FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The sound of a heart monitor beeps as I slowly open my eyes, I notice I am chained to a chair in what looks like a med-bay but the lighting is kind of low, I look and I notice I have bandages over my left shoulder and my upper right leg.

"Your awake? That's a good start, but who or what are you?" a female voice coming over an intercom.

I sigh as I feel a little light headed "My name is Adam, I am a human from the planet Earth which is the third planet in the Sol System."

"Hmm... there are no records of your system, let alone your homeworld... and given that your ship is completely destroyed I doubt it will yield any information now. Start from the beginning!"

That last phrase just cuts through the air which causes me to blink "Alright... alright!", I take a breath "You see, my nation was working on a prototype air and space craft, I was put in a cockpit and I hit something I really shouldn't have..."

......................................

The ship leaves it's jump and comes to a stop, I take some deep breathes as I remove my helmet and I look around in a panic, I don't see Earth or even anything resembling the solar system from what I can tell... I look around and I see a button labeled "S.O.S. Beacon", I open the clear platic cover and hit the red button which causes this ping to sound every few seconds with the computer basically confirming the beacon is activated and sending out a signal.

I sigh and leave the controls as I try to relax 'Who knows? Maybe I am still in Earth's orbit and am only facing the wrong way?'

Suddenly I hear "Unknown vessel! Answer at once!"

I fine the switches for the comms "This is Adam, I am from the United States of America and I am stranded, please tell me you are from the US Military to get me down from here."

"He he he..." the voice becoming cold "We never heard of your 'United States of America' and where do you plan to go out in the void of space? We are pirates lad, your ship may fetch a good price and if you behave we'll kill ya fast!"

I feel cold as I look as see this large crimson-colored vessel that is give or take three times the size of the one I am on with various weapons adorning the hull, I look around and I find some weapons "Captain, I am sure we can come to an understanding." as I quietly load the m4a1 followed by a shotgun and two pistols.

"Understand this, I want your ship!"

I quickly turn on all the signals the ship can put out "MAYDAY MAYDAY!!! I NEED ASSISTANCE! I AM UNDER ATTACK BY PIRATES!!!" and I get into a defendable position as I find some grenades and put on my helmet so it forms a seal.

A loud thud comes from the ramp area, I do my best to make sure the weapons are ready... I have never held a weapon much less fired one, a classic trial by fire.

"This is the Cloud Runner responding to your S.O.S.,is anyone there?" a woman's voice claiming the air.

I answer "Affirmative, I am on my own and need help."

The ramp explodes, I get to cover and start unloading rounds as some of these guys in black armor run out with what I think are shotguns and submachine guns, I go to reload but I get hit in my left shoulder pretty good by what definitely is a shotgun, I collapse as I feel the pain, looking to my wound the armor plate is shattered as blood flows but thankfully I still have my arm. this guy comes around as I fire my own shotgun as he fires a burst from his smg, his burst hits my right leg but my shot blows his helmet apart.

There is no way I can hold out for long in any of this... I am not a soldier and I am hurt pretty bad, I fire a few suppressing round "I AM LEAVING THE SHIP!!! LOOK FOR A POD!!!" I quickly pull the pins on the grenades and throw them all over the place.

I leap into one of the pods, I have it seal and the grenades explode which causes an alarm to sound, I have the pod eject and a few moments later the vessel I arrived in explodes and severely damages the larger ship but it soon jumps out. I look to my wounds as I really start to feel the pain kicking in, it stings and burns really bad but at least I don't feel any broken bones... I look up and see what looks like a craft coming my way, I can feel my adrenaline fade and I black out...

.............................

"And now I am here talking to you." I sigh "Can I at least meet the person who saved me?"

No response comes, but the door soon opens... what I see is amazing, a blue vixen in what looks like black pants and combat boots with what I think is a black crop top and some kind of jacket, her hair is long and dyed a strong purple, her forehead having some kind of silver jewelry with a azure gem that matches her eyes, behind her is a big blue tail. I blink at her as I definitely wasn't expecting anything like this...

