Network Penetration Testing Ch3

By Sumdumguy

Notice: Author's Note located after the end of chapter.
**************

     Emily began to wake from a pleasant slumber.  She was cuddled in a warm pile, all fur to fur, feeling heartbeats and breathing next to her.  The possum was tempted to drift off deeper into sleep once more; something unusual was happening, causing a rousing awareness.  

     She was still wrapped up with Jimbo and Melinda, tails around each other, her paws still on Mom's pillow.  Her big brother and Melinda were both snoring; possum and skunk snores respectively.  For a moment, she was a little confused why they were in Mom's bed, then remembered they sexplayed there.

     The clock came into focus, 0736 hours.  She wondered why she was awake this early, then heard a rapping on the metal front door.   Whoever it was must have been knocking and woke her.  

    She got up, finding she couldn't drop the pillow, as her claws were stuck to it.  Emily headed to the door, trying to shake the pillow off.  The door knocked again.  The little possum turned on the door-cam with her tail.  The image popped on the small monitor. Mail delivery.  Her bladder complained as she opened the door with her paws around the pillow, squeezing the round metal doorknob hard for a purchase. She stayed behind the cover of the door as she opened it part way.

     A male pig in a blue delivery uniform was there, holding a tablet and a large mail packet. 

     "Hi. Special Delivery for 'Mrs. Emelia Winters'," he said, looking at the tablet screen.

     Emily felt the pressure in her bladder increase, and she jammed her tail in her cunny, and squatted down and stood up a couple times quickly, rubbing herself to keep from peeing, bending over.

     The porcine looked down, surprised at seeing bare knees, chest and shoulders on the young possum girl.  In case anyone outside was watching, Emily swung the door open further with her paws, taking a step back.  The pig delivering could see her exposed, but she was blocked from the neighbors seeing her by the wall.

     "Uh…" he looked away from her.

"Sorry, I woke up and gotta pee bad!"

     "Honey, you close the door, go potty and put something on. I'll wait."

     "I can't. My paws are stuck," she said, showing the pillow.  He took a step forward, and worked her claws free before stepping back outside.

     Emily rubbed her slit with paws, desperately holding her pee, bouncing up and down.  She closed and locked the front door and ran off to the bathroom.  Sitting, she relieved her screaming bladder quickly.  One quick wipe, and she threw on panties and a t-shirt.  She opened the front door,  and saw the delivery pig still standing there.

     With a wary glance at her he said "You should cover your panties too when answering the door, sweetie."

     He waved the tablet at her.  "Paw print there, please."

     She pressed her thumb on the spot and a checkmark went green.  He handed her a packet.  He shoved the tablet in a pouch on his side.

     "Honey, are you in there all by yourself? Where's your Mama?" He asked in a concerned voice.

     "Mom got called into work early 'cuz 'nuther waitress got sick.  My big brother and my friend are here but you woke me early.  The babysitter will be here soon," said Emily, reciting the "concerned stranger" response.

     The pig seemed relieved. "Just be careful opening the door, hon.  Someone might steal you, especially if they see you naked."

"Select. Thank you."

     She watched on the cam screen as the pig hopped in his truck and pulled out, checking his nav before racing off.

     She grabbed a glass of water, sat down on a chair and looked at the package.  It was from "Sector 8, New Opportunities Dept."

    Ripping the plastic open revealed a letter with something hard in it.  She opened that and recognized the green colored "subsistence" credstick.  There was a letter as well.

"Mrs Emilia Winters,

This is your new 'Opportunity for Pride' subsistence credstick.  Your benefits show as [current] for [1 year] from this date.  

You are currently [ON Automatic Payment] for [monthly] rent deduction for [Assisted Housing].

Your new PIN will be sent separately.

We wish you and your family a swift path to financial success."

     Emily went to the com-panel and selected Mom's mail. There was a message from "New Opportunities Dept" that she opened.  It revealed the random 4 digit PIN.  Emily would tell Jimbo.

     Melinda wandered out of the bedroom, looking a bit anxious.  "Is it shiny for me to use your toilet?"

     "Of course. You don't need to keep asking."

     The skunk raced to the bathroom, did her business, then Emily heard a quiet hiss and smelled cleaner spray waft under the door.  The sink ran and her skunk friend soon came out to the kitchen, still naked.

     "I… I sprayed everything I touched so it won't stink."

     "Cancel.  You don't stink, Melinda. Come on, let's get breakfast!"  Emily grabbed her friend's paw, guiding her to the fridge.

    Opening the refrigerator showed leftover pancakes on a plate.  Emily grabbed two pancakes, heating them in the insta-wave.

     "Melinda, what do you want?  Pancakes or cereal bars?"

     "...are you sure it's OK? To eat your food?  You might need it. I can just have water…"

     "Cancel.  Eat," said Emily firmly.  Melinda grabbed a couple pancakes, put them on a plate, and Emily showed her how to use the insta-wave to reheat them.  

      The two girls were sitting together, eating breakfast when Melinda stopped and looked sad.  

     "I'm sorry…"

"Null idea what you mean.  What for?"

     "Sorry I'm so dirty.  I know our reek makes your nose itch."

     Emily sniffed the air, then sniffed Melinda, making her ears flatten in embarrassment, going bright red inside.

     "Nope.  You still smell pretty, like strawberry furwash," Emily lowered her voice to a whisper.  "Possums can really stink too. We only do it if we get REALLY scared and let it happen. You know, the Little Death."

     Melinda looked confused, then took another bite.  "Are you telling the truth that I don't stink now?"

"Select with a cert!"

     A small smile came to the skunk's features.  Remembering last night she asked "D-does Jimbo like any girls?  Like-like them?"

"404 result.  Null idea."

     Jimbo came out of the bedroom, grabbed a drink of juice, hardened pecker waving.  After a few big swallows he ran off to the bathroom and the girls could hear him peeing for a long time.

     Jimbo came back out, his penis gone flaccid.  Melinda watched him, covering her eyes with her paws, but peeking, fascinated.  Jimbo smiled and rolled his eyes.

     "Melinda, I can see you looking. It's shiny. Go ahead and look.  I'm grabbing breakfast," he said, grabbing the last pancake and heating it.  The skunk giggled and looked while the possum ate.  

     "Jimbo, we got another welfare credstick," said Emily, handing it over. "The code is on the house com-unit."

     Jimbo checked the com-unit and saw a way to change the credstick PIN and activate the stick. He flipped it to the usual code Mom always kept it to. (0007).  All set.  The possum felt a sense of relief.  Now they could buy their own food again, instead of using soup kitchens.

     "Come on.  Let's get dressed. We're gonna buy food."

     "Are we gonna see TripleM?" Asked Emily.

     "Cancel. His cut is too high. We can take the bus."

     Melinda went over, picking her clothes up again to wear them a 2nd day.  

     "Em, you got anything she can wear?  We gotta get Melinda more clothes."

     Grabbing the naked skunk, Emily grabbed her and hauled her off to her bedroom.  They disappeared for a few minutes, Jimbo put on a pair of cargo pants.  He carefully stashed the new credstick in an inner pocket, and grabbed the rest of his gear.
  
      Emily came out, wearing clean jeans that just barely fit.  Her ankles were showing and she needed the next size up now.   Melinda followed, nervously smiling, ears pinkish in embarrassment.  She had on a green dress with a black bow on the waist. The green was a little faded from time and washing, but it fit well. The colors stood out from her black fur, the belt less dark but offsetting.

     "You look pretty in that," said Jimbo absently.

     The skunk's ears went up, she smacked her lips and smiled wide.  "Thank you," She moved closer to him, almost rubbing against his side.  

     "Shiny.  Let's get going," They walked out, sealing the door behind, Jimbo waved to a couple locals moving someone into 19a across the way.  He wondered when "Promise Jon" moved out.  Jon was a low level lone-wolf heroin dealer infamous for buying "product" on credit then ducking his suppliers while making plenty of promises.  Good to see him gone.  You gotta be bad to be kicked from your pack.

     The project was made of brick duplexes in two rows, the front doors of the duplexes across from each other. 
  
     There were some of the more able locals helping carry stuff from a truck into the unit.  He watched a usual "bottle and can" collector bringing in the last of small boxes, being handed a sandwich and a credstick transfer.  The new tenant looked familiar; Jimbo couldn't place it until he looked at the truck.  Housing Authority maintenance truck.  Must be an employee moving in for the discounted rent.  Jimbo hoped the coyote and his mate weren't too nosy about the neighbors.  Maybe not, she was holding a newborn cub.  Those took time and attention.

     Jimbo turned and headed for the bus stop.  Three stops to 'Food Lion' complex, then three back with groceries in paw.   Then they would drop off the food and hit the 'Good Will' store for used clothing.  They accepted the 'cash side' credstick payments there.

