Part III
"You hungry?" Lydria asked knowing that none of the men had thought about feeding Charley.
"Yes I'm starved."
Walking the hall Charley was getting quiet a lot of attention from the admiring males on the base. "Why are they staring at me? I'm not the first alien to come to Mars."
"Charley dear, those looks have nothing to do with you being an alien. They are just admiring a very beautiful young woman. I noticed the cleansing light has given you a new hair do." Lydria chuckled.
"I was going to ask you about that. Will my hair grow every time I use it? If that's the case I won't be able to walk or see in a couple of days."
"Yes, it happens with some off worlders, I can get you a cap that will shield your hair from the growing effect. But if you want my opinion you look quiet fetching. I'd think about keeping it that length it more that suits you. And our attire seem to fit you as well."
"Thanks, but they will take some getting use to." Charley blushed as she pushed her long chestnut locks back over her shoulder and tried not to trip over the long skirt
"Well, come on lets get you fed." Lydria slipped her arm around Charley and they head for the cafeteria.
Even before they got there Charley could smell the aroma of things cooking. Nothing that she recognized but appetizing, nonetheless. The large metal doors open to a bright airy space filled with not only mice, but also other offworlders and Charley felt a little more comfortable. There were some that looked almost like the inhabitance of her world and others that were totally different but exotically attractive.
They took a seat and Lydria went to get them some thing she thought would appeal to Charley's appetite after asking what she normally ate. Charley again looked around the room amazed at how much life the universe held and wondering when her own planet would be ready to faced this knowledge.
She also noticed that those Martian women that weren't in uniform where dress similar to how she was dressed. Mostly long flowing dresses and she smiled adjusting the shoulders of her own. It wasn't often, if ever, that she would ware something that bared her shoulders so much and she had been a little nervous. But seeing that it was the norm she could relax and enjoy looking like a woman instead of one of the boys.
"So, out with out the leash, Earther?" A nasty voice came up from behind her.
She didn't have to turn she knew the voice and tried to ignore Carbine. The incident in the hallway wasn't going to be the end, but Charley wasn't going to be goaded into a scene that would embarrass Throttle or his mother, she remained quiet.
"What's the matter Terrain no back bone when you don't have your body guards around?
And aren't we pretty, all dolled up like you belong here." The acid in the bitter female's voice was so strong it could have melted Plutarkian glass steel.
Charley tilted head and made eye contact with the woman that one time she called friend. "Look Carbine what happened earlier shouldn't have, I apologize. Let's just drop it, okay?"
"Oh and do I drop the fact that you swooped down on Throttle and got him on the rebound especially when he was so vulnerable."
Charley sighed frustrated seeing that Carbine wasn't about to let this go with out a scene. "First of all, not that it's any of your business, but I didn't swoop down on him. You lost him long before I ever came into the picture. Maybe if you'd treated him like some one you loved and not some one you command you'd still be together."
Carbine nostrils flared, how dare this foreigner, this alien, have the nerve to insult her like that. She went to reach for Charley but Lydria stepped in between the two angry women, "Carbine sweetheart it's nice to see you after so long a time."
The enraged gray female just glared at her. But Lydria only smiles all the more sweetly, "Don't you think it would be better to find some where else to sit, dear? Charley and I do have some private thing to talk about."
"Don't play coy with me old woman you never like me and I know you are glad that Throttle and I aren't together. You'd rather he be with this, this creature. Well, I'm not out of the picture yet ladies so you'll be seeing a lot more of me." Carbine threw a death stare at Charley and again stormed away.
Lydria only shook her head and sat down placing the tray of food in front of her. She could see that Charley was very upset and placed a comforting hand on top of the distressed humans.
"I wish I hadn't come, Throttle has so much to deal with he doesn't need this nonsense going on to make it any harder." Charley was just about in tears.
Oh no darlin' he needs you to be with him. You can't help what Carbine feels it's a situation of her own making. Throttle told me just how important you have been to his life and how much you've sacrificed not only for him, but Modo, Vinnie and Mars. Your exactly were you should be, by his side."
Charley looked at her and squeezed her hand lovingly. "I see where Throttle get his caring."
"Okay now no more of this foolishness. I think you will like this dish." Lydria put a plate in front of Charley filled with what looked like purple spaghetti with orange pieces of meat mixed in. "It's…"
"Don't tell me! If you tell me I know I won't be able to eat it." Charley took a big fork full, closed her eyes, and put it in her mouth; she chewed and waited for the taste to invade her tongue. It was wonderful, it tasted nothing like spaghetti, again it wasn't like anything she could compare it too. She just knew it tasted very good.
