Chapter 14:
Alex finds himself with Marsha in a strange meadow. Alex realizes it's a dream. But because it's a dream, they can do anything they want. Marsha, with a smile, runs from Alex, and Alex, with a glint in his eye, chases her. They romp all around the glen. Eventually, they slow down and fall into a comfortable embrace. As they lay there kissing, a voice breaks their comfort.
"Welcome, Marsha and Alex." They both stop and look at the biggest dog they have ever seen. Marsha becomes a little frightened and clutches Alex a little tighter. The big dog smoothly sits down, looking at them with a smile. "It always gladdens my heart when my children romp and play like they are supposed to." Alex and Marsha both sit up and look at him. "Who are you"? Asks Marsha. "Oh, where are my manners? I'm Sirius Omega. I'm the creator of all you see." Marsha falls to her face in the meadow. She had read a certain book and figured out who was in front of her. Sirius stretches out and lifts her face from the ground.
"I'm afraid that it would be tough to converse with you with your face on the ground." He wipes her tears with his finger. "I'm sorry for what you had to endure, Marsha. Know that I never abandoned you through it all." "That was you holding my paw"? "It was, I cried with you. None of my children should have to endure that." "Then why have me go through that"? "I can't interfere with free will. Just know that they have been dealt with. Again, I can't interfere but can nudge and suggest what they should do. This isn't karma or retribution, but people who are not listening to their inner guide.
You were advised not to drink, but you chose not to listen to your subconscious, so you ran afoul of several individuals who also didn't listen to their subconscious. When I gave free will to everyone, I stepped back." "So, you are the little voice in the back of our heads telling us not to do bad things"? "No, that's your voice in your head, the part that knows right from wrong. I can only advise that part of your brain. I cry at bad choices, and I rejoice at good ones. The object of life is to learn. Hopefully, you will learn to be a better person."
"So, why are you here? Are we bad people"? Sirius laughs, "No, you aren't bad people. I just wanted to meet my latest creations. It's been over four thousand years since I last created anything new. You two are the start of a new breed of animals. The two of you will breed true." Alex and Marsha both blush as Sirius laughs. Marsha lowers her eyes and asks, "Can you tell me what happened to my brother"? Sirius gets a sad look in his eyes. "I can, but you need help, and you are at the right place to receive it. I can't tell you more, free will and all." "But why"? Sirius brings her into a hug. "I know your life hasn't been good up to now. But it's going to get better, I promise." She cries on his shoulder.
"And what about my life"? Say Alex standing up with crossed arms and a look of anger in his eyes. Sirius smiles at him and holds out an arm for him to come into the hug. Alex hesitates, but he also goes for the hug in the end. He cries on Sirius's other shoulder. He holds them both as they cry. Eventually, Marsha and Alex cry themselves out. They release him, shuffle back, turn, and cling to each other. Sirius stands up and lays a paw on them both. There is a slight glow from his paws to their shoulder. "Know this, children. I approve of your union." With that, he turns and walks away into the meadow.
Alex and Marsha start to kiss again, and soon it heats up. Alex pulls back a bit from Marsha, "Are you sure this is what you want, Marsha"? "As long as it's with you, this is what I want." They lay down and continue petting. It goes past this point, and they both wake up, falling off the cliff. Alex and Marsha wake up spooning in bed. Alex pulls back, "I'm so sorry, Marsha. I didn't mean for that to happen." Marsha turns back to her mate. "You may not have meant for that to happen, but I did. Thank you for that." Alex lays back down, and Marsha spoons back into him with a contented sigh. As she does, she finds the carrot between them. "Emh, I see you are a bunny with a carrot pen. I hope you're good at multiplying." Says Marsha rolling back over to kiss him.
Vivian is sitting down in the daycare watching her great grand kits. She occasionally reaches into the bassinet and pets one of them. She then looks up at the kids running around and screaming at the top of their lungs. She smiles at the antics of the kits, cubs, kittens, fawns, and pups. She does join in occasionally with their play, but only sometimes. She is not an introvert, but she feels she has her paws full just watching these six. Johnathon is a real paw full. He is the most adventurous. Sandy likes to bite, and everyone's tail was fair game to her. Ember had to be on top all the time. When pushed to the bottom, she would scream to be pulled out. It may have something to do with overheating. The rest were just happy cuddling with the rest. Most of them didn't whimper unless they needed a change or some food. Marc, Oscar, Charlotte, and John were out playing with the other kids at the moment.
