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Subject: {ASSM} RP <*> Biolab 13, Cycle 03 - Sophia and Ted Larson, Section 03 1-2/2 - Station Twenty (M/wolfess military-scifi zoo nosex)
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Released to the public domain
----------

M/wolfess military-scifi zoo nosex
---

Biolab 13 - Cycle 03
Sophia and Ted Larson, Section 03 - Station Twenty
Chapter One - "Any More At Home Like You?"
---

The long corridor was a typical low-g station corridor.  Service-mechs and
fifteen people had been placed so they simulated what we would probably see
during a normal working day.  Everything had been positioned before Sophia
and I were called through the service entry.

As we got ready for the practice rescue drill, we were putting on our duty
suits and discussing how we would handle the situation. Michael, head of the
crew that handled publicity for the station, was comfortably seated in the
main chair back at station monitoring and waiting for us to tell him we were
ready.  Someone had decided to broadcast this one live and I wasn't happy
about the decision.

Once we were in our suits, we opened our private comm channel so we could
test our communications before we sealed.  We also continued our discussion.
"Ted, you know we can do this.  It's just another rescue drill.  Think of
later."  Her laughter was soft.  "Should be plenty of incentive for you to
get this over with in a hurry."

"Bitch.  Now I'll be distracted."  I chuckled briefly before I returned to my
complaint.  "Anyway, I think Michael is nuts.  Filming this is one thing.
Doing a live feed?"

Her voice lost its laughter.  "Ted, it was the Station Commander's decision
and I agreed with it.  Many of the people here still don't trust me.  This is
a chance to let them see me doing what they are paying me to do."

I sighed.  I didn't need to make an issue of the old fears that had surfaced
when we arrived at Sophia's newest duty station.  The intensive training I'd
undergone in the last five years had only made it worse.  "Hate, distrust...
You'd think these folks would know better."

"Most do."  Sophia's voice was filled with regret.  "But, to see an animal in
charge of a human and to know that under the right conditions that animal
will also be in charge of them...  Some people can never accept that, Ted."

"Sophia, you aren't an animal."  This part of the discussion was a stale
argument for both of us but I had to make the comment.

"The point is that I'm not a human.  So let's prove I have what it takes to
lead humans.  OK?"

"OK."

She stood and I heard the quiet noises that indicated she was finishing her
suit check.  I did the same.  "Sophia.  How come the dumping of the corridor
air while people are in it with us?  I'm afraid of Murphy."

With the planned air loss, people could die if Murphy's Law kicked in and
something went seriously wrong.

I knew that each person was a volunteer and had an emergency air supply with
them, just in case.  I also knew that all of the corridor lights would start
flashing at a preset time after the drill started--to let them know they
should use those supplies.

Our job was to get everyone to safety before the lights started flashing.  My
unspoken point was that during the years we'd pulled station duty, both of us
had developed an almost paranoid belief in Murphy's Law.

Sophia's voice was slightly strained when she answered.  "Because everyone
here needs to know we will do the best we can, no matter what Murphy tries to
do to us.  So, we get as close to the potential situation as we can during
the drill.  That means they dump the air."

"Sophie, I don't like it when it's this real."  I took a deep breath and then
closed my faceplate.  "I'm ready."

Sophia lifted her head back and then brought it down quickly before she
abruptly stopped the movement.  Since our private channel was open, I heard
the distinctive 'snap' as the latches on her faceplate closed.  She turned
and raised herself so she could place her front feet on my chest and look
through my faceplate to examine the duplicate readouts that were behind my
head.  I checked hers and spoke one word.  "Green."

She gently pushed herself away and settled next to me.  "You're green too.
Ted?  It's just another drill.  We've cleared the corridor in half the time
we've been given today."

I heard her voice on the station channel.  "Michael, we're ready."

Instead of an answer all the corridor monitors went live.  I wanted to swear
but held it to a muffled grunt of annoyance.  Michael's voice sounded
strained.  "While you were getting ready, I did the introduction."

There was a long silence before he took a deep breath and let it out in a
long and extremely resigned sigh.  I guess he had his own objections to what
we were about to do.  His next word was softly spoken.  "Show time."

Before the audible and visual air loss alarms finished their first cycle,
Sophia had taken off at almost her full speed.  As she headed down the
corridor she angled in the direction of one of the walls. Before she reached
it, she jumped, flipped herself sideways and pushed off so she would hit the
ceiling over the first mech.  Her initial duty was simple.  She had to locate
the people in the corridor and make sure all the emergency chambers had
opened.  She kept up a commentary that let me know where she was, and more
importantly, where the people were.

I had a different job so I was able to jog rather than run but I still used
the walls or ceiling when I needed to get past an obstacle.  As I reached
where each person had been reported by Sophia I needed to make sure they had
reached the nearest safety chamber. Once each section had been cleared I made
sure that the section chamber resealed and the emergency air supply had
activated. Stationers ran their own drills, so I didn't expect to have to do
more than verify things were working.  Since this drill didn't have any
simulated injuries to deal with, I was using part of my attention to search
for air leaks.

That search for leaks almost got me killed.

Everything was routine until I bounced off the ceiling over a mech and found
myself staring at the business end of a welding laser that was on and moving
in my direction.  About the same time that I was realizing I was under attack
I heard a yip of surprise and a grunt as something happened to Sophia that
she hadn't expected.  The next thing I heard was a very angry snarl that was
followed by the sound of her combat laser powering up.  Not good.

"Ted."  Her voice was unnaturally calm.  "Combat mode.  Someone's shooting at
me."

I didn't have time to switch suit modes or answer because my training had
taken over as I spotted the laser lining up.  I had just enough time to wish
my suit was in combat mode before I reacted by dropping down and rolling into
the woman's legs.  My first move was to grab the laser so she couldn't use it
on me.  There was a brief flurry of movement as we fought and suddenly she
was down, her arm broken and flopping uselessly at her side.  I couldn't stop
my grin as I bent down and caught her as  she tried to scramble away.  "It's
over.  You're going to be out until someone decides you should wake up."  I
applied the knockout and watched to make sure it took effect.

As I straightened up I remembered Sophia's order.  "Combat mode." It didn't
sound like much of a command because I was out of breath, but the circuitry
understood me.

"Ted!.  Ted!!  Answer me!"  Sophia sounded frantic.

