Onward to Plutark- chapter 6
"We need to be cautious." Throttle said, "It's not like Charley-girl to just take off and not say anything to anybody."
"I just can't believe that Harley lied to us." Vinnie said, "It can't be true. Those Rat Faces had to have brainwashed her somehow."
"Carbine told me about the time you guys found her at Olympus Mounds." Penella said, "She said the Rats use a type of subliminal chip on their victims. It removes your will to resist."
"That must be what they did to her."
"Thing is, how do we get her to tell us what she did with Miss Charley-ma'am?" Modo asked.
"We don't. Ten to one, all this has got to do with the Regenerator. The Rat Faces want it as much as we do." Throttle replied.
They were riding back from Olympus Mounds. Throttle rode in front, Vinnie on his left, Modo on his right. Penella sat behind Modo.
"So we just let her get away with all this?" Penella questioned, "Those Rats have Charley. I'm sure of it."
"Then I say we go to back where we came, find one of those stinking rats, beat the living crap out of him till he tells us where they stashed Charley." Vinnie said.
"Obviously, you've never heard that violence doesn't solve anything." Penella said, rolling her eyes.
"Sure it does. It gets my adrenaline pumping." Vinnie replied.
"Is he always like this?" Penella asked Modo.
"As long as I can remember." Modo chuckled.
"Yeah, well, as appealing as Vinnie's plan is, we gotta play this one by the book." Throttle said, " We can't let on to Harley that we know."
"But, Charley-" Vinnie began.
"We'll get her back, bro. I promise." Throttle replied.
...
Charley looked around her. Shadow stood by, blaster in hand, his ears attentive to any sound. Suddenly he heard footsteps approaching.
"Who's there?" He asked.
"Just me, big brother."
Another rat, brown in color and smaller in size appeared.
"Oh, Ratchet."
"Where's Harley?"
"Gone back to our enemy's base of operations. Every thing is all set. Once she gets the Regenerator from the Mice, we'll be able to save Mars." Shadow said.
"But will she do it? She's a mouse after all. They are her own people." Ratchet said.
"They used to be till they betrayed her. .She's totally devoted to us. To our cause."
"You better hope so. Because if she turns on us..."
"She won't! She's taken quite a shine to me. Can't say I blame her." He said, taking out a mirror and glancing at himself.
"Ugh! And I thought Vinnie's ego was out of control." Charley said.
"Where'd she come from?" Ratchet asked.
"She's a friend of the Mice. A little spy who heard too much. Now, she's a little insurance, so the Mice will give us the Regenerator."
"Clever. So this is what a human female looks like." Ratchet said, climbing up the net and staring at Charley, "A bit chunky. But liking the curves!"
Charley cringed at the way the rat was ogling her body. He licked his lips.
"You stay away from me!" Charley yelled, kicking at him.
"Fiesty! A real fireball." Ratchet laughed, then to Shadow, "You got your hands full with this one."
"Don't remind me. Woman's got a red hot temper." Shadow groaned, "Kicked me in the nose when I first caught her. That's why I'm keeping my distance from her."
Ratchet jumped down and onto the ground next to Shadow.
"Once we get the Regenerator, we'll dump her back on her friends."
"Vinnie...Watch yourself." Charley said to herself and looking at the velvet sky, " I'll find my way back to you."
...
"Guys! You made it finally." Carbine said.
"Heard from Charley?" Throttle asked.
"No. And it's strange. I hope she's okay." Carbine replied, thumb and forefinger rested on her chin thinking aloud, " I wonder if I should send out a search party."
The mice and Penella saw Harley's eyes get wide and her face paled. She put her hand on Carbine's shoulder.
''I'm sure she's just fine." Harley said, "Remember, we have to concentrate on the mission."
"She's right. Zephrine's been hacking into Plutark's defense systems." She said, motioning them to a computer where a very frustrated female Plutarkian sat typing away with all her might at a keyboard. Finn and his two other friends stood next to her along with Stoker.
"There! Finally! I'm in." She told them.
"Well done, Zephrine." Finn said.
"They had changed the password. I had to bypass their system to get into it. But we've gotta hurry before they discover they've been hacked." She explained.
"How much time do we have?" Throttle asked.
"Three hours." She said.
"All you guys need to do now is get into character." Stoker told them.
All three mice put on Stoker's collars. With a push of a button, they transformed into Plutarkian officials.
"Sorry, but we gotta chain you up." Carbine told Finn.
"Don't be. It's all in the name of freedom and democracy." He replied.
"The ship's all ready to go." Gil said.
...
The Biker Mice along with Stoker, also in disguise, boarded a Plutarkian Destroyer the Freedom Fighters had confiscated during the war. Charley had done the repairs on it the day before. It was fueled and ready to go.
"Remember, guys: find the Regenerator and get it back to Mars." Carbine reminded them .
