FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The first thing my brain registered was a clicking sound. It caused my eyes to stir, I heard a machined imitation of a female voice say, "Good morning crew, this is your automated wake-up call. Breakfast will be in thirty minutes, after which you are to report to the job terminal and receive your daily assignments. Thank you and have a wonderful work day!" It was soothing, but clearly not a person. I still looked around for the source of the voice and yielded no result. All I would find is my cabin lighting up automatically. I turned my head to look out the window. The beauty of an empty twilight still captured my mind with its mysteries. I had so much to learn and came to realize, in that moment, that infinite life may not be so bad. I could always keep reaching out and finding more things to discover. I smiled at the thought, that I could become anything I wanted to be because I had all the time to achieve it.

A knock came on my door and it snapped me back to reality. I squeaked a little then said, "Come in..." The door automatically opened hearing my voice and understanding it was an invitation to bypass the door code. A very clever piece of AI technology.

I met the gaze of Vixie, who ducked down and shifted herself inside, "Man they need to make these taller for me."

I giggle, glad to see her, "Yeah, but I don't think they were prepared for a girl like you to crew this ship when they built her."

Vixie sat herself down on my desk table, "Figured I'd come to talk." She quickly turned from sunny, to a little more concerned, "Hunnybun... You can't lie to me. Tell me, are you sure about staying?..."

I gave a long and hard sigh, before grabbing my knees on the bed and comforting myself, "I don't know, on one hand, I meant it. On the other hand, I miss my dad and my brother. I have no clue where they went. The attack happened so fast. I was told to run, so I did..."

She watched over me with a motherly energy, "I promise you. We will find them. Don't think Connor, for one moment, will keep you on this ship. You have every right to leave, once we find your family."

I rolled to my feet and came to her, then just simply embraced her, "Thanks Vixie, you remind me of my mother... Before she died."

She wrapped her big strong arms around me, "And you remind me of my little sister... Before she died.." I felt safe, more safe than I had in years.

"I am so sorry, Vixie," I comforted her.

She placed a hand over the back of my head and held me close, "Shhhh, No one is going to hurt you, so long as I draw breath, dear." She held me for a little longer before breaking the hug. "Now," She turned back to her sunny self, "Let's get you some breakfast. You're working with me today."

I lit up like a supernova, "Oh my gosh, that is amazing!"

She giggled and petted me with her pawed hand, "Leonardo and Sparks are going to help us, you will love them both." She stood up, "Let's go!" I nodded and followed her out of my room.

After a short walk, I found myself in the now familiar mess hall. This time it is filled with humans. There were about sixty or so humans in the hall, already having gotten their plates, and begun eating. Still, it seemed too small a crew for the ship, I imagine they call down people in shifts. Well, it didn't take long for Vixie and me to get our hefty helping of eggs and toast. We mainly kept our conversation to small talk for the moment. She asked me how I was adjusting to my new body and if I felt any sickness. I told her I was fine. Not much else happened, other than the humans staring at me occasionally. I felt their eyes on me every so often. Their silent judgments were being logged in their minds. Maybe, this is what Connor meant, when he said it's us versus them. I am still struggling to make the distinction between our species. Not something one does overnight, but for them, it was instantaneous to already chalk me off the human race. Breakfast soon met my stomach, giving me a good feeling, and a lot of energy.

Vixie led me back to the mechbay, we didn't bother with the job terminal, today. I am sure I will get to experience the fun of that tomorrow. She had me working on my task of organizing her tools as my first assignment. Dear gods, help me, what a miserable job it was. I was deep into trying not to have a mental breakdown over what was bigger, a 3/4ths or 5/8ths. I begged Vixie, "By the gods! How do you even deal with this sorting system?! If only it was just numbered in order!"

Vixie giggled, still deep in her work, and replied, "There was, but the Benevolent mandates we use their imperial system, instead of that new metric system."

That is when a dark shadow cast itself over me, like a reaper of souls. The hairs stood up on my neck and fear shot through me like a poison dart. I slowly, but surely, turned my head around to see a dark figure, taller than any human I had ever seen. His neck was so long, it was grotesque.

Vixie noticed me sweating bullets while gazing at the freakishly tall man and she chuckled, "Leonardo, step out of her light, you're scaring her."

