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Early submission today, folks. Starting school again this morining!

CHAPTER 12

"The Bureau expects a response from the Lupine government tomorrow, Sozo. Tomorrow! And so far you have accomplished nothing with the wolf except a violent clash on my ship and a stack of incident reports on my desk for me to fill out."

Minister Lokagos was very tired and very displeased. He had been in meetings and briefings the entire day, both on and off the Excedra. The Bureau wanted status reports from every aspect of the mission, and from every angle. The only reason Sozo had not been present was the temporary leave the attempt on his life had permitted him. The Bureau was well aware of the confrontation between the fox and the wolf and naturally questions had been asked concerning everything from how this foreshadowed the probable response of the wolves to their ultimatum, to how capable the security aboard his ship truly was.

"I don't like having my competence as chief minister called into question, Sozo, nor the competence of my crew." His voice was low and directing, his snarl leaving no room for misinterpretation.

The silver fox stared back at the red-orange fox across his modest workstation in his office, matching his disapproving glare measure for measure.

"If you hadn't been so lenient with him in the first place, this would never have happened, minister," Sozo snapped back. "You can't give a mad beast a long leash and not expect him to bite somebody. I told you he was unstable and violent by nature, Lokagos, and I had to pay the price for it." The silver fox rubbed his throat for emphasis.

The minister snarled resentfully. Oh how Lokagos hated this fox, who seemed to lack all regard for authority or the rules and regulations.

"You think so," Lokagos asked sarcastically. "Any common animal is bound to attack if cornered. I saw the recording, Sozo, and I have serious doubts as to whether or not you're capable of following even the simplest instructions. Your job was to probe him for information, not accuse him of war crimes."

"I gave you plenty of information, minister. This is a breed that enslaves other races systematically. Not just for wealth or economy, but for sheer dominance. For power. They indiscriminately kill the innocent and defenseless. You don't know what they're like because you've never seen it yourself. But what you saw in that room was just a small taste of what they're capable of. These wolves cannot be trusted to cooperate, especially when it means giving up something they believe is rightfully theirs. You cannot expect them to roll over tomorrow and submit. They will not."

The minister sighed deeply, curling his tail up and into his lap to stroke it gently. It was something that always helped him to relieve stress, just as his wife would do for him back home after long days at the naval station.

"Sozo, I understand fully your concern. But the Bureau strongly believes, given the circumstances, that some kind of agreement can be reached. They bear the same reservations as we both do, but we need to think about the future. The Lupine Empire will not remain isolated from our Confederation for much longer. If our races are to live peacefully side by side, if not together, then certain understandings need to be reached between our people early."

Sozo scoffed loudly. "Complete foolery, if you ask me."

"I didn't"

"The Lupine Empire is a cancer that must be suppressed, if not removed entirely."

Lokagos narrowed his eyes. "Are you suggesting we eliminate an entire sentient species, Sozo? Become lower even than the very species you claim to hate so much?"

"No, of course not," he spat.

The idea of stooping to his enemy's level was just as repulsive to him as allowing them any credit. Still, he knew that protecting what you held near and dear sometimes meant doing things you weren't proud of. Sozo had hated them for as long as he could remember, and probably before that. His life had been a hellish mix of pain and sorrow, and he knew he was not alone in that. So many others had suffered like him, even more so, and continued to do so with each passing day. If he'd had it his way the entire wolven race would be on its knees begging for forgiveness from his kind, and while part of him believed mercy was necessary to healing, the other knew his oppressors did not deserve it.

"They're monsters," he whispered. "Cruel and uncaring. And they're all alike, my friend, deep down inside. And as we wait here, my kind continue to sweat and bleed and die at their paws. They won't hesitate to keep killing, too. Especially if it means not submitting to a weaker race. At least if we act fast we can save as many as possible."

Lokagos stared incredulously, his companion's sudden melancholy most unsettling. "You can't be serious, Sozo. No intelligent people would stoop to destroy an entire people if it meant not letting them free."

Sozo hung his head. "Lokagos, you have a wife don't you?" When he looked up his eyes were deeply troubled. The minister nodded and Sozo continued in a hushed tone. "I once had a mate without my master's permission. We loved each other far more than anything in our entire lives. Her name was Mariah and she was the most beautiful creature I'd ever known. She couldn't bear a cub, of course, but that didn't stop us from...well, you know."

