Chapter7:
Simon felt two paws come around him from behind, "Hello, my love, I've been waiting for you." Simon can't stop crying, so Betty goes to his front and sits on his lap. Simon raises his head as some memories flood back into his mind. He brings his lips to hers as the new memories settle into place. They break apart a few seconds later. "Come, my love, we will have time for that later. In the meantime, there is someone I want you to meet." Simon feels his chest constrict as Betty takes his hand. He gets it into his mind Betty wants to introduce him to her new love. Betty smiles down at him. Her smiles could light up a room, he thinks. He gets up and follows her to the infirmary.
They go in and find curtains sectioning off the infirmary. They both walk over to a golden-colored fox on a gurney. His coloring is more the color of a lion than a fox. He has a burnt umber-tipped tail, socks, gloves, and ear tips. "Do you think he will mind if I give him a physical"? "I'm sure he won't mind, love." Simon does a complete physical on him. "You know he's well endowed, for a fox"? Betty turns coyly away from Simon, "He is, isn't he"? "Who is he, love"? "He's you if you want this body." "Me"?
"Simon, the body you are in now is falling apart. You have epilepsy, and even with the implant, it will only worsen over time. You have a herniated disk in your lower back, which will only worsen over time. Your liver is failing; you have jaundice; you haven't got the yellow color to your skin. You will develop type one diabetes before the year's out, and arthritis in your fingers and knees will be debilitating to you in a couple of years. The geneticists who made this body felt you didn't want to bring all that into your new life." Simon pets the coat of the golden fox as he thinks. "All right, how do I get into this body"? "Well, I believe that's our cue." Says Thomas as he and Jessica come around the next curtain. Simon goes into shock as his memories are fully restored to him. He passes out at this point.
Simon comes to on a gurney still in the infirmary. The smell of the room is way more pungent than he remembers. He raises his paw to rub at his sore head when he realizes he has a paw. He opens his eyes and sits up fast, almost falling off the gurney. "Whoa, Simon, take it easy till you get used to this body." Says Thomas as he steadies Simon and prevents him from falling off. Simon bites his paw, thinking this was just a dream. The rest laugh at him at his dumbfounded look of pain. "Simon, your tail will help with balance to help you walk." Simon slides off the gurney and slowly stands up. Betty helps him walk until he gets the hang of it. After a few minutes, he is generally walking for an upright fox. Betty helps him fumble his way into a full-body suit. They leave the top open for some air cooling. Simon brings Betty into a hug as tears of happiness fall from his eyes. Betty holds him as he cries. Soon she releases him.
"Simon, my love, I have one more thing to spring on you." Says Betty going around the next curtain. She returns to Simon with a golden fox kit in her arms. "Simon, I want you to meet your son, Marc." She says, pawing their kit over to Simon. Simon falls to the floor, holding little Marc to his breast. "How is he possible? And how old is he"? Says Simon, with renewed tears in his eyes. "Well, I'm sure you remember the lake house. I was not watching my cycles, and an egg was released. You fertilized that egg. I hope you don't mind. I named him Marc. I named him after your father; he is now just under five weeks old." "No, I don't mind." "He has been in a cryonic chamber like the rest of us for four thousand years." Simon looks down at his son in his arms. He's the spitting image of himself. Marc lets out with a big yawn and a cute tongue curl. He turns and snuffles at his father's chest, attaches himself with his sharp little claws, and promptly goes back to sleep.
"God, I wish I could have been there for his birth." "Thomas"? "Right you are, Betty." Thomas lays his paw alongside Simon's head. He gives him the memory. All the squeezed claw holds. All the barks, whines, and the feeling of pushing his son out. Simon is visibly shaken. "Is that what all females go through giving birth"? "It is Simon; I went through it four times with my children. You will experience all that first hand through your link with Betty if you decide to have more kits." "Simon, love, do you want more children"? "Betty, my love, I don't know if I have the heart for more children. I never saw myself in my wildest dreams with a wife or kid. But in the future, that may change." Simon looks down at his son on his chest, and his heart goes out to him. Betty smiles, knowing he has the heart for more. Just then, Marc wakes up and starts to chuckle. This horrible rank smell comes from his son's butt. "Thomas, are you sure there's nothing wrong with his digestive tract"? Asked Betty of Thomas. "Jessica and I have checked him over, and we can find nothing wrong. I'm sure this is just a passing thing." "Well, I hope it passes soon." Simon tries to paw Marc back to Betty. "Not on your life, husband; you must learn to change a diaper."
