{"sf1_id":1676586,"sf2_id":"A1pWYwDn","title":"Under Ice: Takeru (8)","author":"TyrKangaroo","words":2438,"posted_at":"2021-01-24T04:44:27.000Z","tags":["Badger","Bat","Coyote","Dingo","Fennec","Fox","Gay","Gorilla","Homosexual","Hyena","Hyper","Kangaroo","Lion","M/M","M/M/M","Otter","Possum","Rabbit","Raccoon","Red Wolf","Sci-Fi","Space","Tiger","Watersports","Weasel","Wolf","Wolverine","jupiter","planet"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1676586-under-ice-takeru-8","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/A1pWYwDn","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/a5/af/a5af83ff-e857-462e-9862-58e21cda254f","description":"Ken meets Kuga. Get a look at how their friendship started. They had a long relationship of being a team.","content":"4 June 2077\n\n  \n\nKuga was running across Spacestation Mars.\u0026nbsp; He was having difficulty keeping his luggage upright as he went and the pants on his spacesuit kept slipping down so his boots got caught up under his feet.\u0026nbsp; He was late for his shuttle!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Wait!\" Kuga called out at the airlock controller, “I need to board!\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Takeru I assume?\" the controller crossed his arms.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Yes sir!\u0026nbsp; Sorry for being late!\" the otter bowed, “I had some trouble on my way across the station.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Get onboard, they're waiting for you.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Thank you!\" Kuga bowed again and walked through the airlock and onto the shuttle.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe otter secured his luggage.\u0026nbsp; He entered the shuttles seating area and saw only one spare seat.\u0026nbsp; He squeezed by the legs of critters of all shapes and sizes.\u0026nbsp; He hopped up into the seat and secured his harness.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“You have it on wrong,\" a wolf with a Scottish accent said from next to him, “Let me help you.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Oh!\u0026nbsp; Thank you!\" Kuga said as the wolf leaned over and corrected the harness and buckled the otter in.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Just tug the straps to make sure it's secure,\" said the wolf.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“You are very kind,\" Kuga bowed his head as he pulled the straps down, “My name is Kuga Takeru by the way!\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Ken McInnis,\" said the wolf.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“What are you going to Mars for friend Ken?\" Kuga asked.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nKen chuckled at Kuga, “Oh, well.\u0026nbsp; I invented an environmental system to improve living conditions in space.\u0026nbsp; Mars is receiving the first of the units and I'm going there to install them.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Wonderful!\" Kuga bounced in his seat, “You'll be working for me!\u0026nbsp; I'll be overseeing the installation and making sure it's systems are correct.\u0026nbsp; Your system is very innovative.\u0026nbsp; I'm impressed by the design.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Oh, thanks,\" Ken nodded, “I worked hard on it.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“You're so young!\" said Kuga, “We can only be a few years apart.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\nKen sighed, “Yeah, I get that a lot.\"\n\n“I'm working on getting Mars systems stable,\" said Kuga, “There have been a few unfortunate events where systems have been failing at every housing unit.\u0026nbsp; It's dangerous for the citizens to have any kind of exposure from Mars itself.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“I heard about that,\" said Ken, “One of the reasons they sent me here.\u0026nbsp; They think a few contractors cut corners during installation.\u0026nbsp; They decided no one but me would be better for installing a system I made.\u0026nbsp; Needless to say, I think it's a wise decision.\u0026nbsp; It's better to have someone intimate with the systems.\u0026nbsp; I'd hate to have my system end up being the result Mars gets poisoned.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“I think we will be saving a lot of lives!\" Kuga giggled in excitement, “Kuga and Ken!\u0026nbsp; Saviors of Mars!\u0026nbsp; We are going to make a great team.\u0026nbsp; You get my back, and I'll get yours.\u0026nbsp; Mars won't know what hit it.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\nKen smiled.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n  \n\n8 January 2083\n\n  \n\nThe team wasn't having any luck on their search for more life on Europa other than more samples of Fresco Caballero.\u0026nbsp; Julio gave up on going down to the moon after his fourth trip not finding anything new.