FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 29

Three months later...

The usual busy crowd of Aquarii station's large spaceport moved along as usual that bright weather control system scheduled spring day. The teeming mass of various species from many, many worlds swarming over the walkways and boardwalks paying little mind to the large array of starships lined up next to the docks all awaiting their next mission into space. But if they had stopped a moment to look at these grand and spectacular testimonies to the advances in modern technology they might have noticed that there was a new addition nestled between two of these impressive behemoths. The ship wasn't the largest, not the newest of models but somehow it was just as beautiful and well suited for its job as its bigger brethren. The side of it proudly displaying an emblem of a sloppily painted picture of a flaming comet crossing a starry sky, a title written under it that told all who saw it that it had been dubbed the "Wild Comet 2"

It was inside of this queer little ships bridge that a dark haired woman of Middle-Easter decent stood in the center of the room, clipboard in hand as she was bathed in the soft glow of the surrounding machinery and checked numerous things off of a long list with a pen. "Well, it looks like you're all ready to head out." She said to the ship. "All we gotta do is wait for that dimwit captain of yours to get back."

Placing the clipboard away on top of a nearby console the woman gave the room a quick scan, making sure that she had finished everything, and then turned around and walked through a doorway at the back of the room which led to a more homely comforting looking area. The spaced filled with nice old looking furniture and a certain blond haired man who was sitting at a table at the far end, its surface covered with hundreds of papers and manila folders.

Hearing the door as it slid open the man looked up from his research and to the dark haired woman as she entered the room. "Oh Miss Najjar I'm glad you're here." The man said adjusting his glasses. "I was wondering if you've seen the suitcase I had with me earlier. The one with the gold circle on it.

"It's over here Alfred." The woman said picking up said case. Walking over to Alfred she slipped into one of the chairs and placed the suitcase onto the table. "How's the research going?"

Looking up from the paper he had been reading from the doctor gave an excited grin. "It's going fabulous Rana." He exclaimed forgetting his usual habit of only using the pilot's last name. "My first love might be the medical field. But... I've learned so much about Verdomian culture during my stay on Verdomo that if I were to write a paper about it I'd win every cultural research award in existence. Just a shame that I can't publish anything I've learned."

"I still don't get why you and Moah wanted to stay on Orc world during Barnabus' honeymoon." Rana shuddered comically. Unlike the male members of her crew she had opted on returning to the I.U.G. ship so that she could inform them of what was going on and so she could enjoy a nice little vacation by herself as it did an exploratory search around the Verdomo system for a few days. "I couldn't stand all that attention those other Verdomians were giving me."

"What about that one nice man who gave you a flower." Alfred brought up. "He seemed very sweet on you."

Rana blushed a little at that reminder. The young yellow haired warrior the doctor was talking about had actually been sweet. Saying something gently in Verdomian before he handed her a single blue and red bloom and then ran off. Deciding to deflect the thought of that certain man Rana brought up the largest member of their group. "Do you know where Moah is?"

"Downstairs in his new workshop." Alfred responded pointing downward. "He walked through the room about ten minutes ago with a big box of spare parts muttering about--" A large explosion from down below the pair interrupted the svelte man's sentence. "--rocket powered boxer shorts."

Looking at each other in worry Rana and Alfred silently debated whether or not they should go down and check of their Girunjh friend. But before either of them could suggest this, the doors leading to the lower decks of the ship slid open with a hiss and a singed and still smoking Moah appeared through the open entryway. A grin on his face as he stumbled across the room the large furry alien collapsed onto the couch on his back and let loose a deep baritone laugh.

"I really hope you didn't destroy anything important this time Zash." Rana said sternly while watching the grown man giggle to himself like a madman.

"Lop oop notal Tenplu Rana ji jol yijulo konoki gi gendfu Juuyol." Moah seemed to assure with a wave of his paw. "Ji oh-juno gyoh ol fa na BOOM!"

Looking over to Rana to translate what Moah had just said Alfred found her holding her hand up to him to stop. "I think I got the gist of that." She said rolling her eyes. "Just be more careful in the future fuzz ball. I'd hate for you to get hurt and I'm pretty sure that Barnabus wouldn't be too happy with you blowing up our new ship."

