Nikki smiled a bit "Yes Doc there is.  Haley would like to ask you something.  I told her you need to approve it first" she said. She nudged Haley.
Haley stood next to Nikki gave a big swallow before speaking "Dooctor Christie.  I spoke wiff Nikki and I would like to raise the snittens if you please." she then smiled a bit and continued "A'hm a bit bigger now and so are they.  Nikki thinks that ?A'hm ready to handle the .." she shut her eyes a moment to recall the word "Ree-sponz-ah-bill-ah-tee.  A'hm real good wiff animals.  Ah was born on a farm an help in the farm area here.  A'hd like to try if you say yes.  Also talk wiff you if A'h run into problims" She stood tall as she ask him.

Henry beamed.

"Well, Haley, that would be a big help. They'll soon be ready to leave their Mom, Friday, but they still will need to be taken care of... and I was wondering who I was going to be able to persuade to take them on. If you will, with Nikki's help, that would be marvellous. Have you ever kept a pet before?"

When Doc Christie asked if she had taken care of an animal before she looked at him with a look of surprise.  "Doc?  Ah'm a Farm girl!  Of course, I can handle animals.  Even on the farm here I can get all the animals in line.  I can get that bull down there to walk with me and not get ornery" in her strong southern voice.  It was true she had very good talents when it came to critters.  Still her tone came out a bit more...'are you kidding, I got this' tone.  Haley smiled.  "Nikki said Ah got to take care of them iffen Ah do this.  But if something is heavy Ah might need help"
"I also want to be sure they are safe for her to be around them.  If they bite her or scratch her, she is not going to have some strange reaction.  I thought they were a bit poisonous" Nikki stated.

Henry grinned.

"That's good... as long as you can provide a loving home. Keeping farm animals is more... utilitarian. The animal is there for a purpose. Naturally, they respond to kindness in their care and it's an obligation to look after them well. The briss don't seem to be venomous but it always pays to be careful. You'd best come through and take a good look at them."

He led Haley and Nikki through to their area. Friday raised her head and looked at the visitors, but the snittens were playing, chasing each other around the pen.

Haley looked and watched how they played she smiled and looked at Doc Christie then back.  not super-fast she did stick her hand in when both looked their way.  Haley put it under the cage bedding and then like a mouse she moved it sideways then back, then forward again.  she immediately saw both become interested.  "Hey cuties" she cooed and bounced her fingers a bit.  Katrina was obviously a bit braver and came close.  Haley lifted her fingers for her to sniff "You remember my scent, right?" her voice soft and kind.  Katrina let out a little trill noise, then Khan came forward to sniff.  By now Haley was stroking the black and blue fur on Katrinas throat area.  suddenly Katrina turned upside down in delight, a bit submissive if she was a full Earthen cat.  Haley reached in with her other hand and let it go low and let Khan come to her.  in moments he was not only in her hand but up at her shoulder sniffing her hair.  she reached and scratched his head "Like hanging out high, don't you?" He moved to the top of her head, making a mess of her hair.  Katrina began to climb on her arm.  Haley supported her as she turned a bit towards the doctor.
"She is a natural Doc.  I have a feeling she might a xenobiologist when she grows up...or maybe a xeno-veterinarian.  she charmed a wild Berefak not to long ago, had it eating out of her hand"
Haley continued playing with the snittens.  She moved in a way that gently she got them to do what she wanted them to do, to sit on either of her shoulders.

Henry reached in and lifted Friday out, looping her around his neck... noticably heavier than the snittens, she still fitted well like a fat furry scarf.

"They quite enjoy riding like this, although I've not tried it with both at the same time."

Friday nuzzled his ear.

"Now then, Friday. Hayley here has offered to take care of Katrina and Khan. Are you all right with that?"

Friday started to purr. Ut seemed that she did approve!

"Well, Im out voted." she looked at Doc Henry "It's not that I don't like them, I do.  However for me, pets were not something I needed to get daily business done" She remembered finding the two with a dead third sibling back on Roussa.
Haley spoke up "So I will need food, a area to turn to bed for them, few toys, maybe a high tree, dishes.  make sure they have shots and such." she scratched her head a moment "Am I missing anything Doc Henry"

"Make sure they have a place to use as a rest room, too. Here we've fixed up an area that's used by all the animals who are not in cages. The briss are normally let to roam although Friday likes the enclosure - here they have a litter tray, so there's just one bit to keep clean for them. The snittens usually use it, they are getting better at such things."

Henry went over to a terminal.

