FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Counter Earth Chronicles

Chapter 108: Poke The Bear (What We Need Now Part Four)

Day 929 (evening)

“You found them!" The sexy lioness said looking up from her lab equipment as the ram warrior entered her lab with us in tow. “Alex, my lady we had been searching for you for a long long time!"

“Since we found your campsite in the Dark Forest actually." Sir Ram said.

The young lioness was dressed in her white lab coat with a blue shirt and pants. She looked pretty much the same as she did the last time I had seen her.

Lea ran to hug both my mistress and me but her affection was only partially returned as we were a bit overwhelmed by the attention. She stood dumbfounded as the human and bear she had come to know just stared blankly at her.

“Sir Ram they look traumatized."

“They are." The beastial scientist said.

“W-where did you find them?" She said hugging us.

“The absolute last place on the planet." The ram said eyeing his assistant- a dumping ground for the worst of the worst of the empire."

“Have them sit down." The sexy she beast said picking up some instruments from a cabinet at the far side of the room.

Sir Ram directed both of us to sit down in two lab chairs while Lea examined our vitals.

“Sir Ram how did they appear when they were rescued?"

“Damaged and broken as if their spirit had been crushed and their will to live decimated." The beastial scientist said holding my mistress' paw.

“We... are... home..." I mumbled. I couldn't believe it was real. It seemed like a dream, a very far away dream.

“They have been deaminated." The she beast said studying the display from her scanner “For over a year? What happened to you two?"

“Boy- go ahead tell her what you told me." The ram said placing his paw on my shoulder.

I looked at the lioness and ram and then just dropped my gaze back to the floor of the lab. I guess at the point I was still in some type of shock wondering if what I had been seeing was even real. Were we finally back home?

My mistress summoned her strength to debrief her colleagues about our whereabouts for the last eighteen, now nineteen moths.

“It started during the vacation Alex and I took in mid December of YOE 31." She began.

“Yes my lady I remember you took some well earned vacation time." Lea said.

“And if I recall, you hauled your pet kicking and screaming into the forest to go camping." The evil ram said.

“We were.... abducted by.... extraterrestrial creatures." I said jumping into the conversation.

“WHAT?" The ram and lioness said looking at each other.

“It is true." My bear knight said.

“They had been studying beastials since the start of the empire. Lady Ursa included." I to the ram and lioness.

“Look." My warrior bear said showing Lea the markings on her armpits and foot paws.

“What are those?" The ram asked.

“I think they are used to track and identify their test subjects. The beings manipulated her into coming to them so that they wouldn't have to go to her." I said still staring at the ground.

“You were abducted?" The he beast asked.

“The second night into our vacation." Lady Ursa said.

“The beings took us into their sky ship and studied both of us inside and out, outside and in. It was painful and disturbing." I mumbled.

Lea gasped at that revelation. “For how long?"

“It had to have been a few nights." I responded.

“What did you see aboard their craft boy?" The ram asked me gently.

“Them studying and experimenting on other beastials, all shapes, sizes, ages and species."

“How did you escape?" Lea asked as she continued to examine us.

“We didn't. They returned us to the planet's surface when they had finished." Lady Ursa volunteered. “It wasn't from where they took us though."

“That explains why we found you on the desolate continent." The evil beastial said.

“The alien creatures dropped us off in the middle of no where. We were forced to seek refuge at the Maximum." I said.

“The Maximum?" The sexy lioness asked.

“It is a very top secret outpost and dumping ground for the worst criminals of the empire. I only learned of its existence recently." Sir Ram said to his assistant.

“But how did you two come to be deanimated?" Lea asked.

“We arrived at the Maximum during a uprising. Alex and I chose the wrong side." Lady Ursa said looking quite regretful.

“We were sentenced to the living death by the leader of the uprising in lieu of death." I said solemnly.

“Oh my." Lea said gasping.

“How did you escape?" Sir Ram asked.

“We didn't. We were revived by the new warden after he had crushed the uprising and regained control of the outpost." Lady Ursa said.

