4
With MedSpc1 Reese's coaxing, Ianto moved to the stacked rubble and took a seat. She handed him a large syringe with a two-centimeter section of rubber tubing attached to the tip.
"If the baby takes it," Reese said, "push gently on the plunger. Don't give it too much, though."
"I'll do my best," Ianto said as he took the syringe.
"You're best is already better than the rest of us," Reese said. She gave Ianto an appreciative pat on the back and stepped away.
Ianto held the tip of the rubber tube to the baby's lips. Its eyes never left Ianto's face. When a drop of the electrolytes touched the infant's lips, its tongue snaked out, touching the droplet. Once tasted the infant sucked the tip of the tube into its mouth hard enough to collapse the walls of the rubber tubing. Ianto pushed on the syringe plunger, filling the tubing with more electrolytes. The infant sucked the liquid, again, its eyes never leaving Ianto's face. For twenty minutes, Ianto held the baby. He'd remembered a small stuffed dragon in his T-n-T bag which the baby seemed to enjoy. He also continued to slowly administer the electrolytes.
In that time, several teams of Regulators sent out searching by Lt Curtis returned and spoke to Fisher and then the lieutenant. Only once did a team hurry back out to where they'd been. Ianto watched them all with a detached perspective, turning most of his attention to the infant who seemed to never lose interest in watching him.
"Jones, try this." Lt Curtis had approached. In her hand she had a small bottle with a milky white substance sloshing inside it. Ianto pulled the rubber tubing away from an uncooperative infant and replaced it with the bottle of formula. As eagerly as it had taken to the electrolytes, it was nothing to how it clamped onto the bottle's nipple and began sucking furiously at the contents.
"I think the child likes it, Jones. What do you think?"
The volume of formula in the bottle was quickly receding. "I think I agree, Lieutenant. Do we have more?"
"Lady across the street is cleaning out a few more bottles. Hopefully, that's all we'll need until we find some relatives."
"That's not looking good, Lt Curtis."
Ianto looked up to see SSgt Studibacker approaching. "Fisher's people have talked to everyone available on the block. Whatever family these kids had, they were in the building when it went down."
"Not even a cousin? Distant cousin?"
"Family moved here from one of the farming villages," Studibacker said. He pointed in the direction that the Werlhogs still controlled. "One of the first to be attacked by the Anatoli. So they lost plenty of family then."
"And the rest of it now," said Lt Curtis. Ianto checked the bottle. It was down to the last ten milliliters.
"Cpl Figueroa," Lt Curtis called with cupped hands making a megaphone over her mouth. "Get on the horn and call for a Shepherd."
"There's Shepherds on planet?" Ianto asked.
Studibacker snorted. "P.F.C., where there's war, there are Shepherds. Only question is how far away are they?"
"We'll know soon enough," said Lt Curtis. "In the meantime, have Sgt Jacobs squad relieve 2nd squad on perimeter."
Ianto clambered to his feet. He held the infant out for someone to take it. Studibacker accepted the little bundle. Instantly, it started to wail. The staff sergeant teased its lips with the bottle. The infant pushed it away, crying louder.
"Let me," said Reese. She took the infant from an all too willing Studibacker. However, it made no difference. The baby continued to wail with dissatisfaction. After several tries to get it to take the bottle, Reese admitted defeat. "Anyone else?"
"Jones," said Lt Curtis.
"Me, Lieutenant?" asked Ianto. "My squad's on perimeter."
"They are. You aren't. You got baby duty."
Ianto set his rifle back on the ground, leaning it against the rubble. "Yes, Lieutenant."
He took the baby who stopped crying almost as soon as Ianto made contact with it. When he offered the baby the remains of the bottle it took them willingly.
"Go figure," said Reese.
"You're a natural," Studibacker said.
"I haven't held a baby since the orphanage."
Lt Curtis reached over to stroke the baby's head, pushing the dirty hair back from its eyes.
"And now you'll hold another one," she said to Ianto. "Until the Shepherd gets here."
It was several hours later and two more bottles of the formula before the Shepherd arrived. In that time they'd also managed to revive the toddler and get them both clean clothes and diapers. In the process, they learned that the toddler was a boy and the baby was his sister. Ianto was rocking the now sleeping infant as a RapRes rolled around a corner three blocks back.
The Rapid Response vehicle kicked up a cloud of dust from the debris on the road. The top hatch was open and Ianto could see a Regulator, head and shoulders above the rim of the opening, one hand holding the heavy machine gun as it swayed in its carriage like an attack dog eager to be off the leash.
Near him, Ianto could see Curtis and Studibacker moving off the sidewalk to greet the arriving RapRes. As it reached the waiting platoon it growled its way to a stop. Ianto could hear but not see the back gate of the RapRes as its hydraulics whined, lowering it to the ground. A lone figure came around from the back. They approached Curtis before coming to a stop, snapping to attention with a salute.
