For the fun of it.

By Mr. David Reese Dorrycott

Alpha, Nancy & Songmark Characters Copyright Mr. Simon Barber.

Alpha Kirke Rote woke slowly the day after her wedding. As was her norm she took her time coming fully awake. For unlike most who woke slowly, with Alpha this was not from laziness. No, she was busy processing her dreams as she woke, insuring that she lost no possibly important data. She knew that there was information hidden within everyone’s dreams if one simply knew how to look for it. Alpha herself fully believed that she was very close to cracking that part of her minds secret code. Even as she woke fully Alpha remembered that there was something different in her life. A very good difference. With her, in her own bed, was the American squirrel Nancy Rote. ‘I am Mrs. Rote now’ Alpha reminded herself with deep pleasure. ‘Mrs Alpha Rote.’ It was still an odd sound to her, yet one she was happy to accept. She’d spent an hour yesterday morning while Nancy was with another new student doing nothing but writing her new name. A complete waste of valuable research time of course. Simply inexcusable. So what she had finally decided.

Still wrapped about her squirrel mate she ran yesterdays events through her mind. For outside it was many hours before dawn. Many hours the young shrew usually spent studying or experimenting. They had returned to Spontoon island just before dawn. There had been breaks in the squalls, yet neither had noticed as they were both sound asleep in the little crafts comfortable seats during their flight. It had been a long, eventful night after all. Perhaps a few early morning pedestrians had noted that strange manta shaped craft within the storms, yet it was there, then gone so very quickly. Refreshed from their naps Nancy had reminded Alpha that she had an appointment to meet Isabella to further investigate those strange carvings in ‘The Bowl.’ Promising at the same time to return within two hours.

“We must insure that all our paperwork is taken care of today.” the squirrel had reminded Alpha. “Especially with Songmark. It would not be very professional to spring such a change in our status upon them at the first class nor do I desire to hide our union.”

It was a good idea Alpha knew, for Nancy had a very important party planned for the morrow. That would make getting all their data filed even the more difficult. Getting data recorded quickly and stored in different places was a rule Cranium Island had learned the hard way. Backup your data three times was now the law on her homeland. Then put it in three very far apart places. Ignoring that law would insure no one would work with you. Worse, you would be cut off from all the support everyone’s laboratories depended upon. Support like the Telsa-Karnak energy beams. Alpha knew that her parents were even now on their way to Saint James to file the marriage paperwork. Two islands might lose the documents, three couldn’t. So Alpha had accepted quickly, under the condition that they bathe and change clothing first. Especially since both were still in their wedding dresses at the time.

Nancy had returned within two hours, flush with excitement about yet another hidden block of stone. “Rubbing will be better” she had explained. “Photography wouldn’t give you the detail you need. Oh Alpha, its so beautiful.”

She remembered answering Nancy with some unimportant word or two, entranced watching as her wife undressed to change into more acceptable clothing. Nancy’s fur was perfect and even though Alpha knew where to look, those slave tattoo’s were invisible under that thick rich coat. Mother had wanted to measure Nancy, to experiment even though she had agreed not to.

“Dear Alpha, she is such a healthy specimen. We do not often get such healthy females here. Certainly not as intelligent as your Nancy. Please. It will be only one experiment, to set a baseline.”

Alpha had always deferred to her mother but she had seen what happened to some of her test subjects. “If you touch her” Alpha remembered threatening. “I will experiment upon you mother.”

“You would not. Not your own mother.”

“I will mother. I swear it upon Fleeming Jenkin’s thick beard that I will.” That had been enough for her mother. There would be other times of course, by then though Alpha hoped that she would have trained Nancy enough not to trust her mother-in-law. Certainly Nancy was a prime specimen, her muscles were well defined yet not overly developed. There was soft fat in the very right places and she was so intelligent. Alpha sighed as she just watched Nancy breath. ‘She’s all mine’ the shrew had reminded herself.

On the water taxi to Meeting Island Alpha had kept noticing that their pilot was watching her carefully. So carefully in fact that he once almost struck another boat on the way. When she mentioned this to Nancy the squirrel only squeezed her paw in a comforting manner, saying softly “I know.” Somehow, Alpha wasn’t certain exactly how, they made it to the dock alive though Alpha dearly wished she could examine that amulet their pilot kept rubbing. Perhaps another time she decided. She would be here three years, that would be plenty of time to search out all of Spontoon’s secrets. After all, how many could there be. It was such a primitive island.