“So why didn't he send you back to the empire?" The sexy lioness asked.

“He didn't believe our story at first. He felt that we were prisoners who had been left behind after the uprising." I said still feeling like I was in some sort of dream.

“So we were trapped there subjected to his twisted whims and deviancies until you found and rescued us." The bear said to the ram.

SIX DAYS EARLIER....

Day 922 (evening)

All the prisoners at the outpost dreaded and feared the warden's weekly Saturday assemblies typically horrifying since the brutal execution of Chester Conner, Ricky Raccoon and three others three weeks ago. The weekly assemblies the following Saturdays had a decreased body count; But there were still executions. The second weekly assembly saw Warden King execute a lemur for blackmailing another prisoner and extortion.The third weekly assembly (last Saturday) had yet another execution, a boar who had tried to kill several of the warden's guards. Which led up to this Saturday's assembly.

Warden King was seated on his hand shaped throne at the far side of the arena. Standing next to him were his thirteen guards, Kai the outpost healer and Ryan the chef of the outpost.

“Greetings my subjects!" Warden King said to his captive audience who were now taking their seats on the bleachers in the arena.

“Thank you for attending this week's assembly!" Merna the rabbit guard said. “We have much to discuss."

(Like we had any choice.)

I watched as the remaining prison population quietly and obediently obeyed. I ended up sitting next to my cell mates and Boris who looked particularly lonely without my mistress. As for the rest of the inmates, they were hoping and praying that they wouldn't be summoned into the ring by the outpost's master to fight for their lives.

“Shall we begin?" The grey skinned being said from his throne.

“Yes sir." An eagle avian next to the warden said.

“Eagle Master the announcements."

“Yes sire. After only three weeks, prisoner 48 has successfully impregnated prisoner 37 and she is expecting." The eagle guard announced. “It looks like you will have another pair graduating your breeding program in the coming months."

“Sodus and Lotus, well done you two. I would very much like to be there in person for the birth of your foal." The grey being said smiling.

The female centaur blushed at being singled out in the crowd. The male centaur on the other hand just stared off into space.

“If they only knew what awaited them after their completion." I said to Bertha.

“I still can't believe that is what happened to the caprines." Bertha whispered to me.

“That is what awaits all of us at the completion of his damn program." I hissed. “That is why Lady Ursa tried to escape yesterday."

“That concludes our announcements sire." The eagle said.

“That brings us up to today's business." Warden King said standing. “Up until recently, many of you have been quite obedient and docile which has made it much harder to find a prisoner that needs correction. However There is one among you who attacked my guards and staff yesterday in attempt to escape this outpost. I have said many times before that obedience will be rewarded and disobedience will also be rewarded." Warden King said lifting his arm. As he did a bound hooded figure was levitated from where they were sitting in the bleachers to the ring at the center of the room.

“ This afternoon I will make an example of those who would attack my subordinates!"

The grey skinned being nodded. Two of his guards approached the ring and removed the hood off the figure for all to see. A bound and gagged female ursine was made to kneel in front of the warden and his entourage.

“We are gathered here today for prisoner 70 to receive her punishment for attacking my subordinates, her attempted escape and her display of extreme defiance and disobedience."

(NO!)

Boris dropped his gaze as soon as he realized who it was. Spirit's mouth dropped open and Bertha just gasped. It was Lady Ursa bound and gaged.

The warden said nothing about Lady Ursa's attempted escape from the Maximum yesterday. After incapacitating the outpost's healer and the guards stationed at the jump room, I was hoping beyond hope that my she beast had some how been successful in activating the platform, returning to the empire and was now on her way back with help.

She had refused to include me in her plan- locking me in a closet as she made her way to the jump room's location in the basement of the Administration Building.

