FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Counter Earth Chronicles

Chapter 59: Now In A Minute (While She Was Away Part Five)

Day 180 continued (during the year 4130)

"We are 118 years in the past?!" I said looking at the bewildered physician.

"What year are you two from?" Dr. First asked us.

"031 YOE." Primrose responded.

"Year of empire?" The physician asked.

"Yeah, in on our century years are counted differently. All you need to know is that we are from the year 4248." I said to the physician.

"That doesn't explain why Ms. Willow has long ears or why Mr. Spencer has a tail." He responded.

"Dr. First we need to talk." The rabbit-girl said grabbing the physician by the hand.

"Prim, what are you doing?" I asked.

"Mr. Alex we are not in our rightful place or time; we are completely helpless right now."

"As much as I would like to explore this time period, I think we need to get out of here as soon as possible." I concurred. "But how?"

(It is a shame Arthur isn't here. He is so analytical, he would have a answer.)

"We need to find the elevator. It is obviously some sort of time machine." Primrose said to me.

"The elevator disappeared after we stepped out stranding us here." I said to my charge.

Dr. First took us into his operating room where we sat down and had a conversation- a long one.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked Primrose.

"Alex, we are stuck in one of the most violent eras on Counter Earth, we need to start thinking about a way to get back or we will end up spending the rest of our lives here in this hellish time before the High Evolutionary." The rabbit-girl said gasping as the reality of her words hit her.

(Forget Arthur, she is pretty analytical herself.)

"Alright, alright you two are confusing me. Start at the beginning slowly." The physician said trying to comfort Primrose.

"What we are going to tell you doctor is going to sound bizarre but it is true. I hesitate to even tell you because it might alter the events here in the past thus destroying our present."

"Well what you call your past is my present son." He shot back.

"As previously mentioned we were in a museum researching this time period in the planet's past for Cody's history report. Somehow we wound up here. It is quite different experiencing it in person versus reading about it."

"This war is going to continue for ninety years. There is going to be much death, much destruction and much misery." The rabbit-girl started.

"It is already bad now. I can't seeing this going on for another year let alone nine decades!" Dr. First said.

"Sadly it does. Eighty eight years from now this planet will be visited by an extraterrestrial from another world, he will observe the remnants of this civilization and be approached by the remaining humans of this world who will beg him to relieve them from their agony, grief and misery. In short, solve their problems. He will agree but on one condition- they will have to make him ruler of this world." I said to Dr. First as he stared at me in disbelief.

"The remaining human populace does. The alien then restores order to Counter Earth, unifying the planet, rebuilding over what was destroyed, and enacting policies that would ensure this dark period in time is never repeated." Primrose said to the doctor.

"Where do you animal people fall into all this?" Dr. First asked.

"One of those policies was the creation of animal people. In the era we come from human beings are not the dominant life forms on the planet anymore."

"That is quite the story Alex. I assume you are telling me this because you need resources to help you survive." Dr. First said.

"Exactly." Primrose added.

"Well if I may my dear..." Dr. First said standing up in front of the rabbit-girl.

She looked at him and then at me.

"You said we need to find friends and allies to help us until we can find our way back home." I said to her.

"You may." She said quietly.

Gently Dr. First performed his first examination on a beastial child as I continued the history lesson:

"This alien created a new race of beings to help him govern, rule over the planet and act as a counter-balance to humans and their destructive tendencies."

"Animal people?!" Dr. First asked.

"They are called beastials. They out-populated the remaining humans on the planet." I said.

"How is that possible?" The doctor said as he was studying Primrose's ears, neck and throat.

"I believe it was by design. To make sure the human populace doesn't destroy each other and the planet."

"Has it been successful?" The physician asked as he examined Primrose's paws, legs and her adorable rabbit feet.

"His rule has been successful; there hasn't been any wars for over thirty years. But it also has been controversial- there are dissidents who are unhappy with his rule, the limitations placed on personal freedoms and liberties, they want that all removed. It is not perfect, but it has lasted longer than the previous government."

