FSE

Furry search engine

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A cold mechanical female Echoed through the whitish corridors of arkoral covered in natural coral growth and metal panels. Monitors begin to glow and flash and flicker green blue.

"Now activating C.R.S./Type O.S.T./#0001/Designation of individual unit: marduk"

A small tube Hissed open and a golden orange furred figure covered in a green thick jelly like ambiotic fluid fell out of the tube onto the once white floor in a heap and a pained primal Roar. The primal noise of the birth of New sentient life

slowly it stood upright at 5 feet, its foot long ears twitched and swivled at each noise. The long 3 foot powerfull tail that started out from just above its buttocks Whipped about with fury actually impacting and spider webbing the tube's glass front.

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The first thought in his mind.... Pain. the second. Water! now most focused thought in his head. He sniffed the air and followed his nose, His eyes Adjusting in the pale florecent light, He had No idea where he was WHO he was or even WHAT he was. But he knew he SHOULD know this place. A safe place.....

Turning on what he somehow instinctivly KNEW was a source of fresh water, a shining arc with a small ball on the top emptying into a shining metal basin on an elevated surface. As he took a drink He noticed How the water sank Into the basin's drain. He looked below it and watched In wonder as the water flowed through clear plastic pipes. "Th...This is..... A...a-Sink!" he yelled in joy.

The words came to him first slowly. Then it was like a light switched on in his mind. He knew. He knew! what he was, what everything around him was, The technologies around him, It flooded his mind In a millisecond of enlightenment. But his mind Refused to enlighten him As to Where he was Or HOW he got there. He had no memories AT ALL of anything that personally happened to him before leaving the tube.

As he Tried to remember about himself instead he had memories now of a race of tall Hairless pink skinned tailless creatures. He had flashes In his mind of the terror's and the mericals human kind had caused.

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Soon More tubes opened. Two at first. A female and a male like him. He dragged the few over to the basin and splashed some water on them to shake them out of the stupor. He had to be sure they had enough of there facilities to help the others awakening.

He didnt TELL them to help the others, He wasnt to sure they had hit enlightment like him yet, and where pretty much uncapable of speech at the moment, so he just pointed at the tubes and the water spout and glared at the two ottsels he helped.

they nodded in obediance and with fear in there eyes, As they where still Innocent primitive minded creatures, And unlike marduk, Did not understand concepts of what humans called cruelty or kindness .

With that marduk wandered off into the Corridors and halls, slightly content in his mind that he had organized the other two he saved into helping the rest of the Be-tubed beings of the speices.

As he turned into a corridor and exited into the sunlight for the first time, he smiled. It was so , so warm, And bright, A palm tree with a few coconuts swayed in the breeze, The air was so fresh, slightly salty though, and with that took a few broad steps forward.... before tripping flat on his face with a splunt.

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The two took a few drinks of water and both of them Hit the same moment of enlightenment as marduk. Soon more tube's hissed open. The two ottsels locked eyes and nodded. Then began the task of awaking the race.

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"Shell-rot!" Marduk yelled and he heavted himself up and looked at what he tripped on. Marduk's blood ran ice cold at the sight.

A giant 6 foot tall skeleton, Missing its head and left arm. Time and nature's cleanup crew had sloughed and dessicated away all flesh and the sun had bleached the exposed upper right arm bones to a near polished white.

near to it was a small bag and a long black weapon. "shotgun!" marduk instinctivly thought .

A cold sea wind from the north blew by him making him shiver slighty dispite his fur. He then noticed the pants on the skeletons legs.... As he grabbed for them he jumped back and let out a small gasp of surprise.

Thousands of tiny dime sized crabs skuttled out in a swarm from the pants Right past marduk and down into a ventilation grate with a unified sound of "clickity clickity clickity". Marduk grabed the pants again and shook out any remaining "dime crabs"

He put on the pants. And began to gnaw away at the left-over faberic to shorten it to his size. He then noticed the ribcage of the skeleton had on a heavy-metal like bluish black vest.

