FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Did you do as I asked?"

Balu Blackcat looked up from the paper he was reading, all thoughts of the dismal football season suddenly put to the back of his mind as he stared at the young raccoon girl in front of him and sighed. "Did I do...what?"

Destiny folded her arms, glared and said nothing. She was good at that.

And the bear-fox knew it.

"Des, I can't very well GUESS if-"

But the girl was already ticking off data like a computer gone wild. "June 5th, 2011, four-oh-eight PM, Greenwich Mean Time, 14352 Gallowsfaire Road, Flat-"

"Oh!" Realization hit him full on and he recovered, shaking his head. "Yes, yes, it was done already. In fact, about two minutes ahead of time. I moved the box, just as you said..."

The raccoon stared at him, her small arms still crossed, the deep blue in her eyes catching fire.

"What?"

"Where did you move the box?"

Balu's voice faltered as he tried to think. "Er...beside the porch, out of the way of the sidewalk." He set the paper down. "You said Mrs. Ketchens would be walking at 4:06 PM today, would trip over the box and fall headlong into the street where she would be struck by a bus and break her legs. So I moved the box away from the sidewalk and out of harm's way and..." The bear-fox could see the raccoon's eyes growing steadily darker and he trailed off. "Did...something happen?"

Destiny tapped her tiny footpaw on the carpet. "The milkman happened by to collect empty bottles, tripped over the box you had placed by the porch, pitched backwards in a stupor, knocked into Mrs. Ketchens and sent her headlong into the street where she was struck by a bus. She's recuperating at Yorkshire North with two broken legs. Expected to make a full recovery, but still..." Her glare turned accusing. "You blew it, Balu..."

The bear-fox looked taken aback. "I...I did what you asked! Do I or do I not usually manage to set things right when you ask me to?!"

"I ask you for one favor..."

"No, you ask me for one DAILY favor, remember? Part of our agreement for keeping you here as one of our own?"

Nikki had walked in, hearing the commotion, arms filled with freshly-baked baguettes. "Would you two stop arguing? Really, Balu, you know better. If Des is displeased, it is up to us to fix things." Her pearl-white smile looked forced, as if she were trying to do so while taking a particular large injection.

Destiny looked at the feline, her face softening. "Thank you, Nikki. Oooh, may I have some jelly with a slice of that?"

Nikki's sweet smile slipped a notch. "Oh...of course...I...I was just about to take these next-door to the Brins but..." She saw a little trickle of fire light from the girl's eyes and she caught herself. "Right after I give our lovely daughter a treat!" The cat looked uneasily at the bear-fox, and the little girl dropped her temperament with Balu, skipping behind Nikki into the kitchen, her fluffy tail bobbing.

Just then, the front doorbell sounded. Balu got up from the couch and opened the door to a small red fox boy. "May I help you, son?"

The fox looked up at the adult and sniffed haughtily. "She's here, isn't she?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Oh, please," he waved a small paw dismissively, "I am NOT in the mood. Just show me in like a good mortal before I do something I'll not regret for longer than a few seconds..." And he was already walking past him.

"Now you just wait one moment, mister!" Balu's paw when to the young boy's shoulder and stopped him in his tracks. "I don't know what orphanage wall you scaled, or fence you crawled out from under, but you have NO, I repeat *NO* cause to-" He suddenly flinched and pulled his paw away, holding it gingerly to his stomach. "Ow! That's hot! You...you burned me!" The bear-fox quickly hurried into the kitchen, opened the freezer door and stuck his paw in. The two girls glanced at each other, and Nikki asked cautiously. "Is...everything alright...dear?"

Balu grabbed a few ice cubes and glared at the cat. "No...no, not quite. Some ruffian. I will deal with him..."

The young fox casually strolled into the kitchen and stared at the raccoon. "You."

Destiny's eyes glittered as she got up from the table. "I'm sorry?" As she walked over to him, her eyes began to sparkle, but the coy smile didn't leave her face. "You appear to be in the wrong house. Get away from here before I decide to do something otherwise nasty to you..."

The young fox's green eyes widened, and he started to laugh good and loud, but it was hearty. "Oh, goodness...Destiny. So nice to finally meet you in the fur..." He got over his laughter and pushed past Nikki to sit down beside the raccoon. "My name is Fari. And...we really need to talk."

