I feel rather out of character for doing this at the beginning of a new chap, but last week was rather crappy...

I got tested positive for Covid-19 last Tuesday (as well as my husband).

I lost sense of smell, that is incredibly weird. But the most tiresome symptom is literally that...being tired even after doing little things (such as cooking). But thankfully things are getting better, slowly, but surely.

With that said, I hope all of you are doing well! Take good care of yourselves.

Thank you guys so much for everything, though whether it's giving feedback, show support, adding the story to your alerts and favourites.

You are all magnificent!

The Scoreboard

Everything seemed to be in order. The box was tucked away safely, for the time being. One could only hope everything would go well now that it was stowed away in the dark.

Carefully, Izzy shimmied backwards out of the narrow compartment space. Placing her legs underneath her, she sat up and looked around, a deep sigh crossed her lips as she relaxed.

Sometimes it all felt like a dream. As if she was walking around in some sort of science fiction novel. But it wasn't. All of this was real. This ship and Charley's friends, who weren't human and didn't come from Earth.

They were aliens from outer space. Mars, to be specific. Martians, actual Martians. Not only that, but they were anthropomorphic mice. Who would have thought that that even existed, except for in stories and movies?

But yet, here she was and she had even fallen in love with one of them. Suddenly her expression fell and her soft gaze turned sorrowful.

Falling in love was one of the last things she'd ever expected to happen. After Sam's death, that had been the last thing on her mind. Love had become a bitter word, a foul taste when spoken.

Sam's betrayal, his lies, his debt. There were multiple reasons why she never ever wanted to give her heart to another man again. Not just because of Sam but also due to the things she saw and experienced at Dreamland.

And then this stranger showed up in the parking lot of the motel she was staying at. A tall man, whose features were hidden underneath a motorcycle helmet. It seemed those were the type of men she just ran into.

He was admiring her car, something that wasn't uncommon. Lots of people stopped to look at her truck. The stranger had asked her for directions to the scoreboard. Something she found odd as it was a location which was rather hard to miss.

Now that she thought back on it, it made her smile a little. It seemed Stoker's words had been true, that he had been interested in her since the very beginning. After all, he had followed her to that place without even knowing her.

Actually, it did have a rather creepy ring to it if you put it like that. Peculiar looking fellow, follows bird for miles just to have a chat. Given the strange man was Stoker, others would probably describe his behaviour as being perfectly normal for him.

Their next meeting was at Charley's place. Along with Modo, the other Martian. Big, broad and impressive Modo. Izzy remembered feeling intimidated already simply by standing near him. There was just something about him that made you feel that way.

And now he was in a relationship with her sister-in-law. Seeing those two together, even before they became a couple, you could tell there was something there even if Modo wasn't even human.

Admittedly, she had been incredibly scared of them. Vinnie was the first one she saw for what he truly was. What they all were. It had scared the living daylights out of her.

Her fear had hurt them deeply, or so Charley told her after a while. It is true what they say, people are afraid of things they don't know. However there was no trace of that anymore. Being around those four felt normal now. Their appearance no longer shocked her.

The only thing that did manage to so was their reckless behaviour.

Slowly, Izzy pushed herself up and placed her hands on the control panel. There was still so much to go through. She had to make sure to double check everything before it was time to leave Earth.

Charley wasn't going to like it. Aside from Stoker, she doubted any of them were going to agree with the plan. Vinnie already knew about it, but Izzy could tell he wasn't fond of the idea. Thankfully, he had promised to keep things a secret. For now at least.

Was she nuts here?

Her eyes wandered around the room again.

Stoker told her of the possible dangers on Mars. The difficulties she would face, especially since being the only human there. As well as other matters, which were common for her on Earth. Such as certain luxuries and other simplicities she was so used to having here, would not be available for her there.

No matter how many times he reminded her of it, she wasn't afraid. Of course she was slightly worried and nervous. But that wouldn't stop her. She wanted to see and experience this part of Stoker's life.

