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Starfall: Chapter 19: Consequences

Freezing in place, Steven watches Balto letting go and taking a step back. “Wha, what’s going on here?”

“That’s what I would like to know.” The orange haired Policewoman stands, staring at Balto and Charlie. “Bio-Morphs aren’t supposed to be acting like this, I mean aliens are one thing, but this?”

Folding her ears back and sighing, Usako looks at everyone else in the room as her tail twitches in annoyance. “Is it so hard to believe? I mean you see them work the same jobs that from what I understand humans used to do not to long ago. Just like humans have done before they came about.”

Usako holds her gaze at each of humans in the room momentarily. “While where I come from all Mammals are sentient. We still have our own pets like Iguana's and Crows. Some mammals even train them to do tricks! Unlike Bio-Morphs, they have to be guided every step of the way for the former at least and for months on the latter.”

“Says the Alien in the room.” The Policewoman glares at Usako, only to have her partner put a hand on her shoulder.

Coaxing his partner to sit back down, he looks over to Usako, Steven and Balto. “What other explanation is there that Ms. Mercer here is correct?” He motions to Angela.

“If an animal hates someone, they instantly act on it, no restraint. It means they are at least smarter than we were led to believe. So, lets just listen to what they have to say till dispatch gets back to us, alright?”

Rolling her eyes the orange haired Policewoman sighs and nods. “Fine.”

Steven relaxes and blinks a few times. “Okay… um.” Glancing over to his sister who’s still sitting on the couch. Except, now she’s fighting to stay awake as her adrenaline high fades. Looking back at Balto, Steven opens his mouth only to stop as the elder Bio-Morph holds up a clawed finger.

[Two years after your family purchased us Steven, we had a decent snowfall. Not as much as Texas had before climate change became obvious to all but the most stubborn. Several inches on the ground if I recall correctly. Still, it was enough for you, Mark, and Angela here to play in it like kids do. So you three did, Do you or Angela remember what happened next that winter morning?] Smiling at Steven, he waits with his tail still and ears up.

‘Of course I…’ Slumping his shoulders a bit, Steven looks at the ground. “Mom and Dad came to collect part of the Bio-Morph pack to do what could be done despite the winter weather. Either around the house or at our processing plant. When they chose you, Anna, despite her being visibly pregnant. As well as a few others. You barked at them, pointed to us, then grabbed another one of your pack to take your spot. Your behavior confused Mom and Dad.”

Looking over to Usako, Steven furrows his brows as she smiles back. “I’m telling you what he said to the best of my ability. I don’t know every one of their words though.”

Then to Angela, who’s wide awake upon hearing Usako’s translation, speaks up. “I remember it now. Mark wanted to sled down that big hill on our property, I wanted to make snow-men, you tried to get both of us into a snow-ball fight Steven. Mom and Dad insisted you go with them instead Balto, but you barked at them again and pointed at us. They relented, taking the other Bio-Morphs and the one you chose to take your place, while you walked over to the three of us.”

Looking between Angela, Steven, Frank, then the police and Usako, Balto smiles. [Either of you care to say what happened next?]

Raising his head, Steven looks at Balto. “You pointed at Mark first, so we all went sledding for a bit that morning…”

Angela can’t help smiling. “You even let me pretend you were a sled dog as you pulled me up the hill as I rode that plastic sled… I had forgotten about that… You looked… Happy.”

Balto nods. [I had fun doing that.] He pauses for a moment. [After a while we did what you wanted Angela. We made snow-men in front of the enclosure. When they were built up with sticks for arms and stones for eyes, do you remember what we did next?] He looks at Angela and Steven specifically, his tail slightly wagging.

Both Brother and Sister look at each other before Steven speaks up. “We did rock paper scissors to determine who would go with whom. Mark and I ended up on the same team, you went with Angela… I don’t remember how long we spent throwing snowballs at each other. Only you took the three of us to the house after you were covered in snow, Mom hustled all four of us inside too warm up. We got hot chocolate while you got a bath to clean your fur.”

“I remember that evening.” Frank stands, walking over to Balto and Steven. “Your parents called to talk about Bio-Morph behavior. Worried that Balto may be a danger to you three. I reassured them that from what they described, it would be safe to have Balto around you, Angela and Mark.”

Angela moves to stand on shaky legs. “So that’s when Mom and Dad started having you in the house more often. Especially when they couldn’t watch us.” Holding the towels closer to herself Angela shivers.

“I… Need to go get dressed, if you would excuse me.” Making haste as much as her unsteady legs can carry her, Angela heads upstairs. Passing by Balto, Steven and Usako, and not even looking at them as she does so.

Nodding once Balto gently pats Steven on the shoulder, then walks over to his son. Charlie’s ears raise and his tail removes its self from between his legs as his father stands next to him.

Placing the rifle, and ammo down on the coffee table, Steven collapses onto one of the dry cushions on the couch. “Not exactly the homecoming I was expecting. I’ll be honest here, I don’t know what to do now.” He empties his pockets before running a hand through his hair.

‘Can I even have them work anymore after this? Jesus Christ, I know I tried to treat them well and not abuse them because happy animals are productive ones. Despite that, I still treated them as slaves. I treated thinking beings as slaves.’

The Policewoman loudly sighs and motions to Usako. “Okay, I think I’ve had enough of this. I can understand an alien talking English. The rest of this is nonsense.”

Tilting an ear, Usako shrugs as her tail tip twitches. “That they’re intelligent? I lived in the same container as Balto, Charlie, Anna, and Pippin for six months. They’re anything but feral.” She looks over to Steven. “I think that’s your term for a non-sentient mammal, right?”

Nodding once to Usako, Steven then looks over to the Policewoman. “I don’t see how it doesn’t make sense… Not in light of everything else happening today so far.”

Standing the Policewoman makes for the front door as Usako walks over to Frank. “I’ll be in the cruiser till…”

The digital beep of their ‘radios’ stops the policewoman from grabbing the door handle. Both her and her partner look at them before the red-head male picks his up from his belt and everyone in the room watches as he opens it up and brings it to his ear.

