Theo woke up with his ears ringing and his head throbbing in pain. The migraine was intense, he licked his lips and was tempted to drink from the trough with the horses. But then he remembered- he pulled a ember colored candy from his pocket and ate it. And like that, the headache faded.

"You hear me? Get out of here you drunkard, we need to feed the horses. Come on'." A man wearing overalls was standing over him in the shade of the stables.

"Oh... Sorry, long night." he wiped a bit of drool from his face.

The man seemed indifferent to Theos apology, so he quickly got up and left. The city was already in full swing again, as it was closer to noon than morning. He took inventory- his sword was still there as well as the few coins he had. Which was a small relief. After a moment of basking in the sun, he figured he'd better find his grandma.

"Jeager. Y-yosef Jaeger!" there was a way of telling when a person was talking to you specifically, even through the murmurs of the crowd. The statement was obviously pointed towards Theo. He turned to see three men watching him.

"Do I know you?" Theo asked. They seem irritated by that. Most people in the city were rough and scrupulous, but this group were even rougher. Covered head to toe in scars of all kinds- some seemed freshly healed. The one speaking was a black man with a bald head but long gnarly beard. He wore heavy clothes like Theo did.

"The other heads are looking for you. Says they been waitin' on some information?"

It seems he ran into someone this form knew. Small world.

Theo looked for the nearest escape routes... But just then the other two thugs flanked him. He tried to put on his best 'thug' face- he's been in a fight or two, he shouldn't have to fake it too much. "Leave me alone, I'll talk to the other 'heads' when I choose to.", Theo went to move past them but he stuck out an arm.

"I'm afraid we must insist. Don't make this harder than it has to be. Just follow us down to the warrens and have a quick word? We won't even put hands on you, fair enough?", the man put a hand on his weapon and the others did the same. It was a public place, but in a city like this Theo couldn't rely on some kind of police to come to his rescue...

He had no choice. He sighed, "Fine. But let's be quick, I got things to do.", the black man chuckled; "Oh, don't worry. I'm the meeting will be short."

---

He followed them through the winding streets, they made small talk but Theo mostly ignored them.

"So you went to the coast?", "Yeah.", "Did you sail with that guild?", "No.", "Then what is your information about?", "That's confidential." he answered quickly each time.

Eventually they came to an especially shady alleyway. Thugs were posted about as guards, they didn't scowl at Theo but they weren't friendly either. These people knew this form, and now that he was in the thick of it he had no choice but to use his skill. He steeled himself for whatever he might feel.

[Assimilation]

Thoughts that weren't is temporarily invaded his psyche. Eventually they receded becoming feelings, and intuition about what the original person he's mimicking might say.

'One more job, and it'll all be worth it...', 'A dagger? Vaz knows I prefer swords...', 'Wonder if Kled made that breaded catfish.'

The emotion he felt most drawn to in this moment was calm, with underlying excitement building. The form was happy to be in town, or... It was hard to place, like a silhouette of a person was there in his mind. More than one for that matter.

It was a pleasant surprise, he expected it to be like when he used Roses form. Sure, this guy was a scumbag, but his conscience was clean. He was that much of a prick, the kind who did crime and had no regrets about it. Kill with out a second thought.

Theo's shoulders relaxed and his gait took on a more confident stride.

Two thugs saw them approach. "Bosses been lookin for ya'.", one of them said. He was leaning back in a chair, thumbing through some kind of tome. The other was playing solitaire.

"'Course they are." Theo said plainly as they walked into the building behind them. It was a warehouse like the guild has, but far emptier. A few beams of sunlight shone down from the rafters. Particles of mold or dust floated about and the wood creaked every so often as if the rot was holding it together at this point.

There were others in this room too, throwing daggers at a target in one corner. A game of cards was going on in another, and someone was crashed out on a couch. He was led deeper into the building in through another door, this one led straight down. It was dug lazily- they had to walk single file at times. The dirt walls were supported every so often by wooden framing, but roots were quickly reclaiming the hollowed spaces.

The way was lit by a series of torches, and after what seemed like a city block, the tunnel opened up into a cavern. It was startling that such a small passageway opened up into such a void below. The path wound around descending deeper, and at the bottom a bazaar of sorts existed.