\u0026nbsp; The hyena took up sulking around the lab.\u0026nbsp; He was even being nice to Marc from time to time.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nBruno was finding himself having a good time.\u0026nbsp; Diego had brought him coffee two more times now.\u0026nbsp; The coyote wasn't sure how this happened, but he wasn't about to complain.\u0026nbsp; Diego made his mornings bright when he stopped by.\u0026nbsp; This time around, Diego pulled the coyote in for a deep kiss.\n\nBruno closed his eyes and pushed against his captain.\u0026nbsp; Diego rubbed his hands around the coyote's body.\u0026nbsp; The bat was just keeping him turned on now.\u0026nbsp; The bat grinned broadly and bit his lower lip.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“If you ever want more, you're welcome to stop by my quarters sometime,\" the bat rubbed down around Bruno's ass.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe coyote was several shades of red, “I'd like that sir.\u0026nbsp; What if Rasul is there?\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“The more the merrier,\" Diego chuckled.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Oh my,\" Bruno huffed.\n\nDiego smacked him on the ass and left the coyote to his work.\u0026nbsp; The bat made his way back to the galley to top off his coffee.\u0026nbsp; Errol was looking out the window with his own cup of coffee.\u0026nbsp; He seemed lost in thought.\n\n“You alright Thunder?\" Diego asked.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Yeah,\" Errol nodded, “Just thinking about my career after this.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Oh?\" Diego joined him by the window, “Thinking about quitting?\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Not at all sir,\" Errol chuckled, “With how rapidly we're advancing in space travel right now, I want to be the first one to the Kuiper Belt.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“That's a big trip,\" Diego chuckled, “You should bring a crew.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Only if I'm in charge,\" Errol smirked.\u0026nbsp;\n\n“I'm sure after the glowing review I give about your performance, you'll be in a position to make those requests,\" Diego sipped into his coffee.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Thank you sir,\" Errol sighed, “It's been a real privilege working with you.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“I'll be the first to ask to join your mission,\" Diego grinned.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“I'd be honored,\" Errol laughed.\n\n“How're things with Hyperion?\" Diego asked, “I've noticed you two have been sleeping together since new years.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\nErrol blushed, “They're good sir.\u0026nbsp; We've had such a dynamic relationship since the beginning, and I think we're at a point where we're even more supportive of each other.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“That's good to hear,\" Diego smiled, “Sounds like me and Rasul.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“If you don't mind me asking captain,\" Errol leaned his back against the wall, “When did you two start seeing each other?\u0026nbsp; You guys kept it under the radar for a while.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Years,\" Diego chuckled, “It's why him and I match up well.\u0026nbsp; He's always been my king of the charts.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\nErrol giggled, “I'm gonna call him that from now on.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Don't,\" Diego ruffled Errol's headfuzz, “Get ready to take over the bridge.\u0026nbsp; I'll be stealing Lightning for the trip down today.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“You got it captain,\" Errol gave him a salute.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nDiego sat down with Hyperion and Rasul shortly before getting into the Spider.\u0026nbsp; They scanned the planet and searched in the areas between the probes they were planting.\u0026nbsp; Three of the probes had moved from their previous locations and one disappeared completely.\u0026nbsp; The moon surely likes playing tricks on them.\n\nDiego took Hyperion when they figured out a new location. Magnus, Marc, Ken, and Kuga were already suited up and waiting for them.\u0026nbsp; The two of them got their suits equipped and they loaded up.\u0026nbsp; Hyperion brought them down to Europa and the team dispersed.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nDiego was helping Ken gather up more ice cores.\u0026nbsp; Magnus and Marc were working the drill with Kuga to keep them company.\u0026nbsp; The kangaroo wanted to see if they could hit rock beneath the ice so he could get samples of the moon itself.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nMarc had rigged a scooper to one of the drones that he could operate with tethers.