"It sounds better than what is going on now." The doctor said examining the rabbit-girl's tail. "Remarkable simply remarkable. How is it that you have become friends with these two Mr. Winter?"

"They are my charges." I said as Dr. First finished his examination of Primrose. "You see they are just like human children only with fur, paws and tails."

"What about the genitals? Are they humanoid, animal-like or a combination of the two?"

"Let's not go there doc." I responded despite secretly knowing the answer.

"Ahem, we better check on you know who." Primrose said getting down from the table.

"Who would have believed it animal people!" Dr. First said.

"Yep doc animal people. But please keep this history lesson to yourself- OK?" I said as we left his operating room and made our way back to the triage room. "We don't want to draw unneeded attention to ourselves."

"Ladies, ladies there is more than enough of me to go around!" The cat-boy said while he was being fondled by the two females soldiers from the Legion.

"Big Sexy strikes again." I face-palmed. "Cody?"

"Well Mr. Alex- I was interviewing everyone about the war, the factions and all and one thing led to another. By the way, these are Harmony and Melody. I took some group photos while you were away.

"Oh geez." Primrose said.

"Oh and Mr. Striker is the author of the diary that was on display in the World One History Museum. You know the fight where he and his group repelled an invasion by the Legion in the Great Falls area- that happened last week!" Cody said showing me and Primrose Auggie's diary.

(Yup it was the same one that we had seen in the exhibit at the World One Museum.)

"You are the author of that diary?! Wow, so nice to meet you." I started to say. But the Alliance soldier was busy examining Cody's cube.

"You are from the year 4248?" Lt. Striker said shocked.

"Um, how would you know that?" I asked trying to playing innocent.

"I looked at the manufacture date on that device that kid was carrying around. How is that even possible?"

"I am curious about that myself." The red headed soldier next to him said.

"Mr. Striker and Ms. Summers, I have a proposal for you. If you tell me your personal experiences about the war, I will see what I can do about your cuts and scratches." The cat-boy said wheeling and dealing with those he was looking after.

"So much for preserving of the time-line." I huffed.

Cody spent the next few hours interviewing the four patients in the triage room receiving many personal accounts and details.

"Unbelievable, simply unbelievable." Iya said. "So you were researching our history before you came here?"

"That sounds like some interesting place you come from kid." Auggie said.

"So you mean to tell me this hell we are in gets better?" Iya asked.

"Yes eventually but not for a long long time." Cody responded.

"And in the future you animal types are in charge to prevent us from killing each other huh?" Melody asked.

"Um hmm." Cody nodded. "There is just one thing I don't understand why did this war go on for so long?"

"There is a lot of hatred and animosity kid and a huge power grab for control." Each faction thinks that if they could just win they would restore order, take over and rule." Auggie said.

"The Alliance is confident we will win as is the Legion and other groups. Hence the huge competition." Iya said.

"But that is where you are wrong Alliance trash, we the Legion will win! We will annihilate the Alliance, Dominion, Order, Coalition and Consortium to rule Counter Earth!" Melody shouted.

"The weak will tremble, the skies well open wide to the Legion's magnificent victory!" Harmony shouted.

"Um good luck with that." Cody said surprised by the female soldiers' rhetoric. Slowly the cat-boy was starting to see why the war would go on for so long.

"We have already won Alliance!" Melody shouted.

"Win what? The cities are in shambles, there is poverty, disease and decimation everywhere- who ever takes control will have one hell of a clean up job." Auggie observed.

"Dr. First!" Another human said entering the triage lab.

The physician turned around to see who had somehow managed to enter the hospital given all the chaos going on outside.

"Dr. Besser! You are alive! I had feared the worst when you went missing!" Dr. First said.

"No Richard, I have just been thinking about our situation." The man said looking down at the floor. "Things are so bad now and they are starting to get even worse. I believe we can no longer stay neutral. We need protection and I mean not from a handful of volunteer fighters."

