21 chapter yet. It's a quiet one. I hope this story is going good xD
Chap 21- Project n° 35007
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Vice stood with the opened mouth when Modo and Stoker gave to him the paper "Is it a joke right?" he asked "And should u find it in your bike?"
Modo nodded "With a message too."
The group was at Cloud's home and was discussing about the finding of the paper. The old leader would be here in some moments for take information.
"What's that?" asked Ronald leaning forward to look "It's a..."
"Paper project." said Vice "I'm not a scientist but i'm not stupid. I've seen a lot of them at home when dad worked at 'em and then it's written here: Project N° 35007."
The paper in his hands was blue and on it a satellite was drawn with white pencil. There were a lot of descriptions linked at the parts of the object, the wings, the solar energy magazine on the summon, the central aerial. Everything was explained, or it seemed. The mathematical calculations were complex, full of chemical formulas, only Stoker, Cid and Sharon could understand something. But the Freedom Fighters's Leader backed down "Seriously, I don't understand. I'm a scientist but these tings go over what I could think. Above all the formula at right-down. What's the H5 L9 O17 ?"
"Have u ever seen this formula?" asked Carbine looking the old mouse astonished.
"Never. I could assure u that a similar element doesn't exist if I haven't doubts." answered Stoker.
Vinni took a look "For me is an alien language. I don't understand!"
"The dear Bruce had enjoyed himself with the chemical and with other things I see." Commented Stoker looking the project with more attention "Well, these calculations are for... err... doesn't matter." he said noticing the dazed look of the other mice who were watching him like he was saying something of another world "Then, now we have the paper project, as it seems, and then?"
"The mission is complete only at half. We must recover the real one." said Vice "If is it for real, we must find a satellite."
"Yes. According to the paper it isn't so big, and then?" Stoker had a vague idea on what would happen.
"We'll come back to the Earth and Sharon will take a look on it. She'll see if all the calculations' re right." answered simply the Gladiator.
Rimfire looked the group with displeasure "Are u going away yet?" he asked.
"I'm sorry, we've come only for this." answered Modo ruffling his hair with the hand.
Carbine was of the same thought, separating again form Throttle and meeting him who knew when it wasn't a thing that she liked "The most important thing is solving this situation. If this thing is really the only way to our freedom, the freedom of everyone, then is better hurry." she said with to much emphasis that made the tan mouse smiling.
"Vice, someone's looking for u." it was Lucy "Cid is waiting outside, he has something to say to u."
The Gladiator nodded "Sorry but Cid has something to give to me, Ronald, as the grandfather arrives ask to him the key, today itself we'll go to take the satellite."
Ronald sighed, they would leave again "But before I would greet a few peoples."
The big brother smiled "Don't worry. I'll don't give u hurry, as I've said I've some business to do. Guys, the same is for u. In some days we'll leave again." and then he disappeared in the corridor.
"Oh finally." exclaimed Cid "Listen to me, go to my office. There's something that u must know."
The dark mouse watched him with attention "All this secrecy for a test?" he asked.
The scientist swallowed "This isn't the point but there are a loft of strange things, please follow me and don't ask."
Then the two went to the room where Cid had his things, the scientist closed the door at the back and searched on the compartment of the desk "Don't tell around ok? But u must observe the results." he gave to him the papers.
Vice took them and let the eye run on the list of numbers and codes. The martian genetic code was divided in two part, in a total of five numbers. The first was composed by three numbers that denoted the line family, the second part denoted to which branch of the family a mouse could belong taking as reference the male member "Impossible..." murmured Vice when the look noticed the first three numbers "335?"
"Yes. It's the base of the Gladiator's line. The next numbers must show then the family to which effectively she could belong and if i'm not wrong the 76 belongs... to your father?" tried Cid.
Vice nodded "Well... the hair concurs, as I see, then she's the thief as i've suspected. But does she belong to the clan too? And adding to this at MY family?" he scratched the head, and if had his father had another daughter out of the wedding? This would be against the code of the clan but it would explain the familiar scarlet eyes "Is possible knowing who the mother is?" he didn't want think that his father could do a similar thing, anyway he died 17 years before "U know... I wouldn't know that my father..."
Cid sighed "Everything could be. I'm sorry, Vice, but this is all we were able to obtain." he looked the old friend with apprehension "Don't tell to someone. This can provoke troubles to u too."
Vice breathed deeper and sat "At this way he put in the junk everything he had taught to us if he..." he couldn't think to an adultery, it wouldn't have a reason to be, his mother had been the most desirable pray in the clan, impossible that he could betray her after 13 years and then die tying to protect her and his sons, but this could explain also why Rebecca wasn't never seen and why probably she was acting in that way. But something wasn't wrong.
Cid posed an hand on his shoulder "For this reason I say to don't tell to no one. Probably it was an accident, u can't know it. My father has always told of Bruce as the seriousness made mouse. But the life has always some surprises. U must tell with this Rebecca and know more."
