FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

There were all countless creatures and races within the Connected Galaxies, of all kinds of shapes with their own cultures and ways of life. Some were naturally huge and strong, perfectly suited for battle or harsh environments while others were naturally smaller but found their own ways to thrive. In this age there was widespread peace among the galaxies, in the sense that there were no major wars going on but there were plenty of smaller everyday conflicts and battles to find or get caught in. Given their natural forms, there were roles that some races were a natural fit for. Strength, speed, intellect and everything in between. By working together gaps were able to be filled, resources traded and bonds forged that would have never come to be otherwise. It was a great boon for some places that had much to offer. Not on a planet but a space colony, Vos-3, was created a very long time ago and living on it was a population of foxes. Fox of various species with their own unique stand out traits. Though different in various ways, the colony lived in harmony. By now the colony was mostly one big mixing pot with most of the cities filled with various species all mingling without major issues but there were still plenty of places where groups of the same kind of fox could still be found, usually growing up there before venturing out into their world that was man made but expansive with a blend of infrastructure and nature. Among the different kinds of foxes, some stood out more than others thanks to their features such as the fennec foxes. Just taking one look at them it was obvious that fennec’s weren’t built for heavy lifting. They were small foxes ranging about 3 to 4 feet tall on average. With their small size there was only so much strength one could possess on their own. Fennecs could be found in all kinds of places but when it came to those from Vos-3, their “strength” lay elsewhere, a collective talent that made them highly sought. At some point their natural curiosity led them to a culture of salvaging and from there they were fixing things up. And over time the fennec’s district especially became a hotspot for unsanctioned repairs and upgrades. Their culture was practically one of refurbishing to rebuilding and even hacking to make things work even better than before. They could do just about anything. From bringing life back to burnt out weapons from completely upgrading ships. There was a whole market for repairs or selling parts that got many daily visitors. Vos-3 was very popular and yet that popularity came purely from word of mouth. After all it wasn’t smart to go openly blabbing about where one got their illegal tech enhancements from. If you had enough creds or even some valuable spare parts you could get practically anything you wanted. It became a crucial part of their infrastructure and income so most young fennecs were brought up knowing how to salvage and repair on some level. It wasn’t uncommon seeing a kid making practical repairs on their own. And Theo had been no exception. As a young adult he was athletic and had knowledge of so many ways to interact with machines and tech, growing up in and working within a shop. As far as fennecs went, Theo was one of many. Standing at about 3 and a half feet with a lithe athletic build from running about the junkyards. One had to be fast if they wanted to get the best parts. While most foxes were inviting and outgoing, Theo was more brash and could get easily annoyed. He was more personable in his own way, doing things that he felt were worth his time and not bothering with anything else. His fur pattern was more unique as well. With black fur with grey accents. He wore a golden chain that was a gift to him and braided hair atop his head. Though he wasn’t the most friendly of foxes, his skills with tech and practicality couldn’t be denied. While things were all fine while on the colony, when interacting with visitors or occasionally going elsewhere Theo got to take in the scale of how many different places and peoples there were and how many of them were larger and stronger than himself. It was something he didn’t put much thought into at first but with time it did bother Theo that he could never hope to reach the natural strength of some others, all because of his own natural limitations. The most fennecs could do in tight situations were either band together to overpower their foe or rely on tech. By chance Theo’s large ears picked up on someone else’s conversation: talk of some kind of project that had been in development and would be ready sooner than later. Curious, Theo did some snooping around in the back alleys of the scrap markets where things were more chaotic. This area was home to the true black market that offered much more than the usual services. One of the first places that Theo came across was an adult club where the patrons were visiting races while all the employees were fennecs. It was no secret that fennecs maintained a high population and there was a