Counter Earth Chronicles - Fallen Empire

Chapter 54: The Things We Have Seen (Acceptance Part III)

Day N/A (Late spring, I think.)

You are holding on to us awfully tight little man.  Demona said as we proceeded southeast over the landscape. Afraid we might drop you?

“Um not really." I replied looking down.

We see, you do not like heights.

“That actually. If you don't mind Demona. I am going to close my eyes and just let you do the flying."

Such a pity you are missing a beautiful site. The snow has pretty much melted making way for spring. The temperatures have improved too. The harpy teased.

“That is probably because we have been offline for weeks." I commented.

We have not needed you or your abilities little slave until now.

“Yes master."

We are investigating an event in World Four.

“If I may master, what type of event?" I asked.

You should feel it little man. Demona said.

I tried to concentrate to focus our merged minds on what the entity was talking about, but. I couldn't. Demona had to intervene. With her assisting me, I was able to feel what the synoptic was talking about. It was a vast emptiness coming from World Four. A big nothing as if a whole segment of its network just failed. A section disappearing.

In this case, the synoptic lost contact with a bunch of its minions and it was sending Demona and myself to investigate.

(But why me?) 

Four years ago you assisted clearing one of our own who had been falsely framed and accused of a crime they did not commit.

“Based on that event you feel I am well suited for this mission master?"

Do not ask questions you already know the answer to little man. Demona said to me.

Traveling between the cities by hover vehicle took about an hour. By harpy it was longer because as strong a flyer as she was, my transportation didn't quite move as fast. I decided to pass the time talking.

“Demona you were anxious to find Claudius and were elated when he joined our collective." I said trying to obtain information from her.

You can't find the answers to your questions can you?

“Actually no. Not without your assistance." I replied.

Even after all this time, your link with us is still rather weak. Claudius is our creator. Demona said as she helped me link with her.

“He created you in a lab. You consider him your father. He taught you a lot about the world before he was forced to move on. No, he changed jobs while you remained in the lab. In time you were given a new handler whom you didn't care for."

We were mistreated. Demona said to me.

“I see, when the empire ended, you escaped your handlers and became feral."

We sought our creator for a time before coming into service of the master.

“Who promised that it would help you find your creator if you agreed to enter the collective."

Very good little man. Demona said while we shared minds.

“You must be very pleased now that he has joined us." I added.

We no longer feel his presence. He is not among us.

“What happened?" I asked Demona. “You awakened him."

Claudius is a slippery one. Perhaps he was only playing along.

“And he escaped after Ida was transformed?"

Through the harpy's link I was able to sense the entity's connection to the fossa, but she was right, the fish person was gone. How did he escape the master's control over him?

Eventually we arrived in World Four. It had not changed much since the last time I had been there with Corbin and Shakara. Much of the city had been destroyed by Counter Earthquakes with aftershocks still taking place.

(What a mess.)

Our efforts to rebuild have been hampered little slave.

“Yes, I see that construction is farther along in World Five than we are here." I said as Demona flew over the city. “Many of the marble structures are on their sides split open lying in ruin."

Every time we started construction of the crystal city. Our efforts were hindered. Demona announced. 

“Where did we lose contact?" I asked my companion.

There. The she monster said pointing to the broken plot of land and a single level structure that appeared to have been demolished.

“What is that?"

Our meeting place.

“The Seven/Seven Club?! Demona, land we need to investigate." I ordered.

The harpy touched down in the parking lot of the night club. As I let go of her leg and talon, I took a good look around. It definitely was the parking lot, but the night club was unrecognizable. 

Little man no longer scared of flying?

“Still scared of flying- I just realized that if you dropped me. The master would not be pleased."

We wouldn't have our little man to keep us company during extended downtown either.

“Yeah, that too." I said as the she monster ran her paw on my face.

She we begin investigation?

“This isn't going to solve itself." I said walking over to the club.

The Seven/Seven Club was a total loss. What remained of the collapsed structure was rubble.

Any idea of what could do this? 

