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Counter Earth Chronicles

Chapter 92: You Needed Me (Conclusion).

Day 308 continued.

We awoke that evening in the forest west of World Five- well on the forest floor actually.

“Alex, Corbin are you alright?” Lord Tiger asked.

“Did that really happen?” The little mongoose said.

“Yup.” I responded.

“How do you know?” The tiger warrior asked stretching.

“There is a note in my pocket from Basil.”

“What does it say?” Corbin asked.

“He hoped that I had a good nap and that I get home to my bear safely.” I responded.

“I also have a note in my pocket.” The little mongoose boy said.

“Who is it from?” The commander asked.

“Kip, Trevor and Calvin. They said they liked meeting me and hope some day we will meet again.”

“Do you have a note commander?” I asked the tiger warrior.

“Yes.”

“What does it say?” Corbin asked while making eyes at the blushing tiger.

“It is from Shira. She says that she enjoyed our time together and wishes us all well.”

(I bet!)

“She also said that they were unable to find the two remaining ‘others’. So the village is on high alert.” The commander read.

“World Six was something wasn’t it?” The little mongoose exclaimed. “I can’t wait to tell Momma bear all about it!”

“No you won’t.” The commander said standing up.

“By why?” Corbin asked.

“Because the commander has a lady friend there he wants to keep a secret.” I teased.

“That is a good reason as ever. Besides we all made friends there can you imagine what the empire would do to that colony if it found out?” The tiger warrior added.

“Speaking of secrets, Shira told the commander and I hers last night.” Corbin said.

“What’s that?”

“It was while we were preparing for sleep. I asked both of them just how different tigers are from a saber tooth tigers. Shira showed me. Which lead the commander to give her a nice back-rub and then sex.” The little mongoose boy said.

“She needed help unwinding after such a rough afternoon.” Lord Tiger said in his defense.

“So what was this secret?”

“She is an imperfect.” Corbin said

“Beautiful Shira?” I said surprised.

“She was constructed in a lab using DNA from saber tooth tiger remains.” The commander added. “She was supposed to be the first of a new species of tiger but was labeled imperfect when it was discovered that she was barren and couldn’t reproduce. She fled the empire when she learned that she was going to be sent to a reclamation center.”

(So her story is similar to Basil’s.)

“She met some of the members from the village and was taken in. She has lived with them for the past sixteen years.” Corbin said picking up the story.

“So you’re definitely going to cover this up sir?” I said walking over to the commander’s side.

“No, WE are going to cover it up. You two can’t tell anyone about what we have seen or experienced the last two days, it would endanger the colony and its inhabitants. If the High Evolutionary ever found out, he would have it destroyed and its inhabitants punished just to solidify his rule.” The tiger warrior said looking at the both of us.

“So what we just experienced the last two days did not happen.” The little mongoose said.

(Man, I have been keeping a lot of secrets lately- the Lost City, now World Six.)

So Corbin and I helped the commander walk out of the forest, as we did I realized what Shira had said was indeed correct- that the commander of the Knights of Wundagore was becoming disillusioned with the empire and its ruler.

I had to put that revelation aside. We had to warn the empire of what had happened at Capital Stadium yesterday. As we hobbled along, I hoped that we weren’t too late.

Corbin and I ended up helping walk the commander out of the forest. It was about a mile before we were able to find transportation. We flagged down a turtle couple who were parked off at a rest-stop admiring the forest.

“Excuse me but we need help!” Corbin said to the couple.

“Goodness what happened?” The female asked.

“We were hiking in the forest with our friend here, we got lost and then he got injured.” I said to the couple.

“Did you try to call for help?” The male asked.

“Our communicators were damaged and not functioning.” Lord Tiger responded.

“Goodness.” The female tortoise said. “You looked like you didn’t have a good time at all.”

“Yes, you could say that. Could you give us a ride back?” Corbin asked the two.

“That wouldn’t be a problem.” The male tortoise said. You should probably have that leg looked at.

