The Portal Part Four

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Disclaimer: I don't own the BMFM or anyone from that show. I do, however own, Mari, Mandy, Ice, Snowfall, Rock, The Rockers, Phoenix, Blaze, Turbo and Fire. I make no money from this and do so only for my and others enjoyment.

There is, of course, the danger of violence and foul language so please, read at your own risk.

Read and enjoy.

The Portal Part 4 - Trouble in Motor City

By Goldenmane

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

Mari had almost forgotten how good it was to trash Brie. Especially when she fought along side the Biker Mice and the Freedom Fighters. Her thoughts turned wistful, thinking of the Rockers and her former unit leader Rock, and how they had all died. Either at the Battle of Monument, or later by the Plutarkians. In her opinion, any way you looked at it, the Plutarkians were responsible for their present demise and should pay for it. Dearly.

Mari swerved, laying a hail of laser fire towards Brie's Dune Rangers, watching in complete satisfaction as the buggies exploded. She eased back when Throttle pulled in beside her.

"Tracer did good to replicate our bikes," he said, firing a missile towards Brie's West Tower. "Couldn't tell the difference. Even down to their memories."

Mari nodded, adding her own firepower to Throttles, until the entire tower began to shake and collapsed in a cloud of dust and a large rumble.

"Halloween is safe for trick or treaters everywhere," Vinnie said with an energetic laugh.

"Um, it's well past ten," Mari said. "I think there all home stuffing their faces. Which reminds me. Since none of us were here to dole out candy, I have about five bags stashed away."

"Sugar rush," Vinnie yelled with a laugh, speeding back to the Changing Times.

Mari only slapped herself aside her helmet. "Trust him to be first in line."

They all headed back to a minor ruckus in the Changing Times. Mandy could be heard shouting over the pleas of Vinnie for the candy.

"He never will grow up," Throttle said with a chuckle.

"He'll never find it. I knew what would happen if you guys came over, no offence, and I had candy layin' around," Mari said, stopping outside the garage.

She entered the garage, the others in tow. "Hold yer horses and I'll get the candy."

Mari strode to her room and removed the bags of candy from a locked hidden compartment under her bed. She returned and dumped the contents into a large bowl and let them go at it.

"Just keep it below a sonic boom, if you will. I've got to put Snowfall to bed," Mari said, disappearing into Snowfall's room.

Mari readied Snowfall, gathering her night clothes and ushering her into the bathroom to wash. Mari waited, helping when Snowfall would let her, chuckling at her daughter's misadventures with the bar of soap.

She couldn't quite hear the conversations in the main part of the garage, and shook her head at the muffled voices. She lifted Snowfall out of the water and drained it once done, and dressed Snowfall for night.

"So much for peace and quiet," Mari mumbled to herself.

She walked past the others, most of them stuffing their faces with candy, some watched tv. Mari said nothing, heading to Snowfall's room to tuck her daughter in.

"Sleep tight," Mari said, smoothing Snowfall's hair.

Snowfall grinned, chuckling before grabbing the covers and ducking under.

Mari rose and turned the light off, heading for her room. She could hear the tv going, but at least not as loud as she had figured. She said nothing to the others, going into her room and closing the door.

She sighed and undressed, slipping into her night clothes. She flopped into her bed and closed her eyes, sleep claimed her almost instantly.

"Can't sleep?" Carbine asked, laying a hand on Throttle's shoulder. "Everyone has packed it in for the night."

He looked out into the inky blackness of the night, so lost in his thoughts that he never heard her approach. Throttle turned and smiled warm and tenderly at the love of his life. "Not really."

He folded her in his arms, careful not to hit her healing jaw.

"You know I can't stay forever," Carbine said at last.

Throttle sighed. "I know that, babe, but at least we have this time together. We should make the best of it . . . with all that's been goin' on, and all."

"We will win," she said. "Someday."

"What if someday never comes?"

"We can't think that. We may have gotten trashed by Sharptounge and his goons, but we did win," Carbine said decisively.

Throttle hesitated. "I know the war on Mars hasn't gone the way we all planned it, but tell me the truth. How are things going?"

Carbine sighed deeply before answering. "Not good. The Sand Raiders have continuously attacked our outposts along with the Plutarkians. We're only barely keeping what little land we have left."

"What are the plans if we lose even that much?"

"We move."

The words laid heavily in Throttle's heart. He hadn't seen the world of his birth in years, and, if things kept going the way they were, he may never again.

