Carbine Has Regrets-chapter 30
"It's that bad?" Throttle asked Carbine.
"Bad is an understatement. Our food supply could run out in a few days. Morale is at an all-time low. He doesn't know how long our fighters can hold out " she told him.
"What about the Garden of Hope? Aren't you growing any food crops growing out of there?" Throttle asked.
"Yes, but it's slow going. A few of our soldiers myself included have tried to get them to grow but with the war going on, a majority of our troops have been focused on winning our war with the Plutarkians that hardly anything has grown." Carbine replied.
"What have you tried to grow there?" Cecilla asked.
Carbine, at first, was surprised that Cecilla would ask her anything about Mars' affairs since it didn't really concern her not being a Martian Mouse or a Freedom Fighter. Then she remembered she was now a big part of Throttle's life whether she liked it or not. She sighed and took a deep breath.
"Mostly Martian turnips. But who wants to eat just turnips? Plus, the k rations we have aren't that great but it beats starving. The soil is pretty rich in nitrogen and it's green and lots of flowers grow there." Carbine replied.
"Not being rude but you can't eat flowers. I think I can help. I've grown my own food and I may have some plant seeds you can use." Cecilla said, going into her bag and pulling out several seed packets.
"Carrots, cabbage, green beans, sweet peas..." Carbine read off of some of the packets.
"Think you could use them?" She asked.
"We sure could. Thanks." Carbine said.
"But they'll will need food now." Minerva said.
"The Fish Faces got Mars blockkaded. Vehicles like hover trucks that transported food to Martian Mouse communities were confiscated by the Plutarkians. We've had trouble getting food to them plus to our troops. And without it, our armies will be wiped out." Carbine said.
"I say we take a trip back to Mars and whip the scaly hides off the Fish Faces and take those food trucks back." Vinnie said.
"Yeah, who do those Reek Fishes think they are to starve innocent people? That just makes me mad!" Modo said, as his single eye turned red as a flame.
"Then it's official, brothers and sisters. We're gonna need Limburger's transporter." Throttle said.
"But didn't we level Stinkfish's tower?" Modo asked.
"Which means we probably lost his transporter, too." Vinnie said.
"Not to worry, guys. I got a surprise for you." Charley said, going into a storage closet and pulling out something covered with a large white tarp.
"Ta-da!" She exclaimed, pulling off the tarp.
There sitting before her stunned audience was a brand new transporter.
"Charley-girl, where did you get that?" Throttle asked.
"I copied the software and installation files plus blueprints showing how to build it." Charley explained.
"Sweetheart...not too shabby. Is my girl on fire or what?" Vinnie beamed, bragging on Charley who smiled. Then she blushed when Vinnie winked at her.
"Save it for later, you two. We got a planet to save." Carbine said.
...
Charley stood at the computer console of the transporter. She tapped away on the keyboard as Carbine gave her the coordinates to Mars as numbers showed up on the screen. The Biker Mice, along with Minerva and Cecilla, got inside the transporter. Minerva sat with Modo on his bike while Cecilla sat behind Throttle on his bike.
Carbine tried very hard not to glance up at the tan-furred mouse with his new lady. A few years ago, it was her sitting behind Throttle. She remembered putting her arms around his waist. She sniffed up his wonderful scent. She had been the happiest and luckiest girl back then because he was hers and no one else's.
Funny how now that seems like it was a whole other lifetime lived by someone else. Not her. It was before the Plutarkians invaded Mars. Before their planet was reduced to a dying world of desert. Mars had been green and full of life.
Flashback...
She had been a sweet, innocent and hopeful girl of seventeen. A girl who daydreamed about marrying Throttle and having a family. War was the furthest thing from her mind. He had been a teenage boy who rode a motorcycle and was planning on joining the Martian Military.
Her older brother had become friends with Throttle and introduced them. They became attracted to each other after that. Throttle loved her gutsy side. Carbine loved his quiet, calm demeanor but rebel side. They began dating. Then the war hit but they still saw each other. Each of them joined the military.
Carbine joined after her father was gunned down by the Reek Fishes. Tears streamed down her face as she cradled her father in her arms. She looked around and saw her brother lying face up on the ground. His face and fur were matted with dried blood.
She checked for a pulse. There was none. It hit her that she was now all alone. She looked around for Throttle. The latter ran and put his arms around her.
"It's gonna be alright, babe. I'm here." Throttle said.
"My family..." She replied, in a daze.
''Mine, too. Wiped out by the Fish Faces." Throttle said, equally dazed.
"Why is this happening? What's going on?" Carbine asked.
"No matter what happens, I'll always be here for you." Throttle said, holding her.
She and Throttle stayed together till she heard he had been captured by the Plutarkians. She didn't know if he was alive or dead. She never heard from him till he arrived back on Mars three years later.
At this time, she had become a general and leader of the Martian Mouse Resistance. She had changed and become a whole other person. She had become hard and cold. She took him for granted and now she lost him.
End Flashback
"Oh, Throttle. I'm sorry. If I could only make it up to you." She thought.