FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The communications station lit up with colorful, flashing lights, as well as audible beeps and trills. Ketchy, adjusting the silver listening device in her cocked, angular ear, announced, "Captain, we're getting distress calls."

"Plural?"

"Yes, dozens of them," she confirmed.

A surprised blink. "That's enough to make a whole fleet. Can we pinpoint them?" Wren asked, springing out of his chair. His bushy tail immediately arched and bobbed behind him. Maybe this was it. Maybe the wasps were finally attempting a deep strike into snow rabbit space, and the other snow rabbit ships were sounding the alarm.

"Looks like ... " The brown-furred squirrel furrowed her brow, paws flying over her computer console. " ... they're coming in from short-range subspace. Two days away. Not even that, really. But they aren't High Command frequencies." A pause, looking up with a serious expression. "They're from the Arctic foxes."

The other squirrel furrowed his brow. "Could it be a trap?" Maybe it was sad that he couldn't trust a simple call for help anymore. A year ago, he would've. But they lived in uncertain times.

Before anyone could speculate, tactical began to beep, as well. Rella's eyes squinted and darted. "Wren, I'm picking up a feed from the snow rabbit satellites along the DMZ." That was the theoretical 'no-entry' buffer between snow rabbit and Arctic fox space. It was an unwieldy setup. Arctic fox territory was actually inside the snow rabbit's. It hadn't used to be that way, of course. But over the past several decades, especially during the Cold War, the snow rabbits had grown in ability and stature. Until, eventually, they controlled all the areas surrounding the foxes, turning the predators' lair into a mere island in space's ocean. Didn't mean the foxes weren't dangerous anymore. They were. But they'd clearly allied with the wasps for a reason: as a last gasp attempt to expand back into the empire they used to be, or thought they'd been. They couldn't stomach being bested by prey.

"Can you make visual contact?" Wren asked his mate, glancing over his shoulder.

"Think so."

"Put it on the main viewer."

The Arctic fox Home-world blinked into view. The size of a pool ball.

Wren couldn't make anything out. "Magnify."

Suddenly, the planet filled the screen, mainly blue and white, much like the snow rabbit Home-world. A cold place, but with enough stretches of green along the equator to make for pleasant enough climates in the summer. "Wait, what's that ... " He pointed, tail flagging. Flashes of light amidst the white in the Northern Hemisphere. Tiny, concentrated bursts. "Since when does it lightning in a snow storm?"

"That's not lightning," Rella realized immediately. "That's weapons fire. The planet's being bombarded from low orbit."

"Are you sure?"

"We can't magnify on the source of the attack, not from this range, but it's gotta be the wasps. I mean, it's not the High Command. It's not the Federation."

The bridge was silent for a moment, as everyone absorbed this sudden plot twist.

Wren, taking a deep breath, broke it by saying, "So, they're reneging on their own neutrality agreement. Why would they do that? The wasps have worked pretty hard to neuter their enemies through twisted treaties. They know they can't fight everyone at once, no matter how powerful they are. This makes their 'word' worthless. It might even make the Federation reconsider who they're in bed with." He padded closer to the viewer, stopping behind the helm. Putting his paw on the back of Chester's chair and digging his blunt-clawed toes into the carpeting.

Sensing the captain behind him, the piebald mouse tried to busy himself. But there wasn't much for him to do right now, other than make sure the ship stayed on its security route. And autopilot was taking care of that. Like the rest of the bridge crew, he couldn't help but watch the view-screen. His whiskers began to twitch. Wren moved his paws to the mouse's shoulders, giving them a squeeze. In the past, he'd had to calm down Field many times. He was used to mousey anxiety. Speaking of Field, he turned to him, raising his brows, wanting his input.

"Maybe the Arctic foxes finally realized they were just pawns to the wasps," Field suggested, quietly.

"Then why sign an agreement in the first place?" Wren wondered.

"Cause the wasps probably promised them dominion over the snow rabbit Home-world and other territorial gains. Now that the wasps have, indeed, made inroads into High Command space, the foxes are wondering where their piece of the pie is. The wasps are letting them smell it, but they're never going to give them a taste. The foxes are figuring this out."

"There's been no intelligence reports of an Arctic fox revolt," Rella said, shaking her head. "Nothing to justify the wasps bombing their supposed allies. They must've done something egregious ... "

"I bet they don't like being told what to do," Field continued. "They probably disobeyed orders about troop movements and ship formations. Probably attempted a strike of their own without the Queen's permission."

