Futuristic Bonds That Are Forged

[Dragonlord318]

David was sitting at a table in the food court of the large shopping center, subtly looking out for his targets. His team had received a communicae that the Brotherhood of Varro was picking up a package here today, in just a few minutes. The reports on the delivery boy were that he was of a sort of draconic species, adept at multitasking and quick on his feet. Unsurprising of such a species with so many natural weapons, he had some combat experience, essentially some small skirmishes on his runs. Many of his packages were those that most shippers would avoid, like those going to the slums. "Sev Ornil," David breathed out. "I hope you're ready."

M.O.S.E.S. was embedded around the mall, blending in with their surroundings. Since there were so many species in this sector of the galaxy, it was the perfect place to hide in plain sight. David spotted a few of his operatives as his eyes scanned the area. If their eyes met, neither he nor they acknowledged it. No nodding, no signals. Everything was pre-planned. The only way they'd engage in active field communication was if everything hit the fan. The only group that was communicating was the observation group stationed on an orbiting Galactic Federal Alliance (GFA) battle cruiser high above the planet.

Speaking of the planet, it was a backwater world called Axient IV with no indigenous sentient life except those that were born here after their parents emigrated. It had been colonized by the GFA a couple decades prior due to the rich deposits of Irridium and Phasphyte in its crust. Phasphyte was an ore that, once combined with steel, produced an all but unbreakable metal called Phasteel that was lighter than aluminum with an insanely high melting point. Plasma projectiles were useless against it. Phasteel was what made up M.O.S.E.S.'s entire armor suite, from the grunts all the way up to their ships.

A voice crackled in David's ear. "Hunter 1-6, this is Overwatch. Package has entered the building. Package has entered the building." David scratched his head, brushing the concealed earpiece behind his ear and hitting a button that confirmed the transmission. "Hunter squad, this is Overwatch. Hunter 1-6 confirmed mission. We are a go. I say again, Operation Fallen Pigeon is a go."

David watched as two of his operatives got up and walked toward the location of the shipper. Just as Sev rounded the corner near a beauty shop, one of the operatives, a Sergal, bumped into him. He 'accidentally' hit the package Sev was carrying, knocking it to the ground. "Oi! I'm sorry mate!" he said. "Please forgive the clumsiness there." His partner, a dark elf, shook her head as she used her spacial manipulation to switch Sev's box with a dummy, exact size, look and weight. the original popped into existence in the nearby GFA military installation cargo bay. "You'll have to forgive my husband," she said as she picked up the package, handing it to Sev. "Grimesol can be painfully oblivious sometimes."

"Oi! Fetalian! I ain't that clumsy!"

"Oh yes you are, dear," she said. 'Grimesol' and 'Fetalian' walked away as they continued to 'argue', leaving Sev with the dummy box.

Roose Hurro

 

[Roose Hurro]

Bump And Grind...


Sev would not have been happy knowing he'd been referred to as a "Fallen Pigeon". But then, not too happy about his present delivery. Yes, his entire business thrived on the fact he ran "sensitive" material... for anyone. These clients, though. They'd run him ragged just to get their "important package" into his hands. And sent him all the way to Axient IV. To a shopping mall. With a time limit not allowing for much rest. So, tired. Hungry. Get this done. Spend an hour in the shower, getting scrubbed clean, and just soaking in the warmth, to get all the kinks out. Eat until he couldn't any more...

... then sleep for twelve hours.

Sev didn't often find himself in such a state. Indeed, adept at multitasking. And quick on his feet. But still, he came around the beauty shop at the corner...

... BUMP...

So tired just that moment, his grip on the package slipped when the male sergal hit it just right. That instant after, alert! Ears forward. Mane ruffled. Quills, erect, and very sharp-tipped. A shiver ran up his spine. But an apology. A dark elf female returned his package to him... the sergal's wife. No raised eyebrow at that. His own "relations" not fussy about species. Though his Wanderlust had faded recently. Thoughts of Home... of Aurro.......

