Counter Earth Chronicles - Fallen Empire

Chapter 62: Home Part I

Day 168 (11:47 PM The North Maze)

“Alex Winter... Alex Winter... there was an Alex Winter here once but he was lost during a mission over three months ago." The silver gorilla said approaching me.

“Not lost. I was captured by the enemy and became an Other." I said as I started to feel very unsteady on my feet and ill. Quite ill.

“That is the same thing!" The gorilla warrior said looming over me.

He had brown engaging eyes coupled with a very intense stare and an intimidating fierceness about him.

“Please keep your distance- I don't know, I don't know if I am still contagious." I said sitting down on the ground right in front of him.

“Why are you here Other?!" He asked me.

“I decided to come home." I responded lowering my head submissively. There was something definitely very wrong; I felt extremely weak and extremely empty.

“So this is an invasion then." He said combining his sickles to form a very large one. No wait, that isn't quite right, it was a scythe like he was a reaper or something.

(Please don't let him be a reaper.)

“If this is an invasion why am I sitting on the ground in front of you with my head lowered and my legs crossed?" I countered.

“Why are you shifting back and forth between the third person and first person in your dialogue Other?!" The gorilla countered.

“Separation anxiety?" I joked trying to break the tension. I received my answer in kind.

*schling*

The blade of the scythe was was soon resting right on my neck. 

“No! No! It is not like that at all! You see I escaped." I said placing my hands on my crossed legs.

“No one human or beastial escapes from the ONE." The gorilla observed.

“I guess than I am the first." I said retching.

“I don't believe you. In a moment it won't matter." I soon felt the sharp edge blade cut into my shoulder.

“GAH!! It is true. Look I submit! I am not here to fight!" I said bowing my head as I continued to feel very ill.

“If you were, it would be over before it started. So what are you here for- to turn us into things like yourself?" The silver beastial looked through me quite indignant like.

“No to be with my friends and family. Those who matter the most to me. Um, excuse me." I said as my retching reached a crescendo. 

*BLARFF!!!*

The gorilla drew back as he saw me vomit.

“You are ill." He concluded.

“No, just severe withdrawal. I guess I am trying to get used to being single again after being in a difficult, relationship with another. I will be fine in time... I think." 

*BLARFF!!!*

The gorilla warrior watched me vomit again. As I recovered, I assumed the fetal position.

The scythe returned to my shoulder then moved to my head.

“I still don't believe you." The silver gorilla said.

“I guess I should expound." I said lying on my side. It didn't help. I felt worse than when I was captured by Devon and Jessie.

“DO SO QUICKLY!!!" The warrior said looking around to make sure that it wasn't some sort of ambush.

“In March I was part of a raiding mission by a former of scientist of the empire. We were there to steal some much needed supplies to repair the blue and silver coupes." I said as the he beast grumbled.

“Well, during the mission I exposed myself and companions and was captured by the enemy and turned."

“How?" The gorilla warrior asked. I sensed he was growing annoyed.

“Two female orcs seduced me."

“So it was a very pleasurable turning?" The gorilla concluded.

“That is *retch* not the point. I didn't ask for what happened to me."

“You knew what you were getting into. You shouldn't have compromised yourself and your team." The gorilla said judgmentally.

“My team made a desperate attempt to rescue me. It failed and I spent the last three months being ONE's bitch, its little slave as it called me." I relayed as the gorilla warrior seemed to be growing increasingly irritated. “Something wrong?"

“YOU ARE TAKING TOO LONG!!" He shouted.

His ferocity reminded me of Lady Keiko.

“Um yes, I was bounced around from project to project over the last three months in what remains of Worlds Three, Four and Five. I dug graves, hunted monsters, scouted and surveilled for threats, treated the injured, raided, pillaged and plundered all for the entity.

*schling*

*gouge*

“GAH!!! And I converted all I encountered into Others for the entity." I admitted as the scythe made a cut mark from my shoulder down to my forearm. 

“GET TO THE POINT!"!!!!" He roared.

I rolled over and over from the volume of air that rushed from his lungs. Like Lady Keiko, he did not keep anything bottled up and he was scary when irritated.

