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Counter Earth Chronicles - Fallen Empire

Chapter 8** 4***: Embracing Demons (Conclusion)*

Day 185 (6:22 AM Lurie, Lea, Tauren and Eon's lair)

“Mistress!" I shouted running towards my warrior bear who had been bound, gagged and was kneeling submissively on the trio's platform.

“This one was trying to abduct us." Ida announced to her fellow meat puppets.

“Yes it was her objective." Tauren announced. “Such a shame we wanted to reconnect with her and remember the old times."

“The freckled human's objective was to distract us." Eon said approaching me.

“Did I do a good job?" I asked the slender blue dragon.

“Alex you never were going to consider the master's offer were you?" Lea asked as the five of them approached me.

“Sorry gorgeous it was never in the cards." I said to the surprised lioness. “But for what it's worth the entity has taken good care of all of you."

“We must ask you to reconsider squirt." Lurie said as the five beastials surrounded me and Lady Ursa.

“It is over little slave, escape is impossible." The conquer of worlds said through the minotaur, fossa, coyote, lioness and dragon. " You WILL be ours once again."

“And what makes you think that I will willingly let you inhabit me once again former master?" I asked curiously.

“Call it a hunch." Lea said as I watched Lurie gently pet my pregnant bear on her head.

(Crap. How could she let herself be captured?!)

“Lurie! You are going to harm her?"

“TCH!!!" The coyote female said to me. “It is called leverage."

“Damn. I will require a moment to say goodbye."

I hugged my perfect person. Two failed missions in so many days and it looked like I was going to be forced to rejoin the new order to protect her and the small life growing inside her womb.

“Mistress, I am so sorry. I am going to have to become a walker again." I said resting my head on her chest. I noticed that she seemed to be wriggling her paws despite her binds and continued to do so.

(Hmm?)

I moved my right hand to meet her left paw. As I did I made contact with a metallic something. The stylus!!!

(Given the great odds against us could she have planned this?)

I deftly grasped the separator and turned around to face the possessed.

“Excellent. Your first duty little slave will be to return to your colony and spread the good word." The synoptic said through its vessels.

Tauren, Lurie, Lea, Ida and Eon surrounded me paws extended preparing to pull me back into the collective.

“You will not offer any resistance little human." Tauren said. His voice rising to that of a warning.

“You will let our master consume you completely." Lurie added.

“Welcome back into our community Alex Winter." The hot lioness said smiling.

“I look forward to working with all of you as well." I said holding up the stylus. “Just not in this capacity."

I paused just long enough for the bull, dragon, fossa, lioness and coyote to make eye contact with Claudius' device then I pressed the button.

*FLASH*

The five screamed as something overcame them and the entity was forcibly ripped from their bodies. Tauren and Ida dropped to their knees holding their heads as if suffering from a massive migraine. Lea and Eon started convulsing and Lurie dry heaved.

While they were distracted I quickly ran to my she beast and untied her.

“Overwatch we need extraction now!" My warrior bear shouted into her communicator.

*Acknowledge** d **** Lady Ursa.***

No sooner than the automated assistant responded a circular hole was cut through the roof and the blue prototype landed inside the lair.

“You planned this!" I said hugging my mistress as she picked up her sword and resheathed it.

“This was the only way to complete the mission and to save our friends." She said smiling. “Although it is going to be a cramped ride home."

"I think we could make multiple trips."

Claudius exited the blue prototype and ran over to his fossa.

“My dearest Ida!" Fish face said kneeling at her side.

“What? What? Happened?" Lurie dry heaved again.

“The voices in my head I can no longer hear them!" Eon shouted.

“Master? Why have you forsaken us?" Tauren pleaded.

“We have been cut off!" Lea shouted.

“Separated actually." I said to the five. “You are who you were before; the nightmare is over and without any ill effects...." I said running over to Tauren to hug him.

(This was a tremendous victory indeed!)

“Alex." The minotaur said as he placed his paw on my shoulders breaking the hug. “You had no right."

“Tauren? What are you saying you didn't ask to be possessed!"

“End this now! Bring the master back!" The coyote girl said snatching me from her lover's paws. and lifting me forcefully from the ground.