A nod-bow of thanks, as the two walked away. Left Sev with a toothy smile on his face. A warmth in his chest, as he took a deep breath, let it out, and continued on his way. No longer quite so tired. But still hungry.......

Well...

... While all this went on, a quite rare sight, a family... yes, families aren't all that rare, to be quite honest, but this one? Mother. Father. Two kits. All wearing nothing but fur, father walking on twos, shopping bag in hand. Mother, also on twos, holding a male infant. Toddler daughter in tow...

... "Dada!" Daughter, very bouncy and bright-eyed... "Where's a-we gonna goes to next?!"

"Dada" made a bee-line for the Starbucks, not that far from where David watched. He ordered hot coffee, dark and black. His mate ordered tea. Perhaps a bit strange, that his shopping bag held a coffee grinder. But Starbucks didn't carry everything related to coffee, more's the shame...

... "Hun, we're going here, first. Time for a break!" Two scones and a muffin were added to the coffee and tea, along with a glass of milk to go with "Hun's" muffin. And just by pure chance, they sat at a table right next to where David watched.......

 

[Dragonlord318]

As the carrier proceeded forward - thankfully oblivious to the switch - David watched him closely through a pair of glasses that showed him a camera feed from a lens on the side of said glasses. He heard something in his earpiece.

Overwatch to all units. Switch is good. I say again, switch is good. Observe and report. Out.

Now all M.O.S.E.S. had to do was wait for the delivery to commence. This entire mission hinged on two things: 1) The switch and 2) Praying that the Brotherhood of Varro didn't have a dark matter scanner. So far, their intelligence showed they didn't. But, the Brotherhood had gone dark for a week, and a lot can happen in a week. As the carrier moved forward, two humans moved out from the food court. Neither of them were M.O.S.E.S. agents.

Overwatch to all units. We have contact. I say again, we have contact. Stay alert, stay alive. Out.

David and his team watched carefully as a pistol was subtly produced and put in the Kah-Saun's back. "Don't make any funny moves and you won't die," the Brotherhood member whispered to Sev. "Follow my associate and there won't be any problems. Move." He poked the gun deeper into Sev's side. As they passed a curious onlooker, he said in a very flamboyant voice, "Oh honey, you know how much I love coming on your deliveries with you. Come on. Let's go somewhere private." The onlooker blushed and looked away, hurrying to get out of the awkward situation.

David scratched his nose and said into his mic embedded into his watch, "Do not lose them. Make a good tail."

"Roger," responded a Draconian as he got up to follow at a safe distance.

The two Brotherhood members led Sev into a private room in the utility hall behind the stores. The one behind him shoved him forward and held the pistol up at him. "Alright. Set the box down." Once Sev would comply, he nodded to his associate. Said human handed Sev a credit disc with a number on it. "That's the agreed-to-amount. Now get outta here." He waved with his pistol toward the door. The draconian had procured a janitor's uniform and was watching from around a corner, his natural chameleon-like camouflage keeping him hidden.

 

[Roose Hurro]

Good Tails...


Oblivious to the switch, perhaps. But not oblivious to everything. That bump, a clue that he'd been letting his guard down. Throughout this whole process, Sev had felt that tingle in his tail... no amount of "treasure" was worth this. He'd.......

....... whoever these humans were, they'd been very good. For just a very small moment, Sev felt inclined to just tear them in half, but... they were in a public place. So he played Good Boy, despite his armored underwear. Took everything in stride. From the taint on these two Souls, same as on those he'd made deal with, obvious they were here to pick up their package. Also obvious, from the gun in his back, in future, he needed to be more careful in his selection of clients.

Well...

... gun in his face now, again, no choice but to be nice. To set the box down. Accept his payment. Keep his mouth shut, no matter what choice words tempted his response. And yes, to "get outta here" when told to do so. Credit disc slipped into belt pouch.

Though soon as he moved out of sight, he drew his own pistol, concealed under his greatcoat. And kept all three eyes opened wide.......