"Armour?" he said aloud to no one but himself as he picked up the vest, the upper torse of the skeleton creature clattering to the floor in a pile of dusty bone and a few dime-crabs. He shook out any remaining bits of bone or dime-crabs & slipped it over his head, On the giant skeleton it wouldnt have offered Much protection. But with a little work reizing the straps It covered most all of marduk's upper body.

Marduk grabbed the shotgun and with the trained skill of a consumate Professional, Unloaded, Checked over, And inspected the weapon gving it a few Dry tries to make sure it hadnt been dessicated by rust. He then reloaded the Three shells and Set the gun down to open the bag, Inside he found 4 more shells, which he promptly loaded. As well as a small trench Combat knife. and a metal round canteen with the word "ARK" embossed into the metal on the bottom

"This is... the ark?" he said to himself as he ran his right index finger across the letters subconsciencely as he spoke the name.

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Marduk filled the canteen from a near by sink, the things seemed to be practically everywhere with the clear plastic pipes running everywhere with everything water, wires, colored natural gasses. He then turned skyward, toward the white tower stabbing into the sky. "Maybe Ill find some explinations" he again spoke aloud to no one.

Afterall something had killed the giant skeleton, something BIGGER then it was, and more powerfull. Unless marduk discovered what that. There was an ever increasing chance he and his speices could be next on the menu

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Marduk had wandered for what seemed like ever. For food he ate the crabs the size of dimes that lived and swarmed on the semi natural coral substance the ark was made from. And refilled his canteen when needed

After what felt like a week atleast of travel (but was only 4 hours) Marduk had arrived. The central command tower of the ark Dead center of the floating island and its most recognizable landmark. Stabbing into a crystal blue sky with a sparkling white lance caused by reflected light off the tower.

As he entered his nostrils filled with smells, the decay and regrowth of arkoral and its attendant ecosystem of creatures. But something wasnt right..

There Where No Larger Creatures alive. The dime-crabs as he called them skuttled this way and that in There regular patterns. but The strange "wall manatas" he had enocuntered floating outside the ark in the sky creaturs with 6 foot diameter wingspan non stinging Rather friendly curious speices that evolved to partially breath air much like a mud skipper And Glide along its membranous wings and air currents to feed on small swarms of dime dime-crabs before going back to sea. Where unseen for the most part, all that was of them where a few, Fresh bloody peices of wing or tail.

Marduk felt VERY ill at ease at this thought. His lower animalise brain lobes began to set of instinctive alarm bells, natural combat and flight drugs began pumping, His ears and eyes and nose, and even fur Sending him reams of information about areas and places of the building he wasnt even focusing on,, or near or even IN.

His forward mind, the calculating human level intelligence made him Grab the shotgun and Pull back the pump to slide a live shell into the gun slowly. Thats right No suddent moves he thought. He slowly looked up, As he did. He found what was looking for him.

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"SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL RRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT"

Marduk screamed as he bolted down another corridor and another, Firing his shotgun blindly behind him as the The loud hissing clattering snap of the monster was a report not to slow down for anything. With each new corridor Marduk slammed the safety precaution doors close but the thing tore through them with ease. Eventually he ran out of shells and dropped the gun and just ran for his life.

But then A problem. He had been chased into a small courtyard with only one way out. & it was blocked by the monster. "seascor" marduk thought of the name himself because it was infact a mutant clone of the ancient creature which once bore the name sea scorpion.

It stood over 6 feet tall. 10 if you included its arched tail. and 13 feet long. A hard shell in a tone simmiler to the dimish arkoral with flecks of blue, Like A scorpion it had multiple eyes though they where compound lensed two giant crushing pincer claws and the arched tail ending in a stinger of some sort. But its legs only where 3 on each side like a lobster, and the sides of its tail had fins, as if to alow it to steer in water.

Marduk swallowed hard... and pulled out the knife... "great" he thought "shell-rotting great, Im alive less then a day and Im about to eaten by the most ugly thing ive seen all day. Well. If Im going to die I'll go out how I came in!"

