Chapter 11:
Alex Antlerson wakes up and rubs his head as he gets up. He didn't get much sleep last night thinking about the possibilities of today. He had such an unusual skill that he hoped Wilde Industries would hire him. He stands up, stretches, and gets dressed. He goes to the washroom and does his business. He grooms his fur and looks in the mirror. He rubs his horns, "he would have to cut them back soon," he thinks. He then goes to wake his mother up. "Hey, mom, you ready"? "Oh, Alex, you look so handsome today. Is it today"? "It is, mom; I hope they will hire me." "They will, son. How could they not"? Alex helps her up to use the facilities. He closes the door, waits for the "All finished," and then helps her back to bed. He brings the breakfast box from the kitchen, which has a few wild strawberries and grasses. They sit in front of the TV that Alex had cobbled together from several broken sets, and they eat their breakfast. She eventually shoos him out the door, telling him, "He would be late."
Alex had put on his best clothes, which were a bit shabby around the edges. He grabs the ratty backpack by the door with his equipment and heads out. He has to run, dodge, and hide to get out of Happy Town. Happy Town was supposed to be this great subdivision of Zootopia. It was a high-density neighborhood. But about twenty years after its conception, it went downhill fast when the gangs took it over. This is where Alex and his mom lived after her disability pension disappeared when the company, she worked for went bankrupt. They couldn't afford their old apartment, so they had to move where it was cheaper. Social Services gave her about half of what her pension was. Alex worked some odd jobs to help out. He foraged in the meadowlands from late afternoon to evening for the food he and his mom ate. Once out of happy town, he breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded to walk to the Wilde Industries hiring center.
As he's standing in line at the gate to Wilde Industries, he notices a few Graviton bikes coming in the gate. As he stands there, he wishes he could afford one. All six of the riders look at him as they pass by. He blushes red with embarrassment. He drops his ears, and his horns become very prominent. He knows how unusual he looks. As far as he knows, he is the only one of his kind. The line he is in advances reasonably quickly. Soon he's standing before security. The guard looks him up and down.
"Name"? "Alex Antlerson, Sir." "And what is your special ability"? "I'm a welder, sir." "Schooling"? "No, sir, self-taught." He can see the rejection on the face of the lion. The phone in front of the guard rings, and he answers it. Alex hangs his head and turns to go away. Just one more rejection. The Lion hangs up the phone, "Where do you think you are going, young mammal"? Alex turns back, "I could see the rejection in your eyes, and I was going to look elsewhere." "Well, it's a good thing I'm not in charge of hiring. MR (Mammal Resources) wants to see you. Here is your visitor pass. Follow the blue line to their offices. Don't deviate from that path, or I will send guards after you. I hope you have a nice day." Says the lion with a smile and an outstretched paw with a visitor's pass. Alex is ecstatic. He's at least in the door. He follows the blue line out the door and down a walkway to another building. He is met at reception by a pregnant red fox with a kit carrier on her chest. "How strange," he thinks. She looked like one of the mammals on the bikes earlier. "Follow me, please, sir." Alex follows her down the long corridor to what appears to be a workroom. Several more mammals are waiting for them in the room: more foxes and a very orange rabbit; "she's cute," he thinks.
One fox steps forward and offers him a paw. "Hello Alex, I'm Bill. What can you do for Wilde industries"? "I'm a welder, sir." What kind of materials can you weld"? "Any material, sir. What I mean is that I can weld any material to any other material. Wood to glass, wood to stone, aluminum to steel, steel to glass, just about any material to any other material." Can you show us"? "I can. What would you like me to weld"? Bill opens a box on the table and removes two small squares of glass-like material.
"I would like you to weld these two squares together." Bill then lays them down on the table. Alex picks them both up and gets a feel for the material. He then lays them back down and proceeds to open his backpack. He pulls out this weird-looking glove and puts it on. He then plugs an extension cord into a socket on the bench. A small LED comes on. Alex then pushes the squares together and puts his index finger on the seam, and begins to weld. Everyone can see his concentration as he welds. When he finishes, he removes his paw from the glove, lays it down, unplugs the extension cord, and passes out.
Thomas rushes over to him to check him out. Bill picks up the square of material and leaves the room. Ten minutes later, Bill returns. "Is he okay, Thomas"? "He is just a bit anemic. He hasn't had a good meal in a while. What about that square of material"? "Well, he welded it at the molecular level. Under the electron microscope, I can't find the seam. It's like it was one piece from the beginning." "What is that material, William"? "Not sure. I asked my crystal, while plugged into the replicator, to make me a material stronger than steel, non-porous, light as aluminum, and transparent, like glass. Those two squares were it. One broke the tensile strength machine, and the other broke the crushing machine. Neither were deformed. I call it carbon metal. I believe it's super-compressed carbon dioxide with pure partials. When they were made, there was a rise in oxygen levels and an influx of air into the lab." Alex slowly became aware as they talked. He stands up and, picking up his welder, stuffs it into his backpack. He puts the load on his shoulder and, hanging his head, turns to leave.
"Where are you going, Alex"? Asks Bill. "I failed my job interview, so I'm just going to leave." "Who told you, you failed"? "I failed when I passed out after doing such a small job for you." "You didn't fail Alex; in fact, you passed." Alex looks up with hope in his eyes. "Where did you learn to weld like that"? Not sure it just came to me in dreams." He moves the backpack off his shoulder and pulls out a small book. He hands this to Betty. Betty opens it, and her eyes go wide.
