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Species Zebra
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© 2024 by Walter Reimer
The young zebra stallion finished his fifth circuit of the room, stopped, and sighed as he looked around at the understated décor all around him. His tufted tail swished as he tried, once again, to calm himself before he started pacing again. He’d been nervous ever since arriving in orbit around Maratha, and now that he was within the al-Sakai Family’s – the Imperial Family’s – estate, his body was refusing to settle down.
His hooves clacked on the hardwood parquet floor, echoing slightly within the cavernous room. The quartet of armed guards in the room with him failed to react as he paced, thinking about how he came to be here.
***
Chen Hlompho was twenty-two and had only been in the civil service for a year. He’d been happy to land a job in the government on Terra itself but had been a little vocal while off-duty about wanting to do more. One couldn’t call what he said a complaint, by any measure, but apparently one of his coworkers had heard him, and had informed on him.
Which had resulted in Chen being ordered to report to the Prime Minister himself once the corsac fox had returned from a meeting with the Emperor.
A few coworkers had the grace to smile reassuringly at him as he was escorted out of the office area. Others averted their eyes.
Chen stood in the middle of the office as the elderly fox sat behind his desk and studied him. “Chen,” the Prime Minister said, “I have heard that you’re dissatisfied with your workload.”
The zebra swallowed. “I never said I was dissatisfied, Sir. I just want to do more.”
“Ah. I see.” The fox nodded sagely. “I do have an assignment for you.”
Chen’s ears swiveled. “An – an assignment, Sir?”
“A very special assignment.” The corsac smiled, showing the tips of his canine teeth. “His Imperial Majesty has requested a study. I’m choosing you to do that study and report your findings to His Majesty.”
The zebra stallion’s ears went straight up. “H-His M-Majesty?” he breathed, eyes going wide.
“Yes,” the fox said in a smug tone. “You will conduct a comprehensive feasibility study on greening Terra. I am giving you sixty days to do this, and you will be reassigned from your other duties to this task.” His smile fled. “You will report directly to His Imperial Majesty.”
Chen hadn’t known his eyes could get that wide. “S-Sir?”
“In fact, I want you on the staff of the next Regency Council,” the Prime Minister said briskly. “You can introduce yourself to His Majesty then and discuss the matter with him.” The fox’s smile fled. “If you do well with this, your career is essentially made, Chen.” He didn’t have to say what failure would entail.
Chen gulped. “Yes, Sir.”
The next Council was due to leave Terra for Maratha in a week, and Chen found the time taken up by transferring his current duties to another worker, studying previous terraforming studies, and submitting to one security screening after another. He was cleared to work in proximity to government ministers, but the additional vetting was required to be able to get close to the thirteen-year-old Indochinese leopard that they all served.
***
Chen gave a start and froze as a door opened and an ocelot in a sergeant’s uniform stepped into the room. “Chen Hlompho?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Follow me.” The ocelot about-faced and walked out, with Chen breaking into a trot so he could catch up. “First time here?”
“Y-Yeah.”
The ocelot nodded as he and the zebra made their way down a spacious corridor. He didn’t say anything else until they reached a door guarded by a lioness in tactical armor and armed with an automatic rifle. The ocelot nodded to her and opened the door. He gave a slight bow and stepped back. To Chen he said, “You can go right in.”
Chen gave him a nervous nod and stepped inside, the door closing behind him.
The room faced out onto the gardens at the rear of the estate. The walls were painted in a soothing cream, with one 2D display taking up most of one wall. The furnishings included two desks and several soft chairs.
Facing him was a young leopard wearing gray trousers and a white short-sleeved shirt. Chen bowed. “Your Majesty.”
Vladmir smiled and gestured to a couple chairs. “You’re Hlompho Chen-jih?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good. Let’s have a seat and we can talk.” The young leopard walked over to a chair and sat, looking up at Chen expectantly. “I don’t bite.”
“Of course, Sir.” Chen walked over and sat down. “I’ve spent the last week getting familiar with the problem, Sir – “
“Vladmir.”
“Huh?”
