Marla

Chapter 17

Escape From Elysium

S.M. Wolf

---

Marla and Kayla are copyrighted by Kittiara and used with her permission. Master David Wolf, Valentia, Todd, Mike, Sensei Tenchi. Zubin, Coshocton, Jenna, other miscellaneous characters and this story are copyright 2010 by S.M. Wolf. Here Without You is copyrighted by 3 Doors Down and is used without prior permission. This story may not be reproduced by any means in part or completely without prior written permission of the author. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

---

The night passed in fitful sleep for all three furs. None could really drop into a restful sleep with the imminent threat of a raid by Homeplanet Security and the police. All three tossed and turned throughout the night. By the time the morning sun rose all three had a very bad case of bed pelt.

"It looks like we were having one hell of a fuck last night," Kayla said wryly as she looked down at her pelt. It was as disorganized and matted as it was after the worst orgies at the Academy.

"I wish!" Marla replied as she rose and headed for the bathroom. All three furs slipped into the whirlpool bath. None of them dawdled in getting cleaned up and their fur in order. They knew the need for speed.

Before 7 AM, they were downstairs in the kitchen making breakfast. Master David made it a point to kiss and cuddle with both Kayla and Marla. He knew that they would be leaving soon. While none felt up to sex, both femfurs returned his caresses with ardor and love of their own. Despite the circumstances it turned into a pleasant if too short meal.

The rest of the morning did not pass as pleasantly. Lacking anything else to do while they waited, the three furs watched the news to see what was happening on Elysium.

Around 9 AM several broadcasts were interrupted by a special bulletin. Two news reporters had been arrested by the Elysium government for sedition. Specifically, they had covered the story of the Director of Homeland Securities confession after the government had banned the story. A third news reporter involved in the report was missing and feared taken by Homeland Security.

"Interesting," Master David said contemplatively. "The media is starting to rebel against the Government censorship and oppression. I wonder, did it being their own this time help spark this little rebellion? Likely they will be silenced this time, but even that will bring the problems of Elysium and the actions of the Government to the fore.

"I just hope that the brave ones who are doing this survive. Governments have a long history of permanently silencing those they do not like in situations such as we have now."

An hour later, one of the stations showed a video taken from the missing reporter's comlink. It showed gunmen identifying themselves as Homeland Security arresting, cuffing beating and finally shooting the canine. Marla and Kayla huddled close to their male as they watched the casual brutality dealt out by the Homeland Security thugs. Both knew that any one of them could easily have been the reporter and that it would likely be a better fate than they would get if captured alive.

Just before lunch the news turned brighter. Several spontaneous demonstrations against the Elysium Government broke out on the dark side of Elysium and were covered by their local media. Even with the events of the morning and at Peace Square the day before some of the citizens far from the capital were still brave enough to express their opposition and anger at the Government. They wore grim faces as they gathered around bonfires to show their support of freedom for those who had been captured at Peace Square.

The protests were peaceful, and surprisingly the local police on the scene seemed to go out of their way to avoid any confrontation. Away from the capital the power of the Government might actually be waning in the wake of the events of yesterday. The protests broke up after an hour or so, but Master David and the others noted that there were no arrests or violence. The local firefurs put out the bonfires with the help of the protest organizers.

Marla barely noticed the lunch Kayla gave her. She ate it automatically as she continued to watch the news. Surfing the Internet led to several blogs both for and against the Government actions. It was easy to tell that many of the blogs and stories supporting the Government were plants. In a last ditch effort to maintain control, the Government was using propaganda against its own citizens. Many of the larger companies and the rich were supporting the Government line, but some noted as being socially responsible were noticeably absent from the discourse. It was unclear if they were biding their time or had already been silenced.

Marla and Kayla kept watching the news broadcasts. Master David disappeared into his office repeatedly to check more private information. Wolf Enterprises was gone, but he still had contacts around the globe and even within the Government. He found out little more than was being broadcast, but at least he was able to confirm what was happening. The fate of the Peace Square protestors was unknown, but all were sure that they were in the Government's clutches and were likely being tortured or sent to various facilities for retraining or sexual slavery. Master David was grim as he realized that there was nothing he could do at this point to help them and the others that would likely follow them in the coming days and months.

The news continued to show that the populace was restless and that the government was on edge. Before the threat of civil war had been there in the background, out of sight and pushed out of mind. Now it was a tangible pall hanging over everything. The newscasts started showing empty shopping malls and deserted streets interspersed within the reports on the protests and Government announcements that they had everything under control and that the populace should go about their normal business.

Scattered within the domestic reports were business reports of Wolf Enterprise selling off virtually all of its holdings for cash. Together with the lack of buying by consumers fearful for their lives and freedom, the events were pointing to a recession or worse soon.

There were even reports of off-world governments taking note of the actions of the Elysium Government. Several had sent protests against the Elysium Government's brutal clamp-down on the protestors through diplomatic channels. The protests were somehow leaked to the media and rapidly made their way onto the Internet. The nearest planets were even rumored to be sending envoys to meet with the President and discuss the current situation on Elysium.

"I doubt that the President cares one iota about what off-worlders think." Master David commented. "However, they could be potential allies and supporters in the future. They are already halfway there if they are sending someone to tell the President he 'did bad' in diplomatic terms. Even if they remain neutral now they might help us in rebuilding Elysium after the civil war. That would be a great help."

Marla and Kayla kept watching the newscasts as Master David disappeared into his office again. Marla watched him go. She asked Kayla somewhat despondently, "Does it matter if we watch or not?" The constant stream of bad news was depressing the wolfess.

"No," Kayla replied, "but I want to keep watching. I suspect he -"

Kayla pointed at Master David's office door.

"-will know anything major before we will, but I want to try to keep an eye on things in the hope that if he does miss something I will catch it."

Kayla looked at Marla intently. Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper.

"You did not see him when you were taken and Mike was killed. He went into a rage blaming himself and his arrogance for everything. He was totally irrational. He pulled himself together, but I saw how your capture ate at him all the time you were gone. What happened to Mike did not help either. He was terrified that we would lose all of Canaria Pack as well.

"A great burden was lifted from him when we finally went to rescue you. We all dreaded what we would find, but we knew you were out there, and we had to go get you. Like Canaria Pack, we bring our own home, be they dead or alive. We certainly were not going to leave you to the Government and Homeplanet Security!

"While you were asleep recovering he watched you for hours on end. The tears just poured from his eyes. We never heard him actually crying, but we could see his body shaking. The only time I saw him worse off was when he learned that Mike was dead. It was a great relief when you finally woke up."

Marla had been unaware of what had happened in her absence.

"I didn't know," Marla said in wonder.

"He doesn't want others to know that he has weaknesses. 'A leader must be strong.' Etcetera.

"Personally I think it makes him more of a living fur, and so do the others, so I am telling you what happened. I know you will not take it as a sign of weakness that he cares for you and that he cared for Mike."

Marla nodded her head affirmatively. She looked at the door to the office for a moment and wondered about her pack mate.

"He'll be okay, today and afterwards," Kayla quietly assured Marla.

"Or," the otteress confessed, "that is what I keep telling myself to stop me from running around screaming in anger and frustration."

Kayla stood up.

"Right now, I think I need a drink. Care to join me in some hot chocolate?"

Kayla and Marla went into the kitchen. They made hot chocolate for all three furs. They took Master David his hot chocolate in his office. Marla saw several holoscreens opened above and around his desk. He seemed to be scanning multiple sources of information while listening to several furs simultaneously.

Master David glanced at Marl and Kayla. Marla was a bit surprised to see him smile at them warmly. Obviously he was deeply involved in whatever he was doing, yet he was still cheered to see them even as they interrupted him.

"Okay, keep your eyes and ears open. I still expect something big today. We exposed ourselves during the Peace Square rally. It was the right thing to do, but it puts us in a vulnerable position. The Government is going to be looking for all of us very soon, and it is not going to be pleasant if they find us. Have your escape routes ready and, if needed, your weapons and suicide pills.