The vixen moves towards me "The name is Kursed.", she takes a seat next to me, her tone a little cold and hostile "I'm a bounty hunter alongside my co-pilot. I doubt there is a price on your head, though that may change, but you are stuck like a rock in a hard place. With no skillset to survive out here, no weapons or a ship to call your own, you are basically as good as dead."

I feel really uneasy as I am too nervous to even gulp "Sooo, what happens to me exactly?"

"We'll have to see what my co-pilot says." she pulls out some keys "I'll undo your restraints, but I'll be watching you."

Kursed lets me go, as she does her eyes go from undoing the locks to me a few times, those azure eyes scanning me for but a second per glance. I decide not to inquire where my armor is, as I am in no position to ask, then again I am happy to be out of it, Kursed helps me up and lets me lean on her as she leads me out of the med-bay and down the halls, what's terrible is that I am still feeling the tired effects of the medication and thus I am still a little out of it. The vixen tells me the effects will ware off in a little while, though it does little for me to help keep my mind out of this fog... honestly, it make me want a cup of coffee more then anything.

After going around a few corners we make it to the bridge, a holomap off to the side with some weapons and some kind of work bench on the other along with various stations which seems to be in many states of use and at least to an extent automated though I can't say for sure. Towards what is the helm, one of the chairs swings around, revealing a pink feline with these striking blue eyes and an earring on her left ear, her suit being a modified flight suit of some kind that is primarily yellow with a red jacket with some armor fringe.

The feline blinks our way as we get a little closer, she raises a brow "Looks like our guest is finally up." she starts to rub her chin "But I can see he's a little out of it."

The vixen gives a soft nod "His injuries aren't fatal, however we now have another problem.", she glances to me "Tell Katt what you told me."

I tell Katt my full story which earns looks of both confusion and curiosity, once I am done the two ladies look to each other for a few moments. Katt glances to me then back to Kursed who's eyes glance up for a moment before giving a nod... if I didn't know any better... I would say they were telepathically communicating... but that is just ridiculous... then again I remember my circumstances and suddenly it doesn't sound so far fetched.

Katt stands out of her seat and moves over to me, she brings her left hand over to my cheek "Hmm, maybe we can work something out." a grin forms on her face "It has been a while since we worked with a guy on the team."

I silently gulp as I wonder what they plan to do with me... I am just scared out of my mind at this point.

The feline looks me over "Easy fella, we aren't going to hurt you.", she brings her face a little closer "Not unless you want us to." her eyes never breaking from mine.

The vixen sighs "Katt, cut it out! He's stressed enough as is." rolling her eyes, Katt backs off a little before giving a little giggle, the fox continues "Adam lacks any skills needed to survive, he needs to learn how things work and I think maybe we can give him a boost."

The feline lets my cheek go, she folds her arms "Well, we are bounty hunters and mercenaries... he'll fit in without much issue I think, but everyone will see right through him with green he is."

The two ladies go back and forth with me just standing there... the two anthro beings bring me over to a table on the bridge, Kursed helps me sit down so I can get off my leg, the two ladies sit nearby with Kursed to my left and Katt to my right...

The vixen sighs "Well, to be blunt Adam, this is going to be a trial by fire. We don't really have a crew as it's just the two of us, plus to bring you up to speed will take some time along with the time you'll need to recover." followed by the feline "You really don't have many options either, considering we are the only two so far who haven't tried to kill you yet."

The three of us talk for a little while, we eventually get to where we have a decent agreement where I'll basically be a recruit in training and that a percentage of what I earn will go towards paying off a debt given I am starting from scratch. We begin to go over several ideas on how to tackle this as I need equipment, a fighter and so on, given I have some limited use with projectile weapons we decide to go with those for the time being... as for a fighter, they tell me that that'll be a little tricky as they don't have a spare craft and are short on parts, but they do tell me they are en route to a station where we can get supplies and get what I need to be effective.

