Counter Earth Chronicles - Fallen Empire

Chapter 110: Society Of The Decayed (The Future Of Our Future Part II)

Day 325 [November 30th] (World Seven 9:17 AM)

“Introducing the daughter of the first house, holder of knowledge, keeper of the scrolls of friendship, the cheerful of the cheerful, the inspirer of the inspired, the giver of light, water, sand and air and leader of the sand folk, Duchess Jua." A pint sized herald proudly proclaimed.

(Now that is a lot of titles….)

“Wow, she is stunningly beautiful!!" I exclaimed to the ugly female pitbull who was standing next to the city entrance with me.

The leader of the sand people stood about five and half feet tall. I couldn't get over how much she and her herald resembled dragons- they had pointed maws, yellow eyes, grey smooth skin like a salamander, but their most prominent features were the long striated antelope like horns on the top of their heads. It was more than obvious that there was no way in all of reality that hats were popular with their species.

“Hey, you aren't going to act like that horny lioness of yours are you?" Masha asked staring me down. “Remember, that axe I had from my time with Kala and the Vigilantes?

“Hmm???" I asked my colleague perplexed.

“I still have it!!!" The canid grumbled.

“Masha, why do you think so negatively of Shakara?"

“You know last week she suggested to me that World Seven should have a beauty pageant."

“That doesn't sound so bad Masha."

“A penis beauty pageant! It would be a way of celebrating our colony's males; she said there could be categories for longest, shortest, cutest, ugliest and most functional!!"

“I think she was just trying to find a way to see all the males in the colony naked (again) Masha."

“I did not dare bring that up to the council or even my own young Alex!!"

“I promise that I will behave." I said whispering to her.

(The first annual penis pageant? Yeah that was definitely a Shakara idea.) 

“Greetings, you must be Masha the brave and Alex the medic." The beautiful lizard like being said bowing.

“Our reputations have preceded us madam?" The female pitbull asked. 

“Um no, I believe you were the two King Dragon snookered into offering a visiting dignitary a tour of your city so that he wouldn't have to." She said, petting her herald on his head.

The smaller dragon like being took it in stride.

“Well, um, our king sends his apologies, he was preoccupied with some other matters." Masha replied respectfully.

“Understandable. My, I like what you off worlders have done with the place. It is so much nicer and cleaner than those imps who built it." Our honored guest said.

“Imps? Did you just call the Chado imps?" The mother pitbull asked.

“Well they are short, stout with beady little eyes, weird shaped heads and bodies." She said offering an arm each to Masha and myself.

(Is this proper etiquette for one of her station?) 

“True but they have been more than kind to all of us." I countered locking gazes with the she creature.

“I call it as I see it soft skin. They may have arranged for you to move here, inhabit their former city and recover from the traumas of what you experienced on your former world, but they also snookered you into looking after this side of Chaundoon just so they no longer would have to."

The pitbull and I looked at our guest quite disturbed.

“The truth hurts doesn't it?" She said glaring at us while her herald tried to hide a slight smirk.

“Truth ma'am?" I asked.

“You can call me Duchess Jua. Alex, Masha. I am sorry, but I thought you knew. You off worlders are going to be the great stabilizers; the peace keepers around these parts- you are going to mediate disputes for all inhabitants on the planet from now on." She said as we moved from the outer edges of the city toward its center.

“Alex, I don't think I am cut out for this." Masha whispered to me.

“Consider it part of your duty as a member of the council." I whispered back to the ugly female. “Besides, you are not leaving me to escort our guest around the city… by myself."  

“Duchess." She said abruptly. “My hearing is quite good Ms. Masha, Mr. Alex."

“Of course it is." The female pitbull said.

“I know I can be rather abrupt, but I don't believe in obfuscation, misdirection or half truths." She said smiling.

“Yes. We appreciate your honesty Duchess of the sand folk. So what would you like to see?" I replied laying on the charm.

“The central tower. It is the tallest structure here." She replied.

“Yes it is, you can see the whole area from there. It is also the core of the colony as well." Masha said.

“Inside you will find offices, a library, infirmary, a restaurant, a bakery, the colony council and King Dragon's court." I replied. 