“No dispatch, it wasn’t a case of one those. The front door was ajar on purpose by the owner.” He pauses. “Yes, I didn’t make a mistake earlier, there is an honest to god alien standing in the room with me here… Yes we can get proof, but we’ll need permission of the property owner to dig it up.” Another pause. “The three 10-127’s? False alarm, one of them was the alien.”

Another pause, this one a long one, and he looks over to Steven.

“No, but I agree he’s not going to like it. We’re already here, so I guess it would be easier to tell him now than you calling him later.” Turning he looks over to Balto and Charlie. Then over to Frank.

“I understand that we’re supposed to do that but the property owner just got off deployment. His sister, a legal resident, not a citizen, she wouldn’t have had the legal authority to accept the paperwork for a welfare check since the lease isn’t in her name.”

He motions for Frank to walk over to him, doing so, Usako follows. Her ears slightly back as she’s able to hear the other half of the conversation now.

{Doesn’t matter, we’ve already received legal paperwork electronically from Aquis, their leaseholder and it’s parent company Yakeru-tech calling on a welfare check on their leased units. We’ll have to send a vet team to check the health of their Bio-Morphs and the condition they’re being kept in. It’s also the second incident on their record, so they may invoke the arbitration clause on the Mercer’s.}

“No need for the vet team Dispatch, there’s one present, I’ll put him on.” He hands the radio to Frank.

{To whom am I speaking to?}

“Frank Dalst, I’m the Mercer’s family vet and doctor. My license code is 502M3Y1.” He looks over to Steven who’s already moved over at the computer desk in the living room, pulling open drawers and taking out folders with deliberate haste.

{Mr. Dalst, your license code checks out. Do you agree to the recording of this conversation for legal evidence in case a trail does occur?}

His gaze meets Usako’s “I do.”

{As a registered physician, state for the recording of the physical condition of the three Bio-Morphs in question and their accommodations.}

Folding her ears flat against her head in annoyance, she walks over to Steven. ‘This doesn’t bode well.’ Forcing her tail to stay still, she comes up aside Steven as he sits in the computer chair. Watching him rummaging through paperwork, some of it yellowed with age.

“Thank you for coming back Steven.” She glances at the monitor, which has turned on from the movement of the desk by opening and closing drawers. ‘There’s a few new folders on the desktop compared to last time I was in here. Wonder what’s in them.’

Finding what he was looking for, a quarter inch thick stack of aged yellow paper. Steven places it on the desk. “Wish it was under better circumstances. A damn welfare check is the first stage of calling on a lease. If we don’t dot our I’s and cross our T’s they can demand the rest of the amount our family owes up front. We can’t afford that, we don’t have that kind of cash lying around. It’s all tied up in the land and the company we sell things under.”

Moving her ears to a more relaxed state, Usako tilts her head. “How strict of a ‘dot our I’s and crossing our T’s’ are you talking about here?”

Thumbing through the paper, section by section, Steven opens it to the part he was looking for. “Well, it’s not ‘any’ excuse. It is any ‘reasonable’ excuse they could use to call for the rest of the lease on the Bio-Morph pack if arbitration fails.”

“Mr. Mercer?” The red-head policeman walks up to the two of them. Both Steven and Usako look up from the computer desk.

“We’re going to have to take you, your sister, Ms. Chasofito here, and the Bio-Morphs Balto and Chalrie into the station, no you’re not being arrested. Though we do have a bit before the transport arrives for the latter two. I do want to say off the record, I think I believe what I saw here. Both that you’re an alien Ms. Chasofito, and that Bio-Morphs are smarter than we were led to believe.”

They glance over to his orange haired partner as she closes the front door behind herself, rather forcefully, then to Frank who’s rubbing his temples. Balto and Charlie move to sit next him.

He sighs. “I’ll try to put in a good word for you. You seem like a good hardworking folk and a nice lady for an Alien. Otherwise, my hands are tied, but you know this considering it’s spelled out on the lease your family signed for them.”

Folding her ears back, Usako tilts her head just a bit. “I know my military experience back home isn’t applicable here, or any experience for that matter… Still, why would you, a police officer, let alone a police department need to detain someone in the matter of a contract dispute?”

“Since said contract would fall into dispute between the two parties. Who both agreed that in such a case the investigating third party would be the police or similar legal authority to handle the evidence.” Steven holds the contract out for Usako to read as he speaks.

“This is the second incident involving welfare of the objects of lease. The first one was when Mark removed Pippins collar through unauthorized means. Mainly gaining access to a control account he was not legally allowed to have access to because he was a minor. This incident falls under neglect, both perceived and actual. I don’t know how you three removed your collars, only in the process it ‘falsely’ registered your deaths. While ‘trinity’ is not part of our lease, Balto and Charlie are.”

Usako’s ears lower themselves to the side’s of her head as far as they can go, while her tail tip twitches… ‘And I’m the one who freed us from those collars…’

The red-headed policeman nods to the couch. “As a matter of evidence, we would have to know how you got out of the collars Ms. Chasofito. It could help the Mercer’s case.”

Glancing to Steven, then to the stairs. Her ears picking up the noise of Angela exiting her room and walking along the upstairs hallway. Usako nods and walks over to the couch, climbs up and sits next to Charlie.

The policeman grabs the recliner and moves it closer to the couch.

Opening one of the pouches on his belt, the policemen takes out a voice recorder. “Okay, there are a few things I need to know, so if can you start from the beginning, and be more detailed than earlier please, it would be a great help.”

-

About an hour and a half later. The local Police station parking lot.

-

“Thank Karma we’re here! My tail’s killing me.” Grumbling, Usako looks to no one in particular.

Looking left, past Steven and out the passanger window at the city scape, Usako sighs. Unbuckling herself and smoothing out one of Angela’s old childhood dresses from when she was nine before standing on the center-rear seat.

‘Not exactly something I would normally wear casually, but I’m not going to let it get wrinkled regardless considering how nice it looks. After all, without wasting time shaving my winter coat, it was either wear this or that bio-morph clothing. I’d rather be dead than wear that glorified set of underwear.’

The shrill beeping from the backup alarm on the sleek transport van draws her attention out the window on the other side of the cruiser. Past Angel, who like her brother is wearing a set of casual jeans and a shirt and a jackat. ‘I feel sorry for them. Charlie and Balto still had to be dragged up here despite Frank’s insistence they’re in good health. They could’ve at least not treated them like slaves.’