“Record you wanna file” a rather tall ostrich asked when their turns in line came.

“Marriage certificate” Nancy had announced, though her voice wasn’t quite as loud as normal. Alpha mistakenly thought that she knew why. It was still hard for her to realize they were a legal couple. Bound for three years at least, for life the little shrew hoped. For Nancy was not only a beautiful woman, but a very intelligent one as well. That was more important to the shrew than simple beauty. For Nancy the realization that she was married must have been just as overwhelming.

“Copy” the agent had asked in the same tone of voice. “An fifty shells, unless your native.”

“No. We are not natives I am afraid” Nancy had admitted as she opened her purse. “We’re just Songmark students. Ah” she laid fifty shells on the counter. Two twenties and two fives Alpha noted, filing that information away. Fifty shells, fifty American Dollars, 100 Cranium Comets. It was a great deal of money. More than Alpha herself had.

Now interested the ostrich took their Cranium Island licenses in paw, checking that it was correctly filled out. His beak had dropped wide open as he read where it was from. “Both students” he asked next, though there seemed to be an odd squeak in his voice now.

“Yes sir. We start with the next class, is that a problem sir?”

“No. None. Please wait, I’ll be right back.”

Nancy had looked down at her shorter mate, smiling at Alpha. True, with her looks Nancy could have gotten anyone. But somehow she’d ended up not with the zebra stallion she ofttimes dreamed of but a strange woman of somewhat plain looks from an even stranger island. Even if it was for only three years, it still seemed unreal. Somehow she felt things had simply gone to far too fast. Maybe. What she hadn’t known was that Alpha, looking up into her lovers face, had very much wanted to do something right then and there. Something that would have gotten them both arrested.

About fifteen minutes later the same ostrich returned, an odd look on his face now. “Photographed, registered and official ladies” he announced, carefully stamping their original document in an open spot. “That will be two shells.”

“But you said” Nancy started, only to have the clerk shake his head no.

“A simple mistake on my part. Here is your receipt and your change. May you two have a long path before you. Always together in happiness, always. Next.”

After that they had left the building, en-route now to Songmark and that looming disaster. As they walked Nancy had surprised Alpha by abruptly bending down and kissing her. “For no reason” the squirrel had explained. “I just wanted too.”

Dreamy eyed Alpha could only giggle in response. They had a new taxi to Songmark, yet like the first, this wolf too kept fingering an amulet about his neck. Though it seemed funny at the time, she had simple leaned against Nancy. Alpha remembered spending the entire trip simply enjoying being with her wife. When Alpha met Miss Devinski though, she much wished she had one of those amulets. Perhaps a gross dozen.

“I see” the Labrador had said upon hearing the girls situation, as though by those two words alone all was explained. “Why me” she had asked the air before her. “Of course, you will wish to be assigned to the same dorm.”

“Please no Miss Devinski” Nancy had answered, for Alpha had agreed that Nancy, with more social experience in such things, should lead. Certainly in public. “We honestly feel that if we were in the same dorm that we would both fail.”

“Oh?” Miss Devinski was at the moment sitting behind a rather impressive native carved desk. Her two visitors were, as all Songmark girls within an instructors office, standing. “And how may I ask, would that happen?”

“Um...” Nancy had sucked in her lower lip (though truth be told, it would have been near impossible for the squirrel to suck on her upper lip, unlike Alpha herself.)

“Beyond the blatantly obvious waste of study time” Miss Devinski had continued, causing both girls to blush heavily.

“Wewouldleanoneachothertoomuch” Alpha answered. “Whentestedseperatlywewouldbothfail.”

Unlike most people Miss Devinski did not ask Alpha to repeat herself, only slower. She simply looked straight at the shrew. “Mrs Rote” she announced sharply, and though there were two Mrs. Rote’s in the room there was no question at this moment as to whom she was addressing. “When I wish an answer from you. I will most certainly call upon you. Is that understood?”

“Fully” Alpha answered in a much quieter voice, swallowing while unconsciously trying to hide behind her larger mate. It was like meeting one of the ancient ones she thought, staring into those eyes. Miss Devinski abruptly frightened the Cranium Island born and raised shrew. A shrew who had seen things that would have sent any non-mad scientist completely insane.

“She is right” Nancy had admitted, herself unconsciously moving to cover her smaller mate, protecting her from what she herself perceived was a possible threat. “We would lean upon each other. In doing such is both strength and weakness.”

