FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The walkway creaks as Itico digs his claws into the holes of the mesh and pulls one last time to bring the large crate up onto the top of the ship.

Randa yells, "Good. That's far enough!"

Itico spits out the thick rope, "Synthetic fibers taste terrible," he complains.

Zuhumi looks a little dazed as he stands, looking from the large crate to the quadrupedal tiger who just pulled it up the side of the ship. "That," he says, "would have taken at least ten of me if not more." He shakes his head and moves to open the crate.

Randa hops up next to the two and says, "Okay, what's next?"

Zuhumi hands Randa a little box and explains, "I need three, five and seven open. You'll see the numbers painted in little red rectangles on the corner of each panel." He shows Randa how to open the aerodynamic shielding and then starts rummaging inside the crate for more tools and supplies.

Itico sprawls out on another part of the ship to sun himself and maybe catch another nap.

After Randa and Zuhumi had been knocking around in the ship's guts for a while, they were both elbow deep in wiring when Itico alerts Randa, "Incoming."

Randa says to Zuhumi, "We have a guest approaching."

Zuhumi and Randa strip off the arm length gloves they were using to keep hair out of the workings and Zuhumi says, "I hope that is someone from my family. I sent word last nigh about what we were planning."

A much smaller craft then Zuhumi's cargo freighter which appeared to be at least half engines landed with more than a little flare nearby.

"Oh no," says Zuhumi, "I'm sorry, but it's my mother. She can be a little," he pauses, "intense."

"You can tell that by the ship?" Randa asks.

"No," Zuhumi answers, "it does not matter what she flies, she'll make a showy landing of it. It is one of her quirks." He carefully climbs down the ladder and strolls towards the cooling ship.

The small cargo hatch opened and let down a stubby cargo ramp. A creature delicately stepped out into the sun with her long hair flowing behind her in a cloud. She wore a robe like Randa was wearing but even more resplendent with colorful threads and gemstones all over it in intricate patterns.

Zuhumi stopped at the bottom of the ramp and bows. "It is good to see you again mother," he says, sounding quite formal.

"Oh," she replies, and grabs Zuhumi into a tight hug. As she loosens her grip and hugs over the other shoulder as well. "I read your note and saw how you landed this crate of yours. You did it beautifully! I could not have done it much better myself."

Zuhumi laughs, "I prefer to live another day so I can one day beat you at your own sport."

"Ha!" She laughs, "That will never happen. I will always change the rules."

Zuhumi's mother turns to Randa as she approaches and she grasps her own hands together, fingertips clacking a little. "Oh! You're beautiful! Oh, I know, I'm not supposed to be so forward, please excuse an old woman but you know, can't help myself. We are just as programmed as an of our computers."

Randa smiles and bows, "From you, fine lady, I can take that as a compliment."

"My son," she continues, "told me all about how you escaped and blew up that huge ship! Sad to see a nice thing like that blown into too many parts but well, such is life. You do what you have to do. Right? Oh yes, and he told me how you showed up without any clothing! That must hav knocked him a little sideways."

Randa laughed, "He handled himself with great decorum."

"Oh," she waves her hands, "I would expect nothing less from him. He always did treat the ladies well. When he met any. I'd tell him, Zuhumi, you need yourself a partner, maybe some kids. Oh, but he is such the hunter, so rarely around people. That's fine! Maybe he will rescue some lost kids on a derelict ship somewhere, maybe a wife ,too, who knows!" She places her hands on Randa's arms and looks up at her, "You're so tall! He told me how he had to make the robe bigger for you. You know, he only keeps the one in inventory. I gave it to him in case he ever found a woman or a man who liked to wear fancy robes, and look, he went and did!"

Randa looks down at the robe curiously, "To get married in?"

Zuhumi's mom laughs, "No, no, the things we wear for marriage are so much better looking than this old thing. It looks good on you though! We don't have many who are white haired like you ar but it works."

At that point, Itico hops down from the top of the ship and becomes the focus of the five-foot tall ball of energy.

"Oh!" She exclaims, "Aren't you gorgeous too!" She walks over and hugs around Itico's large neck. "Hey handsome, I want your number." She laughs.

Itico chuffs and noses gently at the diminutive lady.

"Right, right, I know. Quiet and mysterious. I'm told that Randa is the only one who can hear you talk but who knows, she could be making it all up!" She pets Itico's had and becomes serious.

Zuhumi asks his mother, "I thought cousin Zid was coming?"

