FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

We're a part of something greater now aren't we? A true consciousness that has spanned the globe. A gestalt entity made up of every mind that feeds information into it. What else can we call it but . . . alive?

~~The rise and fall of the internet.

How the virtual world shapes our lives.

Chapter Thirty Five : Sealed, within the dark realm of time.

“What the hell.” Said Phoenix as the light began to dim, revealing a tiny library that was old and probably forgotten. “This is just a data-dump, a storage unit for useless or outdated information. What could there possibly be worth stealing in here?”

“Oh, you'd be surprised.” Said Zane. “People these days, even careful people, are willing to throw just about anything out.” Searching through the scraps of paper that lay scattered about the room, he took the time to even read a few. “And like they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure.” Financial records, shipping receipts, I wonder, what exactly is it you're looking for?

Taking a book off of a shelf, Kato flipped through it and said. “This place is a mess. Isn't there any way to search for something specific?”

“Well, that depends now doesn't it?”

Not liking the tone he heard in Zane's voice Kato said. “Depends . . . on what?”

“On how much you're willing to tell us about what it is you're looking for.”

“Forget it.” Climbing a ladder, Kato said. “I'll find it myself.”

“Listen kid.” Liking the whole library motif less by the minute, Zane began pulling back the layers of code. “Searching through Cyberside isn't like looking through an index and finding what you want. Even the best search programs can only find things that fall within a specific set of parameters, and most of those are limited by what the one operating them can do. You don't even have the hardware necessary to launch a search program, let alone tailor one to meet your needs.”

Kato simply nodded as his earlier suspicions were confirmed. “Which is why I'm the only one who can find what I need.”

When you can't see the forest for the trees. Swearing softly, Zane knew then what he had done. “Kid. When did you arrange for us to arrive at a different destination?”

Oblivious to everything else, Kato said. “At about the same time I opened the door. I was hoping it would take you longer to notice but . . .” He shrugged as he tossed a book into a growing pile.

“If we're not inside a data-dump,” Said Phoenix as he continued searching. “Then where the hell are we?”

“A dedicated access line connected to one of Exotica Geno-Works central servers, or if you need me to be more specific, one that is limited to private users only.” Flicking his tail at her, Kato felt like asking who the amateur was now.

“No wonder Kato doesn't want to tell us what he's looking for.” Said Zane. “If it ever got around that someone in the UnderCity had managed to compromise Pillar security, they'd come down on us like the hammer of god.” So He's willing to make an enemy out of even the Companies is he? Zane had to admit it. He was impressed.

“So your saying the less we know the better?” Kicking over a stack of books she shouted. “Fuck that shit! This asswipe walks in out of nowhere and thinks that he can just use us as a scapegoat? I say we jack-out and leave his sorry self to ghost.”

“Now, now, its our own fault for not covering our own asses in the first place. And I'm sure our friend here wouldn't have risked coming this far without at least having a way of covering his. Isn't that right, Kato.”

The threat hidden in his words wasn't lost on anyone.

“The access code that I used to get us here belongs to one of my former employers. As far as anyone watching is concerned, all we're doing is a little research by remote. And if anything should happen to go missing in the process, I've arranged it so that the suspicion will fall entirely on him.”

“So essentially, you've set things up so that your owner takes the fall for any crimes you may commit? That's cold kid, cold and ruthless.” The approval in Zane's voice was almost palpable when he turned to Phoenix and said. “Satisfied?”

Phoenix just shook her head. “Not until he tells us what he's been looking for.”

“I found it while we were talking.” Said Kato. “You can have a look if you want to.”

Grabbing the files as if she couldn't have snatched them away fast enough, Phoenix had barely held them for a second before she said. “Employee transfer records? Shit like this is worthless.”

“Maybe to you, but to the right person, information like this is priceless.”

“May I see those?” Taking the files from Phoenix before she could think to object, Zane hmmed and tsked before finally saying. “You know, there's actually a lot more here then just a few employee transfer records. Some of these files are on recent contract purchases, reports on chimera distribution patterns pertaining to population control, and oh look, this one has bank account numbers!” Making a copy of those for himself, Zane said. “Now this is starting to get interesting. Why, an enterprising young man with information like this at his disposal could track down just about anyone in SynCity he wanted to. In fact, if I were to hazard a guess, I would say that our young friend here is searching for someone, that, or somewhere to hide.”