“Lurie? What has gotten into you?" My warrior bear said drawing her sword.

“Alex, Ursa, we didn't need or ask your assistance." Tauren said standing.

“We didn't want to be rescued." Lea said finding her equilibrium.

“WHAT?!!!" I shouted.

“Thank you for your concern Alex but it is unwarranted." The dragon said placing his paw on the bull's shoulder. “I didn't ask for this either, but I am glad it happened."

“Eon?"

“Before I became a believer I was a bouncer at a restaurant in the theater district. It was a aimless, directionless job that only spurred further division between first and second class citizens in the former empire. Here I am helping to build a new society, a new civilization superior to that which came before. I can't speak for my companions but I suspect that they feel the same." The slender blue dragon said candidly.

Tauren, Lurie and Ida nodded in unison.

“Alex we believe in the synoptic. It has made us our best selves." Lea said. "It's way is the better way."

“I was serving a megalomaniac in a dystopian society. It was failing- the oppressed demanded equality, societal breakdown was eminent. I am glad the High Evolutionary is dead. I am glad we killed him." The 'yote girl said staring me down.

“Dearest is that true?" Claudius said holding Ida's paw.

“Before I was turned, I was lost, Claudius. Now through the synoptic's influence my life is full of joy."

“Under the synoptic our lives are being used for a better purpose, a higher purpose." Tauren said nodding to Lurie.

“There are many here who share the same experience Alex." The coyote said releasing me. “It was scary at first, but it was for the better. We like who we have become."

Lady Ursa, Claudius and I stared at the five in disbelief.

“But all the chaos, the destruction, all the lives that were lost!!!" Lady Ursa shouted “There were bodies and debris everywhere for months!!!"

“Necessary to get to this point." Eon said too casually. “There are no bloodless revolutions."

“I don't accept this! I can't accept this! You five are being lied too!" I shouted.

“We don't think so Alex." Lea said to me taking my hands with her paws.

“I can't believe this!" I shouted.

“You two toured the biosphere, this is the culmination of the master's plan. The new order." The blue dragon said to my she beast and myself.

“Alex having experienced World One and the Diamond City which do you think is superior?" Lea asked.

“Well I…."

“No inequality." Lea said.

“No hatred or bigotry." Ida added.

“No misery or suffering." Lurie chimed in.

“Only harmony and unity." Eon concluded.

“And the bliss of ONE." The bull said.

(When you say it like that, they damn near convinced me.)

“Alex, Ursa this is our decision, our choice." Lurie added as that goofy smile returned to her face.

The peaceful stares also returned to Lea, Tauren, Ida and Eon's faces.

I let go of Lea's paws.

“Ah much better, now where were we little slave?" The synoptic said assuming control of his vessels.

“The hell?!" I shouted.

“OVERWATCH CODE BLACK!!!" Lady Ursa shouted.

**Glue grenades engaged.* *

*Bola engaged.*

*Capture net deployed.*

*THWIP* “ACK!!!"

*SPLUTT* “AUGH!!!"

The prototype fired. Lurie and Tauren were covered in a sticky viscous white fluid. Ida and Eon was encased in a net and Lea had her paws and foot paws hogtied.

“What is this stuff?!" The 'yote girl asked.

“Non-lethal weaponry; their means of escape." The sexy lioness said wriggling on the floor.

“Alex the mission was a failure. We must flee!" My mistress called out to me.

I took a final look at my friends who had decided to side with the enemy. I still couldn't believe what had happened.

“TAUREN!! LURIE!! LEA!!" I shouted as my bear pulled me away. “NO!!!"

“My dearest Ida!! I love you!!" Claudius shouted as he was also dragged away.

“Claudius there was never a us. You are just an annoying pebble in the shoe of our existence. Hail the synoptic."

The fish guy's mouth dropped wide open as my bear stuffed the both of us into the passenger seat of the prototype.

“Overwatch assume control of the prototype. Get us out of here now!!" Lady Ursa ordered.

*Affirmative Lady Ursa.*

We tucked our tails between our legs and made a hasty retreat from the Diamond City. I took one last look at my dear friends as we ascended back into the sky from Lurie and Tauren's lair. The bull, coyote, lioness were thrilled to be of the ONE again as were the dragon and fossa.

“NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!! Claudius what happened? I thought you perfected the separator!" I shouted at the scientist.

“I… I... don't know!" The amphibian said.

*Technically Mr. Price your device did work for five minutes and thirty two seconds.*

“Madam knight was the device damaged during your apprehension?"

“No, I was careful hiding it from them until the moment was right." My lady bear responded.

*Perhaps zapping five at one time was too much for the device?* The automated assistant speculated.

“No, that is not it we were well within it operational range." Claudius said out loud.

“There has to be something we can do!" I shouted activating the co-pilot monitor and keyboard. As soon as the keyboard emerged from the glovebox I started typing furiously.

“Pet." My warrior bear said gently.

“There has to be something we overlooked, perhaps another strategy!"

“Pet… Alex!"

I stared at the pregnant fierce ursine warrior.

“There isn't anything to do. The entity has complete control over our friends. Even if it didn't, you heard them they don't want to return to what they were before, they believe in its cause, they like their lives now; who they are now."

*And whom they serve.*

“When I initially contacted Lea when I was ONE of them she admitted that much to me." I said tearing up. “I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it."

“I know it is killing you inside pet, but you can't help those who don't want to be helped. I am afraid Tauren, Lurie and Lea are beyond our reach."

My bear's words stung me really bad.

*Lady Ursa, Mr. Winter. The mission may have been a failure but thanks to Mr. Price a lot of Intel was gained.*

“Hey, that's great." I said wiping my tears.

“Here boy let me see that." Claudius said grabbing control of the keyboard. “While modifying your surveillance technology, I placed a few microprobes in that hotel you two went inside."

“Claudius that was extremely foolish!" My bear said chastising the fish guy. You could have been touched!"

“I took extreme precaution." The amphibian said pulling up a feed from the hotel lobby.

“Wow you really did improve on the micro probe's range." I exclaimed.

We watched as the wallaby couple returned to the front desk.

“How was your stay?" The female anteater greeter asked.

“Beyond wonderful!" Ted exclaimed.

“We don't want to leave! Ever." Claire admitted.

“We thought that you would see it our way." She said handing the couple a pad. “Read this over in its entirety."

“What is this?" The female wallaby asked.

“A primer to make your transition less uncomfortable."

“So you have decided to become ONE of us." The male wallaby started reading out loud. “ __It says that w_ e will be taken care of for the rest of our lives… all our needs will be met… our problems will become irrelevant… we shall want for nothing…._ we will inhabit a society that is unified and tranquil… no rich or poor... haves or have nots... there is no pain… hatred misery or suffering. Hey Claire, this is quite the deal!"

“How much?" The female wallaby asked.

“Today we have a two for ONE special we will even let you choose your sire." The female anteater said as the couple was surrounded.

_“Sire?" _Claire looked at the buffed studs wearing next to nothing that moved in on her and Ted.

“Think of them as your personal tour guides to your new life here."

“Okay, you." Claire said selecting a grey and black muscular civet who only had on red underwear.

“And I will take you." Ted said selecting a sleek white and tan female gibbon who was barely wearing at two piece bathing suit.

“Excellent selections." The anteater said.

“So what happens now are they going to give us a massage?" Ted asked.

“Not exactly." The civet said hugging Claire.

“Ted!! GEK!!" Claire screamed.

“Claire!!!" Ted shouted watching his companion tremble rather violently.

“Your turn." The gibbon said mashing Ted's face to her rack.

The male wallaby squealed and trembled too.

“That's it, give in and just let it happen." The she beast hissed.

“You two will be a welcome addition to our group." The civet commented after Claire had been transformed.

“** Do not fear, there is a orientation later if you have any concerns ***."* The gibbon added.

*The walker's prey now must read a terms of service agreement? The Others have indeed changed tactics.*

“Remarkable." Lady Ursa announced as Claudius's face registered a look of horror.

“We need to contact Jessie and Devon immediately." The amphibian said.

Now…

“Claudius contacted his partners in World Four with Feleen's assistance. He found out that the separator initially had worked on their vulture prisoner before but he also reverted back into a minion. Jessie and Devon were forced to eliminate him."