"I have two pack mates who want my attention now. This is getting repetitious at best and counterproductive at worst. We will keep our eyes and ears on the key players in case our moles do not get us the information we need in time, but let's pull back as far and as deep as we can and assume that they are coming for us today or tomorrow. We can use the extra time to get deeper underground and pull the holes we use in after us."

"That leaves you exposed," Sensei Tenchi said over an open com unit. Marla had missed him because of the location of his viewscreen. Once she saw him, her eyes focused in on the lion and tigress behind him. They had to be Sensei Tenchi's parents. The pair was older than Master David, and there were signs of abuse that were just starting to disappear with proper medical attention, but there was a fire in their eyes. They were obviously spoiling for a rematch with the Government who had taken them and placed them into slavery. From the looks on their faces, Marla was glad that they were on her side.

"Not very. Don't forget, we've got a platoon of heavy infantry between the ground floor and the penthouse and a quick escape already planned.

"Running too soon tips our paw and sends the Government into a frenzy. The longer I stay here with all of their eyes on me, the longer others have to get away without being seen. It is a calculated risk, but one that I think we need to take.

"I am not going to be stupid about it. If something comes up indicating that they are coming for us, we will bolt immediately even without a warning from our insiders."

Master David stood up.

"Send all non-essential personnel to safety. That includes every one of you who is not personally involved in our final retreat. I do not want heroes! I want living furs ready to help me fight for our freedom.

"The rest of you get ready to run at a moment's notice. The word should be coming any moment."

Master David reached out to a control.

"Right now," he said with a smile, "I am going to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate with my mates."

Master David flipped the control. All of the screens instantly disappeared.

Kayla set the tray with the mugs down on the desk.

"Is it getting that close?" the otteress asked.

Master David picked up his mug and blew on the steaming liquid before answering.

"The Government is out making arrests again. Some of them are our operatives, so we have to assume that they know what I did and am likely doing something more."

Marla closed her eyes. She did not like the idea of their furs being in the clutches of the Government. From firsthand experiences she khew how bad the experience was.

"How many have we lost?" Kayla asked.

"A few have been captured we think. A few dozen are dead in fighting or by other means. About a hundred escaped by the skin of their canines."

"The Government knows it is us," Kayla said flatly as she picked up her mug and started to drink.

"Yes, but it really does not matter. Our message got out yesterday, and it is causing the Government a lot of problems even as they try to suppress it and substitute their own message through propaganda.

"Most importantly, their actions do not seem to be working outside of the capital where their power is strongest."

Marla was glad to hear the last. It gave her some hope. She picked up her mug and began to sip the creamy liquid. The hot fluid ran down her throat and settled in her stomach. Slowly her stomach began to unknot, and her tense muscles loosened.

Master David took Marla and Kayla over to a small loveseat. It was really too small for three furs, but with some careful gymnastics and a lot of giggling and laughing they managed to squeeze into the two seats. Master David was sandwiched tightly between the two femfurs. Their bodies pressed against each other. Marla loved being so physically close to her pack mates in what might be the last few minutes that they would be together. She basked in the intimacy of the moment and carefully stored away the sight, scent and feel of her alpha male as they made small talk for almost an hour.

The talk turned to the future eventually.

"I just wish this had happened a year from now. The modular ships are just starting to come off the assembly line at a good pace. The secret ship docks and arsenals are putting out their first armed naval capital ships. A year from now I could assemble a respectable fleet, call in a lot of debts from those I have been secretly supplying and financing, and fight the government openly with a decent chance of winning.

"Running will set us back years. I just hope we can get the job done soon."

Master David grinned at the femfurs.

"Do you know what I want most in life right now?

"I want to see my firstborn children and then spend the rest of my life making more little pups!"

Marla grinned at him. A few tears leaked out of her eyes. On the other side of him she could see Kayla wipe away a couple of tears as well.

"I would like that a lot too," Marla told him. It was all she could say. Her throat was too tight to speak more. The thought of making love to this wolf all night and being awakened in the morning by a large number of wolf and otter pups invading their bed was a fantasy she hope would one day become reality.

"We all would," Kayla said as she lay a paw on Master David's left arm. He kissed first the otteress and then the wolfess.

"I think it is going to happen," Master David said. "We have a good chance.

"I do not expect this to be the end for us, just a very unwelcome interruption."

Some time later the three furs retired to the living room. To break the monotony they turned on one of the entertainment stations, but none of them really watched it. One by one they made their way to the windows and looked down at the vista below.

It was nearly dusk, the "golden hour" to photographers. The setting sun brought the bright reds, yellows and oranges of the fall trees in the park and beyond to glorious vibrancy. A master painter could not have made any more beautiful picture of the distant hills and mountains than Nature did that evening.

The three furs stood together wrapped in each other's arms. They stared off into space, each with their own thoughts. Marla found herself finally coming to peace with what had happened, the decisions that she had made, and the path that she was following. She would forever love Mike, and she would forever remember him, but there was a life for her to live, and hopefully there was another life for her to raise. The coming weeks and months would tell that. Even if she was not pregnant, she wanted to live now, not die.

The peace was ended when the com unit on Master David's wrist emitted a strident claxon alarm indicating an important incoming message. He hit the RECEIVE button without releasing his pack mates.

"Homeplanet Security is moving on you. They have a warrant for your arrest and authority to search and confiscate your property," a scrambled voice stated.

"Get out of there!" Master David replied.

"They also have death warrants for your slaves," the voice added.

Marla could not tell if the shaking she felt was from her body or Kayla's. Both had always expected to be at great risk, but they had also anticipated being sent back into slavery if they were taken. Now the government would be executing them on sight if they were caught. It was a rare thing even for the Government to do.

"Damn! Now get out of there!"

"Not quite yet, Sir."

Just before the line went dead Marla heard the unmistakable sound of a high-powered hand blaster energizing.

Master David hugged Marla and Kayla tighter for several precious seconds. They could see the tears in his eyes. Marla felt a few in her own.

"I'm sorry. I thought I could protect you-"

"It is not your fault. It is the Government's choice," Kayla interrupted.

"I never planned to go back into slavery anyway."

Marla found herself nodding her head in agreement. Sometime during the past few days she had made the same decision. She would either escape or die if the Elysium Government managed to find her.

"It's your choice," Master David said quietly. "You are your own Mistresses. But, please, do not throw your lives away needlessly or foolishly!"

Kayla lifted a paw and stroked his face tenderly.

"We won't. I promise you that," the otteress said.

Master David released his two mates.

"Okay. Get going. I'll catch up in a few moments."

Master David half ran to his office. Marla and Kayla looked at each other.

"Like hell I am," Kayla growled. Marla nodded in agreement.

Both females ran to the door of Master David's office. Inside he was activating a link to his corporate computer system.

"I thought I told you to leave," he told them with a stern glance.

"We go together or not at all!" Kayla firmly told Master David.

Master David grinned and said jokingly, "Such impudent slaves! A pity I cannot take several days to cure you of your insolence and ensure your future obedience."

His voice turned serious.

"If things start to go south, get out. I will be right behind you, but I need to do this first if at all possible"

The distant computer accepted Master David's password and retinal scan.

"Computer ready," a disembodied voice said.

"Activate program Carnivore. Execution authorization Alpha One. Execution authority Alpha One Alpha One Beta Two. Execute."

"Please confirm execution. Once initiated this program cannot be terminated."

"Authorization confirmed. Code Orange Red Red Green Go."

"Carnivore Program activated. Wipe of all network assets commencing. This system will go down permanently in fifteen minutes."

Master David hit a speed dial button on the desk comlink. Instantly an older ferret appeared.

"It's time. Move the money using the program, get the cash and then get out of there as fast as you can. I'm sure the government will come calling for you any moment as well. We'll meet you at the dispersal point."

The ferret just nodded once and turned to his computer screen. The link was cut before he even started typing in the commands.