\u0026nbsp; Magnus heard the rhythm of the drill change.\u0026nbsp; They hit something that wasn't ice or water.\u0026nbsp; The raccoon kept pushing the drill further to insure they could get a good sample.\u0026nbsp; Marc was excited to see what they would get when Magnus started to retract the drill.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe kangaroo had Magnus feed the drone down.\u0026nbsp; They hit water and Marc steered it straight down the tube.\u0026nbsp; Magnus kept an eye on the camera to make sure he wasn't going in too fast.\u0026nbsp; The camera fogged up with dirt particles.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Ease up on your speed,\" said Magnus, “You're flying blind.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“I know dad,\" Marc teased the raccoon.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe kangaroo slowly descended until he hit resistance.\u0026nbsp; The kangaroo tugged on the two tethers to activate the scoop.\u0026nbsp; He mentally had his fingers crossed as he started to back the drone up out of the tube.\u0026nbsp; Magnus started to pull the drone's tether back in and after several minutes, it poked up from out of the ice.\u0026nbsp; Marc skipped over and pulled the drone up.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Yes!' Marc laughed as he set the drone onto its side, stones spilled out of his scoop, “It worked!\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“It wasn't the best thing I've seen,\" said Magnus, “But it got its job done.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\nMagnus helped the kangaroo gather up his samples.\u0026nbsp; Kuga had wandered off to take some scans.\u0026nbsp; The otter saw some bubbles sliding along beneath the ice.\u0026nbsp; He started to follow after them to see where they went.\u0026nbsp; Diego noticed Kuga was wandering out pretty far across the field and took off after him.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Don't wander too far,\" Diego chuckled as he caught up to Kuga.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Sorry boss,\" said Kuga as he looked up at the bat, “I was just seeing where the bubbles were going.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“You and Harvey followed these before,\" he said, “What was the theory?\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“There's something below causing a surge in heat and creating air pockets in the ice,\" he said, “The bubbles are a result of water trying to flow, but since there's not much gravity here, it creates these bubbles and just flows along beneath the ice.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“What's the difference between the flow up here and the water below?\" Diego asked.\u0026nbsp;\n\n“The water below remains stagnant because there's no ice pockets actively forming where we've been finding the pools below.\u0026nbsp; There's not a great disturbance to cause the water below to move like the water up top here,\" said Kuga, “There's also some weird things going on with the gravity here.\u0026nbsp; I've been taking scans every time we come down and comparing them to scans we have on the ship.\u0026nbsp; I'd bore you with the math, but I'd rather not you pass out.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\nDiego laughed, “Thank you Kuga.\u0026nbsp; But yeah, the relationship between Europa and Jupiter is proving rather unique.\u0026nbsp; Especially with the shifting changes on Europa.\u0026nbsp; They seem to happen at random.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“More mysteries,\" Kuga held a finger up to his helmet near his lips.\u0026nbsp;\n\nDiego smirked.\u0026nbsp; He stuck with Kuga as they traveled along until reaching a cliff.\u0026nbsp; The bubbles seemed to flow downwards and disappear at this point.\u0026nbsp; Kuga slowly moved toward the edge.\u0026nbsp; Diego grabbed him by the shoulder.\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Not so fast,\" Diego pulled him back, “Harvey cautioned to not trust ledges.\u0026nbsp; And to be careful around the bubbles.\u0026nbsp; I don't like the idea of both of them being together.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Aww,\" Kuga sighed, “I guess you're right.\u0026nbsp; I'll just take a scan and we can start to head back.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\nHyperion came on over communications, “Hey captain, the seismograph is picking up some activity.\u0026nbsp; We've had a two point four, and a three point two within the last hour.\u0026nbsp; Think we should pack things up?\"\n\n“Good idea Hyperion,\" said Diego, “I'd hate to be down here if the ground started shaking or shifting.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Roger that,\" he said, “I'll warm up the engines.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Kuga, head back towards the ship,\" said Diego, “I'm gonna help Ken get the auger loaded back in.