Theodore by Marcus LaGrone Page A

character?” barked the Major. 
“Who is he with?”
    The agent shrugged, “We are running his face through the
system as we speak.  We got a marginal DNA sample from his drink and are
processing a blood sample from the balcony below.”
    “Balcony?” asked Theodore as he looked out the window.  Sure
enough, just one floor below was the open air mezzanine for the Student Union
courtyard.  “Crap.  Why couldn't he have picked a table with a three floor
drop...”
    “He probably chose this seat for that very purpose.  He
seemed quite prepared.  Well, he didn't quite seem prepared for all of your
friends to suddenly back you up.”
    Theodore fired an inquisitive glance at the pair of coaches,
“How did you know I was in trouble?”
    The Major laughed, “You are an excellent fencer, lad,
but you would be terrible at poker: all your fur shot right up on end.”
    He laughed to himself as he looked down at his fur coat, “Yeah..
well... I do that a lot it seems...  At least it served me well this time.”
    “I think we need to go ahead and move you into protective
custody, Theodore.  Give us a few days to sort things out, and then we'll see
if we can safely get you back to your dorm and regular classes.”
    Theodore sighed to himself, “I think... I think it may just
be a whole lot simpler if I just go back to the Highlands.  If I can get a
waiver on my scholarship and try again next semester, so be it.  If I can't,
well then I'll just stay back home.”
    “Hey kid,” began the Major, “there is no reason we should
let these people push you around!  You have every right to be here and there is
no reason you should have to bend to the will of these monsters!”
    Theodore shook his head, “I'm a stranger in a strange land. 
My presence already got some people killed on a different world.  There is no
reason to put people here in jeopardy.”
    The agent smiled, “I appreciate your nobility, but I'm kinda
with the Major here... I don't want to see you being pushed around... not on my
turf.  How about this: give us a couple days to figure out what is going on
with you in a safe house and then we will go from there.   Push comes to shove,
I'm pretty sure the university will work with you on your scholarship.  If not
next week, then next semester I expect to see you back here.  Does that
sound all right by you?”
    Theodore nodded, “Yes, sir.  I appreciate the effort you are
going through for an outsider...”
    “You're not an outsider, kid, you go to school here.  That
makes you one of us.  Come on, let’s get a patrol car for you,” he smiled back.
    Suddenly a local police officer approached the group,
“Special Agent Telmark, there was just word from the university.   Someone
broke into the kid's dorm room...”
    The agent snarled and cut loose with a few expletives that
Theodore didn't recognize, “Okay, I want three squad cars here, now!  Armor up,
look alive, let's get the lad to the Federal building downtown.  Now, people! 
Move!”
    While the division of authority was quite clear between the
federal and local law enforcement, everyone sprang into action: the path was
clear and obvious, now was not the time for bickering.  Good ideas, however... 
“Agent Telemark, we have three cars here now, but in five minutes I can have
nine.  That could give us three separate rabbit trails.”
    “Let's do that then; I like the obfuscation!  Last thing I
want is some pansy, cheap shot going down,” the agent barked back.  “Theodore,
I have no idea how much that weird armor thing of yours wears on you, but if
you think you can keep it up until we get you downtown...”
    “It is uncomfortable, sir.  It doesn't run me down or make
me tired...” smiled Theodore back as he invoked his armor.  The few police
officers and members of the fencing team that didn't get a chance to see his
armor come and go before, watched in awe as it instantly engulfed him once
more.
    The team and coaches