"What are you saying Steve?" Dr. First said approaching his colleague.

"Richard, it is time to pick a side. I have decided to align with the Legion, they are larger than the Alliance and better organized." The man said motioning to someone in the doorway.

Before anyone could blink the room was over-run by Legion soldiers!

(Damn, I didn't see that coming.)

I quickly stepped in front of Primrose and Cody.

"Hands up everyone and no funny business!" One of the soldiers entering the room said.

"Why you dirty son of a bitch!" Iya hissed.

"Steve how could you? We are supposed to help all those in need not just a select group!" The physician shouted at his former colleague.

"Well you can help us now, we are badly in need of medical staff you and your three helpers will do nicely. Bring them!" Another soldier said.

"Legion! Legion! Legion!" Harmony and Melody chanted.

"Wait, what happened to those protecting the hospital?" I asked as one of the soldiers pushed myself, Cody, Primrose and Dr. First to a hardened car - tank thingie waiting out front."

"They fought with honor, then died." One of the Legion soldiers said to me. "Now let's go you are needed."

I suddenly felt very sick.

Dr. First, myself, Primrose and Cody were tied up and driven to the Legion's base in the basement of a burnt out building about mile away. The building or what was left of it, looked like it had been a bank at one time or another. Along the way Cody and Primrose saw first hand the misery and suffering the people of this era were going through- bodies along the side of the streets with survivors scavenging their remains for clothing and supplies.

Upon our arrival, we were taken to the Legion's triage unit where we assisted the sick and injured until the early morning hours. Cody took the opportunity to interview and record the Legion soldiers he treated with his dermal regenerator.

It was around 3:45 when Harmony and Melody were brought into the twenty cot unit.

"I was wondering what had happened to you two." I said as they were placed on the two remaining cots.

"They didn't have enough room when they brought you over. So they had to come back for us."

"What about the two Alliance soldiers?" Dr. First asked.

"You won't have to worry about treating them anymore." Harmony responded.

"Why is that?" Cody asked.

"Don't worry your little blue eyes over it cat-boy they are still there." Melody said.

"We made sure of that when we dropped the building on them!" Harmony added.

I looked at Dr. First and then Primrose and Cody. We were all speechless. There went our chance of finding the elevator and our way back to the museum and out of this nightmare.

Dr. Besser soon entered the triage room.

"I am here to relieve you. How are things?"

"Numerous injuries, laser fire, bullet wounds, contusions, broken ribs they all will recover. Then there are the two who are beyond hope." Dr. First said addressing his former colleague.

"Who are they?" Dr. Besser asked.

"Two former patients of mine that were killed by two current patients. This is the side you chose Steve?" Dr. First said walking by. Cody, Primrose and I soon followed.

"Guards get them something to eat and find them a place to rest. You are back on duty in eight hours."

The guards were as accommodating as they possibly could. We were given something- which looked like mashed potatoes and gruel and placed in the bank's vault- our accommodations.

"Sorry for the limited amenities folks it is the best we could find under the circumstances." One of the guards- a black haired 'gentleman' who was in his late thirties snickered.

Cody looked at Primrose and Primrose then looked at Cody.

"If I were you Mr. guard I would go above and beyond to take very very good care of us." Primrose said in accusatory tone.

"What do you mean little rabbit-girl?" The other guard a disheveled scrawny looking blond asked.

"We are treating your injured. If our accommodations are inadequate we may not be at 100% when our shift comes around. Think about it do you want medical staff that is fatigued or even sick attending to your wounded?!" Cody said jumping in.

"Point taken cat-boy."

"And guard my friend here- she is a vegetarian." Cody added smiling very sly like.

"Riiiiight." He said walking away.

Shortly there after our captors upgraded our accommodations slightly better food and bedding. Be that as it was, a cage was still a cage.

"Alex what are we going to do?" The rabbit-girl asked me.

