Etheric Adventures Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by S. R. Russell

  “It’s using another word as a nickname,” Anne groused from under her blanket, “like saying guys, but meaning people, not males. As in, couldn’t you guys have been a little quieter?”

  “This human language is quite confusing,” Jinx declared. “I don’t know how Matrix learned it so fast.”

  “Well, since you’re now awake,” Tabitha decided to change the subject, “what would you like for breakfast? I’ll go to the mess and bring something back for you while you get showered and dressed. We have all that shopping to do today, so we need to get moving.”

  “Um, French toast with syrup, and a few strips of bacon?” Anne asked hopefully.

  “I’m sure that can be arranged. Back in about ten, so get your butt moving!” Tabitha turned and headed out the door. “Oh, and,” she stuck her head back into the bedroom, “OJ, or what to drink?”

  “Milk would be best, since orange juice can be too acidic for me some mornings,” Anne told her as she kicked off the covers.

  “Got it. Back in a few.” Tabitha’s voice floated back into the bedroom as she left on the food run.

  Anne enjoyed her French-toast-and-bacon breakfast, and even though she knew it wasn’t a good habit to be getting into, she couldn’t help but offer Jinx some of the bacon.

  Jinx, however, decided bacon should be an important part of every breakfast. She had been smart, though, and had eaten some of her kibble while Anne was taking a shower. Eating the kibble first ensured she would not get hungry while they were out, and also that she wouldn’t have to ruin the taste of the bacon by eating kibble afterwards.

  Once breakfast was finished, all three of them headed to the main shopping district of the Meredith Reynolds.

  The multi-level shopping area was not complete yet, because Bethany Anne had asked the base planners to build more shop space than the humans could fill. Having gotten to know and made friends with the Yollins, Bethany Anne had realized that there would be a lot of merchants in Yollin space who would be happy to open stores in the Meredith Reynolds’ retail court.

  It was a testament to universal marketing forces that Meredith and the team of advisers who decided on shop rentals had received more applications than they had shops to rent.

  Anne was surprised to see how many aliens were visiting the human shops until she overheard a conversation between a shop owner and one of the Yollins.

  “Your best bet,” the owner was saying, “would be to contact one of the designers we have on station. For a small fee, I could introduce you to a young lady who is just getting into the business, but don’t let her being new put you off. She’s very well connected, if you get my meaning. Show her what sort of materials you plan to use. Have her design clothes for humans using them, sell the finished product in your store, and you’ll be golden.”

  “Why would he change to gold?” Jinx whispered to Anne, proving that the puppy had been listening to the conversation as well.

  “It’s another one of those things people just say. Gold is expensive and is used for money in some places, so saying you’re golden just means you’ll get rich. At least that’s what I think it means,” Anne replied, giving Jinx the best answer she could.

  “I think I need to go to school with you,” Jinx told Anne seriously. “I don’t want to be left on my own all day anyway, and it seems like there is so much more I need to learn.”

  Tabitha, who had been listening in on the conversation, interjected, “That’s not a bad idea, but you will have to behave yourself and stay with Anne the whole time she’s in classes. Otherwise the teachers will claim you are a distraction and try to make you stay at home.”

  Jinx stopped and turned to Tabitha. “Why would they do that?” she asked.

  “Another old saying is ‘old habits die hard.’ The teachers are from Earth, where dogs are normally considered dumb animals. Smart enough to train, but not smart enough to think or talk like a person. Add to that, the fact there are so few of you on the Meredith Reynolds. That makes you a novelty, and you’re going to get some people thinking that you being in school is too much of a distraction to the other students. If you truly want to go to school with Anne and will behave all day, I’ll talk to Bethany Anne and make sure that the school knows it’s happening with her approval.”

  “Good,” replied Jinx. “I saw Bethany Anne before when she and Ashur came to visit Yelena and my mom, but I guess I didn’t realize that she was the alpha of the humans.”

  “That’s a good way of putting it.” Tabitha nodded at Jinx. “Bethany Anne is definitely the alpha!”

