Reborn in Ether
#2 of Into the Void
Reborn in Ether
Bridge of the Charm's Way
Captain James Chase looked out the viewing port, watching as the Steelfang broke orbit and made towards the jump point. "You can't run forever Krieger; I'll catch you some day and when that day comes; all debts will be paid in full." The wolf turned as a young lynx walked into the bridge. "How's our guest, Tex?" The lynx sighed "Davis is having to use the nanite gel to rebuild his body from the genetic level, but otherwise alive. What did he do for them to do that?" "I don't know, but I have an idea. Get to your station, we have to break orbit before the Navy decide boards us and investigate us for our actions." Tex moved over to the Tactical station opposite Sonar. Sonar was at the sensor station which also contained the controls for the ships cloaking device. "Having fun with Davis, Tex?"Chuckled the fennec. Tex just sat at his station and ran a diagnostic in preparation for the Hyperspace jump. "No, but we couldn't just leave that human to die could we?" replied the tired Lynx. Sonar turned back to his console and ran his own diagnostics in preparation for the coming jump.
The Charm's Way was a converted Freighter and as such the crew couldn't just open the throttles and hold tight, they had to ease the ship to her top speed as the frame and keel weren't designed to handle the stress that such manoeuvres would put on them.
Chase watched as two of his bridge staff, one only temporary, prepped the aging ship for hyperspace: "Where are Haze and Belle? They should know we're prepping for hyperspace." wondered Chase as the shields, sensors and cloaking device were cycled and set for the jump. The doors to the main bridge opened and all eyes turned to meet the two late comers. The first was a male red fox from Tarantis called Haze and a female golden retriever from Katina named Belle; both had a dishevelled look to their appearance and were slightly out of breath. "Haze, Belle where have you two slackers been?" Both exchanged a glance and mumbled something about taking some down time while they had been 'running silent'. "Never mind get to your stations and prepare to jump."
The two resumed their stations at the helm and communications stations respectively and began cycling their controls. Chase considered where he was going to go take the ship, he couldn't return to Alpha-Centuri their new guest made that impossible for political reasons. But where else was in range, the only systems nearby were largely League controlled, Alliance controlled planets were out of the question because his band of mercenary's had been the bane of the Alliance fleet for several years and couldn't risk running into the Steelfang and Nemesis again so soon. The wolf's gaze drifted briefly across his bridge and settled on the golden retriever at the comms station. Belle came from a world called Katina in the Lylat system, an independent system, quiet and out of the way. Chase made up his mind, turning to Haze "Set coordinates for the Lylat system." "Coordinates inputted Nav computer is locking on now" replied a smooth feminine voice, "Estimated time to arrival, 3 hours 27 minutes." "Thank you Luanne" said Chase as the ships AI beat Haze to setting the ships course.
Belle turned to look at Chase and opened her mouth to speak... "We need to rearm and refuel, normally we would head to Port Maw or Stranivar, but our guest makes that impossible. I'm taking the ship to Lylat because it's an independent system where we won't attract any unwanted attention" said Chase in response to Belle's unasked question.
"Don't you like going home?" asked Tex, the lynx was curious why Belle wouldn't want to go back to where she grew up. Belle turned to look at her friend. "I'm an orphan, and I didn't really fit in where I grew up. The boys got it into their heads that girls don't make good pilots." She replied before returning to her duties. Tex and Haze stared for a moment, stunned that anyone could think girls weren't good pilots. A noise from the captain brought both back to their senses, "Coordinates locked sir, Hyperdrive is charged and we are beyond the jump point" called Haze. "Engage" ordered Chase, Haze eased the hyperdrive controls forward and the ship shuddered slightly as the stars streaked past the viewing ports and the ship entered Hyperspace.
Charm's Way Infirmary
Charles Davis was monitoring the Nanite gel he and Tex had applied to his newest patient, when the ship entered hyperspace. The transition from sub light to faster than light speeds usually played havoc with his equipment, and being the medical officer this could be dangerous. Today was no exception: the monitor screens broke into static, and the med comp shut down. The doctor knew that this shouldn't happen on any ship, but with the way the engines had been overrated the insulation and electromagnetic shielding was insufficient. Luckily the nanites relied on the patients bioelectricity for power and were unaffected by the electromagnetic fluctuations.
