FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

** CHAPTER 76**

The Fall Of Canis Major (finale)

"No matter the outcome..."

Together; that's always been the key. No matter what happened, they wouldn't let their home be stained with anger, violence, pain and fear. Not any longer; for those were not their ways.

"I'm not afraid, Husky..." His last words, before he released his Evocanis brother from that embrace. That warmness that Evos thought they had long lost. But it just wasn't. Their invaders were the only thing responsible for them forgetting.

"There is nothing to be afraid of, Anubis." Husky reassured.

It was not over yet. The only thing they could genuinely fear was going back to that unforgivable condition they had let themselves fall into. It wouldn't happen again. Husky wouldn't let it, and now that he had recovered some of his brothers, there was hope that they could expel those evil-doers from further desecrating their race and their sacred Canis Major.

"We have to keep moving." Husky said. There was no time to be Evos at the moment. Soon, they could, but the battle wasn't over yet.

"You miserable animals!" the wretched voice of an Unfurred silenced the warm moment between Anubis and Husky.

Indeed it wasn't over. Anubis and his pack managed to subdue most of the humans in that Sector after effectively saving Husky's life, but there was still a good number around, and they were ready to fight.

"We will tare you to pieces for this!" Another of those humans yelled.

"There is no point on fighting!" Husky quickly silenced the human's threats. "Your leader is down!"

"Oh, and you think we'll just back away, sit down around the fire and sing together like nothing happened?" Another one spoke gibberish.

"There is no point on shedding more blood!" With a powerful bark, Husky once again responded, making his point straight. He wanted nothing more than to shred those monsters for what they did, but somehow he felt doing such thing would be going back to that dark abyss of negativity, making it even harder to come out of it.

"You see what you have done here?" One of the Unfurred ones continued. "You've gotten ALL of us in trouble. The Leaders most likely already know of this and they are on their way to put us down!"

"I don't care..." Husky said, looking straight to his eyes. "What's done is done. Let them come. That won't stop us from claiming our home again."

"You idiot! We will all be punished severely!" the human yelled back at Husky making it evident of how the fear overwhelmed any anger inside of him. He couldn't fool an Evocani's senses.

"I do not care what happens to you." Husky slowly walked towards him, until he ended up standing in front of the muscular Unfurred being. The human carried a large pipe that could've ended Husky's life in one blow, but for whatever reason, he never swung at the small furred creature.

"You're afraid, and that will be your demise." Husky spoke.

"You miserable..."

"Hit me then. Kill me with that weapon you hold. You know what will happen if you do." Husky dared him. "You won't be killing me. Evocanis; we are one. You strike me and you're just hurting a small part of something grater than you'll EVER be. My brothers will shred you to pieces and no one will cry for you. No one will remember you, because that's how you Unfurred beings are, what you've done to yourselves and what you deserve."

Eye to eye, the small Evocanis barely reached the human's abdomen, but the strength of Husky's glare took effect on the human.

"You will be banished from existence and your efforts will all be in vain... the universe would have lost NOTHING."

The human raised the pipe, but the fear made it heavier than his own body. He looked at the other humans for an answer but couldn't find it.

"They're going to be here at any instant." Another human said. "Let's... let's stay put! Yes; that's what we should do!" He stuttered. Even though they had the numbers, the fear of what was about to happen was too much to bare; it weakened them.

"When the Leaders come, they will go after the dogs. If we stay put they won't punish us. We've only defended ourselves." He wisely advised, betrayed by the nervousness of his voice.

"Don't think we will let you stay here, Unfurred ones." Husky said. He turned around, giving his back to the human he glared at, daring him to attack. He knew he wouldn't. "It's your choice to either leave on your own, or to let us cleanse our Canis Major from your presence."

"You stupid animal..." The human once again raised the pipe as Husky walked away.

"No! Let them. We're superior to them. Let's show them."

"Superior?!" Husky mumbled to himself in a mocking tone. "So blind by your own arrogance."

"And just sit here and let these dogs attack us?" the same human with the pipe argued with another.

"We don't care about you." Husky continued as he turned once again to face the human. "We're here for something else. We will recover our ship... and our ways. It will happen today, and by then, you better be out of here."

Nothing else was said. Husky turned to his brothers once again and they walked together to the depths of the ship. The humans couldn't dare to chase after them after Husky's words had hit them so much harder than they ever realized. It was smart of them, as they knew that was a fight they couldn't win, no matter if they defeated that group of Evos or not.

"They are right, you know" Anubis spoke to Husky as they walked down the Sector. "Security will soon show and we are in the wrong place."

"You said you wouldn't fear anymore." Husky spoke back to his friend. He suddenly stopped, the rest going to a halt as well. "You have to trust me, Anubis. This is the only way." Husky said, looking right at Anubi's eyes.

Anubis couldn't do anything else but to nod at his brother. They were far too deep now and he knew it. "What is your plan, Husky? Where are we heading?"

"We need to get to Canis Major's core. We are in Sector Zero, so it's close by." He explained. He looked all around him before continuing to walk. The truth was he could barely recognize this place, but he knew where he was heading as if guided by an invisible force.

"And then what?" Anubis still questioned Husky and for a good reason.

Husky once again stopped on his tracks as the large Evocanis stood still, staring at him waiting for an answer.

"You'll have to trust me, brother." Husky responded. The sudden hint of resignation on Husky's expression worried Anubis. What could Husky be possibly planning to save Canis Major? Or an even more logical question was how can a single Evocanis save the moon-sized ship from its invaders?

Husky kept on pushing further into Sector Zero; his Evo brothers close behind. He wanted nothing more than to end that nightmare, but as much as he was determined and after showing such great strength, the doubts soon invaded him once again. It wasn't intended.

"Are you alright?" Anubis asked worried. Something happened with Husky, and it wasn't good.

Husky held his head and shook it. He wanted nothing more than to make that sensation of helplessness go away. He didn't know why it always lurked deep within his psyche.

"We need to hurry..." Husky urged. He couldn't see it or feel it, but he knew something wasn't right. The more he stayed there, the longer would've take to free himself and what he believed was not his reality.

Oxygen level critical. Use of life support mandatory.

