Jethro: First to Fight

by Hechtl, Chris

  “Doctor, the body generates an electric field with its nervous system. Could it be tied to that?”

  Doctor Standish rubbed his jaw. “I... I don't know,” he said slowly, thoughtfully.

  They reviewed the records of cloak on the station. They talked about how the admiral had been able to see Jethro's father during their encounter. They ran a test, even with active sensors the others couldn't see Jethro. “So, how did Firefly see my sire?” Jethro asked. “Commander?”

  “I shouldn't be telling you this...” Firefly sighed. “But you are going to continue poking around so I might as well. I'm not receiving your IFF, but I can get a general location from your waste body heat.”

  “Oh?”

  “You have to breathe!” a nurse said, snapping her fingers. She looked up to the ceiling. “That's it isn't it? He has to exhale, and you can see the temperature difference in the air.”

  “That... and I can sense his mass interacting with the grav plates under him.”

  “And I still have to pass through hatches,” Jethro said, decloaking. He was panting.

  The nurse looked at her digital timer. “Only ten minutes.”

  “I wasn't going for a record,” Jethro said.

  “I'm not sure how the admiral did it,” the doctor mused. “I wish he had left notes but he didn't bother.”

  “Could he have a sensory system we lack sir?” Jethro speculated.

  “Possible. Even probable. It's not thermal. Or at least...” the doctor frowned.

  “An overlay of all the senses? Using his AI?”

  “Or it could be something as simple as smell,” Jethro replied, thinking back to his first encounter with the Gunny. He had been using a blending technique, a less energy intensive trick to blend into the background but the Gunny had seen or smelled him anyway.

  “Smell?” the doctor asked, looking up in surprise.

  “Something I was taught, my father taught me. I can adjust my scent but it is still there. Gunny picked me out on my first day of boot. I hadn't been cloaked at the time but I hadn't been exactly advertising my presence either.”

  “Interesting.”

  “Gravitational anomaly... motion... UV... or it could have been that my father didn't suppress his heat signature well enough.”

  “Oh? You can control that?”

  “Yes,” Jethro admitted. “If I do not suppress my heat signature I can triple or quadruple my time in stealth. Sometimes I will do that, phase in the suppression as I get into a target's field of view. It depends on the situation. Suppressing my heat signature is exhausting.”

  “I bet it is.”

  “It's also dangerous. I can overheat fast and cook my own organs in minutes if I'm not careful.”

  The doctor's eyes widened. “I suggest you do not do it then.”

  “I know my limits doctor. My implants help a bit. I would like to find a better way though. Something to let me double my time in cloak.”

  “Hmmm...”

  “If it's even possible. Meditation is supposed to help but it's rather difficult to meditate when someone's shooting at you if you know what I mean,” Jethro said dryly.

  The medic cracked a smile. “I see.”

  They unfortunately didn't have the means to test for more information though. Without proper sensing and proper information they didn't know what else to do to unlock the technique so they were frustratingly stymied.

  They tried to do research since Firefly couldn't or wouldn't unlock the classified files. They were amused by the idea of it, they even delved into watching old movies when they found little information in the database. That activity started a movie clique with a few of their friends and teammates who dropped by to see what they were doing. Together they watched the Predator series as well as the Invisible man, Ghost Dad, and other ancient films in the database. They found that the movie makers had some concepts right... and many things wrong.

  The doctors were crestfallen. They had hoped to replicate the ability into other Neo cats and dogs.

  Jethro wasn't so sure it would have worked. He had picked up on a few things while they had been poking him. They wanted to understand it, but they hadn't really thought out how to pass it on to others. They definitely couldn't with the adults, if it was genetic they would have had to of altered the DNA and passed it on to children, with brought up a huge ethical issue. But that wasn't his only problem. He was fairly certain now that his ability might be a legacy of his ancestor's Cadre or Recon past.

