Vixen A.D. 2 | Chapter 8

Maintenance Route 241

He adjusted several of the controls, gradually slowing the tram as it approached the impending maintenance access tunnel. As he remembered, the tunnels were offset to run parallel with the main tram.

Each tunnel ran along the right side of the main tram system, equipped with a small trolley inside to transport a crew to whatever needed addressed. The power junctions, among other things, were located behind the walls, inside the maintenance tunnels.

And that’s where they needed to be.

“Are we almost there?” Cinder asked.

Mace nodded. “Yeah.”

His hands flicked another switch. Mace dialed in the desired speed, then braked the tram. After a few seconds, it crawled to a slow prowl, then stopped.

He took a breath. This had to get done fast. SL TRAM 2’s defenses were powerful, if not overkill, but they had to be on first. “Okay,” Mace said. “This is our stop for now. Be ready.”

“Are we close to the junction?” Faye asked.

Mace nodded. “We’re going into the maintenance access tunnel and making our way there. Won’t take long.”

Mace slowed the tram. It gradually rolled to a stop. Outside, in the tunnel, the caves seemed to be still. Placid, almost as if the fire back there at the toppled secondary tram hadn’t taken place.

“Well, this is it,” Mace said.

Faye approached him first, Cinder behind her. “Where’s the maintenance system?”

Mace pointed through the leftmost polycarbonate window. “Right over there. Follow me,” he said.

He made his way to the tram door and dialed in a sequence of numbers, then pressed a few buttons. In moments, they were off the tram. Ahead lay the dim tram transport tunnel, along with several access doors along the side.

The maintenance trolley was in there, somewhere, waiting behind the walls of the cave and metal interior. Maybe there was something else, too.

Mace didn’t. Didn’t matter. He had to fix this and fast.

“Alright, follow me,” Mace said.

He approached the maintenance access door, took a breath, then pressed a button. It slid upward, revealing a cool, dark interior of metal and rail. Mace glanced over to Faye and Cinder, motioning.

Faye followed him into the darkness. He could hear her treading behind, light footfalls on metal floor. Cinder did the same and in seconds, they stood before a long railway of track.

Mace scanned the room. “The trolley is a few dozen meters ahead. Once we’re there, we board it, run the motors, and get to the junction and power cores.”

“Do we know what’s wrong with it yet?” Faye asked.

Mace shook his head. “No, but there are some strong indications it might be cataclysmic failure. That, or a short. We’ll see,” he finished.

“Sounds good to me,” Cinder said.

“So, uh, Mace,” Faye managed. “We should actually have a real talk about what, um, we really are moving forward.”

“Us?” Mace replied.

“Oh, come on, it’s already on the table. Let’s just be outright about it,” Faye laughed.

He scratched his chin, shouldering his weapon. “Well… I mean, it could be whatever we want it to be. I already know you like me, Faye. Cinder?”

“I…”

Faye groaned. “Just say it. But the whole thing.”

“I… like you. I like you, Mace. I like you both. So, what if I want to fuck you, huh? I mean…” Cinder murmured.

“Yeah, but I’d like to be closer to you, too,” Mace admitted.

 Cinder paused. “That’s… okay. What’re your thoughts on that? Faye likes you, too. She met you first…”

Faye shrugged. “I mean, yeah, he did but… I don’t know, Mace, tell us what you’re thinking.”

“I have a few ideas of what that could mean. What do you two want? I don’t mind either way. It is kind of shitty being out here alone, and it’s especially shittier when everyone is fucking dying around you all the time.”

Faye scratched her chin. “Well… for starts, has anyone here ever been in a three-way relationship?”

“No,” Cinder laughed. “I can safely say I have not.”

“That’s not a bad thing,” Mace added. “It could be good that this is all new to us. But... three-way relationship, I mean, is that what this is? Is that what we’re going to be doing? Would you two actually manage to share me? Not get insecure or jealous? How about all of us sleeping in the same bed? Did you think about that?”

