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Counter Earth Chronicles

Chapter 124: The Darkness You Reach For Is Reaching Back For You (Consensus Part Two)

Day 979 (morning)

“Did you come to gloat?" The orange tabby asked as I stared at him in the holding cell.

“No. I just came to look at the condemned." I replied as the cat smiled at me. “You know we all have our burdens to be bear, other beastials I know have overcome their horrid pasts. You were incapable and disgraced your creator and beastials everywhere."

“So you are here to give me one of the famous Alex Winter speeches I have heard about." Morris said to me.

“If we had met before your failed crusade, I would have said something like this: so as a house cat you had two horrible owners. Just because they were bad to you doesn't mean all humans are bad. Get over it and do something constructive with your life- perhaps help others to prevent them from becoming like the humans that abused you."

“But alas, I chose a different path- to act on my pain, suffering and misery." Morris Hunter said feigning nobility.

“That you did and now it is too late for you." I said as the communicator on my PDA sounded off. “This is Alex."

“Morning boy." A familiar beastial said as her image appeared on the PDA.

(ULP!)

“Mara!" I said greeting the wicked goat lady.

“Where are you right now?"

“I am in the holding center talking with the Cleanser."

“Really is this how you spend your downtime boy?" Another familiar face said appearing on the viewscreen of my PDA.

(ULP!)

“Sir Ram?"

“Well yeah trying to understand why he did what he did. Most manage to surmount and overcome tragedies in their pasts." I said looking at the evil ram and wicked goat. “Make that some."

“He is a lost cause boy. Do not spend any more time on him." The beastial scientist said to me.

“Besides you have better things to do with you down time." Mara said to me.

“Really? Like what?"

“Coming to see us NOW!" The goat lady and ram said in unison ending the communication.

Since Lady Ursa and I had wrecked the blue prototype- I had been trying to steer clear of those two; they weren't happy that it had to be rebuilt a second time in as many weeks. But now that I had some time off they wanted to see me?

It was with extreme trepidation that I entered Mara's lab where I found her and Sir Ram working.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I said bowing respectfully at the two.

“You are forgiven boy." Sir Ram said glaring at me.

“But if you want to make it up to us..." Mara said leading me on.

“Yes?" I asked hesitantly.

“We have a mission for you." The Ram warrior said.

“A mission?" I asked.

“A mission." The goat lady said echoing her lover.

(ULP!)

AND SO....

Day 983

“What do you think Alex?" The caracal said as we drove up to the castle Sogreth.

“Wow." I said looking at the tower with the four spires around it.

“Is that a good wow mate or a bad wow?" The senior knight asked me.

“Sanda that is a ugly looking castle." I said. “It is even uglier than castle Warwick in World Two.

“I am inclined to agree, but don't say anything to our hosts." The caracal said as he parked the prototype. “You don't want to insult them."

“Right."

*Sirs I have an incoming call.* Overwatch announced.

“Put it through." The caracal announced.

“Sanda here."

“Watch Supervisor. Did you and Alex arrive safely?" The wicked goat lady asked.

“Hi Mara. We just arrived at castle Sogreth." I announced.

“Alex and I wanted to thank you for allowing us to attend in your place." Sanda said to castle Wundagore's product tester and developer.

“Rammy and I would have loved to attend the Knights of Sogreth unveiling of their own prototype, but we have been swamped with everything that is going on."

“Understandable." I replied. “But Mara this is an incredible honor in its own right."

“Their developer used our prototypes as a template in designing their own. I would have very much wanted to be there. Regardless, I want a full report of the vehicle's capabilities when you two get back." The goat lady said to us.

“Will do." Sanda said ending the communication.

“I guess we better head inside." I said stepping out of the blue coupe.

“Overwatch you can go to standby mode." Sanda said as he got out of the blue coupe.

*Acknowledged. Have a good time gentle-sirs.*

“Man even on a sunny morning this place is dark and foreboding." I said as we approached the entrance at the tower.

“That is because the city is constructed of grey marble." The caracal said as we arrived at the entrance.

“It is like it is saying bad things happen here." I added.

“Well this is the problem child of the master's five cities- the most crime, unrest and then there is the corruption." Sanda added.

“Hence this prototype their scientist developed will be a welcome addition to their arsenal." I said to the senior Knight of Wundagore.

