An Alliance is Formed-Chapter 12
She didn't love me. She...loved you." Shadow said, in a low voice to Vinnie.
Vinnie wasn't surprised. He had noticed the way Harley acted nervous around him. Blushes showed up in her face and she'd smile. The feelings he had for her had come back. He missed her more than he realized. Then he remembered Charley. Both women were so alike in personality it scared him. Was that why he had taken to Charley so quickly? She reminded him of Harley?
Both women had blue eyes except Charley's eyes were more a greenish blue color. Their hair color was almost identical. The only difference was that Charley wasn't a Martian Mouse. There was no fur on her body. The only hair she had was on her head. She was a human and it surprised him how different her anatomy was to his people. But it didn't matter to Vinnie whether she was a mouse or a human, the attractive, young woman captured his heart with her beauty, her warmth, and her bravery. As much as he had loved Harley, he now loved Charley.
'You did this to her!" He screamed, taking out of his jacket a large dagger.
That brought the white mouse out of his thoughts.
"Now you die!"
Shadow began charging and screaming at Vinnie.
"I didn't do this!" Vinnie cried out, jumping and dodging clear of his swipes with the dagger. He tripped over a small stone protruding out of the ground. Vinnie fell over and turned over sitting up.
"You played with her heart. You took her from me! It'll be the last thing you do!" He said, standing over Vinnie with a gloating smile. He was about to stab him when it was shot out of his hand.
"You're not taking out our bro, Rat Face!" Modo said, as a smoking, bionic cannon was aimed at his head, "Step away from him."
Shadow did as he was told.
He was quickly apprehended by Martian Military.
"Stupid! Why did she get in the way?" Shadow blurted out, looking down, quietly sobbing, "Harley..."
"Take them away!" Carbine blurted out.
One of the Martian Military picked up the unconscious form of Ratchet. Two others grabbed Shadow by the arms. They took them to the dungeon and locked them up.
...
Harley was rushed to Martian Command's sick bay. Vinnie was upset. Charley tried her best to comfort him. Throttle and Modo stood by their youngest brother.
"It'll be okay." They told him.
"Yeah." Vinnie said.
Penella came out of the room. Modo and Vinnie ran up to her.
"How...is she?" Vinnie asked.
"She lost a lot of blood, Vin." Penella told him, "We have her stabilized."
"Can I see her?"
"Sure."
She led him into a room.
"Take all the time you need." She told him, closing the door behind him.
Harley laid there on the bed covered by a sheet and blanket. An oxygen mask covered her nose and mouth. An IV stuck in her arm. Her eyes were closed and her lips slightly parted open.
"Harley?"
Her eyes opened.
"Hey, cutie." A small smile formed on her lips.
"Sweetheart, I just want you to know that I never forgot about you. I never gave up. I tried to find you. And I'm sorry I let you down. I wasn't able to protect you then and..now."
He looked down as he said the last part.
He jerked up to feel her hand on his arm.
"Vinnie, it wasn't your fault. For the longest time, I thought it was. I thought you had given up on me, but even then part of me still wouldn't hate you. I never stopped loving you. I tried to forget everything: the life I had with the Freedom Fighters and you."
'Is that why you started a relationship with a rat?"
"Shadow isn't just a rat. He saved my life. I owe everything to him. He and his people took me in and nursed me back to health after Mace injured me." She replied.
"Do you love him?"
"I'm grateful to him for saving me." She managed.
"You didn't answer my question."
Harley looked away. She did care for Shadow. He was a lot like Vinnie except his fur was black. They both had red eyes. Eyes like glittering jewels.
But did she love him?
When he talked about getting married and having kids when he was helping her escape, her mind flew back to Vinnie. Could she honestly say she loved Shadow and wanted to commit her whole life to him? As she thought about it, she realized she could not. She wanted to marry for love not out of obligation. It wouldn't be fair to him.
