Counter Earth Chronicles Chapter 36: Altered Beasts

Story by Worlds Apart on SoFurry

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#37 of Counter Earth Chronicles

Last Chapter-

Alex continued to shadow the Commander of the Knights of Wundagore Sunday afternoon during his weekend of servitude. He witnessed Lord Tiger kill a dangerous thug, take down a wanted con-artist, and saw four enemies of the empire receive a punishment much much worse then death. Oh yeah, and then there was the were-beast....


Counter Earth Chronicles

Chapter 36: Altered Beasts

Day 109 concluded

When the creature landed on Lord Tiger, I was finally able to get a good look at it. Upon my initial inspection it looked like a white were-beast- it ran on all fours and walked on its hind legs like a beastial. But there was something different about it- while it was true that it had pounced on Lord Tiger, it wasn't attacking him! It just leered over him growling and growling. Apparently it didn't like beastials who picked on humans; it considered them bullies.

The creature continued to growl at the tiger warrior and when it noticed that his uniform had blood stains on it- it started to go nuts!

"Enough of you." Lord Tiger said calmly as he flipped the creature off of him. As it was just regaining its footing, he shot the white were-beast with his service weapon.

The creature's eyes went wide as the beam cascaded over its body. It then started barking and running in circles! Had it gone mad?! It did this for a moment longer before slamming face first into an alley wall knocking itself out cold.

"Uh, what did you do to it?" I said as I helped Lord Tiger up from the ground.

"Whoops, that must have been the confusion setting! I Had meant to only paralyze the creature." The tiger warrior said looking at his fire arm. "Damn, the paralysis setting is only good for seven shots. On the eighth it rolled over to the next setting."

"It didn't matter." I said walking over to examine the were-beast. "It is out cold now. Commander, this creature- it is female."

"Alex how do you know that?" The tiger asked.

I rolled the creature from its stomach to its side. "No penis or testicles, only breasts." I said as I gently parted its fur to look at it's unmentionables- specifically its genitalia. "One slit and one hole. Definitely female." But there was something more. I studied the creature intently looking over its body- its teeth, paws, claws and soft white fur. Lord Tiger soon joined me.

"Commander, I have seen were-beasts up close and personal too many times for my preference. This creature is not a were-beast or reject man-beast experiment! This creature is a anthropomorphic dog! A beastial!"

"But how can it run on all four of its legs? After I was transformed from a quadruped to a biped- I didn't have that ability." Lord Tiger said.

"Commander do you have a picture of Corey Wild's missing dog?" I asked the tiger warrior.

"Yes. Why?"

"Sir, I think we just found her."

Lord Tiger picked up his communicator from inside his uniform and pressed a few buttons, while I looked on. He was soon able to recall a missing persons file that was posted on Corey's dog and a picture of a white husky. We looked at it and our prisoner. The face was unmistakable- more elongated but the same.

"Commander, the creature and Corey's missing dog are one in the same." I said looking over the picture and our prisoner again. "But how?"

"Mrs. Wild said that the dog went missing six months ago. Right?"

"Yeah and these sightings and attacks are fairly recent. What are you getting at sir?" I asked the pensive tiger.

"I think Corey's dog was abducted and someone tried to turn her into one of us, tried to make her sentient. But the transformation was incomplete. Instead of reversing the process they released her- or she escaped." Lord Tiger hypothesized.

"If that is true commander, why didn't she try to return to Corey? Was she too ashamed of her new form?"

"It could be. Instead she just decided to watch over him from the shadows. I think we should test your theory." The warrior said grabbing our prisoner. "It is time to visit the Wilds again."

Gently Lord Tiger picked up our prisoner and slung the she beast over his shoulder and we walked the block and a half to the Wild's house. The family was watching a news program on the hub about the High Evolutionary and his knights when we arrived.

Mrs. Wild came to the door followed by her husband. Both were astounded by what they saw.

"What is that?" Mrs. Wild asked.

"We found your son's pet ma'am." Lord Tiger said gently. "As well as the creature that has been prowling the neighborhood."

"They are one in the same." I said as Lord Tiger placed the husky on the porch in front of the couple.

"She looks so different!" Mr. Wild commented.

"She has been turned into a beastial!" His wife commented.

"We believe that someone captured her six months ago and tried to turn her into a beastial but the process was incomplete. Instead of fixing their mistake they released her or she escaped." That is what we have pieced together. The tiger warrior said to the family.

