Nano-Sapiens: Space Dog and the Order of the Alamo
Happy Week Between Mother's Day and Memorial Day! This week we have a non-holiday short inspired by a post from another writer.
Remember, the last Monday in May is Memorial Day. Honor those who died while serving in the US Military. And thank the veterans in your life too. Some of them might need a hug that Monday.
And now some short business, we are switching the blog to twice a month - the first and third Sunday of each month. For this year, that means a Nano-Sapiens Carter and the Holidays story and a recipe. The recipe may be from the story or may be unrelated.
You may see us post short “blogs” with Chaos Critter photos and short comments - expect the first of these on the Sunday before Memorial Day (next weekend).
The Inspiration
This started as an 80 word response to a post from Steven Vickers (author of Troll Hunter https://stevenvickersauthor.com/). I am still on MeWe for Steve’s memes. and OSR RPG updates. Steve posted a meme where software suggested “good girl” was “a bit too passe and informal” and advised replacing it with “satisfactory small woman”.
One of Steve’s other followers said “I’d like to see the context in which this was deemed ‘a bit too passe and informal’”.
I provided that context.
Here, I expand the original 80 word “story” to include more Nano-Sapiens because Anna told me to.
This is more of a vignette than an story - but it’s short and cute.
Space Dog and the Order of the Alamo
Sunset’s little stub of a tail made her tan, black, and white fur shake back and forth. Her Miniature American Shepherd body settled down as her nanotech intelligence asserted itself. “Wow!”
The voice on the communicator continued. “You will be the first Nano-Sapiens to receive Texas’ highest honor, the Order of the Alamo. About the ceremony...”
***
Sunset approached her friend and business partner, Sparky. Via her translation collar with its blue LED, she explained the problem.
Sparky scratched his red hair - it was brown to Sunset, but she knew her friend’s human hair color. And his hideously yellow shirt.
Finally, his East Texas accent answered her. “I reckon you ain’t got much to complain ‘bout. We Texans love tradition.”
Just then, two Newfies and two Maine Coon cats came in from the mess. The smell of chili powder and heated words about beans followed them.
Sunset explained about the medal. And about the problem again. Sparky got a soft brush, using it on her mane to help her relax.
The big black Newfie sniffed noses with the black and white Landseer Newfie. Nano-Sapiens could understand each other without translation, but always used their translation collars. “Carter, you’re the oldest one here. And one of the first Nano-Sapiens. What do you think?”
Carter’s black and white rear-end plunked to the deck. His face took on a distracted stare. “Mom always said to think before talking. So please give me a minute to think.”
After considering the huge, furry thinker in their midst momentarily, the watchers decided it was best to continue while Carter thought.
Vera, one of the two gray tabby Maine Coon cats that rode Brinkley’s armored saddlebags into battle, spoke up. Sunset had been paw-pals with the persnickety cat for a long time. The little Mini knew Vera was never shy about stating her opinion.
“I have no opinion. I would never demean myself to suffer such faint praise as receiving a medal from someone other than cats. Really. I’m surrounded by barbarians.”
Brinkley, the big black Newfie, and Maxwell, Vera’s Maine Coon cat brother, looked at each other. They immediately broke down into giggles, barely translatable by their collars.
Brinkley stifled a laugh. “You’re just annoyed we like the opening of Kaiju and Cthulhu in the Valley of Xanadu more than Coleridge’s original work.”
On hearing this, Maxwell could no longer stand. Sunset smelled the extreme humor as he rolled on the floor, shedding fur and laughter. “At least we know who Coleridge is now!”
Vera ignored them as only a cat could ignore someone. Sunset couldn’t even smell any response as Vera kept walking. Out of the room.
The remaining sapient creatures in the room returned their attention to Carter, as the big Newfie shook. Unnoticed by anyone, his drool flew everywhere. It would be cleaned by automated systems when the room was unoccupied.
Carter stared passively into Sunset’s eyes. “I think it’s an honor. And should be accepted as such. Don’t take offense when none is offered.”
Sunset was sure even the Newfies, if not Sparky, could smell her pleasure at Carter’s answer.
She headed to the communicator.
***
The President of Texas approached. Like Sparky, he wore his fanciest cowboy hat. Unlike Sparky, he evidently owned at least one nice hat.
Sunset moved from a ‘sit’ to a ‘stand’ but resisted the urge to shake out her fur. She hadn’t been this nervous while deflecting the meteor that earned her this honor.
The little Mini American reminded herself that she was the first Nano-Sapiens to receive Texas’ highest honor, the Order of the Alamo.
She needed to maintain decorum.
It was difficult when the President used the welcome traditional for animal recipients of the honor.
“Good girl.”
The Afterward
Steve’s follower replied, “This raises more questions.”
But really, how can one question the nature of puppies? Granted he only had eighty words, so hopefully the longer version answers some of those questions. ;-)
Or makes him want to read our short story for more details.
Chaos Tip
Remember being a cat involves a lot of sleep and knocking things off tables. Which is why I think we all want to be a cat, just a little. Gravity, after all, needs to be tested!
Critter Question of the Week
Have you ever attended an award ceremony? Was there anything that struck your as weird or “passe and informal”?
~Anna and Tod
Nano-Sapiens in Print
To read more in our Nano-Sapiens world, check out the first few published stories with Sunset! The second one explains how she earned the award is in the second story.
Our first published story was “Space Sheep and the Electric Cow”. Two space cowboys (Sparky and Sunset) are tending their space sheep, and who meet a new friend. “Space Sheep and the Electric Cow” is in Space Cowboys 2: Electric Rodeo. Amazon Space Cowboys 2 - Space Sheep and the Electric Cow ⇗
In “Space Dog and the Runaway Asteroid”, the friend returns to help the two space cowboys (Sparky and Sunset) deal with a potentially deadly asteroid. And they all make a new friend along the way. “Space Dog and the Runaway Asteroid” is in Space Cowboys 3: Return of the Bookaroo. Amazon Space Cowboys 3 - Space Dog and the Runaway Asteroid ⇗
We also have free fiction about Nano-sapiens that can be found at https://blog.casasent.blog/t/nano-sapiens.