FIRE ON HIGH
“Fire On High” is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. All characters and settings © Tigermark 2003-2018 unless otherwise noted. Request permission before using them, please.
The characters of Anatol Altaisokova and Melinda Altaisokova are my names for characters © Max Blackrabbit. They appear in this story with his permission. The characters of Brandy, Maxwell, Tonya and Zig Zag are also © Max Blackrabbit and appear here with his permission. Events and information relating to Tonya, Anatol, and their family are presented here, but are not to be considered canon to those characters or any other story but this one. ZZ Studios, and all characters associated with ZZ Studios, James Sheppard, and Marvin Badger © James Bruner and appear here with his permission. Although characters from and events referring to Zig Zag the Story appear here, this story is not canon to that one, and the author will disavow any knowledge of this story. Wanda Vixen © Chris Yost and appears here with his permission. Sabrina Mustidalae © Eric W. Schwartz and appears here with his permission. This story is not canon to Sabrina Online the comic, or Sabrina Online the Story, either. Matt Barstock, Angie Rockwell, Intermountain Charter, The Bitch, and her crew, and Jerry Kitt © Silver Coyote. See their story HERE. Gail Rutherford © me and is not canon to any other story involving ZZ Studios. Gabrielle Ryder and Jean LeBrun © Aslaug, from her Transitions stories. See them at her site, The Axe Shed, available from the links page. Aramis Dagaz is© his player and appears here with his permission.
Author’s Note: Lewiston, Maine’s airport, identifier KLEW, is actually uncontrolled. That is, it has no control tower. Poetic license was used for this story, so Alex and company talk with a control tower whilst aviating there.
Chapter 103
Just Another Day at Work
Thursday morning dawned cool and rainy in Columbus. Alex knocked on Corrie’s room door at their hotel at 0800. She answered and bade him come in.
“Morning, Luv, come on in. I’ve been up a while, and did a workout, but I think I need a showah before we go. I’ll be right out.”
Alex smiled cheerfully. “Sure thing. I think I’ll watch the news and weather, so don’t rush on my account.”
She kissed him soundly and went into the bathroom. He sat down in the chair and turned on the TV. The news was full of stories about the heavy early snow in the Rockies and New England. The weather, pretty much what he expected. Rain and gloom today, much the same tomorrow with a little clearing toward evening.
Shortly, Corrie stepped out of the bathroom dressed in tan slacks and a crème-colored square neckline top. Alex grinned at her.
“Nice! I see we both decided to not be too casual today.”
She returned the grin. “It’s not every day you go watch a porno being made.”
“True,” Alex said. He was dressed in black dockers and a white polo.
The lioness then looked a bit puzzled. “I’ve been reading in the Bible. Ah. How do you reconcile this?”
Alex thought a moment. “Attitude, I think. I’m going to watch my cousin do her work. It’s important to her, and she’s proud of what she does. What I’ll see I try to view from an artistic standpoint. If it goes beyond what I can manage that with, well, I’ll close my eyes.”
Corrie sighed. “Yeah, that’s what I came to, as well. I’ll still probably be blushing like a lit match.”
“Me, too,” Alex replied. “If it gets too much, step away. I’m the one who made this silly agreement.”
“Oh no. I want this to be something we look back on and laugh. That won’t happen if I’m always wondering what you saw,” Corrie said, looking a bit shy for a moment.
“Makes sense,” Alex agreed. “Let’s go. Zig promised to take the rest of the day off after they’re done. She and James have invited us out to his home.”
“That could be interesting. Okay, lead on, Luv,” she replied.
They walked out, and Corrie made sure her door locked. Then they headed for the rental car, both feeling a bit of trepidation.
# # #
“Hi Fred, how ya doing?” Billy asked his friend. The other day, when Corrie had been there, and he’d called, all they’d gotten was the answering machine. The fox todd now sounded upbeat over the phone.
“Better n’ better. Got your message, and just now got the chance to call back. How’s the loveliest ti-fox in America and the scoundrel who stole her doing?”
Billy laughed. “We’re both doing great. Hey, got a request for ya. You heard I’m starting a helicopter service here at Bluegrass, right?”
Fred paused a moment. “Billy, last time I heard you were in the hospital dying or something.”
