Lottery
Chapter 10
By Mark J. Silva Jr
Mark had enjoyed his three days in the Marine barracks. Now he was in his 'dress uniform,' and was sitting at a holographic console. He was explaining what he'd discovered, and going through each and every part of the virus that could be safely viewed by his audience.
“Mr. Howland, you say this is an Army INSCOM program called 'Night Fire.' How can you prove that?” an officer asked as she read her own display info.
“Madam, while I was working in ONI, I had the pleasure of working with some fine techs from all over the federation. One tech, a Staff Sergeant, had this habit of using compounded scripts to encrypt her coding. It was a nice neat set up, and worked just fine, but they way she did it, became her signature. Here are examples of her past coding. As you see, it is the same exact type of compounded coding,” Mark answered as he flashed up sixty-seven different code packages, with a highlights on the sample coding he was talking about. “Just about all coders have a signature of some form, including myself. It's a learned habit, and it's just as distinctive as signing your name.”
The officers looked through what Mark had shown them.
“I see what you are talking about, Mr. Howland; but couldn't she have done this on her own, outside of an INSCOM lab, without them knowing about it?” asked a different officer.
Mark brought up a different coding package.
“Most coders do not know of this. Consider this to be at a 'Level Gold A' clearance. This is an AI's sign off, for processor time. As you see, this AI is a resident of INSCOM Lab Nine, in New London, Mars.”
Sitting in a holochair, light years away, Federation President Sandy Zu almost shat herself.
“Mr. Howland, can you stop the damage? Further, can you cure the victims?”
Mark smiled as he looked over at the President's holo image.
“Madam President, INSCOM has the codes necessary to stop the virus. As for curing the damage, I would recommend wetware splicing, with new undamaged biomass, once the victims have been cleared of the virus.”
Sandy looked over everything Mark had presented and said, “Okay, then. We have to get the files needed, and start the treatments. You all know what you need to do. Mr. Howland, please remember this is a military matter, and is now under Level Gold A status. You are not to go any further in your work. Have all local files destroyed, and you are to return to your Owner for further instructions,”
Mark stood up and bowed as he replied, “Of course, Madam President,”
“And, Mr. Howland, thank you for your speedy work and service.”
The holo image vanished. The other officers gathered up their tablets. Mark stood in his spot, he had no ranking, and until Lisa or Heather came to collect him, he would be locked up in this room for everyone's safety.
Mark knew someone would be in the lab wiping all the memory blocks, and deleting anything related to him ever being there; but being locked in a small office for three hours, was nerve wracking. He had nothing to do at all. Moments after the last officer left, the consoles shut down. Mark was locked out of all the coms. But the worst part, was that someone killed the air conditioning, and the building Mark was in started to get really hot.
When Lisa opened the door into the small building, she immediately knew something was very wrong. It had to be over hundred and ten in the front office, and that room had a window open. Rushing to the office where Mark was waiting, she found him laying naked on the concrete floor, sleeping. Gingerly, she picked Mark up. He moaned as she carried him out of the office, and into a waiting van. She placed Mark in the front seat and pointed an A/C vent right at him.
“What happened?” Heather asked.
“Some damn fool killed all the power to the building. He was roasting in there,”
Christy passed forward a bottle of water, and Lisa put it to Mark's lips. He started to gulp the water down.
“Slow down! You will get sick if you drink too fast,” Lisa said as she pulled the bottle away.
The ride was cool and quiet. By the time they all pulled up to Lisa's home, Mark was himself once more, and was joking around.
The next morning, Mark woke in a nice warm soft bed. Sitting up, Mark looked around the room. The last time he'd been in the bed he hadn't been feeling all that well. Today, he could appreciate everything in the room. It was on the large side, with a full wall, window/slider combo, that lead directly out to a high walled back yard. Mark sat up and grabbed a robe from the foot of the bed.
