You Are My Freedom
Chapter two
by Morning
Jack took a breath knowing that his skills were best suited for upgrading the latest computer. He only hoped the studying they'd done was enough to help Charley get through the next couple of moments.
So far everything went according to the books. She was breathing rhythmically and the pain wasn't as bad as they both thought it might have been.
"Jack!" Charley called as the pain started again.
"I'm here, Kid. It's been a minute so we're just about there. You ready?"
"Yeah, let's get this done."
"Next time you have one, you know what to do." Jack wiped her sweaty brow and walked around to stand in front of her.
After a few grueling grunts and groans the next thing heard was the strong healthy crying from the new life that Charlene Davidson had just brought into the world.
"Oh Jack, she's beautiful." Charley smiled wearily while cradling her new daughter.
"Yeah, she certainly is one gorgeous little lady. Especially that golden colored hair."
"She got that from, Throttle."
"You sure there's no way of letting him know."
"Even if I could, I won't. I didn't tell him because I knew he wouldn't have left. As long as I have her it will be like he's here with me again. I'll raise our baby and maybe one day, when she's grown up, we'll have learned enough to accept all those no matter where they come from or what they look like. Maybe by then Mars will trust enough to let the rest of Earth know they exist and on that day maybe she'll get a chance to meet her Daddy.
"Until then it's going to be you and me, my little space jewel. I'll tell you everything about Mars and what your daddy and his bros. did to save this entire planet. I'll tell you of how we met and the day we realized we were in love and the beautiful simple ceremony that made the two of us one flesh. Our entwinning"
Jack stopped his cleaning and looked puzzled over at Charley.
"What they call married on Mars. The mayor felt so grateful for the times they'd saved his life that he officiated at the ceremony one night last summer. Throttle told me that on Mars they mate for life and even though our ceremony was simple it was deeply spiritual and so beautiful I couldn't stop crying. I've never loved anyone the way I love him, Jack and no matter what happens I'm his forever," her tearful voice shook
Jack walked over and sat next to Charley putting his arm around her shoulder giving her a loving squeeze, "You've got more guts then anyone I know, Kid. I hope old fuzzy knows what a incredible woman he's got."
"He does, Jack. In my heart of hearts I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I know he'll be so grateful that you stuck by me all these months." She rested up against the shoulder he'd offered.
"So, what's our little girl's name?" He gently caressed the sleeping baby's head.
"Willow." Charley whispered sweetly.
"Any special reason?" Jack wondered.
"It was Throttle's twin sister's name. She was killed just before he was taken prisoner on Plutark."
"Then, Willow, it is." Jack kissed the sleeping baby softly on the top of her head.
15 years later
"Mom are you gonna come and watch with me or what?" The excited teenager sat bouncing up and down.
"I'm coming, Willy, I'm coming." Charley wiped a strand of long mixed silver and auburn hair from her brow.
"How can you be so calm? It's the most exciting thing that has ever happened."
"I know, baby I know." Charley might have appeared calm and reserved on the outside but ever since she heard the news her mind could think of nothing else.
"This is Tanya Tiddle reporting live from the nation's capital here in Washington DC. The whole country has been caught-up in the flash of Martian fever. Ever since the high counsel of the red planet revealed the existence of life on the barren world, contact with the strange aliens has been on everyone's lips. For the past 6 months negotiations have been going on to plan a diplomatic mission from their world to ours.
"From what we've already been told the Martian populace was once almost decimated by another race of beings that to the shock of all governmental authorities had come to earth and almost inflicted like damage on our world. It's not clear how, but it seems that those aliens were held at bay by an unknown number of Martian freedom fighters and actually saved our worlds from similar destruction."
"We can only be grateful to those unsung hero's and make preparations to welcome our intergalactic brothers.
I think...yes.. We're ready... the ambassador to Mars is going to send greetings directly to all of us here on Earth. The next voice you here will be that of Commander T. Darkstar."
Charley wrapped her arms around Willow's shoulders and the young girl leaned into her mother's embrace. There he was after fifteen years. If there was such a thing as improved perfection Throttle was the epitome of it. The years had only embellished his already flawless Martian features. It didn't matter what he was saying just the sound of his voice and seeing him again filled Charley's heart with unspeakable joy.
"Is that him, Momma?" Willow turned toward her mother. The love and devotion blazing gloriously on Charley's face was all the answer she needed.
"Wow, I never thought I'd ever...oh mother do you think he would want to know about me."
