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Counter Earth Chronicles - Fallen Empire

Chapter 81: The Nightmares We Want The Most To Wake Up From (Embracing Demons Part VI)

Day 185 (Continued. 9:54 AM World One)

“Oy! That structure is impressive. What do you suppose it is?" The amphibian scientist asked.

“I don't know." My bear knight said.

*It looks like a disguised space-ship.* The automated assistant speculated.

“It is the synoptic's plan realized built upon the ruins our former home." I said pushing the third toggle switch on the weapons console.

Claudius watched as the copilot monitor and keyboard appeared from the glove box. I took control of the front mounted camera on the nose of the blue coupe and zoomed in on the structure.

“Mistress how could this even be possible?! It has only been seven months!" I shouted.

“Such things are possible when there is no opposition Alex."

*What Lady Ursa means is that the destruction of World One was complete. With no opposition to oppose them, the walkers disposed of the remains of those who perished in the conflagration, cleared the rubble, debris, probably the remaining structures and constructed what you see below.*

“That is remarkable." Claudius said.

“This was most likely the plan for Worlds Two, Three and Four before ONE ran into difficulties." My pregnant she beast added.

“So our care clinic mission has failed?" I asked as Claudius and I studied the footage.

“Computer are there any structures from the former city remaining?" The fish guy asked.

*I am sorry Sir you are not authorized.*

“Overwatch overlay a surface map of Word One with what we are presently seeing now."

**Affirmative Lady Ursa.* *

The prototype flew to the south of the new structure.

“NO IT CAN'T BE!!" I said looking back and forth with the map overlay on the upper left monitor and the image on my monitor from the camera on the nose of the prototype.

“What?" The amphibian next to me said.

“This was where Castle Wundagore stood, our home. There is nothing left but a mound of dirt!"

My fierce ursine warrior was in disbelief too. She flew northward to the World One museum where I had met Shakara and the Madam, then the theater district where I had dined at the World's Finest Restaurant, then the Remembrance Museum, The Wild's Restaurant, Counter Earth Cosmetics, The basement, Bess and Tess' school, all these locations had been erased from the surface of the planet. In their place dirt, gravel and grass.

“But it has only been seven months!!!" I shouted.

*It appears the only thing that survived were the lakes and parks where dissidents, separatists and rebels protested and where that gang of nagas were turned into trees.* The automated assistant said as I and my perfect person gasped. That was just beyond my comprehension.

(How could all of that have happened in just seven months?!)

“It is true, the slate has been erased and wiped completely clean." Fish face said.

“Our mission is a complete and utter failure." I said in shock. "There isn't anyone to treat."

“We were too late." Lady Ursa echoed me.

“Fear not my friends. You can still help me with my mission- to find my dearest fossa." Claudius said pressing a button on the stylus which displayed a hologram image of Ida.

“Really?" I replied.

“That vulture we separated from the collective said she had been relocated here- since there are no other structures around, she has to be in that one."

The sole building in World One was a irregular shaped structure not quite rectangular, or square but looked like many designs coming together into a single unit. I did notice that the roof was level and it had circular tower in the center that made it look really distinctive. It bore a remarkable resemblance to an indoor shopping mall from my planet, but a very large one with several wings and corridors.

“Madam knight you can land on the roof." Claudius said.

“And what?" My pregnant she beast asked.

“I am going to locate Ida's whereabouts in that structure and retrieve her."

(Very overconfident.)

“You set one foot inside that structure and you will indeed be with your fossa forever and ever and ever. Not to mention compromise Jessie and Devon's operations in World Four."

“Overwatch what is the status of the holo-projector?" I asked the automated assistant.

*Functioning at 100%. We appear to be just a white cloud in the red sky Mr. Winter.*

“Claudius Lady Ursa and I would stand a better chance at locating and retrieving Ida."

“Because you are former Others?"

“Exactly right." My perfect person added.

“Besides I am quite curious as to what that thing is down there that replaced what was here before." I added.

“Very well, take this." Claudius said handing me the stylus.

“The separator?"

“Place this in front of your target, press the button here. A flash will occur and what was once ONE with will become two." Fish face said.

“How many times can this device be used Claudius?" Lady Ursa said as she landed the prototype.

“The previous version three times. But this device is self recharging so- it should be more than that."

“Overwatch contact Feleen. Tell her to relay the following message to Commander Rhinox and Lady Barq: Alex and I have arrived in World One and discovered the synoptic has reconfigured what was left of the city into a singular structure. We are investigating."

