In the end it was grief that finally calmed Ryker down enough to think clearly. He was standing outside the abandoned radio station that had served as the home for the kaiju hatchlings Ryker had slaughtered. No, not just slaughtered, Ryker admitted to himself, the nest he’d been somehow born a part of.

Rain washed down Ryker’s face as he let the water run down his body. It was a light rain, the kind he’d almost forgot existed before Kaiju like Storm Breaker weaponized the Earth’s weather against humanity. It was soothing in its coolness. Closing his eyes as he tilted his head upwards he could almost make himself believe he was in his human body. Almost. But the illusion broke down with every sensation he felt in his new form. Some things felt like they stood out to him more than they ever had as a human, like the smells of the forest that had grown up around the abandoned station and the smell of wet concrete. But others were more dull, clearly less than what they’d been in his human body. The trees and other flora around him were muted in color. Like a filter had been put over his eyes. Even the range of his vision grew significantly less in clarity the farther out something was. He’d always had perfect eyesight growing up, so the limited nearsightedness of his vision disturbed him, somehow just as much as looking at his body had.

Like it was one more nail in the coffin of his human psyche. Whispering…

You failed.

Slumping in the rain, Ryker let his head fall as he looked towards the wet earth at his feet. Eyes distant as he felt the water trickle down over the scales of his snout and over the protective film of his eyes. Coming all together at the tip of his face to make a small waterfall that splashed little bits of dirt and mud onto his ankles and fe- no… No, he’d just be lying to himself if he didn’t admit it. The water splashed dirt onto the claws at the end of his legs. The sharpened ends of them digging into the mud even as Ryker balanced on them.

Beck… Oh Beck… Ryker though with a pained shake shake of his head. You did it, you actually did it. You made the impossible possible and I managed to screw it up. Even in his own head Ryker could logically see that he wasn’t to blame for the accident but he couldn’t help himself. In his mind if something went wrong, there was always another way. If bad things happened and you couldn’t stop them, it was your fault for not finding a better way before it was too late. And Ryker could see clearly what had happened that had caused the experiment to go so wrong. It had been the blood. The torrent of Kaiju blood from the Drill Maw that had fought against the Heavy Armor as they crashed into Beck’s lab.

It had splashed everywhere, including the machine Beck had created to send his mind back in time. There must have been some reaction there, either his mind got pulled along into the Drill Maw’s original body as it was born or… something. Ryker didn’t know. He just wished he’d been there for Beck earlier, talked to him more. In those days back in Typhon Ryker had purposefully avoided Beck for some time, just because seeing his friend so broken by the world and the demands he’d put on himself hurt Ryker too much to bear for any length of time. Maybe if he had, the machine could have been done faster, the experiment activated before the Kaiju attack had ruined it.

Before the kaiju had killed Beck.

With a snarl Ryker shook his head at the memory. As if it could be driven away like a wild animal before it came too close to hurt him. But Ryker saw it all, remembered it all too clearly. It was the callous nature of it that made Ryker tremble in anger. The kaiju, like so many before it hadn’t even seemed to notice how their actions killed those just trying to survive around them. It hadn’t even made an attack against the lab itself. Not with bio-missiles or melting the building away with its saliva. It had just bled on the building as it attacked the Heavy Armor. That was it.

Ryker hated, absolutely hated of thinking of his friend’s death as an accident. It was as if using the word lessened the blame he placed on the Kaiju that had killed him. Like it was some form of forgiveness for not meaning to kill his best friend. For not meaning to pervert the only chance Humanity had of saving itself. It wasn’t fair. Nothing about any of it was fair.

Ryker curled his claws into a crude imitation of clenched fists. Uncaring even as the tips of his claws bit into his palms. Then there was what happened to him. The violation of it was enough to almost send Ryker screaming in rage again. At the air, at the wretched dark green hue of his flesh, at any higher power that would allow this to happen to him after everything he’d been through.

The distant flash of thunder lit the clouds and reverberated through the air as Ryker turned towards the sky in a fury.

Haven’t I done enough! He tried to shout. But for the hundredth time his throat mangled the mangled the words before they even reached his mouth. His body incapable of even imitating basic human speech patterns.

