With all his accumulated experience so far after inadvertently becoming one of the enemy, Ryker was intimately aware of the innate pros and cons of being a Kaiju. Probably more than any other person on Earth past, present, or future. The pros of his situation? He was, well- a Kaiju. As much as Ryker hated to be one at times instead of the human he'd been. He'd been born strong and had been growing stronger ever since the moment he first hatched from his egg. Giving Ryker the tools and power to act immediately upon his rebirth to begin hunting down the monsters that would destroy the world.

The cons of his situation? He was a Kaiju. A monster incarnate. The kinda that would send any rational human being running for the hills even if he approached them nicely. He couldn't speak English with his inhuman vocal chords, so trying to tell anyone he was the only good Kaiju on the planet wouldn't help if the military would shoot him on sight or capture him for testing. The biggest annoyance to Ryker currently though wasn't just that he was a monster. It was that he was growing fast enough to become an annoyingly big monster... one that didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of fitting through doors anymore.

Fucking doors. Ryker grumbled as he stared at the simple unlocked door that he would have been able to walk through just a few days ago. But now, being 14ft. tall instead of the five feet tall he began his new life as. Doors were more of a suggestion of an entrance into buildings now. Which was why Ryker was casing the warehouse for any Kaiju sized entry points he could find.

At his current size, doors made for humans were obviously beyond Ryker. Even if he could force himself to squeeze through to get inside, that would probably destroy the door, the frame, and the surrounding wall it was built into. Alerting everyone in the building to the monster trying in vain to suck in its stomach to squeeze inside. Plus, even if Ryker did squeeze in he probably wouldn’t be able to get back outside the same way since his body would grow another foot in height once he gained the Capstone Evolution he wanted.

Fortunately, warehouses didn’t just have the small human sized doors to enter through. The loading dock doors were all big enough to allow Ryker to enter since they were made large enough to allow trucks to unload.

How do I get one of them open though? Ryker thought with a frown as he examined each of the doors from a distance. Combing over the problem with his Night Vision and mixed senses. Shifting in slight irritation as he crouched within the concealment of the bushes and trees. It may have been overkill to stay hidden in the blind spots of those ancient looking security cameras on the building itself since there was no way those things had good resolution of any kind, but stealth was the name of the game while he was still a squishy Stage One Kaiju. Bulletproof or not, there was still a number of military grade weaponry that would end him in a heartbeat if he wasn’t careful and the big guns got called in.

No exterior buttons or controls to open the doors. No exterior chains or pulleys, those are probably all inside… Hmm. How do I unlock any of those in the first place? Wait a sec. Ryker thought suddenly. Are they locked at all? Or are they just held closed by their weight alone? Even if they are locked shut, judging by how old this building looks there’s got to be one with a broken or weakened lock I can force open.

Nodding to himself, Ryker scanned his surroundings again as he carefully stood up, slowly enough that he wouldn't give away his position with his large movements. Looking through the leaves of the tree he was eye level with, the world moved all around him in swirls of muted taste and pinpricks of colorful scents. Senses open for any threat or person he couldn't see with his eyes or nose alone. It may have been a bit paranoid of him to be so cautious of any people wandering about, but after running into a gang of thugs and their victim by accident it was clear his enhanced senses weren’t as all encompassing as he’d believed them to be.

With the coast clear, Ryker carefully exited the tree line of manicured shrubbery and stepped onto the refreshing coolness of dew covered grass. He wanted to sprint over to the line of loading bay doors on the side of the warehouse but held himself back as he quietly stalked over the grounds. Prowling through the dark like a predator on the hunt instead of a monster trying to hide.

Ryker knew he was already absurdly quiet for a creature of his size. His current build already making him more of an agile Kaiju than any of the other tougher and clumsier monsters, but it still payed to be careful. Even with his sinewy Whip Tail constantly adjusting behind him to balance him and his modified muscles eating up the shock of every step he was still big enough his footfalls would be felt through the ground if he didn’t move with the utmost caution. Ryker had to hold back a wince every time his step shook the ground a little too much for his taste. Not wanting to think about how much longer he would be able to sneak around before it became impossible for him.

The workers inside may be busy themselves but if I’m not careful they’ll probably be able to feel any kind of rumbling through the floor if its all concrete. Ryker thought as he sidled up against the side of the building’s loading docks. Each of the doors big enough for him to move through if he could just get them open. Even with the loading bay door several feet off the ground Ryker was tall enough the top of the door frame was nearly level with his head. The Kaiju carefully peeked inside through the plastic window built into the door and scanned the area inside.

It was technically unnecessary to look inside with his eyes since Ryker’s mixed senses were enough to paint a picture of the warehouse’s interior, but the weird way he “saw” environments with his Synesthesia didn’t reach as far if he couldn’t see what he was focusing on with his eyes. Things just lacked a certain level of detail when he could only taste/touch/hear/smell them.

Ryker quickly shifted to the side and held still as a worker in a yellow vest and a clipboard walked past the door. Ryker watching the man with another annoying pang of hunger as he left his view from the window and then the awareness of his other senses as he sighed.

God, how is it I’ve been doing so much breaking and entering as a Kaiju? I never even committed any crimes while I was human, now look at me. I’m just a big, green, crime committing machine. Fangs suddenly shining in a wistful smile, Ryker shook his head at the thought as he held back the short bark like growl that was the closest his body could get to emulating human laughter.

Must be a Kaiju thing. Maybe there’s a group of Kaiju committing Grand Theft Auto somewhere that just pick up cars and run away with them. Shit, that’s not funny at all but the idea of Kaiju running around on a crime spree is so stupid it almost is.

Moving with care to not cause too much of a ruckus Ryker tried to work the loading bay door open. There weren’t any handholds on the door since it was machine operated but Ryker managed by prying an open a gap in the bottom of the door with a claw and pulled up slowly.

Strong as he was Ryker could have forced the door open but slamming it open and breaking any locks on it would not be very stealthy of him. So Ryker lightly tested the lock on the door, felt the resistance, then moved onto the next door in the hopes of finding a more broken one.

The warehouse was a rather large building so Ryker spent a good amount of time testing door after door as he went down the line. Musing to himself the entire time about the various kinds of petty crimes Kaiju could commit without any of his old friends available to cuff him for finding the idea so weirdly funny. Just adding the word Kaiju to any kind of crime was enough to entertain Ryker while he worked.