"Where will we go?" he asked at last.

Carbine only shrugged. "Nearest place we could make it, that is if we could steal some transporters or ships, would be Earth."

"They wouldn't handle a mass refugee situation too good," Throttle said at last. "They'd freak the second they saw us. Probably they's say we were invading them or something."

Carbine only half shrugged. "We'll get to that point when we do."

Throttle remained silent, content for that moment to hold Carbine.

After a while, Carbine sighed. She looked long and hard into Throttle's eyes, before removing his field specks. "You need some sleep."

"Really?" he feigned surprise.

"If someone has to stay on the lookout for any more danger, I'll do it. You need rest or you won't be able to function in the morning," Carbine said, kissing him on the lips.

Throttle pulled back. "What about your jaw?"

"Ah, who cares about the jaw. It feels fine," Carbine said, clasping her arms around his neck.

Throttle smiled. "If you insist, 'General'."

They both chuckled before embracing the other, too tense to rest.

A green flash caught Throttle's attention and he broke the embrace, going for his laser. Carbine followed suit as a tall, well-built human walked through the green glowing portal. Though Throttle recognized the human instantly.

"Junior," Throttle said. "Why the visit?"

"Simple, you see. I plan on destroying this minor planet one way or another. And if the Portal can't do it, then I must. One way, or another."

They both fired, eyes going wide when Junior's form faded with a green glow. They turned, sprinting inside the garage and stopped, for there Junior stood, nearly surrounded by the others.

"How can we fight someone who can just pop in like that?" Vinnie asked from the doorway, keeping Charlie behind him.

You can't.

Mari half grimaced. "Now's not the time."

"Now is the time," the voice said.

Junior turned when a green glow began, fading to reveal a cloaked and hooded figure.

"So that's the body behind the voice," Throttle said. "I heard her that time."

"Question is, who is she?" Mari asked.

The hooded female did not move. "Sometimes these situations require a 'delicate touch'. One that can only be done in person."

"Whoever you are, stand aside while I remove a mouse problem on the Earth," Junior growled.

"Not a chance," the female said. "Your attempts at opening the Portal has upset time."

Junior quirked a brow. "Impossible. That's not in my history."

The female shook her head. "Nothing's impossible."

A second and third form faded into view with a green glow around the female. One was female, the other male. Neither of them removed the hoods to their cloaks.

"If you will not remove yourselves, then I guess I will have to do it for you," Junior said. "Warriors, rid me of these mice."

Both of the cloaked figures to the female's sides removed lasers and fired. Junior staggered backwards, stunned, though he did not fall. The lead female fired what appeared to be a golden bolt that struck Junior in the chest. He doubled over, fading from view. None of his warriors had time to arrive.

"That was way too close," the male said in a medium tenor.

"Things always seem to go from bad to worse," the second female said.

"Nevertheless," the lead female said. "Time has been changed and there is nothing we can do about it. Only hope that we can control what damage has been done."

Mari did not move, only to cross her arms. "So just who in the hell are you?"

"It is safe to say that we are a sort of Keeper of history."

"That doesn't show who you are," Mari said.

"All in good time, my dear mouse," the lead female said. She held a small amulet before her. "Farewell."

A green glow encased the trio of Keepers and they faded from view.

"Well, this night just keeps getting more and more confusing," Mandy muttered to no one in particular.

Mari grimaced. "First we face aliens, and now this. How much more can we take?"

"And we still don't know about Stoker," Modo said worriedly.

Mari sighed deeply. "At least if these travelling Keepers will come to our aid when Junior shows, we should be able to hold our own. If not, then we're toast. I still haven't perfected the time travel abilities of our bikes."

"You can work on that tomorrow," Mandy said.

"Stay together. I don't want this creep sneakin' up on us. I'm stayin' with Snowfall," Mari said.

They all headed to bed, never once sleeping soundly, their thoughts on the mystery mage and the Keepers.

Vinnie sat on the edge of the bed, knees drawn up to his chest. He let one arm drape over his knees and looked down at the sleeping form of Charlie. When he began to yawn, he admonished himself.

"Gotta stay awake," he whispered.

He could feel his head tipping foreward and rested his chin on his arm. He sighed once and closed his eyes.

"Only for a moment," he mumbled.

The instant he heard a chuckling noise, he leapt off the bed, and drew his laser. He glanced at Charlie who still slept peacefully.