“Oh yes you mean my escape?" I asked turning over.

Hours earlier....

(Well back to where this all began!)

Glad to be back in World Five little man? Demona said as we flew into the city from the south.

“Actually yes. Of our master's territories it seems that this city and World One seem to be the most stable." I said to the she monster.

 (Not to mention the least problem prone.)

You mean there are challenges with Worlds Two, Three and Four? The she monster said reading my thoughts.

“You said it, I didn't." I responded. 

You seem to be in a trusting mood today. Demona observed.

“Hmm?" I said looking at the city below. 

(Six months later and the water from the flooding still had not gone down.)

You are letting me carry you.

“Yeah I guess I am. We have been through a lot together and doubt very much that you would drop me unintentionally of course." I said as the she monster's talons tightened her grip on my shoulders. In a weird way, it felt like I was hang-gliding.

We landed on the building where I was taken captive. I immediately noticed that it looked a little different as did the surrounding area. 

“Work is progressing." I said looking around. 

That was when the entity took control of mine and Demona's bodies. We entered the building and made our way below the water line. We found Raier, Fel, his sisters working in the atrium.

(This is coming along quite nicely.)

Good. You will be contributing. ONE said to me through every beast there.

“Yes master."

Raier stood watch. Fel, Shen, Britta, painted. Demona dried the paint and I... got to push a broom- yay. We went through the entire lower level of the building. By the end of the day the atrium and the adjoining rooms had been painted. I was physically exhausted. But it was nice to be doing something productive. We were replaced by the evening shift.

As a reward the master allowed me control of my body. I decided to sit with Fel, who was eating and Raier in the wrestling room observing the sharks who were working out. By working out I mean wrestling all challengers.

AnyONE brave enough, tough enough, to take on this challenge? Pixie or was it Dixie (?) asked looking around the room.

“I would but I am eating." Fel said.

What about you little man? I will even let you have the first grapple! The shark teased.

“Um no thanks." I said.

(I saw what you did to Lady Ursa and Sir Ram.)

We accept your challenge. Raier said standing up.

Fel and I watched the red bull walk toward the spongy floor to stand in front of the shark. The size difference was striking.

Now no biting or mauling your opponent and it is not fair to read their mind either, know what I mean? The second shark beastial warned.

Yeah, yeah which means we rely on physical strength and cunning. The first shark said to the second.

The bull and the shark locked paws trying to overpower the other as Fel and I looked on. Raier, the smaller of the two warriors appeared to be losing as the shark pushed him to the ground.

It was at that point the bull yielded falling backward bringing the shark with him, but at the last second rolled out of the way as Pixie (or was it Dixie?) landed on the spongy floor.

OOF! Hey where did he go?!

“Look up." Fel said.

The shark beastial looked up just in time to lock eyes with the red bull who was on his back looking down at him.

Darn. Bravery, physical strength and endurance weren't enough. The second shark said to the first.

It was cunning. The first shark said to the second.

Great match. The bull warrior said leaving the floor. 

Raier rejoined the tan orc and myself.

How is your meal Fel? The young bull asked.

“Cold. It needs to be heated." The orc said. “Do you ever miss eating Raier?"

Not really it is a grotesque activity almost as bad as wrestling.

(Really?)

“But necessary to exist." Fel countered. “I still don't know how all of you continue to function without food."

ONE sees to our needs. The young bull replied.

“Say I noticed the night shift didn't seem to be picking up from where we left off." I said changing the topic. “Did anyone notice all the activity in small closet off of to the side of the atrium?" 

“The master is thinking about reviving the hub." The orc said to me.

“Really? I thought it shunned technology." I said to my companions.

ONE is considering restoring the network. 

“How is that going to be accomplished?" I asked the bull warrior. “The studios are under water, there is no staff and the hub's content library has most likely been destroyed."

The network would be rebuilt here. 

“Why did the master change its mind?" I asked my companions.

“I think it is a stop gap method to placate those that resist us, perhaps to give the appearance to the survivors that some form of the empire still survives." Fel said as he started fidgeting nervously.

Exactly giving false hope to the hopeless while we build out the new order.

