idea even less. He was used to skulking about in the shadows.
“I don't know; he seems pissed,” a nurse warned.
“He can wait a minute,” Doctor Standish said. Jethro reminded himself the doctor was technically an officer. Besides, it was a joke, one he had to take in good stride or be labeled a sore loser. The doctor took the time to lecture the attending staff on the phenomenon. Jethro was dismayed that all the medics had been pulled in, even the navy corpsman like the greyhound Gusterson who was attached to his own squad. He vowed to get even later.
Doctor Standish explained how the hardwired instinct to curl when carried as cubs could be used later in life. “It had been left alone in the Neo genetic engineering for that purpose according to the historical texts.”
Jethro was stroked by a female nurse who smiled at him. He was finally released. He was angry at first, but realized he had to accept the prank or be made to look like someone who can't take a joke. Still, he took off in disgust with a slight air of distaste for medics.
Jethro thought about it for a moment, but then decided to warn the other Neos. Some snorted in amusement. “You think it's funny now, but it is the most helpless feeling. You can see, move to some small degree, talk, but your body just wants to lie there helpless. You can see them; they talk about you like a piece of meat.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. And you can't do a damn thing to stop them from messing with you while you're like that.”
“It's like being raped,” Harley said wrinkling her muzzle.
Jethro looked at her and then shrugged uncomfortably. “I wouldn't go that far with it. But it does mess you up a bit,” he said. He batted Sergei's meaty paw away as the Liger reached for the back of his neck. “Just remember; it's fair game now for everyone and anyone to use that trick now that it is out there. Don't be surprised if you wake up like that...”
Harley suddenly giggled, hand going to cover her muzzle.
Sergei rolled his eyes and then covered them with one hand. “Great. Good going genius, give her something else to play with.”
“Sorry,” Jethro snorted, flicking his ears. He felt oddly like his humor was restored.
---( | ) --- ( | )---
A short four parsecs and eight days later, Firefly jumped into Agnosta space. She surprised the frigate Rose on duty at the jump point by her arrival, but fortunately she didn't have a friendly fire incident.
“Pass code transmitted. Acceptance code has been received. We have been authenticated, Captain,” the com rating said. “Though they seem a bit put out over our timing for some reason,” he said.
“I don't know what the big deal is, we told them we'd be back,” Renee said in annoyance. “You'd think we're some sort of ghost.”
“Yes, ma'am, and they know we survived, after all, Fuentes and Hecate came forward. We got orders from them to return; didn't they get a copy of the movement order?” she asked. Knowing the bureaucrats in the staffing positions, she doubted it.
“And we sent those ships back. Which reminds me, they did get here right?”
“Um...”
“Check and see,” the Captain ordered, waving an imperious hand to the communication's rating.
“Aye, aye, ma'am. Querying the Rose now.”
“Rose, some name for a ship. Was it named for someone? Or the plant?”
“Roses have thorns, Captain,” Firefly replied. “The names of ships are opaque to those of use on them or, well, in them sometimes. Buships has its ways.”
“Right,” the Captain replied with a snort. “Anything?” she asked, looking at the com rating with a raised eyebrow.
“Nothing yet, ma'am,” he replied, shaking his head.
“Slow,” Firefly said.
“Even if we caught them off guard...”
“Incoming transmission. “All ships accounted for except Kiev 221.”
“That's a relief,” Janice murmured.
“Well, there we go,” Firefly replied. He studied the data. The rating on the frigate Rose had uploaded
“I don't know; he seems pissed,” a nurse warned.
“He can wait a minute,” Doctor Standish said. Jethro reminded himself the doctor was technically an officer. Besides, it was a joke, one he had to take in good stride or be labeled a sore loser. The doctor took the time to lecture the attending staff on the phenomenon. Jethro was dismayed that all the medics had been pulled in, even the navy corpsman like the greyhound Gusterson who was attached to his own squad. He vowed to get even later.
Doctor Standish explained how the hardwired instinct to curl when carried as cubs could be used later in life. “It had been left alone in the Neo genetic engineering for that purpose according to the historical texts.”
Jethro was stroked by a female nurse who smiled at him. He was finally released. He was angry at first, but realized he had to accept the prank or be made to look like someone who can't take a joke. Still, he took off in disgust with a slight air of distaste for medics.
Jethro thought about it for a moment, but then decided to warn the other Neos. Some snorted in amusement. “You think it's funny now, but it is the most helpless feeling. You can see, move to some small degree, talk, but your body just wants to lie there helpless. You can see them; they talk about you like a piece of meat.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. And you can't do a damn thing to stop them from messing with you while you're like that.”
“It's like being raped,” Harley said wrinkling her muzzle.
Jethro looked at her and then shrugged uncomfortably. “I wouldn't go that far with it. But it does mess you up a bit,” he said. He batted Sergei's meaty paw away as the Liger reached for the back of his neck. “Just remember; it's fair game now for everyone and anyone to use that trick now that it is out there. Don't be surprised if you wake up like that...”
Harley suddenly giggled, hand going to cover her muzzle.
Sergei rolled his eyes and then covered them with one hand. “Great. Good going genius, give her something else to play with.”
“Sorry,” Jethro snorted, flicking his ears. He felt oddly like his humor was restored.
---( | ) --- ( | )---
A short four parsecs and eight days later, Firefly jumped into Agnosta space. She surprised the frigate Rose on duty at the jump point by her arrival, but fortunately she didn't have a friendly fire incident.
“Pass code transmitted. Acceptance code has been received. We have been authenticated, Captain,” the com rating said. “Though they seem a bit put out over our timing for some reason,” he said.
“I don't know what the big deal is, we told them we'd be back,” Renee said in annoyance. “You'd think we're some sort of ghost.”
“Yes, ma'am, and they know we survived, after all, Fuentes and Hecate came forward. We got orders from them to return; didn't they get a copy of the movement order?” she asked. Knowing the bureaucrats in the staffing positions, she doubted it.
“And we sent those ships back. Which reminds me, they did get here right?”
“Um...”
“Check and see,” the Captain ordered, waving an imperious hand to the communication's rating.
“Aye, aye, ma'am. Querying the Rose now.”
“Rose, some name for a ship. Was it named for someone? Or the plant?”
“Roses have thorns, Captain,” Firefly replied. “The names of ships are opaque to those of use on them or, well, in them sometimes. Buships has its ways.”
“Right,” the Captain replied with a snort. “Anything?” she asked, looking at the com rating with a raised eyebrow.
“Nothing yet, ma'am,” he replied, shaking his head.
“Slow,” Firefly said.
“Even if we caught them off guard...”
“Incoming transmission. “All ships accounted for except Kiev 221.”
“That's a relief,” Janice murmured.
“Well, there we go,” Firefly replied. He studied the data. The rating on the frigate Rose had uploaded
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