TM 267: In Medias Res
Carol stares at the control stick in her hand. It will take about twenty minutes to run the program. Fifteen to implement the plan and five to deflect attention. She has to make it look good. A reasonable attempt, a reasonable failure. And she has to escape. A tall order, all told, but she's never been one to back down from a challenge.
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"Don't look at me like that." She frowns at the cat glaring at her from the very middle of the bed. "It's not for long, just until everything blows over." Chewbacca licks a paw in disdain, turns around once and returns to sitting. And glaring. Carol purses her lips, considering. If she moves too quickly the stupid creature will run and it will take hours to pull him out from wherever he decides to hide. She doesn't have hours, she needs to get him in the carrier and to the airport and she needs to do it before anybody watching figures out what she's doing. She kneels down so she's eye level with the cat.
"Come on, Chewie, it could be fun. Big new place to explore?" She flashes a little grin. "Big new human to ignore?" Chewie lays his head on his paws; Carol reaches out slowly to scratch him behind his ears. "I'd take you with me if I could, cat." He cocks his head. A moment passes, their eyes locked in silent communication. Chewie sighs, if cats can sigh. He leans his head up into her caress and she pulls him into her arms. "Good boy."
Carol carries the resigned kitty and drops him into the carrier. Inside is his favourite pillow, a blanket, a couple toy mice and two notes wrapped in plastic and taped to the wall, safe from Chewie's inevitable tantrum. A list of instructions on cat care and a note of thanks. Her tone is light and vaguely but not overly affectionate, in case of prying eyes. She means to send the cat to safety, not make Bruce a target. But she also means to make it clear she'll know if anything happens to either of them. Know and care. Know and care and retaliate.
Forty minutes later she's handing Chewbacca over to an airline employee. "I'll miss you you impossible beast." She gives him one last tug through the bars of the carrier. "Take care of him for me." His tail swishes with something like annoyed acquiescence; she imagines Bruce's reaction will be similar but she has to trust someone and her options are limited. Her eyes linger a brief moment on the cat's collar. She nods and straightens. "Thank you," she addresses the young woman handling the transaction.
"Don't you worry, ma'am. Your kitty will be just fine." Carol nods again and turns to walk away.
She is finally, completely, alone.
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Carol stares at the control stick in her hand. The moment has come. She connects to the computer and starts the program.
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"Don't look at me like that." She frowns at the cat glaring at her from the very middle of the bed. "It's not for long, just until everything blows over." Chewbacca licks a paw in disdain, turns around once and returns to sitting. And glaring. Carol purses her lips, considering. If she moves too quickly the stupid creature will run and it will take hours to pull him out from wherever he decides to hide. She doesn't have hours, she needs to get him in the carrier and to the airport and she needs to do it before anybody watching figures out what she's doing. She kneels down so she's eye level with the cat.
"Come on, Chewie, it could be fun. Big new place to explore?" She flashes a little grin. "Big new human to ignore?" Chewie lays his head on his paws; Carol reaches out slowly to scratch him behind his ears. "I'd take you with me if I could, cat." He cocks his head. A moment passes, their eyes locked in silent communication. Chewie sighs, if cats can sigh. He leans his head up into her caress and she pulls him into her arms. "Good boy."
Carol carries the resigned kitty and drops him into the carrier. Inside is his favourite pillow, a blanket, a couple toy mice and two notes wrapped in plastic and taped to the wall, safe from Chewie's inevitable tantrum. A list of instructions on cat care and a note of thanks. Her tone is light and vaguely but not overly affectionate, in case of prying eyes. She means to send the cat to safety, not make Bruce a target. But she also means to make it clear she'll know if anything happens to either of them. Know and care. Know and care and retaliate.
Forty minutes later she's handing Chewbacca over to an airline employee. "I'll miss you you impossible beast." She gives him one last tug through the bars of the carrier. "Take care of him for me." His tail swishes with something like annoyed acquiescence; she imagines Bruce's reaction will be similar but she has to trust someone and her options are limited. Her eyes linger a brief moment on the cat's collar. She nods and straightens. "Thank you," she addresses the young woman handling the transaction.
"Don't you worry, ma'am. Your kitty will be just fine." Carol nods again and turns to walk away.
She is finally, completely, alone.
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Carol stares at the control stick in her hand. The moment has come. She connects to the computer and starts the program.