Love and Understanding -Chapter 18
"You okay?"
Charley looked up to see Carbine staring at her with concern.
"Fine. Just thinking."
"About Vinnie?" She asked, with a knowing look.
"Don't be ridiculous. He's... just a friend." She replied, hesistantly looking away.
"Uh-huh. C'mon, I'm not stupid. I know how you feel about him. But you should tell him how you feel."
"No. We're both too different."
"Is it because you're a human and he's a Martian Mouse?" Carbine asked.
"Maybe when we first met. But over the years I realized how much they mean to me. He and the guys are people just like me in spite of the fur, and tails."
"But can you see yourself with Vinnie? Do you love him?" Carbine asked.
"I want to say yes, I mean, I really care about him. Throttle and Modo, too. They're the only family I have. but...Vinnie, he's, well, high-strung and unpredictable." Charley began.
"Unfortunately. Throttle called him a wild man. Then asked how he's lived this long without blowing his freaking head off."
"He's not lying, of course." Charley laughed.
"But, you know, in spite of all that, Vinnie's a great guy. An excellent Freedom Fighter. Just don't tell him I said that, okay?" Carbine replied.
"My lips are sealed." Charley said, giggling.
"Don't wait too long though to tell him how you feel." Carbine said, then looked down, "You both deserve a shot at happiness."
"I'm sorry..about you and Throttle." Charley said, giving her friend a sympathetic look.
"Nothing to be sorry about. He made his choice." She frowned, "Even if it's the wrong one."
"That's your opinion. Myopic as it sounds."
Both women looked up to see Cecilla enter the room. From the look on the latter's face, Charley could sense she wanted to clear the air with Carbine. She got up from the sofa.
"I'll make some coffee. Anyone want some?"
"I'll take a cup." Carbine replied.
"Same here." Cecilla said.
"Coming right up."
Charley walked into the kitchen. Cecilla turned to face Carbine.
"I just want you to know that I didn't set out to take Odysseus from you." Cecilla began.
"Throttle." Carbine corrected, frowning, "That is his name, by the way. See if you can say it and spare us all this Greek Mythology crap."
"As I was saying...I didn't take Throttle away from you."Cecilla replied, ignoring her rude comment.
"He saved my life and my farm. I owe him a lot. I care deeply for him. He cares for me as well. We're in love. About what happened at the barn, when you saw us together..."
''Forget it." Carbine told her.
"It would seem you cannot."
"Hello? I come to Earth to find the man who I thought was love of my life making out with you. How do you expect me to feel?" She blurted out.
"I'm sorry you found out like this. But we're together now."
"After you used your hoo doo on him." Carbine accused.
"I did nothing of the kind! The attraction between us was natural." Cecilla replied.
"I find that hard to believe after all you are a witch."
"Sorceress. And a powerful one, I might add."Cecilla said, patting her hair, "But what happened to me and Throttle is the mysterious magic that happens between two people who fall for each other. It's a cosmic force...It..."
"Whatever. I know what mystery Throttle saw in you." Carbine said, air quoting the words with her fingers, "And if I was a guy, I'd probably think the same way. A lonely guy looking to score with the first attractive female he meets."
"Your deluded reasoning shows me you don't know him at all. Unlike you, he saw me as someone he could be happy with. "
"How dare you!" Carbine fumed.
"The truth hurts, doesn't it?" Cecilla replied.
...
"You sure about this?" Throttle asked Minerva.
"Positive."
The Biker Mice and the rebel freedom fighters assembled themselves behind trees. Up on a craggy hillside overlooking Scarlet City stood Castle Limburger.
"Ugh! That is one huge and hideous castle." Vinnie frowned.
The castle was huge and uninviting with its charcoal gray walls. Large statues of Limburger stood at each end of the entrance.
"Latoya has only seen the Exalted Ruler's son once. Which is why a disguise." She explained.
Modo, clad in a gaudy green tunic and purple pants walked out towards them. Vinnie was laughing.
"I look stupid. Why do I always get the fun jobs?" He groaned.
"Don't forget the mask." She said, as a head mask of a Plutarkian was placed over his head.
"You look fine and don't worry. I'll be right there with you disguised as the Exalted Ruler's wife." Minerva said.
Modo saw her clad in an equally gaudy purple and green dress. In spite of that, Minerva still looked beautiful.
"I know I look hideous." She said.
"You look great to me." He told her.
"Thanks, sweetie." She blushed and rubbed his cheek with her hand. The large gray mouse blushed. Throttle and Vinnie along with everyone else whooped and hollered which made Modo blush even more.
"Knock it off, you guys. We got a job to do." She said, putting on a Plutarkian mask.
...
"You're wrong. I did make Throttle happy for a while. Then the war happened. I was so obsessed with defeating the Fish Faces at that time."
"That you never made your relationship with him a priority?" Cecilla asked.
"My people were dying. Our homes and cities were destroyed all in one day! You've never been in a war. You wouldn't understand."
"But I understand what it is to love someone."
"I probably should've let him go a long time ago." Carbine replied, arms folded, face downcast.
All she did was obsess over their war with the Plutarkians. Only coming to Earth to see Throttle occasionally when she needed something done like recovering and getting the Pinkseed plant back to Mars. That last time she left Earth without so much as a goodbye kiss. She knew someday that the Fish Faces would be driven from Mars then the Biker Mice could return.
She did hope and wonder when they finally were gonna defeat Limburger and come back though. There were times Carbine got very lonely and missed Throttle. Then she met Steel, an admiral from Martian Command. He was friendly and filled the empty void in her heart. They had lunches together in the cafeteria. Stoker saw them together and wasn't happy about it. Throttle learned about her affair from Stoker and he was upset. A bitter breakup followed. Carbine had come to Earth hoping to explain the situation about Steel hoping her and Throttle could work things out. But it wasn't meant to be. The war put a serious strain on their relationship. Plus having lunch with another guy didn't make things any easier. Carbine realized neither one of them were happy.
"Throttle deserves to be happy. I wasnt...I wasn't there for him when he needed it." She said, sadly, then looking at Cecilla,"If you hurt him, I'll find you and whip your tail! That's a promise!"
"You don't have anything to worry about. But I'm glad we understand each other." Cecilla smiled.