“Something wrong Fel?" I asked the orc. He seemed to be very uneasy and very nervous.

“I am not sure this happens every once and awhile. I can't explain why."

Perhaps it was something you ate? Raier teased.

“How often do you experience this?" I asked him.

“Since I became this. It comes and goes and then I have trouble remembering when it stops." Fel gesturing to his orc body. “So how are things in Worlds Three and Four?"

“Really bad. Our numbers in World Three are very small." I said to the tan orc.

“How small?" He asked.

“So small that the reconstruction project there hasn't started." I said.

Much of the populace did not survive when the city fell which hindered us from obtaining a sustainable workforce there. The bull warrior added.

“In World Four there is a growing resistance movement; they attacked our headquarters there." I added. “The master had to find another base of operations. Construction soon ground to a halt there when a night creature attacked."

We lost an entire segment of builders as a result. Raier commented.

“That was because we tried to expand into enemy territory and surprise! They retaliated." I grumbled thinking of the master's decision.

You are indicating that that decision was in error. The bull warrior said.

“What I am saying is that we need to be more careful in choosing where to build. Two of our allies were placed in unnecessary danger because of what happened. I said eyeing the male bovine.

You moved them to our auxiliary site. 

“Yes Raier away from all that."

“I hear we are no better in World Two as well." Fel said as he continued trembling.

The master has also experienced difficulties cultivating that city as well.

Fel and I looked at Raier.

Unlike Worlds Three and Four, there are several factions vying for control. 

“So work is only proceeding here in World Five and World One." Fel concluded. “I suppose at some point the synoptic will relocate its assets to shore up its other projects."

After the crystal city here is completed most likely. Raier said.

After our little meeting Pixie, Dixie, Raier and Fel went on patrol. The synoptic guided me back to my pod whom I hadn't seen for some time.

Well look who made their way back to us? The black haired orc female said as I entered the room.

We had sensed your return. The red haired orc female added.

The two had been stretching when I walked in on them.

“Britta and Shen long time no see." I said greeting Fel's sisters.

Exactly. Britta said standing.

Of all those we have brought to the master you were our favorite. She said rubbing her hand on my face.

“Um thank you?" I said nervously.

Now that you have returned we feel a proper welcome home is in order. The one female said the other.

Exactly sister.

I watched as the female orcs removed their clothing in an attempt to make themselves more comfortable... with me.

(Oh boy....)

It was at that exact moment the synoptic decided to power down his toys for the night.

Fel's sisters joined me in the between.

Drat! Just when things were going to get interesting! The mohawked orc with the big butt and tear dropped shaped breasts said to me.

Indeed sister, we were about become ONE with him. The brunette orc said.

“Let me guess you missed my cute butt and soft balls?"

The orc sisters smiled at me.

Well there is ALWAYS tomorrow... Shen said stopping mid-sentence.

“Something wrong?" I asked.

We are under attack... Britta exclaimed.

“What? How?" I stammered.

What the orc females detected was spot on. We were powered on as our building shook like it was in a Counter Earthquake.

(What? This isn't World Four!) I thought to myself as I watched Pixie, Dixie and Fel run by.

We are being ordered to assist them. Britta said to me.

The female barbarians quickly reclothed, grabbed their weapons and exited our room following Fel and the sharks down the corridor to a large gaping hole in the side of our building which spanned several floors.

What is that? It doesn't look natural! The first shark asked the second.

Don't know but it probably came from that! The second said to the first pointing to something outside the building.

Fel saw it too. “NOT AGAIN!" He screamed as Shen, Britta and I approached.

Again? Pixie and Dixie started to say as they and the tan orc were suddenly sucked out of the building.

“Fel?" I blurted out as the synoptic took control of my body. I followed the orc sisters down the stairwell through a series of passages outside beyond the lake. It was there that we saw the attacker- a large dark flying disk which was blasting precision holes with a pink narrow beam in many of the buildings in the skyline of the city. Then sucking up those inside into the craft like some kind of vacuum cleaner.

Defend our city. The synoptic ordered.

(Um, okay but how?!)

Yes master! The females said in unison.