I was found by the guards hours later and interrogated. I understood my bear knight's reasoning even if I disagreed with it; she wanted to keep me safe in the event she was unsuccessful. In this case it worked- the warden believed that my companion had abandoned me during her escape because the storage closet had been locked from the outside. Interestingly enough he and his avian guards would not tell me if my mistress had been successful in escaping the facility. I as many others including Boris was left to wonder until now.

Warden King was emotionless as he stood up from his hand shaped throne and addressed the knight that had bravely tried to escape the facility openly defying him.

“Prisoner 70 once again you have defied your king! What do you have to say for yourself?"

Two avian guards removed Lady Ursa's mouth gag and turned her to face the outpost's commander.

“Warden King I have repeatedly told you that I and my charge do not belong here, we are not criminals and have not committed any crimes against the empire." My warrior bear said addressing the being.

“Yes, yes you have told me this time and time again and I have said to you each and every time- I don't care. All who reside in my kingdom are my subjects, my property including you!" The grey skinned being said looking at my mistress.

Based on what I had seen during the previous three assemblies, I knew this was not going to end well.

“As such my subjects are required to obey the rules, my laws, my will. You have soundly rejected all three. Yesterday was your last and final offense."

“I was given twenty five lashings and made to sit outside for nine hours warden for my first offense." Lady Ursa said interrupting.

“You also received a beating too. Is that why you assaulted my subordinates? Was it a desperate attempt to leave this facility?"

My she beast said nothing, she just looked at the being with such disgust.

“What transpired yesterday is unforgivable and must be addressed." The warden said clasping his left hand.

Like the three previous assemblies, the commander of the outpost summoned his executioner, the seven foot tall lizard thingie with the spiked frills. Bertha, Spirit, Boris and those in attendance watched as Gorn was levitated from the bleachers into the ring.

“Gorn." The grey skinned being said.

“My punishment?" Lady Ursa said raising an eyebrow.

“Your punishment." Warden King said dropping his left hand.

All at the assembly watched as once again the lizard's eyes turned blood red as he fell under the warden's control.

“And if I defeat your champion what then warden?" My warrior bear asked looking at him.

“Don't worry you won't." He shot back. “Not in your condition madam knight."

The outpost's leader was right. My she beast faced a difficult fight- her paws were still bound behind her back. The dictator- err warden did intend this to be an execution indeed.

“I thought I was part of your breeding program sire?" My she beast said goading him.

“You are, but my benevolence has limits."

This wasn't happening! I couldn't let that happen! I had to stop this now!

“What is freckled boy doing?" Boris asked as I got up from my seat.

“Stopping an execution." I said.

“Alex!" Spirit said as he grabbed my hand.

I shook my head at the spotted mountain dog. “Stay out of this I don't want any of you to be punished."

“Freckles!" Bertha said.

“If I don't make it out of this, I want to thank you each for looking out for me as well for your kindness and friendship."

With that I darted toward the ring in a desperate attempt to help my mistress.

“WARDEN!" I screamed much to the guards' amusement. “A moment please!" I said climbing into the ring.

“Sir?" The female vulture said staring at her superior.

“Very well." Warden King said raising his arm.

I watched carefully as Gorn regained control of his senses.

“Prisoner 69!" The grey being said annoyed.

“It is Alex Winter sir." The rabbit guard said.

“Oh yes mister mercy. Here to plead for your companion?" He said looking at me bored. “The same one who abandoned you while she tried to get away?"

“On the contrary sir, I am here to remind you and your subordinates- especially the ones I have come to know over the last month, Merna, Eagle Master, Baroness, Henry, Kai and Rory. You are about to cross a fine line." I said as I quickly untied my she beast's paws.

“Really?" The rabbit beastial asked.

“Your superior has known that myself and my companion do not belong here; we aren't criminals of the empire."

“Sir?" The female ibex said looking at the grey being.

“Kai, my companion and myself wound up here through a series of unfortunate events. He has known that for quite some time but refuses to free us."

“He doesn't care." My bear knight said standing.

“We were made to follow the same rules and to participate in his perverse programs as if were were part of the prisoner population here." I said standing next to my she beast.

