FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The hover took off once Eric pointed to the house and said. "This is yours." The flight had been short and uncomfortable. Theo hated trying to argue with someone that didn't get riled up. Eric's constant level tone kept shutting down his argumentative engines. Cass telling him that the other tiger was angry based on the signals he could now read didn't help. Eric just didn't give off the visual cues Theo needed.

But they hadn't reached anything resembling an agreement. Eric was determined on having Theo be part of his family. Even Terrence and his two brother's reaction hadn't helped him understand that wasn't a good idea. The last thing Eric had said was 'I'll talk to them and make sure they understand how things are now.'

Theo looked at the house. He didn't know the style and didn't ask Cass for it. "This looks quaint," he said. The outside was a light gray with dark blue wings on each side of the windows. The porch looked to be wraparound in a lighter blue with a few chairs by the door.

"It's a four-room apartment, but the rooms are a lot bigger than you'd expect. And the bed can fit an easy dozen of you."

Theo smiled. "Wouldn't you love that?"

"Well, I did have that movie; Never Enough of Myself, but I must admit it would be interesting to have you have sex with yourself for real."

"I guess you need to circumvent the cloning laws then. How did you know the bed was that big? Is that on the net?"

"Doubtful, I accessed the house's sensors."

Theo climbed the stairs. "Of course, they need to keep an eye on me."

"Actually, every house seems to have sensors. Trying to find the reason. You can let your self in. Just press the lever on top of the handle and pull the door. The other door, grab the knob, turn and push."

Theo looked at the handle. "Seem antiquated not to have them automated."

"They are, but they can also be opened manually without having to do anything special, like break into the emergency release system."

"So it's for Independents?" Theo pulled the door. "And why is this just a screen?"

"To let the air in the house. And no, from what I can tell it's just part of how the house was designed. The automation looked to have been added on."

The knob turned easily, and he entered to a short entryway. "This house can't predate Implants." The screen door closed by itself, but the interior one remained open. "Should I close the door?"

"Your choice, the house's temperature is regulated."

"Then what's the point?"

"You'd have to ask one of the Orrs, I'm not finding a reason noted on the net, just its capabilities. And no, the house isn't that old, only a hundred years, but the design is ancient. It looks like they wanted to preserve the feel of this kind of house."

Theo closed the door.

The entryway opened to one large room. On his right was a living area with seating around a low table and a screen almost touching the floor. As he watched a log fire appeared on it.

"For ambiance, I believe," Cass said before Theo could ask.

He shook his head as the fire turned off. On his left were the food preparation and eating area. "At least the inside is modern," he said. There were a food printer and drink dispenser.

"You have access to the full menu on both. I can make you a drink if you want."

"Just coffee."

The opposite wall had three doors. One in the center, and one in the middle of the wall on each side.

The drink dispenser buzzed and Theo took the mug without looking. He sipped his lightly sweetened coffee. "So one's the bedroom, the other?"

"An empty room. I expect you could turn it into whatever you want. Maybe you could make it a dance studio and you could teach."

"I'm not--"

"You're going to need something to do."

Theo sighed. "What's the security on the house? I figure they're keeping an eye on me."

"Not that I can determine. The sensor is set to register your presence, but that's so the house can adjust to your needs. No active monitoring so you could get naked and no one other than me would know."

"How about their AI?"

"He could access the sensors, but he wouldn't get details. From what I can tell this is a standard setup. Every house on these islands are like this--oh, no. There's one house on the other side of this island that isn't registering on the network at all."

"Hidden?" Theo asked, hopeful for something to do.

"No, the network lists the house's location, and I can see it through hover sensors that are flying in the area, but it doesn't have a connection to the network. Possibly it's shut down because no one uses it."

Theo didn't reply. "So I can make escape plans without worrying I'll be overheard."

"Theo--"

"I'm kidding. My parents are on their way, I'm not going anywhere until they're gone. I'm not putting them at risk. Which one is the bedroom?"

"The one on the right. The center door is a small bathroom. There's a larger one accessible from both rooms."

Theo opened the door and whistled. "You weren't kidding. How big is that?"

"Four by four meters."

"I could get lost on that thing."

"I expect no one in this family ever sleeps alone."

"Or sleep at all. If they're anything like Tucker. I have no idea where that guy finds the energy. Did he ever stop?"