"Oh yes, the Captain and Mister Miktes haven't come back yet have they." Alfred said looking around for them. It had been hours since the two men had left the ship to go and pick up their new Jack-of-all-Trades ID cards and the next job they were going to do. "I hope they're not lost or something."

"I just hope they aren't at a bar again." Leaning back in her seat Rana rubbed her forehead. "I would have thought that Barnabus getting married would stop all the bar crawling."

"Miss Najjar they only went out the one time." Alfred gently reminded. "And that was because Mister Miktes wanted to see what a bar was."

Harrumphing at the younger man Rana gazed over at him with an annoyed glare. "Yeah but they got into a bar fight during their little night out. All because Miktes didn't like some tubby Corcalva man hitting on Barnabus."

As if talking about the last two members of the Wild Comet crew had somehow sent up a signal for the two men to appear, a beeping sound sounded over the ships com systems telling everyone that someone had just boarded. "Speaking of our wayward leader." Rana said flatly.

Waiting a few minutes the three members of the Wild Comet crew watched as the door leading to the rest of the ship slid open and their captain stepped into the room. Seeing the Barnabus gave a bright smile and held up both his arms, the appendages unsteady because of the large bags he was carrying. "Hunnies I'm home!" The Jack shouted.

"Welcome back Captain." Alfred replied with his usual salute.

Moah was a bit more demure in responding his hand appearing over the back of the couch with a gruff, "Hushojoh" Which Barnabus had learned once was Girunjh for "Welcome home"

Rana too was happy to see him it seemed. Thought that didn't stop her from giving him the third degree. "What took you so long?"

"Right to the point huh mom?" Barnabus groaned as he placed the bags in his hands on a table. "To answer your oh so pleasantly asked question me and Miktes did a little shopping with his share of our bribe. Took the green guy to a clothing store."

Alfred scratched the top of his head. "And that took you four hours Captain."

"It would have taken longer if I hadn't promised Mickey lunch." Chuckling Barnabus pulled out a shirt from one of the bags and frown at its garish design. "Our green little fashion king Verdomian just had to pick the prefect outfit. And any time I complained he growled at me and said that if he had to cover himself up with heavy clothing then it had better be the best looking around."

Rana and Alfred couldn't help but laugh quietly to themselves. Miktes had been very vocal about not being allowed to wear his usual loincloth. He just couldn't wrap his mind around basic I.U.G. obscenity laws. "Where is the green guy right now anyway?" Rana asked. "Please don't tell me you left him in the store alone."

"I wouldn't do something that dumb. Miktes is up in our room putting away the rest of the junk he bought." Turning around back to the door behind him, Barnabus quickly opened it up and peered into the hallway beyond it and up the stairs leading to the second story. "HEY MICKEY! Get your green butt down here babe and show everyone what you got on.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Miktes grumpy voice echoed down from the ships third story. "Just fucking let me finish this hotted-dog thing you got me first."

There was the sound of paper rustling and a loud sickening burp before Barnabus' request was finally listened to, the bearded Jack stepping to the side as the Verdomian sauntered into the room with a nervous looking expression on his face. "Well how does it look?" He more demeaned to know then asked his friends while he slowly spun around to show off.

Gazing over to the newest member of their group, Moah peeking over the back of the couch to get a better view the three marveled at the change that had occurred in the green skinned alien's appearance. He no longer wore his ceremonial mating ritual clothing, both it and his regular loincloth now stored in his and Barnabus' shared closet, it replaced with clothing that was more appropriate for someone living in I.U.G. space.

The Verdomian was dressed in a stark white tank top and black and gray leather vest that covered his wide green chest, the jacket complete with metallic buttons and various symbols, the biggest being an image of the Wild Comet emblem on the back. On his lower half he also had proper pants, long black jeans with a pair of matching combat boots on his once bare feet, the buckles clinking softly as he moved around showing himself off.

"It looks really good Miktes." Rana said standing up and going over to the alien. Looking him up and down she adjusted his vest and grinned at him in amusement. "Perfect for your new job as our enforcer. Though... I don't get why you choose the old earth biker look."

