FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The AdvAnTAGE Project

By

Mantrid Brizon

Episode 38: Boiling Point

“Is she almost ready?!"

“When she is, the doctor will send for you." The clerk replies.

Moving away from the main desk, he briefly wonders how many times he's asked her that same question. Thankfully, she's a patient woman, but in her line of work she needs to be. Pacing back and forth in the waiting area, Agent Sharpe struggles with the excitement and fear. With his suit jacket and the top of his shirt unbuttoned, his tie loosened, his hair uncombed and his mirrored sunglasses stowed in a pocket, he looks more like a bedraggled office worker than a cold, soulless Agent of Sovereign Six.

As he moves from one end of the room to the other, he wonders to himself. What their baby will look like? Will she have black hair, like her mother? What about her fur? Hearing a door opening, he stops in his tracks. Turning toward it, a doctor emerges and motions to him.

“It's time."

He races down the hall, nearly leaving the doctor behind. After putting on the appropriate gear, a pair of gloves and a thin gown to protect his clothes, he finds his partner and lover in the birthing room. She looks to him. It's already begun. With her legs in stirrups, the solid white husky AdvAnimal breathes heavily, panting as she endures the pain of labor.

“Krystal?!"

“Daniel!" She somehow manages to flash a modest small smile between contractions.

“She's started already?!" The doctor exclaims in surprise.

He takes his place between her legs, while Agent Sharpe stands at her bedside. Krystal groans, grunts and pants through the pain of childbirth. Her typically pristine hair looks like it hasn't been brushed in days and her fur mats with sweat. A clawed hand grasps onto the rail of her hospital bed, whilst the other squeeze's Agent Sharpe's hand with exceptional strength. She looks into his eyes, and for the first time since he can remember, he sees fear. Though he's taken aback, he gathers his strength so that he can lend it to her.

“It'll be okay, sugar." He says whilst lovingly petting her head.

“It damn well better be." She speaks through labored breaths.

“You've got this. I know you, sugar. You're the toughest, sexiest woman I've ever met, and I'll always be by your side."

“What a soft master I have." She chuckles only to groan in pain.

Krystal begins pushing, and her cries only grow louder.

“Almost there. You're doing great." The doctor assures her.

“Ahhh-God!!! Rrrrrrr!!! Fuck you, Daniel!!!" She snarls from the pain.

“Keep pushing. Just a little more."

Slowly but surely, Agent Sharpe watches as his daughter emerges. Her tiny body rests in one of the doctor's hands, while the other cradles her little head. Her paw-like feet clear her mother's body and finally it's over. Suddenly, he's presented with a set of medical sheers.

“Would you?" A nurse asks.

With his heart beating a mile a minute, Agent Sharpe cuts his daughter's umbilical cord. She's promptly whisked away by the doctor, to be cleaned and examined. He turns toward Krystal, who's tended to by a nurse. She checks the fluid levels on the IV of his partner and mate, then administers medication, injecting it into the line. Her chest heaves as she pants for air and her fur is damp and matted with the sweat of her pain, but as she opens her big, sapphire eyes, she looks up at him and smiles.

“Hey, master."

“Hi, sugar. Feeling better?" He speaks softly, leaning on her bedside.

“Oh, yeah..." She lets out a soft sigh. “How do I look?"

“Well..." He pauses, his eyes scanning her frame.

“Is it that bad?" She asks, almost whispering.

“No. You're as beautiful as ever."

“Fucking liar." Her smile returns.

“I'm sorry, sugar."

“For what?!" She asks, a surprised look on her face as she lifts her head from the pillows.

“You didn't exactly appear to be enjoying yourself."

“I was pushing out our daughter. Not exactly the best date we've ever been on."

“Yeah, well... At least nobody died." He says as he lovingly pets her head, before kissing her cheek so tenderly.

“Mmmm... I love you, master. You're such a good husband."

“And I love you too, sugar. You're the best partner and wife a man could ask for."

“Wow... Look at that!" She suddenly remarks.

“What?"

“My belly... I was getting used to looking like a balloon with a nice pair of legs."

“Oh. Me, too."