"Here - I've put all that we know about briss on this disc for you. You'll probably be adding to it soon. They mostly like white meat and fish and aren't too fond of vegetables. Khan, however, likes eating fruit - oranges and apples. You might want to keep trying both of them with a variety, see if you can widen their horizons."

"Good thing our bathrooms are fairly big.  There are clamps I can get from the QM and set up some platforms and such for them.  We can set doors to stay open in my quarters I will of course help where needed" she was not going to let Haley handle things too heavy or in appropriate.  "Do they like water?  like bath water or showers?" Nikki continued. Haley looked at the list and listened as Khan decided he wanted to sit back up on her head again.

"They drink water but don't seem to enjoy washing much. Friday has been seen to enjoy a warm bath, the snittens didn't. None of them like being sprayed, so probably not showers."

Henry looked at Friday, who had nudged him rather frimly.

"Friday seems concerned. I think she would like to see them quite frequently. You are welcome to come around whenever convenient."

He stroked Friday and she settled some.

"Well, she seems like one that would like havin' others about.  And I like Friday too." Haley said.
"I think it can be arranged.  I think though for a bit to leave them here and we can 'snitten style' the quarters first.  Have Doc Henry check and see if it works.  Then we can gather them.  plus we can bring Friday so she can get a scent path if she gets loose and feels a need to visit" she looked at Henry then shrugged a bit "Can't hurt.  used to do the same thing back on the farm"
Haley looked at the adults and finally got Khan to get off her head and Katrina to move so both ere in the enclosure.  She then carefully reached out to Friday and scratched her ruff.
Nikki spoke again "By the way which snitten is which?" pointing between the nearly identical snittens.
Haley smiled "Khan has the most black in the face.  Katrina has like the silvery blue over her eyeballs, cheek strips are bigger and under her chin.  Khan just has the cheek strips, but he has the bluer scales."

"That sounds like a plan," said Henry. He tried to put Friday down but she was having none of it and clung on tightly, making a strange chirping sound he'd never heard from her before.

ooc: sorry keeping you waiting, on trip no internet access

bic:
"What's with her?  or Him?" not knowing which sex Friday was.
Haley stroked Friday trying to get a feel of what was wrong.  She wondered too.  Perhaps she was wondering if Friday might be lonely if they left.

Henry nuzzled Friday, calming her.

"I think she's scared of being abandoned, cast off... what the youngsters call serted," said Henry.

"Just make sure that you, Katrina, and Khan come to visit frequently."

"Well, this is one of the places thee kids like to go when we are away.  Plus, I also think they are a bit ...young to be alone totally" Nikki spoke "Plus getting things ready will take some time, so they are not leaving right now" She reached out and gently gave Friday a light skritch "Oh Friday, they will not be gone for long.  Perhaps the Doctor will bring you to my quarters and you can see their home as well." she smiled softly.  She thought a moment.  "Maybe If you approve, Friday might come as well.  Even injured, if what we used to call 'cat runs', she could still move about quite easily"  privately thinking...okay, three now.

Henry didn't want to part with Friday, but animal welfare came first.

"She might like that. Since she was injured, all she's been able to do is look after Katrina and Khan. It's given her a purpose that she didn't have when I found her."

"Then it is time to teach her she can play too....So Haley care to try your hand at 3?" she looked at the girl.
"I think so...Friday is cool and I don't think she would like being lonely.  I know I don't" she continued petting all 3 Briss.  All 3 ecstatic at the rubs.
"3 it is then.  But can you give me a few days to help get my place Briss approved?" She smiled at the doctor.

"Of course. But I shall be busy here too. I hear that we shall be welcoming some more largs, so we'll have to expand their area. It's probably best that Friday will be leaving too, although I shall miss her. Having the briss compartment free means I can separate largs if there is any early quarrelling as they settle in."

Henry continued to fuss Friday, who was clinging tightly around his neck. A bit too tightly, really.

"Loosen up, girl, you don't have to go anywhere yet."

He unwound her and put her back in the enclosure. He showed Haley where she had an injured leg and how to massage it.

"I have some linement that seems to ease it when it aches. You just rub it in here... and here. Wash your hands afterwards... and don't rub your eyes until you have, it'll make them burn."

 Can  came out of  his rom  and Looked  at  all the people,are they taking they  Briss away?

  Val came out of the  Lab holding her   COm ,Henry?.. The  Nivairans  are sending a teransportbase  to join the Fleet... it   will have thier LArg and Wort  units on... It is under the  assumption, that the  LArg  and Wort Units  will be practicing  on Bura  for   10 hour  training Mission... The Nivarians  are  expressing concern, how  are units  will interact with thier...

she looked  around a bit awkwardly...They  recounted Larry  killing one of those Massive Stud Largs on Aqra, and challenging another  on  Vera?...and? they still accuse of of stealing the Largs  we have now, along with Disna  and Puskie...but the LArg Masters have been entered on the Hermes Rolls?

she held out the COM to henry.

