Retturn To Sender (Re-Write), *Competition Entry, End Date 04/09/08*

Return To Sender. (Re-write)
Chapter 1.

It was a dark, cold and rainy morning in Chicago, not a creature was stirring, well almost none. In a garage called 'The Last Chance Garage', lived three large humanoid mice. There was Throttle, the leader, a six foot mouse with tan coloured fur, he wore blue jeans and a black leather sleeveless jacket with a red bandanna, a pair of green shades hid the fact that he had robotic implants for eyes, the result of a horrible experiment by their enemy Laurence Limburger and his deviant doctor, Karbunkle. He was usually the level headed one of the three, managing to remain cool calm and collected no matter what the situation.

Then there's Modo, a huge seven footer covered from head to toe in grey fur, this mouse was built like an express train and could have knocked you out just with the flick of his finger, as with all the mice Modo had been experimented on by the doctor and had a robotic arm that had many gadgets packed inside, including a huge and deadly canon. Modo wore a pair of blue jeans and had armour covering his grey furred chest, he also sported an eye patch covering his left eye. Please don't let his size and build frighten you, as this mouse was really a gentle giant, however, don't make him angry, if you ever see his right eye glowing red, run.

That brings me onto Vincent Van Wham or Vinnie to his friends and bro's, another six foot mouse covered head to toe in pure white fur, the experiment that had been carried out on him left him with a steel plate covering the right side of his face, but that didn't matter though as he once commented “Cos what's left is definitely Grade A mouse material”. Vinnie would ware a pair of blue jeans and would have a utility belt criss crossing his chest, he also wore what he loved to call his lucky red bandanna. As you can probably tell Vinnie was ever so slightly vain and would check himself in the mirror when ever the opportunity presented itself, but don't let that fool you, as this is also one crazy mouse, he's always performing stunts on his Red Racer or doing some other crazy things.

Last but not least there's Charlene Davidson, aka Charley, Charley-Girl, Charley Ma'am and Sweetheart. Sweetheart was Vinnie's affectionate name for Charley, come to think of it, it was his affectionate name for everyone. Charley is a human female and one hell of a mechanic who has on more than one occasion breathed life back into the mice's preferred form of transport, their bikes.

Anyway to the story, it was 8.30 am, Throttle and Modo were the first to rise from their slumber, the mice all been busy the previous day doing what they did best namely demolishing Limburger's tower. Throttle was the first to make his way to the bathroom which was on the second floor, next to Charley's room. As he passed by her room he heard her stirring.

Throttle: Oh man, I gotta get a move on, cos if Charley-Girl can't get to use the bathroom when she wakes, I'm a dead mouse.

Throttle quickly showered and then left the bathroom, just in time to see a bleary eyed Charley exit her room. Charley mumbled “Morning Throttle”, Throttle returned the greeting and then made his way downstairs to the garage area. On his way to the kitchen he noticed that Modo was making his way to the bathroom.

Throttle: Hey big fella, where you off to?
Modo: The bathroom why?
Throttle: Oh man, bad move bro, Charley's in there and you know what she would do to us if she gets disturbed.

Modo did indeed know what she would do as he had once made that very same mistake, the thought of the repercussions he suffered then sent a cold chill down his spine.

Modo: Thanks for the warning bro.

Twenty minutes had now passed and Charley made her way out of the bathroom and into her own room to get changed, Modo seized his chance and ran for the now empty bathroom. After changing into her day clothes Charley made her way to the kitchen to fix breakfast. This would be a 'don't throw up Charley' event as breakfast consisted of a glass of orange juice and a bowl of muesli for Charley and Hotdogs and Root Beer for the guys. Charley would always protest at the guys form of breakfast only to be met by “It's the breakfast of champions” from Vinnie.

At this point all the guys were usually awake and making Charley's life hell, this morning, however, was different, Vinnie was still out for the count. Charley opened the door to the living room, where the guys had all slept the night before, to allow the smell of the cooking Hotdogs to filter into the room, this would have the desired effect of waking Vinnie. Not this time though, Throttle thought that this was odd so he made his way into the room to try and wake his white furred bro, still nothing, so as a last ditch attempt Throttle made his way into the garage area and walked over to Vinnie's bike. Throttle started the bike and revved the engine, that would have woken him up surely, but alas no.

Charley and the guys were now concerned about the seemingly lifeless Vinnie, Charley, being a very accomplished medic, since meeting the guys, knelt down by Vinnie's side and felt for a pulse.

Charley: I feel a pulse, it's weak but it's definitely a pulse.

Charley asked Throttle and Modo to get some blankets, to make a temporary bed for Vinnie, once the bed was made, both Throttle and Modo lifted their lifeless bro onto the makeshift bed, once Vinnie was on the bed Charley began to examine the white furred mouse for any sign of trauma or injury, she suddenly spotted a red mark on the side of Vinnie's neck.

