Walls – Exodus

Prologue

Who am I?

It seemed like a ridiculous notion at first, but as I studied the reflection in my bedroom mirror, the reason one might ask that question was clear. Just a few years ago I was human, now I’m a hybrid.

Even now I could remember, if almost feel the place on my arm where they placed the symbiont. From there it had spread throughout my body, and changed me. Physically, and mentally, of which I'm still figuring out the latter.

Staring back in the reflection was the gaze of a large beast. Fur that’s black as sin, contrasted only by a few shades of gray, and a hint of red when the light struck me at the right angle, piercing yellow eyes, and fangs that poked out along my black lips.

Some of the fur along my neck seemed messy, and I gave my fingers a quick lick. I brushed at it, but the spikey fur wouldn’t budge, as if growing the way. It was a subtle reminder of my past, and the journey that had brought me here. An axe, delivered straight to my neck. Somehow I survived, and ended up with an alter ego sharing my mind.

‘Just an alter ego?’ Volkov whispered in my mind.

“Hush," I said out loud.

'Don't hush me, also… The car is en route and will arrive in a few minutes,' Volkov added.

'Roger that,' I thought.

As I looked back in the mirror, I caught myself at a menacing angle. Bared fangs, sharp eyes staring back, looming like a beast ready to snap at its prey. As a human I would have scared myself, but now it was just my own reflection.

I am a citizen of Sophos, a wolf, and the Alpha of my pack.

Is that all I am?

With a deep breath, I stepped back from the mirror and looked toward the bed. Laying on top of it was the green uniform of someone who was part of the Sophos Defense Force. I walked up to it, looked into the neck of it, and saw my own name, Vilkas.

Just a few weeks ago it was nothing more than a way to learn more about our nation, possibly even meet others from a neighboring country. Then the bomb struck out of nowhere.

A nuclear bomb dropped on expedition outpost Aurora, the first settlement that had been established outside of this island since the collapse. Hundreds of lives had been snuffed out in an instant.

War loomed on the horizon, and in the midst of everything we were still struggling with the human cults that were growing increasingly volatile.

That particular problem was rather personal as well. My only human friend had almost fallen victim to them, and it was only at the last second that we managed to escape. I reached down, and felt along my abdomen where some of the fur was still growing in.

The cultists crashed our car as we were escaping. Jason was injured, I was shot in the process, and in the chaos of it all I lost control. I sighed to myself, and reminded myself that it was in self-defense.

It was never my intention to kill, but with all the pain, and the anger… the beast took over.

'He shot you, you defended yourself, and saved Jason's life. What's the problem?' Volkov asked.

Cold, but rational…

'I now know what human flesh tastes like, and it's an experience I could have lived without.'

'Fair enough,' Volkov answered.

I picked up the uniform from the bed, and brought it closer as I gave it a sniff. It smelled of detergent, and a hint of Mother's scent.

A feline, sharp, pragmatic, a tad distant, but caring when one understood her.

Father was the polar opposite, warm, understanding, idealistic, a gentle giant.

My ears perked as I heard a car pull up outside.

'Told you it would be here,' Volkov whispered.

“Yeah, yeah," I murmured, and began to pull the uniform on.

Chapter 1 – In the shadow of giants

512 A.R. February 7, Train station, Morning

My gaze drifted to the right, and I looked out across the parking lot. People seemed to be living their lives as if little had changed. A feline was running toward the station as I train began to pull in, and I could see his thoughts. The stairs were too far away, so he turned toward the raised platform, and with an elegant leap he landed on the platform just as the train came to a halt. A few on the platform gave him a glance, and someone said something. The feline nodded apologetically, and made something of an awkward smile.

Just a week ago the entire nation had still been on high alert. The sky had hummed with the presence of drones, turrets had risen out of the city, and armored shutters had covered every window.

Now people didn't know what to make of it. The Aurora colony was no more, but none of the human nations took credit for it, nor did any other attacks follow. That left the ball in our hands.

A sudden knock on the window made my ears perk in surprise, and as I looked to the side I could see Peter staring back at me with his nose squished against the window. He smirked like an idiot, and gave me a wave with his big paw.

I huffed to myself, and gave the window a quick knock. It made him step back, still smiling, and his tail wagging in amusement as he started to circle the car. My eyes followed his tail, as he strode up to the other side, grabbed the handle, and found it locked.

“Hmm?" Peter murmured in surprise as he peered up at me.

Right… New car…

“Security, mark Peter as trusted," I said out loud.

“Peter marked as trusted," The central console chirped, and the door unlocked with a click.

Peter opened the door, almost threw himself inside, and the car bounced a little as he settled into place.

“Morning," Peter said, still smirking as he pulled the door shut.

His scent was perky, just like pepper, and it looked as if he'd combed through his fur. Usually his ruffled fur revealed a great many hues of brown, but now it had an almost golden sheen to it.

I could feel my tail wiggle against the seat, and I leaned into the urge I was feeling. It made me lean toward him with my head, and I murmured, “You seem rather happy."

Peter was quick to reciprocate as he leaned in, brushed up along my own muzzle, and let our foreheads touch. It was a quick nudge, and a simple touch, but it felt like a burst of emotion. I could feel fur meeting fur, scents mixing, and then I felt a tingle.

It was similar to interface with a machine, but this time it was with another person. I wasn't sure if Peter noticed what was going on, but I could feel my nerves tense up as a link formed between us.

I couldn't read his thoughts, but it felt as if his emotions were somehow spilling over. He was happy to see his Alpha, excited to wear the uniform, and he longed to see the others. As I let the sensation wash over me, something caught in my mind's eye.

I wasn't sure whether it was a memory, or my own imagination, but I could see Peter standing in front of his mirror, with a brush in his hand. He was uncertain for some reason, but began to brush himself as he brought out that golden sheen. After a while he looked up, and to his surprise realized that the difference between his combed and unruly fur made him look like a patchwork. That in turn forced him to brush everything, which made him late, and almost made him miss his train in the process.

Without warning the connection between us was severed, and Peter leaned back in surprise. He stared at me as if unsure of what just happened.

What is this? Is this natural?

“You look fine, Peter," I said, and smiled.

His ears perked, and then fluttered a little as he grew another sheepish grin, “… Thanks."

I knew our thoughts could wander as we slept together, but this was something else.

Telepathy? Mind reading? Thought reading?

Peter averted his gaze, and reached up to scratch his cheek, “So, first day in the Defense Force."

“Yeah," I said.

Peter patted his green uniform, “It's a bit warm, but other than that it's easy to move around in."

I nodded, and looked over at the center console, “Navigation, take us to Allen's house."

“Destination set, please put on your seat belts," The car chirped, and a gentle whine began to emanate from below. Peter put on his seat belt, and the car was already starting to move as the center console changed to display a large map.

Peter idly adjusted his tail along the seat, and looked over at me, “You all right, Vilkas?"

“Oh, I'm fine," I said.

Peter kept his focus on me, “You seem worried."

“I do?" I asked, and looked over at him.

Peter looked uncertain, and shrugged, “Just a feeling I got."

I reached up, and brushed my temple, “Yeah, I guess I am. I have something of a headache as well."

Peter looked up in wonder as his ears perked, “A headache? Can hybrids even have headaches?"

Can we? Now that you mention it, I can't remember having one for quite a while...

“Let's call it a troubling sensation," I said, and smiled back.

Peter stared at me for a brief moment, and looked in front, “Yeah, I think we all have a bit of that."

“Oh?" I wondered.

Peter swiped at the air as if irritated, “The humans lobbed a nuclear-fucking-bomb at the only good chance we had of retaking the planet. Between asking ourselves WHY the bastards did this, to the anger THAT they did it, we've done absolutely nothing."

“We'll recover," I said.

Peter let his raised arm relax with a sigh, “Sure, but that's not the point."

My gaze drifted to the road, and passing cars, “Are you suggesting we lob a nuke at them as well?"

“… No, but what kind of message does it send when we just swallow and ask for seconds?"

“I'm sure people are trying to find out who was responsible, and then we can start taking measures to stop it from happening again," I said.

“Yeah," Peter whispered.

After a few moments he spoke up once more, “Are we doing the right thing? Joining the defense force at a time like this?"

I eased back from the window, and turned to look at Peter, “What do you think?"

Peter tipped his head a little, “You're the Alpha now, not me."

I raised my brow, “That's not how this works."

“You lead, we follow," Peter said.

I sighed, “I lead based on what the pack wants. I'm supposed to be a mediator, not a dictator."

