Counter Earth Chronicles - Dual Realities

Chapter 60: The Fire Of Hope That Shines Brightly For Us All

December 10th, YOE 35

11:42 AM Free Counter Earth (Upper atmosphere, Counter Earth)

The metallic black oval spacecraft whooshed from the surface of the planet towards a triangular spacecraft orbiting it quickly… silently… staring out one of the ship's windows was a short horned angular faced wingless red dragon who flailed his arms and screamed in shere panic.

No one heard the dragon. Not even the occupants of the craft who were there with him.

“Alex!! Dr. Pina!! Commander?" He shouted, rubbing his companions who were in the same orange room with him. But they would not stir. “What do I do?! What do I do?!" He screamed as the craft moved towards the KLIS ship… and then whooshed passed it.

The dragon was surprised that the scout ship he was in went by the triangular craft but where was it headed?

Sorren ran out of the room to an adjacent one with a larger window where he saw the triangular shaped craft getting smaller and smaller.

(Phew!!)

He then re-entered the next room where he saw the moon getting larger and larger!

The goofy dragon screamed again as the ship's decent suddenly slowed as it entered the celestial body headed toward a particular large crater on the surface… the covering slid open sideways revealing a secret outpost!!! Hidden but also in plain sight. 

Those sneaky extraterrestrials!

Sorren went back to the monitor in the first room and started looking for anything to press, some way to convince the ship to head back to Counter Earth. There was nothing.

“Oh bother." He said as the ship came to a dead stop and landed.

Earlier…

December 10th, YOE 35

9:45 AM Free Counter Earth (Outside World Three Museum)

“I don't know Yoana, that ship looks quite menacing." The she panda trembled.

“And big! Don't forget big!" The he wolverine added .

“And you two call yourself the alien hunters?" The sentient goo puddle chided.

“That was only a nick-name given to us because we stumbled across some extraterrestrial refugees hiding amongst the population." Panda Lee replied trembling again.

“And it was completely by accident!" Milo added.

“Chubby, big butt do you want my help or not? Because I could just go back to my world and let that ship collect more of your kind." Yoana said pointing to the yellow beam that had begun strafing neighborhoods nearby.

“Yes." The wolverine boy replied. “Please!"

“EXCELLENT." The female goo puddle replied.

“So Yoana what is the plan?" The panda asked.

“We get captured, overwhelm the crew and take the ship. We use it to fight back and then donate it to your leader-ship it to fight back against further extraterrestrial harvesting."

“AND?" The wolverine asked.

“I take a portion of the craft's prisoners back to my Counter Earth as compensation." 

“To use as power ups?" Panda Lee asked.

“That was the selfish self interest she was referring to." Milo said, crossing his arms.

“Those are my terms which your friends have agreed to; sacrifice some to save more."

“Fine! But how is this plan going to succeed?" The she panda asked.

“Well if your aliens are anything like my aliens- they have certain weaknesses. Weaknesses that I can exploit… weakness that will lead to their downfall. But first I need a victim." Yoana said, casting a wicked glance at Milo.

“Get captured?!" The chubby wolverine gasped.

“I thought you would have balked about combining with me." The female goo puddle said glistening.

“That too!" Milo quivered.

“Trust me, it is necessary." The goo puddle said latching onto the boy's leg.

“Will it hurt?" 

“Not much." She snickered enveloping Milo.

*SCHLOP*

“AUGH!" The wolverine boy screamed as a viscous puddle of black layered all over him like frosting on a cake.

“So over dramatic! Relax! Think about the weight you are going to lose and give yourself to me." Yoana ordered.

*Power Up*

Panda Lee gasped as she looked at the newly formed black canid goo creature.

“A little more heft than I would have liked, but very nice." Yoana said admiring her new body. “It is go time big butt."

10:15 AM Free Counter Earth (Master Koala's Lab, World Three Museum)

“Looks like the warning has been canceled." Arthur said looking at his cube. “The KLIS ship has left the area."

“Did Panda Lee and Milo do it?" Minka asked.

“I don't think so." Primrose replied breaking the fantasy moment. “They were trying to stop the KLIS, not convince them to go away."

Cody traded glances with Primrose, Minka and Arthur.