There was a pull deep inside her. A yearning to discover and encounter a new part of life and even herself that she didn't know about. But she'd be lying to herself if that was the only reason.

Perhaps there was a sense of running from her past involved here. A need to get away from everything that reminded her of the past year. Running to England hadn't worked and maybe leaving for a distant planet, wouldn't either.

But she was done with it all. Done with everything. Even with Morden dead, as well as learning about Sam's second betrayal. Things didn't feel over. Dreamland still existed. The microfilm Sam stole was out there somewhere.

Not to mention the possibility someone might link Morden's death to her, even if she hadn't killed him. Although, if it hadn't been for Stoker's interference, she probably would have. Either that or the possibility of getting herself killed.

A red light suddenly lit op on the board in front her hands, accompanied by a soft beep. Izzy quickly stepped back. Had she pressed something on accident? Her eyes scanned the console, but it was the only button blinking.

She raised her index finger and pressed it. The large screen in front of her turned from black to white. A person appeared into view and a voice erupted from a speaker somewhere. Female.

"Come in, Biker mice. This is Mars calling Earth. Do you hear me, co,-" The woman stopped talking. Her large brown eyes blinked and she moved closer towards the camera.

Izzy's eyes widened and her lips parted slightly. She'd never seen a female version of a Martian before, up until now. Grey fur, like Modo, only lighter. Ebony hair which fell over her shoulders.

"H,- Hello." Izzy said to the screen.

"Who are you?" The mouse replied with a frown and a sharp tone of voice.

The question didn't throw Izzy off at all. She was the stranger standing in a Martian ship, after all. But unlike the mouse in front of her, Izzy had a pretty good idea who she was looking at.

Throttle's girlfriend and Stoker's niece. Someone who was also held in high regard with a lot of the Martian mice, if she were to believe Stoker. Izzy stepped forward and took a deep breath. Ready to make a good first impression on the person before her.

"You must be General Carbine." Izzy replied with a small smile. "My name is Isabel Davidson."

The Lake

Why was he so nervous? There really wasn't anything to be nervous about. The entire situation was clear. One that did not need to be surrounded with questions or awkwardness. Yet here they were parked next to the lake, both sitting on the ground with their backs leaning against their bikes.

Vinnie had been throwing small pebbles into the water with his tail and hands. Modo reckoned his bro probably felt just as anxious about this as he did, even though this was what they both wanted.

But, what exactly was it that they both wanted?

Of that Modo wasn't entirely certain, except when speaking for himself. What the grey furred mouse wanted most of all, was for Vinnie to tell him that he was okay with it.

Okay with him and Charley being in love together. Being in a relationship with each other.

Sure, the white mouse might have mentioned once or twice that he was totally fine with it. But things still didn't feel the same and no matter how many times Modo tried to act the way he used to around Vinnie, it still felt uncomfortable and forced.

"So,- I guess we should talk." Modo cleared his throat, breaking the silence around them.

"I guess,- What do you want to talk about?" The white mouse asked before moving his gaze from the lake to his bro.

Modo just sat there rather dumbfounded, still unsure on how to begin this conversation. Why should he be the one to start? Didn't Vinnie say he also wanted to talk to him?

But in all fairness, he was the one in a relationship and Vinnie wasn't. He had gotten the girl, something Modo honestly thought would never happen and now here they were.

"I think you know what I want to talk about." The grey mouse said, watching Vinnie intensely for a response, which he didn't get. Thus he continued.

"Look, I know I asked you this before and the fact that I'm asking you again probably isn't winning me any points. But,- this thing between me and Charley,-"

At that moment Vinnie let out a loud groan and Modo stopped mid-sentence. The annoyance on Vinnie's face was obvious. It was only logical what the conversation was going to be about, but that didn't make it any less tiresome.

"Geez, Modo. You know what my answer is to that question. I've already told you a gazillion times how I feel about it. And yeah, the fact that you keep asking me, ain't helping." He reached for another stone and hurled it into the distance.

"Giving me all of your dogs as well as the last can of root beer, also ain't helping." The white mouse went on.