Miss Devinski leaned back in her chair with a sly smile upon her face. “Tell me Little Mrs. Rote, how can such a thing be both? It isn’t logical, is it?”

Not really wanting to, Alpha had found herself edging away from Nancy’s protection, though grateful that, for the first time in her life, someone wanted to protect her. With an effort of will she had slowed her normally rapid fire speech. Rising her arms above her in a V, with her fingertips just touching she explained. “Two stones Miss Devinski. By leaning on each other, are stronger than alone” she answered, an image of two tall crystal stones in her own mind, each leaning upon the other, unconsciously speaking of them as if they were real. “By doing so, should one of fall the other could never stand alone.” Saying this Alpha moved her arms slightly, allowing her fingertips to slip away from contact. Her arms fell across her chest, indicating such a fall before she placed her paws again at her sides.

“So then” the Labrador paused, studied her two new students. “You feel that by building a separate foundation for yourselves, should one fall the other will be completely unaffected?” She was still talking to Alpha both noted. Though Alpha didn’t know why, Nancy had abruptly understood the reason. Alpha thought not in symbols or words, but in images. She now understood what was going on. Miss Devinski was trying to find out just how well Alpha’s odd mind really worked.

“No Mam” Alpha remembered answering. She was in her element now, defending her own theory. “You see Mam. Please remember I have little data currently, thus my theory is not unshakable. If I correctly understand this, we are not going to be building separate foundations. Each a foundation for our stone to stand alone upon. But one wide, deep foundation, to hold both stones. Both of us. We are stronger by being apart for a time than together always.”

“Why is that” the hound asked, a twinkle in her eyes.

“Because Mam. When we need too, we will see things differently. Approach things differently. Where one of us will be weak at that moment, the other will be strong. We will compliment each other in ways that, at this moment, neither of us are capable of imagining.”

“Very good little Mrs. Rote. And you Mrs. Rote, the apparent dominate of this pair. What are your thoughts?”

Alpha remembered those words now as though Nancy were saying them still. “We cannot know what will be our future Miss Devinski. By taking separate paths now, when we do arrive at our destination we will be the best we could possibly be. We may remain together only the three years of Songmark as is our current agreement or we may decide to remain together for life. That final decision has yet to be made. Has yet to even be considered. It cannot even be considered until we near final graduation.”

“Not quite as eloquent as your little wife” Miss Devinski admitted. “Yet good enough. Very well. You will be placed in different dorms as you desire. Neither of you will be allowed to know even your own scores. Not until the end of each year. We have never had a married couple in Songmark. You are a first so I will make another first. Should one of you fail, or quit the other automatically fails. Whatever the reason. Are you up to this challenge? Are you up to placing your fate, your future into the paws of another?”

“If we do not accept, we will not be accepted in Songmark. Will we” Alpha had asked.

“Correct. Though not because you are married, but because you did so without the permission of your guardians. That would be us, wouldn’t it?”

Nancy and Alpha had looked at each other in stunned silence. Miss Devinski was absolutely right. They had forgotten in their haste what their legal status currently was. Songmark truly had the right to allow, or disallow a marriage. A students only other option would be to quit, a very hard choice to make when one considered just how difficult the path was simply to be considered for Songmark. Alpha was humiliated, she would never have done something like this to her parents. Yet legally, she had just done so to her guardians even though school had not yet formally started. Her right paw found Nancy’s left, was almost instantly crushed by the larger squirrels paw.

“We apologize Miss Devinski” Nancy had said. “That may mean nothing to you, still in truth it is all we can say. If you wish, we will dissolve our marriage.”

“Nancy...” Alpha had cried is shock, in fear, then sobbed as she agreed. “We will dissolve our marriage” she managed through her tears. “I will inform my parents immediately.”

“Yet you still hold each others paws” the Labrador noted. “No young ladies, you have made an error in judgement. Songmark exists to train you never to act without thinking ahead. Without considering all the options available to you. Had you asked, of course we would have refused. Not because it is against any rule or we are against such pairing. But because it would, and will drastically affect your training, your learning experience. As it is too late to change what is, you will be treated much stricter than the average student. That difference is as I have already said. Should one of you fail or quit, for any reason then the other will find herself outside Songmark’s gates as quickly as she can be frog marched out by a dorm of third years.”

