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*Counter Earth Chronicles *

Chapter 14: Left To My Own Devices

Day 61 continued

Stupid, stupid, stupid! It was completely irresponsible of me to fall asleep on this mission! Had I been awake I could have warned Lady Vermin with my premonitions and prevented her from being caught by the rebels. Now because of my carelessness she was in danger; the rebels would most likely torture and interrogate her and then kill her when they were finished.

I had about an hour before sunrise to figure out and do something- after that any rescue would be very difficult because the enemy would see me coming. If we were both captured it would be game over. But what to do?

Seeing the predicament Lady Vermin was in, I checked the hover bike for a communicator hoping to call for assistance but soon realized that the rat lady had the only communicator.

I was totally utterly screwed- I wasn't a warrior. Nor could I use the hover bike to leave the valley and seek help. Wait a minute! She was a warrior why didn't she put up a fight? Did the enemy injure her when she was captured?

I ate some rations and dwelled on my predicament. I thought about what I would find at the encampment if I faced the problem head on- tight security, bloodthirsty rebels, weapons and that I would be no match for them. Some how I was going to have to rescue her. Some how....

As the final hour of night wore on, I decided on a plan of action, grabbed some supplies we had brought and prepared to leave. It was then I realized I had to go answer the call of nature too; in fact I hadn't relieved myself since leaving the castle or maybe it was the food. At any rate I needed to go NOW. Carefully and quietly I crept out of the cave in the dark toward a dense bunch of trees about a mile away. I looked around several times to make sure that I hadn't been followed and was quite alone.

I walked to the nearest tree and proceeded to water it. While in the middle of relieving myself I heard a peculiar sound- it was a voice- MY voice reminding me to wash my hands after using the facilities. There was one problem though: it didn't come from my mouth! I started to turn around only to feel a weapon pointed to my back and that voice telling me to hurry and finish up.

"What the? How could this happen?! I was completely alone!" I stammered.

"Were you?" The familiar voice scoffed. "Some words of advice, when you go to spy on your enemy make sure not to use their bathroom...."

"Oh crap!!!" I said defeated.

"Actually I was just finishing up when you interrupted me." The voice said.

(Note to myself- you are a horrible spy.)

The voice then ordered me to turn around slowly- apparently he wanted to see my face. I raised my hands after zipping up my pants and slowly turned around to find some illumination device aimed at me. It then moved just far enough away so that I could see the face of the rebel who had caught me. When I did I couldn't believe my eyes! I was staring at myself!!

It made sense since Counter Earth was an alternate version of Gaia, that there would be an alternate version of myself running around on the planet somewhere. But what are the odds of meeting him in all places- here?!

"I knew the rat lady we captured was not by herself." He said. "How many of you came to visit us today? Keep in mind me I have a loaded weapon and have no qualms about shooting you- my other-self." He said.

"You would do that? In cold blood?!" I asked.

"Yes, I would and I wouldn't lose any sleep over it." He replied coldly.

"I guess I better talk then."

"Good idea, now how many of there are you?" He asked me.

"Just the two of us." I replied.

He looked me over real good.

"You are me and I am you." I said nervously trying to lighten the mood.

There was complete silence from this individual.

"This is going to be difficult to explain, and even harder to understand." I told my Counter Earth counterpart. "But I am you from an alternate reality."

To my shock my other self was not surprised.

"So the rumors are true." He said. "I had heard reports of a doppelganger arriving on this world and collaborating with the enemy." He said looking me over again.

(Heard? Really? How? No one but the High Evolutionary, Lea, Tauren and the knights knew of my existence.)

"Come, you and I have much to discuss." He marched me to the treeline a mile from their bathroom and holstered his weapon. I was confused.

"Aren't you afraid that I will overpower you and escape?" I asked him.

"Not in particular was the response- now be true to your other self- Alexander." He said.

"I go by Alex." I told him.

"Interesting." He replied. "I can tell just by looking at you that you are very scared, probably because you are not a warrior and even a worse scout."

"Yeah, that is true so....." I started to reply.

"Too bad." He interrupted me. "Because I am a warrior and scout. I have had to become that to survive here. So boy, trust me you are no threat."

(Boy?!)

Alexander cleared a space on the frozen ground where we sat down and talked. "I want to know how you arrived on my world and how you came to be a collaborator of my enemy." My rebel self ordered.