The hedgehog boy tried to contact Milo on his cube. “Milo, are you there? Please come in."

“Any luck?" Primrose asked.

“Out of range." The leader of the Ghost Hunters replied.

“Which means?" Cody quivered.

“They have been taken silly!" The monkey girl replied.

Now…

December 10th, YOE 35

12:16 PM Free Counter Earth's Moon (KLIS scout ship)

The terrified cafeteria cook slowed his breathing as he tried to assess the situation. He, and his companions were completely screwed!

As the craft landed he did his best to hide Dr. Pina, Commander Ursa, Alex Winter and INTERCEPT but there were only so many places on the scout ship. He hoped the storage locker he dove into would be enough.

An eerily silence fell across the ship. It was like the calm before a massive storm that would wreak havoc on a population center. He knew something bad was out there, that it was coming. He just didn't know when.

*OPEN*

The door of the locker opened vertically, horizontally and diagonally. The goofy dragon found himself staring at three yellowish- orange watermelon head-shaped humanoids with slanted black oval eyes, white pupils, slit-like mouths and no necks!! 

They stared at Sorren neutral faced.

The dragon stared back at them. “Uh, hi!" He waved. “What happened to the greys?"

The three looked at each other. Small smiles formed on their faces.

1:42 PM Free Counter Earth's Moon (Prisoner Chamber, Undisclosed Location)

“Mr. Winter are you still with us?"

I heard Dr. Pina prod me.

“Uhhh… what happened?" I asked looking around. I saw nothing but infinite darkness in every direction save for one sole spotlight that was shining on me and the dall sheep.

(Gee, this seems familiar.)

He was seated on the floor holding me against his person.

“I made a critical error Mr. Winter." He said quietly. 

I looked up at him. “What happened to your horn?!"

“It was taken by those who took us." He said quietly.

“You mean we have been harvested?! Are you sure?" I said shocked.

“The fact that you can directly question me is proof Mr. Winter."

“Oh no! We are no longer within the empire!" I gasped.

“Most likely on one of their ships or worse." Dr. Pina said.

“It is probably the later." I surmised.

“I think while studying that scout ship I triggered some type of device that knocked us out and returned the ship to them."

“Well done sir, well done." I said sarcastically.

“We have to figure out a way out of here Mr. Winter."

“There isn't. Dr. Pina. We are theirs until they are finished with us and I am very afraid what that will look like."

“Meaning?"

“When they had finished with me the last time I was near death. Besides, have any of the other abducted ever returned?" I asked the now one horned dall sheep.

“Well there was Lady Vermin…"

“Unaltered." I countered.

The sheep was silent as he dropped his head to the ground.

“There is a reason for that. Dr. Pina, we are finished."

2:03 PM Free Counter Earth's Moon (Undisclosed Lab, Undisclosed Location)

Commander Ursa chuffed as she was waited on hand on foot. She felt like some queen or empress of even a goddess being attended to by her servants.

The female brown bear was seated in her own private bath with servants all around her. She held out her left arm, it was lathered, scrubbed, washed and rinsed. She then did the same for her right arm. The actions were repeated.

Standing up she held out her left leg, then her right. Her servants didn't miss a spot. They moved on to her back then her front making sure her breasts were sparkling clean, her neck, head, ears, nose, mouth and finally her genitals. This was beyond wonderful!

Commander Ursa soon found herself receiving a relaxing yet erotic massage as every part of her being was rolled, kneaded and rubbed.

(This place could give the Aurora Spa a run for the money!) She thought as her attendants rubbed her foot paw and then examined her armpit. Odd though she didn't recall booking a reservation at any massage parlor. But with the extreme pressure she had been under she definitely needed it.

Wait? What's that? Her masseuse was saying something to her. 

If you wish to nap you are more than welcome to. 

How generous of him!

This place must have a lot of emphasis on service. The she beast sensed that there were other clients in the same spa that were being waited on as well. Let them wait for their turn!

“NNNNNNNNGGGGFFFF!!!" Lian moaned as his vision went all white. The aliens had plastered him to that XXX cross once again in that weird lab with the one way viewing wall. 