His bare feet hit the carpeted floor, and Mark couldn't help but curl his toes into the lush carpet. Mark walked over to a closet and opened it, It was twice the size of the one he'd had back in the old labs, but it was almost empty. Inside, there were three dresses, a pair of sweat pants, and two lingeries. Mark stepped back out of the closet, and went over to the built-in dresser. He found it was almost empty, too. Three pairs of thongs, and a set of boxers; not even a pair of socks.
Mark grabbed the boxers and then went for the sweat pants. Mark tried the bedroom door, and found it was locked. Looking at the slider that was cracked open Mark wondered why lock one door while the slider to the back yard was open? Mark went to the slider and quickly learned why.
It was a private space, only way in or out was through the room's slider. The wall was new, compared to the rest of the house that Mark could see. There was a nice set of loungers to lie on, and an 'in ground' hot tub big enough for ten people (if they really liked each other). Then Mark noticed a security camera following him around the area.
“I hope you slept well,”
Mark spun around, and backed up to the wall.
“Easy… I guess introductions are needed,” the lady said as she stepped out into the yard and sat on one of the loungers.
“I'm Diana Bradly, Lisa's spouse,” Di said as she watched Mark. “Could you come and join me back in the room, so we can talk?”
Di got up again, and without looking back, went into the room. She pulled a chair out from under a small desk.
Mark wasn't too sure about this lady. She was tall and skinny, with light brown hair and dark cream colored skin. She looked as old as Lisa did: around seventy-five. What bothered Mark was not so much that he didn't know her, but how did she did get in the room? As he stepped through the slider Mark noticed the bedroom door was now open.
Di sat, smiling, as she watched Mark and how nervous he was. After a few minutes, Mark sat on the foot of the bed closer to the open door than to her.
“Now, isn't that more comfortable than standing with your back against a wall?”
Mark eyed her, and nodded his head.
“Lisa sends her love. She'd be here, but as you know, duty calls. So, let's see. I know your first week has been hectic. First off, let me explain what I can. You are now on Cyres three, in the Eckart system. We are living in the town of Framingham. Lisa is now a High-General, and she's in charge of a full fleet. She's is no longer with ONI. Myself? I was a Non-com. I retired out a few years ago, and now I enjoy the peaceful quiet life. When Lisa first bought you, she was so excited. You'd be surprised at all the photos she has of you, as you grew up. She sent me weekly updates on you, and how proud she was of you.”
Mark moved uneasily on the bed, inching closer to the doorway.
Di smiled, “Would you like to see the rest of the house?”
This got Mark's attention, “Please, may I, Madam?”
Di got up and offered her hand to Mark.
“Please, call me Di. And of course you can see more of the house. It is your home, also, now.”
Mark got off the bed and took Di's offered hand.
“I don't understand. Why didn't Lisa take me with her?”
Di led Mark out and into the hallway.
“She didn't want to put you in danger. She is worried that ONI would put you back in a lab, and then turn around and declare you a danger to the Federation, once more. So, for now, you will be living here with me.”
They entered a very large front room. There, sitting over on a large couch, was Christy. As soon as Di and Mark entered the room, she placed her book down and stood up.
“Morning, Di, I see you found Mark.”
“He wasn't all that hard to find, with you locking him in at night, and all.”
Mark looked over at Christy, wondering where this was leading.
“Well, Di, it is my job to keep an eye on him. So I figured he'd be safe in there, while I went home for the night.”
Mark was confused. Heather was at one time his protector, but she was owned by Lisa. Christy's comments sounded like she was free; maybe even a citizen.
Di and Christy noticed the confused look on Mark's face.
“If your thinking or wondering, Christy is a free citizen. Most who live here are. I can only think of maybe six people that are owned, in the whole town. I hired Christy to keep you out of trouble.”
“You hired her? But I don't need a babysitter! I'm forty-three years old,” Mark answered as he randomly walked around the room, checking everything out.