"Guys, you need to see this." William, Ava, and Rick all crowd around her and look at the book of drawings and the notations in the margins. "Do you understand what you have created here, Alex"? "No, not really. I only understand it when I hold my crystal." "Alex, I'm going to project some words on the screen at the end of the room. Can you tell me what it says"? Alex looks down the room at the screen and gets a puzzled look on his face. There is a group of symbols on the screen. He receives a glimmer of understanding and reaches for a small compartment on his glove. He pops the hatch, and out falls a small white crystal. Holding his crystal in his paw, he then looks at the screen. A smile splits his face. "Well, if I'm reading it right, it says, Wilde Industries welcomes you, New hire." A bell sounds for the first break. "You want to join us for a small meal, Alex"? "I would love to, lead the way, please." "Please leave your welder and book. Our engineers want to look it over to see if he can improve the design." Alex clutches his crystal. "By all means, keep your crystal, Alex. We only want to look over your equipment and book." Alex slips his crystal into a small pouch on his belt.
They all walk down to the cafeteria down the hall. Alex starts to salivate at all the choices on the replicator machines. "Take as much as you want, Alex. It's all free." Alex pulls up a vegetable medley, fries, and a large soda. Both Betty and Amber pulled out as much as he did. This was his first real meal in a long time, and he savored every bite. When completed, he leans back and eyes the machines again. "We can see you have no problem with replicated food, so why are you acting like you're starving"? "Well, I can't get to the replicator café in Happy Town." And why is that"? "I have nothing to pay the gang fee with." "Gang fee"? "Yes, the gangs have taken over the area around the cafes, and you have to pay them if you want to eat." "Betty, according to the stats, is what he's saying true"? "It is Bill. The demographic eating is mostly young adult males. Very few dinners are old, young, or female." "That's just not right." Says William pulling out his phone.
He dials a number and puts the phone to his ear. "Hey, dad, how are things going? Good, good, the reason why I'm calling is we have become aware of a problem with the replicator cafes. No, no, nothing like that. We've found that the gangs of Happy Town won't allow the average citizen to eat at them without paying a "Gang" tax. Yes, I know that isn't right. Consider this an anonymous tip to the gang unit. Right, we should all be home for supper. See you then." William hangs up his phone. Bill has a direct line to the cops? Alex thinks. He had been listening in on Bill's side of the conversation, and when he realized whom he is sitting with, His eyes go wide with this revelation. The CEO of Wilde Industries is sitting across from him. Amber nudges Will and gets him to look at Alex. He turns back and looks at Alex. Alex feels like a deer in headlights.
William smiles, and a small portion of his incisors show. "What? Did you think that the head of R&D lived in an ivory tower? I'm just an average joe with some special abilities. Or did you think I might eat you? I can tell you rabbit does not suit my palate. I'm a vegan. And you, sir, are very unusual. I'm guessing that you are a hybrid. Those strips in your fur and the horns suggest you are an antelope rabbit cross, no"? Alex calms himself down with a few deep breaths. "Yes, I am. My mother always told me that my father was a stripped hare named Jack, though she always said he was just a dream. This is embarrassing, but she always called me a "Jackalope." "Jackalope? What a very appropriate name." "Thank you, sir. I've always liked it." "So, Alex, all new hires go through a physical. The Lasiters here will take you to the medical section of the plant and give you one."
"Lasiter? As in Jessica Lasiter, the neurosurgeon"? "Yes, I'm a neurosurgeon. How did you hear of me"? "Dr. Henderson got my mom a referral to you, but you refused to see her. "WHY"? "I do not know a Dr. Henderson. Betty, is he on the physician's directory"? "I can find only one doctor, Henderson, who retired two years ago." "How can that be? My mom only saw him last week." "I have found a Dr. Henderson office listed on Hemlock Lane in Happy Town. Is this his office address"? "Yes, 915 Hemlock Lane."
"What's wrong with your mom"? "Mom was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Her job was as a material handler. She had worked there for over twenty-three years when she started losing her balance and having vision problems. That's when the diagnosis of a tumor happened. She was pensioned out of her job. But the funny thing is, several more of her friends working there also came down with tumors. I did some digging and discovered that the chemicals she worked with "Could" cause cancer in some people. My mom was one of the unlucky few. When I presented this information to the company, they threatened my mom's pension if I didn't keep quiet, So I did."
"Well, I can tell you that balance and vision problems are not an inoperable tumor. That part of the brain is very accessible." Upon hearing this, Alex jumps to his paws and screams, "MOM." Thomas and Jessica get up and leave the room as William lays a paw on Alex's shoulder. "Hold on, Alex. Two of the best just left the room to get her. As a new hire for Wilde Industries, you and your family are entitled to free health care." "There's no waiting period"? "We are not like other companies. We are family orientated." Alex sits down and puts his head in his paws. "Now, Alex, all new hires go through a physical assessment. If you follow Betty to medical, she will get you set up." William, Rick, and Ava get up and head back to the workroom. William and Rick can't wait to dive into Alex's machine. Alex gets up and follows Betty out the door.
Thomas and Jessica head out down the road with the ambulance. As it's not an emergency, they do the speed limit with no lights or sirens. Soon they arrive at the rundown ramshackle apartment block Alex lives in. They unload the gurney, and Thomas locks up the ambulance. They go up the rickety stairs to Alex's apartment as the elevator is not working. How this building was still standing was beyond them. They get to the door to find the door lock doesn't work, but it looks like it does. They open the door, and Alex's mom calls out.
"Is that you, Alex"? "No, it's not Mis Antlerson. We are the paramedics sent to fetch you." They come into the bedroom with the gurney. "I didn't call for an ambulance. I'm fine." "Your son told us about your condition, and we were sent to asses you and maybe bring you in." "We can't afford an ambulance ride or the hospital visit for me. The tumor is fatal, and I'm just waiting to die." Jessica lays a paw on her head. After a few moments, "This tumor she has is totally removable, Thomas. But it has to be removed soon to minimize the damage that has already occurred." "Who are you"? Says Martha looking at Jessica in awe. "We're paramedics from Wilde Industries. As a new hire, Alex and his family are entitled to free health care."