"Now that you mention it ... " Rella's mahogany paws flew over her console. "Three days ago, a squadron of Arctic fox prowlers attempted an attack on a snow rabbit colony. They succeeded, too."

"If they start winning battles on their own, they'll begin thinking they don't need the wasps. And then turn on them. The wasps are just beating them to the punch. They're thinking several steps ahead, covering all their bases," Field guessed. He wasn't just the ship's primary diplomat. As first officer, he also had a keen analytical mind. His sweetness just masked it most of the time.

"Sounds like they're paranoid," Wren said.

"That's why they want to control all us 'warm bloods'," Field reasoned. "Paranoia, mistrust. Hatred. If they control us, we can't hurt them."

"We weren't hurting them in the first place."

"True, but mammals and insects have always had an uneasy relationship. We're almost aliens to each other."

"They tortured you, Field," Rella said, with a hint of anger. "I can't believe you'd try to rationalize their behavior."

The harvest mouse twitched a bit, being reminded of that. He tried not to think about it. His voice, as always, was soft and effeminate, "I'm not justifying what they're doing. I'm just trying to read the situation from both sides." That's what a good diplomat did. That's how you brought about reconciliation. Through mutual understanding. "Besides, I don't hold grudges. It's not healthy ... " Ever the pacifist, was the mouse. "I hope you're not questioning my priorities."

"No one's doing that, Field," Wren said, gently. Flashing a glance at Rella. Tensions were high. Now wasn't the time to needle each other.

"I'm not," Rella assured him, bowing her head apologetically. She was just feeling a kick of adrenaline, however, and was naturally much more aggressive than he, or even Wren, was. "But if wasps had asses, I'd say we start kicking them. We've taken way too many losses in this war so far. We can't allow much more of this, or we're gonna be in huge trouble." Like they weren't already. But, still ... " ... we need to change our tactical approach." She'd been speaking with Aria not too long ago about initiating lightning strikes, blending predator and prey tactics. They had to mix it up. Clearly, their current approach wasn't working.

"Rella's right," Wren agreed, siding with his mate. "The Arctic foxes are only two days away from here. If the wasps are bombing planets that close to the snow rabbit Home-world, I doubt we have much time before they launch a final assault. They're probably getting impatient."

"Hive insects are used to structure and order," Field agreed. "When things don't go according to a strict schedule, they get agitated and lash out."

"So, what you're saying is: it's time to freak out?" Ketchy asked, worriedly.

"I've been freaking out since we launched," Chester admitted, from the helm.

Wren rubbed the mouse's shoulders, again, and then pulled away. "Let's all calm down, or try to. I know it's difficult," he told the bridge crew. "But the wasps probably know we're seeing this. Maybe that's another reason they're doing it. Mind games. Not just toying with the foxes, but with us. Exhibiting a show of force, hoping we get scared." The walnut-furred squirrel went back to his chair, sitting down. Purposely brushing Field's shoulder with his tail as he did so. The mouse blushed. Wren gripped his chair's armrests, asking Rella, "Do sensors indicate how many wasp ships are in Arctic fox territory, exactly?"

"Enough to be a problem should they choose to leave. But I can't pinpoint an exact number. Not from this distance. They're constantly changing course and moving into moon shadows. They don't want us to know."

Ketchy piped in, "Sir, not to interrupt the debate, but we're still receiving multiple distress calls. They're not coming from the planet. They're from actual Arctic fox ships. They say they're crossing into snow rabbit space, now ... " She adjusted her ear-piece, again. "They're requesting asylum."

Wren blew out a breath. This was getting to be a little more than he could handle. This needed a higher authority. "Get me Admiral Flint, priority one. Now."

It was much later in the day, in the ward room on station Orbital 9, just beneath the Operations Center, or Ops. A lot of high-up admirals had just left for a brief recess. Aria watched them file past and then primly entered the room. Admiral Flint had stayed behind. "I trust you didn't call me here to complain about my security arrangements?" she asked him, ears standing tall.

"Of course not," he said, giving her a polite bow. "They've been exemplary, as usual. We've been in conference with the Arctic Fox leaders for the past several hours. What's left of their leadership, anyway. A lot of their ships, in addition to military and political personnel, have civilian refugees. They'll need a place to stay," Admiral Flint said.

