FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"With pleasure" Sarven replies as he grabs the netbook controlling the computer systems in the truck. A few moments later the speedometer needle starts rising as the truck picks up speed. "Just don't be stupid about it. We do have a heavily loaded trailer behind the truck and we can't afford any more delays" Sarven chastises as the speedometer hits one hundred forty miles per hour.

"I'm not going any faster than this. We will catch up to the others in a few hours at this pace and we shouldn't lose anything. I wouldn't risk going any faster with that much weight behind the truck" I reply. "Hey who wants to listen to some music?"

"Sure, why don't you turn the radio on? It will make this long road trip seem to go by faster" Sarven replies.

"Radio or the media player on the netbook?" I ask.

"Radio" Vealdan replies.

"Alrighty then" I reply as I turn the radio on. I turn my attention back to the road as Sarven and Vealdan talk to each other about the plans for the week. I lose track of the time as I drive down the freeway weaving through traffic to maintain my speed. I am surprised when I hear a horn blaring at me as I fly by a white jeep grand Cherokee. Wait a minute... That's Berrwain! Shit I should probably slow down now. I pull the transmission out of gear and push the brake pedal to slow down.

"Damn it Drosmine! Warn us before you do that!" Sarven chastises from the back seat.

"Whoops, sorry about that I forgot how fast we were going" I apologize.

"Just warn us next time. And by the way, don't you ever go that fast again with such a heavy load. That's scary as hell blowing by cars going twice their speed with so much weight behind the truck! You're going to roll the truck if you keep that up" Sarven chides.

"Hey I don't much like it either, but we needed to catch up with the others and the idiots at the hospital didn't help much with that!" I reply hastily.

"Hey what's that smell?" Vealdan asks sniffing the air. I sniff the air too but I don't smell anything. I check the rear view mirrors and I don't find any smoke or vapors trailing the truck.

"I don't smell anything Vealdan. Can you describe the scent at all?" I ask.

"It smells of something volatile, possibly explosive" Vealdan replies. A few seconds later an ear shattering explosion rumbles across the freeway as demolition charges detonate in a building in a nearby town.

"Well I guess that answers your question. It was high explosive demolition charges. I've dealt with the things before. They will give you a killer migraine far worse than any alcohol hangover if you remain exposed to them for too long" I reply calmly as I recall my first encounter with the explosives. "OH! That reminds me that I still have a gun safe full of the shit in the basement of the cottage! I should probably get rid of the stuff once we get there. It may be one of the most stable explosive materials on the planet, but I still don't think it is a good idea to keep the crap just lying around like that" I exclaim as I remember my stash of explosive materials.

"Hey Drosmine, isn't that stuff illegal to have as a civilian?" Sarven asks tauntingly.

"Tis, but you know me. I'm a major pyro and I can't help but relish in the destruction of the old by fire and explosion" I reply with a grin. Before anyone can say anything else the radio changes stations to find a more stable signal.

"Oh shit! Is this what I think it is?"Vealdan asks.

"Depends, do you think it's what was I thinking?" I reply happily.

"That's exactly what I think it is!" Vealdan replies excitedly. Then somehow by an unspoken word Vealdan Sarven and I are all singing along with the song.

"When a mountain of a man with a born to kill tattoo tried to cut in I knocked out his front tooth we ran outside hood-slidin like Bo Duke what was I thinkin? I finally got her home at half past too late her daddy's in a lawn chair sittin in the drive way. I put it in park as he started my way." We all sing with a grin as Berrwain looks at me from the jeep with a funny expression. Sarven can you text Berrwain the radio station? He doesn't understand what we are doing to have so much fun. And while you're at it you minaswell send everyone a copy of the message.

Sure thing Sarven replies as he grabs my phone and texts everyone from the shop the radio station. Zerinnon notices the message and reads it to Berrwain who immediately changes the radio station and cranks the stereo system.

"HAHAHA everyone is goanna have this station cranked for as long as we have a stable connection" I exclaim happily as I see the message get to phone after phone and stereo after stereo change to the station mentioned in the message. I reach out and turn the volume up a bit on my stereo and we continue to sing along with the song.

"She gave a come and get me grin and like a bullet we were gone again! I was thinking about a little white tank top sitting there in the middle by me. I was thinkin bout a long kis man just gotta get headin where the night might be. I know what I was feelin but man what was I thinkin?" we all sing. The trip continues for several hours with country blaring through the radio and all three of us singing along to almost every song. Then my phone rings and I turn down the stereo to let Sarven answer the phone.

"Talk to me" Sarven says in his customary phone greeting.

"Hey it's getting late and aint no one had nothin to eat since we left. Whaddya say bout stopin by some joint to grab a bite?" Joe asks from the phone. "Oh, and thanks fer letting us all know about that country station man! I oughta buy ya a beer fer that!"

"Hey Drosmine it's Red Joe. He wants to know what your thoughts are on stopping to get something to eat. What do you want me to tell him?" Sarven asks.

