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Counter Earth Chronicles - Dual Realities

*Chapter 13: We Are The Prey They Are The Predator *

March 21st YOE 35

7:43 PM (Counter Earth)

A little human waits in a beastial scientist's lab for a rescheduled session....

(Sir Ram was really running late this evening)

I had been waiting at least thirty minutes for my latest conditioning session with the evil beastial. I guess we were arriving at the part where I was to be broken completely and turned into a beta male.

I had grown restless waiting for the knight and instead of remaining perfectly still for my overseer, I started pacing the lab. Well, that worked for only ten minutes.

My idleness getting the better of me, I found myself searching the drawer where I had found the black PDA days earlier.

I powered it on and started rummaging through the folder titled missions again. I found that picture Survivors from World Fall December 31st, YOE 33. I looked at those in the picture with me....Lady Ursa... Corbin... Dawn... that dark haired teenager... The Madam's minion Shakara... and that brown werewolf. Our clothing was tattered, torn and dirty. It looked like we had gone through some sort of apocalypse.

What happened December 31st? I remember I was judged and punished by the High Evolutionary for being a pre-rebel and there was some commotion in the castle... and then... and then... the knights won, the rebels lost and the rebellion crumbled. I learned the rest during my incarceration. But that day, its events were hazy.

(Why was that?)

I started going back through the missions folder looking for entries going back to that time.

That was when I found an entry that was from January 1, YOE 34. The castle has been overrun by the possessed. We were so focused on destroying the rebellion we missed this hidden new threat. Why did I not see this earlier? Looking back, the signs were there! And now the high master and my beloved Mara are dead. I can't foresee going on without either. I vow if it takes me the rest of my life, I will fight this injustice, to right this wrong and to resurrect beastial kind. I must.

That would explain the numerous entries. There were many. It would appear that Sir Ram had been doing this for quite some time. But I don't remember this ONE character taking over the empire, Mara is alive and well and in fact the empire endures stronger than it has ever been. Well until recently.

(Damn, he was successful!)

Which meant that the timeline was erased or reset. That is why I have no recollection of those events save for some kooks saying that ONE was coming, ONE was coming to correct everything that was wrong with this world. I returned to that picture from December 31st. I just stared at it.

I soon realized that I did recognize the brown werewolf too! He was in Dr. Pina's lab!! So in that other timeline Lady Ursa and I knew Dr. Pina's lab experiment and had befriended Shakara some how. I guess World Fall would make for some strange bedfellows.

Placing the black PDA away, I vowed that I would learn as much as I could about this erased timeline and exactly when this current one was corrected. Did it happen the day of my final judgement?

Sir Ram was really, really, really late. I resumed pacing the lab again. That was when

I found a pad on the center counter and decided to pull up the latest hub news report:

The knight core is in a state of high alert after the empire's inability to track and monitor their human citizens has made waves across the five cities. Here in World Five, we have witnessed numerous second class citizens violating curfew and other ordinances for second class citizens; many are out and about as if crackdown measures had never been established in the wake of the rebellion's defeat. A zebra reporter from the hub announced.

Our camera observed this preteen visiting a floral boutique and its chakat proprietor in World Three at a time we know his overseer would not approve....

_Over in World Four we watched a human woman walking in an area off limits to second class citizens with a beastial gorilla confirmed not to be her overseer. _

(So that explains Sir Ram's tardiness.)

The news report ended with a scrolling caption just below the zebra reporter's image which I had thought was a news ticker, but was actually addressing me!

The knight core is searching for answers to questions they still don't understand. You are too. The difference is that it is right in front of you.

(WHAT?)

I heard the clip, clop of hooves as someone approached the door to the lab. I quickly put down the pad I was watching the hub news report on.

“Why aren't you where you are supposed to be?" A tired worn out ram who looked like he had a long day asked entering the lab.

“You were late my overseer. I started to worry so I turned on the news."

“Oh did you?"

“Yes sir, now I know why." I replied approaching him. “Let me help you with that."

Normally I would have been rebuked by the self righteous indignant ram. But to my surprise he accepted my offer to help him remove his knight uniform.

“If you must." He retorted.

And so off came the body armor, the shoulder pad, wrist guards and scarf, belt and scepter. Which weren't exactly shiny clean.

“Looks like you had a tough shift." I replied collecting his items and placing them in locker on the other side of the room.

“Do you even need to ask that boy?"

“Well no..."

“Damn humans are celebrating in the streets since we lost one of our most important tools in keeping them under control."

“Isn't it just the bad actors that REALLY need watching Sir Ram?"

“If you mean the ones that seek to topple the High Evolutionary from his rule. No, all humans must be monitored. Those ones you see celebrating are not necessarily bad actors. But may be pre-bad actors and pre-rebels. I think your little mind can comprehend that."

