Jethro Goes to War (Wandering Engineer Jethro's tale) Read online

  Jethro grimaced as he woke. It was hard to tell time in here, they didn't have a chrono on the wall, and all this sleeping left him confused and dry when he woke. He licked his dry lips. He didn't have a choice, he'd have to do something about it.

  He opened his eyes and then locked onto the juice on the nightstand nearby. He reached for it, and then paused. He slowed his approach but still ended up knocking the glass off.

  It fell to the floor with a clatter as he swore. “Here, let me get that,” the male orderly said, reaching over and picking the cup up. “Still having trouble?”

  “Yeah. It's like I'm floating sometimes. And sometimes it's hard to move,” Jethro grimaced. He hadn't counted on being like a baby. The first group didn't have this problem. The gunny didn't when he had his implants. At least that was what he had thought. He'd have to remember to ask later. Hopefully without getting his tail in a wringer when he did. “To tell you the truth it's driving me crazy. Maybe implants aren't all they are cracked up to be,” he admitted. He shook his head.

  “Easy,” the orderly said, resting a hand on his chest. “I wouldn't know, I've only got the basic implants. Data and IFF stuff. You've got the muscle enhancements and stuff. Full kit.”

  “Yeah,” Jethro grimaced again then exhaled slowly trying to release the building frustration.

  “What we can do, we did. Or at least some of it anyway,” a nurse said, looking up from her padd. “You'll get specialty implants when or should I say if you graduate.”

  “Which isn't going to happen with me stuck in this bed,” Jethro sighed fighting the frustration again. He tried to get up but the orderly pushed him back down.

  “Nope, not on. Not in your condition son,” he said firmly. Jethro's lips writhed in a snarl. The orderly drew back at the sight of his teeth.

  “Sorry,” he grimaced again. “Muscle cramp. And yeah, I gotta get up. I gotta... ah, you know.”

  “No... I don't know. I do know you’re stuck in bed. Doctors orders.”

  “But I gotta ah... number two,” he grimaced at the kids saying.

  “Oh,” the orderly snorted. He shot a glance at the amused nurse. “Hang on.” He went over to the nursing station and then came back with a bedpan.

  “Oh like that's going to work,” Jethro sighed rolling his eyes. “I've got a tail remember?”

  “Hmmm... Yeah. But I already went through this with brear bear over there. One work out is enough for one night,” he said. He waved in Valenko's direction.

  “Oh hell. All right, you get to clean up the mess.”

  “Name of the game son,” the orderly smiled. He pulled the privacy curtain.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “So, if you've got implants, why do you use a tablet?” Sergei asked the shift nurse. Her eyes cut to him then back to the tablet. After a moment she set it down. She looked over to him. He turned on his night light.

  “It's... you'll see. It's one thing to get info in your sleep. The neural downloads can dump a lot of data onto you, but it's unsorted and you don't have any contextual reference framework to integrate it into your memories. For some it's hard to assimilate. But also, getting it through your implants can be scary for some. And downright hard or impossible to assimilate for others no matter how hard they try. If you don't use it, that means assimilate it, you loose it.”

  “Okay.”

  “Besides, I think it tickles. Doc says it's a psychosomatic response to a perfectly normal sensory input,” she shook her head. “To me getting data like that is just a little unnatural, you know? Having something just pop up in your vision, or hearing someone's voice talking to you. It can startle you if you're out of it.”

  Sergei nodded, purring a chuckle. His right arm went up to prop his head up to see better. His left hand groomed his whiskers. “You've had them long?”

  “Oh no, only a month or so,” she admitted. “It's great for when you're assisting during surgery, doing micro vision and kinetics... and don't get me wrong, the implants are great for keeping you on your feet when you’re doing a double or triple shift,” she grimaced. “But it takes some getting used to.”

  “Ah,” Sergei nodded. “I was wondering why we had it so easy with that last exercise.”

  “Exercise?” the nurse asked.

  “Yeah, we did a hostage rescue scenario. I'm the front man. Heavy weapons and demolition,” he grinned a little at her confused expression. “At least that's what I'm shooting for. I'm not sure if I'll get it. Pack mule mole likely.”