"I'm OK.  I didn't have time to switch modes until after I put her down and
out.  I'm  OK and don't have a scratch on me.  She had a welding laser but
never got a chance to use it."  That reminded me of it so I recovered it and
squeezed the barrel until I felt the internal parts shatter.  With that done,
I placed the now useless laser on one of the mechs so it would be out of the
way.

The distinctive sound of laser fire hitting Sophia's suit caused me to duck
behind the nearest mech.  I carefully shifted so I could study the corridor
ahead.  Sophia was caught in a crossfire.  "What's taking you so long?  Do
you want me to take out the one closest to me?"

There was a soft sigh of relief.  "I needed to know what condition you were
in.  I was going to leave these two the same way."  The words were
matter-of-fact but the anger was unmistakable if you knew her as well as I
did.

I heard her take a deep breath.  "No.  I'll handle them both now that I know
you're OK.  Get back to getting those people to safety." I heard the thump as
she hit something very hard and then there was the sound of two shots from
her laser.

Something was nagging at me...  The alarm.  It hadn't gone off yet and I knew
it should have. "Condition red!  Get out of the combat zone!  Get to safety,
NOW!"  The suit's speaker was blaring as I turned it to full so I could be
heard in the thinning air.  The remaining people moved faster but they
weren't moving fast enough to keep me happy.

I switched to the public channel.  "Michael!  Get the area sealed."

"We've been trying to break through to you.  We can't.  Someone used a
command override on the controls down there."  His voice fell to a whisper.
"Ted, we're still live on this.  It's up to you and Sophia. Nobody can get in
to help."

Sophia interrupted us.  "I heard.  Ted, you get to the air lock and use the
manual override to seal that leak.  I'm going to work my way back down the
corridor and check all the chambers.  Let's make sure the lights on them are
telling the truth.  The ones at the lock lied to me."

I heard Michael's gasp and then he was bellowing orders.  It sounded like
Senior Colonel Michael Forrester hadn't lost his command skills during his
retirement.

I looked at where I was going and sighed.  I was going to hurt when this was
over.  That didn't stop me from taking my first step and launching into a
power assisted run that had me bouncing from wall to ceiling to floor in a
pattern that would get me down the corridor as fast as possible.  "I'm
moving.  What about your opponents?"

"I shot their lasers and then knocked them out.  We'll rescue them later, if
we have time.  Right now we have to worry about some people who are more
deserving of a chance to live."  Sophia's words were broken by grunts as she
worked her way back along the corridor and made sure everyone was safe.

After I arrived at the airlock I tried the security overrides and wasn't
surprised when they failed.  Somebody had wanted Sophia to fail in a big way.
I looked at the useless control panel and then reached for the manual
controls.  As I felt them disengage the powered controls I thought about the
effort that had gone into the attack.  It had been pretty well planned and
executed but at the same time whoever had planned this must have had a huge
blind spot.  I toggled to the open channel and sent some good news to Michael
and the world. "I should have us sealed in a few minutes."

Sophia was curt and on the combat audio.  "Good.  Those people are all on
their emergency air.  Every chamber has been sabotaged. Control doesn't know
yet and I don't plan on telling them until the briefing."

I nodded and then realized she couldn't see me.  "Understood."  By then I had
settled and found a good grip on the external hatch. "Stupid.  They forgot to
wreck the hinges on both hatches."  I hit the release lever that disconnected
the powered systems.  "Didn't even bother to disable the manual override.
Careless."

Sophia was more pragmatic.  Well, she did have more experience at this sort
of thing.  "It must have been their back door.  If they'd succeeded, we'd be
dead and they couldn't go back to the station."

I grunted as I finished closing the outer hatch and let the suit servos help
me spin the locking wheel.  "Outer door secured."

I watched the readouts for my external sensors and sagged with relief as the
pressure slowly built to normal.  Training let me close the inner hatch while
my mind was wondering what would happen next.

I was still on our private link.  "Both hatches secure and the pressure is
nearing normal."  I leaned against the wall and let go of the tension.  "We
did it."

"That we did."  There was a long pause.  "I've sent the all clear. It's going
to be awhile before a crew can get to us.  Now that all of us are safe, they
are securing the rest of the station."

Something in her tones warned me to stay on the scrambler.  I chose my words
carefully.  "It would have been convenient if there had been a near total, or
total loss of life here.  Especially if two of the lives lost were ours.  It
would have been even better if there had been a similar accident in another
area and everyone survived without our help."

Sophia sounded smug.  "There was an industrial accident in another part of
the station.  Whoever caused it, they weren't quick enough to get out before
Michael ordered the area sealed.  Be glad you're not linked to the command
net.  Station security is having problems protecting the people involved in
the accident.  People are pretty upset right now."  She laughed softly and I
winced at the overtones. "Suddenly people are insisting that all the Partners
go on emergency duty and cover the major areas because nobody feels they can
trust the humans on duty."

Her next statement was matter of fact.  "Ted, it would have been a major blow
to the Bio Partners' reputation."  She laughed again. "Instead, Geostation
Twenty is going to be gifted with a Bio Partners investigative board."

I groaned.  "Wonderful."  Sophia kept laughing longer than my comment
deserved.  "Sophie!  Snap out of it.  It's over!"

Her laughter cut off and she walked over to me.  Contact communication?

"Private.  For us only.  Grrfeth will be in charge of this one. They'll be
here in three hours."

Three hours?  The time was either too long or too short, depending on where
he was launched from.  I saw the only answer but it didn't make sense.  He'd
already been on his way when the drill turned real. "Did he know?"

Sophia was still for so long I bent down to check her readouts.  All green.
So, what was bothering her?

I looked back at her eyes and they were gleaming.  "Remember the request we
made two years ago?"  Before I could remember, she told me.  "He's agreed. He
and Liandra are bringing the surgical crew." Then she answered my question.
"No.  He didn't know."

She switched to external audio and greeted the people who had quietly joined
us.  "Everyone OK?"

"We're roughed up a bit, but otherwise we're fine."  The woman who answered
curtsied slightly and then looked directly at Sophia.  "I'm the senior
Lieutenant for this bunch.  Who do we owe our thanks to? They didn't tell us
that a Bio Partners team would be wearing the latest in combat armor during
an ordinary drill.  Sorry we couldn't do more to help.  We were off duty and
didn't expect to need combat gear.  What do you want us to do with the
bodies?"  She pointed upwards in a universal gesture as she spoke of 'they'
and then swung her hand over to point at our attackers.