“So what is your point boy?" Warden King asked.

“This evening you stand ready to execute a knight of the empire you serve. I ask you to consider your actions carefully sir, the High Evolutionary would not be pleased to have one of his own subordinates killed by another."

The twelve avian guards and Merna, the rabbit guard all looked at each other.

“That is right. Prisoner 70 is a knight in service to the empire." I said to them.

“If this is true and it gets back to empire, we are finished." Henry, the short guard said.

“Who said it is going to get back to the High Evolutionary rookie? This outpost is quite isolated after all." Eagle Master said.

“That is a new rendition of the I'm innocent line." Baroness said.

“How many times have we heard that one before?" The rabbit female said to the vulture female.

“As you can see, my subordinates only loyalty is to me." The bald headed grey being said dropping his hand.

Lady Ursa and I saw Gorn's eyes turn blood red again. He was preparing to attack.

“Very well a wager then warden." Lady Ursa said taking my hand.

(Mistress?!)

“What type of wager prisoner 70?" Warden King asked.

“If I...."

“We!" I said interrupting my warrior bear.

“If we defeat your champion- you will let us go." Lady Ursa proposed.

“And if you don't?" The super being asked.

“If we survive you can add us to your private collection." My she beast said slyly. “If we don't you can bury our remains out back."

“I will consider it... Gorn!" The super being hissed.

“Mistress!" I said to my bear knight. “How-- how could you?"

“We better not lose then." She said petting me on my head. “You remember your self defense training?"

I nodded.

“Well this is the final exam."

(OH SHIT!)

!!!

“ I am the executioner." The seven foot tall lizard thingie announced to us and all who were in attendance. “ FOR MY NEXT EXHIBITION I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE YOUR LIVES. IS THAT ALRIGHT?"

“Many have tried, none were ever successful." My lady bear growled.

“AW CRAP!" I screamed.

“Alex clear your mind and focus." Lady Ursa warned me. “Do you sense anything?"

“Danger at its most extreme." I said. “He is going to come at you with a lunge punch."

“Right then, let's begin." My she beast said confidently taking a fighting stance.

It dawned on me what my mistress was trying to say. We were fighting one assailant together this time and not the whole prison. One fierce undefeated opponent who had killed seven prisoners in the previous weeks.

“RAWRRRRR!!!!"

Gorn came at Lady Ursa with a lunge punch. She dodged and ran behind him giving the lizard a big hug before suplexing him just about the time he reached me. Gorn hit the floor of the ring and was dazed momentarily before rolling over and lunging at my mistress again. This time with a left punch.

My fierce ursine warrior dodged again punching him accurately and efficiently at several choice points in the back. The he beast grunted from the pain, then turned around to face her.

As soon as he turned his attention away from me toward her, I dropped to all fours waiting for my fierce ursine warrior to make her move. While I waited, I glanced at the warden who seemed to be equally focused trying to maintain his control over Gorn. It looked like he was straining.

(That might explain why he didn't just whammy those in his breeding program ordering all of us to mate like rabbits! Could it be he could only control one person at a time? Hmm...)

My attention returned to the fight just as my mistress pushed the lizard thingie backward.

Gorn tripped over me falling onto his back. I got up and quickly darted out of the line of fire as he was body slammed into the mat.

*WUUUUD*

“AND STAY DOWN!" My fierce ursine warrior grumbled landing on him as hard as she could.

It was not to be. Gorn pushed the bear off of him. My mistress flipped backward as the failed lab experiment got to his feet ready to attack again.

“I don't think so." I said as I stepped on his right foot paw with all my strength.

He roared as he tried to smash my face with his paws. I ducked and moved out of the way as the lizard received two deep slashes to the face which blinded him. While he was stunned my mistress threw her paws around his head, dropped her butt and performed a perfect circle throw flipping him out of the ring onto the floor of the arena.

*WHOMPF* *SMACK*

“Nice move." I said running over to her. “Is it over?"

“No." She said to me.

!!!