"How many refugees are we talking about, exactly?" Aria questioned, clasping her paws behind her back. Her bobtail flickered once or twice.

"Tens of thousands? Maybe more. At least fifty fox ships, packed to the brim, made it through to our space. Some actually left before the bombardment, having anticipated it. They'll be here before midnight."

"And what of the rest of the species? Did the wasps wipe them out?"

"No. They still need them for labor, to toy with. To do their bidding. But they leveled several cities and beat them into submission, far as we can tell. I wouldn't say they're an endangered species just yet. But they're certainly threatened."

Aria found herself sighing and shaking her head. "I've always professed to hating them."

"Understandable. They've been attacking and raping our species since we made first contact."

"I know. After so many years of Cold War, so many border skirmishes, so much mistrust, you'd think this news would give me a feeling of justice. Satisfaction. But it doesn't," Aria said, quietly.

"I would honestly be worried if it did."

She cleared her throat. "I'm going to assume, Admiral, since you telling me all this, that you'll be keeping some civilian refugees on the stations?"

"For now, yes. At least in part. We have no choice. It's going to make things crowded. But bringing that many Arctic foxes to the Home-world's surface may cause some unrest. We really don't need the distraction right now. So, I'd like to keep them in orbit, if possible."

"What about on one of the moons?"

"We're working on that. A refugee camp is already being set up on the second moon. That should hold the bulk of them."

"But?" she asked, raising a brow.

"The fox leaders we've talked to have indicated they want to join us in battle. They want revenge."

"Naturally." They wouldn't be predators if they didn't.

"It makes me nervous. The idea of having Arctic foxes with weapons fighting alongside us. And even when the war's over, even if ... when," he corrected, quietly, "we win ... "

"When, indeed," Aria echoed.

" ... we may be stuck with them for a while. From the satellite images I've seen, they will have to rebuild. It may take them years. And they will probably need our help and resources to do it."

Aria nodded, quietly. "As much as I lament the situation, and as much sympathy as I feel, let us not forget that they willingly signed a pact with the wasps."

"Their leaders did. Not their common citizens. Sometimes, leadership can become corrupt."

"Then their 'leaders' should've had the foresight to see the wasps couldn't be trusted. They were so blinded by their hatred of us that they ran into the arms of an even greater threat." She exhaled, sharply. "Tragedies are labeled as such because they are often easily preventable."

"Is war at all preventable when predators are involved?" the admiral posed. "Isn't in their nature? To hunt, to fight? To take? I am not sure that nature can be overcome. As much as I hate to say it, this whole sequence of events is actually fortuitous. We need them, Constable." He lowered his voice. "We're not necessarily winning this war. At best, even with the addition of the rogue bats, we can achieve a draw."

She knew this, of course. It wasn't exactly public knowledge. Not in so many words. The High Command propaganda machine tried to spin a rosier picture. But most furs knew, deep down, that this was a dark hill to climb.

"But with fifty extra ships, Arctic fox ships ... " That could turn the tide, potentially. It really could.

"Do you really think they'll agree to work with us toward a common goal?" she asked. That was what this boiled down to.

"There are only two choices, here. Our mutual extinction. Or our mutual survival. I'm going to assume the foxes are smart enough to choose the latter, no matter the mistakes they've made in the past. Though we certainly haven't been immune to mistakes on our end."

"I do not profess to be a saint," she defended. "But when the refugees arrive, I still won't turn my back on them." She was immediately drawing up plans to recruit extra deputies.

"Nor would I. You'll receive notice when they arrive, and how many, et cetera. Details are still being worked out. Obviously, this is very last-minute." The admiral skipped a beat before adding, more lightly, "I've noticed over the past few weeks that your confidence and ambition are bigger than your current position, Aria." Dropping the rank, now. This caught her attention. "If you keep this up, I may have to promote you. When the war is over, there may be a starship with your name on it."

She didn't know what to say to that. When you entered the security/tactical tract, you weren't usually first in line for captaincies. Not unless you had connections. "You flatter me, sir," she finally replied, with a restrained smile.

"I just speak the truth."

The way he was looking at her. She knew that look. She'd gotten it from many bucks before ...