Kaiju insurance fraud… Kaiju tax evasion… Kaiju identity theft… Kaiju DUI… Oh hello, does that feel like what I think it is?

Ryker’s claws under the door pulled upward and found the lock on the door absent as he mentally probed the area around the door. Sensing a slight difference on the inside of the pulleys and motor system on the inside.

Jackpot. Ryker beamed as he carefully pulled open the door far enough to stick his head inside to make sure the coast was clear. It slid quietly enough but even the slight sound it made had Ryker wincing with how loud it seemed. Fortunately the inside of the warehouse was not a quiet place, even this late at night.

The drone of forklifts moving about mixed with the buzz of other warehouse activity as a few workers talked and even shouted across the warehouse floor. They were all clearly further down towards the left side of the warehouse judging by the sound of them working and the vague impressions of their positions he got from his other senses.

Nobody in line of sight to see me. No internal cameras. Good. Ryker thought with a sharp nod as he glided through the loading bay door and crouched down next to it. Curling his tail around himself in an effort to reduce his large profile as his palms pressed flat into the floor as he held himself low and craned his neck around. Head swiveling to track the workers he could sense as he searched for any he might have missed as he took everything in.

The surroundings were exactly what Ryker could have expected the inside of a warehouse to look like. Rows upon rows of goods packed in pallets on shelves that stretched all the way to the ceiling high above. The soft lighting on the interior wasn’t obnoxiously bright like most industrial sites were but the light was prevalent enough that there weren’t any immediately visible places Ryker could hide in if a worker turned a corner and spotted him.

In a weird way, the surroundings almost made Ryker feel like a normal sized person again. The rows of packed pallets almost reminding him of the supermarkets of old. If he stood up to his full height and didn’t focus on the plastic wrapped packaging all around he could almost believe he was at the store shopping for groceries. Despite the need for stealth, Ryker felt an absurdly tempting impulse of for a moment to start walking down the aisles and explore like he was in a regular sized store. As if doing so would let him pretend everything was normal again.

The wave of nostalgia overtaking Ryker wasn’t a concrete memory per se, just a jumble of sounds and warm sensations that passed for early memories. The feeling of moving down long aisles to find a single box of cereal he wanted, the sound of the checkout counter scanning goods to be paid, and the moment of annoying realization that he’d have to chase his mother down as she wandered off with the shopping cart.

Of all the things to set me off. Ryker thought with a pang of loss for that more innocent time. I was already in a grocery store damnit. A moment of rapid blinking cleared the wetness that had momentarily clouded Ryker’s vision as he brought his mind back to the present. Makes sense though. Hard to remember the good times when you’re taller than the shelves you used to shop in.

Shifting in place, Ryker’s claws gripped the door as carefully as he could without scratching it and making noise. He pressed his tail lightly into the side of it to absorb any rumbling from the sliding door as he let gravity carry it as quietly as possible back to the ground. It would make his exit harder but an obviously opened door would make the workers suspicious and possibly search around until they found him. Making his exit as quiet as possible would keep the military from discovering-

“Holy shit!”

Ryker flinched hard as he looked wildly towards where the voice had come from. Somewhere behind multiple pallets of toilet paper. The voice was quickly joined by others as Ryker relaxed. The man who shouted obviously in the middle of a heated discussion with a small group of his other coworkers.

“I fucking know right.” One of them said.

“Play that again!”

“I know, I know. Hang on.”

“Like seriously, it actually threw that car? For real?”

“Fucking dino QB, man! Practically laced that cop car. I’m putting him on my fantasy football team next season.”

“Mikey, we absolutely sure this isn’t some A.I. spoof shit. My brother fell for one of those scams a while back.”

“It’s real alright.” Mikey said with obvious satisfaction as he played the video again. The sounds of a roar and tinny gunfire reaching Ryker despite the distance. “Gentlemen, it is with great pleasure I can confirm… that we are officially living in dinosaur times.”

“Fuck yeah.”

“About time!”

“So awesome dude. So awesome.”

Ryker’s shoulders slumped as he facepalmed at the sounds of the workers reacting to a video that was without a doubt, about him. Specifically when he’d thrown a cop car at the police in an effort to maintain appearances as an unintelligent, violent monster not too long ago. Something that had been vitally important at the time to prevent anyone from getting ideas about developing Kaiju sympathies but was not a moment Ryker was proud of.

No, none of that is awesome! Ryker thought indignantly towards the warehouse workers. Property damage is not awesome! He wanted to go over to give those guys a piece of his mind but the inability to speak proper English would make that prospect rather difficult.

With a repressed groan of annoyance Ryker quietly stalked away from the workers cheering his anti-Kaiju publicity stunt on all fours. Making extra sure he made as little noise as possible as he scanned the pallets around for the foodstuffs he’d came for in the first place.

Peeking around one row’s corner to make sure no one was in it or nearby enough to spot him Ryker felt comfortable enough to stand fully upright between the ceiling high stacks of pallets. Stretching out his back with a barely audible groan after a night full of crouching and silent movement. Ryker worked out the tension in his arms as he stretched them fully above his head. Even as a Kaiju, knowing he was literally built different than humans didn’t mean that he could abandon the old habit to stretch when the opportunity presented itself.

With a light shiver of relief that worked its way down Ryker's body from head to toe and then belatedly, tail. Ryker leaned in to the nearest shelf of goods ten feet off the ground as he tried to smell and read what was underneath all the plastic wrapping the pallet.

Some kind of detergent? Not food anyway. Ryker concluded as he systematically moved down the large aisle sized for forklifts and workers that was blessedly large enough for him to move in without issue. With one claw out Ryker tapped it against each pallet in turn, using his tail to tap against the goods on the lowest shelf so he didn’t have to crouch down to tick them off his list of things he’d already checked.

Dust cleaner, garbage bags, bigger garbage bags, dishwasher stuff, a bundle of mops and plungers, a- is that a pallet of spice racks? What the hell is this? A stay at home mom depot? Don’t tell my I broke into the wrong damn warehouse.

