FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 14

Summer did her best to maintain a positive expression and posture as the session ended and the women she had been counseling filed out. At least, she hoped it would read that way now that her head and face were more equine than human. Once Tara closed the door Summer let out a huge sigh and slumped down into her chair. Tara leaned back against the door.

“I think that went as well as it could have." Tara said after a moment.

“I've seen less crying at funerals." Summer said almost under her breath as she shook her head, her long blond mane swaying along with it.

“Maybe, it's a lot to accept. They were holding out hope that the research would find a way to turn them back."

“I know." Summer rested her head in her hands. “And I can't help feeling guilty about the fact that I have accepted this as the new me."

“You're not alone. Look at me, I get everything I ever wanted, and I'm even alright with what's left over from the old me. But it's hard to be completely happy about that when other people are dreading the rest of the world seeing their tails."

Summer nodded her head softly. “I suppose all we can do is be there for the other girls and help them get through this."

“It would be easier if there were more men out there like Ryan."

“Or Aiden." Summer sighed and smiled slightly. “I'm lucky Julie will share him with me."

“Be honest with yourself. At this point, you three are a thruple."

Summer was happy the fur covering her face hid her blush. “I suppose."

“To your own self be true. Trust me on that one."

Summer chuckled softly as she got up from her chair. “Speaking of which, I should head back to my place and spend some time with them."

“I know I need some cuddles after today."

Suddenly the door burst open and Daisy rushed into the room.

“Oh my god! Daisy, what's wrong?" Tara grabbed Daisy and helped to support her winded body.

She could see the sweat pouring down her face in spite of the cold weather and her rapid breathing.

“Ran here!" Daisy gasped. “Summer! Katie…Dr. Vasseur…everyone!"

“What happened?" Summer rushed to her side.

“They were arrested!"

“What?" the other two shouted.

“I saw them, a bunch of guys in suits with guns! They were being loaded into a van in handcuffs!"

“What about the temple?" Summer asked, growing even more concerned by the second.

“They have the whole building under guard. I ran here to find you…" Daisy's equine ears drooped, “I forgot my phone in my room before any of this went down."

Tara shook her head. “Why would they get arrested? And can the CDC even do that?"

Summer's face darkened and anger burned in her bright blue eyes. “They can't do this! We are so close to ending this, and now they are putting the world at risk!" She rushed back to her chair and grabbed her bag.

“Summer, what are you doing?" Tara asked, still supporting Daisy

“I'm going to Uncle Joe and we're going to put a stop to this!"

“But the lockdown…"

“You can just call him, right?"

“I don't trust my cell. They are probably listening in. This way I have a chance of getting past any of the national guard." She slung her bag over her shoulder. “Tell as many people as you can what happened, but stay off the phone or social media."

“Be careful!" Tara called after her as Summer ran through the door.

Daisy turned to Tara. “What are we going to do?"

“I don't know, but now I really need those cuddles from Ryan…"

***

At the field command for the CDC, an unused strip mall, an interrogation room had been set up in one of the storefronts. It used to be a tobacco store in its previous life, and the faint smell of it still lingered in spite of the disinfectants used by the CDC. The reminder of tobacco was only further aggravating Dr Laura Vasseur as she was led into a sealed Plexiglas box. There was a chair and table set up against the wall, along with an intercom. On the other side of the box there was an additional table and chair. Dr Vasseur paced back and forth in her transparent cage.

Behind a recently constructed partition wall. Dr Helen Madsen watched her pacing on a video feed.

“She doesn't look happy." She commented.

“Would you be?" Dr Will Graham asked before turning to Mr Smith. “Are you really going through with this?"

“I found Dr Vasseur and her friends in the middle of setting up an occult temple that just happens to be ground zero for the incident here on campus." He pulled a thick leather bound binder out of his case. “Of course I'm going to interview her. Also, I'm pretty sure she was the one in charge from what I've already gathered. I want you both to watch the feed, you might pick up on something I miss."

