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_Last Chapter- _

After decompressing from his hellish final exam by reading some adventure porn, Alex learned about the knight's latest mission- a return to Beastial Beauties, now Counter Earth Cosmetics and decides to volunteer his assistance.

Counter Earth Chronicles

Chapter 80: Twenty Seven Kinds Of Wrong (A Grim Present And A Darker Future Part One)

Day 250 (morning)

"Wow, this building is quite beautiful sir." I said during my personal tour of the facility. "I love the carpeted hallways and I love how the windows expand from floor to ceiling!"

"That is actually a very unique design." Tyrannicus Tiger said to me.

"How so sir?"

"They are one sided."

"How can a window be one sided?"

"Anyone looking directly at them from outside this nine story facility would just see a wall. While anyone on the inside would be able to see those on the outside trying to look at them."

"Interesting in a some what creepy way." I said following the tiger as we walked around the corner passing by some employees who turned and smiled at the two of us.

"Now over here is the cafeteria and dining. Next to that is the gym." The regal tiger said showing me around. "And down this corridor is the loading dock and receiving." Tyrannicus said to me.

"Wow, everything is so neat and clean! Unlike the other location."

"That is because this facility was built just this year. Our other location in World Three...." The chief executive started to say.

"Is a dark, dank and dreary dungeon." I countered.

"Yes since acquiring that from Beastial Beauties we have had to clean and remodel that location to try to erase some of the goings on there from memory."

"Yes sir, I was a unwilling participant to what went on there." I said as we descended several floors and then rounded the corner to a small cubby-hole like office on the ground floor.

"Alex, I am truly sorry for what happened to you there." The tiger said as he placed his paw underneath my chin to look at me in the face. "Consider your employment here my personal apology and attempt to alter yours and other humans' perceptions of beastials as a result of that incident."

"Thank you sir." I blushed.

"Well here we are- this is your office." He said gesturing to a desk and chair situated in front of a triangular pedestal that was located in the center of the room. The pedestal projected a holographic globe. "We beastial types have keen senses you see and I sense that you are a hard worker with a good work ethic. Stick to it. I feel you will go far in the company."

(What an honorable individual. Kind of reminded me of Lord Tiger.)

"Welcome to the company Mr. Winter." The tiger said hugging me. "I hope the brief tour was to your satisfaction. Anyway, I have some meetings I have to attend to."

"You must be a busy beast sir." I said as he released me from the sudden hug.

"Yes, I am meeting with the knights over a 'safety' matter. Take care. If you have any other questions or needs don't be afraid to ask."

"Back at you sir." I responded as I watched the well built head of the company with the sexy V shape torso leave my little corner office.

(I am not into males but if I was, I would love me a piece of that! That perfectly chiseled body, wonderful muscle tone. He might be a great catch for Lea.)

What surprised me more was that he took the time to personally show me around my first day on the job too. Already Counter Earth Cosmetics were differentiating themselves from their predecessor Beastial Beauties.

"Greetings employee 104." The holographic globe display said as I sat down at the desk of my small corner office.

"Hey Counter Earth Cosmetics Access Terminal (CAT) how are you this fine morning?" I asked.

"Functioning at only 78% for some reason employee 104. Diagnostics and scans are inconclusive. I am at a loss as to why I feel so sluggish."

"Please CAT call me Alex."

" A-And Y-you M-may call me CAT. Everyone here does." The Counter Earth Cosmetics computer system said stuttering.

"How long have you felt like this?"

"Since late yesterday. Mr. Winter."

"It's Alex. Well, I hope you discover the source soon." I said to the display sympathetically.

"Me too Mr. Winter. A-Are you r-ready to continue your employee orientation?"

"I guess so." I replied looking through the drawers of my desk.

I don't know what I was looking for- perhaps I was expecting to be amazed. Unlike the computers on Gaia, the ones that I have seen on this world 'think' and 'talk' and are quite interactive. I guess I was expecting to be amazed by the desk as well. Nope. It was just an ordinary desk.

" Excellent." The machine replied. "I see that you were previously 'employed' by the company's immediate predecessor."

"If you can call it that." I said looking at the display.

"Well Counter Earth Cosmetics was formed from the remains of Beastial Beauties after that company collapsed amidst scandal."

(You don't say?)