***********

     Two hours later they walked back in.  They had trouble carrying it all, but they had juices, frozen foods and even some green peppers.  Emily even grabbed a bag of rice for the old rice cooker.  

     They walked in and put it all away, then relaxed for a little bit.  Jimbo kept an eye on the time, then announced they needed to hit the goodwill now for Melinda.

     The girls would rather have stayed watching Tri-D, but Jimbo reminded them Melinda would be naked with only one thing to wear in the wash.

     This turned the skunkette's ears a bit pink when Emily responded "Don't you like it when she shows all her fur?" with a mischievous smile.

"Em, don't embarrass her."

     "I'm not embarrassed if YOU see me, Jimbo," said Melinda, then looking sheepish at her own daring.  Jimbo reached over and scratched behind her ears, making her smile again.

     "Let's go," he said, opening the door. They all filed out, moving along at a brisk pace.   They exited the cracked blacktop driveway, and went down the broken and uneven sidewalks bordered by weeds.  The area quickly went from residential to storefronts and dive bars.  On the way past, Jimbo got a friendly greeting from one of a pair of Corner Boys, a weasel with a clipped ear and an eye-patch bandage.  

"Yo, Jimbo!  How are you doing, Ome?"

     Not knowing the two, but wanting to be respectful, he nodded.  "We are shiny."

They came over, smiling, and shook paws.  "Hey, I'm Ray-Ray. My buddy is Jake-O.  The CB wants you to know we appreciate what you did yesterday."

Jimbo looked puzzled.  He hadn't done anything except not get killed or get visited by CPS.

     "Just so you get synched, those Ghouls was gonna do 'the big job' on our bro's.  You and your sis jumped in, faced 'em down so they just left.  You two are some hard-core mother-rut...er.. cubs."

     Jimbo decided to show truth. "Nah, Ray-Ray I was shitting my pants.  I didn't want anything but to get my sister away."

     "Yeah, we know.  You only a cub. Anybody would be scared, surrounded like that.  But you looked that bitch right in the eye and called him a mother-rutter.  That's big balls!"

"I guess…"

     He looked at Emily. "An' you pulled iron on that mother!  Respect, girl!"

     Emily nodded respectfully as she had always been taught.

     "We just wanna let you know, we owe you two."

     Jimbo nodded. "Thanks, Ome.  Hey, we gotta run…"

     "See you around,"

     He got a "thumbs up" response and they moved along.

     As they passed the old candy store Mr Stephenson called out, and got a wave back. 

     "Jimbo, can we get candy?" asked the little possum.

"Maybe later, Em.  Clothes first."

     Melinda was getting a little daring and instead of being curled up on herself she was happily twirling in her borrowed skirt.

     A group of three teenage rams walked out of the pool hall.  They were upscale, slumming.  You could tell by the new denim and the "letter jackets" they were wearing.  They started to head towards a SUV parked next to the curb, standing out because it looked practically new.  

     Vehicles here were usually rusting hulks in disrepair, not red shiny 4-door SsangYong SUVs with "Proud Parent of Becker Academy Football Program" bumper stickers.

     The lead ram pushed Melinda, sending the little skunk falling back on her butt.

     "Out of the way, you reeking trash eater!" said the lead ram.

     Emily ran up. "Don't you push my friend!  My brother will cut your nuts off!". Jimbo could see she was about to get them into a problem.  ONE on the rams could be an issue.  Three rams on him was a guaranteed ass kicking.

     The second ram yelled out, "Hey look, the skunk skank already has her panties off and legs spread for us!"

     The first quipped, "Hey, you can put a dress on a skunk, but they still look as bad as they smell."

     Jimbo looked and noticed that Melinda's skirt was up, and yes, she was naked under it.  

     The skunk closed her legs and shoved the skirt down quickly to cover up.

     The third ram sneered. "The dress doesn't make the skunk prettier, she makes the dress uglier."

     Melinda looked ready to start crying from the abuse, keeping her arms close to her, shrinking again.

     Jimbo winked at Melinda, then approached the rams, getting in-between them and Emily.

     "Hey, Ome,  I'm sorry.  Sorry to bother you. I'll keep her out of the way for you, shiny?  Hey! Are you bro's varsity!  You looking pretty hard-core man!"

"Whatever, rut off, cross eyes." 

     Jimbo reached out with his tail, touched Emily's paw, and quickly spelled out "get CornBoys fast. Dealers."

     She grabbed Melinda and ran off back the way they came.  Jimbo went wide-eyed with a huge grin, like a fan meeting a celebrity.  He approached the leader, paw out.

     "Hey Ome, respect!  Can you tell me how to get into Becker? You guys are chromed up! Mega shiny!"

"Rut off, loser."

     "Come on, we're not like that.  Look at you Rams, you blame me?  You got a shiny ride, get all the ewes in that, right?"

     Jimbo moved forward and grabbed and shook paws with the lead ram. He transitioned into hugging the ram before quickly being shoved away. He fell back into the SUV, bouncing off it.

     "Get the rut off me you garbage eating whore-son. Go back to sucking dick behind the dumpster you crawled out from."

     "You don't need to push me away, I'm just trying to be like you rams.  Better class of fur, query?"

"Rut off, pussy."

     Several sets of footpaws came up quickly from behind.

"Jimbo, what's going on?" asked Ray-Ray.

     The rams went wide eyed, looking from Jimbo to the weasel street gang.  They didn't expect some little punk possum to know a bunch of gang-bangers.

     "These shitbags are dealing in your territory, Ray-Ray. I warned them off, they started throwing static, hit the girls."

    The other weasel, Jake-O, pulled a cell and quickly made a call, giving the location.

     "Rut you! We're trying to buy, not sell, cock-lick.  If we were selling, where's the dope?"

     Jimbo grinned. "Check the first asshole's pockets.  He was trying to sling meth; asked if I knew anyone buying. Offered a cut."

     Half a dozen more CBs rolled up on scooters.  The rams started looking nervous.  They started edging towards their SUV but were stopped by Jake-O lifting his shirt, displaying a Glock.

     Jimbo hugged Melinda as the weasel gang emptied out the pockets of the ram, finding half a dozen brown dimebags on him.

     "If you ain't selling, why you need this many dimebags, asshole?" asked Ray-Ray

     "Those aren't mine! He planted them on me!" 

     "Yeah.  Sure. Just like all the other ten year olds on the corner, slinging dimebags of meth.  Next week everyone switching to four year olds.  Gonna hide the dope in crayon boxes.  Everyone just pay in cookies," said Jake-O.

"Look, I'm sorry.  We just want to leave.  Please?" said the teenage ram.  He was near to tears and shaking.

"I thought you was all tough.  That shit only for little cubs?  Why don't you try pushing me?"

     The rams didn't respond, and tried to huddle closer to each other.

     "I asked you a rutting question! Answer me, mother-rutter!"

     The middle ram who made comments about Melinda replied, "We're sorry, sir!  We won't do it again.  Please, let us go.  We'll never come back!"

     "Jimbo, what you think?" asked the weasel.

     Surprised they cared about his opinion, Jimbo was shocked at being asked.  He looked at Melinda, who was wiping her eyes.

     "Melinda, what do you think we should do with them?"

     "Please, Miss Skunk, we're so sorry!" said the leader of the rams.

She had a wicked looking smile. "You said I was a 'reeking trash eater'. I think YOU should be the trash eater!"

     The weasels grinned, nodded, and led the rams down the alley and around the corner to a dumpster from 'Wanna-Bite Burger'.  The greenish-brownish metal container seemed to be made of paint covered rust. It was overflowing with trash bags, and swarms of flies buzzed continuously around.  The smell of rotting food filled the air.  

     "Please!  We can't eat this! We're herbivores! We'll get sick!" said the third ram..

     The leader yelled back, "Peter, they don't rutting care!"

     "Roger, you got us into this! Get us out, Mr big shot!" said Peter to the leader.

     Roger spoke up. "Look, take my dad's SUV! Just let us go! Please?"

     "Nah, Bro.  Gas mileage sucks on those things. It's got no style.  The only ho' that wants to ride in it is your mom," said Jake-O.

     One of the CB's pulled a small pistol and put it to Peter's head, who started to cry.  "You better start eating, or I'm gonna leave your body in this dumpster."

     The three rams each grabbed a rotten half eaten burger and started eating.  After three burgers each they started throwing up, and the cubs backed off.

     As Jimbo and the two girls turned to leave, the weasel in charge said "Hey, Jimbo. Show these assholes your iron."

     Reaching behind his back, the possum pulled the flare gun holdout and held it up.

     The ganger bounced Roger's head off the side of the dumpster. "You see that shit?  He's like ten years old.  He's packing heat. That's got shotgun shells in it. Those two little possums faced down nine Ghouls yesterday.  You lucky he nicer than me. He coulda killed all three of you mother-rutters on the spot. You weak little lambs don't belong here. Maybe we should off your asses!"

