As I had stated in my After Thoughts at the end of Invading Namakata, that was intended to be my "one shot fame" on the newsgroup. My intentions as shown were to kill-off Eugene/Aldin. I figured I could start again if I ever came back. I had assumed at that time that few would really miss me as the story wound-down.
Then the fan email started to arrive, praising the story and begging me not to kill-off Eugene/Aldin. Alas, where were those 'fans' before I killed-off my characters? This left me in a difficult situation. I had already killed them off. Or did I? After a little thought on it, I came-up with a way to "raise them from the dead" and seperete them without violating the FAQ's too badly. Then again, at that point, I figured if there was an uproar I could have asked those who complained: Well I was asked to bring them back, do you have a better proposal on how to do it?
Again, like the rest of the storyline before, Aldin and Eugene talk little about this time period in their lives for fear most would think they're crazy. It also marks the last time the Spirit of the Wilderness appeared in one of my storylines. After this 'return from the dead' my characters went on hiatus as my graduation date came-up rapidly and I went-off line for two months while trying to find an ISP in Maine.
Will Zuidema and John Hollingsworth teamed-up on the Rendezvous at Will's Place Segments. Kkatman collaborated on Spirit Meeting 1 and Another Spirit Meeting. The first segment, Spirit Meeting, I believe is the first time anyone has worked an IRC session into an actual storyline.
Originally posted to the newsgroup June, 1995.
© 1995-2002 by Scott Bernier, Kkatman, Will Zuidema, and John Hollingsworth.
First HTML-ized 9 March, 1998
Return to Moxie's Stories homepage.
Everthing was dark. Aldin didn't know where he was. He couldn't feel anything physically or mentally. There was simply nothing to feel. He didn't even have a sensation of time passing. So he had no recollection as to how long he was nothing or in this nothing or whatever when things changed and he found himself outside of what appeared to be Will's Place. He went in.
A dozen mixed noises, both human and bun greeted him as he entered the establishment and took his customary stool by the bar. Will got him an Aldin Almondine (AA), which Aldin knew he liked, though he swore he had never had one before. He felt as if he'd come here many, many times, yet he knew that in reality he had only been here once before and that he had gotten extremely drunk that one time, trying something called a Moxie Manhattan.
"Glad you could make it this week to IRC, Aldin...."
"How's that Namakata thread coming?..."
"...when are you going to give me a copy of your snail mail address?..."
"..how's that thesis coming along?..."
He was barraged by a half-dozen or so similar questions. His head reeled. What were they talking about? He looked around and saw faces that should have been unfamiliar to him, faces of those he had never met before, yet he knew each and everyone of them were: Easter, Sgt. Andersen, Sharee, LT ShortHare, Kane, Derik, Remus, Istari, the BHX, Pupp, C-Mouse,...the list went on and on. It was like being in a devilbunny version of Callahan's Crosstime Saloon.
"Where the Spirit am I?" Aldin mumbled, raising his tail into a question mark and flicking it [curiousflick].
[assuringfluff] "You're at my place, of course." Will replied. Several patrons replied in kind.
Aldin reeled some more and nearly fell off his stool.
"Where's Gene?" someone asked.
Aldin thought real hard on that one. He had heard the name before, but couldn't quite place it....then he remembered, and honestly replied, "I don't know."
Before he could say more, a red squirrel, female, came in. Aldin knew he had never met this one in real life before, yet he knew who she was. Sallie saw him and leaped onto his stool to join him. She looked a little down. Without being asked, Will produced an AA for Sallie. She sipped from it.
"So how did things go at Namakata?" she inquired.
Aldin was taken aback. How did she know? He was so surprised that he didn't hear her question echoed by 4 or 5 other patrons. The scariest part was, he wasn't sure how things went. Then he recalled and physically paled (hard to see through fur).
"I'm not really sure....I could be dead. But, if that's the case, how did I get here?"
Sallie gasped. "That sounds just like me. I don't really know how I got here either."
[comfortflick] "Tell me your story and I'll tell you mine," Aldin said.
"Sure..." Sallie got closer to Aldin and they related to each other their stories: Sallie's aid in helping Cheshire and company in an auto accident on a cliff face over a flood swollen river, before she plummeted into the river and wound-up 'here'; Aldin's fight with FlopEar, Aldin being through the air, landing against something hard, his back breaking, his blacking-out and winding up 'here'. By the time thye were both through, they had become real close and intimate and were comforting each other, wrapping their tails around one another. Their embrace seemed to last forever. Strangely, they seemed to be ignored by most of the patrons in the establishment.
[sadflick] "I must leave now, Aldin, but promise me one thing."
"Anything..."
"Promise me that if you live, that you will search for me." There was a tear in Sallie's eye.