"Do what it takes to stay alive and that means obeying what our captors request of us." Dr. First said in a stern voice. "Do not agitate them or give them a reason to kill you. Which includes the little con you two just performed."

"Well it did work didn't it?" Cody shot back.

"I guess it means we will be staying here for a while until I can figure out how to get back." I said hugging the beastial children.

"That is going to be very hard with the hospital in ruins." Primrose said. "It is very distinct possibility that we may be stuck here for a long long time."

(I promise you two that someway somehow we will get out of this mess.)

"Well Alex, children we are on duty in seven hours- we better get some sleep." Dr. First said bedding down for the night as the door to the vault opened. It was Dr. Besser.

"I am in need of an assistant. Mr. Winter you will do." He said pulling me up from my 'bed.'

I looked a the fury children and then Richard. "Keep them safe doc." I ordered.

He nodded. As I was led away to work several additional hours helping the same doctor who had forced us to take sides in this conflict.

"Hold your finger here." He ordered me as he started stitching a nasty gash a Legion soldier had received on his leg.

I did as ordered.

"You must think that I am a monster boy."

(Boy?! Now where have I heard that condescending tone?)

"Well you did force a colleague of yours to take sides in war, destroyed his hospital and support a faction that murdered two of his patients." I said innocently.

"It was necessary to save him and you. How long would he have been able to be neutral in all this? If I hadn't someone else would have or worse."

I stared at the other patients- all Legion soldiers as he continued stitching the wound.

"Mr. Winter there are no easy answers here, just hard choices. You will realize that in time." The physician said closing the wound.

The next two days the Legion worked us to the bone in their infirmary treating the wounded, injured and sick. Eight hours on and eight hours off then eight hours on again. I worked under the direction of Dr. Besser and the beastial children under Dr. First. Again the children saw first hand the horrors of war, the blood, death and carnage. At night we were fed and returned to the bank vault. We were so exhausted that we couldn't think of formulating a plan to get out of there, let alone of escaping.

On the night of the second day Primrose, Cody and I were sound asleep while Dr. First was in surgery with Dr. Besser when we were awakened by a commotion in the front of the bank. It sounded like some scuffling between the guards before the door to the vault was opened.

"Auggie? Iya?" Cody said running to hug the Alliance soldiers.

"Well if it isn't our favorite little cat-boy!" Lt. Striker said.

"We were told that you two had died when the hospital was destroyed." I said in amazement.

"That is what they would have you believe!" Iya said. "We clawed and dug our way out of the rubble."

"How did you find us?" Primrose said.

"We had heard that you had been taken to the Legion's base nearby." Auggie said.

"Why did you risk life and limb to come to our rescue?" I asked the two soldiers who appeared to have come alone into the Legion's base.

"We have a proposition for you." Iya said petting Cody on his head.

"Shoot." Primrose said.

"If we help you get back to your own time, can we come along?" Auggie asked.

"But how?" Cody asked.

"I think the device- the elevator that brought you here all you have to do is find it again." Iya said to our amazement.

(Yeah, we know that- but how?)

"Wow Lt. Striker that is quite a request. What about your families, loved ones and relatives?" I asked.

"We don't have any." Iya said. "The Lt. is an orphan and mine are all dead."

"Deal!" Cody and Primrose said in unison.

"We better get moving before the re-enforcements show." Auggie said.

"But what about Dr. First?" Primrose asked.

"We can't save everyone." The majority of the guards are with him in surgery. That was why we were able to rescue you." The redhead said.

"So how are we going to find the elevator?" I asked the two soldiers.

"How about the remains of the hospital? It was where it was last seen and no one would look for us there." Cody suggested.

"But wait, what about the battlefield?!" I gasped.

"The last two nights it has shifted north away from here." Iya said.

So aided by the cover of night, past the destruction, the sick, dying and the dead, the two soldiers guided us back to the remains of the hospital a mile away. Melody and Harmony were right, it was a pile of rubble.