"You want to know how I feel about you and Charley? Seeing the two of you together?"

He paused and pushed himself up from the grass, dropping a rock he'd apparently been holding in his other hand. Modo quickly got up as well as Vinnie let out yet another sigh.

"Honestly, it is affecting me more than I thought it would. I didn't think that it would, but it does." He placed his hands at his sides. "I'm not angry or anything and no, I don't despise or resent you or Charley for any of this."

Modo stared quietly at his youngest bro. Relieved on one hand that Vinnie just told him that he felt no anger or hate towards him, but he did feel concerned about the first thing the mouse said. That it was very much affecting him.

"Do you love Charley as well?" Modo asked and as soon as he did, he could feel his stomach turn. He didn't want to know the answer to his question.

What if Vinnie said yes? Where would that leave their friendship? He didn't think he would be able to treat Vinnie the same way as he used to. And that was already much of a struggle.

Modo felt guilty for what had happened, even if everything between them had gone fair and square. He told Charley how he felt about her and she accepted and returned those feelings. The fact that he had done it before Vinnie, shouldn't change that.

"Well?" He said again. "Do you love her like I do?"

Vinnie's shoulders slumped. "No,- Maybe..." He looked up at his bro.

"I'm not sure. It just aches here." He raised his hand and placed it against his chest. "Maybe seeing the two of you just reminds me of a time when I was happy with a girl."

A quiet spell fell over them once more and the image of a ginger coloured Martian female crossed Modo's mind.

"Harley?" Modo frowned and that pang of guilt hit him once again. Only it wasn't really guilt. It was something different. Remorse. Sympathy.

How lucky was he for having Charley, when Vinnie was all alone? Vinnie had been through the ringer when it came to love. Having had and lost one. All before they ever got to Earth in the first place.

Modo thought back on Stoker's comment from a couple days ago. To share Charley.

Something that wasn't uncommon on Mars. Though it didn't happen as often as it used to, but it did occur every now and then. Still, the thought of sharing his girl with another mouse was one that angered him to his very core.

No matter how much Vinnie's friendship meant to him, his relationship with Charley was more important and he was not going to let anybody else have her.

He watched Vinnie raise his head and turn his back to him. "She was the one, Modo. At least, that's what I keep thinking."

"I mean, every time I see the way Stoker looks at Izzy...the way he acts around her. How not being near her makes him crazy, that's what I had with Harley! And then I look at you and,-" A shuddering breath escaped the white mouse and he paused.

He couldn't finish his sentence and he didn't have to. Modo understood perfectly what he was talking about. All of them had noticed it before and all of them had made comments about it.

In more ways than one, Charley reminded them all of Harley. Her kindness, her skill with bikes and anything else mechanical. Her quick wit and her charm. There were differences which made her significantly different from Harley, but there were similarities.

Perhaps Vinnie was confusing his feelings for Charley with how he felt about Harley. Or maybe some part of him really did love Charley, just as he did Harley. The only one who could truly tell those feelings apart, was Vinnie.

But he was hurt right now and that made it a bit more complicated. Modo stepped forward and placed his hand on Vinnie's shoulder and the younger mouse looked up.

"I'm sorry, bro." Modo said softly and he meant it.

Vinnie shook his head. "Don't be. I mean,- thanks. Even if it's been a long time ago, time and all that yada yada. I guess it can't heal all wounds. But,- I'm glad we talked. I,- I actually needed that."

Modo nodded and gave a gentle squeeze. There was no need for Vinnie to say anything else. It was clear he accepted the relationship and had no ill intend towards either of them.

"Me too, Vinnie. Me too."

The Last Chance Garage

'To my sister, Charley...

I hope it's you reading this, If not, please take this letter as well as the container and its contents to the Last Chance Garage in Chicago, Illinois.

Hello, Gidget...

God, where do I even begin? I bet you weren't expecting this? Well, that makes two of us. I didn't expect this to happen... Actually, I never intended for any of this to happen...