"I don't know. I kept away from the Mercury's system, you know that."

"But you're moving about here?" he opened the door to the bathroom. Opulent in white marble, with a sink, toilet and a large area with multiple jets.

"I'm keeping away from anything restricted, but yes. The planetary network is vast. And most information is freely available."

Theo sipped his coffee. "How large can the bath be?"

"Pool size."

Theo looked at the size of the bathroom. "You're kidding, right?"

"Of course. But only slightly."

An area highlighted, covering most of the bathroom, with only enough space along the wall where the sink and toilet were to link one door to the other.

"Okay, yeah, that's pretty much a pool. Just how many people do any of them expect to shower with them?"

"Well, this is a large family."

"Right," Theo couldn't prevent the shudder that thought brought up. Sex with family members wasn't his thing.

He opened the other door and a room as vast as the other one, but it felt even larger because it was empty. "I could turn this into multiple dance studio." He looked through to the other room. "And I thought my apartment back home was big."

"The Orrs are known for preferring a lot of elbow-room."

"That's a lot of full body room." He finished his mug and went to the kitchen. "Should I bother looking for things like soap and dish towels?"

"There is soap in the bathroom, as well as towels."

"They just throw this away, don't they?"

"Recycle it." A section of the wall flashed before tilting forward to reveal an opening. "The whole of the islands are connected to the country's system. Each house has its own recycler and the most common base materials are stored locally, but excesses will be sent back to the central storage."

"It still feels wasteful to throw the mug down the chute. It's just as easy to wash it."

"When you can just make a new one, this is the easier method."

Theo went to the bathroom and found a hand towel in a cabinet. He rinsed the cup and dried it. He couldn't find a cabinet to store it in so left it next to the drink dispenser.

He leaned back against the counter. "Okay, so now what?"

"Anything, I guess. You have free reign of the islands, that was made clear. You could probably go to the continent, but I think someone would make sure you're accompanied before you left."

"Anywhere on the islands, right?" Theo mused.

"What are you planning?"

Theo headed outside, left the door open and walked around the house, the porch did go all the way to the back. In the distance he watched the building standing so tall it disappeared in the sky.

"You want to, what? Break into Orr headquarters?"

"It isn't breaking in when I have free reign."

"I doubt they included that."

"It's on the islands, right? Three of them if I remember the file."

"Yes, but this is the brain of the corporation. Every major decision is made there. There is no way they would just let you walk around in there."

"But you heard Eric, I'm an Orr. He was very clear about that."

"He can't--there's no way--well, I guess the only way to find out is to put it to the test. There'll be a hover here in three minutes."

* * * * *

Up close the building wasn't as impressive as from a distance because it was impossible to get a sense of how tall it was. But Theo could feel how big it was, and how many people worked there, by the flow coming in and out.

People of all kind, of all genders, in all manners of dress, or undress. He'd read the files, and had been on the Mercury, which was as Orr as you got in space. But that was a cruise ship. Somewhere in the back of his mind the notion had remained that no one would be that casual about nudity outside the ship.

"How do they get anything done?" Theo watched as a muscular rhinoceros approached. He was definitely naked, well hung, and utterly casual about it. He noticed Theo, smiled, gave a nod of greeting and continued walking. Theo turned to continues watching. The guy had a nice, firm looking ass.

He heard giggling and a small group of men and women pointed at him and whispered among each other as they headed toward the large entrance.

"Well, there goes any claim of being trained to blend in I could ever make."

"I'm not sure there could be any way to prepare yourself for this."

"I guess, if anyone asks I'm the new guy."

"Somehow I don't think that will work. Only Orr citizens work here. This is a sight they're all used to."

"Visiting dignitary?"

"I can't create the documentation for that, not without the Orr AI noticing."

"Then let's just charge on and see what happens."

He entered the building and nothing happened. He couldn't even notice anyone resembling a security guard, or one trying to pass himself off as something else.

"Are you keeping me hidden from the security?"

"No, did you want me to try?"

"No, I was just expecting a reaction. Was there any message sent to notify someone I'm here?"

"Not that I can tell. I'm spreading forks around, getting a sense of the building. The AI is everywhere, but he doesn't seem to object to my presence."

"So he knows I'm here. He must have informed someone."