Peter murmured something under his breath and looked away.

“What? Talk to me?" I asked.

“Mom doesn't like it. She thinks the AIs are more than capable of dealing with this. Dad's supportive, as long as we don't leave the country... he says it will help us learn."

I smiled, “Well, we're the defense force to begin with. Even if there was a war, we wouldn't see the front lines of it."

“I'm surprised at how quickly we reacted to the bomb. Every car was redirected to the bunkers. Turrets emerged from places where I had never expected them, and drones took to the sky. Athena's voice could be heard from every screen."

“But the world did not end," I said.

Peter looked back at me and nodded, “Yeah, by a whisker... If Ares had launched a counterattack, then the whole island would probably be a wasteland by now."

“But he didn't," I said.

Athena… Ares… When shit hits the fan, the AIs are the ones calling the shots...

“Have you heard anything about what's going on behind the scenes?" Peter asked.

I raised my brow, “… No, why?"

Peter motioned to me, “Well, you've talked to the AIs repeatedly, that's more than what most of us have done."

“It's not like that, besides… Anything that the AI's know should be in the Archives for everyone to access," I said.

Peter stifled a chuckle, “You say that, but the Archives are massive… It's a maze even with Expert Systems to help out."

“True," I whispered.

“So why do they talk to you, but not the rest of us?" Peter asked.

“Personally, I think they should talk to everyone. But according to Athena there's a certain fear that we'll become dependent on her, and then people will stop doubting her intentions," I said.

Peter raised his brow and stared back in confusion, “Let me get this straight, they're intentionally keeping us in the dark in order to make sure we distrust them?"

“In a way, yes… Their decisions must be scrutinized, and if she involves herself too much, then there's a risk we become biased, or complacent."

“But it's all right to be friends with you?" Peter asked.

Almost sounds as if you're interrogating me...

I scratched my ear and leaned against the window, “I wasn't sure I wanted a symbiont… Athena helped convince me, and she thinks that we know each other to a point where it would be rude if she stopped talking with me..."

“... "Because it would be rude?" Peter asked.

I looked back at Peter, “Athena can't lie, none of the AIs can lie… but that doesn't stop her from obscuring, or withholding the truth. So, while it might be true that it's rude to stop talking with someone, it's probably not the biggest reason for it. Anyway, I don't always agree with her conclusions, and I think we as a people can coexist and collaborate without the need to act as a creepy overlord."

“Mm," Peter murmured, and then perked up once more, “So, how's that human friend of yours doing? He ended up in Athena's psyche ward, right?"

“Ah, he was already in Athena's care… He just had a lapse in judgment and decided to run away with Hedwig," I said.

Peter raised his brow, “A lapse in judgment? Running away with the child saint of a religious cult?"

I scratched my temple as I considered the madness of it, “There was more to it than that, you know… But he's better now, and from what I've heard he's heading to a support home."

“Support home? Like a foster home to reintegrate him?" Peter asked.

I nodded, “Something like it."

“Well, that's good at least… So, what exactly are we doing today?" Peter asked.

“All I know is that we'll receive our orders when everyone's gathered."

Peter gave me a quizzical look, and dipped his head a little. After a few moments he seemed to change his mind about something, and straightened up, “Do you think Jason is going to… accept a Symbiont one day?"

I pondered it for a moment, “His dad's dead, and his mom disappeared with the cult. His foster family is going to be folks like us, and last time I checked it didn't sound as if he hated the idea. So, maybe, hopefully? Though Athena doesn't think he's ready for that yet."

Peter raised his brow, and grew a sly smile, “Do you think he wants to be a wolf?"

I smiled to myself, and shook my head, “He's not a wolf, Peter. In heart or mind."

Peter stifled a chuckle and looked at me with ears perked high, “And we were? Four scrawny humans who would go green at the sight of blood? Only reason we ended up what we are is because of our parents."

“Well," I whispered and motioned at him, “My mother's feline, and yours is a bear."

Peter bared his teeth, held his arm up, and flexed it so that the uniform tightened, “Mom's great, but I was never able to resist this kind of build!"

Living in a society of hybrids had a way of shifting one's preferences, and I couldn't help but feel as if it that preference had grown stronger, or rather, more inherent by becoming a hybrid.

As I watched Peter, I found myself looking at things I couldn't remember thinking of as a human. The glint of his teeth as he moved his muzzle, the strong if somewhat bestial posture, and the way his black claws became more pronounced.

To simply see the fur shift as his muscles flexed made me smile to myself, “It does have its charm."

Peter leaned back once more, but the way his tail thrashed against the seat was more than enough to reveal the sudden excitement that simmered in his blood.

Still smiling, he looked to the side, and raised his hand to point, “Oh, look, there they are!"

The car began to slow down as I looked in front. Two wolves stood on the sidewalk, both of them clad in green uniforms as expected. Allen's fur was a shade of sparkling white, and the murky weather did little to dampen it. John blended in a lot better with the well-groomed hues of gray that made him look professional, if a tad stern. Allen waved at us, while John seemed to play it cool as he watched with indifference, though it didn't work as I could see his tail wag.

The car slowed a stop next to them, and Allen began to circle it. John tried to open his door, but found it locked as he blinked in confusion.

“Security, mark John and Allen as trusted," I said.

“John and Allen added as trusted," The car chirped, and the door unlocked with a click.

“What a paranoid car," John said as he opened the door, and shuffled inside.

I turned around in my seat, and looked back as Allen opened his own door, “It does belong to the Defense Force, so it's not as user-friendly as the regular ones."

Allen eased into the car as I watched, and pulled the door shut as he spoke up, “It's not so much an issue of user-friendliness, as it is expected behavior of well-made security."

John huffed as he looked over at Allen, “It's a facade, Allen. Do you seriously believe one of the AIs couldn't take over the car if they wanted to?"

Volkov perked to life within the back of my mind, 'She can't, I checked, and it would be a major security issue if she could.'

I looked over at John, and pointed at the window, “I don't think they can to be honest, but they are more than capable of listening to what you're saying through sensors in all the utility poles along the street."

John glanced at the door, reached out, and pulled it shut it in haste. He then looked in front, leaned forward, and smiled as he met my gaze, “Yo, boss," he then looked over at Peter, “and what do we have here? Finally found a brush in that smelly den of yours, ey?"

Peter bared his teeth as he faced John, and murmured though clenched teeth, “I'll bite you."

“Hehe," John chuckled, and his ears folded back a little.

I reached out, caught John's muzzle, and made him look down as I turned his gaze upon me.

For a moment he looked at me in wonder, but as I leaned in and angled my head, he seemed to get the point. Our heads met, and I caught his scent up close as I let my muzzle brush along the side of his own.

John seemed to melt as I felt the presence of his mind. In just a few seconds he calmed down, and leaned into the gentle greeting. As I leaned back he did the same, and settled into his seat. I then turned further in my seat, and set my eyes on Allen.

Allen smiled and waved his hand once more in silence.

“Uniforms look good on you," I said, and motioned to the two of them.

John grabbed the front of his uniform and pulled at it, “Fabric's a bit stiff, but it'll work."

Allen idly scratched at the uniform with a claw, “It's a form of nanocellulose which is meant to stop low-caliber bullets, so it's bound to be a bit stiff."

“Just saying," John said, and looked back at me, “So where are we going? All I got were orders to wait for a pickup."

I motioned to the center console, “We'll find out soon as soon as we call Ares."

John's eyes widened as he looked at me, “Uh… Call Ares?"

“Relax," I said, and settled back in my chair, “Comms, establish a link to Ares."

A happy chirp was heard, and the screen showed a loading screen. Within moments the screen switched over to what looked like sea of gears filled with an orange-reddish glow. As the gears spun, a voice filled the inside of the car. It was calm, but rough at the edges, as if being uttered by an old man, or a machine that had been worn down by the passage of time.

“I am Ares, administrator for Sophos automated defenses, and acting coordinator for the Defense Force. As applicants for the Defense Force, you'll be put through a series of tests that will measure your ability to reason and behave appropriately within public space. As a first test, you'll be dropped off one by one, and receive personal assignments."

I glanced over at the others and found that they were staring intently at the screen.

After a short pause, Ares continued, “Underneath your seats, you will find communication devices that will enable you to stay in contact with me and the rest of your team. Keep them close, and don't lose them."

“Understood, Ares," I said.

“That is all, and good luck," Ares answered, and the connection was cut as the console returned to its regular state.

“That was... uh..." Peter murmured as he reached underneath his seat.

