REDEMPTION

— by Jeff Karamales

Chapter 27
Farewell, Mother
 

One of the recent additions to the Abeona colony group sat before the large observation window with a furrow between his brows. Like so many individuals of furmankind that had passed through the Station, he regarded the swirled blue and white planet beneath Space Station Sebra with a melancholy heart. He was unaware of another slipping up to the observation rail until the visitor cleared his throat. Twisting his head then having to swallow as he was still unaccustomed to the way other Furs played against his sense of up and down with their floating about. “Guten tag, Herr Hector.”

“You looked rather upset by something,” the South American grey fox informed the other male. “I was wondering if it was something that I could assist with.”

Kurt Reichmann shook his head with a rueful expression. “I was just thinking that this was the last place I would end up. I always expected to live out my years on the estate I worked, to have my remains interred in the depths of the Black Forest, not unlike my father. I did not expect to go through this, and be sent to another world.” The German gestured at his body as he spoke the last part, though the gesture was rather abrupt and would have caused him to tumble if he hadn’t snatched the rail around the thick glassteel window. “It seems like a dream I am unable to wake from.”

Hector wasn’t much younger than the red fox and nodded in sympathy. “You are not the only one that has had such thoughts, my friend. It is a difficult thing to know we are leaving everything we are familiar with for what to us is the unknown.”

Kurt shook his head. “It is more than that.” He looked around to ensure that there were no others around to overhear and dropped the volume of his already quiet voice. “I find that I am viewing our upcoming departure most unhappily.” The red fox sighed as he turned back to the vista of Earth. “It is a terrible thing to admit that for what seems the first time in my life, I am afraid.”

Hector nodded in sympathy as he put a reassuring paw-like hand on the other male’s shoulder. “Then I hope you realize that you aren’t alone.” It was the Argentine’s turn to nod his head as the other looked at him in surprise to the admission. “Even I have my moments of apprehension. But at the same time I know that to stay on Earth would eventually drive me mad. Despite having had a very successful law practice, I never felt comfortable in the city.” Hector paused when Kurt silently signaled agreement at that statement. “I used to look forward to my exploits and sojourns into the rain forest of the Amazon, to be where no others were, no crime, no corruption. I liked the…honesty of the jungle.

“In that verdant paradise, I knew I had to maintain my wits, to be aware, but not from other men that would cut my throat for the money in my pocket, the credicard in my wallet or the possessions in my house. I had to be aware because, as Richard puts it, ‘nature has ever been red in tooth and claw’, and she is unforgiving of fools. It was a test for me, and I relished every moment.”

“Ja! This is how I felt in my beloved forest!” the German exclaimed.

Hector smiled warmly. “You are indeed in good company, then. Richard is much like us, though his love was for the wilds of Alaska. And keep in mind that we are going to a place that will certainly test us. It is unknown to us, and there will be that element that the three of us thrive on, that will challenge us. We three…I think that we are part of the last of a bygone breed. We were men that embraced being men. Not that we beat on our chests and acted like Neanderthals, but reveled in our gender and embraced it, sought challenges to temper ourselves against.

“Now we are going to a world that despite the previous colony that was there for a little over four years, is still quite untamed and unknown. Bastien…she will be a challenge, of that I have no doubt. But at the same time I see her as being the element that some of us were forced to give up against our wills. And we will need you, my friend. Your experience in the wilderness, your hunting exploits, those will be things that will enable us to do more than just survive. You are needed, Kurt.”

The German Fur smiled, the pinched expression vanishing from his brow as his posture relaxed substantially. “You are a good person, Herr Hector. I didn’t see things this way before. I was only lamenting what I was giving up.”

“It’s an adventure, of that you may be sure!”

“Ja. An adventure! Almost like the ones in the books I read as a boy.” The Fur slapped his knee in amusement, his earlier trepidation vanishing as he looked at the situation in a new light and perspective. “Come. Let us find Richard. We will return to the E-G section for a good beer and talk of the things men do and need. And, the two of you can tell me a story.”

