Quick Thinking

A "Winds of Change" Story

By Jon Sleeper

My head throbbed. And with each pulse it cleared more. Brian had done an incredible job keeping me in once piece. Mentally, that is. The pepper had been a stroke of genius! It got that damn perfume out of my nose for once. What'd she use to put that stuff on? A garden hose?

I had come close, real close to my animal part breaking free again. And I'll have to admit that my other part had started to perceive Brian as a rival, nearly charging him. Eagle or deer, he was still another male. And the look on Grace's face when she saw Brian for the first time. If my mind had not been on the verge of shattering, then I would of laughed so hard she would have left right then.

But this was serious. Especially if Brian could smell it. The pepper would not last long, now what could I... There she was. Oh, God help me. She's such an airhead... Here it came. Even through the burning pepper I could smell it. -(???)- I closed my eyes tightly. No! Damn it, get back in there!!! It was starting to break free again, and I stomped on the cellar door of my mind where It had retreated to. "Are you OK, Jon?" Brian whispered in my ear.

"No," I whispered back. "Damn this is hard! I wish you could... maybe not." I sighed. She was looking at us blankly. "Ears like mine and not a speck between them," I whispered back to Brian, who's wings moved around with suppressed chuckles. I took shallow breaths, and tried to refrain from licking my nose or doing the flehman. If I did the latter I was doomed.

"So what's for dinner?" she asked vapidly. My nose still felt like I'd been snorting Tabasco sauce, which took the edge off the perfume.

I started doing mental exercises: Cogito Ergo Sum. An object in motion will stay in motion... while getting the rest of dinner ready, "Just a minute. Go ahead and sit down." I took another snort of pepper. Then took Brian aside for a moment. My head throbbed anew, and I rubbed my pedicles. He looked at me in askance. "How're you feeling?"

"Borderline. My other part nearly came free again. But I've got an idea, go pick a few leaves from these plants, they're clearly labeled and with your eyes you won't miss them. And just a few." I scribbled down the names of the plants and handed it to him. Then I started to cook the fish that Brian had started. The scent also masked the perfume, and I piled as many pungent spices that I had right on top of it. Much better. I hoped Brian did not mind me ruining one of his fish. "Dinner will be ready in a moment, Grace!"

"That's nice. Is it ready now?" I just sighed.

Brian came back in a couple minutes with the leaves. He'd been gone much longer than I'd expected, and was carrying my police communicator too. I walked up to him and asked him quietly, "What're you doing with that?"

"Backup plan," he replied, putting a scaled finger on the side of his beak, winking. He cleared his throat. "Here's the ingredients for that special salad you told me about, Jon." He must of gotten some idea of what I was doing.

"Thanks Brian," I said stiffly. The fish/pepper combo was starting to wear off. I felt like my brain was being rapidly being wrapped up in a blanket. What is he doing with my communicator anyway? I thought as I mixed the leaves into the salad. I picked up the bowl and walked towards the greenhouse table. "Here you go, Grace. A special salad just for you." I put the large bowl right in front of her. The scent grew stronger in my nostrils, ohgodohgod... My ears must have been in overdrive. She replied "Thank you!" and dipped her muzzle in.

Her next expression was so blatant even through my blanketed mind I almost laughed aloud (and Brian had to go around the corner). Her face had such a look of disgust on it. I wished I had a video camera! "So how is it?" I asked innocently.

She looked on the verge of wanting to leave. Good. "It's um... great. What is it?"

"Oh! Natural whitetails eat it all the time," I said simply. "And so do I. You see, it's got sage, rosemary, mint..." I listed all the ingredients. ALL of them. Her ears went back with disgust each item I listed. The salad was actually an experiment of mine. I'd decided to try a bit of most everything in the apartment one night. It gave me stomach trouble the rest of the week. She looked as if she had to desperately be somewhere else, almost getting up to leave. But I thought too soon... "It's um, great." And she dipped her muzzle in again.

My sense of anticipation had overridden the perfume, but since it had not worked... it started to crash around me all over again. I felt myself slipping away... Brian was holding my communicator, and he whispered something into it.

I was losing the battle. I knew it. But one thing saved me, the only thing that could have, and that was Brian's quick thinking. A moment after he'd finished speaking into the communicator, a voice came over it. "Dispatch to Baker 167. Get to the station, Buck. Mike needs you. This is NOT a drill. Please respond." That snapped me out of it, I grabbed the mic from Brian.

"Baker 167 affirmative, I'll be there as fast as I can." I looked at Grace for a moment, head as clear as day. "Sorry. I've gotta cut this dinner short. My friend needs me. Brian, show the lady out." I put on my stretch belt and dashed for the door, shifting forms when I got outside.

At the station I discovered that Mike was OK. "What's going on here?!" I asked him angrily.

"You're friend Brian radioed Greenwind and told her what was going on. It definitely qualified as an emergency, so we had to do something." he grinned. Brian walked in the door a minute later. I looked at him, dumbfounded.

"Don't let your mouth hang open, Jon. You might swallow a fly." Brian said. I closed my mouth.

"How'd you know I'd react like that?"

"I didn't. But I'd thought if there was a sure way to get you out of the apartment, then a call would do it. Especially when I saw you fading like that. I've opened all the windows in the apartment, by the way. The perfume should cleared out by when we get back. And I think you won't be seeing Grace again. I think your 'special salad' had the effect you wanted, she just did not want to leave out of politeness." Then he started to laugh. And so did I.

Since he was here, I made a few introductions. Mike was very happy to meet Brian, and they hit it off pretty well. We were about to go back to my apartment, but an urgent voice came over the intercom.

"This is a Situation One alert. I repeat. A Situation One alert. This is not a drill. Sensors have detected a large group of pack-gangs converging on the old Encina Powerplant. All able-bodied are to report to the briefing room for assignments immediately! Repeat..."

"Oh god." Said all the police in the locker room (myself included).

"What's a 'Situation One'?" asked Brian.

"Something we've been hoping to avoid. No wonder gang activity's been down the past few weeks! They've been gearing up for this!" Mike slammed his fight against a locker, snarling viciously, and denting it deeply. The light of understanding appeared on Brian's face and smell.

"That's right," The voice was Nightsky's, a female winged owl-morph, and our boss. She was looking straight at Brian. "And I hope you'll forgive me for what I'm about to do next, Mr. Coe. By the authority vested in me, by the State of California, I hereby deputize you for the duration of twenty four hours. I'm sorry, but we need all the able-bodied we can get. It's THAT big. You won't have to do anything dangerous, just stay up with me and help direct things from the air. I'll be giving you some lightweight carbon-fiber body armor, a night vision scope, and a radio. Come with me."

Brian's scent was clearly shocked. I looked at him. "I'm sorry Brian. I did not have any choice either."

"It's OK, Jon. Just stay in one piece."

"You too." As he walked away with Nightsky I got into my own minimal armor. It's going to be a long night... I thought.

Copyright 1997, Jon Sleeper

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