Aldin removed that tear, grasped both of her paws, and intertwined his tail with hers. "I promise on my honor as a fellow squirrel...and as a mentat to do so." They hugged each other again and she vanished. Aldin somehow knew he was in love. He noticed that his surroundings were fading and he heard the patrons calling out to him.
"...glad you could come..."
"...bye Aldin, hope you can make it next week..."
"...good luck on your defense..."
Aldin iddn't know how to react. He simply waved with his tail [farewellflick], as things faded back into nothingness.
Aldin didn't know how much time passed by since Will's Place had faded-out. As before, he had no recollection of time and so he did not know how long he had spent in the 'nothingness' he was in before he found himself on the western shore of Namakata Lake in his favorite oak tree. There was a gently breeze blowing off the lake and the tree swayed in time to it. Aldin felt at peace.
"It's about time you arrived. I take it you took the scenic route?"
Aldin cringed at the disruption, but recognized Gene's voice and there was humor in it. He scampered down to his friend.
"Are we dead?" [curiousflick]
"I really don't know. However, FlopEar is." Gene stuck his finger in his mouth and made a *POPPING* sound. "His head flew a good 20 feet or so."
"Yes, the evil one is dead, but one of you two were not suppose to die," said a deep guttural voice behind them.
Squirrel and human turned to see a 10 foot hodge-podge creature with the head and torso of a black bear, a bobcat's hindquarters, a rack of deer antlers, a set of giant eagle's wings and a squirrel's tail that matched his body size-wise.
Aldin fell down in front of the Spirit of the Wilderness (SotW).
"Get up, little one," the SotW said. "I am no deity. I am just a servant of the Creator, no matter what you refer to Him/Her as. I am not omnipotent. The powers I was granted weaken ever day as more and more wilderness is made tame by uncaring humans and devilbunnies alike. It is only time for one of you to leave the living. The other will return and your body will be healed."
"What do you mean only one of us may return?" [distraughtflick] "We've been a team, whether or not we were willing to be one now for almost eleven years," the squirrel protested.
"It is most likely my time, Aldin. Afterall, my body was destroyed at that time. I'll go with no regrets," Gene replied trying to sooth his companion. "It is your body, afterall. I know little about being a squirrel and the descendants of your companions look-up to you as a leader. Lead them."
[STOMP] (rather a silly, amusing, and cute sight to see a squirrel do, since they lack the body weight to make a proper [STOMP]) "No, we are a team, though I may have never admitted that before. Either we both go back or we both face the afterlife. After what we've been through together, there's no way you are going to easily separate me from you now." [defiantflick]
The SotW chuckled behind him. "That's the spirit I wanted to see. So be it. You will both go back. HOWEVER, after this trip, I will no longer have the power to save your....[chuckle] tail again."
Everything around them faded again. After they were gone, the Spirit chuckled anew. It wasn't really time for either of them. He just wanted them to realize that they needed each other.
It was the first night in a long time that Chris had slept well. When he awoke, he almost knocked the squirrel in his lap off, but caught himself in time. Ash stirred, yawned and went back to sleep. Chris sat there not wanting to disturb her. She didn't sleep for more than another five minutes, stirred, [stretchflick], yawned, looked about, and saw the human and jumped back startled.
Chris had watched her closely and thought to himself how cute this creature was. Not a forced cute as he observed in the moskimus, but a natural cute. When Ash jumped back in startlement, he chuckled.
"You fell asleep in my lap last night. I didn't wish to disturb you."
It took a moment for Ash to gather her wits. "I'm going with you when you go back there today. I must find my father's remains if possible." [determainflick]
"Alright. Let's see if we can rouse, Mike. Are there any companions you want to have come along? We'll depart in an hour."
The hour went by and two humans and two squirrels made their way towards the remains of Namakata Labs. Each human carried a 50 foot coil of rope and flashlights. Both shotguns and axes were draped across their backs. They found the entrance blown-open. A little smoke still wafted-up from the hole.
"Watch your backs," was all Chris said as they entered. They spent several hours searching the upper level and found nothing but ash. Any bodies that had been left behind were burned beyond recognition. They were only able to guess the species of the victims by the mass of ash left behind. Some corridor sections had partially collapsed. The squirrels explored beyond these leaving the humans behind. They reported finding nothing each time.
When they got to the stairwell, they found the stairs had collapsed. Not a problem for the squirrels, for the walls were quite rough now. But the humans had to tie-off one of their ropes. Fortunately, it was only a 12-foot drop between floors and there were only three levels to go down.
It was getting on towards 3pm when they got to a steel door down beyond where Chris had been held. Chris believed the computer center lay beyond, but he wasn't sure. Mike pounded on the door. It didn't budge.
