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Chapter 11

The first day was spent sleeping. The bed felt like clouds and the blankets were a gift from the heavens. I hadn't been in a good bed for a long time. Food was brought three times a day by the guard at the door. He left it on the floor. There was some fruit, bread and meat as well as water. I had nothing to complain about that.

The second day, I built up the courage to ask if I could get a book. I was refused, but nothing bad came from it and so I spent that day staring out the window, watching the city of soldiers, but saw nothing of particular interest.

The third day, I woke up to a book along with my morning meal. What was even more surprising was that it was a Canus book that I'd seen once or twice before. A simple fantasy tale of a child who went on an adventure to get his father's voice back from a witch who had stolen it. A child's book. There probably wasn't many books in a military facility that I would be cleared to read. Nonetheless, I read the book.

I finished the book the morning of the fourth day, having read all night and feeling guilty about not rationing the pages. So, I left the book with the tray of finished food, where the guard collected it along with my dirty laundry and left fresh clothes as well. I then went back to watching the city.

I became inexplicably horny on the fifth day, waking up with a painful erection and so I sheepishly went to the bathroom and jerked off under the running water. Afterwards, boredom set in and I jerked off three more times that day. I didn't care that the guard's nose wrinkled when he walked in and he gave me a disapproving glare.

On the sixth day, I asked if there was anyway I could go outside for some air and was actually allowed. The guard, a dalmatian this time, led me to a small courtyard that existed in the center of building. Small trees scattered about it and stone paved walkways swirled through the grass. There were a few metal benches randomly placed throughout and I sat down on one around the edges. The guard stood silently nearby, but not so close to impose upon me.

There were others here who either crossed the yard and then disappeared through one of the many doors that led back inside, but a few stayed to sit like me or to eat whatever food they had brought for lunch or to talk with one another. Many would glance over to me, but none approached and that was perfectly fine by me even if I did crave some sort of social interaction.

The air was clean as it could be. There was slightest hint of exhaust that drifted in from the many vehicles that drove around the base on the outside of the building all around, but not strong enough that I constantly though about it. So, I inhaled and looked up at the wispy clouds that slowly drifted across the sky and wondered about Thomas, Makayla and Donny. Being in construction, Thomas would have been spared being drafted and I imagine that Makayla would have been as well, but Donny probably would have recently or would soon ship out of whatever training they sent him to.

The man didn't have any love for the Canus and I could only imagine how pissed he was to have a gun in his hand again.

That brought me to another thought, just a brief one. If the Canus picked me to spy die to my loyalty, or supposed loyalty, since I didn't really think of it as that, more of a necessity of survival, couldn't the Pelitans try the same thing? I'm sure there were plenty of Lutrians who were willing to switch sides, especially after the draft. It was possible, but I'm wasn't sure just how practical it was. The entire border was guarded and crossing would it to defect would be suicide. It would be a question for Rob. Someone in his position would have some sort of idea.

Rob. I wondered where he was. Busy, I'm sure, but what kind of busy. What did he do when he pretended to still be a loyal Pelitan spy? I guess I would find out eventually. I was, officially, to be his aide. That was what had been briefed prior to coming out here. It was all just a matter of patience. Wait. Wait. Wait.

I chuckled slightly to myself. That had been much of life. Waiting. Hurry up and wait.

"What's so funny?"

The sudden voice startled me and I jolted upright.

The commissar was there, her piercing gaze no less menacing, even if she was no longer in uniform, but a more relaxed military uniform of drab green.

I quickly remembered about Rob's advice to not lie when it was necessary.

"Commissar," I stuttered a bit and stood up. "I was just thinking about how I always end up just waiting for thr next thing to happen."

One of her eyebrows raised slightly. "Is that so?" She said and motioned for me to sit back down and then sat next to me. "Tell me about it."

It wasn't hard to speak then. It was always to easy to talk about wawaiting. It had happened so many times that I struggled more with what story to tell.

"Well," I said. "There was a time when I was on the Emthiron border."

She shuddered and I felt empathy. Even those cats up north knew to fear what the rats did.