Sozo smirked to himself at the thought, but it quickly dissolved into a woeful grimace as more of the memory surfaced.

"He killed her, Lokagos," he said around a choking knot in his throat. "The son of a bitch wolf murdered my Mariah just to teach us slaves a lesson we'd never forget. And I haven't... I never can forget it."

The minister looked down, at a loss for the appropriate words. "I'm very sorry, Sozo. I truly am."

The silver fox nodded. "No matter...it's in the past, and the future is all that matters now. If you'll excuse me, this has reminded me of something I need to take care of."

Standing, he made for the hall but didn't leave without stopping to make a final remark.

"Never trust a wolf, minister," he said. "They're like a disease. Even a virus knows how to deceive its host."

Sozo's mood had soured considerably by the time he reached the deck of the Excedra designated as the civilian employees' quarters. The rooms were modest but comfortably spacious with their own hygiene facilities, computer desks, and a lounge area with chairs and a small table. His own personal quarters was at the end of the corridor near the deck-lift. Stopping at his door he paused for the security system to scan his genetic markings and unlock the energy frame. The door de-solidified and disappeared, offering its owner admission to his home away from home, but the fox didn't enter.

Sozo sighed heavily, leaning on the door frame with an elbow as he closed his eyes for just a moment. He hadn't realized how exhausted he really was until here, in this quiet hall on the threshold of his bedroom. Groaning to himself he pushed away from the wall and sauntered back down the quiet, empty hall. Few civilians actually worked on the Excedra, and those that did usually opted for living with their families at home and teleporting every day to and from the ship.

But Sozo had no family, really no home to speak of, and very little reason to leave the ship save for official business. He'd found it difficult to find a place to belong in his adopted world. Although his past had afforded him certain respects and privileges among certain segments of the Vulpine government, he did not fit in.

Padding down a row of numbered quarters, his soft paw-steps echoing mutely in tribute to his seclusion, he stopped at a specific door and pressed the call button. After a brief wait the energy frame dimmed to a more or less transparent-but still very much solid-state that affording the occupant a secure view into the hall. Sarah looked out at him, her pleasant face shifting from a look of caution to one of recognition as she looked up at him. He'd shown her how to operate the door should she feel the need to be safe and secure.

"Hi, Sarah," he said amiably, a soft smile on his muzzle. "I hope I'm not bothering you. Do you want to come out?"

The vixen seemed to consider the request with a small degree of unease. He knew she didn't trust him, nor did he fault her for that. In time he hoped they could be on more friendly terms, but for now the best thing to do was to give her space and take things slowly.

"You don't have to," he said quickly. "I just thought you'd probably be hungry. The galley is serving dinner now."

Sarah licked her lips involuntarily at the mention of food, and Sozo's grin grew even broader.

"Alright," she said, however reluctantly, and stepped from the room and out into the hallway beside him.

"The galley's this way," he motioned and Sarah followed alongside him at a comfortable distance.

As they walked he had to admit she was a difficult person to read. The way she walked with ears and tail low suggested that she was clearly nervous, but whether she was unsure of her new surroundings or of him specifically, he could not tell. Her scent was reserved. Worried. She walked boldly onward without hesitation, however; as if unafraid of what lied ahead. Uncertain, yes. But not afraid. He admired that in her.

"Did I hear that you had a brother at the rehab center," he asked to relieve the silence that hung between them.

She turned to look at him and Sozo noticed for the first time how soulful and deep her eyes were. They were a pleasant blue.

"Yes, I do," she said simply.

"What's his name," he pressed, hoping to draw her from her shell.

She looked around at the features of the ship's inner décor as they walked up to the deck-lift and stepped onto a platform. Sozo tapped a computer pad and in a blink of an eye they were in an entirely different section of the ship, this one far more crowded than the civilian's quarters. Such incredible technology never ceased to amaze the vixen.

"His name is John," she said finally.

Sozo nodded and pointed her in the direction of the ship's galley. As they walked along, crewmembers moved here and there through the wide passages. The ship was much more roomy than the Mourning Son, or so it looked to the vixen. Perhaps it was just a trick of the lighting. A young fox, maybe about twenty or twenty five years old, passed and smiled kindly at the vixen. She returned his warm expression, her tail wagging just slightly as the surroundings grew more comfortable. Sozo noticed the change.

"You know, Sarah, you don't have to live with your wolf name any longer. I wasn't born with the name Sozo, you know. That's what they called me when they found me. It means 'the saved.'"