His voice was quiet, monotone, and soft, "Sorry Miss Vixie." He pointed to the 3/4ths, "That one is bigger, miss." With one long stretch of his unnaturally long leg, he stepped out of my light. I now had a good look at him, he was no man. He was a giraffe humanoid, wearing camoed cargo pants and a tank top. His build was lanky, carrying a large part on his shoulder. His coat was yellowish beige and his spots were brownish red. He had velvet eyes and one of the most sheepish faces I had ever seen. Oh, and he was over nine feet tall. A giant. He tried not to come off as threatening as he simply offered his hand, "I am, ugh, Leonardo. Nice, ugh, to meet you.."

I, properly, held his hand, and he shook it for me, "Sakuya...."

He awkwardly smiled, then pulled his hand back, "Sorry for scaring you... I tend to do that..."

Vixie had already moved over to us and patted his side, "It's ok big guy, we know you mean well." He smiled more confidently and then turned to continue carrying the heavy part away. I just stare at Vixie, expecting her to give some kind of explanation. She giggled, "Leonardo is a long-lost early trial run of the retro-virus that created you. I am not even sure why they chose a giraffe as a base. But, he is older than anyone here and one of a kind." She rubbed my ear to comfort me, "He doesn't talk much, he is very nice once you crack his silent exterior."

I nodded in acceptance, "Well, he does seem polite." That is when I noticed the other wrench was gone. "Hey!" I gasped, "Who took my 5/8ths? I was still sorting that!"

A small squeaky female voice spoke up behind me, "Gotta be quick! Spark just quicker, Sparks take shiny from dummy bush tail!"

I turned around quickly to see no one, and then I looked down, standing before me with a wrench in her mouth, was a lizard humanoid. She wagged her tail, horns growing from her head in a crest, and red with a pinkish soft underbelly. Her eyes are pure blue and she seemed playful. I growled at her, "What the hell are you?!"

She wore a simple loincloth to cover her body parts, "I, Sparks! Sparks take Bushy Tail's shiny."

Vixie covered her jaw and snickered, while I grabbed the handle of my wrench, "Give that back!"

Sparks resisted and pulled, like a dog does in a game of tug of war, "No, Sparks took, Bushy Tail not quick!"

I pressed my foot on her chest, "Give it back!" It pulled free, sending me to my rump.

Sparks would grumble and pout, "Sparks don't like new Bushy Tail friend, she sore loser!"

Vixie only laughed and gave the lizard creature some head pats, "She will come around, now go get in that mech and fix the reactor core!"

Sparks got excited with a big grin. She hunched over and looked more feral than me, "Shiny!?" Vixie gave Sparks a coin. Without missing a beat, I watched the dinosaur-looking creature munching the coin and swallowing it.

I pulled myself up off the ground, witnessing the three-foot-tall beast, squeeze her way into the machinery with ease. I was at a loss for words, "What in the hell was that?"

Vixie looked back to me, watching Sparks as well, "A lizardfolk, she keeps calling herself a bold, but there is nothing bold about her."

Sparks' voice bellowed out through the machine, "Big Bush Tail is wrong, I am bold. I am big bold! I fix big stomper and get shinies as a reward!"

My disbelief could not be held any longer, "You are seriously telling me, that.... That! Thing!! Can fix your mech?!"

Vixie only smiled, "I trust Sparks with my life. Sparks is a bit strange, but she is one of the most loving, kindest, and cutest of her species. Most of them are nasty little thieves, but not Sparks." Suddenly, the machine came humming back to life.

Sparks emerged from the bottom of the groin area on the mech. She had a big dumb smile, "Sparks make the big stompy bot work!"

I think in times like these shock is not a strong enough word. I could only gaze, my jaw hitting the floor. Vixie smirked and crossed her arms with a wink, still standing at my side, "Told ya!"

The rest of my shift went by relatively uneventful. The occasional sighting of Leonardo and the constant yips and scurrying of Sparks helped pass the time. Only until Sparks began to prank me. I don't know how a little dinosaur creature can be so persistent. Stealing tools and getting into things. Thank the gods the day ended when the whistle blew. I said goodnight to Vixie and went back to my room. What I didn't expect was I would have a visitor. I stepped inside after punching in my code, bellowing out a vulpine purr. I fell back on my bed with exhaustion. When, I get jump scared by a cute red dragon face popping up over me, "Tag your it!"