"SSgt Cathy Swanson reporting, Lieutenant."
Curtis returned the salute. "At ease Staff Sergeant. You're the Shepherd, I hope."
Swanson nodded, offering only a ghost of a smile. "That would be me, Lieutenant. You reported two children?"
"I did." Curtis pointed to where Reese sat with the toddler, who was munching quietly on a ration bar, and then over at Ianto who suddenly felt self-conscious. "There and there. Two years we assume for the boy. The infant, a girl, we're not sure."
Swanson nodded and then marched over to Ianto. He started to rise until the staff sergeant motioned him to remain sitting. She reached out and touched the sleeping girl, examining her hands and feet. To no one, in particular, she said, "About three months."
She held out her hands for the infant and Ianto slid the baby girl to her. No sooner had Ianto removed his hands then the baby woke and began to wail. Her little feet and hands made themselves known with kicking and shaking. Ianto watched as the Shepherd cooed and whispered to the baby for several minutes. In that time, the baby had only stopped crying long enough to get a deep breath before starting in again, making her displeasure known to anyone within hearing distance.
Ianto didn't doubt that the Werlhogs on their line could hear the baby, too. After several more fruitless attempts that included singing several lullabies that Ianto remembered only now, the Shepherd slowly handed the baby back to Ianto.
Once again, the moment Ianto had her, the baby ceased crying, made several bubbly noises, and drifted back to sleep.
Ianto could feel the staff sergeant studying him and the baby. He tried not to feel awkward, but it was a difficult thing to do with everyone's eyes on him. Finally, the Shepherd cleared her throat and spoke. "Lieutenant, I'm going to have to ask to borrow the P.F.C."
Curtis laughed in a choir with Studibacker and Figueroa.
"Of course you are," Curtis said. "And I don't blame you. But we'd like him back as soon as you can. He's a valuable part of the platoon."
Ianto wasn't sure how true that statement was, but it did feel good to hear.
"I've a drop-ship coming down at the edge of the city," said Swanson. "Soon as I have the children onboard, the RapRes will bring him back to you."
"You get all that, Jones?" asked Lt Curtis.
"Yes, Lieutenant," Ianto said.
"We look forward to your return." The lieutenant turned to Studibacker. "Pull everyone in and let's get back on patrol."
"Yes, Lt Curtis," Studibacker said with a salute. He turned away and started calling the names of the squad leaders.
Swanson retrieved the boy from MedSpc Reese's care, giving him a shoulder ride that put a smile on his face. "You got everything, Jones?"
"Yes, Staff Sergeant." Ianto had managed to manoeuvre his rifle sling over his shoulder without tousling the baby. He glanced at Hallett, his onetime bunk mate and now good friend. She nodded to him to go.
"Right, then. This way." Swanson made her way back around the RapRes where another Regulator waited at the top of the ramp.
"Staff Sergeant," they said with a nod before turning their attention to Ianto and the two children.
"We have company."
"That we do, Cpl Hews. Let the Sgt know we're ready to move."
"Welcome aboard," Cpl Hews said to Ianto before turning and walking to the forward end of the RapRes and sliding a broad hatch open. Ianto couldn't hear what was being said, but soon after, the back ramp hydraulics began to groan with the effort of pulling the hatch shut.
"Okay, you'll need this," Swanson said. She handed Ianto a broad cloth that had a pod sewn into the middle part. "This is a baby sling. You'll be able to operate hands-free while still keeping our little girl close. If you have to use your weapon, slide this closed. It will dampen the sound. There's an air circulator and filter, too. The baby will be safe inside."
Ianto took the sling, looking at it with doubt. He could feel the ballistic material inside the cloth and padding. It was overlapped, much like a Wolfkat's thick, flat hairs. It allowed for movement while still providing plenty of protection for the pod.
The only problem was that he'd never used a baby sling. He had no idea how to use it. He shifted his attention to the staff sergeant who was pulling on a different kind of sling and hefting the little boy into it.
Once in, the boy was pressed against SSgt Swanson's body. He leaned his head against her chest. The sling had a small helmet that would provide sound and visual protection. The half-eaten ration bar was still in his hand. His eyes were half-lidded.
"Don't know what to do?" Swanson asked. She had a mischievous smile on her face. Of course she knew that he had no idea what to do. "Cpl Hews, a little help, here."
"On my way to the rescue," Hews sang as he made his way to where Ianto remained standing. In a normal voice, the corporal said, "Let's get you situated before the sergeant steps on the accelerator. Well, stomp would be a better description. They let anyone drive these days."