“Yes, I hired her, and you know full well that cryo time does not count towards your age. You didn't experience anything at all as an ice cube. You are helpless in protecting yourself. Lisa would hang me if something was to happen to you, while you're under my watch,” Di said as Christy passed her a hot tea.
“Christy, what are the plans for today?”
“Today is just a nice quiet day. Maybe take Mark out for lunch at the Commons. But first, he needs to get dressed properly,” Christy answered as Mark checked out a com unit.
“I have nothing to wear,” Mark answered with out stopping.
“What do you mean you have nothing? I went out and brought you those new dresses,” Christy said in an upset voice.
Mark stopped and looked at her.
“One, I don't like dresses. Two, I'm a 'Lithe,' not a 'Small' or 'Petite.' Three, those thing are the gaudiest things I have even seen. Who in his right mind would wear semi transparent sparkly dresses? And that green one makes me want to puke! Even these sweat pants are too big. I keep stepping on the cuffs.”
Christy stood there slack jawed. She was very careful in what she had bought, and the dresses were of the latest fads. She felt like she'd just been slapped.
Di laughed, “I do say, he is refreshing at times! So outspoken.”
“Hey, now, don't encourage him. Mister man there should know his place. I worked hard to find those dresses, they are the latest fashion,” Christy said with her arms crossed.
Before Mark could snap back, “Relax, Christy. You have to remember he's been in stasis for the past twenty-four years. He hasn't had time to learn or judge the latest fashions. Maybe I should take him shopping for something in his size and tastes.”
“I will have to ask Lisa for the funds,” Christy said with a scowl.
Di looked at Christy and dryly replied, “My dear, I do not need Lisa's permission to spend money. Get your gear, and let's find a shirt for Mark, so we can go.”
* * * *
Christy tried to lead Mark and Di to the store where she'd bought the dresses, but Di put a stop to that, quickly.
“Christy, that’s a hip hop place for teen boys,” Di pointed out.
“Well, he is a teen, or so I thought.”
Di started laughing as she replied, “My dear, he a teen from twenty years ago. Fashions have changed a lot. I know of a place close by that may have just what he likes.”
A few more storefronts down, Di led Mark into a dress maker's shop. Inside was an array of dresses; from the latest fashions worn by holo movie stars, to classics wore ten, twenty, and thirty years ago.
Mark wasn't liking this, at all. He wanted jeans, pants and shorts; not more dresses. But Di was paying for this, and she would get him what she wanted. The only consideration was for Mark's fashion taste. Di explained to Christy that new fashions may look good to her, but would never feel or look right to Mark. That would show in how he wore the dresses.
Inside the shop, Di walked Mark to a fitting room in the back. There they met the shop keeper. Kassy was in her mid thirties and gave Mark and Di a warm smile.
Christy sat in a chair close to the front doors and relaxed a bit.
“Lady Bradly, I would have never expected you to visit my establishment,” Kassy said as she opened the fitting room door for her and Mark.
“Kassy, this is Mark, Lisa's boy. We need to get him some dresses and undergarments,” Di said as she nudged Mark forward.
“Oh, is this the boy she been talking about all these years?” Kassy said as she went to a console, and started to set it up.
“While I warm up the holofitter, I need you to get undressed, to your underpants.”
Mark pulled off the large shirt and slipped out of the sweatpants. Mark walked over to the holofitter and stood on the platform. Kassy turned around and whistled. “My my, you are a tiny thing. I haven’t had a pretty boy in here in years,”
Kassy had Mark stand with his arms outstretched and light from the holofitter washed over him, measuring every detail. After a minute, Kassy looked at the reading with a small frown.
“We are going to need to lose the boxers, I'm not getting a good reading with them on around his waist and hips,” she said.
Mark didn't look all that happy at the thought of stripping down more in a store, anyone could easily walk in on them. But with the look from Di, Mark slipped them off, and once more stood with his arms outstretched. The holofitter scanned over him once more. Moments later a dress was projected over his body by the holofitter. If you didn't know it was just a visual overlay, you would swear Mark was really wearing a new dress in a light teal color.
