FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“So, remind me again why we're going through the rivers of literal shit when we could have just waited for dusk and start our travels atop?" Jzorld complained, cringing at the floating objects in the small stream.

“Because, you had the bright idea of hitting an officer while you were supposed to be scouting the area. Now they're searching all above for us, well, you. The only way we can get there is from the inside due to your mishap. Also, for your information, this is a storm drain, not a raw sewage river." Jzorld ignored Martin, still eying the oblong shapes floating down the stream.

Jzorld coughed, “So… what's our plan once we breach the surface?"

Martin contemplated Jzorld's inquiry a moment, “Huh. Funny thing that, I don't have one. I was hoping you did."

“No, I don't. I would've thought the person who gave me this job along with my part of the pay would have come up with one, would you not?"

“Yeah, yeah. Shove it up there nice and good."

Jzorld mockingly hissed back at him, “Since you don't have one, here's my two bits: Our approach should be quick, and quiet when possible. We don't get seen, we don't need to worry about casualties. No dead bodies means we can leave without being chased"

“You sound like a lizard when you do that. Hah, wait you are!"

“I'll backhand you loud enough to sound the alarm."

“Right then, that sounds good, let's get going."

A metal grate appeared out of the abyss after a long silence. Jzorld jogged past Martin up to the bars, applying a white paste in a circular pattern. Taking out a lighter, Jzorld moved it slowly towards the paste. The darkness turned into a strobing passageway. Jzorld took a step back and looked away from the flames. The bars fell back, a deep orange glow emitting from where they once connected, “What'd I say about them blocking all entrances? Oh, that's right, bring the thermite. But, no, no, no Jzorld, we don't need that. Why would a military installment have any reason at all to block off an underground entrance?"

“Alright, fine you're right. I'm wrong. Now, let's get going." Martin stretched over the bars, careful not to touch the glowing rods, Jzorld following suit. Screaming echoed off the tubular design of the storm drain, “Well, we're here. Keep your wits about you and stick to your plan." The screams came and went as they moved throughout the complex.

“Fun for the whole family."

Jzorld moved over to one side of the sewer, beckoning Martin over. “Are you sure we should follow through with this? I know we already made it deep into the tunnels and all, but we're running off incomplete intel. This place was merely supposed to be a barracks, why are there screams?"

“Look, we're almost there," Martin pointed to a dimly shaded shaft of light, “All we have to do is go up, grab some crates, maybe even a few rifles, and we're out. That's it. Besides, we both know how much military equipment like this goes for."

Jzorld was still concerned, but nodded in response anyways, “Fine. Let's hope you're right." Martin took lead, moving up to the light. Jzorld moved below the grate, “Are we going to use the thermite? It's kinda loud."

“Thermite sounds best. Here, keep moving." Martin threw a rope through the holes in the grate. Jzorld climbed up the rope, hanging while he flattened the paste against the metal, fumbling to get his lighter aflame. He dropped down at sight of the first park, “Remember quick and quiet," Jzorld whispered to himself. Once the grate was almost cut through, Jzorld & Martin put their arms out to stop the grate from crashing into the water.

“You drop, I'll store. Get up there." Martin threw the rope back through a leftover hole, pulling all of his weight down while Jzorld shimmied up the other side. Once Jzorld was atop he took a quick look around, admiring the weaponry before hooking the pulley to a nearby table. Jzorld started lowering the guns first, clipping on one of the crates as the last weapon dropped out of sight.

“Incoming!" Jzorld began tugging while the metal frame of the crate scraped against the steel floor. Here comes the fast part. Once the stack was loaded down the hole Jzorld undid the rope and winch, and slid back down with Martin supporting him. Martin immediately began lifting crates into the water while Jzorld packed up their gear. Once the crates were done Jzorld called Martin over to lift the grate while Jzorld tied both ends of it to the leftover bars.

“That'll do her, let's get out of here," Martin let go and began pushing the train of crates through the shallow layer of water. Even with Martin knowing Jzorld for most of his life he still felt unease not being able to rely on his own eyes in this situation. The yelling they once heard were reduced to silence, giving them more concern than when they came through the cell blocks before. It was easier to breathe once they passed the main gate once blocking them from entering. Martin slumped down against the wall, Jzorld joining in. “All right, we should split the crates and our ways for the time being. They may find out sooner than planned, especially with our luck. We'll meet up again at the caravan in a week to discuss who we're moving this through. I already have a buyer." Martin had already started heading away by the time he finished, leaving no room for Jzorld to protest. Getting up off the floor Jzorld began pushing his load through the tunnels.

