Theodore (3 page)

Janice quickly found an attendant, “I'm Dr. Janice
Westmore.  I have a domestic mercy flight transfer.  Can you help me with that,
please?”

The attendant smiled as he looked up, “But of course, I'll
need to see your ID and who...”  His expression went wide with astonishment as
he looked Theodore and his sisters up and down.  “Oh.  These three I assume?”

Janice kept her smile up, “Yes indeed.  We need to get them
over to VerDemire as soon as is reasonably possible.”

The attendant quickly regained his composure, “Yes, ma'am. 
There are three flights that might work.  Please follow me.”  He cued his com
link as they walked, “Mercy Flight booking to VerDemire... Head count is five,
four plus infant, if we have to squeeze.   Flight 1327?  That's over two hours
out, can you find something sooner?  They are off-worlders.  Tell them to tack
the bill to the Foreign Office, they are always looking for good PR.  Flight
505?  Perfect!  Thank you very much!”  He grinned at Janice, “I was pretty sure
we could catch that flight, just have to stroke the right egos.”

Janice smiled and nodded, “If that's what it takes, we'll
just smile broadly and run with it.”

  The attendant smiled as he stopped at a kiosk and quickly
produced a series of passes, “Follow me and we'll bypass the lines.”  

Janice smiled again, thanking the attendant and began a
protracted round of small talk.  Theodore wasn't really paying attention to
them, he was lost in his own thoughts as the audacity of the entire situation
started creeping back up on him.   A gently wayward tug from Rose re-centered
his attention as he grinned at his younger sister and steered her back toward
the group.

In very short order they were all seated in the first class
section of a skimmer.  The skimmers got their name as they fluttered along on
the upper edge of the atmosphere at very high speeds.  Most of the time was
actually spent accelerating and decelerating.  They were not as smooth as
repuslar craft nor could they completely leave the atmosphere, but they were
far more efficient.  Whatever the ride, Theodore was grateful for it.  Rose had
asked for the window, but was already asleep by the time they took off. 
Theodore chuckled to himself, they all could use some sleep.  A protracted
series of 'mews' from Abby reminded Theodore that his infant sister was free of
the normal concepts of sleep time.   

Anna picked her up out of her seat and cradled her softly
and the mews abated.  Suddenly Anna broke out laughing, “Um, Mom.  She's
rooting!  I think she is hungry and I don't think she's used to the bottle!”

Janice laughed, “Keep her amused and I'll get her a bottle
right quick.”  She gathered up her bag and quickly retreated to the galley.

“Keep her amused?” laughed a nervous Anna as she carefully
tried to distract the infant.

Theodore laughed in spite of himself, “What, you aren't
going to wet-nurse my little sister?”

“Uh, no!” laughed Anna.  “For two darn good reasons!  First,
not in front of you.  Second... well... no!”

Janice quickly returned with a warm bottle and a very fuzzy
blanket.  She poked the bottle through a hole in the blanket and then carefully
took Abby in her arms.  Abby soon made short work of the bottle.

“Oh... You used a furry blanket to make her feel more
comfortable.  That's cool...” murmured Anna as she watched her mother in
action.

Janice just grinned back at the two of them, “See, Theodore,
I told you I've done this just a
few
times before.  Anna, a Taik of your
age
would
have been able to nurse the child.  For them, it’s strictly
about age and has nothing to do with pregnancy.”

“That is both weird and convenient,” replied Anna, more than
a little perplexed and embarrassed both at the thought.

“That is how Second Mothers are able to take care of the
children so easily,” interjected Theodore. 

“Um, so they literally
can
raise the children from
day one,” observed Anna with a bit more understanding and only a little less
embarrassment.  “First Mother runs the family business right?  Well, that means
she has a lot less down time after having a kitten, er.. child.  Practical...
pardon me, but it is a little weird.”

Theodore grinned sheepishly, “Sorry my little sister
embarrassed you.  And kitten, cub or child, either one is a good translation,
although 'cub' is less common.”