Destiny's eyes shifted. "Talk about...what?"

Fari chuckled, "What you're doing. Come on, I've been watching for a few months now...no sense hiding it. You're Destiny, right?" He paused to lean closer to her, studying her eyes. "Oh yes...it's you. I can see the life in those eyes...the light of the whole world, the dreams of many..." The raccoon pulled away, looking disheveled.

"So? What about it? Who are you?"

"Yes, and what right do you have barging in to our home?" Balu added from the safety of the refrigerator door, still nursing his paw.

The fox smiled. "Mrs. Margaret Ketchens is supposed to break her legs so that she can be taken to Yorkshire North, where she will fall hopelessly in love with her roommate Mr. Thomas S. Berks of 1421 Lancashire Way, who is about to take a nasty spill off a step-ladder while replacing the porch light bulb little Timothy Turner swatted out with an errant throw of his baseball while trying to show his friends a curve-ball. Thomas and Margaret will soon marry, have three children, and die together in a motor accident on the Parkway in the year 2056, when she will be 92 and he will be 97..."

He stopped talking as he noticed everyone was staring at him, then waved a paw in frustration at them and spoke to Destiny. "I am Fari, but I am called Fate." His green eyes bore into Balu's. "And...you are not supposed to be interfering with me..."

The raccoon's eyes narrowed. "They're NOT interfering. I am doing exactly what I should be doing and they are helping me!"

The fox sighed, "Enlisting the aid from mortals to do your work? Really?"

Destiny colored. "I'm allowed! It's part of our arrangement with Ethereal Affairs. Call them if you don't believe me."

Fari rolled his eyes. "Fine, but when your mortal...pets...mess up, common sense and regulations unfortunately intervene. In the case of Mrs. Ketchens, we had a fate-fault."

"Wh-what is that?" Balu said and slowly came out from behind the refrigerator.

Fari sighed, "A fate-fault is when something out of the ordinary initiates the wrong cause and effect and ends up with someone having the fate he or she was not intended to have..." He looked accusingly at the bear-fox. "When the milkman stumbled on that box and put Ketchens in the street, you made him exactly 45 seconds late for his milkrun. Mr. Collins, the milkman in discussion, subsequently failed to make a brake-light on Eastern Drive, had to wait for the light to change and was killed about one minute later by a drunk driver coming down Brisbane. He'd have never BEEN on Brisbane if you had moved that blasted box elsewhere. This is absolutely unacceptable. Ethereal Affairs has been on my tail now for the last hour trying to put Mr. Collins elsewhere. He's in a bit of a state, to be sure. We had to pull a fast finagle and have him wake up on the morgue table as soon as the doctor was about to start the autopsy. God knows what this will do to his wife..."

Balu looked aghast and traded glances with Nikki. "I'm...I'm so sorry, I...had no idea what...but, please, she just told me to move a box from the sidewalk, how am I supposed to know WHERE?"

Destiny chimed in. "Wait...I thought I'm allowed to give them whatever I want them to have?" and then snorted derisively, "You have no say what goes on, Fate. You're the end-person. Until they get to you, I'm allowed my freedom. End of story."

"To a POINT," the young fox conceded, "But not when you get someone killed who is not SUPPOSED to."

"And that's MY fault?"

"Yes! It's YOUR fault, Miss Outsource!"

"Excuse me?!"

"Destiny isn't supposed to play the part of judge, jury and executioner. You are supposed to have the hidden power to control events. That doesn't mean you have to interfere when you don't have the whole picture."

Destiny retorted. "Look, I am not the one who pulls the thread or cuts it. I am the one who guides the person to his or her end - which is YOU. Look Fari, it's complicated enough figuring out when to interfere and when to let things go, but you making demands makes it even worse."

Fari replied, "I am ultimately responsible to Ethereal Affairs to make sure that their plans go according to their schedule. I can't have some random numbered girl making changes to their carefully laid-"

"Random NUMBERS? What I do is planned and carefully thought out - alright, well not today, but that was because my time table wasn't followed....and furthermore..."

