FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Ch.22. Sforzando

**

Ken stood at attention. It was graduation day. His mom and dad were in the stands. So were Jacob's somewhere. The citations were read off. He hadn't graduated with high marks, or a stellar record, but he did graduate with the grudging admiration from his fellow servicemen that his brother was anything but a traitor. It had taken a few good poundings by Ken, but soon, there were no more comments about "Puppy Love" or the like, and he even got a good ribbing. Even he and Jacob's relationship had not been a big issue. It seemed as if they respected him more for who he was than what he was. He'd had to prove it though.

He'd gained a scar across his muzzle. One viscous tiger had lashed out at him at mess and had marked him deeply to the bone. Ken had knocked the feline senseless, and then had pounded the brutes face to a pulp for his trouble. That had been the turning point for Ken.

**

Dal Sr. watched as his son graduated from his Military school. Meghan sat next to him complaining about everything. The heat, the sun, the foal kicking her, the fact that her breakfast had been cold, the fact that Ken was with a bull!

Dalten Sr sighed. He was used to the nagging now. He felt his wife squeeze his hand. Her own pregnancy was showing now. He was very proud. They were discussing names. Violet if it was a filly, Crawford if it was a colt. He was hoping for a girl. He already had two pig-headed boys. A filly would round things out nicely.

Finally the ceremony was over. Dalten Sr. clapped loudly, causing Meghan's ears to go flat at her side. To hell with her!_He stood up and whistled shrilly. That brought a tug on his ever present coveralls from his wife. _Eh, better keep HER happy at least. Dalten sat down beaming at his wife who also applauded.

**

Ken met them after the ceremony. They would all be heading to dinner. Ken, Jacob, Meghan, and Dal and his wife. Ken was so proud to have graduated, he radiated joy. His dad seemed very pleased with himself, his mother looked proud, yet confused at all the fuzz, and Jacob beamed at him. Only Meghan looked upset.

"So son, do you have your orders yet?" Dalten Sr drawled, his hands in his pockets. "No not yet, soon though. There is word they are looking to replace a crew from a heavy War Cruiser named Milwaukee. We're hoping!" Ken gripped Jacob's hand as Meghan frowned. "Yay." She drawled. Ken frowned at her.

What is wrong with her? As if my pregnancy was all my fault. I remember her climbing into my tent at the sleepover quite well. Sure I'd had a few to drink so I didn't mind what we did. She knew her sister was away. She knew what she was doing. In fact, it could even be argued that she arranged this!

Ken fumed at the thought. He'd kept his mind off of the younger sister of his ex fiance most of the time. The fact that she had climbed into bed with him, and had induced the sex, well, he didn't mind. What he did mind was her lording her pregnancy over him and his family.

"Well, lets head out, I found a nice restaurant this afternoon...." Dal Sr. put his arms around his son as Jacob and Ken walked hand in hand, a frowning Meghan followed behind, tossing her white mane behind her.

**

Ken sighed. The restaurant was filled with service members who had just graduated. He knew most, if not all of them. He and Jacob sat side by side, Dal Sr sat next to Ken, and Meghan next to him, his mother last. Ken thought it was ironic they were all squeezed in a horse-shoe shaped booth.

"The announcement will likely come tomorrow. Then if I do get orders, we report the day after to the shuttle yards, then its off. If we do get the Milwaukee we will be gone for about a year patrolling the colonies around Mars Station. It should only take a week or so to get there." Ken tried to not talk with his mouth full, but he found his new bulk required the food. If he didn't keep himself full he got all achy in his muscles.

His Dad, Mom, Meghan and Jacob had all finished long ago as Ken went on about his possible duties. He caught Jacob rolling his eyes once or twice. Finally the bull put his hand around Ken's muzzle.

"Don't get him worked up. He wont stop talking. Ken, eat for heaven's sake so we can get out of here!" Jacob glared at Ken. Ken ducked his head and did as he was told.

Vi chuckled. "Reminds me of you dear...." Vi smiled at her husband. Ken's dad just smirked. Meghan looked sour.

**

"Well son, it was nice to see you, but as you know we can't leave the farm. Mr. Wilson is stopping by to feed the cows, but we have to be back in time for milking." Dal drawled as usual. Ken smiled at his dad. "I understand."

"Oh great, a long night train ride. My back is hurting me." Ken shot a glance at Meghan. He'd had enough. "um, Mom, Dad, Jacob, could you give me a second? I'd like to talk to Meghan alone...."

The three nodded heading off to the rental Dal Sr. had managed to get.

Meghan stared daggers at him.

"What?" Ken spread his arms wide.

"You aren't home! Why aren't you there to take care of me! I'm pregnant with you foal, and all you do is join the fucking Navy!?"

