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Counter Earth Chronicles - Dual Realities

Chapter 27: Millions And Millions Of Swords But Not One Shield

September 1st, YOE 35

2:23 PM S'mar Nation (Three Rivers Pride Territory)

"A skin walker?! How can that be?!" The acting leader of Kenja Pride gasped as the black puddle, her collapsed companion had vomited assumed a humanoid shape in front of her, Saber, Barb and Blade.

*GRRAAAHHH* Saber roared as his machete passed through the still forming creature, separating its head from its neck.

Blade and Barb followed up slicing it lengthwise, crosswise and down the middle with their weapons until black pieces remained where it once stood.

"Arrow!" Bow cried looking at the corpse.

"That thing was not your companion." Saber said sternly.

"But a stark sign of that which is befalling the planet." Barb replied looking at her pike.

"That thing was only pretending to be someone you knew." Blade added.

"But how did it?" The female feline asked inspecting the 'shell' the skin walker wore pretending to be Arrow.

"It was probably watching from the shadows and saw an opening when you departed your clan." Barb replied.

"Why did you leave?" Blade asked.

"They merged with Sabra Pride.... They believed it was for survival. I thought it was out of desperation.

"That is just, so much wow." Naomi said sneaking a glance from the windows of their hut. "So what is going to happen to Bow now?"

"She came into a rival pride accompanied by something that could have killed us all. What do you think is going to happen?" Annette said to the freckled teen.

"But you are all S'mar- with slight variations; like different moons orbiting the same planet!" Teen observed. "Why can't you all just get along?"

"You think she is pretty don't you?" The female feline with the wide butt and big breasts asked.

"Yeah, that too."

"Annette, Naomi come here." The leader of the pride called his slaves. "I know you are there."

"Yes master?" Noami replied cheerfully.

"You two were listening weren't you?" Blade smirked.

"Um, we were tidying the garden and overheard the commotion." Annette volunteered.

"Well now you can tidy up IN HERE." Saber said standing and smacking his females on their behinds. "Oh and I am going to need you get rid of that."

Naomi looked at the black puddle and the hollowed husk nearby and grimaced.

"WAAH!!!"

"The good news is Arrow is not dead." Barb said to Bow.

"However, if he was being impersonated by a skin walker...." Blade said thinking out loud.

"It is quite possible that more have infiltrated Sabra Pride." Saber the vicious replied.

"Meaning?" Bow asked, scared to know the answer.

"Which means they might as well be dead." Saber said thinking out loud. "If they aren't already."

"NO!!!" Bow gasped. "Was I that inattentive? That distracted?"

"No. Just young and inexperienced- which can be fatal." Saber said nodding to Barb and Blade.

The two placed their paws on the female's shoulders seizing her.

"If you wish to plead for your life, you can do so now." The Three Rivers Pride chieftain announced.

"Chief?" Blade asked Saber.

"She is a warrior without a pride sir." Barb added. "As was Annette."

"And an idealistic dreamer... that could be a benefit.... or a hindrance." Saber grumbled.

Barb and Blade fell silent as they waited for their leader to decide the fate of the Kenja Pride warrior.

2:43 PM S'mar Nation (Sabra Pride Territory)

"Everyone get ready!" Oliver said drawing his sword.

"This looks bad." Theresa said drawing her bladed staff.

"Theresa Branch, Oliver Justice, lower your weapons. We are surrendering." Club said gently as he stood between the two wildlife researchers and the former warriors of Kenja pride who were approaching.

The wildlife researchers looked at the savage warrior's square posterior and then themselves.

"Do it now!" Axe shouted following his chieftain's lead.

The two red heads did as ordered, followed by Dawn and Corbin who were standing behind Axe. As the mongoose boy laid down his boomerang he received a flick to the face by Axe's tail and a kick to the leg. He stood up looking at the warrior's naked muscular behind and the tail that had flicked him. He got the message.

No sooner had the members of the science division placed their weapons on the ground they were seized. Oliver and Theresa understood Club's order as they were led away by a muscular warrior who carried what looked like a bow staff, but on each of its ends was a scythe. Although that warrior's earned name was Scythes, his nickname within the tribe was SLICE; resistance, any resistance would have proven fatal.

The away team were paraded into the village. Once bound and tied, they were forced to sit on their knees as they awaited inspection by the leader of Sabra Pride.

Oliver and Theresa tried not to stare but who wouldn't being surrounded by nude savages? The pair did notice that many of them seemed gaunt and thin- times were indeed tough for this tribe.

