John W Partington
Suspend disbelief - have an adventure

Jake & Chearice: Homecoming

“Jake, I’ve got a problem I need you to take care of,” Tyson said from the entrance to Jake’s cubicle. Jake looked up at the eight-foot-tall sasquatch leaning against the wall. Tuesday was right on schedule. Problems always started on a Tuesday, and were resolved by Friday unless it was a major problem. That might take a couple of weeks.

“Is it likely to get me killed?” Jake asked. Jake was the only human in the Department of Interdimensional Affairs. He was a Project Officer responsible for monitoring, overseeing, and enforcing interdimensional policies and programs. Usually, his job meant briefing people about situations that somebody else would have to deal with, but lately Jake ended up being the go-to guy with a blaster strapped to his hip.

“Why would you ask that?”

“Because every time you have a problem I end up in a life-or-death situation,” Jake answered.

“Name one,” Tyson laughed.

“Cell phones,” Jake answered immediately.

“Name another.”

“The Nygaard.”

“That’s only two,” Tyson laughed again, though a little less enthusiastically.

“Your son’s carrier day at public school,” Jake sited.

“That wasn’t my fault.”

“All I’m saying is that when you have a problem I end up in the hospital. I’ll deal with your situation. I’d just like to know what I’m getting into. So, is it likely to get me killed? On a scale of one to ten, where one is a stubbed toe and ten is certain death, how much danger am I in?”

“Six,” Tyson answered.

“Six?”

“Five?”

“You said six.”

“Well, maybe like a five point five,” Tyson suggested.

“That’s six with rounding.”

“Okay so six.”

“So there’s a sixty percent chance I’m going to die,” Jake stated.

“It’s unlikely.”

“What’s the problem?” Jake ended the debate.

“Lambda-Twenty-One and Mu-Three have been at war for decades,” Tyson said. “They’re ready to bury the hatchet.”

“And you want me to deliver the hatchet?” Jake asked.

“They’ve asked for impartial arbitrator and advisor on the peace process. You were specifically requested by both sides.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. The Lupine trust you because Sabre-Claw is one of the more important tribes and you were they leader for a brief though unapproved time.”

“That was not my fault,” Jake said.

“So you concede that sometimes, like at a job fair, shit happens that isn’t anybody’s fault?”

“Okay. I agree, in principle, that you were not responsible for one of the several near-death experiences you’ve sent me to. Why do the cats want me?”

“I don’t know,” Tyson admitted. “Your name came up and they agreed. Normally this would be assigned to someone much senior, but both sides want you. Try not to fuck it up.”

“So two dimensions that have been at war for the better part of a century suddenly want peace. There’s something going on you’re not telling me.”

“I’ve told you everything,” Tyson said.

“Then there’s something they’re not telling us. Let me do some research.”

“Get your team ready,” Tyson advised.

“My team?” Jake asked.

“Well, three people is a team.”

“It’s just me and Juno, and she’s only here for the rest of the term. She’s a student.”

“Oh, I forgot to mention. I’m assigning you a new partner. That makes three of you. That’s a team, all be it a small one. This,” he ushered a lanky silver furred cat into the cube who had been behind the wall, “is Miss Whiskers. She’s your expert on Mu-Three. Your task is to ensure interdimensional peace between violent rivals with a blood feud going back centuries. Get on it.” Tyson left while Jake and Miss Whiskers stared at each other for a moment.

“You’re not planning on killing me, are you?” Jake asked.

“No,” she answered. “Why would you even ask such a thing?”

“The last partner Tyson assigned me shot me in the back and then tried to kill me a second time when I went after him.”

Where can I get the first two in the series:

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