Counter Earth Chronicles - Dual Realities

Chapter 58: The One Waited Upon Shall Not Come

December 6th YOE 35

9:30 AM Creature Controlled Counter Earth (Striated Plateau)

*Power Up*

“Oh I love my new body! I love my paws, claws, snout, fangs and tail! It is beyond beautiful!" The six foot tall canine goo creature exclaimed admiring her reflection in a stream.

*Power Down*

“Don't you me OUR body?!" The monkey girl asked retching while addressing the two eyed glistening goo creature. 

Yoana looked around and realized that the whole had become two once more. “Why did we separate?!"

“Hold that thought…" Minka warned, holding up a paw finger. “BLARFF!!!"

“Oh, that is why."

“I know you find extreme joy in combining with me, it is a bizarre, weird sensation, but it is rough on my constitution." The she monkey said wiping her mouth and covering her vomit.

“You mean because I am in control and you are not?" The goo creature asked.

“Because it is unnatural." The she beastial countered.

“Perhaps. But you Arthur and Primrose have become quite a benefit to us."

“How so?" Minka said, rolling over and lying on her back. She felt a little better now but very exhausted.

“Because with your help we have overthrown the old inflexible leadership and can now enact our vision." The creature said petting Minka on her head.

“That is something a tyrant would say… my way or SQUISHIE! Wait! That is what you are doing anyway."

“For what it is worth, I know why you are here- Maalo and Iiaca told me. We were creations of those that are harvesting on your world. We were poked, prodded and experimented on. Ultimately we got tired of it and turned against our masters."

“How?" The she monkey asked turning to look at the female goo creature.

“We killed them and resettled here."

“So that is why you call yourselves the free people?" Ms. Mallow concluded.

“What remains of their race have learned to leave us be."

“Yoana, how long have you been here on this planet?"

“Two hundred years give or take."

“Yoana…." Minka said directing her attention to her captor.

“Wait, this is where you are going to ask me to help you with your problem because you helped us aren't you?" 

“Please?" Minka asked begging.

“What if I refuse?"

“You could continue to use me and my friends as your personal power ups and we would continue to grow weaker and weaker."

“Eventually you would expire and I would lose my beautiful new form." Yoana said looking at here regular self in the stream.

“Yeah pretty much that."

12:10 PM Free Counter Earth (Room B, Castle Wundagore)

“Alex claims that you are Lady Vermin." The bear said skeptically to the female with slanted eyes, pointed ears and long fingernails which kind of looked like the beginning of claws.

“I do not know of whom you speak alien!" She replied condescendingly to the bear at her bedside.

“I am not an alien, I am a beastial. Those beings that returned you to the planet are the aliens."

“Lies!" The woman remarked. “I will not believe a word of it!"

“You do bear a resemblance to my friend though."

“She is your best friend." The woman shot back. “Wait, how did I know that?"

“Humor me for a minute. Think back to the day you were harvested. Where were you, what were you doing?" Commander Ursa asked.

“I was walking down a corridor… I was with other animal people for some reason… then there was this yellow light.

“What did you do when you saw that light?" The she bear asked. “Run?"

“No, not at first, it hit a few animal people… they disappeared… then panic set in as more and more- what do you people call yourselves?

“Beastials."

“Well as beastials were touched by the light and disappeared. I panicked and ran. I was boxed in with some others when the light came. It hit us and we disappeared…"

“AND THEN?" The female brown bear asked for further details.

The female human could provide nothing further.

*beep* *beep* 

“Commander Ursa, are you there?"

“I have to take this. I will return." The female ursine said walking out of the lab. “Ursa here."

“Commander Ursa, are you there?" A red eyed superhuman with a yellow beard asked.

“Master!" The she beast replied looking at the communicator on her wrist.

“What is your progress commander?"

“Alex suspects that our mysterious patient is Lady Vermin…"

“What do you think?"

“She bears a resemblance and does have similar mannerisms."

“And?"

“She doesn't have a tracker tracer on her arm and has not succumbed to the mind control device either."

“Does she have any recollection of how she wound up being collected?" The dictator asked.

“Only a vague one master, nothing more specific."

