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Counter Earth Chronicles - Fallen Empire

Chapter 55: Two Against A World Gone Mad (Acceptance Part IV)

Day N/A (The remains of the Seven/Seven Club)

_What was that? _ She monster said to me.

"Missiles! That is what leveled the night club and killed those inside." I shouted landing on her.

Despite the wings, the pointed ears and the talons Demona was starting to look more and more human to me perhaps I was starting to see the person inside and not just the exterior. Geez, the odd things I think about in these situations.

Master! What do we do? The harpy gasped as the sounds of numerous weapons being powered on and locked onto our location was heard.

Eliminate this threat to our existence harpy. Came the order.

_But master how are we to accomplish this task? _ Demona asked.

_By any means necessary. _

Demona froze as the attack continued. She apparently had never been in a situation such as this and was paralyzed with fear.

Little slave. We selected both of you for this task. The synoptic said to me. I read my master's intent- do it now or else.

If we failed at this task and died here, ONE would send more minions to try to rectify the situation; we were expendable.

"Demona are you familiar with a deflection - ambush attack?" I asked.

No. She quivered.

"It is quite simple, you deflect. I am going to ambush." I said rather confidently.

You have been through something like this before little man? You have. The she monster said reading my thoughts.

"Let's just say I have a great deal of experience in hostile environments. Keep our attacker talking and distracted." I said crawling away.

_If they are talking they aren't firing. _

"Yes."

At that point the harpy stood up from the debris paws and wings held high.

How have we failed you and this city friend?

"I am not your friend!" A angry voice from the utility vehicle shouted. "The arrogance! You zombies came around touting that a new order, a new way of life was coming..."

There would be no hatred, intolerance, inequality only harmony and unity. The she monster said.

"So you remember your lies. Well look around you! What do you see? Is it behind that toppled structure over there? What about the collapsed house there? Or the severed communications? The destroyed infrastructure? The constant ground shaking? How about that tired, hungry beastial over there?"

(The voice in the utility vehicle had a point.) I thought looking at a female otter who was watching the commotion.

I made my way through the debris, behind the club, through its parking lot, into more rubble of surrounding structures and then right next to our would be assassin.

The attacking vehicle looked very familiar. Its hood was pulled back covering the windshield and its front grill where the headlights were located had been dropped revealing what looked like many weapons tubules. I saw a laser array, machine guns and missile launchers.

(No way! Is this Attack Beast?!)

I heard that master Kola was planning on rebuilding the black prototype after its destruction. Apparently, he had succeeded and made some improvements well, many improvements.

(The last time I faced off against this thing I was in the blue coupe and would have lost if it wasn't for Lady Keiko. How in all the universe was I to stop it now?)

_You have in the past and you will again little slave. _ ONE said reading my thoughts.

(No pressure.)

*ZAP*

"AUGH!!! Yes master. Anything you say master!" I bleated as it felt like every cell in my body was set on fire.

I approached the utility vehicle from a 90 degree angle as its occupant continued to dialogue with Demona:

We acknowledge your concern but recovery takes time. The harpy said to the mysterious driver.

"More lies! The new order has brought nothing but pain misery and suffering for all involved!!"

We would like to talk to you about this in more detail if you would stand down and reveal yourself.

"You mean so you can turn me into a googlely face zombie like you? ONE is great! ONE will resolve the world's problems ONE is awesome! Look around creature!!! THIS IS NOT AWESOME!!!!" The voice inside Attack Beast shouted.

NGHFF!! The she monster screamed as she took two laser blasts.

(Demona!)

The distraction worked; I crawled up to the vehicle undetected. I rested my back against the passenger door before standing up and diving through the window which to my amazement was open.

"This is going to end now!" I shouted but, my words were altered if by another force in to saying:

Such disobedience will not be tolerated in the new order.

(Did I say that?!)

Instinctively I found myself reaching for Attack Beast's operator. I couldn't wait to turn that person into an Other. My hand did make contact. But it was with spandex or some weird full body suit. The driver was fully clothed from neck to toe in it. His (I think it was a him) face was covered in a bizarre looking white helmet with four vents in a quad formation in its center. Grabbing his hands were out of the question too, he was wearing gloves; there wasn't a sliver a tuft of fur or skin to touch anywhere.