Meanwhile.......

David may have been very good at his job. But, so busy focusing on Sev and this Varro business, he'd failed to consider the alien family sitting next to him had very large ears. That they might...

... "I's a-gots a very good tail! See?!" Bright young eyes focused on him, fur all fluffed up, energetic and innocent. Tail, held out for him to see... "An' a-you's a-must really like your watchy-watch, if you's a-talkin' to's it!"

Of course, this LIttle One wasn't the only one who looked David's way... "Hun's" parents also had their eyes and ears turned his way, mother, a warm smile, father, a broad, toothy grin...

... "Don't worry... we're not having any more kits for a while." Father's words, followed by a lick of amusement between all four nostrils.......

 

[Dragonlord318]

The draconian slinked away silently after the exchange went through without a hitch, thankful that no one was hurt in the process. Despite everything going well, the team was still on edge because anything could go wrong. After he changed out of the service uniform, he got out of the service hall and walked back into the crowd and blended in quickly. He spoke into his concealed radio.

Exchange is good. I say again, exchange is good.

David was about to respond when he heard the young kit yell out loud about a tail and talking into his watch. Before he could react, a bolt of plasma whizzed by his head and he saw out of the corner of his eye a Varro agent switching his aim to the kit. The Brotherhood of Varro heard the little one's outburst and realized that they had been compromised. David leapt forward and tackled the kit out of the way, just in time as another bolt of plasma whizzed over them.

"Ugh," he heard from his left side then a thump. An innocent bystander, a six-eyed man with tentacles for arms slumped down slowly to the floor as his family screamed in horror. A bluish glow emanating from a hole in his chest showed as the reason for his death. David looked at the family he'd just saved and yelled, "Sts ay down!" then got up and pulled his own pistol from its holster. A plasma bolt struck his chest, engulfing his shirt in an instantaneous plasma fire, vaporizing it.

No longer did he have the button down striped shirt. In its place was was the bright silver gleam of Phasteel armor upon which the plasma fizzled out. He returned fire, sending one of the Brotherhood into the afterlife and another leaping for cover. Just as quickly as the brotherhood reacted, so did M.O.S.E.S. Now that stealth was no longer a factor, all the agents reacted quickly. The Sergal and Dark Elf from earlier were covering civilians and guiding them to safety, while the rest of M.O.S.E.S. engaged the brotherhood.

"Grenade!!!" One of his agents yelled out. David watched as it seemed in slow motion the frag grenade sailed through the air. The brotherhood had to know it wouldn't harm their enemy. No, they had to have been trying to disrupt M.O.S.E.S.'s focus by killing civilians. David saw as one of his agents reacted the same way he was about to. The grenade landed right next to the Nism family and as David prepared his legs to spring forward, another M.O.S.E.S. agent leapt on the grenade instead. David's fortitude failed him in that moment.

No....

BOOOOMMMM!!!!

The Growldian (a race of sentient dogs) operative was thrown into the air and slammed into the ceiling from the impact of the explosion. Though her armor protected her from the shrapnel, the concussion was no less than lethal. As David's eyes watched her fall back to the ground, he knew she was no longer breathing.

YOU...

WILL...

PAY...

David's expression turned to one of pure, unadulterated fury...

Adrenaline boosted through the roof and his suit's servos kicked in. He sprinted toward the Varro agent that threw the grenade and grabbed his collar, then threw him over his head and slammed him into the steel floor covered in ceramic tile. The pulverization killed his enemy instantly.

 

[Roose Hurro]

Chaos Divided...


Sev expected something to go down... but not this! Not chaos. Not the erruption of plasma fire! Yes, his own weapon used phase-pulsed plasma, but the sound, chaos, and exposure of two warring parties using military-grade weaponry? Totally unexpected. He had his gun out, his senses, alerted. His Third Eye, able to weed out those with Taint. Tired he may have been, but now, energized, and noting actions and Spirits... angry at his clients and at himself... he took action...