“Let's just say for argument's sake that she was one of the ones harvested from the castle and now has returned. Why was she returned? And in this condition?"

“If she is the real Lady Vermin it would mean that the KLIS have learned how to remove animal traits from beastials…."

“Leaving what is left over resembling second class citizens. Profound."

“Master?"

“No paddling today. Continue interviewing her."

“Yes sir."

“Commander, what about the spacecraft the anti-KLIS weapon brought back?"

“Dr. Pina is still examining it sir."

3:46 PM Creature Controlled Counter Earth (Triumvirate Headquarters, Volcanic Peak)

Iiaca and Yoana stared at Maalo as he pondered. He glanced back at the hedgehog boy, monkey girl and rabbit girl who were smiling back at him and his female minions.

“Arthur, Minka and Primrose you are free to go." The leader of the revolution said. “Yoana go with them."

“Alright." She replied.

“Wait, wait you are just going to let us go like that?" The monkey girl asked.

“My thanks for aiding our cause." Maalo replied.

“I don't get it- what's in it for you?" The rabbit girl asked.

“Yoanna will aid you with your cause." Iiaca replied. “As well as help with our cause."

“They want more candidates to merge with." Primrose said reading the room.

“How about the KLIS?" The hedgehog boy replied.

“YUCK." The three goo creatures replied in unison. 

“Your fellow beastials would be better candidates like the ones who have been spying on us since your capture." Maalo motioned to the dragonfly insect on the wall of the cave.

Arthur, Minka and Primrose looked at the insect on the wall of the chamber.

“They have been watching us for the last three days. Probably trying to figure out how to rescue you three while not becoming power ups themselves." Maalo said pointing.

“Wow you are gooood." Minka said half grinning.

“Don't forget cunning and devious." Maalo said scritching her on her head.

“So as compensation for aiding us with our problem we are to sacrifice three of our own?" Primrose asked.

“Yes." Maalo replied.

“And when you exhaust those three?" Arthur asked.

“Send us three more." Iiaca added.

The away team members looked at each other in disbelief. 

“That is a rather high price to pay." The rabbit girl observed.

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Iiaca replied.

“Those are our terms. Accept or reject. It is up to you." Maalo said. “But decide quickly."

“But can we trust you?" Primrose said stating what everyone else was thinking.

“As in not to take over your world? No. But know this, Iiaca and myself will be too busy ruling over this one. Now decide. In the time you have spent with us the greys just might have changed their montra."

“They have been known to do so in the past." Yoana added.

“Really?" Minka asked, addressing the three revolutionists.

“Yes from let's take a few here and a few there, to gotta catch them all!" Yoana snickered. 

Minka, Arthur and Primrose remained silent as they looked at the ground in front of the goo creatures.

“Well time's up. Just as well I was starting to miss my new body." Yoana said bouncing forward."

“WAIT!!!" Minka shouted as she was about to forcibly be merged.

“We have fallen in with a bad crowd." Arthur said shaking his head.

6:56 PM Free Counter Earth (Courtyard, Castle Wundagore)

The cafeteria cook watched the curious glances the moderate sized metallic black oval spacecraft received from passers by as he cautiously approached.

(This was a profound victory for the knights!)

But also a little scary, this was after all an alien spaceship. Cautiously he walked up the ramp leading inside the craft carrying his delivery. He found the chief scientist and his helper in an orange oval room. There was an oval window looking outside, a padded table in the room's center and a sloping viewscreen on the far wall flanked by a dall sheep and freckled blond human.

“Anyone home?" The red dragon asked.

“Sorren!!" I shouted looking up from the monitor.

“I brought the food you requested." The goofy dragon said, greeting us.

“Thank you Mr. Dragon, you can place it over there." Dr. Pina said pointing to the padded table.

“Sure. So what are you doing?" The red dragon asked, walking up beside me.

“Dr. Pina is trying to discover the secrets of this craft." I replied anxious to start dinner. That sheep had me working with him all afternoon.

“INTERCEPT was badly injured bringing this back to the empire. I plan to make sure her efforts weren't in vain." The scientist in the white lab coat replied pressing several virtual buttons on the display.