Haven’t I suffered enough! He tried again but only the roar of a monster left his mouth. As if in answer the thunder rumbled, lighting up the sky as it arced between the clouds. I gave everything I had for the fight! Lost everything! What more can you take away from me!?

As the clouds roiled and shifted above the rain grew heavier. Leaving Ryker cold for the first time since his rebirth. With a huff he stomped back inside the relative safety of the station’s roof as he continued to himself. Fine… Fine. You’ve never held back before. It’s almost par for the course. I might as well be blaming myself for not seeing this coming. Ryker thought with a grim smile. You think I can’t take this too? I’ll do anything. Everything… to fight for a future where humanity doesn’t die alone under the earth. A world where every last Kaiju is nothing but a memory.

Moving through the building. Ryker inadvertently found himself at the same bathroom he’d stumbled into before. Large chunks of glass littered the ground but even more were still held in place on the wall above the sink. With a bit of reluctance Ryker stepped forward. He wouldn’t run from this. Couldn’t. If he wanted to make the most of his situation he had to come to terms with what he was now.

Think of it as a Systems Check for the old girl. Ryker thought suddenly. Smiling for real at the thought of the Archangel he’d piloted way back when.

Coming forward and placing his claws on the edge of the sink he glared into the mirror and looked himself over. Tilting his head from side to side he got a good look at his face. The yellow of his eyes stood out immediately, contrasting greatly with the dark green of his scales that covered him completely. Lifting a claw he traced the contours of his snout, down to the slits on the end that served as his nose. Carefully he pulled down on a lip to reveal the sharpened teeth that had killed his first Kaiju so soon after waking.

First weapon. Fangs. Ryker thought clinically as he ran his serpent like tongue over them. Close range only. Single target. A good finisher, but I’ll have to be careful in combat if using them means overextending myself.

Tracing his claws down his neck to his shoulders and arms he took those in as well. Turning them over as he regarded them. They were covered in dark green scales just like the rest of him, only the scales seemed to thicken somewhat on his palms and three fingers before his claws. Which still held a keen edge even after all he’d put them through in killing his litter mates.

Second weapons. Claws. Ryker thought. Getting a feel for them as he tested their range of motion. Close range again. Though they could be used to hit multiple enemies. Versatility and fine motor control are lacking. Full range of motion is… reduced but still serviceable. That was true. Even though he’d never be accused of being a gymnast in his previous life at least he’d been able to move his arms above his head and behind his back. Something his new arms didn’t seem to be able to do as well. Their ability to move was limited to what was immediately in front of him or to the sides. **

His chest was a concern though. Running a claw delicately over his healing self inflicted wounds he frowned as much as his alien features would allow. It was covered in more scales like the rest of him but that meant it was only as durable as the rest of him.

Armor. Basic Scales. Only able to resist minor damage. Weak to slashing and piercing attacks. As a former pilot, Ryker felt a pang at not having any extra armor over his frame to protect his organs. He’d have to resolve that weakness somehow.

Eyes traveling down his body he was reluctant to focus on the newest and most alien of his appendages. A thick, almost rudder like tail. Extending back almost half again his body length, so about three feet or so.

Third weapon…? Appendage? I have no idea. Ryker thought with an audible sigh as he moved his tail from side to side. Limited utility. Very limited. Not a good weapon for bashing or anything really. He mused. Noting how moving it affected his center of balance. Good for adjusting my balance and keeping myself from tipping over I guess. His whole body was rather forward leaning he supposed. Giving him that predatory look even as he stood still.

Looking between his legs, Ryker allowed himself to feel a pang of loss that was mixed with relief at not having any dangly bits to expose to the elements or kaiju attacks. Grateful for the first time that Kaiju were entirely sexless and lacking any reproductive organs whatsoever. It was one of the reasons scientists the world over had driven themselves crazy actually. Figuring out what came first, the Kaiju? Or the egg that made it?

Last thing I ever wanna think about is how Kaiju eggs get... made. Ryker almost gagged. Literally. No, that wouldn’t ever be a possibility thankfully. That secret could stay undiscovered for all he cared. The only way he would ever interact with other Kaiju is if he was killing them or they were killing him. Simple, just the way he liked it.

