Balto in space
I spent the past hour or so trying to de-moisturizer the cabin as best I could. I enjoyed water in zero G. Zero G-Forces, though there was still gravity, as Jenna explained it to me best she could, telling some country wolf dog about the high technical and scientific aspects of space travel. "Your body can handle up to 20g's without a problem if you are accelerating ahead, but, you can only handle 4g's if you are accelerating sideways." I remembered her say. I knew I'd be fine though. This wouldn't be the first time I was thrown into a situation I wasn't properly trained for.
It was common sense to help myself relieve the heat in my cabin. The dryer it was in here, the better I would be protected from the heat. 45C with zero humidity could be manageable, but 45C with 100% humidity would cook me alive. I checked the instruments across my chest, and noted my body temperature was 313.94, or roughly 103f. Safe, for now, but I had to watch closely to make sure it didn't creep up that extra 3 degrees, as it could spell disaster within seconds.
For the past few hours, the amount of asteroids... Meteors, whatever they're called at this point, that hit my cabin started to increase. I've grown used to the constant ticks, taks, and bangs it caused.
It started getting to me... My brain imagined songs that went along with the banging. A song from outer space if you will.
The voices continued to grow louder and louder, but I didn't care. I was happy to hear Jenna and Laika's voices. Little curly was heard first, the my son, kodi asking if I was coming home. Once again, the radiation was getting to me, and I didn't even know it was possible.
A light started blinking across the room, with an associated low beeping sound. I floated over to investigate, but all it was, was a tiny yellow light labled "N²"
"N2?" I wondered what it meant, but soon I was interrupted by a stream of slightly cooler air emanating from the left of the light. I didn't know what it was, but it felt cool, so naturally I moved my face to it and began to let it cool me down, along with excessive panting.
Fall, 1956
I was lying down on my paws near the entrance of the training wing. Kevin had hooked a lead to my harness and left me just outside the door, allowing me to see both inside and out, as numerous people came and left. None seemed to care how wolf-like I was in appearance, but a few dogs seemed intimidated by my looks alone. I didn't know exactly how to take that.
The Baikonur training camp was a horrible place the working dogs of the base were stationed overnight. In this case, Kevin had come again at 6am like he always does, to pick up Jenna. I examined my surroundings, it being completely alien to me, and noted out some interesting things. For one, it smelled of food, food everywhere. Raw meat, so I assumed it was feeing time for the dogs. Another thing I noted was how much every human here seemed to love dogs, yet treated them with respect, as if they were a fellow human being.
Across the room I saw a tall scruffy looking man who wore the same uniform Kevin had. I tried my best to read his name tag but it was covered. Then I noticed the dog he had next to him. It was a mean, snarky looking Malamute with black and white markings. He stood proud and tall – well taller than I was – no matter who was talking to him. I examined the dog until he and his human were greeted by another human, and without a second look, they were gone. Something told me that dog liked to start trouble, because his handler didn't look all too happy with him.
I knew Kevin would eventually come through, but what I was more exited for, was the security dog he brought with him.
"Jenna..." I called out before I could even see her. She answered me with a smile on her face.
"Hey Balto. How did you sleep?"
"Like a log. Kevin's floor is very comfortable. Kodi and I slept through the night. What about you?"
"Kinda good, well for it being a kennel..."
We shared a short laugh, and then I decided to be a bit bold and leaned in for a kiss. Jenna hesitated, and pulled away from me, for what reason, I didn't know.
"Balto are you sure you even want to do this? Don't you have a mission to do?"
"Of course saving Laika is my top priority. But don't you think I deserve to spend my last living days with someone I like?"
"Oh... Yeah I guess. What do you mean "like"?" Jenna asked.
"Whatever you want it to mean." I responded.
I nuzzled her soft fur, and this time she didn't hesitate. I figured she liked the me just like I liked her... Oh hell, loved her. She closed her eyes and took in my scent slowly, indulging it. Growing an addiction to it. And then Kevin walked in…
"Hey guys I uh... Whoa you two need me to know anything?" Kevin asked.
I barked and licked Kevin's hand, causing him to kneel down to my level.
"Do you like Jenna?"
I barked.
"And Jenna, do you like Balto?"
Jenna barked.
"Haha well then. Wait till I tell my coworkers. It's good you two like eachother but it's time to get to work." Kevin said.
He grabbed the security vest for Jenna and carefully put it around her neck and chest. Kevin then found one of her backup vests and put it around me. It didn't fit at first, and Kevin had to loosen the two straps before putting it on, but once it was properly adujusted, I found it to be much more comfortable than the harness I had on previously. Kevin carefully wrote "police dog 2" on a white sticky note, cut it to the right length and stuck it on one of the badges on my suit. Jenna had a similar label on one of her badges that said simply "Jenna".
Kevin then led us outside and walked them to their post for the morning.
"So I guess technically this is my first job too." I said towards Jenna.