“We plan to do that once we get back.” The commander said. As the couple had us climb in the backseat of their small, small very small sedan.

“By the way, I am Molly and that is Matt.” The female turtle added.

“I am Alex, that is Corbin and that is Lord Ti-, I mean Toby.” I said hiding the commander’s identity.

And like that we were off.

“So were are you going?” Matt asked.

“The Capital Stadium.” The commander said cautiously.

“Really?!” Molly said. “Are you aware of what happen there yesterday?”

“No, what happened there?” Corbin asked the turtle female as we leaned forward in our small cramped seats.

“The Warriors beat the Rage in overtime.” Matt said to us as we entered the extreme outskirts of the city.

“Did anything else happen there?!” Lord Tiger asked the couple.

“The Rage fans left the stadium disappointed.” Molly said.

Lord Tiger, Corbin and I all looked at each other we thought by now the ‘others’ would have taken over a portion of the city chanting and mumbling about ONE. But there was nothing.

(So what the hell did we experience?”)

The couple was nice enough to drop us off at the stadium parking lot. We thanked them for their kindness.

“You were parked here?!” Molly asked. “Why didn’t you take your hover vehicle with you to the forest?”

“We got a ride there.” I said to the couple.

“Besides there is limited parking in the forest.” Corbin added.

“Well alright, nice meeting you.” The couple said as they departed.

Lord Tiger and I approached the transport vehicle we had taken with us to the stadium.

The van didn’t seem to have been disturbed. The commander looked at me as he opened the door. “I don’t sense anything.” I said.

Corbin and I stepped inside and sat down while the commander fished through the glove compartment where he found his communicator. He slid it onto his wrist and immediately contacted the knight core.

“This is Lord Tiger Wundagore Castle.”

“This is Lady Barq Sovereign Castle. How can I help you commander?” The badger who appeared on the screen asked.

“I was curious were there any incidents at the game yesterday?” The tiger asked the female knight.

“The Rage lost to the Warriors in overtime.” She responded.

“There weren’t any disturbances, fans behaving weirdly- strange chanting?” The commander asked the badger.

“Nothing a few reports of rowdy fans. The frenzy was infectious even some junior knights got caught up in it.” Lady Barq responded.

“How are they now?” The commander asked.

“They are fine.” She said. “If that is all you have, I am in the middle of some projects right now.”

“Projects?” The commander asked.

“Yes a missing citizens report. It rose within the last few days across the five cities.” Lady Barq said. “However, I am subtracting two names from that list. Two humans who were attending the game yesterday and were reported missing. Their remains were found in the forests far to the west of here.”

(Uh Oh!)

“How they got out there and why they went out there remain an mystery. We are still investigating.”

“I see very well take care.” Lord Tiger said ending the communication.

“That is going to put some pressure on the Basil, Shira and Gia.” I said looking at the confused tiger warrior.

“That aside, what did we experience yesterday?” Corbin asked. “What about those junior knights that were touched?”

The commander then contacted my mistress.

“Alex, Corbin where have you been?!” My ursine warrior asked.

“There was another incident mistress.”

“What type of incident and with who?!”

“ONE.” Lord Tiger said to my warrior bear. “I will fill you in when we get back.”

It took the three of us ninety minutes to return home. Upon our return to World One, Lord Tiger filled in my mistress and the senior knights on what had happened at the stadium in World Five and how we fled the ‘others’, but not how we stumbled upon a hidden civilization or interacted with its inhabitants.

The Knights of Wundagore would investigate discreetly over the next few days. Their findings were even more shocking, there was no fallout or repercussions from what happened that day in the arena. Those who had become ‘others’ about twenty in total had simply disappeared. They were added to the missing persons reports in the five cities. The junior knights who had also been ‘touched’ were fine. Lady Vermin and Lady Ursa spoke to them at length. They had no recollection of seeing us or what had happened at the stadium.