"But you're too valuable for me to lose on the front lines. So, you'll be staying here, for now. In fact, you can coordinate the handling of the fox refugees on all the stations. Work with the other constables on a feasible containment plan. I'll handle the arrangements on the moons."

"Of course."

The admiral glanced out the windows. "I told Captain Wren to be on tactical alert in case the foxes try anything stupid. You never know with them." Luminous was also to go escort the newcomers, like a shepherd corralling a lost flock. She was a fine ship. One of the best in the High Command fleet, even if she'd been built with Federation technology. "May I speak privately?" he asked her.

"Haven't you been?" she asked.

He tilted his head, lightly. "I hear that you are now breeding with a mouse?"

"Word gets around fast ... " She'd been very discreet with Ross. Hadn't she? He rarely left their quarters. Well, okay, they'd fooled around in the brig. And on the holo-suite, one night. And ...

"Well, not words, per say. More like 'sounds' ... "

"Ah," she went, with a sigh. Figured. It was virtually impossible to have sex on a station or ship without someone hearing it, or at least scenting it. She missed the relative privacy of living on a planet, in a house. In the middle of nowhere. Overlooking the mountainous, evergreen taiga during the midnight sun. Quite romantic. Perhaps someday she could go back to that. But not as long as she was in the service.

"I must admit, I never took you for 'mate' material. You must be quite taken with him."

"It is somewhat of an open mate-ship. But, yes," she admitted, after some hesitation. The majority of snow rabbits were open-breeders. It was still considered 'unusual' to take a mate. And she was appreciative that Flint found her attractive, or at least was hinting he did. He could have his pick of any doe in the ranks. Breeding with an admiral must have special privileges. Aria opened her whiskered muzzle to say something more, but lost the words. So, she closed it, shifting her weight from one hip to the other.

"Well ... " Flint cleared his throat. " ... congratulations." The admiral bowed his head, politely. Maybe she was playing hard to get. Maybe she just wasn't interested. He'd find out for sure another time. There were more serious matters to attend to. "I must be going to another station, then down to Headquarters on the planet. Then back into space. Never agree to be an admiral. It's a lot of busywork."

"I'm sure it has its perks," she said.

"That is does ... though I wish I could savor them more." Flint gathered his computer pads and such.

She was glad he wasn't pressing her about Ross. The meadow mouse had a secret past, of course. The less furs that knew it, the better. But there was something else, wasn't there? She felt vulnerable. Back in the day, she'd flirt with anyone, anytime, anywhere. Including with the admiral right now. It was merely about lust. That was the way of her species. And, as a security officer, having emotional attachments was generally a liability.

Being so taken with the human-turned-mouse was out of character for her. Why'd she love him, exactly? His innocence at experiencing so many things for the first time? His outsider status? His trusting nature? She didn't quite understand it, but the more time she spent with him, the stronger it got. She'd never been in love like this ...

"Until next time," the admiral said, giving a warm bow and making for the exit.

Aria nodded, distractedly, thinking about Ross. "Yes... "

The sickbay doors whooshed open, and Kody wrinkled his nose. Glancing up, quickly, the doctor tensed in his chair. He knew that scent. Even if the encounter had been brief. It was distinctly etched in his memory.

The snowy, brushy-tailed vixen flashed him a sharp-toothed smile, leaning in the entry frame of his door-less office. "Never thought I'd see you again."

The white rabbit swallowed, staring back at the one who'd captured him, raped him, forced him to heal her disfigured rebels. How many weeks ago had that been? Or was it months, now?

"Tongue-tied?"

"Get out," he spat, flushing beneath the fur.

"Temper!" She looked him over. "I just got here," she replied, simply.

"Did you flash aboard with your wasp technology? I can call security."

"The transporter? We gave that up. I never used it much, myself. All those unfortunate side-effects ... "

"And yet you made your subordinates use it."

Her posture went rigid. "They knew what they were getting into." She stopped at that, saying, "Anyway, what's done is done. You, me, the snow bunnies ... we're all allies, now. On the same side. A brave new world for us all. We're joining you in your fight against the wasps. Or haven't you heard?"

"Only because you have to."

"The tides pull us where they will," she said, enigmatically.

"How did you get aboard?" he asked, again. "I have a hard time believing Rella would let an Arctic fox wander the corridors without an escort. Besides, I thought your were fleet was still a day away."