"I'll stay on Mars to monitor the security system and let you know of any changes." Zephrine said.
"I'm going with Finn." Gil said, climbing into the ship and taking a seat behind the Mice who sat up front.
Puffer did the same.
"Bye, guys. Have a safe journey." Penella said. She said "guys" but she looked at Modo. The later gave her a warm smile. One straight from his heart.
"Yeah, good luck." Harley told them, waving.
Vinnie threw up his hand and waved. He flashed her his trademark smile. He had to make this look good. Inwardly, he groaned. He still couldn't believe Harley was a traitor. But he the facts were right in front of him. Why would she lie about Charley going off to find machine parts? Why didn't she want anyone to search for her? Harley had been the woman he once loved. He couldn't forget how she gazed at him. Love and complete trust in that gaze. Had it all been a lie? But still. He remembered how she saved his life when they went to rescue Charley from those two Sand Raiders and Carbunkle. The way she fought back impressed him. She didn't tell him how she learned to fight like that. Whatever was going on he was going to uncover the truth and get Charley back.
"Does anyone know how to pilot one of these things?" Throttle asked.
"No problem. This mouse can fly or ride anything." Vinnie bragged.
Vinnie got behind the control. He hit one button and the ship began flying backwards. Everyone was thrown back and to the floor.
"Move aside, punk." Stoker said, pulling Vinnie away and sitting before the controls. He pressed another button stopping the ship. He then hit another button which made the ship take off slowly into the air. Within minutes, they were in deep space. The ship had flown a good distance from Mars.
"Throttle...come back to me safe, Mighty Mouse." Carbine said, watching the ship fly away till it was a speck.
Planet Mars was now a red speck of light off to the distance.
"Yeah, well. I meant to do that." Vinnie said, after watching Stoker straighten out his mistake.
"Impressive, coach." Modo said.
"Yeah, how'd you learn to do that?" Throttle asked.
"Living as a prisoner on Plutark, you pick up a lot of knowledge." Stoker replied, "Speaking of which, we should arrive on Plutark in an hour."
"Oh, joy..." Vinnie groaned.
...
Carbine got on her bike and had ridden off. She then stopped to hear movement. She took out her blaster.
"Who's there? Penella?"
The redhead walked over to her.
"What are you doing, Carbine?"
"Hoping to find Charley ." She replied.
"Really? Same here." Penella replied.
"Something's happened to her. I just know it. Harley knows more than she's telling."Carbine said.
"You sensed it, too? The woman is a spy." Penella said.
"How do you know that?"
Penella sighed.
"She works for the Nomad Rats. The guys and I think they're holding Charley hostage."
"What?! Why?"
"Very clever. But it won't do you two any good."
Both mice looked to see Harley approaching, blaster aimed at them.
"So it's true." Carbine said.
"The Regenerator should belong to the Rats not you Mice traitors." Harley said.
"You're the traitor." Carbine said, "How could you betray your own people?"
"Like you can talk! You guys gave up searching for me." Harley said, "I was dying.I had no one till the rats found me and took me in. They're the only family I have now."
"What have you done with Charley?" Penella asked.
"Like I'm gonna tell you." Harley said, "You mice must-"
Before she could finish talking, Carbine lifted up her knee knocking the blaster out of her hand. She then grabbed her arm twisting it behind her back. She shoved her face to the ground. Harley elbowed her in the face. Penella picked up the blaster. Harley and Carbine continued to fight. Both women were rolling around on the ground like cowboys.
Penella fired the blaster into the air. Both of them stopped.
"Raise 'em!" Penella cried out to Harley. The latter raised her hands in the air.
"I normally don't condone violence, but in this case, I'll make an exception." She said.
"You are so busted." Carbine told Harley.
"Enjoy it while you can, but my people still have your friend. Cooperate and she goes free." Harley said.
"You think you can threaten us?" Penella said.
"She's got Charley. We gotta get her back." Carbine told Penella, "Besides, I owe it to Vinnie to get her back."
...
"There it is, my young friends." Finn said, "Planet Plutark dead ahead."
The large planet sat in front of their ship. It was blue and oblong shaped.
"Did ya hafta say dead?" Modo told him.
"Not to worry, big guy. As long as they buy our disguises, we're in the clear." Throttle said .
Suddenly, the vidcom came on a large screen that appeared before them. The ugly form of Lord Camenbert appeared on the vidcom. Luckily, they were in their Plutarkian disguises.
"I am the High Chairman of Plutark, Lord Camenbert. Identify yourselves." His voice boomed.
"Chief Admiral Fishman. Chiefs Sturgeon and Hallibutt bringing back the wanted fugitive Finn." Throttle said, showing the fugitive.
"Excellent. But before we get down to business, I need to see you do the Plutarkian greeting."
The mice exchanged looks. Now what'll they do?