(OUCH.)

“Yes overseer."

“Now where were we?"

“This session you were going to ensure that I had become the ultimate beta male master."

“Yes, that's right. Remove your clothing." The big horned sheep said ordering me.

I undid the white loin-cloth around my waist placing it on a chair, my nude form available for all to see.

The beastial scientist started to stand to escort me to the punishment chair. As he did he groaned.

“Sir?" I asked turning to face him.

“Remnants of my shift boy. I will have it looked at later."

“Hmm.... looks like you might have sprained something." I said running around behind him. “No it is just sore. I think I can help with that."

“Proceed."

So I started massaging his trapezius muscles. “There is a lot of tension." I replied kneading.

“Ahhh. How do you know how to do that?"

“You are not the only knight that experiences muscle soreness or is soaked in sweat. By the way, any idea how the central system was compromised?"

“As far as I can tell it was a professional job. The main system and its back ups and bypasses were all destroyed." The ram said breathing heavily.

“So it was no fly by night operation?"

“No boy. This must have been planned for weeks. Perhaps even by a new group of bad actors." The ram said placing his paw under his chin. “Ouch."

(It could be the start of another rebellion.)

“Sore shoulders and arm." I said moving from his right side to his left. “This is turning into a full body massage."

“Next you are going to want me to lie down on a table arms outstretched?"

“It would make addressing your issues a little easier, master."

“Anything to avoid the chair tonight eh Alex?"

To my shock the evil ram agreed laying down on a table on one of the upper floors of the lab. He removed what clothing he had on down to his waist. Laid face down arms outstretched.

“So what happens next?" I asked working on his upper torso.

“The central system can't be reconstructed. It will have to be rebuilt from the ground up and that will take time."

“It is a shame that you can't just go back in time, find out who did it, why they did it and stop them." I casually suggested.

“Time travel is a very complex process boy. Even if I could the black PDA's power supply has been exhausted and it would take time to find a suitable replacement."

“You mean that you had already considered that possibility master?"

“Yes." The ram grumbled as I continued working on him. “That feels divine."

“Lady Ursa loves my massages."

(Ask him Alex, ask him.)

“By the way how did the power supply become exhausted?" I said fishing for answers.

“What was that boy?"

“I mean your body is drenched in sweat master."

“Next you are going to tell me that I need to bathe." He surmised.

“Well you do kind of smell and do you want to go home to Mara like that? I suspect that you would do anything for her right?"

“I guess not." Sir Ram said rising from the table.

(CONFIRMATION!!)

I followed him through a door which led to a small shower stall just outside the lowest floor of his lab.

“Wow very convenient."

“It is boy." Sir Ram said removing the rest of his clothing. He then entered the stall and sat down on a bench. “Well?!"

“Yes master." I said entering the shower closet behind the nude ram.

(Was this actually happening? Is Sir Ram actually forgetting about our session?!)

The closet shower had a hand operated sprayer and soap foam dispenser. I took two large spritzes and started lathering the nude ram before me- I started at his shoulders, neck, back, mid-section and arms before washing them off.

Sir Ram was absolutely silent.

I then moved around to his front and did the same with his torso arms and waist. After I had cleaned those areas and rinsed him off he stood up. I got a good view of that big horned sheep's butt and groin. In all the years I had known this evil beastial, it was the first time I had ever seen him like this or had he allowed me to bathe him.

So I lathered up his rump, legs, groin and hooves getting a good look at his penis and testicles. The former was rather small.

(That explains a lot.)

When I had finished soaping him up, I used the hand sprayer to wash him clean before drying him off.

“Acceptable." He said admiring my work. “I just might incorporate this into your conditioning boy. Now let's continued."

“But, but..." I stammered.

“You didn't think I would forget about your sessions despite all this attention you were giving me did you?" He smirked wickedly.

“I was hoping that it would count as time served?" I smiled weakly. “Or maybe convince you that I had become a menial servant?"

The beastial scientist cut his eyes before escorting me out of the shower closet back to the lab and my punishment chair.

“I have some special things planned for our time together tonight boy."

“Really? I can't wait."

To Be Continued....

[MEANWHILE]

March 21st YOE 35

7:43 PM (Chaundoon)

A female naga greets the newest members of her counseling session group...

“Evening! Welcome! Welcome!" Ms. Una said to the six sand folk entering her class room that evening. “Please leave your weapons by the door and have a seat in the center there."

Uneasily the six dragon warriors entered the room. I recognized two of the six- Mathias and Mattimeo I have become familiar with the yellow and brown dragons and guards of Duchess Jua. I looked forward to meeting the red, grey, white and black dragons that were joining us this evening.