She regarded her companion again, ears perked a fraction. "What was your name before then?"

"Richard. But that was a long time ago. A part of me long gone now. I'm sure there's a proper fox name that you'd like. Hmm...how about Amoria?"

"What does that mean," Sarah asked, more out of curiosity than genuine interest in what name he felt suited her best.

"It means 'beautiful one,'" he said as he showed her where to pick up the different menu items from the food synthesizers.

Sarah groaned on the inside. She would have been flattered if she didn't despise him so much.

"You're luck," he said with a smirk as he put a plate of a dark gelatin on Sarah's food tray and winked. "It's specialty dessert night. Millo fruit pudding. I'm sure you'll like it. I tastes kind of like pineapple."

The pair sat down at an empty table and ate their dinner casually as mostly Sozo talked and Sarah listened quietly, enjoying a meal far better than anything she'd had in weeks. The conversation focused mainly on day to day life on the Excedra, like where to find entertainment and recreation or when was the best time to eat at which galley. It seemed the Excedra had four of them.

Sarah took all of this silently until she was digging into her dessert. "Sozo, what about Scott? How is he?"

"The wolf? He's in the brig now. He was awake last time I saw."

She looked up from her pudding to give him an even expression. "What are you going to do with him?" she asked, careful to leave out any and all concern she felt from her voice. She knew that Sozo would probably scorn it, making some ridiculous statement about how there was no need to fear his anger should he ever learn that she hadn't defended him, or stupid nonsense like that. Although Sarah honestly didn't care if she had Sozo's approval or not, she had to be careful not to alienate herself. As vindictive as he was in her mind, she knew that she might need his help.

Sozo shrugged. "I'll need to question him further. There are some things about their military organization and protocols I didn't get to ask last time." Then he flashed his fangs in an unpleasant grin that made Sarah's nape stand on end. "I'll need more security this time," he said, the look of an eager hunter in his face.

"You're not going to hurt him are you?"

"I guess that depends on him."

A sadistic gleam in his eye told Sarah that he probably looked forward to it, and she felt her anger beginning to stir within.

"I don't see why you think you need to be cruel with him," she said quietly, looking down at her empty plate. "He's not a violent creature."

"Oh yeah? Our last encounter would seem to suggest otherwise." He reached up to rub his throat with a paw. The pain had since diminished, though the memory had not.

"Then let me help you," she said. "I know I can get him to cooperate with you. You don't know him like I do."

The silver fox's face grew cross. "No. I can't allow that, for your own safety. Risking injury to official personnel is bad enough without putting our guests in harm's way. I think it's best to keep you separated."

Damn his ignorance, she thought bitterly as he took their utensils to the waste disposal.

"Well, Sarah. If you don't mind I think I'll turn in for the night. It's been a very long day. Can I walk you back to your quarters?"

Realizing she still had no idea how to navigate about the ship on her own she accepted his offer. It didn't help that she was exhausted as well. The Excedra's hall was less crowded now as the work day was over and the crew was winding down for the night. The pair remained quiet until they reached the seclusion of the civilian quarters, where Sozo stopped the vixen.

"Sarah, I want you to be honest with me. Was he cruel to you or your brother? I can make him pay for it if he was."

She shifted under a stern gaze that conveyed nothing less than an absolute sincerity. She knew beyond a doubt that he would do it if she asked. Oh Gods, how could you let this happen?

"You don't need to protect him anymore, Sarah," he insisted, putting his paws on her shoulders softly, delicately. "Not here. He can never hurt another living person while he's locked up on the brig. You're free to live a free life, and regardless of how you feel about honor or fealty to your master, it means nothing now. He'll come to regret his sins, I swear it."

Sneering furiously she allowed her anger to boil over. "Listen to me, Sozo. I don't really know why you have so much hate for Scott-or for the rest of his kind-and I don't care. I'm sure you had a master that was cruel and evil to you. But know this." She was growling by now, her sharp teeth exposed in a snarl of contempt for the silver fox. "Never once did he try to hurt me, or anyone else for that matter. That wolf is more honorable than you could ever hope to become, and if you do anything to hurt him again I swear I will make you regret it."

Sozo's mouth opened but he had a hard time formulating words around his shock. Sarah took his stunned silence as an opportunity to push him away and Sozo watched as she stomped off to her room, disappearing as her door sealed behind her.

