Mouse from Space – Chapter 12.
It felt like ages as the bus traveled on the serpentine roads, heading up into the mountains. Minnie tried to concentrate on her mission, but her thoughts were always distracted by Gyro's restless blabbing. The bird loved to explain so many scientific thing he found out and only he understood. Minnie always nodded and gave him right, but had no idea what he clucking about. She admitted Gyro isn't looking a bad male, but she needed to be cautious. After all... once she was already betrayed by someone she trust.
Slowly the landscape changed around them, pine trees and huge rocks were on the two side of the road. Above them the sky was covered with gray clouds. In the far distance, hidden by the trees Minnie noticed something that shouldn't be there. She knew the land around Sunny Oak just like her own palm, but she not remembered any kind of building up in the mountains. Okay, she needed to note herself it's been quite a few years she last traveled here.
"Ah that's it, that's it!" Gyro also noticed the construction and pointed excited "I can't wait to be there!" Minnie instinctively placed her hand onto the gun she hid under her coat.
"I know, I'm also excited." forced a smile the mouse and glared at the building as it slowly grew bigger and bigger. In a half hour the bus finally arrived to its destination and stopped. The elder scientists left the bus without any interest, heading to the main gate.
When Minnie hopped down chilly wind blew right into her face and moved under her coat, making her shiver. She almost forgot how cold is it on a high place like this. She rubbed her arms to warm up, when suddenly she felt something wrapping around her shoulders.
"Huh?" she blinked and noticed another, much bigger coat on her body.
"Not to get cold." said a kind voice and Gyro stepped next to her.
"T-thanks..." Minnie wasn't sure if the cold wind or the startle made her cheeks burn "B-but what about you?"
"Don't worry about me." waved his hand Gyro then pointed at his vest "My clothes has a special warming system. My own invention." grinned at her proudly.
"Y-you really smart, Gyro..." muttered the mouse and tightened the coat around her.
"Hehe thanks..." rubbed his hair Gyro with a smile "I knew this will be handy at any time. And you didn't see the rest I left at home."
"I believe all of them are awesome." The bird blushed and awkwardly wobbled ahead to join the other scientists. Minnie staid there for one more minute, thinking maybe not every male is bad. Compared to those morons she lived with in Sunny Oak Gyro was a real gentleman. But what she was thinking? She had a mission to do and there's nothing that can stop her. Not even a whacky, funny, kind bird. Minnie slapped her own cheeks to fade away her flush and quickly followed the lunatics to the main gate. In the entrance a black suited black guy waited them.
"Finally you arrived. The boss is waiting for you." greeted them on a bored, monotone voice and led them inside. Minnie couldn't resist not to let out a soft, surprised moan when they all entered into the huge building.
Since their 'beloved' major greedily brood on the town's money, Sunny Oak's technology retained in the developing. It was like the town has stuck in the 70'-80' and only the richest ones could get the newest technology. That's why it was natural Minnie's jaw dropped in wonder.
Just as they stepped in the door closed behind them and the group entered into the most modern laboratory they only could imagine.
"Holy lead-screw..." wondered near her Gyro, fixing his glasses on the beak. But they had no time for 'sight-seeing', the black guy walked ahead, showing the way to the scientists. Slowly, really slowly Minnie staid behind until she became the straggler. Then, when they turned a corner she remained on the other side, pressing her back against the wall.
"Okay... I think I got rid of them..." whispered to herself "Sorry Gyro, but I have to save my friend..." she glanced around cautiously, and when she found the corridors clear she began to walk one way "Now... where they have keep Mickey? This place is huge..." on the wall she noticed a map about the building's base. Minnie tilted her head, raised a brow, but had no idea where she is or where they keep the captives. She frowned and blindly picked a way to go.
Minnie rushed through many passageways, aware of not to bump into other scientists or men in black guys. But this place was worse than a maze. Every corner was the same, so a while later she didn't know if she was already here or not. But, during the rush she found some very strange chamber.
When she peeked into the rooms, looking for the right one where Mickey is, she saw lots of high-tech gadgets she never seen before. But, after some corner she arrived to a much different place. Compared to the white, clean rooms and corridors, these ones had an ominous, poison green and black shade.
Some of the chambers contained big glass cubes with strange creatures inside the scientists tested on. The deeper Minnie went into this sector, the more horrible sights she found. Glowing tubes with weird, mutilated beings, horrific smell emitted around this quarter.
"W-what is this place? I hope they did nothing with Mickey..." muttered Minnie with a tone of fear in her voice. She was usually a brave girl, but the scenes of cruelty almost made her vomit. She accelerated her footsteps, afraid it will be late when she find her friend.
Before she gave up the searching she finally arrived to a door with a sign: "STRANGERS DO NOT ENTER!" Not caring of the sign Minnie softly pushed the door open and glanced inside. Like in the previous ones, here she found various kind of stuff she not knew and a big glass prison on the other side. And, for Minnie's shock, she saw a blue figure laying on the floor.