The group uneasily sat down next each other carefully studying or was it sizing up myself, Yogi, Angi, Little Gia and Tina?

“So what is this exactly?" Rainy- the black dragon asked.

He was a interesting specimen, taller than Mathias, and Mattimeo- with yellow eyes a short spike on the end of his nose, two prominent horns on the back of his head and two minor ones underneath that.

“This is group therapy for the traumatized." Raffu the white dragon seated next to him replied. “They talk about what is bothering them and their feelings."

“Basically what is bothering them and why it is bothering them." Marigold, a grey female seated next to Raffu opined.

“Yes something like that." The naga said starting her session. “Everyone here has experienced something traumatic- we as a group talk about it."

“And you find sitting down and just talking about it therapeutic?" Marja a red female sitting next to Marigold asked.

“We do." Yogi replied.

“Interesting. I prefer to just hit things." Marja replied. “But I will give this a try, if just to pacify our hosts."

“Splendid. Let's go around the room and introduce ourselves." The she snake said continuing.

The introduction was quite the ice breaker- some attending had never seen or met a yeti, dingo or a human girl who preferred to be a furry.

And so....

“The sky in the arid desert was pink that morning otherwise the day began as many others- I was mending some clothing and went to one of the village wells for some water. There was this rumbling, the ground shook, the buildings started swaying and then (gasp) they appeared." Marja said grasping the corner of her taupe colored toga.

“I was about two hundred paces from the village digging a new well when I heard the noise. They appeared out the of ground rampaging without reason, without mercy." Marigold replied gritting her teeth. “Why did the stone folk attack us?"

“What did we do to them?" Raffu added. “Why is this happen to us?"

“Why do we have to stay here? Why can't we home and rebuild?" Rainy added.

“Mathias, Mattimeo, Marja, Marigold, Raffu and Rainy. Those are valid questions with no answers I am afraid." The she snake said to the sand dragons in her classroom.

“The answer is when our leader finally decides to go on the offensive and punishes those that attacked us." Mattimeo replied.

“I think that won't be until she drops her beau." Marja added.

The sand dragon who made that comment received glares from Tina, her sister Little Gia, Angi, Yogi and myself.

“With all do respect friend. The alliance between our peoples has proven beneficial to the both of us." The young yeti replied.

“If you mean that our leader is teaching your leader how to be a leader. What was he before he was anointed? A simple meal preparer?" The female dragon asked.

“That is enough Marja." Mattimeo replied. “Forgive her the last few days have been hard on all of us."

“You mean because our world is coming apart." I said standing and addressing the seated circle around our host.

“Alex." Ms. Una said.

“It is weird- tribes that have lived in harmony with their neighbors have become aggressive for no reason." Angi replied.

“Among the other weird stuff that has been going on." Yogi added.

“And now many tribes have been uprooted from their ancestral lands as have we." Raffu added.

“Valid points all of you." The snake said to her two charges and the white sand dragon seated next to them. “I decided to hold this meeting as a form of group therapy especially for those who are having trouble adjusting to our new reality."

“I am not having a problem adjusting to the new reality- I just want those who wrecked our village and killed our own to pay!" Mathias shouted. “I want justice!"

“Sounds more like vengeance." Tina said.

“And how would you know that?" Mattimeo said looking at the female dingo.

“I have had similar feelings about the thing that conquered my world and Alex Winter for a while." The former waitress replied as her little sister looked at her and then me.

“I feel a story coming on." Mathias replied making himself comfortable. As the eyes of the other dragon warriors focused on the female canine.

“Alex ripped myself and my sister from our comfortable lives in World Four to live here in this dusty city on some planet on the other side of the universe."

“Tina you were a topless waitress at a adult night club!" I shouted.

“Any chance you could do that here? The restaurant in the central tower could use some entertainment." Raffu snickered as he was elbowed by Rainy.

“Bar and restaurant actually." The female dingo said continuing. “I enjoyed the work and the salary allowed me to live comfortably."

“What about after the empire ended?" I said crossing my arms annoyed.

“The clientele shifted." Tina said blushing as the audience moved in closer around her.

“Yeah from those who had free will to meat puppets of the conquerer who wouldn't let you join their exclusive club." I replied cutting my eyes.

“Despite my repeated begging to become an Other." Tina admitted.

The female dingo had really captured the attention in the room.

“I met Alex on three occasions, before the fall, afterwards and then a few months after that." The she dingo continued.

“I recall that you were living in a converted business park among the possessed but not one of them." I said taking over her story."

“And you were ONE of them what of it?" She shot back.

“You mean it wasn't the best living situation..." I replied throwing in some more comments.

“This is my story can I tell it?" She growled at me.

(YIKES!)

