Disclaimer: I don't own the Biker Mice, Rimfire, Stoker, Harley, Charlie, Carbine or Limburger. They are copyrighted to Brentwood Television Funnies. I do, however, own Mari, Phoenix, Blaze, Blade, the Rockers, the Sabers, Ice, Thunder and the nickname 'Junior', but I don't own Marshall.. he is (C) to the aforementioned Brentwood.

This is a sad one, so break out the hankies. This does not follow along any time line to date created for the Rockers and Sabers, however this is an attempt to recreate and flesh out a dream I had some time ago (over 4 years ago as of this writing). I changed none, only added information that would lend some sense to what I dreamed and put in dialogue. This one receives the warning of minor bad language. The time is unknown..sometime in the future, possibly from Junior's time line or one like it.

Read and enjoy. And as always, send me your thoughts.

Tout Finis
(C) 1/7/1999 All Rights Reserved
By Goldenmane
*************************

    'Your only as old as you feel.' The words kept echoing in the back of Mari's mind.
    'Yeah, right,' came the response. 'You're only as old as you look.' Mari softly chuckled as she reigned Ice in, waiting for her partner to catch up. She always had the habit of talking to herself, but as of late, the habit seemed more pronounced.
    "Why the rush, sweetheart," Mari heard Vinnie say over her helmet. "Think Junior is after us?"
    Mari snorted. "Highly unlikely. Not since us lot trashed his main palace. He knows enough to leave us alone."
    She watched as Vinnie slid his red bike beside the electric blue of Ice. Age had slowed both of them down, but not by much. They had fond memories of earlier battles and the bitter pain of losses. They each had lost some good friends to Junior and his campaign to take over the Midwest.
    Mari sighed. Their hardest battle came when Junior, otherwise known as Marshall, cousin of the much retired Limburger, took over his uncle's job. The mice had fought bravely, calling in reinforcements from Mars. Those who came, stayed, making the Earth their home.
    She let Vinnie pull ahead. Some days it did not pay to be a mouse amongst the humans. Junior had began a hate campaign against the mice. His logic, they soon found out, ended in the statement that if you can't beat them, make the world hate them. And so he presented the Martians as an invasion force and so the city of Chicago and Detroit should be on the lookout.
    That was when the mobs began.
    That was when the deaths started to mount.
    Mari sighed again. Once it became unsafe for a Martian to walk the streets, they moved to a compound abandoned by the humans. Here they built a city, growing steadily as couples had children, and the children grew to form their own relationships. But that still did not stop the killing.
    It was no longer safe to be out alone. Pairs had been mandated if anyone wanted to venture out of the city. Armed guards patrolled the city's gates and lookout points. Nothing would get by the sentinels. No one would dare attack the home of the mice.
    Mari craned her neck at a sudden noise behind them. 'By the moons....Junior.' She fired Ice's turbo's. "Junior's behind us. Book it back to base. I've sent word."
    Mari noted his nod and leaned low. They had ventured far from the base. Perhaps a little too far. Help may come too late. She rested her chin on her bike. 'Can the doomsday,' she chided herself. 'Think on the positive. Ya have to.'
    An explosion brought her once more on alert. She glanced back, horrified to see she rode alone. No where could she find Vinnie or his bike. She scanned the area, sliding Ice to a halt.
    Mari drew her laser, training it on the nearest buggy. She pulled the trigger. She did not stop firing until a shot from Junior's goon made her drop her laser. She clung to her injured arm, activating Ice's lasers with her good hand. She fired another salvo, trying in vain to stop the horde of goons who threatened to swallow the unconscious form of Vinnie alive.
    Junior had planned the ultimate revenge, and now he had it. He had somehow managed to shoot Vinnie's bike from under him, and now had him in his custody. Mari swore, stopping mid sentence as several missiles streaked overhead.
    "Careful. They've got Vinnie," Mari yelled into her helmet's mike. She watched as several bikes sped past, one stopping by her side.
    "Age slowing ya down?" a female mouse asked. "Never seen you take a hit before." She patched the laser wound in Mari's arm.
    "Age, nuttin'. They just got lucky," Mari said.
    The other mouse grimaced. "Get yer self back to base and have that seen to. We'll get Vinnie back."
    Mari kicked Ice into gear, riding as fast as she could to base, trying in vain to block out the sounds of the battle behind her. Desperately not wanting to know the outcome, she feared the worst day might be upon them.
                                                        #
    "Watch him gloat," Blade growled at the tv. "Now he has the upper hand, he'll hunt every last one of us."
