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Counter Earth Chronicles - Fallen Empire

Chapter 59: While I Breathe I Hope (My Place In This World Part III)

Day N/A (still in the between)

You appear mostly well Alex Winter. The sexy lioness said to me.

She hadn't changed much her time as an Other which meant the synoptic had taken great care of her.

"Lea!" I said trying to hug her. But she did not have a physical form; she and Demona appeared as only a black and white outline within the confines of my mind. Essentially what amounted to a chalk drawing.

Mostly? The harpy joked. She must mean _for being electrocuted and punished. _

We have often wondered and hoped that you survived the fall. The lioness said.

"It hasn't been easy believe me." I said to her.

We were elated when you were acquired by the master. My former healer said to me.

"It wasn't by choice, more like coercion Lea." I responded.

_ We know, nevertheless** you are here. _ We have tried reaching out to you many times but have been unsuccessful until now.**

He has not been able to master our form of interpersonal communication. The harpy said to the lioness.

"I can't receive or send for some reason." I said.

You were only able to communicate with her help. Thank you Demona. Lea said.

I noticed in my conversation with my dear friend that it was sort of Lea and sort of not. I mean it was her voice- but her personality was different. The flakey ditziness that masked the medical genius was gone replaced by cold analytical logic. The end result of being a merged being? I wondered if my personality had changed after ONE possessed me?

"So are you dating anybody gorgeous?" I said trying to flatter her.

No. Unfortunately our labors don't lend much time for romantic interludes.

"It is probably too soon anyway." I quipped.

Too soon? The lioness asked.

"Since Lian's passing. Remember he died during the cataclysm."

Yes. We found, unburied and then buried him. The lioness responded.

We see, a building collapsed on him. Demona said reading my mind.

"It must have been very difficult for you Lea." I said sympathetically.

Yes Alex Winter. But it was necessary for the realization of the master's grand plan.

(WHAT?!)

Demona observed my strong reaction.

Lian was a bit of a doofus but he adored Lea and she him. I couldn't believe that she had written him off just like he was some sort of inconvenience. I decided to change the subject.

"Lea, Tauren and Lurie- how are they?"

Thriving. They miss you. Tauren has transitioned from castle holding center guard into a protector; he watches over the builders.

"You mean those who are constructing the crystal city?"

Yes and Lurie is a builder one of many.

"I miss all of you too." I responded. "Has anyone heard from Sorren?"

Unfortunately he is not ONE of us nor have we found his remains. We hope that he has survived. But it has been many months since the empire fell. The she beast said to me.

"I hope that he is still out there somewhere."

It has been a long and difficult winter. Lea said. Those who were not prepared have most likely perished. Lady Ursa how is she?

I looked at the lioness as she said that.

We have seen her scavenging in the months after the fall. Lea said.

"Thriving until the day of my awakening. She tried to rescue me but it was too late." I responded. "With her condition she has probably wasted away and incapacitated a this point."

Didn't you say she was a former girlfriend little man? Demona asked. I sensed a tinge of curiosity in her voice.

"At this point she is Demona."

She is quite large. The harpy said reading my thoughts. It is difficult to believe something so formidable could suffer from such a condition. But wait, there is something else here... another lioness.

"So hey Lea where are you now?" I said quickly blanking my mind so there was nothing else for Demona to see.

The lioness told me that she, Tauren and Lurie were stationed in World One and were part of the master's effort to construct its crystal city there. It was slow going because most of the city had been destroyed by fire the day of the fall. But unlike World Four there was no resistance movement hindering their efforts- just bodies to be found and buried- everywhere.

"I wouldn't mind coming to see you Tauren and Lurie."

Unfortunately we don't tell ONE where we want to go, it tells us little man. The harpy said correcting me.

She speaks the truth Alex. You are only allowed if the master sees a purpose in it.

(You mean its purpose. Damn.)

"Lea what are your responsibilities in the new order?"

The same Alex Winter; we are the designated healer taking care of those injured while pursuing the master's grand vision and you? The sexy she beast said to me.