"Sorry no touchie!" The operator said punching me.

!!!

I moved to the side grabbing his right arm.

Struggle if you want but you will become ONE of us. I said to him.

"Nope. Thanks to this." He said gesturing to what he was wearing. Like my clothing? It is required for fighting types like you." He said clotheslining me.

!!!

I saw it coming but I couldn't dodge it, not in such tight quarters. The force of the impact was so strong I hit the windshield on the passenger side of the vehicle landing on the floor. This guy was strong. A typical person should not have been able to do that to me.

Your uniqueness would be a most welcome addition. Join us. My voice said as I stood up.

"Let me think about that... walking around in a daze, with a goofy smile on my face oh and then there is all that annoying chanting. NO. You all are just the latest iteration of oppression just in a new shiny package." The masked operator said mocking me and so we struggled.

Do not lose little slave. My master warned in a ominous tone.

In vain I tried to find some part of his body that was exposed- all I had to do was touch him and this would be over. It wasn't to be. I was hammer fisted in the face. I managed to catch his hand but it still hurt. He then grabbed the back of my head slamming my face on the dash.

(Ok, overpowering him is not happening.)

I scanned the dashboard. As laser fire continued at Demona's location. Damn, the interior of the black prototype had been completely redesigned from before. There was no longer just the single monitor with all those buttons around it. The interior of this thing could have given the grey and blue prototypes some competition.

There were four fist sized monitors in a horizontal configuration immediately above the steering wheel and columns upon columns of red and blue buttons on the center stack of the dashboard. I had no idea what any of them did.

In desperation, I pressed a blue button. The laser fire stopped and a black net shot out from the grill trapping Demona and then shocking her. She groaned and fell to the ground.

(Whoops. I just did his work for him.)

Alright Alex, think! How can I end this? At the most simplest level the black prototype was still a hover vehicle. Which meant that if I couldn't stop the driver, I could stop the utility vehicle. I dove over the center console onto the driver's side punching the masked operator very hard in the crotch.

*HNNGH* He groaned.

I threw the shifter to its lowest level and stamped on the accelerator. The vehicle moved away at a moderate clip dragging the netted harpy as well.

"AWK!" The operator shouted covering his genitals as the vehicle lunged forward.

Let's take this away from here. I said calmly as he tried to lift his right foot off of the accelerator which I had mashed down.

"Let go!" He shouted as the black prototype headed for a pile of rubble to the left of the Seven/Seven Club. The operator then tried to brake, but I spun the steering wheel to the left.

I received a elbow to my head as a reward for my efforts. I retaliated with another groin punch. As we struggled Attack Beast took to the sky. I was thrown back into his seat by the force of the lift off. At least the vehicle's assault had ceased.

We struggled. I took more punches to the face and I retaliated by making sure the masked operator was going to be sterile for the rest of his life. Meanwhile the black prototype moved past the city limits barely missing some of the listing structures on its way toward the swamp where Ben Mastiff met with Guerrilla Gorilla after seizing this very vehicle months ago.

The masked operator was not done with me yet. He pressed a blue and red button on the center stack as I pounded him on the chest as hard as I could.

!!!

The driver side door opened wide.

(Oh crap!)

You wouldn't! I said turning to my assailant.

"A fall from this height would be fatal." The masked operator said coldly.

(Of course he would- he just leveled a nightclub killing most of all who were inside.)

The black prototype turned 90 degrees so that it was perpendicular to the ground as its operator decided to dump his unwanted passenger- me.

(Oh No!)

"Buh-bye now!" He said as I started sliding out of the cockpit. I tried to grab on to something- anything as I was moving out the driver side door. I tried to reach for the door and its handle only to miss.

By my own estimation I was about 900 ft in the air when I tumbled back toward the ground. He was right I should have went splut when I made impact. I did but it was into a bog. It hurt, but I was alive.