"Oh no... Mickey!" the girl gasped, ran to the prison and banged her hands on the glass "Mickey! Mickey please wake up! Mickey!" the male was in a bad condition, he bled from several wounds, his marks glowed purple. "Oh Mickey... what they had done with you..." bit her bottom lip the female, when suddenly she heard footsteps nearby. She didn't want, but she needed to leave Mickey behind and run behind some huge machine to hide. Just in time. She heard the door slam open and more than one figure entered.
"How the tests going on?" asked a deep voice.
"Very well, Sir. This creature is one of the most interesting subject we ever had." Minnie immediately recognized the second voice. It was that damned Mortimer. She clenched her fist and peeked out from behind the machine. She saw the rat nearby the prison and a black figure showing his back to her. On the glass various kind of holographic diagrams appeared, x-ray photos etc. "As you see, Sir, his structure is very similar to a normal mouse's. Strangely his blood is solid silver, his marks probably reflect the subject's behavior and the pearl..."
"I don't care about useless some data!" shouted the other, cutting Mortimer in the middle of his sentence. In the neon light Minnie finally recognized the stranger's face. It was a wicked looking dog with dark, short hair and mustache. His eyes were dark and cold, like a deep well. The rat hunched his shoulders and let out a scared squeak "I want to know this is that damned alien we looking for!"
"W-we not sure about it yet... S-Sir Fantome..." bowed deep the rat, shaking in the whole body "No matter what we had done, he didn't even said a word, just screamed on that horrible voice..."
"Morons! Then try harder!" snarled Fantome and pushed a button on the control panel. The whole prison sparkled up and shocked the poor alien with electricity. Mickey let out a horrific, high pitched scream as the small thunders rushed through his body. His marks violently flashed with purple light. Minnie put her hands in front of her mouth, muffling her appalled shout.
"AAAAAAHH STOOOOOP! STOOOOP IIIIIIT!" wailed Mickey, but only she heard his painful voice. The torture continued for a few more seconds, then the wicked dog switched off the machine and the alien collapsed back the floor, jerking and shivering.
"I don't care how, but make him talk! If he's we looking for then he must know where is the Lapis Lazulli!" barked Fantome and trotted away, followed by the scared Mortimer.
"Lapis Lazulli? What is that?" blinked Minnie shocked. After the door closed she left her place and rushed to the prison "Mickey! Mickey, please hold on!" pressed her palms onto the cold glass. Watching her friend suffers almost made her cry.
She cautiously looked for a solution how to save him but she found nothing, just various kind of machines. Then her eyes noticed a huge mechanical claw hanging from the ceiling. Minnie rushed there, climbed onto another machine and jumped at the claws. By the sudden weight the machine creaked, Minnie needed to swing and kick until the cables not gave up and broke down. The mouse landed on her back with a loud, painful groan, holding the claw like a lifebelt. She grumbled as she slowly sat up and rubbed her sore back.
Tottering a little she charged at the glass prison, hitting with the claw using up all her power. The metal screeched loudly but it only made a scratch. Minnie huffed loudly, but banged on the glass again and again, giving all her strength into the hits.
"Hold on Mickey! I'm here to help!" her eyes remained on the poor alien. It was clear he needs help, and probably it would be an easier way if she tries the buttons, but Minnie was afraid they might activate another torture. So she continued the slamming, slowly a bigger scratch appeared on the surface. "Break you bastard... break!" groaned Minnie and with one last, strong hit the glass shattered into smithereens. She took some deep breath, then tossed the claw away and rushed inside.
"Mickey! Mickey please wake up!" she knelt next to the alien and gently shook his shoulder. Mickey whimpered and half opened his eyes. First he not recognized the figure above him, instinctively raising his hands in front of his face scared.
"L-leave me... please don't hurt me..." whined and trembled.
"Mickey... Mickey it's me..." gentle hands touched his cheeks and in his vision a kind person appeared.
"Minnie... Minnie its really you? Y-you're not an illusion... are you?" stammered the male, Minnie sniffed and shook her head.
"N-no... I'm real Mickey..." in the next moment she hugged the male "Forgive my late... forgive me for what happened..." she couldn't held back her tears. Minnie nuzzled the fluffy head and let out her worries and fears. Mickey startled but hugged her back, snuggling into her clothes.
"I-it's okay... you did nothing wrong..." embraced her the alien. He saw Minnie crying for the first time. She was so small, so vulnerable in his arms. She wasn't a tomboy but a young girl who needs someone. As Mickey stared into Minnie's eyes, he had a strange, warm feeling he couldn't describe. But this remained only for a short moment. From the dream an alarm's loud screech snapped them out.
"Crud... We have to go now. Can you walk?" Minnie wiped away her tears and gently pulled Mickey up. The alien tottered but he could remain on feet. As fast as they could they left the chamber and rushed along the passageways. Minnie refused to let off her friend's hand, while she hold the gun in the other one. When they turned a corner suddenly a person appeared right in front of them.