“G'day mate Watch Supervisor Sanda Caracal and Specialist Alex Winter here to see Lady Keiko." Sanda said to the guard, a serious looking jaguar in blue and dark blue chainmail.

“The commander is unavailable at the moment." The mid-level knight said checking his pad.

(DAMN!)

“However the Watch Commander is." He said to us. “His office is not far from here."

The jaguar escorted Sanda and myself inside the tower which didn't look like much, but underneath it was complex of floors, hallways and corridors that most likely led to the four spires that surrounded the main tower.

“Watch Commander?" The jaguar said knocking on a small office door.

“Yes, what is it?" A stern looking golden colored mastiff said looking up from a pad.

“Our guests from castle Wundagore have arrived."

“Thank you Zip." The mastiff replied. “Welcome Sir Ram and Mara." The he beast started to say looking up from his pad before stopping. “You two aren't them."

“Actually not Watch Commander." I replied. “They were unable to attend the presentation. They sent us in their place."

“I see." He said placing down his pad.

“Anyway, nice to meet you, Ben is it?" Sanda said.

“It is." He replied.

“Watch Supervisor Sanda Caracal at your service." Sanda said extending his paw.

“I am Specialist Alex Winter." I said extending my hand.

“So the knight core has started recruited humans now?" The mastiff knight said.

“Alex is a contractor to our group and has proved his usefulness time and time again. Our commander considers him some what of a good luck charm."

“I see." The canid beastial said.

“So exactly when is the unveiling?" I asked.

“Not until this afternoon." The mastiff knight said.

“Ah nuts." I replied.

“Everything in its own time little human." He replied. “I was studying the specs because we, well I, plan to put it into service immediately. So in the meantime, I was about to check on the subordinates."

“Can we come too?" I asked.

“Alex is eager to see World Four." Sanda said.

“If I didn't know better, I would say the little human has a tail and it is starting to wag." Ben said standing up from his desk. “Very well, this way Specialist, Watch Supervisor."

The senior Knight of Sogreth escorted us down a corridor to a loading dock which contained hover bikes, transport vehicles and service vehicles that the knight core used.

“Let's take this." Ben said to Sanda and myself.

“A white sub compact?" I said.

“It doesn't have the carrying and hauling capability of a transport vehicle, nor the weaponry of the hover bikes, but it will serve our needs." Ben said.

With that we climbed in. The senior knights in the front and myself in the back. Ben then maneuvered the white compact to the platform which started rising until it reached the top of the spire. From there we took off.

“So that is what those spires are for." Sanda said.

“They serve a variety of purposes." That is just one of them. “So visitors what would you like to see first?"

“I don't know mate- host's choice." The caracal said to the driver.

“Well then let's go and check on the protests." The mastiff knight said as he piloted the compact hover vehicle toward the southwest.

“So is this your first time seeing our fair city?" The senior knight of Sogreth asked the caracal and myself.

“No." Sanda and I replied in unison.

“I was here about a month back visiting with some friends of some friends." I said to the golden mastiff.

“Who?" The knight said as we accompanied him on his patrol.

“The Frosts. They are a retired coupled who have a apple and pear farm in the countryside."

“Oh yes, the countryside to the south is very beautiful, especially this time a year with the fall colors." The mastiff said. “The city wants to expand toward that direction, but the residents down there and dead set against it.They want to keep the country the country.

“Ben, there haven't been any protests regarding that?" Sanda asked the mastiff knight.

“No. Any expansion plans have been put on hold, especially after that space ship was discovered out there." The mastiff warrior said to us. “So Sanda you have been here in World Four before as well?"

“Yes." The caracal said to the knight of Sogreth. “Mostly for meetings with my counter parts in the knight core exchanging ideas and perspectives, ya know."

“Now that is a good thing. Anything that would help us perform the job better especially in these tough times which I fear aren't getting any better." The mastiff said to us landing the compact on the outskirts of a park. “Here are the protests." He announced.

“Four separate groups?!" I said astonished.

“To the far left are humans demanding equality. Next to them are those demanding protection from the so called extraterrestrial invasion. Next to them are those who want the High Evolutionary to be removed from power." Ben said to us.

“And the group on the far right?" Sanda asked.