    Mari sat stiffly. "Mount a rescue."
    Blade turned on his mentor. "What good'll that do? Before we reach the Citadel, he'll know."
    Mari closed her eyes. "If my arm were better, I'd go now. Scout the area out. See where Junior's goons are located. He won't act now."
    "She's right," Phoenix said. "Blaze and I already mapped a possible route to the gallows."
    Blade stared at his mate. "What about the increased patrols?"
    "What patrols? We saw no more activity than Junior ever put forth," Phoenix said.
    "More'n that," Blaze added. "Ol' cheesebutt's in town to see Junior's victory. We can nail both fish to the wall in one blow."
    Mari sighed. "So long as it gets no mice killed. After the Second War, we're few enough as is." She paused. "The Rockers are getting too old to fight. It's time for the Sabers to take our place. Time for the kids to show their elders off."
    Blade growled, silenced by an icy stare from Phoenix. "Mum's right," she continued. "We have to rescue Vinnie."
    "Suicide mission. Count me out," Blade spat. "One life's not worth riskin' ours."
    "That's where you're wrong," Modo said from behind.
    Mari looked up. "Aren't old timer's like you s'posed to be in bed now?"
    "Ha. How can I sleep when my bro's out there in danger?" He took a seat next to Mari.
    "Don't worry," Phoenix said, glaring at Blade. "We were just about to plan a rescue. Right?"
    Blade simply looked to the floor. "Suicide mission." And he stalked out the door.
    Phoenix looked to Blaze then to her mother and Modo. "We'll get Vinnie back. Not to worry. Right now we need to pow wow a plan. Let you all know what we come up with in the morn."
    "Get to bed, both of you," Blaze said quietly. "We may need all the mice we can get."
                                                        #
    Phoenix motioned the group forward. Astride their bikes they had waited, ready for action, weapons poised. Now they edged closer, waiting for her signal.
    "Alright Freedom Fighters. Time to strike and strike hard," Phoenix half growled.
    They had to move fast. Ride like the wind if they were going to save one of their fellow warriors. For once his captors learned their plan, they may act upon their threat.
    "Blade, take the left," Phoenix said over her helmet's radio. "Blaze take front. The stinkfish is mine."
    With a speed no Earth machines could match, the small band of Freedom Fighters sped through the mostly deserted streets, crossing the city in little time. Phoenix bent closer to her bike, eyes focussed before her. Junior would make sure he had full coverage of the 'execution' as he called it, of one of the city's 'most notorious underground criminals.'
    Phoenix shook her head to clear them of all thoughts. 'Stay focussed,' she thought. 'Keep your mind on the job.'
    "Phoenix," she heard over her helmet. "Turn on the news. Big cheese's mug is all over the local media. Great angles of the site."
    "Thanks bro. Just what I wanted to hear. Blade. Copy?"
    "I'm on it," Blade replied.
    Phoenix tapped her bike on the side. "Keep to the plan." Her bike beeped once, and Phoenix turned her sights on the small monitor before her. In the centre, hooded and bound stood Vinnie. No mistaking him for a human with his long tail. Flanking Vinnie stood Junior and his uncle Limburger. Behind sat most of Junior's warriors, each armed with a laser. Before the raised platform could be seen heads of the assembled crowd who had come to watch a live execution.
    Phoenix felt her stomach grow cold. Increasing as she listened to Junior crow about his victory and how he planned on removing all unsavoury elements in the same manner. The crowd cheered wildly.
    "Damn. Step on it. Junior's pulled out a laser," Phoenix cried. "Blade, diversion Tactic 436." At the sound of laser fire and explosions, as well as the comical quirk of Junior's brow, Phoenix knew she had borrowed some time.
    "At long last," Junior said. "At long last this city shall be at peace."
    Phoenix gunned her bike's engines, racing up the side of a building. She increased her speed, clearing the roof by several feet. She touched down on the back wheel, firing her engines. Phoenix jetted off the roof, engaging her bike's wings.
    She glided over the rubble and buildings below, cutting the wings with a battle cry. "Saberstrike, cut deep," Phoenix shouted at the top of her lungs.
    "Not them," she heard Limburger say. "And I thought you had the rodent problem under control."
    Junior threw his uncle a disgusted look.
    Mari watched Blaze's bike Thunder sail over the crowd, spinning to eject the grappling hook. Mari waited, laser pointed at Limburger.
    "Uncle," Junior began as the grappling hook wound around his arms and legs. He toppled over, squirming, as Phoenix thought of it, a fish out of water.
    "Gig's up. Hand Vinnie over to us," Phoenix said.
    Limburger sighed. "I guess all's fair in love and war, my dear. You want this dried-up old mouse? You can have him."
