FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The White Hedgehog ponders upon Cien-Se’s words, stroking her bandaged chin, her eyes still covered by shades and quills. “You want to make gods, huh? Don’t think I quite care for that.”

Cien-Se coughs, the echidna rubbing her gloved hands together. “I feel the best thing to do is to dream big. On a smaller scale, you could revolutionize the medical industry—make people live well beyond their natural lifespan–all so many things!”

The White Hedgehog shakes her head, “Gods again. I’m more interested in improved workers, super soldiers, fantastic fleshlights.”

Cien-Se blinks, blushing and blanching. “W-well, yes, I suppose one could do that too. Suppose you’re interested in work of a sexual nature, Miss Hedgehog. In that case, there’s quite a few more things I’d be interested in sharing with you.”

The White Hedgehog chuckles, pushing herself from her seat. “Yeah, I figured you would.” She says this, strutting up to Cien-Se, leaning in to reach up, squeezing the scientist’s cheeks. “I can spot someone with some sick desires from a mile away. Tell ya what—pack up your shit and get ready for your new employment. Once we get you chipped, you’ll be a productive member of my Company.”

“Chipped?” The scientist blanches.

“You have a problem with that?” says the White Hedgehog, approaching Cien-se. She brushes her mechanical fingers on the smaller woman’s cheek.

“N-no, of course not, not at all. Some of my ancestors were members of the Dark Legion Techno-cult. You understand, I’m more of a biologist than a cyberneticist. But of course you do. You hired me for that reason.”

“You’re nervous. Once you’re fully locked into the NDA, you won’t need to be. HR will process you tomorrow,” she says, reaching into her breast pocket and pulling out a card. The info’s here. Don’t be late, or you’ll be demoted.”

“Of course, ma’am,” says the scientist, taking the card and reading over it.

“We will take very good care of you during the chipping process. Don’t worry about it. It's standard procedure and all that stuff.”

“Not here in a government-run facility, er, formerly government-run.”

“So much fuckin’ red tape, like you wouldn’t believe. They don’t care nor understand the future of technology.”

Cien-Se smiles softly. “Yes, you and I see eye-to-eye.”

A rueful laugh escapes the bandages of the White Hedgehog. “Lookin’ forward to your work.”

* * *

The Company—The name is monolithic but appropriate for the organization. It strips away the facade of needing to stand out amongst the sea of rivals and asserts its dominance over the landscape.

Sure, other companies still exist—the former remnants of Robotnik Inc. and their attempts to distance themselves from their previous owner. There’s also Meteotech and all of its robotics development. Hell, there’s also the likes of Clean Sweep and Casinopolis. All of these, however, are shells of their former selves because, in some way or another, they exist within the world that The Company has created. For some who remember the old world, the idea of freedom lost may be a sign of sadness, but to all the others, the newest landscape creates a world in which their happiness overpowers anything else.

And Cien-Se is undoubtedly happy herself. The scientist dresses in a sharp business suit to start her interview. Even though she’s gotten herself on board, there are many formalities.

The Echidna scans after exiting her train, which deposits her right in front of the entryway. The security guard, a somewhat effeminate feline, frowns when he looks over the information. “Ma’am, this entrance is for employees only.”

“Oh, but I am an employee,” says the Echidna. “A new one. Let me see here.” She says this, producing her phone. “See?”

Squinting his eyes, the security guard rolls back in his chair and picks up a landline. “You’ll have to wait right here, miss. New hires are supposed to use the public entrance.”

“Ah, but of course. How silly of me. I could walk there, perhaps.”

“Just down the corridor there and up the stairs,” says the cat, “But we can get you escorted through here as well.”

Cien-Se titters slightly. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to rock the boat on my first day,” the scientist coos.

“Very well,” says the guard, hanging up the phone. “Next in line!”

A deer steps up, humming to herself as she approaches the gate. Cien-Se stays behind, curious momentarily, but frowns when she sees the scan go through.

The deer stops humming, and she blinks. A soft smile forms on her face as she enters the building, her heels clicking and her sway quite well-practiced.

The cat security guard looks up to Cien-Se, tilting his hat and wiggling his whiskers.

“Oh, you have a good day!” Cien-Se says, and she then turns back and makes her way through the corridor and up to the surface.

The City above is a much different beast than the tunnels down below—awash in advertisements of the most debauched of natures, even in the day, some of these billboards bathe the streets in the neon glow and OLED shine. For a citizen like Cien-Se, this is all noise placed into her mind in subliminal torture that she, as a practiced meditator blocks out through her calculations and her musings on ancient poetry. One might think this keeps her from noticing things, but it does not. As a van passes by with a logo of a woman holding giant melons, she notices that its driver is dressed just like the guard at the front.

Hidden security—how smart.

But she passes an alleyway on her way to the front entrance, and she has to stop, blink, and take a few steps back, peering into the seedy and secretive areas between the clean and orderly facade.

There, she sees two women, each dressed in the same uniform as the deer from earlier. They lean against the wall, one a poodle smoking, and the other a mole looking over her phone. A strange place to be taking a break, to be sure. But it’s none of her business. Instead, she heads back into the building through the main public entrance.