"Husky!" Anubis yelled. It was strange, but Husky suddenly fell on the ground as if choking and gasping for air. What was wrong? He heard voices that did not belong there, yet reminded him of past events. Or were they just dreams?

"I must get out!" A scream for help barely managed to escape Husky's muzzle. It was as if all of the sudden his surroundings had changed.

"Come on door!" His own voice? "OPEN!" It couldn't be. He could hear himself deep in his head. He heard his own voice but he never felt his muzzle move at all. Husky couldn't handle it and crawled on the ground as if trying to escape from something. But what?

His eyes closed; his body finally giving up. But he could still feel his surroundings. All of the sudden he sensed as if he wasn't where he previously was. Opening his eyes again he could see a large and dark door in front of him. It was apparently made from tree wood, with strange decors. Looking back he saw a black corridor with glass-like floor covered in a thick layer of dust. Those eerie figures of strange humans still adorned the walls.

Husky didn't know why but he felt an urgent need of opening the door and getting to the other side. As if in slow motion, Husky punched the door, but it didn't budge. No matter how hard he wanted to hit it, his fist did nothing but create a muffled thump on the massive door.

And then it became clear; he heard it...

Looking back; that unmistakable metallic noise. They were coming.

"No, please!" He begged. He couldn't see them yet, but knew that at any second they would appear from the corner deep within that corridor. He punched the door over and over, but it didn't move a single inch. He desperately tried to get up, but his body felt as if glued to the ground. Even worse was the feeling of being pulled back into the horrors that lurked beyond that dark corridor. It was a strange and overwhelming force that made Husky's surroundings stretch in an unnatural way, pulling him hopelessly to the place he desperately tried to escape.

"NO! I won't die here!" He yelled. He tried to find strength, tried to bury his claws into the ground, but just couldn't; it was all pointless. He just couldn't explain why not minutes ago he felt an unbelievable sense of bravery and determination, but now he was again afraid and defenseless.

"Husky..." He had closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable. He yelped in sheer agony of fear. But he heard a voice calling to him.

"Open your eyes, Husky." That voice. It was so full of warmth. He knew it very well.

Obeying, Husky opened his eyes as he clenched his fists firmly to the ground.

"Look back, Husky." The warm voice said. But he dreaded doing so, as he knew he would look deep into that black corridor that felt like a deep abyss of horror.

"Look back!" Again the entity spoke. The voice was firm, but somehow that made Husky snap out of his cycle of frustration and fear. Something deep within him told him to obey, and so he did.

"Why are you here, Husky?" It asked. Husky reluctantly had turned to face the origin of the voice. Far back in the corridor, he saw it. It was... her; the hooded Evocanis. She just stood at the middle of the corridor, staring right into Husky's eyes. He could feel her warmth even at such distance. But for some reason, Husky felt she didn't belong there. It was all so strange.

"Remember what happened." The tender Evo girl asserted. "This is not where it ended; am I right?" She firmly questioned Husky.

Husky didn't know how to respond, or what to make out of this. Where was he? He knew he had been there before, but couldn't really understand why he was still there, or what happened after.

"It did not end here..." Husky responded. It was as if words came out by themselves.

"Because you fought and you won..." Much to Husky's surprise, this new voice didn't come from the hooded Evocanis. It was a male voice right next to her. This voice penetrated deep into Husky's soul. His very existence was shaken by it. He knew this voice by heart, but just couldn't tell when or where he had heard it before.

The warmth had now increased. It was as if the hooded Evocani's warmth had been magnified by a separate presence and merged into one. This warmth engulfed Husky in a way that it not only subdued all the coldness around him, but completely destroyed any sense of helplessness that weakened him not moments before. Husky managed to get back on his hind legs and get in control of his senses once again thanks to these presences.

"Come here. I want you to see something..." It was the hooded Evocanis speaking. Husky saw how she beckoned him; urging Husky's presence next to her. Husky never felt so confused, but he knew he had to go back and see whatever the hooded Evocanis wanted to show him.

At a slow pace, Husky soon caught up with where she stood. As usual, her amber eyes glowing in a light of hope and peace. She smiled at him.

"You're so close Husky. You can't give up." She said.

"Remember what happened here!" That other voice. It was right next to her. This made Husky's body jolt in surprise. This presence was something else. It was there, but at the same time, not like the sweet Evo girl.

It all came back to him.

"You sat defeated in that very place, but you never gave up, got back on your hind legs and kept on going." The male voice said. As these words came out this powerful presence, flashbacks of past events invaded Husky's mind.

Husky finally manged to be brave enough to look at the direction where this voice came from. As he did, he described these memories with his own words.

"The machine's ship... I remember." Husky said. He had remembered once again. He didn't know why, but he was back in the Machine's ship. However, it was different. Was this a dream?

It didn't take a second before Husky finally made eye contact with the origin of the voice. He could not believe what he saw. Husky gasped for air as he saw this figure as he remembered something very crucial to his survival in that ghastly ship.

"That voice..." He once again questioned himself. He hadn't dreamed that; it happened. That voice he heard a second before he almost gave up back then. He also remembered that strange mist. He overlooked it at that moment as he was dazed and confused, and it might have been nothing, but he now understood what it really was. That warm presence that had given him the strength to continue was now in front of him at the very same place he had felt it. And now it had taken a shape.

"You do remember." The voice affirmed. Husky didn't need to respond; this presence was connected to Husky.

What Husky saw was absolutely mesmerizing. The figure of a tan husky Evocanis with bright amber eyes stood next to the hooded Evocanis. Husky knew him...

"Chuksha?" Husky whimpered. He didn't know this Evocanis in person, but he had images of him with Hasky, Shamu and Fx's parents. He couldn't believe it; in front of him was non other than his Life Giver.

Glimmering with a warm light surrounding his body, Chuksha shinned like a star, eating away the darkness of that nightmare. His soft, clean and fluffy fur was the only thing that adorned him.

"You decided not to give up. And so you continued." There was no doubt about it. This Evocanis was Chuksha. He smiled at his puppy, with facial features so identical. "Against all the odds, you continued on and showed our enemies that we would no longer fear them. We would fight back and win."