To my surprise, Sophia flipped her helmet open.  Her deep inhalation through
her nose told me her reasons.  She faced the woman calmly. "They aren't
bodies, only unconscious.  Detail some of your people to keep an eye on them.
As for who we are, do you really have a need to know?"

The woman blushed.  It was obvious she hadn't expected Sophia to be so
direct.  Her embarrassment didn't keep her from maintaining eye contact with
Sophia.  "I think we do.  We owe you a life debt.  While the two of you were
distracted with whatever you wanted to say in private, we talked it over and
decided the best way to repay that debt, if the rumors are true, is to join
up."

She grinned and the grin took years off of her face.  "We're station grunts.
Isn't a one of us wouldn't do each other dirty to get a chance wear armor
like yours for regular duty."  There was a chorus of laughter and agreement.

Sophie's ears flicked in what seemed to be amusement as she tilted her head
slightly to the left.  I knew better.  Being in security meant that we didn't
trust our own communications under certain conditions.  Considering how close
we'd come to being killed, I didn't blame her for her caution.  To save time
and keep our conversation private she'd used some of the  signals we'd worked
out and let me know she'd made a field decision to treat these people as
passed recruits.  Wonderful thing, a wolf's nose.  Sometimes it cut past a
lot of paperwork.

"Junior Colonel Sophia Larson, Bio Partner Security. My partner and mate is
Captain Ted Larson.  If you folks picked up the rumors I'm thinking of, you
may have heard of us already.  She suddenly flipped her faceplate closed and
laughed through her speaker.  "Unlatch, Ted, and tell them who we are before
you give them the basics."

I reached up and opened my plate.  Before I did anything else I took a deep
breath and savored the station air.  There was laughter as they realized I
was clearing the suit air out of my lungs.  "Easy, Captain."  That was one of
the men.  "I saw that sprint to the airlock.  Must have been rank in that
suit.  Take your time.  We heard the announcement about it taking awhile
before we could get back to work."

I rested a hand on Sophia's suit and took the time to examine the scorches
where she'd been hit.  "Not bad.  Scorched but no penetration past the
ablative layers."

I turned back to face my audience.  "The wolf-bitch likes to play her little
games.  She seldom gets a chance to play them after combat.  Usually we're in
a debrief before our armor has cooled."

"Anyway, she's Tialira and I'm Fyrenth.  Maybe you've heard of us?" I waited
for the shoe to drop.

It did and I got total silence from my audience.  Finally... "Station Nine.
The bootleg tape..."  It was an awed whisper.

I looked at the Lieutenant and was rewarded with a new blush. "Rumors?  Nice
touch, El Tee."  I studied the one who had mentioned the tape.  "Except the
tape wasn't bootleg.  We jinxed the security ourselves and only the other Bio
Partners have ever known the truth."

"Why us?  Sir."

"You want the long story or the short one?"  He started to fidget when he
realized I was still studying him.

"Whatever you decide to give us, Captain."

Sophie's voice was a barely audible buzz in my ear.  "They all smell clean.
Nervous, but they think they know what they are getting into. They'll do OK."

I took a deep breath and smiled.  "I can give you both in one sentence.  It's
a recruiting tape and we aren't getting enough ground-pounders who pass the
entrance exams."

Now that I'd started with the explanation, I knew I needed to let them know
the full situation, just as Sophia had let me know what I was really getting
involved in before we'd partnered.  "Everything we did in that tape was
honest.  No acting.  There are some downside perks we couldn't show you but
it should have been obvious that the Partners do a real good job of taking
care of their own."

"As for the negatives involved, if you remember any of your tac training and
have looked around you, it should be obvious that there are a hell of a lot
more problems than most people can handle for long."  I settled against the
wall.  "Today's exercise was one of the major problems letting us know it was
still around."

"You folks still want in?"  There was a clamor of affirmatives from everyone
but the Lieutenant.  "Problems, El Tee?  You can drop the formality. Partners
don't use it except on ceremonial or other special occasions.  In the field
it can get a person killed."

She shrugged slightly.  "I'm Lieutenant Stella Myers.  Yes.  I have a
problem."  She raised an eyebrow and I nodded for her to go on. "You said
there was more than one major problem.  You gonna tell us about any others
now that you know my idiots have more hormones than brains?  Like maybe your
biggest one?  How come the GPs don't pass the entrance?  I can guess since
you're a lowly Captain and the Wolf is a JayCee."  She took a deep breath.
"Captain Larson, sir, I think they better hear that reason *and* the reason
you're still in security with her--from you.  Hell, I know *I* need to hear
the answers before I decide to toss the dice."

A snort sounded from Sophie's external speaker and that broke the tension.
Some folks laughed nervously but Stella held her ground. "Well?"

I let my eyes shrug before I answered her.  "I guess you may have it right,
since you know the questions to ask.  There isn't any way to sugarcoat
things.  Once you team, you've given up every right to choose your own path
through life.  The Biostructs use us, with our knowledge, as their hands in
order to survive in this world we've stuck them with.  If they change
assignments or careers, we do too. No option unless you want to break up the
team.  There's always that option and I have to admit there are some structs
and humans who enjoy that sort of pass-along.  That's where security is
different. We discourage 'pass-along' when it looks like it's going to
happen. Too much depends on the small things.  Usually, it's the lives of
those around you.  We humans have one rule we *never* violate during training
or combat.  'I come first, then my partner, then everyone else.'  Generally,
it works out."

My eyes must have hardened because she flinched back slightly.  "I read you,
Ted."

"It's not as human-selfish as it sounds.  The structs are a lot faster than
we are.  If I'd barged in while she was in combat mode, I might have
distracted her or drawn other fire and put myself in trouble.  If she had
been doing a sweep with her laser, she could have injured me.  Once she knew
I was OK and out of her field of fire, the battle was as good as over."

The man who'd mentioned the tape spoke again.  "I nearly missed it. She was
beautiful.  Bounced off a wall, hit the ceiling as she shot the first
attacker and then twisted and nailed the second one before she hit the other
wall.  Poetry she was.  Lovely lady and I ain't ashamed to say so."

"Stella?"  She nodded slowly.  "There's the second answer for you. Love."

She smiled slightly.  "I thought that was it."  She took a deep breath that
caused interesting things to happen inside her overalls. "I was born out here
and there is no way I'm going to pass up the chance of a lifetime.  I never
thought GP's had any brains and what you've said proves that most of them
don't.  I'm in.  Any more like her at home?"