Vice snorted "I've tried. Before she answered as a robot Top Secret and then she burst into tears." he answered standing up. He gave a last look on the papers "Anyway, thanks. Now I know why she was able to face me when..." he blocked insecure if speaking, he felt suddenly in pieces.
Cid chuckled "U're the old same irascible mouse eh? Going in Berserk there is risky, if they would attack u all together u could die."
Vice massaged the temples "U know, I drive myself crazy when Leila isn't with me."
"Is her on the Earth with Sharon?" asked the scientist.
"Yes. I obliged her and the children to stay there and I've made it right." answered the white haired mouse "I think is better going, I must recover my father's project and let Sharon taking a look on it. Save the tests, they could be useful."
Cid smiled reassuring "With me your secret will come with me in my tomb, u know. Then but what about your friends?" asked remembering.
Vice looked at him dazed but then he smiled "Are u telling about Throttle and Modo? U must tell with 'em."
The scientist fixed the little circular glasses on the head "Then don't u mind if I steal them for a while? U know, i'd like take a look on Karbunkle's work."
The Gladiator shrugged "If u hurry to put away those tests and u'll come with me..."
The brown furred mouse nodded and as a flash put away the tests and followed the friend. The two mice passed through the city and arrived at Cloud's.
"At good hour." said the old gray furred mouse.
"Oh... grandfather." muttered Vice clearly embarrassed "U're back."
Cloud snorted "Yes and I've just known everything." answered giving a soft hit with the walking stick on the grandson's head "U're never able to stay calm!"
"Grandfather! That stick hurts!" exclaimed the grandson massaging the head, in the truth he didn't suffered and he knew that the old mouse told him off for obvious reasons.
Contrary to every bad expectations of the young mouse, Cloud smiled nearly proud "At least u've shown to them what a Gladiator can do. U know, I think they're scared enough, they had pulled out the troops from the North and South camps.
"Pulled the troops?" exclaimed Stoker "Why?"
Cloud shrugged "I have no idea. But the ours are back in the city and there's an apparent calm."
Ronald was playing with the key that the grandfather had given to him " Hei Bro..." he said showing the key "Then we go?"
Vice brought the key and nodded "Yes. Oh.. I was forgetting... Throttle, Modo, Cid would like to have a chater with u, he's waiting outside, Vincent, Stoker, with me. Come on!"
"And Harley?" asked the white mouse.
"I stay here, i'll wait for u." answered Harley with a smile "Come on!"
Vice's home stood the same as they'd left it. Nobody went inside since the last time. Vice got off his bike and opened the entrance.
"What a hole!" said ironically Stoker.
"Yes but the lab is built in a way to don't be destroyed. U know, as a bunker in which get safe also effectively we'd never used it." said Vice, the famous third key was at safe in the pocket of his beige shirt.
The mouse went to the lab. He moved the library that hid the passage, he opened the door and went down on the stairs that led to the lab. Stoker looked around, it had been here one time. Vinnie stood calm and watched the metal objects around in the room.
Vice switched on the computer that was still operative, he inserted a password and unlocked a metallic plate big as a door, it was in the wall, it slid on the side showing another door, this last seemed a big strongbox. The dark mouse sighed deeper, his heart was running as crazy and the anxiety assaulted him, he took the key and put it in the lock. Finally the door was opened showing what it had inside: a big number of rejected inventions, prototypes and paper projects.
"Wow." murmured Stoker with the opened mouth, Bruce worked hard with the design, there were little models of space ships of war and travel, weapons and even toys "Cool..."
However what Vice was looking for was at the end of the room, on a pedestal, surrounded by a glass case. Vice came close to observe it. It was a cylindrical object tall only 20 cm. It could be brought easily. The mouse noticed that a little smile crossed his face, all that chaos of a little object like this. But if his father put it under key it meat that it was ready and probably he noticed its dangerousness "Bring that blanket. We'll take the satellite to the ship."
Meanwhile Modo and Throttle had followed Cid as far as his lab, not the one under the ground of the city but the scientist's one "I don't take u to the other because u're estranges and... I can say that I don't wanna troubles." he explained embarrassed.
Throttle giggled "No problem."
"Come on, I take a look to your eyes and try to understand what happened to them. It makes me astonished that Karbunkle had failed." said Cid.
The lab of the brown furred mouse was a warehouse than something else, the young mouse spent his time above all in the big lab under the ground.
"Nice here." commented Modo looking the devices scattered on the desks and shelves "How old is this one?" asked looking a little robot, two legs were at each side.
Cid smiled sadly "This robot was the first one." he answered carrying it "It was the beginning of everything for me and Sharon." he put it at its place "Take off the glasses." he asked to the tan mouse who obeyed and gave them to him.
"Ouch... snow..." muttered Throttle helped by his gray friend.
"Oh... these are Stoker's!" exclaimed Cid observing them "I remember them!"
"Yes. He gave them to me when we understood that I couldn't wear the helmet for all my life." answered Throttle.
"Yes, what a thing!" chuckled the scientist "The lens has a device that interact with your eyes and let u see." he said looking the green glasses. Then he took a little torch and came closer to Throttle. He seemed who the Earth men could call an oculist.