“GOOOROARRR!!!" I watched as something green flew over the edge of the ring in an attempt to flatten me.

(Despite the two slashes to the face Gorn was still somehow able to see.)

I managed to move out of the way as it smashed through the floor of the ring breaking it. As the lizard stood up he tore his loin-cloth on one of the broken boards.

The warden's executioner was naked for all to see. Gorn who was still under the warden's control, righted himself and made a bee-line for my she beast grabbing and launching her into the ceiling!"

I had seen him perform that move on a yak four weeks ago breaking the doomed creature like a piece of wood over his knee.

This was going to be bad. I had to stop this now, but how?! My thoughts drifted back to the morning of my very first mission with Lady Ursa and our sparing match in her training room, a superior force going against an inferior force- I got the better of her by using guile. That was it! The answer was guile!

As Lady Ursa was falling, I quickly picked up what remained of Gorn's loin-cloth wadded it into a ball and threw it hard at Warden King hitting him right in the face.

*SMACK*

The super being lost his concentration and his hold over the green lizard thingie.

Gorn snapped out of his trance just in time to be flattened by a bear warrior who transformed her fall into a beautiful swan dive and then devastating body slam.

**CRUNCH**

(Uh oh, that don't sound good!)

“Mistress?!"

My warrior bear got up from her landing and ran her paw over some strike points on the lizard's back just as the grey being resumed his control.

*GROAN* *UGH* *THUD*

“He will be feeling that in the morning." My she beast said cackling.

There was a hushed silence that fell on all in the arena as the prisoners of the outpost, the guards, healer and chef realized that a knight of the empire and her pet human had stood up to the warden- humiliating him by defeating his executioner.

“Warden King we will be taking our leave of you now." I said while my mistress placed her paw on my shoulder.

Despite the threat to our well being. Wresting Gorn was like playing Corbin's Furry Fury video game. I would say it was even a little fun.

“I don't think so, not until you have faced my new champion!" The grey being said.

!!!

The brown paw that was on my shoulder clasped it, picking me up and spinning me around like a shot put before throwing me into the side of the ring. I bounced off it landing on my side.

*OOF*

“Ow."

As I stared at the direction I had been thrown from, I saw a site that sent chills down my spine my fierce ursine warrior was charging at me full speed as a dead silence fell on the arena.

That bastard had taken control of her and she was moving in for the kill. Her eyes were the same blood red color as Gorn's. More than likely my bear had no idea she was being manipulated- again.

In retrospect it was a desperate attempt by the super being to save face after being humiliated in front of his subjects. He was always right even when he was wrong; he always won even when he lost and now he was going to extract his revenge on the two outsiders who had disrupted the order in his kingdom by turning them against each other.

As I rolled back to my feet, I noticed a slight smirk on the grey being's face.

Lady Ursa lunged at me with a right slash. Her form was magnificent! But I had seen this move before during our sparing. I dodged left out of her attack path. She turned and charged right back at me. I dove between both her legs. Once behind her I tapped her on her back again. She turned and tried to slice me again. I ducked and moved to the side. She continued her rampage punching, slicing and even biting. I quickly dodged, ducked and evaded each of her attacks. This went on for three or so minutes to the crowd and the warden's astonishment, until my she beast dropped to one knee exhausted and out of breath. I carefully walked up to her and tweaked her on her nose.

The blood red eyes disappeared.

“Alex! What happened?" She gasped.

“That bastard tried to turn you and me against each other. He failed."

*SIX NINE* *SIX NINE!* *SIX NINE!* The crowd roared in the arena.

“Double entendres aside, it is Alex Winter!" I shouted.

The prisoners in the arena then started shouting my name. *ALEX!* *ALEX!* *ALEX!*

It was at that point I helped Lady Ursa up from the floor of the ring and I turned to point directly at the warden.

“You will remember my name... because I was the one who beat you at your game..."