“I didn’t, but I don’t think I would. Maybe. I don’t know, we need to talk about it more, but I think I’d be okay…” Cinder said.

Faye bit her lower lip. “I don’t know. I mean, I’ve thought about it. But… I’m a kitsune in her prime. I’m horny.”

“Me too. So, it’s important not to think with just sex only,” Cinder said. “I don’t know. I mean… the idea of an alpha male, I guess—”

“Is hot. A pack leader. The alpha Mace,” Faye smirked.

Cinder snickered. “Yeah, the alpha male Mace,” the kitsune agreed.

Mace laughed. “That does sound fun, if I’m being honest.”

“I suppose we have more to talk about later, then,” Faye admitted.

“We have plenty of time,” Mace replied. He saw the trolley approaching ahead, shifting place.

It was a little strange to have both of them proposing what they’d been hinting at all along. It happened fast but… fuck it. Why worry?

“Is that the trolley up there?” Cinder asked.

“Yeah,” Mace confirmed. “It will hold us all just fine. Then we go to wherever the problem is and correct it. There are several patch kits on the main compartment of the trolley.”

“What’s the door?” Faye pointed.

“Small room with supplies. Every few hundred meters or so.”

“You two realize we’re going to have this conversation a few times in different ways probably, right?” Cinder said.

Mace turned to her. “I’m okay with that. Faye?”

“Me too,” she said, swishing her fluffy fox tail.

Finally, they were at the trolley. It consisted of a platform with a motorized center, a small power core, a compartment in the middle with enough storage to carry several patch kits, and more. If anything, it looked like a smaller version of the tram they were already in moments ago. “Looks like we’re here,” Mace said.

“I call shotgun,” Faye grinned.

“Hey! That’s not fair. You can’t just call it unannounced,” Cinder complained.

Mace shrugged. “I think that’s how the game is played. Alright you two, hop in. Let’s get this done.”

They all stepped onto the trolley. Mace powered it on and checked the location of whatever junction failed. “Yeah, this one,” he muttered.

After dialing in the location, the trolley was off.

“So… I mean, how should we do this, then?” Faye asked.

Mace scratched his chin. “Do what?”

“I mean… just thinking out loud, but would it be like… taking turns going on dates?”

Cinder nodded. “Yeah,” she said, flicking her fluffy tail, “or do we go on a date at the same time?”

“Either or. Both,” Mace replied. “I think that makes the most sense.”

 “I won’t complain,” Cinder smirked.

“Neither will I,” Faye said.

The trolley continued onward through the maintenance route. Off to the side sat several smaller depots and docking platforms, each leading to different rooms with power core and more. Their primary use was the junction and power routing systems, though.

“How far away?” Faye asked.

Mace pointed. “That’s the room we want, right up ahead. See that platform?”

The two kitsunes pressed together, leaning over the edge. He watched their ears twitch and curious eyes peer at the approaching platform. “This one?” Faye asked, pointing a clawed finger. She swayed her tail, the tip brushing along Mace’s arm.

“Yep. Junction 241,” he confirmed. “Get ready,” Mace said.

The trolley slowed. Finally, it docked to the platform. A green and chrome door was imbedded into the wall. J-241 was painted along its surface.

“Weapons ready,” Mace said. “Let’s make this fast.”

He made his way to the door, Faye and Cinder behind. After a few seconds, Mace had it open, they were a few feet into the door.

“Two rooms. This one for storage, second one for the actual junction,” Mace said. “We’ll move through here, grab a patch kit if need be from the storage locker and then fix the junction and get the fuck back home.”

Faye shuddered. “Oh god,” she managed.

“What—” Cinder froze.

Several streaks of blood—presumably from something dead—ran into the secondary door concealing the actual junction room.  

 “Wonderful,” Mace groaned.

Faye knelt. “This doesn’t look promising,” she observed as she stood over the smears of crimson blood.

“We’ll sort it out,” Mace said. “Cinder?”

Cinder turned to him. “Yes?”

“Watch our sides. Faye, watch our back. I’ll lead,” he finished.

With that, they approached the junction room door.