Runaway Experiment: Part 3 - Migration
The plant burrowed its way around a vein of lava rock, using long tubes on its body to move the earth its special burrow blades dug loose and deposit the soil behind it, much like an earthworm would. Tiny feelers on skin of the plant's body allowed it to move slowly through the ground without little trouble. Two of its three stalks drilled up to but not through the surface. The sensors on the stalks' buds were keeping watch for activity as well as for prey in the holiday resort above.
If it could express emotion, one could have said the plant was frustrated. Having escaped from the facility where it was created a week ago, it had caught two females on the island nearby. Sensing it had found a fertile hunting ground, the plant then made it's way to the island where the holiday resort in less than a day. Once there, it began to hunt.
After four days the plant's hunt had turned out to be fruitless. There was plenty of prey for it to catch, no doubts there. The problem was that they were too clustered together in one location along with those whom the plant did not. It could not catch or stalk above ground without drawing attention to itself. The plant knew that it was not far from where it was created and did not want to raise the alarm and have those who inhabited the facility to come and destroy it. The structures of the resort and the concrete foundations did not make it any easier, either.
Only once did the plant come close to capturing its prey. The female had wandered off into the jungles next to the resort. Not too far, but far enough to allow the predator to go for her without raising the alarm. It brought one of its buds to the surface and bloomed. Again the female was attracted to the big flower and came closer to look. The plant though it had its prey, but then for reasons it was unable to sense, the female stopped and then walked back to the resort.
It was the last straw for the plant. It decided it was time to go searching for newer hunting grounds. Burrowing its bud back into the earth, the plant headed for the edge of the island. During its time under the resort it had learned that the creatures came to and left the island on some large piece of metal that floated in the water. It did not know how that metal worked or where it went, but it would be better for the plant to migrate on it than to stay here.
The plant checked on its food supply. The five females it had inside its special stomach were all asleep at the moment. Though the plant could not get the energies it needed from them in that state, it did not want to have its precious sources die from exhaustion. It would need more females so it can rotate between those that needed rest and those it can harvest. All the more reason to get on that floating metal.
The plant started to tunnel its way under the resort to the docks, going under the concrete foundations and making sure to avoid burrowing pipes. As it dug, the ground became more sandy and moist. That was another reason for the plant to leave this place: the salt water made it ill several times as it made its way between the islands. But since it wanted to get on the floating metal, it kept going determinedly.
Soon it could sense the presence of the big floating metal in the waters by the docks. It could also sense some urgency from the creatures above on the docks. The floating metal was going to depart soon. The plant did not want to be left behind. Inside its bowels it began to stimulate the females, waking them up, for it needed the extra energies. After some furious stimulation, the females very soon all released their sexual energies. Thanks to the new nourishment, the plant burrowed much more quickly through the sand to its destination. It kept going at the females to ensure it had the reserves needed to get to the floating metal quickly.
After a short while the plant could feel it was close to the floating metal. Luck was a little on its side when it discovered a sand bunker that was much closer to the bottom of the metal that the rest of the ocean floor. It tunneled to the bunker and up to just under the sandy surface. The plant felt the sea water on its skin and could already feel ill. Not wasting time, it sent its three stalks out of the sand and up to the hull of the metal. The stalks went along the metal, looking for a place where the plant could settle for the trip.
There were many of the creatures in the lower parts of the floating metal. All went about doing things that were alien to the plant. However, they largely remained in the compartments into which the floating metal was divided. Then the stalks found a spot at the very back. It was big enough to house the plant, yet isolated enough from the rest of the floating metal.
The plant acted. It secreted acidic liquid from the stalks and rubbed it against the side of the metal. It did not take long for the acid to eat away the hull. The plant released more acids to break down a hole big enough for it. Once it felt the acids had done their job and the hole was big enough, the plant latched its stalks against the sides of the hole while it burrowed out of the bunker. It felt even more ill as it came into direct contact with the water. Very quickly it hoisted itself out of the water, up against the side of the floating metal and finally through the hole into the compartment.
Once inside, the plant settled its mass on the floor of the compartment it was in. Examining its environment, the plant noticed that the room was somewhat small and held very little in terms of features except for pipes running along the ceiling, a small control box on the wall and a locked door opposite the box. The plant secreted a little bit of acid to melt the door frame and seal up the door. Having done that, the plant checked on its food. They were now fully awake and had recovered their stamina. Now the plant began to stimulate them continuously, getting its nourishment as it sat and started to explore the floating metal it had boarded.