“Despite being an Other, Alex for some reason decided to look out for me and Gia. Months later he returned claiming he had freed himself from the conquerer and he and his colony were leaving and we were coming with him; he forcibly took us from the planet. I was angry at Him, very angry. For months I hated and despised him. In time I realized that I was just looking for someone to blame."

“And now dear?" Ms. Una asked.

“I realized that he was right our life on Conquered Counter Earth wasn't a life at all; there wasn't any stability or order- that is not what I wanted for Gia. As for Chaundoon, there is something different about this world. It is primitive- but pure, calmer and less chaotic. The natives are friendly and there is a sense of family and community." The dingo said looking at the six sand dragons in the room.

“And you no longer have to reveal your breasts as a condition of employment." I teased as the she beast punched me in my arm hard as everyone laughed.

8:20 PM Just outside of World Seven...

“Stop who goes there?" T'hoka said challenging a humaniod looking insect who approached the city's check point.

*BUZZ* *BUZZ*

“Who are you and why are you here?" Tanya asked.

*BUZZ* *BUZZ*

The being that approached had a thin body, long legs, long arms, four wings and a elongated snout with a sharp point.

“Arie what is that?" The mountain reed buck asked a female sand dragon who was stationed with them.

“It is a blood fly."

“A blood fly? It looks like a giant mosquito." The mountain reed buck replied.

“Is it dangerous?" The doe asked.

“Tanya, T'hoka don't get too close."

“What is your business here? Have you come to visit the infirmary?" The barbarian deer asked- his paw on his sword's heel.

The humanoid mosquito said nothing but pointed to the sky behind it.

The three warriors watched a dark cloud move in over the horizon.

“It's a swarm!!!" Tanya shouted.

8:22 PM Ms. Una's classroom...

“Well there was stability, but now it is coming undone." Yogi said snapping everyone back to reality. “What is causing it?"

“How do we fix it?" Angi added as the rest of the group looked on.

“What if it can't be fixed?" Rainy asked.

“What if it doesn't end? I heard there was a 90 year incursion on your planet." Raffu asked piling on.

“I trust our leaders. They will figure out what is going on and how to stop it." The dingo said smiling."

“What matters now is that despite the chaos going on out there, we are safe here." The she naga replied as the building shook.

“A ground shake?" Yogi asked.

*THUMP* *THUMP*

“This area is not known to suffer from ground shakes." Marja replied as an air siren was heard.

“Has the chaos has come to our door?" Angi asked calmly.

The former faux beagle received her answer in the form of a mountain reed buck sailing right across the classroom from its entrance and hitting the far wall.

“WAAAARGGG!"

“T'hoka what is the meaning of this?" The she snake asked as her counseling session was interrupted.

“The city is being invaded!!!" The barbarian shouted.

(What the?!)

“WARRIORS ASSEMBLE!!!" Mattiemo shouted.

No sooner than they did, T'hoka's assailant appeared in the doorway.

It was a large upright walking monster mosquito or that is what is appeared to be to my eyes.

“Were under attack!" Mathias shouted grabbing his weapon and running to confront the invader.

I watched as the five dragon warriors reached for their weapons and charged at the invader pushing it out of the class room. The sixth stood guard over Little Gia, Tina, Yogi, Angi, Ms. Una and myself.

“Alex we got this, get everyone to safety." Mattimeo ordered.

Angi, Yogi, Tina and Little Gia were traumatized at the unfolding events.

“Ms. Una- I enjoyed this." Marigold said joining her fellow warriors. “Let's do it again next week... if there is a next week."

“You guys alright?" I said walking up to them.

“They will be alright." The snake lady said putting her arms around Angi and Yogi.

Tina, Little Gia and myself then went to check on the junior knight.

“Will you look at that welt." Tina said kneeling.

“It looks like he has been stung." I replied. “He has lost a lot of blood."

“WAUG." The male deer moaned.

“T'hoka you have been injured. We have to get you to the infirmary." I ordered him.

“Everyone we are going to make our way to the central tower." Ms. Una announced. Angi, Tina, Yogi assist Alex. Little Gia you are with me."

On the streets there was a full on battle as the knight core and the sand folk fought the invading swarm.

“For the duchess' honor!" Mathias said charging a creature who swatted him to the ground before impaling him with its stinger.

“Alex... look out!" The knight warned.

*SWACK*

“Nice hit T'hoka." Angi replied watching the large insect being split in two.

*UGH*

“Everyone follow me!" The she naga replied.

I so wanted to join the fight, but I had responsibilities.

I quickly guided, Ms. Una, Yogi, Angi, Gia and Tina through the side streets and back alleys to the central tower. As we made our way, the magnitude of the situation became apparent.

The city was under assault. We watched as Tanya, Linias and Sandu were fighting these monster mosquitos on the streets of the city.

