Secrets III (The conclusion)
Throttle left to retrieve Vinnie so Charley could have her time with him. He would simple say that Brie had found out. Maurice would pose; as the client Charley had expected, but found out he was an old friend from high school. That way he could stay close and keep an eye on her. They had agreed on a one day delay, but not a second longer.
Throttle fought with himself all the way back to the truck stop. What made the relationship with his bros. so special was the trust they shared, a bond that had been forged through years of depending on each other, of almost sharing their very thoughts. Could he really keep this from Vinnie?
Yes, Vincent Van Wham was, wild, unpredictable and at times a little crazy, but when he let himself care for some one it was with a love that few could ever understand. Throttle knew he felt that kind of love for Charley. But he also knew of Vinnie's deep unflinching hatred for the Plutarkian's. After all he'd seen them destroy his whole family. Once some one had merely suggested that not all the fish were bad and Vinnie flipped almost putting that poor soul in the hospital if Modo and he hadn't stopped him. So maybe Charley was right, once he found out, maybe he would hate her too.
"Why can't life ever be simple?" he mused as he came up to see his bros. sitting on the side of the road waiting for him. He took a deep breath and pulled up next to them.
"Talk about taking forever? Man, what did ya do make those cables." Vinnie teased but surprised not to get any reaction from Throttle.
"Hey Bro something bothering you? Modo asked knowing Throttle long enough to see his mind was on more then going to Detroit.
"No…no I'm fine it's just a little change in plans we don't need to go to Detroit. Timing is bad that's all.
"Alright!" Vinnie cheerfully yelled he was more than happy to get back to his ladylove.
Modo on the other hand knew something wasn't just as Throttle had said but he would address it later.
*******
"I can give you this shot to help with the sick feeling, but you are taking a major risk waiting, Kass. If you insist on taking the last injection, delaying will only give your body more time to build up a resistance, it will have to work harder to make the chemical change."
"I know Maurice, I know but it's what I want, it's my life." Charley said as he put the injection into her arm.
You know Kass, it's a shame you won't let Vinnie see the real you. You are quite beautiful. I have found that most of the Martians, we have dealt with, have a special ability to accept the differences. Ravenfire seemed to love you and he always knew your true self.
"Ravenfire was different," she shot back.
"Throttle didn't have a problem," he reminded her
"I know, I know. But Vinnie, I've seen how he looks at Limburger, how he reacts at the mere mention of a Plutarkian. Maurice can't you see why I need just this little bit of time."
"No Kass, I really don't, but I promised you the time. If after all this is over and he's fool enough to walk away I'll be here. Just like I always have been." He smiled as he touched her cheek.
Charley saw an expression in his face that she'd never noticed before. They had always been close friends, but the look wasn't that of a close friend but of longing. A wanting something more than what they shared. He had been there for her and she for him, but if there was any thing more he'd hidden it very well until that moment.
"Maurice???"
"It's okay Kass. I just hope it's what you really wanted. You'd better get yourself together he'll be here in a little while and you don't want him to catch you like that." Maurice was saying more in his words than actually spoken.
She watched him leave then walked over to the mirror and sat looking at the person she truly was then at the artificial face laying beside her equally artificial hand. Of course she was sure, wasn't she?
Vinnie pulled into the garage to see the stranger sitting reading what must have been the designs Charley had worked up. This must be the client Charley was waiting to see.
Keeping his helmet on and the tail strategically out of sight he watch the dark skin human cautiously.
"Hi Sweetbabe, I see Throttle must have told you. Didn't take you long to make it back here." She smiled knowing his attention was focused on Maurice.
"Yeah he and Modo had to stop at the board. Some big conference they couldn't wait to discuss. Who's your friend? " Vinnie questioned not too thrill by his lady beginning alone with this, what some might consider handsome, stranger.
"Oh this is Maurice Turdan. A very dear, and long-time friend. It shocked me when it was he that showed up. We go back a long way. By the way you can take off the helmet he knows."
You're sure you can trust this guy?" Vinnie questioned surprised that Charley would share the information so quickly with any one.
"Yes Vinnie, I'd trust him with my life." she reassured the cautious Martian.
"Well if you say so, nice to meet ya, "Vinnie extended a hand as he removed his helmet.
"I wasn't sure if Charley had lost her mind when she told me about you and your friends but since I'll be staying around for a while it couldn't be helped." Maurice said as he took hold of the hand offered and returned the handshake.
"Excuse me!! You are going to what?" Vinnie questioned looking at Charley with a "if you think I'm going to let this guy stay here with you alone all night, you're a out of your mind," expression.