With that, Mr Smith left the observation room and entered his portion of the interrogation room. Dr Vasseur stopped her pacing and stared at the black suited agent through the Plexiglas. With her arms crossed. Mr Smith had been glared at by far scarier things in his career and wasn't phased. He walked up to the desk and sat down. Calmly the agent opened his binder and shuffled through a few papers. Dr Vasseur continued to watch him intently, but chose to remain standing.

“Dr Laura Vasseur, PhD. Chair of the archaeology department at Silver Mountain Creek University. You attended the school for your graduate work, and returned as a professor after a solid five years out in the field. You have continued to work out of and teach at the university for the past twenty-eight years."

“Congratulations, you looked up my page on the school's website."

“I've glanced over a few of your papers, not that I have the time to read every one, but I'm a bit surprised. Usually I see a few indications of interest in the occult or arcane in the papers of professors who get mixed up in these sorts of things."

“That's because I had none."

“Until this semester. What changed for you, Laura?"

“That's Doctor Vasseur to you, Mr Smith."

He leaned back slightly in his chair. “There's no need to be hostile."

“You raided my school and arrested me, along with my friends and students. You're damn right I'm going to be hostile. You have no idea what you are doing."

“I can assure you, I have far more experience in these matters than you have, Doctor. There is a reason unsanctioned practice of magic is illegal."

“Since when?" Laura asked with an incredulous look on her face.

Smith folded his hands over his binder of papers. “Since 1789."

She shook her head slightly. “Next thing you're going to tell me is that aliens are real."

“That's not my department, and we are getting off track. Doctor, what would make you mess around with things you can barely understand for a second time? Hasn't what has already happened to the young woman here bad enough?"

“I don't have to explain or justify my actions to you."

“Actually, yes, you do. Whatever ritual you botched is still lingering around the university and town, not to mention the contagious nature of this blessing has spread it even further. Now, Are you going to explain what is going on?"

“Not without my lawyer. I don't care if you are some kind of magic cop from the federal bureau of wizardry, I have my rights."

***

As instructed, the two doctors from the CDC were following the interrogation.

“She's a real piece of work." Helen said back in the monitoring room. “I have to respect that kind of defiance."

“Yes well, that defiance isn't going to get this situation under control. Don't forget what plan B is for all of us." Will responded, shaking his head. “This is going nowhere, he should try interviewing one of the students, they will be more likely to crack.

***

After another fifteen minutes of defiance from Dr Vasseur, Mr. Smith came to the same conclusion. The doctor was escorted back to the holding area and Katie was brought into the Plexiglas cage.

“You got to let us out!" Katie said before he could even introduce himself.

“You are all in serious trouble for what has already happened on campus, let alone whatever you were trying to do today."

“Yeah, well, everyone is in trouble if we don't perform this ritual."

“What do you mean?" Smith tapped on the desk with a finger. “Have you performed multiple rituals?"

“What? No! This was the first one, well, first one on purpose, once we figured out what had happened."

That got Smith's attention. “What do you mean you figured it out?" he glared through his glasses at the student.

“It was an accident," Katie said as she pulled out the chair on her side to sit down, “she didn't mean for any of this to happen, she was just trying to read and translate the inscription on the Disk. Who would think it would do all this?" Katie gestured down her body.

“I would, but I know better." Smith sighed, “Sometimes I don't know which is worse, misguided amateur attempts at magic, or random accidents with ancient artifacts. Of course it sounds like both are at play here."

“I guess I'm not a professional, but that doesn't mean I'm a monkey with a gun, I've worked hard on figuring this out and figuring out the program. Let me explain. So, we ended up stuck under this glitched-"

“Botched." Smith corrected, not even looking up from the notes he was taking.

“Ok, botched Blessing of Epona, and it keeps spreading and getting more extreme."

“Epona, the Celtic goddess of horses and fertility, that explains a lot." He sighed again and continued to write down his notes.

