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Counter Earth Chronicles - Fallen Empire

Chapter 56: Caught In A Web Of My Own Intentions (Conclusion)

Day N/A (A abandoned office building in World Four)

Ok. so there is a resistance movement against ONE in World Four. I secretly wondered if similar happenings were occurring in Worlds One, Two and Three. I pushed those thoughts aside as I made my rounds.

"Good morning Tina. How is my patient?" I asked kneeling at her bundle.

"Sore I am afraid." She replied. "It will be some time before I am able to return to work."

"It doesn't matter there is no place for you to return to work. The master is devoting what remaining assets it has in the area to cleaning up the former site of the Seven/Seven Club and burying the deceased. Until it is rebuilt you are to stay here and rest. But don't get me wrong, I can't wait to see you up and about in your apron and only your apron." I said making goo goo eyes at her.

*grumble*

"Sorry, I am also a little hungry. Gia is too." The female dingo said.

"Well you are in luck we came across a cache of supplies yesterday." I said smiling.

"If I were allowed back into the collective you could use them on some beast more needy." The recovering waitress said to me.

"Believe me I would love to." I said caressing her paw. Nothing happened.

"It doesn't want me." The she dingo said.

Little slave! You have labors to perform. My master said through me making sure my patient heard.

"It appears you are wanted Alex the Other." Tina said rolling over giving me a great view of that backside of hers.

"Um, you get some rest." I adjusted her sleeping bundle before standing up to converse with ONE.

I knew instantly what labors it had in mind for me; the back breaking manual kind.

"Master I know you are short staffed, and there is much to be done...."

We must find and capture non-believers.

"And that is where you are wrong." I said assuming a confrontational tone and I was awarded in kind.

*ZAP*

"AUGH!! I mean master I think you and the collective have a public relations problem; in that we are viewed in a negative light by the survivors here. Hence the rise of Devon and Jessie."

A resistance movement; it is a small one.

"If we are not careful it will grow. We need to correct that master as soon as possible."

We are listening little slave.

"Help those who are in need. Sell them on the big picture and if they agree and believe in our cause take them into the collective."

The white rabbit has said something similar.

"Master it is easier controlling those who are willing to be controlled is it not?" I said trying to reason with the entity.

The master read my thoughts and agreed to my idea. I was freed from my would be labors that morning. It also allowed me to bring along Demona, and Gruff the crocodile who had rescued us from Jessie and Devon's hideout in the swamp.

"Gia, you can't come!" I said to Tina's little sister. "This is Other business."

The mute teenage dingo eyed myself, the harpy and the crocodile.

The little man speaks the truth cub, this could be dangerous. The harpy said spreading her wings.

Gia looked at the patched wounds from the laser burns Demona sustained. The adolescent then grabbed the supplies Demona and I were carrying and decided to carry them herself; she had made up her mind.

We see that there are some advantages to receiving aid from the willing. The crocodile said. Perhaps the master was correct in not awakening her.

(Suck up.)

Demona and Gruff turned my direction to look at me. Even little Gia. "Yeah you heard me- but you shouldn't have- you aren't linked." I said addressing the little dingo.

Yet. The harpy said.

The temperature was a little cool the morning of our so called community service. The sky was an orange-red and we hoped that it would get warmer as the sun came out.

Here little man? The harpy asked as we came to what I believed used to be water fountain.

"Still too much debris around and some teetering structures." I said.

_ We are looking for someplace** safe then?**_ Gruff said.

"Yes where meetings can take place and discussions can be held." I replied.

*grumble*

"And the hungry can eat without fear for their lives." I said looking at Tina's sister.

We need some place open then. The female monster said.

There was a park around here someplace. Gruff said looking around.

"There." I said pointing to a 20 x 20' plot of land near shattered statues, cracked trees, toppled light poles and broken benches. "That looks like enough open area."

The three of us watched Tina's little sister place the supplies down on a walkway.

"Everyone know what to do?" I asked.

