Of Cats and Men

[GrnRaptor]

Alan leaned back into his couch as Merlin wound down his tale. The story he had heard was incredible, and were it not for the fact that Merlin had in fact relayed it to him in person, not to believed. It was tale worthy of the Holo-tainment Devices that had begun filtering their way from the very same Gallia Merlin had fled from.

It was plain to the young Captain of the Navy that Merlin was earnest in his desire to stay in Liberty, and that the though of being dissected and experimented on was a horrifying prospect. Alan certainly had no wish to cause further harm to the furball, but he was almost as certain that the Liberty Security Force and other branches of military science would love nothing more than to find what made Merlin work. Any piece of Gallic technology that could be taken apart and looked as was; from recovered weapons, civilian entertainment and industrial products, and fuel samples, anything and everything was being investigated. The difference with Merlin was that he was a living, breathing entity with a mind wholly his own.

Alan frowned a bit as he looked at the feline on his coffee table, his heavy tail swishing back and forth slowly across the glass as he stared back. The utilitarian in Polstari argued strongly for simply turning the cat over to whatever Research and Development project would take him. Any edge that could be brought to bear against the oppressive military might that Gallia possessed would behoove the war effort immensely, and recreating automated animal warriors who could be used in place of Libertonian military personnel would be a huge boon. The part of Polstari that stood up for the bullied in school, who joined the Liberty Navy to uphold the value of individual against the oppressor, spoke more profoundly however. To turn over an intelligent being seeking refuge into an experiment would be to betray the very purpose for which he joined, and would make himself, and the Republic, no better than the beings and government from which Merlin had fled. No, Merlin deserved better than to be another experiment.

Leaning forward, Alan looked into Merlin's eyes and spoke. "Well, that's quite the tale you have there. I don't even know that I can process it all, to be honest. However, I think I might be able to help."

Alan could see the twinge of hope in Merlin's eyes, and took a moment to compose himself before continuing.

"Now, I can't completely guarantee that you won't have to submit to some type of inspection or examination-"

Merlin visibly winces a bit at this.

"However, I think I can guarantee that you won't be the subject of an off the books black listed project. What we need to do is to present you- well, as you. A being with thought and emotion and a desire to exist. Your story will go a long way to making this happen, and I think my testimonial to the time we've spent together will cement that. You may be required to do some work for the Republic, depending on what the immigration and security boards determine, but I think we're on the right path. You think you can work with that?" Alan finished.

Merlin sits still on the table, a clearly contemplative look in his eyes as he evaluates the young Captain's words.

"Miaou. Miiiaouu Miaaaoou," the feline intones softly.

"Yes. Yes I can," the translator rings out.

"I'm glad then, Merlin," Alan says as he picks up the empty fish can and stands up. "I'll address it first thing in the morning then."

Merlin merely purrs happily, his tail swishing litely across the table in response.

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