"Or he's just watching to see what you'll do. Just how many ways can he fork? I can't tell what level any of his forks are. It's eerie."

Theo studied the lobby. Vast didn't begin to describe it. He couldn't see the back wall in the distance, or the ones on either side and the ceiling had to be a hundred feet up. He did his best not to appear impressed.

His best might not have been enough.

"Can I help you?" A woman asked. She was a giraffe, but her fur looked to be gold and bronze. She wore a sash over her midriff and nothing else.

"I'm a little overwhelmed." Theo was sure this he could be overwhelmed about. There was no way even Orr citizens could expect this on their first visit.

Her eyes glanced to his exposed left arm before coming back to his face. "Didn't you access the introduction movie on your way?"

'Introduction to Orr Corp headquarters Movie,' appeared on the top left. 'Three hours long,' Cass added.

"Can anything prepare anyone for this?"

She looked around. "I suppose not. You get used to it after a while. I'm Olive."

"Theo, and you're actually golden."

She smiled. "I've been feeling metallic lately. Do you like?" She posed. Her breasts weren't large, but the motion still gave them some bounce Theo expected would draw the eye of anyone female compatible.

"Very distinctive," he said as diplomatically as he could.

She grinned. "Where are you going?"

"Orientation," He said, following Cass's instructions.

"That's on the eighteenth floor. Do you know your room?"

"The Velvet Couch room." As the words left his mouth, he wondered if Cass was playing a joke on him, but she nodded.

"Then you're in the right neighborhood. It's down the Hall of the Golden Leaves, and you'll make a left to take Silent Creek." The map appeared in Theo's sight. "It's actually 1243 Silent Creek, but everyone just calls it the Velvet Couch."

Theo nodded. "I've located it on the map." He smiled at her. "You caught me before I accessed it." He motioned around them. "Overwhelmed and all that."

"I'm always happy to help. Do you want me to accompany you?"

"That's generous, but I'll be good, unless the other floors are like this, I'll be good."

"No, this is the only time you'll have to deal with something this large. If every floor was like this. We'd be able to take the lift to the moon."

"Thank you for the help."

"You're welcome. I hope I see you around." She waved at him as she walked away.

"And she gave you her contact info. Trash it?"

Theo waited until he was sure she was out of earshot. "No, store it. I think having a contact that isn't one of the Orrs would be good." He headed to the lifts. "Okay, since I doubt I need to go to Orientation, where do you recommend?"

"The sex club, of course."

"There's a sex club?"

"Well, it's just called a club, and there's eight of them, but this is Orr Corp so sex is implied."

"Not going there, but what is a corporate headquarter doing with clubs?"

"Theo, I don't think you fully comprehend the size of this building. It's bigger than France."

Theo chuckled. "Come on. No building's larger than the capital."

"You want me to give it to you in square meters or in population density? There are no houses or apartments, but there are eighty-six hotels. More recreation businesses than is worth mentioning, restaurants, stores. You name it, it's there?"

"Water park?"

"Okay, not that, although there are pools, spas, gyms."

"Alright, I get it. It's big."

Cass laughed. "No, you don't get it. Big doesn't even begin to define this building."

"Alright, alright, I don't need to understand how big it is. I just need a place to go."

"Do you want to talk to any of your family?"

"My family's not here yet." Theo paused. "No, I don't want to talk to any of them. You know what? One of the spas. I want to relax. Soaking would be nice."

"Seventh floor, down the--"

"Just map it, please."

* * * * *

The door opened as he approached. The path Cass showed him went to a locker. Theo felt the clothing melt away and into the belt. He placed it in the locker and followed the trail to an unoccupied hot tub.

"I'd expected more people," Theo said as he stepped in and lowered himself in the hot water.

"This is a less popular spa. The higher in the building the business, the more people frequent it."

"Did you have to pay anything?"

"No, but I expect that's because of who you are. You run the country, remember."

"I don't," Theo hissed. "They do."

"And Eric has decided you are one of them."

Theo grumbled his answer.

"I can try to locate where your position within the family is recorded in the system, but if I remove that I get the sense that moving about will become rather difficult."

"You're enjoying this way too much."

"Enjoying is such a strong word, but I do find it amusing that you have all this access to one of the most powerful corporations in the system and all you can think to do with it is complain."

"Can you just let me stew in my annoyance in peace for a while?"