"Our company's founder and supreme leader Tyrannicus Tiger vowed to never repeat the disgraceful actions of the preceding company. He decided to offer those who were affected by Beastial Beauties jobs within his company and to compensate those who were scarred as a result of the previous company."

"It sounds like the CEO is an enlightened beast, who is quite good looking and also gives good hugs." I said to CAT.

"Oh that he is. By the way you, mean supreme leader." The computer said correcting me.

(Is that is what they call them on this world?)

"He is one of the few who believe that first and second class citizens can work together in peace and harmony for the common good and ensuring a better future for us all. Here at Counter Earth Cosmetics our employees are our strength." CAT droned on.

"Yes, yes that is very informative CAT. But could you please tell me about the company's make up?"

"Y-Yes Counter Earth C-Cosmetics is made up of two hundred employees across two locations. Site one is in World Three- the former research, product and test facility of Beastial Beauties and site two is here in World One- the corporate offices where our supreme leader works, where marketing and development are located."

"So there aren't any labs or testing facilities located here?" I asked the computer system.

" This site has one lab that is associated with the marketing department Alex."

"So there aren't any cages where unwilling subjects are forced to test makeup or other cosmetics against their will?"

" Counter Earth Cosmetics does not test their products on lab animals Alex. Our products are synthesized to be nontoxic, environmentally friendly, animal friendly and human friendly."

(This undercover assignment is turning out to be much better than my last two.)

"That concludes your orientation employee 104. A-any questions?"

"Yes." I said thinking out loud. "CAT, could you access the company directory. I would like some information on a some acquaintances of mine. I am curious if they are employed here."

" P-Proceed." The computer system stuttered.

"Aurora Cross."

"A-accessing.... Aurora Cross employee 106. She is a secretary at site one and was acquired from Beastial Beauties. She has been employed here for almost two months."

"Does she have any ill will toward the company or beastials?"

"Insufficient data to answer inquiry."

"I have another one for you CAT- Neil Winter."

"Neil Winter employee 105. A recent hire at site one and was acquired from Beastial Beauties. He works in shipping and receiving and has been employed here for almost two months. Would you like to speak to either of them?"

"No, no. Not at this time CAT. Thanks for the info."

(Hmm....) I thought to myself as my communicator sounded off.

"Point one to point four."

"This is point four." I answered looking at my PDA.

"What is your status?" A brown wolf said appearing on the screen.

"Just completing the new employee orientation Biff."

"I was surprised that you volunteered for this mission." The wolf warrior said to me.

"Personal curiosity sir. I wanted to see if this new company was any better than its predecessor. From what I have seen so far it is. Anything on your end?"

"No, another fine day at Counter Earth Cosmetics. I am starting to wonder if we should even take the threats against the company seriously." The he beast said to me. "So far there hasn't been anything, but complaints about their internal systems being slow."

"I found something." I said to the he beast.

"What is that?"

"Some former 'cell mates' of mine decided to stay on after the purchase. Aurora Cross and Neil Winter."

"Yes, Looper, Dusty and I have been keeping a close eye on some of the employees that came over from the previous company. We all thought they were crazy, but they consider Counter Earth Cosmetics a completely different company otherwise they wouldn't be here."

"So right now there aren't any leads." I said to the wolf knight.

"Correct other than that vague threat that the company was going to be destroyed. Nothing specific. Let me know if anything develops point one out."

"Affirmative. Oh and Biff-"

"What's that?" The brown wolf asked me.

"Power to the pack!" I said ending the communication.

"Power to the pack, Alex."

I just loved saying that to Sir Wolf's forces. It just sounded so cool. Like a neat battle cry. Perhaps Lord Tiger should come up with one for his forces here in World One?

Just then CAT interrupted.

"In coming message A-Alex."

"Put it through."

"Ah good morning employee 104." A cute looking ewe in a white and black uniform said. "Are you ready to work?"

"Yeah how can I assist you this morning ah..."

"Tammy."

"Yes Tammy."

"Well Tammy you can call me Alex."

"I need some things from development. Here is the list. Could you fetch them and bring them to marketing?"

"Sure. I will be there in a couple of minutes."

"Thank you sweetie and welcome to the company." Tammy said ending the communication.

So my job as errand boy at Counter Earth Cosmetics began.

(Now I knew how Toby and Devious felt.)

