The New World Order

Chapter 12

Engrossed in a book about Greek Mythology I barely noticed the door opening and Doc walking in. I looked up at him and he smiled.

"Good choice, Tabatha. Greek Mythology is simply fascinating!" he exclaimed.

"Hey Doc. What's up?" asked Luna.

"Well, I have a little bracelet I need Tabatha to put on for me," he responded, holding out a small silver bracelet with a small plate on it.

I wished I could have asked why, and I did try but I still had no voice. I held out my wrist, knowing that the bracelet would be put on anyway.

"Good girl," he said as he put it on me.

I flushed at the praise and quickly looked away. The bracelet was cool on my skin and I noticed I would not be able to slip it off.

"Now don't try to remove it," instructed Doc as he held up a small gadget, "You need this to take it off and we will know if you somehow take it off. Well, I better get to work. I have patients to see at headquarters. I'll be back after supper."

The door shut quietly behind him while I stewed, no longer interested in my book. After a moment I got up and walked to the window to look outside. Both Canids continued to work.

It was a gorgeous morning. The snow sparkled like millions of small diamonds in the sun. It was a cold day, I could tell. Two sun dogs sat on either side of the sun. I was kind of glad to be inside where it was warm, although I wished it was under different circumstances.

Little birds flicked in and out of the tree line and I could see the tail end of a deer disappearing into the shelter of the forest.

"Beautiful out, isn't it?" asked Sky looking over my shoulder.

I jumped at her sudden appearance, and she smiled placing a hand gently on the small of my back. I wanted to pull away, but there wasn't any room for me too. I nodded in response after a moment. I looked back outside, hoping she would go back to her desk, but she did not.

Five minutes went by before she said, "Well Tabatha, let's go. Ben has requested us to bring you to him. Put your book back on the shelf, please."

With a flush I complied. I was hoping that with my obedience they would let their guard down so I could run, but maybe I would wait until Spring.

I was escorted from the office and upstairs. There was a small library and sitting area dressed out in similar colors to the living room downstairs. We walked in a hallway past closed doors, to what I assumed were additional bedrooms. The house was very large, larger than the house I had lived in in the Before Times.

Finally, we reached an open door and walked through. Inside sat Ben at a desk hard at work. A comfortable looking set of chairs sat in one corner with a small table. This must be his office.

"Thank you, Luna and Sky. Tabatha, please sit in one of the chairs and I'll be with you in a moment."

I sat down and Luna and Sky both left. I wondered what I was doing here in his office. I looked around and saw he had paintings on the wall, some with scenes on Earth, while others had scenes full of animals unfamiliar to me. Just like in the office downstairs, this one had a beanbag chair and a small shelf with activities I assume were for me.

"All done," grunted Ben and he stood and stretched. I heard his back muscles pop as he continued, "I can work in the field all day, but I hate office work."

He sat next to me in the opposite chair and handed me a whiteboard, marker, and cloth.

"Use this to write with, but just know that if you write things along the lines of "let me go" then I will take it away from you. Nod if you understand."

I nodded in response. What else was I supposed to do?

. . . . . . . . . . .

Ben watched Tabatha nod her head. He was surprised, but happy at her quick response.

"How do you feel? How is your ankle and throat?" he asked her.

She began to write her answer on the board before flipping it around for him to read. It said 'SORE'.

"Yes, I expect it is. Here take these. It is time for your meds anyway. They will help keep the pain at bay," he said, handing her some pills and a small glass of water.

With satisfaction he watched her take them and swallow. She grimaced as she swallowed, but that was normal.

She erased her answer and wrote 'When can I speak?'

With a smile he answered her question, "Doc thinks by the end of the week. But it is important that you do not try to speak until then. Now, the reason why I wanted you to come in here is because I want you to understand that my team and I are basically family and you are now apart of that family. I want you to be comfortable with us, especially me. You have a home with us for the rest of your life," he paused as she wrote.

'Why'

"I am sure you know the answer to that, but I will go over it with you in detail. Please save your questions for after, okay?"

Tabatha nodded and put the whiteboard down on the table, settling in.

"Our people became aware of your planet hundreds of years ago and we began to monitor it. Our planet, Zion, is millions of light years away. Our advanced technology allows us to travel very quickly through space. Earth is not the only planet under our stewardship and we are not the only advanced peoples, but I digress," Ben paused for a moment.

"We watched civilizations rise and fall, watched humans become selfish and begin to slowly destroy the planet with pollution and selfishness. It was decided that we would intervene before the planet was destroyed by disease, nuclear war, etc.... After observing your species for a long time it was decided that your race would be best kept as pets, in zoos, and in the wild. Your planet's status is protected and will be preserved without human's destructive technology. Numbers will be kept at a manageable number and the Earth will begin to heal."

He watched Tabatha as she absorbed the information. She picked up her whiteboard and wrote 'NO'. He smiled sadly and nodded his head yes.

Before she could write anymore Ben stopped her and said, "Yes. It is over and done. Nothing will change what has happened and you will learn to accept it. Millions have. Now, erase the 'NO', please."

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Ben raised his an eyebrow at me and I flushed red before wiping my writing away.

"Now, I must get back to work for a bit before I can be done for the day. Lots of paperwork! Go ahead and occupy yourself with what is on the shelf by the bean bag chair."