“Before all this I just thought she was Link's horse. Anyway, I was helping out Dr Vasseur in trying to analyze the disk, there was a lot more than just translating the words inscribed on it. With some help from Dr. Schmidt I started to draw some connections to programming. It still took us a while to decode the disk and figure out what had glitched, er, botched the system and reconfigure it to stop this from spreading any further. But then I figured out the bigger problem."

Smith looked up from his notes. “You're talking about an artifact like it is some kind of computer."

“It is, in a way. The geometry and incantations are just an unusual programming language. I'd show you my work but it's back on my computer, unless you already confiscated it from my dorm."

I'll be doing that for sure now. Smith thought. “I've been doing this job for many years now, but I've never heard of anything like this."

***

Sitting at the monitor station, Will and Helen watched the interview progress.

“Looks like the Magical Mr Smith just learned a new trick." Helen said with a slight smirk, “I guess he doesn't know everything about this shit."

“Does that mean you believe him now?" Will raised an eyebrow.

Helen shrugged. “I don't know what I believe exactly. All I know is 'a wizard did it,' makes as much sense as anything with this outbreak."

“I'm sending a team to Katie's room to recover her computer." Will said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I'm betting Smith will want a look through it."

***

“Really?" Katie folded her hands on the desk. “It seems pretty obvious when you take a step back and look at it. Maybe wizards should take a programming course or two."

“I just might, if we get through this."

“Oh shit!" Katie slapped her forehead. “I got distracted talking shop! We need to complete the setup and perform the ritual, like right now!"

“Katie, as interesting as your insights on this are, I'm not going to allow this to continue and make things worse."

“You don't want things to get worse?" Katie leaned forward towards him. “How does all the young women in the US, no, all of North America ending up like me sound?"

Smith narrowed his eyes slightly behind his glasses. “Are you threatening me?"

“No, I'm warning you! The Disk didn't go inactive after the first, ah, pulse. That's why the blessing kept spreading to new women, like the girls from Keystone Tech. Hell, even the guys can spread it, they may not get the tails but it still affects them. At least that's what I heard."

“We are aware males can be carriers as well. I want to stop the spread, everyone here does. But we now have everyone under containment. We can take our time and study the artifact and I promise, your research will be looked at by our very best."

Katie shook her head. “That's not the bad part. The Disc has been building a, I guess the best description is a charge, since October. Every minute that ticks by it grows both stronger and closer to the critical point. When that hits, boom!" Katie clapped her hands for emphasis. “It's horse dicks for every girl!"

Gods and goddesses! Why the hell didn't Vasseur say anything about that! Fool of a woman! “Are you absolutely sure about this?"

“Do I look like I'm joking to you? Go on and arrest us all afterwards, but we need to stop this, the clock is ticking."

“In more ways than one." Smith turned to face the camera. “I need Katie's computer here now! And get Vasseur back in here, We are going to have another chat about this situation."

***

There was no time to properly decontaminate Katie's computer, so Smith found himself back in a hazmat suit as he went through her files.

This is impressive. He thought as he clicked through her research. She should be working for us. I'm certainly recommending her recruitment, assuming we aren't all charcoal by the end of this. Smith leaned back in his chair. I don't see any faults in her logic, or her assessments. What I've researched of the Disk with my methods pretty much confirms this artifact is a powder keg ready to blow. But there is no way I can authorize them to go forward on their own. I need approval from higher up for the ritual to continue. But there isn't any time for that. Kilroy has an itchy trigger finger and would push sterilization 'to be sure.' Of course the damn thing could still go off and we have a town and campus destroyed with thousands dead and this blessing will just continue to spread through the world.

Smith transferred copies of Katie's work onto a flash drive. He would combine her findings with his own in the report he intended to send back to the head office in Chambersburg. Smith needed to get the ball rolling before things spiraled any further out of control.

