In a dimly lit room, littered with scratching poles, high places, lush carpets, and plants, two exceedingly well dressed individuals are having a quiet conversation while reclining on large fluffy pillows with a low table of snacks between them.
“So this new medical technology is from the Dirt-rockian?!?”
“Yes my queen.” She smiled, “For a very low price. She has offered it to us as a test market.”
“That is most excellent. We will have to send her an appropriate gift... Summon my favorite nephew, he will make a most splendid gift.”
“An excellent idea my queen! I will have him summoned at once.”
*-*-*
In the spartan inner office of her rented office space, Geo looked up from her astrogation homework. The sounds of a commotion were coming from the reception area. What is it now? Did the local news NOT get the message that I am unavailable? thought Geo, as she shook her head, shut off the data pad, and stood up.
In the midst of standing, the inner office door was thrown open. Framed in the now open doorway, was a cat. A 6' tall cat with two tails, wearing what could only be called a “tunic and hose” outfit, with a dagger sheathed at its waist. It bowed, and then spoke, “Great and mighty Grand Admiral Geo, of the Dirt-rockian peoples, I Prince Rauff, of the Marreow, am here as a gift to you from my great Aunt, Queen Aurora, Head of her Brood, Leader of the pounce, Terror of Destruction, Mistress of the Clowder, and leader of all the Colonies!”
“Um...Okay?” Geo paused, “You mean that you 'have' a gift for me, right?”
“No, no, no! 'I' am your gift!” Rauff replied. “I am here to be gifted with presents and toys, for your fun and mine! I'm sure that you are as excited by this gifting as I am!”
“Um...No.” Geo responded and sat back down at her desk. “I have work to do. You may show yourself out.”
“But...But...but I am a gift! I am a treasure of the Marreow! You will treat me as I am accustomed! I demand it!!!” Said Rauff, raising his voice at the end.
Geo slowly stood back up, walked around her desk, and almost grabbed a handful of whiskers to pull Rauff's head down to her level, instead she stood on he tiptoes, “Look here you pompous, overstuffed, jumped up el gato, I will skin you and have a rug made from it, if you don't take your poncy ass out of my office this minute!” She then released him.
“Well I never! I have never been treated this way! I will report this to my Great Aunt---”
“Whatever. OUT! If you don't leave I will shoot you in the leg with my screamer pistol.” Geo said, finally having gotten angry at the interruption.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Rauff stared at Geo. His mouth dropped open. “You... You wouldn't! That...that's horrific! I...I...”
“OUT! NOW!”
Rauff turned and fled the room, door swinging mostly closed.
Geo walked to her door to close it the rest of the way, and stared. In the front office were a half dozen more cats dressed as fantasy warriors. They were cuddling and whispering 'sweet nothings' to Prince Rauff. Geo stifled a laugh. “Fine, you little poop. You can stay. BUT you will make yourself useful.” She looked around the outer office, “You two, with the extra fluffy tails” Two of the warriors looked up, “Go get the Prince a desk. I need a secretary. The rest of you, make this place look livable.” She stepped back into her office and closed the door. Now what do I do?
*-*-*
“Station security office, Lt. Jagger.”
“This is transit office 3. We have several ships incoming from Marreow space, all from different Clowders.”
“Oh bugger...”
*-*-*
“Captain Lod! How have you been?” Geo asked after answering the forwarded call from her new secretary.
“Things here at home have been wonderful. My children and grandchildren have been running me ragged.” Lod answered, beaming. “How have you been? I see you have a secretary, and a male Marreow at that. Very impressive.”
Geo smiled wryly, “He just kinda fell into my lap. You should see the other five---”
“FIVE?!? What in the 17 did you do?!?” Lod exploded over the link.
“Um... Do you remember the IUD?” Geo asked.
“How could I forget?” Lod replied.
“Apparently on my behalf they were gifted 'at a truly astounding price' first access to the new ones 'we' are selling.” Geo took a deep breath, “And the houses of all the Queens, including High Queen Aurora herself, sent me a 'gift'. What am I going to do with a bunch of pampered house cat princes and their two dozen bodyguards?”
Lod just shook his head.
*-*-*
“Sir, have you seen this?” The Sargent across form Lieutenant Krich'ch's desk asked, holding a flimsy in his grasper.
“Seen what Sargent?” Lt. Krich'ch asked, looking up from his tablet.
“Do you remember all that hub-bub a month or so back, about the Dirt-Rockiness capturing the old freighter?” Sgt Prech'th asked, bouncing a bit on his four hind legs.
“Yes, Sargent. I do. So? Get to the point. I'm up to my gill flaps with work here.” Lt. Krich'ch said, exasperation starting to set in.
“She has put out a hiring contract. Good pay, benefits, the whole
“She what now? Give me that!” Lt. Krich'ch leaned forward and snatched the flimsy from the Sargent, and started reading. “Get the paperwork filed. I want our unit to be the first to sign up for this. Could you imagine? Us? Mere mercenaries? With a full time gig that doesn't involve slogging through mud for a corporate war? By the
*-*-*
A month had passed and Lt. Kirch'ch was getting worried about the units current contract being up for renegotiation, when Sgt. Prech'th came running in.
"Sir! Sir! It's all over the news! We got in!" Sgt Prech'th waived his grasping arms all over, almost knocking the Lt's birthing urn onto the floor.
"Stow your arms, Sargent. What has you so
"We are the first of many companies that the Nautilus has hired, sight unseen!" Sgt. Prech'th said, gasping.
Krich'ch's tablet pinged. There was an incoming vid call.
"Lt. Krich'ch's Office, Krich'ch speaking," Krich'ch answered. There was a...fur-less goggins on the other end of the call.
"Good. You answer your own comm. I wish I was allowed to do that. As you probably already know, I am Georgia-Ann McConnor, Admiral of the Nautilus." The 'person' on the screen said.
"Ye...yes?" Krich'ch floundered. This can't be true. She? Looks harmless. Then she smiled. His gills twitched, and his lower legs locked up. "Yes, Ma'am!"
"I expect you to be here in 8 standard weeks so that you can be integrated into my current troop organization. By tomorrow the contract should be in your 'in box', as well as the first half of your contractual payment. That is all." The comm signal vanished.
Looking up from where he had crouched on the floor, all appendages pulled up under him, Sgt. Prech'th said, "Is it gone?"
"Yes and no, my friend. I think we just got hired by the
*-*-*
In her office, aboard the station, Geo looked over at Rauff, "Why do people always do that when I smile at them?"
Rauff shook his head, not looking up from where he was brushing one of his tails, "I don't know, my Admiral. It is just good manners to show your teeth. It means that you are truly being honest with them!"
"Thanks Rauff. Now come here and let me get that tail for you. You’re doing a horrible job!" Replied Geo.