“Not my problem. If they had tried harder when you were last here, this would have all been moot. They need to clean their own fur before we worry about our trash adding to the forest floor.”
“I've so missed that. Not the trash; the forest floor!” grinned Theodore.
“I understand that!” grinned Ross.
53
Theodore grinned sheepishly, this was becoming habit... “Hi Emily!” he called from the bridge in the middle of Marrionsford. “We're back a little early!”
Emily laughed lightly as she carried Abby up and hugged him warmly. Rose had wasted no time running straight into Anna's outstretched arms.
“Second Mother,” began Theodore formally, “I'd like you to meet Anna's mother, Dr. Janice Westmore.”
“Delighted to meet you again!” beamed Janice.
“And you, too! So, um, were there problems again?”
Theodore rolled his eyes, “Yes, lots...”
“Save it for when we get home,” laughed Emily. “You are all here and safe, that is the most important thing.”
The introductions were repeated at the house and a quick synopsis of the first half of the week was quickly retold.
“If that was Edwin Blackford, he won't show his face around here,” groused Aidden. “He... he... nope. Not going to say it in mixed company.”
“Is your friend Bill Burges here?” asked Fiona.
Theodore laughed, “No, he's back on the ship. Tim is trying to coordinate things for my trip back to school and Bill is stuck dealing with the red tape.”
“Poor Bill,” laughed Emily. “Didn't I see Ross in town? He should join us!”
“I think he's trying to not rumple Theodore's fur,” grinned Meagan.
They all had a good laugh at that.
“I'm going to go ahead over to lady Deidre's place and help arrange things for your stay. You are staying until Spring, aren't you?”
“Yes indeed,” smiled Janice. “I'll have to go back in a few weeks to take care of a few legal things, but outside of that, we're here until spring. That's not fair, I'm here until spring. I think Anna plans on staying a wee bit longer.”
Anna grinned and laughed as she hugged Theodore and Meagan both, “Yep, a whole lot longer!”
“Oh,” grinned Janice, “in lighter news, you might like to know that Meagan recognized a portrait you had done that was on display back on our home world.”
Fiona and Charlotte both had a good laugh at that.
Theodore smiled as he watched Charlotte laugh: she all but glowed. Her child was due in less than a month. He'd have a new sibling by winter break!
“Oh, Mom! Come upstairs! You have to see what they did to the attic!”
The two painters laughed again as eager Anna dragged Janice up to the attic to show off their handy work.
Anna just shrieked as she made it up the landing while Fiona giggled, “Um... we added a bit since you left...”
Theodore was about ready to comb his fur backwards as the family geared up for dinner with the guests. Emily looked at him and then had no end of laughing, “What's the problem, Theodore?”
“Um, Janice... she normally... well...”
“Doesn't eat meat,” finished Emily with a grin. “We knew that, silly dear. That is why I ran back into town to the store. Anna is helping me prepare dinner, we'll all be fine. Cramped maybe!”
“We could set up the tables outside,” he offered.
“That sounds fine,” Emily grinned back. “Whatever you and your father decide, we'll make do.”
Theodore quickly excused himself and joined his father in moving table and chairs outside. It was a nice enough evening, with just a hint of chill in the air. A few more weeks and they would have been worrying about snow! Janice soon caught Theodore outside and pinned him off to the side.
“If something happens and word comes back about Thomas, you don't risk hair one to do anything for him. Anna may get all teary eyed, but your job is to worry about her, not Thomas. If she gets mad about that, blame me.”
“Okay, Mom,” replied Theodore, more than surprised by Janice's assertion. “I'm a Pollyanna, granted, but Anna and Meagan come first. Always.”
She hugged him warmly, “Good lad! Oh, part of me hopes he's fine. Part of me is going to laugh at him rotting in jail. It's all a mess for me. Just keep you youngsters out of it!”
“Hey, Mom! I already said I would,” grinned Theodore.
