When Love Breaks Part Three

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Disclaimer: I don't own the Biker Mice, Charlie, Rimfire, Harley, Stoker, Mace, Limburger, or Brie. I do, however, own Mari, Mandy, Turbo, Tactica, Sparky, Starfire, Brigit, Katianna Ice, Fire, and Dragon. I will not be making any money from this. These works are for fans of BMFM.

This takes place on New Years Eve 1999, and is a kind of 'what if' story. What could happen when someone is torn between the present, past and future? How can they sort out their lives on this eve of a new millennium? Read on and find out. There is a warning of some foul words and violence.

Enjoy.

                         When Love Breaks
                             Part Three
           (C) 1/19/1999   All Rights Reserved
                          By Goldenmane
                     ****************************
    Mari did not stop riding until she had come to the city limits. The destruction had not reached that far yet. She pulled Ice to the side of the road and removed her helmet. She did not wipe away the tears which had clouded her vision. Ice had done most of the driving.
    Her thoughts had mostly been on Vinnie and Charlie and her loss. Somewhere in there Turbo made his presence.
    "My children," Mari softly said. "If only you were here. If only I could see you once again before this damnable war swallows us up again. But at least I have Snowfall."
    At the sudden sound of a bike engine, she turned. The city had seemed quite deserted except for themselves, since the battle began.
    She increased vision on her now put on helmet, noticing a midnight black bike streaking along the road. The rider seemed quite unaware of the dangers they faced, and headed towards her.
    Mari readied her laser in case the rider had been a trap sent by the Plutarkians. When the bike slowed and stopped near, but not beside of her, Mari tapped a button on Ice.
    "Hey, citizen," the other biker called. "Know where a biker could get a place to hang while the action get's hot?"
    "Who are you?" Mari asked suspiciously.
    The other biker removed their helmet much to Mari's surprise. She was a Martian."The name's Katianna."
    Mari removed her helmet. "Mari," she paused. "So what are you doing on Earth?"
    "Ya'd never believe it," Katianna said. "One minute I'm'a fighting on Mars, ya did know those fish guts have returned? Well, anyway, one minute I'm about to blow a transport convoy, next thing I know there is a sound and light show and here I am. A million miles away, accidentally blowing a hole in some poor citizen's wall, and in the middle of another war."
    Mari only stared at Katianna, amazed at the young mouse's lung power. "Then you must be the one who scared us back at the garage."
    "Oh, so it was your wall I destroyed," Katianna said sheepishly. "Sorry."
    Mari smiled. "No problem. Any chance you belong to a unit?"
    "Used to, but now I work with an outside group of Freedom Fighters. Our leader brought some new equipment with them, installed it in our bikes."
    "Will this new technology help us win either war?" Mari asked pensively.
    Katianna smiled, her emerald gaze trouble free. "So far it has. But you'd never believe some of the things this ol' gal could do. I'd say your bike is way outdated."
    Ice revved, raring once. Mari had to hang on to keep from being thrown off. "Easy girl. She didn't mean it."
    "Nah, 'course not," Katianna said. "So? What's a mouse like you doin' so far from the action?"
    "I came out here to collect my thoughts."
    Katianna replaced her helmet. "Tell me on the way back, will ya? I'm dyin' for some action."
    Mari replaced her helmet and kicked Ice into gear, letting Katianna follow.
    When they returned to the Last Chance, Katianna seemed to have sobered once she learned of what had happened on the Earth to date. Mari, meanwhile had her spirits lifted and dashed when the young mouse had told her former unit leader had been Phoenix, only to be from Brimstone.
    Mari entered the garage, Ice, Katianna, and her bike in tow. Mandy sat near the CB, the receiver in one hand, Snowfall asleep in the other.
    "She's back," Mandy said, raising her head. "And she's got company in tow."
    "Never mind that," Throttle said. "Limburger Tower's been trashed, but we did manage to get one of the transporters functional and out of there before the place collapsed."
    Mandy nodded. "Sounds good." She turned to Mari, lowering the receiver. "They're back at the scoreboard and wants to know how things are here."
    "Tell them," Mari said. "Make sure you add that it was Katianna here who destroyed the wall."
    "Wait," Katianna said suddenly, going to the CB and requisitioning the receiver from Mandy. "Listen up. You say you've got a functioning transporter?"
    "Yeah?" came the startled reply from Throttle. "Why and who are you?"
    Katianna paused. "Names Katianna, call me Kat, it's easier. And if you have a functioning transporter, then I think I can solve yer problems." She turned to Mari. "In more ways than one."
    "I don't get it," they could hear Carbine in the background. "What are you doing on Earth? Last report said you had gone AWOL."
    "Long story, General. Safe to say this war may just end on a happy note."
                                            #
    "I still don't understand," Carbine said when Mari, Kat, and their bikes entered.
    "I said I can handle it. General, our fearless leader had installed something in our bikes she said would help us. Why she didn't tell you I'll never know. Anyway." Kat continued. "This device works with a Plutarkian transporter."
    "What will it do?" Carbine asked, suspiciously. "Or should I ask. And who is your 'fearless leader'? I thought you had quit the Freedom Fighters."
    "Nah, I got requisitioned by an outsider. She says she's a Freedom Fighter and want's no credit," Kat said. "But what she added to Dragon here is more than we need to help us win the war."
