The Ring
Part II
Throttle came around first. Before he could completely focus he struggled to search in the dim light to find Charley. She was still out cold laying at the far corner of the cell. He crawled over to her and struggled to pull her onto his lap. He gently rubbed her cheeks hoping to wake her, "Come on, Charley Darlin."
After a few moments she moaned softly and touched her spinning head, "What happened? Are you okay?"
He chuckled, "Why don't you wait until the room stops spinning before you start worryin' about me?"
"I'm fine really," she started to sit up but he held her gently by the shoulders keeping her on his lap.
"There's no rush, take a minute to regroup." He smiled down at her while continuing to caress her cheeks.
She relaxed against his legs, "Who was that Plutarkian, Throttle? You knew her and she knew you. The only other person I've seen you look at like that was, Hard Rock."
"Let's just say, she's one of my past admirers." He attempted to make light of it but the determine look on Charley's face said, she was going to get an answer.
She sat up and turned toward him touching his chest, "She's the one in your nightmares isn't she? The one that makes you scream."
"How do you know about them?"
"My doors aren't that thick. The first time I tried to ignore it, especially when you said you were all right, but when it happened again and then a third time I asked Modo what was happening. He didn't tell me everything but enough to let me know how bad it was for you back then. I care about you, Throttle, please talk to me," her hand moved up to touch his face. The look in her eyes was filled with so much compassion and caring. He reached up to lay his hand on top of hers, "It's not pretty, Charley girl. I might loss points on your hero-meter."
"That will never happen," she encouraged lovingly. Her hands guided his head down closer and she kissed him. His first reaction was to pull away but the warmth of her being so comforting made him hold her for all he was worth. The kiss ended and he continued to embrace her tightly.
"Oh Babe," he whispered desperately, "You don't want to get mixed up with me. I'm not worth the time or emotion."
She held him as close as her arms would allow, "Why would you say that? Does it have to do with what happened on Plutark? Throttle, you have to tell me, please."
A moment past until he mustered up enough courage to tell her what she wanted to know. His voice was very soft and unsure, but he began explaining everything that happened. The humiliation he suffered at the vicious Plutarkian female's hands. The way she'd torment him trying to make him go against everything he held sacred. Then he struggled to tell her about that last day, how his resolve started to slip, how all he wanted was to end the torment, how if not for being rescue he might have given in. She could hear the shame in his voice. By the time he'd finished, he'd released her and turned away.
Charley moved his face back toward her, took his specks off and leaned up to kiss his eyes, " I know it's hard for you to accept that you have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm not going to try and convince you of your bravery or that you are noblest man I've ever met. But I want you to know in my heart, you'll always be my hero and nothing will ever change that."
He looked at her shaking his head in disbelief pushing her hair away from her face. He didn't say anything but pulled her back and kissed her with all the love and gratitude his heart had to offer.
Suddenly the door opened and Craft stood her attention focused on the Earth woman Throttle embraced, "Enough of that nonsense. Take them both to the lab. I have special plans for our loving little couple. And if he tries anything, kill the girl."
Two of the guards snatched Charley away from him and Throttle instinctively lugged to stop them, but remembered the orders Craft had just given. Maybe if he cooperated he could buy enough time for Vinnie and Modo to get there or figure out some way to bargain for Charley's freedom.
Charley had dropped his specks when the guards grabbed her and he tried to feel around and get them back before Craft could notice, but she stepped over and picked them up for him and slid them back on his face, "I want to make sure you see everything that's going to happen, pretty one."
"Take him," she ordered and the remaining guards dragged Throttle to his feet and held his arms behind him locking thick metal cuffs around his wrists. Pushing him out the door they follow Craft to Karbunkle's lab. Throttle could see them restraining Charley to the far wall. She put on a brave front but he knew she was terrified if not for herself then for him. Karbunkle was standing over his worktable seemingly tinkering with something and ignoring everything that was happening around him.
Craft turned to him and with the guards holding tightly to his arms she walked around the captured Martian. Her finger ran over the back of his ear and along the back of his neck. Throttle tensed and tried not to let her feel him shutter.
"Soft and beautiful, like spun gold," she admired running her fingers through the bound hair that fell down his back. Her hands maneuvered up under the long ponytail until she had untied the red scarf and slowly slid it off and holding it to her cheek. She continued to circle his body until she was once again standing in front of him. She looked back over her shoulder and smiled at Charley and walked over to her while twisting the scarf into a thin rope.
