Chapter 25
As soon as he opened the door to Whiskers’s quarters, she asked, “What happened?”
“Nothing much. A colony is in trouble. The Batpooh is going to help them.”
“Then you are leaving?”
“No, I’m staying behind for this one.”
She stared at him for a moment. “But it is your ship. How could they?” Her eyes widened and then she nodded. “It’s because of me, isn’t it? They took away your ship because you brought me here.”
“It’s not like that.” Buster took her by the arm, leading her over to the sofa so they could sit down. He forced himself to smile. “They think it’s better if I stay here, to protect you.”
“I don’t need you to look after me as if I’m a newborn kitten.”
“Whiskers—”
“I’m not helpless.” She leapt to her feet and then stomped around the room for a while. She finally shrieked and clawed a wall, leaving deep gashes in the plaster. “Why does everyone treat me as if I’m a child?”
“I don’t think you’re a child,” Buster said. He stood up to embrace her. “Everything will be all right. I promise.”
She nodded and then sat back down on the couch. “I’m sorry to lose my temper. It’s so frustrating to have so much of my life determined by others. For once I would like to feel as if I’m in charge of my own destiny.”
“I know how you feel. Sometimes we all have to follow orders we don’t like, though.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right.” She shook her head. “I should have stayed on Cattatonia.”
“No—”
She turned to Buster. “This colony, what’s wrong with it?”
“A meteor shower. Nothing too serious.”
She shook her head again. “You are a terrible liar, Captain Bulldog. What is really going on with this colony?”
“It’s an attack, like on another of our colonies. Like the one that brought us into your space.”
“Then it’s a Cattatonian attack?”
“We don’t know that for sure—”
“It is.” She growled. “I smell Duke Draco’s slimy paw in this. He wants to destroy one of your worlds to force you into sending me back.”
“We don’t know—”
“There is no other explanation. I should have known he would convince my mother to act quickly. My escape—and yours—have wounded his pride. He must get revenge.”
“Whiskers, you’re jumping to conclusions.” He tried to put a paw on her arm, but she shook it away. “Whatever it is, the Batpooh can handle it.”
“No. I came here to make peace, not to start a war. We must go there and stop them. Once they have me, this madness will end.”
“But—”
“There is no other way, Buster. I love you, but I can’t allow innocent lives to be destroyed for my sake.” She put her arms around Buster to kiss him. “It must be this way.”
Buster wanted to argue, but he could see there was no real choice in the matter, short of locking Whiskers up. She had made up her mind and she would carry through with it, not matter what. That was part of what he loved about her, that determination and strength of will. “If that’s what you want, we’ll do it.”
“Thank you, Buster.” She kissed him again and then took his paw to lead him to the door. “Now, we must hurry.”
#
The immediate problem was finding a ship. He tried contacting Command, but they informed him there were no ships available. His orders were to keep Whiskers on the base until this emergency was resolved. “Yes, sir,” Buster said with a sigh.
He tried calling Jonathan next. The president had authority over the fleet; he could get a ship to take them to Sirius Five. He found his brother just as unreceptive as the admirals, though. “The battle group is already underway. We can’t call them back.”
“Then find another ship. A private one perhaps—”
“There’s nothing we can do, Buster. I’m sorry.”
“But the princess has to back, before the situation escalates.”
“She should have thought of that before she left Cattatonia. You both should have.” Jonathan broke off the connection.
Whiskers sighed. “What do we do now?”
Buster shook his head. He looked out the window at Washingdog. Bulldog Tower winked at him as light hit its upper windows. “I’ve got an idea of where we can find a ship.”
“You do?”
“Come on.”
Getting past the guards proved to be the next challenge. The guard refused to raise the gate for them to pass. “I’m sorry, sir, but we have orders to keep you and Princess Whiskers on the base.”
“The president has asked to see us right away.”
“I’m sorry, sir. I can’t let you go without a written order.”
“Here you go, my young friend,” Dodger said. He was dressed in the uniform of a commander. He took a sheet of paper from his pocket to hand to the guard. “I have the president’s authority to take them to the First Mansion. President Bear thinks they’ll be safer in the bunker there.”
The guard scrutinized the paper for a moment. “This appears to be in order.” He raised the gate. Dodger hopped into the car and then tucked the paper back into his pocket.
Buster turned to look back at him as they were on their way to Washingdog. “Was that really a presidential order?”
“We have reams of them. I can get you a pardon for anyone in your family.”
“No thanks. But I might need one later.”
“We all might.”
#
It was much easier to get an audience with Buster Sr. He sat behind his desk, glowering at Buster and Whiskers as they came in. Dodger remained outside in the reception room, chatting with the secretary as if they were old friends. “So this is the Cat?” Buster Sr. said.
“I am Whiskers, princess of Cattatonia,” she said and bowed her head. “It is an honor to meet you. Buster has talked much about you.”
“I’m sure.” Buster Sr. reached into his desk for a cigar. He blew a puff of blue smoke towards them. “So what brings you here?”
“We have need of a ship to take us to Sirius Five. Buster said that you possess such a craft.”
“Sirius Five? Isn’t that a mining colony? You want to see strip mining in action?”
“No, sir. My mother is attacking the colony. We must get there to stop her.”
“You should ask the military then. That’s their job, isn’t it, son?”
Buster took a step forward. “They’ve already turned us down. The fleet and Jonathan.” He tried to look through the smoke, into his father’s eyes. They were so tired, tired and disappointed. “Father, you must help us. Thousands of lives—maybe even millions—are at stake.”
“You two think you can head off a war by yourselves?”
“It’s me my mother wants. That is why she’s attacking your colony. If I give myself to her, then she will have no more reason to invade your space.”
Buster Sr. took out his cigar, mashing it out on the table. “That’s certainly a noble idea. Naïve too. Once she’s in our space, do you think your mother will just stop and turn around?”
“We are not conquerors. We desire only to live in peaceful seclusion.”
“Then why are you here, my dear?”
Whiskers looked down at the carpet and then over at Buster. “Because I love your son. He is brave and noble and the kindest soul I have ever met.”
She reached out for Buster’s paw and he took it. Buster Sr. nodded at this. “I take it you feel the same way, son?”
“Yes, sir. Whiskers and I love each other very much.”
“Enough that you’re willing to give her up?”
“If that’s what it takes to stop this.”
There was a moment of silence and then Buster Sr. nodded. “I have misjudged you, son.” He came around the desk to clap Buster’s shoulder. “You’ve become quite a dog. I’m proud of you. Both of you.”
“Does that mean you will help us?” Whiskers asked.
“Yes, my dear, it does. You can use my ship. It’s fueled and ready to go. My secretary will give you the details.”
“Thank you, Father.” Buster hugged his father. “I don’t know how I can repay you—”
“Just stop this war before it starts. That will be thanks enough.”
“We’ll try.”
Buster Sr. clapped Buster on the shoulder again. “You two had better hurry. It won’t be long until the Batpooh gets to Sirius Five.”
Buster took Whiskers’s paw and led her outside. It wasn’t much of a surprise that Dodger already had the launch information. They hurried back to their hovercar to get to the spaceport. There wasn’t time to waste.
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