    Phoenix motioned to Blaze to untie Vinnie. She paused when she saw a silver glint near Limburger's pocket. She pulled the trigger the instant she realized what Limburger had pulled out. She heard the shot from her gun and an odd echo.
    Phoenix watched as Limburger dropped the gun, a strange look in his eyes. She paid no attention to Limburger as he dropped like a rock, dead the minute she pulled the trigger. She did not even look up at the gunning of a bike engine, nor the strangled cries of Blaze.
    They were too late.
    "I told you this would not work," Blade snapped.
    Phoenix could not find words. She did not feel like arguing with her mate. "Blaze. Help me."
    Together they untied Vinnie, draping him over Thunder. Phoenix chastised herself for letting Limburger get the upper hand. She should have realized he'd kill one of his old adversaries before admitting defeat. Her shot came only nanoseconds after Limburger's blast killed one of the Biker Mice.
    It would be a moment she would never forget.
    Phoenix cleared her throat and centred her nerves. "Sabers. Back to base. Mission failure." She stumbled over the last word, tears threatening to follow.
    'Not yet. I have to keep the group together. We're still in hostile territory,' she thought.
    When she looked up, she noticed several Sabers held back the angry mob. "Jet out. We're done here. Thunder..." Thunder beeped once, a path clearing before him as if the crowd understood the importance of the bike's passenger.
    Blaze followed Phoenix to her bike. "You did what you could do, sis."
    "I failed."
    Blaze clapped a hand on her shoulder. "I should've seen it coming, but I didn't. Just 'cuz you are our fearless leader, don't mean you are infallible."
    Phoenix could not answer, her throat choked with tears. She kicked her bike into gear and followed Thunder. The ride back to base would seem longer than usual.
                                                    #
    Modo and Mari waited at the front doors to the base. No word had come from the Sabers. Mari had stated flatly that no news would be good news. Modo couldn't bring himself to believe her. Something in his gut told him something had gone wrong. What he couldn't say, but he could feel it.
    When the first lights of the returning bikes pierced the night, Mari yelled for the rest of the small community to greet the returning victors. Though as the bikes drew nearer, Mari's heart sank. Behind her daughter sat her son, Thunder bore no rider. Mari stepped back as Thunder braked, letting the others pass.
    She laid a hand on Modo's arm, then turned, arms folded across her chest. Phoenix and Blaze dismounted, walking with a solemness Modo did not need to translate. Blaze stood slightly behind his sister, head bowed as the rest of the Sabers had. Phoenix looked up, removing her helmet.
    "Who," all Modo would say.
    "Limburger."
    Modo bowed his head in respect for the most vibrant member of the Biker Mice. Though age had diminished them all, Vinnie seemed to have retained all his youthfulness.
    Had. Modo corrected himself.
    Had.
    Modo placed a hand to Phoenix's cheek, brushing away tears. "Ya did all ya could."
    "I still failed," she sobbed.
    Modo looked past, watching with solemn respect as a pair of burly mice removed Vinnie from Thunder. He drew Phoenix close to him, letting her cry.
    "We'll make Junior pay," Blade growled. "We'll make him pay with his scaly hide."
    "No," Mari said softly. "We regroup."
                                                        #
    No one ever ventured from the base alone. The world just was not a safe place for mice. The fields shone a dull orange in the setting sun. The city below dotted with the first street lights and signs seemed to come to life. Modo stood silently, staring out over the vastness before him.
    'So much space, so much hatred,' he thought. He lowered his gaze to the ground beside him, lingering on the fresh patch of earth. No names graced these simple graves. No one at the base wanted these particular plots ravaged. Junior would have stopped at nothing to violate this patch of holy ground if he could.
    At each gentle round, Modo ticked off a name. Charlie. Carbine. Throttle. Stoker. Harley.
    Vinnie.
    He was the last one left. The last of the Biker Mice. The last of the old guard. Except for Rimfire, but he was no youngun any more. 'Too old to fight, but too restless to stay put,' he thought. 'What I wouldn't give to see you guys right now. To have a good chat.'
    "I'm useless."
    *You're not useless, just old,* a voice seemed to say.
    Modo turned, grimacing at the creaking in his joints. He could see no one.
    "I know I'm old," Modo said.
    *But not useless.*
    "Who are you? Am I hearing things?" Modo asked.
    *Your conscience?* the voice said in a tone so much like Vinnie's Modo paused.
    "Just the grief."
    *Grieving is fine, just don't let it get you down,* the first voice said, almost like Throttle.
