Harley's Story - Chapter 6
Vinnie leaned over the window and looked out of the Plutarkian warship. He was deep in thought. Charley finally made the necessary repairs needed in order for them to go to Plutark. Now the heroes were on their way. He remembered the conversation he and his friends just had with Dr. What:
"The Symbiote will not release your friend so easily." Dr. What had told them,"It has only one goal in mind: revenge."
"But why take over Harley's body?" Vinnie had asked.
"It no doubt sensed that she felt the same way it did. The Plutarkians are the most hated race in the universe. They have gone around strip mining planets of their natural resources for many years. Not caring who they hurt in the process. They destroyed Mars and hurt innocent beings. It must have driven her mad."
"Yeah, well, it drove us all mad enough to want to fry their fins every time we saw them!" He exclaimed, lighting his flares.
"But not enough to do the unthinkable." He replied.
"I thought the whole point of going to Plutark was to get back the Regenerator." Carbine said.
"What about Harley? She needs us!" Vinnie replied.
"Mars needs the Regenerator more."
"Plus, she's not herself, bro. We're gonna have to bring her in." Throttle said.
"You do that and no telling what that thing will make her do." Indigo said.
"He's right. She's got those plant powers now. We gotta be careful." Charley said.
"Harley won't hurt us." Vinnie replied.
"I fear she's no longer the person she knew. Her body is now a vessel for the Symbiote." Dr. What replied him.
"You're wrong! You don't know her like I do!"
He stormed out.
"Vinnie!" Charley called out after him. Modo placed a hand on her shoulder.
"He just needs some time alone, Charley-ma'am."He said. "He'll be okay."
Vinnie put on his helmet, got on his bike, and took off. He had to be by himself.
As he rode, memories of his time with Harley flashed through his mind:
Flashback
The day half of his face became disfigured was the worst day of his life. He tried to hide himself from Harley. He knew he couldn't bear her screams and looks of fright at seeing his ugly face. He even put forth a brave front by performing stunts on his bike to prove it didn't affect him. But it did no good.
"Take a look under the hood?"
He looked up to see Harley approach him.
"Just letting off a little steam." He replied, as she removed the bandage covering his face. She took one look at him.
"Be back. Stay outta trouble."
"Oh, sure. I'll just stay here and guard these...rocks." He chuckled, nervously.
She left then came back with a silicon-like metallic mask which she placed over the damaged half of his face.
"Silicon metallic material for vehicle repairs and the occasional macho mouse makeover. She replied, moving the mirror on his bike for him to see his reflection.
His anger and despair instantly turned to joy. He remembered then that they both laughed and hugged each other.
"Harley, I..." He tried to express his thanks. Her small hand caressed his cheek. He loved the softness of her hand.
"You're welcome, cutie." She purred. Then walked away.
His heart melted like butter.
"Danger: failing mouse." He mused. The caramel colored mouse had instantly won his heart.
End Flashback
"She's the same girl I loved back then." He thought.
The girl he remembered was loving and compassionate.
That was what he knew about her. He didn't know too much about her family. Only that her mom was found murdered before the war. The killer was never found. It was a big mystery.
There was talk about a Martian government coverup related to it. But he didn't know the full details. Harley never liked to talk about it. She kept it to herself. Vinnie was determined to do whatever it took to save her.
Plutark was quiet during the midnight hours as its residents had long settled into a good night's rest. Some guards maintained the planet's force field by monitoring it at the High Chairman's royal palace.
At exactly one o' clock in the morning, a dark hooded figure arose from the bushes and ran up to the compound. The palace was surrounded by infrared beams to detect intruders. The person placed several mirrors in front of the beams to deflect them creating an opening. The figure flipped over the beams with the agility of a cat and a gymnast into the opening.
After taking out the ID of Commander Gunner and swiping it at a scanner, the door opened and the figure went inside. It sprinted took the elevator and stopped at the second floor.
At the end of the hall was the control room, the hooded figure swiped the card and snuck inside. One guard was inside and had fallen asleep. At hearing the door, he jumped up.
"Who's there?" He called out. No answer. He took out his blaster and got up. He walked a few feet and was instantly struck from behind with the butt of a blaster. The hooded figure watched as he went down. The guard didn't get up. The hooded figure removed the hood. It was Harley!
"Plutarkian trash! I'll be rid of you forever." The Symbiote said.
"I wonder...am I really doing the right thing?" Harley asked.
"Don't you want justice for what they did to Mars?"
"I do, but..."
"What they did to your mother?"
"How did you know about..?.my..my mom..." She breathed.
