Jethro 9 snippet 2

Sitrep:

So, yesterday I was at the hospital waiting on dad's pacemaker install and heart checkup. He's good, ignoring doctor/nurse's orders as usual so... normal. That is a relief? Maybe?

Anyway, while I was out Rea finished Jethro 9's edits and shot it back to me. I just dealt with the final edits and shot it off to Goodlifeguide.

On to the next snippet!

Antigua

Jethrocalled a family meeting. Cleo and Shy were on their way home and arrived beforethe Cadre members did.

Bagheeracomplained about the interruption when Cleo went into his room and practicallydragged him out by his ear.

“Willyou sit down and shut up? This is important,” Cleo growled.

“Howdo you know that?” Bagheera demanded as the toilet flushed in the hallwaybathroom. The sink turned on for a moment.

“Ican tell just from looking at them,” Cleo retorted, nodding her chin at theSabu, Suqi, the holograms of their AI, and Jethro.

“Thisisn’t another lecture about getting a job or going to school is it? I mean, Iam taking classes …” Bagheera insisted.

“Believeit or not this isn’t about you,” Sabu rumbled quietly. Bagheera glanced at himand then fell into a pensive silence when he started to pick up on the vibes inthe room.

“Yes,well, Zuhura and Ember will be joining us in a bit. But …,” Jethro broke offand glanced to the side as Shy left the bathroom and sank into the seat next toCleo. Suqi reached out and grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

Shelooked at her and noted that Suqi was looking grave and sad. Her ears wereback. She looked to Sabu and saw similar looks coming from him. She felt herears go back as trepidation mounted. “What’s wrong? What happened?” she asked.

“Didthe cancer come back in White?” Cleo asked suddenly. Bagheera felt the moodshift and slowly sank into a chair. Sabu reached out and patted his shouldergruffly.

“No…,” Jethro said slowly.

“I’vegot a class in an hour and a half …,” Cleo warned.

“Youmay want to skip it,” Suqi said softly. She looked expectantly to Jethro.

Jethrofelt his insides twist. Bast gave him a sympathetic look.

“Thereis no easy way of saying this,” he said. He wiped at his eyes. The kittens allstared at him. The ones who didn’t know suddenly had an inkling. All of theirears were back and eyes wide.

“Therewas a crash on ET …”

“Mom!”Cleo wailed, lunging to her feet.

Jethroand Suqi immediately shook their heads. Suqi pushed Cleo down gently. Slowlyshe sank back into her chair. “If not mom …?”

“I’mafraid Red was killed by a fighter that crashed into their apartment complex.Your mom is fine,” Jethro said roughly. He paused as there was a knock at thedoor and then it opened to reveal Zuhura and Ember. Zuhura was somber and Emberhad clearly picked up on the vibes and was looking troubled and confused.

Cleoand Shy teared up as Suqi tried to comfort them. Sabu hugged Bagheera. Jethrogot up and hugged Zuhura, squeezing Ember between them until she nipped him.

Hechuffed in amusement and felt her little arms wrap around his neck. He took herfrom her adopted mother and hugged her for a moment. “Sorry, sweetie, we justgot some bad news,” he murmured.

“I’llsay,” Bagheera said. He got up and went to his room and slammed the door. Theothers watched him go and then gave out a soft collective sigh.

“Weeach deal with grief in our own way,” Sabu said as he still looked at the door.

“Givehim a moment. We’ll talk to him in a bit,” Jethro said.

<<(O)>>

Jethrohad to deal with the flood of sympathy from friends and colleagues.

Hurrannatexted him that she had received the news. She sent her condolences to Jethroand the family and stated that she’d be by later for a hug.

Heappreciated that.

<<(O)>>

ChiefWarrant Officer Ox and his dwarf counterpart Warrant Officer Mariah Willow wereputting their finishing touches on some of the robots when he received an emailabout Riley. He shook his head.

“What?”Willow asked. Minotaur and Peggy were busy going through lines of code withtheir respective debug bots to clean it up.

“Rileywill be in town shortly. But she said she has a gig and can’t chat tonight. Oh,well,” Ox said with a flap of his ears as his hands continued to assemble arobotic leg. There were some delicate connections but his massive fingershandled them easily.

Ithelped that he and Minotaur had a master grade level of control over hisimplants and nanites.

Minotaurand Peggy looked up and then both turned to their respective partners.

“What?”Willow asked. “Finished all ready?” she asked.

“No.We have news,” Peggy said.

“Outwith it,” Ox said absently.

“Therehas been a death in the McClintock family,” Minotaur said in a bass rumble. Oxstopped what he was doing and looked up sharply.

“Suqiand Sabu?”

“No.Lil Red was killed on Epsilon Triangula.”

“Oh,damn,” Willow said. “Isn’t that Jethro’s adopted daughter?”

“Yes,”Peggy replied.

“Pleasesend our condolences,” Willow said.

“Done,”Peggy said.