Stepping Stones (Founding of the Federation Short Stories Book 1)

by Chris Hechtl

  “What are you doing in here, Billy?” Marla asked. She yelped when she saw Gizmo. “That thing! It's loose!”

  “Easy, he's with me,” Bill said, getting between her and Gizmo as Gizmo ducked under the swings then under a circle ride. He glared at the human.

  “We need to call security. Get Doctor Casper here.”

  “Hey, hey, he's okay. He's not a threat.”

  “But he's outside!”

  “Yeah, and so are you. So what?” Bill said. “He's not going anywhere. He's got the chip inside him and the collar on him. He walked over to the merry go round and sat down on it. “Hey Giz, come out of there will you?” He asked, modulating his voice to be kinder, softer.

  Giz made a chir sound, then stuck a hand out to grip Bill's pant leg. After a moment he came out and then climbed his leg to stand on the ride. He glared at the human female, sniffed, and then went about his business again of exploring.

  “You are Marla, right?”

  “Miss Marla Bloodstone. Pleased ta meetcha,” she said, waving an airy hand. “I've seen you around. You're Bill, right? The Cosmos kid?”

  “Right,” Bill said nodding as he shook her head.

  “You sure he's safe?” she asked. He looked down at Gizmo. Gizmo cocked an ear their way.

  “He's like a little brother I guess. He's okay. As long as you treat him well, he'll treat you the same. Right, Giz?” he asked.

  Gizmo turned to sniff at them, curled his lip but didn't reply. Instead he went back to exploring.

  “He's Doctor Wing's pet project, Frankenstein. I don't know why they kept him alive after the old Asian kicked the bucket last year.”

  Gizmo turned slightly, ears up. He hadn't known the old man had died. He'd liked him; he'd treated Gizmo with respect like Bill did. He looked up a ladder and climbed it with difficulty.

  “What this,” Bill said, pointing to Gizmo as he got to the top. Gizmo got up, huffing and puffing and then looked over the side down the slide.

  “What's he going to do? Jump? You know that's a valuable animal, Billy.” She was an assistant manager; letting one of the animals get hurt, even that little monster, would be trouble she thought.

  “No,” Bill said. “It's a slide, Giz. Sit on it and slide,” he said, pitching his voice so the Mogwi could hear him.

  “Like he can understand you,” Marla said scathingly just as Gizmo's ears twitched. He sniffed, turned about, looked back the way he'd come, and then discarded the climb. There were plastic shavings and soft material on the ground to prevent injuries but he didn't want to test it. He turned back and sat on the edge of the slide. After a moment he kicked his feet.

  “Bump your butt off and slide, Giz,” Bill urged, smiling. “It's fun.”

  Gizmo dangled his feet, thought about it, and then let his butt get to the edge of the slippery slope. His soft fur, however, made it even more slippery. He immediately went down, wailing in terror, eyes wide in fright as he flew down the slide.

  When he got to the end, he was kicked up into the air. Bill caught him chuckling. “See?”

  Gizmo held on for dear life for a moment, then his mind finished processing the ride. He snuffled then tried to climb out of Bill's arms.

  “Well! I guess he figured it out!” Marla said, clearly taken aback by what she'd seen.

  “I told you. He's smart. There is another slide there, Giz,” Bill said, pointing to a spiral design. “That one makes you go around in a spiral,” he said, using his index finger to indicate the motion. “It's fun too.”

  Gizmo looked at the slide then ran over to it with his short little legs.

  “I um … yeah, I've got to be going. Maybe we can do dinner sometime, Billy.”

  “Huh? Oh yeah, maybe,” Bill replied over his shoulder as he watched Gizmo negotiate the rope ladder up to the top of the next challenge.

  The woman sniffed as she watched him watching the creature. She thought about trapping Billy. He might be fun to play with, definitely someone worth marrying just for his money. She started to game out her approach when her cell phone pinged. “Damn it,” she muttered, pulling it out.

  “Go for Marla?” She blinked when she heard Rob chatter on about a problem and then sighed. “Be right there,” she said. “I gotta go, Billy.”

  “See you around sometime,” Bill said absently as Gizmo took the plunge. The little guy wheed as he went around and around down the chute.