“Just call me Vladmir,” the Emperor said. “We’re alone in here.”
The zebra took a breath. “I’m Hlompho, Vladmir.” The leopard smiled, and Chen said, “Like I said, I’ve spent some time getting familiar with what the Prime Minister said you wanted, which was a feasibility study on greening Terra.”
Vladmir grinned. “Yes, that’s what we were talking about. I’m a little surprised he didn’t lie to me. So, what do you have?”
The zebra reached into a pocket and removed a datapak. “Can I use the display?” he asked, nodding toward the 2D screen on the wall. When Vladmir nodded, Chen stood and loaded the pak into the system.
A meter-wide hologram of Terra appeared, then spread out to a 2D map that showed the various city complexes on the world. Chen walked toward it as Vladmir studied the map. “One of the biggest problems is going to be one of removal,” the zebra said. “Toxic chemical and radioactive wastes would have to be removed before we can start placing atmospheric processors on the planet.”
The young leopard nodded. “What about the oceans?”
“I don’t know yet,” Chen replied, “but I’ve been downloading previous studies,” and he canted his head slightly to the left to show the dataport below and behind his right ear. “Most of them were lies.”
“Lies?”
“I’m afraid so. Just the governments of the time trying to justify keeping things as they are.”
Vladmir made a disgusted sound. “Idiots.” He looked up from his seat at the zebra. “I want to fix that,” and his tail gestured at the map of blighted Terra. “I want to fix it, and I need your help.”
Chen smiled. He was junior as all hell; he had no powerful patrons or enemies. “I’ll do all I can,” he assured the young Emperor.
© 2024 by Walter Reimer
The young zebra stallion finished his fifth circuit of the room, stopped, and sighed as he looked around at the understated décor all around him. His tufted tail swished as he tried, once again, to calm himself before he started pacing again. He’d been nervous ever since arriving in orbit around Maratha, and now that he was within the al-Sakai Family’s – the Imperial Family’s – estate, his body was refusing to settle down.
His hooves clacked on the hardwood parquet floor, echoing slightly within the cavernous room. The quartet of armed guards in the room with him failed to react as he paced, thinking about how he came to be here.
***
Chen Hlompho was twenty-two and had only been in the civil service for a year. He’d been happy to land a job in the government on Terra itself but had been a little vocal while off-duty about wanting to do more. One couldn’t call what he said a complaint, by any measure, but apparently one of his coworkers had heard him, and had informed on him.
Which had resulted in Chen being ordered to report to the Prime Minister himself once the corsac fox had returned from a meeting with the Emperor.
A few coworkers had the grace to smile reassuringly at him as he was escorted out of the office area. Others averted their eyes.
Chen stood in the middle of the office as the elderly fox sat behind his desk and studied him. “Chen,” the Prime Minister said, “I have heard that you’re dissatisfied with your workload.”
The zebra swallowed. “I never said I was dissatisfied, Sir. I just want to do more.”
“Ah. I see.” The fox nodded sagely. “I do have an assignment for you.”
Chen’s ears swiveled. “An – an assignment, Sir?”
“A very special assignment.” The corsac smiled, showing the tips of his canine teeth. “His Imperial Majesty has requested a study. I’m choosing you to do that study and report your findings to His Majesty.”
The zebra stallion’s ears went straight up. “H-His M-Majesty?” he breathed, eyes going wide.
“Yes,” the fox said in a smug tone. “You will conduct a comprehensive feasibility study on greening Terra. I am giving you sixty days to do this, and you will be reassigned from your other duties to this task.” His smile fled. “You will report directly to His Imperial Majesty.”
Chen hadn’t known his eyes could get that wide. “S-Sir?”
“In fact, I want you on the staff of the next Regency Council,” the Prime Minister said briskly. “You can introduce yourself to His Majesty then and discuss the matter with him.” The fox’s smile fled. “If you do well with this, your career is essentially made, Chen.” He didn’t have to say what failure would entail.
Chen gulped. “Yes, Sir.”
