Disclaimer: I don't own the BMFM or any characters from that show. I do, however, own The Rockers, Sabers, Firestars, Shimmers, Kat, Goldenmane, Taura, Pikestar, Turbo, Tactica, Sparky, Starfire, Starmantle, Kammie, Mandy, Mari, Phoenix, Blade, Blaze, Ice, Fire and Junior, but I don't own Marshall who Junior is based off of. Marshall is (C) to Brentwood Televison Funnies.
I make no money from this and do so only for the enjoyment of all.
This story follows Homecoming Part Two and is the next section of a multi-parter that will wrap up the entire Mari storyline. But by no means is this the end, but a beginning. A new life, some surprises or two, and maybe even the start of a whole new adventure.
Read and Enjoy :)
Homecoming
Part Three
(C) 2/1999 (first three pages)
Revised and finished (C) 6-06-1999 All Rights Reserved
By Goldenmane
******************************
Mari waited patently as Vinnie had insisted he would bring her a snack. Turbo was nowhere to be found and Vinnie had been gone several minutes already. Mari had slipped out of her uniform, and into some casual dress someone had loaned her. It felt good to be out of her uniform. She had worn it so much the past few years, she felt as if she had become a part of it.
She reclined in a chair, eyes closed, trying to concentrate. She had always had the odd ability to feel emotions. She wondered if Blaze and Phoenix had inherited that ability.
Mari concentrate on Blaze. A child of a six when Monument still fell. Then on how much of a man he had become during her long absence. She felt her own emotions clouding her mind, stamping them out as quickly as they surfaced. She could worry later, now she wanted to find her son.
She cast her senses, looking for her son. She felt he was still alive, just as she felt Turbo lived during his captivity. She never found a trace of either during all the years she had tried. She could not feel any empathic responses anywhere on Mars or Earth. Something else had happened. She would not need to hear Stoker's report. Blaze was not on Earth.
She then tried to find Turbo. She searched the entire Luna Base, finally finding the familiar trace of him. Though she recoiled at the dark, brooding emotions she felt. She could not get close to him now. She would have to let him have some time to cool off, just as she and Vinnie and he with Charlie had to after Snowfall.
"Mari?" Vinnie asked, questioningly.
"I'm still awake. Just trying to find my son...and Turbo."
She opened her eyes to see Vinnie lay a tray of food on the stand beside her, a tender look on his face.
"I take it it's not good news?"
She motioned for him to sit. "I can't find Blaze anywhere on Mars or Earth. And Turbo...he.. he needs some time to think."
"That bad?"
Mari picked at the plate, sighing. "Blaze is not dead. I would have known it. I would have... sensed it, you could say."
"Can you sense anything right now?" Vinnie asked, a slight crimson tinge to his cheek.
"I don't need to use my empathic abilities to tell you are uncomfortable and slightly confused. And I know why."
Vinnie blushed harder.
"I know how it hurt you that we found Turbo alive. That you finally knew you could never have me. But at least I can rest assured that you and Charlie will remain together. At least look how she willingly wanted to stay with Snowfall." Mari paused. "You should give her a call. I know she is worried about you. I could sense it."
Vinnie was speechless. His mouth hung open, a wordless response on his lips. They died, when Mari closed her eyes.
"You would only be cheating yourself if you thought you could ever have a future with me. You never will. I told you once that if I ever found Turbo alive that I'd go back to him. You have to understand that. I don't want to loose your' friendship, I value it too much. And Snowfall needs a father. Her real father."
Vinnie did not say anything, staring at her.
"If you ever give up on Charlie then I know it'll kill both of you. You'll end up looking out some night and see that tiny blue speck out there in the night sky, and think of her," Mari finished.
She opened her eyes. Vinnie sat there, had hanging low. She rose, kneeling beside of him. She put her arm around his shoulders, not surprised to feel him shaking.
"I can't just forget you."
Mari brought her hand up, wiping the tears from his eyes. "You comforted me, now I will you," she said softly. "And I don't want you to forget me. Hell, with Snowfall you can't. She'll always be a reminder of what we had. Could have had if things were different. If we hadn't had lovers from before. Go to her. She forgave you for what you did, now all we have to do is wait for Turbo to forgive me."
He turned to look at her. "How could we have been so stupid?"