     The rams were shaking, looking around wildly. "Please, Mr Possum. Don't let them kill us!"

     Jimbo grinned.  "Maybe I can help.  But you owe a tax to the Corner Boys.  Transfer your credsticks over!"

     That statement brought some nods of acceptance from the weasels in the red bandanas.  

     The three wannabe toughs quickly transferred all their money to a hacked untraceable stick.  

     "Please, can we go home?  We won't tell anyone!"

     The Corner Boys seemed satisfied and nodded.  Emily spoke up.  "You made fun of my friend for her clothes!  I think you should give yours to GoodWill."

     They walked out, leaving the rams naked in the alley with nothing but the transponder key to the SUV.  

     The three cubs walked down another block, stuffing the clothes in the donation box outside the GoodWill before going inside.

     After a half hour of searching they found pants for Emelia that fit. Melinda grabbed pants and dresses and some good condition panties with a skunk sized tail opening.  Jimbo grabbed a couple pairs of pants, paid with the credstick cash.

**************
     Jimbo finished putting the new clothes in the washing machine (hot wash, deep water, germicidal settings to kill bedbugs or fleas) when his cell rang.

     "Yo, Triple-Oh-7!  It's Hot Sauce. We got a job, lookout.  Getting some new kicks.   Meet me at the L in an hour?"

     "Select. I'll be there.  Lil cubs shiny to come too?"

     "Certified Select! I heard Lil Possum pulls iron, ain't blocking her biz," laughed Hot Sauce.  "I ain't blocking that lil skunkgirl neither.  The CB spreadin the word. I don't wanna be naked eating no trash.  I hear when them rams got pulled over by the Muni all three of em done been shittin all over the seats, puking on the floor. That's what the leak says."

"They got flashed?"

     "Yeah.  Some ol' lady at a light saw em naked. Figured they was pervs, called it in.  Tin badges probably thought a new car like that was stolen from some Megacorp salaryman or something. Rolled quick on em."

     Jimbo grinned. "Sweet Justice. Meet you at the L."

************

     The three walked into the library, went down the back and entered one of the empty meeting rooms.  The rug was covered in dirt, littered with trash.  The wooden table had a pile of crumpled empty soy plastic soft drink containers on it.  Houseflies buzzed around the room.

     A couple older gray folding metal chairs sat open at the table with more chairs against the wall.  Jimbo unfolded some chairs and sat down in one. Hot Sauce sat down and almost immediately started waving at flies buzzing near him.

     A few minutes later Mickey walked in, along with a male teenage shrew in a blue t-shirt and jeans, both of them sitting next to Jimbo and the girls.

     A few other members of the Electric Trash Pandas came in and sat down while Hot Sauce swung at flies impotently.

     A low murmur of conversations between the different furs in the room started to happen.  Snippets of everything from various small crimes and street fights to debates on best cartoon heroes and villains could be heard here and there.

     Frustrated with the flies, Hot Sauce started putting the crushed bottles in the trash can.  The flies started buzzing around the garbage and he shoved the full can outside, flies following.

     Mickey rapped on the table loudly.  Private conversations around the table stopped.

     "Here's the info dump, everyfur.  We got a chance to earn some good credits on a shipment of kicks coming to 'Targleson's Shoes' today-"

     "Why you wanna rob Old Man Rogers?" asked one of the Trash Pandas.  Rogers was a local in good standing.  Popular.  The ETP never messed with the neighborhood furs. Brought too much heat, and Mickey always said, "You don't shit where you eat."

     Hot Sauce spoke up. "Rogers don't own Targlesons no more.  That mother-rutter 'Machine Gun Daniels' forced him out.  After 1200 hours today, it's all Daniel's pockets we're taking from."

     Hot Sauce pulled up a picture on his phone of a middle aged wolf in an expensive business suit.  The wolf was smiling, holding up a large pistol with a laser site on it.  It was an e-news picture titled 'shop owner Jeffrey Daniels shoots thieves dead - once again'.

     A spate of conversation went through the room until Mickey knocked on the table again then spoke up. "Listen up.  Our source from the tin badges tells Daniels ain't legal for firearms right now.  They pulled his permit after he shot a panda maid working for a mid-level salaryman."

     "So?  That just means he ain't got a license.  Plenty furs got guns with no paper," objected a raccoon with a red mohawk.

     "Word is, Daniels gonna go political.  He can't risk getting busted right now.  He should be at his other stores anyways."

     The blue shirt spoke up. "Daniels' calendar shows he's doing an inspection on one of his convenience stores today.  He won't be around."

"How do you know?" asked Jimbo.

     "The store networks are connected now.  We can see his schedule. He took off last week to hand over his guns to the tin badges.  He put in papers to get his license back, but that takes a month."

     Emily and Melinda had been quietly listening.  Melinda hesitantly raised her paw and everyfur looked at her.

"Why did the maid get shot?"

     Blue shirt replied, "He was blasting away at a couple cubs stealing two credits of day-old bread.  He missed and killed the panda maid, a homeless bunny outside, and drilled the windows of a closed bake-shop.  The salaryman got paid for the maid.  City made him pay for the windows across the street."

     Mickey looked at Melinda, "What's your name, lil skunk?"

"Melinda."

     "Melinda, you stick with Emily and you'll be safe.  The fur with the gun won't even be there and he doesn't have any guns anymore." said the headman.

"Select," said Melinda, still sounding worried.

     Mickey waved her over and she approached him.  He picked her up, popped her on his lap and scratched her headfur.  In a low voice he said, "Hey, I'm Mickey.  I'm a friend of Emily and Jimbo.  I will make sure all three of you are safe, query?"

     "Certified promise?"

     "Certified promise. Jimbo will be a lookout, that's all."

     Melinda relaxed and smiled again.  Mickey slid her off his lap and turned back to business.

     The little skunk went to Jimbo and curled up in his lap as he listened.

     "Here is the plan.  Delivery comes at 1630 from 'Sky-Drop Express'.  Lookouts on the corners watch for any Tin Badges or anything weird going down.

     Mr. Blue here will let us in the back door.  Rogers rescheduled the drop, so it happens after the store isn't his anymore.  Supposed to drop the load at 1130 hours.  Rogers lost the store at 1200 today. He rescheduled the shipment for 1630.  Insurance loss will be on Daniels."

     "Why are we stealing shoes?" asked red mohawk.

     Hot Sauce pulled up a pic on his cell. He tapped a few times and a nearby ancient color printer noisily printed a dozen sheets.  The raccoon passed them out, then held one up.  

"These are the new 'Kolca Ultra-Street-X' kicks.  Lightweight, washable, temperature controlled, Ablative Cloth armor on top.  Platinum badge on the side.  These kicks run 600 credits a pair.  We can fence em for 200 each.

     Rodgers gets ten-percent off the top.  Store employees split ten-percent.  Rest is all the ETP members, plus Triple-Oh-Seven."

     Mickey pulled out a backpack. "Here's everyone's job.
Grabbers: Hi-low, Patty, Turkey-leg and J-Bar.  You grab the shoe boxes, dump 'em outside.
Loaders: Lazy-Bob, Speed-Load, Stephen and Macro, get that shit in the Ewe-Haul.
Distraction: Crazy Jane, Skid-Mark.  If anyone from the front of store starts to head to the back, distract 'em. Do whatever.  Piss on the floor.  Scream. Rut each other on the sales desk. I don't care.
Lookouts: Jimbo, Emily and Melinda, Cabbage Patch, Louise.  You watch for tin badges or anything weird. Stay quiet unless you need to talk about important stuff."

     Opening the backpack, Mickey pulled out flat cardboard and plastic packages and packs of batteries.

     "Got these just for you, Jimbo," said Mickey as most of the room laughed.  Blue shirt looked confused.

     Jimbo grabbed a package and looked at it. "Rutting seriously?" Smiled then laughed, joined in by most of the room.

     It was a wireless earpiece, claiming 'two-mile range, runs for 6 hours on standard AAA Carbon-Elec batteries' and included plastic sunglasses.
The top read 'Jimbo James Super-Spy earpiece and government shades.'

     "What's so funny?" asked Blue Shirt.

     "Jimbo's middle name is 'James'," said Hot Sauce.

     "Your name is rutting 'Jimbo James'?" asked Mr Blue in a sneering voice.

     "Yeah," said Jimbo in a flat voice. Some of the gang were almost family.  They got privileges to tease a little.  This 'Mr Blue' was nobody.  His tone wasn't friendly ribbing.

     "So who is your 'Posse Aplenty'?"

     Jimbo hissed, showing all his teeth.  "Watch it, Blue.  Stepping over the rutting line." 

     Feeling the immediate change in atmosphere, Melinda got off Jimbo's lap and moved back.