Just like that ONE had returned back to the shadows- Just like Seth Slice after his attack on Counter Earth Cosmetics. Were the ‘others’ possessed by ONE or acting of their own free will? If they were possessed, was this a test? A dry run? I would find out the answer a little later on. Looking back this was the latest domino to fall on the empire’s road to ruin.

Over the next several days I would mull over my actions at the colony wondering if the five Basil and I had lured into the caverns at the base of the colony’s mountain had returned to normal and were now trapped in those caverns wandering around in the dark.

Day 313

“Cinda have all the preparations been made?” The time-witch said starring out the window of her tower at a castle in the distance and the lush foliage surrounding it.

“Yes master Twyla the tower is secure; everything ready.” The kangaroo said humbling herself before to her mistress.

_“Then let’s begin! Muahahaha!!! Huahahahah!!! let all those who have wronged me suffer, let all those who oppose me die and what was stolen from me become mine again!” The time-witch chanted. _

Cinda and Twyla watched as the room filled with smoke, the plume then erupted through the ceiling and then roof of the lone tower in the forest and into the sky. The sunlight outside grew very dim, as if a solar eclipse was eminent. But it wasn’t.

_*FUUOOM!!!!* *BOOOM!!* _

There was a violent shaking as the light of the world grew very dim, the sky turned purple then very dark. Ghastly screams were heard from every sentient being outside the tower as they received Twyla’s retribution.

“I am victorious!!!” Twyla said to her assistant as she lit a few candles to brighten the now darkened room.

“Mistress what did you do?!” A adolescent kangaroo- her servant boy said entering the room.

“What did I do Tengor? What did I do? I eliminated my critics, destroyed my enemies, took what was rightfully mine, and became the supreme ruler of the world!!!” The time-witch cackled. “You and Cinda have been my loyal minions for a very long time so you will both be handsomely rewarded.”

“Thank you master.” Cinda said bowing.

“I don’t think so mistress.” The servant boy said.

“What do you mean Tangor?”

“I mean that spell you cast. You destroyed the WHOLE world! EVERYTHING! There is nothing left!”

The time-witch together with her minions descended her forest tower to the ground to observe the fallout. As she opened the the door she realized that her spell had indeed been a bit too much. The lush forest that surrounded the tower was now a dry barren landscape.

“There are a few trees.” The time-witch said correcting her servant.

“But mistress, everything else is gone.”

“Nonsense boy, I eliminated ONLY my enemies.” She retorted.

“It is more than that you not only killed your enemies, but everyone who wasn’t in the tower; we are the only ones left!”

“It appears he is right master while punishing those who had opposed us; you destroyed the good along with the bad.” Cinda said staring at the remains of the castle in the distance.

“You are now the ruler of nothing!” Tangor sobbed. “Your bitterness, hatred and resentment destroyed the world and now you are the ruler of what remains- which is nothing!”

“So we are all that is left- it just means that I will have to rebuild and repopulate the world but this time in my image. You two will also play a vital roll. Especially YOU Tengor.” The wicked kangaroo said as she placed her paw on her servant boy’s shoulder.

“Boring!” The little mongoose boy seated next to me on the sectional said.

“Are you nuts?!” I questioned my little ‘brother’. “That was HAWT!!!”

“You are kidding me right? Too much talk, not enough action.” Corbin retorted.

“Corbin this is a guy’s ultimate fantasy! Being the only male on a desolate world with two hot females you will have to breed- repeatedly to restore civilization! How could that ever be boring?”

“The females are both evil, one helped the other end all sentient life on the planet.” The mongoose shot back.

“And now Tangor has both of them all to himself.” I grinned. “But if you really find that movie boring we could back to your studies.”

“You know big brother, perhaps that movie wasn’t that bad.” Corbin said reversing course.

“As of this moment my loyal minions we are the first species.” The time-witch said wiping away Tengor’s tears.

“What are your orders master?” Cinda asked.