“Oh, that’s one of Bruce Dalangers pieces from 'A Home For My Child.' It looks good on you,” Kassy said as she went over a few details, “You can lower your arms now,”
The holofitter flowed with Mark's movements, “Can you give us a twirl?”
Mark spun around and the skirt reacted as if it was real. It lifted and spun around with him. The effect was a 'full flash' for Kassy and Di. Di smiled and Kassy snorted a laugh.
“Maybe we should have you try on some undergarments as well.”
Hours later, Di was very pleased with the selections of dresses and undergarments she personally had picked out for Mark. Most of the dresses were to be delivered later in the day. As they pulled up to the house, Mark noticed a large blue box carrier parked at the curbside.
Di and Christy got out of the car. Di cautioned Mark to wait for them in the car.
As Di rounded the side of the Van she smiled. Printed on the side of the box carrier was 'Alton Pets Health Care Services.' Mark's bunnygirl was home. As she stepped to the rear of the box carrier, Di and Christy found the rear doors open. Someone was talking to Tina.
“Hello,” Di said to the people in the box carrier.
“Hello. Would one of you be Missus Howland?”
“No, my dear, I'm Missus Bradly. Mark is her owner, and he is waiting in the car. Christy, dear, can you go get him, please?” Di said.
Christy headed back to the car. Tina was looking around, and could barely contain herself. She knew Mark was just a few feet away from her, but until he stepped up and released the seat's locked straps, she was stuck in place.
“Missus Bradly…” said the lady in charge, but Di raised her hand for a moment.
“Please, my dear, call me Di,”
“Okay, then, Di… the paper work states that the owner of this pet is also owned?” Vanessa said as she read the tablet once more.
“Yes, he is. He's in my charge, currently. Is there a problem?”
“Well, Madam, we found a few unexpected things. Tina, here, has a lot of custom wetware modifications. One such modification is weaponry that was not in her official records,” Vanessa said as Mark rounded the Corner and Tina started bouncing excitedly in her seat.
Vanessa saw Mark start to step into the box carrier, “Whoa, there, little guy. She's dangerous!”
“Maybe to you, she is,” Mark said with a smile.
“That is Mark, Tina's owner, my dear,” Di answered.
“Oh, do you know about her modifications?” Vanessa asked,
“I sure do. I made them. Besides higher capacity memory storage, and a multi-banded Lambda commutations unit, she has bio-zirconium dioxide* enhanced claws, and a few other items I’m not going to explain about,” Mark said as he patted Tina's arm. {*Ed. note: a type of ceramic, used in fine knives}
Di and Christy both looked at Tina's claw tips that were about a half inch long.
“You should have included that in her official records. We had an incident. An Aide who was clearly out of line, tried to use her, and he ended up being disemboweled. Those thing are razor sharp and retractable!”
“He touched me in places he wasn't suppose to!” Tina snapped back.
“Where did he touch you, Tina?” Mark asked.
“He kept playing with my tail, but I told him, hands off the tail puff, then he touched me down there,” Tina explained.
“Like I said, he was in the wrong. I make no excuses for his actions, but she gutted him.” Vanessa said as she went over a few files. “The charges for his medical expenses are....”
“Oh, hell no! Even a child knows never to play with a stranger's pet. If your aide got himself hurt, he can pay his own medical expenses,” Christy said as she snatched the tablet from Vanessa's hand.
“Mark, why don't you take Tina inside, while we discuss this matter.”
Mark hit the seat's release button, and Tina hopped up and into Mark's arms, covering his face in kisses.
“There nothing like a pet's love for their owner,” Vanessa said as she watched Mark walk out of the box carrier, with Tina holding onto his hand.
After Mark and Tina entered the house, Di turned to Vanessa.
“Did you get the new request?” Di asked.