“Everything else. This is the only place that we will allow them to demonstrate to a point anyway." The mastiff said.

“And then?" The caracal asked.

“You see Corky over there?" The Watch Commander said pointing to hippo with what looks like a massive shoulder cannon.

“Yeah." I said.

“Is that one of the famous glue cannons?" Sanda asked.

“Exactly. When we say the protest is over, it is over. Any stragglers who start to riot are shot on the spot, hauled away, judged and punished."

“We need to use the same tactics on our protestors." Sanda admitted.

“Watch Commander anything wrong?" The hippo came by to ask.

“Other than the fact, it seems like these protests are unending and their numbers keep increasing? That was a rhetorical question Corky." The mastiff said grumbling.

“Yes sir." The hippo said.

“As you were knight."

“Yes sir." The knight said resuming his post observing the protests.

“So there you have it, the unending ever increasing in size protests. Let's be on our way."

“Where to next?" I asked the senior knight of Sogreth.

The mastiff pulled up a map of World Four on the view screen of the compact containing multiple dots.

“What are those?" Sanda asked.

“Those are our forces in the field. Hmm.... let's go to the west side, the edge of the city. It looks like Chucky is on a interesting mission." The mastiff said engaging hover mode.

We flew to the west just outside of the city limits to a small subdivision of houses where Ben landed the compact and he got out to help a junior knight, a male satyr with a investigation.

“I don't know what you are talking about! I do not abuse my dogs they are the spitting image of health!" A grimy woman in a grimy dress in a marble colored ranch said staring down the satyr.

“I do not think so." Chucky said staring at the three gaunt thin, dirty unkempt corgis that had answered the door with the woman who appeared to be in her thirties.

“What do yo have Chucky?" Ben asked walking up.

“An anonymous tip that this human is abusing her pets, not feeding, grooming or taking care of them. Sir."

“Well whoever gave you that tip is a fool!" The woman shouted back.

Ben grumbled as he pulled out his scanner and scanned the woman's tracking chip.

“It says here Ms. Keys that you have a history of animal neglect and should not be caring for animals- any animals. I also detect a strong odor of animal waste on you and from inside your um, house if you can call it that."

“You two are both liars!" The woman said stamping her feet angrily. “It is your word against mine."

“Actually not." Ben said. “Why don't I ask your pets?"

“You can do that?!" The woman said horrified.

“He can." The satyr said.

The mastiff knight crouched down and spoke directly to the woman's corgis in the canine language. Without hesitation the three of them looked at each other then him and then nodded.

“Sir?" Chucky asked.

“The three confirmed the anonymous reports, Chucky."

“Crystal Elizabeth Keys you are our prisoner, you will be judged and punished for animal mistreatment." The satyr said as he hog tied the woman.

“Based on what we have seen here, I would recommend that you be thrown in a cage and treated in the same manner." Ben said chastising her.

Sanda and I watched as the mastiff arranged for a transport to haul the woman in. Within moments Crystal Keys was on her way to castle Sogreth. Chucky made arrangements for the corgis to be examined by healers, cleaned and returned to health.

“It never seeks to amaze me, the amount of neglect." The mastiff grumbled as he got back into the compact.

“You're really stewing over this aren't ya?" Sanda said.

“That is because before becoming sentient, I had a human family who had abandoned me. I was forced to fend for myself. The master found me on the street eating out of refuse bins to get by.

“I am sorry Ben." I said to the senior knight.

“Don't be. It wasn't your fault." He said as he powered on the compact and we drove off.

(At least he overcame his past. Unlike a certain feline human hunter I know.)

There was a extremely awkward pause as the mastiff continued to stew over Chucky's mission.

“So where to next?" Sanda asked our host.

As we were driving away Ben received a call from one of several junior knights from within the historical district.

“Watch Commander!" A bull terrier said.

“Max what wrong?" Ben said.

“We need you in the historical district, the old capital building we have a 'crazy' there!"

“A crazy?" Sanda asked the bull terrier.

“A visitor to the old capital building is shooting at beastials!"

“Down with our evil animal overlords, our oppressors! Down with the High Evolutionary!"

We heard a man screaming in the background followed by laser fire.

*ZYTT* *ZYTT* *ZYTT* *ZYTT*

“Take that you damn animals, you aren't the ruler of me!"

