FSE

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Space, the final frontier! You are about to read of the exploits and adventures of James Scale, captain of The Red Comet. Born on earth, he was an average mixbreed living an average life, until a nuclear war broke out. Then, he took a rocket into space and was taken in by some aliens. As a member of project MORPH, he served in the Dracosith armada. There, he came into possession of The Red Comet.

James stuck the needle in his arm and pressed the button. He held it there for a minute before he took the needle out and grabbed his old flannel, button up shirt. He stuck one arm through, then let his wings slide through. After that, he stuck his other arm through. While he finished getting dressed, his snout extended, and his ears wrinkled into rounder shapes. Then, his tail shrunk completing his transition from Awek to something more akin to a hyena.

He snapped his head to the side when he heard a buzzing sound. He heard the AI say, "Passenger approaching."

He stood up and said, "Pull up a picture, Red Comet."

In a moment, he saw a picture of a bullet pod on the wall. Then, the picture showed the passenger, a sergal with stripes on the ears and snout. Finally, the information came; Name, Emily Scale, Age, eighteen, race, sergal, registered homeworld, FE 45. When he saw this, a grin stretched across his snout before he said, "Bring 'er in."

With that, he traveled all the way down the stairs, past Tacit drilling holes in the wall of a vacant area. He came to a stop at the airlock to watch as the pod approached, being dragged by a cord. Finally, he stepped aside as the pod slid into the storage compartment. He watched as the window lifted revealing his daughter. The grin on his face grew as he said, "Nice to see you again."

When he saw that she was shaking with wide eyes, he immediately dropped his grin, cleared his throat and asked, "Uh, are you ok?"

"You-you..."

"I what?"

"You are crazy!"

He looked down, gestured to himself and asked, "You mean the new image?"

"Yes, and you just in general!"

"Then, why'd you come back?"

"Because, I feel you need me."

"Well, I guess you are pretty much one of the only ones who know how to use certain machines in the lab. So uh, is this hyena thing going to be a problem?"

"I hope not, but you might scare someone."

"Well, I guess it's both a blessing and a curse. Honestly, it'll depend on circumstances."

"So, are you male or female?"

"A guy."

"Oh good, so you don't have a woman penis."

Upon hearing this, James took a step back and arched his neck, with one eyebrow higher than the other. "Oh you didn't know about female hyenas?"

"I think I read about them being the top of the hyena food chain."

"Yes, and they mount the males."

"Is that how they mate?"

"No, not really, just how they show their place."

"Well, that's good to know."

James spoke with a tone of shock, having a hint of growling while maintaining his expression. Noticing this, Emily asked, "Whats wrong?"

"The fact that female hyenas have dongs!"

"It's a pseudo one."

"Still! It's just freaky! No wonder male hyenas have it so rough if they have to try to make more with that!"

"I wouldn't touch that thing!"

James took a deep breath and lowered his shoulders. Then, in an attempt to forget the image, he said, "Well, to the bridge?"

"Yes."

With that, James led her up the stairs to where Tacit was prying part of the wall off. "What is he doing?"

"Adding gunports."

"Oh. I thought he was just being strange again."

Then, Tacit managed to pry open the hole, but his arms were sucked through. With some effort, he was able to get both paws back in, but he lost his wrench. In response, his face turned red with anger, and he took a gun from next to his toolbox and aimed at the hole. James took a step forward and said, "Tac, shooting space won't do anything."

"It'll feel good after losing such an important tool!"

"Thank the heavens he isn't an awek or something!"

James looked at Emily and said, "A hothead for a Yinglet, eh?"

"Yes he is. Such a crazy little thing!"

"Of course, both of us were some of them at one point."

"Yeah, and I don't miss it!"

"The defenselessness, and the-"

"Do you two mind?"

"Yes, we do mind!"

"Zhen, why don't you two leave me to my work?"

A grin stretched across Emily's snout. "Because we find this cute."

Then, Tacit turned the gun on them. Emily dropped her grin and said, "Shoot, and I bite your arm off!"

Slowly, Tacit put down the gun and opened his toolbox while keeping his eyes trained at them. When she hissed, he lifted his gun, and James marched towards the stairwell with her in tow. The last thing they heard from Tacit at that moment was, "Zhat's what I zhought."

"He needs help."

"Maybe a hobby, or a girlfriend."

"Or, we should turn him female."

"Why'd we do that?"

"Sounds fun."

"And?"

"We should do it!"

"You know, I've noticed something; you tend to not go into details."

"Oh why would I, it ruins the surprises!"

