13 Degrees of Separation

by Hechtl, Chris

  The guard force brought their families and joined the people there in first restoring the wharf town, and then finally mapping and restoring more of the island. When legendary inventor Leonardo Vinatelli took an interest and moved to the island, many of his supporters followed in his wake. The outskirts of the city had been mapped and some of the buildings occupied once more under his guidance. When the inventor was seduced away by his off world bride, the project of restoring the city and it's fusion reactors went on life support. Over time the plants took back the buildings.

  With parts from Antigua Prime, the mayors of regions around the island were keenly interested in restoring the city. Not just for what they may find in its ruins, but also to restore her aged but still functional fusion reactors and the single surviving planetary defense weapon nearby. Some were keenly interested in such a project, their towns and cities were vulnerable to anything from space.

  Admiral Irons had also taken a brief interest in such a project, lending some of his time to draw up a series of plans on restoring the reactors to functional status. His AI sent information downloads to all those concerned in the project.

  Parts from Antigua Prime made restoring the city a fascinating project. One that was now possible with the right skill set and determination. Even more so when the local fusion reactor was partially repaired. The reactor had been on a trickle power, slowly dropping its yearly power output over the centuries. It had powered much of the southern sector with some electrical power. Now with it being restored, they needed people to do the repairs, fix the city and maintain it all.

  Eternia was quickly becoming a boom town. Randor Prince was hired on as an interim city manager. With his education he quickly showed up the native Antiguans and began a plan to fully restore the city. When word got out on the radio ships and aircraft filled with people wishing for a fresh start and a taste of the golden age flocked to the city. Within two weeks they had more manpower than food and housing allowed for.

  Randor wasn't dismayed, he put the people to work, handing out machetes and having them hack into the city to restore carefully selected sections of the city. Those that could handle the work did so. Those that turned their noses up to the job either found other tasks to perform or returned to wherever they came from.

  When the utilities had cut off the plants had grown into the plumbing, sucking up the water. They devised an acid cleaner that broke down the cellulose and flushed it out with water. Getting the water was a problem for another day.

  <=={----------

  Adam didn't know why he had come, mostly, out of loyalty to his parents and Duncan. Teela had been a part of it too, she'd blackmailed him into coming. She'd made it clear, she was going, like it or not. She'd even threatened him, swore not that they'd break up, but that she'd drug him or zip tie him in a duffel and stick him in baggage. He had a pretty picture of that, and it hadn't been pretty.

  He'd tried to hold out, but she was a kinky witch, she'd worked her magic on him. He'd tried to hold out, but she'd been relentless. It had been fun, but he'd been sore after giving in, sore for days. Her wicked smiles had helped the healing process along though. He'd wanted a fresh start away from their parents shadow, but apparently that wasn't to be, or at least not yet. His dad was right, they needed someone they could trust for now. He'd held out for a leave of absence to help them get their feet off the ground.

  He'd had another reason for going, both he and Teela hadn't liked the direction Prime was going. They didn't like the politics that were coming up. The admiral was a straight arrow, what he said and did made sense. The pacifists in charge were idiots though. The whole Dilgarth thing alone told him that. Who hired and genetically altered Dilgarth as security? How stupid was that?

  No, he was now glad he was out of that mess. But being planetside was a problem, he was a spacer, born and bred. Sure he was muscle bound, his father had passed along heavyworlder genes, but still. He preferred technology, he had no intention of digging in the dirt, playing farmer for the rest of his days.

  Two weeks, that's what he'd set out as a goal, two weeks and he'd return to the station. But then an e-mail had come in, his position had been filled by someone else. Now he had no place to go, he was here to stay, like it or not. Teela had thought he'd resent her for it, his parents too, but he'd merely crumpled the paper up and buckled down to work.

  While exploring and running a training exercise, Adam Prince saw something, movement. Something large, about fifty kilograms, green, with a tail darted through the bush and up a tree. Wary he looked at it, keeping an eye on where the green thing had gone. “What's this?” he asked softly. He heard a chuff. He looked in the tree and saw golden eyes looking back. “Are you dinner?” He asked, raising his rifle. Duncan wanted them to live off the land as much as possible.