Anna turned and sported a fake frown, “Abby was fine... It
was my
mother
who embarrassed me.  And if I had learned it all before,
it wouldn't have been that big of a deal.  Now would you
please
stop
apologizing for everything!”  She stared back at Theodore still sporting his
sheepish grin.  “Okay!  I take that back, you better apologize!  I can read you
mind from here!  Men!”

Theodore managed to laugh out a simple “sorry,” before
turning and staring at the ceiling.

“See, aren't you relieved that some cultural aspects are the
same across several species?” kidded Janice.

Anna just rolled her eyes and ignored everyone.  Well,
everyone except for little Abby: she was just too darling not to watch...

Theodore rubbed his eyes as the early morning light bathed
the cabin in a warm glow.  He started to stretch only to realize that little
Rose was asleep across his lap.  He carefully moved his sleeping sister so he
could stand and stretch.  A short burst of panic grabbed him as he noticed Abby
was missing.  His expression most have spoken volumes as Janice laughed at his
antics.

“Get your fur back under control; Anna has Abby up in the
restroom,” grinned Janice.  “You'll never make a good poker player at that
rate.”

Theodore grinned sheepishly and then let out a quick laugh
at his own expense: Janice was right, his fur was standing straight on end. “I
guess I'm still a little strung out.  It has been a long day.”

Janice smiled warmly, “It must have been a dreadfully long
day.  I wouldn't have brought it up, but if Rose were to wake up and see you
like that, she'd probably panic.”

Theodore nodded as he stood and slowed his breathing.  As he
relaxed, his fur obliged and by the time Anna returned with little Abby, he not
only looked better but felt better. 

Anna flashed him a broad smile as she tucked Abby back into
her seat, “We are getting ready to land.  Have a good sleep?”

He smiled back as he stretched one last time, “Better than I
would have guessed.  And you?”

“Candle snuffed and cozy,” she grinned back.

Theodore grinned, it was a Highland expression again.  For a
human living 1400 light years from Afon, she actually was quite well versed. 
“How did you end up knowing so much about us?” he grinned.

“I was about eight or so and I read one of the kids'
versions of the story about Aurora and the invasion.  I thought it was a so-so
kids story and all until my mother informed me it was
history,
not
fiction.  At that point I wanted to hear the
real
story, not the kids
version, and well... the rest was just curiosity compounded.  Every time I
learned a little bit more about your Highlanders, the more curious I became. 
You have to admit, it is pretty wild: Live Steel, the portals... all the while
everyone else is using pulse rifles and star ships.  And then there are your
families
,
that is so, so different.”

 Theodore grinned as he buckled his seat, “Well, if you want
to visit some time, I'm pretty sure my parents would be happy to have you over
after all your family has done for us.  Better brush up on your Old Tongue,
Second Mother and Rose are the only other bilinguals in the family.”

Anna grinned back as they prepared for the landing.  It was
smooth enough, Rose didn't even wake up until the access tunnel bumped up
against the side of the craft.  The intercom quickly ran through the standard
niceties while a steward directed their group out early, ahead of the regular
passengers.  Rose held Theodore's hand while Anna carried Abby.  Janice walked
slightly ahead, talking to the waiting security guards.  They bantered away in
a language that Theodore couldn't follow.

“He said there have been no actions against your parents
here.  They are confused why you and your sisters were attacked.  They are
assuming it was the result of some violent xenophobic groups,” offered Anna as
she hung her head.  “I'm sorry, I keep forgetting our planet isn't as
progressive as I'd like to believe.”

“Apologize for your actions, not for others,” grinned
Theodore back.  “Trust me, I've had to deal with more than my share of
xenophobia back at the university.  This was just the most overt, and
cowardly...”

“There will always be narrow minded idiots,” offered Janice
over her shoulder.  “Come on, let's not let them ruin anything else: your
parents are waiting just up ahead.”