“Rather brief," John said.

I reached down, felt underneath the seat, and found what felt like a small disc. As I plucked it out and brought it up, I could feel a link form between being my hand and the object. It tingled in the back of my mind, and a moment later I knew things that I hadn't a moment ago.

The disc was a beacon, and a communications device that one would only need to tap to communicate with others in a small group. The back of it had a sticky surface, and I decided to place it on the uniform near my left shoulder.

Without warning the car chimed up, “Destination list received, engage navigation?"

“Yes, please," I said, and looked back at the others.

Allen raised his hand, “I'm a bit surprised that we're just going to be assignments without… you know, education? Information? Rules?"

“I think Ares wants to see how we deal with things using our own judgment, and based on that he'll tailor our future training," I said.

“And if we don't do a good job?" John asked.

I looked back in front, “Then I guess we'll get thrown out of the Defense Force, or end in a training camp of sort."

“Hmm, no pressure, right?" Peter said.

I glanced over at him, “If you need help, use the communicator, and avoid violence."

John leaned closer, and pointed at the center console, “I'm not from around here, but aren't we leaving the controlled zone and heading into the human outskirts?"

I looked down at the screen, and saw the border drawn on the map, “Yeah, we are."

“The controlled zone?" Peter asked.

Allen leaned onto my chair as he inched up next to John, “You don't have a controlled zone in Redgate?"

Peter looked back, and his ears perked in wonder, “Redgate is underground, so for me the whole city is one big controlled zone."

I motioned to Peter, “Right now we're in Athena's controlled zone, in other words-"

Allen interrupted, “There are sensor towers everywhere, drones in the air, and during the night you'll have droids all over the place that maintain the city. No one moved or breathes outside the privacy of their home without Athena knowing about it."

I waited for Allen to finish, and then pointed at map on the console, “It's a bit of a mess outside the controlled zone, but in practice there are three different types of areas. One of them, which is actually a part of our city, is the human section where the rules of Sophos technically apply, but only if something big happens."

Allen spoke up once more, “Then there are the Safe areas, like the forests which have some drone surveillance."

John added, “And the wastes, which no one seems to care about."

“You'd typically find human enclaves within the wastes," I said.

“Enclaves?" Peter asked.

John spoke up, “The Enclaves are where the humans that don't want to be a part of Sophos itself ends up… I'd be surprised if one could even find electricity in places like it."

“So, four types of areas?" Peter asked.

Allen spoke up, “Well, the enclaves isn't a type of area, as much as it is a congregation of humans in the wastes."

“I'm not sure that's true actually," I said, and glimpsed back at Allen.

“What do you mean?" Allen asked.

I looked back out the window, “I remember Mom working on a documentary regarding the human enclaves, and I think they're something more akin to city-states, or preserves where special rules apply."

“Hmm," Allen murmured.

Peter looked at me, “So, I can buy the idea of giving us assignments as a way to check our natural aptitude for this kind of stuff, but isn't this a bit risky if we're being sent to an area where the city systems barely work?"

John smirked and leaned closer to give Peter a sly look, “You wanna run away with your tail between your legs because of the scary humans?"

Humans can be a lot scarier than you seem to think…

Peter frowned as he looked back at John, “Careful, or I might rip your tail off and stuff it in that big muzzle of yours."

John merely smirked with a glee on his lips as he chuckled.

“If we feel this is too much, we'll back out of it, but until then we should do our best to act as professionals, understand?" I said and looked back at John.

John raised his hand in a salute, “As ordered, boss."

512 A.R. February 7, Pasloe – Car, Morning

John shut the door, turned to face the car, and gave me a quick wave. I waved back as the car began to move once more. The others had already been dropped off, and the car was now heading toward its final destination.

I watched through the window, and I could see junk along the streets. It was a sign that the cleaning bots didn't operate in the area, and it wasn't the only difference. All the utility poles in the area were built like armored towers, and pole itself glittered with the presence of miniature shards that would hinder anyone from climbing it.

Peter's earlier worry had merit, after all, this was the kind of area that Jason and his parents had moved away from because it was too volatile.

The windows of the car had automatically shifted hue to become almost opaque, and while I could see a human wandering the streets every so often, there hadn't been a single hybrid.

The houses in the area didn't seem to be doing well either, some were abandoned, others looked a few decades behind on maintenance, and what few shops that didn't look shuttered looked sketchy as hell.

With a sigh I looked over at the center console, “Comms, establish a link to Ares."

With a chirp, the main console shifted to red once more.

“Yes?" Ares asked, with a rather curious hint to his tone.

“Is there more than meets the eye when it comes to these assignments?" I asked.

“What makes you think that?" Ares asked.

You may not be able to lie, but an answer like that only seems avoidant…

“Call it a hunch," I said.

“Can't say that's a very rational answer…"

Playing games…

I smiled to myself, “Athena has a tendency to test me whether I approve or not. I tolerate it because it brings me closer to my goals."

There was a moment's pause as the gears on the screen kept turning, “You may be friends with Athena, but aren't you getting ahead of yourself when you address me in such a manner?"

I looked toward the screen, “By not interacting with people, you AIs have put yourself in a position where you're treated with suspicion. I understand why; familiarity breeds trust, which in turn makes people blind. But..."

“But?" Ares asked.

“But it is also true that people who don't know better, young hybrids in particular, look upon you as entities that rule us, rather than coexist. You abuse that misconception to your own benefit."

“Young hybrids need guidance, and a firm hand at times," Ares answered.

I squinted as I stared at the screen, “Perhaps, but that doesn't change the fact that your approach feeds on ignorance, is manipulative in nature, and coddles us. So, you'll have to forgive me if I'm a tad blunt when it comes to matters that involve my pack."

The gears turned on the screen, and the red glow shifted ever so slowly. After a few moments, Ares voice returned once more, “We have no ill intent toward you, or your pack. That I can assure you."

I paused for a moment, “And I believe that, but it doesn't answer my first question."

“There is more than meets the eye, yes. In time you will learn, and you will be coddled no more, but for now you should play along. Understand?" Ares asked.

I sighed to myself, “Will the others be safe?"

“There's no such thing as absolute safety, Vilkas. To think so is an illusion, and a dangerous one at that. But if you're asking whether I have done all I can to minimize the risks, then the answer is yes."

“Very well, I'll play along for now," I said.

“Thank you. Now, if you reach forward, and feel underneath the retracted steering wheel, you'll find a compartment. Open it," Ares said.

I raised my brow in wonder, but reached underneath the steering wheel. As I felt along the surface, I found what felt like a hatch. I gave it a push, and the hatch opened with a click. Inside there was something that fit within the grasp of my hand, and which felt a lot like… a gun.

“A gun?" I whispered and carefully pulled it out.

“An electrolaser, to be precise," Ares added.

I turned it over in my hand. The barrel was fitted with a large array of cooling fins, and the muzzle had a small dome of black glass. Just like the earlier communications device I could feel a connection being made with the weapon. Within a few moments I could feel it come alive, and a new set of knowledge filtered into my mind.

Ares spoke, “The electrolaser is—"

I interrupted him, “… it's a short range, wireless taser. The battery is good for disabling ten human targets, and has enough charge to knock out one hybrid. For safety reasons it can only be fired once at every subject. Usage is simple; make a link to it, point at your target, arm it with your mind, and pull the trigger within 100 milliseconds."

“You're quick on the uptake, just as expected from someone like you."

“I think Volkov is the one who does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to this stuff," I said.

“Humble as well," Ares added.

The car began to slow down, and moved to the side of the road.

“Why have you given me this?" I asked, and looked back at the center console.

“You'll see," Ares answered.

I shook my head and smiled, “You suspected I'd give you a call, didn't you?"

“I did," Ares answered.

“Destination reached," The car chimed as it came to a stop.

I eased the electrolaser into the holster along my waist, and then opened the door as I stepped out.

The car seemed to have dropped me off in a small residential area. Houses lined the long street, and my nose wriggled at the smell of garbage. The communicator along my side made a sudden blip.

Ares' voice could be heard, but it was inside my head rather than something my ears picked up.

'How's the communicator working?' Ares wondered.

'You're loud and clear, now what?' I thought.

'Most people speak out loud when answering, but I'm noticing that you're directing your thoughts properly,' Ares said over the link.

'I'd attribute that to Volkov, as this is how we usually speak to one another,' I thought.

'I understand. Now, this will be your assignment…'

'Yes?' I thought.