Nikki sat down carefully between the two children. "I'm sorry," she tried with a smile, "Look...you two obviously are at an impasse, but...Fate, you have the final say, of course. We, as a people, respect you, and accept you, regardless of what ultimately awaits us. Fate can intervene just as much as Destiny can..." She caught the raccoon's look and quickly added, touching the boy's arm. "But Destiny is very special to us. She's the little girl we always wanted in our lives. She grants dreams and wishes and so many wonderful things sometimes..."

She looked into Fari's eyes and her smile seemed brighter. "Does it really matter when two people should meet in their lives? Would it be possible that some day, Margaret Ketchens and Thomas Berk might meet some other way, perhaps in less stressful and painful circumstances? It IS possible, isn't it?"

The fox huffed, "Well, all things are possible, according to Affairs but-"

"We are humbly sorry for what happened to the milkman. Whatever should be re-paid for the hardship, my husband Balu and I would gladly make amends. It was a very honest mistake...a simple lack of communication, nothing more."

Fari sighed as he looked at the feline, and something in her eyes finally coaxed out a wry smile. "Alright...I...I suppose mistakes can happen..." He shook his head, "I'll be all night trying to convince the higher-ups to just let Destiny here loose to do what she wants though..."

"Well," the bear-fox joined his wife at the table. "You don't have to do that. I mean, if something is meant, then you should have final say on the matter, just as you have the final say on...well, everything. I believe you and Destiny can come to some sort of agreement...?"

Destiny grinned and tugged at the fox's arm. "She makes the most amazing baguettes..."

Fari tilted his head curiously. "I...would not say no to a slice..."

**

"Balu!"

"What?" He and Nikki looked at each other as they snuggled in bed in the darkness.

The raccoon's voice was almost shrill from her bedroom. "Reminder! Seven-forty AM tomorrow sharp! 453 Townsend Drive, Flat 19. Mr. Pillbrick. Take out the loose lightbulb on the front porch and put in a fresh one!"

Fari's voice called out from another room. "And for God's sake, do NOT step on the daffodils on the front lawn next to the bird-bath!"

Balu growled loudly, "What the devil do FLOWERS have to do-!"

"Just trust me!"

Balu sighed and looked down at the naked feline underneath him giggling softly. "And what's so funny?"

Nikki flushed, still laughing, and stroked his cheek. "Nothing...just something I was thinking, about Fate lending a hand..."

Balu looked hard at her and then chuckled, bending his head down to nuzzle at her neck before making love.

**

Weeks passed. One morning Destiny skipped happily into the kitchen and sat down as Fari was finishing his breakfast, a smug smile on her otherwise soft face.

The young fox said nothing, but grunted around his bowl of oatmeal.

"That's twice..." the raccoon grinned wider, and curled her legs up on the chair to lean close to the young boy, giving his cheek a playful tweak.

Fari sniffed haughtily and shook her paw away. "I was not aware we were keeping score. Otherwise, Des, I could count the errors you have made, had I more fingers and toes." He spooned the last of the cereal and reached for a baguette slice, spreading on some raspberry jam with care. "Eat and get dressed. We have our meeting today at noon sharp. Much to prepare for."

The girl sighed and nodded, looking a bit glum as she helped herself to a slice as well. "I hate the monthly reviews. I'm always so nervous."

"I do not see the point." The fox replied around a mouthful, now busy reading the paper.

"The point of the reviews?"

"No, silly girl. Being nervous. If you were not a proper agent, Ethereal Affairs would have thrown the towel in on you by now."

Destiny hugged her arms to herself and nodded. "Still, it bothers me. I've been a little blue all morning. Something nagging at me. God knows what."

"About?" Fari quickly took out a pen from his front shirt pocket and circled "Man Arrested in Tavern Scuffle Over Pints".

She sighed deeply. "Nikki, Balu...I've seen some auras lately around them that I can't really explain. Usually they're so colorful, but lately...it's like they are faded somewhat, washed out...what?" She stopped talking as the fox stared at her in sudden fear.

"Oh no..." he whispered, then leaned forwards, grabbing her paw. "Are you sure?! Are you completely positive of this?!" His grip tightened and Destiny winced, trying to get loose.

"What's wrong? Ow! Let go of me!"

"Dammit, Des, THINK. Even you should understand! If there is an interruption, or a change in their auras, any at all, it means something is about to happen to them!" He whipped out a small notepad from his jacket and tapped in several keys furiously. "Here...look!"