Master David reached under his desk and pressed a well concealed button three times in rapid succession.

"Time to go!" he told the two females as he ushered them down the hallway towards the stairs.

The three furs were halfway down the stairs to the lower level when Marla heard a dull boom and felt the penthouse shake slightly. A second, smaller thud followed a moment later. She looked at Master David, and he shook his head yes. He had activated some sort of bomb and destroyed his office. She suspected there was a strong incendiary device included to burn whatever the explosion did not get. The walls of the office and the fire suppression system would ensure the fire did not get out of control.

The second, smaller explosion seemed to have been on the upper level. Marla knew it was likely in the old dungeon. A "defective" explosive device had failed in its task of destroying the incriminating evidence hidden in the room. The Government would think that they had a bonanza of information when, in fact, they had stumbled into a cleverly laid trap.

They reached the common room of the lower level. Master David removed a three foot by two foot panel on one wall. Behind it was revealed a small pneumatic capsule. Like all large buildings catering to the rich, this apartment complex had a slave kennel in the subbasement. These tubes could be used to send the slaves up to their Master or Mistress when they wished the slave for their pleasure or punishment. Later the tubes could be used to return the slaves to the kennels.

Master David pointed at the waiting capsule and said, "Marla first"

Marla gave Master David a nasty look and told him, "No! You first."

Kayla shook her head in agreement.

Master David did not flinch.

"Marla, I want you to go first to clear the way. Kayla goes second, and I will go third. We can all arrive within forty seconds if you do not argue with me. Time is wasting. Now go!"

Marla uttered an expletive under her breath and dove into the capsule. She had to curl up into a tight ball to fit inside the tiny capsule. When the door closed it was absolutely dark. At least there was a small fan blowing air into her face.

The capsule dropped, and Marla entered freefall as the capsule descended rapidly through the heart of the building. There was a sudden slowing and a thump. The capsule door opened. She bolted out with lasers in both paws.

"Easy, Marla!' Zubin told her as he held up his paws. In his right paw was a heavy caliber military laser rifle capable of punching through several inches of armor or mowing down large numbers of unprotected infantry.

Marla continued past Zubin and looked for any other targets. The kennels had been emptied. Sensei Tenchi was near the only door out of the kennels. He also had his weapons drawn.

There was a THUMP behind Marla. She turned to see Kayla leaving her capsule in a hurry. She had managed to find a couple of throwing daggers on the way down. She scanned the room as Marla had done, looking for a target. Finding none immediately available, she changed out her daggers for the heavy-caliber laser on her hip. She tossed Marla a similar laser as well.

"Here. You left so fast we didn't get a chance to give you this."

Marla thanked Kayla and belted on the heavy-duty laser. She kept her smaller lasers in her paws. In close quarters she wanted their mobility. Once they were out of the apartment building she would switch to the heavier caliber laser. She was itching to try it against some Homeplanet Security thugs.

All four furs waited for what seemed hours for the final capsule to appear. Twenty seconds after Kayla's entrance the pneumatic tube was filled by a third and final capsule. Master David uncurled and left the capsule quickly. He unfolded the stock of the compact laser rifle he had acquired somewhere on his trip down to the slave pens. His laser was belted onto his waist, and he was ready for action.

Master David said, "Let's go!"

Sensei Tenchi led the way up the stairs and down a short, dingy hallway. Marla was right behind him trailed by Kayla and Master David. Zubin brought up the rear. The wolverine kept looking over his shoulder to make sure no one was following them.

The liger paused and listened at a door at the end of the hallway. Apparently satisfied, he opened it and exited. Marla was close on his heels. When Sensei Tenchi broke left, she broke right.

The door led to the main lobby of the apartment building. Marla had never seen what was apparently a hidden slave entrance used before. She suspected it was only used late at night when the sight of furs fresh and untrained in their new roles as pleasure slaves would not offend the residents of the building. Or, given Master David's presence here, it might not be used at all. Regardless, Marla was now in the main lobby. The last rays of the evening sun streamed in through the windows to illuminate the sole occupant within.

A huge tigress with white head fur and wearing powered heavy-duty body armor raised a Gattling gun and pointed it in the direction of the small group. Marla raised her laser pistols and half depressed the trigger before Sensei Tenchi yelled, "Stop!"

The two femfurs stood facing each other with weapons a split second from firing.

"Marla, Jenna. Jenna, you should know Marla from your briefings."

The older female nodded.

"Sorry. Reflex. The transports are outside waiting to go. The radio is filled with police chatter. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen very soon, and it appears that we are not the only targets tonight."

"Let's get away from here then," Master David said as he walked up behind Marla. He laid a paw on her right shoulder and squeezed. Reluctantly she accepted his unspoken order and lowered her laser. Jenna did not drop her Gattling gun, but she did turn away and led the party outside.

Three Hummer 3000 vehicles were parked on the sidewalk. While nominally civilian vehicles, they carried the same armor and mobility equipment as the military version. Only the paint job had been changed. A small bobcat stood beside the door of the second Hummer. He was holding it open with one paw while he scanned the area. In his other paw was a sniper rifle with a 30X scope.

Marla scanned the surrounding rooftops. She saw several furs on the parapets of the buildings.

"Snipers!" she said and half raised her weapon.

"Ours!" the bobcat responded.

Marla's attention turned to the remaining furs waiting for them. At both the front and back vehicles four males waited. They were feline, but a weird hybrid. It took Marla a moment to realize the males were the product of the mating of the bobcat and tigress.

"Good evening, Captain Coshocton," Master David cordially greeted the bobcat as if this sort of thing happened every day.

"Hello, Sir. No one is in sight yet, but that is likely to change very soon. We need to move quickly," Coshocton replied with some haste.

"Then I think it is best that we go. The neighbors might not like a full firefight on their front steps."

Captain Coshocton assisted first Kayla and then Marla into the Hummer. Zubin slid into the driver's seat, and Sensei Tenchi took the shotgun position. Master David slipped in last. Once he was safely in the other furs that formed the guard unit quickly mounted up in the other two Hummers.

Master David had half turned to say something to Kayla when a very familiar silver limousine left the underground garage and barreled out into traffic at high speed. Inside Marla could see a black wolf flanked by an otteress and a wolfess.

Whatever Master David might have been ready to say was lost as he turned to Sensei Tenchi and angrily demanded, "What the hell is going on?"

Sensei Tenchi calmly replied, "The Government will expect you to run for the main spaceport and your space yacht which is currently preparing to lift. We are obligingly presenting them with an easily tracked target to confirm their suspicions and divert their attention from your real escape."

"I saw furs in that car!" Master David stated furiously.

"Yes, and all three are volunteers. At some point you helped them through a major disaster in their lives or the lives of their families caused by the Government. Now they are paying you back."

"With their lives?!"

"If need be, yes," Sensei Tenchi replied calmly. "You mean that much to them.

"No, to us."

Sensei Tenchi turned around fully to look at Master David.

"I truly think you do not know how much you mean to us. You have given us so much of yourself but asked so little. We know what is at stake today and for the future. We want the same things you do. That is why we chose to follow you in the first place.

"We realize that we could never do what you have done or will do without you. We are good soldiers, and some of us are decent leaders, but our cause revolves around you.

"Today we have to protect you and get you to safety so that tomorrow you can start taking our planet back for us. Some of us will die doing so. We acknowledge and accept that reality and the personal risk. I had to turn away hundreds of volunteers who wanted to be here with us right now even knowing the penalty for failure would be certain death."

Zubin nodded his head in agreement as he pulled the Hummer out into traffic and headed in the opposite direction the limousine had gone.

"So sit back and relax while we get you out of here!"

"What about the furs in the limousine?" Master David asked with single-minded determination. "I thought I made it clear after the warehouse that I do not like furs dying needlessly. I want living survivors when we are done, not more martyrs!"

Sensei Tenchi sighed.

