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Counter Earth Chronicles

Chapter 94: Corbin's Revelation (A Quiet And Simple Vacation Part Two)

Day 313 continued

Commander Rhinox's invitation couldn't have come at a better time. It was close to dinner time anyway. So after wrapping up the capture we went to The Pier, an outdoor restaurant on the shore of the huge lake that World Five was built next to.

"That takedown was more fun than I was expecting it to be!" The rhino commander said as we were seated at the restaurant's patio which had about twenty circular tables overlooking the huge lake. Corbin was seated to my left. Lady Barq to my right. Next to her was Lady Ursa. Sitting between Corbin and my mistress was Commander Rhinox.

In the distance we saw many beastials relaxing on the shore some were even swimming in the lake on this perfect fall afternoon.

"The commander does enjoy what he does immensely." The badger warrior said.

"Are all your mission's like that?" Corbin asked the senior knights from World Five.

"Not all. But given the dangers of what we do, the seriousness of our occupations and the constant pressures placed on all of us to get results- you have to find humor where you can otherwise the stress of the job will break you- severely." The rhino warrior said to the little mongoose boy.

"You don't say?" I said eyeing the brown bear seated between the rhino and badger.

"Are you saying that your brown bear here took the afternoon off to spend some time with you two because the stress of the job was getting to her?" The badger said in mock gasp.

"Um hmm." The little mongoose said to Lady Barq.

"It was a good thing though because I have never been to World Five, its amusement park of the hub studios either. This has to be one of my favorite cities in all the empire." I said to the my dining companions.

(That gorgeous lake is probably the best part too.)

"We seem to think so too as well." The rhino warrior said to me. "What other cities of the empire have you seen Alex?"

"Well obviously I live in World One, I have also been to World Two, Three and Five (and Six). I have yet to visit World Four though." I said to the jolly rhino.

"Each of the five cities has a charm all its own. You will also discover that when you visit World Four." The he beast said to me.

"We will get there eventually pet." My she beast said from the other side of the table.

"By the way who is in charge of the knight core there?" I asked my dinning companions.

"That would be Lady Keiko." The badger warrior seated next to me said.

"Yes Lady Keiko, we have met on a few occasions." The tan rhino said. "I don't envy her either."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"She has a very tough command there." The badger said.

"Really?"

"World Four has a lot of crime." Corbin said sorrowfully. "More so than the other cities."

"There is also a lot of corruption and turnover in the knight core. Lady Keiko has had to deal with all that, while pleasing the master as well." The rhino said.

"So no matter how things get here in World Five, it could always be worse- I mean we could be transferred to World Four. By the way Ursa, weren't you going to that spa to destress yourself?" The badger asked her friend and rival.

"Well..." My mistress started to say.

"What she means is that she hasn't gone there for a number of months." I interjected. "The last time we were there was the day the Animalitia robbed Pyramid Bank."

"I have been meaning to go back, I haven't been able to find the time." Lady Ursa said.

"You have to make the time dear." Commander Rhinox said. "But then again you also have Corbin and Alex to help. You have been helping her right children?"

(There is that children remark again.)

"Well my mistress's massage therapist did give her a list of techniques to perform from time to time when she is overstressed."

"Have you used them?" The lady badger asked.

"Oh yes. But not recently." My warrior bear reluctantly admitted.

"Instead we play games on the hub!" Corbin said chiming in.

"Really?" Lady Barq asked the mongoose.

"Yes ma'am we started with Furry Fury we played that for the better part of a week."

"Furry Fury?" The commander asked.

"It is a three on three fighting game Corbin got us hooked on, it provided a great work out because it was such a difficult game." Lady Ursa said humbly. "It took us a while but we finally did succeed in beating it."

"From there we moved on to Keep Up a racing game Alex suggested." Corbin answered.

"So what are you playing now?" The rhino asked.

"A arena football game." The little mongoose answered. "Momma bear says it is a great way to get some physical activity."