The Ocean Stallion was the top of its line cruise ship, with all the luxuries and necessities that such a boat would have. It was not the biggest, but certainly it was no small boat either. It's white hull and upper deck structures could be seen for miles on the clear ocean waters. Tourists were packed on the decks as the ship was preparing to depart. Down on the docks, some of the resort staff and local islanders were waving at the passengers and bidding them farewell.
At the bridge, Captain Bedford D. Beaver was looking over his command, where his crew was controlling all the functions of the ship with state-of-the-art computers. Bedford was an old seadog, but he never was against the latest shipping technology. Indeed, the beaver was always looking forward to the latest breakthroughs that made his job so much easier. Ocean Stallion, the latest ship under his command, was on her maiden voyage and was proving she was the top of her class.
As he watched his crew go about their assigned duties, his first mate, Garret the otter, came up to him holding a clipboard with notes on it. Bedford turned to Garret and took the clipboard as the otter offered it to him.
Garret:"Everything is set to go, captain."
Bedford:"Excellent. No problems reported, Garret?"
Garret shook his head as Bedford read through the papers, flipping over each page as he finished reading them.
Garret:"None at all, captain."
Bedford smiled as he heard Garret's response and read the papers on the clipboard. There were no problems, issues or any kind of trouble anywhere on the ship. The only thing was the occasional passenger getting seasick. Though an emergency or two did sometimes break the monotonoy, Bedford always liked it when everything was running ship-shape. He handed the clipboard over to Garret and nodded.
Bedford:"Good. I think we can now depart. Go ahead and give the orders, Garret."
Garret took the clipboard.
Garret:"Aye, captain."
Garret turned to the crew and began to give out the orders to raise anchor and set sail. Bedford watched everything as the crews got the cruise liner up and running.
The anchor was raised out of the water and the horn was blown, signaling the Ocean Stallion's departure. Outside the passengers and those on the dock waves back at each other, some blowing kisses or tossing ribbons. Very soon the cruise liner was heading into the open waters, away from the islands and past various pleasure craft.
None on the ship saw the large hole in the hull at the back. And the only one who saw it was a lone fisherman in a reef boat, who could not radio the ship or shout to anyone of the Ocean Stallion. He could only watch as the ship headed on its way home.
The plant had begun to get a better idea of what the floating metal was and what it did. Carefully sending out its stalks through the piping and along the outside the hull it had gathered reconnoitered its environment. Along the way it sensed a number of possible preys. Tempted as it was, the plant knew that there were still too many creatures about to hunting at present. If it wanted to feast, it would have to wait until the right time comes. Until then, it kept on examining and sensing about what is was going on and keeping alert for any sign that it might be seen.
Two days later the sun had set and the moon was high in the night sky. The Ocean Stallion, however, was completely lit up with bright lights that could be seen for miles in every direction. The top central deck of the ship, which normally was used for sports such as tennis and soccer, had been cleared to make room for the big party that was being held there. All the passengers and some of the crew were enjoying themselves, dancing, drinking, chatting and generally having a good time.
On a stage a group of females were dancing to the beat of drummers behind them. Wearing bikinis and skirts made of leaves, they were garnering a great deal of attention from the crowd, especially from the male audience. Their exotic dance moves spoke of many hours of training and practice and they did not disappoint. Once they did their last move and the drumming stopped, the females were showered with applause and whistling. The dancers bowed and smiled gratefully, then were allowed to leave the stage to mingle with the crowds and enjoy the night.
Two of the females went to an outdoor bar and got themselves some tropical punch. One female was a cheetah named Narween, who was chatting with her friend, a raccoon named Lindie. Narween was quite attractive, being a cheetah with long, luscious hair, well groomed yellow fur with black spots, almost white fur that ran from her muzzle down her neck all the way to between her legs, her inner arms and her paws, a long tail that ended with a black patch and a curving figure that made every nearby male (and even a females) get a good look at her. The two friends took regular sips from their drinks as they talked.
Narween:"You were good tonight, Lindie."
Lindie:"Thanks, but you were the star attraction tonight, Narween."