  “You'd be surprised,” the nurse said shaking her head. “There have been a lot of changes lately. I'm even thinking about joining the military as a reservist. It'd add to my resume and I'd get an extra check so I could upgrade from that crummy apartment we're sharing now.”

  “What's wrong with the pad?” the orderly said coming out with the bed pan at arm’s length.

  “Whew. Where to start,” the nurse said shaking her head as he went to the toilet to flush. “Wait. Weight and condition?”

  He rattled the statistics off and then flushed. He tossed the cardboard bedpan into the recycler and then opened the privacy curtain. “Feel better?” Sergei asked dryly.

  “Much. A pound lighter at least. You should try it,” Jethro retorted. The nurse and orderly blanched.

  Sergei grinned. “I just might. But later,” he grimaced. His ears flicked as he caught the staff's relieved but suddenly exasperated expressions. “Think you folks can get me a bigger bed?” he asked turning to them.

  The nurse shook her head and cleared her throat. “We've got the foot bed stuffed under you and that is the biggest bed we've got. You, the Tauren, and the bear,” She shook her head again, trying to get over the sheer size of the cat. “Is it uncomfortable?” she asked tentatively as she came over to get a better look.

  He shrugged. “Only if I stay like this long. As a cat I don't usually sleep on my tail like this. I think it fell asleep,” he grimaced and rolled a little. His hand dug down and pulled the limp limb out.

  “You don't have those docked?” the nurse asked amused but fascinated.

  “Oh hell no. Affects our balance. The shrimp over there only has a stub but she was born that way,” Sergei waved to the snoring Hurranna. “Lynx and bobcat genes. Go figure,” he said. He shook his head.

  “Besides, it does have other uses,” Jethro said. His tail drooped down off the bed and played with the hem of the nearby nurse’s skirt. She turned, blushing and swatting at it.

  “Men honestly,” she said in exasperation. The orderly snickered a little. Both of the cats flicked their ears at each other in amusement. She shook her head and walked out head high as the men snickered again.

  “Well, I guess you’re on the mend if you’re harassing the staff,” a tired Thornby said coming into the room. She shook her head.

  “Yes ma'am. I think I'm on the mend. Just need better coordination.”

  “And your integration. Swelling is down,” she nodded. “I just checked your stats.” She tapped her brow. “See implants do have their uses,” she said as she smiled.

  “So why the tablet?” he asked pointing to the one in her hand.

  She looked down to it then back up. “Old habits and all that. And it's easier to use,” she admitted. “How far along are you in the classes?” she asked. She turned to Sergei to include him as well.

  “Um... Classes doc?” Sergei asked, confused.

  “The sleep teaching.” she said indicating the bed.

  “Oh that. Ah. I've ah, gotten to rank structure, TOE and started the uniform code of military justice. Fortunately gunny gave us some of this before so it's easier to understand.”

  “The high points you mean. Not bad,” she said with a nod. She turned to Jethro. He grimaced.

  “I've finished it and hit a wall ma'am. It went back to military protocol and how to fill out forms.”

  “The navy lives on paperwork,” she joked shaking her head. The orderly nearby snorted.

  “You do
too if I recall doc,” he teased. She gave him a look and then nodded.

  “True, all too true. You need to document progress, or problems so you can fix things or learn from them,” she said in her own defense and then shrugged. “At least that's one way of looking at it. You've gotten a bit further along than the others, the UCMJ is a three night course normally.”

  He realized she was refering to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Fortunately for him he had an answer to that. “I had it memorized ma'am. I've got a copy in my locker,” he said watching her face change.

  “You do?” she asked, surprised. “Where did you get one?” she asked, sitting back against the wall.

  “My ancestors were marines ma'am. I'm just carrying on the tradition.”

  The gunny's eyes slitted open at that. His nostrils quivered in a suppressed snort.

  “Okay...” she said digesting that. After a moment she put it aside and shrugged. “Good for you,” she nodded. She looked up. “Well, let’s see, since you've got that down, hmmm.. you can, no...” she turned to the gunny. “Any ideas gunny? I happen to know you're awake.”