Miss Devinski had taken a drink of water then, at least it had looked like water. Alpha was certain, having experienced the woman’s personality this much, that it could just as easily have been boiling hydrofluoric acid.

Setting down her glass Miss Devinski had continued. “You will both arrive for class on the day indicated, together. Throughout your years here, you will never remove those rings even if your marriage fails. From the moment that you step through Songmark’s gates that morning you will not touch each other. Not while on Songmark grounds. Nor will you have any contact with each other except when classes are together, or you are on pass. You may send messages to each other of course, and talk when your classes are together off Songmark property. Such as for traveling to someplace by boat, but not when visiting Song Sodas. That too is considered Songmark property. Denying you that little would be too cruel punishment. It would guarantee the failure of your marriage, your failure of our courses.”

She paused again to think. “Ladies, should you abuse those rules and be caught I will make harsher rules for you.” She stood then, an impressive figure of a woman both girls realized. “On pass you will be as you are so painfully obviously meant to be. You will work together, adventure together, chat about classes or find a secluded stretch of beach. This will be a further strain for the both of you, not being able to be together on Songmark property, yet free to do so when off. I understand this. And as I said, I am binding you. Should one fall, both fall. Or, you may withdraw your applications right now. I know of two English sisters currently breaking their tails for starvation wages that will be here in a second to take your places, under even harsher rules.”

Nancy had then stood straighter than Alpha had yet seen her, pulling the shrew closer to her with their linked paws. “Alpha Rote will not be retracting her application Miss Devinski. Nor will I. We accept your challenge, and we choose to remain married.”

“Very well. Nancy. When last we spoke you mentioned you had turned away from your God. Have you chosen a new path yet?”

“No Mam. I am still working on that problem. I may go back, it has not turned out to be an easy problem to solve. I must be honest with you Miss Devinski, this is a problem that much vex’s me. One I am having a great deal of trouble dealing with.”

“I see. And you Alpha?”

“My church, as you understand such, is Science” the shrew explained. “On these islands the closest thing to that is, oddly, your native religion. But we are out of phase.”

“Explain.”

“Please. Think of two sine waves, 29 degrees out of phase with each other. When one pushes the other pulls, sometimes. Sometimes they both pull, or push, or sort of push-pull. It’s a mess, impossible to control or understand.” She remembered blushing in embarrassment. “And. Well. I don’t think they trust me either.”

Miss Devinski actually laughed, catching both young girls by surprise. “A full blooded, card carrying, Cranium Island Mad Scientist who married a woman she knew less than a week and you THINK they don’t trust you? Alpha my dear, that’s like saying you think it might be a bad idea to light a match in a boiling petrol tank.”

“Oh.” Alpha had looked up into Nancy’s eyes. “I’m in real trouble, aren’t I?”

Miss Devinski’s next words kept Nancy from answering. “Mrs. Rotes, I will promise you but one good thing. That when I have time I will talk to a Priestess of some patience. Perhaps she will help Alpha understand. Help her keep from making a mess of both your lives. Now, by the still damp ink of your marriage certificate I don’t think you’ve really had time to celebrate. I strongly suggest the Double Lotus. It is on Casino Island. Your license will remain here. Do not worry, it will go into your records for safekeeping. Believe it or not you will have some advantages by being married. Off Songmark property. When you do attend the Lotus, insure that you leave together. Dismissed.”

Following their future instructors advice they had gone to the Double Lotus to celebrate. My, remembered Alpha, what a party that had been. She had never been in a bar, had barely tasted alcohol and that being the medical grade grain spirits in her own laboratory. When word had gotten around that there were two brand new Songmark girls in the Lotus heads had turned. When Alpha had innocently explained to another shrew who had approached her that she and Nancy were celebrating being just married it was like a bomb had gone off. First absolute silence, followed by an explosion of voices and actions.

Even now Alpha could still see the women standing around Nancy, trying to get her attention while several others kept badgering herself. Wanting to know just how she had not only found such a delightful creature, but married her within less than a week of doing so. Alpha had found herself completely out of her element, and when Nancy, quite inebriated by all the toasting, mentioned that they needed to get home she had been more than willing. It was the choirs below their window of drunken women’s voices singing bawdy songs until midnight that had made sleeping impossible.