“Has any beast been injured?" Ben asked the bull terrier.

“No sir, we were able to box him in." The junior knight responded.

“Good keep him like that we are a few minutes away."

Ben engaged the hover mode of the compact vehicle he was driving and in moments we were at the old capital building of the previous government. Upon our arrival we saw a nicely dressed man white shirt, white pants wearing a panda mask! He was hiding behind a tree near the courtyard aiming at any knight that dare approached him.

“Another pocket of lawlessness; someone who is tired of living under the master." The mastiff knight said disgusted.

“Someone who reached their breaking point and is just acting out?" I said.

The mastiff didn't acknowledge my comment.

“Pay attention you two we don't have stun weapons like you World One types so this is how we take down our dissidents."

(Now this should be interesting.)

“Max do it." Ben said to the bull terrier.

A grappling hook was fired from a hover bike at the nicely dressed human who decided to hunt beastials. The claw clasped his laser riffle and pulled it away.

“WHA?" The man screamed as he started to run away. He started running around erratically before two junior knights on hover bikes swooped down one on either side of him. They each clasped a hand and then lifted him off of the ground into the sky and then away to be judged and punished.

(Nice trick.)

“This is the third one this week." Ben sighed as he stepped out of the compact vehicle to talk to his subordinates who were at the scene. Sanda and I just observed.

“Watch Commander!" The bull terrier said.

“What happened?" Ben asked his subordinate.

“He was visiting the museum and witnesses heard him mumbling about being under the High Evolutionary's thumb, and how he was sick of us animal people telling him how to act and behave and you saw the end result."

“Well, good work Max."

“How has your morning been going sir?" A rabbit knight who was with the bull terrier asked.

“Not bad. I have been showing our visitors how we in World Four deal with the threats to the empire." The mastiff knight said.

“Thanks for you help Watch Commander we can finish up here."

“As you were then Chester." Ben said to the knight as he walked back to the white compact.

“Ben did you say that was the third time this week that someone has acted out like that?" I asked our host.

“Affirmative. Two days ago, another 'crazy' attacked a lion cub that was visiting stating something to the effect that he hated all beastials and that we all should go back to where we came from.

“What happened?" Sanda asked.

“The parents after seeing what he had done to their cub, they took a bite out of him." The mastiff responded. “Well its time."

“Is it time for the unveiling of the new prototype?" I asked.

“Actually, I was going to say that it was time to start thinking about a place to lunch." The mastiff knight said to me as he powered on the sub compact and we continued on our way.

“Oh." I responded.

“So Sanda, Alex have you picked up a few things?"

“Yes, the responsibilities are the same, it is how we all react to the tasks presented to us mate." The caracal said to the mastiff.

“True, but I know why you two are really here." The knight of Sogreth said staring at Sanda and myself. “You want to see that prototype our scientist developed to supplement our forces."

“You found us out mate." The caracal said to the mastiff. “We have been dying to see what you blokes have come up with."

“Calm down kitty. The unveiling won't be until this afternoon so in the meantime you are still on patrol with me." Ben said to Sanda. “So what have you guys been up to in World One? I heard about that incident with the automated vehicles turning on their drivers."

“Yeah Sir Ram and Mara have been busy helping manufactures develop a patch to that." Sanda said to our guide. “It has kept them quite busy.

“Is it true that incident was sparked by a rebel group?" Ben asked us.

“Yes, they found conclusive proof that it was the group of rebels known as TRUTH." Sanda said. “They caused a lot of chaos and mischief they did."

“Fortunately, that never made it to World Four." The mastiff knight said.

“The signal the group used to disrupt automated vehicles was very localized; in that it didn't move past the city's boundaries." I said to the senior knight.

“So while that was going on, you were also dealing with a human hunter?" The mastiff warrior said to Sanda and myself.

“Yeah some beast took it on themselves to try to eliminate second class citizens." Sanda said to our World Four guide.

“The hunter managed to attack some rebel groups." I said.

“Well you must have been happy about that." Ben said.

“Well, initially. But that was before the hunter moved on to apartments, parks and beaches." Sanda added. “Killing those who were human because the hunter felt they were a blight on the planet."

