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Thail Part III
Vinnie sat in Charlie's darken room having only briefly nodded in the 28 hours that had elapsed. Modo and Throttle had been in and out trying to get him to sleep or eat but he refused. He spent most of the time staring at her empty bed and filling his mind with every moment he'd spent with her. From the less than heroic rescue on the day they hit Earth to the moment when he asked her to be his lifetime partner.
He thought about how her eyes sparked when she was happy and excited like a little girl getting her first puppy. Also how those same eyes could explode into an emerald fire when she was mad. A fire he had experiences more times than he'd like to remember.
The look of her chestnut hair as it shone in the Chicago summer sun and the sweet feeling of it as he lost his face and hands in its incredible softness. The indescribable feeling when he could finally hold her in his arms not only as his dearest friend but also as the love his life would center on from that moment on, a life that would mean nothing if she weren't in it.
"Vinnie?" Angelica's voice hit his soul with a fear that wouldn't let him turn and face her. If that look were on her face his heart would stop beating.
"Vincent she's fine. She came through with flying colors."
"Yeah bro looks like our Charley girl is still quite a fighter." Throttle said giving his relieve brother a hug. Not only out of shear joy but to keep Vinnie from toppling over.
Vinnie didn't care he was beyond any words to describe what he was feeling at that moment. The tears flowed unrestrained down his face. His thanks could never be measured by mire words. He turned and took Angelica in his arms and held her, the embrace one of appreciation, relief, and undying gratitude.
"Angie I… I.." Vinnie couldn't get many words out but Angelica returned the hug knowing what he meant. She had lost many but this was one of the rewards that made her life worth all the sacrifices she's made.
"It's okay Vinnie I understand," Was all she need say.
"Now I think you need to go get some sleep she won't be back in her room for at least another 6 or 7 hours. But there is just one thing I have to tell you, we didn't count on Carbine's system being as strong as it was and Charlie's changed a bit."
"I don't care as long as she's alive and I have her back I don't care what she looks like." Vinnie rejoiced.
"She will have to stay under a protective covering for a day or so and we will keep her sedated but after that she should be ready for visitors. Now, you guys take him out of here make him eat something and Vinnie, go to sleep." She smiled and tugged playfully at his cheek.
"Okay Angie but only if you promise the second I can see her you'll tell me." His voice sounding as exhausted as he was.
Angelica just looked at him as if to say," Like I won't?"
"Come on Vincent you heard the lady it's beddy bye time." Modo said as he took one arm with Throttle on the other. They lead him out to their quarters.
Angie only shook her head in amusement at the three over grown children. She stood for another moment and watched Charlie's bed hoping that Vinnie had really understood just how much Charley had changed.
The Martian Desert:
Thaila pace the cave he had turn into a temporary home. He couldn't get Throttle's words out of his mind. She's alive; she's alive but how could that be. He could see her death in his mind as if it had just happened. The sickening images he couldn't erase no mater how hard he'd tried.
It had to be just another cowardly trick to confuse him try and make him forget his purpose for living. A feeble attempt to spare their worthless hides but it won't work.
He had gotten them to come back now he could repay them each, as they deserved. The human was just the start. Just the beginning of the torment he had plan for each them. Yes they would suffer, suffer until they would be glad when he finally ended their lives. A low insane laugh started in his throat growing in intensity until it echoed through out the cave his hand slowly crumbling the picture of the young blond mouse, his next target.
Back at the base:
So much had changed since they had last seen Mars. The base now known as Utopia 1 was more a thriving city growing more every day. With the Plutarkian's being forced off of Martian soil it's people could concentrate on rebuilding their world. The freedom fighters and army joining forces to make sure that Mars would remain free from any further invasions from Plutark or anyone else. With the help of a new technology Mars was able to construct a force field that protected the entire planet from attack. But still reconstruction of the lives of its people would be much harder and more complex to rebuild. Those lives including Throttle, Modo and Vinnie the Bikermice from Mars.
Modo sat quietly in their small but comfortable quarters. In his hands a tattered photo that had seen many days and been soiled by many tears. A young female face smiled back at him along with the faces of two little girls. He touched the photo running his finger down it's length for a moment lost in the memories the picture always brought back.
