REDEMPTION

— by Jeff Karamales

Chapter 4
Changing Winds
 

“NEARLY two years ago, an illness devastated the Felis colony on Bastien. While the event was tragic to say the least, it has been determined that the cause for the incident is limited to that particular furman type. Due to the amount of information that was gleaned from the presence of a colony for nearly four years, the potential wealth of the planet, it is the decision of the directing board members of the Anthro Human Colonization Project and myself, that a new group be sent to pick up where the Felis contingent left off and reseed the world of Bastien.

  “Since the event, there have been two survivors that have continued to live at the original colony site and have maintained weekly reports to AHCP headquarters. Through their efforts, our own research, and corroboration of pertinent data, it has been deemed that a replacement colony consisting of all Vulps will be sent out in a little under one year from now. The two survivors, both Vulps themselves and qualified medical doctors with vast experience in field research, have indicated that this particular Fur type will be immune from what devastated their Felis counterparts.

  “With the completion of a training facility in the wilderness of the Olympic rainforest of Washington State in the United States, Vulps from the other Institutes will be sent to the Adirondack Branch of the Furmankind Institute for final training before being sent to this new facility. Once there, the colony group will have to function as if they were already on a far off world with no contact outside of the colony training area save the same communications device that is already in use with extraterrestrial settlements.

  “I would like to take this time to introduce Sofiya Talova, the Bastien reseed colony leader.”

  In the auditorium of the Clark Savage building at the Adirondack Institute, the entirety of Classes 17 and 18 watched the smart screen behind the stage as the President of the AHCP gestured to the female Fur on his right. As she began to speak, one of the males of the Class 17 group snorted and crossed his arms over his chest.

  “They’re putting a girl in charge of us?” the red fox Fur complained in a harsh whisper.

  The silver fox male that sat, quite begrudgingly, next to his housemate raised an eyebrow in irritation. “Last time I checked it didn’t really matter what a person’s plumbing was to be a good leader and example for others to follow,” he whispered back.

  “She ain’t even American! I don’t want some Russian leadin’ me on an alien world. And Bastien? Bastien?!? Man, I tell you, Rikki Tik, this deal’s gettin’ worse by the minute!” The first fox snorted in derision. “Nobody said nothin’ ‘bout goin’ to no graveyard!”

  “I told you not to call me ‘Rikki Tik’,” the second Vulps instructed the other, his words flavored by a slight snarl. “As for Bastien, deal with it. We go where they tell us. Just like the contract says. What did you expect? Why don’t you lock down that provincial streak of yours and shut up so I can hear what she’s saying.”

  “Geez, Rick, what’s got you in a snit?”

  The silver fox turned back to the screen ignoring his housemate.

  While most of her speech was fairly straightforward and the standard honor to serve with and promises of doing her best to keep her co-colonists safe, Richard wasn’t really paying attention to that. He was paying attention to her body language. A little less than two years as a Fur had helped him learn to read the body language of others, particularly Vulps, and what he saw gave him a feeling of confidence in the vixen. She believed what she was saying and it showed.

  He’d seen enough of people that thought talking a good game was all that was required to direct others. Not so with this lady. He also got the impression she could back her words, which was even better. That she was a downright knock-out for a Fur was also something to note.

  Richard chuckled silently to himself at that thought and tried to focus on the broadcast from Stockholm. With the news that they were going to a colony, the last thing he needed to fantasize about was romancing their colony leader. Chances were that she was already seeing one of her own housemates or something like that anyway.

  The broadcast ended with another address by Asmundr Gustavsson himself that more information would be transmitted to the Vulps via Personal Business Juxtapositioner and signed off. As the lights in the auditorium came up Marcelo Delgado took his place behind the wooden lectern on the stage in front of the screen.

  “I’m sure that many of you have questions, but those will have to wait for the time being,” the Adirondack Director informed the crowd that had started to buzz with low conversation. “Beginning later this week we will be hosting Vulps from the other three Institutes, the first being the group that will be coming in from Stockholm, including the colony leader for the mission. As such I’m going to ask that all of you treat our guests with the utmost courtesy and assist them with anything they might need.”

  Marcelo looked directly at Richard causing the silver fox to sit up straighter.

  “Richard, would you and the other Vulps see to it that the rooms they’ll be occupying in the Educational Wing are aired out and set with fresh linen? I’m putting you in charge as the liaison between the Institute and our guests. As no two facilities are run quite the same, there may be a little difficulty in getting our friends comfortable.”

  The silver fox Fur nodded. “I’m on it, Marcelo. Do we know what day they’ll be arriving?”

  “No later than Thursday afternoon,” the Director said.