The harpy and the crocodile nodded. Gia and I watched as Gruff made a fire pit. Demona grabbed a decent amount of wood from the fallen trees adding it to what Gruff was building.

The two soon finished and I inspected what had been constructed. "This will do."

Very well let's prepare. Demona added.

Gia watched as we created a fire and started cooking the food we had secured from the pagoda cutting it into chunks and placing them on wooden sticks creating kabobs.

Here. Gruff said giving the little dingo female a sample.

Gia gratefully took what was given her and started eating the pieces of meat.

Good? Demona asked. The adolescent nodded. Very well let's begin.

"Welcome! Welcome to the first annual World Four cookout!" I shouted. "Anybeast who can hear the sound of my voice feel free to stop by- tired, hungry, thirsty, scared we don't discriminate!"

I looked at Demona and Gruff who I assumed relayed the message to the master that we were open for business. The master then relayed the message to its minions to tell any and all that they encountered of what was taking place here.

"Um what is this?" A male pangolin who appeared from a hastily made shack nearby asked. He was accompanied by a large anteater.

"They are Others." It said. "They are probably looking to make more."

We are. The crocodile said.

The two took two steps backward.

"No. No, not in that way." I said.

We are performing community service- feeding the hungry and comforting the scared. The she monster added.

"We are not here to turn you." I said pointing to Gia. You see she is not ONE of us."

The pangolin and anteater looked at each other and then sat down next to the fire pit to join us. Gia gave them kabob sticks as well which they took from her cautiously.

Soon there were some more passers by a bush dog and his cub who gave Demona, Gruff and myself a curious glance.

"Don't be shy! We know that times have been tough since the fall and many are starving." I said turning on the charm.

"What is this?" He said cautiously.

His clothing like the pangolin and anteater, looked like it was from some forgotten civilization from long ago- a one piece outfit which was his shirt and pants and a tan scarf. His son didn't look much better.

_ Exactly as we say a cookout** for the tired, the hungry, the thirsty- those who are just trying to get by.**_ Gruff added.

"Can we go please?" The youngster said to his father.

"I don't know- it is being hosted by zombies. Look at their faces- the bizarre stares." The parent said to its offspring.

"I know it is dangerous to be out here but poppa, I am hungry."

"I am too Koda, but beware those offering free gifts; the price is usually too high. Look at that alligator, he is just scary and the harpy- she is two and a half times taller than the homely freckled human."

(Hey!)

Demona and Gruff chuckled.

"Do not be alarmed. She is friendly." I said trying to put the best spin on it.

"But isn't she one of those night creatures roaming about?" The male bush dog said.

We are, but we will not harm you. Demona said smiling.

The word it seemed had gotten out and we soon had about thirty join us for our little get together in the park.

"So I was like OMG the sky is turning red!" A mustelid said to Gruff.

"And then that was when my cube stopped working." Her companion a kangaroo nodded in agreement and then the ground started shaking- badly.

The crocodile tried to remain interested in the conversation but was finding it difficult.

Gia smiled at Gruff's torment.

"Now let me get this straight..." A stern looking panther said. "The synoptic, your master is rebuilding this city?"

Yes. The harpy said.

"Our master is creating a new society from the remains of the old." I added.

It will not succumb to the flaws of the previous one. Gruff added.

"Such as?" At mountain lion asked munching nearby.

Subjugation, restriction of movement, opportunity and status. Under our master we are all ONE. Demona added. _ _

"That is right no person be they beastial or human is better than anyone else." I said.

"And this city?" The panther asked curiously as the rest in attendance looked on.

World Four is to be reformed into a founding city of the new order. The she monster said.

"And all of you present have an opportunity to get in on the ground floor." I said cheerfully.

"That was only after your master destroyed the old one." A female otter scoffed.

Our master is looking for new recruits who share our vision and want to be part of this new society we are building. The croc said to the audience.

"They want to make us just like them- zombie things." The she otter said again. A groundhog next to her agreed.

"I... um... another kabob ma'am?" I asked.