"Barnabus showed me this old movie a few weeks ago. Bastards in it looked tough so naturally makes sense that I dress like them." Stepping back Miktes struck a pose and gave everyone a look so smug that it had all of them rolling their eyes. "No one's gonna mess with the mighty Miktes Enforcer of the Wild Comet Crew!"

Barnabus snorted at his lover's silly declaration and his new catchphrase. "I should hope so." He said. "After the chewing out we got down at the Jack center from our new "handler" I think they'd throw us all in jail if we got into any more trouble." Checking Miktes out again himself the older man frowned. "You know it's still missing something."

Barnabus tapped his chin for a few seconds before a wide grin slip across his face. "I got just the thing!" He said running from the room.

"Anyone wants to bet that he's going to bring back something tasteless." Rana bemoaned playfully. Looking over to the bags Barnabus had placed on the table the Jack pilot tilted her head to the side. "What else did you get Miktes?"

"Oh I almost forgot!" Rushing over to his bags Miktes dug into one of them searching for something. "I bought you guys all something too!" Grinning the Verdomian pulled out a pair of gloves which he quickly handed to Rana. "Here since you like fighting all the time I figured you'd like these boxing glove things."

Rana examined her gift with a confused look. Yeah she was a combat expert, part of her Jack training. But she didn't know the first thing about boxing. But at seeing the expectant expression on Miktes face she found herself accepting it anyway. "Thanks Mickey it's a good gift."

"You bet it is I gave it to you after all." Reaching into the bag again Miktes produced a toy microscope and a rusty hammer. "These are for you skinny and you too beast." He said excitedly. "Hope you like them."

Whether or not they liked them or not, before either man could answer Barnabus reappeared through the same door he had left from suddenly and held out what he had went to get. The item strangely being the front flap of the loincloth Miktes had worn for his ceremony. "Here we go! Just what your outfit needs." Barnabus said walking up to his husband and dropping down onto his knees. Reaching forward the Jack clipped the piece of cloth to the front of the other man's belt.

"You were talking to Mama weren't you?" Miktes sighed tiredly as his belt was fiddled with. When Barnabus smirked up at him but remained silent he knew that was the case. Velloy had come to adore his human mate the second she had met him. Even more so when he handed her some of the pictures Miss Bonnibel had given him. It had somehow made Miktes both happy and incredibly annoyed to see them get along. Especially the latter when his mother started talking about his childhood.

Sitting on his haunches Barnabus scooted back a bit and looked Miktes up and down. "There you go you look a lot better now." He announced. "Only a shame that you can't wear your old outfit all the time anymore."

"Only reason why you're missing that is because he was half naked." Rana cut in.

"I-It's not that." Barnabus defended weakly. Realizing that he in a very compromising position in front of Miktes the Jack scrambled to his feet face reddening. "It's just that seeing him in his ceremonial clothing reminds me of the first time we met." When his explanation wasn't believed by anyone in the room the dark haired man huffed. "Fine so I'm a dirty old man."

"I could still put it on for you later." Miktes suggested. "And when I do you can wear this..." Sticking his hand into the shopping bag again Miktes revealed a risqué tiger strip patterned speedo which he held up for everyone to see. "See I bought you a gift too."

Her hands flying up as soon as she saw the swimsuit Rana turned away from the two with a comical shudder. "Alright I think I've had enough talking about clothes." She said. "Now besides getting Miktes a new wardrobe did you get yourself to the Jack center alright?"

"Don't worry mom we got there." Reaching into his back pocket Barnabus pulled out a small stack of ID cards and went over to each member of his crew handing them out. "See, five new swanky silver rank Jack-of-all-Trade cards hot from the center to us."

Reading over the information written on her official ID Rana gave a happy hum. "Still can't believe they gave us two whole ranks in that deal we made." She said. "Sort of makes me feel guilty about not earning them."

"We earned the bronze rank years ago hun. They were just holding it back form us because of spite" Barnabus sighed. "And as for the silver one, we all just saved the universe! Heck they should make us platinum for that."

"Unofficially saved the universe Captain." Alfred unfortunately reminded everyone. "Everything that we did is top secret now and locked away in some file in the military storeroom on the I.U.G. capital world."