"See, I knew you'd like sand squid." Lydria smile as she joined Charley in eating.
Charley just looked at her and smiled remembering what the creatures looked like and trying to swallow what she had in her mouth.
"So tell me about your family dear."
Charley finally got the food to go down her throat and was grateful for a reason to stop eating." Both my parents died when I was about 10 and my uncle raised me." Thinking about her family made Charley look to the man's ring she wore on her index finger, turning it slightly with her thumb.
"He and my dad had a cycle shop and when my dad died I just took up where he left off."
"You were just a baby." Lydria said compassionately
"Daddy always said, I was born with a wrench in my hand. Any way my uncle died of a heart attack some years later and I have been running things alone ever since. That is until the guys came into my life. Can you tell me about their lives how it was before the Plutarkians? What kind of kid was Throttle?"
Lydria reached into her shirt and took the locket from around her neck, "I know Throttle would die of embarrassment if he knew I still had this and I was showing it to you but it's a mother's prerogative to embarrass her children." She opened the small case and showed the pictures to Charley.
"Oh, he's absolutely adorable." Charley smiled lovingly as she looked at little bare-bottom, chubby, precious, tan baby. "And this has got to be his father, they look a lot a like?"
"Yes, that was my David, he was quite a man and he adored Throttle." Her face filled with a sad smile. "He died when Throttle was only 4, so for most of Throttle's life it was just he and I."
"It must have been very hard on you raising him alone." Charley said sympathetically
"I wasn't alone I had our family to help. My sisters and their husbands helped out so much. Did you know that those three are actually related? Vinnie's mother was my sister and Modo's father was my brother. Almost from birth those three were inseparable. They'd drive us all crazy with all the mischief they would get into. But I wouldn't have changed it for the whole universe." Lydria wiped an escaping tear from her eyes.
The conversation continued and the two women shared many different parts of their lives. Charley was actually able to finish her meal and began developing a stronger connection with the fascinating woman she was spending time with.
****
Mars didn't have an over supply of medical persons, but the few doctors were skilled light years beyond anything on Earth or Plutark. Some were off worlders that had been rescued from Plutarkian prison camps.
One recent addition to that group was Hari Odo. On his home world he'd been a very famous surgeon, but his capture by the Plutarkians soon ended his career. He was assigned to one of Plutark's medical labs and only cooperated so he could try and help as many prisoners as he was able too. He couldn't do much to stop what their demented scientists were doing to the prisoners, but he could secretly record as much information as possible, hoping that one day he could help the victims if ever he were able to escape.
That escape came at the hands of the mice of Mars and he decided to return with them using his skills to assist whom ever might need his help. His decision aided along by the beautiful Martian female he'd spent 5 years trying to protect and who was partly responsible for his freedom.
He was tall and very muscular, with strong feline facial features. His dark gray fur contrasting with emerald eyes that seem to peer out at you, holding one mesmerized went meeting him for the first time. The full mane that covered his head and fell long down his back gave him a regal appearance. The large gold neck ornament and gold adorned braid that hung down the front of his face only added to the kingly air he had about him. But his manner was anything but arrogant. He had seen much death and cruelty at the hands of the Plutarkians and it only made him all the more sensitive to the suffering of others.
Dashing throughout the halls, bare chest, black leather pants, boots and white lab coat flying in the wind Dr.Odo's mind was focusing on the new patient waiting at his lab. Walking in he wondered why Lydria was standing in the outer office. His face lit up seeing the object of his affection.
"To what do I owe this pleasure my, Love?" He walked over taking her hand and brushing his lips softly against the back of her fingers.
She smiled warmly," The pleasure is mine seeing your face, beloved."
"Then why do I see such sadness in thine eyes." His hand cradled her chin and caressed her cheek.
"Because the young man you are about to examine is my son."
"The child you thought dead?"
"Yes, my heart is in great pain because of what's recently happened to him. Do you think there will be anything you can do to help him."?
"To take the pain from thy face I will do what ever is in my power, but I can not promise anything."
"That's all I can hope for." She touched his hand.
"Does he know we have become mates?"
"No I haven't had a chance to tell him, but I will, I promise after this is all finished. You understand don't you?"
"As thy wish." He smiled releasing her face.
They entered the lab and Lydria walked over to Throttle and Charley to introduce the doctor. "Children this is Doctor Hari-Odo, one of the finest medical minds in the galaxy and hopefully he will be able to help you Darlin'." She put her hands on Throttle's shoulders. "Hari, this is my son Throttle and betrothed Charlene Davidson, from the planet Earth."