Billy snorted, and then laughed. “Well, I did have my gall bladder out. It was full of stones, and the lab report said it was pre-cancerous, but it’s out and I’m fine.”
“Good to hear. So, helicopters. Any particular kind or if it has rotors and will carry furs?” Fred switched gears into business mode easily.
“Our business model is for executive transport, sight-seeing, and light on-site delivery of rush items. There’s not a big demand here for heavy lift or cargo in helicopters. I want to start with three birds, but before we get any more specific, I have a partner in this endeavor. She’s aces in choppers, so I’ll defer to her on exactly what birds we buy. I’d just like to put together a listing of what’s on the market at a good price,” Billy stated. He then waited for several moments as Fred began jotting down notes and looking through internet pages full of aircraft for sale.
As he worked, he spoke to Billy. “So, another partner, and you said she, correct?”
“Yes, we’re incorporated under the name Helipro,” Billy replied.
“Got it, so, does this mystery lady have a name? I can’t charm her into spending all this money, er, that is, it helps business relations if I know a name,” Fred asked.
Billy gave a snort, and then laughed. “Yes, her name is Corrinne Patterson, but she goes by Corrie. She’s Alex’s gi, ah, fiancée.”
Fred stopped dead in his verbal tracks. “Okay, I think my hearing is going. Did you just say Alex, as in perennial bachelor Alex O’Whitt, is engaged to this gal?”
“Yes Fred. Alex met her when he went to Maine to learn about helicopters as part of my research when I got the idea to start this business. She’s fully rated in choppers up to multiengine turbine instrument CFII. She taught him while he was there.”
Billy was beginning to sound gruff, so Fred moved on after one last comment.
“Sounds like she taught him a lot. Okay, I have a range and type to look at. I’ll come into town there next week and we can meet and talk over what you want.”
“Okay Fred sounds good. We’ll see you then,” Billy replied as he prepared to end the call.
“See ya then. Bye Billy.”
The line clicked off and Billy put the pawset back in its cradle, feeling like another step had just been taken.
# # #
Gail Rutherford sat as her desk, working the last of the cobwebs out with a cup of coffee. It was 9 AM, and she’d just unlocked the front doors and sat back down. One of the advantages of working where she did was that things rarely got active and busy until afternoon.
She’d been up about half the night with her middle pup and a case of the flu. Fortunately, Zig Zag’s compensation package included child care that took sick ones and provided a separate place for them to be cared for. It seemed like one of her pups was always down with something or other.
The striped skunkette herself arrived a moment later, dressed in black leggings and a pale pink halter, with a jacket against the morning chill.
“Hi Gail, how ya doing this morning?”
“Good morning Zig. Doing okay when I get woke up. You’re in bright and early,” the collie femme noted.
“Directing a scene today, and Alex and Corrie are coming to watch. The crew, Alexi, and Sindee will be here shortly,” Zig said as she paused to talk with her receptionist a moment.
“Getting an early start?” Gail inquired.
“Yeah, I guess we are. Alex and Corrie are early risers, and I’ll be taking them to James’ house after, so I wanted to get this done early. Plus, I’ve delayed it a week, so they could be here.”
Gail nodded. She well understood the studio’s schedule and routine, even though she didn’t work in any of the production areas. While she’d been offered, like most who knew Zig Zag, she didn’t want to be on camera. As a mother of three, she didn’t feel she’d look all that great, even though Zig assured her she was very pretty.
Zig had said the same, even when she’d first met Gail. At the time, the collie had been homeless with said three pups and living under a bridge. Her husband had sold their home out from under them and run off with all the money in their account. She’d been so in shock she hadn’t known what to do. Zig Zag had gotten a flat tire on the approach to the bridge and was waiting for a service truck when she’d spotted one of the collie’s pups and investigated. After helping them to a shelter and then a rental home, Gail had worked for her ever since.
“Give me a buzz when Alex and Corrie get here. I’ll be in Studio A,” Zig advised as she made to go on.
“Oh, yes Zig, I will,” Gail answered, breaking from her flashback reverie.
In the next five minutes, the normal crew began to arrive. Marvin and Rhonda, Sabrina, Phyllis and Gina the makeup team, Bill and George the set and gaffer crew, Bell and Jenny for wardrobe, Danny the videographer, Joel and Roger the camerafurs, and Kiley the sound engineer. Finally, Alexi and Sindee arrived, about two minutes apart.