The scorpion boy with his trident seemed to be holding his own. The fire lizard was spiting flames at the swarm, Tanya was slicing every thing that dared to come near her with an impromptu blade.

This reminded me of some type of locust plague. There were so many of them.

“We are being overun!!" Yogi screamed.

VARROOOMMM!!!

The red prototype drove up to our position. I watched as each side-pod emerged from the chassis of the coupe.

*SPLUT*

*SPLUT*

*SPLUT*

This viscous white guck launched from both tubes covering the attackers causing them to crash land violently.

*Gluay, Meena some of the attackers have been neutralized.* Roadie announced.

“And you thought installing a glue canon would be impractical." The male meerkat said to the his female companion.

“It was a good idea, but on a limited number of enemies."

“Alright let's move on to plan B. Meena engage hover mode. Roadie let's light them up!" Gluay announced.

*Flame thrower engaged.*

The hover vehicle took to the sky strafing the swarm hard roasting and toasting the giant insects in its path. Burnt corpses started to fall from the sky.

That was the motivation our defenders needed.

“DRIVE TEHM BACK!" The black dragon from our session announced as he and several others exhaled hard making a makeshift sand storm hindering the attackers.

11:20 PM The infirmary....

“You should head home Alex and get some sleep." Nezera said trying to nudge me toward the door.

“But the wounded!" I protested.

“We will still be patching up the injured when you relieve us in the morning." Our boss announced to me.

Shaman Psi nodded as well. So that meant Shakara, myself and Lilly Blossom were going to be busy come the morning.

“Greetings Nezera, Penny, Psi, Alex." A white dragoness said entering the infirmary. She was followed by a bandaged red dragon.

“King Dragon, Duchess Jua." The penguin said startled.

“What are you doing here this late?" I asked the power couple.

“Checking up on the wounded little buddy." Sorren said. “It is something us leaders are supposed to do."

“Linias, Sandu, T'hoka, Mathias and Mattimeo are recovering from insect stings." The grey bat said. “As is half the knight core and dragon warriors."

“But most importantly the invasion was halted." The grey bare chested dragon shaman announced.

“Thank you for all your efforts everyone." Sorren said wheezing. “As I suspected we are stronger together."

“Alex, walk with us." Jua ordered.

“Yes your majesties."

The leader of the sand folk was wearing a white toga which made her look rather regal and radiant. Sorren on the other hand... well at least he wasn't dressed in shorts and tee-shirt.

I waved good bye to my colleagues in medical and followed the two dragons into the hallway outside.

“Our combined forces performed spectacularly this evening defending our home." King Dragon announced.

“I feel a but is coming." I said walking beside the couple.

“The attack was a diversion." The dragoness announced.

“For what?"

“Umebo was freed." Sorren said.

“So this was planned...."

I spent some time speaking with both rulers before heading home. I was greeted at the door by a exhausted brown bear. A male one.

“Freckled boy looks like how Boris feels."

“Hey big bear, how was your evening?" I asked.

“Boris was collecting bodies of walking mosquitoes from all over city."

“That was nuts." I replied greeting him with a hug.

“I was in medical treating the injured." I replied as Shakara appeared from upstairs.

“Shh!! you two Beatrice is sleeping."

“Where is pretty lady bear?"

“She is in a meeting with knight command about the attack." The red eyed lioness replied.

“Most likely reviewing the city's defenses and how they responded to the attack. I guess we should call it a night." I said yawning.

“Boris agrees." The he bear said stretching as he did, he found that he had been grabbed by a freckled human and red eyed lioness.

“Huh?"

“Big cutie won't be back anytime soon." Shakara said making that broad feline grin of hers.

“That's right we could use a stand in." I said matching that grin.

“Bed is so soft." The bear with the v-shaped birth mark said. “Boris unsure about communal nudity though."

“Lady Ursa's rules no clothing within her chambers." I scooching in from his right

“Mmm... this is nice. Sometimes just having someone to cuddle is the most important thing in the world." My devious person said while making sure Boris' paw was cupping her bottom just right.

But instead of foreplay and seduction the conversation meandered toward the events of the evening.

“Does little freckled boy or red eyed lioness know why walking mosquitoes attacked city?"

“The leadership thinks it was a distraction to rescue Umebo." I replied. “Which seemed to indicate that there is some central intelligence to all this. Could it be ONE perhaps?"

“Alex and Shakara were possessed by entity at one time correct?" The bear with the v shaped birthmark on his chest asked.

Shakara and I both nodded.

“Was invasion by swarm caused by entity that destroyed Counter Earth?"

“No, I don't believe so." Shakara said resting her head on Boris' left shoulder. “I took a few scans from the monster mosquitoes that survived the botched invasion and compared it Mathias and the bird creature's scans Alex took."

