Checkpoint
A Promptoberfest story
© 2024 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by :icontegerio:

Prompt:  metal

“Hey, Chet?” a voice whispered in his ear.
The elephant rested his right paw on his belt and hit the switch to transmit.  “Yeah, go ahead,” he murmured into the microphone of his headset.
“Dave here.  Could you come to Station Twenty-four, please?” the voice at the other end said.  “Got something interesting.”
Chet raised one eyebrow.  It was almost two AM; he didn’t want or need ‘interesting.’  “On my way,” and the elephant got up from behind his desk and left the office.
Despite the late hour, the airport was still seeing passengers arriving and departing, some families with children who were obviously up far past their bedtimes and making that fact known loudly and querulously.  Chet flashed his ID at the officer by the entrance to the security area and headed for Station 24.
He spotted the raccoon easily and walked over to him.  “What’s up, Dave?” he asked.
The raccoon gestured at a pair of screeners who stood flanking a short, thin terrier who was looking down at the floor.  Behind them a stream of passengers flowed by, a few of them having expressions that matched the smirks on the two screeners.  “Caught this guy on the metal detector,” Dave said.
“Oh?  What’s he carrying?”
Dave shook his head.  “Not carrying.  Wearing.”  The elephant quirked an eyebrow and walked over to the terrier, practically towering over him.  “What are you wearing, sir?” he asked.
The canine mumbled something indistinct, and Chet cocked an ear.  “What?”
“It’s a chastity cage, Sir!” the terrier said, blurting it out far too loudly.  His ears and tail dipped in as shameful blush as the two screeners snorted and a few of the passing civilians chuckled.
“Uh huh,” Chet said.  “Sir,” he said as he beckoned to Dave and one of the screeners, “I’m going to ask you to accompany me to a secure room.  These two officers will be present as witnesses.”  The terrier nodded jerkily, and the three security officers and the passenger headed for the room set aside for more in-depth searches.
Once the door was closed the elephant asked, “May I see what you have under your clothes, sir?”
The screener said, “It’s in his pants,” and the feline grinned as the terrier looked close to tears.
Chet waved his trunk, a signal that he and the screener would have words after this.  “Please, sir?” Chet asked.
The terrier unbuttoned and unzipped his trousers, and then pulled them down slightly as a choked sob escaped him.  He wasn’t wearing underwear, and Dave and Chet exchanged glances when they saw that the terrier was, in fact, wearing [url= https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41YYP27kvzL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg]a locked steel chastity cage in the shape of a wolf’s head[/url].
Chet took a step back and motioned for the screener to leave.  “Please pull your trousers up, sir,” he said.  “Did you put this on yourself?”
The passenger nodded, sniffling a little as he zipped up.
“Please calm down,” and Chet paused while the terrier blew his nose.  “Do you have the key?”
“N-no,” the terrier replied.  “Sh-she h-had me m-m-mail it t-to her.”
Another exchange of glances between the elephant and the raccoon.  “And you’re headed to meet her?”
A nod.
“Do you have any stops between here and your destination?”
“N-no.”
Chet nodded.  “Okay.  Dave, can you get me a sheet of paper and an envelope, please?”  The raccoon went to get the items and the elephant said to the terrier, “I’m going to write a note for her.  I want you to give it to her, okay sir?”
“O-okay.”
Dave brought the paper and the envelope, and Chet wrote out the message in a neat block script before putting it into the envelope and sealing it.  He gave it to the terrier.  “You’re free to go, sir,” and he opened the door.  The terrier left quickly to get to his gate.
The raccoon cocked an eye at Chet.  “What’d you write?”
“Just a reminder about Federal regulations,” the elephant replied, “and a reminder that they make those things in plastic.”

end