The tan mouse stood sat letting Cid to watch him "What do u see?" asked the last one.
"Nothing. All white." answered Throttle.
Cid thought "Then u can detect only the light. Your eyes' re adapted only at half. Have u had a blindfold?"
Modo had a start "Yes, he had it." muttered him feeling guilty.
"Who had took it away? He must wait for at least three days in the darkness and..."
"I think is my fault." said the gray mouse "It was me who took it away and.. I didn't know that..."
"Hei Big Fella, it's all ok." reassured Throttle "U couldn't know it."
"Yes but..." tried to say Modo but the displeasure was to much.
"Hey u two! Don't despair! Not all has been lost." said Cid smiling "Obviously, I need your consent and the fact that u're still here. If u'll leave in some days... we could..."
Throttle wore again the glasses "It would be awesome but how time it needed?"
"As i've said three days." answered Cid "Four if your body doesn't accept easily estranges objects, but I doubt as i've seen because the development process was at half for u and Modo can move the arm without problems. I can tell with Vice and defer the departure, but u must make me know as soon. And about u Modo, i'd like u let me take a look to your arm. I'll fix it better and then observing the enemy's cheats is funny." chuckled the scientist.
Then during the chattering Cid studied the invention of the mad scientist "Tell me, how's that genius of Sharon?" he asked.
"Good." muttered Modo "But not when Oliver wants involve her in his games."
The brown furred mouse giggled "Always the old same sulker!"
"She was so when we met for the first time." said Throttle "But now she seems changed a bit. I think."
"Changed?" Cid turned to the tan mouse "What u mean? And her hate for the male genre?"
This was the point that Vice hadn't cleared and the gray mouse would like know more, if the Gladiator had given to him the free way, then , Modo should take more information he could for don't make mistakes and don't play all the cards in the wrong way, Sharon played the two of spades with big easiness.
"Mh? Hate?" Throttle chuckled "Why? Does she hate the males?"
The scientist didn't smile, he was serious and continued the maintenance of the bionic arm "Then, since the fact of the rats had happened, according on what Vice had said to me, Sharon totally changed."
"Do u know what happened?" asked Modo "Vice hasn't told me."
"Nope. Sharon never told me. Also if I think that holding everything inside isn't a good thing." answered Cid giving the arm back to the gray mouse "This is what she has obtained after years: the incapacity of show what she feels. For her also only an hug it's hard."
"Well... she hasn't problem to hug and kiss Vincent." noticed Throttle laughing.
"Vinnie is the youngest and Sharon is older than him, I think she considers him as a little brother like Ronald." said Cid "That's why she hasn't problem and probably the poor Vinnie thinks that Sharon's serious. Why are u laughing?" the scientist looked them puzzled.
The two mice were going to fall on the floor.
"Vin thinks that everyone is serious!" exclaimed Throttle.
"Maybe he hopes it! I'm sorry for him!" the gray mouse wiped the tears "And then Harley is back again, this quirk will be weaker. I think."
"Tell us.. are u Sharon's boyfriend?" asked the tan mouse after a while.
Cid smiled "Wish I had to be!" he sighed "But she's uncatchable. When she seems to be caught, then she escapes."
"Why haven't u told with her?" Throttle looked at him amused.
The scientist was unease "Of course, I did. But she rejected me. End of the story. She had said that I finished to hate her genius."
"Wow, so modest the girl!" smiled the tan mouse.
But Cid wasn't of the same thought "Effectively she was right. Me and her argued often and at the end for sure our life would be at this way. An eternal bickering about if the water boils at 100°C or not and similar. Arguing and arguing we could finish to stop to speak each other."
"Then Sharon has an ego similar than Vinnie's." joked Throttle.
Cid chuckled "I can say worst than it if she enter in competition with other scientists, geniuses or what they are. In this competition we can say that she's a Gladiator."
It was clear that in that clan could win only who had the strength and the genius required, Modo had a question "U don't know how fight, then what kind of test u should do?" he asked.
The scientist muttered "I dunno. Before the smart mice weren't calculated. Since Bruce had shown that also the brain was important in a war, the things changed. But until now any male has been chosen. The Gladiator girls prefer the warrior, u know, they don't fight and they need someone who can protect them."
Yes, seeing Sharon, Modo had forgotten this peculiarity and it was also one of the reasons for which the two twins persecuted him "Got it."
The chatter continued for a while and they told about what happened to Karbunkle's lab, at the end the three agreed and the decisions were taken. Cid told with Vice and they would left as Throttle and Modo were better.
"I admit to be nervous." noticed the gray mouse.
Throttle chuckled "Fear?"
Modo snorted "Of course not! But i'm excited!"
"Come on guys! And in Plutarkian's mouth!" exclaimed Ronald.
"Could he die!" answered the two.
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Well.. a note. "In Plutarkian's mouth" is the adaptation of the italian phrase "In the wolf's mouth" that's mean "Good luck". But u can't answer "Thanks." u must answer "Could it die!"