  He snorted for real at that and opened his eyes. Both eyes. His right eye was still a little blurry but it was beginning to focus. Instinctively it slitted to protect itself. “You said you've got the UCMJ down? You’re on paperwork and protocol?”

  “Sir yes sir,” Jethro said, trying to sit up. Doc came over and tapped a control and then set it in his hand. He fumbled with the remote and then got it to raise the back of his bed.

  “Hmmm,” he thought about it and then shrugged. “If you think you’re up to it, download the manual for his implants. Run that and then give him a run down on corps history, culture, and first aid. You think you can handle all that?”

  “Sir this recruit knows some of it sir.”

  “I figured as much. Let’s see how much you know jives with what we've got, I look forward to your test results,” the gunny said as he nodded to the doc. She shrugged.

  “All right, I'm game if you are,” she said tapping the tablet. She turned to the others. “Most of the others have gotten over the swelling and have run their first therapy session with mixed results. The download is in your inbox gunny.”

  “Thank you ma'am,” he nodded. “I was reading it.”

  “Figures,” she shook her head. The doberman ate slept and breathed being a marine. Even when off duty. “All right. Get some food then some rest. The nanites will need a recharge soon.”

  “Nanites ma'am?” Sergei said, sitting up, eyes wide and ears flat. She looked over to the Liger.

  “Didn't anyone tell you?” she asked amused.

  “Ah, no ah ma'am.”

  “Figures,” she said dryly. She shot a dark look at the gunny. “Your implants are inserted by surgical means but the fine connections are set up by nanites. The nanites weave your organics and implants together into seamless connections.”

  He grimaced and shivered a little.

  “Oh stuff and nonsense young man! You’re a big guy, act like it, not like a pissant.” She shook her head. “And up till now I thought you were a marine,” she growled.

  He stiffened at that. “Yes ma'am,” he said in a different tone.

  “A nanite is a robot. Organic or inorganic, it doesn't matter. They do the job then leave. Or shut down and your body recycles them. These are surgery nanites, the same used in the regen tank for major surgery,” she waved. “Hell, replicators use them too. The food... You've had replicators in you for weeks cleaning out your systems and building up your bones, and muscles. That's how come you could bounce back after the drubbing the sadist over there gave you everyday! Ah I give up,” she shook her head throwing her hands up in the air. “You are getting a download about nanites to your dream list. Expect it,” she said firmly. She shook her head and tapped at the tablet again. “There and there. Night,” she said and stalked out.

  “Good night, Chester Puller, Wherever you are!” Valenko said into the quiet bay as the nurse turned the lights off. She paused, confused and then finished flipping switches.

  “Chester Puller?” The gunny asked. “A boyfriend?”

  “Hardly sir,” Valenko replied then hesitated. He looked over to Jethro who shrugged. “Major General Chester Puller. American Marine. Highest decorated Marine until 2016. Five navy crosses for valor under fire.”

  “Oh,” The gunny's eyes locked onto the giant shaggy bear body and then back to the panther.

  “It's tradition to say that sir. A marine corps tradition. One of them anyway. One we'd like to keep,” Jethro said softly.

  “Oh. I take it you told him about the general?” the gunny asked amused.

  “No sir. He apparently already knew. Chester's biography, well, I've got it too.”

  “I read it one winter when I was a cub,” Valenko softly growled. “A long long time ago.”

  “Puller had some influence in twentieth century marine traditions and training. Many of those carried over into the twenty first century and the formation of the Federation Marines. He also had some rather famous and somewhat funny quotes attributed to him sir,” Jethro said.

  Hurranna snorted. “I still think my favorite is when he saw his first plasma... I mean fire thrower and asked where the bayonet goes.”

  “Flamethrower,” the gunny corrected automatically. “World war two... So you've heard of him as well?”

  “I saw Jethro snickering at some of it so I sneaked a peek at Jethro's copy when he wasn't looking sir,” Hurranna admitted. Jethro mock growled and then snorted a laugh.

