*(mood song: "P.O.D - The Payback")

As Artalia was reading on her tablet she noticed someone secretly looking at her and smiled.

Artalia: "Come on in child, I don't bite~"

Jana was flustered, her master Jennifer was busy so she had decided to go check on Artalia instead, but she was afraid to talk to her once she saw her.

Hearing her calm voice Jana relaxed slightly and came into the submarine bay, Artalia was halfway inside the dive pool that had its lower door closed, and her elbows rested on the side of the pool.

Jana: "H-hi! high elder Artalia, I-i'm J-Jana!"

Artalia chuckled: "Don't be so nervous child, just call me Artalia... now, do you know where the elders are?"

Jana: "Yes, Artalia, t-they are mutating"

Artalia: "Hmmm that tentacle creature? it did have some desirable traits... but do you possess any shapers?"

Jana: "Shapers... ah I read about that, no we don't"

Artalia was startled and pointed at herself: "Look at this child, this is the result of reckless devouring, every tribe needs shapers to tell what to eat and what not to eat, it's the most important and respected profession in octopeople culture"

Jana was startled by the harsh tone, but she quickly relayed the relevant information: "W-well, we do have the genetic engineering pods"

Artalia: "What is that?"

Jana pointed at Artalias tablet as she got closer: "May I?"

Artalia nodded and gave it to her: "Go ahead"

Jana sat at the side of the pool and opened a relevant file, inside where research materials and videos of its use, Jana opened a video about the recent case of Erik getting rid of unneeded mutations after being with Timberly. Rose had blurred the sensible parts of the video but a before and after of the rest could be seen.

Artalia's eyes glittered and she looked at her own body hopefully.

Artalia spoke softly: "So there's still hope... tell me more about that technology... Jana"

Jana blushed slightly: "Y-yes, ...Artalia"

-- In the Armory --

Erik stood up from the table, he looked mostly the same except his hair was longer and slightly red colored.

The others also started to stand up.

Erik: "Rose, scan please"

Rose: "Sure thing~" a scanner came out of the ceiling and scanned them all.

Sarah: "How is it?"

Rose: "Hmm it seems it was successful, your regeneration will be way faster now, It's also now strenghtening your blood vessels and bones, filtering metals and minerals in what you eat, no more kidney stones ever again~, as for Erik... he also absorbed some other traits it seems"

Inky: "What traits?"

Rose: "A nervous bulb connecting the stomach to the spine to absorb the memories of ingested brain matter and feelers inside the stomach... alas it would only work if the brain and prey are eaten whole, so unless he wants to read the memories of mice it would be useless, it could also lead to stomach ulcers due to a faster digestion, also your hairs seem to have temperature and tactile receptors too now"

Erik: "Hmm what about moving those feelers and bulbs from my stomach to my hands? I could just grab the brains~"

Rose lifted an eyebrow: "that would make your hands full of nerves... they would be delicate and too sensitive to do anything"

Erik: "Then... hmm a tail maybe? even if it's cut it could regrow and it would be a source of biomass to heal other parts of the body"

Rose nodded: "that... does seem like it could work, but it does seem like a weakness, I will design it to be detachable just in case"

Erik nodded: "Alright thanks"

Sarah: "Do you need help?"

Rose didn't but still she accepted: "Sure why not, you start working on the molecular structure while I clean up the DNA repositioning patterns"

Sarah nodded: "I understand, I will get right to it ugh!" she touched her belly, her pregnancy now starting to show a little.

Rose: "Don't do stressful movements, Erik endured lots of things and mutations even while pregnant, but still... rest seems to be the usual recommendation for pregnant humans"

Sarah: "It's fine, I'm happy and my body is already no longer human, nothing will take this baby out of me haha~" after a brief silence "Let's get to work then"

Rose shrugged: "Sure" as they both walked to another area of the armory.

By now the armory had transformed into a general purpose room and was getting a bit crowded, if not for Rose constantly hiding the unused machines inside the walls the space would have been too small.

Rose: "Sigh, I miss the lab at the base, so much more space~ this is a headache"

Sarah: "I get it haha~ back on Earth I used to accumulate machines for every kind of process, even machines to clean vials, it was so... convenient"

Meanwhile, Erik stood up and noticed Jennifer on the corner massaging her forehead.

Erik: "Are you okay? didn't Antalia request to meet up?"

Jennifer: "I sent Jana so it should be fine, she... I don't know if I have anything left to teach her anymore anyways..."

Erik: "Don't be like that, at least you will know more than Antalia right? isn't this your only chance to give a lecture to a high elder like her? be more confident~"

Jennifer nodded and smiled: "Thanks Erik, I will go then"

Sarah turned around: "You can help us too if you want?"