“Morning Alexi, Studio A today. They’re already here and waiting in Makeup and Wardrobe,” Gail greeted the Siberian Husky cheerfully.
“Thanks Gail,” he replied, not looking completely awake yet as he walked on.
Sindee arrived looking much more awake and chipper.
“Hi Gail! Where are we today?”
“Morning Sindee, Studio A. Makeup and wardrobe are ready and waiting. You might have to wake Alexi up, he looked a bit bleary when he came in just now,” Gail advised the grey squirrel femme.
Sindee gave her a thumbs-up and a flit of her tail as she walked through the door and on into the studio. Gail smiled. They might be porn actors, but the group she worked with were some of the best furs she’d ever met.
# # #
It was heading for 1000 when Alex and Corrie pulled up in the parking lot of ZZ Studios.
“Well, here we are,” Alex commented as he shut down the car.
“Yeah…you first,” Corrie stated, looking at him with a resigned sigh.
“I know. It’ll be okay, I trust Zig. If she says not too extreme, I believe her,” he replied. She gave him a smirk.
“We are talking your cousin, deah. What’s everyday for her might be way too much for you or me.”
Alex looked askance, but then shrugged. “In for a penny. Let’s go watch her work.”
He came around and opened the lioness’ door, offering her his paw. She took it and gracefully stood up out of the car.
“Lead on, Luv.”
They walked in to find Gail Rutherford sitting at her desk. She toggled the intercom and announced, “Zig, they’re here.”
“Send them back, I’ll give them the tour while our stars finish in makeup and wardrobe.”
Gail clicked off the speaker and stood. Walking up to the counter, she greeted them.
“Colonel O’Whitt, Miss Patterson, welcome. Zig is waiting for you in Studio A. Go to her office and turn left. It’s the third door on your left. Knock and wait if the red light is on, otherwise go on in.”
“Thank you, Ms. Rutherford,” Alex replied as he led the way on in. Corrie managed a smile and a thank you.
They navigated the hallway and found the door marked “Studio A.” They looked at each other, took a deep breath, and Alex opened the door.
In the center of the room, two walls had been set up. They could see bracing and wheels on them, which told them these were mobile set pieces. Inside the half-room the walls made, everything was set up to look like a suburban kitchen. There was a refrigerator, countertop and cabinets, sink, stove, even a microwave. In the center was a large island with a butcher block top. A crane apparatus held a set of kitchen lights in place over the island. Outside the faux-kitchen, two long boom microphones waited to be put in place. A large camera on a trundle, with a seat for its operator was centered on the scene. A smaller camera on a boom also waited, as did two shoulder-held ones. Various furs were working with the set pieces and equipment.
Zig sat in a tall director’s chair next to the main camera, looking at a clipboard in her paw. Alex and Corrie noted two regular-height director’s chairs right beside her. Marvin was looking over her shoulder as he talked to her, so they walked in their direction. They were intercepted by a chocolate lab in a t-shirt and cargo shorts, with a baseball cap perched backwards on his head.
“Hey, sorry, you can’t come in right now. We’re getting ready to shoot a scene. The tour isn’t until later.”
Alex and Corrie stopped, and Alex arched an eyebrow. Zig and Marvin had heard the challenge and turned their way. Marvin spoke up first.
“Joel, it’s okay, they’re Zig’s guests.”
Zig spoke up, too. “Joel, he’s my cousin, it’s fine.”
Joel looked surprised, but then offered a paw.
“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t know. I’m Joel Canistien, the main camerafur.”
“Alex O’Whitt, and this is Corrie Patterson. Pleased to meet you, Joel.” Alex replied, shaking paws. The lab and Corrie shook paws also, and then he excused himself.
“Great! Gotta run, enjoy the shoot.”
With that, he hurried on his way toward a sound booth at the back of the room. Alex and Corrie stepped up to Zig and Marvin. Zig stood up to greet them.
“Hi Cousin, Corrie, welcome to my world,” she said teasingly as she hugged each of them.
“H’lo Alex, Corrie, great to see you,” Marvin offered as he shook paws.
“Hi Cousin, Marvin,” Alex said in return as he hugged and shook paws.