*Acknowledged I would strongly recommend using the microprobes.*

“Microprobes huh?" The amphibian scientist asked.

“Small surveillance probes used on reconnasense missions." My mistress said.

“Their range is rather short." I added.

“But it would allow me to see what you see." Claudius said smiling as I face palmed.

“Overwatch keep him safe." I said deactivating the copilot monitor and keyboard. “And you stay inside the prototype at all times and don't do anything stupid."

“Overwatch once we are inside bring up the feed of our probes. Maintain communication silence unless I tell you otherwise." Lady Ursa said.

*Affirmative.*

I looked at my warrior bear and she at me. We nodded at each other as we exited the blue coupe and made our way toward the circular tower on the roof of the structure.

“This is quite beautiful." My she beast said admiring the workmanship. “The very top of the tower looks like Diana's sun hat and its neck leading to the rest of the structure is comprised of all glass."

“Like it is some type of observation or lookout tower." I whispered.

If it was some type of warning tower it wasn't occupied. From where we were on the roof we found a stairwell leading downward. My bear and I entered curious to see what was inside. It terminated at a hotel lobby with a distinctive orb chandelier, cushy furniture, a bar and a circular service desk in the center of the room that was manned by a female anteater who was wearing a sparkling white dress with black highlights.

"Welcome to the Diamond City Hotel." The female beastial said greeting the wallaby couple. "So how long do you THINK you will be staying?"

“Um gee, I don't know. This place looks expensive." A mostly grey male said looking at the decadence of the lobby.

“Honey, it is rough out there." His female companion said chiding him.

“Your lady friend speaks the truth. Here in the Diamond City you will find all that you need or could possibly ever want. You will have a hard time deciding on the numerous activities and entertainment options we have to offer. In fact we feel you will also have a hard time leaving."

“I still don't know." The grey marsupial said.

“Well take a look around then, we have several eateries and bars for the discerning traveler. There is also an in-house masseuse if you are in need of one."

“Thank you, we will do that." The grey wallaby said as he and his lady left the lobby.

“You are welcome hail the synoptic." The anteater said.

“What is this place?" I whispered.

“From the sounds of it some sort of great entertainment destination." My warrior bear responded.

“But for who?"

“Let's look around Alex."

Carefully and quietly we departed the hotel lobby trailing the wallaby couple. We watched as they entered a foyer stopping to study a translucent map before walking onto a tiled corridor that appeared to have boutique shops on the left and right only they weren't. What appeared to be the entrance to a storefront was the entrance to a park, the storefront across from it was forest. Opposite that grasslands. Opposite that hills and uplands leading to a stream.

“Wait, what?" I said looking at the next storefront. It was an entrance to a beach with a large lake in the distance.“How is this even possible?! Is this some type of holo-projection?"

My mistress took my hand. Carefully we looked up and down the corridor. The wallaby couple had moved on, so we decided to enter the storefront that contained the park.

My she beast led me down a paved walkway to a wooden bridge over a babbling brook. Nearby there was a gazebo, a rock sculpture and even a few park tables for visitor usage.

“This is a pretty convincing simulation mistress." I remarked as my pregnant brown bear inhaled deeply. “The sky is even almost normal."

“No Alex." She said stepping over the bridge to kneel at the stream. She then dropped her paw into the water. Three orange fish swam by casually looking at the bear paw that had invaded their domain. “It is real."

We proceeded on the pathway for a little while longer trying to see if this whatever it was had some type of boundary.

“You two enjoying the park?" A beaver who was cleaning a sign nearby asked.

“Yes." My warrior bear said staring at him briefly.

“You will find a multitude of trees here from ash, birch, maple, pine, sycamore to oak and even weeping willow. Please enjoy yourselves. Hail, the synoptic." He said moving on.

“Um right, hail the synoptic." I replied watching him pack up his cleaning tools and move on. There was that peculiar stare with the goofy grin the entity's vessels had. He seemed to be mouthing something else as he departed.

(The winter?)

“Diamond City Regional Park." My perfect person said reading the sign.

“Duh what? You mean there is more?"

“We should go pet looks like the weather is taking a turn." She said grabbing my hand as some storm clouds appeared to be moving in on the orange sky.

Up ahead the pathway branched into a left and right path. We decided to take the path on the right which took us through a thick forest and eventually back into the corridor where we exited out of another 'storefront' opposite the one we had entered.

“Didn't we enter the park over there?" Lady Ursa asked.

“And we exited from the forest here." I said pointing. “Incredible."

