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Counter Earth Chronicles: Dual Realities

*Chapter 3: It follows *

February 16th YOE 35

12:01 PM World One (Counter Earth)

It was the start of my third week of my reconditioning therapy. I actually call it my reprogramming therapy after my year long incarceration for 'irritating' the high master of all Counter Earth. Unlike the previous sessions, my overseer decided to switch things up...

"The High Evolutionary is the supreme being, the alpha and the omega, the high mucky, muck." I said from within the beastial scientist's punishment chair. Which I had grown accustomed to for some reason.

"LANGUAGE!" The evil ram said as he whipped me.

*WHAP* *WHAP* *WHAP*

"WAUGH!! I mean he is the alpha's alpha and the omega's omega; without him all this would not exist. I said looking down at the metallic floor within the lab.

"And Lady Ursa?" He said placing his paw underneath my chin forcing me to look up at him, the blue and yellow uniform he was wearing and that devious smile which looked truly wicked this afternoon.

"My master... err mistress. If not for her, I would not be where I am today."

"And me?" The bestial said crossing his arms and looking down on me rather sternly. He was waiting. Depending on my response I would either be complimented or corrected. Since I have been serving out my after sentence several times a week in his lab. It had been mostly corrections.

"Well boy?" He said growing inpatient.

"Um... my colleague?"

"INCORRECT!" He grumbled and then lashed out that whip, which I heard crack.

*WHAP*

"AUGH!!" I shouted as the tip of it hit my skin.

(I think I liked the paddle more.)

"In your mistress' absence I am your superior! My words are your commandments!"

"I see. So let me get this straight, if you tell me to kiss your furry butt..." I said dropping my gaze.

"You pucker up without question." He sneered "And even if I say something to the extreme... like... I order you to drink my urine..."

"I will go fetch a cup." I replied feeling belittled, defiled and dejected.

"Precisely in fact...." He said grinning demonically.

"Sir Ram!! Please!!! Don't!!!" I pleaded tearing up.

"You are making progress boy." The ram said as my session wound down.

"Does that mean we are reaching the end?"

"Only when you become COMPLETELY submissive and docile." Came the harsh reply.

"Like I am now?"

"Not quite- your spirit has yet to be broken my little beta male." He said ending my session.

*CALL FROM SCIENTIST PINA* *CALL FROM SCIENTIST PINA*

Sir Ram's communicator chimed.

"How many times have I told him not to bother me when I am working?!"

"I thought we were finished for today...." I said smiling to the annoyed ram. "Um... master."

The evil beastial made sure to lower my head and hike up my rear in the punishment chair even further for that comment.

"Dr. Pina." The beastial scientist said to another beastial scientist who appeared on the monitor. In this case it was a white dall sheep in a white lab coat. He had curved horns like Sir Ram's- only longer. "So what do I owe for the call, you aren't changing our meeting at the conference next month are you?"

"Actually Sir Ram I may not make it to that meeting or any others." The white sheep said uneasily.

(That sounded interesting.)

"Really why Dr. Pina?" The evil he beast said address the image on the monitor.

"I have gotten myself into a situation; I need to see you right away! Please hurry!" Dr. Pina said in quite a grim tone as the connection was broken.

"Pina, what have you gotten yourself into now?!" The beastial scientist lamented as he prepared to leave.

"Um, master?" I said looking up from the punishment chair smiling.

"Something came up- I have to run to World Five. You stay there and think about what you have learned today."

"Or you could take me with you? It is a much better alternative then to be affixed to this chair until you return."

"You are just tired of being naked during your sessions." He quipped.

(He had me there.)

"I could help out. Remember before I was demoted you and I went on numerous missions together and you found me to be quite a valuable asset." I said pleading.

"That was before the master labeled you a pre-rebel." The evil beastial countered.

"There are some among the knight core that considered me a good luck charm. Remember?"

"Very well boy." I was soon released, my loincloth was returned to me. Finding my legs, I followed Sir Ram out of the lab and to the loading dock where I was given a brown one piece suit that was essentially a jacket and pants in one outfit.

"So are we taking your hover bike?"

"No."

(probably not a good idea given the time of year.)

"Then the red, blue or silver prototypes then?"