"Tell him it's bout damned time yall decided ta grab a bite! What kinda joint ya thinkin bout?" I reply to Sarven who repeats the message to Joe.

"I aint got shit on ta joint ta stop at, just a place wit food. Howsa bout the first honkey tonk we sees?" Joe replies.

"Joe says he has no idea where to stop and asks how about the first bar we pass" Sarven tells me.

"Sarven just give me the phone this will go a lot faster" I say as I hold my hand out for the phone. "Hey Joe wha kinda bar we talkin bout? Sometin wit steaks or ya lookin fer a good burger?" I ask Joe through the phone.

"Sometin wit a good burger. I aint want no damned steaks I want a god damn burger is what I want!" Joe replies.

"Lets take the first exit and find a good joint for a damn good burger then! Pass the news on to the others ima start looking for a place to go" I reply before hanging up. "Ugh. I have no clue why he insists on talking like that. Hey Sarven can you help me keep a lookout for any exit with a bar and grill?" I comment after hanging up.

"Only if you promise not to drink" Sarven warns.

"Relax, after yesterday and this morning I don't think I will ever drink again! I'm not even sure I want to go inside, but that's where the food is so I pretty much don't have a choice" I exclaim.

"Just making sure I won't have to intervene in any more fights like I did yesterday. That phoenix was a mouthy little bird! I don't want to deal with anyone else like that" Sarven replies flatly.

"You wont have to stop any more fights. Can we find a place to get some food?" I ask testily.

"There is no reason to be rude Drosmine!" Sarven chides.

"Sorry about that" I apologize.

"You don't need to apologize, just don't be rude. Now I do agree with you, we should find some place to eat" Sarven replies.

"Exit 76B. Take exit 76B and turn left. Two and a half miles down the road is a place I used to work at. They have some decent food there" Vealdan says.

"Sure. Sarven tell the others where were going please" I comment as I begin searching for the exit sign. Finding the sign I pull into the exit ramp lane and push the brakes to slow down to avoid losing the trailer. The truck glides to a stop then lurches forward as I stop at the stop sign then pull forward and miss a gear as I turn. I quickly throw the transmission back into second gear and the truck continues to accelerate through the turn to travel down the road to the bar Vealdan mentioned. "So why did you leave your job here?" I ask Vealdan as I park the truck and kill the engine.

"That is something your about to find out. As soon as your in the door you will understand. By the way, if you have a knife or a hand gun it would be a good idea to keep them handy" Vealdan replies. I turn to face the building quizzically and then I notice it, a long line of custom built choppers.

"A biker gang? That's it? Just a rough and tumble biker gang?" I ask.

"They are more than that. There is one requirement for joining this gang. Prison time" Vealdan replies. "every single one of them is packing heat and they are always here after six every single night. I doubt any of them have families or even a house to go home to"

"OH! So it's THAT kind of biker gang. Damn dude! I can see why you left here. But as long as the food is good I can keep these guys happy enough to leave us alone" I reply. With that I walk in the door Sarven and Vealdan close behind me. As I walk in the door everyone in the bar stops and watches me walk across the room to join everyone else from the shop as well as the two dragons.

"It's about fucking time you showed up! These biker guys are really looking to get a go at us!" Berrwain whispers tensely as I approach the table.

"Berrwain don't be such a pussy!" Persephone says loudly.

"There is no need for that here and now. You two can fight later if you want but right now I just want some damn food!" Steve says angrily.

"would yall shut the hell up and get something ta eat already? I want ta get the heck outta here!" Joe says.

"All of you just shut the hell up!" I say loudly attracting the attention of several bikers. "Just get yer damn food and eat it! You don't need to be so damn obnoxious about being uncomfortable being here!" I say as I take a seat.

"What can I get for you boys?" Asks a waitress as she walks up to the table.

"Give me the biggest burger you got on the menu" I reply as I turn to look out the window. I see someone outside doing something to my truck so I jump up and run outside as I pull out my karambit pocket knife. "You bastards get the hell away from my truck!" I yell as I run at two teenagers with a can of spray paint. The teenagers drop the can of paint and run leaving a mess all over my truck. "Well this is just fucking great. Those punk ass bitches rattle canned a fucking skull on my truck" I mutter as two bikers come out of the bar and walk my way.

"You better watch yer mouth around here little man. This here bar belongs to us, not you. What we say goes around here, understand?" The bigger of the two men says to me.

"I don't give a damn who you are or think you are, no body messes with my truck. Now tell you what. You leave me alone and I will pay your bar tab for a week. Sound good to you?" I reply angrily.

"It's goanna take quite a bit of cash to do that little man, cash that you don't have. Now I suggest you quit running your mouth before I rip yer lips off" the smaller of the two men threatens.

"Sorry, it won't happen again" I reply quickly before walking inside. As I sit down Sarven turns his head to look at me.

You seem worried Sarven. What's bothering you? I ask telepathically.