"Chuksha!" Husky fell on his knees, drowning in tears. His Life Giver; alive in front of him. He did not know him in life, but the calling of blood was too strong. Just seeing him for a few second was like knowing him his entire life.

"I reminded you back then to keep on fighting. And so you did; and so you won."

"Husky," The hooded Evo said. "Get up. The fight isn't over yet." She helped Husky get back on his hind legs. "Snap out of it, Husky!"

"And so I am reminding you once again to keep on fighting, pup. I will not accept your defeat." Chuksha walked toward Husky and gently placed his paw on his shoulder. "I love you my pup. I am so proud of you..." And there was only light around Husky. The warmth had completely engulfed him. Before everything turned brighter than the sun, he could see Chuksha's eyes. They were so beautiful and full of love. He was his Evocanis brother and Life Giver. He was there for him and he would help him. Curiously enough, he had a glance at the hooded Evocanis. Her eyes, amber as a star. Just like Chuksha's...

It came and went like a flash. The whiteness as bright as a sun had suddenly disappeared into darkness again...

"Husky!" it was Anubis.

"What was that... vision?" Husky asked himself as he panted. He looked around him and he was once again in that horrible reality in which he desperately tried to escape.

"HUSKY!" Louder this time. Anubis's voice appeared incredibly altered.

It took Husky a few seconds to recover his senses and realize where he was and what was going on. All around them was chaos, swirling around the walls and ceiling. Death incarnate in the form of the white mask of horror. But after that vision, something was different; Husky no longer felt overwhelmed. This strange reality that had robbed him from the tenderness of his race and the warmth of his home didn't feel that... real. But one thing was certain; he was trapped still and somehow, he needed to wake up.

"There's too many!" Anubis yelled terrified. "We have to go back or we will be killed."

"No..."

Husky stood firm as his brothers all gathered around in a larger group. They were desperate to avoid being killed by these machines. The Unfurred ones were right; the Leaders had noticed the riot and they had sent the metallic assassins to bring the Bowels of Canis Major to a calm.

"No. We have gotten too far. We have to push!" Husky said determined. The eerie figures were reflected on his blue eyes. His blue eyes were now ignited in fury.

"Husky?" Anubis suddenly saw the fire in Husky's eyes. It was almost as if they had changed to a warm amber. It was for a second, but he could feel his brother's strength emanating from his entire body.

"We fight..." The young husky said. "We can destroy them. You and I, Anubis; we have done it before; remember?"

A second after, not even showing a hint of his intentions, Husky sprinted towards the swarm of metallic demons, snatching a large wrench from one of his Evo brothers on his way. His brothers watched in disbelief, how this delicate husky in nothing but his blood and soil-tainted fur, charged directly where the swarm of machines focused in a deadly mass of blades.

"You just have to trust your instinct!" Husky growled. The first metallic limb flung across the air as he had reached the wave of machines. "We are stronger than they are!" Another brutal strike ended the machine. Two, four, ten... One by one, the swarm slowly fell dead to Husky's furious bite.

"Come on, we can do this!" Husky again encouraged his brothers. There was something in his voice that activated that long-lost instinct. Anubis and his pack felt the fury that fueled their brother. They trusted Husky and now they felt it; they felt the strength that their race was denied by those Unfurred monsters and the Machines.

"If today..." Anubis closed his eyes and spoke to himself and his brothers. "If today we die, at least we will have our Evocanis pride back..." His brothers closed their eyes too. They knew the truth in his words. "ATTACK!"

With a furious growl in unison, the Evos scattered and for the first time in their life, they fought back. No more would Canis Major be tainted by the unjust. It was a brutal fight, led by Husky's encouragement. Seeing their brother fight with such ability and braveness gave them power. Never more than before, it was clear that together they were a force to be reckoned with.

Metallic limbs, green liquid; it all flew through the air, staining the Evo's fur. Their enemies were falling against the sheer will of the gentle furred creatures...

"They are all over the walls!" One of the Evos yelled.

"They are bringing more!" Another one.

Evos were proving their superiority, but the machines had once again relied on their most powerful tactic: numbers. No matter how strong Evos were now, they would eventually get tired; the machines wouldn't. If the numbers of those monsters kept on increasing, wave after wave, the Evos would lose their advantage and most likely face terrible consequences. Either way, Husky knew they were losing precious time.

"Husky!" Anubis finally found Husky in between the chaos. He was dirtier than ever, covered in his own blood, the green vital fluid of the machines, plus rust and other dirtiness of the industrial area. "There is no doubt we can fight them; you were right." He said, "But if they keep on bringing more, we will end up losing our advantage."

There was no response from Husky. He noticed all around and realized his friend was right. The machines were pouring like water through latches, vents and even the main corridor.

"We got to move now before we lose our opportunity!" Anubis was right. They had proven their strength and they had somewhat gained an advantage; enough to keep pushing towards their objective.

Husky was high on rage and adrenaline, but he was smart enough not to make such a reckless mistake. He was a D.E Squad warrior and was trained to keep his mind clear and always think straight.

"Let's move!" Husky said after nodding. Two firm barks came from Anubis, signaling a retreat to his other brothers. As each of them killed the last of the machines they fought with, they immediately ran towards Husky and Anubis who had already started their advance towards Canis Major's command center.

Swift as never before, the large group of Evocanis rushed further deep into Canis Major's core. Husky was focused on one thing only: reaching the main computer. His Evo brothers led by Anubis followed very closely. The heavy presence of something closing in behind them was soon too much to ignore. Some of the Evocanis had turned back waiting to see what they thought was another nearly unstoppable wave of White Masks.

But where were the lanky shadows belonging to those assassin machines? Nowhere to be seen. Instead, it was a different menace that dared show itself after the Evos had done all the fighting.

"Why are those monsters following us?!" One Evocanis said. The tone in which he exclaimed had no hint of fear like when those cold assassins were mentioned. This caught the attention of the rest, who turned around to face what was slowly trying to catch up on them.

"You!" Anubis growled furiously. This also caught Husky's attention, who now turned back as well.

"They are right behind us! Keep running!" A raspy voice came from the depths of the tunnel behind them.