  Marla heard it, sniffed and then walked off, stumbling on the shavings. “Blasted things,” she muttered, hand out to catch herself from a fall. “They should clean this stuff up,” she said angrily as she flicked it away. Bill was oblivious.

 

  “I don't like this. I could get caught. You never said it would go this far,” Bob said.

  “It's simple. Just leave the latch loose on the dog kennel, then get out of the area. When they start going wild all you have to do is plug the stick in, wait until the screen changes to red, then unplug it and flush it.”

  “Just like that?” Bob asked suspiciously.

  “Yes. The stick will dissolve so you won't get caught.”

  “And if they notice I'm not at my post while the dogs are running loose?”

  “That's an issue. But this shouldn't take more than a few seconds. Plug it in, unplug it, then pocket it, and contain the dogs.”

  “I'm serious; I didn't sign up for this,” Bob said, holding the flash device up. It was a needle; he knew the tip had a tiny microchip in it. All he had to do was plug it into the holder and then into the computer port like they said. But getting it past security …

  “Security won't catch you unless you act suspicious.”

  “I'm serious, Bart, I didn't …”

  “You'll do it. Stop pissing and moaning and get on with it,” Bart's voice hardened.

  “Hey, I was just supposed to pass on the occasional tidbit. That's what you said.”

  “And then you got stupid and gambled more and lost big time. So, now you owe us big time.”

  “And this means we're square?” Bob said, voice quavering slightly. He hated to sound like he was whining, but he was putting his neck on the line.

  “This?” Bart laughed harshly. “This is just a down payment, let's say.”

  “Damn it …”

  “Do it. Or we'll out you ourselves.”

  “Fine.”

 

  Bill relaxed on the ride back to the dorm. It was a good day he thought, stretching in the car as best he could. He yawned again, hands off the wheel. The car drove itself; the computer knew how to get home so he let it do the grunt work. It was hard to keep his eyes open though. He'd done a jog in the morning, then a workout in the gym so he was ready to crash. That was probably why he didn't see the drunk driver who had shut off his car's computer to manually drive. The driver ran the red light and slammed into Bill's driver side door with crushing force, too fast for Bill's car to react to.

  Bill's car did try to limit the damage to its passenger, however. Not only did it deploy air bags and call for help, but it also steered as best it could to avoid a roll over. In doing so it spun the car across the intersection and into an empty building.

  Bill woke in the hospital the next morning, battered and confused. His eyes locked on a note on the desk near his hospital bed, one from his father. He tried to sit up but his broken arm and head injury made him gasp and sit back in pain.

  Bill's injuries forced him to stay away from college and the lab for several days. When he didn't show up, Gizmo became listless. He stopped eating and trilled sad songs. Bob and Rory put on loud music to drown out his sad songs.

  Bill was anxious to get out of the hospital, despite having to deal with the crutches and bum arm. Quick heal had repaired some of the easy damage, but the knee was going to take time to fully heal. Time and rehab, he was depressingly sure of that. And of course his father was a bit livid that his son had nearly gotten killed on the way home from Biogen.

  When he did make it
back to the lab, Gizmo was instantly happy. The little guy perked up, ears up at Bill's familiar sounds. He started to trill a happy song as Bill came into the room.

  “Hi! Miss me, guy?” Bill asked as he came over to the cage, hobbling the best he could.

  Gizmo made grasping motions through the cage bars. He purred loudly for first time in the hearing of the staff. He checked out Bill as the human got close enough to see clearly. He reached out and petted his arm then shied away from the cast.

  “What this?” Bill asked looking at it. The cast was white, not really a cast but a brace to keep his broken bones from moving until the quick heal finished setting them. “Yeah, I busted it. And my leg,” he said hastily, showing the Mogwi his tractor cast on his knee. “A drunk driver hit me on the way home. Just wham!” he said, shaking his head. He saw Kate working nearby; she looked up to him, nodded, and then went back to work.

  “Here, wanna see?” Bill asked, holding his arm out for Gizmo to check out. The Mogwi inspected the cast carefully, sniffing it over thoroughly, and running his tiny hands over it. He played with the Velcro straps and then looked up at Bill in inquiry, flipping his ears forward and up as one eyebrow rose.

