FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 1

Kyle Sparks was sitting in his upstairs bedroom, which had windows that that looked out over the park across the street, when he first saw the sign. He was reading a comic on his bed when he saw something large and orange loom into view and cast a strange shadow into his room. Kyle didn't notice it at first, but the orange glow seemed to intensify as if it was calling out to him. At long last he noticed the dread sign and when he looked out his window that day he read it for the first time. " Construction ," it said in bold black letters, "Angel City Outlet Mall coming soon! For more information call 354-6895!"

Kyle was incensed. It was a park! It was where he had played as a kid and where he had hung out with his friends! How did somebody get the rights to buy a whole park and build a shopping mall there!? Kyle was not happy; he called the number to let whoever was building the mall know how he felt. "Greetings," the computerized voice on the phone said in an overly cheery voice that didn't reflect Kyle's mood. "Thank you for calling Gadstone and RIB: We're sure you have questions about the exciting addition to your local community so please dial in your area code so we can further help you." Kyle grumbled as he punched in his area code. "Welcome citizen of..." the voice changed to a gruff male's voice for a second, "Angel City," and then it changed back, "... Gadstone is proud to announce that we're building a beautiful new shopping mall in your area! Please stay on the line for a list of the vendors who are moving into the new shopping facility!"

Kyle punched the off button in anger and slammed the phone down. The stupid phone voice hadn't helped him at all! Now he was even angrier than before he had called. Kyle proceeded to stomp downstairs where his parents were sitting in the living room, "Mom, Dad, someone bought the park and is building a mall there!"

"Yes dear," his mother said without looking up from her magazine.

"But that's where everyone hangs out! Where are we going to hang out now?"

Mrs. Sparks looked up briefly at her son and smiled. "Well, I guess you could hang out at the mall," she said.

Kyle grumbled as he walked into the next room and looked out the window at the sign across the street from his house. He hadn't been able to see it from his room, but the bottom of the sign said in smaller print, "Construction begins in four weeks."

A glimmer of hope! Kyle raced upstairs to his room and looked at the massive poster of the Mithril Order in his bed room. He stared in wonder at Righteous Shield, Silver Striker, Proton, Neutron, and the Neon Flash. If anyone could help him it had to be the Mithril Order! Not only did they have an awesome comic book series, but they were real heroes! Kyle owned every issue ever written including the ultra rare comic of each hero's back story autographed by each appropriate team member. The Mithril Order was responsible for the breakup of the pack, a group of mutant monsters who had terrorized Angel City for years. Currently Victor Fang, former crime lord and leader of the pack, was locked up in the super prison known as the vault. Not only was the vault impossible to break out of, but it was nearly impossible to break into. More than once the Mithril Order had been forced to defend The Vault from outside threats, but nothing that major had happened in the last seven years since Fang was put behind bars. Angel city was experiencing an unprecedented period of low crime, and now the Mithril Order was mostly disbanded and only two heroes at a time were required to man their fortress, or the massive flying building that floated above downtown Angel City.

Kyle felt so stupid, how come he hadn't thought of this to begin with? He quickly got out a pen and paper and started writing. "Dear Righteous Shield, I am one of your biggest fans ever, and I own all the comics in your entire series including everyone on your team's super secret background issues. You probably don't remember me but you even signed my copy of your own super secret background issue yourself when I was thirteen. I'm now sixteen and I have a very serious problem." Kyle wrote.

"An evil man called Gadstone has purchased the park across the street from my house and is now building a shopping mall there. I just wanted to tell you so that you can come in and stop him. Not only do I hang out at that park, but lots of other kids and adults enjoy it every day too. I can't thank you enough for helping me! Your biggest fan, Kyle Sparks"

Kyle hurried to get an envelope and even spent his own money on the stamp. He rode his bike to the post office and put the letter in a special box that sent it to the Mithril Fortress. Kyle was so excited! He just knew something awesome would happen. Unfortunately letters took a while so Kyle had to wait for his reply.

Instead of just waiting around all day Kyle rode over to Benjamin Sims' house. Ben and Kyle had been friends since first grade and they were both super big Mithril Brotherhood fans. Lately Ben had been pretty busy with stuff, and even though they hung out at school they hadn't come over to each other's house much lately.