fair number of visitors to their colony who weren’t looking for anything related to tech but the allure of their small bodies... All on his own, Theo got himself more familiar with the place, coming around more often after work. He became a regular face there and landing a hand earned him trust and access. That’s when he was offered a job that would take him off the colony. Theo eagerly took it and that led him on the path of becoming a regular within the underground guild. Apparently Theo wasn’t the only fennec unsatisfied with the expectations placed upon them. This was an expanded operation that had been going on for years, fueling other hidden operations such as research and weapon-crafting. Going on different missions that took him to different places, Theo got more into this new kind of life. He made some mistakes, got roughed up and had to learn his limits. The guild wouldn’t be helping him if he got in any danger, couldn’t risk exposing themselves for the sake of one that was in over their heads. So if things got rough Theo had no choice but to grin and bear it. Through trial, error, and working his way up the ranks, he gained respect and recognition, enough to be invited to some kind of meeting that was only known about through word of mouth. At the meeting it was explained to him and other fennecs that there was a very credible rumor from the guild networks. That there was some kind of isolated lab that was working on something big. Some kind of genetic project, a serum that could supposedly even imbue a regular fennec with the traits of other races. Though isolated the lab was still high security and was the kind of place that would execute any caught intruder on sight without interrogation. He knew it was trouble but Theo couldn’t keep himself away. He kept himself updated on any info about this lab and the serum being made, its progress and if there were any plans from those running the guild to send any of them to try and retrieve it. Though he was comfortable with the way he currently was, Theo couldn’t resist the potential of going beyond his limits as a small fox. Even if he could use his natural agility and smaller size to effectively sneak, ambush, and steal high value items...Theo knew that fennecs like him were often overlooked just about everywhere else within the Connected Galaxies. Word came from the guild that the serum was complete and it was going to be taken somewhere unknown. Of course the labs funded by the guild wanted to get their hands on that. It could be a huge boon for their black markets. So naturally they needed some fennecs willing to risk their necks to get it. This was the chance that Theo was waiting for! He wasn’t the first to volunteer but he had been the loudest, not caring that he had to pay in order to participate because of liability. When the time came he boarded a ship that would take them to the isolated moon that the lab was built on. Months of spying, observations, and inside info from a mole prepared the team manning the ship for this. It rocked hard when they were close by, being rattled by some kind of energy field but with the press of a button, the pilot activated a device on the ship that was sending out discordant energy waves that countered the ones coming from the barrier. With more turbulence they passed through and all but crashed down onto the moon because of the ship’s calibration systems getting a bit muddled. “Ready?” the coordinator of the mission asked Theo and the other fennecs that were suited and ready just like him. They all confirmed that they were. There was only one chance to get that serum and it was only a matter of time before their presence was discovered. So they moved out, acting with the knowledge that any of them would or wouldn’t be coming back… Things fell apart fast and Theo got separated from his crew but he wound up finding what he came for. A glass tube with metal panels meant to keep the fluid stabilized and contained, having a steady blinking light to indicate their functioning state. Theo managed to get into the lab and he was alone, not wasting any time to get what he came here for. But as soon as he grabbed it there was an alarm going off. The cause wasn’t because of him but because of the other fennecs that got caught by patrolling guards. But that put the whole place on high alert. Though Theo was running as fast as he could to the exit and notified the others of his actions, he still ran into some guards that proved the rumors true by shooting at Theo without saying a word. The fennec only just managed to dodge the rain of laser shots and kept running for the exit and he nearly made it there. There was another guard who was nearby, waiting for any that would be making an escape and when Theo crossed their line of sight he shot. It would have hit Theo if not for the glass tube that blocked the shot, being held at his side with both hands. While it did block the shot and kept him unscathed, the glass burst and the glowing liquid inside exploded, getting onto Theo, first bursting onto the fennec’s