Jethro 3: No Place Like Home Read Online Free PDF Page A

other recruits reluctantly reported vision or migraine issues. Doctor Standish ordered a mandatory stand down of VR and sleep teaching until an investigation was performed. After a couple of hours, the Marines got an order for the rest of the recruits to cycle through the infirmary again. The recruits groaned but didn't protest. They had learned, standing in line being bored was better than running or doing PT and much lest exhausting as well.
    The concern among the veteran Marines was an equipment issue. Since nothing was forthcoming from the medics, Ox checked the hardware, but couldn't find a common fault. Jethro thought something had been missed in the physicals. But then the doctor called for an interview. Jethro remained behind to keep an eye on the recruits while Valenko and Pendeckle went to investigate.
    “What we have here is a bit too much for the brain to cope with. As my father would say, you're trying to ram ten pounds of shit in a five-pound bucket. It ain't all going to fit,” he said.
    Major Pendeckle snorted at the doctor. Doctor Standish had gotten some of his stuffy rough edges polished off over the past four years on the ship. He'd done even more maturing since the recruits had cycled through. At least he wasn't nearly as condescending as he used to be.
    “Okay, this is complicated, so try to follow along,” the doctor said.
    So much for not condescending, Pendeckle thought.
    The doctor explained that the hippocampus was the window in the brain to download information. The hippocampus controlled and interpreted short term memory from the frontal lobes. It served as the primary form of learning for the brain by making neural connections in connectum and translating that into long-term memory. Level two implants connected directly to the hippocampus, thus making information downloads and sleep teaching possible. But too much information stressed the tissue, which caused swelling and seizures. Some of the swelling was minor, others were potentially damaging if left long term. At least one minor aneurism had been caught in the early stages. Several people had severe migraines. Mandatory downtime to unwind was ordered.
    “There is such a thing as too soon and too fast gentlemen. You'd do best to remember to rein in your eagerness and not rush these kids off to die so quickly,” Doctor Standish admonished fiercely. “I just got rid of them. I didn't expect them back so soon,” he said pointedly, looking at the bay filled with recruits being treated. Most were minor things fortunately, headaches of one sort or another. The worst cases were in the intensive care area.
    “We're not trying to rush them off to die doctor. We're trying to train them so they don't make stupid mistakes and get killed or get someone else killed,” Valenko growled.
    “Well, go slower. If they aren't ready, then stop. Drop them off in Agnosta to get the proper training and pick up those who can handle it.”
    Valenko flicked his rounded ears as he rubbed his graying muzzle. “You know, doc, that's a hell of an idea. I'm glad you thought of it.”
    Standish blinked in wary confusion. “What?”
    “We've got all those people just sitting around scratching their ass on Agnosta...why not do a swap right?” Valenko asked, nodding his great ursine head. “Good call, doc, I'll bring it up to the Major,” he said as he left the compartment.
    “Okay,” Doctor Standish said, brows knitting in confusion. Finally he gave it up and shrugged. He turned to his work, but his hind brain kept turning the confusion over. Finally, he got it. When he did he snorted. “Now, why didn't I think of that...oh, wait, I did.” He snorted at himself and then went back to attending to his patients.

 
    Chapter 2
     
    “You've got that look in your eye again,” Jethro accused the bear, eying him warily. Valenko was overdue for something underhanded, sneaky and devious, which usually didn't bode well for someone somewhere.
    “You know me so