“How so?" Sorren asked watching him intently.

“Mr. Winter, Mr. Dragon, we stand on the precipice of halting the KLIS harvesting! This craft is the key!"

“He plans to reverse engineer the technology on this ship to help the empire fight back against the aliens." I replied to my friend and beastial superior.

“Imagine it! We could find a way to disrupt the yellow collection beam to prevent more beastials from being abducted or even manufacture offensive weaponry or ships to evict the aliens from Counter Earth and drive them back to the corner of the universe they came from!"

“That is profound!" The red dragon squeed. “So what have you learned so far?"

“That this small craft is not one of their main ships; it is more like an escape pod or scout ship." The dall sheep said without looking up from the display while he pressed more buttons.

“Now that is disturbing." I said reaching for the dragon's paw.

“What is little buddy?"

“According to that read out the KLIS have established bases on the planet!"

“So you two are friends?" Dr. Pina asked looking over at Sorren and me.

“The best of friends sir." I replied.

“Interesting. Well, Mr. Winter is right. It looks like they have some type of outpost underneath the ocean."

“Several of them." Sorren said, studying the display. “So what is to keep them from collecting this wayward ship?"

“Me. I turned off their tracking system so they can't find it. It will also give me more time to learn this thing's secrets, but yes time is of the essence."

*ZAP*

*SINGE*

“Oh dear that was unfortunate." Dr. Pina said as a red beam shot from the view screen reaching the padded table and our meal. “I think we are going to need a redo of our order do to it being extra crispy Mr. Dragon."

“NO!!! I was hungry!!!"

“Yes! On it!" Sorren sighed as he exited the room.

“Calm down Mr. Winter, he will be back before you know it. Now let's get back to work."

To Be Continued….

[MEANWHILE]

December 6th, YOE 35

9:30 AM Chaundoon (Infirmary, World Seven)

Flo Fuller could not help but stop and stare at the abundance of life in the central tower. She watched customers dine at the Wild's restaurant. Patrons sampling desserts at Mitsa and Lune's ice cream parlor. While on her walk over she watched smiling citizens exit Lily Blossom's massage parlor. She not only saw beastials and humans but also monsters smiling, laughing and enjoying themselves. 

(This after Counter Earth Colony was quite impressive!) The female orangutan thought as she made her way up the tower's stairs. 

It was near the top that she arrived at her destination- medical. Inside she went. There were examination rooms, with wooden tables that doubled as beds, and plenty of instruments. There was also a waiting area, a meeting room, and Penny Penguin's office. 

“There is nothing to worry about Kip, your penis and scrotum are the right size and shape for a boy your age. I would go a step further and say that they are adorably cute." A red eyed lioness said petting a black bear cub on his head.

“Um, thanks but that was not why I came here to see you."

“What was it again?" Shakara asked.

“The rash I had on my arm- remember?"

“Oh, yes the rash." The lioness replied as if coming out of a trance.

“Like wow, another tower." Flow fuller said looking around. 

“Yeah, this one is a bit more primitive." The horny lioness said releasing her patient. “But you get used to it."

“The buildings are all made of stone with open windows!" Ms. Fuller exclaimed.

“It was given to us that way." Shakara said modestly.

“Given to you?"

“Yes. The Chado, a race of beings who walk the line between nature and technology, they helped us leave Counter Earth after the empire collapsed." 

“I feel there were a few stipulations…" Flo asked as Shakara directed her to an examination room.

“Yes. They chose one of our own to be the leader of this civilization and help keep the peace on the planet."

“Sounds like a heavy burden." The she orangutan observed.

“It is but our leader has received support from another leader, his subjects and the colony council. He has had a rough year with one crisis after another but he made it through." The red eyed lioness said directing the orangutan to make herself comfortable on a table. “So how does it feel to be free from that realm?"

“Like weird, I thought I would like, spend the rest of my natural life there under Diamantopoulos; I was resigned to it." Flo replied as her eyes, ears, nose, throat and lungs, musculature,  bones, body and body chemistry were examined. 

“Sorry for the delay in scheduling your first physical."