I started to walk over to the Development department on the floor above me when my communicator sounded off again.

"Point two to point four."

I quickly ran into a vacant closet.

"Point four here." I answered.

"How is your first day going pet?" My ursine warrior said from within the prototype.

"So far so good. This looks like a very good company to work for."

"How so?"

"Unlike their predecessor they value their employees whether they have fur, fangs, claws, tails or not. How goes the surveillance?" I asked my bear knight.

"The usual pet. I have deployed the probe and I am scanning the area surrounding the facility. Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Did you check in with Chemar?" I asked her.

"No. He is in meeting with the supreme leader updating him on our status."

"Tyrannicus said about as much to me before leaving to attend that meeting. I also heard from Biff. He, Dusty and Looper don't have anything on their end either." I said to my she bear.

"Well no news is good news, but stay alert pet. Point two out."

I took a quick look around to make sure that no one had heard my conversation before proceeding to Development on the floor above.

The minute I entered the department I was hugged by all of my new coworkers there- an opossum, ferret, duck and bobcat.

"Morning fellow employee!" The male opossum said.

"You must be the new hire!" The female duck said.

"Uh hi." I said surprised.

"Welcome to our little piece of the world." The male ferret said. "What can we do for you?"

"I am here to pick up some items for marketing." I replied as the group hug ended.

"Yes, yes here you are!" The female bobcat said handing me a stack of pads.

"Thanks." I blushed.

"Well welcome to the company! Let us know if you need anything else." The opossum said to me.

(Is every beast here this friendly?! Wow!)

I left Development and headed up two more floors to Marking where upon entering the office I received the same greeting from all of the employees there- well the beastial ones.

"Hello Mr. Winter!" The ewe said as she ran toward me.

I quickly gave her the items that she had requested. She took them from me placed them down on a desk and then gave me a big hug.

"Welcome to our little family." She said happily.

"Yes welcome!" A donkey said as he approached. I was then welcomed by a female tapir, a male mandrill, a female owl, a female fennec fox and a male leopard just about every beast in the department.

"Thanks everyone." I said. "But do you treat all your new hires like that?"

"No, only the humans. It is Hug A Human Day after all." Tammy said looking at me.

"Really?" I asked surprised.

"They all have been like that since yesterday." A woman in the back of the office called out to me.

"Really?" I asked as approached her.

"They have always been respectful and affectionate before but have been really off the chart lately."

"Umm Hmm." The tapir, mandril, owl, fox and leopard said in unison smiling.

"You two haven't heard then?" The ewe said sitting down at her desk.

The woman and I joined Tammy.

"CAT could you be a dear and pull up that announcement from the hub."

"R-Right away miss T-Tammy." The computer said stuttering.

The ewe shared her findings with us and the rest of her coworkers- the announcement that had appeared on the hub the day before:

The Consortium for Mutual Existence proudly announces Counter Earth's newest holiday- the first national Hug A Human Day! So find a human any, human and give them a hug!

Somewhere I knew Dongo, Bess and Tess were smiling. Their announcement was short and concise and moving. So moving it affected the beastials in this facility.

"So that's what's going on!" The woman who told me to call her Lisa said.

"I think I am going to like it here. This is quite a wonderful work environment." I said to my new coworkers.

"Yeah, yeah it is much better than some of the other places, I have been at. They don't care what species you are which is a big plus."

"Don't forget the supreme leader's massage parlor." The donkey said to me. "He allows any employee who is stressed out to use it at any time. It is amazing!"

(I got to try that while I am here!)

"By the way, the name is Tech." The donkey said to me.

"Hi I am Tia." The tapir said.

"I am Mandy." The mandril said introducing himself.

"You can call me Snowy." The spotted owl said introducing herself. "The shy fennec is Ann."

"You can call me Leo." The leopard said shaking my hand.

"Wow, that is a lot of names to try to keep straight. But I will do my best." I said blushing.

"Thank you CAT that will be all." Tammy said to the computer which didn't respond. The hologram screen just faded to black. "CAT? CAT?" Tammy said looking at Lisa.

The woman returned to her work station to find that her display was black. So were every beast's in the Marketing Department.

"Uh oh looks like CAT is down hard." The donkey said.

"With him down, nothing is going to get done today." The owl said.

"Uh who is CAT's technician?" I asked.