****
Lydria left Throttle and Charley to the examination and head toward Carbines office. Entering she saw a young male sitting at a desk next to Carbine's inner office. She smiled and started walking past him.
"Hey, you can't just walk in there," the beige mouse jumped up from behind his desk.
She looked over at him not cracking the slightest smile, "Do you plan on stopping me?" The determine almost dangerous look that glowed in her silver eyes made the young man drop his head and sit back down.
"Thank you," She said turning to open the door and enter the office. Standing for a moment she watched the young general attempting to look busy.
"We need to talk Carbine." The older mouse calmly said.
"We don't have anything to talk about." Carbine answered coldly not taking her eyes from what she was pretending to do.
Lydria chuckled and turned like she was going to leave. Instead she wrapped her tail around the leg of the large, heavy, metal, desk and picking it up, she tossed it across the room as if it were made of paper. Carbine jerked back as all the contents flew in every direction.
" WE DO NOW!!" Lydria said in a slow calm voice.
The shocked young female just sat frozen in her chair. There were roomers that Lydria had been experimented on by the Pultarkians, but no one knew what was done, until now.
She smiled and stepped up close to Carbine standing almost nose-to-nose leaning over the shaking woman. With out breaking eye contact, Lydria once more took hold of the desk in the same manner lifting it and placing it where it had been. She stood and walked round the office picking up every item putting everything back in place to the point of placing the pen back into Carbine's hand. Carbine still hadn't moved.
She walked back around reached over and pulled a chair up next to the desks. Her silver eyes focusing directly at Carbine and this time the respected eye contact was reciprocated.
"I only have a few things to say," The brown female spoke her voice not changing its tone of calm and control. " I understand that you are hurt and I found out way. I realize it hurt when you and my son ended your relationship. But that had nothing to with me, Charley, or any one else. It was that need of yours to control ever thing and everybody. Your jealous of Charlene not so much because she is with Throttle, but because she's what you never were, what you never try to be."
"I never disliked you Carbine. Yes, I thought you were bossy and took horrible advantage of him, but if that's what my son wanted it was his choice. But Charlene Davidson is his choice now. Throttle has enough to deal with and you will not add your ridiculous behavior to make his situation anymore difficult. You need to vent your anger go find some Sand raiders to blow up. I hear that Limburger character is on Earth go make his life miserable. Do what ever you have to do. But hear me and listen well little one, you pull another stunt like you did in the cafeteria the next time I come into this office, will be to turn you over like I did that desk, and whip your pretty little tail. DO- I -MAKE- MYSELF -PREFECTLY- CLEAR!!" By this time Lydria was standing leaning over the desk in Carbine's face.
"Y-y-yes perfectly," Carbine whimpered seething mad, hurt, and terrified all at the same time. She tried with everything in her, but the overwhelming emotion was too much and her head fell on to the desk. She wasn't going to cry, not now. But her eyes had other plans; the tears ran from them like a fountain as she pounded her fist on the desk. "It's not fair. It's just not fair," she lamented sorrowfully. "I still love him, what am I going to do? I still love him so much. Why can't I have another chance?"
Lydria's heart softened and she reached over putting a consoling hand on the crying general's shoulder, "You have to get on with your life, there are no more chances. Carbine, you are a very lovely young woman and there is some one that will appreciate that strong personality. Just next time, be more woman and less general."
Carbine lifted her head and smiled a little. "You think so?"
"I know so. A man can't love a woman he is afraid to disagree with. Well, I have to get back and see about Throttle. Hari should be just about finish with the examination by now." Lydria started to leave.
"Lydria."
"Yes dear?"
"My thoughts are with him and I really hope things turn out well."
"I will tell him you said so, Love." Lydria smiled and left.
Carbine wiped her face and sat thinking about what the wise woman had told her. The young male from the outer office opened the door and asked how she was doing.
"I'm fine Surge or I will be fine in time. Thanks for asking," she smiled at him.
He nodded and started to leave then turned back, "Um… General, I was going for something to eat, can I bring ya back anything?"
"Yes, thanks I'd appreciate that a lot," she smiled and noticed that he was strangely handsome in a rugged kind of way. (Carbine couldn't believe what she was about to do) "Would you care to join me?"
"Back here? In your office?" The beige colored male asked unable to believe what she had just offered.
"You don't have to, I shouldn't have put on the spot," she said embarrassed wishing she had kept her mouth shut.
"No, no I'd like to. I'll be back in a sec, anything special you want?"
" Surprise me," she tried to hide the blush beginning to form on her face.
"Okay, be right back."
Carbine had smiled to herself. "Maybe there's hope for me yet."
To be continued….