Judging by the weird sensations he was feeling around his groin, the KLIS had him hooked up to that semen extraction machine as well. 

The machine let the orange bay cat recover from his mind blowing orgasm. As his vision returned, Lian looked up to see several of the greys 'working' on a nude female brown bear in the next lab over from him. She was completely oblivious to what was actually going on. He suspected that they wanted it that way. 

Many of the KLIS abductees had been scared out of their minds when they were taken. He remembered the stories Lea had told him of Commander Ursa's abduction. If they have her again this was their method of keeping her calm, in control and unaware.

*OAH* The machine had started again! Lian felt his scrotum being gently massaged and his shaft rubbed to another erection. It felt so good!! He closed his eyes again enjoying the intense pleasure as the machine was going to bring him to another orgasm. 

How many had it been today? He had lost count as the machine attempted to milk him again. Oh here it comes!!

Given what was being done to the KLIS' other captives in adjacent labs there could be worse experiences.

2:31 PM Free Counter Earth's Moon (Undisclosed Lab, Undisclosed Location)

*poke* *poke* *poke*

“Aieee!! Quit poking me!" Panda Lee screamed looking over her shoulder at the two grey aliens that was fascinated with her butt. 

“On the contrary if I were you, I would be appreciative that that is all that they are doing." The black canid goo creature observed from the glass dome she was encased under. 

“Yoana! Why haven't you enacted your plan yet?" The she panda asked-shouted as another KLIS came over to look at the restrained nude beastial bear.

“Um, yeah about that…. Your aliens here are a little different from the aliens where I come from."

“Meaning….?" Panda Lee gasped as she was poked again.

“I can't control or manipulate them. Sorry about that." 

“WHAT?!" Panda Lee shouted looking over at the combined form of Milo and Yoana.

The two KLIS stared at each other as they exchanged communications telepathically.

This one's posterior is rather large compared to the rest of her body.

Have you seen how it wiggles when she walks?

She would be a perfect candidate for the reduction surgery.

Agreed.

“Hey where are we going? What are you doing?" Panda Lee squealed as she was levitated off the table past Yoana and a similarly restrained female tanuki to another room outside the lab by the two grey aliens. “Yoana do something!!!"

To Be Continued….

[MEANWHILE]

December 10th, YOE 35

11:42 AM Chaundoon (Former forest, Uncharted Wilderness)

The knights present had their paws on their weapons. My mistress and Sanda their swords, Rhinox his ax, Lady Barq her mace, and Ripple her rods as we watched the beige creature with long black hair, jagged limbs and three eyes emerge from the maze and walk our leader away from the protection of his entourage.

Duchess Jua ordered everyone to stand down.

“Um, everybody is okay with this?" I asked.

“Alex, it is the only way." Mathias said, placing his paw on my shoulder.

“Unless you have another idea." Mattimeo suggested.

“Brute force did not work." Lady Ursa advised sheathing her sword.

“Perhaps diplomacy will." Sanda said, watching our anointed monarch with the creature.

I was especially uneasy about  this. What if that thing petrifies Sorren? Then what? I looked at the Sand folk's leader. She was trying to hide it, but she was just as concerned.

“This way." The creature ordered.

Sorren watched the creature move. Despite its size and grotesque appearance, its movements were rather elegant.

“Are you a quadruped or biped?" The red dragon asked.

“It varies." The creature said standing to walk on its hind legs. 

The red dragon hesitated.

“Afraid?" It looked back at Sorren.

“Would you believe me if I said no?"

“It appears your subjects are also concerned for your safety…. They should be more concerned about their own."

*WHOSH*

The goofy dragon looked backward toward his delegation. He saw nothing but a column of sand encircling the knights and dragon defenders.

He looked back at the creature.

“Penance for pestering me. They are unharmed… for now. But more to the point." The creature said as it turned to face the red dragon. “Why were they?"

“It was under my orders- four of my subjects had been attacked and turned to stone by something or someone that fit your description."

“They were trespassing."

“They didn't know that this place was off limits." Sorren replied. “We are kinda new to this world and everything around here."

“So you are taking in the surroundings; just trying to find your way?" The three eyed creature asked.

