Chloe At Worlds' End
Chapter 9

With their excitement piqued, they all barreled down stairs and out the front door, excluding their enchanted furniture friends of course, and assembled in front of the house. Chloe said to everyone

“I’m very relieved that we were able to safely restore the house here, hopefully it will remain so indefinitely. If any of us wanted to take a little time exploring the grounds then we shouldn’t feel so pressed for time that we couldn’t” That was all she needed to say apparently as everyone giddily shot forth toward directions of their curiosities. As the figurative dust settled, Chloe looked down to the last one standing there with her, saying

“Mother, maybe we should also take a little walk and find a place where we can relax and devise a plan”

“Yes Chloe, lets walk towards the creek at the rear of the house”

They picked their way through the dense growth and stopped at the edge of the creek. Actually, it was more of a deep gorge now, as the passage of time had allowed the water to carve it thus. They turned to their right and followed its’ direction of flow, and came to the top of a small hill where a large rock presented a nice place to sit while enjoying a view of the gorge as it continued along its’ downward path. As Chloe sat with her back against the rock, she caught sight of Ms. Aggie floating by in the gorge, and waved. Then a moment later she heard some rustling, and as her and Mother craned their necks back, they saw Grog swoop by from one vine to the next while whooping excitedly, followed by Onri and Alessandro as they ran along in chase. Chloe said

“Mother, I’m feeling very distressed by what you said has become of the people of Sanctum. Not only are they now trapped there in that dead place, but they are also evolutionally devolving… what are we to do?”

“Yes, it is very distressing indeed. As I said, I felt compelled to extricate myself from my domain and the effects that it would have upon my memories of their new existence. It would be better if I am not tainted any further of it until we have remedied their situation… if at all possible”

“Are you saying that it may be possible to reverse what Rajeem has done to them… and his brethren as well?”

“Yes, I believe so. But it would be useless to try until we have neutralized Rajeem’s ability to meddle with it”

“Yes, I see. And do you think that I will remain protected from those effects as long as I am excluded from the realm?”

“Yes most definitely, all of us here are…”

“Oh Mother, I am so afraid of what could happen if I fail to correct this. My whole race could be forever in peril… if not completely exterminated”

“You are right to be afraid. We must use extreme caution in going forward. We may get only one chance in confronting Rajeem directly when we have found where he is… he may be hiding himself bodily as a result of how he was defeated so long ago, and has decided that it is unnecessary to risk himself when his projections through the mist can wield his powers all the same” Chloe countered

“I think I must stay concealed from him initially once I make my way back to Sanctum. Since I and the others are presently extricated from the realm, are we invisible from his perception?”

“Yes, that is certainly so”

“Well that is at least an important and comforting fact, and it’s also something that we can use in our favor while formulating and carrying out some kind of a plan”

As Chloe and Mother sat for a spell in silence and thought while watching Ms. Aggie below, Colin glided down from above and landed at their feet, saying

“I have just had the most wondrous time stretching my wings above this endless and beautiful forest. So, have we any new plans?” Chloe answered

“Not particularly yet… but Mother has confirmed that we are at least invisible from Rajeem’s perception, as long as we stay out of sight. That gives us time to covertly journey back to Sanctum and assess the situation”

Onri and Alessandro then walked up to them, followed by Grog and Sissy, and stood before them. Onri asked

“Are we ready to make our way back to Sanctum?” Alessandro also added

“Yes, I’m anxious as well… and I’m very afraid of what may be happening there” Chloe said

“Yes, I am too. Let’s go back to the house and get ready to go” She waved to Ms. Aggie below to join them, and proceeded towards the house.

Once they were all back in the attic and sitting around Mr. Carpet, Chloe continued

“Maybe it would be better if some of us stayed here… for safety’s sake. Mother, you are the embodiment of all consciousness and memory for the entire planet… and you said that your current form here with us now is the only vessel of it… isn’t that dangerously precarious?”

“Yes, if something were to happen to me, then all of the planets evolutional memory would be wiped clean”

“Then I should think that it would be best if you remained here. If anyone else wishes to stay here, then they should be free to…”

They all looked among themselves, and Ms. Aggie spoke up

“I think that I would like to go to the Zoo District to be with and check on my children… would that be alright?” Chloe answered

“But of course” Sissy also volunteered

“Sss… I would also feel more comfortable there as well, and I could possibly help by staking myself out near the volcano to keep watch for anything suspicious” Chloe answered

“That sounds like a good plan, Sissy” Onri then added

“Since we have not actually found him bodily yet, maybe that could be part of our plan… we could spread out at different locations and keep watch, then alert you if we see him or anything pertinent” Alessandro agreed, asking

“Yes, could you and I keep watch near the grids old central control back near my home? That seems a logical lookout location” Chloe concurred

“Thank you everyone for helping with the great ideas! That is precisely what we shall do next, let us leave here now. Mr. Carpet, would you care to join us again?”