He turned the tiny screen to the raccoon so she could read. "Mr. and Mrs. Balu and Nikki Blackcat. September 16th, 2011. Nine-fifty-eight GMT. Number five-three...wait, so what? What's this have to do with-"

"Read the last column. The red one..."

"Scheduled for...expiration?! You mean they're going to die tomorrow?!"

Fari swallowed hard. "That must be why their auras are different. And Affairs never informed me because..."

Destiny's eyes widened. "Wait a minute. You mean, it's not up to YOU? Someone else has to kill them?!"

"Shush! Not so loud, they will hear us..."

"Let them! I think they should know they're about to leave this world!"

"NO!" he whisper-shouted, "If a mortal is aware of his of her end-fate, do you have ANY idea the damage we could do to the- WAIT!"

Destiny was already running out of the kitchen, crying. Trying to give chase, Fari's tail caught one of the chair-legs and he tripped, spilling dishes with a loud clatter. Before he could disentangle himself from the mess, Nikki had returned from the backyard, holding a watering can.

"My goodness, what happened here?" the cat smiled as she looked down at Fari and helped him up. "You're such a mess sometimes, foxy. I don't know why we put up with you..." She laughed sweetly and knelt down to kiss his forehead, causing him to blush to the tips of his ears. "How about some hot cocoa before you're off to work?"

Balu arrived from the foyer looking quite troubled, with Destiny at his side, staring coldly at the fox.

Fari swallowed again. "Um...I can explain this..."

"Explain what, dear-heart?" Nikki turned to ask Fari before she approached Balu, purrring and rubbing noses with him.

"That...that you mean to kill us?" Balu tried, his throat completely dry. Even the cat's warm purrs and affection lacked sentiment just now.

"What?!" Nikki cried out in alarm mid-nuzzle.

"Oh, but it's true, isn't it?" The bear-fox glowered at the lad, his lips curled into a snarl. "I don't understand. What in Heaven's name did we do to warrant such..." Tears filled his eyes and he held the cat in his arms closely, crying with her.

Fari hung his head and then sighed. "Why do mortals make such a big deal about this? There is really nothing wrong with dying. It is natural. It is a different path and stage of your life, nothing more. When the time comes, and you are chosen for your end-fate, that is your ultimate destiny..." He glanced sidelong at Destiny and added, "From the very moment we are born, we live for the sole purpose of dying. You know that, I know that..." He puffed his cheeks, "And now, thanks to Miss Nosey, YOU both know..."

"Will someone please tell me what is happening?!" Nikki's voice had become shrill and Fari immediately waved a paw towards her, enveloping the cat in a very warm, glowing aura.

"What are you..."

"To soothe her," the fox said casually, "She is obviously upset."

"Really? I don't know why. I am just passing rainbows, sunshine and lollies from my bottom here," Balu snorted.

"There's nothing we can do about this?" Destiny pouted, wiping tears from her cheeks. "We can't...I mean, you...YOU can't do this...there has to be something we can do!"

"I was going to go to the Manchester versus Scarsdale match on Sunday..." Balu looked sad again.

Fari snickered. "Oh, do not even bother. Manchester will lose 4 nil, and Garrison will break a leg. Gone for the season."

"Will you please STOP doing that?"

"Sorry. It has to happen, unfortunately, or Garrison will not be at home to stop his wife from a suicide attempt the next week."

"Brenda? But she's been so supportive..."

"Will you two give it a rest?!" Destiny suddenly jumped up between them, flailing her paws. "what are we going to do about THEM, Fari?" She suddenly brightened. "The reviews. We can talk to an agent there..."

Fari snorted derisively. "Oh please, now you speak poppycock. Discussing to an agent details about an end-fate is not only incredulous but against protocol 100%. If you were not on the ropes for immediate extraction from duties by now, surely you would be then."

"And what about you, FATE? Aren't you yourself breaking protocol telling us all this in front of the mortals?" She started to grin, "In fact...you just broke a huge one! SPORTS!"

Fari's eyes became glassy. "I..."

