FSE

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"You're Jason, correct?" the short human said to me. Well, all humans are short I suppose but even to my eyes he seemed shorter than most.

"No," I said shaking my head.

He looked at me, confused. "But you're a giant tiger..."

"And that means my name must be Jason?"

"Ah, no, but..."

I snorted. "Yes, I am Jason."

He looked at me confusedly for a few moments longer then shook his head. "Well, my name is Dobbs. I'm to brief you on the job and get things set up for your transport."

"Transport?"

"Well, yes, we need you on the job site."

"And just where is this job site?"

"About 150 miles north of here."

"I can walk to it."

"Well, we though it would be faster if we were to transport you via rail. We have a car set up."

"No."

"Ah," he said looking confused.

"Look, even if the rail has space for me to fit, it is going to be uncomfortable and slow. I can walk the distance with no problem so that is what I will do."

"My instructions say you are to go by rail, however."

"Then get them updated."

"Ah," Dobbs said, looking confused. I almost felt sorry for him. "Very well, I will ask."

"Meanwhile, what is this job?"

"There are certain minerals that have been discovered at the bottom of mine 2084. We want you to retrieve them."

"Use a crane."

"The ground is not stable enough for a crane and the minerals are fragile. Lifting them out by hand is the only option."

I grumbled and he blanched. "I see. And this minerals are safe to handle? No radiation?"

"Oh, I'm assured that they are perfectly harmless. People have been down in the pit several times with no ill effects."

I grunted. "I see. Tell your people that I am going to walk to the site and to get my directions."

He nodded and scooted out of the room as fast as he could and I snorted again. I had no idea what they were up to, but I was not going to just blindly go with whatever it was they wanted of me.

I glanced around and pushed the switch on my transceiver. "I am sure your heard their plans."

"I did," Dr Stevenson said. "Good move in putting a stop to that."

"Trying to get a map so you can get there."

"Just stall them till they do."

"No word on my...handlers?"

"Not yet, Jason, we're trying."

Dobbs walked back into the room, looking agitated. "Grant says that rail is the only way to get there. There are no roads going into the site."

I grumbled again. "I am quite certain I can step over any obstacles."

"I have been assured there is plenty of room in the rail car and that we have a sedative to make it easier for your to travel."

"There is no way in hell they are injecting you with anything that I did not concoct!" Dr Stevenson said.

"If it is not from Dr Stevenson, injected by him or his staff, you are not getting anywhere near me with a needle."

"But-"

"Ever," I said, adding some bass to my voice. Dobbs turned white and ran from the room

My ears perked and Dr Stevenson laughed. "You enjoyed that a bit much didn't you?"

"Perhaps."

After several minutes Dobbs came back into the room. "Grant says it's fine, you can walk it."

"I will need a map."

"How? We can't print anything that big!"

"Just get me the largest map you have. I have lenses to magnify it."

"Oh," he said. He left the room and returned a short while later with a small print out. I smirked to myself, then bent down and held my hand out. He shrieked and staggered back. "Put it on my paw."

He stood up shakily, placed the printout on my paw and started to back away. I snorted. "And get a shower; you pissed yourself."

I walked back to my home and let Dr Stevenson take the map out of my hand. He glanced at it. "Grant's right, there's no way in but rail."

"I should be able to step over anything?"

"I'm sure you can manage, but I'm not going to be able to get up there."

"It was agreed you would be close by!"

"Yes, I said I would get over to the site and try to bluff my way in if I could or else be in transciver range, but there's no way, Jason. No roads go anywhere near."

"Damn," I said in a low growl.

He sighed. "Jason...you can carry me."

"NO."

"We've been over this, Jason."

I glared at him. "I will pick you up if needed, but I am not going to carry you that far."

"It's that or nothing, Jason."

"what about the order for my handlers?'

"They're stalling."

I grumbled then whined. "I've hurt people, Dr Stevenson, you know it."

"And that was an emergency. Jason, I'll be just fine. Let me get the stuff I packed, you can slip me into a pocket, and we can just go

I huffed a sigh and wanted to argue but realized he was right. With a shudder I nodded to him.

He came back a short time later with a backpack on. I knelt down on the ground hand held my hand out for him and he climbed aboard with no hesitation. "I put some sleeping bags from my parents camping gear in there so there would be more padding."

"Why thank you, Jason."

"You'll tell me if you're uncomfortable, being jostled, anything, okay?"

"I promise."

With another sigh I carefully allowed him to slide into my pocket and set out towards the job site...

The walk to the job site was nerve wracking for many reasons. The constant worry about Dr Stevenson in my pocket was a major one. I would stop often and make sure he was doing alright until he finally snapped at me to just keep walking and he would tell me if something was wrong.

Then there was the fact that I had no idea what I'd really be doing. Sure, minerals, but what was really going on? Thinking back to my college days I couldn't think of any minerals that were not synthetic that were so fragile they couldn't be mined in bulk

I had also forgotten dealing with other humans. It was easy to avoid those unfamiliar with me when in my own home, so to speak.

While walking to the site, I had to skirt around a large city and several smaller towns. Even then, people seeing me would scream and run in terror. Some of them would just gawk at me, a few even wanted to speak but I pretended as if I could not hear them.

I was only shot at a few times. Fortunately from great range. Small arms fire is no threat to me unless it strikes me in the eyes.