"That part still makes me mad." Miktes huffed. "Well that and what they made me put on this stupid thing."

Handing his ID over to Rana in disgust, the perturbed crossed his arms over his chest and huffed as she read it. "So they decided to go with calling you an... Orcian." She said after a moment. "Don't see what's so bad about that."

"I ain't an Orcian I'm a Verdomian!" Miktes growled. "Orcian is a stupid name."

"Yeah but its necessary Mister Miktes" Alfred pointed out. "The research that those cultural scientists did on Verdomo is public knowledge that and the fact it's a forbidden planet. We're just lucky that the military made all the official pictures top secret when the decommissioned the project."

Smiling at the younger man Barnabus gave him a peck on the cheek and reveled in the glare he received as the redhead's face reddened. "Besides Mickey what difference does it make? Only people who will look at it are the paper-pushers down at the center. All you need to focus on is doing your job and going out on missions with us."

His red eyes suddenly brightening at the mention of mission, Miktes grabbed Barnabus by his shoulder and spun him around rudely, pressing him against the wall as he dug into his mate's back pocket and pulled out his PAD. "Hey, we got one of those mission things at the Jack place." He said holding it out for Rana. "Says we gotta go hunt down this bastard and take him to a jail."

Frowning, Rana snatched the PAD out of Miktes hand and quickly brought up the page where any missions they had would be on. "I thought we talked about you taking missions without talking to all of us."

"Jalapeño, calm down Rana I didn't accept it I just wanted to see it. Wasn't even going to show it to anyone else." Barnabus quickly explained pushing Miktes off of him. "The one I did except is a simple delivery of beige paint to Taladrado three. We might be silver rank now but I don't think we'll ever--"

"Let's take it." Rana interrupted. "Never gone after a bounty before."

Getting up from his seat, papers flying in his wake Alfred went over to where Rana was standing and peering around the pilot to see the PAD himself. "I agree with Miss Najjar!" He said after reading it. "Ohh, look at his name Doctor Destroy-O! That sounds like one of those old bad guys from your movies!"

Barnabus could see the situation getting out of control in front of him and tried to nip in in the bud right there. "W-Wait a minute!" He said loudly. "We can't go and do something dangerous like bounty hunting. Not after all that stuff with the artifact."

"You mean that stuff we came out of victorious!" Miktes exclaimed as he grow excited. "Besides it ain't for you to just say we go or not. We do that voting thing now don't we?"

"He's right Captain." Alfred laughed. "And I vote we go."

"Me too." Miktes announced.

"And I make three." Rana said closing the polling. "But just in case, Moah what do you thing."

"I want to do it too." Moah said casting his vote, much to everyone surprise.

Tapping the side of his head to check his hearing Barnabus looked over to his mechanic. "Wait, what did you just say?"

Moah gave a bewildered look which he quickly covered with a manic sounding laugh. "Ji vangi xoll fa na faa!" He said in Girunjh.

"N-never mind." Taking a deep breath Barnabus looked over his crew who all returned his gaze with expectant eyes. He was supposed to be giving up this wanted to be a space hero thing. Suppose to be a responsible man. But seeing their faces he crumbled. They wanted to do this as badly as he did and it was an official mission unlike their last. "Alright everyone we're going on a bounty hunt." When everyone began to cheer the older man quickly cut them off. "But if things get hairy we say the heck with it and deliver the boring paint."

"Whatever you say captain." Rana said assuming her role as his second in command. "The ships all ready to go when you are. The engines, the navigation, and the computer. Moah just finished installing it this morning in fact."

"Ji Todori!" The Girunjh shouted from his seat. "Try. It. Out."

Looking up at the ceiling Barnabus did just that, barking out the simple command of, "Computer tell me where we all are right now.", and waiting as the AI processed his request.

"Tarnation!" The ship's computer blared over the com system. "Don't you have a pair of eyes in your skull son? Ya'll are bunkered down in the common room! What have you done gone plum loco!?"

"I am so glad you were able to salvage that Moah." Barnabus sighed sarcastically. "I guess we'll disembark in... five hours or so."