"Grandma Vivian." Scream four little kits as they rush over to her. Jack and Sky saunter over with a smile on their lips. Vivian reaches down to bring all four of them into a hug. They all receive kisses and hugs from Vivian. "My, my, look at how big you have all become. Soon I won't be able to get my arms around you all. I will start having to hug you one at a time." Vivian's tail comes around and starts to tickle their noses. All the kits in her arms let out laughs and giggles. When released, they all run off to play with the other kids.
"Hi, Jack and Skye. What are you doing here today"? "Hi, Vivian, not sure. Thomas just said that he needed to see us both today. "You wouldn't happen to know what it's about, would you"? I know something, but not all of it. Thomas will explain it to you." Jack shrugs as Skye peers into the bassinet. "So, are these your great grand kits"? Asked Skye. "All but the gold-colored one; that's Betty's kit, Sandy." Vivian pulls out the smallest kit in the bassinet. "Millie, here is the spitting image of her mother." Vivian puts her back and pulls out Johnathon. "Johnathon here looks like his father. The other two are twins. So, their names are James and Jimmy. And this little lady is William and Amber's kit, Ember."
Skye asks to hold her, and Vivian paws her over. Skye sticks her nose in her fur and sniffs. "Unique coloring and unique scent." "Yes, I find her scent reminds me of a warm summer night after a rain. It's a bit unusual, but remember William is part bunny as well." "He looks so much like a fox; remembering that is hard." Ember takes one sniff of Skye and screams loud enough to wake the dead. Vivian quickly takes her back and puts a plushie in her paws with her mother's scent. The second scream stops midway as her mother's scent hits her nose. She opens her eyes and, not seeing the shape of her mother, sniffles, and whines as she is placed back in the bassinet. The cacophony of noise in the room goes down a bit at the sudden scream but quickly returns to normal levels. Skye hugs Vivian and says, "We have to go, but we will see you later. Maybe for lunch"? "Lunch would be fine, though you will have to eat it in here with your kits. But be warned, some days it's so noisy in here, I need earplugs before afternoon naps." Skye and Jack turn away, chuckling.
Thomas was working in his office and heard a knocking on his door. He looks up and reaches out, and then answers the door. "Come in, Jack and Skye." Both look confused as they enter. "How did you know it was us"? "Jack, you know I have abilities." "Right, I guess I forgot. So why are we here today"? "Before we begin, would you like a coffee"? "No, we're good." "The reason I called you in today is to ask you about a paternity issue. I need you to look into it, Jack." "Why us"? "Well, Jack, let me ask you, back about eighteen years ago did you have relations with an antelope"? "No, not that I can remember." "Jack, honey, you once told me about a dream you had of that very thing." "Oh jeez, that was just a dream." "If it was just a dream, you won't mind telling me about it, would you"? "No, I guess not."
"I had just finished my first assignment with Alex as my handler. He gave me the weekend off, so I went out to celebrate. I got rip-roaring drunk and blacked out after an antelope asked me if I would come home with her. I don't remember how we got to her place, but we had a wonderful weekend together in a meadow. We romped and played like a couple of kits. And joined as a couple many times over the weekend. I came to with a massive hangover late Sunday night. I swore off drinking to excess right then. If I had coupled as many times as I remembered, I would have been so sensitive I wouldn't have wanted to move. Right dear"? Says Jack looking at Skye. Skye just smiles at him. "Anyway, because I wasn't sensitive, I assumed that it was all just a dream. What has this to do with this paternity thing"?
"Well, Jack, do you remember what happened the last time you found yourself in a strange meadow with a female"? "The last time…"? "Yes, the last time." "I do, you don't mean"? "Skye, can you look at these DNA transparencies and make a judgment"? "I can." Thomas holds out three transparencies for Skye. She takes them and lays all three on the desk to study them. After a few, "Well, Thomas, I can't know the actual percentage, but if I had to guess, this transparency matches about sixty percent of this one and thirty percent of the other one." "Very good, Skye. The actual percentage is Sixty-two and twenty-eight. Again, there is the ten percent we can't identify." Jack looks at the one in front of him. "But this one is my DNA profile." He says with trepidation. "It is Jack."