Sozo's paws clenched in his anger and resentment, his claws digging deeply into his soft pawpads, almost drawing blood. Making his way to his quarters he growled and huffed to himself.

"More honorable than me," he muttered harshly to his empty room. "They're nothing but damn fools if they think honor is worth anything anymore, least of all to these beasts."

***

Lewis Blanchet was a wolf of humble wealth and comfort that his successes as a hard working independent financial consultant had afforded him. He worked mostly from his home on the planet New Ergo where he could be closest to his wife and four children; easily the most priceless of anything he had ever owned or could hope to. His clients were retired businesswolves, for the most part; creatures that had had their fill of accounting and pencil-pushing and wanted nothing more than to enjoy the rest of their lives while someone else managed their finances for them. And they paid very good money for that privilege.

Lewis was working in his home office, up to his tail in one of his client's latest schemes. For reasons that he would probably never understand, this former trader in energy futures had decided to invest in a friend's business venture to domesticate a wild species of rodent from a world in the Neon Frontier and adapt them as household pets. Naturally, Lewis was worried. His financial success was invariably linked to that of his patrons, and if there was one thing he could always count on in his line of work, it was that retired millionaires were good at finding ways to lose their money.

It was still morning and from down the hall Lewis could hear the commotion that occurred daily in the Blanchet household as his wife Megan and their two servants got the children ready for school. The smell of breakfast cooking in the kitchen drifted idly into his office, distracting him most effectively. When a figure from the corner of his eye stepped into view he looked up from his computer and smiled.

Julia padded into his office and put a hot cup of tea on his desk. The old fox housekeeper grinned and wished her master a good morning. She held George, Lewis' youngest cub, in the crook of her arm where he nipped and gummed at the hem of her sleeve.

"Good morning, Julia. Looks like the pup's going to wear a hole in your clothes again." Lewis reached up to take his son from the fox and bounced him on his knee.

"Nah, that's okay, sir." She waved a paw dismissively and laughed good-naturedly. "His lil' gums are jus' sore, is all."

He nodded. George was teething now, and the tenderness in his mouth was making him gnaw on whatever he could get his little paws on: Clothes, electrical cables, kitchen utensils, etc.

"Hey there, Georgy," he said in a childish voice. "Are you helping Julia with your brother and sisters?"

The cub looked up at his father and giggled, sticking the tip of his tail in his mouth and chewed on it with a ferocious abandon.

Lewis laughed. "Yeah, I imagine it's a pretty painful experience, too." He scooped George up in his arms and stood. "Come on, let's see if breakfast is ready."

Once in the kitchen, the usual site of activity in the morning, Lewis kissed his children's foreheads one by one, finally ending with his wife.

"Good morning, love," he said sweetly.

"Morning, woof," said Meg, adding special emphasis to his pet name with a quick lick to his chin. "Breakfast is ready."

Lewis secured George in a cub-seat at the small breakfast table just as Nudge, their only other slave, put a stack of honeyed cakes and plump meat sausages on the table and started serving them to the family. Nudge was a teenaged fox; bright-eyed and well behaved, if not overly timid. Lewis had received him and Julia together as payment for services to a client with a large estate a little less than a year before. The young fox had been especially shy and introverted then, and life with the Blanchet family had helped a little in bringing out more of his personality. Lewis suspected that the poor fellow hadn't been treated especially well in the past. While his given name was Aaron, the nickname he had lived with throughout his childhood did well to sum up his nature. He rarely spoke without first being spoken to and had an annoying tendency to ask permission to do just about everything beyond using the bathroom, despite Meg and Lewis insistence that he be a little more independent around the household.

"Thanks, Nudge," Lewis said when the fox had filled his plate with sausage, cakes, and fruit.

The fox nodded and even smiled softly. "You're welcome, sir," he said quietly, timidly.

Julia finished wiping George's runny nose with a cloth and swatted the young fox on the tail with it, making him jump.

"Nudge, how many times have I gotta tell you? Speak up when the master is talkin' to you!"

Julia was not so withdrawn-not by a long shot. The old graying fox was well versed in family affairs from many years of housekeeping and child-rearing experience. She'd been a nanny for her former master and had cared for his three children from cradle to college, not to mention two of her own. As often happened Julia had worn out her use to her former master when her children were grown, and so she was sent to the Blanchet house. From the beginning Meg was thrilled to have her around, the extra pair of paws being much appreciated with four cubs to raise and a large home to keep.

