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" Masquerade, paper faces on parade, masquerade, hide your face so the world will never find you…"

(Note: This story was inspired by a really scary yet somehow funny picture of Throttle I saw In DG'' gallery so I give partial credit to her. AND I would like to dedicate this story to my friend Sarah who always wanted to see my dear sweet Throttle turn bad. This one's for you girl friend!)

Things Are Never What They Seem

By TerraBM

It was Saturday night in Chicago IL, Earth, and a not too pleasant one at that. It was rainy and stormy, while thunder boomed and lighting crackled in the night sky. Axle, Throttle's father, was in town for the weekend, spending some much needed quality time with his son, whom he had not seen in years. However, the night was not the father-son- plus-four crazy- friends -quality-family time they'd hoped for. It seemed even in the midst of the storm; Limburger was up to his usual dirty deeds.

" Hey, guys," Charlie said suddenly, looking up from the scanner, " the scanner says that there's something fishy going on down at the Shadey Rest Cemetery." She said. " And where there's something fishy, there's gotta be Limburger." Vinnie replied. " So I guess that means our quiet little night at home as just turned into a stink fish free for all." Modo added, smiling. " Alright, Plutarkians! It'll be good to be back in action, right, son?" Axle added standing up. There was no answer. " Throttle?" Axle asked looking over his shoulder at his eldest son. Throttle sat back in his chair, his head bent downward somewhat, a dark and distant expression on his face, his eyes concealed once more by his shades. His hands were together in a sort of Sherlock Homels style and his whole manner seemed to be one of deep thought, which made his father worried somewhat. "Hey, mission control to Throttle, can you hear us?" Vinnie asked, cupping his hands around his mouth and making static noises. "Throttle?" his father asked again, this time putting his hand on his son's shoulder. That seemed to bring him back into reality, for he blinked and stared up at them all as if he'd never seen them before in his life. " Hey, you okay, bro?" Modo asked, a little worried for his bro. " Yeah, I'm fine." He said after a moment, returning to normal. He stood up and climbed on his bike, " Lets Rock and Ride!" he called. The worry disappeared from his friend's faces and they rushed to join him.

It wasn't long before our furry heroes discovered Limburger's latest scheme to get elected as mayor of Chicago…