"No we are taking something from the defender class."

"Defender class as in a fleet?" I asked as we entered. "Yup a fleet."

(I guess I had been out of circulation for some time.)

To the left of the doorway were the original three prototypes and then along the far wall in the back and to my right twelve replicants all white. Apparently the knight core realized the prototypes' value to the empire and had made more; many more.

Sir Ram chose one, sat down confidently in the pilot seat and placed his right paw on the dashboard.

*Recognized Sir Ram Senior Knight Wundagore Castle.*

He glared at me to do the same. I did.

*Recognized Alex Winter pre-rebel and prisoner Wundagore Castle.*

(And my humiliation continues.)

*Destination today Sir Ram?*

"Dr. Pina's laboratory in World Five. Fastest route possible automated assistant." The evil beastial ordered.

*Destination determined. Course laid in. Departing.*

"Automated Assistant what is our estimated time of arrival?"

*I am sorry Mr. Winter you aren't authorized to ask that question.*

"Not authorized?"

"It means you have been stripped of your consultant position human. When will we be arriving in World Five?" The beastial scientist asked the automated assistant.

*Two hours four minutes please feel free to make yourselves comfortable.*

"I will try, but I can't, the marks on my back and backside make it a bit difficult."

"Lashings will do that boy." The he beast sneered.

Angered by that comment- at that moment I just about lost it.

"Cheese and biscuits Sir Ram! How many times must I apologize? I was wrong! My actions were ill advised! If I could go back in time and erase what I said, I would- but I can't. I am just a flawed, imperfect little human prone to make mistakes. The best I can do is learn from them and move on.... uh, master."

The beastial scientist regarded me weirdly as if I has stirred up something in him.

"But wait! You could!!!" I said remembering some of the time traveling adventures we had had.

"No boy. I exhausted the power source on the black PDA while on missions. Besides messing with time is not for the meek." The ram said scolding me.

"Nuts." I pouted.

(Or did he just liked our sessions together?)

"Automated assistant remove the prisoner's clothes and treat his wounds."

*Acknowledged Sir Ram.*

Before I could gasp I had be hit with the clothes removal device and then the seat became very warm as if the prototype was repairing the welts on my back and backside from my lashings. That was new.

By the time we had reached World Five, my wounds had been healed. I also noted that the city was particularly wondrous this afternoon. The lake had frozen over and some of the residents were even skating on it. The amusement park was open with locals playing carnival games on the midway despite the rides being shut down for the season.

Despite it being winter the city seemed quite lively and cheerful in a way I haven't seen it before. I almost wish I could join in.

*Arriving at Dynamic Dynamics Sir Ram.*

The white coupe set down in a parking lot of a research lab just on the outskirts of the city just north of a forest. The building was a large cylinder with glass windows near the top of the structure. At its bottom a brick outer casing which looked to be some type of security wall protecting the inner core. It reminded me of a lipstick case.

"Return the prisoner's clothes to him automated assistant." The beastial knight and scientist ordered.

*Acknowledged.*

"Conduct a security scan."

*As you wish Sir Ram... I am not detecting anything out of the ordinary.*

"So what was this matter of utmost urgency?" I asked the beastial scientist as my clothes rematerialized on my body.

"I don't know boy." Sir Ram said opening the dome to the white coupe. "With me."

I obeyed as commanded by my overseer.

"It is eerily quiet." I commented looking around. The parking lot was deserted. So was the building as we entered it. "Maybe it is because we are on the edge of a forest?"

After clearing the guard desk, I followed the big horned sheep up the staircase passing the turbo lift for obvious reasons. Each floor we passed was vacant. We soon arrived on the top floor and Dr. Pina's lab.

The beastial scientist tapped a code on a panel next to a 'M' shaped door. It opened upward.

"Impressive!"

"Sensing anything human?" Sir Ram said staring down at me.

"Um, no... WOW....."

The interior of the lab was grey with white highlights. It reminded me of a laser tag arena with a neon light over head black flooring and large oval pedestals which supported large cylinders that stretched from floor to ceiling. Inside were, well I am not sure what they were. Dr. Pina's creations? His test subjects?

