I Am Mouse, Hear Me Squeak, Chapter 13
I Am Mouse, Hear Me Squeak.
Chapter 13.
This Is Stoker Calling Mars, Come In Mars.
It was the beginning of another beautiful day, here on the Isle Of Man, the birds were singing cheerfully, the guys were playing, playfully, and me, well I was taking time to take stock of what had happened in my life since I had met the guys. I had taken in six Martian Mice and one human lady. I had rescued them all from certain destruction at the hands of their nemesis Limburger. I had on many occasions gotten on the wrong side of one certain mouse, Vinnie. I had found that whilst it didn't take long to get mad at Vinnie, it took even less time to forgive him. Then there was Modo's grey furred momma, Bola, she had come to live with us here on earth, she had even married Stoker, they had a daughter together whose name is Misha.
Then comes Stoker, he had been called a traitor for many years, with the mice on Mars thinking that he had sold them out to the highest bidder, nothing could be further from the truth, as in point of fact he was a dedicated Freedom Fighter, he was actually the leader of the Freedom Fighters.
I was suddenly brought out of my thoughts, when I heard Matt give out an ear piercing scream. I rushed to see what was wrong. It was Stoker, he was lying on the floor barely breathing and clutching his chest.
Me: Matt, get a grip of yourself, now I want you to go and get the Dr and also get the rest of the guys. Tell the Dr that Stoker is having a Heart Attack.
Matt stood there, still unable to move and crying for all he was worth.
Me: Matt, for the love of god, will you go and do as I ask, please!
Don't ask me how, but poor Matt managed to get himself moving, I knelt down by the side of the ageing and dying Stoker, I gently held his head in my hands.
Me (In Soft Voice): Oh Stoker, it's your time to go, but just hang on until the guys get here.
Modo, Carbine, Throttle, Vinnie, Rimfire and the Dr all now came running, the Dr knelt down by the side of Stoker and began to examine him, then he looked up at me and the guys.
Dr: I'm sorry guys, there's nothing I can do, I will leave you all alone for a few minutes, to say your final farewells.
This hit Modo, Throttle, Vinnie and Carbine hard, though it seemed that Vinnie had been hit the hardest. Vinnie fell to his knees.
Vinnie (Talking and Crying): No, Stoke's, come on old timer, don't die, you can't die, I won't let you die.
Carbine walked up behind Vinnie, tears openly flowing, she placed her hand on Vinnie's shoulder.
Carbine: Vinnie, it's Stoker's time, he's had a damn good life, you guys have all seen to that.
Stoker's eyes flickered open.
Stoker (In A Weak And Croaky Voice): Hey Rookies, thanks for the many wonderful years that you have all given me, I wish I could stay for eternity, but alas, (Stoker coughs), I can't. Admiral Throttle, will you please come to me, I have a huge favour to ask of you.
Throttle did as his mentor asked and knelt down by Stoker's side, he lowered his head so that Stoker did not have to strain to give Throttle what would be his last instructions.
Stoker: Throttle, bro, look after the guys, they are gonna need you now. Get in touch with Admiral Tusk and let him know what has happened. Finally, it is my wish to be taken back to Mars and buried on my home planet.
Throttle: You got it coach, I will see to it that your instructions are followed to the letter.
Stoker: I love all you guys so very very much. See ya on the other si..........
Stoker was unable to finish his last sentence, he drew his final breath and closed his eyes. I gently released Stoker's head and with tears falling like rain, I went in search of a blanket, I found a blanket and placed it over Stoker's body. I could see that Throttle wanted to cry, but he could not be seen crying, he had to be strong for me and the others, though in truth it was me that had to be strong, I gently took hold of Throttle's shoulders and lifted him to his feet, I pulled him into my body and let him rest his head on my shoulder.
Me: Ok Throttle, I know that you are holding it all back, Stoker wouldn't want you to do that, so please, just let it all go, use my shoulder to cry on for as long as you need, that goes for the rest of you too, and that's an order.
The rest of the guys all gathered around me and we all fell into a hug then fell to our knees and cried.
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It has now been four hours since Stoker had taken his last breath, we had managed to lay Stoker's body on a table in the living room, Throttle had begun to carry out Stoker's last request, Modo, Vinnie and Rimfire were all dutifully standing guard over Stoker's body. I got one of the hardest tasks, someone was going to have to tell both Misha and Toby of their father's passing. Unusually I found them both huddled together out in the yard, they could obviously sense that something was not right, I made my way over to them, trying hard not to show that I had been crying, I should have realised, I could probably fool Toby for a few seconds, but there was no fooling Misha.
Misha: Uncle Vin, have you been crying?
Me: Nah, it's just a trick of the light.
Misha now began to get upset.
Misha: Don't give me that Uncle Vin, tell us what's wrong.
I was not looking forward to the words that I was going to be saying for the next few moments.
Me: Misha, Toby, please come closer, you are of course right Misha I have been crying, deep down inside I am still crying. Misha, Toby, I have some bad news for you both, it is my solemn duty to inform you of your father's death.
Misha and Toby both look at me with disbelief, then they look to each other, then back to me, they both now threw their arms around me and began to cry.
Me: Misha, Toby, I'm so very sorry, we all feel your pain.
Misha: Did he die alone?
Me: Your father was never alone, as for dying alone, no he didn't, he actually died in my arms.
I got all choked up when I said the final few words.
Toby: Did our father say anything before he died?
