy had said."

Charlie rose suddenly, leaving without a word, though Mari could hear soft sobs. Mari only sat and rocked Snowfall, crying into her hair. She looked up when someone portaled in, trying to wipe the tears away as Tracer took the seat Charlie had just vacated.

*Something wrong with Snowfall?* Tracer sent, worried.

Mari shook her head. "Just a sending to Charlie."

Tracer nodded. He leaned ahead, laying a hand on her arm. *Sometimes the pain of the past can be too great.*

"All too well," Mari said, bitting her lip. "But as long as I have their memories in my heart, they are never truly gone. But the pain does remain."

*But the past is in the past. We have the future to look forward to. That is, if we can stop Sharptounge.*

Mari slowly nodded. "Vinnie said something like that when I was pregnant with Snowfall. Though sometimes the future isn't all that pretty, either."

*Would you rather I brought you something to eat here?* Tracer asked.

Mari half shrugged.

Tracer rose. *I'll be back soon.*

Mari only nodded, watching Tracer portal out. She sighed deeply, moving Snowfall off her lap to finish wiping away the tears. Snowfall would not take no for an answer and scrambled back into Mari's lap, and up her chest to hug her mother around the neck.

Mari tenderly rubbed Snowfall's back, looking up when the door opened. "Good to see you up and going," she said, motioning for Throttle to sit. She shifted her weight, turning to sit with her back to the head of the bed. She folded her legs under her and looked intently at him.

"We were kinda worried when you didn't show this morning," he said, sitting with a heavy thud.

"Charlie was just talking about that. Guess I overslept," Mari said. "Besides, Tracer is gonna bring something here for me to eat."

Throttle hesitated. "I saw Charlie running down the hall to her room. She was crying. I tried to stop her but she only mentioned your name."

"That's between her and Vinnie. Something that they should be the ones to tell," Mari said.

Throttle only nodded, not pressing the matter further. Instead he leaned over and began to tickle Snowfall. She scrambled down her mother and over to Throttle who hefted her to his lap.

"You're good with children," Mari said, drying the last of the tears that has streaked her fur. "How're things going with you and Carbine?"

"Fine," Throttle said, playing hide and seek with Snowfall. "We had a good talk . . . In more ways than one."

Mari nodded slowly. "War does have that bad habit of breaking families apart." She sighed heavily, fighting the tears that threatened to reappear.

Throttle only nodded. "With Junior from the future and what we know about his time . . . and what we all went through during the war . . . it's hard to imagine that things could get better. That any of us could have a future together."

Mari said nothing. Instead she closed her eyes and formed an image in her mind. She sent it to Throttle, a brief image, but one that, once she opened her eyes, had affected Throttle more than she had realized.

"That's a picture of Turbo, Phoenix, Blaze and me, I had on the wall in our living room back in Monument. It kinda shows what can happen during a war, much less before or after. Lives have to go on, no matter what," Mari said softly.

She looked up when Tracer portaled in with a tray of food for her and Snowfall.

*Is this a bad time?* Tracer sent.

"No," Mari said. "Only reminiscing."

Tracer nodded, setting the tray down on the foot of her bed. He left via the door instead, silently.

Mari looked to Throttle who sat, staring at the side of the bed. "I didn't mean for it to hit you that hard. I guess I didn't keep my emotions out of the sending." Mari said, leaning ahead to grab a plate of bread.

"War isn't picky on who it leaves behind," Throttle said at last. "We won the last battle, but not without costs." He turned to look at Mari. "What about this one? Can we win this one? Will we have the same cost to pay?"

Mari only shrugged. "Only time will tell. So far no one's died on us. We did manage to get rid of two of them. If we can get the element of surprise on them, then maybe we could win without further injuries." She paused. "Has the portal opened any further?"

"Not as far as they can tell," Throttle said. "But ShimmerWing thinks it's only a matter of time before Sharptounge opens the portal all the way."

Mari ate as fast as she could, pausing to help Snowfall feed. She thanked Throttle when he took over feeding Snowfall. She watched him in silent fascination as Snowfall reacted to him like no other. Not even when Vinnie were around did she seem so quiet. Almost like the effect Phoenix seemed to have on Blade . . .

Mari silently choked back a tear as she finished eating. She rose, gathering Snowfall who had started playing with Throttle. "Time to move," she solemnly said. "Before things can go from bad to worse."

In silence they headed to the Infirmary, the unofficial meeting room the mice had set. Time to head back to Earth and stop Sharptounge once and for all.

Mari watched as everyone gathered from Tracer's sending. Everyone would hear the plans, including those who would remain behind. Mari wanted to make sure everyone knew what could happen if the portal did open, and if they somehow managed to close it. Permanently many wanted to accomplish.