Ryker reached the end of the row of goods and held back a spike of frustration as he peeked around the corner of the tall shelves, thankful he had something big to hide his body behind as he anxiously watched the long corridor of clear concrete down the middle of the space that stretched to the other end of the warehouse. Waiting for the two people he saw several rows down to go somewhere else as Ryker patiently waited in the aisle for his chance to move. Deliberately keeping his weight on his two feet instead of leaning back into the fragile shelf at his back like he wanted to. Ryker found a nice little spot in the ceiling not too far above to glare into as he let out a long and frustrated sigh.

With the size of the warehouse the rows were simply organized one after the other in neat rows. The rows were large, extending near to the edges of each side of the building but they were all split down the middle by that long stretch of concrete. It probably made navigating the rows and transporting goods easier but it just meant that Ryker had to exercise extra caution searching for what he was looking for. Something the warehouse was not making any easier with whatever categorization system they used. At the top of each aisle was a very unhelpful letter and number that told Ryker nothing about each row’s contents.

I’m gonna have to go down the line and check each aisle aren’t I? Ryker guessed. He could just try jumping directly to a different row near the other end of the warehouse but the possibility of missing any food due to simple impatience was not a chance Ryker wanted to take.

Trying to sniff or feel out where the food could be was proving unusually difficult as well. There were just too many strong overlapping scents in the warehouse, industrial and otherwise to make singling out the food an easy task. Plus there was too much of the plastic wrap around pallets for him to correctly guess what each contained at a distance. Even after he focused his unusual mix of senses on them to try peering inside he could only guess when he was almost right next to it. He’d have to find the food by hand… claw? Claw hand? Did three fingers count enough to be a hand?

Whatever. Ryker thought. Dismissing his idle thoughts of a proper hand claw as he perked up, feeling the two people in the middle of the corridor between the shelves turn away enough for Ryker to quietly dart unseen to the other side of the row he was in.

Time crept onward as the Kaiju systematically worked his way down row after row of heavily packaged goods. Shaking his head every now and then in frustration at not finding food. Treading lightly across the concrete floor, Ryker kept any of his claws from scraping against the ground as he moved. Grateful he’d chosen modifiers for his body that made sneaking around less of an impossibility with his size.

Had anyone been looking into any of the aisles Ryker was quickly working his way through they would have a perfect view of the monstrous Kaiju in the soft light of the warehouse. Covered in light green scales from head to toe, with the only major difference in coloration being the red scales adorning his chest and the white of bone spikes flush against his forearms. His eyes were still the same piercing yellow as before, clear and bright with a human intelligence that would terrify most ordinary people.

What people wouldn’t see and couldn’t possibly know, were all the internal changes Ryker had undergone that helped him be as quiet as he was. The muscles moving his large frame had started out as the same densified muscles most Kaiju unlocked early in their development. But the shock absorbing property Ryker chose for its combat potential, was always at work. Even simple shock of stepping down onto the hard concrete of the warehouse floor was absorbed by layers of muscle fibers capable of dissipating the force of a car crash, reducing the impact of steps that should have shaken the ground to near nothing. To the point that it almost seemed to be a trick of the eye that the monster prowling through the aisles was making less of an impact than it should have with its steps. Combined with the modifier that enhanced his body’s fast twitch muscle fibers it made Ryker’s movements fluid and quick, where other Kaiju would have lumbered like the monsters they were Ryker passed through the aisles with a hunter’s quiet grace.

A really big hunter admittedly. One that still had to strain itself to remain quiet and unnoticed but all those modifiers helped make an impossible task a merely difficult one.

The only thing breaking that terrifying image Ryker gave off was the way he was examining every pallet like he was a shopper looking for a discount.

Who in the fuck. Ryker swore as he leaned right into the pallet in front of him. Would buy a pallet of toilet plungers of all things? Why are these even sold in bulk?! The monster fumed. Crouching and resting his arms on his knees as he sighed in defeat before moving into the next aisle.

Of course more than anything, Ryker owed his success at avoiding any stray workers to the late hour more than anything else. The night shift was obviously understaffed for a building of this size and none of the people wandering about seemed particularly enthused or motivated to tackle whatever tasks they had to do. That, combined with Ryker’s ability to sense them through the cover of shelves and pallets made avoiding them easier than it should have been.

There were some difficulties however.

As a pair of workers made their way towards Ryker’s aisle he had to quickly duck away to hide behind a stack of pallets on the ground, likely to be shelved later. Ryker managed to hide tucking his entire body behinds the pallets but was unable to escape the long winded gossip the two women were sharing as they refused to move.

“…so there I was, right. And do you know who decided to show up to the baby shower? After everything that happened?” A middle aged female worker said to her younger counterpart.

“No!” A gasp left the younger worker’s mouth as her hands flew up to cover her mouth.

“Yes.” The older coworker nodded gravely. “Rebecca.”

“Oh my God! How could she do that?!”

“Because Rebecca is a stone cold gold digging whore, Rosy. She tried to waltz in and make it all about her again but you know what? Linda was not having any of that. Not at all.”

“What happened?”

“Oh it was amazing. I keep begging Linda’s husband to post the video online but he doesn’t want the attention. Anyway, Linda. Our quiet, pregnant, very round bellied Linda. Was absolutely furious with Rebecca. I don’t know if her baby mama instincts kicked in early or she was riding some kinda pregnant hormone adrenaline cocktail but she marched right up to Rebecca. Shouting loud enough to wake the dead then after a minute of yelling. Bam!”

The woman finished with a ruthless grin as she slammed her fist into her palm.

“Linda knocks out Rebecca and the harpy folds over like a piece of paper! All those years of kickboxing paying off in that one moment.”

“Wow…” Said the younger coworker.

Wow. Thought Ryker as he hid tightly curling his body behind the large stack of pallets he could sense the contents off. Diapers mostly. He’d found himself in a bad spot of being unable to move forward due to the two women in the row he hadn’t checked yet or backtrack the way he’d come because they would absolutely see a giant green monster moving about. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop like that on the two gossiping but with his enhanced hearing and inability to move away it wasn’t like he could tune them out. If anything, he’d actually got caught up in the drama himself for a bit.