"Why can't they give me some warning when they jump?" grumbled the middle aged wolf. The screens flickered back to life as the ship made the transition.
He turned around to look at his patient; the human had been in a bad way when he arrived, he was alive but the stress of going from an atmosphere to a vacuum and back had virtually made his body shutdown, the nanite gel was the only way to save him. Twenty minutes ago he had been looking at a human, now he was looking at a vague outline of a humanoid. Davis sighed, the genetic strain would not stabilise for another few hours and then it would take at least a week for the male's body to fully transform. In that time, his patient could turn into anything, he was trying to turn the poor man into an anthro canine but he would have to wait and see what the result would be.
Infirmary, 2 hours later.
Jet slowly began to wake up, he heard what sounded like a heart monitor, and he could smell disinfectant. His face felt different; his nose was very sensitive picking up many different smells he didn't before, his face felt like it had been stretched, his ears felt different to, his body seemed to be covered in a long coat of hair and he felt something attached to the small of his back. Then he heard someone walk up to him. He noticed they had a unique scent as well, causing him to question what had happened, and with his eyes covered he couldn't actually see who it was or what was going on.
"Can you hear me?" asked a deep voice. "Yes" Jet replied, noting his limbs were also restrained. "You were thrown into outer space from an airlock; your body was very badly damaged from the decompression and recompression. We healed your injuries but we had to use a procedure which altered your genetic code. I'm afraid, you are no longer human." It took a few moments for Jet to take this in fully, he wasn't human, he was some kind of anthro. "I'm going to remove the blindfold now, don't struggle or you will just hurt yourself." Blinking as his eyes adjusted to the new light levels, Jet looked around. The first thing he saw was his new muzzle; long, broad covered in fine, white fur with long whiskers at the end. The next thing that came into focus was the grey wolf that he briefly saw before he passed out.
"How do you feel?" asked the older wolf. "I don't know the polite word for it" replied Jet, he was disorientated, fatigued and his muscles ached like hell. "Well you're in a better condition than you should be; it's only been two hours since you were brought aboard. This procedure normally takes two days. Your appearance is now that of an anthropomorphic canine, a Border collie in fact. There was already some anthro DNA in your genetic code so the Nanites didn't actually have as much work to do." The wolf explained as he hovered around the head of the table, while running some kind of test program on a small pad.
A pair arms moved into Jets field of vision, one began pricking different areas of his body testing for nerve response, while the other held several needles, one empty, and began injecting different serums into his body before taking a blood sample, Jet flinched at that. "These are just standard tests, not unlike what you would receive if going for a check-up on Earth. Incidentally, I am Charles Davis, the ships surgeon."
"Jet Orsai, nice to meet you" Watching as the arms continued their work until the blood sample was taken then the programme ended. The two arms retreated back to where they came and Davis moved to a console at the side of the bed, he tapped in a few commands and the restraints holding Jet down disengaged and returned into the gaps in the furniture where they came from. "Can you sit up?" Asked Davis, he'd never had a patient recover so fast from this kind of treatment and didn't want to push things. Jet obeyed and sat up, the pain in his muscles fading as he began to use them again, he started stretching his arms and legs as the doctor observed. "Everything seems to be in working order. We just have to size you for a uniform and you're ready." Davis helped his patient to stand, who was a little unsteady due to not being used to the pads on his feet. Jet now noticed that he was naked, and instinctively his tail curled up in an effort to cover himself. The wolf chuckled at the sight and led Jet over to what looked like a large circular platform, which was raised 12 inches off the floor and was wide enough for him to stand inside and stretch his arms out. Davis directed him to do just that. "Step up onto the middle of the platform with your feet shoulder's width apart and hold your arms to the side at shoulder height." Jet complied and Davis tapped on the command console, a ring descended from the ceiling and passed up and down Jets body several times. After each pass a hologram above the command console became more defined and complete. After a final pass the ring returned to its housing and the hologram enlarged to allow the details to be seen more clearly.