TBC--moskimus-devilbunny (FT directive of '94)
Aldin stirred awake with a splitting headache. He scratched his forehead with a claw. *Gene?*
No reply. Aldin called-out again in his mind, *Gene?*
A very distant reply, *Yeah. I hear you, Aldin, but faintly. It's like you aren't really there.* There was a pause. *You might want to roll-over to your left and open your eyes.*
[puzzleflick] Aldin didn't understand why Gene suggested this at first, that is until he did so and came face-to-face with a human. The human grinned back.
"Well, that explains why the thoughts were so distant," Gene said and grinned some more.
It took a moment for the shock/surprise to set into the squirrel. They weren't just back. They each had a separate body, something neither had in nearly 11 years.
Gene sat-up slowly and groaned as he experienced a migraine of a headache and slight nausea. "Well, looks like that friend of yours was kinder to us then I expected. I figured we'd spend eternity linked."
*We still are.* Gene heard faintly in his head. "Just not as strong as before," Aldin finished aloud. "I've read theories behind this somewhere... all written-off as tales. Something along the line of 'once two souls have been joined, they can never be completely separated from one another until death..' or something like that. I wonder what the range is..." [curiousflick]
"We can ponder that later. Right now..." Gene's stomach rumbled. "We need to find a way out of here and..." more rumbling "find something to eat."
Gene stood-up and fought-off a bit of dizziness. He walked over to the computer console where FlopEar's head lay. He chuckled at what he saw.
"Aldin, you might want to take a look at this."
The squirrel scampered over and hopped onto the console. Gene pointed to the bunny head. It had hit a switch marked ACTIVATE BOMB SHELTER. Aldin [amusedflick] for a moment but suddenly [taildrooped].
"Yes, we need to get out of here. It's not completely over yet. This..." Aldin points to a few read-outs on a terminal screen. "indicates that the entire memory core has been downloaded in duplicate."
"You mean..."
"The devilbunnies now know everything about Namakata, both the truth and falsehoods and all the research conducted here. There's only one thing we can do."
Aldin started typing the commands in. [thankfulflick] *The line is still open,* he thought to himself.
"Dumb question," Gene said. "If this place was on the brink of destruction just before we died, how come this room still has power?"
"Same reason the old lab would have. The devilbunnies keep the computer banks on their own separate power system so that the core can be downloaded remotely in case of a disaster, as has happened here." [taildrop] "Shouldn't you already know that?....That should do it."
Aldin pressed the RETURN key and the files began downloading to his main frame at LuFI. "We can't take back what the buns got, but we can share the information with our allies. Now then for problem number two, food and drink."
He began to access the computer system again [flick]ing his tail. "Ah..." He typed a few command words and a panel opened on the opposite side of the room. It was a storage closet full of BRE's (Bunnymeals Ready to Eat--ky00t MRE's), containers of distilled water, a pot and a bunny-size backpacking stove. "Looks like FlopEar planned for everything," the squirrel commented to his human companion.
Gene went over and inspected the vitals. "Fuddtoes and gravy" He tossed it aside in disgust. "Spam ala King." He set that one in a separate pile, in case they got desperate. "Here we go. Vegetarian stew." Gene set the stove up and got some water boiling and opened-up the BRE. The contents were set-up just like an MRE, except in bright pastel colors and bunny-size portions. The Vegetarian stew was just the main course. There was carrot cake (of course) for desert, dried fruit, mixed nuts (Gene ripped this open and tossed it to Aldin.), crackers, peanut butter, and the 'supply pack'. The 'supply pack' contained: an unbreakable bunny-size spoon, pink napkin, instant Snapple Ice Tea™, salt and pepper, the ever-present mini-bottle of Tabasco, instant coffee and damp-proof matches. Once the water was boiling, Gene dropped the stew pouch and desert pouches into the water.
When the meal was ready, Gene shared with Aldin. Aldin feasted upon the nuts, crackers and peanut butter and surprised Gene, by having some of the stew. "Squirrels are rodents. We can eat almost anything you humans can." Gene got the carrot cake and they split the dried fruit, which was the fun part. This wasn't like the type of fruit you get in the health store. This was a colorless square wafer. You break-off a piece, toss it into your mouth and immediately drink some water with it. The fruit *pops* (well *fluffs* in the case of the BRE fruit) in your mouth as it absorbs the water and actually taste quite good.
They had just finished their meal as a banging at the steal doors that sealed them in occured.
> It was getting on towards 3pm when they got to a steel door down beyond >where Chris had been held. Chris believed the computer center lay beyond, >but he wasn't sure. Mike pounded on the door. It didn't budge. > >................ > > Aldin and Gene had just finished their meal as there was a banging at the >steal doors that sealed them in.