  As Marcelo began to relate other details about the upcoming colony mission, the Fur next to Richard leaned over with a sneer. “Gonna be the teacher’s new pet? Maybe we should call you Gopher instead of Rikki Tikki Tavi!”

  The anthro silver fox continued to try and ignore his former housemate, though his patience was wearing dangerously thin.

***

“MATTHEW is such a troglodyte!” Tiffany ‘Tipper’ Harper snarled as the Vulps, minus the male that was being discussed headed to the cafeteria for a late supper. Tipper, and woe be to the person that called her Tiffany more than once, snagged a willow tendril and began to methodically tear it into little pieces while her tail lashed back and forth in extreme irritation.  “How did we put up with his crud during our transformation period?”

  Charity Hanover, the last member of the Vulps Wing from their Class 17, snorted in wry amusement. “Who was it that had a crush on him when we first got here?”

  “Yeah, that was before he opened his mouth and told me to go make him a sandwich,” the Arctic fox vixen growled.

  “You know he’s going to wind up embarrassing us, right?” Charity asked. The grey fox Fur shook her head. “He’s going to be nothing but trouble.”

“Trouble?” Matthew asked as he trotted to catch up with the rest of his Wing group. “Talking about anyone we know?”

Matthew Sykes was a former construction worker from the backwoods of West Virginia, and his views were more than a little backwards. He’d been raised in a location where women were still considered inferior to men, and had brought more than just that prejudice with him upon joining the AHCP. As if to demonstrate his inability to remove himself from the less enlightened period of the previous century, he drew up alongside Tipper, his paw-like hand sliding around her waist. He let it stay there for a moment before letting it drop far lower.

  “That tears it!” Tipper screamed, spinning and pushing the red fox away, her dark brown eyes flashing dangerously. “I’ve told you more than once not to touch me! Do it again and you’ll be pulling back a bloody stump! Understand?”

  “Aww, c’mon, Tippy,” Sykes pleaded. “How’s ‘bout a little attention?” His ears drooped slightly when the vixen stepped to the other side of Richard, putting the male between her and the other fox. “How come they spend time with you and not me?” Matthew groused, his yellow eyes growing hard.

  “Maybe it’s because Richard doesn’t act like a caveman,” Charity said having also stepped to the other side with Tipper. “Maybe it’s because he treats us with respect and doesn’t act like we’re here to serve his needs like some weak willed floozies. We have brains, and we’re just as good as you are at the things we need to do.”

  This had been going on for far too long, in actuality ever since the group had first arrived at the Institute, and Richard was too tired of trying to explain things in a civilized manner to the other male. While most volunteers that gravitated to the Vulps tended to be average height and build, Richard had been rather large and the transformation had barely altered his solid, six foot tall form much in size or mass, dropping him to a muscular five foot ten. With his fur coloration of smoky blue-grey overall and deep black extremities, a lot of people mistook him for a member of the Canis Wing. Never mind he had the tell-tale white tail tip.

  Using all of his size to his advantage, the silver fox Fur stepped in front of the other and looked down on him with bronze colored eyes.

  “Hey, everyone’s had it with this redneck attitude you’ve been throwing around since we got here. It’s old and we’re tired of it. Start treating the rest of us with the same respect you expect, or there’s going to be trouble. You get me?” Richard’s voice was low, but there was no mistaking the growl that accompanied and flavored each word.

  The two shortened, claw tipped fingers pointing directly at the red fox’s chest and jabbed to accent every syllable were also hard to misread.

  “We’re going to need everyone when we get to Bastien, but right now, you’re a liability. You’re dangerous because you want to go your own way. That’s not going to cut it. So I’m telling you to knock it off and get squared away right now.”

  Sykes bristled at the challenge, his chest puffing up as his hands curled into fists. “And what if I don’t?”

  Richard let a smile cross his face, exposing his teeth. “Then I take you behind the nearest building and beat you so bad they’ll leave you here when we ship out.” The silver fox looked at the other. “And don’t think I can’t.”

Matthew had an inkling of the other Fur’s background, despite his normally soft spoken and gentle demeanor, and backed down, his body language indicating submission to the other male. Before coming to the Institute, there’d been no way he would have backed down, but an altercation with one of the Ursis volunteers early on in their tenure had shown the former construction worker from West Virginia that not only could Richard, as the old saying went, talk the talk, he could walk it as well. As it stood, the silver fox was one of the few individuals Matthew was genuinely afraid of. He watched sullenly as the two vixens and Richard continued on to the cafeteria.

  Turning to head to his room in the Educational Wing, Sykes began to tremble, though not with the unease when his former housemate had bucked up on him. Anger seethed in him for the other fox making him submit. That he’d done it in front of the girls was like salt to an open wound.