  In exploring Jethro they identified abnormal growths in various parts of his body. Some were connected to his nervous system. They appeared to be benign tumors, but a few were growing and tended to be painful when they swelled. Jethro had noted twinges and pain, but had assumed it had been from his PT. The doctor was concerned, he considered removing them.

  “I'm wondering why we didn't see them before. I'm looked at your initial scans. They weren't there.”

  “So, they weren't there but they are there now. The question is what are they?” Jethro asked. He didn't like the idea of things growing in his body. That bothered him. It also explained the odd pains in his back.

  “I'd remove them but I don't know what they are,” the doctor replied. He frowned, staring at the chart as he rubbed his chin.

  “I'd just as soon you leave them sir, if they aren't doing any harm...”

  “Well, we can do I biopsy I suppose,” the doctor mused.

  Firefly's avatar appeared. They turned in surprise. “I'm afraid not doctor. I'm going to have to insist you halt your investigations. You are treading into classified territory.”

  “He's my patient,” the doctor said, pointing to Jethro as he held up the tablet. Behind him the images of Jethro's growths suddenly wavered and then disappeared. So did the images on the tablet.

  “As I said doctor, classified,” Firefly insisted.

  “But...”

  “They aren't harmful doctor. I can't tell you more than that.”

  “I'm wondering if they are part of my cloak,” Jethro mused. The AI turned to the Marine.

  “I can't tell even you Corporal, you don't have the need to know.”

  “I don't have a need to know what is in my own body sir?” Jethro asked, flicking an ear in humor.

  “No.”

  That simple answer had Jethro's ears go flat. He stared at the AI. He stared at the AI for a long moment and then turned to the doctor. “Fine. Doctor, I want them removed.”

  “You can't do that,” Firefly said. “They are benign.”

  “This is a doctor patient matter. You are intruding on it,” Jethro growled, not looking at the AI.

  “Are you in any pain?” the AI asked.

  “Not. Your. Concern. Sir,” Jethro ground out.

  “Doctor, as they are benign you do not do elective surgeries. Do not remove them, do not biopsy them. Case closed,” the AI said to Doctor Standish.

  Standish stared at the AI and then to Jethro. “That's an order Lieutenant,” the AI said, now with the crackle of command voice in his tone.

  “I don't know what we walked into. I believe he knows what they are but can't say Corporal.”

  Jethro put his tank top back on. “Not a problem doctor. I will get a second opinion with a civilian doctor then.”

  “No you will not,” the AI responded.

  “My body, my problem, Sir,” Jethro responded coldly.

  “That won't be necessary,” the AI said. “They are... beneficial to you and to the Marine corps. They are... let's say gifts passed down from your ancestor.”

  “Something in his DNA?” the doctor asked, now curious.

  “I can't say doctor.”

  “I'll get it sorted out myself then,” Jethro growled. He'd been poked and prodded enough, now he wanted answers, something to compensate him for all his pain, time, and trouble. Having the AI clam up on him and slap him down... it was his body damn it! A subsonic growl rumbled deep in his throat while his tail thrashed angrily. His ears we
re flat, eyes dilated in barely suppressed rage. A nurse nervously stepped back, tipping a tray of implements over in her haste. The metal implements clattered to the deck, the sound made the panther bristle even more.

  The AI studied the panther for a second. A second was an near eternity to an AI. He weighed giving the panther an order, but the axiom: 'Never give an order you know won't be obeyed' immediately came to mind. Frustrated, the AI checked what he could say and then used that instead. “I see you won't be persuaded easily. I will add that... recent exposure to an... item of your heritage has triggered the changes. That is why during your initial evaluations they were seemingly ignored or overlooked. Quite the contrary, it was in some ways because you have these... tumors that you were allowed to become a Marine. Please do not do anything drastic or stupid Corporal.”

  “Damaging them might affect your cloak,” the doctor said, resting a hand on Jethro's arm. He could tell the panther was hovering near outright rebellion. Jethro exhaled slowly and then looked down at the hand. “I am sorry I started this. Don't do anything hasty son,” the human doctor said in earnest.