... frag grenade went off...

...BOOOOMMMM!!!!

As David slammed target to ground, Sev snicked off safety and started shooting those who held weapons and Taint. While at the same time guarding the innocent in his range... helping those who were helping others to safety, as if part of their group. And taking out threats as they popped up.......

....... Meanwhile.......

"Hun" hadn't meant to cause anything. But then, her parents had taken her to so many places! And she'd seen and experienced so many things! And... perhaps done things she shouldn't have, because she was, still, so very young. And innocent. The man she'd been talking to tackled her out of her seat...

... then lost his shirt...

... then her dada pulled her out of the way, a quick scribe over the center of their table. A flow of chi. Her father, mother, brother and her, under the table. Then...

...BOOOOMMMM!!!!

Everything happened so fast! Mother guarded son. Father guarded daughter. Things too chaotic for them to dare get involved... yet. When the grenade went off, when the armored Growldian female hit the ceiling and fell to ground dead, mother handed son to father and slipped out of their chi shield. Yes, an arc of shrapnel and damage marked the line, their table and its "contents", unharmed... undisturbed...

... but mother had a job to do! She touched the spot under her right ear, extracted one of her Omni Bits... a soft yet strangely notable Fweep!, and what appeared an innocent glass marble lit up, and engaged the local quantum tensor fields, drawing on their power. She rolled the Growldian female over, and touched her enabled Omni Bit to her patient's forehead.

Said Bit went Fweep! again, spiraled open, and sank through flesh and bone to brain.......

....... a soft spasm, and the Growldian breathed again. Nism hands cupping her head.......

 

[Dragonlord318]

As David and his team engaged the brotherhood, their enemy fought fiercely. However, they didn't have something M.O.S.E.S. did: Seamless teamwork and communication.

If one were to hear the radio chatter betwixt the operatives, it'd be something like this.

2-7, Enemy at your six.
Roger, engaging.
2-2 and 2-3, moving toward exit with civvies. Shipper is engaging enemy, assisting us.
3-1 is down! I say again, 3-1 is down!
Rear squad of hostiles down.
All units, keep tangos off those civvies!
Th...this is...3-1. I'm...alive?
Wha...but...ok! 3-1, engage hostiles with 2-2 and 2-3. Move!
Roger! Wha...who...nevermind. 3-1 Moving! Ow-crap! I can't move! Firing stationary! Civvie family behind me!
Roger, 3-1. On my way.
Thanks, 2-6.

As the Growldian opened her eyes and saw the Nism as she came back to the land of the living, she grunted, "Th...this is...3-1. I'm...alive?" She paused. "Roger! Wha..." she breathed as she looked at the Nism that saved her life. "Who...nevermind." She turned over and activated her side-mounted pulse weapon. "3-1 Moving!" She tried getting up and yelled, "Ow-crap! I can't move! Firing stationary! Civvie family behind me!" She used her neural link to aim her weapons and fired on the hostiles that were encroaching on the team trying to evacuate the civilians. She didn't know exactly what happened, but she knew somehow she was dead and then was revived.

Most of the civilians were escorted out a few minutes later, and M.O.S.E.S. started engaging with more ferocity. The brotherhood was being driven back little by little, their ground being lost with every step. Just as it seemed they would be able to escape out the door that was rapidly approaching from behind, GBI (Galactic Bureau of Investigation) agents burst through the doors, overwhelming the brotherhood from forward and behind. They saw there was no hope, and some fired on both M.O.S.E.S. and the GBI, but others were either taken down by nonlethal means or surrendered.

In the end, five brotherhood agents were apprehended and seven were killed. The package that Sev tried to deliver was a dark matter projector, something that would power an infinite amount of ships and weapons. Had the brotherhood got their hands on it, it would've spelled the end of the galaxy as we know it. The GBI agents thanked David and his team for their help and took over the scene. The Growldian was whisked away by a medical team and the few fallen civilians were covered in sheets, their families comforted by on-hand mental health specialists. No-one quite knew how the Growldian was revived, but no-one was complaining.