Kyle rang the door bell and smiled when his best friend opened the door. "Hey Kyle what's up?" Ben asked when he saw Kyle.

"Dude I have something I HAVE to tell you!" Kyle said and Ben let him into his house. About thirty minutes later Kyle was sitting on Ben's bed while his friend listened. Ben had been quiet the whole time listening to Kyle. "So! What do you think?" Kyle asked.

"I don't know Kyle. It doesn't sound like something the brotherhood would help you with. They stand for justice and correcting wrongs, not doing stuff like saving a crummy park from becoming a shopping mall. Anyways have you even thought this through? There's supposed to be a sweet comic shop in that mall and you would be right next door to it!" Ben explained.

Kyle looked at Ben in anger; his wild red hair was even more un-kept than usual spiking up like it was gelled; only it wasn't. Kyle swore something about his friend looked different, he looked almost stronger somehow and his arms weren't so scrawny under his shirt. On top of that there were no comic books strewn about like usual, and most of Ben's posters had been taken down, "Dude, you don't get it: I don't care if it's a good or bad mall, that's where we used to hang out with Rodney!" Kyle said in anger.

Ben sighed and looked away from Kyle, "Why are you still going on about that? You know Rodney didn't choose to move away Kyle." Ben said in a slightly annoyed voice.

Rodney had been Ben and Kyle's best friend since they were kids, but when Ben and Kyle gotten older Rodney had moved away. His parents had decided to put him in a private school and he had moved uptown. After that he didn't really talk to Ben and Kyle, but Kyle still remembered the days they spent playing super heroes at the park across from his house. Those had been the best days of Kyle's life.

Kyle sighed and looked at his best friend, something was just different and Kyle couldn't put his finger on it. "Did you do something different to your hair or something?" Kyle asked and Ben blushed.

"Do you like it? It just started doing this all the sudden one day, crazy huh?" Ben said and ran a hand through his hair.

"It's cool, kinda different, but you make it work." Kyle said and smiled.

"Thanks man!" Ben said and smirked. There was a moment of silence as Ben and Kyle shared a confused look, "You wana go check out the old comic store around the block?" Ben asked.

"Sure!" Kyle said and bounced off the bed.

A while later Ben was watching as Kyle raced around the comic book store going nuts over different comics. Kyle kept going on about this and that and Ben just smiled and watched. "... and then in issue 54 Neon Flash has to save Proton from the evil Timber Wolf who was just trying to bait Neutron into a fight" Kyle said and smiled as Ben nodded his head, "Man, I thought you were still reading these comic books" Kyle asked in confusion.

"Naw, my parents made me pack them all up, they want me to focus on school and make better grades before I buy any more Comics" Ben said. Kyle looked up at him and frowned. Since when had Ben gotten so tall? He was supposed to be shorter than Kyle.

Kyle's moment of thought was interrupted when a clerk walked out with a box full of the newest issue no. 60 titled 'A hero is born'. "O... oh! Oh my word! Look at that! It's issue 60! Oh my god it's finally here!" Kyle said and danced over to where the clerk was putting the comics out. "Oh my god Ben, oh my god look! It's a new member! And they've got his super secret background issue here too!" Kyle said in excitement.

"There's only thirty per branch, you're lucky kid," The clerk said and handed Kyle a plastic wrapped issue with the new hero's face on it.

Kyle beamed at the comic in his hands in awe, but there was only one problem, he was mostly broke. "I... I can't afford this right now" Kyle said and handed the super rare issue back, "Thanks for letting me hold it though."

"No problem kid," the Clerk said and put it up on the shelf as Kyle stared longingly at it.

Ben grinned from ear to ear as he watched Kyle. He was still such a kid even at sixteen. Kyle didn't know it, but Ben really liked him. And not as just a friend either, Ben really like liked him. "I'll take one of both." Ben said to the Clerk who smiled politely and handed him one of both issues.

"Oh wow Ben! But... I thought you couldn't buy comics anymore?" Kyle said as hope shone into his little world of sadness. He might be able to read the comics at Ben's house if Ben got them first. It wouldn't be as good, but at least he would get to see the super secret background issue for the new recruit.

"Maybe not for me, but they never said I couldn't buy them for you." Ben said and smiled at Kyle whose heart stopped dead in his chest.

