FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A comet flared over the oceans of Ketu II, and the shapes of vast coral continents that could be seen just under the waves, giving the illusion of solid ground. They were bound for a titanic mountain range reaching up just enough to feel the sunlight with its fingertips.

Fox and Wolf sat across from each other in the back of the blunt arrowhead shaped shuttle swaying in the turbulence of the world's thicker atmosphere. Lightfoot managed it precisely. She didn't flinch as the cliff face raced toward the windshield, then the walls of a crag swept past it. Threaded them into the needle of metal paneling opening in the natural rock. And with one final bump, they docked.

"Showtime. Stay frosty,"

Wolf added a slap to Fox's rear end, giving him no time to react as the airlock was already hissing open. The guards waiting for them only saw the vixen glaring up at her date.

The welcoming party was outfitted in full military regalia. Breastplates, paulders, arm and leg plating strapped over camo of black and venomous green. Lasrifles in good condition. Visors crossed the full helmets. Professional, organized. Polar might have been aiming a little higher than being a simple tin pot dictator.

"I got no overcoats or tophats for ya, boys. I'm always at work,"

Wolf greeted boisterously as he began shuffling Fox forward. The guards didn't react much, for better or worse. Until one motioned with a thumb toward the depths of the hangar.

"Entrance is right over there. Can't miss the dining hall. Just stick to the fancy areas,"

They weren't more than a dozen paces away when one of them broke away from his peers and approached briskly.

"Hold on, sir,"

Fox and Wolf regarded each other grimly, turning toward the speaker.

"I think you ought to know something," The guard hushedly told Wolf, "This is the entrance for the General's, uh...special guets. Just a heads up- he may have an eye on your vixen there,"

Fox felt his stomach turn when the soldier's head dipped toward him. That also meant the disguise was working at least. So far his confidence in this plan was waxing and waning depending on whether somebody was looking in his direction.

"Appreciate the warning," Wolf said, "I have to be on guard with this one. This little slut would fuck half the galaxy if I didn't keep her in line,"

His voice became slightly louder as he went on, "I'm not joking, I can't <bribe> this bitch into wearing panties-"

Nails suddenly dug into Wolf's arm as Fox tugged him onward.

Past the group and down the stairs of the landing pad, the opulence of the palace wasted no time introducing itself. Cavernous, pillars and arches ribbed the entrance hall ahead. Even the floor underfoot shined with metallic golden paneling. The hallway they traversed was lightly trafficked by other individuals, soldiers being the majority. But they remained unchallenged.

"Less security than I expected," Fox murmured.

<We've already passed a number of detectors. As I predicted, it's less dangerous to be seen in passing by strangers than to trigger a scanner looking for saboteurs.>

An elevator waited for them, its doors composed of stylized wings sweeping floor to ceiling. They retracted in pairs on the elevator's marbled square floor.

-

A multi story chamber spread out under the balconies ringing it. A dining room laden with long tables set and furnished for royalty. Though it was a motley swarm of space pirates and assorted war criminals that actually occupied it. From their places at the tables to where they chose to roost on balconies or stairways, everyone seemed to be enjoying the festivities. More prominent guests fit in well enough, leaving their minions more strikingly out of place without cover of neon lights and smoky air.

It proved quite a circuis to weave through.

A drone hauling a platter of drinks ruffled Fox's ears as it whooshed past. Dodging around a muscular black horse wearing only a golden codpiece. A tail trimmed into a brush wagged over sculpted ass cheeks as he passed. Elsewhere, a burst of laughter and pounding on the table. From another direction, feral simian screeching as an argument devolved and a drink was tossed across the table.

Somebody was watching over them though. Behind a fluttering curtain here and there, or dipping out of the shadows under high arches of the upper corridors. It was rather easy to spot the lurking soldiers if effort was put into it.

Preoccupied, Fox stifled a yelp as he was taken by the shoulders and pushed past some curtains. Wolf's abrupt detour brought them inside an alcove lined with plush red seat cushions. A cylinder in the center of the space bore a rose of striking red coloration. A single petal fell, flitted down to the bed of shiny pebbles though this didn't subtract from those atop the stem.

Wolf passed a finger straight through the bud and the rose scrambled, reforming into a menu of drinks.

"Wolf?"