     "So if you're 'Jimbo James' does that mean the rut-skunk is 'Posse Aplenty'?"

     "You need to shut the rut up," said Red Mohawk.

     "I know!  If she isn't 'Posse Aplenty', she's the actress….what's that bitches name that played her… Emily… Emily… Emily...Trixie...TRICKS! EMILY TRICKS!"

"Oh, rut!" said Hot Sauce, starting to get up.  Around the table body language changed.  The only one who didn't notice was Mr Blue.

"Yeah.  The little skunk must be your Emily Tricks!" said Mr Blue, grinning aggressively, showing teeth.

"Don't you call Melinda a slut, you rutting asshole!" said Jimbo, leaping towards the shrew.

     Mr Blue kept the smile on his face, having dismissed everyone other than Mickey as a potential threat.  Cubs with bad haircuts and stupid names couldn't do shit to him.

     The first shot to the mouth stunned the shrew, the knife fingerguard knocking out two of his teeth.  The possum got in three more hits before he was desperately kicked back and hit the wall, momentarily stunned, the wind knocked out of him.  The ETP got in between them both to try and stop the fight.

     Jimbo started getting back up, ready to start swinging again when Mr Blue headed for the door, shirt in his mouth to stop the bleeding.

     "Rutting maniac!  What's the matter with you? Mommy didn't show you enough love?"

     Jimbo went into a rage. The room got blurry.  "Come on, mother rutter!  Come say that to my rutting face! Come on you RUTTING DICK SMOKER!"

     He tried to move through the line of Trash Pandas, but they stopped him. His vision cleared when he blinked.  He started to shove, not caring as the room started getting blurry again.  He knew he was yelling something but wasn't sure exactly what it was from the ringing in his ears.

************

     He was being pinned against the wall, struggling to get free, and recognised Mickey was the one pinning him in place.

     "'imbo...ool..t..cuz!" He heard through the ringing in his ears.

"What?"

"Jimbo, cool out!" said Mickey.  

     The possum was shoved into a chair.  The ringing started to die down in his ears.  The room was still blurry, and Jimbo blinked again, clearing his vision.  His muzzle was wet, and he reached up, wondering where the blood was coming from.   His paws came away clear, then he realized he was crying.

     Mickey nodded his head, and indicated for everyone else to get out.  The ETP moved out quickly, clearing the room, closing the door.  The only ones left were Jimbo, Mickey and the two girls, who were hugging each other.  The small window in the door showed the ETP guarding the hallway.  This was private.

     Jimbo looked away from Mickey, embarrassed, and wiped his eyes, sniffling.  He tried to force himself to stop crying, but failed.  Mickey just kept his arm around him.

     "Go ahead, you let that shit out, Jimbo.  Anyone who tells you they never cry is a gods damn liar."

     There was a pause, and Mickey continued.  "You've had some shit dropped on you. I know you been doing your best.  The way shit turned out is bad.  It ain't supposed to be this way.  Makes you angry.  Makes you forget a little how things really were.

     I remember, your mom loves you very much.  Her problem remembering that sometimes doesn't change it.  The first day she took me in, she told me flat out: I'll help you, do my best for you.  But if you are ever a problem for Jimbo and Emily then you are out.  They come first, I'll kill or I'll die before they get hurt."

     "Then why isn't she HERE? She LEFT us! She left us all ALONE to go to rutting Hollywood! With some rutting bullshit about making a movie!"

     Emily spoke up. "She will come back when the movie is fin-"

     Mickey held a paw up to tell Emily to chill out, then finger in front of lips to show quiet.

     "Em, she isn't making a rutting movie! DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHO WE-"

     Mickey interrupted before Jimbo could say too much. "Jimbo!  The… problem made her act like someone else, you know that. It's easy to forget.

     You remember the poster?  She worked double shifts for two weeks for that.  You remember your 'Robotic Fox Ninja' cake you had for your fifth birthday? No one else in the project got that.  You need to remember how hard she worked for that.  I remember she would tuck you into bed every night, singing that song about the feral toy bears on a picnic."

     Jimbo's vision started getting blurry again, and his mouth twisted.  He tightened up and fought it.

     "Jimbo, let it go."

     "I… gotta… I gotta be… strong…"

     "Mad isn't strong, Jimbo. And no you don't."

     Jimbo started sobbing, grabbing onto Mickey, like he did when he was Emily's age and sad.   "I just want my Mom back…"

     They sat in the dirty meeting room of the library for nearly an hour while Jimbo cried his eyes out.  The tough gang leader, known for literally having blood on his fur up to his elbows, rocked Jimbo back and forth until he calmed down, like a mother with a fussy baby.

********************

     "Everyone is gonna think I'm a pussy now," said the embarrassed possum, wiping his nose on his sleeve.

     "Bullshit.  Everyone of them got shit going on too.  No one is gonna look down on you, Jimbo.  If they do, I'll give em an asskicking myself and boot em right out of the E.T.P. on the spot.  Shit, even the C.B.'s and the Ghouls show you respect.  You got no worries about that.  Let's get you cleaned up.  Gotta roll in an hour.  Mission still on if you up to it."

"Select.  I got your back, Mickey," said Jimbo, smiling.

****************

     They got to their positions thirty minutes before go-time.  Crazy Jane and Skid-Mark walked in the store, looked casual and texted, reporting no issues they could see.

     Jimbo took one corner, halfway down the block Emily and Melinda worked another.  The other lookouts were in position.   

     They watched, looking for anything suspicious.  Emily and Melinda pulled out sidewalk chalk for hopscotch as they kept watch.  

     Jimbo sat down on the curb, keeping a game in the background of his phone, ready to switch to if needed.  If someone questioned why he was there, he wanted a reason ready.

     "If you see an old SUV, count the antennas," came across the earpiece. "Any more than two could be a cop."

     A quarter of an hour later they heard the sound of electric motors.  Looking up, Jimbo saw a cargo container with six propellers fly by.  It went behind Targlesons and set down, engines cutting off.

     The earpiece came to life, "Shipping drone just landed."

     A Ewe-Haul truck pulled into the parking lot and around the back, following a sign for 'Shipping/Receiving’.  Several minutes later an update came through.  

     "Ewe-Haul in position," said Mickey.

     "Door up, ramp down," said Hot Sauce.

     "Jimbo, can we get ice-cream when we are done?" asked Emily over the headset.

     "Yes. Stick to biz, girls," said Jimbo.

     "Mr Blue ain't opening the door!  He says he wants a bigger cut now," said Turkey Leg.

     "Lookouts, pay attention.  This might be a trick," said Hot Sauce.

     "He wants another ten-percent 'cause Jimbo beat his ass," said Patty.

     "Fine. Tell him we'll give him ten, if he cooperates right now," said Mickey.

     "Tin Badge on the block! Private company, black and white compact with lightbars!" called out Cabbage Patch.

     "Everyone get ready to roll out and scatter!" said Mickey.

     "It's not!  That's a 'Tech Trooper' car!" said Melinda.  Tech Trooper was a tech repair company that fixed networks, sim-decks and tablets.  Their cars imitated law enforcement paint.

     "I can see it.  It's Tech Trooper.  Just driving by," said Louise.

     "False alarm.  Back on the job.  Stay frosty," said Mickey.

     "We're inside.  Gonna start grabbing boxes," updated Turkey Leg.

     A minute went by.  Every time a vehicle went by, Jimbo was counting antennas.  He saw a trash collection drone on its route, but it started on the opposite side of the street.

     He almost missed a skunk pushing a shopping cart through the parking lot going for the back of the store, probably to rifle through the dumpsters.

     "Contact, left side, headed for dumpsters. Walking skunk with a cart," said Jimbo.

     Hot Sauce came around and met the skunk, stopping him.  He handed the skunk something, who then took off quickly.

     "I gave him ten credits to rut off," said the raccoon.

     "Hopefully he stays gone. And doesn't tell his friends," said Jimbo.

     "Loading boxes now," said Macro.

     "These are some sweet-ass kicks!  I gotta get a couple pairs," said Lazy-Bob.

     "Lazy-Bob, just load the rutting shoes!  You can dream about taking a pair to a love motel when this shit is over," said Stephen, breathing heavily over the pickup.

"Lookouts, report in," said Mickey.

"Looking shiny," said Cabbage Patch.

"All clear," said Jimbo.

"No problemo," said Louise.

"Status clear and alert," said Emily.

"Mickey, workers want another ten-percent for their cut," said Patty.

"Tell them we will talk after the job is done," said Mickey.

     "Muni rolling down the block," said Cabbage Patch. A moment later there was another update, "They stopped by the girls and are getting out."

     Jimbo felt his heart rate shoot through the roof.  Police attention was not good.  The next five minutes were some of the most stressful of his life.

"Looks shiny.  Muni watched them play hopscotch, gave them badge stickers and bottles of water."