“What story is that?” Hector inquired as they pushed off from the rail.

“I heard that our dear Sofiya killed a bear during an exercise. Is that true?”

Hector laughed as the pair floated to the access way wondering if he would ever get tired of hearing people ask about the incident with the black bear. “Very true. I’m sure if you ask her, she’ll be happy to show you the pelt and skull that Richard cleaned for her as trophies.”

The red fox grinned widely. “We truly have an astonishing young lady as our colony leader, do we not?”

“She is quite astonishing,” Hector agreed as they drifted to another section to find the American silver fox.

***

“And that’s how it happened,” Richard said as he ran his claw tip around the rim of the plastic drinking glass that had contained his beer and spun the straw inside around. “I’m just glad she wasn’t hurt worse. It wasn’t a large bear, but it wasn’t small either, and while an older one would have been cannier, a young adult is virtually fearless.”

“A good tale,” Kurt said as he leaned back in his chair wearing a content expression. “It sounds as if we do indeed have the right leader for our mission. I am glad. I am even more glad that it’s not I that will be in charge. I am too old and accustomed to certain ways of thinking. I will work hard, but I don’t have the flexibility of mind to lead. Sofiya has the eyes of youth to help see what can be, where I see what is.”

Hector smiled while Richard nodded. “She’s doing a better job than I could,” the silver fox agreed.

“What do you mean?” Kurt inquired.

“Hector and I were on the list of potential leaders for the Bastien reseed mission. Normally it’s the AHCP board of directors that selects the leader, but Ásmundr Gustavsson chose her personally. I don’t know what made him select Sofiya, but I agree with the decision.”

Hector smiled. “As do I. She has the ability to convey that she cares about the rest of us. I do not think I would be able to do such.”

As if talking about her had summoned her, Sofiya, Amanda, Elena, Emanuella and Siobhan Hanlon arrived. The first three vixens surrounded Richard, gifting him with kisses and nuzzles while Emanuella sidled up to Hector. That left Siobhan out and she moved over to the German red fox. “May I sit with you?” she inquired politely.

Kurt swallowed hard and got up to pull a chair out for the vixen, a slightly bemused expression on his face. “Of course you may,” he replied quietly.

“We are not interrupting important talk among men, are we?” Sofiya asked with a grin.

“Not at all,” Richard said as he put his arm around her waist, doing the same to Elena while Amanda leaned over his shoulders with her arms around his neck.

Emanuella was doting on Hector and the other vixens were happily paying attention to the silver fox. Siobhan was one of the few vixens of the group that hadn’t really found anyone that interested her in more than a passing fashion, and unlike her fellow female Furs wasn’t sure what to think about sharing the affections of one of the males, and Kurt had intrigued her greatly. She liked that he was somewhat old fashioned in his mannerisms and hadn’t had a chance to say more than a few words in the entire time he’d been assigned to the group and found the opportunity too good to resist. She slipped her arm through his and lowered her head to look coyly up at the older red fox.

“I’ve always hated being the single girl when my friends were around their significant others, so maybe I’ll just sit here and fawn on you, if you don’t mind?” Siobhan suggested.

“I would be honored,” Kurt told her, his expression growing even more surprised and happy.

“Do you boys mind if we steal Richard?” Amanda asked. “Starting tomorrow we’re all going to be confined to the Z-G section and Richard promised to go with us through the spinward shops again.”

“An excellent idea!” Emanuella said before looking at Hector. “Can we?”

“Anything you wish,” the South American grey fox replied much to his vixen’s delight. “Besides, I think we’re leaving Kurt in quite capable care.”

The parting remark embarrassed both red fox Furs a little, though neither one complained at the sudden mass exodus of the others. Richard let the three females lead him to the stores they wished to visit one last time, though he gave the trio a confused look when they turned and looked back at where the two foxes still sat, their heads close together as they spoke. “Mission accomplished!” Amanda crooned with a grin.

“Do I really want to know what you mean by that?” the silver fox asked with a partial smile.