The smells of cooked meats filled the air, the sound of fire and conversation blanketed the shanty town. No sunlight reached this place, but it was well lit. And warm. It was made mostly of tents and stalls, people sold stolen goods and black marketed items. There was a makeshift ring where people fist-fought each other, onlookers were screaming at the fighters they had bet on.

They came to a cragged opening in the cavern wall, a tunnel within a tunnel so to speak. It had a crude wooden door built into it, the guard outside it let them through and after what seemed like an hour of walking Theo came into a restaurant sized room. With a singular long table in the center, lined with chairs.

A solitary white light shone down from a large crystalline rock in the center of the ceiling.

One of the figures looked up. "Jeager. What a welcomed surprise, we hadn't expected you back so early."

The black man who had apprehended Theo walked forward; "We caught him loitering up in the ratways. Told him to come speak with ya' sirs." he crossed his arm with a satisfied grin.

The council of criminals shared a look between each other, then looked towards Theo.

"Is this true?" they asked.

Theo shrugged, triggering another charge of [assimilation], just to freshen up his connection with the original- "No, I was coming anyways. He just wanted to come along because he's a sycophant looking for easy cred."

"That's what I thought. Leave us." the figure waved them away. They scowled at Theo, but quickly left the room.

"Please, have a seat." one of them offered, it was a woman this time. She gestured to a seat next to the large table. The crude construction seemed unreliable, but Theo sat carefully. "So how's it going?" he asked.

"We were hoping you could tell us." a voice said, it came out as a hiss. If he didn't have his changeling [Darkvision], the racial trait- he wouldn't be able to see them. But they were a lizard beastkin of some sort. Many beastkin were here, unlike Adun, Soma seemed much more open to diversity.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Theo closed his eyes, and felt at the connection [assimilation] gave him to the original Jeager.

It was like a cloud inside of his mind. But it was walled off and mostly inaccessible... If he concentrated- he could glean things the form might say in this situation.

"Meh, thought I had a lead, guess not." he said after a while dismissively.

The energy in the room tensed.

"We had an agreement, Yosef." a dwarven man said. In a non-scottish accent.

"Yeah, sorry. I really screwed the pooch on that one.", "Screwed... What?", someone asked. "-But, I did hear about another lead." Theo blurted quickly. Trying to salvage the situation.

Theo was going to wait for them to ask; 'what lead?', but they'd sooner stab him. "A manor. Lightly guarded all things considered. Just a few hours ride into Adun. The nobles there are pretty tough, but I have to admit, their guardsmen could use some work..."

The criminal council of sorts just starred at him incredulously in silence during his monologue about Malton estate.

After Theo finished his just nodded knowingly, as if to say; 'isn't that great?'

The room was full of interesting figures, dressed in complicated 'mob' attire. The nobles of the criminal underworld.

There was another person at the table, one who hadn't spoken yet. Their white hair had receded a bit, leaving a widows peak behind. Slightly wrinkled pale skin and deep brows. He wore a heavy black fur coat that sat on his shoulders like a set of pauldrons. He had a snazzy dress suit beneath that.

The room was becoming quiet and Theo caught people glancing at this figure the most throughout his time here. It seemed as if they were waiting on his input.

He rubbed his hairless chin for a moment, gazing at Theo curiously.

"Hrmm... Doppleganger."

He said it. He said the thing.

[Level Up!]

[Evade Capture]x6

[Bait n' Switch]x2

[Accessory to murder]x4

[Days Undiscovered]x1

He just noticed, this voice was different than the one that told him his skills activated. That one was deep and menacing, this one was happy and energetic. It said 'Level Up', then the achievements and skills were just written in his minds eye.

[Doppleganger Level 10]!

[Skill Chameleon]

"Uh... Doppleganger? Who me?" Theo asked as he turned white. [Assimilation] wasn't enough to calm his nerves at this point. "Where is the real Yosef Jeager?" the man said calmly.

Theo deflated. There was no fooling them, they were all liars and cons leagues above him.

"...In my basement."

Their jaws all dropped at that. The old mob boss who had been speaking looked down and smiled as if stifling a chuckle.