Jack sits back heavily and lets out a whooshing sound. Skye leans down to hold him. Jack looks up at Skye with fear. Skye looks down at him with a smile. "I always knew your past would catch up with you, just not in such a dramatic fashion." "You're not mad at me"? "Jack, you and I didn't start working together until seven years ago. What you did before that is water under the bridge. Don't you think you should meet him or her"? "It's a him, Skye. He has a lot of Jack's characteristics. Unlike a lot of our DNA, his is locked up. What I mean is that it's strong. Any kits he has will look like him. If I had to guess, I would say he was a whole new species of mammal." "I'm the father of a whole new species"? "In part, yes, you are. The other part is his mate. Her DNA is like his in that it's locked up as well. In my opinion, they will bread true."
"That can't be the only reason you wanted to speak to us today, is it"? "It is part of it, the second part they have to ask for. Would you like to meet him and his mate"? "He has a mate"? "Yes, Jack, he does. They are together at the moment, but he has expressed an interest in finding his father. Having your DNA profile on record made it easy to find you." Jack holds Skye's paw, "What if he hates me? What if he feels I let him down? I'm not sure I could handle it." "Jack," says Skye. "You can handle it. After all, you married me. You're stronger than you believe." "Am I hearing this correctly? The great Jack Savage is brought low by family issues"? Jack blushes. "Yes, I'm brought low by family issues. As an agent, nothing fazes me. But in matters of the heart, I'm a puddle." Skye hugs him. Jack leans into her and takes a sniff of her scent to calm himself. He then straightens up with a sigh. "All right, let's go meet them."
They leave Thomas's office and head down the hall. Just before the room door, Thomas stops them all. "Ah, hold up, everyone. Let's let them finish." Jack and Skye both blush red. Jessica comes down the hall towards them and hugs her mate when she gets close. Coming from the other side is Maggie reading the tablet she is holding. She glances up and sees Thomas and Jessica. She wishes them a good morning as she opens her son's room door. "Maggie, don't…." But it was too late for the warning to have any effect. Maggie looks up from her tablet to an eye full of compromised bunnies. She quickly exits the room, flustered, "No mother should ever have to see that." She then looks up as she turns red. It's then she sees the shorter figure of the hare of her dream.
Jack speaks up, "Hello Maggie, I thought you were a dream." "Jack? Is it really you? You're a little more substantial than a dream." Says Maggie as she goes in for a hug. Skye is a little miffed at her attitude and hug but can't fault her. She did know Jack before her. "Have you seen him yet? He looks just like you. Except for the antlers." "Antlers"? "Yes, Jack, our son has antlers like me. But he mostly looks like you."
Skye nudges Jack in the ribs. Jack looks up at his wife and her scowl and moves quickly to rectify the situation before it escalates. "Sorry, love, Maggie, I would like to introduce you to Cynthia Skye Walker, my mate and the mother of my other kits." Maggie looks at Skye with a look of horror. "I… I'm sorry. I'm not trying to steal your mate away from you. I would never break up a mated pair. Seeing Jack for the first time in eighteen years was just a shock." "Yes, I can see that," said Skye, a little frosty. Maggie stands there mortified. Thomas reaches up behind his left ear. A few seconds later, he lowers his paw. "Come, everyone. We need to move to the cafeteria. Alex will meet us down there." They all walk down to the cafeteria in stony silence.
Everyone sits down at a table with a drink of their choice. Soon they are joined by William, Rick, and Leah. Skye gives frosty looks to Maggie as they sit there. Maggie wants to crawl under the table to escape the blizzard of cold looks she is receiving from a very angry predator. Skye eventually softens her look as she works out in her own mind what she should do in this situation. She's unhappy, but she realizes she shouldn't be this mad. Gradually her smile returns to her muzzle as she realizes Jack's not going to leave her for a one-night fling. If he ever did, there wouldn't be a hole deep enough for him to hide in. She turns her face and looks at Jack. Jack can see the evil grin on his mate's face and shrinks a bit inside at it.
