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The Story Thus Far:

Seven months after the collapse of the known world Alex successfully escaped from its conqueror becoming the only vessel of ONE to do so. He returned home to his lovers, his family and his friends more determined to stop the synoptic than before. But how could this be accomplished in this era of darkness? When a new sickness started plaguing the living few, Shakara and Alex developed a treatment and decided to use it to push back against the long night- treating the sick and afflicted before the entity could prey on their hopelessness and desperation....

Counter Earth Chronicles - Fallen Empire

Chapter 75: Rising (Conclusion)

Day 180 (6:30 AM, The Training Hall)

“Your bosom is so fluffy and soft Shakara! I just want to worship it all day!" I moaned rubbing my she beast's big tatas.

“Why thank you um, little cutie." A gruff voice said to my compliments.

(Wait, that did not sound like my lioness.)

“That is not Shakara pet."

I opened my eyes and I was nose to nose with my brown bear. She was in front of me and Shakara was back at the lost city, then whose chest was my head lying on and whose groin was my butt resting in? The black paws were a big hint. I looked up and then quickly closed my eyes as if in a trance.

“And you are not having a shimmer either Alex!" My bear knight said.

Realizing that I had been made, I pursued the only avenue I had left:

“Barq! I mean my lady! I am so sorry!"

“Actually I rather enjoyed it. So this is how you two sleep?" The badger said.

I noted that she didn't exactly say what the 'it' portion was.

“Jealous Ursa?" The large badger said teasing.

“I am not!" My perfect person retorted to her rival. “I just like it when he sleeps with me."

*CLANK*

*CRACK*

Our attention was then directed to the floor of the training hall where Kala, Mitsa, Lune, Theresa, Oliver and Nezera were going through their morning work out and sparing quite fiercely. Sura was watching nearby from the sidelines holding Luck.

“How long have they been doing this?" I asked the brown rabbit.

“About thirty minutes." The diva responded. “They are quite good too."

“How are you feeling Sura?" The badger warrior said stretching.

“Much better." She said as Luck watched his parents spar each were holding wooden sticks which they used to strike, stab and block.

“Freedom will make anyone feel better." Lady Ursa said.

(That and being in control of one's own body including what their genitals do.)

Theresa and Oliver were doing the same as were Kala and Nezera.

“Why do I have to use these again?" The vampire asked. “My gloved claw is all I need."

“When claw and fang fail." The gorilla said attacking overhead.

“Well there is also hypnosis." The she bat countered.

“And if you encounter an enemy that is impervious?" Kala asked.

The vampire's answer was simple- she disappeared.

“Good answer. Ok everyone halt. Today is our big test; we are going to provide security to our guests as they treat the afflicted." The she gorilla said.

“And if we are successful?" Theresa asked.

“Then we are going to think bigger." The she gorilla said thoughtfully.

“What is bigger?" Lune asked.

“Making this block of the city a permanent safe zone, an oasis for survivors from all the crazy out there." Kala said.

“That is quite the tall order." Mitsa said.

“And there is quite a lot of crazy out there." Oliver added.

“Indeed there is. That is why we are taking small steps. We have trained and trained for this and I feel you five are more than ready."

“I think it was the weapons cache we discovered." The male dalmatian added.

“Everyone remember to stick to the plan." His mate said. “Sura you are on surveillance and puppy sitting duty."

“BAH!!!" Luck pouted.

“Sorry sweetie you aren't old enough for solid foods, let alone fighting." The female dalmatian said to her son.

“Select your weapons and let's establish the perimeter." Kala said.

“What is our part?" I asked the female warriors on either side of me.

“Public announcements." Lady Barq said.

“Oh." I replied.

After a better than average breakfast, Barq went to assist Kala and the vigilantes in setting up the triage center. It helped that the silver prototype was there for backup.

Lady Ursa and I took the blue coupe out to announce our treatment clinic. For safety reasons we decided it would be easier to fly over the city rather than try to travel down many impassable blocks and streets confronting gangs, monsters, nasties and what ever hostile thing that was out there.

“We are about five hundred feet from the ground Alex." My perfect person announced.

“Ok let's do this."

*Projection system is on Mr. Winter.*

Attention citizens! If you are suffering from a nasty rash that is causing you to itch to the point of going mad- don't despair there is treatment. This affliction was created by the walkers who are preying on the desperate. Do you want relief? Come to the corner of Market and Center streets. It is a safe zone where those who have been stricken with this affliction can seek relief!

