Release the Dogs of War

by Michael Anderle

  “But…but…,” Jeo looked between the two of them, “I’ve made changes to Samantha’s programming.”

  “I’m sure you have,” Bobcat agreed, “And every one of them, all changes, in fact, that are made to anything even remotely intelligent go through one of ADAM’s systems.” He shrugged, “So, change her back.”

  Jeo looked embarrassed but spoke to the avatar, “Samantha, please change back to your avatar from this morning.”

  “I’m sorry Jeo, but I am blocked from accepting avatar changes for another eleven hours and fifty-eight minutes.” The avatar replied.

  Jeo looked over to Bobcat and shrugged, “I tried?” He asked.

  “I’ll bet,” Bobcat snorted before turning to Samantha. “Samantha, implement this mornings avatar representation per Bobcat vocal approval and Level Five security code Delta Delta Kilo Gamma Three Two.”

  Samantha looked towards Bobcat, “I have an approval on Level Five approval Delta Delta Kilo Gamma Three Two. Implementing pre-existing G4 Avatar.”

  Samantha switched to an incredibly life-like representation of Gabrielle in black leather with a sword on her back. Her voice even switched over to having a European accent, “Is there anything else you would like me to do, Bobcat?”

  “God, now I know why he did it,” William whispered to Bobcat, who nodded his agreement.

  Bobcat viewed the avatar for another few seconds before turning back, “Jeo, do you know why I made Samantha switch back?”

  “So I could be horribly embarrassed?” He replied, his hand covering his eyes with his fingers split so he could see between them.

  “No, so you don’t get an ass kicking from Gabrielle and then from Bethany Anne among others.” He pointed to the avatar, “I’m guessing you are infatuated with Gabrielle, and you think this harmless, however, what you should be thinking is 'this is creepy’.”

  “Creepy? No, I don’t think it’s creepy. So, I'm going to have to go with harmless.” Jeo started before William interrupted his conversation.

  “Samantha,” William spoke, “What can you do for me?”

  “What would you like me to do for you, William?” Samantha spoke back.

  Bobcat pointed to the avatar, “Seriously?”

  Jeo was studying the avatar, “Well, to be fair I don’t ’think’ it’s Gabrielle, and I need something.”

  “Yeah, you aren’t getting it yet.” Bobcat replied and turned to the wall, “Samantha, Implement Dobby G1.” The avatar on the wall changed to represent a submissive elf slave, in old clothes with a large nose and brown, mottled skin.

  “Harry Potter?” Jeo asked, shocked, “You changed my avatar to Harry Potter’s elf?”

  “Well,” Bobcat asked, sweeping an arm up to the wall, “Isn’t this what it does for you?”

  “Well, of course not!” Jeo exclaimed, “Samantha is not a slave who does … does…,” Jeo stopped for a moment then asked the Avatar, “Samantha, what can you do for me?”

  The voice came back as the elf in the movie had, very respectful and full of self-loathing and yet helpful at the same time, “Whatever my master would have me do, Jeo! Please, tell Samantha what you would have me do so I can please you.”

  William said into the silence, “If Gabrielle ever learned that there was a virtual Gabrielle, who spoke even remotely like that, she would have your testicles pinned on a wall. That’s if someone who respected Gabrielle didn’t come here first and just cut everything off. Those guys don’t fuck around.”

  Jeo nodded his understanding, “Samantha, delete all avatars G1 through G7,” He looked over to Bobcat and flushed again, “In fact, delete all avatars except S1 through S17.”

  “I have deleted all avatars in the system, my master.” Samantha/Dobby said.

  “Yes,” William agreed, “That other would have gotten you killed,” William assured Jeo.

  “You’re intelligent and smart,” Bobcat said, “But you're also young, dumb and way too far away from most women. Of the avatars you created, Gabrielle and Bethany Anne will be here in the future. Bethany Anne might, just might, have found it foolish but a little funny. I guaran-damn-tee you that the Bitches would not. So, be a little smarter about what you need to do to make your job happen and be very respectful because ADAM is always watching.”

  Bobcat exhaled loudly, “Now that we have that bit out of the way, tell me more about Bethany Anne’s ship and how soon we can get it ready with all of the components we are shipping over here.”

  QBS Polarus - Mid-Atlantic Ocean

  “So,” Bethany Anne asked, “You feel that somehow you are to blame for Michael’s death?”

  “He’s not dead,” Tabitha replied a little more strength in her voice.

  “Perhaps not,” Bethany Anne agreed, “But perhaps he is. Either way, he isn’t with us, is he?”

  “No,” Tabitha agreed.

  “So, you are blaming yourself for his absence?” She asked, a second time. Tabitha nodded her head, “And are you blaming me for asking him to go to Colorado to protect the children?”