I mean, I really didn’t need to know that at all. That information won’t help me in the slightest but man that was wild. Ryker thought shaking his head. And here I thought the world was completely peaceful before Kaiju appeared everywhere. Nope. There can never be peace with Rebeccas in the world always choosing violence. Downright cold, emotionally manipulative violence. Just that thing she did at the salon was bad enough but the baby shower too? Knowing that Daniel chose Linda over her? Damn.

It was thankfully not too long after the story concluded that the two gossipers trailed away and Ryker was finally able to move down the second to last row on this side of the warehouse. He’d been frustrated as hell combing shelf after shelf to find cheap home goods, lawn supplies, children’s toys, and everything under the sun except some kind of canned food but Ryker could finally pick out a trace amount of something in the row he was in. Something faint enough he might have missed it if he hadn’t been forced to sit and wait outside the row itself.

One by one Ryker moved down the row, claw tracing the pallets in front of him and leaving small cuts in the wrapped plastic as his tail tapped the pallets behind him to mark them off. The eagerness he felt at being so close to warehouse’s stock of foodstuffs and the Capstone they’d serve as fuel for was almost palpable. A thrill he felt in his body as well as his mind.

Man, I feel like a kid sneaking into the kitchen to steal from the cookie jar. Ryker thought with childlike enthusiasm as he absently licked his lips, taking a deep breath through his nose to drink in the unmistakable scent of the humans who’d been here earlier beneath the industrial scents all around him. Sensing the slowly retreating women through the ceiling high shelf where they were moving about between rows on foot and on forklifts.

A cookie jar guarded by all these tasty, delicious, smelling people that- I’m not going to eat or taste. Ryker finished quickly, going through the motions to accept the hunger he felt and not judge himself for feeling it. Because they’re thinking, breathing human beings. People with jobs and hobbies. People with families. Loving and tasty families that I just wanna-

Ryker blinked and froze for a moment. His scaled face frowning down at the floor as he digested that thought before coming to a conclusion.

Shit. I really am a monster aren’t I?

Ryker blinked and refocused on Riley’s method again with more effort as he dutifully acknowledged the tempting thoughts before pushing them aside. A practice he was getting way too familiar with already as the hateful anger he’d been directing at Kaiju and by extension his own monstrous intentions became ever more exasperated with himself than wrathful.

Ryker’s trailing claw drooped a bit as he worked his way down the row and his pace slowed. He’d tried to put his realization earlier tonight behind him but even after coming to terms with it, it still weighed on his mind.

I really am a monster. I'm even starting to think like them. Like a Kaiju. Just like the ones that killed the world. I have my memories, but not even my mind is human anymore. It can’t be if the drive to eat people so badly always feels like something I want. Ryker thought with a tightening in his chest. That revelation wasn’t something Ryker had wanted to accept but it was the truth of the matter. However, instead of stewing in that depressing fact Ryker’s claw curled into a fist as he breathed in and out silently. Settling the flare up of inner turmoil with a truth he could hold onto to keep him steady in the storm of doubts in his thoughts.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

I’m still me though. Still Raymond Ryker. Even if I am a monster, even if I’m not human. That doesn’t mean I’m not a person. I don’t have to be human to keep being myself. The person I’ve always been.

Ryker’s spirit lifted at the thought as he let the idea solidify in his mind. It was still bittersweet in a way. Had Beck’s machine worked properly he’d have been able to live his life again in his original body. A true second chance to make everything right. For his family, his friends, everything. There were still moments here and there where he thought about how he’d continue the fight as a younger version of himself. It was admittedly, a rather appealing fantasy but Ryker was more inclined to action than daydream.

It’s still fine though. Ryker thought warmly as he pictured his teenage self. Innocent and unknowing of the horrors Ryker had witnessed, simply living his life. If I wasn’t a Kaiju I wouldn’t be able to spare him the pain of it all. I honestly hope he doesn’t become a pilot. Even if I know how good he could be in time, I want that version of myself to live without knowing war. To grow up in a world without monsters. That would be reward enough for me.

Ryker could have simply stood there and reveled in the thought of that unknown, younger version of himself becoming more than he had been. Someone not ruled by the pain and hatred that had constantly pushed himself to the limit in his last life. Then Ryker paused and suddenly grinned as his senses picked out the source of the smell he had been looking for all this time.

And speaking of rewards… Ryker thought triumphantly as he reached up and after a heartbeat decided to grab the pallet with both claws to bring it to ground level. Lest any of the foodstuffs inside fall out and make a noise that would out him. With his tail waving excitedly Ryker cut open the obscuring plastic around the pallet like a kid opening a present on Christmas day. He tore open the plastic to reveal…

That- Ryker paused as he looked down at his food. Trying not to feel crestfallen as he looked at his prize. Vainly holding together a fractured smile he didn’t feel as his shoulders sagged. That’s still food, right? Yeah… yeah it is… Go me.

Staring up at Ryker with adorable fluffy faces was the same pair of puppies on every bag in the pallet. Staring up happily and innocently at Ryker’s despondent face as they sat next to a overfilled bowl of dog food. The puppies were also dressed in disgustingly cute superhero costumes.

Pup...Chow... Ryker read the brand name without enthusiasm or emotion. The word itself was stylized as though it were from a comic book. Projecting an aura of fun that Ryker did not feel. Plus Ultra Sized for... Ultra Puppy Power. The number one brand for little pups to grow big and strong. To take out all the bad guys with a single blow… PupChow…

Ryker stared down at the bags of dog food for a long moment. And then another one. His claws twitched with a desire to put the pallet back on the shelf. Maybe after re-wrapping the plastic he’d cut away so he didn’t have to look at the judging eyes of the puppies staring up at him. But unfortunately for Ryker, he was first and foremost a pragmatist. He could no more ignore the power the food in front of him represented than those picture perfect puppies could look anything less than adorable.

The things I do for this fucking planet man. Ryker huffed as he bend down to pick up a bag of the dog food. Handling it carefully not to cut it open accidentally and spill out its contents as he held it close to his face to examine. The extra large bag of dog food would have been unwieldy for anyone to carry on their own but Ryker handled the bag effortlessly, like it was a large party sized bag of chips. He gave it an extra sniff just to be sure but his nose wasn’t lying, the dog food definitely smelled like food. It didn’t smell half bad actually, but that somehow made it worse.