"You DID!" Destiny jumped up and down and her tail started to bounce. "You gave Balu insight into a future sporting event for the purpose of gambling in an attempt to acquire fortune. Do you realize what I could do to your status?"

Fari's mouth clicked as he tried to form words. "I...did not...he...I mean...he just wanted to go to the match!"

The raccoon folded her arms. "So?! I say Balu asked you for a winning tip, and you gladly gave it. And I'm quite sure the bear-fox will side with me..."

Balu cleared his throat carefully and then nodded.

Destiny smiled widely. "Which means I now have you over the veritable barrel, foxy. If you don't help me save this loving couple...I'll hang you out to dry before the Ethereal Council..."

"Alright!" Fari shouted out and the orange glow around Nikki winked out. "Fine! We will talk to the review board together and plead our case. Except I have no idea what case we can possibly make. No mortal in the whole world is important enough that their end-fate can be bargained with - let alone TWO."

"If I may ask," Nikki put a paw to her throat and worried a string of beads. "What...exactly is...to become of us...when we...we..."

Fari sighed. "I am not sure. I was never informed, but that could mean they have already decided I am not going to be the one to..." He caught Nikki's horrified stare and trailed off, wringing his paws in front of him. "I am just one of hundreds, thousands of agents, mum. I would not know where to begin looking for the proper one."

Destiny grabbed the fox's paw. "Which is exactly why we need to go to the review meeting." Her blue eyes sparkled with intensity, and something else the fox didn't like.

"What are you proposing that we do?"

The raccoon smiled. "First, we go to the meeting. Next, we access the hub central computer to locate the agent responsible for Nikki and Balu's end-fates. Once we do that, we can go directly to the agent and..." She looked up at the couple. "Stop the agent..."

Fari gulped audibly. "You are suggesting, Destiny, that we...intervene and cause a...fate-fault - on purpose. We had this discussion before. Are you aware of the repercussions we could face?!"

"I don't care!" Destiny stomped a foot. "We are NOT going to let this wonderful, sweet couple leave us. You've said yourself so many times, foxy, you love them as much as I do!"

Fari sighed and looked up into Balu's eyes, canting his head to the side. He saw warmth and kindness, and patience like he had never experienced. He saw hours of playtime out in the yard, kicking a football around, and trips to market with an ice-cream treat. In the beautiful cat next to the bear-fox, he saw love and passion and creativity. Kisses to his forehead. Gentle touches and cuddles. A kinder, more loving mother could never be found.

"Alright..." he whispered and took Destiny's paws into hers. "But we will need a plan..." then turned to Balu and Nikki. "...and we will need your help..."

**

An hour later, the four of them were seated 'round the kitchen table, enjoying some fresh baguettes and jam.

"Now," Fari spoke quietly, "It is extremely important for the two of you to stay indoors for the rest of the day today and tomorrow. I am proposing tranquilizers for you both."

"But why can't we go out today? I thought our...end-fates weren't until the 16th?" Nikki leaned her head against Balu's shoulder and sighed.

"You do not understand. ANYTHING you do today can affect your lives the next day. Even walking outside to get a paper..."

"Not even stepping outside?"

The fox sighed and pulled out his notebook, tapping for a moment or two. "Here. Matthew Stevenson, father of two, 423 Pickadilly, Flat Number Four, etc. etc. He always picks up his paper from the front stoop at nine A.M. sharp. Tomorrow at 9, he picks up his paper, but is spotted by Daniel Jurgensen up the block. A quick delay of 30 seconds ensues as the two exchange pleasantries across the shrubs. Mr. Stevenson hears his phone, runs back into his house and catches his phone ringing just in time to hear it stop..."

Fari scrolled through several pages, quite bored. "Oh, here. Eventually he will be smashed to death by a waste truck up the block from Carlton Square East. But the missed phone call set everything into motion, because he went outside to get his paper that day." He closed the notebook again. "So...yes, Mr. and Mrs. Blackcat. It is imperative that you do not do anything apart from stay in bed and sleep as much as you can. We have," a quick check of his watch, "approximately 36 hours to save your lives. So go right to it then, and both of you in the beds, now. And do not move from them."

Nikki blushed some, squeezing Balu's paw and Fari quickly snapped, "And no sex!"

The cat pouted.