“We definitely have to go to the restaurant. I would like to sample what you consider food." The leader of the sand folk exclaimed. 

“We can do that after your tour then." I replied.

“What else is here for visitors to see? Parks? Gardens? Entertainment?"

“Still working on a lot of that. The city was a bit of a fixer upper and repair and renovation continues." Masha said.

“How about the spacegate then?" The dragon like being said smiling.

“Wait, you know about that?"

“I am the holder of knowledge am I not Masha the brave?"

“Of course this way." I smiled.

I escorted our honored guest down the main street to a stone one level building with no windows only a door. Masha opened it.

“Heavily guarded I see." She said staring at a powerful gorilla and a stern looking deer.

“It has to be at all times." Masha added. “Just in case some of the baggage we left on Counter Earth choses to follow us here."

“Although the Chado do keep it locked down though." I said. “But you never know."

“Baggage?"

“It is an expression. It means elements of our former lives Duchess." I said politely. 

“I see, was it hard leaving your world?"

“It wasn't the departure. But the return." I replied.

“After Alex's colony settled in, they returned for the rest of us. Not everyone decided to relocate. Some decided to stay behind, hoping that things would right themselves in the end." Masha replied. “So far they have not."

“And then there were some of you that decided it wasn't getting any better and left." The dragon like being concluded.

“Yes, I and my friends for one, and I am more than glad we did." The ugly female admitted.

Day 239 continued [September 4th] 6:04 PM The former Grand Kingdom

*Surveillance probe engaged.*

“Feleen, I am sending you a live picture of what we are currently viewing." The little mongoose boy said to the fennec sentinel.

“Nice and easy Corbin we can't conceal the probe from our current location." Lady Barq warned.

“So this is where they relocated."

“The entity made this place an auxiliary base after taking down the Intendant." I said looking at the little mongoose who was typing furiously on the copilot keyboard.

“I am detecting about fifty persons here." He said, pulling up infrared.

“That is all Corbin?" The badger warrior asked.

Barq and I watched humans, beastials of all species, shapes and sizes walking around the former farm. There were even a few monsters in the crowd.

“The usurper has been usurped." Feleen observed. “It is amazing that it took a celestial event to do it."

“What about the Diamond City in our former home… World One?" Corbin asked.

“Heavily damaged by TWO, but not destroyed. The entity is rebuilding."

“And all that work ONE put in to reconfiguring World Five into its Crystal City." I said sarcastically “Only to have it and its minions there wiped out."

“Not all Alex. Just like ants no matter how many are eradicated some always survive." Lady Barq warned.

*Didn't the Chado say that is how the synoptic was able to survive over the centuries?*

“Corbin, there is an opportunity here. Let me have a crack at that keyboard?" I said brushing the little boy to the side.

“Big brother?"

“I participated in the destruction of the Grand Kingdom during my time as an Other. This would be a good opportunity to take out the usurpers, well most of the rest."

Deftly I moved the probe around the old farm that Corbin and I had spent time at as prisoners earlier this year. The property looked like it had back in January survivors painting, repairing, cleaning and planting the distinguishing feature was that they had that goofy grin on their faces as if each were receiving a 1000 orgasms at that very minute.

I then pressed some buttons on the weapons console.

*Side-pods engaged.*

I then selected the tunnel missiles from the weapons menu.

“Alex, wait. We could ravage the farm, but for what purpose? Revenge?" The lady badger asked me. “I know you want to destroy the synoptic and free all who are enslaved but at this moment we just don't know how. No one does."

*If you incinerate the farmhouse many of the possessed will die, those who wanted to be possessed and those who didn't have a choice in the matter as well as Mr. Thorn and his lion-boy.* Overwatch added as I gritted my teeth and contemplated my actions.

“And them big brother!" The little mongoose boy said pointing.

“DAMMIT!" I shouted.

Just in front of the porch of the farmhouse on their hands and knees was Ruth Ann and Bo- gardening. Him in his blue overalls and white shirt, she in tan pants, a white shirt and yellow bonnet. They looked very happy and at peace serving the entity together.