"You are looking at him! I'll head to processing to and take a look." Tech said walking out of the office.

"Hey can I come with?" I asked.

"Trying to really make a good impression on your first day?"

"Well...."

"Just kidding Alex, this way."

I followed Tech to the ninth floor just below the roof of the nine story building. Tech was the typical donkey, everything about him was grey with the exception of his mane and tail which were black.

As we entered processing, I noticed the entire floor was wall to wall cabinets. Inside each were electronics the heart and soul of CAT. We started looking at CAT's systems to find out why Counter Earth Cosmetics' computer system was down. I found out from Tech that not only did CAT perform processing, data entry, payroll, it was also the communication system for the entire company. With CAT being down the company was completely crippled.

(Was this the attack that the knights from World One and Three were trying to prevent?)

The grey donkey checked system after system performing diagnostic after diagnostic for the next hour trying to get the company back on its feet.

"I don't get it! Everything I am seeing shows that CAT should be functioning properly yet the system remains down." Tech said frustrated.

Just then the lights in the building and the environmental shut down as well.

"Let me guess also systems control by CAT?" I asked the frustrated donkey.

He nodded.

"We better find the supreme leader." Tech said.

We went to his office space on the sixth floor finding it vacant.

"Maybe that massage spy I heard about?" I suggested.

"Good idea."

We preceded to the fifth floor where we found the company's CEO, I mean supreme leader Tyrannicus. The tiger was near naked on a table being worked on by four hot looking tigresses. Extremely hot looking tigresses. Next to him was Chemar who I assume was talking to him when CAT went down.

"Tech, Mr. Winter come in. This is Chemar from the knight core. He is here investigating some security matters."

"It looks like they have come to fruition supreme leader." Tech said bowing respectfully.

"What have you found? Is it some type of attack or sabotage?" The tiger asked.

"I don't know sir." The donkey said. "I have performed test after test, diagnostic after diagnostic and I can't find anything wrong! Everything checks out perfectly!"

"Yet it is not, everything is down!" The tiger said turning toward us as one of his attendants gently kissed his neck and started working her way down to his toweled rear.

(I have to get me some of that!!!)

"Supreme leader what about site one?" I asked. "Is everything ok there?"

"We lost contact with them around the same time CAT when down."

"Point three to point one." Chemar said trying his communicator.

"Point one here go ahead Chemar."

"What is your status?" The cheetah said to the black wolf who answered.

"The company's computer system is down hard here affecting just about every subsystem. Their technician is trying to get it up and running. Biff is assisting."

"May I speak with them?"

Looper left to retrieve site one's CAT technician.

"Harriet have you found anything?" Tech asked the koala.

"Absolutely nothing. Everything I am seeing shows that the computer system should be up but it is not!"

"I have complete faith in both of you." Tyrannicus said to his technicians trying to keep calm. "Keep at it until you find the source of the problem! I want hourly updates." The tiger moaned as his attendants returned to his fully body massage.

"Yes supreme leader!" Tech and Harriet said.

"Chemar." I said turning to the cheetah.

The junior knight nodded.

And so Harriet and Tech returned to the computer system core at their respective locations trying to figure out what was wrong with CAT so that they could get the company operational.

I helped out as much as I could. Chemar was keeping an eye on the Tyrannicus and my mistress was keeping watch on the company's exterior. So I was left watching the company's interior.

"So how long have you been working with the company?" I asked as we got back to work.

"About two months. Before that I was finishing up my training."

"What was your speciality?" I asked the grey donkey.

"Electronics. I was hired on as CAT's technician here shortly afterwards. It was the proudest day of my life. My first real job! The supreme leader said that I had a bright future here at the company."

"Yeah, about that- he seemed uncharacteristically relaxed despite what was going on." I said turning to Tech.

"It may have appeared that way, but it was not. He was completely stressed- you saw he was in the massage parlor right?"

I nodded.

"He goes there only when he is completely stressed out. Today would qualify."

"Right."

"Is it true you worked for Beastial Beauties?" Tech asked me as he returned to troubleshooting.

"Enslaved is more like it. I was kidnapped from a hover vehicle show and taken to the product development, research and test facility where I was experimented on." I said.

"That sounds unthinkable."

"It was beyond horrible. The worst nightmare anyone could imagine. I was locked in a cage when I was not 'working'. And you never knew when the guards were going to come for you. It could be during the morning, evening or the middle of the night."