"He's not dead though! They just caught him trying to pull one over on my guild!"

The table of mafia bosses erupted into shouts and arguments.

"I say we string him up for answers...", the lizard beastkin said. The dwarf slammed a fist on the table; "To hell with that! Gut the rat right here!",

"No... No... A doppleganger? How unusual. Tell me, changeling, what is your name?"

Theo had a bad feeling about this. His life was on the line. "J-John, sir." Theo lied desperately. "-Erm, you know, we could probably work out a hostage exchange type of deal if you wanted to get Yosef back. Maybe even some gold? I'm worth far more to you alive than dead!"

The mans eyes widened. "Most interesting indeed... You don't behave like a doppleganger at all, but a doppleganger you are... We'll talk later." he motioned towards a guard stationed by the door.

"Tie him up. Keep an eye on him."

"Yes hurry, we have important matters to get back to." the lizard beastkin hissed. A couple guards approached Theo.

Theo reached for his sword but the guard just stopped for a moment annoyed. He didn't even reach for his own blade.

"I don't think you'd like how that turns out friend." is all they said. Theos heart was racing, but there was nothing he could do. None of the skills he's gotten could help him now. In a room surrounded by professional killers.

He dropped the sword.

---

He was escorted rather politely to a wooden partition in the corner of the cavern. Other people were tied up here as well, all sharing a cage. Wooden poles were stabbed into the ground and each prisoner was tied to them.

The rope chaffed his wrists. The other prisoners were despot, considering quietly to themselves seemingly unperturbed by the new addition to their ranks. Besides one who leaned towards him from their pole nearby. "Psst..."

'Just ignore them Theo, and they'll go away.' he thought to himself.

"Psssst! Yosef, what's going on, I thought you said you made a deal!" a whispered but worried voice said.

He stole a glance in their direction. It was a man. He had tan skin and dark hair. Dressed somewhat similarly to Theo, but more slate in color rather than brown.

[First Memory], a skill Theo had gotten that night in the swamp. His level 9 skill. Once a day, he could see the first memory the form had with a person. It just popped into his head, as if it was a fuzzy memory he had all his life.

He was on a ship sailing the ocean at night. It was stormy, the boat was enchanted not to sink but this wasn't an Earth like storm. As the waves rose up into the air, the lightning flashed and revealed the shadow of a colossal shape submerged within.

He was fighting the ropes, pulling trying to fold the sails down so the wind wouldn't pull them under the waves. Everyone was so cowardly though, running to the shelter below. While the few who stayed were often blasted off the ship with a torrent of water.

He remembered how the ropes ripped through his hands. How it burned.

It wasn't Theos memory. He almost lost the rope when another man grabbed it. In that moment, it was a tug of war. They hoisted it to the side and tied it down. Thanks to his help, and some others like them, they managed to escape the storm and whatever else lurked within it.

He didn't know his name, but whoever this was, was a trusted friend of Yosefs.

Theo shook his head, freeing himself of the memory. Then looked at the man in present day.

"The plan failed. We need a new plan." Theo said, looking around. They frisked him when they brought him here, discovering his two concealed daggers. His sword was gone also. It was annoying how difficult it was to hold onto weapons. He would stop naming them soon.

"Shit. Well don't worry babe, we're in this together same as before. I'm glad to see you're still in one piece, after so long I began to wonder-", "Hey, quiet in there!" the guard shouted from beyond the wooden palisade.

"...We'll talk later." the man said after a moment.

'Good', Theo thought. Then he blinked. 'Babe? Oh dear god.'

He supposed he shouldn't be surprised, it's not the first time the form he's taken had a significant other. But Yosef didn't seem the type. To be in a relationship that is.

Theo couldn't tell him the truth that's for sure, not until he knows for sure how he'd react at least.

---

The hours passed by slowly, and Theo was worried that they wouldn't untie them to use the bathroom.

His fears were confirmed when he heard a soft trickling sound nearby. He wouldn't sully himself like that, he didn't plan on staying so long. So he committed to a plan. His skillset was perfect for a prison escape.