(EW!!! gross!!!)

I watched as the black prototype tried to right itself from dumping me only to lean 20 degrees past its angle as its operator fell from the vehicle which crash landed with its netted prisoner nearby.

Good. The synoptic said observing through me.

"Yes master apparently the seat-belts are still manually controlled on that vehicle. Too bad for him."

We are well pleased.

"Um, thank you. But Demona. I have to see if she is ok."

It was miraculous that I survived the fall but landing in something soft was quite helpful. But man the marshlands were squishy and wet. I could really use a boat or a raft right now.

(But where in all this swamp?)

We see a structure little slave.

My master was right, there was a something in the middle of the marsh. A island?! A small two level red pagoda with a wooden fence around the property and a garden with trees that were starting to bloom. There was also a bird bath and marble table and chairs. Someone was riding out the apocalypse here.

I swam for the small island in the swamp dragging myself onto the land. A marble fox in a black jacket and pants was hanging lanterns onto the pagoda.

"Please we are in need of assistance!" I called crawling out of the green goo.

"Hmm?" The mostly white beastial with a black patched coloring over his eyes said turning around to look at me as I something tapped me on the shoulder.

!!!

"You made me wreck!"

(Oh shit, he survived.)

The masked driver had his right arm extended out toward me with some turret popping up from the glove. I felt a small prick on my neck as I was stuck with something that drew blood.

(Hey!)

It was the marble fox. I was too focused by my assailant to notice his approach.

We are sorry but it did not appear that persuasion would be successful. I said confronting the masked driver.

"You mean you couldn't turn me, so that was the next best course of action." The masked driver said coldly. "The entity, it speaks to you doesn't it?"

We are ONE. I responded.

"Let's see about that."

The marble fox grabbed me from behind as the masked operator of the black prototype fired.

!!!

I saw it coming but could not get out of the way. I was hit.

*ZAP*

Little slave...

"AUGH!!! Master!"

It felt like all the cells in my body were being ripped in half. Then my world faded to white.

"Wakey wakey." Someone said patting me on my face some time later.

*groan*

"Careful Devon the possessed are unpredictable." Another someone said.

*UGH*

"What?!" I said coming to. I was inside the pagoda sitting on a floor in a corner near some electronic equipment. How could this be?! "Master! What should we do?" I called out to the synoptic. There was no response.

"You recovered quite quickly." The marble fox said walking over. He was carrying a small black rectangular device which he pointed at my left shoulder. Before reading the results. "Alex Winter a human pet to a beastial in World One."

"Most likely he was taken from there by the zombie's master; the entity." The masked operator of the black prototype said. "Perhaps I should have ended his suffering."

"What, what is he doing here?" I said trying to move. "What the?"

My efforts were futile I had been stripped naked and placed in this black underwear harness which restricted my movements to the corner of the room like some type of bungee ride at a amusement park.

"Jessie is a associate of mine we are advocates for change." The marble fox said. "I suppose you have questions. I have one as well how do you feel?"

I looked at the white fox with the black splotches over his eyes that made him look a little bit like a raccoon and the driver of Attack Beast both were observing me carefully.

"Your attempts at capturing us are futile; we are many." I said.

"Perhaps- but just not here, not right now." Jessie said mocking me.

(Master! Master where are you?!) I called out to the synoptic not quite feeling like myself.

Somehow I had been separated from ONE. I did not feel its presence. It was just me. I was alone in my body! The whole severed into two with one problem I felt very sick like a junkie who is going through withdrawal. I guess, my body at some level had gotten somewhat used to being a combined life-form and did not like being singular again.

"Mr. Winter how do you feel?" The marble fox asked again.

I started feeling really dizzy and very ill; I vomited. As I finished dry heaving. I laid down on my side.

"That is your answer Devon." Jessie said.

"What did you do to me?" I asked as my neck was pricked again and another blood sample was taken.

"Lie down, if you need to vomit, vomit." Devon said walking to a table and stool behind me to examine his latest sample.

"Interesting the sample taken an hour ago and just now are identical." The marble fox said.