6 Days Later

“What do you mean you don't know who he is? You're telling me we were sent to recruit someone with no information on them whatsoever?" Leo's tail swished from side to side as he spoke, narrowly avoiding Timothy each time.

“Look, you big bloke, Sherilyn couldn't find anymore out. He's been here for three weeks and hasn't been seen by others since. That leaves us with his name, Jzorld, and his known companion, Martin Hiltz."

“Fine, let's get this over with." Leo approached the door, knocking three times before waiting.

The door opened a an inch, a red eye glistening in the light, “Whatever it is you want, I don't." Jzorld closed the door on them and began his way back to bed.

“Well, guess that's off the list for today. Guess we'll just have to head back-" Tim shoved Leo aside, knocking on the door. Jzorld looked back towards his entrance, contemplating whether to ignore them or not. “We have a proposition, a paying one."

Jzorld sulked back over, unchaining his door, “Fine, we can talk, but make it quick I have things to do." Tim walked into darkness, all the windows covered with black material with small streams of light seeping through. Jzorld led them to a room filled with boxes, taking a seat in the center of the room. “So, give me the details," Jzorld motioned for them to sit down.

“We heard of your expertise in moving and acquiring 'goods'. I was hoping to pay for those skills." Tim scratched at the back of his head, unsure on what points to use in order to recruit the dragon.

“Details I don't know would be helpful," Jzorld gave an annoyed yawn, still tired from his rude awakening.

“Er, right," Tim cleared his throat, “We need to move five crates, off planet to a meeting point you'll receive once you're out of the system." Tim pulled a small grey rectangle out of his pocket, “You'll need this. It contains the encryption key to the messages we're going to send to your shilp, when the time comes." Tim outstretched it Jzorld, his hand wavering.

Jzorld looked down at Tim's furred hand shake while it held the decryptor, “First; I haven't even accepted yet. Second; why are you so nervous? You sought out me, and are moving an unusual amount, so forgive my questions. Usually someone who's asking a veteran pilot to smuggle five undefined crates, they're more confident in their endeavours." Jzorld clasped his paws around the one in front of him, pushing it back to its owner, “Since you've yet to pull a gun on me or ask anything about me, I'll assume you aren't one of the Corp's lackeys." Leo tried to speak up, but Jzorld interrupted, “Oh! You're the 'resistance' I've heard so little of. Martin told me you guys might come knocking."

Leo spoke up before Jzorld could continue to slander their name, “Yes, yes, make fun of the only people organizing a militia to stop the corp's from holding us at gunpoint under their military law! Do you even know how many people we lose a day just to make it so people like you can live it easy? I hope you know that the only reason we're wasting our da-" Tim pat Leo's shoulder, resting his hand there. Leo relaxed his muscles, unaware he was no longer sitting on the couch until he dropped back down onto it from exhaustion. Leo stared down Jzorld through the dust floating in the light streams, his tail thwapping back and forth between the arm rest and Tim. Jzorld chuckled, happy he found a snapping point along with the answer.

Tim swatted Leo's tail away, “As my partner was trying to say before getting carried away; what does it matter who we are when we're going to be paying you once you finish the job? At the end of the day, that's all that matters anyways. Right?"

“Mhm, completely, only money," Jzorld threw up his hands to indicate the whole room scattered with random objects and depressing colors, “Look, let's cut to the point. How much are you paying me and regardless I want fifty percent upfront."

Tim sighed, scratching behind his ear, “Two-thousand five-hundred standard union credits, exchanged at current rates to whatever currency you want it in. All of it will be non-counterfeit, of course."

Jzorld leaned back into the couch, “That's quite the lot. If I'm only taking it off planet, what kind of volatile material am I carrying to warrant such pay?"

“All you need to know is that is nothing volatile," Tim stood up, still only somewhat taller than Jzorld sitting, once again offering the decryptor, “Are you going to take the job or not, Jzorld?"

