Aldin on the Road takes place back in late June/early July, 1995 right after Aldin and Eugene's meeting with Iago at Will's Place. It was my first story after leaving Lubbock (graduating from Texas Tech), though it did not end until after my second story, The Battle o'Portland. This was due to RL constraints with the person I collaborated with on this, Kkatman who is the mind behind Sallie Squirrel. The story itself was posted September through January 1995-96.
Some background: Aldin and Eugene have just stopped FlopEar from releasing an unstable air-borne variation of the bunnyvirus. In the process FlopEar is killed. Aldin has a dream in which Sallie calls-out to him for help and Aldin agrees to look for her. Eugene and Aldin hand-over FlopEar's body to Iago at Will's Place, afterwhich Eugene returns to Maine to start recruiting Fudds. Aldin immediately departs in search of Sallie. Meanwhile, the Battle of NoCO has just been fought in which Jrrr-Lwsss has vivasected General LonGears and the Fudds have retaken NoCO.
©1995-2002 by Scott Bernier and Kkatman.
First HTML-ized by Scott Bernier 26-27 October, 1997
A beat-up Chevy Impala pulled off I-81 into Chambersburg, PA in the late evening. It pulled into a service station. If anyone had been closely watching this vehicle with Texas plates, they would have thought the evening sun was playing tricks on their eyes, for a grey squirrel was driving it.
Aldin dreaded this moment, which he had forgotten to plan for: How in the Spirit was he going to get Da Beast fueled? Bringing the car to a stop in front of a pump, Aldin scampered out and wrestled the gas cap off. He then built a bridge between the fuel flap/gas tank and the pump, using a couple of rulers he found in the back of the car. He proceeded to crawl-up the side of the pump up to the credit card reader and successfully zipped his Fudd Express™ card through it without falling. Then he was stuck, for the pump handle was too heavy for Aldin to lift with his 13 inch body.
Inside the service station, the attendant was growing curious, for he had seen the car pull-up, but he didn't see anyone get-out. Now his computer indicated that a credit card had been inserted into the pump, but no one had started to pump fuel and he still didn't see anyone out there. He depressed the intercom switch.
"Number 6, are you in need of assistance?" Aldin (startleflick) and fell off the make-shift bridge, which tumbled down on top of him as he landed on the ground. He looked-up. "You could say that."
The attendant couldn't quite believe he heard such a high-pitched voice, almost like someone on way too much helium. He decided he'd best check into this and proceeded out of the station.
Aldin heard the station door open and saw the huge station attendant approaching. He must have been 6'3" and almost as wide at the shoulders. Aldin scampered under the car.
The attendant thought he saw a tail flash under the car, but he wasn't sure. "What is this, some college prank?" he roared. "Come on out!"
Aldin (nervousflick) crawled out from under the car cautiously. He gulped and said, "Hello?" (nervousgreetingsflick)
The attendant looked down at the cute little grey squirrel he thought just said 'hello' to him and recognition spread across his face and the anger melted from his voice. "I know you! You're that squirrel that does the Clusters™ commercials! You have to be him, for you look just as adorable. What other squirrel would be smart enough to be out here? You're promoting your cereal cross-country, aren't you?..." He rambled on, not allowing Aldin to get a word in to deny it, so he gave-up and allowed the human to ramble on. "...Grace and Jody won't believe this. I've gotta have your autograph." He proceeded to grope in his pockets for pen and paper.
"You don't seem surprised that I can talk," Aldin finally got in.
"Of course not," the attendant replied as he dug-out a pen. "Jody's D.B. bunny can, so why not a squirrel." He found a piece of paper and held it and the pen down to Aldin. "Just sign it to Mike." Aldin just looked at him. "Oh," Mike continued, "I suppose you'd like me to pump your gas for you....no problem."
Aldin (sighflick) grabbed the paper and pen and signed his name on it, dotting the I's with his right forepaw print as the human filled the tank. It was then that the human's words sunk-in. "A D.B. bunny, you said?" (concernedflick)
"Yeah, I got'em for my daughter Jody last month up in Harrisburg. They're the latest craze. They're so cute and adorable and can talk too. Jody just loves Fluffy and vice versa." Mike finished fueling the tank, and removed the receipt from the pump and tossed it into the car's open window. He then graciously accepted the autograph.
It only took Aldin a second to make his decision to warn Mike. "Let me pull my vehicle over to a parking space, Mike. May I call you that?" (curiousflick) "I have something you may want to look at. Grab that laptop off the passenger seat and bring it in."
Once inside, he introduced Mike to the devilbunny threat as portrayed on the Internet. After a half-hour, Mike was ashen white. "My God, what have I done to my baby?" he said in a low voice. "One of those monsters is home with my baby and wife." Aldin was amazed to see how fast such a big human could break down when revealed the Awful Truth™.
(reassuringflick) "Mike, as long as Fluffy doesn't know that you know, your family is safe," Aldin replied. "Here's what you'll need to do to insure their safety..."
An hour later, Aldin was back on the road heading south on I-81.
The following afternoon was time for Fluffy's weekly bath. Fluffy hated these baths, but he understood that it was a necessary part of the masquerade. In another week or two, the family would be ready for conversion. They were already eating plenty of Spam™ and drinking lots of Snapple™. Unfortunately for Fluffy, he didn't detect the vanilla odor in the tub of foamy 'water' until it was too late.
Aldin had fueled-up again at a full service station outside of Memphis the day after his encounter in Chambersburg. So far his luck was holding-out and he had settled into impersonating the Clusters™ Cereal squirrel. He knew he was suppose to be heading for Idaho/Oregon to search for Sallie, but something in him (call it a sixth sense) said he should swing by LuFI and get his equipment now or else, he wouldn't ever get it.
He wasn't too concerned about the trip through Arkansas to Texas, since he intended to avoid Iago's territory, but he was not looking forward to the last six hours between Dallas and Lubbock, for there would be very few to no trees for cover if something were to happen.
Dallas had changed in the six months since his last trip through...it definitely looked more ky00t. It made him nervous. Billboards everywhere showed Troy Aikman slugging Snapple™ Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Movie passes being given away at Texas Ranger games; and the radio (shiverflick), if it wasn't Cute country (Don't *POP* my head, My cute Fluffy head....), it was Cute Rock and Roll (I can't hop, I can't poof, the only thing about me is the way I Fluuuffff....). The Fudds had definitely lost their last stronghold in North Central Texas.
Aldin (sighflick) as he left the Metroplex behind on I-20 West. That is until he spied the dark van following him at a 'discreet' distance of 10 feet. The driver of said van had long fluffy ears and a vicious grin and he was closing the gap quickly.
To be continued... Aldin Busheytail, squirrel mentat and research scientist at LuFI with apologies to Bunny Ray Cirus and Genebun
The van rammed the rear-end of Da Beast and the station wagon's rear window shattered. Aldin was nearly thrown from his seat, his safety harness the only thing keeping him in the squirrel driving apparatus. He wasn't going to wait for a second hit from the fluffers behind him. He floored Da Beast..
The van was approaching rapidly for a second ramming as Da Beast roared into life and sped-off ahead. The van matched speed and Aldin sped-up some more. A thousands things were racing through Aldin's (panicnervousflicking) mind....Gene's going to kill me, that is if I live through this...thank the Spirit I refueled the other side of Dallas, but at this speed I'm not going to make it to LuFI on that tank...how in the Spirit am I going to loose these buns...great, I spilled my pistachio nuts all over the floorboard....
The next 20 miles went by in less than 15 minutes and now there were two vans and a cop on his (um) tail. He wasn't about to slow down for the law anymore than the buns behind him were. Fortunately, traffic wasn't too heavy and Aldin expertly weaved in and out between cars. Unfortunately, the bun drivers seemed to be just as skilled and were beginning to close the gap. Aldin feared going any faster, for Da Beast was whining as it was at 90 mph (about 150 kph) and Aldin could feel the whole car shaking apart.
