FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Author's Note: The following story is non-canon fan fiction of the Visceral/EA game Dead Space. Feedback is much appreciated and I hope you enjoy.

(I'm glad I finally finished this one, it's just going to be some more good old plot and character development. But the next chapter should start to get into the more interesting stuffs. By the way look for errors, writing the end of this while having been up for +24 hours so their might be a few.)

United Corporations

-Chapter III-

John was the first one to join, still clad in his pajamas. And after grabbing a cup of coffee himself he sat down next to Jim.

“Morning." Jim greeted.

“Morning." He responded meekly.

“Rough night?" Jim asked, to which he nodded. “Up all night processing samples?"

“Yea…" He muttered, taking a sip of his coffee. “I received a audio transmission from my wife."

“Is she ok?" Jim wondered.

“Yea, yea. She's fine it's just…" John replied, glancing down at his cup. “She said she's nearing her due date."

“That's great!" Jim replied, resting a hand on John's shoulder. “You should be happy, your going to be a father."

“Happy? I'm not even going to be there for my child's birth!" John responded, standing from his seat. “And you want me to be happy?"

John stormed away before he could respond, Jim rested his head in his hands and let out a long breath.

“At least he has a family…"

Jim sat quietly for an unknown amount of time, until the sound of hydraulics caught his attention. He expected it to be John, yet when he looked up he was relieved to find Saline exiting the showers.

“Is everything alright?" She asked, walking over and taking a seat. “I heard shouting."

“Yea, John's just stressed out that's all." Jim responded, finishing the last of his coffee. “Misses his wife and such."

“Wife?" She questioned. “What is that."

Jim thought for a second on how to respond. “Well...basically, for humans when two people like each other they get married and become husband and wife."

“Oh, I see." She mumbled in understanding. “Like a mate?"

“Ahh...sure." He said slowly.

“Do you have a mate?" She asked.

“I...no." Jim replied slowly. “Kinda hard keeping a relationship when you're gone for years on end."

“Makes sense." She responded.

“Anyway…" Jim started. “I was thinking, when you feel up to it, we can take the shuttle and search for your home."

“I don't think that would be wise." She started, looking down toward the table. “The reason I left is because my village was attacked."

“Attacked by what?" He asked

“A clan of northern sergals…" She replied.

“Northern, does that make you...southern?" Jim wondered, stroking his growing stubble.

“Yes." She muttered. “Those would be the main types of sergals."

Jim gave a hum, thinking over what she told him. As bad as he felt about her village being attacked it left him at a dead end. Though their was still the possibility of some surviving the attack, yet she made that seem unlikely. They would have to start somewhere and her village was the only option besides blindly flying across the desert.

“What kind of weapons would a northern sergal have?" He asked, standing from the table and making his way towards a wall locker.

“Most would use a lance, spear or some sort of sword." Saline said, scratching at an ear. “I...am not sure, exactly. My village was a simple fishing one, not one of violence."

“Well the only option I see is to go to your village and see if they survived." Jim started, returning to the table and setting down two objects. “There's gotta be somewhere they could of ran back to, right?"

“Well, they could have fled to another town…" She replied, looking curiously at the two objects he set on the table. “What are...those?"

“This, is a Pulse Rifle." Jim replied, picking up the larger of the two. “And this, is a Divet. Standard sidearm of most CEC personnel, but don't be fooled by it's size it packs a punch."

Jim looked between the guns and the sergal, contemplating on which one to give her. Eventually though, it came down to the Divet. Since it would be the easiest one for her to learn how to handle and shoot after a quick lesson.

“Alright." He said in acceptance, picking up the two guns from the table. “Follow me."

-~-

“So...just pull the trigger?" Saline asked.

After Jim's quick lesson she had a very basic understanding on how to operate the gun.

Keep your finger off the trigger until your ready to shoot.

Don't aim the gun at Jim.

And when your done press the safe button.

“Yup whenever you're ready." Jim replied, pointing down range. “Try to hit as center as you can on that piece of metal."

A loud bang echoed through the empty desert, yet Jim didn't hear an impact. And upon closer inspection, didn't see one.