"Oh no." Primrose said.

"Come on, I think the triage room was over here." Auggie said.

"Mr. Auggie, Ms. Iya why are you helping us?" The cat-boy asked our rescuers point blank.

"What is in it for you?" I asked the two as we combed through the rubble looking for the remains of what was once the triage room.

"Well this little kitty was kind enough to give us a glimpse of the world that is to come. After red and I escaped we got to talking about it and the simple fact is that we don't want to wait eighty eight years to see it. That is why we are coming back with you."

"So cool!" The cat-boy exclaimed.

"Uh not so cool what about the damage to our timeline?! I mean what if these two are meant to do something great in the future or maybe their descendants?! That could drastically alter our future!" I added.

"It doesn't matter, Auggie and I decided we are willing to take the risk rather than spend one more minute in this hell hole." The female soldier said.

(I can't say I would blame her.)

**BING**

(No way!!!)

We turned to our right just in time to see two doors slide open in the darkness of night and a small beige square room become visible. The elevator had appeared out of nowhere!

Cody grabbed Auggie by the hand as did Primrose with Iya and brought them to the elevator. I shook my head and joined them.

"Ok you two can come. But leave your weapons. The society you are about to enter is one of peace so there is no need for any of that- unless you are planning to overthrow the government." I said sternly to our rescuers.

"No promises." The two soldiers said in unison entering the elevator with us.

(There goes the timeline.) I thought to myself as I pressed the button for the upper level.

**BING**

The doors closed and in a minute we found ourselves on the main level of the museum just before closing time! We had spent two whole days in the past.

Day 182 (evening)

"So you kids were telling the truth!" Iya said looking around.

"Amazing." Auggie said.

"Alex!"

"Chemar!" I said as ran up to hug the knight.

"Did you just walk through that wall?"

"It was actually an elevator. That one." I said turning around. Only to discover that the doors had closed and it had disappeared from where we had seen it two days ago.

"Well it is gone now. Say where have you been for the last two days? Tauren, Sorren and Lurie have been worried out of their minds as your parents have been little ones." Chemar said to Primrose and Cody.

(Apparently the junior knight was investigating our disappearances.)

"It is a long, long story." Primrose said.

"We are just glad to be back." Cody said to the knight.

"And who are they- rebels?" The cheetah asked.

"Friends and new citizens of the empire." I said.

"A walking and talking cheetah?" Iyan said looking Chemar up and down.

"Look at what he is wearing!" Auggie exclaimed.

"Relax you two. This is Chemar, he is a knight in service to the empire. They keep the order around here." I said to the two former Alliance soldiers.

"New citizens? They will have to be processed and chipped." The nervous cheetah said to me.

"Yeah, yeah they will have to be brought up to speed about this time period as well. But first we need to check on something right now." I said to the two Alliance soldiers, Chemar and the beastial children.

I brought them to the display in the first room we had gone to in the museum during our tour and I pressed the button as everyone looked on.

The Counter Earth of one hundred fifty years ago looked quite different from the Counter Earth you know today. The display began.

"Thank you for that, but I am looking for some information on two soldiers who were affiliated with The Alliance."

_Names please. _

The beastial children, Chemar and I looked at the two time travelers.

"State your names."

"Specialist Iya Summers." The female soldier said.

"Lieutenant Augustus Striker." The male soldier said.

Iya Summers born 4100. Daughter of Aspen and Bramble Summers was a soldier of the Alliance faction during the war of the city states period 4130- 4218 was killed during the collapse of Field hospital. No further information available.

Augustus Striker born 4102. Son of Blackthorn and Shira Striker was also a soldier of the Alliance faction during the war of the city states period 4130- 4218 was also killed during the collapse of Field hospital. No further information available.

"How about Dr. Richard First?" Cody asked.