Believe me when I say that the last thing on my mind was to disrupt your life like this. Something I've already done enough of.

You're probably wondering what I'm talking about, at least I hope you're wondering...because if you already know, I doubt you'll still be reading this...Cursing my name and all that jazz.

I've done bad, Gidget. Really bad.

I can't tell you everything, there just isn't enough time, but please hear me out.

The container you found (as well as this letter) contains an object of great importance. I'm sure you've seen it already... it's a microfilm. Inside of it you'll find blueprints. I don't know what they're for exactly. But what I do know is that there are people looking for it.

Bad people...

I guess you probably figured out by now that I never died in that motorcycle crash all those months ago...And before you start drawing conclusions, nobody else knew about it.

But as all cliché things go...don't bother looking for me.

By the time the Will and Estate company hand you my bike, I will most likely be dead.

On one hand I can only hope that you never discover this letter or the microfilm, but I doubt the people who I stole it from will lay low.

Therefore it is best that once you're done reading, is to destroy the mircofilm as soon as possible! That way nobody can get their hands or claws on it.

I cannot stress this enough, Gidget!

I'm sorry to burden you and for whatever it is I'm making you feel this very moment.

Believe me, I kept me being alive a secret with the best intentions at heart.

It was to protect you from mistakes and choices that I have made throughout my life. But especially this last year.

You see, I haven't been a good brother to you.

Actually, I haven't been a good person in general for some time now.

Just promise me one thing... A last request if you will.

Don't tell Izzy about this.

Not one word.

She's been cleaning up a mess I've made...A mess I should have never made...A mess that she should have never found out about and least of all taken care of it.

Up until a few months ago I thought she was back in England...

Turns out, I was wrong about that but by the time I found out about it, it was too late to fix it.

I couldn't face her.

She'd been through so much and perhaps I'm just one big scaredy cat by the end of the day. I think she did leave the country for real this time, last I checked at least.

Guess I'm not the brother you thought I were, huh?

I love her so much, Gidget...and I've done her incredibly wrong...

She doesn't deserve any more of my mistakes.

Neither do you...

Please, destroy the film and this letter.

I'm sorry for everything,

Sam

::::::...::::::

Charley never heard the roaring engine coming from outside, nor did she hear the footsteps approaching her from behind as she sat on the floor right next to her brother's bike.

Her eyes scanned the letter again. She must have read it over three times already, tears staining her cheeks and new drops forming every second she read her brother's nickname for her.

"Charlene?"

Stoker frowned seeing the auburn haired woman trembling on the floor. He crouched down next to her just as Charley wiped the wet stains from her skin with the back of her hand.

"Stoker? What are you doing here? I thought you were back at the scoreboard. Modo and Izzy are on their way." She quickly spoke, crumbling the piece of paper with her hand.

"Izzy forgot something. So, presto, I'm here,- but what's going on? Did something happen? Why are you crying?" Worryingly he stared at her as she averted her eyes.

There really was no point in hiding what she'd just discovered. She probably couldn't even if she tried. Her brother's letter, the microfilm. Without answering Stoker's question, she handed him Sam's note. To let the mouse see it for himself.

The hazel mouse frowned at her for a quick second before he started to read. Charley watched quietly as Stoker's eyes narrowed. His nose twitched a few times. He even gritted his teeth and when he got to the end, she could have sworn she heard him growl softly.

"So. Your brother sent a message from the beyond." His tone was anything but kind. Charley chose to ignore it.

"I found it just now. Right before Modo and Izzy left."

The timing could not have been better. Stoker let out a deep breath of relief. If Izzy had been here right as Charley made her discovery, there was no telling how things would have gone.

A letter from the beyond. A final message from a dead man, who caused nothing but trouble to the woman who now held Stoker's heart.

I love her so much...

The mouse grimaced. He didn't want to hear or read it. Even if it was something that was once very real and once part of Izzy's life, it angered him. He did not want to be reminded of the fact there had been somebody before him. Somebody who claimed to love the woman he had bonded with.

