Aldin's Return

The following was what I used as a wrap-around when I reposted Home Is Where the Heart Is in August, 1997. The first post was on the 12th, the second was on the 22nd. The rest on the 29th, leading-up to future possiblities for Aldin and Namakata Labs. Alas, I don't think some posts ever made it to the archives as once again during this time period there were sporadic problems across the net.

Return to Scott's Stories Index.

Hot, hazy, and humid. It must have been 83 degrees at Maine Fudd Volunteer HQ that August afternoon. And that is HOT by Maine standards. Eugene was giving the latest batch of recruits a break from their afternoon work-out routine, and was enjoying a cold glass of water in the shade under an apple tree. He stopped suddenly, sensing something out of the ordinary.

Eugene reached into his pocket and pulled-out the pager-sized cuton geometer. It read all clear, having been programmed to ignore Blake and his daughter, Cathy. (Julie had not yet returned from SD Fudd HQ.) If other buns had been about, the base geometer would have sounded an alarm anyway. However, Eugene's 6th sense screamed a warning. He jumped-up and whipped around the trunk, axe at the ready.

Staring at him, was a rather beat-up, bedraggled looking grey squirrel with a crook in the tip of it's tail, which it flicked at Eugene.

(greetingsflick) "Old friend," it chittered. "I've finally made it back. I don't suppose you've got something for me to drink and eat."

Eugene couldn't believe his eyes. "Aldin?" He dropped his axe and scooped-up the squirrel. "It is you! But everyone thought you were dead by now."

(wearyflick) "Sometimes, I wonder why I'm not, Gene. However, my tale is long, and I don't wish to repeat it more than once. But first," (stomachrumble) "it's been a long trip, and I really need to build-up my strength again before relating it."

Several hours later, Aldin patted his rounded tummy, (contemptflick) and sat back. News had spread quickly and most of those on base had gathered to hear the famous squirrel talk. There was even a rather large contingent of squirrels on hand...er paw to listen to the "legendary Aldin Busheytail". The crew left on perimeter duty wouldn't miss-out though, for Chris Pomerleau set-up the PA system so that they too would hear of Aldin's adventures.

For the next two hours Aldin related where he had found Sallie nearly 2 years previous, and the adventure of just getting from Idaho back down to NoCO. He then related the tale of they're capture by PAW in March of '96 and their eventual escape.

Aldin paused to gather his thoughts. One of the younger squirrels piped-up, "Then what happened?" (heroworshipflick)"

Aldin (sighflick) and breathed deeply. "Then the adventure really began. After Sallie and I were released from our kevlar-lined prison by that postmaster...."

(See Home Is Where the Heart Is for the whole tale.)

"It took three months for my wounds to heal. Even then, I was left with the crook in the tail. During that time Jack and his family searched for her to no avail and I spent a month looking for Sallie after my recovery, but (alasflick) I couldn't find a trace of her. So I gave-up looking. I hope the Spirit watches over her where ever she be.

"I spent the fall and winter with the Theringtons before starting the trip home this past April. Jack Therington had offered to personally drive me here, but I insisted on doing the trip by paw. I needed the time to do some soul searching and to try and make peace with myself after all that has occurred. And so after 4 months, here I am..." Aldin trailed-off.

The room was silent except for the shuffle of people as they left. Eugene stayed behind along with several of the squirrels.

"So now what do you intend to do?" Eugene asked.

"Go home, Gene. Go home."

The squirrels cheered and scurried-out of the room. Before midnight, Namakata's Council knew of Aldin's intentions and there would be a celebration upon his arrival.

Once alone, Eugene added. "And what about NoCO?"

Aldin looked at Eugene. "If they choose to put me on trial, so be it. If not, so be it. I've made my peace and couldn't give two flicks of my tail what NoCO thinks about what I did."

Eugene dropped the subject as he scooped-up his friend. "Come, I'll provide you with quarters for the night."

(mockdismayflick) "As long as it's not in your room, Gene. With the way you snore, I'll never get to sleep!" }:3

Actually, that night, Gene had a hard time falling asleep worrying about the little squirrel who was (snorechittering) in his shirt drawer. With all that Aldin had been through, what kept him going?

"Half a mile to go to the center of T1 R11 WELS..."

"Come again, Eugene?" (distractedflick)

"Half a mile to home, Aldin. Township 1, Range 11 West of the Easterly Line of the State. That's the official state name for the unorganized township that Namakata lays within." Eugene grinned.