Dawn scanned the faces of the feline warriors around her. She saw tall, thin, short, wide, male, female, young and old all growling at them sabertooth fangs showing. Nearby there was a young mother breastfeeding her daughter with one paw, thumping a long handled curved blade on the ground with the other.

UH OH!

The cub suckling from her tits casually glanced at the archeologist and snarled flashing a knife in her small paws.

YIKES!!

"Club of Kenja Pride, is a chief without a pride and a chief without a pride is not a chief at all." A tall and thin S'mar warrior said, stepping forward from the crowd of savages.

He wore a white cape with yellow pin striping tied to his upper right shoulder, a blue beaded necklace and only a knife sheath around his waist. No furred shawl, leg or armbands or other clothing for that matter; his average size genitals on display for everyone to see.

"Do I know you warrior?" Club asked.

"I am Knives, leader of Sabra Pride. Their leader, their god. It seems that what is left of your former pride is not happy with you."

"In what way?" Axe asked.

"They don't think you were a good chieftain. What chieftain abandons his pride to go on some insane quest?" Knives asked rhetorically.

"The quest was not futile!" Axe shouted. "We left to confront what we thought was a darkness harming our world!"

"And in doing so damned your pride." Was his retort.

"Untrue, I left a capable replacement in my stead." The former leader countered.

"You mean that female? While under her, Kenja Pride suffered; predation, disease, thirst, hunger and starvation. Their numbers declined." The tall Sabra chieftain narrated. "I was planning on invading and claiming this territory as my own."

"But he didn't have to we surrendered." Mallet admitted.

"You hag! How could you?" Axe growled.

"Because, we could not fight them nor defend our territory." Arrow admitted. "I personally negotiated. We are better off now than we were a season ago. Our bellies are full, we do not thirst and are protected from our enemies because we have competent leadership."

Oliver, Theresa, Dawn, Axe and Club watched as Arrow, Mallet, Scythe and the rest of the tribe dropped to their knees and bowed to Knives as if he were some type of deity.

"So you see, Kenja Pride is no more." The warrior chief said standing over Club and Axe. "SABRA STRONG!"

"SABRA STRONG!" The pride echoed.

"Now the question is what to do with the former leader and his subordinate?" Knives asked in a grim tone as he walked down the line of prisoners. "And who and they?"

"That is mine." Club snarled gesturing to Dawn.

"These two over here belong to me." Axe growled referring to Oliver and Theresa.

"What are they?" Arrow asked.

"They are off-worlders. I thought they were the source of the destabilization. They weren't. Axe and I claimed them. They are our property their lives belong to us."

Dawn and Theresa's eyes went wide at that revelation.

"Just go with it." Oliver whispered. "It is their way."

"These creatures are your property?" Mallet asked.

"They are called humans, they are quite useful." Axe added.

"As what?" Arrow asked.

"Whatever, I so desire." Club grimaced, "Our journey has been long."

"Hi Mr. Knives is it? I am Dawn Stern. Pleasure to meet you." Dawn said from her kneeling position.

"It speaks. Intriguing." Knives said studying the blond female carefully. "She will make a nice necklace- the other two, tools."

Theresa and Oliver gasped.

"And those over there?" Slice asked.

"We will follow tradition." Knives said smiling.

And so....

"What is this place and why is it so bloody?" Professor Stern said analyzing her surroundings.

"This is the slaughter hut." Axe said placing his paws on Dawn's shoulders as the female noticed there was blood on the ground and walls. "This is where we carve up our prey into items that benefit the clan."

"By that you mean necklaces, tools and weapons made of bone?" Theresa gasped.

Axe nodded.

"How ghastly!" Dawn replied.

"Well we wanted to study S'mar tribal customs and practices. We are." Oliver observed. "Club what did Knives mean when he said that tradition would be followed?"

"It is our way that ousted leaders are set on by the pride."

"You mean you are going to be attacked by all of Kenja Pride err Sabra Pride?" Professor Stern asked.

"It is our way usually." Club replied. "But it is not going to happen today."

Dawn, Oliver and Theresa looked at the ousted chieftain.

"Club and I guaranteed your protection and safety while within our lands." Axe replied. "We can't do that if you are going to be made into useful items."

"Good you have a plan then?" Oliver asked.

"I will challenge Knives for the leadership of Sabra Pride." Club replied stoically. "If I win..."

"You become the new leader of Sabra Pride." Dawn said, placing her hands on the feline warrior's pecs. "But what if you lose?"