Narween:"Maybe a bit too much of an attraction. Did you see the bulldog who was drooling while looking at us?"
Lindie made a face of disgust, thinking of the bulldog who drooled into the wine glass he held during the performance.
Lindie:"Yeah, a real pig and the face to match it."
Narween:"Yes, he does. I can't wait until we dock tomorrow. Then I can get off the boat for a few days and go looking for a real job."
Lindie:"Are you still thinking of getting into modeling?"
Narween:"Yes, I am. I have the looks that make males go weak in the legs. And none of those looks are artificial. All one hundred percent natural."
Lindie definitely couldn't argue with that. While many females got sexy looks through plastic surgery, her cheetah friend's body was a gift of nature and the result of years of good exercising and eating. Narween could certainly grace the covers of many a magazine if she went into the modeling business or even acting.
Lindie:"And do you have in mind what kind of modeling you will do?"
Narween:"At first I'll take any modeling offer presented to me, but one day I'd like to do modeling for Yiff-Star Magazine."
Lindie would have choked had she been drinking her punch. She looked at Narween in surprise.
Lindie:"Yiff-Star Magazine? That's an adult fur magazine, Narween."
Narween:"Yes, and I want to work there one day. I don't want to go and work for some third-rate porn mag. I want to do professional stuff."
Lindie nodded again. Yiff-Star Magazine was the world's leading yiff magazine that featured the best photography and models in all forms of erotic situations. And all of it was of the highest quality, thanks to its founder and CEO Elayne McCoon who insists on nothing but the best. Still, the idea of Narween gracing the cover of Yiff-Star Magazine startled the raccoon a bit.
Lindie:"I suppose you must use assets nature, and your parents, gave you, but are you sure you want to work for Yiff-Star, Narween?"
Narween:"Absolutely, Lindie. It's my big dream and I'm going to live it out."
Lindie:"And what would your parents say about it?"
Narween simply smirked at her friend as she answered.
Narween:"My parents met on the stage of an adult film production."
Lindie stared at the cheetah for a moment, then burst out laughing.
Lindie:"I guess they don't mind, then. They'd probably be proud if they saw you on the cover."
Narween giggled and winked as she downed the last of her punch. She then put the glass down on the bar, after which the barman took the empty glass away. Narween got up from the bar stool she sat.
Narween:"Well, I'm going to bed. You have a good party, Lindie."
Lindie lowered her glass in surprise, looking at her friend.
Lindie:"You're going already? The party's just starting!"
Narween:"I know, but I want to up early tomorrow once the ship docks so I can have time for job hunting. Besides, I'm getting tired of that guy..."
Narween pointed at one of the tables not far from the bar and Lindie looked into that direction. The bulldog they saw earlier was seated at the table, a pool of drool having formed on his table after it overflowed from the glass holding his fruit juice. Lindie made a face of disgust and got up as well.
Lindie:"Good idea, Narween. You sleep well. I'm going to go find somebody to dance with tonight."
Narween:"Thank you. Have a good one, Lindie."
The two females parted ways, with Lindie going into the crowd of dancing passengers and Narween heading into the main deck superstructure on her way to her cabin.
The plant was making good process exploring the massive vehicle with its stalks. With nearly all of the creatures at the top of the floating metal, the stalks could go into sections where it not go earlier without raising the alarm. They explored the small compartments in which some of the creatures lived by sliding itself into the round holes on the sides of the floating metal.
Suddenly, while it was checking on a compartment higher up in the floating metal, it sensed one of the creatures approaching. It quickly pulled its stalk back and pressed it against the side, where it knew it could not be seen. The creature kept going on, traveling along a narrow passage that separated the rows of compartments. Then it went a level lower, still going through the passages. The plant's stalks followed along the sides, trying sense what creature it was.
As the creature went down another level, the plant poked a stalk through an open hole into a nearby compartment. It moved close to the door separating the compartment from the passage. As the creature passed, it sensed what it was. A female! The plant decided to pursue the female, to see if it will go some place where it can capture her without raising alarm. The stalk went back out again to follow along the sides.
The prey went down a third level, walked a short distance and then entered a compartment. It closed the door behind her and activated the light source. The plant edged its stalks close to the open hole, but not too close to alarm its prey. It carefully began to sense and observe its quarry for the right moment.