Squirrel and human looked-up together. *Who do you think would come down in a blown-out devilbunny warren and knock on that door?* Gene thought to Aldin.
*Who else? A bunny investigation team...but they should have taken longer than this.* [ponderflick]
*Well, if they get in, I'll be of little use in battle, unless I get my hands around their necks.* Gene grinned. It was the only thing he was wearing. Aldin hadn't noticed before. *So, mentat, what do we do?*
[annoyedflick] *Don't call me that. I was only using my title to annoy those who granted it to me.* Aldin [ponderflick]ed some more.
"It's got to be at least 4 inches thick from the sound of it," Mike said. "If there are any rabbits on the otherside, they already know we are here. I can probably get my sledgeaxe into the crack and jimmy the door open, but we need to be ready. Stand back."
Mike swung at the door with his handmade 30lb sledgeaxe (a monster of a weapon designed specially for smashing console televisions--seriously!) and put all his weight into it. He missed the crack. The sledgeaxe bounced off the steel doors and flew out of his hands to slam into the opposite side of the corridor. Chris and the two squirrels scrambled out of the way. Mike landed with a thud against the door, lost his balance and slid downward groaning.
*That sounded to high-up the door and too loud to be a devilbunny,* Aldin thought-commented.
*You don't suppose...* Gene thought in response. He got up went to the door and started tapping-out Morse Code.
Chris recognized the code at once as those around him noted that there was definitely somebun or one inside. It was a simple message: Who's there? He pondered what to use for a reply. He tapped back....
Gene listened to the tapped response: Friends.
*Should we risk it?* he asked Aldin.
*Well, we can't stay in here forever,* was the response.
*Alright.* Gene went over to the otherside of the room and found a loose section of pipe. Wielding it like a club, he readied himself next to the door. He tapped a reply and signaled Aldin to open the door using the computer.
The reply came: Come in. The doors began to creak open. The two humans readied their shotguns, while the squirrels made ready to spring at whatever they saw.
Gene prepared to strike. He saw two shadows in his peripheral vision. He swung-out.
*STOP!!!* he heard Aldin scream in his head. Gene reacted by pulling back on his swing, dropping and rolling. He heard two shotgun blasts go-off over his head and found two angry looking squirrels on his chest.
"Gene?" one of the shotgun wielders asked.
Gene chuckled. "Yes, Chris?" The two squirrels got off him as Chris dropped to embrace his brother. Mike stood back in the corridor, knowing better than to interfere in a family reunion.
"But, you're dead...."
"Yes, I was....long story. It can wait for the trip home...."
While the two humans embraced, the two squirrels moved forward towards their comrade.
"Aldin Busheytail at your service," Aldin chittered in squirrel, while [bowflick]ing at the two newcomers.
[confusedflick] "But, you and the human were trapped in one body..." Ash chittered back and trailed-off as she noticed the body of her father. Tears came to her eyes and that of her companion's.
"That will be explained later..." Aldin started to reply and also stopped as he too noticed the carcass of his old friend for the first time, ripped open from head to toe. Aldin leaped down from the console and joined his fellow squirrels. They comforted each other in their quiet mourning. "I don't remember everything that happened in here, but it appears he died in battle with honor."
"I knew I would only find his body," Ash said between sobs. "The way he said goodbye, I knew he wouldn't return to us. We shall have his body brought to the surface. He will be given a proper squirrel farewell."
"As you wish," Aldin replied while holding Ash and comforting her as if she were his daughter.
"I don't suppose you were able to salvage my clothes..." Gene was asking Chris, as Chris pointed him towards the three squirrels near the center of the room and Gene stopped in mid-question. The six of them held a moment of silence for those lost. They then gathered-up the two carcasses--placing the squirrel and devilbunny in separate sacks. Gene, now clothed, carried both bodies and they made their way out, Aldin shutting-down and sealing the computer center behind them.
They made camp that evening in the clearing and Gene and Aldin related their tale to the humans and squirrels that had gathered.
The following morning, the humans broke camp and gathered in the two pick-up trucks, Mike in one and Gene with Chris in the other. Puffcheeks' body was laid to rest out in the open so that he could fulfill his link in the food chain. FlopEar's body was on ice in a cooler in the back of Gene and Chris' vehicle. They were ready to leave, but they were waiting for Aldin who said he had some last minute business to conduct.
"Why don't you stay here with us?" asked Ash. "You are one of us and we need someone with your knowledge to take father's seat on the council." [pleadflick]
"I can not as of yet. I have promises and obligations to fulfill, first."
Ash wrapped her tail around Aldin seductively. "Before this tragedy, there were too many of us and it had been decided that for the better of all that there would be no mating season this year. But that has changed. If you can't stay for the council," (more softly) "then stay for me. I have yet to chose a mate...."