She just grinned back, “And I do like the sound of you saying 'Mom!'” She laughed lightly. “Come, come, it's all but dinner time. Now I get to find out how well Anna did with those stir fried mushrooms!”
54
“Semester is almost over; curious how many planets he'll visit?”
“I understand midterms was a bit of a lark.”
“Most of us just visit one planet. But no, he up and visited two!”
“Go and ask Bill how much fun it was,” offered Theodore as he looked up at the twins from his desk in his dorm room.
“Poor sot, he's taken to drinking now...”
“He drank before we left,” laughed Theodore. “What can I do for you two fine, upstanding men?”
“Sarcasm! You hear that in his voice?”
“My dear brother, maybe he has finally just seen us for who we are.”
“Can't be, he didn't slam the door in our faces!”
“What? We have a reputation?”
“Yes,” laughed Theodore, “you do have a reputation. What can a third year do to help a pair of upper classmates?”
“Liked the other intro better, spoilt it...”
“Yes you did. Had a might nice intro and...”
Theodore laughed, “Okay, already! What's up?”
“My dear brother Maurice finds himself in a bit of a pickle.”
“Not pickle, just awkward sort of way.”
“Awkward... very... His date for the dance at the semester's end is all into formal stuff.”
“And I, who mocked my dear brother earlier for his class choices, have two left feet.”
“So, you want me to try and teach you how to dance by this weekend?” laughed Theodore.
“Actually two weeks!”
“Well, week and a half, really.”
“High on my list of people that can do the impossible...”
“Well, that and people that make a habit of the impossible...”
“Is you, dear Theodore,” they finished in unison.
Theodore grinned, “In Ballroom 3, the one with the low ceiling there at the student union, they have practice three nights a week. They are always short of guys to dance with. That is where we'll start... Oh! They should be opening up that room in less than thirty minutes. Come on, both of you.”
“Both of us?” scoffed Marcel.
“Yes, both! Odds are you are both going to get sucked into the mess. Might as well make both of you presentable.”
“But really! In the public ballroom? What if I'm seen!”
“Then your date will know how dedicated you are... that you were willing to risk public humiliation to stand proudly by her side...”
“She's cute, but I'm not sure she's that cute!”
“Move your butts! Both of you! I'll help coach, but I draw the line at dance partner. Thirty minutes, gentlemen. I expect you to be there!”
Bill grinned as he watched the twins squirm on the dance floor. “Either they aren't that bad, or you are a really good dance teacher.”
Theodore laughed, “They aren't that bad, really. And it really, really helps that their partners are both very good and very patient! So, who is Emma?”
Bill suddenly turned pale, “You... You...”
“Ah, eloquent!” teased Theodore. “Don't worry, your time will come soon enough.”
“Back! Back you evil cat!” groused Bill.
“Maybe you should slow down and smell the violets. We won't live forever.”
Bill nodded, “Yeah, Lori getting killed really drove that
home. But I'm not slowing down until they find that bastard Thomas.”
“There will always be a next target. You go after Thomas, someone else will get hurt. Revenge is a petty cycle.”
“I never said I was going after Thomas. They are supposed to get him.”
“If their past history is anything to go on, that will be a long time...”
Bill shook his head, “Those people are living in a fools’ paradise. They don't do anything to spill their wine because bad things always happen to other people. One morning they are going to wake up and realize that they are it!”
Theodore laughed, “Seriously, how messed up was the planet compared to most?”
“Average, unfortunately,” admitted Bill. “How is it that organized crime seems to be a human thing? I mean you hear about Taiks involved in robberies and murders and things, but you never hear about Taik mafia!”
“I hear Taiks seem to gravitate toward motorcycle gangs,” sniffed Theodore. “If it helps your feelings any, I understand that Khazar have a worse problem than humans do with organized crime.”
“Oh, there is a rallying cry! At least we aren't as bad as them!” groused Bill.