" Duh, Mr. Limburger, are you sure it's a good idea to be out here in dis scary place?" Greasepit coward, " Of course my dear boy. Haven't you ever heard of 'voting the grave yard'?" Limburger asked. " It's an old, however unfortunately extinct Chicago tradition." He added. But as our natrious villain went about his business of rigging the votes, they suddenly heard a noise, an eerie noise. " Boo, we're calling for a recount cheese-ball." Modo moaned in a ghostly voice. Of course, Greasepit being the idiot that he is freaked out at the sound of the voice and fainted. One by one our heroes popped up from behind the head stones. " We're gonna make ghost of your plans." Vinnie added in his usual heroic flare. " Yeah, cause no Plutarkian is gonna get voted into office while I'm around." Axle finished. Throttle said nothing, but stood with his gun cocked and ready, silent and deadly. It wasn't like him not to add a clever one liner to their little heroic threats, and they began to worry again. Throttle pulled the trigger on his lazor pistol and shot the ground in front of Limburger, " Drop it." He growled in a lethal tone. Limburger blinked, but then smiled slyly. " I'm afraid not rodents. But you're welcome to my ballot box if you think you can catch me." He taunted, then turned around and took off. Of course, the Biker Mice were not far behind him, and it wasn't long before a battle was in progress. It started out like anything other skirmish between them and Limburger, but then things began to take a turn for the worst. Modo and Vinnie were finding it harder and harder to get a shot off, as a deadly stream of lazor fire seemed to be directed right at them. They were too busy to dodging blows to shoot. Axle was doing his best to get as many direct hits in as possible, but his bike was suddenly on the fritz, stalling and shorting out, causing some close calls every now and then. Throttle seemed to be the only able to get a good clear shot at Limburger. For some unknown reason, Throttle's aim was way, way off that night. It was almost like he wasn't even trying. Every now and then his lazor would hit the target dead on and with a vengeance, but those were few and far between. Finally, they were forced to break off the chase and retreat before they really got in trouble. " Man! What happened out there?" Modo gasped, rubbing his lazor burned arm. " That's never happened before! We've never been beaten out by cheese face!" Vinnie cried, his ego deflated severely. " I thought you boys said this Limburger fella was a push over?" Axle breathed, his bike still not wanting to work right. " He is! Or at least he was…" Vinnie murmured unbelievingly. Modo looked at Throttle, " What happened to you out there bro? You were even missing the easy shots. You sure you're not sick or something?" he asked him. " Sorry bros. I didn't mean to foul things up so bad." Throttle replied. " Well…don't sweat it. We'll get back at him next round." Modo said, trying to cheer everyone up as usual. " Yeah, next time we're gonna nail lard lips for good!" Vinnie growled. " Hey, boys, was it just me or did that whole thing seem to be…planed out?" Axle asked. It was something he'd been wanting to ask ever since their first encounter with Limburger that night. Everyone got quiet, in deep thought. But Axle thought he heard something. A giggle? No, a cackle coming from…his son?! He stared at Throttle, who was once more hiding behind his shades and helmet visor, but he could have sworn that he heard him laugh at the statement. Something was very, very wrong. Just then, Throttle spoke up, " Hey guys, I'm gonna go for a ride and get some fresh air, okay? I'll see you back at the scoreboard later." He said, starting to turn. " Okay, I'll come with you." Axle suggested. " No!" Throttle snapped suddenly. " I…mean, no dad, that's okay. I'd really like to be alone." He amended quickly. " But we're suppost to be spending some time together, Throttle." He said. " Later, dad, I promise!" Throttle called waving to him as he disappeared down the road. Axle stopped his bike and stared after him with concern in his red eyes. " Whoa, what is up with him tonight?" Vinnie asked. " I don't know, but I've got a bad feeling in my gut." Modo replied, worriedly. It wasn't at all like their bro to act like this. And Axle seemed very distressed. " Do you think we should follow him?" Vinnie asked. " No, not now. Let him go. But I want you boys to watch him. I'm really worried about him." Axle said slowly.

Limburger looked up from his desk as a darkly clothed figure stepped before him. " You did well tonight my boy. Of course, there are those dings in my limo." He said. " I had to make it look real. I couldn't let them catch on." A deep, smoky male voice said. " Yes, yes, I know. Well, here's your first pavement, as we agreed." Limburger pulled from his desk drawer a large diamond that was the size of his hand. The man's eyes widened as he carefully took it into his hand. " It's so perfect. Not a flaw anywhere." He said in awe looking it over. Then he became serious, " I suppose I should thank you." He said. "Oh no need to thank me, Jackal." He cackled. " You just remember our deal, Limburger." The man snapped. " Oh, of course my dear boy. Of course…"

Axle sat up all night waiting for his son to return. It wasn't until sometime after midnight when he heard the sound of Throttle's motorcycle pulling into the drive. A moment later he saw him walk in the door quickly packing something away into his pack. " Throttle," he said. Throttle looked up, startled. " Dad!" he gasped. " Where were you? We were worried." He said, standing up. " Dad, I'm twenty one. Don't you think I'm a little old for you to be waiting up for me?" Throttle asked. Axle looked at him sternly. " Throttle, you are my son, and I demand to know where you were!" He snapped. Throttle looked at his father pleadingly. " Dad, please, don't do this." He said. Axle could see he was getting no where. He sighed and looked him in the eye, " Well, are you alright?" he asked. "Yes, dad. I'm fine." Throttle said, smiling at him. He put his arms around his father and held him close. " I love you, dad." He said quietly. Axle sighed and held him tight against him. " My little boy…no matter how big you get, that's what you'll always be…my little boy." He sighed. Throttle looked up at him, smiling. " Goodnight, dad." He said. " Good night, son. Sweet dreams." Axle replied. He watched with a sad smile as his son…the only son he had left walked up the steps to his room and disappeared into the shadows. " Oh, Throttle…I do worry about you baby boy. I do worry about you." He whispered.