Aldin had cleared through the last batch of traffic and spied a lone 18 wheeler about a half-mile ahead and an idea struck him. He risked pushing Da Beast a little faster. He knew he was going to have a hard time dealing with the guilt down the road over what he intended to do, but it seemed the only way out of this situation. Then he saw the sign on the truck trailer: Clusters™ Cereal. Aldin grinned evilly and (deviousflick)ed. Perhaps he could live with himself after all.
Jose Martinez had watched the crazy drivers coming up behind him quickly along with a bubblegum top (police cruiser) and had slowed down to 60, the legal truck speed in Texas. He would never forget what happened next and would wonder if he had been on some candid shot for the product he was hauling for years to come.
Aldin pulled-up alongside and passed the rig, (waveflick)ing and chittering at the driver loudly out an open window. As he pulled in front of the rig, Aldin hit his breaks and spun Da Beast sideways.
Jose cussed in Spanish as he slammed his breaks and turned his wheel in hopes of avoiding the crazy driver. Was that a squirrel he saw?
Aldin hit the gas pedal as quickly as he had slammed the breaks to get out of the way of the out-of-control rig as it jack-knifed, flipping sideways and effectively blocking all the westbound lanes of I-20 and one of the eastbound lanes. The vans didn't have time to react as they slammed into the trailer load of Clusters and exploded. The cop had to ditch his vehicle to avoid the same fate.
Aldin (sighflick)ed as he watched the twin explosions in his rearview mirror and saw the truck driver scramble to safety. He couldn't resist it any longer and (chitterchuckled) like the squirrel in the commercials. He knew he couldn't drop his guard and kept to a 'Texas-normal' speed of 80 mph for the next hour before he noted that his gas gauge was dropping quickly. He risked pulling over for fuel once more and found that the gas tank was cracked. He convinced a boy to give-up his oversized wad of gum, (with a $5- bribe...and an autograph) which Aldin used as a temporary patch on the crack. It wouldn't stop the leak, but it would slow it down.
Aldin was now on the outskirts of Abilene, still 3 hours or so from Lubbock. He didn't have much choice, he'd have to send for help and pray that help would reach him along US 84 before he ran-out of fuel in the leaking tank or the buns/cops catch-up with him.
"Why in the Spirit, hadn't Gene signed-up with triple A (American Automobile Association)?" Aldin asked himself out loud. "Wait that's right, they're bunny operated." (dohflick) "Spirit, I'm becoming as crazy as a human talking to myself....Well, Beast, you better make it as far as Snyder or..." Aldin trailed off and concentrated on the road ahead.
Aldin was approaching Snyder when he spied the roadblock ahead and prepared for the worse. Much to his (reliefflick), it was a Fudd-controlled roadblock. After identifying himself, a couple of Fudds winched Da Beast up onto a flatbed and proceed with squirrel-in-tow to LuFI. Ninety minutes later, he was safe at LuFI. For the first time in days, he was able to relax, but only slightly. The Colonel wished to speak with him.
Aldin knocked at the door of the Colonel's office and entered. SGT Blake was already inside. Col. Oullette had already prepared for the squirrel and had a squirrel-sized chair brought in.
"Welcome back, mentat," Jean-Paul Oullette said flatly. "Have a seat and we shall begin the debriefing."
Aldin (saluteflick)ed and sat down.
Two hours later, Oullette and Blake had full details of Aldin's adventures from the time of the picnic through the Fudd roadblock. Aldin in turn had learned about the Colonel's success at NoCO and the current state of things in Lubbock.....
"...what it comes down to is, this Iago wants Lubbock real bad. If he were to succeed, WHICH he won't, he could become the next 'LonGears' and gain enough favoritism to take command of P.A.W. now that the General is dead," Col. Oullette concluded.
(certainflick) "That won't happen," Aldin replied. "The General isn't dead."
Pro-Fudd bun and human stared at the squirrel as if...as if he were nuts.
(wave-offflick) "Go ahead, say it....you think I'm crazy! I just killed a bun who was supposedly killed seven years ago in a nuclear explosion. I'm not going to believe that General LonGears is dead simply on the words of a ferroti, no matter how honorable that warrior huntress may be. She may have left him 'mortally' wounded, but I won't believe he's dead until I can rub my paws inside his gutted hide." (exasperatedflick)
Oullette could see there would be no way to convince this squirrel otherwise and dropped it. Blake changed the subject.
"Now for new business. Gene's car will be repaired in two days. I'm being transferred, temporarily, by Jean-Paul up to Maine to help Eugene" (deviousfluff--rub paws together) "train those new recruits. I'll also be escorting your machinery and equipment as it gets shipped up there." (gesture to Oullette) "Jean-Paul has approved your request for reassignment, much as he approved Eugene's."
"It's quite understandable, Aldin." Oullette piped in. "This treeless semi-dessert region is no place for a squirrel. As for the MAJOR here..."
Blake perked up, "Sir?"
"Yes, Major, you. Now don't deny it. You did an outstanding job running LuFI in my absences and you are long overdue for a promotion."
(salutefluff) "Thank you, sir!"
"Besides," Oullette continued, "someone needs to keep an eye on SGT Pomerleau after you break the news to him of his new rank." Oullette grinned. "Not to mention that Carolyn and the kids could use the extra pay...." Oullette realized his mistake a moment too late.
"Carolyn....Matt....Julie..." Steve Blake broke down into sobs, excused himself and left.
"Damn. I really f@@ked that one up." Oullette reached into his fridge and pulled-out a Geary's™ Lagar, popped it open and downed half of it before he continued. "I know better than to bring-up the subject of his wife and kids." He looked to the squirrel. "They don't know what happened to him at his request. They believe he's away on top-secret assignments with the Air Force. His entire paycheck, except for a little Snapple™ money, is sent to them each month....Damn, I shouldn't have said a thing..." Oullette trailed off and took another deep swig of his beer.
"Perhaps I should turn-in too. It's been a long 4 days on the road."
Oullette dismissed Aldin with a wave and Aldin left the Colonel to his self-imposed misery.
Aldin made his way across the LuFI compound towards Major Blake's quarters and knocked.
(faintsobfluff) "Go away."
Aldin tapped again. "Come-on, Steve, let me in. Let's talk about this. How would the men react?" (curiousflick)
The door opened quickly with a furious looking, teary-eyed devilbunny snapping in Aldin's face. "What the h@ll do I care if the men see me crying!" (supresssobsighfluff) "Well, you've got me up and aren't going to leave me alone, so you might as well come in."
Aldin had never been in the Blake's private quarters, few had. Colonel Oullette had had the place specially designed for Blake's new form. It was still big enough for a human, but cramped by human conditions. Aldin found it quite roomy.
"You want to talk about my wife and kids, right." (matteroffactfluff) "Well, it's better this way...I mean what am I suppose to do... '(greetingsfluff) Hi honey, it's me, your loverbuck! I'm finally home and sporting a new fur coat.'" (sighfluff) Steve guzzled a Strawberry-Kiwi Snapple™.
Aldin gazed on a few photos on the wall of whom he assumed was Steve's wife and kids. (concernedflick) "Is it, Steve? Is it really better for your family to not see you? You have a beautiful wife and two wonderful kids, shouldn't you provide them the benefit of the doubt? At least visit them and explained why you are avoiding them. Don't they deserve that much?"
Steve hesitated before replying. "I can't. I couldn't..."
"You couldn't or you won't?"
"I won't. I can't risk exposing my family to this." He pointed to himself. "It's bad enough I've got to live out my life as a bunny, but I don't want that to happen to my wife or kids!" He looked at the squirrel with blurry eyes. (dismissivewavefluff) "Bah, you wouldn't understand!"