'No..." She said, in a low voice, "I mean, I'll always be grateful to him. He did save my life. I thought I could forget about you, Vinnie, but I...It was hard being separated from you the first time. I...don't.."
"Harley, listen to me. I'll always care about you. I never stopped. But, I found someone else I love already." Vinnie said, that last part with determination.
Harley looked away as a small tear escaped out of her eye. She felt sad but knew there was nothing to do about it.
"I hope she deserves you." She murmured.
...
"That was quick." Charley said, as Vinnie walked back out into the waiting room. The auburn-haired lady mechanic eyed him cautiously.
Throttle was flipping through an old Martian magazine while Carbine sat next to him drumming her fingers on her chair. Modo and Penella sat and were talking to each other in a corner. Everyone turned to look up to see the white furred mouse enter the room.
"Yeah, they're transferring her to sick bay in a few days. With a few weeks rest, she should be up and running." Vinnie replied.
"That's what I'm afraid of."
"Why you say that?"
"With the way she's been throwing herself at you, do I think I have reason to be alarmed?" Charley asked.
"Well, Sweetheart, I wouldn't worry. I let her know this mouse is a one-woman mouse now. I'm officially not available anymore." He grinned, throwing his arm around her shoulders.
"Glad to hear that." She said, as the two shared a romantic kiss.
"WHOOOOO!" crowed Throttle and Modo.
Modo and Throttle were fanning themselves with their hands.
"Sweet!" Penella cheered.
"About time you two made it official.." Carbine said.
...
The next day, the body of the Plutarkian Finn was laid to rest under a large boulder. Zephrine made a traditional Plutarkian shroud made out of colors of teal and white cloth. The Mice along with Gil and Zephrine had a small memorial service for him. Carbine, Penella, and Zephrine were clad in black dresses. Gil stood aside watching the casket.
"Today, we commend our friend and brother, Finn to the grave. A brave and true friend who never stopped fighting for peace." Stoker said, after Throttle, Vinnie, and Modo carried the heavily wrapped casket and placed it gently in the freshly dug grave.
Zephrine wept openly at the sight of the young Plutarkian's casket.
'i will carry on Finn's work. I will fight for peace as he did." She said, with determination.
"Me, too." Gil said, and taking Zephrine's hand, " Finn told me to go and make you happy."
Zephrine broke down as she realized even facing death, her happiness was in Finn's thoughts. It was more important to him than anything else.
Gil cradled her in his arms.
Zephrine looked up into the sky.
"Thank you, Finn." She smiled, through her tears.
...
Vinnie was serious about Charley but his relationship with her wasn't the only highlight on Mars. Both he and Throttle had the pleasure to witness the marriage between Modo and Penella. The blushing bride, clad in a beautiful pale pink wedding dress and matching pearl necklace and bracelets, proudly walked down the aisle to her beloved husband to be. Modo was a handsome cut of a mouse in a midnight blue tuxedo and light blue shirt.
A Martian Mouse priest performed the ceremony. Modo kissed his new bride on the lips.
"Citizens of Mars, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Modo Maverick!" He cried out.
Applause thundered loudly. The loudest came from Vinnie and Throttle.
...
Stoker activated the Regenerator which produced enough water to save all of Mars. Plants, flowers and other vegetation began to grow back across the surface of the planet. Harley decided to leave Martian Command. She asked Shadow to go with her. He was reluctant. He still had a hard time accepting the fact that she wasn't in love with him.
"I'm sorry, Shadow. I do care for you. I..."
"But you care for that mouse more, don't you?" He cut her off, angry.
"I never played with your feelings..." She began.
"Really? You need to decide what you want, Harley, because I'm not staying around to be your rebound guy!"
He then stomped off before he could see the shocked look on her face.
"Shadow!" She cried, running after him.
"Ouch."
She looked to see Charley standing against the wall.
"Maybe he's right. I hurt him. I don't blame him." She said, looking down, "I don't deserve him. Anyone."