The next morning things had pretty much returned to their usual state, though the mice were still licking their wounds from the night before, it only made them twice as eager to defeat Limburger in the second round. " Man, I need some action! I'm just dying to pay old ripe cheese back, big time!" Vinnie groaned, smashing an empty can of root beer on his forehead. " Chill, Vin-man. We'll get our chance." Modo assured him, his single eye giving a faint red glow. Throttle was in his usual mellow mood, not saying much, concentrating on reading some type of manual. Axle wandered about the scoreboard, doing odd jobs, every now and then casting a worried glance at his son, or stopping briefly to stroke his hair affectionately, which earned him a glance from his son. " Dad, you don't have to do that." Throttle said once, looking up at him. " I know. I want to." Axle replied, smiling gently at him. He petted his son's head lovingly, " Besides, it's a father's job to embarrass his son in front of his friends." He added playfully. Throttle smiled at him and then turned his eyes back to his reading material. Axle put his arms around his neck and looked over his shoulder, " What ya lookin' at?" he asked. He caught a brief glance of what looked like a small map of a museum before Throttle quickly shut it and stood up, " Oh, nothing." He said quickly, somewhat tensely. Axle looked at him, confused. " What is it, bro? Your diary?" Vinnie teased snickering. Throttle gave him an icy look that caught Vinnie a bit off guard. " None of your business, motor mouth." He said. Vinnie blinked and then stuck his tongue out at him. "Hey, bros, get a load of this!" Modo's voice came suddenly. They all looked over at the t.v. which showed a picture of Darla Dittel, reporting from in front of the museum. "Last night the Chicago Museum was robbed, the only item stolen was the very rare and valuable gem, The Devil's Eye, the worlds largest diamond. Security cameras managed to capture this image of the thief, however, police are baffled as to who he might be." The screen suddenly showed a staticy picture of a man, tall and muscular, dressed in a black body suit, a black motorcycle helmet over his face, hiding his features, carefully lifting the jewel from it's place and then running off in another direction, towards the door. " Whoa! Who's that?" Vinnie asked, staring at the screen. " He looks kinda familiar…" Modo murmured, holding his chin. " Can't say I've ever seen anything like him." Axle said. " What do you think, Throttle?" Vinnie asked, looking back at him. The tan mouse stood stiffly behind them, his eyes widened and staring at the screen in a transfixed in shock and horror. " Bro?" Vinnie asked. Throttle gasped then, dropping the booklet he'd been holding and staggered backwards a bit, eyes still on the screen. "No…this can't be happening…" he whispered, shaking his head. " Son?" Axle asked, stepping towards him. He laid his hands on his shoulders. " What's wrong, Throttle? Do you know this person?" he asked. " No!" Throttle cried, pushing him away from his roughly and running out the door, jumping on his bike and disappearing. " What the--?" Vinnie gasped, staring at them in shock. " What the hell was all that about?" he asked, thumbing towards the door. " Bros, I think Throttle's hiding something." Modo said sadly. Axle nodded.

The darkly clothed figure, The Jackal, stormed into Limburger's penthouse, taking the door off his hinges as he entered. " Hey! Youse can't come in here." Greasepit said, walking towards him. " Outta my way you twit." He snarled, grabbing the large goon and heaving him over his head, tossing him into the far wall. Then he turned to Limburger, who was sitting at his desk looking at him calmly. " Well, Jackal, I didn't expect to see you for a few hours. What's the occasion?" he asked, cheerfully, subtly mocking him. The man's blue eyes glinted as he stomped up to the desk and slammed his hands down on it, swiping all the paper work off it onto the floor and getting in his employer's chubby face. " Seen the news lately, chubby cheese?" he snarled. " Yes. Rather startling, I'd say. But at least they captured your good side, don't you think?" he asked smiling. The Jackal took the large Plutarkian by the collar of his suit and lifted him out of his seat. " You promised I wouldn't get caught!" he shouted. " Now, now, my dear boy, there's no need to be so upset. They have no idea who you are." Limburger assured him, a little nervous. " The police might not, tuna breath, but the other's will! If they find out what I'm doing they'll never forgive me!" He snapped, throwing Limburger down and stepping off to the side of the room, his head in his hands. " My dear, Jackal, why should that concern you in the least? After all, you're working for me now." He said, straightening his tie. The Jackal whipped around and tore away his helmet, revealing his identity. " I DO NOT work for you, Limburger! The only reason I'm doing this is because my father's life is on the line and you, unfortunately, are the only one who can help me." Throttle said, shaking his head, sadly. " Ah, yes, the noble and worthy cause. Of course, you're friends, the other Biker Mice, will think other wise." Limburger said. " Don't mock me, Limburger. In the mood I'm in I could chop you into shusi." Throttle, a.k.a. the Jackal, said. " I'm most certain you could, Mr. McCloud. That's why tonight will be your last heist for me." Throttle looked up, confused. " But, I thought…" he began, "You've done more than enough, and you've earned your reward. So tonight is your last job, and I can guarantee you that your father will get his new body." Limburger said. Throttle looked him hard in his fishy little eyes, " I know you're up to something. But damn it all, I haven't got another choice." He sighed, and picked up his helmet, putting it on again. " It'll be done tonight. No foul ups." He said lowly and the walked out the door. Limburger watched him go, and then clicked on his intercom, " Dr. Karbuncle," he said. " Yessss, your supreme chessiness?" the doctor's voice hissed. " Ready the sniper. I have a feeling we're about to downsize in the employee department." He cackled darkly…