"Any idea what's on this blueprint he mentions?" Stoker asked, pushing his selfish thoughts to the back of his head.

Charley shrugged. "Haven't had the time to check it. It's on a microfilm. I bet that's what Izzy had been talking about. But I don't have anything here which will help with seeing what's this so called film."

Bending through her knees, Charley reached for a small object on the floor. The container containing the film. "Anyhow, it doesn't matter. Sam asked me to destroy this, as well as the letter."

"You want to destroy it without knowing what's even on there?" Stoker sounded genuinely surprised. It would seem Charley had already made a decision on what to do next.

But what if there was something on this film that they could use to their own advantage? After all, Morden had been willing to do anything to get his hands on it. For money, sure. But that only meant that there were probably multiple parties eager to get their hands on it.

"He mentioned the words, hands or claws." Stoker suddenly noted.

Charley turned towards him. "Meaning?"

"I don't know. Might be something, might be nothing. It's is a very specific choice of words he used there. Claws." The former rebel leader paused and rubbed his chin.

"You know,- Morden actually didn't seem too shocked when he saw Throttle and me for the first time." He then said.

Now that he thought about it, that had been rather weird. Stoker couldn't really tell, as he never really had lots of run-ins with Earthlings himself. But from what the others had told him, everybody was always a little bit thrown off-guard at first. Izzy had fainted on them even.

"You saying there could be something on these blueprints that other species want?" Charley furrowed her brow.

"Well, we'll never know. I thought you wanted to destroy it?"

Lowering his eyes he observed the woman next to him. Hoping she would decide otherwise. If not he'd have to simply take the microfilm with him without permission. They had all gone through too much trouble, thanks to Sam Davidson and his dumb microfilm.

Luckily, it didn't take long for the female mechanic to change her mind. Yes, she wanted to do what her brother had asked of her. That way nobody could come for it and hurt them ever again.

On the other hand, she was rather curious herself about these blueprints. What harm could there be and taking one look at those blueprints before destroying them forever?

"Alright." She replied and handed him the small object.

Stoker nodded and placed the container in his pocket as well as Sam's letter.

"Let's head back to the scoreboard. Time to check out what's on this supposedly important film that your brother deemed worthy enough to risk everybody's life for."

The Scoreboard

A golden cloud of sweetness entered his senses as soon as he opened the door to the main living area of the scoreboard. For about two seconds, the tan furred leader stumbled back a step and held onto the railing, preventing himself from tumbling down the steps.

He had not gone through all that trouble picking up dogs and root beer, yet again, only to drop them onto the concrete floor. A mess he did not want to clean up, nor listen to the cries of disappointment that would follow from Vinnie.

The actual mystery, however, was the following. Why did this area of the scoreboard smell like Izzy? That soft vanilla flowery scent that always managed to sent jolts of electricity through his body.

He'd recognise it anywhere. After all, it haunted his senses every time he even as so much thought of her. But how was it possible for her fragrance to be here? He had only been gone for a short while.

To his knowledge she was at the Last Chance Garage. Stoker and Vinnie had been right here with him, before he went out for the food. But he had also noticed that the other bikes were gone when he arrived just now. Meaning there was no way for anybody else to be at the scoreboard, except for him.

"It doesn't matter." He muttered under his breath as he walked towards the kitchen and dropped a few packages of root beer on the counter.

Over the last couple of days, the tanned mouse had been rather proud of himself and the way he managed to control himself around Izzy. It had been anything but easy.

Especially since he discovered his former mentor and Izzy had slept together. It had caused a slight shift in her overall scent. Her endorphin level was higher than he had ever smelled before and that made things incredibly complicated for him.

Almost as if she was in a constant state of lust and it obviously affected him in such a way that he could feel it himself. Throttle kept telling himself, if Vinnie could behave himself around Charley and Modo, surely he could around Stoker and Izzy?

Although the youngest mouse didn't show the same kind of reaction towards Charley as Throttle did to Izzy. If he really thought about it, it never once happened that Vinnie really lost his mind when being in the presence of Charley.

