The Clans of Mars

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Disclaimer: I own all of the characters within this work except for the BMFM and any characters from that show (generic enough for ya?) In all actuality, I own the Firestars (Goldenmane, Taura, Pikestar, Kat), Fireblades (Sharpshooter, Roughrider, Longbow, Hunter), Monarchs (but not the Monarchs themselves), Shimmers (Nazira, Stonewall), Sandstalkers (Kiritana), Longbows (Ehlani, Iritan), Sharpspears (Alala), Redmoons, Skytails (Shirilani), Raptors (Scar, Coreli), and the Blackmoons, as well as the Rockers (Mari, Turbo, Tactica, Sparky, Starmantle, Starfire), and the Sabers (Phoenix, Blade, Blaze, Kammie). Confused? Good, 'cuz I am...

This story should clear up some things that started in "When Love Breaks" and finished with "Homecoming". That is, from Junior's time line, how the mice exist and work (or lack thereof) to rid Mars of the Plutarkians who remain. And why so many units (Rockers and Sabers aside) have names.

This story is set in Junior's time but after the events in Defiance, Rescue, Memories and Reunited. I make no money from this and do so only to bug people <wicked grin.>

The Clans of Mars

Part Four

Empty Promises

By Goldenmane

"I was a fool to bring us here," a female mouse said as she sat against her bike.

"Who knew?" another one asked from the other side of the room.

"The fact you are here and have turned the tide of war is enough," an ebony black mouse said as she paced along the far wall. "We can win this fight."

The first female shook her head. "The Monarchs are dead, the Firestars have been taken who knows where, the Firestars, Shimmers and what's left of the other clans are in max prison. There's now way we can win."

"Yes we can," the ebony mouse said.

"Shirilani," an ethereal silver male said as he laid his hand on her shoulder. "It's pointless to continue."

"Scar, no. We can win," Shirilani said.

Scar shook his head. "They are tired, like us. They can go on no longer and neither can we. The Raptors want to free the Earth just as much as the Skytails. We want to return to our native lands just as much as the next mouse-"

"-That sounds funny," the first female said. "You talk of the Outerlands as your home, yet you all are Martian in nature. You haven't even seen your world up close, like we have. You don't really know your heritage."

"Raid!" a sentry shouted.

"Skytails, man the ramparts, Raptors to the guns . . . " Shirilani looked to the other mice.

The female nodded and rose. "Rockers, back up the Raptors and the Sabers for the Skytails."

"Let's rock!" Scar shouted.

"Rock 'em 'till we drop 'em," the white female shouted. "Rockers, let's fry us some fish."

"Mari, wait," Scar said.

She turned to him and narrowed her one good eye.

"Take this," he said suddenly. "It's my good luck charm."

"Kid, you need it more than I do," Mari said with a half smile. "Besides, I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve."

Scar nodded and followed Mari up the ladder to the batteries. He leapt to one seat while Mari took an adjacent one. They opened fire on the humans and Plutarkians below with indiscriminate precision. Even the smaller laser fire from the ramparts did it's job.

"Heavy tank headed this way," Coreli said as she looked to Scar. "And they have a mouse tied to the main guns."

Mari nearly yanked the fingers off of the poor mouse as she grabbed the binoculars. "Damn," she swore under her breath. "No one ever listens to me, do they."

She leapt from the seat and slid down the ladder and to Ice.

"Where are you going?" Scar shouted down below.

"To rescue someone with little sense of danger," Mari shot back. She wasted no time as she transported out.

When she arrived right in the middle of the fighting she activated her bike's shields and plowed through the foot soldiers. She dodged the heaver barrages and managed to get close enough to deactivate the shield and leap onto the tank. She drew a knife and slit the bonds that held Goldenmane and jumped back to Ice. She transported out without further thought and back to their base.

When she emerged from the transport she carefully set Goldenmane down and returned to the guns. Coreli moved to let someone with more experience handle the big guns and she returned to her lookout. Though when the Heavy tank began to fire on the small compound, the Sabers and Skytails vacated the ramparts in a hurry.

"We've got to fall back," Shirilani said.

"We've lost and you've got to face it," Scar shouted back to her.

"Right now we have more important matters than bickering," Mari shouted. "Get to yer bikes and get ready to jet."

Coreli slung her binoculars around her neck and out of the way as she scrambled down the ladder. "Where to?"

"The only place we can do some good," Mari said solemnly as she punched in a set of co ordinates and waited for everyone to get to their bikes.

"Home?" Tactica said from her perch beside Mari.

Mari slowly nodded her head. "About time, too."

When the walls began to crumble around them, Mari activated the transport unit on her bike, linked it to the others, and waited for the transport to end.

When they emerged, several of the mice, the Rockers and Sabers, let out relieved sighs that bordered on sad. The Raptors and Skytails seemed lost and confused.

"Ride that way," Mari pointed. "When you encounter another mouse, tell them that you are from the future. Give them any info they need, except," she added with a growl in her voice. "Us. Don't tell them anything about us. You can say that someone or something transported you back here and since yours is a dead world, you are content to stay here. You can join other groups if you want, or stay on your own. Just no mention of our involvement."