Finally realizing what it was, Husky's surprised eyes turned into a menacing glare. He immediately stopped, dragging his claws on the ground and facing their followers.

"We've got no choice!" Another raspy voice.

"You will NOT follow us!" Husky growled at them. To their surprise, the whole group of humans had been following them. "Go back! There is nothing for you where we are going!" Husky demanded.

"You heard my brother; go away!" Anubis followed.

The humans looked desperate. They immediately stopped on their tracks due to the furious Evos blocking their way. They looked at the furred aliens right to the eyes before turning around into the darkness. All of them held tools as weapons, ready to strike at whatever stalked them.

"It's all your fault, dogs!" The now self-proclaimed leader yelled as he looked at Husky with the corner of the eye. He walked backwards towards the black and white canine and his pack, escaping from the darkness that cradled whatever horror he ran away from. Whatever it was, it was terrifying enough to risk getting close to the infuriated Evocanis.

"Now they are here and they will kill us!" The human leader continued. "I know your kind and ours are not in full understanding, but if we don't fight together, it will be the death of all of us!"

"We don't need your help!" Husky barked. "We need you out of here, NOW!"

"Husky!" Anubis placed his paw firmly on Husky's shoulder. "Maybe they can help as a distraction."

Working together with the ones who brought tears, pain and sorrow to Canis Major? There was no chance that would happen that day. However, given the circumstances, Anubis was probably right. Husky soon realized this.

"If you think you're so great and superior, then prove it! Fight those metallic monsters and show us how strong you are!" Husky yelled at the humans. The leader of the human group looked furious, but his eyes were witness of how impotent he was at that instant.

"This is how insignificant you think we are?! Move out of my way!" Husky again yelled, swiftly making his way through his pack and the humans. He drove himself furiously into the darkness of the tunnel. The humans just watched as the small Evocanis charged at them. Maybe it was fear or that at the last second they realized Husky was not headed their way. The pack of humans separated in two and gave path to the young husky Evocanis.

"Husky!" Anubis yelled at no avail as he saw the young husky being almost swallowed by and ocean of blades that had suddenly appeared from within the shadows. The machines had caught up on them.

"We're too late!" The human squealed. "They're on us!"

Anubis let out a growl of frustration. Whatever Husky had planned to save Canis Major was now being brought to a halt thanks to his recklessness. "Brothers!" he ordered. "Don't let them hurt Husky!"

The Evocanis pack now charged at the army of machines that hunted them down. The humans just stuck flat against the walls of the tunnel, witnessing the furious brawl between the furred creatures and the cold metallic assassins.

The Unfurred ones stood frozen, not knowing what else to do. They looked back at each other, waiting for the other to give an answer to their predicament. Should they fight? Should they just run and hide?

"If we run, you know they will eventually catch up to us." One said. "If we hide, they will find us and kill us." He continued.

"This is a prison anyway..." Another human said as he stared at how bravely the Evos fought. "No matter how big this ship is, it is still a ship. There is nowhere to go." He looked down at the ground for a second and back to his group. "Whether it's ours or the dogs fault, it's too late now; we've gotten too far and they will not forgive us. We're criminals; we're disposable. That blue-eyed dog is right... No one will remember or miss us. The Leaders will just bring more prisoners from the colonies and Earth to replace us."

The harsh truth was spoken by the human himself. No one dared to contradict him. Suddenly, they all gripped their tools tightly, took a deep breath and rushed to the chaos where the Evos and the machines fought.

The Evos were infuriated, bringing down machine after machine. Some of them took hits, but the adrenaline and anger kept them going. No matter how much they got hit, or how much they bleed, their strength seemed to increase.

"I will not be intimidated by a piece of scrap metal!" Was suddenly heard behind him. Husky turned around to see the muscular human charging towards them with a large wrench. He flew past Husky completely ignoring him. Husky never felt the urge to defend himself as he didn't perceive any aggression towards him. Instead, the human charged at the machine in front of him.

"I don't know what you are planning, but you better keep on with it!" One of the humans yelled at the Evos. "We are not sure how long we can hold them back, but it should be enough for you to do your thing."

This was surprising. The humans had now turned in their favor. It was difficult to grasp for the Evos that felt so much resentment towards the Unfurred. "We know we have no chance, but we really have nothing to lose at this point..." Words of resignation came from the human. "We are sentenced for life in this hell. I rather die than to stay another day... Now do whatever you will do, dogs! You said this is your home and so you know what's best!"

Disconcerting was the feeling that the Evos experienced at that moment, specially Husky. They had so much resentment, but their pure hearts struggled to keep that anger going and instead could feel a very mild sense of forgiveness starting to contradict the negative thoughts. It didn't matter why these humans were doing this, most likely to save their own lives, but still they were now helping the Evos.

"Husky..." Anubis whispered next to him. Husky just nodded at him. Another two barks came from Anubis and the whole pack now ran away from the fight.

"Don't let the fear control you! Know your strength and be one with it! It's the only way to defeat those monsters!" Even after they had tried to kill him, threatened to mutilate him as well as do despicable things to him. Even after they had killed that Evo that looked so much like Fx right before his eyes, Husky still could show mercy and compassion by giving that piece of advice. He never turned back again as he regrouped with the pack and they all ran to the depths of Canis Major's Sector Zero.

Husky didn't fully recognize the area he was in, but he was guided as if by an invisible force. His Evo brothers followed closely as they rushed through tunnels, corridors and hallways until reaching a dark ramp that led down. Husky slowed down to a walk as he faced this tunnel. A large gate was visible at the bottom.

"Husky... is this it?" Anubis asked. He, as well as everyone panted after the effort of running and fighting those monsters. Anubis got no immediate response, and as he was about to rest his arm on Husky, the young blue-eyed Evo just started walking down. "Husky!" He again tried to gain Husky's attention.

"Yes; this is it." Husky finally responded, looking back at his Evo brothers. "We can finally end this."

Husky rushed down the ramp until he reached the gate. Searching around for the open switch, he managed to find it quickly. It was covered in dust, except for a streak marking that gave evidence that someone was there not long ago. He didn't lose time and hit the button.

A screeching noise almost too powerful for his delicate ears of the Evocanis came with a strong vibration. The corroded gate soon opened before their eyes, showing a large dark room at the other side.

