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Counter Earth Chronicles - Fallen Empire

Chapter 57: My Place In This World Part I

Evening: (six hours after ONE ruined the World Four Cookout.)

"We are going hunting?! But, but master!"

No YOU are going hunting. The entity said reading my mind.

(This is not a good idea.)

"What about us? You know merged being? Together?" I said stammering.

We have matters to attend to elsewhere, many elsewheres.

It became apparent there was a limit to how many minions the entity could control at a time. It sounded like it was reaching the apex. I tried to persuade my master otherwise.

"But so do I. My patients you know- Demona?"

What about her little slave?

"I am taking care of her while she recovers from her injuries."

We have in-anitmated the harpy until she is needed again.

(Strike one.)

"And then there is Tina I am monitoring her recovery master."

The dingo female is irrelevant; she is not of the collective.

(Strike two.)

"There is also her little sister Gia whom I am looking out for as well."

Also irrelevant. The synoptic said taking control of my body forcibly.

(Strike three.)

I found myself leaving the office I was in and my patients as I was unwillingly forced into performing my master's bidding.

(This was an unbelievably bad idea.)

"Master, there must be some other task I would be suited for than monster hunting. Renovating this building for instance."

No.

"What about sifting through the rubble of the Seven/Seven Club? I mean there could be more survivors."

_That task has been accomplished. _

"Ok. What about burying the corpses of the fallen?"

We have others for that task.

"There must be someONE better suited for this than me!"

At this time there is not. My master said coldly as we made our way through the courtyard into another office.

Inside work was progressing. I observed a lizard and kangaroo sweeping up debris from a wall that had been demolished. Behind them was a panther and otter constructing what looked like a counter. It looked like the synoptic was turning this section of the building into the Seven/Seven Club's replacement. A kitchen was being constructed in the room behind that. In the room behind that a restaurant. Next to that a dance floor was being built. Two rooms over from that a gym complete with wrestling ring. Tina's home was indeed going to be the crystal city's origin here in World Four.

The master made me walk through office after office that was under some form of renovation until we arrived at a room with a three tiered stage. On it were the only two minions ONE could spare for this labor.

Here we are.

"The pangolin and anteater?! Why not something powerful and formidable like an orc, ogre, bear, gorilla, bull, dragon?" I said exasperated.

Those here are not suited for any other task. The synoptic said reanimating those who would be my hunting companions.

(I think what ONE was saying that they were useless and expendable. But instead of rejecting them, the master sent them on a suicide mission.)

Alive again! The pangolin said coming to life.

Yes understood master. The anteater said stretching. We will not come back empty pawed.

Yes, thank you for re-animating us. The pangolin said.

(These two were at the cookout they were some weird characters before and now after their transformation they have become even weirder characters. But judging from their reactions they were taking to their forced captivity quite well.)

No sooner had I thought that, I noticed the stares from my companions. There are times when being mind-linked sucks.

You are Alexander Winter. The pangolin said to me.

In correct he is Alex Winter. The anteater said correcting the pangolin.

"So are you saying that you know where my doppelgänger is?" I asked.

There is no need to communicate verbally we are all connected. The pangolin said.

"Well about that...." I started to say.

We see it has been three months since your awakening and you have not mastered the link yet? The anteater said piling on.

Well we have and it only has been hours since our entrance into the fold. The pangolin said.

"Well no, sorry. Wait three months?!" I said to them.

I followed the pangolin who identified himself as Pang and the black and white anteater who referred to himself as Double out of our headquarters- without weapons of any kind.

(This was not a good idea either.)

Magnificent? Pang said.

"Well if it wasn't toppled over on its side maybe." I responded staring at the plus shaped former office building.

Yes in plain site but also hidden. We will expand out from this building street by street, block by block until the entire city is ours. Double added.

"How long is that going to take?" I asked.

I received blank stares from my companions.

(Right, like a female in labor- it takes as long as it takes.)