Shirilani and Scar nodded. "Skytails, Raptors, let's move out."

Mari waited until the other two groups had rode out of sight before she turned to a groggy Goldenmane. "You never listen, do you. I told you to stay out of this and look what it nearly cost you. Your life."

"I had to know," Goldenmane said as she rose unsteadily.

"Where's your bike?" Tactica asked.

Goldenmane weakly shrugged. "Last thing I remember is the explosion then here."

"If those damn fish have your bike . . . " Mari began. "No matter. They have enough transporter technology to outrun us. But, if they can locate the time your bike originated from, they might come back. . . "

"Tell me one thing," Goldenmane said suddenly. "Why did you go?"

Mari sighed. "When Shirilani and Scar just showed up and said we had to come with them to prevent the end of the Earth and Mars, we agreed. We knew the war would last only so long and we would be back. Unfortunately Junior's goons had far too much power for us few mice to handle. He slaughtered most of the remaining units and those he has in max security . . . it's doubtful they live."

Goldenmane nodded. "That's why you never returned. You couldn't."

"Unfortunately," Mari said. "Hop on and I'll transport you back to Marconia. Then we'll be off."

"You're not staying?" Goldenmane asked, perplexed.

Mari shook her head. "There's more to do. Things I'd hoped I could get done after the war. Since we've just left that little fiasco, I guess we can get on with our other work."

"And that would be?" Goldenmane pressed.

"You're full of questions tonight, aren't ya?" Mari half chuckled as she transported out.

She set Goldenmane down just outside of Marconia Base and transported out just as fast. No clues, no words, nothing.

"Who was that?" she heard Pikestar shout as he skidded by her side. "Don't tell me it was who I think it is."

Goldenmane nodded. "Mari's back. Or at least she was. They did go into the future, though I don't think I want to know exactly what they've gone through these past few years."

Pikestar said nothing as she got on behind him. In silence they rode back to Marconia.

"Living proof," Goldenmane said. "I talked with Mari."

"I can't believe it," Throttle said. "Where are they?"

Goldenmane looked to the others, especially Vinnie. "She said she had other things to do before she could come back."

No one said a thing, least of all Stoker.

"Once I can piece together another bike, I intend to find out whatever I can about that future time line. If I can, we might be able to shift this time line, somehow so the future never happens . . . for us, that is."

"Can you do it?" Throttle asked.

Goldenmane only shrugged.

"Whatever help you need, we'll give it to you," Stoker said finally.

Goldenmane nodded, though when a knock came on the door to Throttle's office, she imperceptibly jumped.

"Sir, two mice here who say they're from the future," an officer said.

"Send them in," Throttle said.

The ebony female looked shocked when she saw Goldenmane there, the silvery male only lowered his gaze to the worn floor.

"Who are you?" Throttle asked.

"My name is Shirilani, leader of the Skytails," the ebony mouse said. "And he is Scar, leader of the Raptors."

"You were with them, weren't you?" Goldenmane asked.

"With who?" Shirilani asked.

Goldenmane rose, though she went no where. "With the Rockers and Sabers."

"Never heard of them," Scar said, though his voice broke.

"Someone transported us here," Shirilani said, though her dark gaze never once left Goldenmane.

"Don't worry," Goldenmane said. "I know she wanted to hid her presence here. She basically told me as much."

Scar seemed shocked. "Our world has died. We are the last remaining mice."

Throttle rose, his hands on the desk before him. "You are welcome here on Mars. Any info you could give us to help prevent that future would be greatly appreciated."

Shirilani tentatively nodded.

"Good, go rest. If what Goldenmane tells me, and you, is right, you need to get some decent sleep and a meal. You can stay here for as long as you need."

Scar nodded this time and followed Shirilani and the officer out the door.

"No need to go," Stoker said. "They're all the info we need."

Goldenmane's ruby gaze never once left the door. "If you say." Somehow she couldn't convince herself of that.

"If you bang on it, you'll break it," Pikestar said as he grabbed the hammer from Kat.

The young mouse looked at him with a mix of disgust and fury. She knew how to fix a transporter ready bike. She had to repair Dragon, her bike, several times. This, she mused, couldn't be any harder.

"Then let him show off," Taura said with a chuckle in her voice. "You can come here and help me with the AI."

Kat rose and stalked to Taura, though she eased her stance once she had left Goldenmane's new bike. She turned at a flash inside the bike bay and smiled.

Goldenmane rose and patted Dragon once before she walked to the shell of her new Harley. "Sometimes I wonder how they've lasted so long."

"Stoker putting his tail down again?" Pikestar asked with a grunt as he tried to bend part of the shell.

"He thinks that now that we have mice from the future, that they can tell us everything we need about the disappearance of the Rockers, Sabers and why these mice from the future are the only mice left in their time," Goldenmane said as she removed her helmet.

"Somehow I don't think those'll be answers enough," Taura said with a chuckle. "You can go as soon as we get this hunk of metal in shape."

