SEARCH
by Donald E. Miller, Jr. (LionkingCMSL)

FireFoxx's bridge was a hive of activity, for as far as her officers were concerned, they were almost "home". LionkingCMSL had let George, the comm lynx, send a brief message that the Lion's Den and the FireFoxx were headed to Outpost 1 and there would be a major announcement when they arrived.

"Captain."
"Yes, George."
"Outpost 1 is requesting the location of the Lion's Den and her ETA."
"Didn't you tell them that the LD was aboard the FireFoxx?"
"Yes, but they still seem to be confused."
"Oh, well. Nothing that we can do about their confusion. You may want to try to tell them again."
"Aye, sir." George leaned down and spoke into the pickup next to the fox that was manning the commo board. He heard the reply and sighed. LK turned and looked at the comm station quizzically. George just shrugged his shoulders and gave a "I give up" motion with his arms and paws. LK turned around and just shook his head slightly.

"Sam."
"Yes, sir?"
"Bring us in, in a slow inward spiral to our berth. Let's give them a show."
"Yes, sir. Five minutes to arrival."
LK thumbed a toggle for the "All Call". "Attention all paws. This is the captain. We will be docking in five minutes with Outpost 1. When all shore links have been confirmed, all sections are to power down to minimal levels. Section Chiefs. You are allowed to give your sections shore leave, but must maintain minimum staffing at all times. Shore leave is granted to all, on the provisio that you are on one standard hour call back. See your section chiefs for your schedules. To all officers, you have shore leave, but are on 30 minute call back. Also be advised that you may be mobbed by reporters. Please use your best judgement when answering. To all. The past two weeks have been grueling, but you have all performed well. I'm the proud of that. I ask that you keep the reputation you have made for yourself and this ship in mind on shore leave. That is all. LK out."

"Captain," Sam reported, "we are approaching our berth. Thrusters on station keeping. Outpost 1 is extending umbilicals and gangplanks. Her shields are now surrounding us."
"Aye, sir," Altaica said as she nodded to the fox manning the defense station. "Powering down our shields. Our shields are now totally down. Powering down weapons and defense systems." Another fox looked at his board, then at Altaica and he nodded. "All systems in my department all powered down, sir," Altaica continued.
Sam picked up with, "Umbilicals are secured. Gangplanks are secured and pressurized. Nav and helm systems are powered down." This was said as the foxes at those stations started to shut down their boards.
The intercom for "Main Engineering" came on as the lights flickered for a moment.
"LK here."
"Lee here LK. We're shutting everything down to bare minimums. We're under shore power now."
"Yes, I noticed the lights flickered. Good job Lee."
"Thanks LK. Engineering out."
"LK out."
As LK thumbed off the intercom, he looked up at the expectant muzzles of his bridge crew. "Okay furs, we're here. You have performed way above expectations. I'm proud to be in command of this ship. Shore leaves commence as of right now."
"Sir," Lee Bibbers said, "before we go on leave, we would like to say something."
"Yes."
Lee nodded, and all furs on the bridge, officer and elisted fur alike, including Fire, the ship's AI, gave LK a standing ovation. If he could've blushed, LK would have.
LK held up a paw, and said, "Thank you, but no. A round of appaluse is in order for the crew and officers of the finest ship in space, the FireFoxx."
The ovation started again, and this time LK joined in. LK did notice, though, that Fire did turn a bit redder.

After the clapping died down, and the crew started to leave the bridge, LK turned to Fire and said, "Fire."
The ship's AI looked at LK distractedly and said, "Yes, sir."
"You have the con. You are to notify me immediately if anything important comes up. And I do mean immediately."
"Yes, sir," came the distracted reply.
"Fire, what are you up to?"
"Ummm, nothing important sir."
"Fire, let me tell you something. I know that you've been trying to hack into the Lion's Den's main computer."
Fire feigned an innocent look and said, "Moi?"
"Yes, you. Even though you've been told not to. It's for the safety of both ships. I'm ordering you again, don't try to hack into the LD's computers. "
A halo appeared over the fox hologram that was the ship's AI, and Fire said, "Yes, sir." What LK couldn't see was the crossed fingers that Fire held between his back.
LK looked at the halo and laughed. "Horns and pitchfork would suit you better."
Fire tried to put on a hurt look, but he knew that LK knew him better than most, because the captain was close friends with Admiral Fox.

Just before LK left the bridge, he looked at the station through the main viewport. He was hoping that Painless Wolf, his erstwhile X.O., would be there to greet him. He missed his friend.

LK had been right. There was a mob of reporters waiting for the officers of the FireFoxx. They were on the station side of the main gangplank and were being held back by station security. Barely being held back.