Vanessa smiled, and tapped a command into the tablet. They watched the inner doors slide open. Sitting there with a big smile on her face, was Penny.
“Mr. Howland, you say this is an Army INSCOM program called 'Night Fire.' How can you prove that?” an officer asked as she read her own display info.
“Madam, while I was working in ONI, I had the pleasure of working with some fine techs from all over the federation. One tech, a Staff Sergeant, had this habit of using compounded scripts to encrypt her coding. It was a nice neat set up, and worked just fine, but they way she did it, became her signature. Here are examples of her past coding. As you see, it is the same exact type of compounded coding,” Mark answered as he flashed up sixty-seven different code packages, with a highlights on the sample coding he was talking about. “Just about all coders have a signature of some form, including myself. It's a learned habit, and it's just as distinctive as signing your name.”
The officers looked through what Mark had shown them.
“I see what you are talking about, Mr. Howland; but couldn't she have done this on her own, outside of an INSCOM lab, without them knowing about it?” asked a different officer.
Mark brought up a different coding package.
“Most coders do not know of this. Consider this to be at a 'Level Gold A' clearance. This is an AI's sign off, for processor time. As you see, this AI is a resident of INSCOM Lab Nine, in New London, Mars.”
Sitting in a holochair, light years away, Federation President Sandy Zu almost shat herself.
“Mr. Howland, can you stop the damage? Further, can you cure the victims?”
Mark smiled as he looked over at the President's holo image.
“Madam President, INSCOM has the codes necessary to stop the virus. As for curing the damage, I would recommend wetware splicing, with new undamaged biomass, once the victims have been cleared of the virus.”
Sandy looked over everything Mark had presented and said, “Okay, then. We have to get the files needed, and start the treatments. You all know what you need to do. Mr. Howland, please remember this is a military matter, and is now under Level Gold A status. You are not to go any further in your work. Have all local files destroyed, and you are to return to your Owner for further instructions,”
Mark stood up and bowed as he replied, “Of course, Madam President,”
“And, Mr. Howland, thank you for your speedy work and service.”
The holo image vanished. The other officers gathered up their tablets. Mark stood in his spot, he had no ranking, and until Lisa or Heather came to collect him, he would be locked up in this room for everyone's safety.
Mark knew someone would be in the lab wiping all the memory blocks, and deleting anything related to him ever being there; but being locked in a small office for three hours, was nerve wracking. He had nothing to do at all. Moments after the last officer left, the consoles shut down. Mark was locked out of all the coms. But the worst part, was that someone killed the air conditioning, and the building Mark was in started to get really hot.
When Lisa opened the door into the small building, she immediately knew something was very wrong. It had to be over hundred and ten in the front office, and that room had a window open. Rushing to the office where Mark was waiting, she found him laying naked on the concrete floor, sleeping. Gingerly, she picked Mark up. He moaned as she carried him out of the office, and into a waiting van. She placed Mark in the front seat and pointed an A/C vent right at him.
“What happened?” Heather asked.
“Some damn fool killed all the power to the building. He was roasting in there,”
Christy passed forward a bottle of water, and Lisa put it to Mark's lips. He started to gulp the water down.
“Slow down! You will get sick if you drink too fast,” Lisa said as she pulled the bottle away.
The ride was cool and quiet. By the time they all pulled up to Lisa's home, Mark was himself once more, and was joking around.
The next morning, Mark woke in a nice warm soft bed. Sitting up, Mark looked around the room. The last time he'd been in the bed he hadn't been feeling all that well. Today, he could appreciate everything in the room. It was on the large side, with a full wall, window/slider combo, that lead directly out to a high walled back yard. Mark sat up and grabbed a robe from the foot of the bed.
