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Counter Earth Chronicles

Chapter 66 The Consortium For Mutual Coexistence. (Conclusion)

Day 218 (evening)

Dongo, Bess and Tess had me sign a few forms upon my entry to their little- extremely little group.

"I thought you looked familiar!" Bess said when he examined the pad I had just signed.

"Familiar how?" Dongo asked.

"We have met before." The female she beast said to her colleagues. "The day we met Lord Tiger- the Commander of the Knights of Wundagore. You were with him!"

"Oh yeah, it is him." Bess said joining his sister.

"Well at least he isn't with the resistance." Dongo added.

"I can assure you I am not." I said to my new colleagues.

(I am with the knights.)

"Bess and Tess, I am so sorry about your father." I said hugging the two calves. "But somewhere I think he is watching and is quite proud of what you are doing."

"Thanks Mr. Winter." Bess said to me.

"Welcome to the team." Tess said right after her brother.

"Yes welcome to the team- Dongo Dingo." The spotted hyena said to me extending his paw.

"Come here! You three can call me Alex." I said hugging the spotted hyena. "Something tells me we will become fast friends- wait! Your family name is Dingo?"

(A hyena family named Dingo?)

"That 's right!" Bess said. "Tess and I thought it was funny as well."

"Well regardless it took a lot of courage to give a presentation like that in front of such a hostile crowd. You three did quite well considering." I said to the hyena and buffalo calves. "So what happens now?"

"We go home and call it a day." Dongo said.

"Um hmm." The two calves said. "We have an hour trip back."

Despite being contentious, the inaugural meeting only lasted an hour, a very contentious hour.

"So what about the next meeting?" I asked as we walked out to front of the lodge and waited for our respective rides.

"Let's see, Bess and Tess and you live in World One. I live in World Two." Dongo said turning to me.

"Which means?"

"Which means it will be by hub video." Tess said.

"Mom! Over here." Bess said waving at an approaching vehicle.

"Good night Dongo. Good night Alex! Nice seeing you again!" The two calves said stepping inside a nice looking sedan.

"Well Alex, this is me." Dongo said as a rather nice looking utility vehicle stopped in front of us with a rather plain looking copper-skinned female behind the wheel.

"Hi babe! What have you been up to?"

"Oh nothing just hanging out with some friends and making some new ones." The hyena said to his girlfriend.

"I hope it was worth coming here to World Three." She said looking me up and down.

"I didn't think so at first, but is was. Alex this is Doria. Babe, this is Alex a new friend." Dongo said to the brunette behind the wheel.

"Nice to meet you ma'am." I said politely. "If I may, I have a question."

"Shoot." She said parking the big vehicle.

"What do you see in this guy? He seems a bit reserved, blushes a lot and is easily embarrassed." I said elbowing the hyena.

"He makes me laugh." Doria responded. "He has quite an infectious one as well and he takes care of me- REAL good care of me." She winked at the hyena.

"As she does with me as well Alex." Dongo said climbing in.

"I really love this ride babe." The female said to her hyena.

"Your welcome sweetie." Dongo said kissing her.

With that, they departed.

Next it was my turn to leave. I was waiting for a minivan to arrive at the lodge to pick me up. Instead a familiar ursine appeared also driving a large utility vehicle.

Carefully I entered through passenger side. Because of the projected illusion, I had to ignore what my eyes were seeing and search for door to the prototype.

"Better?" My fierce ursine warrior asked.

I placed my hand on the dashboard.

**Recognized Alex Winter Specialist Castle Wundagore**

"Much." I said as we left the lodge.

"That was quite the meeting pet. At times it seemed quite hostile." My she beast said to me.

"You were listening in?"

"Um hmm."

"How? Did you use the probe?" I asked my bear knight.

"No, Sir Wolf and I were listening in through your communicator on your PDA. He wants to debrief you right away."

And so we headed to the Castle Sevren and the commander's small office which seemed even smaller since the last time I was there.

"Hi commander." I said.

"Evening you two. Have a seat." The wolf warrior said to my lady bear and myself. "So how was your latest undercover mission?"

"Much better then the last one sir. I was only outed as a beastial lover this time. Much better than being kidnapped and experimented on."