“This is how that thing damn thing evades eradication! In order to ultimately win we have to wash away the good with the bad. Dammit!" 

“You mean make no distinction? That is what Jessie and Devon do. Alex, recall the probe and stand down." The badger warrior said placing her paw on my hand.

*Lady Barq, Mr. Winter, Mr. Mongoose. It appears that we have been discovered.*

I looked at the image from the copilot monitor every inhabitant, human, beastial and monster was looking at the orb moving about the farm.

“It is time to go." Corbin exclaimed. 

*Where to?*

“Since we are talking about Jessie and Devon, let's check in on them." I replied as the probe docked onto its platform.

The badger warrior powered on the prototype and we quickly departed from our hiding spot in the forest before becoming surrounded.

It took about an hour to fly to the base of the resistance in World Four, the two story square shaped operations building near an abandoned dam east of the city.

“So this is where the masked revenger is located." Corbin said as we landed.

“When not waging a personal war against ONE and its minions." I replied to my little brother.

“Nice hideout." Lady Barq said parking the blue coupe. “Very unassuming."

“Something seems off guys." I said following the badger warrior out of the prototype.

“Off how big brother?"

“It is too quiet." I replied. “I expect Jessie to drive out of that building with Attack Beast in attack mode- weapon launchers engaged.

“Corbin tactical." The she beast ordered.

“Right momma badger. Let's see- there are four life signs inside. But no utility vehicle."

“Let's say hello Alex." Lady Barq said grabbing her mace just in case. 

“Hello? This is Jessie Mach we are talking about. His idea of hello is more like s'up? BOOM!!!"

“So he is a bit of a jerk?"

“Yeah, pretty much. But Devon is a little more reasonable." I said following the warrior badger to the door of the building.

“Regardless, they are our allies. We should see if they want to travel off world with us Alex."

“And if not?" 

“Then we see if there are any survivors here that would want to do so." My mistress' rival said as we stopped at the door.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK*

There was a long pause before the door opened.

“Yes?" A female meerkat asked. She was wearing a green shirt and brown shorts.

“It is the Alex!!" Another female said appearing being behind her similarly dressed.

“The medic?!" A male said, appearing behind her.

“It's our medic." A little male meerkat said bounding out of the door and landing on top of me.

*POUNCE*

"Meena, Tilikum, Gluay and little Khai! You appear well." I said greeting the quartet.

“The ointment you gave us made the rash and the itchies go away!" Khai said lifting up his shirt, dropping his shorts to show me his fur and a tad too much of his anatomy.

“That is wonderful Khai, but I think you may have over done it a little."

“You know these four Alex?" Lady Barq asked.

“Yeah, Lady Ursa and I met them at the care clinic we held a few months back."

“It was after the synoptic took over. Its enforcers tried to punish us for consorting with rejects of the Quartz City." Meena replied.

“The masked revenger, Alex and the bear knight fought the enforcers! They were so brave!" Tilikum added.

“We relocated here and decided to help Jessie, Devon and Claudius after the forces of darkness tried to take us away." Gluay volunteered. 

“I remember Claudius used his separator ray on vulture who was looking for you four."

Little Khai shook his head. “After you left, the ray wore off and Jessie had to put the creature down."

“So where are the World Four rebels now?" The badger warrior asked picking up the littlest meerkat.

“Missing." The four meerkats responded in unison.

“Jessie and Devon fought hard to take back the city but they were losing as ONE was gaining power."

“About a month ago Claudius showed up with this fierce and ugly 25 foot tall rock creature. He claimed that this would turn the tide of their fight against the entity. Devon and Jessie went along with him and never returned."

“That does not sound good." Corbin shouted from the blue coupe. 

“So after his visit to World ONE, Mr. Price convinced the homunculus to attack the entity here." I said.

“I hope those three are okay. But then why haven't they returned?" Gluay said he was very concerned.

“So you want us to check up on them?" Lady Barq asked.

“Could you please?" Tilikum asked.

“Sounds like we have a side quest." Corbin said.

“Meena go with them, they will need a guide." Tilikum ordered. “We will hold up the fort here."