Not that either of them were interested in sleeping. Alpha had accidently discovered that though Nancy was so authoritive, so well in command in public in bed she was completely the opposite. Once Alpha had asserted herself. It was as though two people lived within one body, the authoritive Nancy vanished as soon as Alpha touched her. Alpha now led and Nancy eagerly followed. It had been a dream night. A night the shrew had dreamed of many times in the last few years but never with a woman.

Now Alpha lay here in the darkness, pressed hard against her mate. ‘I’m in no fantasy land here’ she thought as she watched the squirrels chest rise and fall slowly, watched as Nancy breathed in her sleep. ‘Three years, then she will throw me aside like a cracked crystal. Used up, no longer of any use to her. Even though I love her with all my heart, I’m not the one she wants in her life. I know that. I understand that. Even so, I’ll make these the most wonderful three years she will ever in her life have. And.. Miss Devinski. She took for granted we went to Cranium Island, and returned in one day. Just what detection equipment do these instructors have at their disposal.’

That thought brought another smile to the shrews face. Cranium Island. Her home. Nancy had wanted to see all of it. So before the wedding Alpha had given her the quick tour. Explaining that their power was provided by Professor Rictor, was picked up with special parabolic antenna, the power stored in Professor Narnocks accumulators until needed. She remembered how disgusted Nancy had been by the organic farm. “But Nancy” she had explained. “On Cranium Island a lot of things you eat react with stomach acids. You wake up in the morning your suppers breakfast. It just isn’t safe to eat what grows here. At least, not in the areas we have access too.”

Nancy though had turned away, disgust on her face. “Its gross Alpha. Its slime, algae, mold. How can you stomach that garbage.”

“There are other things too” Alpha had tried to explain. “Nancy, if I ate anything else, there is a 27.08 percent chance that my body would be the host of a new life form by morning. You too. I’m not talking about dysentery or vomiting, I’m talking about watching as your own stomach expands in hours as though you were pregnant, then ripping open by lunchtime as some creature crawls out, turning to eat the rest of your still living body. Cranium Island isn’t safe even when you know what to watch out for. Why, 63.16 percent of the people who live here die within a few years. Some just hours after arriving.”

“So, your saying that I’m going to die here” Nancy had asked.

“No Nancy. Anything, one or creature that harms you becomes my experimental animal. I made that clear when we arrived. As long as you do what I say, your perfectly safe.”

Nancy had looked back at those vats. “How can you stomach that filth” she asked, changing the subject.

“Its kinda easy. After final processing we let it age a few months. Its quite tasty by then. Honest. Just. Well its boring eating the same thing time after times. That is why when we get food shipments from outside we usually have a party.”

Nancy had giggled. “I can just see your idea of a party” she had explained. “Sitting around a table, examining each new type of food. Weighing it, testing its smell, color, only then taking a tiny taste, recording everything as you do so.”

“That’s about right” Alpha had admitted, surprised by the look of disbelief on her wife to be’s face. “Almost exactly that. You’d make a good scientist you know.”

“Then there isn’t much difference between how a detective works and how a Scientist works is there” Nancy had asked.

“I don’t know. How does a Detective work?”

They had gone on from there, eventually arriving in Alpha’s private lab. Nancy had been awed by the massive equipment freestanding in the shrew laboratory. Massive Jacobs Ladders apparently connected to nothing merrily danced along, their sparks rising slowly to crackle away at the top. Huge slabs of carefully split mica were connected to various devices while in the very middle of that room was a metal circle, a five pointed star within it.

“Are you a witch” Nancy had asked.

“I am a scientist” Alpha remembered correcting. “My line of research is those forces people call the occult. I’ve had some successes, but more failures. No Nancy I am no witch to be burned at the stake for not believing a particular book. Be careful and don’t get too close to those coils, otherwise it is quite safe in here. All the power is off because I’m going to Songmark. It isn’t safe to leave certain equipment running you understand.”

“Off. But these things are obviously running” the squirrel had remarked, pointing to the Jacobs Ladders.

Alpha had laughed. “Nancy, it is impossible to shut off that kind of equipment. In any case, all it is for is to confirm we are getting broadcast power here. Like a fuel meter, it simply registers power available.”

“Broadcast.. Power. How?”

“Beyond me” the shrew admitted. “That is Professor Rictors department. He generates it as a side effect of his accumulator experiments. Here everyone helps everyone else. We couldn’t get any work done otherwise.”

“Does it reach far?”

