Chapter 5: Fox
Tennessee 2085
On leaving the conference room after the debriefing, Tracker silently berated himself as he made his way to his quarters. You fool! he thought to himself. Why did I call attention to myself like that? Now they’re suspicious of me all over again! I’d finally made myself into the perfect tool for them!
Why did I disobey orders? Why didn’t I let Vengeance take her away? I know what I told Magnum, but there was more. I couldn’t just stand by and watch her being hurt, could I? He stalked down to his quarters, ears laid back and tail fluffed out in anger. Then to let her touch me like that! And touching her! What was I thinking? She may be a tiger when she’s shapeshifted, but she’s a human none the less! Humans are off limits! He reached his door, slapping his palm against the glass at the side to unlock it. Pushing the door open he strode into the room, twitching his tail out of the way as he slammed the door closed behind him. Focus. Concentrate on the job and let the humans take care of themselves. I’m a tool. A thing. A mistake like today’s will only open me up to hatred, just like Colonel Cady taught me. He unfastened his collar, letting the yellow half-length cape fall to the floor as he padded into the bathroom. I need to get myself under control and just do my job. Forget the girl. I need to work with her as I must, but leave her to Scott or Red; she’s not going to be interested in me.
He reached into the shower and gestured for the water to start. Ripping open the Velcro belt holding both his sporran and his kilt in place, he let them fall as well, only taking care to remove his scabbard and lay the valtan gently into a rack installed for that purpose just outside the door. He stepped into the shower and let the water sluice over him, the computer having already adjusted it to his body temperature. He stood under the water, unmoving, for several minutes before shaking his head and lathering up with his special shampoo. Fifteen minutes later, cleaned, de-scented and dried, he padded out of the bathroom and sat in front of the computer display, resuming his studies where he’d left them the day before.
At almost seven that evening, the wall comm chimed. Scott’s voice followed. “Tracker? We’ve been assigned to retrieve MS Duval and show her the base. She’s being given permanent quarters and the doctors think it would be better if people she recognized escorted her around.”
“Right,” the fox replied. “I’ll be there in five.”
Marking his new stopping point, Tracker gathered up the kilt he’d dropped earlier and fastened it around his waist. He did the same for his cape and padded to the door, looking back to see if he’d forgotten anything. Deciding to leave his valtan behind, he slipped through the door and made his way up to Medical, where he met the other three. Scott was talking to Red and Jay just as he arrived.
“…wants us to take her up to his office for a quick briefing, first. After that we’re to get her room assignment and get her settled in.” He turned. “You heard?” Tracker nodded. “Ok. Doctors have released her to us. Let’s go.”
Tracker followed the three humans back into the ward set aside for medical observation. He entered the room just behind Scott and took up her guitar case while Red grabbed her duffel. Up in Magnum’s office, he stood to one side, listening to Magnum’s little speech. As he picked up the guitar case preparatory to escorting her out again, Magnum called out. “Tracker, may I see you for a moment?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Scott, you know where to go. Tracker will join you in just a moment.”
“Aye, Magnum. Tracker, we’ll wait at the elevator for you.”
After the door closed, Magnum turned to Tracker. “Are you all right, son? Is there anything you want to tell me about?”
“Not really, sir,” he replied, ears sagging. “Why? Have I done something wrong?”
“No. It’s just that I haven’t received your report about today’s mission yet. I need your views on what happened.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll file the report this evening.”
“Very good. Now go show Antoinette to her new quarters. Dismissed.”
Tracker turned and left the office, only noticing as he opened the door that he still held the girl’s guitar case. Slipping quickly out and closing the door behind him, he hurried down the corridor to the elevators, his springy stride eating up the distance deceptively quickly, allowing him to rejoin the group just as they arrived.
He followed quietly as Scott first showed her the quarters she’d been assigned, noting her tears whens he took the guitar case away from him and looked upon its broken contents. From there the five made a tour of the main living level, Red making lewd comments as he usually did around a woman that attracted him while Jay’s barbed tongue stabbed Red with his dry wit that seemed able to draw giggles from Antoinette instead of anger at Red’s words.
Rather than returning to his own quarters when Scott left, Tracker stayed with Red and Antoinette as she prepared for her swim. Quietly amazed that she chose to disrobe in such a public place and in front of himself as well as Red, he lay at the edge of the pool to watch her while she swam. Despite his earlier self-recrimination, he couldn’t seem to bear leaving her alone with Red. Something about her made him want to be closer to her. He liked being near her.
When she finished her swim, he stood and held his hand down to help her from the water, as Red did beside him. She dressed and allowed them to walk beside her back to her room.