“Yeah about that, the blue coupe is two seater not a four seater." I said gently to the female meerkat. “We are going to be a little cramped."

“Well about that Alex…" Lady Barq said, opening up the trunk of the prototype.

“Jump seats?" I said looking at the small seats that rested against the back wall behind the copilot and pilot seats.

“I made some modifications for this mission just in case. It should seat you two comfortably." Lady Barq said.

“But there are no windows." I protested. “It feels like we are being entombed."

“It is not that bad." Meena said sitting down and strapping in. I soon joined her.

“Maybe not, I just wish there was a view screen here so we could see what is going on outside though."

“Grrrrrrr." I heard the big badger grumble.

“Err… but the modifications you made for this mission are very impressive my lady."

With that the badger engaged hover mode and we headed toward World Four.

“So Lady Barq, Corbin, Alex why the visit?" Meena asked the three of us.

“Our colony relocated somewhere safe far away from the madness plaguing the planet." Lady Barq said to the oldest of the meerkats. 

“We came to see if Jessie and Devon would be interested in coming along with us. Maybe even you Tilikum, Gluay and little Khai as well." I said as the hover vehicle shook due to some turbulence.

“Leave? But it would mean abandoning everything here and just giving up though." Meena replied.

“You said before that ONE took total control of the city. Now that it has, what kind of future is left for the four of you or anyone else for that matter?" I countered.

“A future of misery, pain, subjugation I suppose." Meena said bowing her head.

“We have entered the city limits." Lady Barq said landing.

“So what is the plan momma badger?" The little mongoose boy asked. 

“Find Attack Beast and we find Jessie and Devon." The female warrior said.

“Sounds about right." I chimed in.

“Corbin and I are going to perform some discrete recon. We will start at the remains of the Seven/Seven Club and then move on to Others new headquarters this so called Quartz City I have heard about."

“Be careful my lady." I warned the badger warrior. “Don't get touched."

“What about us madam knight?" Meena asked.

“I want you two to search the streets."

“You have got to be kidding." I replied.

“It makes sense Alex, my group and I were rejected by the entity and you rejected the entity." The she meerkat said.

“And it has been looking for both of us ever since." I countered.

*But if we split up we can cover more ground Mr. Winter increasing our chances for success.* 

“Thank you Overwatch."

“We will meet at the remains of that hover vehicle sales lot over there in ninety minutes. Be careful." The warrior said as Meena and I popped out of the trunk.

“And you two Lady Barq." I said as the prototype returned to the sky.

Unlike World ONE, World Four hadn't changed much from the last time I had been here, save for the new lair ONE and its meat puppets had constructed, the Quartz City. That was weird, the entity didn't level the rest of World Four after the Quartz City had been completed; outside of that structure, the surrounding areas were constant reminders of the events of December 31st toppled, collapsed structures and fractured ground and the constant aftershocks from Counter Earthquakes.

“Excuse me we are looking for a black hover vehicle." Meena asked a female gnu who was scrounging for supplies in a nearby ally.

“Was it driven by a masked individual who was randomly attacking Others in an effort to drive away those oppressing the survivors of the apocalypse that occurred nine months ago?"

“Why yes." I said smiling.

“Haven't seen it or him for sometime." She quickly responded. “He used attack the walkers frequently."

(Well that was anticlimactic wasn't it?)

“Are you coming to the rally this evening?" She asked us.

“There is going to be a rally?" The she meerkat asked.

“At the park. I am on my way there now."

Meena and I looked at each other. “Sure. I replied." As the ground shook again.

We followed the disheveled female gnu who introduced herself as Luce, to the same park my mistress and I had met the meerkats in while conducting the care clinic in months ago. We watched as she made her way to a small fountain and filled some containers she had brought with her. Next to the fountain was a male mandrill who was addressing a small crowd of about fifteen who had assembled to listen.

“...Thank you for coming follow rejects. It has been nine months since the world we knew changed. Out great leader and his empire was ended by another who had promised something better. That something better eventually arrived." The mandrill said pointing to the synoptic's headquarters in the distance. “For some. As for the rest this is our reality- no infrastructure, lawlessness, disease, poverty, oppression, subjugation and fear in a post apocalyptic existence…"

“This is getting good." Meena whispered. 