Damnit. Ryker grumbled. It’s not even that it might taste bad that upsets me you know? It’s the principle of the thing! At least when I was dumpster diving I was doing something that other human beings do on occasion. But this? This is just too much.

Ryker looked the bag over and tried to find some redeeming quality as he worked himself up to eating the kibble. Turning it this way and that until he just started reading everything on the bag.

The preferred brand for growing service dogs? Well… that’s nice I guess. Extra minerals… that’s something. Vitamins… those are pretty good actually. More than I expected at least. Then there’s… huh. Ryker held the bag before his eye with an upraised brow before nodding slightly with approval. That’s a damn good amount of protein. That’s gonna help a lot actually, what else is- oh shit! They got bacon bits too!

Ryker smiled as he reassessed his opinion of PupChow. Suddenly feeling unreasonably better about eating kibble the moment he saw it came with bacon. Well no time like the present, Capstone won’t evolve itself and Kaiju aren’t gonna kill themselves.

Ryker shifted the bag into the crook of his arm as he carefully worked a claw along the top. Carving a jagged line across the bag and making little noise as the torn open bag revealed its contents. Ryker raised a claw over the bag as though to reach inside to grab the kibble before he stopped himself, shrugged then raised the bag up to pour its contents into his mouth in a waterfall of kibble.

Being extra cautious not to spill, Ryker only slowed the flow of dog food because the rustling sound it was making rushing out all at once was too loud for Ryker’s liking. The food wasn’t gourmet of any kind and he definitely felt a part of himself miss the well prepared foods of the Garden Olive he’d once pilfered. But Ryker would be lying if he said he didn’t like the taste of PupChow. It was definitely a tier above the average dumpster and those bacon bits really helped the flavor.

Munching through the entire bag in short order Ryker neatly placed the emptied bag next to the pallet as he grabbed another one and prepared to tear it open before pausing again.

Wait, why am I even bothering with this? Ryker thought bemused as he looked down at the bag in his claws appraisingly before shoving it whole into his maw. It was a rather tight fit, and the bag itself didn’t taste nearly as good as the kibble but tearing through it was easy and added to the flavor in its own way. It also let him get any stray pieces of bacon bits that would have clung to the bottom of the bag.

Bag after bag Ryker devoured the food source he’d found. Enjoying his unconventional feast and only stopping twice, with cheeks full as he patiently watched a few nearby warehouse workers move close but they never came near enough to see or hear Ryker as he finished off the pallet in record time.

It might have been expected that one pallet should have been more than enough to reach the Capstone but Ryker wasn’t concerned at how much food it was taking to reach the amount of calories his body required for the ability. He’d eaten multiple times his body weight in Kaiju to reach the level he was at now and comparing a pallet of dog food or any amount of normal food to a Kaiju’s mass, even the lighter and less developed ones he’d eaten, wasn’t really comparable.

After clearing the pallet of Pupchow, Ryker munched on the last bag as he stared at the remains of his meal on the floor. Might as well clean up. Ryker thought nodding to himself as he systematically ate the empty bag of kibble he’d eaten first and followed up by rolling up the plastic he’d torn away like spaghetti around a claw.

Just because I’m a Kaiju and I’m forced to sneak around like a man eating monster doesn’t mean I can’t have standards. Ryker smiled as he gobbled the ball of tightly rolled plastic. Chewing the indelible wad like a large piece of gum as he gently placed the wooden pallet the kibble had been stacked on and rested it on the side of a shelf.

Ryker’s body thrummed with everything he’d eaten. Not just the dog food but everything he’d eaten before now that had pushed him close to the peak of one of his gene segment’s. It was almost uncomfortable in a way, like his body was straining against a leash to reach something just beyond his reach.

With bated breath Ryker grabbed another pallet off the shelf, another brand of dog food that was clearly not up to competing with PupChow judging by the lack of costumed puppies on the bags. Ryker made even quicker work of the food than the PupChow. Shoving one bag after another until a full dozen bags disappeared down his gullet. The pallet was drastically reduced in size as its contents were consumed. Ryker was fully prepared to eat his way through the entire shelf if it contained more food to eat. He was in the middle of planning how to reach the pallets above him without making any noise before all at once… he felt it.

Like a switch had been flipped Ryker shuddered once he reached the required amount of calories he needed. The shock of it almost enough to make him drop the bag of kibble he was holding and alert the nearby workers to his presence.

Whoa… Ryker thought dazed as he barely managed to set down the bag he’d been about to eat. Just standing still he felt energized and raw, his body thrumming with a primal sense of satisfaction as it finally reached the threshold of the Capstone Evolution. Ryker didn’t even think in the wake of that glorious feeling. Letting the moment drag on as he reveled in a sensation he hadn’t realized he’d been aching for.

For the first time in his new life as a Kaiju, Ryker felt full.

Wordlessly, Ryker pressed the palm of one claw over his bare stomach as he marveled in the absence of his own hunger. Scales slid quietly against scales as Ryker ran his claw up and down, like he could find the spot where the hunger had hidden itself from him. It felt… it just felt so nice.

I… Ryker slowly pondered as he looked over himself. Almost expecting to see a change despite not even gaining the Capstone’s ability yet. I’m not hungry anymore. Ryker though with a relieved sigh that left his lungs in a shaky breath. Closing his eyes Ryker took a long moment to inhale through his nose. Smelling all the humanity that was inside the warehouse and their lingering scents.

I don’t feel like I need to eat them. Ryker thought with a hopeful joy that was almost painful in his chest.

Is this permanent? Can I make this last longer if it isn’t? Ryker’s mind began racing as he tried to think of a way to make sure he retained that sense of fullness. That the cursed hunger that nearly pushed him to eat people could finally be thrown away forever, even if he’d found a way to live with it he’d gladly take any chance to make sure he never felt it again.

If Kaiju don’t have to feel hungry for humans I can- Ryker stopped. The sudden realization making the Kaiju flinch. Freezing in place any concern Ryker had about the warehouse workers discovering him fell away as he was filled with a seething fire. His shoulders shook as his claws came up as if to attack the air in front of him. Fangs bared as if to tear into meat a small part of Ryker barely managed to keep his silent snarl from becoming a roar.