"They are heading for the spaceport, but they are taking a route that will lead them past a stretch of fairly deserted highway with plenty of cover on both sides. Crews took out several monitors in the area to create dead zones. In one of those dead zones they will slow down the car, jump out, and make their way to safety. We have more operatives nearby to take them to safety."

"And if they do not make it that far?"

"The car is packed with explosives. They are tied to two remote control detonators. Your stand-in has one. Either they will be detonated at the spaceport entrance when the car is fired upon because it refuses to stop, or they will be detonated when the car is stopped by the police along its route. Regardless, it will likely take a fair number of officers with it and spread uncertainty and confusion about your whereabouts and health for at least an hour. In that time we can get you safely to your new hidden den."

Master David leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms in anger. His lips were set in a frown and his eyes glinted with barely contained rage. Marla saw Kayla slip her paw into his and squeeze. Gradually Master David's anger ebbed to resignation that there was nothing he could do to stop the plan his subordinates had set in motion without his knowledge.

The three Hummers moved quickly through the city traffic. Apparently Zubin had given the other drivers their driver's education because all three drove with the reckless abandon of a harried cab driver trying to make another fare. Throughout it all they somehow managed to stay together in a small convoy.

The three Hummers left the city behind after a tense half hour of driving and headed west into the low hills at the edge of the city. The furs listened as the police found and tracked the limousine. As the police tried to converge on the rapidly moving car they lost contact for several seconds. When it reappeared it was on a direct course for the spaceport.

Sensei Tenchi listened intently to a communicator in his ear. After several seconds he said, "They made it out. The police are blowing right past them. Apparently they do not know our people are there."

A few minutes later the liger added, "Three furs just got picked up and are safely away."

"Good!" Master David said with some heat. He was still upset over the three taking the place of them. At least they would not die this day.

Just as they reached the hills on the outskirts of the capital's exurbs the limousine came under fire from the spaceport security forces. They listened as it sped up and rammed into the gate the security commander had ordered closed. There was a burst of static.

The radio crackled with reports from other units that there had been a tremendous explosion that had destroyed the security gate and the attached guard positions. Apparently the death and destruction were enormous and included the security commander. They never heard his voice again.

The convoy turned off the main road and headed up a short private road. At the far end was a small ring of hills. In the center was a private spaceport.

"Won't the government be sending troops to check out your spaceport, David?" Marla asked anxiously.

"If it was mine, they would be. It is actually owned by a rival who is one of my undercover supporters. She built a small spaceport for her import-export business fifteen years ago, and we have been covertly using it for some time. It was recently insured against terrorist attacks and civil unrest, so she will make out well when we destroy it."

"Destroy it?" Marla asked in surprise.

"Yes, destroy it. Any spaceport could be used by the military as a base of operations or for the ongoing rebuilding of the space station that The Brethren destroyed a few years ago. I plan to deny them use of this facility."

The Hummers pulled into a secured garage inside the main building. The security door closed behind them. Marla professionally noted the two dozen heavily armed furs in battle armor patrolling the interior. They all had the look of trained veterans.

Master David got out and assisted Kayla and Marla down from the cabin. He looked around and pointed at one of the guard officers. The middle-aged bear ran over to Master David and saluted.

"Are the others here yet?" he asked.

"Yes, Sir. You are the last ones in. We are getting ready to disperse now. Everything is ready to fly or drive out of here at a moment's notice, Sir."

"Good. I will need about twenty minutes for family matters. Let me know if anything comes up before then. We will cut the personal part of today short if the Government decides to crash our little party."

Marla was only half paying attention to what Master David was saying. She was mainly watching the lion and tigress that she had seen behind Sensei Tenchi as they approached. They paused long enough to exchange hugs with Sensei Tenchi before taking up positions behind Master David and his pack mates. They said nothing, but the look and their carriage made it clear that no Government fur would pass them so long as they were alive. The wolfess had no trouble spotting the similarities not only of physical traits but bearing and character shared by Sensei Tenchi and his parents.

Marla gave the two felines a quick smile. Despite their dour appearance, they gave her a quick smile and nod in response. She knew that they knew who she was and her true relationship to both Master David and Sensei Tenchi. The smiles and accompanying nods gave her the indication that they approved of the wolfess. For some reason, that made Marla happy.

Master David turned to Marla and Kayla and said, "Come with me."

Master David led the two femfurs out a side door and towards the front of the building. The décor turned from utilitarian to chic rich with ornate wood and modern art as they passed the final door and entered the lobby. The area apparently served the dual purposes of corporate reception area and passenger waiting area. Cushy chairs, communication screens, and tables filled the waiting area. The back wall had a small kitchenette with a variety of foods and beverages. To Marla's far right was a reception desk that also doubled as a check-in for those leaving through the spaceport. Beside it on Marla's right were ornate doors leading back to the waiting spaceships.

Across from Marla, the two-story tall wall of thick glass on the outside wall was frosted over as somefur had turned on the LCD panels embedded within the glass. To her left were several large tables that could be used for meetings and small group discussions. They were surrounded by various works of art. On the left wall was a large conference screen. The screen was displaying a newsroom to the group of otters sitting anxiously at the table before it.

"-just in. The Elysium government has filed formal charges against David Wolf, principal owner of Wolf Enterprises. The charges include sedition, fomenting rebellion against the Government, inciting civil unrest, piracy and sabotage. According to the charges, Mr. Wolf has been actively supporting several rebel groups with money and arms. He is listed as the leader of the Red faction and is allegedly responsible for the attacks on five of his own factories engaged in production of weapons for the Elysium Navy and other unspecified Government agencies."

"Probably the only thing they got right," Master David said in a gruff undertone as the newscast continued.

"There are over five hundred counts of murder related to that incident. He is currently on the run with his whereabouts unknown. The Government has an all-points bulletin out for him, and the Governmetn has offered a ten thousand credit reward for any information leading to his arrest. Unnamed sources report that the Government has also issued death warrants for his slaves and several others, but the Government has not confirmed this information yet. If this is true, this will be the first death warrants issued since the Red Slayer serial killer three decades ago and the first for any slaves.

"In other news, several large consumer and commercial banks are suddenly suffering cash problems as large amounts of their assets are abruptly being shifted to other banks. Several depositors, uncertain of the security of their money, are demanding their deposits to be given to them in cash. Some of the branches are refusing to give the depositors their full savings citing a lack of cash on hand. Some of the furs looking to get their money are starting to get angry. The situation could turn ugly soon.

"We go live now to-"

"It looks like my last gambit is starting to bear fruit," Master David said drily. "Things are not going to be pleasant for the Government tonight.

The otters turned to see who was speaking. One female jumped up and yelled, "Kayla!"

"Mother!"

Kayla and her mother ran into each other's arms. They hugged and embraced. Kayla half turned her head and cried, "Father!"

A middle-aged male otter took his mate and daughter into his arms and hugged them both.

The rest of Kayla's family gathered around the three. Kayla rapidly moved from one to the next as she greeted her sisters and the rest of her extended family with powerful embraces. Her eyes were wet with tears of joy.

"We were so worried about you!" Marla heard Kayla's mother say.

"I was worried about you too," Kayla said around several otter kisses. "I didn't know you would be here tonight! What happened?"

"After they tried to abduct you we got moved to a safe house. We've been living there for the past week or so. Late this afternoon they brought us here under heavy guard. We were told we were going to wait for someone to come and then be taken somewhere else where we would be safe.

"We never thought it was going to be you and your wolf!"

Kayla's mother looked over at Marla and Master David.

"Or your other friend.

"Now tell us what happened to you! We thought for sure we were never going to see you again-"

Kayla's mother took the otteress by the right elbow and pulled her into her family raft. Kayla give Marla and Master David a quick apologetic look before burying her head in the huddle of otters and begin telling the tale of her last few days.

Marla stood and watched her friend's reunion with her family for several moments. Her own eyes were a bit damp as she saw the happiness in the otters' every movement and word.

Master David put his paws on Marla's shoulders and quietly said, "Marla, there is someone else here who would like to see you as well."

