Remembering Piston- chapter 12

"That's little Piston?" Vinnie asked, incredulous.

"She doesn't exactly look like the chubby faced baby in your wallet, bro." Modo chuckled.

"Yeah, that girl is cute." Vinnie said.

"Well, good looks have always run in our family." Throttle chuckled, then he frowned.

"It's been a while since I've seen her. A number of years." He looked away.

"I didn't know you had a sister. What happened to her?" Charley asked.

"The war happened. The Fish Faces began digging up our land to ship it to Plutark. Many of us fought back and lost. Many of our people paid with their lives. Including my parents."

"Throttle, you...don't have to talk about this if you don't want to." Carbine said, placing her hand gently on his shoulder. Throttle glanced at Carbine as he saw a gentle, sympathetic look in her eyes. The same gentle look he used to see in her eyes before the Plutarkian war hardened them and made them into soldiers. He saw the same gentle, empathic look in Cecilla's eyes. Eyes not hardened and made bitter by war.

"No, it's okay." He told her.

"Piston was only three at the time and I promised my parents to look after her and keep her safe. That was one promise I was gonna keep."

Flashback...

Throttle found out some Martian Mice hid a number of their people from the Plutarkians by going underground. Besides himself and his sister, their Uncle Axle and Aunt Silky were all that was left of their family. They were part of a secret society called the Underground. Stoker was one of the people behind the Underground. He was an experienced soldier that was training soldiers to fight. Plus, he was also a scientific genius. He created a portal that could send you to other dimensions and worlds. But it was in the experimental stage. He was just experimenting with it.

"This planet is no longer safe. I have to find a way to send our people away from Mars." Stoker said.

"But where? The Plutarkians have blockaded the entire planet. No one can get in or out." Uncle Axle said.

"While doing my research on portal technology, I discovered an alternative Mars. It was how this planet used to be." He replied.

"You mean it was green?" Throttle asked.

"Not only that. It was breathtaking! It was a breath of fresh air." He replied.

"Great. When do we leave?" Aunt Silky asked. She was amusing her young niece with stuffed animals and playing. The child squealed with delight. Silky now looked up at Stoker.

"Wait just a second. We don't know what kind of creatures are on this world." Stoker said.

"They can't be anymore dangerous than the Plutarkians." She replied.

"She's right. Those monsters took everything from us. Our families. Our homes. Gone! In an instant!" Uncle Axle exclaimed, "Mars is nothing but a desert. If we have a chance to start over somewhere else, we should take that opportunity."

"I'm staying here on Mars. I can't leave Mars to the Fish Faces. We have to fight to get it back." Throttle said, "My parents would want that."

"Are you sure, Throttle?" His uncle asked him, "You're not a soldier. How are you going to fight them?"

"General Stoker told me he's assembling a group of people to train them to fight the Plutarkians. I signed up with them today." He replied.

"But what about Piston?" He asked, glancing at the now sleeping child who was lying on a sofa covered in a blanket.

"I need you guys to look after her. I don't ever want her to ever have to see war or know suffering." He replied.

"But, Throttle, honey, you wouldn't either if you came with us." Aunt Silky said.

"I can't go. I have to stay and fight. My parents died protecting us. Our home. Our world. I won't let the Fish Faces have it." Throttle replied, determined look on his face.

His aunt walked up to him and hugged him.

"Please be careful." She said.

"Your dad and mom would be proud." His uncle said, "Give the Fish Faces hell for me!"

Throttle gave his uncle a big smile.

"Since you insist on going to this new world, a word of advice would be to be on your guard. You don't know how dangerous this new world can be."

The two mice packed the few belongings they had. Stoker activated the portal.

Stoker built a dimensional portal. He pressed a few buttons on the computer console. Within minutes, a swirling, purple pink portal appeared.

At the same time, a Martian Mouse came running in.

"General, Plutarkians are coming! They're surrounding the compound!"

"Great Mother of Mars!" Silky cried, "How did they find us? This place is supposed to be hidden."

"Get everyone to Outpost 13! Now!" Stoker yelled, "I'll meet up with you."

"Go with him." He told Throttle.

"But-"

"That's an order, soldier! This little rag tag group of soldiers I have are the key and the last hope we have of ever winning this war. Now go!" He said, pushing Throttle.

Throttle glanced at his little sister now sleeping in his aunt's arms. He gave her one last look before running off with the other soldier.

He looked behind him to see the wall come crashing down. Plutarkian soldiers came running through. Stoker shoved Uncle Axle and Aunt Silky towards the portal. The two jumped through. Then the portal disappeared.

Throttle remembered seeing Stoker hop on his bike and plow through the group of Plutarkians knocking them down. The guy was amazing. He wanted to be as good a fighter as he was to make his parents proud of him.

End Flashback...

"So Piston was sent into another universe?" Charley asked.

"As far as I know. But now, this poster showed up." He replied.

"I don't like it. This could be a trap set by the Fish Faces." Carbine was saying.

"But why would they get Piston in the middle of it?" Modo asked.

"I say let's check it out." Vinnie said.

"My sentiments exactly."

Everyone looked up to see Cecilla Hawkings, sitting on the handle of a wicker broom that hovered and then floated down to where the mice were. The bottom of her white dress brushed against the ground.

"Cecilla?" Throttle asked, "What are you doing here in Chicago?"

"Who else, my sweetings?"

Vinnie and Modo snickered while Throttle blushed. Charley smiled. Carbine frowned. The latter was not happy to see her.

"I wanted to stop by and see what I can do to help you stop this Limburger." She began, "I brought all my necessary potions for the journey."

"Thanks, but, we can do without all your mumbo jumbo." Carbine said.

"Is that so? Well, when I turned you into a pig, you didn't think it was mumbo jumbo then." Cecilla fired back, "I take my craft very serious. Thank you very much."

"Ladies, chill." Vinnie began.

"No thank you. I'm not cold." Cecilla replied.

"He means for you both to calm down." Throttle explained.

Carbine frowned and said nothing. Cecilla held her peace.

Two women who wanted the same man in the same vicinity was just going to be trouble. He just knew it.