"What... is this place..?" Anubis whispered as he followed Husky. Not long after they walked in, lights flickered all around them as they activated. That old lighting system struggled to defeat the almost perpetual darkness that cradled that long-forgotten room.

Husky was finally in his destination. He could feel how that nightmare slowly lost its wretched grip on his senses. It was difficult to make anything out of that abandoned room. Dust that had accumulated for decades distorted the shape of everything in it.

Led by an invisible force, Husky suddenly went to a stop, standing to what appeared to be the end of the room. There was a concave wall right in front of him. Below it, what at first glance looked like a table of some sorts was in fact an old control panel. Evidence of this were the almost indistinguishable key panels devoured by the endless layers of dust. A quick wipe, and a well-polished surface made itself visible.

"This is it..." Husky whispered. His Evo brothers were right behind him, wondering what would happen next.

Husky was not sure what to do. He knew this panel somehow, but didn't recall seeing it deactivated. He gently hovered his paw across the glass-smooth control panel, as if waiting for something to happened. His instinct told him this was the correct path to follow.

Not a second after closing his eyes and focusing on these confusing memories that flashed back in his mind, he could hear his brothers gasp. Through his eyelids, he could feel a warm light. Opening his blue eyes, the reflection of an active control panel could be seen.

"Canis Major..." He said.

"Husky?" Anubis walked even closer to Husky, perplexed by this place that he never knew existed.

"This is Canis Major, brothers..." Husky said. "Sector Zero... Canis Major's brain..." He explained. A very pleasant warmth invaded his body as he described his beloved home. His reality was closer to his reach.

"Canis Major's control center." Husky continued as he swiped through the key panel. Immediately, the concave wall lit to life. Strange images danced on the screen. Familiar to Husky, yet strange to the rest. "All of our memories... All that we are... All we ever were..." Husky finished.

The young Evocanis smiled for the first time in very long. A tear, not of pain, soaked his cheek fur.

"Don't you get it?" Husky turned to face his brothers as he opened many archives. "We forgot who we are because of those monsters. But it's all here..." He turned back to the screen. "Canis Major is our Life Giver, brothers. She would never abandon us. She held to our memories and now it will remind us of who we are."

The rest of the Evos were confused with what they saw. Husky worked on the panel, as if knowing exactly what to do. He didn't, but instead he was as if guided by instinct.

"Before I do this..." Husky stopped for a second. He leaned on the panel, looking down for a second before he turned again to his brothers. "You have to promise me you won't hold on to the present; to this false reality that has consumed us..."

"Husky? What are you talking about?" Anubis finally manged to speak after such shocking revelations.

"Do you want to keep on living in this reality, or would you rather risk it all to be Evos again, even if it's just for a few minutes?" Husky spoke really quiet, but it was enough for everyone to hear.

"Husky..."

"DO YOU..." He raised his voice, making Anubis jump scared. "wish... for this nightmare to keep on going?"

There was no response from Anubis or from any of the other Evos. Husky looked at them and saw how they all closed their eyes, as if accepting whatever came next.

"I don't..." Husky responded for them; for the entire Evocanis race. "This has gone too far.. and thus, risks must be taken to purge evil from our home."

"Husky..." Anubis once again spoke to him. "Do what you have to do..." He said right from his heart.

Husky turned into the control panel and kept on working on the main computer. A mosaic of images soon covered the entire screen. This was a live feed, as they saw the refineries, living areas, and other corrupted Sectors of Canis Major. Anubis and his pack were amazed at how Husky had managed to gain control of the cameras all around in Canis Major.

"Brothers..." Husky spoke. To his brothers surprise, he was not directing to them. Many Evos on the screens seemed surprised and look all around them, as if something had caught their attention.

"Today we decide if we rather destroy who we are for the benefit of evil beings that have no respect and sense of compassion, or if we stand proud and protect at all costs who we are... Most of you have seem to forgotten what makes us Evocanis so different and unique; what makes us so special. And for what? Fear? Fear that we might be killed by these Unfurred ones that have the boldness of thinking they own us? Sometimes it is better to fight for what we own; for what we are... Even if the cost is our existence..."

On the screens there were Sectors that showed Unfurred ones in what appeared to be command centers. They looked incredibly distressed and angry, trying with all means to find the source of this voice that echoed throughout Canis Major.

"You have forgotten how unique we are. How precious for this universe... We might not be natural creatures, but we have proven that intelligence, self-consciousness and free will can coexist with absolute peace and understanding. These humans have tried to bring their ways into us, destroying that... No more..."

Many of the Evos that listened carefully as they worked at the refineries dropped their tools and stood still, paying attention to these words that came with such warmth.

"If you still have doubts... Remember who we are..."

After inputting an command, several images and recorded footage played on the large screen. This footage played throughout Canis Major in several screens that were scattered in Sectors.

Strange images were shown... It was a compilation of what the Evocanis race once was, from that very moment when the first Evos emerged from the Stasis capsules.

"What?" Anubis gasped. Many from his pack were down on their knees as they saw these images. It was just too much for them to remember all this that they had been forced to forget after so many generations.

"The Originals..." Husky said. "They ran Sector Zero, learned from this very computer and are responsible for our development as a race for the past five hundred years..." He explained the image of these Evos that first inhabited Canis Major.

Many more images ran through the screen; apparently advancing in time as they told a story.

"It wasn't easy, but we managed to strive with the very little we had..." Husky continued. Images of ships being built by Evocani's own paws, machinery to support life, computers that kept supplies at a very fine balance; all created by Evos as they grew greater as a race.

"Peace didn't last for long, but not because of us..."

Various images slid through the screen giving evidence of a terrible event that struck the peaceful Evocanis. Those evil machines that enslaved them, attacked rampantly and with no mercy.

"But we survived..."

Hurt, but never defeated, Evos stood up again and built from the ashes of their home, and the blood of their lost. Twice.

"We had help, yes..."

Strange to these Evocanis, the images of furred beings appeared. But it wasn't them. Who were these creatures of piercing gaze, yet such gentle presence? If something like that happened, why didn't they remember? If they defeated the machines, then why were they slaves to them in that current reality?