“Would you still love me if I always looked like that?" She asks whilst bats her eyelashes.

“Of course! What would I do without you?!"

“Aww, Danny!"

As they nuzzle each other, the nurse finally removes her legs from the stirrups, giving her a chance to properly rest, if only for a moment.

“You know, as crazy as it sounds, a part of me can't wait to have another one."

“Which part?" He raises a brow.

“The crazy part."

“So, all of you?" He smirks.

“Yeah." She softly giggles.

After enjoying a quiet moment with each other, a nurse returns, carrying a small, pink bundle in her arms. It's their daughter, examined, cleaned and wrapped in a soft blanket.

“Congratulations. She's a perfectly healthy, six-pound nine-ounce bundle of joy." The nurse speaks in a hushed voice as she passes the sleeping newborn to her mother.

Peeling back the blanket, Agent Sharpe and Krystal get their first real look at their daughter. The cooing second generation AdvAnimal shares all of her mother's physical features, and is otherwise indistinguishable from any other AdvAnimal. Her colorations, however, are dramatically altered. Soft, Champaign colored fur covers her little body, while her visible skin is a light pink, closer in complexion to her father's. Upon opening her eyes, she peers at her mother and father with big, sapphire orbs that glisten like polished gemstones.

“Aww! She's so fucking cute!" Krystal quietly gushes.

“Yeah, she is." He cannot help but smile, a finger stroking his daughter's furry face.

“Okay, I lied... This is the best date we've ever been on."

“Since when did you become so sentimental?"

“Since I had your baby. Divulge what you've seen and heard here, and I'll have to kill you." She teases.

“My lips are sealed, sugar." He says before giving her a loving kiss.

After carefully examining their newborn, Krystal gently slips a finger into the child's little hand. The baby girl gives her mother's finger a soft squeeze.

“I still can't believe we could make something so beautiful. Don't tell me you don't want to make an army of these with me." Krystal bats her eyelashes as she looks up at him so innocently.

“How many divisions?" He smirks.

“Hehe! ... So, can I?!"

“You really like that name, huh?"

“Mhm! I think the mineral theme is kind of cute." She replies.

“Oh, alright... 'Jade' it is."

“You hear that, Jade? That's your daddy! Now, you'd better be a good girl. Don't cause us any trouble or I'll make him whoop your cute little ass." Krystal coos.

“Why me?!"

“Because you have the penis. I'm exempt from disciplinary duties." She coolly replies, touching her black nose to Jade's pink nose.

“Oh, how did I ever get to be so lucky?" He speaks in a dry, sarcastic tone.

“You did this to yourself." Krystal teases, passing him their daughter.

As he pets Jade's little cheek, she wriggles in his arms. Her icy eyes don't seem to focus, but looking upon the human who holds her, she seems to comprehend who he is. She flashes a big, toothless grin, before drooling and blowing a modest spit bubble.

“Oh..."

“What?" Krystal tries to sit up.

“Nothing important. I just realized that I would kill and die for her." He casually replies, taking a seat at the edge of her bed.

“Your weakness disgusts me... I still love you, though!" Krystal giggles, leaning against him.

Suddenly, Agent Sharpe's phone begins to vibrate. Their joyous expressions instantly change. He passes Jade back to Krystal, and as she cradles their baby in her arms, he rises from the bed, retrieves his cell phone and answers the call. It could only be from one person.

“Hello, sir."

“Congratulations, Mr. Sharpe..." The Old Man begins.

“Thank you, sir."

“I believe it's time we spoke about the future."

“When, sir?"

“As soon as Krystal is released. Bring the whole family. Your mate will want to hear what I have to say, and I'd like to get a look at Jade." The Old Man finished.

“Yes, sir..."

Abruptly ending the call, as he often does, The Old Man leaves Agent Sharpe and Krystal staring at the screen of his phone. They watch it fade to black.

“How did he know her name already?" Krystal whispers.

“I don't know... He has his sources."

“Do you think, maybe... Could he?" She hesitates to finish.

“Maybe..." Agent Sharpe murmurs and sighs.

