FIRE ON HIGH
“Fire On High” is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. All characters and settings © Tigermark 2003-2006 unless otherwise noted. Request permission before using them, please.
The characters of Anatol Altaisokova and Melinda Altaisokova are my names for characters © Max Blackrabbit. They appear in this story with his permission. The characters of Brandy, Maxwell, Tonya and Zig Zag are also © Max Blackrabbit and appear here with his permission. Events and information relating to Tonya, Anatol, and their family are presented here, but are not to be considered canon to those characters or any other story but this one. ZZ Studios © James Bruner. Matt Barstock and Intermountain Charter, Intermountain forty four, and her crew © Silver Coyote. See their story HERE.
CHAPTER 29
The Mission
Alex sat, relaxing and reading, on the couch in his father’s living room. Anton was laid back in his recliner with a blanket around him, snoring softly. It had been a year now since Alex had retired, and even as he watched his father get sicker and weaker from the stomach cancer, they had enjoyed each other’s company a great deal. Two weeks ago, Alex had taken a leave of absence from his duties at Kentiger, loaded his truck, and driven to his father’s home in Elkview. He intended to stay now until his father passed away, however long it might be. Despite some scary moments, the old tiger seemed to be holding his own for the time being.
Alex looked up from his book, watching Anton sleep. His Aunt Talia was staying there full time, too, even though her own house was just down the street. At the moment she was gone to the grocery store, so except for his father’s snoring, the house was silent. Alex let his thoughts drift as he put his head back and let his eyes go unfocused. It would be easy to take a nap, but he wasn’t really sleepy. His mind wandered over thoughts and memories of the time since he retired. He’d been back to Langley each month, plus a two week stretch in the summer for his reserve duty. That had gone well, and the Tigerkahts were in top form. He could foresee spending most of his time from now on filling in on alert duty for pilots that had to be out for whatever reason. That was fine with him, as he usually got at least one intercept call each time, for an off-course Cessna or the occasional Russian patrol plane that strayed to close. Even with the Cold War over and the Soviet Union gone, the Russians still would send a plane close to U.S. airspace from time to time, just to see if anyone was paying attention.
Kentiger was booming, with plans in place to purchase two more Kingairs in the next month, and possibly another Gulfstream by spring, with about ten new employees to crew and support them. He’d signed off with Billy on that before leaving. Duncan and Loni were doing well, although sometimes there was tension between them when they’d overhear a snide comment from a customer about “must be dating the boss.” The furs who worked there knew them well enough to take their relationship in stride, once it became known. Even Glenn Mustid wished them well, all the while looking extremely embarrassed every time he looked at either Loni or Duncan.
Alex had been on several dates. They had run the gamut from just friendly to one wild tigress so aggressive he’d felt fortunate to escape with his clothing, and virtue, intact. As his father got weaker, though, his attention focused more on spending every bit of time with him possible rather than finding a mate.
Jenna and Jack continued to date, and Alex wouldn’t be surprised at an engagement announcement from them soon. Tia continued to excel at school, and at her martial arts training. Izzy had added some aikido and jujitsu to her training to make it more self-defense related, and she’d recently passed her green belt test. She’d had no more problems out of the young male who’d threatened her, nor had her friends, so Alex figured he’d been all talk, trying to bluster as young males sometimes do.
Andrew seemed to be coming into his own as well. He was also excelling at school. He and his group of friends spent their time learning to do things with their computers, or playing games on them. Alex wished he could spend more time with the young tiger, but Andrew, even when they were together, was more and more into his own thing.
Alex’s thoughts were interrupted by Blake jumping up on the couch beside him. He reached over and scratched the kaht lightly under the chin. Blake purred loudly, and Alex heard Anton stop snoring and stir. Presently he opened his eyes and blinked, trying to orient himself.
“Oh, hello Son. Must’ve dozed off.”
Alex smiled. “Hi Dad. Yep, you did. How are you feeling?”
The old tiger yawned widely and smacked his lips. “Not bad. Do you, ah, have that recorder close at paw?”
“Yes, it’s with my stuff in the bedroom. You want to talk a bit?”
Anton fixed his son with a steady, solemn gaze. “Yep. I think this will be our last session.”
Alex looked in his father’s eyes. He saw pain, but also a calm acceptance. A determination to see things through and not leave any loose ends. Without another word Alex got up and went to the bedroom to retrieve the mini-recorder.
Upon returning, he plugged the recorder in and sat down near his father. He recorded the standard intro, and motioned for the older tiger to begin.
