FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Prisoners of War - Like People

*

Hehhey, and welcome to the story! This is a commission for 1mastermind , and I must say, I've really enjoyed hearing all your feedback - do keep it coming, please!

And here we go...cheers!

*

The training was as grueling as always, but the long, warm shower that followed was a good way to relax afterwards. The tiger and the lion enjoyed it to their heart's content, especially with the fact that the General was not glaring over them while they soaped up and listened to the white tiger drone on about what kind of improvements they could still do to their performance. The Overseer had done that already after they'd been standing by the exercise equipment, sweaty and panting and feeling uncomfortably sticky after the long set.

The through soaking and hot air drying left them quite fluffy and content, with soreness to their muscles. They'd not been issued towels, nor clothes, which was to be expected, which left the two men only in their pelts and the plastic mystery devices covering their groins.

"It is time to return to your quarters," the Overseer announced. "Follow me."

"I guess the General won't even drop by to see how we've been doing..." Sardo mused to Gantan while they began to journey through the house and into the cell that served as their accommodations for the moment.

"Why would he?" said Gantan. "He's got this metalhead here telling him all the gossip. Not to mention the cameras he must have everywhere."

"True, that," Sardo conceded.

Gantan rolled his shoulders and winced moderately. It made Sardo wonder.

"Sore?"

"Only sore enough," the lion smirked. He sounded almost proud of the fact he'd worked himself to that point.

"Me too," said Sardo.

They moved through the quiet house, and did not see anyone but for one of the small maintenance robots doing cleaning in one of the hallways. Sardo could see the lion glancing over to each doorway and nook they passed, which prompted him to speak up.

"Expecting him to jump out of every door?"

"I wouldn't put it past him," Gantan said. "He's a sneaky sort."

"I still doubt he'd lurk in the corridors," Sardo mused. "It's not very...General-like."

"Hmmmmmmr."

Several twists and turns later they reached the final hallway and then the glass door leading into their sparsely decorated cell.

"Back to the bad boys' room..." mused Sardo.

The Overseer opened the door with a touch on the control panel.

"Enter your quarters," the black panther said, "you are to remain here until further orders."

"Ain't it ever otherwise..." Gantan grumbled.

"Not you, prisoner Gantan," the Overseer interjected when Sardo was already inside the cell and the lion too was halfway there, one foot over the doorstep. "You are to accompany me elsewhere."

The lion froze, tail, ears and all, looking at the black panther.

"You what?"

"Not me, you, Prisoner Gantan," the Overseer replied, "I have been ordered to take Prisoner Sardo into the quarters and to escort you to another location."

"Oh yeah?" Gantan rumbled. "What is it then? Some sort of a private punishment session with General Rei?"

"I am not entitled to that information," the black panther said. "Follow me now. You must accompany me. I would advice you to follow me willingly. I have been authorized to use physical measures up to level three to accomplish that."

Gantan snorted.

"Well fuck that," he folded his arms over his chest stubbornly.

The black panther flicked a curious ear.

"I cannot ascertain the desired object of sexual intercourse," the Overseer said.

Gantan groaned.

"You definitely need to have that central processor of yours checked, someone must've installed an asshole program while you were recharging," the lion snuffled.

"I lack an anal orifice or any associated programming," the robot replied without a flinch.

"Maybe you should just go," Sardo said, "see what the General has to say."

"He didn't even say that I'm going to see the General!" Sardo grunted. "What if he's just taking me somewhere else? Fuck, what if he's taking me to that weird ass room with the torture beds so that he can poke around at my dick again?"

"You've got a point in that," said Sardo, "but let's just presume that he is summoning you to him for whatever purpose he has in mind."

"Yeah, right," Gantan said, "I bet he's got another game in mind."

"I don't doubt that, but at least you'll know," the tiger mused.

"Please accompany me now," the Overseer said.

Gantan flicked his paw.

"I'm still talking with Sardo, bolt-boy," he told the android, offishly.

"You may engage in conversation at another time," the black panther did not sound convinced. "Please accompany me now or I shall have to use force. I have been authorized to do so."

The lion chortled.

"Guess he didn't want to zap my ass this time around before taking me in..." he mused. "Alright, then."

"Stand away from the door, both of you," the black panther commanded.

Sardo retreated deeper into the cell and Gantan stood into the hallway properly. The door slid closed once the scanner sensed that nobody was standing on the way anymore. The two prisoners exchanged a glance through the transparent panel, Sardo looking curious and oddly compassionate, while Gantan simply sneered.

"Alright, dude," he told the android. "Take me to wherever I'm meant to go."