“Like it is alright I know you guys here were quite busy the last few days."

“Understatement of the year but true. Anyway, except for bad breath and some body odor- which is understandable given where you have been, there isn't anything wrong with you." Shakara said making several passes over the orangutan with her triangular scanner. “In fact you stopped aging where you were."

“Really?"

“Yes."

“Time was irrelevant where I was." The orangutan replied as the triangular scanner was run over her body again.

“How are you feeling mentally?"

“Like still taking it all in, you know?"

“I would recommend a luxurious bath followed by a visit with Ms. Una. You have had a profound experience that will likely stay with you the rest of your life. She will help you come to terms with that."

“Like one of many true believer!"

“Wait! What's That?!" The horny lioness replied hovering her scanner over the female's groin. “You lost your virginity over there didn't you?"

“Master was helping me OPEN up."

Shakara gave Flo the weirdest stare, like the former slave had stolen a line she was going to say. Then the two started laughing.

11:00 AM Chaundoon (Arthur, Minka, Midnight Black's Home, World Seven)

“So how did the exam go?" Minka asked smiling at the now clothed orangutan female.

“Like, I passed." Flo said joining the rest of her fellow Ghost Hunters at their kitchen table. 

“We all did." Arthur replied setting the table.

“Yes." The formally black akita said fidgeting.

“I then took a luxurious bath followed by a visit to the massage parlor; it was a wonderful morning." Ms. Fuller replied.

Flo, Arthur and Minka looked at Midnight Black as he took his seat.

“He is still trying to work through some things!" Minka whispered.

“Nothing matters… when I die I am going to wind up over there… I am going to be that demon's bitch…"

“Um... yeah... I was advised that I should see Ms. Una at the earliest opportunity."

“Actually we all should." Arthur replied looking at the very broken Midnight Black.

“You will also need to acclimated." The monkey girl said to her friend.

“Yeah, I am going to need to find a place to live and suitable employment." Flo said thoughtfully.

“That is easy- you will continue staying here with us. We have the space and as for the employment…. how is doing what we have always done?" Arthur asked. 

“Yuppers- the three of us are part of the sciences division- paranormal studies. Although I think we all should take an extended break after getting you back." Minka replied looking at her disturbed akita.

11:31 AM Chaundoon (Classroom Building, World Seven)

“So pointless, everything we do is just meaningless in the end!!!!" The white akita complained as he entered the female naga's classroom.

“Has he always been so negative?" Ms. Una asked.

“Every since we got back from our last case." Minka said guiding the white akita to his chair. “Here, have a seat right next to me."

“It was a difficult case for the three of us- but it did have its benefits." Arthur said staring as the fourth member of the group entered the naga's classroom.

“My who is this lady?" The she snake asked.

“That is Flo, an original member of our group but we have been separated for some time." Minka replied helping the white akita sit down.

“Separated for how long?" Ms. Una asked the Ghost Hunters.

“Well- she missed the apocalypse, the year of hell after the empire ended and oh our migration to Chaundoon." The monkey girl replied candidly.

“How did that happen?" The she snake asked the orangutan who was wearing a yellow sleeveless shirt and pink skirt.

“Like I was a slave to a demon in a realm outside this one." Flo said shaking Ms. Una's paw.

“Oh boy this is going to be one of THOSE sessions." She said guiding Arthur and Flo to their seats.

 And so…

“Ok, let me see if I understand this.... You first encountered Diamantopoulos while trying to help a homeowner of a cursed property who foolishly bought it after you had advised the previous owners to cut and run…. The new owner hired another paranormal team to investigate the weird goings on there…. They and the new owner disappeared on the property…. You went in to investigate and found a portal to Diamantopoulos dimension…. You entered said portal…. Your group became trapped on the other side of that portal until Ms. Fuller cut a deal for your freedom thus sacrificing herself." The she snake said summarizing.

“Yuppers! The former demon's slave said enthusiastically." While The hedgehog boy and monkey girl nodded their heads.

Midnight Black looked at the original Ghost Hunters team. He had heard the story over the months from Arthur and Minka but never quite like that. Those three should write a book about their experiences!