There was a tone from the airlock controls and then an override beep from my
suit speaker.  "Both of them will be at home if Ted doesn't get this outer
airlock open real soon."

Sophia was so surprised that she jerked her head around to face the airlock.
"Grrfeth?"

"Liandra decided she was tired of wondering what shape you two were in so we
left the shuttle and came the rest of the way on our own. Besides, it was an
excuse for us do a space walk.  Get this lock open before somebody notices
we're out here."

I was resealed and moving as soon as I recognized Grrfeth's voice. In minutes
I had company and the outer door was sealed again.  When I reached for the
repressurize switch Liandra stopped me.  She shifted position so our helmets
could make contact.  "Air carries sound and we need to talk."

First Sophia, now Liandra.  This was turning into a day I knew I'd be glad to
put behind me.  "Talk."

She sighed and than gave it to me in simple words.  "Bad news.  Both of your
suits are bugged.  As long as you're out of combat mode, you can be
monitored.  If you stay in combat mode, nothing can get past the scramblers."

Bad news?  What an understatement.  "We haven't dropped combat mode yet.  SOP
saved us some more grief."

"Got it, Ted.  The grapevine is telling us that nobody knew our duty suits
are really disguised combat suits.  They know better, now." She sounded
resigned.

I thought about what had happened.  "Any way to do some damage control?"

Liandra did some thinking of her own.  "Maybe.  From an analysis of the
video, we know neither of you was operating at top speed.  What you did was
near the top end for normal gear.  We might be able to use that as a decoy."

"What about Sophia?"  How are you going to let her know?"

"Ted, sometimes..."  She laughed.  "She and Grrfeth are wolves.  You know any
humans who can understand pure wolf when they talk at full speed?"

She had a point.  "I don't know any who can reliably translate when they talk
slowly."

I could see a smile form when she finished what I was about to say. "Plus,
these two are litter mates and deliberately obscuring their usage.  Let's go.
She's up to date and so are you, for now."

I hit the pressurize switch and we waited.  If anyone had noticed the slight
delay I was prepared to blame it on airlock problems. Nobody asked.

Grrfeth and Liandra looked calm only if you didn't pay attention the way they
moved.  Somehow they always managed to move so they covered each other's
blind spots.

"Sister, when are you going to retire to teaching so I can stop picking up
the pieces?"  He opened it with his usual greeting.  That meant he was
pleased about something.

"As soon as you stop field testing new combat gear, brother."  New? What had
he told her?

Liandra laughed as Grrfeth snorted with resignation.  "You want the job?  I
thought you preferred recruiting."

Now it was my turn to chuckle.  "She might but if I have any influence left
she'll never take you up on the offer.  Besides, this time she got you.  We
don't have all the names yet but except for the three that are out of it,
these grunts not only joined us, they have their own El Tee."  I flipped open
my faceplate so he could see my smug grin. "Station Nine worked."

He and Liandra did an intricate maneuver that let them both study the small
group.  He flipped his own face shield up, took a deep breath and then
snapped it closed.  "Colonel?  How much did you tell them?"

Sophia was calm.  "We didn't tell them anything.  We confirmed what they
already knew or suspected."

I could hear his astonishment.  "Confirmed?  They're too relaxed about this!"

Sophia had the sense not to back down.  "They'd just survived a firefight.
Stationers repay life-debts.  Plus, they've seen the Station Nine tape."  She
got up and joined the silent group of people before she turned to face
Grrfeth.  "Commander Grrfeth.  I'd appreciate it if you welcomed the newest
batch of Bio Partners."

He shook himself and I could see the tension leave his body.  "Lia? Do you
believe this?"

She sighed.  "You telling me you don't trust Sophia's nose *and* your own?"

That got a chuckle that was abruptly cut off.  His tail flagged some orders.
'Trouble.  The scouts have discovered there's a team with a door-buster
getting ready to blow the main door.  The scouts have cleared everyone else
out.  Sophia, Ted, get those recruits out of the line of fire.  Lia and I
will deal with the door.'

"Follow Ted!  Move it!  We've got seconds to get out of the line of fire of a
door-buster."  As Sophia made her announcement I headed for the nearest
doorway. 

They moved and seconds later all of us, including our unconscious prisoners,
were sealed inside what looked like some sort of storage area.  Before I
closed the door I caught a glimpse of Grrfeth and Liandra as they moved
towards the threatened hatch.

"Colonel Larson?"  It was Stella.  "If that's a buster on the other side, how
are they going to stop it?"

Sophia sounded distracted as she contacted me privately.  "Ted, you handle
it.  I'm busy."

I looked at Stella.  "She's probably tied into the station video systems.
Somebody has to be the observer during field testing.  She got elected."

"They aren't going to stop it.  They're going to open the door and destroy
the weapon before it's fired."  I was greeted with skeptical silence.

"Meaning no disrespect, sir, but that's either impossible or crazy. I'm armor
qualified.  Opening that safety hatch with just two suits? Can't be done."
There were murmurs of agreement.

"You'd be right if any of us were wearing regular forces armor. We're not.
We're wearing  Biostruct designed security suits.  What if I told you we
weren't stressing our suits earlier?  Those two..." I was interrupted by a
concussion that shook the walls.  "Are the joint heads of security AND they
are field testing the latest suits and weapons to come out of our labs."

In the sudden silence we could hear a couple of faint screams and then a
series of small explosions that became one big one.

"I'm going to speculate, based on what a security person has to know rather
than what he is supposed to know.  I'm guessing that Grrfeth and Liandra were
wearing at least one railgun each.  If they were, someone in our weapons lab
solved the recoil problem.  That's one problem and if it *was* solved, the
lab also solved the other one. Their power source is the surrounding magnetic
fields.  With that sort of control, I suspect one of them cranked up their
shields and ran through the door.  That was the first concussion.  The rest
was the cleanup and destruction of the missile."

"Cap?  Something isn't tracking.  For a station grunt you seem to know a lot
more than you should.  Comments?"

I jerked a thumb in Sophia's direction.  "No secret about that.  She and the
boss are litter mates.  He found his partner early.  She put her career on
hold until I grew up.  We're in recruiting but she's also next in line for
top spot in the security division.  The four of us spend our R&R making sure
we all know what's going on."