His bare feet hit the carpeted floor, and Mark couldn't help but curl his toes into the lush carpet. Mark walked over to a closet and opened it, It was twice the size of the one he'd had back in the old labs, but it was almost empty. Inside, there were three dresses, a pair of sweat pants, and two lingeries. Mark stepped back out of the closet, and went over to the built-in dresser. He found it was almost empty, too. Three pairs of thongs, and a set of boxers; not even a pair of socks.
Mark grabbed the boxers and then went for the sweat pants. Mark tried the bedroom door, and found it was locked. Looking at the slider that was cracked open Mark wondered why lock one door while the slider to the back yard was open? Mark went to the slider and quickly learned why.
It was a private space, only way in or out was through the room's slider. The wall was new, compared to the rest of the house that Mark could see. There was a nice set of loungers to lie on, and an 'in ground' hot tub big enough for ten people (if they really liked each other). Then Mark noticed a security camera following him around the area.
“I hope you slept well,”
Mark spun around, and backed up to the wall.
“Easy… I guess introductions are needed,” the lady said as she stepped out into the yard and sat on one of the loungers.
“I'm Diana Bradly, Lisa's spouse,” Di said as she watched Mark. “Could you come and join me back in the room, so we can talk?”
Di got up again, and without looking back, went into the room. She pulled a chair out from under a small desk.
Mark wasn't too sure about this lady. She was tall and skinny, with light brown hair and dark cream colored skin. She looked as old as Lisa did: around seventy-five. What bothered Mark was not so much that he didn't know her, but how did she did get in the room? As he stepped through the slider Mark noticed the bedroom door was now open.
Di sat, smiling, as she watched Mark and how nervous he was. After a few minutes, Mark sat on the foot of the bed closer to the open door than to her.
“Now, isn't that more comfortable than standing with your back against a wall?”
Mark eyed her, and nodded his head.
“Lisa sends her love. She'd be here, but as you know, duty calls. So, let's see. I know your first week has been hectic. First off, let me explain what I can. You are now on Cyres three, in the Eckart system. We are living in the town of Framingham. Lisa is now a High-General, and she's in charge of a full fleet. She's is no longer with ONI. Myself? I was a Non-com. I retired out a few years ago, and now I enjoy the peaceful quiet life. When Lisa first bought you, she was so excited. You'd be surprised at all the photos she has of you, as you grew up. She sent me weekly updates on you, and how proud she was of you.”
Mark moved uneasily on the bed, inching closer to the doorway.
Di smiled, “Would you like to see the rest of the house?”
This got Mark's attention, “Please, may I, Madam?”
Di got up and offered her hand to Mark.
“Please, call me Di. And of course you can see more of the house. It is your home, also, now.”
Mark got off the bed and took Di's offered hand.
“I don't understand. Why didn't Lisa take me with her?”
Di led Mark out and into the hallway.
“She didn't want to put you in danger. She is worried that ONI would put you back in a lab, and then turn around and declare you a danger to the Federation, once more. So, for now, you will be living here with me.”
They entered a very large front room. There, sitting over on a large couch, was Christy. As soon as Di and Mark entered the room, she placed her book down and stood up.
“Morning, Di, I see you found Mark.”
“He wasn't all that hard to find, with you locking him in at night, and all.”
Mark looked over at Christy, wondering where this was leading.
“Well, Di, it is my job to keep an eye on him. So I figured he'd be safe in there, while I went home for the night.”
Mark was confused. Heather was at one time his protector, but she was owned by Lisa. Christy's comments sounded like she was free; maybe even a citizen.
Di and Christy noticed the confused look on Mark's face.
“If your thinking or wondering, Christy is a free citizen. Most who live here are. I can only think of maybe six people that are owned, in the whole town. I hired Christy to keep you out of trouble.”
“You hired her? But I don't need a babysitter! I'm forty-three years old,” Mark answered as he randomly walked around the room, checking everything out.
“Yes, I hired her, and you know full well that cryo time does not count towards your age. You didn't experience anything at all as an ice cube. You are helpless in protecting yourself. Lisa would hang me if something was to happen to you, while you're under my watch,” Di said as Christy passed her a hot tea.
