Chapter 23
Though it was against protocol, Buster allowed Whiskers on the bridge as they arrived at Batpooh State. His home planet came up on the viewscreen, looking so welcoming after what had happened in Cat space. Whiskers’s reaction was less than he had hoped for. She squinted at the planet and then said, “It’s so blue.”
“Those are our oceans,” Buster said. “They cover three-quarters of the planet.”
She shivered at this. “So much water. I don’t know how you can stand it.”
“Mostly we stay on the land,” he said.
She pointed at the mass of gray-brown in the center of North Bearica. “What kind of strange trees are those?”
“Those aren’t trees at all. They’re mountains. You must have some on Cattatonia?”
“Not such as those.”
Buster nodded. The mountains on Cattatonia were probably covered with jungle vegetation as well, except perhaps at the highest elevations. “Maybe later we could take a shuttle and I could show them to you.”
“That would be lovely,” she said. Though she couldn’t kiss or hug him on the bridge, Buster could see the love in her eyes and in the slight curl of her mouth. He couldn’t wait to give her a more personal tour of his home planet, to show her its many wonders.
“Captain, we’re receiving a transmission from Washingdog. The president is requesting that you, Commander Mutt, and Ambassador Dodger take Princess Whiskers to the First Mansion immediately.”
Buster nodded, barely holding in a sigh. “Tell them we’re on our way, Ensign. And make sure a transport is prepared for launch. Lieutenant Ruff, put us in high orbit.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Lieutenant Bulldog, you have the bridge until I return.”
“Right.”
Buster took Whiskers by the paw to lead her back to the elevator. Before the doors closed, he took a look at his bridge, wondering if he might see it again. The way things were going, his next command might be a garbage scow.
Dodger was waiting for them in the hangar. “Sounds like we’re going to get a newspaper on the nose,” he said.
“What does that mean?” Whiskers asked.
“It means we’re in trouble,” Spot said.
“Because of me?”
“Not just you,” Buster said. “There’s plenty of blame to go around.”
“And I’m sure they’ll find all of it,” Dodger said and then climbed into the transport.
Buster risked giving Whiskers’s shoulder a squeeze. “It won’t be that bad.” She nodded, but from her eyes, he knew she didn’t believe him.
#
Spot and Dodger flew the transport down, leaving Buster and Whiskers alone in the passenger compartment. Once they had made a relatively smooth plunge through the atmosphere, Buster uncovered the windows so that she could get a closer look at Batpooh State. She shivered again as they flew over the Bearlantic Ocean.
“I take it you’ve never been swimming?” Buster said.
“No. Such a thing would be undignified.”
“It’s not that bad. I could teach you. I was a champion paddler at the academy.”
She smiled slightly at this. “Perhaps we could try it.”
Ahead, Washingdog rose up from the ocean, its skyscrapers gleaming in the morning sun. “That is so beautiful,” Whiskers said. “That is where we’re going?”
“That’s right. Washingdog. Our capital city.”
As they drew closer to the city, Whiskers squeezed his arm. “Your buildings look much different from ours.”
“We don’t carve ours out of crystals. We build ours out of glass, steel, and stone.”
“Like our old palace?”
“You could say that.” Buster pointed to Bulldog Tower, its copper windows reflecting the sunlight back at them. “That’s where my father lives.”
“It is a beautiful palace,” Whiskers said.
“It’s not really a palace. Most of it is offices.” Whiskers stared at him without comprehending. He shrugged. “I suppose there’s not much difference.”
“What does your father’s company do?”
“A little bit of everything. He doesn’t like to put all his puppies in one basket.”
“He sounds like a smart creature—for a Dog.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“We’re coming up on the First Mansion,” Spot announced. “Get ready to land.”
Whiskers leaned close to the window. “This is where your king lives?”
“Our president. We don’t have kings.” Again she stared at him blankly. “Our leaders are elected. All Bloc citizens decide who will lead.”
“You would let anyone lead? That sounds very chaotic.”
“It can be.”
The transport touched down on the mansion’s roof. It took less than ten seconds for the hatch to swing open. Jonathan stood at the head of a security team. His expression did not bode well for the coming discussions. “Greetings, Princess Whiskers. I am Jonathan Bulldog, the president’s chief of staff.” He smiled, but it was a stiff, diplomatic smile. “I’m also Buster’s older brother.”
“I can see the resemblance,” she said.
Jonathan snorted at this. He offered his paw to the princess. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to see the president. He’s most anxious to meet with all of you.”
Buster leaned close to his brother’s side. “Jonathan—”
“Save it for the president.”
“I take it he’s none too pleased?”
“I said to save it,” Jonathan snapped.
Buster let him escort Whiskers while he drifted back a step to fall into line with Spot and Dodger. “Definitely looks like we’re getting the newspaper on the nose.”
“I’m sure it won’t be that bad,” Spot said. “They’re probably trying to scare us.”
“I wouldn’t put much faith in that theory,” Dodger said. “Puppynapping a princess is a serious offense.”
“We didn’t puppynap her,” Buster said. “She wanted to come with us.”
“I doubt they’ll see much of a distinction there.”