Kaiju could stop feeling hungry. Stop feeling hungry for humans. Ryker felt that truth within himself more clearly than ever now that he was one of the beasts he’d always hated. It had been the basis of so many theories and speculations to come up with a chemical compound that was capable of eliminating a Kaiju’s insatiable appetites as a form of deterrent, believing there was some way to coexist with the creatures. Ryker had simply believed Kaiju were always hungry. That they could stop that hunger? Even if it was unintentional, that was almost worse.

They can feel full, they’re capable of stopping but they keep killing! Ryker thought savagely. Feeling that sense of disgusting fullness within his body slowly fade, like there was a hole in his stomach that was draining out what he’d eaten. That fullness isn’t meant to stop Kaiju, it’s a- a fucking reward! A reward for eating enough to reach their Capstone! Like a dog getting a treat for doing a good job.

Breathing heavily it took Ryker a good moment to reassert control over himself. Even then he only got himself back together when a worker riding a forklift came perilously close to his aisle, the sound of the old forklift saving Ryker with the sounds it made.

Shaking his head Ryker’s eyes still blazed as if he was ready to tear into a Kaiju with his claws but Ryker calmed. Belatedly realizing that he’d fallen onto all fours without realizing. With an annoyed scowl Ryker pushed off the ground to stand on two legs instead of four.

Got to make sure that doesn’t become a habit. Ryker thought grumpily, still digesting his discovery. I may not be human anymore, but I’ll be damned if I start walking around on four legs like Blaze Dozer.

The feeling of fullness that Ryker had felt was still dissipating but it felt like something that could last for hours, maybe even most of the day. He was still conflicted on whether he should despise the feeling because of what it represented or hang on to it because of what it made him feel but either way Ryker had to admit one thing.

This full feeling. Damnit I hate to admit it but maybe it’s a good thing after all. This might be what helps convince Kaiju they should evolve to Stage Two early rather than stay in Stage One to build power. If that’s the case… well shit. I might owe my life to this feeling.

It had been common knowledge, or rather it would become common knowledge that many Kaiju never reached their full potential in Stage One before evolving. The way they acquired abilities across the three gene segments a majority of Kaiju only focused on one of the gene segments to gain their abilities from. Only dabbling in the others if they even bothered with them at all.

The epigenetic modifiers for their abilities were gained more from pure chance than anything else. Without the ability to consciously direct their growth like Ryker did, the vast majority of modifiers were gained through pure circumstance depending on what a Kaiju went through or survived they would unconsciously unlock certain modifiers. As a result most Stage Two Kaiju only had a smattering of modifiers to their name they carried over from Stage One, if you were really lucky some Kaiju didn’t have any. Which made those Kaiju relatively easy killing since it was their Capstone ability that served as their primary means of dealing damage. You had to wipe out any newly evolved Kaiju before they became more… unique in Stage Two.

But Kaiju weren’t locked to only gaining abilities from one gene segment, as Ryker was proof of. Nothing was stopping them except their own instincts to grow stronger that made them skip over those opportunities. Even gaining a second Capstone Evolution like some of the monsters Ryker had fought in his past life. That one difference, having two Capstones, was what separated normal Kaiju from the true elites of their kind. Kaiju with two Capstones to their name became exponentially greater threats as they grew stronger. The kind that could wipe out cities by themselves and squad after squad of piloted Armor.

Kaiju could even gain three Capstone abilities if they truly had a mind to. But that was something that was vanishingly rare. Less than a percent of a percent of all Kaiju really, not that it had done much good for Humanity in the past timeline. Over the course of Ryker’s entire life there had only been five recorded monsters that had obtained three Capstones. Five Kaiju that had seared their names into Ryker’s mind as he watched them grow beyond humanity’s ability to face them. Until they were strong enough to claim the surface as their own and force what was left of the world to burrow like rats into the earth too escape.

Standing still Ryker could feel his body urging him to gain the Capstone ability, the instinct so much a part of him that the feeling came across as more of a temptation. A promise of power he could feel in his bones, not just the ability itself but the capability to evolve to Stage Two immediately after if he wished. The idea of evolving to Stage Two had been just a concept till now but Ryker could almost feel the increase in strength evolving to the next Stage would offer him. It called to him like the sweetness of honey and blood, something that would be so good if he could just taste it.

With an effort of will Ryker clamped down on the instinct he felt that urged him to gain the Capstone ability immediately. Tightening his claws into fists like he could crush the uncomplicated instinct inside him that was trying to push him to gain the ability and evolve to Stage Two- but would make him as weak as any common Kaiju. With a steadying breath Ryker’s eyes grew distant as he thought on how far he still needed to go while in Stage One. Imagining all too clearly the five Kaiju he was racing against that would soon stand above all.

Two more Capstones to go, then I’ll be just like them… As strong as the so called “gods” the Children of Gaia worshipped. The sixth Kaiju in history to reach the peak. Ryker thought as he smiled. Every bit the monster as his lips peeled back to bare glistening fangs. I’ll hunt you down one by one. And the first step to doing that, is gaining the same ability I know you all have.

With a focused search around himself Ryker made sure that he was clear and that he wouldn’t be interrupted once he gained the ability, then nodded to himself. Heeding some quiet instinct in his mind Ryker purposefully kneeled down and got on all fours again, his dislike of standing on four legs forgotten. Laying his tail flat along the ground Ryker took in a deep breath. Something in his hind brain wanted him to find somewhere less open to do this. But Ryker wasn’t about to wait for however long it took him to exit the warehouse and find somewhere else to acquire the Capstone. He wanted this now. The warehouse workers were all far enough away he was sure he’d have enough time alone to gain the ability without alerting them. All his previous abilities took only a moment to grow in, this shouldn’t take much longer.

And here we... go. Ryker thought with anticipation as he flicked the internal switch that gave his body the signal to begin.

Immediately Ryker felt the accumulated store of energy inside himself start to burn away, the sheer amount of it enough that it didn’t all disappear at once. Instead it blazed in Ryker’s chest like a furnace as it spread outward from his chest in a wave. Making his claws scratch sharp lines into the concrete floor as his braced arms and legs held him in place. It was a change that surprised Ryker with its intensity but still felt expected somehow.