“Yes… sorry… I didn't catch the name." King Dragon said crossing his paws.

“Marbas the infinite and eternal."

Sorren's eyes went wide. 

(Was the creature's last name infinite or was it eternal?)

“A stern warning would have been sufficient not petrification Mr. Eternal."

“Now they can't repeat their transgressions." The creature replied coolly. “And you can call me Marbas."

“Or continue on with their lives or anything else for that matter." The goofy dragon countered trying to be stern and direct.

It didn't work.

“You are their leader. Perhaps you should have kept them under control? They were not unlike younglings wandering to and fro without discipline, knowing not where they were or what they were doing." 

“That was their mandate, Marbas."

The creature looked at him.

“They are… were explorers, researchers- trying to decrease our ignorance and increase our knowledge and understanding of this strange place. Like I am now talking with someone I do not know." The goofy dragon countered.

“So they are allowed to kick stones, overturn rocks and even disturb sacred ground? It appears that you can't control them!" The three eyed creature said marching toward Sorren. 

His huge paw grabbed Sorren's head and maw in a most undignified way. Marbas studied his small horns, angular face, eyes, red scales, snout and nose like a palm reader studying the striations of a hand. He cast a glance at his clothing, the tan shorts, red blazer and black shirt underneath.

“It is becoming clearer to me. You are a new leader, a young one. Most likely from a humble background who had power thrusted upon him. You didn't ask for it nor did you want it… but never the least now you have it."

“Okay enough about me- urp!!" Sorren started to say as the creature continued his analysis.

“You use humor to hide the fact that you are not comfortable or confident in your position from those around you. You are probably one of those types who prefer talking to confrontation."

The red dragon dropped the goofiness as he became serious. 

“And you are a confident guardian most likely tasked with protecting your sacred grounds from intruders. Even those who were of no threat to you; they were seekers of knowledge and truth not looters and thieves." Sorren said as he tried stepping back from the creature's grasp.

“They sought to learn of what happened here little kobold?"

“Yes Marbas."

“I can help with that, I am the last survivor of a fallen civilization. You could say I am someone from another time."

“How did it fall?" King Dragon asked, uncrossing his arms. “Apocalypse? Cataclysm? Mysterious hidden enemy? Jealous, envious neighbors?"

“We destroyed ourselves."

“That is a new one…"

“We have been forgotten by history, but the time has come! I Marbas the infinite and eternal will fight back the darkness, rekindle the light and resurrect our civilization!"

As the creature said that a long white spire surrounded by a cylindrical circular structure seemed to rise from the ground toward the sky on a barren lot where the forest once stood. Around the structure looked to be green grass.

“It looks like a phallus and testicles…" The goofy dragon quipped.

“WHAT WAS THAT?!"

“So this is the reason for the deforestation." He tried desperately to recover.

“We are taking back what the wilderness has claimed. My civilization will live again!"

“Speaking of resurrecting, Marbas, will you please undo what was done to my subjects?"

“So you realized the condition wasn't irreversible did you?"

“You are the infinite and eternal." King Dragon replied.

“And what will you do if I don't turn them back little kobold?"

“I beg your pardon?" King Dragon asked, dropping his guard.

“Here we don't recognize or acknowledge the weak, only the strong."

“You sound like a S'mar."

“Never heard of them. You are a young naive leader facing your FIRST challenge during your short reign."

“You have no idea." King Dragon replied. 

“Consider this part of that challenge."

“I can't persuade you otherwise?!" Sorren dropped to his knees pleading.

“You will look nice decorating the foyer inside the spire." The creature said whispering in the dragon's ear hole.

“That is a no right?"

The three eyed creature nodded. “Fair warning my breath can halt you in your tracks. Or maybe I will petrify just your groin region that would be amusing in and of itself."

“If I must." The red dragon said as smoke started billowing from his nostrils.

Earlier…

December 10th, YOE 35

9:45 AM Chanundoon (Manassas' Spaceship, Valley Outside World Seven)

“Wow-za! A for real spaceship!" Flo Fuller said as she was led aboard by Milo and Panda Lee.

“Yeah it is kind of mind blowing." The she panda replied as they made their way inside.