“Even during the waning days of the empire this place was thriving." I said to the harpy.

The tremors perhaps?

“Maybe. I just hope there wasn't anyone inside."

That whim died quickly when I saw a paw sticking out of a marble slab. A red one.

“Demona! Assistance!"

Demona and I cleared some of the structure's debris off of the slab before trying to lift it up and off of its victim. Did I say it was marble?

The paw was connected to the female sergal I had seen serving the entity the last time I was here. 

“Was this who you were in contact with?"

Yes. 

I checked for a pulse.

“She is dead, the life was crushed out of her." I said regrettably.

We were talking when she perished. Demona said to me.

“What about?" I said trying to read her mind while asking the question. I just couldn't.

The recent recruitment drive and opposition to it. That was when you joined the conversation.

(Opposition huh?)

The construction of the master's crystal city has been proceeding slowly here.

“I think I know why." I said looking at the marble slab. Portions of it were scarred, cracked and broken. “This was not from a natural disaster; this slab was destroyed."

As in attack?

I nodded. 

Right little man. Demona said reading my thoughts. 

We started combing through the rubble looking for survivors. It was a morose and grisly task. We found body after body, corpse after corpse. The attack occurred while the club was full. We found patrons who were dancing, playing games, sitting at the bar most likely entertaining survivors as to why it was better to be a meat puppet of the entity.

We also realized why the entity lost communication with a large segment of its minions; because they were right here in the club when it was destroyed.

*NNGH*

!!!

“Did you say something?" I asked the harpy as she moved more debris.

No little man.

*NGHFF*

“There it is again. Demona, something is alive underneath all of this!"

It is over here.

I followed the she monster to another debris pile. The harpy started digging. Yay, another slab. We moved it out of the way underneath was a hole that was just deep enough for someone to escape the collapsing structure. Just inside was female dingo- face down stark naked, except for a apron.

I recognized that beautiful behind and the marks on her back.

“Tina?!"

“I must get home!" The dingo waitress moaned.

“Not in your condition!" I said. “Do you know where you are?"

She nodded.

“Do you know what happened?" I asked her.

“No."

The club was attacked. We were sent to investigate. Demona said to waitress.

I finally got to do something I had been waiting for since meeting this beautiful canine while on missions last fall for the empire- CHECK her out.

Hmm... a pleasant enough face, ample bosom, tight ass. Fit frame, taught torso, and nice tail.

Little man? Demona said looking at me. It reminded me when my mistress did the same thing. Only thing missing was the raised eyebrow.

Being an Other sucks in these situations- especially when you partner can read your thoughts.

“Respiration is labored. Her pulse is weak. Most likely because she was in a confined space. I don't see or feel any signs of external injury."

“OW!!!" Tina shouted as I grasped her wrist.

“Correction, her left arm is broken. I can't tell if she has internal injuries. We need to get her out of here. Perhaps to hospital."

There aren't any little slave.

“Right the city was destroyed. What about a healer? We must have acquired one in this area at some point."

They were in the structure little man.

“So it is just me then."

(Oh great.)

“Please I must get home." Tina whimpered.

“Where in all of this ruin is home? And please tell me that it isn't Sogreth Castle."

We need to continue this investigation little slave. The entity said taking the reigns again.

“But what about Tina she is injured?" I said as my body started walking away.

There was that eerie silence.

“But master she is a loyal follower." I protested as Demona knelt preparing to carry me to our next destination.

She is not ONE with us.

“Ok so she you rejected her. But she chose to stay, to willingly serve you and the collective just like Fel. That doesn't mean anything?"

And more silence.

“I met Tina during the last months of the empire. She struck me as being dedicated to her vocation and to her customers. After the drastic change in leadership (management and otherwise), she did not run, she did not hide- but she chose to stay on continuing to serve her customers."

Master, the dingo has indeed remained loyal despite not being ONE with us. The she monster said.

“She has even brought some survivors into the collective." I said to my master. “And now she needs our help. I am a medic- please let me tend to her injuries."