"Still hurts doesn't it bro?" Throttle said as he placed a comforting hand on the back of his partner.
"But it gets easier as time goes on. Can't stay in the past gotta move on." Modo smiled as he put the picture back in its special place. "So is Vinnie still sleep?"
"You kidding he hit his bunk so hard a full scaled invasion won't wake him?" Throttle chuckled.
"So what's up for today?" Modo stood ready to get their lives back on Mars kicked into gear.
"Well Stoker wanted to meet with us to work out some kind of strategy to try and find Thaila before he can do any more damage."
"That shouldn't be hard, all we have to do is search about a million miles of desert and hope he doesn't blow our heads off while were doing it."
"Yeah welcome home bro" Throttle laughs as they leave and head to Stoker's office.
The Infirmary:
Angelica watched Charlie's vital signs as she began the process of letting Charlie's body begin operating on it's own. Each hour one or more of her own body functions had taken over what the machinery was doing for her. Finally the last of the connections was
turned off and Charley was breathing and living on her own power.
Unexpectedly as Angelica was checking her patient a raspy voice startled her. "So …you're…the miracle…..worker."
Angelica smile as she noticed Charley watching her. "And you are the remarkable Miss Charlene Davidson."
Charley smiled a tiny bit finding it hard to speak. "Why.. do …I feel… so …strange."
Angelica hesitated a moment then tried to explain what had happen. "Remember I told you that you might have some physical changes because of the procedure. Well looks like they were a little more than we thought."
"What …do.. you..mean?" As Charley spoke she went to put her hand to her head and noticed it was covered with light beige fur. She touched her face and it too was covered with fur. "Mirror…want mirror." she stammered
Angelica reached in the near by draw and gave Charley a hand mirror, knowing it was going to be needed. Also having a sedative prepared just in case.
Charley stared at the Martian female with the familiar green eyes that peered back at her from the mirror. Strangely a smile filled her face. "You… do good …work. Now… I …am… home."
Bikermice Quarters:
Vinnie having slept full 2 days woke a little cloudy to where he was and what was happening around him. He heard voices coming from the next room.
Charley, how was Charley? He pounced out of bed and practically fell into the room where his bros. was sitting.
"Well if it isn't the walking dead." Stoker joked looking at the mess Vinnie was.
"Charley she's ……" Vinnie almost too scared to ask.
"She's fine Vinnie in fact she been asking where you where. But she wouldn't see any of us until you were with us." Modo assured him.
"I don't know what such a beauty would she see in this punk." Stoker teased.
"You just keep your distance old man that's my soon to be wife your drooling over. I'll be ready in a few guys then we can all go see her."
"Uh… Vin you have been sleep for two days, take more than a few, you don't want her to have a relapse." Throttle joked holding his nose. Vinnie just rolled his eyes as his bros. had a hearty laugh.
The four comrades talked and joked as they walked toward the infirmary. Suddenly Modo's attention was direct to the sight of a very attractive dark brown female heading toward the nursery.
"Bros. I will catch up to you in a minute." Modo said as he heads in her direction.
"Well doesn't take the big guys long does it?" Stoker smiled
Doesn't look like it, who is she? Throttle asked admiring Modo's taste.
That's Magel Rennio she's one of the childcare specialist. Works with the kids getting them resettle, helps them deal with trauma of lost families stuff like that."
Modo almost running to catch up with her, "Excuse me.. excuse me Miss Magel."
Magel stopped and smiled noticing who it was, "Oh hi Modo it's it? Nice to see you again feeling a little better?
"Yeah much better thanks. Um… I was wondering if you might be free this evening?"
"Oh why is that?" She said with a coy smile on her face.
Well um if you were I was kind of …well I was…sort of hoping that… we could…" Modo was stumbling over his words.
"I'd love too." She smiled enchanted by his boyish charm. "Come pick me up at the nursery about 8:00. See you then."
Modo couldn't believe she's said yes. All he could do was smile all over as he ran to catch up to his bros.