"And with that I'm going to go edit a movie. Say hi when you need me again."

Theo closed his eyes and tried to forget where he was, and who he was. He got his breathing under control quickly, but his mind wasn't as quick to follow his instructions, drifting to the questions of what his parents thought they were doing. What Eric thought he was doing. What stupid stunt he could expect Tucker to pull next. But eventually quiet fell there too.

* * * *

Jostling of the water made him open an eye. A tigress was stepping into the hot tub. She nodded to him before sitting opposite him. Theo closed his eye again and went back to not thinking of anything.

He didn't last a minute. He could feel her eyes on him. He opened both, and she was indeed looking at him, appraising him.

"I'm male exclusive," he said.

"I wouldn't have expected otherwise."

Theo became more attentive. If she wasn't looking for sex, what was the look about? She was older, early to mid hundred, was his guess. With retyping it was almost impossible to know for sure, but her gaze wasn't just intelligent, it was experienced. Her fur was vibrant, a deep orange, almost red that reminded him of Terrence's fur. She had the musculature of someone who took care to exercise regularly and seriously, and her breast would make anyone stare, regardless of their compatibility.

"They're natural," she said.

"Sorry."

"Don't be," She offered her hand. "I'm Beatrice."

He shook it. "Theo."

"And I don't mind being stared at." She took her breasts in both hands and gave them a squeeze. "These are what first caught your grandfather's eyes."

"You knew my grandfather?" He barely knew anything about either of them, not even their names. His mom and dad had explained, once he was eighteen, that because they'd left that life behind, they hadn't wanted reminders and they hadn't wanted Theo to wonder about them, so they never brought them up. So how could this tigress--

"Oh you have got to be kidding me."

She smiled. "I was wondering how long it would take you to work it out."

"I'm not your grandson."

She waved it aside. "Don't worry. I'm not as invested in any of this as the others are."

"Really? You track me down and expect me to believe you aren't invested?"

"Uncle told me where you were."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Are you to bring me back to my cell? Are you to follow me around?"

She shook her head. "Terry went off on a rant on the family channel about you. I was curious what it was about and Uncle mentioned you were here, so I figured I'd come by and see what the big deal is all about."

"Ask Eric. He's the one making it."

She chuckled. "For all his dampened emotions, he is extremely protective of his family. He's had to be."

"Why?"

"Aren't you worried this will make you invested in them?"

"I'm just curious. Which is why you mentioned it?"

She smiled. "Observant, I like that. There have been multiple attempts on his and his children's lives over the years. It's why he made sure they all spent one year in the army getting trained by the best they have."

"Wait, Tucker was in the army?" Theo burst out laughing. "Oh I would have loved to see that. Other than the size of every guys' cock, did he actually learn something?"

She looked at him curiously, then her gaze went distant, that accessing something look Implant users got. When she focused on him she nodded. "Yes, he did. That boy is capable of thinking about more than sex." She smiled. "Sometimes."

"I'll give you that. He somehow managed to learn engineering, or so he told me."

"That's true. He's quite gifted, but then that's to be expected, every one of Eric's children is talented in what they chose to do. What about you? Are you successful in whatever it is you do?"

"They didn't tell you?"

"Uncle doesn't spill, not that I asked. I get there's something unusual about what you do. Terry referred to what you do as 'that,' but in such a way it made it clear he didn't like it."

"I'm a spy. Was a spy."

She tilted an ear. "You are forthcoming."

He shrugged. "Uncle might not say it, but someone else would have eventually, Eric knows, so he told his kids, you saw Terry's reaction, although I thought he hated me because of where I'm from."

"Vanguard, he did mention that. I hear your parents are on their way?"

"I hope not. I told them to turn around and go home."

"They must love you."

Theo smiled.

"Then I'm afraid they won't turn around. I didn't quite get all of it, but it sounded like they didn't live in vanguard."

"They broke their citizenship just before I turned eight. Mom didn't like the tests they were running on me. I don't know the details."

"That was courageous of them. Vanguard isn't forgiving to people who leave."

"Why do you think I don't want them here? If Vanguard gets their hands on them, I don't want to think how they'll make them pay."

"So, how successful are you in your career?"

It took Theo a moment to regain the trail of the conversation, then shrugged. "I did okay, until I was caught."