"All clear," said Melinda.  

"Mickey, we need a break.  This is hard work," said Lazy-Bob.

"Will you just load the rutting boxes?  Gods Damned," said Speed-Load.

"Half the load is outside," said J-Bar.

     "Group of homeless headed this way. Moving like they got somewhere to be," said Cabbage Patch.

     "Jimbo, I gotta pee," said Melinda.

     "Go in the bushes," said Jimbo, keeping his head on a swivel.

     "Three quarters of the load is outside," said Hi-Low.

     "Keep it up, almost done," said Mickey.

     "News truck headed down the block," said Louise.

     "Homeless just walked in the lot, looks like they want to go around," said Jimbo.

     "I'll head 'em off," said Hot Sauce.

     Jimbo saw him come around to stop the homeless furs.  It looked like a mixed group of four, a skunk, two foxes and an old beaver on crutches.

     The raccoon ran up, started talking to the group.  There seemed to be a disagreement.  The beaver stood on one footpaw and picked up a crutch like a weapon.  Hot Sauce turned on his glove, touching fingers to make a loud popping electrical arc.  It looked like there was about to be a brawl.

     "Hot Sauce has four homeless furs squaring up on him.  About to start swinging," said Jimbo.

     "Stay in position, I'm going to help him. Someone watch the Ewe-Haul," said Mickey, breathing heavily through the mic.  A moment later he came running on the scene, and got between the two groups.  

     Jimbo could see the gang leader talking with the homeless.  He raised his paws to show a non-threatening stance.  There was some conversation, and he handed something to the homeless, who turned and started leaving.

     Mickey and Hot Sauce ran back around the building.

     "This is getting expensive.  I just gave them 20 credits and a coupon for a free pizza from 'pie in the sky'.  I told them anyone else who shows up gets informed they have all the money," said Mickey over the earpiece.

     Jimbo turned away from the commotion and saw the Channel 71 News truck parked in the lot, antenna raising up high for a broadcast.  A goat was setting up a video camera, while a bunny in a cheap business suit stood by holding a microphone.

     A shiny new luxury ToyoZuki SUV was parked in the lot.  The door opened and Daniels stepped out from behind the shiny metal and dark tinted glass.  He was adjusting his tie with one paw, tail wagging, holding a shoebox.

     "Crazy Jane is dancing on the counter, pants down, yelling," said Skid-Mark. "Manager threatening to call Muni."

     The bunny stood in front of the store, sign front and center above him, microphone ready.  The goat pointed the camera in his direction.  Daniels walked up next to the bunny, holding the open shoebox.

     Jimbo keyed the microphone switch on his earpiece. "Daniels is out front with a Tri-D news crew from channel 71!  He's holding a box of shoes."

     "Only five boxes left inside. Just need another minute," said Hi-Low.

     "Leave em.  Everyone bug out, scatter and get home safe," said Mickey.

     "Emily, you and Melinda ready to run?" asked Jimbo.

     "Melinda went into the store to use the bathroom," said the little possum.

     "Anyone got eyes on the little skunkgirl?" asked Jimbo.

     "No but she-" was all Jimbo heard before the earpiece cut and started a high pitched squealing.  He pulled the earpiece out, and checked his cell phone.  'Searching for signal…'

     Jimbo looked and he could see Cabbage Patch down the block staring at his earpiece.  Communication was down.  Melinda was missing, and he had no idea what was happening inside or out back.

     Jimbo ran as close to the store as he dared before switching to a quick walk through the doors avoiding the news crew broadcasting.  The chime dinged as he walked in.   The floor was a generic retail off white tile checker pattern.  

     There were aisles of shoes on metal shelves nearly up to the ceiling, separated by species size, sex, and ages.

Neat the front were several cash registers and behind them various displays.

 He didn't want to attract attention.  His eyes swept the roomful of furs.  Most eyes were on Crazy Jane, dancing in her underwear with pants around her ankles on top of a shoe display.  

A manager was near her, obviously upset.

     "I'm gonna keep dancing til I get my refund!" yelled Crazy Jane, who started singing "I want my re-fund, not gonna beee done.  Till you give one, not gonna beee fun!"

     "I told you, you didn't buy or return anything here!" yelled the blue shirted middle aged rabbit.

     Jimbo saw Skid-Mark. "Pass the word.  Gotta get out.  Coms are down. Daniels is outside with a news crew!" he hissed.  "I have to find Melinda, the little skunk."

     Skid-Mark headed to the back of the store, going towards a door marked 'Employees Only'.

     Jimbo looked, found a pictogram on the wall of a toilet and headed for it. He found two doors, side by side, one with a fur wearing pants, the other a dress wearer.  He yelled out "Melinda!  Are you in there?" while trying to open the door.  It was locked.   He pounded on the door and called out again.  No answer.

     He jumped, startled, when he was touched from behind, and heard a voice say "No, I'm done."

     He spun and found Melinda there, behind him.  "You aren't supposed to be here! We gotta get out, quick!"

     He grabbed her paw, moving back towards the front door.  He heard the 'dee-doo' alert of the front door opening, then heard a canine growl of surprise.  "What the hell are you doing in my store? Pull your pants up and get the rut out!"

Even more irritated, Daniels yelled "The rest of you get away from here, or get out, unless you like looking at underage girls!" which immediately cleared most away, going back to shopping.

     There was a cry of pain as the 'employees only' door opened in the back opened quickly, probably hitting somefur.

     Running footsteps were heard towards the front.  "Jane! What are you doing? Pull your pants up, I'm telling Mom! I'm taking you out of here right now! Uncle Mickey needs us home, now," said Skid-Mark.

     Jimbo got towards the front, within sight of the main entrance.  Crazy Jane had her pants pulled up. Skid-Mark was holding her paw, trying to move her towards the front door.   Daniels was towering over them, looking furious and standing in their way.

     "Excuse us, sir.  We'd like to leave," said Jimbo, hoping to quickly get by Daniels.  The back door slammed open, and a voice yelled out "A bunch of troublemaking cubs are stealing the shipment out back! All the new shoes are gone!"

     Daniels reached inside his coat and pulled out a large pistol of unusual design.  It didn't look like a standard slug thrower. In front of the trigger guard was a circular three inch small canister.  

     The wolf bared his fangs, growling, "You little tramp! You're just a distraction for the rest of the thieves!"

     Aiming quickly, he got the drop on Crazy Jane.  He pulled the trigger, and a three round burst came out, but quieter, like an air gun.  No muzzle flash, but the female raccoon was hit by three pellets before stiffening up and falling over.  It looked like getting hit with a stun rod.

     Skid-Mark was quicker to duck back, taking cover.  A burst flew by him, hitting a couple bystanders waiting to be rung up at the register. 

    "I'm shooting all the rutting thieves in here!  I apologize to any honest customers.  I will offer ten-percent off to any customer I accidentally shoot!" said Daniels, continuing to fire indiscriminately.

     Jimbo saw Skid-Mark drag Crazy Jane away before he backed away, taking cover himself.

     "The ear thing stopped screaming and it's working now!" said Melinda, clinging to him as they backed towards the rear of the store.

     A customer yelled out, "Maniac with a gun at the front! He's shooting everyone!"

     A surge of customers started running in all directions in a blind panic.  Daniels yelled out "Press the panic button! You at the sales desk, hit the red button on the wall!"

     Red police style rotating lights on the wall near the ceiling lit up, and a siren went off.  Metal gates quickly crashed down, blocking the way out.  Jimbo could see the edge of one cash register, where a thick glass barrier all around went up and locked to the ceiling.

     Panicked customers pulled out cell phones, firearms or both.  Jimbo shoved the earpiece back in.

"...eed a status!  Someone tell me what the rut is going on in there!" yelled Mickey.

     Jimbo got on the floor and started crawling with Melinda away from the front. "Daniels is here shooting the place up. Looks like a weird taser thing.  He took down Crazy Jane.  Gates are locked down.  Citizens are pulling iron and calling 9-1-1!  Does anyone have Emily safe?"

     Wild shots started ringing out from various smart arms.  Down the aisle (where the sign said 'Size C Mammals, Males, Sneakers size 6-10') a coyote was aiming at head height for himself and firing blindly through a shelf unit.  Shots came back from the other side. A female voice called out "You're not blowing me away, you cocksucker! I'll take you with me!"

     The coyote responded "I'm not dying for your delusions, Beetle-Head! Eat hot lead!" firing back.

     "I got Lil Possum.  We're hoofin it away from here!" said Hot Sauce.

     "We're stuck in the back room!  The gates shut me and J-Bar in!" said Turkey Leg.

     The coyote and other shooter finally hit each other through the shelves.  The coyote was on the floor, weapon empty, and bleeding from the shoulder and chest.