She sighs, "You know how Zid keeps trying these low-gravity acrobatic stunts? Well, he got into a bar fight last night and the bar won. I told him that the next time he wants to try the monkey bars in space he should use padded bars. So, I was next on the list."

They walked towards the larger ship

To the tigers Zuhumi's mother says, "You can call me Ishta. I'm something of a mover in the trading clan but I don't care much for all the titles. They just get in the way of good trade or good gossip. Let me tell you, good gossip is worth a lot to a people who are scattered all over the galaxy."

"I am honored," Randa says.

"Oh, no," Ishta says, "do not play that game with me. If you do we can not be friends."

In the middle of the cargo bay a patch has been cleared to allow a table to be erected. On the table are some of the parts from the collars and other material to be traded.

Randa explains the parts to Ishta who looks at the technology intently.

"I am glad you did not destroy these," Ishta says somberly. "I can not imagine how hard that was for you."

"My anger is one thing but saving others from a fate like mine is a completely different sort of revenge," replies Randa. "I just do not want these parts to be used to make more devices of torture."

Ishta hugs Randa softly and says, "As long as my people have them, they will only be used to fight people like this."

Randa nods and hugs back, "Itico believes you and so do I."

Zuhumi packs up the last of the parts and offers a storage cube to his mom. "Here is an explanation of each of the components and how they were used together. We recorded it twice, once with Randa wearing nothing but a deactivated collar looking like she did when I found her. Rather how she found me."

Ishta takes the cube and slips it into a pocket.

"We will set up clan credit for these two as well," Zuhumi continues. "They get 60%, you get 10% and I get the remainder."

Ishta nods, "I will make it happen. Let's get this stuff moving, the sooner it's out of here the better."

Itico picks up another rope in his teeth and pulls a sled out of the ship. Rolling on large mesh tires that roll over the uneven ground easily. He pulls the sled into the smaller ship. While Itico and Ishta move and secure the cargo, Zuhumi and Randa get back to the repairs.

It does not take the two long to finish with a few extra parts that Ishta was able to scrounge. Soon the two are testing the ship's systems and Zuhumi is teaching Randa how the ship worked.

Itico pads in and watches. "Tell Zuhumi that Ishta is all ready but would like to talk to him privately before she goes," he says to Randa.

Randa turns as Zuhumi leaves to talk to his mother.

"We know nothing about how these people will act when we show up at the front door asking for my body back," she says.

Itico nods and pads up to Randa to gently nuzzle her side. "I hope," he says, "that they cooperate."

"Me too," she replies.

A few minutes later, Zuhumi's and Ishta's ships fly over the compound and bank like airplanes, even though the maneuver is purely for show. Ishta's ship then buzzes fast and low over the compound before launching straight into the sky.

"Good news," Ishta says over the radio, "there are no obvious air defenses or at least none being deployed."

"Thank you," Zuhumi replies, "we will see you soon."

Zuhumi's freighter settles down outside the compound, ramp facing the nearest entrance.

The three stand in the cargo area once again while Zuhumi adjusts his clothing and says, "I would like to go talk to them first. I am known here."

Itico nods and him and Randa agree that it is worth a try.

Zuhumi strolls casually down the ramp towards the compound and approaches the guard station to the left of the door..

"Hello Herald," he says to the guard, "how are your wife and kids?"

The guard nods, "Hey Z, long time. Family is good. It's getting harder to convince them that the candy you gave me was discontinued. Now they are old enough to look for it themselves," Herald answers. "Owner isn't home right now."

"I think he might have been in that ship which blew up in the upper atmosphere," Zuhumi offers.

"Yeah," the Herald replies, "we got the news." Herald looks Zuhumi up and down. "You wouldn't have had anything to do with that, would you?"

Zuhumi shrugs, "Now, why would I want to blow up one of my best clients?"

Herald nods.

"Well," Zuhumi says, "here's the thing. We go an issue."

"Yeah?"

"There's survivors and they want their bodies back."

"How many?" asks Herald.

The guard looks up at a loud hum from overhead.

Zuhumi turns to look as well.

A strange shape flies from behind the compound and lands next to Zuhumi's ship. The new ship is irregularly shaped with spikes pointing in all directions. A hatch opens and people of all sizes start leaving the ship.

Zuhumi turns back to the guard, "All of them, I think."

Two of the spikes swing around to point at the compound menacingly.

As the guard slowly moves to push a button, Itico, Randa and a spindly looking, angular and spiked alien walks up. They are followed by more than 40 former servants.

The doors swing open and the group enters.