Page 49

Story: MeK

“Lacie, you don’t have to leave him.Ihave an extra room on my shuttle that you are welcome to use.”

“MeK,Idon’t think that’s a good idea, butIappreciate the offer.I’msure he will be fine without me.Afterall, he managed the last few days on his own.Iwonder how he managed to find me or even get through the perimeter fence.”

“Letme see ifSCOUTis available.Hewould know.”

IwatchMeKhit a series of prompts on his comm unit, which is much larger than mine was, and moments later,SCOUTappears in front of us.

“MistressLacie,Iam pleased to see you up and about.MasterMeKsaid you had a few inquiries.”

“Beforewe get to that part,Iwant to thank you personally for all you did for me the other day.”

“Iam pleased my calculations were accurate and that you are here safely now.Iwas designed to provide assistance for my creators, and it is quite pleasurable whenIam able to do so.Now, how mayIbe of assistance?”

“Howdid this little fur ball get through the fence?”

“Oh, that is an easy one.Iprogrammed his essence into the system when he kept trying to find a way through.Itwas easy to see he had formed a bond with you, andIwas curious as to what means he would use to find you.Thesefields are where he has been staying, especially when he found that glove with your scent on it.Itappears theSuetare quite resourceful and very intelligent.Iam sure in time he will not be the only one patrolling this side of the perimeter.OnethingIshould warn you about, though, is his size.Hewill become quite large as an adult, which may scare others.Butthere will be no other as loyal to you as he is either.”

“Thankyou,SCOUT.Idon’t know much about his kind, butI’llaskANDIto send what he has to my holo pad later.Ido have one more question, andI’veput off asking this several times now.Didyou findEricslashJeffrey?DoIneed to watch over my shoulder for the rest of my life?”

“Wedid not find his body and only a shoe was recovered a few hundred feet below the rock you had landed on.However,Iwas able to do a scan of the area, andIwill not go into the description, but he is dead and gone.Youhave nothing to fear.”

“Thankyou for clearing that up,SCOUT.”

“Mypleasure.”Andjust like a genie, he pops out of existence.

“That’ssomethingI’llnever get used to.”

“Theydo come and go quickly.Nowthat you are finished here, do you have plans?”

“Shouldyou not be building houses?”

“Theassembly bot showed up, and for the most part,Isimply have to maneuver it from location to location.Ithas raised three more dwellings since you were out that way last.However,Ido need to get back soon.”

Helooks so torn, andIcan tell he’s trying very hard to do everything correctly when it comes to being around me.

“Ineed to meet up withBriarandBuK.Shetold me earlier she’s going to start cleaningJamesandCarla’sresidence today.”

“Sincewe are headed in the same direction, do you mind ifIwalk along with you andKiki?”

“It’sa free world,MeK.Ihave no right to tell you to do anything.”

Atthis moment,I’mso thankful forKikiand the distraction he’s providing so thatIdon’t actually have to talk toMeK, as we both laugh while he bounces all around us.Hislarge paws make him clumsy to the point he has rolled over himself several times.Rightas we’re walking up the hill, he steps off the path only to let out a little whimper.Quickly,Ikneel down in front of him as he holds his paw off the ground.

“Didthat old sticker bush hurt the baby?Here, let me see.”

“Letme do it,Lacieas he may not react favorably if it is hurting him.”

PickingKikiup gently,Iturn towardMeK. “Ok, for once, we agree on something.Youhold him whileItake a look.”Ipet him until he settles inMeK’smassive arms. “Ok, let’s see.”Carefully,Iopen his paw up only to find a sliver of something bright in it. “Holdhim still.Ithink it’s a piece of one of the rivets.”

WhenIgo to pull on it, he starts to squirm, but at no point does he get mean.Ittakes me a second to get it all out, but the momentIdo, he starts chirping.Reachingup,Ilean my head against his. “Youwere so brave.Nowbe more careful.”

MeKlowers him down, and he takes off, twisting and jumping like nothing was ever wrong.

“Youtalk to him as though he can understand you.”

“Well, he may not understand each word, butIdo believe it’s the tone they grasp.”

Hedoesn’t say anything else, but whenIglance up at him,Ican tell he’s deep in thought.IhearBriar’slaughter way beforeIsee them, and without thinking,Ihead off the main path toward thenew house.WhenIturn back,IseeMeKwalking off in the other direction.Iguess some things never change, it seems.