“Incredible! Your mental and emotional state Ms. Fuller is relatively stable for someone who has been in your situation. What was your secret?" Ms. Una asked the laid back orangutan.

“Like despite being a slave to a powerful demon lord, I looked for joy in my new found circumstances wherever I could."

“So when tasked with cleaning Terror Tower from top to bottom?" Arthur asked.

“I would time myself and try to outdo my previous record." 

“And when new souls entered Diamantopoulos' domain?" Minka asked. 

“Leopia- a friend I made, she and I would crowd watch."

“What about if Diamantopoulos put you in one of his false realities?" Midnight Black asked.

“Like, I would try to find something positive in the moment." The orangutan replied. “Diamantopoulos likes to tease, torment and torture, not kill. One time he put me in a place of infinite darkness."

“What was your reaction?" Ms. Una asked.

“I took a long nap. Another time like, he put me in place of infinite light."

“What did you do?" The she snake asked transfixed.

“I worked on my tan enjoying the warmth." Ms. Fuller replied.

“So you reasoned that you would not be harmed if you served him loyally and faithfully? Remarkable!" The she snake gasped. “One question- what is a false reality?"

“Diamantopoulos is the acting ruler of the realm of fire and magma." Arthur began.

“It is a place where bad souls go when they die." Midnight Black mumbled.

“Diamantopoulos is a near omnipotent being who can bend or warp reality for his own twisted purposes." Minka added. “Mostly to discover what his victims fear most which he will use against them."

“Goodness!" Ms. Una said, sitting down.

“When we encountered him the first time, he stuck us in a reality where case after case we failed to help those in need." Arthur recollected. “I can't speak for my companions- but my most recent encounter… he realized I was no longer afraid of failing so he sought other ways to discover my deepest darkest fears."

“Did he find them?"

“Yes." Arthur said looking down at the floor of the classroom. As Minka and Flo rubbed his back. “He tried a number of things before discovering that I was afraid to be burned alive and he did just that to me."

“Oh my! Minka, what was your experience?"

“My akita and I were spending the night in a posh hotel- penthouse suite with a 360 view of the city. He made love to me on a heart shaped bed." The monkey girl began.

“Really?!" The white akita asked. 

“Only that was a false reality?" Ms. Una asked.

“Yeah, it wasn't my akita or Diamantopoulos but one of his minions disguised as my akita. He revealed himself during our intimacy. His face resembled an ugly angler fish."

“Were you terrified?"

“He told me that I could scream, wail, cry, plead and beg- it wasn't going to change the outcome. He hadn't had sex with a girl in a long time and he was going to go ALL the way so I might as well sit back and enjoy it."

“I am so sorry Minka." Ms. Una said as Arthur and Flo patted her on her shoulder.

“Apart from his ugly face, he did have a hot bod. We sat and talked for a long while after he had finished." 

Arthur and Flo looked at each other. As Minka said that.

“He had a number of issues he was dealing with- you see he was a lesser demon, constantly being bullied and pushed around by his superiors. I advised him that he needed to be more assertive and stick up for himself."

“That is our Minka." Arthur replied.

“Mr. Black what did you experience?" The she snake asked turning her attention to the fidgeting white akita.

“My false reality was very similar to Minka's but it wasn't with a lesser demon, Diamantopoulos took it upon himself to 'interact' with me."

“How so?"

“I was raped and then given a tour of his tower and domain to show what lay in store when I expire. He told me no matter what I say, no matter what I do from that point forward it wouldn't make a difference; the life I have led qualifies me for damnation and that he and I would spend my afterlife together for eternity." The former self righteous akita wept.

The female naga was silent for a moment as she organized her words.

“All of you have been through something profound. I can't cure your pain but I can help you come to terms with what has happened to all of you."

12:10 PM Chaundoon (Infirmary, World Seven)

It was with trepidation that the anointed ruler of World Seven entered medical that day desperate for any news about the status of the away team. He checked his clothing to make sure he looked the part. He didn't just feel like he was part of the part; Duchess Jua had coached him that despite his familiarity with his subjects the red dragon needed to start acting the part he was chosen for. Something he was still not entirely comfortable doing.