"If I tell you will you let me go or just kill me in cold blood?" I asked uneasily.

"I haven't decided yet. Now talk!"

"Ok" I replied. "I will be true to my other self if you reciprocate."

"Maybe I will maybe I won't." He replied coldly.

"I want to know your life and times and how you came to be where you are now." I said to Alexander.

"I'm asking the questions here." He told me. "But if you are truthful maybe I will be truthful as well." He replied.

"My name is Alex Winter I am 20 years old." I started.

"I kind of guessed that...." My Counter Earth counterpart responded.

"I am from the planet Gaia in what you would consider an an alternate reality. I was born to parents who were merchants- middle class. Two decades into a planet wide war. By that time the atmosphere of my planet had been destroyed as were most of the cities."

"Tell me about the war." Alexander ordered. "How did it start?"

"I am told it started 20 years before I was born when a rival civilization in the east- it's name isn't important, was bent on world domination, started attacking and conquering the surrounding nations; its neighbors. It continued this for a time- eight years. Before long, It became this giant behemoth a single nation comprised of many- strong enough for global conquest. It started it's movement westward concurring nation after nation. My civilization in the west realized the threat almost too late and fought the east nation as hard as they could. Both nations waged war for 12 years neither gaining a foothold, that is until both sides developed and launched new weapons upon the other with such destructive force and power that the atmosphere of Gaia was shattered. No one could live on the surface of the planet. In time the populations moved underground. It was this world that I grew up in- living underground never seeing, a sunrise or sunset."

"That's harsh." Alexander said.

"The fighting continued and eventually both sides were devastated; it was a draw. From the remains of both civilizations factions sprung up to war within each other for what was left. Disease, hunger, poverty, crime, violence and death, were a way of life as was constant despair. My parents died when I was eighteen- victims of the green sickness. My sister a year later from the many gangs that roamed the area." I told my other self.

("I see." He nodded.)

"Daily life was a cruel existence avoiding the many street battles, watching out for rape gangs and searching burnt out buildings for food and water. There was never ever enough of either. About a two months ago, my life changed forever. One morning I was wandering the remains of a university upon whose grounds I had stumbled on looking for shelter and a meal."

"Go on." Alexander said.

"I entered the science wing of the university and happened upon a nutty scientist who was working on a transporter device. This device was unlike anything available. It could not just transport you short distances but to other planets in the galaxy. At first I thought he was crazy until I realized that his lab had actual electricity and running water! He had been living there perfecting this transporter of his for some time. The day I met him he was ready to start testing it. But he had one problem- he needed someone to test for him. I guess once this invention of his had been proven he was going to start evacuating himself and maybe others from Gaia."

"Why didn't he test it himself?" My other-self asked.

"Perhaps he needed to survive to make another one if this one turned out to be a failure. Anyway, he offered me food, shelter and a bath if I agreed to test his transporter device for him. I don't know what I was thinking at the time, but I agreed to be his guinea pig for a quick jump to a world that he had identified that was suitable for living."

"How did he know?" My other-self asked.

"He had sent some type of probe through earlier and discovered that planet had a suitable atmosphere- now he needed human trials. Given my current quality of life I agreed anywhere- was better than Gaia. When I tested the device I wound up here on Counter Earth. Actually, I crashed a meeting of the knights at Wundagore Castle. Literally. When I came to I was their prisoner. Later I found out from the knight's chief scientist- that the nutty scientist had not created a transporter but a reality jumping device that allowed the user to transport to alternate realities. The probe he had sent earlier most likely landed on Counter-Earth."

"How long were you their prisoner?" Alexander asked.

"Five days." I replied. "That was after they interrogated, poked prodded and gave me every physical test they could think of. I also met their ruler, the High Evolutionary who deemed that I was not a threat to him or his rule. He decided to turn me over to his chief scientist."

"Why did he do that?" Alexander asked. "Did they think you were of some scientific value?"

"They discovered during their tests that I was slightly clairvoyant and had some type of healing ability." I told Alexander.

"Apparently not that clairvoyant!" My other-self scoffed. "Otherwise you wouldn't have walked into me!" He laughed.

"Can I continue?" I asked him as I stared at the snow covered ground.

"Please do." He responded.

"Because of these abilities the chief scientist decided to dissect me and very nearly did."