"Follow me."

They set off down the corridor, to a destination unknown.

*

The room they entered, eventually, was located to the second floor and it was not one Gantan had visited before. That no longer surprised him, considering that he had only been to that many parts of the house and he was sure that the General wanted to keep it as such, too. It'd be more difficult to escape from the building if he didn't know its layout by heart, of course.

This room seemed somewhat formal in nature, at least to Gantan when he was ushered in. There was a table, surrounded by chairs, and its glowing surface indicated some sort of an in-built display system in place. There were no windows, which gave it a sense of almost being underground, although Gantan knew that wasn't the case. It was a sizeable room, and the table was certainly large enough to comfortably seat a dozen people or more about it.

"Mister Gantan."

The white tiger stood by the table, prim and proper in black slacks and a shirt smartly buttoned up to his chin. His posture was decisively military, and his usually busy tail remained motionless behind him.

"Please," the tiger gestured, "I have something here for you."

He moved over to a small table nearby, which held carefully folded clothing upon it.

"I believe you would feel more comfortable should you be...clad," the white tiger commented.

Gantan gave the pile of clothing a suspicious look, before glancing at the General.

"From now on?" he asked tersely.

"For the occasion," Rei replied.

"Figures," muttered Gantan.

He didn't refuse the offer, even if his initial attitude seemed disliking of the thought. The shirt and the trousers were quickly worn by him. The lion appeared happy to be finally having clothes again, even if it didn't remove the permanent discomfort of the device locked around his sheath.

"Let's sit down," Rei gestured again. "Surely we may enjoy a refreshing drink while we talk."

The lion moved to the indicated seat without another word. The white tiger took up a position on the opposite side of the table, yet facing Gantan.

"Please serve us, Overseer," Rei told the black panther whom had remained in the room with them.

"Yes, sir."

The black panther brought over a tray containing the articles needed for serving drinks, and poured while silence remained in the room between its two living and breathing occupants.

"It has been quite some time," Rei spoke, finally, while a bluish liquid trickled onto his glass from the Overseer's decanter. "How have you been?"

The lion shrugged.

"I think you know well enough...sir," he said weightily.

Rei pursed his lips.

"Is that so?"

"Yep," Gantan said. "I know you see and hear everything that goes on here."

"I know a great deal," Rei responded after a pause, "but as I have told you before, I think, I cannot tell what you think, not truly."

"Wouldn't you want to..." Gantan huffed.

The lion's glass was filled as well, and the Overseer retreated a few steps to hover nearby. Rei picked his own snifter from the table and toasted it briefly.

"This is a rather good liquor," he commented. "I am quite sure you will enjoy it."

Gantan leaned forward and sniffed at his glass. The stark, pungent aroma tickled his nosepad and made him sneeze. Rei chuckled.

"It is quite strong, however, as a fair warning."

"Thanks."

The tiger sipped from his glass and seemed to be able to down it without an issue. Gantan grabbed his own offering and took a drink. He let out a hiss that seemed to amuse the General.

"It may be an acquired taste," he noted, "perhaps."

"It's booze," Gantan declared after his first sip. "I've had better. Have had worse."

"Wonderful," Rei said. "I am very pleased that you enjoy it. I hoped you would."

"Don't really get a lot of drinks as of late," Gantan said.

"Alcohol is strictly forbidden in the camps, of course," the General said, "that goes without saying, of course."

"Of course," Gantan shot it back right away.

"This isn't a camp, however," Rei said. "I am allowed to make my own rules, and the occasional tipple can be allowed, given the right circumstances."

"Should I feel honored, then?" Gantan proposed curtly.

Rei flicked his ears at the bad-tempered lion. He still appeared to be in good spirits, despite the lion's surly attitude.

"You may decide your opinions independently, as always, Gantan," Rei said.

"Not calling me 'prisoner' now...sir?"

"I don't see a reason to," the white tiger said. "I think our...positions are quite firmly established."

"The General and the...whatever you see me as," the soldier commented.

Rei gave him a long look. His thoughtful gaze appeared to linger.

"I see many things when I look at you, Gantan," he said. "prisoner is not the first thing that comes to mind, although your status as a captive of this household is...a fact."

"I don't suppose you intend me to forget it, either," said Gantan.

"I do not have that luxury yet," the General replied. "But I am willing to forego any...verbal reinforcement for the time being."

"No need to call you 'sir' either, then?" the lion asked.

Rei waved his paw.

"That is for you to decide," he said. "I quite like it when people do, but I do not expect it of you for the moment."