Throttle walked slowly into the Last Chance, feeling like he'd completely struck bottom, only to have his wrist grabbed suddenly and yanked roughly across the room. " Hey!" he gasped. His startled eyes met his father's angry ones as he stared at him in shock. "Dad?!" he gasped. " What are you up to, Throttle? Tell me. NOW!" he shouted. Throttle stared at him, " Dad, please…" he began. " Why have you been sneaking out at night? Why have you been helping Limburger?!" He cried, shaking Throttle and twisting his arm. " Dad, I-" he tried to explain, but Axle was too angry to listen. " How can you call me father after what you've done? How could you disgrace the family name like this?! How could you?!" he shouted. Tears began to well in Throttle's eyes. " Daddy, please…" he begged. Axle slapped him hard across the face with such a force that Throttle's helmet flew from his head, and then threw the tan mouse to his knees. "Disgrace, Throttle! How could you do this?" he shouted. Angry and hurt tears spilled down Throttle's face. He wanted so desperately to tell his father why. But he couldn't. That had been part of the deal. If he told his father that he'd done this to save his life, Limburger would refuse to help and Axle would be doomed for sure. " I can't tell you." He whispered, his head down in shame as he cried silent tears. " Then I can no longer call you son." Axle replied harshly, storming out of the garage. Modo, Vinnie, and Charlie stood in the doorway of the kitchen, watching with mixed emotions. They had been furious when they realized that Throttle had been helping Limburger, though they still weren't sure what or why, but could not help feeling bad for their brother after the reprimand he'd just received. Charlie walked over to him and gently sat down beside him and rubbed his shoulders. " It's okay, Throttle." She said gently. " No…it'll never be okay. I'm a traitor. He has every right to be angry. You all do. I understand." He said quietly, trying to hide the tears in his voice. Modo and Vinnie came then and sat down beside him too, " Bro, just tell us what's going on. We know there has to be more to this than you're telling." Vinnie said. " Yeah, maybe we can help." Modo added, rubbing his back. Throttle looked up at them with a tear stained face. " I don't deserve friends like you." He said quietly. Modo and Vinnie drew him into a warm hug and calmed him down, then slowly got up. " So what's up, Throttle? Why the undercover work?" Modo asked. " If I tell you, you have to swear not to breathe a word to my father. Or all is lost." The leader of the Biker Mice said gravely. Modo and Vinnie exchanged glances, this was more serious than they'd thought. " You see, my father's bionic body is somewhat out dated, and that means that it won't be long before it begins to shut down completely, and if that happens…he'll die. The only one who can make him a new body is Karbuncle, so I had no other choice than to go to Limburger for help. He made a deal with me that if I did a few "errands" for him that he would help me. So I assumed to identity of the Jackal. The man you saw on the t.v. a little while ago. I can't let dad know what I'm doing though, Limburger would call off the deal if I did. I didn't mean to lie to anyone. But my father means the world to me. I lost him once…I don't think I could stand to do it again." He sighed.