  “Don't shoot!” a child's voice yowled, the eyes went from slits to wide in a second. He put the gun down and stared in shock. “Please!” the voice begged.

  “Why don't you come down and we'll talk,” Adam said. He stepped away from the tree.

  “Promise you won't shoot?”

  “I'm not going to shoot a kid,” Adam said in disgust, slinging his weapon behind him.

  “You promise?”

  “I'm going to go kid,” Adam said. “Come on,” he encouraged. When that didn't work he pulled out his emergency ration and ripped it open. He took a bite then put it on a rock between him and the tree then stepped back. “I'm guessing you may be hungry?” he asked.

  Slowly the leaves began to dance, then a body climbed down the trunk. Adam was surprised, the fur was green and orange, almost but not quite blending into the tree trunk. The cat shimmied down then stopped to look at him. “Well?” Adam asked. The cat, definitely a Neocat, dropped to all fours and then padded warily over to the rock with the ration on it. He sniffed it, wrinkling his nose, then shook. He picked it up and wolfed it down, wrapper and all.

  “Not the wrapper too!” Adam said, reaching and moving forward. The cat looked at him terrified, then bolted half up the tree. Adam corrected himself. Stepping back and then crouching down. “Look, hey, here,” he said. The cat turned to him. He could see it quivering.

  “I know you're scared. You're a little guy,” he said softly. “You shouldn't be out here on your own,” he said, keeping his voice low. The cat dropped down slowly. Adam took his canteen out. “Want a drink?” he asked, sloshing it. The cat looked at the container. “I know ration packs make me dry. I bet you're dry after wolfing it down.”

  The cat eyed the container. Adam took the cap off and dribbled some water in his hand. He took a sip, then let it dribble out of his hand. The cat came forward, licking his lips. He was hesitant. Adam cupped his hand, filling it with water.

  The cat got to him, ears back, then reached out, and surprised Adam by taking the canteen. Adam sat back on his haunches as he watched the cat drink from the canteen.

  “Better?” he asked wryly. The cat was sticking his long tongue in the upside down container, trying to get every drop out. “Thirsty huh?” he asked. The cat nodded.

  “Look, I've got to go. I've got to report in. Are you lost?”

  The cat mewed. He shivered, then reached out and set the canteen down. He looked away.

  “Look, I'd ask you to come back with me...”

  The cat turned. “Um...”

  “Want to come?”

  Suddenly the cat moved, fast into his arms. Adam laughed as the cat nuzzled him. He stroked the matted green fur, trying hard to breathe through his nose. The kit was rank. He patted him, feeling the cat rumble and settle down, relaxing. “You've been alone a while huh little fellow?” he asked softly.

  “Please don't leave me!” the cat said.

  “I won't. You can come with me,” Adam said. He gathered the cat in his arms and lifted him up. He oofed as the cat settled into his arms and popped a hand thumb into his mouth. Grunting Adam carried the cat out of the swamp with him.

  <=={----------

&nb
sp; The Neotiger was green, some from the swamp, some from his native heritage. The medic on duty had a quick check up, but the tiger didn't want to talk. He bonded to Adam, he rarely left his side. When they got back to Eternia, Adam tried to find out which family the cat belonged too. He was unusual, most of the Neocats on the island were domestics, not a full on large cat.

  Teela had laughed at the sight of the cat clinging to him. She'd at first been amused and sympathetic, that had ended when she'd gotten wind of the tiger. He'd been so scared several times in their journey he'd wet and shit himself.

  He asked around, none knew of the cat's family. The cat rarely talked, he would sit and sleep nearby or cling to Adam. Adam asked the Neocats in the community to take the cat in, none would. They all wrinkled their noses and turned away. “Well, you could use a bath,” Adam said looking at the cat. Teela coughed and agreed. The medical checkup had come up clean. The Doctor told him she had her hands full and couldn't take the cat in.

