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Going to go with a simple pleasant and fun chapter for a bit of a change. This also gives me a chance to develop Jackson Buttons' character a little more.

Jeremy answered the door to see Jackson smiling expectantly. Stepping aside to let the male in he shared an arm clasp with the fox. "Thanks for coming. Sam's just getting started on the preparations."

At Jeremy's gesture Jackson walked ahead of him toward the kitchen area. He stepped up to the island countertop where Sam was working and extending his arm in greeting said "Hello again."

Sam rapidly wiped his paws clean and touched pads with the large fox. "Welcome Mister Buttons."

"Please, call me Jack." He answered, smiling. "I understand you're a much better cook than Jeremy."

Sam's eyes shifted to his brother for an instant and as a slight smile came to his face answered "That's true."

"Don't." Jeremy said knowing where his brother's mind typically went with the topic under discussion.

Jackson looked between the two as a smile formed. "What?"

Sam grinned. "He's the only person I know that's burnt water."

Jackson slowly looked over to Jeremy with his eye ridges raised.

"I got distracted, and I didn't really burn anything." Jeremy answered the unasked question.

As Jackson laughed Sam added "Technically, thats true. He left a pot of water on until it all boiled off and the bottom melted off."

"So thats why you had Sam do the cooking." Jackson observed. Looking to his brother he added "Thanks, you may have saved me from a trip to the hospital."

Sam smiled and after a smug glance to Jeremy got back to making preparations. Jackson watched for a few seconds before observing "Barbecue? Looking forward to that. Is there anything I can help with?"

Sam looked up at him. "Um, I'm almost done. Barbecue is pretty simple as far as preparation, really."

Jeremy took the opportunity to step around the island and open the fridge. Taking out three bottles he set one in front of Jackson and one for Sam before sitting back on his stool. He watched and listened as the fox started chatting with his brother. Feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket he pulled it out to read the message.

He texted his father back. Looking up smiling at the query he explained "Our parents will be here in a little while."

While Sam nodded Jackson looked up and asked "They ask about how I was dressed?" At Jeremy's affirmative shrug he started grinning.

Sam observed "Its a bit disconcerting having someone like you over for whats normally a simple meal."

"I understand. I've had to accept that most people are a bit intimidated at the idea. I've had to learn not to take it personal."

Sam looked at him and setting aside the last of the preparations asked "Take it personal? How do you mean?"

Setting his elbows on the counter and leaning forward to rest his chin on his palm the fox answered "It's like this. Someone with my reputation always gets treated differently. Its unavoidable. For example I'll bet you were stressing for at least a few days over what to make. Everyone tends to think about the imaginary stacks of money I have stashed somewhere, or that I'm a dominant. I've had to come to understand how difficult it is for most to look past that and see me for the person that I am."

Sam stared at him and after a few seconds asked. "So, who are you?"

"I'm a rich fucking dominant." He smiled and as Sam laughed at he humor continued "Actually, I'm like anyone else. I make mistakes, sometimes big ones. I've fucked up my marriage, and several other relationships. My eldest son won't even talk to me. Half the people I've entrusted throughout my life have betrayed me at some point. I've lost and squandered more money in the past than I have now through poor judgement. At the same time, I wouldn't change a thing."

Jackson looked to Jeremy for a second and turning back to Sam continued. "I've been to stunning and beautiful places that I'll always remember. Met people that I'm honored beyond belief to call friends and acquaintances. I've been blessed with valuable friendships that have helped me through some of the roughest times I've had to deal with. I've learned enough throughout my life and am honored to do what I can to pass that knowledge and wisdom to the next generations. And still, I smile when the new people I meet seem a bit intimidated by the idea that I'm somehow more important or deserving than I truly am."

Jackson watched Sam and Jeremy absorb his discourse. After a few seconds he lifted his beer and downed nearly half the bottle. "So, despite all that I'm just another fox that loves the simple things in life, like barbecue."

Sam smiled. "I get your point, but I do have one question."

"Shoot."

"Do rabbits get the same speech?"

"Sam." Jeremy said surprised at his brother's challenge.

Jackson laughed. "Nope, they get a different speech."

Sam grinned back. To Jeremy it seemed as though they were somehow sharing an inside joke that he was unaware of. He sat back deciding to just let the whole topic go on between Jackson and his brother. To his slight dismay they continued bantering back and forth almost as though they'd known each other for years. They were only interrupted by the doorbell.