His legs were just as animalistic as the rest. Digitigrade like a dog or cat’s instead of plantigrade like a human foot would be. Leaving three claws at the ends of each toe.

Third weapons. Claws again. Hind claws? I guess they’re hind claws. Ryker mused as he hopped in place. A bit higher than he’d originally meant to as he hit the floor and had to swing his tail around to keep from falling over.

A bit springier than I’d expected. Ryker thought surprised as he jogged in place. Each leg feeling primed to launch him forwards. Should be good for closing the gap between enemies and if I get the drop on them I can… Aw shit! Ryker tried to kick the air like a MMA fighter but almost immediately lost his balance and fell over. Growling in irritation he brushed some dust off his scales and huffed. Okay, so anything more than walking, running, and jumping are gonna need a bit of work. Good to know. I’ll have to practice that.

So final review. Ryker thought clapping his claws together and not making the sound he wanted. He tried to clap his claws together awkwardly for the next thirty seconds before giving up and continuing. I’m built for close range, or at least my body is. Claws, fangs, and the speed to close gaps between me and other Kaiju. I can’t take a great amount of damage so I’ll need to pick my battles. That means ambush tactics, stealth where I can while I’m still small enough to enter buildings and between trees without toppling them over.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

That made Ryker pause a bit as he stared at himself anew. He’d been thinking of his current body as a loadout of sorts. As if the weapons he was born with were the only ones he’d ever receive. But that wasn’t the case at all was it? He was a Kaiju now. And that opened up possibilities that he’d never even considered.

Could I… Ryker began. Turning towards the room he’d left all the dead hatchlings in. Could I actually… grow stronger? Like those bastards do? Grow new weapons?

In a daze he walked back towards the carnage he’d left the room in. Grimacing only slightly at the sight of what he’d done in his rage earlier. He stepped through the blood and stood before the dead meat of a hatchling. Licking his lips subconsciously as he stared down at it.

In the space of a moment he was drifting back as a memory pulled itself to the surface.

“Thank you all for coming.” Beck had said to them all as they gathered and sat in the conference room. The memory was sharp with the pain of Beck’s recent loss at the hands of the Drill Maw. Mixed with bittersweet joy at seeing his friend in his prime. Beck was younger then. His wild brown hair at least looking like he’d attempted to slick it back under control. Leaving the graying edges of his hair displayed for all to see.

Ryker had taken a seat near the back. Fresh from deploying near the Californian front. He leaned forward in his chair, eager to drink in everything Dr. Wallenstein had to tell them. The meeting had been arranged by command to allow their best Mech pilots a chance to better understand their enemies by hearing more about them. Straight from the man who had quickly risen to the top of the list of current experts on Kaiju. It was the first time Ryker had seen Beck in person and well before he’d gotten to know the man more intimately. It would be years yet before he counted him as one of his closest friends.

“My name is Doctor Beck Montgomery Wallenstein. I’m the lead researcher in understanding Kaiju biology and behavior. I can’t say that we have a complete understanding of the threat we’re facing but I can give you a solid idea of what Kaiju are capable of and why.”

The screen behind Beck whirred to life as he moved to grab a pointer. “With that let’s begin.”

The diagram displayed a number of figures. All recognizable to every pilot seated in the room. The first was the smallest the newborn hatchlings that continued to be born into the world even after many of them grew. The others were the Kaiju at different sizes with a six foot tall human in the bottom left corner for scale.

“We believe to have come up with a classification system for Kaiju. One that should be able to encompass them as a whole and allow us to be better able to determine the range of their capabilities and what threat they pose.” With a flick Beck tapped the screen where the hatchling was next to the human for scale. The human being larger than the hatchling by at least a whole foot.

“These hatchlings fit into a category we are calling Stage One of Kaiju development and maturity. Many if not all hatchlings seem to be born with the same physical characteristics and abilities. On a genetic level hatchlings are nearly identical. With their only developed weapons being their teeth and claws. Newly born they lack any of the… adaptations we see in larger Kaiju.”

“With a steady consumption of organic material.” Beck said with only a grimace. “They can grow in size in only a matter of weeks. From five feet tall to eight, then ten, then beyond.” Beck said as he tapped each larger silhouette in example. “Topping out at roughly twenty feet before they cocoon and evolve into the next Stage. Ah, yes? You had a question?”