Master David turned Marla towards the right. Sitting alone and almost hidden in one of the overstuffed chairs to one side was a single old male wolf. His blue eyes were still bright, but his coat had gone totally white from age, and he slumped in his chair.

Marla's body stiffened. She recognized the elder wolf even though she had not seen him since her eighteenth birthday. It was her father's father.

The male painfully got to his feet and walked the thirty feet or so to Marla and Master David. He stood in front of the pair. He pulled himself together and straightened his body.

"Marla," he greeted her.

"YOU!" she spat out at the old wolf. Her voice was laced with hatred and anger. His shoulders sank, and he had to look away from the rage burning in her eyes.

"Marla, before you say or do anything else, please, hear him out," Master David quietly but insistently beseeched her.

Marla nearly shot back an angry retort, but managed to swallow it. She turned her head and said, "For your sake, and only for your sake, I will listen to this... fur."

The white furred wolf cringed at the vitriol in her voice, but he said, "I guess I deserve that from you, Marla. Still, I had hoped..."

Marla continued to stare at the elder fur. Master David massaged her shoulders and quietly whispered into her ear, "Listen to him. You don't know the whole story or even a quarter of it."

Marla took several deep breaths.

"Very well. What story do you have to tell me?"

Marla's grandfather pulled himself together again and stood before the still mad femfur.

"You know that there was a problem within the pack with money. Supposedly, your parents, while alphas, spent large amounts on you."

"That's not true!" Marla interrupted.

"Yes, I know," the old wolf replied. "But at the time that was what we were told.

"Their excess supposedly led our pack into fiscal ruin. We had to get more money somehow. The new alphas, your uncle and his mate, came to the elders and the adults and told us that the only way we could make up the debt we now owed the Government was to give them something they wanted - a young slave for the Academy.

"We protested. We thought it was wrong to give up any of our pack members to such a fate. We were a pack! We lived, prospered and suffered together.

"Your uncle was adamant that we needed to sell a pack member. He managed to convince a few of the adult omegas that he was right. That started the problems. Soon I and the others against your uncle were fighting over who would be sent, not if we would send anyone. I and several of the other elders offered ourselves instead."

"You," Marla asked in wonder, "offered to go in my place?"

Marla had certainly never known of this turn of events or the offer of the elders of her pack. It was essentially suicidal on their part. They would have died quickly under the weight of slavery at their age.

"I, your granddam and your two grandaunts alive at the time," Marla's grandsire confirmed. "We all wanted to go instead of one of our younger wolves.

"Our lives were largely lived. We knew we could not bring much, but perhaps together we could bring enough to spare some young fur from the Academy or worse. We were, after all, members of the same pack and had to stick up for each other.

"Your uncle cut the debate short by announcing he had already made the decision as alpha male for the good of the pack to send you to the Academy and that you had been taken there an hour before the meeting."

Silence sat heavy between the two furs. Master David continued to gently massage Marla's very tense shoulders.

"Do you mean," Marla asked, "that my uncle, the alpha male, sent me into slavery without the consent or knowledge of the pack?"

The white furred wolf looked Marla directly in the eyes and said, "Yes, he did."

"Why would he do such a thing?" Marla practically wailed.

"We found out most of the truth later.

"You never knew how much your father and uncle competed growing up. Your father was always just a little faster, just a little stronger, and just a little smarter. He became alpha, but your uncle was a very close second. He seemed to fall into the beta male position once the decision was made. He was even allowed to mate and have young.

"We all thought he was happy with the situation.

"Then your parents died in the vehicular accident. Your uncle moved from beta to alpha overnight.

"At first things seemed to just continue on as before. There were a few small shifts in the pack, but nothing major. You went from a young alpha to a young omega, but you seemed to take the demotion well. I lobbied hard to get you raised to beta, but they wanted to let you earn that position. Ultimately I decided to have faith in you and let the matter stand.

"In retrospect, that was a bad mistake.

"Later we were told of our increasingly bad financial problems. At first we thought it was the stock market. Then we blamed the accountants. Finally your uncle said it was your father's fault, and he started to show us all sorts of extravagant bills for things your father supposedly bought you.

"Most of us knew the bills were false, but some believed him. Enough were weak minded enough to be turned against you.

"When your uncle announced your departure the elders demanded your immediate return. Your uncle said no, and called for a vote of confidence in the elders. He had influenced enough to have us voted down.

"Our pack's four elders left our pack the next morning.

"I went to the Academy and met your Head Mistress. She was a most disagreeable fur. Still, I tried to get your freedom. As you can guess, I was unsuccessful."

Marla stared at her grandsire in wonder. The Head Mistress was a terrible fur and yet this frail old male had gone into her inner sanctum to try to rescue Marla from the clutches of the Academy. That had taken both real courage and great love of her.

"After that we drifted. Without a pack and without financial resources we were homeless, poor and hungry most of the time. We were too old to be taken as slaves, so we were mostly ignored.

"Your grandaunts died the first winter. Your granddam and I managed to survive somehow.

"Two years after you were sold some very large furs came looking for us. We ran, but they caught us easily. We thought they were going to kill us, but instead they took us to see a fur we had never met.

"Your Master."

Marla looked around at her Master in surprise.

"I was looking for you," Master David explained, "and the rest of your classmates. I could not find you by normal means, so I started to look up your family. We got lucky and found your grandparents."

"Your Master David," the wolf continued, "asked us about you and if we knew where to find you.

"We told him what had happened. He let us know that the pack had fallen apart in infighting and internal discord after we left and had dispersed."

Marla's grandfather paused.

"I was not surprised, but it saddened me to hear that our pack had sunk so low."

"It appears," Master David supplied, "that the pack found out that your uncle had a vendetta against your father and that he had lied badly about what was happening. The excesses were his, not your father's. The death of your parents may well have been his doing as well."

Marla's world reeled. Her uncle had killed her parents?

"Are you sure?" she asked in shock.

"No. That is why I have refrained from saying anything before this. The reports were inconclusive, but there might have been tampering with the car. It was crushed and sold for scrap by your uncle shortly after it was returned to your pack.

"It may well have been a normal act given the extensive damage to the vehicle and the loss of your father and mother in It by a grieving brother, but it prevented us from assessing the truth of the police forensics report.

"As for your pack, they turned on your uncle when the truth came out about a month after you were sold to the brothel. Most married into other packs or found friendly packs to take them in quickly. Some disappeared. Your uncle and his immediate family disappeared into thin air.

"I think they were taken as slaves. If so, it was a fitting irony. They might have been killed a well. There were reports of several known gangsters and loan sharks looking for them shortly before their disappearances."

Marla's grandfather continued, "There is another reason it may have been murder. You were supposed to be in that car as well. With your death all of your father's line would be dead. We never thought of that then, but later..."

Marla's grandsire looked away for several moments before continuing.

"Your Master gave me and my mate food and shelter. He employed us as 'consultants', but we did very little for him. Mainly he gave us charity in our final days.

"Your granddam passed away a year ago. I was close to following her in grief until I learned of your purchase.

"I wanted to see you so badly and hold you, but anyone close to Mr. Wolf, especially family, was a prime target for the government. Instead I had to watch and wait and hope that I would not die without seeing you again."

The white wolf sighed heavily and stared at the floor.

"I wanted to do one last thing before I passed on. I wanted to tell you how very sorry I am that I failed you and to ask you for your forgiveness."

The old wolf raised his head. He still had the dignity about him of a pack elder, but his eyes glistened from unwept tears.

"Marla, can you ever forgive me?" he asked in a quavering voice. The love of her and his utter fear at her rejection were painfully evident in his voice and face.

Marla had always assumed her pack had approved her sale. She had never questioned why she had been taken to the Academy by her uncle and not allowed to say goodbye to her family and pack. Omegas never questioned the actions of alphas, no matter how much they hurt. Until she had come to her present pack that was just the way it was.

