Page 38 of Jenna's Protector
“Meet Rufus, one of the Rufi.”
“Rufus?” Jenna asks.
“Robotic Ultra-Functional Utility Specialist—aka RUFUS.” Blake makes a sweeping gesture with his arm and pulls to a stop.
We all climb out of the cart, watching Max cautiously approach the RUFUS. The contrast between them is striking—Max’s soft fur and organic movements against RUFUS’s smooth metal exterior and eerily lifelike motions.
Max circles the RUFUS, sniffing curiously. The RUFUS, in turn, tilts its head, cameras whirring as it processes the living canine before it. Suddenly, the RUFUS emits a series of beeps that sound remarkably like a playful bark. Max’s tail begins to wag more enthusiastically.
To our amazement, the RUFUS drops on its front legs while its rear remains raised. It’s rear end even wiggles.
Max, recognizing the universal dog language, responds in kind. Before we know it, the two are engaged in a game of chase, circling the cart and darting between our legs.
The sound of Max’s excited barks mingles with RUFUS’s electronic yips, creating a weird blend of man’s best friend meeting machine’s best approximation.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” I mutter, watching the unlikely pair play.
Jenna laughs, the sound light and carefree. “It’s like watching the past and future of canine companionship collide.”
“The Rufi are invaluable in the field,” Blake says. “When there’s more than one of them, we call them Rufi. Mitzy hates that. We’re supposed to sayRufuses, but that’s a mouthful. We’ve recently begun integrating the Rufi into the team, partnering each two-man pair with a Rufi.”
“They seem to be getting along.” Jenna laughs, the sound warm and rich.
“Like two peas in a pod. Come on, Max. Time to go.” Blake pats the seat next to him. Max leaves the Rufus, and Blake steers the cart onward. “Over there is the medical facility, run by Skye Summers, a brilliant doc and co-founder of Guardian HRS with her brother, Forest.”
“Impressive,” I murmur, taking in the state-of-the-art building.
As we continue the tour, Blake points out the various training facilities—the gym complex with its towering rock wall, the shooting ranges designed for every scenario imaginable, and the mock town used for urban combat simulations.
“You’ve really thought of everything,” Jenna says, her voice filled with admiration.
“We have to be prepared for anything.” Blake shrugs, but pride fills his expression. “Our missions have high stakes, and we can’t afford to be caught off guard.”
“There’s a lot more to see and other cool stuff I want to show you, but…” We stop at a cafeteria, the smell of food wafting through the air. “I thought you might be hungry.” Blake hops out of the cart. “Or, at least, I am. The food here is top-notch. Our chefs are world-class.”
As we enter the cafeteria, I’m struck by the variety of options—everything from classic comfort foods to exotic, international dishes. Despite our recent meal, Jenna and I load up our plates and find a table. Max curls up at our feet.
“So, what do you think?” Blake asks, his eyes flicking between Jenna and me.
“I had no idea the scale of what you were doing here.” I shake my head in wonder.
“We’re making a real difference,” Blake says, his voice serious. “The work we do… It matters. We’re saving lives, bringing people home to their families. Right now, my team is involved in tracking down a major organization involved in some bad shit.”
“It’s amazing what you’ve built here.” Jenna nods, her expressionthoughtful. “The resources, the technology… It’s like something out of a science fiction movie.”
Blake beams with pride. “Just wait until you see what else we’ve got. This is only the beginning, and we’re always looking for talent to join the team.” He shoots me a pointed look.
“Blake…” I start, but he waves me off.
“I know, I know. You’re happy being a detective, but we could use someone like you.”
My mind whirls with possibilities. The thought of working alongside Blake and accessing these incredible resources is tempting, but I have a duty to my community and the missing girls I’ve sworn to find.
As if sensing my inner turmoil, Jenna squeezes my hand. I meet her gaze, seeing the warmth and understanding in her eyes.
Sitting in the cafeteria, the conversation shifts to Blake’s recent missions. He leans back in his chair, a glint in his eye as he regales us with tales of high-stake rescues and narrow escapes.
“You should have seen it,” Blake says, his voice filled with excitement. “At Citadel, we were outnumbered, outgunned, but we managed to get the hostages out safely. It was a thing of beauty.”