With that, she drew a blowgun aimed at Tacit. With one breath, she sent a dart at him. That seemed to set him off, because right after it hit him, he grabbed the gun and ran up the stairs while screeching, "I'll tear your eyes out! I ought to skin you alive!"

Emily jumped out of the way leaving James in the crossfire. Then, while Tacit took aim, he seemed to become drowsy. No matter how hard he fought, it only grew stronger, until he finally dropped his gun and passed out. Emily grabbed Tacit and ran him to the lab. James, jogging after, asked, "Is this really necessary?"

"Yes, yes it is!"

"Why?"

"Because!"

"That's exactly what I was talking about!"

"Oh, then come in. I'm trying to figure out what "she" should be."

"Let's at least keep him a Yinglet, I think he's under enough stress on a daily basis, the last thing he needs is to get used to being a whole new creature. You saw how he reacted when you shot him."

"Yeah, I did, but he needs a bigger brain."

"You don't think he knows enough?"

"No."

"Think about this; do you want him wringing your neck when he wakes up?"

"I won't be here when he does."

"Why not?"

"Because, I like to live."

He leaned over the table to look at the label on the vial she had. When he saw the word 'Nevrean,' he looked at her with one eyebrow raised. "Really?"

"Yes really."

"Why?"

"Sounds like something he'd be."

"Really?"

"Yes, or do you see a wolf , or something else?"

"Do you know what he'd be capable of as a Nevrean?"

"What? Screaming and being lewd?"

"Does that sound like Tacit, or are you generalizing him as a Yinglet?"

"Male nevreans are like that too."

"That doesn't sound like the end of him to me."

As they spoke, Tacit grew. James shook his head and sighed, "He's not going to be happy about this," before leaving the lab.

Later, when she arrived at the bridge, he sighed and said, "This has to be the stupidest thing you've ever did."

"Why do you say that?"

"Before, he couldn't really hurt us."

"Well he'll have more brain power. I tried kill you two before too!"

* * * * *

Later on, when he didn't show up, James and Emily flipped a coin to see who would go to check him. Emily was sent up. The whole room was dark, save for a single desk. On the desk was a stack of paper, all of which repeated the words, 'All work and no play makes Tac a dull boy.' Emily flipped a few pages before taking a step back. "Oh, god he can write!"

Suddenly, the lights came on revealing the same phrase scrawled into the walls. Emily ran to the door and banged on it while shouting, "He's evolving!"

Then, a voice came from behind, which said, "Oh hi, what did you think? I was going to title it all work and no play makes Tac something something."

That was when the door opened. As she ran through the hall, she could hear thumping behind her. She came to a stop in front of James, who asked, "What just happened?"

"Big ass bird!"

When James approached the door, a blade broke through it. Emily screamed, a scream which morphed into a squawk. He jumped and ran away. "Mad bird on the loose!"

From the bridge, James could hear a door bashed open. He shut the door to the bridge. Then, with his back against the door, James raised both eyebrows at the realization that Emily was still out there with the crazed Tacit. "Do you know how to fly this?"

"I don't know!"

He marched towards the dash and said, "Red Comet, set a course for the space station Lotona."

"Yes sir," said the AI.

For a moment, James sat there in silence. Then, he turned to a nevrean who managed to miss the commotion and said, "I'm thinking of uninstalling this AI. I don't feel as invested with it doing practically everything. We'll check Tacit into MORPH, and to a psychiatrist and sell the AI."

Then, his ears stuck up, and he gulped at the realization that they will have to go out there with him. The nevrean got up and took a deep breath in, then let it out. "I'll get him."

"You know where the tranquilizers are, right?"

Before answering his question, she darted through the door. "I'll take that as a yes."

On the way to the station, James could hear a squawk, and then a struggle. There was hissing, beating and clawing until the she Nevrean came back with the crazed Tacit in tow. "It wasn't that hard," she panted.

"There's part one, now for part two."

"Getting him off the ship?"

"Yep."

"Well, he is tied up."

"We'll take him to MORPH first."

As she tied Tacit's beak, she said, "Oh, yes! I can also teach you how to deal with males."

"Can't be too hard."

"On the contrary, think of a hormonal thirteen year old girl."

"Fan-freaking-tastic."

* * * * *

Before they entered the MORPH lab, James and the female Nevrean, named Akumu, carried Tacit off to the side. "Well," she said, "this is new."

"What is, carrying a guy like this?"

"No. I have never been to a MORPH base."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really!"

He shook his head, knelt down and asked, "So, how are we going to untie him?"

"Scissors."

"Got any?"

She drew her katana and said, "I have a sword."

"That'll do."