Betty takes his free paw and leads him out and down the hall. They round a corner, and Simon knows this hall is new. The unspoken question is asked of Betty. "Simon, you may realize that this hall is new. Thomas, Jessica, and I expanded this base to accommodate more personnel. We mined the moon for the materials we needed for this new part. We didn't think it would be fair to everyone to live in dorm rooms. So, several hundred new personnel quarters exist for married couples and singles. The dorm rooms are still there, but we use them mostly for storage." They pass several females in the hall, and they come forward to see Marc. They back off when the smell hits them. "What a rotten little stinker, they whisper." Marc chuckles at that statement.
They go through a few more corridors and end up in room one-fifty-two. Simon notices a big bedroom with two doors leading off it as they enter. Simon would find out later that one door goes to a master ensuite. And the other door is for the nursery. Betty leads him to the nursery and instructs Simon on how to clean up his son and how to put on a diaper. Simon gags the whole time he does the clean-up. When done, he lifts his son and kisses him on his nose. Marc latches onto Simon's nose and rubs him, nose to nose. He then let's go and whines for food. Betty feeds little Marc as Simon stares at her.
"Is there something wrong with his vision? From all the literature I have read in the past, his eyes should have been open after about eight days." "You're not wrong, they should have been opened, but he seems to be keeping them closed for some reason. He should be on all fours at this point as well. Thomas and Jessica can find nothing wrong with his mind, so it must be something else." Marc soon flakes off to sleep and is placed in a bassinet. Betty places a plushie next to Marc, and he gloms on. Simon rubs a paw pad down Marc's back. Marc wiggles a bit but then settles down and purrs as he falls back asleep.
Now, my husband, we are alone for a while, and I want a repeat of the lake house." "I think you have built me up in your mind; I'm nothing special." "Oh, you are more than special you are my mate and love." "I don't know how to use this new body, and I'm afraid of hurting you." "You won't hurt me, but there is some biting involved. During the throws of passion, I will bite your left shoulder, and you will bite mine." "How hard do I bite"? "You have to bite hard enough to break the skin. This is an outward sign of our mating. Thomas and Jessica have the same bite mark, or had you not noticed"? "I noticed; I just didn't know what that signified." It's a sigh to all that they are mated and off the market." You do want to be my mate, don't you"? Asked Betty of Simon, lowering her head.
Simon lifts her chin and tries to plant one on her lips. He fumbles around for a bit till he finally gets it right. They both giggle at this first kiss with his new body. Betty only leaves the bed in the middle of the night to feed Marc. She then returns to bed, but they don't get much sleep. Betty gets up the following day, gets Marc, and brings him to their bed. Simon lays there feeling the slight pain in his left shoulder. They did bite each other shoulders and then licked the blood off their shoulders. When settled, Marc gloms on and starts to suck. Simon rubs a finger down his son's back.
As he sucks, (Hi Dad). "Hello, son." Simon wonders if he is going crazy. Marc lets go of the nipple and laughs. "(No, you're not going crazy, dad. I'm speaking in your mind)." "Well now, aren't you special?" "(I am unique; I'm the only kit around at the moment)." "Who are you talking to, Simon"? "You can't hear our son"? "No, he's not moving his lips except to suck." "(mom can't hear me. I can project my emotions to her, but no, she can't hear my thought words)." "So, how am I able to hear you"? "(Not sure, dad, talk to Thomas and Jessica. I talk to them all the time)." "So, why don't you open your eyes"? "(I'm waiting to meet my mate before I open my eyes. She will be the most important mammal in my life. We have talked constantly since I was removed from the cryonics tube. I'm just dying to meet her. Mom knows my future mate. I'm sorry if this hurts you both, but all we have in life is our integrity)." "How did you get to be so smart"? "(I believe that I'm an old soul. Talk to Thomas. He can fill you in more. For now, I'm going to go to sleep)." "You do that, son; you are a growing kit." With that, Marc flakes out.