"I caught wind of potential wasp treachery earlier than most. I never trusted them, even when we were using their technology. I boarded the first ship I could. We crossed into snow rabbit space yesterday. Your captain, being a do-good rodent, offered to let us onboard while escorting our ship. He needed to meet with some of us to gather more information about the situation, and to get additional intelligence on the wasps. I told him everything I knew." She rubbed her neck. "I did have a security detail, but I managed to give them the slip." A pause. "You're mad, aren't you?"

No response.

"Can't bygones be bygones?"

Kody just fidgeted in his seat, blowing out a breath and staring at her.

"I see. The silent treatment." Kody, truth be told, was the only fur she knew in snow rabbit space. All her fellow terrorists had been killed. Either from transporter usage or during the recent wasp barrage. She'd always been a survivor. When Luminous, as luck would have it, came upon her fleeing vessel, she'd immediately thought of Kody, maybe out of a twisted sense of intimacy. Her entire world was in chaos, figuratively and literally. It was comforting to see a familiar face. Even if she'd caused so much humiliation to flash across it at one time.

"I have work to do," the white rabbit said, impatiently. He was incredibly uncomfortable. His paw-pads were beginning to sweat.

"No doubt inconsequential scans and experiments. I don't see anyone dying on your bio-beds. You can spare a few minutes."

"What is it you want from me, exactly?" Kody challenged, stressfully.

"It was one day, bunny. And you escaped in good health."

"Rabbit," he corrected. "And you used me, embarrassed me. You were violent ... "

"You don't seem like the type of fur to be easily wounded. Doctors have to be able to compartmentalize, yes?"

"I think you came here just to get inside my head."

"Why would I do that? I'm already there," she told him, quietly. It wasn't meant as a joke. "My species won't survive this war without the help of prey. I'm smart enough to realize that. I can't reconcile with your kind until I reconcile with you. You're here. I'm here. Thought I might as well give it a try." If he was waiting for a direct apology, he wasn't going to get it. The vixen would only go so far.

Kody said nothing for a moment, and then, "Fine." His comm badge chirruped, momentarily saving him.

"Rella to Kody. Sensors are detecting an Arctic fox in sickbay. Are you okay?"

He tapped the badge. "For now," he said. "I'll have her report to Dotna."

"Thanks. Rella out."

"The computer will instruct you where Dotna is," Kody told the vixen. "She's a chipmunk. You can't miss her."

"No doubt she'll be my permanent escort. It looks like we still don't trust each other. But we're going to have to, you know."

"Yeah," Kody agreed.

She turned to leave, then stopped, looking over her shoulder. "Perhaps we'll bump into each other, again. I'm Volga, by the way." And with a whisk of her brushy tail, the vixen left.

The white rabbit blew out a breath, slumping in his chair. He could no longer focus on his work.

"Is this seat taken?"

Field looked up shyly and shook his head. "No, not really. You're Barrow?" he remembered.

"Mm-hmm. And you're the infamous Field." He set his tray down, carefully, and then sat in the chair opposite the ship's first officer. It was approaching evening, and they were both in the mess hall. There was a decent crowd, enough to cause a low murmur. Outside the windows, a few Arctic fox vessels, smaller than Luminous, were following the ship back to the snow rabbit Home-world.

"Infamous?"

"Your cuteness precedes you," the bat explained.

The mouse's ears turned rosy-pink. He poked his fork at some pasta. Vegetarian marinara sauce covering the noodles. There was a serving of green vegetables on the side, as well as a fruit cup.

Barrow chuckled, and then said, more seriously, "I never got to offer my condolences for what the wasps did to you. You're all better?"

"As much as I can be, yes. One of my ears is weaker than the other, now, but ... I'm alive."

"Good. That's the most important thing." The rogue bat licked his fangs, idly. "Adelaide thinks very highly of you. The whole crew does. They were glad to get you back in one piece." He stretched his periwinkle wing-arms, showing off a bit before retracting them. "You're eating healthy. I suppose that's why you have such a trim figure."

"I may be too innocent, sometimes," Field said, "but I know when I'm being buttered up ... "

A flash o' fangs. "Heh. Guilty as charged."

"What do you want?"

"Who says I want something?"

"You've hardly talked to me since you boarded the ship. Now, you're acting all chummy. You want something."