"There can be no doubt," (pauseflick) "Maine was settled by Fudds."

Aldin peered out the window of the old 4x4 Eugene was driving down the logging road leading to Nahmakanta Lake and Namakata Labs. Rabbit Mentat had change the spelling of the Native American pronunciation of the lake to make it "more cute" twenty-five years previous when the research warren had been founded as a place to try and find a deterrent to the then new Maine Yankee nuclear power plant. The squirrels had kept the name change long after they had rebelled against Rabbit's successor, FlopEar.

"I'm not looking forward to this, Gene."

"Why's that, Aldin?"

(sighflick) "For years they considered us some sort of legend. Then, two years ago, we show-up and kill-off FlopEar, stopping him from launching" (shudderflick) "the Omega Weapon to end all Omega Weapons," (thusflick) "fulfill their so-called prophecy about my return. I'm not ready to be treated as some sort of hero. All I want to do is settle into my lab and do research to benefit all of us..."

Aldin drifted off as they rounded the last bend and the lake came into view, laying in a shallow valley in the NW-SW direction. Nahmakanta (Nesuntabunt) Mtn laying to the south (where the research warren was originally) and an as yet unnamed hill under which the current research warren lay to the north. Upon every available tree branch lining the logging road were squirrels flicking their tails in greetings.

As Eugene pulled the truck over at the end of the road (the bridge over Nahmakanta Stream had been washed-out for over a generation), Aldin leaped-out and was immediately buried under a tidalwave of squirrels, all wanting to personally greet 'the legend'. Eugene chuckled as he stepped-out of the truck.

(greetingsflick) "Squirrel-friend Eugene," a squirrel to the side chittered at him in her high-pitched voice.

"And the same to you, Head Councilor Ash," Eugene semi-garbled in his not so good squirrel.

The others pulled away from Aldin as Ash approached her. "It is my duty to turn-over the high branch of the council tree to you as you are the eldest of us, Aldin." (humbleflick) "Lead-us."

Eugene was taken aback, but Aldin had been prepared for this. He turned to the others present. "Has she led you well?" (ponderflick) He listened as all chorused yes or (affirmativeflick) He turned back to Ash, "Then I can not let you stand-down. You shall remain head of the Council of Elders."

"But by tradition, the eldest shall lead us..."

"And by that tradition you ARE the eldest in many ways, Ash, daughter of the late Puffcheeks who had been one of my best friends. And much more wise as to the ways of our traditions then myself who has been away for so long."

(pleadflick) "Will you at least honor us with your presence at meetings."

(agreedflick) "I shall provide council when it is asked for, but I have made many mistakes with my life. I have come to terms with that, and I do not wish to lead others astray."

"Then we will have to live with that." Ash leaped at Aldin and wrapped her tail around his, hugging him tightly. "Welcome home," she whispered in his ear as the two of them were carried-off by the other squirrels. No one noticed how uncomfortable Aldin appeared to be in that embrace.

[Later that evening...]

Aldin gazed about the rebuilt, fully equipped laboratory. (amazingflick) "How..."

Ash (chittergiggled) "We found the deed to the 23,000 acres surrounding the lab. We sold it to the state as Public Reserve Land and then invested a good portion of the money. We then hired several of Eugene's Lumberjack friends to do the heavy labor of digging-out the portions of the warren that were buried. The game warden assigned to this area also happens to be a Lumberjack Fudd." };3

Aldin nodded as he checked the contents of this cabinet and that, nodding his head in approval at what he saw while listening.

"We have enough food in storage to feed 1000 for about 6 months down here along with the space to shelter twice that many. We have tapped into three underground springs that feed the lake providing us with an almost unlimited cold, crisp, clean water supply."

Aldin stared at Ash. "By the spirit.."

(wellflick) "One can hope we have those kind of numbers someday."

"And how many actually live here?"

"None. We keep guards at the entrances. But all 357..." (erflick) "..8" (sorryflick) "still live in the wilderness around the lake. Except the twenty who volunteer on a two week rotational shift to aid as scouts to Eugene and the Maine Fudd base.

(howeverflick) "We've got only one thing stopping the research facility from being fully operational...." she paused for a moment giving him a mock-annoyed look.

"It seems someone locked-out our central computer before his departure 2 summers ago. Eugene was kind enough to equip us with a laptop last summer, but no one has been able to crack your code, Aldin."