"Were you really talking to our son"? "I was; he said some exciting things like he won't open his eyes tell he can look into his mate's eyes." "His mate? He's only five weeks old; why is he thinking of a mate already"? "Not sure, but he says they have talked since you removed him from the cryonics tube. He also said you know her." "Really? That is astonishing. Well, I guess it's one more mystery in our lives. Now we need to get up; your new lessons are starting over in the gym." Simon tries to get up but falls out of bed with a groan of pain. "Simon, are you ok"? Asked Betty coming around the bed to his side. "I'm ok, just really, really, sore. How are you not as sore as I am"? Betty smiles down at him as she offers her paw to help him up. "I'm just as sore as you are, but I've disconnected my pain receptors."
Simon groans as he gets to his hind paws. "Lucky you." He says, turning her paw over and kissing the backside. Betty shows him how to use the facilities. He is very tender as he tries to direct his stream. After a hot shower, he feels a little better. Betty puts on a kit carrier and stuffs Marc in. Marc latches on to her left nipple and begins to suck, but falls back to sleep with the nipple in his muzzle. Betty grabs Simon and leads him to the cafeteria for a quick bite to eat. Then she leads him to the gym. They are often stopped on the way to the gym so that people can see little Marc. He soon realizes that all the people he's meeting are the same ones he came to the base with. Some who were female decided to be male, and some who were male chose to be female. Some couples broke up, and some others got together. A lot had changed in the time he was asleep.
In the gym, Thomas is waiting for him. "Welcome, Simon; I don't know if Betty has informed you yet, but we will be going through the routine, sparing practice, and you will be learning how to run on all fours. Strip down if you like; it will seem more natural and less restricting." Simon strips down. He's not bothered by nudity, but how can he be nude when covered by soft golden fur? A couple of females turn to look at him. "Damn, he's hot." Says one of them. But their eyes widen, seeing the fresh bite mark on his left shoulder. They both turn away. When they realize that little Marc is in the room, they drag Betty over to the benches to swan over him.
Put Simon through his paces, Thomas and Jessica did. He had to learn how to move correctly with the routine. Sparing practice was different too. His arms were shorter but more powerful. It took most of the day for Simon to get the hang of running and walking on all fours. But coordination did come to him. By the end, Simon falls to the floor panting his heart out. Betty comes over with a bottle of electrolytes for him. After about five minutes, his panting slows down, and he can now drink the water bottle. He drinks the whole thing down. Betty helps him to his hind paws. "You did very well for the first day, Simon. I hope you are ready to do it all again tomorrow." "Are you kidding me? I don't know if I will be able to stand tomorrow." "You will be able to, Simon; your new body will heal faster than your old one. Well, it's been a long day; care to join us for a meal"? "I would love to, lead the way."
They get to the cafeteria with only a few stops to Marc's adoring fans. Marc snuffles every one of them before continuing to feed. Simon and Betty enter the base's restaurant and head to the replicators. Simon notices that the meat dishes are very limited. Some chicken dishes, some turkey dishes, some seafood dishes. The rest are vegetarian dishes. Simon slaps a paw to his head as he realizes that the meat dishes he's used to, all come from sentinel mammals. He gets a chicken burger and fries, and Betty gets a fish and rice dish. They sit at a table as Jessica and Thomas sit across from them. They reminisce about the lake house visit when Rick and William sit beside them.
"Wow, Thomas, is this place ever amazing. I could lose myself for a time here." William looks over at Betty. "Betty, do you know where Simon is? I've looked all over for him. I need to apologize for my bad behavior towards him earlier." Simon finishes the bite of food he has in his mouth. "Apology accepted, William. I would have done the same thing if my family had disappeared." William stares at Simon. "What do I have something on my muzzle"? asks Simon licking down each side of his muzzle. "No, you don't; I was just looking around for a human." "Well, I can tell you this is so new and exciting for me. I'm surprised that I haven't bit my tongue yet. Though I did bite my paw earlier to find out if my dream was real, it was." William can't hold his laughter in, thinking of how absurd that mental image was.