Mari shrugged. "It can happen to the best of us. Besides, she does know you are fine, if she asked Stoker. He sent a message to her asking if they'd seem Blaze and Kammie. But I think she'd like to hear it from you."
Vinnie said nothing.
"If you don't make the first move, no one can for you. If there was one thing Turbo and I had, was an understanding. Neither of us would abandon the other, no matter how dark things looked." Mari watched as he rose. "I will never give up on Turbo, not even after this. You should never give up on Charlie. If you let your guard down on her, you may loose her for good. She is patient and understanding, the most understanding human I've ever seen. But she can't wait forever. You pledged your love to her once to win her back. Make sure you continue to."
He waited as she rose, then embraced her. "Thanks, sweetheart. I only needed someone to bash it into my brain before I'd admit it."
"Anytime," Mari said, hugging him back. "Anytime."
"Mari," she heard Stoker's voice call. "Oh, sorry to interrupt you two. Maybe I'll comeback later." Mari broke the embrace.
"No need, just a small comfort session. No news, then, they haven't seen them."
"How'd you know. I only just found out myself?" Stoker asked confused by the look passing between Vinnie and Charlie.
Mari chuckled. "Call it a feeling."
"Hey, Stoke, how about another call to Earth?" Vinnie asked.
"Finally gonna call her?" Stoker said, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "You managed to talk some sense into macho here?" he said to Mari.
She only grinned, returning to her seat. "Sometimes it just takes a while for things to fall into place. All we gotta do is have some faith."
#
Blaze noted the difference in this Mars from his. The increasing green, the sense of peace and security he had never been able to feel, born and raised during a war. And that bothered him. Mars, to him, had been a violent, dead world. Yet this Mars seemed almost pristine and pastoral, despite the one bombed out city he and Kammie had found.
Blaze pulled in beside Goldenmane, glancing at the strange mouse. She seemed well content to follow Pikestar without question. Even if he had decided to pull rank. His sister Phoenix would never have allowed it.
"Hold up," Pikestar said, skidding to a halt. "There's something down there. Something not Martian."
Blaze magnified the vision on his helmet. "By the Moons, that's a full squad of Plutarkian warriors. And it looks like their talking with Sand Raiders."
"So those are the off worlder's you were talking about," Pikestar said. "Seems like we both had the same enemy in sites."
"Wait a minute," Goldenmane said. "We don't know if these Plutarkians are really the enemy just 'cause of what these two say and their apparent association with Sand Raiders. For all we know they may be simply talking."
Blaze turned to Goldenmane in shock. "Here they may not have done damage, but on our Mars they nearly destroyed her. What's left of the mice are trying to get the last of 'em off our world so we can finally rebuild."
"Says you," Taura said casually.
"No," Pikestar said. "Says me. I told you something was wrong. Besides, where's the Army? I don't see 'em at all?"
Goldenmane radioed her Base. "Tharsis, this is Goldenmane, over,"
"Commin' in loud and clear, what's the situation?" the radio operator asked.
"We have off worlder's in Chryse talking to Sand Raiders and no signs of the Army. Got any idea where the Army is now?" Goldenmane asked.
"In Chryse. We got word from 'em just an hour ago." the radio operator sounded confused. "Trying 'em again." A pause. "Army reports in. Says they're in Chryse. Gave me the correct co ordinates."
Goldenmane punched in a set of co ordinates. "That's our local, how close to theirs?"
Silence followed before the radio operator came on, confused. "That's the local they gave me. And you say no Army? But that's well over 50 mice!"
"Well," Goldenmane said dryly. "They ain't here now. Want us to scout?"
"Sounds good to us. Keep us informed. If those off worlder's are friendly then welcome them to Mars," the radio operator said. "Tharsis out."
"You heard the mouse," Goldenmane said. "And now I can say I believe you two. Yes, Pikestar, and you."
Blaze pulled Thunder ahead of the others, staying out of sight of the Plutarkians and Sand Raiders below. "So what are we gonna do? Are your bikes battle equipped?"
"As in?" Taura asked.
"Loaded with missiles, tanglesprings, a full charge of lasers," Kammie said.
"Not that I know of," Taura said. "We normally leave the weaponry for the Army, not private groups like ourselves. Army's not to keen on non-com's having weapons. Something about National safety."
Blaze groaned. "That means if we get into trouble, only Kammie and I can bail us out."
"I don't expect trouble," Goldenmane said. "You two stay here and back us up if need be. I want to check these Plutarkians out for myself."