The pair do tell me there are a few spar rooms for various reasons, so they make sure they get me squared away with one, the room is of decent size with the works, a tv, a full bathroom and a pretty advanced cleaning machine for clothes that uses energy waves which is pretty interesting. Katt grabs a first aid kit and helps me with my wounds with Kursed finding some spare clothes but she does confirm that we do need to grab me some clothes.

Katt looks me over "You humans are an interesting bunch, no real fur, just very smooth skin.", she raises a brow as she looks right to my gaze "Are you cold? If so we can adjust environmental controls."

I lightly shake my head "Thanks Katt, but I'm okay." sure the ship has a slight chill but it's around that sweet spot where it's perfect for me.

Kursed puts on a grin, she sits next to me as Katt finishes tending to my wounds "It'll take some time, but your wounds will heal.", she brings her arm around me as she brings her face close to mine "How's it feel to be the only guy here?" her tone a little teasing.

I blush at her words which earns some giggles from the two ladies, Kursed pulls me into a side hug, Katt sits to my other side and caresses my cheek, I blink at her a few times as I feel my blush get a little hotter, but I can feel my fatigue really starts to kick in and I give a light yawn, the ladies flash a couple of smirks and help me get a little situated, I pull the covers on with Kursed leaving a communicator in case I need anything.

The pair leave the room, wishing me a good rest and they'll come by and check on me in a few hours. As I lay on the bed, I do my best not to aggravate my wounds, all the while I reflect on my situation and also I wonder how being where ever I am is going to work out... but at least I am not on my own, Kursed and Katt are a pair of some pretty cool women and I look forward to getting to know them a little better as time goes on. After a few minutes I finally succumb to sleep... with hope being on my mind.

.........................

Kursed and Katt enter the bridge, taking their places at the helm and adjusting course for their vessel.

The feline looks to the vixen "How's our fella doing?"

Kursed glances behind her for a moment before looking to Katt "He's sound asleep, which is good. He needs to rest."

Katt grins at her "So when are you going to tell him you are a telepath?"

"He doesn't need to know, for now at least." Kursed types a few commands in, her azure gaze going towards the cold expanse in front of her.

The feline let's a sigh escape her lips, she knows Kursed doesn't want to talk about it so she won't push it. The vixen's history is riddled with chaos and despite flirting with the human, she knows Kursed was just teasing him like how she was, the feline has tried to talk to Kursed about her past demons but to no real avail as the vixen always blew her off.

But Katt knows a key part when it comes to Kursed, that she'll protect Adam, the vixen has always had a protective instinct and that hasn't changed much. The feline does share the vixen's concerns though, humans have never been encountered before and thus a few could be after him just because he is a unique species, thankfully the pirates that attacked him won't be a problem further as Kursed had purged them completely, it wasn't easy as they did a short range jump just to try to limp away, but they were defenseless once found.

As she handles the key controls, Kursed thinks back to the human... she can feel the fear deep inside his mind, but she also feels a sense of wonder and want... the vixen silently sighs to herself 'Another guy stumbles into my life.'

.............................

Off in another part of the stars, a carrier is moving through the void it's front is dark gray and gray, with a red bridge and black and red wings with the two ports to the hanger sealed. Standing on the bridge of the vessel is a male fox wearing an armored space suit as he looks over the payment he and his outfit just received.

Nearby a robot largely consisting of gold plates with a large red eye is working out a course towards the next job "We are en route to intercept the pirates vessel in the neighboring star system."

A rabbit comes around "Hate to tell you this Rob, but I just got word someone else got to them first. The pirates were trying to capture a ship but it self-destructed and inflicted a good chunk of damage before a rescuer took it out.", he looks to the fox "What is interesting is that no one seems to know what this ship exactly is. Want to investigate it Fox?"

Fox blinks as he looks to the rabbit, he gives a shrug "It's probably just junk now Peppy, but what the heck, I guess it's worth checking out.", he eyes the robot "Make best speed to that wreck."

The machine confirms Fox's command and the carrier begins to race through the void...

To be continued...