“Hello Zig, Marvin,” Corrie replied as she also hugged and shook paws. As always, she was almost taken aback at the size of the large badger. Marvin excused himself and walked away. Alex now looked at Zig and grinned.
“Zig, before everything gets started, I have an announcement. Corrie and I are engaged.”
Zig blinked a second as Corrie held her paw up so the skunkette could see the ring. They were surprised when Zig began to laugh. They looked at her quizzically as she got herself back under control.
“Oh my, sorry. That’s wonderful you two! Congratulations, when’s the wedding?”
Corrie answered, “Not too long off. We’re thinking June.”
Zig smiled broadly. “A good month for weddings. Did you get moved okay?”
“Oh yes, got a bonzah nice apahtment and the business stahtup is going very well,” Corrie replied, smiling.
“Fantastic. The reason I laughed so is that the scene we’re doing today is for one of our couple’s videos. They emphasize romance more than raw sex. This scene focuses on a male’s proposal to his femme. I think you’ll like it. We’ve already done all the actual sweat scenes, so this will be the lead up. You’ll see some nudity, but no actual sex. As I said, not too extreme,” Zig explained.
Alex and Corrie looked at each other and shrugged.
“Okay, sounds like we’ll survive it,” Corrie said with a nod. Zig smiled and looped an arm through each of theirs.
“Let me show you how things get set up while the crew finishes getting ready. Alexi is in wardrobe, and Sindee is in makeup. Then we’ll go see Kiley in the sound booth and then I’ll explain everything back out here.”
She led the way out and back up the hall to the makeup room. Alex and Corrie almost balked there. When Zig opened the door, Sindee stood there in only her fur as two femmes put makeup on her. Zig didn’t break stride, and so pulled them both on in.
“Hi gals, how’s it going?”
Sindee smiled and answered first. “Tedious as always. Hello Alex. Oh, and you must be Corrie. Nice to meetcha!”
“Hi Sindee,” Alex managed to return, already beginning to blush.
“Uh, nice to meet you, too,” Corrie added, doing her best not to stare.
“Phyllis, could you explain what you and Gina are doing for them?” Zig asked.
“Sure,” the black and white felid answered. “I’m putting a toner base in her fur, so it’ll have depth for the camera. Gina is putting highlights over that. It makes a really spectacular look under the lights when they’re filming.”
The silver chinchilla assistant Gina piped in, “We’ll also be putting makeup on her sensitive spots. It’s hypoallergenic and…edible, so the color tone isn’t washed out on camera.”
“And doesn’t choke anyone. Not very good if your costar gets one taste of you and starts choking or gagging,” Sindee added with a wink.
Alex rolled his eyes, “Never thought of that.”
Corrie was wide eyed and looked about to giggle as her blush deepened. Zig grinned and pushed them both out the door.
“Thanks! See you on set,” she tossed over her shoulder. She went directly across the hall and opened that door. Alexi stood there bare-chested. He was wearing pants but there was a female red panda on her knees in front of him, with both paws up on his crotch. The sheen and highlights in his fur told them he’d already been through makeup. He was looking off to the side, appearing relaxed and oblivious to what was happening below his waist level. He was talking to a collie femme who was working on a shirt on a dressmaker’s mannequin.
“I’m surprised you found all those buttons after last week,” Alexi was saying.
“A lot easier after I had George put catch basins along the floor edges,” the collie replied. Zig now announced their presence.
“Hi Alexi! Belle, Jenny, you all know Alex. This is his…fiancée Corrie. Belle, could you explain what you’re doing?”
“Hi Alex, Corrie, nice to meet you,” Alexi said, his tail starting to wag.
“Hi Alexi,” Alex returned. Corrie simply nodded and smiled, wondering what in the world the red panda was doing, as she could see her jaw muscles moving every few seconds, but she wasn’t speaking.
“We’re wardrobe,” Belle began. “Most folks don’t think a porn studio needs one, but Zig does her productions so much above the rest in quality that we’re essential here. We do costumes, yes, but like today, it’ll look just like street clothes. We have breakaway buttons on the shirt, and Jenny is working on the quick-release on Alexi’s pants, so it won’t take him a long awkward moment, or hopping around to get them off when the time comes.