'The owners to the house in front you have repeatedly been in contact with the police, they have been unable to resolve the issue, and the requests have since been escalated to the defense force. You will deal with their problem, and resolve it as you see fit.'

'I'll do my best, but what seems to be the problem?' I wondered, and turned to face the house.

'That's up to you to discover,' Ares answered, and the link was cut.

Compared to the other houses, this one still looked inhabited. It had what looked like a two-story house, and next to it was a driveway with a garage. A gentle layer of snow covered the garden, and there was a white wooden fence surrounding it. It looked rather well kept, even if most of the windows were covered by blinds.

As I was about to start walking, my eyes caught on something to the right, near the entrance to the garden. There was big black mailbox standing on the ground, and next to it was a sign with bright red text painted on it.

I leaned to the side for a good look at the sign, and saw...

DO NOT PEE HERE! IT'S DISGUSTING! CHILDREN USE THIS MAILBOX!

It made me tipping my head to the side, and my ear twitched a little.

A neighborhood conflict, perhaps? A lesson in diplomacy?

No, this can't be the issue Ares mentioned…

I ignored it, looked toward the house, and cleared my throat as I started walking. Once I reached the door, I looked around, hoping to find some clue.

No name on the door… Didn't see one on the mailbox either…

I raised my hand, and pressed the bell.

*ding* *dong*

As I stood there, the scents of the house seemed to seep out from the closed door. It had a distinct human smell to it, stronger than what I was used to. Thick and pungent in a way that made it seem as if the house itself was oozing it.

My ears perked as I caught the noise of footsteps from within the house. I could hear each step as it made the floorboards creak, while someone muttered, and the lock began to rattle.

A moment later the door opened. It was a middle-aged human male with glasses, blue jeans, and a gray sweatshirt. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw me, and he leaned back a little.

As I was about to speak, the man suddenly exclaimed, “What do you want!?"

I smiled a little, and did my best to keep my teeth from showing, “You've been in contact with the police numerous times, and the issue has been escalated to the Defense Force. I'm here as a result of that."

The man's eyes widened, and he inched closer, “Well it's about bloody time. Have you taken care of it, or why are you here?"

“… We're working on it, but we'd appreciate if you could describe the issue once more," I asked.

His grimace suddenly twisted into anger, “I have explained it on the phone, several times! I have talked with your damn machines, and I have talked with the police, and none of you are doing a goddamn thing! I demand to know what you're going to do to fix this!"

I leaned back a little, “Calm down."

The man pushed the door wide open, knit his fist, and then lashed out with his arm to point at the front of his lawn, “There! It's right there!"

No, no… It can't seriously be…

I stepped back, turned, and looked at the spot where the man was pointing.

“What am I supposed to see exactly?" I asked.

He shook in anger and took a step outside the door as he repeatedly jabbed his hand toward the same spot, “The mailbox! You stu—"

His voice contorted as he stifled whatever word he had planned to utter. Still shaking, he stepped back inside and muttered under his breath as he began to shuffle with something. I looked back inside, and saw as the man put on a pair of clogs.

The man then muttered another curse, and motioned for me to follow as he stepped out once more, “I'll show you, so pay attention."

I followed in his wake until he stopped in front of the fence, and then pointed at the big sign.

“Someone peed on your mailbox?" I said in wonder.

The man snapped to attention as he looked back at me, “Not once! For months on end, and I don't mean one of you things! I mean a real one, you know, a dog! Barking! Leash and all! Walking on all four!"

“… How, um… horrible?" I said.

His face grew red, and with a burst of anger he tore off his glasses, wrinkled his face, and angrily rubbed at the top of his nose. A drawn-out sigh followed, as the man spoke once more, “I don't… I don't know why this is so difficult for your kind to grasp."

“What exactly do you expect us to do?" I asked.

The man put his glasses back, sighed once more, and lifted his gaze to look at me, “If someone took a piss on your territory, wouldn't you be upset? As an animal, I mean."

Is this an actor hired by Ares or something?

I could feel my tail sway with agitation, but clamped down on it as I kept my voice calm, “If territory is a problem for you, as an animal, why not pee on your own mailbox?"

The man stared at me, seemingly confused, and then frowned, “I'm not an animal."

I felt my ear twitch, and tipped my head as I tried to smile, “I'm not sure what to tell you... This is the outside. Feral dogs and cats will do these kinds of things, just as birds will take a dump on your car, and insects will make nests wherever they please."

He lashed out once more, and pointed at the mailbox as if trying to curse it, “They're doing it on purpose!"

“Who are 'they' exactly?"

The man spun around to face the rest of the street, and waved his arm, “THEY!"

I drew a deep breath, “All right, maybe they are, maybe they aren't. I'd have some understanding for your plight if they vandalized your house or something, but you can't punish someone because their pet decided to take a leak on your mailbox."

“It's harassment and vandalism!" The man snapped as he looked back at me.

I rubbed my forehead, “Have you... tried talking to these people? If you ask nicely, then—"

“I shouldn't have to!" He screamed, wildly gesturing with his arms.

My patience was thinning as I felt my lips twitch, “What do you want me to do?"

The man tipped his head, and lowered his tone as if speaking to a child, “It's very simple. I want you to stop this from happening. It's disgusting."

I shut my eyes for a moment, and turned my attention to the street. While looking at the other fences, I noticed something, and raised my hand to point, “Take a look at the other mailboxes. Do you notice anything?"

“... No?" The man said, as he turned and looked around.

“The mailboxes are all raised above the ground. That way you don't have to crouch in order to get the mail, nor do you have to worry about this kind of thing."

“... Are you calling me old!?" The man snapped out loud.

I barely had time to open my mouth as he launched into a tirade.

“You don't think I can crouch down? Look!" The man railed, and proceeded to repeatedly crouch up, and down, “Look!"

“... No, I was just—"

The man stood up, then raised his hand to point up at me, “And who are you to dictate what kind of mailbox I can, and cannot get!? Huh!? Are those moon-people going to dictate that as well, oh mighty lord!?"

I lifted my gaze to the skies, and tapped the communicator. Like before I felt a connection stir, and directed my thoughts outward, 'Ares?'

Ares voice came through strong, and sounded rather amused as he spoke, 'Enjoying yourself?'

'Very,' I thought.

Ares chuckled, and for a moment it felt as if the AI was looming over my shoulder, 'Good.'

'Tell me, is the sidewalk owned by the state itself, or the house owner?' I asked.

'Ownership is an awkward description, but the sidewalk is supposed to be maintained by the support functions of the city. For a variety of reasons, these functions don't work well in this area. Therefore it's up to each owner to keep their piece of the road clear from clutter.'

'Would a mailbox count as clutter?' I thought.

'If it's on the sidewalk itself, then the answer is yes,' Ares answered.

'Thank you,' I thought.

'Vilkas, one moment before you return to your adventure,' Ares said.

'Yes?' I wondered.

'You'll soon receive new orders, resolve the current situation within a minute, and hurry back to the car, understand?' Ares said.

'Understood,' I thought.

The connection was cut, and the shrieking noise of the man came rushing back to my ears.

“—are you even listening!? What the hell is wrong with you!?"

I looked down, and saw him glaring at me, cheeks red as a tomato. “I can solve your problem."

The man's expression changed from anger, to confusion in a near instant, “Oh? You can?"

I motioned to the sidewalk, “This sidewalk doesn't belong to you, yet you've placed a big mailbox on it. Move it behind your fence, or I'll fine you, here and now."

For a moment nothing happened, but as my words seemed to trickle through his skull I watched as his maw dropped open, “WHAT!?"

I inched closer to him, and allowed to loom over him as I began to bare my teeth, “Your stuff is where it doesn't belong. So you can either move it, or put up a raised mailbox like everyone else on the street."

The man raised his tone, “That's not a-"

I let my lips peel back as and opened my muzzle a little as I glared down at him, “Understand?"

The man stared back, but the scent that was now coming off him had lost its bossy edge. Fear and sweat seemed to radiate off him, as he subtly gulped, “… Yes."

“Good, then this issue is resolved, and I assume that won't be hearing anything more about it, yes?"

The man stepped back, “… Mm."

I eased back, and let my expression calm down. The man watched me in silence, while I turned around, and began to walk back to the car.

Once I reached the door, and pulled it open I could hear a door slam shut behind me. A quick glance revealed that the man had indeed scurried back into his burrow.

Wonder if that was too much?

I eased myself back into the car, the car's mechanized voice spoke up, “High priority target received. Begin navigation?"