"Sounds like you three are very very active." Lady Barq said as we flipped through the restaurant's virtual menu. "I think I am going to order the crab." She said.

"I think I will have fish and chips." I said remembering my experience at the World Finest Restaurant.

"A salad for me." The rhino warrior said ordering.

"Salmon for me and Corbin." Lady Ursa said as she placed her order.

"So Corbin, how did you come to live with the third strongest knight in the empire." The badger said cutting her eyes at her friend.

"Corbin lost his family during that massacre at the Space Museum in World Four." Lady Ursa said.

"You mean the one by the Liberate Counter Earth Now Movement?" The rhino asked.

"The same." My she beast said.

"You poor thing." Lady Barq said.

"The Consortium For Mutual Coexistence is having Alex and I look after him while they try to find him a new family." My bear knight said.

"We have heard about them. They are looking for members here in World Five." The jolly rhino said.

"As well as in World Four. They are small group that is trying to become a movement...."

"Oh another one?" Rhinox asked.

"Yes commander, but a useful one. They are trying to improve human and beastial relations through out the empire." I said to him.

"So they are also trying to eliminate rebels, dissidents, separatists and alarmists as well?" The he beast asked.

"Yes, like the knights, they are deconstructing these groups as well." I said.

"By force?" Lady Barq asked me.

"No, by kindness, compassion and understanding."

"I see so they are trying to eliminate and mitigate the conditions that cause citizens to join these groups in the first place. That is a interesting strategy." The rhino said to me.

"They are led by Dongo Dingo." Lady Ursa said.

"Dongo, Dongo, Dongo...." The commander said thinking. "Isn't he that hyena that was paddled for crashing into a apartment while racing some years back?"

"The same." The badger warrior responded.

"I saw that footage of his final judgement! It was a hoot!" The tan rhino responded. "I seem to recall the other two members of the group are the buffalo siblings whose father was murdered by rebels."

"That is right." I responded. "After the rebels were judged and punished, Bess and Tess felt horribly empty and lost."

"I can understand that." Corbin said sympathetically.

"Those two told me they were visited one night by their father's ghost who comforted them. He said that he didn't want them to be mad or bitter about his death, because he was in better place. Instead, he wanted his son and daughter to do something about the suffering and the frustration that gave rise to the rebellion; they would be his legacy." I said to my dining companions.

"So That was how the Consortium For Mutual Coexistence was born?" Lady Barq said.

"Yes Bess and Tess would later meet Dongo and I would join them a little later on initially as a spy for the knights." I responded. "However, in working with them, I learned that their intentions are pure; they are changing hearts and minds and lives- Corbin for instance." I said looking at my little brother.

"Corbin, how long have you lived with Alex and Lady Ursa?" The badger lady asked.

"It will be three weeks this Monday." The little mongoose answered.

"Wow and there hasn't been any takers at all in the empire?" Commander Rhinox asked.

"No." The little mongoose responded.

"I was talking to my consortium colleagues this morning as to why. It appears that the populace is preparing for hard times because of these rebel groups that the knight core is fighting." I said.

"What happened here at the amusement park today being the prime example." Lady Ursa said adding her voice.

"Exactly, the recent fanatical movements, the rebellion, lone rebels like Neo and that weird incident that happened at Capital Arena have caused doubts across the empire...."

"Some are questioning the ability of the High Evolutionary and his forces to keep the empire safe from these threats." Lady Barq said finishing my sentence.

"You mean what The Movement was saying at their rally just might have an iota of truth in it." Commander Rhinox said.

"Yes, many believe a recession is coming and that is why many are tightening their belts and that is probably why Corbin has not been adopted."

"Have you considered adopting this cute little guy yourself?" Lady Barq asked Lady Ursa.

The bear knight nodded. "I had considered it. But the events of the last three weeks has made me realize that it wouldn't be a good idea."

"Momma bear?" The little mongoose boy said. "Did I do something wrong? Have I misbehaved?"

"No Corbin." My she beast said turning to her 'cub.' "It is Alex and I who have misbehaved." The bear said locking eyes with the little mongoose as the badger and rhino looked on.