Charley reached down and turned her daughter to face her, "Of course he would. Your father would have never left if I'd told him about you. Back then it would have meant a life time of confinement and slow death for him, so I made him promise to leave. Now I'm sure it was the right thing to do.
A buzzing coming from down in the garage informing Charley she had a customer broke her momentary reminiscing. Willow popped up and dashed down to see who it was. She knew her mother needed just a little time alone with her dad even if it was just to look at him and reflect on the love that was still very much alive.
Charley watched as his polished words spoke of a new hope for the universe. How he was so grateful for the care and protection he had received when first coming to this planet. Then what she had really been waiting to see brought the long distance and endless years to a screeching halt.
As he continued to talk and his hand lifted above the desk in front of him. It was still there, heaven be praised, the family heirloom, her grandfather's ring was still glowing on his finger.
A tear ran down her face as she remembered his pledge to wear it no matter what. She would be the only woman he'd ever love the only woman he'd ever want. She was his, life-time mate and if that life had to be spent apart so be it.
Willow came running back up the stairs actually more excited then when she'd left, "Momma there's big black trucks and a limo and some guys that look like they are from the "Men in Black" movie. They wanna talk to you."
Charley reluctantly turned off the TV and followed Willow down to the garage. Just like she had described, the garage was filled with twenty men all dressed in black from head to toe. One stepped up to Charley holding out his hand in a friendly gesture, "Ms. Davidson?" He said in a pleasant non-threatening voice.
"Yes, may I ask what this is all about?" Charley took hold of the offered hand and returned with a like gesture.
"The Ambassador has personally asked that you be available when his ship lands. He was very insistent on having you be there, but we were not informed that you had any children."
"The Ambassador doesn't know about my daughter. He left before she was born, but I must insist that if I am to go, my daughter has to accompany me." Charley said showing that it wasn't a matter that was going to be debated.
The young man gave her an unreadable look and walked back and sat down in the lead truck. One glance at the young girl and it was more then obvious what connection Charley had with the ambassador. After talking on the car phone for a few minutes he again approached Charley," Would you please gather up a few personal items for you and the young lady and accompany us."
"May I ask where we will be going?"
"I'm sorry Miss Davidson, but for security reasons we must keep our movements secret. But be assured you and your daughter will be quite safe."
Charley gave an understanding nod and took Willow upstairs to pack. It didn't take a great deal of time to gather up what they needed and before long mother and daughter were escorted to a small airstrip on the near by Navel base then into a small windowless black jet air crafted.
After they had gotten air born Charley looked over and noticed a troubled expression on Willow's face. Placing a motherly arm around her daughters shoulder and giving it a little squeeze of encouragement she asked, "What's got your tail in a knot, love bug?"
Willow looked up at her mother giving a smile at the expression that only they understood, "Momma, are you sure that he'll really want me. He's so important now and he might be ashamed of having a...a... half breed for a daughter."
The look of uncertainty and shamed shown in the child's beautiful amber eyes. As she got older more and more of her Martian heritage began to make itself apparent. This caused her to receive ridicule from some of her cruel unfeeling school mates and close-minded strangers.
Her red antenna and much large than most earthlings ears could be successfully hidden in her full mass of golden tan hair which she wore very long and flowed down her back to her waist. But the soft thin tan colored fur that covered her body was not something that could be camouflaged. To those who needed to know like, school officials, Charley explained it away saying that she had an earth condition that actually caused hair to grow on the body in the same fashion. As a caring mother Charley worked hard at teaching Willow that it's what's inside a person's heart that was most important. She made special efforts to introduce her child to all kinds of people, exposing her to different cultures and telling her as much as she could remember of the things Throttle had shared of his people. She let her know of the scarifies and heroism of not only her father but all those who had struggled and died for the future generations of Martian people. Still, the words of a few fools caused, Willow, to feel the hurt that ignorance has caused anyone who was termed as different.
As she'd done in the past Charley lovingly embraced her precious child and offered words of reassurance, "If I learned anything from your dad it was that he thought all life was precious. That's way he stayed so long and fought so hard for people who never even knew he existed. I think he would be hurt to hear you call the result of our great wonderful love anything but a miraculous blessing."
"I guess I can take that as a, yes?" She giggled and hugged her mother tightly.
