E:A Vol 3 Ch 7—October 29, 2119

The next morning, the winds had died down significantly and though there was still an occasional thunder clap, it was just primarily a gray, dull, rainy day, not the nightmare of the previous twenty-four hours. The electricity was back on and Alessa was much more settled. The group cleaned up the mess made by the puppies then the guys went out to see if there was any damage to the house or barn from the previous day’s torrent.

“A few trees down,” David said as he and the group walked into the house, “but looks like the house and barn didn’t suffer any significant damage.”

“Have you heard from your husband yet?” John asked.

“I did. He said to not bother with repairs on the barn,” Victoria answered. “He’s thinking of building around the current structure. He said it would look identical to the barn, but he’d have it built out of that Rayth benachti material. He said that would provide the level of security he’s most comfortable with.” She shrugged her shoulders, “He’s the boss. Anyway, what he’d like you guys to do is start moving everything from the center of the barn to the outer edges. I have a shed, if it’s still standing, north of the house. We can move some of the equipment there or into the garage. I think everything other than the big tractor mower can be moved.” She cleared her throat. “I mentioned the idea of unearthing another bridge portal for the Terra 2 mainland.”

“How’d he react?” Chris asked.

“You know that frustrated growl-like groan he has?”

Chris chuckled, “Yeah.”

“That was the reply. He said he’d think about it. However, he did say that regardless of needing it for the puppies, it would provide a boost for our evacuations scenarios. I think he’ll do it, he was probably already planning on it, but just wasn’t expecting to do it so soon.”

John nodded as he ran his fingers through his wet hair the put his wet cap back on. “It’s gonna take a long time to dig the chamber for the bridge portal, and then the tunnel from the barn to the house. We could take the bridge they’re picking up this time and use it on Terra 2. Meanwhile, while we’re digging here, the Rayth can dig up another bridge.”

“I’ll mention that when he calls tonight,” she said, “though he’ll probably have already thought of that.”

“Now for the big question,” Chris smiled, rubbing his hands together as he always did at the possibility, or the actual, causing of some little trouble or mischievousness, “the puppies?”

Victoria grinned, “He said yes. He read up on the breed and liked what he read. And, get this, he said he thought we should have one for each kid. I almost fainted. The kids are going to go crazy.”

“They’ll be here tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah. Zy and the First Commander will check out the barn and do their thing. Then the kids will stay here while they head off to the Aleutians to get the first bridge portal. Once they have that, they’ll swing back by, pick up the kids, and head back to Terra 2…and since we weren’t able to get the perimeter array up, he said he’d keep the bridge portal on the flagship until the array was in place. But now…we may just put it on Terra 2’s mainland. Once they’ve left, we can pack up and head out. So, John, have you talked to Vince about our furry friends?”

“I did. He’s not too thrilled with the idea. He’s considering it. I think, however, if we can swing the deal with Zy to put this first bridge portal they dig out on the mainland, it’ll seal things for us.”

When Zy’nayth contacted Victoria later that day, he agreed to dig up a second bridge and that the first one would be taken to Terra 2. He had already contacted Vince so that he could prepare a place to put it. It could stand out in the open, most bridges were, but Vince would need to have security in place and a possible control area like the one they had in the city. Meanwhile, Vince wanted Zy’nayth to inform John that the proposed furry additions to the city were approved. Everyone was thrilled.

The next morning, Zy’nayth, Kol’non, and the twins were teleported into Victoria’s study. After hugs and kisses for her family, she gave them a tour of the house, purposely avoiding going by the back patio where the furry additions were located. It was now sunny and warm, though the ground was still sopping wet. A tiny little makeshift pen had been set up to let the puppies play on the bricked patio.

“This is the wall that faces the barn, correct?” Zy’nayth asked. They were in the basement assessing where the tunnel should meet the house.

“Yup,” John said.

“Good. I think this will work nicely. Plenty of room and will not have to interfere with the laundry machines and disrupt Victoria’s setup. We will take measurements after we see the barn.”

“We have to go past the furry ones to get there,” Victoria said. “You ready for this?”

“I am, but stop before we see them. I wish to explain things to the children.”

Victoria led them back up to the main floor and to the room near the back patio. Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna had just been watching and observing everything. They had the most fun in the basement, running around in the wide-open space.

“Ky’nayth, Mik’kenna,” Zy’nayth called his children to him, “Do you guys know what a dog is? Do you remember from your books?”

Both kids nodded.

“Dogs are a lot of responsibility,” Zy’nayth continued. “They must be fed and bathed. They need to be trained where it is appropriate to go to the bathroom. They need to have much attention and love. Do you understand this?”