Davis pressed a symbol on the holographic display Jet had thought was a console, there was a series of mechanical sounds followed by a metallic thud as something dropped into a bin behind Davis. "Here put these on, then I'm taking you to meet the captain." The wolf handing Jet his new uniform, the wolf then walked back to the main lab leaving Jet to dress. Jet took the bundle and laid it out on a nearby table: there was a pair of plain white boxers, socks, a White T-shirt, a heavy Slate grey jacket, a khaki pair of combat trousers and a pair of heavy boots. As Jet put on each item he realised that while they looked heavier and bulkier than would be expected, they were actually light and didn't restrict movement much, the jacket seemed to be some kind of Flak vest, which explained It's weight. The boots also had indents for the pads on his feet and were quite comfortable. He looked at his reflection in the glass of a tank filled with a clear liquid. Staring back was a blue and white furred border collie, 5'10, with blue eyes and a slightly larger build than he remembered with four scar like depressions on his right cheek.
He stood there for several moments taking in his new appearance and came to the conclusion that he must look like just another spacer. A noise brought the canine's thoughts back to his companion. Davis looked Jet over, "I have to take you to see the captain now and we weren't expecting you to be awake again for at least a week so we have to fill you in on what's going on right now". Jet nodded and followed Davis as he turned to leave the infirmary. The two walked through a series of corridors some plain white, composite panneling, a few had long rows of windows looking out into space, but as the ship was in hyperspace all that could be seen was a swirling vortex like a teleporter's, but this was silver and black rather than blue. "We are currently in hyperspace, that's why you can't see anything. In less than an hour we will emerge in another star system. Until then you will be tested on your abilities and combat effectiveness, after meeting the crew of course." Davis called to Jet. Who gave the vortex one last look and followed the wolf again.
Bridge of the Charm's Way
Chase was reading a report from an informant on Stranivar when the doors of the bridge opened, in stepped Davis followed by an unknown collie. "How are you feeling" Chase asked the newcomer. "Better than I was a few hours ago sir" replied Jet, who looked over the bridge, taking in who was there and how it was laid out. "I am Captain James Chase, and welcome to the Charm's Way. I run a mercenary team and fighter squadron called the Battlehawks, and these are some of my crew. The fennec is Sonar our sensor operator," the fennec nodded "The red fox is Haze, one of our pilots, the retriever is Belle, our comms officer," both waved "And the lynx is Tex, the team's 'shinie' " "Hey" said Tex. Jet nodded to each in turn and then turned to Chase: "So what happens now? I know I can't go back to Earth like this."
Chase stopped and thought for a moment; he could invite the collie to join, but that meant that both he and Tex would have to be trained, on the other hand he did need new pilots to replace the casualties sustained in their last few battles. But that was if he was good enough to make the grade. Besides, as he said, they couldn't exactly send him back home now.
"You could stay on board, join the Hawks. But that would mean taking on the life of a mercenary with all the danger and possible rewards. Or we could take you to a League controlled planet and have you apply for citizenship, that would take some time, you would have to start your life again from scratch but would be free to do what you want." Chase replied. Jet thought this over, if he stayed he would have to fight and risk being killed again, but if he left he would still be penniless and would probably have to enlist anyway. "I'll join; I won't have any money if I went planet side now so I'd probably have to enlist anyway."
Tex, Haze and Belle all smiled, "Welcome to the Battlehawks" replied Chase. "Tex take our new recruit to the firing range and see what he's like with a blaster, Vasili will take him through pilot training later." Tex rose and signalled for Jet to follow him. "Just one thing before you start training, what's your name" Jet turned back to Chase, "Jet Orsai, Captain." "Welcome aboard Jet, and welcome to your new home" Said Chase.
