Kai felt a persistent sense of self-doubt. His mind kept trailing off, wondering if he was doing the right thing.
Even though he knew there was nothing wrong with his objective, the path he chose still took a toll on his conscience.
"You did nothing wrong, master!" the voice said beside him.
It was Daksha, a monster in cub's clothing, trying to reassure Kai, who had a sad expression on his face. Kai knew Daksha was loyal, fiercely so, even as he proposed what he did.
"We should use her as bait!" and that was a problem. Kai did not want to go through with it, despite how much more practical and safer it sounded, and Zeff agreed.
'Of course he does; all he cares about is saving his skin,' Kai thought. 'Regardless of what others think.'
But that doesn't change what their next plan of action was. Just the thought of it left a sour taste in his mouth, and he hated it. They were about to use Angelina as bait, a distraction until Kai made his way inside Area 6, his awaited destination.
'Daksha is a problem too,' Kai remembered. It was quite scary how he saw anyone other than Kai as a lump of meat, something to be exploited before being cast away.
The life he led before meeting Kai is what made him this way, and Kai couldn't fault him for that. Humans are not saints; if anything, they're closer to devils than any other species in the world. History can attest to that.
Daksha knows about Kai's DID problem too; his alter ego, Zeff, doesn't like him because he knows how messed up he is in the head.
"Okay. We're doing this because we don't have a choice," Kai said, taking a deep breath, finally deciding to act up. "But we are NOT letting her die. Daksha, you'll keep an eye on her. And you're immediately pulling her out of the danger when things get hairy, okay?"
Kai wanted to propose busting his way through, now that Daksha is backing them up but decided against it. He knew it was more wishful thinking than an actual plan, making himself an open target in a military base would do him more harm than good. His 'companions' would never approve of it. Zeff would resist, which he wants to avoid at all costs.
Plus Code Zero, something he learned from his 'friend' John, sounds like a real piece of work. The protocols in this place are a bit too much of a pain in the a*s. So, unless he had a death wish, Kai supposed he should play safer.
"I don't wanna," Daksha pouted. But Kai didn't let it deceive him; he just wanted to stick to him.
"Okay," Kai nodded. "If you have qualms with it, I think I have a better plan. What do you say?"
["I say it's bullshit. We are not doing 'the my way or high-way' thing!"]
'See, you get it,' Kai thought, smiling.
At that point, Daksha resigned to Kai's insistence. "Alright, master… I'll babysit this human until you come back."
Satisfied by the answer, Kai urged the fox to work with his magic, so he could go to Area 6, "Did you bring it?" he asked.
Daksha showed an amulet around his neck, "I always have it on me," he said, walking towards Angelina.
Despite being a troublesome creature, Zeff approved of his companionship for one reason. He has an ability to transform, Metamorfyce, and can be used on others under the right conditions, and it has side effects depending on who it is used. But so far, Kai is right.
In a dimly lit chamber, Daksha held the "Transfigura" amulet in their paw. Angelina, unconscious, lay on a weathered metallic floor. Daksha chanted ancient incantations, and a soft, ethereal glow surrounded the amulet, casting an otherworldly light.
Gently, Daksha pressed the amulet to Angelina's forehead. Her features began to shift, reshaping her identity entirely. With precision, Daksha transformed her face, like an artist molding clay. Within moments, a new face emerged, unrecognizable from the original.
It was Kai.
Stepping back, Daksha smiled at his work. The "Transfigura" amulet had granted them the power to manipulate identities, and Angelina now bore the visage of Kai.
"It's a pity we can't do anything about the chest area, but I can cover it up with small illusions," Daksha explained. "But that said, she has quite the pair. I can see why you don't want to hurt her, master. But please don't let it distract you; don't forget we're in this mess because of you."
Kai could imagine himself flushed red while Zeff sighed.
"Well, moving on," Kai said, trying to change the subject. "You stay in her shadow," and the fox nodded.
Kai left the scene just before Angelina regained consciousness, and Daksha had a disappointed look on his face just before he submerged himself in her shadow.
Kai doesn't realize it yet, but Zeff does. Daksha's loyalty to Kai is more intense than one might believe, and worse, he's possessive about Kai.
Because of this, his jealousy tingles every time Kai gives attention to someone else. He had no reason to save the humans; his point of view about them remains unchanged even after Kai saves him. To him, Kai is an oddball among the masses, somehow different from those disgusting species.
Kai is too trusting, and too gullible for his own good. So Daksha believed he had to do the dirty tasks to keep him safe.
If Zeff were here, he surely wouldn't have stopped it from what it was doing. To him, Daksha's ways might be extreme, but he's not wrong.
"I'm sorry about this master," Daksha said, his eyes pale blue, and his fangs emerging. "But this human has to die."
***
"Interesting," Shrektha said, containing his laugh. "The immortal human has a brother?"
Suddenly released from the monstrous grasp, Jake fell to the ground with a dusty impact, "Kegh…!" coughing blood, his lungs yearned for fresh air.
The canine face of the monster started to smile, amused by the human in front of it, "Heh! This is getting interesting. I think I'll spare all of your lives…" Shrektha paused before continuing, "But you'll have to do something for me."
Finally regaining his composure, Jake questioned, "What are you talking about?" unable to comprehend the sudden change in the monster's tone.
Shrektha contained his annoyance, 'I don't answer to anyone, but I'll overlook his impertinence because I'm in a good mood.' he thought.
"Simple, really," Shrektha said. "Come with me and I'll leave this place of your people."
The arrogance is quite visible, sparing the military base MB-35 like it means nothing, and he believes it too. worse, he has the strength to back up everything he says.
"What's your answer?"
And honestly, Jake didn't believe he had much of a choice, "I'll do anything you say as long as you don't hurt anyone below."
The Wolfking scoffed, "Sure."
After breathing a sigh of relief at the answer he received, Jake decided to ask, "What do you want me to do? As you can see, I am in no state to walk."
Again, Shrektha didn't mind the human's rudeness, daring to question him.
"You will walk, if you don't want this place to remain in ashes and me dragging you." He glared.
"...!" Jake's adrenaline coursed through his limbs, giving him enough strength to stand up.
"Good, we're going to California to meet your brother."
The statement shocked Jake, "What?" as he inwardly questions, 'My brother… he's alive?'
As the beast summoned mana from the surroundings, preparing for their journey, Jake wasn't sure what to think.
"My brother is dead." so he decided to come out with the truth, "He died a long time ago."
But he was wrong, and Shrektha knew it. He supposed he must be deceived by his brother, faking his death, and he had no interest in the drama. His only motivation in life was thrilling battles, and he had a feeling the upcoming one would be quite entertaining.
He thought, 'Haha! I want to see the expression on Drakaroth when he sees what I found! I will rub it on his face!"
Without wasting time, Shrektha grabbed Jake by the armor, and his power, astral walk, allowed him to cast a void in space. To California.
"Go inside." shrektha ordered. He uses the same ability to teleport, only he casts faster than what eye can follow. So it appears like he teleported.
The two figures vanished as Sands picked himself up nearby, wobbling through the walk, he saw Jake disappearing with the monster.
===