Aldin pulled-out of Ash's tail-embrace before she could complete the "choosing" ceremony after which Aldin would have had little control over what would have happened next as instinct would have taken over. Ash [shockflick]ed for she had never seen a male refuse a female when they were about to be chosen. A tear formed in her eye.
"I'm sorry, Ash. I cannot. I have already been spoken for," Aldin responded. "That's one of the promises I have to fulfill. If all goes well, I shall return in time to aid with the fall harvest and at that time, I would be willing to aid the council in anyway I can, but not before then."
Ash fought back the tears in understanding. "Then go. Your human companions are waiting for you. Good luck in your endeavors, Aldin Busheytail and may you have many kits." She wrapped her tail around his in the sign of close friendship. Aldin unentwined his from hers and went to join his comrades.
Gene, Chris and Aldin related their experiences in more detail to each other on the three-and-a-half hour trip back to China, Maine. They arrived to two overjoyed parents and younger brother and related their tale anew. Their parents and brother of course thought it was a big fish tale. That is, until the squirrel spoke to confirm their story.
*****TIGHTBEAM TO SGT STEVE BLAKE*****
*****BUNNYSTUMPER DELUXE™ ACTIVATED*****
Sir,
It is my pleasure to inform you that FlopEar is dead. I have seen his head for evidence. Also, Corporal Eugene Pomerleau and the Mentat Busheytail live! I can not fully explain what happened to them, for I do not quite understand it myself. They should be submitting full reports to you shortly. Enclosed is my report of all that happened in our attack on Namakata Labs. As for FlopEar's body, Cprl Pomerleau insists upon passing it on to the next of kin.
That's all I have from the Maine Frontier. Good bunny hunting to you in Texas.
Pvt Mike Nahtowski, Maine Fudd Volunteers
enclosures
*****END ENCRYPTION AND TIGHTBEAM*****
Steve Blake, the pro-Fudd devilbunny, sat back with a [sighfluff] as he read the message. He popped-open a Geary's Lager™ (Maine beer) from the Colonel's stash and held a small private celebration at the news. As he finished the lager, he received two separate reports, one from Cprl Pomerleau and one from the Busheytail. He spent the rest of the day and part of the night reading through their reports and sent them a reply.
*****TIGHTBEAM TO CRPL POMERLEAU AND MENTAT
BUSHEYTAIL*****
*****BUNNYSTUMPER DELUXE™ ACTIVATED*****
I have reviewed your reports. Excellent job. I know I'll be able to clear the leave time with Colonel Oullette. You both deserve it. Hurry back though, I would like to hear about your tale in more detail.
Cprl, you have my approval to return the body to the next of kin. Be careful.
SGT Steve Blake, acting commander, Lubbock Fudd Intelligence
*****END TIGHTBEAM AND ENCRYPTION*****
The Pomerleaus hosted a pig roast the following day to celebrate the return of their two sons. Aldin had excused himself from the festivities, explaining that it was important not to let the general public know about the war, or the fact that he could talk. At one point during the beer and Moxie™ drinking, horseshoe tossing and hollering, Gene ducked out of the family barn and proceeded down to the woodlot where Aldin said Gene could find him. Gene had some fresh roast peanuts for his companion. He found Aldin sitting on a branch in a sugar maple and hailed him in strained squirrel.
Aldin scampered down and accepted the peanuts. "So, Gene, where do you plan to go from here?" [curiousflick]
"Well," Gene replied, "I'm going to take one day at a time. Tomorrow, I have to go down to Will's Place in Massachusetts and turn FlopEar's body over to his survivor, Iago, given Iago accepts my invitation. After that....." Gene paused and reached to pet Aldin absent-mindedly.
Aldin jumped back and chittered at him in warning. "What's wrong with you Gene?" [concernflick] "You should know better than to try to pet a squirrel without them asking you to first."
(In a hurt voice) "I'm sorry, Aldin....no, I don't know. Why?"
[surprisedflick] Aldin looked around to make sure they were alone. "It is said that is how a human could domesticate us." [fearfulflick] "Our skin is very sensitive to touch. The old tales say that a squirrel once touched by humans will become addicted to the sensation and do anything to be petted more. Before you know it, you are domesticated, doing whatever the human wants, just so you can get another 'fix'. The petting becomes addictive."
Gene chuckled.
"Well, scientist or not, I have no intention of finding out one way or the other. But, like I said, you should already know that. Don't you have my memories as I have yours?" [curiousflick]
Gene sat for a moment in contemplation, thinking upon memories. He finally spoke. "No, I don't. I can only remember from about the time FlopEar began torturing you through the final fight in your memories. A few spotty areas here and there before that, but that is all. Looks like I got short-changed by our spirit friend. I wonder..." Gene pulled-out his scout knife and lightly nicked his left forearm. It bled normally and he had to apply direct pressure to stop the bleeding. Gene humphed. "I don't suppose you'd volunteer?"