"To be blunt, I am not sure. ONE has had me serve in a variety of positions, as laborer, scout, investigator, medic and hunter. It discovered that I was not so proficient in the last position and I was punished because of it."

We know. Do not despair you will find your place as you become accustomed to this life. At the very least you have some friendly friends looking out for you. The lioness said staring at the harpy. Who looked away.

"So you have gotten used to all this?"

Exactly; It is much better than what came before. Than what we were before.

(No way...)

"You are saying that you, Tauren and Lurie are happier with your lives now?!"

Watch your words little man, you sound like you are resentful. Demona whispered to me.

Yes. Lea said to me.

"Why?"

We are part of something much, much bigger than just an empire, than just ourselves. It is something that will bring unity and harmony to the planet. Lea said.

You are exactly right lioness we are world building. The harpy added.

We are glad we are serving as ONE, working as ONE. Hail the synoptic! The two females said in unison.

What Lea said shocked me. When Demona piled on I was even more surprised. From what I had heard, she, Tauren and Lurie were glad they became Others, their lives were better than before and they were loving it. I wanted to talk to her in depth further, to find out exactly why she felt the way she did. But not in front of Demona who was 'connecting the call'. Eventually the conversation would drift into exactly how I survived the apocalypse which would lead to them finding out about Barq, Rhinox, Corbin, Corey, Rumble and the Lost City which I thought the synoptic would have found about already since it shares my mind. Regardless I had to protect my former family at all costs.

Little man. Our downtime is ending. The harpy warned as she felt herself being 'powered' on.

It looked like the entity was removing its toys from the storage bin again. Although I released myself from my box-cage a while ago. I didn't let Demona know that.

Alex what is Kool-aid and why do you think we are drinking it? The sexy she beast asked.

"Um, Lea, it looks like we are needed. I hope we can talk again soon. Give Tauren and Lurie my love."

We will Alex. Do your best to please our master in all your tasks and labors it is good for us all and the ONE.

The lioness' closing statements were down right creepy.

As I was re-animated, I looked up to find that Tina had indeed placed me in her sleeping bundle and I was in fact sharing her 'bed'.

(By sharing I meant that I was under her- wow.)

"And how is my patient this morning?" The dingo waitress asked.

"Groggy. But this does feel nice." I responded as she nuzzled my face.

"Well, it looks like you recovered from your failed labor... and punishment." The she beast said sitting on my groin. She then examined my arms, legs and abdomen.

"You were looking after me Tina?"

"Only returning the favor." She smiled.

"I suspect an ulterior motive; you were also trying to make sure the entity still rejected you as well."

"Maybe." She said cryptically.

"Being one with ONE isn't what you think it is Tina." I warned.

"Yeah you speak in the third person all the time- 'I' becomes 'we' and your voice changes when the master speaks through you. But the positives outweigh the minuses."

"Wait, I don't speak in the third person do I?" I asked.

"Yes you do." She said smiling at me.

"What did I just say to you right now?" I asked her.

"What did we say to you right now?" She responded mimicking me. "Before that you said wait we don't speak in the third person do we?"

The entity had changed me. My thoughts and speech patterns sounded normal in my head but in reality, I sounded just like the rest of its meat puppets. Damn.

I gathered some time had passed; Tina's ribs had healed- otherwise she wouldn't have been lying on top of me. Her arm was mending nicely as well. Now if I could just find technology from the empire, that injury would have been healed the day it happened.

"Um how long have I been offline?"

"See you just did it now. You said we." She teased me.

I cut my eyes at the she dingo.

"It has been about three weeks." She said to me.

(Three weeks?!)

"You and Gia?"

"We have been managing for ourselves." She said pointing to the courtyard. "We have started a garden and are growing what we need."

"What about meat?" I asked the female beastial.

"We fish from the ponds and streams." Tina said. "Winter is gone and the weather has improved."

Little slave.

"Yes master?" I said hesitantly.

We have re-animated you for a reason. We are giving you an opportunity to redeem yourself.

"Yes master." I said meekly.

I rolled Tina over to her back and hugged her for looking after me. I then got up from her sleeping bundle.

"What is going on?" She asked me.

"I am needed to perform another task."