"My platoon had been told to expect a night raid. A big one. Some seismic sensors had been going off for hours at that point, which indicated a lot of digging. Nornally we'd hit the border with sustained artillery to collapse any tunnels, but the guns were low on ammo and we had to conserve, so we hunkered down into the night. Everyone was alert the whole night. We waited and waited. We were terrified. Pelitan and Canus alike, but nothing came even though the sensors never stopped telling us that the rats were there. But the attack never came. I was glad to be off the line the next morning after no sleep at all."

I looked over at the commissar and she actually gave a smile. "I can relate. I'm sure anyone who has dealt with Emthiron can relate. Many in Canus don't know it, though it, and I'm not telling you anything I'd have to shoot you for, but there's an Emthiron presence on our own northern border."

It was my turn to raise an eyebrow. "Really? I thought that they just bordered Canus to the south. I knew that they often sent out large raiding parties past their borders, sneaking to Pelitan on occasion, but I didn't think they would go as far as that."

She shrugged. "No one knows how they got there, but they, being rats, are everywhere. I've had my fair number of encounters."

"Need any more stories?" I asked, wanting an excuse to just talk more. It helped drain the stress and anxiety that had been building up and I had to admit, she was pretty.

Now, it didn't go beyond that. I now knew why I had never attempted to settle down and get married. Have kids. Do the expected thing. I just had no interest, but that didn't mean I could appreciate someone good looking.

She shook her head. "No, this isn't an interrogation. I was actually heading to the west exit. Work is done for the day and I just happened to see you."

I tilted my head to the side in mild surprise. "I wouldn't think a commissar would take the time to make casual conversation with me."

She grinned, just the tips of her canines peaking from under her upper lip. "What's the saying you Lutrians say sometimes? We're only human. Curious, but applicable in its own way to everyone here. Human or Pelitan, we're all just people. I'm not a commissar at this moment, just someone who felt that you were worth a moment of time."

I blushed a little. Was she hitting on me? Surely not. I hoped not.

"Well," I said. "I do appreciate it, though I do have a question of my own if I may?"

She looked at me for a moment, those hard eyes becoming harder and more calculating as if she could see right through me to the wall on the other side of the court. "You may."

"Any idea when I might know what's going to happen with me?" I dared to ask, feeling a little encouraged by out friendly banter.

She nodded. "I wasn't going to tell you until tomorrow, but you're here now. Command and the leaders of parliament, those privy to you, have agreed that you are an asset and are to be utilized."

I raised and eyebrow, getting the idea that this was good news, but not understanding the finer details.

She just have caught on. "Tomorrow morning, you will no longer be under my jurisdiction and will fall under the Bureau of Shadows and in turn, will be released to the care of Agent Tenzen. He's been pushing for this for a while, before you even arrived and I'm sure he'll be happy."

I'm sure he was. I definitely was and grinned to show it. "Oh, thank goodness. I'm so relieved. All the waiting. I'm... well, thank you."

She stood up and I did the same. "Well, Mr. Caldwell, or Agent Caldwell, don't thank me. I made my report that despite being a potential resource, the risk in of itself was too high with too many unknowns. Nothing personal, you seem nice, but I recommended you be shot and the whole matter forgotten."

I stood there, the blood drained from my face.

She chuckled. "Nothing personal. Just my job." She then turned and walked away.

Perhaps the guard noticed the awkwardness or it was really time, but he coughed and tapped me on the shoulder and let me know that it was time that I returned to my room.

I didn't try to make any conversation with the guard and went back to my room in silence. There I contemplated just how close I had been to being unceremoniously shot due to the whim of a single commissar. Technically, she was right. I wasn't here to be a spy for Pelitan, but to spy on them instead. It didn't make me feel any better though.

I didn't feel better when I got to my room and I didn't feel better the next day until the more obvious part of our conversation sunk in. I was leaving today. With Rob.

It occurred right after breakfast. The realization hit me like a ton of brick and it became impossible to stop fidgeting. Felt like like child on his birthday, waiting for presents.

I sat at the window as if I would be able to see Rob coming. I paced. I lied down. I did everything I could in the small space of my room, burning off the infinite amount of energy that filled me. I felt that I was going to go insane with anticipation.