“How was that?" I asked my companions.

“A little sales-pitchy." My warrior bear said as we hovered over a mulit-colored monster that looked like a walking pile of sherbet. Several blocks over were rejects and entity worshipers riding around on ATVs. It looked like the vigilantes were going to have their work cut out for them providing security.

Lady Ursa and I crisscrossed World Two announcing our “care clinic" in the hope of getting the word out to as many as we possibly could.

When we arrived back at the oasis I had wondered what type of security Kala had planned. The logistic problems were two-fold, precautions were needed to protect those who were in need of treatment and those providing the treatment.

“What is this? A trap?" Extremely ugly female grey and white pitbull carrying a axe asked Lady Ursa and myself.

“No it is a clinic." I said smiling. “There is a epidemic making its way through the remnants of the empire."

“We are trying very hard to treat the afflicted and to keep it from spreading." Lady Ursa said.

“How noble of you." She said eyeing me carefully. I tried not to stare but she looked very rough, a street warrior, the nose ring and spiked collar didn't even attempt to soften her appearance. “What assurance do I have that you aren't a walker waiting to possess me or my brood?"

As she said that I looked behind her to see three puppies between six and eleven years old. Two had prominent signs of the sickness- they were scratching like crazy.

“I could say the same to you." I responded.

“We have set up precautions." My warrior bear said.

“What type of precautions?" The dog asked the bear. “It is not safe out here anywhere at anytime."

“There is a guard at the entrance to the clinic- the silver coupe you see there next to you." I said to her.

“The one with the weapons launchers on either side of it?"

“Yes. Patients are prescreened at the entrance by us. If they are cleared they are let in a few at a time for a second round of screening. If they pass they receive treatment." I said to the ugly mother pitbull.

“And if they don't pass?" She asked eyeing myself and Lady Ursa cautiously.

“If they are hostile they are turned away or are dealt with on the spot." The brown bear said crossing her arms with authority.

“That is all nice and good but what about those behind me?"

“Wheels." My warrior bear said into her communicator.

*There is a small line forming behind the four patients you are currently screening. No unusual activity Lady Ursa.*

“So what is this prescreening?" One of the younglings behind the mother pitbull asked.

“Will it hurt?" Her black and white sibling said.

“It shouldn't." I replied simply.

“Very well." The mother pitbull said.

“Great now I want you and each of your younglings to give me a hug." I said smiling.

She looked at me and then Lady Ursa.

“Alex is adept at detecting walkers."

As I hugged the mother pitbull and each of her puppies, I performed a quick assessment.

“Alex?" My warrior bear asked.

“I am not sensing anything. But two of her cubs do need treatment."

“Very well this way." Lady Ursa said directing them single file behind us.

The four next encountered Nezera.

“And who are you?" The mother pit bull asked.

“The second round of screening." The grey bat said. “Look into my eyes. Tell me what matters the most to you in your life?"

“Tano, Nano and Tamuda." The female canine said as she was placed under hypnosis.

I took a quick glance as the vampire bat asked the same to each of the younglings.

“My brother." One answered. “My sister." Another answered. “My momma she is the most important thing in my life right now." The third answered without hesitation.

“Cleared." Nezara said moving the family onward to meet two dalmatians who treated two of the three puppies.

“This is amazing!" The mother pitbull commented watching Mitsa apply a heavy application of ointment on two of her brood.

“Relief is almost instant." The male dalmatian said as Mitsa, Oliver and Theresa looked on. “Apply this twice a day until the itching has stopped."

“Momma look this block is undamaged!" One of the pitbull pups said.

“It is the only area that is. We are thinking about making this a permanent safe zone." Theresa said to our first patients. “You can stay as long as you like."

“It would appear that you are off to a good start. The security is also impressive." The she beast said eyeing the female gorilla holding two jagged swords, the human female holding a staff with a sharp blade on its tip, the female dalmatian holding a tri-bladed yo-yo type weapon, the human male holding a double edge sword, the male dalmatian with short sword strapped to his leg and the female bat with the gloved paw with sharp claws.

As soon as the family had been treated and was safely on their way, Lady Ursa and I let in the next group.

“Do you know where we can get something to eat?" Two young multi-spotted civets asked.

“Where are your parents young ones?" Lady Ursa asked.