I screamed at the top of my lungs, "WHAT THE HELL?!" Right as Sparks put her hand to my nose with a bap.

She laughed like a child, "Sparks still wants to play with the new Bush Tail."

I jump right off the bed and shiver, still recovering from the fright of my life, "How the hell did you get in here?"

She looked dumbfounded, "Sparks used air tube things. Sparks always use them to travel around big shippy." She pointed to the conveniently open-air vent, can't imagine who did that.....

I glared at the little monster and pointed at her with a stern finger, "Now! You listen here you little overgrown iguana! I am not playing.." Before I could finish my sentence, Sparks had already shoved her muzzle into my finger, rubbing her snout on it.

She made little cute growls, "Ok! Sparks and Bush Tail play tomorrow." I was stunned, I just would then pet her head, unsure how to respond. She continued to growl cutely. Now getting a better look at her, she was pretty adorable. I used both hands and rubbed her cheeks, which were soft and warm.

I sighed heavily, "Ok you win..."

Sparks gasped and squealed, "Bush Tail not sore loser! Bush Tail is Sparks' new friend!"

I smile and hug the little munchkin, "Yeah, my name is Sakuya, not Bush Tail..."

Sparks tried to think hard then struggled to say it, "S-S-Saku.... Sparks just call you Saky!"

I almost argued with her, but just shook my head and smiled again, " Yeah, sure, Saky is fine." I took a big yawn, my body still aching from work, "Well, come on then, let's go to bed."

Sparks yawned too and crawled into my bed with me, snuggling right up to me, surprisingly she was warm. I guess she is not cold-blooded, before she drifted to sleep she said, "Sparks and Saky can play all day tomorrow! Nini..." She then began to snore with the cutest little sound I ever heard. I held her closer and also would find sleep myself.

The next day was not much different, the same voice came to life in my room. However, my new friend was there to greet me. Sparks jumped out of the bed and scratched her ear with her back leg. She then stretched out long, cracking her body, she looked over her shoulder at me, "Saky going to miss food if she is not quick like Sparks. Don't worry Sparks will teach Saky to be quick!"

I just softly shake my head at the silly creature. I still wasn't even out of bed, "You surely are the quickest lizardfolk that I ever met."

Sparks growled playfully, disapproving, "For the last time Sparks is big bold! When will Saky, the hairless ones, and bush tails learn? Big Bold! Big Bold!" She began to chant it to me, stomping her right foot, like a child who didn't get her cookie and scrunching her nose.

"What is Big Bold?" I would ask curiously.

Sparks seemed almost offended and stomped more, "Sparks is big bold, get it through your head, Sparks IS big bold!" I just watch her fuss and be cranky. Clearly, I am missing some kind of context here.

Eventually, I get Sparks to stop having a tantrum and get myself dressed for my third day on the ship. Which means, that tomorrow, we should be in the port. It will be nice to have a change of scenery, the dark steel dungeon look is already growing old. The day repeats pretty much the same as yesterday. With Sparks and myself getting breakfast, still, the looks are shot across the bow from the humans. It is hard to deal with them staring at me every day, or every time I am in a room with them. I haven't seen Vixie or Connor so far, so after I ate my fill, Sparks ate the rest. I checked out the job terminal. Boy, that was a mistake, turned out my duty today was cleaning the latrines. What a horrible and embarrassing job. Still, I reported to the human who was in charge of maintenance, Sparks still following me.

The job terminal gives you were own data pad for new crew registries. So, finding the maintenance bay was as simple as following a map. Still, I had to mess with the dang thing before a kind gentleman showed me how to operate it. The man in charge was named Lars and he was about average height and middle-aged. The maintenance bay was a warehouse with various parts and equipment both for repairing and cleaning the ship. Lars was sporting a large black beard and no hair. He hid his lack of hair with his cap. He wore a mechanic's uniform and a toolbelt with various wrenches and screwdrivers. I stood before his office with a foxy nervous smile, gods that had to be scary for him. All my sharp teeth and failing attempts to imitate human emotion. No wonder when he looked up to the window of his office, he had a look of confusion and concern in his brown eyes.

He stood from his chair and came around his desk to open the door for us. His voice was rugged and deep, "Great, they sent me the kid...."

My attempt at human expression soon turned to a scowl, "Well, howdy to you, too! I am not a kid. I am actually, eighteen..."