The others sat back and took in the news. That was indeed a complicated problem. What would be more complicated would be getting out of it. " Whoa…man you're in deep, bro." Vinnie said. " Tell me about it." Throttle groaned. " I had a hunch it was something like that." Modo said, looking at his friend with a sad, but comforting smile. " It doesn't matter now, anyway. He'll never forgive me, I've disgraced him." The tan mouse sighed. Charlie took his hands. " Throttle, I'm sure he'll understand." She said. "No, he feels betrayed. I can't face him." He sighed. " Bro, you gotta tell him the truth." Modo said. " I can't!" Throttle cried. " Don't you understand? Haven't you been listening? I told you, I can't tell him." He cried, putting his head in his hands. Charlie rubbed his shoulders and tried to comfort him, though it really didn't work. Suddenly there was a beeping sound. Throttle looked up and then reached for a tiny communicator attached to his belt. "This is the Jackal." He said slowly. Limburger appeared on the small screen. " Are you alone?" he asked. Throttle sighed and nodded. " What is it?" he asked. "You'd best suit up, my boy. I have the next and final job all set up for you." He said. Throttle nodded. " I got it." He said. " My men will be waiting for you at the corner. Don't be late and make sure you're not followed." He said. " Affirmative." Throttle replied, then clicked off the screen and shoved it back in his belt. "How long have you had that?" Vinnie asked, pointing to it. "About a week." Throttle shrugged. "Dang! How come we don't notice this crap!?" Vinnie asked. Modo shook his head and smiled. " I'd better go, or he'll start getting suspicious." Throttle sighed unzipping his leather jacket to reveal his jump suit underneath. " We'll follow you." Modo said. "Well, okay, but just make sure no one sees you." Throttle said. He hugged both of them tightly again, "Thanks guys." He whispered. Vinnie patted him on the back, " Hey, don't sweat it." He said. "Don't wait up, Charlie. And tell my dad I love him." Throttle said to her. She nodded and then hugged him quickly. "I will." She said. Then they were gone.

Throttle crouched low near the entrance of the museum display case. This was another museum, not the one he had robed last night, nor as good, but it had a few worthy pieces of art that Limburger wanted for some odd reason. The Jackal crept silently along with the grace and agility of a cat, so silent that you would have heard a pin drop before you heard him. Carefully, he reached out took a large vase off it's little pedestal, careful not to trip the alarm. He sighed, feeling some of the tension in him released and turned around. Now all he needed to do was get out and get this to Limburger successfully and his father would be all right.

But suddenly a floodlight was turned on him. Several in fact. He gasped at the sudden pain in his eyes and nearly dropped the vase. " Hey, what the--?!" he gasped. There was a low cackle and suddenly Limburger, disguised of course, appeared with his minions. "Hello, Jackal." He said smugly. "Limburger! What--?" he began to question him when he was suddenly seized by both arms by a bunch of goons who removed the vase from his hands. " I'm afraid the deal is off my boy. I decided it was bad for business, and my image to be helping a rodent such as yourself. Although I must say you made a wonderful thief. You should really think about a career change, my boy." He said, cackling evilly. "You double crossing stink fish! You gave me your word!" Throttle shouted furiously. "If my word was worth anything, I wouldn't be much of a villain, now would I?" he said, taking Throttle by the chin and laughing in his face. Suddenly Modo and Vinnie burst through the windows, landing on either side of Throttle, clobbering the goons who were holding him. " What?!" Limburger gasped. " Trick or Treat!" Modo laughed. " Hi ya, Cheese face! We were feeling a little left out so we decided to drop by and crash the party." Vinnie added. "Thanks bros." Throttle said to them. " Hey, don't mention it." Modo said laying a hand on his shoulder. " If you want me you'll have to catch me first, Biker Mice!" Limburger cackled running up the stairs towards the roof. "I'll get Limburger, you bros take care of things down here." Throttle said darting after him.