Dr. Richard First primary physician of Field Hospital. Born 4098. Son of Bobby and Bobbi First. Became triage physician for the Legion faction at their base during the war of the city states period 4130- 4218. Disappeared during an assault on on the Legion base in 4134. Was believed to have fled to the wilderness where he lived the rest of his life as a hermit. No further information available.

"Looks like having knowledge about the future caused him to act the way he did." I said to the others.

"I left him a note telling him we left for home and to stay safe." The rabbit-girl admitted. "What about Dr. Steven Besser?"

Dr. Steven Besser secondary physician of Field Hospital. Born 4099 to parents Patty and Peter Besser. Triage physician for the Legion faction, the Order faction, the Coalition faction and the Consortium during the war of the city states period 4130- 4218. Was killed in an assault on the Consortium headquarters in 4154. No further information available.

"Wow, he did jump around." The rabbit-girl said.

"Looks like no damage to the timeline Mr. Alex." The cat-boy said to me.

"Perhaps, just perhaps Auggie and Iyan were supposed to accompany us back." Primrose said. "Perhaps there was nothing left for them there."

"Regardless, you two have some catching up to do- on a lot of things." I said to the two soldiers.

"Really what would that be now?" Auggie asked.

"History, technology, customs." I said. "For starters that date system you are used to is no longer used here and...."

"I have a better idea Mr. Alex." Cody said. "I have proposition for you two. If you agree to come with me and help me with my history report, I think I could persuade my parents to let you stay with us for a few days while you get acclimated to this century."

"Oh I would like that." Iya said.

"Alright we better get you young ones back home." Chemar said as he scanned my tracking chip.

"Chemar really?" I said perturbed.

"Standard procedure you know that." The cheetah said to me. "Speaking of standard procedure welcome to 031 YOE time travelers."

"That cheetah catches on quite fast." Auggie said as he received his tracking chip.

"What is the purpose of these things again?" Iya asked.

"Humans are now tracked to make sure they don't rebel and try to overthrow the government." I said to the two former Alliance soldiers. "It itches at first, but that will subside."

"Chemar, can we keep the fact that Auggie and Iya aren't from this century to ourselves for now?" I asked the cheetah. "These two have a lot to catch up on and they don't need the unwanted attention."

Primrose contacted her mother who picked the five of us up from the museum shortly afterwards. She was surprised that she had two additional passengers.

"Dear why are you so dirty and who do you have with you?" Mrs. Willow asked as she pulled up.

"Not to worry they are friends." Primrose said hugging her mother.

"Nice to meet you Mrs. Willow." Auggie and Iya said greeting the adult rabbit driving the mini-van.

"Really I can't wait to hear this story and where you have been for the last two days?!" Mrs. Willow asked.

"Mom it is a long, long story."

"How long dear?"

"About a 118 years."

From what I heard from Primrose, Arthur, Minka, Lee and Milo, Cody Spencer gave one hell of a history presentation courtesy of his two experts on that time period.

In the following weeks scientists descended on the museum looking for the elevator that had taken one human and two furry children to 4130 but no one was able to find it. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

As for what happened to Primrose, Cody and I on the elevator, I would later learn that the elevator was a time machine invented by a nutty professor who I would meet some months afterward while on patrol with Sir Ram. His invention got away from him during early trials and was jumping around from place to place and time randomly. Primrose, Cody and I were very fortunate to make our way back to our time when we did. As a result Arthur and Minka (the resident Ghost Hunters) started affectionately referring to Cody and Primrose as the Time Hunters. Oh and in case you are wondering about the two remaining students of my tutor- Lee and Milo would also earn their nicknames just after the Time Hunters' trip through history; I was present for that event as well. I guess I should tell that story next.

Auggie and Iya stayed with the Spencer family for several days, helping around the house while getting up to speed on everything before leaving to explore this wondrous new civilization on their own. I would again encounter the two some weeks later while on an mission for the knights at the inaugural meeting of the Consortium for Mutual Coexistence. But wait, I am getting ahead of myself.

To Be Continued....