"So you are leaving?" The she beast asked me.

I nodded. "I just hope this time I have what I need to complete it to the master's satisfaction."

I got up and walked from the courtyard to a nearby office.

"Master what is this labor?"

Scouting.

"Where?"

World Three.

"Reason?"

Are you questioning our orders little slave?

"Um, no not at all master. It is just that I would like to be prepared as much as possible."

I sensed that ONE was not being entirely forthcoming with me and I didn't like it. The entity had me meet up with Demona who was watching Tina and me from one of the upper floors of the building.

Why do you insist on holding onto our leg? Demona said as we took to the sky.

"You mean instead of let you carry my by my shoulders?"

Yes little man.

"There is less of a chance of you getting distracted and dropping me."

You are more confident of your ability of holding on to us than us holding on to you?

I didn't respond and remained quiet for most of trip.

_Well you have been awfully quiet. _

"Hmm... yes lost in thought I guess." I said staring at the forest below, the trees had already started to bloom.

_By the way, while you were talking to Lea we saw some beast else in your thoughts besides the bear. _

"You did?"

Yes another lioness.

"Are you sure that wasn't Lea?"

No her eyes were red, she had a feral smile and bigger breasts than Lea. Much bigger. Who was that individual? The harpy said glancing down at me.

"Another girlfriend whom I left behind when I was awakened Demona."

It took us 90 minutes to reach what used to be World Three now a big lake of lava with seven volcanoes. We touched down about a half a mile from its edge.

"Don't get too close, there are things in there that wouldn't think twice about turning you into a hamburger." I warned.

Demona remained transfixed at the lake and the volcanoes in the distance.

You were here before with another, in a hover vehicle. The she monster said to me.

"Yeah. I was."

You were looking for survivors. She said reading my thoughts again.

"Maybe I will tell you about it some time. So what is this reconnaissance mission?" I said touching her arm.

The master said that we are to meet a contact here. They have some information, something we should see. The she creature said.

"There is nothing left of the city- but the lake provides a lovely view huh? Especially with the red sky." I heard a voice behind us say.

Demona and I turned around to see a three foot tall mole sharp claws long snout with a pink nose.

"Don't get close though there are creatures that inhabit the lake." He warned.

"Wow a mole. How literal." I blurted.

"I take it you are the Others I am to meet with." The mole said.

We are.

"You can call me Mr. Day. I would shake your hands but I have no desire to become ONE with you." The mole said stepping back to a comfortable distance.

"We have been told that you have some information for us?" I asked assuring the mole that we would not awaken him. He kept his distance regardless.

"Yes a possible rebellion like that which your master encountered in World Four." He said to us.

"You know about that?" I asked.

"I make it my business to know." He said.

Where is this rebellion? The she monster asked.

"Follow me."

We walked westward from the lake into the wilderness and continued to do so for several miles. The mole appeared to grow tired of all the walking.

We could carry you Mr. Day. The harpy said gently.

"Yes you could, then my fur would bristle, my body would be taken over, my free will lost and I would become living vessel for your master. No offense."

"None taken." I replied. "But I do have a question- why did the master have to enlist a mole?"

He paused for a moment and then said.

"Very well, but you did not hear this from me."

"Um we are." I said to Mr. Day.

The mole gave me a peculiar look as I said that.

"As I was saying the synoptic has had a tough time colonizing what is left out here with the seven volcanoes and the creatures inhabiting the lake even more so than World Four." My Day replied.

(So that is what ONE was hiding from me.)

"Well the city is overrun with ash and lava." I countered.

"Exactly- not too good to build or rebuild on. Besides most of the populace died when the volcanoes erupted."

They were suffocated by the smoke and ash or burned by the lava. The harpy concluded.

"What was left fled to where we are headed....." Mr. Day commented.

In a small field a grey female chakat and a preteen human boy emerged from a hole in the ground. The female was wearing saddle bags on her back and little else. The boy was wearing a tan jacket, brown pants and boots which looked like they hadn't been washed in months.

"But Song I am tired of eating nuts and berries!" The boy complained.

"I am sorry Kiwi. But that is all we could find. We were lucky we were able to survive on that."