(apologyflick) "I didn't plan on my trip to take 2 years." He scampered over to a nearby terminal. "I assume this is wired into the system." He started tapping away. "There..."

The terminal flashed-on and the computer system came to life.

WELCOME HOME, SON flashed on the screen.

"Son?"

(correctflick) "Rabbit had adopted me, Ash. He originally programmed this system and had provided me with a copy of the backdoor access codes. Everything should be unlocked now. What about power?" (concernedflick) Aldin asked as they left the lab and turned down a corridor.

"The Fudds brought-in a few nuclear technicians who successfully shut-down the bun-built nuclear plant and transferred the components, fuel and waste down to Maine Yankee where it will be properly disposed of as that plant is dismantled over the next few years.

"We have reactivated and improved the hydro-turbines hidden within the river bed of the outlet stream to the lake, along with others we've installed into nearby streams. They in turn produce about.." (ponderflick) "I think in the realm of 10 megawatts if set at full capacity. Currently they are not at that stage since we don't need that kind of power. We've also got enough battery backup, which is charged by any excess power from the turbines, to supply full power for four-days or minimal for about ten days..." (howeverflick) "One of the tech squirrels could probably explain that better to you, Mentat."

Aldin stopped dead in his tracks and turned to Ash. "Head Councilor, I'm sure you don't like being referred to by your title. DON'T refer to me by mine. It's a bunny-granted title I only use to taunt the buns." (pleadflick) "Ash, call me Aldin, always."

(apologyflick) "I'm sorry, Aldin..."

"You didn't realize, don't worry about it." Aldin changed the subject. What about human accommodations?"

(gigglechitter) "Eugene will be pampered tonight in an old-fashion woodsman's camp at the northwest end of the lake. Coincidentally enough, they're called Nahmakanta Camps and we befriended the owners in your absence. They apparently have been in operation for close to 100 years, all within the same family." (impressedflick) "How the buns missed them is not understood."

"I don't recall any wilderness-type camps. I'd prefer it if Eugene were to stay down at this end of the lake tonight. I want to check on the background of these owners thoroughly before entrusting any of our friends to their care."

(understoodflick) "Though the lumberjacks had no problems in the past."

(cautionflick) "When it comes to the devilbunnies, one can never be to careful, Ash. I think I'll go chase Eugene down now and ask him to stay down this way myself. Then.." (stretch-outyawnflick) "I shall retire for the night."

(goodnightflick) Ash tailwaved as Aldin scampered-up an access shaft towards the surface level. She brushed-back a single tear. The last time they had met she had asked him to be her mate, but he had pushed her aside because of a red squirrel in a dream. Now two years later, he returns without the red squirrel and he still wouldn't notice her. Ash wondered to herself, as she fought-off her heart breaking a little more, what was it going to take to get Aldin to notice her?

Aldin found Eugene with no problems. He had already built himself a debris hut and was getting ready to settle-in for the night. It was no small coincidence that Eugene had built it around the old semi-hollow oak that had been set-aside for Aldin by the other squirrels. Eugene was sitting outside the entrance, looking at the stars over the lake.

"I see I don't need to ask you to sleep down at this end of the lake this evening."

"I've always preferred to sleep under the stars when out camping, Aldin, you know that. And of all the places I've been to, this has remained one of my favorite camping places, despite what happened to us near this very spot 13 summers ago." Eugene grinned again for a moment. "Though I have nothing against the camp caretakers to the northwest. And I can assure you that they have come-out clean in an extensive background check."

It was Aldin's turn to grin. "I should have realized you would have already covered that detail before allowing any Fudds staying there."

Eugene chuckled. "I didn't need to, the Lumberjack Fudds knew about that operation for a few generations." He grew more somber for a moment. "They were shocked and surprised when they first learned about this research warren soon after it was destroyed in that aircrash that killed the late Colonel's son."

"FlopEar killed a lot of good beings over the years, Eugene. Thank the spirit we put an end to that two summers ago."

They both remained silent a moment, listening to the call of the loons on the lake and the other sounds of the wilderness at night.

"Gene?" Eugene looked at Aldin and nodded. "I don't suppose you could pet me a little." (embarrassedpleadflick) "I haven't had a good backrub since I went looking for Sallie. And she never learned how to do it right in the little time we were together."