"Vinnie please, Maurice is a doctor, here for a medical convention along with picking up the bike designs. He's like a brother, you worry too much," Charley smiled kind of flatter that he would be jealous.
"Well doc, you can stay with us we have plenty of room." Vinnie offered in a tone that told Maurice he really didn't have much of a choice in the matter.
*****
Charley had gotten up that morning feeling a little queasy. She couldn't wait until Maurice and the guys showed up so she could get the medicine to calm the increasingly sick feeling. She had promised Vinnie that they could spend the entire day together away from his bros. and especially her so called brotherly close friend.
As soon as they got there Charley asked Maurice to come to her room to check on some additional changes to the bike. She could see that Vinnie wasn't too happy about the idea but thankfully Throttle ran interference knowing what they were really doing. That she needed to take the injection to keep her stable until later that evening when she would be getting the final medicine.
"Kass you are taking a real risk doing this. I don't know how long this will work you need to get this thing over with as soon as possible." Maurice warned holding the syringe not giving her the injection.
"Don't start with me, Maurice, you said you'd give me today. I promise as soon as we get back I'm all yours," she said giving his that stubborn look he loved and hated all at the same time.
"I don't know why I let you bully me like this, but it's your life," he sighed while giving her the shot.
Charley came back down to the garage and a relieved Vinnie, all ready to go, "Okay, Hot Shot, let's ride." she cooed as she climbed on the back of his bike hugging him tightly around the waist and Vinnie's world was prefect again nothing else mattered.
We'll be back, …she started. When we get back," Vinnie finished as he revered up and they took off.
Maurice only shook his head concerned but could do nothing about it. He watch them leave and walked back up to the bedroom to make sure everything was ready so that no time would be wasted.
*******
It had been a wonderful ride they had spent the whole glorious day together. But now Charley was beginning to feel that sick feeling return. She couldn't stall any longer she had to get back.
"Vinnie, I think… I need… to get back to the garage. I'm not feeling very well, must have had too much fun today," she said trying not to alarm him.
"Oh come on Charley girl, the night is young and I have a lot more planned," he playfully retorted.
"No Vinnie…. please take me back." Charley could feel her body begins to tremble and things were fading in and out.
The sound of her voice made Vinnie stop his bike and take a look at her." Charley, baby, what is it?" He took her face in his hands and she tried to give him a smile but she was feeling worst by the second.
"Don't worry Babe, I'll get you home as fast as I can." Vinnie wrapped his tail around her and took off speeding to get her home.
At the garage Maurice, Throttle and Modo were worried sick. "I knew this would happen," Maurice fumed scolding himself more than anyone else. Why did he let her talk him into waiting? If she weren't going to take the last injection she would still need a special drug that would help her body readjust. The sudden chemical change has been known to kill some. Either way he needed to be with her.
Throttle cursed himself for not telling Vinne and Modo only hoped they would be back soon as Vinnie's voice came over the radio sounding scared.
"Yo Bros, I don't know what's wrong with Charley but she's sick. She's shaken all over. Tell her doctor friend we'll be there in about 15 minutes."
In less then 10 they could hear Vinnie's bike tearing down the road towards the garage. As soon as he pulled up he took Charley off and carried her up to her bed. Maurice began to examine her immediately.
"Look you guys take him down stairs, explain what ever you think you have to. I have to get started," Maurice ordered as Throttle and Modo took Vinnie out of the room.
"Hey what's up? Where'd all that equipment come from? What's he going to do to her?" Vinnie protested confused as his bros. almost carried him away.
"Look Vincent, there is something you gotta know about Charley and I have to be the one to tell you." Throttle said as they deposited Vinnie on the couch.
Throttle didn't pull any punches just told him all he knew and waited for Vinnie's reaction.
"If this is your idea of a joke Throttle you got a real sick sense of humor." Vinnie looked at his friend not able to believe what he'd just been told.
"It's true Vin, I know too." Modo confessed. "Throttle told me last night."
Vinnie stood up with a blank expression just before he punched Throttle across the jaw knocking him to the floor.
"I thought we were bros? How could you keep this from me? I trusted you!" Vinnie snarled as he stood over Throttle almost daring him to get up.
Modo grabbed him from behind. "It's the way she wanted it. It wasn't his place to say anything if she didn't want him too. She knew you'd act like this, hate her."
Vinnie wheeled around with an almost hurt expression on his face. "Hate her, are you crazy? I couldn't ever hate her. I thought at least you guys knew me better than that.
I love her more than I have ever loved any one in my life. Cheese, so she's Plutarkian I don't care. But if I knew I could have convinced her not to take the last injection. We could find some other way to…." Just then Vinnie realized what Maurice was doing as he spoke.