“What did you find Shakara?"

“They were similar. It seems like there is an intelligence behind this and it can control the creatures of this world- but I don't think it is ONE." She said as she started rubbing Boris' belly.

“Why do you say that?" I asked my lioness.

“No goofy grin or the chanting and the motive seems different."

“So whatever it is can take control of Chaundoon fauna but what about us?" The brown bear asked.

“Unknown. We are going to have to find out why and soon though." Shakara said as her paw moved from Boris tummy to focus on his groin.

Boris gasped as his boy bits were suddenly grasped.

“Hmm... these haven't been used in a while." She said massaging his scrotum.

“Lioness can tell?"

“Boris, she works in medical, she CAN tell." I replied. “They are rather large aren't they?"

Shakara continued to feel up my mistress breeding partner before offering her medical analysis. “He hasn't ejaculated in some time."

“Not even masturbated either big bear?" I teased. “That isn't good in the long run. It could lead to jizz build up." I said quantifying my devious person's analysis.

“It is my duty as your healer to rectify that." The horny lioness said with a gleam in her eye.

Before Boris could object he found his penis had been lubed, himself pinned and penetrating the horny lioness. I guided his paws to caress her breasts while she stroked him with her inner hand.

“And remember to call our her name when you..."

“OH SHAKARA!!!" He groaned as he ejaculated.

(He remembered.)

Boris soon fell into a deep sleep after he blew his load into my devious person.

“So how was it?" I whispered as she laid her head just below his birth mark on his chest.

“Simply wonderful."

“No, how WAS it?" I asked again.

“He is small but he MADE up for it." She said grinning.

“How many?"

“Fourteen ropes, thick and gooey ropes. He really needed that."

“Yeah he did." I said looking at him, sleeping like a new born cub.

Shakara slept atop Boris who had fallen asleep inside her. The horny lioness had been after that bear for a while and she finally got him. I wasn't neglected for long either as my fierce ursine warrior came home a few hours later and seduced me. The four of us huddling together.

I said it before and I will say it again. We are a blended family- but despite that, there is a lot of love in our home.

March 22nd YOE 35

That morning the king and duchess had an emergency meeting with the colony council and reviewed the events of the previous evening. Basil, Shira and Gia's planning had gotten the city through its latest crisis. Now what remained was healing the wounded and cleaning up World Seven of blood fly corpses.

Shakara, Lilly Blossom and myself relived Penny, Psi and Nezera in the infirmary. I was planning on seeing if there were any long term effects from being stung by the mosquitoes- but the King, Duchess and Knight Command had other plans...

8:00 AM King's Throne Room...

“...we will keep at least two maybe three of the prototypes here to guard the city..." Chemar announced to the two monarchs.

“I want the knights to establish patrols for the tribes nearby, to document what is going on, ward off attacks and to help those in need." King Dragon said sounding very kingie.

“There should be a rotation, each patrol will consist of a three person team two warriors and a medic." The duchess said piling on.

“That sounds like a plan." Chemar said.

“Morning your majesties, Chemar." I said entering the throne room. “Am I late?"

“No just on time Mr. Winter." Duchess Jua replied. “We are sending out a patrol to see if any of the nearby tribes were affected by the blood flies."

“That is officially. Unofficially this away team will be looking for Umebo." Chemar said looking at me.

“Um, okay."

“You will be part of the patrol." King Dragon said bouncing his eyebrows at me.

“Me?"

“You are a field medic are you not Mr. Winter?" Duchess Jua asked staring me down.

“And a specialist in hostile environments." Chemar said throwing me under the bus.

“My, most impressive qualifications." The leader of the sand folk said.

“The away team is departing in 30 minutes." King Dragon announced.

8:30 AM Central Hanger....

“And here we are little cutie." Shakara said as she finished escorting me to the garage where the hover vehicles were stored. “I hope you have an adventurous day serving with the knights."

I looked at those red eyes and that warm feline grin.

“And you have a nice and safe shift in medical with Lilly Blossom away from all the crazy out there." I said hugging her. “It tends to find its way here one way or another."

“Well you tend to find yourself in incredible situations and circumstances. It is just a Alex Winter thing. Just make sure you come back in one piece and alive." She said hugging me.

“Affirmative. I have a lioness and three bears to look after." With that I entered the garage.

As I did, I noticed that the blue coupe and its away team had already departed most likely guarding the city perimeter. The red and silver prototypes were still parked as well as Attack Beast.

“Good morning Wheels, Roadie, Feleen." I said greeting the automated assistants.

*Good morning Mr. Winter.* The three said in unison.

“So which one of you will I be taking on patrol?"

*That would be me Alex. The silver and red prototypes will be used for the city's defenses.* Feleen replied happily.