     From the front of the store Daniels yelled out, "I'm an honest shopkeeper. Any honest customers walk to the front with hands up!  Anyone else is a thief I'm taking down for the Muni to pick up!"

     The three round burst could be heard, firing over and over.  The room stunk of burnt cordite from bullets fired.  Screams were all over the store.  Ahead of them, Jimbo saw rounds start to fire through the bottom of the shelves to shoot out the legs of anyone standing on the opposite side.  The shots were coming closer and would be head level for them crawling on the floor.

     They turned the other way and could hear the three-round bursts getting closer. They were trapped!

     "Jimbo, go up!" yelled Melinda pointing to the top of the shelves where there was a flat spot. He got three-quarters of the way, then lifted her above him with his tail.  Bullets riddled the floor below, hitting a teenage wheelchair bound woodchuck in the leg who was trying to flee down the aisle.  The woodchuck started screaming for help.

     "I think I can get the gates up.  Be ready," yelled Jimbo. He could see the red emergency button on the wall from here.
This was how it worked in 'Space Wars' to get a door open.

     Jimbo pulled out his flare gun and carefully took aim, squeezing the trigger.  The red button was obliterated.  He waited, but for some reason the gates didn't go up.

     He reloaded, thinking for a moment.  He took aim carefully, firing again.  He hit the target.  The red police light stopped flashing, and the gates went up as water began to spray down from the damaged sprinkler system. The lowered water pressure set off the fire alarm. 

     A wailing siren went off, then a voice stated, "A fire alarm has been detected. Please exit the building as quickly as possible." 

"We're running out the back!" yelled J-Bar.

     "Me and Crazy Jane are still stuck inside!" said Skid-Mark.

     The small arms fire died down as everyone but Daniels ran dry on ammo.  The fire alarm was going off.  The back door exit was clogged with panicked would-be customers fleeing the scene.  The aisles were littered with shell casings and the store smelled like a gun range.

     Bleeding furs were all over the store, groaning in pain.  A female voice could be heard screaming, "Somefur broke my footpaw!  Help me!  I can't walk!"

     In the background, police sirens could be heard wailing, getting closer.

     Jimbo climbed back down the shelf, and caught the skunk as she jumped down to him.  He reached in an inside zip pocket and put on a name tag. It wouldn't pass a check, but this might work.

     "Melinda, no matter what happens, stay with me.  Understand?  Even if I'm not moving.  You need to stay with me."

"Select," She said, confused.

     "Mickey, I'm going to try to stop Daniels.  I'm going to L-D.  You need to have someone grab me and get me and Melinda out of here. I'm wearing a 'fortunate son' name tag."

     There was a pause.  "Select.  I'll tell Rogers.  You got big balls, little bro," said Mickey.

     Daniels screamed for someone to turn off the sprinklers and fire alarm; his suit was going to be ruined, and the wailing was giving him a headache.

     Jimbo went for the door, coming face to face with Daniels.  He held up his paws. "Don't shoot!" as he took a three round burst to the chest and fell.  If he was arrested, Muni would go back to the apartment and find no mother.  All three cubs would be separated and fostered. He started falling and panic took over.

     As he hit the floor, he heard Melinda scream.  His body went numb, and the world went black.  A foul scent filled his nostrils as he lost consciousness, and he thought "Mickey, you owe me a new pair of pants."

*********************

     Melinda was holding Jimbo's paw as he moved to the door.  The crazy with the gun was near, but Jimbo could keep her safe.  He was too smart and cute to get shot.

     They went around a shelf after he mentioned stopping the Daniels wolf, and all of a sudden Jimbo was shot!  He fell over, stiff, then something was wrong!

     He wasn't lying there stiff like the others who were shot.  He flopped over on his face, tongue out.  He was drooling all over, and his eyes were dead.  He wasn't breathing, and a foul stink filled the air as the bottom of his pants turned green and wet.  

     "Jimbo, wake up!  Jimbo!  Please don't die!  Me and Emily will be all alone!  JIMBO!" 

     The skunk shook Jimbo, gently at first, but as she got more upset, the shaking was more aggressive.  When he didn't respond, she pinched his ears, then his tongue when he still didn't react.

     "Somefur please help!" she screamed, but her cries mixed with all the other calls for help in the store.  A lot of customers had panicked and shot at each other instead of Daniels.  Most were alive but bleeding.
     
     "You killed my friend!  He was just trying to leave with me and you killed him!"

     "I didn't kill anyfur; these idiots all shot each other!  Besides, this gun doesn't kill, little skunk.  It just knocks you out until the Muni get here."

     Rogers came forward.  He reached down and felt for a pulse on Jimbo's neck.  Nothing.   "What the rut is wrong with you, Daniels?  Look at this bloodbath!  You killed this boy! He's not breathing.  I can't feel a pulse!  That's a murder charge!"

     "So what? One street punk doesn't matter. They'll give me a medal for cleaning up the streets."

     Rodgers pulled the name badge with a picture of Jimbo on it from the possum's hoodie. He started reading off the name tag.

"SanyoCorp International LLC.
Privileged Guest, Jimbo Coates, level A1. 
Blood Relative of: Marlin Coates, VP of Ergonomics and Testing"

     He pulled a folded printout of the 'Kolca Ultra-Street-X' shoes from Jimbo's coat pocket and held it up.

     "This kid was one of your new upscale customers! Trying to buy the 600 credit shoes you murdered him for!  Does that sound like a street punk?  This isn't a Korean panda off the boat, working as a maid.  You're gonna get nailed to the wall on this one if they catch you."

     "It's a non lethal!" protested Daniels.

     "Tell it to the little crying skunk.  Tell it to his father.  Tell it to the Muni when they get here!"

     "There must be some way to fix this!" said Daniels.

     "I'll do it.  But it's gonna cost you," said Rogers.

     "What do you want, Rogers?"

     "I'll make sure no dead body is found and keep the witnesses quiet.  You transfer the store back to me next week.  You take the assbite on anything here today.  I own the store free and clear, no banknote this time."

"That's highway robbery!"

     "What's your life worth, Daniels?  Or do you want to be wearing a diaper for the rest of your short painful life after every 'street punk' in lockup goes balls deep in your bleeding ass?

     Cub murderers don't do well in prison. I'm sure his father will see you get life without parole.  Your money and connections from a retail chain or two can't match a Multinational Megacorp VP out for blood."

     Daniels nodded. "Deal.  Just get him out of here, now!"  Rogers bent down and told the skunk cub to follow him, stay with her friend.  An employee grabbed a "fire blanket" from the back, and Jimbo was concealed under it and put on a stock cart.  He was rolled out the back door along with a crying skunk. Skid-Mark followed, carrying Crazy Jane.  They loaded into an old cargo van and raced off, pulling out as the Municipal Police pulled onto the street and flew past them.

*********************

     Impressions, images and feelings.  A little skunk crying over him.  Cool air on his body.  Foul smell and the sound of retching.  Hissing like a snake.  Dad offering him teriyaki noodles with chopsticks.  Mom's crunchy undercooked apple pie.

     The cordite smell makes him want to sneeze.  Shock, surprise, and a little naughty desires mixed in; Crazy Jane looked cute in her panties.  Cold wipes on his butt and tail.  Warm water. The scent of strawberries.  Strong kickback from his gun.  A voice thanking him.  Kiss on the cheek.  Fur and skin being gently washed.  Blankets. Mr Dillo, his old plushie.

**********

Jimbo woke up with a start and a cry.  He looked around in confusion then saw he was in his own bed.  The ceiling of his bedroom was above him.

     There was a knock on his door, and after a pause it opened.  Mickey walked in, followed by Crazy Jane, Skid-Mark and Emily.  Melinda stuck her head in the door, but hung back.  She was not smiling like the others were.

     "Jimbo, how you feelin’?" asked Mickey.

     "Shiny.  How did I get home?  In bed?"

     "Rogers carried you out, under a blanket on a cart."

     "So who cleaned me up?  I know I stank.  When I passed out I felt my glands kick in."

     Crazy Jane looked away, staring at the wall, not meeting his eyes any more.  Jimbo was astounded.  Crazy Jane actually seemed embarrassed!

     Skid-Mark spoke up. "Crazy Jane wiped you down and gave you a bath."

     "Thanks, Jane.  I musta really reeked.  Sorry about that."

     "We had to empty your pockets and cut the pants off you.  It was like nuclear waste!" said Crazy Jane, her casual tone sounding forced.

     "You should be feeling pretty good.  We had to fight the cubs from trying to give you a bath instead.  Your little skunk girlfriend wanted to roll you into the tub herself.  You were too heavy for her to lift in," said Mickey.

     "She's not my girlfriend," protested Jimbo, before continuing, "Mickey, you owe me a new pair of pants."

     "Owe you more than that.  Rogers told us to give you his share.  He is getting his store back," said Mickey.