Narween entered her cabin, closed and locked the door and turned on the light. Her cabin was not too big, but not too small either. It was divided into two parts, the bigger part containing her living room, kitchen and bedroom, the smaller one being her bathroom. There was a single bed, desk and chair, dual closet, television, microwave oven/stove and kettle. The bathroom contained a wash basin with mirror, toilet and shower. Here and there were a few of Narween's own possessions that made the cabin her own home.
The cheetah went over to her closet and opened the door. Most of her clothes hung from coat hangers and her underwear were stacked in shelves along with much of her toiletries and jewelry. She took hold of her leaf skirt and slid it down to reveal her yellow bikini bottom. She stepped out of her skirt, knelt down and neatly folded it up before putting it into the bottom shelf. She stood up again, reached back to undo the strap of her bikini top and took it off. Her generous breasts spilled forth as she took the top off. She folded it up and put it in a top shelf. Narween then took hold of both sides of her bottom and pulled it down, wiggling a bit to help it along. She then slid it off both her feet, folded it up and put it with her top.
Now completely nude, Narween faced the mirror attached to her closet door. The cheetah female looked herself over, running her paws along her curving thighs and swishing her tail. She then turned left, lifting one leg to hide her privates and covering both her breasts with a single arm while resting the other on her rump. She gave her best seductive look and grinned.
Narween:"Narween, you sexa thang!"
She giggled to herself and dropped the pose. She walked into her bathroom, tail swishing behind her, and climbed into the shower. She turned the taps and enjoyed a nice cool shower and little bit of self-pleasuring. Her purring could be heard above the sound of running water.
After a good while of washing and playing with herself, Narween turned off the taps and stepped out of the shower. She and smiled hummed pleasantly, having enjoyed her shower. She took a towel and began to dry herself off, starting with her long hair and working down her naked body to her feet. She worked back to her hair and dried it off as best she could. Once done she folded up the towel and hung it over the towel bar. She went over to the washbasin, took her toothbrush and toothpaste and proceeded to brush her fangs. Looking in the mirror above the basin, she made sure she reached those hard-to-reach spots before washing her mouth clean with a cup of water. Narween grinned widely, looking at her white fangs in the mirror.
Narween:"Brush your fangs twice a day and bite your dentist every year."
Satisfied with her clean looks, Narween walked out of the bathroom and over to her desk. She pulled the chair out from under the desk, and then sat her bare behind on the leather seat. She wiggled a bit, liking the rubbing of leather against her rump. She then pulled closer to her desk, took out her diary from the drawer and began to write her day's entry.
Narween had been writing for only a minute when she got a strange scent in her nose. She sniffed it, smelling the odd yet pleasant smell. She stopped writing and sniffed some more. It was kind of like a perfume, yet she knew she did not put any on. And none that she had smelled like this. And it was getting stronger too. Curious, she put the pen down and turned to look where she thought the smell was coming from.
Narween barely even had time to gasp before the flower engulfed her head.
The plant closed the petals of the flower on the stalk-tip tightly around the upper body of the female, holding firmly to the cheetah. It could feel it squirm and struggle as it dragged her from the chair onto the floor. The plant then winched when it felt the sharp claws scratching against its skin. The fibers were strong enough to resist the scratches, but it was still enough to pain the plant. It noted to itself to evolve a stronger, more resistant skin in future.
For now, though, it had a new source of food. The plant used its other stalks to keep watch for any possible threats that might come. It sent up its immobilizing vine up the shaft of the stalk to gas the female. It also sent up two more vines, for the plant was very hungry and could not wait until she was swallowed before it could feed off her. It did not take long for the vines to reach the prey. The immobilizing vine quickly cupped over her nose and mouth and began to release the toxins, being careful for the sharp fangs it sensed. The gas began to work quickly. The female's struggles became less violent and less resisting. The other two vines snaked down her body until it came to where her two stimulation areas where. The plant sensed the warmth and moisture and plunged the vines into the cheetah's anal and vaginal passages.
Again the female's body quivered, its cries muffled inside the flower. The vines dug deep, then began to slide out and then pushing right back in. As the process went on for a few more moments, the plant sensed something odd. The female was relaxing much more quickly than what the plant knew the toxins were capable of. Could it be that the stimulating of the female made it just as helpless as the toxins? The plant stored that bit of information. If just feeding off the females made them resist less, then it would not have to waste so much of its toxins in future.
