[s] Camping Trip (1)


"...left... left... left right left... I don't know but I've been told...
company... halt! Parade... rest!"

Chit looked towards the head of the column, panting softly. 'Marching' (for
Chit, that meant loping at about half speed) was tiring, especially on ice.

"Cadet Chit!" the drill sergeant yelled after listening to the messenger.

"Sir yes sir!" Chit screeched, standing up on his hindpaws to salute.

"Report to Mister Keyes' office immediately for special instructions. That is
all. Atten, hut!"

Chit blinked in confusion, screeching out 'sir yes sir' while parsing the
orders. Apparently, he was supposed to... go to Bill's office... for orders.
He scurried off, trying to make sense of it on the way.

"Cadet Chit reporting as ordered, sir," he said once reaching the office.

"At ease, cadet." 

Chit flomphed down on the desk and starting trying to pick bits of ice off his
paws. Licking was more effective, but he knew where his paws had been. So
instead he'd just scrape out the bits with his claws...

"Are you paying attention, cadet?"

"Yes sir," Chit said, turning to look up attentively. A large drop of melting
frost rolled slowly down his forehead and between his eyes, tickling his nose
until he licked it off.

Gah, he was soaked. [ickflick] With a supreme effort of will he managed to
avoid shaking water off on the BHX. He sensed that would be a bad thing. Tee
emm.

"You know Remus Shepard, correct?"

"We've spoken on the newsgroup, sir."

"How would you feel about working for him, as his assistant?"

Chit's fur tingled, and his tail twitched uncertainly. "I signed up for combat
duty, sir. [flick] But if you think I'd be better off --"

"This is combat duty, of sorts. You've heard of the microbunnies?" Chit
nodded. "Well, Dr. Shepard asked for an assistant to help track them down, and
given your experience and background you seem the ideal candidate."

Oh, yes. His... background. Not *entirely* forged... but still.

Well, this didn't sound like anything too terribly difficult. "Devil-mice,
aren't they?" Chit stuck out his tongue. "I think I can handle them. [flick]
Sir. But, um..."

"What is it, cadet?"

"I'm still in Basic. We don't graduate 'till Friday..."

Bill chuckled. "How many weeks of Basic have you had, cadet?"

"I have no idea, sir. I've been through most of the program twice..."

"Well, we'll count this as field training, then." He grinned. "Just make sure
you remember to show up for graduation."

"Sir, yes sir. [saluteflick!]" He winced as water went splattering across a
ream of important looking forms.

"Dismissed, cadet. Remus can give you further instructions."

==
Chit