  “No!” Tabitha looked over to Bethany Anne in alarm, “You can’t possibly be in two places at one time and he wanted to help you. It’s just,” Tabitha slumped in her chair, “It’s just that I should have known what was going on. I’ve tracked down some of the players, and they met in South America! Fucking Costa Rica. If I could have found that out, then we would have stopped them cold.”

  “We can’t look into everything,” Bethany Anne told Tabitha, in a calm voice, “Even ADAM can’t be in every computer casting about for clues to all the evil in the world.”

  Don’t give me any lip, ADAM.

  >>I wasn’t going to reply to that comment, Bethany Anne. To accomplish what you ask would give me a headache.<<

  “Ok, I understand the logic, but when does the hurting stop?” Tabitha asked.

  “When you begin to live life again. For you, I imagine it started when you invited the three thugs into your home to accept their fates.” Bethany Anne replied.

  Tabitha thought about it, “Maybe. I’ve been doing something instead of just existing since I made that decision.”

  “Do you still want to take the fight to the Forsaken?” Bethany Anne asked.

  “Not only the Forsaken, but there are a few other people that need some cleaning up.” Tabitha said, “Some politicians who are not happy with what Michael was doing with Anton’s money.”

  “So, we have politicians doing what?” Bethany Anne asked.

  “You name it, and we have it in South America,” Tabitha said, dryly. “South America, Central America, and North America.”

  “You know, I need to house some reporters and their protection detail, do you have enough room?” Bethany Anne asked.

  “Who and how many?” Tabitha asked, “I’m sure I can do it for you. Hell, I meant what I said. You are my Queen, and I will get it done. If we need to build an additional house or buy something. Just tell me what you need accomplished.” Tabitha commented, squaring her shoulders to try and mimic how Gabrielle acted.

  “Well, it will be two reporters, a videographer, and two Australian Vampires that proved themselves in the base attack. I’ve changed their nanites to allow them to be out in the sun, but I’m keeping them away from Australia and the reporters need protecting.”

  “So, say eight in my group and five in theirs? The house can easily hold that many. Probably more like twenty to twenty-five if they are a little friendly. All of the Elites are sun-safe, right? They don’t need SPF1000 sunscreen?”

  Bethany Anne snorted, “SPF1000? No. They are all ‘sun-safe’.

  “Hey!” Tabitha jerked upright, “Did you know that all of the Elite aren’t gay?”

  Bethany Anne turned her head a little in question, “Yes. Why is that a shock to you?”

  “Well, um… I didn’t.” Tabitha admitted, “And so when I got off the phone with you I started undressing and since I thought they were all gay,” Her face flamed red.

  �
��You undressed how much in front of Hirotoshi and Ryu?” Bethany Anne asked.

  “Well, not so much when I left as I walked out with nothing but these leather pants on. Then I put my bra and shirt on right in front of them. They didn’t move.” Tabitha stopped and shook her head back and forth a little.

  “Well, they moved even less than their usual statue-selves, as if that were a thing.” She continued, “But I noticed just a little bit of facial expression and asked them and they said they weren’t gay.”

  “They spoke to you?” Bethany Anne asked.

  “Well, they have before, but no. They just shook their head a little when I asked if the Elite were all gay.”

  “So, you asked two men to whom you had just flashed your tits if all of the Elite were gay, and they said ‘no.' Do I have this right?” Bethany Anne asked, smiling.

  “Well, yeah,” Tabitha replied, confused.

  “But you didn’t think to ask the two in front of you, who had just had an eyeful of Tabitha’s chest if they happened to be gay?” Bethany Anne continued.

  “Well, no.” Tabitha made a face, “So I don’t know if they are gay or not.”

  “Why does this matter?” Bethany Anne asked.

  “I don’t want to be flashing straight guys!” Tabitha roared with alarm to Bethany Anne.

  “Tabitha, these men have been around for a long, long time. Assuming they are straight, I imagine they have had their fill of nice racks. Plus, they are the Elite. You could go walking around naked, and you wouldn’t get a rise out of them. NOT,” Bethany Anne put up a finger, “that I want you to test that!”

  “I wouldn’t do that!” Tabitha exclaimed, “Oh my God. Walking around naked in front of all the men?”

  “If you are on an Op, you might have to change clothes all of the time in front of them, but what’s on the Op, stays on the Op. It’s just another thing you are going to have to learn to get over. But just walking around the house nude is disrespectful whether they are gay or straight.” Bethany Anne finished.

  “I’m still trying to get over you telling me not to test getting a rise out of them,” Tabitha responded.

  “After my talk with the women a few minutes ago?” Bethany Anne replied, “I’m not sure what I should expect.”

  Bethany Anne shook her head as if to shake out a thought that had lodged disobediently between her ears. She got up off of the bed, grabbed her Coke and started walking for the door, “Ok, this is what we are going to need to do before you are allowed to move forward.”

  The two ladies left her suite, with Ashur following behind.