The Seascor Took a few steps back and snapped its right pincer in a challenging way as if to tell marduk "Your my food give it up and make it easy" Before starting a skuttling charge to marduk's corner of the courtyard.

Marduk lept out the way of the first few claw and tail strikes. But One near graze of the tail distracted him long enough to let the Seascor knock him silly with a backward pincer smack.

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marduk came too he was about Ready to scream. The monster had pinned down his arms with its pincers and was getting ready to enjoy its newest meal.

marduk realized His arms where loose and free, the monster was too big to get a light tight grip on marduk, AND he still had the trench knife in his hand. And whats more so the creature's "eyes" where RIGHT infront of Marduk's face. He seized the chance.

The seascor didnt have even the time to react. The prey had slipped right through its claws as it had it pinned to the ground and was now stabbing wildly with a savage yell at its, eyes. The pain to the seascor was so Unbearable it couldnt fight back. A second later and its mind went black.

the seascor let out a horrific noise.

A death rattle, It lashed left and right stabbing at walls and floors with pincers and tail, Not caring about marduk Just flailing in madness. before 10 seconds later it collapsed in a heap. motionless, lifeless, Deffinently Very Very dead.

Marduk raised an eye brow at this easy victor before cutting open the "eyes" to get a better understanding of the seascor's weakness. It was brains. The creature's brain was contained in that softball sized orb of semi transparent green. Marduk could only guess why nature had taken such a course with the creature. But then again as he thought of it, His speices probably wasnt a natural one either... For that matter, Nothing alive he had seen so far seemed like anything his memory could Recall the natural world making.

Shaken but Not stirred by the ordeal marduk Returned to the "Tubes". But he felt sure THAT what he killed WAS not the only Seascor in exsistance.

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As he continued down streets empty save for litter and blood stains, scraps of armor ammo weapons. the scene of a massecre after the fact or giant violent riot after it just ended was all that could be compared to it.

Marduk picked up an assault rifle. checked the mag, Then scav'ed about the other weapons stripping ammo he could use and filling up magazines till full. the shotgun didnt do shit against the Seascor, and most likely an assault rifle would not Bring one down ether unless he struck the brains directly.

Still forwarned forarmed, and peice of mind is a loaded gun. He had no idea where he heard these quotes however, or who said them, and the ever increasing hole in his understanding worried him dearly.

As he turned the next corner his eyes lit up like a child on christmas morning. A vehical. A half tracked small truck. Marduk Instantly threw his gear in the back of the trucks bed and then went about scav'ing everything. Weapons ammo clothes armor metal water canteens. Marduk also came across alot of bottles of a foul fluid with labels marked "alcho" and small white boxes marked "Cigs" He tasted the contents of the bottle. It stung his tongue and his brain again unlocked new memories. Cigarettes booze drugs. The vices of humankind there effects side effects consequences and rewards filled his mind. He shrugged and began to load those as well into the truck .

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Back at the tubes the then 150 ottsels with more still being freed all turned in the direction they heard the roar come from. Many looked at each other in fear and apprihention. A rather chubby male asked aloud. "where.. where is the first?" Reffering to marduk of course. The first to awake. The second to wake responded "Marduk Left to find answers"

"who is marduk?!" An angry young female yelled, Her tail slamming into the floor in slight rage.

"MARDUK! The first to awake! His name is On his tube!" the third proclaimed loudly.

A gasp. Each ottsel looked at there left arm Each had a sequential 4 digit number on the inner for arm.

"We all have names." the third said With a soft understanding voice. "My name is Sesom" He pointed to his tube. The second spoke "And I am his twin sister Arina"

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A seascor that was skuttling around the outside of the medical facility was getting rather angry. It was too big to just charge in without bringing the roof down on its self. Now Seascor's might be a touch stupid but even they arnt crazy enough to destroy a building for a snack and ruin a shot at a bigger meal. It had decided to Just wait for them to exit, they had to leave eventually...right? and it could probably outlast them... right?

