FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The familiar sound of the comms system came to the fox's triangle ears. He opened his eyes slowly and looked behind his shoulder at the metal box attached to the wall, a small red light beeping inside the black screen. The fox turned to his side on the bed and looked at the picture on the night stand, a rabbit and a fox in tuxedos in front of a flower cross wall, looking deeply into each other's eyes.

"What a life we had," the fox said. "Every day I miss being with you, I hope you're enjoying Earth."

The fox slowly got up from his soft bed and walked to the comms system, pressing the red light with a padded finger.

"Go ahead," the fox said in a slightly sly voice.

"Captain, we have someone hailing us. I think you should have a look at this." A feminine voice said.

"On my way," the captain said releasing his finger and walked out of the room. The corridor took the captain into the rounded control room, a giant screen covered the further side of the room. The image of a cheetah, Admiral Johnson, was illuminated on the screen, a solemn look on his face.

"Admiral Johnson, it's a pleasure." The captain said, sitting down in the captain's chair.

"I wish I could say the same," he said.

"What do you mean?"

"Last night we received word of an assassination of a Fur on earth a week ago, in a place off the coast of Wales. What caught our attention was the name and location."

The Admiral had a tear run down his white furred cheek, "Mr John Holmes was killed at 7:25pm on the way home from work. Next of kin, captain Alex Holmes."

The fox stared at the cheetah on the screen, tears starting to stream down his cheeks, his eyes never leaving the cheetah,

"I'm so sorry, I'm sending the funeral's location. It'll be later today at 15:00 Earth time."

Alex barely heard the words as he stood up from the chair and turned to leave the room. As he got to the door he looked to his first mate.

"Please take control Fall, while I'm out will you?" Alex asked.

"Yes captain," he nodded as he took the chair. "Do you have a course for us captain?"

"Earth, StarDrive level 4." Alex said bluntly.

Before Alex left a human hand went to his shoulder, keeping him in the room.

"Who was he to you? A brother?" Asked the navigator, a concerned look on her face.

Alex shook his head. "N-no, he was my husband."

The navigator let her hand drop from Alex's shoulder.

Alex walked out of the room, walking through the half empty walkways. His foot paws took him to his quarters, the door opening at his presence, the slight hum of the StarDrive coming to his ears as he walked in. The room never felt so cold before this moment, the white walls seeming to reflect the cold feeling in Alex's heart.

Alex walked into the room and slumped onto the soft bed that held him no more than an hour ago, his muzzle buried in-between the mattress and the pillow. The faint smell of John still lingered inside the fabrics, giving Alex only a small warm feeling inside of his cold being.

Alex stayed there for an hour, just lying on the bed with his head in the fabrics. Alex barely heard the door open and close as the ship's psychologist came in and stood just in front of the door.

"Captain, I was sent for you." He said in a soft voice.

"I didn't send for you, please leave." Alex replied, being slightly muffled by the pillow.

"Just because you didn't send for me, doesn't mean you don't need me."

Alex moved his snout out between the pillow and mattress to look at the psychologist with sobbing wet eyes.

"Why did he have to die Sam?" Alex said in a hoarse voice.

Sam slowly walked over and noticed the picture on the night stand. "is this about the lapin in the picture?"

Alex nodded.

"Who was he?" Sam said, sitting on the side of the bed.

"My husband."

"So you're homosexual?"

"Yes, I didn't want the crew to find out. I thought they would think I was weak," Alex said.

"Not one member of the crew would ever think anything of the sort. They've seen you in action, they've seen how you deal with life and death. They could not think any higher than they do now. Just because you love someone that's your own gender doesn't mean you're weak, it doesn't mean you're wrong. It means you're more willing to be who you are, not what people wanted you to be."

Alex gave a small smile, "thank you."

Sam put one of his canine paws onto Alex's shoulder, "anytime."

Sam got up and started to head out of the room when Alex started to speak again.

"Who was it that sent you, Sam?"

Sam turned and looked at Alex, "Who said somebody else sent me?"

Sam turned back and walked out of the room, his bushy tail wagging slowly.

"I really don't get that dog sometimes," Alex said to himself with a slight chuckle, hearing the rumble of the StarDrive stopping, slowly getting up from the bed. He walked out of the room, down the hallway to the transporter. As he walked he brought his transceiver to his mouth and spoke.

"As you're no doubt aware," his voice said through all the comms systems in the ship, "we are currently orbiting Earth. We are here to pay respects to a very brave man."

Alex's voice nearly stopped at this as what felt like a lump entered his throat, he quickly gulped and continued.

"A man who was not afraid to speak his mind, a man who would never let go of what he wanted. We shall be stationed here for a week, you are allowed leisure time throughout the week but I expect each and every one of you to pay respects at one time or another in the week, the address will be sent to all your personal files"

Alex closed his transceiver and placed it onto his belt, entering the transporter room. Alex was met by Tai and Fai, identical twin wolves. It barely took him a second to transport to the end of the road, opposite to the cemetery. Alex knew Tai and Fai would take him where he needed to go, just not exactly. Alex let out a deep breath and took the first step