***

It had been a long night for Audrey, and the day wasn't looking to be any better. She was standing in the living room of her apartment with Chelsea by her side. Audrey was now standing on all four of her legs. From the waist down she had the body of a horse in both shape and size. Audrey couldn't help the feeling of claustrophobia, as her head was only an inch from the ceiling. With the coffee table pushed into the kitchen she had just enough room to turn around, but that was about it.

From the waist up her body was covered in a coat of fine gray horsehair with white dapples on her flanks, and as she had expected she now had an equine face. Looking in the mirror there was nothing left of who she was when she first came to Silver Mountain Creek University.

Chelsea held her hand, while she slowly stroked Audrey's soft coat with her other hand. “It will be ok, I promise. No matter what, we'll get through this."

Audrey closed her eyes and squeezed her hand back tightly. “Please,don't leave me."

“Wild horses couldn't drag me away."

Audrey's eyes snapped open and she looked down at her partner. When she saw the slight smile on Chelsea's face, she couldn't help but laugh softly.

“I know, a stupid joke at a time like this. I blame my father, I get it from him."

Audrey leaned down and pulled Chelsea into a tight embrace.

The tender moment was interrupted by a buzzing of the intercom. With the lockdown in effect, they were both surprised anyone would be coming to see them. Chelsea pulled away to answer the call.

“Hello?"

“Chelsea, it's me, Summer, I need to talk to you both, it's an emergency!"

“Come on up, I'll buzz you in." Chelsea turned back to Audrey. “She sounded upset."

“Yeah…"

“Are you ready to be seen like this?"

“Summer already knows what I was turning into. Besides, I wouldn't fit in either bedroom." Audrey sighed. “we better cover up a little. Can you hand me a bra?"

By the time Summer was knocking on the apartment door Chelsea had slipped on a robe that managed to cover most of her body and Audrey had slipped on a bright green bra that just managed to contain her massive breasts. Summer quickly entered the apartment, but froze when she saw Audrey dominating the room.

“I, ah, whoa…" Summer couldn't help staring.

“Yeah, I know. I need a bigger apartment now."

“I'm sorry, given what's happened to me I shouldn't stare, but I wasn't ready to meet a centaur."

“That's not completely accurate, I think equitaur describes me better."

“Is that even a word?" Chelsea asked.

“It is now. But enough about me, what's the situation?"

“Right. Dr Vasseur and everyone at the temple was arrested."

“What?" Audrey shouted, stamping the floor hard with her right front hoof. “Why?"

Summer shook her head. “I don't know. Daisy saw it happen though, they were all loaded up and driven off campus, probably to the CDC compound."

“They can't do this! Not now, we are so close to ending all of this!"

“I know. My Uncle is downstairs in the parking lot and he's as mad as you are about all of this. We're still trying to decide what to do. Also, I thought I should warn you as, well…"

“As this is all my fault."

“Audrey, I wasn't blaming you."

“Blame doesn't factor into this. I'm the one who read the fucking incantation aloud and caused this entire shitstorm to happen. Of course they will come after me. Well, I'll save them the fucking trouble."

“Audrey, calm down." Chelsea said, placing her hands gently on her partner. “We need to be smart about this."

“There's no time for that, and you both know it."

Audrey pushed past Chelsea and Summer and threw open the door. Ducking down she squeezed out of the door to her apartment.

“Audrey! Stop!" Chelsea ran after her into the hallway, followed by Summer.

Audrey didn't listen, she took off at a full gallop down the hall to the freight elevator at the end of the hall. Her hooves thundered in the enclosed space as she galloped, causing many in the hallway to open their doors to see what was going on. Summer and Chelsea followed after her, and caught up to her at the freight elevator doors.

Chelsea wrapped her arms around the equitaur's waist. "Audrey, don't do this!"

"I have to. No one is going to jail or worse on my behalf."

"Please don't, let's talk this out." Summer shook her head. "Let my uncle use his influence to find out what is going on here."