David approached Sev, his hand outstretched. "Thanks for the assist back there. We're sorry for using you as bait, but it seemed you were already committed and it was the best way to get the brotherhood out of hiding. Thank you."

 

[Roose Hurro]

Knowing How...


So many things happened so quickly. The Nism hands cupping the Growldian female's head received the Omni Bit as it sank through brain and bone to skin, and then out into waiting hands. No, not everything fixed, but no longer dead... that, very important! And even as weapons fired, Nism hands made sure the patient remained stable, until further help arrived.......

Sev looked over the mess. All the dead. All the Souls separated from their bodies. Some, to their eternal Afterlife. Others, unwilling to Go. Those, faded into the "woodwork" while the others passed through their Gates. A human approached, male, in armor. Held out his hand in a human greeting form. Sev accepted the form, careful with his claws. Listened to the words spoken...

... "I never fish with bait. I strip down to bare hide, and dive in. Best way to catch fish." Sev's ears flicked back, mane and mane-quills ruffled. Then...

... "Watchy-watch man's!" A boucy little bundle of fur and scales popped up into Sev and David's conversation, only to clamp pawhands to muzzle... "I's a'sorry! I's a'didn'ts mean to inter... interruffle......."

Her parents turned up, mother with son back in hand... such a tiny infant, so alert and peeking about at everything, after all the excitement. She held her son out towards David...

... "Thank you for aiding our daughter."

Though his eyes had only moments before been taking in the chaos and loss, father turned his bright green eyes on David, grinned, then glanced towards his mate, their son, their daughter...

... "Not every day we find ourselves in the middle of battle." A lick between all four nostrils... "I owe you a barbecue!"

Mother stepped closer, son held out for David to hold. With the words...

... "Heart, Breath and Warmth to you......."

 

[Dragonlord318]

Roose Hurro

 

[Dragonlord318]

At Sev's reply, David thought at first he might get offended and even attack him. But before his theory could be given any merit, the bundle of fur bounced in between the two men, yelling about how David was the 'watchy-watch man' and then apologized for interfering with the operation accidentally. David chuckled at the little one's innocence, squatting down to get eye level with her. "It's quite alright, young one," he said gently. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

He then stood as her parents approached, nodding in greeting. Before he could respond to the mention of a barbecue and the offering of their child, a GBI agent interrupted and asked the three furred adults to answer some questions about the fight. Seeing that the little boy was still being offered despite the situation, David awkwardly took the little cooing bundle of fur in his hands. He held him gently as the agent got the parents' and Sev's attention once again, handing each of them data boards to provide their statements, and a federal NDA.

 

[Roose Hurro]

Giving Data...


Sev wasn't in the habit of attacking those he'd just shaken hands with. But given what he'd just been through, he could perhaps be forgiven for being, hmmm... a bit gruff and irritated, to put it mildly. Breath, a bit ragged. Gun put back in holster, but hands still twitching. As if something still needed killing...

... but then, a very young female Nism inserted herself between them, and Sev calmed, quills and mane fur slowly settling. Eyes, settling on father Nism. His thoughts, on his own recent desires to settle down. To start a family.

Sev's stomach grumbled at the mention of a "barbecue".......

Given his clothing hid most of his bare hide, yes, he could be considered the third "furred adult" in this group. Mane and quills so recently used, they would indeed stand out to any observer.

The "young one" had actually been apologizing over interrupting David and Sev's conversation... but what she'd said could work quite well as an apology for causing the whole mess, even though she was still young enough to have not yet grasped the concept of Guilt.

Her parents, however, grasped a great many things. Like the offered data boards. Sev, as well...

... "She may not have anything to be sorry for." Another look to father Nism... "But she won't have to answer questions."

Father Nism grinned... "She's asked enough questions to fill a book!"

Sev had to harrf a laugh at that, all three eyes now turned to David... to the very small Nism infant in his arms. Then, to the GBI agent... "Ask your questions......."