“We are about to find out how good. Our speaker has attracted attention." I said as we moved to the rear of the crowd.

“What is this now?" A red headed vulture flanked by two dark crows asked landing behind the mandrill who was dressed in an orange shirt and green pants and sandals.   

“A meeting to discuss the order of things, your lordship."

“What is your name mandrill? One of the crows batting a glowing mini-staff on its wing.

“Thistle sir." He replied.

“The order of things, is fine subject." The vulture warrior said staring down at the mandrill.

“I beg to differ sir, it isn't for us. Water is scarce, food even more so, what is left of World Four? The city is crumbling, our neighborhoods and homes have been destroyed, it is not safe to be out at any time and it has been like this for the last nine months. We want to know what is going to be done about it?"

The vulture put down his staff weapon and put his wing on the mandrill's forehead.

“You and those here are not part of the new order." The avian said coldly.

“So you are saying that we are second class citizens within the new order?"

“Yes." One of the ravens leering over the mandrill said.

“Birdshit." A bushbuck in the crowd shouted. “That thing you openly serve caused all this when it took over, what are you doing to fix it?"

“Our master built a better place, a perfect place." The first crow said.

“It is unfortunate that you weren't chosen to be part of it." The second crow said.

“Everything else outside of our perfect place will be leveled." The vulture said as the crowd gasped. “Eventually there will only be just ONE structure. Now disperse or else!" The vulture snickered as three more ravens landed terrifying the crowd.

“For the first time in my life I understand now how you humans felt." Luce said turning to me.

“Please take me with you!!" A female dingo said making her way to the front of the crowd to grovel at the feet of the vulture warrior. “I want to live in your paradise!!! I want to be ONE of you!! I readily give my mind, my soul and my body, my everything to the ONE!!"

The vulture knelt down and looked over the female. She was wearing a white tattered shirt with torn cargo shorts. She was dirty, grimy and smelled of swamp water.

(Hmm… pleasant enough face, ample bosom, tight ass. Fit frame, taught torso, and nice tail. Wait, I know this dingo!!!)

“Ah yes, Tina. You served us well during the transition." The red headed scavenger said as it touched her on the back of her head.

“But your services are no longer needed." The first raven interjected.

“Have I behaved improperly? Spoke ill of the ONE? Was I disobedient?" The former waitress of the Seven/Seven Club asked.

“No little dingo you are just insignificant." The second raven said. “The Quartz City has been completed; all who belong are there and all who don't belong are here."

“Now leave!" The lead avian warrior said, picking up his staff.

“Yes, sir whatever you say sir." Thistle said back off.

The few that had assembled did as ordered. The vulture and the crows took to the sky there after leaving Tina was left on her knees crying.

“It is like ONE met its quota shortly before the city was completed." Meena said as we carefully walked over to my former acquaintance. 

“So you have returned." The depressed dingo said.

“And you left the safety of the pagoda in the swamp." I countered.

“I wanted to be wanted." Tina said as she continued to cry.

“I know what you mean. But we are rejects." Thistle said.

“I never thought I would see the day when the synoptic would stop taking recruits." I replied looking around for more of its minions.

(Now that was a big change.)

“Get up." Meena said helping the she dingo to her foot-paws. “You do not need to be of the ONE."

“Agreed. I couldn't say much before, but I have been an Other and an individual, and I prefer the latter." I said to mandrill and dingo.

“I DON"T. Alex have you even been inside of the finished Quartz City?! That place is amazing, beyond wonderful!! If Gia and I could just live there…"

“You mean that office building shaped like a plus symbol. We were there when renovation was taking place." I replied.

“Fortunately my assembly wasn't the only one this evening, there is another not far from here. Do you want to go?" The male mandrill asked the three of us. “I know it is getting late but there is safety in numbers."

“Alex we have some time before we have to meet up with your friends." The she meerkat said. 

“It is 7:30, getting dark and there will be creatures running about soon." I argued.

“As I said there is safety in numbers. By the way I am Thistle and you three are?"

“Meena."

“Tina."