Now she knew it was all because of the bitter envy, perhaps even homicidal hatred, which her uncle had for her father. All the suffering she had gone through was only because he could not allow the last remaining bit of her father's family to exist within the pack. While most of the pack might be culpable in his actions towards her, this old male and three others had stood against her uncle and for her. It had cost two of them their lives and likely shortened the lives of her grandmother and grandfather.

Marla had always wondered what she would do if she ever met any of her original pack mates again. At the Academy she had raged against her pack for what they had done to her throughout the first month before she started making friends with Trouble, Kayla and the rest. She had thought how much she wanted to punish them as she was being punished by the guards and instructors.

Later she had mellowed into acceptance of her fate aided by the thought that she had at least been able to help her pack continue to exist. It hurt to know that her assumption was wrong, but back then it and her friends had gotten her through many bad situations at the Academy.

Now she was confronted by her grandsire, the father of her father as well as her uncle, and the truth. The anger she had always thought she had towards him was replaced by the memories of him playing with her as a pup, comforting her at her parents funeral and otherwise loving her. Of all the pack members, he had been the closest to her. Furthermore, he had stood for her even at the cost of his place in the pack, and he had come to the Academy to confront the Head Mistress and seek her release.

Now he stood before her asking her forgiveness, and, in truth, her judgment of his worth.

Marla could not stay angry at him no matter what had happened to her since she had last seen him.

"Grandsire," she said and opened her arms wide.

The two wolves, old male and young female, embraced and shared tears. No words needed to be spoken. It was enough that Marla had called him kin again.

Master David cleared his throat loudly. The pile of otters and the two wolves looked at him.

"I am sorry to break up your reunions, but the Government will likely find us here soon, and we have something very important to take care of before we leave here.

"Marla. Kayla. If you would?"

Master David extended a paw to each. They willingly came to him and took his paws.

"Tenchi, I think you know where the chapel is..."

Sensei Tenchi and his parents led the furs down a short corridor that connected the lobby to the heart of the spaceport. At the end of the hallway were the blast doors that separated the main building from the space docks. To the left were two nondescript doors. Like all spaceports, this one had a small nondenominational chapel for those who felt the need to pray or meditate before leaving the planet, perhaps for the last time.

Sensei Tenchi's parents opened the doors to the chapel. They took a quick look inside before allowing the others to enter. Even in this protected space they were still keeping guard over Master David and the others.

Master David led the procession into the chapel. He went to the front where the small altar was located on a low riser. He took with him Marla's grandsire. Marla took a seat in the front row to the right of the center aisle. Sensei Tenchi and Zubin flanked her. Kayla's family took up most of the seats on the left side of the aisle. Coshocton and Jenna sat behind Marla. Only Sensei Tenchi's parents remained standing at the back of the chapel. They flanked the doors as guards in case any tried to interrupt.

Once the furs were settled, Master David turned to Kayla.

"You have always had the right to your freedom," he began, "since you were bought by me. In truth, I never considered you anything but a free female. However, having you appear to be a slave gave you some protections that I thought you needed.

"Now that we know those protections no longer apply, I see no reason to continue the charade."

Master David reached behind Kayla's neck. He undid her collar and handed it to the otteress.

"I give you your freedoms. I filled the paperwork electronically when we bolted. I doubt the government will recognize it as legal, but I wanted to at least make a token effort.

"I also filed it off-planet, so many other governments and planets where slavery still exists will recognize your freedom hopefully."

Master David sank to his knees. He looked up at Kayla.

"We wolves have a ceremony that is less than a marriage or betrothal but more than a simple promise. In it we declare our intent to marry another before our pack elders even though we know that we will be gone from each other for some time. It was commonly used when we went to war in the past."

Master David reached up and took the paws of his lover and mate.

"Kayla, before all assembled here and with Marla's pack elder as our witness, I declare my intention to marry you.

"Do you accept my declaration?"

"Yes!" the otteress replied enthusiastically.

A small box appeared form his pocket. Marla almost gasped when he pulled out the engagement ring she had seen once before. The black wolf slipped it onto Kayla's finger. He stood and kissed her. It was to be a chaste kiss simply to seal his promise, but Kayla was having nothing to do with it. She grabbed his ears, pulled him close and kissed him passionately for well over ten seconds. When they separated he was breathing a bit raggedly.

"If you think that was good," Kayla said with a wink and a leer, "just wait until I kiss you at our wedding!"

All the furs laughed at her quip.

"Now go sit down while I take care of something else."

"Yes, Dear," Master David said meekly. He was smiling broadly, though.

Master David sat down on the other side of Zubin. Marla was wondering what else the otteress had to say or do.

Kayla looked directly at her parents.

"Mother. Father. You know I went through a lot. Most of it you do not know about. What you do know about..."

Kayla ducked her head for a moment.

"Well, it is best not to dwell on that.

"One thing you do know is that I made some very, very special friends. The ones at the Academy kept me not only sane but alive with their help.

"We forged a very special bond. It went way past camaraderie against the perverse sexual acts, physical abuses and hardships we endured together. It became true love. I still intend to marry my former Master because I truly, truly love him, and I plan to bear him many pups in the future. I may have even started that over the last few days."

Kayla's announcement of her possible pregnancy brought a few gasps from her family, but Marla also saw many smiles.

"But Marla means as much to me as him, and I intend to marry her as well."

It was harder to tell if Marla or Kayla's parents were more shocked by the otteress' declaration.

"I love her," Kayla explained. "She is closer to me than a sister. I do not want to lose her again. I want her to be part of my life as my pack mate and more.

"Please try to understand."

The last words were a plea to Kayla's parents. Marla turned to look at the couple.

The two otters looked at each other. There was obvious shock in their faces. They had never thought of Kayla as a lesbian or even bisexual. They turned to look at Marla. The wolfess swallowed as they contemplated her. Fortunately all the wolfess saw was surprise, not anger or disgust.

Kayla's father whispered something to his mate. She nodded once. Together they stood and looked at Kayla as she stood beside the altar looking distraught.

"This is not about your sexual orientation, is it?"

"No. not really.

"I will not lie to you. We have had sex, and not just when we were at the Academy and were forced to do so. Both of us like to express our love of each other and our alpha male very physically.

"But, at its heart, our love is much, much deeper than mere sex acts. We truly love each other at a much more complex, much more spiritual level."

"We thought so, but we needed to ask," Kayla's mother said.

"Kayla," her father said, "if you wish to marry Marla as well as David Wolf, while we are surprised at your choice, we will not stand in your way.

"We give you both our blessings."

Marla blinked several times in surprise at being included in the otters' blessing. The looks that both gave her, while hesitant and somewhat uncertain, were warm. The rest of the family were also surprised, even shocked, but they were giving her positive looks as well.

Kayla positively beamed at her parents.

"Thank you!" she chirped before turning to Marla.

"Marla, would you please come here?"

Marla felt a wolverine and a liger paw pushing her up out of her seat and forward. She hesitantly took a few steps forward until she stood beside Kayla.

Marla glanced at her grandsire. He seemed to be in as much shock as everyone else, but she also saw approval in his eyes. This might not be his first choice, but he realized the love that the otteress shared with his granddaughter. There was a look of speculation and a question in his expression as well. She could tell that he was wondering if she would accept the otteress' offer.

Kayla went down on her knees much as Master David had done a few moments before.

"Marla, we had intended when we saw the love blossoming between you and Mike to have him here instead of me. He would have made a great mate for you. As our pack mates, you would have been close to me, and I would have been able to continue my love of you along with the rest of my pack mates. I wanted so much for things to work out between you two because I loved him as well.

"That will not happen, but I hope you can live with me instead.

"I do truly love you, not only in the sexual sense but in the truest meaning of the word. You were with me at the Academy. You made me survive. Because of that I found my other mate.

"When you came back into my life again, I found how much I had missed you and the others. I was so glad when you first chose to stay and then become our pack mate. You showed how important I was to you by becoming my bodyguard.