“I heard about that too." The he beast said. “The hunter was caught camping in one of the forests on the outskirts of the city?"

“Yes, it took a lot of coordination but the knights believe they caught the beastial involved." Sanda said. “As a result, the attacks have stopped."

“Well this may sound harsh, but I am glad that was a problem localized to World One. The Knights of Sogreth have enough to deal with here in World Four."

“I have heard that this city has the highest level of crime- (and corruption and turnover in the knight core.) it must be quite difficult to protect." I said to him.

“Be that as it may, there is also a lot of history here as well. This was the capital of the of the former government before the master took over." Our guide responded.

I didn't say anything to Ben, the knight of Sogreth we were shadowing on patrol, but World Four, his city really looked very dark and foreboding. But in retrospect it still was a great opportunity for a exchange; Sanda and I got to see how the knights here protected their piece of the empire.

At the very least Sanda and I were glad to have some time away from the job so to speak. Even if it was watching our counterparts do theirs.

“Here is our next call Watch Supervisor, Specialist." The mastiff said as he parked the compact vehicle at a ranch that appeared to be under construction. Five humans appeared to be working on the single level house which didn't look like much, but then again neither did the neighborhood which had tan, grey and brown single level ranches that looked like they were built from the same mold.

Ben walked up to a man who appeared to be in his forties, He was wearing a construction helmet, jeans, white shirt and blazer. He was holding a pad.

“Who is in charge here?!" The mastiff said.

It was at that point that those who were working on the single level house cowered and pointed to the man who was holding a pad.

“I am. Can I help you sir knight?" He asked trying not to tremble, but was doing a poor job of it.

“It looks like you and your crew are busting your butts trying to get this house built." Ben said crossing his arms staring at the man.

“Why yes Sir knight we are."

“Behind schedule?" The mastiff warrior asked the man.

“Actually sir, we are. This home was supposed to have been completed a month ago. My reputation is suffering each day that this job sits past due."

“So you are desperate to get this project completed as soon has possible?" Ben asked the man. “What ever it takes?"

“Yes sir." The man who must have been the project leader said.

“So that explains why you have been working here past curfew." The mastiff said in a accusatory tone.

“You, you know about that?" The project leader said.

“I know a lot about your actives Mr. Wall. Violating the master's curfew is a very serious crime."

“Sir Knight! I am model citizen! Look at my record! I would not violate the law without good reason!"

Ben had Sanda scan the man's tracking chip. He showed the results to the mastiff knight while I observed.

“His tracking chip shows that he was at this site yesterday evening between 7 PM and 11 PM." The caracal said.

“Never the less Stanley Wall you did." Ben said solemnly. “Look at this." The mastiff said projecting an time elapsed image from the construction site. “That is you working on site."

Seeing that the knights had him dead to right, the project leader dropped to his knees in front of the senior knight of Sogreth.

“Yes, it was me!! I know I what I did was wrong- but the curfew has hampered my business! Sir Knight please... I am desperate! I must finish this project as soon as possible. I am begging you!"

“You know the punishment is very severe for circumventing the master's efforts to restore order don't you?" Ben said to the man who looked liked he was going to start crying at any minute.

“I am a law abiding citizen except for this one offense please sir knight could you over look this, please I will do anything!" The project leader said.

“Anything?" The mastiff warrior said to the cowering man.

“Anything!" The project leader said in front of his shocked employees. As Sanda and I just stared, we couldn't believe what we were seeing.

(Was this senior knight of Sogreth about to accept a bribe?)

“Kiss my foot-paws human!" Ben said smiling quite darkly.

Mr. Wall realizing that his future was about to be determined by this beastial warrior kneeled and kissed the mastiff's left foot-paw- several times.

“Now the other one." Ben ordered the project leader.

Mr. Wall did as ordered.

“Now tell me who is the most kindest, generous and most understanding warrior in all of the knight core?" The mastiff beastial said goading the man.

“You are sir knight." Mr. Wall said standing back up. “So we are good?"

“No. I was just screwing with you." Ben said pulling what looked like a golden stick from his communicator and throwing at the project leader.

Instantly Mr. Thorn found his hands and feet were bound by the weird restraints. The mastiff then picked up the man and threw him into the trunk of the compact hover vehicle. Somehow he managed to fit.

(Wow...)