*ALEX!* *ALEX!* *ALEX!* *ALEX!* *ALEX!* *ALEX!* *ALEX!* *ALEX!* *ALEX!* *ALEX!*

(Seriously what was he thinking turning my she beast against me? She is my lover, my companion! Did he think I wouldn't know her weaknesses?!)

“Warden King you have been defeated." Lady Ursa said. “You will honor your end of the wager."

“NO." The grey skinned being said standing from his throne.

“WHAT?!" I said.

“You recall I said I would think about releasing you two if you won. So I did. The answer is no."

“YOU MONSTER!" I screamed.

“You two just became even more valuable if not my most prized possessions. I look forward to adding you to my collection." He said smiling wickedly.

(Even when he loses, he wins.)

The dictator err, warden clasped his hand and Lady Ursa and I were levitated to his platform. His thirteen guards were on us in seconds.

“This is not fair!" I protested. “We won."

“Life seldom is." Merna said.

“And that move you performed on Gorn prisoner 70, I must remember that." The female vulture said pressing a few pressure points on Lady Ursa's back.

“AUGH!" My bear said collapsing.

“Mistress!" I screamed.

“Baroness is a quick study." Eagle master said to me as the female vulture repeated the move. The female guard also knocked me out.

Hours later I was awakened by a soft paw. “Oh mistress that feels nice."

“Wake up my champion."

“Spirit?!"

(Wonderful paw, wrong beastial.)

I awoke to find myself back in my cell looking at Boris and my mistress who were sitting together in the adjacent cell- she was still out cold.

“Welcome back sweetie." The Tian mountain dog said.

“This is not World One." I said looking around.

“No, little freckled boy and pretty lady bear were placed back in cells after evening assembly." The brown bear said.

“Despite winning, we lost." I said dejected.

“On the contrary- you two stood up to the warden and showed him that he is not invincible." Bertha said emerging from the back of the cell with a small cloth.

“Oh, say why is my mistress strapped to Boris?" I said as the dark skinned woman washed my face and torso.

In the cell next to mine Boris was sitting on a simple chair stark naked. My warrior bear was seated on his lap, her legs and arms bound and draped around him.

“Edict from outpost leader." The brown bear said to me. “Boris is to spend rest of weekend emptying content of testicles into pretty lady bear until Boris is dry."

I looked at the two of them, then the crazy mountain dog and the dark skinned woman. We had won but we also had lost- badly. The super being was very much in control of us. That was the moment I realized that all hope was lost. Lady Ursa and I had tried our best to get out of the situation we found ourselves in and failed.

I would be forced to continue to breed with Bertha, at some point impregnating her. It would be the same with Boris and my mistress. When our females gave birth, would we be de-animated and added to the warden's collection- his wall of trophies after the successful completion of his breeding program.

This could not be! At that point I lost it. I started crying, I cried the rest of the evening and through the night despite Spirit's and Bertha trying to console and comfort me.

“I am going to become a father! I don't want to become a father!" I cried from within the embrace of my triad.

“There there, Freckles." My mistress doppelgänger said hugging me from behind. “It won't be that bad."

“Bertha how can you say that?" The crazy canine asked.

“I don't think the warden would be in a hurry to de-animate us."

“How is that?" I asked her.

“Because Boris and I are quite valuable to him. I am a medic and back up to Kai the outpost's healer. Boris is the closest thing to a maintenance engineer around here. He would be a fool to stiff us."

“I wouldn't be so sure. He is very eccentric." I reminded her.

“You can't completely prevent the inevitable, but you can delay it as much as possible." The crazy canine said kissing me.

I looked at the loppy eared dog.

“What have we been talking about? Silent disobedience?" He said whipping my tears.

“Huh?" I said looking at his cute face.

“Change the pecking order- put her second."

Spirit was right! If that was to be my destiny at this place of the forgotten, I was going to try to delay that as much as possible- just like the females tried.

Boris complied with the warden's orders emptying his testicles into Lady Ursa the rest of the weekend. I don't think he had a problem with it other than walking funny for the next few days.