“Any news little buddy? I mean Mr. Winter?"

“No your majesty. No one has the slightest idea as to how Dawn, Corbin and Club wound up like this." I replied wistfully as the red dragon and I examined the stone statues. 

“Are you sure it is even them?" He asked as I ran my scanner over the S'mar male, human female and beastial cub.

“Pretty sure your majesty, look at their faces."

“They are exhibiting surprise, shock and terror. If it isn't them, whoever sculpted these is a gifted artist and besides they would have turned up by now with all the searching that has been going on."

Earlier…

December 3rd YOE 35

1:02 PM Chaundoon (Mysterious Maze, Uncharted Wilderness)

“Alex, that was most foolish!" Lady Ursa said placing her strong arm around my waist and pulling me toward her. “Remember you no longer have your clairvoyant ability!"

“But if I hadn't walked through that arch mistress we would have never found this place or…"

“Our away team!" My lady bear shouted.

Directly in front of us were stone statues of a female human, male S'mar and a mongoose boy. Their faces frozen in screams.

“They are just statues." I replied. The one resembling professor Stern had its left arm outstretched and the right arm diagonally below the left while the torso was vertical and leaning backward as if indicating surprise. The expression on the face was one of shock and fear.

“I don't think so Alex." My mistress said drawing her sword. “Who would sculpt statues of Dawn, Corbin and Club out here in the middle of nowhere? Look at their expressions."

Corbin had his left paw outstretched as if reaching for his adoptive mother and his mouth open as if he was trying to say something- possibly warn her. He was holding his boomerang in his right paw.

Several paces behind was the former S'mar chieftain who was holding his club in his paw as he raced to save his lover and her son; his family.

“Point taken but whatever happened got all of them in one fell swoop." 

“Alex, ready your weapon." My bear warned me. “I sense movement."

About 1500 feet ahead, we noticed writing on both sides of the maze and the far wall where something was coming. It was beige, moved on all fours, had long black hair, jagged limbs, and three eyes! Their orientation was not horizontal but vertical. 

“IDENTIFY YOURSELF!" Lady Ursa yelled at the creature. It grumbled a little as it continued walking towards us.

“Did you do this to these three?!" I shouted at it. In response it changed it's gait from a walk to a trot. “Answer us!"

“LEAVE!" 

That trot turned into a galop.

“Not before you tell us what happened to our friends!" My fierce ursine warrior said charging. Her sword was met by the creature's large paw! It caught her and her weapon and sent her spiraling toward the ground with its other paw. My warrior bear met it face first." 

*SCREEEEEECH*

“AWK!!" My perfect person shouted. She had been injured.

I aimed and fired my grappling hook at one of the creature's eyes as it advanced on us. Its tip making contact. It nonchalantly pulled the tip out and me and the line toward it.

*BASH*

I flew backward and landed on my bear. It should have been a soft landing but for some reason wasn't. The creature was on us in an instant.

*SCREEEEEECH*

I felt the rush and volume of its breath and then a large thud. A stone spherical object had interceded landing on the creature's paw.

“The probe!" I shouted as the creature shook its paw back and forth in pain cursing.

“What happened?!" My bear beastial asked looking up from the ground.

“Overwatch did, oh crap the probe- its been turned to stone!" I said looking at the spherical orb.

“It was the creature- its breath or its screech can petrify!" Lady Ursa shouted. “Alex! To me!"

“Right, that thing has gotten the better of us." I said helping my fierce ursine warrior to her foot paws. She leaned on me as we limped out of the maze. QUICKLY.

We found the prototype waiting for us at the arch.

“What was that thing?" The injured warrior asked.

*Some type of guardian perhaps?* Overwatch surmised.

“What was it guarding?" I asked running back to the blue coupe. The return from the probe had gone dark for obvious reasons. “Anyway thanks for saving our bacon back there."

*Not a problem. Let's never come back here again.*

“Can't our away team is in there."

*Mr. Winter?*

“They have been incapacitated by that thing." My lady bear replied. “I think I have too."

“Mistress?" 