"I am sorry I don't mean to complain. So what is this?" Kiwi said looking at the barren field.

"Our new garden."

"Say what?!"

"We are going to grow our own food from now on."

"Um kay."

"We will save what we grow and that will keep us from starving during the winter." Song said placing her paw on the boy's shoulder.

"That sounds like a lot of work."

"It is Kiwi but it is how we are going to make it through."

"I can't believe everything is gone! The city, my parents." The boy said wistfully. "Everyone I ever loved and cared about."

*cough*

"Present company excluded of course."

"I know Kiwi, I miss my family too. But look I will make you a promise- if you look after me, I will look after you."

"Deal. I also promise to help you reach those hard to wash areas when you bathe." The boy smiled.

"Oh you will, will you?" The chakat said looking at the boy sternly.

"Umm hmm." He replied.

"There is just a small problem- no running water." The chakat said handing the boy something which he eagerly planted into the ground. Song handed Kiwi something else and again he planted it into the ground.

"Yeah we are going have to find some water otherwise our crops won't grow."

"DON'T MOVE!" A black akita said approaching holding three knives.

"Who goes there?" Song said reaching into her saddle bag and pulling out a spade.

"Who is that?" Kiwi asked.

"A bandit." The chakat growled.

"Nope." The Akita said clasping his knives. "Mercenary and all around human hater. That subspecies is responsible for all that has happened."

"No Song that is Midnight Black a serial killer the knights were looking for." Kiwi said.

"I prefer human hunter- I have never killed a fellow beastial."

"You are here for Kiwi then? You can not have him!" Song said showing the dog her gardening tool.

"Not today, but something else is. Human if you want to keep living I would advise to keep perfectly still."

"What? Why?" The boy said looking around. "OH MY GOSH!!"

*HISS*

The akita charged and stabbed a large red and black snake that was slithering next to new garden and the boy.

"You need to be more careful especially now." The canid beastial said wiping the blood from his knife and clothing.

"You saved me?" Kiwi said surprised.

_"Only for later boy. Only for later boy." _

"Thank you." Song said to the akita. "Wait, you're injured."

"I made out better than that fire snake, it is only a slight burn. But you two best be wary about the unnatural creatures lurking about."

"Let me look at that." Song ordered him.

The akita showed her his arm.

"I don't think I have anything to treat that either."

"Song, Kiwi how are you?" A maned wolf said greeting them.

"Naka!" The boy shouted.

"Well as I live and breathe Midnight Black." The wolf replied.

"Knight." The akita said to the wolf. _"You here to take me in? Oh right Sir Wolf and the pack are long gone; as well as the city and you are all alone." _

"In a way we all are but I plan on doing something about it."

"Like what wolf?!" The mercenary said sheathing his knives.

"I am gathering up refugees, survivors- anyone I can find for a big meeting at my tent this afternoon two miles from here. My that is a nasty burn you might want to have that looked at."

_"Do you know anyplace?!" _

The former knight of Sevren took the akita to a lone large tree in the fields.

"How does that feel sir?"

"Beyond wonderful. Your paws are delicate yet divine like a blossom." A wombat replied as a caprine finished massaging his back. "The vaginal massage was even better."

"That is why I am called Lilly Blossom." The caprine said to her client. "Now there is just the matter of my fee."

"What is that?" The wombat asked looking up at her.

"Supplies and a week's worth of food."

"Lilly?" The maned wolf said knocking on the tree.

"Naka! I am with a customer!"

"Well I have patient, he has some burns from tangling with one of the creatures roaming around."

"What do we have here?" The caprine asked looking at the akita.

"Do you have anything that can treat his wounds?" Naka asked.

"I do for a price."

"Quite the business beast." The maned wolf said as he realized what had taken place before he and the akita had arrived.

"The service here is good but the prices... look out!" The wombat said putting on his clothes.

"That reminds me, I am having a meeting this afternoon at my tent. I would like the both of you to attend."

"What is it about?" The caprine asked.

"You will see. Spread the word." The former knight said leaving the tree.