Inside the tube nearest to me was a cyborg looking white cat creature thingie with metallic feet and paws. It looked like it was sleeping until it suddenly opened its eyes to stare at me!

Near a railing was another cylinder in it a cyborg thingie- metallic paws and footpaws, blue body, jagged mouth and white x on its face.

At the far end of the lab was a large dark brown weird humanoid creature. It had a spade like head with red eyes, long arms and legs with a boney torso. Its most striking feature was its very poor posture.

(Another experiment? Or is this the janitor?)

But the most prominent creature present was a were-creature in a large tube toward the center of the lab. It looked like 001 but its body was all brown with tan pecs and abs, a fluffy mane, yellow eyes, a very pronounced snout, white teeth and huge paws with black claws. The were-creature placed its paws on its glass enclosure watching us walk by as if begging, pleading to be released from its cage.

As Sir Ram and I walked by looking for Dr. Pina, I realized the were-creature was extremely nude and very well endowed.

"So where is he?!" The ram said impatiently.

"Didn't he say it was urgent? Judging by this place. Maybe in the back making more monsters?" I said looking at the menagerie that was his lab.

*Sir Ram...*

"Yes automated assistant?" The evil beastial said addressing his communicator.

*Dr. Pina he is here in the parking lot.*

"Keep him there. We are on are way!"

I followed Sir Ram as we exited the dall sheep's lab. Taking a last look around, I realized that the weird humanoid creature unlike the other experiments was not confined to a tube.

Outside there was no trace of Dr. Pina.

"I thought you said Dr. Pina was with you automated assistant!" Sir Ram said annoyed.

*He is Sir Ram.*

**CLICK**

The rear of the white coupe opened to reveal our distressed host, very nervous and very stressed.

*He was adamant that he remained hidden.*

I looked at the terrified dall sheep and my annoyed overseer.

"Pina what is this about?" The beastial scientist asked the other beastial scientist.

"Something I have done." He said ushering us inside the trunk.

"What have you done?" I asked.

"And you are?" The white sheep who appeared to be close to Sir Ram's age asked staring at me as I spoke out of turn.

"Someone who should not speak until spoken too!!!" The ram said annoyed.

"Yes master." I pouted sitting down to let my superiors talk.

"You are familiar with the numerous reports about citizens being abducted, captured and experimented on by otherworldly beings?" Dr. Pina asked.

"Oh absolutely- for the longest time the empire has refused to acknowledge it; I have encountered that what you speak and believe me there is little that can be done to stop it." I said stupidly.

The two sheep looked at me. I felt an inch high.

"And I will be quiet now..."

"The aliens are called the KLIS." Sir Ram said to his friend.

"I have been conducting deep research trying to find a way to put an end to the abductions." The dall sheep said.

(Wow.)

"As such I have created something that will hunt, maul, murder, kill and eat its target. I had planned to program it to pursue the KLIS with the ultimate goal of ridding us beastials of all of them."

"That sounds divine." The evil beastial said to his friend. "So what is the problem?"

"Something went wrong in the implementation phase and it decided that I am its target and is actively pursing me!"

(So that is why he sounded so desperate.)

"Well correct it then." Sir Ram suggested eyeing his terrified friend.

"I... am trying. Say, I thought it would have found me by now."

"Boy?" Sir Ram asked me.

"I am not sensing anything... master. Dr. Pina what does your creation look like?"

"Like a grotesque ugly human." The dall sheep replied.

"Was it dark brown in color, gaunt with red eyes, spade like head and long limbs?" I asked.

"Yes."

"I think I saw it as we were leaving." I said casually putting it out there.

"Why did you not say anything?" The big horned sheep asked me as the dall sheep looked on.

"Like now I wasn't sensing any danger... I thought it was a lab assistant or something."

Sir Ram exited the trunk of the white coupe. He then sat down in the passenger seat while having his friend sit in the driver seat.

"Wha... what are you doing?" Dr. Pina asked watching the he beast press the third toggle switch on the weapon's console. The copilot monitor and keyboard deployed from the glove compartment. At which point Sir Ram started typing.

*Surveillance Probe engaged*

"I am detecting the three of us here and three occupants in your lab. One occupant on the first floor." The beastial knight said looking at the thermal image from the monitor.