  “Why am I not surprised,” he chuckled. She gave him her best innocent look. He snorted again.

  “Can I fly a piranha? Or a Stellar Eagle? I mean when we have them?” Hurranna asked, shoulders hunched at her stupidity of asking.

  “I dunno, can you?” Jethro asked amused.

  “I don't... I mean I don't know. I've never tried to do something like that. But well, I'd like to try,” she grimaced. “I'm not sure about being much use as a pack mule.”

  “We're going to need pilots,” Jethro said, nodding. “I didn't know we had the blueprints to a piranha though.”

  “The Admiral did. He dumped the file into the database,” the gunny said absently, watching them talk as he tested his night vision. “Also the Albatross heavy transport, and Firefly had a blueprint of the Stellar sea eagle on file. And yes, recruit, you can take the piloting introductory application.” He felt a sense of relief. She had high scores in kinematics but only had mediocre tactical sense. They hadn't been sure where exactly to plug her into the growing corps.

  “Thank you sir,” Hurranna grinned.

  “I work for a living. Don't call me sir,” the gunny growled. They both looked confused. He rolled his eyes then sighed. “I keep forgetting, you're still technically boots so go for it. But FYI, noncoms aren't called sir after you graduate. That's an officer prerogative.”

  Jethro snorted. “Sir yes sir.” Valenko's side rumbled with a suppressed laugh.

  “And don't you forget it,” the gunny said sitting back onto the bed.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “So you understand private, due to your blood lines...” She shook her head leaning against the Liger's bed.

  “I understand ma'am,” Sergei said softly. She shook her head and crossed her arms. Jethro listened,trying to remain quiet.

  “It isn't all doom and gloom son. We can screen for the heart trouble and blindness that crops up. Joint pain we can treat. But you will need regular check ups,” Thornby said softly, trying to sound encouraging.

  “Yes ma'am.”

  “I... In order to fix the problem permanently we'd need a gene insert. I or doctor Martel would have to insert a gene splicer, either a nanobot or a modified rhino virus to fix the missing stop growth linkage. But to do that...” She shrugged.

  “I understand,” he said flatly.

  “The growth dysplasia has been handled. The nanites have reconfigured your pituitar
y gland to stop secreting hormones to continue your growth. We'll monitor it though.”

  “So I'm not going to get any bigger?” he asked, curiously amused.

  “Aren't you big enough as it is?” she asked burbling a laugh and indicating the bed.

  “True.”

  “At least we won't have to keep making clothes for you.”

  “Yeah but I can't use the excuse that I'm a growing boy any more,” he said with an ear flick.

  She had to laugh at that. She wiped her eyes and shook her head. “That's too funny,” she chortled. She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath, still chuckling.

  “We can do something about the sterility problem,” she said after a moment.

  “You can?” he asked surprised.

  “Yes,” she nodded and patted his cloth covered leg. “Not a problem. We can insert a randomized copy of your genetic sequence into a partner through in vitro fertilization when you get that far.”

  “You've got to get to first base before you can get to home plate doc,” Sergei growled softly. “Most of the females avoided Liger males unless they wanted something. They know we're not going to live long and we can't breed.”

  “I'm sorry to hear that. You sound bitter. Cynical.”

  “It's the way things are run ma'am. It's the hand I was dealt. I can't change it but I can try to understand it.”

  “Good attitude. Well, we'll see how things run from here.” She looked over to Jethro who was staring at them. “Something to add?”

  “No ma'am,” he said with an ear flick. He glanced at Sergei. The big white Liger's ears went flat in embarrassment and then went up again slowly. “Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop.” He nodded to the Liger and then to the doc.

  “But since you have...”

  “I... we knew about the problems ma'am.” Jethro glanced at the Liger and then to the doc. Most male Liger cubs didn't live to puberty.”

  “Yeah well, that bastard Leo had something to do with it too,” Sergei growled.

  “Yeah, he did,” Jethro growled.

  “Something I'm missing?” the doctor said looking from one to the other.

  “Leo...” He looked at Sergei who gave an ear flick in place of a shrug. He cleared his throat. “Leo would kill male cubs.”