This doesn't appear to be a resistance movement mole. Demona said as we observed the interactions of the boy, chakat, akita, wombat, caprine and maned wolf.

"More like a bunch of survivors trying to get by. But I am intrigued about that meeting. We should observe that too." I suggested.

About two miles from what was the city stood a large trapezoidal tent one side of it was opened so that whoever happened by could see those inside. A crowd was gathering in front. Beastials and some humans sat down on the grass to hear what its occupant had to say.

"Is this all?!" The maned wolf said to the survivors in attendance. "Your attention please! Your attention please! My fellow survivors I thank you for coming."

"Well it wasn't easy." A woman in the crowd responded.

"Yes, I know this was a thriving city of over 100,000 just six months ago and six months later I count just twenty here."

"The cataclysm was near complete knight." A female chakat in the crowd retorted.

_"Most of those who survived the destruction of the city perished in the aftermath." _ A little boy from the crowd said.

"And most of those who survived the aftermath perished in the long winter." A wombat added as the chakat comforted the boy.

"So what you see before you is what is left." A yellow and blue avian added.

"That is not much." Naka said.

"So what is this about knight?" A caprine in the crowd asked.

"The way forward from here. It is safe to say that the empire is gone and not coming back." The former knight said.

"What do you mean?" Came the question from another human in the crowd.

"I don't believe it! Rescue will be coming any day now." Another voice said.

"I don't think so, it has been six months! Don't you find it odd that there hasn't been any word from the other cities?" Naka said to the crowd. "Six months."

The maned wolf's comment garnered some discussion:

_"Well communications are down." _

"It seems to me that they should have been restored by now."

"Knight are you saying that Worlds One, Two, Four and Five are...."

"I have on good authority that they are and it is safe to assume that the populace in those cities suffered the same fate and if there are survivors, they are isolated like we are." Naka said to those who had assembled.

"So exactly what is this way forward?" Someone in the crowd shouted.

"Well there is literally nothing left, nothing." A pig said.

"Then we start over right here. We will have to pool our talents and look out for each other." Naka said.

"All of us?" The caprine said looking at the small crowd.

"What is the alternative Lilly Blossom? You return to selling your services and yourself to survive?" The maned wolf added. _"At least together we have a chance." _

"Who is going to be included in this? I see many here from all walks of life criminals, upstanding citizens and even some creatures I don't recognize." Song said nervously.

"It looks like the survivors here are organizing themselves into a community." I said looking at the crowd of twenty.

The meeting ran into the evening. "We need to go. It is not good to be outside at night." The mole said.

Why is that mole? The harpy asked.

"Because there are night creatures roaming about, you know monsters."

"There are. You are next to one right now." I commented.

Do not fear little mole we will protect you. We would like to observe a little while longer.

"You are fascinated by this?" I said to the she monster.

It is civilization trying desperately to reform from its destruction like Grand Kingdom. Demona whispered.

"Well, what else could they do accept their fate, roll over and die?" I said sarcastically.

Demona, the mole and I stayed until the meeting's conclusion watching the survivors as they bedded down for the night. Naka invited as many as he could into the tent. He then stationed volunteers to mind the perimeter to watch for enemies- anyone who would want to harm them.

There appears to be additional activity. The she monster commented.

"I am confident that this isn't a resistance movement. Wait. You still are planning to get closer aren't you?"

Very good little man. The harpy said You CAN read minds if you try.

"Right I will stay here Mr. Day said."

"What is the plan?" I asked the she monster.

Act like refugees and walk right in.

"You are going to turn them into Others?!" I asked following her.

Two for two little man. Our franchise in World Three is about to open.

The harpy's plan was to pass us off as two survivors in order to gain entry to Naka's tent. But we didn't get far.

"Who goes there?!" A female voice shouted.

We were blinded by a bright light that came out of no where.

"We are some wanderers looking for shelter." I said.

"We will see about that!" The female shouted.

"Big brother?!" A youthful voice said over a loud speaker.

*gasp*

(That voice it belongs to Corbin!!)

"Hello Alex, fancy meeting you here." A very tall and muscular badger said walking towards me and Demona holding a service weapon.

To Be Continued.....