Phoenix had a devious look in her eye when she said. “Maybe both.”

“Her name is Lady.” Blushing beneath his fur at the mere mention of her name Kato said. “I promised her that I would survive and find her again. And its a promise that I intend to keep.” Holding out his hand to receive the files he said. “Look. All I needed was someone to show me the way, the rest I can do on my own.”

Looking thoughtful as he fanned himself with the files Zane said. “You came all this way, even going so far as to put your own life on the line, just so you could keep a promise to a woman?”

If it was possible, Kato turned an even brighter shade of red.

“Kid,” Handing the files back to him, Zane nodded knowingly and said. “I think we may finally be starting to see eye to eye.”

His hand coming to rest on the files at the same time as Zane's, Kato was forced to cover his eyes with the other as a blinding light fill the room.

Suddenly, standing before him was a much younger Zane. “This concludes stage one of the Human Instrumentality Project. The ability to create stable artificial organs suitable for human transplant without needing to resort to cloning continues to elude us. Still, I remain hopeful that continued exploration into the effects of somatic engineering will provide us with the answers that we seek.”

Kato blinked. What's going on here? Where am I? Gone was every trace of the library, in place was a company laboratory. Is this place a memory?

“Professor Markov, forgive me, I didn't see you standing there.” Speaking to a man with snow white hair and a soft russian accent, Zane said. “I hope you aren't here to tell us that our funding has been cut, or that what we're doing here has been a waste of time.”

“Nonsense dear boy, your work here has been invaluable. Why, just the other day I was telling the board of directors that your thesis on the application of artificial chromosomes to encourage cellular regeneration was quite riveting, an absolutely enlightened piece of work. But why change your specialty to cybernetics? Has the field of genetic engineering lost all its appeal for you?”

“Hardly, its just that cybernetics have so many potential applications that I really feel as if I can make a difference in the way we see the world.”

“I understand perfectly.” Sorry to see such a brilliant research assistant leaving to strike out on his own, Markov said. “No man can stand in another's shadow. But alas, I too fear that one day my name will be forgotten. My contribution to society destined to become no more then a mere footnote in the annals of history. That is why I have come to believe that true immortality rests in our children. They are the ones who inherit our dreams, and they are the ones who give them meaning.”

“You say children but . . .” Zane cocked his head to the side. While they had been talking, a little girl no more then six years of age had come up behind Markov and begun clinging to his hand. “Is she, the one the rumors are talking about?”

“Yes, the very first child born as a result of Project A.E.G.I.S. Eve here carries the best of us inside her.” A rare smile managed to soften some of Markov's usually stern features. “I was just about to give her a tour of the facility. A sort of, bring your daughter to work day.”

Zane simply nodded. Though the official records would state that releasing Eve from the observation ward was purely for the purpose of psychological evaluation and research, he couldn't fault Markov for wanting to satisfy at least some of her curiosity.

“Professor Markov,” Tugging on his hand in the hopes of somehow getting his attention, Eve corrected herself. “Father, who are they?” Pointing to the stasis tanks that spread out for miles beyond a clearplaz window, she said. “They look just like me.” Though Eve had never known the world beyond the walls she was always surrounded by she had developed an insatiable curiosity and an appetite for life that went far beyond a child of her years.

“That's because they are your brothers and sisters of course.”

Eve thought for a moment. “All of them?”

“Yes dear one, each and every last one of them.”

Though not technically a clone, Eve and all those like her had been created by fertilizing artificial human embryos. And should she prove capable of integrating into human society, she would be the first of her kind, a new race born from the hand of man.

“But . . . why so many of them?”

Though she lacked the knowledge necessary to articulate her true desires, Markov could see the question burning in her eyes. “You see, for all the parents out there who long for a child, yet find themselves unable to conceive, with the work we are doing here we hope to finally be able to ease the burden they carry within their hearts.”

Letting go of Markov's hand, Eve ran up to the clearplaz and shouted. “Hurry up and be born! That way, all of us can look up and one day see the sky!”

Watching it happen with a growing sense of astonishment, Zane said. “Remarkable, that was absolutely remarkable. For Eve's sense of self to be so well developed. Even the most sophisticated of personal service droids had trouble achieving self-actualization, and even then they had help.”

“Ah, but to be able to think and feel, to be able to contemplate matters of the soul. What more noble goal is there for mankind, then to pursue the answer to the greatest question of them all. Why does life exist?”