"Just be careful," Kammie said.
Goldenmane nodded. "I will, don't worry. Alright guys and gals, time to roll."
Blaze watched as Goldenmane, Taura and Pikestar rode towards the Plutarkians and Sand Raiders. "I just hope she's right. If we are back in time before the war started. Maybe we can end it before it begins..." he said thoughtfully.
"Who knows," Kammie said. "But if we do, won't that change the future?"
Blaze only shrugged, watching the scene below. He knew nothing of time travel and doubted any mouse did, or they would have gone back already and stopped the Plutarkians from invading and destroying Mars already.
#
Mari wandered the halls of Luna Base, thankful no one was around. Any sane mouse would be in bed at that late an hour, except for the night crew. And they would be busy elsewhere.
She rounded a corner, stopping. Something felt wrong. Something out of place. She tried to dismiss it, but the feeling grew.
Mari turned abruptly, heading back towards her room, sighing when she still did not find Turbo there. She sat on the edge of the bed trying to shake the feeling. Something seemed to be calling to her. But what? She had no idea what to do or how to help the situation.
Instead she calmed her nerves, first finding Ice, then Vinnie's bike. Both bikes seemed agitated, no doubt picking up on their riders unease. She searched for Throttle's bike, finding his as restless. She then checked Modo's bike finding Little Hoss also troubled.
Worried, she turned her empathic search for Vinnie. He seemed content, as did Throttle and Modo. Turbo still seethed somewhere in Luna, of that she didn't have to search hard for.
'Guys,' she mind sent to Vinnie, Throttle and Modo. 'Something's wrong with our bikes. Meet me at the bay. I think something may be terribly wrong.'
'Say what?' came the sleepy response from Throttle.
'No time to ask,' she could feel herself tiring from the sending. 'Just get down there.'
She broke the contact, rising. She sprinted towards the bike bay nearly bowling Starfire over.
"What's the rush?" Starfire asked.
"Something's gone wrong. I think it may be temporal, but I can't be sure," Mari said.
"Have you told anyone else?"
Mari nodded. "I mind sent to the guys, their bikes, Ice and Fire are having a fit."
"I'm with you. Want the rest of the Rockers?" Starfire asked.
"Not yet," Mari said. "Talk as we go, I've got to find out what's wrong."
They trotted off towards the bike bay, stopping short of being run down by Vinnie's bike.
"Ice," Mari yelled. "Calm down. Calm these other bikes down as well."
Ice beeped, resisting her rider, yet soon she calmed, the other bikes falling still as well.
Mari went to her bike, punching buttons. She did not look up, only motioned to the others as they arrived. "Temporal bending all right. I knew that's what had to have happened.'
"Junior's back?" Modo asked with a yawn.
Mari nodded. "Vinnie, go check your bike. See if the co ordinates match. If so, then we might have found Blaze and Kammie."
She looked up, half smiling as he tried to rub the sleep out of his eyes, punching a button. She turned to Throttle's bike and ran a diagnostic. "Looks like Ice got to your bike." She checked Modo's bike. "Yours too. Seems only the bikes that were in the future are affected."
"Then we ride?" Throttle asked.
"Starfire, call the Rockers. I'll get us some bikes, don't worry," Mari paused. "That is, if you're up to it."
Starfire hesitated. "What Junior did to us will never stop us from being Freedom Fighters. We're with you all the way," She turned, going to a com box. "Guys, we have a situation here. Rockers are needed. Come to the bike bay immediately. I think we've found our missing mice." She paused. "And Junior."
"It'll take them a few moments to get here," Mari said. She found some paper and scribbled on it. "Get four bikes. Starmantle has his own. I'm leaving a note saying where and when we're taking these bikes. I think Carbine and Stoker will understand."
They waited, the bikes lined, ready for action. Soon the Rockers arrived, all except for Turbo. Mari's heart sank.
"What is this about Junior? Starfire didn't make much sense," Tactica said.
"Junior is the only Plutarkian, the only time traveller I know of who would have a vendetta against us. From what I got from Ice and Vinnie's bike, something has happened in the past. I'd say around the 1940's Earth equivalent. But on Mars," Mari said.
"And you think that's where Blaze is?" Turbo said from the doorway. He did not smile or greet anyone, instead heading for a bike.