  Several stores later, Tabitha ordered a hover cart, from Meredith to carry all the purchases. She was feeling uneasy about Anne, however. The girl was extremely quiet for a teen, and she didn’t offer much of an opinion on the clothes they were buying. Knowing it was mean in a way but desperately wanting to break through the girl’s shell, Tabitha found a training bra and offered it to Anne. “Here, it looks like this is something you need,” she said, wincing internally at the expected outburst.

  “Nope, thanks though,” Anne replied, lifting both hands to point at her A-cup breasts. “I’ve got the girls trained already. It’s women like you who need the extra help. Mine don’t make my tops fit too tightly, and I don’t have to worry about them falling out of my bra and embarrassing me. And oh my God, did you see that video where the lady with the D-cups just about knocked a guy out of his chair when she turned too quickly? Those suckers need training. Mine are good, however.”

  Tabitha stood completely still, trying to get over the shock of Anne’s response. Anne, working very hard to not burst out laughing at the gob-smacked look on her face, couldn’t help but add, “If you find something pink and lacy in a 32A however, be sure to send it my way.” And with that, Anne moved farther into the racks of clothing.

  “What? Wait!” Tabitha hurried after the young woman. “Where the hell have you been hiding that?” she asked, completely flummoxed by Anne’s reaction and answer.

  “Hiding what?” Anne asked, not quite sure what Tabitha was asking her.

  “We’ve been shopping half the day and you’ve hardly said a word about anything we’ve bought you, but I try to jerk your chain to get a reaction and you cut me off at the knees. That what!” Tabitha’s Latin nature was coming out, her voice getting louder as she spoke.

  “You’ve got a good taste in clothes, and they’re just school clothes anyway. It’s not like I’m dating.” Anne’s nose crinkled in disgust. “I’m not looking for a gown for a formal or a LBD or something else that would require dressing up, so why argue or complain when you’re buying me nicer stuff than my mother normally would?” she calmly answered Tabitha like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

  When they had finished purchasing all the basics for Anne, Tabitha noticed that the girl didn’t seem as energetic as she had at the beginning of the day. Checking with Achronyx, she found it was almost suppertime. “Do you want to have supper in the mess again, or at one of the restaurants here?”

  “Don’t you ever cook?” Anne asked.

  “Sure, scrambled eggs, toaster pastry, tacos, and I can even manage a dish of enchiladas,” Tabitha replied glibly.

  “Why don’t we hit the mess again, but let’s stop by your apartment first so you can show me how the washer and dryer work. That way I can get some clothes going while we eat,” Anne suggested.

  Jinx, who had been slowly moving toward a stand that served hotdogs and bratwursts, yipped a complaint.

  Anne looked at Jinx. “You can only have one, and no bun. Do you want a dog or a brat?”

  “Dog? They serve dog here? Why does Bethany Anne allo…” Jinx’ outrage cooled suddenly as she watched the two humans laughing so hard they were holding onto each other to remain standing. “What?” she asked, already suspecting that English, the pesky human language that most the people on the Meredith Reynolds spoke, had somehow tripped her again.

  “It’s a type of sausage, same as the bratwurst. Wait,
I’ll look it up.” During the expedition they had decided to get Anne a new tablet, so she dug around in one of the shopping bags to look for it.

  Knowing it most likely wouldn’t have a charge, Tabitha pulled her tablet out and offered it to Anne. “Here. Mine is charged.”

  “Thanks.” Anne accepted the tablet and sat at a vacant table in front of the sausage vendor. “Okay,” she said, looking at Jinx. “Eeww, gross!” Anne wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Apparently there was a concern a long time ago that they actually contained dog meat, so that might be where they got the name from. They are also called frankfurters or wieners, depending on where they were made and what meat went into them, dog not being normal meat. Generally they are made from pork or beef or a combination of both. In the US where I came from, they also used chicken in them because chicken was cheaper.”

  “I’m not going to call them dogs,” Jinx declared. “So what’s the difference between a frankfarter and a brat?”

  Anne grabbed her midsection and doubled over laughing.

  “What now?” Jinx wondered.

  “It’s frankfurter,” Tabitha answered the pup. “A fart is something else altogether, and I don’t want to discuss that here.”