“Ah Son, I think this will be the last time I talk to your little machine. I’m so very weak, and the pain is spreading. I can feel it in several other places it wasn’t in last week. I’ve had a very good life, but my time to go home is coming very soon. For the record, I am so very proud of you. You have become a great pilot and a hero, but more important, you’ve become a great person. You are a good and true friend to those you call as such. My hope for you is that you’ll find someone to love, who will love you in return.”
“Now, this is about family, since these tapes are about our history. You’ve heard about all there is of interest to tell about Papa and Mama, Uncle Anni and Aunt Lindi. We have some distant relations scattered about, mostly from Belinda’s family. There are a couple of Mama’s cousins who also came to the
After a short pause, Alex asked, “What’s that, Dad?”
“Your cousin Tonya legally changed her name when she went into blue movies. She lives in Columbus, Ohio. Her name is Zig Zag.”
Alex’s jaw dropped. After a few moments of working it silently up and down, he found his voice. “THE Zig Zag! The one who owns ZZ Studios?”
Anton grinned at Alex’s reaction. “I see you’ve heard of her. Yes, the same Zig Zag. Now don’t look like that. I seem to remember a young tiger fresh out of flight training on his first overseas assignment practically cheering in a letter about what they did to boost morale. Thankfully you’d given up such things because of your faith by the time your cousin started acting. She is still family, and as far as I can see from what I’ve read, hers are the best made of those kinds of things. If you are her friend, even do business with her, so what? She is family, and family sticks together. No one says you have to perform in one or anything.”
Alex was silent for so long the recorder switched to pause. Could it be true? He’d thought maybe his cousin might stand in for the adult star. Was he really related to the famous, or infamous, Zig Zag? And now his father was advocating friendship, even business dealings with her. Then the words came to him from the Bible. Jesus had eaten with “sinners.” Had told the religious leaders of the day that He was there for those who needed him, not the ones who thought they didn’t. Alex also remembered, “Judge not, lest ye be judged with the same judgment.” Very slowly, he nodded. It was true, family was family.
“Now,” Anton continued, causing the recorder to start again. “I have only one last thing to say. Let go of your guilt over Jason. I can still see it in you when he’s mentioned. I will soon see him, I’m sure. I think he would say that there was absolutely nothing you could have done. You did all anyone could ask, even to jeopardizing your career, to clear his name. I know these things take time to sort out, but let it go. Now, that is all I have to say, other than to keep your mind open about your cousin. Become her friend, and I think you’ll be surprised at the friend you will have in return.”
Alex nodded to the recorder, and Anton waved a dismissive paw toward it. Alex reached over and shut it off. Anton looked like he was tired out again, just from that bit of talking. Alex would have been content to let the old tiger rest, but Anton roused himself.
“Alex, go to my bedroom and look in the closet. You’ll find a box there with an envelope taped to it. Bring it here, please.”
“Sure thing.” Alex got up and went to his father’s bedroom. Opening the closet door, he found the box Anton had described. He gently picked it up, as the contents were unknown, and brought it out to his father. Anton had his eyes closed, but opened them and sat up as soon as he heard Alex come in the room.
“Here you go, Dad.” Alex made to give the box to Anton, but the older tiger waved a paw to the negative.
“No Alex, you keep hold of it. I have a mission for you. It will give you a chance to put into practice what I just said.”
Alex started to protest, but Anton just shook his head. “No Son, I’ll accept no argument. This box was given to me by Uncle Anni. He said to deliver it in person to Tonya. I was going to have Billy Panelli take me, but I got too sick and weak to travel before I got around to it. I don’t know what’s in it, or what the letter on it says, but I do know that I promised him it would be done. He was very emphatic about it being delivered in person.”
Alex was silent a moment before he nodded his acceptance. “Okay Dad, I can do that. I’ll go over a weekend. I’ll call and see when she’ll be home.”
Anton was slowly shaking his head. “No, I’m afraid not. No one has her home address or phone number. Anni misplaced it, so he couldn’t call her to come get it herself. You’ll have to deliver it to her at her business. Everyone knows it’s in Columbus, so it shouldn’t be hard to locate. Same with a business phone number, but here’s how I want it done. Don’t just call and announce that you’re her long lost cousin. In fact, don’t tell her you’re her cousin until after you give her the box. Just contact her and make an appointment like you were making a sales call.”
Alex looked dubious. “I don’t know. I’m not sure how much flying her business requires.”
