FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Better take that shot soon," said the warden, "before you touch down."

James stuck the needle in his arm while the Red Comet flew over the planet Brion. "I wonder what they think of Yinglets down the there," he thought out loud.

"Possibly food," said Emily as she injected herself. "I heard they are cats."

"Please don't let zhem eat me," said Tacit.

"How can I? I'm not getting killed!"

"Not on my watch," stated James.

"Father do you want to become one too again?"

"Actually, not at the moment."

She could see his muzzle grow short and his ears begin to curl. She had fangs growing as well, and the colors of her coat and eyes changed to more earthy colors. James' coat developed spots. Emily's had stripes and spots and was getting lighter with the stripes and spots darker. James stood up and said, "Ready?"

"Yes!"

James took a look through the window and said, "We're coming up on the planet, and we didn't need hyperspeed!"

James unbuckled his seatbelt as he reached to take the ship into park. Once the engine had shut off, he stood up and led Emily toward the airlock. They traveled downstairs through the storage area to the dock to the outside world. As soon as he pounded the button to release, they saw some of the natives approach. "Those must be the Bastens."

"So it must be. What are they?"

"Cats, maybe?"

"Glad that's what I became."

"All part of the plan."

Emily jumped out, followed by James. She landed on all four paws. "so it really works."

When she looked up, she could see the natives approach. They stopped, and one of them came forward and said, "A cheetah, perfect. The one to see is at the pyramid."

"Thanks for the directions."

"Thanks!"

The feline bowed, and James beckoned to Emily before heading toward the pyramid. He eventually came to a stop to look over the pyramid. He took a deep breath and climbed the steps to the entrance, where he saw a black cat on a throne. "Are you the cat in charge?"

"Possibly."

Slowly, he came closer while Emily ran in. Once he was within several feet, he stopped and knelt. He looked up at the cat, who said, "Up, both of you."

They stood up and were questioned further, "What brings you here?"

"To assist your kind in adaptation."

"How shalt you do that?"

"Perhaps breeding, perhaps participating in research and development."

"Or, all three?"

"That too. When do we start?"

"Anytime you are ready."

"Maybe, we should know what all is here first."

"Of course. Go to the library someone will help."

"Where's that?"

"Down the road."

James nodded and took a couple steps back before bumping into someone. He spun around and said, "Sorry!"

Then, he beckoned to Emily and went back outside. After descending the steps, he scanned for the library. It was quite hard to miss being a stone monolith. "Wow."

He opened the door, and they both went in. Shelf upon shelf of books and scrolls stood before them. "Jesus."

"Huh-how so many?"

"Who knows?"

" How long has this planet been here?"

"I don't know."

"Well let's get reading, then."

"We'd better find the right books first, and I don't see any labels."

"Great. This will-Oh, look at the old cat!" she pointed towards a graying old feline, and James said, "Careful, people can be sensitive about being called old."

James approached the cat and said, "Excuse me, where can we find travelers guides?"

"First shelf to the right."

"Thanks."

James followed Emily through the hall until they found a shelf with maps. He pulled a scroll from the shelf and opened it. "Perfect!"

He leaned against the shelf and showed it to her. Both of the, stared at it so they could remember the locations. Finally, he let go, and it flung itself over her arm. "Think you remember?"

"I hope so, thing's huge!"

"No kidding."

"Wait," Emily said before she subsequently screamed, "I can't see!"

"What?"

Emily started scratching at her eyes. He grabbed her wrists and hissed, "Don't do that!"

It was then that he noticed that her eyes had glazed over. "How can I not?

"Now what? Can you see anything at all?"

"No! Why do ya think I said I can't see?"

"Now, how the hell did this happen?"

"you think I know?"

"Thank god we know where the medic is."

"What if they can't do anything?"

"We always know who can."

"Who?"

"One of the Dracosith doctors."

"Let's hope so!"

He led her outside by the arm and, by memory, headed towards the nearest medical center he could find. He read the symbols and interpreted them as saying that the place was closed. "No!"

He pounded on the door while repeating the word no. "It doesn't matter!"

James looked at Emily and asked, "Why not?"

"It just doesn't, we have a mission."

"But, your eyes-"

"Like I said it don't matter. I will handle it."

James sighed and turned away. He took a deep breath, turned to face her and waved a hand. "Can you see what I'm doing," he asked.

"No, I can't."

"What all can you see?"

"Nothing."

"Is it black, white or gray?"

"White."

"Must be the light."

He stepped closer and took a deep look into her eyes. "Just so you'd know, I'm trying to see if I can find any cataracts."

"Is there any?"

"Hold still."

He tilted his nose down so he wouldn't touch hers while scanning her eyes for evidence of mold on the lenses. "I can't see any. Weird. "You're blind without a cataract."

* * * * *

James, Astar and Tacit sat and paced around while a doctor checked on Emily's eyes. "Find anything noteworthy," asked James.

"Sadly, no."

"No?"

"Exactly, I found nothing."

"Can you double check?"

The doctor sighed and took another look. After that, they took a needle, stuck it in her arm and drew some blood. "Not looking good. Radiation."

"Radiation," gasped James.