fur but it sunk further down to his skin. Theo was still running, even while the serum burned like actual fire all throughout him. He kept running and got back to the ship. Through the pain he was feeling, Theo was surprised but glad to see that the other fennecs tasked on their mission were already on board. When they returned to Vos-3 Theo was ushered to one of the labs. He was quickly strapped down as the scientists were quick to try and recover the serum from him. As they were doing their best to ready their tools and needles to draw his blood, something was already happening to Theo. The burning died away but was replaced with an aching that turned into the pain of his body ripping. Fibers snapping under his black and grey pelt. As he took heavy breaths and groaned hoarsely, Theo experienced the fear of wondering if he was going to die from this. The only way he could describe it was like being unmade, like his insides were pulling themselves apart, his joints screaming like they were getting yanked from the sockets. But with every ripped muscle was an expansion and firming. And those joints were developing even thicker cartilage, his body as a whole reforming itself into something much more substantial. At some point he passed out from the pain but eventually he opened his eyes and drew his first conscious breath. Just breathing felt so much different. He blinked up at the ceiling, still the same sterile white, still the same buzzing overhead lights, but there was something different that he was aware of. The scent clashing scents of blood and cleaner used to cover it were sharper, the hum of devices monitoring his vitals more distinct, the weight of his own limbs heavier. As he inhaled and exhaled he felt the greater pressure on his chest and looked down at his own body, seeing his full, thick chest and his bulky arms. That same lab coat wearing fennec came back and undid the straps. “Welcome to the new you,” she said with some awkward awe in her voice. Theo sat up slowly, the bed groaning a bit under the added weight. There was a nearby mirror he approached and stared. That wasn't him. Couldn't be. The fennec in the reflection had shoulders nearly 3 times as broad as they'd been that morning, his same fur now over big firm pecs and thick, wide arms that he could feel the strength coming from. He had been fit before but now his core was defined, showing through his thick fur. All of his limbs were so wide and bulky but it looked so natural too. He didn’t gain much more height but that was something he could definitely overlook. Scans were done on Theo to determine the exact way that the serum affected him. But midway through his muscles shrank and his body returned to its usual lithe, athletic form. Everyone was surprised, the scientists going back and forth on how this could be. Eventually it was concluded that the serum must have been a dud or at least incomplete. Theo wasn’t sure what triggered it but when was just trying to leave the lab and was getting a hard time from the staff he was regaining his muscle and added height, returning to the muscular form he donned before. Theo was of course shocked by all of this, not knowing what he exactly did to bring it back. Of course the scientists were all over again but this time they made Theo a direct offer of a room and even paid to properly do observations on him. Theo was kept in the lab for about a week later and he was given plenty to do in that time. Theo had all kinds of tests presented to him, all with the purpose of testing his strength and reflexes. From lifting, to pulling, to throwing, objects of size and weight that a regular fennec couldn’t usually handle were perfectly manageable for Theo. It was like something out of a dream, more than what Theo had been initially wanting. They had him testing just how strong he truly was. It was also discovered that Theo could change his form between regular and muscular at will if he just focused, but his enhanced body could only be maintained for an hour at maximum. After that length of time his body would automatically revert. There was also a drawback. It burned through a lot more energy and the closer that Theo got to that hour limit, the weaker he would be by the end, needing rest or plenty to eat if not both. After some extensive tests Theo and the other augmented ones were scaled to be on par with the lower half of the top 500 races when scaled for physical strength. Compared to how an ordinary fennec scaled that was a massive improvement. With this kind of power combined with their tech know-how, there was no telling how this could uplift their race as a whole. The lab techs had called it augmentation. Theo called it cheating and he loved cheating if it could get him ahead. Even all of that pain had been worth it in so many ways. Having the body beyond his dreams and the enhancements affected every part of him. In fact it seemed he was hit with a side effect. It wasn’t until he got a physical in his enhanced form that Theo had noticed that his package had been even