"I would concur." The commander said thoughtfully.

"From what I gather the crowd was quite hostile to those leading the seminar." My warrior bear said.

"Actually yes- it was like that through out the whole meeting."

"What were your impressions of the consortium's founders?" Sir Wolf asked.

"They appeared to be quite sincere commander. I have had met Bess and Tess earlier while on patrol with Lord Tiger. Those two calves have suffered a terrible tragedy. I think it has motivated them to try to make the world a better place."

"They have a long, long journey in front of them." Lady Ursa said. "Pet what did you think about Dongo?"

"He is the leader of the group and also seems to be genuine as well. I mean it was hard for him to tell his story in front of a group of strangers like that. I even met the woman he wronged. They are a couple now and have been for some time."

"While we were waiting, I checked into his background." The middle aged wolf said.

"What did you find commander?" Lady Ursa asked.

"It is all true." The he beast said to us. "All of it."

(Damn, I hope there is a video of his judgement somewhere- I simply must see it!)

"Well sir it is my opinion that apart from tricking potential employers into hiring humans, this group is by no means a threat to the empire."

"I see." Sir Wolf said leaning back in his chair.

"I hope that those three are a real force for change. In the long run it will make the knight core's job easier."

"As long as they operate within the master's laws pet." Lady Ursa said petting me on my head.

"Commander, I did have a few concerns- did you know that there were rebels at this meeting?"

"It was always a possibility." The he beast said to me.

(Well that was a non-answer answer.)

"Why weren't they captured?" I asked him and my mistress.

"Alex I think you already know the answer to that." My warrior bear said.

"Commander Gator contacted me a few days ago and said that he was going to have a few of his operatives at the meeting. It was a courtesy call- commander to commander." Sir Wolf said.

"There were more?"

The wolf warrior nodded. "Mr. Stone was one and there were a few more. You noticed that they rebels tried to convince those in attendance to support their cause."

"Now they are going to get a little more then they expected as a result." My she beast said.

"Alex what about your friends Auggie and Iya?" The grey wolf asked me.

(Oh boy.)

"Well sir they have also been affected by the human- beastial inequality they have seen on this world..."

"I have heard. Do you think they will join the rebellion?" The wolf warrior asked me point blank.

I was silent. "I don't know. I begged and pleaded with them not to go down that route. That there would be consequences but that doesn't always work."

"It looks like we will have to keep and eye on the both of them." Sir Wolf said.

"As will we." My she beast said.

"That is all for now. You have been a great help to us Alex."

"Thank you sir." I said as Lady Ursa and I bid the middle-aged wolf good night.

It was around 8:15 when we left Castle Sevren for home.

"I can't wait to get home and unwind mistress!" I said stretching out on the copilot seat of the prototype.

"Actually we are going to be delayed pet." My she beast said cackling.

"Delayed? How?" I asked my fierce ursine warrior.

"We have another mission." She said starring at me.

"Another mission? What is this about?"

(Oh great.)

"You'll see."

About halfway between World Three and World One, my mistress flew the prototype over a small beach at the shore of a moderate sized lake.

"Ah here we are pet." My she beast said landing the prototype.

"A beach?"

"Um hmm. Launch the probe." She said turning to me with a peculiar smirk on her face.

"Ah ok." I pressed the third toggle switch on the weapons console and started typing on the copilot monitor and keyboard as they emerged from the glove compartment.

**Surveillance Probe Engaged**

"Probe launched. What am I looking for?" I asked my bear knight.

"Switch to inferred and conduct a five mile sweep. No make that a ten mile sweep."

I did as my mistress ordered.

"Nothing for ten miles all directions. Completely isolated mistress with the exception of the local flora and fauna."

"Excellent." She said to me. "What is the temperature?"

"It is about 77 degrees. Quite warm for this time of year."

"Good, recall the probe." My lady bear ordered. "Time to start the mission."

I again did as ordered. As soon as the probe was recalled, my she beast opened up the dome of the prototype and stepped out of the vehicle.

"Come pet."

I joined her.

"Mistress what is this about?" I asked as I followed her to the rear of the prototype.

"You don't see it pet? A warm night, an isolated moonlit beach?"

"Um no." I said quietly.