    "Dragon?" Mari asked. "Remember Junior's captive sent something about a Dragon." She turned to Kat. "Your bike wouldn't have transporter abilities, would it?"
    "How do you know about Junior? Never mind, ya can tell me later."Kat smiled sheepishly. "She turned our bikes into instant transporters when we can home into a stable signal. We can go anywhere we want. And something our fearless leader told us, though none of us are brave enough to try, is that it will transport us in time as well."
    Mari began to speak then stopped. She did not want to get her hopes up.
    "Isn't that playing with the laws of physics?" Carbine asked, none to happy with the idea of a rogue unit of self teleporting mice.
    "That's why we swore we'd use it only when necessary. And I think our fearless leader would call this a good time. Besides, she didn't say boo if it would work or not," Kat said going to her bike. "Dragon here can teleport all of you on your bikes same as if you had it installed in yours."
    "That's something I had been working on," Mari said. "How safe is it?"
    "Dunno, never been tested before that I know," Kat said with a huge grin on her face. "I thought no one knew about this in this time. Seems like something happened that our leader didn't count on. The time lines've gotten mixed, or something."
    "Sounds like trouble," Rimfire replied sarcastically.
    Kat looked at each of them, lastly to Carbine. "If it can end this war, then why not? If the time lines are already messed up, how can one more tinkering about hurt?"
    "What if it doesn't work?" Carbine asked.
    "Then those who teleport will be lost in space. Or time. Fearless leader couldn't say which, if any or both." Kat went to Dragon. "So, any takers?"
    Mari went to Ice. "I say give it a try. A test run." She turned to Kat. "Can we go to a specific time and place?"
    "We should be able to. Why? Got a place in particular?" Kat asked.
    Mari nodded, punching the co ordinates into Ice. "Have Dragon read these co ordinates and take us there. I got a plan." She turned to the others. "If it don't work, then my hunch has failed me. It hasn't yet."
    Both mice mounted their bikes, firing engines. They lowered their visors and waited.
    "Catch ya on the flip side," Kat said, punching a button on Dragon.
    The world seemed to go white, then black, then shifted through all shades of gray. She could see Kat and Dragon beside her, and Ice under her. Though other than that, she could feel nothing else. Similar to her transport when they battled Junior.
    With a blinding flash and deafening thud, the world returned. They sat on their bikes outside a small grove of trees. Over head they could see the fireworks display. Mari scanned the grounds looking for Vinnie and Charlie. She hoped they had been near where she had found them earlier.
    Thanking the moons of Mars, she spotted them. A twinge of sadness gripped her heart and she sighed. At least they had been on time, but it would be better to lose a deepening relationship with someone, just to see them happy.
    Mari turned to Kat. "Now, when the Stingrays begin to attack, help me cover Vinnie and Charlie. Not attack the Stingrays outright."
    "Ah, gotcha."
    Then the bombs started to fall, and the Stingrays screamed overhead. Mari and Kat activated their lasers, Mari sending a signal to Vinnie's bike to cover all mice and Charlie while it went to them, bringing them here despite what he may say.
    Mari returned her mind on the battle, feeling oddly queasy. She had to pause, to settle her stomach. She glanced to Kat, but the other Martian seemed quite fine and content to fire away. Ice, she noticed had activated lasers and shot salvo after salvo against the Stingrays.
    "Mari," she heard Vinnie shout. "What are you doing here?"
    "Just get to cover," Mari shouted, aiming her laser at the Stingrays, firing with all her might.
    She noted Vinnie's bike enter the grove, and backed Ice up to join him. Dragon followed, and once inside, Kat punched a button.
    "Hold on and hope," Kat said.
    The world went white again then through the shades of gray and finally to a blinding flash and crack of thunder and they found themselves back at the Last Chance.
    "You made it!" Carbine shouted. "But I thought you two were at the garage?"
    Vinnie quirked a brow, sentence cut off by a frantically shouting Mandy over the CB.
    "They're gone! And so are their bikes! They just faded from view," Mandy shouted hysterically.
    "Temporal bending, courtesy from the fearless leader. Wait 'till I tell her it actually worked," Kat said.
    Mari went to the CB. "Don't worry. That was Kat's doing. Things are ok, just come to the scoreboard and we'll go from there. Kat's solved the time travel aspect of transporting."
    "If you say so." came Mandy's querulous reply.
    Vinnie and Charlie dismounted. "What do you mean 'it actually worked'?" he said, removing his helmet.
    "Like I told them, purely experimental technology," Kat said. She filled Vinnie and Charlie in on what she had told the others.
    "Dragon seems like quite the bike," Vinnie said at last. He turned to Mari. "Is this Dragon the one?
    Mari nodded as Kat patted her bike on the seat. "She sure is. Latest technology with quite the improvements."
    "So what now? How can we use this to stop the war?" Carbine asked.
    "Well..." Kat began, her voice trailing off.
    Mari dismounted Ice. "I don't like the sound of that."
    "Looks like I over exceeded the ol' girl's capacity. Burned out a circuit or two," Kat said sheepishly. "But hey, at least we got the transporter. I might be able to rig up something."
    "Like what?" Mari asked.
    Kat paused. "Dunno. Have to think about it."
    Mari sighed. At least they had been able to save two lives from the war. Maybe, just maybe if they could get Dragon's teleporting ability active again, they might be able to bring Turbo and the other's back.
    Maybe.