Dr Stevenson kept me from attacking them for his sake. I am thankful he was able to do so.

"Alright, Jason, we're getting really close. You're going to need to set me down someplace so I can either walk in or at least keep in radio contact."

"What about wild animals?"

"I doubt any of them stayed around with a giant predator on the loose."

"Predator?" I asked, confused.

He laughed. "You, you overgrown housecat."

"Oh!" I shook my head and laughed. I really don't consider myself to be a predator. Mentally I know what I am, but I've not made that sort of leap in my self realization. I still tend to think of myself as human.

I went on a few more miles and looked around. We were in a mountainous area, sparse trees covered the sides of the mountain, along with various boulders jutting out here and there. I could smell water in the distance so I assumed there to be a river or large creek. My ears picked up the occasional bird song but Dr Stevenson was right: most animals fled or got very quiet when I was around

"Will this work?" I asked him.

"I don't know, all I can see is your pocket."

I laughed nervously and carefully reached in to pick him up. I kind of shoveled my hand in there and he grasped on to my fingers as I curled them, then I lifted him out

He grabbed on to one finger and looked around. "Yes, this should be fine. The site is just over those ridges there. It may take me a bit to get there, but the radio should still work."

"As you wish," I said, and carefully set him on the ground. He gave my hand a few pets, then patted it

"Thank you, Jason. I'm going to get started. I'll check the radio as you get out of my line of sight."

"Okay, Dr."

"Be careful my friend."

"I'll do my best, sir."

I watched him walk into the treeline and then started making my way back to the job site, my stomach aflutter.

Keeping my tail from twitching about was taking a great deal of effort. I'm still not fully in control over it some days, contrary to what some may think. I located the rail line and followed it along through the trees. I was not sure of the type; botany was never my strong point

I think I recognized some of them to be scrub pine and sequoia trees, but I would not place any serious wager on it. The ridge loomed ahead of me as I made my way up the final grade

I could see a rail station with people moving about. It was clear they could see me; you would be blind if you couldn't. I could see them gesturing and even some men with guns lining up at various points

That gave me a short pause. Guns? The likelihood of them really hurting me was slim, but why point guns at someone who was working for you?

I moved forward a little more carefully until I came within what I figured to be a good hailing distance for a human. Personally, I can make myself heard for several miles if need be

"Is this the grant mining station?" I called out in a medium voice, which was probably quite loud to them

They looked startled and one of them picked up a bull horn. I winced at the tonal frequency. "Yes, come forward Jason, you're in the right place."

I walked to the entrance to the camp and looked around. The mining pit was easy to see, a giant scar on the land, lit up with mercury vapor lamps despite it still being day. Several out building sat on the eastern side of the pit, covered with tin roofs and clap board siding.

A water tower sat behind them with the Grant Construction logo, a big stylized G, painted across it. At the far side of the pit lay rock breaking equipment, grinders, conveyors, and other gear I had no name for.

Several large cats, the tractor variety, were moving in and out of the pit, and were parked in various places around it. Perhaps what caught my eye the most were the various humvees and other vehicles that were quite clearly outfitted for security.

Various guard lounged around, some of them with SAW guns, which I didn't think legal for civillian forces to own

I rumbled uneasily. Even if they could not hurt me badly, I did not like the idea of being pelted with hundreds of rounds of 5.56

"Well well, took a bit longer to get here, but here you are at last!" Grant said, walking out in his white suite

I nodded to him. "I am here, yes."

"Good my boy, good. Well, let's get you set up and ready to work shall we?"

I nodded again and stepped over the gate, much to the chagrin of the security people who were still opening it

I thumbed the button to my transceiver, hoping that Dr Stevenson would respond, but there was no answer.

Grant climbed into a golf cart, I was honestly expecting a caddy with bull horns, and drove out ahead of me

"This way, my boy, need to get you checked in and ready.

I followed him over to the building on the east side and noticed a scaffolding that had been raised, clearly to deal with me. I stood next to it and peered into the mining pit but could see nothing that struck me as odd or interesting

"Already at the scaffold, looks like they got you well trained, don't they?" Grant said. I jerked my head around and stared at him but he simply grinned back. "Darling! Get out here, your patient is waiting!"

"What do you mean, patient?" I rumbled

"Oh, nothing, just a few update and booster shots we do," Grant said easily

"I will accept nothing that is not administered by Dr Stevenson."

"Oh now, that's just foolishness! We're not gonna hurt ya, we just need to make sure you're safe!"

"I was given boosters before I left.'

"Well, I'm sure, but there are a few things here they may not know about."

"I am not going to take any shots from you, at all, Grant," I said, nearly growling. "If there is something you feel I need then you may give it through Dr Stevenson."

"Ah, but surely you know that he's no longer the lead on the project! Ann assures me that it's quite alright for you to have these!"

I thumbed the button in my pocket several times. "I would prefer Dr Stevenson. He has more experience."

Grant laughed. "I'm sure you're nervous, boy, but it'l be fine!"

"Jason, do not take anything from them. I have bad feljhwhli hewilhetlhalhf" Dr Stevenson said and then broke off into static

I involuntarily looked towards the ridge that Dr Stevenson was heading towards and grant chuckled. "Fly in your ear perhaps, boy? Don't worry. We have excellent....pest control here."