Soon with Marsha's support, they both arrive in the cafeteria. Alex is still a little sore, but Thomas had told him through the communicator, "If you are capable of that exercise, you are fit enough to walk down to the cafeteria." Both of them arrive in their street clothes after a quick shower. They go and get drinks. Both are a little dehydrated. When they sit down at the table, Alex notices the buck sitting beside Thomas and gets a shocked look on his face. Maggie takes Alex's paw in her hoof. "Alex, son, I would like you to meet your father." Alex gets up in a bit of a daze and goes around the table to hug Jack. He then sits down without a word.
Alex's mind is in turmoil. Meeting the one mammal he thought he would never meet has his mind filling with questions. He takes several sips of the iced tea he is drinking. He asks many questions of Jack. Jack answers all of them truthfully. Jack has never been on the hot seat like this. Even his bosses never put him through the third degree as Alex did. The hardest question Jack and Skye had to answer was about their own families. Both Skye and Jack deflate at that question.
It seems to be a good spy; you have to have no family connections. Jack's family had died in a house fire when he was ten, and Skye never knew her family. Skye was dumped in a baby box like Marsha. Marsha gets up without hesitation and gives Skye a hug. Both cry at their shared beginnings. Jack and Skye worked together, he was the agent, and Skye was his handler. They were warned that they would be let go if their personal life ever interfered with their professional life. Both worked hard not to have that happen. It was hard juggling family life and work life, but they made it work.
Eventually, the conversation turns to his half-brothers and sisters. Skye and Jack both get animated as they talk about their kits. Alex asks if he can meet them. Both are a little hesitant but do agree to it in the end. It's then that Leah stands up and offers a box to Marsha. Marsha, with a shocked look on her face, now remembers what brought her to Wilde Industries in the first place. She reaches for the box with shaky paws. When she sits back down and opens it, the crystal flies out of the box and into her paw. She freezes. Alex, with concern, takes her other paw and freezes as well. They are both like that for a few minutes before they unfreeze and collapse into their chairs. Both seem to have passed out.
Thomas knows it's just sensory overload and tells that to everyone else. Soon they both come around and sit back up with a dazed look in their eyes. They both take big drinks of their drinks. They then become aware of the looks directed at them from around the table. Marsha takes another smaller drink and begins to speak.
"Well, I can tell from the looks that you would all like to know what my crystal told us. I can say I don't understand it all, but the gist of it is that Alex and I are what the crystal calls "Quantum Mechanics." Alex and I can build quantum devices." "What kind of devices"? "Well, we were shown a quantum computer, a quantum slipstream drive, a life force generator, and several other devices I can't identify. The slipstream drive is a faster-than-light drive for a starship. Not sure why the last one, but it does seem to be part of the power source for the quantum computer and drive. It's not the whole power source but part of it." "Can you build the computer"? "We could, but we will have to build the generator first or build the computer inside someone. Their life energy will power part of it." "Will it suck them empty of life force"? "I don't think so, but I'm not sure at this point." Thomas again reaches behind his left ear and calls for Betty. "Can you show me"? "I can, Thomas. How? Again, I'm not sure."
Betty comes into the cafeteria, leading Marc. Marc bounds forward and gets a hug from Jessica. He then turns and waves at Alex. "I see you found your mate Alex." "Aren't you the cutest little mammal"? Said Marsha gushing at him. "I'm not as cute as my sister. She's a real beauty." Betty reaches into the carrier and pulls Sandy out to show to Marsha. Marsha has to agree that she is cute. Marsha turns back to Alex. ("Do you think he can find my brother"?) ("I'm sure he can if he's still alive.") Marsha turns back to Marc. "Marc, can I ask you for help"? Marc puts a puzzled look on his face. "What do you need my help with"? Marsha swallows hard and says, "Alex said; you can see connections between individuals."