"It didn't take long for us to venture outside Canis Major in search for more resources that would keep it alive for more generations to come. We went outside for that and another purpose... We would bring destruction to those who once hurt us..."

An impressive ship showed itself complete in one of Canis Major hangars. A small group of Evocanis proudly boarded this ship one by one, donning glistening blue armors.

"They hurt us many times, but they never broke us. They never broke our will. They made us stronger! They made us closer to each other as a race!" Husky proudly raised his voice. His voice stronger and impressive than it ever had been.

The brief fires and explosions of a massive battle in outer space served as a beacon of what would be the Evos first victory.

"They took our brothers and sisters, they deceived us, they lured us and took advantage of the bond we have as a race. They made our tears and blood soak our fur for a third time... But they NEVER defeated us! WE WON!" Husky's voice thundered across Canis Major, reviving the fire that once was extinguished by the evil doers.

"So here we are now... we forgot our victory over those metallic monster, and worse yet, we let the humans infect our home?"

"Husky..." Anubis spoke. His body trembled in confusion. "When..?" He mumbled, but held his head as if fighting against something. "This never happened...or did it?"

"Anubis!" Husky furiously turned to face Anubis and walked towards him. "Are you sure of what you are saying?" He asked firmly. "Are you sure this never happened?"

"I..." Anubis couldn't explain his feelings. He fell knees to the ground. "I don't know anymore..."

"You got to remember, brother! You know me! You know my brother Fx!" Husky held Anubis from his shoulders.

"Husky..." Anubis spoke defeated. He cried and looked right at Husky's eyes. "Could it be you?" Anubis was broken. He raised his paw and placed it gently on Husky's cheek.

"It's me, brother. You know me... You and I, we joined the D.E Squad. Do you remember?"

"Husky. I do remember... I..." Anubis continued. His eyes suddenly changed hue. The warm dark brown had turned into a glistening Amber. "I saved Fx. I sent him off in one of the ships... You don't have to worry about him..." He whispered to Husky. Words came out of his muzzle, however, not knowing were these strange memories came from.

A smile was suddenly drawn across Husky's muzzle. "Thank you, Anubis. I think I never had the chance to tell you." A tear now was absorbed by the fur on his cheeks. "Thank you for saving my brother. Thank you for being there with me..."

"I want to go home, Husky..." Anubis cried...

"We will, brother... My beautiful Anubis... My friend..." Husky replied tenderly, giving Anubis a warm lick across his muzzle and nose. "But first, we need to destroy this place; this false reality."

"I will be next to you until the end..." Were the last words that Husky heard from Anubis at that time, but he knew they will meet again in the warmth of their home.

There was no point on extending this nightmare any longer. Husky stood up and walked back to the massive screen. His eyes, now full of determination like they've never been, but somehow, also showing an immense peace within them.

Looking at the screen, something beautiful had happened.

"Brothers..." He said as he extended his limb towards the screen.

Evos all around Canis Major now had the same expression than Husky. The fear had vanished, and it almost seemed as if they were all one being. Working tools were dropped to the ground, hazard suits were taken off, helmets thrown to never be worn again...

"What are you doing?! You know the consequences of such insubordination!" A futile cry came faintly through the speakers. The humans who were in their control rooms tried desperately to regain control, but it was all in vain.

Evos would no longer serve to their selfish goals. It was now time to reclaim their home. Slowly, determined but still with a huge sense of peace, Evos marched out of the refineries and factories, as they all gathered in the larger areas of Canis Major.

Humans in charge were furious, but desperate. They deployed security team as well as a large group of Machines. It was worrying to see Evos which were pretty much defenseless to stand against an armed group of senseless humans and those deadly metallic monsters.

Husky hesitated for a brief moment, but as a warm paw was gently placed on his shoulder, he washed off any minuscule sense of doubt.

"Husky... it's time." A gentle voice spoke. It was so close behind him, that it almost felt as it would embrace him. "No more doubts... Let's go home..." A soft muzzle exhaled the warmest of breaths on Husky's cheek.

Slowly turning around, he saw her. Showing her face as she slowly unveiled herself from that gray hood. Those amber eyes so full of love...

"Do it now, Husky..." The hooded Evocanis gently grabbed Husky's paw and handed a device so familiar to him. "It's your ComPod. You know what to do." Taking that device on his paw, more memories came to him. That wonderful gift he had gotten from Captain K9 himself when he first arrived to D.E1.

Husky stared at the device and then at the hooded Evo girl. No words were spoken, no plans were made. He knew by heart what came next.

Behind the hooded Evocanis, Anubis and his group stood peacefully, showing the most gentle of smiles. They all shared a common feature much to Husky's surprise. They all had those glistening amber eyes, staring right at him. The warmness of their eyes filled Husky with strength that the hooded Evo girl wouldn't have been able to by herself.

"Brothers..." Husky whispered. They all nodded, as if knowing what would come next. Smiling back at them and nodding as well, Husky now stared at the hooded Evo girl who stood so close to him. She nodded back at him.

Something strange happened after. For some reason, Husky felt that the Evo girl would never leave his side from then on. That made him feel safe and very happy.

"We are all ready, Husky." The Evo girl said. "So are you. And so it will be done."

Husky heard these words, but he was already moving towards his goal. He operated his ComPod, connecting to Canis Major and inputting the last commands that computer would ever receive.

"I am so proud of you, Husky..." The Evo girl whispered. And so it was done...

Anubis, Husky, the hooded Evo and the rest walked peacefully, all smiling as if relieved; as if finally free from their torment. They would reunite with their brothers now and be Evos forever.

All around Canis Major, humans and machines fought with Evos that claimed their home. Many fell to the coward weaponry, but they never held back against their enemies. Many humans fled as they depleted their ammunition, some falling to the furious furred beings. This powerful entity that the Evos were now was completely unstoppable.

"It's useless!" Some yelled. "Retreat!" Others cried.

It was a war they would not win; it was not their right to win.

"Apocalypse is falling. We have no support!" Some of the humans desperately cried, as the control they once had over the Machines soon was lost. By the hundreds, the metallic monsters fell to the furious Evocanis. "Impossible! They have no weapons. How can they be winning?" In disbelief they were, but there was really no room for doubt. Humans were now in the belly of the beast. "It is their numbers, sir! It's just too many of them!"