"It is gone." I said to the two sheep.

"Wait, I am detecting multiple occupants on the first floor."

*In correct Sir Ram there is only one occupant on the first floor*

"Explain these multiple readings the probe is seeing then."

*They belong to the same occupant Sir Ram*

(What?!)

I looked at Sir Ram and then ran back toward the building. Just beyond the entrance I found the guard station and the Wallaby that had checked us in earlier in multiple blood splattered pieces all over the first floor.

"Oh Larry!" The white sheep said as he and Sir Ram came upon the scene.

Sir Ram kneeled down to examine a chunk of the guard's remains- it looked like a portion of his intestine.

"It ripped it right out from his body while he was alive." He commented.

"But why Larry? It wanted me..." Dr. Pina surmised.

"Perhaps he got in the way?" I said speaking out of turn.

"You will remain quiet boy. Pina, I am placing you in isolation for your own safety; you will be coming back with us." Sir Ram said to his friend.

4:12 PM Sir Ram's Lab World Five....

"Ewww!!!" I retched.

"Something wrong human?" The ram said man-handling the remains of the former security guard.

"I still can't believe you are just holding the remains of the wallaby like it is a pot roast!!" I replied quite disgusted.

"I have handled many a creature's remains this way... human."

(Ick!!!)

"But if you must know I am trying to gain some insight on how the security guard died."

"Um, it seems rather obvious Sir Ram, he was torn to bits." I commented as his paws touched a severed limb.

"Was that before or after he died boy?"

(I did not want to even consider that.)

"Um, why don't I check on Dr. Pina?" I said sheepishly.

"Yes, you do that." He said returning to his autopsy.

And so I left the main room of lab and walked back to the loading dock where I found the nervous dall sheep inside the white prototype still trembling.

"Dr. Pina how are you holding up?"

"I am not. Are you sure I am safe here?" He said looking at me. He eyes displaying extreme fear.

"This is one of Sir Ram's undisclosed labs in World Five; it allows him to work in secret." I said trying to reassure him.

"What makes it undisclosed?"

*Not many know of its location Dr. Pina.*

"Automated assistant are you detecting anything?" I asked sitting down in the copilot seat.

*You are not authorized to ask that question Mr. Winter.*

"Fine!" I said crossing my arms and pouting.

"What is that blip on the screen?" The sheep asked trembling. "It seems to be approaching our location!"

*KRASH*

"Automated Assistant this is an emergency engage weapons!" I shouted.

*Again you aren't authorized or even to address me Mr. Winter.*

"Assistant please do something!" Dr. Pina shouted as our attacker ripped through the outer door of the loading dock and made its way inside. The creature seemed to limp as it moved dragging its left leg behind like some sort of undead zombie. It briefly stopped to stare at the terrified human and dall sheep within the white coupe.

(Oh no!!)

It then started moving past us into the building on its way to enter the lab.

(Wait, what?)

"I thought you said it was after you?" I said staring at the terrified sheep.

"I... I... can't explain it!"

*Apparently it is not interested in either of you.*

"Which means... it wants Sir Ram?!" Dr. Pina exclaimed.

"We have to warn him!!" I shouted opening the dome of the white coupe. "Come on... overseer."

We followed the creature's path of destruction right inside the building, down the halls and corridors.

"Ram, come in, come in! It is here!" The dall sheep said trying to reach the big horned sheep on his communicator.

"What is it?! I am in the middle of something!" The knight said annoyed.

"Ram, it is here!"

"I don't see anything... NO IT CAN'T BE!!! AAAHHH!!!"

I had never heard the evil beastial make that sound before.

"Dr. Pina, how do we stop that thing?" I asked frantically.

"You can't." Was his reply.

"What about dissuade it?"

"No."

"What about neutralize it?"

"No."

"Does it have an off switch?"

"No. I made it to purse its target until it is eliminated."

"That is quite the creation." I said. "But I have an idea."

I grabbed his paw and we ran back to the white coupe.

Meanwhile.....

"NO!!! NO!!! Get back!!!" Sir Ram said dropping a pad and fumbling for his service weapon as he was cornered in his inner sanctum.