Thomas looks around the room, looks at the strange TV, and gets out his phone. "I need a pickup team at nine-seventeen Burron st; apartment three-seventeen. Bring everything. They can sort it out later." "What are you doing"? "We're moving you out of this hovel and into one of the Wilde Industry apartment complexes. As workers for Wilde Industries, you are entitled to a place to live that is safer than this place." "Safer"? "Yes, safer. Did you know your front door lock doesn't even work"? "Alex never said anything about it." "Probably didn't want to worry you." Martha moves out of bed and onto the gurney, which had been folded up like a wheelchair. They take her down the stairs using power to smooth things out. Once out on the street, they find gang members surrounding the ambulance. The leader comes over to Thomas.
"Give us all the drugs in the ambulance, and then you can go free." When locking the ambulance, Thomas put the shield up around it; they tried but couldn't get in. Jessica and Thomas both go into a fighting stance. "Just give them what they want; we don't need the trouble." Say Maggie with a fearful look in her eyes. "Just watch my husband; he will take care of it." Says Jessica standing in front of Maggie. Maggie watches as the scene unfolds. "Sorry, sir, not going to happen." Says Thomas waving them forward, taunting them. "Get him, boys." The rest of the gang surges forward. Thomas has them down in a few minutes. Some have broken bones, but most are just knocked out. Thomas stops spinning right in front of the leader with his paw, about to chop him across the throat. The look of fear in the leader's eyes was satisfying to Thomas, but the fact that he wet himself was more so. The leader, at this point, runs away. The conscious gang members followed him holding their heads and broken arms. The rest of them, Thomas dragged onto the sidewalk. "Wow, he can fight. It's so satisfying to see some gang members get their comeuppance. Can all Wilde Industry employees fight like that"? "Most can defend themselves. All employees must attend a mandatory fighting/exercise class before their day starts. They are paid for it, of course."
"I just thought of something you said earlier. You said workers, not worker. I don't work for Wilde Industries." "Well, Wilde Industries is always looking for good employees, and I was told you worked for twenty-three years as a material handler for one company. That kind of loyalty is what Wilde Industries is looking for in their employees." "But I have a tumor. How can I work"? "When we get you back, I will remove the tumor, and in a few days, you should be good to go for training." "You will remove my tumor"? "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I neglect to tell you, my name? I'm Jessica Lassiter, the neurosurgeon." "Maggie stares at her in shock. "You're a neurosurgeon"? "I am. My husband and I owned R. Organs before we were brought under the Wilde Industries banner. Our business is going strong. My husband and mate is training a new doctor to help him with the transplants." "Wow, I must have died already. This is just so unreal." "Not dead. You are just a little messed up at the moment. But I will take care of it."
Thomas drops the shield, and they load Maggie into the ambulance. While Thomas drives, Jessica takes her vitals. They are all good. "Can you tell me how Alex came into being"? "Why, he was born just like everyone else, dear." Maggie laughs as Jessica facepalms. "I have always had intense heats in the fall, but my chill pills allowed me to function normally. My heat hit early twenty years ago, and I had no chill pills. By the end of the day, I could barely control myself. I saw this handsome stripped hare, and he was agreeable to spend some time with me. I knew he couldn't get me pregnant, so I had no worries. I woke up on Sunday, and my heat was gone. There was no smell of sex in the air, and my fur wasn't matted. So, I thought it was just a dream. Boy, was I surprised When Alex popped out in the spring.
I had terrible stomach cramps and went to the emergency room. They figured out quickly that I was in labor and rushed me to the maternity ward. Alex was so small. He was a wee bunny, after all. But he wailed so lustily. I had never held something so small, and I was fearful I would drop him. When I saw the horizontal stripes in his fur, I knew that the jackrabbit from my dreams was the father. I then realized that my dreams of that weekend were real. I cried, thinking a hare could get an antelope pregnant. I continued to cry when I realized that Alex and I would never know his father, and now I was a single mother. It was hard the first few months, but I made it work with the help of some friends.
Alex was a quick learner; by the time he went to school, they bumped him to the fourth grade. He got his grade twelve when he was sixteen. But then things fell apart, and Alex wouldn't leave me. So, we both moved into that dump we called an apartment. Alex had a part-time job and helped to support us. Then the replicator cafes shut down, and Alex had to forage for the things we ate. He was always good at repairing things; he made that TV from scrapes he found in the dumpster. He said he discovered that crystal of his sticking out of the ground on one of his foraging trips. After he found it, he repaired more complex stuff for the people of the block and worked on his project.
At about this time, the gangs took notice of him and tried to get him to join one of them. They thought that his antlers could be used as offensive weapons. But Alex would have none of it. He endured a beating when he said no to them. He denied it to me, but I just knew. Since then, we have lived in peace with the gangs. Alex gave them everything we had of value, so they would leave us alone. Mind you, we had very little at that point. You can't get blood from a stone unless you have broken glass in your paw or hoof." "Very sage advice." "Thank you. I do try." "Looks like we're here, ready to get better"? "I hope you can get me better. I'm so tired of being an invalid." "Not to worry, you will be up on your hooves in no time." They unload her from the ambulance and wheel her in.
Betty leads Alex to the hospital wing of Wilde Industries. It is now a sprawling industrial complex. They have a twenty-square-block area, but there is still room for more production facilities. As they walk, Alex asks, "This may seem a little forward of me, but I can see you are pregnant, but you have a kit carrier on as well." "Your right. It is a little unusual, but it does happen. Five weeks after our son was born, I was pregnant again. It's a one-in-a-million chance, but it happened for my husband and I." Just then, Marc sticks his head out of the carrier.
"Oh, good, you're awake. Time to walk for a bit." "But moooom…." "No buts, son, I won't be able to carry both of you once your sister is born. My back is killing me already." "Fine," says Marc with a huff. He dives out of the kit carrier, does a forward flip, and lands on all fours. He then stands up and takes his mom's paw. "Show off, and where are your clothes"? "Not telling. It feels more natural this way." "That may be son, but we are in public, and all mammals put clothes on in public," Betty says while rummaging around in the carrier. She lifts out his clothes and stops to paw them to him. "Put them on, Marc." "Marc huffs again and puts them on. He then notices Alex.
