FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Ugh... why must I get stuck with YOU of all people?" Charlie complained as the two made their way to their assigned location. They passed through the academy's steel gates and through the residential area of the military district.

Jason paid no attention to the whining charmander as he kept his eyes on the map. He doesn't really leave the military district much... he hasn't even left it really. This'll be a whole new experience for him: being out of the military district and into the market district. He asked for a map from General Jackson when he passed them by to congratulate on their first mission and now he's studying the map from one end to another.

"I mean, Dad paired the others based on their types!" Charlie continued his ranting, his arms making frantic gestures in front of him that meant nothing at all. "I could have been paired with someone better for me. I could have been paired with Flare, for pete's sake! Man, Flare was one talented chimchar. I dare say he could be as good as me. Or better yet, I could have been paired with Vex. Dang, now THAT'S a vixen! Instead, I get stuck with you."

"You know, Charlie," Jason finally spoke, getting fed up with all the complaining. "I enjoy listening to someone bitch out about some trivial crap as much as the next guy, but please just shut up."

"Bleh bleh bleh bleh bleh." Charlie rolled his eyes and snorted. "Why do you even have that map anyway? What's it about, a hidden treasure?"

"It's a map of the market district." Jason answered truthfully.

Charlie did little to supress his laughter as he almost tripped with all his hackling. "What? Why do you even need that?"

Jason paid no attention to the insult except for a sigh. "We're all not like you, Charlie." Jason answered. "We don't live in the market district with your pimp life. Besides, I don't think I'm cut out for the city life. I'm very much satisfied with my simple country life."

The charmander snorted, barely able to supress his pride. "You just can't handle the competition. If you want to be with the big guys, you gotta have a lot of money." He said with a wide, prideful grin.

"Are you implying that I'm poor?" Jason blankly asked, turning his map upside down to see all the possible angles. "If you must know, I'm above middle class. We just choose not to show it off."

"Hmph, whatever you say simpleton." Charlie yanked the map out of Jason's hands and took a look. "We don't even need this. I know my way around these streets, just don't wander off too far."

"Sir, yes sir." Jason mumbled sarcastically as he followed the charmander through the city.

Charlie led Jason through the gates that divided the military district from the market district. The line in the checkpoint caught Jason's eye. He never realized that even within Avalon's own walls, their districts still had checkpoints that separated them. The guards checked the citizens that passed thoroughly, from their pockets to their bags, even to their vehicles.

Jason was just about to line up when Charlie grabbed his shoulder to stop him. "What the heck are you doing?" Charlie asked.

"Um..." Jason didn't dare answer that question. He knew that what he would've said would give Charlie the chance to insult him.

"We don't have to fall in line." Charlie tried his best not to sound offensive. "We're recruits sent to patrol the district. Dad gave us the documents right?"

Jason remembered the folder that Ignatius handed him before they left and began fishing through his pack. "You mean these?"

"Yes, those." Charlie took the folder from Jason's hand and took a look. "Yup, this gives us permission to cross the border. We just show the guards these and we should pass without a second glance."

The two made their way to the checkpoint. Charlie took them to the left of the line, to an alternate exit. Upon arriving at the steel bar doors, they were stopped by a guard, a garchomp. He was young compared to the other guards and his uniform held little to none badges compared to the rest. Perhaps he was a rookie as well. "State your business." The garchomp commanded. Wow, judging by his voice he must have been in his early twenties yet he looked like he was younger... eighteen maybe. Perhaps this was his first few days on the job.

"We are recruits." Charlie replied, presenting the documents to the garchomp. "We were sent to patrol in the market district."

The garchomp took the documents from Charlie and took a look. He seemed to not know what he was looking for and he took his radio and called for his superior. The second guard was an infernape, an older guard, and took the documents from the garchomp.

"Ah, Charlie." The infernape said as he flipped through the pages. "Sent on your first mission, I see."

"You know it." The charmander said with pride. "Now may we pass?"

"Your documents seem to be in order." The infernape handed Charlie the documents who gave it to Jason who placed it back in his pack. "You may pass."