Charley was now considerable stronger. She spent all morning getting ready to see the guys. She picked up the mirror and re-examined her new face. She looked just slightly different then most of the mouse population but not so much that it could be easily detected. Her fur was just a bit shorter and her ears just a bit smaller. The most noticeable difference was her lack of antenna and her now even more striking green eyes. Even her hair was a little different; it had grown past her waist but was still the same chestnut brown.
"Well lady you ready for the big unveiling?" Angelica smiled hoping to relieve some of Charlie's nervousness.
"Angie do you think he'll still…still…."
"Hey you have nothing to worry about the way that guy loves you."
Charley jumped as a voice from the intercom informs her that she has some male visitors.
"You ready" Angie holds her hand for support.
"As ready as I'll ever be. Let them in." Charley take a deep breath.
Angie goes to the door and opens it letting the guys in. Modo, Throttle, and Stoker stood astonished at the sight of the new Charlene Davidson. Vinnie walks in behind them stops as he sees the person lying in Charlie's bed.
Charley bites her bottom lips fearful at what they are thinking, tears welling up in her eyes. "Charley baby girl don't cry you look absolutely beautiful." Throttle realising the effect their shocked expressions was having on her. He is the first to embrace her.
"Yeah Charley girl Vinnie better watch out now. You are the most beautiful mouse I have ever seen." Modo said as he kisses her cheek.
"I only wish I were a few years younger you are a wonderful feast for this old Martian's eyes". Stoker kisses her hand.
"Thank you guys this all means so much, thank you. Where's Vinnie I thought I saw him come in with you? Why isn't he here? Charlie's voice getting panicky.
"He probably flew out to get you some flowers or something special. You hold on I'll get him." Throttle smiled as he gives her hand a reassuring squeeze.
Angelica beat him out the door stopping him before he could go to find where Vinnie had disappeared. "Look I don't know why He left just get him back here. That girl is still pretty weak and she needs all the love and encouragement she can get. Drag him if you have too."
Throttle didn't have to look very far in the waiting area stood Vinnie both hands braced against the wall.
Yo Vin what's up? Why'd you leave you know Charley needs to see you? " Throttle questioned.
"I don't know bro. I took one look at her and could go any closer. It was like I was looking at a stranger." Vinnie said voice shaking.
"Whoa, okay yeah her appearance is something of a shock. But she is still beautiful and still Charley. And she needs you, turn your back on her now it could kill her you want that?" Throttle said tying to understand.
"Do you think I want to feel like this. I know in my head she's the same person but my heart feels numb when I look at her. I know I love Charlene Davidson but that's not her." Vinnie said crushed and confused
"Vincent you do what ever you have too not to hurt her. She's the same jewel just a different setting. Give yourself time; give her time you have to at least try." Throttle pleaded.
"Throttle I don't want to hurt her but she'll know as soon as she looks at me she'll know.
But I will try, with everything I got I will try."
Vinnie walked back to Charlie's room to give her the best he could. He walked in as Modo and Stoker left the two alone. Charley sat with her head down afraid of what she might see in his eyes. He walked over to the bed and sat down next to her. Lifted her chin and smiled at her.
"Hi sweetheart, I've missed you. How ya feelin?"
"Vinnie why did you leave?" Her teary voice questioned.
"Well I… it's just I…." Vinnie was at a lose for words, she would know if he lied.
"Kiss me Vinnie"
"Sure babe if you want." He bent down and kissed her.
The tears ran down Charlie's face, as his kiss confirmed her fear and broke her heart. She pulled her face away, the devastation clearly in her voice; "Please leave Vincent."
"But Charley…I’m sorry just give me a little time."
"Just go please..PLEASE!" She sobs as she grabbed her pillow burying her face and turning her back to him.
He left her crying as he went out into the hall. "She knew, I tried and she knew any way."
Was all he said as he ran out of the infirmary?
Throttle ready to go after him was stop by his wiser mentor. "Let Modo and I take care of the kid you'd better stay with Charley.
Throttle agreed and went back into the room to see Charley crying heartbroken. He sat on her bed and pulled her to him wrapping his arms around her. "It will be okay Charley girl don't worry I promise some how it will work out." She just hugged him and continued to cry while he rocked her gently.
To be continued……