"Yes, radiation."

"Will she ever see again?"

"No sadly, it will never clear."

Upon hearing this, James felt sick to his stomach. He fell backwards into a chair and put a hand to his now burning forehead. He leaned forward and looked down waiting for his previous meal to come in a fountain of half digested slop and acid. "I don't believe it," he croaked.

"Well it's true."

It was when he read the report that he finally vomited on the floor. After he handed the report back to the doctor, he heard beeping from his pocket. He pulled his communication device to see the words 'transspecies therapy tomorrow' on screen. He sighed and said, "Damn it."

"What?"

"Transspecies therapy's tomorrow, of all times."

"Why we need that?"

"Not us, just myself."

"And," said Tacit, "why do you need one?"

"That's my business."

"I was just wondering since you transform all zhe time, and you never need any zherapy for zhat."

"Yeah, it makes no sense!"

"Well, this one I'm planning is more permanent."

He wiped his snout and looked at the doctor. He took a deep breath and said, "I'm thinking of changing my default species."

"Why?"

He stood up and walked away instead of answering the question. "I guess he doesn't want to talk about it," said Tacit.

"He wasn't like this on earth," added Astar.

"He wasn't?"

"Not really, although he did get depressed after a breakup."

"Why?"

"He thought it would last. I also think a major factor was her falling for another guy. I was a year old."

"How was it on earth?"

"At the time, a lot greener, but dad was often tense."

"Why tense?"

He shrugged and said, "Could've been anything."

"I see. I don't understand how any of this relationship stuff works and rather not."Neither do I."

Emily stood up and walked into a wall. Astar marched over to her, took her by the shoulders and turned her to the side.

"Okay thanks!"

"Sure thing."

When she walked into the doors, Astar ran over and opened it. "Thanks again. This really sucks!"

"I'll bet."

"I wonder what this trans-species crap is about."

"Changing? I really don't know."

"We should go find out."

"How?"

"Follow father, I dunno!"

Astar turned to face Tacit, who, up until then had been silent. "What?"

"Did I miss somezhing?"

"Yeah."

"What?"

"We are going to follow father."

"Correction," said Astar, "Tacit is."

"What?"

"Yes. Tacit, you are going!"

"Why me?"

"Because you are small and can beg your way in."

"Zhat's it?"

"Also you need to video tape."

"Why?"

"because your brain doesn't work so well and we want to know everything that there is to know."

"What do I use to video tape?"

Emily tossed a small camera down to him. He bounced it between his paws before hugging it to his chest. "It's easy to use."

She reached down and tapped a button. As soon as she did, the screen on the device blinked a red dot. With that, Tacit detached a grate and crawled into the pipes. After about five minutes of crawling, he came across James with the doctor. "So how do you feel?"

"Better now."

Tacit sat inside the pipe and pointed the camera at them. "That's good. Anything you need to know?"

"What do you think about this transspecies thing?"

"It's pretty normal, you get to be what you feel."

"Okay. Well, personally, I don't feel like an Awek."

"Than don't be an awek. Live as what you want!"

"Although, I'm torn between bat and dragon."

"Why not both?"

"Maybe."

"Like i said you can come out as what you want, and when you do we shall happily change you."

"I'll need the counseling first so I'm not just running around flailing my armwings having no idea what in doing."

"I know. This will take a full month."

With that, Tacit shut the camera, turned and crawled back the way he came. Once back at the bridge, he pushed the grate off the hole and jumped out to the floor. "I've got it!"

"Oh good!"

He stood up and handed off the camera to Astar, who relayed it to Emily. He opened the screen and pressed playback. As she listened, Emily began to feel like she would pass out. "I hope you two are happy."

"no, but satisfied."

Tacit sighed and marched off. "Don't become cat food!"

"You zhink I'll try?"

"No!"

"See you rodent pop on legs!"

"What?"

"I said you are a big rodent pop!"

"What is zhat?"

When Emily growled, he replied, "I just asked."

James, on the other hand, was not doing so well. He had been watching a video about transforming, which had just finished covering male genitalia and began with the female system. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. When he looked up, he got a face full of male to female reassignment.

He gulped down some vomit, turned to the Basten next to him and asked, "How long do we have?"

"Fifteen minutes."

He sighed. "We know, its horrible."

"Why is this necessary?"

"Think we know?"

He groaned. Once the video went to black, he wiped his brow and sighed, "Finally!"

While everyone ran, James left the room and leaned against the wall. There, he let some vomit loose. He staggered away from the wall to the bridge of the Red Comet. "Jesus Christ."

"What's wrong?"

"That video, that's what!"

"How bad was it?"

"Horrible."

"What was in it?"

"Reassignment surgery."

When Emily made a face and tensed her shoulders, he said, "My thoughts exactly!"

"No! Just no!"

"Thank god, Zeus and Odin that it's over!"

"Agreed, only can imagine how bad it was."

"There's a reason I don't seek out those types of videos! Especially when they involve balls!"

James took his seat hunched over the floor. He took a deep breath and sat up. "You okay?"

"Yeah," he huffed, "I'm fine now. Well, looks like we're going to be busy for a bit."