"You think you prefer this miserable female over me." She took the scarf and slipped it around Charley's throat and slowly started to tighten it. Charley gasped and struggled as the material started to cut off her air supply.
"She's not part of this, don't hurt her. I'll do what ever you want, just let her go, I won't fight any more, just please don't hurt her." Throttle strained against the guards.
Craft stopped and turned to look at him. "You'd do that to save this human. She means so much, that she could get you to do what the ring couldn't?"
"Just let her go," his head dropped.
"Well, this is an interesting turn of events. Am I to understand you love this Earther?" she walked over closer to where Karbunkle was working.
Throttle wasn't sure what she was trying to do, but he answered hoping it might help to save Charley's life, "Yes I do." He looked over to make sure Charley wasn't badly hurt.
Craft picked up something from Karbunkle's the table and walked back toward Throttle. The devious smile on her face made him sick inside. In her hand was a thinner version of the devise she'd tortured him with years earlier.
"You see my pretty prize. I just can't have that. You are mine and I will not allow anyone to interfere with my having you all to myself. Oh and don't worry, this ones painless. The kind doctor has adjusted it using the same technology as he did in the mind bender beam."
Throttle jerked back knowing what the machine did to Stoker. He began to struggle against the guards.
"Kill the human," Craft shouted and Throttle immediately stopped fighting.
" No..no, I'll cooperate." Throttle submitted.
"Craft held up her hand stopping the guard. Then walking closer to him she reached up and slid the leather vest off his shoulders and it fell down around his wrist. She admired his chest for a moment and unlocked the ring slowly fastening it around his throat.
"No you can't, you demented creature. Leave him alone!!!" Charley screamed pulling wildly against her chains.
"Gag her," Craft order without taking her eyes off Throttle. The guard took the red scarf from around Charley's neck and secured it around her mouth.
"Okay Doctor, activate it." Craft smiled with a look of longing in her eyes. The ring began to glow and Throttle moaned falling to his knees. After a few moments he looked up with a blank stare. She knelt down in front of him working her fingers in the hair that hung in his face. Bring her mouth close to his she whispered, "Kiss me as you did the human." Throttle did as he was ordered and Charley could only stand and watch crying frustrated tears.
Craft ended the kiss and smiled very satisfied, "My compliments Karbunkle, this will do just fine."
"What ever is your pleasure Mistress, but I'm not sure of just how much control you will have over the Martian. Remember I said you control his body, but his mind will remain his own." Karbunkle explained.
"I'm well aware of that, and it's the best part. He can think what he wants, feel what he wants, but can do nothing about it. He's my personal pretty, pretty, puppet." She turned back toward Throttle, standing and guiding him up off the floor.
"Take those restraints off him," she ordered. The guards unlocked the metal cuffs and they fell to the floor along with his vest.
"You know, Doctor I think one more test is need," Craft glared maniacally over at Charley. Nuzzling Throttle's cheek and kissing him sweetly she whispered, "Destroy the human."
Everything about the putrid alien repulsed him. Her touch, her smell, her voice, but he was helpless and could only watch, as his body became her plaything.
In his mind, Throttle struggled for control, but his body refused to comply. He walked over to Charley and watched her vainly tugged at her chains trying to keep out of his reach. He stood in front of her and she stopped struggling, she wasn't going to it make difficult. She had to know the internal torment he was feeling and understood it wasn't his hands, but those of the cruel alien that would be stained by her death. The look in her eyes was not one of fear, but deep love and indescribable courage. Though his expression was blank, it didn't stop the tears as he watched her stand bravely while his hands reached up and encircled her small throat. She lifted her chin and closed her eyes and waited for him to do what he had no control over. His mind pleaded her forgiveness, screamed his love for her, but he was unable to do anything else. The pressure from his hands marred her beautiful flesh with ugly purple bruises. He could feel the pulse in her neck get weaker and weaker and his mind was going crazy. With her last breath she mouthed through the red scarf, I love you and fell limb in his hands.