"I wouldn't? You forget who you're talking to here. Remember I spent nearly 11 years trapped in a human body, most of that time not having any control over that body. I know what's it's like to be something you aren't suppose to be. As for your fears, I can understand. You love your family and wish to keep them safe. Do you intend to bite them? That's about the only way you could risk infecting them."
"There is one other way with Carolyn."
Realization hit Aldin. "You haven't..."
"Not since about 8 month before the Waco disaster."
(sighflick) "You love her and she loves you. She'll understand. But you have to give her and your kids a chance to understand first."
(sighfluff) "Your right. I'll give them a chance once I'm up in Maine."
(surprisedflick) "You never told me you're from Maine."
"I've told you I've been with the Colonel a long time. Well, I've been with him since before the Namakata disaster. My family is in Caswell Plantation just northeast of what use to be Loring Air Force Base. We fell in love with the region back in the mid-70's and settled down. I had applied and got onto the group that oversaw the closing of the base so that I could be with my family as long as possible. We had already agreed that they wouldn't follow me to Reese. We knew it would be hard on the kids, me being away so much, but I didn't exactly expect this to happen at the time. We've got 200 acres up there now. After my retirement we were going to raise potatoes and broccoli...." Steve trailed-off.
"You keep that dream in mind, for it will happen. It may take me ten or twelve years, but I will find a way to cure you, Steve, no matter what." (reassuringflick)
(amusedfluff) "You say that like you're serious." Steve looked at Aldin and saw that he was. Steve grinned. "Thanks, I needed a sounding board. However, councilor, you look like you could use some rest also. There's a spare bed in the other room. Use it."
"I can't do that, I've got quarters of my own to go to..."
(insistentfluff) "I insist. I know that the Colonel hasn't had time to have quarter prepared for your current size. Believe me, you'll sleep better in the other room than in Gene's old quarters."
Aldin gave in and retired to the other room. He was out-cold soon after curling-up in the small bunny-sized bed. The last thought in his mind was, *Steve is the only bun here, so why does he have a spare bedroom?* (curiousyawnflick).
Aldin had been searching along the Snake River for Sallie for days. He had left 'Da Beast' behind when the roads ended and had taken to the trees. He spotted something far below on the far bank: an overturned waterlogged tree. On the tree was an unmoving brown furry mass. It had to be her. He'd have to swim for the channel was too wide here for him to leap to the other bank.
He made his way down the cliff side carefully to his bank of the river and called-out,"SSSSCCCCRRREEEEE, CHITTER, CHIT, CHIT."
The furry mass remained unmoving. Aldin examined the river carefully. He was in luck. The current wasn't very strong here, if he were to move-up stream a little, he could make it. Aldin did so. The swim turned-out a little more strenuous then he had expected, but he did wash-up against the downed tree. After catching his breath, he made his way to the brown mass, which turned-out to be a red squirrel. It had to be her.
Aldin carefully examined the unconscious squirrel. Female....she appeared to have no physical injuries, other than being very wet. She had a good heart beat and was breathing on her own...like she was asleep. Aldin nudged her gentle.
"Wake-up," he cooed in squirrel. The red squirrel stirred and her eyes fluttered open. It took her a moment to take in her surroundings before she noticed the grey squirrel looming over her.
"Aldin?" (curiousflick) she asked and flicked weakly.
(elationcomfortflick) "Yes, it's me, Sallie. I'm going to get you out of here. You just relax for now. I've got food and drink in the pack."
Sallie embraced her rescuer. "Aldin! It is you. Aldin, I...." she froze and her eyes became as wide as saucers.
(growl) Aldin turned around in time to see the puma leap at him. He lashed out as the big cat came down on him, wounding it in the leg. It didn't seem to be affected by the scratch and batted Aldin aside. Sallie stood there frozen in fear as the puma approached her, preparing for the kill.
"NNNNOOOOO!!!!!" Aldin shouted and leaped after the big cat. "SSSSCCCCRRRRREEEEE!!!!!!!" He landed on its head and bit deeply into his ear, raking his hind claws along its left cheek.
The puma screamed in pain and reached up and pulled the squirrel loose and held him still, batting him a little. "Aldin what the hell's wrong with you!" (STOMP!)
He was no longer along the Snake River, but in a room. He knew this room. It was Steve Blake's quarters at LuFI. Steve was holding him firmly with both forepaws. Blood trickled from a bite wound in his left ear and several deep gouges in his left cheek, all of which was beginning to clot and heal.
Aldin relaxed slightly. "Spirit, Steve, I'm sorry. Must have been dreaming."
"Dream? Must have been bad. I heard you screeching in the other room. I came in to check on you. You were standing up on the bed, facing the far wall when I entered. You turned and looked through me and leaped. I automatically knocked you aside and called-out your name. You leaped at me a second time, biting and clawing me before I could get you under control." (disturbedfluff) "What got me was the look in your eyes when you had first looked at me...it was pure hatred mixed with fear. How bad could it have been for you to attack me?"
Aldin had a hard time recalling the dream until Steve had described the encounter. "Spirit, I thought you were a puma, Steve. I'm sorry." (apologeticflick)
"Puma? That would explain the look. You were fighting for your life in the dream I take it."
"Mine and one other's. But it was so real...." Aldin drifted-off in thought for a moment. "....like the dream I had about Namakata before I had discovered that FlopEar still lived." (disturbedflick) Aldin trailed-off and tried to recall the dream, but it had eluded him.
"Well it's 0520 hrs, it would be pointless to try and go back to sleep now. See you at mess." Steve left Aldin to contemplate to himself in peace.
Aldin was disturbed by the dream. He resolved himself to get back on the road to look for Sallie as quickly as possible.
Mid-July, Lubbock Fudd Intelligence, Reese Air Force Base, 10 miles west of Lubbock, TX.
The car repairs were taking longer than expected and Aldin had been stuck at LuFI for four days. Long enough to learn that Reese Air Force Base, within which LuFI operated, was officially at the top of the 1995 base closure list. Colonel Oullette had a contingency plan all set for just such an occasion and had begun to implement it.
This morning found the squirrel mentat bidding farewell to Major Blake as he prepared to head to Maine via air transport along with Aldin's equipment. The plane took-off smoothly. Aldin turned to head-back to his and Blake's quarters when a young private nearly tripped over him.
"Excuse me, sir!" he screeched as he stumbled to a stop in front of the squirrel and stood at attention. "Your vehicle is ready and waiting over at the repair hanger." He saluted.
(saluteflick) "Thank you, private." Aldin scampered towards the Colonel's office and entered.
Col. Jean-Paul Oullette was on the phone, but waved Aldin in. He hung-up and turned to the squirrel.
"So I'm losing two of you in one day. Where you able to find anything to back that theory that research had?"
"You mean the theory concocted to explain West Texas ghost towns?" (curiousflick) "Well, it isn't total nonsense and would make sense. If all the humans in a small town were converted to bunnies in-mass, the local economy would collapse. Not to hard to cover-up once the economy collapses, making folks from other towns think that everyone simply packed-up and left." (howeverflick) "There is no physical evidence to back-up the theory, other than this." Aldin points out various areas of believed bunny activity in dead or nearly dead towns on a map of Texas.
"I see what you mean. The only way to confirm this would be to move some folks in, but the buns might become suspicious of it....and I can't afford to risk the manpower at the moment.
"Well, good luck finding this....what was her name?...."
"Sallie."
"Yes, good luck in your search for this Sallie. I can't seem to convince you otherwise, so I might as well wish you luck. Until we meet again, Aldin Busheytail."
Oullette stood-up and shook the squirrel's forepaw and let-go. Aldin (saluteflick)ed. Oullette returned the salute and the squirrel departed. Jean-Paul Oullette wondered if he would ever see the strange squirrel mentat again.