There was that silence again. But at least the synoptic allowed me control of my body.

Destination little man? Demona asked.

“We will have to treat her at someplace safe. Since there aren't any hospitals the next likely location will be at her home."

“Home that sounds nice...." The female dingo said.

The harpy quickly picked up Tina and cradled the dingo in her arms.

I looked at the devastation all around splintered roadways, collapsed buildings and store fronts. Blocks and blocks of rubble. There were some structures that were still standing but with the constant aftershocks how long would that be?

Which way dingo? The harpy asked as we started walking.

Tina pointed.

“The building that collapsed in on itself?" I asked.

No. It wasn't that. We walked right by it. 

That structure leaning sixty degrees off its center? Demona asked.

That thing looked like it was going to fall over at any minute.

No. We walked by that too- carefully.

The apartment building that had its side sheared off? ONE said through me and Demona.

(Please not that one.)

It isn't that either little man. Demona said hearing my thoughts.

“There." The dingo female pointed weakly at what looked like a office building in a shape of a plus symbol that had fallen over. 

“That is an interesting design. Probably why it survived while the structures immediately around it didn't."

We entered from the basement. The experience was weird because we were walking on what would have been walls and ceilings instead of floors to get to the hollow interior which looked to be a former court yard where employees congregated in this building.

There we found two sleeping bundles and books the manual- paper like kind. 

“Here." Tina said weakly.

(She wasn't kidding- she was trying just to get by.)

Indeed. Demona said placing her down on the blanket.

“Who is the second blanket for?" I said examining her again.

“Gia." The she dingo moaned.

Demona and I traded glances with each other as a smaller dingo female ran out of the shadows to greet her.

“Your little sister." I said seeing the family resemblance.

“Really. Please don't take her she is all I have." Tina said to Demona and myself.

I tried to resist the temptation to awaken the smaller female who appeared to be a young adolescent as I checked her sister for internal wounds. I couldn't help myself, I had to turn her into an Other.

As the younger dingo knelt at her sister's side I took her right paw into my hands. “She survived an attack at the Seven/Seven Club. We are trying to find out if she is injured or not." I said looking at her.

(Alex Winter, you devious, evil man.)

The girl looked at me and then back at her sister. Nothing happened. No moaning or bristled fur, nothing like that at all.

We have rejected her little slave; she is not worthy of the awakening. The synoptic said to me.

“But why master? She is young, adaptable and is capable of learning."

She is mute.

(In this day age?)

“Can I examine you little one?" I said turning my attention away from Tina. I ran my hands down the youngling's neck. Checking here and there- her vocal cords seemed to have some nodules on them. “Well that is why you are quite quiet."

Assessment?

“She is a mute because her vocal chords have been damaged. It must have happened during the fall I suppose. If it had had happened six months before...." I said as another tremor shook the ground.

This dingo-ette would be quite talkative. The she monster said.

Gia took my hands and redirected my attention back to her sister, urging me to finish my assessment. 

“Yes, yes. Let's see- your sister has a nice trim frame mostly from increased stress and exercise. See this v-line her torso forms between her shoulders and groin here? Not an an ounce of fat at all. It must be from the physical activity she receives especially in these times. Now her breasts are quite lovely and perfectly shaped for her size and frame. The areolar around the nipples matches the color of her eyes. Very nice. Her arms and legs have a nice degree of muscle tone most likely because she is on her foot-paws a lot- running and walking. Now the coloring of her fur has dimmed since the last time I have seen her which would indicate that her diet is probably precarious in these uncertain times- finding good food and water must be very tough."

Gia nodded at my analysis.

“Moving along to her tail- you can see that it is brushed- not a disjointed hair anywhere. That indicates that she cares about her appearance. Now if you look at the rump. It is a little big for her frame however, but still pleasant to look at." I said feeling it and then her back. These three horizontal lines here- are rather unique to. Must be birthmarks."

Such a detailed analysis of her body. What about her injuries little man? Demona asked as I finished feeling up my patient.

“Tina?"