It really seemed like everything was going smoothly for once. No Emthirians. No commissar to shoot me on a whim. No draft. Sure, there was the mission, but that was part of the package of being with Rob.

Where was that dog? I thought as seconds and minutes ticked past. I jumped at every sound I heard outside, which was a lot as guards or just random people walked by the room. Any of them could be Rob and though every false alarm deflated me, every new noise raised those hopes again.

It was bewildering. How had I gotten to this? So entirely attached and reliant on this one being. It defied logic and yet all I could think was that smile of his and that soft fur. That sheath and balls. Of course. I just couldn't stop thinking about any part of him at all.

Then the door opened and as if summoned by my mental strain, he appeared.

There was no guard outside the door. It was just him in a pair of khaki slacks with suspenders that arched over his fluffed white button down shirt. Again, the sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Above that, the husky's ears flicked once.

"Miss me?" He grinned devilishly.

"Take me away," I said, trying to not sound suspicious to any bugs that may be in my room. Though in hindsight, it was a dumb and cringing thing to say.

Rob didn't care. He held out a paw and I took it. He slowly closed the door with his heel and pulled me closer until I was pressed up against him.

Our eyes met, those blue eyes shone like crystal orbs and entranced me. I stole a kiss and he let me run away with it.

My lips pressed against the end of his muzzle and I pressed with my tongue, begging to be let in after being away for so long.

His lips parted slightly, just enough for my tongue to wiggle in past his teeth to get a taste of him.

It was brief and I allowed him to very gingerly coax me out of his mouth before silently breaking off.

There was a hunger and passion in those eyes and I knew that mine matched him. The things that we would do right now if we could. His hips bucked ever so slightly against me. Our matched elections grinding against each other, separated by only thin fabric. Oh, what we could do.

But we couldn't.

I hugged him and pressed my face into the open neck of his shirt and inhaled. He smelled clean, like good linens that had been dried outside to collect the smell of the world. There was just that hint of exhaust, but it was mostly a light lilac from whatever shampoo he had last used. If he could bottle that smell, I'd use it as my finest cologne, even if I had never owned cologne.

Eventually we came apart and Rob, still hunger in his eyes, held out a suitcase he had been holding in his other paw.

"You should get changed into something else. You're practically wearing rags."

I took the suit case and set it on the bed and opened it. There was a new set of pants, shirts and a light coat. Clothes a lot finer than anything I had owned previously, but not so over the top either. The pants were grey and so was the coat. At the bottom was a black pair of leather shoes with socks stuffed into them.

"Go into the bathroom and change. I'll wait right here," Rob said and then seized me from behind, his hips gyrating slightly against my backside. He then whispered in that impossibly low tone. "Leave the door open. I want to watch."

I was blushing hard. I could feel the heat rising from my cheeks and ears... as well as my groin.

Taking enough clothes for a full outfit, I walked out of Rob's grip, his claws dragging lightly over by hips, and went to the bathroom where I left the door open. Without having to look behind me, I could feel his eyes on me.

Timidly, I pulled off my shirt, revealing my bare back to him. He didn't make a sound. I then dropped my pants unceremoniously onto the ground and stepped out of them. I was in my underwear and I stood there and let him soak in the image of me for a moment before I slipped on the pair of pants and then the shirt, tucking it in before putting on a black leather belt that had been folded in with the clothes. Lastly, I slipped on the coat that sat lightly on my shoulders. It wasn't a perfect fit and could use a little tailoring on the cuffs but it was close enough.

Turning around, I met those eyes and stepped out of the bathroom.

He held out a small booklet to me and in a very controlled tone, said, "You'll be asked for your papers more times than you can count. Don't lose this."

I took the documents and flipped to the first page, which had an unflattering picture of me that must have been pulled from my military papers that Rob had brought with him out of Canus. There was my name and a few others details, but at the bottom was a stamp of a silhouette of a dog with the words, Bureau of Shadows around it.

I tucked it into the inside pocket of my coat and snapped the suitcase, which had a second similar outfit in it, closed.

"C'mon," Rob said and opened the door that led out. "Let's get out of here."