"We hope your offspring has an alternate plan then." Axe said placing his paws Oliver and Theresa's shoulders. "He managed to get away before we were surrounded.

At that moment Slice entered the hut. "Alright necklace you are first." He said eyeing the blond archeologist.

"EEP!!!" Dawn shrieked.

"There has been a change in plans, tell your chieftain- I challenge him for pride leadership." Club said to the warrior.

Under a sky of shifting colors the members of the away team sat in the center of the village. They were flanked by the tribe. On its outskirts two feline warriors faced each other in a battle for supremacy.

"I will allow you the first strike... Club..."

Before the leader of the Sabra Pride finished his sentence he felt the full brunt of the leader of Kenja Pride's club on his torso. He flew backward striking the ground with much force.

As he landed Knives lived up to his name counter attacking.

Club made a series of grunting noises as he was struck in the shoulder, stomach and legs.

"Club!" Dawn shouted. Theresa was shocked by the brutality of it all.

It looked like they were learning S'mar customs after all.

"Anyone can challenge a chieftain for leadership of the pride at anytime." Axe replied. "Only the strongest or fiercest usually make the cut."

"Makes sense." Oliver replied.

"It is our way." Axe replied as the four of them continued watching the S'mar warrior with the red bandana and spiked club hold the line between them living or facing execution.

The Sabra Pride leader was not the strongest warrior present one could easily tell by just looking at him. He was tall and thin, but also swift, agile and cunning.

Everytime Club charged toward him, Knives would dodge the attack, cut, scrape and gash the warrior. It looked like a brutal ballet in some respects.

"Come on Club for all our sakes!" Oliver cheered.

That was when their champion fell. His club sliding across the ground behind his opponent.

"No!" Dawn shrieked.

"Get up!" Theresa shouted.

For a moment Club's vision blurred as a shadow loomed over him.

"A weak leader and even a weaker fighter." His opponent hissed moving in for the kill. "Your remains will be used as a golden shower receptacle."

"GRR... You talk too much!!!"

*TRIP*

Knives fell backwards over the spiked club strategically placed behind him and a well timed push. As his head hit the ground his gut and face were pummeled many times by the fists of his opponent until he was knocked out.

"Annoyingly predictable." The Kenja Pride chieftain said holding his spiked weapon in the air.

"He won!!!" Dawn shouted.

"Did he?" Theresa said bringing her friend's jubilation crashing down to reality.

"What?" Professor Stern asked.

"Look." Oliver said pointing. One by one by one the members of the tribe turned their backs to the victor. "Axe?"

"The tribe has spoken." Axe replied. "They have rejected him resuming leadership of the tribe."

"TRAITORS!!!" Oliver shouted.

"That is what sets our prides from each other." Knives replied coughing up blood.

"And what is that?" Club asked.

"I demand absolute loyalty from mine." He replied as several warriors helped him to his feet. "As you were."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Dawn asked.

"Now that the diversion is over, business as usual I suppose." Theresa added looking at the smirking faces.

VRRROOOMMM!!!

There was a commotion as a white utility truck drove through the center of the village.

"Corbin!" Thresa shouted.

"I was wondering where you had gotten off to." Oliver said to the mongoose boy.

"Biding my time and waiting for the right moment; I think that is now."

"Great timing sweetie." Dawn said to her adoptive son.

"Our colony's hostile environment specialist taught me that. It also worked when we were scavenging for supplies in World Two on Counter Earth." The mongoose boy recollected.

"Oliver, Axe, let's get him out of here." Theresa ordered the males.

The injured S'mar warrior was loaded into the rear of the pick up and the away team made a hasty retreat.

"I heard you all cheering for me." Club announced. "Thank you, that meant a lot."

"Save your strength." Dawn said grasping his paw. "It is going to be a while before we can get you back home and patched up."

"You performed magnificently sir." Axe added. "I am proud to call you my chief."

"But Kenja Pride is no more. I went on a quest for what I thought was the greater good and lost everything."

"Not true. You and Axe are part of our pride now." Corbin said taking the savage warrior's other paw. "We will just have to domesticate you a little."

"What is domesticate?" The chieftain coughed.

"It means you will have to get used to running water, indoor bathrooms, softer beds, less fighting and more talking." Oliver opined.

"And lots of hugs." The mongoose boy teased.

"We will explain that later. Now what is this about you and Axe claiming us as your possessions?!" Dawn asked, looking at the two feline warriors.

