FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

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I'll post the entire story here, chapter by chapter twice weekly, absolutely free!

If you prefer you can read all four books right now. The series is complete!:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/146449

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Chapter 24: Save the World

‘Now Scientist’ called it a World-Changer. ‘Tech Dreams’ called it “The most significant invention since electricity”. Celebrities flooded social media with glowing endorsements for the cleanest and easiest energy source. Even Flex News clamoured to interview the great Doctor Karl, inventor of the personal power station.

“Doctor Karl, a few years ago you suffered a major setback when you lost your first prototype. How did you find the resolve to carry on?” asked a simpering interviewer.

The scientist had rehearsed his reply to the question which the studio has posted him earlier. “It was a shared effort. I joined an inspired team of scientists who showed me how we could save the world,” he replied.

“That’s a bold claim. And why open-source the design? How do you fund your next brainchild if anyone can build your invention?” The bleached blonde woman smiled winningly at the camera.

Doctor Karl laughed softly. “Well it’s not quite that simple. The generator needs some highly specialized equipment to fabricate the nano-structures…. sorry, I mean it’s quite complex. Open-sourcing the design means at least initially scientists anywhere can verify and test our claims even if they don’t have the means to build one. They can check our mathematics and run simulations.”

The interviewer turned a condescending look at the fidgeting scientist. “Can you explain in layman’s terms for our viewers what makes your generator so special?”

“In layman’s terms? Not really. But Einstein determined that matter and energy are the same thing.” For a moment the scientist lapsed into his natural lecture tones. “His famous E = mc² equation says that matter is really just an awful lot of energy compressed into one place.” He picked up his glass of water. “I’m holding in my hand the equivalent energy 300 times more powerful than the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. Or to put in another way if you trimmed a fingernail you could use the clipping to power your house for two or three years. My generator, in part, does that conversion.”

“You’ve been getting some serious celebrity endorsements.” She smiled toothily at the camera again. “But what about your fellow scientists? We heard you got a congratulatory letter from the Geneva Power project. Surely they’re annoyed you’ve made their work obsolete.”

“No! They were genuinely happy!” replied Doctor Karl. “They’re taking some of the credit for the creation of the generator because of a white-paper they sent based on work they’d done earlier.”

“Their testing on the Diamond Suits?” prompted the interviewer.

Doctor Karl looked uncomfortable for a moment. “Ah, I’m not sure of their sources.”

“Doctor Karl, you’ve surely seen some of the wild videos on Social Media.” A brief clip of Ikon strolling around West Hollywood played. The black bull was as naked as ever. Blocky pixels discretely censored his groin “Are aliens living among us? Is this a minotaur from Greek mythology?”

The scientist forced a laugh. “I’m afraid that’s not my area of expertise.”

“Thank you for your time.” The blonde woman smiled insincerely. “And now… Do panda bears need Viagra?”

* * *

Officer Wright hugged his partner. “I thought you handled that well. Perfect mix of awkward science nerd and passionate inventor.”

Around the conference table human and alien heads nodded along. The newscast had dominated one wall of the room. Across the table Chase gestured his hand and a shining golden filigree of threads and pears materialized. The dark purple blotch which had dominated the structure a week ago was gone.

“Any chance of some drongo accidentally making the same cock-up and frying us all?” Doctor Chand asked Doctor Karl.

“No, not without building their own 30 kilometre particle accelerator,” he reassured the group. “The science has moved on – Geneva has other projects and suddenly less funding. I expect their investors are pissed off that Australia has blown return on their investment out of existence.”

Even the usually sour Officer Laidlaw looked pleased and shared in the congratulations. He looked around the table at the unlikely collection of faces, animal and human. A monitor at the head of the table showed Silas’ friendly orca face, telecasting in from a swimming pool in Queensland. Officer Wright and Doctor Karl sat together with Chase. Willow and Fate snuggled beside Doctor Chand. Doctor Ash headed the other end of the desk. Ikon and Braid needed oversized chairs for their powerful frames. They sat with folded arms, unconsciously mimicking the Officers Carrington and Laidlaw. “I guess we’ve saved the world, assuming you were right about it ever being in danger,” he reluctantly conceded. “So what happens now?”

Chase spread his arms and his complex diagram of interconnected events expanded, taking in more distant future consequences. At the periphery of the structure dark purple tendrils loomed menacingly. “We’ve saved the world from imminent catastrophe but humanity is still on the path to rapid extinction. What happens next is we save the world again… permanently.”