The very next day, Krystal and their baby are released from Telivima's hospital. They don't delay, and prepare for the journey. The Old Man had done most of the work for them, ensuring that all they need to do is arrive at Telivima's airfield. Taking the exit ramp, Agent Sharpe drives their blacked-out Mercedes toward the Black Tower, the dark glass skyscraper where The Old Man lives and rules Sovereign Six. He glances over to Krystal, who sits in the passenger's seat, baby Jade cradled in her arms. He's struck by the obvious worry and fear on her face.

“Don't worry. I swept this car twice before we left. So long as we keep our phones in the box, it's safe to talk... It may be the only safe place left."

“Are you sure about that?"

“No, but can we really be sure of anything at this point?"

“Mmrrmm..." She whimpers.

“I know. I feel the same way."

Upon parking their car in a high-security section of the underground garage, the Agent, his AdvAnimal partner and their newborn baby are met by a half dozen armed guards. With KRISS Vectors slung across their chests and modified Beretta 93R machine pistols in special holsters, it's quite the show of force. They've never been greeted this way in the dozens of previous visits.

“He's expecting you, sir. Please, follow us." One man instructs as he steps forward.

Agent Sharpe nods, then turns to Krystal and extends a hand. Taking hold of his hand, she walks with their child cradled in an arm, unsure of what their future holds. Does The Old Man know? Could this be the end?! It wouldn't surprise either of them, as dangerous a proposition as it was. During a secret meeting about a month before Krystal was due to give birth, they had their last contact with the conspirators. Agent Sharpe was faced with a troubling decision.

“Are you willing to do what it takes?" Mr. Nazarov asked.

“I am. I've agreed to this a few times." Agent Sharpe replied.

“I just need to be sure. There's no turning back from this."

“We know. We're not stupid." Krystal retorted, growing impatient.

“We know what has to be done, and I said I was willing to do it." Agent Sharpe added.

“Alright... I have it on good authority that very soon he'll be putting you back into play; you will no longer be partaking in missions, as he won't be willing to risk his successor. I cannot say with certainty when he'll bring you back to the Black Tower, so we need to do this now."

Looking to Director Bloodworth, Mr. Nazarov gave him a single nod. The Director retrieved the sealed box where Agent Sharpe had placed his issued cell phone, as well as a long distance, two-way communication device that he and Krystal share. Unsure if any of the devices had been bugged, they took no chances. With the room as silent as a tomb, Director Bloodworth removed the cell phone and plugged it into a small laptop computer. His fingers typed away, and soon, he retrieved a card, already inserted into a port on the computer.

Collecting an entirely new phone, identical in form to his original, Director Bloodworth inserted the card into it, then plugged this phone into the laptop as well. For several tense minutes the Agent and his pregnant AdvAnimal partner waited, and once all was said and done, Director Bloodworth pulled the plug from the new phone, stowed the original in the box and presented the device to Agent Sharpe.

“It's safe to talk now." He remarked.

“What's this?" Agent Sharpe raised an eyebrow.

“It's a phone." Mr. Nazarov replied.

“Really?! You don't say!" Krystal facetiously chirped.

“I like her." Mr. Nazarov smirked.

Mr. Nazarov abruptly pulled the phone from his grasp.

“As your old phone was bugged, this one includes a standardized listening device in his preferred frequency. There's no residual charge, so the microphone isn't recording, but plug it into your car as soon as you leave, to prevent any suspicion. Everything is identical, even the serial numbers, with one exception. Watch..." Mr. Nazarov explained.

Agent Sharpe and Krystal watched in silence as Mr. Nazarov removed the battery from the back of the phone. Beneath the battery is a small and shielded compartment that his previous device doesn't have. Opening the device with the point of a paperclip, Mr. Nazarov revealed a single, green gel cap beneath. Though Krystal didn't understand, Agent Sharpe recognized the capsule immediately. He'd used an identical capsule to poison Amy Chen, by order of The Old Man. How fitting, then, to use one on him.

Mr. Nazarov set the cover back into place, inserted the battery and snapped the cover onto the back of the phone before presenting it to Agent Sharpe.