We are in a bar that belongs to a vicious biker gang and you're outside picking a fight with the two meanest guys from said gang. Take a guess at what's bothering me. Sarven replies.

All you have to do is say something and I stop. You know that. If it bothers you that I am stirring things up with these bike punks then just say something.

Stop messing with the gangsters!

Was that so hard?

No, but now there are three big guys glaring angrily at you. I think we should sit closer together so that they don't decide to give you any trouble.

Sarven, this place just reeks of southern hick hillbilly. These people are gangsters and think they own the whole damn planet. They are goanna give me trouble now no matter where I sit.

I would still rather have you closer to me and the back door than them.

Suit yourself. I stand up and walk over to where Sarven is sitting and sit down again. As I sit down the waitress walks out of the kitchen carrying several platters loaded with food. After a few moments of confusion she notices that I have moved to another table and walks over to bring me my food scowling.

"What's the matter? Never had someone move on ya?" I ask snidely.

"No, that I have to serve those things" the waitress replies sharply as she points at the dragons.

"Why you racist little bitch" I spit like acid. "What did they ever do to you? Huh? What did they do to you? They haven't even said a word and you just go off like that!" I snap angrily.

"They were born that's what they did! Why don't you all just go crawl back into the hell hole you came out of?" the waitress responds before spitting on my shirt.

"Well shit! We got a badass over here!" I say loudly as I jump to my feet and raise my fists ready for a fight. "What's the matter? Aint you never seen a city slicker ready for a fight in an old run down redneck bar?" I sneer.

"I have no problem with you. Its them scaly bastards I don't like" the waitress says calmly.

"Yeah? Well I have a problem with you bitch. I DON'T tolerate bigotry! And you are a bigot!" I say angrily.

"Either sit down and eat or get out" the waitress responds.

"I'm outta here! I aint about to pay for shit food and shit service in a shit joint run by some shit biker gang!" I yell as I walk out the back door, Sarven, Vealdan, and Zerinnon all following me.

"So what's the plan now smart one? I'm still hungry and now we are stuck with you" Zerinnon comments testily.

"That's easy. We all hop in the truck and go to the nearest big box mart and pick up a grill and some food to cook. As we walk around the bar to the truck the rest of the group from the computer shop walks out the front door of the bar.

"Thanks a lot Drosmine! You got us all kicked out!" Persephone says angrily as she storms up to me. "So what is you big plan on food now?" she demands.

"We go to the closest big box mart and grab a grill, some fuel, a bag of charcoal, and have a barbeque in the parking lot. Sound good enough for you?" I reply coolly as I climb into my truck.

"You better not get us kicked out of the store too" Persephone snaps before I shut the door. Sarven and Vealdan climb in the other door.

"You didn't need to do that. It is pretty hard to offend us after all we have been through" Vealdan comments as I fight to start the truck.

"Oh but I did. If there is one thing that pisses me off more than anything else in the universe it's bigotry. Especially about a different sentient being!" I reply curtly as the engine roars to life, arcid black smoke spewing from the exhaust pipes.

"Drosmine is there something wrong with the truck? It has been giving you trouble for quite some time and something smells wrong in the exhaust smoke. It is supposed to have a sickly sweet scent mixed in with the diesel smoke. All I smell is diesel smoke and propane fumes" Sarven asks from the back seat.

"I don't know what, but something is surely wrong with it. Nice topic change by the way" I reply.

"Thank you. Don't you think you should get it fixed? You are running a monster of a truck with your own computer control system in it and a propane injection system. If something misfires or fires when it shouldn't a lot of damage can be done. If even one of the four propane tanks goes off the whole truck will blow up! And if one tank goes off the others will too. That is something you wont survive. I might not even survive that kind of explosion!" Sarven rants.

"Alright alright I get it. Next time we stop for the night I will run diagnostics on the engine and fuel systems to figure out what is wrong and fix it. But you are going to be the one driving the next day if I am up all night working on the engine" I reply flatly.

"I can work with that. I rather enjoy driving this truck, and who knows, maybe I won't get pulled over this time. It seems that every time I drive this truck on a road trip I get pulled over without my driver's license" Sarven says.

"How the hell did you get a driver's license in the first place Sarven?" I ask.

"I got it through my service in the military. Every soldier human or not was required to be capable of operating a vehicle safely on the open road. I can drive cars and trucks both automatic and manual, but I prefer to drive a tank much more. It is easier to operate and allows for greater comfort while driving" Sarven replies.

"That is very interesting. I will have to get you a truck some time and modify it to your liking. It will be interesting to ride with you on the road more frequently" I comment as I begin to draw up plans for modifying the controls to a truck in my mind.

"Worry more about getting to where we are going before you get to side tracked with the blueprints to that truck you're going to build for me Drosmine. I don't want you to put us in a ditch somewhere" Sarven chides as I pull onto the road.

"Oh right, the road. I should probably pay more attention to that shouldn't I?" I reply sarcastically.

"Just get us to the damn store would you? I'm hungry over here!" Vealdan snaps.