IMORAT

The faint green glow of a single circuit panel defined his eyes in the darkness. Those eyes continued to glance to and fro, jumping at every changing number and blink of light on the panel. He whispered quietly to himself.

"One repeat, two laps, one switch, five over, then once more- six, and then the same but different..." Lifting grease stained paws up to feel over the sharp edges surrounding the panel; the 'yote finally found what he was looking for. No longer concerned with the blinking lights, he spun around, smacking his head on an edge hidden the dark.

"FUCK!" he shouted, as a hatch above him quickly swung open, further stunning him with a blast of daylight. A voice called down to him from outside.

"What happened? Did you find it?"

"Yea, I just... I can't see a damned thing down here!"

"Hehehe, just you watch your mouth, ok? You're not here to swear."

"Yea yea..." Figuring his left paw might be a little less dirty, the 'yote reached up to rub the growing lump. "Hey, would ya move? I kinda wanna get out of this can." His pleas answered by a few clunking footsteps, the 'yote fumbled for the rungs of the ladder and pulled himself up out of the hatch into the daylight. He paused as soon as his head poked free; squinting around to make sure there was room for his arms. A few seconds later he hoisted himself completely out, flopping onto the hull of the ship, his fur hardly protecting him from the heat radiating off the dusty metal surface. He stood up and glanced over at the lynx next to him. "Sure a hell of a hot summer isn't it?"

"Yea, you'd think we could fix the weather nowadays, wouldn't you?"

The coyote boy laughed. "No need putting force where it's not wanted.... Hey, did you fix the mini fridge yet?"

"That's all you ever think about, isn't it, Mr. Harrison?"

"...what did you call me?"

The lynx grabbed some supports on the sides of the hovering vehicle and started climbing down to the cabin. "Hey, it's the name on your tags, isn't it?"

"Heh, fuck you man, show me some dignity."

"Of course, whatever you want, Mr. Harrison." The 'yote ran a few steps along the hot metal and started climbing down on the opposite side, then quickly jumping in through the side window. "Why Mr. Harrison, nice of you to join us!"

"Hey, cut it Mr. Chadwick!"

The Lynx laughed a little. "That's the best you can come up with?"

"Just drive, OK? We have like 30 minutes to get back."

"That'd be great, but first, I need to know what ya found out back there."

"Oh, it's just a stupid short in the fourth circuit again; I'll clamp it when we get back." The 'yote fiddled with his restraining belt a little before putting it on and looking over at the lynx. "Just take it easy, please; I don't want to go back out there." The Lynx snickered a little and ran a paw over the dash board.

"Oh? Fine then, I'll just fly calmly and rationally."

"Good, great."