Theodore

by Marcus LaGrone

  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...

  4

  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...

  5

  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.”

  6

  “So you have never seen any of these people before?” asked the Federal Investigator as he flashed a series of images to Theodore and his father. The man's Old Tongue was remarkably good, not as crisp as Janice's, but still quite clean and precise.

  Theodore took a careful long look before shaking his head and sitting back in the plush chair. “Not a one of them.” The apartment was nice at least. Very nice. The local security had been more than a little embarrassed at their obvious shortcomings at the airport and so the Foxdale family had been passed off to the Foreign Office and their security teams. The family had quickly been ushered away and brought to the top of an otherwise inconspicuous building in the heart of the city. They were safe now, they were told. They had been told that when the family reunited at the airport, but it was quite obvious things were very serious now. “Did the two I knocked out provide any information?”

  The agent cracked a grin
, “Good thing you did knock them out, I'm pretty sure your father wasn't going to be so nice to them. That was all pretty amazing to watch, I do confess.” He turned and addressed Theodore's father, “Sir, um... your skill you displayed was pretty extreme I must say. I've seen a few other Highlanders throw Live Steel around before, but I've never seen that wall thing you did.”

  His father shrugged and grinned, “My flippant answer to you would be maybe you've never seen someone have to protect their family before. But I know that is only half the story. Yes, I am very well skilled; on several occasions back home I have been approached about being a constable but every time I've declined. While we could use the money, I'd rather not spend the time away from my family.”

  “You aren't a Silver, are you?”

  Theodore laughed to himself. What an odd question... So called Silvers could change their fur color and were usually quite impressive with Live Steel, but his father was just an average Taik. Nothing out of the ordinary. Well, save for his skill level.

  His father laughed, “Contrary to popular stories, anyone can become especially good with Live Steel. It is all about hard work, practice and an understanding of how it does and doesn't work. Silvers catch a bit of press because they tend to learn faster, but peak skill? It's pretty much the same for everyone.” He thought a bit, “Okay, not quite right: there are always High Silvers. But they are beyond rare...”

  The agent laughed to himself, “Fair enough, sir. I've only ever been around the young bloods serving with the Shukurae forces. Very young and they were unmarried...” He turned and looked Theodore square in the face, “Those two you knocked out, they aren't talking much at all. With a bit of help we were able to identify them and they are of quite the bad sort. They both have ties to off world mafia... Muscle men more than professional hit men, but bad enough regardless.” He shook his head, “We've pulled contacts back at your university, talked with professors, the floor monitor for the dorms... and while there have been one or two racial spats among your peers, there is nothing we can find that might have put you crosswise with the mafia. Even making wild assumptions about some of your fellow students, nothing makes sense. Is there anything you can think of that might explain how you came crosswise with them? Anything at all?”