Jennifer shook her head: "It's fine, I will be back after talking to Antalia, gotta make sure my disciple is fine too~" and exited the armory.

Sarah was a bit concerned, Jennifer sounded slightly depressed, and they had gotten closer after working together on making the gene potions.

Sarah: "Is she fine?"

Rose: "It might be a bit of an invasion of her privacy but... she seems to be checking complex technologies to try then teaching them to Jana... it seems to be a case of stress"

Sarah: "I see... not everyone can know everything, and teaching others is hard, maybe she should talk to Jana..."

Timberly scoffed: "Don't underestimate my sister, she can deal with this, she just needs time"

Rose shrugged: "Is that so... should I reveal your search history too~"

Timberly looked at Sarah's belly and frowned as she patted her own: "N-no need..., I'm going to the gym then" turning invisible as her clothes fell to the ground, already used to walking around naked.

Erik saw the door opening and reminded: "Don't forget we have martial arts training later~"

Timberly: "I- I know!"

Erik saw the door close and turned to Inky: "Wanna cook something with the kids?"

Inky smiled widely: "Sure, let me go get them"

-- Kitchen --

Erik searched the freezer and took out a huge blue chicken carcass and a strip of fatty porkfish belly. Then two onions, garlic, leviathan milk and cheese, and some toasted algae crackers.

The robot nannies and Inky arrived with their daughters as Erik set the ingredients on a table.

Zoey was the first to jump down and run to Erik, soon followed by the others: "Daddy!"

Maria pointed at the ingredients: "Daddy, that food?"

Erik smiled: "Not yet sweety, I have to cook it"

Elena pointed at Inky: "But Mommy is eating it already!"

Erik saw Inky tear a chunk of the still very much frozen porkfish belly and crunch on it like a cookie.

Erik chuckled: "Can't you wait for a bit?"

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Inky shrugged: "why? I'm hungry now, besides... it's good like this too"

Erik shrugged as he easily cut strips of the frozen meat and removed some of the lower meat, he then heated up a pot full of kelp oil and deep fried the meat, making the skin crisp up. Finally, he plated it with some salt on top and put it on the table.

Erik: "See, not that hard and much tastier, torreznos"

Inky took one bite into it, enjoying the satisfying crunch: "Hm, tasty~"

The daughters also grabbed some, slowly nibbling on them as their pupils slightly dilated in delight.

Zoey, Eirene, Ana, Elena and Maria all enjoyed it a lot: "Tasty!"

Erik: "Alright, now with that out of the way, let's prepare the main dish"

Zoey and the others quickly surrounded Erik: "We wanna help!" "Daddy we help!"

Erik chuckled: "Sure" he then took out a bag of chestnuts from the pantry "Peel these carefully then" he looked at Elena, the most human like of all the daughters "Everyone be careful, especially you Elena, since your body is weaker than your sister's"

Elena was really mature for her age and nodded: "Okay Daddy" and all the daughters started peeling them, even as kids, most already had incredible strength for their size except Elena who was, just as strong as a normal adult human.

Inky: "So, what's the first step?"

Erik: "First we have to debone the chicken"

Inky: "Oh, I can do that, my father used to go around collecting bones as materials so I'm good at butchering" She skillfully pressed around the chicken carcass and felt the ends of bones, using a small blade she took from a pouch on her leg to poke thin cuts and push the bones out.

Erik: "Is that so..." he observed as Inky took out and ate bone after bone "You are quite good, though the ribs and spine will be tougher, meat on the back is thin so it is easy to mess up and break the skin"

Inky smiled: "A challenge huh~ what do I get if can do it?"

Erik shrugged: "A delicious dish of chicken roll? also, *cough* don't say... you know what things *cough* in front of the kids..."

Inky blushed slightly, she had been raised as a low-ranking scout and most of her life she had been by herself after becoming an orphan, she drank a glass of water to wet her lungs and relaxed, smiling at her daughters: "Okay, wanna learn how to butcher things from mommy?"

Erik: "Well first, did you girls finish the task?"

Zoey nodded presenting a full bowl: "Yes Daddy, we finished peeling the bowl of chestnuts"

Erik nodded with a smile: "Alright then"

The daughters stood on the chairs as everything was a bit too big for them, to be able to see the top of the table.

Erik: [Can you make some cushions or stools so they can sit down?]

Rose: [I can adjust the chairs, give me a second]

In a just moment, the backrest of the chairs melted halfway as the nanobots moved to the legs of the chairs making them taller so they could comfortably sit at the table.

Erik: "Now you can sit comfortably"

All the daughters were left in wonder.

Maria: "Did you do that Daddy?"

Erik chuckled: "No, it was your aunty Rose, now you can properly listen to Mommy"

Inky coughed to get their attention, as she got a new chicken to show them the full process, just one chicken would never be enough to feed all of them anyway.