“Alex."

“I know of you human. You brought the ointment that cured the rash plague. For that I thank you." The mandrill said, shaking my hand.

“Devon and Jessie spread it to those who were in need." The meerkat said.

“So Tina…." I started to say as the dingo cut her eyes at me. “You seem to be rash free…" I said as she ignored me. “So how is Gia?"

“Alex you abandoned us." 

“I had no choice in the decision. I was under the influence of the conquer of worlds." I said angrily. “I didn't have any choice in that matter either."

“You were an Other?" Thistle asked as we made our way through a trashed block of collapsed buildings and rubble. “What was that like?"

“It sucked. No free will. Do this, do that under threat of punishment. But I did tour one of its finished cities."

“Was it the Quartz?" Tina asked me.

“No the Diamond. It was built upon top of the city I used to live in."

“What was it like?" Thistle asked.

“Paradise." I replied. “Hotel, shops, restaurants, parks, amusements- a self contained biosphere."

“I want that." Tina sighed. 

“No Tina you don't. It comes with a very high price. Serving a being that believes you are expendable and just wants to dominate you."

“How is that you are talking to us now?" The mandrill asked.

“I was only partially transformed. It was because of that fact, that I was able to reject ONE. That was around the time it allowed several of the colleagues I worked with to perish."

We were able to safely traverse the several blocks to arrive at the grounds of an small arboretum where a hooded robed individual about four and a half feet tall was giving a speech in front of a glass building.

“...World Four one of the remnants of a once thriving empire. Look around you! What do you see? Marble and granite- it was the city of many faces from the tall buildings that cast their shadows on the streets below to the quiet outskirts where the unprivileged were left to linger. There were many who tried to destroy the hollow foundations that the city was built on and the empire it served. One of them succeeded, making a new settlement on top of the old. And again, only the privileged were granted access. Those who were not, were left to succumb to the madness and chaos that was left in the wake of the destruction…." 

(Someone has a silver tongue.)

“...What you see here this evening are the rejects, the discarded, the undesirables, the dregs of this new society. Forced to try to survive in this new reality where safety and security are a forgotten thought and creatures and disfigured beings roam the landscape pillaging and feeding on the luckless souls they come across. Well, I say no longer…" 

“...If we can't be a part of the Quartz City then let's claim everything else! Join me follow rejects! We were abandoned when the previous government fell and when the a new government rose to take its place. But World Four can be ours again if you join me. Be unbounded, lawless, take back the streets, let the walkers have their paradise we will make the areas surrounding it ours."

“This is a pretty good speech." Meena said.

“Yeah he is saying all the things another budding dictator would say."

“Huh?" 

“Tina and Thistle got sucked right in." I said to the meerkat.

“Alex…." Meena said grabbing my arm. “It is Attack Beast. It is near by."

The two of us left the small assembled group to follow the meerkat's twitching nose. Away from the grounds of the arboretum and underneath a pile of debris in a collapsed green house we found a black utility vehicle with a camper unit on the rear.

“How?!" I asked.

“Some of the lubricants are quite pungent. I could find them anywhere." The meerkat said proudly. “But it looks like it has been hell." 

“No different then the last time. Wait, it is occupied!" I said trying the door handle.

“No, no, no please don't let it be!!!" Meena shouted.

The individuals we found inside were unrecognizable, they were shriveled up like raisins left in the sun.

“Meena we don't know who they are, they could be anybody." I said trying to calm down the panicked meerkat.

“Now we know why they didn't come back." She said sniffing the bodies carefully. “That one is Devon and this one is Jessie Alex, I know their scents anywhere!"

“But why is Jessie out of his suit? Crap, whoever did this must have been someone they knew!"

I quickly assessed the human and marble fox there were no signs of life. It was like their essence, their life-force was sucked out of them.

“Alex?"

I shook my head. At the female meerkat. And there goes the World Four resistance.

“Help me get these two into the cab in the back." I ordered.

“Why?"

“I want to see what kind of recording devices this vehicle has." I replied.

After moving Devon and Jessie into the camper of the vehicle, I hopped into the cab and started trying to make sense of the controls. There was a single monitor in the middle of the dash with all these buttons around it.