Both kids nodded again.

“If you were to get a puppy, a young dog, what do you think I would want you to do?”

“Feed it,” Ky’nayth replied.

“Give it baff,” his sister said.

“Give it hugs and kisses,” Ky’nayth said.

“Lots love,” Mik’kenna nodded.

“Show it baffwoom,” Ky’nayth said.

“No, son. You must show the puppy where they can go to the bathroom, which is not the bathroom itself. They will need to be shown many times. They will make a mess because they are young and will forget, or it may take them a long time to learn. Are you two willing to clean up those messes?”

“Potty messes?” Ky’nayth asked and wrinkled his nose, not sure he liked the idea of cleaning up potty messes.

“Yes.”

“There are little pads,” Victoria said, “that we can put down, oh, thanks Uncle Chris, like this.” She held up the square of plastic-backed cloth, then set it on the ground. “You have to teach the puppy that this is where they are to go potty. And when they do, you have to pick this up and throw it away. But if they make a mess on the floor, you’ll have to help me clean it up.”

“I no no,” Mik’kenna said. “Potty messes gross.”

“I won’t make you do it on your own,” Victoria said, “but you guys will need to help me. Can you do that if we get a puppy?”

Both kids thought about it then nodded.

“And are you willing to play with the dog and love it and take care of it if it gets sick?” Zy’nayth asked.

Both kids nodded.

“Promise me,” Zy’nayth said.

“I pommiss,” Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna each said.

“Very well. If I understand your mother correctly, there are seven puppies here. Each of you may pick one to be your own puppy. You will give them names and you will take care of them just as you promised. Your mother and I will help, but you are responsible for them.”

“I don’t think they’ve ever seen a puppy,” John said quietly to Chris, “they’re not as excited as I thought they’d be.”

“It’ll click the minute they see them,” Chris assured him.

“Mommy, show them the puppies,” Zy’nayth said.

Victoria led them through the room and opened the patio door. The kids stood in wonder as the seven little white, brown, and black fur balls were wrestling with each other.

Alessa and Be’atta were sitting on chairs watching over the puppies and grinned as the kids walked up to the little fence enclosing them.

Mik’kenna looked back at her father and pointed to the puppies. He gave her a nod. Ky’nayth was busy trying to climb the cardboard fence to get in with them. Chris ducked through and grabbed him before it came crashing down, then he set the boy in with the dogs while Zy’nayth put Mik’kenna in with them.

The puppies ganged up on the kids and brought them down. The kids giggled and squealed with delight.

“Remember,” Zy’nayth said, “you each only get one puppy. So while we go to do some work, you must figure out which puppy you want.”

When Zy’nayth and Kol’non finished up taking their measurements of the barn, the yard between the barn and the house, then discussing various options with John, Chris, and Kaven as to the location of the bridge portal and the tunnel, the men returned to the patio.

“Have you picked out your puppies?” Zy’nayth asked.

Mik’kenna nodded. She had picked the smallest and shiest of the bunch. A little girl with two black ears, a brown nose, and tiny black and brown spots on her torso was curled up in Mik’kenna’s lap sleeping.

“Are you sure that’s the one you want?” Victoria asked.

“Ess. She sweet.”

“Do you have a name for her?”

“No. I faynking.”

“Ky’nayth, have you chosen a puppy?” his father asked.

“Dis one,” he said as he sat down next to one that had one black ear and one brown ear with matching patches around the eyes.

“Are you sure?” Victoria asked.

Ky’nayth nodded. “I name him Baxter.”

“Baxter? Where did you get that name?” she asked.

He shrugged his shoulders. “I no know. Dis is Baxter.”

“Okay. Well, I guess everyone else can pick their puppies now,” Victoria smiled.

Alessa picked up one that had a brown patch on her left ear and front right foot. Her muzzle had a little bit of black in it as did her backend and tail. “I’ve already named her Storm. If you like it,” she said to Chris.

“Good strong name,” he smiled. “Storm it is.”

“Be’atta, your turn,” John said.

“I’m still undecided on the whole thing. Go ahead.”

“David,” John said, “I think the one you had your eye on is still there. Go ahead.”

David’s choice had all brown markings: a spot on her side, her entire face except a white stripe from the forehead to the nose. Her left ear was also brown, but her right ear was black.

“Got a name for her?” Chris asked.

“Montana, to remind me where I got her,” he smiled, “Montie for short.”

“Good one, Dad.”

“Go John,” Kaven said.

John reached down and picked up the one he had hoped no one else wanted. The girl had a black face, a black rear end, and a brown spot from her right shoulder and mid back down to her right front leg. “This tough little girl is Scout.”