“But first,” said Willow. “Bagels.”

* * *

Braid and Chase were greeted by Daniel Cartwright as they strode up the driveway toward the ranch house in Montana. Slushy ice crunched around their hooves and paws in the early spring thaw. The horse and dog hugged the big man affectionately.

“How’s Zaru doing,” asked Braid as they walked around to the secure areas of the bear sanctuary.

“He’s doing real good. Truly,” replied Daniel. “Take a look.” They passed through a tall wooden gate. In the large enclosure a small white bear no larger than a Labrador dog was limping after a young dark-skinned boy. Speckles of muddy ice dappled the white fur of the creature’s belly. “Tino has made it his personal mission to care for the lost spirit. Tino!” he called to the boy.

Tino sprinted with gangly limbs flailing in the manner of all nine year olds. “Unca Braid and, uh, doggy I cant remember your name!” He flung himself into a hug with the solid horse hybrid.

“Heh. It’s Chase, like you were playing with the bear,” laughed the canine, wagging his whip-like tail happily. “Tino, how’s Zaru? You taking good care of my friend?” In the enclosure the small bear cast about with blind eyes. He tilted his head listening for the sounds of conversation.

“Oh, yeah! He’s great!” enthused the young boy. “We’re helping him re-grow his spirit, right Daddy-Dan?”

Daniel nodded. “Yeah, I really think we are.”

“Zaru!” shouted Tino, “Come!” Then he clicked his tongue in a repeating pattern. The white bear turned his head sharply toward the boy’s shout, plodded along and correcting his path as he followed the clicking of Tino’s tongue. He bumped his nose into Tino’s knees, then sat. His milky eyes blinked as he swayed his head. Tino dropped to his knees and hugged the shaggy white creature. “Good boy, Zaru. Good boy…”

Daniel looked proudly down at the boy. “It’s doing good for Tino as well – helping him re-grow his spirit too. Hey, here comes my man.” He waved to James who joined them in the corral.

“Braid, Chase. Great to see you again.” James greeted the hybrids warmly. “We’re taking good care of your friend.” He looked down at the diminutive bear creature and his face shifted to concern. “I’m not really sure I understand what happened to him? How did Zaru get like this?”

Chase sighed heavily. “How you see me, my shape, it’s how I see myself. I’m a creature of animal and human worlds, striving to uplift both.”

“Two spirited,” offered James.

Chase nodded. “We are defined by our… morality?” He floundered for words. “We have a strict law – it defines us, it forms us. No force, no coercion. We collaborate and uplift others.” Chase looked down at the mewling bear. “Zaru directly and violently interfered in events without collaborating. It sounds minor but his intervention cascaded into events forcing people to act in accordance with his will. He broke his definition of what it means to be ‘Zaru’. So his cohesion broke down. He was no longer how he’d pictured himself. His mind and body bled away as they were in conflict with how he’d acted – who he was being.”

“But not all of him?” asked James.

A deep frown furrowed the Great Dane’s forehead. “No. And I don’t know why. It could be that he knew he was saving so many minds he thought he was still doing good. You might be looking at all that is virtuous of Zaru.” But then he shuddered. “Or it could be that he felt our laws were constricting and superfluous. That part of him may have dissipated, leaving an unconstrained monster.”

James looked at the boy hugging the small, blind bear. “Zaru needs constant care, feeding, cleaning. He’s been nothing but careful with Tino. As monsters go he’s not a big threat. He’s getting better, too. Much more aware of himself and the world. Tino thinks he might be getting some eyesight back again.”

Chase nodded cautiously. “He’s rebuilding his identity. Forging a new self.”

“Well, there’s no better place in the world for a bear to recover his spirit. And no-one better than Tino to help him find his path.” said Daniel heartily. “You boys wanna come inside? Petey and Ken will be back from their supply run in an hour or so.”

“Thanks. But another time – not today,” said Chase. He absently patted Zaru on the head, then motioned to Braid. “We’ll be on our way.” The two animal creatures hugged the flannel-clad men. They stepped back and in a blink were gone.

Zaru sniffed the air where Chase and Braid had stood. Unnoticed, a low growl rumbled in the white bear’s chest.

This story concludes in book 4: Dream Suit.