“I can't feel my bottom." She said, rubbing her backside.

“Let me look." I conducted a quick assessment. 'Mistress your tail!"

“Alex?"

“It has been turned to stone!"

Now…

“How is Lady Ursa?" King Dragon asked.

“Partially petrified but in much better condition than the away team."

“How did you recover them?" The red dragon asked.

“We drove the creature deeper into the maze and collapsed its tunnel leading to the exit. We were able to recover Dawn, Corbin and Club without incident." I said to King Dragon.

“It will dig itself out in a matter of time I suppose. But one thing doesn't add up little buddy; who sent the message warning us that the away team was in trouble?" Sorren asked. 

“There are no signs of life." I said completing my scans. “Another way of killing just without weapons or the fang and claw."

“I am sorry for your loss." King Dragon said, patting me on the shoulder before departing the Infirmary.

3:46 PM Chaundoon (Arthur, Minka, Midnight Black's Bedroom, World Seven)

“I am doomed! Doomed!" The dark akita said as his monkey girl led him to their room.

“There there baby." Minka said sitting on their bed. 

“What am I going to do?" The white akita asked turning to the she monkey.

“With the time you have left live each day to the fullest, be the best version of yourself you can be, learn, love, laugh and enjoy life." Mika jumped on the seated canid's lap hugging him. He hugged her back,

“Perhaps we should have let Ms. Una hypnotize him?" The hedgehog boy asked as he set up a secondary bed nearby.

“Like she can do that?" The orangutan asked.

“Yeah." Arthur said, making up his bed. “She could make Midnight Black forget the destination, but it isn't going to change the fact that he is still headed and eventually will arrive there." 

“Has he led that bad of a life?" Flo asked as she started tidying the room.

“He was professional assassin." The hedgehog boy said to the orangutan.

“How many?"

“He won't tell us. But after Minka and my arrival here in the city- he took us in and looked after us."

“Like that is so sweet. He is trying to make up for his past."

“I thought so too. Anyway sorry for the tight accommodations." Arthur apologized.

“No worries, the accommodations over the last few days have been much better than my usual." Flo replied.

“When you were in Terror Tower where did you normally sleep?

“Diamantopoulos' foot paws." The former slave replied.

“That is very disturbing." Arthur said as silence fell on the room. “I tell you what let's give Minka and Mr. Black some time alone."

“Where should we go?" 

“How about the park?" The hedgehog boy replied holding out his paw. “With a few exceptions you will find that life here is stable, the indigenous tribes and clans are friendly. But there are some things you will take some time getting used to. The multi-colored skies, sentient weather, really different looking flora and fauna and…" Arthur said as he and Flo left the bedroom.  

6:56 PM Chaundoon (King's Chambers, Central Tower)

“Something wrong Sorren?" The sand dragon asked the red dragon. 

“Is it that obvious?"

“You like like the world has just crushed you; and not your normal comical funny self." Jua said kissing Sorren on his cheek.

“It is the weight of leadership Jua. Inspiring, guiding and protecting my subjects- the last part I failed to do. Medical has declared Dawn, Corbin and Club deceased."

“You feel responsible for what happened to that science team?" The dragoness said sitting down at a table in King Dragon's bedroom.

“Yeah they are out there risking themselves to increase our knowledge and decrease our ignorance about the world around us and what am I doing? Well, enjoy! Stay safe! I can do nothing to help them. Even now."

“Love, nothing worth doing is ever easy; all endeavors have risks. Your knights, my dragon defenders, risk their lives to ensure our safety. Those that procure and prepare our meals, those who watch our skies to a lesser extent and even the science teams that are exploring this great big planet risk their safety to bring us knowledge and decrease our ignorance."

“In other words they accepted the risks and knew what they were getting into." The red dragon said sitting down next to the white dragoness.

“Beating yourself up over it is not going to help anyone."

“I am also worried about that thing that did this to Dawn, Corbin and Club. Ursa and Alex only temporarily incapacitated it; that creature is still out there Jua."

“So what does my King Dragon suggest?"

“I am going to order the knight core to find that creature and eliminate it before it can do this to someone else."

To Be Continued….