"Can you see a connection between myself and my brother"? Marc looks at his mother, and she gives him a little nod. "Yes, I can, but it's faint. Like he's a long way from here." Marsha snaps like a taught spring and clutches Alex, crying, "He's still alive." "So, I guess this is what you were referring to, was it Thomas"? "It is. She's going to need help finding him." "Well, I'm going to need a little help myself if I'm going to help her. I need a direction to go to find him" "You'll have it, Jack. I guess we need to go see some more kits." "Alex, would you like to meet your half-brothers and sisters"? Asked Jack looking at Alex. "I would, sir. Are they here"? "Not here, but at the daycare." They all stand up and head for the door. Marsha still clutches Alex as they walk, though her tears soon stop.
All of them sit down in the adult section of the daycare. There is no separation between the kids and adults, just a table they can sit at amongst the confusion. They all watch the antics of the children at play. It wasn't hard for Alex to spot one of his brothers; he had strips like him. Soon all of Jack's kits and Thomas's kits notice their parents. With a shout of "Mom, Dad," they storm over to their respective parents. I few of the other kids follow them to see what's up. They soon go back to other things as it's just "their parents."
Jack and Skye embrace their kits, while Thomas and Jessica embrace theirs. "Mom, when is Bonnie coming home? I miss her." "Oh, my dear little Charlotte, Bonnie has a few more months of training before the games. I'll let you in on a little secret. I miss her too." Says Jessica hugging her. Oscar and John crawl into their father's arms and hug him. Thomas kisses the top of both their heads as he hugs them. "Ewh, Dad, that's gross." Said John rubbing the top of his head. Thomas smiles and kisses him again and again. John tries to squirm out of his embrace. Thomas laughs and lets him go. John stands there with a look of disgust as he rubs the top of his head. Oscar cuddles into his dad and lets out a contented sigh.
Alex just waits to be introduced. But Toddly has different ideas. "Hi, I'm Toddly; you are? He asks as he holds out his paw. Alex takes his paw, "hi Toddly, I'm Alex Antlerson." "What are you, Alex? You are most unusual." "I have been told that my mate and I are the start of a new species. We are Jackalopes." Jack and Skye both laugh at that. "Wow, and are your antlers as long as hers"? "They are. I have been keeping them short on account of where I lived." "Where did you live"? "I lived down in happy town." Toddly shudders. "I have heard from others that it's bad living there. Do you still live there"? "No, as I now work for Wild Industries, I live in their housing." "Some of the other kids around the room also moved from there. So, Alex, why do you look like my dad and Bobby"?
"Well, son, there is a reason you are meeting Alex today." "And what's that, Dad"? "Well, son, it seems that I helped create Alex eighteen years ago. Alex is your older half-brother." "I Have an older brother"? "You do, son. I'm not proud of myself for not knowing that he existed. But to be fair, both his mother and I thought the other was a dream we had on a binge weekend." "So, does that mean I also get a new grandma"? "Well, not really. But if you like, and she has no objections, you can call her that."
"I have no objections. But you are a bit different as well." "I am. I'm a frabitt. A cross between my mom and my dad." "Really? Then you are like Alex. You are both hybrids." Said, Maggie. "Dad, is that a bad thing"? "No, son, it's not a bad thing. In fact, you are my little frabitt." "And what about the rest of us"? Asked Jennifer crossing her arms and staring at her dad. "Ah, my little Jenny, you are my little Rabox." "DAD, it's Jen or Jennifer. I'm not a horse." Laughter breaks out around the table at her correcting her dad. "Right, you are. So, Alex, Jennifer is the second oldest. Julia is the third oldest, and Bobby is the baby of the family." "DAD, I'm not a baby. I'm only ten minutes younger than Toddly." "You were the last one born, Bobby, so you are the baby of our family." Like Jennifer, he crosses his arms and stares daggers at him. Jack lets out a small chuckle at his kits. Alex introduces himself to them all. He smiles as he lets them all touch his antlers. Excitedly, they take his paws, and Alex laughs as he is led away to play with them.
"Dad, what would you like from me? I can sense that you want me for something." Said Charlotte looking at her dad. "Right, you are daughter. We need you to find Marsha's brother." "I need a photo or drawing to go look for him." "I was thinking we would try something new this time." "What would you like to try"? "I was thinking that if I link you and Marc together with myself, maybe we could follow Marc's connection to Marsha's brother." Charlotte thinks for a minute as her foot taps on the ground. "It might be possible to do this, Dad. Try everything, I guess, right"?