"Perceptive," the bat said, with a nod. "It's come to my attention that certain crew-furs are crushing on those they can't have."

Field squinted. "What do you mean?"

"I'm telepathic."

"So is Adelaide."

"Yes, but unlike her, I don't believe in silly scruples as to how or when to use my powers. I've been sifting through the crew's thoughts since I got here. I mean, until we battle the wasps, I've nothing much to do." He was in charge of one of the psionic crystals meant to disrupt the Queen's hold on her drones. "Don't worry, all your secrets are safe with me," he said, cheekily. "But I thought I might draw up a solution."

Field bit his lip, uncertainly. "To what? And for who?"

"Isn't it whom?" the bat corrected.

Field didn't know.

"Well, whatever. You."

"What about me?"

"This isn't a routine, Field," Barrow said. "Kody wants you. Though I guess that's not too big a secret."

Field looked downward, biting his lower lip with his prominent buckteeth.

"Does that make you uncomfortable?"

"I'm not sure. A little ... I mean, I still like him. I have fond memories of him. But I've moved on, you know? I thought he'd begun to, as well."

"He has. For the most part."

"But he still wants to sleep with me?" the mouse asked.

"You know he does," Barrow said, simply. "He's even approached Adelaide about it."

"I'm not cheating on Adelaide. That's what you want, is it? For me to fool around with Kody so you can breed my mate? I've seen how you look at her."

"You're right. She's a firecracker. But I think she'd singe my fur."

Field looked to the blue bat, probingly.

"I want the squirrel," he admitted.

"Ketchy?" A blink.

"Squirrels have great backsides. You know that from being with Wren. It's those tails, really. They're glorious. Draw so much attention to the curve of the back and rump."

"Ketchy and Kody are together," Field said.

"But not technically mates. That gives me an avenue."

"So, basically, you're a wannabe home-wrecker."

"Don't be so judgmental," Barrow said, lightly. "I'm just suggesting we give everyone what they want."

"If you really want to arrange a threesome or a partner-swap or whatever, leave me out of it."

"Where's the fun in that?" he teased.

"Some furs devote themselves to their mates. For life," Field stressed.

"There's part of your mind that wants other things, though."

"The fantasy part."

"And you don't believe fantasy can become reality? Your love for Adelaide wouldn't be lessened by some experimentation. Even she told you that."

"I don't care."

"You're very, very stubborn, you know that? And I'll be damned if it doesn't make you even cuter."

"Mm ... " Another blush.

"Why are you afraid of your bisexuality, Field? Because it got you hurt so badly in the past?"

"I'm not afraid of it. I'm not afraid to say when a male arouses me. I just happen to be mated to a female right now." And for a long, long time, hopefully.

"Lucky you," Barrow teased. Then, more seriously, "You love Adelaide a lot. I admire that. I suppose I'm jealous, really. And selfish." The bat sighed. "I haven't bred in weeks. Or is it months? I'm beginning to forget."

"Didn't you bring two other rogue bats with you aboard Luminous?"

"Yes, but unfortunately, they're fucking each other. And like you and your pink beauty, they're only interested in a closed circuit. That's the bad thing about starships as opposed to stations. They're so insulated, so bottled up. Everyone pairs off on deep-space vessels because the breeding pool is so limited. You don't want to be left out. But you have a lot more visitors to stations, new faces, new blood every day, a lot more chances for strings-free success."

"You could always use the holo-suite," Field said.

"Not as good as the real thing," Barrow insisted. Some insisted if they closed their eyes, they couldn't tell the difference. But your mind knew. And especially his telepathic mind. It was disconcerting to make love to a hologram when you had mental powers, because your partner registered as a total blank.

"Well, leave Kody and Ketchy alone. I think they make a good pair. They're just both a little immature about long-term relationships." Kody because he'd spent too long 'playing the field,' and Ketchy cause of her confidence issues. "They'll get there ... "

"You're probably right. Just desperately thinking out loud, is all," the bat replied. He hadn't even touched his meal yet. In fact, he wasn't even hungry. He was about to say as much when he caught sight of something. Or someone. "Wait, who's that?"

"Who?"

"There's an Arctic fox on the ship." He pointed with a wingtip.

The harvest mouse looked. "Yeah, dozens of them. We're escorting their lead ships back to the Home-world. I don't know any of their names."