Five hours later Aldin was in the New Mexican mountains and thankful to be among trees again. The repaired Beast seemed to be handling alright. He encountered no devilbunnies along the route to NM. The cuteness geometer had gone-off once near Progress, an almost ghost town near Muleshoe, but he didn't have the time or the backing to investigate. He had already settled into his impersonation of the Clusters™ squirrel again, though the attendant at that last station didn't speak English and Aldin did not understand Spanish. Another hour passed and he was at the Colorado border.
> Another hour passed and he was at the Colorado border.
*Guess it's time to alert the BHX that I'm passing through,* Aldin thought to himself. He pulled-over at a rest stop just over the Colorado border and started-up his laptop on the front seat.
*****TIGHTBEAM TO BILL KEYES*****
*****BUNNYSTUMPER DELUXE ACTIVATED*****
Commander (saluteflick),
If you here of any strange Cluster squirrel activities in your area, it's my doing. I'll be passing through near your local within the next 24 hours. I do not have time to stop at this time since the timing of my personal mission is critical. I'm sure (assuredflick) that Colonel Oullette down to LuFI has briefed you on what has transpired up in Maine in the last couple of months and he has also informed you as to why I'm back in the western states for a brief visit. If not, you should be notified shortly.
Perhaps when my mission is complete, I will swing by NoCO and visit. I'm sure Eugene would like to know how the new bottle plant in Ft Collins is operating. Until that time comes, I remain,
Aldin Busheytail, mentat and research scientist of LuFI
(forgetfulflick) Oh! Almost forgot. Congratulations on having a daughter, Commander. At the time of her birth, my paws were a little tied-up with the incident up in Maine. I was never good at human blessings for such an occasions, even during the years I had to share that human body with Eugene Pomerleau, but I think that this blessing commonly stated among squirrels on such an occasion will be just as appropriate.
(blessflick) May your daughter grow to be as strong and heathly as the giant oak, and may she bear you many grandchildren.
*****ENDTIGHTBEAM AND ENCRYPTION*****
Aldin drove straight through Colorado stopping only for a Fudd check-point near FT. Collins, were he was detained.
The guard laughed when Aldin identified himself. "You? A squirrel-mentat?! Isn't that a contradiction in terms?" The guard giggled some more.
(chatterspit) "I'll have you back on KP for this Private. Check the credentials and note the ID." Aldin was quickly loosing patients with this guard, he had hoped that word had passed on to all the checkpoints by now that he was passing through.
The guard carefully examined the ID. "Well, it could be a forgery and you," he pointed his shotgun at the squirrel, "could be a devilbunny spy. I've read that the fluffers still use them and you are sickeningly cute."
(chatterspit) "CUTE! I'm not even trying to be cute!" Aldin suppressed the urge to (STOMP!).
"I'm warning you only once, spy. You best not move unless you wish to be a blood splatter on the dash." The guard kept his gun pointed on Aldin and dialed-up a superior on his field phone.
"....yes, I've got a bunny spy detained down here, sir, I'll need an escort to take him to the base for questioning......what does he look like? He's a cute looking, grey squirrel, claims to be..." he examines Aldin's ID, "Aldin Busheytail, a research scientist and mentat out of LuFI.... sir?.....but, sir?......I didn't know, sir.....I'm sorry, sir...." the soldier stood at attention and no longer aimed the gun at Aldin, "..YES, SIR!....ANYTHING HE WANTS?......RIGHT AWAY, SIR!"
The guard hung-up the phone and handed Aldin his ID. "Sorry, Mentat," I didn't realize you were working for us. I'll fuel you up immediately. Have a safe trip, sir."
Aldin (saluteflicked) the private and headed on his way north into Wyoming, spending the night in Medicine Bow National Forest and started-out early the next morning, turning north by west on US 287 out of Rawlins. Things would be much easier in driving to Idaho if Utah wasn't bunny territory.
Several hours passed and Aldin switched routes to US 26 and refueled in Jackson, WY,once again posing as the Clusters™ squirrel. It wasn't as easy this time there were many people in this tourist town and all insisted on having their photos taken with the squirrel. He eventually got away and drove into Idaho. Late that evening he found himself in the forests outside of Boise and spent an uncomfortable sleepless night worrying about Sallie. He knew he would find her tomorrow, or so he hoped.
Aldin was awakened early by his laptop beeping an incoming message. He typed in his code, there was a burst of static and a message appeared.
>****Widebeam, BunnyStumper Deluxe™ activated**** > >This is Corporeal Pomerleau, [snip...] >Sorry folks. Anyway we here up in the backwards^H^H^H^Hoods of Maine >are in need of basic computer equipment. If any Fudds can spare a >terminal or two, we could really use them in the war against the >fluffy hordes. > >thank you. > >Crpl Eugene Pomerleau, Maine Fudd Volunteers >****end encryption**** >*(&*()#$%HFDJKHJKDSFHKJ >This message brought to you on an IBM XT
Aldin (shiverflicked) at the last line that came-out after the code. *Poor, Gene, did he forget about my equipment?* (curiousflick) *I had best alert him.*
***Tightbeam to Eugene Pomerleau***
Gene,
Did you forget about my equipment, which should be enroute to you as I write this? If all goes well, I'll be home within 2 weeks.
Aldin Busheytail
***End tightbeam***
Well he was now awake, so Aldin began searching again for Sallie.
Aldin had been searching the river bank from the road now for half a day. He had the cuteness geometer set on squirrel and had picked-up concentrations here and there, but no singular spots, except at ground zero. It was getting rather warm. That's when he spotted smoke on the northern horizon beyond the next mountain ridge. The winds were currently light from the north, not a good sign. He would have to find Sallie and soon, considering how dry the forest was around him.
Another hour past when he picked-up a faint blip on the extreme edge of the scope, set at a quarter-mile. It was coming from a section of the river not directly next to the road he was following. Aldin parked Da Beast and set out on paw with a small squirrel-sized knapsack filled with medical supplies, food, and water.
The going was slow. He would leap a few trees then have to descend to the forest floor to crawl to the edge of the cliffs overlooking the river to get a full view below him on his side of the bank. He didn't want to search past where he thought the blip might be. Unfortunately, the cuteness imager was a human device that he couldn't carry, so Aldin was now searching via estimating distances.
It took Aldin nearly an hour to cover the distance he estimated was the quarter-mile, but had not found any sign of another squirrel. Matter of fact, the forest was dead quiet. No sounds other than the light breeze and the gurgling of the river below him. Aldin's sixth sense didn't like this. That's when he spied the downed tree on the edge of the other river bank at the next bend.
Aldin made his way carefully down the near vertical, ragged cliff side and swam the river, the current nearly carried him to the downed tree. There was a still form on it, a red squirrel. Aldin rushed over to examine it. Female, asleep, no apparent physical injuries, definitely suffering from malnutrition. He nudged her to try and wake her up.
That's when it hit and Aldin reeled back. Eugene called it Deja vu. He'd sworn he'd been through this before and they were about to be attacked. He looked around for the alleged big cat ready to attack them, but it was nowhere around. That's when the red squirrel stirred.
"Sallie?" Aldin nudged the female. "It's me. Aldin. I have food." (comfortflick) She turned over and looked at him, but her eyes were un-focused. The red squirrel closed her eyes again. Aldin waved a few pine nuts under her nose. That brought her around and she ate what Aldin held in front of her, but she still did not speak or look directly at Aldin. She drifted back to sleep after only consuming a few nuts.
"SCREE Chit chitter chit" Aldin turned to find himself facing a several score red squirrels.
"A grey! He attack female." (angeryflick) "Kill grey!" One of them chitteredspitted in squirrel as he advanced from the riverbank on the downed tree towards Aldin.
Another jumped to his defense. "No. Wait for elder. He decide grey fate."
(calmsoothingflick) "I'm only trying to aid the female. She has been injured after a long ride on the river."
"Grey talk strange," several chittered among themselves. "Look strange furless lump. Human tool." Some backed-up and gave Aldin a little more room while flicking their tails nervously. "Elder comes!"