Altaica was the first of the higher ranking officers off of the FireFoxx. She had reached the end of the gangplank when she was pounced.
"Al! It's great to see you!" her mate yerfed excitedly. "I got your message!"
Altaica had initially tensed, even more, when she was pounced, but when she heard her mate's voice she relaxed. Something she very rarely did in public or while on duty. She laid a single finger on her mate's lips and said, "Al, you know how I feel. What would LK say if he heard you. Anyway, I so glad to see you and to be home."
Al took her paw and squeezed it. "Probably nothing, but you're right. Altaica it is. For now. Let me take a look at you."
Altaica spun slowly so her mate could see her new uniform. "What do you think?"
Al pulled her into a tiger hug and whispered, very softly, into her ear, "Very nice, but I love you with less on. A lot less on."
The very proper Chief of Security of the Firefoxx blushed a bit and giggled. She whispered, just as softly, "So do I Al. So do I. Let's get out of here."

They started to leave through the mob of reporters. Questions and microphones where thrust at Altaica. She tried to be polite, but the press was like a school of sharks in a feeding frenzy. They weren't satisfied. It was only after the two tigers showed a bit of fang were they allowed to pass in peace.

LK wasn't so lucky as his Chief of Security.

He stopped when he reached the end of the gangplank. There were three reasons for this. The first was he very nearly blinded by all the lights from the still and vid cameras. Two, he was looking for Painless Wolf. Unfortunately, he wasn't there. Finally, LK felt a feeling he had never had before. He had a bad case of "stage fright". He was looking at a mob of, at least one hundred, reporters. He wanted to run back up the gangplank, but he knew that he couldn't. So he just froze.

"Sir?" a voice asked from behind him.
He turned around and asked, "Yes?"
"Is anything wrong?" George asked.
"No. Nothing's wrong," LK lied. Something he wasn't skilled at.
George didn't believe him for a nanosecond, but said, "If you say so sir. Mind if we sqeeze past you then?"
LK noticed that Dr. Cyntia Forbes was with George. They were holding hands, and something told LK more was to follow. They had started dating on the Lion's Den. LK didn't care, for his officer's personal lives were theirs, as long as it didn't interfere with their work. On the Firefoxx LK had to call them into his office to tell them to tone down the openess of the relationship. It wasn't that he minded, but Admiral Fox had warned LK that it might be bad for morale if the relationship was too open. The FireFoxx's crew weren't used to open dating aboard ship. After all, until the crew of the Lion's Den arrived, it was an all male ship.
LK moved to one side and said, "No, I don't mind. Go ahead."

They passed him and threaded the gauntlet. They weren't hassled as bad as Altaica, being he was within sight. LK's wild side goaded him to get moving. It was getting antsy just standing in one enclosed place.

"Captain! Captain Lionkingkimzel! Over here!"
"That's Lionking, cee, em, ess, el," he said with more than a slight growl and a lash of his tail. He hated it when they butchered his name, especially after all this time.
"Yes, yes. What's this 'major announcement'?"
"Where's the Lion's Den?" asked another voice.
"Why are some of your officers, like him," a third voice asked as Lt. Simpson squeezed past, "wearing FireFoxx uniforms?"
LK had wanted to do this formally and in a controlled setting, but he saw he would get no peace unless he made the announcement now. He cleared his throat and began.
"Ladies and gentlefurs. I'm pleased to announce that the Lion's Den, her crew and I are now part of the Vulpinian Navy.
"Two weeks ago I accepted the captiancy of the FireFoxx and the crew of the Lion's Den was transferred, en masse, to the FireFoxx as her command officers. As of that time, the crew of the Lion's Den ceased to exist as a separate entity. They are now the officers of the FireFoxx.
"We have just come back from extensive training. I'm proud and pleased to announce that both crews have intergrated well and have surpassed all expectations.
" A press release will be forthcoming with more detailed information.
"Thank you."

If LK thought that announcement would let him off the hook, he was mistaken. The press just followed him as he made his way to a bank of 'lifts.

"But what about the Lion's Den? Where is she?"
"The Lion's Den has been designated as an executive shuttle/fighter assigned to the FireFoxx. She's in one of her hangar bays now. Before you ask, yes, I'm still her owner."
"Does this mean you are no longer citizens of your respective homeworlds?"
"No! We still retain our citizenships. We have been made 'honorary citizens' of the Vulpinian Homeworld so we could accept our new positions."
"Where do your loyalties lie, Captain?"
"My loyalties lay with Homestead, the Vulpinians and, most of all, my friends. My goal is peace, nothing less."
"How long are you here for?"
"Four days." LK had made his way to the 'lifts and was waiting for a car. One arrived, he stepped into the car and said, "Thank you. I must be going."
They kept on asking anyway. "Captain, what ..."
Mercifully the 'lift's door shut the mob and their noise out.
LK slumped against the back of the car and said, "Commander Satler's office."

