Counter Earth Chronicles - Fallen Empire

Chapter 65: Thinking of Only The Good While Trying Not To Drown In The Bad (Home Part IV)

Day 170 (Continued)

“I wasn't an Other? Then what did I experience the last several months?! You know the sharing of minds, that thing that used my body as its vessel? The loss of my free will?! Shakara I assure you my possession was complete!" I said refuting my lioness as she fondled my butt.

(It felt kind of nice.)

“Was it?" The horny lioness countered. “You said that you couldn't use the 'between' without assistance and that you could re-animate yourself without ONE's intervention and you even mentioned that the synoptic said you were different from your Counter Earth counter-part." 

“Shakara what are you getting at?" Lady Ursa asked raising her eyebrow.

“I believe that the entity was never able to fully possess Alex and that is why he was able to break away from its hold on him."

“That makes sense!!! But how? Shakara, I need to know!" I shouted.

“I have a theory. I can't be sure, but I think it has something to do with you being from an alternate reality and not this reality; your crossover into our reality had side effects- precognition, that temporary healing thing Ursa and I have come to appreciate and perhaps a few more abilities you didn't know about."

That theory made sense.

“You are saying because of this the synoptic never took complete control of me?" I said dropping my jaw. 

(Profound!)

“Could that also work the other way too Shakara?" My beautiful warrior bear asked as she closed it for me. 

“My lady?" The dark tan lioness said confused.

“Do you think that ONE had difficulty reading Alex's mind?"

(WHOA!!)

“That would explain why it mistook the Grand Kingdom for the Lost City! So that is what happened!" I exclaimed.

“If that is true my lady it would mean that our little human is the only vessel to break free from its master- profound." My devious lioness said to my bear.

“Profound indeed." The brown bear said back.

“Shakara, mistress you are amazing!" I said hugging my two lovers.

“We know." They answered in unison. The two then traded glances as something unsaid was communicated between them. It appeared that the two of them had grown closer during and because of my absence.

Lady Ursa then picked me up by the scruff of my neck and placed me rather forcefully back down onto my chair.

*WUD*

(Huh?!)

My beautiful lioness and bear's facial expressions then turned rather grim.

“Alex Winter you are charged with abandonment, defection to an enemy that threatened this community, your family, friends and not to mention our very survival." The brown bear said beginning my judgement.

“What do you have to say for yourself?!" Shakara said imitating the High Evolutionary like she was observing the final judgement of an adversary of the empire.

“It is true my stupid mistake in Sir Ram's lab brought this upon all of us. Lady Ursa, Shakara my actions threatened your lives and very existence and for that I can never say enough sorrys. Yes I am guilty. I admit it."

“Your experience as ONE of them has most likely left you profoundly altered as well little cutie. Perhaps for the better or perhaps not. Regardless, you are not the same Alex Winter from three months ago."

“You will have to come to terms with what happened, what you have done in the name of ONE and its repercussions." Lady Ursa chided me. 

“Yes ma'am." I said quietly.

“Your punishment is as follows: You are not to leave the lost city ever again without my permission and while within this community you will be closely monitored at all times, your activities and duties will be restricted." My lady bear said to me rather sternly.

“Restricted how?" I asked.

(Was I to be kept in this undisclosed location indefinitely?!) 

“You will remain here until the leadership decides what to do with you." My fierce ursine warrior said.

“Hopefully that means resuming your previous station." The red eyed lioness interjected.

“There will also be changes in your living situation as well." The brown bear said.

“You have replaced me?!" I blurted out.

“Well it has been awhile since you were here little cutie...."

“SHAKARA!!!" The brown bear growled. 

“No such thing happened. Now that you are back your morning and evening routines will be different." The horny lioness said.

“Different how?"

“Before sleeping you will be required to kiss your bear deeply and passionately." Lady Ursa said.

“And your lioness too!" Ms. Kubari interjected. 

“The kissing will be intimate and not confined to the lips- it will include the cleavage, and breasts."

“Where you will be required to suck and lick on the nipples before moving down to the stomach and eventually the clitours."

“SHAKARA!!" My brown bear growled again.

“There you will suck and lick and suck again until you bring your companion to three orgasms. Not small *EEP* orgasms. But three *RAWR* orgasms. Let all in the lost city hear it!"