"Give him time. He may surprise you." She replied, placing her hand on her shoulder.
"Why are you being so nice to me? After the way I treated you." Harley asked, glancing in shock at the auburn haired mechanic, "The way I threw myself at Vinnie..."
"Maybe because I know what it's like to love someone once."
'I still...Oh, Sweet Mother of Mars...I thought I could forget him...start over with Shadow...restart my life..."
Charley looked worried for a minute as it seemed like the tiny woman was going to lose it at any minute.
"Then after seeing him?" Harley thought, then out loud to Charley, "I am going away...I have to go away..."
''Harley?"
"To my family: the Nomad Rats. Where I found true happiness." She began walking away towards the exit of Martian Command.
"Wait!"
Both ladies looked up to see Shadow carrying a large metal canister on his shoulder.
"There's enough water for drinking and starting a garden." He began at Harley's shocked face, " Courtesy of Stoker and the Regenerator."
"Shadow..."
"Quit standing around gawking. Rat City awaits us." He grumbled.
Harley grinned then turned to Charley.
"Charley?"
She turned to look at the auburn hair mechanic who looked so small in the doorway of sick bay.
"Take care of Vinnie. Live happily with him." She said, walking away.
"I will. And take care." Charley replied.
...
The Martian Mice and The Plutarkians sat down together to form an alliance of peace between their two planets. Throttle and the other mice agreed to the ceasefire on the condition the Plutarkians destroyed the dreaded digging machines used to strip mine Mars and other planets.
With the High Chairman and the Council dethroned, the people agreed. Many were hungry. Their children were in rags. Food was soon provided thanks to Zephrine and Gil showing them how to access the resources on their own planet.
"Looks like everything's finally falling into place, babe." Throttle told Carbine one night while they were cuddled up in bed, "Mars is finally at peace."
"Then I can finally tell you something I've been dying to tell you." She replied, an impish twinkle in her eye.
Throttle's eyes got big as a wide smile spread across his face.
"Carbine...you...we..."
"That's right, my love. I'm pregnant...again." she smiled back.
...
Nine Months Later...
"C'mon, Carbine, honey, push!" Penella told an ashen-faced and sweating Carbine as she laid on the operating table. Penella, clad in scrubs, stood between her legs.
Carbine screamed. Agonizing screams. Throttle stood next to her bed holding her hand.
"You can do it, babe. I believe in you." He said.
"That makes two of us. AHHHH!" She screamed out.
Suddenly, there was the most wonderful sound any new parents ever heard of. The sound of a baby's cry. Penella took it and cleaned it up and wrapped it in a blanket.
"Congratulations! It's a girl!" Penella beamed, gazing down at the new infant.
She handed the baby to Carbine who held it in her arms.
"She's perfect." Throttle breathed, gazing down at the hairless baby mouse.
Penella was about to walk away when she saw something that made her froze.
She quickly put the baby in one of her assistant's arms.
"Penella! What are you?" Carbine began.
"We're not done. There's another baby inside. You need to push again like you did before." She replied.
Carbine did as instructed. The baby that Penella took out was an unhealthy blue.
"Why isn't my baby crying?" Carbine asked, panicking, "Is she or he breathing?"
"Penella... what's going on?" Throttle asked. His tan face was now white.
He couldn't take losing another child.
Penella began performing CPR on the unconscious fetus. She was blowing air down the baby's lungs, checking for blocked passageways, and giving chest massages. Within minutes, the baby began coughing and let out a whimpering cry. The skin color turned a normal pink.
Both parents breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm now happy to tell you both that you're the parents of two little girls." Penella said, beaming, after cleaning the baby and wrapping her in a blanket.
Both babies were put in the arms of their mother who gazed at them lovingly.
"You did good, babe." Throttle told her, gazing at her and at their beautiful new babies, "So know what we are gonna name them?"
"Hope and Peace. Because it's what I've always wanted for Mars." She replied.
The End