"Corey could you come here?" Mrs. Wild called to her son. The boy appeared around her flank and then ran to her side to hold her hand. "Lord Tiger found Lolly this evening. She was running around the neighborhood."

"Lolly? Momma she looks different!" The boy said hesitantly.

"Some one tried to turn her into a beastial- but she is the same dog you know and loved. She can now walk on her hind paws as well." I said as Corey ran up to pet the husky female. "Oh and you probably want to treat that bump on her head as well."

Lolly opened her eyes and started barking at the site of her boy. Not a fierce bark, but a happy bark. My theory was proven correct. She was not able to speak english or animalian only dog. Her transformation had been incomplete.

Lolly soon stood on her hind paws and hugged Corey tightly. She had missed her boy greatly during the time she was away.

"Thank you Lord Tiger for bringing her home." Corey said to the tiger warrior. It was then I realized that this was the first time today that either of us had heard the boy speak full sentences.

"Any time son. Just keep her out of trouble ok? She has a tendency to pounce on those she thinks are bullies. I think that is what she did to the public at large- which lead to the so called attack reports."

"Yes sir!" The boy smiled as the she beast picked him up and carried him into the house stopping to kiss Mr. and Mrs. Wild as she walked by them.

"Thank you for bringing her home." Mr. Wild said to Lord Tiger trembling a little. "It is going to take some adjustment having a beastial in the house!"

"Present company excluded I hope?!" The female centaur said to her mate.

"Uh oh someone may be in the dog house and soon!" I said folding my arms behind my head laughing.

Lord Tiger and I bid the family good night and made our way back to his hover bike around 8:30 PM.

"What are you smiling about?" The tiger warrior asked me.

"I was thinking about the Wilds. I still think that couple is fascinating and now there is one more in the household- a partial beastial." I said to Lord Tiger. "I wonder if they are going to clothe Lolly or let her run around naked? For a female (almost) beastial she is quite attractive. What will happen when Corey becomes of age and starts looking at females? Will he look at Lolly the same way? Will he find someone who could finish Lolly's transformation so that he could have a pet and hot girlfriend as well?"

"Interesting questions- but time will tell. As long as they keep her out of trouble." Lord Tiger said as we arrived at the hover-bike. "The bigger question is why someone is abducting house pets to turn them into beastials?"

"Is that allowed?!" I asked the he beast. "I mean Sir Ram did it to humans, but what about house pets?"

"Sir Ram is only allowed to experiment on the convicted and condemned." Lord Tiger said to me. He is not allowed to pick up test subjects off of the street and experiment on them anymore."

(Anymore?!)

"Nor is it legal for anyone else to pick up pets and transform them into beastials without the owner's consent." The beastial warrior said to me.

I also realized this was also the first instance of a human keeping a beastial (well partial beastial) as a pet- unheard of in the empire. The Wilds were true pioneers in many ways.

We were back at the castle within 20 minutes and I was at the door of my mistress' lair shortly after that. I thanked Lord Tiger for an interesting and eventful afternoon.

"Thus ends your weekend of servitude little human." He said to me.

"I learned a lot sir. I also understand why you like being in the field instead of in traction; your job sees a lot of action."

"It can be that way at times Alex. That is why I love what I do. I also have come to realize what Ursa said about you is true. You are something of a good luck charm and I would like to have you accompany myself and the other knights on our patrols and missions a bit more often." The tiger warrior said to me.

"Really Commander?"

(Aw crap!)

Until the next mission see y--" The tiger warrior started to say before his communicator sounded off.

It was Springer. "Commander?"

"Go ahead." The tiger warrior responded.

"There has been an incident." The junior knight said sheepishly.

"What type of incident?!"

"Um, Gene Yuss got away." The young buck reluctantly admitted.

"What happened?" I asked joining Lord Tiger staring at his communicator.

"Well, I locked him up in a holding cell while Tauren and I went to dinner. I decided to withhold his clothes since he was such a slippery fellow." Springer started to say.

"Go on." The tiger warrior grumbled.

"Well, it didn't matter. When we got back, he had escaped the cell and the castle! We are still trying to figure out how- he didn't have anything to work with and if he did there wasn't any place to store it!"

"Or did he?!" I interjected.

"Springer?" Lord Tiger asked calmly.

"No sir, I did not search him there." The young buck reluctantly admitted.

"Perhaps you should have." The tiger growled.

"Sorry sir." Springer said embarrassed.

"SPRINGER!" The tiger grumbled as he ended the communication and punched the wall.

(That was definitely going to be on his next evaluation.)