“Sorry...”
“No. You were trying to offer a different point of view and I made light of your effort. Sorry.”
Theodore grinned, “It's okay. So where were we?”
“Mocking the twins...”
“Oh... I thought we were discussing Emma...”
“You are an evil cat...”
Theodore grinned, “Just trying to help.”
“Is the dance floor open to anyone?” came a call from entry.
“Sure/of course!” came the quick reply.
“I always did like a good dance,” grinned a sinister Taik as he invoked a Live Steel sword.
55
Bill's blood started to boil but Theodore quickly intercepted him, “He came here for me. Get the bystanders out of here and then come back for me.”
“He's half a head taller than you! He'll eat you alive!”
“He's still shorter than you, and I sent your furless butt to the lockers...” Theodore composed himself as he moved into the open. “I'm here, Colm. I expected your brother Edwin actually. Leave them alone; this is about us.”
“Oh, so there is the brave Highlander. Can't run now, can you?”
“If you were alluding to my fight with your charming brother, if he was so interested in a fair fight, then why were there enough rockets aimed at me to level the entire building?”
Colm grinned as his armor exploded around him, floor to ceiling in a wall of blue flames. “Eh, his friends tend to be thorough. Can't blame them really. Each time they seem to come up short a full set of whiskers...”
“And so now they sent you... If you wanted to make this a proper affair, we could always do it back in the Highlands...” replied Theodore as his own armor suddenly started swimming around him.
“Nah! This will be more fun!”
“What happened to Thomas?”
“How would I know and why should I care?” Colm laughed. “But I do know that my brother Edwin stopped in to say 'hi' to a certain Dr. Janice Westmore as she dropped by the courthouse to do some paperwork...”
“Now you are just trying to get a rise out of me,” Theodore hoped Colm was bluffing.
“You wish!” Colm laughed.
Theodore just stood in front of Colm, “Please surrender. More blood won't solve anything...”
“Depends on whose blood it is!” he snarled as his fur cycled in color and he pointed his Live Steel sword at Theodore.
Great, he’s a Silver too. Ross and Dad left off that part... “I’m tired of all the killing...”
“That's funny, I was just getting used to it!”
Colm charged and their two sets of ethereal armor screamed and shed a waterfall of blue sparks where they collided. Both sets of armor compressed as both parties fought for control. Theodore's own sword sprang into being in order to parry Colm's savage blow where the armor seemed unwilling or unable to stop him. The strikes kept coming...
“Oww!” protested Theodore as a Live Steel blade in practice struck his exposed forearm.
“Stop trying to over analyze me. Slow down and relax. The calmer you are, the better you will be doing,” grinned Aidden.
Theodore was suddenly horribly confused... He was standing in their front yard back on Afon with his father and he felt... weird. That and his dad was tall! His father hadn't towered over him like that since he was twelve! He looked down at the size of his ever so familiar long sword in his hand. Maybe he was twelve. Had he been having a bad dream? Some bizarre hallucination caused by the pain of his father's Live Steel sword even in practice form.
“Calm down, relax. Don’t think about it, just let it happen. Concentrate on the result, not the method.”
Theodore grinned, “You say that a million times, it doesn't make it any easier.”
Aidden laughed, “At some point it will sink in. Maybe at a million and one! It's not a sword fight that you should be thinking about; it's a contest of wills. Are you a mean and savage person?”
Theodore laughed lightly, “No. Far from it.”
“Then why are you trying to be mean and savage? Relax and let it all wash over you.”
“If I relax too much, I'll pass out. Shave me and paint me blue! Won't do a lot of good then!”
Aidden laughed, “No. No good at all. When you truly relax and can feel the music of life around you, then everything will take care of itself....”
Music. That was what he had forgotten. There on the roof top he had finally felt the music flow and he danced with his opponents... Relax... Why was he afraid of Colm? Just because he was a Silver? He was nothing compared to his brother...