He shook his head, "Well in fox years, that is barely a baby. You're not an adult till you hit a hundred."

I growl and roll my eyes, "Whatever, just where do I start this stupid job!"

He crossed his arms, "You ain't starting nothing with that attitude little missy!" He had me with little, for he was over six feet tall.

Sparks piped in, "Sparks is here for emotional support! Whatever that means. Vixie told me to do it!"

I yell at Sparks, "Hey! You can say her name just fine!"

Sparks giggled, "Sparks knows, Sparks like making Sakuya big mad. She makes funny faces when she is!"

Lars slapped his forehead and rubbed his hand down his face in frustration, "Quiet both of you!" He shoved a bucket and a mop into my arms, "You fill it with water and use the brush side to clean the floor. Do you understand that, or do I need to draw you a map!?"

I stare at it for a moment, piecing together the function of the device, using all the wheels in my head at once. Sparks chuckled, cupping a hand over her maw, "Saky might catch fire if she thinks too hard!"

I snap at the little reptile, "If you're so knowledgeable, maybe you should do it!" Lars shook his head, about to blow a fuse. He explained in detail, how to operate a simple mop step-by-step for a tribal, like myself, to understand. Once, finished, he showed me the cleaning cart and I was set on my duty.

However, when we arrived at the first one, Sparks sniffed the air hard, "Ew, Sparks may be supportive, but nose says Sparks should reconsider her life choices. Sparks is sure Saky will be ok!"

She scurried away, ditching me, I screamed at her, "You little traitor! I thought you were going to help me!"

Sparks' voice came from down the hall, "Sparks remembers things Sparks must do! Good Luck!"

Most trustworthy, my ass, I think that Vixie is full of it, that little goblin ran the moment she could. Well, to be honest, my nose was smelling it too. It was far worse than I remember, guess the fox-like sense of smell didn't help. I needed to be brave, I took a deep breath and stormed into the one with a stick figure on it. Not the one with the triangle figure. I burst into a white tiled room with several, how do you describe them? Monuments? Yeah, I know what they are, but at the time they were an enigma. I let go of the cart I had brought with me. I began to study one of the strange contraptions. It was then I noticed the handle. My curious mind would push the level down, sending a waterfall splashing down against the back wall of the white strange device.

It was then, the door opened and someone had strolled in, seeing me 'play' with the urinals. His voice was young, sounding about my age, actually, "So, is this what you fox people do when no one is around? You play in the toilets?"

I vixen screeched and jumped back around, "What!? No! I was merely trying to unlock the secrets of this ritual site!" He was a young handsome youth. He had black hair and blue eyes. He was dressed as a crew member in a standard uniform and about six foot three inches tall. He was slender and focused on me.

He turned his head slightly, "Right, and you, really don't want me to believe you are not one bad day from howling at the moon. Confirming the biases, really hard right now...."

I showed my disdain for his racist remarks and growled, "I don't appreciate that! What is funny to you is-"

"Is hurtful to us," He finished my sentence, "Let me guess, you have been listening to Connor." He walked past me and then began using the urinal as it was intended to be used, "Let me guess, it is us versus them, right?"

I glare at him, then look away, so he can do his thing. I was so humiliated, I felt like an idiot. I screamed at him, "Shut up! You don't understand what it is like!"

He finished his business and flushed, "Sounds more like you are the one forgetting." He shook his head at me, "I don't believe any of that bullshit. You are still human in my book. Connor is a racist, the man has lost himself...."

After hearing him out, I let my guard down and asked, "You don't think I'm a freak?"

He turned around to face me, "Hell no! There are billions of species in the universe, just cause you have some extra hair, doesn't make you any more special. You still bleed red.... You need to get that foxtenian superiority shit out of your head. Lighten up, it's just jokes. I don't truly believe you're going to turn feral. I heard what happened. I was one of them guards who was poking at you the other day." I took everything he was saying and really thought about it, he offered me a hand, "Charles Foxhound, you can call me Charlie."

I hesitate, but still take his hand with a soft shake, "Sakuya Attono...."

"Hey," he patted my right arm comfortingly, "We never meant it. Sorry about your family and people. I was once a tribal, too. It took a few years to learn, but Shiva took my people in when we got raided by pirates."

I sheepishly ask him, "Did you get made fun of too?"