A woman with burning red hair had her hand lifted high and dropped it as she was called on. Answering in a cool and easy cadence. Like the lecture was on simple physics instead of killer monsters. “Yes Doctor thank you. Could you explain how exactly they grow so large so quickly? I’m no scientist but the rate they seem to mature is just baffling to me. It doesn’t seem to be possible.”

“Yes, I will admit there are many things we had believed to be impossible that these Kaiju seem to do effortlessly. As for how they mature so quickly, the answer is frighteningly simple. Tell me, have any of you noticed any Kaiju droppings in the field or any other waste products?”

The sudden question had everyone turning in their seats to look at each other. It was a rather distasteful question, Ryker thought before the implications of that made him realize what the Doctor was getting at.

“I’ll bet that none of you or anyone else for that matter has seen anything like that in the field. The reason for that is that Kaiju break down everything they eat. And I do mean everything. Be it organic or inorganic in nature. Everything they consume their bodies use. Without fail. In fact I don’t believe Kaiju even have any of the necessary bodily functions to expel waste because they don’t create any.”

“What that means practically speaking is that even if their meals only contain a set amount of useful nutrition like proteins they get almost ten times more out of eating than any other organic creature could ever dream to. They break down the bone, fat, calcium, enzymes, trace minerals, everything. Anything inorganic that we’d consider to be dangerous to eat or even lethal is reduced to such a basic level that they find ways to apply that to their own bodies. I’m sure you’ve all seen the footage coming out of Brazil and the Kaiju there that has been gorging itself on the country’s mining operations right?”

Ryker grunted to himself as he recalled the footage. The Kaiju there looked less like the organic monsters he’d been fighting and more like a living mountain. With spikes of crystal and metal forming parts of its body.

“I’m sorry to say that if there was one word to describe Kaiju biology as a whole… it would be optimized.” Beck said with a mixed expression as he turned back to his diagram. “Now that you understand why a Kaiju grows so quickly let’s move on to how they begin acquiring their unique abilities.”

Replacing the images of the differently sized Kaiju a double helix took up the screen that was highlighted in three different sections. "If Stage One Kaiju are newly hatched then it would serve you well to think of the abilities they acquire at that stage to be, foundational, in a manner of speaking. The building blocks that cement what the Kaiju is capable of and what it’s form will take once it evolves to Stage Two. We’ll come back to what Stage Two means after this I assure you.”

In a short animation each of the three segments of the Kaiju’s DNA was separated and put into their own columns. Beck pointed to the first one that was highlighted red.

“This segment of DNA is what governs the Kaiju’s overall musculoskeletal structures. How they work, the forms they take, and so on. It is primarily what determines a Kaiju’s innate strength and constitution and the abilities it takes on relevant to those areas.”

Moving onto the next portion of DNA, this one highlighted blue Dr. Wallenstein continued. “This portion here is what governs the development of the Kaiju’s neurosensory organs and networks. It’s innate perception, its own intelligence, and even develop new organs and abilities. The ability of some Kaiju to take in information, then adapt and process it is… frightening to say the least. Their immense electrical output just to maintain their brain activity is almost equivalent to an electronic signal jammer or a small yield EMP.”

The last portion of DNA the Doctor covered was yellow. The man seemed to squint in frustration as he took it in before addressing the crowd of pilots. “This last segment is a bit tricky. It governs a Kaiju’s Cardiopulmonary functions, but also extends to… other areas. The adrenals for example, as well as the rest of the endocrine system and an area we are tentatively beginning to refer to as ‘Offensive Biologicals’. An area I’m sure some of you are more than familiar with. This area concerns the, um… well might as well call them what they are, breath weapons. As well as the toxic saliva, the ultra-sonic roars, projectile bone spikes, and don’t even get me started on how the-”

A polite cough from one of the Doctor’s assistants shook him out of his rambling as he turned to the pilots with an embarrassed smile. “Apologies everyone, it’s been a long day for all of us.”

“Now.” Beck said gathering himself again. “The reason I tell you all this is that there is some hope. These Kaiju seem to have to… well it sounds strange but they have to unlock their own capabilities.” Beck smiled as he turned to the pilots. “These gene locks are what prevent most Kaiju from reaching their fullest potential. Something I’m sure none of us at all want so let me explain.”

