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The Story Thus Far-

On the day in which the world he knew ended, Alex Winter is hiding in a closet at the remains of Castle Wundagore recounting the time he has spent on his adoptive planet for posterity:

Alex spent his first year making friends, learning the native language and adapting to his new life on this world.

His second year he spent trapped at a prison outpost in the remote part of the planet and was forced to do the unthinkable to survive.

As his third year approached, he and his mistress returned to a imperiled civilization on the brink of chaos.

As Mr. Winter continues his memoirs he realizes that what destroyed the empire causing the horror that he has witnessed is coming for him and that he is running out of time....

Counter Earth Chronicles

Chapter 125: Someone Who Wasn't Well Who Found Others Who Weren't Well (Consensus Part Three)

Day 983 (continued)

“Ben quick joking mate!" Sanda said redirecting his attention to the mastiff inside the cab of the black prototype.

“DON'T!" The watch commander said as he pressed a button on the weapon's console.

*TARGETS ACQUIRED*

The black truck came to life locking its weapons tubules on Sanda, myself, Lady Keiko and Master Koala.

“Watch Commander explain yourself!" Lady Keiko said to her second in command who now appeared to be going rogue.

“Isn't it obvious K, I am taking this!" The mastiff knight said as he pointed his service weapon at his superior.

“Ben?" The gorilla warrior said.

“Do you even have to ask?! But then again you and the others have been too busy just trying to just keep your heads above water to see what is REALLY going on." Ben said to his superior. “ There is a tidal wave coming."

“What do you mean mate?" Sanda asked.

“What is happening right now! And what you saw today while shadowing me! We are seeing day in and day out while trying to hold the line between order and chaos. It is not getting any better!"

Lady Keiko, Sanda, Master Koala and myself just stared at the mastiff knight who had gone rogue.

(Damn, I was really starting to like him. The unorthodox methods he used to perform his duties were questionable, but he got the job done.)

“You don't get it? The High Evolutionary has lost ALL control and and try as he might he isn't going to get it back; we are headed for revolution!" The watch commander declared.

“For the sake of argument let's say that you are right. How is stealing attack beast going to change this?" Master Koala asked.

“It isn't but, but I am preparing for the empire's fall and what lies after!" The he beast said powering on the super weapon.

“Ben! Don't!" The gorilla warrior said drawing her weapon.

We didn't have to wait long to receive the rogue mastiff's answer.

!!!

*SPLUT*

A viscous gluey substance fired from the weapons tubules at the front of the truck hitting the chief scientist glueing him to the wall of the launch bay.

“Ben!" Lady Keiko shouted as she fired her weapon. The laser blast hit the armor of the truck and dissipated; there was no damage at all. The mastiff warrior responded in kind, firing at his superior.

*OOF* The commander shouted as she was hit by a empty missile casing and thrown back against the wall of the launch bay.

“Those were the nonlethal weapons does anyone want to see the lethal ones?" The mastiff knight said.

“Watch Commander?!" I said begging for the mastiff whom I spent time with to come back to his senses.

“Do not come after me." The dog growled.

“Now Ben, please be reasonable mate!" Sanda said pointing his weapon at the black prototype and its operator.

“Watch Supervisor, Specialist- if I were you I would prepare. The end is coming."

(Did he mean our end of the empire's?)

!!!

A hail of laser fire erupted from the the super weapon as the watch commander rode the launch platform to the top.

“Sanda! Look out!" I screamed diving for the caracal.

“GRAAAARRRROAR!!!!!" The commander of the Knights of Sogreth screamed at the betrayal of her second in command. “HOW DARE HE!!!"

(Whoa!)

That was the first time I ever saw a gorilla go completely ape shit and man, it was scary.

“I am very sorry that you two had to see that." The koala scientist said crawling over to us as the super weapon launched.

“How did you?" I asked.

“I have a small vial of solvent I used to free myself from the glue blast. Say Watch Supervisor are you alright?"

“No, I don't think so!" The caracal said screaming.

I stood up from where I had landed on the he beast trying to get him out of the line of fire. As I did something came with me; I was holding a piece of my friend as well- the caracal's tail. The laser fire had severed it from the rest of Sanda.

“Oh no!" Master Koala shouted.

I looked at Sanda's posterior and the numb where his tail had been previously attached. It was bleeding heavily.

“Sanda! We need healers right now!" I screamed at the koala and gorilla.

A rescue team was immediately summoned. They picked up my friend and rushed him into surgery to try stop him from bleeding out and to try to save his tail. Meanwhile the commander met with the chief scientist to see if they could track attack beast.

I anxiously waited in the medical wing of the castle for any news.