"Wait a minute," says Marsha. "I don't want anyone getting hurt trying to find my brother. Especially some kits. How are you planning to go find him"? "It's a little hard to explain, Marsha, but after we are done, I will answer any questions you have about what we are doing. Is that fair"? "Please don't put anyone in danger on account of me." "We won't; none of us are leaving this room." Charlotte, Marc, and Thomas all head for the mats. Everyone else follows behind. Marc does a couple of forward flips and lands sprawled out on the mat. Charlotte just flops down beside him. Thomas lays down beside them both. He takes Charlotte's and Marc's paw and links them together. He feeds both of them power, and they go to look for him.
After a few minutes, Charlotte starts to cry. Marc has tears in his eyes as well. They both get up and hug their respective mothers. Thomas sits up. "Jack, I need to show you what we found." Jack stands beside Thomas as he lays a paw on the side of Jack's head. Thomas then plays the journey to Jack. Jack has tears in his eyes by the end of it. Also, he is very angry. He wipes his eyes, pats Thomas on the shoulder, and says, "Looks like I have my work cut out for me." He turns to Skye just as the lunch bell goes off. There is a collective "YES" from around the room as all the kids run for the cafeteria in this building. All the adults slowly make their way to the cafeteria as well.
There is a ton of confusion in the cafeteria. The grandmothers and grandfathers are doing their best to organize it. They get lines organized at the machines, and after that, it goes much quicker. Thomas and Jessica stand in line, getting their kits their favorite meals. They then come back to the table the kits have selected. Charlotte picks at her peanut butter sandwich. Thomas can see that she is really depressed at what they have seen. He tells her dad jokes until she smiles and starts to eat her sandwich. Betty encourages her son after he told her what they had seen. He starts to suck with his sister. They both stare at each other as they do so. Betty gets a hard look on her face and looks over at Thomas. Thomas gives her a subtle nod. He knows that they don't have much time.
After lunch, Thomas takes Charlotte and Marc for a nap with him. They lay on the mats, and Thomas has them fall asleep. He links with them both, and they head for the meadow. Gab is waiting for them. He hugs Thomas, "I know why you are here. The kits should have never seen that." "I know, Gab, but if we don't let them try, how will we know how far they can go"? "How to throw my own words back at me, Thomas. You have learned well. Wake them up, and let's begin."
Marc wakes up from his nap and looks around this strange meadow he's in. He sees Charlotte crying and embracing a snow leopard. Thomas is standing off to one side, just looking out over the meadow. He's a little leery at what he sees. A predator is hugging a rabbit. Gab turns to look at Marc. "Come over here, please, Marc." Marc hesitantly does so. When he gets close, Gab stretches out his paw to touch him on the forehead. "Remember Marc." Gab removes part of the block on Marc's memories. Marc clutches his head and lets out a little mew. Gab brings him into the same embrace as Charlotte. Marc now remembers his time with Gab.
He cries as he clutches Gab. Soon the crying goes to just sniffles. Gab releases them both and kisses the top of both their heads. "Gab, why does God allow such horrible things to happen to people"? Asks Charlette of Gab. "He doesn't allow bad things to happen; they just do. If he interfered or corrected what happens, he would have to do it for everyone and every situation, and that's not right. The object in life is to learn and grow. But some people get caught in their own vices. They stop growing. This is what happened to the people you saw. They found what they liked and stopped looking for something better. They need to be shown the error of their ways. They need to learn to be better."
"They will, Gab," says Thomas turning and walking over. "Thomas, there will be no sending them to Ockney. You need to find another way." "With Jack's help, that could be the other way." "Uncle Thomas, I saw a poster on the wall as we zoomed by, talking about a feast for two days hence. I'm sure all the bad people will be there in the compound." "What good eyes you have, Marc. I'm sure we can use that, thank you." Marc turns pink at the praise. Marc hugs Gab. "Thank you for showing me the way and keeping me safe." "You're welcome, Marc. But it's time for you to go back. I will always be here for you." Gab hugs all three. Then gets up and disappears into the meadow. They all blink out to the daycare. They all get up, and the kits go to play.
