“I… don’t know,” I said, feeling defeated.
“Well, I sure as fuck don’t either, but unless I get an answer we are going to stand here all damn night long.” I heard clinking behind me and turned to see Delta heft my wrench onto his shoulder.
The man looked to be straining to hold the thing to his shoulder, dropping the head to the ground after a few seconds.
“Ever since we first got to the moraine I have felt… different. Stronger in all the senses of the word. I could carry the body of the long armed mutant far more than any of you could, for one. I have always been stronger, but not quite like that.” I paused, remembering my leaping to the roof of B1 as well as my fight with Starden’s mech.
“I have also been doing things that can’t really be described as… human. Fighting the ten foot ATC Starden has amongst those.”
“Well, no shit Sherlock. Do you know what is going on with your face, or the screaming or the fucked up cacophony that is coming in from the rest of the city.” Epsilon replied, almost offhand.
I looked at him in confusion. I was not sure how long I had been screaming, and I didn’t hear anything then, but I wasn’t exactly all there. I saw the world begin to tilt to the side, the other Digits rushing forward.
“Oh, Alpha… ” I heard Zeta whisper as black overtook me.
* ● ●
When I came to, Delta was sitting on one of the swiveling chairs opposite of me. I could feel the cool stone walls behind me as Delta’s eyes bore into me. I knew there was nothing I could say in my defense. I was not sure what was happening to my body, but I severely doubted the Digit would cause me harm after leaving me alive.
“The wailing outside finally died down.” I saw the man place an armored hand to his face, leaving a slight trail of black blood on his chin.
“Alpha… please tell me you have it put together?” The man finally asked.
I was not surprised by his question. I was not sure if my supernatural drive was based on the changes my body seemed to be undergoing, but I would use everything at my disposal to save the others.
“I am not sure what is happening. I will not hurt any of you, but if I… lose it… I just can’t be sure,” I replied quietly.
Delta stared deep into my eyes. I had killed Officials and mutant creatures, yet the man’s look shook my confidence the most. I heard shifting beside me and I was lifted to my feet.
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“We got you, Boss. Just hope you got some more of that kickass juice in yah.” I could not help but chuckle as I looked left at Epsilon.
“I’m not sure, but why do you ask?”
“The mutants have been, well, raiding the building.” Delta sighed heavily.
My head snapped in his direction, taking in the blood that covered his armor and how fresh it was on closer inspection. I scanned the room. All the Digits were present, but they were all covered in some degree of gore. I felt my chest tighten, remembering the howling roar I had unleashed while changed. I did not know anything about the social interactions of mutants, but a loud roar is probably far from a friendly gesture.
“How many?” I asked, moving forward and grabbing my wrench.
I did not fail to notice Delta recoil slightly on his chair, but he responded either way, “Only three so far, but we haven’t stopped hearing scurrying from the the floors below.”
I knew what had him shaken the most. Since arriving at B1 the only mutant threats we have encountered were ones we had gone out to search. I quickly ordered Epsilon to organize the chairs into a rough defensive line by the entrance. If we needed to retreat, this well lit room would be our last stand.
“If we don’t want to get swarmed, we need to go and meet them,” I said, moving towards the staircase.
Delta and Epsilon hesitated for a second, but when the other Digits fell in behind me, they quickly joined.
I gritted my teeth. I vowed to remain in control. I needed to be stronger and if I was to mutate then I would remain myself. What are a couple extra limbs if you can save your friends?
Hurry. They are coming.
I heard the voice in my head. This time, I did not flinch away. Imagining the humanoid I had seen earlier, I felt an invisible wall around my mind. I pushed my feelings and thoughts through it and a rush of sensations flooded me, causing me to miss a step on the stairs. Zeta caught my arm and smiled reassuringly.
Who is ‘they’? I thought.
No time. Came the reply, the wall around my mind disappeared a second after.
I hurried down the stairs, skidding to a stop on the floor below. The moment I made it down, two mutant dogs pounced on me. Taking it in stride, I shifted my wrench, making the dog clamp on it instead of my arm. The other did manage to sink its fangs into my arm, but I quickly slammed the two dogs together, stunning them briefly.
Without a hint of hesitation, two of the others pounced on the dogs stabbing their necks repeatedly. I kept moving forward, instructing Marvin to take the lead in case we had an assault from a human mutant. The stinging from the mutt’s bite was already starting to fade and I looked at my arm to see the wounds already beginning to fade. I realized then why I had been fine after the other dog bit through my suit while looting, I was already beginning to change.
Shrugging it off, and not encountering any other mutants within B1, we made it out onto the street. I noticed that there were no bodies next to the building. Our stockpile for rations had been taken. I bit back the urge to growl, scanning the buildings around B1. The night had just ended, and meager streams of light were making it through the ice above.