“Yes ma'am." I said to my devious person.

(That was such a Shakara statement).

“From there you will turn them over on their stomach and kiss their neck, back, small of their back." My perfect person said continuing. 

“And then the butt!" The horny lioness interjected.

She received a nasty glare from Lady Ursa.

“Ok maybe the flanks instead."

“At the conclusion of this daily and nightly ritual- the judged will lie on his back and enter his lovers so that they can receive multiple doses of his Essence of Winter." Lady Ursa said continuing.

“Um, how much?" The lioness said mocking curiosity.

“Until his testicles are dry." My fierce ursine warrior said concluding.

“He will then submit and let both his companions have their way with him until he is utterly, physically exhausted, his insomnia is broken and he falls asleep within their collective embrace. Does the condemned accept the conditions of their punishment?"

“So I am to do this um, ritual twice a day?" I asked cocking my head.

“NO!!!" The bear and lioness answered in unison. 

“Four times a day! Morning and evening for me." Shakara said.

“And morning and evening for me." Lady Ursa said.

“Yes. I accept your conditions." I said standing from my seat. I approached my lioness and bear still extremely naked mind you, where I dropped to my hands and knees and kissed their foot paws, Much to their collected surprise.

“End of judgement!" My brown bear said.

“Excellent because your punishment starts immediately." My devious person said making that predatory grin of hers.

(It is great to be home...)

And so I submitted to my females and let them have their way with me the rest of the evening.

Sometime later....

“What is wrong with his thing?" The mostly satisfied lioness said sucking on the head of my penis like it was a straw. “It won't grow anymore!"

*groan*

“Shakara I think he is beyond spent." The brown bear hinted.

The dark tan lioness removed her beautiful maw from my shaft refocusing in on my scrotum where she began kneading it with her paw. “Yeah he is dry- his 'boys' are looking well, rather... flat."

*groan* 

“We need to let him rest and regenerate perhaps he will be ready to go again in the morning." Lady Ursa said removing my head from her lap. 

As the bear and lioness stood up I watched with pride and glee seeing my jizz drip from their cub tunnels and down their legs. This was a wondrous welcome home present indeed.

The two stayed the night and I ended up sleeping within the embrace of my lovers. Well I tried. After months of not eating or sleeping. It was quite difficult to suddenly just start again.

I lay on my side looking at the wall of the house for hours- my perfect person hugging me from behind and my devious person hugging me from the front.

That was some fantastic sex, not what I had with Britta, Shen or Demona- because it was consensual. My females haven't changed either, Lady Ursa was soft, firm and forceful as ever while Shakara was, well she was Shakara. 

Hmm... I wonder if Demona survived the extraterrestrial siege on the city? Well she was drinking the Kool Aid as much as Fel, Britta, Shen and Raier and I saw what became of them. Sheesh, the things I think about when alone in my mind.

Help!! Help!! Somebody help me!! A man shouted trying to climb out from where he had fallen into a pond. Hey you over there can you help a guy out? He called out to me.

Not sure. I replied.

Please! The water is freezing and I can't pull myself out!

Did you consider that before trying to cross a partially frozen pond? I asked him.

It was easier than going around! But on second thought it was probably a very bad idea.

Why is that? I asked him.

I can't swim and the water is so very cold. He screamed flailing his arms.

Yes you are in a very tight spot and if you do manage to free yourself you will die of exposure. I said watching him.

PLEASE HELP ME!!! I DON'T WANT TO DIE HERE!!!

Very well, but the price of our services is very high. Domona!

I watched as the harpy flew down from the red sky dive bombing the distressed man who appeared to be in his late thirties and was poorly dressed for this time of year. She grabbed onto his shoulders with her talons plucking him from the broken ice and dropping him at our feet.

Thanks I don't know if I can every repay your kindness.

Oh you can and you will little man. Demona said looming over him.

Your free will should be enough. I said sinisterly.

Wait- you two are walkers! 

I looked at the harpy and she at me. Demona picked up the terrified man by the scruff of his jacket and kissed him.

And you are now ONE as well. You will serve our master loyally and faithful until your very last breath. I said as the man's skin began to crawl and it wasn't because he was cold. In your next life make better choices fool!

*gasp*

(Damn, another shimmer.)