“Boy! How is the caracal doing?" I heard a female voice from behind me ask.

(So now she is acknowledging me?!)

“Too early to tell commander." I said politely. “More importantly how are you doing?"

“FINE! JUST FINE!" She said clenching her teeth. “My second in command has just turned his back on the core, the uniform, and everything he believed in because he thinks the world is coming to an end!"

Now that I am reflecting on this incident in hindsight, Ben Mastiff was right. The world was ending. If I had the insight that he did, perhaps I would have handled it differently.

“I assume that you and your forces are going after him?"

“What do you think?" She said turning to me.

“You know that is suicide right?" I said looking at the gorilla warrior. “There is no way you can take down that super weapon all by yourself."

“Possibly not. But I am not going to let Ben have it either." The she beast grumbled.

“I see. Maybe we should introduce Ben to the most powerful weapon we have in World One." I said taking her paw. “Come with me."

“With you?" She said to me. “What could you possibly offer me human?"

I didn't answer but had her follow me to the blue prototype which was parked outside of the castle.

“This is the most powerful weapon in your city? It looks well, rather small." The gorilla warrior said to me as I sat down in the passenger seat.

“Looks can be deceiving. Commander?" I said to her.

Reluctantly Lady Keiko joined me sitting down in the driver seat.

*Afternoon Mr. Winter. Has there been any updates on Sanda's condition?*

“Negative. At this point we are waiting and hoping." I said to the automated assistant.

“It talks?" The gorilla warrior said astounded.

*I do commander.*

“Before we begin, we need to clear out the air between us ma'am." I said staring at the female warrior. “During my time with the Knights of Wundagore I got to meet and work with the other commanders from the core. I accepted this assignment from my superiors because I looked forward to meeting you. However, when I introduced myself, you brushed me aside like I was a annoying tick on your fur. That hurt commander."

“So you are an admirer of mine boy?" She said looking at me.

“More like someone who was looking forward to working with you after meeting your counterparts. Wait! It is because, I am not a beastial isn't it?"

The female knight did not respond.

“Overwatch."

*Yes Mr. Winter.*

“I need background on Lady Keiko Commander of the Knights of Sogreth."

*Lady Keiko. Age 37. An original beastial who was a lab animal at Triangle Research Park before being rescued by the High Evolutionary and transitioned into a beastial warrior at the start of the empire thirty three years ago. During her time at the research park, her human handlers conducted experiment after experiment on her, as a result she has a intense distaste and hatred for second class citizens of the empire.*

(Well that explains some things.)

*She joined the knight core at the age of fourteen and worked her way through the ranks to become commander of the Knights of Sogreth in World Four, perhaps one of the most difficult positions in the entire empire due to the rampant corruption and high turnover.* The automated assistant stated.

“That would explain my chilly reception. You know not all of us non-furs/no-tails are like those that have mistreated you." I said to the gorilla warrior.

“Really? How would you know what I went through at that research park boy?"

“Believe me commander, you are not the only one here who wound up as a lab animal at a research facility." I said glaring at her.

“Since we are being so candid, Overwatch give me the background on Alex Winter."

*I am sorry ma'am you are not authorized.*

“Overwatch. It is ok, give her my background." I said to the automated assistant.

_*Alex Winter Specialist Wundagore Castle. Age 23 a contractor to the Knights of Wundagore and member of the Consortium For Mutual Coexistence.* _

“Oh you are Ursa's pet." The gorilla lady said to me. “How do I know that you don't have some secret agenda and aren't working for the rebellion?"

“Overwatch finish my background."

*Mr. Winter the rest is classified.*

“Go a ahead. I think in light of what happened today, we need to establish a bridge of communication and trust."

_*Very well. Place of origin Gaia.* _

“Gaia, what is a Gaia?" The female gorilla asked.

_*Another planet like Counter Earth but in an alternate reality. Mr. Winter traveled to our planet from another. Shortly there after becoming stranded on this one after discovering all life had ended on his own world. _

_He was judged and punished for illegal planetary trespass but his crimes were forgiven. With no where left to go, he was adopted by a Knight of Wundagore and now lives with her assisting on their missions in a adjunct capacity. He is considered a good luck charm by their commander Lord Tiger. _

_He is a partial clairvoyant, dependable, reliable and fiercely loyal to his friends. He assisted Wundagore castle in detecting listening devices planted there by the rebellion in the process cleared the name of a scientist who was framed. He does bear a resemblance to former rebel and now prisoner Alexander Winter but their ideologies are polar opposites.* _

“There you are commander." I said to female gorilla.

“So you are an off worlder?" She said to me.

“I am."

“But you believe in and support the empire?"