The elder approached and examined the scene and addressed Aldin. "You not act like grey, yet you look grey. Grey and red enemy. You aid female red. Why?" (curiousflick)
"She was in need of help. She has floated a long distance down this river without food during the last flood. How she didn't drown, I do not understand. She has experienced no injuries. She is simply very tired and hungry. Where I come from, grey and red are not enemies."
The Elder eyed Aldin curiously. "You talk strange, grey. How you know female need help? How you know she survive flood?" (cautionflick)
"She called-out to me in my dreams and I answered her call. In the dream, she told me what had happened to her."
The elder backed-up. (incredulousflick) "You grey seer?" He backed up more and addressed the other red squirrels. "Not harm grey. He seer. Harm seer," (fearfulflick) "bring wrath gods on us." He turned back to Aldin. "Forgive us, great seer. We not harm grey. Make prisioner instead."
(takenabackflick) Aldin's mind was working overtime. These were obviously normal red squirrels. Squirrels who at first intended to treat him as wild red squirrels would treat wild greys--gang-up on him and (shiverflick) render him without fatherly abilities. Now they were treating him as some great oracle. In a way, compared to them, perhaps he was. While ideas flashed through his mind, he was checking over Sallie, or at least the sleeping female on the log that he hoped was Sallie. He didn't have time to decide what to do next.
"SSSSCCCCRRRREEEE!!!!! FIRE COMES! RUN! RUN!" Several of the red squirrels scatter as Aldin looked to the north to note that the smoke was getting closer. He began to strap his knapsack onto Sallie's back.
"Great seer deaf? Run. Female not strong, will die in fire. Grey free. Seer must save self," the elder implored (panicflick).
(glaredefiantflick) "That weak female is my future mate and I am not abandoning her." Aldin chittered back as he pulled some cord out of the knapsack, pulled Sallie's unconscious form onto his back and tied her paws together around himself.
"Grey real strange." (consideryetflick) "Grey have good taste." The elder proceeded south along the river, following Aldin. "Fire kill us. We not outrun fire. We try anyway." They began to cross the river, it was difficult going for Aldin, since he had an extra burden on his back. The elder and several of the other reds followed Aldin. Once on the other bank and above the cliffs, the reds scattered.
Aldin cried out, "You need not die in the fire that approaches. I have a way to get us all out of here." (rallyflick) "Follow me!" Aldin darted through the undergrowth, being careful for Sallie. At least a score red squirrels followed him. Sallie slept through the whole trip.
(curiousfearfulflick) "Why grey seer go here?" the elder asked. "Dead ground that way. Human kill ground with roaring monsters. Only death that way."
Aldin (thoughtfulflick) as he darted along over the elder's words. Of course! An automobile would look like a monster to a wild squirrel. He had been in the company of devilbunnies and later humans so long that autos didn't instill the fear into him that they would into others.
"I know the dead ground is this way," he replied to the elder. "The humans call it a road and their roaring monsters are called cars. I have tamed one and it is going to take us away from the fire." (reassuringflick)
The elder gave Aldin and his burden even more space. "Grey seer strange and crazy. Elder follow seer." (resignedflick) "Elder crazy," he mumbled as an afterthought. The elder than chittered-out to the other reds, "Follow grey. Great seer control roaring monster. Will save reds."
The quartermile distance to 'Da Beast' was covered quickly. Most of the red squirrels stayed back from the big automobile and looked to Aldin.
"Roaring monster quiet. Smell human and squirrel," was heard throughout the crowd.
Aldin unstrapped Sallie from his back and layed her carefully down and reached into the knapsack and pulled-out a small plastic bag. From within he removed a squirrel-sized wristband and pressed a blue button while strapping it on. The windows of Da Beast lowered. *Thank goodness the mechanics at LuFI had rewired that correctly,* Aldin thought to himself as he leaped up onto the station wagon's tail gate and jerked with all of his might on the release lever. The door clicked and the tailgate dropped, sending Aldin to the ground. He tucked into a roll and was uninjured.
(rallyreassuringflick) "Everyone in! We're going to outrun the fire!" Some went immediately with no coaxing, others hesitated as Aldin picked-up Sallie and carried her in, jostling her. She groaned, but did not seam to come fully awake. Flames could now be seen from where they were. The forest fire was picking-up momentum. A tree in the distance exploded. This was all it took to change the minds of the few squirrels who were hesitating to enter the human-made monster. There were now embers flying through the air around Da Beast.
Aldin leaped up to the dash and scampered into the squirrel apparatus, strapping himself in. He fought-down a panicflick. *Spirit, it's not just a forest fire, but a firestorm. Don't fail us, Beast.*
"Everyone hang on!" Aldin chittered as he started-up Da Beast. It roared into life and cries of "We dieing!" came from the back seat. Aldin jammed the car into drive and floored it. They pulled onto the pavement with such a jolt that several of his passengers were thrown from their seats. It also caused the tailgate to bounce-up and snap shut. Aldin immediately toggled the power window to close it. Once on the pavement, Aldin turned south and opened-up the throttle as far as it would go. However, the firestorm was already upon them.
Fire was all around them, but Aldin would not give-up. He pushed 'Da Beast' to its limits. It was becoming very warm inside the vehicle. The elder scrambled-up onto the dash. "Grey seer done best he can. Grey indeed great seer. Grey tamed metal-monster. Grey and red not enemy now. OK to die." (resignflick)
As the elder finished speaking, a large flaming douglas fir began to topple across the roadway ahead, blocking their escape route.
(defiantnegativeflick) "NO! It will not end like this!" Aldin recalled the words that Eugene had used many times. "Come on baby, just one more burst of speed." He puched the accelerator even further towards the dash.
Da Beast roared with new life and raced towards the falling tree. Time seemed to slow down. The car approached the falling tree as the tree approached the road, threatening to cut them off from any chance of survival. What was in reality less than 5 seconds seemed to take 5 minutes. Da Beast brushed by the tree with the trunk grazing the back end of the car. Flaming branches smashed the rear windows out and sent sparks into the car as a portion of the hood caved-in. Several red squirrels cried-out in fear. Somehow, Da Beast kept going, pulling-out from under the tree as it crushed the roof. Aldin fought to keep control of the vehicle as his tail went bezerk panicflicking as he concentrated on keeping Da Beast on the road. The vehicle kept going and they began to outrace the firestorm as it began to slow down. Perhaps the wind shifted. Or perhaps some god had decide to intervene. Aldin decide he would give thanks later. For now, he wasn't going to slow down.
An hour past and the fire was well behind them. "Monster moves!" he heard the elder exclaim next to him. "I watch trees go past. Take red many days move this far." The elder looked down the 'dead ground'. "SSSCCCRRREEE! Monster approaches!"
Aldin pulled over as the fire truck screeched by heading north. The driver of the engine blinked and turned to his partner in the cab. "Jim, I'd blame the heat, but we haven't gotten there yet. I could have sworn that last car was full of squirrels." He shrugged it off.
As Aldin pulled back onto the road, he spoke to the elder. "I told you we could outrun that fire. I will help you find a new home, then Sallie and I must return to ours far to the east. You can tell the others that there is food in the trunk...um metal cave at the back-end of the car. Have everyone get whatever rest they can. We shall get to your new home tomorrow. If Sallie should awaken, I want to know." He turned back to concentrate on driving as the elder passed along his instructions and request to the others.
Several hours and well after dark later they were on a back road somewhere east of Boise. The Elder approached Aldin and spoke quietly. "All others sleep. I can not. Worry and wonder too much. Seer or no seer, you know too much. Who are you? A spirit sent by Creator to save us?"
Aldin (sighflick)ed. He didn't want to tell the Elder the truth for that was part of the pledge to the Army of Fudd--So that others may not know the horrors of the war. However, he saw that he had little choice, the Elder needed to know and he didn't need a bunch of red squirrels worshiping him as some god.