Rana gave a confused look. "Why five hours?" She asked.

"I got to do something to do first before we set out for the first time." Taking hold of Miktes hand the Jack began heading towards the cockpit of their new ship, his Verdomian lover following him dutifully. "We got to go christen the Wild Comet two first and I know just the way. We talked about it last night Mickey remember?"

Miktes thought back to their pillow talk the night before, a grin appearing on his tusked face when he understood what his mate was talking about. "Oh you mean us fucking in the new star room."

"WHAT!" Chasing after the two men as they disappeared through the door leading to the bridge, Rana found herself banging on the now locked door as who knows what went on behind it. "I am not going to let you soil my clean bridge you pair of animals!" She shouted futilely. "I just got finished making sure everything was spick and span!" When no response came she tried banging on the door harder. "Oh, for the love of god! You two are adults start acting like ones!"

"We are acting like adults Rana! Why else would be having sex right now?!" Barnabus shouted back through the door, much to Rana's annoyance and Alfred and Moah's amusement.

***************

Far away from the Wild Comet Two, high above the ground in Aquarii City's largest building a very perturbed Laird Clayworth sat behind the large desk inside of his lavish office sipping his morning tea. The reason for his foul mood was the lit late, late, late vid-phone sitting on his desk, the old machine displaying live video feed from the Warg home world as one of its inhabitants questioned him about Ragno's betrayal.

"Are you sure your people were able to sever any ties we had to Ragno and his fool hearty mission?" The Warg on the screen asked with a deep rumbling voice. "I don't want to report to high command that you failed us Laird."

Putting down his tea Laird gave the sinister creature a deep sigh. "I assure you Lord Jugulo my dear old friend that the men and women I employ are the best in their fields." The old human said waspishly. "They cleansed and mention of either you or me from all the computers on Ragno and Ekkar's ships. The military at large believes that your only attempt to break that ridiculous treaty was your search for that so called weapon. Something which I think you are more than capable in convincing them that was just Ragno's doing."

"Fine, I just wished to make sure. After all the years my people have spent acquiring allies against the I.U.G. I'd hate to have it all ruined by some impudent whelp's half-baked play for glory." Looking away from the screen the sinister Warg chieftain grunted a few rough words in his native language and shifted his focus back to his associate. "I'm afraid I must be going Clayworth. It seems there's something I must attend to elsewhere."

"I'll report to you in another week sire." Laird said with a small nod of obedience. "Until then." tapping a button on the vid-phone the elderly businessman watched as the screen went dark his own reflection staring back at him. "I swear... there are times I can swear that creature is sizing me up as a potential snack."

"Maybe you should request audio communications from now on Mr. Clayworth." A voice suggested from the other side of the CEO's desk. "That way you wouldn't have to watch him licking his scaly lips."

Peering away from the vid-phone Clayworth raised an eyebrow as he stared across his desk to Admiral McFarland of all people. The sixty plus year old military man standing casually in the center of the CEO's office.

"Oh so you finally here to report to me?" Laird said with a sniff. After taking a sip of his tea the older man raised an eyebrow at his guest. "Why in the universe do you still look like that? You know I can't risk people wondering why an admiral of your notoriety would suddenly visit someone like me."

"I-I'm sorry sir but my medal is malfunctioning." McFarland explained. "It was damaged during a small scuffle on the Resande involving a short human and a Girunjh. Keeps short-circuiting every time..." Suddenly the admiral's whole body flickered like static on a computer screen and he suddenly morphed into Harold, the man who had been Ekkar's temporary second in command. "...I begin to talk. Makes it hard to sneak around when I keep changing appearance every time it happens."

As if to prove its owner's point a button on Harold's team Ekkar uniform shot out a spark and caused him to shift in visage again, this time three times in a row. First Harold became one of the Ulfurry who had bothered Barnabus and his crew on Loma Prime, then the Ulfurry changed into the waitress that had given Miktes his hamburgers in the Aquarii station diner, and lastly the young woman transformed into the buxom and alluring Miss. Tryhere, personal secretary to the late Professor Tworows.