With that, she began hacking at the rope. James held Tacit's wrists while she worked with the bindings. Then, as the ropes fell off, he felt her hand on his fist. He made eye contact with her, something in his brain clicking. After a moment, he let go of Tacit's wrists and stood up. He lifted Tacit and opened the door before he called, "This one could use a Yinglet shot."

"Why?"

"Someone else changed him against his will."

"Need a temperament shot as well?"

"Is that a thing?"

"Oh, yes."

James looked at Akumu and shrugged. She also shrugged and said, "Go ahead."

The doctor approached Tacit with a syringe and stuck the needle into his shoulder. After that, he drew another syringe and stuck the needle of that one in his arm. In what seemed like seconds, Tacit was a rodent once more.

* * * * *

A whole section of the engine had been removed and sat before Emily and James. "What the?"

"Apparently, this is how much was put into the AI."

"That seems to be a lot."

"Yeah, we might have to fill those holes, God knows how the ship'll do with those holes."

James pointed at someone approaching and asked, "Are you in the market for an entire AI system?"

"No, but I sure won't say no if it's for free. I'm more in the market for work."

"Oh."

"Hmm, indeed."

"Do you have any available positions? Any at all?"

"I might have a couple."

"Well, lay it on me Sir."

"Ship maintenance, mess hall cook, and there's plenty of room in the private military."

"Can I take em all?"

"Are you secretly an octopus?"

"Hah! Never know, could be."

"If so, then you can. If not, well, how well can you cook?"

"Oh, cooking eh? Not master chef grade, but I have restaurant experience and have owned a cafe at some point."

"Then, you can cook for the Red Comet."

"Gladly, sir! And with passion! Mess cook Aaron, reporting for duty upon the Red Comet!"

"First, we'll need to have you apply before you'll be official."

The humanoid gave a frown and nodded. "Of course. Where do I sign up?"

"To the bridge, right after we get rid of this system."

"Ah, yes, will do, sir."

* * * * *

With a new manual system and a new crew member, James took the captain's chair with Akumu in Tacit's seat. When the Yinglet came by and said, "Hey, zhat's my seat!" he was met with the glare of the female raptor. Tacit sighed and said, "Forget it, I'm getting a drink."

With that, Tacit left the room, With Emily in tow. As he inserted a coin in a machine, Tacit asked, "Can you believe zhis?"

"No."

There were some bumps within the machine before a can slid out into Tacit's waiting paws. "What kinda crazy scheme will he come up wizh next?"

"You think I know?"

Tacit cracked open his can and said, "None of us do!"

"We will just have to wait and see."

Tacit drank from his can as Emily inserted some coins into the machine. He drank from the can for five seconds before James came and said, "Guys, we're going to pick someone up from K'Tann."

"Why?"

"They're a defector."

With that, Tacit inserted another coin in the machine.

* * * * *

James left the engine on so that the ship would remain air conditioned in the K'Tann heat. "Well, now we wait."

Tacit flapped his shirt open and closed and whined, "How long is zhis going to take?"

"As long as it takes for the defector to get here."

A moment after, they could hear ringing. James headed towards the door while he said, "That must be them."

James stood up and went out into the hall, after saying, "Tell 'em I'm coming."

He stopped by the storage area and grabbed a pistol, just in case it was a trap. Then, he took a deep breath and went to meet the defector. He was met with a wide bow from an unarmed K'Tann. He slid his pistol into his pocket and said, "There you are. Ah, welcome aboard."

"Yes, thank you, what shall you have me do?"

"You can crash in one of the open bedrooms, we'll be at the outpost soon enough."

"Thank you, you saved my life!"

"Were they about to send you in front of the firing squad?"

"Yes!"

"Let's take you to your room, and get out of here."

As he led them upstairs, the whole ship shook. He pulled out his communication device and gasped, "Tacit, what gives?"

"Uh, we've been shot!"

"Get to the bridge!"

Tacit nodded and ran up the stairs. James grabbed the K'Tann by the wrist and ran after him. Along the way, he pulled out his communication device and barked, "All hands, on deck! Battle stations!"

He marched into the bridge, plopped down in his seat and drove the ship into the atmosphere. The radar showed five pods on his tail. Once they left the atmosphere, James slowed the ship allowing the K'Tanns to draw closer. "What're you doing," asked Tacit.

"Trust me, there's a method to this madness."

Once the pods were within mere feet, he banked to the left and pulled the ship to a halt while the pods kept going. Then, he fired the engine back up and gave chase to them. What followed was a volley of fire at the pods. One by one, pieces fell off of them before they finally exploded, one after the other. James tapped into the passenger's feed and said, "Don't worry, we'll get you to the base in no time."