“Hissssss!!!” The lower half of Sam screeched the hiss at Alexa, drops of venom falling into the ground.

“Sorry about that. I have a hard time getting the bad habits and reflexes under control there,” Sam said politely, while Alexa didn’t mind that much. She could understand the lower half's actions.

It saw what it perceived as a [Prey] near its mouth; obviously, it wanted to take a bite out of Alexa.

“Can you see them? I have two pedipalps there. They may look weird, but they fulfill all the criteria,” Sam said while flexing two small arm-like [Appendages] near the [Mouth] of his spider half.

“These look more like feeding [Appendages],” Alexa said as she examined the two small arm-like [Appendages] that Sam was flexing.

“Well, they are that, too. Don’t remind me of that point, anyway. These are thicker if you compare them with the base. Here, you can see how they grow thicker. So that makes my lower half male, too. Also, I don’t have an epigyne under my abdomen as far as I could see…” Sam said, raising itself higher. “Unless you can see one?”

Alexa eyed Sam’s underbelly and found no sight of any extra organ, not that she knew what a [Epygene] looked like. “Want me to take a picture?” Alexa asked, bringing out her phone once more.

“Yes, please. I haven’t been able to take a good picture from my underside in ages.” Sam answered, and Alexa complied, taking photos of Sam’s underside and the [Pedipalps].

“Okay, let me see….Yes, we can’t see any Epygene; it should be around here,” Sam said, pointing with his finger at the photo that Alexa took. "And look, in the picture you can see how the Pedipalp turns thicker. Spiders use this to inseminate female spiders…”

Sam suddenly turned very quiet, and his smile faltered for a few seconds. “I see. Indeed, if you can [Inseminate] a [Female], then that makes your lower half that of a [Male].” Alexa nodded.

“Yes, anyway. It doesn’t really matter since most Core Users that turn animalistic have a hard time finding someone with the same type of mutation.” Sam sighed and turned back to the table that Alexa had made. “Say, can I keep this?”

“Sure,” Alexa answered while transforming her arm into the [Claw Setting] and using the sharp ends to dislodge the base from the floor. Sam would have to find a way to keep it standing in place, but surely his [Silk] would be enough to fix that. “And can’t you just [Inseminate] another [Female Human]? Surely there should be some compatibility?”

Sam used his [Threads] to keep the [Table] from falling, “I guess? There were some studies about compatibility between animalistic Core Users and normal Humans. Still, it would require surgery since the human body isn’t designed to a nonhuman form being birthed. And you need a crazy enough woman to want to sleep with…well, someone like me.”

What was not to want though?

“Let’s not ruin the atmosphere with this, okay?” Sam suddenly said, “You should be on your way back. It's afternoon already, and your friend must be worried.”

[Skye]? Shouldn’t she be still [Passed-out Drunk]?

*Ring*

“See?” Sam said, pointing at Alexa’s phone. It was showing once again [Eleanore]’s number. “And I need time to get my new table in a good place.”

Sam seemed quite….restless. His lower body seemed to be drooling more and more with each second that went by. Perhaps he needed more [Biomass]? He did have a bigger body…

Alexa would need to think more about how much [Food] she brought the next time she came.

“Sure, I will see you later then,” Alexa said looking at her [Phone].

“Call me before coming, preferably the day before, so I can tidy this up. If you do, I can invite you to my apartment, and we can see if something comes out of those Cores you can make.” Sam said with a smile as he started walking backward.

“Okay, I will call before coming then. See you later Sam.” Alexa said turning back and walking away.

She grew one [Camera] on her back hidden behind her [Hair] to make sure she recorded Sam’s back…for…science purposes.

But Sam never turned its back on her, not till the last moment she was on sight. If anything he seemed to be tensing his hands into a fist and holding it with his other hand as he trembled.

And the lower body? Its eyes tracked her every moment till she left.

“Hello?” Alexa said into the phone as she answered the call.

“Alexa? Are you still okay? I made Billy track your mask and you were dangerously close to the danger zone.” [Eleanore] spoke in a rush through the phone.

Now that she had mentioned that, Alexa turned her attention to the mask, which had a small red light blinking on it. “Is that the reason why my bracelet is blinking red?” Alexa asked.