The plant increased the rate of pumping into the cheetah while it decreased the amount of toxins it gave the female. As it did this, it became aware of an odd, rumbling noise coming from the prey. The plant did not know what it was, but after a few minutes decided it was not threatening. It felt the cheetah's body stiffening as she approached that moment when her energies were to be released. Her tail swished and brushed over the petals, but the plant took little notice of it, being focused on getting its nourishment.
It did not take long for the female to reach her peak. Her body shuddered violently, her tail went erect and her flesh tunnels clenched tightly around the vines inside her. The plant immediately felt the bolts of energies coming from her body and took it into the vines. The energies were quickly transferred down the vines into the main body of the plant. The plant greedily absorbed the energies, enjoying the refreshing and empowering sensations it provided. Already it could feel much stronger and ready to use those energies to evolve itself even further. The female kept releasing what the plant needed for a few more seconds longer until the plant felt her going limp.
The cheetah female was a good catch. She provided more energies than most of the other females it had inside already. She would make a good addition to its food supply.
The plant was about to feed on its prey again, when suddenly the other stalks detected a group of creatures coming down. They were just entering the first level below top one and were still a good distance away. The plant, however, did not want to take chances. It temporary abandoned its plans to harvest the female and instead went ahead with getting her into its body.
Two vines went up the stalk to the female and grasped around her wrists. It then began to pull her limp arms up through the throat of the flower and into the stalk itself. Though the cheetah was still weakened from her orgasm and the toxins, the plant kept gassing her a little to make sure she does not struggle again. The rumbling noise continued coming from the cheetah female as the plant began to pull her in. The muscle fibers that formed the "mouth" stretched and expanded as the female's head slid in, followed by her shoulders and then the large orbs on her chest. It tightened around her thinning waist only to expand once her hips and buttocks squeezed in, the vines still lodged in her body. Once most of its prey was in, the plant began to create suction inside the stalk that made her slide in even more quickly. Her long legs and tail went in, her toes wiggling just before they were consumed. Finally her swishing tail was sucked in like a noodle, and the mouth closed tightly behind the female.
With the cheetah female's body distinctly visible in the bulges in the stalk, the plant began to retreat from the compartment it was in. It has a little trouble getting the swallowed female out the hole, but managed to get through by stretching its skin and making it thin enough to make it through. Once outside, the stalks all started to retreat back to the hole in the side of the floating metal the plant made. All the while it pulled the female down the stalk towards its body, who was not making any attempt to resist and still made the rumbling noise.
The stalks pilled back to the body of the plant and coiled up snugly in the space it occupied. The bulge moved lower down the stalk until it disappeared into the large mass of the plant. Once that happened, the plant pulled the vines from the cheetah's two holes with moist pops and removed the mask over the female's face. It directed its prey into a special tube that could easily move around inside the chamber that was its stomach. The opening of the tube opened over one of the available feeding cavities the plant had ready for the female. It squeezed her out head-first into that space, then closed and permanently sealed the cavity once she was fully in.
The plant felt the female recover from the toxins and stand up, moving about and touching the sides of the cell. In a special sac not visible from the stomach the plant began to create the slime that it would fill the cavity. It was made from special nutrients that the plant regarded as waste, but would allow the bodies of the females to be preserved for as long as it held them. Once the sac was full, the slime was pumped out through tiny vines that ran from the sac to the small holes in the cavity walls.
Once it began to fill the cavity, the plant sensed nervousness from the female and she began to move around even more. All the vines for her cavity were grown just beneath the cell floor and in the ceiling, out of sight, and now they were ready to go to work. The plant then sent vines out to grab hold of her wrists and ankles, then lift her up and spread her to make her more accessible to for harvesting. Once done, two more vines like the ones the plant used earlier to get her energies went up her legs and found their new homes, burrowing in deep and then starting the process of thrusting it had done earlier. Already the female was weakening and relaxing from the sensations unleashed inside her body and the plant heard it's prey's cries each time it pushed the vines back into her. It took this chance to release the feeding tube from the ceiling and down to the cheetah's face. When she cried again, the tip attached over her mouth and nose, while a single vine shot in right up to her throat. The tube secured and latched tightly to the female's face, then the plant started to feed her with oxygen and nutrients that were waste to the plant. This will prevent the plant from losing its prey to starvation and also give her plenty of energy and stamina. Finally, the plant lowered the suction vines down to the two globes and sucked their tips onto those soft mounds. The plant did this to increase the level of stimulation of its captive. They were also used to occasionally absorb the odd fluids the females sometimes released from those mounds. Though the plant could not it (indeed, it found it foul-tasting), it apparently was good to the females. So it took the fluid and added it to the feed for its stock.