#
                             Ohh, let's go ridin'
                            Cruisin' down the open road.
                            We can put the top down,
                            Listen to the radio.
                            Big ol' Buick,
                            And a big ol' sky,
                            Wheels on fire,
                            And I'll tell you why.
                            I got a hot rod heart.

    "Vinnie, turn the radio down, will ya?" Mari yelled, looking up from Dragon's control panel.
    "But I need some music," Vinnie replied.
    "Aw, let him have it," Kat said, smiling. "Just be glad there are other cities without the destruction."

                            Ohh, let's go prowlin',
                            Sneakin' like we used to do.
                            Way back in the country,
                            Cut across the cornfields too.
                            Big ol' Harley,
                            And a big ol' moon,
                            Big ol' gator,
                            Puttin' on the zoom.
                            I got a hot rod heart.

    Mari paused her diagnostic, looking towards Vinnie. She could tell by his expression that the mention of Harley had triggered memories. Charlie seemed uncomfortable by the change in Vinnie.
    Her, on the other hand thought of Renaud and Stonewall and how they fared in Gator country down in New Orleans with the Plutarkian threat there.
    Mari sighed, returning to her task of repairing Dragon.

                            Got a one way ticket to the open road,
                            Come on.
                            Got a red line engine,
                            And I'm raring to go.
                            Put the pedal to the metal,
                            If you want to ride,
                            If you want to ride,
                            Let's go.

"Diagnostic checks out fine. Running the last few tests," Kat called over the music blaring from Vinnie's bike.
Mari sat back on her haunches. The work had been tough, but finally they could roll out and confront the Plutarkians. Maybe even drive them out of Chicago so they could head to other cities and try to rid them of their burdens.

                            Ohh, let's go ridin'
                            Rollin' down the open road.
                            We can put the top down,
                            Listen to the radio.
                            Big ol' Buick,
                            And a big ol' sky,
                            And wheels on fire,
                            And I'll tell you why.
                            I got a hot rod heart.

    "All systems check out," Kat said rising. She mounted Dragon. "Ready to roll."
    "Then let's head out Freedom Fighters," Carbine said.
    "Let's rock," Throttle began.
    "And ride," the other's finished.
    They headed off, cheering, laughing, or whooping it up in some way. Tonight they would beat the Plutarkians and free the Earth. Mandy stayed behind to watch after a frightened Snowfall.