Grabbing the door handle, Steven pushes the cruiser door out a bit, then up. Letting both the cool winter air in, and the sounds of an active down town area of a medium-sized city. “Lets get this over with. The sooner it’s done the sooner we can go back home.”

Doing the same on her side of the vehicle, Angela sighs. “Steven, I’m sorry.” Stepping out, she closes the door behind her as she looks around at the open air police station lot. Only to stop and watch the sleek transport van as two other officers exit the front cabin. Both carrying choke poles while moving to the back of the vehicle.

Steven steps out as well, then holds a hand out for Usako.

Taking it in her hand-paw, Usako hops down onto the pavement. ‘Though I wish they waited for me to put a damn tail-hole in the dress. This is annoying.’ Moving her tail as much as she can to get the kinks out, without hiking up the dress.

Closing the door, Steven sighs. “What’s done is done, now we just have to move forward and deal with the consequences.”

Steven turns to watch the other two officers as Usako walks around the back of the cruiser to do the same. The officers open the van’s back doors, just an inch, enough for the choke poles to be inserted. Then a moment later, allowed to be opened all the way. Letting Balto and Charlie out, guided by those same choke poles and the wire they contain.

Charlie has his ears back with his tail fluffed as his hands nervously grasp the pole with its plastic coated wire holding him around his neck. Balto though, has his ears up, tail still and looks over at the Mercers casually not bothered by it in the least.

[We’ll be fine. Just go do what you need to do to get this cleared up Steven.]

Usako dutifully translates while watching both Balto and Charlie being ‘guided’ by the officers to the service entrance of the building.

The front passenger side door opens, then is slammed shut by the orange haired Policewomen. “Look, I don’t know what your pulling here Ms. Chasofito, but you can stop pretending that those barks, growls, and yips from the Bio-Morphs mean anything.”

Usako rolls her eyes as the red-head policeman more calmly exits the front driver’s side of the vehicle before glaring at his partner. “Again, what proof do you have Dixie?” Glancing to Steven, Angela, and Usako. He nods to the staff only entrance door.

“Follow me inside please.” Locking the vehicle with the key-fob, then leading the way to the building, he pockets the keychain.

Usako, Angela, and Steven quickly following behind them.

Dixie rolls her eyes, taking up the rear of the group. “Of course I don’t have proof of it, but she’s an alien. She may have mind control powers or something else she’s hiding.”

Stopping her ears from folding flat, Usako lets the tip of her tail twitch while glancing back at the orange haired Policewoman. “I wouldn’t be in this situation if I had mind control powers. About the only close to a ‘power’ I have, is being able to clog any normal vacuum cleaner come the spring shedding season.”

Steven and the red-haired policeman chuckle, the latter holding the exterior door open for the group.

“I mean it makes sense if she did.” Grumbling, Dixie follows the rest inside.

The policeman stops for a moment as the door closes to look at his partner. “Or they’re smarter than we gave them credit for.” He then looks at the Mercer siblings and Usako as he passes by them. “This way. The Chief wants to see you Ms. Chasofito…”

{Mike, this is dispatch. Are you in the building with the Mercer’s and the ‘alien’ yet?}

Picking up his radio from his belt, Mike sighs. “Yes, just came in the back staff entrance. Going to take them to conference room Three-C.”

{Negative Mike, the Aquis rep showed up fifteen minutes ago. She’s with the Chief in room Two-A right now. Take them there. Dispatch out.}

Putting his radio away, Mike grumbles. “Alright, room Two-A is this way.” Leading the group down the hallway, then to a junction off to the right before coming upon a set of stairs.

“Oh come on, you’ve seen how the ones we have at the station behave Mike. They act nowhere near like those two.” Dixie moves past the Mercer’s and Usako, so she can walk next to Mike as they climb up to the second floor.

Raising an eyebrow, Mike glances to Dixie while leading the group down the second floor hallway. “The same Bio-Morphs that rookies like to pelt with Nerf whenever they have a chance? Those Bio-Morphs? Any Human or Animal bombarded like that with no notice, every day for months on end would get skittish and act like they do. Scared of the officers that they see every day.”

Coming to a stop by Two-A, Mike faces his charges. “Here we are. Good luck you three. I have a feeling you’ll need it.” Dixie steps to the side allowing Mike to open the door for them.

Steven enters first, followed by Angela, and then Usako. When her tail clears the threshold, Mike slowly closes the door.

“Have you lost your mind Chief Patterson?” A woman in a slate colored business power suit gestures at usako with a long nailed hand. Her dark brown hair not moving a strand in the process. “That’s a Bio-Morph arctic fox breed cub in a girls dress, not an alien. You didn’t even bother to cut a hole for the tail either!”

Patterson scoffs, and shakes his bald head. “I think I will assume two of my best officers weren’t lying. You do talk, Ms. Chasofito, right?”

Walking around Steven and Angela, who both take seats opposite of the business woman, Usako pulls out the chair directly across from the chief, then hops up onto it. The table sits just about at the right height for Usako to stand on the chair and rest her hands on the tabletop.

“You can call me Usako if you want. Or Lt. Chasofito if you want to be official.” Keeping her ears forward, she smiles at the Chief and the Rep.

‘Got to be nice, first impressions and all that…’

The business woman stares mouth agape, but closes it a moment later. “Alright. So your not a normal Bio-Morph, don’t know about an alien though.” She turns to Steven and Angela with a look on her face of not wanting to deal with this.

“Anyway, lets get started. I have other appointments to get to today.” Opening a large folder full of papers in front of her.

“Now Chief Patterson has provided me with what happened at your farm, except the recording Mike made of the Alien.”

Relaxing her ears, Usako sighs. “The name’s Usako, Lt. Chasofito, or Ms. Chasofito. ‘Not’ Alien.”

Her eye twitching, the business woman turns herself in her chair a bit to stare Usako down while leaning in closer. “Alright ‘Ms. Alien’, but you’re not a party to the Mercer’s issue with Aquis. You’re here to talk with the Chief of police when I’m done talking with the Mercer’s.”