The one who proclaimed himself as the absolute leader was in a very precarious situation. He tried to escape his command center with a large group of elite soldiers, but the fear and doubt invaded him.

"Your job is to regain control, General!" He argued with one his henchmen. "They are just dogs and they don't even have weapons to defend themselves!"

"Sir, with all due respect. They ARE weapons!" the general of the elite forces responded. "They have completely lost it. They won't stop until they eliminate us all."

"I don't care how you do it! Shoot them all down if necessary!" The leader had now lost all sense of reality. The truth was they were outnumbered by the thousands. Whatever would come to them that day it was well deserved.

"Alright men!" The general spoke to his army as they prepared themselves to exit their command center. "Shoot to kill! Genesis has gone haywire and we're pulling the plug! I repeat: we are pulling the plug!"

Pitiful to think they believed they had a chance. They readied their rifles as they unlocked the gate of the command center. There must have been at least a couple hundred scientists and logistics agents, plus a large battalion of elite soldiers in there. They had all locked themselves after the riot had broke out.

"Now! GO GO GO!" The last lock was disengaged and the gate spread open. The elite soldiers marched out shooting bursts out on the open. In the mass confusion, it was not clear what had happened outside from the safety of their command center. Smoke and fires consumed the already tattered colony ship.

"Halt!!" With his fist on the air, signaling to cease fire, the last round soon gave exchange to an eerie silence. Smoke had finally dissipated and gave away to what stood all around them. Faint snarls could be heard. Amber dots all around the human army.

"Sir?" One of the scared soldiers asked for reassurance.

"We don't have enough rounds for all of them..." Another one realized.

The General didn't utter a word. He knew they were in trouble. These furred creatures were created as weapons. They were designed to be deadly. Even with their intense training and their gear, they were so outnumbered that hand-to-paw combat would end up on the humans mauled to death.

"Let's talk this out..." to their surprise, the leader of the humans, a scrawny tall man doning what appeared to be ceremonial military garments walked forward.

"You know that this will not end well for you..." He said. He desperately tried to exude authority and absoluteness through his words, but failed miserably as his voice broke. "You know that if we cease control over this ship, you will not make it."

The growling increased, as his negotiation was no more than an insult.

"No more deaths..." The leader continued. "We can work this out and benefit from each other."

No response from the Evocanis. Words from the humans just hit them like a fetid breeze.

"Sir, we can't fight them all. They are still gathering..." One of the soldiers muttered.

"I lost communication over the rest of the colony... We are on our own." another one said.

"You know what will happen if you do this?" The leader continued. That's what these humans seemed to be good at; speaking empty words. Deceiving. "There are many higher in command than me. They will come and wipe you all. Surrender, and I will not report this. I will blame it on the inmates."

More words of emptiness spewed from the mouth of the leader. However, something seemed to cause a reaction on the Evocanis. At the center of the large group, there was movement.

"Ready your weapons, men!" The general ordered.

The concentration of Evocanis started spreading at the center. But they were not fleeing, or ceasing their offense; they were giving room for something.

"Someone is approaching..." Again, the General spoke.

Between the sea of infuriated Evocanis, one walked out, apparently towards the humans. A young Evocanis, deprived of his clothes. Fur tainted in dirt, rust and blood. He walked without stopping until he reached to the leader of the humans.

"That's far enough!" The soldier said as he pointed his rifle towards the Evocanis.

"Lower your weapon, soldier!" The leader ordered, as he walked towards Husky. He gestured to his soldiers, as if telling them everything would be alright.

"I know you..." He spoke to Husky. The leader of the humans tried desperately to mix empathy and at the same time authority. Behind his back, where Husky could not see, he readied a powerful handgun. The soldier saw this and backed away.

"Well, well..." The leader directed towards Husky. "You were the one that initiated the riot a few days ago, am I right?"

There was no response from Husky as he pierced the human with his glare.

"I am impressed," The human kept on trying to build some kind of rapport with the furred being. "You are still alive after I shot you." Useless attempts to compliment Husky's strength were immediately destroyed by his blatant arrogance. "They threw you to the bowels to feed the workers below, but I guess they became your meal instead."

"Tell me; did you plan all this?" He continued. "If so, you are the one I shall speak to then."

"I don't need to listen to you, human. You will listen to me..." Husky whispered. His glare never desisting to slowly demoralize the human.

"Wait..." The leader tried to seem calm and willing to dialog, even if he knew the situation was a complete loss. "Surely there is a way for both parties to come out of this not spilling one more drop of blood. You definitely want to hear me out..." he attempted to regain control.

"Silence!" Husky stopped the human on his tracks. His words were of no value to the furred beings. "I will only say this once..."

The human did not like one bit how this little furred creature spoke to him. For the first time he felt as he had absolutely no control. For a human with so much power, the thought of this felt like a thorn on their side. He clenched the gun firmly as Husky spoke.

"You have two options:" Husky gave the ultimatum. "You stay here and lose your life by our claw and fang."

These words hit hard on the humans who would not tolerate such boldness, yet they failed to see, blinded by their greed and thirst for power, that the Evocanis had all the right to decide their fate at that point. The soldiers gripped their rifles tightly; the leader placed his thumb on the hammer.

"Or you leave right now not to show your presence to us EVER again." That was Husky's and the whole Evocanis race's final word.

There was a moment of silence, as the humans desperately tried to process such threat from the ones they thought inferior.

A sinister chuckle came from the leader...

"You really think you can give us orders? You are just animals. We own you!" Such greed and selfishness had drowned the fear he felt not minutes ago.

"I said SILENCE!" Husky barked furiously.

The deep bark reverberated inside the leader's chest, suddenly catching him off-guard. The human was startled, prompting an unexpected reaction even to him. It was just a reflex... the hand that held the pistol moved by itself, aiming at Husky and pulling the trigger. A loud bang echoed through the massive open area. There was black and white fur flying. Blood tainting the floor. With heartbreaking yelp, Husky fell on the ground, clenching his chest, right at the spot where his heart rested.