With Steven and Elisa joining them they all moved to the deck and Sam started up the barbecue grill. Jeremy became increasingly impressed at Jackson's ability to keep everyone at ease around him. The fox was as tall as he was and yet his family members were acting much like his size wasn't as intimidating as Jeremy's. As he watched it became obvious to him that his mentor had some way of settling everyone's nerves. And to confuse him even more he couldn't detect any pheromones being projected on the fox's part.

Even once Sam started pulling the steaks and shrimp from the grill Jackson continued chatting with his family as though he was at a typical weekend event. Jackson sat between Sam and Steven as he started in on his meal. After his first few hurried bites Jeremy noticed the fox staring at him.

"What's on your mind?"

"Sir?"

"Jack, please." He said his tone clearly indicating he'd intended it for the entire family. "You've been watching me intently for the last half hour. What is it?"

Jeremy looked around at his family. They were looking to him also curious in his answer. Glancing at his plate before looking to Jackson he answered "Well, I was just wondering how you were making everyone feel at ease."

Jackson tilted his head. "I haven't done anything." he said looking around at everyone.

"Thats what I was trying to figure out." Jeremy answered seeing the awkwardness he'd hoped to avoid entering the moment. "I mean, family excluded I'm always noticing people react to me with at least a little trepidation."

"Honestly, its not anything I've done. It's really your family responsible for being at ease around me." Jackson said looking at Steven "It helps that both your parents are alphas," looking at Sam he added "just like Sam here."

Steven looked at his son and grinning said "How often have I tried to tell you that?"

Jeremy smiled. "Same here."

Sam looked around at everyone, his face a mixture of surprise confusion and pride. "I guess so." He shrugged trying to dismiss the attention.

Steven asked "I must say I've been curious ever since finding that Jeremy was a dominant about something."

"About what?" Jackson asked.

"I've looked into it but can't find anything that either excludes or confirms the possibility. What I've been wondering is how often dominants show up in the population. More to the point, if that rate is increasing."

Jackson sat and gazed at him with raised eye ridges for several long moments. A smile slowly spread across his face. "I can see where Jeremy gets his smarts from. Now, this isn't anything like a national secret, but it's also not shouted from the rooftops. Knowing you all have a vested interest in keeping what I'm about to say to yourselves I think I'm somewhat free to answer that. So, yes as a whole dominants are appearing more often."

Jeremy had sat up straighter in the course of Jackson's speech. He felt his jaw drop at the end. He watched the fox intently.

"Few even realize that dominants rarely appear outside mutual parings of Alphas. There have been studies made that show dominants are becoming more frequent. These same studies are kept in strict confidence, for certain reasons. The increase isn't much of a rate but it is measurable."

"These studies show a terminus?"

Jackson grinned again and shook his head. "Damn. Okay, in for a penny in for a pound. Yes, its just speculation but they draw on the example of the lizards as comparison."

Jeremy sat looking at his family. They seemed just as shocked and confused at the statement. "What? What do the lizards have anything to do with dominants?"

Jackson looked at him smiling. "Haven't you noticed that lizards don't exhibit dominants the way mammals do?"

"Uh, no." Jeremy admitted. In looking around he wasn't alone in his surprise.

"Well, thats because they've already gone through what we're heading for." Jackson said.

Jeremy sat back thinking over his time in Chile. He'd been hard pressed to keep up with the team of special forces lizards. In light of what the fox had just revealed he no longer wondered at their level of ability. "That explains a few things."

Jackson nodded. "You've spent a lot of time with them. They're now all the equivalent of what their dominants had been far earlier in their development. Eventually us mammals will catch up to them."

Jeremy had so many questions but didn't feel comfortable asking with his family present. In looking around his entire family were taking in the revelation as much as he was. Steven was the first to ask the inevitable question.

"What's the timeframe for us as mammals?"

"We have no idea what its going to look like, this second ascension as its being called. Nor does anyone have any clue just where the tipping point will be. Otters are in the lead by far, obviously due to them being one of the elder species. Even then the best guesses place their second ascension somewhere around fifty generations from today."

Jeremy saw everyone relax back in their chairs much as he did.

"So, to answer the question on all your minds, weasels are also ahead of the pack as it were. Your species is projected to be only a dozen generations behind the otters."

Jeremy had watched Jackson as he furthered his explanation. There was something in his manner that caused him to ask "And foxes?"

He sighed. "Sadly for us, we're lagging way behind the pack. We're likely more than a hundred generations from our second ascension."

Steven asked "Does it have to do with the proportion of alpha's in the population?"

"It doesn't appear to. My own theory is how hard our populations took a hit back during the wars."