Slowly and carefully Pang, Double and I made our way through the ruins of the city mindful of the debris, ruin and what else was around us. The constant aftershocks didn't assure me either. To be blunt, I didn't want to go on this mission; to perform this labor, it was extremely dangerous and dumb. My experiences at Capital Stadium proved that and that was with the prototype. Besides, I had patients I wanted to check up on, to take care of. In a way- Demona, Tina and Gia had become part of my pod even if the last two weren't Others.

Ah, the life of a minion. You go where you are told to go and you aren't allowed to come back until the master is pleased or else. But at least I had control of my body this time. So did Pang and Double.

After about 40 minutes of walking we reached the southern boundary of the city and entered the countryside.

This is a good place. Pang said.

"A farmer's field?" I asked looking around.

Yes, night creatures travel through here a lot. Double added.

"And how do we know that?"

Pang and Double made me look at the ground- there were numerous tracks many leading to a multi trunk tree in the distance. The two had also observed night creatures in this very field when they were normals.

We will wait there. Pang said.

Yes. Wait. The anteater echoed.

I started to realize why he was called Double.

The tree in the distance was a ugly looking birch that looked like it was shedding its bark while its leaves were starting to bud. Its V shaped trunks were barely large enough for the three of us to hide behind.

"Say fellas."

Yes Alex Winter. The two said in unison.

"This mission is of great importance to the master right?"

They nodded.

"If that is so why did ONE assign it to us?" I asked.

We are the least likely of the likely. Pang said.

Yes the least likely. Double echoed.

"We aren't contributing to the construction of the crystal city directly so if we perish no big deal. Nice." I added.

Hmm.... no activity. Pang said scanning the barren field while Double listened.

Perhaps we need to encourage activity? Double added peeking out from behind the tree.

That didn't sound good.

*grab*

"Hey, what are you two doing?!" I whisper-shouted as I was unceremoniously picked up by my companions.

Trying not to disappoint the master. Pang said.

Yes. Disappoint. Double added.

My companions, I use that term loosely, tied me to the tree tree with their scarves.

Yes this will do. Pang said.

Yes it will. Double added.

"Great! You are using me as bait." I Huffed.

You are wondering why Alex Winter? The anteater said reading my mind.

Can you track? Pang asked.

"Um no." I replied.

Can you hunt? Double added.

"No."

Can you corner, trap or confront? Pang questioned.

"Ah no and no." I admitted.

Then you will be the bait. Pang concluded.

Yes, the bait. The anteater echoed.

I doubted either could they, but I was too preoccupied with the danger they had put me in. This reminded me of the night Corbin, Corey and myself were being punished by the Intendant and his thugs and nearly died. Could the same thing happen again? Naw. The fields south of the city didn't seem as active as the forests where the Grand Kingdom once stood. How many horrid things could there be roaming around out here?

I was wrong. It wasn't more than ten minutes before we got a nibble a very, very, very large spider crawled by. Its body was about the size of a hover vehicle. It had eight creepy legs and a big abdomen.

"My, my and what do we have here?" A female voice said.

I heard it, but could not see it.

"Up here handsome."

I looked up and I realized that I was looking at a creature that must have been generated in a lab! Where the head should have been was the torso of a humanoid female- like a centaur but instead of a horse's body the rest of it was that of a spider- a very large spider.

"We were thinking the same thing." I said.

"I asked you first."

"I am being punished by my clan." I said fabricating a cover story.

"No you are not." She said.

"And how would you know that?" I shot back.

"Your binds are of very poor quality it is amazing they work at all and your acting is rather weak."

(Who is acting?!)

"And there is a pangolin and...." She said cocking her head. "And a anteater hiding behind you. Obviously you are hunting."

"Are you hunting too?" I asked nervously.

"I am." The she monster said licking my forehead.

(Eww!!!)

Just a little closer Alex!! Pang whisper-shouted.

_Yes closer!! _ Double echoed.

"But I don't have the palate for human or beastial tonight." She said as she started off.

Aw she got away!! The pangolin and anteater said in unison.