“Siobhan has been trying to figure out the solution to meeting with Kurt,” Sofiya told him.

“You and Hector were providing a perfect opportunity,” Elena added.

“Besides, we really do want to get a little shopping in, and seeing I want a little silk robe like Sofiya has, I can model it and you can tell me what you think!” the fennec finished with a wicked giggle.

***

Fourteen hours before the Furs would board their transport to Bastien, a rather frantic Kurt caught Richard in the corridor that led to the Z-G dining facility. He nodded at finding the silver fox alone, though the tension in his shoulders or the nervous feeling in his stomach didn’t abate in the slightest. The German Fur almost snagged the other Vulps’ sleeve in his haste though Kurt’s agitated state was enough to get the American’s attention.

“Could I speak with you in private?” the red fox pleaded, an almost frightened look in his eyes.

“Sure,” Richard replied cautiously, gesturing to the branch that led to the null gravity exercise room. A quick glance indicated that there was no one using any of the equipment and closed the plastic divider. “So, what’s up, Kurt? You seem a little frazzled.”

The other fox nodded vigorously. “I…I think I have done something very wrong.” He wrung his paw-like hands together in apprehension, unable to look the other male in the eyes. “I…I, er, it is Siobhan,” he finally blurted out. “And…and I, um…I slept with her…last night.”

“Why, Kurt!” Richard said with a grin. “You sly old fox. Congratulations!”

“No!” the red fox said, a horrified look in his eyes. “This is not good! Not at all!” he lamented.

The silver fox regarded his counterpart in confusion. “Um, let me see if I can get this straight. A pretty female, one that’s obviously attracted to you, winds up letting you on the playground, and this is bad?”

“Very bad!” Kurt replied, his ears flattening as his tail lowered against the backs of his legs.

“Why?”

“Because I am forty-five!”

“So?”

“Richard, I am twenty years older than Siobhan! This is not the thing a proper gentleman does!”

The silver fox finally understood, and with the realization of what the other Fur was getting at caused laughter to bubble up that he steadfastly held back. “I don’t think age differences are really a concern, Kurt.”

“I am old enough to be her father!” the red fox replied hotly.

“But you aren't her father,” Richard pointed out. “Look, there are a lot of things that we’ve been raised to believe are the proper way to behave and do things, but a lot of that doesn’t count with all of us heading to Bastien. What works and is considered the way we should behave on Earth won’t have any bearing out there,” the silver fox said pointing at the side of the chamber. He saw the indecision on the other male’s face and decided a different tact. “Of course, Siobhan is a nice vixen. She’s also pretty lonely. I guess I can talk to my girls and see if they wouldn’t mind a fourth joining us. We all like Siobhan well enough.”

The dejected posture Kurt had been exhibiting was immediately replaced by raised hackles and a slight baring of his teeth. He didn’t relax until the other fox actually did laugh.

“See? You do care about her, don’t you?”

The observation worked like a dousing of cold water and just as quickly as it came, Kurt’s aggressive posture fell and gave way to one of amazement. “I…I do.”

“Was it really so hard to admit?”

“In point of fact, it was,” the fox answered glumly. “What…what will the others think?”

“That you are one lucky Fur,” Richard said with a grin. “As long as you two genuinely care about each other, what does it matter how old you or she is? I’m ten years older than Mandy, but that doesn’t matter. When I look at her I see a young female that is caring and compassionate. We treat each other with respect and deep, genuine affection, and that’s all that matters. As long as you and Siobhan are the same, and approach this as two, mature adults that realize you really care for each other, that’s all that counts.” He clapped the other Fur on the shoulder. “Kurt, we’re getting shot off into deep space to take over the colony of another group that didn’t make it. No one knows what the future holds for any of us, so my advice is live and love the best you can and treasure every single moment.”

“A sound philosophy,” the red fox admitted after mulling over what Richard said. “Being a Fur has taught you this?”

The silver fox shook his head. “No. Being a Marine and seeing too many friends die did. But it applies to this moment, right now, as much as anything else does. If you find love, no matter what, value it and make sure the one that loves you knows that you feel the same in return.”