“When you see that, put the mask on. It is designed to do small vibrations in case of a message, but in case of emergency it starts blinking red too. That means you need to put it on no matter where you are.” A third voice came from the bracelet, that was [Billy]. So it had been vibrating? She hadn't noticed it.

“Okay…?” Alexa said unfolding the bracelet back into a mask and putting it on.

This time there was no warning message and instead she felt the [Mask] as if it was rushing to cover her face. It even seemed to search the [BodyArmor] as if to link itself to it, to no avail.

“I told you Minions need to use the body armor under their clothes, she isn’t wearing it.” [Billy]’s voice came from the mask.

“She was going to the school, I will not approve of a minion going to school with body armor under their clothes. Kids will ask questions!” [Eleanore]’s voice answered back within her mask as the [Phone] gave the [Hang up] tone. “That isn’t important, Alexa! Have you seen evidence of any dangerous Core user?”

Dangerous [Core User]?

“No? I found some [Rats] both normal, giant and mutated. But besides that nothing out of the ordinary.” Alexa answered as she pocketed her [Phone], she shifted both her arms into combat setting once again, with the [Clawed Setting]. She may find more combat now that she was leaving Sam’s area of influence.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“... the giant and mutant rats aren’t normal.” [Eleanore] suddenly said, “But that isn’t the matter at hand. Why did you go there? Weren’t you using the sewers as a shortcut to arrive with someone you met?”

Alexa did use them to go to Sam though?

“...Alexa, I need you to think this hard and clear. Make memory and answer me truthfully… Did you see spider webs?” [Billy] asked in a severe tone. “Any at all, no matter how big or small, did you see…Any spider web?”

“...Yes, I saw some, why?” Alexa answered. How could there be no spider webs? Wasn’t Sam’s domain supposed to have them? He was, after all. Half Spider.

“Eleanore? How many Lieutenants do we have in the base right now?” [Billy] suddenly asked, “And you kid, I don’t care about the method, get the hell out of there right now. Break open the ceiling, collapse the tunnels. Run straight to the street level. Do anything. But.You.Need.To.Leave.NOW.”

The voice of [Billy] turned frantic the more he spoke.

“What is it? What’s the problem with the spider webs?” [Eleanore] asked.

“She is near the Spider’s nest. I don’t know what kind of deal he struck with Vulcanus, but any Minion, Villain, Hero, or Civilian that wanders there rarely leaves in one piece.” [Billy] answered. "So run, girl, run like you have a devil at your back, because if you disturb any of his webs…You may just die.”

“Why would Sam kill me?” Alexa asked, “He was nice to me.”

“Hah?” “Hah!?” [Eleanore] and [Billy] both reacted in the same way.

“You….are friends with the Spider?” [Billy] asked.

“He helped me when I was running away from [Chrysalis] using the [Sewers].” Alexa said nodding, not that they could see her. She was moving at the moment, even if she didn’t understand why they had told her to move like this, that had been an [Order], so she needed to comply.

“...Did Vulcanus set you to meet him?” [Eleanore] asked in a cold tone, Alexa could almost feel the [Mana Waves] emanating from her.

And that was just straight-up impossible. She was far away from the nearest [Safe House] and farther away from [Base]. It should be impossible for Alexa to feel the [Mana Waves].

“No. I just found out about the relationship between Sam and [Vulcanus].” Alexa answered.

“[Truth] No wait, Sam? The spider…one of the most feared Monster Core users…The Fucking Spider…Is called Sam?” [Eleanore] said through the [Mask]. “...are you sure he is…you know…The Spider?”

“Lower Body of a Majestic Male Spider roughly between one to three tons?” Alexa said remembering that [GORGEOUS LOWER BODY]. “Impossibly [SHARP CLAWS]? Who are also well positioned for optimum grip and three-dimensional maneuvers?”

And that was something she would like to imitate for her [CRAB] form…if she ever went back to that of course, having witnessed the [MAJESTIC] form of Sam… She would see if she morphed from a lower [Arachne] into a [CRAB].

“A [BRUTAL] looking [MAW] that spills [Poisonus Venom] capable of melting floor, walls and flesh alike?” Alexa said next, that was one interesting liquid, she wanted a sample of it too. “Vicious [Fangs]?”