Vinnie turned suddenly and gasped. There stood a female mouse, white of fur, silver of hair and blue of eye. She had three rings in one ear and one in the other. She had a smile that reminded Vinnie of Mari.

"Who are you?" Vinnie asked.

"Good question," the female said. "Who do you think I am?"

"This is no time for questions," Vinnie snapped.

The female shook her head and sighed. "I guess it isn't. You see, we found something very interesting in my family line. Something that proceeded down the line, especially in the females. Apparently, though, this . . . thing . . . hadn't existed until two of our . . . ancestors mated."

Vinnie quirked a brow. "Ya just lost me."

The female sighed. "I exist in many times, many planes of consciousness and thought. That is how I can speak to you now. This . . . ability . . . a better word for it, allows us to travel in time and space, though not without an energy source. Throughout the generations we perfected this method of travel. Other than that, I can say no more. That would alter history."

"Wait a minute. What do you mean?" Vinnie asked.

"I am from your future. I help to make sure history stays the same. If I tell you more I might change history. And mother taught me better than that," the female said, turning.

Vinnie hesitated a moment before speaking one simple word. "Snowfall?"

The female turned with a half smile. "Time to wake up, now . . . "

Vinnie fell off the bed when he heard a rushing of air in his ears. He slowly picked himself up, wondering how he got on the bed, and looked at Charlie. She began to rouse and groggily looked at him.

"Trouble?" she asked.

Vinnie shook his head. "Nothing . . . Just a nightmare."

"I think we all will have them for a long time, once this is over," Charlie said. "Get some sleep. You need it."

"I . . . can't."

"The dreams?"

Vinnie shook his head again. "No. I want to make sure that no one can hurt you. I've gotta stay awake."

"You didn't do such a good job then," Charlie said, turning to face him. "Come back to bed. I can take watch, if that'll make you feel better?"

Vinnie slowly climbed in bed and sat with his back to the headboard. He handed his laser to Charlie and hugged her close.

"We'll keep watch together," he said at last, dimming the lights.

Charlie only smiled and snuggled closer, laying her head on his shoulder.

Mari sat in a chair next to Snowfall's bed. She scribbled notes on a sheet of paper, then frowned. She started again then crumpled the paper in frustration and threw it against the wall. She had some idea what had to have happened. She could sense the feelings of the leader of the Keepers, and that bothered her.

Slowly and methodically, Mari began to detail their battle with Sharptounge and what had happened since. She made sure to note locations, times as close as she could remember, and who was hopefully where. If she was right, then these notes would be of great value in the future. Of great use to the Keepers themselves.

If she was right.

She knew the leader of the Keepers was not herself, or she would have known. Though the leader, sounding so much like herself, could easily have been a future version of Snowfall. Or another descendant.

Mari glanced at her daughter then back to the page. She dated the entry and folded the paper. She slipped it into her pocket and laid the rest of the papers aside. She folded her arms across her chest and sunk deeper into the chair. She had gone before without sleep, as she knew most of the others had probably done as well. War did have that annoying habit of disturbing a normal lifestyle, she mused with a soft chuckle.

Mari sighed and drew her laser. She wanted to be prepared in case the mage made a return appearance. She closed her eyes and set her nerves on alert. If she could only sleep lightly, she could hopefully react quickly to any danger. Other than that, she might not be able to hit the broad side of a saber-squid if exhaustion sapped her of her strength.

Mari snapped her eyes open when she heard a faint snap on the floor. The room seemed the same, including a lightly snoring Snowfall, except a white female mouse stood in the doorway.

"The leader of the Keepers, or someone else?" Mari asked casually.

"Very perceptive," the female said. "More so than some."

"I take it you visited someone else in the astral?" Mari asked.

The female nodded. "I forgot he did not have the ability. He actually believed it to be real, or a dream once he returned to his body."

"You never answered my question."

"And you know full well I can't. You of all mice should know the value of not interfering with time. That is why the Keepers rely on the journals of past members of my direct family line," the female said. "And those who will come after me," she added, almost as an afterthought.

"Out of place, out of time," Mari said softly. "Sounds like things really haven't changed."

The female sighed. "In a way, no. In a way, yes."

"So why the visit?" Mari asked, closing her eyes. "If you can say nothing, why disturb my rest?"

"I . . . wanted to make sure history went according to our records," the female said.

"More than that," Mari said. "Yer shields are slipping. I can sense your emotions."