The family ate together while passing the usual small talk around the table. Like always Lewis had to scold his oldest son Ryan for sneaking food off his younger sister Susie's plate as she helped 'Nana Julia' feed George mashed fruit and minced soft meat. And, as always, Meg would scold Susie for feeding her baby brother sugar oats when she thought nobody was looking.

"But mom, he likes it," Susie whined.

"I know he does, Susie, but it's not good for him."

Susie hunkered down in her chair and pouted. "How could they not be good for him," she muttered, "if he likes 'em so much."

Rachael, oldest of the Blanchet cubs at nine years old, felt it was finally time to give her input on the matter. "Well I could have told her that, mom," she said with eyes leveled at her sister.

"Nobody asked you, mutt-face!"

"Fur-brain!"

"Ladies!" It was Lewis' turn to interject. "Calm down and finish your breakfast. The school shuttle will be here in a few minutes."

Susie and Rachael exchanged venomous sneers and stuck their tongues out at each other, but neither was brave enough to hurl the next insult and the Blanchet family encountered a rare moment of silence.

That silence was soon broken, but not by any of the creatures at the breakfast table. A sudden and muffled sound of conversation fluttered into the kitchen, making everyone stop eating and look up. Lewis turned toward the living room, his ears cupped forward to hear the noise.

"Did someone leave the telenet on?"

"Don't look at me," said Ryan as he focused on pushing his food around his plate with a fork.

"It was probably Susie."

"It was not, Rachael!"

"Stop fighting you two," said Meg sternly to her unruly offspring, earning a chorus of "Yes, mom," from the pair.

"I'll go turn it off," offered Nudge in barely more than a whisper.

"Thanks, Nudge," said Lewis, and the young fox stood and left the room.

After a minute the fox returned, his head bowed slightly and tail held low to the ground in uneasiness. The sound of the telenet was still clearly present.

"What's wrong, Nudge?"

"Um...I'm sorry, sir. I tried to turn it off but it wouldn't let me." The poor fox said it as if worried he'd be in trouble for it.

Lewis frowned and stood. "It's okay, Nudge," he said reassuringly as he passed the slave and into the living room. "Let me see what's wrong."

The wolf touched the controls on the screen of the telenet viewer, a large monitor that filled a good portion of one wall in the living room. Pressing the power button he expected to see the screen dim and blacken, but the controls did not respond. He tried again, but got nothing.

"What the-"

Then he noticed a flashing red message in the upper corner. "Attention: Emergency announcement. Your attention is required."

Suddenly curious he tuned his ears to hear the newscaster that was staring wide-eyed into the camera, a peculiarly urgent expression on her well-groomed face.

"...and so far all we know is that the High Council and the Defense Department have jointly declared a state of empire-wide emergency. All military units are currently on alert, the reserves have been placed on stand-by, and any and all government employees have been ordered to contact their respective agencies to receive instructions on what..."

A bold headline at the bottom of the screen proudly proclaimed "Martial Law Declared!" The implications of the message took a moment to sink in, but once Lewis was certain he'd read it correctly his instinctual alarm began to blaze.

"Meg? I think you should see this!"

"It's not broken, is it?" Her tone was stressed as if she expected the worst.

"It was prob'ly Ryan, dad," shouted Rachael.

"Was not!" came a growl from the kitchen.

And from Meg: "Cubs! Stop arguing, please!"

Lewis was too distracted to be upset. "It's not broken," he barked. "I think they've declared war or something!"

***

Lokagos groaned and rolled over in his bed, tangling himself up in his sheets in a groggy stupor that was slowly resolving into wakefulness. His eyes fluttered open to stare blankly at the ceiling. That is when he recognized the rhythmic beeping that had awoken him from his sleep.

"Yes," he called out irritably into the dark. "What is it?"

"I'm sorry to wake you, sir," said the intercom, "but we're receiving a transmission you should hear."

The minister rubbed his face with the pads of his paw, trying to force some wakefulness into his mind and body. It didn't work especially well. Looking over to the wall monitor he caught a glimpse of the clock. Damn it! It was the middle of the night!

"Lights on," he muttered and squinted into the sudden brightness. "What is it," he asked the signallist calmly, but hoarsely.

"A Lupine public announcement, sir. It's being broadcast on all public frequencies."