"Alrighty...General," the lion retorted.

Rei responded by taking a sip from his glass again.

"You may call me anything you like," he noted, "even 'shithead', if it brings you any kind of satisfaction."

The lion's ears drooped. He almost looked embarrassed, at least to Rei, recalling the tiger's stunt at forcing the lion to always refer to the General with such a hearty moniker. Rei was certain that it had driven the point home, of just how immature it was.

"Thought so," Rei flashed a smile.

"Hmpppph."

The white tiger laughed again.

"You have so many ways of doing that, you know."

"What?"

"That!" Rei exclaimed. "that...'humhphhpppp' that you do."

Gantan's ears flicked dubiously at the noise of the tiger mimicking the kind of a bad-tempered vocalization he might have done. Rei let out a pleased purr at himself once his performance was over.

"You have many ways of doing it, to express different feelings," Rei continued on his comment. "Mostly displeasure, of course."

The lion snapped his tail against the floor.

"Why do you care?" Gantan asked.

"It may be difficult for you to understand, but I do feel genuine concern for your well being and that of Sardo," Rei's answer sounded like it had the weight of thought behind it. "I do wish to get to know you, both of you."

"Maybe you could try treating us like people and not like caged animals, then," the lion spat back.

Rei appeared non-affected by the growled outburst.

"I do understand that certain...limitations may apply to our interaction, at least for the moment," he said.

"Why?" Gantan stated. "Thinking we'd stab you in the back and try to flee?"

"You cannot flee," Rei noted bluntly. "Even if you did leave the premises, your brain stem implants can be tracked from every part of this world via a satellite network. There is nowhere to hide, anywhere."

Gantan sneered.

"Bet that pleases you."

"It is but insurance," Rei said, "I do not feel particularly intimidated by either of you. My feelings about you are quite different."

"Hmmmmmph."

"And there it is again!" Rei chuckled.

"I don't see why it amuses you," Gantan said.

"But it does," said the white tiger. "Both of you have many interesting qualities that I admire and enjoy observing."

Gantan chortled.

"What does that even mean?" he asked.

The white tiger smirked.

"That I find your company pleasing for me," Rei replied. "I find it refreshing."

Gantan's nose wrinkled.

"Normal people have friends for that, you know."

The white tiger looked thoughtful.

"My circumstances are not exactly normal," the white tiger said. "Entertaining friends is not a luxury I can afford for the moment."

Gantan didn't find anything sharp to say about that, and decided to simply return to his drink. He couldn't say it was growing on him yet, but at least it was alcohol. It warmed his stomach quite pleasantly.

"There is something else, however..." Rei noted.

"Yeah?" the lion stated.

Rei touched a control on the table, which caused a holographically projected keyboard to be projected onto the surface of the table. His fingers began to tap over the icons rapidly, making a soft padding noise.

"I wonder what you make of this..."

The overhead lights in the room dimmed down to levels of near darkness, and the tabletop shimmered. A three-dimensional projection appeared over the surface of the table, of a star and its adjoining retinue of planets. Gantan looked at it quite curiously.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Eskiltune," Rei replied.

Gantan frowned.

Another tap brought the planet in question into view, a shimmering ball of green and blue upon the air over the table.

"Latest situation on the fighting at Eskiltune," Rei said.

The surface of the planet was littered in a pattern of green and yellow, cracked along its entire visible area. It prompted Gantan to crane is neck and to get a good look of the ball floating in the air.

"Which one is us?" Gantan asked.

Rei smirked wryly.

"What do you think?" the tiger leaned over the table, towards the curiously looking lion.

Gantan snorted.

"It's just blotches of color," he said, "I can't tell without knowing the color code you are using for maps."

The General chuckled.

"Don't they teach you how to read enemy maps? For gathering intelligence."

"I don't answer questions like that," Gantan huffed.

"I presumed as much," the white tiger chuckled. "Apply your strategic thinking to it, then. Look at the surface overlay, the geography, infrastructure, population centers...it's all out there on the map."

"What for?" Gantan asked again. "What is the purpose of this?"

Rei flicked an ear at the lion.

"I thought you would be interested in hearing some news from the front," the white tiger stated. "Especially when it's about a world as contested as Eskiltune."

"We were fighting there at the time I was caught," the lion said. "Are you saying it's still going on?"

Rei waved his paw at the map.

"Look at it yourself," he indicated the slowly spinning sphere, "tell me what you see."

The lion frowned again.

*

Thank you for reading! I hope you had a good time, and I look forward to your comments! Remember that all votes, faves and watches will help others to find these stories to enjoy as well!