"Well," he started, "have you ever heard of seer-like rabbits that call themselves devilbunnies?" (curiousflick) Aldin spent the next 3 hours conversing with the Elder, explaining his background and about the evil devilbunnies. "...and that is why the others should not know. Those of us who had been enslaved by them fight this war alongside the humans so that others such as yourself and them" (pointflick to the sleeping squirrels in back) can do the job we were assigned as a race by the Creator. Tend to the forests so that they will be there for future generations."
"You are very wise, Seer..."
"Aldin, please."
(appologeticflick) "....Aldin. I hear stories, believe only stories of evil rabbits until you tell. Young ones die if fight rabbits. Will not tell others."
Aldin pulled-over as the squirrels began to awaken and the sun began to rise. "This is as close as I can drive this car to your new home. The humans have written into their laws that this area may never be settled by humans. They may visit, but they can not construct nests here."
"We thank you, Seer Aldin for proving that greys are not our enemy. Please spend some time with us," the Elder (pleadflicked).
"I must be on my...." (hiss.....hiss.....)
Aldin turned to see not one, but both rear tires go flat on Da Beast. (justgreatflick followed by a sighflick) He examined the rest of the vehicle for damage. The roof had not only been crushed in the backend, the paint had burned-off, and his phone antenna had been ripped-off. He had no way to communicate with the outside world.
"I guess I shall be taking you up on your offer, Elder. My 'metal monster' no longer works and I no longer have anyway to contact humans for help." He went into the vehicle and strapped Sallie's still unconscious form onto his back and followed the others into the Idaho wilderness.
Aldin Busheytail, Grey Seer of the Idaho free red squirrels From Mentat to General LonGears' most wanted to Fudd research scientist to savior of the world to the Clusters Cereal™ squirrel to Grey Seer....What next? (curiousflick)
Days became weeks and weeks became months. Aldin had helped the reds settle into their new territory. There were some minor conflicts with local squirrels at first, but it turned-out that the locals had been all but wiped-out by disease earlier in the year and after some negotiations, the newcomers were tolerated.
Aldin acted quite a bit as mediator when the Elder needed his help. He taught the reds how working as a team, they could obtain enough food for all without foraging as far as before. Food became plentiful and the newcomers were no longer tolerated by the locals, but welcome as brothers and sisters. Life was improved for all. All but for Aldin.
During this time, Sallie showed no signs of improvement. She would become semi-conscious long enough to eat and drink and then she'd be out of it again for 24 hours. At night, Aldin would sleep curled around Sallie protectively and try to contact her in the dreamworlds, but he was usually unsuccessful. When he was successful, she could not seem to completely comprehend what Aldin explained to her. As far as she was concerned everything since her accident with Cheshire was nothing more than fantasy in the dreamlands.
Before he realized it, fall was upon Aldin. He was going to fail to keep his promise to the squirrels back in Maine--I'll be back in time for the fall harvest. Aldin knew he needed to leave and soon or he would be stranded there for the winter and he doubted Sallie could survive a winter in her condition. He needed to get her help elsewhere. However, no humans seemed to venture into this area of the Idaho wilderness.
CRACK! "Hey Joe, watch where you're going!"
Aldin didn't need any report from the red squirrel scout that scampered up to him. He heard the commotion some distance off. Humans, adolescent humans, most likely city kids considering their inability to move through the forest with at least the semblance of attempting to keep quiet.
"I'm telling ya, we're lost! We should have gotten to the edge of town by now!"
(Sighflick) *Doesn't look like I've got much of a choice.* Aldin made his way from tree to tree towards the ruckus.
Aldin Busheytail, Grey Seer of the Idaho free red squirrels
Aldin came upon the bunch of human teenagers, all male, and watched them argue for a while from the safety of a crook in a large oak.
"I'm telling you, Joe, we made a wrong turn back here and that means that we're somewhere over here" The boy pointed on a topography map. "about 10 miles off course."
"Look, Randy. I'm telling ya that the town is there over the next hill."
"That's what you said 3 mountains ago!" another complained.
"We're the Flying Eagle Patrol. We don't get lost."
"Yeah, just very disoriented! Look, we're so far off course that they'll be sending-out search parties when we don't show-up tomorrow afternoon and it's all your fault, Joe! Some patrol leader!" The boy screaming began to shove Joe.
"ENOUGH!" Aldin chittered. "The 8th point of the Scout Law is Cheerful. You should look to the bright side of life, no matter how bad things seem to be."
The scouts looked around for the owner of the high-pitched voice and stopped their squabbling. "Who...who said that?" "Yeah, show yourself."
Aldin chitterchuckled. The scouts looked-up. "Impossible." "Man, I must be loosing it, too much noodle slop and too little meat."
*I pray they remember the first point of the Scout Law, Trustworthy, not to mention the 6th point, Kind,* Aldin thought to himself as he spoke.
"Yes, I can speak." (matteroffactflick) "What were you expecting, a cartoon character out here?"
The scouts stared and looked to one another. Randy moved forward. "I don't suppose you know where Clayton is?"
(Affirmativeflick) "It lies 15 miles in that direction" Aldin pointed southward with his tail. "as the crow flies."
"Great!" Randy turned to Joe. "I told you we were going the wrong way!"
Aldin let-out an earpiercing whistle to get there attention. "Signs up!" Aldin held-up three claws in a scout sign.
"We're definitely loosing it. The first animal we see on this whole hike and it has to be a talking squirrel scout...."
Aldin waited for them to quiet down before he continued. "It's a long story, too long to explain here. Of course with the noise you're making, it's no wonder the neighbors aren't interested in being seen by you. I could get all of you to Clayton tomorrow morning, but...."
"You want all our nuts and granola. Outa luck, fella, we ain't got none."
Aldin held his claws-up in sign again and waited for the scouts to quiet down. "Let me finish. About 200 yards that way, " Aldin pointed towards the east. "is a car which looks pretty beat-up, but it still runs. However, it's got 2 flat tires. There is a spare and a can of Fix-a-Flat™ in the back. Fix the car and I'll drive you to town in the morning."
The scouts look incredulously at this talking squirrel. "Why not. If he can talk, he could probably drive a Mac truck. Come on guys, let's go see this car."
Aldin led them on to the resting place of Da Beast. The scouts whistled.
"Man, that heap's seen better days. I doubt it still runs."
Aldin scampered into the vehicle from the back end and started the engine. It coughed at first but eventually started-up. There was a blue cloud of smoke and a bit of backfire, but she then roared into life. Aldin shut Da Beast down and scampered out. "Deal?" (curiousflick)
"What the heck, deal....Ok, Bob, Steve and Ray. We are going to need a few stout poles to jimmy that crushed backend enough to get to the spare and the jack. Randy, Shawn, and I will start setting-up camp. When you get back with those poles, we'll get to work on fixing those flats."
(thankfulflick) "I'll be back first thing in the morning. I have my own preparations to make." Aldin left the scouts to seek-out the red squirrels and bid his farewells.
"Why seer trust humans?" (curiousflick)
"I know the group they represent. Most of those who abide by that group's rules hold respect for other creatures. It is one of the few human groups that teaches their young to respect the great Earth Mother. It is still risky to trust them." (howeverflick) "I have little choice. Sallie needs help that I can not provide to her here. I have lived among the humans for over 10 complete changes of the seasons. I have a good understanding of how they think and act and I believe that this group will not betray me and Sallie."
The Elder whistled. "Seer not look old. If true, Seer Aldin this one's elder. Aldin watch his tail."
"I guess that would be true, but I am not a member of your tribe. Just an honored guest."
"Seer Aldin saved tribe from great fire. Aldin always of this tribe."
The Elder intertwined his tail with Aldin's. "May Earth Mother and Spirit watch over Seer Aldin."