“Check our provisions then we can proceed rebuilding the world.” Twyla said kissing her servant boy on his cheek.

Just then we received an incoming call. It was Bess.

“Morning guys.”

“Hi!” Corbin beamed brightly.

“Hey what is the news?!” I asked. “Did you and the others find Corbin a new family?!”

“Actually. I was calling to tell you that it is going to take a little longer.” The male buffalo calf said.

“Why is it taking so long to find this adorable little guy a new home and family?” I asked my consortium colleague.

“Well a lot of beastials are cutting back.” Bess said.

“Why?” The little mongoose boy asked.

“With the recent six week one rebel attack by Neo, the Liberate Counter Earth movement and the ongoing rebellion, there have been whispers across the empire that more bad times are ahead.”

Corbin and I looked at each other.

(Had the news about the ONE, the cloud entity and the real Neo gotten out?!)

“So beastials are hunkering down and cutting back in anticipation of some type of apocalypse which includes adding to their families.” Bess said.

“So suspicion has lead to doubt, doubt to fear and fear to recession.” I said.

“Yes.” The buffalo calf said. “No matter how many reassurances.”

“Looks like you are going to be with us a little longer squirt.” I said petting the little mongoose on the head.

“Dongo, Tess or I will let you know if we have anymore news. I will let you two get back to watching the Time-Witch.”

“So you saw the movie huh?” I asked.

“Yeah it was a pretty good.” Bess said ending the call.

“See!” I said to the skeptical mongoose boy as Lady Ursa walked into the great room.

“Afternoon Alex, Corbin.” She said trying to act cheerfully.

Something was different about her that afternoon.

“Mistress! You are home early.”

She had returned very early. So early that I hadn’t started dinner yet.

“What’s the occasion momma bear?” Corbin asked giving my she beast I great big hug.

“The occasion is that I am burned out. After the Seth Slice incident, the supposed ‘others’ incident in World Five, the master has come down on us to hunt down all opposition to the empire separatists, dissidents, undesirables, con artists, rebels, mercenaries, The Madam and the remnants of the Animalitia. He believes that all of this is leading to a recession as beastials fear we are headed for some hard and uncertain times.” My lady bear replied. “I have some time owed to me...”

“So you decided to take the afternoon off.” I said surprised.

“Yes pet. We are going to do something special.” She said determinedly.

I looked at my she beast. “Really? What about your duties?”

“The other knights can cover for me.” She said to us.

“So what did you have in mind?” Corbin asked curiously.

“We are going to the amusement park in World Five.”

“Harbor Center? I love that place!” The little mongoose beamed. “Alex that place is beyond awesome!”

“I never been there.” I said.

“You are going to love it!” Corbin beamed. The amusement park is indoors, and opened all year round.”

“Awesome!” I stammered. I was very excited and growing more excited.

Lady Ursa changed out of her chainmail into casual clothing a shirt and slacks which for some odd reason were the same color as her chainmail. She looked more like an average citizen than a Knight of Wundagore.

She also had me and Corbin change as well. I got out of my loin cloth and into a shirt and slacks. Corbin changed into his green shirt and shorts.

Our trip to World Five took about 90 minutes in the prototype. I remember marveling at the arial traffic we saw while we traveled from Castle Wundagore to World Five. Despite it being late fall it was warm and sunny.

Lady Ursa parked the blue coupe near a pavilion. As we got out of the prototype she and Corbin watched my reaction to what I was seeing- very amused.

My mouth was agape and my jaw dropped. “I see this is your first time visiting this place.” Corbin said closing my jaw.

“Careful pet your tail is wagging.” Lady Ursa said teasing.

World Five was built around the shores of a large lake- so large it looked like the city was on a piece of coastline by an ocean. There were the typical high rise buildings, offices, businesses and residences and then there was Harbor Center right on the shoreline of the lake complete with a beach which must have been very popular during the summer.