In the metallic kitchen of the submarine, the gentle hum of the deep-sea engines vibrating through the walls. Her five daughters gathered around, each one a living tapestry of sea and land. Zoey, with her golden hair shimmering under the dim lights; Eirene's silver strands clinging to her purple-blue skin in the humid air; Ana and Elena standing close, their contrasting shades of grey and pale white skin, and Maria, her pale blue skin glistening like an ocean breeze, curious eyes fixed on her mother.

Inky: "Right, girls," Inky began, her voice calm yet firm. She laid the chicken on the table: "The key to deboning a creature is patience, precision, and understanding where the bones hide. Let me show you."

Zoey, always eager, leaned in, her golden locks cascading forward: "Do you just cut through it?"

Inky: "No, Zoey, not quite." Inky smiled, holding up a sharp knife "First, we'll start with the wings. You'll find the joint, feel for the space between the bones. It's like understanding a creature's weakness—it's all in the details. You cut here—" she demonstrated with a clean slice, removing the wing. "Then you repeat for the other side."

Eirene wiped her slick hands on a cloth, green eyes wide with interest. "What about the legs?"

Inky: "Good question, Eirene. The legs are tougher because the bones are thicker. But it's the same idea—find the joint, work your knife around it." Inky made quick work of the legs, separating them with a few deliberate cuts. "Once you get a feel for it, it's like following a map."

Ana's aquamarine eyes flickered with focus: "And the rest of the bones?"

Inky chuckled: "That's the tricky part. To remove the backbone, you'll have to be careful. Slide the knife along either side, cutting close but not too deep. Keep pulling the meat away as you work. Soon, the bones will just... fall out~"

Elena, the quietest of the group, watched the process intently. Her pale white skin seemed to glow under the dim kitchen lights, and she asked softly: "Is that it?"

Inky: "Almost." Inky glanced at her. "The last bit is removing the ribs and breastbone. You'll want to use your hands more for this. Feel for the bones under the skin, and gently pull them out. It's delicate work, but once you're done, you'll have a boneless creature ready"

Maria, her huge octopeople eyes full of curiosity couldn't help but ask, "But why debone it in the first place?" as her legs rocked back and forth in the air under the chair.

Erik smiled fondly at his youngest daughter, patting her head from behind: "Because, Maria, once you remove the bones, you shape the meat. And chicken bones can splinter once cooked so they could injure someone if you don't remove them"

The girls nodded in understanding, each absorbing the lesson in their own way.

Erik: "The bones can then be ground into a paste and fried to make chicken bone nuggets, or just boiled to make chicken soup stock"

Inky then skillfully debonned the other one and laid them on two platters.

Inky looked at Erik with a smile: "Alright, next step"

Erik nodded, he had been frying the onions and garlic on some butter while they prepared the chickens: "I can do this part, now we lay some algae on top of the chicken, and in a bowl we mix bread crumbs, the chopped pork fish meat, the fried onions and garlic, cheese, some milk, and some salt... we mix it together... and we lay it on top of the algae, then we add the chestnuts in the middle" he then rolled the chicken and tied it up with some algae strips "once tied up we first sear the chicken on a skillet with some kelp oil"

The smell of fried chicken fat spread in the kitchen.

Erik: "Once seared we put the iron skillet with the chicken on it in the oven at 200 °C, for one hour, then we will reduce the juice, add some butter and it will be done"

The daughters were excited, but once they heard they would have to wait one hour they pouted.

Zoey: "Daddy can't we increase the temperature so it cooks faster?"

Erik shook his head gently: "No, that would make the skin burn, maybe wrapped up on kelp leaves, or some pumpkin or banana leaves if we had them... I need to grow more types of plants once we get back to base..."

Hours later, Erik served the fried stuffed chicken rolls and they enjoyed a meal together before Erik went to train Timberly. The daughters ate their fill and fell asleep, getting carried to bed by the robot nannies, as the submarine sailed through the depths, of the world they would have to learn to navigate too one day.

Meanwhile, Erik had also eaten the roosters head full, so flashes of memories of a rooster chasing Crabina flashed on his mind.

Erik: "I remembered why I killed some of the roosters now..."

Timberly: "What?" she was launching a kick to Erik's face but he easily sidestepped.

Erik: "It's nothing, lets focus on the training"

--Far away in Space--

Antonio limped down a hallway carrying a container full of waste to a hatch to dump it into space.

His battle body had actually healed itself long ago from being beaten close to death, but he never forgot to pretend to be a cripple at all times. He and the others were biding their time, letting the pirates lower their guard as they spent months working hard, creating a living garden air filter to give food, clean water, and pure air to the crew. As well as fixing lots of their life support systems.