"I guess you have been busy as of late." She said opening the trunk of the prototype. She tossed me a towel and took one for her self as well as a device I had become all to familiar with. "After the rough couple of weeks you have have Alex, I think you have earned a reward."

"Ah what's that mistress?"

"I seem to recall someone suggested some weeks back a moonlit stroll on a remote isolated beach- in the nude." My fierce ursine warrior said pressing the button on the clothes removal device. You know what happened next.

"I did suggest that didn't I?" I said as I reached for her paw. "And perhaps we can work on beastial- human relations afterwards?"

We walked along the shoreline for a time my hand holding her paw. My bare feet and her paws in the sand and a gentle breeze caressing out bottoms. It was a fantastic way to unwind after my mission.

"Mistress?"

"Yes Alex?"

"We should have done this a long time ago." I said as a rested my head on her arm.

"Well the night is rather pleasant and so is the weather pet. But this is for you."

"For me?" I asked looking up at her.

"Yes pet. I know your recent mission with the Winters was quite difficult for you." My lady bear said stopping. "In that you saw and experienced some horrifying things that will probably stay with you the rest of your life."

"Yes mistress. I have managed to come to terms with what happened, but I am still recovering from it."

"I want you to know pet, that I will be here for you." Lady Ursa said as she laid her towel on the warm sand.

"And I will always be here for you too mistress during your hard times as well." I said as I laid my towel down next to hers.

"That is good to know. Now I want you to lay down and relax completely." My she beast ordered me.

I complied stretching out leisurely on the towel. I looked at the half moon, the beautiful shoreline and the stars that were out that night then at Lady Ursa who dropped to her paws and knees and crawled toward me.

"On behalf of the High Evolutionary and the Knights of Wundagore, Warwick and Sevren, I thank you for your extreme loyalty, devotion and service Mr. Winter. She said as she started kissing me.

"You mean in preserving the empire from all threats human, beastial and otherwise?" I asked as my lips met her snout.

"Um hmm."

My fierce ursine warrior spent a couple of minutes thanking me before lying down on me- very gently of course.

"It is amazing how fast this year has gone." My she beast said resting her head on my chest. "Only three months left."

"Yeah it has gone fast. You know despite the shocking start and some rough patches- well a lot of rough patches, I think it has been a good year." I admitted. "I mean, I met you."

"And I you pet."

"And we have each other. Which reminds me- when was the last time you went on vacation? You know some real rest and relaxation?"

"Such as what Alex?"

"Traveling. An extended visit to a spa, walking on a beach, relaxing by the ocean?"

"Not for a long, long time pet. Although there was that night in the forest with you."

"That was just one night." I responded.

"You mean like now?"

"Yes, I think you need to do this more often- we both do." I countered.

"I will consider it." She said kissing me on my forehead."

"You know the relaxation techniques you learned a the Aurora spa will only do so much." I chided.

"Speaking of which, I have one I would like to try out on you pet."

"Really? What is that?"

My she beast didn't respond. Instead she reached underneath the towel and pulled out a vile of oil which she rubbed on her paws and then gingerly applied it to my scrotum and penis. I am not sure what the substance was but it made my loins tingle. But Lady Ursa was not done, she had me do the same to her! I applied the substance to her labia, clitorus and the rest of her girl bits.

Afterwards, she guided my penis to her cub tunnel and slid it inside.

"This is MY relaxation technique, I hope you enjoy it pet."

"Mmmm....." I said as my fantastic lay grabbed my penis with her inner 'hand' nurturing my growing erection. "You didn't answer my question- this relaxation technique of yours what is it called- intimacy, ecstasy, the reward?"

"Nope. Sex on the beach." She laughed

(I walked into that one.) I thought to myself and she started rocking her body, that magnificent, muscle toned body back and forth pleasuring me for all I was worth. If this was my personal recovery from being a lab animal for Beastial Beauties it was a fabulously recovery.

"Grrr! I am getting close pet!" My fierce ursine warrior announced as I disappeared into her again. By that time I was feeling my familiar sexual tickle which was greatly amplified by that oil we had applied to ourselves.

"I am too! AUH! UNH!"