Throttle sat in the ship gazing out into the rich velvety blackness of space trying to keep his heart from pounding out of his chest. After fifteen long years he was going to have his Charley-girl back in his aching arms. His love for her had only grown deeper with time. He closed his eyes and he reminisced how sweet her kiss was and how soft her warm furless skin felt against his.
"I know what's going through that brain of yours." Vinnie chuckled taking a seat next to his daydreaming bro.
"Is it that obvious?" Throttle blushed.
"Nah, I just know what I'd be thinking about if I was away from my woman for fifteen years. When they told me that they found Harley everything I could remember about her filled my mind almost 24/7."
"Yeah and five kids later was the result." Throttle teased.
"Well, they said we all needed to do our part to help Mars rebuild. I was just being civic minded, bro. I better go check on the rookie that flyin' this bucket. I thought when they made me head of governmental security there would be some action in it. But I baby-sit you diplomatic types more then anything else." He sighed slapping Throttle's shoulder then returning to the bridge.
Vinnie would always be the hotshot, thrill jockey they would love and most of the time wondered if he actually had a death wish. But having found Harley and having kids to support and protect, his actions were now much more subtle and he even thought a second before risking his life. Yes, his bros had taken the new peace on Mars well. Both promising never to take their home world for granted. Modo too had a family though it didn't contain a wife or children of his own. The wife he lost during the Pultarkian occupation would be the only love he would have. His life was dedicated to heading the welfare department that took care of any and all children touched by the war. Surprisingly that included many children of the Rat and Sandraider population.
Now the circle of Throttle's life was about to end and start all at the same time. Charley was never far from his thoughts not for one second the whole of the fifteen years of their separation. The twinkle in her gorgeous green eyes shown as brightly in his mind just as if he'd seen them yesterday. The sweet smell of her chestnut hair and exotic furless skin clouded his mind just as completely as if he'd never let her go and if the truth be told, in his mind and heart he never had.
Being rushed from the private jet, with the darken windows to the secret government installation gave Charley only a quick peek to where they had been taken. From the feel of the very warm, dry, air and the desolate desert landscape she could tell they were somewhere in southwestern United States. She protectively tightened her grasp around Willow's hand, as they were escort through the well guarded barred wire fence that encircled the mostly cement square building. Coming into the steel double doors that opened to a large elevator they stepped in and felt the sensation of traveling many floors underground.
When they finally stopped the doors opened to a beautiful marble and glass hallway. A few feet down the walkway they stopped at what would be their living quarters. Entering into the room both ladies where more than delighted at the clean crisp suite that they would occupy. The spacious living room was decorated in ultra modern furnishings and the sweet aroma of fresh cut flowers filled the air. To the left was the larger bedroom that Charley would occupy and to the right was Willow's bedroom.
"Wow, Momma, Daddy must really be important for them to do all this for us. How long do you think it will be before we get to see him?"
"Well he is the ambassador for a whole planet, so I guess that would make him very important. He always wanted to do what ever he could to make Mars what it was before the Pultarkian took over. I guess he finally got the chance. Charley's face swelled with a deep pride and admiration for the man she had given her heart too.
"Why don't we get unpacked and then try and see what's going on and how long they think it might be?"
Willow smiled and nodded in agreement, taking her things into her bedroom.
The Martian space craft landed without incident and was greeted by a varied array of specially selected officials and media personal. With Vinnie close by his side, Throttle's diplomatic skills shone brightly as he graciously greeted those representing Earth's government since so much depended on this first official first contact.
His eyes darted around the crowd anxiously searching. Was it possible that she wasn't there? He had to try and keep his mind focused on getting through the formal greetings so he could find out if his request had been answered. Everything he was, everything he'd accomplished, would mean nothing if he'd lost Charley.
The full figured dark skinned African American woman who was head of Earth's new interplant relations, Ms Lacey Tarcough, was more than pleasantly impressed at her first, person to person, sight of the tall handsome alien representative. She had been briefed on what to except but the videos had done nothing to honestly justify how breathtaking these extraordinary Martian males were.
When first being informed that an earth woman might have had a romantic relationship with one of these aliens, professionalism aside, she shuttered at the thought. But on seeing this one face to face, she more than understood how and why it happened.
Throttle was clad in what could be called a Martian black business suit that fit his body to perfection enhancing his still toned muscular physique. Solid black much more advanced field specs continued to act as a barrier holding the full golden bangs out of his eyes and a yard long braid laid long down his back. Yes definetly Ms Lacey could understand why any woman would fall in love with this manifcent masquline work of art.
To be continued...