Hero the Dog

As long as man could think, he questioned. Queries which help him define the strange occurrence that is existence. The answers helping him to feel he had gained some sort of control over the chaos.

Of the many questions man has asked, there are few more important than his reason for being. Is there purpose in his struggles or is it all just random chance? Fate or happenstance?

Since no objective truth can be determined, man decided the answer was for the individual. So as each lives their lives, they must determine what their own perception looks like. Fate or happenstance? Order or chaos?

Even now a single mind hovers around unwrapping his version of truth. He subsists in a haze, barely able to discern the lines between reality and his dream. Just remember, the dream dies when the dreamer wakes. Every time.

““I told you I wanted a white dog.” Grumbled Michael as he held the scruffy brown and black fur-ball before him.

He starred at it impassively. He was too busy for such a burden. A distracting responsibility, but if he was to have a dog, he wanted one that fit his aesthetics. This scruffy, wild eyed mongrel was not what he had in mind.

Vivian sighed heavily, stepping just behind the pup held out before him so he could see her annoyance. She starred into his spectacled eyes with annoyance. ““You will have a white dog when it’s fully grown. It’s only brown as a puppy.”

He wrinkled his nose in disbelief. ““What kind of dog is this again?”

She smiled. ““It’s called a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. They’re all the fad in Philly. They don’t shed, so they’re hypoallergenic. Extremely loving and loyal. Intelligent, but head strong… sound like anyone else I know?”

He scoffed. ““Last I checked I couldn’t shed my brown skin to white.”

Vivian rolled her azure eyes, but did so with a smile. She moved forward and planted a kiss on his cheek, before resting her face on his chest. “Listen to me. You spend too much time alone in your lab. This dog will force you to take walks, which are good for your mental health. It’ll give you a companion you don’t need to waste time on words with. In case you forgot… This is my strange way of breaking up with you, but also… Trust me, you need this. Ok?”

He studied her with his intense brown eyes for a long beat, then looked back at the puppy. It stared back at him curiously with a big open mouth, tongue hanging out. ““You don’t have to break up with me you know.”

She met his gaze. Hers connected to her emotions while his was still distant and cut off. Her voice was tender. ““I don’t have to, you’re right, but unfortunately I do want to. You really get mired in your work Michael. There’s just no room for me in your life, but maybe there’s enough room for him.”

Just then the dog started making a strange whining noise, and before Michael could wonder what for, the a spray of yellow pee washed all over him. He held the dog further up and out but it did nothing to staunch the flow. He began to shout as the stream continued. ““Hey, hey hey!”

Suddenly he was hit by a wave of nausea, so intense it was disorienting. The world lurched around him and started to move as if on fast forward. Lab equipment was brought in and placed, then replaced. The clocks in the room raced forward with no heed to time and people flitted about as blurs which moved around him. All the while a low hum echoed in his mind followed by a ““hey, hey, hey.”

Before he knew what was happening he witnessed his work take shape around him. Then the quality of his lab fell to an obvious lack of monetary endorsement. He was shifted to a smaller facility, and then another and finally a cluttered basement. The blurs began appearing less frequently and finally even Vivian stopped visiting.

He was alone, toiling day after day on so many things. Mindlessly moving forward in his haze, but every so often he remembered that he wasn’t alone. He would look over to find the little brown dog except it wasn’t little or brown anymore. He had grown into the off-white long haired dog that he was expected to be. An Irish sheep dog fully equipped with what his neighbor dubbed ‘a wizard beard’.

Whenever Michael would remember to look for his companion, the world whirring around him stopped for his buddy to look at him with his cautious and quick little tail wag. The one that said ““Play time?”

Michael blinked and looked at the clock which was now behaving appropriately. With a sigh he grabbed at the leash which sent “Hero” as she had named him, into a two legged jumping fit. Hero nipped excitedly at the end of the leash as Michael fastened it upon his neck and headed out the door.

Sometimes they walked the block and other times they’d head to the park for a bit of fetch. Depending on how guilty Michael was feeling about the time he let slip between exercises. But no matter the chosen activity Michael was always present for it. A smile on his lips and an attentive eye for whatever his lovely companion had to offer.

At night the dog was never far from him. If he watched tv the dog sat in his lap, as if it wasn’t almost half his weight. As Michael laid down for bed, Hero would cuddle against him, no matter how hot it made things. Still he didn’t really mind. Stroking the dogs soft coat was an enjoyable way to drift off to sleep.

In the morning the cycle would began again, and Michael was off to the basement for work. Hero would follow and find a spot wherever was most open. Then the world lurched back into fast forward and Michael lost track of it.