Quirking an ear as Usako takes a breath in through her nose as she returns the aggressive stare. ‘She’s not fully human. I smell Bio-Morph from her, and not just the scent you get from handling one. I wonder if that’s the reason for her negative reaction to me.’

“But I am involved.”

Coughing politely, Chief Patterson looks at everyone else. “Steven and Angela Mercer, care to clarify if Lt. Chasofito here is involved in the situation that brought upon this wellness check of your leased Bio-Morphs?”

“More or less she’s been involved from the start Chief Patterson.” Angela sighs.

Chief Patterson nods to the Aquis rep. “Alright, then Lt. Chasofito stays.” Looking back over to Angela.

“Would you or your brother like to describe what led up to the malfunction and removal of the collars for two of your Bio-Morphs. Then we’ll play back what Lt. Chasofito recorded with one of my officers. After that, we’ll try to reach a settlement. I’d rather not have a legal battle considering the resources I would have to take off the field for the duration. Is everyone in agreement here?”

Steven, Angela, Usako voice their agreement with a ‘yes’. Only the rep as she stares at Usako while thinking it over, stays silent for a few moments.

“Alright. As long as it gets me to my next appointment quicker. The Mercer’s aren’t the only ones who’ve reached the second strike on their lease due to recent events. I have four today alone to meet with.”

Usako tilts an ear slightly at the momentary look the rep gives her before shrugging her shoulders.

Idly listening to Angela speak, Usako only joins in when clarification’s needed. Steven’s next in line to speak, and tells his point of view up till he was picked up by the military. Then Usako’s ears fold back slightly at the sound of her own voice via the recording made earlier while watching the Aquis rep.

‘Some Bio-Morphs are made from humans, converted like Balto, and I trust he’s telling me the truth. Also considering how horny I’ve learned humans are from watching their version of Television. Or what I could catch when I was in the house. Though mammal’s back home are any better in that regard… It doesn’t surprise me that one would either get dicked by, or stick their dick in a Bio-Morph.’

Looking over to Angela, then to Steven, and finally Patterson. She lazily sways her tail back and forth. ‘They all show a bit of teeth while talking, this lady though, doesn’t and it reminds me of predators going to great lengths to not show sharp teeth to prey back home. That in of itself doesn’t prove what I smell from her. It does add to the pile of evidence though. Also, those are long fingernails she has, is she using them to cover something? Not to mention she seems a bit uncomfortable in her business suit, reminds me of last time I tried to wear something constricting even with my winter fluff trimmed down.’

Tapping his fingers on the table, Patterson looks over at the Aquis rep, drawing Usako’s attention to him. “That recording certainly complicates things.”

Glaring back at the chief, the Aquis rep turns her attention to the Mercer’s. “No it doesn’t. Your lease has breeding rights, so you’re not in violation there. We’ll just add the customary Fifty-thousand per cub onto what’s left on your lease. While keeping tabs on how the pregnancy progresses in the Alien, for scientific purposes. Keep in mind that even if they don’t end up being viable, you will still have to pay for them. As the breeding subsection states, ‘upon conception cubs become property of the lease’.”

Usako flattens her ears against her head. “I’m standing right here, and it’s my body you’re talking about! Despite the question if I’m actually pregnant, because I think it may be a bit early to ‘tell’.” She twitches the tip of her tail. ‘Would one of the local pregnancy tests work on me?’

The Aquis rep scoffs. “No. Those cubs in you are half fully patented D.N.A. by Yakeru-tech our parent company. As far as the law’s concerned, they’re ours and not yours.”

Patterson slams his hand against the table. “That Gordon's knot of a legal issue can wait for a bit!” He glares at the Aquis rep, then Usako.

“I haven’t even notified the Mayor let alone the Governor of Texas an interdimensional alien is here. Besides, the issue at hand is determining; If the Mercer’s have violated their lease with Aquis. Then if they have, can we negotiate a settlement without having to involve a trial. That is my job you and the Mercer’s agreed to have me do as your mediator in case of a contract dispute.”

Softening his gaze at the Aquis rep. “We’ve heard Steven’s and Angela’s statements, and the recording of Usako describing what happened from her point of view. In your professional opinion, putting aside whatever issue has got you riled up about Lt. Chasofito. Have the Mercer’s violated their lease and are now required to pay the remaining sum of…”

Patterson looks down at one of the papers on the table. ‘Still amazed at how ‘farm work’ trained Bio-Morphs are no less expensive than the ones we have for janitorial work. Isn’t farming easier? Just stick stuff in the ground, let it grow, then pick it when it’s done?’

“Two Million, Six Hundred and twenty-three Thousand, eight Hundred forty-three Dollars? Rounded up to the nearest dollar of course.”

Usako’s eyes bulge, ears shoot up, and her tail goes stock still. ‘HOW?’

The Aquis rep glares at Usako. ‘Damn this ‘thing’ reminds me of why I hate my father for what he did. Why did he have to fuck that pet of his.’

Then looks over to Patterson. “I guess that’s the question, isn’t it? It’s not disallowed for a lessee to push their Bio-Morphs however they want within a certain limit. In this case we’re far from those limits. The poor condition of their enclosure either isn’t on its own reason enough to call them on their lease either. The problem though, is this Alien.”

Turning her attention back at the Aquis rep, Usako flattens her ears and doesn’t bother fighting her tail from angrily whipping back and forth under the dress.

Tapping her long nails on the table, the Aquis representative pauses for a moment. “It’s not a legal entity on its own. In fact, as far as the law’s concerned it’s a Bio-Morph named Trinity, though not part of the lease to the Mercers.”

She looks over to the Mercer’s before organizing the papers in front of her and pulling out a handful to stack together. “We can’t count the removal of her own collar in this case because of this. It did remove two collars on leased Bio-Morphs using an item specified in the lease that shouldn’t be in their enclosure. For the Bio-Morph’s own safety of course. Like keeping a dog out of a garage, and I quote. ‘The lessee should keep the enclosure free from small metal objects including but not limited to; screwdrivers, keys, ties, silverware of any kind, screws, nails, or any small piece of metal they can either grab with hands or mouths’.”

Glancing over to Steven and Angela, Usako holds her tongue. ‘Snapping at this ‘representative’ won’t help, and it seems I’m not the only one not liking what she’s saying. If Steven’s thinned lips and Angela’s hard gaze is any indication.’