"You must have been relieved when that place was shut down." Tech said turning to me.

"I was but it took me some time to come to terms with what I actually went through there and to recover from it."

"But you did. That is what matters." He said to me.

Tech and I worked on CAT for a good thirty five minutes more when all a sudden the system restored.

"Great work!" I said patting the donkey on the back.

"But- but I didn't do anything!" He looked at me as the lighting and environmental systems restored.

"Greetings Alex. Tech. Why are you here in my central core?" CAT asked.

"Because you have been inoperable for the last several hours." The donkey responded.

"I have?"

"You went down around the time I made my deliveries to the Marketing Department." I said.

"I was?"

"You were and when you went down so did everything else, power, processing, environmental and your back up systems." Tech said.

"I did?"

"CAT how do you feel now?" I asked the computer system.

"Checking.... I am operating at 90% efficiency. I no longer feel sluggish. Thank you Alex. Thank you Tech."

"Great we should tell Tyrannicus. He will be relieved to know right Tech?" I said turning to the donkey who had a blank stare on his face. "Tech?"

"I can contact the supreme leader if you like." CAT said.

"Please." I said staring at the grey donkey.

"Hmm... there is no answer." The computer system said.

I then tried my PDA. "Point four to point three. Chemar are you there?"

No answer as well. That was around the time Tech walked out of the processing core.

"Right we better find out what is going on." I said following the donkey. Tech entered the stairwell but he didn't descend down it toward the sixth floor he went upward toward the roof.

"Tech? Tech?" I said as he opened the doorway and stepped out.

The he beast remained silent as I continued to question him.

"Why are we on the roof?" I asked. He had that same blank stare- like the lights were on but no one was home. "Tech what is wrong with you?"

The donkey walked toward the edge of the roof taking in the view of the landscape, the company grounds and the rest of World One in the distance. Still silent, not responding to my questions at all.

"It is a nice view. I heard that some of the staff likes to eat lunch here--- I noticed the door to the roof open as we were talking. We were joined by some more employees- the tapir, mandril, owl, fox and leopard from Marketing then the opossum, ferret, bobcat and duck from Development.

Counter Earth Cosmetics employees kept emerging from the door. Chemar and the supreme leader joined still in his towel. Soon all the beastial employees were on the roof forming a single line behind Tech.

"What is this? Some company-wide meeting?" I asked him.

No it couldn't be- everyone had blank stares on their blank faces. It was the oddest thing.

!!!

My premonition hit me. This was the attack on Counter Earth Cosmetics! But to what end?!

I turned back toward the CAT technician who had been enjoying the view.

"I don't get it Tech what is the point of all this?"

!!!

"TECH!!!!"

Without warning the donkey calmly and casually just walked off the roof.

"TECH!!!" I screamed reaching for him. It was too late. The CAT technician had fallen nine floors to his death.

The employee behind him jumped, and then the one behind him. Then the other employees- following like lemmings participating in a mass suicide.

"STOP!! GO BACK!! GET AWAY!!" I screamed trying to prevent my fellow coworkers and employees from taking the plunge off of the ninth floor roof. As I did, more lines formed next to the first one as the beastials who worked at that facility also started leaping to their deaths.

Despite all my efforts I was shoved and brushed aside as the calm stampede continued. All oblivious to my pleas.

It was then that I was pushed by Tyrannicus and Chemar. Also with emotionless blank stares as they walked past me.

(OH! NO!)

To this day, I don't know how- but I some how was able to hit my panic button on my PDA while within the calm stampede.

"Point four to point two, point one- anybody! Please respond!" I screamed into my PDA.

"Alex what's wrong?!" My warrior bear responded. She was joined by Biff, Looper and Dusty.

"Whoever threatened to destroy the company is doing it by attacking its employees!" I yelled.

"What did you just say?" Dusty asked.

"Alex calm down and repeat what you just said." Lady Ursa said to me.

"MISTRESS! I NEED YOU NOW! THE ROOF!" I screamed. "THE EMPLOYEES! THEY ARE WALKING OFF OF THE ROOF!"

The three wolves went silent and my mistress gasped as she turned her attention from the perimeter to the roof of site two just in time to see more Counter Earth Cosmetic employees fall to their deaths.

To Be Continued....