Lord Tiger was frowning and grumbling again after learning that the con-artist had gotten away. Looks like the castle still has a security problem. Still I am dying to know how he escaped from the holding cell.

"Commander?" I said to the frustrated and perturbed warrior.

"What is it?!" He growled.

I then hugged the frowning tiger where he stood. "I just wanted you to know that I care." I said imitating the buffalo calves we had seen.

The tiger warrior was taken back at first then composed himself.

"Alex."

"Sir?"

"Personal space." He replied.

"Oh, sorry sir. I just thought you could use a hug right now. I heard it is a great stress reliever. In fact Lady Ursa and I hug a lot- an awful lot."

"No little human, I could use a good bath and some personal coaching one-on-one like with a certain junior knight who will be stuck at his present rank for some time to come once I am finished talking with his immediate supervisor." The tiger warrior said departing.

(Looks like Lord Tiger already has his next mission already lined up.)

I thought to myself as I entered the lair wondering what my mistress had been up to while I was shadowing the top fighter in all of the empire.

I found Lady Ursa on the sectional in her undergarments watching a news program on the hub and eating some leftovers from the night before.

"Evening mistress. Sorry I am late." I said sitting down next to her.

"Hello pet!" She cackled.

"So what have you been up to this afternoon mistress?"

"Oh, I have been assisting the knights from World Five on a special project."

"Wow, you never talk about your missions!" I said to my lady bear astounded.

"I can now because this one is about to conclude, see for yourself."

I then turned to the view screen to see what she had been talking about:

"Well Zed it is in my opinion the knights of the five worlds tend to knock out their prisoners too too much- you know the knock-out-by-knight phenomenon we have been reporting on." A an attractive female Zorse said.

The female was addressing the program's host, a well dressed male anthropomorphic zebra in a chair on a nice looking set. It was Zed who had hosted the Ultimate Fate program- he was sitting next to a monitor talking to the female zorse who appeared to be at a remote location.

"Zee why do you think the knights knock out their prisoners so much?"

"Hard to say Zed. I think for some knights it is easier than fighting, subduing and restraining the guilty- they prefer to just knock them out instead. When the guilty come to they are already cuffed and stuffed so to speak."

"Thank you for the report Zee. We will have to add that to our list of questions about the High Evolutionary and his empire."

Interesting. I had seen Lord Tiger do the same to the Baboon and bobcat earlier this afternoon after one of them had punched him in the face when he tried to break up their fight.

"Now we are coming to the good part!" Lady Ursa said to me as we continued to watch the news-program.

"Good part?! What are you talking about?" I asked my lady bear curiously.

"The culmination of my weekend mission. I assisted Rhinox on exposing a hub reporter of being a liar and fabricator of truth."

Ok, my she beast really had my interest now. I continued to watch Zed's news-program Investigations which turned out to be the same one that the Wild's were watching at their house.

"So this recent phenomenon causes me to wonder does the High Evolutionary and his knights really have the best interests of Counter Earth and its citizens in mind? If so, why do his knights knock out their prisoners before they are arrested? Is it really for the preservation of the civilization? Don't they have any rights? Sure this civilization has enjoyed an extended period of prosperity, but that has been only for us privileged citizens. The rest claim there is inequality, a glass ceiling preventing them from achieving wealth, stature and status that others have in abundance. What do you think? This has been Investigations where we asked the questions and you decide the answers...."

Just then the zebra's broadcast was interrupted by some unannounced guests- a knight from World Five and the High Evolutionary! Actually it was crashed by the beastial's master and Rhinox the Commander of the knights of from World Five. The zebra was quite startled.

"Master and Commander Rhinox?! To what do I owe the privilege?!"

The rhino warrior was dressed in a gold colored chain-mail uniform. He looked to be quite very strong, powerful and formidable. The beastial's master hadn't changed much, he still had his beard, mustache, the fire red eyes and this evening he was wearing a black uniform.

"We are here on a matter of utmost importance Zed. Your broadcast has come to the attention of the master who believes it is erroneous."

"Master, Commander, in what way is my broadcast erroneous? My staff and I presented a well documented, well researched broadcast- we fact checked everything to make sure it was accurate to the letter!"

The High Evolutionary stood indignant as the rhino warrior continued:

"Not to the letter Zed. As you know our master does allow you hub reporter types leniency and little freedom but only to a certain point. When you start broadcasting lies and misrepresentations you set yourself up for judgement and punishment."