The distant sound of rumbling distracted Craft from enjoying the demise of her human revile and suddenly the walls exploded. Modo and Vinnie filled the room with explosive destruction causing Karbunkle to make his already planned escape. Craft looked shocked wondering why Limburger hadn't gotten rid of his companions like he guaranteed he would. The guards fired trying to offer a defense but they were no match for the determined Martian rescuers.
Modo saw what was happening to Charley and jumped from his bike, tackling Throttle away from her. Seeing the shinning devise around his bros' neck he snatched it off. Throttle's head swam and his vision blurred, but it didn't stop him from searching the room for Craft. Spotting her he had only one thing on his mind make her pay.
Craft, seeing she was defeated ordered her men to retreat and they bolted out of the lab attempting to board their ship and escape. Throttle took off behind them his mind focused on getting Craft. All he could think of was taking her down. They were just a hairs breath in front of him, but the door to her ship was just as close. Throttle stop running and carefully aimed at the fleeing Plutarkian. He pulled the trigger, but the blast hit the closing spaceship door.
Safe inside she laughed at the site of him on his knee bewailing her escape. "Oh well, there was always another day and another conquest to focus on," she mused throwing the long braid behind her and taking her place on the bridge of the ship.
"Commander, there is a call coming in for you directly from the high counsel, they say it's urgent," a young communications tech informed her.
She sighed wondering what the old fools wanted this time, "put them put on the main viewer lieutenant."
"Commander Craft, it has been brought to our attention that you have spent on enormous amount of the planets military budget on this last mission. We have been informed that it was not a military venture, but a personal agenda you chose to use the planets gold gills on. I'm sure you remember the severity of the punishment if this is the cast and we wish you to come back to Plutark so we may straighten this matter out.
Craft nervously looked around and saw her guards aiming their weapons in her direction.
"Oh and we have made sure that nothing detours you from coming here as soon as possible. We are looking forward to your explaination, Counsel out."
Walking back to the lab Throttle leaned up against the wall. There was smoke in the air and pieces of the walls were still falling. He looked over to where he'd left Charley and saw that Modo must have freed her and taken her home. What was he going to do without her, his heart felt as if it were going to crumbling into dust as he pitifully bewailed the love he'd destroyed?
Vinnie came up to him, having waited with Throttle's bike, "We gotta get goin', bro. It will only take Karbunkle a few minutes to get Lard butts goons squad. We gotta jet."
Throttle kept his face buried refusing to move.
"Look, you think Charley girl would want you to give up like this. No, she'd want you to keep goin' and kickin' Plutarkian tail. Come on let go."
Throttle took a breath and nodded in agreement got on his bike and went to the garage to take care of Charley. Pulling up they spied Modo's bike. They silently got off their own machines and walked up the stairs thinking Modo had carried Charley's body up to her bedroom. Before they could open the door Modo stepped out and held a quieting finger to his mouth. Throttle looked at him strangely then his heart jumped and he prayed.
"Yeah, she's alive. Looks like our Charley girl ain't as hard to kill as we thought. She's a little weak and she can't talk much, but I think with rest she'll be okay in a week or two.
Throttle all but past out and Vinnie had to grab him around the waist to stop him from falling on the floor.
"She wants you bro." Modo smiled.
Throttle stood back and shook his head, no. After what he'd almost done how could he face her?
"What happen today was Craft's doin'. Don't make Charley pay for it, go to her, she needs ya."
Throttle looked over at Vinnie and he nodded in agreement. Then at Modo and the gray Martian smiled and opened Charley's door, "she waitin' bro."
Throttle walked in and Modo quietly closed the door behind him. He stood at a distance watching her breath. She was the most beautiful site he'd ever seen laying with her hair spread out on the pillows. He walked closer and sat down on her bed. He could see the purple bruises around her throat. He very softly touched them and openly wept, " I'm sorry Charley, it wasn't me. I tried so hard not to hurt you. Please don't be afraid of me please. Trust that I'll all ways love you more then my own life. Can you ever forgive me?" He fell on his knees and buried his face by her side.
She reached over and to caress his hair gently, "I know baby, I know. We won't think about that now. Hold me and make me forget," her soft weak voice implored.
He got up and laid next to her, very carefully slipping his arm under her and cradling her lovingly, "Rest now my precious love and when you are feeling better, I will tell you how much I love you and how I will spend my life making sure you are never hurt again." Charley sighed contently with her arms around him drifting off to a secure, love filled, sleep.
The End