The female lightly chuckled. "The astral leaves little in the way for mistakes. I shall leave you then,"

Mari looked up as the female turned. "Sometimes more is said by not saying. Thanks for the info."

The female turned sharply back, a half smile on her face. "I knew you'd understand. You always did."

Mari closed her eyes and waited for the familiar rush of air that signalled she had returned her consciousness back to her body. She slowly counted to ten backwards, then opened her eyes. She squinted at the bright light and tried to make out the time on the clock.

"Kept me a long time in there, didn't ya?" Mari said under her breath, relieved nothing had happened in her 'absence'.

"Only 'time' will tell," Mari mumbled to herself as she once more closed her eyes and tried to get some light rest before the sun rose. She had the feeling they would need all their strengths and reserves to battle Junior should he return sooner than they would like. A battle they might not win alone.

Breakfast had been whatever they could scrounge, the lot of them looking a lot worse for wear. Dark circles rimmed both Mandy and Charlie's eyes and the others looked drawn, their tails dragging on the ground. Only Snowfall bounced around, much to the others dismay. Even with all that had happened, the young child could still find a spark of joy.

Vinnie remained silent about his nightmare, keeping his gaze far from Mari or Snowfall. Mari, meanwhile, sat and brooded over her encounter in the astral.

It was Throttle who finally broke the silence with a start of amazement when he turned to head from the kitchen back to the garage.

"So? Got anything good to eat around here?" Stoker asked.

"Wha - ?" was all Vinnie could muster.

Mari immediately rushed over to the ageing leader of the Freedom Fighters. "Sit down, you were just in a coma, how the hell are you so spritely now?"

"Dunno," Stoker said with a wicked grin. "But I sure do feel great. Best nap I've had in a long time."

"But . . . I mean . . . with what Ironclaw did and all . . . " Vinnie stammered.

"What he's trying to say," Mari said instead, "Is that with all the injuries you were healing from, not to mention being in a coma, it's hard to imagine you back on your feet and feeling like nothing ever happened."

Stoker only shrugged and walked to the stove, making sure to give Vinnie a shove on the shoulder for good measure. Vinnie was too stunned to react.

The others only exchanged glances while Mari stared long and hard at Vinnie until he was forced to look at her.

'Something happened last night, didn't it?' Mari sent directly to Vinnie.

He quirked a brow.

'A white female mouse visited you who seemed familiar, yet cryptic,' Mari continued.

Vinnie rose, going to her side. "How did you know?"

"She visited me in the astral, and from what I got, that was after she visited you," Mari said in a whisper.

"So? What do you make of it?" Vinnie asked, almost hesitantly.

Mari only shrugged. "Only time will tell."

Vinnie looked past her to the parked bikes. Ice had moved closer to his bike than he remembered from the night before. "Do you think . . . ?"

Mari shrugged again. "Can't say. But we will find out. One way or another."

"Um . . . " Stoker began, looking out past the small window in the kitchen. "But who is this human in a business suit outside aiming something nasty at us?"

"Damnit," Mari swore. "He's back."

"Battle stations," Throttle said. "Let's rock,"

"And ride," the others chorused.

They all went for their bikes, except Mandy who scooped up Snowfall, and Charlie who waited by her side. When Rimfire hobbled to his bike, he was stopped by his Uncle Modo.

"Not until you leg has completely healed," Modo said.

"But," Rimfire began.

Mari closed her helmet's visor. "We need someone to hold down the garage."

They sped out of the Changing Times to leave Rimfire to flop down on the couch beside him. "Old enough to ride with the best, yet still stuck at the kid's table."

The second they had a clear shot, the small group fired toward Junior. He deftly dodged any attacks they made, even to the point of mocking their attempts to remove him from Detroit. When several of his warriors transported in, the small group of mice re aimed their attack away from Junior.

Mari fired a homing dart that neatly struck Junior on the back. He turned, a malicious gleam in his eyes.

"You'll pay for that, rodent," Junior growled.

Mari tried to avoid his blast, skidding Ice sideways. She cursed when she heard a decided thump.

"I need some back up here," Mari yelled.

"I'm on it," she heard Stoker say.

She had already gone into a crouch near Ice when a bike screeched to a halt beside her. "He missed us, but I think something knocked lose on the slide," Mari said.

"I got the bike," Carbine said, grappling Ice with her bike.

Mari nodded as she got on behind Stoker. They sped back to the garage. Stoker returned to the battle, while Carbine unhooked Ice.