“Yes," I said, and pulled the door shut with a slam.

512 A.R. February 7, Pasloe – Human District, Midday

The car drove with surprising haste, and as it turned the corner I had to push at the door to stay in place. A glance at the map revealed that this new 'high-priority target' just happened to coincide with John's position.

I reached up, tapped the communicator, and thought of John as a connection was being made. A moment later the connection faltered, and I got the feel that he had hung up on me.

Another connection quickly took its place, and I could feel Ares' presence knocking on my mind.

'John can't answer at the moment, at least not without focusing,' Ares said over the link.

'Why not?' I thought.

'Did you know that you don't really need the communicator? You've matured to a point where you have more than enough transceivers throughout your body for-'

I interrupted him as the car made another hard turn, 'Ares, what's going on?'

'No spoilers, but the situation just changed, and I need you to speed up.'

'The car is already in a high priority mode!' I thought.

'Still not fast enough I'm afraid, but I could help,' Ares answered.

A blip was heard, and the central console began to blink with a new request.

Request received from “Ares" (Signature Verified OK): Allow remote control?

'We're going to have a talk later,' I thought, and reached out toward the console.

'Oh, I'm sure we will, now make sure your seatbelt is on,' Ares mused.

Seatbelt's already on…

My ears folded down as I tapped the console, and watched as it shifted to Ares avatar once more.

Without warning, the car accelerated with enough force to push me back. The wheels roared as they spun against asphalt, and within moments the car had near doubled in speed. My hands gripped at the door handle, and the cup holder alike as the car made another screeching turn, and smoke began to rise in the rear-view mirror.

'Relax, Vilkas, we're still within safety parameters,' Ares said, and added something bemused huff.

'For the car or our surroundings!?' I screamed within my head.

'I have satellite imagery, local cameras, trackers, and more. It's safe, even if it's uncomfortable,' Ares answered as if he was enjoying the rather bumpy ride.

A glance at the console revealed something strange. John's tracker was moving across houses, as if he was sprinting through gardens and jumping across fences along the way.

'Brace yourself, we're going to pick John up momentarily,' Ares said.

I looked in front, and saw tall wooden fences set among a tight set of houses. John was nowhere in sight as the car suddenly swerved onto the wrong side of the road. For a moment I thought we were about to crash, but the brakes suddenly engaged. The tires screamed, and I felt the seatbelt dig into my chest as I was lifted from the seat.

It still felt as if I was floating in the air as the rear door opened up. In the next moment, I was violently jerked back against the seat, but managed to catch a glimpse of something moving alongside.

We had stopped next to a small dirt alley that was wedged between two gardens, and John was mere meters from the car. He was cradling something in his arms, and I could see figures moving behind him.

John threw himself forward, slammed into the seats in the rear, and the car revved into action once more. As we accelerated away once more, the door slammed shut.

While racing down the street I looked into the backseat, and saw John panting like mad while still clinging to the brown package in his arms.

Someone had better start explaining what the hell is-

“Hold on to something," Ares said as his voice filled the car.

The car turned once more, and I felt myself jerked to the side, while John slid along the backseat until his head bumped into the door with an audible thump.

As the car straightened, John reached up, rubbed at his head, and looked at me, “H- hey, Vilkas."

I stared at him while he smirked awkwardly, and pulled himself up.

“What the hell is going on?" I asked.

John's chest was still heaving, as he put the box down by his feet, and reached for the seatbelt, “Well… There were these humans doing some kind of deal, and… um-"

“Eyes in front, Vilkas. We're about to enter a riot zone," Ares said.

I snapped back in front, “WHAT!?"

The car turned and was now heading straight toward a sidewalk. A flash of panic struck, and passed as the car struck the sidewalk, and made me feel like a strapped in bouncing ball. Things didn't calm down, and the car forced its way through a pile of junk as it entered a tight alley.

Debris rattled under the car as we hurtled through the alley, and the distant exit became like a shining beacon as the clouds parted to let the sun peek through.

“Ready for your next orders?" Ares asked with a booming voice.

“We are definitely having a talk after this!" I snapped.

We reached the exit, and with a flash we emerged from the alleyway. I could feel the brakes slam down hard as the car began to swerve, and came to a sudden halt moments later. The seatbelt was tight on my chest, and I looked up with the feeling that part of my being had been left behind a few streets back.

It looked like we were in some kind of plaza, and there were lights flashing all over the place.

A line of police droids was moving in on the plaza from the left, and right, while hybrids clad in blue police gear were moving in from behind. Drones swarmed in the air around us, and as I looked behind us I could what everyone was moving toward.

There were humans, and a lot of them. Fast acting droids with shields were already among them, and it looked like a war zone as I saw them pummel at each other. As the humans were brought down, more droids rushed in, and began to pull them off the scene.

Based on what I could see the humans that fought were equipped with a variety of makeshift weaponry, pipes, baseball bats, bottles, kitchen knives, and what looked like bottles that they were trying to set on fire.

It felt like madness, it looked like madness, and it only grew stranger as one of the humans hurled a burning bottle. I focused on it, and watched the burning wick as it hurled through the air, and hit the ground.

Flames erupted in a giant cloud along a line of droids. Another bottle hurtled through the air, but this time it detonated in the air. Flames scattered among the ones who had thrown the bottle, and the surrounding humans fled in panic.

“Do you see the large building in the center with the lights?" Ares asked out loud in the car.

I looked behind the humans, and saw what looked like an apartment building that had been converted into some kind of cafe. Hanging above the entrance was a set of pipes and neon lights that made it look as if it was emitting puffs of smoke. A large sign in the very center had more letter in neon that said: 'The Steamin Bonaparte'

“Yes," I said, and focused on his voice.

“Your orders are simple. Rush into the cafe, secure Allen, and deal with any hostiles," Ares said.

I looked toward the center console, and as Ares had said, Allen's tracker was inside the building.

Fuck…

“Oh, and make sure to keep your ears clamped shut, because it's going to get very loud in a few moments," Ares warned.

“John!" I yelled out as my hand was reaching for the holstered gun, and looked back.

John stared back, eyes wide like saucers, “Yes!?"

“Keep your ears shut, follow me, and keep Allen safe when we find him!" I snapped.

“Okay!" John snapped back with his ears pulled back, and eyes wide.

I unlocked the seatbelt, grabbed the handle to the door, folded my ears back, and pushed the door open. As the door swung open, a sudden noise filled the air, and in what felt like portions of a second, the sound grew, and grew until it became a throbbing sensation of pain in my ears.

The noise grew even louder as I stepped outside, and I could feel my ears clamp down to shut it out. While uncomfortable it seemed like nothing compared to the effect it was having on the nearby humans. Their mouths gaped open in pain, and many of them had dropped their weapons panic as they struggled to shield their ears. Many of them ran in panic, while others collapsed on the ground.

The purpose was clear, and I turned my attention to the cafe. I ran with the electrolaser in my hand, and to make my way through the unfolding chaos. Glass crunched underneath my boots with feeling rather than audible noise as I darted between people.

I pushed through the first group of humans, and found myself in front of the cafe's entrance. The nearby windows had been broken as if something had been hurled out, and a pair of wooden doors now blocked access. I rushed up to the doors, grabbed the handle, and pulled.

While the door moved a little, something also rattled behind it, and the door wouldn't budge any further. A glance through the window of the door revealed that there were a bunch of humans inside, and in the midst of them was a hybrid with shining white fur.

I gritted my teeth, moved back, and braced my shoulder. With a deep breath I hurled myself forward, felt as the grit scratched underneath my boot. Pain slammed into my shoulder, and even through the noise I could hear something give way. The door crumbled along its hinges, and with a great thump the whole thing fell inward.

My legs stumbled for a moment, but then I was inside the cafe. Allen was in the back of the cafe, standing next to a big table. Someone lunged at him, and he leaped to the side, barely avoiding a tire iron that had been swung at him.

As I looked across the cafe, I could see several things happen at once. Most of the windows had already shattered, and the remaining ones were growing cracks as they reverberated in the deafening noise. Then there was the man in front of me, a young but relatively muscular human, and who wore what looked like a pair of jeans that had been converted into a tank top.

His expression was tense to a point where it looked as if his teeth were going to break at any moment, and I could see blood running from his ears. That didn't seem to deter him, and he was already moving toward me with a knife held close to his body.

Another person was running toward us from the right, but from what I could see at the edge of my vision John was already rushing in to deal with him.