"So it didn't possess his at a cellular level. So then how does the being control him and its minions?"

"I don't know Jessie- but he came in service to this entity which destroyed the empire either willingly or unwillingly." Devon responded. "I suspect all of entity's forces share similar origins."

"Excuse me but who are you people?" I said trying not to vomit again.

"Those who are taking back our city from you zombies." Jessie said. "Your new order will not succeed here."

"Why am I near naked?" I asked.

"It was necessary- you were filthy and had taken a bad fall." Devon said. "Moreover how do you feel?" He said asking again.

"We feel hallow and empty." I said trying to make myself comfortable on the wooden floor.

"I shot him with separator Devon." Jessie said. "Do you think?"

"Let's find out." The marble fox said approaching me. He kneeled at my side avoiding the mess I had made on the floor of the pagoda.

"Devon no!" Jessie shouted.

"Take my paw boy. Introduce me to the entity." The marble fox ordered.

I obliged. Nothing happened.

"Come on, my fur isn't even bristling. What's wrong?" Devon said.

"We don't know." I responded.

He then felt my forehead before asking. "Who are you boy?"

"We are ONE." I responded.

"No you are who ever you were before bonding with whatever it is making every beast zombies."

"How is this evening possible?! Oh, I think I am going to be sick again...."

*BLARRF!!!*

"The separator worked Devon?! How did you know?" Jessie asked.

"Perhaps its hold over him was not that strong." The marble fox said.

"And the symptoms he is exhibiting now?"

"You mean will he survive? I don't know." Devon responded to his associate.

You have won this battle but not the conflict. The harpy at the far side of the room bemoaned.

"Perhaps, but I am not chained up and bleeding on the floor." The masked individual quipped.

"Jessie."

"I shot her with it too. It didn't work, she is still one of them." The marble fox's associate warned.

"Please. She is my colleague." I pleaded.

"You mean tend to her wounds? Why should I? If we can't uncouple the entity's victims from it we have no choice but to..."

"You mean like what you did at the nightclub?" Devon said. "Keep in mind you are washing away the good with the bad Jessie not everyone came into the entity's service willingly."

"There were also innocents inside." I added.

"Fine I will see to her wounds." The masked individual said approaching the restrained she monster.

She growled at him.

"Demona let him treat you!" I pleaded.

"Why?" The she monster said.

"Because I can't." I said dry heaving again as the marble fox picked up the black box from earlier and started talking into it.

"Personal log, supplemental. My associate succeeded in capturing two operatives of the so called new order. Both initially appear to be under the influence of the being that destroyed the empire five months ago.

We tested out the separation ray on the both of them with mixed results. The female harpy has not separated from what the two describe as their master. The human male has. I suspect that the being's hold on him was not as strong. However, it was not without side-effects. The uncoupling has made him violently ill; over the last hour he has grown very weak and has been vomiting every fifteen minutes or so. If it is life threatening that remains to be seen. We will watch and observe for a while to see what happens."

"What happens?!" I retched.

"If you survive." The marble fox quipped. "If you can perhaps there is hope for the rest of the possessed."

"And if I *retch* don't?"

Devon and Jessie traded glances.

(Gee, thanks.)

"There is so much that we don't know and can't begin to even understand." The marble fox said to me.

I started to suspect that the black and white fox was a scientist. Did he worked for a corporation or for the empire before the fall?

We see, and what if your separator is never perfected? Domona asked as Jessie finished working patching her wings.

"Tch!" The masked individual said.

"You are going to try to wipe us all out like you did at the Seven/Seven Club? What gives you the right?" I asked.

"WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT?!" Jessie shot back. "The thing you call master is a destroyer of civilizations! How many did it kill during the regime change? Hint it was more than what was at the nightclub."

I concluded that Devon's associate was a smart ass not to mention a hot head.

Regrettable but it was necessary.

"Devon. That was not the harpy talking." Jessie warned.

"Interesting they are a combined. I thought they spoke as one." The scientist observed.

Our master speaks through us every now and again. Demona said. It has also been observing you through our eyes.