A muzzle lands on William's shoulder as a seductive voice whispers in his ear. "Hello, my love, fancy meeting you here." William turns his head as Amber's lips meet his. Rick turns his head, and Ava's lips meet his. Both of them then squeeze in on either side of their respective mates. "How did you get here, love? Rick and I brought the last two graviton bikes over." "We got here on the tube system. Brian and Mavis are somewhere on this base as well." "William, Betty, Jessica, and I built a graviton tube system between this base and alpha base over the last millennium. And I guess your mates were the first to ride it." Amber and Ava make Rick and William move to sit down with their meals.
"Wow, you have been a couple of busy beavers. So, what happened in the lab"? "We were sent back in time, to Simon's time." "You're kidding, right"? "I wish we were; no, we went back almost five thousand years." "You two don't do anything the easy way, do you"? What could we say to that? It was the truth. "You said something about you will have to pay; what will you have to pay to the Menushions"? "William, they will want to destroy us, but we hope that our counteroffer to them will be acceptable." "What is your counteroffer"? "Sorry, William, you will have to wait for tomorrow to find out."
Just then, Marc fusses, and Betty moves him over to the other nipple. Amber and Ava throw their paws to their faces, get up, move around the table, and sit on either side of Betty. Simon moves over so they can. "Who's kit is that, Betty"? Asks William. "Well, William, this kit is Simon's and I's son." William and Rick just sit there with a dumbfounded look on their muzzle. Amber and Ava fuss over little Marc, who snuffles them both.
("Hi aunties"). Says Marc as he returns to sucking. Both are floored That he can speak with thought words. Amber can respond in kind, but Ava responds with her emotions. ("Well, aren't you a unique little one.") ("I am unique, and my name is Marc, not the English version, but the French one. But I won't be the only kit here for long. Wendy, the tiger over there, is about ready to give birth. Can you smell it, dad"?) "I'm sorry, son, all the smells I smell are mixed up in one pungent scent. I haven't had scent training yet. But, you and your mother, I could pick out in the crowd." ("It's ok, dad, you'll get the hang of it eventually. Now, everyone, I'm going to flake out for a while. So, nighty night.") With that statement, he stops sucking and falls asleep. Amber and Ava run paw pads down his back as he purrs in his sleep. Simon sits there with a smug look on his face. Thomas tells him his shield is slipping. Simon slams his shield back up but still has a smug look.
"Thomas, Marc said some interesting things earlier. But the first thing is how can I hear him in my mind"? "You can hear him because Jessica and I know what connections to make in your new brain. Think of it as a gift of two-way communication. You will get better at it with a little practice. I will show you how a little later tonight." "He also said something about being an old soul. What did he mean by that"? "What he meant was that he has lived before. Jessica and I remember both times we died; we are old souls." "Have I lived before"? "No, Jessica and I feel this is your first kick at the can, Simon."
But for now, I would like to show you all some rooms. I'm going to assume, William, that you and Rick haven't slept in all the time you have been here." William hangs his head. "There's just so much interesting stuff to see here at this base, and I just lost track of time." "Well, I hope you are up for movie night; we have a special movie we want you to see. It's the story of mom and dad." Someone made a movie"? Asked William with doubt in his voice. "Yes, about four thousand years ago, they did. "Zootopia," an animated film, tells mom's story from nine to the academy and onto the force, and dad's part of the story. They couldn't have done it without each other. It matches what they think about when we questioned their beginnings. When we show it to them, mom's ears will go red, and she will hide them behind her head. Dad will probably just sit there in stony silence." "Wow, I now really want to see it." Exclaims William.
Thomas shows Amber and William, Rick and Ava to two family suites, then leads them to the rec area. Mavis and Brian have yet to make an appearance. The theater quickly filled up when word got out that tonight's movie was Zootopia. Most had seen it before, as it was an excellent introduction to the society they were now living in. William is very emotional as the movie plays. To see the interaction between the two and the subsequent love that developed between them tugged at his heartstrings. No one else in the theater realized that the two main characters were real individuals.