“Hey, hey, HEY.” Came the ethereal whisper around him, but he paid it no mind.

He had work to do and nothing was going to interrupt him until… Until he-

“Hey.”

Startled, Michael jolted back against his filing cabinet, knocking over a few of the loose electronics on top. His mind was a headachy blur, and his mouth was dry as the Sahara. He looked around at the strange old man that was prodding at him but his brain was slow to process. He spoke, but the words described his work, not the intrusion of this newcomer. ““The optics need to shift to accommodate 20ft of movement oriented vision.”

The old man cocked his head. ““What? Are you alright? You haven’t left this basement in days. Your neighbors are worried about you so they gave me a call… You know rent was due a few days ago yes?”

Michael was still reeling from his strange dream and trying to find his feet in this waking world. He took a deep breath and repeated the old man’s words back aloud. Then he nodded. ““Ah, I see. Sorry I just lost track of time.”

He moved over to his desk and began rummaging through the many disorganized piles of materials and papers there. It took him a while to find his check book. Even longer to find his pen.

As he moved to put ink to paper he found he couldn’t remember the details of what he needed to write. He tried to gather some moisture in his mouth and spoke prodding it. ““And I owed you full rent so, it was…”

The old man raised his eyebrow. ““The same as always.”

Unhelpful thought Michael. He was done with this game though. ““Give me an amount Mr. Pavlo. And the date, if you’d like to leave here any time soon.”

Mr. Pavlo spat. ““Twenty-five hundred, and it’s the 8th, of June, 2033.”

Michael nodded and then filled out the rest. Then a chill went down his spine. He looked about the room and then realized he may have forgotten the most important thing in the world.

““You gonna give me that thing or am I gonna have to wrestle it out of ya?”

Michael held out the check. ““You can have it, but I need a favor. You think you could give me a ride?”

Mr Pavlo looked him up and down. ““I suppose. Where is it you’re looking to go?”

“Stirge Tech, it’s not far from here, few miles. I have a… friend who works there I need to see.”

Mr. Pavlo nodded as he turned to exit the room. ““Ok, come on then.”

Michael moved over to and rummaged through a couple bins before he followed after. Finally in the door way he stopped to look around like he always had for his four legged companion. His friend with the drool dripping beard and eyes of anticipation. ““I’m taking you to play fetch real soon my friend. I promise.”

Michael gave the address and then slept through the car ride over. He really hadn’t been sleeping, his work was too important lately. He was rushing to meet such an important deadline that concern for his own health wasn’t a big priority. Not like a few other things currently were.

He dreamed in the car. Thinking of the time Hero had first had diarrhea. In a fit of panic he had rushed him to the vet, and when the vet witnessed what was happening he had laughed and said ““do you always rush to the er when you’ve had something that doesn’t agree with you? Besides, what did you feed him?”

That had been the end of sharing spicy hot wings with Hero. Truth be told, it had been the end of Michael ordering them. Now he got them with the sauce on the side and dipped them. He just, preferred them that way he realized. Less messy.

As they pulled into the parking lot of the big building, he snorted himself awake and quickly departed. Not remembering so much as a thank you, which Mr. Pavlo grumbled about as he pulled away.

The sliding glass doors opened and inside sat four receptionists in front of a huge green and yellow sign reading “Stirge Tech: The future of nerve integration.”

Suddenly feeling out of place Michael straightened out his pants and stepped up to an androgynous clerk weirdly named Clark. “Hi, I have an appointment with Vivian Stirge?”

The clerk sassed him at a glance. Pursing their lips in doubt. ““Was that a question or were you telling me? What was your name again?”

Michael flushed. He never had been good dealing with people. “I was informing you. My name is Michael Mackey. I used to be… Well Vivian is my friend.”

Clark looked him up and down. ““Neat. Now if you’ll please wait over there I will confirm things with Miss Stirge and send you to her office.”

Awkwardly he shuffled over to a seat an slowly rested himself. No sooner had he sat, then his body sent him off to dream world. It was yet another memory with Hero. His mind kept taking him down these little flickering paths, though his conscious mind didn’t know why.

Hero had gotten out of the lab because a guest had left the doors open. When Michael had stopped to do his customary look around and realized the dog wasn’t in the room for the first time ever, panic gripped him. He jolted to his feet and raced out the door calling Hero’s name.

He called it over and over again, in a frantic panic, and then suddenly from behind him he felt something. Hero had simply been lying in the hallway outside of the lab, and had come as soon as he was called. Michael had wept then. He knew it was silly but he couldn’t help himself. His mind had just gone to the worst possible places. Being run over, dog napped, getting lost.

““Miss Vivian will see you now.” said Clark the Clerk in a loud tone obviously meant to wake him.