"Such a flake." Corbin face palmed as he noticed that Axe had grown really silent. "Something wrong?"

"I noticed that all surviving members of our former pride were present but Bow. What happened to Bow?"

10:10 PM Midnight Black's Home (World Seven)

"UGH! And it is daytime again!" The assassin moaned to his companion. "This is becoming unbearable."

"It is like the planet can't decide if it wants to be daytime or nighttime." The monkey girl said jumping off the bed. She went to the window and closed the curtains before returning to the bed and pouncing on her Akita.

"In another light it could be considered really romantic." She said crawling between his legs to lay on his torso and resting her head on his chest placing her paws on his shoulders. "In the midst of chaos sometimes the only thing we can do is just love each other."

"Perhaps." The assassin replied.

"It is time."

"Did you say something girl?" The dark akita asked looking around.

"No." Minka said scanning their bedroom.

"Come! It is time."

"I heard it too!" The monkey said, staring at her Akita.

September 2nd, YOE 35

9:06 AM Central Tower (Infirmary)

"Unbelievable!" I gasped losing my professionalism for a moment.

"Alex, do you mean unbelievable in a good way or a bad way?" Professor Stern said as Shakara watched Corbin facepalm.

"I mean ten stab wounds, eleven slash wounds, nine gashes and eight cuts. What were you doing Club?"

"Trial by combat." The Kenja Pride chieftain said from the medical bed.

"Oh really?" I replied, raising an eyebrow.

"You should have seen his challenger." Corbin chimed in. "Club beat him to a pulp."

"Well it took a while, but I put him back together." My lioness chimed in.

"Thank you Shakara." The lion/tiger/panther/jaguar warrior replied.

"He is very hardy despite the amount of blood that he lost, he refused to die. It was a pleasure to feel him up.... I mean to operate on him!! He is a magnificent specimen of their species. So is Axe." Shakara said back peddling.

"I agree." Professor Stern said.

(Since when did she and Club become so chummy?!)

"Dawn Stern what happens now?" The pride-less chieftain asked.

"Well first you need to rest and recover. Then we will petition King Dragon and Dutches Jua for citizenship for yourself and Axe."

"You mean entrance to your pride? I don't think that will happen." Club replied.

"I disagree." I said budding in. "You and Axe protected the away team from a hostile situation and you brought them back to us. That has to account for something."

"In the meantime you and Axe will need some place to live." Corbin said taking Club's paw.

"But where could that be?" My devious person asked.

"We will figure it out together." Dawn said grasping Club's other paw.

"Something is going on with Dawn and Club." I whispered to my lioness. You see the way she looks at him?

"Well little cutie he is great to look at. Him and Axe. Even better to touch. Such firm abs and nice tight butts I could just mmm....."

"Better than mine?" I teased.

"Yours is cute, but Axe's is rather muscular- probably from all the running, climbing and hunting he does. Club's is quite square shaped and fun to squeeze." Shakara sighed.

"However you forgot one distinct difference my lioness." I whispered.

"Oh little cutie?"

"You can't have theirs, however you do have mine as well as my heart." I said locking eyes with her.

"Still the forbidden fruit is always so tempting..."

(That was such a Shakara comment.)

Our sexy conversation that morning was interrupted by the other lover in our triad.

"Mistress?"

"Alex, Shakara have either of you seen Naka this morning? He did not report for work."

"No big cutie."

"I haven't seen him either." I responded. "Maybe Song knows where he is."

So I joined my mistress on her search. We left medical and headed upstairs to the colony council chambers temporary location in the throne room. King Dragon, Dutches Jua, Basil, Shira, Masha, Haem confirmed that Song had not shown up this morning for any meetings.

Growing concerned we went to Ms. Rose and Ms. Una's school next. No one there had seen Kiwi either. Alarmed, we went to their home.

10:29 AM Naka and Song's Home

Upon making entry we found a chair in their kitchen lying on its side on the floor.

Lady Ursa dropped to one knee and took a sniff. "Naka was sitting on this chair. Kiwi was sitting on him."

"Naka brought Kiwi to the infirmary yesterday. He was extremely nervous. It was like he had a sense of foreboding that something bad was going to happen." I announced.

My brown bear dropped to all fours and started crawling around their kitchen. "Song was standing right where you are Alex."

"Kiwi's uneasiness... it was a premonition." I realized.

"He was re-taken. They also took his guardians as well." My she beast concluded.

(Oh crap.)