As for me, I took Spirit's suggestion and rebelled- quietly. I still mated twice a day with Bertha but only after sexing the Tian mountain dog first. During our mating sessions I decided to be the giver and him the receiver, giving him as much as I could each time we mated. That left very little for Bertha to receive afterwards. She agreed to what we were doing.

Day 924

Monday was the start of a bad week for the warden and the staff of the outpost. He was so fixated on the assembly Saturday that he and his forces let the investigation of the outpost saboteur slide for a day or so. That was a bad, bad mistake. Early that Monday there was a brazen prison break, leaving the outpost almost completely crippled in its wake.

It happened much the same way as the night the warden arrived. There was a violent shaking, an explosion. Moments before Henry, the short vulture guard was walking around the prison, we assumed that he was on patrol. But we would find out afterwards that the guard had, had a change of heart and freed Gorn, a moose and bovine from their cells. It turned out they had assembled a crude escape vehicle using parts they had cannibalized from key systems. The explosion was just a diversion while the four made their getaway in the snowy white death outside. No one knows if they made it- because they were never heard from again.

The wrath of the warden rained down on the all in the outpost for the rest of the week. How could one of his own betray him?! Apparently Henry had seen something the other guards had not and made a secret plan to get out. He also chose his accomplices well two beastials who were built for the horrible weather on this side of the world and could keep him warm during their escape and a prisoner who had been used by the warden against his will so much that his loyalty to the vulture wouldn't be questioned.

Boris was very busy the rest of the week trying to keep the affected systems of the outpost from failing dooming us all.

The rest of the prisoners were on reconstruction duty, cleaning up the debris from the explosion which damaged the fourth floor of the administration building, the living quarters for the outpost staff and patching up a gaping hole in the wall of their hallway.

Day 928 (afternoon)

Kathryn Hurt and I were on cleaning detail that Friday on the fourth floor of the Administration Building still cleaning the hallway and then the apartments of the administration staff. I think the first, second and third floors were being cleaned by the other prisoners. It had been a long week trying to clean up the mess from the explosion.

“Just think when we are done here, Kai, Merna and the others can move back into their comfortable living spaces." The manticore said.

“It was funny that they had to sleep elsewhere." I said as I continued to sweep and dust.

“I heard Kai was sleeping in the infirmary. Merna and Baroness were sleeping in the communications room." The manticore said.

“What about the warden?" I asked the former human.

“He was sleeping in his office, next to his throne."

“I guess that hand shaped throne wasn't too comfortable to sleep on." I snickered.

“Make sure none of his minions hear you. He has been in a fowl mood all this week." The she beast warned.

“Wouldn't you if one of your guards betrayed you and participated in a prison break?"

“Yeah what's worse is that the warden's forces couldn't follow them because they didn't have any motorized vehicles." Ms. Hurt snickered. “I still wondered why that short guard chose the three he did?"

“Most likely for their talents." I said as we heard a commotion coming from the stairwell.

“By the order of the High Revolutionary I order you to take us to them right now!"

“What is that all about?" I said looking at the manticore.

She shook her head making her breasts jiggle slightly.

It didn't matter it didn't concern me. But the sound was getting closer.

“You will comply with my request!" I heard the stern voice say again. It sounded rather familiar.

“Yes, sir right away!" The second voice was Merna.

“Prisoner 69 you have a visitor." The rabbit guard said as she exited the stairwell followed by another beastial.

I looked up from my broom to lock eyes at a familiar beastial. “Ram?!"

“That is Sir Ram to you boy!"

He was wearing a different knight uniform but it was indeed the High Evolutionary's chief scientist.

“SIR RAM!" I screamed like a frenzied groupie at a Sura concert.

“So this is where you have been hiding out and what are you wearing?" He said addressing me quite indignantly.

“SIR RAM! SIR RAM!" I cried hugging the evil beastial.

“It has been a long time boy. Lady Vermin is on the second floor with the warden and your master."

I was elated.

