A brown-furred squirrel raced across the grass, disappearing behind a tree.
Not an uncommon sight on a college campus, and a human observer would be
unlikely to notice it slip into the hidden door at the base of the tree, 
since the gate was programmed not to open if anyone could.

Down a long dirt tunnel... to the real gate, where the squirrel was scanned
for explosives and admitted. Then it's a hop, skip and a jump (though of 
course the squirrel just scurried) to check in with security.

The bored squirrel guard on duty handed him a form, and then entered his data 
into the computer sitting on the tiny desk. "Hmm," the guard said, twitching.

"What is it?" the squirrel asked.

"Chit? Is that your name?"

"Yes," the squirrel said, shifting uncomfortably.

"The computer has you flagged as a rebel. Says you left with the rest of the
 scum back in '94."

"So its 'scum' now?" he replied, glaring back at the guard, then shrugged.
"I was a spy, for Loren. He wanted to know if they were dangerous." 

"So what happened?"

"They aren't. [flick] Their leaders are dead, and the rest of them settled 
down in Tennessee. [snort] Don't ask me why."

"I don't see anything to support your story in the files..."

"He was afraid the computer was infiltrated, so he told me to go along. There
wasn't time for paperwork! [angryflick!] If you want proof, you'll have to
get him in here..." The guard perked up, and smiled.

"Okay."

Three hours and ten intercom-calls later, Loren arrived. "Make it fast, there
is no time to waste on trivialities."

"[chitter] Do you know him?" the guard asked. Loren looked at the squirrel 
and squinted.

"Chit, remember?" the squirrel said, twitching nervously. Would he remember?
He hadn't exactly been on close terms with the red squirrels in the security
department...

"No..." Loren said, scratching his head. "Chit. I sent a Chit off with 
Sylvie. You are him, I suppose?" The squirrel nodded. Loren sighed. "If your
story is true, you deserve better than to be imprisoned, yet I cannot
completely trust you, you understand?" He turned to the guard. "Just assign
him to something low priority, for now at least. It hardly matters at this
point whether he is who he claims. Now, I must go." With that, he left.

"Low priority?" the squirrel said with distaste, "I was hoping to get out
again. After all those months outdoors, this warren makes me nervous..."

"I can understand that!" the guard said, "Why, for weeks after I was first
converted I swore I was going to suffocate down here! I can't put you on
guard duty, but don't worry yet, at least let me check the list." The 
squirrel shrugged and waited.

After a couple seconds, the guard sighed. "Well, there is one outside mission,
but its not exactly low priority. Oh, wait, it's one of Teral's." The guard
rolled his eyes. "I'll sign you up."

"What is it?" the squirrel asked, tail flicking wildly.

"A long-range reconnaisance into Missourri, of all places. Teral insisted on
someone experienced to lead it."

"You want me to *lead* it?"

"Don't get too happy, you can bet Teral has something weird in mind. I'll
schedule you for a briefing with him... lessee... tommorrow at 10, in his 
office. Until then..."

"I'll curl up in one of the empty sectors."

"Wow, you have been gone for a while. We've been busy, there *are* no empty 
sectors. No, I can let you stay in one of the cells?"

"No thanks."

"[shrug] Your loss. Other than that, well, it's only for one night. Do
whatever you want, but don't miss the briefing, or Teral'll freak. He's been
waiting *days* for someone to volunteer for this one."

If the squirrel was bothered by that, he didn't show it as he bounced out the
door.

--
Aaron Mandelbaum        (er, I mean, Chit! Yeah, that's my name...)