“But sir knight I thought we had an agreement!" The project leader said.

“Nope." The beastial warrior said sitting back into compact. Sanda and I traded glances with each other.

“Relax you two, he will be punished on lesser charge, well if I feel like it." Ben said powering on the compact. We drove away amid stunned glances from the project leader's employees.

“Um, so where to next mate?" The caracal asked.

“Well one of our honey pots on the northside is indicating that it has a capture." The mastiff knight said. “Let's investigate."

“So what honey pots do you use here in World Four?" I asked the mastiff knight.

“You will see, where we are going the Marble-side neighborhood has a lot of hover vehicle thefts and particularly smart thieves that know how to by pass protections, so we decided to leave some traps which we are going to check on now."

The marble-side neighborhood consisted of small single level houses. Ben pulled up to a side street which had three hover vehicles parked on it. Just staring at the sedan's unique designs told Sanda and myself that they were expensive.

“Do you two see anything?" The senior knight of Sogreth said.

“It looks like the first of the three has some beast in it." I said to him.

“That would be our thief." The mastiff said as we observed a trapped raccoon desperately try to break out from inside the expensive looking sedan.

“You aren't going anywhere." Ben said as he pulled along side.

“But I didn't do anything!" The terrified beastial said.

“If that is true, then how did you get inside mate?" Sanda asked as Ben got out went to the trunk of the sub-compact, pulled out his earlier capture- Stanley Wall.

“You are letting me go?" The terrified human asked.

“No just changing vehicles." Ben said stuffing him in the trunk of the expensive looking sedan that the raccoon was trying to get out of.

Sanda and I were surprised at how the knights in this city treated their prisoners- really hard core.

(Or was it just Ben?)

With that we stopped for lunch at a nearby diner.

“So what do you think?" Ben said as we drove up to a free standing yellow and red building. “This is one of the most popular eating places here in the city."

“A stand with tables?" I said.

It reminded me of a fast food drive-in I had scene on Gaia, very retro.

“Very unique." The caracal added.

“It is. Have a seat at one of the tables, order what you want and they will bring it out to you." The mastiff knight said.

So we decided to eat there for lunch. Ben ordered fish and chips while Sanda and I decided on tuna salad. The fall weather that afternoon was not too hot and not to cold; it was perfect.

“So you know a few of the cases we have been working in World One. What have you been working on in World Four?" I asked our host.

“Where to begin- well we had a escape from the castle dungeon a con-artist the Swindler. But nothing we can't handle. We also have heard that the Animalitia or what is left of them has taken up residence here in the city. The core is on high alert." The mastiff warrior said as he directed his attention back toward the stand.

Sanda and I turned our heads to see what our host was looking at- we saw a tan pig in nice clothing talking to a waiter within the stand. He locked eyes with the mastiff knight- the mastiff knight locked eyes with him and quickly walked off.

Sanda and I turned our heads back to Ben who calmly pressed a button on his wrist communicator before returning to his lunch. The pig got five paces away from the stand before he was tacked by three junior knights and carried off.

“Wow." I said.

“Extortion." Ben said to Sanda and myself.

“Well you can't cure stupid. Doing that in front of the knight core." Sanda added.

“The days may change but the crap remains the same." Ben admitted to us.

“You mean it is like you are sinking in quicksand and someone keeps piling on weights?" I asked our host.

“That is a very good analogy." He said to me. “I don't know if you see it, but the empire's problems just seem to be increasing and increasing with no end in site. I fear it is going to lead to a collapse at some point." The mastiff lamented.

“Easy mate what you are saying could be interpreted as blasphemy." Sanda warned growing very serious.

“I suppose you are right Watch Supervisor, but the signs are there."

“I disagree, I think the High Evolutionary and the empire will survive this and come out even stronger in then before." Sanda said.

“Spoken like a true knight." The Watch Commander said. “Let's resume the patrol."

Ben and Sanda climbed back into the white compact without saying another word to each other.

“So where to now?" The knight of Sogreth asked.

“Um how about that?" I said pointing to a blue hover vehicle that flew over us.

“What is so special about that sedan?" The caracal asked me.

“Because its driver is pummeling somebeast on the vehicle's hood!" Ben said.

“Never a dull moment around here." I commented.