"And then the worst possible thing happened. Mike was killed, and you were captured while I escaped. I feared that I would never see you alive again. When I saw you come aboard the transport, I was sure you were going to die. It hurt more than I could have imagined.

"When you recovered, I pledged to myself that I would never let you leave me again if I had any say in it.

"Tonight I want to make that pledge formal. David knows my feelings towards you, and he approves of our union even if it is unusual. And yes, he considers you his mate as well in all the ways that matter. Your decision to try to bear his pups as well to continue his line was just one more reason why he loves you."

Marla's grandsire interrupted for a moment to ask, "Marla, are you pregnant?"

Marla found herself blushing a bit

"I don't know. We were trying hard the past few days, but... It was only a few tries, and I might not be, but I hope I am."

Her words brought a smile to the old white wolf's muzzle and eyes. The prospects of great-grandpups brightened his mood even more.

Marla turned her head back to the otteress kneeling before her.

"Marla, I love you. I want you in my life forever. Will you consent someday to marry me?"

Marla looked down and smiled. There was no hesitation in her reply.

"We are, for all practical purposes, already married. Anything we do now or in the future is just a formality.

"So, yes, I accept your pledge today."

Kayla positively beamed. She had been very uncertain how the wolfess would react to a proposal of marriage from another female, especially one that was, at best, reluctantly bisexual. Marla knew the true depths of her love and how little it was based upon the sexual encounters they shared together.

Kayla took the engagement ring from her paw and slid it over Marla's ring finger. The wolfess gasped in surprise.

"But that's yours!" she cried out in shock.

"No, it is ours. Just like everything else in our lives, now and in the future.

"You got the short end of the stick after the Academy. I hope to make that up to you in the future, starting right now."

Kayla stood and kissed Marla. Her kiss was just as long and passionate as the one she had given Master David. When she broke the kiss, Kayla added, "And that is a promise I will keep!"

Kayla took Marla's paw and led her to seats beside Master David. Kayla took the center position, but she held the paws of both her mates.

Marla's grandsire cleared his throat to regain the attention of the assembled furs.

"Let it be known that these two couples tonight have pledged their love of each other and their intent to seek betrothal and marriage in the future when it becomes possible. For now they must separate and go different ways. Hopefully their paths will come together again. Until such time as that happens, may they remain faithful to their promises made today and each other.

"Do all here so witness these pledges?"

A chorus of "Ayes!" filled the chapel.

Marla's grandsire raised his arms in benediction. In a surprisingly strong and deep voice he said, "Go forth from this place and do what must be done to bring these three back together as quickly as possible by ending the tyranny of the Government and slavery upon Elysium."

He lowered his arms and ended the ceremony. Pandemonium broke out.

The three furs were mobbed by otters and the rest of the furs in the chapel with the exception of Sensei Tenchi's parents. Marla caught them watching her and her mates very closely, and they had large open smiles on their muzzles. There were also dreamy looks in their eyes that told Marla that they were remembering their own betrothal.

The females swarmed over Kayla and Marla and congratulated them. Zubin and Tenchi took Master David to one side with the assistance of the otter males. Marla wondered why the insides of Master David's ears turned red when Kayla's father said something to him.

Kayla's mother finally managed to work her way in front of Kayla and Marla. She looked from one to the other.

"I have to say that I am surprised," the older otteress said as she looked from one femfur to the other. "You are going to be my first lesbian couple of daughters, and I certainly never expected to have any, let alone Kayla. I guess it just goes to show how much the Academy can pervert a normal fur.

"Not that it really matters. All that matters is your love and your happiness."

Kayla's mother took Marla in her arms and hugged her warmly.

"Welcome to the family. With all we heard you did for Kayla, you have earned our eternal gratitude and love, now and forever."

The otteress broke her hug and took a step back. She wagged a finger in Marla's face.

"But, if you ever do anything like what happened at Valentia's again, I am going to put you over my knee and give you a good spanking!"

All the femfurs, including Marla, laughed. The true feelings of Kayla's family came through to her loud and clear. She suddenly realized that she not only belonged to two packs but a raft of otters as well. She looked across the room to her grandsire who was talking with Master David and realized that she even had a remnant of her original pack with her as well. All of them loved her, and all of them embraced her wholeheartedly. It dawned on her as she stood there that she would never be alone without family again ever in her life.

Unfortunately the time together had to come to an end far too soon.

Master David slid up beside Marla and Kayla.

"Time to go," he said softly.

Kayla and Marla put on their bravest face. They knew it had to be this way, and complaining or begging would only make it harder for all three. They allowed Master David to take their paws and lead them out of the chapel. They said goodbye to the rest of the assembled furs before Master David led them through the blast doors. The other furs dispersed to the waiting ships in the docks, airships on the roof and ground vehicles waiting in the inside parking garage.

Marla said a special goodbye to her grandsire before he disappeared with several other furs including several of the guards down a gangplank to a waiting tramp freighter.

The three furs continued down the row of ships until they reached the last one. A small nondescript ship that had seen better days was waiting at the final docking bay. It was large enough for four or five furs, but it would only be carrying two today.

The ferret from the vidscreen waited with two large bags at the entrance to the ship.

"Per your instructions, Sir," the nameless ferret said and handed the bags over to Master David. He bowed to Kayla and Marla and left quickly to catch his ride out of the spaceport to safety.

Master David handed the bags to Kayla and Marla.

"This should tide you over for the rest of your lives with a little bit of smart investing and some frugality. If you can get to my offworld accounts, you and, I hope, our children will live very well indeed. Now we need to get you offworld."

Master David assisted the two femfurs into the cabin. He helped them into their acceleration couches.

"After I leave, punch in a number from one to twelve," Master David instructed Kayla. "The automatic pilot will take over then. At the other end will be a planet with no slavery and no extradition treaties with Elysium. One of my agents will be waiting there for you. They will secretly transfer you to another planet. I would not put it past the Elysium government to try a covert raid to capture you. There will be several largely random transfers under various aliases that will lead you to your final destination.

"The rest of Canaria Pack as well as certain others are doing the same thing. If everything goes well, all of you will be together in a quiet little suburb of a slavery-free planet in about three months."

"Where are we going?" Kayla asked.

"I do not know. When you enter the number, it will start the chain of events that will determine where you and everyone else will end up. Since no one here will know what you entered, the Government will not be able to find out where you are from us if we are captured.

"After the civil war is over, you will have to come back on your own. I will not be able to come to you since I will have no clue where you are.

"If I do not make it, do what is best for our children," Master David finished.

Master David kissed first Marla and then Kayla. It was a quick kiss, but filled with passion, longing and love. Both femfurs committed it to a very special place in their memories.

"Two last things that may help you if things do not go as planned or pirates attack you.

"Trouble and Zassa are with The Brethren, the space pirates I support. Trouble is owned and essentially mated to their leader. She should be able to help you, and the lion owes me a lot. His owner and my mother were cousins, so you can claim a pseudo-relationship to him as well.

"I am not as sure about Jenny, but she appears to have gone off-planet as a diplomatic pouch bound for Haven. Haven is not a good place for most furs not from there. Unlike us, they can turn feral at will, and they do not like outsiders in general. I have not been able to find out if she is truly there to not because of that. If she went out with a diplomat, she is okay. If she did not, hopefully she is somewhere else safe.

"I am sorry that I could not tell you what I knew about your friends, but I need to protect them as well as you. What you did not know could not hurt them if you were taken by the Government. Now the knowledge may help you if you run into problems.

"I have to go now. As soon as I close the hatch, start the launch sequence. We will be running before you clear the tower."

Master David turned away, but not before the femfurs saw the tears in his eyes. They knew this could be their last time together for some time, maybe even forever. He practically ran from the cabin. The hatch closed, and they were alone.

Marla heard Kayla sob just before she did. With their mate gone, they no longer had to put up a false pretense of calm and certainty.

"What now?" Marla asked Kayla around her crying. Tears ran down the sides of her face into her hair as she lay in the acceleration couch

"We do the only thing we can," Kayla replied. "We punch in a number. But which one?"