“Imagine each segment of DNA were its own upgrade tree in a video game. In a video game you can’t spend your points to get the best abilities immediately no, of course not. You have to start from the bottom like everyone else. And slowly make your way up to the top.” Flicking his pointer at the top of the Musculoskeletal segment he continued. “At the end of each segment is a kind of capstone adaptation that is required for a Kaiju to Reach the biological requirements needed to begin cocooning itself and breaking through into the next stage. Ah yes? What was your question?”

Ryker put his hand down and frowned. “Assuming we’re still using the video game analogy. What are the kaiju ‘spending’ on their DNA segments? Actually, how the hell are they spending anything at all?”

“A good question!” Beck said pointing at Ryker as he returned to his diagram. “It seems to be an automatic process as far as we can tell but what Kaiju ‘spend’ is the amalgamation of the caloric capital they’ve accrued through feeding. Once they reach a certain amount it triggers the necessary change in the DNA, and it begins to alter itself to make its changes in the Kaiju. The type of change is determined by whatever the Kaiju’s current needs are and certain environmental factors. Imagine for example two Kaiju, both reach the same portion of their Musculoskeletal gene segments but the changes in both can differ wildly. It can result in one growing wings and the necessary bodily functions to sustain flight and the other could increase in mass until it was permanently land bound. Falling onto all fours to distribute its weight.”

“Because the Kaiju seem to have limited control over this process it is likely that many never reach the full potential they’d be able to if they reached the end of a DNA segment’s offered abilities and held back on evolving further until they attained full access to their remaining two DNA trees. Hence why many Stage Two Kaiju exemplify only certain core abilities instead of the full range they’d be able to get.”

Despite not getting called on again Ryker continued. “And what if there is a Kaiju that maximizes it’s potential in Stage One? What then?”

Beck frowned as he looked to the side, seeming to honestly consider Ryker’s question before answering. “Then I would suggest that you kill it as soon as humanly possible.” Beck said bluntly. “For all our sakes.”

Coming back out of his reverie, and back into his current circumstances Ryker thought on that lecture from so long ago. He hadn’t forgotten it exactly, rather he’d just focused on equipping his own Mech at the time with enough firepower to take on anything that came his way. You didn’t have to think about specific weaknesses or vulnerabilities of Kaiju if you brought a big enough gun to the fight. And in the rare cases that failed he’d always brought along other weapons that he’d use until he found the right one to suit his needs. He’d used almost every kind of anti-armor kinetic and energy weapon the United States had ever fielded for their Mechanized Combat Units. And that was before he’d been hand picked to serve with the Archangels. The nickname he’d earned from that time a perfect reflection of his approach to combat.

The Arsenal.

Of course. Now I can’t rely on anyone else to equip, resupply, or aid me when I’m wounded. Ryker thought. It’s unfortunate but I doubt I’ll even be able to approach people without them screaming and running away as soon as I get close. I’ll be on my own against other Kaiju until the U.S. kicks its military into gear. So that begs the question… What’s my goal?

Naturally Ryker’s mind supplied the obvious. To kill all Kaiju. The same as it always had been. But in the immediate future he needed to put his focus towards something more concrete.

The images of five other hatchlings came to mind. The five that had escaped Ryker’s rampage and fled into the wild while he’d been grappling with his new body. That cinched it.

I’ll eat everything here. Ryker thought resolutely. Not nearly as perturbed by the idea as he might have been. On the contrary, he was actually drooling looking at the other dead Kaiju. A rumble in his stomach confirming that he was indeed hungry.

Get enough calories to hit the first basic gene locked abilities and I’ll see if I can actually influence the whole 'DNA segment' upgrade process and if I can. I know Beck said the process was automated but that was for stupid Kaiju. If I can control what abilities I unlock… Purposefully guide my evolution…

A truly feral smile came to life on Ryker’s face. Feeling for a moment every bit the monster he had now become. Only his prey wouldn’t be the helpless and innocent people of the world. It would be the monsters that sought to grow stronger by feeding on them. He would hunt the hunters. Using their very own abilities and adaptations against them.

Starting with the five hatchlings he’d been born with.