“I do. This planet, your world which has become my mine as well, is paradise compared to where I came from."

*Mr. Winter I have an incoming communication from Sir Ram.* Overwatch announced.

“Put it through." I said as an image of a big horned sheep appeared.

“Specialist. Commander." He said to us.

“Sir Ram." I replied.

“How is Sanda doing?" He asked me.

“There haven't been any further updates sir." I responded as Lady Keiko looked on.

“Acknowledged. I have updated Lord Tiger of the situation. Has there been an official response from the Knights of Sogreth?"

“Good question." I said turning to the female warrior seated next to me.

“The traitor will be dealt with in such a manner that they will rue the day of their creation." The gorilla grumbled.

“I think you have your answer sir." I responded.

“Very good. Remember that this is their jurisdiction, respect their sovereignty boy. Always a pleasure commander." The evil beastial said to the prejudiced beastial next to me.

“Yes sir. I am to sit and observe unless personally asked to offer assistance."

“Exactly boy. Contact me when you have anything further on Sanda." The ram said ending the communication.

“Affirmative." I responded.

“So you have a working relationship with the empire's greatest scientist?" Lady Keiko said turning to me.

“We have participated in numerous missions together- some quite dangerous; you could say we have rapport." I said simply.

“Overwatch I need to make a personal communication." The female gorilla said.

*I am sorry ma'am but you do not have authorization.*

“Commander are you requesting assistance on your current mission?"

“I suppose that I am." The she beast stated.

“Request accepted." I said grinning. “This is going to be so awesome! First I worked with Lord Tiger, Then Commander Gator (kinda, sort of), Then Sir Wolf, and then Commander Rhinox and now Lady Keiko!"

“Less fanboy and more specialist." The female warrior said correcting me.

I take it that was her apology for brushing me aside earlier.

“Apology accepted commander. Overwatch emergency authorization for Commander Lady Keiko Sogreth Castle."

*Recognized Lady Keiko Knight of Sogreth Senior Grade*

*Recognized Specialist Alex Winter Wundagore Castle.*

It was at that point that automated assistant put through the female warrior's personal communication.

“Mom!" A young female gorilla said appearing on the screen.

“Hi sweetie."

“I heard on the hub there was another incident at the castle today. Are you ok?"

“Physically yes. Emotionally no."

I watched as Lady Keiko's daughter who appeared to be about nine years old gasped.

“What happened?"

“Something very horrible Heather. Ben decided to leave the core."

“So you are going be working late?"

“Yes dear, it looks like I will be putting in some overtime this afternoon."

“Ok I will tell daddy. Stay safe."

“I will sweetie." Lady Keiko said ending the communication.

(So the commander is a mother. Interesting.)

“This is the commander all assets be on the look out for Ben Mastiff. He has gone rogue. If you see him do not engage and notify me immediately." Lady Keiko said notifying her subordinates.

“So what is our next move?" I asked the gorilla warrior.

“While my underlings search for that traitor I am going to conduct my own search; his apartment."

“Right."

“And you are going to show me how to operate this little blue coupe?"

“Yes ma'am."

So we proceeded to a section of World Four called the Heights- a upscale area of the city composed of marble and stone, boutique shops along the through fares followed by street level apartments.

While enroute, I gave the commander a quick tutorial on how to operate the blue coupe and its numerous upgrades.

“That is it?" The commander said to me.

“Sir Ram and Mara believe in simplicity as you can tell from the interior, when in crisis situations the operator shouldn't be hampered by a complicated design."

“My compliments to those two." The female warrior said as we drove up to a bunch of modular, but nice looking apartment units lining the street.

“This is it?" I said.

“Something wrong boy?"

“Don't get me wrong- these look nice and all, but I thought he lived in the castle with the rest of the knights."

“The master gives us the option to do so, but not everyone does. Ben preferred to live away from the castle; he liked to keep his work life and home life, separate he was just like that."

“Overwatch." I said to the automated assistant.

*Yes Mr. Winter.*

“Engage the surveillance probe, but do not launch it, I want continuous scans- alert us if you detect him or attack beast." I said as Lady Keiko and I left the prototype.

*Yes Mr. Winter.*

“Stay behind me and do not touch anything." The female warrior said to me.

“Yes ma'am." I said as we approached a small, but nice single level square shaped building that was technically an apartment but was nice enough to be considered a micro-ranch.

Lady Keiko placed her paw on the lock and it immediately opened. Inside was just as immaculate as outside a couch, table, kitchen and two bedrooms all at the ground level.

“You didn't override that lock- it let you in almost instantaneously."

“So what about it human?" The gorilla warrior said giving me her undivided attention.

“That tells me you two were friends." I said to her.

(Or that he was expecting her.)