"I appreciate everything your uncle has done for us, but this is my problem."

"Last time I checked this is all of our problems." Summer was getting angry. “Stop being so stubborn and listen."

The elevator dinged and the large doors opened.

"I'm going. You two can either come with me or stay here."

Audrey stepped into the elevator, dragging Chelsea along with her. Summer hesitated for a moment before stepping on with them.

"This is stupid and crazy." Summer grumbled as she crossed her arms. “All that will happen is you will end up in a cell next to everyone else."

"Maybe that's where I belong. Regardless, I'm done hiding my actions from anyone. I got us all into this mess, and I'm not about to allow everything to fall apart at the last minute."

***

Tara was curled up in her bed. She had been crying off and on since she got home. Spooned against her back, Ryan held her tightly.

“This can't be happening. We were so close…" Her voice was barely a whisper.

Ryan squeezed her tightly. “It will be ok. Once they explain what is going on they'll have to let them finish the ritual."

“But what if they don't? Or what if we run out of time and it goes off? This is a disaster just waiting to happen!"

“If it does, at least we won't be alone." He gently kissed the back of her neck.

Tara closed her eyes and pushed back against Ryan, wanting to feel more of his comforting warmth. He gently rubbed her side. Tara tensed as she felt a pressure building in the front of her face. From what the other girls had said, she knew what was coming. Ryan held her tightly as Tara's face pushed out and elongated. Along with the changes to her face and head, she could feel the fur crowing to cover the last bits of bare skin on her body.

Tara let out a long sigh and opened her eyes. Part of her wanted to rush to the mirror, the other part was scared that this would be too much for Ryan to handle. After a long moment of deliberation, Tara turned to face him, pulling her boyfriend tight. In his eyes she saw no fear or disgust, only love. He placed a hand gently on the side of her muzzle.

“Just hold me until this is all over." She said before softly kissing him.

***

The ride down to the ground floor was silent. Chelsea continued to hold on tightly, but when the doors opened she let Audrey go. The equitaur opened the large doors to the loading dock and stepped out into the cold winter air. She shivered slightly, but that didn't stop her. Forgoing the steps, she leapt down from the dock onto the parking lot. Across from the loading dock the door opened on a large SUV and Joe Hooper, Summer's uncle, got out.

“What are you girls doing?" He asked as he stared at Audrey's current form.

“I'm going to the compound to put an end to all of this. You three can follow if you wish." With that, Audrey took off running.

“Shit!" Summer turned to her uncle. “We need to follow her."

“Get in!" Joe shouted as he rushed back to his SUV.

He threw the vehicle into gear and floored the accelerator as soon as Summer and Chelsea were in the back seat. On foot they stood no chance of catching up to Audrey, but in the SUV they were soon able to catch up to her. The scene drew attention and soon a pair of Hummers from the National Guard were following behind them.

There was a certain feeling of freedom Audrey felt as she leaned forward, her arms tucked tightly against her chest. She didn't feel the cold anymore now that her blood was pumping. Audrey had never been an athletic woman, but now she felt the joy of running flat out on her hooves even through her anger at the situation.

The compound was ready for them when they arrived. Rifles were pointed at Audrey as she cantered to a stop.

“Freeze! Don't move!" A sergeant shouted at her.

“Take me to whoever is in charge!" Audrey shouted back.

The sergeant glared up at Audrey. “Shut your mouth and stand down!"

“No, you shut your mouth! I'm the one who caused all of this! You hear me? I unleashed this infection, curse, blessing, whatever you want to call it! Now either shoot me or take me to your boss!" She glared down her muzzle at the guardsman.

The men shared glances at this revelation, but their rifles remained trained on her. Joe got out of the SUV with his hands in the air.

“Nobody shoot! My name is Joseph Hooper, I think you all know who I am!"

The sergeant shifted his glare from Summer to her uncle. “No amount of family clout is going to help you at this point."