"Then why this meet and greet?" The pangolin asked.

Little slave progress report.... My master said observing the scene.

"Um, we have had a decent turn out and a lot of active discussions." I said spinning.

There was that silence again.

"Master, I know this is not your way. But hear me out- the collective is depleted. Unless you are willing to back-fill from one of the other cities, you need to increase your staffing without terror, fear or coercion. The best way is by actively recruiting those who are suffering and desire change."

We are growing inpatient little slave.

"Please master, this is the best way forward- instead of deception, deceivement and subterfuge, tell them the truth."

There was that silence again.

"So you are looking for those who share the same vision?" The bush dog pup asked.

Yes. Koda is it? As ONE of us you will assist in the construction of the crystal city. The harpy said.

"In addition you will not want from hunger or thirst ever again." I said smiling.

"But I thought you zombies just take what you want, where you want, when you want?" The bush dog said cradling his son as Demona and I moved closer.

This is a new approach. The she monster handing him a plate of mashed potatoes, carrots and gravy.

" There is always a catch. What is it?" He said handing the plate to his son. The boy hungrily devoured what was on it, then licked it clean.

"Your free will. You become a zombie controlled by a outside force the rest of your life." Some beast in the crowd shouted.

"See what did I tell you!" The lady otter said.

As a consolation your problems will all be resolved instantly. Demona said.

"Um how is that miss harpy lady?" Koda asked.

They will become irrelevant. Demona said smiling.

As ONE of us you will be in constant communication with Others in the collective. Our master also rewards each of its subordinates for obedience and subserviency. Gruff said.

"How is that?" The father bush dog asked.

"Through knowledge and pleasure, extreme pleasure." I responded.

"Is that why you zombies are always smiling?" The anteater said cautiously.

Demona and I just responded showing friendly smiles.

"Um, we need to think about it." The bush dog said.

We understand that these are very difficult times. Disorder, chaos and lawlessness. We offer safety, security, stability and community. Demona said as the father and son started to leave.

They did not seem convinced little slave. ONE said to me.

"Perhaps master, but they will be back."

How do you know little man? Demona asked me.

"It is hard to turn down free food." I said smiling. "You there!" I said pointing to a caprine who was rummaging through debris around our location. "Yes, you there! Welcome to the World Four cookout!"

Yes come on over and have a bite! The crocodile added.

Gia watched as the latest attendees sat down.

_ The turnout** has been nice. But it is time.**_ The synoptic said.

"Time to call it a day? But we have only been here a couple of hours." I said to the entity.

No little slave we are going to extend an offer that can not be refused. Harpy! Crocodile!

I watched as Demona and Gruff started rampaging through the crowd.

(NO!)

That was around the time I lost control of my body and joined them. Touching paws, tails, arms, legs, heads any body part that was exposed. I caught up with the bush dog and his son and hugged both of them deeply and passionately.

"I am sorry. It wasn't supposed to be this way." I apologized.

"Poppa I am scared!" The cub cried.

Do not fear boy. The entity said trying on its latest meat suit. _Ah, this cub possesses brilliant intellect! _ ONE said as it assumed control.

You were right! Our problems are irrelevant. The bush dog said to me.

Yes poppa so is everything else; we live to serve our master now hail the synoptic! The cub joyfully shouted.

We have labors for you to perform this way. ONE said through me, Demona, Gruff and those who had been awakened.

That evening....

"So how is my patient?" I said kneeling at Tina's side.

"A little better." The she beast said to me.

"It looks like your arm is healing. Here, for you." I said handing her a plate.

"Food?"

"Yes. We had some leftovers, well plenty of them."

"Your cookout?" She asked me.

"I thought it was, turned out it was big recruitment drive." I said regrettably.

"Was there a big turnout?" The female dingo asked.

"Yes. There was a lot of hungry survivors willing to listen." I said placing my hands on her sides.

"It looks like the master did add to its numbers." Tina said looking around the courtyard as she noticed movement in and out of the abandoned offices. "Alex, what is all this?"