"I thought you'd never ask," Eugene chuckled as he started by gently rubbing the back of Aldin's neck with his fingertips. "Though, didn't you say something about an old-squirrel's tale that stated that petting a squirrel would tame them?"

"Well, you don't see me scampering away from you, do you?" (satisfactionflick)

Aldin stretched-out almost catlike under the ministrations of Eugene's fingertips, stoking the fur on his back just right. The squirrel soon fell asleep. Eugene tsked and gently lay his friend to one side of the hut that he had lined with fir boughs. Gene then stretched-out carefully to the otherside, closing-up the entrance. He, too, soon fell asleep. Neither of them noticed the other squirrel who had been watching them from a nearby tree in the darkness.

The following day began bright, clear, and calm. When Eugene rolled-over he noted that Aldin had already awaken and left. He got-up, stretched and headed towards a nearby stand of trees to answer nature's call.

"Morning, Eugene!" (greetingsflick)

Eugene leaped in surprised, one hand reaching for the axe that wasn't currently on his back. He looked up and saw Ash Puffcheeks in a branch, watching him. She gigglechittered at his reaction.

"A little jumpy this morning, aren't we?" };3

*If squirrels aren't the ultimate morning-people, I don't know who are,* Eugene thought before asking, "Do you mind?"

Ash gigglechittered again. "I keep forgetting how private you humans can be about certain bodily functions." Eugene glared at her. (fineflick) "I'll wait for you by your shelter." She scampered up and out of sight.

True to her word, she was waiting for him at the debris hut. "Could I ask you a favor?" (curiouspleadflick)

Eugene gave Ash a strange look. "What kind of favor?"

"Could you teach me that backrub technique Aldin likes so much?" (enthusiasticflick) She stared at him with starry eyes.

"Now why would...ooohhh, I get it. It would take more time then I've got up here. You'd have to come down on shift to the base."

(excitedflick) "Great!"

"But, I think you'd be wasting your time, Ash."

(confusedflick) "What do you mean?"

"If what I think is leading too, Ash, is the case, you've got an big challenge ahead of you. He is still in love with Sallie and misses her greatly...."

(sighflick) "I must still try."

"Very well then. I'll start teaching you on your next visit to the base. So, where is Aldin this morning?"

"Where do you think? In his lab, combing through some old computer logs. He's been there since about an hour before dawn."

"Then I shall see him quickly and then I must be heading back to base. It was good seeing you again, Ash. If I don't see you before I leave, goodbye."

(farewellflick) "Squirrel-friend Eugene. You know you are always welcome here." She scampered off into the trees as Eugene made his way towards the lab entrance.

Eugene entered the lab Aldin was in without Aldin giving him any attention. The squirrel was entranced by something on the screen of the computer terminal in front of him. Eugene cleared his throat politely and Aldin looked-up.

"Morning, Gene." (greetingsflick)

"Anything interesting this morning?"

"Funny you should ask. I triggered some-sort of program written by father..." (errflick) "Rabbit Mentat. Basic nanotech 101. I allowed it to run through the intro before stopping it. The program indicated that there are more advanced education programs in that subject beyond this one."

"Really?" Eugene stated in a semi-excited/semi-cautious tone.

"Serious, Eugene. I could start the intro over for you, but I wouldn't want to bore you." (ponderflick) "But I know of a certain Fudd who'd love to see this stuff...."

"Our good physicist, Remus..."

(correctflick) "But, that can wait a few weeks. Of course, a lot of this maybe stuff he already knows. We're talking 13 year out-of-date bunnytech here. Also, I want to see what other goodies, Rabbit left for me to discover and teach the others before sending a message to Remus..."

"Others?"

"You think I'm going to be able to operate this facility as the sole researcher?" (gigglechitter) "I've already got 40 others who want to be trained in research and have the knack to handle it. By this time next summer, Eugene, Namakata could be a premiere research centers again, but this time on the side of the Fudds." (chitter) "Kind of ironic to think about since this had been one of the buns' top research facilities outside of SFU in its heyday."

"Well, I'm glad you're relaxing, Aldin. Alas, I must get back to base."

Aldin held-out a paw, which Eugene shook with a single fingertip. At the same time, Aldin wrapped his tail around Eugene's wrist.

"You're welcome to visit anytime, Eugene. May the spirit watch-over you on your return trip."

With that, the squirrel turned back to the computer records and the Fudd began the long drive south.

End