Fic: The Summer Intern (cont.)

[jeriendhal]

Following Meribeth’s advice, Nan went back to the First One’s tree house the next morning.  She found him dead asleep in the conversation pit, a half-empty jug of the locally produced hard cider sitting on the central table.
 
Nan sat down quietly at the comsole, paw hovering uncertainly over the power button, when the First One called out, “Didn’t I tell ya to get lost yesterday?”
 
“You did, sir,” she answered.  “Lady Meribeth advised that I come back.”  Before he could reply she added, ”I’m sorry I made that assumption about the interview.  That was coercive and unethical act.  Even if you are the First One you’re still a ferin.  I should have known better than to do that.  If you want my resignation from the internship program, I’ll provide it immediately.”
 
As Nan had hoped, her immediate apology had derailed whatever apology or argument the First One had been marshaling.  Instead he levered himself out of the conversation pit, pressed his fingers to his temples briefly, then glared at her.  After a moment he said, “I’ve never had an intern resign.  I’m not startin’ with you.”
 
“What about Greycoat?” she asked.
 
His expression darkened further.  “He didn’t resign, I kicked him out on his fraggin’ tail.”
 
“Oh.”  Nan cleared her throat.  “Well, about him.  I’m afraid I engaged in another ethical violation.  Officer Greycoat confronted me yesterday in the lobby of the dormitory.  He said he had suspicions that you knew the location of the buck and his troupe and were trying to conceal them from the authorities.  Count Brokentoe’s authorities I suppose.  He wanted me to use my access to your files to find any evidence.”

“What did ya give him?” the First One asked.
 
“Nothing,” Nan said.  “But he was so creepy about the whole thing that I used my passcode to look him up later in your files. I hadn't realized he was one of those Greycoats. I wonder how he became a CP officer."

The First One snorted. "He originally earned his internship 'cause of a study he was writin' on using the Alliance justice system to pull ferin out of indenture. Guy fraggin' loved law and order. Becoming a cop must have seemed like a logical idea after he flamed out here."

"I suppose," she agreed. She touched the side of her muzzle, thinking. "If I'm not prying, sir, is that the reason why he was forced to leave? I mean, if someone has such a passion for justice, and if he had what seemed like an overinflated opinion of..." Nan stumbled over her words, remembering whom she was talking to. "Well, of you. I think meeting you in person might have been, er...."

"He was kinda disappointed, yeah," the First One said. He sighed and kneaded his forehead. "You don't know how bloody sick I get of the damned doe-eyed expressions I get. Your people think I'm a war hero, saving 'em from the Bloody Plagues Round Two. Every ferin that comes across me thinks I'm a fraggin' god, unless I let myself touch their bion and they can see what's really there."

"Why don't you let them? Isn't that normal for ferin?" Nan asked carefully.

"I ain't a normal ferin, Vix. I never wanted to rule, but who else was gonna do it? It had to be a ferin in charge of the Region, otherwise we would have just been working for another set of Wise Masters, even if it were your folk. I never wanted any of this. I never thought I could be so surrounded by my own people and feel so Goddess blessed..." He frowned deeply and shut up.

"So lonely?" she asked.

He glared at her and looked as if he was going to say something, but the annunciator on the comsole bleeped in interruption. Nan reached over to it and said promptly, "First One's residence."

"This is Ranger Longwalk," Freya said, her face appearing on the screen. She smiled, though her eyes looked weary. "Hello, Nan. Have you kissed and made up with his royal nibs yet?"

"I'm standin' right here, Freya," the First One said, crossing his arms in front of his chest and leaning into the comsole's field of view.

"Hello your royal nibs, have you kissed and made up with Nan yet?" Freya asked.

"Very funny. Why are ya callin' anyway? Got news on our missin' buck?"

Freya's smile faded. "I wish. We got a call from one of the arboreal troupes in Map Area 2924,. One their joeys has gone missing and the alpha buck wants an aerial search conducted."

Nan thought a moment. "Isn't 2924 just over from the sector where the Furrow's farm is located?" she asked.

"Righto," Freya agreed.

"Wait, something stinks. How young is the joey?" the First One asked.

"About three years," the ranger said.

"And their mother wasn't bion linked to it to keep track?"

"She was, that's what's got everyone worried. Either the joey is hiding or he took a bad fall somehow and... well."

The First One frowned deeply. "She should have felt that too. Especially something like that."

"I know. That's why the troupe's alpha wants help. He's as confused as I am. But it does mean diverting resources from the search for our murder suspect," Freya said.

"I'll give you Skyler and his flyer," the First One said. "I'll grab Vix's roommate to come along with us in case we find the joey and he needs medical attention."

"Good idea, sir."

"But you can't come along, First One," Nan said. "Aren't you still bion linked yourself to the little doe that Meribeth brought in?"

The First One slapped his forehead. "Fragg, you're right, Vix. All right then. You go along with Freya and Nez so you can be my eyes and ears, a'right?"

"Yes, First One," Nan said. "What should I be looking for exactly?"

"If I knew that, I wouldn't need ya. Go find yer roommate and get cracking."

TBC

Comments

[mjkj.livejournal.com]

Poor Doe and poor Joey...

I just hope they find him/her soon - and uninjured.

Same area? Well, there certainly is someone "masking" bion there ... I guess when they find said joey they will find the murderer also ... something definitely is brewing there...

I hope Teri can leave soon and investigate himself - how long does the doe need to be linked with him constantly? When is she stable enough that he can get out of area for a while?

mjkj