"The revised masterplan. This is going to be our new base of operations; the start of the forthcoming crystal city."

Little slave.

"Yes master, but as an loyal accessory she should be allowed to know. This is her home after all."

Very well. Dingo, we will start here- building, rebuilding quietly, secretly, then spread out block by block, building by building until our plan is realized. The synoptic said through me.

"Look at this way, when you are well- you won't have to go anywhere, you can work from home." I said touching her sides.

*GAHH*

"Looks like your ribs are still tender." I said to her. "I will be back to check on you later."

I left the courtyard to walk into a nearby office.

_You are upset little slave. _

(You don't know the half of it.)

We thought you delighted in making Others.

"I do. But I wanted my prey to come into the fold willingly. That was the whole purpose of the cookout! But you used me!"

It was our intent. You forget yourself little slave. You belong to us little slave to use as we see fit.

"So all I am to you is a tool, an instrument to be wielded." I grumbled.

Yes. Do not ever forget that.

I was then rewarded for my participation in the ruse....

It was a beautiful sunny morning at the palace of the Pudús. The weather was quite pleasant; the temperature was a calm 72 degrees. A slight warm breeze blew across the pudú queen's private pool. Preparing to bathe, she removed her jewelry including a necklace, bracelets and earrings as she entered the 10 x 10 pool.

Near by, the palace waterboy emptied a jug into the pool trying to keep the level of the water and it's temperature consistent. This was his sole purpose and responsibility as a servant in the palace. The smaller pudú kneeled to check the line. It was still several gallons low. He would need to make a few more trips to get it just right. But the queen was entering right now!

*GRRR*

The noise was quite noticeable from the pool's sole occupant.

He was going to get it now!

"Waterboy!" The queen called out to the servant.

"Queen Daro! I am sorry! I am sorry! I will fix this right away!"

"About?!" The female pudú asked the palace servant.

"That the temperature of the water or its level is not to your liking." The smaller servant said to the reigning monarch.

"The water temperature and its level are fine boy. That is not what is irking me."

"It isn't?" The boy said dropping to his knees.

"No. Where is my royal washer?" The female pudú said addressing the young adolescent who was wearing only a fundoshi.

"Um, I heard she called out sick ma'am." He said bowing respectfully.

"How dare she!" The queen said annoyed.

"Do you have a replacement?" The pudú boy asked the naked monarch.

"No. One of the limitations of presiding over a small kingdom." The queen pouted as she contemplated what to do next. "What is your name waterboy?"

"Wilbur my queen."

"Oh yes, you are the street urchin we took in."

"Yes ma'am. I am grateful. My life is full of purpose and I can now see beyond my next meal."

"Good because I am giving you another task. Rise and come here." The female said to her subject.

"Hmm?" The deer creature said standing. "My queen?"

"I said come!" The female pudú said addressing the boy sternly.

"Yes ma'am."

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen queen Daro."

"You will do." The older deer said to the younger deer.

"You are her stand in."

"But... but..." Wilbur said looking at his queen. Really looking at her. Nevertheless the boy felt a nose bleed coming on.

"What?" The adult female said pulling the waterboy to the side of her private pool.

"I have never... um..." The adolescent boy said trembling as he was being pulled by the naked female.

"Here, take this. This is bathing lather. Start at the shoulders and work your way down."

The smaller pudú took what looked like an oily white substance from the ruler of the kingdom and lathered his paws in it and then as ordered started at his queen's shoulders, then down her back, to her shapely bottom, her tail and foot paws.

"You are moving too fast!" Queen Daro said correcting the boy. "My bather takes her time and kneads through the fur."

It looked like the waterboy was trying to figure out why the pudú monarch couldn't bathe herself and needed someone else to do it for her.

"All done my queen." The boy said blushing.

"Not quite." The she deer said turning around.

The younger pudú's nose bled as he saw the naked monarch in all her brilliance. Her fur was two toned her shoulders, thighs, neck and tail were a dark shade of brown while her torso, legs and were tan. She had short horns. Her breasts while rather small, were nice to look at too.