"The only way to close the portal Sharptounge wished to open is to kill him," ShimmerWing said. "Once he opens the portal fully, there is no closing it."

"Not a comforting thought," Throttle said.

Tracer shook his head. *It's not. What you face is something we were never sure if we could stop it once it started. I value your courage.* He looked toward Mari with a faint smile on his canine lips.

Mari barely nodded in response.

"We shall portal you down, but without your bikes -," Goldeneyes started to say.

"We have three bikes, that's something," Mari said. "Ice, Vinnie and Stoker's bikes are still functional."

ShimmerWing took a deep breath. "Go then," She opened a portal with Goldeneyes aid.

*I've sent the bikes down already,* Tracer sent. *May the Powers protect you all.*

Mari rose from the bed, pecking Snowfall on the cheek. She nodded to Mandy and Charlie and joined the others, including Vinnie, as they left through the portal.

"What are our chances?" Carbine asked.

"Well, we need to get in and take Sharptounge out. We saw what we can do when they are distracted," Mari said. "If we can confuse Sharptounge, maybe we can get him to do more things than he can."

"He must be concentrating hard on the portal," Throttle said. "If we overtax his abilities, we may get a shot."

Mari nodded. "We're on our own and we know what we have to do. Ignore Greyruff and concentrate on Sharptounge."

They all nodded, slowly making their way on foot to Sharptounges lair, the bikes following for cover.

Mari did not like the fact they had not seen Greyruff during their travel, though the warehouse now lay in sight. She did not want to temp fates and thanked the Powers-that-be for the good luck.

"Circle the building, burst in on my mark and maybe we can do it," Mari said.

"Good a plan as any," Carbine said.

Mari drew her laser. "Let's hit 'em. Now."

"What's the mark?" Vinnie asked.

"You'll know," Mari said with a wicked lopsided grin.

They set off quietly, the bikes staying with Mari. She waited just outside the perimeter of the front door, noting the nod from those in her sight. She paused, making sure her laser was on full. She then proceeded to nod to the others and set off one missile from each bike, following with a charge.

They stormed in, finding Sharptounge sitting there, motionless. The portal swirled behind him, a dark, angry cloud of crackling electricity. Mari fired her laser at Sharptounge, activating the bike's weapons. They all fired, watching as Sharptounge fell, dead.

"That was way too easy," Mari said, going to the corpse. She carefully touched Sharptounge, jumping back when his form began to melt, turning into Greyruff''s. "He knew we were coming."

"Right, rodent," Sharptounge hissed, his form fading into view. His clawed hands glowed a dark blood red and he aimed them at the gathered mice.

"Duck," Mari yelled as cold red beams spat toward them, striking the walls.

She set the bikes to fire a tight beam toward Sharptounge, watching as the blue beams struck the snake man. Mari rose to a crouch, adding her own laser to the bikes. Everyone else joined her. Everyone except Vinnie.

Sharptounge began to wreathe, screaming in agony. The portal behind him began to shrink, flickering as it went.

"Keep pouring it on," Mari shouted.

Soon the snake man's body began to glow then winked out of existence. The portal closed in on itself with a thunderous boom.

Mari tentatively rose, looking around. She noticed Vinnie on his knees, clutching his side, green blood ran between his fingers. She ran to him, calling the others over as she pried his hand away to get a better look at the wound.

"Ice, wide shield transport to the medical room," Mari called. "Vinnie's been hit. He's losing blood fast."

The blue shield encased them all as they gathered by Mari and Vinnie, soon turning black and the loss of sensation as they transported back to ShimmerWing's base. Mari made sure to keep a hand on Vinnie, and she could feel him growing heavier against her arm.

When they arrived, Ice cut the shields and Tracer was at their side, helping Mari to get Vinnie to one of the tables.

*Out. Now,* Tracer ordered.

Mari hesitated and Tracer looked directly to her.

*You stay. The rest of you out. I need room to work.*

The others left, taking the bikes with them, though Ice protested, eventually relenting under Mari's stern command. Vinnie's bike had to be subdued by Ice before they could leave.

"He's gonna be ok, right?" Modo asked tentatively from the bed where he lay.

*It seems only a flesh wound, the beam cauterized most of the internal damage,* Tracer sent. *But I can't tell why he's bleeding so heavily.*

Faith.

Mari looked around at the voice. 'Not you again,' she softly sent.

Have faith that things will work out.

'You sure pick the oddest times to bug me,' Mari half snapped, watching Tracer work.

I only come when you need me.

'I wish for once you'd explain yourself.'