A savage blow sent Theodore to the floor. Unharmed, just out of form. He rolled backward and hopped back onto his feet. Calm. I need to be calm. His breathing slowed as did his heart rate and he could feel his armor swell, taking strength from his inner fire. A fire burns brightest and strongest from a steady breeze, not erratic gusts.
Colm, for his part, was not interested in Theodore being calm. Well save for the eternal version... dead calm. Colm closed again rapidly shifting from sword to pole ax and back again. But Theodore held his ground expertly. Their savage blows produced miniature whirlwinds of blue sparks, twirling across the dance floor. But Theodore held fast.
Relax. Focus on the goal, not the method. Those words echoed back into his head as he recalled those times where he had invoked Live Steel arrows without ever needing the bow. Results. What did he want? Did he want him dead? No... like the summer dance, he just wanted the man to stop and no longer be a threat. His heartbeat seemed to thunder in his head as it grew slower and slower, suddenly nausea threatened to overtake him and he fought back a level. Too calm! Colm must have sensed something was wrong as he chose that moment to close with another savage volley.
Theodore fought off the exchange, not as well as the first time, but well enough. He had lost his place in the dance and needed to find his rhythm again. Well, he knew how calm too calm was at least! Something flittered in his mind as he recalled the fight against the gunship in the field just a few months ago. Nausea had threatened to consume him then too, but what had he been doing... Arrow launch...
Suddenly a grin flashed across Theodore's face as he snuck a quick glance across the hall. Empty! Bill had been able to evacuate the room. Bill, oh there! by the door, with his carbine at the ready. Carbine. That day in the field, Theodore had been carrying Bill's carbine. He laughed to himself as he realized the obvious truth: he hadn't dropped the carbine, he had absorbed it! And if he could produce an arrow... In a flash of blue sparks, Bill's errant carbine appeared in Theodore's hands. A quick flick of the charging handle and a push of the safety and he emptied it into Colm.
Colm's armor held fast under the onslaught, but it was clear he hadn't been expecting it. His own grin quickly flashed, “Oops, out
of ammo!”
“Telling that to live steel?” retorted Theodore with a grin and with a quick flash of blue, the magazine had been replaced and Theodore emptied it again... and again. By the fourth magazine the carbine had faded from view and it was just the results that counted: pulse rifle rounds going down range. Gun or no!
Colm was snarling, able to handle the pounding against his armor but not able to lash out against it.
Theodore's smile was complete as Bill opened up with his carbine and they both hammered at Colm's shell. Against Theodore alone, Colm was barely holding even. With Bill helping, however, Colm's armor was quickly starting to buckle. There was a brief pause as Colm tried to lash back while Bill changed his barrel, but Theodore held his own and quickly Tim and Saundra had joined the party and Colm? The boastful Silver suddenly felt his armor crack and peel off of him, sending him unconscious to the floor. A series of late bursts tore into Colm causing real damage.
“Sedate him! Quickly!” barked Tim. “Then worry about the wounds!”
That was almost a superfluous command as both Bill and Saundra were quick with the hypos making sure Colm wasn't getting up again anytime soon. Saundra started a pair of tourniquets on the unconscious Taik. It was unclear if she was happy with taking a prisoner.
“If we ODed him, I'll send my apologies,” snarled Saundra.
Bill grinned at Theodore, “You sneaky cat! You stole my carbine! Now I owe Tim a fifty!”
Theodore let out a small laugh, “I figured the carbine cost more than that...”
“Way more,” grinned Bill. “The fifty was a bet.”
“Never bet against a Highlander's arsenal,” grinned Tim. “When the carbine came up missing, I guessed you had borrowed it by accident or design. You should be proud, Theodore, we took him down without killing him.”
Theodore smiled honestly at that, “Just barely, but yeah!” His smile suddenly melted, “Was he telling the truth about Mom? I mean Janice?”
Theodore Page 23