"I'm just lucky that the admiral had his own personal transport and that you have a service entrance." Miss Tryhere huffed. Reaching for her broach, the item having changed with every new form, she pulled it off and reverted back to her true appearance of an alien species with an almost emaciated looking body and bug like eyes.

Scrunching his nose at the disgusting man in front of him Laird went back to sipping his tea. "I'll have one of my assistants look at it later Zeemena." He assured the shape shifter. "You've done nothing but good work for me during this whole fiasco so I'll make sure to keep you around."

With a smirk Clayworth wondered how surprised Ekkar would have been to realize that he had placed a little mole in his operation. Just as shocked as the military at whole would have been he supposed. After all Admiral McFarland had been impersonated for a six full months since his "accidental" death by way of assassin.

Happy over his own perceived cleverness Laird picked up his personal PAD and opened the local news program to where he had left off before his call from the Warg homeworld. Eyes going over the community interest column he frowned as he saw a picture above a story about the capture of a notorious criminal called Doctor something or other. It was of a group of Jacks three humans, one Girunjh, and one that he personally knew was a Verdomian but was labeled in the article as an Orcian.

"Comet..." Laird growled vision going red. "That man has become a constant thorn in my side lately. Then again I should have expected. After all he is an Anderson."

Putting the news away again Laird got out of his chair and walked over to the large scenic window which overlooked the city. Dusting off a few crumbs from his breakfast off of his expensive suit as he looked out toward the spaceport the elderly made a mental not regarding the people who now had earned his ire.

"I'm going to have to keep an eye on you "Comet" now that you know about my secret." He said to himself. "Make sure that if you ever get in my way again I can put you and your little ragtag group of wastrels down like the mangy beasts you are."

***************

[{Barnabus: The human race has come a long way in a thousand years. Yeah there are still those of us who are selfish and do the wrong things. But you know what; I've got faith that we can get past that. After all things certainly have changed over the course of time. We've met so many other species as we've spread out across the universe. Smart races like the Girunjh who can do amazing things with the machinery and computers that we use in our everyday lives. Strong, durable races like the Corcalva, Ulfurry, and the Beestje who show us that we aren't the biggest and the baddest out there and need their help to survive. Lastly there are races like the Verdomians out there who remind us of where we came from and how we can help others see the wonders of a larger world.

That's not to say that there aren't others who aren't as nice. The Wargs and a certain Fidraon coming to mind. But I'm sure together we can make a go of becoming greater than we were before. Something truly spectacular like those old heroes I admire so much. Guess it's a good thing that there's Jacks out there like me and my crew too. People like us sort of show them all how working together actually works. Together with Rana, Alfred, and Moah I know I can do anything. That and also that I don't need to be some sort of great space hero to be happy. Just being with them is enough.

Miktes: Hey why didn't you include me in that last part too submissive!?

Barnabus: I was getting to you Mickey, I was getting to you. After all how could I forget the man I love?

Miktes: Alright now your being a smart ass again, aren't you?

Barnabus: Awe we're already starting to know what the other is thinking. Isn't that sweet?

Miktes: Yup being a smart ass. Anyway let me tell ya all: I've learned a lot of junk too. I've seen so many wondrous things after meeting Barnabus and the others. Really makes me wonder what I'd be like if none of this never happened. Probably still being running around the village fucking everything that moves, starting fights with the same old opponents, and being a general bastard. It might have been fun but it didn't make me happy in the end. Now things are different, now I got myself a bunch of friends who put up with my shit... sometimes. And you know I hate to say it out loud cause it's all mushy but I love the mouthy submissive. I wake up every day next to Barnabus and that's the best thing of all.

Barnabus: Geeze Mickey you certainly do know how to make a fella all red. You really are a big softie aren't you?

Miktes: Shuddup! There's nuffing soft 'bout me human! In fact... I'm starting to get hard right now after thinking about us in bed together.

Barnabus: Honesty? Right here in front of everyone?

Miktes: They've seen us do worse. Besides you really complaining?

Barnabus: ... ... ... Nope I don't think I'll ever complain. Guess this is goodbye for now folks. I got myself something to look into.

Barnabus & Miktes: Barnabus and Mickey Comet signing off!]}

THE END