Harbor Center was a entertainment complex housed in a large glass building adjacent to the beach and waterfront. The center piece of the entertainment complex was the indoor amusement park which must have housed over two hundred rides as well as shows and attractions. It was much much larger than a carnival.

“Oh mistress! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I said hugging my she beast. “This place is incredible.”

“Come let’s take a look around Alex; it has been some time since I have been here.”

“Come on big brother let’s go.” Corbin said taking my hand.

With that we walked through the main entrance. Lady Ursa told me that the amusement park was opened year round to all citizens of the empire. What I saw on its grounds reflected that as well beastials of all species- some with their young as well as humans and their children. I was amazed. Unlike certain parks which were segregated, this was opened to all. But looks were deceiving.

“This is amazing mistress!”

“What’s that Alex?”

“That this place isn’t segregated- I mean they allow everyone in here.”

“They do Alex, but it is based on crowd size.” My she beast responded. “Today attendance is light so anyone and everyone is allowed in. On days when it is crowded- the ratio will be adjusted- a certain amount of humans visitors will be allowed in and a certain amount of nonhuman visitors as well based on a predetermined ratio. Last I heard it was 3:1.”

Even here there were checks and balances- Just more than enough nonhuman visitors to keep the human ones in check and to remind the other who is the dominant class of citizenry on the planet.

Just off of the midway was the game alley- carnival games of chance. I saw ring toss, ballon pop, whack a rebel, ball sinker and one that had a crowd around it- canister collapse. I grabbed Lady Ursa and Corbin by the paws.

“I just have to try that one!”

I walked to the stand with my ‘family’ in tow.

“Step right up knock the canisters off of the pedestal win a prize!” The barker- a canine of mixed breeding announced.

“So what is the goal of this game?” I asked.

“Well sir.” The barker responded. “You see these five canisters on that pedestal over there- you have to knock them COMPLETELY off. You have three chances- the canisters are reset after each try. If you do you get a prize.”

I carefully studied the game. The canisters were the size of large milk cartons- there were six of them stacked on top of each other in a pyramid shape three on the bottom row. Two on the middle row and one on the top. The pedestal was circular and quite large.

I observed the other players a lemur and meerkat play the game. Each were given three softballs to throw at the canisters in a attempt to win a prize. Both failed. I looked at Lady Ursa and Corbin.

“I am going to win you two something special to commemorate this special day!” I said to my mistress and little ‘brother’.

“Don’t get over confident Alex, this game does look quite difficult.” She responded while the little mongoose just smiled.

I was confident I would succeed where the other two contestants had failed.

I lined up my shot and threw the ball. Each time I hit the canisters, each time they fell, but always one or two failed to clear the pedestal. I tried again and again and again. Ten tries later, I was no where near accomplishing my goal and I was exhausted.

“Man this game is tough.” I said to the meerkat who was watching with his daughter. Most likely he had been trying to win her a prize. He nodded in agreement. “I have got to give it one more try...” I threw the last ball which missed the canisters, and instead bounced off of the pedestal, hit a side wall support and sent the softball right back at me. Hitting me in the head. “Owie!” The barker and those watching the game laughed.

Lady Ursa and Corbin had been watching in amusement at my string of failures. They both decided to try. Gently my she beast petted me on my head and then pushed me to the side. Corbin then pulled me away from the game and stood side by side with Lady Ursa. The two looked at each other as something unsaid was spoken between them.

“Our turn!” Lady Ursa and Corbin took a step back and threw their softballs, I noticed both of them weren’t aiming at the canisters, instead they aimed at the base of the pedestals.

*BOOM*.

Lady Ursa used raw power and brute force to hit the pedestal base toppling the canisters above. While Corbin hit his target just right as well which also toppled it and the canisters above.

“The lady and the boy win a prize!” The barker announced.

Well, that was embarrassing- I was trying to win my mistress and little ‘brother’ a prize but in the end they had both won one for me. Further, I was shocked at the prizes I had received- two plush stuffed bears! I looked at them, Lady Ursa, Corbin and then the meerkat and his daughter.