"Well, of course, I know the political situation. But it's still surprising to see one. And I can figure out her name easily enough." A pause, casting out his invisible telepathic feelers. "Volga. Interesting." He raised his brows, picking up on the information about her and Kody. "Very interesting."

Field wanted to ask 'what,' but didn't. It was none of his business. And it shouldn't have been Barrow's business, either.

Barrow sensed Field's reservations and looked back to him. "Come on, mouse. My species was born with these powers. Why should I let society dictate how I use what evolution wants me to use? What nature organically gave me? That's like telling someone to 'dumb it down' because they're getting too far ahead of everyone else. I have a natural advantage. It would be foolish not to use it. Besides, Adelaide uses her powers to both your benefits, sometimes. You even get turned on when she uses them to make you do sexual things ... "

"Hey ... "

"You're just giving her a free pass cause you know her better than me."

"I'm not going to get in a philosophical debate with you," was all Field said. The issue of the rogue bats was a complicated one. Field had a special thing for bats, obviously, and as someone who tried to see all sides of arguments, he didn't know what was right or wrong, here. It was all shades of grey. As with most things in life.

Barrow turned his attention back to Volga. He'd never seen an Arctic fox in person. Just on view-screens and stuff. "I kinda wanna turn the tables on her. Or them. That's not kinky, is it? They tried to exterminate my group of rogues, remember? And, hell, they helped the wasps infiltrate those ancient ruins, which led to you being captured."

Field twitched, weakly. The second time he'd been reminded of that today.

"Sorry."

"It's okay ... "

"I could use the psionic crystal to amplify my powers. Teach her a lesson. A fun lesson. Cause, hey, a vixen's still a vixen. I wouldn't mind some of that ... "

Field made a face. "I can't believe you used to be a medic."

"There's that stubbornness, again." A wink. "If everyone acted the same, Field, it would be a very boring universe. Be glad that I'm unique."

"Nothing unique about thinking with your bat-hood," Field noted.

"That's easy to say that when you're getting pussy every day," was Barrow's equally blunt response.

Field averted his eyes, bashfully.

"Besides, I'm a fur." That was pretty much a valid excuse for anything sexual, wasn't it? It was the ultimate trump statement. 'Well, I'm a fur!' What could you say in response to that?

"I dunno ... "

"Well, I do. Relax, I'm not gonna do anything no one wants. I do have limits. Might as well try, though." The vixen was arguing with someone. Looked like a chipmunk. That ensign from the armory. "Maybe I should go defuse the situation, huh? Flap in, calm everyone down. Be the hero."

"Maybe."

"Nice talking to you, mousey." The bat jumped up, energetically.

"You didn't even touch your food," the mouse pointed out.

"Huh? Oh. You can have it," he mumbled, moving toward Dotna and Volga, putting on a charming smile and opening his wings in an 'anything I can do?' gesture.

"Thanks," Field went, too late for the bat to hear. He wasn't sure he wanted the food, though. He was nearly full from his own meal. Besides, Barrow's tray was mostly berries and bugs. He was used to Adelaide eating insects, but he didn't want to eat them, himself. He took some of the blueberries, though. He absolutely loved blueberries.

Muffled grunts and groans from above.

Chitters beneath.

Both of them thoroughly, hotly tangled in the sheets, strands of fur shedding and swirling about the dim, bedroom air. The squirrel's paws rubbing all over the white rabbit's strong, arching back, straying to his bare, bouncing rump, fingers sinking into super-soft bobtail fluff. Grabbing him, pulling him closer. Deeper. She wanted more. One paw straying lower, to the back of a thigh. Groping, desperately.

He liked that. Oh, he liked that a lot. Drooling against her neck, he began to whine, humping harder.

"Oh ... oh, god, Kody ... " Her voice was breaking, muffled against his neck. Her big, bushy tail doing a curlicue around his side.

He felt her sex start to spasm, randomly at first, and then more purposefully. Her multi-muscled passage was soon seizing around his sensitive flesh. Sopping wet, searing hot. He grinded himself to a hilt, suddenly, left with no choice. She was so beautiful during orgasm. Looked beautiful. Felt beautiful. It was too much, way too much! His tingling member jerked, suddenly, cocking and firing, his seed sowing. His cheeks flushed. He huffed. Oh, it felt so good, so good ... oh, damn ...