**

Elsewhere, in a flat in Barrington, a young cat's notebook started to beep as she sipped mid-morning tea in her living room, and she hastily snatched up her machine and flipped it open. She continued to drink as she scanned several lines and then frowned, switching on her Bluetooth. "Agent Ender four-seven-five-one-six reporting. 10:46 AM and 20 seconds GMT. I have unusual activity on targets. Suggest re-route." She nodded as she jotted down a few notes. "Confirmed. End-fate still on schedule." The black cat's yellow eyes glowed and she closed the notebook again, settling in to enjoy her tea and watch the television.

**

Fari and Destiny slowly walked the ornate hallway lined with well-polished, shining brass statues until they came to a simple, battered door at the end, lined with rust and spiderwebbed glass and gave it a healthy knock.

"Enter, enter," said a stuffy, harried voice inside, and the two children looked at each other, taking a deep breath before stepping inside.

The office was a shambles. Stacked boxes of papers lined the cracked white plaster walls, and several files and folders were strewn across a large wooden table. A young, overweight skunk busily went back and forth across the room, grabbing papers, scanning through them, putting them aside. He quickly looked up through spectacles, brown eyes twinkling, at the children and smiled. "Ah, Fari! Destiny! Oh, and 10 minutes early. I do so enjoy punctuality..." He dropped a large pile of papers on the desk where they immediately scattered and flew everywhere and sat down with a thud.

"Let's see, let's see..." He rifled through another stack of papers and yanked out two folders from them. "I have your reports here for us to discuss. Nothing too fancy, you're both doing quite well..." He looked at them over his spectacles. "No regrets from either of you? I'm at liberty to ask this."

Destiny swallowed hard and shook her head. "None..." Fari likewise answered with barely a nod.

The skunk beamed and nodded to himself. "Excellent. Well, the review board is quite swift if there are any grievances, just so you know. Now then," he set the two folders side by side and opened one up to reveal several documents. "I'll need your signatures. Destiny, you may as well go first."

Fari spoke up. "Sir, beg pardon. May I trouble you to use the lavatory? A bit of bread not dealing well with me."

"Of course, Fari. Just down the hallway, sixteenth door on your right."

The fox nodded to them both, and with a look to the raccoon, left the office. He paused outside the door and took out a tiny notepad from his front pocket and switched it on. Instantly a hovering 3d-holographic display appeared above his hand. He tapped at a few keys and the display brightened as data was accessed. "Come on, come on. There...fourth floor..." He snapped the notepad off quickly and ambled down the hallway to the elevator.

**

The black cat folded her arms as she stared at the row of flats on Kensington, speaking quickly into her Bluetooth. "Four-Seven-Five-One-Six again. Um...th-there's been no sign of the target all morning. I'm worried there could be an issue, perhaps a sickness we didn't take into account?"

"Negative," said a cool voice, "There have been no reports of health matters. All is well with those two. There should not be a reason for them to stay cooped up like this. You know how much Mrs. Blackcat enjoys market and gardening. She would never-"

"Well, obviously something is amiss then," the black cat cut in, "perhaps Destiny..." Her eyes widened a bit. "Control? She doesn't know what we are planning...does she?"

"Well, Fari would know, but he is a star agent. He would never shun his duties, nor breach protocol. He has gone "by the book" for eons. I cannot imagine he would harm his reputation for a couple he hardly knows."

The black cat swallowed. "Peter? You said that once about Destiny..."

There was silence on the other end for a moment, then, "Get back to the flat and prepare to move. I am sending relocation operative five-twelve to the Court immediately..."

**

Fari quietly tip-toed into the central computer hub and waved his paw across the room, causing the infrared cameras and security measures to switch off. He padded to a terminal at the far end of the rows of machines and sat down, quickly typing in his username and password. Glowing digital letters appeared on the screen:

ACCESS GRANTED - 90412-FATE-267124 WELCOME, FARI. YOU HAVE 10 NEW MESSAGES.

"Well, canned spam will have to wait," the fox growled as he continued typing, "Where are you, you bugger..." His green eyes scanned the screen back and forth, and finally located a database login. He smiled and typed in his data, then frowned.

"Oh bloody hell, they changed the password!" The fox growled and pushed away from the terminal, scraping the floor. "Now what do I do? Dammit!" in his anger, he slammed his paws down on the keyboard and a white slip of paper peeked out from underneath. "What in the...?"