That roused Lokagos' curiosity enough to compel him to sit up with a groan.

"Patch it through here, please."

"Yes, sir."

A moment later the excited voice of a female speaking breathlessly sounded through the intercom. The translation computer made it sound broken and halting, but the message was crystal clear.

"...we've just been informed that a representative of the military will be broadcasting live to the entire empire in just a few minutes. Again, if you're just joining us now, the High Council has declared a state of emergency and declared martial law throughout the entire Lupine Empire and its territories."

Lokagos jumped up from his bed but, forgetting the sheets that wrapped around his lower section, lost his balance and fell to the floor with a dull thud. All thoughts of sleep gone from his mind he kicked the sheets away and scrambled to don a uniform.

"When did his transmission begin," he barked.

The message turned off, replaced by the signallist. "Seven minutes, thirty seven seconds ago, sir."

"I'll be down to the command bridge in a minute," he shouted, snapping on his trousers.

"Yes, sir."

Fitting an undershirt over his chest he didn't wait to put on his uniform top before slapping the teleport controls on his wall terminal. The bridge signal officer on night duty was hunched over a terminal, surrounded by several specialists. Lokagos, jogging up to the station, wasted no time in issuing orders.

"Syntha," he told the officer, "put it on the monitor."

"Yes, minister," she said without looking up.

The main viewer blinked to life. A middle to late-aged grey wolf in a bright white uniform with many colorful ribbons and decorations on his chest stood behind a podium, holding a small computer tablet in his paw. He was having a muttered conversation with a group of several smartly-dressed wolves around him, some in military uniforms, some not. An invisible narrator spoke over the scene with the same excited tone as before.

"We're now transmitting live to you from the capital where Admiral Samuel Royce, Chairwolf of the Imperial Admiralty, will address the empire."

"Where is this coming from?"

"Signal origin appears to be the capitol city, minister," said Syntha.

Lokagos watched silently as the uniformed wolf began to speak.

"Good day, my fellow wolves of the Lupine Empire. I am High Admiral Samuel Royce, recently appointed director of the Imperial Defense Department and chief of naval forces. I'm afraid today will be recorded in history as a dark time for our people, though I am confident that with resolve and determination we will prevail over all adversity. A new race made contact with Frontier Command last month, a race of foxes that call themselves the Vulpines. Without provocation or cause for aggression they attacked and destroyed a research outpost in the Radon Frontier, killing all personnel. Following this they made formal demands to the Imperial Navy for the citizens of the Lupine Empire to relinquish any and all fox slaves-thus, under an aggressive threat of invasion. The High Council under the emperor's direction has mobilized the military to defend the empire at all costs. We will not submit to intimidation, nor will we demand that our citizens release their personal property to these hostile invaders."

"Route this through to the Bureau controller's office," said Lokagos. "Make sure someone is getting this."

"They already are, sir."

"The military, under the direction of the High Council and the Most Exalted and Honorable Emperor Charles, has implemented martial law throughout the empire. While we believe that life can continue as normal, the Defense Department may at any time suspend any and all nonessential programs, governmental and civilian. The possibility that this enemy, these foxes, may invade is a very real one. Having said that, do not make the mistake in believing they are as inferior as their slave cousins. They are very capable and highly evolved technologically. Due to the fear that this will inspire violence and revolt among the slave population, all slave owners are directed by emergency decree to confine and isolate them. If you are unable to do so they are to be turned over to the military, which will facilitate their confinement. Defense of the empire is of the utmost importance, and any measure deemed fit by slave owners to control their property to protect themselves and their families is authorized...even termination."

Every head in on the control bridge looked up in stunned silence.

"Sons of Heaven," hissed someone.

Lokagos was already running for his office as he shouted over his shoulder, "Get me the Bureau director in my office! I don't care if you have to wake him, get him down here now!"

***

Lewis Blanchet heard a low whimper behind him and turned to see Nudge hunched fearfully behind him. The fox looked away from his master when he noticed Lewis staring down at him, his ears folded back and his bushy tail falling between his legs.

"Nudge," he whispered soothingly, "nothing's going to happen to you."

The young slave cringed just slightly at the voice and made another small whine. Lewis realized with a deep regret that the fox actually seemed to fear him.

"All citizens are encouraged to continue their lives as normal, and with the awesome power of the most high and noble gods we shall rise to victory over our enemies. Thank you, and may the gods bless you."