"Hello, sir, I'm Marc," he says while holding out his paw. Alex leans down a bit and shakes his paw. "Well, hello there, Marc. I'm Alex. You're a very smart kit, aren't you"? "I am. Can I ask, what are you? I've never seen your species before." "Well, I'm a jackalope, the only one of my kind." "No, I don't think you are a one-of-a-kind. All of us have a mate somewhere. My mate is practicing hard right now to get into the mammalian Games later this year. I'm sure there's someone out there for you." "That may be, but I haven't met her yet." "I can see her in my mind. She looks just like you, only a brown color with one white ear." Alex smiles at him, "What a good imagination you have, Marc." Betty picks Marc up and places him in the crook of her arm. "What have I told you about telling people things like that"? Marc turns away from his mother's face and, in a small voice, "not to say things like that." "Right, and did you just now"? "I did. I'm sorry, Alex, I have a very good imagination." "It's ok. I'm not offended in any way." Marc starts to run around them once Betty puts him back down.
They enter the medical building, and Betty directs him to a medical examination room down the hall. "Hey, love," says Simon entering the room and kissing her. Marc gloms onto his leg. "Hi, dad." "Hey, son, have you been a good boy"? "Well, mostly, but I did tell Alex here about his mate." "Not good, son. You aren't supposed to do that." "I know it just slipped out." "Well, all right, but try harder next time." "I will do better next time, dad." "Good. Now I need you both to exit the room so I can examine Alex." Simon gives Betty one more kiss as she leaves. Simon leans down and ruffles Marc's head fur as he goes.
"Now, Alex, I need you to strip and lay on this table." Alex does as requested. Nudity doesn't bother him. The gangs had tried that when they caught him one time. He ran naked for home with laughter ringing in his ears. As he lies there, a part of the machine comes up and covers him. "What is this machine, sir"? "Sorry, I should have explained that this is a diagnostics bed. I had forgotten that this was your first time through it. This bed will tell me if or what may be wrong with you." With hope in his heart, Alex asks, "can I ask, sir, is what Marc said true"? Simon sighs, "yes, what my son said is true. He has the ability to be able to see connections between people. Whether they have met or not." "Wow, that is so strange." "Not as strange as being able to weld with a crystal, I bet." "Touchie, sir." Alex relaxes as Simon fiddles with the settings on the machine. Soon the cover retracts on the machine.
Simon goes to a cabinet and removes a couple of pill bottles as Alex sits up. "You can get dressed, Alex." Says Simon as he fills the bottles and returns to Alex. Alex slides off the bed and gets dressed. Simon holds out the two pill bottles. "I want you to take two red ones twice a day for a week to help with your anemia and eat at least three meals a day. And see me again in a week. Take one a day of the white ones as your antlers grow out." "I don't let my antlers grow, sir." "Can I ask why not"? "If I let them grow out, the gangs around where I live will see me as a threat and beat me, sir." Simon reaches up behind his left ear and rubs. A few seconds later, he gets an answer. "It's ok, Alex, you don't live there anymore. You now live in the apartments of Wilde Industries. And I'm sure no one there will beat you for being different. In fact, I can see you being the center of attention for quite some time. You are an eligible male, are you not"? "Well, if what Marc said is true, I think I will wait for my mate." "Well, I hope for your sake you meet her soon. We are done here, and if you follow me to reception, someone should be waiting for you to take you to your new home."
Alex and Simon walk to reception as Alex's mom is wheeled in. "Mom," cries Alex as he rushes over to her. "Hey, son, how you doing"? "I'm doing well, mom. How are you feeling"? "I'm better seeing you." She says, grabbing his paw in her hoof. "Sorry folks, I need to get my patient into surgery to remove the tumor." "It's removable,"? asks Alex. "It is totally removable, and that's what I need to do." "I'll be waiting for you, mom." She tuts at him as she releases his paw. Jessica and Thomas wheel her down to the OR. "You can wait here in reception for her surgery to be completed, Alex." Alex looks at Simon with relief as he sits in a comfortable armchair. Betty comes back in and sits in another armchair. Marc runs around the room with a ball in his mouth. Betty and Alex throw the ball for him and laugh at his antics.
After about an hour, William, Amber, Rick, and Ava all come in to talk to Alex. This is in part distraction and part information gathering. William sits across from Alex and starts. "Alex, I have looked over your welder's design and found a few areas for improvement. Do I have your permission to make my own welder with these improvements"? "Why do you need my permission"? "Well, you are the creator and patent holder of the welder, and as such, I need your permission." "But I never patented the welder; I could never afford that." "Not to worry, we have a lawyer doing that right now as we speak. Wilde Industries hopes you will give us exclusive rights to it, for a royalty fee, of course." "How much are we talking about"? "How does six figures grab you"? "Alex falls back with a look of shock on his face. It's a few before he can compose himself and close his mouth. "Alex, I don't think you realize what you brought to us today. This is the kind of innovations Wilde Industries is searching for." Alex still can't believe what he's hearing.
Just then, Amber groans and clutches her stomach. William looks over at her with concern. "Is it time, love"? "It's time, William." "William jumps up and heads for the door. "I'll get the car and your bag." He says as he rushes out the door. Amber stands up, rubs behind her left ear, and chuckles. "When he returns, tell him I'm in room two-twelve." She says this, heading for the second floor, still chuckling. The rest of them laugh wholeheartedly. William bursts through the door about twenty minutes later. "All right, love, I have the car. Let's..." Laughter erupts around the room at Williams's expense. William face palms, finally realizing where he is. Ava was the first to stop laughing and give him a grin as she tells him the room number. William runs down the hall and up the stairs, thinking the elevator is too slow. As there still laughing.