“....Yes, that sounds like a monster all right.” [Billy] said at the other end of the line.

“And then….the [Mango] atop the [Cake].” Alexa said remembering the next part, even though she had just seen him. “An upper body so [HANDSOME] that it makes me want to believe in the existence of a higher power that crafted him…[ABS] for days…[Lips] that want to suck you in…[Eyes] that seem sharp and intelligent…Silky [Hair]....”

“...Amm….Alexa?”

“And then, and then….[Strong] arms capable of weaving threads and yet have delicate fingers….” Alexa could get lost in those fingers as she imagined them threading and weaving many MANY things.

“Alexa dear, can we speak with a…younger version of you for a few seconds?” [Eleanore] suddenly said.

Why?

She was busy describing the [MAGNIFIENT] figure of Sam!!

“Just for a minute top, I promise.” [Eleanore] said once more.

“....Fine,” Alexa grumbled as she searched for an empty dead end to stop for a few seconds; she didn’t meet any interference since this was the route she had taken to get here. So it was cleaned of most of the rats anyway.

“[Starting shift….Selecting form….Choice, Teenager Stage….Shift complete.]”

Alexa felt herself slowly shift as her body grew smaller, the excess mass returned to the [Biomass Storage] and the materials that couldn’t go there instead got focused to reinforce her clothes.

“I have arrived!” Alexa declared to the world, her arms had also shifted accordingly. She felt them heavier as this form had less muscle mass.

She would need to tweek the design to accomodate her lower body mass and muscle mass later when she wasn’t in a rush to return to the surface.

“Doesn’t sound like the small Alexa, are you a new one?” [Eleanore] asked.

Rude.

She had met her like this!

“I am [Teenager Stage] Alexa, the one that picked the name of [Rhapsody],” Alexa answered with a huff.

“Oh right, sorry about that. We have been dealing mostly with your child and young woman form. You haven’t caused problems for us, so you kinda slip off my memory.” [Eleanore] said with her apology.

Which was stupid.

How could they forget the prettiestests of all?!?!?

“So…how much do you know about your situation and where are you.” [Eleanore] asked.

“I am in the [Sewers] running away from Sam because…I am not quite sure.” Alexa answered, “What is the problem? I like how cool his form is and all, but what is the deal?”

“....would you describe it like your…older form?” [Eleanore] asked.

“No? Only [Young Woman] stage can speak with him. That is what we decided, my opinion is mostly that he seems useful and a good source of [Blueprints].” Alexa answered, she decided to strip most of the metal on the core of her claws.

It made them lighter and easier to move, but it also made them more brittle. She would take that metal and stick it to her chest in the form of a belt for now. It would be used as the claws got damaged.

“Right, anyway. How far are you from an exit?” [Eleanore] asked suddenly, remembering that they had put Alexa into a sort of [Test].

“Around five minutes for the nearest exit. If I need [Stealth] then around 25 minutes.” Alexa answered.

She had seen one exit when coming in her search for Sam, but she hadn’t scouted it. So she couldn’t guarantee that the exit would allow her to leave without anyone noticing.

“Take it.” [Billy] said, “That exit is near a restaurant. They sell vegan food, but it is still within the Beast Core compound, so they shouldn’t mind too much someone coming from the sewers…Do you look Human right now? I assume that you do since you don’t sound weird.”

“...I have metal claws on my arms, besides that my [Blueprint] is mostly [Human]. Do I need to make a more [Beast Core] look? Sam told me to not use [Rat Ears]. But I don’t have many alternatives.” Alexa answered.

“That is good enough, if no one sees you exiting return your arms to normal. If someone sees you just wave and move to the restaurant. Ask for a ‘Tofu Burger Special with a side dish’ that is our set up code for minions in need of a safe haven.” [Billy] said quickly as Alexa heard the sound of keyboard being used at the back, “Kerry knows you are going, so she should have the room ready:”

Alexa still didn’t think this was needed, but decided to listen for now.