"I don't think it's any too serious," Mari said, checking Ice over.

Mandy hurried into the room with her first tool kit and began to run a diagnostic on Ice. "Doesn't look too bad," she commented. "I should have her battle ready by night."

Mari nodded. "Where are the Keepers when ya need them?"

Mandy only shrugged and turned to Carbine. "We can handle things here, just get back out there."

Carbine nodded and fired her bike's engine. She left with a screech of tires.

"Go back and watch Snowfall," Mandy said to Charlie who stood silently in the doorway. "I've got it covered."

Charlie said nothing as she headed out the door.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Mari said. "I know Junior said about removing a mouse problem, but he sure didn't act like he wanted to get rid of all of us that bad."

"What do you mean?" Mandy asked, cringing at an explosion.

"Simple," Mari said, grimacing when she removed the front panel to Ice. "He seemed more content to fire at Vinnie and me, than the others. And that just may be the clue I needed."

Mandy only quirked a brow.

"I had a visit in the astral by a white mouse. Apparently so did Vinnie, but he didn't realize what was going on," Mari said. "I got enough that this mystery mouse grew up while I was alive. Could be Snowfall . . . or her daughter . . . or a granddaughter . . .she kinda acted odd, like I was dead or gone in her time."

"You're the one who knows something about time and all that goes with travelling in it," Mandy said.

"Not as much as I'd like to know," Mari said with a chuckle. "So? What's the verdict?"

"Nothing we I can't handle. Take Rimfire's bike and get out there and help them."

Mari sighed and rose. "Good news, bad news. Fights stopped."

Mandy had to agree at the silence outside. Still. Quiet.

"Rimfire, what happened?" Mari shouted.

"Looks like a stand off," he replied. "No one's made a move, they're all just looking at each other."

"Everyone still standing?" Mandy asked.

A slight pause, then. "Full head count."

Mari looked to Mandy. "Get Ice's memory back online as soon as you can. I tagged Junior with a tracker. When he transports out we should have some idea of where or when he exactly goes."

Mandy nodded. "Just get going."

"Fine by me. Just as long as he doesn't find it," Mari said with a sigh.

"Situation's changed," Rimfire called from the other room. "The Keepers have returned."

"And so the tide of power shifts," Mari mumbled sprinting to the other room. "Care if I take your bike?"

Rimfire motioned to his bike, never once taking his gaze off of the stand off outside. Mari leaped to his bike and fired its engines. She sped out of the garage, screeching to a halt beside Throttle.

"Now to see how this changes our odds," she whispered to him.

When the Keepers had faded in with a green glow, Throttle had breathed a silent sigh of relief. So far they had been able to hold their own against Junior and his 'super' warriors, but not much more. Lack of sleep and tension had slowed their response times and judgement. He knew they couldn't keep it up much longer.

"You have caused enough trouble in this time," the lead female said.

"You can dictate no orders to me, woman," Junior growled. "I will kill those who would stand in my way. Of that, I have seen."

"Great," Modo mumbled to Throttle. "Now he's quoting history."

The lead Keeper did not seem affected by Junior's words. Instead she held an amulet before her.

"Enough," Junior nearly roared. He motioned for his warrior to open fire toward the Keepers and the mice.

They dodged as best they could, the Keepers returning fire. One of the Keepers crumpled to the ground, just as Junior transported out.

"They're not as invincible as they seem," Vinnie muttered.

Throttle made note of the small green pool of blood at the side of the fallen Keeper. Without a word, he watched them vanish from sight.

"What are we gonna do now?" Modo asked.

"They don't seem as powerful as we first thought," Stoker said.

"We regroup and rest until the next time that human shows his ugly mug," Mari said. "Back to the Changing Times."

They headed back to the garage and parked their bikes. Some remained where they were, others headed to the kitchen and a denied first meal.

Throttle, instead, headed into the small office Mandy had and retrieved a small pad of paper. He began to jot notes, pausing every so often to think. Once done, he tucked it into his vest pocket and returned to the kitchen to eat and rest.

"It's almost like they're trying to pick us off, one by one," Vinnie mused aloud.

"Junior?" Charlie asked with a yawn. "But I thought he hated all mice?"

"If he is out for someone, then we're in for the fight of our lives to keep whoever they are safe," Throttle said.

"Not like we are now?" Stoker remarked unknowingly echoing their thoughts.