Dale Mayer [Mayer - Cat’s Claus

Broken Protocols 4

by
Dale Mayer

Formerly the fourth installment of the Charmin Marvin Series.

Charmin Marvin is always thinking, always talking, always learning, always looking for interesting new distractions. After the talking, mega-intelligence enhanced feline inquires when Christmas Day would be in their new timeframe, it sets in motion events that might not make everyone so holly or jolly.

Charmins mistress, Dani Blackburn, realizes that although shes gained so much, shes also lost some things she loved in being brought forward two hundred years in the future by her husband Levis slightly abnormal, genius brother Milo.

All holidays were banned from society by the government long ago. Though he hates to deny his beloved anything, Levi has no idea what Christmas is until he does a little research that makes him wonder if they can find a way to return the festive miracle to their small family, if nowhere else.

The best of intentions for a wondrous celebration of peace on Earth and goodwill toward mankind quickly becomes very complicated in world that doesnt always know the sentiment, let alone the Christmas spirit

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Blood doesnt just make her who she is it also makes her what she is.

Like being a sixteen-year-old vampire isnt hard enough, Tessas throwback human genes make her an outcast among her relatives. But try as she might, she cant get a handle on the vampire lifestyle and all the blood.

Turning her back on the vamp world, she embraces the human teenage lifestylehigh school, peer pressure and finding a boyfriend. Jared manages to stir something in her blood. Hes smart and fun and oh, so cute. But Tessas dream of a having the perfect boyfriend turns into a nightmare when vampires attack the movie theater and kidnap her date.

Once again, Tessa finds herself torn between the human world and the vampire one.

Will blood own out? Can she make peace with who she is as well as what?

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W hen is Christmas? Charmin asked.

Dani Blackburn looked over at her beloved orange Persian cat and grinned. It was a little hard to have any respect for his vast intelligence when he was upside down, four paws to the wind and twisted in a bizarre curl.

Remember? They dont do any of those old holidays anymore.

So? Thats them. Then theres us. He snorted out a sneeze and flopped over on one side. And the two dont have to be the same.

Sometimes the darnedest things came out of that cats mouth. And where was this all coming from? Are you missing the holidays? She quirked her lips and laughed. You hated the noise, the company. Really howled when I sang Christmas carols.

Ha! He rolled over to glare at her. Anyone would howl at your singing.

While she was still gasping at his barb, he continued, I liked the tree, it was fun. Adored the tinsel. He grinned evilly. Loved the cookies.

She remembered the last Christmas in Technicolor. Charmin climbing up the pathetic fake tree until it collapsed on top of him. The problem of him constantly trying to eat the tinsel and her finding the tinsel and plastic needles everywhere, but the cookiesshe groaned out loud. You used to take a bite out of every one.

I had to see which one I wanted, he said in such a reasonable tone of voice that she had to laugh.

Christmas tree? Tinsel? Levi, Danis husband, who was technically several hundred years older than her, sat down on the chair. She grinned as the furniture stretched and sprawled to accommodate the extra person. That never got old. Her husband, and what a trip that still was, held a mug of something hot.

Is that coffee? she said accusingly. And you didnt bring me one?

He leaned over and kissed her. I brought enough to share.

Blech. Charmin rolled over in such a way that his butt was presented.

Charmin, dont you fire that thing, Levi warned.

But gentle snores were already working up and out of her beloved dust ball of a cat.

Christmas, she murmured, images of past holidays floating through her head. She didnt even know what time of year it was right now. They were currently on a Pacific island paradise. After all the hell theyd been through getting here, shed wanted nothing more than to crash in peace and recuperate something that was taking longer than expected.

Her body still hadnt fully adjusted to her new surroundings or the atmosphere several centuries in the future. And their trip hadnt exactly been a fun one or one shed agreed to. But Milo, Levis genius kid brother, had devised a computer program that snatched her up from the 21 st century and dumped her here practically in Levis arms as a gift for him. It was a good thing shed been holding Charmin at the time. Milo had added enhancements for her to be able to adjust to her new life, only he hadnt known to adjust his calculations for Charmin. As a result, Charmin had been given enhanced communication skills.

It was something she wished shed have gotten because not only could Charmin talk, he was a wizard when it came to the latest technology.

He matched Milo perfectly.

Affectionately, Dani glanced over at Milo. His massive Mohawk was orange now. She couldnt help but wonder if it wasnt to show his solidarity with Charmin. She wouldnt put it past them.

What are you doing, Milo?

Research.

Of course, she said patiently. Research on what?

She tugged Levis mug toward her and took a sip. The one thing they did wonderfully well in this century was coffee. Lord, it was good. Travel was another one. Planes had been relegated to the annals of history as the dirigibles had been in her time. Now they could punch in a code and walk through a portal. She loved that.

And shed quickly fallen in love with her new husband. It was early for them though. A honeymoon phase so to speak. Still, as honeymoons went, it was pretty great, once theyd gotten over the attacks, attempted kidnappings, and murders that had arisen after her time travel.

She smiled.

Whats that look for? Levi glanced at her, his eyes warming.

She loved that about him. He hadnt had much long-term relationship experience before shed landed almost literally in his lap, but hed blossomed since.

So had she. She felt blessed to have him in her life.

Maybe the other two as well. There were only the four of them. She knew a few people she might one day learn to call friends, but as there were many pitfalls in this new life waiting to trip her up, she was hesitant to get cozy with anyone. After all, the conversations were limited with her needing to keep her past secret. Then again, shed also gained some notoriety recently, and many people had heard of her by now.

How weird was that?

Cool, too. Shed been transformed from being a number in a city of big numbers to being someone special here.

Shed still rather trade it all in for the ability to navigate the minefields that awaited her. She didnt understand the most basic things here.

Christmas.

Milos distracted voice pulled her back out of her musings.

Christmas? She shook her head. You dont do any holidays anymore, do you?

No. Too many protests from dissident groups all the time. As the protests became more violent, we had to ban more and more of them. Now they dont exist.