“So what if we were?" She said to me as she started to look around.

“That means what happened this afternoon was even more hurtful."

“It was." Lady Keiko said quietly.

“Commander are you going to elaborate or should I just find out myself?" I said pointing at the entrance.

“Ben and I joined the knight core around the same time, we came from similar backgrounds and hit it off almost immediately. We worked together as junior knights and climbed through the ranks together. Over time I thought I knew him, how he thinks, his quirks and foibles. It appears that I was wrong especially about this end of the world nonsense. So yes boy we were good friends."

(Which made his actions today, all that more puzzling. I mean why didn't Lady Keiko see this coming?)

The gorilla warrior continued combing through the apartment while I stayed by her side per her orders, I marveled at the glass high table, the black sofa with the skunk stripped pillows the view screen in front of the couch in the great room.

“There is nothing here indicating that he was going to go rogue." Lady Keiko said perplexed as she finished rummaging through a closet.

We then walked into the bedroom just in time to see a sign scribbled on the wall Don't Come After Me K.

That was when my clairvoyance kicked in.

!!!

“Commander!"

“What is it boy?!" She said astounded as I grabbed her paw. “What the?"

“It is not safe here." I said to her.

“Of all the..."

I pulled the female gorilla outside diving behind the blue coupe with seconds to spare.

**CHA-BOOM!!!**

Flames shot out from the apartment in all directions hitting the prototype which was late engaging the deflector system.

“Overwatch! Why didn't you see that?"

*I am sorry Mr. Winter, the scans did not detect any traps in the apartment or the vicinity for that matter.*

“Damn, it got the probe." I said looking at its melted remains. “But how?"

“Ben hid his trap well, which means..." Lady Keiko said.

“He was expecting us." I said. “Commander this has just become a whole new level of dangerous." As the commander received a communication from one of her subordinates.

“This is Gif, I have found attack beast commander."

“Do not engage Gif." The gorilla said to the okapi who appeared on the upper left monitor in the center stack.

“I can't obey that command ma'am."

“Why is that junior knight?" The gorilla warrior said to her subordinate.

“Because the Watch Commander has engaged me! I am under attack!" The junior knight said as we heard weapons fire in the background. “The weaponry on the prototype is incredible!"

_*FWOOSH* _

There was a blood curdling scream from the okapi, a loud explosion and then the communication ended.

“Gif?!" Lady Keiko screamed.

“This is Wanderer." A female lizard said appearing on the screen. “I couldn't get to her in time. Gif is dead."

“What happened?" I asked the female knight.

“She and her hover bike were torched. The temperature must have been very intense; there is nothing left but ash."

GRROARR!!!! The female knight next to me started losing it.

“So Ben wanted attack beast, but why attack his former subordinates?" I said looking at the commander.

She was quiet for a awfully long time before responding. “We should go. Wanderer do you still have attack beast in sight?"

“Yes ma'am." The lizard responded.

“Follow at a distance, but do not let yourself be seen."

“Affirmative." The lizard said obediently.

Wanderer continued to track Master Koala's prototype while we continued to follow the junior knight. We ultimately caught up with her at a forest east of the city.

“He went in there commander."

“What is in there?" I asked the two females.

“A swamp. If we approach from the air, Ben will see us." The junior knight said.

“There are too many trees to be able to drive all the way through." The gorilla added.

“That leaves the swamp." I said.

The gorilla warrior ordered her subordinate to stay put while she drove the prototype into the forest, at the very edge of the swap she stopped.

“Now what little human?"

“Drive into the water."

“Are you crazy?"

“It is ok commander."

She did as ordered gasping as the prototype started sink in the green water.

“Now engage the hydrofoil mode." I said ordering her.

“Which one is that?"

“The button next to the steering column right below the hover mode."

She pressed it, the four wheels of the blue coupe folded downward as two pontoon like skis lowered from the underside.

“Impressive." She said to me.

“You haven't seen anything yet." I said pressing the right most toggle switch engaging the copilot monitor and keyboard.

*Halo-projector engaged*

“Boy what did you do?"

“I turned us into a large drifting log. Let's see what Ben is up to."

Quietly we piloted through the swap looking for our quarry. We found the mastiff at the far side of the swamp. He had parked the black prototype and was meeting with another beast.

“Found you!" The she beast grumbled. “But who is your friend?!"

“Oh hell no!" I said zooming in on the front mounted camera. “Overwatch, I need a visual confirmation on that other beast meeting with Ben Mastiff."

*Visual identification confirmed Mr. Winter. It appears that your target is in a meeting with Guerrilla Gorilla of the Animalita.*

(This day just gets better and better.)

To Be Continued....