Aldin unentwined his tail, carefully strapped Sallie's unconscious form onto his back and made his way through the forest to the scout encampment and Da Beast.
The scouts had already broken camp and were loading their gear into and on top of Da Beast. They apparently did an excellent job with makeshift repairs to the car. They had jimmied the back end up enough to get into the back end of the car. They had replaced the worse of the two rear tires with the spare and used the Fix-a-Flat™ on the other. They were now just tieing their gear down.
"There he is and it looks like he's got company."
Aldin ignored the comment and carefully placed Sallie on top of a pillow in the back end on top of the backpacks. He then turned to the scouts.
"You did an excellent job, scouts. A bargain is a bargain. Get in. Three in front and three in the middle."
The scouts did so with little argument, after all, they were going home. Aldin started up Da Beast with a roar and began the process of turning the vehicle around on the narrow dirt road. It was then that he noticed the trees. In every available branch near the roadway were red squirrels, all (farewellflick)ing. Aldin waved back as he shifted Da Beast into gear and proceeded down the road.
On the journey back to civilization, he told the scouts a little about himself. He was an escapee from a top secret laboratory. He was searching for Sallie, who had also been a lab subject but at a different facility, along the Snake River when a forest fire turned firestorm came upon them. He encountered a group of normal red squirrels and barely saved their lives along with his own while outrunning the firestorm.
"That would explain the burnt paint job and scorched rear tires and the pattern of the caved-in roof," Randy commented. "But, what about this car. I have never seen a car rigged for a squirrel to drive."
(appologeticflick) "There are somethings I can not explain to you for your own safety...."
"I get it, in case those scientists come looking for ya again."
(wellflick) "Something like that."
"How do you know about the Boy Scouts?"
"One of my best human friends is an Eagle Scout up in Pine Tree Council in Maine."
"That explains your accent and the Maine plates on the car. You're awful far from home..."
"I go where I am needed." (matteroffactflick)
The hour (gotta take it slow on a dirt road) back to Clayton passed-by quickly. The scouts asked to be dropped-off half a mile up the road from town for they didn't want anyone to learn that they had gotten lost. That was fine with Aldin. He didn't want to stop until he got to a bigger town that may have more reasonable repair rates, after all he needed some tires. He could backtrack to Boise or head for Idaho Falls, both were the same distance. He chose the latter.
Aldin Busheytail--if I liked country I'd start playing "On the Road Again.."
NOTE: The following takes place at the same time as Andersen is trying to escape from Daphnie in Wyoming and in the process kills her sister.
LT Rick Andersen wrote:
Aldin was cruising along US 26 just east of Palisades, Idaho. He was just a few miles from Wyoming.
> Andersen was just barely out of range of the blast when the >armor went. His rearview mirror turned bright white, as if it were >reflecting the sun. The shockwave jostled him, and the car nearly >swerved off the side of the road. The roar was quite deafening.
The distant flash that suddenly appeared in the rear view mirror nearly blinded Aldin and swerved off the road, but kept Da Beast from crashing into the ditch.
He blinked several times as the light faded. *Spirit...only one of two possibilities could have caused such a flash. Either some humans detonated a nuclear device or...* (fearfulflick) Aldin's eyes buldged.
Aldin didn't bother to complete his thought. He jammed Da Beast back into gear and floored (well dashed) it. He wasn't about to stick around and greet Black Battalion troopers, or whatever the buns were calling BunnyMentat's elite troopers these days.
Aldin Busheytail: with permission from Rick Andersen
[TIMELINE: The following takes place after LT Rick Andersen kills Danielle but before he has his current confrontation with Daphnie]
There was a blinding light. The world was jostled around. Everything stood still and then there was more jostling. The heavy stench of human mixed with the scents of both red and grey squirrels lingered in the air. It was a bit cool, yet comfortable. The hum and rattle of an automobile engine could be heard.
Sallie opened her eyes and looked around. It was dark. She was in a human vehicle, lying on the front seat, passenger side. There was no one in the driving seat. She looked up and could make-out a silhouette of a large squirrel from the little light that came from the dim dash lights, most likely a grey.
Sallie was thirsty and hungry. She attempted to move. Muscles that had gone without use for months screamed in protest as she lifted her body up. She groaned and collapsed.
Aldin had just crossed over into Wyoming when he heard the groan behind him. He glanced down to see Sallie attempting to stir. He swerved into an oncoming rest area rather abruptly and stopped Da Beast.
He unstrapped himself from the driving harness and leaped down onto the bench seat beside Sallie. He nudged her. "Sallie?" He caressed her cheek with his tail. (concernedcomfortflick).
Sallie felt something touch her cheek and she opened her eyes again. Could she still be dreaming? "Aldin?" she asked weakly. "Is this real or am I still dreaming?" (weakcuriousflick)
Aldin fought back tears. "No, Sallie, you've finally come back to the world of the living." He hugged her gently.
[TIMELINE: The following takes place before LT Andersen and Daphnie have their encounter near Laramie, WY]
At a rest area somewhere along US Route 191 in western Wyoming a few hours later.
"None of that was a dream?" (disbeliefflick) "It was all real? The forest fire, the wild red squirrels, the boy scouts?" Sallie finished the nuts Aldin had offered her from the stash in the trunk of Da Beast. She washed it down with the water he had also offered.
"The only thing that wasn't real was your initial call-out to me. I still don't know how you did that, nor do I understand how I was able to find you, but here you and I are."
A rig roared by as Sallie contemplated what Aldin had told her about the last few months. "And the proposal?"
(taildroop) "You recall that? It was a shared dream as far as I can tell, if you believe in such things. I stand by it" (humbleflick) "if you would still have me."
Sallie paused for a long moment and then replied. "You saved my life. You stood up for me and cared for me when others had written me off as dead and you think I would out right say 'NO'?" (amusedflick) She continued more coyly, "Let me think about it." There was a wicked gleam in her eye.
An awkward silence lingered. (scuffpaw) "Well, we had best get moving..."
Aldin was cut-off as Sallie weakly grabbed him in an embrace and wrapped her tail around him. "Of course I'll have you for my mate, silly." She kissed Aldin and he melted away. The embrace seemed to last forever but was really only about a minute.
"Of course you'll live with us at Capewarren."
*Where have I heard that name...* "Capewarren?"
"Yes, Aldin, you must meet Cheshire and the others."
"Cheshire?!" (alarmedflick) "You work for Cheshire?"
"Of course. He freed us from the devilbunnies who enslaved us."
"But, but...Cheshire? He's a homicidal maniac."
"Only to devilbunnies. And they deserve it." (finalityflick) "Don't tell me you're having second thoughts."
"Forgive me, but you don't know the whole truth behind him. Perhaps we should exchange stories on the ride to NoCO. Once I have heard your full story and vice versa then we shall decide whether or not I should meet Cheshire." Aldin leaped back onto the dash and started Da Beast up. He shifted the vehicle into drive and pulled back onto the highway.
"I'll start. I was born a wild squirrel in the Maine wilderness in March of '79. My parents were murdered by poachers and I was adopted by a devilbunny known as The Rabbit..."
Sallie listened intently.
After Aldin finished, she sat silently and watched the grey squirrel, expressionless.
[HUG!]
[smile]
"My turn."
Sallie tried to scamper around Da Beast, a habit of working off excess energy; but rising waveringly to her feet, she found she had none and collapsed. Every muscle felt weak. Half-dead.
She forced herself not to grimace, offering a false strength.
"I was born into a slave family under the Cute Ones. It was a life of work and sleep. Lettuce supplements from the poor of the gardens for food. Occasionally a nut if I did something that really impressed one of Them. More often shocks if I wasn't up to their standard. Each day was fairly much the same.
"Until the assault.
"My life really started with the assault..."
[some time later...]
"...so with the Cheshire's help we can eliminate the evilness of cuteness for good."