"They were already inbound for some R&R?  Station Twenty doesn't have a lot
to offer.  I've been wondering about the response time. Seemed odd that they
got here less than one hour after it fell apart."

I couldn't help my slight smirk.  "Stella, would you spend your R&R with a GP
if you had a choice in the matter?"  She blushed and there was muffled
laughter.

"Hell no, Cap.  She's station AND service.  She's pretty picky about who she
spends her off time with."

I didn't try to stop my chuckle.  "Same way for us.  We're picky. Plus, as
upper command, Sophie and I don't have a lot of choices unless we want to
really fuck with morale."

"Got it."

"Knock it off, Ted."  Sophia was back with us.  "The action's over. Stella,
you wondered if there are any more like me.  There aren't, but there will be
as soon as Ted gets those stem cells Grrfeth has finally agreed to donate.
You copy, El Tee?  In less than a year, if you survive the intro course, I
*might* give you and your squad a chance to nursemaid my kids.  In a couple
more years, those of you who haven't partnered will get a chance to see if
maybe you and the kids can get along with each other."

Stella glanced at her squad mates.  I noticed that her eyes glittered when
she turned back to us.  "We copy, Colonel Larson."

"Bitch."  I mumbled it softly and with amusement.

"That's *Colonel Bitch* to you, Captain Larson."

"Yes Ma'am.  I can't wait until you're pregnant.  Colonel Bitch, Ma'am."

She flipped her plate open and indicated I should join her.  "We're off
combat alert.  This area's secured."

She stood and shook herself before she faced me and locked her eyes on mine.
"There is only one male that's ever going to breed with me. You.  Everyone
else is for recreation."  Her lips quirked and her ears quivered in her
version of throaty laughter.  "But before that happens, I have some tension
to work off.  Think you're up to helping me do that?  Captain?"
------

Biolab 13 - Cycle 03
Sophia and Ted Larson, Section 03 - Station Twenty
Chapter Two - "Caught in the Crossfire"
---

Grrfeth looked us over and snorted softly.  "What a bunch.  You stink, too.
Humans."  He and Lia were standing in the open doorway. "Scanners tell us
this area is clear.  If nobody has anyplace else they need to be, let's do
the initial debrief here."

I was about to chuckle when the incongruity of holding the initial debriefing
in the fire zone sank in.  "Back up.  'Feth, I know you like to get your news
asap but this isn't your usual ess-oh-p."

"The ambush isn't a Partner related affair unless Lieutenant Myers wants us
involved.  Otherwise, all I need is an after action report."

Silence.

Stella found her voice first.  "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Lia nodded her head slowly.  "Somebody wanted 'Myer's Misfits' dead. Sophia
and Ted got caught in the crossfire.  It could have been any security team
that was planning a live drill."

"Lia."  She turned to face me.  "I'm not tracking.  It was *us* they were
shooting at."

She shrugged slightly.  "Tacmind it.  Every safety chamber was sabotaged. Why
do that if you were the intended targets?"

My response was automatic and identical to Sophia's.  "No witnesses."

'Feth snorted.  "As high profile as you two have been?  Anybody who manages
to take both of you out under combat conditions is going to *want* witnesses.
If one of our better teams can be killed, the types we usually go after are
going to want us to be as nervous as possible."

"On the other paw..."  He turned his head and studied Stella until she
flinched, blushed and then stiffened as he slowly bared his teeth at her in
what looked like a snarl but what was really one of his pleased grins.
"Former Captain Myers--and her crew--have a knack for putting paid to
operations run by people who aren't used to taking, shall we say, a long term
view of revenge."

I whispered over our private com to Sophia.  "Did you know who they were?"

Her voice was equally quiet.  "Not until I took the sniff to check them out.
I knew she and her team had been demoted.  That demotion never should have
happened if their reports told the truth.  What are they doing on station
twenty instead of one of the 'no problem' ones, such as station fifteen?"

"... So, somehow, you folks *happen* wind up pulling duty on the station that
hates Bio-Partner teams with a passion, just *happen* to get involved in a
drill that just *happens* to involve a planned loss of air, PLUS the security
team doing the drill *happens* to be one of my better teams."  'Feth had kept
on speaking even though I knew he was probably monitoring our discussion.  He
finally wound down and glanced at his mate.  "Lia?  Do we really want to hear
this story?"

Her eyes closed briefly before she sighed and reopened them.  " 'Feth, this
one *has* to be better than the explanation your *best* team cooked up to
explain station nine."

Sophia and I glanced at each other and started edging out of the line of
fire.  Some of Stella's people started to join us but she caught the movement
and motioned for them to stay put.  Lia finally chuckled ruefully and
gestured at Sophia and me.  "Maybe those two can learn something by sticking
around."

Caught, we shrugged and stayed.  I tried to get in yet another reason for our
long ago decision.   "It seemed like a good idea at the time. Remember, as
head of recruiting, Sophia has final say in the techniques we use."  I
figured an appeal to authority couldn't make things any worse.

Lia chuckled at my discomfort.  "Only a fool would believe someone could
plant a collection of cameras in a Bio-Partners Security team's living area
and have them remain undetected long enough so enough data to make a two hour
video of the team's private lives could be recovered."  Several of Stella's
people groaned and Lia grinned at them.  "I've met a lot of fools since that
tape was made."

Sophia snorted loudly.  "Speaking of fools, maybe it's time 'Feth and I
discussed my readiness to replace him."

"No!  Tell me you aren't serious."  My dismayed shout was jerked out of me
before I could think of anything else to say.  Lia and 'Feth grunted in
surprise and spun around to face Sophia.

Sophia laughed at us.  "Got your attention, didn't I?  The original topic was
'How the hell did Myer's Misfits stumble into nearly getting themselves
killed--this time?'"

Several of the named team sighed loudly.  The three of us came out of our
paralysis and turned to Stella.

Stella grimaced when she realized she'd have to tell us what happened.
"Actually, we talked it over and decided that duty on station sixteen didn't
require our full time presence.  Somehow assignments saw it the same way and
let us all use our accumulated leave at the same time."  She glanced at one
of her people.  "Mark? When is our leave up?"

He thought about it briefly.  "If that clock is right, call it 783 days, 17
hours, 46 minutes and 13.7 seconds.  Approximately, of course.  I'd have to
check our main combat chrono to give you an exact figure, Ma'am."