"How did you survive?" Alexander asked grimly.

"During my time in Castle Wundagore I befriended a few beastials and made several allies. One of which whose life I saved during a rebel incursion. Days later she turned around and saved my life- by convincing the chief scientist that I would be of more use to him and the other beastials alive than dead. This individual ultimately adopted me and allowed me to live with her." I told the rebel warrior.

"As what- a slave? A servant?" He asked.

"Actually... a pet."

"A pet?!" He exclaimed.

"Yes, a pet." I told him. "It is not as bad as it sounds. I have lived with her and have been in her service for two months. By doing so I have experienced the beastial's culture and what it has to offer first hand." I told my other self.

"Been in service to her huh? Does she keep you warm at night?" He asked sarcastically.

"You have no idea." I said looking him straight in the eye. "She is a brash, bold, strong, powerful and fierce warrior, but she is quite loving, kind and affectionate; she is also a hot piece of ass and a fantastic lay! Oh you can't even begin to believe the things I have seen!!!"

I turned red as I said that.

"Whoops, that is far more than you needed to know." I said to him blushing.

"You became a collaborator for bear pussy?!" He exclaimed.

(HEY!)

"That was not cool and quite uncalled for. Besides I wouldn't put it quite like that... my other self."

"Let me guess she probably dominates you!"

"Yeah, but I like the way she dominates me!" I said to Alexander.

"You are such a fool he retorted. You know the abominations have a tendency to use those whom they believe are inferior." My other self observed.

I would learn much, much later that my doppelganger was partially right, but that is another story for another place and another time.

"I wouldn't be surprised if your supposed dissection was just an act to buy your undying loyalty to her and all of them!" My other self continued.

"I completely disagree! I was put to sleep and had markings all over my body where their chief scientist was going to cut me open." I shot back. "You are completely wrong!"

"Let me ask you something." Alexander said- "If you had a chance to go back to your world- would you take it?"

"I tried and failed- all life on my world ended some time ago; I am the last of my kind and and I am stranded on this world." I said noticing that it was getting light out. "But that is not a bad thing- look Alexander, my life among them is 10,000 times better than my life ever was on Gaia. So if that makes me a collaborator and beastial lover I am."

He looked at me in amazement.

"By the way How did you know she was a bear?" I asked him.

"We know things." He replied simply.

"Listen Alexander, from what I have learned from them the past several months the beastials have quite an enlightened society. They have their own flaws but they wouldn't war amongst themselves to point of ending all life on the planet. What they do, they do to preserve their way of life." I said.

"You mean how they treat the humans of this world as second class citizens?"

"Yes." I replied simply. "It is your turn." I told my doppelganger. "Please."

My rebel self thought about it and decided to participate.

"You and I are quite similar." Alexander began. "Like you I am also 20 years old. I was born ten years after the High Evolutionary came to power. I am told in the beginning he befriended everyone on the planet by telling them he would bring and end to our wars and human to human fighting. With that single promise he gained support and eventually rose to power. Around the same time he created the beastials his new superior class of citizenry."

"Go on." I said to him.

"Around the time I was born he banished the human populations outside his metropolises to the slums where we were forced to live. Like you I was born to merchant parents."

"Are they still alive?" I asked.

"They still are." He said. "But unlike you, I didn't have a sister but a brother. Life in the slums was also hard- there was barely enough to eat, disease outbreaks were frequent. But we did not suffer from violent crime. The High Evolutionary made sure to that. His rule was absolute." The beastials kept meticulous watch over the neighborhoods and crime was not tolerated. Those who committed crimes were always found out and subsequently disappeared never to be heard from again.

"The beastials also tagged us so they could keep tabs on every human all the time. In fact now that I think about it, we really didn't have any rights- treated as second class citizens on our own world. We weren't allowed to participate in government, we were monitored every where we went and there were even places in beastial society that we weren't allowed to go their parks, beaches etc."

"Wow." I said.

(That one was new.)

"Wait there is more, some have approached the High Evolutionary asking for change, equality, peaceful coexistence. He has denied those requests each and every time. Some also believe he has also unofficially developed programs to eliminate the human populace on this world- sterilization programs to prevent succeeding generations of humans. Interestingly enough there hasn't been a new human births in seven years. Some believe that eventually the human populace on this world will die out and it will all belong to him." Alexander told me.