Yes, a very little "boy", barely bigger than an adult dumbo rat, not much of a burden. But still, yes, awkward. Infant Nism, wide awake and a bit wiggly at the way he was being held. Tiny pawhands reaching for David's chest. As if wanting to feel his heartbeat... his breathing... his warmth.......

Mother and father Nism both nodded to Sev, and then to the agent, also quite willing to answer "some questions".......

 

[Dragonlord318]

After all the excitement died down and the reports were filed, David and his team were finally starting to file out. He personally walked the Growldian, named Marra, to the ambulance where she'd be taken to recover from her injuries. She looked at the infant in his arms and chuckled, her canine face cringing from the pain after laughing. "Seems like you've got a fnew friend," she croaked out. David smiled. "Yeah, apparently one of the civilians thought it was a good idea to let me hold him since I saved their daughter's life."

Marra chuckled again. "Showoff."

"Hey, you. I gotta get some glory right?"

Marra laughed again before the paramedics ushered David out of the way. After this and all the other necessities were taken care of, he approached the newcomers once again.

"So, Sev," he said, "You seem to know your way around a fight. If you ever want to join M.O.S.E.S., we pay well, and we're always looking for skilled personnel." He extended a card to him. Afterwards, he turned to the Nisms. "I apologize," he said, "I never got your names. David Listman, owner and founder of the Special Ops team you saw here." He handed them a card as well. "Say, do you happen to know how one of my agents died, and then was suddenly resurrected?"

The infant decided apparently the card was a treat, and tried nibbling on it. David laughed, keeping the cardstock paper away from curious hands.

 

[Roose Hurro]

Glory And Paper...


As if "some questions" never happened, everything involving all the paperwork suddenly done and over, reports filed and gone, the three were left with just David and Marra. Then the paramedics took Marra away, and they were left with just David. Who extended a card, a bit of stiff paper, towards Sev, who accepted the card with the words... "I do.". And found himself with an unexpected offer to consider, Yet not an unwelcomed thing to hear.

Duplicate bit of paper, passed to the Nism couple, who accepted the card. Father fixed said card behind his left ear, like an artist, or reporter, would his pencil. Then, in formal voice...

... "I'm Deen, of the Bloodline Ahvviyinn." He flicked his ears and flared all four nostrils in a gesture towards his mate...

... "Thoee, of Bloodline Rurrumm" She bowed, her mane fluffed, her own voice, also formal. Then she reached out to touch her son's tail, as he nibbled at another card in David's hand. Said son peeped, eyes turned wide on his mother, tiny pawhands having, just a moment later, touched the armor covering David's chest, as the man moved him away from the paper "biscuit". His tiny pawhands found no warmth there. Not the warmth expected. What could only be called a "raspberry" sound made after the peep, at that discovery.

But David had asked a question, before their Little One's card-nibble and David's own laugh. Thoee made a careful lick between all four nostrils, as if contemplating her response...

... "She died from a severe diffuse axonal injury, with secondary impact complications severing the brainstem." She gave David a warm smile... "I treated her brain injuries."

"Momma's a'goods at thats!" Thoee and Deen's daughter, not so little any more, popped up between them, a bundle of youthful energy. Thoee gave her a warm smile, then said...

... "This is our daughter, Honalee." Thoee reached out and touched her son's tail again... "And this is our son, Peet."

At this moment, Sev approached. His ears were back but not down, to show he was calm but alert. His mane, fluffed to hide his quills, to show his approach was not in aggression. Then the all-important words, with a bit of tooth exposed, to give them emphasis...

,,, "I accept your offer..." He held out both hands, palms up, claws exposed like teeth. Then he closed fingers into fists, as he turned hands palm down. Yes, this could, perhaps, be taken as a handshake. This gesture, his race's way of saying "I trust you". For Sev, this was a very important decision.

 

[Dragonlord318]

(Awesome! Much easier to follow!)