She turned back to us and shrugged.  "So, we were taking it easy when the
call for volunteers to work with a Bio team went out.  We recruited up our
missing strength and volunteered as a unit.  I guess our arguments that a
team who had worked together before would reduce the risk, worked too well."

Her eyes turned cold.  "Commander Grrfeth?  Now that we know the new team
members are alive, we wouldn't mind a chance to talk to them."

Before 'Feth could answer, I spoke up with a mild comment:  "I wasn't aware
that there was enough left of station sixteen--that it needed guarding."

"Somebody, and I can't tell you who, because I don't know who it was, thought
otherwise."   She shaded her eyes as she briefly studied the wall over our
heads.  When she looked back, she had an embarrassed smile pasted across her
face.  "I can't say more unless...  Need to know?"

Lia spoke up:  "I suppose we could take the time to go through Tango
Delta--if that would make you feel better, Captain."

She blinked and then mumbled to herself.  "I *thought* things were too
simple.  If you know about Tango Delta, and the fact I wasn't demoted, I'm
willing to let *you* take the fall if I screw this one up.  I'd prefer that
Tango Delta doesn't hear about this incident until I can get things sorted
out a bit.  We weren't supposed to be this visible."

Lia's voice was dry.  "I appreciate your faith in my credentials. Continue,
please."

"Yes, Ma'am.  We've been making the combat grade sweeps of the orbital area
for over a year.  We've also been quietly seeing who else tried to do the
same thing.  My missing team members are guarding what we found a few weeks
ago.  Our *real* orders were, as you probably know, 'If you find anything
unusual, don't touch it, guard it with your best and take your accumulated
leave time on station twenty.  Just make sure you don't lose track of what
you found.  Someone you already know will make pickup."  She sighed deeply
and I detected some resentment.  "Let's just say that 'Tango Delta' has
always impressed me as the sort of commander who can get really unpleasant if
someone screws up after receiving their orders. 'I'm just following orders'.
For what it's worth, what we found was definitely unusual, considering what
happened to sixteen."

Lia chuckled.  "Relax.  I feel the same way about him, even though I've only
had to talk to him over the com."

I was shaking as I forced words past lips suddenly unwilling to move.
"Bodies.  At least two of them, apparently uninjured.  A Partners team, or
teams, in unfamiliar combat gear."

Stella looked at me and there was a question, combined with respect, behind
that look.  "Captain Larson, I'll repeat it:  'For a station grunt, you seem
to know a lot more than you should'."

"It's a small community of professionals up here.  We have to know as much as
we can about our friends and foes.  When a geostation blows up, killing
everyone, you can bet Sophia and I would take a personal interest in the
event.  We lost some close friends."  I sighed.  "Truth is, we lost a couple
of Bio-Partner research teams.  That's rare enough that we started wondering
how someone could get past us."

I turned to study Grrfeth.  We held a silent conversation and decided to
break our long silence.  This was something only he and I had known about,
even as a remote possibility.

We hadn't tried to keep the search itself secret.  Stella's team had been
operating under very specific orders while other teams had been assigned to
do followup work with anything they found that wasn't 'unusual'.

I muttered 'nothing lasts forever', then removed my helmet.  I bent down,
removed Grrfeth's helmet, set it aside and applied some basic makeup to both
of our faces before I stood up and faced Stella again. "Recognize us?"

She studied us for a long time.  "Something isn't right."

'Feth fed me some words and then gave me a timing signal as he started
speaking while I only mouthed the words.  "Is this better? We use Ted's face
and my voice with some computerized changes to both."

She frowned and finally shrugged eloquently.  "Quite an act."

Sophia and Lia were studying us carefully.  Sophia's question had an angry
edge to it.  "Ted.  Why?"

It was my turn to shrug.  "'Feth didn't give me a choice in the matter."

She glared at me before nodding slowly.  "We'll finish this
discussion--later."

I winced, then decided to try and divert her attention.  "It's 'Feth's
story."

Her lips peeled back in a vicious snarl as she shifted to confront him.
"Well?  Brother?"

He and Lia were involved in a silent confrontation.  Lia's angry scowl was
being met with a calm stare.  When he settled on his haunches she sighed and
motioned for him to say whatever he was going to say.  I had the distinct
impression she was saving her comments for later, when they were alone.   He
studied her a bit longer, sighed and to my surprise, apologized to her.
"Love, I'm sorry.  It had to be that way.  We have a leak and I decided that
Ted was the best one to know what was going on.  'Tango Delta' was a creation
he and I had discussed as a theoretical way to work around the prejudice
we've been running into.  After what happened on sixteen, I needed a low
profile way to run the search and make sure nobody found and recovered any of
our people or equipment.  The fact that you and Sophia like to get rid of us
so you can have those 'girl talks' made it easy to hide what he and I were
really doing when we were supposed to be 'male-bonding'."

He grinned at Lia until she blushed, then confronted his sister. "Do you have
a problem with your commanding officer's decisions, *Colonel* Larson?  Ted
was the *only* person with a need to know. First: 'Tango Delta' was his idea.
Second: His primary specialty is communications.  Third: We have a leak
somewhere in the upper command structure.  Fourth:  You and Lia are two of
the worst liars to ever get promoted past Lieutenant."  He grinned as she
finally flinched. He switched to wolf:  "Tacmind it, sister.  If you held
command, which of us is most qualified to perform the duties?  Which of us
would you have used if *you* had to make the same decisions?"

She settled on her haunches to think about it.  After several minutes of
silence her ears flattened against her head in a manner that showed her
frustrated resignation.  She answered him reluctantly, in wolf.  "Liandra.
Brother, that's not a choice, it's the only solution that has a chance of
working."

I stiffened in surprise, Lia flinched in her own version of shock--and
Grrfeth merely smiled and spoke one word before he turned to face Captain
Myers.  "Exactly."

Grrfeth shifted his expression to one of intense concentration before he
started questioning Captain Myers.  "Captain?  You didn't do anything to the
bodies except keep track of them?  Nothing?  No contact with them at all?
It's critical that you followed my orders, exactly."

She looked thoughtful as she thought back.  Before she answered she looked at
her team members.  Each shook their head in negation.  She nodded and looked
at Grrfeth again.  "No, Sir.  All we did was plot their location and make
excuses about the need to have the area clear so we could 'examine it in
detail due to the nature of the debris field'.  The team I left behind is
keeping station next to the bodies--with orders to avoid any sort of contact.
Once I had a chance to think about my orders, it was obvious that we might
find them. Considering the fact a nuke was used, intact and apparently
unharmed bodies qualify as 'an unusual find'."