Britta and Shen ran toward the craft waving their weapons in a threatening manner. I watched in shock and amazement as the members from my pod were encased in a narrow beam of light and pulled skyward into the craft!

I had seen this before with the KLIS. It didn't go well for me back then and I wanted no part of it now. I continued staring skyward as the ship that had taken Fel and his sisters was joined by a second! Together, the two looked like they were the size of Capital Stadium.

This did not many any sense! Pixie and Dixie were beastials. But Fel, Shen and Britta were human before being turned into Orcs. As far as I knew the KLIS were only interested in the High Evolutionary's creations beastials and shunned humans unless....

(OH CRAP!!!!)

We must defend the Crystal City! The red bull said approaching from my right.

“Raier?"

The master commands it! He shouted drawing his sword.

“Raier no!" I shouted.

No?! There is no- no! The bull warrior said. If the master commands we obey!

I looked at the bull and shook my head. “We can't win Raier."

We see, you have dealt with a situation like this before and the result was... was... the bull said reading my thoughts.

“Dismal and that was against just one sky-ship. There are two. They belong to beings that obvious have it in for ONE. Beings that dare to challenge our master when most turn away and flee. That should tell you all you need to know." I said to the bovine warrior.

So we are facing off against beings with superior technology when we have none. Then we will have to outsmart them. 

“Beings that have an interest in not just humans, monsters and beastials but Others." I said to him.

We still have to try, otherwise our efforts here in this place will have been for nothing! The young warrior said running toward the sky ships in the distance. 

(RAIER!!!)

I had just enough time to see another beam of light engulf the handsome red bull then he was gone.

This was hopeless! I decided to run for the forest. I rather take my chances against the night creatures there than whatever was in the sky-ships.

Little slave. The synoptic said stopping me.

“No master." I responded.

No?

“I will not sacrifice myself for you." I said as my body suddenly came to a stop, turned around and started moving toward the sky-ships in the distance.

You forget yourself slave. You are ours to command.

“No. To you I am just a tool. A toy in your bin to used until I am broken, become a burden or deemed expendable. Then I will be discarded without a word, thought or phrase spoken in remembrance."

You will defend the new order.

“I said no! You sent Britta, Shen and Raier to their ends trying to fight whoever and whatever are in those ships- you won't do the same with me!" I said turning around and walking back toward the forest.

Little slave YOU WILL COMPLY.

“Why not try some of your Other vessels!" I shouted. “They are more than willing to die for you!"

*AWK!!*

There was that intense pain again. If this was to be my end, I was going to let my master have a piece of my mind.

“In reality I was nothing but a means to an end for you. I noticed how you addressed me- little slave. Was I not an equal in the collective?! I was told that my new life here would be wondrous, that I would assist in creating a new order, awaken the hopeless, helpless and the powerless, bring about a new golden age. Did that golden age include this?!" I said watching the dark spacecrafts hover over World Five firing at buildings. “Britta and Shen said that you would share the secrets of the universe with me. How about starting with that master?"

The being was silent.

“I get it now you only wanted to dominate us. Did you make a similar proposal to whoever and whatever are in those sky-ships? Or did you try to dominate them too? Whatever was done they are the only extraterrestrials to stand up to you when the rest fled in terror. I wonder why that is master? I have a feeling you and your minions are about to find out. I don't plan to be here; I have had my fill of extraterrestrial encounters."

You will not escape from us little slave. My master said as I limped passing many of its vessels who were starring at the sky transfixed.

Now....

Somehow I broke its hold over me despite the pain and made my way into the forest, into to the underground cave complex and my way here." I said dry heaving.

“And you weren't devoured by night creatures?" The gorilla asked surprised.

“Precognition and watching the entity sacrifice five acquaintances of mine without any remorse at all. It has been about six hours and I don't feel it anywhere in my being."

“What do you feel Other?" The gorilla warrior asked.

“Singular... alone... empty and oh not so good. I thought that I could survive our separation." I said vomiting again. 

*BLARFF*  

“Perhaps not. I think I gravely miscalculated; I thought what I was experiencing was withdrawal. It's not I am dying. But at least I made it home...." 

Alex Winter- June 23rd, YOE 34