“Whenever you meet with him, if you have an opportune moment, use the capsule. Once he's dead, his men will collect you and Krystal. As he will likely succumb quite quickly, they may initiate interrogation protocols. However, he's already made the arrangements; you will replace him, and then we can take action. There will be no further contact until the mission is complete."

“Understood." Agent Sharpe nodded in response.

“Good luck. Now, quietly and casually return to your car."

Agent Sharpe and Krystal did as they were instructed. It'd been so long since that final meeting, so long since they'd last heard from Mr. Nazarov and the other conspirators. They can only hope that he hasn't discovered their treachery. Entering the office with escorts in front and behind, they find the office contains even more security. Seated at his large and imposing chair, the padded throne of a modern-day king, The Old Man leans back, his eyes closed, a bony hand holding an oxygen mask to his face.

“I'm sorry, sir. I'm following your instructions, and my team is doing the best they can, given their lack of security clearance. Perhaps if I had more manpower?" A man's voice emits from a desk speaker.

“Stop making excuses, Agent Zuckerberg..." The Old Man begins, pulling the mask from his face. “I'm about ready to retire Dorsey for his failures. You have an important job to do, so do it; ensure that the public never realizes what's going on, not until it's too late." He continues, his voice raspy.

“Yes, sir!"

Turning his weary eyes toward his successor and his little family, The Old Man abruptly ends the call, pressing a button on his desk. He returns the oxygen mask to his face and breathes deeply, slowly motioning for them to approach.

“I've been waiting for you."

“Are you alright, sir?" Agent Sharpe cannot help but ask.

“No..." The Old Man wheezes. “Please, have a seat."

The pair sit across from him, as instructed. Baby Jade babbles softly as she looks around the gargantuan room of black marble and gold leaf.

“And that must be the princess, herself. Hello, Jade. I've been expecting you." The Old Man speaks with startling warmth.

“Would you... Like to hold her?" Krystal somewhat sheepishly asks.

“I would, but these days, my strength isn't what it used to be. I'll settle for a gaze." He flashes a modest grin. “I suppose you're wondering why I brought you here... Well?"

“Yes, sir." Agent Sharpe nods.

“We've wondered." Krystal adds.

“As you can see, I'm not well. For all my works and all that I've done, I won't be alive to see it through, as by this time next year, I will likely be gone. Perhaps even sooner than that." The Old Man begins.

“What's wrong, sir?"

“It doesn't matter... I'm glad we could have this little meeting. I've been monitoring your progress."

“About that, sir... I'd like to apologize for the unsatisfactory results of-"

“Don't..." The Old Man lifts a hand. “You didn't disappoint me, at least not as badly as you apparently assumed."

“I... I didn't?!"

“No. You and your team did well, hunting down the last of Dr. Keller's monstrosities. Terrible and gruesome work, but you did well, and that business with the failed reclamation of an AdvAnimal wasn't your fault, either." The Old Man assures him.

“Thank you, sir, but I could've done better." Agent Sharpe bows his head in shame.

“Perhaps, but you resolved that situation with equal parts ingenuity and professionalism... The implants tell us much, but how could you really know that he was bedding his Welcomers' teenage daughters?" The Old Man begins.

“I told them to send a recon team and assess the situation before moving to collect the assets. I don't know why they ignored my orders." Agent Sharpe swiftly interjects.

“That was their mistake, not yours, and I've made sure they won't make them again... In retrospect, I can understand their reasoning behind continuing without full knowledge of the situation. We always assume that it's going to be the wife who's enjoying the AdvAnimal's “enhancements", but to find Daman bedding those high school girls... And then the fight that ensued when the admittedly inexperienced Agents you'd sent broke the news to their horrified parents... They didn't react well to the knowledge that their Tiger AdvAnimal was breeding their daughters...

You couldn't have known that your Agents' admittedly foolish actions would have forced a confrontation between the irate parents, the AdvAnimal and his underage lovers. It wasn't your fault that they were forced to kill Daman, and the rest of the family... However, it was a stroke of genius, framing the assault as a Puritan attack, and ensuring that the local police did as they were told. They left out the young girls' pregnancies from the autopsy reports, just as you'd instructed. Honestly, I doubt I could've salvaged that debacle any better."