“After the empire fell, Hue and Cassia took Panda Lee and myself in and we traveled with them looking for a place to call home." The chubby wolverine said showing the she orangutan their room.

“You traveled the galaxies?! Like that's just… just wow."

“Yeah, it is kind of cool. This was Panda Lee and my room."

“Hue and Cassia tried to set it up to resemble a room you would see on Counter Earth." Panda Lee said, showing Flo their bed, metallic shelf with some pads and figures.

“Very cosy."

“Space is limited so many rooms serve multiple purposes."

“Hon-hon, Snacks, can you come to the bridge?"

“Hon-hon? Snacks?" Ms. Fuller asked her guides.

“Nicknames." Milo said.

“Greetings Flo of Fuller." A yellow tentacled eyeball said as the trio entered the bridge. “Pleasure to meet a fellow researcher."

“For sure, like the pleasure is mine." The laid back female replied.  “So like, what are you researching?"

“Planetary science." Panda Lee replied.

“How and why Chaundoon behaves like it does- why is the sky multi-colored?" Cassia asked.

“Why are the trees red, orange, yellow, brown and green?" Panda Lee asked.

“Why is there sentient weather?" Milo added.

“Findings?" The orangutan asked.

“The planet is enchanted." The alien, panda and wolverine replied in unison.

“That is the working hypothesis which is proving more and more true the more we learn." Cassia said excitedly. “But I have made another finding."

“That is why you called us here?" The chubby wolverine boy said as the yellow tentacled eyeball made her way to a circular platform.

“Yes." She replied directing Panda Lee and Milo to the two other circular platforms adjacent to hers.

Flo stood between the three of them looking at the three vertical viewscreens on the wall in front of them. She watched as Cassia touched her console. 

They, the bridge, the stations, the monitors all faded away into a large 3D graphic of Chaundoon's suns and its three moons.

“Judging by the orbits of these five celestial bodies- the planet is going to have a solar eclipse in a few weeks."

“Really?" Milo asked. “That is awesome!"

“One of the three moons will cross both of the suns paths creating darkness for matter of minutes."

“Cassia, we should alert everyone that is going to be quite a spectacle!" The she panda shouted as the simulation ended.

“Far out…" Flo gasped as their physicality restored along with the rest of the bridge. “I didn't know you can do that! Weird… but cool."

*flicker*

“Really cool." The former slave said, looking at her paws as they started to flicker. She thought nothing of it.

“Um, Flo weren't you supposed to catch up with Arthur and Minka?" Milo asked.

“Oh yes, at the observation tower!"

“You better head out- you are going to be late." Panda Lee advised.

“Riiiight! Thanks for the tour guys!" The orangutan female said as she departed.

10:15 AM Chaundoon (Watch Tower, World Seven)

“What are you guys doing here? Paranormal Sciences hit a slow spell?" Corey Collins asked the hedgehog and monkey that had arrived to relieve him.

*whap*

“OW!" The white werewolf quipped at the backhanded paw across the back of his head he had received from his fellow wolf.

“...group is taking sabbatical…" Rumble grumbled.

“You guys were that disturbed by what you saw on the other side?" 

“Yeah." Arthur said. 

“Especially my akita." Minka replied.

“Oh yeah I have seen him! Maybe we should start calling him Mr. White!" The former black haired teen replied snarkily. 

*whap*

“OW! Too much?" He asked his wolf who only snorted in response.

“So anything going on?" The monkey girl asked the white werewolf.

“No hostile insects, sentient storm clouds, fire rain or haboobs. Just a few weather forecasters who joined us to take some measurements."

“...sky was golden this morning…"

“I love golden mornings they are sooo beautiful!" Minka said bouncing. “Just like my akita!"

“But that is a different kind of beautiful right?" Mr. Collins said, asking for clarification before he was prodded on by Rumble.

“Hey guys sorry I am late!" Flo said passing by the two werewolves.

“How was touring planetary sciences' offices?" Arthur asked greeting the she orangutan.

“Quite enlightening Cassia thinks there is going to be a solar eclipse this month."

“Really?! Outrageous!!" The monkey girl bounced.

“Serious mysterious! I wonder how the planet's inhabitants will react to it?" Arthur thought out loud. 

