Jethro 8 Snippet 2

 Sitrep:

I was supposed to take time off around my Birthday (and Carlos' birthday. Happy B-day again dude!) but it has been nigh on impossible. Ember is extremely co-dependent at this stage. (I can't even use the potty without her trying to break the door down!)

So, I've been puttering around with another Roo story for Multiverse 7. "Didn't you just finish Multiverse 6?" I hear some ask. Yes, you would be right. I bumped MV7 up the list since I seem to be only able to write in short bursts.

Today has been particularly trying, the little monster tested my patience to the absolute limit. She messed me up many...many times as I was trying to get thoughts down into the story and wrap it up. She finally decided to cuddle in my arms to fall asleep. A few minutes ago she crawled out of them to slither into the night stand in a nest she's created there. She's welcome to it.

So, I'm getting caught up on things while I have a brief (all too brief!) breather. Here is the snippet:

 

Chapter 2

 

TFP

 

Warrant Officer Jethro McClintock found out that they were to travel back to Antigua in stasis aboard a fast courier. One of the fastest couriers had been in Finagle about to jump into Sigma when they had arrived in the TFP star system, which stood for Tiny Frickin’ Planet. He heard that the captain and crew were trying to break all records to get to them and pick them up, he was grateful for that.

For the return journey the courier would have to reroute around the destroyed Horath star system, but apparently the navy was taking that into account in the planning of the movement.

They’d had their dinners and the navy had broken them up into various groups. The local JAG had thrown around phrases like ‘isolated persons during operations in hostile territory’ so they were being treated initially like rescued POWs.

It meant debriefs to go along with the time being poked and prodded by medical. He had been offered his choice of a special counsel to request. He didn’t know of anyone he specifically wanted. The local JAG, a lieutenant JG who seemed excited by their arrival hinted that she could act in that capacity.

He wasn’t certain he wanted it and had a feeling she just wanted to ride along to get out of the terminally dead end posting. He brushed the inquiries off until she dropped them with a slight air of disappointment.

>>*<<

Jethro’s inbox began to fill up with congratulations from old friends and colleagues as news spread of their survival. Admiral Shelby Logan, Admiral Irons, Admiral Horatio Logan, Gunny Schultz, General Forth, General Lyon, and many others paid their respects.

Shelby wasn’t shy about wanting his services. He wrote back that he was going to take a prolonged leave of absence to be with his family. She sent him a big thumbs up in reply.

He was still coming to grips with the news of the Federation since they had been lost. A lot had happened. He received daily emails from Shanti and Zuhura.

Both ladies warned him to not expect much from the new litter. He did in fact get a get well email from Cleopatra and Shy, but nothing from the boys for days.

>>*<<

Bast had continuous issues with her processors and the armor. The armor was completely offline, only the helmet and torso remained. It had been stripped of parts and nanites. It was effectively an inert shell and she felt… damaged. Off.

She had backed up as much as she could in Jethro’s implants and created artificial DNA packets for long term storage but she was not certain how much she had lost. She had regressed further. All of the AI had in the time they had lost.

They had also stripped their host bodies of nanites. One of the first things they did was get more material to make more nanites. But the process took time to grow more and distribute them throughout their host’s bodies.

The hosts also needed a lot of medical repair, which divided their time. She was initially happy for the medical intervention. Jethro had become severely dehydrated and deprived. Only his iron will had kept him fully sentient.

The AI’s regressions hadn’t gone unnoticed by their hosts. They kept asking about it and the AI could only shrug such concerns aside. Their armor had been packed away so they couldn’t access it to begin repairs even if they had nanites to spare.

Inevitably a few of the concerned Cadre members found their way to Ox, their resident engineering expert. He was spending a great deal of time in medical, far more than most.

“I’ll work on it,” Ox said, voice rough with fatigue.

Jethro looked concerned. “We’ll work on it you mean.”

Ox frowned in puzzled confusion.

Jethro stamped on the dismay he felt at his friend’s look. “I can’t be away from my armor remember? Right now it’s offline, sleeping,” Jethro gently touched the armor with his fingertips. “But it will be reforged and woken once more.”

Ox grunted and then nodded.

“Until then it’ll go with me to Kathy’s World. Bast and I will do what we can to get the minimum up and running until we get back to Antigua.”

Ox nodded again. He looked tired and concerned.

“Hey, you and I both learned under the same tutor remember?” Jethro asked. Ox snorted softly in memory. “That’s right. So, I can get by. But, I’d appreciate any tips and tricks you come up with when you get back to Antigua.”

“Count on it,” Ox said roughly. He nodded and then relaxed.

 >>*<<

SG3R211-94 Sigma Sector Capital

 

Warrant Officer Hurranna got a call from Suqi and wondered what was going on. When her ship was in orbit she put a video call in.

“So kiddo, what gives?” Hurranna asked. She could clearly see excitement in the other cat’s face.

“He’s alive!” Suqi gushed, eyes bright as she bounced on her rack.

“Who’s alive?” Hurranna asked, wrinkling her nose. She was a lynx, her bloodline was a bit muddied but she leaned heavily to the Canadian Lynx form. She had been a graduate of F platoon and had served the Marines in a variety of roles before falling in love with being a fighter pilot.

She had risen through the ranks to become CAG of her own ship on her own merit. Her old friend Deja was also a CAG but he’d been pressured recently to either take a teaching post or mustang to officer.

She had been a bit lonely and had latched onto Suqi and Sabu when she had found out that they had been deployed to the sector. She acted as their impromptu aunt and she was grateful that they accepted her in that role.

“Dad!” Suqi nearly screamed, briefly rushing the camera before sitting back down.

“Dad?” Hurranna asked, clearly confused.

“Dad! He survived! They survived! He got out! They just turned up at a place called TFP!”

Hurranna stared dumbly at her.

“I mean most of them made it out. Ox made it too he said. Not everyone though, Letanga didn’t make it. But I talked to him! Live!”

Hurranna continued to stare. Feelings welled up inside her. Denial was first, then relief, shock, consternation, and then excitement and exuberance.

It hit her in waves and she felt almost orgasmic when the elation started. The tears came too. “He’s alive,” she said, covering her muzzle with her hand. “Alive.”

“Yeah. Oh, I’m sorry I did it like this but I couldn’t wait!” Suqi said.

Hurranna nodded.

“You said Ox too?”

“Yeah, I’ll play the video for you. They’ll be on the news soon I bet,” Suqi said.

Hurranna watched fascinated as Jethro appeared and talked to his family. She smiled a watery smile. She’d have to tell Deja, she really should soon. At the moment she just felt incredible at the miracle that had unfolded.

 >>*<<