“Christy, what are the plans for today?”
“Today is just a nice quiet day. Maybe take Mark out for lunch at the Commons. But first, he needs to get dressed properly,” Christy answered as Mark checked out a com unit.
“I have nothing to wear,” Mark answered with out stopping.
“What do you mean you have nothing? I went out and brought you those new dresses,” Christy said in an upset voice.
Mark stopped and looked at her.
“One, I don't like dresses. Two, I'm a 'Lithe,' not a 'Small' or 'Petite.' Three, those thing are the gaudiest things I have even seen. Who in his right mind would wear semi transparent sparkly dresses? And that green one makes me want to puke! Even these sweat pants are too big. I keep stepping on the cuffs.”
Christy stood there slack jawed. She was very careful in what she had bought, and the dresses were of the latest fads. She felt like she'd just been slapped.
Di laughed, “I do say, he is refreshing at times! So outspoken.”
“Hey, now, don't encourage him. Mister man there should know his place. I worked hard to find those dresses, they are the latest fashion,” Christy said with her arms crossed.
Before Mark could snap back, “Relax, Christy. You have to remember he's been in stasis for the past twenty-four years. He hasn't had time to learn or judge the latest fashions. Maybe I should take him shopping for something in his size and tastes.”
“I will have to ask Lisa for the funds,” Christy said with a scowl.
Di looked at Christy and dryly replied, “My dear, I do not need Lisa's permission to spend money. Get your gear, and let's find a shirt for Mark, so we can go.”
* * * *
Christy tried to lead Mark and Di to the store where she'd bought the dresses, but Di put a stop to that, quickly.
“Christy, that’s a hip hop place for teen boys,” Di pointed out.
“Well, he is a teen, or so I thought.”
Di started laughing as she replied, “My dear, he a teen from twenty years ago. Fashions have changed a lot. I know of a place close by that may have just what he likes.”
A few more storefronts down, Di led Mark into a dress maker's shop. Inside was an array of dresses; from the latest fashions worn by holo movie stars, to classics wore ten, twenty, and thirty years ago.
Mark wasn't liking this, at all. He wanted jeans, pants and shorts; not more dresses. But Di was paying for this, and she would get him what she wanted. The only consideration was for Mark's fashion taste. Di explained to Christy that new fashions may look good to her, but would never feel or look right to Mark. That would show in how he wore the dresses.
Inside the shop, Di walked Mark to a fitting room in the back. There they met the shop keeper. Kassy was in her mid thirties and gave Mark and Di a warm smile.
Christy sat in a chair close to the front doors and relaxed a bit.
“Lady Bradly, I would have never expected you to visit my establishment,” Kassy said as she opened the fitting room door for her and Mark.
“Kassy, this is Mark, Lisa's boy. We need to get him some dresses and undergarments,” Di said as she nudged Mark forward.
“Oh, is this the boy she been talking about all these years?” Kassy said as she went to a console, and started to set it up.
“While I warm up the holofitter, I need you to get undressed, to your underpants.”
Mark pulled off the large shirt and slipped out of the sweatpants. Mark walked over to the holofitter and stood on the platform. Kassy turned around and whistled. “My my, you are a tiny thing. I haven’t had a pretty boy in here in years,”
Kassy had Mark stand with his arms outstretched and light from the holofitter washed over him, measuring every detail. After a minute, Kassy looked at the reading with a small frown.
“We are going to need to lose the boxers, I'm not getting a good reading with them on around his waist and hips,” she said.
Mark didn't look all that happy at the thought of stripping down more in a store, anyone could easily walk in on them. But with the look from Di, Mark slipped them off, and once more stood with his arms outstretched. The holofitter scanned over him once more. Moments later a dress was projected over his body by the holofitter. If you didn't know it was just a visual overlay, you would swear Mark was really wearing a new dress in a light teal color.