Ken snapped his teeth shining white in the moonlight on the Naval base. "I didn't ask you to get pregnant. I didn't ask you to follow me into the tent. I didn't ASK you to start giving me a blow job. I sure as hell objected when you began riding me, and I knew you didn't have protection, but I kept my mouth shut! Didn't I!?"

Meghan cast her eyes down. She obviously didn't want a scene. Ken had suffered enough. "Listen, I know you were jealous of your sister. I know why you crawled into my cot. You wanted to be a Taylor. Well you are one now, regardless of who you marry. If you marry me, fine, if you marry some other stud, fine, but that foal is a Taylor, and by extension you. Act like one for Gods Sake!" Ken shouted loudly.

Meghan lowered her head for a second. "You're right." Her eyes shone defiantly. "But you're still the sire of my foal, I expect you to act like one."

Ken sighed and took Meghan's hands in his own. "I know Meghan. We've known each other since school days. You're very sweet, very kind, when you aren't being thickheaded like me. Just take my parents advice, and let them help you, and don't make anyone's life difficult. I'll do what I can when I get back. I promise."

Meghan's eyes shone brightly. She flung her arms around Ken's thick shoulders. "Just see that you do come back idiot. You never could think you're way out of a paper bag. Just trust your orders, and get home."

Ken nodded, smelling the sweet scent in Meghan's mane, and feeling the lump that was his foal inside her.

**

"Taylor, Keltan, FFS Milwaukee...." Ken sighed. He'd been assigned to the Milwaukee alright, along with Jacob Jacobs. Ken had to laugh at that. It sort of suited the bull that his parents had just given him a short version of his last name as his first. At least they'd be together. The two smiled at each other heading for the shuttle lines, and their first assignment.

**

Ken worked his station, feeding armload after armload of ammunition into the feeder. "Why couldn't they just automate this?" He groaned to himself. He knew the answer from his training. The static charges of the machinery, combined with the added mechanical requirements of cleaning would render the charges unstable. A human, ah ha, element is required." Ken loaded load after load into the waiting maw of the barrel. Jacob was on the other side of the walk way, feeding a similar weapon as his. The "Pulse Cannon" did nothing more than send physical missiles out via magnetic output. The cleanliness was key."

Ken wiped foam out of his face as the sweat marked his cheeks. The Sargent in charge of the weapon sighted one of the enemy strikers and fired. There was a slight rocking to the huge War Ship as the explosion rocked waves in space. They weren't even half way to Mars when the attack occurred.

Sweat worked his forelock as he shrugged more ammo into the weapons lock. The Sargent, a huge old mule grinned as he sighted and fired. Another explosion rocked the ship hard to port. Ken struggled to keep upright. Warning sirens began along with the automated message. "Warning. Breaches in 16, 17, 19, 20. Evacuate all areas."

The Sargent, Miller, stood up quickly. "Come on! Our section is about to breach!" He screamed, running for the air lock door. Each weapons room was cut off from the central corridor. Ken stared as another crew ran past him.

"Ken!" The bovine yelled at him. "Lets get out of here! You heard the warning!"

"No! Ken yelled back." He had a job to do. It was not glorious, but he'd keep feeding weapons, and keep firing on the enemy. Some faction had broken loose from the local government. They called themselves "Purists" and had attacked the Milwaukee as the ship passed Mars Station.

Ken sat in the gunners seat, and locked him in. He could see the escape pods leaving from here.

"Ken! Get your ass out of there! You heard the order!" Jacob yelled from his station, walking slowly into the main corridor that separated both sections of weapons stations.

Ken grunted. He aimed the turret at the passing marauder. He'd had remedial training on the system. He still aimed and fired three rounds. All three hit disabling the enemy. He undid his belt and stood quickly, loading more ammo into the feeder."

"I'm not leaving. That was an order for those areas to evacuate. We're in 18, not on the list!!!! Nothing was said about abandoning ship!"

Jacob spluttered. "Ken....the ship!"

The ship rocked again, another hit somewhere important. Ken grunted. He sighted the enemy along the aiming computer. The huge gun he controlled on the War Cruiser Millwaulke rotated and and fired his remaining six shot. All six hit. The ship looked severely damaged. He grunted to himself, and reached for the belt holding him in the char.

Suddenly another explosion rocked the ship. Right next to Ken. He had a second to realize what had happened.

Oh no....

**

Jacob stared. The bulkhead ripped away right next to where Ken was sitting. In one second he was seated with his belt coming off, the next he was sucked into space. For a few seconds Jacob was sucked forward his face finally mashing against the closing door.