Now…

December 10th, YOE 35

12:16 PM Chanundoon (Uncharted Wilderness)

The ground shook violently as explosions were heard nearby.

*A fierce battle is taking place.* Overwatched observed.

*So much for diplomacy.* Feleen added.

“King Dragon STAND FIRM!" Rippled shouted.

I looked at the delegation- Duchess Jua was anxious as were the senior leadership of the knights and dragon defenders.

“We have more immediate problems." Sanda said, looking at the wall of sand blowing sand around us.

*Perhaps we can make our own exit.* Feleen said activating Attack Beast's weaponry.

“Not a good idea Feleen we don't know what we are dealing with." My mistress warned.

“Roadie surveillance mode." Rhinox ordered.

The red prototype activated its probe and started scanning the wall of sand around us.

*Commander there is nothing there.*

“Then what are we looking at that is above around and below us?" Lady Barq asked. 

“Perhaps a technology unknown to ours?" I said to the badger warrior.

“Or enchantment." Sanda added.

*PISH*

Just like that the sand column encircling us dropped.

“BAW HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!"

“Sorren!" I shouted running toward our leader. He was filled with scrapes, scratches and gashes. His clothing had been torn; only his tan bottom-wear remained.

He was standing over the beige creature with long black hair, jagged limbs and three eyes who was rolling on his back to and fro laughing.

“It is done." The goofy dragon replied dusting himself off as I pounced on him.

“Are your subordinates always this affectionate?" The creature asked as Duchess Jua and the rest of the delegation arrived.

“Yes." Mathias replied, stepping between Sorren, Jua, myself and the creature.

“Marbas the infinite and eternal has kindly decided to free those that he de-animated." Our king announced.

Sanda, Ripple, Jua, Mathias, Mattimeo, Lady Barq, Lady Ursa, Rhinox and I looked at the creature.

“It is done." He said standing.

“I can feel my tail again!" My warrior bear announced patting her backside as three additional members of our party stepped out of the RV.

“What is everybody doing here?" A S'mar warrior asked lowering his club.

“Why were we in the RV?" a mongoose boy asked continuing the questioning. 

“Dawn! Corbin! Club!" I said running toward the members of the away team.

“And the rest rights itself." Lady Barq said to Lady Ursa.

“Indeed it does." Commander Rhinox added.

“On the contrary- we should leave." Duchess Jua ordered reading the room.

“Rightly so. From the appearance, we have overstayed our welcome." The rhino warrior advised.

“Marbas, I will declare this area permanently off limits." King Dragon said addressing the three eyed creature.

“For your subjects. What about everyone else?" It asked.

“We will do what we can." The dragoness advised.

“Make sure you do, now leave!!" Marbas said as he dropped to all fours and entered the arch to the mysterious maze again.

“That one sounds familiar." I said to Lady Ursa as we prepared to depart.

“So you used humor to win the day?" Jua asked her beau.

“Quite clever." Dawn said as she cleaned Sorren's wounds with Corbin's assistance.

“Yes." The goofy dragon said quietly.

“Something wrong your majesty?" The mongoose boy asked.

“Yes." The goofy dragon said quietly.

“This Marbas character and his ambitions are going to be a threat to all of us and the planet." Club said looking back at the arch.

“Yes." The goofy dragon said quietly.

1:42 PM Open Space (Recreation Room, KLIS Spaceship)

“Euchre!!" The little aardvark shouted to his cousin and the dinosaur beastial. “How do you like me now!!"

“The boy genius strikes again." Clay Pen said complimenting his partner.

“I will think hard about challenging him again." Triceraton admitted.

“Same." Ember said dropping his cards at their table they were seated at.

“So what should we play next?" Cinder asked.

“Something that involves luck and skill and not strategy." The orange dinosaur said staring down the little aardvark.

“Someone is a sore loser." He said smiling back.

*HUFF*

Clay smiled at the spat between coworkers.

“What?" Cinder and Tricertaton asked in unison.

“I like our little get-togethers even though they are rather infrequent." The human responded. “I feel closer to you- all of you."

“That doesn't make us friends- human." The former member of the Animalitia retorted.