“Oh, that’s one of Bruce Dalangers pieces from 'A Home For My Child.' It looks good on you,” Kassy said as she went over a few details, “You can lower your arms now,”
The holofitter flowed with Mark's movements, “Can you give us a twirl?”
Mark spun around and the skirt reacted as if it was real. It lifted and spun around with him. The effect was a 'full flash' for Kassy and Di. Di smiled and Kassy snorted a laugh.
“Maybe we should have you try on some undergarments as well.”
Hours later, Di was very pleased with the selections of dresses and undergarments she personally had picked out for Mark. Most of the dresses were to be delivered later in the day. As they pulled up to the house, Mark noticed a large blue box carrier parked at the curbside.
Di and Christy got out of the car. Di cautioned Mark to wait for them in the car.
As Di rounded the side of the Van she smiled. Printed on the side of the box carrier was 'Alton Pets Health Care Services.' Mark's bunnygirl was home. As she stepped to the rear of the box carrier, Di and Christy found the rear doors open. Someone was talking to Tina.
“Hello,” Di said to the people in the box carrier.
“Hello. Would one of you be Missus Howland?”
“No, my dear, I'm Missus Bradly. Mark is her owner, and he is waiting in the car. Christy, dear, can you go get him, please?” Di said.
Christy headed back to the car. Tina was looking around, and could barely contain herself. She knew Mark was just a few feet away from her, but until he stepped up and released the seat's locked straps, she was stuck in place.
“Missus Bradly…” said the lady in charge, but Di raised her hand for a moment.
“Please, my dear, call me Di,”
“Okay, then, Di… the paper work states that the owner of this pet is also owned?” Vanessa said as she read the tablet once more.
“Yes, he is. He's in my charge, currently. Is there a problem?”
“Well, Madam, we found a few unexpected things. Tina, here, has a lot of custom wetware modifications. One such modification is weaponry that was not in her official records,” Vanessa said as Mark rounded the Corner and Tina started bouncing excitedly in her seat.
Vanessa saw Mark start to step into the box carrier, “Whoa, there, little guy. She's dangerous!”
“Maybe to you, she is,” Mark said with a smile.
“That is Mark, Tina's owner, my dear,” Di answered.
“Oh, do you know about her modifications?” Vanessa asked,
“I sure do. I made them. Besides higher capacity memory storage, and a multi-banded Lambda commutations unit, she has bio-zirconium dioxide* enhanced claws, and a few other items I’m not going to explain about,” Mark said as he patted Tina's arm. {*Ed. note: a type of ceramic, used in fine knives}
Di and Christy both looked at Tina's claw tips that were about a half inch long.
“You should have included that in her official records. We had an incident. An Aide who was clearly out of line, tried to use her, and he ended up being disemboweled. Those thing are razor sharp and retractable!”
“He touched me in places he wasn't suppose to!” Tina snapped back.
“Where did he touch you, Tina?” Mark asked.
“He kept playing with my tail, but I told him, hands off the tail puff, then he touched me down there,” Tina explained.
“Like I said, he was in the wrong. I make no excuses for his actions, but she gutted him.” Vanessa said as she went over a few files. “The charges for his medical expenses are....”
“Oh, hell no! Even a child knows never to play with a stranger's pet. If your aide got himself hurt, he can pay his own medical expenses,” Christy said as she snatched the tablet from Vanessa's hand.
“Mark, why don't you take Tina inside, while we discuss this matter.”
Mark hit the seat's release button, and Tina hopped up and into Mark's arms, covering his face in kisses.
“There nothing like a pet's love for their owner,” Vanessa said as she watched Mark walk out of the box carrier, with Tina holding onto his hand.
After Mark and Tina entered the house, Di turned to Vanessa.
“Did you get the new request?” Di asked.
Vanessa smiled, and tapped a command into the tablet. They watched the inner doors slide open. Sitting there with a big smile on her face, was Penny.