“Here you can have them.” I said handing the bears to the meerkat.

“Are you sure?” He asked giving both to his daughter who squealed with glee.

“Yeah” I replied. I don’t need it. “I have the real thing right over here!” I said as I folded my arms behind my head laughing. Lady Ursa realized the joke and started laughing as well as did Corbin. With all the pressure that had been placed on her and the knights the last few days, It was really good to see her smile.

After my unfortunate attempt at the carnival games, I thought it might be better to continue exploring the park.

“Big brother did you have any amusement parks on your world?” Corbin asked as we walked away from game alley.

“It did at one time but it was dismantled for parts during the war. Quite sad actually people could have used a diversion from all that misery.” I said stoically.

“That is sad.” Lady Ursa responded.

“You two want to try out some rides?” Corbin asked trying to perk me up.

“Sure I am game.”

“How about that ride over there?” My fierce ursine warrior said.

“The Hurler eh?” I said looking at the ride which was comprised of a clockwise rotating circular stage and eight pods that rotated counter clockwise independently of said stage.

“Sure mistress I am game. I wonder why it is called the Hurler?”

APPROXIMATELY 5.05 MINUTES LATER....

“Deep breaths, take deep breaths big brother.” The little mongoose said as he rubbed my back.

**BLARFF**

“And there he goes.” My she beast said crossing her arms.

“And we got another one.” The ride operator smirked as he contacted the cleaning crew.

“Are you ok Alex?” Corbin asked.

“I think so, but let’s avoid rides that have dual spinning motions in opposite directions.”

“Affirmative.” Lady Ursa said looking around.

“How about the Great Wheel over there?” The mongoose boy said. “Its tall enough that we could get a great view of the entire amusement park.”

“Sounds like a plan.” My she beast said in agreement. We made our way to the Great Wheel which was easily 400 ft in height. Tall enough to see the entire amusement park. It also had about 20- 30 compartments that sat four or five- which provided a great view. It easily had to be the most popular attraction at the amusement park.

There was a line for the ride but it moved quickly due to the amount of seats available. As we waited in line I realized that Lady Ursa, Corbin and I would be most likely sharing our compartment with some other riders. We weren’t wrong . As we were stepping onto the ride we were joined by our ride mates a male wolf and male gorilla who were wearing long jackets on this warm fall day. Both sat next to each other across from the three of us.

“Hey Tuskin- look a mixed group!” The wolf said to his companion.

“Uh hi, I am Alex, that is Corbin and this Ursa.” I started. I decided to drop my she beast’s title because she was off this afternoon and most likely wanted to forget about work.

“So you are with them.” The wolf said to me. “How progressive.” The wolf responded as the Great Wheel started rotating to let on other riders on behind us.

“Uh yeah.” I said.

“Hi, I am Nate and this big guy is Tuskin.”

“Glad to meet each of you.” Corbin responded.

“Are you from around here or just visiting for the day?” Lady Ursa greeted the two.

“Nate here is from World Two and I am from World Four, we are college students visiting for the day.” The big gorilla responded.

“Really, what are you studying?” I asked the two.

“Geo Politics.” Nate responded. “Tuskin here is sociology.”

“How about you?” Tuskin asked me.

Since I was college age- the two naturally assumed I was attending school somewhere.

“A little bit of everything I responded- language, immigration, political science, integration and technology.”

“What about you ma’am?” The wolf asked Lady Ursa who looked like a deer caught in a spotlight. “Criminology, law and order.” She responded.

“Really?” The gorilla said. “What about you Corbin?”

“And I am studying grade school subjects; a little of everything.” The little mongoose said as the big wheel continued to rotate and stop again to pick up more riders.

I got curious, turning to Nate. “So you are studying geo politics, sounds like a fascinating major.”