He got off the 'lift and walked down a corridor that he had not been in for a long while. He stopped short of a familiar door. How many times had he gone through that door to strongly "suggest" that something be done his way. He thought about it, and chuckled to himself. He was lucky he didn't end up in the brig, or have the Lion's Den taken from him. At those times, he was new to the "game" and a privateer. More than once he was almost, literally, booted out the door by the badger. It didn't matter to the Satler if LK was a lion or how big he was. This was his station, and Satler would do things his way. LK shook away the ghosts of the past and walked forward. The door opened to reveal a fur he had not seen before.

The deer looked up and said, "May I help you sir?"
"Is Commander Satler in?"
"Yes, but he's very busy. Do you have an appointment?" the deer asked as she looked at her display terminal.
"Ummm. No. I do need to see him though."
"I'm sorry sir. He has a meeting very shortly. I could fit you in for a brief meeting at 1530 hours. Tomorrow."
LK was getting annoyed. He held back the urge of either pounding on her desk with a large paw, or just barging into Jim's office. Jim's old secretary would have cleared his docket, but he had been away for too long. With a tail lash of annoyance, he said, "Look, just tell him that LK would like to see him at his earliest convience."
"Yes, sir. I can't promise anything though."
At this point the badger opened his office door saying, "Lisa. I want you to ..." Jim suddenly realized who was in the outer office with his secretary. "LK! What a surprise! What are you doing here? I just heard the news. Come in. Come in."
"But, sir, you have a meeting in five minutes."
"Reschedule it! LK, here, takes priority," the badger said as he shut the door.
"Yes, sir." The deer looked at the list of the furs who were to attend that meeting. She dreaded telling captains of ships of different systems that the commander wanted to reschedule the meeting at the last minute. All this for an old friend of his. Her desk communicator chimed. "Commander Satler's office. May I help you? ... Oh, hi Jane. ... No, I didn't hear any news. ... You're kidding? ... Who? ... You sure? ... I think I'm going to faint. ... He's in with Satler now. ... Thanks Jane. Bye." She then turned and looked at the closed inner office door with a sense of awe. This would make those calls a lot easier to make.

As Jim closed the door he said, "LK, congrats on the FireFoxx. They couldn't have gotten a better fur for captain or crew for her officers." LK just waved the compliment off. "Sit down. Anything I can get you?"
"Nothing, thanks."
"To think how many times you came close to being booted out of here, and now you have the respect of every fur on this station. To command one of the 'Foxxes. Nofur would've thought the Vulpinians would allow it."
"Well, I can't still believe it really. But that's not why I'm here. I'm here on business. Sort of."
"LK, you can have anything I can provide. Name it."
"It's more like personal business instead of offical business."
"Oh? What's up?"
LK leaned forward in his chair, clasped his paws and said, "Jim, have you seen Painless Wolf?"
"No LK, I haven't. Nor has his alter ego, the Tyrant, made an appearance in a while, much to the relief of the security personell," the badger said with a small chuckle.
LK smiled and said, "I can imagine so. I thought he would be here to greet and rejoin us. If you do see him, pass along that I'm looking for him."
"Will do. Anything else?"
As LK was getting out of his chair, he said, "No, Jim. By the way, we're here for four days. Come on over and I'll give you the 'nickel' tour of the FireFoxx."
"Thanks. I would like that." As LK was ready to open the door, the badger said, "Wait!"
"What?"
"I just remembered that some of the security teams had spotted Painless in one of the bars on one of the Promenade levels. It was something frog, I think. Stoned Frog? No. Stoned Toad? No, that's not it, but I know I'm close." With a snap of his fingers he said, "Pithed Toad! Yes, that's it. The Pithed Toad. Owner's name is Ray or Roy or something like that. I'm not sure."
"Thanks Jim. I'll see you later."
"See you LK. Don't be such a stranger."

LK opened the door and walked into the outer office, where the secretary was looking at him with undisguised awe. "Yes, what is it."
"Are you the Captain LionkingCMSL?"
LK took off his hat and ran a huge paw through his graying mane. "Well, unless someone else has the same name that I don't know about, I'm the only LionkingCMSL. Why?"
"I'm sorry sir. I didn't realize. I just heard the news."
"What are you yerfing about?"
"You're famous! The only non-Vulpinian in charge of one of those ships. I just didn't know when you came in."
LK placed his hat back on his head and shrugged, "No problem." With that he turned and left the office.

LK walked back to the 'lift and wondered if he would have to face that sort of reaction wherever he went. He entered the 'lift and said, "Promenade. Pithed Toad. I don't know which level."