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Sure thing captain,\" the otter was doing a few more scans, “I'm going to take more scans on the way back.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Alright, don't take too long,\" Diego skipped his way back to where Ken was.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nDiego helped the wolf finish up the core he was in the middle of picking up.\u0026nbsp; The bat kept his eye on Kuga to make sure the otter didn't wander off again.\u0026nbsp; He was slowly making his way back over to the ship.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nKen pulled back the handle on the auger and capped off his sample, “Alright, that should do it.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Let's load up,\" Diego helped Ken tie off the samples for transport.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe two of them had gotten down moving the auger across the moon with ease.\u0026nbsp; They propped it up into its storage and shut it closed.\u0026nbsp; Marc and Magnus were getting the drill secure when they felt the ground start to shake.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Captain,\" it was Rasul this time, “I'm getting some strange readings up here on the ship.\u0026nbsp; You guys need to move!\u0026nbsp; Scans show a split forming right beneath you.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Hyperion, get the ship lifted,\" Diego ordered, “Magnus, lift the legs.\u0026nbsp; Kuga, get back here now!\"\u0026nbsp;\n\nHyperion rapidly got the ship in gear.\u0026nbsp; The ground vibrated again.\u0026nbsp; Kuga was running across the field as fast as he could.\u0026nbsp; He tripped and fell when the ground violently hit them.\u0026nbsp; Right before their eyes the ground split in two and moved Kuga away from them.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“KUGA!\" Ken yelled and started running to where the ground split.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Fuck,\" Diego attached a tether from the spider onto himself, “Hyperion, follow me!\"\n\nDiego took off after Ken.\u0026nbsp; The wolf barely stopped in time before reaching the area where the crack was.\u0026nbsp; His heart sank.\u0026nbsp; There was a thirty foot gap between them and Kuga.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Ken, get on the ship!\" Diego picked him up and carried him over to the ship.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nHyperion was hovering as low to the ground as he could.\u0026nbsp; Diego stepped up onto the ramp and passed Ken over to Magnus.\u0026nbsp; The bat went back down to the edge of the ramp.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Hyperion, get me over to Kuga,\" said Diego.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Guide me!\" He shouted back.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“Move to port and slowly lower the ship,\" said Diego.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe bat guided Hyperion over to where he could see the tiny orange dot that was Kuga.\u0026nbsp; The ground shifted again and Kuga started to slide down a slope.\u0026nbsp; Diego jumped off of the ramp and slid after Kuga.\u0026nbsp; The otter was yelling for help as they went.\u0026nbsp; He was trying to find something to hold onto, but the ice field was too smooth.\n\nDiego was gaining on him.\u0026nbsp; The bat shifted himself onto his chest and grabbed onto the otters leg.\u0026nbsp; He pulled the icepick off of his belt and slammed it into the ice.\u0026nbsp; The only sound was the heavy breathing from the both of them.\n\n“I got him,\" Diego called, “Get over here fast and reel us in!\"\u0026nbsp;\n\nHyperion didn't even have time to move the ship down when the cliff gave out beneath them with a fresh earthquake.\u0026nbsp; The tether pulled tight against Diego and Kuga slid out from beneath his fingers.\u0026nbsp; The otter disappeared into the crevice with more ice collapsing after him.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n“NOOOO!\" Ken cried out.\n\nDiego felt the tears hit his eyes, “Reel me in!\"\u0026nbsp;\n\nMagnus started to pull Diego back into the Spider.\u0026nbsp; The bat scrambled back up onto the ramp.\u0026nbsp; Ken had collapsed in a ball on the floor crying out Kuga's name over and over again.\u0026nbsp; Marc was holding onto him.\u0026nbsp; Diego slammed his fist against the contamination shield, a large crack splitting right down the middle.\u0026nbsp; Magnus closed the ramp.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nRasul turned off communications and pushed himself back from his station.\u0026nbsp; He looked up at Errol.\u0026nbsp; The weasel came over and hugged him, bursting into tears.\u0026nbsp; Kuga was gone.","series":{"name":"Under Ice","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1676551-under-ice-new-7.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1677037-under-ice-kuga-9.json"}}