When the tan mouse reached the roof, he at first saw nothing. There was no sign of Limburger anywhere. Then suddenly, his nose picked up on his scent. He looked around until he could just make out the sleeve of Limburger's coat behind the corner. He approached him slowly, and then jumped at him, only to find that it wasn't Limburger at all, but just his coat hanging on a T.V. wire. Startled and confused, Throttle slowly got up and turned around, only to be clubbed by Limburger's cane. " DIE MOUSE!" he cried. The force of the blow was so hard that Throttle was thrown over the side of the building! Modo and Vinnie raced to the roof just in time to see their friend fall. "NO!" Modo cried. " Throttle!!" Vinnie gasped.

In the streets below, Charlie, who had finally talked Axle to come along with her on a ride, were driving along in their truck looking for the guys when suddenly BAM! A figure dressed all in black landed hard on the hood of their truck and bounced off it into the street, cracking the windshield and denting the hood. Charlie screamed and Axle cried out: " What the hell!?" They pulled the truck to a stop and Axle and Charlie both jumped out to see a figure of a man laying sprawled on his back in the road. " Good God! Charlie, call an ambulance!" Axle gasped dropping down beside the figure. Charlie was in so much shock she couldn't even tell Axle who it was. The older mouse gently took the boy in his arms as he twitched and groaned. " There, there, now. You're gonna be alright, fella." He said gently. " D-Dad…" a weak voice groaned. Axle's eyes widened. " Good God! Throttle?!" he gasped, pulling the helmet from his head. Sure enough, it was his son laying there, almost paralyzed and dying in his arms. " God Almighty, my baby!" he cried, cradling him close and crying. Throttle looked up at him hazily as blood trickled out of his mouth from internal bleeding, and reached up a trembling hand to stroke his father's face, " Daddy…I'm sorry…" he croaked. Tears flooded down Axle's cheeks as he caressed and nuzzled his baby boy in his arms. " Oh, my baby…my beautiful baby boy…" he wept. Throttle whipped his tears away gently, "Don't cry for me, dad...I love you…" he whispered. Then he groaned and grew heavy and silent in his arms, unconscious or perhaps dead. Axle buried his face in his son's soft tan locks of hair and kissed his forehead gently, crying hard. Modo and Vinnie appeared then, both staring in shock at their friend. " Throttle…no…" Modo groaned putting his head in his hands. "Oh man…not Throttle…not him…no…please…" Vinnie murmured as Charlie hugged him. Modo staggered forward, dropping down beside Axle and his fallen friend. " Throttle…bro, wake up. Come on, ya gotta wake up bro." He urged, bushing his hair back and lifting his chin. Throttle made no movement, but remained limp and still in Axle's arms. " Oh God, Throttle don't die…" Modo choked having to put a hand over his mouth to keep himself from bawling like a little baby. They all looked up suddenly to see Limburger's limo driving away quickly, burning rubber. " Limburger…" Axle growled, looking up. He gathered his son's body up in his arms and carried him towards the truck. "It's not to late…I can still save him." He murmured. "Axle, what are you--?" Vinnie asked. " I won't let him die like this." The older mouse growled back at them. He held his son against him like he was the most precious, most fragile thing in the world. To him he was. " If you're not with me, then stay out of my way!" he snapped then jumped in the truck, gently laying Throttle down in the side seat and covering him with his jacket and then kicked the truck into high gear and speed away. Modo, Vinnie, and Charlie followed after him.

Limburger and Karbuncle laughed the whole way back to Limburger Tower. This was their first real triumph over the Biker Mice. " Ah, yes my dear doctor, persistence is rewarded!" Limburger cackled stepping inside his office. However it was not a moment later before someone came blasting through his door. Namely Axle. " LIMBURGER!" he roared. Modo and Vinnie appeared behind him, equally mad. " Oh dear…" Limburger gasped, his eyes wide. Axle grabbed him by his collar and about threw him through a wall. " YOU FAT ASS BASS! YOU NEARLY KILLED MY SON! AND SO HELP ME GOD, LIMBURGER IF HE DIES, YOU'RE WORTHLESS BLOOD WILL BE ON MY HANDS!" he roared. " That's right, cheese-face." Vinnie growled. " You messed up our bro and now we're gonna mess up your life!" Modo added. " Now, now, my dear frazzled rodents, calm yourselves…" Limburger said nervously. Axle slugged him hard, so hard he bleed. " You fat little bastard. Don't you understand?! His life is on the line!" Axle cried. The little vein on his neck began to throb. " Whoa, whoa, whoa, buddy, take it easy," Vinnie said patting him on the arm, "…leave some for the rest of us." He added, eyes narrowing. " No! No! I'll do anything! Just don't hurt me!" he coward. Axle was about to slug him again when he thought about his dying son lying in the truck. Karbuncle was a doctor. He could help him. He had to help him. He had to…