Movie over, Thomas takes Betty aside, and Jessica takes Simon aside. Jessica shows Simon how to communicate using his mind. Betty paws their son over to Simon as his moniker comes into play and continues to talk to Thomas. Simon holds him at arm's length like he is holding a bomb that could go off at any time. Marc just chuckles as they go down the hall to their quarters. Seeing Simon holding his son like that, everyone in the hall gives him a wide berth and a smile as they pass.
Once in their quarters, Simon lays Marc down and cleans him up. "You're Doing this deliberately, aren't you, son"? (Ah, no"?). "Sorry, son, I can see that's a lie. Why are you doing it"? ("No reason; I think it's funny that people don't like weird smells. They don't hate me, just the smells I produce.") "Can you stop, please"? ("I will, Dad, I have just one more individual that I want to do it to.") "And who would that be"? ("Why my future mate, of course.") "Do you think she would appreciate it"? ("Judging from the reaction of the people around this base, I would say no.") "Then why do it"? ("Because I can just doesn't sound right. But I have no reason. Can you call mom? I'm starving right now.") Simon looks to his bond with Betty. "It's ok, son; she's on her way here now." Betty arrives and Satisfies Marc's need for food.
After an hour of fun in bed with Betty, Simon falls asleep and finds himself in a strange meadow. He looks over to see Betty sleeping peacefully beside him. He kisses her awake. Betty opens her eyes and bolts upright. "No," I can't be here," Betty says while wildly looking around. "Oh, but you are Betty. Welcome, to the meadow, Simon and Betty." Says Gab walking over to them. "How can I be here? I mean, I'm not human." "You are here, Betty, not because you are a machine, but because you have a soul.
All living things with souls pass through here on the way to dreamland. Most don't remember their time here in the meadow." "Sir, who are you, and why do you look like a snow leopard"? "Simon, I can appear as anything or anyone. How you perceive me to be, is how I appear. Betty has been told that a snow leopard runs the meadow, so I went with her perception of me. As for the rest of your question, I run this meadow. This is a place of peace, love, and understanding, and also a school if you wish. I'm a counselor/teacher." Simon thinks for a moment and comes to an answer. Right or wrong, it is an answer. He gets up and hugs Gab.
"Thank you for your advice earlier. It was hard, but I understand now." "I think you have me con…." "No, I believe I have the right of it, Grandpa. You said you were a counselor, and I needed counseling all those years ago. So, thank you for the help." "Never let it be said, Simon, that you aren't quick on the uptake." Says Gab returning his hug. "So, what are we doing here, Gab"? Asks Betty. "I did not request for the two of you to be here; you decided to come on your own. If you have questions for me, now is the time to ask them."
"Gab is our son, my father"? "How do you mean, Simon"? "What I mean is our son told us that he is an old soul, so is his soul the soul of my father"? "Would knowing make any difference in how you treat him"? "No, Gab, it wouldn't, we left my father laying there, and I was never able to thank him, and I wanted to express my gratitude to him for saving us all." "Let me tell you a story, Simon."
"A long time ago, a father was agonizing over the birth of his son. Would he do the right thing? Could he do the right thing? Did he want to do the right thing? All these thoughts ran through his head as he held his son for the first time. But he vowed that he would and did the best he could. But he was seldom home, and his wife did most of the raising of their son.
The years flew by, and before he knew it, his son had grown into a handsome young man. He had a family and a son of his own. His dad became frail and weak in his old age and could barely remember his name most of the time. The son then took his father into his own home. The father was very child-like and now wore diapers. The son looked after his father like he was his son. The son became the father, and the father became the son. His father died knowing that his son did love him. I don't think Simon it makes a difference. They both loved each other, and the son showed his love until his father breathed his last. Do you get what I'm saying, Simon"? "I believe I do, sir." Now, do you have any more questions for me"?
Betty and Simon just look at each other and smile. "Well, in that case, use the rest of your time here wisely." Gab turns and is soon out of sight. Betty smiles at her husband as she attacks him. They roll on the ground kissing each other. Betty wakes from the dream of the meadow "locked" in her husband's embrace. Simon wakes enough to pull Betty into his chest and purrs as he grooms behind her left ear. Betty sighs and cuddles back into his chest. She purrs as well as they fall asleep, knowing she is truly loved. She gets a smile on her muzzle, hoping it "takes."