Mari did not look at him, instead focussing her attention on the others. "If I'm right then Junior might be in the past trying to stop us before we can beat him. And since he hasn't gotten a hold of Ice yet, keep on the lookout. If you see Ice in danger of being captured, the hell with me, get her out of there. And if you can't sabotage her time travel abilities."
They all nodded, heading for their bikes.
"Let's rock," Throttle began.
"And ride," Vinnie and Modo chorused.
"Rockers, let's rock 'em till we drop 'em," Mari said with a laugh. "Bikes linked, hang on for the ride. Starmantle, don't worry."
Mari punched a button, waiting for the transport to end. When they could see once more, they froze, squinting in the bright light.
"I thought you kept us at Luna?" Starmantle asked.
"I did. I guess it wasn't around then," Mari said with a shrug.
"I thought it was one of the older Bases," Starfire said. "Maybe we're in another local."
Mari checked the co ordinates. "No, we're where I sent us. Only where the hell is Luna?"
"Plutarkians," shouted Tactica. "One Stingray."
"Duck for cover, I don't want to engage them until we have to," Mari said.
"But there's no where to go," Sparky commented.
The Stingray opened fire on them. They scattered, returning fire on the Stingray. Mari jetted up, noticing Vinnie had done the same. She reached for a grenade, pulling the pin when she was in reach of the Stingray. She smiled when Vinnie lobbed his own grenade at the Stingray, activating his bike's wings and sailing past her. She activated Ice's wings, hi-fiving him as they passed. They cheered when the explosion rocked the Stingray, sending it to a fiery demise below.
"Well," Throttle began. "I think that solves our problem. That was one of Junior's designs."
"The he is stinking up our past," Modo growled.
Mari landed near them, retracting Ice's wings and rolling to a halt beside Throttle. Vinnie landed some ways away, staying far away from Mari or Turbo.
Mari nodded solemnly. "He is back for revenge. Now all we got to do is make sure we don't change the past. If we do we may destroy our own Mars or create an alternate time line. Goldenmane had told me how she believed her Mars was an alternate one from ours. That we will never reach that stage."
"Unless Junior does something to unite both time lines," Starfire said.
"Remember," Sparky said, rubbing the back of his hand. "Junior said he liked going for the friends and not the target. He must be after Blaze to get back at you for springing us and destroying his fortress."
"Not a comforting thought." Mari said. "Let's roll out. The Stingray came from that direction, and that's where we're going. Back to Chryse Plains and Marconia." She paused, turning Ice. "Supposing this time had a Marconia Base."
#
Goldenmane slid to a halt in front of the lead Sand Raider and the Plutarkian he talked to. She removed her helmet, propping it on her hip. She turned to the Plutarkian. "Who are you and what are you doing on our planet?"
"My name is Havarti and I wish peaceful negotiations with the races of this world," Havarti said.
"And you landed here?" Goldenmane asked.
Havarti nodded. "We first encountered the Sand Raiders and naturally opened up communications. You see, our world is dying and we need assistance to rebuild her."
"What kind of assistance?" Goldenmane asked.
"We need resources. Our world was nearly destroyed by an attack from another world. We simply seek to negotiate for resources from another world, any world, to aid us in rebuilding Plutark."
"Aye," the Sand Raider said. "An' naturally we figured we'd be th' ones t' help 'em out."
"There are more than two races on this world. We would need to come to an agreement. The rats included," Goldenmane said. "I can talk with our leaders about this matter and contact you as to our decision. We will also contact your leaders," she said to the Sand Raider. "And the rats as well. Until then, I suggest you do not take anything that does not belong to you. You will here from me as soon as we come to an agreement."
She slipped her helmet back on and kicked her bike into gear. She rode back to the others, stopping near Blaze. "How did you say the Plutarkian's destroyed your Mars?"
"They bought what they couldn't steal and stole what they couldn't buy. The stripped Mars of it's resources and shipped it back to Plutark," Blaze said.
"Only 'cause they polluted their own world," Kammie added. "And to boot they bought out the government to turn a blind eye with the Army so they could do their dirty work."
Goldenmane nodded. "What Havarti told me is that off worlder's attacked their home and they need resources to rebuild. He seem's honest enough."
"Don't trust them," Kammie said. "Many mice died at their hands, and still do. The Freedom Fighters were formed to take up the slack left by the Army and even now we try to get the last of them off. Even though they destroyed Mars' ecosystem, they remain to finish what they started."