Jeremy frowned. "Weasels took a harder dip in numbers than foxes did."

"It would seem counterintuitive at first, but think about it." Jackson said. "With total populations reduced the proportional affect of dominants in the gene pool would actually accelerate the process toward this second ascension. That is as long as a species didn't loose all their dominates for a generation. Some did back then."

Elisa stood and moved to stand over Jackson. She motioned for him to stand and as he did embraced him. "I'm so sorry."

Jackson patted her back resting his chin on her head. "Not to worry. Its in the distant future."

Jeremy watched the display from his chair. He wondered at a few obscure incidents in the recent past. He recalled that other species had suffered devastating losses during the wars. He'd like to have access to wherever Jackson had gotten his information. He also wondered about PATOMES and what it had done to the cop he'd assaulted. He was feeling the beginnings of a hunch but still had far too little information to act on it.

His mother stepped back from Jackson smiling up at the large fox. "While I'm proud of our own species I can't help but feel empathy for the needs of those others coming behind us."

"Which is why your's is well liked, even by foxes." Jackson replied with a bit of humor.

Elisa stepped back from the male looking up to him. She slid an arm behind him and sidled next to him until their sides touched. Looking to the rest of the family she said "Well, enough of this heady talk of species and second ascensions. We're supposed to be enjoying the evening."

Knowing the topic was officially closed at his mother's statement Jeremy stood with plate in hand. "We've been talking so long my steak needs a bit of flash heating."

Sam stood. "Mine too. Who else need a quick heat up?"

Once everyone had their reheated meal and were starting in on eating the conversation resumed on different topics. It wasn't long before everyone had finished and were sitting watching the sky and city lights. Steven was the first to stand and walk to the railing. His mother and Jackson were discussing grandchildren so, Jeremy with nothing to add stood and joined his father.

"Its a great view." Steven said without looking at his son.

"Its thanks to you. I'd never be able to have something like this without the sacrifices made for us."

His father stiffened just a bit at the comment. It was barely noticeable but Jeremy had been watching for it. He turned his back to the city and looked at his father. Almost in a whisper so that no one would overhear he said "Times have changed since grandfather's time. You always taught us that family comes first. This time let us make the sacrifice. The three of us will make sure Able will have better opportunities than you were able to provide for us."

His father had turned to him as he spoke. The expression on his face was surprise and shock. Jeremy continued knowing the emotion welling up was giving his voice little time to finish. "There's no reason you can't attend his graduation, maybe from the same academy."

His father said nothing. He reached out and pulled at Jeremy. Stepping closer he felt his father squeeze him to his own body. He wrapped his father in a hug, leaning into him he felt the vibrations of his father sobbing.

* * * *

Well, that got kind of emotional at the end there. Since you lot are basically beta readers I'm curious to know how many of you remember the few hints I gave along the way that just came to a head at the end there.

Just to be sure, it had been mentioned that Jeremy's grandfather had died from a predator attack. I also added in the post chapter section that there is such a thing as predator insurance. This was how Jeremy and his brothers were able to attend the academy.

Now that Able is on the scene it would follow that his father would feel a huge responsibility to do as his own father had done to ensure his grandson could also go through an education. Jeremy just addressed that issue, in a very careful manner.

Anyway, for the normal post chapter discussion, next up is Mexico

The largest nation in terms of land it holds in the western hemisphere. As said before Mexico shared a border with Appalachia's territories in Central America. Mexico also holds the land northward all the way to Central California, the southern tip of Nevada, most of Arizona and New Mexico all of Texas and the southern half of Oklahoma as well as the western fringes of Louisiana and Arkansas.

Almost twice as large as Appalachia it now finds itself beginning to fall behind its long time rival. After the Continental Wars a large portion of its economic power fell into Appalachia's paws when it lost much of its holdings in Central America. In Jeremy's world there was no effort to build the Panama canal. Everything is landed in one of dozens of ports along either coast and shipped overland to another port. Despite the loss Mexico remained economically competitive with Appalachia for decades.

While stable politically it has in recent decades suffered a series of natural disasters it is finding challenging to recover from. One such disaster was a major earthquake in central America that forced many other nations to look elsewhere to cross to the isthmus.

With many of Mexico's major ports sustaining damage Appalachia took full advantage of the opportunity. While the damage was eventually repaired much of the commerce still routes through Appalachia's ports. It also doesn't help that the small nations to the south of Mexico are somewhat unstable politically and economically. Ironically this can be traced to Mexico's meddling in their affairs as much as in the zone between them and Appalachia.