All his doubts about Ben still wanting to hang out with him melted in that instant. Kyle looked at Ben in a whole new light, "You... you would do that... for me?" Kyle asked in shock.

"Sure! You're my best friend!" Ben said and grabbed Kyle in a bear hug.

Kyle was too dazed to speak and just followed Ben dumbly as he purchased the two books at the counter and then handed them to Kyle. "Th... thanks so much Ben"

Before Ben could reply his watch beeped and distracted the young men. "Hey man I gotta go; can you make it home by yourself?" Ben asked and placed a hand on Kyle's shoulder as the smaller boy clutched the comics to his chest.

"Sure," Kyle said and watched as Ben turned to leave.

"Later Kyle, don't be a stranger, It was fun hanging out again" Ben said and walked out the door.

Kyle was still too shocked to reply. He wondered around the store for a while longer until he made his way out. Kyle didn't know it but across the street two hoodlums watched as he emerged excitedly clutching the comic books to his chest. The two eighteen year-olds were both high school drop outs, and they figured that if a kid could afford to buy comic books he could afford a beating. Kyle was so excited that he didn't even notice the two thugs. He ripped open the super secret background issue and started reading.

The character was called Electron and he had lightning powers. It fit pretty well because he was the son of Proton and Neutron. He had his dad's flaming red hair and a bit of his super speed, but he also had his mom's power of flight. Since both used electricity as their power source it made sense that he could control electricity and shoot bolts of lightning and stuff like that. According to the book though he was just learning to control his powers and could only fly a little bit. Also he wasn't as fast as his dad, but was quite a bit stronger. He looked super cool in his white and red suit with the traditional Mithril Brotherhood armor and symbols.

Kyle finished the Comic as he walked and he was about to cross the road out of the main part of the city when he bumped into the larger of the two guys that had been following him. He stumbled backwards and dropped the comics into the dirt of the empty lot beside him. "H... Hey!" Kyle proclaimed and looked up at the punk standing over him.

"Look at this dweeb." The guy said to his friend, "I bet he's got some cash on him! Hey kid, give us your wallet and we might let you go," the guy said and pointed a meaty finger at Kyle.

"N... no! I'm not giving you anything!" Kyle said and struggled to get to his feet.

The bully beat him too it and Kyle felt himself being lifted off the ground. "That's it kid, we're gunna make you pay for saying no to us... Hey, grab those two comics, I bet they're worth something."

"No!" Kyle yelled as he was dragged into the alley between the large fence that surrounded the empty lot and the building behind it.

Across the street a certain hero was jumping from roof to roof making his way back home after handling a store robbery a few blocks from where Kyle had bumped into the two thugs. He heard Kyle shout out and looked over just in time to see the two guys dragging Kyle into the alleyway. As if on cue a bolt of lightning split the sky and the clouds above began to turn black. The hero felt a few drops of rain hit him as he jumped across the street calling on some of his power of flight to prolong his jump.

Kyle was crying as he felt rain hit him and the two bullies tossed him aside and took a look at his comic books. "Look at this trash! It's those comics about those Mithril dudes... looks like they made up some new guy to appeal to wimpy dweebs like this kid" the guy with the comics said and laughed as he handed the comics to the bigger guy.

"Damn, this shit is worthless." The bigger guy said and dropped the comics on the ground.

Kyle reached out as he watched the comics hit the ground and the rain began to fall on them "Wait! No! Those are mine!" Kyle said pathetically.

"You're gunna get it now kid, you don't got anything worth us taking so we're going to take it out on your face!" The big guy said and grabbed Kyle by the shirt and raised his hand to make like he was going to hit him.

"Put him down!" Someone said in a calm, but powerful voice that seemed to echo as lightning split the sky.

"Who the hell," the bully said and turned around to face the newcomer. "Oh hell no! Look at this clown!" He said as he saw the hero standing there.

"Hey, he looks like the guy in the comic!" The smaller guy said in shock.

"This is too much!" The other guy said and laughed. "What are you going to do spandex? You gunna beat me up?"

"I just might if you don't put that boy down," the hero said and pointed a finger at the bully. "This is my last warning, put him..."