They had worked so well that the captain even gave them the "mercy" of keeping them alive on his service forever, joining the crew as the lowest members.

It was a fate better than death, but not everyone was dealing well with the constant abuse as well as Antonio.

They all met up at night to sleep together as they comforted each other, creating strategies and sharing information as they waited for their moment.

Antonio: "Report everyone"

Elena sat down slowly as her body was sore all over: "They eat my products confidently now, they won't notice a slight taste change"

Antonio: "Good... Mónico?"

Mónico was extremely stressed as he answered: "I've placed the charges and isolated backup life support systems to the internal hangar only" his body was also sore from being used by pirates of both genders and even multiple genders. Lowest rank members had no rights on a pirate crew.

Antonio smiled slightly: "Good, It's almost ready~ soon we shall retake our freedom..."

-- Back on the submarine --

Rose: *Everyone to the control room, we are getting close to the destination*

As the submarine cut silently through the dark, deep waters, Erik watched through the periscope, his sharp eyes focused on the flickering silhouette of the Iron Sect's base in the distance. The artificial island loomed above the waves like an ominous titan, perched atop the peak of an ancient, submerged mountain. The cathedral that dominated the island was a grotesque, awe-inspiring structure of twisted scrap metal and rough-hewn stone, like a mechanical beast frozen in time. Jagged spires of rusted steel clawed at the sky, while enormous stone statues of the Iron Sect's ancestors—lizardmen fused with mechanical augmentations—circled the island, standing like silent, forgotten gods on their pillars.

Erik: "Let's send a drone"

Rose nodded and moments later, a sleek, black drone slid out of a hidden hatch on the sub's hull, gliding silently to the surface before ascending into the air. Its small, whirring rotors were designed to be inaudible even in the stillness of night. As it climbed higher and higher, it displayed an aerial view of the base.

The drone soared over the dark waves, the island growing larger on its monitor screen. Its camera feed flickered to life, showing an aerial view of the vast cathedral and its looming guardians. Erik watched in silence as the statues passed below, their heads raised towards the sky as if in prayer or vigilance, each statue a towering figure, with carvings of metal limbs replacing what should have been once flesh on the stone, and red-glowing eyes that seemed to burn with a cold, unholy power. The eerie greenish glow of malfunctioning floodlights cast haunting shadows across their scarred, weathered stone forms.

The drone's camera panned forward, and below the cathedral, waves lapped against the hull of a massive warship docked in a bay surrounded by the island, enormous chains blocking the entrance to the bay, as well as bunkers surrounding it on all sides.

Then it flew across the battleship, capturing the intricate details of its hull, it was a monstrous, hulking vessel, nearly 600 meters long—an amalgamation of various other ships fused together, bristling with artillery, torpedo launchers, and cannons. The ship was a fortress in itself, its silhouette broken by the jagged outlines of enormous gun turrets that looked capable of leveling entire cities. Depth charges dangled ominously from its flanks, ready to rain destruction into the depths.

Erik whistled impressed: "Now I see why the Golden Dawn group wants it, it's enormous"

Timberly: "Hmm we could build a city on something that big... can we really steal something like that?"

Erik shrugged: "It's not something we need to risk our life for, but if we see each side is weakened enough after the Golden Dawn group's attack then... there's no reason to reject a free meal~"

Rose nodded: "If I put my droids and nanobots to work I could turn such a huge amount of metal into a huge battleship city, as it is now though... it seems more like a mess..."

Their submarine was lying in wait just outside the perimeter, hidden beneath the water's surface, where even the sensors of the Iron Sect could not detect them, thanks to Rose's much more advanced technology. The submarine was silent and cold, changing color to the dark hues of the ocean, its engine idle as they drifted in place. The tension in the air was palpable as Erik and the others studied the island through the drone feed.

Erik's gaze narrowed as the drone's camera zoomed in on one of the cathedral's higher spires. The flicker of movement could be seen, patrols of augmented lizardmen making their rounds. But for now, no sign of the Golden Dawn. They were still waiting for them to make their assault.

Erik: "Once they strike, all hell's going to break loose~" Erik chuckled "And that's when we move in, everyone suit up, ready on my signal!"

The drone swept over the island one final time, giving them a clear view of the vast expanse they would need to cross. Inside the submarine, his team stood ready, fully armed, their nerves coiled like springs as the octopeople inspected their weapons and armor one last time.

Erik shut off the display and turned to the others: "Remember the plan. We wait until both sides are bleeding. Then, we take the battleship."

The drone circled back towards the submarine, disappearing silently into the blackness of the ocean, leaving the crew in a silence broken only by the rhythmic hum of the ship's systems and the rocking of the waves.