We both came hard at the same time. My she beast roaring as only a bear could. The sound echoing in the distance. As I came I added my voice to hers.

"Why can't humans and beastials get along like this everywhere on this world?" I asked my she beast when I could form a coherent thought again.

"It would only happen to interspecies couples pet. You and me, The Wilds and Dongo and Doria. But perhaps at the consortium's next meeting you could make a few suggestions?" My lady bear said rolling over and allowing me to lay on top of her.

"Yeah, the first ever Counter Earth Beastials Yiffing Humans Day that would go over well." I snickered. "Increase the love!"

But that was not too far off. I would participate in weekly meetings with Dongo, Bess and Tess as they tried to grow their membership and to change hearts and minds on this world. Despite only being a part-time member of the consortium I was there for a lot of their ideas both, ingenious, wacky and otherwise.

I laid on my beautiful, fierce and powerful she beast kissing her, licking her nipples and resting my head on her chest for a little while longer. Eventually we had pack up and get ready to leave- she had work the next day and I had my tutoring.

Lady Ursa and I decided to bathe in the lake before resuming our trip back home; she didn't want to 'leak' on the seats of the prototype leaving stains. I recall we slept in each other's arms in her chambers upon our arrival home that night.

I spent the rest of the month following Lea's advice. I took a break from missions and focused more on just me. In between my chores and studying, I started painting again, training with Lady Ursa, exercising, meeting with friends and helping out the consortium. Oh, and I also found Dongo's video! Someone did record his punishment from seven years ago.

Day 229 (afternoon)

_"Dongo Dingo you are guilty of illegal street racing and illegal sky racing in an area that is strictly off limits to such activities. By disobeying this law you endangered your own life and those who inhabit this area!" _

"You have also disrupted the lives of those who live here, misrepresented our kind and damaged relations between first and second class citizens. What do you have to say for yourself?" The High Evolutionary said to the scared spotted hyena that cowered in front of him that bright sunny morning.

"Yes master I am a bad beastial. I was arrogant, selfish, reckless and irresponsible. My actions endangered many but I am glad that no one was killed. I humbly apologize to those that I have wronged and inconvenienced." Dongo said to the residents of the apartment complex that had gathered for his punishment that morning.

I watched as the camera panned left and right capturing all who had come to see the guilty spotted hyena's judgement and punishment. From the looks of it everyone who lived there had attended. Including Doria whose unit Dongo had destroyed.

"Good at least you have a grain of integrity." The High Evolutionary said. "I have reviewed the evidence and considered what would be an appropriate punishment for this heinous incident."

Dongo shook and shivered as he stared at his master- the beastial's master and ruler of all of Counter Earth who was dressed in a red uniform with blue sleeves and brown belt a distinctive outfit he liked wearing for judgements.

"Yes master?" Dongo quivered.

_"Extreme humiliation, embarrassment and one very red bottom." The beastial's master said smiling wickedly. "It is my hope that you will learn this lesson well and never repeat this offense again end of judgement! Now disrobe hyena!" _

"Master?" Dongo asked horrified.

The dictator nodded.

Slowly the spotted hyena removed his jacket, then his shirt and pants until he was standing there in his undergarments receiving snickers from bystanders.

"CONTINUE!" The High Evolutionary ordered.

Humiliated Dongo continued disrobing until he was stark naked- his clothing in a pile on the sidewalk next to him. His privates on display for all to see.

Counter Earth's dictator then clasped his right hand and levitated the scared spotted hyena toward two very muscular lizards and Commander Gary 'Jaws' Gator.

Dongo was placed bottom's up on the lap of one of the muscular knights who had sat down on a chair. His cute soon to be abused ass on display for everyone to see.

Whoever was filming the events of that day, zoomed in on Dongo's nicely toned shapely spotted butt as if to say to all viewing that this was the before image. I also noticed that his spots did not extend to his penis or scrotum; they were just one color.

With that the other lizard gave the seated lizard a moderately sized paddle which was then brought down on both of Dongo's ass cheeks while his shaggy tail was moved to the side.

**CRACK** **CRACK** **CRACK** **CRACK** **CRACK**

_The spotted hyena whimpered and cried as his left ass cheek was hit, then his right, then both together and the sequenced repeated. His punishment went on for fifth-teen or twenty minutes until his spotted behind was very red and very sore. _

The audience oohed and ahhed as they watched the beastial's master punish one of his own creations.