“I think that makes us a bit more- we survived the apocalypse, the after empire and the horrors that followed. We are more than acquaintances, or comrades. We are family."

Ember and Cinder seemed to like that idea while triceraton rolled his eyes.

“So anyone notice that miss chilly hasn't been herself lately?"

“What do you mean Clay?" The older of the two aardvarks asked.

“Haven't you noticed the amount of test subjects the KLIS have um, acquired have dropped precipitously?"

“That is because the amount of planets Mum has visited lately have been conquered and/or occupied." Cinder observed.

“Little by little ONE is taking over." Ember added. “A planet here, a planet there, then a galaxy here a galaxy there."

“Eventually the universe- at which point there will be no place to hide." Triceraton concluded.

“I wonder if she has reached the same conclusion?" Clay started to say as his card companions fell silent. “Well speak of the devil…"

The aardvarks, human and dinosaur beastial immediately dropped to their knees in reverence to their master who had entered the room.

"Come." She said to the youngest of the quartet telepathically.

2:03 PM Chanundoon (Ms. Una's Home, World Seven)

The white akita fidgeted while he waited in one of the bedrooms of the she snake's home for her to arrive. He had suffered a panic attack during the Ghost Hunter's presentation in front of Ms. Rose's class that morning. It was indeed very embarrassing, but he couldn't help it. What he experienced over there in the realm of fire and magma… what the wolf demon had done to him… how he had been terrified… violated… and terrified again… he was lucky that only his fur had turned white.

(This was his future afterlife?!)

“Good day Midnight Black." A young yeti greeted him.

“Yogi? I was expecting your guardian." The former assassin reacted surprised.

“I heard about what happened in Ms. Rose's classroom." The manufactured toy said sitting down next to him on the bed.

“Yeah, it happens anytime I think about the paranormal. I was hoping that the naga would…"

“Hypnotize you?" The young yeti asked. “So you could forget?"

The akita turned away from the boy.

“That is only masking the problem Mr. Black, at some point you would have to deal with it."

“What do you know about problems boy? You are an artificial construct. You don't even age." The white akita quipped.

“That is true…." Yogi started to answer.

“Your perception of reality is quite different from mine or any living being."

“It doesn't mean I don't experience hardship and loss Mr. Black."

“Oh really?"

“I did when Bine was exposed and Angi left to live with the Eeth."

“That's right. You two were like brother and sister." Midnight Black said looking up at the manufactured toy.

“I had Corbin to lean on- we were quite close."

“Until he and his mother left to explore the planet." The white akita surmised. “And now you are lonely."

“I do have Kip, Trail, Ganzel, Little Gia, Little Corey and Mia to play with."

“But the mongoose was your best friend?"

“Yeah." The little yeti replied. “I realize being who I am that at some point I will end up alone as those I care about grow old and perish."

“At least you won't fear what awaits on the other side after this life boy."

“No but I think I can help you with that, Mr. Black. Have you ever tried meditation for anxiety?"

“No."

“This is the perfect spot- Angie's room." The young yeti said crossing his legs and holding out his arms. “Position yourself just like this."

“Fine." The white akita replied, closing his eyes.

“Calm your mind and just concentrate on your breathing. Breathe in and breathe out. Be one with the universe." Yogi said, opening his right eye to see Midnight Black mimicking him. “Breathe in and out."

2:31 PM KLIS Outpost (Bridge, KLIS' Spaceship)

“Impressive." Cinder replied. “That has to be the largest moon I have ever seen. The orange color and the vertical rings around it and/or quite distinctive."

"We will reside here for now." 

“Need time to restock and refuel Mum?" The little aardvark asked watching a oval landing pad on the surface open wide for the ship's entry.

"Yes." The KLIS scientist communicated telepathically to her servant as the triangular space-craft approached before abruptly coming to a dead stop. Then backed away and departed quickly.

“Mum?" The little beastial asked confused.

The female alien had the biggest frown on her face.

Cinder looked at the image returns from the four floating view screens in front of the female scientist. 

Cinder read the reactions of the other KLIS in the room with the female scientist. He realized what had taken place.

“Oh no! The entity has control of that outpost!" Cinder gasped.

To Be Continued….