FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The sound of the lift coming down reverberated inside the large cavern. Like anyone already in it, and a few of those in the nearby tunnels, Martin Asinsky looked up at it. Unlike most of them, he didn't approach the tall metal column. This wasn't food.

Someone like Marty, short and skinny, couldn't hope to compete with a crowd. He'd discovered that early in life, so he'd set about using his mind to carve his place in the universe. He'd accumulated information on people, found out their secrets and used that to get respect.

In a place like this, it didn't work quite the same, smart would never win over brawn, so instead of just accumulating secrets, he'd found the people in charge and made his information available to them, and in doing so ensured his survival.

Marty's rule of survival was simple, be unobtrusive, but indispensable.

So he knew everything about everyone in this place. What had gotten them in here, what their dreams were, where they hid their stuff. And what they did to survive. He also knew the schedule, and this wasn't the weekly food delivery. So this was a new resident.

The two bosses of Down Below stepped out from a tunnel and made their way to the center of the room. When the crowd didn't disperse to let them pass; they were too focused on the lift door to notice them, the bigger one of the two grabbed the closest person, a man in for raping and then killing a bunch of kids, and threw him back hard. The man hit the wall with a thud and then slid to the ground, unmoving.

That was enough for the crowd to disperse.

Marty had already been against the wall, watching. The smaller of the two looked in his direction and smiled. It wasn't a pleasant smile, but Marty wasn't afraid of it. Not anymore. He was too valuable to them.

They were B & B, Brainy and the Brawn. The proof that the only way smart could survive here was to attach the strongest, meanest, and dumbest guy to himself. It wasn't their real names, Marty knew what those were, but he hadn't uttered them, not after seeing what the price was.

He'd found out a few years ago, in a situation similar to this, but it had been the middle of the night, so it had only been B & B, and the new arrival, who had been an associate of Brainy.

They hadn't know Marty was there. He'd be dead now if they'd known. The new arrival had been happy to see Brainy and had called him by his real name. Brainy hadn't even given him a warning. He'd cut him open right there using the sharp stone he always carried. Brawn had then stomped on the man until he was a red and brown stain on the rocky floor.

The lift took a full minute to travel the distance and during that time the crowd was bustling with speculation. Most thought it was food; the idiots had never bothered figuring out the schedule, or asking Marty. The few who realized it wasn't, wondered who the new arrival would be.

The answer came when the door slid open. A large form inside the dark lift. A man, Marty decided by the broad shoulders. Like most people sent here, he didn't move from where he was, hoping to go back up when the door closed.

Unfortunately for him, their wardens were wise to that trick. There was a flash of light and he was propelled out of the lift. Unlike most, he managed to stay on his feet.

In the light of the cavern, Marty saw it wasn't a man, but an alien. Dark brown fur, muzzle and ears on top of his head. He couldn't place the species, but he still looked familiar.

It didn't matter. Brainy hated aliens. None of those who'd been sent here had survived for more than a few days, and those hadn't been pleasant for them.

"Well, well, well," Brainy said, looking up at the alien and rubbing his hands in anticipation. "It's been a long time since we've had a thing like you in here, and furry this time. Furry things are always fun, aren't they Brawn?"

The tall and muscular man nodded eagerly.

The alien studied them. He was tall, but Brawn was still slightly taller than him. Instead of fear, or even just concern, his eyes were calculating.

Marty was studying him too. He didn't have much, only pants, and they didn't look to be in the best of shape. They were ripped and burned in place. Still they looked better than what Marty was wearing now. He had his own stone knife hidden in his cave, it would let him trim them to fit him better.

He was confident B&B wouldn't care for them, and as usual, they'd let Marty have first pick. He'd have to scrub the blood and entrails out of them though. They wouldn't bother taking them off before turning the alien to paste.

Marty was jarred out of his thought when the alien struck Brainy in the throat. That wasn't how things were supposed to go down. Brainy staggered back, hands over his throat, blood seeping through the fingers. The alien had already turned to Brawn, kicked him in the nuts, punched him in the face, and then wrapped his arm around the man's head to give a violent twist.

Brawn's body crumpled when the alien let go. He turned to Brainy, who was on his knees, still trying to keep from bleeding out. Marty saw bubbles in the blood. The alien had sliced all the way to his windpipe.

The alien pushed him to the ground with a foot and watched him for a moment, before slamming down that same foot on his throat. Brainy jerked once and then was still.

In that moment Marty realized who that was. "This is bad, really bad." He mumbled to himself, then stopped. No, this was good, well, it could be good. Tristan always escaped. If he attached himself to him, he could leave this place along with the alien.

He took a step toward him, then stopped. He looked at the bodies, all the things they had on them. Brainy always carried everything he cared about. That knife of his, if nothing else would be valuable; it was much sharper than his knife. Their clothes, they kept the best stuff for themselves. He'd be dressed like a boss if he got to them first. He was the closest.

The alien began walking away from the corpse and the lift.

But if someone else became the alien's guide here, Marty would never get out. He took another step, and again stopped. Tristan was violent, vicious. If Marty approached him, there was no telling how he would react. Unobtrusive, he reminded himself, that was how he'd survived this long.

But he had to let him know his services were available. If he didn't he'd be stuck here. Marty ran to the alien, and fell in step, just out of easy reach. If he could become his friend, Marty would have it made.

"Hi. I don't know if you realize it, but you kind of killed the bosses of this place. That makes you the guy in charge now."

The alien didn't even look at him.

"My name's Marty, I'm the guy who knows everything about this pl--oh great."

A woman walked toward them. Like everyone here, her skin was pale. She was tall and lean, but not skinny. Brainy had liked her, liked the things she was willing to do to him, so he'd made sure she got enough food.

"Hello, big boy." Her voice was smooth, enticing. Marty had had many dreams about her in his years here. He knew that's all they'd be. Brainy hadn't been the sharing type. She placed a hand on the alien's chest and went flying as he backhanded her.

He hadn't even slowed.

Marty tried to remember if there had been anything on what Tristan liked in the files he'd read, but there hadn't been. Maybe he liked guys instead of girls? It wouldn't be pleasant, but if that's what it took to get out of here, Marty would do it.

But he didn't touch the alien. He wasn't risking that backhand. "Well, I guess she won't bother you again. Like I said, I'm Marty. I know everything about this place. I can tell you where the best stuff is hidden. I guess you'll want B&B's stuff. I can take you to it. You're the boss now so you're entitled. You didn't like her, but if you tell me what you like I can point you to them, I know everyone in here too. What they did to get here, what they like to do, what to do to make sure they'll stick by you."

The alien stopped. He fixed his gaze on Marty, who had to fight not to take a step back under that calculating look.

"You know everyone?"

Marty nodded eagerly, unable to keep the smile off his face. He had him.