In his violent ways, it was somewhat satisfying for the human, but he also knew he had made a terrible mistake. The leader soon was reminded how the situation was always against them; and now more than ever.

"Damn..." The human leader said, realizing the mistake. This would certainly provoke a rampage of furious Evocanis that would be the end of them. Trembling in fear, the leader walked backwards, looking for refuge and protection behind his soldiers.

"See what you all made me do?" He yelled in fear. "This wouldn't have happened if you just obeyed!"

At any time the massive pack of Evos, who surrounded them by the thousands would lunge at them, claiming deadly justice for their brother. But there was no reaction.

"You... you have made your decision..." searching for who said those words, all the humans saw was thousands of Evocanis just standing motionless as they kept their furious glare at them.

"What?!" The human was shocked as he realize who had said those words.

The fragile young Evo who had just received a high-caliber ballistic projectile to his heart gasped for air as he slowly got back on his hind paws.

"I... gave you a chance..." Husky stood up again, clenching his chest, before letting out a powerful growl. He released his chest, revealing a wound that almost instantly ceased to bleed. How was it possible that with an injury that should've ended his life instantly, he was on his hind paws again? What was more incredible was the fact that Husky's breathing soon normalized. His agonizing pain quickly vanished, as his expression was once again calm. The human couldn't say a word. Mouth open, but not a single sound came out.

Husky slowly raised his arm, showing how he held on to a device.

"After all the horrors that you've done to us, we still gave you a chance. You decided to let your arrogance speak for you, instead of the logic that you lack." Husky spoke as he briefly did something with the device. He had obviously inputted some sort of command, and what happened next, was evidence of the severity of those actions.

"What have you done? What did you do!?" The humans yelled frightened.

His fear was not unfounded. Very faint, but not imperceptible, a small tremor followed by a distant explosion was felt. A strange sense of weightlessness in their gut was not fear invading their bodies, but a sign that something deadly and irreversible had happened.

Husky's actions after that were even more confusing, but soon added up to what had be done. Husky dropped the device to the ground and with an unnatural strength, his soft paw crushed it into a hundred pieces.

What was even stranger was the young Evocanis raising his upper limb again, this time with his paw and five digits wide open.

"Five minutes..." He said. "Despite everything, you still have five minutes, humans." He calmly said.

"What did you do? Tell me dog!" The leader had no control anymore. He had an idea of what happened, but did not wanted to put his mind into such harsh reality.

"A few minutes ago, I accessed Canis Major's main computer..." Husky explained. "I... I manually overloaded the Orbital Stabilizers... They must have triggered their safety protocol by now. They are most likely non-functional."

"Nonesense!" One of the human engineers said. Whispers and endless discussion could be heard among the human group.

"That explosion you felt..." Husky kept on explaining. His voice was tired, yet so full of peace. "We used demolition charges from the mining deck to blow up Canis Major's old computer."

"What have you done!?" It wasn't clear who said it first, but most likely it was all of the humans who were now in panic, as they felt a strange centripetal force invading their bodies. Husky had done something, and for a ship as big as Canis Major to make its movements felt, it must have been bad.

"It is impossible to reset the Orbital Stabilizers , as there is no computer to do so..." Husky continued. "You would have to do it manually on each individual power nodule that controls them. It would take you hours, if not days, as they are spread across the ship. That's if they haven't melted yet from the energy overflow..."

"Sir, we have to go now!" One of the engineers begged for a retreat. "If what he said is true, we will be heading straight to the planet in just a couple of minutes!"

"That is right..." Husky said at a paused pace. "Canis Major is not made for reentry. Canis Major was not even meant to orbit around a planet. It's just too big... Outside the vacuum of space, it's mass defies physics, and thus it cannot survive..."

"Darn it!" Humans yelled.

"Canis Major will turn into a ball of fire in a matter of minutes..."

"Sir, your orders!?" The General desperately asked for an order to follow.

"The clock is ticking..." Husky whispered... "The more you wait, the more time you'll take to reach the hangar and escape..."

There was nothing more to do. It was now over. "Kill them all, general!" was the last order the leader gave, but it fell on deaf ears. The General knew there was no point anymore. His men and the engineers had started running to the hangars in a desperate attempt to escape the massive ship that would inevitably turn into a deadly comet, heading to the planet below them.

"It's too late... You made your decision, and you will be cleansed along Canis Major..."

"Darn you! Darn you all to hell!!" The human leader gave one more desperate cry of helplessness. He shot his gun towards the Evocanis until depleting his ammo, but no projectile hit its target. He then ran until he was out of sight. They would never make it to the hangar...

"It's over..." Husky said, as he turned to face his brothers and sisters. His expression had changed completely to that sweet and innocent one he was known for. Not only his, but that of his brothers and sisters as well.

Husky had remembered his true nature and he had erased that nightmarish place that was nothing like the sweet Canis Major he knew. Evos were one again, and so they gathered to enjoy each other presences once again.

It had been a long battle, against odds, their enemies and even their own doubts. But Evos had prevailed, destroying all the prejudice and hatred brought along with the humans. Their true nature had again blossomed and forever they would be one again.

Gathered together next to a gigantic screen that simulated a window with real-time images of the outside, Evos contemplated the beauty of the planet below them as it got closer. Holding each others paws, they felt a warmth greater than the heat of the reentry.

"I'm proud of you, Husky..." He heard behind him, as he felt the warm embrace of someone. Reflecting on the window, he saw the reflection of the hooded Evocanis, who gently rested her chin on his shoulder with her arms wrapped around his waist. Her amber eyes locked into his blue eyes through the reflection. They both smiled...

"Thank you..."

Miles away up in the sky, this incandescent light of hope illuminated the atmosphere of the planet. Brighter than it's mother star Sirius, Canis Major represented how warm and powerful the souls of the Evocanis could be. That star, the Great Canine, would now be a reminder that even against all odds, the pure hearts of a furred being could never be corrupted...A thunderous sonic boom was their howl, as a powerful battle cry that would remind those who attempted against them that they would fight back fearlessly for their kind.

...The star that had now separated into a million others and rained down to the surface represented the souls of every Evo... Canis Major would never be forgotten...