  The Neocat was given a reluctant bath. At first he hated it, sullen, ears flat. He didn't like the stink of shampoo and yowled his protest to the world. He struggled with Adam, who got as much of a bath as the cat did. But he did like the warm water, falling into a doze once he relaxed. Marlena came in about that time, she chuckled softly at the sight. “So, this is where you've been.”

  “Mom...” Adam shook his head then used his arm to wipe his face. His mother chuckled and handed him a towel. “Thanks,” he said as he worked the cat's fur over for a second shampoo.

  “This brings back memories,” Marlena said, smiling.

  “I don't remember having a dog or cat mom,” Adam said.

  “Oh, not one of them, you. He's about done in,” she said.

  “For now. Nap time,” Adam said. He finished up, rinsed the cat off, then helped him out of tub. When the cooler air hit the cat he yowled and tried to get back in the tub. Marlena laughed as her son struggled with a sopping wet cat. Finally the cat got away and went back to dozing with his nose just above the water.

  “Cats do love to be warm,” Marlena replied softly. She smiled. “Kits love to be warm and safe.”

  “I had a hell of a time getting him in the bath and now look at him!” Adam said in disgust, shaking his head. “Now he won't leave it!” he said, shaking his head.

  “Leave him for a bit.”

  “He'll drown.”

  “People have marvelous instincts for self preservation,” Marlena said softly. “Fill me in,” she said, crossing her arms and leaning against the door jam.

  Adam looked up to his mom and then shrugged mentally. Slowly he filled her in on finding the cat. “I don't even know his name!” he said. “He doesn't say when I asked, just mews or looks at me with those eyes,” he complained.

  Marlena nodded. “Some cats don't name their kits because they have a high mortality rate when they're young,” she said.

  “Oh,” Adam replied thoughtfully, looking at his charge. The cat dozed, totally at peace. He snorted at the thought.

  “So... what do I do here? I can't leave him like this. And I do have stuff to do,” he said in disapproval.

  His mother smiled. “Well, I don't recommend another wrestling match, you're already soaked as it is,” she teased. He snorted. “But for you, this always worked,” she said, reaching into the tub and pulling the drain free. The water level dropped. A vortex formed over the drain. Free fur was sucked down.

  The cat sank, trying to stay in the warmth but it went away. When the cold air hit him and he had no place to sink to his eyes opened and he yowled, shaking.

  Adam and his mother put their hands up laughing as they fended off the water. The cat shivered. Taking pity on him they wrapped him in towels and got him out of there.

  They took their time cleaning him up, moving him to a table so it would be easier.

  Adam talked with his mom as they brushed the cat. “The community said that he's not one of theirs, no one knows where he came from. I asked Duncan to take a look, he checked the radio network, no one knows.”

  “Ah,” his mother responded, vigorously rubbing the cat's back side. The cat chirruped, nuzzling her. She stroked him.

  “The medic said he's a kit, a two year old from his teeth,” Adam said.

  “I'm three,” the cat said quietly but proudly. Golden eyes looked from one human to the other.

  “Oh?” Adam asked. “Three?”

  “Three?” Marlena asked, Marlena chuckled at situation her son had gotten herself into. She was more than willing to help when she could, proud of her generous hearted son. She worked at a mat. He growled at her. She teased it out. “Almost...”

  “I can do that myself,” the cat said.

  “Then why didn't you? You've been on your own for a while. Let us help,” Marlena said. He batted at her and Adam, fending the humans off without resorting to his claws or teeth.

  “Sit! Knock that off now!” Marlena said, eyes snapping. The cat dropped to his rear fast, tail thrashing. He looked endearingly at her, eyes wide, ears flat. Even Adam was wide eyed, staring at his mother and half sitting. She smiled slightly, turning, her own eyes full of mischief. “Good boy. Now behave the both of you,” she said and worked on his chest mat.

  Adam winced in sympathy, stroking the cat's back and ears. The Neocat winced and closed his eyes, giving off a suffering sigh. When Marlena was finished she stroked him and hugged him. “That's a good brave boy. I'm proud of you.”