He laughed hard, "Horribly, gods it is like being in a school of little kids here. You would not believe the things they pulled on me and my friends. But, it's all part of being in the family. We give each other a hard time, but we love each other in the end. You should come hang with the rest of us tribals. Might help ya feel like you're back home."

I smiled at him, and for the first time, I felt the clouds clearing in my head, "You know what? I would love that!"

He gave a big smile, "Well damn, you are pretty cool Sakuya, the others are gonna flip!"

Afterward, he stayed awhile and helped me clean, teaching me how to perform the task given to me. Then he left to take care of his own duties. It was boring and grinding work, but eventually, I managed to finish my job for the day. Later that night, I met up with Charlie and his people. See Shiva allowed the tribals to continue their rituals in the cargo bay, away from Inari's bible thumpers. That is a whole can of worms we are not getting into, right now. Turned out, that Charlie's tribe was a long-lost splinter of my original clan. During the Spacer age, our clans split and settled on different planets it seemed. I pretty much, fit right in with them. Our customs were similar and so was tonight's ritual, the dance of black rain. It was in my honor, they were mourning my people. I, completely, forgot I was a foxtenian that night by the makeshift barrel fire. Honestly, I think they did too. No more looks of disgust were thrown my way, instead, they officially adopted me into their tribe. The Tribe of the Silver Fang.

Charlie sat with me by the fire, coming down off a night of laughter and drunken dancing, "Sakuya, you have maybe, just bridged a gap for my people. Before, we thought you were just going to be another foxtenian snob. But, I am proud to call you sister."

"I am proud to call you brother!" I said with vigor and we crossed arms in a lock, to pour rum down each other's throats. This was a huge tradition, the sharing of cups, once performed there is no going back. It forever bonds a new member, to the tribe. I was a Silver Fang now, forever and always. I looked around at the group, all singing and dancing, it was the closest to home I felt in days. Tears silently dripped from my eyes. But, the others didn't stop, they knew it was tears of joy. I was then, painted on my fur, in the traditional swirls of blue, and each member would share cups with me.

That night, I wished never ended, eventually though, it did. We were saying our final goodbyes when Charlie took me by the hand. He told me, "Sakuya, thank you. Thank you for coming."

I loosen myself up and stand by him, "No, thank you, for giving me hope, again."

He let my hand go, "When we free your people, we can reunite as a foxtenian and human tribe. The others will gladly accept them, now that you have shown them the way."

I smile at the thought, "I will be happy when that day comes. We just need to find them now."

He nodded softly, "Good night Sakuya, may the wolf mother watch over you tonight."

"Sleep well," I returned the gesture, "May the twin moon spirits protect you." We hugged one last time, before departing for our rooms.

I was filled with so much hope and happiness. Port would come in the morning, a chance to get out for a bit, hunt for clues even. I was excited, already the number of scowled looks was beginning to fade. Now, my tribemates would use our secret hand gestures to greet each other. The only sadness came when I was in my cabin and looking in the mirror. I had gotten so lost in the moment, that I had let reality slip. Well, it came back, in the form of a fox. Despite feeling human, that wasn't a person in the mirror. I felt trapped, between two worlds and I just wanted to go back to one.

I took what Connor said, and accepted the facts, I had to hold onto what little humanity I had, or else give in to the delusion, like him. I wonder how Vixie handled this. Maybe it is easier for her like he said, she never knew what it was like. She was just born like that, it made me wonder how many Gen Oners felt like I did. Hell, how many generations are there? Five hundred years is a long time. I shook my head and got ready for bed. I couldn't let my mind wander so much. I needed to sleep after all...

Today, it wasn't a deadpan AI who woke me, but the knock of an actual person. I felt very tired and hungover, but I managed to spit out, "Come in..."

The door wasted no time and parted, revealing Connor, "So, the princess has been making herself at home I see?"

I merely groaned holding my forehead, "What do you want?"

He stepped in, "Easy there, I am actually, here early for a reason. I am taking you with me station side. I need another fox I can trust. So before that, I need to teach you how to use one of these..." He unholstered his second pistol, which caused me to curiously look up at him. He continued, "You're no good to me dead, so going to get you down to the firing range, teach you how to shoot a gun."

"A gun?" I mockingly replied, "How is that better than a spear, bow, or sword? I have seen what that did to my people." I look away, pushing back memories, "I will not play party to your witchcraft."