“Let's try the beach next." My warrior bear suggested.

“Um, ok."

We walked to the next 'storefront' skipping by the ones containing grasslands, prairies, deserts, mountains, arctic and jungle.

We soon found ourselves on the beach overlooking a large lake that extended to the horizon. There were also visitors as well, there was a young skunk playing in the water. His parents appeared to be relaxing on the beach. Next to them two human women laying face down on multi-colored towels sunbathing. Oh and they were both nude.

“This is incredible." I said sitting right down there on the sand. “I feel like we are really here."

“It seems like we are." She said running her paw through the sand. “This reminds me of that beach we stopped off at after the completion of our mission in World Three that time."

“You mean the one where we walked along the shoreline in the nude?" I added as three red pandas ran by frolicking. They kicked sand onto us.

“Whoa, hey!" I shouted.

“Sorry." The three said in unison. They had that same dopey stare with the goofy grin as the many of the entities minions do. They also seemed to mouth off something to each of themselves after they ran by. I tried to read their lips. The winter?

(What did that mean? It is the middle of summer.)

“Was this the entity's goal for all of the five cities Alex?" My female beastial asked as a spider creature walked by- the torso on upward was humanoid. From that point downward was a spider body complete with the eight legs.

“It is hard to say mistress, before my transformation I was shown a vision of a crystal city. But it looked nothing like this. I even participated in the construction of whatever ONE was building in World Five but I did not see it through to its completion. Again it was nothing like this so called Diamond City."

“Hmm…" My she beast said pensively.

“This reminds me of that space station the entity took over from the horse like creatures it conquered."

“It looked like this?" My pregnant perfect person asked looking around at the sudden attention we seemed to be drawing.

“A self contained world within a world." I said as my bear grabbed my hand and we left the beach returning to the interior of the corridor.

“Overwatch this is Ursa." My she beast said staring at her communicator.

*Yes Lady Ursa.*

“Are you recording what we are seeing?"

*As much as I am capable of.* The automated assistant said.

“We saw the interior of the hotel and the corridor but that was when the signal from the microprobes you were wearing started to fade." Claudius said. “I did see what looked like boutique stores comprising many different environments."

“Not boutiques, they were environments organized to resemble stores. Hey, how is it that you were able to talk to us?! I thought you weren't authorized?" I asked the amphibian scientist.

“I convinced Overwatch. I can be quite persuasive if I need to be." Fish face responded.

*Indeed.*

“Did you find Ida yet?"

“Negative. The design of this structure is very misleading." The bear said to the amphibian.

“How?"

“It is quite larger than it appears on the outside and we have only begun to explore this structure." My she beast responded.

“I hope you don't have anywhere else to be, this is going to take some time." I warned him.

“Keep at it, she has to be in there somewhere."

*She is Mr. Price but where?*

“What other surveillance capabilities does this blue vehicle possess?"

*I am sorry you are not authorized to know nor to access any systems.*

“What did you say computer?" The fish guy asked.

*Recognized Senior Scientist Claudius Price of the World Four Resistance. Access granted.* Overwatch said.

(WHAT?!)

“I will continue to work back here, I will let you know what I come up with. Ending transmission."

“He is a slippery one indeed." Lady Ursa said as we continued down the corridor. We passed many more 'storefronts' catering to even more wilderness environments.

“That location is in front of a massive waterfall! Simply, beautiful!" As we abruptly stopped walking and I smacked into my bear. “What gives?"

“That pet."

I peeked out from behind her. This wing of the Diamond City terminated at an amusement park.

“Remarkable!" I exclaimed.

There was a tall giant wheel, roller coasters, spinning rides, swinging rides, lifting rides of all shapes, sizes, and colors. There were even games and midway attractions.

“This place rivals Harbor Place in World Five." Lady Ursa exclaimed.

“Shall we investigate?" I asked holding her paw. She looked at me. “Well we are on a mission right? Leave no stone unturned."

We made our way to the main entrance which were a series of yellow booths about eight in total.

“Welcome to Diamond City Amusement Park." A female ape said greeting us at the ticket window.

“How much is admission?" I asked her.

“Oh it is free. Stay part of the morning, all morning or the whole day. You will never want to leave. Hail the synoptic."

“Hail the…." I said as I was pulled away from the booth.

“Mistress?"

“At the booth behind the one we were in…. I saw Six!!"

“So she survived eh?"

My bear nodded.

(That is some good news.)

We decided to explore the midway. We walked by a hanging swings ride all the chairs on it were full. I noted the riders seemed to be eyeing us curiously mouthing something to themselves.