Kurt began to smile. “I may be older, but you are far wiser, mien freund.”

Richard chuckled again. “No. Not wiser. Just different experiences and too many encounters that made me realize that I am very much mortal!”

The pair exited the exercise section and headed to the dining area. As soon as Kurt saw Siobhan, he floated up behind her and got her attention. Whatever it was that he whispered into the vixen’s ear had a rather dramatic affect as the female red fox spun immediately and launched herself into the male’s arms, carrying the two of them to the far wall. The kiss was languorous and deep and only ended when the rest of the Furs in the chamber began to applaud, much to the new couple’s embarrassment. With a wave at her dining companions, Siobhan led Kurt from the section with a very happy expression on her vulpine face.

With packets of waffles and premixed coffee in hand, the silver fox headed to the table where his three vixens sat, though he paused a moment before joining them, looking at each one and realizing that he did indeed love all three for who they were, and while similar, there was a slight difference in his emotions, but not in the power of what he felt. The silver fox couldn’t help but smile as all three females welcomed him happily into their little circle.

***

The slipship that docked with Space Station Sebra to transport the contingent of Furs to Bastien was one of the most recent additions to the fleet. As it stood, the 'James Cook’ had only made two trips out of the solar system and wasn’t showing the wear-and-tear that some of the older vessels were. The 'Thomas Cavendish’ that had originally been slotted to deliver the Abeona colonists had developed a slight imbalance with the slip-drive that utilized tachyon particle manipulation to achieve Faster-Than-Light travel and had been grounded for an overhaul.

Most of the Furs were parked around the observation window that gave the best view of the approaching ship while others watched on monitors that were located in the communal module. Several of the Toyohashi Furs that the group had made friends with were a little sad at the upcoming departure of the Abeona colonists, and were spending as much time with the Vulps as possible. In an out of the way nook, Dimitri Kavalos was saying good-bye to Sofiya, Elena, Amanda and Richard.

“You know that the four of you take my hopes and blessings with you,” the Doctor told the four foxes. He looked away from the others to rub at his eyes with the cuff of his shirt. “Blast it all. I’ve never liked farewells.”

Almost guaranteeing an emotional breakdown, Sofiya pulled the man that had almost become like a second father to her, wrapping her arms tightly around the Greek. “We will be missing you, too,” the red fox vixen said, her voice thick. “Now who am I going to be calling to for advice?”

Elena was more composed, though there was noticeable dampness around her eyes as she too embraced Dimitri. It was Amanda, though, that was the worst off of the three females. She wept openly, sobbing quietly as she threw her sandy furred arms around Dimitri’s neck. “I hate good-byes, too!” the fennec all but sobbed.

After all four got their crying out of the way, Dimitri motioned Richard over to their small, close group. “I don’t have to ask if you’ll take care of my girls,” the man said with a smile. “I know you will. But I want all of you to promise me that you’ll do your best to keep each other safe. Watch out for one another. And when you all start having kits, don’t forget to send Poppa Dimitri pictures, right?”

“We will,” the silver fox said, basking in the contact with the three females.

“Ásmundr chose properly,” the Greek said with a smile. “Then again, he always does.”

Before anything else could be said, the public address called for the Abeona Furs to make their way to the airlock in the docking module for boarding. Time was up, and it was time for all of the Furs to take the biggest step any of them could imagine. A last round of hugs was had by all before Dimitri fled, unable to contain his emotions any longer, and not wanting his foxes to see him for the last time as an emotional wreck.

It was a bittersweet moment, though Richard stopped the three vixens prior to entering the corridor for the docking module and pointed out the window at the Earth below them. “Take a look,” he encouraged. “Unless it’s in a picture or vid, it’ll be the last time any of us see her.” All four of the Vulps paused to regard the swirled blue and white orb of their home world with swatches of brown and deep green that showed through tears in the cloud cover. The silver fox put his finger pads against the window, the vixens following suit. “Good-bye Mom…Dad,” Richard whispered.