  Jinx looked back and forth between Tabitha and Anne. “Can I have a brat then? The other thing doesn’t sound very good.”

  Tabitha nodded and bought two brats and one bun from the vendor, then broke the one in the bun in half and handed part of it to Anne. “So we don’t get too hungry while we go home to start laundry,” she offered in explanation. She blew on the other brat so Jinx wouldn’t burn herself.

  “Would you break it into pieces, please?” Jinx asked. “I don’t want to chew off a piece and have the rest fall on the floor.”

  “Oh, good thinking,” Tabitha agreed. “Would it gross you out to know that normal Earth dogs wouldn’t care if it was on the floor?” she asked as she went back to the vendor to request a disposable plate.

  Jinx looked at Anne. “She’s not pulling that joke thing again, is she?” Jinx shuddered with disgust.

  “I’m afraid not,” Tabitha said as she returned and put the plate with the cut-up brat on the floor.

  Jinx sniffed at the pieces before giving one a cautious lick. “Don’t say anything more about it. I want to enjoy this without having yucky pictures in my head.”

  It didn’t take any of them long to finish eating their snack, then they all headed back to Tabitha’s apartment.

  Chapter Five

  The next day was Sunday, and it was spent quietly at the apartment. Anne laundered and put away all her new clothes while she charged her new tablet. About midday, the apartment’s EI announced a visitor. Anne was closest to the door, so she yelled “Want me to get that?” toward Tabitha’s room.

  “You live here too, so go ahead.” Tabitha’s reply floated down the hallway.

  Anne keyed the door open and froze, momentarily shocked.

  “Hi, baby girl. May I come in for a minute?” her dad asked.

  Anne reflexively started to move aside, but stopped and threw herself into her father’s arms instead as tears rolled down her face. Jinx pressed up against her leg to offer what support she could to her human. Between her dad’s big hug and Jinx pushing against her leg while whining slightly, Anne finally got herself under control and stepped back. She reached down and scratched behind Jinx’ ear. “I’m okay, girl, thanks,” she told the pup. “Hiya, Daddy. Come on in,” Anne invited, walking inside so Jinx and her father could follow.

  “Who is it?” Tabitha asked, coming into the sitting area of the apartment.

  Remembering her manners, Anne said, “Tabitha, this is my dad, Mason. Daddy, this is Bethany Anne’s Number Two Ranger, Tabitha. The German Shepherd is from Ashur and Bellatrix, and her name is Jinx. Jinx, as you heard, this is my dad. Unfortunately he doesn’t have the newest implant, so he won’t be able to understand you.”

  Mason Jayden shook hands with Tabitha and took the seat she offered him. “How is it you can understand Jinx without an implant?” he inquired.

  “Dunno.” Anne shrugged. “I just can. I could understand Ashur way back when he and Bethany Anne rescued us.”

  “The dogs really are talking, and Anne can actually understand what they are saying?” Mason asked Tabitha.

  Jinx started to growl, and Tabitha reached out and put a hand on the girl’s arm, sensing an imminent outburst from the teen. “Unless you are willing to believe what your daughter is telling you, I expect this will be a short conversation,” Tabitha advised Anne’s father.

  “Sorry,” Mason said to Tabitha, “but this just seems so science fiction-y.”

  “First, you need to direct your apology to your daughter. Second, we’re light years from Earth in alien space living in a hollowed-out asteroid, and you worry that your daughter being able to talk to the dogs is science fiction?” Tabitha looked so incredulous that Anne started to giggle at her expression.

  “Well, considering everything that has happened over the past couple of years, I guess you have a point,” Mason acknowledged.

  Tabitha sat back contentedly and observed father and daughter reconnecting in a way that had obviously been missing for a while. She was especially interested in how Jinx seemed to be able to help Anne deal with her emotions. Every time Anne got upset or overwhelmed, Jinx pushed against her leg, put her head in Anne’s lap, or did something else to subtly change Anne’s focus. At one point Tabitha made some nachos, and the next two hours passed quickly.

  Finally Mason stood. “I need to be getting back to your mother. I didn’t tell her I was coming to visit because I didn’t want her to think I’d chosen sides.”