(Say what?!)

"We have done quite a poor job of looking after you and keeping you safe." My warrior bear said staring at her cub.

"I disagree." The little mongoose protested. "You have been a great stand in mother and Alex and great big brother."

(I see where my mistress is going with this.)

"Think about the time you have spent with us Corbin." I said placing my hand on his shoulder. "How much of that was actually normal?"

"Well, after the rough start, we had a lot of fun, watching sports, exploring, playing hub games, eating out, shopping, having fun." The little mongoose said thinking. "That was normal."

"AND..." I said.

"We met some of the other knights, traveled to the other cities." Corbin added.

"AND..." Lady Ursa said.

"Confronted Alex's nemesis, hunted down assailants from momma bear's past, rescued momma bear, battled against ONE and stopped another movement." The little boy concluded. "I guess that isn't really part of the norm."

"You are such a bright boy." Lady Ursa said.

"Nor is a foster cub being in those types of situations." Lady Barq said.

"I think what momma bear is saying Corbin is that she, like Lady Barq here and commander Rhinox, are knights in service to the High Evolutionary. Similarly I am in service to her; as such we all lead very, very, very dangerous lives." I said the little mongoose boy.

That statement I made was very profound. It summed up the last eleven months I have spent helping the knights on their missions.

"I noticed that." Corbin concluded.

"Exactly, sweetie Alex and I don't want you to get sucked up into any of that either. You have experienced a huge tragedy recently- more than anyone little youngling should endure." Lady Ursa said to her cub.

"In other words, Lady Ursa and I both have enemies who would love nothing more than to wound us by hunting and killing you- something that is very precious to the both of us."

"If something like that did happen to you it would kill the both of us." My she beast said making a startling admission.

"The incident at the great wheel this afternoon being the prime example. You know where you got knocked over the ride and almost fell to your death?" I said folding my arms back behind my head.

"So you want me to find a home away from the dangers you and the knight core face on a day to day basis." The little mongoose concluded.

"Exactly." My warrior bear said.

"He is a smart boy." Lady Barq added.

"No rebels, separatists, dissidents or alarmists." Lady Ursa said.

"Some place where you can watch the stars at night and not fear for your safety." The commander added.

"Some place where you can be happy and not have a care in the world. That is what we want for you." I added.

"I understand big brother." Corbin admitted.

"By the way, how did you confront Lady Ursa's assailants?" The commander asked Corbin and myself. "Just curious."

"It started one morning when a bomb was delivered to the lair." Corbin said.

"Oh I heard about that." Lady Barq said. "It was from one of reclamation center escapees who went on a rampage."

"Exactly, if big brother I hadn't thrown that package out of the window..."

"What would have happened that morning Corbin?" I said driving the point home.

"We would have died." The little mongoose concluded.

"Dangerous lives." I said staring at him.

"I heard you came close to being dissolved that afternoon my dear." Commander Rhinox said.

"Actually yes, I was kidnapped by the same escapes and taken to a reclamation center to be recycled." Lady Ursa said humbly.

"Really?! You the third strongest knight in the empire kidnapped?" Lady Barq teased her rival.

"They used a shock box." My she beast said trying to offer a justification- any justification.

"Excuses, excuses." The badger huffed.

"Anyway..." I said redirecting the conversation. "Corbin and I had to rescue her."

"How did the two of you take on the reclamation center escapees?" The rhino asked.

"Isn't it obvious commander?" The badger stated.

"That was the awesome part we used a top secret weapon that.... that.... is supposed to be top secret." Corbin said as he realized that he had said too much.

"That fascinating mystery vehicle that you are driving." Lady Barq added. "We will get to that later. Please continue."

"Keeping with the dangerous lives theme. Then there was the that incident at the sports arena between World Four and World Five."

"Yes the Others." Corbin said.

"We heard about that as well." The commander said.

"We are still not sure what happened. But some of the attendees started acting weird chanting about this being called ONE who is coming to solve the world's problems or to take over the world." I started.