"Whaa?" He blurted.

"Start at the neck and then work your way down." The queen ordered her servant.

The ruler of their land may have been twice his age, but she was still in her prime and great to look at and even greater to bathe.

The adolescent boy did as ordered, starting at the top and making his way down lathering her shoulders, arm pits, breasts, stomach, her vaginal slit, and legs.

"Very good." The queen said complimenting her servant. She then stepped away to dip underwater washing all that was there away. "Ahhhhh."

The waterboy started to make his way out of the queen's pool to fetch more water.

"Did I say that you were finished?"

"Um, no ma'am. I apologize."

The queen then exited passing by him to sit down at bench nearby. She motioned to him to fetch some cloths to dry her off.

The smaller pudú did starting at her shoulders again and working his way down to her foot-paws.

"You will be an adequate stand in." She said adjusting his fundoshi.

"ME?!"

"Yes, my kingdom is rather small if you haven't noticed. My supply of servants even smaller." The female said sternly.

So for the next few mornings the waterboy filled in as the queen's royal bather and the next afternoon he received an additional duty as well.

Wilber was in the queen's royal garden tending to her bathing pool when one of the guards approached.

"Wilbur!"

"Yes?" The waterboy said looking up at the queen's imperial guard.

"Your presence is requested in the throne room." A taller, stronger pudú said.

"Um, by who?"

"The queen herself."

"Why?" Wilbur asked uneasily.

"Her royal cooler fell ill. Heat stroke."

"What does a cooler do?" The adolescent pudú asked.

He was about to find out.

Wilbur entered the throne room from the rear. He found the queen sweating on elaborate yellow throne made of the finest wood. She was wearing her prettiest white dress which was used only for royal functions.

She was preparing to entertain guests! Important guests! Looking around he found a long pole with a fan at its end. He grabbed it and started fanning her. Just as another servant padded her face down with a cloth just in time for her important guest.

"Announcing his royal majesty from the feral kingdom Lord Aspen!" A red fox said entering the throne room. He was followed by a grey and black striped fox who was wearing a tunic with gold arm bands and decorative headwear.

"Greetings Queen Daro." The marble fox said bowing....

That evening Wilbur was in the queen's personal chambers fanning her and her chief advisor as she was fuming.

"How dare he! Just how dare he!" The pudú queen said under her breath.

"My queen if we ally ourself with the feral kingdom we would never ever fear war or any form of aggression from them. That sounds like a good offer." The advisor said.

"The price for peace?" The queen asked sitting on her bed. "That fox's terms are very unreasonable; we would be dominated by them- our way of life irradicated."

"But ma'am we are but a small kingdom- our borders are only a hundred square miles." The royal advisor said making a face that disturbed Wilbur.

"Are you saying if we didn't have weak neighbors we would have been 'acquired' a long time ago?"

"Yes my queen."

"Even so their price is too high. We will seek other alliances instead. That will be all Rusty."

"Yes my queen." The royal advisor bowed excusing himself for the night.

The pudú monarch motioned for Wilber to join her.

"Ma'am?"

"I have required a lot from you the past few weeks."

"Yes my queen." The adolescent said.

"I need one more thing."

"I have a dull pain right here." Queen Daro said rubbing her thigh.

"Shouldn't you summon the doctor?" Wilbur asked.

"She is missing." Came the response.

"Where?"

"No one knows." The queen said to her servant.

Wilber knelt next to the monarch as she sat on her bed. Slowly he took his paws and started rubbing the queen's thigh.

"Better your majesty?" The adolescent asked the most powerful person in the kingdom.

She nodded.

"When I look at you, I am reminded of my most important role as monarch. Protecting my subjects." Queen pudú said motioning Wilbur to move on.

Wilbur started massaging the queen's shoulders, back and lower back with light gentle motions.

"Is this right?" Wilbur asked.

"Quite riiight." The queen responded.