  Two hours later, Tabitha had sworn allegiance to Bethany Anne with Stephen vouching for her determination and Barnabas confirming she understood the details. Bethany Anne grabbed Ashur, and the three of them walked Etherically to the spaceship still stationed above the earth.

  Ashur dropped on the floor in the main hallway as the two women stepped through the door into the medical room.

  “Wow,” Tabitha said as she took in the medical pod, “This is it, then?” She walked over to stroke the coffin-like device. “This is what changed Michael so many centuries ago?” She looked up to Bethany Anne, who was studying her, “And you?”

  “Yes,” Bethany Anne answered, “And it is going to modify your body a little. Not too much, in the beginning, just getting you prepared with a nanite mix that is going to see what it might need to fix in the future, and perhaps correct a few issues.”

  “Um, like what?” Tabitha’s eyes grew a little larger.

  “I have no idea,” Bethany Anne replied, “you will have to go into the pod for us to figure that out.”

  Tabitha looked back at the pod, “What do I do?”

  Bethany Anne clicked a button that lowered a seat from the wall, “Well, you start by placing your clothes here, and I’ll prep the pod. Then, you will lay down, and the pod will close over you. You will go to sleep and wake up when finished.”

  “How long were you in it?” Tabitha asked as she slowly pulled off her shoes.

  “Somewhere between six and seven months.” Bethany Anne answered while she focused on the Pod controls and what TOM was telling her to do.

  “Six or seven…” Tabitha murmured before squaring her shoulders and started working more aggressively on her shoes. She removed her socks and dropped them into the shoes and then took off and folded her shirt and pants, and finally her panties and bra before standing up behind Bethany Anne.

  “Kinda cold here,” she admitted.

  “What?” Bethany Anne said and turned around to notice the naked Tabitha behind her, “Oh. Here,” she hit a button to open the pod, “jump on in and your cold issue will go away.”

  Tabitha noticed a small step, so she placed a foot there and used it to step up and sit on the bed and swing her legs in and then laid down. “Why is my cold issue going to go away?” She asked as the pod closed on her.

  “Because,” Bethany Anne said, “I’m about to hit this last button,” she said as she hit the button to start the medical review and Tabitha’s eyes closed. “And you are going to go to sleep like that,” she finished.

  Do we have everything going correctly?

  Yes, we do.

  Great, we will let her cook in here for a couple of hours and come back.

  “Ashur?” Bethany Anne spoke as she walked out of the room.

  —

  Two hours later, the Bethany Anne and Ashur came back into the Pod room and Bethany Anne read the readouts.

  Bethany Anne, this isn’t good. Tom mentioned

  What is it?

  She has a significant amount of Cancer in her body and her genetics are such that she will probably suffer early neurological damage if the cancer does not kill her.

  Bethany Anne thought for a minute, Options?

  If we heal this damage, we are effectively messing with her genetics significantly. She is going to be in the Pod for quite a while.

  Days?

  At least a week.

  Shit, that is going to mess up South America. Bethany Anne considered a moment. Fuck it, I’m the Queen. Fix her and upgrade her. I want her to have the enhanced package. We will come back when she is healed to tweak her.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Washington D.C., - USA

  “So, we have had a nuclear warhead go off inside of our borders, and you confirm it was tracked back to Russia via a Chinese purchase?” The President asked from inside the secure meeting room.

  “Yes, Mr. President.” Gen. George Thourbourah admitted, “I’ve worked with all of the services, and I can tell you for certain it came in on Sean Truitt’s personal airplane.”

  “I wish that asshole were alive, so we could bring him up on charges and put him in front of a firing squad.” The President admitted. “I cannot figure out what the hell he must have been thinking.”

  “What every large conglomerate is thinking, Mr. President. What does TQB Enterprises have that is going to destroy their company?”

  “Yes, it seems like everything that derails an effort to move this country forward in the last half a year that damned company is somehow or someway involved.”

  “Are they politically active?” Gen Thourbourah asked.

  The President frowned, “No, they are not,” the President admitted. “But by being so damned neutral and focused on outer space, everyone is wondering what they are really up to here on Earth.”

  “And? What are they really up to?” the general asked.

  “Believe it or not, they are really up to exactly what they announced.” The President smiled, “Although, they seem to be involved in significant incidents around the globe. I’ve got a meeting on TQB with the Joint Chiefs tomorrow morning over at the Pentagon. I’m going to have to deal with all of this shit including what to do about that little nuke over in Colorado. I’ve got the actual information locked down under code-word security, and I’ll throw people in jail if they breathe a damned word. However, that’s going to only last so long before too
many questions happen and we need to understand how to handle that pretty quickly.”

  The President stood up to leave then paused, “George, see what we can do to plan a response. No one facilitates a bomb like this on our own soil and gets away with it. I don’t care what jackass helped them. The Chinese purchased that son-of-a-bitch and both of us know they want the same thing - TQB technology. I know that TQB have pulled all of their main people out of the US, but it would be a problem for us when this comes out the US didn’t retaliate.”