Looking over to Chief Patterson, the Aquis representative smiles politely. “Unfortunately, I do not see a way this incident can be resolved without the help of a court of law. First, it would have to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt this being actually ‘is’ an alien. Not some…”

She waves her hand dismissively.

“Illegal genetic experiment on an arctic fox breed specimen, eyewitness testimony isn’t enough to disprove this in my eyes. Second, the court would have to prove it’s sentient. Third, there would have to be an explanation as to how an alien would be compatible with our products to possibly conceive with one, otherwise it’s a logical discrepancy to points one and two. Finally, Fourth, did Ms. Angela Mercer violate any of its rights, assuming points one and two are; it is an alien, and it is sentient. Do you concur Chief Patterson?”

Picking up a pen, she places it on the pages, sliding them over to the Chief. ‘Alien or not, she may be a gold mine for the pet breeds. A new kind of fashion accessory, like the chihuahua. Just without having to keep a twenty-foot container on the property. Hmm, I wonder if I could get a commission off of it?’

Sighing, Patterson picks up the pen. “While I do think Lt. Chasofito is an alien, the Aquis representative has a point. Because Lt. Chasofito legal status as a person’s caught up in this, a determination can’t be made without a court ruling on her legal status as she’s neither a legal resident nor a citizen of the United States of America.”

Steven and Usako open their mouth’s but stop as Chief Patterson holds up his hand.

“That doesn’t mean Lt. Chasofito’s an illegal alien either. As she’s described, she had no choice in her arrival, rather her arrival was the best case considering what transpired. The logical impasse I think we are at is this. If the court determines she isn’t an alien, or isn’t sentient, then fault falls on the Mercer’s for the removal of the collars thus violating their lease. If the court does find Lt. Chasofito sentient and an alien, then the removal of the collars could fall under her right to escape what Angela subjected her to out of spite. Thus, the Mercers as a whole would not be in violation of their lease, only Angela Mercer would be facing possible charges in what she did to Lt. Chasofito. Only if she is willing to press charges at that point.”

Huffing once and stilling her tail, Usako focuses her attention on Patterson. “Isn’t the fact that I’m talking to you right now, and I can point you to my ship’s wreckage enough to prove what I’m saying? Mainly because of, I think it’s called Occam’s razor?”

“This ‘wreckage’ has yet to be examined, and while your speech is novel for someone of your apperance.” The Aquis rep grins with a closed mouth, giving her a slightly nefarious look.

“There is precedent of people illegally modifying Yakeru-tech, thus Aquis’s intellectual property similarly. So we can’t rule out the possibility here that you’re someone’s sick joke to play on the Mercer’s.”

Returning her smile with a glare, Usako’s tail tip twitches wildly.

Signing the document, Patterson slides it in front of Steven. “Which is why I have no choice but to sign this, even if it would put my two best officers on desk duty, so they can be available for the court as witnesses. I think you know your choices here Steven Mercer.”

He then hands Steven the pen.

Taking it, Steven sighs. “Either sign and go through with a trial, or refuse and have to pay up on the spot.”

The Aquis rep slides a single sheet of paper in front of Steven to add to the others. “You’ll also have to sign this either way. Just the standard ‘conception’ form for the Bio-Morph cubs in the alien. Since impregnation happened today, it will be awhile till we know how many so it’s tentatively going to add the amount for two cubs, which is the average litter. We’ll comp or add to the amount once we know more.”

‘This pen feels like it weighs more than it actually does.’ Steven looks at the writing implement, then to Angela and Usako. Raising his brows a bit, his look speaking volumes about wanting their input.

Slumping her shoulder’s and curling her hands up in her lap, Angela refuses to take Steven’s gaze. “Steven, I’m sorry. I let myself get carried away and did things I shouldn’t have, like I always do, which in turn led to this. Because of that, I don’t think I should have a say in the matter.”

Closing her eyes and letting a few breathes in and out, Usako still’s her tail, and forces her ears to a more neutral position. Opening her eyes, she looks Steven in the eyes.

“I didn’t earn my position as a test pilot by taking the easy way out. My family also didn’t get what they have by letting the perception of Foxes get in their way. So I say sign it. I’ll do whatever I can to prove to your courts I’m a Zootopian Vulpes Lagopus and not some weird Bio-Morph.”

Nodding once. Steven signs the paperwork in front of him, then slides it forward to the smiling Aquis representative who stuffs it in her folder.

--

A short while later in the station’s break room.

--

Grimacing at the coffee in her hands, Angela looks at her brother, then Usako. The former also looking at a similar cup of coffee, while the latter munches on a chicken sandwich.

“So… When do you think they’ll give Balto and Charlie back to us?”

Folding her ears back, Usako sighs and forces them back up. ‘She’s trying. By Karma, I hate her, but I have to admit she’s trying to be civil right now. At least Chief Patterson’s allowed us to stay here instead of out front in the public area while we wait for them. Not to mention what the Mayor and the Governor will say about me.’

Pushing the paper cup with the black liquid pretending to be coffee away from himself. Steven then places his breakfast biscuit, still partially in a wrapper, Next to it. “Don’t know. However long it takes for them to get a Vet, which isn’t a friend of our family to corroborate Frank’s assessment. After that, it’s up to what they want to do with Usako here. Hold her here till the interstate police arrive, or whatever.”

Taking a sip of her orange juice, Usako lowers her ears and droops her tail. ‘At least these chairs have holes in them for tails, even when I’m standing. Not to mention they finally cut a tail hole in the dress for me.’

“I’m hoping he talks to the media before that. I’d rather not disappear into some black site like they would to any alien back home.”

Turning her attention specifically at Angela, Usako tilts her head a bit.“Why do you want to know that? You treated them, and me along with the other Bio-Morphs like shit! I know Balto scared the hell out of you earlier, and while I am glad you now realize they’re all intelligent mammals, you must know they hate your guts for what you did to them. So why do you care?”

Poking the sad excuse for a salad with a plastic fork Angela returns Usako’s stare. “Now that I’m not hung over, yes I do care. How else am I going to apologize to them if I don’t talk to them though?”