Haley studies Friday and let the other to go back to playing together.  She gently massaged Fridays injured limb "It's okay Friday.  all creatures deserve the best life they can, no matter the ob..ob..shoot problems they gots" as she helped her back to her perch to watch the other two.
As Can came in and Vals call it seemed the Doc was going to be busy for a bit.  Nikki smiled "Well we will let you know when were done and ready for inspection, it may be after Bura I think before it's all done up.  Haley can come here and learn a bit more on handling as I deal with the QM and such, plus any surprises" she nodded "Until then we'll see you a bit later and figure out what Hack and others are doing" referring to the background news reports and overheads.  "I think I heard a 24 hour shore leave on Bura.  be perfect for Izzy and Lizzy's wedding.  as well as I heard there was a small carnival or some such" Nikki knew that would get Haleys attention too. "We'll chat later" as both waved and exited his lab.

===> QM

"Excuse me..."

Henry took the com, but his son came first.

"Can, Haley wants to adopt the snittens and Friday wants to stay with them. They won't be far off."

He turned his attention back to the com.

"Doctor Christie here, how may I be of service?"

  Hello?  I am Larg Master General Wikiss of the Nivarian Marines?....  I was told to Contact you, Or SM  Spencer about  your LArgs. We will be having a Join  operation in the  wilds, the First day of your docking?.. it  should be anywhere from 8nto 10 hours...it  will involve al the LArg Units  from the fleet..the  new  Units   aboard the  Newest  Transport base that should be linking up with the Fleet as we  speak.... The  operation will entail, Largs...Worts  and the Naragrains  with their Gava  support units...i

he cleared his throat,wanted to make certain that there is no problems between our  Units  and yours?... i have several accounts on my Desk of   your Alpha  Killing  one of our Massive Stud  Largs, and the  'defection' of two larg masters  to  The Hermes  along with thier Largs..  I cannot  do  anything  about the Defection, because your Admiral powered through  the paperwork to make them ESN Transfers....

Huffing a bit,I would prefer you  'LC Shadow' to stay away, as he seems to encourage your Alpha into disrespect of  our  Alpha's and Primes....If Possible, and he has the Time, Having  SM spencer there, for  an hour or so , for him and you, to see how  ...WE...handle our  animal  assests?

"We have developed larg training and handling methods of our own, based on the innate intelligence of the largs. As I recall, a Nivaran Alpha attacked one of Larry's pack, and Larry but defended his own. We've had no trouble with him since. He is obedient, extremely smart, and often takes the initiative in combat, making the correct decisions. I'd be interested in comparing notes with you, see how each of us can learn from the other. For example, we have allowed largs to raise their own pubs in a more natural manner, rather than removing them at birth. It's improved pack cohesion and the young have learned faster than Disna and Puskie say they would have on their own.

Henry was settling comfortably into academic mode, it sounded like he could go on for hours (well, he could!).

 The  Larg Master General  was quiet for a space...The attack on, and death of  the Alpha Prime we had on Aqra, was done  by you 'larry'...attacking alone.. the largmasters  there  said, he had refused to give tribute  food to The Prime.....then?  for  some reason, gave  half the food back to Largs who were his size  and smaller... There was also a challenge issued  on Vera, Against a Prime Alpha?..... Doctor Christie... your 'Larry' is no at Alpha?..he does not have the Genes to grow big enough to be  'a Prime"..you should talk to Disna  and Puskie..they will tell you this... The very fact that he can lead a 'pack' at all is  almost impossible, considering the  rag tag collection you have assorted.... we are also under the impression, that that Pup belongs to us...fathered  by a Nivarian  Larg.

Henry took a deep breath and counted up to ten in Korean. It didn't help much.

"IF we are to work together in the field, Larg Master General Wikiss, we shall need to learn how our respective larg units operate and how best we can cooperate. Our largs operate more as skirmishers, working in harmony with our assault teams and also our specialist dog unit. How do you use yours?"

He decided the best way to deal with arrogant statements about Larry and indeed the pup were best ignored rather than being addressed. That way would only lead to disagreement if not worse. He didn't expect Wikiss to change the way his largs operated - at least not straight off, and he suspected the fellow was too hidebound to change at all - and he certainly wasn't going to mess with the highly-effective pack that he had here, Larry and all!