Aldin did, holding up a forepaw and winced as Gene nicked it. It healed rapidly.
"Well, we now know who got the original body, the rightful owner." Gene said as he cleaned-off his knife blade. "I'd ask how he produced my body, but some questions are better left unasked. And what of you, Aldin?"
[sighflick] "Before our meeting with the Spirit of the Wilderness, I met with another squirrel. She needs my help. After our meeting at Will's, I'll need the car."
"What? You drive? 'Da Beast' was designed for humans, not squirrels."
"You never noticed Teral's little gift to us? Or perhaps it was an error on the part of those squirrels down to the repair shop, but they outfitted Da Beast with a squirrel driving apparatus. I'll be able to drive it."
"OK, you may borrow 'Da Beast', but bring her back in one piece. You'll be on your own for fuel. That is, if you don't need my help...."
"No, I must look for her alone. I don't know why, but I know that it must be done in that way."
"Where is this squirrel anyway?"
"Sallie is...." Aldin drifted off thinking. [dismayflick] "I don't know. I can't remember where she said she was, but she needed my help. I promised to look for her if I lived."
"Perhaps you can try to contact her in the spiritworld tonight. As for me, I have to get back to the party. After tomorrow, I'm going to spend the summer with my family. It's not everday you get a message from the Creator saying it's not your time yet." Gene got up.
"Scratch my back."
"What?"
"Scratch my back, you heard me." [requestflick]
"But you said..."
"Never mind what I had said before. We can't exactly entwine our tails in friendship. I'm giving you permission to scratch my back or pet me if you prefer. If it 'domesticates' me, I couldn't think of a better master or friend."
Gene complied and scratched and rubbed his squirrel friend's back. Aldin [appreciateflick]ed. Gene drew as much pleasure out of rubbing Aldin's back as he use to in petting his dog who had died several years earlier. As Gene finished and got-up to go, Aldin spoke once more.
[sighpleasurecontemptflick] "If I wasn't sentient, Gene, they would have been correct about the petting."
Aldin fell asleep easily in the upper branches of the large sugar maple he had chosen down in the woodlot on the Pomerleau property. He had already decided that he would make that his home-away-from-home whenever he would visit the Pomerleaus in the future. As he slept, he dreamed.
Aldin was still in the sugar maple. Sallie came to him. He was overjoyed to see her and they enwrapped each other with their tails.
[elationflick] "I'm alive, Sallie!"
[joyfulflick] "That's wonderful, Aldin." [taildroop] "Unfortunately, I don't know my status."
"I'll find you, Sallie, somehow. But, I have a small problem"
[concernedflick] "What?"
[embarrasedflick] "I don't know where to start looking for you."
Sallie hugged Aldin tightly. Aldin found himself elsewhere, in a different perspective, Sallie's perspective. He experienced the last moments of the accident and the plunging into the river and the darkness. He found himself back in the maple and he hugged Sallie back more tightly than before.
"Snake River, somewhere in Idaho," she whispered to him. "I was to be Sibylized upon my return to Capewarren."
[concernflick] "NO!"
[confusedflick] "Why not? Sibylization protects you from bunny cuteness."
"It also robs you of your true cuteness. I've been able to read some of the files the Fudds have been able to compile on Jamie/Cheshire and the Sibyl. The disease that the Sibyl carries is not safe. It not only will change you mentally, but you will grow dependant upon devilbunny flesh and blood."
[flick] "Well, there are some 'minor' side effects. And it's not safe for an agent to be out in the field without it anymore."
[demandflick] "NO! I won't let them do that to you. I can't. There is a standing order to capture for treatment or kill any and all who carry the Sibyl virus. If you get Sibylized, I'd be forced to disobey a direct order. For I couldn't kill the one I ...." Aldin stuttered a moment and fought back tears. "The one I love."
Sallie gasped.
"I love you Sallie. Somehow, I know you and I were meant for each other." [pleadflick] "Don't get sibylized." Aldin fell silent. The tears flowed freely upon his face.
"You really love me? You don't want me to go through Sibylization?"
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you Sallie. There was another who had tried to chose me. I said 'No, for I was had already chosen someone else.' That someone is you."
Sallie remained silent in shock for a moment.
"We don't have to go back to Capewarren once I find you. You can come back with me to Maine, Sallie."
"You expect me to 'settle down' while there is still a need for squirrel resistance fighters?"