The Bully didn't wait for the hero. He raised his fist back and made to punch Kyle, but something stopped him as the hero intercepted his hand and scowled at him. Super speed was impressive, but it was draining. The hero made a quick move pulling Kyle aside and causing the bully to punch at air as they were both there and then gone. "Ok, let's fuck him up!" The bully said to his friend who smiled and nodded.

Kyle felt himself get lowered to the ground and the hero, who could only be Electron, smiled at him. "Stay here, I won't let them hurt you," he said and turned to face the approaching thugs.

They were both bigger than him, but he was obviously stronger. The big thug threw a punch that Electron dodged and received a smart jab to the jaw. Kyle watched in shock as the big thug spit blood, along with part of a tooth, and gave Electron a nasty look. Kyle wanted to help, but he was frozen in place. The Thugs tried to hit Electron and succeeded once or twice, but he shrugged off the blows for the most part. The fight ended when the smaller guy pulled out a knife.

"Now you're gunna get it!" He said, but Electron was faster on the draw, he thrust his palm out and a bolt of electricity arced into the two thugs throwing them backwards against the brick wall behind them and creating a massive crack of thunder that boomed through the rainy streets.

Electron sighed as he turned around only to find a wet and crying Kyle reaching towards the soggy mess of comic book pages trampled under the feet of the three fighters. Normally Electron would have just leapt into the air, but this was different. "I'm so sorry," he said as he picked Kyle up off the ground.

Not only was Kyle devastated by the loss of his comics, but even worse he had been saved by the hero in the comic he had been reading. "I... those... Ben..." Kyle stuttered and choked back his tears.

Electron pulled Kyle close to him. "Listen, you're much more important than those comics," Electron said and pulled Kyle's face up to look at him. "You're friend wouldn't want you to get hurt over some stupid comic books."

Kyle tried to look brave for Electron. He felt so safe in his arms like this, and Electron felt so strong that it was hard not to stop crying. "Thanks," Kyle sniffed and looked up in wonder at Electron. He was surprised how young he must have been. He couldn't be much older than Kyle.

"Let's get you home," Electron said and lifted Kyle into his arms. What happened next was unexpected as the hero vaulted up into the air seeming to float through the air as he effortlessly jumped from the alley to the roof and from the roof to the next building. Eventually the buildings got shorter and stores became houses. Kyle saw Ben's house race by and he wondered if his friend had gotten home safely. Kyle would have to call him and tell him the bad news. He wasn't looking forward to it.

Finally Electron landed in the park in the thick woods where Kyle used to play hide and seek. There was a small clearing where an ancient picnic table sat in the middle of the clearing with a small jogging path that wound through the overgrown trees. Kyle felt the iron grip of the young man he was holding on to relax and his feet hit solid ground for the first time in a while. Kyle looked up at Electron who seemed to be smiling at him. That smile felt so warm and inviting, and Kyle wanted to believe the hero liked him. "I... I..." Kyle said as he looked up at Electron, but the larger young man interrupted him as he leaned in and their lips met.

A small spark of energy passed between the two and for the first time in his life Kyle felt himself harden at the touch of another's lips. Judging from the bulge in the spandex of the other young man the attraction was mutual. The kiss lasted only a moment, but for Kyle it seemed like an eternity. So many things finally made sense. His love for comics, for the huge muscular guys in those pictures; it was all there in that kiss. Kyle liked guys, but more than just guys Kyle liked men in skin tight spandex with bulging muscles.

At long last their kiss ended and they shared a moment of embarrassing silence "M... My name is Kyle." Kyle said and looked into those shining blue eyes. He marveled at how Electron's eyes seemed to glow with his own special energy.

"Electron," the hero said in a heady voice.

"Thanks again... for saving me." Kyle said and they broke apart separating in a strange shuffle of feet and arms.

"It's my job," Electron said and smiled.

"Yea... so... I guess... I'll be seeing you around." Kyle said and smiled dumbly.

"Yea, see ya," Electron said and vaulted into the air.

Kyle watched as the hero flew out of sight. He shook his head and fought back his tears as he realized he had lost those comics. He felt so bad about it, but he was sure Ben would understand. He might even be a little jealous. Kyle resolved not to tell anyone about how he and Electron had kissed. He swore it was a secret he would take to his grave.