As his punishment ended. The second lizard stood the now very embarrassed and naked beastial up. The camera then zoomed in again on the very red, very swollen hindquarters of the now judged an punished spotted hyena. Dongo was crying as one of the knights gave him back his clothes and patted him on his shoulder then his butt, while the other disbanded the crowd telling them that there was no more to see.

I did notice that there were a few smirks among the many stone cold faces. Apparently some of the humans present did enjoy this rapid justice the dictator bestowed on wrong doers.

The whole presentation reminded me of something my mistress once told me- a lesson hard learned is well learned.

Just then the video I was watching on the viewscreen minimized and moved to the right corner as the image of two buffalo calves and a spotted hyena appeared on screen.

"Hi Alex! How are you on this fine afternoon?" The spotted hyena asked greeting me.

"Just fine Dongo. Hi Bess, Tess how is your afternoon going?"

"Outstanding!" The boy buffalo said to me. "Yesterday I helped a human family that was displaced by fire find new housing in a nice area!" Bess said proudly beaming.

"Oh and two days before that I helped a despondent woman who was behind on her finances find suitable employment." Tess said proudly. "I convinced a friend of mine to hire her to work at his restaurant!"

"That is great news you two!" Dongo said. "Just yesterday Doria and I convinced a woman whose boyfriend left her for another not to jump off of a high-rise."

"Dongo, what did you and Doria say to her?" Tess asked.

"We pulled her aside and asked her, how would her death improve the situation? Would it make her boyfriend come back? Doria made her realize that she was defining her whole life just by her significant other whom she had only known for a short time. The woman agreed. We told her to take time to rediscover herself, visit friends and avoid contact with her now ex before dating again and to contact us if she needed to talk."

"That is wonderful!" Bess said. "So Alex what did you do this week?" The young buffalo asked me.

"No pressure now!" Tess said piling on.

(I am starting to hate these weekly conference calls.)

"Um, ah- well you see..."

"YES?" The three beastials on the view screen said giving me their full attention.

"Um, my homework." I said sheepishly.

"Oh." They said in unison.

"But I did find the video of Dongo's judgement!" I said to my three colleagues.

"Ah yeah, not one of the best moments of my life." The spotted hyena said blushing again.

"I have seen it too." Bess admitted. "It is quite old. Did you notice that the High Evolutionary was right there out in public for Dongo's judgement?"

"You're right! He doesn't do that anymore!" Tess said.

"Regardless, Dongo you have the most adorable, nicely shaped, spotted rump!"

"Alex!" The shocked hyena said falling out of his chair.

"Bess and I second and third that." The two buffalo calves said laughing.

"Ahem! Moving on." Dongo said trying hard to change the subject.

"By the way Dongo why are you near naked?!" I asked noticing that the hyena was wearing nothing but a white tunic which barely covered his hips, groin and slightly displayed his genitals if he turned just the right way.

"It is roleplaying night." He said humbly.

"Roleplaying?" Tess asked.

"Yes, Doria and I dress up as some of her favorite literary characters and act out scenes in some stories we have read together. Tonight I am a servant boy of a rich and powerful duchess- her."

"Well Dongo, that is a good look for you." Bess said. "You aren't wearing that tunic, it is wearing you." The boy buffalo laughed.

"Ok you three." The hyena said blushing again. "Any new business?"

"Yeah, we still need to obtain members in Worlds Three, Four and Five." Tess said.

"Yeah we will have to work on that somehow." The hyena admitted.

"There is also All Beasts Day coming up." Bess said.

"Yeah, that one sided holiday." Dongo said.

"Uh, what is All Beasts Day?" I asked.

"That is a holiday celebrating beastials' creation and the start of humanity's decline on this world." The hyena said to me.

"How is it that you do not know that?" Tess asked me.

"You could say that I am new to this world and its customs." I blurted out.

"Nothing like a beastial holiday reminding humans how inferior they are." Dongo said sitting down again.

"Perhaps we should counteract that with another holiday?" Tess added.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked the girl buffalo.