bigger, which he had no qualms about but when he got erect and found out how big he really became, Theo was shocked but also loved it. He truly felt like he could do anything. Extensive bloodwork was done on Theo but ultimately the scientists couldn’t extract the serum. It had become a part of Theo, bonded to him in a way that couldn’t be so easily separated. Eventually Theo was told that he was free to go but through the doors of the room he was staying in, he could hear the conversation taking place on the other side of the metal door. Even when not in his more muscular form, Theo discovered for himself that his regular body had been boosted. He was still much stronger than a regular fennec, he was more durable, and his senses were heightened, enough for him to hear them discuss taking him out. If they couldn’t get the serum from his blood then they needed to take him apart and examine every piece until they could find out how. Naturally Theo was planning a breakout and was sure that he could do it with his newly granted strength, but he got some unexpected help from another force. Word of the lab break-in had made its word to the Federation and they came to Vos-3 with no warning. Armored enforcers came kicking in the back alley lab’s doors and dragging their techs into the street by their scruffs. Theo took advantage of the chaos. Between himself and all the illegal research they had, the lab staff chose to hide or dump all the info they could. Powering his way through the few tasks with keeping him in place, Theo didn’t run out in the open but gambled with crawling through the vents in his regular body. He got to the roof and jumped from it onto a nearby room and kept it up until he was a good distance away on the rooftop of a scrap depot, ears flat against his skull as the Federation's sleek, gunmetal-gray dropships touched down. Their drones circled overhead, blaring the same sanitized message on loop: "Compliance is mandatory." Theo had heard about the Federation, the way they really were. He kept away from them as they swept through the colony, finding himself pressed to the lining of the cargo hauler that was half cut up for its metal already. They swept through the lab district first, their armored agents spreading out through the alleys while drones were surveying from above. By dawn, the labs were hollowed-out shells. The Federation didn't just shut down the project; they erased it. Data cores were smashed and melted. Hard drives were fed into crushers. Those within the lab that didn’t escape during the raid were being taken away, their hands bound and snouts muzzled with shock collars. Theo watched it all from the shadows, his claws digging into the wood of the old shop he was hiding in. The Federation's official statement came from every public screen in Vos-3's capital by midday. A sleek, silver furred vulpine in a Federation uniform stared into the cameras with an even, practiced tone. "Unregulated experimentation threatens the delicate balance of the Connected Galaxies," she said with an expression that seemed earnest enough. It seemed the Federation deliberately chose to use a fox as the messenger, likely to come off as more personable to the colony of vulpines. Things changed dramatically. The Federation didn’t leave. Based on witness accounts from the lab they knew that a fennec either the serum in some form and they were determined to keep searching, keeping Theo on the move. Of course they didn’t just stop after taking care of the lab. They turned their attention to the markets and uncovered all of the unsanctioned, illegal repairs and changes that were made to devices. For the sake of their dependency on the market for their livelihoods, the Federation allowed them to continue but now they could only make approved repairs which had an immediate effect on their revenue. Even if he felt it was too boring at times, Theo had nothing but love and pride for his home. He couldn’t help but feel like all of this was because of him. Sure it started with the guild and labs that wanted to use the serum but he didn’t have to join in and be the cause of the Federation occupying his home. He watched from the shadows as his people, once proud, curious, resourceful, stooped under the weight of new restrictions. The Federation had dismantled the black markets first, calling them "havens for a brewing disaster." When he got the chance, Theo snuck his way onto a visiting ship that was undocking and leaving the colony. His intention was to leave his home but that wouldn’t be all. Getting in contact with someone that wouldn’t give him up, Theo wanted them to start a rumor that wasn’t a rumor for the most part: that there was a fennec that had the serum and they’re leaving the planet and won’t be returning. This info was likely swirling all throughout Vos-3 but Theo was more concerned with wedging himself between crates and listened to the deckhands lament the closure of their favorite fennec club. Seeing a chance, Theo dared to show himself and made an offer to them. If they were looking to