“Well, they do, ah, location shooting, don’t they? And I’m sure she has to travel for business sometimes, just like any other business owner. You’re the salesfur, sell her on the idea, at least enough for her to give the appointment.”
Alex was very unsure about his father’s plan. He didn’t like the idea of showing up under false pretenses. He also wasn’t crazy about walking into a porn studio. He thought about it for several minutes, finally coming to the realization that it would most likely be just like any other business, with a professional attitude and demeanor in the office areas. He’d be unlikely to encounter anyone of either sex walking around nude away from the sound stages.
“Okay. I don’t like the idea of deceiving her, but I’ll follow your plan.”
“No deception. Well, not much, anyway. You’re simply not telling her more than she needs to know until the time is right. Now, you don’t have to do this immediately. It can wait until . . . after. When you do, though, please read this to her before you say who you really are. Don’t open it before.”
Anton reached down beside the chair and brought out a sealed envelope, which he passed to Alex. Alex took it and looked it over. A plain, letter-sized envelope with a simple address typewritten on the front. To Zig Zag.
“I asked Talia, but even though her attitude toward our notorious cousin has softened, she emphatically said no to going to the studio.”
Alex looked at his father, trying to read the old tiger’s real intent in this. Anton now had a relaxed look, and Alex realized his father had just done the last thing he felt obligated to accomplish before he passed on.
“Yes Son, I’m ready whenever the Lord is now,” Anton said with a smile.
Alex nodded solemnly, and then stood and carried the box and his father’s letter to the spare bedroom and put them with his things. When he came back, Anton had drifted back to sleep. Alex sat back down to read, his thoughts melancholy about what he knew was coming. Blake, who had remained on the couch when Alex went to put the box away, looked up at him and gave a low, rather mournful murr.
“You said it, Blake,” Alex replied as he found his place in his book.
# # #
Sal looked up for the tenth time in as many minutes. His older brother was firmly ensconced in front of the computer, and he, Dan, and Andrew seemed to be at loose ends without it. They had planned to spend the evening working on projects for school, but Edonari, or Eddie as he preferred to be called, had gotten to it first, claiming homework needs, too. The three friends were occupying themselves with book work until their turn came.
Then, Sal’s mother called from the kitchen. “Sal, you and your friends come on in for a snack while Eddie finishes.”
Three books slammed closed and Sal, Dan, and Andrew quickly stood up to head for the kitchen. Just as he got to the door, Andrew heard someone call his name. He looked back to see Eddie motioning for him to come there. Andrew, a quizzical look on his face, walked back to the computer desk.
“Hey Andrew,” Eddie began, a sly-looking smile on his muzzle. “I need a paw here. I need to get on this website for school, to input something, but it won’t take my password.”
Andrew raised an eyebrow. Eddie had never spoken to him before, other than a semi-polite grunt. He looked at the screen and saw the familiar page of the Winchester Schools website.
“Huh, are you sure you typed it in right?” This response from Andrew brought a brief scowl to Eddie’s face, but he quickly put the smile back in place.
“Yeah, I’m sure. It just won’t accept it.”
“Ah.” Andrew smiled back as he remembered something that happened the week before. “Miss Willuns had the same thing happen last week. I watched what she did to fix it. Here.”
Eddie gave way as Andrew sat down. He backed out of the website and then reset the address to a different page. Once there he typed in the code that he’d seen the teacher use. A new page came up.
“There, now you can reset your password and then go back in like normal.” Andrew got back up and Eddie resumed his seat, grinning. Just then Sal called out from the kitchen.
“Hurry up, Andrew!”
“Be right there,” Andrew called back as he started for the kitchen. Eddie put a paw on his shoulder before he took a step.
“Hey thanks, Andrew. You’re okay. Uh, don’t tell Mom or Sal about this. Mom has a fit and Sal teases me a lot about forgetting passwords. They’d never believe me that it was a site problem. I’ll be outta here by the time you three get back in here, so it’s all yours then.”
“Thanks Eddie,” Andrew replied with a wide grin as he stepped on toward the kitchen.
Eddie turned back to the computer, the friendly grin he’d been wearing turning to a rather nasty expression.
“Now to work,” he muttered to himself as his paws began to fly over the keys.
# # #
“Sensei?” Tia said politely, bowing to the old snow leopard. Her class was over, and she’d been out front watching for her mother to arrive to take her home. The other’s had all gone, either walking home or picked up by their parents.
Izzy Quai turned to look at her. “Ah, Tia.”
He returned the bow and went on as they stood upright. “Is your mother running late? Do you need to call her?”