"How about the first international hug a human day! Beastials everywhere, stop what you are doing- find a human and hug them!!"

(Sounds interesting.)

"Hey babe are you ready?" Doria said walking into the room and sitting down next to her hyena. She was similarly dressed in some weird white elegant period gown that looked quite similar to Dongo's tunic.

"Hi Doria!" We said to the brunette who was making goo goo eyes with the spotted hyena.

"Hi Alex, Bess, Tess. What are you three up to? More special projects outside of school?"

"Yup." I said.

"Well you couldn't have found a better mentor than Dongo."

(If she only knew what we were really up to.)

"You ready to get started babe?" Doria asked running her hands on her beastial lover's furry chest.

"We love those outfits. Especially Dongo's." Bess and Tess said in unison.

"Why thank you!" The human female said. "I made them myself! I just love how this one accentuates his hips, bottom and mangey tail in the back- leaving just enough space in the front to expose his..."

"Un, got to go! Bye!" Dongo blushed again ending the call immediately.

"Those two are quite the couple!" Bess said.

"Yes they are." Tess added. I hope I can find someone like that someday.

"I already have." I said to the two buffalo calves. "Maybe I will introduce you to her- someday. Anyway talk to you next week." I said ending the call.

I finished watching Dongo's video. In a weird way it made me wish I could watch him and his girlfriend during their night of role playing. It would be probably just as entertaining. Afterwards, I finished my homework and chores around the lair which left me with a little free-time before my she beast arrived home...

**STAGE FOURTEEN BEGIN!!**

Carefully I entered the dark cavern. This was bad. I was far underground away from all assistance and aid. But I had to try one more time. As I felt my way through the darkness I could slowly make out a light about mile into the cavern. As I approached, I saw a seated dinosaur like warrior staring at a bright red glowing gem- my target. This gem illuminated the cave the warrior was seated in.

(If I could just get that damn gem!)

"Alright let's try this one more time!" I said to the anthropomorphic t-rex.

"Who goes there!" He said standing up.

This creature had to be at least 20 feet tall. He was green, very muscular and then there was that snout with the large sharp teeth.

"I the challenger Alex Winter! You will give me that gem!" I said steadying my sword and shield.

"Or what?" The big lizard asked folding his arms.

"Or I will be forced to knock you into next week! Tuesday, somewhere around 7:30 or 8 PM."

"Aggressive, confrontational and adversarial." The dinosaur warrior said judgmentally. "You will not win."

"We will see about that!" I hissed raising my sword and shield.

The creature said nothing as it approached me and bit down hard on my chest separating my torso from my legs.

***CHOMP!!** *

**AUGH!!**

**GAME OVER**

(Damn it!)

"Ok, let's try this again!" I said resetting the game. Once again the great room of the lair disappeared as the cavern and the dino warrior's cave emerged from the viewscrew projecting itself around me.

(I love the video games on this world! They are very immersive and very interactive! It is like being in my own movie.)

**STAGE FOURTEEN BEGIN!!**

"Alright you foul beast give me your ill gotten booty or I am going to kick yours!!" I shouted.

"Hey little buddy how goes it?" A goofy dragon asked as he entered my game.

"ARGH!! I can't beat this guy!" I said as the huge dinosaur approached us.

"Alex why are your trying to fight him?" Sorren asked me.

"So I can get that red gem -> which I need to trade for the power sword -> which I must use to pass the Labyrinth of Agony -> in order to obtain the map of creation -> which will guide me through the Pit of Despair -> so that I can confront the Gargantuan Gryphon of the Gulf -> kick its ass and beat the game!"

"Aggressive, overconfident, confrontational and VERY adversarial." The dinosaur commented. "I am going to eat you now."

"Wow he is very big." Sorren observed as the creature loomed menacingly over me.

Then the inevitable happened.

***CHOMP!!** *

**AUGH!!**

**GAME OVER**

"Damn! This always happens!!"

"Uh, little buddy why don't you take a break from your break and play something else- something a little less likely to exacerbate your base nature." The dragon said to me trying very hard not to be judgmental.

"ARE YOU SAYING THAT I AM BEING AGGRESSIVE, ADVERSARIAL AND CONFRONTATIONAL?!" I said staring him in the face.