  Much like Tipper had, the red fox Fur took his frustration out on the Institute foliage before vanishing into the building.

***

INSTEAD of the V-22 Osprey that was available for the use of the Adirondack Institute, the Stockholm Furs were brought in on a Boeing 234ER-K helicopter that began life as the military CH-47 Chinook. The paint scheme was far from anything resembling its military predecessors, the bright blue and red tandem rotor helicopter with the air company’s name in prominent white letters on the fuselage.

  Richard stood next to Marcelo at the far edge of the landing pad normally used by the Osprey, and watched as the huge helicopter settled on its wheels. Like the few other times he’d seen the vehicles before, he was amazed at how quiet it actually was. He watched as Institute staffers approached before the side door was open with a set of aluminum steps that were carpeted and shallow, easier for the digitigrade legs of Furs to cope with.

  “Everything’s ready in the Educational Wing,” Richard told the man next to him. “We have all of them set up on the fourth floor in rooms 403 to 411. There should be enough rooms for the rest of the colony group when they get here. The Class 18 guys are taking care of the cleaning while Tipper, Charity and Matthew follow behind to set up fresh sheets and stuff.”

  Marcelo smiled. “Thank you, Richard. You’ve been a great help.”

  The Fur shrugged, though before he could say anything the Stockholm group began to descend the small stair block. Leading the contingent was a blond haired vixen, the one from the broadcast that they had all watched. As she and the three females approached, Marcelo stepped forward, able to speak with the engines of the helicopter winding down to the point he wouldn’t have to yell and extended his hand.

  “Welcome to the Adirondack Furmankind Institute, Miss Talova. I’m Marcelo Delgado, the Director here. This is Richard Tavington. He’ll be your liaison between your contingent and myself. As such, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call upon him for anything you may require.”

  The red fox Fur took the proffered hand and smiled in a friendly manner, keeping her teeth concealed. “Thank you, Director Delgado. This is appreciated.” She nodded pleasantly to the silver fox. “Tavington?”

  The Adirondack Fur grinned sheepishly. “Yeah. My dad’s Nathan Tavington. Don’t hold that against me, though.”

  “I am surprised that the Director of the Colonial Operations section of the TCC would agree with the decision of his son to join the Furmankind Project,” Sofiya admitted with a curious look.

  “Maybe,” Richard muttered. “I don’t think this is the time to really delve into my reasons for joining.” He looked at the Director. “I know you have a lot on your plate with the other Vulps showing up. If you want, I can get everyone squared away and we can get together later on so you and Miss Talova can discuss the training schedule.”

  Before Marcelo could agree, the vixen chuckled. “Please. I am Sofiya. We will be working together for a very long time and it is best, I think, to start as friends.”

  “A sound decision,” Marcelo told the vixen before nodding in appreciation to the male from his own facility. “And you’re correct in that I have a lot of work to do.” He turned back to the Vulps colony leader. “Sofiya, if you don’t mind, I’m going to let Richard begin his duties as liaison starting now. I would, however, like for the both of you to meet with me this evening in my office to discuss the training situation.”

  “Of course,” the vixen said with another smile. “If anything I have learned that you and the other directors take on far too much work than is good for you.”

  Marcelo looked skyward and held his hands out in a supplicating gesture. “Finally!Someone that understands!” With a smile the man stepped over to the electric cart that was sequestered for his personal use and headed back to his office.

  “The big question now is do you wish to ride to the Educational Wing, or would you prefer to walk?” Richard asked the blond vixen. “I guess it depends on how much luggage all of you have.”

  “Walking would be preferred. We have spent far too much time sitting and the stretching of legs is in order,” Sofiya told the American Fur. “We all have just bags with a few personal items in them. We were told that the Institute would be able to provide new clothing.”

  Richard gestured to the heart of the complex. “Well, let’s get you all to your rooms, then I’ll show you where supply is. If you want to take a nap or something first, that’s cool.Then when you’re ready I’ll show you around the grounds.” As he turned to walk beside the female, noticing the other three vixens that had been with Sofiya were looking at him and whispering a great deal. The other four, two males and two females, held back a little, though it wasn’t as if they were trying to separate themselves from the others. “Oh, I also talked to the chefs in the cafeteria to prepare foods that I think you might like. I know American food has a tendency of being a little heavy.”

  Sofiya graced the silver fox with another of her smiles. “That is very thoughtful of you, Richard. Again you have my thanks.” Something occurred to her and she looked sideways at Richard. “Did you think of that, or did someone recommend you do such?”

  “That was my own idea. I’ve been to Europe and know that unless you’re raised on some of what we enjoy, it can be a little much. Though there are times the English put us to shame,” the male said.

“So…your own initiative. An admirable trait.”