“Let me try." Meena said pressing two in the upper right. “Here we go."

We saw footage of the homunculus leaving the dam with Claudius riding on its shoulder.

“That must have been when they left with Claudius who is oddly missing." Meena said.

“Yeah the homunculus he brought by the hideout and there it is approaching the city."

We watched as the creature approached the arboretum to greet some of the city's residents who waved and bowed before they shriveled up like prunes. The footage immediately ended.

“It was the homunculus Alex! But where is it now?" The meerkat asked.

We exchanged glances while I tried to power on the Attack Beast. “I think I know."

Meena pressed another button next to the sole monitor and the unit came online. I floored it.

The black utility vehicle burst out of its would be tomb. I headed back to the impromptu assembly.

“...That's right, pray to me my fellow outcasts.... We will take back what is rightfully ours and after that? The world!!"  

“Alex look!!!"

The hooded person conducting the assembly had the participants on their paws and knees as an eerie glow was emanating from their bodies.

“Yay, another megalomaniac with delusions of grandeur. Meena what weapons does this contraption have? I need them locked on to to that hooded whatever it is. Fire when ready."

The utility vehicle's hood moved over the windshield while its front grill dropped revealing the numerous weapon tubules. At the same time the monitor in the center displayed an image of what was going on in front of us.

*ZAP* 

*ZAP*

The hooded individual was blown backwards by several loud and large laser blasts that should have killed a normal person. Two from the audience rushed to help him up as his hooded robe dissolved; as they did, they received the shock of their lives.

The being was yellowish brown, it had a humanoid looking body with no neck. It's head was a circle with no nose, two flat ears, oval mouth with sharp teeth and one single eye- a large single eye.

(Well we know what happened to the homunculus, but what about Claudius?)

“Meena cover me!!" I ran from Attack Beast toward the prostrated crowd of worshipers. I located the mandrill and the dingo. I quickly grabbed and dragged them back to the utility vehicle.

“What what happened?" Thistle asked.

“The hooded robed individual there was a false prophet." I responded assessing the two. 

“Ow, my head." Tina groaned.

“I think we should be leaving!" Meena shouted. “Before that thing recovers."

“But I liked what he was saying." Thistle admitted.

“That thing was feeding off of you. I am not sure why but we need to leave." I warned my companions.

“What?" The she dingo said.

“He means we should go with him if we want to live." The mandrill replied.

The front cab was a little cramped as the black utility vehicle drove off. But not without a parting shot. The meerkat activated the weapons turret delivering a barrage of laser fire to cover out get away.

“How did you know how to do that?" I asked shocked.

“Who do you think helped maintain Attack Beast?" Meena smiled.

We quickly fled the scene driving over rubble, debris, buildings and the occasional corpse arriving at our proposed meeting place as another aftershock hit the area.

“Where are they?" I shouted. “We are on time!"

“Who?" Thistle asked.

In the distance we heard weapons fire. Tina, Thistle and myself stepped out of the utility vehicle to see what was going on. We observed a blue coupe crash through a window of the entity's new headquarters it engaged hover mode as three avian warriors pursued it.

“They went inside Quartz City?!" The meerkat shouted.

“Uh oh!" The mandrill shouted we have problems of our own! The homunculus must have finished feeding off of those assembled."

We watched a 25 foot goliath sprung up from the area where the arboretum had been.

“What happened to those in assembly?" Tina gasped. 

“Oh you know Tina they were used and discarded." Meena said staring down the she dingo. “Picking up on a theme here?"

When they were in range, I flagged down Lady Barq and Corbin who set down right next to us.

“Is that Attack Beast!?" My little brother asked.

“It is. We also found Devon and Jessie. Well their remains." The meerkat said to the mongoose.

“My lady, I thought that you said you were going to be careful?" I said to the badger warrior.

“I read your and Ursa's reports about the Diamond City. I couldn't resist taking a peak."

“It was amazing in there." The little mongoose boy shouted.

*Even I was impressed. But we have Other matters that need to be addressed.* The automated assistant observed.

“That thing it is closing in, what are we going to do?" Tina said freaking out.