He barreled past Modo up the stairs to stop him, but he was too late. Maurice had just put the syringe down. For the first time Vinnie saw her true face and all he could see was his beautiful Charley possible dying and there wasn't a thing he could do to stop it. He knelt down by her bed and gently stroked her long white hair then took her weak shaking body in his arms.
"Vinnie, I'm, sorry," her trembling voice barely whispered, as she turned her face away from him.
He held her chin and pulled her face back towards his then brushing his finger gently across her mouth he quieted her. "SHHH … no talking young lady and you should be sorry, keeping this from me. But we can talk about that when you feel better."
"You being here will help a lot. It's going to get pretty bad for her. She's going to be very sick and she knows it. If she survives the next 6 hours she'll make it. But no matter what don't leave her." Maurice told him frankly.
"We'll make it." Vinnie confidently assured him.
Maurice smiled and walked over to Charley/Kass and touched her shoulder. "You underestimated this young man, Kass. I'll be down stairs, give you two some time alone. Call me if you need me."
Down in the garage Maurice found Throttle putting ice on his jaw but made no mention of it.
"How does it look?" Modo asked anxiously.
"Well, it will either take the odor away permanently or she'll be dead in about 6 hours." Maurice sighed as he fell saddens onto the couch. "I barely made it when I took the last shot. But Kass stayed with me won't let me give up. Vinnie will make a big difference to whether she survives or not."
"You two been together long? That is if you don't mind my asking?" Modo questioned seeing stress and worry on the strangely handsome Plutarkian's face, Maurice having pulled his mask away.
"Yeah we've been together for a while. Once Ravenfire was killed she was almost obsessed with stopping her father. Funny that guy is so wrapped up in making money and conquering the universe he still doesn't know his own daughter is part of the underground."
"This Ravenfire, how was he killed." Throttle asked, his jaw feeling a bit better.
They had spent a lot of time together while he was in hiding trying to get off Plutark. But then he found he could do more if he stayed. He decided he was going to try and helped get some of the other prisoner free. Chashel, our contact, got in touch with my group and we took him to our base hidden in the hills where my people were forced to live.
"Wait, what do you mean your people? Aren't you Plutarkian like, Limburger?" Modo question a little confused.
"No, my people are very different from Limburger and his bunch. They are treated, not much better than the other prisoner trapped on Plutark. They had to toil long and hard with little or no reward for the work. There are far to few of us to gain our own freedom so most of my people just do what they are told and die slaving their lives away. But some of us won't let that happen. We found a way to fight back. By allying our selves with other races that are fighting the High Chairman and his kind, we're fighting for our own people. We look somewhat more humanoid then those who rule over us, that is why our women are often taken. Kass' grandmother was one of our people, that's why Kass looks like she does. Anyhow after we worked out a plan, Ravenfire let himself get recaptured and from inside the prison we could work together to get a lot of the prisoners free and off the planet. Not just Martian, but people taken from all over the galaxy. One night an escape attempt was botched and he was killed helping another prisoner. I thought his death would kill Kass and it almost did. Then we got word that there was going to be a unit sent here to Earth, to work against Limburger. That gave her a new purpose and well the rest is, as they say, history." Maurice ended on a sad quiet note.
"You really love her, don't ya bro? Modo asked taking Maurice completely by surprise.
"That doesn't matter. It not what she wants? What ever will make her happy I'll be satisfied with."
In Charley's room she was beginning to feel the full effects to the chemicals working in her body. The pain was surging through her in waves making her sweat so that she soaked the all the bed covering, right down to the mattress. Her white hair matted to her head as she tossed her head back and forth, speaking in her native tongue. Then it happened, as her body began purging itself, the very smell she never wanted Vinnie to experience began emitting from her skin in full force 10 times more pungent. Vinnie on smelling it became completely repulsed and left her side gagging as he fled from the room.
Maurice stopped him at the top of the stairs. "Where are you going? You have to be in there with her, she has to have physical contact with a loved one, if you don't she will die."
Vinnie looking more lost than any time in his life, "I can't…. I..I.. I just can't."
Maurice not having time to argue pushed past him. Walked over to the bed he pulled Kess into a strong embrace. She spoke only in Plutarkian and he answered her in like manner. Most of what she said didn't make much sense but she could feel that person whom held her felt a great deal of love for her. That his, will was enough to give her the strength to survive.
******
Down in the garage Vinnie was silent, knowing he'd let her down, that even though he did love her there was some one who loved her more. Some one who was better for her then he was. Someone who could completely accept every part of Charley, no not Charley, Kasseri. Yes, Kasseri the strangely beautiful Plutarkian woman who was struggling to survive in that person's arms, not his.
"You okay Vin?" Throttle cautiously spoke risking putting his hand on his bros. shoulder.