Both looked down at the ground to my bear's question.

“Um, Kala....." I said.

“Help! He won't stop scratching!!" A bug-eyed primate(?) said approaching pointing to a younger bug-eyed primate with him.

“Grey fur, short ears, short tail. What are you?" I asked staring at the next two patients.

“They are slow lorises Alex. The smaller of the two has the affliction." My perfect person said.

“My cousin has been itching badly- he scratched his fur off! We have been on our own since our grandparents were eaten."

(Eaten?!)

“Let me see." I said kneeling at the youngling.

The rash was rather severe on this one extending from his neck to his legs including his posterior.

“Pet?" Lady Ursa asked.

“I am not sensing anything mistress. But this is the worst case I have seen."

“Go ahead." Lady Ursa said passing to two on to Nezera.

“We are here to be treated." The larger of the two said to the vampire bat.

“Not so fast I need to make sure that you are not hostile."

“I can assure you bat lady we aren't... but how are you going to do that?"

“Look into my eyes." The vampire smiled wickedly.

“You are going to hypnotize us?" The younger of the two said.

“Yes."

“Will it hurt?"

“Only if you are not who you say you are." Kala said approaching.

“Now tell me what is your most favorite place in all the world?" Nezera asked.

“The park near my home. I used to swim in the lake there."

“And you?" Nezera said to the smaller slow loris.

There was a long pause that caught Kala and Mitsa's attention.

“Is this an Walker?" Lune asked.

“That is a tough one. I would say the beach they had great food there. No the Great Forest, nah maybe that amusement park in World Five."

Hearing that from the indecisive youngling Mitsa, Lune, Theresa and Oliver started laughing at the false alarm.

“Excuse me miss knight lady do you know of a safe place to sleep?" A preadolescent wolverine asked.

“What is wrong little one?" I asked him.

“There is a ugly creature that skulks my street right across from where I live, he claims if he sees me again he is going to eat me."

“Um Kala...." I shouted to the female gorilla.

Slowly but surely the afflicted came to the care clinic. But it wasn't just those who were scratching themselves raw. It was also the ill, the injured, the thirsty and the hungry and the fearful. We did what we could to help. Bess and Tess would have been proud.

“That looks like the last of them mistress."

“How many did we see pet?"

“It looked to be almost forty." I said checking my math.

“Barq how are things on your end?" The bear said to the badger.

“Some creatures did make some appearances but after I displayed the weapons launchers- they decided it wasn't worth the effort. Therein lies the problem."

“What is that?" I asked the female badger.

“No one is leaving Alex."

I looked around there were humans and beastials of all shapes and sizes on either side of the street- talking, playing music, socializing, eating, trading supplies.

*Most likely because they feel safe here.* Wheels volunteered.

“In other words nothing is trying to hunt, possess, kill or eat them." I said to the female warriors. “Could you blame them?"

“Well it looks like we have some more waiting to be treated." I said as we were approached by more of the afflicted a warthog carrying a sword, capybara with a mace, a zonkey with a crossbow. I also noticed that there was a young man who was walking a penguin on a leash. He was standing next to a orange dragon holding a chain with a sharp curved hook. There was also a marble fox with a weapon he carried that looked like a meat cleaver and a white spotted avian who was carrying a circular staff.

“I heard there was some type of clinic here today?" The warthog said

“There is." Lady Ursa said to him.

“Good because I have this itch..."

The warthog, capybara and zonkey.... I didn't recognize initially- well not their faces, but everything below their heads looked familiar. The zee-donk carrying the crossbow he had some scars on his person. The human, avian, marble fox and dragon did not seem familiar but the penguin that scraggly man had on the leash...

“Weapons aren't allowed inside the treatment area." Lady Ursa said to the arrivals.

“That is fine we will just use them out here, know what I mean?" The orange dragon said.

(Screw me sideways!!!)

“Hello Vicious, Fierce, Ferocious you seem well."

“You know these three Alex?" My lady bear said.

“It is The Horde mistress they are entity rejects who will do anything to become Others."

“I heard Sura gasp within the blue prototype behind us."

“Well, well, well if it isn't the one who got away." The Zonkey said. “I still owe you for that kick to the groin boy."

“You were going to offer me and my friends to the entity." I responded gesturing to Oliver, Theresa, Lune and Mitsa who immediately took notice and drew their weapons.

