What happens when you get an author who decides to tackle a subject head on that she knows next to nothing about? You're about to find out! The idea came to me and years ago I would have just wrote it down in a notebook and left it there to find years later. But now…just can't ignore it. And I figured I might as well see what kind of response I get for this major step in an unknown direction. If any read this and know BMFM better then me, please feel free to throw as much advice at me as possible! And enjoy the read.

            Disclaimer: Own nothing of BMFM. All references made to motorcycles, brands and existing biker gangs, i.e. Hell's Angels are just references and belong to their respective groups and creators.

Something To Live For

            Prologue

Wasteland. That's the one word that came to Jaiden Sterling's mind when she stared out at the city of Chicago. Sure, she may have not been able to see it all but she didn't have to in order to know what it looked like. Barren, war torn…her once beautiful home reduced to nothing but an empty shell of a once prosperous city.

            Sighing, she brushed her long, straight, auburn hair out of her face, blowing at the bangs that hung over her right eye, refusing to cooperate with her. Someday this would stop. It had too. The earth couldn't take much more of this treatment before it broke entirely. As she sat on the roof of her three-story house, deep violet eyes scanning the horizon, she heard a low rumble and knew right away her dad was taking his baby out for a ride. When several other motors started up however, she was immediately confused. All the guys had snuck over without her even knowing?

            She jumped to her feet and ran to the window that lead into her bedroom, a small yet tastefully decorated room with a queen sized bed and a cherry wood bedroom set. She ran through that very room, down the hallway to the stairs and took them two, sometimes three at a time in her rush to get downstairs. Grabbing the first person she ran into, she was surprised to see that it was her brother, dressed in leather with a Harley Davidson bandana tied around his head and his helmet dangling by the chinstrap in his fingers.

            "Dylan?" She questioned fearfully, seeing the way his eyes, so much like hers, were set and determined.

            He looked down at her and smiled kindly, a smile that never reached his eyes. "Hey there sis. Need something?"

            "What's going on Dylan?"

            The older sibling shook his head, causing several strands of his long black hair to fall in his eyes. "Dad's on a rampage. He's lookin' to end what that jerk off alien started. And I'm with him."

            "What?!" Jaiden albeit shrieked, not believing what she was hearing.

She started to run outside and Dylan grabbed her. "Now don't you go gettin' all upset. You knew this was going to happen sooner or later so don't get all pissed over somethin' you can't change."

Jaiden spared him a venomous glare before yanking her arm free and pushing her way out the front door. What awaited her in the front yard was a sight to behold. Bikers in every shape and size, some sporting beards and most garbed in black leather lined the street and sidewalk, sitting upon their motorcycles with pride. The sound of the motors running, growling like cage beasts was almost deafening and even though the time was not right for such emotions, the sound thrilled her.

Amidst the chrome and leather she was able to spot her father, a large man who was well built for his age and who's very appearance commanded authority. He sat astride his '76 Harley FLH shovelhead, surveying the crowd of bikers behind a pair of dark shades. Beside him like a Queen sitting with her King was her mother, sitting on the same bike of a different color and looking like she meant business. Her dark auburn hair was plaited and her supple figure was clad in tight jeans and a leather jacket over a plain red t-shirt. Without hesitating, Jaiden ran up to them. 

"Hey Punkinhead, what's goin' on?" her father asked, grinning at her.

Jaiden crossed her arms over her chest, unconvinced by his cheerful demeanor. "Why don't you tell me? Dyl says you're gonna go take care of that creep, Limburger. Is that true."

Will Sterling, known to his friends as Steel Will and leader of the Chrome Demon's, let the smile slide from his face as he pulled his shades down and stared into his daughter's frightened eyes. "You know it's gotta be done darlin'."

"No it doesn't!" she screamed back, angry tears burning her eyes. "I thought you said Charlie's friends were taking care of the guy. That means we don't have to!"

"Jaiden, it's our city. This is our town and we fight for what's ours. You know that. You knew that the moment you were born girl. Charlie's friends need some help. So that's what we're doin'. Bikers take care of their own."

"Bullshit!" she spat out, taking her father by surprise. "You're going to get yourselves killed!"

Will pushed his shades back up, signaling that he was finished. "Watch the house Jaiden, we'll be back soon. Demons! Ride out!"

With that command, what must have been over sixty motors roared to life, drowning out all sound, including Jaiden's fierce plea for them not to leave. All she could do was watch them ride out, the setting sun flickering off the spokes of their wheels as they disappeared down the street.

She waited for what felt like an eternity, watching the clock on the wall from the kitchen table. The minute hand slowly ticked around, counting out the seconds and Jaiden's eyes started to droop. It was when her head was lulling that an explosion shook the earth, yanking her viciously from her sleep. She didn't try to figure out what had happened, she refused to allow her mind to dredge up horrifying images, she just ran for the garage where her present from her 20th birthday, a deep purple Honda RC51, sat waiting.

She hit the garage button on her way out and jumped onto her bike, bringing it to life and riding it out into the streets, in the direction her father had gone. Her body remained tense as she speed through town, having no clue where she was going or what she would see when she got there. But in the end she didn't need to know. The blaze of dying flames and the lifeless bodies littering the charred ground said it all.

Jaiden felt numb as she slid from her bike and walked towards the awful scene. People she knew, people who had been her friends…they lay everywhere. Not a single person was alive, at least none that mattered to her. The blast had drawn a crowd who now roamed about the outskirts of what they must have decided was tainted land. She wanted to yell at the, to tell them to leave. Instead she walked on, her heart sinking further and further, fearing the inevitable. And there it was, her family…her brother, mother…and her too tough for his own good father, dead.

"Oh god….no," she whispered in a harsh, anguished voice. Her steps became staggered as she approached them, as if they were pulling her away, trying to save her from such pain. She fell to her knees beside her father, laying a hand over her chest in hopes that his heart still beat strongly beneath the thick leather of his vest. "Daddy…please be okay…please," she begged, hot tears now coursing over her face, rushing in rivers over her cheeks.

Her prayer was answered, if only for a moment. Her father, never the one to give up, groaned and turned his head towards the sound of her voice. His eyes fluttered open and softened when they landed upon his daughters beautiful face. "Hey Punkinhead," he murmured, his gruff voice weak. "You look like an angel, you know that?"

Jaiden nodded, sucking up her pain for him. She wouldn't let him see her like this. "I'm not an angel though daddy."

"Sure you are. You're the original Hell's Angel baby."

She laughed at the nickname she'd had since she could remember. "That's me. The bad ass angel."

Will laughed, bringing on a fit of coughing that wracked his dying body. "Jaiden," he murmured, knowing he was drawing on his last breaths. "Never give up baby. Fight the good fight…and fight with all you've got. Be the strong woman I know you to be."

"Dad…please don't," she whispered, a tormented sob tearing from her throat.

He placed his big hand over hers where it lay on his chest, certainly feeling the effort his heart was making to keep him alive.  "Be strong…live by the code. And remember Punkinhead…I love ya."
            Jaiden leaned down, placing a kiss on his bearded cheek. "I love you daddy," she whispered. His heart gave one last lurch and his last breath shuddered past his lips, dying away with the sulfuric breeze.

It was then that Jaiden knew she was truly alone. Her heart shattered violently and she pitched forward, laying her head on her father's chest as she cried. "Ride free daddy," she whispered through her tears. "Ride free."