  “Corporal, the only person who can clear you for this knowledge is the admiral. I am curious how many others have these... other than him. But you will not get any answers from a civilian doctor, only more questions. You will have to wait until you meet the admiral to get your answers... if he is willing to give them.”

  “I'll think about it,” Jethro ground out, trying to suppress his emotional response.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Jethro laid in his rack staring at nothing, arms behind his head. He had one leg tucked up, thinking black moody thoughts. The entire encounter in the sickbay left him in a foul mood. He replayed the entire event in his mind, first from memory, then with his implants. He focused on what the AI said, the little tidbits. His heritage. An item from his heritage... what... wait, his armor? What about his armor? Was it doing something to him? He scowled. He'd have to find out.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Firefly put a call in to Doctor Thornby. Thornby answered after a few minutes, but she looked ragged. “I'm sorry to bother you at this late hour Commander, but we've got a medical issue.”

  “Oh? And is there a reason Doctor Standish isn't the one calling? There is nothing wrong with him is there?” she asked.

  “No, I'm afraid it's a security issue.” The AI explained part of the situation, how Doctor Standish and some of the staff had experimented on Jethro, Letanga, and some of the other Neo's in the hopes of better understanding and possibly replicating their cloaking ability.

  “So...” She scrubbed her face with her hands and then put them together in front of her. “What do you want to do? Why is this so important?”

  “It has to do with highly classified Federation technology doctor.”

  “Which is in a patient. Which was in a patient before he joined up,” the doctor pointed out tartly.

  “Yes. But it is still classified so I can't allow it to be explored.”

  Thornby frowned. “I see,” she finally said. “And you said it's not malignant?”

  “Quite the contrary doctor.”

  She pulled up the panther's records and studied them, then compared them to the new scans. “I'm curious as to why I didn't see them when he signed up.”

  “I believe you'd have to ask the admiral about that.”

  “Classified,” Thornby replied dryly. “Lovely. So, what do you want me to do about it?”

  “I think Doctor Standish has stopped the investigation, but the Corporal is rather... mulish. He's usually pretty good about obeying a command, but when it came at him cold and was about his own body...”

  “I can't blame the lad for getting angry at being slapped down Commander. Nor should you.”

  “If he involves a civilian it would be a major security breach. He and the physician would be in a great deal of trouble. If he survived a biopsy.”

  “Oh?...” The doctor frowned, staring at the avatar. Slowly her eyes widened. “Wait, if he survived? What do you mean by that? It's just a biopsy!”

  “For some yes, in his case... it is the intrusion that can kill.”

  Thornby stared, and then crossed her arms in front of her. “So you're telling me if he goes poking around he's liable to kill himself. And the doctor who helps him will get his ass thrown in jail or worse. Great.”

  “I'm sorry doctor. I'd love to tell you more but...”

  “Your virtual hands are tied.” She frowned at his avatar and then her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “You do know I am Chief medical officer of the system.”

  “I know. Which is why I brought the problem to you doctor.”

  “Lovely. As if I don't have enough on my plate,” she said, looking away.

  “A problem doctor?” the AI asked. “Perhaps I could help?”

  “No,” she finally said, exhaling. “Not unless you can turn water into wine... or in my case a Neo into a human. Or I should say a family of Neo's with an inferiority complex into homo sapiens.” She closed her eyes, dropped her head and ran her hands through her hair in frustration. “Forget I said that. Tired, not thinking straight.”

  “I'll leave you alone then doctor.”

  Thornby looked up. “I'll put a note in his file not to investigate the tumors. I'll call Standish and tell him to back off.”

  “Thank you Commander.”

  “You're welcome. I think.” She frowned. “I'm not really doing it for you, I'm doing it for that kid. He's a good kid, good heart. He deserves a straight answer.”

  “I hope someday admiral Irons will be able to give it to him ma'am,” Firefly replied quietly.

  “There you go again,” she sighed. “Fine, night,” she said, cutting the connection.

