Humanity's Peacekeepers

A Marriage And A Mouse [ 18 : ВОСЕМНАДЦАТЬ ]

- Игорь // Igor -

"Chewdo, is O is Professor Owen?" We were strolling through the streets to get to Katherine Hepburn Garden.

"...Squeak-squeak." Chewdo shook his head.

"So it's not him?" asked Jack. He shook his head again.

"...So you just can't confirm?" I deduced.

"..." He nodded reluctantly.

"Then it's him," I smiled.

"Squeak?" He stared at me.

"I mean, yeah," Jack laughed. "Why else would you need to hide it?"

"...Squeak." Chewdo sighed.

"Great detective work, Holmes," said Jack.

"Elementary," I smirked.

The way there was a bit farther, though it wasn't that hard to find, nor did it take too long. The place was a fenced off section of greenery to the side of the road, with a faded park sign by the gate.

After some of rustling about with the papers, Jack found the letter with the newest clue. "...Uh, try and find a black deer," he read.

"A black deer..."

The park was rather small, with thin and winding paths going to the left and the right. "The right path is always the right path!" said Jack.

"...Sure?" I didn't want to bother. The path was very narrow, so Jack had to walk in front and lead the way.

There was a bench that was almost completely weathered away, having barely any planks left on its metal frame. On the floor in front of it was a plaque, with very faded text.

"...'Katharine Hepburn's Bench'?" Jack squinted his eyes. "Humans were weird."

"Who knows? It could've been a really comfy bench."

The path continued past a small gardening (with little stumps that I assumed were makeshift seats), and into a little teardrop-shaped loop. We found no deer, though.

"Okay, looping around!" said Jack.

As we went to the other end, there was a wall to our right. Many picture frames littered the floor, all in pieces. The pictures were completely distorted and blurred from exposure to the elements. "What a shame," I muttered.

At the far end, there was another small loop, but with a black plastic deer ornament at the intersection. "Squeak!" alerted Chewdo.

Surely enough, buried beneath it was another box. "Your turn," said Jack, handing it to me.

— - — - — - — - —

CHAPTER 5
A BACHELOR'S BROTHER

— - — - — - — - —

Year 2117:
"Chewdo, I'm home." O walked into my room. "My brother met a cute girl in his college."

"Squeak?" His mouse friend came out from hiding as O sat in his bed.

"Yeah! He met her in a library, and couldn't stop talking about her nonstop over the phone just now. I haven't seen him so happy in years!"

"Squeak." Chewdo jabbed at O and tilted his head with a smile, as if to say "What about you?".

"Hey now!" He gave the mouse a playful stare. Chewdo giggled. "You know I'm probably not gonna find 'the one' any time soon."

"Squeak?" He tilted his head again, this time in confusion.

"I'd much rather look after you, Chewdo," said O. "Besides, I can't let anyone know about you, especially after applying to work for the United Nations."

"Squeak..." he nodded. He was an intelligent mouse, as O teaches him information like a parent to a child. Chewdo knows stuff like like what music is, what nature is, and even what existential crises are like.

"Oh, that reminds me... This might sound a bit contradictory, but, uh..." The mouse tilted his head again. O hadn't taught him what "contradictory" meant yet. "...Should I tell my brother about you?"

Chewdo turned his head, looking at O square in the eyes, a bit concerned.

"I think he should know. After all, he made you, too, right?" said O. "Do you wanna meet your other father, then?"

"..." He thought for a bit, and nodded eventually.

"Okay! I'll let him know to come here for a bit of a... reintroduction," he smiled. "...If he isn't too occupied with his sweetie-pie, that is."

— - — - — - — - —

Year 2118:
Chewdo helped O get his job at the UN, and now O is in a secret program to find ways to imitate the same "mishap" that happened to the mouse. If the program is a success, it can bring humanity one large leap closer to achieving immortality.

It seemed like a very corrupt thing to do, to extend the lives of government officials and leaders and such, but this technology supposedly would reach the public anyway, so O didn't think much of it.

Also, P now has a daughter, Amelia Maxine Ryieszenski, and now–Great Grandma Frances was overjoyed to have seen her grandchild last Saturday. P and his fiancée will properly marry in a few weeks, on January 9th, meaning O will have to buy a tuxedo or something as his best man.

"It's a bit of a shame that you can't come with me, Chewdo," muttered O, on his bed.

"Squeak..." the mouse whimpered.

"Though..." he pondered. "I do have to show you to him soon, don't I?"

"Squeak!!" Chewdo pawed at his cuffs, a bit upset.

"Yeah, yeah, I promised I'd do it last year, haha..." O fixed his sleeves. "Now that I've been properly recruited at the UN, and the UN actually wants him to be involved in the program, too, I think the time is right."

The mouse nodded and kneaded his thigh with a few squeaks.

"So, uh, I'll keep you in my bag or something?"

"...Squeak!?" Chewdo stared.

"I have to show you to him, but you're still meant to be a secret, Chewdo." O looked at him with a snicker.

"Squeak..." he sighed.

— - — - — - — - —

Dear Igor, Jack, and Chewdo,

O never married after that; the program kept him way too busy to find a partner, after all. He doesn't mind being unmarried, though, especially because of what happens with P and his wife after a few years...

...Is that a spoiler? Whoopsie me.

Your next stop is much farther away, in Tramway Plaza. It should be pretty obvious where the clue would be once you're there.

Faithfully,
Prof. O. R. Ryieszenski

— - — - — - — - —

"Much farther away..." I echoed. "How many chapters do you think there will be?"

"I bet there's about 12," said Jack.

"Are you betting another 10 bucks?"

"Yes, 'cause I'm confident." Jack gave me a V-sign.

"Another 10 bucks that you'll have to find somehow, sure." I rolled my eyes.