"The eradication of all mice," Blaze added solemnly.
"I told them I'd contact the leaders and see what they had to say. I'm a mouse of my word and I don't plan on going back on it," Goldenmane said.
"But they bought out the government with their useless gold gills. They even turned the rats against us. And the Sand Raiders took us a slaves and sold our bikes to the Plutarkians for scrap metal," Blaze nearly cried. "You can't trust them."
Goldenmane sighed. "It's your word against his. I can't be sure who's telling the truth here."
"You sayin' you trust that overgrown fish?" Pikestar said incredulously. "I don't believe it. I side with the kid here. They're gonna be nothin' but trouble."
"Say what you want, Pikestar, but I'm contacting HQ." Goldenmane punched a button. "Tharsis this is Goldenmane. Contacted the off worlder's. Say they are Plutarkians who need resources to rebuild their world and they want our help, over."
She waited as nothing but static met her ears. She tried again, frowning.
"We're being jammed," Blaze said. "And it looks like the welcoming committee is headed this way."
They looked towards his point. A column of Plutarkians with one digger behind it approaching, weapons at the ready.
"We can't hold them off for long," Kammie said. "Retreat to Tharsis."
"No," Goldenmane said. "If they are hostiles, then I don't want to lead them back to HQ. We'll head for the Luna Plains and onto our post at Mons Olympus." She kicked her bike into gear. "Follow me,"
They set out, Blaze glancing behind him. "Stingray headed this way." When Taura looked at him quizzically he added, "One of their attack ships."
They dodged laser fire from the Stingray, riding as hard and as fast as they could. Blaze broke off suddenly, wheeling, returning fire on the Stingray. He half smiled when he saw Kammie pull in near him, adding her own firepower to his.
"What are you doing?" Goldenmane asked, though she did not stop.
"Buying us some time," Blaze said. "I know my way to Mons Olympus, we'll meet you back there."
"You can't do it alone," Taura said.
Blaze cringed as a laser struck close to Thunder. "Your bikes aren't battle-ready, ours are, we can handle ourselves."
"No," a voice crackled over his helmet. "You can't do it alone,"
"Starmantle?" Blaze asked incredulously. "How..."
"Never mind that," Mari said, opening fire on the Stingray. "Biker Mice, Rockers, Sabers, it's time to drive these fish back to where they came from."
Blaze set off a hail of missiles before turning to see the mass of bikers heading their way. He quirked a brow when he noticed his parents did not ride side by side. Starmantle had always told him growing up that his parents fought side by side, as one unit.
"Let's rock," Throttle said.
"And ride," Vinnie and Modo added.
"Rockers. Let's rock 'em till we drop 'em," Mari said.
Blaze half smiled. "Saberstrike, cut deep," he intoned.
As one, the small group attacked the Stingray with a single purpose, to destroy any threat to their home world of the past. They managed to damage a panel on the flank of the Stingray, Mari jetted over the craft, lobbing three grenades into the tear in the hull. She laughed when the Stingray exploded from the inside.
"More down below," Blaze said. "Looks like a pre-invasion force."
"Then let's put an end to it, shall we?" Mari said, glancing to her son and then Turbo. She started to smile when she noticed the old Turbo return. He smiled back, a cruel and vicious smile. She knew he wanted revenge for their captivity and her capture. Just as much as she wanted to end the war with the Plutarkians, one way or another.
"Brothers and sisters," Throttle said. "It's time we whipped some Plutarkian tail."
They cheered as they rode into battle, fighting with a bloodlust they could have only imagined. Plutarkians fell left and right, their equipment going down in flames. The battle had been going perfectly until Mari screeched to a halt when she saw a flash of light.
"Dammit," she cried. "They've brought reinforcement. Whole regiment full, I'd say."
"Retreat," Throttle called. "Regroup and hit them later."
"Mice, come with me," Goldenmane called. "I can take us to an alternate post. It's near enough for shelter and you can refuel there."
Mari nodded to Throttle. "You heard the mouse, let's ride."
They sped off behind Goldenmane, Taura and Pikestar, the Plutarkians hot on their heels. Soon the speed of the bikes outdistanced the sheer numbers of the Plutarkians and they breathed a little easier, not letting their guards down until they had safely ensconced themselves in the alternate post.
The situation on Mars seemed to have taken a turn for the worst.