The creature continued to approach- as it was about to reach out and touch the beastial scientist the ceiling fell right on his attacker.

*CRASH*

*Sir Ram are you ok?*

"It was as I told you AA, he was in extreme danger." The dall sheep said as the dome of the white coupe opened.

"Come on we need to get out of here!" I said out stretching my hand. "Um... master."

Reluctantly, the big horned sheep took it, he seemed to be in some type of trance.

"It was a large elastic creature!!! It was going to devour me!!!"

"Elastic creature?" I asked looking at Dr. Pina.

"Yes... A ravenous monster that looks like a sheet of paper and devours anything it touches Mara and I ran into while... time traveling... err on a mission.... never you mind boy." The beastial said shoving me into the jump seat behind his.

The beastial scientist powered on the white coupe and we took off into the sky headed back toward Dr. Pina's lab.

"So that is what you saw?" The dall sheep asked his friend.

"Exactly." Was the evil beastial's reply.

"Interesting the little human and I saw my creation as he truly appeared."

"Which means when attacking its prey, it manifests itself into their worst nightmares." The big horned sheep said.

"But more importantly sirs, it decided to attack Sir Ram instead." I concluded receiving dirty looks from both sheep scientists.

*Mr. Winter does have a point. The danger has seemed to have past for Dr. Pina.*

We made our way back to the scene of our first encounter with the dall sheep's creation.

"Well, it seems I can at last return to my research." Sir Ram's friend said exiting the white coupe elated.

"I would like to accompany you, perhaps we can determine why the creature changed targets." The beastial knight said also exiting the white coupe.

"Strategizing sir?"

"Boy stay here." He ordered me.

"Perhaps I could do more than just be a third wheel master?" I said smiling.

"Hmph! Very well, automated assistant grant temporary access to Alex Winter. You will allow him to resume his former duties under my authorization."

*Affirmative Sir Ram.*

I watched the two sheep scientists enter the building. Before jumping into the passenger seat where I activated the copilot monitor and keyboard.

*Recognized Alex Winter former consultant Castle Wundagore.*

"We will see about that AA."

*Surveillance probe engaged Mr. Winter.*

*TAP* *TAP*

"Conducting scan for hostiles. About a half mile radius should do it."

*TAP* *TAP*

What appeared on the monitor was overwhelming.

"Wow, that is a lot of data!! The scanners literally pick up everything even forest critters!!"

*Perhaps you should filter that out and oh, look to your right.*

"What is on my right?" I said making a casual glance.

!!!!

When I did, I found the source of that taping noise.

"ROWRR!!"

"Hello gaunt and ugly come to hunt down Sir Ram again?" I said as the creature started scratching and clawing the dome of the white prototype.

*I think it wants you now.*

!!!!

I watched to my horror as the creature shifted into the wolf demon Diamantopoulous and continued to claw on the side of the white coupe.

"This is not real!! This can't be real!!! Engage deflectors!!"

When it realized I was ignoring it, Dr. Pina's experiment shifted into a KLIS alien.

"Still ignoring you. AA engage side-pods and fire at will!!"

*Side-pods engaged, but I can not comply Mr. Winter.*

"Why not?"

*This assault vehicle can only fire from its front and rear, not its side.*

"You mean to tell me in the time that I have been out of action Mara hasn't fix that flaw?!"

**I am afraid not Mr. Winter.* *

"No but she has had the time to make more prototypes!!"

*The probe has weapon capabilities. More to the point why did the creature change target's again?*

"Wait, what?!"

**What about?* *

"The probe now has weapons?" I shouted typing on the keyboard. "Yes it does! A simple laser. That should be enough!"

I launched the probe and then quickly spun it around targeting the KLIS and then fired. Deftly it dodged the laser blasts.

"You think you are so smart eh? Try this!!"

*ZAP* *ZAP* *ZAP*

The creature continued to dodge as the volley from the probe hit the white prototype.

*Mr. Winter! You must stop! If you continue this course of action... Great job. Deflectors have now failed.*

"Ok get us out of here AA!" I shouted as the KLIS shifted into a green creature with a red eye and tentacles.