Just as the cavity filled up completely with the slime, the cheetah writhed and twitched violently from another stimulation topping. The plant once again fed on the energies coming from her body, slurping it up greedily for it's own mass. The event lasted only a few seconds, but those few seconds gave the plant plenty of its favorite meal. The female then stopped and went limp again. The plant allowed its prey to rest for a minute to allow the feed it gave her to recharge her. Then it will attack her again for more energy, repeating the process over and over and only stopping to let her sleep for a few hours. Then it will do it again.
Narween was tired as she came down from the second orgasm the strange creature had yiffed her to. The strange and yet delicious substance the tube in her mouth gave her was giving her the stamina and relieving the tiredness. The cheetah female could feel the vines inside her pussy and ass standing still, just nestled within her warm body. When she opened her eyes, her world was a blur due to the liquid she was floating in, suspended by the vines holding her by the arms and legs.
Narween looked around, seeing other females trapped like she was, and considered her predicament. The thing, whatever it was, seemed to live off whatever it was that it got as it yiffed her silly. She was very worried. She did not want to spend the rest of her young life as food for some creature. She had so much to look forward to.
But the pleasure from the yiffing was so good, so nice. Her body shuddered from the pure enjoyment she got from the pumping of her holes and the suckling of her melons. In her mind the cheetah did not want to let the fun end. The more she thought about it, the more aroused she became and the bigger the urge was to stay instead. In the back of her mind she told herself she had to snap out it and get out of here.
The vines in her two flesh tunnels started to piston into her body again. The bolts of electricity coming from her stimulated holes into her mind washed away any last doubts and thoughts of resistance. The last coherent thought she had was that at least she would not have to do anymore dancing on the Ocean Stallion. Narween closed her eyes and purred, surrendering herself completely to her fate.
Using the extra energies it got from Narween, the plant grew a little larger, expanding the size of its body and forming new cavities inside itself for future prey. A small spot formed on its upper skin where the plant began to grow a new stalk. Its skin grew a little stronger and a few fibers that acted as muscles also strengthened a bit. The plant was satisfied with the meal, though not satiated of its hunger. It sent out its stalks against to explore the floating metal and keep watch for more isolated prey and danger.
For now, though, it was glad to have at least gotten one more female to feed on.
The next morning the Ocean Stallion pulled in alongside a dock in the harbor of a major metropolis. Gleaming skyscrapers rose above the landscape of concrete buildings amid a sea of green trees, as if the city was built in the middle of a forest. Dozens of other ships, ranging from small tugs to huge super tankers, were coming and going, offloading their cargoes and passengers. Dock workers helped secure the big ocean liner, while passengers waved from the ship at friends and families waiting on the dock below. Once the walkways were attached to the liner' sides, the passengers and crew were allowed to disembark.
Among those waiting below was the president of the company that owned the Ocean Stallion and some of his fellow executives. Badar the elephant male was big and imposing with long tusks that he kept in good condition. He smiled as Captain Bedford came down to meet him, all smiles as well.
Badar:"Ah, welcome back, captain had a good trip?"
The captain and the CEO shook each other's paws.
Bedford:"It was wonderful, sir. The Ocean Stallion works like a dream. She's a fine one."
Badar:"That's why we spared no expenses to make sure she is the best, Captain Bedford. Big Sea Industries wants to let the world to know that we can make the best liners in the business. And there no problems with liner, I trust?"
Bedford:"None whatsoever, I'm pleased to say."
Badar:"Excellent! And with a captain with as good a service record, the Ocean Stallion will be taking big names."
As they talked, a German Shepherd security officer, wearing the uniform that signaled he worked at the docks, came up and interrupted them. The officer looked at the captain, holding a walky-talky in one paw.