*NNGH*

“You have a few cracked ribs from what I can tell and a broken arm. No bad for having a marble slab fall on you. I will splint the arm and recommend rest, a lot of it and you will be fine in time. Gia you will have to take care of your big sister for a time until she is back on her paws." I said to the younger dingo as her stomach growled.

The little girl pointed to her tummy. 

“Demona make her comfortable. I am going to look for supplies."

Little slave.

“Yes I know master. We have a mission to resume. Do you have any forces that could look after Tina until she is up and about?"

There was that silence again.

“All our forces in this city were at the Seven/Seven Club?"

(That spoke volumes)

It will take time for them to be replaced. The synoptic said to me as the little dingo pulled my hand. 

We combed the courtyard which led into several abandoned offices. Apart from broken tables, chairs and cabinets there was nothing to be found. The area had been picked clean most likely by survivors.

“I am sorry there is just nothing here Gia. If only the master would allow you into the collective. You wouldn't need to eat or drink. It would take care of your bodily needs."

Tina's sister looked at me oddly.

“Ok, you would miss tasting your favorite dishes- and you would become an in-animated object from time to time at the master's choosing but there are trade offs with just about everything I suppose."

The younger dingo and I spent a good thirty minutes looking around for needed supplies. Ultimately we found nothing and returned to find that Demona had started a fire and had wrapped up the older dingo in her bundle.

“Good job." I said to the she monster.

That is the only thing we can do for her.

“It is a shame we can take them to the back to World Five."

The next closest location is in the country south of here.

“Yeah, a farmhouse."

Very good little man you read my mind.

“No that, place belonged to an elderly couple. They were friends of mine. Last time I visited..."

We were there. You have wondered what happened to them since their eviction.

“I have wondered."

We had offered to let them stay after they were rejected by the master. But the male was very demanding and opinionated. We couldn't tolerate him and sent him and his mate away.

(You didn't.)

We did. Their whereabouts are unknown. Demona said filling in the blanks.

Little slave. My master said bringing me back to reality.

“And that is our cue to get back to the mission."

I followed Demona out of Tina, and Gia's 'home' amazed at the their resilience given these hard times they were facing. Much of it manufactured by the synoptic which was preying on survivors' desperation. 

Hungry, thirsty, cold and desperate? Then come to the Seven/Seven Club we will take care of your physical needs by turning you into an Other! You will not want from hunger, or thirst or desperation ever again maybe even the cold.

Where to now little man?

“Let's go back to the Seven/Seven Club I need to find something to splint Tina's arm. I also want to look at those burn marks on the building again. They weren't naturally occurring."

You suspect we were attacked.

“Yes. But what could cause that type of damage?"

The knight core of the former empire had weapons capable of such destruction. The she monster said to me. Most were rendered inactive during our master's arrival. But a couple that still operate. A blue hover vehicle we have seen in World One operated by a female ursine. She was rejected after her awakening.

Demona's statement drew a strong emotion in me. I tried to clear my mind so that there would be nothing for the harpy to read.

You know this individual; she tried to rescue you after your capture.

“Yeah, former girlfriend. After discovering I was irretrievable, I think she moved on." I blurted out casually as we arrived at the remains of the club.

!!!

Something felt strange like we were being watched. Like something bad was going to happen. It did.

!!!

“Demona!" I yelled.

The female harpy read my thoughts as we dove into a pile of mud and rubble just as something- two small somethings went hissing by.

BOOOOOM!!!!!

Debris went flying every where and the two of us went cart wheeling limb over limb in the air landing behind the decimated structure. In came a black utility vehicle with a hard top canopy covering its bed. The was a grinding noise as its hood slid back to cover the windshield and the front grill dropped down to reveal numerous weapons tubules which gleefully locked on to the harpy and human who were taking cover in what was the parking lot of the former night club.

“You of the New Order!! You have failed this city!!!" A voice shouted from the cab.

Well, our mission objective had been achieved. Demona and I found out who had destroyed the club and killed those inside. A Other hater.

To Be Continued....