After five minutes, the 'lift open its doors and LK saw the named bar across from him. He, literally, ducked into the bar. As he was approaching and entering the bar, LK heard the normal bar chatter, but now, that he was fully inside, he could hear a pin drop. Everyfur was staring at him with open muzzles. He did notice two tables of FireFoxx enlisted furs. He then heard his own voice. LK looked at the vid screen and saw the tail end of his speech. Very gradually the normal conversations returned, but they were puncutated with looks in his direction.
LK walked over to the bar.
The bartender walked over and said, "Can I help you sir?"
"Yes, I'm looking for the owner. Ray, Roy, something like that."
The striped ocelot said nervously, "Roy. That's me. I didn't do anything. I don't want any trouble."
LK said gently, "Relax. You're not in trouble. I'm looking for somefur who was spotted in here."
"Who?"
"A friend. He's a black wolf named Painless Wolf."
Roy looked liked he wanted to hide, but he held his ground and said, "Well, he has frequented the Pithed Toad, but I haven't seen him in sometime. I hope he's not in trouble."
"No, he's not. As I said, he's a friend. If you do see him, tell him that LK is looking for him."
"Right. 'LK is looking for him'. Got it. I'll make sure he get's the message if I see him. Anything else?"
"See those two tables of foxes over there?" LK said as he nodded towards the FireFoxx crew furs.
"Yes."
LK pulled out a fifty credit chit, placed it on the bar and said, "A round for them, on me, and keep the change."
Roy looked at the chit, up at LK, back at the chit and said, "But the drinks would only ..."
LK placed a huge paw around the ocelot's muzzle and said, "You heard what I said. No arguement. Understand?" Roy just nodded, being his mouth was held firmly shut. "Good. Now take them their drinks." LK released the ocelot's muzzle and smiled.
Roy looked up at the tall lion and went quickly to the task he was told to do. He was met with bemused looks and assorted, "We didn't order another round." When he told them who had bought the round, all ten foxes turned to look at their new captain. LK looked back at them, smiled and placed the tips of his right index and middle fingers to the brim of his hat in a small salute. He then turned and left the bar. The foxes stared, in disbelief, at where he had been standing for about two minutes with their muzzles hanging open.

LK spent the next two days looking for Painless with no luck. He cornered anyfur and everyfur he thought might have even the slightest idea where Painless went. He got blank looks and lot of negative answers. He even tried that "link" that Painless claimed existed from time to time. Nothing. He was now very tired, fustrated and annoyed at the lack of progress he was having. His tailed lashed almost constantly and everyfur gave him a wide berth.

He was on the bridge of the FireFoxx alone, when he roared, "Fire!"
The ship's AI's hologram appeared, holding it's ears and saying, "Ouch! I'm not deaf you know. I can hear you just as well if you whisper." Fire then saw the black mood that the captain was in, and wisely decided to stop any antics he had planned. He lowered his paws and said, "Yes, captain. what can I do for you?"
LK looked at Fire and realized what he just did. "I'm sorry Fire. I didn't mean to yell, but I'm just tired and mad at myself."
"No problem. What can I do for you."
"Have you heard anything, no matter how small, about Painless?"
"The only thing I've been able to hear is that somefurs are getting a little edgy when you show up. It seems some furs have started to think Painless has become an obession with you."
LK looked contrite. "Oops. I didn't realize I was pushing that hard. I guess I need to relax."
"May I make an observation sir? Off the record. I will not keep it in memory."
"Go ahead Fire. It's not like I can bust you or throw you off the ship."
Fire chuckled a bit, but said in an even tone, "Captain, you have been driving yourself hard, the past two weeks, to live up to standards that only you set for yourself. This was supposed to be four days of R and R. The rest of the crew took it that way, but you didn't. We have thirty six hours until we depart. Take some time off. I will alert you if I hear anything about Painless."
LK looked at Fire and said, "Fire, you're right. I need a break. Transport me to these coordinates." LK then punched the numbers into the nav console.
"Sir, are you sure? They are coordinates for grasslands. Granted, they're not far from your home lodge. But still."
"I'm certain. Beam me back in twenty four hours. I'm ready. Transport when you are ready."
"Yes, sir. I'm transporting now. I'll let you know if I hear anything. I promise. No tricks this time," Fire said with a chuckle and a smile.
LK smiled and said, "You're still trying to hack in to the LD's computers, aren't you?"
"I'm not telling. Have fun."

LK was about to tell Fire something when the bridge was replaced with the open grasslands and the scent of a familar pride. He looked up towards where the FireFoxx was and said to himself, "Fire is going to get himself in trouble."
He then took of his hat, and robe. He placed them where he could find them easily. He now wore a wrist communicator, so he could be in touch, but he turned down the alert volume to almost off.
LK did something he really hadn't had a chance to do, other when he was sleeping, he changed to a quad. He had a day to be something that he was in his heart, a wild lion. He loped off to find the pride and maybe a certain lioness.

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The End
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Forward to "Search - Epilogue".

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