     "Daniels thought you crossed the Rainbow Bridge, didn't give a shit. Til Rogers pointed out the fake name badge from SanyoCorp… Daniels thought he was gonna get his ass drilled in prison, doing life.  Gave up the store so your dead body would disappear.  No dead body, no evidence," said Skid-Mark.

     "Split the ten-percent.  Five back to the E.T.P. and five to Melinda.  If she didn't recognize the 'Tech Trooper' car, we woulda got nothing," said Jimbo.

     There were nods in agreement. Strangely enough, Melinda didn't even look up when he mentioned her name or giving her the money.  

     Everything did seem positive. Except for losing a pair of pants, this seemed like a good day so far.  

     Jimbo's stomach growled suddenly.  He started to get up, then hesitated and looked under the covers.  He was wearing a pair of blue undies, not naked.

     "I could go for some insta-wav noodles right now," he said, tossing the blankets off, sliding out of bed, footpaws on the floor.

     "I guess you don't want any takeout pizza?" asked Crazy Jane. "From 'Pie in the Sky?"

     "Pie in the Sky!" Jimbo said, shocked.  They occasionally had cheap frozen pizza, but takeout was almost unknown now.  

     "Rogers kicked for it.  We still gotta fence the shoes.  Rogers won't go near 'em.  So we're long on product, short on cash til we dump them tomorrow night," said Mickey.

     Jimbo got up, tossed on some pants and a shirt (earning a butt pinch from Crazy Jane and a whistle as he pulled up the pants).

     He walked out through the small living room to the kitchenette.  On the yellow decrepit formica counter were 4 boxes of pizza.  The trash can was filled with soypaper plates, pizza crusts and red disposable cups.

     Jimbo opened a box, found a soymeat piece and began chewing.  It was even still warm!

**************
     The group only stayed for a little over a half hour.  Jimbo ate four pieces of pizza, before he was full. There was still enough for two whole pies. Crazy Jane and Skid-Mark left.   Mickey combined the leftover pizza in boxes before putting it in the refrigerator, while Jimbo looked wistfully at the pizza.

     "Too bad pizza gets soggy when you heat it again," said Jimbo.

     "Only in the insta-wave.  It stays good if you use the oven," said Mickey.

     "Oh…" said Jimbo, unhappily.

     "What's the matter, lil bro?"

     Jimbo's ears flattened, and he looked hesitant. 

     "Come on, what's bothering you?"

     "I don't… know HOW to use the oven.  Mom always told me never to touch it."

     "Have you been living on insta-wave food?" asked Mickey, receiving a nod as an answer.

      "I'll show you how to use it.  I think you are old enough now," said Mickey, before he explained how to safely turn the oven off and on and set the temperature, and what to do in case of a fire inside.

      "Maybe I'll show you the stove top when you are just a little older," said Mickey, before leaving the cubs alone for the night.

      "Thanks, Mickey," said Jimbo, letting the older raccoon out before locking the door to keep the world out for the night.

**************
     Emily came to Jimbo, quietly saying, "I think Melinda is mad.  She won't tell me why."

     "Bring her out, we can watch a movie," said Jimbo.

     Emily went back to her bedroom, then came out.  "She says she don't wanna."

     Jimbo raised his voice. "Melinda, come on out, we're putting a movie on! You know you want to!"

     There was no answer, so Jimbo reached in the bag and popped in a movie to the  sim-deck connected to the Tri-D.  He hit the option to "watch" instead of "sim-dive" into the movie.

     A logo played with a castle, a whistling old timey mouse animation clip played. (Ugly! It looked like a three year old could do better with a "mark 3 sketch-etcher" toy.)

     Jimbo listened, and he could hear movement from Emily's bedroom.  He turned the sound up just a little.

     The movie started, and a dirty brown landscape showed.  A little boxy robot was roaming around and cleaning up trash.

     Melinda poked her head out of the bedroom, and was watching the Tri-D.

     A girl robot showed up, and the boxy robot seemed to like her.  He tried showing her movies but she didn't seem to care.

     Melinda came out of the room and sat down, on the other side of Emily.  She didn't look at him at all, except when Jimbo saw an angry glare his way, quickly hidden.

     The girl robot saw a plant, went to sleep, and the boxy one stood by her, covered her with an umbrella, got rained on, then struck by lightning.

     Emily got up and grabbed a bag of soychips, putting them next to Jimbo.  She offered a few to Melinda, who seemed to really like them.  The little possum got up, and went to the kitchen for a drink.

     Melinda moved a little closer to the chips so she didn't need to reach as far, moving her closer to Jimbo without noticing it.

    When Emily came back, she sat on the far side of the couch, moving Melinda even closer to Jimbo.

     The movie played on, and Emily, after a jaw-cracking yawn, tapped Jimbo with her tail, and silently indicated she was going to bed in mom's room. "Stay with Mel," she signed.

     The two watched the movie for a while until Jimbo noticed a warm weight against his side.  Melinda leaned against him, drifting off.  She stuck her claws in his shirt.  When he tried to remove her paws and claws from him she grabbed tighter.  Soon cute little snores were coming from the skunk.  Jimbo picked her up and carried her to the bed, laying down.  He removed his shirt, and worked her claws loose for her.  Jimbo removed Melinda's dress, leaving her in panties.  He undressed himself quickly and quietly.  She lay next to him and soon they were both asleep after a very long and exhausting day.

************

      His right arm was numb.  He looked and a little skunk was using it for a pillow.  He tried to slide out, struggling as the arm seemed to weigh an extra twenty pounds.  Melinda's head slid down onto the mattress.  Pins and needles shot to the tips of his paws, making him grit his teeth.  He shook his arm, opening and closing his paw, and feeling returned, unpleasantly.
  
     Melinda opened her eyes, and first had an expression of sleepy confusion that quickly morphed when saw Jimbo awake, an angry expression of bared teeth.  A moment later she reconsidered and threw her arms around him in a hug so strong he couldn't breathe for a moment.  Finally he tapped her with his tail and she loosened her grip.  

     Melinda buried her face on his chest and started sobbing.  "I thought you were dead!  I thought you were dead an' me an' Emily would be all alone til we got taken away and Momma wouldn't never find me again!"

     Jimbo felt a tail tap from Emily, letting him know she was awake but pretending to be asleep.

     Jimbo tried to slide Melinda a little higher on his chest but failed with one arm weak.  He pushed up on her footpaws with his tail while sliding downwards himself.

     "I'm sorry Melinda.  Somefurs call what happened 'playing possum' and think it's just us laying down.  When the 'Little Death' happens it's scary.  We really can't move or see or feel or hear.  But we are alive."

     He kissed her on the cheek. "I'm sorry I scared you.  It was the only way I could think to get out safely."

     He held her until her tears stopped and she just snuggled.

     "I don't want you to ever die.  I don't like being all alone.  No one else ever made someone not be mean to me before."

     "Emily protects you too," Jimbo pointed out.

     Lowering her voice to a whisper, Melinda said sadly, "You are the only cute boy who doesn't ever run away an' scream that I stink."

     "You don't stink.  Only time you did was when you hadn't had a shower in a long time when you first got here. You always smell pretty."

     "When you did the pretend dead thing you smelled bad, Jimbo," said Melinda, smiling a little.

     "That's our glands.  Like you have but we don't spray.  We just smell rotten so no one eats us."

     Her expression lost the smile and she looked hurt again. "You shoulda told me you were gonna look dead, Jimbo! You made me cry a lot an' made my eyes hurt!"

     "I'm sorry, Melinda. How can I make it better?"

     "I want you to promise to tell me before you do a Little Death again." 

     "Select with a cert.  Anything else?"

     "Jimbo, can I look… at your glands?"

     "If you want.  I don't mind.  Emily is awake so I think you can turn the light on."

     Emily spoke up, "I was being quiet for privacy.  Jimbo waving his paw woke me up," Emily paused, then added, "House Command: Lights on."

     An error beep sounded.  The room was still dark.

     "House Command: Lights on!" repeated Emily.

     "Em, it's not gonna work. Only the off works," said Jimbo.

     Emily got up and hit the light switch, the LED lighting coming on from the ceiling.
"I'm going to grab a drink and watch a show," said Emily, leaving before anyone could protest.

     Jimbo lay down on his back.  Melinda came over and hesitated.  "Are you sure it's OK for me to look?"

     "It's OK.  They are on my butt."

     Slowly, hesitantly the little skunk came over and looked under his tail, peering at the glands next to his butthole.

     Jimbo's heart sped up a little. 'I hope my butt and glands are clean.' ran through his head as he was examined.

     "Can you make the gland work if you want to?" asked Melinda.

     "No.  It only happens if we get scared. We can't make it happen on purpose."

     "Thank you for showing me.  You're a little like another skunk," said Melinda.

     "Do I need to do anything else?