Charley: Guys, it looks as though something has bitten Vinnie on the neck.

Throttle now looked at the red mark on Vinnie's neck.

Throttle: That is no bite Charley, that is where something has been implanted.

Guys: Limburger!!!!

Throttle: Well if this is the work of Limburger, then we are probably looking at a micro bomb.

Charley: A micro bomb, guys we got to get that thing out before it blows.

Charley went into her office and retrieved her extensive medical kit, she again knelt by Vinnie's side and opened the medical kit. After a quick route around, she found what she was looking for, a scalpel, Charley began to make an incision in Vinnie's neck, just below the red mark, at this Modo's eye began to glow red.

Charley had seen the anger in Modo's eye, and fearing for her own life, stopped what she was doing.

Charley: I'm sorry that you have to see me do this guys, believe me if there were any other way of removing the bomb I would do it, but the fact of the matter is, this is the only way.

Modo and Throttle seemed to calm down and let the mechanic carry on with the incision.

Charley had now uncovered what was causing the blockage in Vinnie's throat, Throttle, as always, was right, the blockage was indeed one of Limburger's micro bombs.

Throttle: I just hate being right.

There was a flashing green on the bomb, which Throttle knew only too well meant that it was armed and ready to detonate.
Throttle: Charley, if my memory serves me right, you disarmed one of these bombs some time back with a machine.

Charley: Yes, I remember, the thing is though, the machine was blown to smithereens, but I hid the blueprints for the machine back at the scoreboard. Modo, Throttle, I want you both to stay here and look after Vinnie, I've got a bit of work to do, and not a lot of time to do it.

With that Charley headed for her bike, which would take her to the scoreboard, and then to the various shops to get the parts needed for the machine.

Charley got to her bike, it was then she remembered that her bike had got gearbox trouble so she was going nowhere, then she remembered Vinnie's red racer. Charley made her way over to the red racer, the bike could sense Charley's presence, Charley went to sit on the bike's saddle, the bike seemed to growl and moved forward thus not letting Charley anywhere near it.

Charley made her way back to the side of Vinnie's bike and put her right hand on the bike's fuel tank.

Charley: Hey girl it's ok, it's me, Charley. Vinnie needs us, he is very sick, I know that you are Vinnie's ride but please, don't let him down now.

The bike seemed to calm down and allowed the mechanic to sit on the saddle, the engine started and they raced out of the garage at speed.

Having both retrieved the blueprints and purchased the parts, Charley headed back to the garage, to build the machine that would hopefully save Vinnie's life.

Charley arrived back at the garage and walked inside, she found the two mice. Throttle suddenly remembered that Charley's bike was off the road.

Throttle: Charley, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure that your bike is off the road with gearbox trouble.
Charley: No Throttle your not wrong, let's just say that I had a little help from someone very close to Vinnie.

Charley glanced out of the garage window towards Vinnie's bike as she said this, Throttle wanted to know how Charley had managed to get Vinnie's bike to co-operate with her?

Chapter 2.

Charley: Throttle, I'll tell you all later, but right now we got a life to save.

Charley managed to build the new machine in record time, unfortunately, there was no time for her to test it out, Vinnie was going to have to be her test subject.

Charley set the machine up over the micro bomb and activated it. There were a series of audible ever changing pitches, there was a small green light on the bomb meaning it was armed and ready to blow, however after a couple of seconds the light turned blue.

Charley now breathed a sigh of relief.

Charley: Right guys, I'm gonna remove the bomb from Vinnie's neck, it's gonna be messy so you might want to look away.

Modo: Not that I'm questioning your technical expertise Miss Charley- Ma'am, but how do you know it is safe to remove that thing?

Charley: That's easy Modo, you see the blue light, well if that light had turned red, then we'd all be dead.

Charley now removed the remains of the bomb from Vinnie's throat and started to patch him up again, much to the disappointment of Throttle and Modo.

Throttle: Can't we leave him like this?

Modo: Yeah it's oh so peaceful.

Charley glared at the pair.

Charley: You two should be ashamed of yourselves, Vinnie's lying here close to death and you say something as heartless as that.

Modo and Throttle both sheepishly apologised to both Charley and Vinnie for their thoughtlessness. Charley accepted The guys apology but as Vinnie was still unconscious he could not do the same.

It was now five days after the operation to save Vinnie's life, Charley and the guys had waited in the living room of the garage ever since. Then suddenly, towards the end of the fifth day, Vinnie woke up.

Vinnie: Where am I?