That brought a quick smile to Rose and Theodore alike.  The
group quickly exited the tunnel and entered the main lobby.  Sure enough, their
parents were waiting there for them along with several members of the local
security detail.  Rose bolted and ran to their First Mother's outstretched
arms.  There was a fair share of joyful squeaking and giggling as Rose was
scooped up and spun around and then passed to their Third Mother.  Their Second
Mother made straight for Anna and Abby.  She bubbled tearfully as she thanked
Anna and cradled little Abby and nuzzled her tight.

Janice sighed with a broad grin, “And
that
is what
makes all the insanity worth it: to see a happy ending!”

Unfortunately, that wasn't the ending...

It had been over a year since Theodore had sparred with his
father.  Theodore was no slouch for his age, but his father was just simply
impressive.  Theodore was quickly reminded of his father's raw skill, talent,
experience and, just as importantly, his dedication to his family as machine-gun
fire raked through their small crowd.  Several members of the security detail
quickly fell to the ground under the relentless onslaught; it was unclear if
their armor had been strong enough.  One thing was clear, it was far harder to
take down Highlanders.  While Theodore's armor exploded to life in blue sparks
around him, his father's armor exploded in the form of a blue flame wall from
floor to ceiling.  The translucent blue wall held fast as it surrounded his
father, mothers and sisters.  Of the family, only Theodore was too far away to
be protected, but he had his own armor and it served him well.  

Theodore's brain raced as instinct and practice played off
of each other.  With his siblings secure, his attention shifted to Anna and he
quickly spun and pulled her out of the line of fire.  Briefly his armor
expanded, engulfing her as well, until the gun fire subsided.  Whether it was a
pause to reload, or if their assailants had simply stopped in order to try to
understand what had just happened, it didn't matter, the pause gave the
Highlanders time to react.

Theodore slung Anna with a strength he didn't know he had
over to a low wall while his eyes raced across the room for Janice.  He quickly
spotted her racing for a far wall and the protection it offered.  Good. 
Theodore sprang across the lobby to the low wall joining Anna in time to watch
everyone else's reaction.

Miraculously, two of the security detail were still in the
game; humans are tough physically and mentally!  Bruised and thoroughly bloodied,
they were quite enthusiastic in their rebuttal and it was savage and swift. 
While they didn't have the raw firepower of their attackers, their sub-machine
guns sent their attackers diving for cover.  In the midst of the firefight,
Theodore took pride in watching his father turn the tables: with the blue wall
still protecting his family he invoked a Live Steel hand axe and threw it at
the steel beam that their attackers were using for cover.  Any confusion as to
whether the ax was a normal wood and steel weapon or a manifestation of Live
Steel was instantly answered as it effortlessly pierced the heavy steel beam
and struck home in the torso of the first assailant.

Whatever shock and confusion may have flittered through the
security detail's mind was quickly washed away by their pure professionalism. 
As the axe dispatched one assailant, the second panicked and backed into the
open only to be instantly cut down by a precise burst of submachine gun fire.

Theodore's fur started to stand on end as he watched the
wall of blue fire around his family shift and rotate to the rear.  Theodore
spun only to find his father's intuition was, in fact, correct.  Five more well
armed goons were approaching with weapons at the ready.  He started to scream
to his father, but Theodore had his own troubles, one of the goons opened up
with a grenade launcher his direction.

Theodore was
pretty
sure his armor could soak a
grenade... maybe... he hoped...  He was thoroughly unconvinced that Anna's
meager body armor would do much of anything.  He grabbed her and rolled the
pair of them back down the loading tunnel they had just come from.  As the
rounds detonated, he felt his armor expand once again to briefly engulf Anna. 

Theodore's ears rang painfully from the blasts and gun fire,
but suddenly he
wished
he couldn't hear at all, or at least not
understand the thugs’ language:

“Forget the sandy colored one!  Kill the brown and black
spotted one!  He went down the loading ramp with the human girl!”

Slack jawed and confused, Theodore turned to Anna and
vacantly asked, “Um, did I just hear that?”

Anna's face, already tight from stress, turned white as she
nodded and replied, “They aren't after your family; they are after you!”