"Well today you are." He said quietly.

"Ok fine. There are plenty of games on the hub gaming channel. Why not Lizard of Legend?"

"What is that about?" The dragon asked me.

I pulled up the game description. "It says that it is an epic RPG where players hunt down a vicious dragon that has been destroying towns, eating villagers and otherwise terrorizing the countryside..."

I looked at Sorren- the goofy dragon appeared annoyed, very annoyed. So annoyed he was snorting smoke out of his nostrils.

"Sorry." I said quietly.

"That game was probably made by dragon haters." He said under his breath.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Something less violent and adversarial. Something that requires cooperation and teamwork. How about a racing game? You can help me set it up."

"Ok."

Sorren and I rearranged the furniture in the lair- moving it off to the side and corners so that there was nothing left but the hub monitor and two foot stools.

"That will do nicely." He said to me.

"This game is going to require that much space?" I asked him.

"That and then some. It is a racing game after all." Sorren said sitting down on one of the foot stools.

He motioned for me to take the other and place it in front of him. "Ok now what?" I asked.

"It is two player cooperative." He said leaning over me. "We are going to drive a hover vehicle in a three lap race against other drivers."

"What is the game called?"

"Keep Up." The dragon said. "The object is to out race the other racers and to come in first. We will be starting in ninth place."

"Sounds interesting." I said

"Good let's start."

No sooner had Sorren said that the interior of the great room in the lair was transformed. Unlike my game which took place inside a cave, we were inside a hover vehicle. Outside it were eight other vehicle tightly spaced over a long track which ran through the wilderness. I saw mountains to the right, a waterfall to the left with a river, and a cave in the distance.

"Wow." I said looking at the interior of our car- bare bones except for the steering wheel, shifter and a vague heads up display showing our position to the other racers.

**Enter Your Names Players**

"Dark Dragon!" Sorren said proudly.

"Dark what now?" I asked looking up at him.

"It is my in game name, you know my alias. What do you want to be called?"

"Um, ah- how about, um Dark Presence?"

**Welcome Dark Dragon & Dark Presence. The race will begin momentarily**

"Well lookie who decided to join the game today!! We have a legend in our mits fellas!" One of the other players said appearing in the heads up display.

"Hello Mortimer!" Sorren said giggling.

"Whoa! Dark Dragon!"

"Hello Chaos, Hardtimes, Wrongway, Ugg & Pepper." Sorren said greeting our fellow racers.

"Hey Dark Dragon! Welcome back!" The other racers said greeting him.

"Welcome back handsome." A female armadillo said. "I am going to enjoy running you down and kicking that cute butt of yours!!"

"Hello Pepper!" Sorren started to say before he was interrupted by Mortimer.

"You know today's the day- I am going to finally beat you and make you eat my dust!! I have been practicing!!!"

"You are welcome to try." Sorren said to the brown pig.

**The race is about to begin 3- 2- 1 GO!!!**

The race started. Sorren guided my hands to hold the starring wheel with his paws as he slammed on the accelerator launching us past the other cars at the rear of the line.

**A smooth start not bad car number nine**

The simulation that was projected from the hub onto us and the walls of the great room was incredible- we were actually in the game complete with announcer complementing or deriding us based on our actions.

Sorren drove as if we were running from the devil himself! He weaved in and out, up and down the other cars pushing our hover vehicle to the max. I helped keep an eye on the rest of the pack as we drove around the track, past the mountains on the right. Through the cave and right by the waterfall and right over the check point.

**Two Laps To Go!!**

"SORREN!!"

**Somebody's sneaking up on you!!**

"I got it!!" The goofy dragon said slamming on the brake.

A hover vehicle rear ended our vehicle which caused it and three other cars that were immediately behind to wreck.

**Cars eight, seven, three and five you got owned!!**

"HEY!!!" Hartimes, Wrongway, Ugg and Pepper screamed.

"Sorren that was just all sorts of wrong!" I said to the dragon as he sped up to try to catch the front runners.

"He who laughs last, laughs longest." The dragon snickered.

Sorren pushed our vehicle hard past the mountains again, the cave and the waterfall to try and catch vehicles one, two, four and six. I think Sorren's rival Mortimer was one of them. Chaos the porcupine was in the other and the last two were controlled by the game.