Modo was a different story. It was easy to see and sense that he had been infatuated with their female friend from the moment they met. Whenever Charley went with them, Modo seemed less focused than the others.

If she would have ridden with him from the start instead of Vinnie, things would have happened a lot sooner than they had now. Perhaps Vinnie wasn't as in love with Charley as he had been with Harley. Actually, that wasn't a question. Throttle was sure of it.

The tanned mouse dropped himself on the couch and leaned back, closing his eyes. Any day now and Stoker would be heading back to Mars. Back to Carbine, to continue defending their planet while the population was slowly rebuilding.

The fact that there was even time to finally start restoring everything was a true blessing. Although Throttle wasn't even sure of the planet's current status, he knew from Stoker that the outlook was a positive one.

This also meant that there would probably soon come a time when all of them would return to Mars. If that moment came, would Charley and Izzy come with them?

Throttle let out a deep sigh and placed his hand on his abdomen. Izzy's scent swirled like a pillowy cloud around his head. He was starting to believe that the universe was punishing him now that he had some alone time.

Her picture still burned in his pocket. But it wasn't the only thing he kept close to him. Even now he could hear the soft sounds of one of the songs playing in the back of his head.

Oh what a thrill, fascinations galore. How you tease, how you leave me to burn. It's so deadly, my dear. The power of having you near.

A song from the only remaining videotape of Izzy dancing. The day he and Vinnie destroyed those tapes for her, he had taken the one left in the VCR and hid it under his mattress.

He should have gotten rid of it, Throttle thought, as he once again closed his eyes and moved his hand a bit lower.

It was a good thing that the tanned mouse had the most perfect set of hearing compared to the other Martians and that he hadn't turned the television on yet. Because if he had, he very well would have missed the noises coming from the spacecraft a good few feet behind him.

With a swift jerk he turned his head, eyes wide, mouth agape and ragged breath. Out of the spacecraft stumbled a person. Someone who he had not been expecting to see. But he should have known. His own senses had practically warned him earlier.

Her scent had been way too strong and obvious for him to ignore. Yet he had done so, because he didn't think it logical for her to be here. But here she was. Standing in the entrance of the spacecraft.

Izzy.

How was that possible. Everybody else was gone and her car wasn't parked outside either. Why was she even here in the first place and why had she been in the ship?

But those were questions he couldn't answer at the moment, because there were bigger problems at hand now. One of them he being in extreme close proximity of his palm.

Izzy was already making her way over to him, but for some reason she looked rather embarrassed herself, only Throttle did not notice this as he was more caught up with his self-consciousness.

"What are you doing here?" He quickly asked before she even reached him.

The tanned mouse couldn't utter much without letting out short and heavy breaths. This wasn't suppose to happen. Izzy wasn't suppose to discover this part of him. This twisted and secretive obsession he had with the woman in front of him.

He doubted she had any idea of what he had almost planned on doing just now. Thank goodness for his Martian hearing. Although he did wonder why he hadn't heard anything earlier. What had she been doing inside the vessel exactly?

"I was just delivering some things for Stoker's ship. Things he asked for but didn't have time to bring over himself." The honey haired woman explained to him.

Delivering stuff? That mouse had plenty of time to do that himself. Her reason sounded odd to him. Throttle narrowed his eyes and stood up from the couch.

"What kind of things?" He asked.

Izzy's eyes shifted to the left and it took her a couple of seconds to reply. "Some last minute things he needs to make adjustments to the ship. Cables. Bolts. Connectors. Thing I know nothing about, really."

She was lying to him, Throttle was certain of it. He knew her better than she probably thought he did. Whatever was going on, he was certain he'd find answers inside of the spaceship.

"In that case, I'll have a look myself." He told her and without waiting he quickly rushed past her towards the ship, leaving a dumbfounded Izzy behind.

The lights were off, except for a feint orange glow coming from the front of the ship. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary so far. But he knew something was up and he wasn't going to leave until he figured out what it was.