Betty straightens up and then bends over with a groan. She reaches up behind her left ear, and Simon rushes in a moment later to help her up and head upstairs. Marc is left with the rest of the family in the room. He is now bouncing off the walls, going he has a sister on the way, and he can't wait to finally meet her. Ava gets on her phone to tell Nick and Judy that the latest kits are on the way. Then she calls Vivian to tell her the same thing. Vivian was at the daycare with Elisabeth and her four kits, who were born a week previously. Vivian swore she would be down as soon as Peter got there.
Simon rushes Betty to room two-eleven. Thomas comes in a few minutes later. "Let's have a look, shall we"? Thomas lifts the sheet, "Betty, how long have you been in labor"? "About two hours." "Simon, did you know"? "No, I didn't. I've felt nothing." "You've felt nothing because I disconnected my pain receptors. But I'm reconnecting them now. Prepare yourself, husband; it's about to get real." The next contraction hits, and both Simon and betty let out a scream. "How is Amber doing, Thomas"? "She's doing well, though her time will be about an hour from now. You, on the other hand, will be in the next ten minutes." Simon holds her paw as the next contraction hits. They both scream, and Betty digs her claws into Simon's palm.
"Ok, Betty, big push now." "Betty bears down and lets out a scream, then a whimper. "Again, Betty, her snout is just poking out." Betty bears down, and her little girl pops out. Thomas takes her, ties off the umbilical cord, and has Simon cut the cord. Simon does so with shaky paws. Thomas smiles at him. He cleans her up, weighs her, then wraps her up. But strange, she makes no sound. Thomas places her on Betty's breast. Betty looks down at her daughter, sucking at her breast. Thomas checks her out but finds nothing physically wrong with her. Does she have a damaged mind? More tests are in order. Betty expels the afterbirth, and Thomas cleans her up.
("hello Sandy, I'm your mother. And the happy Todd running his paw down your back is your father.") (?) ("Your brother, will be in shortly to meet you as well.") (?) "I heard you love. You named her after my mother"? "It was one of the names we put on the shortlist, and I thought that it was fitting due to her color. You know that Marc and Sandy look so much alike that they will be taken for twins." "Well, they do have a family resemblance to their father." Says Simon with a proud dad attitude. Marc comes bounding into the room and crawls up from the foot of the bed to Betty's other breast.
"Take the teat below, son. The other breast has nutrients and antibodies that she needs." Marc lays on the breast, petting his little sister. ("Hi sister, I'm your older brother Marc.") (?) Sandy takes her fill from both breasts. She's happily drowsing and relaxed as she is passed around. To all family members. She is handed back to Betty, and Betty scent marks her. Sandy lets out a mew and goes for the breast again. Marc gets his meal from the active top two teats. Betty has more teats, but only activated the top two. Simon picks Sandy up, and this is when she cries. ("Shuuu… little one, it's just your father. I'm not going to hurt you.") Said Simon as he scent marks her as well. Sandy scrunches up her little nose and whimpers. But then latches onto his nose with her little claws. Simon licks her nose. She lets go and wails for food. Simon places her back on a breast. The family smiles as they all leave the room. Marc leaves with them.
Ten minutes later, and before Betty's child is born, Nick and Judy show up, followed closely by Vivian and Peter. Alex stared in wonder. His heroes were in the same room as him. But he was too shy to approach them. The decision was taken from him When Nick came over and introduced himself. "Hi, I'm Nick Wilde. You are"? Says Nick holding out his paw. Alex reaches out, nervous, like, "Alex, hi Nick, I am." Alex is a little flustered. "I mean, Hi Nick, I'm Alex Antlerson." Nick smiles at him. "A little flustered, are you"? "I am. I've never met bonified heroes before." "Let me stop you there. We're not heroes, just a couple of cops doing our job." "You could have fooled me, sir."
Judy comes over too. "Did I hear correctly? Your Name is Alex Antlerson. I'm Judy Wilde." "Hi, Judy. It's a pleasure to meet you," he said as he shakes his paw. "How did a hare get a Bovidae name"? "Yes, my last name is a Bovidae name, as my mom is a plains antelope. My father is a stripped hare." "Oh, are your horns curly when they grow out"? "No, they're straight, about eight inches long." "Wow, that's quite the defensive weapon. Just like Gazelle." "Hers are much longer and curly." "So why have you cut them off"? "The gangs where I live were threatened by my horns and wanted me to join their gang so they could use me as an offensive weapon. When I told them no, they beat me up and told me to cut them off. Or next time, they wouldn't be so gentle with me. I cut them off the next day."
"Where do you live, Alex"? "In happy town, sir. But I was told I now live in Wilde Industries housing. I was waiting for my mom, who's in surgery, and then for someone to show me the way to my new apartment." "Well, that's good. There aren't a lot of good times to be found in happy town. Were you the one to tell us about the problem in happy town"? "I was. I just hope things will change there." "They will. The gang division is now aware and has started an investigation. No one should go hungry." "And yet they do." "Yes, they do, but we are doing what we can for them."
Just then, several of the females in the room start to squeal. Nick looks at Alex, "Well, I guess my ninth granddaughter has now been born." Ava comes over to Nick. "Not your granddaughter, dad. Betty's daughter has been born. Simon just announced it to us." "I've heard nothing over the PA," said Alex looking perplexed.
"Sorry, Alex, the internal communicator has not been installed in you yet. All Wilde industries employees have this internal communicator in our heads." Ava Takes his paw and has him feel behind her left ear. "Alex, can you feel the raised bumps behind my ear? These bumps are the controls for the communicator. One is for general address and communication, two are the volume control, and the fourth is for emergency broadcasts. The communicator doesn't have much range, but here in the complex and the apartments, we have booster systems so everyone can stay connected." "What if I don't want this communicator in my head"? "Then you will have to carry a radio to stay in touch."