Jzorld stood up, towering over the hyena, “Sure, but like I said half up front. I'll expect it with the cargo. Our shuttle is currently in bay six at the Union star port. Now, go I've got preparations to make." Jzorld grabbed the decryptor and made a shooing movement with his open hand. Leo left the room first, Tim following close behind. Jzorld stood in place for moment, listening for the front door to open and close. Once he heard the click he sat back down onto the couch, massaging his head. It never ends with one job. Jzorld reached over to the coffee table for his com piece. Jzorld pulled out his PDA and selected the image of his mundane friend.

“Oi, Martin, I was just visited by some of those resistance lurkers you were telling me about," Jzorld spoke as soon as the ringing tone cut out.

“Yeah? Good, I assume we'll be getting some extra money when we ship out our cargo. Conveniently enough, they're also going to be buying the new load we 'acquired'. I plan for us to head out in three hours. Hugh has confirmed that the resistance cargo arrived at our hangar, along with a twelve-hundred dollar advance. I assume a good percentage of that will go to customs, though."

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Alert Hugh to deal with it," Jzorld thought a moment, “Did you know the ones who visited me?"

Martin was silent a moment, “Yeah, Leo, the cat. Why does it matter?"

“Just wanted to know your stance on this…" Jzorld paused a few moments, “You know mine. Just making sure we won't butt heads on this job, is all."

“Don't worry, Jzorld. I wouldn't drag you into anything you didn't want to be in. I'll see you at the dock." The datapad went black, leaving Jzorld to stare at his own reflection in the emptiness. Jzorld tossed the PDA onto his couch and started off to his room to change

---

Jzorld walked into the main hangar with his jumpsuit on. It was comprised of pure black with blue details, meant to compliment his body scales. His body was covered with the material, save for his head and hands which were left naked to the environment. The air was constantly moving throughout the hangars, creating a chill down Jzorld's spine. Deciding nothing of it he continued on to his ship to look for Hugh. Jzorld took his time while walking around the ship looking for his mechanic, admiring the simplicity of it. The ship was small and slanted to the front. On either side of the ship was bolded Elestrya in red on the forest green painted metal of the ship. Jzorld thought back to when they first got the ship. Martin and him were at a bar bickering over whose ideas were better. It took a random bull sitting next to them to give a to suggestion that stopped their fighting. It had turned out the bull was listening to their full conversation and wanted to join on their crew as a mechanic, if they took him with.

Hugh walked around from the entrance of the ship and saw Jzorld staring up at the title on the side, “You know that's not even a word, right? I merely suggested it to get into the conversation."

Jzorld transitioned out of his daydream, “Yeah, it's a name. One I like pretty damn well."

The bull shrugged, “I don't know, it seems kinda stupid to me. It doesn't have any meaning."

Jzorld turned back to Hugh, a confused look on his face, “To me it does. A pile of random parts that shouldn't exist named with a word that doesn't exist." Jzorld left Hugh to finish take-off preparations and went up the ramp to meet with Martin. Martin was busy looking important at the console of the ship. Jzorld dropped into the seat next to him, curling his tail back around his waist to avoid squishing it in the seat, “How long until take-off?"

Martin finished what he was doing and turned his chair to face Jzorld, “All our passes are set, had to use some of our current funds until they pay us back for them. Didn't want them to get suspicious of that money not being from us."

Jzorld nodded, “And the cargo is on board?"

Martin pointed back to the cargo hold, nodding, “Yeah. Once Hugh is done fueling we should be fully prepped." A few moments after finishing his sentence the bull walked into the ship's main hall, “speak of the devil."

Hugh made finger horns on top of his already present ones, turning to walk into the crew quarters. Jzorld shook his head, starting the takeoff process, “Well, we should get out of here before the bad luck catches up to us." The human simply nodded, getting into contact with the large battle cruisers looming above in the night sky.

~~~

Jzorld felt more insignificant than the stars in the distance, his cargo ship noticeably smaller than the warships that guarded the travel in and out of the planet, keeping it to corporate specifications. After a long moment of floating in front of the intimidating space goliaths they received the go-ahead and continued upon their mission. Jzorld kicked the shuttle into sub-light, hoping to reach the rendezvous point quickly. The hum of the engine enticed a yawn from the crimson dragon, his tail curling into a spiral. Jzorld let the embrace of sleep take him, dozing off strapped into the chair.