Life's Second Chance

Black Out

The evening sky was cloudless that night, and was complimented by the light breath of air which was both crisp yet comforting. Golden fur seemed to bristle as gentle waves seemed to caress his coat.

With his eyes to the sky, Throttle closed his optical lids and breathed in the silent whispers that seemed to draw in a certain tranquility. Here on this hill, one could have a full vision of the skyscrapers that reached for the heavens across the body of rhythmic waves lapping onto the shore of the Navy Pier.

Pulling out the piece of paper Throttle sat with his back against a tree, re-reading the letter under the headlights of his bike. It must have been the twentieth time that day. The hidden letters that seemed to glow once the bright lights were switched off revealed a parting gift.

Under that very tree, in-between it's woven arms that dug deep within the earth lay a small hidden object wrapped in a red bandanna outlined in gold tribal markings. Within this thin layer of material, a small locket lay-the rose engraving was all too familiar.

Placing the small piece of gold onto his steady palms, opened the lid to find an image of a very young Ray cradled in her grandfather's arms-her grandmother looking lovingly at both of them. Throttle knew all too well what this meant, she was leaving..For good this time. It was all going down that night, and by this time the tomorrow they'd all be back on Mars once again.

Word on the streets spread as Limburger had offered a truce to those who opposed him for the next few days. Big amounts of cash seemed to flow in the pockets of every spare hand that had agreed to the Plutarkian's terms.

The challenge would be cast on every channel at eleven in the evening pulling all those who hated Big Brother towards Limburger Tower. Throttle was instructed to stay clear of the site-and to make sure Charlie, Vinnie and Modo wouldn't step a foot in the vicinity. If they did end up crossing paths with Ray, she'd have no choice but to see them as an enemy and open fire. She had made that fact very clear-even if she didn't explain why.

The Martian figured she had her own reasons. In deep lament, Throttle couldn't help but have the last real conversation they had replay in the darkest corners of his mind. It was not her scheme that bothered him, nor was it her confession. It was the very fact she'd brought him down afterward by declaring things would never work out. To top it off, she'd practically be throwing her name, good solid reputation, and life away.

Guilt tugged in his gut. And regardless of how he felt with the way things were playing out, he finally realized the painful truth behind her words. No matter what happened, they could never be. They knew what would happen if had she died, either the whole solar system would've been destroyed, or they all would've continued on with their lives without her. However if she did somehow survive, he would still be sent back to Mars with the others and she would vanish from their memories forever. She would have to suffer the burden alone all over again.

It was then another piece of an old conversation forced its way to the surface. It was during the time they'd decided to take Limburger back to Mars for a trial.. Things didn't look too good for any of them then. Throttle and his bros were framed, placed on death row and were scheduled for an early execution. When things looked really dark, he sparked up the conversation as he attempted to keep her from feeling distressed. He had always reassured her that nothing would ever happen to her or Charlie-not that it worked though.

It was in that moment before they were taken to separate cells that he'd accidentally slipped that he'd fallen for a human girl; though he never specified which girl. At the time Ray assumed it had been Charlie, and thus advised him along that notion.

Ray talked about how distance could make a person lonely and seek comfort in those close by-indirectly hinting that he'd transferred his emotions onto Charlie. Much to his discontent and irritation, Ray always made sense.

A buzzing fly made him snap out of the daze he'd slipped into and sighed deeply. What if what Ray said was true? What if what he was feeling was superficial? If things played out the way his friend had planned, they'd all be back home within the next two days or so. Would he feel any different?

Shaking off the confusion, set his mind to the current moment, for he had to concentrate at the task at hand. He had to go back and make sure his bros and Charlie stayed out of trouble. He decided he could wait just a little bit longer for the answer that could only be found on Mars.

As his soulful yet angry eyes dropped back onto the letter, a set of fingers glazed over the crisp dots that seemed to decorate the parchment. It was obvious she had been crying near the end. The last words that were printed seemed to tug on his gut the most.

She'd addressed him directly..

"Do you trust me?"

Taking a deep heavy breath, Throttle turned his shaded eyes towards the scenic backdrop before him, "Ray..Ray..Ray.." he shook his head, "What will I do with you.."

With that statement everything across the body of blue had suddenly faded into black. This forced the martian to jolt and jump onto his feet in alarm. The city of Chicago was now engulfed in a cloak of black.

"This can't be right!"