He took the paper out and looked at it, his face suddenly breaking out into a huge grin. "God bless the hacker..." he snickered to himself and accessed the database he wanted.

**

Nikki nuzzled gently at Balu in the darkness, purrring softly and running her bare foot along his leg.

"Honey..." the bear-fox sighed.

"I can't help it," Nikki suppressed a soft giggle, "I'm as frisky as a schoolgirl right now. Perhaps sleeping naked wasn't the best plan..."

Balu's toothy smile glittered. "I'm...just as much wanting you, my beloved. More than I ever have...but...we promised..."

"I don't care," the feline whispered, already turning over to lie atop of her husband. "If we truly are going to die tomorrow...I...don't want us to leave this world without showing our love, my dear Balu..." She bent down to kiss him deeply, grinding a warm, moist and furry mound along his growing erection in gentle pets and caresses. "Take me..."

Balu swallowed hard and brought his large paws up to her hips, nodding, looking up at her with nothing but love in his eyes.

**

Fari continued scanning rows and rows of text, paging down quickly, trying to keep up with the endless stream of data. Finally he found what he was looking for and typed in:

47516

The computer returned:

47516-FATE-125487 Name: Rhianna Hughes Address: 324 Barrington, Flat 23, England, W11 2BQ

Fari grinned, "Got you..." and quickly flipped off the screen, running from the terminal room to get to the elevators.

**

From her flat, the black cat paused in the middle of frantic packing, hearing an alarm on her notebook, and flung her armful of clothes on the bed as she raced to open it. Her eyes widened as she read the report and thumbed the Bluetooth. "Peter! Peter! Oh bloody hell, forget protocol! Someone's on to me. My information was just accessed!"

"Rhainna, calm down! Now just wait until I can access here...oh...oh dear, um...run."

The line went dead and Rhianna rolled her eyes, scrambling to the bed to grab the rest of her things. Suddenly a loud crash came from the parlor and the cat shrieked as wood splinters sailed into the living room. Fari walked casually into the parlor and past the shattered door to find Rhianna curled up on the bed sulking.

"Hello, Ms. Hughes." the fox smiled, walking towards her. "I would assume you know why I am here."

She found her voice. "Yes, and there is nothing you can do to delay matters, Fari. You are risking your entire career right now in coming to me, barging in like you are in charge. Well you're NOT, young man..." She slowly sat up on the bed and continued softly. "Let me do my job, Fari. The Blackcats have served wonderful lives to all around them, and I can assure you, they are in good arms. They will be incredibly happy..."

"But I will not be, and nor will Destiny. Do our feelings not matter?"

Rhianna stopped and looked hard at the fox. "You...your feelings? Fari...you are still a child in many ways. Did we not come into our positions at about the same time? I have always known you to show apathy in these matters before..."

"Well...this is...a special case," he blushed pink in his ears, "Believe me, Rhianna, I am still very much the same agent. I just...it is Destiny. She...I do not want to upset her. I..." He swallowed hard again, and the blush deepened.

"For her? You're doing this for her, aren't you? You care that much, that you'd risk everything, just to see her happy..."

Fari's head hung lower and he barely nodded. "In a manner of speaking, yes. If she is not happy, I...I know that I surely will not be either."

The black cat smiled and misty tears started to form in her eyes. "You love her that much...I'm...I'm so touched, Fari."

"What?! No no, it's not like that! She has me dead to rights!"

Rhianna giggled as she eased off the bed and knelt next to him. "Oh come on, you rascal, you can't fool me. I know love when I see it..." She cooed softly and nosed his ear. "And who can blame the raccoon for falling head over paws for you as well, yes?"

"Rhianna, that is NOT what this is about, you must believe me."

But the black cat was already placing a call on her Bluetooth. "Shush, little one. Hello, Peter? I mean, Control? Agent nine-oh-four-one-two is here. I've spoken to him and it is my opinion that we scrub the plans for the Blackcats." she listened carefully, nodding a few times, casually stroking Fari's ears, which he tried to shy away from. "Correct. Alternate suggestions then? Have they earned a place? Mm-hmm...yes... of course, Control. Well, we can make this one exception...?"