“Yes she is, and I already did,” Tia replied, holding up a cell phone her mother let her use for such circumstances. “She was caught in traffic around the I-64 construction. She’ll be here in about five minutes. I wanted to tell you something, though.”
“Oh? What is that?”
“Well, you know how those gang kids had quit hanging out across the street watching us when we came and went about two weeks after I started?”
“Yes, Shoop has said that they were occupied elsewhere in their, ah, turf, and had decided we weren’t a threat to them.” Izzy smiled, impressed with how easily the young rabbit had found out, “the word on the street.”
“I thought you should know they’re back. There are three of them now, and I recognize the jacket of one of them. They were hanging back in the alley, but I noticed them right away. They watched everyone leave. I didn’t feel comfortable waiting for Mom out there alone, so I stepped back inside and watched them through the door. As soon as everyone was gone, they stepped out and headed up the street. That’s the direction Trish goes when she leaves.”
Izzy was silent a moment, apparently thinking over Tia’s words. Then he put a paw on her shoulder.
“You have done very well, Tia. That was very observant of you, and coming back inside showed very good judgment. I shall call the police and advise them of the situation again. Meanwhile, I think it would be best if everyone stayed inside the dojo until their parents pick them up, or travel together or with a parent if they walk to class.”
Tia beamed, but then had to beat a hasty retreat as the horn from her mother’s minivan sounded outside. She bowed again quickly.
“Thank you, Sensei. I’ll see you next week.”
Izzy gave a slight bow and waved her on. “Next week. Be safe!”
Tia waved back and quickly disappeared out the door. Izzy sighed to himself after she was gone. It had been peaceful in the months since the street gang had turned its attention elsewhere. He wondered what could have brought his dojo back to their attention. He didn’t want trouble, but he was concerned it would find him, anyway. Finally he walked back toward his office to make the call to the police detective he’d spoken with the last time he’d reported gang activity on his street.
# # #
“Alex,” Talia called from the front door, “come here, please.”
Alex stood up from the chair beside his father’s bed and walked out to the front door. Talia was holding it open and a middle-aged opossum femme was standing on the porch.
“Alex, this is Mary Cornelieus.” Talia’s voice was tight as she made the introduction. “She’s with the Kanawha-Charleston Hospice.”
Alex nodded in as friendly a manner as he could. “Hello Mary, where’s Selma?”
The otter femme usually made the visits from the hospice, which had become more and more regular in the past few months. Mary’s friendly smile dimmed a bit.
“Selma doesn’t handle the final stage work too well, so when Talia told us Thursday that Anton was now bedridden, I was assigned to assist.”
Alex nodded as Talia invited the hospice volunteer inside. Anton had been too weak to get out of bed since Wednesday morning, and the pain had increased incrementally for the old tiger since then. He was at the limit of what pills could handle, and he’d been very restless all morning. It was a dreary, drizzly Autumn Saturday, and the weather outside fit the mood in the house.
“Anton is in here,” Talia said crisply as she led the way into Anton’s bedroom. Her eyes were quite red from crying, but she never let a sniffle out when she was where Anton could hear. She’d insisted on taking on all the physical aspects of Anton’s care, even to bedpan duty, leaving Alex to mostly sit and wait. He followed them in and laid a gentle paw on his aunt’s shoulder as Mary went about checking Anton’s vitals. The old tiger stirred, but didn’t wake up.
“I’m going to put in an IV, it’ll make it easier to administer the morphine. I think it’s time to start on it,” Mary began.
“He already has a port on his chest. Do you really need an IV?” Talia asked. She pulled down the blanket and pulled Anton’s shirt to the side to show the port Dr. Gailton had put in for chemotherapy. He’d left it in place in anticipation of injected painkillers being needed.
“Ah, then no, no IV. I’m going to give him a dose now, and he’ll probably need it from here on out. I’ll give you a dosage schedule and show you how to inject it. He’ll mostly sleep, but he may have moments of lucidity. He may also have times of hallucinations. Do you want me or someone from hospice to stay with you?”
Before Talia could answer, Alex asked, “How long now?”
Mary sighed. “A day, a week. Anywhere in between.”
Suddenly Anton opened his eyes.
“Hello,” he said in a low, weak voice. “Is it that close, that Selma isn’t here?”
“Hello Anton. I’m Mary,” the opossum replied, taking hold of Anton’s paw. “Yes, it’s getting close.”
Anton gave a slight smile and slowly shook his head. “There’s no need for you to stay. I think I’d prefer this to be private, with just Alex and Talia.”