Muscles quivered and flexed as new strands started growing fiber by fiber under his scales. Connecting to new bones as his skeleton cracked from a cascading wave of micro fractures that allowed some bones to crack and shift with new bone growths. Ryker rode out the change even as part of him reveled in it. Even as he felt the shock of it traveling through every disk in his spine and out into his ribs one by one.

For a brief moment, his humanity was absent. There was no room for it, no room for the human reason or logic within Ryker’s skull as the Capstone took its place. Flooding him with every bit of the primal satisfaction that could only belong to a monster growing in power.

A Kaiju, becoming what it was meant to be.

Teeth bared in a savage grin Ryker’s mind swam back into awareness, uncaring of the time passing he allowed himself a moment to bask in the knowledge he was truly growing stronger as he felt the change work itself up his neck and into his fangs. As that occurred, a different part of Ryker’s mind thought back to the first time he’d learned of the ability currently integrating with his body.

It was a better time back then, not a good one. But a better one.

The scene had been eerily familiar to Ryker at the time, inside the military base. It was like a recreation of his first time seeing Beck as he listened to the man in the stands as the scientist gave an explanation to newer pilots of their understanding of Kaiju. Only this time instead of being in the stands himself Ryker was on the sidelines, watching the new pilots the base had taken on stream out of the stands. Ryker said all the proper things to the pilots as he shook hands with them as they passed by, but his heart wasn’t in it.

The losses of the pilots these men and women were replacing wasn't an easy thing to forget.

“How are you holding up Ray?” Beck asked with bags under his eyes as Ryker came close.

“Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing.” Ryker said wanly as he came over to Beck. Looking over the presentation Beck still had displayed on the screen Ryker hummed approvingly at how much more detailed everything was compared to the first presentation he’d attended with Beck. “I can see they definitely upped the budget since the last time you were giving a lecture to me. Definitely a lot more info to absorb than just three different colors of Kaiju DNA segments right?”

“Right. Right…” Beck said tiredly practically sagging into his chair and Ryker’s smile slipped as he came closer.

“Beck what’s up?” Ryker said worried. “Did something happen?”

“It’s nothing serious, don’t fret.” Beck said weakly waving away the concern. “It’s simply that… the more I learn about Kaiju. The way they work, how they function… well forgive me for saying so but it frightens me sometimes.”

“Beck you’re hardly the first person to feel afraid at what Kaiju can do. Out of all the fears people could have I’d say that one has got to be the most rational.”

“It’s not about what they can do Ray. Though that is certainly part of it. It’s just what it all represents. The implications and ramifications of everything I learn. Kaiju are just… they’re just too perfect Ray. Too well designed. Nothing encapsulates that better than the abilities they gain at the end of each gene segment.”

Beck’s expression hardened as he lurched up from his chair with an energy Ryker didn’t expect from the aged man as he strode over to the screen with a purpose.

“We’ve finally locked down on what the final ability they gain is, at least for the Musculoskeletal segment. That one is where the total extent of the changes are most observable.” Beck said with fervor as he flicked the display over to a familiar diagram Ryker had seen. The familiar structure of a red DNA helix, the same kind he’d seen so long ago when Beck first introduced it to him. Only now it was littered with information of each ability they knew Kaiju gained from it and which part of the DNA segment those abilities originated from.

“What did you find out? And what do you mean they’re too perfect?” Ryker asked. He was intrigued, but still concerned over Beck’s demeanor. He’d been going without sleep more and more recently. It should have been something Ryker confronted him about but he was the last person who could tell Beck to slow down and take a break. Not when he refused to let up in the simulators himself.

“It’s not simply an ability that exists in isolation from the others previously gained. It… it builds on everything that’s come before. Like they’re simply foundations for a more complex structure.” Beck said clearly strained. Stressed and focused as he manipulated the image to focus on the first ability. Data scrolled out from the image as information populated and Beck pointed to the looping animation of a Kaiju’s muscles strengthening and the text labeling it.

[Musculoskeletal Gene Segment - Stage One]

[Rung 1: Increased Muscle Fiber Density - Drastically increases the amount of muscle fibers concentrated across the entire musculoskeletal system.]

“We believed this ability was merely a necessity for Kaiju to be able to grow to the heights they do. A consequence of needing to be stronger just to support their own increasing weight, mass, and nothing more. But we were wrong. The final ability in the gene segment is like a capstone of sorts, the kind that cements the strength and solidity of an arch and every brick that holds it up. It cannot exist without that support and the bricks holding up the arch form a weaker structure without it.”

Beck’s hand wavered over the screen for a moment, his hand shaking slightly to Ryker’s eye before he groped for an electronic pointer in his shirt pocket. Circling and dragging the image of strengthening muscle to bring it to a clear part of the screen as he drew around it.

“This… Capstone Evolution does not seem like it is intended to enhance a Kaiju’s existing muscle fibers, but it does so anyway as a byproduct of its primary function. That enhancement to strength is not as drastic as a pure ability at the very least. We have that much to be grateful for…”

Finally finished Beck turned to Ryker and gestured towards what he’d drawn and the scientist explained. “The Capstone Evolution extends and modifies particular groupings of muscles all across its body. Allowing them to rapidly flex and relax in sequence over the course of a single second- where they connect to the next change to occur as a result of the Capstone.”

Beck moved more quickly as he pulled up the information about the next ability Kaiju gained after the first.

[Musculoskeletal Gene Segment - Stage One]

[Rung 2: Increased Bone Density - Drastically alters the structural makeup of bones across the entire skeleton and increases overall bone density.]

The information was still populating the screen as Beck dragged the animation of bones altering inside a Kaiju over to the other looping animation and drew some more. Clearly connecting the two with accompanying words and lines that seemed like they were more for working out Beck’s frustration than to help Ryker understand.

“Specialized bones grow out from the skeleton- after it has further refined the bones. Again, the improvement to the overall skeleton is a byproduct but is still considerable. Under a microscope the altered bones internally take on an interlocking hexagonal pattern, like a perfectly distributed three dimensional honeycomb that supports…” Beck trailed off as he feverishly finished the details of his latest drawing. Stabbing the pen into the drawing with the final touch. He didn’t even look back at Ryker as he spoke this time.