"On Mars, right? Something about the city going insane. The Independents, right?"

"Anarchists."

"Sorry, Anarchists."

"Did anyone give you the details?"

"I didn't ask. I'm not an Orr, so I'm not involved in running the corporation. All I got was what made the feeds. Everything going bonkers on Mars, you at the lead of it."

"You didn't ask? I mean when you found out who I was?"

"I don't need to know. Francis would tell me if I asked. I don't even have to wave these at him, we're still on good terms."

"Can I ask you a question?"

She laughed. "After all those I asked you, I think you're entitled to one."

"How did it happen?"

"I'm sorry?"

"You and Francis. I know you two had your kids the organic way, but why? With all the inherent risks, why bother?"

"You don't know Francis, I take it."

"Only as a file I read."

She smiled. "Francis is everything Eric isn't. I'm not saying that as a diss on your fa--"

"Please don't call him that."

"I'm sorry. On Eric. Eric's muted emotions are a reaction from Francis to his own overly excitable mind. He doesn't do anything halfway. If he likes someone he does so fully. He throws himself wholeheartedly in everything that catches his fancy. It makes it hard for him to stick with anything for very long, but while he's interested, nothing stops him."

Her gaze became distant, but this time it had nothing to do with her Implant. "Like I said, my breasts caught his attention, but he wasn't fixated on them. It was his introduction to me. And he liked me. He literally swept me off my feet. He painted my portrait, charmed me to poetry, well the energy he put into it was charming. Poetry isn't his forte. And the sex. Oh dear God the sex. That man knows things about sex that haven't been recorded anywhere."

"But doesn't your implant control your fertility?"

"It does. And I'd had been thinking about having kids. I could have gotten them made fully at the clinic, but I did want them to have something of me, so I was ovulating. And next thing we realize, I'm pregnant. I could have had the egg taken out, had it grow at a clinic. But the way Francis looked at me while I carried his son. I don't know if I can do it justice, but I think that was how the people who discovered God looked at him."

She sighed and shuddered. "No other man has ever looked at me like that since. And giving birth isn't the horror story the history vid would want you to believe. There is plenty of information on how to proceed, and Uncle retrieved it all. We also have a lot of technology they didn't have back then. If they hadn't had it. I don't know if we would transition to artificial wombs."

Theo nodded. "That explains Elliot, but what about the others?"

"Theo, when a man looks at you like you are divinity incarnate, you don't want it to end. He didn't have to ask after Elliot, I was more than willing to go again. And again. It was only after Edi that I had enough. And Francis understood, that wonderful man never made me feel like I was anything but amazing."

Theo looked at the water.

"Are you okay?"

"I know what you mean. Not looking at a guy like that. I've been looked at like that, but my job meant I had to take advantage of it. I never thought anything of it before, but listening to you talk about Francis, it makes me feel a little," he shrugged, "dirty."

"Sometimes work can get in the way."

"What do you do?"

"I'm an astrophysicist. I run Orr Corp's version of SolGov's Astro mapping department. We're looking for a planet to colonize."

"Aren't you going on the ship SolGov built? I thought the meeting on Mars was about that, finalizing the arrangements."

"Of course, but now that SolGov proved it can be done, why let them have the monopoly? And it isn't like the other corporations aren't doing the same. That ship SolGov is sending, our people on it, there's no telling who they'll be when they reach their destination, we're talking hundreds of year coexisting with other corporations. It's possible there won't be any Orr citizens when they get there. Building our own ship ensures we will continue."

Theo thought about that. It wouldn't be just two ships out there, but seven, at a minimum. "You're not going to stop at one, are you?"

"That won't be my decision, but I don't see why we should. There are a lot of planets out there. Why stop at just one?"

Theo nodded. Was that what the Colonies would do too? He hadn't heard of plans for a second ship, but he had never tried hard to keep up to date on that. Still, he thought he would have heard something about a second ship.

Was this something Anderson needed to know about? Should the Colonies make sure they'd be able to hold their own corner of the galaxy? What if one of those other ships went to the same planet?

He stood. "I hope you'll excuse me, I've been soaking for a long time already."

She looked him over with appreciation. "I understand. It was nice meeting you Theo."

"It was a pleasure meeting you too, Beatrice." He headed out, trying to think of a way to send the information back home.