     "Select.  I want a special girlfriend kiss."

     Jimbo smiled.  "Deal," he reached down between her legs, finding the nest of warmth.  "Do you want me to tickle and kiss you there?".

     "No.  I want you to kiss me here," she indicated her lips and muzzle. 

     He leaned over, bumped noses then turned his head a little, kissing her.  She broke the kiss with a giggle, then kissed again. The kiss went deeper, and slower, until they accidentally scraped teeth.  They both backed off, then kissed again.  Jimbo opened his mouth and tried to touch tongues like a movie kiss.  

     Melinda was surprised when his tongue went into her mouth, and nearly bit down with her canines.  After some hesitation, she kissed back, and they touched tongues.  In a few minutes, Jimbo needed to pull away to catch his breath.  How did Tri-D stars do all this kissing and still breathe?

     Melinda smiled at him, then leaned over to his ear and whispered, "Can you tell me I'm pretty? I want to pretend it's real."

     "You are pretty! Your fur is so soft, nice and black with a bright white stripe.  It feels softer than our fur does.  You smell clean, like strawberries.  When you're happy your smile makes my tummy tickle inside."

     The little skunk showed a thousand-watt smile at the compliment.  

     "Do I need to do anything else?" asked Jimbo.

     In response, Melinda kissed Jimbo again, reaching down to run a digit across the underside of his balls.  His nuts started to tighten in response and he whispered "That feels really good!"

     Melinda slid her body down from being face to face with Jimbo, getting lower.  Slowly, she ran a clawtip down Jimbo's chin until it met his neck, then back up, before going lower again toward his chest.

     She slowly reached down, going to the possum's belly then back up.  Jimbo's pecker started to stiffen, and his breathing quickened.  His tail twitched in anticipation as Melinda got closer and closer.  

"Please touch it, Melinda…"

     She lowered her paws down below his belly to his hip and moved her paws across, gently rubbing across his pecker on the way by.  He began thrusting his hips, trying to make contact with her paw.  Melinda pulled away, teasing.  

     "Close your eyes," she said, and he waited to see what she would do.

     He was shocked when he felt a tongue begin licking his sack and move up slowly.  His tail began twitching, and he tried to move his hips around.  He wanted her to lick his cock.

     "Please suck me!  I need a suck so bad!" he moaned. 

     She slowly moved her head, too slowly.  He grabbed her foot paw with his tail and tried to push her up a little higher.

     The smart little skunk just moved past the point of contact and Jimbo started gasping.

     "Please do it!"

     Finally, she relented and started to suck him, making him grab her ears and rub along the sensitive outer edges.  He moved his tail and massaged her cunny through her panties.  The skunk’s moans sent vibrations through his pecker, exciting him even more.

     He felt his twitches getting close.  He cried out "It's coming! My twitches are close!"

     Melinda stopped sucking, and he whined, "Please don't stop!" and accidentally tried to pull her head down by the ears.  She licked and sucked furiously and touched a finger to his butthole sending him over the edge, cock twitching madly in her mouth, crying out loudly as he came, then slipping out of consciousness.

     Emily came in a few minutes later to find Melinda watching Jimbo sleep and playing with herself.

     When she noticed she wasn't alone, she jerked her paw away so fast it looked like a cub touching a hot stove.

     "I'm sorry, I won't do it again!" said the skunk, automatically.  Closing her legs.

     Emily said "It's shiny.  I tickle my cunny all the time, unless someone else does it."

     "Jimbo had his twitches and fell asleep and didn't touch me too."

     "Pause," said Emily running from the room.  A minute later she came back in with blueberry gel in one paw and the white buzzy marker-thing in another.

     Emily hopped on the bed next to Melinda.  "I'll do you first, then you do me, query?"

    Melinda looked nervously at the white buzzy toy.  "That hurt me here," she said pointing to her slit "when you used it before."

     "It was too high. I turned it down.  Can we try one time?  If you don't like it, I just lick and tickle, query?"

     A little hesitantly, the skunk replied, "Select."

     Emily slathered the blueberry gel on Melinda's nipples, and gave a test lick to each one, making the skunk giggle.

     "That feels good," said the little skunk, pushing her chest upwards.

     The possum turned the buzzer on low and began gently running it across Melinda's fur, gently gliding.  She slid from her friend's neck (making her laugh) slowly down to her chest and back near the neck.  Leaning over, Emily took a nipple in her mouth, sucking and licking while sliding the toy around the other. 

     "Keep doing that… I like it on my boobies," said the flat-chested skunk, pointing to her nipples.  After a few minutes, the possum switched sides, making her friend squirm in pleasure.  

     Melinda bent her back and set her footpaws against the mattress and slid up higher towards the headboard.

     Emily knew the skunkette was trying to get her to go lower; to go down the skunks chest, below the tummy to Melinda's cunny.  The possum slid up herself, staying in contact with the skunkgirl's nipples.  She knew teasing made it feel better when you finally did touch.

     Melinda opened her legs wider, and pushed herself up towards the headboard again.  "...please?" she pleaded.

     Emily moved the buzzer off the nipple and slid down her friend's chest and halfway down her belly, then back up towards the chest… and switched nipples again.

     Melinda tried to slide a paw between her legs to play with herself, but Emily moved the skunk's paw away.  

     "Do you have an itch to scratch?  I'll help," said Emily, sliding her paw down between Melinda's legs… and rubbing over her thighs, avoiding her cunny.

    "Please rub it or lick it or use the buzzer!  I'm so tickley down there! So tickley!" begged the horny skunk.

     "Rub or lick where?" asked Emily.

     "Please touch my cunny!" begged Melinda.

     Emily put her tongue right above Melinda's slit, but didn't spread the lips, or lick at all.  She blew warm breath across her friend's nether regions, making her squirm wildly.  The possum tried to tease a little more and move her tongue upward but Melinda grabbed her head and shoved it back down.

     "Lick me!  Emily, please lick me!" said the skunk, starting to hump her face.

     Finally relenting, Emily spread Melinda's lips open and started to lick her, going in circles, and pulled out the buzzy vibrating toy.  Touching the toy to her tongue the possum ate her friend's pussy out.  The skunk moaned loudly in pleasure.

     "Lick!  Lick!  Lick!  Lick!" moaned the skunk over and over.

As her excitement grew, the little skunk threw her head back, put her legs on Emily's shoulders and started to frantically move her hips to meet the tongue.

"Lick… the… bump!  Lick the bump! Lick the BUMP!" she yelled out, baring her fangs like a wild animal, digging claws into the blankets.  Her breathing was heavy, like she was running and her paws were sweaty!

     Her Special Pee was going to come.  "It's coming… It's COMING… The Special Pee!"

As she climaxed, the skunkgirl didn't spray, but she peed a tiny bit and passed out next to Jimbo.

Emily watched as her friend started snoring next to get brother.

     "No one is going to lick me?" she said to no one in particular.  Snores were the only response.

Grabbing the two vibes, Emily got herself off before falling asleep herself.

***********************
     Jimbo jerked awake to the sound of automatic gunfire.  It sounded like an AK, more than one.  From the direction of the living room, through the open bedroom door, he heard a spray of bullets and breaking glass.

     Grabbing Melinda, Jimbo hoped the shitty house "automation" worked this time and yelled out, "House Command: all lights off!"

     All the lights in the house actually turned off.  Gunfire continued, this time the muzzle flashes lit up the bedroom.  Emily led the way to the large master closet.  They got in, Jimbo dragging a confused Melinda along, and once inside, closed and latched the door from inside. 

     The muted sound of gunfire could be heard from somewhere on the other side of the closet door as the three naked unarmed cubs huddled in the darkness, sitting on folded blankets amidst clothes on hangers and a pile of shoes.

*****************************
Author's Note:
Acknowledgement-
I need to recognise WaffleSquadron for his aid by editing this, as well as lending an ear to bounce ideas off of.

He's an excellent writer, I recommend his stuff.
https://inkbunny.net/gallery/WaffleSquadron/1/dcee2d2eeb

The following users of Writers Crossing also provided suggestions, aid or advice:
3Timer
Coldstone
Zooley

Readers, I will happily admit: I thrive on comments.  I like it when readers read the things I write.  The "read count" goes up, but I never know if they opened the story by accident, read 2 paragraphs and said "this story is a pile of shit!" and closed it, or read it 73 times in a row and loved it.

Favorites are nice, but it's just a counter.

Comments where readers engage with me (the author), other readers, and the work itself are pure gold.  I always love to see someone say 'I liked it when X happened' or 'why did character A do action X?'

Also: while I do NOT do commissions, requests or ideas are welcomed for anything I write.  I may not use your idea, or might change something up, but ideas are welcome.

Sumdumguy

As always I am on www.Inkbunny.net  (username sumdumguy) and I can often be found at the writers crossing server 
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(username sumdumguy).