The activity around the makeshift prison seemed to be less and less as the day came to a close. A solitary guard was all that was left guarding the gate. And he was dozing off. Compared to the Malton Estate or the guild, this security was lax.

He waited, patiently. Until the guard was soundly snoring. It was quiet. It must've been at least midnight.

[Sickle Arm] a deep voice sounded in his head as the skill activated. He felt his arms shift. The flesh on his forearms split as a blade of bone emerged against the ropes. It unfolded from his forearm like a switchblade. Jointed like a praying mantis' arms.

The ropes made a light 'snap' sound and fell to the ground at his feet. A bit of blood dripped from the fully extended bone blades. The hooked blades were at an odd angle- facing Theo. He clenched a fist and examined them closely.

"What the hell Yosef?" a voice whispered at him. Theo startled- he thought everyone was asleep. But Yosefs lover was looking at him with surprise.

"Oh these? No time to explain. We need to get out of here.", Theo went over and cut his binds. "What's your name?" he asked, as he retracted the blades back into his forearms.

"What do you mean Yosef? It's me, Vaz'.", "That's right. And you'll get out of here because that's what Vaz does." Vaz nodded sheepishly; "O-okay... Okay. The guards work in shifts, and it's about to change any second."

Theo shook his head. "We don't need to worry about any of that. You just need to grab onto my waist.", Vaz was taken aback by that. "Here?"

"No! Not that, I mean over here. By the wall. See how the prison is just a fence? We can just climb up the cavern wall to get out."

Vaz looked at him incredulously. "The cavern wall is way too steep, there's no handholds." he said looking up at the wall. It disappeared into blackness after a dozen yards or so.

"I don't need handholds."

---

He might've needed handholds. Theos arms were burning. If it were just him it would be easy, but dragging a full grown man behind him wasn't easy.

"How are you doing this?" Vaz asked. Theo couldn't talk. He needed all his breath for the task at hand. One hand after the other. His skin adhered to the smoothed rock snuggly. Sometimes he wondered how his skin knew to let go or latch on when he needed it to.

After what seemed like an eternity his fingers grasped a edge. The top of the winding pathway that led down into the cavern. He scrambled onto the narrow ledge.

Vaz collapsed on his chest after him. "First time seeing that skill, did you level up?" he said while uncomfortably close. "Yeah- hey could you let me up?" Theo asked quickly. Vaz seemed disappointed by got to his feet.

This situation was reminding him of how he first met Violet. Maybe he should just tell the truth, but at the same time Vaz's boyfriend was a prisoner at the guild. For doing some fucked up shit evidently.

Theo looked up the pathway- it was near the top already. He had to climb up most of the length of the cavern. Well, at least there was just a tunnel between him and his freedom. He made for it.

"Wait-" Vaz grabbed his sleeve. He pulled Theo into a hug. "Uh-" he nestled his head into Theos neck and ran a hand through his hair. The sudden groping stunned him- Theo patted him on the back. "There, there...?"

"...It was a tough couple of months, but I knew you'd come back for me." his voice was intense. His breathing was getting heavy, he leaned towards Theo.

Theo threw his arms up. "Okay! Timeout! We don't have time for this.", Theo wasn't gay. Not that he was grossed out by Vaz, he was a good looking guy. It didn't really appeal to Theo nor did it bother him. But he wasn't Yosef. And if Yosef was all those things his grandmother said Yosef was- then Vaz was likely just as bad. A criminal. Murderer probably.

Vaz took a deep breath and steeled themselves; "-You're right. Let's get out of here first... But how are we going to get past the guards in the warehouse?"

"Uh.. Sneak by?" he said as they stopped in front of the surface tunnel.

Vaz looked at him confused, then smiled; "I'm amazed you got us this far.", he said looking over the steep edge of the cavern. "Let me handle the warehouse. Get behind me." he pushed ahead of Theo, sneaking ahead. Theo let him take the lead and followed behind.

Hopefully he had a plan. His trick with [Wall Climb] got them half-way there. But there was a warehouse full of guards between them and freedom still.

Theo didn't want to have to use his [Sickle Arm] ability. They walked into the damp tunnel, and about half-way through they heard voices coming their way.

To be continued...