_"Master, Commander what lies? My report was accurate and factual!" _

It was then that the beastial's master and ruler of the empire spoke with a peculiar smirk on his face.

_"Subject in your broadcast you stated that my favorite food was pizza. It is not! I like spaghetti with meatballs and garlic! You also stated that my favorite color was blue. It is not! It is red!" _

Hearing that the zebra hung his head in embarrassment and shame for missing the smallest of facts about his master and the master of all beastials. I noted that the dictator and commander did not dispute the other claims the zebra had made on his news-program.

The Rhino warrior then picked up from where the dictator left off:

"Our master has reviewed the evidence and pronounced judgement. Zed you have been found guilty of fabrication of truths and lying to citizens of the empire. In particular those watching your broadcast. I am here now with the blessing of the High Evolutionary to render punishment!!"

The High Evolutionary rolled a comfortable studio chair from a corner of the set next to the horrified zebra who let out a loud audible gasp and started to tremble- badly.

After all I had witnessed and seen this afternoon, I was curious as to what his punishment was going to be for making such a minor, minor error- banishment, de-evolution, the living death? I looked at Lady Ursa who was absolutely giddy and then back at the viewscreen.

"Master, Commander what is my punishment?"

The rhino warrior pulled out his service weapon, adjusted the setting on it and fired at the zebra. The zebra was enveloped in a golden yellow light and when it disappeared so had his clothes.

While Rhinox sat down on a comfortable chair, the dictator picked up the startled zebra laying him across the rhino's lap as he said:

"One very very very red bottom!"

The High Evolutionary then handed the rhino a large white paddle!

The rhino warrior turned the chair in such a way that everyone watching the broadcast had a nice view of Zed's muscular rear. After moving Zed's tail to the side, Rhinox then said:

"Citizens of Counter Earth before you we have the hindquarters of a well respected hub reporter. Notice the well toned muscles, the soft fur and black and white coloring- now pay special attention that will now change!"

*CRACK* the paddle made as it struck the zebra's rump. Zed yelled in pain with each successive strike. The paddle struck Zee's left check, then right and then both together then the left cheek again. The *CRACK* sound echoed throughout the set for the next 10 minutes as the zebra was paddled for his error. When the rhino warrior had finished the zebra's bottom was swollen and extremely red.

The High Evolutionary was laughing very, very loudly by that time as the rhino warrior scolded the now very embarrassed zebra:

"Our master was feeling very playful tonight Zed. But be very, very careful in the future!"

"Every now and again it is good to pull the reigns and tighten the noose on you reporter types. It keeps you from running off of the rails. As you were subject carry on!" The dictator said departing as Zed was dropped onto the floor of his set.

With that they departed leaving the embarrassed and humiliated reporter to try and salvage his dignity and career. "

Thank you master. You bless us with your presence." The zebra said meekly.

I was shocked and disturbed by what I had just seen. Apparently the beastial's master had some free time that Sunday evening and decided to pick on one of his subjects- a well respected hub reporter. My mistress was delirious with laughter.

"Maw haw haw haw!! What is black and white and RED all over?!"

"Um, what?" I answered.

"Zed Zebra!!" The beastial warrior laughed.

I was mostly silent. Lady Ursa was surprised that I was not laughing at her very funny quip.

"Something wrong pet?"

After what I experienced today I could deal with what I had just witnessed- at least Zed Zebra was not turned into a tree. I did feel for the zebra though two simple mistakes and he was paddled live on his news program.

"Mistress this is how you spend your time off?"

"What do you mean Alex?" She asked curiously.

"Don't get me wrong- but to the uninitiated, it looks like you are always thinking about work. Always! Always preparing for the next conflict, the next enemy, the next confrontation, the next battle with no time to decompress! Mistress seriously, what do you do for fun?" I asked my she beast.

My ursine warrior thought for a moment and replied. "You."

I blushed at that remark.

(This bear needs to get some hobbies and learn how to really decompress.)

"Which reminds me welcome home." She said handing me my new loincloth.

(Geez! Not that one sided thing again!)

"I don't think you have eaten yet either." She said turning off the monitor and its image of a forlorned embarrassed zebra.

Reluctantly I put on my new loincloth and started on dinner. As I ate, Lady Ursa asked me about the events of the day. I started to tell her about my time cleaning Lady Vermin's lair and my attempt to clean Lord Tiger's lair before he dragged me into the field with him (but not about my encounter with the man-spider).

"I had a feeling the Commander had had enough of being in traction." She said to me.

"I got to see him and four other knights in action and I understand why you love your job so much despite it being very dangerous."