The voice paused. Seemed almost hesitant as it spoke. I . . . am . . . your guardian, as you could call it. When you need help, I am there.

'Oh,' Mari said. 'My guardian angel then?'

Not really. You will understand one day. But for now you must have faith. And a little help.

Mari could feel the hairs rising on her body in response to some sensation she had never felt before. Her body seemed to burn, but not like the armor, a more soothing feeling. She looked at Vinnie noting the faint glow around him begin to flicker. She reached out her hands, noting the confused look on Tracer's face that must have mirrored her own, as she placed her crossed hands over the wound in Vinnie's side.

She could feel energy coursing through her veins in an unspoken response, a command to repair what had been rent. Her hands began to glow a soft golden shade, spreading down until it encased the area of the wound. Mari could see the flesh begin to knit and could sense that whatever damage Sharptounge had inflicted, had been healed.

When Mari stepped back, the glow faded from her hands and Vinnie, though the pale glow around him strengthened to an almost unbearable white. She closed her eyes, a sensation of light headedness consumed her and she sank to the ground, weak and tired.

It was necessary to help this time. I do want to make sure things stay as they were. That history does not get changed. Again.

Mari was too weak to send, let alone argue with a force she could not, nor did not want to take the time now to understand. Instead she let Tracer help her to her feet and onto one of the beds.

*How . . .?*

"I'm not sure myself," Mari said. "But it didn't come from me."

*The portal is closed?*

Mari weakly nodded. "Sharptounge had Greyruff impersonate him. Both are dead."

Tracer bent his head. *The shame is now over.*

Mari quirked a brow. "There was more than friendship between you and Greyruff. More like a love."

Tracer nodded, a single tear falling down his cheek. *We were lovers, but more than that, we were soulmates. We vowed never to leave the others side. But he did. And now it ends like this.*

Mari raised a hand weakly, taking him by the hand. "Things will get better. Well, not maybe better, but easier as time goes on. I . . . kinda have learned to live with the pain of Monument. Of the loss of my children . . . and mate."

Tracer rose his head, a warm smile on his face. "Thank you," he whispered.

Mari only smiled at the effort it took Tracer to speak, no doubt using his abilities to fashion rudimentary vocal cords to do so. She laid her head back, listening to the soft breathing in the room, trying to pinpoint who was who. She could hear deep breathing beside her fade into the distance as Tracer moved away. Even deeper breathing came from directly behind her and she guessed that was Vinnie. A shuffle to the left and a deep bass groan meant only one thing.

"I thought Tracer told you to stay in bed until he was sure your concussion had gone," Mari said.

"Nothin's gonna keep me down for long," Modo said. "How you feelin'?"

"Like Hell," Mari said with a weak chuckle. "Your leg healing fine?" she asked Rimfire.

"As good as it could."

She felt a hand on her arm and opened her eyes. She eased herself onto her side and propped herself up with some assistance from Modo. She craned her head to look at Vinnie, noting Stoker in a nearby bed.

"Tracer says Stoker should wake up soon. But he don't know how long," Modo said worried. "He said something about a possible coma."

Mari sighed, noting Vinnie as he began to stir. "Looks like a handful is about to awaken." She paused. "Guess you'd better make sure he don't try to stand and hurt himself."

She watched Modo as he went to Vinnie's side, but the white mouse did not try to rise, only to groan: "What happened?" Vinnie asked. "That voice was there again."

"What voice?" Rimfire asked.

"The one I keep hearing and sending to. The one apparently Vinnie can hear as well. One that sounds an awful lot like me," Mari said with a trace of disgruntle in her voice.

Mari filled Vinnie in on what had happened, including her apparent healing of him through the powers of the voice. Making sure to stress the last words the voice had said.

"You're not thinkin' what I'm thinkin'," Vinnie said, a gleam in his eye.

"Dunno," Mari said. "Maybe I don't want to know." She chuckled. "I know what you mean. If it was me from the future, then I must have fixed our bikes, or at least Ice, with a better transport system."

"Do you think it was you?" Rimfire asked in awe.

Mari shrugged, trying to sit up, failing as the world spun before her and her stomach threatened to rebel. "Can't say. But, as I've kinda learned. Only time will tell."

They contented themselves to lay in their respected beds to rest and heal, talking and joking about their time on Mars and Earth. Trying to kill time until they were back up to speed. All the while Mari could not help but worry over Stoker. The ageing leader of the Freedom Fighters had taken quite a blow by Ironclaw, and had still not recovered fully.