The electrolaser wouldn't be much good at this range, so I moved toward the guy in an attempt to bait him. While the fury on the man's face was intimidating, it also seemed to make him thoughtless, and the man swung the knife with all his might from below. I pulled back, and rotated to my left as the knife swiped past my chest with mere inches to spare.

As the knife moved into a high arc, I made my move, and reached up to snatch hold of his wrist. The man's eyes bulged in surprise as I caught him, and he looked at me in fright.

My hand squeezed his wrist as I lifted him off the ground, and I swung my free hand at him.

As the bones in his wrist gave way, his mouth opened in a silent scream, and the knife fell toward the ground. I then swung my free hand toward his chest, and let go with the other.

With a powerful slam against his chest, the man rotated in the air, and then fell to the ground in a squirming heap as the air was knocked out of him.

One of them dealt with for now…

I looked back toward Allen I could see him dodge what looked like a tankard that had been hurled at him. A split second later another man leaped in, and swung a large pipe. Allen blocked it as he raised his arm to take the blow, and he winced in response while moving back.

A quick glance behind me revealed that no one was coming, and I moved forward as I lifted the electrolaser in the air. Something clicked within my mind, and I could feel as the electrolaser became active.

Allen moved back from his assailant, and the man exposed his back to me. I aimed at the man, and felt as the electrolaser mingled with my own senses. It had locked onto its target, and was waiting to be armed. It didn't feel as if I sent a command, but rather as if I extended my will to it, and it responded in kind.

It armed itself, and the air was already beginning to ionize. With a squeeze of my finger, I pulled the trigger.

The laser that ionized the air couldn't be seen, but the same wasn't true for the sudden spear of lightning that followed. It struck the human in the back, and arced outward as if there were tendrils crawling over his body. Some of the arcs even danced between the tire iron, and the man's head, while the rest reached toward the floor as it discharged.

A second later it was over, and it looked as if someone had shut the man off like a machine. He crumbled to the ground, twitching like crazy, while hints of smoke rose from the burned edges of his clothing.

Allen looked up at me as if he hadn't noticed us so far, and a nearby human did the same. I moved the gun to point at the human's chest, and glared at him.

The human male looked around, seemed to realize where it was all heading, and let go of what looked like a baton. As it fell the man promptly moved his hands to cover his ears, and crouched down on his knees.

Without warning the loud noise vanished. Relief followed along with a ringing vacuum, but it also revealed everything that had been hidden so far. People were screaming, glass was still breaking apart, and I could hear the violence still going on outside.

I realized that I was gasping for air, and I looked around to see if anything else was going on. The man I'd knocked out earlier was squirming along the ground, and at the back of the cafe I could see people crawling out of the way.

A set of thumping noises made me look toward the entrance, and I could see a group of droids march into the cafe. Their armor plating was pitch-black, some of them were holding shields, while others had their hands free. Their heads had what looked like big optic domes, and they were already moving in to seize the humans. Regular police followed in their wake, and in their hands I could see restraining collars.

John was standing at a nearby table and watched in silence as the droids marched past.

Walking in among the police was Peter, he'd already caught sight of me and was marching up. As he walked I looked toward Allen and motioned for him to join up.

“What the hell is going on around here?" Peter asked as he walked up.

A blip was heard from my communicator, and I feel Ares presence knock on my mind once more. As I answered the call I heard his voice, 'Situation is now under control. Gather your pack, and return to the car.'

'Roger that,' I thought.

As the connection ended I looked over at Peter, “I don't know, but we're heading back to the car."

John stepped up next to Peter, while Allen brushed up next to me while looking around.

“Are you hurt?" I asked, and leaned in by Allen.

Allen shook his head, “No, I'm fine… but I'd like to get out of here now."

I was about to start walking when a strange sensation hit me. It was if a ghost brushed by my head, and something poked at my thoughts. A strange sensation of unease followed, and it made me turn around.

There was a group of police that were busy putting Control Collars on humans. For some reason it felt as if one of them stood out, and as I watched I got the impression that I was being observed.

The officer in question appeared to be a common canine, but there was something about his uniform that differed from the rest. An emblem along the neckline of the uniform, a planet surrounded by lines that spread outward like wings.

That's the emblem of the Space Initiative…

The canine perked up without warning, turned his head, and looked at me. A curious smile grew on his face along with a quick nod. I was tempted to walk up when the canine suddenly set his sights on the exit, and marched away.

“Vilkas?" Peter asked.

I looked back, and saw that the others were looking at me.

“Everyone, back to the car," I said and motioned with my hand.

The others nodded in unison.

512 A.R. February 7, Pasloe – Car, Afternoon

I looked up, and I could see that the sky growing orange as the sun began to dip below the horizon. Things were quiet as we drove through the city, and other than a repeating, somewhat grinding noise from the front, it seemed that the car was okay.

As I looked to the right, I saw Peter staring out the window. The others were the same, and everyone seemed to be digesting what we'd been through in silence.

The experience itself didn't disturb me a lot, I had been through worse. But the implications, and the questions that followed felt troublesome. Who were those humans? What was going to happen to them? What's in the package by John's paws? Is this what the defense force is like? What about everything else that's been going on lately?

I closed my eyes for a moment, and considered contacting Athena or Ares.

“So, what are we doing now?" John asked.

I opened my eyes once more, “Car's just idling until we enter a destination."

“So do we, um…" John murmured.

Peter patted his abdomen, “I haven't eaten anything since before I got on the train, so I suggest we get something to eat."

Allen spoke up, “Can we order pizza or something? I've dealt with enough people for one day."

I glanced back at Allen, “My house, or yours?"

John leaned over at Allen, “Didn't you say your parents were gone for the day?"

Allen's ears perked up, “Ah… I did, but-"

John raised his hand, and pointed at the center console, “Allen's house it is!"

I waved my hand to get Allen's attention, “Is that all right?"

Allen looked around, while his ears fluttered a little. He then shrugged, and met my gaze, “Sure."

I looked back at the center console, “Navigation, Allen's house."

512 A.R. February 7, Pasloe – Outside Allen's home, Evening

Peter walked ahead, seemed to notice I wasn't following, and stopped, “You coming?"

Allen and John kept walking, seemingly unaware as they talked while walking toward the house.

I motioned at Peter to keep walking, “I'll wait out here for the pizza, you go on."

Peter opened his muzzle, but seemed to change his mind moments later. Instead he gave a simple nod, turned around, and marched forward to catch up with the others.

I drew a deep breath, and lifted my gaze to the darkening sky as I tapped the communicator once more, 'Ares?'

'Yes, Vilkas?' Ares answered.

I moved over to the rear of the car, and glanced inside at the package which John had brought, 'What was today's mission, exactly?'

'The departure of Hedwig's cult left a large power vacuum within the human groupings. We were hoping that they would be unable to find new leadership, and at first that seemed to be true. But it is now clear that something has stepped in to take Hedwig's role with surprising haste. Worse than that is that they are capitalizing on the destruction of Aurora colony, and in their minds they see the potential for a rebellion.'

'That's not very realistic, is it?' I wondered.

'It isn't, but in just a few weeks of time we've had sabotages popping up all over the countryside, as well as bombings, and other kinds of violence. It is a state of matters that cannot be allowed to continue, both for our own sake, and the humans who only seek to live in peace.'

I opened the rear door of the car, and sat down on the edge of the seat, 'Was this some kind of sting operation? To smoke out the leaders within Pasloe?'

'It was, and you were the bait,' Ares answered.

I sighed to myself, and reached in as I picked up the package from the floor, 'We were bait...'

'Peter was asked to patrol and make as much noise as possible. John was put in place to sabotage an ongoing exchange. You were placed near one of meeting houses, and Allen was sent into one of their nests.'

I placed the package on my lap, and looked out toward Allen's house, 'You said they weren't going to be put in danger.'

'Were any of you hurt?' Ares asked.

'Unless you count the bump on Allen's arm, no.'

'Then what's your point?' Ares asked.

'There were hundreds of humans, what if they had torn Allen to pieces?' I wondered.

'But they didn't, and they couldn't. You had no way of knowing, but there was plenty of surveillance, and heavy-duty drones that were more than capable of pulling him out of there was any real danger. But since everything went as planned, no one was killed, not even a human.'

“Hmm," I murmured, 'No deaths at all?'

'No, but plenty of injuries, as you can no doubt guess.'

I nodded, 'What about their ears, I saw them bleed even?'

'We won't be able to help those that stay away from the system, but the rest will receive proper care, and will then be handed over to Athena for processing,' Ares answered.