12:11 PM Infirmary

"The knights have crisscrossed the city looking for Naka, Song and Kiwi." I said as Lily Blossom relieved me and my lioness.

"They are not within the city." The medicine lady replied.

"Yeah those things Ursa and I encountered in the sky city have them."

"Sounds like a rescue is in order." The goat replied.

"That is if the knight core can even determine where the city in the sky is even located." I replied as Shakara appeared in the doorway. She was accompanied by a large brown werewolf who was cradling a black haired teen in his arms.

"Rumble? Corey? They have returned?!"

"Not in the best of circumstances." My lioness announced.

"...Corey is ill..." Rumble grumbled.

To Be Continued....

[MEANWHILE]

September 2nd, YOE 35

9:06 AM Sycamore Ridge Neighborhood (World One)

"Afternoon Operative Winter." The image of Iya Summers appeared on what looked like a playing card I was holding in my hand.

My new ogre land lady had handed it to me from a deck she had lying around in her purple tent. I thought at first we were going to play a game like poker or twenty-one. I soon realized its true purpose, it was a sophisticated communication device used for relaying information away from prying eyes.

"Deer-feeder wants you to check in on some wayward sheep from our flock." The former soldier from the Alliance said starting my briefing. "They left the Stuyvesant neighborhood five weeks ago and we haven't heard from them since."

"And Riz wants to make sure they didn't switch sides I suppose." I said under my breath. "What if they have?"

"That would be very very bad for all of us. Here is their last known address. Please memorize it." Iya said signing off.

(Um, why do I have to memorize it?)

I received my answer when the card I was holding burst into flames and melted.

"Geez!" I said stamping it out on the ground with my foot.

(So that is how the new rebellion has been covering their tracks.)

The tech they had at their disposal seemed other worldly. I would dare say more sophisticated than what the empire was using. That was made evident when the group hacked their way into the prototypes to spy on the knights in castle Wundagore.

I took a quick look around to make sure that I hadn't drawn any unwanted attention. I guess it was a good thing that I was in an alley, away from the prying eyes of the public and most importantly the knight core.

The mission: make contact, observe and report. It sounded much easier than the many I had gone on with Lady Ursa and the knights at great risk to my health and safety.

My targets were Ginger and Patto Freeze former residents of the basement who decided to 'move on up' when they were able to afford something better.

(Wow, and did they!)

As I made my way toward their last known location from the bowels of the city, the neighborhoods started getting better. When I reached my destination I was looking at a upscale community of four level townhomes, with rooftop balconies- multi designed fascias and small fenced in yards. Even on Gaia this would be considered a small piece of paradise.

I made my way up the marble walkway to the porch and the front door, I noticed there was a shaggy doormat. It said The Segments Family.

(Interesting. I thought the married couple were known as the Freezes?)

When I knocked on the door I was greeted by the adult couple. Ginger Freeze appeared to be in her late thirties- brown hair tied into a bun, fair complexion with a stern looking face. Patto Freeze although the same age as his

wife was younger looking with curly brown hair and day's growth of facial hair.

"Yes?" Ginger asked.

"Mr. Site sends his regards." I said smiling trying not to sound like a goon. "He hasn't heard from you in about a while and was slightly concerned."

"And he sent someone to check up on us eh?"

I nodded.

"Oh we have just been very busy with the move and everything." She replied inviting me inside.

The townhome was very retro looking. It reminded me of something that I would have seen on my world before the war. Wood panel flooring and stairs. A dining room in the middle, a powder room in the front looking out into the street. A small family room, an entertainment room in the basement. It was gorgeous.

The couple gave me a quick tour of their new home. There were reminders here and there that this was a Counter Earth home- a broad sign in the front:

May all who enter here leave as friends.

I also saw digital picture frames on the wall displaying family members in particular their kids.

"Our children Ginger." replied urging me toward the dining room.

(Odd. Iya said the couple was just starting out; they were childless. Did they adopt?)

"I don't remember seeing you around the old neighborhood." Patto said offering me a chair.

"That is because I am a recent edition." I said studying the room. Your home is very nice."

"Believe me we worked hard to leave the slums, to find something better." Patto said adjusting a leather choker he had around his neck.

"Looks like you have." I said smiling.

"I have heard of you- your Alex Winter. You brought Auggie and Iya to our present from a horrible past." The brown haired woman replied adjusting this white choker around her neck.

"I seem to recall you were working for the Knights of Wundagore." The browned hair man replied.

"I was. I ran afoul of the dictator about a year ago, I was labeled a pre-rebel which started me on my path where I am now.."