“This ride could be deemed offensive." My lady bear said.

“The swings?"

“No pet that." She said pointing.

“The carousel? Oh, I see the various pack animals figures patrons can sit on- horses, camels, ponies, mules and even several non-pack animals."

“If you came from that type of environment before becoming a beastial…"

“Yeah I can see how that could be offensive. But rest assured I do not need a carousel to ride you my perfect person."

I got a smirk out of her with that remark.

“What is the highest point in here Alex?"

“That would be either the gondola ride there or the big wheel over there."

Given our past history with large rotating wheels, this time we opted for the gondola ride which took park patrons from one side of the amusement park to the other.

The line was fast moving, it was thanks to the ride operators two zebras who were quick to load and unload the passengers in quick succession.

“Enjoy the ride." The female who was dressed in a grey shirt and pants said opening the door.

“Hail the synoptic." Her colleague a male zebra said buckling us in said. He then closed the door to the ride.

“Yeah that too." I said smiling.

“The winter!" The two zebras said in unison.

The gondola lifted off from the far end of the park supported on two tethered lines. As it reached its apex Lady Ursa and I received a spectacular view.

“Corbin would have loved it here!"

“Would that be before after he became of the ONE pet?"

“Valid point mistress. Hey you notice we seem to be the center of attention?" I said observing that the riders two sergals in the gondola in front were staring right at Lady Ursa and myself.

I looked at the gondola behind me and an antelope and lemur were staring at us as well.

“It is not us Alex, it is you." Lady Ursa said pointing at the crowd below who had stopped what they had been doing- all and were staring right at us.

“The winter."

“The winter."

“The winter."

“I don't get it mistress the beastials in the park and those at the beach were saying the same thing, it is the middle of summer."

“No Alex, they are referring to you. I was afraid of this. The entity has the hots for you; it wants you back and will pursue you until you are back in the fold."

“Damn, I am a liability to the mission." I pouted. “Mistress, we are going to have to split up."

“Pet?"

“Because of me we have been compromised. You noticed that despite what happened in World Four yesterday, you have been ignored by them. You must complete the mission."

“And you?"

“As soon as we dock I am going to lead them away. Take Claudius' stylus. Find Ida."

“I will not lose you to them again pet." My fierce ursine warrior warned.

“You won't, when the mission objective has been completed come and find me." I said hugging my warrior bear. We then kissed- for a long time.

The gondola soon landed at the far end of the park as it did the gondola we were in was surrounded.

“The winter."

*“It is the winter!" *

The crowd chanted.

“Yish!!" I exclaimed.

“Alex!!!" My mistress shouted.

“I am going to the fun house." I said eyeing a support to the ride. “When the coast in clear you get!"

“I will find you pet."

“I said the same thing after you were taken by the KLIS." I said firing my grappling hook. It latched onto the overhead support and I swung over the swarm that had crowded our ride. Once I landed on the ground near the midway, I ran toward the fun house. Every patron in the amusement park was after me.

That building was of a bizarre design in the shape of a joker- white face, red lips, green eyebrows, yellow eyes and arrows pointing to the entrance- its mouth. I quickly ran inside, the horde of the possessed after me.

I dodged moving clown dummies that swayed back and forth from the floor and ceiling which impeded my progress. I would hope that it would do so for my pursuers.

I then ran through a dark hall stepping on a few air pockets that blasted hot air at me the moment I stepped on them.

(In another place in another context this would be a lot of fun.)

That was before I entered a mirror maze. I looked behind me as I saw shadows working their way through the obstacles I had been through. I saw my reflection numerous, numerous times. My image was shortened, stretched, twisted and squashed.

(In a way it could have been a metaphor for my life.)

I ended up crawling on the floor trying to find the exit to the maze as fast as I could.

After some harrowing moments I found a arrow pointing to a doorway that said exit in both in English and Animalian. I ran for it.

*BEEP*

“ACK!!" It was a large hover vehicle that appeared out of nowhere. There was no danger but it still surprised me.

(Yay, the exit!)

I thought to myself as I ran right into something falling right onto my butt.

*smack*

I looked up to see a grey semi muscular anthropomorphic bull looking down at me. His head was black with a mane that extended half way down his chest and back. His horns were moderate in size and complemented his dark colored eyes. He had a slight build and was almost naked except for a beaded necklace around his neck and blue loincloth around his waist.

“Greetings little human, it has been a long time. Welcome home."

“TAUREN?!"

To Be Continued....