*The meerkats made some improvements to Attack Beast's weaponry as well. So they want it out in the field.* Wheels announced.

“So myself and the away team will be the guinea pigs for the meerkats new tech eh?"

“Rightly so." I heard a voice come in from behind me.

“Chemar!"

“Surprise." The cheetah said greeting me. “We are just waiting for one more."

As the mid-grade knight said that in walked our third member. A she dragon slightly shorter than myself. Grey eyes, white scales, two small white horns on her head, black short shirt, black bottom wear, yellow bandana, bandages around her foot-paws which must be equivalent of sneakers or sandals for the sand folk.

Her shirt did not entirely reach her mid section leaving her belly for all to see. She carried what looked liked to be two small rods and a red pouch fastened to a brown belt around her waist.

“You are Chemar mid-level knight of World Seven and You are Alex medic. I am Ripple of her majesty's defense force."

She looked cute.

*My you will make an interesting traveling companion indeed.*

“Who said that?" Ripple said looking at Chemar and then myself.

*I did.*

The white dragon turned to the black utility vehicle. “Did that tool just speak?"

“Yes. That is Feleen, an automated assistant. Think of her as an additional companion." I said cheerfully.

“That is just... just wow. You outer worlders' weapons are astounding! The planet you came from must have been a place of wonders!!"

“That is one way of looking at it." Chemar replied.

“In reality we just had more sophisticated tools like using a bow and arrow instead of slingshot." I replied checking my scanner.

“Or you using that instead potions." The she dragon replied.

*If you like I can give you an overview Ms. Ripple.*

“I want to know everything... are you part of this device or is it part of you?" The white sand dragon asked.

The three of us sat down within the cab of the utility vehicle and made our way out of the garage and out of the city. Chemar drove, I sat in the passenger seat and Ripple was between the two of us looking at the fennec fox on the single monitor in the middle of the dashboard framed by buttons.

*Ok let's start with module one what are automated assistants, sentinels and virtual beings?*

We traveled on some trails leading away from the city. When the terrain became impassable for travel we took to the sky while Ripple continued her training.

9:40 AM...

The suns had just started to rise as Chemar landed the utility vehicle a few miles south of the city to keep watch. The terrain was flat, but punctuated by spiked rocks that looked like stalactites jutting up from the ground in all directions.

“These rock formations are quite unique- like we are in a cave but not." The cheetah observed.

“Yeah." I replied. “Chaundoon has a mysterious beauty all its own."

“How goes Ripple's training?"

“I think Feleen is instructing her about Attack Beast offensive and defensive capability."

“What is that module sixteen?" Chemar asked scanning the horizon.

“No six." I replied.

“It is going to be a long shift." The mid-level knight sighed as one of the rock structures in the distance started moving. Then another and another.

“Chemar."

“I see it." He said motioning me back to the cab of the utility vehicle.

“This vehicle is heavily armed." Ripple exclaimed as the cheetah and I sat down on either side of her.

She watched the knight press a button to the upper left of the monitor. Instantaneously the hood of the utility vehicle slid over the windshield and the front grill dropped forward revealing the weapon launchers.

“Hmm?"

“We have something." Chemar said solemnly.

“I also would recommend activating the weapons turret as well." Ripple replied.

*She is a fast learner.* Feleen replied.

The three of us watched as something made its way toward our location.

“It is a shame this vehicle doesn't have a surveillance probe. We could use it right now." I replied.

“I would settle for a working comms system. If whatever we are seeing is hostile we have no way of communicating that to the city or other patrols we are essentially on our own." The knight replied.

“Feleen place the image from the forward camera on screen and magnify." Ripple ordered.

*Acknowledged*.

The beings approaching our location appeared to be indistinguishable from the rock structures in front of us except that they were walking... and crabs... walking rock crabs. The two approaching us were easily the size of attack beast, they had six legs, two pincers yellow eyes, sharp teeth and spiked heads.

“More stone folk?" I asked.

“Are they hostile?" Chemar asked.

*Good questions.*

“Not stone folk." Ripple said crawling over me “Riku."

“Ripple?"

She did not acknowledge me at all as she opened the door passenger door hopped out and stepped out in front of Attack Beast. She then took the two rods that she had on either wrist slammed them together forming a spiked javelin.

“Ripple?" Chemar asked right after me.

The she dragon did not acknowledge any of us and ran to attack the lead rock crab who recoiled in fear.

*Ripple what are you doing?*

“Attacking!" Chemar said as he drew his sword and ran after her.

In the next moment their weapons met.

*CLANG*

“Ripple stand down!" The knight ordered. His order was ignored.

Back in the cab of the utility vehicle I started trying to find Attack Beast's non-lethal weaponry.