Before the automated assistant could take control of the white coupe, it was picked up and tossed at the building the dome of the cockpit shattered on impact spraying me with glass shards. I was jostled once again as the vehicle fell to the ground landing on its right side crushing the right side-pod.

I glanced at the upper right monitor. There were many, many systems failures.

(But the passive restraint system was working.)

I could stay and try to fight the thing off with the probe or make a run for it. Option two seemed to be the better of the two ideas. So I ran into the building with ever hair on my neck standing up. I knew the creature was close behind.

I darted past the guard station and the bloody stain on the floor right for the stairwell and up it.

I found Sir Ram in Dr. Pina's lab working furiously.

"What are you doing in here boy?" He shouted as I darted right toward him.

"That thing is after me now!!!"

"Odd, I thought it was after Sir Ram?" The dall sheep said entering from a side room.

"No it came right at me while I was in the prototype!!" I shouted at Dr. Pina.

"And just like those possessed sharks you led it right to us." Sir Ram grumbled as the dall sheep's creation entered.

(Possessed sharks? What possessed sharks?)

"Mr. Winter you are in a lot of trouble!!" The being said shifting into the High Evolutionary.

"Sir Ram what are we going to do?!!!" I said grabbing his wrist before cowering behind him.

"I could let it get you." He smiled quite darkly. "Just think you wouldn't have partake in any more corrective therapy sessions."

"There wouldn't be any more anything Sir Ram, I mean master!" As the creature shifted back into its original form. It then took interest at the snickering big horned sheep.

"Wait a minute weren't you after the boy?" The evil beastial scientist gasped.

"Creature who are you after?" Dr. Pina asked the advancing haggard dark brown thing.

"SSSSir Ram." It hissed.

"But a second ago you wanted him!!" The evil beastial said grabbing me by my clothing.

Immediately the creature redirected its attention to me.

!!!

"Creature who do you want?" I asked.

"YYYou."

"But, what how?!"

"I understand!! It goes after the last person its target touched!!!" The dall sheep shouted. "I touched it first and and it came after me!!"

"Then I touched you and it came for me." Sir Ram said realizing the big picture for the first time.

"And then you touched me after we arrived. It is like a weird game of tag!!" I shouted at the two beastial scientists.

"That is a primitive but accurate description human and you are currently it." The dall sheep scientist admitted.

(Oh crap!!)

I continued to cower behind Sir Ram as he pulled out his service weapon and started firing.

All within the lab watched as the blasts from the service weapon struck the target, but it did not care, it kept advancing toward me.

"Paralysis, paranoia, insanity even lethal settings; nothing is working Pina!" The beastial knight shouted to his friend."

"I told you, I made it virtually indestructible!"

"Yes, the perfect weapon against threats to the empire. What about an pause button?" The evil beastial asked.

"I knew I had forgotten something..." The dall sheep, sheepishly admitted. "Perhaps we should let it have the boy?"

(You know what, I don't like you Dr. Pina...)

"Negative. The little human can be obstinate at times but he is of use to myself and my colleagues."

"That's right if the creature kills him, it would go after the previous person who was it." The dall sheep said as he and Sir Ram were run over by his creation.

With my first line of defense eliminated I started throwing what I could as I was backing away from it, a pad, some beakers, a chair, a small table. The creature just batted away each as it continued to approach... me.

I suddenly backed into a glass cylinder that housed another of the dall sheep's experiments... the brown were-creature who bared a resemblance to 001.

"...release me..." it grumbled.

"Negative. Then I would have two problems!" I shouted.

But there was something about him... Something I couldn't put into words.... A feeling... I quickly moved around the rear trying to find a release panel, a switch anything to set the were-creature free.

Meanwhile the dark brown thing tried to run around the cylinder trying to get at me. I deftly tried to keep it between the creature and myself until it got tired our little game.

*SMASH*

Shards of the werewolf's enclosure went everywhere.

"Time to die Mr. Winter." The creature said transforming into the High Evolutionary again.

"....negative...." something behind me rumbled. I soon felt a soft, but large paw touch my right shoulder.

The thing that was in the image of the beastial's high master shifted again as it changed targets. I couldn't tell, but based on what I heard, I think it had turned into Dr. Pina to attack the werewolf.

"You have been a very bad little pooch, I am afraid I will have to put you down." The monster said.