But the female monster-creature turned around and walked back to my position.

*thwip* *thwip*

"What was that for?" I shouted as I was tied to the tree with spider webbing.

"You need to be a little more convincing. Now you can say you were encased by a large night creature who is going to come back to... to.... muhahahaha!!! If I don't catch anything perhaps I might be back." She said starting off again.

_She is a weird one. _ The pangolin whispered.

Yes weird. The anteater echoed.

"Pang, Double I am stuck!" I said to my companions.

We are too. The ant eater said thrashing about.

But on a side note, the trap is now really convincing. Pang said.

The she monster must have included a few more *thwip* *thwips* when I wasn't looking. Because we were all attached to the tree. Me on one of the trunks in the front and those two on two separate trunks in the back.

But don't worry we will be victorious. Double exclaimed.

(How are we going to do that? We are in a more precarious position than before.)

Because we are superior to that which we are hunting Alex Winter. Pang said.

Perhaps so, but at this exact moment not really. It wasn't long after the spider creature left that a small pack of night creatures appeared on her trail.

(Wow.)

Exquisite! The pangolin commented.

"Pang please! Not so loud!!" I whimpered

Yes such a magnificent amalgamation of creatures! Double echoed.

"Yeah, the body and tail of a wolf, the mane of a lion and bovine horns. Why would anybody construct a creature like that?" I asked my companions.

Irrelevant Alex Winter. This was the very creature our master wanted is it not? Pang asked.

Yes we believe it is. Double echoed.

The creatures seemed to be hunting. I noticed there were three in all- various colors. Two more than the one Raier, Fel and I had seen in the forests of World Five.

"Did you hear anything?" The lead creature who was grey in color asked its companions.

They are capable of speech as well! Pang exclaimed.

They are intelligent! Double said.

"Well there goes the element of surprise." I said as they turned this way.

(Uh oh.)

"You there! What are you doing in our territory?" A white and blue whatever-it-was who was next to the grey one asked."

"I um, a... I am tied to a tree." I stuttered.

The three looked at each other.

"For what purpose?" A black creature who was on the opposite side of the grey leader said.

"Punishment." I responded.

"For what?" It asked.

Yes that right Alex keep them *ugh* occupied. Pang whispered.

Yes occupied. Double echoed.

(Cover story, Alex cover story!)

"I disobeyed the sacred rules of my clan. I am to be sacrificed to the horrible things out here for my transgressions." I said lowering my head in shame.

"Did he just insult us?" The grey creature asked its companions.

"Yes, it did." The black creature said. "And there are two more behind him."

"Tree what tree?" The white and blue creature asked.

"That was not very smart of you! Or your companions either." The grey leader creature scolded.

It would have been more stupid to say we thought we would be attacked by something that actually scared us. Pang said to the grey leader.

Yes scared us. Double echoed.

(Guys what are you doing?!)

Relax Alex. We just have to convince them to attack us and then touchie touchie and maximum reward from the master! Pang said rather over confidently.

"Listen a person in your precarious condition should not test their luck!" The black quadrupedal wolf/lion/steer thingie said to me.

But it is our luck and we will test it if we want! Double said.

That was when three started moving in.

They are coming! Get ready! Get ready! Pang said as each of them selected a target.

"I can't. I am stuck to a tree! Remember?!" I shouted.

"We were thinking about letting your insults pass...." The grey leader said.

"But he said he was to be a sacrifice." The black creature added.

"Perhaps we should oblige him?" The blue and white one asked.

ATTAAAACK!!!!! Pang shouted as he and Double tried to free themselves from the spider's webbing. Somehow they did.

The three wolf/lion/steer creatures looked at the pangolin and anteater running toward them nodded at each other and agreed with Pang's suggestion.

The monsters horns glowed white illuminating the field we were in.

Hail the synoptic!!!

Yes hail the synoptic!!

!!!

I watched as Pang and Double foolishly raced toward the night creatures in an attempt to awaken them.