Throttle: Hey bro, it's ok, you are safe here at the Last Chance, boy am I glad to see that we got the ole Vin-man back. How do you feel?

Vinnie: Like I just did ten rounds with Modo, and lost.

Throttle couldn't help but laugh at his bro's flippancy, it was going to be a while before Vinnie was back to full health but at least the legendary Van Wham wit had returned. Throttle and Vinnie talked for a little over half an hour, then it was time for Modo.

Throttle: Ok Vinnie, I'm going to wait outside cos Modo wants to see ya.

Vinnie: Ok, thanks bro.

Modo now entered the room, he sat on the floor by Vinnie's side. He sat bolt upright for a couple of seconds, then Vinnie could see tears starting to fall from Modo's eye. Modo lowered his head on to the side of Vinnie's makeshift bed.

Modo: I'm sorry bro, I don't normally cry, but I thought I lost you for a while there.

The sight of the big guy crying made Vinnie cry, Vinnie pulled Modo's head up to his chest and wrapped his arms around it, holding Modo close. Again, Modo and Vinnie just sat and talked for about half an hour.

Modo: Hey Vin-man, you up for one more visitor?

Vinnie: Charley-Girl?

Modo: Yeah bro she's been waiting here all this time.

Vinnie: Please Modo, will you let Charley in?

Modo: Anything you say pard.

Charley entered the room already in floods of tears.

Vinnie: Hey sweetheart, what's the crying for?, you know that you can't get rid of me that easily.

This bought a weak smile from Charley's face.

Throttle had told Vinnie that if it hadn't been for Charley and her machine, then he would surely have died, this fact was not lost on Vinnie.

Vinnie: Hey sweetheart, I understand that it's you I gotta thank for saving my life? Charley-Girl, I owe you big time.

Charley and Vinnie spent an hour in each others company, then Charley told Vinnie to rest and she left the room.

It had now been ten day since Vinnie's lifesaving operation and he was now well enough to sit up, though he would still need constant care so it had been decided that Charley and Vinnie would stay at the garage while Modo and Throttle would stay at the scoreboard hangout.

Charley had made the spare bedroom, which was next door to hers, into a suitable room for her temporary patient.

With help from Modo and Throttle, Vinnie made his way to the spare room.

Vinnie: Is there room at this inn for a white furred studly mouse?

Charley: Ooh come here you, you bet there is.

Charley threw her arms around Vinnie's waist and hugged him tightly. After a few moments Charley managed to compose herself, when suddenly from out of the blue!

Vinnie: I'm hungry, whose up for Hotdogs and Root Beer?

Everyone collapsed in fits of laughter, their Vinnie was back.

Now that would normally be the end of the story, but you know our guys, they couldn't let the stink fish Limburger think that he had got away with nearly killing Vinnie.

Vinnie: Hey Throttle, have we still got that micro bomb that Charley fished from my throat?

Throttle: Yeah we sure have why?

Then a look of realisation spread across Throttle's face.

Throttle: Vincent Van Wham, are you thinking what I think your thinking?

Vinnie: If you mean am I thinking of sending old stink fish a present?, then yes, I'm thinking it.

The three mice mounted their bikes, Charley got pride of place and sat behind Vinnie on his bike, she wrapped her arms around his waist for safety, Vinnie replied by wrapping his tail around her waist, for extra safety of course.

The four friends rode up to Limburger's tower, then they rode their bikes through the tower until they reached Limburger's office. It would be down to Vinnie to lead the charge.

Vinnie: Aaaooowww.

The three bikes crashed through the doors into Limburger's office, Vinnie primed the micro bomb and hurled it back at Limburger, it missed it's intended target but stuck firm to the wall of his office, the three bikes now crashed through the windows and landed safely on the road below.

Vinnie: Hey guys, I know that we are studly, heavy metal mice, but there really is only one song that fits this moment perfectly, Elvis's Return To Sender.

The guys all chuckled and agreed and rode away from the tower singing Return To Sender, moments later there was a loud blast closely followed by that familiar rumble of Limburger's tower crashing to the ground.

The guys all rode back to The Last Chance for another round of what else but Hotdogs and Root Beer.

Whilst they were eating Vinnie looked up at his two bro's with a very mischievous looking grin on his face.

Vinnie: Oh by the way guys, I nearly forgot, you all got some Vin-man tail whipping coming your way.

Throttle instantly realised what Vinnie was talking about, Vinnie had heard what he and Modo had said about it being so peaceful without Vinnie, he had also heard Charley chastise them for saying it which was closely followed by their apologies.

The sound of the guys apologising had made Vinnie feel better, however, Vinnie had plans to exact his own brand of revenge on his bro's. This was one tail whipping they wouldn't forget in a hurry.

The End.

• Printer-friendly version