Mari wondered if the voice would return to help Stoker, or if they would be on their own. Maybe in the voices history, he died. Mari tried not to think about that and so deemed herself to daydream herself on a golden beach with studly mice to wait on her hand and foot, the Plutarkians on Earth working laboriously in the Pits under Martian rule.

"We shall now return you to your rightful cities," ShimmerWing said. "We thank you for saving the Earth and the universe at large."

"Our pleasure," Mari said. "Thanks for building us new bikes. It means a lot."

Tracer nodded. *It was the least we could do. You fought so valiantly that some reward seemed in order.*

Mari nodded, turning to the portal ShimmerWing had opened. "If y'all need help, just give a holler and we'll be there."

Goldeneyes nodded. "Though we will not be able to assist you as we shall move the base to another, more secure location. Your knowledge of it could be used against you. And us."

"We understand," Throttle said, carrying Stoker. "Let's go."

They all filed into the portal. Modo helped Rimfire to hobble through, Mari carried her daughter, and the bikes followed their riders. Once on the other side, they watched the portal wink out of existence.

Mari turned with a sigh. "When you boys want t' get back to Chicago, let me know and I'll transport ya back."

"I can handle it, sweetheart," Vinnie said.

Mari only half shrugged. "But can ya link?"

"You've fixed that problem?" Throttle asked.

"Not really. Not unless ya count the shield as a mass transporter," Mari said with a grin.

Vinnie held his hands up in surrender.

"What are we gonna do about Stoke?" Rimfire asked as he hobbled to a chair to sit.

"We'll take him to Mars for rest and treatment," Carbine said. "All we can do is hope for the best."

Faith.

Mari exchanged knowing glances with Vinnie. She turned to Carbine. "All ya need is a little faith."

"And some help from yer friends," Vinnie added, taking Charlie by the arm.

"You know what I think?" Carbine asked suddenly.

They all turned to her with questioning looks.

"I think it's time for some very much needed R&R."

"I agree with that," Mari said with a chuckle. "After what we've been through, we need some peace and quiet."

At a small series of explosions outside, Mari sighed. She went to the window and grimaced. "No rest for the weary. And on Halloween too."

"Brie?" Throttle asked.

Mari nodded going for Ice. "Anyone up for some more target practice?"

"Count us in," Vinnie said with a laugh.

"Freedom Fighters," Mari said with an energetic laugh. "Let's rock 'em till we drop 'em."

"Let's ride," Throttle said.

With a screech of tires they were off, once more fighting to free the Earth from whatever force would try to destroy her.

"Sometimes I wonder," a voice said from the darkness.

"You are not the only one," a second voice said.

Both owners of the voices walked to the light in the center of the room. The first man could have been considered handsome, fairly tall with a well shaped body, however the second could have only passed for a Plutarkian. Though each of them bore a dark secret and a hatred for someone.

"Sharptounge may have failed to open your precious little portal, Junior, but at least they did damage those accursed rodents," the second man said.

Junior only nodded. "And you, My Lord Camembert, why continue to bother yourself with a planet that history has shown will never yield to our might?"

Lord Camembert smiled a dark, cruel smile. "You have no idea what trouble these rodents have caused me in my time. No. You could never understand the importance that they be destroyed now. Before they ruin my plans to destroy the Earth and Mars."

Junior turned. "You have your dreams, I have mine. The time has passed to open the Portal. I must now think of another way to rid us of those Martian mice."

"You, hired those . . . creatures to aid you, it's your fault they failed. No ultimate powers for you." Camembert said mockingly.

Junior turned and only glared at him, yet allowed a faint smile to grace his lips. "Just remember what I told you," he said. "The white mouse will stop you from reaching your goal. So I have seen it."

"You never say if you got a good look at them," Camembert said.

"I'll just have to make sure there are no white mice left alive by the time I'm done," Junior said, folding his arms across his chest.

"Whatever," Camembert said, activating his personal transporter.

Junior turned, reaching in his jacket pocket. He removed a small black box. "And I shall have my revenge over those mice. When I am done, there shall be no mice left alive. On Earth . . . or Mars."

Junior pressed a button, transporting back to his Stench Carrier to plot and plan. Lord Camembert would be a welcomed diversion and just may be able to defeat the rodents for him. But Junior would not turn his back on the Plutarkian ruler. No. He could not be trusted to carry out any order. Lord Camembert could not be trusted to stay within what had happened in history.

Junior riffled through his notes he had personally wrote of this patch of time. He knew what had happened and smiled when he ticked off the names of those who had died.

"So many mice, so few left," he chuckled, laying the sheets down. "Take us back to our own time. I have plans to see to."

"Yes, Lord," the helmsman said with a salute.

Junior waited as they transported back to their own time. Back to his conquest of Earth.