Marla thought for a moment.

"There are two of us on the ship..." she began tentatively.

"Four. We have to believe there are four until we learn otherwise."

"Plus the one we love..."

"Makes five!"

Kayla punched in 5 on the keypad and hit ENTER. The ship came to life, and a display showed a ten minute countdown beginning. Neither fur had the slightest idea what to do, so they lay back and tried to relax.

"I wish Trouble was here right now," Marla growled. "She would know what the heck was going on."

"Or Zassa. She traveled quite a bit."

In the exterior monitors the femfurs saw the other ships lift one by one as they waited their turn. They could only hope that all would safely make port somewhere far from Elysium.

In the garage Master David was talking with Zubin.

"Are the charges set?"

"Yes, Sir! Ten minutes after the last ship lifts the place goes up. There should be nothing left standing."

"And the failsafes?"

"In place. If anything goes wrong we can still stop the charges from detonating up to the last second."

"Okay."

Master David raised his voice.

"Everyone! Mount up! We're leaving!"

The guards and others left at the spaceport scrambled to their transports. Master David stood on the passenger-side running board of the Hummer and watched. He glanced inside at Sensei Tenchi and asked, "Is everyone accounted for?"

"Affirmative. We are not leaving anyfur behind by accident."

"What about our air support?"

"Ready to launch as soon as we open the doors."

Master David looked at Coshocton in the back seat.

"Any police on their way yet?"

"Negative!" the bobcat responded. "They are still distracted by the spaceport feint. We should have a clear road out of here."

"Then let's go!" Master David said as he slid into the back seat beside Coshocton. Jenna followed him in and closed the door. It was a tight fit, but Master David did not mind.

The lead transport, a non-descript delivery truck, pulled up to the armored doors. A guard riding the running board and hanging onto the outside of the cab dropped off and pushed a button beside the door. As the door started to open he rolled underneath it and popped up outside with his weapon drawn.

"All clear!" the convoy heard from their scout over the comlink.

The convoy sprang to life. One after another the various vehicles sped out of the garage and down the road. The Hummers carrying Master David and the commanders of his underground forces were in the middle. The last truck paused only long enough for the scout to mount up before roaring away from the doomed spaceport.

Behind the convoy the last of the ships were launching. As the Hummers turned onto the main road Master David looked back and waited for the final craft which carried those he loved most in this world and perhaps his progeny to launch. Sensei Tenchi and Zubin exchanged a glance. Zubin touched the radio, and a song began to fill the cabin of the Hummer.

"We thought this might help you since music is so special to you," Sensei Tenchi said in explanation as Master David glanced at the wolverine and liger.

A hundred days have made me older

Since the last time that I saw your pretty face

A thousand lies have made me colder

And I don't think I can look at this the same

But all the miles that separate

Disappear now when I'm dreaming of your face

I'm here without you baby

But you're still on my lonely mind

I think about you baby

And I dream about you all the time

I'm here without you baby

But you're still with me in my dreams

And tonight it's only you and me

The miles just keep rollin'

As the people leave their way to say hello

I've heard this life is overrated

But I hope that it gets better as we go

I'm here without you baby

But you're still on my lonely mind

I think about you baby

And I dream about you all the time

I'm here without you baby

But you're still with me in my dreams

And tonight girl its only you and me

Everything I know, and anywhere I go

It gets hard but it won't take away my love

And when the last one falls

When it's all said and done

It gets hard but it won't take away my love

I'm here without you baby

But you're still on my lonely mind

I think about you baby

And I dream about you all the time

I'm here without you baby

But you're still with me in my dreams

And tonight girl its only you and me

"They'll be back, Lord David," Sensei Tenchi said quietly as they watched the craft carrying Kayla and Marla lift into the pale blue sky.

"And they and your children will never have to fear slavery or the Government ever again."

Master David gave a wan smile and replied, "At least that's the plan."

Onboard the spacecraft Marla and Kayla were pressed back into their acceleration couches as the ship rose from the spaceport and headed for the vacuum of space.

One of the screens showed a high resolution image of the spaceport beneath them. Both furs watched several aircraft and ground vehicles on the road to the spaceport. They knew that their beloved was inside the middle Hummer of the convoy. They kept a close eye on it as it made its way towards the highway.

The convoy paused at the end of the spaceport access road. A few seconds later several large explosions rocked the spaceport. Secondary fires erupted as the pressurized fuel lines ruptured and spewed their contents throughout the spaceport docks. The main storage tanks went a few moments later as the fires raced through the spaceport.

As the spacecraft cleared the atmosphere their view was mostly obscured by the thick smoke from the fires. However, they could just make out the three Hummers heading off across country towards an unknown destination. The rest of the convoy proceeded down the highway but broke up quickly as individual transports and small groups of vehicles took each exit. The two femfurs watched as long as they could see even a hint of movement on the screen. Finally distance and night took their toll, and they had to turn off the screen.

It was almost an hour later that Marla and Kayla stood in the main cabin watching the screen showing Elysium. The spacecraft had automatically responded to several challenges, and they were now cleared for interstellar space, freedom and safety. They were both watching the planet of their birth slowly shrink and disappear.

"Do you think they'll make it?" Marla asked Kayla. It was a great fear she held that their friends and their lover would die soon at the paws of the Elysium Government. The death of Mike only reinforced her fears.

"If anyone can do it, David can do it. He has Sensei Tenchi and the rest to help him as well. I know that he has hundreds and likely thousands of trained troops at his command. Not as many as the Government, but enough to do real damage. He's been planning this for years, maybe decades. He has his support base in place. It is sooner than he wanted, but he always had an out and plans in case things happened.

"I think he can do it," Kayla finished confidently.

Marla looked at her pack mate. She exuded a quiet confidence in Master David that was soothing to Marla. She turned back and watched the crescent of light that was Elysium grow smaller and dimmer. Her right paw slid down to her stomach. Absently she stroked her stomach.

"URK!"

Marla suddenly found her lunch trying to come back up. She covered her muzzle and ran to the head. She bent over the toilet as her stomach unceremoniously sent not only her lunch but most of her breakfast back over the course of several minutes.

Kayla watched and listened. She was surprised that Marla would have space sickness. The ride was steady, and they were under a constant one-gravity acceleration. Kayla's forehead wrinkled in a frown of confusion. Marla might be suffering from nerves, but that did not fit Kayla's conception of her pack mate. She had always been cool in any situation, even their failed escape attempt at the Academy.

Kayla's eyes suddenly grew wide.

"It's not morning!" she yelled in the general direction of the head.

"Try telling that to my stomach!" came a muffled reply from Marla followed immediately by the sound of more retching.

Kayla laughed hard. A great weight was lifted from her. Her pack would continue with David as the sire of the next generation. She just wished it had been her that had carried on the line. She had long known that Marla would be the more likely dam, even with the help of the nanobots. For now, all that mattered was one of them was pregnant.

Kayla suddenly felt a strange stirring in her stomach. She looked down as it rumbled. Her look of confusion was suddenly replaced by one of distress combined with wonder. She covered her muzzle and dove into the head. She barely made it to the toilet before her stomach emptied its contents into the second toilet.

Marla lifted her head and looked at the retching otteress.

"You too?" she asked. The wolfess was smiling even though she looked rather bedraggled.

Kayla just smiled and nodded yes before dropping her head again. Despite her discomfort the otteress wore a big smile at the knowledge that she had conceived her mate's cub.

This time it was Marla's turn to laugh.

"If we are this bad in the evening, I wonder what mornings are going to be like?" the wolfess asked as she waited for her stomach to finish quieting. There was nothing left inside of it.

Kayla actually managed a small laugh.

"Maybe we'll just have 'evening sickness'. Even if we don't, it is going to be worth it!"

Marla shook her head in agreement. She looked down at her belly and wondered about the small life that was just starting there. She stroked her lower abdomen and grinned.

The future was dark and uncertain, but hope burned bright.

--- THE END ---