"No, not like that. Raise a family, yes, but we would never leave the war effort. I intend to rebuild Namakata Labs as a squirrel training base and medical facility. The training would include techniques I had learned at Namakata that would enable a squirrel to take on a devilbunny in paw-to-paw and live, the very reason LonGears had The Rabbit removed and replaced by a squirrel-hater. He feared our training and wanted to squelch it before we could learn the truth and rebel. The medical facility would be open to all who need it regardless of species. I want you to be a part of all this. As a part of the real squirrel resistance and not the War of Four."
Aldin grasped her paw in his and looked into her eyes. "Be my mate, Sallie."
Sallie whispered yes and weeped silently as she wrapped her tail around her beloved and hugged him tightly. Aldin did likewise. They sat there in the maple for what seemed like hours just hugging and rocking as the ancient tree swayed gently in the night breeze.
Sallie looked-up. "I must go now, Aldin." [farewellflick]
"Goodbye, Sallie. I won't stop until I find you." [determinedflick]
"I know..." She faded away in his arms.
Neither had noticed the human that had watched the meeting between the two lovers. Gene sighed in happiness for his friend and slipped off into his own dreams. Their mental/spiritual link was a little stronger than Aldin realized.
Aldin slept fitfully the rest of the night worrying about Sallie.
TBC Sallie appears curtesy of Kkatman: the Furry Rep.
Human and squirrel departed the following morning heading for Worcester, MA and Will's Place. They needed the real Will's and not that strange semi-reality place they had encountered at other times. They were in need of true neutral ground. Their upcoming meeting that had been arranged with LT COL Iago may not have been survivable otherwise. In the back seat in a cooler was FlopEar's body on ice, Iago's uncle.
On the four hour journey down from central Maine to east central Massachusetts, Gene and Aldin discussed what was to come. Gene again offered to aid Aldin in searching for Sallie and Aldin passed. He was determined to do this one on his own. He had been with Gene for nearly 11 years, and he needed some time alone.
Gene switched subjects. He planned on requesting a transfer from LuFI back to Maine. After what had happened at Namakata, who knew what other bunny bases may lay hidden Down East, not to mention the Maine Fudd Volunteers needed help in training and men desperately. The Fudd ranks in Maine had simply dwindled due to lack of a devilbunny threat. That and rabbits (like most species) were always considered in open season whether it was legal or not. It was a matter of survival in a state with a bad economy and one needed to put food on the table somehow.
The time passed quickly and they found their way to Will's Place. Parking Da Beast, they entered, Gene carrying the cooler. Will greeted Gene upon entering, but [surprisefluff]ed when he saw Aldin sitting on Gene's shoulder.
"Who's your friend, Aldin?" Will addressed Gene.
"Come on Will, you must remember Gene," the squirrel replied, pointing to the human with his tail.
Will fought down a double take for he had assumed Aldin and Gene were still trapped in one body.
Aldin answered the unasked question. "It's a long story. I promise you that we shall fill you in on all the details before we leave. But first, is the meeting room we reserved ready?" [curiousflick]
"Yes, and I'll send the refreshments right up. What's in the cooler?"
"You don't really want to know. However it does not violate your neutral ground rules," Aldin replied.
Gene slipped a $20.00 in his gratuity jar. "That's for the playroom, Will," he said.
Will forgot about the cooler in thanking Gene for the playroom donation.
Will led them upstairs to the meeting room, made sure they were comfortable and left, only to return shortly with their drinks, Bunny-safe Moxie™ for Gene and an Aldin Almondine for Aldin. Will returned a second time with a cooler tap of Bunhatten for Iago and company. All that was left to do, was wait for Iago to show-up.
Gene and Aldin waited in the meeting room for about 15 minutes before LT COL Iago arrived with another bun. After some hesitant introductions, they sat down to talk.
"I'm not going to waste time with you, Iago," Aldin said. "Your uncle is dead." Iago showed no emotion. "I have brought his body here to turn over to you to do as you please," Aldin continued, "despite the evil he has done, so that he may have an honorable burial."
Iago kept his mixed emotions in check and replied. "All I have heard from you since you made your presence known are the accusations you have made against my uncle. What proof do you have?" [demandfluff]
"Gene?" [requestflick] Gene placed a box of 10 diskettes on the table in front of Iago. "There's your proof, Iago," Aldin said. "On these diskettes are your uncle's journal entries since he first took command of Namakata labs. You can confirm the information on them through P.A.W. or SFU if you dare let them know you have them. The Rabbit was more loyal than some may have thought. One of his failsafe programs downloaded Namakata's computer memory banks to P.A.W. and SFU before the self-destruct order given by your uncle was executed." [fortunateflick] "Fortunately, the computer room was protected from the self-destruction of the lab and the Fudds now also have a copy of everything at Namakata. Be sure to let your superiors know that, especial, General LonGears." [determinedflick]
"But..."