Jason eyed the garchomp intently. Though obviously older than him, the garchomp held the same confused, insecure face he had when he first entered the academy. Jason could feel a sort of friendly vibe emanating from the officer, almost to the point of small talk. "You must be new here in the job." Jason barely managed to get the words out of his mouth but seeing as Charlie and the infernape had their convo he felt the desire to speak as well.

"Yeah, hasn't been over a week actually." The garchomp smiled at the young riolu and let out a relaxed sigh. "You're Jason right, Jason Alexander?"

Jason ears flickered at the sound of his name. "You know me?"

"Well, I know OF you." The garchomp leaned against the steel gate, relaxing to continue their small talk. "They say you fight unlike any other in the academy. I heard you took out a lot of those rogues last week. That's pretty impressive for a new recruit. When I was a recruit, the greatest achievement I got was arresting a petty thief."

Jason couldn't help but smile at the compliment. But bringing back the memories of the attack made his head spin and uneasy. "Well, you're lucky enough not to experience an attack like that while you were young..."

"Well, good luck on your first mission then." The garchomp cheerfully said as he stepped aside giving Jason room to pass.

Jason smiled jovially and gave the garchomp a nod. "You too... uh..."

"Harrison." The garchomp added. "You can call me Harrison."

"Jason, you've got to be kidding me. You really haven't been here before!?" Charlie's question was insulting in many ways, but Jason didn't pay any attention to it.

The two strolled through modern buildings, tall concrete structures dotted with glass windows, businesses and shops, several other things that Jason's not too familiar with. Jason's aware that his parents have been to the three districts of Avalon but he hasn't really asked for what they looked like. He was so used to the simple country life that he feels culture-shocked to be walking within a city so modern in appearance.

"Aw, it's not a decent thing to do you know, that staring of yours." Charlie pushed up Jason's jaw to close the riolu's mouth. "I know it's impressive but I didn't think you'd stare like that. C'mon, the bank's this way."

Jason eyed everything that was to be seen. There were crowds of people walking through the city, each headed to the markets or to their businesses. Jason could see cars passing by, here and there through the streets. Jason's heard of cars but the only transport vehicles he's actually seen are military-based like tanks, trucks or others. He didn't know they made such ridiculous looking vehicles in all shapes and colors

Jason turned to look at Charlie, the charmander paid the riolu no attention as he led the two through the district. Jason felt slightly relieved actually, this is the kindest Charlie's been to him. Charlie would usually be insulting Jason, calling him names and the occasional fights with him. But Charlie's just... acting all friendly... just teases and jokes instead of the insults. That's impossible, Jason could tell Charlie's intentions were to rub everything in his face. The two were just not going to be able to reconcile with each other. They've been enemies for so long that friendship seemed like a fleeting dream.

"Hey, twinkle-toes, keep up!" Charlie barked, forcing Jason to rush to his side.

"What's with this 'twinkle-toes' thing anyway?" Jason asked. "How did that start?"

"You don't know?" Charlie supressed a laugh. "It was during the training session a few months back when you 'learned' how to use blaze kick. You were so freaked out you tiptoed like some pussy through the halls."

"Oh... that..." Jason felt embarrassed as the scenes played in his mind. "I think that was the time I actually had woman friends."

"'Woman friends'?" Charlie asked.

"Well, I can't say 'girl friends' 'cause that would send the wrong message." Jason replied. "So I call female friends as woman friends."

"You truly are a comedian aren't you?"

"Now that's one talent I have that you'll never get." Jason chuckled and eyed Charlie with sarcastic pride.

Charlie was clearly offended by Jason's comment. "Why you little..."

"Oh, look, it's the bank." Jason interrupted, pointing his finger as the building before them.

"Like THAT'S gonna stop me from messing you up." Charlie said with a snarl as his tail burned hotter.

"Of course the bank won't stop you." Jason calmly answered, his eyes fixed at the bank's glass doors. "Your pride will stop you, your reputation, your credibility, your family's reputation... and those bank robbers that are exiting the building."