“We have vital information about what is going on with the people you have already arrested. We need to speak with whoever is in charge here."

A silence settled over everyone, colder than the December air. Audrey stood tall, glaring down at the guardsmen and their guns. It was then that a radio crackled to life.

“Bring them into the holding facility." The message came over the radio.

“Ten-four." the sergeant replied before stepping up to the equitaur. “You will follow me to detainment. If you so much as flick your tail my men will end you. Is that clear?"

“Crystal. Let's go."

“Get whoever is still in that vehicle out!" he shouted to his men.

Once Summer and Chelsea were out of the SUV all four of them were marched into a large temporary structure.

***

Audrey's stunt did not go unnoticed by those on the other side of the fence. Video of the equitaur was already on every news feed. It was also adding fuel to the protesters after they witnessed the monster attacking the compound. This emboldened them as they shouted at the National Guard maintaining the perimeter and started to throw trash and rocks demanding that the monsters be dealt with.

Back inside the compound Dr Graham was being lambasted by his superiors over the phone.

“I had no idea the mutations had reached this point or of course I would have brought her in quietly!" He shouted back over the phone.

Helen shook her head, but kept her mouth shut.

“How is that a threat? I would love to wash my hands of this mess! You want to replace me, be my guest. They can be the one left holding the bag when the real shitstorm starts. See how many volunteers you can find to oversee this mess, especially if what those involved are saying is true. Oh, your little specialist hasn't relayed that bit to you? Well you can call him for an update. Now if you will excuse me, I have my job to do." Will ended the call and proceeded to turn off his phone.

“Holy shit, you just hung up on the director."

“Yeah well, he can fire me if he wants." He tossed his phone onto the counter. “Is Smith aware of the claims the calvary made?"

“Everyone in the compound knows by now. They are trying to get her into the interrogation room, but they had to cut the door larger first to get her in." Helen shook her head. “I mean fuck, she's a centaur! How much crazier can things get? I'd rather be dealing with Ebola at this point."

“You and me both."

***

The temporary structure was warmed with portable propane heaters. It wasn't exactly cozy, but it kept out the winter chill. Dr Vasseur stood up from the cot she had been resting on. Somehow she recognized her student immediately.

“Audrey?"

“Are you alright, Laura?" She asked as her hands were cuffed.

“Not my first time in a jail cell, but that's the least of my concerns."

“I'm sorry." Audrey looked around to everyone else in their cells. “I'm sorry I got all of you in this mess. That's why I'm here. I'm taking responsibility."

Dr Vasseur sighed. “They aren't about to let us go and finish just because you showed up and confessed. Besides, we'll need you to be there for the ritual."

“How much do they know about the plan?"

“I explained everything to that one guy." Katie spoke up. “Mr Smith? I think he believed me."

“I got that impression from our second talk." Dr Vasseur shook her head, “But that doesn't mean he will let us do it."

“And why the hell not?" Audrey stamped her hoof down hard on the ground.

“Bureaucracy." Dr Vasseur spat out. “It's the end of the world and still the fool is worried about overstepping."

“I mean the world won't end, but things will get chaotic when this spreads everywhere." Katie sighed.

“This could easily escalate to that point." Dr Schmidt said, looking down at the ground. “The rest of the world will blame the US for the disaster. Along with all the civil unrest that will obviously follow, military escalation would also be on the table."

“I didn't even think of that." Katie looked like she was going to throw up.

“The world isn't over just yet, we can still stop this." Audrey's eyes hardened with determination, “I'm not about to just roll over and let it happen without a fight."

She saw a pair of National Guard troops approaching her. “Good, looks like it's time for me to have a little chat with Mr Smith."

_______________________________________

Characters and setting belong to Journeymanic

Writing by Syntaxerror37

FA: https://www.furaffinity.net/user/sevencrown37

SoFurry: https://sevencrown.sofurry.com/

Discord: therealse37

Bluesky: @sevencrown37.bsky.social