“Be’atta, Kaven,” Chris said, “come on, we can’t go back to Terra 2 without all of the brothers and sisters in tow.”

Be’atta smiled, “Good point. Okay, I’ll take this little guy.” He was nearly all black except a few brown areas on his shoulders and a brown patch over his left eye. “Let me see, what’s your name?” She moved him this way and that then smiled, “Shadow. You are Shadow.”

“Good name,” Chris said. “Okay, Kaven, what are you going to name your little boy?” Kaven had picked him up as soon as Be’atta picked up Shadow. Half of his face was brown and the other black, and the rest of him almost completely white. “I was hoping no one would pick you,” he said as he cuddled the tiny puppy in his warrior arms, “and I’m naming you Hero.”

“Typical,” Chris grinned. “Okay, Miss Mik’kenna, have you thought of a name yet?”

“I no no,” she said and began to cry. “I wuv her so much. Need wight name.”

“Oh, honey,” Chris said, kneeling down and taking her into his arms, “there’s no need to cry. You’ll come up with the right name. I know you will. Let’s see, you said she was sweet. What about calling her Sweetie?”

Mik’kenna shook her head but then she brightened, “Soo est. Suhwest.” She pouted, “Can’t say wight.”

“Honey, can you send a picture to Daddy in your head?” Victoria asked. “Show him what you want to name her.” The girl nodded and pictured a vast star field in her head.

Zy’nayth gently entered her mind to see the image and smiled as the girl again tried to say the word but it again came out as suhwest. “Celeste?” he asked.

Mik’kenna beamed, “Ess! Suhwest!”

“Celeste is a beautiful name,” Victoria said. “Star might be easier to say.”

Mik’kenna shook her head, “No. She is Suhwest.”

“Celeste it is then,” Victoria said then kissed her daughter and the puppy.

Kol’non walked over to Be’atta, “May I hold Shadow?” he asked.

She smiled, “Of course.”

“Did you guys get the fire pit ready?” Victoria asked, “I’d like to grill our lunch today.”

“She’s ready to go,” John said, “I’ll start her up.” He put Scout back into the pen and walked over to the pit. He got the fire started and put the cleaned grill on it. “Ky, Kenna, I’m gonna help your Mommy with lunch,” he said, “will you two watch Scout for me?”

“Ess!” they both said.

“I think I should help too,” Alessa said and set Storm in the pen.

“And while they’re doing that,” Chris said, “I’ll show you guys how to train the puppies to go potty in the right spot, okay? Me and Dad always had pups and it was always my job to train them. So I have lots of experience.”

The kids nodded and Chris went into the house to get some of the puppy pads.

“Kenna was so cute,” Alessa said as she walked into the kitchen. “She is so sensitive sometimes. Other times,” she laughed, “like playing with Uncle Chris, you see her father’s warrior side come out.”

Victoria smiled, “Both kids are like that. Ky just doesn’t show his sensitivity as much, he just gets quiet, just like his father. And should we feed the puppies now too?”

“Oh, yeah. I’ll get the kids and show them what to do. Chris can put off his little lesson for a minute,” Alessa said and returned a minute later with the kids following obediently behind her.

“These are their food bowls,” Alessa explained, “and this is their food.” She told them how much and when to feed them, and that their water bowls should always have fresh water in them. Each kid listened dutifully, then filled the dishes as they were instructed and carried them out to the pen where all of the puppies were playing with each other. Victoria and Alessa tended to the water bowls since they didn’t want the water slopped all over the house.

“Dada, put in peez,” Mik’kenna said holding up the food bowl to her father.

“They are going to be disappointed when we return to the ship without the puppies,” Zy’nayth said after the kids were being taught about the “puppy pads” while trying to keep from giggling at the feisty pups who were ignoring Chris completely.

“Yeah, they will,” John said. “Poor things.”

***

After lunch, John, Kaven, and Chris went back to work putting up the perimeter security array. Zy’nayth and Kol’non finished up gathering what information they needed for the barn and tunnel.

“Are you sure you can’t stay a little while longer?” Victoria asked.

“The sooner we get that bridge portal, the sooner we can start heading back to Terra 2.”

“I wish you could at least stay the night.”

He gave his wife a smile, “I would enjoy that, but we will not be separated much longer. We should be back tomorrow evening to pick up the children.”

“I’ll try and prepare them for the journey back without their new furry friends.”

“I would appreciate that.” He knelt down and gave his children hugs and kisses. Then after a kiss for his wife, he and Kol’non teleported back to his flagship.