With Hews's help, Ianto was able to remove his weapon and pack before crossing the sling over his front and then across his back before going around the front again and buckling it like a utility belt. An adjustable strap that went around Ianto's waist, just below his ribs, kept the sling from hanging, were he to bend over. The infant, who'd been asleep at the beginning of the procedure woke long enough to look around.
Once she saw Ianto she smiled and then drifted back to sleep.
"There you go," said Hews. "Snug as a bug in a rug. Or a pea in a pod, I guess. It looks a bit like a peapod."
"Strap in everyone," the sergeant's voice crackled over the RapRes's speakers. "Time to go."
Again, with Hews's assistance, Ianto situated himself, adjusting the straps that would hold him safely in his seat even if the RapRes were to roll over for some reason.
Hews gave the baby a simple stroke across the forehead and then made his way forward, taking his seat and quickly buckling himself in for the ride.
He eyed Swanson who gave him a thumbs up. After a nod to Ianto, he rapped on the hatch with his knuckles.
"Good to go, Sarge."
.
.
From the SpacePort, the duo took a train to the city's central station, followed by a short float in a cab from the station to the neighbourhood where Dax UReindance lived.
The city was quaint, if nothing else. It had been built primarily for its diminutive denizens, of course, but was later expanded to accommodate other races, most of whom were larger than the natives.
The architecture was sleek and streamlined, mostly juxtaposing long, harsh straight lines in the horizontal plane with spirals and curves in the vertical. It was a beautiful city, but John had reminded Jack that he would appreciate it if Jack could make their stay here as brief as possible.
John hated Inyan because the war might be on the other side of the planet, but it was having an impact here. They had seen their fair share of war and it was not something anyone willingly took part in. Best leave it to the Regulators.
It had been a long while since Jack had seen Dax, and he hoped that he still resided in the same place. He also secretly had his fingers crossed, hoping that, once they found him, Dax would be receptive to his offer. Their last collaborative effort hadn't gone exactly as planned and Dax had not been a happy camper.
That was all in the past, however, and Jack was sure that he could convince the best security-breaker he had ever known to see things his way. Well, reasonably sure, anyway.
When Jack and John arrived at Dax UReindance's address - a current one, Jack hoped - John was sent to activate the door chime, just in case Dax acted out in hostility. Jack could handle himself fine, but John was much more resilient than he was and Dax could be unpredictable.
When the door chime flashed its compliance to John's touch, John stepped back, not wanting to be directly in front of the door when it opened, and Jack was a little farther down the wall. A panel above the door slid open and a small camera exited, scanning until it pointed at the lithe man.
"John? What are you doing here? I assume Jack is with you," came a voice from a speaker next to the camera. Jack leaned out past John and waved at the camera, smiling broadly. "Hey, Dax! Can you let us in?"
"Whatever you want, the answer is no. Not right now." The camera started to recede into its recess in the wall.
"Wait!" Jack called, stepping closer. The camera stopped for a moment, then came back out and turned to face him, but there was no reply from within. "We just want to talk to you. Five minutes, tops."
There was nothing for an interval, then "Your ship is here?"
"Yeah."
"Is it running worth a crap?"
There was no need to tell him everything. The ship would be fine by the time it came out of the shop and they were ready to leave. "Yeah. Isn't it always? Why?"
The camera retracted and the panel that concealed it slid shut.
"Oh, for the love of the Four Arms," Jack said to John. "At least the ship'll get fixed while we're here. Trip wasn't a total loss."
"Five minutes," Dax said through the opening of the door. Jack and John smiled at one another, and Jack led the way into Dax's home.
The place was a shambles, with clothes and all manner of articles strewn from one end to the other, covering every horizontal surface in the place. Dax had a large case open on a table and was firing some things from the mess into it. His thin arms and body worked furiously to finish what he was doing and, from behind, Jack could see he was nervous. More than nervous. He was afraid. Although he usually came to Jack's nipples… don't' ask how they measured that… he seemed to have shrunk into himself with fear.
"Uh, what's going on, Dax?" Jack asked.
"Nothing," Dax replied. "When are you leaving?"
"I told you we wouldn't bother you for long."
"No, not from here. When are you guys leaving the planet?" He put another article into the bag and pushed down on it, then put it aside and took a couple things out and threw them onto the floor. Jack and John looked at one another, and John shrugged his shoulders.
"Soon enough," said Jack. "Once we either have a deal with you or you shoot down my idea, I guess."
Jack and John exchanged looks once again. "Dax, what did you do, bud? Looks like we caught you just in time. Judging from all this, I'd say you'd have been gone if we had arrived in another ten minutes or so."
Dax turned and faced the men for the first time since they had entered, and his glowing yellow eyes stood out like twin beacons in the dim room. "Less. Long story short – the war is coming and by this time tomorrow this city will be a battleground.
"Oh, crap!"