“All right, Anton. Now, I’m going to give you a morphine shot, and then you’ll probably go back to sleep.”
Anton nodded again. Mary prepared the injection, showing Alex and Talia how it was done as she went. She then carefully injected it into the port on Anton’s chest. The older tiger visibly relaxed.
“Good stuff, that,” he mumbled as he drifted back to sleep. The opossum quietly put away her equipment, leaving a supply of syringes and morphine. Talia made sure the covers were up snug and leaned over, kissing Anton lightly on the forehead. She then took the seat Alex had been sitting in when Mary had arrived.
“I’m all done for now. Remember, no closer than two hours apart for the morphine. I’ll stop by again this evening to check on y’all,” Mary said as she made to leave.
“I’ll walk you out,” Alex replied.
The two left Talia gently stroking Anton’s hair as he slept. Once they were on the porch, Alex spoke.
“Thank you, Mary. He won’t say it, but he’s in so much pain now.”
“You’re welcome, and so is he. I lost my father and my husband to cancer. They . . . had very rough departures. If I can’t beat that enemy, the least I can do is help those who are going to go with a bit less pain and a lot more dignity. He’s a tough ol’ tiger. Many at this stage end up screaming and crying, even with the drugs.”
“Yes, he is,” Alex replied. “It’s his way not to want a big fuss.”
Alex’s voice nearly broke. Mary put a paw on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. No words were needed. Then she smiled.
“I’ll see you this evening.”
Alex nodded silently as she turned and walked out to the street, got in her car, and left. He stepped out into the front yard and let the rain dampen his fur. Then he bowed his head.
“Lord, just a while longer, I guess. Ease him home as gently as you can.”
After a moment, he took a deep breath. He felt a relaxed calm come over him. He nodded silently and headed back inside, intent on making the most of any time Anton might be awake.
# # #
Jenna reached for the phone, dread keeping her from answering until the fourth ring. It was Saturday afternoon, and someone might be calling for any number of reasons, but somehow the very tone of the ring said bad news.
“Hello, O’Whitt residence,” she answered hesitantly.
“Hi Jenna, it’s Alex.”
“Oh hi Alex. Uh, what’s up?” Her feeling of dread ramped up a few notches.
“It’s nearly time. I think you and the cubs should get ready to come on over.” Alex spoke this with the saddest tone Jenna had ever heard him use. She had known this time was looming closer, but now she felt her heart breaking again, almost as badly as when she’d been told about Jason.
"Ah, o-okay. We’ll be there. Ah! Oh no!”
“What?” Alex’s voice was full of concern.
“We, we can’t come until Monday. The youth are conducting the service at church tomorrow, and Tia and Andrew both have parts they have to do. Will, ah, will he still be with us Monday?”
Alex took a deep breath. “I don’t know. Mary from the hospice came by this morning and gave Dad some morphine for the pain. He’s had another one since. He’s so weak, and she said it could be anytime from now to a week or more.”
“Oh Alex, I don’t know if the cubs can be out of school that long.”
Alex thought a few seconds, considering what to tell his sister-in-law. “Come on Monday and stay a couple of days. Then if need be you can come back when . . . it happens.”
Jenna stifled a sniffle. “Ah, Okay. I guess that will work. Uh, I’ve got to call Jeremy and tell him I won’t be at work.”
“Fine,” Alex replied absently, but then he remembered he was talking to someone who also loved his father very much. “Jenna, it’s okay. He’s at peace with this. He even said he’d say hello to everyone on the other side.”
Jenna sniffled again, her eyes leaking down her muzzle. Finally she murmured, “I’ll see you Monday, Alex. I love you.”
“Love you too, Jen. Drive carefully.”
Jenna hung up the phone. Just then Tia walked in.
“Hi Mom . . . what’s wrong?”
Jenna looked at her daughter, at a loss for a few seconds.
“Tia,” she finally managed, “Grandpa is near the end. We’re going to West Virginia Monday for a few days.”
Tia’s eyes filled with tears now, too. She put her arms around her mother and hugged her tight. After a few moments, Jenna spoke.
“Andrew will be home in about an hour. We’ll tell him then. Plans haven’t changed for tomorrow.”
“*sniff* . . . All right, Mom. Will we, uh, will we be able to see Grandpa then?”
Jenna just shook her head, unable to say that she didn’t know if the old tiger would last until they could get there or not. For now, all she could do was hold on to Tia as mother and daughter comforted each other.
END OF CHAPTER 29