Mercenary Squad 9 Chapter 2

Mercenary Squad 9
Chapter 2: Changes

         When a body first regains its composure after passing out, the first thing that returns is your sight, followed by your sense of smell, hearing, and then everything else follows after that. For Gabriel, the first thing he saw was a bright light shining right in his face. His eyes squinted in reflex as the world around him continued to come into focus as his eyes quickly adjusted to the light hovering over him. His nose twitched as he inhaled a breath of air, but nothing caught his attention. It smelled like a sterile hospital room and around him as he turned his head that’s exactly what it looked like. A small room with him on a metal table a bright light shining his face that he cursed and wished would turn off.

“Good Morning Gabriel.” A mechanical voice cut through the silence of the room as Gabriel sat up. “Your transformation was a complete success. Though you did pass out upon leaving the DNA tube which was quite unforeseen.” Gabriel turned his head searching for the sound of the voice only for it to continue talking to him. “Oh you can’t see me. I’m watching you from another room while we conduct tests to see if your new body is functioning properly. You can hear me through a small receiver in your ear.” Gabriel reached up to touch it but as he did he caught a glimpse of his hand, or what used to be his hand.

In its place was now a wolf’s paw. The air was sucked out of his lungs in shock, as he looked at his other hand and it too was now gray and wolf like. “Gabriel please stand up and get used to your new body. Your heart rate is spiking and you need to take everything in.” As commanded Gabriel got up and felt his feet touch cold metal as he walked over to a full length mirror in the corner of the room.

The image he saw both terrified and impressed him. Standing at a good six feet tall and staring back at him with no clothes on was a strong looking human male. Yet his ears were now gray and pointed like a wolves his eyes now sharper and fiercer. His long black hair now had spots of gray in it, as it hung down to the back of his neck. His hands now converted into wolf paws twitched as he tested his new claws and observed the gray fur that covered his arms up to his shoulders. His muscular torso remained pure human except for the scars from the transformation process. His legs as well had sprouted gray fur up to his hips and a long gray bushy tail hung behind him flicking back and forth as he observed his new body. The last thing he checked was his teeth which upon inspection with his tongue had become sharper and more like fangs. “I feel…so strong.” He said looking at himself.

“Yes Gabriel you’re very strong, but we’d like to know how strong. You’ll see to your left now three punching bags, please dispatch them in any way you see fit.” The voice said buzzing in his ear. “Very well…where is my weapon?” Gabriel said turning to face the three punching bags. “Could I also get some clothes while I’m asking for stuff? I’m freezing in here.”

“You’ll receive both clothes and some new equipment upon passing the tests. For now please deal with those three punching bags.” Gabriel  shrugged and ran at one of the bags hoping to punch the center of it as he ran by, but to his shock he  was running much faster than usual and instead of punching through the bag he instead ran right into it instead the bag leaning back slightly before recoiling and throwing him onto the ground. “Damn it…gonna have to get used to that I guess.” He said picking himself up. Deciding to forget about the flashy moves, he began to punch and kick at each of the bags. Each punch and kick that he threw felt more natural than ever, it was almost as if he had never even become a hybrid, and part of him wondered if all of it had just been a dream. That mindset imploded on itself when one of his punches ripped a huge gash in the bag, sand pouring of it like blood would spill from a living creature. There was no denying it anymore. One look at his new claws assured him that he was a hybrid, and the dents and marks covering each of the punching bags assured him even more that he was a powerful hybrid.

“Excellent work Gabriel.” The voice buzzed in his ear, oh how he wished he could rip it out. “Okay yeah I’m done can I please get my gear and find my sister?” He said impatiently.

“Yes of course. Please proceed through the open door.” The voice commented as a door opened to his right a bright light once again blinding his vision to what lay beyond it. Not waiting to be told a second time Gabriel walked out the door and much to his annoyance another room this time with a set of clothes on the table. “Please collect your uniform and…” The voice started but Gabriel reached into his ear as deep as he could and yanked it out quickly throwing it to the ground and crushing it. “If you want to talk to me, then do it where I can see you instead of using some annoying buzzing ear piece.” He said as he picked up his new uniform. It was nothing special that was for sure.

A typical dark green sleeved shirt light and flexible, with a set of pants to go along with it. The pants were a darker brown color he guessed because the uniform was meant to be like camouflage but he had his own ideas on what to do with it. The pants went on with no difficulty but as he slipped on the shirt the problems began to emerge. It wasn’t easy putting on something that had to go over fur so with a quick slash of his new claws he ripped of the sleeves turning the shirt into a training tee. He also figured he would need something to make it his own and it didn’t take long for him to get an idea. With his new strength he smashed off a part of the metal table and using the sleeves from his shirt constructed a rough, scraped together looking pauldron to cover his right shoulder.