"This isn't some sort of mind control experiment, is it"? Ava doubles up laughing. When her mirth is finished, she stands back up. "Do you seriously think we want to control our employees? We can barely keep track of ourselves, let alone everyone working for us. We can communicate with everyone, that's all. Work can go so much smoother when we are in touch." "Yes, I can see the benefits of this communication device. When do I get mine"?
"Tomorrow, Alex, it takes about six hours for the radio to be made." "Made? You don't just cut me open and insert it"? Again, Ava doubles up in mirth. She holds up a paw to stall any more questions. She eventually stands up, still chuckling. "That would be a waste of time. There is no "one size fits all." All communicators custom fit themselves to the individual in the space available to them." "You are making them sound almost alive." "They are Nanites, small custom robots a couple of microns across. They form themselves into the radio and create the switches behind your left ear or the right ear if you so desire. I'm right-paw dominant, so it made sense for the buttons to be behind my left ear. I consciously have to think to activate the switches, whereas if it was behind my right ear, I would unconsciously activate them just rubbing my head." "Well, I'm left paw dominant, so it would show up on my right side"? "It would, Alex." "What other wonders will I find working for Wilde Industries"? "Depends on what you're into. All I can say is you will find out. Now, if you excuse me, I have a new relative to go see." All of the people in the room file out to go see Betty's child.
Alex sits there feeling lonely now that everyone has left. He notices a vending machine down the hall and reaches into his pocket to see what he has for change. He pulls out one dollar and wonders what's in the machine for that price. He gets up and goes to look at the machine. There is a wide selection of things, but strange, there are no prices or money slots. On a lark, he pushes the button for a peanut butter sandwich and a soda. It sounds like a compressor starting up, and soon the meal slot opens, and a sandwich and soda are sitting there. Alex grabs them like they're going to disappear and heads back to his chair. He quickly gobbles up the sandwich, sucks down his soda, and promptly falls asleep now that he's had two good meals in a short time span.
Jessica comes into the waiting room to see the rest of the family is very quiet. They make silence gestures and point to Alex. Jessica smiles and goes to Alex to wake him up. She lays a paw on his shoulder and gently shakes it. "Wake up, Alex." Alex yawns and stretches before he remembers where he is. He then bolts upright. "Relax, Alex, your mom is out of surgery and should be waking up soon. Would you like to see her"? His brain is still a little foggy, so he just nods. Jessica leads him down the hall to recovery. Some snickering happens as Marc lets out a shout of joy.
Maggie comes to with Alex holding her hoof. "Hey, son, how you doing"? "Fine, mom, the question is, how are you doing"? "I'm feeling better." "I think that's just the drugs talking." Says Jessica with a smile coming back into the room. "The tumor has now been removed, and the nanites are repairing the damage to the occipital and cerebellum areas of your brain. You should be good to go by this time tomorrow." "But I was told I was going to die." "If it had grown for a few more years, you would have. But we have caught it early enough before any major damage had been done to your brain. "So, I'm going to be ok"? Asked Maggie with tears in her eyes. "You are going to have to relearn how to see and walk properly, but I see no problem with that. We have some of the best therapists in the business."
"I can look after you now, mom. I was offered six figures for the use of my welder. Seems I lucked out, mom." "Alex, that's your money, do with it as you want. I have been offered a job here at Wilde industries, and you can bet your bottom dollar after all this time in bed I'm going to take it." Alex hugs his mom. "Visiting hours are over, Alex. You can see your mom in the morning." Alex hugs her one more time. "I'll be back in the morning, mom." "I know you will, son. Now shoo." Maggie waves him away with her right hoof. Alex leaves, and John brings in a tray with Maggie's supper on it. When the cover is removed, her eyes go big with the amount of food on it. John, Elisabeth's husband, helps her to eat it. And after she finishes, he helps her use the facilities.
William rushes up the stairs and, turning the corner, rushes down the hall to room two-twelve. Amber has had six contractions, and William had felt every one of them. He gets to her side as the next contraction hits. William looks around the room for Thomas. "Shouldn't Thomas be in here with you"? "He was about ten minutes ago, but he left saying it would be about twenty minutes before he would be needed. Oh, William, our little girl is on the way. I'm so happ… AND IN SO MUCH PAIN." She screams as the next contraction hits. William is wise enough to just hold her paw and winces at her pain. But Amber moves into him and nearly falls off the bed. William leans her forward and crawls in sideways behind her. Amber leans back into him with a sigh, and now he just holds her.
Thomas comes in a few minutes later. "Let's have a look, shall we"? Thomas lifts the sheet and looks at her. "Are you ready for your child"? You're dilated enough, so I want you to give a big push Amber." Amber bears down and screams as she does so. William lets out a whimper. "Again, Amber, her snout is out." This time William screams with Amber. Thomas smiles as he remembers what it's like. Two more pushes, and Thomas is holding her. He ties off the umbilical cord and cuts it. He then takes her, cleans her up, and wraps her up after weighing her. She is crying out her lungs at this cold new world. He then brings her back to her father and paws her to William. William takes her and holds her like she's going to break. By then, Amber is ready to push out the afterbirth. Thomas helps her expel it. William stares in awe at the new life before him. William lays her at a breast. She finds the nipple and begins to suck. William runs a paw pad down her back as she does so.
"What do we call her love"? Asks Amber in an exhausted whisper. William looks down at his daughter and her unusual markings. "She's all white like you with little tuffs of red fur all over. She looks like a snowball on fire. Or a snowball trying to burn." "Her name will not be snowball. How cruel of you to even suggest that." "I'm not suggesting we call her snowball. She looks more like a collection of embers on newly fallen snow. Hemm… How about Ember"? "Ember? Yes, I can see what you are driving at. I think that would be a perfect name for her. She's going to set the world on fire someday." "Well, maybe not the whole world, just our little part of it." Says William kissing the top of her head. John comes in, cleans Amber up, and changes the bedding. Amber rolls left then right as John strips the bed. She has to do it again for the new sheets. Shortly after, the rest of the family filed in to see the new arrival. Amber wakes for a bit but drifts off to sleep again as Ember is passed around to the rest of the family before they leave. William kisses the top of Amber's head as she drifts off. Ember is placed back on a breast and drifts off as well. William talks to Thomas and then heads down to the reception area.