The mastiff knight engaged the hover mode and pursued. We pulled up to the two fighting teenage beastials the driver looked to be a male coyote and his inadvertent passenger a doberman.

As we flew by the two, Ben ordered the coyote to land NOW.

“This is quite similar to a shop owner I encountered that tried to stop a thief in a similar manner." I said.

“What did you do?" Ben asked me.

“I had another knight catch the passenger while the driver was forced back to the ground." I commented.

“I have something else in mind." The mastiff warrior said.

He aligned the compact so that we were side-by-side with the sedan. It was at that point Sanda and I opened our passenger doors and pulled the young beastial off of the hood and into our hover vehicle.

Sanda then locked eyes with the blue sedan's driver ordering him to land or else.

“Alright you two younglings want to explain your behavior?" Sanda asked the two when we all had landed.

“I hit him." The young coyote in white shirt and grey shorts admitted. “Accidentally. He tried to cross a intersection next to the last second, I thought I could beat him."

“Instead he sideswiped me. I guess I lost it and I hit him, um repeatedly." The doberman who was dressed in a yellow shirt with black shorts said.

“With the way you two were behaving you could have lost more than that." Ben said yelling at the teens. “You also violated several of the master's laws- you know which ones I am talking about."

The two teens looked at each other.

“What is the punishment for failing to love and respect your fellow beastial?" The coyote asked nervously.

“Quite severe I am afraid." Sanda said quite sternly.

“However, in light of your stupidity I will overlook this incident." The mastiff knight said.

“YOU WILL?" The two teens said in unison.

“YOU WILL?" Sanda and I said looking at our host.

“Yes if you two kiss and make up right now. Coyote, look into the doberman's eyes apologize say you love and respect him and acknowledge his right to exist. Doberman you do the same." Ben said. His voice assuming some authority.

The shocked teens complied with the knight's orders.

“Now kiss!"

“SIR?!" The coyote beastial said shocked.

“Do it." Ben ordered.

The three of us watched with sick fascination and wonder as the coyote and doberman kissed snout to snout.

“Are we done sir?" The doberman asked.

“Again!" The mastiff knight ordered. “Longer this time! Like you mean it!"

The two males then kissed longer for about twenty seconds or so.

“I am sorry I hit you." The coyote said to the doberman.

“Well, I am sorry I hit you back." The doberman said to the coyote.

“As of this moment you two have become friends. Hear me now, you two escaped a very serious charge this afternoon. If I ever see you two behaving like this again it is DE-EVOLUTION for the two of you!"

“Yes sir!" The two teens said bowing respectfully.

“Now give your new friend a ride home." Ben ordered.

(That was just, just wow...)

“Wow you scared the stupid out of both of them mate."

“I hope I did Sanda." The mastiff said. “If not that is just another example that this world is doomed."

Afterwards the three of us returned to the white compact, where the mastiff knight checked on the map of subordinates in the field again. “This one looks interesting." He said turning to his communicator.

“Chester here Watch Commander."

“I see you are investigating reports of a first class citizen masquerading as second class citizen." Ben said to the white rabbit we had met earlier.

“Why yes sir."

“Hold off, I want to be there for this." The senior knight said to the junior knight.

It was just before 4 PM at a nice sky-rise loft, an expensive one on the eastside with picturesque views of the dark city. There was a knock on the door, a man with a distinctive looking hat wearing a white robe answered.

“I am looking for Martin May." The white rabbit asked.

“Speaking." The black haired man who appeared to be in his late forties said confidently with a little twang in his voice. “What can I do you for little fella?" He said opening the door to the gorgeous apartment.

“Interesting you don't look like Martin May." Chester said entering the apartment and sitting down on the plush sectional.

“Why would you say that little fella?" The imposter said dumbfounded the junior knight made himself at home.

“That is because Mr. May is a chinchilla- a beastial one at that." Ben said walking into the apartment. “You human are no chinchilla."

“Well, well as I live and breathe Gene Yuss, aka Mr. Big, aka Mr. Sexy, aka Richie Rich! How are ya mate!" Sanda said smiling as he and I entered the apartment. “Let me guess you were house sitting right?!"

“Lord Tiger has been looking for YOU for a long time." I said blocking the doorway. “What's wrong? Got tired of expensive hotels?"