**

Fari and Destiny stood side by side in front of the Ethereal Court. Flanking them, Balu and Nikki, still naked, looked ashamed and bewildered at being whisked away unexpectedly, as several skunks, foxes and felines walked into the spacious high-ceiling room and took their places behind a huge altar.

Balu swallowed hard, covering his privates with a paw unsuccessfully. "Could we...by chance...get some clothes?"

"Silence from the mortals, please," a calm feline stood up, dressed in white robes and sporting long grey hair over black fur. "Mr...um...Balu Blackcat." He took out some notes and sat back down again. "After several moments of review and discussion, we have reached the following conclusions. First, that Agents Fari and Destiny indeed willfully broke standard protocol according to Ethereal Law and are charged with," he adjusted his bi-focals, "illegally accessing sensitive data, breaching of conduct and confidentiality, breaching of future events, and one count of breaking and entering."

Fari glared alongside him at Rhianna, who smiled back at him and made a kissy-face.

"The Court has also concluded that Mr. and Mrs. Blackcat did willfully aid and abed the agents, were aware of the activities going on, and were complicit in said activities. Thus they too must be charged with these offenses. Um..." he cast a shy look to Nikki, covering her breasts with her paws, her long tail flicking slowly around her bare feet. "Also...they...they broke from their own...protocol in...their um...oh bother, they sacked out and did the nasty, completely against their usual activities in the afternoon." He sighed and set the papers down, conferring again to some of the others around him quietly.

Destiny gently brushed her tail against Fari's and whispered, "I'm really sorry, Fari. For everything...I just...I just didn't want anything to happen to them..."

Fari managed a small smile. "I know...for what it is worth, I feel the same way." He glanced at the couple, "They are...good people, Des."

"May we have silence again please?" the elder feline spoke up and continued. "Now...it has come to my attention that there are unorthodox, mitigating circumstances that must be brought to light. Foremost which, the Blackcats' generous care and assistance with the agents." For the first time, he smiled, "Balu...Nikki... the Ethereal Court is honored by your presence today. We all feel that there are not enough good people such as yourselves in this world today, and after some discussion further with Agent Rhianna, we conclude that it is pointless to end your lives in a world that needs you so much..."

Nikki and Balu both looked at one another and smiled, tears staining their cheeks.

"Therefore, it is the Court's decision, that you both be sentenced to 100 years-"

"YOUR LORDSHIP?!"

The feline raised a paw and continued with a smile. "In service to Ethereal Affairs. Mr. Balu Blackcat? Mrs. Nikki Blackcat? You are now Fate-agents 78192 and 78193..."

The couple looked at each other in complete stunned silence.

"Your orientation begins in a fortnight. I will expect young Destiny and Fari to be there to assist."

The raccoon and fox beamed happily, their tails wagging as they held paws.

"As for your violations, you two..."

The tails stopped wagging and drooped.

"The Ethereal Court sentences you both to an added 20 years to your service, plus 20 years of probation. If I catch either of you..." he shook his finger at them then sighed. "We are in adjournment."

A wave of his paw, and the five of them disappeared in a large puff of smoke.

**

"Rhianna? I'm just getting some oatmeal, would you care for some?" Balu was rooting around in the cupboard, taking out several boxes of food.

"Nothing for me. Watching the soaps just now." she shouted from the living room.

The bear-fox nodded and helped himself to a bowl as Nikki, dressed in a bikini, stepped inside. "Ohhh the pool is just lovely, my pet," she purred as she padded up to him on her toes and gave him a warm kiss, mmmming. "We must thank Affairs at some point for such wonderful housing."

Balu grinned, "I'll do so in my next report. Um...how long before we deal with Mr. Collins and his auto accident?"

"About two hours..." she smiled, reaching behind her and untying her bikini top, letting beautiful wet breasts spill out.

"I...um...the kids?"

Nikki giggled, pressing him up against the counter. "Playing in the pool, diving for coins together..."

She started to nuzzle his neck, and the bear-fox laughed, "Honestly, Nikki, we've been going at it like love-sick teens for the past 3 months!"

"Mmm-hmmm..." the cat nodded, reaching down to unbutton his shirt, "Immortality can do that..."

END *^^*