Officer:"Excuse me, but are you the captain of this ship?"
The canine indicated towards the Ocean Stallion with his radio. Captain Bedford turned and nodded to the officer.
Bedford:"Aye, I'm Captain Bedford. Is there something wrong, officer?"
Officer:"Yes, captain. You had better come with me."
Bedford looked at Badar, who was looking back at him in consternation. Bedford quickly looked back at the officer.
Captain:"I'll come along, officer. Lead the way."
The officer turned and began to walk down the dock alongside the ocean liner with Bedford. Moments later Badar and his staff quickly caught up with the two. Bedford was worried. His crew did not report any trouble onboard the liner and the dock was clear, so he could not have crushed another boat. What's worse, the company CEO was with him and the look on the elephant's face told Bedford that Badar was expecting the worst. And so was he, he had to admit.
As they approached the rear of the Ocean Stallion, Bedford could see a number of dock workers looking in surprise between his ship and a large pile of stacked shipping containers. He turned his eyes to his ship, then stopped in his tracks.
There was a huge hole in the side of the ship. His ship! It was almost big as a truck cab and one could clearly see inside. He walked even more quickly until he joined the dockworkers. To his horror, there was another hole of the same size on the other side of the hull. He could clearly see the big freight ship on the other side. Several of the Ocean Stallion's mechanics were standing in the compartment where the holes were, looking back and forth between the two holes.
Bedford heard a loud gasp next to him. Badar was staring with eyes as wide as saucers at the holes. Bedford quickly looked at the officer.
Bedford:"What happened?"
Officer:"I don't know, captain. I was hoping you could tell me. The dock hands were coming to secure the tail end of the ship when they found this hole. And that."
The officer pointed towards the shipping containers. Bedford looked in that direction. Between the shipping containers large slabs of concrete had been torn up or melted away, exposing the ground underneath. It was then the captain noticed leaves lying on the ground running from the hole to where the dock ended by the hole.
Badar quickly grabbed Bedford's shoulder to get his attention.
Badar:"Captain! What the hell happened?"
All that Bedford could do was shake his head.
Bedford:"I got no idea. In all my years on the ocean I have never seen anything like this."
Just then one of the mechanics in the ship called out to the captain.
Mechanic:"Hey, captain!"
Bedford and the others turned to the mechanic, who was standing by the edge of the hole. The beaver called back.
Bedford:"Aye, what is it?"
Mechanic:"Captain, it looks like something melted the hull to make these holes. It also melted up the door we had to cut through. And the floor is covered with leaves."
Bedford:"Leaves?"
Mechanic:"Aye, captain. And a lot of it."
Bedford and Badar looked at each other. Confusion has replaced the initial shock on their faces. They glanced back at the hole, staring at it.
Badar:"What is going here, Bedford?"
But the beaver had realized what had happened to his ship and what caused the hole in the concrete. He looked back at Badar, frowning.
Bedford:"There was a stowaway on the Ocean Stallion."
Upon hearing the words, the security officer immediately got on his walky-talky. It made a beep to signal an open communication channel.
Officer:"Attention, all security personnel. Code 67. We have possible escaped stowaway from the Ocean Stallion. Initiate lockdown and start a sweep of dock 8 and warehouse C5 down to 16."
As the officer barked out the orders, Bedford looked back at holes. He could just shake his head, while Badar kept looking back and forth between the ship and the destroyed concrete slabs. The elephant was scratching his head with the tip of his trunk in confusion.
Later that day two rabbit girls were jogging along a lonely path in a park not far from the harbor area. The park was one of the bigger ones within the city and had dense foliage that nearly made it look like a jungle. The two teenagers both wore sleeveless shirts, jogging shorts and sneakers and had bandannas around their heads. The two friends were chatting to each other about finally graduating from school and what their plans were for the future.
Suddenly one of them spotted something strange a good distance from the path. She stopped her friend and pointed into the woods. They could see something purple amongst a cluster of bushes. Curious, the two rabbits left the path walked closer to see what it was. As they approached, they could see it was some kind of big flower.
The one rabbit then told her friend that they should go take a closer look. The other one agreed, and then the two teenage rabbits walked towards the big purple bloom...
FIN
Story By: Gerhard "StrikerSA" Naudé