The squirrel, after a moment, began to mumble. It was hard to make out. She hugged him, tightly.

The rabbit slumped. The fur between his shoulder blades was very damp with sweat. He basked in the lingering sensations for a moment and then kissed her forehead multiple times. "You ... you came earlier than usual. You came hard." He'd planned on lasting longer. Had a few moves he wanted to try out, tonight. But the feel of her rushing climax had weakened his resolve, and he'd quickened his thrusts in anticipation without consciously realizing it. But he wasn't complaining. It had been quite pleasurable.

"Y-yeah ... "

After a minute, he pulled out and rolled aside, cock wetly flopping. "That was awesome, baby," he proclaimed, pulling her into a hug. And blowing out a deep breath.

"T-thanks ... "

"Mm-hmm."

She nestled up against him, leaking seed onto the sheets.

"I suppose you had a busy day on the bridge." He gentle caressed one of her breasts. "What with all the Arctic fox ships that came our way. I thought of you, having to direct all that traffic."

A shy smile. "Yeah, it was busy. But it all got sorted out." She closed her eyes, awash in afterglow. He was starting to thumb her nipple.

He smiled back at her as he watched her face.

"I, uh ... heard you got visited by one in sickbay ... "

"I guess the security officers like to blab," Kody muttered, referring to Dotna. Or maybe Rella had told her. Ketchy had probably overheard her on the comm system.

"So, you did?" She opened her eyes.

"Yeah ... " He lowered his head to her breast, mouthing the furred curves. Wearing a serious expression.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Her paws went to the back of his shoulders. "I'm here for you," she told him. There was a vulnerability in the way she said it, a willingness to help bear his burdens.

He hesitated. "It was, uh ... just a fox I'd bumped into, before." A pause, lips upon one of her nipples. She had cute tits. "You know, back when I was captured by that terrorist cell."

"Oh."

"The one who raped me," he told her with a sigh.

"I'm so sorry, Kody," she said, her paws roving down his back-fur and over to his sides. "I shouldn't have brought it up." She cursed herself, inwardly.

"Please, don't be sorry," he insisted, gently. "Let's just change the subject."

"Are ... are you all right, though? I worry about you ... "

"I'm with you, aren't I? Of course, I'm all right. Nothing's going to happen to me," he promised, smoothly.

"I don't know what I'd do if it did," she continued, emotionally.

Maybe she was clingy, yeah. But the rabbit found that rather endearing. Field used to be that way. Still was, to a degree. Kody liked being needed, and she needed him. That gave him purpose. And he needed her, too. He still couldn't believe it. Winding up with her seemed almost surreal, like a mish-mash, an accident. If I hadn't slept with Dotna and Pyro hadn't slept with Ketchy, me and Ketchy might not have been bounced to each other in the aftermath. Funny how things worked. But here they were, day after day, week after week, in the same bed each night. He'd grown so accustomed to her presence. He was so close to asking her ... ask her, already. You know she's been dying to say yes ...

"I love you," she told him, quietly, without prompting.

"I love you, too," he breathed back, nuzzling his nose between her breasts. "Ketchy ... "

"Mm?"

"Be my one and only mate," he said. "Be my wife." So, it didn't come out as a question. More like a passionate plea.

"Of course," she blurted. The excitement brought her voice to a higher pitch than normal. "Of course, yes. Oh, Kody ... "

He cut off her words with a luscious lip-kiss, warm enough to wilt their whiskers. He sighed on her chin when it broke, licking the saliva away, mumbling something a blunt promise that made her blush, involving the words 'shower,' 'morning,' 'knees,' and 'breakfast,' though not necessarily in that order. "That sound good?"

"Uh-huh ... "

"Mm, thought so." He sucked on her neck-fur for a moment. "Your tail is so lovely." One of his paws was combing it, idly. "My eyes are getting heavy. I wish they weren't, but ... " He trailed off.

"Mine, too. We should sleep." In fact, she'd just managed to stave off a yawn. So, she wriggled onto her back, holding at his upper body. Guiding him to lay his head upon her bosom, above her heartbeat. "Close your eyes ... "

His head against her breasts, he did as she asked. It was late. He hadn't realized how tired he was.

The squirrel played with his long, twiddling ears until he lost consciousness. It only took a few minutes. And with a peaceful smile, she followed him into dreams.