“OH BOTHER!" The con-artist exhaled as he was hauled away.

“Watch him he is a slippery one mate." The caracal said to the mastiff.

It was late afternoon when Ben finally brought us back to castle Sogreth for the big unveiling of the knight's new prototype after shadowing him in the field. Since the vehicle was top secret, very few were invited to the unveiling which was in yet another of the castle's spires.

“Now this is what I have been waiting for all day!" I said excitedly to the mastiff and caracal who were standing next to me.

In front of us on the pedestal underneath a white shroud was Sogreth Castle's own prototype. The vehicle that would back up their forces in World Four if they were ever out classed or out matched. I had been waiting for this moment all day!

“Just us three?" Sanda said to Ben.

“No, the commander and the chief scientist should be along any minute now as well." The mastiff knight said to the caracal. “And there she is."

I turned to the entrance of the launch bay to see a brown female gorilla about as tall as my mistress in a blue uniform with grey plating on her wrists, shoulders and torso. There she was Lady Keiko the commander of the Knights of Sogreth and the only commander of the knight core I hadn't met.

“Hi! You must be Lady Keiko!" I said running up to meet the fierce and powerful knight.

She looked me up and down. “Yes I am." She said walking by, brushing me off without a second glance.

“Watch Commander!" The gorilla said to the mastiff.

“Commander?" Ben said to the female gorilla.

“How did that get in here?" Lady Keiko asked.

“They are the visitors from Castle Wundagore."

“What happened to their chief scientist and product developer?"

“Busy ma'am." The mastiff knight responded. “They were sent instead."

“I see." The female knight said as castle Sogreth's own chief scientist entered the room to begin the presentation.

“Good afternoon. I would like to extend a special welcome to our visitors from World One. I am Master Koala chief scientist and designer here at the castle Sogreth. And now for the event that you have been waiting for."

With that the small cute bear in a lab coat pulled off the shroud to unveil a black two seater utility vehicle. A pick-up truck with a hard top canopy on the bed. Well on my world they would have called it that. Here on Counter Earth I am not so sure.

“A utility vehicle mate?" Sanda said to the bear scientist.

“Not just any utility vehicle. This is a high power, weapon disguised as a utility vehicle. I call it the attack beast or beast for short." Master Koala said. “Its creation was inspired by similar devices in World One.

(Devices?!)

“What you are looking at is a high powered heavily loaded assault vehicle." The chief scientist said pressing a button on the pad he was carrying. As he did the grill on the front of the truck dropped down to reveal weapons tubules. At the same time the hood of the vehicle slid upward to cover the windshield.

“Wow." Sanda said.

“This vehicle has a rocket launchers, machine guns, laser cannons and some other goodies which are classified. Weapons can be launched one at a time or simultaneously. The hood has heavy armor plating that extends over the windshield to protect the operator inside the cab." The Koala smiled proudly.

“Impressive. You have outdone yourself Master Koala." Lady Keiko said.

“Thank you commander, but there is more. The hardtop canopy on the back is weapons turret that can fire from all sides of the vehicle independently from the weapons tubules allowing the vehicle to attack from the rear, side or front."

“So the armor is primarily the hood of the vehicle?" Ben asked.

“Yes Watch Commander." The chief scientist said.

“What about the rest of the vehicle?" Lady Keiko asked.

“It is lined with a lite coated alloy to withstand moderate attacks. Just enough to keep the operator safe until the target can be eliminated." The little bear said.

“Let's get a look at her Alex." Sanda said to me.

I joined Lady Keiko and Sanda examining the vehicle, it appeared durable but the dashboard was very cluttered.

“A single monitor with buttons surrounding it. That is one cluttered weapons console." I said to the mastiff.

“True but it will become familiar enough in time." The mastiff said as he pushed me aside and sat down in the black prototype. I fell backward into Sanda and he into Lady Keiko.

“Hey!" I shouted.

“Sorry about that Specialist, Watch Supervisor, Commander." The mastiff said drawing his weapon. “But I have plans for this invention far beyond the knight core."

World Four was a dark and foreboding city; the problem child within the empire. It was indeed known for having the highest level of crime, corruption and turnover within the city and knight core. On that afternoon Sanda and I got to observe that first hand.

To Be Continued....