As we completed the second lap Sorren managed to catch up to number six who blocked us at every direction and would not let us pass.

**Final Lap!! You are in fifth place**

"I am not letting you past me!!" The pig said in our heads up display.

"Mortimer, Mortimer, Mortimer, Mortimer." Sorren teased. "On your best day- you aren't half as good as I am on my worst day!" The dragon said as he acted like he was going to pass on the right but quickly dodged left before the pig could react.

"NOOO!!!! Not Again!!" The pig screamed.

"See ya!!!" I said to him. "Three cars ahead and half a lap to go!" I said to Dark Dragon.

Sorren deftly wedged our vehicle in-between vehicles two and four and then love tapped both causing them to wreck! One hit the side of the cave and the other went into the waterfall.

"Then there was one!" The dragon hissed as we approached the final stretch. "Chaos!! I am coming for you!!!"

"We will see about that!" The porcupine hissed.

Sorren managed to get the nose and right quarter front panel of our vehicle slightly past the car nose of Chaos' vehicle he then turned the steering wheel all the way to the right causing our vehicle to be t-boned but pushing the other backward as we crossed the finish line sideways. It was quite the extravagant display.

**Hey Get That Ass Back!! Car Number Nine Wins!!**

"Sorren you are completely crazy!" I said to the celebratory dragon who rubbed it in to our fellow racers.

"And you are a good copilot!" The goofy dragon said as he ended the game and the great room reappeared.

"Where did you learn to drive like that?"

"Playing a lot of racing games while wishing for a hover vehicle of my own."

"I was surprised when Lurie said that you three didn't own one- it would make getting around a lot easier."

"Yeah, but a nice one- a really nice one is quite expensive and with Tauren supporting his previous owners and Lurie helping him, we really haven't focused on it too much- but it would be nice to have one of our own.

(Apparently not everything comes easy to beastials.)

"For what it is worth, we made a pretty nice team little buddy."

Just then the viewscreen started flashing and an image of a female brown bear appeared.

"Mistress!"

"Hi pet, Sorren. I won't be home this evening or for the next few nights."

"Aw crap!" I huffed. "I made dinner and everything!"

"Sorry pet something has come up." She said solemnly.

"Really? Another mission?" I said dejected.

"It seems like you have just returned from the last one." Sorren added.

"What is it? A lead on The Madam, or is it the Animalitia, a rebel group or something else?"

"Sorry Alex. You know I can't say. But you will be staying with Sorren, Tauren and Lurie for the next few days. During that time you are to continue recovering, see Lea as needed- but absolutely no missions, time traveling, ghost hunting or alien hunting. When I return I want you to be completely recovered 100% mentally and physically. I also want you on your best behavior!"

"Yes mistress."

"Sorren will you see to that?" My she beast said addressing the dragon.

"So he is to have fun, fun, fun until his master returns!" I think I can see to that." The goofy dragon giggled.

"Alright. I will see you two in a few days." My she beast said ending the transmission.

" SLEEPOVER!!" Sorren said. "I will let the others know. See you in a little bit."

"Okay." I said as I watched the goofy dragon leave. "We do make a great team."

(That gives me an idea.)

**STAGE FOURTEEN BEGIN!!**

"Back for more?!" The T-rex asked me as I approached him.

"Ah no." I said to him. "You have something I need in order to continue on my journey."

"Sit." He ordered me.

Carefully I sat down in front of him.

"I really, really need this badly. Can I have it?"

"Polite, non-confrontational almost to a fault." The dinosaur said looking me over. "Here." He said giving me the gem.

(That was all I had to do?")

"You are giving this to me?"

"Yes, besides I have spares." The creature said to me.

"All I had to do was be polite and cordial? That was it?"

"Um hmm." The creature said looming over me. "You would be surprised at how many players I have eaten who have tried to take the gem by force."

"I feel like such an idiot." I huffed. "I have been stuck on this level for the last day and a half."

"Yes, yes as you should." The T-rex said to me. "Now if you are willing to listen I could give you some some extra pointers on how to complete your journey."

"I am all ears."

To Be Continued....