FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Author's note : I wrote this story at Torben's request. To him, I say: Enjoy the story. To you, I say the same. Enjoy and don't forget to comment. It's my first time writing anthro characters and I'd like to see where I'm standing.

The captain thinks and the Second speaks, the humans said. It used to be so once, before she earned her name, before...Must not dwell on the past.

No, Scales thought on. She heard her tail swishing from side to side, a heavy and unpleasant sound. Just like her morning task. But that was for later, for when she would leave the room as Scales, the second.

She pushed herself up from the sand filled mattress, her claws carefully tucked away. The motion came hard to her now, with a long tail to weigh her down and broad, misshapen feet to support it all. But she did it without puncturing her bed, if it deserved to be called such. A brief glance at her round, metallic cloak confirmed her suspicion. No morning ritual. Again.

So Scales said the customary words without visiting the Past Shrine, donned her uniform - a dark green satin jacket and trousers tailored to fit her enhanced body--and left the room as Scales the Second.

She switched from the bedroom's hall to the main one. Her slitted eyes adapted to the harsh light without the need of a blink, and the surface below her feet felt neither hard nor cold. Door after door opened before her, until the circular corridor ended in a large rectangle room.

"The others already ate. They're in the main deck now, sharing words." Snow lay sprawled on the corner sofa, her pink tongue struggling to reach the black pads of her feet. Like scales, she looked more a beast now. Paws took place of her hands, and her straight spine seemed unfit for bipedal position. Even her face resembled that of a snow leopard, with a low brow and short nose.

"Why haven't you done the same?" A glance was Snow's reply before she returned to her grooming. The sight made Scales' stomach rumble.

"Did you forget where the bath is, or what it's there for?" Scales insisted.

"Far too far," Snow said between two licks, "and not for me." Her honey eyes bore into Scales. "I didn't build this ship. Humans did. Let them use it."

She lifted one hind leg to reach for...

"Stop," Scales commanded.

Snow stopped and hissed." Or what? Tell the captain?" She jumped onto the floor on all fours, her teeth bared. "He's a creature. He even admitted it." Her voice turned into a growl. "But you don't. Still a human in mind, are you? Everyone is an abomination but you." Snow paced closer until Scales' nostrils itched with her sharp feline scent. "The captain is who we need, not the second. That makes you redundant. Redundant means disposable."

"Go on the main deck," Scales said with her most authoritative voice. "Mission debrief will commence in ten minutes."

Snow purred with contentment. "Enough to get myself cleaned," she said before disappearing in the main corridor.

Scales exhaled her frustration. Her predatory blood churned, just like after every encounter with Snow. Next time, she would eviscerate her soft, fluffy belly and satisfy her crave for meat.

A cold meal of protein porridge fed her sinister thoughts, but she quickly discarded the idea of vengeance once she pulled the bowl away. They needed Snow for this mission. They needed everyone. At least the cat was right on one regard. The whole crew waited her arrival, including the captain. The sight of him warmed her instincts and made her tail twitch nervously.

"Good to see you here sis," brother said. He rotated his pilot seat until their eyes met. His were light green, cold and slitted, just like hers. "Some morning rituals take longer than others, it seems."

Seeking to sow discord, like always. At least Snow enjoyed Pando's caress enough not to interfere. She seldom did. For her, crew gathering meant stretching on the lap of their engineer while his fingers ran through her thick fur. Her reply to what was said remained the same: a low, constant purr. Scales was grateful for it, now more than ever.

"Still no planet fit for a mission?" Scales asked.

"Still," brother replied. A mission meant more to him than jobs. Perhaps he'd be on her side this time. "Fuel is also running low, and our cat needs something to sharpen her claws on. We don't pay her to listen her yowls as she climaxes in that man's lap."

"Like that ever happened," Scales hissed. "Any nearby Earth slivers?"

Brother turned his stead and whistled at the captain. His claws clacked against several buttons. He's becoming better at this. Perhaps....

"None that I can't avoid," her brother interrupted her train of thought. "Though I'd like to see their drones try catch me. A purist versus an abomination. Likely they will lose themselves before they lose me," he laughed, a hoarse grinding sound like a rock fall.

"Maybe you will. That's what we're here to find out."

"Earth sliver 12-B specializes in reptile ecosystems. It's also closest," the captain said. Unlike her brother and snow, the captain spoke with his mind. His beast's mouth could process no words. All he had were growls, whimpers, and a harsh mind touch that violated Scales' inner sanctuary. Yet every time eh spoke, she reminded her of the sacrifice he made. The sacrifices they all made.

Brother leaned," so we're hitting one of them floating gardens? Knew your reptile brain hasn't shrunk to the size of a nut yet."

"We're not hitting a Sliver," the captain said.

"Scared of their gardeners and their thick shovels? You have claws the size of an arm, we have guns, and they have--"

"Blasters, a small army and a magnetic shield to lock us down if they detect us."

"They will," the captain added. Relief coursed through Scales. Brother listened to none but the captain. Or so he used to.

Brother smiled. His crocodile tail slammed the chair hard enough to turn it towards the captain instantly. "If you don't trust your pilot, then maybe you should fly this thing. See how effective those menacing talons are against a control panel."

The captain didn't fall for it. He continued to work on his own panel until an image appeared on the screen in front of him.

"No need. We're not hitting this Earth sliver. What us honest merchants seek is trade."

Scales moved closer to the screen. A raptor. And on the sides, details about the species and a price high enough to make her heart race wildly.

Brother growled," you came up with this. The day before."

Scales matched his stare and bared her teeth. "That's the mission. Take it now or take it later. But you are going to take it."

His forked tongue flicked out of his elongated snout, "my share won't buy supplies. Once lizard hide is gone, you drop me on the nearest human devoid planet to hunt and die in the attempt."

"There's a part where we rescue him," Scales said. "Just haven't got to it yet."

Brother smiled, just like he smiled when the captain had no claws and piloted the ship and debriefed them for the first time. "So we do hit those pansy flower huggers in a sense. I'm in."

Scales turned towards the rest of the crew. "Snow, Pando. Debriefing." The human's froze as he raised his gaunt head, but a low growl forced his fingers to return to Snow's brow."

"Shout. Can hear just fine from here."

A creak. Then several clacks. Scales had no time to reply. The captain was out of his panel straps and sitting next to her. "I'm no longer your captain for this mission. Pando is."