“The new bones and sections grown into the skeleton form hollows within themselves, and reed like structures within those hollows. It barely resembles it in structure but the function appears similar to the kind of bones within the inner ear we use to absorb the kinetic vibrations in the air we translate into sound. When these bones are pulled on in rapid succession by those new muscle fibers the reeds within create vibrations. The hollows prevent the loss of that kinetic energy from dissipating into the skeleton they’re attached to. Those vibrations move along an internal chain of connecting hollows and bone reeds. Contained and kept from affecting the body as a whole due to altereations to the bone marrow. Adding contact points of densified marrow and channel points with more kinetically conductive marrow to prevent any internal bleeding or damage to the internal organs as a result of the functions of the new muscle and bone.”

Beck’s pen pressed harder into the screen as his pen moved faster. If he was still trying to write words on the screen Ryker couldn’t tell. The entire mass of lines that made up the drawing was steadily devolving into a tangle of incomprehensible nonsense broken up by periods where Beck stopped to mutter a formula before resuming his speech.

“-vibrations. It’s all about amplifying the vibrations. These vibrations continue passing on and facilitate the transfer of kinetic energy from bone to bone to bone. Amplifying it again and again and again.”

“Beck.” Ryker said softly but firmly. He knew he was out of his league with the scientist in terms of knowledge, but he knew what it looked like when someone was getting too close to a breaking point. Recognizing that had been something he’d been forced to learn recently. It had hurt to confront his fellow pilots when they cracked and he hated to see those same signs in his friend.

“What did you find?” Ryker said quietly. Understanding in his voice as he tried to shove the other emotions down so they wouldn’t get in the way.

His words seemed to punch a whole in Beck’s ballooning frustration as he stepped back and looked at Ryker. His eyes were fatigued and strained, but more than that Beck looked lost. Like a man who couldn’t understand what he was seeing right in front of him. It hurt Ryker’s heart to see. At the time it had been because of the distress he saw in his friend he saw in so many others. But remembering back to that day, Ryker could recognize it was the first sign that Beck was buckling beneath the weight of it all.

After a long moment Beck’s expression slowly slackened and he weakly waved at his frantic drawings with a solemn gesture.

“The Capstone uses everything Ray. Every ability Kaiju gain in order to reach it. It makes the muscles stronger, the bones tougher, and even alters the inside of the scales for… some reason. I-I don’t know why yet. Something to do with preventing that kinetic energy from leaving the body maybe, I... I just don’t know.” Beck said tiredly. Dropping his pen into the tray. Like it was too heavy to lift up and return to his shirt pocket.

“I don’t even know how it interacts with the Divergence Points yet. If it does at all. Do you know what the end result of all that is?” Beck asked hypothetically as he shrugged his shoulders and finally turned to face Ray. Shaking his head with a dark chuckle that held no humor.

“The Capstone is an ultrasonic weapon Ray. The vibrations build on themselves. Focusing and harmonizing in the chest until they’re channeled through bone that preserves that kinetic energy as it moves out into the extremities. Once they reach them, the claws and fangs vibrate at a high enough frequency to drastically enhance their cutting power. To such an extent that makes them indistinguishable from our own experimental Vibroblades. Can you believe that? Any Kaiju can essentially just… turn their claws into giant turkey cutters. And we’re the turkeys getting butchered every single day.”

Ryker took in a slow breath and nodded in understanding. Already digesting that information and looking back at Kaiju he fought that had claws that were just too sharp. Capable of turning what should have been grazing slashes into grievous wounds. All too clearly Ryker recalled the destroyed remains of Armor brought back from the field. The majority of them with jagged bite marks and ugly cuts, but here and there were pieces from Armor with cuts that were too clean.

“So we get thicker plates for the Armor and even more firepower. We can get around this Beck. It’s just another ability. This isn’t over by a long shot.”

“That’s not it Ray. Don’t you see? Well… forgive me, you probably don’t see it the way I do. It’s not merely a matter of improving armor and weapons to fight Kaiju with this ability that worries me Ray. Its everything that one, raw increase in power represents. For God’s sake, we’re still in the early stages of building a viable Vibroblade for mass production and we’re not even close to the the point we can begin scaling it up for Armor. We’re literally in the process of narrowing down the right wavelength and material alloys to rush out the first working prototypes for our soldiers but Kaiju- our very enemies Ray, can grow them.”

Beck took a steadying breath and simply shook his head. Looking up at the displayed DNA like it was a monster looming over him.

“The questions surrounding the origin of these monsters haunts me Ray. It doesn’t matter if they’re natural or artificial anymore, only that whoever or whatever made these killing machines… they took the time to optimize what they made. I’m terrified at what that could mean. For us, for the world at large. What do we do against monsters like these Ray? What do we do if we win… and we get put against something even worse?”

The questions might have been hypothetical but Ray was done standing by. He walked over to Beck and put a hand firmly on his shoulder. Giving the frail older man the same hard look he gave the newer pilots.

“We do what we can.” Ryker said with a reassuring squeeze of his friend’s shoulder. “You, me, and everyone else. Just do what you can each day. You’re already helping us all with what you do Beck. Just focus on what you do and remember you’re not alone here.”

“And what is it exactly that I should do?” Beck asked softly, searching Ryker’s eyes.

“Be smart for Armor grunts like me alright? We need someone like you thinking about the kinds of problems I can’t kill with AP rounds.” Ryker said with a small smile.

“You have such a way with words Ray.” Beck said. A smile breaking through the dour expression on his face as he chuckled softly. “You’re the only person I know who is more inclined to say problems are killed rather than solved.”

“Well two things can be true at once-.” Ryker said before a loud alarm cut through his words. Both men didn’t even flinch, everyone on base had come accustomed to the sound of the Kaiju alarm calling for pilots to ready themselves for combat.

Ryker immediately turned and quickly marched towards the door. Not wasting a moment even to linger for goodbyes as Beck called after him, unperturbed by the interruption they were both far too used to.

“Take care Ray!” The scientist called after his friend. A worried but hopeful expression on his face as he put his trust in the pilot to survive and protect anyone in danger.

“Take care Beck!” Ryker said. His face a hard set mask as the raw heat of anger began to build in his chest. Readying itself for the battlefield so it could be unleashed in a fury upon any monster he found. Vibroblade claws or no.

“I gotta go kill some problems.”