The Symbiote saw the painful memories of her past at the same time she did. It saw what she experienced and witnessed.
Flashback...
Harley's mom was Deisel. She was a kind and caring elderly doctor who served on the Martian House of Representatives. Harley was very proud of her mother. Her goal was to be as great a doctor as she had been. She was nineteen then.
"Mom! Guess what? I've enrolled into the Young Medics program at Martian Command!" She told her, excitedly that morning at breakfast.
"That's great, Sweetheart." She told her,"I know you'll do well."
"Mom, is everything alright? You seem down."
"I'm sorry. But I'm supposed to speak before the Martian Senate today. They're thinking of accepting Plutark proposal to purchase Mars."
"What? They can't do that! They can't sell our planet like it's a piece of furniture!"
Mars' economy was on the verge of economic collapse because its government was made up of corrupt politicians who reckless spent a lot of the taxpayers' money on foolish things they didn't need instead of helping poor and needy families. Plutark had come offering to pay off all of Mars' national debt in exchange for ownership of the planet.
"That's what I and the House are trying to prevent. Why I'm going before them to convince them not to hand Mars over."
Diesel, along with other members of the House, were set against Mars being sold to Plutark. They suspected the planet of having an ulterior motive.
"We need to solve Mars' debt crisis another way. I'm going to propose we curb our spending and formulate a budget to save our economy."
"Oh, Sweet Mother of Mars! I hope I'll be able to concentrate on the entrance exam. All applicants have to pass it in order to be full fledge army medics." Harley exclaimed, "Now all this talk about Mars being taken over by Plutark."
"Don't worry, sweetie. That'll never happen as long as I'm alive. You go pass that exam and make me proud, you hear?" She told her daughter, "Be the best doctor you can be."
"I will. Oh, is that Commander Stoker?" Harley said, briefly glancing out the window. She then got up, opened the front door, and looked out. Her mother joined her.
The unit command leader was going past their home with a trio of soldiers. The four mice proudly rode their bikes. Harley had seen them before but didn't know them personally. There was a tan-colored mouse who wore sunglasses, a large gray one, and a white one. They were dressed in camouflage gear.
"Those must be the three new recruits Stoker told me about." Diesel said.
The white mouse turned to see Harley and winked at her. She looked surprised.
"That boy's gotta be the biggest flirt if I ever saw one." Her mom commented. Harley slightly blushed.
"Morning, Commander." Diesel saluted.
"Counselor. Looking forward to your speech." Stroke replied.
"Just hope I can stop the Senate from making a foolhardy mistake they'll regret." She replied, with a sigh, then brightening, "See you got some new troops."
"They're good soldiers."
"Correction, coach. We're the best!" The white mouse put in.
"Keep that same attitude if we ever go to war, punk." Stoker replied, then seeing Harley, "Oh, where are my manners? Morning, Harley. Meet Throttle, Modo, and the loudmouth runt there is..."
"Vinnie Van Wham at your service, pretty lady!" Vinnie broke in as he introduced himself to Harley.
"Harley." She smiled, shaking hands with him.
"You two get acquainted I gotta talk to Stoker for a minute." Diesel said. She pulled him off to the side of the house.
"Something wrong? Diesel, you seem tense."
She pulled out a holo disc and handed it to him.
"There have been rumors that Mars has been secretly sold to Plutark. I didn't believe it till the private secretary of one of the Senate members sent me this today. It's documented evidence of Senate members being paid off with billions of dollars in Plutarkian gold gills."
"Who else knows about this?"
"No one." She replied, "Hold on to this for me. And...if anything should happen to me, please look after Harley."
"What do you mea...?"
"I can't say any more." She then got away from him.
Harley remembered when she found her mother. She came running into the house later that day...
"Mom! Mom! I passed! I'm a medic! Mom?" No answer. Then she heard it. Drip. Drip. Drip.
What was that sound? And why didn't she answer?
She went through the house to find her mother. Diesel sat at her desk with her head back. Someone had tied her wrists and ankles to the chair. A gag was put over her mouth. Harley walked up to her. She let out a frightening gasp. Her mother was shot in the head. The wound bled and dripped profusely. On the floor next to her mother's body something small glimmered. She picked it up. A Plutarkian gold gill. She screamed a horrible scream. It brought Stoker along with a dozen neighbors who got her away from the home.
End Flashback...
" Plutarkian filth. If not for them, my mom would still be alive!" She thought, angrily.
"You see why this has to get done." The Symbiote said, "Think of what they did to us."
"Yes, let's do this!" She cried out.