He had the grace to chuckle ruefully.  "Yes.  Well, Ted and I never really
expected you to find intact bodies.  Intact suit parts, yes." He took a deep
breath.

"You aren't going to like this.  You are now members of Bio-Partners
Security, backdated to the date of your original orders.  You and your team
are also assigned as a special investigation unit, answerable only to myself,
Ted, Lia, Sophia and Tango Delta--in that order.  That is also subject to the
same stipulations."  He stopped and studied them before he turned to me.
"Ted?  You're involved with R&D more than we are."

I sighed.  "Point.  Everyone listen up.  If we ever discover one of you
leaked what I'm going to tell you, we'll turn you inside out with no
hesitation so we can find out who it was and who it was to."

I took the uncomfortable silence as an admission they understood the need for
secrecy.

"I'll keep it simple, for now.  When we get on the shuttle, I'll go into more
details.  The suits Lia and Grrfeth are wearing aren't prototypes.  They're
production models.  The prototypes were being tested on station sixteen when
it got blown up.  Everyone has been encouraged to believe they were destroyed
and there was no chance of any other possibility.  However, there *was* the
possibility that the teams had enough warning to go on combat alert before
things went wrong.  *If* they also had the time, or the need, to use the full
shielding capabilities, they theoretically could have been standing next to
the nuke, and been unharmed."

Now, I looked at Lia and smiled grimly.  "Now, you know the reason for the
*other* new item in those suits.  With that kind of power available, R&D was
finally able to move ahead on the hibernation system.  There was a functional
prototype of that system in each of those suits.  Our people didn't know
about it since it was deliberately designed to be automatically activated
*only* under certain conditions.  One of those 'conditions' was the enabling
of full power to the shields, followed by a flash of light and radiation
whose profile matched that of typical nuclear explosions."

I leaned against the wall.  "We knew the activation sequence would work. None
of us *ever* expected it to be used.  If the rest of it worked, those two
'bodies' are actually in hibernation, and if we are careful, we can bring
them out of it."

"Captain Meyers, I'd appreciate it if you and your team went back on station
after we do the pickup.  There's a small chance the other team is out there
somewhere."

She snapped a salute.  "Of course we'll do it.  Do we have a time limit?"

Her practical question was one I was glad to answer.  "Effectively, no. Since
one team appears to have survived over a year with no obvious signs of
damage, the system would have long since gone to the program for long term
survival.  Theoretically, since the suits are almost a completely self
contained system capable of extensive recycling, they have 20-30 years before
they run the risk of death from starvation.  It depends on when they ate
their last meal and if the suit supplies were topped off.  Even combat sweeps
will completely search an area larger than they could have drifted to in that
time.  Since you found one team, we have a minimum radius.  Now we can do
some calculations and get a rough idea of the maximum distance the other team
could have traveled in this amount of time. Now that you know what you're
looking for, you don't have to examine every piece of debris, only the ones
that might be bodies wearing those suits."

One of her techs spoke up.  "Begging your pardon but those suits don't show
up on anything except our best combat search systems.  The way I figure it,
we were lucky."

I nodded and then smiled slightly.  "And you didn't see if you could overcome
that problem once you knew about it?"

He hesitated.  "I didn't say that.  Actually, it was quite a challenge until
we started working our way through some of the techniques used in astronomy."

That got my attention.  "Oh?  You found something?"

Now he grinned.  "Yes, Sir.  Gravitational lensing.  It took all of our
computing power in parallel but once I had things sorted out, and you'll have
to see it to believe it, those suits stand out like a supernova--even though
all but the most sophisticated search gear says the area is empty.  Give me a
chance to reprogram your shuttle and the search should take days, not years."
My face must have shown some of my shock in spite of my effort to hide it,
because he added in a much softer tone: "I'm sorry, Sir. Those suits have the
best stealth systems I've ever seen.  Now that I know a bit about the
technology involved, I'm willing to bet they are using so much power the
energy concentration creates the lensing effect I spotted.  Maybe it only
happens under extreme conditions."

Grrfeth and I looked at each other and I wondered if my face had the same
shocked look his had.  

* * *

Stella's senior tech was just about done reprogramming our computers.  "You
know, with all the energy those suits use I'm kinda wondering how your R&D
folks missed the calculations for the lensing effect."

I flinched and tried to hide my shock at the tone of the man's voice.  It was
then that I realized his eyes weren't looking at the radar console.  Instead
of commenting I got Sophia's attention.  "You know, Sophia, this whole weird
situation reminds me of our final exam.   We almost got ourselves killed
because we missed the obvious.  Wish this tech had been there to help us
out."

Sophia launched herself at the tech and he screamed when her jaws closed
around his throat and she knocked him away from the programming console.  In
the meantime I'd clawed my laser out and snap fired, killing the main
security lasers.  By the time I'd done that Sophia was straddling the stunned
tech and using her personal laser to kill all the other defenses.

Stella and her people had made the best decision possible and frozen in
place.  When I looked closer I realized they hadn't been given a choice.
'Feth and Lia were on opposite sides of the room and both were obviously
attack ready.

Sophia looked down and snarled at the weakly struggling tech.  "Give me an
excuse."  He froze.  She stared at him.  "Good choice."

'Feth never took his eyes off of Stella and her crew.  "Ted?   Do you know
how many ways these people have been checked and been declared clean?"

"Yeah.  But there's one stress check they haven't been put through."

At that he looked at me.  "As I recall you and I were both monitoring the
review.  We used every test we had."

I sighed.  "I know.  But we never did the obvious one.  Tango Delta *can't*
use it."

"Oh?"

"You--and your nose.  I bet that guy reeks of the same stink you got from Mr.
Delagado."

He was so surprised he sat on his haunches.  "I'll be damned."  He stood and
narrowed his eyes as he studied the situation.  "The special programming that
took effect during your final exam.  We never did find out who it was.  How
the hell did you spot him?"

I sighed again.  "His eyes.  He wasn't looking at the radar console.  He was
looking at the security controls.  Pull the security tapes."

Instead of answering me he stalked over and lowered his head until his nose
was almost touching the tech's nose.  He inhaled through his nose and snorted
the air back at the tech.  "I don't need the tapes.  Lia?  You and Ted watch
this thing.  Sophia and I have some old business to finish and we don't need
you two in our way."