“Well if it isn't our least favorite characters Vicious, Fierce and... and...." Lune said trying to remember.

“The warthog is Ferocious dear." The she dalmatian said to her mate.

“And you brought friends." Ms. Branch said.

“Yeah, Docile, Voracious, Renegade and Slash this is our prey." The capybara said to his companions.

The four additional thugs waved while the female penguin looked down at the ground.

“Wait, wait we don't want any trouble we just want treatment." Fierce said showing us his rash. “Our healer here is gifted but she isn't that gifted.

Lady Ursa's jaw dropped as she recognized who their healer/prisoner was.

“Why would the synoptic give you rejects the affliction?" I asked the capybara.

“Because it wanted us to take the medicine you are using to treat it." Ferocious said as he drew his sword.

“Yeah, it is bad for its long term plans!!" Fierce said charging.

“AS OF NOW YOU ALL ARE PRISONERS OF THE HORDE!!" Renegade shouted.

“DON'T THINK SO!" Kala shouted rushing into the fray.

“Alright everyone this is it remember our training!" Oliver shouted “And no one die!"

“No promises!" The white avian said drawing her staff.

“I want the bear!" Slash said charging my mistress.

“Damn! I wanted the bear!" The Zonkey said.

“Don't worry Vicious I will see you now." I shouted as the tip of my grappling hook met his crossbow.

“That reminds me little human I got a new bobble what do you think?"

I remembered the first time I encountered Vicious and his bobble. He whammied Shakara and myself really good.

(Don't look!)

“See the way it shines and glistens?"

(Alex, don't look!)

I tried to stare away, tried to ignore the strobing flashing colors but couldn't.

“See the way it reflects the red sunlight turning it into numerous pretty colors?" The zonkey said to me. “Watch how it moves back and forth!"

“AH-DUUHH!" I groaned falling to the ground. He had gotten me again.

Welcome to Massage Associates. The harpy said walking into a small 10 x 10 room.

Thank goodness you guys are still open! Our client, a grey otter with a youthful looking face shouted.

We try very hard to accommodate our customers especially now. I said standing next to the harpy.

Yeah it is bad... the empire has collapsed, so has my business, there is confusion, chaos, and instability everywhere. These truly must be the end times. I need something to take the edge off!! Give me your most expensive massage!! The male otter exclaimed.

Why certainly. Please remove your clothing and lie down on the table here sir. Demona said.

You know sir it is quite dangerous to be out and about. Especially in these times. I cautioned as the very handsome otter disrobed.

Yeah, yeah I know. But I don't liked to be cooped up all day long; I am an outdoor beastial.

I traded glances with the she monster.

Demona and I were going to take our time with this offering to our master.

Would you like us to start at any place in particular sir? The harpy asked our next victim.

You can start at my head and neck and you boy my paws and tail.

Yes sir we aim to please. I smiled.

Yes we do! The harpy echoed.

The moment our hands touched the ex-business beast his transformation was almost instant.

Hey what is happening!? He screamed.

You are becoming your best self. Demona grinned as his fur bristled and he trembled.

Well done little slave. Well done harpy. His intelligence is well above average. He will make a fine addition to the collective.

Yes master. Demona and I said bowing respectfully.

*UGH* I said stirring. It was another shimmer. One that had broken the hypnosis the zonkey had put me under. I quickly assessed what was going on around me:

Lady Ursa was fighting Slash the dragon her sword was clanging against his curved hook and chain. It looked like they were dead even.

Mitsa was attacking the capybara with her tri-blade yo-yo weapon. Fierce was receiving numerous cuts and gouges; his mace was not helping.

Lune had stopped Ferocious from carrying off our supply of ointment. The male dalmation was facing off against the warthog- short sword to sword.

Oliver Justice was attacking the only human member of The Horde with his double edge sword. He had slashed the man on his face forcing him to free the chained lady penguin.

Elsewhere Theresa was fighting against Renegade. The marble fox was trying very hard not to be impaled by the blade at the tip of the wildlife researcher's staff despite the meat cleaver on a stick weapon he was carrying.

Nezera was gutting Voracious the avian. Impaling her with the sharp tips of her gloved paw. The avian's staff was useless.

The thirty-seven patients that we had seen and were watching the malay that morning started to panic. I noticed Izzy, Ceil and Faust were on the scene as well trying to calm the crowd. They must have arrived while I was out cold.