'What kind of punishments awaits them?' I wondered.

'The vast majority of them are naive individuals that have been misled by a charismatic message, and they will be treated as such. In other words, no harm will come to them, and they will hopefully learn a lesson as well.'

'And the ones that aren't?'

'It varies, as you should know. Re-education, banishment to one of the enclaves, memory extraction, etc…'

'Isn't unwilling memory extraction dangerous?'

'Fatal in most cases, yes,' Ares added.

'Uh-huh, let's focus on the package that John retrieved, what is it?' I wondered.

'Open it, and we'll find out,' Ares answered.

I unmade the string that bound the box together, removed the lid, and saw what looked like a lot of dried hay, 'This new group that has stepped in to take Hedwig's place, do they have a name or something?'

'Based on what we know so far they call themselves the Luminaires.'

'Do we know anything more than that?' I thought, and pulled out a thick layer of hay from the box.

Hidden within the lower portion of the box was a bunch of small unmarked glass bottles, the kind of which one could attach to a hypospray. I lifted one of the glass bottles, and saw a colorless liquid that seemed to behave like regular water.

'We do, and we'll get to that. Would you mind tasting it for me? Just a dab on the finger, and then give it a lick,' Ares asked.

'Is it dangerous?' I asked.

'There are few things that are dangerous to a hybrid, and this isn't one of them.'

'So you already know what it is?'

'I have a very strong suspicion, but I'd like it to be confirmed.'

I grabbed the top of the bottle, wedged a claw into the edge, and pulled until the top popped of. I then put the pad of my finger on top, flipped the bottle over for a moment, and pulled my finger away.

A quick sniff revealed little, and whatever it was didn't have much of a smell. I then extended my tongue, and dabbed my pad on it.

'It's bitter… Very bitter, and it has a strange metallic tinge...' I thought.

'You're more than capable of identifying the exact substance, Vilkas.'

Volkov perked up without warning, and I heard him whisper in my mind, 'Compound isolated. It's a plasticity enhancer, same one that Jason was on, but this is a much stronger dose. According to the archives, it's usually referred to as Reventrol.'

'Thank you,' I thought in response, and then turned my attention to Ares once more.

'Volkov just identified it as Reventrol.'

'As expected. A wonderful drug to help lessen the impact of traumatic memories, and act as a mood stabilizer, while temporarily increasing the malleability of human brains.'

'Why would humans be dealing in something like this?'

'In small doses, the drug acts as I described, but in concentrated doses like this the effect is vastly different,' Ares answered.

'What do you mean?'

'They refer to it as the Glow, and it brings about a day-long bout of tranquility. It also makes it easier to focus, and learn. While not addictive as a chemical, the psychological changes create an intense desire for more, and repeated doses cause other symptoms.'

'Like what?'

'Glow in large amounts destroy parts of the brain, in particular the mirror neurons responsible for empathy. The end result is a form of persistent antisocial behavior, otherwise known as psychopathy.'

I stared at the bottle, 'People… abuse this?'

'Yes. Somehow they have acquired knowledge on how to efficiently produce it, and we have already shut down several underground labs. Unfortunately, it hasn't had much of an effect, and has merely caused their operations to decentralize further.'

'The Steamin Bonaparte was part of this?' I wondered.

'We believe that members of the Luminaire were pulling the strings, and that they began to serve it in the coffee offered by the cafe. One of the reasons we figured it out was because the cafe has recently exploded in popularity among the humans.'

'Did people know what they were being served?' I thought, and heard what sounded like an approaching car.

'Some knew, of course, but I suspect the majority only thought of really good coffee… Coffee they eventually couldn't imagine living without,' Ares said.

I put the package down, and stepped out from the car once more. A pizza delivery truck was approaching.

'Am I right to assume they weren't doing this to make money, or gain favors?'

'Yes, the Luminaire used it as an active recruitment platform, and given the properties of the drug most people were quite vulnerable to such indoctrination,' Ares answered.

I shut the door, and walked over to a free spot on the sidewalk, 'Wouldn't a more discreet operation have been better in that case, rather than storming the place like that?'

'The sting operation on the Bonaparte has several goals. One of them is to study the effects of the drug, limit the damage, and take control over the area. We're also observing how the Luminaire react in other cities, and hope to map their activities.'

The pizza truck pulled up, and came to a stop. A hatch then flashed red, and opened wide to reveal four pizza boxes within.

'I see,' I thought, as I reached in, and was hit by what felt like a punch of odors. Fat, baked bread, meat, and plenty of sauces. I wrapped my arms around the packaged, and stepped back. The truck closed up once more, and began to drive away.

'Since I still have control over the car, I'll deal with it and the package.'

'Right, I forgot to turn that off, didn't I?' I thought as I faced Allen's house.

'You did, yes… Now let's discuss what happens next,' Ares said.

'Yes?' I wondered.

'You have a meeting in the capital, yes? An evaluation from certain worried parties?'

I sighed to myself, 'Yes, I do… Tomorrow in fact.'

'Attend it, speak the truth, and all will be fine, understand?' Ares asked.

'Yes, Ares,' I thought.

'The others will attend a training camp, and once you are done you'll join them.'

'… How long will this training be exactly?' I wondered.

'It will be as long or short as it needs to be,' Ares answered.

'… I see,' I thought.

'Now enjoy your evening with the others, Vilkas,' Ares said.

'Roger that,' I thought, and licked my chops as I walked toward the house.

512 A.R. February 7, Pasloe – Allen's house, Evening

With the pizzas in my arms, I stepped into the house, and gave the door a gentle push with my boot. The door shut with a click, and I eased the stack down on a nearby bench.

The scents that poured out of the boxes were rather strong, but I could still make out the scents of the house, and the wolves that lived here. Allen's felt gentle and soft. His father, who also happened to be part of my own father's pack, had a certain tinge of familiarity as if I had already picked up on it from my father. The scent of the mother was more prominent, and I found my nose drawn to what looked like a decorative blue-green cloak hanging along the wall.

It felt a tad strange to step in here without them knowing about it, as if I was intruding on their territory by spreading my own scent around. I ignored the sensation, sat down on the bench beside the pizzas, and reached down to my boots.

My paws ached to be free. I understood the need of the heavy boots, especially after seeing what one might experience on a day like this, but it still like a pain in the rear. With a hard tug, the boot made something of a pop, and my paw came free.

It made me sigh in relief as I held it in the air for a moment as I let it flex. The claws glinted in the light surrounding light, and I reached down to brush the compacted fur. After a moment of kneading, I moved onto the next, and forced the other boot off as I repeated the procedure.

Once done I looked into the hallway, and perked my ears. The others were upstairs, and they were talking by the sound of things. I grabbed the pizzas once more, started walking toward the stairs, and threw a glance into what looked like the living room.

It was a nice place. Big sofa, polished stone floor, and a big screen on the wall which was surrounded by a black wooden structure that made it seem as if it grew out of the wall like a tree. Numerous small lights lined the branches, and made it all glow.

To my surprise, a few of the branches had been hollowed out to hold what looked like liquor.

With a chuckle, I kept moving, and began to walk up the stairs. Artwork made of glass lined the walls, and a multitude of lights caused different colors to be cast along the stairway.

Glass… Lots of art… Everything in order…

Maybe they're strict... Perhaps a reason Allen's still a bit reserved...

I reached the second floor, and my nose guided me down the right hallway as I followed their scents. At the end of the hallway was an open door, and I could hear voices from within. I stepped up, and glanced inside.

A bed in one corner, neatly made, with a decorative pillow on top. Stationary computer to the right side, screens angled away from the door, no doubt to make sure that no one could see them when peering into the room. Bookshelves filled with literature, and what looked like a couple of trophies.

Interesting…

The others had spread a few blankets in the middle of room, and they were now sitting on the floor in a circle. John had already unzipped his uniform and pushed it down far enough that his tail could come free. Peter was talking to John, while Allen stared into nothingness as if deep in thought. They hadn't seen me yet, but John lifted his muzzle in the air, and began to sniff.

I stepped into view, and John raised his arms into the air, “Pizza!"

I walked over to them, glanced at the top one, and held it out to John, “Extra meat."

John grabbed the box with an unusually sheepish smile while his tail lashed against the nearby bookshelf.

Peter was next as I held it out, “Sun-dried tomatoes."

“Thanks," Peter answered, with his nose sniffing the air.

I stepped back, eased myself onto the floor next to Allen, and focused my gaze on him.

A few moments passed, and Allen blinked in wonder, as he looked at me, “W- What?"