Twitching his nose, Throttle made his way through the small cargo area. Literally following his sense of smell and he soon found a point of interest. Izzy's scent worked like some sort of radar, making it rather easy for him to pinpoint where she had been inside of the vessel.

She'd spent some time here on the floor. Carefully, he moved a panel, hidden at the bottom of the craft next to his leg. His eyes widened and he adjusted his glasses to make sure they weren't fooling him. But the object in front of him said it all, as well as the strong intoxicating vanilla scent coming from it.

He pulled the box out of the compartment and looked at its contents. It was a mix of various things. Vials and small bags of,- seeds? He wasn't sure, but that was what it looked like.

"Throttle,-"

The mouse didn't move or say anything as the woman's voice filled the craft. Instead, he pushed the box aside and reached into the nook once more to see of there was anything else hidden in there.

"Throttle, what are you doing?" Izzy continued and he listened to the sound of her feet approaching.

The tanned mouse retracted his arm, stood up and turned around to face her. She was standing right behind him now, looking up at him as he towered over her in the orangey darkness.

"I thought you said you brought some material over for Stoker?" He commented, nodding at the box on the floor. "That does not look like something one might use to connect a couple of cables together."

Izzy crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "What are you on about? Clearly that is not what I was referring to." She pointed her chin towards the front of the craft. "The stuff you're looking for is on the pilot seat."

Throttle blinked, but didn't turn his head to look. Something felt off, but there was nothing here that could confirm his suspicion. The fact that her scent was clinging to the box which was hidden behind a panel, wasn't enough. But it did tell one thing.

"You've been coming here more than once over the past few days, haven't you?" He asked.

Izzy nodded calmly. It explained her coming and going at the garage, sometimes with and sometimes without Stoker. But the real question was why. Why was she delivering things to the spacecraft that were obviously not meant for engineering purposes?

"I'm only helping out." She said to him. "If it makes you uncomfortable that I'm coming by unannounced, you can tell me and I won't anymore."

What? No that wasn't the problem here. Or maybe it was. She did almost catch him doing something he didn't want anybody to discover, least of all her. But Throttle wasn't a fool and he could smell she was nervous to be standing there alone with him.

Not in fear of him, but because she was hiding something and she didn't want her secret to be exposed. He had thought about it more than once. What would happen if Stoker was to take Izzy with him to Mars. And he had a pretty good hunch that that was exactly what this was about.

"Don't tell me this means what I think it does, babe." He whispered.

But the way she looked up at him and bit her bottom lip, was all the proof he needed. But he wasn't going to let that happen. There was no way Throttle was going to let her leave Earth and head for Mars.

Even if the Plutarkians were no longer there, there were plenty of other threats. Besides, the planet was currently slowly rebuilding to the way it once was and that could take months, even years.

She wouldn't be able to handle it. Stoker would be busy all the time and where would that leave her? No, she didn't deserve a life like that. Not after everything Sam Davidson and Morden had put her through.

"I've already talked about this with Stoker, Throttle. It's alright. Really it is." She replied but Throttle shook his head.

"You don't know what you're saying. Mars is no place for you. It's barren and red. Water is in short supply. The plants are slowly finding root and growing again, but it is only in its early stages."

"I know that. I've seen it." Izzy raised her hand and placed it on his arm.

Her touch was warm and Throttle tried his best to not move too much. He was still in a state of rush because of earlier. She was so close. Her scent floating around them like a warm golden blanket.

It was like that time on the couch, only it was sharper and more inviting than ever. He stepped back, but she didn't let go off him.

"Izzy,-" He said with a growl. "Let go..."

"Only if you promise me that we're going to talk about this."

His chest heaved up and down as he lowered his eyes at her. He was slipping. Shit, he felt it happening with every second. His stomach was doing somersaults and his knees were buckling.

"You...can't go..." He breathed. "I won't let you go to Mars."

I'll just leave you guys here for the time being.

(Styx, if you're reading this. Don't worry about Throttle! It'll work out in the end)

Thanks for reading everyone and as always, would love to hear your thoughts.