*WHOOSH*

There was a brown blur and then the were-creature was gone. Followed by the dark brown haggard creature.

"He saved me." I gasped as Sir Ram and Dr. Pina approached. "Why?"

"I don't know but I made that creature like the other one... indestructible." The dall sheep admitted.

"So neither creature will be able to defeat the other?" I replied.

"Unless the were-creature passes 'it' on, he will be 'it' for eternity." The ram said looking at his friend.

(I Imagined an endless game of tag between the two indestructible creatures... that sounded like a crappy existence indeed.)

To Be Continued....

[MEANWHILE]

February 16th YOE 35

12:01 PM World Seven (Chaundoon)

Early afternoon at a renovated building downtown World Seven....

"Go daddy!" Beatrice called to the dark brown bear who was wearing nothing but a blindfold and black wrestling underwear with his tail sticking out from the back.

"Did daughter just speak?! But she is only two months old!! Daughter is extremely bright cub!!" Beatrice's father grinned.

"Boris concentrate!" Lady Ursa called out to her breeding partner. "Clear your thoughts! Listen! Smell! Anticipate!"

"Is much easier not blindfolded." The bear with the white v shaped birthmark across his chest complained.

"That is the purpose of this exercise- sensing the attacker without the availability of one of your senses." My fierce ursine warrior commented as I carefully chose my position and prepared to attack. "Danger was common during the after fall on Counter Earth. Although it is less common on Chaundoon, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

"GOTCHA!" The he bear said grasping a stand in wooden dummy in the room we were practicing in.

"SUPER SNUGGLE ATTACK!!" I shouted jumping on his back.

"ACK!!!" He gasped.

"Awex wins!!!" Beatrice giggled.

"D'oh, is dummy mannequin." Boris said removing his blindfold.

"Perhaps you should join my self defense class. I could teach you a thing or two or more." The bear knight said turning to her daughter as we heard a noise from outside the building.

VROOMM....

"Little Alex can get down from Boris now."

"But your fur is so soft!" I murred.

The three bears and I made our way outside the building to see where the noise had come from. We were glad to see that the area immediately outside was dry.

**Good afternoon Lady Ursa, Beatrice. Alex and Boris are late for an meeting.* *

A female fennec said from within a black utility vehicle.

"That is today?" I said dropping down from Boris' back.

"It is little Alex, Boris has been looking forward to it for weeks."

"Ok you two have a safe journey and get back before dinner." My perfect person said. "Oh and Boris you might want to change."

"Yes mistress." I said hopping into the passenger seat.

"Yes pretty lady bear." Boris said running back into the building to reclothe before stepping into the driver seat of Attack Beast.

Feleen made a u-turn and headed toward the boundary of the city before engaging hover mode and heading west for the next few hours.

*It appears this section of the city has finally dried out.*

"Pesky storm cloud is busy watering the other side of the city." The he bear commented.

"That thing has been here for two weeks straight!!!" I added.

**I hear King Dragon and the Colony Council are at a loss of what to do.* *

"Everyone is." I said as I watched World Seven disappear from view as we started our trip.

4:12 PM at a arid gulch near a super large forest....

*Boris, Alex! It appears we have arrived at their location.*

"Feleen is becoming quite accustomed to her new form." The dark brown bear seated next to me said complimenting Attack Beast's automated assistant.

**Yes, this vehicle is like an extension of me- like a arm or a limb. Every time I operate it my knowledge about its functionality increases, widens, deepens. I am a part of it and it is a part of me.* *

"And that statement was not entirely uncreepy." I replied at the former sentinel now turned automated assistant.

*Did I mention that I also love my new found mobility?*

"It has been a long time coming. Keep watch Feleen, we are going to retrieve our travelers." I replied as Attack Beast landed near a makeshift camp by a narrow steep sided ravine backdropped by a forest of super tall trees.

Carefully Boris and I approached our targets.

"Greetings Corey and Rumble! Boris trusts vacation was most relaxing?" My mistress' breeding partner called out to the black haired teen and his werewolf.

Rumble was wearing his white loincloth that barely hid is cub maker. Corey was dressed in tan self stitched pants and a shirt.