Michael stood up and followed, wiping the drool from his bottom lip hastily. There was no time to waste.

Vivian’s office was a testament to pride and success. Trophies littered the shelves and scientific papers decorated the walls broken up by certifications. She greeted her old friend with a concerned expression, moving her arm just slightly in greeting.

He took her hand and looked her over. Manicured nails, a blazer that was no doubt name brand, newly styled red hair and accessories that were worth more than his entire life’s savings. Which admittedly didn’t amount to much. ““Michael I was so shocked you requested a meeting. It’s been forever, how're things with you?”

““Oh you know, same old. You?”

She smiled. She knew he was making an effort if he actually thought enough to ask about her. ““I’m doing the best I’ve ever done. We are changing the face of integrated fantasy, and I think we’re on the verge of finally integrating nerve inclusion. It’s world changing stuff and so exciting, but enough about me and mine. How’s Hero?”

Michael shifted uncomfortably. ““He’s ok. He ugh. I wish you would come by and see him. He always liked you. You… You stopped coming by.”

This brought a sad smile to Vivian’s painted lips. ““I did.”

““Why?”

Vivian took in a deep breath and walked over to her alcohol bar. She had two drinks prepared and waiting. She handed him one and clinked her glass to his. ““To old friends.”

They both drank the fruity cocktail and then Vivian’s smile faded. ““Why did you really come to see me..? Old friend.”

Michael hesitated but only for a moment. He pulled out the blue prints that he had drawn with intricate care on a few squares of napkins. He couldn’t find any paper at the time. He handed the first over to her.

Vivian took the napkin without so much as a twitch of surprise. She would have expected nothing less from her childhood friend. She unfolded it and laid it out on her desk. After studying it for a long while she held out her other hand without so much as a glance, and he handed her the rest of the napkins.

She poured over the data contained as she sipped on her drink. Michael couldn’t help notice that 15 years had done nothing to change her slender features nor her sharp mind. ““This could work you know? It’s a bit unwieldy but it also solves our tethering issues which keeps it from mass market. It needs a few months of research but-”

Michael gulped. He felt his heart drop into his stomach and he gasped for breath. Months? But he had gone into excruciating detail. Had made sure it was all thought through. He did his best to breathe and try to remain calm as he spoke. He needed her. ““Months for mass market yes, but it should do for a prototype. It doesn’t need months for that.”

She looked up from the napkins taken aback by this outburst. She looked over him with a perplexed but stoic gaze. ““Yes, but we have other projects in the pipeline which have funding in place. There’s a lot of bureaucracy that goes into this, but if you’re concerned with a payout I assure you I can write you a check as soon as the board goes over this. Maybe a day or two. And I promise a few extra zeros. This is big Michael. I understand your nerves, but you can relax. You finally had a real breakthrough here.”

He could only half listen as his heart began to beat the drums in his chest. That would be too late. Even the money. “I’m glad to hear you say it, but ummm… Vivian, I need a prototype, with a few slight variations as compensation for the work. Personal use only but, I need it… sooner than that. It isn’t hard to build, with the right lab and tools I myself could-

““Michael, what is going on? Are you sick?”

Vivian was staring daggers into his soul. Undressing all his mannerisms and quirks as she shifted to find her answers. He tried his best to meet her gaze, but his body was so leaden. He could barely keep on his feet. “I dunno, maybe. I’ve been feeling…”

His words left him, but Vivian moved to him swiftly and wrapped her arms around him. ““Look I still care about you. Just be honest with me. What I can do to help?”

He hesitated awkwardly in the embrace, but only for just a moment. He reminded himself he didn’t have time. ““I need to build a prototype… now. And…”

He looked away. He was ashamed to say what he had to, but he didn’t see any other way. ““Maybe a forward of cash. This last month even my creditors started saying no.”

Vivian looked over him carefully, barely believing what she was hearing. ““But you were always so careful with money. Where are you spending it?”

He took in a sip of air and then looked at her with determination. ““Where is counts.” He said. ““Where it counts most.”

The next few days sped by like a montage. Michael started the work alone but Vivian pulled in personal favors to help him build a prototype. She had never seen such a hungry desperation in Michael’s eyes and so, he had his team.

The details he had pre established were so meticulous the work seemed to be less creative and more production. In just a matter of a week they had created the devices, though testing beyond some very basic capabilities had yet to be a possibility.

Everyone took shifts sleeping and working, except for Michael who always claimed he was just fine, but the crew had a way of dealing with that. When Michael would doze off to sleep on his feet, they let him and worked around it.