That was the last thing its left most softball sized brain thought before a Loud "KABLAM" Reduced the monster's thoughts to a splattering of green&grey across the whiteish floor.

Again this one too commenced the Death rattle.

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"That one was close!" A rather skinny ottsel yelled as he jumped above the crowd

"what was that Bang before!?" Another asked, "All I heard was that horrible roar!" A third replyed.

"someone must Investigate!"Sesom spoke. He had become the voice of calm reason for the group. Althought it was getting tougher and tougher, More and more tubes opened Automatically And more ottsels where being brought round.

"I shall Go then!" The third who awoke the female One who called her self Arina Had volenteered. She jumped down from the pile of medical crates she and Sesom where standing on, and turned back to the third awakener. "Watch over them brother". and walked out to the exiting corridor. "Be safe my sister" Sesom spoke lowly to himself and prayed to the makers of his race for her saftey.

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It was just about sunset

Marduk had shot the brains out from it from Just round the corner. It was too busy trying to find a way Into the medical bay to notice him. As he scuttled Back to his truck and drove it round the corner he saw a naked female ottsel crouched down beside the Seascor's body poking at it with a metal rod. He gunned the throttle a bit to get her attention. She fell flat on her ass exposing herself for a moment in shock at the sight and sound of the truck and skuttled back into the doorway peering out at him from behind the corner in fear.

"Are..... Are you the first? Are...Are you Marduk?" She asked timmedly. Marduk stopped the halftrack truck infront of the medical doors. He nodded and Crawled into the back area, Tossing the girl a pair of pants and a Half rotted T shirt. "Put it on. fur doesnt help against the sea air hitting your sensitive spots" As if to punctuate his statement a stiff cold seabreeze blew in And made Arina shiver and biefly cover her shame. She quickly put on the clothes gnawing off the pantlength that was unneeded till it was a pair of knee high shorts and gnawing open a tail hole.

"where, have you been? The noises, This beast.. Whats happened marduk" She was displaying true fear. A human mind's understand of fear, fear of not knowing, Not the primitive fear of an animal facing death, but of a thinking mind facing the unknown.

Marduk sighed. and began to toss over as much clotheing and armor and guns and ammo as he could by himself. " Please Take these in, get some help Getting everyone dressed. when we are ready we will begin."

"there are so many though marduk I dont think we will have enough." "We will find a way." His voice was stern yet caring.

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Marduk stood above all the other 999 ottsels on the platform, a little lower to his left and right Sesom and Arina the twins stood behind him like priestess and High vizar. All three where dressed the same as the congrigation of ottsels below them, Old dirty cothles dusty Scared armor. Armory of graffiti covered noly slightly rusted weapons sitting in a pile. "My people as Im sure you must all know by now. We are not.. natural.. We where made by somthing, as was this place... and everything else in it...." Marduk had to stuggle to think of the right thing to say.

"I know your scared, so am I, We are all scared, We dont know our past. but I dont think that should matter. What does matter is that This place. Is our home. And we, Are all family. And what ever is to come, We will face it together. There are things here which are very hostile. Thankfully they seem to rare...."

Marduk explained at length his travels. The dime crabs, the wall manta's and his horrific encounters with the seascor. the strange material the island was made of. Its name, the ark. The strange ecosystem it had developed. And the way its streets and corridors looked like a massive riotous war had taken place.

"It is up to us as a whole. To secure this island and make sure it is safe for our continued habitation. to that end We shall ALL leave this building tomorrow and journy towards the Main tower. I am sure there , We will find the answers we seek."

The crowd all mumbled amongst themselves in approval. "For now we must rest. We have a busy day tomorrow."

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That night Arina Could not sleep. Her dream was filled with images of the seascor chasing her. SHe woke up and saw marduk sitting under a dim light On a table. She quietly walked over to him on all fours bowing her head as she entered the light. She had no clue why she did It just seemed right "Uh marduk?". He opened his eyes and looked down at the voice. It was the female from before. "Your Arina are you not? What is it you want of me?" he held down a paw to help her up onto the counter top.