  “That’s okay, Daddy. I’ll miss you and Mom, but I have Tabitha and Jinx to help me. Mom really needs your support right now because she doesn’t have anyone else. Maybe we can meet occasionally at the food court or somewhere we could get a burger or something.” Anne was surprised at how much calmer she felt, knowing her dad didn’t hate her for something she had no control over.

  “Sounds like a plan, baby girl,” her father replied. He gave her a big hug and headed home, hoping with all his heart that his wife would be able to adapt and learn to accept the life they now led.

  The next morning, Anne and Jinx got up quietly. After a quick shower, Anne made sure there was food and water for Jinx and grabbed herself one of the protein shakes she and Tabitha had bought the day before. By the time the two needed to head for school, there was still no sign of Tabitha.

  “Let’s go, Jinx,” Anne said to her canine companion. “I don’t want to be late on the first day that I’m responsible for myself.”

  Being one of only seven dogs on the QBBS Meredith Reynolds, Jinx attracted a lot of attention on the tram ride to Anne’s school.

  Anne quickly became tired of explaining. “No, she didn’t purchase Jinx,” “No, she wasn’t selling Jinx,” and “No, she didn’t know how the pups chose their companions.”

  Jinx herself rapidly got tired of everyone wanting to “pet the puppy.” These humans didn’t have a standard action that went with the word “pet.” To some, it meant running their hands down Jinx’ back, which she didn’t mind. Others patted her sides, which was mildly uncomfortable but tolerable. One of the smaller humans seemed to think it meant pulling her ears, which she really didn’t like.

  Anne sensed Jinx’ discomfort with the boy’s yanking, so she reached out, grabbed the boy’s ear, and pulled it. The boy started crying, and his mother snatched him away.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The irate mother snarled at Anne.

  “I was teaching him that having your ears pulled isn’t a nice thing,” Anne calmly told the mother. Anne put out a hand to stop Jinx, who had gotten to her feet and was starting to growl at the woman. “Your son was hurting Jinx the way he was pulling on her ears. You apparently didn’t feel a need to correct his actions, so I showed him what having an ear pulled felt like. Jinx was getting to the
point where she wanted to show him what having his ears pulled felt like, but since she doesn’t have hands or fingers, she would have pulled his ear with her teeth. If you’re going to ask someone to let your son pet their dog, you need to be responsible for making sure your boy isn’t hurting it.”

  “He’s just a child!” The woman huffed.

  “Exactly,” Anne responded. “And as the adult, it’s your job to teach him the difference between petting and hurting. Since you weren’t willing to do that, you left it to me, and now he knows that pulling ears isn’t fun or appropriate.”

  “Who is your mother?” The woman asked. “I’m going to have a talk with her about your attitude!”

  Anne pulled her tablet from her backpack and keyed in a number.

  “Do you know what time it is?” said an irritated voice from her tablet.

  “Yes, Ranger Tabitha, I’m aware of the time. I’m sorry I had to wake you, but I’m having issues on the tram to school.” Anne figured she’d better get right to the point.

  The woman had set her son down while Anne was calling Tabitha, and he hid behind her leg. This left her hands free, and she snatched Anne’s tablet.

  Well, I can see why the kid's a brat, Anne thought to herself.

  “Are you this girl’s mother?” The woman asked. “She attacked my son!”

  “Nope, not her mother. I’m Ranger Tabitha, and I’m Anne’s roommate and role model.”

  “What kind of role model teaches a girl to attack a child?” The woman hissed at Tabitha.

  “Anne, what’s going on?” Tabitha asked, her voice sounding a little tinny coming from the tablet’s speakers.

  “This woman asked if her son could pet Jinx, but instead of petting, he started pulling Jinx’ ears. He was pulling on them hard enough that I could almost feel her pain. The mother wasn’t doing anything about his behavior, and instead of letting Jinx bite him, I reached out and gave him a tug on the ear so he could understand how it felt. I didn’t tug that hard, but he started to cry, so his mother got mad at me and demanded to talk to my mother. Instead of trying to explain my home situation, I called you,” Anne explained to Tabitha.