“Thank you, sir."

“As for the most recent disappointment - finding their mansion abandoned - that was unpleasant, but I'd expected as much. After all, if they could successfully liberate not just Dr. Chavez but also two more AdvAnimals, then these “Four Horsemen" are a bigger threat than we initially gave them credit for... This is why I've called you here." The Old Man continues.

“Sir?"

“Consider this your last mission as an Agent, Mr. Sharpe. Even if my health weren't rapidly declining, I'd consider you ready. I've been grooming you for nearly two decades, ever since I recruited you from the NSA, and I must say, speed bumps aside, you've exceeded most of my expectations. You're worthy and ready to claim my throne."

“Thank you, sir."

“Please..." The Old Man struggles with a chuckle. “Call me Emeryth."

“Emeryth?!" A startled Krystal's brow raises.

“So, you never bothered to research my past... Or you failed to uncover anything."

“You're very good at this, sir." Agent Sharpe flashes a little smile.

“Good! I'd have been disappointed had you not tried at all." The Old Man softly laughs.

“Emeryth sounds like an old-fashioned name." Krystal remarks.

“Fitting, then." The Old Man faintly smirks.

“I think 'Emery' sound nicer." She continues.

“What's the mission, sir?" Agent Sharpe asks.

“I've been keeping a close eye on these “Four Horsemen" ever since they leaked those reports and videos stolen from Gold Base. In point of fact, I have been aware of their efforts for some time, and have been using them to my advantage."

“You have?!" Agent Sharpe and Krystal are both left stunned.

“Of course. As the only genuine threat to my work, I would have been a fool not too." The Old Man gently scolds his protégé. “As I was saying... Once they made their presence known by leaking data from Gold Base, I kept them close. I didn't know their exact whereabouts, but I knew what mattered. I never expected them to actually liberate Dr. Chavez, Audrey or that mechanic. I allowed them into Telivima because I had assumed we could capture them cleanly. Had I expected them to make it out of the facility with their prize, I would have taken more precautions. See? Even I make mistakes, but now it's time to finish this..."

Turning toward one of his many goons, The Old Man returns the oxygen mask to his face before nodding his head. The suit-wearing soldier rests his submachine gun across his chest, only to head toward a black panel built into the wall. Pressing his palm against it, an entire panel of the wall opens to reveal a large safe. Collecting a thick, brown folder, the flap held closed with a piece of brown string, he brings the hefty parcel to his master's desk. Setting it atop the desk, he returns to his post.

The Old Man motions to it with a bony hand. Collecting the folder, Agent Sharpe unties and lifts the flap, only to begin skimming through the many papers within. Growing curious, Krystal holds out a clawed hand.

“Can I see, master?" She asks sweetly.

“Here you go, sugar."

The Old Man chuckles at their brief exchange. Remembering where they are and who watches them, the lovers share a gaze before turning their attention toward The Old Man.

“I'm glad I brought you two together." He remarks, slowly closing his weary eyes.

“Sorry, sir."

“I told you to call me 'Emeryth', though I could live with 'Emery' as well. Thanks for that, Krystal, and don't be afraid to show your affection in front of me. I find your bond to be rather refreshing." He continues, his eyes still closed.

“How did you manage to collect all of this?! You have everything but an address!" Krystal exclaims, her sapphire eyes wide as she reads the files.

“Oh, I have that, too. Recently acquired. There should be a post-it note somewhere near the back." The Old Man casually replies.

“What?! How?!"

Slowly opening his eyes, his breath fogs the mask. His wrinkled lips curl into a twisted grin and he cackles in a most sinister way, the way only a decrepit old man can.

“A good magician never reveals his tricks... Fetch them for me. Alive, preferably, but I'll take them dead, so long as they're no longer a threat. If you bring them alive, then I'd like to meet them before rendering judgement... Once you do that, I'll step down."

“Yes, s-... Emery." Agent Sharpe speaks softly, nodding his head.

“Thank you, Daniel." The Old Man slowly closes his eyes. “Please, take care..."