“Do I need to report to [Vulcanus] when I return to base?” Alexa asked, remembering how Sam had mentioned that he knew him, “He seemed to have employed Sam before…”

“....Of course he would employ the boogie man…It took me so much work to make sure Frank wasn’t an issue…” [Eleanore] grumbled at the back, “No, I will make the report. Don’t worry about it, also I need to speak with your older and younger form later.”

….She was speaking to Alexa right now though….

“What is a [Tofu Burger]?” Alexa asked for now, she had just eaten, but she wouldn’t mind more [Food].

“It’s a burger made of tofu. Tofu is made of dried soybeans boiled and crushed into a paste. The people that don’t want to eat meat uses as a replacement for meat. They claim it tastes the same.” [Billy] answered her question.

“Why would people not want to eat [Meat]? Aren’t [Humans] omnivores?” Alexa was confused.

She knew that [Meat] was full of proteins, and [Vegetables] had the other type of [Nutrients] needed to survive. That was why they used [Nutrient Paste] to make the [Biomass] they gave her. It contained both…

It also tasted awful. But it was a good way to survive.

And now she was finding that [Humans] sacrificed efficiency to go and eat….discounted [Meat]? It was lunacy.

“It can be for a life style choice, it can be because they don’t want to hurt animals….Or it can be because they are sick and meat hurts them if eaten.” [Eleanore] answered in a small caring tone.

“...I see, I will try it while there. I still have some [Money] on me.” Alexa answered, she wanted to test if it was a good replacement for [Meat] even if she doubted.

Alexa didn’t think she would ever willingly not eat [Meat]. Unless they presented her either [Meat] or [Mango]. So long she had her stock up and at a healthy level, she would pick what she liked the most (Mango) above all!

“I am coming close to the exit. Do I keep the [Mask]?” Alexa asked as she approached the spot where she had seen before. She still hadn’t seen any [Rats]...or any [Life Form], actually.

It made her [Worry] as if there was something….lurking around.

“Take it off if you can allow the extra time; if you see any evidence of…someone coming after you just exit, the restaurant is in a pseudo-neutral zone, so no one should try to arrest you unless you commit a crime.” [Eleanore] answered, “I would rather you take it off in case you are going out as an adult, but as a kid, you may be thought of as someone playing around, so it should be fine.”

Alexa would remove it then, it would be fast and easy enough.

“I will remove it then, and I will send a report by message later,” Alexa said as she slowed her run as she approached her exit point.

“We will continue monitoring your location, Alexa,” [Eleanore] said as Alexa was taking off her [Mask]. "Billy, send a report update on the route Rhapsody took. I need to speak with Vulcanus about his friends.”

That was the last thing Alexa heard as she quickly put on the mask in bracelet mode and walked toward the exit.

“Main Core, is something in the dark?” Alexa send the prompt into Main Core.

“[No life sign detected within the immediate area. No Danger present that is detectable by sensors.]”

Even so, Alexa didn’t know what was this weird feeling at the back of her neck, as if something was pointed at her. So kneeling near the exit she started another shift.

She first took the pressurized canister blueprint and set it to make one of them at the ankle level in both of her legs. She aimed the output nuzzle down and made sure the canisters were filled with as much [Gas] as she could compress there.

“Fly!” And as she did a jump, she opened a route from the nuzzle to the base of her [Feet], ending with a burst of compressed air shooting straight from her [Feet] and increasing her speed.

Alexa had used both her muscle and this improved air booster to jump away from this location.

Unlike how she had did when running away from her first [Den], this didn’t consume as much [Biomass] or [Energy], using the compressed [Gas] as a way to propulse herself towards freedom.

Of course the travel distance was less, and Alexa had needed to put her hands forward to blast open the [Sewer entrance]. But she had achieved it, she had returned to ground level.

“What the heck is that? Did another rat escape?” Alexa heard someone speak nearby.

“It doesn’t look brown, see? It has blonde hair, though it isn’t human, it has claws…But it looks like a….girl?” Another voice joined the discussion.

“It is I! “ Alexa said as she landed in a roll to kill the extra kinetic energy, far away from the [Sewer Entrance], the feeling at the back of her head had diminished and was slowly fading away the more she walked away from there, “And I need a burger!”

So Alexa declared as she started running towards the [Restaurant]. Now she only needed to slowly shift her hands into a more [Eat friendly] setting. How to go about that……