I decided wisely not to tell my Counter Earth self about Sir Ram's were-beast program.

"Hasn't the High Evolutionary done anything right?" I asked.

"Well, there hasn't been any wars in 30 years. But he still is a tyrant. Which brings us to today, there is a movement which I have joined to forcibly remove him from power and take our civilization back from those abominations." Alexander told me.

"You are horribly outnumbered." I said "...and your opposition is better organized."

"But our cause is divine." My other-self countered.

"Killing others for your cause is divine?! Alexander please, please, please, listen to me." I looked my other self straight in the eye. "You need to get out of this outfit; nothing good will become of this. This rebel group you have been a part of has been identified with the death of several beastials during recent attacks. I hope that you personally weren't involved in any of that, because that is the first step downward toward a path of total destruction."

My rebel counterpart looked at me as I said this. "How would you know that?" He asked.

"First, the beastial's punishment for murder is the 'Living Death'. Second, if you are able to escape imprisonment and judgement, do you really want to spend the rest of your existence looking over your shoulder wondering if you are being pursued and when you are going to be caught? Third, it is bad karma. You take a life of a fellow living creature indiscriminately eventually your life will be taken in a similar manner." I warned him. "You don't want or need to live like that. Fourth, the High Evolutionary will get you- if he can't get you personally, he will through your family."

"I didn't think about it that way." He told me.

"I can also tell that you are new here in this outfit by your demeanor and your eyes; you don't look like a killer to me." I said. "Alexander, the best thing you can do for yourself right now and all humanity is to work within the system for change. Seek like minded allies. You might even gets some support from the beastials to form a coalition, present your case and ask for reforms. With enough voices- the dictator might acquiesce."

Alexander looked at me. "It is interesting." I said.

"What's that?" He asked.

"We are quite similar, but arrived at different sides of the same conflict."

"I agree." My doppelganger said.

"Alexander, I implore you." I pleaded. "Don't be a drone- learn to think for yourself. I have seen too much death and destruction in my time and it would sadden me if you befell a similar fate. Please consider everything I have said."

"I will." The rebel replied. "But I better get you back to camp to join you colleague." He said gently- "we will use you to corroborate the information we obtained from the rat lady."

My other-self stood me up and conducted a pat down of my person to make sure I wasn't carrying any weapons- which he didn't find, but he did find my PDA.

"What's this?" He asked.

"Alexander please be careful with that." I told him. "It is my PDA"-

"What?" He asked.

"The transporter and my translator. It is how I arrived on this world. If anything happens to that device I won't be able to communicate with anyone who doesn't speak English on this world. The inhabitants on Counter Earth and Gaia don't speak the same language. I am just now starting to get a handle on English but I speak it with a accent." I told him.

"That is fascinating!" He exclaimed as he lifted the device to get a better look at it. Just then a bolt of electricity discharged from the PDA hitting him and dropping him to the wintry ground.

"Wha! What happened? I can't move."

"That's because you have been stunned." I told him. "It will wear off soon in about an hour or so." I said.

"You tricked me!" My other-self managed to blurt out.

"Yes." I replied. "There is no way in hell I could have beat you in fair combat. Remember you're the warrior, and I am not?" I said to him sternly. "I may not be a warrior, but I too have learned how to survive in hostile territory."

I then approached my other-self. "I was planning to do this to another rebel, but you will do instead." I said as I removed his jacket, shirt, pants, firearm and knife from him. I then tied him up before I covering him with my own jacket and pants. He looked at me with fear and concern in his eyes realizing that this may be the final moments of his life.

"Do it!" He said.

"Do what?" I asked. "You have not been listening to a word I said have you?" I barked back- "I have no intention of taking your life! Alexander, I am not a killer. In fact, I greatly enjoyed our conversation- you fascinate me. If this were another place and another time I think you and I would have been good friends." I said as I hugged my other-self. "I wish we could talk and compare experiences further, but I must rescue my colleague.

As I headed toward the enemy's encampment I turned back to Alexander who still had fear in his eyes.

"Relax, I won't leave you to succumb to the elements. But I want you to seriously think about our conversation and the path you are taking right now. You have a choice you will have to make soon." With that I headed for the rebel encampment as the sun started to rise..

To Be Continued.....