"But what?" [curiousflick] "Where you going to say LonGears is dead? I doubt it. It's going to take more than a statement from a Ferrotti, no matter how honorable their race is, for me to believe the General is dead. Remember, that your uncle supposedly died 7 years ago. You just pass the message on to the General that I now know and understand exactly why he assigned FlopEar to Namakata and I'm very glad I disappointed him by not successfully revolting." [assuredflick]
Aldin leaned back and sipped his Aldin Almondine (AA) and [satisfactionflick]ed.
Thoughts raced through Iago's mind. What was this squirrel implying about LonGears? Was his uncle was as guilty as Aldin claimed? If so then his death was justified. If on the otherpaw his uncle was not guilty, he would have to find some way to avenge him. He would find great satisfaction in such, for this squirrel in front of him has caused him nothing but trouble for the past 10 months. If he was to get a chance to do the latter, he needed more information on his foe, so he changed the subject.
"A while back via Bunnynet/Internet transmissions, you told me a little about yourself and I told you a little about myself, Aldin. At that time you said you had been changed into a human, Eugene Pomerleau. Yet, you and Mr. Pomerleau appear to be separate individuals to my eyes."
"At that time, we were one. How we have been able to become separated is difficult to explain and you wouldn't believe it, unless you believe in divine intervention," the squirrel replied. "However, I'm not unreasonable. You want to know about me. I'm not afraid of talking about myself. I promised Will to tell him my story. If you are willing to spare a couple hours downstairs, I will only need to tell my tale once. This is neutral ground, here we can possibly be friends."
[acceptfluff] "I accept your offer, Aldin."
"Well," Gene interrupted, "now that this meeting has concluded, I am willing to carry your uncle's body out to your transport if you are willing to guarantee my safety out there and back."
[agreedfluff] Iago waved to the bun that had come with him. The bun lead Gene out. Iago and Aldin proceeded down to the bar.
TBC Iago appears curtesy of John Hollingsworth
Several patrons gathered by the bar to listen to Aldin's tail^H^Hle. Aldin awaited for Gene to return. He returned and appeared none the worse for wear.
"Well, before I begin, there is certain sensitive information I will have to leave out, for security reasons. Please understand that now before I start."
There was some quite moaning within the crowd. Aldin began.
"I was born in the spring of 1979 in the Maine wilderness near what the humans call Nahmakanta Lake...."
Aldin told all except for Sgt Blake and his work with Amy Ruth, pausing whenever Will had to refill drinks, so he would not miss a thing. Iago learned a little more about his uncle and began to understand what kind of honor Aldin had meant that time he had said that Iago seemed a lot like The Rabbit. The way Aldin painted him, he was a very honorable, loyal bun. Two and a half hours passed and Aldin finished-up.
".....call it a vision, hallucination, or what have you, but when Gene and I came to, we each had our own bodies, and mine was healed of all injuries. That's all there is to my tale."
Aldin finished his AA as the crowd drifted off, except for Iago and Will. Aldin turned to Iago.
"As I promised you, I will be leaving Lubbock behind shortly. I do have one more thing for you. I don't really want to pass it on, but it will back-up some of my story. Apparently, your uncle set the one working security camera in the computer room on record. I guess to film his 'victory' over me. It is unedited and not very pretty, but at least you will be able to see for yourself what happened. Oh, and be sure you warn your superiors of the danger of the virus I assume they have down to Atlanta. They should just destroy it and not take chances."
Aldin saluted Iago with his tail [saluteflick] "You are an honorable warrior, Iago."
Iago [salutefluff]ed and left. Aldin turned his attention to Will.
"Gene and I have separate missions this summer. Despite the fact you are a bun, I know I can trust you. Neither of us will have net-access during the summer. We have hired a message forwarding service to handle our messages via normal mail. Gene and I are going to share the address of this service with you to pass on to those you feel need to contact us for non-lethal reasons."
Aldin pawed an index card to Will. On it was the forwarding service's address:
[Address deleted...most of you know it or know how to get it already.]
"Mr. Bernier is a neutral businessman and I would like to keep him that way," Gene stated. "It would not be pleasant for me to hear that he has been attacked, simply because we hired him to forward our messages for us. Nor would it be pleasant for whoever is responsible for such an attack."
Will agreed to only pass the service agent's address on to those who were trustworthy. Aldin and Gene bid their farewells and departed. Gene caught a bus back to Maine and Aldin started Da Beast up and headed west in search of Sallie.
END (for now)
See all of you when we have net access again. The Moxie Man and Aldin Busheytail Iago appears curtesy of John Hollingsworth Will appears curtesy of himself