Lia and I took our prisoner off to the side.  She looked at me and shook her
head.  "What's this 'old business' he's talking about?  I've never seen him
so angry."

"Not now."   I raised my voice.  "Sophie.  The training software had been
programmed to kill you if it was ever set to combat suit testing and your
name was listed.  Delagado was the finger man who activated the subroutines.
We never found the others responsible.  Need to know."  

She turned to face me.  Her face was a mask but her ears twitched a private
signal.  "Briefing understood."

'Feth switched to wolvish battle tongue.  "Sister.  Tacmind.  Mastermind
present at kill?  Confirm or deny."

She moved to flank him.  "High probability.  Interrogate suspects."

I shivered.  There'd been the threat of death hidden in her simple
assessment.  Lia must have heard it too because she lifted her head so she
could glare at Stella and her people. 

'Feth walked over and looked up at Stella.  "Your senior tech just tried to
kill my sister.  I'm not pleased with the situation.  Any suggestions or
comments, Captain?"

She stiffened to attention.  "He's my man.  My responsibility.  I want him. I
don't enjoy being betrayed."

I barely heard 'Feth's next question.  "Sister?"

"Fear.  Anger.  Truth."

"Agreed.  Sorry, Major Myers.  Combat law.  He belongs to us, now.  Join Lia
and Ted."

Stella joined us and turned back to watch the rest of the room.  She reached
for her laser and Lia touched her arm.  "Put that away.  The four of us can
handle this, unarmed.  You don't have the skills to mix it up when two very
angry and kill-ready wolves are after their prey."

She nodded.  "Those are my people.  I hope they're all innocent."

Lia's reply was gentle.  "So do we."

Stella never took her eyes off of her people.  "What's 'combat law'?"

I looked at our secured prisoner and then at Lia.  "This is my first time.
You'd better tell her."

Lia sighed.  "Combat law is a special code for a rare situation.  You've just
seen a temporary but significant shift in our command structure.  Normally
'Feth and I are the alpha command team and Sophia and Ted form the beta team.
If any one of us decides that a situation threatens the entire Bio Partners
operation we can invoke 'combat law'.  'Feth and Sophia team to become the
alpha pair and Ted and I team to  form the beta pair.  It also frees them
from having to worry about us during combat.  There's one more thing.  I
mentioned that  Ted and Sophia are the best team in security.  That's not
quite true."  She gestured at 'Feth and Sophia.  "When those two are
teamed...  They're at least twice as effective as when either one of them is
teamed with us."

She sighed.  "Major Myers, your new orders are simple.  'Kill this man if any
of your people tries to start something.'  Ted?  You and I need to provide
backup.  You take the door, I'll disarm the people so 'Feth and Sophia can
get this over with."

I moved to the door and Lia moved to stand next to 'Feth.  "I'm going to
gather all your weapons.  Don't move and don't try to help me, or oppose me.
If I miss a holdout, tell me and I'll take it.  If one of you is the person
we're looking for, this is your last chance to give up."

She waited.  Nobody moved or spoke.  Lia quietly collected everything and
stood guard over her 'loot'.   "'Feth?  All yours."

He nodded.  "Sister.  One of these people does more than fear."

"Agreed."

"Now!"

The two of them lunged in different directions and rapidly wove a complex
pattern that let them make brief contact with each person.  When it was over
they froze on opposite sides of the room and stared at the group.

They switched to battle language again.  "Sister.  One only, female."

"She hates, brother.  I claim her as mine."

'Feth went in low this time and used his body and momentum to knock people
aside.  When he was done a woman was standing alone in the center of the room
with him facing her.  He settled on his haunches and snarled at her when she
started to move.   

She froze and began to tremble, then glared at him.  "Animal, you and all of
your kind are abominations.  The people who help you have denied their human
heritage to become less than human.  Death is all you deserve for pretending
to be the equals of true humans."

"You do not deny that you've spent years trying to kill my sister?"

"No.  My only regret is that I have failed, this time."

'Feth was silent as he studied her.  His eyes never left her when he spoke.
"Major Myers.   Assemble your team and take the prisoner to the detention
area."

I moved away from the door and let them go.  After the door closed behind the
last of them 'Feth spoke quietly.  "There will be no 'next time'.  Before you
die I will give you the gift of knowledge, a knowledge known only by a few."

"You can't kill me!  I have rights!"

"Ted?"

I chuckled.  "You became a Bio Partner, voluntarily.  We are a recognized
international security force with our own laws.  Like it or not, you're
looking at the four people who would be asked to review your case and make
the final decision.  We have plenty of documentation of your attacks.  All we
need to close the case is your admission of guilt.  I ask you again, formally
and under oath:  Have you spent years attempting to kill the Biostruct known
as Sophia?"

"This is a mockery of justice.  You can't kill me for trying to kill an
animal."

I sighed.  "Answer my question."

"Yes, damn you.  By killing her I would have removed one of the breeders so
they couldn't propagate their kind.  All of the Biostructs should be killed,
along with the humans who help them."

Grrfeth smiled.  "Before you die, I will give you the gift of knowledge: None
of the Biostructs are animals."

"You lie!  You attempt to hide behind your lie so none will know the truth!"

He settled on his haunches and grinned.  "Wrong.  A diligent search would
have told you the truth.  The breakthrough came when Liaya Stevens realized
that success would be reachable only if humans were given animal bodies.  The
sealed records of the Pony Girls' court case--that gained us recognition as
full humans--contains more proof of what I say."  He stood and his grin
became a snarl.  "And if you and your followers had done a simple DNA
analysis...

"Our true genome would have been obvious."  He carefully moved backwards
until he touched one of the walls.  The woman was shaking and moaning while
she came to terms with his news.

He settled on his haunches again.  "Yours, hunt mistress."

Sophia lunged.  Her target never had a chance.  The woman fell to the floor,
her throat ripped with surgical precision.  Sophia settled on her haunches
and spat to clear her mouth.  Then she looked at me.  "She smelled like an
Alpha Bitch--in heat."

I couldn't stop my relieved laughter.  She'd just used our private term for
women who controlled men by sexual means--to tell me the woman she'd killed
was the mastermind who had  spent years trying to kill us.
----

"Community togetherness can lead to a consensus outlook that seeks and destroys any dissident element, no matter how small and really harmless"

Dean R. Koontz - "A Darkness in My Soul" - published June, 1972

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