I smirked a little, and tipped my head, “You never gave me a proper hello earlier."

Allen's ears perked for a moment, and quickly folded back, “Ah… sorry."

You're a goof, Allen...

I leaned in, and Allen finally caught the hint. He reciprocated as our muzzles met briefly, side by side, in a gentle nudge. As we touched, it felt as if I could hear his heart thumping, while his mind hummed with a tune, while his tail brushed along the floor.

In just a few seconds, a connection seemed to buzz between us. Compared to Peter's state of mind, Allen's felt rather erratic. They flipped from shame, to joy, followed by more shame tinged with confusion, and something akin to panic. A strange sensation filled me, and somehow I knew that he was clenching his hands right now.

I leaned back, and the connection between us was severed. Allen smiled, but his ears were folded back as he dipped his head and seemed to stare at the floor. A quick glimpse at his hands revealed that he did seem to clench them tightly.

He seemed preoccupied with his thoughts once more, so I reached out with the pizza box until it poked him in the chest, “Chicken, onion, and sweet corn."

Allen perked up once more, and nodded as he grabbed the box, “Thanks."

I settled the last box in my lap, and looked up. To my surprise I could see John staring at me with half a pizza slice hanging out of his muzzle. He tried to speak, mumbled something, and a piece of cheese fell onto his trousers.

Peter chuckled as he watched while chewing a piece of his own, and John made a disgruntled growl as he looked down. He then reached down with a pair of claws, caught the cheese, and rubbed at the spot, “Hrrmnn…"

I opened the pizza box in my lap, and looked down. Beef, with plenty of sauce, it looked rather messy but… these tended to taste so damn good.

I had barely had time to pick up a slice as John began to move again. It made me look up above the now open box, and I saw John in the process of tearing his uniform off. He had lifted his legs high in the air, eased the uniform down to his knees, and slipped one paw out. With a swing of his other leg, he hurled the uniform into a corner.

Now butt naked, he rolled onto all fours, and stood up like a feral beast.

John had a lithe figure for a wolf, though well muscled, and his tail put on a show of its own as it swayed in a raised arc. He let out a deep sigh of relief, and began to stretch one leg at a time. A sliver of drool dripped onto the blanket as he then eased his muzzle down and caught the half-eaten piece from earlier.

I bit off a piece of the slice that I was holding, and then put the rest back in the box.

My heart pounded, and what had been a subdued urge just moments ago, became an itching desire that made my uniform feel as if it had become a straitjacket. I put the box onto the floor, reached for the top of my uniform, and found the zipper. A moment later I was easing it down, and wedged my arm out.

“… We're doing this?" Peter asked.

John stopped munching for a moment, and licked his chops as he looked up at Peter, “You're not itching to get out of those damn clothes?"

Peter gulped a little, and reached up to feel the zipper of his uniform, “I am."

I couldn't help but smile as I eased my other arm out, and felt the uniform fall down to my waist.

Deep-seated instincts were waking to life with haste, and I could feel my tail struggle against the restraints.

But this isn't the forest… We're in Allen's house…

With a gulp, I forced the urge back, and looked over to focus on Allen.

I was immediately forced to stifle a laugh as I caught sight of him. Two hands holding a slice of pizza, eyes big as saucers while he watched the rest of us, carefully gnawing at the edge. Allen caught me looking at him, glanced over, and audibly gulped.

“You okay?" I whispered, and leaned closer.

Allen nodded, pizza slice still in his muzzle, and his gaze dropped to my waist. His ears wiggled a little, and then he looked up to meet my gaze once more.

“Is this… okay, Allen?" I asked.

Allen glanced back toward the door, put down the pizza, and then reached back far enough to give the door a solid shove. The door slammed shut, and he looked back at me, “This is my room… I can do whatever I want in it."

I couldn't help but grin, fangs splayed wide, as I leaned closer, “You're getting rid of your clothes as well, you know?"

Allen's ears slowly perked, and the fuzz along his neck seemed to bristle, “It's nothing strange, it's just like when we're out hunting."

I leaned forward so that I could get on all four, and shuffled my legs so that my tail could slip free from the hole, “That's right, we're just a bunch of wolves having a meal."

Allen nodded, and I could see his nose starting to flare as his breaths grew shorter.

The scents wafting off him started to change, as did the scents in the rest of the room. Wild instincts trying to adapt in a new setting, bristling as they clawed their way to the surface.

I stretched one leg, and scratched at the uniform as I eased my leg out. Air brushed against my lower half, and it felt good to let it all hang freely. There was a growing tickle in my spine, an instinct that screamed at me to give in.

Moments later I heard as someone else succumbed to it. John wildly rustled his body back and forth. It made his fur rise and settle repeatedly, while he let out a bestial growl.

Peter was already getting out of his uniform, and my tail lifted high in the air as I looked back at Allen.

“Give in, Allen," I ordered.

It felt weird to order him around, but the instincts that now bristled in my mind told me it was all right. I was the Alpha of the pack, and this was our nature. Allen needed to embrace it, for the pack, and his own sanity.

Something took over inside him, and Allen reached up in haste. His claws scratched against the uniform as if trying to tear his way out, and I could see his chest heaving as he panted. He'd waited too long, resisted too much, and now the instincts were washing over him like an avalanche.

I acted.

With a lunge forward I caught his hands, and pushed my weight against him. He leaned back, and hit the floor with a thump as I loomed over him.

He bared his teeth, and his arms pushed back against me, but it didn't work. A snarl followed as he glared up at me, and his muzzle twisted into a display of sharp fangs.

But I could growl as well.

It was instinctive, explosive, and for a moment I felt enough rage that my mane and tail tensed up like a lightning rod. In that moment, as I snarled back, spittle flying, claws digging into his arms, chest rumbling and body tensing up so hard that I could feel it in my groin…

I felt like a beast, and it was good.

The sudden burst of adrenaline felt like a form of catharsis, a release from all the tension that had built up during the day. Allen stopped resisting in an instant, and I could feel his tail curl up between us. He then averted his gaze, and new scents wafted up from his body.

He'd given in, and for the moment he was as much of a feral beast as I was.

The rush of the experience settled, and it drained from my body as I felt my hackles relax. I leaned down with my head, nuzzled Allen's throat with my nose, and dug into the thick fur.

Allen was a good wolf deep down.

I settled on my knees, and moved my hands to the zipper on his chest. Carefully, I pulled it down, and listened as I heard his thumping heart, and panting breaths.

As I pulled the uniform open, Allen eased his arms out. To my surprise the uniform was being tugged back, and a quick glance behind me revealed that John and Peter were helping out.

Moments later he was bare to the world, like the rest of us.

I moved to the side, and Allen rose to his knees as he faced the rest of us. Peter brushed up along my side, and then moved up to Allen. He nuzzled him from one side, and John approached from the other. As they pushed and properly said hello to one another, Allen almost seemed to struggle in order to not fall over.

My own heart thumped, and I panted as my mind still raced on the lingering sensations.

Hunger...

The scents came rushing back, and I turned my attention to the box once more. I then dipped my head down, caught a slice, and began to eat. Moments later the others followed suit, and somewhere along they seemed to forget it was my pizza.

Peter muzzle dipped down next to my own, John followed suit, and Allen squeezed his muzzle in moments later. Four muzzles, all sharing, tearing, chomping down as the once pristine blankets became sullied.

Within moments, it turned into a game. I snatched the last piece, and Allen darted in to tear a piece as it hung from my muzzle. John darted over to another box, and the rest of us followed. Claws clattered on the floor, and the now emptied box was violently thrown back as someone's paw caught against it.

It became a daze, and soon enough there was no more pizza.

Peter was the first to slump to the floor on his side, and his hands pawed idly at the air. John padded up next to him, and without warning gave his tail a nip. A yelp followed as Peter lunged back, caught John's upper body, and pushed him to the floor in a mock fight.

I felt tired as well, so I eased myself down on the side. Allen soon loomed behind me, and his nose wandered along my side he reached my muzzle. He nuzzled me once more, and I could feel his tongue drape over the side of my muzzle.

After a few moments of it I reached up behind him, and pulled. It caused him to topple over me, and I let my arms catch hold of his waist. It was then only a matter of pulling him up against my chest.

I held him tight, and let my head rest on his own. It felt nice and comforting as I brushed my nose against the soft white fuzz between his ears.

The others seemed to notice, and drifted closer.

It was time to sleep, and my eyelids began to droop as the others curled up alongside us.