"It was weird they touched other attendees at the event including our caterers and they started acting the same way too." The little mongoose boy added.

"Two junior knights were at the event and got touched too." I said to Commander Rhinox and Lady Barq.

"We have had them under observation for the last few days and they are their normal everyday selves." The rhino said.

"They chased us out of the sporting arena and deep into the wilderness where we wandering around trying to elude them and get back to civilization. Lord Tiger was injured during all this." I said to my dining companions.

I wisely left out that we were rescued by a hidden colony of beastials and humans who had separated from the empire close to thirty years ago and that a rebel with us had decided to stay with them.

"Just some examples of the situations Corbin has been in because of us." I added.

"That is very touching." Lady Barq said.

"I see. What your big 'brother' and momma bear is trying to say in a round about way is that they love you very very much son and it would destroy them if you met your end in a way that was much worse than that of your family." The commander said to Corbin.

"Corbin has seen too much pain and suffering for one so young." Lady Ursa said. "I want him to grow up some where safe. Some place he does not have to live in fear, or constantly look over his shoulder or watch his back."

"Some place free from these threats that are being brought against the empire." I added.

"But big brother I didn't want to live in World...."

I quickly covered the little mongoose's mouth before he finished the rest of the sentence.

"No little one I don't think World's One through Five would be a good fit."

(And he turned down World Six)

"Especially with all that is going on. "But don't worry you will find a new family." I said as our meals arrived.

"I hope it does work out little one." Lady Barq said staring at the little mongoose. "I would adopt you if I could however..."

"Your life is just as complicated and dangerous as my own." The bear said to the badger.

"That and my boyfriend wouldn't approve." The badger admitted.

"Outside of the job and my mate, I have no life." Commander Rhinox admitted as our dinners arrived.

To my surprise, our meals were quite large.

"Wow! I think this is also going to be breakfast and lunch tomorrow." Corbin said.

"And maybe even the next day as well." I said.

"Well now let's move on to other things." The badger said as she took the first bite of her crab.

"Other things?" My lady bear asked her friend.

"Yes precisely, like that top secret vehicle you and family arrived in. You know the one with all the fancy toys?"

"Now Barq, you know it is top secret." My warrior bear said as she bit into her salmon.

"But with what we have seen that vehicle do, it won't be for long." The rhino said. "I would imagine those that have seen it in action are fueling the rumors."

"What have you heard commander?" I asked the jolly rhino.

"That this vehicle can traverse air, land and sea, has offensive weaponry as well as incredible surveillance capabilities- we saw those earlier. What else can it do?!" The rhino said biting into his salad.

Corbin and I remained quiet. We just looked at Lady Ursa. Who likewise remained quiet.

"Very well." My she beast whispered to her colleagues. "What I am about to say is not to leave this table. Understood?"

The rhino and badger nodded.

"The vehicle is called the prototype." My lady bear said in a whisper.

(She is really telling them?!)

"It was developed by Sir Ram and Mara to supplement the knight core in World One when the hover bikes aren't quite sufficient."

"You mean when more fire-power is needed?" The rhino commander whispered.

"Yes, Sir Ram and Mara Developed it after our run in with the Animalitia." My warrior bear said.

"How many are there?" Lady Barq asked.

"Just one."

"Actually if I may mistress. There were two. The first one was destroyed in a run in with the Animalitia. The current one was built from the remains of the first one."

"Are there plans to build any more?" The commander asked.

"I think when Sir Ram and Mara think the time is right." Lady Ursa said thoughtfully.

"What about the vehicle's performance?" The badger asked.

"This version has held its own against numerous adversaries." I said as Corbin and my mistress looked on.

"Well it was disabled when we took down the Neo. But that was the only time I can recall." My she beast said to the senior knights of Sovereign.

"Yes, yes that is very nice dear but what about the vehicle's performance?" Lady Barq asked again.

"It has three modes land mode, hover mode and hydrofoil mode. This allows it to traverse air, land and sea." My she beast said. "It is powered by the elements- sun and water."