Arina accepted the paw and climbed up. She sat timidly beside marduk her knees against her chest. He was like a god in the dim light. Sitting eyes closed cross legged Tail across his shoulders. His hand holding his other arm stable as he rested his head in his palm. His mind, she thought, must have been awash in a billion thoughts of the species, how to lead them all. He was the first. In a sense, He was there king.

Marduk opened his eyes and looked at the girl. She blinked and fell back a bit in shock. "What is the matter? cant you sleep" She shook her head "I kept dreaming about that, sea scorpion thing" She sat down and snuggles up in her own tail with a sigh. "I just dont understand any of this"

Marduk slowly rested a paw on her shoulder and sighed deeply pulling her into a side hug. She felt warm and safe in his arms and rested her head on his chest hearing his calm voice."Nore do I. Everything here including us makes no real sense. But there will be a way to find out." Soon after these Words Arina fell asleep in the arms of marduk

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That morning an entire convoyish stream of ottsels on foot ottsels on half crapped out vehicals ottsels on hastily made make shift vehicals all began an exodus to the tower. Lead at the front by marduk, Sitting atop the roof of the halftrack Being driven by Sesom, With Arina standing on the back Shoutting words of encouragement and inspiration to the ottsels trailing them. which where echoed down the line almost like a chant.

the group arrived by the time the sun finished rising from the sea to its high noon placement. Sesom honked the horn of the truck to get everyones attention, and marduk spoke. "THIS TOWER! HOLDS THE SECRETS SEEK! we are going to sweep this tower top to bottom and remove any and all threats! then we will make this our home! You have all been told of the creatures I have encountered but I have no clue if that is all of them. But atleast we know how to "brain" the biggest threat!" The crowed laughed and cheered and charged into the tower screaming In fighting Rage. Seconds later gunfire and loud bestial roars ensured

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It took an hour. But eventually The tower was clear. No ottsels had died, or where even hurt. The stings had no effect on the biological systems of the ottsels and all the impact and crushing damage was mild and felt light and ignorable to the ottsels just a few cases of light hadaches and mild bruising. There structural composition seemed to be predisposed to survival against such monsters as they discovered. But by the end they had wiped out the biggest colony of Seascor on the island, the other, though they didnt know it. Resided on the nearby island holding one of the fusion reactor that powered the place. but the monsters never bothered with the reactor its self.

That night many slept those who didnt kept constant vigil over those who did. come morning marduk awaoke and roused the others and informed those who watched in the night to rest. Now the real work could begin.

It was this morning marduk stepped into the sun to over see the work outside the tower and its construction into the first "village" of his people

Corpses of seascor where Scrapped clean for meat and cooked over huge pyers of fire set with palm leaves taken from trees that grew at odd angles from arkoral. The meat was good and hearty. And fed them all. they drank drinks of the "alcho" bottles mixed with juice from the palm coconuts. With plenty of meat left over to be cooked and dried and salted with seawater to cure it for storage they'd be eating for atleast a month. The cooked meat's taste was slightly sweet, spicey, and salty. The shells made good armor plates and patches and the Underside hides would make a fine leather when tanned and treated.

Massive repositories of information where reactivated at hundreds of computer consols in the tower. Soon a discovery of mobileized small hand held touch screen computers was discovered giving everyone acess to the information.

The ottsels found everything about WHAT made them a mutant breed of otters, and that the creators made everything else on the island including the ark. The creators where some sort of speices of giant hairless ape that simply vanished from the island a month before the tubes opened.

Information on the technology of the island helped greatly with the restoration process. The fevorent pace of the ottsels made it just fly by. And soon the ark was relativly as good as the day it was finished being made by the makers. The ottsels made a troubled discovery though.

According to the information banks there was a world a giant whole wide world out there outside there island beyond the seas.

But what would be waiting for them there? Should they even go looking for it?

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