"It's okay Throttle. Yeah I guess I'll live just with out her." Vinnie answered softly.
"You don't know that. She'll understand any of us could have acted the same way."
"No, I bailed. When she need me most. She was dying and I bailed. Do me a favor bro tell her to be happy. She needs to be with some one who will stick by her no matter what and that's not me." Vinnie got on his bike and left.
*****
Up in her room Kass could feel her self begin to focus to the things around her.
She looked up trying to make out the body that felt so comforting as her head lay against the strong chest. She smiled to see the blue/green eyes and warm smile of Maurice looking down at her. Oddly she wasn't surprised because he was always there at her worst moments. Always there when she needed comfort, support, and as she began to realize love. She didn't need the false face or the make believe Charlene Davidson.
"He tried to Kass, but it was just too much for him. I'll get him if you want?" Maurice said as he started to move.
"No, please stay with me. I know Vinnie probably tried and I understand. But I also understand that you are the one I need. You are the one who is always there not matter what. Loved me even though I was too blind to see how much. Vinnie will always have a special place in my heart, but you are whom I want to be with." Kass said as she reached up to touch his face. "I truly do love you. I guess I have for a long time."
" I have loved you for so long." He said as he gently kissed her.
*****
As the two Plutarkian stood ready to board their ship leaving for a new assignment, Modo and Throttle hugged the woman who had become a very important part of their lives.
"I'm going to miss you both so much," Kass told them between the unstoppable flow of tears. "Life won't be the same with out you. Take care of your selves and don't forget me."
Throttle kissed her on the cheek. "Like we could ever for get you. When this is over we'll all meet up on Mars, I promise."
"We are gonna miss you somethin' awful Char… I mean Kass." Modo smiled as he kissed her other cheek. "Hey bro, you'd better take good care of our girl."
"You don't have to worry. It's been an honor and pleasure knowing you guys. We'll keep that promise and see you on Mars." Maurice smiled as he hugged his new found comrades.
"Throttle are you sure he won't be coming. I just though he might, just to say good bye." Kass hoping against hope that Vinnie would be there to see them off.
"He thought it would be better this way. But he did say to tell you to be happy and for you bro, to make sure you take care of his Charley."
"Will he be okay, Throttle? I mean really okay?"
"Don't worry he'll be fine. You know Vinnie, he bounces back quickly." Throttle gave her one more hug and the two left.
Not too far from where the ship took off, sat one lone figure watching as it disappeared into the dark night sky. "Be happy Charley girl. I'll love you for ever," was said in a tearful whisper before Vinnie turned and left to deal completely with his lose.
******
The three sad Martian warriors sat in the quiet empty garage neither saying much, each lost in his thoughts. Suddenly the silence was broken by the sound of a large silver motorcycle that had pulled in. A lone rider stopped to examine the three sitting slightly stun biker mice.
The figure was unmistakably female clad in leather boots, and a blue one piece nicely fitting jump suit all being covered by a long black trench coat. Long red and black curls hung out from behind the black helmet that covered her face.
"So are you three the ones I am suppose to contact to work with in this area?" She questioned her voice clear, sweet and melodious. As she spoke she removed her helmet to reveal a gray skinned, green, cat-eyed, beauty definitely not from Earth, Mars or Plutark.
"The name is Azai R'tor, from the Thyndirian high council. Kass contacted us and I'm here to give you whatever help I can offer in your struggle against the Plutarkians.
I hope you don't mind, but I just have to stretch. This darn coat always gives me a cramp if I have to wear it to long." With that she removed the coat to reveal large bat like wings attached to her back. She unfolded them full out to the further shock of the now completely stunned Martians. "I figure we start off seeing each other how we really are."
Vinnie's eyes lit up as he walked over to the new female and smiled his toothiest hero grin. "Yeah babe, sounds like a real good idea to me. The name is Vinnie, the baddest mamajamma this side of three galaxies, at your service."
"Oh really, well we are just going to have to see about that, won't we." she smiled admiringly at him.
"Yeah, I guess we will? Why don't you let me give you the grand tour of your new surroundings pretty lady?" Vinnie suggested as he held his hand out offering her a seat on his bike.
"Don't mind if I do." She purred as she removed her self from her own machine and took a seat behind him. Folding her wings and putting the coat back on.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your partners." She smiled looking at Throttle and Modo putting her helmet back in place.
"There's plenty of time for them later, besides you're with the coolest part of the group so they can wait. Check you out later, bros." He called over his shoulder as he flew out of the garage with the new lady holding pleasantly around his waist.
All Modo and Throttle could do was shake their heads and ready themselves for a whole new adventure.
The end.