" You get your quack to help my son, or I swear they'll never find your body no matter how hard they look!" he growled. "Of course, most certainly." He said. Axle turned to Modo, " Bring him in, bro." He said. Modo looked unsure, but did as asked and rushed off to get Throttle while Vinnie and Axle made "arrangements" with Limburger and Karbuncle. A moment later Modo appeared in the doorway of the lab, Throttle's inert form cradled in his massive arms, Charlie walking beside him slowly. "Put him there." Karbuncle instructed, pointing to a metal slab with a sheet over it. Modo held Throttle a little bit tighter, as he couldn't help remembering their days in the vivasection labs on Mars. The countless hours they had to lie on those cold slabs while they were tortured. "It's alright, Modo, do what he says." Axle said, as he pointed his pistol to Karbuncle's temple. " I dunno. I know I'd feel a whole lot better if a Martian were doing this." Modo said softly, laying his friend down. " Believe me, big guy, we all would, but beggars can't be chosers." Vinnie said as they stepped back. " And remember, doc, you so much as misplace a hair on him and I'll blow your brains out." Axle hissed in Karbuncle's ear. The doctor nodded nervously and then went to work…

It was hours later, the sun had just started to rise, and Charlie was laying asleep in Vinnie's arms as he and Modo watched wearily at the operation room which they sat outside of, Limburger sitting across from them tied up and snoring. " God, I can't take this anymore." Modo groaned. "I hate waiting rooms. My bro's in there, hurt really bad, and I'm sitting out here babysitting a Plutarkian!" he cried. Vinnie squeezed his shoulder, " Hey, chill big fella. Throttle's gonna pull through." He said. "He's just gotta." He thought inwardly. A moment later Axle and Karbuncle stepped outside. Both of them looked like they were gonna pass out. " Is he--?" Vinnie began standing up, almost dropping Charlie. " He's gonna be fine, boys, just fine." Axle assured them, tossing Karbuncle forward, whom immediately collapsed on the ground and went right to sleep. "Then, you mean he's okay? He's gonna live?" Modo asked. Axle nodded with a tired, but happy smile on his face, " He's gonna be alright boys." He assured them.

It was late that night when Throttle finally found the strength to open his eyes. His back and his head had a throbbing numbness that made him uncomfortable, but he could hardly bare to move. He looked around him slowly to see that he was in his own bed, safe and warm, wrapped in blankets, with his father sitting asleep in an arm chair beside him. He smiled at him weakly. He sure did look tired. He reached over slowly then and shook his knee. Axle sat up with a start and then cast his eyes on Throttle. " Hey, dad…" he said smiling at him. Axle bent forward and engulfed him in his arms, " Oh, my little boy…" he breathed holding him close. Throttle smiled at him and looked him in the eyes, "Dad, I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you so much…" Axle put a finger to his lips. " Shhh. I know. Charlie told me everything." He said. He took his son's hand and squeezed it, "And it's me who should be apologizing son. I shouldn't have gone off on you the way I did." He said. " No, dad, you had every right. I would have." Throttle chuckled smiling a bit. " No, no. You're a big boy now, Throttle. No, you're not a boy. You're a man. And you're going to go out and do things and take on responsibilities and I don't have to approve of them or even acknowledge them. I just worry about you, you know." Axle grinned at him and rubbed his hair, " Do you have any idea how scared I was for you last night?" he asked him. " I've never been so scared in all my life. Not until I thought I'd lose you." He said. " Aw, dad…" Throttle began. " It's true. Every since your brother disappeared and your mother died…you're all I have left." He sighed. " I just want you to know that I love you and support you, no matter what. Okay?" he said. Throttle drew him close in a tight hug. " I love you daddy." He whispered.

The End