Placing the cup on the table, then wiping her muzzle. Usako shakes her head. “I seem to recall Balto saying he’s nowhere near ready to forgive you, let alone what Charlie thinks of you. Not to mention ‘you’ most likely took the choice away from ‘me’ of when I would have my first kits.”

Pausing for a second and sighing, Usako looks down at herself. “Not that I imagined I would be able to conceive with anyone here. The evidence is starting to pile up though, if it was a false end of heat, it would’ve started back up by now.”

Pointing her fork at Usako, Angela opens her mouth, only to close it a moment later. ‘Like I have any high ground in this matter anymore…’ she sighs. “I was going to say, you didn’t have to grab me that morning and nearly take the use of my arm away.”

Angela puts her fork down next to the salad, then pushes it across the table like her brother’s coffee. ‘I still wonder who taught her how to take on someone bigger than her and how to disable someone so quickly.’

“But I realize that you must’ve been highly stressed and scared then, so it was my mistake on trying to grab you like that.”

‘Took Angela long enough.’ Usako flicks an ear. “Well like I said before, I shouldn’t have gone for the nerves like I did. Only pressure points to subdue, not maim, as you were not attacking me with lethal force.”

Chuckling, Steven causes both Usako and Angela to stare at him, the former tilting her head slightly. “It took you two six months and the threat of losing most of our farm for you two to reconcile on that. I can’t help chuckling, it’s funny.”

“Who said I’ve reconciled with her?!” Both Usako and Anglea blurt out while pointing to each other at the same time. Only to glare at each other for a moment before turning their gaze on the now laughing Steven.

The sound of the door to the break-room opening instantly quiets Steven.

Entering, Mike holds the door open as Charlie enters. Dressed in a fresh pair of Bio-Morph clothing, fur clean and neatly trimmed, with a brand-new white collar on his neck. Balto follows right behind him similarly groomed and dressed.

After letting the two in, Mike lets the door swing shut with a light whomph as it hits the door frame.

Looking at each other for a moment, Steven stands and moves over to Usako’s chair. Holding it gently while Usako hops off before pushing the wobbly and cheaply made furniture closer to the table.

Angela only looks over, then back down at the table as the two of them walk over.

“I’m hoping the Aquis vet didn’t find anything wrong with either of them?” Upon hearing this, Mike loosens the collar of his uniform as the Mercer Patriarch and the alien Approach.

Smiling up at the two Bio-Morphs, Usako keeps her ear’s up and forward and her tail slightly curled to one side. “Are you two alright?”

[I’m fine, just didn’t want another collar on my neck.] Charlie’s ears lower a bit as his tail dips.

Balto nods. [I have to agree with my son on that, though I never liked them in the first place.]

“They’re fine Mr. Mercer, though the vet said you shouldn’t push Balto too hard anymore. He’s more or less the Bio-Morph equivalent of an old man in his sixties or seventies.”

Mike chuckles and shakes his head at himself. “Though to be honest I would like to be in that good of shape when I reach his age. Being an officer isn’t that nice on your joints to say the least.”

Angela deflates, letting out a sigh of relief, those in the room with movable ears turn them in her direction for a moment upon hearing it.

Nodding once, Steven then looks at Usako. ‘While I think I can trust this officer, I’d rather be sure.’

Taking a moment to understand the look on Stevens face, Usako smiles back. “They say they’re fine but didn’t want another collar put on them.”

Nodding once. ‘That’s what I guessed.’ Steven reaches into his pocket, then hands Usako some plastic bills. “Get them something to eat then. I doubt they’d had anything since last night.”

“Okay.” With a small flick of her tail, Usako gently grabs both Balto’s and Charlie’s hands. Leading the two to the vending machines. Upon reaching the wall of humming glass and plastic automated dispensers, both Balto and Usako explain Charlie why and how they work.

‘Heh, he’s like a little kid.’ Turning his focus back over to Mike, Steven lets his shoulders slump a bit.

“Well, we couldn’t come to an agreement with the Aquis rep in the arbitration. From what I heard from your boss, that means since you and your partner are caught up in this shit-show. You two are going to be put on desk duty or whatever keeps you available for the courts till it gets sorted out legally.”

‘Or parking duty.’ Mike nods. “I’ll take desk duty to help someone out like you Mr. Mercer. You seem like a nice person, and that’s the reason I joined the force in the first place. To help people. Still, between you and me, I think it’s just Aquis’s parent company turning the screws. As you already know sine you were there, neither us nor China came out on top with the little stand-off in the antarctic. You’re also not the only one in the region getting a sudden ‘check-in’ from them today either.”

Steven pats Mike’s shoulder once. “Thank you, and that’s what I figured.”

Charlie’s surprise at how the vending machine picks up his choice in food causes both Steven and Mike to look over, the former chuckling a bit.

Grabbing a nearby chair, Steven sits down. Elbows on his knee’s fingers intertwined with his chin resting on them. “And the situation with Usako? I don’t suppose we’ll have a throng of media outside as you take us back to our property?”

Sighing, Mike pulls a chair over and sits down. In contrast to Steven he sits straight up with his arms crossed over his chest. “You won’t have to worry about that.” Nodding his head slightly in the direction of Usako.

“The Chief got word back from the Mayor, and I’m paraphrasing here. He doesn’t want our town to become the next Roswell New-Mexico. So Patterson’s not allowed to go to the media and, well if you do have an alien ship buried on your land. You’re going to need it to convince the Mayor before he considers Lt. Chasofito anything other than a weird Bio-Morph.”

Sitting up straighter, Steven shakes his head. “I’m not some ignorant farmer though…”

“You’ve got to admit Mr. Mercer.” Mike gestures around him with a small smirk. “It ‘is’ a remarkably similar situation. You ‘are’ a farmer. Something ‘did’ crash on your property, and there is an honest to Jesus ‘Alien’ in this room right now with us. All we need to have next is the local news-paper to print a headline that an alien ship has crashed, and then another headline saying it was just a weather balloon shortly after.”

Her ears swivel in the direction of Mike as she leads her charges to a nearby table. “Would it help if I dye my fur green and put on a headband with those blinking LED’s on top of wobbly springs?” Usako laughs as she climbs up onto a chair at the same table with the two Bio-Morphs. So she can stand on it and watch Charlie’s reaction to a ‘twinkie’.