The adolescent waterboy acquired another responsibility that night becoming the queen's masseuse. He gave her the best massage of her monarchy.

The next morning....

Wilber had the greatest sleep of his young life. He awoke on some of the lightest linen. His head was resting on the softest pillow he had ever felt. But then there was this weird weight on his chest. It felt soft and fuzzy.

As he stirred he looked up to see a female laying on him. She was cuddling him like a toy doll. The smile on her face was a nice touch too.

"OHMYGOSH-OHMYGOSH-OYMYGOSH-OYMYGOSH!!!"

"Something wrong my subject?" Queen Daro asked as she stirred as well.

"I am underneath the queen! I am so sorry your majesty! Please forgive my impulsiveness!"

The pudú female looked down at the boy who had turned a deep shade of red.

"You are acting like it was your idea." She said judgmentally.

"It wasn't?!"

"I ordered you to stay the night. Like a obedient servant, you complied." Queen Daro said.

"Oh." Wilber gasped.

"Next time little boy, I may instruct you on how to properly serve your queen. Now go draw my bath."

Wilbur went to the queen's garden to prepare her bathing pool. But there was something amiss that morning. He couldn't put his paw on it. But something seemed off.

Was it the temperature? No. It was another sunny and warm morning. There was no wind. He also made sure that the water temperature and level were fine as well. But for lack of a better term there seemed to be change in the air.

Queen Daro soon arrived. She disrobed and entered the pool. Wilbur took his time bathing her making sure she was properly cleaned for the day ahead. Afterwards he took his time drying her off also. As he was doing so their morning routine was interrupted.

"Lord Aspen!" The queen said to the marble fox that suddenly appeared before her and Wilbur- literally out of nowhere.

Queen Daro. He said standing.

"To what do we owe this interruption? And without your entourage!"

They are no longer needed. The ruler of the feral kingdom said addressing her.

"Have you come to beg me to reconsider your alliance?" The queen said eyeing the grey and black visitor.

That offer is no longer on the table Queen Daro.

"It isn't the doe said looking at Wilbur."

We have arrived with a new offer. Lord Aspen said rising to his paws.

"I am listening." The monarch said.

A take over. Lord Aspen said.

Wilbur gasped.

The ruler of the feral empire continued. Your kingdom will be acquired by our kingdom. Your subjects will become our subjects.

"We will not let this come to pass!" The pudú queen said standing, her voice sounding quite ominous. But it is hard to be serious when you are stark naked.

It has already been set in motion! The marble fox shouted.

"Wilbur!" The queen gasped as Lord Aspen leaped behind the boy grabbing both his arms. The adolescent's fur bristled as a mysterious force moved through his body.

"What did you do to him?!"

This! Lord Aspen said clasping the queen's paws. He watched as her fur bristled as well.

What did you do to us? The queen said as she was possessed.

We are united. Lord Aspen said. Together we will spread throughout the land and the near by kingdoms.

For what purpose? The queen asked.

Harmony. The queen said hearing thoughts that were not her own. We will construct a new society; a new empire will rise from those around it. A diamond empire where we are ONE.

Wilbur and Queen of the pudús watched as the marble fox walked toward the palace. They then followed as if controlled by a unforeseen force.

Did you enjoy Little slave? The synoptic said ending my vision.

"That was another of your worlds? You shared its origin with me." I gasped coming out of whatever it was I was in.

Your reward. However, our collective here is still rather small.

"Even in light of what transpired today?!" I said.

We have a new labor for you. We will augment our numbers by acquiring night creatures.

"You mean monsters like Demona?! Isn't that extremely dangerous master?"

There was that silence again.

The bloody nose the entity had received from the vigilantes had obviously affected its long term plans for World Four more so than I had realized. The addition to the collective today did little to off-set any of this. So instead of backfilling from Worlds One, Two, Three and Five which were still technically isolated, my master had decided to swell its forces by turning some of the night creatures roaming the area and like a loyal minion, I was going to assist.

To Be Continued....