Nope, nope well there was no glue canon.

(Screw this!)

“Feleen distract Ripple. I am going to help Chemar." I ordered the fennec sentinel.

*Ms. Ripple Would You Please Stand Down.* Feleen shouted over the PA system.

“Something is wrong!" The cheetah said as he met her javelin with his sword.

*CLANG* *CLANG*

“Chemar, keep her distracted just a little while longer..."

*spray* *spray*

The sand dragon groaned and fell to the ground dropping her javelin which separated back into two rods.

“What did you?"

“Hypo spray. It was the quickest way to incapacitate her."

“Alex I think what ever is out here started affecting her- it was like she was in a trance."

“Just like the stone folk and the blood flies that attacked last night." I said running the triangular scanner over her."

“It's the crazy."

Chemar and I looked back to the larger of the rock crab creatures.

We questioned the two crabs who turned out to be mother and child who had heard about the infirmary in World Seven and were on they way there after they had been similarly driven from their territory.

I looked at the both of the creature's injuries. The child was missing two of its legs. As for the mother she had one of her pincers shattered defending her young one.

“There is nothing I can do here. They both are going to need reconstructive surgery."

I wrote a note for the guards back at the city to notify Lilly Blossom and Shakara and immediately usher them into the infirmary when they arrive at World Seven. Chemar on the other paw questioned the mother in detail about her injuries.

A short time later....

“Ugg, what happened?" Ripple asked stirring.

“What is the last thing you remember?" I asked her.

“We were watching a mother Riku and her child approach our position and then... then... nothing until now."

“You don't remember jumping over me to attack them?" I asked.

“No."

“Well you did. It was like you were another person. It was weird and scary."

“Have your people ever had dealings with the Riku?" The cheetah asked.

“They used to inhabit our territory and our ancestors took it as their own when their ancestors vacated it."

I traded glances with the mid-level knight- the crazy as the mother Riku called it was indiscriminate of who it affected and for how long.

“Alex, Chemar where are we going?" Ripple asked as she realized we were no longer three miles outside of the city.

“Following up on a lead." The cheetah said quietly.

“That mother and child were violently attacked." I said adding my voice to the conversation.

*Perhaps there is more that are in need of assistance.* Feleen said as the terrain we were flying over gave way to a forest of petrified double trees.

How do I even describe this? Similar to duplex housing, each tree had its twin right next to it. The one on the left was in bloom with leaves while the one on the right seemed to not to be. Like an spring and fall combo right in front of us.

The whole landscape of the forest was like this. In between these trees were numerous streams providing sustenance.

Once again we were reminded of the unique beauty of this world which was now our home.

“Wow, that is impressive." The chetah said bringing the utility vehicle to a full stop.

*The golden sunshine really brings out the color.*

“I love golden mornings." The white dragon replied crawling over me to exit the utility vehicle.

“I have come to appreciate them as well." I replied joining her.

“This is where they had said the attack happened." Chemar said exiting Attack Beast. He looked around a few trees trying to find some sign of a fight or struggle.

*Could the mother Riku been lying?*

“It is at times like this, I wish you had the surveillance capabilities of the other prototypes Feleen."

“I suggest we spread out." Ripple replied.

“Feleen." I warned.

**I will be at the ready.* *

The three of us watched the utility vehicle switch to defense mode as we spread out from it. Chemar to the left while I followed the sand dragon to the right.

She immediately focused on something as we walked behind a particularly large tree.

“Found something?"

“Yes two legs." The sand dragon said kneeling. “I guess we now know where the attack happened- Alex."

“HELP!!!"

“It came from over there!" I said as I started running.

“Alex wait! Hey Chemar!" Ripple shouted.

Knowing this was the site of a fight I rushed to the sound of those in need. On the other side of the forest I found three beings.

Best described as barbarians. They appeared to be what looked like this planet's version of a lion, leopard, tiger and jaguar all rolled into one. They had long hair, wore red bandanas, had leather wrist and leg bands, furry animal shawls on their shoulders and wore animal teeth necklaces. The largest of the three carried a huge club like weapon and little else. By that I mean they were stark naked; their penises and ball sacks were on display for all to see.

“Um, did someone need help?" I asked as Chemar and Ripple caught up to me.

“Why yes some one does need help." The largest of the three replied. “You."

No sooner had the words escaped his lips I was grabbed from behind in a crushing bearhug. My arms were pinned at my sides. I tried to struggle but the grip was so tight I couldn't move. I felt hot breath on my neck as I struggled to breathe- my attacker held me so tight I started blacking out from lack of air.

“RELEASE HIM!" Ripple growl ordered as she connected the two rods in her possession forming that javelin.

“MAKE ME." I heard a heavy voice behind me utter as I passed out.

To Be Continued....