Shaking his head, Mike chuckles a couple of times. “No, all you’d do is convince Dixie and the clique she’s a part of here that you have some kind of mind control powers over Bio-Morphs. Hell, the receptionist told me she thinks you’re going to make them all rebel and call yourself supreme ruler.”

“That rumor your partner started isn’t going to go away, is it?” Usako’s posture falls. ‘If cliques and gossip circles are anything like they were back home that is.’

Mike shakes his head. “Yea, I don’t think it is sadly.”

Usako gently drops her upper body and head onto the table, only to stand back up at the sound of Angela getting to her feet and walking over.

Looking at Charlie and Balto meekly. Angela’s polite and semi forced smile fades as both Bio-Morphs fold their ears back.

‘Here goes nothing.’ Angela swallows lightly. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry for what I did to you Balto, Charlie, Pippin and the others. I’m sorry for how I acted. Most of all, I’m sorry for not realizing that you two, and the entire pack, are people like Steven and Me.”

Looking over to his son as he wipes a bit of filling off his muzzle. Balto looks back over to Angela. [Apology accepted Angela, but you’re not forgiven for what you did. You wronged me and especially my children while breaking all our trust in you. If forgiveness is what you want from me, then you’ll have to get my son and my daughter to do so first. You wronged them the most.]

Turning her attention to Charlie with his ears fully pined back aggressively, Angela’s smile falters. [You forced me into a situation where I raped Usako. You put my sister in a similar situation. They are both most likely carrying cubs that they didn’t want and the sight of them will remind them of this horrible act the rest of their lives. I could easily forgive all you did before that if it was all that happened. Not now though. Still, I accept your apology Angela, and I want to let you and Steven know I saw you and him, and Mark as my brothers and sister. I…]

Pausing for a moment, he looks down at the other cream filled confection.[Honestly don’t know how to feel about that now.] Looking back up and keeping his ears pinned. [Don’t ask me about this again, I’ll come to you if I want to talk about it. I know how stubborn you can be, Angela.]

Whimpering as much as a human can, Angela shuffles slowly back to her table, collapses onto the chair. Her head lightly falls onto the table as she starts silently crying while she covers her head with her arms. “I wanna go home…”

Steven looks over at Mike with a sigh as the officer looks slightly embarrassed at having to witness such a display.

Looking away from Angela, Mike gives Steven an apologetic look. “Yea, I think it’s about time I got you all back home.”

Standing, he buttons his collar back up, then pushes the chair back against the table. “I’ll take you back in the van, don’t think I’d be able to fit everyone into a cruiser.”

--

Back at the farm house.

--

Sticking his hands in his pocket, Steven watches the van drive off. ‘What a start of a day…’

Turning around he watches Charlie, Usako and Angela head for the house in a loose group. Only Balto stays by his side as he focuses in on his sister. “Let Balto and Charlie stay in the house… We’ll work out something for the rest of the pack. It feels, wrong to have them live in those things now to be honest.” Glancing in the direction of the barns for a moment, he looks back to the group. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

Shaking his head, Balto places a hand on Steven’s shoulder for a moment. [No. I’m going where you’re going, not that I don’t trust you Steven. It’s because I want to make sure you’re okay. You’re like your father in that you like to hold things in. I’ll also have to be there if you need anything from the pack.]

Hanging back, Usako translates while listening to Angela enter the house as Charlie stops walking to stand near her.

“And your son Balto?” Steven faces the elderly Bio-Morph.

Glancing at his son, Balto sighs. [He needs to stay here. He and Usako need to have a long talk with each other. My son didn’t want to put pups in Usako, and I am baffled as to how it can happen in the first place, but if she really is pregnant. Then they are his and Usako and him need to come to some kind of agreement over them. I don’t expect them to become mates, what I do hope is they don’t hate each other over this nor the innocents now inside her. It wouldn’t be fair to the pups.]

Looking down at herself, Usako puts her hand-paws over her lower belly as Charlie whines.

Steven nods to Usako, she in turn looks over to Charlie before she and him head inside, closing the door behind them.

Ears up, tail still, Balto motions in the direction of the Bio-Morph pen.

Without a word, Steven starts walking. Down the driveway, across it, then up the road until the turn onto the gravel one. Only looking back occasionally to see if Balto is following him and adjusting his pace accordingly.

“I know I can’t understand what you say without Usako here, but I guess I can ask yes and no questions and you can nod your head.”

Looking up into the mid-day winter sky. Thin clouds fill his gaze just barely tinging the blue with gray. ‘Sigh, guess I’ll get it out of the way first.’

“Do you hate me Balto? Do you hate my family other than my sister over any of this? I mean for years I tried to treat you guys well, even if I didn’t realize the truth. I know my parents at least treated you decently well too, but, they were the ones that bought you. Bought intelligent beings.” Steven glances over to Balto.

‘That’s what I thought he would be thinking, wish I could tell him he actually did me a favor in the long run…’ Balto smiles and shakes his head, his tail giving an involuntary wag.

Slumping his shoulders a bit as if a weight’s been lifted, he momentarily smiles.

Eyeing the two barns down the road, Steven blinks. ‘There’s an idea. It might be crowded, but it would be better than those boxes.’

“Thank you. Um, If you want, I can have you and the pack sleep in the renovated barn? It would be crowded and I don’t know if we have enough stuff for them all to sleep comfortably there.”

Balto shakes his head again, causing Steven to raise an eyebrow at his answer.

“Okay, I can guess you guys are used to it, but I feel it’s demeaning now knowing the truth.” He sighs.

“Maybe I should leave that topic till we are back in the house when we can talk properly. The only other issue that needs addressing is who’ll run the place. The lawsuit will make us short of cash, so we can’t actually hire human workers and I don’t wan…”

Balto firmly but not aggressively puts his hand on Steven’s shoulder, instantly stopping him. ‘I realized that too.’ He shakes his head. ‘And I wish I could say this without pantomiming.’ Balto points to himself.

‘But I can assure you Steven, that not only I, but many of the pack would happily continue working. I know some won’t if given the choice but the majority will.’