"Two minutes," He said, flopping down on the couch.

" Planets are on the line here, Wolf,"

"Exactly why we want to go into combat without distractions. Regrets,"

Wolf reached up, seized Fox by the wrist. Brought him to sink into the cushions. Liquid poured, swirled inside the machine and then with a hiss, their drinks emerged from the top. A pair of diamond shaped flasks suspended on elegant curls of silver.

Their glasses met with a clink. A moment later, their lips followed suit. Fox felt the thicker muzzle pressing against his, a hand brushing the side of his head. The warmth of Wolf's lips. A lighter touch traced across Wolf's chest, fingers spreading, running through the tuft of fur. They parted, muzzles bowing to bring their noses touching.

It was a small moment. Though those seconds were more dense than entire weeks. Lights flashed across the curtains as something was going on outside. Fox's arms fell from the embrace around Wolf's neck.

-

Lights were dimming down, brightening in a pulsing pattern calling attention to the far side of the room.

<Attention, esteemed guests! Please find your seats. General Samedi Polar will address the gathering shortly.>

Fox hung onto Wolf's arm, hauled briskly through the alternating darkness. Quickly the room calmed down to an eerie degree as the light show ceased and dimmed. Now it was only sconces spilling illumination down from the heights of the pillars.

The north wall of the chamber was occupied by a balcony of sorts jutting out into the dining room. The floor raised in curving terraces, the pattern rising and shortening until it was just vertical layers of gold folded over themselves. All this seemed to pour from an oblong podium swelling its chest over the room.

As Fox and Wolf slid into a pair of chairs, spotlights were clicking on behind the podium. They illuminated the path of a large, rotund figure walking swiftly up to his post.

Samedi Polar in the flesh and mottled green fur. He took his time surveying the crowd without expression. Front and center, lime and in the light. At last he raised his arms as if conjuring up the holographic screen that manifested over the crowd's heads. This was met by applause, whistling and other approving noises. Soon his amplified voice choked out the cheering.

"I am glad to see so many familiar faces still sailing the stars,"

By now the screen was showing orbital views of different planets. Moons. A space station or two in slight disrepair.

"I know my kindred spirits well. And the lovely ports you call home,"

Samedi leaned well over the podium as he said this. A new hush fell over the room as it dawned on many that the crosshairs overlaid on the screen could not be a mistake.

"I have called you all here, not just to attend a mere party," A finger soared toward the roof, "But! To the founding of a new empire!"

The applause started up slow but worked up into even louder roar than before. Wolf contributed with an impatient tapping of his claws on the table. Finally the fanfare faded out.

Samedi lowered his arms, slapping the podium. Grasping it with his claws.

"Do not take my words for it. I am prepared to demonstrate the might wielded here. Let it be known. Let our independence be declared with the...the, how you say, bang!"

"I need the suit back to normal," Fox whispered at Lightfoot.

Wolf watched as Fox slid down off his chair and underneath the table. This had also drawn a curious glance from a passing guard. Wolf folded his hands behind his head, grinning widely as he acted as if something very different was going on just below. The guard flashed a thumbs up and continued on his patrol.

Out on the ocean tidal waves worth of water were suddenly hammered up. Crashing against the sky one after the other, it was raining by the time battlecruiser-sized shapes began to swell in the water. Black segments broke the surface, hung in the mist and falling water and leaving violent vortices with each departure. Six in total outlined a circle, with the jutting island chain at the center. They held the formation as they set off for orbit.

Wolf's downcast face watched the cutlery vibrating on the table. Miles below the ocean was starting to furiously hammer at the island and it was translated all the way up here.

Vaulting a banister, Fox plunged a story down to land just behind the podium- vacated by now. Whirling around he caught sight of the bear walking away, joined by an entourage of guards emerging from where they were tucked just out of sight behind pillars. They quickly crowded out view of the general and packed into an enclosed stairway leading up and away from the dining hall.

-

Somebody strolled up and pulled the vacated chair out, then took their seat next to Wolf.

"Behind schedule?" Asked the stranger. No accent detectable, but certainly feminine behind the helmet's speaker.

"Nope," Wolf replied gruffly, "Right on the mark actually,"

"So where's Starfox then?"

"I'm pretty good at guessing where he'll end up. Let's get going,"