“First, we don't panic- young miss." The badger warrior said to the dingo.

“Corbin the holo-projector." Lady Barq ordered. “Overwatch extend the deflectors."

“Thistle, Tina, Meena I want you to be absolutely silent." I warned.

The six of us and the two vehicles faded into the rubble as TWO tried to hunt down the black utility vehicle that had assaulted it during its sermon. At the same time three avian warriors looking for Barq and Corbin happened to catch the creature's eye via stray laser fire that seemed to come out of nowhere (he, he, he) and the entertainment for the night had begun!!!

Soon the avian warriors called for help and more reinforcements arrived to battle the giant.

“This is what you have to look forward to if you remain here." The meerkat said to the mandrill and dingo.

“But it doesn't have to be." Corbin added. “We have found another place free from all this madness."

“Thistle, spread the word to all rejects who will listen." I announced. He nodded.

“And what about me?" The she dingo asked.

“Yes and what about you, entity worshiper? I have lived with you for a time and I have experienced your life here." I said staring her down.

“You are saying Gia and I need to leave?"

I nodded. “Hate me if you must, but I am taking you and Gia away from here either with or without your consent. You and your sister deserve much better than this."

Day 240 [September 5th] The Nexus 7 AM

“Another wondrous day in the Nexus Dom." A cervine said lying down on a blanket facing the ocean.

“One day is just as perfect as another Alboa." Her puma friend said.

“Yeah it is. Although after Zhade and Kenna joined us it has been a bit livelier around here."

“You mean after especially after the tiger hybrid joined us?"

“You notice that he seems very quiet, withdrawn and angry?"

“Maybe it is because he is angry at the world Dom, he was formerly a human before he was kinda turned into an animal. Kenna too."

“She told me that it happened to her in the waning days of the empire as punishment for rebelling against the ruling class. But she has come to terms with it. But Zhade not so much Alboa."

“Dom, do you think we made the right choice staying here?"

“You are thinking about Alex aren't you?"

“Well it has been month since he and his colony left the planet Dom."

*VROOOOOOM*

“And it looks like they have returned."

“Couldn't stay away Mr. Winter?" A female cervine asked as a blue coupe and black utility vehicle landed right along the beach shore.

“Alboa, Dom! How have you been?" I asked stepping out.

“Wondering about how you are doing?" The puma responded. “And Titanous has been thinking about Shira a lot lately."

“So what brings you here Mr. Winter?" Alboa asked.

“Yes, well my friends and I are in need of your services again." I said to the two beach bums.

Day 325 continued [November 30th] (Wild's Restaurant 10:17 AM)

We weren't able to revive Jessie and Devon nor did we find out what happened to Cladius. Is he still with TWO or did he share his colleagues fate? That is a mystery we may never find the answer to.

“So you can see Duchess leaving Counter Earth wasn't the hardest part." I replied as Masha and I escorted our honored guest and her herald to breakfast.

“Actually it was thinking about those who chose to stay behind." The female pitbull responded. “And knowing that they are suffering because of it."

“But you tried to save as many as you could?" Jua asked.

“Thistle spoke to those who had attended his assembly a portion agreed to relocate." I replied. “As did the meerkats who worked with the World Four resistance."

“Did Alboa and Dom help?" Jua's herald asked.

“Yes actually, within the next few days we evacuated those who wanted to leave World Four and we have not returned."

“We suspect that by now the entity has probably razed what was left of World Four at this point leaving the rejected to fend for themselves." Masha added.

“What about Tina?" Our honored guest asked.

“Good morning welcome to The Wild's Place may I take your order?" A familiar female canid said walking over to our table.

“See for yourself." I replied. 

“We need more time Tina." Masha said politely.

“Take all the time you need." I will be back in a couple of minutes. She said walking away.

“It looks like she has adapted and is thriving." The dragon like being observed as her herald nodded.

“A calm stable environment will do that Dutchess." The pitbull female said. “Wait, did you notice that she is only wearing is an apron?!"

“Yeah, every now and again she forgets." I said smiling.

(And when she does, the view from behind is even better…)

To Be Continued….