“Still awake pet?" My brown bear said kissing the back of my head.

“Yes mistress. I haven't slept or eaten in three months. And I am still a queasy."

I received another kiss then heavy breathing as my bear went back to sleep. Her way of saying that it will come in time.

Morning came and with it the departure of my lovers. Shakara went back to the infirmary. It seems it had been understaffed during my sabbatical. 

“So what is on your schedule today mistress?"

“I am going to resume my duties Alex."

That meant that she was starting to feel like her old self again.

“So you are going to assist Lady Barq and Commander Rhinox in running the lost city." I said to her as she prepared to leave. “And me?"

“You will be staying here."

She gently picked me up placing me back in the chair and tying my leg to a leash that was attached to a metal hook in the middle of the floor. I had free rein of the room, but couldn't leave the house.

“Yes mistress." I sighed.

“A precaution pet. I will talk to the commander about letting you resume your old position." She said leaving.

And that was my life for the next few days. While my bear and lioness were out I was restrained. But Shakara did leave me her medical notes to study. In the afternoon they would return and bathe me. We would talk about their day and the two would give me guarded answers not too many details of what was going on.

They would also try to rekindle my appetite by making me eat fruit which I had a hard time because it just didn't feel like eating.

Despite all this life did continue. One evening our time together was cut short because there was a colony meeting. The next night the two promptly left my side because of some night time emergency. I was kept in the dark about both.

Day 173

The following morning I was sitting at the table in the abandoned house at the far end of the lost city when there was a knock at the door. It swung open. It was the gorilla who I met returning home days before.

“Ananias?" I blurted out loud. 

“So you remember me do you boy?"

“Yes you cut my shoulder down to my forearm. How could I not forget you?"

“You are lucky that is all that happened." He retorted.

“Shakara was able to patch me up quite readily. So to what do I owe the pleasure? Have you come to keep me company?"

“You have been furloughed." The silverback grumbled.

“I have?"

“The Commander has decided that you should be reintegrated."

“I see." I said as the silverback placed his sickles on my neck.

!!!

“Who do you serve boy?!"

“What?" I gasped.

“WHO DO YOU SERVE?!"

“My family, friends, you and this community." I responded.

“We shall see. Trust is earned not granted." He said untying me. “I will be studying you and monitoring your actions. If any are deemed hostile Other- I will not hesitate to put you down."

“Seems fair, oh and Ananias- the name is Alex Winter- I am not an Other."

“So you think. Walk!"

I looked at the gorilla warrior's physique- upper torso was trim and slightly muscular while the lower half especially his belly, had a slight paunch to it.

As I stepped out of the undisclosed location- I realized that I was at the extreme east side of the lost city near the eastern maze.

The underground city had changed- there was a bit more illumination; it wasn't quite as dark. 

“Wow the population had increased!" I said to my gorilla guard. “When I left there were just the nine of us."

“Well, there are more now." Ananias said simply. “Commander Rhinox, Lady Barq, Lady Ursa have taken in survivors and the community swelled." 

“Wow."

I saw beastials, of all shapes and sizes and few humans too all gave me an eerily stares as we walked by. My reputation had proceeded me; I was feared.

“So where should we go?"

“Anywhere your little heart desires- but you are going to see the Commander first." The silver gorilla said directing me where to walk.

We made our way on to the stone walkway. I went by the house I shared with my lovers. It hadn't changed in the slightest. Neither did Corbin's or Corey and Rumble's. We then made our way into the central building the first floor and the Commander's office where I saw that he was in a meeting with Lady Barq.

“Welcome Alex." He said greeting me. “Have a seat." 

“Morning Commander, Lady Barq." I said.

“How are you feeling Alex?" The badger warrior asked.

“Glad to be up and about." I responded as the two studied my reaction with some curiosity.

“Based on Shakara's findings as well as Ursa's input..." Lady Barq said.

“What we are saying is that we are comfortable enough to let you out of your cage." The rhino said to me.

“Not to question your decision sir, ma'am but are you sure that it is really him and not some act? I mean if we are wrong it is the end of everything!" The silver gorilla interjected.

“Ananias." I said calling out to the gorilla warrior. I then stood up from my chair, walked over to the he beast, put my arms around him and hugged him tightly feeling his paunch. He recoiled backward from my advances dropping his sickles. 