“It's hard to aim." She stated, lowering her ears. “And very loud."

“Don't worry, not everyone is an ace shot. I know I wasn't." He replied to her, glancing down range with a frown. “Though I can't do much about the noise."

“That's fine." She stated, handing him back the gun. “I have a question."

“Yea?" He wondered.

“What is that thing on your back." She asked, intrigued by the blue light along his spine.

“This?" He prompted, turning around and pointing at his RIG. “It's called a RIG or Resource Integration Gear. It is a health management and strength augmentation system that helps the wearer."

“Health management?" She asked.

“Yes, my health is actively displayed along my spine. The bar will drain or refill and change color depending on my overall health." He replied, facing her again. “And if I die it will give off a flat beep sound."

“Your kind is very strange." She said, scratching at an ear.

“That is one way to describe us." Jim muttered, looking out at the setting sun. “Anyway it's getting pretty late, how bout we go get something to eat."

“Alright." She said in acceptance. “Actually, can we eat out here."

“Ah...sure." He said. “It would probably be good for me to get some fresh air anyway. As long as sand doesn't get in my food."

She grinned at his response, eating while watching the sunset was one of her favorite past times growing up. And for all the things Jim has done for her she thought he deserved some time to relax.

Jim made his way back inside, Saline instep behind him. He quickly set about gathering some provisions and water. While Saline took to sitting idly at the table, laying her tail on her lap and slowly stroking it.

“You said your village was a fishing one, right." Jim asked, glancing back at her. “Near some sort of lake or river?"

“Of course. It was build along a river." She replied with a flick of her ear. “Why do you ask."

“Just making sure that when we are flying around you'll be able to spot it." He stated. “By the way, how frequent are sand storms around here."

“It can vary." She mused. “Although there hasn't been one in a while."

“I don't like the sound of that." He mumbled. “If we get caught in one and the shuttle's engines cut out...were going to drop like a rock."

“Where is this shuttle you speak of, anyway." She asked, cocking her head at him.

“It's docked outside." He replied, coming over with their now done meals and handing her one. “I can show you when we are outside."

“Alright." She said, standing from the table and following him out.

-~-

Jim found himself enjoying the sunset far more than he initially thought. He and Saline were sitting on the shuttle's landing pad with their legs hanging over the edge. And by this point Jim had lost track of how long they had been sitting here, ever since he quickly showed her the shuttle.

He never thought something so simple could be so enjoyable. Though he never usually had much free time, always working on new jobs or problems, sometimes both. Yet here he was, relaxing next to an alien while watching the sunset.

“You know, you were right about this." He muttered, setting his empty meal by his side.

Saline looked over at him in amusement, ears perked curiously. “You should do it more often."

“I would if I could find the time." He said, giving her a frown.

“Couldn't...John help you with your work." She responded, quickly remembering the other humans name. She thought it was slightly odd that she hadn't even seen him before, they were in the same building after all. “So you would have more time."

“God no, he's what you would call a 'Behind the desk' kind of guy." He said. “I don't even think he knows how to use a screwdriver."

“Oh, nevermind then." She replied, returning her gaze to the vast desert.

“Anyway, we should probably get some rest." He started, standing and reaching a hand down to help her up. “We have a lot to do tomorrow."

“Alright." She concluded, taking his hand with a smile.

As they walked Jim's mind wandered towards an idea that had been thinking about. He might have a solution to her trouble aiming the gun. Since she said sergals commonly used mele weapons he could try giving her a plasma saw.

As they made their way back inside Jim remembered something, he was supposed to call Mary and update her on the sergals condition when she woke. He supposed he could call her now since she was probably still up.

“Hey Saline, you mind if I call someone." Jim asked. “She was very interested in your species and told me to call her when you woke. But I kinda forgot."

“That is fine." Saline said with a small shrug. “How are you going to call her."

“I'll show you." He replied, taking a seat and beckoning her over as well. “Now this is going to be kinda awkward, in order for camera to see you, you're going to have to be standing behind me. And maybe kneeled down a little since you're so tall."