  “Oh Billy, what happened to you?” Marla asked, coming over to him.

  “I was in a vehicle accident,” he replied with a tone of I don't know who you are.

  “Marla, remember me?” She asked.

  “Oh, yeah, right,” he said catching on. “Um, anyway, I was on my way home the other night and this guy slammed into me,” he said. “I've got a couple broken bones but nothing big. The dashboard was what got my knee,” he said, indicating his left knee. “That and the crumpled door.

  “Oh you poor thing,” Marla cooed.

  Kate heard that and bristled. She didn't like Marla, and she knew Bill wasn't her type. Well, in a way he was; she was a predator, plain and simple. He was easy prey for Marla and that bothered her. “I'm almost finished here, Miss Bloodstone. If you want, I can email it to you,” she said with a hint in her voice.

  “Take your time honey, no rush,” Marla replied.

  Kate sighed. Apparently she would have to continue to put up with the minx for a while longer.

  “Okay, Giz, what happened was the bones in my arm broke,” Bill said, loud enough for Kate to hear. She saw him fetch a tongue depressor out of a cup and then hold it out to Giz. He snapped it in half. “See?”

  She turned in time to see Gizmo's eyes go wide, his ears back. He shuddered, then his small hands reached out to stroke the cast. That surprised her.

  “See, it's okay though, because they have medicine that doctors like Kate here and others before her came up with. It knits my bones faster than the time that it would take my body to normally take alone. So, in a week I'll be as good as new. Better in a few ways because the bone will be harder to break.”

  “It's good to see him better,” Marla said. Kate nodded.

  Bill looked over to Marla then Kate.

  “He's not as much trouble. There is less cost I understand. That's good,” Marla said, clearly trying to build a bridge and keep in the conversation.

  Bill nodded. He realized that she was talking about his charge. That amused him a bit. He gave Gizmo a sidelong look. “Everyone needs a second chance. And everyone needs a bit of regular social interaction.”

  “Speaking of which, did you think of a place to go on our date?” Marla purred.

  “Date?” Kate asked, tone sharper than she'd intended as she looked up in alarm. She knew Marla had some designs on Bill from what gossip had been brooded about but still …

  “Yes, Bill here said he'd take me out on a date. A nice restaurant,” the older woman drawled, patting Bill on the arm.

  “I did?” Bill asked, blinking in surprise. “I'm afraid I don't remember.”

  “Sure you do. The playground?” Marla asked suggestively. “We had fun there?” She couldn't help but slip that dig in to make Kate all green eyed. She could tell the younger woman was jealous. Good, she was a mousy brunette, too busy with her nose in a book. She would be the one to turn Billy into a man, not someone like Kate.

  “I'm afraid I don't honestly remember much of that night,” Bill said shaking his head. “The accident made it a little foggy,” he said. It wasn't quite true, but she didn't know that.

  “Oh, my poor dear,” Marla said, voice oozing with sympathy.

  “Here you go, Miss Bloodstone,” Kate said forcefully handing her the tablet before she could simper up to Billy. Bill, she reminded herself. “I cc'd myself a copy. And I forwarded a copy to Doctor Casper.”

  “You didn't have to do that, my dear,” Marla said, taking the tablet.

  “Sure, I know how busy you are. And Bill here, taking time out from college to help out here,” Kate said with a nod to Bill. “Are you still thinking about signing on here?” she asked with a sweet smile in her voice and tone.

  “It's a thought,” Bill said, cocking his head as he pretended to think about it.

  “Well!” Marla said. “I can see when I'm not wanted,” she said in a huff as she adjusted her red business suit.

  “Don't go away,” Bill protested, not wanting to hurt her feelings.

  “I know the rest of that quote. Don't go away mad, but do go away. Cute,” Marla said huffily, storming off. She darted glanced back to see if he'd follow but that little snip of a tech Kate blocked him off. That and the monster.

  “I guess it is cruel to be neglected,” Bill said, shaking his head.

  “You didn't neglect her. She's not interested in you as much as your money,” Kate said softly.