“Do you feel any different?" Rhinox asked.

“I um..." The silverback said. “No."

“If this was indeed an act right now it would be the perfect opportunity." The she badger said.

“See Ananias not an Other, just Alex." I said crossing my hands and bowing before him.

“NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!" He grumbled picking up his weapons as Lady Barq laughed.

“Well it's just that... never mind." I said quietly.

“Mr. Winter is fiercely loyal to his friends." The rhino said to the gorilla.

“Really- then what was he doing for the last three months?" The gorilla said to the badger and rhino.

“Well.... say Commander, my lady when can I resume my duties? Shakara must be swamped caring for all who reside here."

“Let's take it a little at a time Alex- today walk around and get reintegrated, see what has changed and then we will see about having you resume your old position." The rhino said to me.

“Yes sir." 

“Dismissed." The female badger said.

Ananias followed me out of the commander's office. “If you ever pull that again you blond, freckled, scrawny little runt..."

“Hey wait- I know we haven't known each other for long- but whether you realize it or not, I consider you a friend. No, family. I hope that I can gain your trust as well Ananias because it is hard out there, very hard and family is all we really have."

“We will see Other." He grumbled.

(Awkward....)

Since we were on the ground floor of the central building, I decided to continue poking around. I soon found my way into Dawn Stern's office.

“Why did you come in here?" The silverback asked.

“I don't know- I guess I was kinda hoping to run across professor Stern." I didn't but I did run across her adoptive son.

Corbin was pouring through the archaeologist's notes and diagrams looking for something.

“Hi Corbin." I said greeting him.

“Big brother!" The mongoose said running up to me. He was about to give me a big hug then stopped and recoiled.

“It's alright- it is me Corbin and only me." I said kneeling down.

“Big brother?!" Ananias asked.

“Yes." I said to my guard. “And that is my little brother."

The gorilla looked back and forth at the blond haired human hugging the adolescent mongoose boy. His mind was blown.

“So they let you out of your cage?"

“Yeah, I think it is the first step for me to regain normalcy in my life. But I am to be closely watched at all times." I said addressing my gorilla guard. “I look at it as an opportunity for us to get to know each other."

“When you do you will realize that he is vain, overbearing, vicious, brutal, self righteous, way to serious and a little too big." The little boy said.

“Watch your tongue mongoose!" Ananias shouted.

“It is Corbin- Corbin!" The little mongoose growled back. “However he is a pretty good at what he does."

“So what are you doing in professor Stern's office?" I asked the little boy.

“Rereading her notes on that second site she was looking for." Corbin said.

“He has grown depressed that those that matter have left him." Ananias observed.

“Watch your tongue gorilla!" Corbin warned.

“Alright, you two enough!" I said. “Yes that has happened. But I came back and we will figure out what happened to Dawn and get her back as well. But in the meantime Corbin you have me, momma bear, momma badger, Corey, Rumble, the Commander and Ananias."

The gorilla and the mongoose boy looked at me. 

“So quick bickering and hug it out. We all are family here and we will need to rely on each other for our very survival."

A smile formed over my face as the two made up.

“If you would like little mongoose... Corbin- I can teach you how to REALLY use that boomerang Dawn gave you."

“Yeah, Ananias- I would like that."

I left Corbin to his research as I decided to continue touring the central building. My next stop was the eating area. It was here that everyone in the community assembled to eat, socialize and to learn. But there had been some changes. The first became evident right as Ananias and I walked through the door.

“Welcome! What may I serve you today?" A she centaur said greeting me.

“Dianna Wild? What are you doing here?"

“Running a eatery. Well it is more of a diner." She said as Lolly greeted me and Ananias.

“When did this happen?"

“A few months ago. Shakara and Corbin convinced me to visit."

“She realized that the colony was a safer place for her and her children then the wilderness." The grey gorilla said.

“Yes Ananias dear. I liked what I saw and there was a need for a cook so I decided to stay." The she centaur said.

“Welcome!" I said hugging her. She cautiously hugged me back.

“Alex you aren't contagious are you?"

“He believes he isn't" The gorilla warrior said.

“Where is Corey and Mia?"

“They are in school right now." The she centaur said.

“There is a school?!" 

“Yes. That was a recent addition too."