“Well…not as good as I thought it would be, but it will work for now I guess.” He said looking around the room. “Well Gabriel, since you don’t seem to like the ease of the microvox we placed into your ear, I suppose we’ll just use the speakers instead.” The voice rang out from around him. “Now that you’re suited up it’s time for your weapon choices. As I’m sure you are aware all starting mercenaries are allowed to choose from a standard set of weapons. Customization, modification, or the purchase of other weapons must be done with your own money gained through your missions. So we will allow you to choose from the weapons we feel are most suited for your new DNA.”

As the voice concluded panels slid open in the floor, 5 platforms rising from them and presenting Gabriel with a collection of weapons. The first held a dagger which made Gabriel chuckle to himself. “They must think I’m some kind of assassin or something. Yeah…that’s not how I play.” He said as he looked to the other platforms, but to his annoyance most of the weapons were as he feared, geared toward assassins. Garrote wire for choking, a bow, silenced pistols and other weapons. “I don’t like any of these.” he said talking loud enough so the voice could hear him.

“I prefer swords, maybe twin swords, warhammers and more direct weapons.”

“Those aren’t tailored to your DNA.”

“Fuck my DNA! I can make them work, so give me a sword damnit!” He said knocking one of the weapon trays to the ground with his arm sending it clattering to the floor. “Very well Gabriel, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.” The voice said as another platform rose from the floor with a large blade on it. It was beautifully crafted adorned with runes and symbols he did not understand. The blade’s hilt, black with silver etches seem to call to him as he reached out and took it off the stand. It was light for a standard sword and he twirled it with his hand taking practice swings, pretending to fight with an enemy who wasn’t even there. “I like this sword. I’ll keep it.” He said taking the scabbard from off the table and gently returning the blade to it.

“Gabriel your wolf DNA is not meant for direct action. You are built to be a silent agile hunter who strikes at weakened pray! You don’t have the muscle mass or the endurance to go up against stronger opponents.” The voice said distraught. “Then I bulk up. Get stronger and tougher. You make it sound like I can’t change anymore. It’s still my body and I can change it however I want too.” Gabriel said securing the sword around his clothes.

“Very well Gabriel you can keep your sword, but we highly recommend you take…what are you doing?” The voice sounded distressed as Gabriel took the silencer off of the nearby pistol, holstered it and secured it to his waist as well.

“Alright I’m all set. Let me out.”

“No Gabriel you’re not ready, you can’t just.”

“Look if you idiots are so sure I’m not ready then test me. I’ll smash anything you send in here.” He said looking at the windows above him, a low growl now resonating from his throat.

“…fine. Go ahead and leave. You have to report to your Psionic enhancements as well.” The voice said defeated. Gabriel watched as a new door opened leading him into ANOTHER sterile, silver room, but this one had two containment chambers in it. Almost identical to the one’s that had caused his transformation. “Your sister will be joining you shortly.” The voice said and true to its word the door across from Gabriel opened revealing his sister.

“Gabe?”

“Macha?”

“Holy Hell what happened to you?” They both said at the same time as they walked toward each other, Gabriel looking over his sister’s new body. The first thing that came to mind was the large set of black wings that new protruded behind her thin body. Gabriel would have called them angel wings due to their size and thickness but these wings were black as the night sky, and he knew she had become a raven. Her legs mostly hidden by her pants had black feathers on them, and her feet had become sharp talons each one clicking on the ground as she walked. Her hands and arms remained the same except for the fact that her fingernails had lengthened into ripping tools. No feathers touched her beautiful hair, yet her now soulless looking black eyes were more than enough change for Gabriel to stomach.

“So they made you a wolf…” She said looking over him and eying his weapons of choice. “Not a bad call, you never were much for making friends.” She said throwing her arms around him in a hug. “Except you sis…I’m glad you’re okay. He said returning the hug, but noticing his arms had wrapped around something else on her back. “What weapon did they give you?” He said confused as he broke their hug.

“Oh you know… a rifle.” She said as she slung the rifle around from her back using the strap on her arm. “One standard Imperial 7.62mm Unifier Rifle, complete with 4x magnification, lightweight polymer construction, and a nice bayonet, like I’ll ever use that though.” She said smiling as she slung the rifle back onto her shoulder.

“If you two are done talking, we need to discuss your Psionic enhancement. As I’m sure you’re both aware since you two lack any arcane abilities we believe your psionic levels are extremely high. So please…step into the chambers.” The voice commanded as the two cylinders opened for the brother and sister to step into. “How long will this take?” Gabriel asked as he and Macha stepped into the respective containers and leaned back as the restraints hooked them in. “Not long at all. We suspect a few hours at the most, so please…enjoy your rest.” The voice cut off as a strange purple fog filled the cylinder Gabriel was in obscuring his vision, but making his whole body feel incredibly heavy. The light quickly faded from his vision, and sleep hit him like a ton of bricks.