"Eh, I barely consider this a job. Me and Kevin hang out all around the base all day, nothing ever happens, and I get to run around all I want."
"You love running too huh?"
"Yes. I love it, I love to feel free, ya know?"
"I know all too well. What about airplanes?"
"Oh, I think I love airplanes even more!"
"I do to. I used to watch the humans take off and land them all day from home."
Jenna and I smiled as we followed Kevin, simple conversation being entertaining to both of us. Kevin led us into a truck, and soon they drove the 22 miles south through the bases various roads systems. Kevin would explain that I was a new police dog he's training on the job, and nobody would ask questions. Our first stop is a southern base, where we will assist with importation and customs security, then after lunch our schedule would bring us back to north base, the same one Kodi and I woke up in a daze yesterday.
"Okay so where should we start?" Jenna asked.
"Start... What?"
"Well you need training if you plan on going into space duh."
"What would you know? You're just a security dog."
Jenna seemed like she was trying to muster up some kind of lie before I caught on, but now wasn't the time for me to ask questions.
"Well... I won't lie to you. I wasn't always a security dog."
"Obviously. You're like fresh out of college compared to an old dog like me."
At this point we had reached an outer security checkpoint, not the one we were stationed on just yet, but Kevin obviously knew they guy here. He stopped the truck and told us to stay; neither of us knew what he was planning.
"Guys watch this; John doesn't know I'm here." Kevin whispered.
I smiled and looked at Jenna. She gave me a nod and said not to worry, and we both turned and watched Kevin.
Kevin snuck around the front door and got his own keychain out. He found the right key, and gave us thumbs up. I raised a paw back to him as a reply, then watched as he slowly opened the door.
"INSPECTION!" Kevin screamed, and banged hard on the door, knocking it open. John was asleep kicked back in his metal chair.
Kevin's sudden burst startled him and made him fall flat on his behind. The metal chair only adding to the loud sounds and shouting.
"Kevin this again? I'll report you again I swear! You are interfering with my job, and I do not take kindly to that one bit!" John got in Kevin's face, but he was only laughing more.
"John you were sleeping, weren't you. How would boss take to that? Not very kindly?"
"You got me there... What the hell are you bothering me about now." John asked as he picked his chair up, and opened it before placing it down.
"Come look at the new security WOLF!" Kevin said.
John looked rather surprised, but then looked at Kevin in disbelief. His face changed when he looked past Kevin, and at me... I barked back at him, and ran at full speed. John stepped back just in time for me to be at his feet. I jumped on his stomach and touched his chin with my muzzle, showing off how fall I was compared to the man.
"What the hell Kevin! He's huge!"
"Pretty heavy too. I had to carry him once." Kevin said absentminded my.
"So uh, where are you Jenna and... Police dog #2 stationed today?" John asked.
Kevin shushed him and pulled me out of his arms. I licked Kevin's arm and he put me down. The two men continued talking, so I took my leave, slipping between Kevin's legs and meeting back with Jenna.
"We're stationed at internal supervision stage 1" Kevin said.
"Oh really- Hey wait, that's where I'm stationed!"
"Not anymore. You're taking south base." Kevin said.
"I'll call management right now and ask them if they can confirm this order." John threatened and picked up the phone.
"Also be sure to let him know you were sleeping."
John sighed defeated and replaced the phone. He angrily switched keys with Kevin, about a dozen keys for a different set of access points. John was taking the boring south base while Jenna, Kevin and I were now going to help with security around the actual rocket. The Sputnik PS. Boy was I exited.
"Good, the means I can tell you everything about how the rocket works. You'll be ready to take Laika's place in no time." Jenna said.
I moved in closer to her and nuzzled her neck.
"Thank you for helping me." I said.
Jenna smiled and rested her head on mine. Kevin soon returned to the truck and hopped in excitedly. A gate opens and soon we were driving 7 miles to the Launchpad, the real deal. The storing port for the actual rocket itself in all it's glory. On the way me and Jenna talked about all kinds of things. We clicked on a personality level way beyond anyone I've ever talked to, granted that list was very short, but it still surprised me nonetheless. Kevin hated south base, it was boring there, and although he might be yelled at for switching places with his friend, it was a risk he was willing to take. This mentality was shared with Jenna, who soon revealed to me that she was one of the dogs in training. Jenna was simply too energetic for them to try and forge a docile and calm attitude on her that training would have done, and I was thankful for that, because those traits were the ones I loved about this girl.
Bonding time aside, Jenna taught me everything from how to convert our Metric standard to the American imperial units, to how I would be subjected to radiation in space, along with whatever the hell "radiation" was. She was so smart, but she was hiding a lot. Not due to Soviet censorship, or super-secret "need to know basis" crap, but rather, I found she was straying from topics related to her past. Anything related to, including everytime I would ask her how she knew such things.
For now though, I figured I'd ignore it and learn as much as I can in the short time we had together.
14 months until launch.