Freefall 1141 - 1150 (D)
Freefall 1141
Freefall 1142
Escape into the museum
Freefall 1143
After dinner thoughts
My parents are real space nuts. Out to the belt as soon as they got here. Have their own place now, a little asteroid they foamed over and hollowed out.
They drop in when they're planetside. Dad has to cook, Mom never got the hang of cooking with gravity. So, what were your parents like?
Which ones? My genetic parents, my gestational parent, or my adoptive parents?
You must have very interesting family reunions.
Freefall 1144
After dinner thoughts
My genetic parents were wolves in a zoo. I never met them, though I've seen their picture.
DAD
MOM
My gestational mother was a Saint Bernard. Her I got to meet. The trip to see her was my 14th birthday present.
I think she recognized me as her daughter. She was such a nice friendly dog, I didn't have the heart to tell her she drooled more than anyone I've ever met.
Freefall 1145
After dinner thoughts
My owner was really the one who raised me. Well, him and his parents, but mostly him.
Scott did so much to make my life easier. He even learned ventriloquism so he could teach me how to talk better.
Why would you need a ventriloquist to learn how to talk?
You try saying “Peter Piper” without any lips.
Freefall 1146
After dinner thoughts
What's the relationship between you and your owner?
It started off as a boy and his dog. Now it's more of a big brother/little sister thing.
With a screwy upbringing like that, the psychologists must love you.
Yes, but it's going to be even harder on the next generation.
They're going to be compared to us to see if they're normal.
I remember the Gunslinger Girl anime where the older brother/little sister couple are called fratello in Italian (Robot Spike)
Freefall 1147
After dinner thoughts
It should be easier for the next generation. They'll have adult wolves to raise them.
Yes, but they'll need human parents as well.
Children learn from watching their parents. There's not a lot of Bowman's Wolves. It's going to be more important for them to know how to get along with humans than with their own kind.
They'll still chase Frisbees, right?
Of course. Being part of human society doesn't mean we have to give up our own cultural identity.
Freefall 1148
After dinner thoughts
How is that going to work? You having kids?
Well, when the time is right, I have two cryogenically frozen samples…
No, I mean legally. You have an owner. What happens to your children?
Are you sure you don't want the biological side?
The legal side is full of lawyers and corporate interests and is real icky and disgusting.
I'm an adult. I'll take my chances.
Freefall 1149
After dinner thoughts
It's complex. Ecosystems Unlimited has patents on my genetic structure and all derivative products. Children are considered a derivative product.
Sheesh. Even in fairy tales, the lady gets a pot of gold or something before they try to take her first born.
I've been given hands, a mind, and access to the sum total of all human knowledge.
Under the circumstances, more useful gifts than gold, and they're non taxable.
Freefall 1150
After dinner thoughts
Through my owner, I've already bought my first child. It's a bit of a gamble. No one knows if we'll have single babies or litters or if we can have kids at all.
Sounds like you're going to be prepared.
I'll try
to be.
to be.
Though my adoptive mother has told me, when you have a puppy in your lap that suddenly begins to talk, you're never really prepared.