Alex waits in the reception area for the one to show him where he now lives. William shows up a few minutes later. "Well, Alex, ready to see your new place"? "Sir, shouldn't you be with your wife and child"? "My wife and daughter are both sleeping right now. And I've been assured that they will be asleep for a few hours. So, I have time to see you to your new place." Alex follows William out the door to his waiting car. They go out the door and head for William's car. William gets in the driver's side while Alex gets in the passenger's side. "315 Banyon street, please." Say, William. "Right away, Will." Answers the car as they start to move. William makes no move to take the steering wheel. "Is it safe, sir"? "Is what safe"? "A car that drives itself." "It's safe. We have sunk quite a bit of money into the driving algorithm. The wheel is only there for extreme conditions or emergencies.
Alex, can you please stop calling me, sir? You are at least eight years older than me. Just call me Will." "Eight years older"? "Yes, Alex, I'm only twelve chronologically. Only my thinking is older than that." Alex stares at him in shock. William laughs at the look on his face. "Yes, I'm younger than I look, Alex. Just because I'm smart doesn't mean that others aren't smarter. Take you, for example. I would have never thought of a molecular welder. But you did, and then you built it. In that area, you are smarter than me." "My mom always told me to treat others as I would like to be treated. I'm just treating you with respect by calling you, sir." "Thank you, Alex, but you and I will be working together for the foreseeable future, so just call me Will, please." "I will, sir, I mean Will, sir." William laughs at his flustered response.
Ten minutes later, they arrive at Banyon St. The car comes to a stop at the curb in the middle of the block. The apartments are on the right as they step out of the car. A large raccoon leaning out of the third-floor window waves at Willian. "Hey Will, has Amber had your child yet"? "She did Mr. Hasher at four fifteen today; my daughter was born." Mr. hasher pulls out a book and thumbs through a few pages. He runs a claw tip down the page and then stops. "If you see Sylvia down there, tell her she won the pool again. I swear that female must be physic." Just then, a raccoon otter hybrid twines herself around Alex. Her body is that of an otter, but she has a face mask of a raccoon.
"Well, hello, big boy, you're kind of unusual." William looks at her and smiles, as Alice rubs Alex's head and antlers. William can see Alex is embarrassed at the attention. "Alice, let him go. He has a mate already." "Oh, darn," says Alice letting him go. She turns coyly from him and, looking over her shoulder, says, "See you around, big boy." She then twines herself around William. "Your handsome there, foxy loxy." "Alice, you know I'm married, and my wife just gave birth to our first child." "Oh darn, all the good ones are gone." She trailed her paw over William's cheek as she walks away with a smile. "Sorry, William, my daughter is quite the handful." Says Mr. Hasher from the window. "It's ok. At least she is beginning to remember." "She is, and I thank Jessica every time I see her."
William and Alex enter the building and head for the elevator. "Can I ask what's the matter with Alice? She did seem a little flirty." "She was always a little flirty, but about two months ago, she was walking down the street, paying more attention to her phone than where she was going, when she stepped off the curb into traffic. A small mammal car hit her, and she flew head-first into a light standard. Her long-term memory was damaged, and she couldn't remember anything after just a few hours. So, it was like she was meeting new people every few hours. Jessica has her remembering for almost a week now. So, I'm sorry to say that a week from now, you will have to go through that again. Jessica hopes to restore her full memory to her sometime."
As they walk into the building, the bottom floor is a cafeteria-style setup with replicators along one wall. "You can take your meals here, or if you like to cook, your apartment has a kitchen. You have free wi-fi and basic cable services. Come follow me." William leads him to a bank of tubes. "I know this setup looks strange, but this is an elevator. You step in, and it lifts you up slowly. You step off on the floor you want. In your case, you want floor four." William steps in and motions Alex to follow him. Alex is leery but does so. Alex is lifted up, standing on nothing. He looks down as the floor recedes. He's not scared, just leery. He looks up at the bottom of William's paws. William steps off on floor four, and Alex follows him. William turns to the left and down the hall to apartment four C.
William lays a paw on the paw pad by the door. "Mavis, we have a new tenant in this apartment." He then removes his paw. "New tenant, please place your left paw on the pad and state your name." Alex does as asked. "I'm Alex Antlerson." "Thank you, Alex." The door clicks open. William pushes the door open and ushers Alex into his new place. Alex looks around at his new place. He finds a bunch of boxes in the living room. When he looks in one of the boxes, he finds their stuff from the old place. "Alex, we brought all your old stuff from your last apartment, but I think you may want to throw most of it out. If you go down the street to 112 Banyon St. You will find a clothier there who can set you up with some new clothes for work. Just show him this ID card." William holds out an employee card on a lanyard for Wilde Industries.
Alex goes to the couch and sits down. He places his head in his paws and softly cries. William goes over and, sitting beside him, lays a paw on his shoulder. "I know this is a lot to take in, Alex, and I know how you feel. One week I lived in a park in a hole in the ground, the next, I found my parents. So, I know how you feel at the moment. You aren't dreaming. This is really happening." Alex cries for a few and then, lifting his head, thanks William with a hug. "You bunnies, so emotional." Says William patting his back. Alex bursts out laughing, and the tense down mood was broken.