This was not going to end well. Why? Because the creatures were standing their ground, they seemed to be unafraid and oh yeah their horns were glowing.

"Pang!! Double!! No!!" I shouted.

Not a fraction of a second later bolts of lightning discharged from their horns striking the three of us. The pangolin, anteater and myself were electrocuted. We could hear the three wolf/lion/steer creatures laughing at us. Before abruptly stopping and running off.

_*Groan* _

Why did they leave? Pang asked as he laid on the ground.

They were being hunted also. Double moaned.

_By what? _ I heard the pangolin ask.

_That. _

Oh my!

I was pretty much out of it. But I felt an intense heat and heard Pang and Double scream something so loud and so disturbing I thought it had to be a dream.

_No! _ Pang moaned.

There was also some loud snickering in the field that night, really demonic sounding. It must have been from the thing that was hunting that pack of creatures. The next thing I knew the tree I was stuck to started shaking violently as if it were running for its life.

They were right it wasn't a tree! I head Pang groan.

The next thing I remember I was on my back looking up at Gia, Tina and Demona who were looking down at me.

"How did I get back here?"

_The master sent me to fetch what was left of your hunting party. _ The she monster said quietly.

*UGH*

"What was left?!" I asked the two dingos.

Gia pointed to one of the rooms just beyond the courtyard.

"Alex..." Tina started to say as I got up to walk into the office. "It is pretty bad."

I heard what she had said. But had to see for myself. There I found Double's remains. The anteater had burnt alive.

"What did this?!"

It was some type of fire creature. Pang said sitting on the floor nearby. It was hunting the pack we were teasing.

"And we got caught in the middle of all that. I also heard you say something about the tree I was stuck to." I said to the pangolin who was missing many scales from his body.

Yes it wasn't a tree.

"Pang how do you know that?!"

When it saw the fire creature attack Double it started running.

My eyes went wide with what the pangolin had admitted.

"Fire creature?!" I gasped.

_I don't get it. I thought we would prevail? We were superior! _

(Superiorly stupid.)

Little slave. ONE said through me and Pang.

"Yes master you want my analysis? Well Pang here is missing numerous scales, has severe burns to 40% of his body and Double, well he is dead. I think he sustained burns to 100% of his.

_Explain slave. _ The entity asked as my ire was raised.

"Oh why this happened? I think I can- WE WERE ILL-EQUIPPED TO DO YOU BIDDING MASTER!!! I THINK YOU KNOW WHY!"

I received a zap for my outburst. But it felt like a tickle compared to what the wolf/lion/steer creatures did to me and my fellow hunters.

SILENCE!

"NO YOU BE SILENT!" I shouted back much to Pang's surprise. "YOU DON'T BRING A TOOTHPICK TO A SWORD FIGHT! THAT IS WHAT YOU DID!! YOU WANTED TO SWELL THE RANKS TO REPLACE THE FALLEN FINE!!- THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE SENT FEL, RAIER, PIXIE OR DIXIE!! ACTUAL WARRIORS NOT A NEWLY AWAKENED PANGOLIN OR ANTEATER OR A MEDIC!!! WHAT DID YOU THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN?!"

_Forgive Alex master he is a little upset. _ Pang said apologetically.

"More than upset, beyond upset. This is on you master and you alone." I hissed.

(I did it now.)

IRRELEVANT!!! SLAVE YOU WERE IN CHARGE AND FAILED!! The synoptic said through me and the pangolin.

But master we tried. Pang pleaded.

"Save your breath Pang." I said to him. "We had no chance of succeeding. ONE doesn't care about details only results."

*ZAP*

"AUGHH!!!!!"

And we were punished. It felt like the synoptic set every cell in our bodies on fire. It let the pangolin and myself writhe in agony no unbelievable pleasure this night.

Half of the office complex must have heard us screaming... loudly. Pang, Double and myself through our miserable defeat had failed the master and the entity rewarded us for our crushing failure and let all within earshot know about it.

To Be Continued....