“I will pass on the food Dianna- I still trying to get used to eating again but I would like to see our community's school."

It turned out that the new classroom was not far from the old classroom in some vacant space that had been repurposed. Around the corner from Dawn and Rhinox's office was Lady Barq's and then a larger room which had been transformed for teaching.

I couldn't help but take a peek. Inside was a female naga instructing a room full of students- I saw Corey, Rumble, Addy, Corey #2 and Mia as well as a walrus, deer, lemming, spring hare, raccoon dog and... and... is that a...? It looked like a yeti. 

The class looked like they were working on some sort of chemistry project.

“Now everyone make sure you don't over stir, it will make our concoction less potent."

“Yes Ms. Una!" 

“Um, what are they making?" I asked my gorilla guard.

“Organic weaponry for the prototypes. Corey came up with the idea to augment the physical weaponry that is dwindling."

“I remember. That was a constant concern because we had no means of restocking. Ingenious." 

“That boy is quite creative." The silverback said.

“He remodeled the soaking pool upstairs and the eating place Ananias he is very smart."

“Then why is he living with that pile of fur?"

“Pile of fur?" I asked my guard.

“The lab reject. The werewolf."

“Not lab reject, honorary beastial. Rumble saved his life during and after the fall. In fact that lab reject saved Corbin and my lives as well. He is a loyal friend and a valuable member of this community."

“HMPH!" The gorilla said.

“Let's go upstairs, I would like to take a look at the infirmary." I said to the self righteous gorilla.

“Hello little cutie." My lioness said hugging me. “Looks like you have been set free."

“More like being kept on a short leash." I said looking around the former storage closet that we had repurposed. “With the increase in population the infirmary wasn't remodeled?"

“Actually the adjacent rooms have been converted for our needs." The lioness said taking my hand. “These two rooms can house the sick and injured or be used for medical procedures." My devious person said to me.

“Impressive Shakara."

“So did the Commander reinstate you?"

“Not exactly. He said more like let's wait and see."

“It looks like your little human here is more than ready." The gorilla said.

“With the additions to the lost city it can get busy at times. I was thinking that we could use an additional medic especially for away missions." My lioness said. “But who else in here has the medical knowledge and knowhow?"

“That is something we will have to ferret out.  Especially because I am grounded permanently- which I don't have a problem with."

Afterwards I decided to head to the roof of the central building to look at surrounding area. Shakara and my gorilla guard accompanied me. The once dark underground city was now moderately illuminated and not so, well dark.

“It is truly great to be home and to see the lost city vibrant with activity." I said reaching for her paw.

“It has truly evolved into more than a community little cutie."

“Yeah, it is a colony."

(One that we must ensure survives.)

“Say what is Lady Ursa doing over there?" I said redirecting the gorilla and lioness' attention.

My fierce ursine warrior was standing on the stone sidewalk, she wasn't alone. Corey, Rumble, Lady Barq, Commander Rhinox, Corbin and several new members of the community were with her.

“It looks like she is feeling much better now." Ananias commented.

“Yes she resumed her self defense class." The dark tan lioness said to me. “It was decided with what was going on above ground that the entrances to the city be guarded at all times now. Lady Ursa is responsible for training the colony's warriors, its defenders."

“That is truly amazing." I said.

“Alright everyone assume your stance and punch with your left and guard with your right. Hold to the count of three and then reverse!" The brown bear said to her students.

“So much change in such a short time." I said to my companions observing the scene.

“Most for the better, some not." Shakara said as she directed my attention to one of my mistress students- he left the training line to sit down on the stoop of a near by home. The student was mostly human- but had red hair, feline ears and a tail!

(Was this one of the dual species The Madam was trying to make through her experiments? I mean he looked like he was both beastial and human- quite interesting.)

“Everything ok Zhade?" Corey asked walking over.

“Is it me or have you noticed that the former knights dominate us?" He said to the black haired teen.

“What do you mean?"

“We are told where to live, what to do, what to eat and our activities are closely monitored!" The human/beastial hybrid protested.

“Who is that?" I asked My devious person.

“That is Zhade a refugee we took in." Shakara said.

“And a trouble maker." The gorilla added. “He resents authority. Any authority."

From what I heard of the conversation he was not happy to be here.

Alex Winter June 28, YOE 34.