Elena said something too quiet for the rest of her family to hear. Sofiya remained silent, and Amanda scowled in concentration. “I don’t know why, but I feel like I’m sort of leaving something bad behind.”

Sharing a look with the others, Richard slipped his paws over her shoulders and pulled her back against his chest, kissing the back of her large ear before nuzzling the fennec’s cheek. “I think all of us are leaving something bad behind. We’re leaving some good things as well. All I know is that where we’re going, it will be the best place I’ve ever known because the three of you will be there.” He accepted a kiss and smile from the fennec and gave her a quick squeeze. “However, we need to scoot. I’d hate for us to be the reason we didn’t launch in time.”

***

Prior to the docking of the 'James Cook’, Sofiya had a briefing with the rest of the colonists, explaining that they would all be put into cryogenic sleep before the ship left Sebra as was standard procedure. Their own medically qualified Vulps would be working with the ship’s surgeon to get everyone sedated and prepared, though Sofiya told them that she would be one of the last ones to go under and one of the first to be brought out of her induced suspended animation. Conversely, Richard volunteered to go first to show the others that there was nothing to be afraid of. The statements of the two foxes had mollified some of the more nervous colonists, and it was with less dread that each of the Furs waited their turn. As Riva and the ship’s surgeon got ready to tend to the silver fox first, Sofiya, Elena and Amanda stepped up to give their male a goodnight kiss before the vixens were shooed out of the medical bay.

In groups of three the Vulps were anesthetized before having their blood replaced with the chemical soup that would enable them to be put into cold storage, slowing down their metabolic processes for the long journey. Sofiya greeted each Fur as they went in, giving each fox a few words of encouragement, promising that when they next woke they would be on approach to Bastien.

Finally it came time for Sofiya to also go under, though she waited until Hector and Joel were asleep and well underway for the process before holding up her paw-like hand to make a request of Riva and the ship’s surgeon. Once Riva understood the other vixen’s reasons for what she asked, the bat eared fox agreed before placing the anesthetic mask over the red fox’s muzzle.

Working efficiently, the former surgeon and ship’s doctor attached the necessary lines and tubes that would remove the last few Furs’ blood before attaching the stimulation netting that would apply mild electrical current to muscles in a random pattern to prevent atrophy. As the temperature of each fox was lowered, they were sealed in the capsules that would provide temperature stasis and protect their inert bodies during acceleration and deceleration and loaded into the rotational chamber to simulate gravity.

“And now it’s your turn,” the medical officer for the ‘James Cook’ said. Riva nodded and let Doctor Philippe Duval, a Canadian by birth, prepare her for the same procedure, the willow thin man showing his was stronger than he appeared as he helped the vixen onto the reclining bed. “There we go,” Philippe said with a smile. “Nothing to it.” He placed the mask specifically for the configuration of Furs over her muzzle and brushed her hair back as the vixen took a deep breath without prompting, her eyes fluttering almost immediately. Before she could let out her second breath and draw in a third, Riva was out.

With practiced skill, Philippe was able to get Riva situated, the time required being almost half the time that would have been needed for a larger Fur like one of the Ursis, and closed the cold-sleep capsule before activating the servos that slid the coffin-like into the ring with the other colonists. Once he shut the hatch, the rotational section began spinning.

Cleaning up the medical bay was fairly easy and once that minor bit of maintenance was complete, the human activated the intercom to the bridge. “This is the Doctor. Our passengers are secured.”

It was the voice of the First Officer that came back, the woman’s American drawl causing him to smile. “Awright, Doc,” Julie Henderson replied, the smile normally she wore evident in her voice. “I’ll let Captain Tananga know. Departure will be in approximately one hour. Bridge out.”

Shutting down the lights in this part of medical would help conserve power, and providence willing, Philippe wouldn’t need to step foot back inside this portion of the ship until it was time to rouse the colonists. Now the second part of his job as morale officer began as the ship would be in transit for a little over a month during its journey to Bastien.

— NEXT CHAPTER —

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