"Sounds like you have had quite the journey." Ginger replied.

"Well...."

April 11th, YOE 35

5:56 PM Castle Wundagore (World One)

My warrior bear picked me up (literally) and escorted me back to our home. By escorted, I mean carried me by the collar of my shirt.

"What is this?" She growled as she carried me into the great room.

"It is a home that wasn't cleaned mistress." I replied seething.

"I can see that." She replied grumbling. "EXPLAIN!"

"It is exactly as it appears. I trashed the greatroom, broke the viewscreen and cut myself in the process... there are drops of my blood there and there and over there." I replied being a smart ass.

"WHY?!"

"I was angered by somethings I saw on the hub. Well several somethings" I said trying to chamber my anger as it became obvious that hers was growing.

"Ok, I can overlook that discretion, but why did you not clean up this mess or the lair for that matter?"

"I didn't feel like it."

"You what?!" She growled as I felt the bottom fall out of my constitution. "Compliance, obedience, subservience that was part of your path to redemption as was your sessions with Sir Ram. That was made abundantly clear after your release Alex. This is here is not that!"

"Sir Ram has been experimenting on me." I said halting my she beast in her tracks.

"And?" The brown bear said crossing her arms.

"I gave him a lap dance that I don't remember, told him intimate secrets against my will amongst many other humiliating things- how is that conditioning therapy?! Wait... what do you mean And? Don't you mean how long this has been happening mistress?"

".........."

Her silence spoke volumes and volumes and volumes.

!!!

"You knew! Why was I not consulted or even advised of what he was doing? Or the true nature of my condition therapy sessions?!"

"It was part of your penance. Besides you were never in any danger Alex." She said.

"Even so that does not make it right!" I shouted as my anger boiled over.

"It does when it comes to the preservation of the empire." She said staring down at me.

(There was that anything for the cause mentality I have come to know aiding the knights and even living with one.)

"So this is just yet another example of beastials subjugating and dominating humans within their midst."

"That will be quite enough pet...."

"There. You see what you just did?! You just proved that. I am starting to see the big picture now."

"Alex...."

"You took me in when I had no where to go, you gave me love and affection but in the grand scheme I was nothing more than just another pawn in someone else's chess game."

"Alex we have had this discussion before..."

"Yes when you told me that I was initially adopted because I could treat your degenerative condition so you could go on being a knight. And that was before we lost a year and a half of our lives in one of the empire's prisons."

"Alex...."

"Looking back, I was just a means to an end for you beastials... a tool to thwart the High Evolutionary's enemies, keep his opposition in check, promote beastial superiority and to dominate those deemed inferior."

"We have been over this too. Humans are self destructive; they must be prevented from hurting themselves and others and the planet by any means necessary- the Legends, Mike Anger and on and on all the way down to you." She said locking her eyes on me.

(And here we are again...)

"You know what? I am done! I am tired of being manipulated, tired of being controlled and tired of being used!!" I said marching toward the foyer. "By Mara, Sir Ram and you!"

"Where are you going?! Alex you are on probation!!" She shouted.

"I have been for months!!! I have been the perfect (mostly) obedient, docile, demure little human hoping that it would end sooner of later. Guess what it hasn't!!" I shouted blowing my stack at my Overseer. "How much longer?! When does it end?"

Again my bear was silent. Probably realizing my anger, no outrage had eclipsed hers.

"You have no answer do you? I think I do- it won't until all you fuzzies are done with me." I shouted as I approached the doorway. "No. I am done with this, all of this!!"

"Pet?" I felt a paw on my wrist. I wrenched myself away from my bear running into the hallway. I bounded down the corridor and around the corner.

(Now what do I do?!)

Now....

It was the mother of all arguments. I have had minor disagreements before but this time. I said some things that shocked her. She said some things that shocked me and then I walked out on her.

"So if you were on probation? How were you able to escape from the castle?" Ginger asked transfixed with my story.

That was when her cube went off. Patto's wife placed it on the table and a holographic image appeared.

"Lindsey are we still on for dinner?" A freckled blonde haired woman asked.

"Yes, yes. I am in the middle of a meeting." Ginger said adjusting her choker again. "I will contact you later."

"Alright see you sis."

(Wait. I thought Iya said Ginger had no siblings? Why did that woman call Ginger Lindsey?)

"The castle?" Patto redirecting my attention. "How did you escape?"

"I reached into my pocket pulling out the PDA. Without thinking I pressed the same sequence of buttons I did on the original PDA that brought me to this troubled planet.