“You bet Chloe, let’s go!” Chloe bid the remainder of them farewell once they were again seated upon Mr. Magic Carpet

“Well, wish us luck… we will need it!” Mother added

“We will keep in constant contact within our minds… all of us will, as I will make it so… so in essence I will be along for the ride as well”

As Mr. Carpet ferried them above the floor and out the open French doors, they all waved and bid goodbye to their enchanted furniture friends. As they passed over the balcony railing and into the sky, Chloe aimed her staff to the horizon. The swirling mists again emitted from its jewel and produced a thick violet cloud before them, and without hesitation they flew into it and vanished from sight. They seemingly passed through it as a portal and exited the other side above a familiar black sandy bay and landed upon its’ dock. Ms. Aggie said

“Well, this is where I will be if I am needed” and she dove into the bay. It didn’t seem necessary to say good bye, as they all could sense their new common links of communication with each other in their minds. Sissy offered

“Sss… I will journey alone to the volcano covertly” Chloe agreed

“Yes, Rajeem could indeed be there, and it would blow our cover if we were all seen in the area”

As Chloe, Onri, Alessandro, Colin, and Grog watched her slither off past the black sand beach and into the flora, Onri asked

“If Alessandro and I are to keep watch at the grids’ old central control area, could you help us get there undetected?”

“Yes, I will send you there directly… here you go!” Onri exclaimed

“Wait! I think maybe we would feel safer if Grog came with us…” Chloe asked Grog

“How about it Grog, will you go with them?” He answered

“Yes, I think that is a good idea” Chloe motioned with her staff and the mists swirled about them… then they were gone. Colin looked up at Chloe, as they were the last ones sitting there upon Mr. Carpet. He asked

“Well, where do you propose that we should go first?”

“I am feeling a little afraid to appear anywhere in Sanctum just now for fear of blowing our cover, but I have one location in mind…”

She again pointed her staff skyward and the misty portal beckoned.

“Mr. Carpet, if you please…” They rose from the dock into the sky and flew through it. When they came out the other side, Colin recognized where they were. Mr. Carpet held their position stationary as they surveyed the scene below them. From their vantage at the extreme edge of Sanctum up near the dark rocky ceiling by the now decimated outer doors which were previously destroyed, it was apparent that it was presently night time, as the fusion orb was cycling through Sanctum at another location. But through the still functioning dim emergency lighting, what they could see below them was truly a ghastly sight. Chloe and Colin’s mouth’s dropped open as they saw in the distance crowds of man-ape like creatures being compelled to work as slaves in clearing great piles of rubble, as large overgrown and erect standing wolves brandished whips upon them. There were also similar groups that could be seen far off in the distance as well. Chloe said

“Oh Colin, this is much worse than I imagined. I would like to journey onwards in reconnaissance among the shadows up here, but I still feel that we’re too exposed to chance it…” Colin offered

“Well, I could certainly do that for us. It is of no consequence if I am seen, as I am just an ordinary looking crow”

“Oh, yes please. You will be our eyes for now” As Chloe and Mr. Carpet kept their relative cover, Colin flew off.

When their violet mists cleared, Onri, Alessandro, and Grog found themselves standing in the familiar secluded alcove of the building that was around the corner from the old grids’ central control. Onri said

“This is a good starting place for us, we are well hidden here” Alessandro observed

“Oh my, I would feel better if it was evening time, rather than daylight”

They all peeked out from around the corner of their seclusion. The same street was visible as before beyond the small hall way before them, but they saw no one… or any activity at all. They chanced a few more steps to the edge of the hall way… and they could see the entire streets’ length to the left and right, which was strewn with rubble… still there was nothing. Onri thought “Chloe… can you hear me?”

“Yes Onri, I can. Are you three okay?”

“Yes we are… hey, this is fun. It’s like having built in walkie-talkies in our heads!”

“Are you safe in the alcove?”

“Yes, we are peeking out just now and we don’t see any activity at all. I will let you know in a few minutes if we see anything”

“Okay…”

“Roger… over and out… ha ha, I always wanted to say that”

“Oh you’re silly Onri, ha ha”

Sissy felt well as she made her way along the brush of her home environment, she was glad to be back home. It took a couple of hours for her journey, but here she was just coming to the edge the jungle. She stopped and looked out past the distance that spanned the length of the magma river to the entrance of the mountain. She thought

“Sss… Chloe, I am here near the volcano. I don’t see much of anything happening… wait, I see someone coming out!” She watched as two of the horrid wolf creatures walked out from the entrance. From her distance away, she thought that they looked quite large. They were walking mostly erect, but with a pronounced crouch that was inherent to their form. And they had taken to wearing clothing… tunics at their waists.