"...Yes..." Rumble grumbled.

We found him and Rumble chowing down on some remains of some fish they had caught from a nearby stream.

"Well I do declare freckles and even Boris! Did you miss me that much?" Mr. Collins said greeting us.

"It was hard filling in for black haired teen around city while he was away." Boris replied.

"Let's get have a look at the two of you." I replied walking up to the duo.

With that, I ran Shakara's triangular scanning tool over the both of them.

"Oh my." I exclaimed studying the readings.

"Something wrong little Alex?" Boris asked.

"These two actually gained weight while away." I said showing the brown bear the readings. "I didn't think that was going to be the case."

"Well teen and wolf will have opportunity to work it off."

"...actually not..." The were-creature said looking down at the remains of their meal.

"Yeah about that freckles.... Rumble and I were talking the other day and we decided to stay out here."

"You mean leave city?" Boris asked staring at me.

"Corey, Rumble are you sure?" I gasped nearly dropping the scanner.

"Black haired teen and wolf would be truly by selves in wilderness." The dark brown bear warned.

"There isn't a communication network to contact us or anyone if you two get injured or hurt." I piled on.

"...we're fine with that..." Rumble rumbled.

"Being out here is like a dream come true. You know hunting, gathering living in the great outdoors- it awakened something in me that has long been dormant." Mr. Collins said to Boris and myself.

"...Corey likes being feral..." The were-beast said placing his paw on his teen.

"Well that too. Being free and wild, making my own decisions, not answering to any laws or societal norms- it is brave new world out here." He commented.

"...full of foreign scents and smells..."

"And many exotic places to explore and wonders to behold." Corey said gesturing to the forest beyond the stream whose trees just dwarfed us in size and scope.

"Is dark haired teen sure?" The dark brown bear asked suspiciously.

"As sure as freckles here has a great living situation!"

(Given that snide remark, I think Mr. Collins was curious to hear news from World Seven as well as my life and times with my three bears and lioness.)

"I know you had been talking about this for a while especially if you could become like Rumble." I said sitting down next to the two.

"Right I don't have fur, fangs, claws, paws or a tail but the desire and the longing is still there. It really spiked being out here the last two weeks." Mr. Collins commented.

"...how is everyone...?" The brown werewolf asked inquisitively.

"Little Alex continues to treat pretty lady bear for her condition and horny lioness for her condition." Boris said sitting down behind to me.

"Morning and night." I replied to the dark brown bear's curious stare. "Boris and I have also become very close."

"And horny lioness wants to be closer to Boris still." He said placing his paw on my shoulder. "Boris not sure how Boris feels about that."

"Sure you do big guy- it just means that there is a lot of love in our home, A LOT."

(And knowing Shakara, a lot more to come...)

"...Beatrice...?" The werewolf asked.

"Daughter is smart, healthy cub. Is growing stronger every day. Pretty lady bear is glad she has help caring for her. It makes motherhood lot easier."

"As for the city- it is much calmer than where we came from." I added giving the teen and his werewolf my full attention.

"Rain cloud." The bear with the white v shaped mark on his chest commented.

"Well with the exception of the rain cloud." I added.

"That thing still there?" Corey asked.

"Yeah, Shakara believes that it is showing signs of intelligence." I replied thinking back to the storm that is watering parts of the city not unlike a gardener figuring out what plants of their collection to water.

"Everyone is trying to figure out why it refuses to leave city." Boris added.

"It is like World Seven is its personal garden that needs attending to." I replied as the conversation came to abrupt halt. "What?" I said staring at Boris who had an utter look of shock on his face and then at the Corey and Rumble who were smiling ear to ear.

I glanced to my right and saw a seated version of myself staring right back at me!!!

"ACK!!!" I shouted.

"Um, yeah, Oliver and Theresa would have a field day out here." Corey casually commented looking at me and my double.

"...planet is very enchanted..." Rumble observed.

"Ya, know? I think the twin suns and moons were the first inclination." The teen snarked to his wolf.

"Corey?" I asked nervously as my doppelgänger smiled.

"Rumble and I call them mimics. Don't worry freckles, they are friendly...."

"...we think..." The teen's werebeast commented.

To Be Continued....