  It was Richard’s turn to chuckle. “Not to hear some people tell it.” It was hard meeting the other Fur’s yellow-green eyes, and he was able to cover his realization that the only males in the Stockholm group were obviously taken by pointing out certain things that they passed. “Um, your rooms aren’t really well stocked, so if you need anything the shoppette is right there. The stock it carries is limited, but they have a pretty decent assortment of necessities.”

  “This is good,” Sofiya replied. “There are indeed things that some of us need.” The vixen looked around at the different structures they passed. “Some of these buildings are very old. What was this place before becoming the Adirondack Institute?”

  “Um, well, it was basically a facility for criminals,” Richard said with a distinct note of discomfort. “The different Wing buildings were all completely renovated so a lot of those features aren’t immediately noticeable. Fortunately the Educational Wing was built by contractors for the AHCP, so it doesn’t look any worse than a college dormitory, or barracks.”

  “You are familiar with these kinds of places?”

“Yeah. I was able to get a year of college in before I got fed up with it and left. There was more politics and trying to squeeze as much money out of the students instead of focusing on classes than I cared to deal with.”

  Sofiya tried to keep her tone light. “I see. And you went where?”

“Lots of different places,” Richard answered cryptically. “I backpacked Europe for half a year, spent time in Africa and then headed to India and parts of Asia. I ran out of money while in Japan and was able to catch work as a hand on a freighter heading back to the U.S. and signed on. Eventually I landed in Alaska and found something that I liked doing for while before coming here.”

  “You ran out of money?” the vixen inquired. “But the Tavington family is well known for their wealth.”

  “No. My father is known for his wealth. He had no use for a son that had ideas of his own. What I spent I earned. I don’t want any of his money.”

  The last was added with enough venom that it caused Sofiya to jerk slightly.

  Before she could ask what he’d done in Alaska Richard stopped them before a large building that looked like any flat complex back in her home country. “And here’s the Educational Wing. Everyone’s up on the fourth floor, rooms 403 through 411. Your name tags are attached to each door. No one told me about those of you that are couples, but if you want to share a room, that’s cool with the Director and staff. I’ll be back in a couple of hours to show all of you the grounds unless there is anything pressing you need right now.”

  “I think we will be fine from here until you get back,” Sofiya told the male. “Thank you for all of your help, Richard. It has been quite the pleasure to meet you.” She extended her hand to the other Fur.

“Same here. Still, if you need anything before I get back, I can be reached on my PBJ.”

  The Stockholm Furs watched as their guide stepped back and walked away. “Americans are so…odd, sometimes,” Charlotte Bujold commented as she and the others watched the silver fox round a corner.

  “Maybe,” Siobhan said with a wicked grin, “but after seeing our liaison I think I’d like a little bit o’ a private tour o’ this place with that one. He can liaison with me anytime!”

  Maria was also watching the retreating Fur with undisguised interest, causing Sofiya a moment of consternation and jealousy which irritated her. She’d just met the American and had no claim to him.

  So why was her friends’ obvious interest in the silver fox bothering her? Shaking her head to clear it, the red fox turned towards the main doors. “I do not know of the rest of you, but I think I will follow the advice given and take a rest.” Without waiting for a reply, she entered the building, finding the elevator easily.

  Once ensconced in her new suite, her door firmly shut, she cast a critical eye. Scrutinizing the room as her state of pique with not only herself but also the other vixens, she wanted to find faults with it to mollify her sour disposition. The only thing that she could find fault with were the sheets on her bed of a pale yellow, not one of her favorite colors at all.

  Sofiya unpacked the few items in her travel bag, setting most in the little closet next to the door to the small bathroom. At least she had a fur dryer here as well. As she finished up and turned to the bed to stretch out and close her eyes for a little while she saw the small glass tube on the table with a sprig of tiny pink roses just beginning to open and a little envelop with her name on it written in flowing letters.

  Curious, the vixen picked up the envelope and pulled the little card out. On the front was a cartoon red fox gallivanting in a field of comically large flowers chasing a blue butterfly. There was a simple message written in the same hand on the inside, and as she read it twice, her earlier irritation vanished.

Just a quick word to say ‘Welcome!’

We look forward to getting to know you and I

for one think the AHCP has chosen our leader well!

Richard 

  There wasn’t anything more than that, and certainly nothing to suggest the silver fox was offering more than friendship, but after five years of keeping others at arm’s length, it made the vixen smile.

  Sofiya tucked the card back into the envelope and set it on the nightstand, looking at it for several minutes before her eyes closed for a desperately needed nap, the smile still tugging at the corners of her mouth.

— NEXT CHAPTER —

Unless otherwise noted, all material © Ted R. Blasingame. All rights reserved.