*FLASH*

(A site to site transporter?)

"I soon found myself in a study. It was lined floor to ceiling with books, hardwood floor, wooden shelves and wood desk behind it was the leader of the new rebellion." I replied returning to my story.

April 11th, YOE 35

6:18 PM Stuyvesant Neighborhood (World One)

"Welcome Mr. Winter. I have been expecting you." A bald headed man with a nicely trimmed beard said greeting me.

Now...

"That is how you ended up in the old neighborhood?" Ginger asked.

"More or less." I replied staring at the digital pictures on the wall. There was a reminder that two of their teens Argon Segment and Shadow Segment would be arriving home late today.

A story was starting to take shape and it wasn't the one I was recounting...

April 11th, YOE 35

6:22 PM Deer-feeder's Study (Stuyvesant Neighborhood)

"You look upset. Fight with the Mrs?" Riz asked me being quite smug.

"What would make you say that?" I said trying to compose myself.

"You activated the site to site transport and are here within my study Mr. Winter."

"Yeah, I had a blow out with her about what that ram was doing to me without my knowledge."

"Did you tell her the part where you killed your fellow humans in the name of the empire?"

"She already knew that. She said that the incident was justified."

"What about where the ram had you orally pleasure him?" Deer-feeder asked.

"She didn't believe me." I replied.

"Or that he tortured you during your sessions?"

"She wouldn't even consider that prospect." I said grumbling.

"Love is blind eh?"

"More like the Sir Ram she knows and the Sir Ram I know are two different beings. Wait, how did you know about all that?"

The bald headed man with the nicely trimmed beard just smiled at me from the chair he was sitting in like he was a KLIS in disguise.

"And again you have me at a disadvantage." I replied.

"I do. It looks like you are on the outs with the beastials Mr. Winter even those you were quite friendly with. What will you do now?"

*GASP*

"I was so angry at her, at all of them that I just wanted out... I didn't even consider what came next."

"Well there is Lea the lioness, Tauren the bull, Lurie the coyote or Sorren the dragon." Deer-feeder said throwing out suggestions.

"No, not really their residences would be the first place she would look."

"What about the Wilds, perhaps the younglings you befriended?"

"Professor Love's students? No the optics on that would look quite bad." I replied thinking.

"What about your colleagues at the consortium?"

I shook my head. "She would go to them next."

"Well it looks like you have run out of options then Mr. Winter. Let me give you an alternative."

"You are not suggesting...." I replied rolling my eyes.

"When you were judged and punished weren't you labeled a pre-rebel Mr. Winter? You would be just meeting their expectations." Deer-feeder heavily hinted."

"Out of the question." I retorted.

"I could use another operative, especially one of your pedigree." The leader of the new rebellion said piling it on really thick.

"I am not with the knights anymore Riz. I lost my position when I questioned the High Evolutionary's recent decisions on some friends of mine."

"True however, you have worked with them, you know their procedures, how they think. Hell, you even slept with one."

"Don't go there... please."

"Did she keep you warm on cold nights?" Mr. Site asked as he watched me tearing up.

"Please, you are just another in a long line of rebels trying to take their shot at the high mucky muck under a facade of self righteousness." I retorted.

"Perhaps, but unlike my predecessors I will succeed." Riz said gesturing to the PDA he gave me.

"Well the toys that you have at your disposal are more sophisticated..."

"Now that is the spirit..."

"Ok for the sake of argument let's say your new rebellion wins and you break away from the empire forming a human protectorate. Then what? How will it be governed? Will you name yourself supreme leader? Dictator? Will it be a monarchy? Democracy? Republic?"

"It will be a hidden society away from the dictator and his subjugation. Much like the hidden underground city you lived in - in the alternate timeline. I was thinking about something different- representative leadership with a sub-council advising the leader."

(That really doesn't sound so bad.)

"Sounds better than your current situation doesn't it?"

"What if your master plan is not achieved? Your operations are detected, you are exposed and there is fighting?" I asked playing devil's advocate.

"You are asking how far will I go to achieve my goals? Will the streets be stained with blood and corpses of those that have crossed me?"

"What I am asking is how far you will go to achieve your ideals Mr. Site?"

"I plan to make the ram suffer for what he did to me. I believe on some level you may share that same view Mr. Winter."

"I have an idea of what he and Mara did to alter the timeline." I countered.

"You only have a small inkling of what he did, a drop of precipitation in thunder cloud, a grain of sand in a desert, a crumb in a larger cake." Deer-feeder said, throwing out metaphors.