  Chapter 14

  “Corporal, the tests have been concluded. The doctor's investigation has ended,” the Major said, eying the panther. Jethro knew why he'd been called in on the carpet first thing the next morning. Getting called in to the proverbial principal's office to have his knuckles rapped wasn't helping his temper any.

  Major Forth could see that. He could tell from the slight twitch in the panther's respiration, flick of his tail, and narrowed eyes that Jethro didn't like that. He got up and went around the desk and then leaned against it, crossing his arms. “Look Jethro, I don't like it and you don't like it, but that's the way things are sometimes.”

  Forth watched for a response. The panther didn't say anything at all. Finally Forth sighed. “And you know life isn't fair. We don't always get what we want, and in this case, you also know classified is classified, no matter the reason. Drop it. You don't have a need to know. At least not right now.” He studied the panther and then sighed. “At the fracking ease Jethro,” he said, taking his officer insignia leaves off. He tossed them on the desk. “Off the record. Let's hear it.”

  “Sir. My body. Being told like a child that I don't have a need to know what is growing inside my body, what it is doing to me...Why I am in pain...” Jethro seethed.

  “I see.” Forth grunted. “They didn't tell me that part.” He studied the cat for a long moment. “I don't blame you son. It doesn't change anything though. Don't go poking around, you will end up sorry and sore. That part is guaranteed.”

  Jethro's eyes dilated ever so slightly. “Sir...”

  “Jethro,” the Major sighed as he closed his eyes. “I'm not kidding. I'm not talking about the threat of a security breach, we're talking about your life. The grapevine says that if anyone so much as pokes one of those things you're dead. I don't know why. Suicide switch?” he said and then shrugged. “Poison sack? No clue. No fracken clue and yeah, that bothers me too. I don't like the idea of this, not at all. If you got hit and one of those things ruptured, it could kill you. So yeah, not a happy camper here,” he growled, staring up at the ceiling.

  “And of course it doesn't change anything,” Jethro said, voice easing as tension leeched out of him a little. Knowing the Major understo
od his concern, sympathized, and wanted to help, that helped him. It helped him at least to cope with it.

  “Nope, not a blessed thing,” Forth said. “But that doesn't mean you can't go snooping to see what it might be without getting doctors involved.”

  “Sir!” Firefly interjected.

  “Butt the frack out Commander,” Forth snarled, looking up at the ceiling again, this time pissed. “I told you I'd handle my people and I will.” Jethro's eyes widened and then he snorted.

  Forth paced for a moment, then flopped down into his chair once more. He indicated the Corporal should sit. Jethro reluctantly did so, flicking his tail to one side as he lowered himself into the human style chair. “It still doesn't change anything, and I expect you to keep whatever you find to yourself. I'm betting Standish and Thornby and others will be poking around for a while too. At least until they run into dead ends.”

  “Possibly sir.”

  “I'm sorry son, it's just how it is. Sucks I know, get over it. You're a Marine. Suck it up and move on.”

  “Sir...” Jethro looked away briefly. “Sir, do you remember some of your ancient history?” he asked.

  “What about it?”

  “Sun Tzu?”

  “Um... yeah, Art of war.”

  Jethro took a deep breath and went for it. “If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of battle. But if you know yourself and not your enemy, For every victory you will suffer a defeat. If you know not yourself or your enemy you will lose.” The Major cocked his head and slowly picked up his officer leaves. He stared at them for a long moment. “How can I fight a battle sir if I don't even know myself?” Jethro asked, staring into his eyes.

  Slowly the Major clenched his fist around the leaves until he felt them dig into his hand. He sighed. “You paraphrased that a lot, but I got the gist of it. The answer is... I don't know. What I do know is you've already fought, fought hard and won. Don't forget that. Whatever this is, you won't let it stop you.” He thought about how it would prey on the panthers mind, creating doubt, sowing dissension. No, this wasn't an answer. “Until then, go. Permission to attend college classes granted.”