“Mrf fth muf ofn inna hurft,” Jenny the red panda stated, turning slightly so they could see the pin cushion in her mouth.
They all laughed, Corrie and Alex partly in relief, and Zig led them back to the studio. There, they went into the sound booth and met Kiley, a brown bat femme who did the sound engineering and added any needed foley effects.
“Zig? We’re ready,” Joel announced from out in the room. Zig walked back to her chair and pointed to the two beside it.
“Have a seat. Please, while the scene is being shot, no talking. You can comment after. Sometimes we need several takes, so let me know if you want to step out.”
Alex replied as he and Corrie sat down, “Lead on, Cousin.”
Corrie just nodded, holding on to Alex’s arm. Zig sat down and began talking to the camera and lighting furs on the fine-tuning she wanted and where. Soon the set was illuminated like late afternoon in a suburban kitchen.
In a moment, the door opened and Alexi and Sindee stepped in. Alexi had the shirt from the mannequin on, untucked and over the pants Jenny had been working on. Sindee now wore a pretty floral print summer dress. As they stepped past the lights, Alex and Corrie could tell she wore nothing under it. The wardrobe and makeup furs walked in behind them, there in case any last-minute touchups or repairs were needed. Zig got things underway immediately.
“Okay everyone, this scene is for our couple’s video Passionate Proposal. Have you both got your lines?”
Alexi and Sindee nodded. There was a script girl, a young raccoon femme named Tina, off to one side in case they needed prompting. Zig continued.
“Good. As you all know, my cousin Alex and his fiancée Corrie are watching us work today. Let’s give them a good impression. Places please!”
Zig settled in to direct the scene. Sindee went to the corner of the kitchen as Alexi stepped off to the side. Sindee faced into the corner, her back and fluffy tail to the camera. Bill the gaffer called the shot and clapped the signboard.
“And, Action!” Zig called.
Sindee went to work. She turned, the transformation reminding Alex of Zig when he’d first met her. She was humming to herself as she walked toward the fridge. She was bright-eyed and beautiful, exuding a cheery, sensual vibe with each move. She opened the fridge and got out several items, then turned to the island counter top, having every appearance of beginning to make a meal.
Then she paused. Then it lasted into several seconds. Then she dropped the act, rolled her eyes and exclaimed, “Alexi, really!”
“Cut!” Zig called, so loud and sharp it made both Alex and Corrie jump.
“Alexi! Get yer fluffy ass out here!” the tiger-striped skunk demanded. Alexi stepped back into view, looking very chagrinned.
“Sorry Zig, everyone, kinda zoned out. I’m not quite awake yet. I’ll get it this time.”
Zig looked at him, frowning. “Humpf! Okay, but don’t make this a habit. Places!”
Alexi nodded and turned to go. Sindee had sidled up to him and now very obviously and aggressively grabbed his crotch while whispering in his ear. His eyes went wide, and he looked at her. She stepped back and smiled sweetly at him, emphasizing her two large front incisors. He swallowed and hurried off stage. Sindee put the stuff back in the fridge and went back to the corner. Bill called the shot and clapped the signboard.
“And, Action!” Zig called again.
Sindee went through her part again, impressing Alex and Corrie with her transformation. This time as she began on the fake meal, a loud knock came from the side of the set. She looked up inquiringly.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Bobby,” Alexi called brightly.
“Oh, come on in Sweetheart,” she replied, sounding very happy.
Alexi stepped in and swooped her up into a very passionate kiss and embrace. After several seconds, they stepped back, still holding paws.
“You’re very early,” she chided, still looking very sensual.
He looked at her a moment, as though she’d taken his breath away. He swallowed and answered.
“I know Shelly. I just couldn’t wait. I need to ask you something.”
She looked up into his eyes expectantly. “What?”
The husky managed to look shy, and a bit uncertain. He looked down and to the side, and then released her paws and dropped to one knee. He pulled a ring box out of his pocket and opened it. The lights on the diamond made it dazzle as he held it up to her.
“Shelly Jarvis,” he began. “I know you’ve been hurt before. I never want you to be hurt again. Will you marry me?”
They heard a slight whirr as the big camera zoomed in on Sindee. Her face was aglow in the lights, her eyes wide, showing the beginnings of tears, along with wonder and hope. She took a deep breath and began to nod her head.