Aldin sat in silence as Sallie finished her tale. He had experienced the cruelty himself under the reign of FlopEar. In some ways he could see why Sallie felt the way she did, but that still didn't make it right.
"Sallie, it may seem just to you to see the majority of the devilbunny race suffer for the crimes of some...."
Sallie glared at him. (finalityflick) "They deserve it."
"Do they? To punish them all in that way is to stoop to their level, Sallie. To seek vengeance or" (whateverflick) "you wish to call it, in this matter upon them is to fall into their own fallacy. You will unwittingly become just like them if you continue along this path." (concernedflick) "Cuteness is not evil. The perversion of cuteness is evil, but the natural cuteness we are born with is not evil." Aldin looked Sallie in the eyes. "You, Sallie, are cute Are you evil?"
Sallie thought for a moment. "No."
"Even though you are cute?"
"The cuteness can be cured. I could get sybillized."
(shockflick) Sallie's statement called-up a vision of Loren Greycoat of UCIRC warren, a squirrel with no cuteness. "Sallie, I have seen squirrels without cuteness. They are sickly things," (shiverflick) "both in mind and body." (pleadflick) "Don't ever do it. Don't even consider it."
"Sallie, it's not cuteness that is evil, but how one with the gift of cuteness uses it." (confessflick) "In my search for you, I have been forced to use cuteness to persuade humans to aide me in fueling this vehicle..."
Sallie stared at Aldin.
"I did not like doing it, but it was the only way at the time. I did not rob anyone, nor bite-off any heads as the devilbunnies would have. I may have even saved one human and his family from the Evil that Fluffs™"
(disbeliefflick) "How could you?"
Aldin was slowing down and pulling-off the highway. "Just like this." He pulled into a fueling station. An attendant walked-up to the vehicle and did a double take.
"I've got to get-off the grave yard shift."
[High-pitched squeaky voice] "Fill it," (requestflick) "with regular and check the oil."
"A talking squirrel?" the attendant searched for a hidden driver and/or speaker.
The grey squirrel's tail wigged wagged back and forth (soothingflick). "Of course I can talk. It's just that most squirrels don't want to deal with humans. Are you going to just stand there? Come on, I've got an appearance in Denver in the morning." Aldin held-out his Fudd Express Card™.
"Wait, I know who you are! You're that squirrel on tv...the one who steals Cluster Cereal. Please, I've got to have your autograph for the kids. They love your cereal and your commercials are hilarious...."
(fineflick) "OK, I'll give you an autograph, just fill the vehicle, please."
Sallie stared, but for a moment.
"Do you... do that often?"
"When I have to," came the reply.
Sallie's face scrunched as if she had bitten into a green nut. "Well... I guess I can accept someone who does that."
She shifted in the chair as if wanting to scurry but not having the energy. "Squirrel Cuteness is only in outward appearance. The outside doesn't matter, I know. Only what's at heart counts....
"I suppose I could love someone who's cute like a weapon."
Aldin blinked.
There was a rap on the window. he truned swiftly to see the leering face of the attendant. "I need you to pop the hood." Aldin noted the curl of a smile from Sallie at the wording. "To check the oil," the attendant further explained, adding in several unnecessary hand gestures to explain as if expecting the squirrel to need guidence in the feat.
"Oh, of course," Aldin mumbled politely and pulled at a part of the driving harness. A metallic clunk and an upward shift of the hood signaled success. The attendant stared a moment longer. Aldin gave him a cute flick and he quickly scuttled off to his work. The sun was blotted out by the rising hood of Da Beast.
He turned back to Sallie. "What do you mean, I'm 'cute like a weapon'?"
Sallie smiled with secretive coyness. "Exactly."
"Exactly?"
Before he could react, she lunged! He was caught in a tremendous hug.
Then Sallie collapsed in his arms, exhausted by the momentous effort. He wrapped his tail caringly around her.
"...we must hurry..." she mumbled, half-asleep. "...must contact... other squirrels..."
Sallie dozed.
Fifteen minutes later Aldin pulled-out as the attendant stared at a piece of paper signed: With Love...Aldin Busheytail with the i's dotted with Aldin's right forepaw print.
Aldin layed Sallie on the front seat, signed the credit card slip and pulled back out onto the lonely Wyoming highway. The rest of the night he drove without rest as Sallie slept. They crossed over into Colorado by sunrise and Sallie stirred. Aldin spoke.
"We're almost there, Sallie. When we arrive, it's real important that you make no mention of the Four or Cheshire. The Fudds have orders to shoot to kill some of the members of that group and to capture others. It's real important that you keep your relationship with the Cheshire quiet. We need their facilities and I need to remain on their good side. Can you do that much for me, Sallie?" (pleadflick)
Sallie simply nodded her head and (yesflick)ed her tail as Aldin approached the outskirts of Ft Collins.
The private on duty at the gate had been through the drills, but he needed confirmation. There were two blips on his cuteness geometer approaching the gate. They would crest the hill in about 30 seconds. His superior double checked the reading and tuned the geometer, one of the new ones from Silver Star Enterprises, to find the blips vanish as he turned the geometer to "bunny cuteness". The blips reappeared once the scope was dialed to squirrel.
"Take extra precaution, private. You never know with squirrels. I'll call for back-up."
Just then a beat-up maroon and rust heap that made Rita's Ultima look like new crested the hill and began to slow down for the NoCO gate house. The back end looked like someone had dropped a telephone pole on it and then torched the vehicle. The only intact windows were the front windshield and the driver and passenger windows up front. On the dash, a grey squirrel sat in what looked like a miniature chair behind a miniature steering wheel. A smaller red squirrel lay on the front seat, semi-dozing.
The private stepped-up. "May I see some ID, please?"
(sureflick) Aldin pawed him his ID.
The private took it. "One moment please." He walked into the gatehouse and called-up the vehicle license plates on the computer.
"What do we got, private?" his superior asked.
"Two squirrels, sir. The grey claims to be Aldin Busheytail, squirrel mentat from LuFI sciences division."
"And the other?"
"I haven't asked yet, sir." Just then the computer gave the read-out. "The car is registered to a Sgt Eugene Pomerleau, formerly with LuFI, currently with the Maine Fudd Volunteers."
"I see." The corporeal paused. "I'll take care of this. You keep an eye on those cuteness geometers. The cuteness out there jumped nearly 3 points when you were out there."
The corporeal approached the beat-up Chevy, which did have Maine plates. In a business-like tone, he said while keeping one hand on his side-arm, "Mentat Busheytail, what business do you have here at NoCO."
"Doesn't it look rather obvious" (obviousflick) "to you? Look at Gene's vehicle. I need to get repairs. While Da Beast is undergoing said repairs, I'll be putting Sallie here" (pointtoSallieflick) "through a rehabilitation program and put your computer facilities to use."
The corporeal examined the vehicle as he listened. "And why does this 'Sallie' have no ID?"
"Until about a year ago, she had been enslaved by the devilbunnies. After her liberation, there was an accident that put her in a coma for several months, a coma she just came out of a week ago. This has been the first chance we've had to get her an ID." Aldin fought down an (exasperationflick). *It wasn't this difficult the last time I was here,* he thought to himself.
The corporeal tried to stared Aldin down. "And what if we don't believe your story, squirrel and say you're a spy."
Aldin stared back. "Then you can call Jrrr-Lwsss up here, if she isn't busy and have her identify me. If she doesn't recognize me, she'd eat me long before I could try to escape and contact my alleged superiors."
The corporeal broke-off the stare and called to the gatehouse, "Private!"
"His credentials check-through, sir."
"Very well then. Sorry, for the inconvenience, Mentat Busheytail, there is space for you in the barracks. After you drop-off your vehicle at maintenance, be sure to check-in with command." He opened the gate.
"Thank you, Corporeal." Aldin drove in.
End