She smiled at his comment and gently rested her hand on his shoulder. “What is her name?"

“Mary." He responded, glancing at her hand for a second before connecting to Mary's rig. Though at first nothing came up beside white noise caused by connection problems. Eventually her face showed up although it was freezing and shifting every now and then.

“Mary, this is Jim. Do you read?" He prompted. “You guys got a storm down there or something?"

<KSSZZZZ-Jim can you hear me?>

“Yea, you're looking a lot better now." Jim said, looking over at Saline. “I've got someone here you would probably like to meet."

<Oh? OH! Is this the sergal you saved?>

“Yup, she is recovering very well in fact." Jim stated.

<That's good, does she...does she speak?>

“Yes, I do." She replied with a smile.

<Wow, Jim you don't understand how much I want to come down there. This is so exciting, humanity has finally discovered an alien species and they speak english nonetheless.>

Jim chuckled slightly at her enthusiasm, Saline as well, had a smile on her face. Over the next ten minutes they conversed, whether it was about Saline having four fingers to our five. Or her fur color, which Mary kept repeating how pretty it was. Though it did eventually end, Mary was abruptly interrupted by Sam in the background.

<Mary I need your help with the...oh hey Jim.>

“Sam, it's good to see you." Jim responded.

<Same to you, umm...but yea. Mary if you could...you know...wrap things up real quick and give me a hand?>

<Ok Sam, just give me a sec to say goodbye to Jim and Saline.>

Jim watched as he stood, watching Mary with a blank expression before responding.

<Yea, yea...ok. Just meet me...uhh.>

Sam started rubbing his forehead like he was trying to remember something, but couldn't. Until Mary stepped in for him.

<On the mining deck?>

<Yes! Yes. Good. Good.>

He left suddenly without a response, leaving Jim and Saline confused.

“Mary, what the hell was wrong with him." Jim asked. “He never talked like that. He seems off..."

<Oh it's nothing, he's probably just tired. He's been working hard lately.>

“Ok...well I guess I'll see you later then." He said, looking over to Saline again.

“Goodbye Mary" Saline added with a grin.

<Goodbye to you too, it was so nice meeting you. And it was good to see you too Jim!>

With that Jim cut the link and leaned back in his chair. Trying to piece together what he saw, although he didn't know Sam that well. He at least knew he wasn't stuttery and forgetful like what he saw. He felt a slight nudge and opened his eyes, which accidently closed. He was greeted with a pair of sapphire eyes, and for a moment he just got lost in their blue abyss.

“We should sleep now." She said, urging his gently out of his chair.

One they made it into Jim's room he proceeded to remove his suit, all the while Saline watched curiously. Jim then grabbed some clothes and left the room. Saline then casually removed her remaining sash and deposited it with her other clothes. She then quickly snuck under the covers and waited for Jim.

He didn't keep her waiting long though, as he entered the room again with slightly wet hair. She guessed he must of taken a quick 'shower' as he called it.

“Crap one bed, forgot about that." He thought “Guess I'll sleep on the floor…"

“Jim what are you doing? Aren't you going to sleep?" She asked.

“Yea, but there is only one bed." He stated, as if it wasn't obvious to her.

“Yes and aren't you going to use it." She asked innocently.

“Not with-no, it's just…" He looked away in frustration.

“Just what?" She interrupted.

“It's complicated…" He started, trying to respond without insulting her accidently. “With humans sleeping together is like...having sex."

“What? That doesn't make any sense." She responded, cocking her head at him.

“Nevermind…" He mumbled, cursing under his breath.

He didn't want to argue all night trying to explain human sleeping customs and he was feeling to tired to care anymore. He slowly slid in with her, but made sure to stay as comfortably to the edge he could get. Though his eyes widened suddenly and with a grunt he was pulled into her embrace. He found himself with his back pressed to her chest, she then carelessly draped an arm over his midsection.

“What the hell have I gotten myself into." Jim thought, if John happened to come in and see this… John wouldn't let him live it down for the rest of his life. “At least she's warm…"