Buster looked back, wondering if there were time to grab Whiskers and head back to the transport. Maybe they could find somewhere to hide in the forests, with the raccoons. She could teach him to climb trees and he could teach her to swim. It would all be so perfect. But as the security guards shut the doors to the roof, he knew it was too late.
#
Down in the war room of the basement, the heads of the military were already gathered, along with the president’s cabinet. Security guards showed Buster, Spot, and Dodger to seats at the far end of the table. Whiskers remained standing at Jonathan’s side as the door to the president’s chambers opened.
President Bear lumbered into the room, looking even more haggard than last time. Either his natural instincts were winning or else the situation with Cattatonia had been keeping him up. Probably a little of both, Buster thought.
The president’s paw enveloped Whiskers’s as he kissed it with his snout. “It’s an honor to meet you, Princess Whiskers.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”
“You may call me Mr. President. That is our custom,” President Bear said.
“Forgive me, Mr. President.”
“It’s quite all right.” He motioned to a chair beside his. “Have a seat, if you would. We have much to discuss.”
Jonathan held out the chair so that Whiskers could sit down. The president collapsed onto his chair with a low groan. He looked around the table with tired eyes. “What brings you to Batpooh State, Princess Whiskers?”
“I would like to open diplomatic relations between your nation and mine.”
“And you come on behalf of your queen?”
Whiskers grimaced at this. “Not exactly. My mother has not yet seen the error of her ways.”
“Then at the moment you carry no diplomatic authority?”
“No, I suppose not, but—”
“Then there would be little point in negotiations, would there?”
“Mr. President, please—”
“I am not sure you understand the consequences of your actions yet. We have received several angry messages from your mother’s envoys, demanding your immediate return. They threaten war if I do not comply.”
“War? But I made my own choice. None of you convinced me to go. I only wish to help foster peace between us.”
The president turned to Jonathan, who cleared his throat. “There’s also the matter of Captain Bulldog. He escaped from Cat custody, presumably with help from the princess. They are demanding he return as well to face punishment.”
Whiskers leapt to her feet and hissed. “You can’t send Buster back! They would execute him on the spot.”
“Calm yourself, Princess,” President Bear said. “We have no plans to surrender Captain Bulldog or any other citizen of the Bloc of Planetary States to a foreign regime.”
“So what are you going to do? Ask me to go back? I won’t do it. Not until they drop the charges against Buster.”
“I don’t think they’ll be very receptive to that,” Jonathan said.
“Then I won’t go.”
The head of the fleet snickered. “We have ways to make you go.”
Jonathan held up a paw. “We’re not considering that as an option, not yet.” He turned back to Whiskers. “We are prepared to tell your queen that you are staying here temporarily as our guest, so that you might learn more about our culture.”
“My mother will not care about that.”
President Bear nodded. “But that gives us some time to sort things out—diplomatically. In the meantime, I welcome you to Batpooh State. We hope that your time here can help foster better understanding between our two great cultures.”
“Thank you, Mr. President.”
“Now, Mr. Bulldog will give you a tour of the First Mansion.”
“What about Buster?”
“He will join you shortly. There are some things we need to discuss first.”
Whiskers gave Buster an uncertain look. He smiled, trying to put her at ease. She finally nodded to him. “Very well. I shall learn more about this palace of yours.”
After Whiskers had gone, President Bear leveled an angry glare at Buster. “I thought when you were promoted, Captain, that you would demonstrate better judgment.”
“I’m sorry, sir—”
“From your report and those of Commander Mutt and Agent Dodger, it is apparent that you have recklessly put the lives of your crew at risk, as well as those of every citizen of the Bloc of Planetary States.”
“Yes, sir. I understand and take full responsibility. I will accept whatever punishment you believe to be appropriate.”
“We are not interested in punishing you at the moment. That will be determined later. For now my primary concern is what to do about this Cat situation. What do you think they will do with Princess Whiskers here?”
Buster thought about it for a moment. He wanted to lie and say nothing bad would happen, but one look at the president and the others at the table and he knew no one would believe that. “I think they are very angry, but as our escape attested to, I don’t think they will put the princess’s life in danger.”
“Commander Mutt, do you agree with this assessment?”
“Yes, sir. The Cats refused to fire on the transport carrying the princess. They allowed us to escape with her on board rather than endanger her life.”
“Agent Dodger, anything to add?”
“The Cats practically worship their queen, sir. The princess is the sole heir to the throne. There’s no way they’ll jeopardize her life if they can help it.”
President Bear nodded and closed his eyes. Buster thought perhaps the president’s instincts had finally won out, until he said, “I believe you are correct. They will not harm the princess. That doesn’t mean they won’t try to harm the Bloc to force us into giving her back. I want all ships on full alert. Make no aggressive moves at the border, but be prepared.” The president opened his eyes to glare again at Buster. “Captain, since the princess seems to have taken a liking to you, I want you to show her around Batpooh State. Show her that we mean her and the Cats no ill will.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. This meeting is adjourned.” The president rose from his chair slowly and then waddled back into his chambers, probably to take a nap.
On their way out, Dodger whispered, “That could have gone much worse.”
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