"So why are you two doing this?" I asked changing the subject.

"Because we can. It is about time someone exposes the new order's lies." The marble fox said.

"So how did you two come into the service of your master?" Jessie said as he put away the medical supplies he used on the harpy.

If you would remove your clothing we would be more than happy to introduce you.

"Grr... your standard answer for everything turn them into zombies. That would solve about 95% of our problems. What about the those that are deemed inferior- not worthy to live in the new order?"

"They are cast a side and ignored Jessie. It would appear that this new order is for select individuals only. Sound familiar doesn't it?" Devon said.

"Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit! It sounds like another variation on a old tired theme." The masked operator of the black prototype exclaimed.

"Um, you have a nice headquarters here complete with power, electronics, medical and a resurrected prototype assault vehicle." *retch* I said trying to change the tone of the conversation. "How did you manage do all this?"

"Perseverance." Devon responded. "But more is going to be needed."

Needed for what? Demona asked.

"In order to defeat you once and for all." The marble fox said.

You will lose. The synoptic said to our captors.

"Are you sure about that?" Jessie said.

You are just a small hindrance to our efforts here.

"Perhaps entity, but we aren't the only ones. What about that thing inside Castle Sogreth? It likes to feed on survivors and even you zombies. Is that why that area is not under you control?" Jessie scoffed.

You will not succeed. The synoptic said through Demona.

"That is where you are wrong whatever you are, we will take back our city and drive you out by any means necessary- separating you from your followers and allying with your enemies if necessary." Jessie said coldly. "Whatever it takes to drive you back into the dark hole you climbed up out of."

Our master speaks the truth. You do not understand us at all. Demona warned.

"Devon?" Jessie said to his associate.

"How could I have missed this?! They are in constant contact with each other!" The marble fox shouted.

"How is that possible?" Jessie gasped.

"Indeed more research is warranted." I teased.

"Grab what you can. We need to leave now!" The marble fox said running toward the door of the pagoda. The masked operator was right behind him.

"Devon why?"

"The entity was toying with us. Our base has been compromised. We must leave now Jessie!"

Little fox we want you to understand one thing- it may take some time, but we will find you and add you to our collective. That will be a glorious day indeed. The harpy hissed as the two ran for the black prototype and fled.

Not ten minutes later there was a pounding on the door and it was broken down by a beaver and crocodile.

We came as soon as we could. The beaver said walking in and looking around.

"It is much appreciated." I said as the crocodile proceeded to free Domona and myself from our restraints.

So who were they master? The crocodile asked.

Vigilantes** _. _** The synoptic said through its vessels as I vomited again.

We see. But there are so few. The beaver said.

"It only takes a few to start a movement." I said to the harpy, beaver and crocodile.

Devon and Jessie reminded me of a television show that aired on Gaia when I was younger about a man in a super vehicle that drove around righting wrongs one person at a time- trying to make the world a better place.

I had a distinct feeling that those two especially Jessie, was the Counter Earth version of that show. He was going to unite what was left to oppose they synoptic and its new order even it took one individual at a time.

Little man. The harpy said walking toward me.

"Demona." I said as she knelt down beside my piles of vomit.

The she creature picked me up and watched as the entity reclaimed me for its own again.

Better?

"Much, much better." I said as my strength returned. "That was the most bizarre feeling I have ever experienced."

Before leaving I took my time rummaging through Devon and Jessie's hideout. It was completely stocked, food, water, clothing, linen and medical supplies.

The synoptic decided to claim the pagoda as an auxiliary site just like the Grand Kingdom. I suspected after what happened here in World Four, the master would have to revise its plans for the so called crystal city it wanted to build here.

In all the whole experience was a eyeopener for me. I thought the synoptic was an unstoppable force, a conqueror of worlds, that no one would oppose; I mean I had seen extraterrestrials fleeing from it. But apparently not that unstoppable.

That day we learned that a new enemy had emerged, an enemy that potentially threatened our very existence. They would have to be dealt with if the master's plans for World Four were to come true.

To Be Continued...