  “For what?” Adam said.

  “For behaving. I know it hurt, but it had to be done. Sometimes you have to do that, do what will hurt in order for things to be better later. As long as you keep it up right?” she asked.

  The cat meowed, nuzzling against her. She stroked him smiling a soft smile. He couldn't quite purr, but he did chirrup and rumble a bit anyway. She stroked his fur. “He really is quite beautiful. I bet he'll be quite the ladies man when he gets older,” she said softly as the cat drifted into a doze.

  “Maybe. Right now he's a handful,” Adam said, rubbing the small of his back.

  “Well, he's a kit. That's normal. All kids are quite a handful. They have so much energy to burn off. You for example,” his mother teased. He chuckled.

  “Three, let's see, that makes him a young adolescent. In Neocat years he's oh, under 12 in human years.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes. He's going to get bigger. From the look of his paws, a lot bigger,” she said spreading his paws. The cat wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling against her. He twitched his whiskers but stayed asleep. “A big boy when he gets his diet settled.”

  “He eats a lot of meat. He's not into vegetables at all mom.”

  “That's because he's a cat dear. A carnivore. Well, mostly a carnivore.”

  “I knew that.”

  “Most cats eat meat. Meat or fish or poultry. Getting the balance right is important.” She ran a hand over the cat's flanks. She could still feel his ribs, he had starved for a bit. “He may even need milk,” she said. “Or cream.”

  “I can,” Adam stopped shaking his head as imagery came to him. “The mind boggles mom.”

  Marlena smiled, still rubbing the cat's side before her hand drifted to his ears. They twitched under her ministrations but she kept stroking gently. “He's going to be a good friend. When he's better. Right now he's got a lot of things on his mind.”

  “I, mom can you take him?” Adam asked.

  Marlena looked up and shook her head slowly. Adam sighed. “Sorry son, I've got to fly. I'm making the supply run to the mainland every other day, plus the occasional orbital hop when I get the chance. There's no way I can do it.”

  Adam let out a long suffering sigh. “But mom...”

  “Don't but mom me son. He's your responsibility. I expect you to deal with it properly as you do with all things, right?” she asked with steel in her eyes and tone.

  “Yes mom,” he answered dutifully.

  “That's my boy,” she said smiling as she patted he
r son's cheek. “Now, you can help me squirm out of here. I've got some work to catch up on,” she said, trying to get out of the cat's arms. He held on for dear life. She chuckled, prying at his hand paws gently but firmly.

  <=={----------

  Teela noted Kringer on the floor cleaning his rear after going to the bathroom. “Do you have to do it here? Now?” she asked in disgust.

  The cat looked up. “I just went.”

  “Well, next time use the flush or something,” she said wrinkling her nose. She reached in and flushed the toilet. It made a loud noise, spooking the cat into bolting away. “Well, that helped,” Teela said smiling. She entered the bathroom and closed the door.

  <=={----------

  “He has to have a name!” Teela said. “You can't just keep calling him the cat you know,” she said.

  “I know. He won't tell me,” Adam said. “Mom said that Neocats didn't name their kits until their fifth year.

  “Oh.”

  “He's a, I hate to say this, but a coward. What was the name of that cowardly lion in that Oz series?”

  “The lion?” Adam asked. He looked at the dozing cat. “He's a tiger honey.”

  “Tigger?” Teela asked, then wrinkled her pert nose in the mirror as she brushed her auburn hair. “No, too hockey. It doesn't fit a cowardly tiger,” she said thoughtfully, waving her brush.

  “Will you stop calling him that! He's a baby Teela, give him a chance. He's been alone for a while. Let him settle down.”

  “I know!” Teela said triumphantly. “Kringer!” she said, clapping her hands. The sharp bark of hand on hand made the sleeping cat startle awake and dive under the bed. “See?” She asked grinning. “He's all for it!” she said.

  “You can't call him that!” Adam said in dismay.

  “Wanna bet?” Teela asked, steel in her voice. “He's been here long enough Adam. Time for him to find a home,” she said.