  Bill winced. He'd figured that much out on his own. He nodded. “Thanks for the tip,” he murmured back.

  “Just watch your back,” she told him in an aside as she went back to her duty station.

  “Why? When I've got you watching it for me?” he quipped before he could stop himself. He caught her smile and look. He blushed when he saw her checking out his backside. When he had caught her checking him out, it was her turn to blush. She brushed hair out of her eyes, chuckled softly to herself, and then went back to work.

  Bill snorted and went back to Gizmo. He held out his index finger to let the little guy squeeze it. “I don't think I can take you for a walk just yet, buddy. But do you want out to sit here and talk?”

  Gizmo nodded.

 

  Bob saw the Cosmos kid playing with the little monster. The Cosmos kid was an added complication, but if the monster was loose too, he might try to escape and therefore take the blame. He slipped the needle out of his music player. Getting that through security had been a pain, but they understood the need to listen to music while cleaning up piss and shit. Hell, Paul had been reading a book instead of watching the screens!

  He shook his head. So far Bart's plan was working well. He'd slipped the needle into the adapter then put it into his pocket. He didn't know what it did … he wasn't sure he wanted to know. But he had to play his part.

  He mapped out what to do, even rehearsing bumping the latch with his elbow in passing to make sure it would work out the way he planned. He waited until Rory went on shift before he made the rounds.

  He was nervous when he bumped the latch up as he mopped, then hit it again and slid it over. The door started to open, alerting the dogs. He ducked his head and hit it with his mop to keep it shut until he was out of the area.

  The dogs were a pair of security dogs created for a special client. They were monsters, big pit-bull things with split jaws and snake-like tongues. Nightmares really. They had spines along their backs and had been conditioned to attack. They had been set up to receive implants to control them when the client's wife had seen the beasts. She had forced him to back out of the deal. The company had been stuck with them, and Doctor Catheter as usual refused to put them down.

  He hated the things; they slobbered all over everything. And the split jaw freaked him out. It had rows of teeth on the inside as well as the usual place. He sh
ivered slightly as he exited the room. It wouldn't be long now, the dogs would wake and start to explore, testing the door. When they did all hell would break loose.

 

  Bill heard the clicks of something on the tile floor. He thought it was Marla or someone in high heels at first, then heard a snuffle and sniff of a dog. He turned and froze at the sight of the two hell hounds watching him from across the lab.

  He'd taken Gizmo out to sit in his lap but Giz had gotten restless and gotten down to the floor to play with Bill's knee brace.

  They saw Gizmo, growled, and then charged him. “Kate! Gizmo, look out!” Bill yelled, grabbing for his crutch. It slid out of his fumbling reach just as Kate looked up from her paperwork. She saw the dogs, her eyes went wide, and she yelped in terror.

  Gizmo saw the charging beasts and his eyes went wide in fright. His first instinct was to hide, but there was no place to go nearby. He tried to duck around Bill's leg and hide under his chair.

  Bill managed to grab a broom pole, something the handlers used to keep their charges in line. “Back!” He said as he swung it.

  Bill defended the little guy with a broom pole. One of the dogs bit the pole and latched on, shaking it and Bill like a rag doll until he was forced to let go. The slavering split jaws gave him the willies. Terror made his bladder suddenly feel like he was peeing.

  Gizmo growled and fought back as well. He was fierce, darting in to distract the dog before it could lunge at Bill. He missed a clawed leg as the dog went up and onto the attack.

  Bill's eyes widened and his arm went instinctively up to protect himself as the monster lunged for his throat. Instead it got a mouthful of cast. Its weight dragged his arm down as its teeth dug into the Velcro and metal supports. He hit the dog with his free hand and bellowed as it held on.

  Gizmo lashed out as well, but the second dog was after him. Kate screamed as Gizmo ducked under a stool near where she was hiding on top of the table. She threw papers and a tablet at the dog to distract it. Gizmo shimmied under the table, up the stool on the other side, then ran across the table, and jumped onto the back of the dog's neck. He grabbed both ears and sank his teeth into one making the dog yelp. He hung on as the dog bucked and threw itself about to get rid of him.