The next Council was due to leave Terra for Maratha in a week, and Chen found the time taken up by transferring his current duties to another worker, studying previous terraforming studies, and submitting to one security screening after another. He was cleared to work in proximity to government ministers, but the additional vetting was required to be able to get close to the thirteen-year-old Indochinese leopard that they all served.
***
Chen gave a start and froze as a door opened and an ocelot in a sergeant’s uniform stepped into the room. “Chen Hlompho?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Follow me.” The ocelot about-faced and walked out, with Chen breaking into a trot so he could catch up. “First time here?”
“Y-Yeah.”
The ocelot nodded as he and the zebra made their way down a spacious corridor. He didn’t say anything else until they reached a door guarded by a lioness in tactical armor and armed with an automatic rifle. The ocelot nodded to her and opened the door. He gave a slight bow and stepped back. To Chen he said, “You can go right in.”
Chen gave him a nervous nod and stepped inside, the door closing behind him.
The room faced out onto the gardens at the rear of the estate. The walls were painted in a soothing cream, with one 2D display taking up most of one wall. The furnishings included two desks and several soft chairs.
Facing him was a young leopard wearing gray trousers and a white short-sleeved shirt. Chen bowed. “Your Majesty.”
Vladmir smiled and gestured to a couple chairs. “You’re Hlompho Chen-jih?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good. Let’s have a seat and we can talk.” The young leopard walked over to a chair and sat, looking up at Chen expectantly. “I don’t bite.”
“Of course, Sir.” Chen walked over and sat down. “I’ve spent the last week getting familiar with the problem, Sir – “
“Vladmir.”
“Huh?”
“Just call me Vladmir,” the Emperor said. “We’re alone in here.”
The zebra took a breath. “I’m Hlompho, Vladmir.” The leopard smiled, and Chen said, “Like I said, I’ve spent some time getting familiar with what the Prime Minister said you wanted, which was a feasibility study on greening Terra.”
Vladmir grinned. “Yes, that’s what we were talking about. I’m a little surprised he didn’t lie to me. So, what do you have?”
The zebra reached into a pocket and removed a datapak. “Can I use the display?” he asked, nodding toward the 2D screen on the wall. When Vladmir nodded, Chen stood and loaded the pak into the system.
A meter-wide hologram of Terra appeared, then spread out to a 2D map that showed the various city complexes on the world. Chen walked toward it as Vladmir studied the map. “One of the biggest problems is going to be one of removal,” the zebra said. “Toxic chemical and radioactive wastes would have to be removed before we can start placing atmospheric processors on the planet.”
The young leopard nodded. “What about the oceans?”
“I don’t know yet,” Chen replied, “but I’ve been downloading previous studies,” and he canted his head slightly to the left to show the dataport below and behind his right ear. “Most of them were lies.”
“Lies?”
“I’m afraid so. Just the governments of the time trying to justify keeping things as they are.”
Vladmir made a disgusted sound. “Idiots.” He looked up from his seat at the zebra. “I want to fix that,” and his tail gestured at the map of blighted Terra. “I want to fix it, and I need your help.”
Chen smiled. He was junior as all hell; he had no powerful patrons or enemies. “I’ll do all I can,” he assured the young Emperor.
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Zebra
Size 120 x 77px
File Size 58 kB
Listed in Folders
Sixty days wouldn't make a dent in finding out just how bad things really are - never mind how to start fixing/countering it. The young man was sent to fail by the old fool.
I say old fool because I think he's greatly underestimating how hard another even younger man is willing to go.
In sixty days or less Clen is going to be transferred from his old boss' control directly to the emperor, the old boss won't like losing editing control of those reports he hoped would sidetrack his emperor.
Hmm, why do I also see a 'mere' gardener being called in for his thoughts on things?
I say old fool because I think he's greatly underestimating how hard another even younger man is willing to go.
In sixty days or less Clen is going to be transferred from his old boss' control directly to the emperor, the old boss won't like losing editing control of those reports he hoped would sidetrack his emperor.
Hmm, why do I also see a 'mere' gardener being called in for his thoughts on things?
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