“Yes…yes, yes, oh yes Bobby!” she exclaimed. Alexi deftly pulled the ring from the box and slid it on her finger, then stood to embrace her. Their lips found each other, and their kiss grew in passion with each passing second. They began a carefully choreographed groping of each other, which lasted several moments.
They broke the kiss and, her eyes practically glowing with the moment, Sindee popped the rigged buttons off in all directions as she ripped Alexi’s shirt open. He grabbed her by the hips and gently sat her on the island counter, her fluffy tail sweeping all the faux-food items off into the floor. He deftly caught hold of the hem of her dress and lifted it off her in one smooth motion. She grabbed the quick-release on his pants and sent them to the floor.
They held each other by the paws, looking not at their bodies, but deeply into each other’s eyes, even though their excitement showed plainly. Alexi took the half step forward to bring them together. They kissed again, passion threatening to overtake them.
Alexi broke the kiss and buried his muzzle between Sindee’s ample breasts. She wrapped her arms around his head and threw her head back. Eyes shining with tears and passion, she almost whisper-yelled.
“YES!”
After a short pause, Zig called out, “And CUT! Great scene guys! Tech crew, did we get all that?”
The camera furs and videographer all called out, “Clean Take.”
The speaker over the sound booth crackled to life.
“Good here, Zig. Clean take,” Kiley advised.
“Great! Get the cameras and lighting reset and we’ll go again,” Zig stated.
“Wait, what?” Alex asked. He looked over at Corrie. She was blushing furiously, with a paw up to her muzzle.
Zig looked over at them, noting the expression on Corrie’s face, as well as the blush Alex was sporting. She grinned.
“Something wrong? Do we need to do that take again?”
“Uh, no Zig, it seemed like it was fine. Wonderfully done, in fact. Alexi, Sindee, wow, you had me believing you were a young couple just getting engaged. I just thought since it was a good take that would be it,” Alex stated.
Alexi and Sindee, now in robes, had walked up as the wardrobe furs started finding and fixing the breakaway buttons and checking the pants and dress for damage. They and Zig now broke out in laughter. Alex and Corrie waited them out, and after a moment Zig could speak again.
“Oh Cousin, I forget sometimes how much you don’t know about this. Yes, that was a wonderful take. But we do several and edit the best of each together to make one fantastic scene.”
Alexi spoke up, too. “We do that even with the sweat scenes. The only one we try to get in one take is the money shot, because, well, recovery time varies a lot.”
Sindee, who was taking a drink from a bottle of water, nearly choked, but managed a grin. Zig looked at Alex and Corrie and nodded.
“Now you get an idea how exhausting this can be. You saw how much emotion and effort they put in to just that one short scene. A lot of the studios just put out bang bang bang videos, with no real story or acting. How I do it requires hard work to go with the hard work.”
Alex nodded, his blush fading. “I understand. That was…very impressive.”
“Sindee…?” Corrie asked tentatively. Her blush was now fading as well.
“Yes Corrie?” Sindee replied.
“What…did you say to Alexi to wake him up so fast? If it isn’t too personal.” Corrie sounded very uncertain. Sindee smiled and answered.
“I told him to wake up, and that if he blew another take, I’d circumcise him with my bucky front teeth whether he needed it or not!”
The tension broke as all five laughed. Alex turned to Zig as he wiped a paw across his eyes.
“Cousin, does that fulfil our agreement? If so, I think we’ll wait out in the lobby until you’re ready.”
Zig looked at both of them and smiled warmly. “All done, Cousin. Thank you for not freaking out about anything. This is honestly one of the tamest scenes we’d ever do.”
“And thank you for not trying to freak us out. It’s a great crew, and they all work well with each other. I’ve enjoyed watching you bring them together.”
Corrie spoke also. “Yes, thank you. I’d nevah realized how much went into making these. I can see why yours are the best.”
Zig nodded appreciatively. “You’re welcome. We should be done in an hour to an hour and a half, barring any unscheduled circumcisions.”
Alexi actually blushed as Sindee grinned. Alex shook his head.
“Good luck with them Cousin. See you in a bit.”
They stood and walked out, shutting the door behind them. They started up the hall and looked back to see the red light over the door come on.
End of Chapter 103