“I think that, with a three meter parabolic antenna, I might be able to run a few tiny lights at Songmark. Nancy, available power drops off radically with distance. Here I can draw a mega-amp at nine hundred volts. At Songmark. Let me think. Songmark is exactly...” Her mental calculations had taken some time, “Two volts, a quarter of an amp, at best. With a three meter parabolic antenna. Much beyond Songmark, not enough to make a difference from natural background static.”

“That was a really complex calculation, wasn’t it” Nancy had asked.

“Not really. I’ve been doing math like that in my head since I can remember. Its faster than pencil and paper.”

“Okay. Say, what are these big mica slabs for?”

“They project whatever I’m thinking if I wear that helmet over there. Father designed it, I helped build it. That was before my brother was taken. I use it to see how a design will look. Sometimes” her voice had dropped “I look at my brother. I miss him.”

Nancy had walked over to the helmet, studying its design. “It can see memories?”

“Whatever is in the wearers mind” Alpha remembered saying, wishing now she could take back those words.

Picking up the device Nancy settled it on firmly her head. “Show me. Please?”

Like an idiot, a baby, Alpha remembered agreeing. Remembered bringing up the power, pre-warming her amplifier tubes, adjusting her device until an image formed. “That’s Creekside” Nancy had explained, wonder in her voice. Abruptly the image changed. A very impressive zebra appeared. Nancy watching him walk out to his car, then walking down a hallway. A kitchen, then nothing.

“Why can’t I remember” Nancy had cried.

“Doctor Wintergreen thinks that the mind is like a secretary” Alpha had answered. “It listens, then writes things down. If something happens while it is listening it never gets written down. We have no memory of that event. We never can.”

“But. I can remember this” Again the screen changed and, against her desires Alpha watched. Watched Nancy’s abuse, her fall, her destruction. Sobbing in pain she had shut off the machine, throwing herself against the Squirrel. “No one will ever do that to you again” she had cried. “I swear it. On my life I swear it.”

Nancy had taken her in her arms, still wearing the device she had kneeled down, that act putting Alpha’s head above her own. Alpha lifted the device, putting it aside. “Such terrible memories” she had cried.

“I am alive. I survive. I am with you” Nancy had whispered. “Do I really need anything else?”

“A reason to live?”

Nancy had sighed, leaning harder against Alpha. “I have you” she whispered.

Later they had left Alpha’s laboratory, both now somehow closer, yet neither really knowing why. Soon they had been surrounded by well wishers, many friends of Alpha’s, some competitors even a few somewhat active enemies. On Cranium Island though there were very few marriages for simple love, so even the most deadly enemy left behind his mind numbing drug, her poison lipstick, his disintegration ray in order to be part of the community.

In truth, the life of a Mad Scientist was a lonely one. Whenever possible even the vilest of such would gladly set aside his or her plans to become Evil Overlord of the Universe long enough to enjoy a real party. Thus apprentices or trusted Lackeys watched over glowing, throbbing masses. Not knowing exactly what to expect. More than one Scientist would return to discover that someone had allowed curiosity to get the better of them. Then, lackeys were cheap, weren’t they?

It had been a wonderful party, much like those old world get together’s. Of times before the villagers had come in their masses, pitchforks and torches in paw to burn out their betters. Why, even precious champaign brought over from France herself was uncorked. Alpha was getting married, to a normal. A normal that loved her, wasn’t cowered by her, threatened, blackmailed or mind controlled. Of all the impossibilities a Normal had fallen in love with a Mad Scientist of her own free will. Truly this had been a night of celebration.

Many a scientist careful noted everything they saw and heard. If such a rank beginner as young Alpha had so easily captured the heart of a Normal then perhaps the world was changing. If not, if this were what they suspected, this information could become the bases of theory. Then theory into a new weapon. A weapon to turn all normals hearts towards them. And if not all normals, well there were quite a few movie stars with rather rabid fans among Cranium Islands elite.

Alpha put all that behind her now. She had so few days left before school started. Miss Devinski had obviously been angry yet she had controlled that anger as easily s Alpha could control a memory crystal. If only she could learn that control. To channel her thoughts along a single line instead of many. She would become the greatest Mad Scientist on this world Alpha decided. Finished with her thoughts Alpha did something she had never done before, even when ill. Laying her head on Nancy’s chest, pushing her nose just under the squirrels neck, into Nancy’s wonderful scent the shrew soon fell asleep again. Her small paws still holding Nancy’s own larger ones tightly behind her back. As she fell asleep again their tails gently linked.