He rolled his eyes and then sat down by my bedside, "Listen here, I will show that this is a product of science, not made-up sorcery." He pulled out the magazine and then a bullet, "See, steel, no magic in there. The bullet is filled with a special powder that, when ignited, propels the round through the barrel."

I huffed at him, "Puny, how is that better than an arrow?"

He chuckled, "Simple, an arrow can be dodged, try dodging one of these..."

I sighed, standing up and getting dressed, "I will humor you, we will see whose weapons are stronger!"

I geared up, as quickly as I could, heading with him down to the range. It was similar to the maintenance warehouse in size but lacked all the shelving. Instead, it had a row of booths with tables overlooking the rest of the empty space. In the distance, I saw little drawings of humanoid shapes on paper with rings around the head and torso. Obviously, I know now these are targets, but similar to the toilets, I still struggled to understand. They were not like the training dummies back home. Connor stepped past me and claimed a booth for us both. He placed down a box of these tiny metal rounds. I sheepishly tip-toed to him, sniffing the air. A strong smell of smoke lay heavy on my nose. He then laid out his gun and looked at me, "Well? Are you going to learn to shoot or just act like a scared puppy all day?"

I cover my nose, for it burned from the smell, "It smells like a forest fire in here, how can you stand it?!"

He slapped his forehead, "You're ridiculous! Just get your ass over here!" I rushed over, not wanting another stern shakedown, like before. He grabbed my hand, forcefully, shoving the handle of the weapon into my fingers. "There!" He growled at me, "Was that really so hard." He points to the barrel next, "Now this is the part where you point at things you want to kill! Got it?!"

I gulp at him, shaking nervously, "G-Got it? Wait, kill?! I don't want to kill people!!"

He grumbled and reminded me, "What about the people who stole your family?"

My ears flopped down, "Well, yeah, maybe I would kill them. But, we are not going there, we are going to this port you keep mentioning! I couldn't hurt innocent people!"

He smiled at my child-like innocence and rubbed my head, "Of course, but not everyone is innocent. People will try to hurt you and I wanna make sure you can defend yourself. I'd never ask you to kill anyone."

My ears perk up to his soft hands, some reason I enjoy being petted, and I reply, "You're right, I am so glad I have you around."

He took my hands into his own and helped me aim, I soon caught on and did it myself. "Yep," He said with pride in his voice, "Now pull that lever with your finger and keep the sight on your target!" I did as he told me when it happened. The only thing I remember seeing was a flash of light, fire, smoke, and one of the loudest sounds, that ever assaulted my eardrums. It bellowed and echoed in the room, long after the handgun discharged. My ears rang and I dropped the weapon, covering them, screaming out in pain. He shook his head and laughed a little, "Well, forgot to mention, it's loud...."

I doubled over on the floor and held my throbbing head, the ringing continued like a high-pitched dial tone. "What the fuck dude?!?!?!" I scream at him, "My ears!!" Yeah, turns out having radar dishes for eardrums is not fun when you introduce loud noises.

He grabbed my hand and yanked me back up, "Oh, stop being a kit. Here!" He handed me a pair of earmuffs. I just stared confused at them, so he placed them over my ear openings. They were specially designed for foxtenians. He handed me the gun again, "Now, again!"

I knew, there was no arguing with him, so I simply took aim and squeezed. It let loose another round but without the ear-splitting noise. I didn't see anything, only a puff of dust as it hit the back wall. I was in disbelief, at the magical weapon. "Teach me..." I looked up to him, "How it works...." He paused for a moment and just stared into my eyes. He kept his foxy smile, but I could tell he had other thoughts. I am not sure exactly what they were, but he just couldn't keep his eyes off me. He then took the gun from my hand and began to disassemble it. Showing me every part, how it functions, what it did, and how to repair it. He showed me how to make gunpowder and recycle bullets. Thanks to my higher brain function, the understanding was easy to grasp. But my curiosity only grew and I wanted more. I was not satisfied with the lesson.

"I want to know more!" I begged him after he had just finished explaining how bullets are made.

He laughed and was about to say something when Shiva interrupted over the intercom, "Attention, all crew members, we are porting in one hour, shore leave will be granted for eight hours. Please, return to the ship before then."

He had been staring up at the speaker, then looked back down at me, "Looks like another time kiddo. We got work to do."