The admiral turned from the podium and the scene flashed back to the newscaster in an instant, as wide eyed with urgent energy as ever.

"That seems to be all the Admiral has to say for now. So to summarize what we just heard from Admiral Samuel Royce..."

"My Gods," whispered Meg, exchanging a deeply concerned look with her husband before glancing at Nudge. He was hugging himself closely, his little legs shaking like a frightened puppy.

"Julia," Lewis called into the kitchen.

"Yes, sir," she called back. "Is everythin' alright?"

"Um...yeah. It's about time for school isn't it?"

"Yes, sir. We're jus' washin' our paws now."

A few moments later Julia ushered the three oldest children into the living room to say their goodbyes to their parents. The old fox nanny carried George carefully in her arms. Once she had seen the cubs safely off to the school shuttle, which landed just outside the front door every morning at exactly 7:52, she padded back inside and smiled.

"Little rouges," she said happily.

Lewis and Megan exchanged weary looks with each other. It was Meg that spoke first.

"Thanks, Julia. I'll take Georgy from you." She lifted the little cub from his nanny's arms and set him against her shoulder, patting his little back. He burped once and giggled. "Julia, can you give Lewis and me some privacy, please? We have something we need to talk about."

"Certainly, mum," she said courteously. "Come on, Nudge," she said, patting the teen gently on the back. "I think there's some gardenin' we've been meanin' to get to."

Nudge followed the old fox, but not without first giving his master a pleading glance, as if to quietly affirm that he'd behave if only the wolf wouldn't punish him. In that innocent yet tormented look Lewis thought he couldn't see a rational, sentient creature so much as a frightened animal eyeing a predator.

And he was that predator.

"Did you see the way he looked at me, Meg," he asked his wife when they were alone. "Like I was some sort of monster."

Meg bounced George on her shoulder. "What are we going to do?"

Lewis sighed and shook his head. "What can we do? We're a long way from the capital and frontiers. I can't see a war reaching us...but foxes? Do you think it's true?"

Lewis shook his head incredulously. "Sounds too ridiculous to be fake. What about Julia and Nudge, though? We can't just lock them up somewhere, and I refuse to turn them over to the military."

"Is it safe to keep them here," she said, "especially with the children around?"

"Why? You think they'd ever try to hurt them, do you?"

Meg frowned. "No, of course not. Julia would sooner die, and Nudge has never so much as snarled at an insect, let alone a wolf."

Lewis nodded. The wolf had always seen the slavery of the fox as never being any of his concern, and there was never a reason to make it otherwise. There were few slaves on New Ergo and their lives under bondage had always been out of sight and out of mind. A slave was an expensive investment that would have made little return in his family's case. That is, until he was given them by his client for his services. At the time the idea of having slaves seemed like a novel one, almost like buying a newer, fancier auto.

But owning a sentient creature proved to be very different from owning a lifeless machine. Julia was old and worn beyond her years, a testament to a hard life. And Nudge was little better. So timid and afraid of punishment for any infraction that at first it was nearly impossible to rely on him to do anything on his own in his new home. Lewis could see that something traumatic had happened to the poor fox, and it did sincerely bother him. It was difficult for him, as the alpha of his family, not to feel inherently responsible for his charges, even a slave. A good alpha earned the respect and trust of the members of his pack.

"They should never have come here," he said remorsefully. "We're not made to be slave masters."

"Where else could they go?"

Lewis shook his head. That was the problem, wasn't it? "Nowhere but here, Meg. They're not livestock you can send from place to place. This is their home now...their only family...and who are we to take that from them?"

George reached a little paw up to grab his mother's ear and stuff it into his mouth. "Ouch! George, stop that," Meg scolded, reaching into her pocket to pull out one of her cub's chew toys. He squeaked happily, nipping at the soft material. "Should we tell them, Lewis?"

"Well, Nudge already knows and it freaked him out," he sighed heavily. "I don't think we need to worry so much about Julia, but it wouldn't be fair to not tell her. Tell you what, we'll make sure they stay here until this all blows over. No shopping or taking the children on walks, okay?"

Meg nodded, her gaze distant and troubled. "Yeah, I think so."

Lewis hugged his mate close, kissing her lovingly between the ears. George, suddenly jealous of the attention, dropped his chew toy and squealed in his father's ear.

"We'll be okay," he said. "I can't wait to see how the markets react to this."