Thomas walks back over to the table. "Thomas, what did you just do"? Asks Marsha. "We did what I told you we would do. We went and found your brother." "How did you do that"? "It's kind of classified on how we did that, but we did find him." "Is he ok? Does he have a mate? How about kits"? "He has kits, we didn't see a mate, but he had eight kits cuddled around him. He is ok at the moment." Marsha stares in shock at Thomas. "But I want to know more about my brother." "We don't know more at the moment, but we will be rescuing him very soon." "He is captive"? "At the moment, yes, he is. Please don't ask for more we only caught a brief glimpse of him and his situation. But his rescue is now in the works." "Now, Marsha, we need to show Betty what your crystal showed you."
"Why Betty? Is she some kind of quantum physicist"? "Well, no, but she lives and breaths computers." Betty gives Thomas a dirty look as he smiles at Betty. "I'm not sure how you can interface with my crystal. How will you get that information from me"? "I will be the interface between you and Betty. You will be the interface between us and your crystal." "But how can you do this"? "All crystal holders are given or have abilities that the crystal brings to the forefront. In my case, I'm a communication mammal. I can translate or interface with a whole host of equipment or people." "Is it dangerous"? "No, if I feel overloaded, I will just shut down the link." "Ok, let's do this."
The three of them head back to the staff lounge. Thomas gets comfortable with a female on each side. He stretches out his paws to both of them. Betty takes his left one and Marsha his right. Marsha then removes her crystal and holds it in her other paw. She then plays what she can remember from her holding it for the first time. The crystal fills in the blanks of her memory. It takes about an hour for the information to be transferred. Thomas releases their paws, and they all yawn and stretch.
After playing with his siblings, Alex had come to the lounge to wait for his mate. He was in a little pain but had fallen asleep waiting for them to finish what they had been doing. He is woken up by a kiss from Marsha. Thomas Looks at Alex, "Go home, you two. Alex, take it easy for the next few days. "DO NOT" overextend yourself. If you feel massive pain at any time, don't hesitate to use the emergency band." Alex blushes, and Thomas laughs at the blush. Alex and Marsha leave the room paw in paw. Betty returns to the daycare to get her offspring, and they then go home. At the end of the day, Vivian gets all the kits together, and they head home. "I guess Jack's kits will be spending the night," she thinks to herself.
Thomas Gets Jack and Skye into his office to work on some rescue strategies. About an hour later, they have a plan of sorts. Jack calls his boss into the meeting with them and Bob Cromwell. This meeting goes well into the night, with a lot of back and forth. All agencies are called in for the mammal power needed for the raid.
Marsha and Alex walk to Alex's apartment. Alex has very little pain walking, but he handles it just fine. Marsha takes some of his weight as he walks her to his apartment. When they get there, they have a meal in the cafeteria. Marsha is leery of the elevator, so Alex demonstrates it for her. "I'm not stepping into that thing. Someone below me could look up my skirt and see everything." "Relax, love, I'll be the only one below you, and I like the up view." Marsha blushes red and steps into the elevator. She looks down at Alex leering at her. She blushes red but flips her tail around at him. By the time they get to the fourth floor, Alex has a small tent in his pants. She gets off, and as Alex's head comes into view, she flips her dress up at him. It's all Alex can do not to take her right there in the hall.
They kiss as Alex pushes her up against his door. He paws at the panel by the door. The door opens as they tumble into the apartment. There are boxes in the living room. They get off the floor and go to inspect the boxes. Marsha finds her stuff from her apartment. "How did all my stuff get here"?
"All your stuff arrived here early this afternoon. When Wilde Industries found out you would be mates, your stuff was moved here. Though from what I saw, you may need bigger quarters soon." "Marsha looks wildly around. "Who are you? Better yet, where are you"? "Oh, sorry, I'm Alex's personal assistant. I'm a computer program." "Marsha, we need to change your name. How does Stela grab you"? "Stela would be fine, but why are you changing it"? "We are changing your name because my mate's name is Marsha. I don't want to be calling out my mate's name and having you answer." "Understood, Stela, it is." "You called your personal assistant Marsha"? "I did, subconsciously, I must have known that was your name, and it did bring me comfort." "Oh, Alex, I love you so much." Said Marsha hugging his neck. They don't make it to the bedroom till much later. Later sleep is still elusive.