But it was Lady Barq and Kala who were in trouble. After the zonkey whammied me again the gorilla and badger had moved in to take him down and now were being being hypnotized by him.

(Oh hell no!)

I raised my right arm aiming the tip of my grappling hook at the reject's face and pressed the fire button on my weapon.

*Thok!!*

There was a bit of a recoil which caused the tip of the hook miss his head and strike the zee-donk's chest but at this point it didn't matter as long as I hit him.

*AUGH* Vicious shouted realizing he had been pierced again by at tractor hook as I pressed the retract button on my weapon.

“Get over here!"

I punched the outlaw beastial as hard and fast as I could in his face, chest and stomach receiving nothing but few grunts for my efforts.

(Ok, plan b.)

I kicked him in the family jewels as hard as I possibly could, when he dropped to his knees to cover his privates, I placed my two hands together and brought both my fits down on the back of his head as hard as I could laying him out on the ground.

“Kala, Barq!" I shouted as I retracted the cable.

“What was that?" The badger said shaking her head.

“Vicious' special attack. You're lucky he didn't finish." I said.

“Thank you for intervening boy." Kala said.

“Just give me a big gorilla hug later and we will call it even." I said to the she beast.

“Ursa!!" Lady Barq said running to help her friend fight off the orange dragon.

I had a better idea. “Overwatch if you would please."

I watched as the blue coupe materialized with Sura and Luck safely inside.

*Members of The Horde your attention please.*

“WHATEVER THIS IS YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH, IT'S OVER!" I shouted aiming my weapon at the zonkey's head.

“It was over before it began." Kala said.

“It's not over." The dragon that was fighting Lady Barq and Lady Ursa laughed.

“I don't know we seem to have the upper hand." Oliver said placing his double edge sword just below Docile's chin."

The rest of The Horde started laughing as one by one they were bound and tossed next to their defeated leader.

“What's so funny?" Mitsa asked.

“You thought this was a fight?" Vicious asked sarcastically.

“We were just the distraction." The marble fox laughed.

(Distraction?!)

!!!

WE ARE ONE!!! The scraggy human said jumping to his feet as he lunged for the crowd of patients.

“No!!" I shouted.

“Go Docile Go!!!" Slash shouted.

The Horde's only human was a vessel for the entity. He was waiting for a mass gathering and a big distraction to perform a mass conversion for the synoptic. Our care clinic provided her such an opportunity.

As he was about to touch the mother pitbull and her puppies, the man was intercepted by Izzy.

That gave Kala just enough time to...

*double-stab*

The Docile took both her swords in the chest.

“I am sorry, I didn't want to it... it... made me." He said as he collapsed.

“Help!! Help!! SOMETHINGS! GOT ME!!" The terrified lizard said as he trembled and shook.

“It moved to him!" Someone in the crowd shouted.

“Nezera!" Oliver shouted.

The she bat appeared right in front of the terrified knight.

Do not despair lizard. You're death will be glorious and to the benefit of all." She said.

“My death will be to the benefit of all." Iggy said as if under some kind of trance.

He immediately stopped trembling.

I quickly ran to check on Docile.

“Can you do anything?" My mistress asked me and the penguin as the human bled.

“It is kind of hard to come back from two swords to the chest mistress."

“If this had happened before the end of civilization perhaps." The she penguin said kneeling at the dying thug's side.

“Thank you all for freeing me from my prison." Docile said as he died.

I then turned to assess Izzy. “Everyone keep your distance!"

“Well?" Chemar's friend asked trembling.

“You soiled yourself. It probably had something to do with your fear of being possessed."

“Or killed." He said interjecting.

“Or killed." I said. “But the entity is gone. It left you."

“Explanation boy?" The female gorilla asked.

“It thought Nezera was going to kill its latest acquisition and abruptly abandoned it."

(Coward.)

“Commander Rhinox did the same thing when ONE tried to acquire Russell." The badger said.

“Or perhaps the entity thought the lizard wasn't worth its time." The female bat said licking the blood from her gloved paw.

“We just took down The Horde!! Good work everyone!" The gorilla shouted.

“Your sister, if she were here would be extremely proud." I said hugging the female warrior. “Let's hear it for Kala and her vigilantes!!

KALA!! KALA!! KALA!! KALA!! The crowd shouted.

On that afternoon in a decimated city of the former empire a new resistance was born.

Alex Winter July 7th, YOE 34.