It was also concerning to them how often he checked the clock, like he knew they were racing to meet a deadline they’d never beat. Then, the call came. Tears streamed down Micheal’s cheeks as he raced to collect everything they had slaved away for. He began to bolt from the room when Vivian stopped him with a firm hand. ““Enough Michael. Where are you going?”

Vivian and Michael watched as the elevator doors parted, revealing the hospital wing in all its glory. Michael headed over to a specific side and without a word to anyone in reception, ducked back into a small room.

Vivian did her best to keep pace, but even before she could see, she could tell he had already begun unpacking and setting up the control devices. She rounded the corner and was just about to yell at him to slow down she saw it. Then l finally it hit her what this was all about.

On a small table, hooked up to so many devices laid an almost unrecognizable dog. It’s hair was thin and while groomed, it lay flat, with an almost grey aura. The normally well muscled form was so frail and tiny you could see it’s ribcage. It had machines breathing for it, a catheter hooked up beneath and some iv bags keepin him alive.

Vivian moved to lay her hand on the dogs head and watched as Hero just barely opened one misty white eye, giving his short snub of a tail the barest shake, before returning to unconsciousness. It was a feat that must have caused a great deal of pain from the muffled whimper it emited. She touched his muzzle and was shocked to find how cold he was to the touch.

Vivian turned, tears already streaming down her eyes as she looked at Michael. ““What’s-?”

““His spine.” Michael replied without any emotion attached. ““These machines and the morphine is the only reason he’s not crossed over yet.”

Vivian nodded. Taking that all in. ““How long?”

He stopped what he was doing, his eyes glazing over with the same look Hero’s had. ““Too long.”

Vivian got up and headed over to Michael. With only a slight awkward hesitation she gripped him in an embrace. ““I’m so sorry. I know how much he means to you.”

Michael stood awkwardly, accepting the human affection to which he was not accustomed. Then he gently moved her aside and continued setting up. She watched him, too sad for words for a long time. It was Michael who decided to speak first. ““Everyone has different opinions on love for a dog. Some people told me to just get a new one, put him down. Another person said ‘it’s what we sign up for. A candle burned at both ends dies quick, but oh what a light.’ And while sometimes someone says something to me that’s close, I’m still not sure they really understand.”

He plugged in the first machine and took the second prototype over near Hero. With gentle hands he placed receptors around his old friend. Vivian couldn’t help but ask the obvious. ““Understand what?”

He placed the visor over Hero’s eyes and summoned the nurse to do something. Vivian wasn’t sure what he asked, as she waited for his reply. His mouth sounded dry as he spoke. ““He wasn’t the great love of my life, or the bestest friend I’ve ever had. He was the only thing that has ever loved me with their entire being. Even though I missed his meal times sometimes or got too tired to walk him. He would wait for me, and he loved me. True forgiveness and love.”

Michael pressed a few switches and then backed away from Hero after patting his head. The nurse injected something into the dog that made Hero’s body shift around. Vivian reached out her hand for Michaels and looked into his eyes as he prepared the visor and nerve endings for himself. she bit back as sob as she spoke. ““I am so sorry Michael.”

He smiled at her with the strangest expression she ever saw on his face. ““Don’t be. He made this life worth living in a way that nothing else ever could.”

They stared into each others eyes, a hidden pain there, an unspoken hurt. One that would always remain buried. Michael attached the last few nerve pieces and pushed the helmet down over his eyes.

The menus scrolled before him and he selected program A. The special project he had been coding for some time. Then he selected summon player 2 and waited with baited breath for things to load.

The sun shown down on a modest little city park in Ireland. The environment was lush and green with small creeks of water gifting the area with pleasant atmospheric sound. Michael walked over and picked up a tennis ball that waited on a bench, and then walked over to the other player.

An avatar of Hero slowly moved its head from side to side, trying to take in its surroundings. For a dog this must have felt very strange, but Hero had been with little sight and sound for a long time. At the sight of Michael he instinctively stood up and walked over, his tail wagging as he jumped up on his best friend.

Michael bent and hugged his buddy, feeling tears stream down his real face, but knowing that detail wouldn’t transfer here. He showed Hero the ball and chucked it, which sent him racing after it. They threw over and over until Hero came to lay at Michaels feet, seemingly exhausted from his cyber fun. He looked into his masters eyes as his tail wagged back and forth. Slower and slower. Then he stopped moving at all.

Michael placed his hand over his friend’s head and whispered how much he had meant to him and how much he would be missed. He began to sob, his real body finally breaking down from the stress and lack of sleep that had gone on so long. He cried and wailed, so inwardly in thought that he never noticed the high pitched heart monitor. Which called out the final beat of the end of their time in the sun.