He then points all around himself, at the fields, in the direction of their processing plant, the barns, and the house. Before smiling, tail wagging and giving a thumbs up.

Blinking with confusion, Steven stares back at Baklto. “Are you trying to tell me you’re okay with continuing to work?”

Wagging his tail more, Balto nods several times. ‘And I’m sure my son would agree. For now, we can continue on, but when we’re no longer facing the threat of being repossessed. We can discuss other arrangements. This is our home too after all. Charlie grew up here, I raised him and Pippin here. Others to grew up and or raised their kids here. We don’t want to lose it either.’

Smiling, Steven looks to the enclosure, despite one of the chain link panels hanging from the top of the dome, it still looks sturdy. “Thank you, I guess. Keep in mind though, things are going to change for the better once I win this stupid lawsuit, and it won’t include you guys staying in such tiny boxes. Till then…”

Walking up to the gate control panel and finding it open, and the gates flipped to the open position too. He fiddles with the panel the switches are mounted to for a second, mainly undoing the wingnuts on the corners. Then yanks it completely out of the enclosure once they’re off.

Blinking, Balto tilts his head a bit and watches as Steven yanks the wires off the back of the panel one by one, only to throw the entire assembly away from the enclosure with a huff. “You’re free to enter and leave the enclosure as you wish. Just stay on our property and close to our buildings. Last thing I need is to have to try to get any of you back from the neighbors thinking they’re getting a free Bio-Morph who wandered off due to neglect.”

Nodding once, Balto smiles. ‘Thank you.’

The sound of multiple residential containers opening draws both their attention.

Balto taps Steven’s shoulder and holds up one finger, before pointing to them and the Bio-Morphs within. All the heads peeking out, trying to see what all the noise is about watch as he then pantomimes that he’s going to talk to them before entering the enclosure.

“Go ahead, talk to them, I’ll be right here.” As Steven watches Balto enter the enclosure, he pulls out his phone.

Looking down at it only long enough to change the geo-fencing for the pack to just the property as a whole. Disabling all the other restrictions on them on where and when they can go within it. ‘This is as much freedom as I can give them in this country.’

Balto make it only a few feet inside before Anna dashes up and embraces him. [You had me so worried! I thought they took you away for escaping when no one came in the morning to get us for work today.]

Hugging her back Balto rubs his muzzle against Anna’s with a smile before she lets go of him, and he motions towards Steven. [I’ll spare you the details for the moment, but, Steven and Angela know now. They know we’re like them.]

Anna’s eyes widen, going stock still as she makes eye contact with Steven, who smiles gently and waves a bit. ‘But.. wait, mom and dad said humans will never understand because that motion box tells them differently.’

Balto gently directs Anna to look back at him via a gentle caress of his hand on her muzzle. [Honey, we’re going to have to come out of retirement as the pack’s Alphas. Not because Charlie no longer wants to be one, but because he’ll need our help in this, it’s too much for one to carry. I know you know about how we were bought by the Mercer’s, right?]

Anna nods. [Yea, but I don’t quite get this concept of ‘money’ you taught Charlie and Pippin about. Wouldn’t it make more sense to just trade what you don’t need for what you do with whomever has it?]

Nodding once, Balto sighs. [I’ll try to explain that again later. The important thing is, they still owe money, a ‘lot’ of money to those they bought us from. So if they’re forced to pay all that ‘now’ they will lose the majority of the farm in the process. This farm is our home too, and I don’t want them to lose it either.]

Ears cocked to the side in confusion, Anna looks over to Steven, then to her mate. [Honey… What’s happening?]

Lowering his ears, Balto moves to gently caress the side of Anna’s muzzle. [I know they're things you don’t understand being a natural born Bio-Morph, and I’ll try to explain them to the best of my ability as the subjects come up. Anyway, the Mercer’s are in for a tough fight to keep everything, to keep their and our home. They’ll no longer treat us as slaves, but for that to happen they’ll have to win this fight. For them to win we’ll have to continue running this place. We know how to do it, with or without their direction, and it’s the best way we can help them.]

Flattening her ears against her head, Anna lets out a whine while keeping her tail from tucking between her legs. [I’m guessing you think not everyone in the pack will agree to continue working now they have a choice not to?]

Balto nods. [Our job right now is to get or convince as many as we can to continue working on the farm like before. We can find something else for the rest to do if they don’t want to do any of the normal tasks, but if any flat out refuse to work at all…]

He pauses for a moment, flattening his ears at his early memories. ‘The best lesson I learned since being converted was to work, meant you get to eat. You weren't entitled to anything for any reason, you had to earn it.’

[We’ll keep them contained in here ourselves, so they don’t undermine our efforts. They won’t like it, but the Mercer’s and us ‘have’ to work together if we’re going to keep the farm. To keep our home.]

Like a switch that's been flipped Anna’s body language shifts from worried mate, to pack Alpha. Ears up, tail up and still while standing like she owns the land under her feet. [I don’t understand what kind of fight would require us to continue working like this, but I trust you’re telling the truth honny. I’ll get the pack out of their containers and sort them out ‘myself’. I don’t want to lose the home where I gave birth to and raised my son and daughter either.]

Looking around, her eyes linger a moment on the container her daughter is still in with the father of the pups that she knows will be in Pippin in a few days if not already. ‘And put the fear of god into the tail-hole Angela trapped Pippin in with if he even ‘thinks’ to do something other than work his tail off for this place.’

Filing that task away for later, Anna Looks back to Balto. [What about Usako though?]

Balto lets out a small whine. [Part of the fight for this place includes her having to prove to other humans she’s an alien and not a weird Bio-Morph. Her entire future’s wrapped up in this, so she’s willing to help us. If just helping the Mercer’s isn’t enough for some, mention to them that this will help Usako as well.]

Anna smiles. [That will also make it a little easier. She’s made friends with many of the cubs and their families these past few months. They’ll happily do anything to help her.] Taking a step towards the containers, Anna stops to look back at Balto.

[What are you going to do while I do this Honey?]

Balto points at Steven. [I’m going to go with him to dig up what Angela had me and Charlie help bury six months ago. It will be the best chance of convincing the humans she’s an Alien and winning this fight.]