Me: Yes he did, he told me that he loved you all dearly. He also had one final request, which I'm pleased to say that your Uncle Throttle is taking care of, he has requested that he be buried on his home planet of Mars.
Toby: Mars, but we will never be able to travel to Mars to see him.
Me: Don't you worry about that, Uncle Throttle may be carrying out your father's last request to the letter, but I'm sure that he has found a way that enables you to go and visit your father's grave, whenever you wish. I know that it's going to be hard for the two of you and Bola, but you will of course be able if you wish to help us take your father's body back to Mars.
The three of us, now just stood there, crying until we could cry no more.
Back in the communications room of the house, Throttle was getting ready to break the sad news to Admiral Tusk at Martian High Command.
Throttle: This is Admiral Throttle calling Admiral Tusk, do you read me sir?
Tusk: Admiral Throttle, this is an unexpected pleasure.
Throttle: Admiral Tusk, I'm afraid that it's anything but a pleasurable call, it is my sad and solemn duty to inform you that Admiral Stoker is dead.
There was a long pause.
Tusk: Throttle, will you please repeat your last message, because for a moment there I thought I heard you say that Stoker was dead.
Throttle: You did hear me say it Admiral, he died four hours ago of a massive heart attack whilst in Vin Van Daz's arms.
Tusk: I don't know what to say, this is deeply distressing news, I'm very sorry for your loss Admiral Throttle, is there anything I can do to help?
Throttle: There is Admiral, Admiral Stoker's last request before he died was that he would like to be buried on Mars, is there any way that it can be arranged?
Tusk: Admiral Throttle, you've no need to ask, the planet of Mars would welcome the return of her son.
Throttle: Thank you Admiral, though I do have another problem, Stoker's family, they have asked that they remain here on earth, would there be any way that you could spare a new ship for them to travel to Mars to visit Admiral Stoker's grave.
Tusk: Again Admiral, you've no need to ask, consider it done. Please pass on my sincere condolences to Admiral Stoker's family. When will you be arriving for the burial?
Throttle: I will pass on your condolences, and as for when we are going to arrive, as soon as I end the call to you we will be heading out to Mars, for this trip, I would like to change our ships call sign to STOKER 1, as a mark of respect.
Tusk: All received and understood Admiral Throttle, god speed. Tusk out.
Throttle now replaced the radio mic and made his way, to collect us all ready for the journey to Mars.
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It has now been three days since we began our journey to Mars, and we are now within sight of the end of Stoker's last journey.
Throttle: Martian High Command, this is STOKER 1, come in please.
Tusk: This is Martian High Command, go ahead STOKER 1.
Throttle: Please be advised that we are about to land, Admiral Stoker has come home.
Tusk: Roger that, the Planet of Mars welcomes Admiral Stoker home, you are cleared to land.
The ship gently touched down on the sandy red soil of the planet Mars, the same red sandy soil that was to become Admiral Stoker's new home. The exit ramp of the ship was lowered and the entrance door opened. Throttle, Vinnie, Modo, Rimfire, Me, Matt and Toby all carried Stoker's body on it's final journey, Admiral Tusk had organised an honour guard, which would surround us until we arrived at Stoker's final resting place. The Martian burial blanket was waiting to receive Stoker's body, we gently layed his body into it and then wrapped it around his body, then came the hardest part of all, we lifted Stoker's body and gently lowered it into his new home. We all picked up a handful of the red sand and with Stoker's family going first, sprinkled the sand on top of Stoker's body. Once we had all finished, the rest of the soil was respectfully placed on top of him.
The guard of honour all now fired their weapons into the Martian air, then came the point which we all began to cry uncontrollably, the sight of Toby standing at the head of his father's grave with bugle in hand, he placed the bugle to his mouth and played the last post.
There was a headstone placed at the head of Stoker's grave, which just had these few words inscribed on it:-
Here lies Admiral Stoker, A True Martian hero,
A Loving Father, A Loving Bro.
He Will Be Missed Dearly.
Be At Peace.
Carbine now stood at the head of her Uncle's grave and paid this very moving tribute.
Carbine: Well Uncle Stoke, you've done it again, you've made the ones who love you cry. You have also made the ones who love you so very proud, for years you were considered by many as a traitor to your people, but judging by the turn out here today, I would say that you are no longer considered a traitor. There have been many times, that you and I have fought, both alongside each other and with each other, there may have been times when I looked as though I had a hard faced persona, this was for me a survival tactic that I learned from a Great Admiral by the name of Stoker, this survival tactic has served me well, I'm still alive and that is all thanks to you. Ladies, Gentlemice and Children, I give you the Great Admiral Stoker.
Then it was Tusk's turn to pay a fitting tribute.
Tusk: I can only repeat what Admiral Carbine has said, but I will also add this, Admiral Stoker, though you were retired, your rank of Admiral remains, as for being classed as a traitor, your records have all been wiped clean of any suggestion that you were a traitor, to all the generations that follow, you will now be classed as a Great Martian and Earth hero. My final command to you Admiral Stoker is this one, soldier, stand at ease. Rest In Peace, Admiral Stoker.
After the ceremony had concluded we all stayed on Mars for a week, giving us all chance to visit Stoker's grave alone and to be at one with our thoughts.
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We have now returned back to earth, it is now two days since our return, we have received messages from people in our old home town of Kidderminster, we have also received messages from our new home town on the Isle Of Man, all with much the same tone, that of solemn sorrow tinged with sorrowful joy.
RIDE FREE ADMIRAL STOKER.