"Really, how so?" She asked me.

"You are constantly presented with challenging situations that force you to think quickly on your paws otherwise you could be killed. Like Sorren and I should have when we investigated Mike Anger in World Three." I said to my lady bear.

Lady Ursa stood up from the high table where I had been eating and grabbed me by my hand. She brought me to a long mirror in the hallway where we starred at our reflections.

"Alex what do you think is the most powerful weapon a Knight of Wundagore or knight of the five cities possesses?"

"I don't understand the question mistress." I said looking at her.

"I will rephrase then. What do you think is the most powerful weapon I possess pet?" She asked placing her paw on my shoulder.

I thought for a moment.

"Your strength?"

"No." She responded.

"Your speed?"

"Nope." She said.

"Your ferocity?"

"Not right." She stated.

"Your keen senses?"

"No." The ursine warrior said.

"Your well honed sword and service weapon?"

"No." My she beast responded.

"Your raw power and agility?"

"No, and no Alex."

"Then what is it mistress?"

"The most powerful weapon I possess. The most powerful weapon you possess is this!" She said pointing to my brain.

"You mean my weekend of servitude mistress was one big exercise in critical thinking."

"Yes pet when fail to use your brain you get into trouble. That is why I used mine to set rules and boundaries for YOU to follow...."

"Because there are places- dark places in this civilization that I am not ready to see, situations that I am not ready to deal with and you made rules for me to follow because you love me and are only trying to keep me safe." I responded.

"Mmm hmm." The ursine warrior responded as that paw of hers moved from my shoulder to my ass.

"Speaking of critical thinking my lady bear, I think my new one sided loincloth is not appropriate for wearing around the lair. Especially in front of guests." I said gesturing to my naked posterior.

"Why is that Alex?"

"My mind, body, heart and soul all belong to you to do with as you see fit do they not?"

"Yes." My fierce ursine warrior said to me curiously.

"Well doesn't wearing a revealing outfit such as this that is not only drafty but exposes my backside give the wrong impression to your guests?"

"How so pet?"

"That I am a free item that they can feel and touch and use to their heart's delight- which is wrong because I only belong to you."

My she beast thought for a moment and then kissed me on my forehead.

"Very good Alex!"

She then went to the closet, rummaged through it for a moment before producing the REAR flap of the loincloth.

"You were testing me again weren't you!"

"Mmm hmm." My lady bear said to me.

"You know I hate tests mistress." I said as I hugged my she beast.

"Your punishment has ended pet." She said returning the embrace. "Now finish eating because you need to bathe- you have a plethora of scents on you- naga, caracal, cheetah, baboon, bobcat, dog, cat, raccoon, wolverine, goat, lizard, scorpion, steer, ram, buffalo, human, rat and tiger. Smells like you have had quite the day."

I looked at her amazed that she was able to detect all that.

"Keen senses." She responded. "Afterwards I could use some more 'Essence of Winter' as well.

I continued to tell my mistress what had happened while I was shadowing Lord Tiger that afternoon. Especially the incident at the park. She agreed that the four thugs from the Beasts Only gang got what was coming to them and was not worried that I was in a dangerous situation- briefly. She was also fascinated about Lolly the partial beastial.

After I had finished dinner, Lady Ursa gave me a sensual bath removing the remaining scents from my body. During that time I also spoke to her about finding something to do besides think of work during her off hours.

While we were preparing for bed, she kissed her favorite pet and fondled his butt some more before making love to him receiving more of his much valued 'Essence of Winter'.

As I drifted off to sleep snuggling my bear, I reflected on my weekend of servitude and the lessons I had learned from the experience.

I learned that my she beast had three secrets I had to get to the bottom of. I wouldn't find out the truth about her most embarrassing secret and the Bandit Trio mission for seven more months- she would ultimately spill those secrets to me on a camping trip we would take in the wilderness that none of us would forget for the rest of our lives.

However, I would learn why she changed her name a bit sooner than the other secrets and who was kidnapping and transforming pets into beastials would be a little later than that. As for ONE, I would continue to research and research for the next few weeks ultimately coming up with nothing (surprise). In time I would forget about ONE and the incident at the Sura concert until a similar event like it happened again.

But for now I was just glad that despite being stranded on this world, I was lucky, very lucky to find someone loving and affectionate that truly cared about me and my well being. I was indeed truly blessed to have this person in my life.

To Be Continued....

After eight chapters the latest arc closes. So what is next for Alex Winter? Come back next week and find out.