"What about weaponry?" Commander Rhinox asked.

"That is the best part!" The little mongoose said. "It has tons."

"It has a range of offensive weaponry delivered on demand- grenades, lasers, missiles, machine guns, flame thrower. It also has non lethal weaponry static pulse, smoke screen, netting, tracker tracers, tractor hook, bolas." My she beast quietly admitted.

"It also has a hologram projector and remote controlled probe for surveillance missions. You saw that this afternoon." I whispered.

"That is quite the vehicle." The two knights said in unison.

"All disguised as nothing more than a cute blue coupe." Corbin added.

"Something like that could also be of use around here." The commander concluded. "We need to develop something like that as well."

"I will mention that to the science division sir." Lady Barq said as we concluded dinner.

"Well we better make tracks for home." My she beast said rising from the table. "We have about a 90 minute trip.

"Yes, yes and the sun has already started to set." The rhino said.

"It is a shame you can't stay a little while longer." The badger added.

"Nope. I have work tomorrow." My she beast said as she shook paws with Lady Barq and the commander.

"Agreed we better get back to the castle to check up on the junior knights." The commander said.

"It was nice meeting you- finally after hearing so much about you commander." I said shaking the rhino beastial's paw.

"The same." He said to me. "Take care of your master."

"And you Corbin, I hope you do find a new family." Lady Barq said hugging the little mongoose boy.

"Thank you ma'am." Corbin said. "Wow she is strong!"

"Who would you say is stronger!?" The badger asked smirking at her rival.

(Not again!)

"You two are about the same." The little mongoose said to the bear and badger's frustration.

"Good answer!" I said as I folded my hands behind my head.

With that we said goodbye to Lady Barq and Commander Rhinox thanking them for dinner as the two knights decided to head back to castle Sovereign.

"You two ready for home?" Lady Ursa asked us.

"Yes, but let's make a slight detour along the way and visit someone." I said as my she beast powered on the prototype.

"Who pet?"

"My sister's doppelgänger." I said as we waved goodbye to our dinner mates and took off.

"Professor Stern?"

"Exactly aren't we are close to her archaeological site?" I said as the hover vehicle ascended to the proper altitude.

"We are. I suppose we can check on her progress." My she beast said. "It has been a while."

"Who is professor Stern?" The little mongoose boy asked.

"She is a friend of ours Corbin who is working on a special assignment for us at a remote site in the wilderness between Worlds Four and Five." My she beast said to her cub.

"What type of assignment?"

"She has been excavating a archaeological site of historic significance for over a year and a half." I said to my 'little brother."

"Without anything to show for it." Lady Ursa said. "She was in violation of the Statue Settlement so I was sent to bring her back- kicking and screaming if necessary."

"Did you?" The little boy asked.

"Yes and no."

"What do you mean momma bear?"

"When Alex and I showed up was around the time she made a historic discovery that we told her to keep quiet about for her safety." The momma bear said to her cub. "We don't want to say anything more than that."

My bear knight handed Corbin her communicator so he could read the knight core's files they had on professor Dawn Stern.

"Greetings *CRASH* madam knight how are things?" *CRASH* Professor said appearing on the monitor. She appeared quite unkempt.

"She is your sister's doppelgänger big brother?"

"Keep your voice down!" I said shushing the little mongoose.

"I was contacting you to ask the same thing." My bear knight said. "Are you okay?"

"Oh well, um, you know." The archeologist said.

(That was a misdirection if ever I heard one.)

"Well, Alex and I are in the area and wanted stop by and check on your progress."

*BOOM* "Oops! Oh you are?! Um great... I will see you in a little bit." *SPLAT* Professor Stern said ending the communication.

"Well that was rather abrupt." Corbin said looking at us.

"I wonder what was going on in the background? It sounded rather loud." Lady Ursa said.

"Was it me or did it seem that she wasn't thrilled to see us?" I added. We would soon find out why as we took a slight detour on the way home.

To Be Continued....