    "I don't get it."
    *What's there to get?* the Vinnie-like voice said.
    *Just go out and do. You'll know what to do,* the Throttle-like voice said.
    "I'm headin' back, that's what I'm gonna do. Don't want to get caught out here helpless."
    No voice replied.
    Modo was glad the voices had stopped. He mounted Little Hoss and rode back to the base in silence.
                                                          #
    "Here they come," a lookout shouted.
    "Junior sent his entire army after us." Blade pulled the alarm. "Get to the tunnels below. Get the non-com's below. Fighters only remain."
    Modo stood by one of the entrances to the tunnels, herding the frightened mice to safety. He watched as the Sabers mounted the ramparts, weapons in hand. Once the rest of the city were safely ensconced, fail-safe could begin.
    "Get down below, I'll take over," Mari said.
    "No. I'm gonna help as much as I can. I might be gettin old, but I'm not useless."
    Mari sighed. "Then I can at least keep you company."
    "Look out below," Phoenix yelled. "Army advancing to danger zone. They're almost at the walls."
    The panicked populace increased in fervour. Many were injured trying to get to safety. Mari tried to calm them, but no one would listen.
    Modo listened to the sounds of laser fire. Junior would never give up. Now that his uncle was dead, he'd stop at nothing to get revenge. What he did to Vinnie would not be enough. Now Junior would want all of them dead.
    When the last few non-combatants had been taken to safety, Modo gave the all clear. Blade signalled 'ok' and Modo could see the Sabers duck to the tunnels below.
    He began the descent of the stairs when he heard the frightened squall of a child. He searched for the child, spotting her sitting some distance away. Without hesitation he ran to the child, scooping her up. He could hear the engines of Junior's goon army and knew what soon would happen. He dove into a nearby tunnel just as Junior's army blasted the front gates. He climbed as fast as he could, one handed, the child squirming in his arms.
    "Catch," he said, tossing the girl to waiting arms. He descended the ladder as fast he could. He could hear the first faint rumblings above. The base's defences had been activated. The ground began to shake harder, and he could hear the groaning of the tunnels around him. When the base blew, he knew the shock waves would collapse the tunnels. There was a safety mark close by.
    If only he had a few more seconds.
    The walls began to collapse. Modo put up an arm to block the falling girders and ladder. He threw himself to the ground, balled tightly, praying he would survive. He could feel pain through the darkness. He knew the base had detonated. He knew he had not reached the safety marker in time.
    He knew he would die.
    'Don't think like that,' he thought. 'Someone'll rescue ya.'
    He could hear them digging, knew they'd pull him out. But would they be in time. The world fell silent and black. Modo could sense the end was near.
    When he came to, he could see Rimfire standing near, eyes glazed with tears. He could not feel most of his body yet curiously was not afraid. He half smiled when he saw Mari, the Rockers and Sabers, along with the child he had rescued. Modo knew the future of Martians might be bleak at the moment, but with drive and determination, they would make it.
    He thought he heard a noise, a curious laughing sound. When Modo turned his head, he was shocked. Standing there, in their prime and smiling, were his bros. Charlie, Stoker and Harley were there too. They seemed to be calling to him.
    "Told ya things'd work out," Vinnie said, looking just as he did when they had first crashed on Earth.
    "What're ya waiting for, big fella. Time's a wastin'," Throttle said, grinning from ear to ear, looking over his shades. Mischief flashed in his ruby gaze.
    "We missed ya," Harley said, one arm draped over Vinnie's shoulder, the other on Stoker's.
    Modo held out his hand, unable to believe what he saw. Could it really be? He glanced to Rimfire who comforted Mari. Even Blade had tears in his eyes, something Modo had never seen.
    Laying his head back, assured that the fight would go on, he sighed once. He could feel his soul lift, and sat up. He glanced at his body, old and battered. He did not need to look at himself now to know he had become young again.
    With a last fond look at Rimfire, he rose, walking to his friends of long ago. They embraced him, clapped him on the back, welcomed him anew.
    "The Biker Mice are back together," Throttle said as the group walked away, fading into the background.
    "Back in the saddle again," Vinnie said, laughing.
    Stoker clapped Modo once more on the shoulder. "You boys know what time it is, don't ya?"
    Throttle smiled. "Let's rock."
    "And ride," the others chorused.
    And so the mice were once again together.

    Forever.

Tout Finis

 Ride free, Freedom Fighters, everywhere.