Since winning at the assembly last Saturday only to have the warden renege on our wager, I had been feeling my sanity slowly slipping away in this place of the forgotten. But this surprise of surprises was a much welcomed, unexpected win.

I lost myself in the moment as I ran down the hallway. I hugged Kathryn Hurt and even kissed her. She congratulated me and threaten to sting me if I continued hugging her. I did the same to Merna who tried to maintain her composure. Sir Ram eventually reached his paw out to me pulling me to him.

“Guard." The he beast said addressing the rabbit beastial.

The three of us descended the staircase to the second floor of the outpost where I found Lady Vermin and Lady Ursa talking to the warden. I couldn't believe what I was seeing! I quickly ran and hugged the rat warrior as well.

“Greetings little human so this is where you and Ursa have been hiding out. How is that you managed to wind up here and why are you two wearing something so undignified?"

“It is a long torrid story." My bear knight said to her friend. “Rest assured we are leaving isn't that right Warden King?"

The bald headed grey being locked eyes with the three Knights of Wundagore. “Yes, yes of course."

“The master will hear of what transpired here during your watch." Lady Vermin said turning to address the warden.

“Ready to go pet?" Lady Ursa asked me as we exchanged hugs.

“I was eighteen months ago. But I need to say good bye to some friends." I said.

Lady Ursa and I returned to the prison building accompanied by Lady Vermin, Sir Ram, Merna and Warden King who looked like a kid who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“You can't go! I won't let you go!" The spotted dog protested. I had found him cleaning the arena.

“You have to let me go sweetie. I never belonged here." I said hugging the crazy canine. “And neither do you."

Spirit was heart broken but I told him, that if he let me go, I was going to do everything in my power to get him out this place and into another that would better help him. He kissed me deeply and passionately (much to my embarrassment) before I departed. I told him to behave and do not take out his sorrow at my departure on others, it would further hurt his chances of getting out of here.

Bertha took the news a little better.

“You finally got out?" She asked me.

“Yeah, hate to yiff and run." I said hugging her.

“I think you couldn't have chosen a better time. I was starting to feel queasy and a touch moody the last few days."

“Oh no!" I quickly grabbed her med kit from the back of the cell and scanned her womb. “Phew, false alarm."

“Not that. I think it was the hard work the warden put us through this week. Take care Freckles and remember to enjoy and cherish your freedom."

“Thanks for looking out for me and not getting knocked up on my watch." I said as she returned the embrace.

The two bears also said goodbye to each other in quite a memorable scene. Boris kissed Lady Ursa deeply and passionately before she touched some strike points on the he beast's chest causing him to collapse on the floor of their cell.

“Worth it! Boris regrets nothing!" He mumbled.

Soon after Sir Ram and Lady Vermin escorted myself and Lady Ursa outside of the Maximum to a awaiting transport vehicle that was after we were given back our regular clothing.

“You two ready?" Lady Vermin asked.

“I have never desired to leave such a place in all my life." I said as I took one last look at the outpost and our home for the last nineteen months.

“How did you two manage to find us?" My she beast asked her colleagues.

“Mike Anger." Lady Vermin answered.

“That fool human was recently apprehended in World Four. While under interrogation he revealed how he had escaped from the Maximum ten months ago with some others after killing the warden. He also bragged that the instigator of the uprising and his minions had beaten up a knight of the empire- an ursine and her human companion before they were de-animated."

The Maximum was truly in the middle of no where. It took the hover vehicle twenty two hours to make its way from the continent of ice and snow back to civilization.

After debriefing Lea about our time away. She decided to set some sessions for Lady Ursa and I to share our experiences, talk and reintegrate back into the empire. I gladly accepted because it would be a long time before her and I came to terms about what we had been through.

As for Warden King I helped Lady Ursa write a full and detailed report to the High Evolutionary about the super being, how he ran the Maximum and his eccentricities. We were very sure that after hearing about the horrors that had gone on there the dictator would have him replaced. But that is another story.

To Be Continued....