“I thought it was.” The wolf responded “Since there is only one civilization on this planet- ours, there really isn’t that much to talk about except this civilization- the dictator like him or hate him dominates everything. He is responsible for this utopian society its successes, failures and even the dark times coming.”

“Coming dark times?” My she beast asked the two.

“You have probably noticed that this has been a tough year for us beastial types- the human unrest, the rebellion, even lone rebels. The gorilla said.

“We heard about that.” Corbin said adding his voice to the conversation.”

“What have you heard?” The wolf asked us.

“That a recession is coming.” I responded.

“You are partially right. The Animalitia, The Liberate Counter Earth Now Movement, The Equality Now Movement and even the Neo have caused many to whisper about the viability of the empire and the effectiveness of the dictator in eliminating the threats to the empire.” The gorilla said.

“To what end?” Lady Ursa asked raising her eyebrow.

“There have been whispers that hard times are upon us and even the possibility that the end of the empire is in site.” The wolf said.

“Really?” I asked.

“If his forces were that effective why did it take them so long to end the Liberate Counter Earth Now movement and to find the Neo?” Nate asked.

“And why haven’t they eliminated the Animalitia and the rebellion?” Tuskin asked.

“Perhaps because those groups are difficult to track, corner and capture. They are like roaches, they appear and then slither back into whatever hole they crawled out of and when you do eliminate one, three pop up to take their place.” My she beast said perturbed.

“What my companion means is that the knight core is doing their best to preserve the empire.” I said to the wolf and gorilla.

“Well the High Evolutionary is to blame. He is the source of the problem.” The wolf said.

Nate’s comments caught my attention, Corbin’s and most likely Lady Ursa’s. “As you know the dictator divided this society into two- first class and second class citizens. First class citizens (beastials) are afforded more rights and privileges than those of second class citizens (humans). This imbalance has been the source of much of the human unrest on Counter Earth.” Tuskin said as the Great Wheel finished loading the last passenger and started moving. “Nate and I feel the populace should know about this.”

“Know about what?” Corbin asked.

“That the end times are coming and that the High Evoultionary is to blame. Say, would you like to stay for the demonstration?” The gorilla who was easily the size of Lady Ursa and appeared to be just as buff asked me.

I looked at Corbin and my mistress, they looked back at me.

“We hadn’t heard of any demonstration taking place today.” Lady Ursa responded.

“Oh yeah well there is going to be one today in a couple of minutes actually.” The wolf responded.

“Yeah The Movement is sponsoring the demonstration.” The gorilla responded.

“I never heard of it.” Corbin said to the wolf as the ride completed its third revolution.

“You three haven’t heard of The Movement?!” The gorilla stammered. “WOW!”

“Alex and Corbin don’t get out much.” Lady Ursa responded.

The gorilla continued. “The Movement’s purpose is to expose the High Evolutionary’s failures, the abuse of his power and the persecution of humans on this world which has cost all beastials their comfort, safety and security. Because of him and what he has done the end times are coming.”

“And how is it that you came to know about this Movement?” Lady Ursa asked the pair As the great wheel had stopped moving and we arrived at the highest point of the ride which gave everyone a wonderful view of the amusement park.

“Oh that.” The wolf said removing his jacket. “Because we are members.”

My mistress, Corbin and I watched as our ride mates removed their jackets. But something was horribly wrong. Harbor Center was climate controlled but yet these two had worn large jackets inside the amusement park which they had only now started to remove. The wolf and gorilla dropped their jackets over the side of the ride when it resumed moving stopping it at the 9 o’clock position.

Lady Ursa, Corbin and myself were horrified with what we saw underneath. Both beastials were carrying mechanical devices strapped to their bodies complete with some type of remote control. They looked like bombs with paw controlled detonators.

I realized on that warm afternoon day that the knight core had a new threat to the empire to look out for in addition to the rebels, critics, dissidents and separatists they had been hunting. There were also alarmists to be concerned about and Lady Ursa, Corbin and I had front row seats to their demonstration.

To Be Continued....