Having grown accustomed to Markov's penchant for philosphy, Zane simply said. “Don't you mean, what is the meaning of life?”

“No dear boy. Meaning is decided by every man, for himself alone. But why are we here, where are we going, these are the questions that can only be answered by looking beyond every horizon, and seeing for ourselves what is out there.”

Any further attempts at discussion were ended when a security klaxon started blaring out its warning. “Warning. Critical systems failure. Warning. Critical systems failure.”

“Zane, what's going on?”

Working to isolate the problem he said. “Tank six is starting to rupture, the containment shields aren't responding.” Slamming his fists against the console he shouted. “Its no use! Someone's gone and locked us out of the system.”

Watching as one by one the stasis tanks began to automatically shutdown Markov began shaking with a barely restrained fury. “Is it sabotage? Has Blue Seed managed to make it even here?”

“Markov, we've got bigger problems to worry about. Even with the automatic shutdown, the stasis tanks are still continuing to overheat. At this rate we won't be able to contain the leak. Damn!” Bypassing the security safegaurds, Zane opened a direct link to the computer core. His voice echoed out through the intercomm when he said. “All members of lab four initiate contingency measures alpha-nine-bravo. I'm authorizing all security forces to begin emergency deployment. Everyone, evacuate the lab, now!”

No sooner had Zane finished speaking then an explosion rocked the lab as several of the stasis tanks ruptured all at once. The shockwave shattered the clearplaz, sending a wave of flames throughout the containment area. Taking the brunt of the blast with his own body, it felt as if his soul were being torn from his body and cast into the endless ether.

Attempting to open his eyes, Zane was greeted by darkness deeper then any he had ever known before. And yet in his mind, he was still able to see. Looking out at the lab through one of the few working security cameras, he found himself in a place beyond pain, beyond horror. But in some small detached part of himself, Zane knew that he was on the verge of dying, that the only thing that had kept him alive was the fact that the cybernetic implants inside his brain had sent his conscious mind into the computer core to keep the shock from being burned alive from killing him instantly. It was certainly an effect that deserved to be studied, duplicated, but not now, not when there was an even greater tragedy unfolding in their midst.

The containment area had become little more then a hellish inferno. As the flames moved like living things seeking out something to consume, the stasis tanks continued to rupture, until everything was ablaze in an endless torrent of fire.

It was strange, but without a body he could no longer feel anything. Only a distant sense of disgust for the actions of a zealous few served to remind him he was still human enough to experience emotions.

“Professor Markov. Professor Markov where are you!”

Growing accustomed to his newfound existence as a ghost inside a machine, Zane found him holding a corpse the size of a child. Even though the body was already burned beyond recognition, Zane knew without asking who it was.

“Professor Markov . . .”

“Zane, will I never hear her laughter, or see her smile again? No, this cannot be! To have the light of my life, my only daughter stolen from me. Forgive me, Eve.” Letting go of her blackened hand, Markov moved towards the only one who seemed intent upon watching the destruction he had caused.

Grabbing the man by the shoulders, Markov spun him around and shouted. “Why! Why did you do this!”

“Because they were abominations.” He smiled. “Because they needed to be destroyed.”

Making no move to resist as security personnel evacuated the lab and sent medical teams to deal with the injured Zane felt somewhat relieved when he watched his own body being carried away on a stretcher.

“Tell me something Zane.” Said Markov as he turned his face from the camera. “Why do we as humans continue to condemn progress? Do people truly believe that we will be able to return to Eden simply by remaining ignorant? Yet if we never ask questions, never move forwards, then how long can we hope to last while walking such a path!” As he wept for a daughter who had barely begun to live, Markov began to feel a growing sense of contempt for the fools of this world. “Eve. She was truly innocent.”

Switching to a different security camera, Zane saw a look upon Markov's face he would never forget. Gone was the thin veneer of civilization that had made him more then other men had ever dreamed of being. In its place was the fury of a man possessed.

“Zane, there comes a time in every man's life when he must make a choice. To pursue his dreams with all his passion, or to sacrifice everything for the sake of a far nobler goal. And today that choice has been made for me.” Clenching his hand into a fist Alexander Markov said. “So be it. If we humans are not fit to inherit the world that tomorrow will bring, then let it be our destiny to be replaced by someone who is. After all, the best and worst in us as a species has always been brought out by, competition.”