                            Got a one way ticket to the open road,
                            Come on.
                            Got a red line engine,
                            And I'm raring to go.
                            Put the petal to the metal,
                            If you want to ride,
                            If you want to ride,
                            Let's go.

                            Ooh, let's go ridin'

                                            #
    Limburger Tower lay silently in ruins, just as Carbine and Throttle had said. Now they had to find out where the Plutarkian hid. Find where they had taken refuge from the mice's assault. Flush them out and pick them off.
    It did not take them long to follow the trail, nearly falling off their bikes when they found how close to the scoreboard the Plutarkians had moved.
    "Good thing they didn't hear your music." Mari said softly, half turning to Vinnie.
    "Who'se to know they wanted to come here?" he replied.
    Mari turned to Kat. "What now?"
    "No idea."
    "That sounds real encouraging," Carbine whispered from somewhere in the back.
    Kat only shrugged. "We got one shot then I've got to get to Mars for repairs. Only thing is, how big a transport is too big?"
    "In other words, do we go for Chicago or the Earth," Carbine said.
    "Right," Kat said. "If we could rid all cities by linking Plutarkian genetics to the transporter, then fine. But if it burns out Dragon, then no one's going anywhere too soon."
    A silence befell the group. No one wanted to tell Kat what to do with Dragon. A mouse's bike was like a child or partner to them and it would not be fair to force her to make a decision that could harm her bike in any way.
    "We can't sit here forever waiting," Kat said after a while. "I have a clear signal to the transporter. I've cut the connection to your bikes just in case. If anything goes wrong, it'll affect only Dragon and not the entire city."
    "You can't take that chance," Mari said, taking the younger mouse by the arm.
    Kat grinned. "It's ok. In war we take chances. This is no different, 'Sides, if I can get rid of some fishguts, then good for us."
    "Ok," Carbine said. "Let's go."
    "Biker Mice style," Vinnie added with a laugh.
    As one they gunned their bike's engines and blasted through the wall, scattering Plutarkian soldiers left and right. They fired in every direction, disarming as many Plutarkians as they could. Their bikes destroyed what they could of the armaments.
    Kat pulled ahead, stopping before one of the transporters in the room. She turned, giving the thumbs-up signal to Mari.
    "She's gonna do it," Mari yelled to the others.
    "Catch ya all on Mars," Kat called back. She punched a button on Dragon, a huge grin on her face.
    The room exploded in white light, blinding everyone. The deafening crash of sound had been enough to disorient them and their bikes. Weapons were dropped and hands went to helmets. The world seemed to spin and then, one by one they blacked out.
    When Mari came to, she was prepared to meet a Plutarkian blaster to her helmet. Instead she saw a tangle of mice and bikes, Plutarkian artillery, and no Plutarkians. The transporter had melted and she saw no sign of Kat. She hoped Kat had survived.
    Mari rose, righting Ice. She went to each in turn, helping them up, or lifting their bikes off of them.
    Once the last of them had come too, and the realization of what had happened set in, they began to celebrate.
    Mari punched several buttons in Ice. She smiled, bouncing the signal off of one of the Earth's satellites. She could find no traces of Plutarkians, anywhere.
    Mari turned to the others. "She did it. She tried a mass transport."
    "I just hope she's ok," Carbine said.
    Throttle turned to the others. "Now that that's settled, what are we going to do?"
    "I know you want to get back to Mars, and I don't blame you. Just don't forget to write." Charlie said, sadness tinging her voice.
    "I won't," Mari said, looking to the others. "Carbine, is the ship you and Rimfire came here in still functional?"
    Carbine shook her head. "She took quite a beating. I wouldn't dare to fly her."
    "You have a plan, sweetheart?" Vinnie asked when Mari turned towards the Stingrays.
    "We could take one of these Stingrays back. They seem in good enough shape," Mari said.
    "What if the damage to the transporter also affected them?" Carbine said, jogging to one of the ships. The others followed her suit. From the string of curses coming from the various ships, the verdict could not have been good.
    "It's settled then," Throttle said. "We're not going back to Mars after all."
    "Do you think the transporters in Detroit are still ok?" Modo asked.
    Mari shrugged. "Who knows? Worth a look into."
    Charlie hesitated. She began to speak then turned. She cast her gaze downwards, walking to the door.
    "Let's go, sweetheart," Vinnie said. "I can't wait for Snowfall to see her home world."
    Mari simply looked towards Charlie's exit. "I guess." A pause. "And what about Charlie?"
    Mari winced at the slamming of a door and a revving of a bike.
    "So," Vinnie said apparently unaware of what just happened. "What's the wait?"
    Mari sighed. She wanted to say something. Wanted to ask him why he was being such a stubborn fool. Why he was taking the chance of throwing Charlie's love out the window. He had no real reason to return to Mars. He had no one there. Not even if Mari did decide to leave the Earth. She had no one left alive on Mars. Nothing but old, painful memories.
    But she said nothing, mounting Ice. "Let's head back," She said wearily.
    They pulled out of the building heading for the home.