“So the separator was a dud?" Yogi asked.

“An extreme dud." I said crying. “Claudius said he was going try to improve it."

“Yeah, perhaps make it work for six minutes. Listen, it worked long enough for you to reconnect with your loved ones without the synoptic's intervention." The gorilla warrior said to me.

“And for them to tell me how they really felt." I said sobbing again.

“Are we sure that wasn't just a residual effect of being under ONE's influence?" Corbin asked. “I mean I remember momma bear went through some type of withdrawal after she was rejected."

“If it is we will never know because they were only free for five minutes." Yogi said.

“It is like they all died in front of me and I can't do a damn thing about it!" I cried.

The little mongoose and yeti tried to console me as I realized that I had lost Tauren, Lurie and Lea most likely for good. That realization really hurt, it hurt badly.

“Despite what happened, there is something you can do boy." Annias said rising from his table and walking over to me. “Let them go. Friendships are constantly evolving some come, some go. this is one of those times."

“But…" Corbin started to say.

“If they really are telling the truth and like who they are now and what they have become, there is no helping them. I am sorry for your loss boy." The silverback said placing his paw on my shoulder.

“We are too." Yogi added.

“Grieve about your expired friendships if you want, but in doing so don't forget about the active ones around you." The gorilla warrior said gently.

“When did you become so smart?" The little mongoose boy asked.

“And the moment is gone." Yogi sighed as the tension between the gorilla and mongoose resumed.

I seized on the opportunity to hug Annias as well. To my surprise he let me.

“You can let go now." He said patting me on my shoulders.

His fur was so soft.

“Come on big brother let's go do something and take your mind off this." The little mongoose said encouraging me to release the gorilla.

“Boy, I have to relieve Tori. Please let go." Annias pleaded.

“Why don't we go with you?" Yogi said.

“Yeah, maybe some time with your new friends is in order big brother." Cobin said tugging my orange shirt.

“Not friends." I said wiping my tears. “My family."

Corbin, Yogi and I followed the silver gorilla to the western maze, through it and to the surface and the community garden where Zhade, Kenna, Ruth Ann, Little Corey and Dianna were working.

“Annaias." I said adjusting my grappling hook. “Back there what you said- thank you for that. But I thought you didn't like me?"

“You are an acquired taste. But if I were you I would count my blessings when you are feeling sad. Hug and kiss those females of yours. If they want to console you- let them."

“You mean at the end of the day we only have each other." I said to him. “And Zhade."

“Don't scoff boy, after joining the defenders, he has really stepped up." The gorilla said to me.

We arrived at the community garden to see Little Corey and Dianna cowering. Tori was crumpled on the ground and Kenna was inside the silver coupe as it fired.

“What happened here?!" The gorilla shouted.

“Monsters!" Dianna said pointing. “They got Ruth Ann!"

“Zhade went after them." Little Corey whimpered.

“It happened so quickly. There wasn't time to call for help." Kenna said.

“Not again!" I said checking on the fallen sergal with the skull on her head. Tori was banged up, but would be fine.

“Corbin, Yogi secure the scene. Kenna call for help. Medic with me." The gorilla ordered.

“Right Corbin said drawing his boomerang."

“Aw, I want a boomerang too!" Yogi said.

Annias darted into the forest, I followed behind as quick as I could.

We soon caught up with Ruth Ann and Zhade.

The two were standing face to face with a old man in a white shirt and blue overalls and Tori's attacker a harpy with brown wings, sharp talons and humanoid face.

(The hell?!)

We arrived just in time to see the half human/half beastial receive a hug from the old woman. She then turned around to give her husband the gem he had left her while Zhade and Demonia officiated this weird acceptance ceremony.

“Zhade!!" I shouted.

“Ruth!" The gorilla shouted.

We were too late. The old woman smiled as she took her husband's hands. She trembled as the two embraced; a lifetime of knowledge and experience was acquired by the collective in that very moment.

“We shall never ever be apart again my love." Bo said kissing his mate.

“Agreed, never my love." Ruth Ann said to Bo.

Alex Winter July 14, YOE 34