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:

 

Chapter2

 

TFP

 

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

Forthe return journey the courier would have to reroute around the destroyedHorath star system, but apparently the navy was taking that into account in theplanning of the movement.

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

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

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

>>*<<

Jethro’sinbox began to fill up with congratulations from old friends and colleagues asnews spread of their survival. Admiral Shelby Logan, Admiral Irons, AdmiralHoratio Logan, Gunny Schultz, General Forth, General Lyon, and many others paidtheir respects.

Shelbywasn’t shy about wanting his services. He wrote back that he was going to takea prolonged leave of absence to be with his family. She sent him a big thumbsup in reply.

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

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

>>*<<

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

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

Theyhad also stripped their host bodies of nanites. One of the first things theydid was get more material to make more nanites. But the process took time togrow more and distribute them throughout their host’s bodies.

Thehosts also needed a lot of medical repair, which divided their time. She wasinitially happy for the medical intervention. Jethro had become severelydehydrated and deprived. Only his iron will had kept him fully sentient.

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

Inevitablya few of the concerned Cadre members found their way to Ox, their residentengineering expert. He was spending a great deal of time in medical, far morethan most.

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

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

Oxfrowned in puzzled confusion.

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

Oxgrunted and then nodded.

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

Oxnodded again. He looked tired and concerned.

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

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

  >>*<<

SG3R211-94 Sigma Sector Capital

 

WarrantOfficer Hurranna got a call from Suqi and wondered what was going on. When hership was in orbit she put a video call in.

“Sokiddo, what gives?” Hurranna asked. She could clearly see excitement in theother cat’s face.

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

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

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

Shehad been a bit lonely and had latched onto Suqi and Sabu when she had found outthat they had been deployed to the sector. She acted as their impromptu auntand 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 placecalled TFP!”

Hurrannastared dumbly at her.

“Imean 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!”

Hurrannacontinued to stare. Feelings welled up inside her. Denial was first, thenrelief, shock, consternation, and then excitement and exuberance.

Ithit her in waves and she felt almost orgasmic when the elation started. Thetears 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.

Hurrannanodded.

“Yousaid Ox too?”

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

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

  >>*<<