“Sss… there are two wolf things coming this way. It looks like they may walk right past me. I will stay hidden here beneath this rock and watch…” They walked directly towards her as they conversed, or more like argued. As they reached her, she could hear what they were saying.

“Master has told us that we must continue looking for them and it is our turn today, so stop being lazy!”

“You’re the lazy one… I had to drag YOU out of bed!”

“Aww shut your trap!”

They walked right past her into the jungle.

“Sss… Chloe, they were talking as they went by. They are looking for us and in constant patrol here while taking shifts amongst themselves. I will follow them and see what else I can find out”

“Good work Sissy!”

Colin flew towards the dead bay, it was still dark out but he could see well enough through the dim light. He passed over one group, then another, of man-ape slaves as they toiled under the whips of the wolves. There were lighted torches interspersed here and there among them. When he reached his old familiar area of the bay he swooped down and landed upon a charred wooden post, where seemingly in another lifetime he had sat and watched while Onri dumped stinky fish water onto Chloe’s dress. The post was now surrounded by only water where the once accompanying dock had sat before it burned and sank. And it was very quiet… as there were no longer any currents or waves in the dead water. The mostly wrecked and burned building of ‘Charlie’s Boat Shop’ was visible nearby, and as Colin studied it, he was startled to see some movement inside past the shattered window through which Grog had jumped. He chanced a closer look as he sprang to the air and landed upon the rocks near it which bordered the shore.

There it was again… someone or something was hiding there within the shadows, and likely spying back at him. Well… he still felt a measure of safety, as all birds do since they can become immediately airborne, so he hopped closer and stood just a few feet away from the broken window pane. As his eyes adjusted to the dark interior, he became startled as he could suddenly discern that a man-ape was standing just there and focusing all of its attention upon him! He almost flew off in alarm… but then didn’t as he saw that it was docile and unmoving. He felt safe again and hopped a little closer and stood looking up at its face… why, he could recognize that it was Charlie! His clothing was now tattered and ragged as it hung off him, but his face still had some of its discernable features. He also still had remnants of his blond head of hair, which was now dirty and stringy. His large eyes looked sad as they peered back at him with a look of… possibly confused recognition? Colin spoke to him

“Charlie… is that you?” Charlie’s eyes widened with a start when he heard his name, but he didn’t move or say anything. Colin could tell Charlie’s mind was racing as a range of emotions crossed his face. Some tears began well up in his eyes… but he seemed unable to speak as he tried to mouth some words. Colin cocked his head as he tried to discern any intelligible sound. A look of frustration dominated Charlie’s face as he continued trying to speak. A few sounds came, but they were clearly not yet words as he became aggressively agitated and lashed out at his surroundings. He roared and kicked the remnants of nearby furnishings, which splintered and flew from his feet. Colin watched alarmingly as his fit played out, then subsided. Charlie looked defeated as he then sat amongst the rubble and buried his face into his open monkey palms. Colin sadly hopped over to him and jumped onto his knee. Charlie continued to cry for a few minutes… then settled down. When he pulled his hands away, he again looked at Collin with his sad and expressive eyes. Colin asked

“Charlie… can you understand me when I speak?” He was answered by an enthusiastic nod

“Well that is good! Then maybe your speech will return when you are not trying so hard and are more relaxed…” Charlie’s face brightened with the idea and he gave a friendly smile. He tried again… and a few words unexpectedly flew from his lips.

“Maybe you are right… HEY!”

“There you are… See? I knew you had it in you!” Charlie suddenly looked hugely relieved, he said

“I think I recognize you… aren’t you the bird that was always hanging around Onri and his sister Chloe?”

“Yes, that would be me. My name is Colin; it’s nice to meet you”

“Likewise… Oh Colin, I am so distressed that I feel sick. I just don’t understand any of these things that are happening… What the hell is going on… do you know anything at all!?”

“Well, you are asking the right bird, for I happen to probably know everything about it!”

Colin relayed to him everything that he knew, which took up an hours’ time to tell it all. Charlie sat with his mouth agape in stupefied silence the whole time without uttering a single word. When Colin finished speaking, he waited a full minute before Charlie was apparently able to let it all soak in and say something in return.

“I feel compelled to ask you where it all goes from here, but I’m even more afraid that there is no answer… and everything… everyone … is doomed!”

“Well at least on that account I can tell you that ‘Mother’, who I’ve mentioned, has said that there may be one chance left to us in reversing all of the damage… and that is what we’re currently working on…”

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