Goldenmane nodded. "Right now, I need to think. If you need me, I'll be in my quarters."

The others gave some form of consent and Goldenmane walked silently to her quarters. Once the door had slid shut she retrieved her old journal and read to herself. She tried to picture the mouse who had delivered the young Roughrider to her. Yes, she had been old, had bandaged wounds. The mouse had also worn a cloak over some robes, the hood up, and no helmet or bike in sight . . .

"Was it you?" Goldenmane asked to no one in particular. "Is that why you can't come back yet?"

With a sigh she laid the journal down and flopped down on the cot and closed her eyes.

Within moments, she fell asleep.

Goldenmane looked up from the panel before her and grimaced. She could have sworn she saw the distinct flash of a transporter bike, but when she saw nothing, she returned her attention to the bare chips. Though, when she sensed something she looked up and nearly dropped the panel. There stood a hooded mouse with a squirming child in her hands.

"Who are you?" Goldenmane asked.

"Unimportant," the female said softly, her words laced with pain. "Take this child and care for him as if he were your own son. He had had a rough life indeed. You need to give him some stability in all the chaos."

Goldenmane took the offered child, the panel now set on the table before her. The boy looked up at Goldenmane with the reddest of eyes and his tan fur seemed a mess. Goldenmane smiled at the child and looked up at another flash. The mouse could be seen nowhere.

"What am I going to do with you?" Goldenmane said to the child as he began to fuss. "Rough life indeed. In this world we are all in for one rough ride . . . Hmm," she paused. "Rough ride . . . How would you like the name Roughrider, eh?"

The boy stilled suddenly and looked up at Goldenmane with a smile on his face.

"Glad you approve," she said. "I can't wait until the others get back. What will they think?"

She set about proofing the place for a two-year-old addition to Marconia.

Life could indeed be full of surprises.

Goldenmane woke with a start. Yes, she had to be right. That mouse who had delivered Roughrider to her care had to have been Mari. But why would she do something like that? Why would she deliver a two-year-old to her and not another family who had more stability than them. After all, when Roughrider had come into her life, she, Pikestar and Taura had been there only a few months.

With a sigh she returned back to sleep. One that would not be interrupted until morning.

At the banging and cursing, she leapt to her feet. She raced out of her quarters and began to laugh. Pikestar sat in the middle of a pile of bike parts, Taura laughing her head off, and Kat trying to keep the completed shell of Goldenmane's new bike from falling with the rest of the parts.

Goldenmane went over and helped the young tan furred mouse with her burden.

"Did we wake you?" Kat asked as she shifted her weight.

"I couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts to cloud the mind," she said. "I see this new bike is giving you more problems than you counted on, eh Pikestar?"

Pikestar only grumbled as he heaved himself to his feet. "No problem here," he said with a huff.

Goldenmane smiled as she contained her mirth. She turned to Kat. "Care if I take Dragon for a few hours?"

"You need the transporter, right?" Kat asked.

Goldenmane nodded. "I promise I'll guard her like I would my own bike. Fighter's Honour."

Kat nodded as Goldenmane helped her to lay the new bike shell down on it's side. "Dragon! Take care of Golden, ok?"

Goldenmane had to chuckle at the young mouse's shortening of her name. "I'll be back soon."

Kat nodded again and joined Taura's side.

Goldenmane retrieved her helmet and mounted Dragon. She punched in a set of co ordinates and activated Dragon's transport unit. She waited and once she had arrived from the transport she shivered. Not from cold, she mused, for the sun shone brightly on her. All around lay scrubland and she could make out the majestic form of the Tharsis Rise in the near distance. No. She knew why she shivered. Never had she tried a transport like this. She knew the ramifications of time travel. She knew what she did bordered on breaking her oath, but she had to know what happened in the past. She had to know why her new time line had become what it was.

She searched the area and scanned it as well. She knew what she was looking for and when she found the faint, almost archaic signals she smiled forlornly to herself.

"I have come back to witness history all over again," she said softly to herself. She kicked Dragon into gear and rode towards the signal.

When she closed the distance she slowed her pace and stopped. She looked out over the military compound with sadness. She had rechecked the co ordinates on Dragon to make sure they matched exactly. She didn't want to end up in another time altogether. She knew she had to be in one particular time at one particular place. And if her eyes didn't deceive her, she now gazed at the newest compound of the Martian Army, a place which would one day be called Marconia.

So ironic, she mused. This place fared little better than it's descendant. That is if I read my history correctly.

Goldenmane made no move as she watched the tiny figures below move about their work. She knew the technology of the time would never be able to scan Dragon or her. Such was the advantages of future technology. Though she had sometimes wondered if helping the past to better defend themselves against the Plutarkian invasion would have helped. Though the Plutarkians had bought out the government while they attacked the planet. In the end, it had been a no win situation anyway.

"Funny how things can change," she mused aloud.

"Indeed, rodent," a voice snarled behind her.

Goldenmane turned, laser in hand. Her eyes went wide at the sight behind her. "Junior!"