"Minerva, finally found... you..." Gyro just came out from another corridor, his smile melt down when he noticed the girl pointing a gun at him. Minnie was surprised for a sec, but she needed to remember herself about what's going on.
"Forgive me Gyro... I'm not Minerva but Minnie, I came to save my friend these bastards captured and there's nothing that can stop me." stated the girl, glaring into the surprised bird's eyes "Please... get out of my way... I not want to hurt you." Gyro not moved for a long second, only kept his eyes on the couple, then turned around and gestured.
"This way. You just get lost in this maze."
"Why should I trust you?" her words were all bitter. The bird turned his head back to her, showing a kind smile.
"You don't have to if you not want." said and vanished behind the corner.
"Minnie, what should we do? Can we trust him?" asked Mickey suspiciously. Minnie bit her lips, but then she pulled the mouse after her, following the tall bird. "Woah! H-hey where you going!"
"I follow my heart this time." answered the girl. Footsteps clapped loudly on the floor as the three ran forward. Gyro turned to the left, then to the right, Minnie wasn't sure where they going, but she needed to give faith into the avian.
"Why you help us?" the question just couldn't calm her, she wanted to know the why.
"It's... hard to answer. I had seen a kind of... determination in your eyes and... the fact you're not a scientist , that bugged my beak." Gyro tried to find the words.
"Hah? You knew it from the beginning?" moaned Minnie in surprise.
"Yes I knew. I'm not a fool, I noticed you only nodded but understood nothing from what I talked about." the girl awkwardly blushed.
"I'm sorry... I didn't want to fool you, but I needed to come here."
"I understand, indeed..." the avian glanced at Mickey "...the circumstances are still not clear for me."
"Later I explain everything, but first we have to get outta here." stated Minnie. Just when they turned another corner they met up with some men in black guy.
"That's the fugitive! Get them!" roared one. The group slid a stop and rushed to another side.
"Gyro! You must get away from us! They will leave you if you tell you were used!" told him Minnie, but the bird shook his head.
"No until you not in sa... gaaah!" suddenly they heard a loud bang and Gyro fell down.
"Gyro!" shouted Minnie and turned back in shock. The male jerked painfully and hold a hand on his wounded shoulder. On the other end of the corridor they saw a big group of guards, with Fantome standing on the lead. In his hand gun smoke.
"Next time I won't miss!" roared the dog "Give back the alien or else!"
"M-Minerva... take this..." Gyro, gritting his beak in suffer tossed a small device to the mouse's shoe. Minnie blinked but picked it up "One of.. my invention... It can activate... any kind of vehicle..."
"I won't leave you here!" stated the girl.
"Just go straight! I'll be fine!" answered Gyro, meanwhile the group trotted ahead. Minnie glared at him for one more second, then nodded.
"Thank you, friend." said and dragged Mickey after her, running as fast as she could. She heard the persecutors' shouts and footsteps from behind, even one or two gunshot. She thought shortly they will arrive to the hangar, but in the next moment she needed to stop.
"Now which way?" moaned Mickey. In front of them two corridor opened and they weren't sure which leads to the right way.
"I... I don't know..." muttered Minnie then rolled around, aiming her gun at the arriving MiB guys.
"Give it up, girl! There's no way to escape!" hissed Fantome.
"Never! I not let you to harm my friend again, you sadistic bastard!" barked back Minnie.
"You illegally intruded my territory and stole something that's mine!"
"Mickey is not yours. He's not an object but a living being like those you monsters testing on!"
"And what you want to do? Shoot me down?" opened his arms Fantome with a wicked grin. Minnie aimed the weapon at him angry, but then something got her attention and a victorious grin came across her face.
"Maybe next time..." said and shot. The bullet missed the adult, indeed his eyes grew wide in shock when he felt the wind of the missile right next to his ear. In the next moment an even louder alarm sounded and huge, massive doors began to move down from the ceiling of the two corridor. Minnie grabbed Mickey and rushed into the left one.
"W-what you waiting? Get them hurry!" Fantome snapped out from stun and the others fired. Missiles hit the massive doors as the mice slid to the other side, just before the corridor was locked. The dog snarled and let out a furious roar, recognizing he lost a precious subject.
After some more minuted of run the two mouse finally arrived to the hangar. They gasped for air and they were tired, but they had no time to rest.
"Let's see if Gyro's gadget works." said Minnie and picked a motorcycle with a side-car. She switched the device and the engine triggered "Not bad. Come Mickey." the alien hopped into the side-car, Minnie onto the seat and they drove out the building as fast as they could.
"Finally we get out of here." sighed Mickey "But who was that bird?"
"He... he's a new friend of mine..." said Minnie sadly, inside she wished he will be okay. Slowly the horrible laboratory vanished in the dark shades of the trees and they hoped there will not be any other bad thing in the future. Well... they were wrong.