"If you don't need me anymore, Alex, my wife should be waking up soon, and I need to be there." Alex wipes his eyes, "Thank you si… William, go. I'll be fine." "Report to medical in the morning for the radio and generators." "Generators"? "Well, the radio needs a power source, so we install cold fusion reactors in your body as well. You need the power source for your welder as well. Don't think about it too much tonight, Alex. All will be explained in the morning by Thomas or Simon." William pats his shoulder and gets up, and leaves.
Alex sits there for a few minutes more before giving himself a tour of his new place. Out of habit, Alex locks the internal locks on the door and goes exploring. It is a small one-bedroom apartment, but compared to the last place, this is heaven. He has a real bed with sheets and a comforter on it. The bathroom has some personal hygiene items on the shelves, all generic, but it's more than he had before. The kitchen has some pots and pans and everything else needed in a kitchen. Alex had never cooked before, but he wanted to learn how. There is a small pantry with a washer and dryer. Wow, his own laundry room. After seeing this, he decides to head out for the clothier to see what they have that might fit him.
As he walks down the street, he's passed by several different mammals who all say hi to him. What a change from happy town. There, no one said hi or tried to know their neighbor. You just kept your head down and moved along. He spies a cheerful little sign leading to the shop he needs. The sign out front reads, "Up early, up late, but closed for lunch." Alex smiles as he walks in.
"Well, hello there, young feller. What can I help you with today"? "I was told by William to come see you about some work clothes." "So, William sent you, eh? Tell me has that rascal's wife had their daughter yet"? "She did, sir, at four fifteen this afternoon." "Well darn, I bet Sylvia won the pool again." "Yes, Mr. Hasher said she did." "That female must be physic. She wins most of the betting pools. Well, come alone, young feller. Tell me what you need." Alex hangs his head. "I need everything, sir; I'm from happy town." "Say no more. I know what you need." Ira pushes a cart at Alex and motions him to follow. Alex follows him as Ira takes things off the shelves and puts them in the cart Alex is pushing.
Socks, underwear, pants, shirts, and a summer jacket. "If you need a heavier Jacket, come winter, come back and see me." "I think this jacket will be fine, sir. I've worn less in winter. Ira gets a sad look on his face. "Yes, I'm sure you have, but that is the past. Don't be afraid to get what you need from me. Now, this is what you need for the time being. I know the boots are a bit much, but better safe than sorry, you know. I can't tell what you will be doing for Wilde Industries." "How do you know what I need and the right sizes"? "That's my gift. I can see what you will need and your size in my mind's eye. Some females get upset with me when I get large-sized clothes for them. In their mind's eye, they are at least two sizes smaller than they really are." Ira chuckles at the thought.
"So, may I see your employee card, please"? Alex passes him his card. "Wow, what do you do for Wilde Industries? That is an awful high credit score." "I'm a welder, sir." "Again, wow, you must be really good." "I don't know, sir; I was just hired today." "Did you bring them some fancy new gadget"? "I did. It was my welder." "Well, now, that must be some fancy welder." "It's just junk I cobbled together from various pieces of broken electronics. William said it was a molecular welder." "Don't sell yourself short young feller; Wilde Industries is always looking for new things. Some have been duds, but I bet yours is not." "Well, William was excited about my welder. He offered me six figures for exclusive rights to it." "Wow, I'm impressed. You did right coming to Wilde Industries with your gem." "How did you know I had a crystal"? "What? No, that's not what I meant. But you have a crystal? You are in an elite few young feller. Not many people can talk to crystals." "How do you know all that, sir"? "I told you I know what you need. Now I believe you have everything you need at the moment. Do you want us to deliver it, or would you like to carry it out"? Alex clutches the bag to his chest. Ira smiles at him. "I understand. I hope you have a good evening, young feller." With that, Ira waves at him. Alex smiles at him as he steps out the door.
It's late in the day when Alex gets home. He stops at the cafeteria for a meal before he goes up. The vegetable medley with fries tastes so good that he makes very appreciative noises as he eats it. Soon done, Alex grabs his bag of clothes and steps into the wrong elevator. "This is the down elevator." Says a disembodied male voice. Alex hurriedly steps out. He then notices the arrows on the wall. Green arrows up, and red arrows down. He blushes red at his mistake. But no one is around to see him. He gets to his door and lays his paw on the pad. The door clicks open.
"Welcome home, Alex. Is there anything you need tonight"? "Who are you"? Asks Alex as he closes the door. "I'm your personal assistant. I can be your alarm, schedule meetings, and answer the phone if you like." "What time is visiting hours at the hospital in the morning"? "Visiting hours are from eight to eleven, one to four, and six to nine. But you will need to be there before that for an exercise program and for your radio to be installed. I will wake you at five, and you have to be at the gym at the complex by six for the exercise routine. After that, you will go to the medical building for your radio installation. I'm sure you can see your mother while there." "Thank you… what do I call you"? "Whatever you like. I'm your personal assistant, after all." "All right, Marsha, wake me at five, please." "Done, have a good sleep, Alex." "I will, and thanks."
Alex takes his bag and goes to his bedroom. He strips down, and, looking at his old clothes, throws them in the trash in the kitchen. They were so threadbare and worn that they weren't even good for cleaning rags. He goes back to his bedroom and puts his new clothes in the dresser. He grabs a pair of shorts and heads for the shower. It takes a while for Alex to feel clean in the shower. He soaps himself down two times with an application of delouser in the middle. The water runs clean after the second soup application. He shudders and holds himself tight, wondering how they even let him in the building. He must have smelt bad too. But no one said anything. He uncurls from the ball he was in and stands back up in the shower. He turns the water off and shakes himself to get rid of excess water. He then steps into the body blower. This was a luxury they didn't have in happy town. and when he comes out, he looks like a puffball. It takes him about ten minutes to tame his unruly fur. He brushes his teeth. He hadn't done that in a while as they had never had much money for luxuries like a toothbrush or toothpaste. He puts his shorts on and crawls into bed. He is asleep a few minutes later.