The huge metal door to both his and Dal's compartment lowered and locked, the red light indicating hull breached beyond. Jacob stared blindly through the thick glass window at the empty station and the stars beyond. "Ken!" He'd shout every now and then.

Suddenly a huge explosion rocked the ship. The command came. "All hands abandon ship!" Over and over. A timer began counting down. Jacob took a deep breath. He had no where to run. The corridor he was in was sealed. He closed his mind and thought plain simple thoughts.

"Ken...." he breathed

The hull breached near the engine core. The massive bull was thrown to the ground. The silence of space was the last thing he heard.

**

Dalten Sr. stood on the porch. A lone car was approaching. He felt anxious all of a sudden. He knew something was terribly wrong. They hadn't heard from Ken. The news had said something about several of the Heavy War Cruisers taking massive damage near where Ken was stationed.

Dalten turned and stared at the sun. The answer was already in his mind. He stared as the sun dipped ever lower. He heard the vehicle stop near him. He heard two doors open and close. He heard Vi step out, the screen door to the kitchen creaking ominously.

"Dalten Samuel Taylor Senior?" One of the two figured intones. Dal didn't even look up. How could he? He knew that this was.

"We regret to inform you that your son, Kelten 'Ken' Franklin Taylor..."

Tears filled Dalten Sr. eyes. He blamed himself. _If only I hadn't pushed him away. If only I'd tried to teach him, like my dad did to me...._He felt a hand on his shoulder and glanced up. Vi was kneeling at his side. Tears streamed down her chestnut face and white blaze. Meghan stood stunned in the doorway. Finally Dalten Sr. Looked up at the two figures in front of him, one feline, the other canine.

"Thanks...."

Was all he said as he took the flag, and the medal. He rose slowly to his hooves, cradling Vi, turning to Meghan he took her in his arms. All three wept.

**

Dal sat at the video screen as it went black, the image of his tear streaked father's face, his mother's weary look, and Meghan's haunted look filled his mind.

"No....God no....not Ken!" He shouted into the empty flat. Rick was due back soon, but there was so much to do. He'd be going to Paris soon. His time in Dublin and London was running out. His mind went into a spiral.

Ken....my twin....gone....how....?

The news didn't comfort him. From what little his parents, and the Navy had gathered Ken had stayed at his station during the evacuation. He even manned the main gun turret and severely damaged two ships, one a Heavy Battle Cruiser before the fatal blow was delivered to the Milwaukee. He had been hailed as a hero. If those two ships had remained in commission, the fate of all the crew would have been a foregone conclusion.

Things were quickly escalating into a civil war. One side derided those who mated or tried to mate people they loved. The others fought for purity of blood and lineage.

"Stupid....so fucking stupid....."

Dal stood. Rage burned down his veins. He lashed at the Video Screen punching it hard with his fist. The screen cut deeply into his flesh. He turned and kicked the remains to the ground, snorting in anger. Blinded by rage he began to damage anything and everything he could reach. There was a tug on his bond. A plea for calm. He ignored it. This was too much.

**

Rick panted as he reached the door. He knew what had happened through the bond. Ken...Kelten was dead. Dal had taken the news badly. He reached out to the mark on his shoulder and sighed. He felt the barest hints of heat. Something was calming Dal. Rick panted a few times, trying to calm himself as he reached forward.

The door unlocked as he turned the key, the handle turning lightly as he entered. The room was a mess. The furniture was mashed beyond repair. The couch was shredded, drool indicated that Dal had done the damage with his own blunt teeth.

A few notes from a piano reached his ear. Cocking his head, Rick padded over to the huge Bosendorfer that took up the flat. There Dal sat, a composition book in his hand, scribbling furiously. One in a while a finger would seek out a key and press it. Dal would hum to himself, and jot the note down.

Rick's eyes teared up. He knew the tears weren't from him. He ran to the bedroom and buried his head in a pillow and wept. Dal couldn't, wouldn't weep, but Rick could and would. For his mate, for his mate's lost beloved twin.Rick howled in pain. His tears marking his face wetly. He let out the tears Dalten wouldn't....couldn't....not now.

**

Dal felt the sorrow well up in him from Rick, but he couldn't tear himself away. Not now he pulled the sorrow into himself and focused on the music. He couldn't stop, not at this point. He had a job to do. A very sacred job. His heart ached for Rick and the pain the poor canine was going through. He jotted down a few notes, following the traditional Latin lines. Confuatis......

A requiem....for Ken.....

**

Much later that night, Dal climbed into bed. A familiar form curled up to him, resting it's muzzle on his chest, a contented sigh coming from the still slumbering Rick. Dal reached up blindly through his tears, and scratched the nexk ruff....gently....

**