have some fun with a fennec then they had one on board. This was the start of his new way of living and he had to be willing to survive completely on his own. So he kept the ship crew satisfied and they gave him a ride. He even earned himself some credits that he could use. The Federation patrols would be scanning outgoing ships. The captain knew which officials to bribe, doing a favor for the fennec that had done so much for them... But as it turned out, Theo had stolen a few things from the ship, getting something back for all the roughness he had to endure. Now the fennec found himself within a public station that was filled with so many others coming and going and with his small size he was able to keep out of sight until he had gotten far enough away. Once Theo got some breathing room his eyes fell on the bounty posters stuck to alley walls, promising a payout for bringing in the targets. It was rough work at first. Theo could only track down those who were within the general area since he was lacking a ship. Not having much on his person he had to improvise, luckily that was what he was brought up to do. He salvaged and put together his own weapons and tools. Using what he could find, which was usually busted up stuff, it served for the time being. With so much on his mind Theo used these missions to get his frustrations out, especially when he got his hands on the target. Most offered dead or alive rewards but he always brought them in alive, at most leaving them severely roughed up. He was working his way up. Of course there were those who looked down on him because of his small size. So he relished the chance to show them up, gradually earning himself enough credits to buy more quality things. The more he did, the more in tune he got with the way of bounty hunting and its network, learning how to find the truly worthwhile missions. Like before he was going from place to place but it wasn’t to run away. Acting on his own accord, chasing the thrills and sights of new places all across the Connected Galaxies, Theo felt he found his true calling in life. Most of the creds he kept for himself but he always sent some back home to Vos-3 and dared to send messages that he didn’t expect responses to. But he did get one. One from Vos-3 thanking him and assuring him that things were much better there now. He was glad to hear that but thought it best not to go back, not when he was having so much fun… *** Years later Theo had nothing to do but pace about for hours, his bare footpaws going back and forth over the smooth, cool flooring of the holding cell. He was clad in a jumpsuit, lacking anything he came with. No weapons, tools, or even his credits. There was nothing at his disposal. He tried to think but it was hard with that constant buzzing. The walls were humming from the power that charged them. This wasn’t some cheap, low quality jail cell that he could somehow get himself out of. The bars were beams of laser light, burning even when his hand got close. That was Federation tech. His ears flicked back in time with his scowl. There were no grooves in the flooring. No weak spots. Perfectly polished and diamond hard alloy, perpetually cold under his paws, likely done on purpose to slowly sap his strength. The ceiling that he couldn’t reach was made of the same material. Even the walls were perfectly smooth with no way for him to climb up. Nothing to latch or even sink his claws into. “Fuckin’ Federation,” he muttered aloud. He leaned his head against the cold wall and rubbed his wrists where the cuffs had dug in over the course of an entire night. They still stung a bit there. He got caught in a raid. It had nothing to do with the job he had taken on. He was completely unaware of a horde of Federation agents swarming the warehouse he had already snuck into, barring the entrances before Theo even realized. He managed to lay low and intended to do so until the raid was over. But the Federation had countless small drones with tech that scanned for all lifeforms in an area, sensing Theo through objects and keeping on him no matter where he went. He was ultimately dragged out of a vent shaft and slapped in those cuffs before getting shoved into a cell all on his lonesome. From somewhere close by there was the hissing of a door and approaching footsteps. Coming in view were two armored figures. Humanoid bodies but their faces were concealed behind helmets. Their rifles weren’t pointed at him but were at the ready if need be as one of them accessed the panel and turned off the lasers. “Finally. You guys take an extended lunch break or something?” he asked, barring his teeth, even with the risk of being shot. The other just gestured sharply with their rifle toward the hallway. "Move," came the mechanized voice through the helmet's filter. Theo flicked an ear but complied, padding forward, of course in no rush to go wherever he was meant to. But the guards surrounded him and moved him along at their pace. The hallway beyond was all sterile white panels and consistent gentle lighting. Theo didn’t