"Will you run over innocents in order to achieve that which you want most? If you do, then you are no better than him." I warned.

"Those innocents are active operatives within my operations. Some of which you already know and have interacted with in the past."

"Doubtful. I don't interact with many humans." I said recollecting how many humans I actually knew on this planet.

"Who said they were humans?"

"What?"

"That individual thought giving every thing that was going on, it was a natural progression, the only way to further progress."

"You have beastial operatives?" I gasped.

"Yes. One of which I think you know, he blushes a lot. I have offered him a place in the new society."

"As a second class citizens like we are now?"

"As an equal."

(Damn.)

"You see Mr. Winter this new rebellion is different from the others that have come before." Riz said. "We will succeed. So what say you?"

"You are a showman, a visionary Riz..."

"But you have too much history with the fuzzies good, bad and otherwise to overcome..." Deer-feeder said, reading my body language.

I nodded.

"You can stop the sales pitch. Nothing you can say will EVER convince me to come over to your side Riz."

"I get it Mr. Winter you sided with them, believed in their ideals, supported their cause based on what happened to you on your former planet- but now we are at a crossroads because of their methods."

Deer-feeder could tell by my silent glare, that he had hit a nerve.

"I see. But before you make that your final answer... I have someone I want you to meet. Well, meet again. Come on in!"

Behind me the door to the study opened and standing in the doorway was a Tian Mountain dog. A past acquaintance of mine I had intimate knowledge of and he of me.

"Well if it isn't my little comfort animal!" He said smiling.

"SPIRIT?!"

"And I got another one!" I heard the leader of the new rebellion exclaim his voice seemed to sparkle.

Now...

"Riz gave me one hell of a sales pitch."

"And you accepted." The Freezes said in unison.

"Yeah." I replied.

"Well. Welcome to the team. We are all family here." Ginger replied.

(Indeed.)

"Well it was nice meeting with you Mr. Winter." Patto said escorting me to the door.

"Same. I think Deer-feeder would like to know how you are doing from time to time."

"Will do." Mr. Freeze said waving goodbye and closing the door.

(Balls!)

Although the interview had been very cordial. It left me with disturbing premonitions. I decided to conduct a little research before contacting Iya.

10:29 AM Madam Olga's (Exeter Station's Bazaar)

"So how did your meeting with Ginger and Patto go?" Iya Summers asked as Madam Olga checked to make sure no one was listening in to my debriefing.

"Enlightening." I replied to the image of the red head through her crystal ball.

"How so?" Ms. Summers asked.

"I realized how they were able to leave the slums and move into that nice neighborhood."

"And how is that?" Madam Olga asked.

"They killed a doing well human couple Lindsey and Aleron Segment. Assumed their identities, moved into their home and are raising Lindsey and Aleron's teenage children.

I watched as the females gasped.

"Alex are you sure about this?" Ms. Summers asked me.

"I am. They are using the rebellion's tech to hide their identities when in front of the Segment's friends and family." I said to the shocked operatives. "It will be interesting to see how Mr. Site reacts to this grievous transgression. Will he turn them into the knights? Will he silence them himself? How will the leader of the new rebellion treat these wayward lambs of his flock?"

_12:11 PM Forests near World Five _

"...this is a bad idea..." The were-beast grumbled.

"What?! That we are gathering strawberries?" Corey asked the brown were-wolf.

He received an eyebrow raise for his response.

"That we are dangerously close to the city we both escaped from?"

*SNORT*

"Ok point taken, but remember my friend we traded in the conveniences of a modern civilized lifestyle for that of a hunter gather type."

"...meaning...?" Rumble mumbled.

"It means that you hunt and I gather and right now this particular area of the forest that is dangerously close to World Five is where the best wild strawberries grow. We will just grab a few and then retreat...." The black haired teen started to say before he was hushed by his wolf.

"...down..." Rumble said pushing him into a thick shrub.

"What is it?" The teen asked his wolf.

"...don't know..." He replied as Corey started scanning their perimeter.

"It is just a beastial communications crew." The teen said as they watched a hover truck parked at a clearing. Its occupants stepping out of the vehicle and started erecting a pole. "Probably a new relay to improve transmissions

outside of the city. You know, for the knights to track runners."

"....hmmm....."

"But I have never seen a communications relay that looks quite like that." Corey replied watching a brown sergal place what looked like an orange bobble a top the erected pole.

To Be Continued.....