Jet turned and left with Tex, who led him to an armoury in amidships. When they entered a large Arctic wolf turned to look at them form a workbench with what looked like a twin machine gun mount for a battlesuit in bits on the table. Tex spoke first; "Hey Vasili, this is Jet, another 'shinie'. Chase wants to start training him to use blasters, although I do need some practice myself." The wolf looked at Jet, "do you have any previous experience with guns?" asked Vasili in a thick Russian accent. "Mostly hunting, but just before I was jettisoned into space I shot an anthro lion on earth with a bolt-action battle rifle. Pissed the captain and some lioness on that ship off; the scum was that bastard's son." A deathly silence followed this statement; both Tex and Vasili stared at Jet. "You shot KRIEGER'S SON!" exclaimed Tex, Jet nodded, although he wasn't sure who Krieger was. "If that is the case, you may be of some use." Replied Vasili, giving Jet a knowing smile and holding out a rifle for him, "Here take this, there are two target ranges: a conventional shooting range and a holographic range in the Holosuite. Go to station one and aim your rifle down range, Tex go to station 2." Jet moved to station one, seeing Tex move to station 2 with a Bull-pup carbine of the rifle he's holding.
Vasili moved behind the two shinies and activated the target controls, cycling a basic targeting programme. "First there will be two: targets one above, one below, I want you to target them and fire one round at each." This was followed by the aforementioned targets popping up on the range. Jet raised the rifle to his shoulder and fired, both rounds hitting the targets within 4 inches of the bulls-eye. Tex performed similarly. "Ok, next will be a series of trials to test your accuracy" called the wolf; both recruits nodded and took aim.
2 hours later, amidships armoury
Vasili watched the two shinies leave; the collie had impressed him with his accuracy and trigger control. He only fired when he was sure of a hit and always checked his fire first. He had achieved an accuracy rating of 82%, impressive for a shinie. He stopped to think on the recruit's performance; "I wonder if he is any good at piloting a fighter, well only time will tell or maybe we could train him to use the new Katarn-class battlesuits." He turned to the deck comm unit and called Chase on the Bridge giving his report.
"You're really good Jet, I would hate to be in your crosshairs." Complemented Tex, the lynx had been completely outclassed by his new crewmate and was wondering how he had become such a good marksman. "I learned to shot by hunting feral hares on a bog on Earth. If you can hit one of those bastards running at 200 yards, you can hit a few targets on a gun range. I don't mind being a marksman but I don't want to be a sniper, it's too risky a job." Jet replied to his new friend, both stopped as they heard a noise in the vents. Several seconds of silence followed, "Just the draught, come on why don't show me where the mess is, I'm hungry" said Jet, "Sounds good to me" replied Tex giving the vent grates one last glance.
Haze exhaled quietly as Jet and Tex continued past the maintenance way he was hiding in. He had arranged to meet here with Belle after their shifts were over, but she was running late and he'd almost been found by the shinies. His heart was still beating like a drum, watching the corridor outside for any more unexpected guests, when two golden furred hands grabbed him from behind.
A small yelp came from the red furred vulpine as he turned and came face to face with his lover. A little jumpy aren't you, Haze?" Belle giggled as her fox shook a little in her arms as he tried to get his breathing under control again. "Jet and Tex almost found me while I was waiting for you, I don't fancy the prospects of explaining to Chase that I was hiding in a maintenance walk, waiting to yiff a certain bit..." he was cut off as the golden retriever placed her lips to his and drew him into a deep, passionate kiss. Haze's worries and frustrations evaporated into the kiss, and was instantly returning the kiss as passionately as Belle was giving it. After several minutes of kissing, they broke apart and for a moment stared into each other's eyes. Haze took in the sight of his beautiful girlfriend, even after doing this a few times the effect never wore off on him; she was 5'7 with long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders, her fur was smooth and soft, she had a pair of firm 34DD breasts, a small waist with slightly wider hips (giving her an amazing hourglass shape), with long strong legs and a glorious, golden, fluffy tail. Before they had been dating, she had haunted his dreams every night, with him regularly waking up to a sticky mess on his stomach and crotch in the morning.