like how artificial everything looked. Beyond it all just being stone, plastic, and tech there was no personality what so ever. No shadows, no blind spots either. "Real homey," he muttered, scanning the ceiling for cameras. Dozens of tiny lenses tracked his every movement like eyes. The doors at the end of the hall slid open ahead, revealing something he wasn’t at all expecting: a wide, circular chamber with a large observation deck overhead. At its center stood a holoprojector, shimmering with the rotating emblem of the Federation: a star surrounded by chains. "Ah. The infamous Theodore Gray." The voice came from above. Theo glanced up to see three holographic figures projected before him. Two humans in crisp, high-collared uniforms, and between them was a lynx in a tailored suit, her golden eyes gleaming with something between amusement and calculation. She was the one who'd spoken. "We’ve been reviewing your file. Quite the… accomplished career." "It's Theo," the fennec said flatly, his tail lashing behind him. The lynx chuckled. "Theo, then." The holographic lynx waved her hand and the holoprojector flickered, displaying an additional rotating list of bounty postings, all with Theo’s name highlighted for emphasis. "You’ve made quite the mess in all kinds of places. The infamous bounty hunter. Robbery, kidnapping, vandalism. And more than a few assaults on our very own Federation members. Very impressive..." "But what really interests us," she continued, tilting her head slightly, "...Is that you've never actually killed anyone. Not even for clients that specifically requested for you to do so." The lynx gestured lazily, and the hologram shifted again, this time to a blurred security feed of Theo tackling some scrawny anthro into a dumpster. "Odd, for someone with your... reputation." Theo snorted. "Yeah, well. Getting them to disappear is close enough to kill them." He crossed his arms, tail flicking in irritation. "You gonna get to the point, or just jerk yourselves off over my file all day?" The lynx’s grin didn’t waver. "Direct. I like that." She leaned forward, resting her elbows likely on some desk that the hologram wasn’t also projecting. "Here’s the point, Theo. The Federation doesn’t waste talent. And you? You’re very talented. We also understand your capture was more or less an accident. Nevertheless it’s a chance we can’t pass up. I think we can solve both problems at once." Theo’s ears twitched. This wasn’t the usual threats or sentencing. He’d been expecting a one-way trip to a penal colony, not the start of some vague proposal. "Solve?" he echoed, skepticism dripping from the word. "You gonna ‘solve’ those problems with a bullet to the back of my head? ‘Cause I know you’ve still been looking for me. Still can’t let it go, huh?" The lynx's grin didn't waver. "We're offering you a choice, Theo. Spend the next decade using that false strength breaking rocks in the Cerberus mines... or serve your sentence under Federation supervision." She gestured again and another hologram zoomed in on a large ship’s interior: crew quarters, a mess hall, even what looked like a half-decent gym. "With certain privileges, of course." Theo's tail stopped mid-flick. He'd heard of this scam before; convicts "volunteering" for suicide missions dressed up as civic duty. "Yeah, right. You wanna dress me up in a Federation uniform and send me out to play good boy?" He flicked his ears dismissively, turning his back on the hologram. "Pass. I'll take the rocks." The lynx sighed. "Pity." She tapped a claw against the railing again, and the extra hologram changed into the sprawling, jagged landscape of Cerberus Penitentiary, its pointed spires jutting from a wasteland of boiling pits and dry barren land. "You'd last six months down there. Not to mention coming across all those you’ve inadvertently helped us apprehend. I’m sure more than a few would be eager to carve you up. It’s every man for himself there. And even fennecs like you aren't built for that kind of heat." Theo heard about it as well. That Cerberus wasn’t a prison; it was a hellhole. But the alternative? Playing fetch for the Federation? The claws of his feet flexed against the floor. "Six months sounds like a vacation," he lied, flashing a grin full of teeth. Theo stuck to his guns and his gamble paid off. Despite what the Federation promised, the courts were much lighter on him. Considering that he never killed anyone and his actions did play roles in getting undeniably evil people arrested and imprisoned, he was shown leniency by still getting sentenced to 10 years but in a high security intergalactic prison instead. Sure he would still be locked up but Theo still saw it as a victory. He didn’t give the Federation what they wanted and powers higher than them put him in a place that would be a lot more enjoyable for him. It would take some time for him to form a plan to break out but in the meantime he could take some leisurely time in a provided room and 3 meals a day without having to worry about the Federation keeping an eye on him…