  They returned to a waiting Mandy. Mari took Snowfall in her arms, snuggling her daughter. She outlined her plans to Mandy who sadly agreed. Soon they sped fast and low, reaching Detroit in a matter of hours.
    Mari led the charge into Brie's Palace, coming to a screeching halt in front of his personal transporter. She punched a few buttons, a sad smile on her face. His transporter did work.
    They finally were going home.
    The Earth was free of Plutarkians.
    They all could rest easy.
    Or so Mari hoped.
    "Carbine and Rimfire can go first. Then you guys. I'll bring up the rear with Snowfall." Mari looked to each of them wistfully. Her thoughts lingered to Earth and the friendships she would leave behind.
    "I will return,' she thought, sighing to herself. 'I will be back to see your green wonder. To see friends I have left, to once more walk your serene and pastoral grounds.' She paused. 'You haven't left yet and already you miss Mandy and the Earth.'
    Mari watched as Carbine and Rimfire wheeled their bikes into the transporter. Mari could not help but smile to herself as the guys began already to boast of past victories and solemnly decided what they were going to do now that the threat to Earth had been eliminated once and for all.
    She noticed Vinnie look in her direction, a tender smile on his face. Mari blushed, turning it into a cough and turned back to the control panel. She punched the button, activating the transporter. With a hum and flash of light, Carbine and Rimfire were on their way back to Mars.
    Then the transporter began to spark. Mari dove for cover with the others, shielding Snowfall with her body just as the transporter blew. With a last sigh, Mari scanned the room and closed her eyes. Their good-bye's had been premature. It seemed like the trip back to Mars would be a long one indeed. No transporter and no ships. They were once again, stranded on the Earth. Stranded until Mari could find a way to recreate safely Kat's mass teleport. Then she could get them all back home, back to Mars.

     "There goes our ticket home," Vinnie groaned.
    Mari merely shrugged. "Could've been worse. We could've been in it." She tried to calm Throttle and Modo, when they began to worry. "Their signals had already arrived before the transporter blew, so don't worry."
    "Now what?" Vinnie nearly cried.
    "Chicago is toast. Detroit's no picnic either. I say while we're here, lend a hand cleaning up. After all, we did help quite nicely after we rousted Junior," Mari said, a faint smile on her lips when she thought of the aftermath of cleaning up Chicago. She snuggled Snowfall tighter.
    They agreed once more to head back to their respected homes, or at least what they had left. They would wait for Mari to get her bike and Vinnie's transporter ready, then they'd arrive back on Mars in grand style.
    "Stay here and rest first," Mari said. "Once we get communications back up you can radio Mars. Tell them what happened."
    "Sounds like a plan to me," Throttle said. This time we'll help you with Detroit, then you can come back with us."
    Mari nodded. "But first, before you radio anyone, I want to check on Firefall and Sunspot. After all, if the Plutarkians trashed our cities, think of what they musta done there."
    They agreed, following Mari out of Brie's Palace and back to the Changing Times. Mandy was thankful she still had a business.
    They rested only briefly before setting out repairing Detroit. Mari could not get her mind off of Kat and Dragon, remembering Junior's words that she had given him the transporter capabilities, and that Dragon played a role.
    Mari sighed as they worked. If one thing she knew, things would work out however they would. She had no control over the future. Only to hope and dream, to wonder what the future would hold. Though with the threat of Junior lurking somewhere in their future, Mari could not see how things could get any better from there on.