  Theodore could feel his nostrils flair and he could taste
blood in the air.  It wasn't his blood and he wasn't about to let it be
Anna's.  In a brilliant shower of a blue sparks a sword folded into his hand
and he effortlessly cut a hole in the wall of the tunnel.  “It's a two or three
meter drop, can you make it?”

Anna would have marveled at the display of Live Steel, but
making good use of the new exit was first on her mind.  She touched the edge
and looked up confused, “Um, it's not even warm... Oh!  Yeah, I can lower
myself down fine.”  She quickly scrambled over the edge and dropped to the deck
below with a solid thump, “Okay, I'm clear.  You can come on down!”

Theodore glanced over the edge to her, “Stay here, I've work
to do!”

“No!  Let your father handle them; he looked like he knew
what he was doing!” screamed Anna.

“He's busy protecting my family; I'm the best for finishing
the job.”  He didn't wait for the rebuttal that he knew was coming, he turned
and ran back toward the hallway as his armor rippled in and out of plane on its
own accord.  As he entered the lobby it was apparent that
no-one
had
expected to see him again quite so soon.

Two of the goons were all but on top of him, but with their
weapons at their sides and the shocked looks on their faces, it was obvious
they weren't even remotely prepared for him.  With a primeval growl in his
throat, he fired a savage right cross neatly to the side of the closest goon. 
His Live Steel armor ebbed and flowed and obliged his whims producing a steel
gauntlet around his paw just as he struck home.  In one continuous motion, he
then fired a reverse round house into the next.  No Live Steel this time, just
a perfectly placed kick... and claws... just for good measure. 
 

The broad grin on his father's face spoke well to him as
Theodore prepared to run across the lobby to join his family.  Instead, he
found his family was quickly shuffling as a group closer to him.  As he
father's Live Steel armor surrounded him, he suddenly felt invincible.  A
savage blow from a rocket propelled grenade against the side of his father's
armor that was effortlessly shrugged off only reinforced his feelings.

The remaining goons knew they were in trouble; their target
was a tough nut to crack on the best of days, and now Theodore had a second,
seemingly impenetrable, layer of protection.  Adding to their difficulties was
a vast mob of local security officials descending on them from two directions. 
Unsurprisingly, they ran!

Theodore let out a long sigh then suddenly he remember
Janice!  Anna was safe, but what of her mother?  “Janice!” he screamed.  “Dr.
Westmore!”

“I'm fine,” came a voice from the distance.  “Anna safe with
you?”

Theodore's brain churned and his fur stood on end.  Anna! 
She was safe, right?  He quickly shot back down the entrance tunnel and looked
down the hole he had cut.  With a sigh of relief there stood Anna with a fake
glare on her face.  “That was noble and all, but next time I'll follow you!”

Theodore grinned as his father joined him and the pair
lifted Anna back up to the level of the lobby.  “Anna, this is my father,
Aidden Foxdale of clan Blackford.”  He shifted languages as he knew his father
had no clue about the common trade language, “Dad, this is Anna.  She and her
parents helped look after us.”

Aidden and Anna both laughed and politely shook hands. 
Aidden had no gift for languages and Anna's vast gifts drew a blank at the
Highland Old Tongue.  “Is my mom okay?” Anna asked.

Theodore nodded and took her hand, “Let's go find her!”

They didn't have to go far, with the violence at hand over,
Janice had quickly assumed “Dr. Janice Westmore” and she was quickly and
expertly applying emergency aid to the wounded.  She flashed a warm smile at
her daughter, but refrained from hugging: she was both busy and messy!  Anna
quickly kissed her mother on the head and then knelt beside her, drawing on her
many hours of training and practice to help alongside her mother.

 Theodore felt the warm hands of his First Mother from
behind him as she closed and then warmly hugged him.  “You chose your friends
well!  Mother and daughter seem like wonderful people.”  She turned Theodore
around to look him square in the face, “But next time, stay with the young
lady.  Stay well out of harm’s way.  Let your father take care of things.”

He knew better than to argue with his First Mother so he
just laughed and hugged her.  “Yes, Mom!  Are the girls okay?”

She smiled broadly, “They are all fine.  Scared.  Scared
about you, but they are fine.”