Belle giggled again, bringing him back to reality, this was how it always started she would tease him until he did what she wanted. They both knew what they wanted, to take things up a notch. But they had been too shy, scared or just not had enough time alone. Tonight would be different.
Haze leaned and began nipping his way up her neck; he knew this turned her on, when he reached her ear, he stopped. "I love you Belle, I want to show you just how much I love you, are you ready to take our relationship to the next step?" Belle froze, she knew what this meant, she loved him and he loved her, but was she ready?
"Yes Haze, I'm ready my love" Haze began nipping her neck again, and ran his hands over her jumpsuit, over those amazing curves that had haunted his dreams for so long. He reached the zipper on the front and drew in down slowly over her body, exposing first her delicious cleavage and then her toned stomach.
Belle's hands weren't idle either, running them over Haze's back before removing his jacket and reaching under his shirt. Haze lifted his arms so she could lift his shirt off before returning to her body. As he pulled the jumpsuit of her shoulders, he began kissing the tops of her breasts, before sliding his hand back and unclasping her bra. Belle let out a little meep as her firm breasts fell free, Haze didn't hesitate, taking her right nipple between his lips and started licking and sucking on the sensitive nub, while his right hand came up to her left breast and kneading the soft mound, and tweaking her hard left nipple.
Belle gasped as Haze began to pleasure her chest, but soon began moaning as pleasure coursed through her body. Never ceasing in his ministrations, Haze slid his left hand down Belles body, over her toned stomach and into the crotch of her jumpsuit. Belle shifted slightly as his hand grazed her moist sex through her panties, Haze moved his fingers either side of her lips, and began slowly sliding his finger along her folds. Belle gasped at his touch, lost as a new wave of pleasure washed over her.
Haze kept up his assault on her breasts and pussy, until Belle stopped him. "Stop teasing me, I want you inside me" Haze complied, stepping away so he could remove his jeans and boxers. His foxhood standing proud at 7 inches, Belle slid her jumpsuit down all the way, followed by her panties and spread her legs. Haze moved forward and lined himself up with her entrance, Belle gave as small nod and Haze pushed in slowly until he came to a barrier. "This is going to hurt" he said to Belle, "I know, but I also know you wouldn't hurt me on purpose" Belle replied.
With that, Haze thrust himself into Belle, through her hymen and then held himself still. Waiting for them pain to stop for her and to allow her to adjust to his size. Belle whimpered slightly, and tears fell from her eyes at the pain from losing her virginity. But the pain was passing; she looked into Hazes worried face. "I'm ready to continue now"
Haze pulled out halfway and started to thrust into her, slowly at first but soon picking up speed. Belle started to moan again, as pain faded and pleasure came again, the feeling growing as Haze sped up. Haze began to feel pressure building in his crotch, his knot beginning to form, and from the way Belle was moaning, she was building up to her climax too. He started to hammer into her, wet squelching sounds coming from their soaked crotches.
Belle suddenly screamed as her climax hit her, just as Haze tied with her setting him off. Both riding their Orgasms out together. After what seemed like forever, the slumped down onto the floor, Haze pulled Belle to him and hugged her tight as they both waited for his knot to shrink. "I Love Belle, I love you so much" whispered Haze. "I love you too" Belle whispered back, nuzzling his neck.
When Haze's knot had shrunk enough for them to separate, they immediately dressed themselves and left the maintenance way. As they walked toward the mess hall, they walked into Jet and Tex.
"Where have you two been, I've been trying to find you so that you can tell Jet more about yourselves" asked Tex. "Yeah Romeo, where have you and Juliet been?" followed Jet
Both blushed at Jet's comment and were about to answer when the ship was rocked by a violent explosion throwing all 4 off their feet.
Tex was face down on the floor, he pushed himself onto his elbows and gazed around, as his vision and hearing cleared from the concussion. As his hearing returned he heard Jet cry out: "What the hell happened!" Sirens began blaring. All four looked at each other.
The ship was under attack...